JP2008003497A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To attach an auxiliary power unit to an image forming apparatus inexpensively so that a connection part is not touched. <P>SOLUTION: The image forming apparatus includes: an apparatus main body for forming an image on a sheet; the auxiliary power unit attached to the apparatus main body, including a charging part, and capable of discharging the power stored in the charging part; a wire-like connecting member for electrically connecting the electrical connection part of the apparatus main body and the electrical connection part of the auxiliary power unit. In a situation that the auxiliary power unit is attached to the apparatus main body, the electrical connection part of the apparatus main body and the electrical connection part of the auxiliary power unit are covered by the auxiliary power unit. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus that forms an image on a sheet.

  In image forming apparatuses such as electrophotographic printers and copiers, image information is exposed directly or indirectly by scanning means to form a latent image on the photosensitive member. The toner image is developed by a developing device.

  Next, the toner image is transferred to the sheet supplied from the paper supply unit, and the sheet is passed through a heat fixing device, and the toner image is fixed as a permanent image.

  In the image forming process, photosensitive member scanning exposure means, particularly in the case of a copying machine, original information scanning means, high pressure charging means for the photosensitive member, high pressure transfer means to the sheet, high temperature heat fixing means, and sheet conveying means There are many places where electricity is used in every part of the power source including Furthermore, the feature is that each power consumption becomes considerably large.

  Conventionally, in an image forming apparatus, if the power consumption exceeds a certain level with an apparatus having a high printing speed, it may not be possible to obtain sufficient power with a general Japanese power supply voltage of 100V. In such a case, a method of setting the print speed to be slow or a method of dedicating the power supply voltage to 200 V from the beginning is used.

  In order to solve the problem, a configuration including an auxiliary power source in addition to the main power source has been proposed as disclosed in Patent Document 1.

It is not preferable that the auxiliary power supply unit having such an auxiliary power supply can be easily touched by the hand between the main body and the auxiliary power supply unit when connected to the image forming apparatus main body and in the connected state.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-282821

  It is conceivable to use a connector (drawer connector) having a configuration in which each connecting portion is separated by removing the auxiliary power supply unit from the device main body as an electrical connection portion between the device main body and the auxiliary power supply unit. Then, it is conceivable to cover the connect part with the auxiliary power supply unit so that the connect part cannot be touched by hand.

  However, in order to use the drawer connector method, a high cost is required, such as a guide configuration for sliding the drawer connector itself or the auxiliary power supply itself for connection. Moreover, since the insertion is performed in a blinded state where the operator cannot directly check the connection portion, there is a possibility that a mounting failure may occur.

  Accordingly, as an object of the present invention, there is provided a connection configuration and a method of an image forming apparatus main body and an auxiliary power supply that can be connected with an inexpensive connection configuration in an image forming apparatus including the image forming apparatus main body and an auxiliary power supply. That is.

  In order to achieve the above object, an image forming apparatus according to the present invention includes an apparatus main body that forms an image on a sheet, and is attached to the apparatus main body, includes a charging unit, and can discharge electric power stored in the charging unit. Auxiliary power supply device, a wire-like connecting member for electrically connecting the electrical connection portion of the device main body and the electrical connection portion of the auxiliary power supply device, and attaching the auxiliary power supply device to the device main body Then, the electrical connection portion of the apparatus main body and the electrical connection portion of the auxiliary power supply device are covered with the auxiliary power supply device.

  An inexpensive image forming apparatus to which the auxiliary power supply device can be attached without touching the electrical connection portion can be provided.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to examples of digital multi-function peripherals. The present invention is not limited to a multi-function machine, and can be implemented in an appropriate image forming apparatus such as a printer, a copier, or a fax machine. Further, the present invention can be implemented not only in the apparatus but also in the form of an image forming method.

  FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a configuration of an image forming apparatus main body A in the present embodiment. FIG. 2 is a mounting diagram of the image forming apparatus to which the auxiliary power supply apparatus according to the present embodiment is attached.

  As shown in FIG. 1, an image forming unit 1 for forming an image on a sheet by an electrophotographic method is provided in the image forming apparatus main body 1. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 3 denotes a paper feeding unit. A sheet conveying unit 2 conveys a sheet fed from the sheet feeding unit 3. A fixing unit 4 fixes an image formed on the sheet by the image forming unit 1 to the sheet. Reference numeral 5 denotes a paper discharge unit that discharges a sheet on which an image is formed. Reference numeral 6 denotes a document reading unit that reads an image of a document. Reference numerals 7a to 7c denote sheet feeding cassettes. Reference numeral 8 denotes a power plug. 9 is an AC outlet. Reference numeral 10 denotes a main power supply device. In FIG. 2, reference numeral 11 denotes an auxiliary power supply device.

  In this embodiment, the image forming unit 1 includes a laser scanner 1a, a photoreceptor 1b, a developing device 1c, a charging device 1d, and a transfer device 1e. A sheet is conveyed from the sheet feeding unit 3 to the image forming unit 1.

  In the case of normal document copying, the image information read and image processed by the document reading unit 6 is converted into a laser emission signal, and the light beam from the laser scanner 1a is applied to the photoreceptor of the image forming unit 1. Irradiated. Next, a toner image is formed on the photosensitive member by the developing device and transferred onto the conveyed sheet. The sheets are supplied from the sheet feeding cassettes 7 a to 7 c and conveyed toward the image forming unit 1 by the sheet feeding unit 3. In the image forming unit 1, an image is formed by an electrophotographic process, a toner image is formed on the sheet, and is sent to the fixing unit 4.

  In the fixing unit 4, the sheet carrying the toner image is melted and fixed by heat and pressure, sent to the paper discharge unit 5, and output from the paper discharge unit 5 to the outside of the apparatus.

  The power consumed in the above process is usually supplied from the main power supply 10 to each power unit. The main power source 10 is connected to a power cord from an AC outlet 9 such as an office or a home, and has a rectifying action from AC to DC in order to transmit power to each power unit in the machine.

  The auxiliary power supply device 11 includes a capacitor unit composed of an electric double layer. As shown in FIG. 9 schematically showing the configuration of the auxiliary power supply device 11, the auxiliary power supply device 11 includes a capacitor unit 901, a charging unit 903, an auxiliary power supply device control unit 902, and a connection unit 904. It has been. Charging is performed when the apparatus main body A is not in operation and when the document reading unit 6 is inactive for the first time when the fixing unit requires a large amount of power and within a few minutes immediately after the start-up.

  Once the charging section of the auxiliary power supply 11 is sufficiently charged, the power from the auxiliary power supply 11 is supplied to the document reading section 6 when the main apparatus is turned off and then restarted, and for a few minutes after the startup. By using the power, most of the power from the main power supply 10 can be supplied to the fixing unit. Therefore, it is possible to quickly heat and heat the fixing unit 4 that requires a large amount of power in the startup state, and it is possible to fix a sheet on which a toner image is satisfactorily fixed.

  As shown in the perspective view seen from the back side of the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 2, the auxiliary power supply device 11 is mounted on the back side of the apparatus main body A. The apparatus main body A and the auxiliary power supply device 11 are electrically connected by an auxiliary power bundle 13 which is a wire-like connecting member. The connecting portion 12 at one end of the auxiliary power bundle 13 is detachably connected to the electrical connecting portion of the apparatus main body A (see FIG. 3). The other end of the auxiliary power bundle 13 is connected to a connection portion 904 that is an electrical connection portion of the auxiliary power supply device 11.

  A method for attaching the main unit and the auxiliary power supply 11 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 to 7.

  3, 4, and 5 are a rear view, a perspective view, a side view, and FIGS. 6, 7, and 8 illustrating a temporarily placed state before the auxiliary power supply 11 is mounted, and FIGS. 6, 7, and 8 are when the auxiliary power supply 11 is mounted. It is a rear view, a perspective view, and a side view for explaining the above.

  Hooks 15a and 15b are provided on the left and right sides of the auxiliary power supply 11, respectively. Each of the hook portions 15a and 15b is formed with two groove portions extending upward. The two groove portions formed in the hook portions 15a and 15b are a first groove portion 111a and 111b having a deeper upward depth and a second groove portion 222a and 222b having a shallower upward depth than the first groove portion. It is.

  On the back side of the apparatus main body A, two step screws 14 protruding from the back side are provided.

  The apparatus main body A and the auxiliary power supply apparatus 11 are detachable. When the auxiliary power supply 11 is to be attached to the apparatus main body A, the auxiliary power supply 11 is temporarily placed temporarily. That is, before attaching the auxiliary power supply device 11 to the proper attachment position of the main body device A, the auxiliary power supply is temporarily set by hooking the second grooves 222a and 222b of the hook portion 15 to the step screw 14 as shown in FIG. The device 11 is temporarily placed. Hereinafter, this position is referred to as a temporary placement position. The auxiliary power supply device 11 attached to the temporary placement position is held on the apparatus main body A by the step screws 14 that are holding portions via the second groove portions 222a and 222b.

  As shown in FIG. 3, when the auxiliary power supply 11 is attached to the temporary placement position, the electrical connection portion 17 (see FIG. 5) of the apparatus main body A is exposed without being hidden by the auxiliary power supply 11. Therefore, the connector portion 12 at the tip of the auxiliary power bundle 13 directly connected from the auxiliary power supply device 11 and the electrical connection portion 17 (the back side of the auxiliary power connector 12) of the device main body are securely connected while being visually recognized. I can do it.

  Details of the configuration of the hook portion 15 and the step screw 14 are shown in FIGS. The stepped screw 14 that holds the auxiliary power supply device 11 is formed with a retaining portion 77 at the tip and a flange portion 76 at the center. As shown in FIG. 4, the second groove portion 222 a of the hook portion 15 is engaged between the retaining portion 77 and the flange portion 76 in the temporary placement position of the auxiliary power supply device 11. That is, the second groove portion 222a having a shallow depth on the left side of the hook portion 15 is hooked on the groove portion on the near side of the step screw 14 (the side away from the main body). The auxiliary power supply 11 can be temporarily placed at a position above the height at the regular mounting position shown in FIGS. 2 and 7. In addition, there is a gap between the auxiliary power supply device 11 and the device main body A in the temporary placement position (see FIGS. 4 and 5). The flange portion 76 restricts the movement of the auxiliary power supply 11 in the temporary placement position toward the apparatus main body A so that a gap is secured between the auxiliary power supply 11 and the apparatus main body A. In FIG. 4, only the left hook 15a is shown, but the right hook 15b is the same.

  By temporarily placing the auxiliary power supply 11 as described above, as shown in FIG. 5, there is a gap in which a hand (finger) enters around the connector portion 12, and the connector portion 12 is electrically connected to the main body side while being visually recognized. Thus, it is possible to reliably connect to the general connection portion 17.

  After the connection work by the temporary placement is thus completed, the first groove portion 111a of the hook portion 15 is hooked again on the step screw 14 as shown in FIG. The auxiliary power supply device 11 is held by the step screw 11 by hooking the first groove 111 a of the hook portion 15 on the step screw 14. A state in which the first groove 111a of the hooking portion 15 is hooked on the stepped screw 14 is a normal attachment state. The normal position of the auxiliary power supply 11 in this normal attachment state is a position below the temporary placement position.

  By re-engaging the first groove 111 a of the hook 15 to the stepped screw 14, the connector 12 is covered with the auxiliary power supply 11. The hook 15 in this state is shown in detail in FIG. The first groove portion 111a of the hook portion 15 is hooked on a portion of the stepped screw 14 between the flange portion 76 and the apparatus main body. When the auxiliary power supply 11 is attached to the regular position, the auxiliary power supply 11 is moved so that the auxiliary power supply 11 and the apparatus main body A are not separated even if a force is applied to the auxiliary power supply 11 in a direction away from the apparatus main body A. Is regulated by the flange portion 76. Although FIG. 7 shows only the left hook 15a, the same applies to the right hook 15b.

  The auxiliary power supply 11 is fixed to the apparatus main body A with a mounting screw (not shown). In addition, the auxiliary power supply device 11 is formed with a storage portion 16 in which the connect portion 12 can be stored. In a state in which the auxiliary power supply device 11 is attached at a regular position, the connector unit 12 is accommodated in the storage unit 16. There is no gap for the hand (finger) to enter around the auxiliary power connector 12. Therefore, since the user cannot touch the auxiliary power connector 12, the user does not attach or detach the connector.

  In the above-described embodiment, the mode in which the electrical connection portion on the main body side is exposed when the auxiliary power supply device 11 is attached to the temporary placement position has been described. However, the electrical connection portion of the auxiliary power supply device 11 and the auxiliary power supply bundle are made detachable, and the electrical connection portion of the auxiliary power supply device 11 is exposed when the auxiliary power supply device 11 is attached to the temporary placement position. May be.

  In addition, the form which provided the hook part mentioned above in the apparatus main body A, and attached the step screw to the auxiliary power supply device 11 may be sufficient. Also in this case, the hook portion of the apparatus main body A as the holding section holds the auxiliary power supply device 11 when the auxiliary power supply device 11 is attached to the apparatus main body A. Further, when the hooking portion of the apparatus main body A attempts to attach the auxiliary power supply device 11 to the apparatus main body A, at least one of the electrical connection portion of the apparatus main body A and the electrical connection portion of the auxiliary power supply device 11 is exposed. In this state, the auxiliary power supply device 11 is held.

1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a configuration of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a mounting diagram of an image forming apparatus equipped with an auxiliary power supply device according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a rear view explaining the auxiliary power unit configuration temporarily placed according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a perspective view explaining the auxiliary power unit configuration temporarily put concerning the embodiment of the present invention. It is a side view explaining the auxiliary power unit configuration temporarily placed according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a rear view explaining the auxiliary power unit configuration according to the embodiment of the present invention. It is a perspective view explaining the auxiliary power unit composition concerning the embodiment of the present invention. It is a side view explaining the auxiliary power unit composition concerning the embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure explaining the structure of an auxiliary power supply device.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image formation part 2 Sheet conveyance part 3 Paper feed part 4 Fixing part 5 Paper discharge part 6 Document reading part 7a-7c Paper feed cassette 8 Power plug 9 AC outlet 10 Main power supply 11 Auxiliary power supply 12 Connect part 13 Auxiliary power bundle Wire 14 Step screw 15 Hooking part 16 Storage part 17 Body side connector

Claims (3)

An apparatus body for forming an image on a sheet;
An auxiliary power supply device attached to the apparatus main body, comprising a charging unit, and capable of discharging the power stored in the charging unit;
A wire-like connection member for electrically connecting the electrical connection portion of the device main body and the electrical connection portion of the auxiliary power supply device;
An image forming apparatus, wherein when the auxiliary power supply is attached to the apparatus main body, an electrical connection portion of the apparatus main body and an electrical connection portion of the auxiliary power supply device are covered with the auxiliary power supply device. A holding part for holding the auxiliary power supply device provided in the apparatus main body;
The holding unit is capable of holding the auxiliary power supply device when the auxiliary power supply device is attached to the device main body, and when attaching the auxiliary power supply device to the device main body, An image forming apparatus, wherein the auxiliary power supply device can be held in a state where at least one of the electrical connection portion and the electrical connection portion of the auxiliary power supply device is exposed. The holding portion is a protrusion provided on the apparatus main body,
A first groove portion and a second groove portion provided in the auxiliary power supply device, into which the protrusion fits,
When the auxiliary power supply device is held by the protrusion through the first groove portion by fitting the protrusion into the first groove portion, the electric connection portion of the apparatus main body and the electric connection portion of the auxiliary power supply device Is covered with the auxiliary power supply,
When the auxiliary power supply device is held by the protrusion through the second groove portion by fitting the protrusion into the second groove portion, the electric connection portion of the apparatus main body and the electric connection portion of the auxiliary power supply device The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein at least one is exposed.

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