JP2010000661A - Conducting mechanism - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To achieve a sure conduction in a safe constitution even when the conductivity is not favorable due to the rust-preventing coating applied on a surface of a sheet metal in the sheet feeder which achieves conduction to the bottom plate sheet metal of an image forming apparatus and to provide an earthing and a locking means in an inexpensive constitution in the provision of the image forming apparatus body onto the sheet feeder. <P>SOLUTION: When an earthing spring and a resin protective member for protecting an earthing spring are provided on the top surface of a sheet feeder body, the earthing spring and the protective member get fitted in an earthing hole provided on the bottom plate sheet metal of the image forming apparatus body when the image forming apparatus body is put on the sheet feeder, resulting in thrusting the earthing spring against the edge part of the earthing hole by the elastic force of the spring, In addition, the device is constituted so that disengage of fitting of the earthing spring and the earthing hole will not occurs without applying a force larger than a certain level, by forming a portion broader than the earthing hole in the earthing spring in this state. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a conduction mechanism between a first frame and a second frame, and particularly relates to a conduction mechanism between an image forming apparatus and a sheet feeding apparatus.

  In recent years, image forming apparatuses such as printers, copiers, and facsimiles have tended to increase in processing speed and performance, and accordingly, image forming apparatuses capable of storing a large amount of recording sheets for recording images are required. ing. As one of the solutions, it is common to add a sheet feeding device to the image forming apparatus main body.

  The sheet feeding apparatus usually requires a conduction means for conducting static electricity discharged to the sheet feeding apparatus to the image forming apparatus main body.

  This is because the static electricity charged to the operator is discharged to the sheet feeding device when an operator who is charged with static electricity supplies the recording sheet to the sheet feeding device or when jamming is performed. This is because a controller and a sensor provided in the sheet feeding device may malfunction or be damaged unless connected to the image forming apparatus main body. Further, if the sheet feeding device is not conductive, there is a problem that radiation noise is generated and image formation is disturbed.

As a conventional technique, a conductive plate spring that is elastically deformed is provided on the upper surface of the sheet feeding device, and when the image forming apparatus main body is installed on the upper side, it is pressed while elastically deforming the bottom sheet metal of the apparatus main body so as to be conductive. Technology exists. (For example, refer to Patent Document 1) However, when the bottom sheet metal is coated, there is a problem that conduction is not always sufficient. On the other hand, as a technique for obtaining conduction without relying on a coated sheet metal, a positioning hole of the image forming apparatus main body is engaged with a plurality of conductive positioning metal pins provided in the sheet feeding apparatus. When connecting the two, there is a technique in which a conductive leaf spring provided in the apparatus main body is brought into contact with one of the positioning pins to establish conduction. (For example, see Patent Document 2)
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 8-241024 (FIG. 6) Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-193136 (FIG. 7)

  However, in the conventional technology in which the metal positioning pin on the sheet feeding apparatus side and the leaf spring provided on the apparatus main body are electrically connected, the apparatus main body side is provided with a plate spring. A leaf spring will be attached, and in this case, the cost of the apparatus main body was wasted.

  In addition, a configuration in which a leaf spring that is elastically deformed is provided on the sheet feeding apparatus side, and as a method of ensuring conduction with respect to the coated metal frame of the apparatus main body, the conductive leaf spring that is conducting is sharpened. There is a method in which the sheet metal surface is scratched or bitten into the sheet metal when the apparatus main body is installed on the sheet feeding apparatus. However, in this configuration, since the pointed portion of the leaf spring is exposed, there is a problem that it is very problematic if the user touches it when the apparatus main body is not installed.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a conduction means that is safe for the user and can be reliably connected to the apparatus main body metal frame while having the conduction means on the sheet feeding apparatus side.

  6 and 7 are explanatory diagrams of the prior art.

  In order to achieve the above object, the conduction mechanism of the invention according to the present application is the conduction mechanism between the first casing and the second casing, wherein the conduction mechanism provided in the first casing is the same. An elastically deformable metal elastic conduction means and a resin-made conduction protection means for protecting the elastic conduction means, and when the first casing and the second casing are coupled, The conduction mechanism is fitted in a conduction hole provided in a sheet metal constituting the housing, and the elastic conduction means is brought into contact with the edge portion of the conduction hole while being elastically deformed to establish conduction.

  As described above, according to the present invention, the sheet feeding device and the image forming apparatus main body are electrically connected to each other by the ground spring provided on the sheet feeding device side and the edge portion of the sheet metal frame of the main body without coating. By taking this, it is possible to reliably establish conduction with a safe configuration for the user. In addition, when the device main body is installed on the sheet feeding device, the ground spring slides against the sheet metal edge, so that even if the sheet metal edge is rusted, rust can be removed, resulting in poor conduction. There is no.

  Further, after the grounding means is fitted into the hole in the frame sheet metal of the main body of the apparatus, the grounding means is configured so that the grounding means does not fall out of the fitted hole by partially restoring the ground spring that is elastically deformed during the fitting operation. As a result, the image forming apparatus main body and the sheet feeding apparatus having a low-cost configuration that do not require a troublesome operation can also serve as a locking mechanism. Further, by providing the conduction means on the sheet feeding apparatus side, it is possible to prevent the cost of the apparatus main body not equipped with the sheet feeding apparatus from being increased.

  Next, details of the present invention will be described in accordance with the description of the embodiments.

  Hereinafter, a first embodiment of the grounding means 1 according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the following embodiments, the grounding means 1 of the image forming apparatus such as a printer and a copying machine and the sheet feeding apparatus 3 used in connection with the image forming apparatus will be described as an example.

  FIG. 1 shows a schematic configuration of the grounding means 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 (a) is a perspective view of the grounding means 1, and FIG. 1 (b) is a side view. It is.

  FIG. 2 is an external perspective view showing the image forming apparatus main body 2 and the sheet feeding apparatus 3. Since the internal configuration of the image forming apparatus main body 2 is a well-known technique, a detailed description thereof is omitted here.

  The sheet feeding device 3 is a device that feeds the sheets S stacked on the sheet storage cassette 4 to be loaded from the sheet storage cassette 4 and sends them to the image forming apparatus main body 2. Then, the sheet feeding device 3 is positioned with respect to the image forming apparatus main body 2 by fitting a positioning pin 5 provided on the sheet feeding device 3 side with a positioning hole 6 opened in the bottom plate of the image forming apparatus main body 2. Has been. In addition, since the sheet feeding device 3 has electric parts such as a sensor, it is necessary to ground the main body of the grounded device so that it is not damaged when a charged user touches the device. In the vicinity of the positioning pin 5 on the upper surface of the sheet feeding device 3, a grounding means 1 for establishing electrical connection with the apparatus main body is installed. When the image forming apparatus main body 2 is installed on the grounding means 1, the grounding means 1 enters the apparatus main body through the ground contact hole 7 formed in the sheet metal on the bottom surface of the apparatus main body, and contacts the edge portion of the ground contact hole 7 to be conductive. Have taken.

  The grounding means 1 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 1 (a), 1 (b), and 1 (c). The earthing means 1 includes an earth spring 9 that conducts electricity and a resin earth spring protection member 8 that protects the earth spring 9. The earth spring protection member 8 is provided to protect the earth spring 9 from being bent accidentally when the sheet feeding device 3 is placed alone. Further, when the image forming apparatus main body 2 is placed on the sheet feeding apparatus 3, it serves as a guide means for guiding the ground spring 9 into the apparatus main body without being buckled accidentally.

  Therefore, the ground protection member 8 has a tapered tip so that it can easily enter the ground contact hole 7 of the apparatus body. The ground spring protection member 8 is taller than the ground spring 9 so that the ground spring 9 enters the ground contact hole 7 before the ground spring 9 enters the ground contact hole 7.

  The earth spring 9 is grounded to the metal frame of the sheet feeding device 3. The earth spring 9 has an arrow shape, and the tip of the earth spring 9 is tapered so that it can easily enter the earth contact hole 7 on the bottom plate of the apparatus body when the apparatus body is installed on the sheet feeding device 3. Is narrower than the ground contact hole 7 and is wider than the ground contact hole 7 as it approaches the root. And when it turns to the inflection part 9a, it becomes the shape where a width | variety becomes narrow again.

  As shown in FIG. 1C, when performing the work of installing the image forming apparatus main body 2 on the sheet feeding apparatus 3, the ground spring 9 entering the ground contact hole 7 on the bottom of the apparatus main body is from the diameter of the ground contact hole 7 When approaching a wide part, it is pushed by the edge of the ground contact hole 7 to be elastically deformed, and is fitted into the ground contact hole 7 while rubbing against the edge. When the image forming apparatus is installed on the sheet feeding apparatus 3 and the earth spring 9 is in a state of being stuck in the earth contact hole 7, the earth spring 9 is located below the inflection part 9a as shown in FIG. The portion where the width is narrowed is pressed against the edge that is not coated with sheet metal, and conduction is established through this edge portion. As described above, the ground spring 9 is electrically connected at the edge portion of the sheet metal, so that it is possible to reliably ground the sheet metal whose surface is coated. In addition, when the image forming apparatus is installed on the sheet feeding apparatus 3, the ground spring 9 slides on the sheet metal edge, so that even if the edge portion is rusted, the rust can be removed, so that conduction can be ensured. Is possible.

  Furthermore, the earth spring 9 also serves as a locking means for the apparatus main body and the sheet feeding apparatus 3. When the apparatus main body is completely installed on the sheet feeding apparatus 3, there is a portion where the earth spring 9 mates with the earth contact hole 7. Since it reaches a portion with a narrower width than the inflection portion 9a of the ground spring 9, the ground spring 9 can be held so that the apparatus main body does not easily come off the sheet feeding apparatus 3. However, at this time, the ground spring 9 is not completely locked so that the main body of the apparatus does not come off the sheet feeding apparatus 3, but when the apparatus main body is grasped and the apparatus main body is lifted, the connection between the main body and the sheet feeding apparatus 3 is performed. However, the connection force is such that the connection is released when a force exceeding a certain level is applied to press the sheet feeding device 3 to lift the device body. Since the grounding means 1 of the sheet feeding device 3 also serves as a lock mechanism for the apparatus main body as described above, it is not necessary to separately provide a lock mechanism for the apparatus main body, so that the cost can be reduced.

  Next, the grounding means 1 according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 (a) is a perspective view of the grounding means 1, and FIG. 3 (b) is a side view. Note that the image forming apparatus and the sheet feeding apparatus 3 exemplified in the description of the present embodiment are the same as those described in the first embodiment, and the description thereof is omitted here.

  The earthing means 1 includes an earth spring 9 that conducts electricity and a resin earth spring protection member 8 that protects the earth spring 9.

  The earth spring protection member 8 is a resin earth spring protection member 8 that surrounds the earth spring 9 in a U-shape, and further prevents the earth spring 9 from being bent accidentally when the sheet feeding device 3 is placed alone. Is firmly protected so that the ground spring 9 is not buckled accidentally when the image forming apparatus main body 2 is placed on the sheet feeding apparatus 3.

  The earth spring 9 is surrounded by a U-shaped earth spring protection member 8, and when the earth spring protection member 8 fits into the earth contact hole 7 on the bottom plate of the apparatus main body during the main body installation work, the metal plate earth contact hole 7 It protrudes slightly from the U-shaped opening so that it can come into contact with the edge of the U. When the force is applied from the outside, it is elastically deformed so that it can be retracted into the earth spring protection member 8.

  When the image forming apparatus main body 2 is placed on the sheet feeding apparatus 3 and the grounding means 1 is fitted into the ground contact hole 7, if the ground contact hole 7 comes to the position shown in FIG. It is retracted into the ground spring protection means so as not to be deformed and interfere with the fitting. At this time, since the ground spring 9 retracted into the ground spring protection means is pressed against the side surface of the ground contact hole 7 of the sheet metal by its elastic force, the ground spring 9 rubs against the sheet metal edge when performing installation work of the apparatus body. The grounding means 1 fits into the ground contact hole 7. At this time, since the earth spring 9 rubs against the sheet metal edge, even if the sheet metal edge is rusted, it is possible to secure continuity by removing the rust. When the installation work of the apparatus main body on the sheet feeding device 3 is completed, the ground spring 9 retracted into the ground spring protection means is again caused by its elastic force as shown in FIG. And return to lock the image forming unit. The ground spring 9 comes into contact with the edge of the ground contact hole 7 of the apparatus main body bottom plate with an elastic force, and conducts the sheet feeding apparatus 3 and the apparatus main body. The grounding means 1 also serves as a lock function for the apparatus main body and the sheet feeding apparatus 3 as in the first embodiment.

  By protecting the grounding means 1 with a strong protective member in this way, there is no risk of accidentally damaging the grounding means 1 when the apparatus main body is installed on the sheet feeding apparatus 3 body. It becomes possible to arrange.

  FIG. 4 is a view showing the grounding means 1 according to the third embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 4 (a) is a perspective view of the grounding means 1, and FIG. 4 (b) is a side view. In the present embodiment, the grounding means 1 between the image forming apparatus and the sheet feeding apparatus 3 will be described by way of example as in the above-described embodiment.

  The sheet feeding device 3 shown in FIG. 5 has a plurality of positioning pins 5 provided on the sheet feeding device 3 and a ground contact hole 7 formed in the bottom plate of the device body. It is positioned by fitting. At this time, among the plurality of positioning pins 5, the guide pin 10 serving as a rough guide when the apparatus main body is placed on the sheet feeding apparatus 3 is made of resin. The resin guide pin 10 also serves as a grounding means 1 for the sheet feeding device 3 and the image forming apparatus main body 2.

  The details of the grounding means 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 (a), (b) and (c). Since the resin guide pin 10 is a rough guide that assists the fitting of the positioning pin 5 and the positioning hole 6 before the position of the apparatus main body is accurately determined with respect to the sheet feeding apparatus 3, the positioning of the apparatus main body is performed. It is taller than the positioning pin 5 to perform. When the apparatus main body is placed on the sheet feeding apparatus 3, the guide pin 10 is first fitted into the ground contact hole 7 of the apparatus main body bottom plate, and the positioning pin 5 is then engaged. A conductive earth spring 9 is contained in the guide pin 10, and the earth spring 9 is grounded to the metal frame of the sheet feeding device 3. The ground spring 9 protrudes slightly from the guide pin 10 so as to come into contact with the edge portion of the ground contact hole 7 of the sheet metal when the guide pin 10 is fitted into the ground contact hole 7 of the bottom sheet metal plate of the main body, and is elastically deformed. Thus, the guide pin 10 can be retracted or returned. When the image forming apparatus main body 2 is placed on the sheet feeding apparatus 3 and the guide pin 10 is engaged with the ground contact hole 7, the ground spring 9 is elastically deformed when engaged to the position shown in FIG. Retract into the guide pin 10 so as not to interfere with the fitting. At this time, since the ground spring 9 retracted into the guide pin 10 is pressed against the side surface of the ground contact hole 7 of the sheet metal by its elastic force, the ground spring 9 rubs against the sheet metal edge when performing the installation work of the apparatus body. The guide pin 10 fits into the ground contact hole 7. When the installation work of the apparatus main body is completed on the sheet feeding apparatus 3, the ground spring 9 retracted into the guide pin 10 is again caused by its elastic force as shown in FIG. The image forming apparatus main body is returned to lock, and the ground spring 9 is brought into contact with the edge of the positioning hole 6 in the bottom plate of the apparatus main body to establish conduction between the sheet feeding apparatus 3 and the apparatus main body. At this time, the grounding means 1 has a locking function between the apparatus main body and the sheet feeding apparatus 3 as described in the first embodiment.

  As described above, the positioning means of the image forming apparatus main body 2 and the sheet feeding apparatus 3 also serves as the grounding means 1, so that the number of parts can be reduced, and the apparatus main body needs to have a new space for the grounding means 1 to enter. Therefore, space can be used effectively when the apparatus main body is downsized.

The figure which showed the earth | ground means which concerns on a 1st Example. 1 is a perspective view of an image forming apparatus and a sheet feeding apparatus according to a first embodiment. The figure which showed the earth | ground means which concerns on a 2nd Example. The figure which showed the earth | ground means which concerns on a 3rd Example. FIG. 10 is a perspective view of an image forming apparatus and a sheet feeding apparatus according to a third embodiment. Explanatory drawing of a prior art. Explanatory drawing of a prior art.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Grounding means 2 Image forming apparatus main body 3 Sheet feeding apparatus 4 Sheet storage cassette 5 Positioning pin 6 Positioning hole 7 Ground contact hole 7
8 Ground spring protection member 9 Ground spring 9a Ground spring inflection section 10 Guide pin

Claims (4)

  In the conduction mechanism between the first housing and the second housing, the conduction mechanism provided in the first housing is elastically deformable metal elastic conduction means, and the elastic conduction means is protected. When the first casing and the second casing are connected to each other, the conduction mechanism is provided in a conduction hole provided in a sheet metal constituting the second casing. The conduction mechanism is characterized in that the elastic conduction means comes into contact with the edge portion of the conduction hole while elastically deforming to make conduction.   2. The conduction mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the elastic conduction means fitted in the conduction hole is fitted while forming a portion larger than a width of the conduction hole inside the second casing, and the elastic conduction means A conduction mechanism characterized in that the elastic force of the means prevents the fit from being released below a predetermined force.   2. The conduction mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the conduction protection means protrudes from the first casing and fits into a positioning hole provided in the second casing, so that the first casing and the second casing are provided. A conduction mechanism, characterized in that it is a positioning means for positioning the casing.   2. The conduction mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the first casing is a sheet feeding device and the second casing is an image forming apparatus.

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