JP2007311964A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming apparatus capable of effectively preventing a card type medium for maintenance from being left as it is without being extracted, or from being extracted by mistake. <P>SOLUTION: A maintenance insertion slot 27 where a compact flash memory 25 for maintenance is detachably loaded is provided in an apparatus main body 2. The maintenance insertion slot 27 is disposed at a position where the compact flash memory 25 projects from the apparatus main body 2 while loaded in the maintenance insertion slot 27. The apparatus main body 2 is equipped with a lid cover 18 covering the maintenance insertion slot 27. A pivot part 19 supported freely turnably on the apparatus main body 2 is provided at one side part of the lid cover 18, the lid cover 18 can freely be operated around the pivot part 19 to be opened and closed while a lock part 21 provided in the lid cover 18 is in a locking release state where it can be freely locked to or unlocked from the device main body 2. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus suitable for preventing forgetting to remove a card-type medium such as CompactFlash (registered trademark) used during maintenance.

  Conventionally, in an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine or a facsimile apparatus, rewriting of software of the apparatus and extraction of internal data are performed using, for example, a compact flash as a medium so that maintenance can be easily performed. Such a maintenance-use compact flash was inserted into the insertion slot of the apparatus main body during maintenance, and was removed from the insertion slot after the maintenance was completed.

  Similarly, there is a board with a compact flash as a standard equipment as a medium for storing customer data and other data.

  These compact flashes are often arranged in the vicinity from the standpoint of media characteristics, that is, design.

  However, according to the conventional image forming apparatus, when the maintenance compact flash is inserted into the predetermined insertion slot at the time of maintenance, the maintenance cover is removed or, in some cases, the main body of the apparatus covering the substrate. If the cover itself is not removed, such an operation cannot be performed, which is troublesome, and there is a possibility that the service person forgets to remove the compact flash for maintenance after the maintenance is completed.

  In addition, when the standard compact flash is arranged near the portion where the maintenance compact flash is mounted, there is a risk that the standard compact flash may be accidentally removed after the maintenance is completed.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus that can effectively prevent forgetting to remove or mistakenly remove a card-type medium for maintenance.

  The technical means for solving the above-described problem is that in the image forming apparatus provided with a maintenance insertion slot in which a maintenance card type medium is detachably mounted in the apparatus main body, the maintenance insertion slot includes the card. The card-type medium is disposed at a position where the card-type medium is popped out from the apparatus main body when the mold medium is attached to the maintenance insertion slot, and the apparatus main body is provided with a lid cover that covers the maintenance insertion slot. The pivot cover is pivotally supported by the apparatus main body on one side, and the lid cover is in the unlocked state in which the latch section provided in the lid cover is detachably engaged with the apparatus main body. It is in a point that it can be freely opened and closed.

  In addition, a standard insertion slot for detachably mounting a standard card type media is provided in the apparatus main body in an area covered with the lid cover, and the lid cover is a standard card type. It is good also as a structure in which the said latching | locking part can be said detachable in the mounting state with respect to the standard insertion slot of a medium.

  Further, the maintenance insertion slot and the standard insertion slot are displaced in the height direction, and the horizontal direction is perpendicular to the mounting direction of each card-type medium in each insertion slot. It is good also as a structure which is made into the finger insertion space part by which the maintenance insertion slot and the standard insertion slot are mutually connected in the part overlapped in the horizontal direction while being arrange | positioned.

  The lid cover is disposed on one side of the apparatus main body, the pivot support portion of the lid cover is disposed on the front side in the front-rear direction of the apparatus main body, and the locking portion of the lid cover is disposed on the rear side. It is good also as a structure.

  Furthermore, the maintenance insertion slot may be arranged on the front side in the front-rear direction of the apparatus main body, and the standard insertion slot may be arranged on the rear side in the front-rear direction.

  Further, the appearance color of the standard-equipped card-type medium mounted in the standard insertion slot may be substantially the same color as the appearance color of the apparatus main body.

  As described above, according to the image forming apparatus of the present invention, the maintenance insertion slot is disposed in a position where the card type media is ejected from the apparatus main body in a state of being attached to the maintenance insertion slot of the card type media, The device main body is provided with a lid cover that covers the maintenance insertion slot, and a pivot support portion that is rotatably supported by the device main body is provided on one side portion of the lid cover, and a locking portion provided in the lid cover is provided. The lid cover can be freely opened and closed around the pivotal support in an unlocked state that can be freely attached to and detached from the device main body, and the maintenance card type media installed in the maintenance insertion slot is in a state of protruding from the device main body. Therefore, the lid cover cannot be closed if the maintenance card type media is not removed. Since the notice easily that scan for card-type media is mounted state, forgetting to pull out of maintenance for the card-type media can be effectively prevented.

  In addition, since the maintenance card type media to be installed in the maintenance insertion slot is configured to protrude from the main body of the apparatus, the maintenance insertion slot may be mounted on the end of the substrate. The space can be effectively used, and the substrate can be made compact.

  Furthermore, since the maintenance card type media is mounted, it is in a state of popping out from the main body of the apparatus, so there is no possibility of mistakes with other standard card type media, and it is possible to effectively prevent mistakes.

  Further, there is an advantage that the maintenance card type medium can be easily extracted by using the protruding portion, and a release mechanism for extracting is not required.

  Furthermore, since the lid cover can be opened and closed by a so-called one-touch operation by engaging and disengaging the locking portion, there is an advantage that it is excellent in usability.

  In addition, a standard insertion slot for detachably mounting a standard-equipped card type media is provided in the area of the apparatus main body covered with the lid cover, and the lid cover is provided for the standard-equipped card-type media. If the locking part is designed to be freely disengaged when mounted on the standard insertion slot, the mounting position of the maintenance-purpose card-type media and the mounting position of the standard-type card-type media are arranged in the vicinity. Even if it has the same structure, the card-type media for standard equipment does not pop out from the main body of the apparatus, and it is possible to effectively prevent mistakes in removing the card-type media.

  Furthermore, the maintenance insertion slot and the standard insertion slot are overlapped in the horizontal direction perpendicular to the mounting direction of each card-type medium in each insertion slot in a state in which the maintenance insertion slot and the standard insertion slot are displaced in the height direction. If the structure is such that it is a finger insertion space portion in which the maintenance insertion slot and the standard insertion slot are in communication with each other in the laterally overlapping portion, the finger insertion space portion is provided. There is an advantage that the card-type media for standard equipment can be easily removed using the space, and the release mechanism in the standard insertion slot is not required.

  Further, the lid cover is disposed on one side of the apparatus main body, the pivot support portion of the lid cover is disposed on the front side in the front-rear direction of the apparatus main body, and the latching portion of the lid cover is disposed on the rear side. In this case, since the front side is a pivotal support point and the rear side is opened and closed, the maintenance insertion slot is difficult to access from the front side and is easily accessible from the back side. Therefore, since the access to the lid cover by a general user is usually from the front side, even if the lid cover is opened, the inside is difficult to see, and inadvertent misuse can be effectively prevented. On the other hand, since maintenance is basically a work from the back side, there is an advantage that the maintenance insertion slot is easily accessible and easy to use.

  Furthermore, if the maintenance insertion slot is arranged on the front side in the front-rear direction of the apparatus main body and the standard insertion slot is arranged on the rear side in the front-rear direction, the maintenance insertion slot can be viewed from the back side. The work efficiency is good because it is excellent and the card-type media for maintenance can be easily inserted and removed. Further, the open state of the lid cover is largely secured by the pop-out of the maintenance card type medium, and forgetting to remove the maintenance card type medium can be more effectively prevented.

  Furthermore, if the appearance color of the standard equipment card type media that is installed in the standard insertion slot is the same color as the appearance color of the main body of the device, the standard equipment card type media is not so noticeable. Mistakes can be prevented more effectively.

  DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a facsimile apparatus 1 as an example of an image forming apparatus of the present invention. In this facsimile apparatus 1, a reading unit 3 for reading a document is arranged at the upper part of the apparatus main body 2, and a recording unit 4 for recording data read by the reading unit 3 is arranged at the lower part.

  The recording unit 4 is provided with a recording device and a paper feed cassette. The paper placed in the paper feed cassette is fed to the recording device for recording and then discharged to the recording paper discharge tray. Is configured to do.

  Further, a document pressing cover 6 configured to be openable and closable via a pivot portion 5 disposed on the back surface is disposed above the reading unit 3, and is placed at a predetermined position on the upper surface of the reading unit 3 by the document pressing cover 6. It is configured to hold the placed document from above. Then, the placed document is scanned by the reading unit 3 to read the document.

  Further, an automatic document feeder (ADF device) 7 for automatically feeding a document is provided at one end of the document pressing cover 6, and the automatic document feeder 7 is placed on the document supply tray 8. The read originals are picked up one by one, conveyed to a predetermined position of the reading unit 3, and after reading image information consisting of characters and the like displayed on the surface of the original by the reading unit 3, so-called original contents are supplied. It is configured to be discharged to a document discharge tray 9 disposed below the tray 8, that is, provided on the upper surface of the document pressing cover 6.

  That is, the reading unit 3 is used as a flat bed type scanner that scans a reading document (not shown) to read a stationary document, and as a sheet feed type scanner that reads a document while fixing the position of the reading device. It is comprised so that it can be used.

  In addition, a key panel for operating the facsimile apparatus 1 is attached to the front of the reading unit 3, and by reading various operation keys on the key panel, the content of the original is read or the read content is transmitted by facsimile. The transmission destination is set, and the received content and the read content are recorded.

  Further, in the present embodiment, a structure in which a sheet feeding cassette 10 serving as a lower cassette is mounted on the lower surface of the apparatus main body 2 is employed. A pair of connecting brackets 11 are provided on the back surface of the lower paper feed cassette 10 so as to protrude in an upward projecting manner in a lateral direction, and each connecting bracket 11 is fixed to the apparatus main body 2 by a fixing screw 12. It is structured.

  The apparatus main body 2 has a structure in which a back cover 13 that closes an opening provided on the back surface of the apparatus main body 2 is detachably attached by a fixing screw 14.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 to 5, a maintenance window 16 is provided near the back surface of the lower side surface of the apparatus main body 2, and the window 16 is provided on the side cover 2 a of the apparatus main body 2. And a vertically long rectangular window opening 17 and a lid cover 18 that closes the window opening 17 so as to be openable and closable. In the present embodiment, the side cover 2a and the lid cover 18 are formed of a synthetic resin molded body.

  Then, one side portion of the lid cover 18 positioned on the front side in the front-rear direction in the apparatus main body 2 is configured to be rotatably supported by the side cover 2 a at the peripheral edge portion of the window opening 17. In other words, the upper and lower portions of one side portion of the lid cover 18 are provided with pivot portions 19 that are supported on the peripheral edge portion of the window opening portion 17 so as to be rotatable about the vertical axis. As such a pivotal support part 19, for example, a support shaft part that protrudes in the vertical direction on one side part of the lid cover 18 is rotatable in a recess formed on the inner surface of the peripheral part of the window opening 17. The structure to be fitted to each other and the support shafts protruding in the vertical direction from the inner peripheral edge of the window opening 17 are respectively fitted to the recesses formed on one side of the lid cover 18 so as to be freely rotatable. Provided by the structure etc.

  Further, the other side portion of the lid cover 18 located on the rear side in the front-rear direction of the apparatus main body 2 is structured to be detachably locked to the peripheral edge portion of the window opening portion 17. That is, the locking portion 21 is provided via the thin elastically deformable bending portion 20 located at the middle portion in the vertical direction on the other side portion of the lid cover 18. As shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, locking protrusions 21 a that are dispersed and arranged at appropriate intervals are provided on the surface of the locking portion 21 that faces the inner surface of the peripheral edge of the window opening 17. A structure that is provided with a length and that can be locked in a state where the rear edge of the window opening 17 is fitted between the locking protrusions 21a when the lid cover 18 is closed. Has been.

  Then, in the closed state of the lid cover 18 as shown in FIG. 2, the locking portions 21 are pushed and urged in the forward direction of the apparatus main body 2, so that the locking protrusions 20 are elastically deformed. The locking state between the strip 21a and the peripheral edge of the window opening 17 is released, and the lid cover 18 can be opened as shown in FIGS. Further, when the cover cover 18 is pushed and urged in the closing direction from the open state of the cover cover 18, the engagement between the locking protrusions 21 a and the peripheral edge portion of the window opening 17 through the elastic deformation of the bending portion 20. The stop state is obtained, and the closed state of the lid cover 18 shown in FIG. 2 is obtained.

  Inside the apparatus main body 2 corresponding to the inside of the lid cover 18, as shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, a USB connector 23 as an interface connector used for connecting an external device or the like on one side of the lower part. , And insertion slots 26 and 27 into which compact flashes 24 and 25 as card-type media are detachably mounted are arranged on one side and upper part of the USB connector 23, respectively.

  Accordingly, both the insertion slots 26 and 27 are shifted in the height direction and in the lateral direction perpendicular to the mounting direction of the compact flashes 24 and 25 in the insertion slots 26 and 27. That is, in this embodiment, it has a structure that is arranged in a partially overlapping state when viewed from the back side of the apparatus main body 2. In addition, a finger insertion space portion 28 is formed in which the insertion slots 26 and 27 are in communication with each other at a portion overlapping in the lateral direction.

  Further, a cutting line portion 29 is arranged along the periphery of the rectangular USB cover region 18 a corresponding to the arrangement position of the USB connector 23 on the lid cover 18. As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, the cutting line portion 29 is formed at the upper portion and the slit 29 a formed along each side of the front and rear sides, and at the center in the longitudinal direction of each slit 29 a, respectively. In addition to being arranged, the structure includes a holding piece 29b having an appropriate width for connecting and holding the USB cover region 18a to the lid cover 18. Here, the USB cover region 18 a is integrally held by the lid cover 18 by holding pieces 29 b that are intermittently arranged along the cutting line portion 29.

  Furthermore, the groove width of the slit 29a located on both sides of each holding piece 29b is formed slightly wider than the cutting blade portion of the nipper as a cutting tool can be inserted, and constitutes a cutting blade insertion hole 29c. ing. Then, the USB cover region 18a can be separated from the lid cover 18 by cutting each holding piece 29b with a nipper using the cutting blade insertion hole 29c.

  Each of the insertion slots 26 and 27 is configured to be mounted on a separate substrate 31 and 32, respectively, as shown in FIGS. The insertion slot 26 disposed on the rear side of the apparatus main body 2 that is one side of the USB connector 23 is used for standard equipment that stores customer data and is normally used without being inserted or removed. A standard insertion slot 26 into which the compact flash 24 is mounted is used.

  When the standard-equipped compact flash 24 is attached to the standard insertion slot 26, the standard-equipped compact flash 24 is positioned in the apparatus main body 2, and the lid cover 18 has a locking portion 21 with a window opening. It is in a state where it can be freely engaged and disengaged with respect to the peripheral edge portion of 17.

  On the other hand, the insertion slot 27 located above the USB connector 23 is a maintenance difference in which a maintenance compact flash 25 used for maintenance such as rewriting of software or extraction of internal data is mounted. Slot 27.

  When the maintenance compact flash 25 is attached to the maintenance insertion slot 27, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, a part of the maintenance compact flash 25 is protruded from the apparatus main body 2. It is configured.

  The present embodiment is configured as described above, and the lid cover 18 of the window portion 16 is normally closed. Further, the standard insertion compact flash 24 is set in the standard insertion slot 26.

  When it is necessary to attach the maintenance compact flash 25 during maintenance, the lid cover 18 can be opened and closed by releasing the latching state between the latching portion 21 of the lid cover 18 and the peripheral portion of the window opening 17. The maintenance compact flash 25 may be inserted into the maintenance insertion slot 27 exposed by opening the lid cover 18. Further, after the maintenance is completed, the cover compact 18 may be returned to the initial closed state after the maintenance compact flash 25 is removed.

  In the present embodiment, since the maintenance compact flash 25 attached to the maintenance insertion slot 27 is in a state of popping out from the apparatus main body 2, the maintenance compact flash 25 is removed. If it is not removed, the lid cover 18 cannot be closed. Therefore, it is easily noticed that the maintenance compact flash 25 is in the installed state after the maintenance is completed. it can.

  In addition, since the maintenance compact flash 25 mounted in the maintenance insertion slot 27 is structured so as to protrude from the apparatus main body 2, the maintenance insertion slot 27 is mounted on the end of the substrate 32. The space on the substrate 32 can be effectively used, and the substrate 32 can be made compact.

  Furthermore, since the maintenance compact flash 25 is mounted and is in a state of popping out from the apparatus main body 2, there is no possibility of mistakes with the standard-equipped compact flash 24 in the apparatus main body 2, and mistakes may be made. It can be effectively prevented.

  Further, there is an advantage that the maintenance compact flash 25 can be easily extracted by using the protruding portion, and a release mechanism for extraction is not necessary. Further, the standard-equipped compact flash 24 can be easily removed using the finger insertion space 28, and the release mechanism in the standard insertion slot 26 is not required. When the compact flash 24 for standard equipment is removed, in the state where the compact flash 25 for maintenance is not installed, more space for the finger insertion space portion 28 can be secured, and the standard equipment compact flash 24 can be inserted and removed. Becomes easier.

  Further, a pivotal support portion 19 of the lid cover 18 is disposed on the front side in the front-rear direction of the apparatus main body 2, and a locking portion 21 of the lid cover 18 is disposed on the rear side. Since the rear side is opened and closed as a fulcrum, the maintenance insertion slot 27 is difficult to access from the front side and is easily accessible from the back side. Therefore, since the access to the lid cover 18 by a general user is usually from the front side, even if the lid cover 18 is opened, the inside is difficult to see, and inadvertent misuse can be effectively prevented. On the other hand, since maintenance is basically a work from the back side, there is an advantage that the maintenance insertion slot 27 is easily accessible and easy to use.

  Furthermore, since the lid cover 18 can be opened and closed by a so-called one-touch operation by engaging and disengaging the locking portion 21, there is an advantage that it is excellent in usability.

  In addition, the maintenance insertion slot 27 is arranged on the front side in the front-rear direction of the apparatus main body 2 and the standard insertion slot 26 is arranged on the rear side in the front-rear direction. Since it is excellent in visibility and the compact flash 25 for maintenance can be easily inserted and removed, the work efficiency is good. Further, when the compact flash 25 for maintenance is popped out, the open state of the lid cover 18 is largely secured, and it is easy to notice that the lid cover 18 is forgotten to be closed, and forgetting to remove the compact flash 25 for maintenance can be prevented more effectively.

  Further, if the appearance color of the standard-equipped compact flash 24 installed in the standard insertion slot 26 is substantially the same color as the appearance color of the side cover 2a in the apparatus body 2, the installation of the standard-equipped compact flash 24 is possible. Since the state is not so conspicuous, there is an advantage that mistakes can be effectively prevented from this point.

  In the above embodiment, the structure using the compact flashes 24 and 25 as an example of the card-type medium is shown, but other memory cards and the like may be used, and the present invention is not limited to the embodiment.

  In the above-described embodiment, the structure applied to the facsimile apparatus 1 as an image forming apparatus has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this structure, and may be applied to other image forming apparatuses such as a copying machine and a scanner apparatus. it can.

1 is a rear view of a facsimile apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is the II-II arrow directional view in FIG. It is principal part explanatory drawing which shows the open state of the cover cover. It is principal part explanatory drawing which shows the mounting state of the compact flash for maintenance. It is the same plane explanatory drawing.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Facsimile apparatus 2 Apparatus main body 16 Window part 17 Window opening part 18 Cover cover 19 Pivot part 20 Deflection part 21 Locking part 24 Compact flash for standard equipment 25 Compact flash for maintenance 26 Standard insertion slot 27 Maintenance insertion slot 28 Finger insertion Space

Claims (6)

In an image forming apparatus provided with a maintenance insertion slot in which a maintenance card type medium is detachably mounted in the apparatus main body,
The maintenance insertion slot is in a state where the card type media is mounted to the maintenance insertion slot of the card type media, and the card type media is disposed at a position where the card type media protrudes from the apparatus main body.
A lid cover that covers the maintenance insertion slot is provided on the apparatus main body, and a pivotal support that is rotatably supported by the apparatus main body is provided on one side portion of the cover cover. An image forming apparatus, wherein the lid cover is freely openable and closable around the pivotal support in an unlocked state in which the part can be freely engaged and disengaged with respect to the apparatus main body. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1.
A standard insertion slot for detachably mounting a standard-equipped card type media is provided in the apparatus main body in an area covered by the lid cover, and the lid cover is provided for the standard-equipped card-type media. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the engaging portion is detachable in a mounted state with respect to the standard insertion slot. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2.
The maintenance insertion slot and the standard insertion slot are overlapped in the horizontal direction perpendicular to the mounting direction of the card type media in each insertion slot in a state where the standard insertion slot is displaced in the height direction. The image forming apparatus is characterized in that it is arranged in a state and is a finger insertion space portion in which the maintenance insertion slot and the standard insertion slot are in communication with each other at a portion overlapping in the lateral direction. apparatus. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2 or 3,
The lid cover is disposed on one side surface of the apparatus main body, the pivot support portion of the lid cover is disposed on the front side in the front-rear direction of the apparatus main body, and the locking portion of the lid cover is disposed on the rear side. An image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus according to claim 4.
The image forming apparatus, wherein the maintenance insertion slot is disposed on a front side in the front-rear direction of the apparatus main body, and the standard insertion slot is disposed on a rear side in the front-rear direction. The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 2 to 5,
2. An image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an appearance color of the standard-equipped card type media mounted in the standard insertion slot is substantially the same color as the appearance color of the apparatus main body.

Images