JP2004325904A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming apparatus whose size and light can be reduced without sacrificing accessibility to an electric case and assemblage. <P>SOLUTION: Openings 80a and 80b for storing a paper feed cassette 3 in the storage space 80 of an apparatus main body 2A are formed in a side of the apparatus main body 2A. In addition, the electric case 62 storing a substrate 63 necessary for at least image formation on sheets is mounted in an upper position in the storage space 80 so that the case 62 is free to be attached or detached. The opening 80b of the storage space 80 is used as an operation hole for attaching or detaching the electric case 62 and the electric case 62 is mounted in the upper position in the storage space 80 by utilizing the storage space 80. This makes it possible to freely attach or detach the electric case 80 without providing a space for mounting the electric case within the apparatus main body. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus for forming an image on a sheet, and more particularly, to a configuration for attaching and detaching an electrical case housing a substrate for controlling an image forming operation of the image forming apparatus.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in an image forming apparatus using electrophotographic technology such as a copying machine and a laser beam printer, a sheet feeding unit that feeds out a sheet stored in a sheet cassette, an image is printed on a sheet fed by the sheet feeding unit. It includes an image forming means for forming, a fixing means for fixing an image formed on the sheet onto the sheet, and a control board for electrically controlling these means. The paper cassette is detachably provided in the image forming apparatus main body (hereinafter, referred to as the apparatus main body), and the control board is detachably mounted just inside the exterior of the apparatus main body for easy access during maintenance and inspection. Attached to.
[0003]
By the way, in order to reduce the size of the image forming apparatus today, the above-described units are reduced in size, and the arrangement of the control board is also devised. It is extremely important how to increase the mounting density of each means and the control board on the apparatus main body while maintaining the assemblability of each means and the rationality of electrical connection.
[0004]
Furthermore, in recent years, the functions of the image forming apparatus have been advanced and the control board for controlling the image forming apparatus has been inevitably increasing in size relative to the apparatus main body. Will increase further.
[0005]
Here, in general, the control board is housed in an electrical case, which is a box-shaped shield case made of sheet metal. However, since the electrical case is difficult to freely arrange, the arrangement is made on the upper surface, the rear surface, the left and right side surfaces of the apparatus main body. Or the upper surface of the sheet cassette. In addition, it is conceivable to divide the substrate into a plurality of parts in order to give a degree of freedom in arrangement, but in that case, the cost increases.
[0006]
However, when the electrical case is arranged on the upper surface of the apparatus main body or above the paper feed cassette, the height of the apparatus main body increases, and when the electrical case is arranged on the back of the apparatus main body, the depth of the apparatus main body increases, and the depth of the apparatus main body increases. When it is arranged on the left and right side surfaces, the width of the apparatus main body increases. That is, in any case, the influence of the arrangement of the electrical case on the volume of the apparatus main body is very large.
[0007]
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of such a conventional image forming apparatus. In FIG. 5, reference numeral 2 denotes an image forming apparatus, and 2A denotes an image forming apparatus main body (hereinafter, referred to as an apparatus main body). An image forming unit 1A, a sheet feeding unit 1B, a fixing unit 1C, and the like are arranged inside the apparatus main body 2A.
[0008]
Here, the image forming unit 1A includes a transfer unit including an optical unit 11, one or more process cartridges 10 formed into a cartridge, a transfer belt 12, a secondary transfer roller pair 32, and the like. Since the optical means 11 is located at the uppermost stream of the image forming procedure, the optical means 11 has a large influence on the image. Therefore, the optical means 11 is firmly fixed to the apparatus main body 2A via a stay 50 having increased rigidity by inserting ribs or bending. .
[0009]
Reference numeral 65 denotes a control board for controlling each of the units 1A to 1C, and reference numeral 60 denotes an electric case housing the control board 65. The electric case 60 is disposed substantially at the center of the apparatus main body 2A. Here, the control board 65 is a board composed of one or more sheets provided with a power supply section, a high voltage circuit section, and a logic section. In general, it is housed in an electrical case 60, which is a box-shaped shield box made of sheet metal, in order to prevent intrusion of electric noise.
[0010]
Since the electrical case 60 needs to be arranged at a position where the signal transmission path to each of the unitized units is minimized, for example, the optical case 11 supports the optical unit 11 as shown in FIG. It is arranged in a space between the stay 50 and the sheet feeding cassette 3, that is, a space between the image forming unit 1A and the sheet feeding unit 1B.
[0011]
The electrical case 60 is detachably attached to the apparatus main body 2A. When the electric case 60 is attached, for example, as shown by an arrow in FIG. 6, the electrical case 60 is inserted into the apparatus main body from the rear of the apparatus main body 2A. It is done by doing. Therefore, access to the electrical case 60 is performed by pulling out the electrical case 60 from behind the apparatus main body 2A.
[0012]
The electrical case 60 is not limited to the position shown in the figure, and may be arranged above or behind the image forming means 1A, or at the rearmost part of the apparatus main body 2A as shown in FIG. Here, in the case where it is arranged in such a position, access to the electrical case 60 is made possible by removing the outermost package at the rear of the apparatus main body.
[0013]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the conventional image forming apparatus having such a configuration, since the electrical case 60 must be disposed so as not to overlap with each unit, the size and weight of the entire image forming apparatus can be reduced. Hindered.
[0014]
For example, in the conventional image forming apparatus 2 shown in FIG. 5, since the sheet feeding unit 1B, the electrical case 60, and the image forming unit 10A are stacked in this order, the height of the main body is increased. Further, in the conventional image forming apparatus 2 shown in FIG. 7, since the electrical equipment case 60 is disposed at the rear end of the apparatus main body 2A, the depth of the apparatus main body 2A increases.
[0015]
Further, when the electric case 60 is provided at such a position, it is necessary to provide a space for mounting the electric case in order to ensure the accessibility and assembly of the electric case 60. When it is provided, it becomes difficult to reduce the size and weight of the apparatus main body 2A.
[0016]
When the electrical case 60 is provided at a position other than that shown in FIGS. 5 and 7, the size and weight of the apparatus main body 2A can be reduced, but the accessibility and the assemblability to the electrical case 60 are reduced. Sacrificed.
[0017]
Accordingly, the present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and provides an image forming apparatus that can be reduced in size and weight without sacrificing the accessibility and assemblability of an electrical case. The purpose is.
[0018]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus in which a sheet cassette for storing sheets for forming an image is detachably mounted on an apparatus main body, wherein a storage space formed in the apparatus main body for storing the sheet cassette is provided. An opening of the storage space, and an electrical case for storing at least a substrate necessary for forming an image on the sheet are provided, and the electrical case is attached to and detached from the opening of the storage space.
[0019]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
[0020]
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of an image forming apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. Note that, in the figure, the same reference numerals as those in FIGS. 5 and 7 indicate the same or corresponding parts.
[0021]
3, reference numeral 3 denotes a paper cassette detachably mounted on the lower portion of the apparatus main body 2A, reference numeral 4 denotes a pickup roller, and reference numeral 21 denotes a rotating shaft 3a fixed to the paper cassette 3, and is rotatably held and not shown. Is an intermediate plate that is pushed up in the direction of the pickup roller 4 by the spring, and a sheet is placed on the intermediate plate.
[0022]
Here, the pickup roller 4 has a D-cut in a partially circular shape, and after sending out the leading end of the sheet, the rotation thereof is controlled so that the cut portion stops at a position separated from the sheet. The sheet picked up by the pickup roller 4 is conveyed to the registration roller pair 5.
[0023]
When the sheet is conveyed to the registration roller pair 5, a detection signal is generated by a sheet detection sensor (not shown) provided immediately before the registration roller pair 5. Here, based on this detection signal, in the image forming means 1A, first, a laser beam from a laser unit (not shown) is reflected by the polygon mirror 15, and the photosensitive member, which is an electrophotographic photosensitive member inside the process cartridge 10, is reflected via a folding mirror. A latent image is formed on the drum 18.
[0024]
The process cartridge 10 is configured by integrally integrating the charging unit 19, the developing unit 30, the cleaning unit 31, and the photosensitive drum 18 into a cartridge, and is detachable from the apparatus main body 2A. When the image forming apparatus is a full-color image forming apparatus, process cartridges 10 of four colors of yellow, magenta, cyan, and black are generally provided in the apparatus main body.
[0025]
Next, after the latent image is formed on the photosensitive drum in this manner, the developing unit 30 develops the latent image with four color toners of yellow, magenta, cyan, and black. Are transferred onto the transfer belt 12 such that
[0026]
Next, the registration roller pair 5 is driven in synchronization with the image formation in the process cartridge 10, whereby the sheet is sent to a transfer section including the transfer belt 12 and the secondary transfer roller 21. Thereafter, the toner image on the transfer belt is transferred to the sheet by the transfer unit, and the toner image is further fixed on the sheet by the fixing unit 1 </ b> C provided with the heating roller 40 and the pressure roller 41 on the downstream side. Is discharged to
[0027]
By the way, 62 is detachably mounted on the apparatus main body 2A, and a substrate 63 such as a power supply board, a control board, and an image control board necessary for forming an image on at least a sheet is mounted therein by screws (not shown). The electrical case 62 is made of sheet metal and has a box shape. The electrical case 62 is made rugged by, for example, continuously narrowing the periphery also in shape. By mounting such a rugged electrical case 62 on the apparatus main body 2A, the electrical case 62 becomes It becomes a structure that supplements the rigidity of the device main body 2A.
[0028]
Here, various electric components (not shown) are mounted on the respective substrates housed inside the electric case 62 up to a full height inside the electric case, and control signals are transmitted to each load. Unbundled wires are connected from each substrate to each load.
[0029]
On the other hand, in the drawing, reference numerals 51 and 52 denote stays for supporting the optical means 11 provided on the paper feed cassette. When the electric case 62 is mounted in the apparatus main body, the electric case 62 52.
[0030]
The electric case 62 is configured such that the upper end surface of the electric case 62 passes vertically below the lower end surfaces of the stays 51 and 52 so as not to interfere with the stays 51 and 52 when the electric case 62 is mounted. . When the electrical case 62 reaches between the stays 51 and 52, the electrical case 62 is lifted upward, so that the electrical case 62 is mounted at a position sandwiched by the stays 51 and 52.
[0031]
Next, a method of attaching the electrical case 62 to the image forming apparatus 2 will be described with reference to FIGS.
[0032]
2 and 3, reference numeral 80 denotes a cassette storage space for storing the paper feed cassette 3 formed at a lower portion of the apparatus main body 2A. Here, the image forming apparatus 2 of the present embodiment is downsized, and in the case of the downsized image forming apparatus 2, the depth of the apparatus main body 2 </ b> A is smaller than the length of the sheet in the conveyance direction. In this case, the cassette storage space 80 is provided so as to penetrate the apparatus main body 2A back and forth.
[0033]
When the cassette housing space 80 is provided so as to penetrate the apparatus main body 2A back and forth, openings 80a and 80b are formed on the front side and the rear side of the apparatus main body 2A, respectively.
[0034]
Further, guide members 70 and 71 for guiding the sheet cassette 3 are attached to opposite side walls of the cassette storage space 80 when the sheet cassette 3 is attached and detached. Grooves 70a and 71a for guiding the flange 3a provided on the paper cassette 3 are formed. When the paper cassette 3 is mounted, the paper cassette 3 is stored in the cassette storage space while guiding the flange 3a provided on the paper cassette 3 by the grooves 70a and 71a.
[0035]
By the way, in the embodiment of the present invention, as described above, the electrical case 62 is mounted on the apparatus main body 2A so as to be sandwiched by the stays 51 and 52. It cannot be slid horizontally.
[0036]
Therefore, when the electrical case 62 is mounted, as shown in FIG. 2, the cassette housing space 80 is first exposed by pulling out the paper feed cassette 3 to the front of the apparatus main body 2A. The electrical case 62 is inserted from the opening 80b provided in the side surface by using the cassette storage space 80 without turning over the apparatus main body 2A.
[0037]
At this time, since the cassette housing space 80 is formed below the stays 51 and 52, the upper end surface of the electrical case 62 passes below the lower end surfaces of the stays 51 and 52 in the vertical direction. 52 does not interfere.
[0038]
When the electrical case 62 reaches a predetermined position, that is, when the electrical case 62 reaches a position sandwiched by the stays 51 and 52, the electrical case 62 is pushed upward as shown by an arrow A in FIGS. Then, the electrical case 62 is fixed to the apparatus main body 2A at a position above the cassette storage space 80 which does not interfere with the paper feed cassette 3.
[0039]
As described above, the opening 80b of the cassette housing space 80 is used as an operation hole for attaching and detaching the electrical case 62, and the cassette housing space 80 is used as a space in which the electrical case 62 can be slid in the horizontal direction. There is no need to provide a space for sliding the case 62 in the horizontal direction.
[0040]
That is, by using the cassette storage space 80 to mount the electrical case 62 above the cassette storage space 80, the electrical case 62 can be freely attached and detached without providing a space for mounting the electrical case in the apparatus main body. Thus, the height and depth of the image forming apparatus 2 can be reduced.
[0041]
By the way, in the above description, the dimension of the cassette storage space 80 and the openings 80a and 80b in the width direction orthogonal to the electrical case insertion direction (hereinafter, referred to as the width dimension) is larger than the width dimension of the electrical case 62. However, the width of the electrical case 62 may be larger than the width of the cassette housing space 80 and the openings 80a and 80b.
[0042]
When the width of the electrical case 62 is larger than the width of the cassette housing space 80 and the openings 80a and 80b, for example, the cassette housing space 80 and the openings 80a and 80b are mounted so that the electrical case 62 can be mounted. Is configured to be able to increase the width dimension of the.
[0043]
Next, an image forming apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention, in which the width of the cassette storage space 80 and the openings 80a and 80b can be increased, will be described.
[0044]
FIG. 4 is a perspective view for explaining the mounting operation of the electrical case in the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment. In the figure, the same reference numerals as those in FIG. 1 indicate the same or corresponding parts.
[0045]
In the figure, 70A and 71B are provided on both side walls of the cassette storage space 80, and are guide members for guiding the sheet cassette 3 when the sheet cassette 3 is attached and detached. In the present embodiment, these guide members 70A , 71A can be removed when the electrical case 62 is attached or detached.
[0046]
The drawing shows a state in which such guide members 70A and 71A are removed, and by removing the guide members 70A and 71A in this manner, the widths of the cassette storage space 80 and the openings 80a and 80b are increased. The electrical case 62 can be attached and detached.
[0047]
Then, in the image forming apparatus 2 having such a configuration, when the electric case 62 is to be mounted, first, the paper feed cassette 3 is pulled out to the front of the apparatus main body 2A, and then the guide members 70A and 71A are removed. Next, the electrical case 62 is inserted from the opening 80b provided on the rear side surface of the apparatus main body 2A by using the cassette storage space 80 without turning over the apparatus main body 2A.
[0048]
Thereafter, when the electric case 62 reaches a predetermined position, that is, when the electric case 62 reaches a position sandwiched by the stays 51 and 52, the electric case 62 is pushed upward as indicated by an arrow A in FIG. The electrical case 62 is fixed to the apparatus main body 2A at a position where it does not interfere with the cassette 3.
[0049]
In the present embodiment, the guide members 70A and 71A are detached as they are. However, for example, the guide members 70A and 71A can be divided in the electric case attaching / detaching direction. Only the member on the electrical case side that interferes with the above may be removed.
[0050]
In the above description, the guide members 70, 71, 70A, 71A have been described as guiding the attachment / detachment of the sheet cassette 3, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the guide members 70, 71, 70A, The attachment / detachment of the electrical case 62 may be guided by 71A.
[0051]
In addition, the guide members 70, 71, 70A, 71A may also serve as a support for supporting the electrical case 62 mounted thereon, and the electrical members 62 are supported by the guide members 70, 71, 70A, 71A. Thus, the electrical case 62 can be securely fixed.
[0052]
Further, the guide members 70, 71, 70A, 71A may guide the signal lines wired to the electric case 62 when the electric case 62 is mounted. In this manner, the guide members 70, 71, 70A, By guiding the signal line by 71A, the electrical case 62 can be mounted without the signal line getting caught at the time of mounting.
[0053]
The image forming apparatus 2 in which one sheet cassette 3 is detachably attached to the lower portion of the apparatus main body 2A has been described. However, a plurality of additional cassettes are provided to increase the sheet storage capacity. The present invention can also be applied to an image forming apparatus. Although the image forming apparatus 2 having two openings for accommodating the sheet cassette 3 in the cassette accommodating space 80 has been described above, the present invention is also applicable to an image forming apparatus having one opening. Can be.
[0054]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, when the electrical case is removably mounted in the storage space for storing the paper feed cassette as in the present invention, the electrical case is mounted using the storage space so that the electrical The electrical case can be freely attached and detached without providing a space for mounting the case. This makes it possible to reduce the size and weight of the image forming apparatus without sacrificing the accessibility and assemblability of the electrical case.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of an image forming apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a side sectional view illustrating a method of mounting an electrical case in the image forming apparatus.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating a method of mounting an electrical case in the image forming apparatus.
FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating a method of mounting an electrical case in an image forming apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a conventional image forming apparatus.
FIG. 6 is a side view illustrating a method for mounting a control board in a conventional image forming apparatus.
FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of another conventional image forming apparatus.
[Explanation of symbols]
1A Image forming means 2 Image forming apparatus 2A Image forming apparatus main body 3 Paper feed cassettes 51, 52 Stay 62 Electrical case 63 Boards 70, 71 Guide members 70A, 71B Guide members 80 Cassette storage spaces 80a, 80b Openings

Claims (9)

In an image forming apparatus in which a sheet cassette for storing sheets for forming an image is detachably attached to an apparatus main body,
A storage space formed in the apparatus main body and storing the paper feed cassette;
An opening of the storage space,
An electrical case for housing at least a substrate necessary for image formation on the sheet,
With
An image forming apparatus, wherein the electrical case is attached to and detached from an opening of the storage space. 2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the openings are provided at both ends of the storage space, one opening is an operation hole for attaching and detaching the electrical case, and the other is an opening for attaching and detaching a sheet cassette. Image forming device. 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the size of the opening of the storage space and the size of the storage space can be changed according to the size of the electrical case. A guide member for guiding the attachment / detachment of the paper cassette is detachably provided in the storage space,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 3, wherein when attaching and detaching the electric case, the guide member is detached in accordance with a dimension of the electric case. 4. The device according to claim 1, wherein a guide member for guiding attachment and detachment of the paper cassette is provided in the storage space, and the guide member guides attachment and detachment of the electrical case. 5. Image forming device. The image forming apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the guide member also functions as a support for supporting the electrical case when the electrical case is mounted. The image forming apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the guide member is dividable in a mounting / detaching direction of an electrical case. 8. The image forming apparatus according to claim 4, wherein a signal line is wired to the electric case, and the guide member guides the signal line when the electric case is mounted. 9. apparatus. 9. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the electrical case is a structure that reinforces the apparatus main body when mounted. 10.

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