JP2001358477A - Case structure - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a case structure which enables the user to add a system with an indispensable minimum increment of capacity and does not need the new addition of structural parts (lags) when the user adds the system and does not need the cable connection from outside and the power supply because the user can, utilize an existing connecting cable, which was being used originally, as it is. SOLUTION: Each pole (7) for supporting the casing of an information processor is constituted of a pile of two sheet metals (L-shaped sheet metals 8 and 9), one sheet metal (L-shaped sheet metal 8) is provided with a tapped hole (81) for fixing a screw (10) and graduations (82) for coordinating the slide pitch to be equal, and the other sheet metal (L-shaped sheet metal 9) is provided with a slit (91) in the direction of the pole for sliding it. Thus, the user can fix the two sheets of sheet metals (L-shaped sheet metals 8 and 9) in optional slide positions with the screw 10, making use of the tapped hole (81) and the slit (91).

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a housing structure of an information processing apparatus or the like, and more particularly, to a plurality of built-in components (for example, power supply, FDD (hard disk drive), DVD changer drive, DAT changer drive, etc.). The present invention relates to a housing structure in which various units such as devices are mounted and used, and an internal component (for example, HDD) can be easily added during use.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a housing structure of an information processing apparatus capable of adding internal components such as a circuit board and an HDD, for example,
JP-A-6-259167, JP-A-7-10488
No. 8, JP-A-7-310489, JP-A-8-318
There is one proposed in 148852. These are designed to be added in system units (separate cases).

Further, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 7-31488 discloses an apparatus housing structure in which a plurality of frames are stacked and connected, and an exterior plate is attached to the surface thereof. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. H11-139,867 discloses a unit mounting structure for a general-purpose rack in which the space between mounting screw holes is devised to improve space efficiency.

[0004]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The above-mentioned Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 6-259 is disclosed.
No. 167, JP-A-7-104888, JP-A-7-31489, and JP-A-8-148852 are larger than the amount required for adding a system unit (separate housing). In addition to the problem that the volume of the system is increased, there is a problem that after the system is added, it is necessary to connect the systems with an external cable or to supply power from outside.

In addition, the structure described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 7-31488 requires a new structural component (for example, an exterior plate such as a side plate) for each system expansion, so that the user cannot freely expand the system. There is a problem, and the one described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H11-121950 can add a system only at a fixed height interval (pitch) because the shape of the screw hole is a round hole. However, there is a problem that even if there is a space for mounting the system itself, it cannot be added because there is no room for the fixed height interval.

[0006] An object of the present invention is to solve each of the above problems,
It is possible to expand the system with the minimum necessary volume increase, and it is not necessary to add new structural parts (exterior panels) when the system is expanded. An object of the present invention is to provide a housing structure that can be used as it is and can be connected to each other, and does not require external cable connection and power supply.

[0007]

According to the present invention, in order to achieve the above-mentioned object, each support (7) for supporting a housing of an information processing apparatus including a HDD, a removable device, and the like in a built-in object.
Is composed of two sheet metals (L-shaped sheet metals 8, 9),
One sheet metal (L-shaped sheet metal 8) is provided with a screw hole (81) for fixing the screw (10) and a scale (82) for uniform sliding width, and the other sheet metal (L-shaped sheet metal 8). 9) is provided with an elongated hole (91) in the direction of the column for sliding, and using the screw hole (81) and the elongated hole (91), two sheets of metal (L-shaped sheet metal) are screwed (10). 8, 9) can be fixed at an arbitrary slide position (see FIG. 2). By doing so, it is possible to expand the system with a minimum required volume increase.

[0008] The side plate and the front panel are also 2
2 composed of laminated plates, constituting the side plate and front panel
The stacked plates were slid in accordance with the sliding amount of the two stacked metal plates forming the support (see FIGS. 6 to 9). This not only eliminates the need to add new structural components (exterior panels) when the system is added, but also connects them to each other using the built-in connection cables originally used. This eliminates the need for external cable connection and power supply.

Further, a scale is provided on one plate (sheet metal) of the two stacked plates (sheet metal) that slide (see FIGS. 2 and 6). With this configuration, it is possible to easily adjust the slide amount of the two stacked plates (sheet metal) constituting the plurality of columns that support the housing.

[0010]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.
This will be described in detail with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 is a three-dimensional structure diagram (perspective view) showing an example of a housing of an information processing apparatus to which the present invention is applied. In the figure, 1 is a chassis, 2 is a removable device mounting portion, 3 is an FDD (flexible disk drive) mounting portion, 4 is an HDD (hard disk drive) mounting portion, 5 is a power supply, 6 is a master board, and 7 is a support. Is shown.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view for explaining the structure of the column 7 of the chassis 1 (one column is shown in the figure, but the same applies to all columns (usually four columns)). FIG. The strut 7 has a structure in which two slidable L-shaped sheet metals are overlapped, and can be fixed with a screw at an arbitrary sliding position.

That is, as shown in FIG. 1A, a screw hole 81 for fixing the screw 10 is formed in the L-shaped sheet metal 8.
And a scale 82 (1 mm pitch in the same figure) for indicating the slide width is provided in the L-shaped sheet metal 9 at a position corresponding to the screw hole 81 of the L-shaped sheet metal 8 which is laminated two sheets. Is provided with an elongated screw hole 91.

Then, as shown in FIG. 1B, the L-shaped sheet metal 8 and the L-shaped sheet metal 9 are overlapped, and the screw hole 81 of the L-shaped sheet metal 8 and the L-shaped sheet metal are overlapped. Nine elongated screw holes 91 are secured to each other by screws 10 which can be easily turned by hand. At this time, since one of the screw holes 91 is elongated, the sliding width of the L-shaped sheet metal 8 and the L-shaped sheet metal 9 can be adjusted to an arbitrary size. This adjustment is
After the screws 10 are loosened by hand, each of the columns is slid while looking at the graduations 82 attached to the L-shaped sheet metal 8 of each column to make each column 7 the same length.

FIG. 3 is a three-dimensional structural view (perspective view) showing a housing in which a storage space is newly added to the housing structure of FIG. 1 in this way. Compared to FIG. 1, in FIG. 3, it can be seen that the additional space 11 and the additional space 12 are newly increased. The extension space 11 is a space formed above the power supply 5 and has no HD required for external operation.
It is used for an additional space such as a D (hard disk drive), and the additional space 12 can be used as an additional space for a removable device (such as a DVD changer or a DAT changer) that requires a medium to be taken in and out from the outside.

However, for example, when only the additional space 12 is used and the additional space 11 is not used,
It is necessary to close the unused extension space 11 with a dummy panel. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a dummy panel used at that time. In this example, when the height of the dummy panel 13 is “2H”,
Have a relation of "H", and both dummy panels are processed by an elastic spring material so as to fit into empty spaces. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a state where the dummy panel 13 is fitted in the empty space. A handle 15 is provided on the dummy panel. When removing the dummy panel, the handle 15 is pulled toward the user to remove the handle.

FIG. 6 is a view showing the structure of two side plates that can be slid in the same manner when the support column 7 is slid. As shown in FIG.
One side plate 16 of the two stacked side plates is provided with an elongated screw hole 161 for sliding, and as shown in FIG. Similarly, a scale 162 (1 mm pitch in the figure) indicating the slide width is provided. The other side plate 17 of the two stacked side plates is provided with a screw hole 171 for fixing a screw. The two side plates 16, 17 are fixed by a screw 10 'similar to the screw fixing the slide of the column.

FIG. 7 is a view for explaining a state in which the side plate is attached to the housing chassis. As shown in FIG. 2A, the two side plates are formed by an upper portion of the side plate 16 and a side plate 17.
Claws 16 ', 17' are provided at the lower part of the
7 ′ is hooked on the nail 1 ′ of the chassis 1 for attachment. Further, as shown in FIG. 3B, one side plate 16 can be slid in accordance with the slide of the two L-shaped sheet metals 8 on the column 7.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a front panel of the housing, and FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a part of the front panel in an enlarged manner and showing attachment to the housing. The front panel is a panel attached to the front of the removable device, and is configured by two layers of a mold member 18 and a mold member 19, and as shown in FIG. 8, the mold member 18 is slid in accordance with the slide. However, unlike the case of the columns and side plates shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 6, this portion does not return to the original position because the portion that is caught on the upper front of the removable device or the dummy panel does not return to the original position, but may come off upward. Because of this, a slip-off preventing member 20 is provided, and is hooked inside the chassis top plate to prevent slipping upward.

As described above, according to the present embodiment,
The supporting column 7 of the housing chassis 1 can be slid to easily provide an additional space having an arbitrary volume. This allows
The system can be added with the minimum necessary volume increase, and connection operation is performed using the built-in cable originally used, so that external cable connection and power supply are not required.

Further, according to the present embodiment, in accordance with the slide of one of the two metal sheets constituting each of the columns (usually four) of the casing, the two metal sheets are similarly stacked. By providing the side plate on which one slides and the front panel on which the two-layer mold member slides, even when a system (HDD, removable device, or the like) is added, it is not necessary to add a new structural component.

In the above embodiment, the slide amount can be adjusted steplessly by using the screw holes (81) and the elongated screw holes (91). However, instead of the elongated screw holes, a plurality of holes are formed at an equal pitch. A housing structure that allows the slide amount to be adjusted stepwise by providing the housing is also conceivable.

FIG. 10 is a view showing an example of a housing structure for adjusting the sliding amount stepwise. A sheet metal 21 in which a plurality of holes 211 are arranged at an equal pitch "A" instead of a scale, and the sheet metal 21 2 with a sheet metal 22 having a hole 221 for fixing
A member that forms a support by stacking the sheets, slides the sheet metal 21 to overlap the hole 221 of the sheet metal 22 with one of the plurality of holes 211 of the sheet metal 21, and fixes using a resilient effect instead of the screw 10 (for example, , A sheet metal 21 and a sheet metal 22 using a spring rivet 23) having a step action of FIG.
Is fixed. Further, by adopting a similar structure, it is also possible to adjust the slide amount of the two side plates in a stepwise manner.

As described above, the case structure according to the present invention has been described by taking the case of the information processing apparatus as an example. However, the case structure is not limited to the case of the information processing apparatus, and it is necessary to add an apparatus such as an audio system. The present invention can be applied to any other housing having a possibility.

[0024]

According to the present invention, the column of the housing chassis is constituted by two stacked metal plates, which are slid to secure an additional space, so that the HDD (hard disk drive) and the removable disk are removable. This has the effect of minimizing the increase in volume when adding devices. In addition, since the connection operation is performed using the built-in cable originally used, there is an effect that external cable connection and power supply are not required.
Further, by providing a scale on one of the two sheet metals, the slide amount can be easily adjusted.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a three-dimensional structure diagram (perspective view) illustrating an example of a housing structure of an information processing apparatus to which the present invention has been applied.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view for explaining a structure of a column portion of a housing chassis.

FIG. 3 is a three-dimensional structural view (perspective view) showing a housing in which a storage space is newly added to the housing structure of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a dummy panel.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a state where a dummy panel is fitted in an empty space.

FIG. 6 is a view showing the structure of a double side plate which can be slid in the same manner when a support is slid.

FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining a state in which the side plate is attached to a housing chassis.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a front panel of a housing.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a part of a front panel of the housing in an enlarged manner and showing attachment to the housing.

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a housing structure that adjusts a slide amount in a stepwise manner.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1: Chassis chassis 2: Removable device mounting part 3: FDD mounting part 4: HDD mounting part 5: Power supply 6: Master board 7: Post 8, 9: Sheet metal 81, 171: Screw hole 82, 162: Scale 91, 161 : Slot hole 10, 10 ': Screw 11, 12: Additional space 13, 14: Dummy panel 15: Handle 16, 17: Side plate 1', 16 ', 17': Claw 18, 19: Mold member 20: Prevention member 21, 22: Sheet metal 211, 221: Hole 23: Spring rivet A: Connection cable

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing from the front page (72) Inventor Hiroyuki Sakano 1 Ikegami, Haruoka-cho, Owariasahi-shi, Aichi Prefecture Inside Hitachi Asahi Electronics Co., Ltd. Inside Hitachi Asahi Electronics Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Toshiyuki Hosoda 1st Ikegami, Haruoka-cho, Owariasahi-shi, Aichi Prefecture Inside Hitachi Asahi Electronics Co., Ltd. Inside

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A plurality of pillars supporting a housing are each formed of a slidable two-piece sheet metal, and a screw hole for fixing a screw to one of the two pieces of the sheet metal is provided. The other sheet metal is provided with a long hole extending in the column direction for fixing a screw, and a screw hole provided on the one sheet metal and an arbitrary position of the long hole provided on the other sheet metal are screwed. A housing structure characterized by being fixed. 2. A side plate and a front panel of the housing are each formed of a slidable two-layer plate, and a screw hole for fixing a screw is provided in one of the two-layer plates. An elongated hole extending in the column direction for fixing a screw to the other plate of the stack is provided, and any positions of the screw hole provided in the one plate and the elongated hole provided in the other plate are screwed. The housing structure according to claim 1, wherein the housing structure is fixed. 3. The scale according to claim 1, wherein a scale for indicating a relative sliding amount with respect to one of the two metal sheets is provided on one of the two metal sheets. Housing structure.