SHEET FEEDING CASSETTE AND RECORDING DEVICE

Description

The present application is based on, and claims priority from JP Application Serial Number 2024-217353, filed Dec. 12, 2024, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to a sheet feeding cassette and a recording device.

2. Related Art

For example, as disclosed in JP-A-2009-154977, there is an image forming device, which is an example of a recording device that performs recording on recording paper, which is an example of a paper sheet. The image forming device includes a recording paper supply cassette, which is an example of a sheet feeding cassette, and a separation roller. The recording paper supply cassette includes a lifting plate and a compression coil spring. The lifting plate is provided to be swingable about a support shaft. The compression coil spring applies an upward elastic force to the lifting plate to press the recording paper stacked on the lifting plate against the separation roller. The separation roller feeds the recording paper one sheet at a time.

When the force pressing the sheet against the roller is too strong, multi-feed, in which plural sheets are fed in an overlapping state, is likely to occur. However, when the force pressing the sheet against the roller is insufficient, non-feed, in which no sheet is fed, is likely to occur.

The force of the lifting plate pushing up the sheet is canceled out by the weight of the sheets. Therefore, if the force with which the lifting plate lifts the sheets is set to match, for example, small and lightweight sheets, there will be a significant restriction on the number of sheets that can be set.

SUMMARY

A sheet feeding cassette that solves the above problems includes a first lifting plate that is swingable about a first shaft; a second lifting plate located above the first lifting plate and swingable about a second shaft; a first biasing section that applies a first biasing force to the first lifting plate; a second biasing section that applies a second biasing force to the second lifting plate; and a restriction section configured to restrict a swinging operation of the first lifting plate.

A recording device that solves the above problems includes a sheet feeding cassette having the above configuration; a sheet feed section configured to feed the sheet placed on the sheet feeding cassette; and a recording section that performs recording on the sheet fed by the sheet feed section.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a recording device.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the sheet feeding cassette.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 3-3 in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the sheet feeding cassette.

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the sheet feeding cassette.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 6-6 in FIG. 5.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENT

Embodiment

Hereinafter, an embodiment of a recording device will be described with reference to the drawings. The recording device is an ink jet printer that performs recording by ejecting ink, which is an example of a liquid, onto a sheet such as plain paper, woodfree paper, glossy paper, matte paper, photographic paper, Japanese paper, recycled paper, a postcard, a business card, or an envelope.

In the drawing, assuming that a recording device 11 is placed on a horizontal plane, a direction of gravity is indicated by a Z-axis, and directions along the horizontal plane are indicated by an X-axis and a Y-axis. The X-axis, the Y-axis, and the Z-axis are orthogonal to each other. In the following description, a direction parallel to the X-axis is also referred to as a width direction X, a direction parallel to the Y-axis is also referred to as a sheet feed direction Y, and a direction parallel to the Z-axis is also referred to as a vertical direction Z.

Recording Device

As illustrated in FIG. 1, the recording device 11 may include a housing 12, a sheet feed section 13, a transport section 14, a stacker 15, a support section 16, and a recording section 17. The recording device 11 includes a sheet feeding cassette 18. The sheet feeding cassette 18 may include an auxiliary roller 20.

The housing 12 accommodates various configurations included in the recording device 11.

The sheet feed section 13 feeds the sheet 22 placed on the sheet feeding cassette 18. The term “placed” means an object was put onto something so as to be placed there. The sheet feed section 13 feeds out the sheet 22 stacked in the sheet feeding cassette 18 one sheet at a time. The sheet feed section 13 feeds the sheet 22 in a sheet feed direction Y. The sheet feed section 13 may include a sheet feed roller 23 and a separation roller 24. The sheet feed roller 23 rotates in contact with the sheet 22 to feed the sheet 22 to the separation roller 24. The separation roller 24 sandwiches the sheet 22 between the separation roller 24 and the auxiliary roller 20. When plural sheets 22 are sent in an overlapping manner, the separation roller 24 separates the plural sheets 22.

The transport section 14 transports the sheet 22 in a transport direction Dc along a transport path 25 indicated by dashed-dotted line in FIG. 1. The transport section 14 may include a plurality of rollers. The transport section 14 may transport a sheet 22 by sandwiching the sheet 22 with a pair of rollers and rotating the rollers. The transport section 14 sends the sheet 22 fed from the sheet feeding cassette 18 by the sheet feed section 13 to the stacker 15.

The stacker 15 receives the sheet 22 transported by the transport section 14. The stacker 15 can stack a plurality of recorded sheets 22.

The support section 16 may be provided on the opposite side of the recording section 17 with the transport path 25 interposed therebetween. The support section 16 supports the sheet 22 transported by the transport section 14.

The recording section 17 performs recording on the sheet 22 fed by the sheet feed section 13. The recording section 17 may have a nozzle surface 27. The nozzle surface 27 is provided with a plurality of nozzles 28. The plurality of nozzles 28 eject liquid toward the sheet 22. The recording section 17 performs recording on the sheet 22 supported by the support section 16 by ejecting liquid from each nozzle 28.

Sheet Feeding Cassette

As shown in FIG. 1, the sheet feeding cassette 18 is detachably provided in the housing 12. The sheet feeding cassette 18 may be capable of being pulled out from the housing 12 in the sheet feed direction Y, for example. FIGS. 2 to 6 illustrate the X-axis, the Y-axis, and the Z-axis in a posture in which the sheet feeding cassette 18 is mounted on the recording device 11. In FIGS. 2 to 6, the sheet 22 is not shown.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, the sheet feeding cassette 18 can store a plurality of sheets 22. The sheet feeding cassette 18 may accommodate a bundle of sheets 22 before recording. The sheet feeding cassette 18 may include a bottom surface 30, a first lifting plate 31, and a second lifting plate 32.

As shown in FIG. 2, the sheet feeding cassette 18 includes a first biasing section 34 and a second biasing section 35. The sheet feeding cassette 18 may include a first locking member 36 and a second locking member 37. The sheet feeding cassette 18 may include a first side guide 38, a second side guide 39, a third side guide 40, and a pinion 41.

Biasing Section

As illustrated in FIG. 2, the sheet feeding cassette 18 may include a plurality of first biasing sections 34. The sheet feeding cassette 18 of the present embodiment includes two first biasing sections 34 and single second biasing section 35. The first biasing section 34 and the second biasing section 35 may be provided side by side in the width direction X. In the width direction X, the second biasing section 35 may be provided between the plurality of first biasing sections 34. The first biasing section 34 and the second biasing section 35 are, for example, compression coil springs.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, the first biasing section 34 applies a first biasing force to the first lifting plate 31. The first biasing section 34 contacts the lower surface of the first lifting plate 31. The first biasing section 34 may have an upper end fixed to the first lifting plate 31 and a lower end fixed to the bottom surface 30. The first biasing section 34 pushes the first lifting plate 31 upward from below.

The second biasing section 35 applies a second biasing force to the second lifting plate 32. The second biasing section 35 contacts the lower surface of the second lifting plate 32. The second biasing section 35 may have an upper end fixed to the second lifting plate 32 and a lower end fixed to the bottom surface 30. The second biasing section 35 pushes the second lifting plate 32 upward from below. The first lifting plate 31 may include an avoidance section 43 for avoiding the second biasing section 35. The avoidance section 43 of the present embodiment is a hole.

The first biasing force may be greater than the second biasing force. For example, the total of the forces of the two first biasing sections 34 pressing the first lifting plate 31 may be larger than the force of the single second biasing section 35 pressing the second lifting plate 32. For example, the force of one first biasing section 34 pressing the first lifting plate 31 may be larger than the force of single second biasing section 35 pressing the second lifting plate 32.

Lifting Plate

As shown in FIG. 1, the first lifting plate 31 is located below the second lifting plate 32. The first lifting plate 31 may have a first tip end 45 and a first shaft 46. The first tip end 45 is an end on the downstream side in the sheet feed direction Y. The first tip end 45 is an end opposite to the first shaft 46. The first tip end 45 and the first shaft 46 may extend in the width direction X.

The first lifting plate 31 is swingable about the first shaft 46. The first lifting plate 31 is movable between a first sheet feed position indicated by solid line in FIG. 1 and a first set position indicated by two dot chain line in FIG. 1. The first sheet feeding position is a position where the first tip end 45 is raised. The first lifting plate 31 located at the first sheet feeding position contacts the second lifting plate 32 from below and pushes the second lifting plate 32 upward. The first set position is a position where the first tip end 45 is lowered. The first set position is a position pushed-down from the first sheet feeding position.

The second lifting plate 32 is located above the first lifting plate 31. The second lifting plate 32 may have a second tip end 48 and a second shaft 49. The second tip end 48 is an end on the downstream side in the sheet feed direction Y. The second tip end 48 is an end at the opposite side than the second shaft 49. The second tip end 48 and the second shaft 49 may extend in the width direction X.

The second lifting plate 32 is swingable about the second shaft 49. The second lifting plate 32 is displaceable between a second sheet feeding position indicated by solid line in FIG. 1 and a second setting position indicated by two dot chain line in FIG. 1. The second sheet feeding position is a position where the second tip end 48 is raised. The second lifting plate 32 located at the second sheet feeding position presses the set sheet 22 against the sheet feed roller 23. The second set position is a position where the second tip end 48 is lowered. The second set position is a position pushed-down from the second sheet feeding position.

The first shaft 46 and the second shaft 49 may be provided with a space therebetween in the sheet feed direction Y. The first shaft 46 is located downstream of the second shaft 49 in the sheet feed direction Y. The first lifting plate 31 may be smaller than the second lifting plate 32 in the sheet feed direction Y. That is, the size from the first shaft 46 to the first tip end 45 may be smaller than the size from the second shaft 49 to the second tip end 48.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, the second tip end 48 may be smaller than the first tip end 45 in the width direction X. The first tip end 45 may protrude from the second lifting plate 32 on both sides in the width direction X. In the present embodiment, the portion of the first lifting plate 31 including the first tip end 45 that protrudes from the second lifting plate 32 is also referred to as a protruding section 51. The first lifting plate 31 of the present embodiment has two protruding sections 51.

The first lifting plate 31 may include a flared section 52 and a cutout section 53. The first lifting plate 31 may include a plurality of flared sections 52 and a plurality of cutout sections 53. In the first lifting plate 31 of the present embodiment, each of the protruding sections 51 has a flared section 52 and a cutout section 53. The two protruding sections 51 are substantially line-symmetrical with respect to a symmetry axis (not shown) that passes through the center in the width direction X and that is parallel to the Y-axis. Therefore, in the following description, the flared section 52 and the cutout section 53 included in one of the protruding sections 51 will be described.

The flared section 52 is located between the second lifting plate 32 and the cutout section 53 in the width direction X. The flared section 52 is a portion that flares upstream in the sheet feed direction Y with respect to the cutout section 53. The cutout section 53 is located at a position recessed downstream in the sheet feed direction Y with respect to the flared section 52. In the sheet feed direction Y, the size from the upstream end of the cutout section 53 to the first tip end 45 is smaller than the size from the upstream end of the flared section 52 to the first tip end 45.

Locking Member

As illustrated in FIG. 4, the first locking member 36 retains the first lifting plate 31 at the first set position. The sheet feeding cassette 18 may include the same number of first locking members 36 as the number of the protruding sections 51. The first locking member 36 may restrict the movement of the first lifting plate 31 located at the first set position by pressing the protruding section 51 from above. The first locking member 36 may be rotatable about an axis (not shown), for example. The recording device 11 may detach the first locking member 36 from the first lifting plate 31 by rotating the first locking member 36.

The second locking member 37 retains the second lifting plate 32 at the second set position. The second locking member 37 may include a hook 55, an arm 56, and an operation section 57. The hook 55 may be located at the end of the arm 56. The operation section 57 may be located at the base end of the arm 56. The arm 56 may extend in the width direction X. The arm 56 may pass under the first lifting plate 31 and the second lifting plate 32.

The first lifting plate 31 may have a first through hole 59. The second lifting plate 32 may have a second through hole 60. The hook 55 may pass through the first through hole 59 and the second through hole 60. The hook 55 may be hooked on the second lifting plate 32 to restrict the movement of the second lifting plate 32. The recording device 11 may be such that the hook 55 detaches from the second lifting plate 32 by the operation section 57 being pushed to move the second locking member 37 in the width direction X.

Side Guide

As illustrated in FIG. 5, the third side guide 40 is movable in the sheet feed direction Y. The third side guide 40 determines the position of the sheet 22 set in the sheet feeding cassette 18 in the sheet feed direction Y.

The first side guide 38 and the second side guide 39 are provided with a gap therebetween in the width direction X. The first side guide 38 may include a first rack 62. The second side guide 39 may include a second rack 63. The first rack 62 and the second rack 63 each extend in the width direction X. The first rack 62 and the second rack 63 face each other in the sheet feed direction Y. The first rack 62 and the second rack 63 mesh with the same pinion 41.

The first side guide 38 and the second side guide 39 are movable relative to each other in the width direction X. When one of the first side guide 38 and the second side guide 39 is moved in the width direction X, the other also moves. Specifically, the first side guide 38 and the second side guide 39 move so as to approach each other or separate from each other. The first side guide 38 and the second side guide 39 can sandwich the sheet 22 placed on the sheet feeding cassette 18 in the width direction X. The first side guide 38 and the second side guide 39 determine the position of the set sheet 22 in the width direction X.

The first side guide 38 and the second side guide 39 may include a restriction section 65. The restriction sections 65 of the first side guide 38 and the second side guide 39 correspond to the different protruding sections 51.

The restriction section 65 is capable of restricting the swinging operation of the first lifting plate 31. In the sheet feed direction Y, the restriction section 65 overlaps the flared section 52 but does not overlap the cutout section 53. That is, in the sheet feed direction Y, the downstream end of the restriction section 65 is located downstream of the upstream end of the flared section 52. In the sheet feed direction Y, the downstream end of the restriction section 65 is located upstream of the upstream end of the cutout section 53. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 2, when the restriction section 65 is located at the release position away from the flared section 52 in the width direction X, the restriction section 65 does not interfere with the first lifting plate 31. The restriction section 65 is aligned with the cutout section 53 in the sheet feed direction Y to allow the swinging operation of the first lifting plate 31.

As shown in FIG. 5, when the first side guide 38 and the second side guide 39 move to near the second lifting plate 32, the restriction section 65 is located at a restricting position where the restricting section 65 overlaps the flared section 52. The restriction section 65 restricts the swinging operation of the first lifting plate 31 by abutting on the flared section 52.

Operation of the Present Embodiment

The operation of the present embodiment will be explained.

For example, when the user replenishes the sheets 22, the user may pull out the sheet feeding cassette 18. When the sheet feeding cassette 18 is pulled out, the recording device 11 may move the first lifting plate 31 to the first set position and cause the first locking member 36 to restrict the movement of the first lifting plate 31. When the sheet feeding cassette 18 is pulled out, the recording device 11 may move the second lifting plate 32 to the second set position and may cause the second locking member 37 to restrict the movement of the second lifting plate 32. Therefore, in the pulled-out sheet feeding cassette 18, the first lifting plate 31 is located at the first set position, and the second lifting plate 32 is located at the second set position.

The user sets sheets 22 in the sheet feeding cassette 18. Specifically, the user places the sheets 22 and causes the first side guide 38, the second side guide 39, and the third side guide 40 to be along the edge of the sheets 22. Therefore, the first side guide 38 and the second side guide 39 are located at the release position when sheets 22 having a large width are set. The first side guide 38 and the second side guide 39 are located at the restricting position when sheets 22 having a small width are set.

The recording device 11 may release the first locking member 36 and the second locking member 37 when the sheet feeding cassette 18 is mounted in the housing 12.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, when the first locking member 36 and the second locking member 37 are released in a state where the restriction section 65 is located at the release position, the first lifting plate 31 moves to the first sheet feeding position, and the second lifting plate 32 moves to the second sheet feeding position.

As illustrated in FIG. 6, when the first locking member 36 and the second locking member 37 are released in a state where the restriction section 65 is located at the restricting position, the first lifting plate 31 remains at the first set position, whereas the second lifting plate 32 moves to the second sheet feeding position.

Effects of the Present Embodiment

Effects of the present embodiment will be described.

• • (1-1) The second lifting plate 32 is located above the first lifting plate 31. When the first lifting plate 31 is swingable, the first biasing section 34 applies a first biasing force to the second lifting plate 32 via the first lifting plate 31. Therefore, the second lifting plate 32 receives the first biasing force of the first biasing section 34 and the second biasing force of the second biasing section 35. When the restriction section 65 restricts the swinging of the first lifting plate 31, the force received by the second biasing section 35 becomes the second biasing force. That is, the force applied to the second lifting plate 32 can be changed depending on whether the restriction section 65 restricts the swinging operation of the first lifting plate 31. Therefore, the upper limit for the number of sheets 22 to be set can be increased.
  • (1-2) The first side guide 38 includes the restriction section 65. That is, the first side guide 38 determines the position of the sheet 22 in the width direction X and also restricts the swinging operation of the first lifting plate 31. By providing the first side guide 38 with a plurality of functions, the size can be reduced compared to a case where the restriction section 65 and the first side guide 38 are separately provided.
  • (1-3) In the width direction X, the distance between the cutout section 53 and the second lifting plate 32 is larger than the distance between the flared section 52 and the second lifting plate 32. Since the restriction section 65 is provided in the first side guide 38, the restriction section 65 is located at a position corresponding to the size of the sheet 22 in the width direction X. That is, when the size of the sheet 22 is small, the restriction section 65 located at a position close to the second lifting plate 32 restricts the swinging operation of the first lifting plate 31 by abutting on the flared section 52. When the size of the sheet 22 is large, the restriction section 65 is disengaged from the flared section 52 to allow the swinging operation of the first lifting plate 31. Therefore, restricting and enabling the swinging operation of the first lifting plate 31 can be easily switched in accordance with the size of the sheet 22.
  • (1-4) The first biasing force is greater than the second biasing force. Therefore, the upper limit for the number of sheets 22 to be set can be increased as compared with a case where the first biasing force is set to be equal to the second biasing force.
  • (1-5) The second tip end 48 is smaller than the first tip end 45 in the width direction X. Therefore, the weight of the second lifting plate 32 can be reduced as compared with a case where the second tip end 48 has the same size as the first tip end 45, for example.
  • (1-6) The plurality of first biasing sections 34 are provided on both sides of the second biasing section 35 with the second biasing section 35 interposed therebetween in the width direction X. Therefore, the biasing force can be applied to the second lifting plate 32 in a well-balanced manner.
  • (1-7) The first locking member 36 retains the first lifting plate 31 at the first set position where the first lifting plate 31 is pushed down. The second locking member 37 retains the second lifting plate 32 at the second set position where the second lifting plate 32 is pushed down. Therefore, the sheet 22 can be easily set on the second lifting plate 32.
  • (1-8) For example, if the first shaft 46 and the second shaft 49 were provided at positions shifted in the vertical direction Z, then the upper limit for the number of sheets 22 to be set would be reduced. In this regard, the first shaft 46 and the second shaft 49 are provided at positions shifted in the sheet feed direction Y. Therefore, the upper limit for the number of sheets 22 to be set can be increased.
  • (1-9) For example, even if extension is limited for a portion of the compression coil springs among the plurality of compression coil springs that bias one lifting plate, the force with which the lifting plate pushes up the sheet 22 can be changed. However, when the extension of the compression coil spring is limited, the compression coil spring separates from the lifting plate. Therefore, when the extension limit of the compression coil spring is released, the position where the compression coil spring pushes the lifting plate may change, and the operation may become unstable. In this regard, the restriction section 65 restricts the swinging operation of the first lifting plate 31. That is, the first biasing section 34 is in contact with the first lifting plate 31 even when the swing of the first lifting plate 31 is restricted. Therefore, the first biasing section 34 can stably bias the first lifting plate 31.

Modifications

The present embodiment can be implemented with the following modifications. The embodiments and the following modifications can be implemented in combination with each other as long as there is no technical contradiction.

• • The sheet feeding cassette 18 may include a plurality of first lifting plates 31. Specifically, the first lifting plate 31 of the embodiment may be divided at the center in the width direction X, for example. The sheet feeding cassette 18 may include two first lifting plates 31 each including one protruding section 51. The plurality of first biasing sections 34 may bias different first lifting plates 31.
  • The sheet feeding cassette 18 may be configured not to include at least one of the first side guide 38, the second side guide 39, and the third side guide 40. For example, in a case where the sheet feeding cassette 18 does not include the second side guide 39, the first lifting plate 31 may include one protruding section 51 that protrudes from the second lifting plate 32 toward the first side guide 38. The user may set the sheet 22 on the side opposite to the first side guide 38. In this case, the restriction section 65 of the first side guide 38 may switch between restricting and allowing the swinging operation of the first lifting plate 31.
  • The first biasing section 34 may be a torsion coil spring provided on the first shaft 46. The second biasing section 35 may be a torsion coil spring provided on the second shaft 49.
  • At least one of the first biasing section 34 and the second biasing section 35 may be a tension spring or a counterweight. The first biasing section 34 may apply the first biasing force to the first lifting plate 31 by pulling up the first lifting plate 31. The second biasing section 35 may apply the second biasing force to the second lifting plate 32 by pulling up the second lifting plate 32.
  • The first shaft 46 and the second shaft 49 may be provided at the same position in the sheet feed direction Y.
  • The sheet feeding cassette 18 may be configured not to include at least one of the first locking member 36 and the second locking member 37. For example, the second locking member 37 may hold both the first lifting plate 31 and the second lifting plate 32 at the set position.
  • The sheet feeding cassette 18 may include one first biasing section 34.
  • The sheet feeding cassette 18 may include a plurality of second biasing sections 35.
  • The first tip end 45 may be the same size as the second tip end 48. The first tip end 45 may be smaller than the second tip end 48.
  • The first biasing force and the second biasing force may be the same magnitude.
  • The first biasing force may be less than the second biasing force.
  • The first lifting plate 31 may not include the flared section 52 and the cutout section 53. The restriction section 65 may be provided separately from the first side guide 38 and the second side guide 39. For example, the restriction section 65 may be located at the release position and the restriction position by moving in the sheet feed direction Y. The restriction section 65 may be interlocked with the movement of the third side guide 40. The restriction section 65 may be interlocked with the rotation of the pinion 41. The movement of the restriction section 65 may be directly performed by the user.
  • The recording device 11 is not limited to an inkjet type printer, and may be a laser printer, a thermal printer, a dot impact printer, a digital printing machine, or the like.

The recording device may be a liquid ejection device that performs recording by ejecting or discharging liquid other than ink. The state of liquid that is ejected from the liquid ejection device as a minute amount of liquid droplets includes a granular shape, a tear shape, and a shape with a thread-like tail. Here, the liquid may be a material that can be ejected from the liquid ejection device. For example, a liquid may be any state in which a substance is in a liquid phase, and includes fluids such as high or low viscosity liquids, sols, gel water, other inorganic solvents, organic solvents, solutions, liquid resins, liquid metals, and metal melts. The liquid includes not only a liquid as one state of a substance but also a liquid in which particles of a functional material made of a solid material such as a pigment or metal particles are dissolved, dispersed, or mixed in a solvent. Typical examples of the liquid include ink as described in the above embodiment and liquid crystal. Here, the ink includes various liquid compositions such as general water-based ink, oil-based ink, gel ink, and hot-melt ink. As a specific example of the liquid ejection device, there is a device that ejects liquid containing materials such as electrode materials or color materials used for manufacturing liquid crystal displays, electroluminescence displays, surface-emitting displays, color filters, or the like, in a dispersed or dissolved form. The liquid ejection device may be a device that ejects a bioorganic substance used for manufacturing a biochip, a device that is used as a precision pipette and ejects liquid serving as a sample, a textile printing device, a micro dispenser, or the like. The liquid ejection device may be a device that ejects lubricating oil to precision machinery such as watches or cameras in a pinpoint manner, or a device that ejects a transparent resin liquid such as an ultraviolet curable resin onto a substrate in order to form micro hemispherical lenses, optical lenses, or the like used in optical communication elements or the like. The liquid ejection device may be a device for ejecting an etching liquid such as an acid or an alkali for etching a substrate or the like.

Definitions

As used herein, the expression “at least one” means “one or more” of the desired options. As an example, the phrase “at least one” as used herein means “only one option” or “both of two options” if the number of options is two. As another example, the expression “at least one” as used herein means “only one option”, “a combination of two optional options”, or “a combination of three or more optional options” when the number of options is three or more.

Notes

Hereinafter, technical ideas grasped from the above-described embodiment and modifications, and operations and effects thereof will be described.

• • [1] A sheet feeding cassette includes a first lifting plate that is swingable about a first shaft; a second lifting plate located above the first lifting plate and swingable about a second shaft; a first biasing section that applies a first biasing force to the first lifting plate; a second biasing section that applies a second biasing force to the second lifting plate; and a restriction section configured to restrict a swinging operation of the first lifting plate.

According to this configuration, the second lifting plate is located above the first lifting plate. When the first lifting plate is swingable, the first biasing section applies the first biasing force to the second lifting plate via the first lifting plate. Therefore, the second lifting plate receives the first biasing force of the first biasing section and the second biasing force of the second biasing section. When the restriction section restricts the swinging of the first lifting plate, the force received by the second biasing section becomes the second biasing force. That is, the force applied to the second lifting plate can be changed depending on whether or not the restriction section restricts the swinging operation of the first lifting plate; Therefore, the upper limit for the number of sheets to be set can be increased.

• • [2] The sheet feeding cassette according to the [1] may include a side guide that determines a position of the set sheet in a width direction, wherein the side guide includes the restriction section.

According to this configuration, the side guide includes the restriction section. That is, the side guide determines the position of the sheet in the width direction and restricts the swinging operation of the first lifting plate. By providing the side guide with a plurality of functions, the size can be reduced compared to a case where the restriction section and the side guide are separately provided.

• • [3] The sheet feeding cassette according to [1] or [2] may be such that the first lifting plate includes a flared section and a cutout section, the flared section is located between the second lifting plate and the cutout section in the width direction, and the restriction section restricts the swinging operation of the first lifting plate by abutting on the flared section, and allows the swinging operation of the first lifting plate by being aligned with the cutout section in the sheet feed direction.

According to this configuration, the distance between the cutout section and the second lifting plate is larger than the distance between the flared section and the second lifting plate in the width direction. Since the restriction section is provided on the side guide, the restriction section is located at a position corresponding to the size of the sheet in the width direction. That is, when the size of the sheet is small, the restriction section located at a position close to the second lifting plate restricts the swinging operation of the first lifting plate by abutting on the flared section. When the size of the sheet is large, the restriction section is disengaged from the flared section to allow the swinging operation of the first lifting plate. Therefore, it is possible to easily switch between the restriction and the allowance of the swinging operation of the first lifting plate in accordance with the size of the sheet.

• • [4] The sheet feeding cassette according to any one of [1] to [3] may be such that the first biasing force is greater than the second biasing force.

According to this configuration, the first biasing force is larger than the second biasing force. Therefore, the upper limit for the number of sheets to be set can be increased as compared with a case where the first biasing force is set to be equal to the second biasing force, for example.

• • [5] The sheet feeding cassette according to any one of [1] to [4] may be such that the first lifting plate has a first tip end, the second lifting plate has a second tip end, and the second tip end is smaller than the first tip end in the width direction.

According to this configuration, the second tip end is smaller than the first tip end in the width direction. Therefore, the weight of the second lifting plate can be reduced as compared with a case where the second tip end has the same size as the first tip end, for example.

• • [6] The sheet feeding cassette according to any one of [1] to [5] may be such that a plurality of the first biasing sections are provided and the second biasing section is provided between the plurality of first biasing sections in the width direction.

According to this configuration, the plurality of first biasing sections are provided on both sides of the second biasing section with the second biasing section interposed therebetween in the width direction. Therefore, the biasing force can be applied to the second lifting plate in a well-balanced manner.

• • [7] The sheet feeding cassette according to any one of [1] to [6] may include a first locking member that retains the first lifting plate in a pushed-down position and a second locking member that retains the second lifting plate at a pushed-down position.

According to this configuration, the first locking member retains the first lifting plate at the pushed-down position. The second locking member retains the second lifting plate at the pushed-down position. Therefore, the sheet can be easily set on the second lifting plate.

• • [8] The sheet feeding cassette according to any one of [1] to [7] may be such that the first shaft and the second shaft are provided with a space therebetween in a sheet feed direction.

For example, if the first shaft and the second shaft are provided at positions shifted in the vertical direction, the upper limit for the number of sheets to be set is reduced. In this regard, according to this configuration, the first shaft and the second shaft are provided at positions shifted in the sheet feed direction. Therefore, the upper limit for the number of sheets to be set can be increased.

• • [9] A recording device includes the sheet feeding cassette according to any one of [1] to [8]; a sheet feed section configured to feed the sheet placed on the sheet feeding cassette; and a recording section that performs recording on the sheet fed by the sheet feed section.

According to this configuration, the same effect as that of the above-described sheet feeding cassette can be achieved.