Paper cassette and image forming apparatus including the same

Abstract

A paper cassette and an image forming apparatus including the paper cassette are provided. The paper cassette includes a cassette frame having a bottom plate on which sheets of paper are loaded. A first member restricts the paper loaded on the bottom plate from moving in a width direction of the paper. A second member restricts the paper from moving in a length direction. A connecting member connects the first member and the second member and is mounted on the bottom plate to be linearly reciprocated.

1 . A paper cassette, comprising: 
 a cassette frame having a bottom plate on which sheets of paper are loaded;    a first member restricting the paper loaded on the bottom plate from moving in a width direction of the paper;    a second member restricting the paper from moving in a length direction; and    a connecting member connecting the first member and the second member and mounted on the bottom plate to be linearly reciprocated.    
   
   
       2 . The paper cassette of  claim 1 , wherein, 
 a guide recess extends substantially linearly in the bottom plate, and the connecting member is mounted on the bottom plate to be linearly reciprocated along the guide recess.    
   
   
       3 . The paper cassette of  claim 2 , wherein 
 the guide recess is extended along a virtual line that is slanted in a clockwise direction at a predetermined angle that is larger than 0° and smaller than 90° with respect to a supplying direction of the paper.    
   
   
       4 . The paper cassette of  claim 2 , wherein 
 the guide recess is extended along a virtual line that is slanted in a counter-clockwise direction at a predetermined angle that is larger than 0° and smaller than 90° with respect to a supplying direction of the paper.    
   
   
       5 . The paper cassette of  claim 1 , wherein 
 the connecting member includes a rack portion where a gear is formed, and the bottom plate includes a pinion gear that engages the rack portion such that the connecting member is linearly moved by the rotation of the pinion gear.    
   
   
       6 . The paper cassette of  claim 1 , wherein 
 a position fixation unit fixing positions of the first member, the second member, and the connecting member according to the size of paper.    
   
   
       7 . The paper cassette of  claim 1 , wherein 
 a size recognition unit recognizes the size of the paper that is loaded on the bottom plate in a position where the first and second members are set.    
   
   
       8 . The paper cassette of  claim 1 , wherein 
 a slant surface is formed on upper end portions of the first and second members to guide the paper to an appropriate loading position when the paper is loaded.    
   
   
       9 . The paper cassette of  claim 8 , wherein 
 a stepped surface is formed on upper end portions of the first and second members to restrict the loaded paper from escaping that position.    
   
   
       10 . The paper cassette of  claim 1 , wherein 
 said first member is substantially perpendicular to said second member.    
   
   
       11 . An image forming apparatus, comprising: 
 a printing unit printing images; and    a paper cassette loading sheets of paper that are supplied to the printing unit,the paper cassette including 
 a cassette frame having a bottom plate on which sheets of paper are loaded;  
 a first member restricting the paper loaded on the bottom plate from moving in a width direction of the paper;  
 a second member restricting the paper from moving in a length direction; and  
 a connecting member connecting the first member and the second member and mounted on the bottom plate to be linearly reciprocated.  
   
   
   
       12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein 
 a guide recess extends substantially linearly the bottom plate, and the connecting member is mounted on the bottom plate to be linearly reciprocated along the guide recess.    
   
   
       13 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein 
 the guide recess is extended along a virtual line that is slanted in a clockwise direction at a predetermined angle that is larger than 0° and smaller than 90° with respect to a supplying direction of the paper.    
   
   
       14 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein 
 the guide recess is extended along a virtual line that is slanted in a counter-clockwise direction at a predetermined angle that is larger than 0° and smaller than 90° with respect to a supplying direction of the paper.    
   
   
       15 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein 
 the connecting member includes a rack portion where a gear is formed, and the bottom plate includes a pinion gear that engages the rack portion to linearly move the connecting member by the rotation of the pinion gear.    
   
   
       16 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein 
 a position fixation unit fixes positions of the first member, the second member, and the connecting member according to the size of paper.    
   
   
       17 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein 
 a size recognition unit recognizes the size of the paper that is loaded on the bottom plate in a state where the first and second members are set.    
   
   
       18 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein 
 a slant surface is formed on upper end portions of the first and second members to guide the paper to an appropriate loading position when the paper is loaded.    
   
   
       19 . The paper cassette of  claim 18 , wherein 
 a stepped surface is formed on upper end portions of the first and second members to restrict the loaded paper from escaping that position.    
   
   
       20 . The paper cassette of  claim 11 , wherein 
 said first member is substantially perpendicular to said second member.