JP2001142273A - Electronic device provided with function extending device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an electronic device provided with a function extending device that external measures (height and width measures) after connection are reduced without adding a connector to connect a function extending device. SOLUTION: Relating to the electronic device provided with the function extending devices 2 and 3 connected to a main device 1 having a basic function through the connector, it is constituted of a second function extending device 2 that at least a first connector 8 and a second connector 18 are provided on a first attaching surface 1a so as to be separated and a third connector 9 connected to the second connector 18 is provided on a second attaching surface 2a corresponding to the first attaching surface 1a and a third function extending device 3 that a fourth connector 4 connected to the first connector 8 through a through-hole 2t formed at the second function extending device 2 is provided on a third attaching surface 3a, and is provided with a spacer 7 to hold the fourth connector 4 at a position at which it is connected with the first connector 8 by passing through the through-hole 2t.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electronic apparatus provided with a function expansion device, for example, which is connected to an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a laser beam printer, a facsimile or the like as a main apparatus to perform function assistance. For connecting a plurality of types of function assisting devices for the same.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a function expansion device having a function expansion function is electrically connected to an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a laser beam printer, and a facsimile, which are main devices, so as to improve the function. Has been done.

FIG. 9 is a cutaway side view of an essential part of an electronic apparatus provided with a function expansion device. An auxiliary device 102, which is a function expansion device, is located below a main body 101 of a main device, and a connector is provided. The state of electrical connection is shown by 108 and 104.

[0004] FIG. 10 is a side view showing a state where the first function expansion device and the second function expansion device are connected to the main device. The connector 108 of the main body 101, which is the main device of
Connector 109 of the auxiliary device 102 which is a function expansion device
a, 109b and the connector 104 of the auxiliary device 103, which is the third function expansion device with the height H3, are arranged in a straight line as shown in FIG. The function can be improved.

[0005] FIG. 11 is a side view of the main device, in which main parts are cut away to show how the first function expansion device and the second function expansion device are connected to the main device. The connectors 108a and 108b of a certain main body 101 are displaced as shown in FIG.
02 and the connector 104 of the auxiliary device 103, which is a third function expansion device, as shown in FIG.
1 is intended to improve the function. By arranging the connectors in this manner, the main body 101 can be directly connected to the auxiliary device 102 or the auxiliary device 103.

[0006]

However, FIG.
In the conventional configuration example shown in FIG. 1, connectors 109a and 109b for connection to the main body 101 are arranged so as to be on the same straight line.
And the connector 104 for connection to the auxiliary device 103 are located, so that the height H2 of the auxiliary device 102 cannot be reduced, and a dimension H (= H
1 + H2 + H3) could not be reduced, and there was a problem that miniaturization could not be achieved.

Further, in the conventional configuration shown in FIG. 11, the connector is disposed even without the connector, so that the auxiliary device 10 is not provided.
2, the restriction of the height H2 is relaxed, but when the auxiliary device 103 and the auxiliary device 102 are connected to the main body 101, as can be seen from the presence of the unconnected connector 108a,
Since an unused connector is additionally required, there has been a problem that the cost is increased.

Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and reduces external dimensions (height and width dimensions) after connection without increasing the number of connectors for connecting a function expansion device. It is an object of the present invention to provide an electronic device provided with a function expansion device that can perform the function.

Further, since the position of the connector can be arbitrarily changed, the operability is excellent, and the external dimensions (height and width) after the connection can be obtained without increasing the number of connectors for connecting the function expansion device. It is an object of the present invention to provide an electronic device including a function expansion device capable of reducing the size.

[0010]

According to the present invention, there is provided a function expansion device which is connected to a main device having a basic function via a connector in order to solve the above-mentioned problems and achieve the object. In the electronic device, at least a first connector and a second connector are provided on the main device provided separately from the first mounting surface, and on the second mounting surface corresponding to the first mounting surface, A second function expansion device provided with a third connector connected to the second connector, and connected to the first connector via a through hole formed in the second function expansion device; A third function expansion device provided with a fourth connector on a third mounting surface, wherein the fourth connector passes through the through hole and is positioned on the second mounting surface, and Holding means for holding at a position connected to the connector It is characterized by a door.

Further, the main device, the second function expansion device, and the third function expansion device are characterized in that they are used in an overlapping manner in a height direction or a width direction.

Further, the holding means is a spacer member having a depth corresponding to the depth of the through hole, and is characterized in that it is arbitrarily attached to and detached from the third function expansion device.

[0013] Further, the holding means is a spacer member having a depth dimension of the through hole, and is detachably attached to the third function expanding device. In addition, the holding means is provided in the third function expansion device and two pairs of fitting portions formed with the depth dimension of the through hole being separated from each other, and is fitted to the fitting portion. As described above.

Further, the holding means forms a spiral groove guided by a projection provided on the third function expanding device, and a cylindrical member whose depth dimension moves with rotation. It is characterized by comprising.

Also, in an electronic apparatus provided with a function expansion device connected to a main device having a basic function via a connector, the main device having at least a first connector provided on a first mounting surface; A third connector connected to the first connector is provided on a second mounting surface corresponding to the first mounting surface, and a third connector of the third function expansion device is provided.
Fifth connected to the fourth connector provided on the mounting surface of
A second function expansion device, comprising a moving means for moving the fourth connector to a position connected to the fifth connector or the first connector, and a second function expansion device. A first connection state for connecting the main device and the third function expansion device via
The present invention is characterized in that it can be appropriately changed to a second connection state in which the main device and the third function expansion device are directly connected.

The moving means may include a display unit for displaying whether the fourth connector has been moved to the first connection state or the second connection state. Features.

When the second connection state is established,
The fourth connector is moved from the first connection state to the second connection state.
A moving mechanism for moving to the connected state is provided in the moving means.

The main apparatus is an image forming apparatus including a copying machine, a laser beam printer, and a facsimile.

[0019]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment connected to a main body 1 which is a main device having a basic function. FIG. 10 is a side view of a main part of the second function expansion device, which is cut away.

In the figure, at least a first connector 8 and a second connector 18 are provided on a first mounting surface 1a of a main device 1 having a height H1, which is an external dimension, as shown in FIG. ing.

On the second mounting surface 2a corresponding to the first mounting surface 1a, a third connector 9 connected to the second connector 18 is provided. The second function expansion device 2 is interposed, and a through hole 2t is formed in the second function expansion device 2 as shown in the figure. In the through hole 2t, the third function expansion device 3 is inserted. The fourth connector 4 is provided so as to be at the position shown by the solid line in the figure.

A third mounting surface 3a of the third function expansion device 3 having a height H3, which is an external dimension, has a fourth
The plate member 5 of the fourth connector 4 is fixed to the pair of left and right fixing portions 3b with screws so that the connector 4 is located.

When connecting to the first connector 8 of the main device 1 as shown in the figure, the fourth connector 4 is fixed to the fixing portion 3b with a spacer 7 as a holding means interposed. By positioning the fourth connector 4 on the second mounting surface 2a as shown by the solid line, the first connector 8
It is configured so that it can be connected to.

FIG. 2 is an external perspective view of the holding means. In order to protrude upward from the third mounting surface 3a of the third function expansion device 3, the spacer 7 has a convex shape as shown. The connector cable can be set from the side surface into the concave portion, and a hole for inserting a screw 6 to be inserted into the left and right holes of the plate member 5 is provided. By screwing each screw 6 to 3b, the state shown by the solid line in FIG. 1 is obtained.

Alternatively, the plate member 5 is directly fixed to the fixing portion 3 with the screws 6 without using the spacer 7, thereby holding the plate member 5 at the position shown by the broken line in FIG.

By arranging the connectors as described above, the external dimensions after connection can be reduced without increasing the number of connectors for connecting the function expansion device as in the conventional configuration as shown in FIG. Height and width) can be reduced.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view for explaining the operation of the holding means. Components already described have the same reference characters allotted and description thereof will be omitted, and only different components will be described. FIG. 3A illustrates a state where the fourth connector 4 is positioned on the mounting surface 3a, and FIG. 3B illustrates a state where the fourth connector 4 is positioned on the mounting surface 2a illustrated by a dashed line. .

In FIG. 3A, the lower fitting hole 7a and the upper fitting hole 7b
Are formed, and the protrusions 10a of the shape portion 10 which is elastically deformed by being extended from the third mounting surface 3a are infiltrated and positioned in these fitting holes 7a, 7b. , So as to maintain the illustrated position.

In the above configuration, the spacer 7 is opened by opening the shape portion 10 with the tip of a pliers or the like.
Can be fixed to one of the upper and lower positions, eliminating the need for attaching and detaching screws as described above.
The position of the connector can be changed more easily.

FIG. 4 is an external perspective view of the holding means.
The fourth connector 4 is fixed to the upper surface of a cylindrical member 70 having a spiral groove 70c formed on the outer peripheral surface guided by the projection 3d provided on the third function expansion device 3. The projection 3d is formed integrally from a member 3k provided at the base of the third function expansion device 3 as shown in the figure, and guides the spiral groove 70c between the projection 3d and a projection (not shown). As the cylindrical member 70 is rotated in the direction of the arrow, it moves up and down, and the connector 4 projects from the third mounting surface 3a as described above, and the cylindrical component 70 projects from the second mounting surface 2a. It is configured so that it can be set arbitrarily.

Next, FIG. 5 is a side view in which the main parts of the second embodiment and the main parts of the first and second function expansion apparatuses are cut away.

In the figure, a first connector 8 is provided on a first mounting surface 1 a of the main device 1. Further, a third connector 9 connected to the first connector 8 is provided on the second mounting surface 2a corresponding to the first mounting surface 1a. Electrical connection is made.

The third function expansion device 3 at the bottom
The fourth connector 4 which is moved to a position P2 shown by a solid line so as to be connected to a fifth connector 19 provided on the lower surface of the second function expansion device 2 The slider 50 is provided as a moving means. The slider 50 is manually moved to the position P1 to move the slider 50 to the position shown by the dashed line, and the main function is performed without the second function expansion device 2 described above. It is configured so that it can be connected to the device 1.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory view of the operation of the slider 50 as a moving means. FIG. 6A is a plan view showing a case where the slider 50 is moving to a position P1 shown by a broken line in FIG. FIG. 6B is a cross-sectional view. FIG. 6B shows that the slider 50 moves to the position P2 shown by the solid line in FIG. FIG. 3A is a plan view and FIG.

As shown in the drawing, the display portions 11a and 11b are exposed from the opening 3b by being positioned at each position, so that the user can connect the third function expansion device 3 to the main device 1 described above. It can be easily determined whether the connection is made directly or through the second function expansion device 2, and the connection can be made without mistake.

FIG. 7 shows a slider 5 as a moving means.
0 is an operation explanatory diagram of FIG. In this drawing, the components already described are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be omitted.
In terms of the characteristic components, the slider 50
Is constantly urged by the spring 12 in a direction to come to the position P1 in the drawing. A wire 13 shown by a broken line is fixed to one end of the slider 50, while the wire 1
The other end of 3 is fixed to a shaft 15 via a burry 14.

The shaft 15 is built in the third function expansion device 3 and is constantly urged by a spring 16 to move upward. Here, the spring 16 is configured to generate a biasing force greater than that of the spring 12, the shaft 15 protrudes upward as illustrated by the biasing force of the spring 16, and the slider 50 moves the spring 50 through the wire 13. Is configured to receive the urging force. At this time, the urging force of the spring 12 is less than the urging force of the spring 16, and the slider 50 is fixed at the position P2 in the drawing.

Here, as shown in the side view of FIG. 8, when the main device 1 and the device 3 are connected, the shaft 15 provided in the device 3 abuts against the lower surface of the main device 1 and the shaft 15 Depressed. Thus, the shaft 1
When the wire 5 is pushed down, the stretched wire 13 becomes slack, and the urging force of the spring 16 does not work. The slider 50 moves to the position P1 in the drawing by the urging force of the spring 12, and the connector of the main device 1 You will be able to connect.

Next, when connecting the third device 3 with the second function expansion device 2 interposed in the main device 1, the device 2
A through hole 2t is provided at a position corresponding to the shaft 15 to prevent the shaft 15 from being pushed down. Therefore, the slider 50 does not move and is connected to the connector 19 at the position P2 in the drawing. The connector 8 is connected to the connector 9.

As described above, by automatically moving the position of the connector, it is possible to provide a device excellent in operability without erroneous mounting.

[0041]

As described above, according to the present invention,
It is possible to provide an electronic device including a function expansion device capable of reducing external dimensions (height and width dimensions) after connection without adding a connector for connecting the function expansion device.

Further, since the position of the connector can be arbitrarily changed, the operability is excellent, and the external dimensions (height and width) after the connection can be obtained without increasing the number of connectors for connecting the function expansion device. It is possible to provide an electronic apparatus including a function expansion device capable of reducing the size.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cutaway side view of a main part of a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an external perspective view showing a spacer 7 which is a holding unit of FIG.

FIGS. 3A and 3B are a cross-sectional view illustrating a state in which a spacer 7 serving as a holding unit is fitted downward, and a cross-sectional view illustrating a state in which a spacer 7 serving as a holding unit is fitted upward.

FIG. 4 is an external perspective view in which the holding means is constituted by a cylindrical member 70.

FIG. 5 is a cutaway side view of a main part of a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 6A and 6B are a plan view and a cross-sectional view for explaining an operation in which the slider 50 of FIG. 5 is located at a position P1, and FIG.
Plan view and cross-sectional view (b) for explaining the operation in which is located at the position P2
It is.

FIG. 7 is a side view in which main parts of the slider 50 with the moving mechanism are cut away.

FIG. 8 is a side view of the slider of FIG.

FIG. 9 is a schematic sectional view of a conventional configuration example.

FIG. 10 is a schematic sectional view of a conventional configuration example.

FIG. 11 is a schematic sectional view of a conventional configuration example.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Main apparatus 2 2nd function expansion apparatus 3 3rd function expansion apparatus 4 4th connector 5 member 6 screw 7 spacer (holding means) 8 1st connector 9 3rd connector 10 shape part 11 display part 12 spring 13 Wire 14 Pulley 15 Shaft 16 Spring

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) H04N 1/00 G06F 1/00 320E

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. An electronic apparatus having a function expansion device connected to a main device having a basic function via a connector, wherein at least the first connector and the second connector are separated from each other by a first mounting surface. The main device provided as above, and the second mounting surface corresponding to the first mounting surface,
A second function expansion device provided with a third connector connected to the second connector, and a fourth function expansion device connected to the first connector via a through hole formed in the second function expansion device. And a third functional expansion device provided with a third connector on a third mounting surface, wherein the fourth connector passes through the through-hole and is positioned on the second mounting surface, and the first connector An electronic apparatus comprising a function expansion device, comprising: a holding unit that holds the function expansion device at a position connected to the function expansion device. 2. The function expansion device according to claim 1, wherein the main device, the second function expansion device, and the third function expansion device are used while being overlapped in a height direction or a width direction. Electronic equipment with the device. 3. The spacer according to claim 1, wherein the holding means is a spacer member having a depth corresponding to the depth of the through hole, and is arbitrarily attached to and detached from the third function expansion device. 3. An electronic apparatus comprising the function expansion device according to any one of 2. 4. The device according to claim 1, wherein the holding means is a spacer member having a depth dimension of the through hole, and is arbitrarily attached to and detached from the third function expansion device. Electronic equipment provided with the function expansion device according to any one of the above. 5. The holding means is provided on two pairs of fitting portions formed so that the depth dimension of the through-hole is spaced apart from the third function expansion device, and An electronic device comprising the function expansion device according to claim 1, comprising: a shape portion that elastically deforms so as to fit. 6. A cylindrical member, wherein said holding means forms a spiral groove guided by a projection provided on said third function expanding device, and a depth dimension of said through hole moves with rotation. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein
Or an electronic apparatus comprising the function expansion device according to any one of the above. 7. An electronic apparatus including a function expansion device connected to a main device having a basic function via a connector, wherein the main device includes at least a first connector provided on a first mounting surface; The first mounting surface corresponding to the first mounting surface is provided with the first mounting surface.
A third connector connected to the third connector, a fifth connector connected to a fourth connector provided on a third mounting surface of the third function expansion device, and a fourth connector connected to the fourth connector. A second function expansion device including a moving unit that moves a connector to a position connected to the fifth connector or the first connector; and the main device and the main device with the second function expansion device interposed therebetween. A first connection state for connecting a third function expansion device, and a second connection state for directly connecting the main device and the third function expansion device.
An electronic device comprising a function expansion device, which can be appropriately changed to a connection state of the electronic device. 8. The moving means includes a display unit for displaying whether the fourth connector is moved to any one of the first connection state and the second connection state. An electronic apparatus comprising the function expansion device according to claim 7. 9. A moving mechanism for moving the fourth connector from the first connection state to the second connection state when the second connection state is established. An electronic apparatus comprising the function expansion device according to claim 7. 10. The electronic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the main apparatus is an image forming apparatus including a copier, a laser beam printer, and a facsimile. .