JP2001175045A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent a platen cover from being rocked large when it is opened simultaneously with a reading unit in an image forming device provided with the reading unit and the platen cover so that they can be opened and closed with respect to an image forming unit. SOLUTION: This image forming device 1 is provided with the reading unit 5 and the platen cover 7 on the image forming unit 2 forming a copy so that they can be respectively opened and closed through a base part frame 3. Then, an opening regulation member 10 housing a rod member 12 is arranged behind the unit 5 so as to regulate the maximum opening angle of the cover 7 on a condition that the rod member 12 is positioned between an upper frame 4 and a stopper 14. Thus, even when the unit 5 is opened on a condition that the cover 7 is opened, the unit 5 is rocked so that it approaches the cover 7.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus provided with an openable and closable reading unit and a platen cover on an image forming unit, and more particularly to a reading unit when the reading unit is opened with the platen cover open. And an image forming apparatus in which a platen cover is closed.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An image forming apparatus in which a reading unit is disposed on an image forming unit so as to be openable and closable and a platen cover is provided on the reading unit so as to be openable and closable is an apparatus such as an electrophotographic copying machine or a facsimile machine. It is generally used as In the image forming unit of the image forming apparatus,
Using an apparatus of a method of recording on a recording medium using an electrophotographic method, information of an image of a document read by a reading unit is
The image is transmitted to the image forming unit. When the reading unit is configured as a flatbed scanner, the original set on the platen glass is pressed by the platen cover to correspond to the reading operation, and when replacing the original or performing maintenance of the reading unit. The platen cover is opened at a predetermined angle.

[0003]

When performing maintenance on the image forming unit, the reading unit is opened via a hinge provided on the image forming unit, and maintenance work is performed with the reading unit opened. ing. However, the reading unit may be opened while the platen cover is first opened, and if the reading unit is opened as it is, the platen cover swings greatly and collides with a wall or the like and breaks. Problems occur. In particular, the automatic document feeder (A
In the case where a heavy object such as DF) is disposed, a biasing means such as a spring is disposed at a hinge portion supporting the platen cover to regulate the opening angle of the platen cover, and the reading unit is opened. If the platen cover is accidentally opened in this state, the platen cover is opened vigorously and collides with a fixed object around it.
Problems such as damage to the DF may occur.

An object of the present invention is to solve the above-described problem of the conventional image forming apparatus. When the reading unit is opened with the platen cover open, the reading unit moves in the direction approaching the reading unit. It is an object of the present invention to provide an image forming apparatus provided with a regulating member for swinging a platen cover.

[0005]

According to the present invention, there is provided an image forming unit, a reading unit which is openable and closable with respect to the image forming unit via a hinge, and which is disposed above the reading unit and has the same direction as the reading unit. The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus having a platen cover that opens and closes. The invention according to claim 1 of the present invention is characterized in that a restricting means which acts to close the platen cover with respect to the reading unit when the reading unit is opened with the platen cover open is provided on the hinge side of the reading unit. It is characterized by having. Then, it is possible to prevent the platen cover from being unexpectedly opened and damaged.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, the restricting means includes a guide member vertically arranged at a rear end of the reading unit, and a platen cover that closes the reading unit when the reading unit is opened. It is characterized by having a regulating member that acts. Therefore, even if the reading unit is opened with the platen cover open,
Since the platen cover swings in the direction in which the platen cover closes with respect to the reading unit, the opening angle of the platen cover with respect to the image forming unit does not increase, and it is possible to prevent the platen cover from colliding with an object behind.

The invention according to claim 3 is characterized in that the regulating member has an elastic action. Since the regulating member has an elastic action, the platen cover is not suddenly closed, and it is possible to prevent the platen from being damaged.

[0008]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The configuration of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to the illustrated example. An image forming apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 1 includes an image forming unit 2 disposed at a lower portion, a reading unit 5 disposed on the image forming unit 2, and an openable / closable unit with respect to the reading unit 5 via a hinge 8. And a platen cover 7. The reading unit 5 and the platen cover 7 are supported by a separately provided base frame 3 so that the weight of the upper unit is not directly applied to the image forming unit 2. The image forming unit 2 is configured as a device capable of recording on a recording medium using an electrophotographic method, but may be configured by disposing a known copy creating mechanism having an arbitrary configuration.

In the reading unit 5, a scanning device movable along the lower surface of the platen is arranged, set on the platen and pressed by the platen cover 7, similarly to a commonly used image reading device. Read the image of the original to be scanned. And the reading unit 5
Is transmitted to the image forming unit 2 and is recorded on the recording medium. The member shown as the platen cover 7 has a flatbed in which an automatic document feeder (ADF) is arranged in addition to a general platen cover in which an elastic body for pressing an original is arranged on the lower surface of the plate. This also includes the case where the scanner function and the ADF function are configured as a device that can be used arbitrarily.

The upper units 5 and 7 supported by the base frame 3 are connected to the image forming unit 2 via a hinge 6 provided on the upper frame 4 of the base frame 3.
It is provided so that it can be opened and closed. The hinge 6 connects a lower bracket 6a provided on the upper frame 4 and a lower bracket 6b provided on the lower surface of the reading unit 5 by a shaft 6c. In addition, the hinge 6 is provided with an auxiliary means by an elastic member for easily opening the heavy reading unit 5 and for holding the reading unit 5 in the open position. The configuration of the auxiliary means is omitted. The hinge 8 supporting the platen cover 7 is configured to support the shaft provided on the platen cover 7 with respect to the bracket 8 a provided on the reading unit 5.
The provision of an auxiliary means for holding the platen cover 7 in the open state is the same as in the case of a conventional general image forming apparatus.

As described above, the two upper units which can be opened and closed by using the hinges 6 and 8 provided with the auxiliary means are relatively heavy, such as having an operating member inside each unit. In this case, the unit can be easily opened and closed. Opening the reading unit 5 from the image forming unit 2 is performed when maintenance of a copy creating mechanism of the image forming unit 2 is performed. When the reading unit 5 is to be opened, the platen cover 7 is attached to the reading unit 5. Needless to say, it is desirable to fix and hold it so as not to open.

However, if the reading unit 5 is opened with the platen cover 7 opened with respect to the reading unit 5 due to the carelessness of the operator or the like, the platen cover 7 that has been opened earlier is largely behind. It is supposed to be swayed toward and cause a problem such as damage by collision with a wall or other objects behind the device. Therefore, in order to prevent the occurrence of the above-mentioned inconvenient state, in the present embodiment, the opening regulating member 10 is attached to the hinge-side end of the reading unit 5.
Are arranged so that the opening angle of the platen cover 7 is regulated according to the opening and closing of the reading unit 5.

The opening degree regulating member 10 is constructed as shown in FIG. 2, and is a rod member 1 slidable with respect to a holding cylinder member 11 fixed behind the reading unit 5.
2 and a large-diameter member 13 is provided above the rod member 12.
Is provided to limit the lowering limit of the rod member 12. The rod member 12 is provided between the upper surface of the upper frame 4 and a stopper 14 provided on the platen cover 7, and is formed by using a member such as an oil damper, for example, and has a large diameter. The member above the member 13 may be configured to be able to protrude and retract from the member below. When the rod member 12 is formed of a member such as an oil damper, the rod member 12 easily follows the pressing action in the axial direction, but returns slowly when the pressing action is released. No abrupt operation is performed in the direction in which the cover 7 is opened from the reading unit. As the rod member 12, a rod-shaped member or the like in which another elastic member such as a rubber rod is provided at a predetermined portion in the longitudinal direction of the rod member may be used.

FIG. 3 shows a state in which the reading unit 5 and the platen cover 7 are opened with respect to the base frame 3, respectively. The operation of the opening degree regulating member 10 when the unit 5 is further opened is described. As shown in this example, when the reading unit 5 is opened with the platen cover 7 opened, the opening degree regulating member 10 provided on the reading unit 5 causes the rod member 12 to be pushed upward, whereby the platen It contacts the stopper 14 of the cover 7. Then, the platen cover 7 is regulated so as not to be opened any more. When the reading unit 5 is further opened from this state, the rod member 12 pushes up the stopper 14 of the platen cover 7 so that the platen cover 7 closes with respect to the reading unit 5.
2 works. Therefore, even if the reading unit 5 is opened with the platen cover 7 opened, the platen cover 7 is stopped at a fixed angle with respect to the reading unit 5 by the rod member 12, and the reading unit 5 is further moved from this state. When the platen cover 7 is to be opened, the rod member 12 acts so as to close the reading unit 5.

The opening restricting member 10 constructed as described above
4 to 6, the opening and closing operation of the upper swing unit with respect to the image forming unit 2 is restricted as shown in FIGS. The example shown in FIG. 4 shows a state in which the reading unit 5 is opened with the platen cover 7 closed, and as shown in this example, the maximum angle θ1 when only the reading unit 5 is to be opened is: The hinge 6 has the maximum opening angle. The example shown in FIG.
Only the opening state of the platen cover 7 with respect to the reading unit 5 is shown, and the angle at which the rod member 12 abuts on the side surface of the opening degree regulating member 10 is the maximum opening angle.

For each of the above embodiments, FIG.
The state where the reading unit 5 is opened by mistake with the platen cover 7 opened first is described. When the reading unit 5 is opened from the state shown in FIG. 5, as the opening angle of the reading unit 5 increases, the reading unit 5 swings while being regulated by the opening degree regulating member 10 so as to approach the platen cover 7. The reading unit 5 swings via the hinge 6 while the rod member 12 whose upper and lower sides are regulated slides with respect to the holding cylinder member 11 held by the reading unit 5. 7, the position of the upper end of the rod member 12 changes, and finally the upper end of the rod member 12
4, the opening angle of the platen cover 7 with respect to the upper frame 4 is restricted.

As shown in FIG. 6, when the reading unit 5 is opened to the maximum angle, the angle between the upper frame 4 and the reading unit 5 is θ1, and the angle between the reading unit 5 and the platen cover 7 is θ2. Become. And θ1 and θ
2 is regulated so as to be substantially equal to the maximum opening angle θ of the platen cover 7 shown in FIG. In the above-described embodiment, when the rod member 12 is formed of an elastic member, when the operation of opening the two swing members disposed above the image forming unit is performed, the swing member is opened. In the last stage of the operation, the swinging operation can be elastically received, and the elastic shock prevention mechanism of the hinge itself can be assisted.

The image forming apparatus 1 shown in the above embodiment
In addition to an electrophotographic copier and a facsimile machine, the copier and the facsimile machine can be configured as a composite device, when the image forming apparatus is configured as a multifunction device, the image read by the reading unit The information is transmitted as a digital signal using a telephone line. Further, when used as an electrophotographic copying machine, a digital signal as image information obtained by a reading unit is used to record on a recording sheet by an image forming unit. In the image forming unit, a signal received by facsimile is used. Recording on a recording sheet is the same as that of a conventional general multifunction peripheral.

[0019]

According to the present invention, the reading unit is provided with means for maintaining a constant opening angle of the platen cover with respect to the image forming unit at the rear end of the reading unit on the hinge side. As a result, it is possible to prevent the platen cover from being unexpectedly opened and damaged. Further, by providing an opening degree regulating means for closing the platen cover with respect to the reading unit when the reading unit is opened, even if the reading unit is opened with the platen cover opened, the platen cover can be read. Since the platen cover swings in the closing direction with respect to the unit, the opening angle of the platen cover with respect to the image forming unit does not increase, and it is possible to prevent the platen cover from colliding with an object behind. Further, since the opening degree regulating member is formed of a member having an elastic action, the platen cover is not suddenly closed and the platen can be prevented from being damaged.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view illustrating a configuration of an image forming apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration of an opening regulating member.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of a state of an opening degree regulating member when a swing member is opened.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory view of a state in which two upper swing members are simultaneously opened.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of a state where only a platen cover is opened.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of a state in which a reading unit is opened with a platen cover open.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 image forming apparatus, 2 image forming unit, 3
Base frame, 4 Upper frame, 5 Reading unit, 6 Hinge, 7 Platen cover, 8
Hinge, 10 Opening restriction member, 11 Holding cylinder member, 12 Rod member, 13 Large diameter member, 14 Stopper.

Claims (3)

[Claims] An image forming unit, a reading unit that can be opened and closed via a hinge with respect to the image forming unit, and an image that has a platen cover that is disposed above the reading unit and that opens and closes in the same direction as the reading unit. In the forming apparatus, on the hinge side of the reading unit, when the reading unit is opened while the platen cover is open, a regulating unit that acts to close the platen cover with respect to the reading unit is provided. Image forming device. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the restricting unit includes a guide member vertically arranged at a rear end of the reading unit, and a restricting member that acts to close the platen cover with respect to the reading unit when the reading unit is opened. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the regulating member has an elastic action.