JP2004198563A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming apparatus that an operator who uses a wheelchair can easily operate while sitting therein. <P>SOLUTION: An original cover 5 which covers a platen glass 10 is supported by a plurality of support members 6 which are provided in parallel and and each of the support members 6 has one end joined with the original cover 5 and the other end joined rotatably with a housing 1 having the platen glass 10. Consequently, the original cover 5 moves always keeping an attitude parallel to the platen glass 10 even while the platen glass 10 is opened, and is held at a specified height above the platen glass 10. The front part of the original cover 5 never hops up on the platen glass 10 and even the operator sitting in the wheelchair easily reaches the front part of the platen cover 5 and lower the original cover 5 to close the platen glass. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention of the present application relates to an image forming apparatus such as an electrophotographic copying machine and a facsimile, and is applicable not only to a case where a healthy person operates while standing on a floor, but also to a case where a wheelchair user operates while sitting. And an image forming apparatus that facilitates opening and closing of a document cover.
[0002]
[Prior art]
At present, image forming apparatuses such as an electrophotographic copying machine and a facsimile, which are generally used, are provided with an image reading apparatus at the uppermost stage, and the operability of a healthy person who operates while standing on the floor surface. Therefore, the height of the platen glass on which the document is placed is about 1000 mm from the floor. The document cover for bringing the document into close contact with the platen glass rotates around a horizontal axis along the rear edge, and moves forward so that it jumps upward to the back of the device to open and close the top of the platen glass. It is something to be done.
[0003]
In such an apparatus, after the original is placed, it is necessary to grasp the front part of the original cover which is maintained so as to jump upward and backward of the apparatus, and move the original cover to a position covering the original platen glass. However, as shown in FIG. 5, for a wheelchair user who must operate while sitting on a wheelchair, the front part of the document cover 101 that jumps to the upper rear side of the apparatus often cannot be reached, Operation is difficult.
For this reason, the following image forming apparatus has been proposed so that not only a healthy person but also a wheelchair user can easily operate the document cover 101 and place a document on the platen glass 102 easily.
[0004]
In the image forming apparatus described in Patent Literature 1, a leg supporting an image reading unit is divided into an upper leg and a lower leg, and a plurality of connection holes for connecting both legs are provided vertically. The height of the image reading unit from the floor is adjusted arbitrarily by selecting the connection hole according to the physical condition of the operator and inserting and connecting a connection member such as a bolt. ing.
[0005]
In the image forming apparatus described in Patent Document 2, a main part of the apparatus can be moved up and down by an elevating device. The height of the image forming apparatus is adjusted according to the physical condition of each operator by inputting the individual code. Therefore, the height of the image reading device from the floor can be freely changed according to the physical condition of the operator, and the operation of the wheelchair user becomes easy.
[0006]
[Patent Document 1] JP-A-2001-326770 [Patent Document 2] JP-A-8-106240
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, the above prior art has the following problems.
In the image forming apparatus according to Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2001-326770, when the position of the image reading unit from the floor is lowered in accordance with the physical condition of a wheelchair user, the operability is too low for a healthy person. Has problems.
On the other hand, the image forming apparatus disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 8-106240 must include a device for inputting an individual code and an elevating device for raising and lowering the main body of the image forming device. In addition, there is a problem that a place for installing a sheet tray for storing image recording sheets cannot be sufficiently secured due to the necessity of equipping the elevating device.
[0008]
The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and has as its object not only a healthy person who operates while standing on the floor surface but also a wheelchair user who can easily operate the image. It is to provide a forming device.
[0009]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above problem, the invention according to claim 1 includes an image forming unit that forms a visible image on a recording sheet, and an image reading unit provided above the image forming unit, The image reading unit includes a document table glass that is supported substantially horizontally and on which a document is placed, and a document cover that covers the document table glass and is attached to be openable and closable. An image forming apparatus is provided which is mounted so that it can be maintained substantially horizontal with a base glass open.
[0010]
According to the above-described image forming apparatus, the original cover that covers the original platen glass is supported substantially horizontally and at a constant height with the original platen glass opened, so that the front of the original cover is located at the upper back of the apparatus. It does not jump to the side.
Therefore, a wheelchair user who needs to operate the apparatus while sitting on a wheelchair lifts the front part of the document cover to open the platen glass, and after placing the document on the platen glass, The document cover can be easily moved to a position covering the document table glass by grasping the front portion of the document cover supported at a certain height on the glass.
[0011]
According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the first aspect, the document cover is connected to a housing provided with the document table glass by a supporting member whose both ends are rotatably joined. It shall be.
[0012]
The document cover is connected to a housing provided with a document table glass by supporting members whose both ends are rotatably joined, so that an operator can grasp a front portion of the document cover and move the document cover up and down. As a result, the support member rotates and the original table glass is opened and closed. As described above, since the weight of the document cover is supported by the support member whose both ends are rotatable, the operator can grasp and lift the front portion of the document cover and maintain the document cover substantially horizontally.
Therefore, even in a wheelchair user who is forced to operate at a position lower than the floor surface as compared with a healthy person, in a state where the platen glass is opened, the front of the document cover at a certain height on the platen glass. The document can be reached and the document cover can be pulled down to close the document glass.
[0013]
According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the second aspect, a plurality of the support members are provided in parallel, and the support member, the document cover, and the housing constitute a parallel link mechanism. It is assumed that
[0014]
A plurality of support members for supporting the document cover are installed so as to be parallel to each other. One end of the support member is rotatably joined to a housing having a document table glass, and the other end is rotated to the document cover. It is movably mounted. As a result, when the operator lifts the front part of the document cover, the document cover always moves while maintaining a posture parallel to the document table glass, and is maintained at a predetermined height on the document table glass.
Therefore, when the platen glass is opened, the front portion of the document cover does not jump back to the upper part of the apparatus, and even if a wheelchair user is using the document cover, the document cover is maintained at a predetermined height on the platen glass. The front part can be grasped.
[0015]
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the third aspect, a concave portion is formed near an end of the support member, and an elastic member fixed to the housing or the document cover is engaged with the concave portion. Thus, the document cover is supported at a position where the document table glass is opened.
[0016]
In such an image forming apparatus, the elastic member fixed to the housing or the document cover is engaged with the concave portion provided in the support member to restrain the rotation of the support member, and the document cover is lowered by its weight. It is bound to do. Thus, the document cover can be maintained in a state of being supported above the document table glass even if the operator releases the hand. Further, when the operator applies a downward force to the document cover and a larger force acts on the elastic member, the elastic member is deformed and the engagement with the concave portion of the support member is released, and the document cover is placed on the platen glass. Can be lowered.
Further, a plurality of the concave portions can be provided according to the height of the document cover when the document table glass is opened. Therefore, the height of the document cover can be adjusted according to the physical condition of each operator, and the wheelchair user can easily operate.
[0017]
According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the first aspect, the document cover is supported by a plurality of column members fixed to the document cover, and the column member is provided with the document table glass. The original cover opens and closes the upper surface of the original platen glass by moving up and down with respect to the mounted housing.
[0018]
In such an image forming apparatus, when the operator lifts the front portion of the document cover, the columnar member moves in the axial direction, and moves upward while maintaining the document cover almost horizontal with respect to the document table glass. And the platen glass is opened. In this state, the document cover does not jump upward to the rear of the apparatus, so that even a wheelchair user can easily grasp the front portion of the document cover and close the document table glass.
[0019]
According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the fifth aspect, the elastic member fixed to the housing is engaged with the concave portion, so that the original cover opens the original platen glass. Shall be supported at the position indicated.
[0020]
In such an image forming apparatus, the elastic member fixed to the housing is engaged with the concave portion provided in the columnar member, and the lowering of the document cover due to its weight is restricted. As a result, the original cover can be maintained in a state where it is supported above the original platen glass. Further, when a greater force acts on the elastic member by the operator applying a downward force to the document cover, the elastic member is deformed to release the engagement with the concave portion of the columnar member, and the document cover is moved to the document table. Can be dropped on glass.
[0021]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the invention according to the present application will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
The housing 1 of the image forming apparatus is provided with an image reading device 2 at an upper part, a toner image forming part 3 under the image reading device 2, and a paper tray 4 at a lower part for storing image recording paper.
[0022]
As shown in FIG. 1, the image reading apparatus 2 has a document table glass 10 provided substantially horizontally on the upper surface, and a document cover 5 that covers the document table glass 10 so as to be openable and closable.
[0023]
The platen glass 10 is a transparent glass supported substantially horizontally, on which a document to be read is placed, exposed from below, and reflected light is read by an optical sensor. The original is placed with the rear corner 10a of the platen glass 10 as a reference position. By placing the original in accordance with the reference position, an accurate reading of the original surface is performed. . The height of the upper surface of the platen glass 10 is about 100 cm from the floor.
[0024]
The document cover 5 is supported by a plurality of support members 6 provided in parallel as shown in FIG. 2A, and one end 6a of each support member 6 is attached to the document cover 5 and the other end 6b. Is connected to the housing 1 on which the document table glass 10 is provided, and each connecting portion is rotatable. That is, the housing 1, the document cover 5, and the support member 6 form a parallel link mechanism, and the operator grips the front portion of the document cover 5 and lifts the document cover 5, whereby the support member 6 is rotated, and the document cover is rotated. 5 moves upward while always maintaining a substantially horizontal posture. As a result, the entire surface of the platen glass 10 can be opened and closed.
The height of the document cover 5 when the document table glass 10 is opened is desirably the highest from the document table glass 10 to about 25 cm in consideration of the physical condition of the wheelchair user.
[0025]
FIG. 2B is an enlarged view of a portion A shown in FIG. As shown in this figure, a concave portion 11 is provided at an end 6 b of the support member 6 connected to the housing 1, and a bent portion of a leaf spring 21 fixed to the housing 1 is engaged with the concave portion 11. Therefore, the leaf spring presses the concave portion about to move around the center of rotation, and the rotation of the support member 6 is restricted.
[0026]
When the operator applies a downward force to the document cover 5, a large force acts on the plate spring 21, and the plate spring 21 is deformed and the engagement with the concave portion 11 of the support member 6 is released. As a result, the support member 6 descends and returns to the position where the document table glass 10 is covered.
[0027]
In the above embodiment, the rotation of the support member 6 is restrained by the concave portion provided at the end 6b of the support member 6 connected to the housing 1 and the bent portion of the leaf spring 21 fixed to the housing. However, it is also possible to restrain the rotation of the support member 6 by fixing the leaf spring 21 to the document cover 6 and providing a concave portion at the end 6a of the support member.
[0028]
In the above-described image forming apparatus, when a copy is made from a document or when the document is read and transmitted by facsimile, the document cover 5 must be lifted up and the platen glass 10 must be opened to place the document. . At this time, since the original cover 5 moves upward in parallel with the original platen glass 10, the operator lifts the front part of the original cover 5 so that the back side of the original platen glass 10 is also opened to the same height as the front side. You. Then, the document cover 5 lifted on the document table glass 10 is supported at that position by the leaf spring 21 being engaged with the concave portion 11 provided on the support member, and the operator places the document thereon. Therefore, even if the document cover 5 is released, the original table glass 10 is kept open. Therefore, even a thick document such as a book can be easily placed on the platen glass 10, and both hands can be used for placing the document.
[0029]
Further, since the original cover 5 moves upward in parallel with the horizontally positioned original glass 10, the front portion of the original cover 5 does not jump to a high position on the original glass 10. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 3, even a wheelchair user who operates the apparatus while sitting on a wheelchair can easily reach the front portion of the document cover 5 when trying to close the document table glass 10. . When the document cover 5 supported above the platen glass 10 is pulled downward, the engagement of the leaf spring 21 is released, and the platen is lowered onto the platen glass 10.
As described above, in the image forming apparatus in the above embodiment, even a wheelchair user can operate the image forming apparatus without difficulty.
[0030]
The height of the document cover 5 can be adjusted step by step by providing the concave portion 11 at only one position. Therefore, the height of the document cover 5 can be maintained at the position where the operator lifts the document cover 5.
[0031]
Further, the mechanism for holding the original cover 5 in a raised state may apply frictional resistance to the rotation of the support member 6 at the connection between the support member 6 and the housing 1 or the original cover 5. By setting this resistance so that the original cover 5 can resist lowering due to its weight, the operator can lift the original cover 5 at any position in a state substantially parallel to the original platen glass 10 in a state where the original cover 5 is lifted. , The document cover 5 can be maintained.
The document cover 5 may be provided with an automatic document feeder. This automatic document feeder is a device that can feed a plurality of stacked documents one by one and read the document surface into a document reading device.
[0032]
FIG. 4A is a schematic side view illustrating an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
In this image forming apparatus, both sides of a document cover 5 are supported by columnar members 7.
The upper end 7a of each of the columnar members 7 is fixed to the original cover 5, and the lower end 7b is inserted into the housing 1 on which the original platen glass 10 is provided and can move in the vertical direction. I have. As a result, the document cover 5 moves up and down while maintaining a substantially horizontal posture, so that the document table glass 10 can be opened and closed.
[0033]
As shown in FIG. 4B, the guide mechanism 8 for guiding the vertical movement of the columnar member 7 includes a plurality of upper and lower guide rolls 9 which abut on both side surfaces of the columnar member 7. Is what is done. Therefore, when the operator applies an upward or downward force to the document cover 5, the guide roll 9 rotates and the columnar member 7 moves up and down.
[0034]
Further, a concave portion 12 is provided near the lower end of the columnar member 7 guided into the guide mechanism 8, and the bent portion of the leaf spring 22 fixed to the housing 1 is engaged with the concave portion 12 so that the columnar member is 7 can be supported at the raised position.
As a result, the original cover 5 is supported above the original platen glass 10, and the state in which the original platen glass 10 is opened is maintained even when the operator releases the original cover 5.
When the operator applies a force to pull down the document cover 5 downward, the document cover 5 is lowered onto the document glass 10. Although the number of the concave portion 12 may be one, the position of the columnar member 7 is set in a stepwise manner by providing a plurality of positions, so that the height of the document cover 5 is adjusted in a stepwise manner.
[0035]
In the above embodiment, the columnar member 7 is provided with the concave portion 12 and the plate spring 22 is engaged with the concave portion 12 in order to maintain the document cover 5 at the predetermined height when the document table glass 10 is opened. An elastic member such as a spring or rubber material fixed to the housing 1 can be pressed against the side surface of the columnar member 7 to support the weight of the document cover 5. In this method, when the operator lifts the front portion of the document cover 5, the document cover 5 can be maintained at an arbitrary height.
[0036]
Further, in the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 4, a guide roll 9 is provided as a guide member to facilitate the vertical movement of the columnar member 7. However, a guide rail is provided as a guide member instead of the guide roll 9, and a columnar member is provided. The member 7 can be slid vertically.
[0037]
In the above-described image forming apparatus, as in the first embodiment, even a wheelchair user can easily reach the front portion of the original cover 5 located on the original platen glass 10, and Can be easily opened and closed. Further, since the original cover 5 moves substantially parallel to the original platen glass 10, the back side of the original platen glass 10 can be opened at the same height as the front side. Can be easily mounted.
The document cover 5 may be provided with an automatic document feeder.
[0038]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, in the image forming apparatus according to the present invention, when an original is placed on the original platen glass 10 and copying is performed, even if the operator is forced to perform an operation while sitting on a wheelchair, the original cover 5 can be easily reached, and the original table glass 10 can be easily opened and closed. In addition, the manuscript cover 5 can be easily accessed by not only healthy persons but also children with short stature, so that the operation can be performed.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a schematic side view showing a document cover of the image forming apparatus shown in FIG.
FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing a state in which a wheelchair user operates the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 is a schematic side view illustrating a document cover of an image forming apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention and a schematic configuration diagram of a guide mechanism.
FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing a state in which a wheelchair user operates a conventional image forming apparatus.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Housing of image forming apparatus 2 Image reading device 3 Toner forming part 4 Paper tray 5 Document cover 6 Supporting members 6a, 6b End 7 of supporting member Columnar member
7a Upper end of columnar member 7b Lower end of columnar member 8 Guide mechanism 9 Guide roll 10 Platen glass 10a Reference positions 11, 12 Recesses 21, 22 Leaf spring

Claims (6)

An image forming unit that forms a visible image on a recording sheet,
An image reading unit provided above the image forming unit,
The image reading unit includes a document table glass on which a document is placed while being supported substantially horizontally, and a document cover that covers the document table glass and is attached to be openable and closable,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the document cover is attached so as to be able to maintain the document table glass in an opened state and substantially horizontal. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the document cover is connected to a housing provided with the document table glass by a support member whose both ends are rotatably joined. 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein a plurality of the support members are provided in parallel, and the support member, the document cover, and the housing constitute a parallel link mechanism. A recess is formed near an end of the support member, and an elastic member fixed to the housing or the document cover is engaged with the recess, whereby the document cover is supported at a position where the document glass is opened. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the image is formed. The document cover is supported by a plurality of columnar members fixed to the document cover,
2. The document cover according to claim 1, wherein the column member moves up and down with respect to a housing on which the document table glass is provided, so that the document cover opens and closes an upper surface of the document table glass. Image forming device. A recess is formed in the columnar member, and an elastic member fixed to the housing is engaged with the recess, whereby the document cover is supported at a position where the document glass is opened. The image forming apparatus according to claim 5, wherein:

Images