JP2009271203A - Cover open/close detection mechanism and image forming apparatus equipped with the same - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a cover open/close detection mechanism which can detect an open/close state of a plurality of open/close covers well with a smaller number of composing parts and to provide an image forming apparatus equipped with the same. <P>SOLUTION: A plurality of moving surfaces 135 and 136 are formed to correspond with areas where pressing sections 24 are positioned, which are formed on respective open/close covers when the plurality of open/close covers are in a closed state. Respective moving surfaces are connected by a connecting section 137 and a moving member 12 is provided which can be moved on the plurality of moving surfaces by going through the connecting section 137. When all open/close covers are in the closed state, a movable section 111 of an open/close detection switch 11 is displaced for a prescribed amount or more by moving members 12 which are pressed by the pressing sections 24 in respective open/close covers and the closed state of the plurality of open/close covers are detected. Thus, by adapting a simple composition which only uses the moving member 12 which can be moved along the plurality of moving surfaces, the open/close state of the plurality of open/close covers can be detected well with the smaller number of composing parts. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a cover open / close detection mechanism for detecting an open / closed state of a plurality of open / close covers, and an image forming apparatus including the same.

  As an image forming apparatus such as a printer or a copying machine, a toner image is formed by developing an electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of a photoreceptor with toner, and the image is formed by transferring the toner image onto a recording sheet. The structure to do is known. The photoreceptor is accommodated in the main body housing of the image forming apparatus. An opening / closing cover that can be opened and closed is attached to the main body housing, and maintenance of each part in the image forming apparatus can be performed by opening the opening / closing cover. Examples of the maintenance include replacement of the photosensitive member or removal of the recording paper jammed in the conveyance path.

  Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-151561 discloses a cover open / close detection mechanism that can be applied to various apparatuses including the image forming apparatus as described above, and detects an open / close state of the open / close cover. Depending on the device, a plurality of opening / closing covers may be provided, and even in such a case, the open / closed state of the plurality of opening / closing covers can be detected by a single detection switch. A configuration is disclosed.

  More specifically, the cover open / close detection mechanism disclosed in Patent Document 1 includes a detection switch, an arm member, a coil spring, and the like. The arm member is biased toward the opposite side of the detection switch by a coil spring. When the arm member is pressed by any one of the operation members formed so as to protrude from the two opening / closing covers, the arm member does not operate the detection switch by rotating. On the other hand, when the arm member is pressed by both operating members, the arm member moves toward the detection switch against the biasing force of the coil spring, and the detection sensor is activated.

JP 2005-111896 A

  However, in the configuration disclosed in Patent Document 1, a plurality of components such as an arm member and a coil spring are required as components for operating the detection switch. As a result, the assembly work becomes complicated, and the malfunction of the detection switch is likely to occur due to the accuracy error of each component, so that the open / closed states of a plurality of open / close covers can be detected with fewer components. Such a configuration is desired.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and provides a cover open / close detection mechanism capable of satisfactorily detecting the open / closed state of a plurality of open / close covers with fewer components and an image forming apparatus including the same. With the goal.

  A cover open / close detection mechanism according to a first aspect of the present invention is a cover open / close detection mechanism for detecting an open / close state of a plurality of open / close covers, and is formed in each open / close cover when the plurality of open / close covers are closed. A plurality of moving surfaces which are formed so as to correspond to the regions where the pressing parts are located, and are coupled to each other at the coupling part, and a movable part at a position corresponding to the coupling part. An open / close detection switch for detecting a closed state of the plurality of open / close covers based on a displacement greater than a fixed amount, and a movable switch provided along the plurality of moving surfaces, and when any of the multiple open / close covers is open When all of the plurality of open / close covers are in the closed state, they are pressed by the pressing portions of the open / close covers and are The movable portion of the opening and closing detection switch, characterized in that a moving member for displacing more than the predetermined amount.

  According to such a configuration, when any one of the open / close covers is in the open state, the moving member is positioned on the moving surface corresponding to the open / close cover, and the movable portion of the open / close detection switch is not displaced more than the predetermined amount. It is possible to detect that any of the plurality of opening / closing covers is open. On the other hand, when all the open / close covers are in the closed state, the movable part of the open / close detection switch is displaced by the predetermined amount or more by the moving member pressed by the press part of each open / close cover. It can be detected. In this way, by adopting a simple configuration that uses only a moving member that can move along a plurality of moving surfaces, the open / closed states of the plurality of open / close covers can be detected well with fewer components.

  The cover opening / closing detection mechanism according to the second aspect of the present invention is characterized in that the plurality of moving surfaces are inclined so that the height of the coupling portion is the highest.

  According to such a configuration, when any one of the opening / closing covers is in the open state, the moving member located on the moving surface corresponding to the open / closed cover is moved away from the coupling portion along the moving surface. Gravity acts. Thereby, when any one of the opening / closing covers is in the open state, it is possible to make it difficult for the moving member to contact the movable portion of the opening / closing detection switch at the coupling portion and to displace the movable portion by the predetermined amount or more. . Therefore, malfunction of the open / close detection switch can be prevented, and the open / closed states of the plurality of open / close covers can be detected better.

  The cover opening / closing detection mechanism according to a third aspect of the present invention is characterized in that a ridge line inclined so as to be higher on the opening / closing detection switch side is formed in the coupling portion.

  According to such a configuration, gravity acts on the moving member located in the coupling portion in a direction away from the open / close detection switch along the ridgeline formed in the coupling portion. As a result, malfunction of the open / close detection switch can be more effectively prevented, and the open / closed states of the plurality of open / close covers can be detected even better.

  In the cover open / close detection mechanism according to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the movable portion of the open / close detection switch is biased in a direction opposite to a direction displaced by the moving member, and at least two of the open / close covers are opened. When one of the opening / closing covers is closed in the state, the moving member pressed by the pressing portion of the closed opening / closing cover moves the movable portion at the position corresponding to the coupling portion. In addition to being displaced within a range less than a predetermined amount, when moving between the plurality of moving surfaces through the coupling portion, it is pressed by the urging force of the movable portion.

  According to such a configuration, when at least two of the open / close covers are open and one of the open / close covers is closed, the moving member moves between the plurality of moving surfaces through the coupling portion. When the moving member moves through the coupling portion, the movable portion of the open / close detection switch is displaced by the moving member, but since the displacement amount of the movable portion at that time is in a range less than the predetermined amount, the opening / closing detection switch is opened / closed. The open / close cover is not erroneously detected as being closed by the detection switch. In addition, the moving member can be smoothly moved between the plurality of moving surfaces by being pressed by the coupling portion by the biasing force of the movable portion of the open / close detection switch. As a result, a situation in which the moving member comes into contact with the movable portion at the coupling portion and the movable portion is displaced by the predetermined amount or more is less likely to occur, and malfunction of the open / close detection switch can be effectively prevented. Therefore, the open / closed states of the plurality of open / close covers can be detected even better.

  The cover open / close detection mechanism according to a fifth aspect of the present invention is characterized in that the moving member is formed of a sphere.

  According to such a configuration, the spherical moving member can be moved more smoothly along the plurality of moving surfaces, so that the open / closed states of the plurality of open / close covers can be detected more satisfactorily.

  The cover opening / closing detection mechanism according to a sixth aspect of the present invention is characterized in that the moving member is made of an elastic body.

  According to such a configuration, since the accuracy error of each member can be absorbed by the deformation of the moving member made of an elastic body, malfunction of the open / close detection switch can be more effectively prevented, and a plurality of The open / close state of the open / close cover can be detected even better.

  A cover opening / closing detection mechanism according to a seventh aspect of the present invention is provided with the two moving surfaces, and the two moving surfaces are orthogonal to each other in plan view.

  According to such a configuration, the moving member can be moved more smoothly along the two moving surfaces. That is, when the angle at which the two moving surfaces intersect is less than 90 ° in plan view, the moving member cannot move smoothly when moving through the coupling portion between the moving surfaces. In addition, when the angle at which the two moving surfaces intersect is larger than 90 ° in plan view, when all of the plurality of opening / closing covers are in the closed state, the moving member pressed by the pressing portion of each opening / closing cover It becomes difficult to move in the direction in which the movable part of the open / close detection switch is displaced. In contrast, if the two moving surfaces are orthogonal to each other in plan view as in the present invention, the moving member can be smoothly moved between the moving surfaces and the open / close detection switch can be moved. The portion can be favorably displaced by the moving member. Therefore, the open / closed states of the plurality of open / close covers can be detected even better.

  In addition, when the angle at which the two moving surfaces intersect is other than 90 °, the arrangement of the pressing portion with respect to the opening / closing cover becomes complicated. On the other hand, if the configuration is such that the two moving surfaces are orthogonal to each other in plan view as in the present invention, the arrangement configuration of the pressing portions with respect to the opening / closing cover can be simplified.

  An image forming apparatus according to an eighth aspect of the present invention is an image forming apparatus for forming an image by developing an electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of a photoconductor and transferring the image onto a recording sheet. A main body housing in which a conveyance path for accommodating and conveying the recording paper is formed; a plurality of open / close covers attached to the main body housing so as to be openable / closable; and an open / close state of the plurality of open / close covers The above-mentioned cover open / close detection mechanism for detection is provided.

  According to such a configuration, it is possible to provide an image forming apparatus that exhibits the same effect as the cover opening / closing detection mechanism according to the first aspect of the present invention.

  According to the present invention, by adopting a simple configuration using only a moving member movable along a plurality of moving surfaces, it is possible to satisfactorily detect the open / closed state of a plurality of open / close covers with fewer components. it can.

  FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing an internal configuration of an image forming apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The image forming apparatus 1 is a printer for forming an image based on image data input from the outside on a recording sheet, and its outer shape is defined by a main body housing 2 having a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape. In the main body housing 2, a paper feeding unit 3, an image forming unit 4, a fixing unit 5 and the like are accommodated.

  The paper feed unit 3 includes a recording paper cassette 31 for storing recording paper. The recording paper can be stored in a stacked state on a support plate 32 provided in the recording paper cassette 31. It is like that. The support plate 32 is rotatable around a support shaft 33 provided at one end thereof, and the end on the side opposite to the support shaft 33 is biased upward, whereby the uppermost recording is performed. The paper is pressed against the paper feed roller 34. In this state, when the paper feed roller 34 is driven to rotate, the recording paper stored in the recording paper cassette 31 is sent out one by one to the conveyance path 6 formed inside the main body housing 2.

  The recording paper fed from the recording paper cassette 31 to the conveyance path 6 is conveyed to the image forming unit 4 side through the conveyance path 6. Then, the recording paper is temporarily stopped immediately before the image forming unit 4, and is sent out to the image forming unit 4 by the registration roller 7 in accordance with the timing at which the image forming unit 4 forms an image on the recording paper.

  The image forming unit 4 includes a photosensitive drum 41, a charger 42, an optical writing unit 43, a developing unit 44, a transfer unit 45, and a cleaning device 46, and forms an image on recording paper by an electrophotographic method. A photoconductor is formed on the surface of the cylindrical photoconductor drum 41, and the surface of the photoconductor drum 41 that is rotationally driven is uniformly charged by the charger 42 during image formation. The optical writing unit 43 outputs light from an LED (Light-Emitting Diode) or a laser light source based on image data input from the outside. An electrostatic latent image is formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 41 uniformly charged by the charger 42 by being exposed to light output from the optical writing unit 43.

  A toner image is formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 41 on which the electrostatic latent image is formed by adhering the toner supplied from the developing device 44, and the toner image is transferred to the recording paper using the transfer device 45. Is done. The recording paper on which the toner image is transferred by the transfer unit 45 is conveyed to the fixing unit 5 through the conveyance path 6.

  The fixing unit 5 includes a heating roller 51 that is heated to a predetermined temperature, and a pressure roller 52 that contacts the heating roller 51 with a predetermined pressure. The recording paper on which the toner image has been transferred passes between the heating roller 51 and the pressure roller 52 to fix the toner, and then the discharge tray formed outside the main body housing 2 via the discharge roller 8. 9 is discharged.

  The toner remaining on the surface of the photosensitive drum 41 after the transfer is removed by the cleaning device 46. The cleaning device 46 includes a blade 47 for scraping toner from the surface of the photosensitive drum 41 and a discharge screw for discharging toner scraped by the blade 47 (hereinafter referred to as “waste toner”). 48.

  The discharge screw 48 is configured by forming spiral blades on the outer peripheral surface of a shaft extending in parallel to the photosensitive drum 41. Therefore, by rotating the discharge screw 48, the waste toner can be conveyed and discharged in the axial direction by the spiral blade provided in the discharge screw 48.

  FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a part of the image forming apparatus 1 of FIG. 1, and shows a state in which the front cover 21 and the side cover 22 are opened. A front cover 21 and a side cover 22 are attached to the main body housing 2 so as to be openable and closable.

  The front cover 21 is an open / close cover that forms the front side surface of the main body housing 2, and extends in a direction (left-right direction) orthogonal to the axial direction of the photosensitive drum 41 in the closed state. On the other hand, the side cover 22 is an open / close cover that forms the lateral side surface of the main body housing 2. When the side cover 22 is closed, the side cover 22 extends in a direction parallel to the axial direction of the photosensitive drum 41 (front-rear direction) and is closed. It extends in a direction orthogonal to the front cover 21.

  The front cover 21 can be opened and closed by being rotatably attached to the main body housing 2 around a rotation shaft 23 extending in the left-right direction at the lower end portion thereof. The side cover 22 can be opened and closed by being rotatably attached to the main body housing 2 around a rotation shaft (not shown) extending in the front-rear direction at the lower end portion thereof. By opening the side cover 22, the conveyance path 6 can be opened, and by opening the front cover 21 or the side cover 22, maintenance of each part in the image forming apparatus 1 such as the photosensitive drum 41 can be performed. it can.

  An opening / closing detection device 10 for detecting the open / closed state of the front cover 21 and the side cover 22 is attached to the main body housing 2. In this example, the open / close detection device 10 includes a switch (open / close detection switch) 11 having a movable part, and the closed state of the front cover 21 and the side cover 22 is determined based on a displacement of a predetermined amount or more of the movable part. It can be detected. More specifically, a pressing portion 24 is formed on each of the front cover 21 and the side cover 22, and the movable portion of the switch 11 is pressed by the pressing portions 24 of the closed covers 21 and 22. ing. The open / close detection device 10 may be integrated with the main body housing 2.

  In the present embodiment, the end of the discharge screw 48 of the cleaning device 46 can be exposed by opening the front cover 21. A toner collection container 49 can be attached to the end of the discharge screw 48 as indicated by a broken line in FIG. The toner collection container 49 is a container for collecting waste toner conveyed by the rotation of the discharge screw 48 and is configured to be detachable from the main body housing 2.

  In the state where the front cover 21 is closed, the inner surface of the front cover 21 faces the toner collection container 49, and a container housing portion 50 for housing the toner collection container 49 is formed. On the other hand, when the front cover 21 is opened, the container housing portion 50 is opened, and the toner collection container 49 can be attached and detached.

  FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing the internal configuration of the cover open / close detection mechanism according to the embodiment of the present invention. The cover open / close detection mechanism shown in FIG. 3 is a mechanism for detecting the open / closed state of the front cover 21 and the side cover 22, and the open / close detection device 10 described above and the moving member 12 provided in the open / close detection device 10. And. The moving member 12 is made of, for example, a sphere formed of an elastic body.

  The open / close detection device 10 includes a holding member 13 that holds the switch 11. The holding member 13 is formed of resin, for example, and the front side wall 131 that faces the front cover 21 when the front cover 21 is closed, and the side wall that faces the side cover 22 when the side cover 22 is closed. 132 is integrally formed. An insertion hole 133 into which the pressing portion 24 of the front cover 21 is inserted when the front cover 21 is closed is formed in the front side wall 131. Further, the lateral side wall 132 is formed with an insertion hole 134 into which the pressing portion 24 of the side cover 22 is inserted when the side cover 22 is closed.

  A plurality of moving surfaces 135 and 136 each having a smooth flat surface are formed in the holding member 13, and the moving member 12 can roll and move on the plurality of moving surfaces 135 and 136. Yes. In this example, two moving surfaces (a first moving surface 135 and a second moving surface 136) that are orthogonal to each other in plan view are formed in the holding member 13.

  The first moving surface 135 is formed in association with the pressing portion 24 of the front cover 21, and is seen in a plan view along the insertion direction A1 of the pressing portion 24 from below the insertion hole 133 into which the pressing portion 24 is inserted. It extends in a straight line. The second moving surface 136 is formed in association with the pressing portion 24 of the side cover 22 and is seen in a plan view along the insertion direction A2 of the pressing portion 24 from below the insertion hole 134 into which the pressing portion 24 is inserted. It extends in a straight line. The moving surfaces 135 and 136 are connected to each other at the end opposite to the insertion holes 133 and 134 to form a connecting portion 137. As shown in FIG. 3D, when the covers 21 and 22 are in the closed state, the first moving surface 135 faces the region where the pressing portion 24 of the front cover 21 is located, and the pressing portion 24 of the side cover 22 The second moving surface 136 faces the located region. That is, the moving surfaces 135 and 136 that face each other in the vertical direction are formed so as to correspond to the regions where the pressing portions 24 are located when the covers 21 and 22 are closed.

  A first inner wall 138 and a first outer wall 139 extending along the insertion direction A1 are formed on the first moving surface 135 at both ends in the direction orthogonal to the insertion direction A1 of the pressing portion 24 of the front cover 21, respectively. Yes. On the other hand, on the second moving surface 136, a second inner wall 140 and a second outer wall 141 extending along the insertion direction A2 are formed at both ends in the direction orthogonal to the insertion direction A2 of the pressing portion 24 of the side cover 22, respectively. Has been. The distance between the first inner wall 138 and the first outer wall 139 and the distance between the second inner wall 140 and the second outer wall 141 are set larger than the outer diameter of the moving member 12.

  The first moving surface 135 is a region where the first outer wall 139 side is higher than the first inner wall 138 side in the width direction between the first inner wall 138 and the first outer wall 139, and the position in the width direction is the same. Then, it inclines so that the direction of the coupling | bond part 137 side may become higher than the insertion hole 133 side. On the other hand, in the width direction between the second inner wall 140 and the second outer wall 141, the second moving surface 136 is higher on the second outer wall 141 side than the second inner wall 140 side, and the position in the width direction is the same. In this area, the connecting portion 137 side is inclined so as to be higher than the insertion hole 134 side.

  With the configuration as described above, the two moving surfaces 135 and 136 are inclined so that the height of the coupling portion 137 is the highest, and a ridge line is formed in the coupling portion 137 as shown in FIG. ing. Therefore, the moving member 12 rolls to the insertion hole 133 side along the first inner wall 138 on the first moving surface 135 due to its own weight, and on the insertion hole 134 side along the second inner wall 140 on the second moving surface 136. It comes to roll to.

  The first inner wall 138 and the second inner wall 140 are formed in an L shape by joining the end portions to each other. On the other hand, the end portions of the first outer wall 139 and the second outer wall 141 are not coupled to each other, and an opening 142 is formed between the end portions. The switch 11 is disposed on the opposite side of the moving surfaces 135 and 136 so as to face the opening 142, and the movable portion 111 provided in the switch 11 enters from the opening 142 and is coupled to the coupling portion 137. It faces the upper part of. The ridgeline formed in the coupling part 137 is inclined so that the switch 11 side is higher.

  The movable portion 111 can swing when pressed by the moving member 12 when the moving member 12 moving on the moving surfaces 135 and 136 is positioned on the coupling portion 137. The movable portion 111 is urged in a direction opposite to the direction displaced by the moving member 12, and against the urging force, the movable portion 111 has a predetermined amount as shown by a broken line in FIG. When the displacement is made, the closed state of the front cover 21 and the side cover 22 is detected by the switch 11.

  As shown in FIG. 3A, when the front cover 21 and the side cover 22 are in the open state, the moving member 12 is positioned on one of the moving surfaces 135 and 136. At this time, since the moving surfaces 135 and 136 are inclined, the moving member 12 is placed on the first inner wall 138 or the second inner wall at the end of the insertion hole 133 or 134 on either moving surface 135 or 136. 140 is in contact with 140.

  In the example of FIG. 3A, the moving member 12 is located at the end on the insertion hole 133 side on the first moving surface 135. When the front cover 21 is closed in this state, the pressing member 24 of the front cover 21 is inserted from the insertion hole 133, and the moving member 12 pressed by the distal end of the pressing portion 24 has the first moving surface. 135 moves toward the coupling portion 137. The moving member 12 that has moved to the position facing the coupling portion 137 displaces the movable portion 111 within a range less than the predetermined amount, as shown in FIG. Then, when the moving member 12 moves between the moving surfaces 135 and 136 through the coupling portion 137, the moving member 12 is pressed by the urging force of the movable portion 111, and as shown in FIG. It moves on the second moving surface 136 toward the insertion hole 134.

  Thus, when the front cover 21 or the side cover 22 is in the open state, the moving member 12 is positioned on the moving surfaces 135 and 136 corresponding to the covers 21 and 22 in the open state. When the side cover 22 is closed from the state shown in FIG. 3C, the moving member 12 in which the pressing portion 24 of the side cover 22 is inserted from the insertion hole 134 and pressed by the distal end portion of the pressing portion 24. However, it moves on the second moving surface 136 toward the coupling portion 137. As shown in FIG. 3D, when all the covers 21 and 22 are closed, the moving member 12 is pressed by the pressing portions 24 of the covers 21 and 22, and the movable portion of the switch 11 is connected at the coupling portion 137. 111 is displaced more than the predetermined amount. Thereby, the closed state of the front cover 21 and the side cover 22 is detected by the switch 11.

  For example, only when the closed state of the front cover 21 and the side cover 22 is detected based on the detection signal by the switch 11 as described above, the respective units such as the paper feeding unit 3, the image forming unit 4, and the fixing unit 5 are detected. The operation is allowed. As an example of the process for permitting the image forming operation, there is a process in which each unit of the image forming apparatus 1 is set in a state (standby state) in which the image forming operation can be started based on the input of image data. Can do.

  In the present embodiment, when at least one of the front cover 21 and the side cover 22 is in the open state, the moving member 12 is positioned on the moving surfaces 135 and 136 corresponding to the covers 21 and 22 in the open state. In this state, since the movable portion 111 of the switch 11 is not displaced by the predetermined amount or more, it can be detected that at least one of the front cover 21 and the side cover 22 is in an open state. On the other hand, when the front cover 21 and the side cover 22 are both closed, the movable member 111 of the switch 11 is displaced by the predetermined amount or more by the moving member 12 pressed by the pressing portions 24 of the covers 21 and 22. Therefore, it can be detected that both the front cover 21 and the side cover 22 are closed. In this way, by adopting a simple configuration using only the moving member 12 movable along the plurality of moving surfaces 135 and 136, the open / closed states of the plurality of open / close covers can be detected well with fewer components. be able to.

  In the present embodiment, when at least one of the front cover 21 and the side cover 22 is in the open state, the movement is performed with respect to the moving member 12 positioned on the moving surfaces 135 and 136 corresponding to the covers 21 and 22 in the open state. Gravity acts in a direction away from the coupling portion 137 along the surface. Thereby, when at least one of the front cover 21 and the side cover 22 is in the open state, the moving member 12 contacts the movable portion 111 of the switch 11 at the coupling portion 137, and the movable portion 111 is displaced by the predetermined amount or more. The situation can be made difficult to occur. Therefore, the malfunction of the switch 11 can be prevented, and the open / closed states of the plurality of open / close covers can be detected better.

  In particular, since the ridgeline formed in the coupling portion 137 is inclined so that the switch 11 side is higher, the ridgeline is formed in the coupling portion 137 with respect to the moving member 12 located in the coupling portion 137. Gravity acts in a direction away from the switch 11 along the ridgeline. Thereby, the malfunction of the switch 11 can be prevented more effectively, and the open / closed states of the plurality of open / close covers can be detected better.

  Furthermore, in this embodiment, when one of the covers 21 and 22 is closed when the front cover 21 and the side cover 22 are in the open state, as shown in FIGS. The moving member 12 may move through the coupling portion 137 between the plurality of moving surfaces 135 and 136. When the moving member 12 moves through the coupling portion 137, the movable portion 111 of the switch 11 is displaced by the moving member 12. At this time, the displacement amount of the movable portion 111 is within a range less than the predetermined amount. Therefore, the switches 21 and 22 are not erroneously detected as being closed by the switch 11. Further, when the moving member 12 is pressed by the coupling portion 137 by the urging force of the movable portion 111 of the switch 11, the moving member 12 can be smoothly moved between the plurality of moving surfaces 135 and 136. Thereby, the situation where the moving member 12 contacts the movable portion 111 at the coupling portion 137 and the movable portion 111 is displaced more than the predetermined amount is less likely to occur, and the malfunction of the switch 11 can be effectively prevented. . Therefore, the open / closed states of the plurality of open / close covers can be detected even better.

  In particular, in the present embodiment, since the moving member 12 made of a sphere can be moved more smoothly along the plurality of moving surfaces 135 and 136, the open / closed states of the plurality of open / close covers can be detected more satisfactorily. it can. Further, since the accuracy error of each member can be absorbed by the deformation of the moving member 12 made of an elastic body, the malfunction of the switch 11 can be prevented more effectively, and the open / close states of the plurality of open / close covers can be prevented. Furthermore, it can be detected satisfactorily.

  In the present embodiment, since the two moving surfaces 135 and 136 are orthogonal to each other in plan view, the moving member 12 can be moved more smoothly along these two moving surfaces 135 and 136. . That is, when the angle at which the two moving surfaces 135 and 136 intersect is less than 90 ° in plan view, the moving member 12 moves smoothly when moving through the coupling portion 137 between the moving surfaces 135 and 136. Can not do it. In addition, when the angle at which the two moving surfaces 135 and 136 intersect is larger than 90 ° in plan view, when the front cover 21 and the side cover 22 are all closed, the pressing of the covers 21 and 22 is performed. It becomes difficult for the moving member 12 pressed by the portion 24 to move in the direction in which the movable portion 111 of the switch 11 is displaced. In contrast, as in the present embodiment, if the two moving surfaces 135 and 136 are configured to be orthogonal to each other in plan view, the moving member 12 can be smoothly moved between the moving surfaces 135 and 136. In addition, the movable portion 111 of the switch 11 can be favorably displaced by the moving member 12. Therefore, the open / closed states of the plurality of open / close covers can be detected even better.

  When the angle at which the two moving surfaces 135 and 136 intersect is other than 90 °, the arrangement configuration of the pressing portion 24 with respect to the opening / closing cover becomes complicated. In contrast, as in the present embodiment, if the two moving surfaces 135 and 136 are configured to be orthogonal to each other in plan view, the arrangement configuration of the pressing portion 24 with respect to the opening / closing cover can be simplified.

  In the above embodiment, the configuration in which the front cover 21 and the side cover 22 are rotatable about the rotation axis has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to such a configuration. For example, at least one of the front cover 21 and the side cover 22 may be configured to be slidable, or may be configured to be displaced in another manner.

  In the above embodiment, the configuration in which the cover open / close detection mechanism detects the closed state of the two open / close covers (the front cover 21 and the side cover 22) has been described. However, the closed state of the three or more open / close covers is described. The structure which can detect is possible. In this case, the closed state of all the open / close covers can be detected by forming the pressing portions 24 in each open / close cover and forming the number of moving surfaces corresponding to the number of open / close covers.

  In the above embodiment, the case where the present invention is applied to a printer has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to such a configuration, and the present invention is not limited to a printer as long as the image forming apparatus includes a photosensitive member. The present invention can also be applied to other image forming apparatuses such as copying machines.

1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an internal configuration of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a part of the image forming apparatus in FIG. 1, showing a state in which a front cover and a side cover are opened. It is sectional drawing which showed the internal structure of the cover opening / closing detection mechanism which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image forming apparatus 2 Main body housing 10 Opening / closing detection apparatus 11 Switch 12 Moving member 21 Front cover 22 Side cover 24 Press part 111 Movable part 135 Moving surface 136 Moving surface 137 Joint part

Claims (8)

A cover open / close detection mechanism for detecting an open / close state of a plurality of open / close covers,
When the plurality of opening / closing covers are in a closed state, a plurality of moving surfaces that are formed so as to correspond to regions where the pressing portions formed on the opening / closing covers are located, and are coupled to each other at the coupling portion,
An open / close detection switch having a movable portion at a position corresponding to the coupling portion, and detecting a closed state of the plurality of open / close covers based on a displacement of a predetermined amount or more of the movable portion;
When any one of the plurality of opening / closing covers is open, the movable opening is positioned on the moving surface corresponding to the opening / closing cover, and the plurality of opening / closing covers are provided. A cover comprising: a moving member that is pressed by the pressing portion of each opening / closing cover when all are closed, and displaces the movable portion of the opening / closing detection switch by the predetermined amount or more in the coupling portion. Open / close detection mechanism.   The cover open / close detection mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of moving surfaces are inclined so that the height of the coupling portion is the highest.   The cover opening / closing detection mechanism according to claim 2, wherein a ridge line that is inclined so as to be higher on the opening / closing detection switch side is formed in the coupling portion.   The movable portion of the open / close detection switch is biased in a direction opposite to the direction displaced by the moving member, and when at least two of the open / close covers are open, one of the open / close covers is closed. The moving member pressed by the pressing portion of the closed opening / closing cover displaces the movable portion within a range less than the predetermined amount at a position corresponding to the coupling portion, and the coupling portion. The cover open / close detection mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the cover open / close detection mechanism is pressed by an urging force of the movable portion when moving between the plurality of moving surfaces.   The cover opening / closing detection mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the moving member is a sphere.   The cover opening / closing detection mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the moving member is made of an elastic body.   The cover opening / closing detection mechanism according to claim 1, wherein two moving surfaces are provided, and the two moving surfaces are orthogonal to each other in plan view. An image forming apparatus that forms an image by developing an electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of a photoconductor and transferring it to a recording paper,
A main body housing that accommodates the photoreceptor and in which a conveyance path for conveying the recording paper is formed;
A plurality of opening and closing covers attached to the main body housing so as to be openable and closable;
An image forming apparatus comprising: the cover open / close detection mechanism according to claim 1 for detecting an open / closed state of the plurality of open / close covers.

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