JP2006091689A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To allow a manual paper feed tray to be compactly housed while it is inserted into a paper receiving part side without changing frame material particularly. <P>SOLUTION: The image forming apparatus is constituted so that an image forming part, the paper feed tray and a paper conveying part are housed in a housing B where a front side plate 6 and a rear side plate 7 are coupled by leaving space in between, the paper conveying part is arranged on one end side in the right-and-left direction of an apparatus main body, and the image forming part and the paper feed tray are arranged up and down toward the paper conveying part side, then the upper end angular parts 17 of the front side plate and the rear side plate on the paper conveying part side are coupled with the frame material 9 having cross-sectional shape formed along the shape of the angular parts, and the manual paper feed tray 5 is supported to freely rock to be in housing posture that it is housed on the frame material side and supply posture that it is separated from the frame material side. The upper end parts of the front side plate and the rear side plate on the paper conveying part side are formed in such a shape that they are inserted into the paper receiving part side at a higher position than the paper conveying part over the upper ends of the side plates, so that the upper end angular parts are provided to be inserted into the paper receiving part side. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention provides a frame-like housing in which a front side plate arranged along the front side of the apparatus main body and a rear side plate arranged along the back side of the apparatus main body are connected with a gap therebetween. An image forming unit, an internal paper feed tray, and a paper transport unit capable of transporting the paper in the internal paper feed tray to the image forming unit, the paper transport unit facing the transport direction upward, The image forming unit and the internal paper feed tray are disposed at one end in the left-right direction of the apparatus main body, and the paper transport unit is disposed between the paper receiving unit side of the image forming unit and the paper feed unit side of the internal paper feed tray. The upper side corners of the front side plate and the rear side plate on the paper conveying unit side are connected by a frame material having a cross-sectional shape along the corner shape. The paper is received from the outside of the apparatus main body into the paper receiving unit. A manual feed tray that can be fed is supported so as to be swingable up and down over a storage posture in which the paper feed tray is stored close to the frame material side and a supply posture in which the paper can be supplied while being separated from the frame material side. The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus.

In the image forming apparatus, the paper conveyance unit is set to the left and right sides of the apparatus main body with the conveyance direction facing upward so that paper can be supplied from the outside of the apparatus main body to the paper receiving unit of the image forming unit with a manual paper feed tray. The image forming unit and the internal paper feed tray are arranged on one end side in the direction, and the paper receiving unit side of the image forming unit and the paper feeding unit side of the internal paper feed tray are directed to the paper transport unit side in the order of description. It arrange | positions and is accommodated in the frame-shaped housing | casing which connected the front side board and the rear side board at intervals.
In the conventional image forming apparatus, the outer peripheral shape of the front side plate and the rear side plate is formed into a quadrangle in which the left and right side portions are substantially parallel to each other over the entire length, and the upper end angle of the front side plate and the rear side plate on the paper conveying unit side The parts are connected to each other with a frame material having a substantially L-shaped cross-sectional shape along the shape of the corners thereof to prevent deformation of the casing (see, for example, Patent Document 1). It is supported so as to be swingable up and down over a storage posture in which it is stored close to the frame material side and a supply posture in which the paper can be supplied separated from the frame material side.

JP 2003-66671 A

For this reason, there is a drawback that even if the manual feed tray is switched to the storage posture in which it is stored close to the frame material side, it cannot be stored in a compact manner in a state of entering the paper receiving unit side.
In order to solve this drawback, for example, a notch is provided in the frame material having a cross-sectional shape along the corner shape so that the manual feed tray enters between the front side plate and the rear side plate in the retracted position. In this case, in order to ensure the strength of the frame material, measures such as newly installing a reinforcing flange along the notch of the frame material are necessary, and the conventional frame material can no longer be used. As a result, there is a new disadvantage that the production cost becomes high.
The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, so that the manual feed tray can be stored compactly in a state where it is inserted into the paper receiving portion without particularly changing the size and shape of the frame material. The purpose is to do.

A first characteristic configuration of the present invention is a framework in which a front side plate arranged along the front side of the apparatus main body and a rear side plate arranged along the back side of the apparatus main body are connected with an interval therebetween. An image forming unit, an internal paper feed tray, and a paper transport unit capable of transporting the paper in the internal paper feed tray to the image forming unit are housed in a cylindrical housing, and the paper transport unit is moved upward in the transport direction. The image forming unit and the internal paper feed tray are arranged on one end side in the left-right direction of the housing toward the direction, and the paper receiving unit side of the image forming unit and the paper feed unit of the internal paper feed tray The upper side corners of the front side plate and the rear side plate on the side of the paper conveyance unit are arranged in a cross-sectional shape along the shape of the corners. The frame body is connected to the paper receiving unit. Swings up and down between a storage posture in which a manual paper feed tray capable of supplying paper from the side is stored close to the frame material side and a supply posture in which paper can be supplied separately from the frame material side An image forming apparatus supported freely,
The upper end corner portion of the front side plate and the rear side plate is formed in a shape that enters the paper receiving portion side across the upper end of the side plate at a position higher than the paper transport portion. Is provided so as to enter the paper receiving portion side.

[Action and effect]
In other words, the paper transport unit that can transport the paper in the internal paper feed tray to the upper image forming unit is located on one end in the left-right direction of the housing. Paying attention to the point that it is difficult to cause trouble in conveying the paper to the image forming unit even if it enters the part side, the upper end part on the paper conveyance part side of the front side plate and the rear side plate is higher than the paper conveyance part, The upper end corners of the front plate and the rear plate on the paper transport unit side are formed so as to enter the paper receiving unit side over the upper end of the side plate. The frame material having a cross-sectional shape along the shape of the part can be inserted into the paper receiving part side to connect the upper end corners.
Therefore, the frame material can be inserted into the paper receiving part side without changing the size and shape, and the upper end corners on the paper conveying part side of the front side plate and the rear side plate can be connected to each other. The storage tray is stored close to the frame material side and can be stored compactly in a state of being inserted into the paper receiving unit side.

  In the second characteristic configuration of the present invention, the shape of the upper end of the front side plate and the rear side plate on the sheet conveying unit side is formed in a curved shape.

[Action and effect]
Since the shapes of the upper ends of the front side plate and the rear side plate on the sheet conveying unit side are formed in a curved shape, stress concentration is unlikely to occur, and the strength of the housing is easily secured.

  The third characteristic configuration of the present invention is a shape in which the lower end portion of the front side plate and the rear side plate enters the side of the paper feeding portion across the lower end of the side plate at a position lower than the paper transfer portion. It is in the point formed in.

[Action and effect]
In other words, the paper transport unit that can transport the paper in the internal paper feed tray to the upper image forming unit is arranged at one end in the left-right direction of the housing. Paying attention to the point that it is difficult to cause trouble in conveying the paper to the image forming unit even if it enters the part side, the lower side of the paper conveyance unit side of the front side plate and the rear side plate is at a position lower than the paper conveyance unit, Since it is formed in a shape that enters the paper delivery part side across the lower end of the side plate, the lower end part on the paper transport part side of the housing can enter the paper delivery part side so that it can be easily installed even in a small floor area. .

  According to a fourth characteristic configuration of the present invention, the shape of the lower end portion of the front side plate and the rear side plate on the sheet conveying unit side is formed in a curved shape.

[Action and effect]
Since the shape of the lower end of the front side plate and the rear side plate on the sheet conveying portion side is formed in a curved shape, stress concentration is unlikely to occur and the strength of the housing is easily secured.

  A fifth characteristic configuration of the present invention is that a flange is provided along an end of the front side plate and the rear side plate on the sheet conveying unit side.

[Action and effect]
Since the flange is provided along the sheet conveyance unit side end portions of the front side plate and the rear side plate, the rigidity of the side plate at the sheet conveyance unit side end portion is increased, and the strength of the housing is easily secured.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
1 to 5 show an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine or a printer according to the present invention, FIG. 1 shows the inside of the image forming apparatus, and FIGS. 2 to 5 show internal devices 1, 2, and 3 of the image forming apparatus. The steel frame-like housing | casing B of the apparatus main body A which accommodates is shown.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit 1, a plurality of internal paper feed trays 2, an interior of an apparatus main body A having an automatic document feeder 4 swingable on the upper surface side. An internal device such as a paper transport unit 3 that can transport the paper in the paper feed tray 2 to the image forming unit 1 is provided. The manual feed tray 5 capable of supplying paper from the outside is swung up and down between a storage posture in which the paper feed tray 5 is stored close to the apparatus main body A side and a supply posture in which the paper can be supplied separately from the apparatus main body A side. It is supported freely.

  The paper transport unit 3 is disposed on one end in the left-right direction of the apparatus main body A, that is, on the manual feed tray 5 side with the paper transport direction facing upward, and the image forming unit 1 and each internal paper feed. The tray 2 is arranged up and down in the order of description with the sheet receiving unit 1a side of the image forming unit 1 and the sheet feeding unit 2a side of each internal sheet feeding tray 2 facing the sheet conveying unit 3 side.

  A frame-like housing B that houses internal devices such as the image forming unit 1, a plurality of internal paper feed trays 2, a paper transport unit 3, etc. extends along the front side of the apparatus main body A as shown in FIGS. The front side plate 6 and the rear side plate 7 arranged along the back side of the apparatus main body A are connected to each other with a base member 8 or horizontal frame members 9, 10, 11, etc., with a gap therebetween. The manual feed tray 5 is supported on the outer surface of one end in the left-right direction of the housing B so as to be swingable up and down around the horizontal axis X.

  The frame-like casing B is assembled by joining mainly sheet metal members by welding, and the front plate 6 is fixed vertically to the front side of the base member 8 having the casters 12 and the adjusters 13 for adjusting the installation height. In addition, the rear plate 7 is fixed vertically on the back side of the base member 8 in a posture substantially parallel to the front plate 6.

  The front side plate 6 is formed in a frame shape having large openings 14 and 15 in the vertical direction so that maintenance and inspection of the internal devices 1, 2, 3 and the internal paper feed tray 2 can be taken in and out. The lateral frame 16 for reinforcement is fixed to the outer surface side of the intermediate portion in the vertical direction, the outer peripheral portions of the front side plate 6 and the rear side plate 7 are bent outwardly, and the reinforcing flange 6a is extended over substantially the entire circumference. , 6b, 6c, 6d, 7a, 7b, 7c, 7d, and the front plate 6 and the rear plate are fixed to the flanges 6a-6d, 7a-7d by fixing the base member 8 and the lateral frame members 9-11, etc. 7 are connected to each other at an interval.

  That is, the left and right upper corners 17 and 18 of the front side plate 6 and the rear side plate 7 are connected to each other by the first and second horizontal frame members 9 and 10 having a substantially L-shaped cross section. The upper plate member 19 is attached between the second horizontal frame member 10 and the middle of the front plate 6 and the rear plate 7 in the vertical direction between the third horizontal frame member 11 below the first horizontal frame member 9, and The intermediate side plate 20 below the second horizontal frame member 10 and the intermediate plate member 21 below the upper plate member 19 are connected.

  Further, the lower end of the front side plate 6 and the rear side plate 7 on the side of the sheet conveying unit 3 is positioned lower than the sheet conveying unit 3 and extends over the lower ends of the side plates 6 and 7 to the sheet feeding unit in the internal sheet feeding tray 2. The lower end corners 22 are formed so as to enter the paper feeding part 2a side, and the paper on the front side plate 6 and the rear side plate 7 is formed as shown in FIGS. Each of the upper end portions on the conveying unit 3 side is formed in a smooth curved shape that enters the sheet receiving unit 1a side in the image forming unit 1 across the upper ends of the side plates 6 and 7 at a position higher than the sheet conveying unit 3. Each upper corner portion 17 is provided so as to enter the paper receiving portion 1a side.

  And the 1st horizontal frame material of the substantially L-shaped cross-sectional shape along those corner | angular shape is used for the left-right direction one end side of the front side board 6 and the rear side board 7, ie, the upper corner | angular parts 17 by the side of the paper conveyance part 3. 9, and a storage posture in which the manual paper feed tray 5 enters the paper receiving portion 1 a side and close to the first horizontal frame material 9 side and is stored compactly, and the first horizontal frame material 9. It is supported by the casing B so as to be swingable up and down over a supply posture in which a sheet can be supplied separated from the side.

[Other Embodiments]
1. In the image forming apparatus according to the present invention, the manual feed tray may be supported on an exterior member such as an exterior plate fixed to the outer surface side of the casing so as to be swingable up and down.
2. In the image forming apparatus according to the present invention, the upper end of the front plate and the rear plate on the side of the paper conveying unit is at a position higher than the paper conveying unit, and is L-shaped so as to enter the paper receiving unit side at a substantially right angle across the upper end of the side plate. The upper end corner may be provided so as to enter the paper receiving portion side.
3. In the image forming apparatus according to the present invention, the lower end of the front plate and the rear plate on the side of the paper conveying unit is at a position lower than the paper conveying unit, and is L-shaped so as to enter the paper feeding unit side at a substantially right angle across the lower end of the side plate. The lower end corner may be provided so as to enter the sheet feeding portion side.
4). The image forming apparatus according to the present invention may be a facsimile in addition to a copier or a printer.

Front view showing inside of image forming apparatus Perspective view of the frame-like housing as seen from the front A perspective view of the frame-like housing from the back side Perspective view of main parts Side view of the main part

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image formation part 1a Paper receiving part 2 Internal paper feed tray 2a Paper feed part 3 Paper conveyance part 5 Manual feed tray 6 Front side plate 6a Flange 7 Rear side plate 7a Flange 9 Frame material 17 Upper end corner A Device body B Case

Claims (5)

An image forming unit and a frame-like housing in which a front plate arranged along the front side of the apparatus main body and a rear plate arranged along the back side of the apparatus main body are connected with a space therebetween. An internal paper feed tray and a paper transport unit capable of transporting the paper in the internal paper feed tray to the image forming unit;
The paper transport unit is disposed on one end side in the left-right direction of the apparatus main body with the transport direction facing upward, and the image forming unit and the internal paper feed tray are disposed on the paper receiving unit side of the image forming unit. Arrange the paper feed part side of the internal paper feed tray up and down in the order of description, facing the paper transport part side,
The upper end corners of the front side plate and the rear side plate on the paper conveying unit side are connected by a frame material having a cross-sectional shape along the shape of the corners,
A storage posture in which a manual paper feed tray capable of supplying paper from the outside of the apparatus main body to the paper receiving unit is stored close to the frame material side, and a supply capable of supplying paper by separating from the frame material side An image forming apparatus that is supported so as to be swingable up and down over a posture,
The upper end corner portion of the front side plate and the rear side plate is formed in a shape that enters the paper receiving portion side across the upper end of the side plate at a position higher than the paper transport portion. Is formed so as to enter the sheet receiving portion side.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the upper end of the front side plate and the rear side plate are formed in a curved shape.   2. The lower end of the front side plate and the rear side plate of the paper conveyance unit side are formed at a position lower than the paper conveyance unit so as to enter the paper delivery unit side across the lower end of the side plate. 2. The image forming apparatus according to 2.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 3, wherein a shape of a lower end portion of the front side plate and the rear side plate on the sheet conveying unit side is formed in a curved shape.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a flange is provided along an end of the front side plate and the rear side plate on the side of the sheet conveying unit.

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