US 12,168,346 B2
Feed tray and image forming apparatus including the same
Yuya Tatematsu, Nagoya (JP); Satoshi Miyase, Nagoya (JP); and Hideaki Yoshimune, Nagoya (JP)
Assigned to BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA, Nagoya (JP)
Filed by BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA, Nagoya (JP)
Filed on Aug. 30, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/823,253.
Claims priority of application No. 2021-140670 (JP), filed on Aug. 31, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2023/0065393 A1, Mar. 2, 2023
Int. Cl. B65H 16/08 (2006.01); B41J 15/04 (2006.01)
CPC B41J 15/04 (2013.01) [B65H 16/08 (2013.01); B65H 2404/633 (2013.01)] 25 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
18. An image forming apparatus comprising:
a feed tray configured to accommodate a roll, in which a sheet-shaped medium is rolled in a roll shape, the feed tray comprising:
a support portion, comprising two support rollers each configured to contact an outer peripheral surface of a lower portion of the roll at a different one of two support positions with a lower end of the roll being interposed therebetween and to rotatably support the roll;
a member, contactable with the roll, and arranged at a location downstream with respect to the two support rollers in a direction in which the sheet-shaped medium unrolled from the roll is fed, the member configured to limit a loosening of the roll; and
a path having an inlet disposed between the two support positions and configured to guide the sheet-shaped medium unrolled from the roll,
wherein the two support positions are shifted from each other in an upper-lower direction,
a conveyance mechanism configured to convey the sheet-shaped medium of the roll accommodated in the feed tray;
an image forming device configured to form an image on the sheet-shaped medium conveyed by the conveyance mechanism; and
a housing configured to accommodate the conveyance mechanism and the image forming device, the feed tray being attachable to and removable from the housing.