JP2001121795A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming apparatus capable of easily providing a locking device if necessary. SOLUTION: Locking devices 24, 28 capable of locking a detachable paper feed cassete 22 so as not to arbitrarily pulling the same out of an image forming apparatus body 20a at a time other than a necessary time can be provided in the image forming apparatus body and, when the locking devices 24, 28 are provided, a cylinder body 24 for operating the locking devices so as to open or close them by revolving a tag 26 when a user inserts a key 31 to revolve the same is provided on the side of the paper feed cassette 22 and the engaging member 28 engaged with the revolved tag 26 when the locking devices are set to a closed state is provided on the side of the image forming apparatus body 20a.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a printer, for example,
The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus used for a mica toner printer or the like, and particularly to management of a paper feed cassette.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a paper feed cassette of a conventional image forming apparatus such as a printer, a normal blank transfer paper is merely contained, so that the paper feed cassette cannot be unintentionally pulled out until a key is locked. The need to do so was scarce.

[0003]

However, as an application of a printer or the like in recent years, a security such as a check which can be used immediately after a money number or the like is put in a paper feed cassette and a magnetic powder Some mica-toner printers have emerged, which can be used immediately for economic transactions by printing the figures of money or the like with the mica-toner.
In such a mica toner printer, it is necessary to lock the paper cassette so as to prevent the paper cassette from being pulled out arbitrarily, thereby preventing the check paper and the like from being stolen.

[0004] Such a mica toner printer and an ordinary printer are basically manufactured in the same structure, so that they are hardly distinguished from each other. Or, the printer was remodeled and a key was attached. However, since the number of users who use the mica toner printer is very small when viewed from the whole printer users, it is not possible to attach a key-locking device to all printers manufactured and sold.

[0005] In view of the above problems, an object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus in which a locking device can be easily provided if necessary.

[0006]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, an image forming apparatus according to the present invention can be freely extracted from the image forming apparatus main body unless a detachable paper feed cassette is required for the image forming apparatus main body. A locking device that can be locked so as not to be locked can be provided.When the locking device is provided, a user inserts a key and rotates the tag to rotate the tag to open or close the locking device. And a locking member for locking the tag rotated when the locking device is closed is provided on the image forming apparatus main body side. Things.

According to the image forming apparatus having such a configuration,
Since a locking device can be provided as required, a special image forming apparatus such as a mica toner printer and other image forming apparatuses can be manufactured with almost no distinction at the time of manufacturing.

[0008]

Embodiments of the present invention will be specifically described below with reference to the drawings. 1 to 1
FIG. 3 is a diagram referred to for describing the first embodiment of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention.

As in the mica toner printer 20 (image forming apparatus) shown in FIG. 1, a cylinder main body 24 of a locking device is provided on the front left side of the paper feeding cassette 22. This is because it is necessary to lock the paper in the mica toner printer 20 that prints using the mica toner so that the paper cassette is not pulled out and the check paper or the like is not stolen. Is provided in the paper feed cassette 22.

On the other hand, in the ordinary printer 30 shown in FIG. 15 for printing using ordinary toner, a locking device is not provided, that is, the cylinder body 24 is not provided.
Is used without being provided in the sheet cassette 33. Therefore, the sheet cassette 33 has no hole for the cylinder body 24.

For this reason, during the manufacture of the printer, the mica toner printer 20 and the other printer 30 can be manufactured with almost no distinction. If necessary, a locking device can be attached to the printer 30,
The printer can be used as a mica toner printer 20. However, in that case, the paper cassette 33
Need only be replaced with a paper feed cassette 22 having a hole for the cylinder body 24, and a tag locking member attached to the image forming apparatus body only.

As shown in FIG. 2B, a groove 24a is formed at one end of the cylinder main body 24.
At the other end, a tag 26 is integrally fixed to a rotating body in the cylinder body 24. Further, as shown in FIG. 2A, a keyhole 24b is opened on a surface on one end side of the cylinder main body 24 in FIG. 2B.

As shown in FIG.
Is fitted to the sheet cassette 22 at a position where its lower neck portion 24c substantially matches the thickness of the sheet cassette 22. When the retainer 25 is fitted into the groove 24a of the cylinder body 24, the cylinder body 24 is attached so as not to be removed outside.

The retainer 25 is formed as shown in FIG. 9 and, as shown in FIG. 9 (b), is bowed by δ in the thickness direction thereof. The play between the thickness of the cylinder 22 and the cylinder body 24 can be reduced. Further, as shown in FIG. 9A, the retainer 25 is formed with protrusions 25 a for preventing the retainer 25 from projecting inward from both sides, so that the retainer 25 does not easily come off the cylinder body 24.

As shown in FIG. 2A, when the tag 26 of the cylinder body 24 rotates in the direction of the arrow and comes to the position shown by the solid line in FIG. 2, as shown in FIG. Locking member 2 provided on the apparatus main body 20a of FIG.
8, which locks the locking device.

In FIG. 2A, when the tag 26 is rotated and comes to the position shown by the dashed line,
The locking device is disengaged from the locking member 28 provided at 0a, whereby the locking device is opened. In this open state, as shown in FIG. 5, the paper feed cassette 22 can be pulled out from the apparatus main body 20a of the mica toner printer 20.

Further, as shown in FIG.
Pivots along the arrow between the positions of the solid and dashed lines,
The tip of the tag 26 is set so as not to go below the bottom of the sheet cassette 22. For this reason, even if the sheet cassette 22 is placed under a flat surface such as a desk, the tag 2
6 can rotate smoothly between the positions of the solid line and the chain line.

The tag 26 can be rotated together with the rotating body in the cylinder body 24 by inserting the key fitting 31 shown in FIG. 6 into the key hole 24b of the cylinder body 24 and rotating it. ing. Cylinder main body 2 for rotating tag 26 by such a key fitting 31
4 and the locking member 28 to which the tag 26 locks constitute a locking device as a whole.

Before the cylinder main body 24 is mounted on the paper feed cassette 22, as shown in FIG.
Has a hole 22b on the front left side. A counterbore 22c (see FIG. 8) is formed around the hole 22b.
By changing the diameter D, depth, inclination angle and the like of the counterbore machining 22c, various cylinder bodies 24 can be attached.

The counterbore machining 22c improves the seating of the cylinder main body 24, and the cylinder main body 24 is deflected by adjusting its depth with respect to the change in the thickness of the sheet cassette 22 between lots. Can not be.

The cylinder body 24 is inserted into the hole 22b from the tag 26 side, and then the retainer 25 as shown in FIG. 9 is fitted into the groove 24a of the cylinder body 24 as shown in FIG. The main body 24 can be attached to the sheet cassette 22. Therefore, the user can easily perform the work of attaching the cylinder main body 24 to the paper feed cassette 22.

As shown in FIG. 3, the tag 2 of the locking member 28
5 is provided between the tag 26 and the locking plate 28f that locks with 6.
The angle θ of ° ± 4 ° is set. Therefore, tag 2
Reference numeral 6 facilitates engagement with the engagement plate 28f of the engagement member 28.

In such a mica toner printer 20, as shown in FIG.
When the paper feed cassette 22 is stored in the apparatus main body 20a of this embodiment, if the tag 26 is arranged at a position shown by a solid line in FIG.
f, the locking member 28 is in the way,
The paper cassette 22 cannot be completely housed in the apparatus main body 20a to the end.

In such an incompletely stored state of the paper cassette 22, none of the paper size sensors 32 (paper size detecting means) of the paper cassette 22 shown in FIG. Such a state can be determined. The incomplete storage state of the paper feed cassette 22 can be displayed on a display unit such as a liquid crystal of the mica toner printer 20 to notify a user or the like.

[0025] Incidentally, in FIG.
When the cartridge 2 is completely stored, the sensor drive unit 22a provided on the side of the sheet cassette 22 presses one of the size sensors 32, and the mica toner printer 20 detects the paper size based on a detection signal from the size sensor 32. You can do it.

As shown in FIG. 12, even when the paper feed cassette 22 is completely housed in the apparatus main body 20a of the mica toner printer 20, the tag 26 is arranged at the position shown by the chain line in FIG. You may forget to lock the key.

Also, the mica toner printer 20 can be used as a normal printer using a normal toner by replacing the toner tank. When using the mica toner printer 20 as a normal printer in this way, do not intentionally lock the key. It is considered that the locking device is often used in an open state.

As shown in FIG. 13, such forgetting to lock the key is detected by a second sensor 34 (second detecting means), such as a microswitch, for detecting the tag 26 inside the locking member 28. A part 34a is provided for detection. In other words, even when one of the size sensors 32 performs the detecting operation, if the second sensor 34 cannot detect the tag 26, the fact that the key is forgotten is displayed on the display unit of the mica toner printer 20. Can be notified to the user or the like. For the detection by the second sensor 34, the detection section 34a of the second sensor 34 can be pressed to perform the detection operation by deforming the tip portion of the tag 26 or by interposing another member.

If such a key is forgotten to be closed, printing may be performed in that state. However, in this state, printing may not be performed, or only fonts dedicated to mica may not be printed. The user can set any one of them using the operation unit of the mica toner printer 20. When the items set in such a manner are changed, it is possible to make it impossible to change the items without inputting a password through the operation unit.

As shown in FIG. 14, a paper feed unit 38 having a multi-stage paper feed cassette may be provided below the mica toner printer 20, and a sorter 40 may be provided below the paper feed unit 38 for use. . Also in this case, according to the present invention, when the locking device is provided in the mica toner printer 20, the cylinder main body 24 is provided on the paper cassette 22 side. A body 24 can be provided.

According to the present invention, as described above, the cylinder main body 24 of the locking device is provided on the side of the paper feed cassette 22.
As in the case where the cylinder body 24 is provided on the side, it is not difficult for the user and the service person to attach and detach the cylinder body 24.

Since the number of components of the sheet cassette 22 is small, it is advantageous in securing a space for installing the cylinder body 24. Further, after the mica toner printer 20 is installed on site, the cylinder main body 24 of the locking device can be provided in the paper feed cassette 22 in accordance with the user's detailed requirements.

In the above embodiment, the cylinder main body 24 requires a tool such as a spanner for installation, and uses a screw-fixed cylinder main body that is screwed to the outer peripheral portion of the cylinder with a mounting nut. In addition, since a retainer-fixed cylinder body that does not require a tool such as a spanner is used, the cylinder body 24 can be easily attached to and detached from the paper feed cassette 22 with one touch.

In addition, since a locking device can be provided as required, a special printer such as a mica toner printer can be manufactured at the time of manufacture with almost no distinction from an ordinary printer. Any of them can manufacture a printer or the like at low cost.

Further, since the open / close state of the locking device is electrically detected by various switches, and the processing method can be freely selected by a user or a system designer, the quality of the mica toner printer 20 as a product can be improved. Can be planned. Further, since various types of the cylinder body 24 of the locking device provided in the sheet cassette 22 can be installed, the versatility of the cylinder body 24 of the locking device to be used can be improved.

Although the mica toner printer 20 has been described in the above embodiment, the present invention can be applied to other image forming apparatuses such as printers and copiers of other uses and types.

[0037]

As described above, according to the present invention,
Since a locking device can be provided as required, a special image forming apparatus such as a mica toner printer and other image forming apparatuses can be manufactured with almost no distinction at the time of manufacturing.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a mica toner printer 20 according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a view showing a cylinder body 24, and FIG.
(A) is a front view thereof, and FIG. 2 (b) is a side view thereof.

FIG. 3 shows that the tag 26 of the cylinder body 24 is a locking member 28;
FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing the locking device locked in a closed state.

FIG. 4 is a partial front view of the mica toner printer 20 showing a positional relationship between the cylinder main body 24 and a locking member 28.

FIG. 5 is a partial perspective view showing the mica toner printer 20 in a state where the paper feed cassette 22 is pulled out.

FIG. 6 is a view showing a key fitting 31 that is inserted into a key hole 24b of the cylinder main body 24 and rotates to rotate the tag 26.

FIG. 7 is a partial front view of the paper feed cassette 22.

8A and 8B are diagrams showing a hole 22b into which a cylinder main body 24 of the paper feed cassette 22 is inserted, FIG. 8A is a front view thereof, and FIG. 8B is a cross-sectional view of the hole 22b in FIG. It is.

9 is a view showing a retainer 25, FIG. 9 (a) is a front view thereof, and FIG. 9 (b) is a side view thereof.

FIG. 10 illustrates a state in which the sheet cassette 22 is blocked by the mica toner printer 2 when the tag 26 is obstructed by the locking plate 28f of the locking member 28.
0 is a cross-sectional view showing a state where it cannot be completely stored in the device main body 20a.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing a paper size sensor 32 for detecting a paper size in the paper feed cassette 22;

FIG. 12 illustrates a state in which the paper cassette 22 is a mica toner printer 2.
0 is completely stored in the apparatus main body 20a and the tag 26
Is a cross-sectional view showing that the locking device is in an open state without engaging with the locking member 28.

FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view showing a second sensor that detects when the tag engages with the locking member.

FIG. 14 shows a sheet feeding unit 38 and a sorter 40 below the sheet feeding unit 38;
FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a mica toner printer 20 in which is disposed.

FIG. 15 is a perspective view showing an ordinary printer 30.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 20 Mica toner printer 20a Device main body 22 Paper feed cassette 22a Sensor drive part 22b Hole 22c Counterbore processing 24 Cylinder main body 24a Groove 24b Keyhole 24c Lower neck 25 Retainer 25a Projection 26 Tag 28 Locking member 28f Locking plate 30 Normal printer 31 Key fitting 32 Paper size sensor 33 Paper feed cassette 34 Second sensor 34a Detector 38 Paper feed unit 40 Sorter D diameter

──────────────────────────────────────────────────の Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) G03G 21/00 386 B41J 29/00 Z 21/04 G03G 21/00 390 F-term (Reference) 2C061 BB17 BB35 CL08 CL10 CQ33 CQ42 HJ10 2H027 DC19 EJ03 GA30 ZA05 ZA10 3F343 FA02 FB04 HA16 HA28 HA33 HB03 HC12 HC25 HC27 HC28 KB03 KB20 LC13 LC17 MA26 MB10 MC21 MC25

Claims (11)

[Claims] 1. A locking device which can be locked so as not to be able to be pulled out of the image forming apparatus without permission except when a detachable paper feed cassette is necessary for the image forming apparatus main body. When providing, the user inserts a key and rotates the tag to rotate the tag to operate the locking device in an open or closed state. The cylinder main body is provided on the sheet feeding cassette side, and the locking device is closed. An image forming apparatus, wherein a locking member for locking the tag rotated at the time of setting is provided on the image forming apparatus main body side. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the cylinder body is detachably provided. 3. A locking device for locking the tag by pushing the paper cassette into the image forming apparatus main body in a state in which the tag is rotated to one side and the tag is arranged on the closing side of the locking device. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a detection unit configured to detect that the tag is in contact with the outside of the member and the sheet feeding cassette cannot be completely stored in the image forming apparatus main body. Image forming device. 4. The locking device for locking the tag by pushing the paper cassette into the image forming apparatus main body in a state where the tag is rotated to one side and the tag is arranged on the closing side of the locking device. 4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising display means for displaying that the tag is in contact with the outside of the member so that the sheet feeding cassette cannot be completely stored in the image forming apparatus main body. Image forming device. 5. An image forming apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said detecting means is also used as a paper size detecting means for detecting a paper size in said paper feed cassette. 6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a second detecting unit configured to detect that the locking device is in an open state in a state where the sheet cassette is completely housed in the image forming apparatus main body. 2. The image forming apparatus according to 1. 7. The image forming apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising a display unit for displaying that the locking device is in an open state in a state where the sheet cassette is completely housed in the image forming apparatus main body. The image forming apparatus as described in the above. 8. The printing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein printing can be performed even when the locking device is opened in a state where the sheet cassette is completely housed in the image forming apparatus main body.
Alternatively, the image forming apparatus according to claim 7. 9. A user sets whether printing is enabled or printing is prohibited when the locking device is in an open state in a state where the sheet cassette is completely housed in the image forming apparatus main body. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus is configured to be able to perform the operation. 10. The image forming apparatus according to claim 9, wherein when the item set by the user is changed, a matching means such as a password needs to match the stored one. 11. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a cylinder main body of the locking device is provided in each of the multi-stage cassettes of the sheet feeding unit including a multi-stage detachable cassette or the like.