JP2006162742A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To attain a copying machine easy to open and close ADF at a lower position even for a leg disabled person using a wheelchair in a simple configuration without giving trouble on opening and closing operation of ADF designed to be performed at a standing position in the console electrophotographic copying machine. <P>SOLUTION: An image forming apparatus includes a grasping part providing an ADF opening and closing grasp supported rotatably on a right side of an ADF device and applying force by a user concerning the ADF opening and closing grasp, and a pushing part for pushing a part of an image scanner body in response to operation of the grasping part. In particulars, release and initial movement operation of an ADF closing state holding mechanism such as a magnet lock are facilitated. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a so-called console-type copying machine having an upper part of a main body to which an automatic document feeder positioned at the upper part of a console type main body is rotatably connected, and an image forming unit and a reading unit inside the main body. .

  In such a copying machine, an automatic document feeder (hereinafter referred to as ADF) that automatically feeds a document to a document placement surface is used.

  The ADF cannot be sent to the ADF except for a sheet-like document. When copying a bound document or book, the ADF must be lifted and opened to place a copy on the document placement surface. I need.

  However, since the ADF is equipped with a mechanism for sequentially feeding sheet originals onto the original placement surface, its weight is significantly larger than that of a plate-like original holder, and multiple copies are made. In this case, the copy is changed every page and the ADF is opened and closed.

Moreover, as a prior art example, patent document 1 and patent document 2 can be mention | raise | lifted, for example.
JP 2003-140277 A JP 2004-198563 A

  FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining the correspondence between a normal copying machine and a user. (A) shows a wheelchair use state, (b) shows the use state in a standing position.

  The ADF opening / closing operation is designed to be performed by the user in a standing position. When the ADF is fully opened, the handle of the ADF is about 150 mm or higher from the floor surface. Since the hand cannot reach the handle portion of the ADF, there is no clue on the side surface of the ADF, so that the ADF opening / closing operation is not easy.

  In addition, the US rehabilitation law Article 508, Article 1194.25, Self contained, closed products (j) The specification of the position of the operation unit has a specification of 1170 mm or less from the floor surface, and the console type image forming apparatus is usually used for standing operation In addition, since the position and layout of the operation unit are made, in order to conform to the regulations, a clue is necessary on the side surface of the ADF at a position of 1170 mm or less from the floor surface.

  Further, the amount of force required for the operation is specified to be 2.27 kg or less, but there are some large ADFs that require an operation force of 3 kg or more.

  In an image forming apparatus including an automatic document feeder (ADF) that is opened and closed vertically via a hinge fixed to the rear upper end of the main body of a console type electrophotographic copying machine, and an image reading apparatus, the image forming apparatus is rotated to the right side of the ADF apparatus. An ADF opening / closing handle that is movably supported, the ADF opening / closing handle having a handle portion to which a force is applied by a user, and a pressing portion that presses a part of the main body of the image reading apparatus in accordance with the operation of the handle portion The above object can be achieved in the ADF opening / closing operation.

  Attaching the handle for opening and closing the ADF to a conventional copying machine does not hinder the opening and closing operation using the handle portion of the ADF designed to be performed in a standing position, and it is also low for the disabled person using a wheelchair Since the opening / closing operation of the ADF is facilitated, the replacement operation of the copy object accompanying the copying operation is made possible. In particular, when the ADF closed state holding mechanism such as the magnet lock is released, the initial operation is facilitated.

  A first embodiment of the present invention will be described below.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic view from the right slope of the console type electrophotographic copying machine of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a schematic view when the ADF of the console type electrophotographic copying machine is slightly opened. FIG. 3 is a schematic view when the ADF of the console type electrophotographic copying machine is almost fully opened at about 80 degrees.

The copying machine main body 1 has an automatic document feeder (ADF) 3 attached to the upper surface of the main body, and a document placement surface 2 is provided below the ADF and behind the operation unit on the upper surface of the main body.
A rotary hinge 5 is provided at the rear part of the copying machine main body, and the rear end part of the ADF 3 and the hinge 5 are fixed.

  The ADF opens about 80 degrees as shown in FIG. 3 with the hinge portion as the center of rotation so that the copy can be placed on the document placement surface. Reference numeral 4 denotes an opening / closing handle that is usually used for opening the ADF 3.

  Reference numeral 14 denotes a magnet lock, which comprises a magnet fixed at the position shown in FIG. 2 on the copying machine main body 1 and a metal member fixed at a position facing the magnet when the ADF is closed. Holds that state when closed.

  As a feature of the present embodiment, an opening / closing handle 6 provided on the side surface of the ADF is used as a clue for opening / closing the ADF from a low position such as a wheelchair in the ADF closed state.

  FIG. 4 is a view showing the opening / closing handle 6 and portions related to the function thereof.

  The opening / closing handle 6 has a handle front portion 7 protruding forward from the opening / closing handle 6, and is rotatably held on the side surface of the ADF by an ADF fixing portion 9 built in the rotating shaft portion 8. In addition, the body of the opening / closing handle 6 is provided with a balance weight 10 at the end opposite to the L-shaped handle front part 7, and in the left state, the entire rod-shaped portion of the opening / closing handle 6 is more than the rotating shaft 8. Positioned below, the left and right balance is achieved, and the rod-shaped portions shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 (c) are held in parallel, or the L-shaped handle front portion 7 is held at a lower balance.

  In the ADF closed state (FIG. 4A), the open / close handle 6 is held in the horizontal default state by the handle support 13 fixed to the upper part 11 of the copying machine main body. In this state, the rotation stopper 12 fixed to the ADF main body has a slight play d.

  The operation when lifting the ADF will be described. When the handle front portion 7 of the opening / closing handle 6 is lifted, the relationship between the opening / closing handle 6 and the handle support 13 is that the tip 6a of the opening / closing handle 6 is held by the handle support 13 from below. It cannot move downward from the support base 13. For this reason, the tip 6a moves slightly on the handle support 13 so as to slide forward slightly, and rotates a little while using the tip 6a as a substantial axis. As a result, the ADF fixing portion 9 also moves upward, and the ADF 3 itself also moves its rotating shaft portion 8 upward. That is, the movement of the opening / closing handle 6 functions as a lever that lifts the ADF main body 3 with the tip 6a as a fulcrum, the handle front 7 as an action point, and the ADF fixing part 9 as an action point.

  Since the ADF 3 is rotatably held in the copying machine main body by the rear end portion and the hinge 5, the ADF 3 rotates so that the front portion moves upward. As for the relationship between the opening / closing handle 6 and the ADF main body 3, the ADF fixing portion 9 including the rotating shaft portion 8 is relatively rotated about a fulcrum.

  This movement is continued until the opening / closing handle 6 comes into contact with the rotation stopper 12. Then, the magnet lock is set so as to be released by the rising width of the ADF main body 3 until the opening / closing handle 6 contacts the rotation stopper 12 (FIG. 4B). As a result, it is possible to reduce the initial force required for releasing the magnet lock of the ADF 3.

  When the magnet is removed, the force required to lift the ADF body 3 at that time becomes small.

  When the opening / closing handle 6 comes into contact with the rotation stopper 12, the opening / closing handle 6 and the ADF body 3 become substantially integrated, and the handle front portion 7 is used as a handle for lifting the ADF body 3. Even at the time of this lifting operation, the handle front portion 7 protrudes forward from the tip of the ADF main body 3 and has a distance from the rotary hinge 5, so that the force required for lifting is small.

  FIG. 4C is a view showing a state in which the ADF main body 3 is raised. When the hand is released from the handle front portion 7 in this state, the tip portion is lowered by its weight. As shown in FIG. 3, the height of the handle front portion 7 is sufficiently high for a wheelchair user.

  When the ADF 3 is closed, it can be operated by placing the hand on the lowered handle front portion 7 and pulling it toward the front.

  According to the above-described embodiment of the present invention, the ADF opening / closing handle is attached to the conventional copying machine, so that the opening / closing operation using the handle portion of the ADF designed to be performed in an upright position is not hindered. Since the ADF opening / closing operation at a low position is facilitated even for a disabled person using a wheelchair, the object to be copied can be exchanged with the copying operation.

  Compared to the small handle that is used by hooking the fingertips on the ADF body to prepare for opening and closing heavy ADFs, the LDF-shaped handle is used to damage prosthetic hands, hands, and fingers. Even users with weak obstacles can grip securely, and with the handle tip located in front of the ADF tip, the lifting force is reduced by the principle of the lever, and the lifting operation can be performed easily.

  When the ADF is in the maximum open state of about 80 degrees, the hand reaches the front part of the handle, so that the user can pull it down as a clue and pull down the ADF to close it.

  In the case where the ADF is closed and magnetically locked, the initial operation force amount for unlocking can be operated lightly by the lever principle.

  Additional installation is possible according to the user's request on the side of the ADF installed in the existing copying machine.

It is the schematic which shows the state which equipped the handle for opening and closing on the side surface of ADF installed in the upper part of the copy of this invention. It is the schematic which shows the state which equipped the handle for opening and closing on the side surface of ADF installed in the upper part of the copy of this invention. It is the schematic which shows the state which equipped the handle for opening and closing on the side surface of ADF installed in the upper part of the copy of this invention. (A) is a schematic diagram showing a default state of the opening / closing handle attached to the ADF on the copying machine main body, (b) is a schematic diagram showing an initial state in which the opening / closing handle is lifted to release the magnetic lock of the ADF, (c) ) Is a schematic view showing the operating state of the opening / closing handle at the position where the ADF is lifted. FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining a correspondence relationship between a normal copying machine and a user.

Explanation of symbols

1 Copier body 2 Document placement surface 3 Automatic document feeder (ADF)
4 Opening / Closing Handle 5 Rotating Hinge 6 Opening / Closing Handle 7 Handle Front Part 8 Rotating Shaft Part 9 ADF Fixing Part 10 Balance Weight 11 Copying Machine Main Body 12 Rotation Stopper 13 Handle Support Base 14 Magnet Lock

Claims (6)

  An image forming apparatus comprising: an image reading device (1); and an automatic document feeder (3) that is opened and closed in a vertical direction via a hinge (5) fixed to a rear upper end of the main body of the image reading device. The automatic document feeder (3) has an ADF opening / closing handle (6) rotatably supported on the right side surface, and the ADF opening / closing handle (6) has a handle portion (7) to which a force is applied by a user. An image forming apparatus comprising: a pressing portion (6a) that presses a part (13) of the main body of the image reading device in response to an operation of the handle portion (7).   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the pressing portion (6a) is located at an end of the opening / closing handle (6) opposite to the handle front portion (7) across the rotation shaft (8). apparatus.   3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the opening / closing handle (6) is made of a rod-shaped member, and the entire rod-shaped member is positioned below the rotating shaft (8) when the ADF is open.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the ADF includes a stopper that restricts rotation of the opening / closing handle.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the stopper is in a state of functioning after an operation stroke of the handle portion (7) that causes the ADF to rise by a predetermined amount.   2. The electrophotographic copying machine having an ADF opening / closing handle according to claim 1, wherein the opening / closing auxiliary handle (6) is positioned at a height within 1170 mm from the floor surface in the ADF open state.

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