JP2003063100A - Cabinet structure and image forming system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a cabinet structure in which a plurality of units are arranged in a mutually adjacent state, and which can collectively and simultaneously open sheathing members for the respective units, in the use of the units as one apparatus. SOLUTION: In this cabinet structure, a sheet post-processing device 3 and a sheet processing device 2 are arranged in a mutually adjacent state; the sheathing member 5 for the device 3 and the sheathing member 4 for the second device 2 are provided openably for the devices 3 and 2, respectively; and the sheathing member 4 is mounted swingably on the sheathing member 5 via a bracket 6 so that the sheathing member 4 can also be opened when the sheathing member 5 is opened.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention is applied when at least two unitized devices are connected and used, for example, a sheet processing device is attached to an image forming device to form one system. The present invention relates to a housing structure, and more particularly, to a housing structure of a device that allows a user to release a part of the device to perform some operation, and an image forming system including such a structure.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a printer, a facsimile, etc., it is necessary to perform jam processing, toner replacement or ink replacement so that a predetermined portion of a housing can be easily opened by a user's operation. Has been done.

Among such apparatuses, there is a sheet processing apparatus adjacent to a sheet post-processing apparatus that performs post-processing on the sheet discharged from the image forming apparatus. In such paper post-processing devices and paper processing devices, when paper jams such as paper jams occur in these devices, the post-processing cannot be performed unless the paper remaining in each device is removed. The exterior member must be opened. In such an exterior member, the paper post-processing device and the paper processing device are each composed of one unit, and two units are adjacent to each other to form one device. When such a problem occurs, for example, only the portion targeted for paper processing or only the exterior member of the unit targeted for paper processing is opened.

As such an example, for example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No.
The invention disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 305789 is disclosed. This publication discloses a configuration in which a plurality of outer casings are opened when the paper is removed from the machine due to paper jam or the like.

[0005]

However, if the exterior member is designed to be opened for each of the post-processing device and the paper processing device as described above, or a predetermined part of the post-processing device or the paper processing device, it is opened. It is undeniable that the number of exterior members to be used will be multiple and workability will deteriorate.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a casing structure in which a plurality of units are arranged adjacent to each other, and when the units are used as one device, the exterior members of the units can be simultaneously opened at once. An object is to provide an image forming system having a housing structure.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the first means is to arrange a first device and a second device adjacent to each other, and to provide a first exterior member of the first device. And a second exterior member of the second device, which is provided so as to be openable to the first and second devices, respectively, in the casing structure of each of the devices, when one exterior member is opened, the other The second exterior member is attached to the first exterior member via an attaching means so that the exterior member is also opened.

The second means is provided with an adjusting means for adjusting the position in the height direction when the second exterior member is attached to the first exterior member by the attaching means in the first means. Is characterized by.

A third means is characterized in that, in the first or second means, the second exterior member is swingably attached to the first exterior member via the attachment means. To do.

According to a fourth means, in the third means, when the second exterior member is rotatably attached to the first exterior member, the outer surface of the second exterior member is the first exterior member. It is further characterized by further comprising elastic biasing means for biasing the first and second exterior members so as to form substantially the same plane as the outer surface of the exterior member.

A fifth means is the third or fourth means, wherein a rear surface side of the second exterior member is in contact with a part of the second device when closed, and in a contact part when opened. A protrusion serving as a fulcrum when the second exterior member is rotated is provided.

A sixth means is an image forming system provided with the casing structure according to the first to fifth means, wherein the first device is a paper post-processing device and the second device is a paper processing device. It is characterized in that predetermined paper processing and paper post-processing are performed on the paper discharged from the image forming apparatus based on the first and second functions.

According to the first means, when the first and second devices are arranged adjacent to each other, the first and second exterior members are integrated through the attaching means, so that one of the When the exterior member is opened, the other exterior member can be simultaneously opened integrally. Thereby, workability can be improved.

When the exterior members of a plurality of devices can be opened simultaneously as described above, a step may be formed on the surface between the adjacent exterior members due to differences in accuracy, size and weight of parts of the exterior members. In particular, a step in the height direction may occur. That is, for example, when the first exterior member is a large-sized member, variation in component size also increases, and when attaching the second exterior member to the first exterior member, a step may occur on the upper surface between the exterior members. It is conceivable, however, that if the adjusting means for adjusting the position in the height direction is provided like the second means, the step in the height direction will not occur.

When the second exterior member of the second device is attached to the first exterior member of the first device as in the above-described first means, the boundary between the members can be seen between them. Therefore, it is conceivable that the user tries to open the first exterior member while holding down the second exterior member by hand without noticing that it is integrated. In such a case, depending on the amount of force applied, an unreasonable force may be applied to the member and the parts may be damaged. However, when the second exterior member is swingably attached like the third means, the second exterior member is bent and released from the attachment portion, and no excessive force is applied.
The parts will not be damaged.

When the second exterior member is swingably attached to the first exterior member as in the case of the third means, the second exterior member may not return to its original position while swinging. ,
When closed, the surfaces of the first exterior member and the second exterior member may not be flush with each other. Therefore, in the fourth means,
When the elastic member is provided and the swinging force is released, the second armor member is returned to the initial position by the elastic biasing force, and the surfaces of the armor members of the first device and the second device are made flush with each other. be able to.

Further, when the user operates the exterior member with one hand, the first exterior member may try to shift from the first exterior member while holding the second exterior member. In such a case, only the second armor member swings and the first armor member does not open. However, in the fifth means, a protrusion is provided,
Since a part of the second device is abutted when the second device is closed,
When the armor member swings, it rotates about the contact portion as a fulcrum. At that time, a rotational force is applied to the first exterior member by the reaction, and the first exterior member is opened.

According to a sixth means, the casing structure according to the first to fifth means is applied to a system in which a sheet post-processing apparatus and a sheet processing apparatus are connected to an image forming apparatus, and the first apparatus is provided. As a paper post-processing device, and the second device as a paper processing device, the paper post-processing device performs predetermined post-processing on the paper discharged from the image forming apparatus, and the paper processing device performs paper post-processing. An image forming system having excellent workability can be constructed by executing a predetermined paper processing on the paper processed by the apparatus.

[0019]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a front view showing the overall construction of an image forming system in which a sheet processing apparatus and a sheet post-processing apparatus are attached to the image forming apparatus to constitute one system, and FIG. 2 is a perspective view. In these figures, the image forming system is
The image forming apparatus 1 includes a sheet processing apparatus 2 and a sheet post-processing apparatus 3.

The image forming apparatus 1 has a function of forming a visible image on a recording medium, for example, a sheet based on input image data or image data of an image read by itself, for example, an electrophotographic system, An image is formed by an inkjet method, a thermal transfer method, or another known image forming method, and the sheet is discharged to the rear side.

The sheet processing apparatus 2 is arranged on the sheet discharge side of the image forming apparatus 1 and is composed of, for example, a cover feeder having a function of supplying a cover sheet or a slip sheet.

The sheet post-processing apparatus 3 is a sheet (recording medium) sent from the image forming apparatus 1 via the sheet processing apparatus 2.
In addition, it has a function of performing post-processing such as binding, punching, sorting, stacking, and center folding, and discharging the sheet.

These image forming apparatus 1 and sheet processing apparatus 2
The sheet post-processing device 3 is unitized,
A sheet post-processing apparatus 3 is attached to the image forming apparatus 1 according to a user's request, and further, a sheet processing apparatus 2 is attached.

In the image forming system having the above-described general structure, an exterior member is provided for each of the devices 1, 2 and 3, and the inside of the device is isolated from the outside of the device. The exterior member 4 on the front side of the system of the sheet processing apparatus 2 includes an exterior member 4a on the upper side and an exterior member 4b on the lower side as shown in FIG.
The upper exterior member 4a is swingably attached to the front exterior member 5 of the sheet post-processing device 3, and the lower exterior member 4b is oscillated to the exterior member 5 of the paper post-processing device 3. It is fixedly immovable.

As can be seen from the rear view of FIG. 3, the upper side exterior member 4a mounted swingably has a rear surface 41a.
The bracket 6 is fixed to the rear surface 51 of the exterior member 5 of the sheet post-processing device 3. At this time, as shown in the front view of the bracket of FIG. 4, the mounting hole 12 on the side of the sheet post-processing device 3 provided in the bracket 6 is formed in a vertically long groove shape, and the mounting member 12 of the sheet processing device 2 is formed. After being fixed to the rear surface 41 with screws through the mounting holes 13 of the bracket 6, the upper surface 42 between the outer members 4, 5 is slid up and down along the side surface 53 of the outer member 5 of the sheet post-processing apparatus 3.
After adjusting the height of 52, it is fixed with a screw through the mounting hole 12. The bracket 6 corresponds to the mounting means in the claims, and the adjusting means corresponds to the mounting hole 12 formed in a vertically long slot. The upper exterior member 4a and the lower exterior member 4b may be configured as one member without being divided.

The bracket 6 has a hinge shape, and the user holds the exterior member 4 of the sheet processing apparatus 2 by hand,
When attempting to open the exterior member 5 of the sheet post-processing apparatus 3, specifically, for example, the exterior member 4a on the upper side of the sheet processing apparatus 4 is pressed with the right hand, and the handle of the exterior member 5 of the sheet post-processing apparatus 3 is held with the left hand. When the hand is opened on 5a, the exterior members 4, 5
Is bent and released from the central portion 61 of the hinge forming the bracket 6 as shown in FIGS. 2 and 6.

Also, for example, with the right hand, the right side surface 5 of the exterior member 5
When a finger is inserted into the right side surface 43 of the sheet 3 and is slid in the left direction in FIGS. 1, 4 and 5, the protrusion 8 projecting from the back surface 41 of the exterior member 4 causes the sheet processing apparatus 4 to move. A plate-like member 1 such as a side plate of a guide inside the vehicle
Since it is in contact with 0, a moment that rotates in the direction of arrow A in FIG. 6 acts on the exterior member 4 of the sheet processing apparatus 2 with respect to the center 61 portion. As a result, the magnet 9 attached to the exterior member 4a of the paper post-processing device 3 on the upper side of the paper processing device 2 is released from the sheet metal 11, and the exterior member 5 of the paper post-processing device 3 rotates in the direction of arrow B. However, the exterior members 4 and 5 are opened.

Further, the bracket 6 is provided with an elastic member 7 as an elastic urging means so that the exterior member 4 is always urged toward the open side with respect to the bracket 6. As a result, when no external force is applied to the exterior member 4 of the sheet processing apparatus 2, the exterior surface of the sheet processing apparatus 2 and the exterior surface of the sheet post-processing apparatus 3 are held in a aligned state.

[0030]

As described above, according to the present invention, since the second exterior member is attached to the first exterior member, it is possible to simultaneously open the first and second exterior members at the same time. Therefore, the workability can be improved.

Further, according to the present invention, since the second exterior member is swingably attached to the first exterior member, it is possible to prevent damage to the parts during the opening operation of the exterior member. .

Further, according to the present invention, the first apparatus is a sheet post-processing apparatus and the second apparatus is a sheet processing apparatus, and the first and second sheets are ejected from the sheet ejected from the image forming apparatus. Since predetermined paper processing and paper post-processing are executed based on the function of, the image forming system with excellent workability can be constructed.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view showing the arrangement of a sheet processing apparatus, a sheet post-processing apparatus, and an image forming apparatus in an image forming system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an opened state of exterior members of the sheet processing apparatus and the sheet post-processing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the sheet processing apparatus, the sheet, and the exterior member of the processing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention, as viewed from the back side.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged front view of a main portion of the bracket portion in FIG.

FIG. 5 is a plan view of an exterior member of the sheet processing apparatus and the sheet post-processing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

6 is a plan view showing a state when the exterior member in FIG. 5 is opened.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Image forming device 2 Paper processing device (second device) 3 Paper post-processing device (first device) 4 Exterior member (second exterior member) 4a Exterior member on the upper side 4b Exterior member on the lower side 5 Exterior member (first exterior member) 6 Bracket (attachment means) 8 protrusions 10 Plate-shaped member 12 Mounting holes (adjustment means)

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A first device and a second device are arranged adjacent to each other, and a first exterior member of the first device and a second exterior member of the second device are respectively first. In the housing structure of each of the devices provided so as to be openable to the second device, the second exterior member is configured such that when one exterior member is opened, the other exterior member is also opened. A casing structure, characterized in that the casing structure is attached to the first exterior member via attachment means. 2. The sheet according to claim 1, further comprising adjusting means for adjusting a position in a height direction when the second exterior member is attached to the first exterior member by the attaching means. Processing equipment. 3. The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second exterior member is swingably attached to the first exterior member via the attachment means. 4. The outer surface of the second outer member forms substantially the same plane as the outer surface of the first outer member when the second outer member is rotatably attached to the first outer member. The elastic urging means for urging the first and second exterior members so as to do so is further provided.
The sheet processing device described. 5. The back surface side of the second exterior member is in contact with a part of the second device when closed, and the contact portion is a fulcrum when the second exterior member is rotated when the second device is opened. 5. The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising: 6. An image forming apparatus system having the housing structure according to claim 1, wherein the first apparatus is a sheet post-processing apparatus, and the second apparatus is a sheet processing apparatus. An image forming system comprising an apparatus and performing predetermined sheet processing and sheet post-processing on the sheet discharged from the image forming apparatus based on the first and second functions.