JP2005066917A - Light-emitting display part - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a light-emitting display part which can prevent damage to light transmission as an original purpose of a light pipe, and which can prevent a breakage by a simple low-cost structure while maintaining a constant distance between a light-emitting member and a light-receiving surface of the light pipe. <P>SOLUTION: The light-emitting member (e.g. an LED) for displaying an operating condition of an operation is arranged on an image processing board which is attached to a side board. In the light pipe, the light-receiving surface is provided in such a manner as to face the light-emitting member; a display surface is provided on a display part which is positioned in a place away from the image processing board positioned on an outer sheath; light from the light-emitting member is received by the light-receiving surface; and the light is conveyed up to the light-emitting surface through a long light guiding part. The light pipe, which is attached to the outer sheath, is constituted in such a manner that an influence of deformation is released so as to prevent a breakage in the light pipe from being caused, for example, by the deformation of the outer sheath and a collision between the light-emitting member and the light-receiving surface. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a light emitting display unit using a light pipe.

  An example of the prior art is shown in FIG.

  The image processing board 32 fixed to the side plate 31 includes the LED 2, and the operation status of the image forming apparatus 30 is expressed by a combination of light emission, extinction, blinking, and the like of the LED 2. The light pipe 20 is fixed to the exterior 3 by a boss 22. The light emitting surface 20 b is exposed to the exterior 3, and this exposed portion serves as a display unit 33 on which the user confirms the operation status of the image forming apparatus 30. The light emitted and blinked by the LED 2 enters the light pipe 20 on the light receiving surface 20a of the light pipe 20, and reaches the light emitting surface 20b through the light pipe.

  In order to make the light emission on the light emitting surface 20b constant, the distance between the light receiving surface 20a and the LED 2 must be kept constant. In FIG. 8, the light pipe 20 is fixed to the exterior 3 and the LED 2 is fixed to the side plate 31. Fixed on the processed image processing board. Therefore, the light receiving surface 20a is kept at a certain distance from the LED 2, and the positional relationship thereof is established by the relationship between the exterior 3 and the side plate 31.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 06-106817

  The light pipe is made of a highly transparent material such as acrylic for the purpose of transmitting light. However, these materials are vulnerable to impacts, and moreover, they are more susceptible to impacts if the light pipe must be lengthened in construction. Further, when the light emitting display portion on the exterior surface is reduced, the light emitting surface of the light pipe is also reduced accordingly, so that it is weak against impact.

  Since the light pipe is attached to the exterior, if the exterior is deformed by an external force due to dropping during transportation, the light pipe is greatly affected by the deformation, and the possibility of breakage is high.

  Further, when another member (for example, LED) is pressed against the light pipe due to a displacement of the exterior during transportation, the possibility of breakage increases as the force increases.

  FIG. 9 shows an example of a simple state in which the light pipe 20 is broken.

  It is assumed that the exterior 3 is deformed due to dropping or the like during transportation of the main body 30. Assuming that the direction of deformation is the direction of arrow C in FIG. 9, the light pipe 20 is pushed toward the LED 2 as the exterior 3 is deformed. After the light receiving surface 20a and the LED 2 collide, the light pipe 20 sandwiched between the exterior 3 and the LED 2 has no place to release the deformation from the exterior 3, and the shape greatly changes as indicated by 23 and 24 in FIG. Damage is likely to occur where it is.

  In order to solve this, it is conceivable to change the material, but it is necessary to keep the transparency high for the purpose of allowing the light pipe to transmit light, and changing the material often leads to an increase in cost. Also, changing to a shape that is resistant to breakage may impair the appearance, such as increasing the area of the light emitting surface.

  Therefore, the object of the present invention is not to impair the light pipe, which is the original purpose of the light pipe, and has a simple structure at low cost while keeping the distance between the light emitting member and the light pipe light receiving surface constant. An object of the present invention is to provide a light emitting display portion that can prevent damage.

  The present invention has the following configuration as means for solving the above-mentioned problems.

  That is, a light emitting member (for example, LED) that displays the operation status of the operation is disposed on the image processing board attached to the side plate. The light pipe has a light receiving surface relative to the light emitting member, and has a display surface on a display unit located away from the image processing board located on the exterior, and transmits light from the light emitting member to the light pipe. The light is received by the light receiving surface, and the light is carried to the light emitting surface through a long light guide. The light pipe is attached to the exterior and is configured to release the influence of the deformation in order to prevent the light pipe from being damaged due to deformation of the exterior, collision between the light emitting member and the light receiving surface, or the like.

  That is, positioning with the exterior is performed by one or more bosses and one or more guide ribs provided in the exterior, and the guide rib and the light pipe are attached with a gap. In order to release deformation of the exterior due to dropping or the like during transportation of the image forming apparatus, the mounting hole of the guide rib is a vertically long guide rib engaging hole. The deformation of the exterior is released by a gap between the vertically long guide rib engagement hole and the guide rib.

  As described above, the guide rib provided in the exterior to release the deformation of the exterior has a hook-shaped protruding portion, and the protruding portion is fitted into the elongated guide rib engaging hole. A structure that allows deformation of the exterior to escape. The saddle-shaped protruding portion also has a role of abutment so as to keep the distance between the light-emitting member and the light-receiving surface constant, and when there is no deformation of the exterior, the abutment and the light-emitting member The distance of the light receiving surface is kept constant. When the deformation returns to the original state, the positional relationship between the light pipe and the light emitting member returns to the state before the deformation. Since there is a role of abutting the protruding portion, even when the deformation of the exterior is removed, the distance between the light emitting member and the light receiving surface is constant.

  Further, by connecting a plurality of light pipes via a beam, the number of components and assembly man-hours are reduced, and the same structure as described above is prevented.

  According to the present invention, even if the light pipe is long and there is a risk of breakage due to deformation of the exterior or collision with other members (for example, LEDs), the material can be changed by adopting a simple structure that allows the deformation to escape. It is possible to prevent the light pipe from being damaged without changing the shape of the light emitting surface.

Further, according to the present invention, by using a structure in which a plurality of light pipes are connected by a beam and a similar relief is formed in the beam portion, the number of parts can be reduced and the assembly number can be reduced. In the same manner as above, the light pipe can be prevented from being damaged.
Furthermore, the present invention can obtain the same effect as long as it uses a light pipe regardless of the light emitting display portion of the image forming apparatus.

In addition to the image processing board, the same effect can be obtained with respect to the position of the light emitting member even on an operation control board or the like.
In addition, by connecting a plurality of light pipes with the beam, and making the mounting part to the exterior adopting a configuration in which the influence of the above-described deformation is released to the beam, the light pipe is prevented from being damaged and assembled. Improve and reduce the number of parts.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

<Embodiment 1>
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment, and FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of a light pipe portion.

  In the image forming apparatus 30 of FIG. 1, the user checks the main body display unit 33 in order to grasp the state of the image forming apparatus 30.

  An image processing board 32 is fixed at a position shown in FIG. 1 on a side plate 31 which is a sheet metal member. The image processing board 32 is connected to a power control (not shown) and an operation control board for controlling the operation by a cable (not shown). A plurality of LEDs 2 are provided on the image processing board 32, and the operating state of the image forming apparatus 30 is represented by the light emission, extinction, blinking, and combinations thereof. The light pipe 1 includes a light receiving surface 1 a, a light guide portion 1 c, and a light emitting surface 1 b, and the light from the LED 2 reaches the main body display portion 33 through the light pipe 1.

  The light pipe 1 is fixed to the exterior 3 and extends from the light receiving surface 1 a that receives the light of the LED 2 to the light emitting surface 1 b that emits light from the main body display unit 33, and the light emitting surface 1 b is exposed to the main body display unit 33. . Light from the LED 2 enters from the light receiving surface 1a of the light pipe 1 and reaches the light emitting surface 1b while reflecting inside the light pipe 1, but minimizes loss when carrying light from the light receiving surface 1a to the light emitting surface 1b. Therefore, the light pipe 1 is made of a smooth curved surface using a highly transparent material (for example, an acrylic material), and the surface is not allowed to have burrs, scratches, or dents.

  Further, the light receiving surface 1a and the light emitting surface 1b are particularly mirror-finished to minimize loss. Further, the light emitting surface 1b is provided with a groove-shaped knurled (not shown) so that the light emission state can be confirmed from any direction, and the light emission direction on the display unit 33 is changed. Since the light emitting surface 1b has a shape that matches the appearance, the shape may have to be changed abruptly as compared with the body portion. In this embodiment, the light emitting surface 1b is sharply narrowed.

  The light pipe 1 is attached to the exterior 3 using an attachment hole, a boss or the like so that the light emitting surface 1b is exposed to the main body display unit 33, and then the exterior 3 is attached to the image forming apparatus 30 as an exterior unit. The distance between the LED 2 and the light receiving surface 1 a is given by the relationship between the exterior 3 and the image processing board 32. If the light receiving surface 1a of the light pipe 1 and the LED 2 on the image processing board 32 come into contact with each other when the exterior 3 is attached to the image forming apparatus 30, the light pipe 1 may be damaged or the image processing board 32 may be damaged. Therefore, an interval of 1 to 2 mm is provided.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a state in which the light pipe 4 provided with an attachment portion to the exterior 3 is attached to the exterior 3, and FIG. 4 is a side view thereof.
The exterior 3 is provided with a guide rib 3c having a boss 3b and a protruding portion 3d. As shown in FIG. 4, the boss attachment portion 4 d provided with the boss attachment hole provided in the light pipe 4 is located in the vicinity of the light emitting surface near the exterior 3. This shortens the distance to the light emitting surface 4b to facilitate positioning and facilitate assembly. Moreover, the stabilization after attachment and the effect mentioned later are acquired by taking the distance from a guide rib attachment part long.
The attachment of the light pipe 4 and the exterior 3 will be shown below.

  First, the protruding portion 3d of the guide rib 3c is fitted into the guide rib attaching portion 4c. At this time, the vertically long engagement hole of the guide rib attachment portion 4c and the protruding portion 3d of the guide rib 3c are fitted with a gap. The protruding portion 3d ensures a gap 6 between the light receiving surface 4a and the LED 2.

Next, the light emitting surface 4 b of the light pipe 4 is fitted into a hole that becomes the main body display portion 33 on the exterior 3. Next, the boss 3b provided in the exterior 3 is fitted into the boss hole on the boss mounting portion 4d provided in the light pipe 4. Since the fitting at this time determines the position, no gap is created. Finally, the boss 4d is positioned using a push nut 6 or the like.
In the side view of FIG. 4, the distance between the LED 2 and the light receiving surface 4a of the light pipe 4 must be kept constant. In addition to the engagement between the boss 3b and the boss mounting portion 4d, the positioning is performed by a protruding portion and a guide rib mounting portion provided on the guide rib 3c. That is, the distance between the light receiving surface 4a and the LED 2 is kept constant by making the protruding portion 3d abut the guide rib attachment portion.

  FIG. 5 shows a situation of the exterior 3 and the light pipe 4 when the exterior 3 is deformed due to a drop or the like during transportation of the image forming apparatus 30 with this configuration. The initial state is shown in FIG. When a drop or the like occurs during transportation, the exterior 3 receives a force in the direction of arrow A and is deformed as shown in FIG. Accordingly, the guide rib 3c also moves in the arrow A direction.

  Since the vertically long engagement hole on the guide rib attaching portion 4c and the protruding portion 3d of the guide rib 3c are fitted with a gap, the protruding portion 3d can move in the direction of arrow A by the gap 5b. Further, there is a gap 5a between the exterior 3 and the guide rib attachment portion 4c, and the exterior 3 and the light pipe 4 do not contact each other by this gap. Thus, since the deformation | transformation of the exterior 3 is escaped by the clearance gaps 5a and 5b, it is necessary for the clearance gaps 5a and 5b to take the displacement length of the exterior 3 enough.

When the deformation of the exterior 3 returns to the original state, the state returns to the state of FIG. 4, the protruding portion 3d of the guide rib 3c returns to the abutting position, and the gap 6 maintains the initial state. FIG. 6 shows a case where the LED 2 and the light receiving surface 4a collide with each other due to the displacement of the exterior 3 during transportation of the image forming apparatus 30. The light pipe 4 can escape by the gap 5a between the exterior 3 and the guide rib attachment portion 4c. At this time, the light pipe 4 bends in the direction of arrow B. In order to accurately determine the positions of the LED 2 and the light receiving surface 4a, the height of the guide rib attachment portion 4c is set near the height of the LED 2. When returning to the initial state as shown in FIG. 4, the light pipe 4 tries to return to the original position, and the position is determined by the abutting portion of the protruding portion 3d of the guide rib 3c. Thereby, the light pipe 4 maintains the initial position.
<Embodiment 2>
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described.

  When there are a plurality of LEDs 2 that are light emitting members on the image processing board 32, they are integrally molded via the beam 11 like the light pipe 7. This is effective in reducing the cost and simplifying the assembly process.

  FIG. 6 is a perspective view when two light pipes 7 shaped through the beam 11 are attached to the exterior 3.

  The boss attachment portion 7b and the guide rib attachment portion 7a shown in the first embodiment are configured to be attached to the beam 11. By adopting such a configuration, any number of light pipes 7 can be formed in series and integrated, and damage to the light pipe 7 can be prevented as shown in the first embodiment.

  The present invention can be applied to a light-emitting display unit provided in an arbitrary image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a printer, or a facsimile.

1 is a perspective view of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention. It is a perspective view of a light pipe. It is a perspective view which shows the structure of the light emission display part which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a side view which shows the structure of the light emission display part which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a side view of the light emission display part which shows the example 1 of a problem. It is a side view of the light emission display part which shows the example 2 of a problem. It is a perspective view which shows the structure of the light emission display part which concerns on Embodiment 2 of this invention. It is a side view which shows the structure of the conventional light pipe. It is a side view which shows the mode of the damage of the conventional light pipe.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Light pipe 1a Light-receiving surface 1b Light-emitting surface 1c Light guide part 2 LED
3 Exterior 3b Boss 3c Guide rib 3d Protruding portion 4 Light pipe 4a Light receiving surface 4b Light emitting surface 4c Guide rib mounting portion 4d Boss mounting portion 5 Push nut 5a Clearance 5b Clearance 6 Light receiving surface and LED clearance 7 Light pipe 7a Guide rib mounting portion 7b Boss Mounting portion 8 Beam 20 Light pipe 20a Light receiving surface 20b Light emitting surface 21 Push nut 22 Boss 24 Damaged portion 25 Damaged portion 30 Image forming apparatus 31 Side plate 32 Image processing board 33 Display unit

Claims (3)

The image processing board fixed to the side plate has a light emitting member indicating the operation status of the image forming apparatus, and has a display unit on the exterior of the image forming apparatus for checking the operation status of the image forming apparatus. A light receiving surface that is located away from the image processing board and faces the light emitting member, a long light guide that carries light from the light emitting member from the light receiving surface to the display surface, and a light emitting surface on the display unit In the light-emitting display unit with a light pipe,
The light pipe is positioned by one or more bosses provided in the vicinity of the light emitting surface of the exterior and one or more guide ribs provided in the exterior, and is a vertically long shape that allows deformation or the like of the exterior of the image forming apparatus to escape. A light-emitting display portion having a guide rib engagement hole.   It has a hook-shaped protruding portion at the tip, and the light pipe and the exterior are engaged with each other by the protruding portion, and the distance between the light emitting member and the light receiving surface is kept constant. The light emitting display unit according to claim 1, wherein the exterior deformation can be released by fitting the guide rib engagement hole with a gap.   The light-emitting display unit according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a plurality of light pipes are integrally formed in series via a beam, and an assembly portion with the exterior is positioned on the beam.

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