JP2003207962A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To easily perform assembling work and the connection of a harness and to prevent the harness from being exposed to the outside in the case of assembling an optional unit provided with an additional cassette with an image forming apparatus. <P>SOLUTION: When additionally installing a paper supply cassette in addition to one paper supply cassette installed in the main body 2 of the image forming apparatus 1 where a copying machine and a facsimile device function are composited, the optional unit 20 is combined to realize the connection of a paper path 25 and the connection of a driving transmission system. In such a case, the harness 22 of a signal transmission system to the unit 20 is connected to a connector 14 on the rear side of the main body 2. At such a time, the harness 22 is connected through the lower hole 13 of a back side aperture part 11 and a gap is closed by the pressing member 17 of a small cover 15, whereby the harness 22 is attached so as not to be exposed to the outside. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a harness connecting means, for example, when a unit such as a paper feeding unit is additionally provided at the bottom of an image forming apparatus main body.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine or a facsimile machine, a main body of an image forming apparatus provided with a recording section of an electrophotographic system is provided separately from a paper feeding means such as a paper feeding cassette provided in the main body. In many cases, a paper feeding unit equipped with one or a plurality of paper feeding trays is additionally provided.
When adding and combining the optional units, etc., connect a harness for signal transmission and power supply to and from the device body, and adjust the operation of the device body so that the paper feed from the option unit It controls the movement. A signal transmission system for transmitting a signal between the device body and the option unit is arranged in the harness connected between the device body and the option unit.

[0003]

However, in the conventional image forming apparatus, the harness connecting between the option unit and the apparatus main body is provided so as to be exposed on the outer surface of the apparatus, and is provided on the rear surface of the image forming apparatus. Exposed wires may interfere with equipment maintenance. In addition, there is a drawback in that, for connecting the harness, it is necessary to perform the connecting work in a state where the outer cover of the main body is removed and the rear side is completely exposed, and the work for connecting the harness is troublesome. There was an inconvenience.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide an image forming apparatus provided with means for facilitating the work of assembling the option unit with the apparatus main body and reducing the labor for connecting the harness.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention, an image formation is made such that an option unit can be combined with an apparatus body, and a harness provided in the option unit is connected to a connector provided in the apparatus body. Regarding the device. According to the invention of claim 1, the connector is arranged in a rear opening provided on the rear surface of the apparatus main body, a cover member is provided in the rear opening, and a harness cut from the rear is passed under the opening. It is characterized in that holes are formed. Therefore, when the optional unit is additionally installed, the harness can be easily connected by removing the cover member attached to the rear cover.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, the cover member that is attached to and detached from the outer cover on the rear surface of the apparatus body is provided with means for fixing and holding the harness in the lower hole of the lower portion, and the cover member is formed on the outer cover of the apparatus body. It is characterized in that it can be attached to and detached from the prepared hole. Then, the cover member is not exposed to the rear side of the device, and the cover member is attached to the rear opening so that the pilot hole is not blocked and the opening does not remain largely, so that the harness is held and fixed in a good condition. I can.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in order to position the main body of the apparatus with respect to the option unit, the positioning means is projected above the option unit, and the positioning means is projected upward toward the rear side of the option unit. And a flange member that is fixed to the apparatus body. Therefore, it is possible to easily perform the positioning operation when the apparatus main body is combined with the option unit, and it is possible to favorably connect the drive transmission system and the paper path together with the harness connection.

[0008]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION The configuration of the apparatus of the present invention will be described with reference to the illustrated example. The example shown in FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the image forming apparatus as seen from the back side. In FIG. 2, a signal transmission system provided in the option unit 20 and a harness 22 for power supply are attached to the apparatus main body 2. An example of connecting is shown. In the image forming apparatus 1, the apparatus main body 2
Is configured as a combined device of a facsimile machine and a copying machine, and the apparatus main body 2 is provided with a recording paper making function using an electrophotographic method, and a means for feeding paper from one paper feed cassette is basically used. An example of configuring as a small image forming apparatus provided as a configuration is shown. By additionally providing a sheet accommodating device such as a sheet feeding cassette to the image forming apparatus 1, the option unit 20 is provided at the bottom of the apparatus main body 2 so that two types of sheets can be used for recording images. An example of configuring the device by combining the above will be described below.

An ADF 6 is arranged on the upper part of the apparatus main body 2 of the image forming apparatus 1, and an image of a sheet-like original is read and recorded on a sheet using information of the read image, or a facsimile function is used. It is configured so that it can be transmitted to another facsimile (FAX). The apparatus main body 2 of the image forming apparatus 1 has a recording unit, a discharge tray 8 and a lower paper feed unit equipped with one main body cassette, and is configured as an integrated device. Paper is fed from one of the above-mentioned paper feed cassettes, and the recording paper is ejected toward the ejection tray 8. If the number of paper feed cassettes is to be increased by adding an additional cassette to the lower part of the apparatus body, another unit configured as the option unit 20 can be additionally equipped.

The option unit 20 is provided with two flange members 27, 27a on the rear side with a predetermined space therebetween so as to be connected to the apparatus main body 2 and to be positioned, at a predetermined position on the front side. Is a protruding member 29, 29a
(Provided in a portion hidden in the shadow of the apparatus main body in FIG. 1) is arranged. Then, the projecting members 29, 29a are inserted into recesses (not shown) provided in the lower portion of the apparatus main body 2, and screws 28 from the rear side of the positioning flange members 27.
Attach the ... to connect the upper and lower units. When connecting the option unit 20 to the apparatus main body 2, there are 2
Two protruding members 29, 29a are arranged for positioning, and a protrusion 27 similar to a flange member is provided on the rear side.
By providing 27a and providing an elastic locking claw or the like on the apparatus main body corresponding to the protrusion, a positioning / fixing means similar to a snap fit can be configured. Therefore, in the case of using the connecting / fixing means as described above, the connecting / fixing means can be fixed and held without using a screw and a tool therefor. In addition, a connecting / fixing means using a conventionally known snap-fit mechanism is used. It is possible.

The positioning flange member 27,
27a and the projecting member 29 are connected to connect the paper path 25 provided in the option unit 20 and the driven gear 24 of the option unit 20 from the drive source provided in the device body 2 to the device body. The drive source of 2 enables transmission of drive to a driven member such as a paper feed roller provided in the option unit 20. A connector 14 provided on the rear side of the apparatus body 2 is provided in the rear opening 11 for transmitting signals and the like between the option unit 20 and the apparatus main body 2, and covers the rear opening 11. A small cover 15 is provided as a cover member. Further, a harness 22 is provided on the rear side of the option unit 20, and the harness 22 is connected to the connector 14 of the main body.

The apparatus body 2 and the option unit 20
In the case of the above combination, in order to connect the harness 22, the connecting work is performed using the members shown in FIG. Rear opening 1 provided on the rear side of the device body 2
1, a connector and other connecting members are arranged inside, and a screwing portion 12 is provided on a lateral portion thereof, and a lower hole 13 is formed in a frame member below the rear opening 11. It has a shape cut from the rear side. Also, a small cover 1 for covering the rear opening 11.
The pressing member 17 is provided with a notch portion for positioning the harness 22 at the lower part in a protruding manner, and a screwing portion 16 is provided at a position corresponding to the screwing portion 12.

Then, the small cover 15 is attached to the rear opening 11 provided on the rear cover 10, and the screw fastening portions 12 and 1 are attached.
The small cover 15 is fixed by screwing 6 and 6 with the screw 18, and the harness 22 passing through the lower hole 13 is pressed by the pressing member 17 of the small cover 15 to form a large space in the lower part of the device main body 2. Try not to be done.
In order to attach the small cover 15 to the rear opening 11, if a fixing holding means by a locking claw is additionally provided on the side portion facing the screwing portion, the small cover 1
Although the positioning and fixing of 5 can be carried out satisfactorily, conventionally known arbitrary hooking and fixing means or the like can be used as means for this.

As described above, the image forming apparatus 1 constructed by combining the option unit 20 with the apparatus body 2 is configured as an apparatus as shown in FIG. The ADF 6 having a function of reading a sheet-shaped document while conveying the document is arranged, and a document tray 7 for setting the document and a document discharge tray 8 for accommodating the read document are arranged vertically. Also,
A discharge tray 4 for discharging the recording paper is arranged at the center of the apparatus so that the recording paper can be taken out laterally or from the front side.

In the image forming apparatus 1, if sheets of different sizes are accommodated in the main body cassette 5 and the additional cassette 21, respectively, the size of the original read by the ADF and the sheet of information received by FAX are stored. The recording paper can be created according to the size and the like. In the image forming apparatus 1, a control panel 3 is arranged above the front side of the apparatus main body 2 so that control information can be input when transmitting / receiving a FAX and a speed dial number can be set. Further, even when the copying machine function is used, the number of copies and the reduction / enlargement ratio are set, and other information is input at the time of copying.

When the option unit 20 is additionally provided to the image forming apparatus 1, the option unit 20 is not limited to be capable of accommodating only one sheet feeding cassette. Alternatively, any number of paper feed cassettes can be accommodated in the option unit 20. Further, the apparatus main body 2 can be configured so as to accommodate two paper feed cassettes,
In the present embodiment, for simplification of description, an example in which one sheet feeding cassette is accommodated in each of the apparatus main body 2 and the option unit 20 is described. Furthermore, it is possible to additionally equip the lower part of the option unit 20 with an option unit for accommodating one sheet feeding cassette, and when two option units are combined in such a manner as shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 7, the connection / positioning means between the devices and the harness can be arranged to correspond to each other.

[0017]

Since the device of the present invention is constructed as described above, when the optional unit is additionally equipped, the cover member attached to the rear cover can be removed to easily connect the harness. You can Also,
By making the small cover attachable to and detachable from the pilot hole formed in the outer cover of the apparatus main body, the small cover is not exposed to the rear side of the apparatus, and by attaching the small cover to the rear opening, Since the lower hole is not blocked and the opening does not remain large, the harness can be held and fixed in good condition. Furthermore, by providing means for positioning the device body with respect to the option unit, the positioning operation when the device body is combined with the option unit can be easily performed, and the harness connection and the drive transmission system can be performed. The paper path can be connected well.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a rear view showing the configuration of an image forming apparatus.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of a configuration of a harness connecting portion.

FIG. 3 is a front view of the image forming apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 image forming apparatus, 2 apparatus body, 3 control panel, 4 discharge tray, 5 body cassette, 6 ADF, 7 document tray, 8 document discharge tray, 10 rear cover, 11 rear opening, 12 screw fixing section, 13 lower hole, 14
Connector, 15 small cover, 16 screw fixing part, 17 pressing member, 18 screw, 20 option unit, 21 extension cassette, 22
Harness, 24 driven gears, 25 paper path,
26 positioning flange members, 28 screws, 2
9 Projection member.

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    F-term (reference) 2C061 AP03 AP04 AP07 AQ06 CE01                       CG01 CG08                 2H071 BA13 BA16 BA20 BA23 BA29                       DA34 EA08                 4E352 AA03 AA09 AA16 BB10 CC07                       CC12 DD02 DD06 DD10 DD12                       DR02 DR45 DR46 FF01 GG10                       GG12                 4E360 AB17 EC12 EC16 ED02 ED28                       GA08 GB48

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. An image forming apparatus in which an option unit can be combined with an apparatus main body, and a harness provided in the option unit is connected to a connector provided in the apparatus main body, the rear surface of the apparatus main body. The image forming apparatus is characterized in that a connector is arranged in a rear opening provided in the rear opening, a cover member is provided in the rear opening, and a lower hole for passing a harness cut from the rear is formed in a lower portion of the opening. 2. A cover member that is attached to and detached from the outer cover on the back of the apparatus body is provided with means for fixing and holding a harness in a lower hole of the lower portion, and the cover member is provided with respect to a lower hole formed in the outer cover of the apparatus body. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus is removable. 3. In order to position the apparatus main body with respect to the option unit, a positioning means protruding upward from the option unit and upward protruding toward the rear side of the option unit and fixed to the apparatus main body. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a flange member.