JP2007199613A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To hardly impair operability of unlocking between an apparatus body and a mounted unit and maintain a stable lock state in a loaded state. <P>SOLUTION: An image forming apparatus includes the apparatus body 1A as a component of the image forming apparatus and the mounted unit 1B which is slidably mounted on the apparatus body 1A, and further provided with a swing hook 2 which is fitted to one of the apparatus body 1A and mounted unit 1B to freely swing in a direction crossing the slide mounting direction of the mounted unit 1B and a lock mechanism R which is fitted to the other of the apparatus body 1A and mounted unit 1B and has a fixing pin 3 locking the the apparatus body 1A and mounted unit 1B by the swing locking of the swing hook 2 so that the apparatus body 1A and mounted unit 1B are not disengaged from each other. In the image forming apparatus, a pivot portion 2a for the swing hook is provided on a swing hook front end side in the slide mounting direction and a hook portion 2b engaging the fixing pin 3 is provided on a rear end side beyond the pivot portion 2a in the slide mounting direction. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a copier, a facsimile machine, or a printer. For example, the present invention relates to an apparatus main body (for example, an image forming apparatus main body or an image forming apparatus) which is one of constituent devices of the image forming apparatus. An optional device related to the device (eg, a paper post-processing device, etc.) and a mounting unit that can be slidably mounted on the main body of the device are provided, and can swing in a direction that intersects the sliding mounting direction of the mounting unit. A swing hook attached to one of the apparatus main body and the mounting unit; a swing hook attached to the other of the apparatus main body and the mounting unit; The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus provided with a lock mechanism including a fixing pin that locks the detachment.

Conventionally, as an image forming apparatus of this type, as shown in FIG. 3, the lock mechanism R includes a swinging hook in which the pivotal support portion 2 a of the swinging hook 2 is viewed from the swinging hook 2 in the slide mounting direction. A hook portion 2b provided on the rear end side and engaged with the fixed pin 3 is provided on the front end side with respect to the pivot portion 2a in the slide mounting direction as viewed from the swinging hook 2 (for example, Patent Documents 1 to 3).
The swinging hook 2 is applied with a biasing force in a swinging direction (hereinafter referred to as a locking swinging direction) in which the locking to the fixing pin is deepened because the locking is not inadvertently released. The urging means 20 is connected and swings in an artificial unlocking operation (a swinging direction in which the swinging hook 2 is disengaged from the fixing pin 3 (hereinafter referred to as an unlocking swinging direction). An unlocking mechanism (not shown) that enables an operation to be performed is coupled.
Further, when the swinging hook 2 and the fixed pin 3 are locked, the locking force of both is further increased, and at the moment when the hook portion 2b is detached from the fixed pin 3, the locking force is released. In some cases, there was provided second urging means 21 for realizing smooth unlocking by slightly pushing back the moving hook 2 in the direction opposite to the slide mounting direction (see FIG. 3C).

JP-A-7-219411 (FIGS. 6 and 8) Japanese Patent No. 2887486 (FIG. 1) JP 2004-123317 A (FIG. 5)

According to the conventional image forming apparatus described above, as shown in FIG. 3 (c), X1 in the figure, which is a pivoted portion of the swing hook 2, and the fixing pin 3 are brought into contact with each other to exert a locking force. Since the straight line L that connects X2 in the figure, which is the contact part of the hook part 2b to be crossed, intersects with the straight line M in the figure that shows the slide mounting direction, between the swinging hook 2 and the fixing pin 3 When the unlocking force acting in the direction opposite to the slide mounting direction is applied, a couple is generated at X1 and X2 in the figure. And the couple produces the rotation moment which rocks | fluctuates the rocking | hooking hook 2 to the said latch release rocking | fluctuation direction, and there exists a danger that latching will be cancelled | released carelessly. Such a phenomenon is further caused by repeated wear and release operations of the swinging hook and the fixing pin, and the frictional resistance of both of the contact portions is reduced due to the progress of wear between the facing contact portions. It becomes easy. In the image forming apparatus provided with the second urging means, the urging force can also cause inadvertent release of the swinging hook and the fixed focus.
However, in order to solve this problem, it is conceivable to increase the urging force of the first urging means. However, if the urging force of the first urging means is increased, it is artificially fixed to the swinging hook. Since a strong force is required to perform the unlocking operation with the pin, there arises a new problem that it becomes difficult to perform the unlocking operation between the apparatus main body and the mounting unit.

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus that solves the above-described problems, does not easily impair the operability of unlocking the apparatus main body and the mounting unit, and can easily maintain a stable locked state in the mounted state. There is a place to do.

  A first characteristic configuration of the present invention includes a device main body that is one of constituent devices of an image forming apparatus, and a mounting unit that can be slidably mounted on the device main body, and a direction that intersects the slide mounting direction of the mounting unit. The swinging hook attached to one of the apparatus main body and the mounting unit and the other of the apparatus main body and the mounting unit are attached to each other and the swinging hook is locked. In the image forming apparatus provided with a lock mechanism including a fixing pin that locks the detachment of the apparatus main body and the mounting unit, the pivot support portion of the swing hook is on the front end side of the swing hook in the slide mounting direction. A hook portion that is provided and engages with the fixing pin is provided at a rear end side with respect to the pivot support portion in the slide mounting direction.

According to the first characteristic configuration of the present invention, the pivot support portion of the swing hook is provided on the front end side of the swing hook in the slide mounting direction, and the hook portion engaged with the fixed pin is the slide mounting. Since it is provided on the rear end side with respect to the pivot part in the direction, as shown in FIG. 2 (c), X1 in the figure, which is the pivot part in the swing hook 2, and the fixing pin 3 are brought into contact with each other. The straight line L connecting the X2 in the drawing, which is the contact portion of the hook portion 2b that exerts the locking force, is opposite to the case of the above-described conventional example with respect to the straight line M in the drawing showing the slide mounting direction. It will cross in the direction. As a result, even if the unlocking force in the direction of pulling the mounting unit away from the apparatus main body is applied, the couple acting on X1 and X2 in the figure is the moment that rotates the swing hook 2 in the locking swing direction. This will deepen the locking between the swinging hook and the fixed focus. Therefore, it is easy to maintain a stable mounting lock state between the apparatus main body and the mounting unit.
Further, such an operational effect can be obtained without change even if the engagement of the swinging hook and the fixing pin is repeatedly performed and the operation of releasing the engagement is repeated, and the wear of the facing contact portion progresses. In the image forming apparatus provided with the second urging means, the urging force acts in the direction of deepening the engagement between the swinging hook and the fixing pin, thereby preventing inadvertent unlocking. It becomes easy to plan.
In addition, since it is not necessary to increase the urging force of the first urging means in order to prevent inadvertent unlocking as in the prior art, it is possible to artificially lock the swinging hook and the fixing pin. It is possible to operate with less force to perform the release operation, and it becomes possible to improve the operability of unlocking the apparatus main body and the mounting unit.

  According to a second characteristic configuration of the present invention, a sliding contact side of the hook portion with the fixing pin is inclined along a swinging locus of unlocking of the swinging hook.

  According to the second characteristic configuration of the present invention, in addition to achieving the above-described operation and effect of the first characteristic configuration of the present invention, the swing for releasing the lock between the swing hook and the fixing pin. During the operation, the sliding contact side of the hook part is not easily caught by the fixing pin, and a smoother unlocking operation can be realized.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In the drawings, the parts indicated by the same reference numerals as those in the conventional example indicate the same or corresponding parts.

FIG. 1 shows an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. The image forming apparatus 1 is configured as, for example, a copier, a facsimile, a printer, or the like, A mounting unit (for example, a sheet post-processing device) 1B, which is an additional optional device, is mounted on 1A (referred to as an apparatus main body). In the case of this embodiment, the mounting unit is mounted so as to be fitted between both side walls of the apparatus main body 1A.
The mounting unit 1B can be mounted on the apparatus main body 1A by sliding the mounting unit 1B in the direction of the arrow in the figure (hereinafter simply referred to as the slide mounting direction). The mechanism R is actuated so as to prevent separation of both.

The lock mechanism R will be described.
The lock mechanism R includes a swinging hook 2 attached to the mounting unit 1B and a fixing pin 3 attached to the apparatus main body 1A, and fits the mounting unit 1B to the apparatus main body 1A. At the same time, by sliding along the slide mounting direction, the swinging hook 2 can be locked to the fixing pin 3 to lock both.

  The fixing pin 3 is fixed so as to protrude inward from the side wall of the apparatus main body 1A.

As shown in FIG. 1, the swing hook 2 is attached to a pivot shaft P provided in a state protruding from the side surface of the mounting unit 1B so as to be swingable up and down.
The swing hook 2 is formed in an elongated shape along the slide mounting direction, and is provided with a pivot portion 2a into which the pivot shaft P is fitted and inserted on the front end side.
Moreover, as shown in FIG. 2, the hook part 2b is formed in the lower edge part of the rear end side from the pivotal support part 2a. The lower edge portion of the swing hook 2 that extends from the tip end portion to the hook portion 2b is configured as an inclined surface 2c as shown in the figure, and the fixing pin is attached to the apparatus main body 1A as the mounting unit 1B slides. 3 is provided with a function of a guide surface for swinging the swinging hook 2 upward by its reaction force while slidingly contacting the member 3.
When the mounting unit 1B is slid further inward until the inclined surface 2c gets over the fixed pin 3, the swinging hook 2 causes the sliding contact side 2d of the hook portion 2b to the fixed pin 3 to be in sliding contact with the fixed pin 3. While swinging downward, the locking is completed. In this locked state, since the sliding contact side 2d is positioned below the pivot part, when the mounting release force in the lateral direction acts on the mounting unit 1B, the pivoting part 2a and the pivot part 2a Coupled force acts on the sliding contact side 2d, and the locking to the fixing pin 3 is further strengthened. Therefore, the structure is such that the locking is not inadvertently released.
On the other hand, the slidable contact side 2d is formed so as to be inclined along a rocking locus of the unlocking of the swinging hook 2, and the fixing pin 3 is not easily caught when the swinging hook 2 is unlocked. It is configured as follows.
That is, in the case of this embodiment, the unlocking operation of the lock mechanism R is performed by lifting the rear end portion of the swinging hook 2 and swinging it upward so that the hook portion 2b is separated from the fixed pin 3 and the locking is released. However, when the operation is performed, the sliding contact side 2d is formed in a state along the swing locus so that it can be smoothly swung, and the unlocking operation can be easily performed. Become.

  According to the image forming apparatus 1 of the present embodiment, it is easy to maintain a stable mounting lock state between the apparatus main body 1A and the mounting unit 1B, and less force is required to perform an unlocking operation between the swing hook and the fixing pin. It is possible to improve the operability of unlocking the apparatus main body and the mounting unit.

[Another embodiment]
Other embodiments will be described below.

<1> The apparatus main body and the mounting unit are not limited to the shapes and mounting structures described in the previous embodiment, and other known shapes and mounting structures may be employed.
The apparatus main body and the mounting unit are both related to the image forming apparatus. However, as described in the previous embodiment, the apparatus main body is not limited to the image forming apparatus main body. The finisher may be a finisher (paper post-processing apparatus) that is used by being attached to the forming apparatus, and the entire apparatus is referred to as an apparatus main body. Similarly, the mounting unit is not limited to the finisher (paper post-processing apparatus) described in the previous embodiment, and may be, for example, a bookbinding apparatus attached to the finisher. It is called a mounting unit.
<2> The swinging hook and the fixing pin are not limited to the shape and the locking structure described in the previous embodiment, and other known shapes and locking structures may be employed.
<3> The sliding contact side 2d is not limited to the shape described in the previous embodiment. For example, the sliding contact side 2d may have an arc shape with the pivot shaft P as a center. What is necessary is just to incline and form in the state along the rocking locus | trajectory of latch release | release, and these are collectively called a sliding contact side.

  In addition, as mentioned above, although the code | symbol was written in order to make contrast with drawing convenient, this invention is not limited to the structure of an accompanying drawing by this entry. In addition, it goes without saying that the present invention can be carried out in various modes without departing from the gist of the present invention.

Side view schematic diagram showing the image forming apparatus Explanatory drawing which shows the effect | action of a locking mechanism Explanatory drawing which shows the effect | action of the conventional lock mechanism

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1A Apparatus main body 1B Mounting unit 2 Swing hook 2a Pivoting part 2b Hook part 2d Sliding contact side 3 Fixing pin R Lock mechanism

Claims (2)

An apparatus main body, which is one of the constituent devices of the image forming apparatus, and a mounting unit that can be slidably mounted on the apparatus main body are provided, and the apparatus main body is configured to be swingable in a direction that intersects the slide mounting direction of the mounting unit. A swing hook attached to one of the mounting unit and the other of the device main body and the mounting unit, and the device main body and the mounting unit are detached by swinging locking of the swing hook. An image forming apparatus provided with a lock mechanism having a fixing pin for locking
The pivot support portion of the swing hook is provided on the front end side of the swing hook in the slide mounting direction, and the hook portion that engages with the fixing pin is provided on the rear end side of the pivot support portion in the slide mounting direction. An image forming apparatus.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a sliding contact side of the hook portion with the fixing pin is inclined in a state along a swing locus of the release of the swing hook.

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