JP2010039027A - Opening and closing mechanism, image reading device, and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an opening and closing mechanism capable of improving a sense of operation in operating an opening and closing member and to provide an image reading device and an image forming apparatus equipped with the image reading device. <P>SOLUTION: A document pressing member 36 is held to turn between a closed position covering a document loading face for loading a document on it and an opened position opening the document loading face. A base member 44 supporting a rotary shaft 42 provided in the document pressing member 36 rotatably is liftably supported on the document loading face. A gear member 48 gives resistance force to the elevating base member 44. By liftably supporting the base member 44 in this way, the document pressing member 36 separates from the document loading face and can press the whole thick document from above even if the document to be loaded on the document loading face is thick. Since the gear member 48 gives resistance force to the elevating base member 44, the base member 44 is prevented from moving abruptly and the sense of operation in operating the document pressing member 36 can be improved. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an opening / closing mechanism, an image reading apparatus, and an image forming apparatus including the same.

  An opening / closing mechanism for a document pressing member (opening / closing member) provided in the image reading apparatus described in Patent Document 1 includes a rotation shaft provided in the document pressing member and a cam supported by the main body and rotatably holding the rotation shaft. A member and a sliding protrusion provided on the document pressing member and biased by the uneven cam surface of the cam member are configured. Further, the cam member is provided with a support leg portion extending toward the main body, and the support leg portion is inserted into a support hole formed in the main body, and the support leg portion can be inserted into and removed from the support hole. ing.

  With this configuration, when the document pressing member is opened and closed, the sliding projections urged by the concavo-convex cam surface rotate while being urged by the cam surface. When the user stops the document pressing member at an arbitrary rotation position, the document pressing member is held at an arbitrary position by a resistance force generated between the sliding projection and the uneven cam surface.

Further, when the original placed on the original placement surface is a thick original, the original pressing member can be moved away from the original placement surface by reducing the amount of insertion of the support leg formed in the cam member into the support hole. The entire thick document can be pressed from above by being spaced apart.
JP 2006-39440 A

  However, since the support leg is only inserted into the support hole, the amount of insertion of the support leg into the support hole changes abruptly, which is unnatural for the user who opens and closes the document pressing member (opening / closing member). There was a feeling.

  An object of the present invention is to improve the operational feeling of the opening / closing member in consideration of the above facts.

  The opening / closing mechanism according to claim 1 of the present invention includes a closing position for pressing a document placed so as to cover a document placing surface on which a document to be read is placed, and an opening position for opening the document placing surface. An opening / closing member that is rotatably supported, a base member that rotatably supports a rotation shaft provided in the opening / closing member, and is supported to be movable up and down with respect to the document placement surface; And a damper member for applying a resistance force to the base member that moves up and down with respect to the document placement surface.

  According to the above configuration, the opening / closing member is held so as to be rotatable between a closing position that covers the document placement surface on which the document is placed and an open position that opens the document placement surface.

  In addition, the base member that rotatably supports the rotation shaft provided in the opening / closing member is supported so as to be able to move up and down with respect to the document placement surface, and further, provides resistance to the base member on which the damper member moves up and down. ing.

  In this way, by supporting the base member so as to be movable up and down, even when the document placed on the document placement surface is a thick document, the opening / closing member is separated from the document placement surface to Can be pressed from.

  Furthermore, by applying a resistance force to the base member on which the damper member moves up and down, it is possible to prevent the base member from moving suddenly and improve the operational feeling of the opening and closing member.

  An opening / closing mechanism according to a second aspect of the present invention is the opening / closing mechanism according to the first aspect, wherein the base member includes a rack portion, the damper member rotates while meshing with the rack portion, and provides resistance to the rack portion. A gear member to be applied.

  According to the said structure, a gear member meshes with the rack part with which the base member was equipped, rotates, and provides resistance force to a rack part.

  As described above, the gear member imparts a resistance force to the rack portion, so that the base member is prevented from moving rapidly, and the operating feeling of the opening / closing member can be improved by a simple method.

  The opening / closing mechanism according to claim 3 of the present invention is attached to the base member according to claim 1 or 2, and applies a frictional force to the rotation shaft of the opening / closing member to stop the opening / closing member at an arbitrary opening angle. A free stop hinge, and a clutch member connected to the free stop hinge and transmitting the frictional force of the free stop hinge to the rotating shaft only when the opened opening / closing member is rotated toward the closed position; .

  According to the above configuration, the clutch member transmits the frictional force of the free stop hinge to the rotation shaft of the opening / closing member only when the opening / closing member is rotated toward the closing position.

  For this reason, when the opening / closing member arranged at the closing position is rotated toward the opening position, the frictional force of the free stop hinge is not transmitted to the rotating shaft, and the opening / closing member can be smoothly opened.

  In addition, for example, when adjusting the position of the document placed on the document placement surface while the opened opening / closing member is being rotated toward the closing position, the opening / closing member is opened / closed even when the opening / closing member is released. Since the member stops by the frictional force of the free stop hinge, the position of the document can be adjusted with both hands.

  An image reading apparatus according to a fourth aspect of the present invention includes the opening / closing mechanism according to any one of the first to third aspects.

  According to the above configuration, the image reading apparatus includes the opening / closing mechanism according to any one of claims 1 to 3. For this reason, the operation feeling of the opening and closing member can be improved.

  An image forming apparatus according to a fifth aspect of the present invention includes the image reading device according to the fourth aspect.

  According to the above configuration, the image forming apparatus includes the image reading device described in claim 4. For this reason, the operation feeling of the opening and closing member can be improved.

  According to the present invention, the operational feeling of the opening / closing member can be improved.

  An example of an image reading apparatus and an image forming apparatus employing an opening / closing mechanism according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

(overall structure)
As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, an inkjet recording apparatus 10 as an image forming apparatus includes a carriage on which an image reading apparatus 30 that reads an image on a document sheet member P and an inkjet recording head 12 as a liquid ejection head are mounted. 14, a main scanning mechanism 16 that scans the carriage 14 along the main scanning direction M, a sub-scanning mechanism 18 that transports a sheet member P as a recording medium along the sub-scanning direction S, and a maintenance station 20. is doing.

  The ink jet recording head 12 is mounted on the carriage 14 such that a nozzle (not shown) for ejecting ink droplets faces the sheet member P, and is scanned by the main scanning mechanism 16 based on image data read by the image reading device 30. By ejecting ink droplets from the nozzles while moving in the main scanning direction M, an image is recorded on a certain band region of the sheet member P. When one movement in the main scanning direction is completed, the sheet member P is transported in the sub scanning direction S by the sub scanning mechanism 18, and the band area is recorded while the carriage 14 moves again in the main scanning direction M. By repeating such an operation a plurality of times, image recording can be performed over the entire surface of the sheet member P.

  As shown in FIG. 4, a discharge tray 24 for discharging the sheet member P on which an image is formed by the inkjet recording head 12 is provided on the front surface of the inkjet recording apparatus 10. The sheet member P can be discharged to the discharge tray 24 by opening the discharge tray 24 from the closed state (see FIG. 5) to the open state.

(Main part configuration)
The image reading device 30 that reads an image on the document sheet member P is provided on the upper part of the inkjet recording device 10, and includes a platen glass 32 that constitutes a document placement surface 32 A on which the document is placed, and a platen glass 32 below. The reading unit 34 is provided on the side (opposite to the document placement surface 32A) and reads an image by irradiating the document with light while moving along the platen glass 32.

  Furthermore, the opening / closing mechanism 40 is configured, and a closing position (see FIG. 5) for pressing the document sheet member P placed on the document placement surface 32A so as to cover the document placement surface 32A and the document placement surface 32A are provided. A document pressing member 36 is provided as an opening / closing member that is rotatably held between an open position (see FIG. 4) that allows the document sheet member P to be opened and placed on the document placement surface 32A. .

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the opening / closing mechanism 40 is provided with a base member 44 that rotatably supports the rotation shaft 42 of the document pressing member 36. Further, the base member 44 has a cylindrical cylindrical portion 44A into which a substantially columnar free stop hinge 52 is fitted to apply the friction force to the rotating shaft 42 and stop the document pressing member 36 at an arbitrary opening angle. I have.

  Further, a plate-like support portion 44B is provided so as to extend downward from the cylindrical portion 44A. The plate-like support portion 44B is formed in the box member 46 from a rectangular opening 46A formed on the upper surface of the box-like box member 46 fixed to the main body 10A (see FIG. 4) of the inkjet recording apparatus 10. It is inserted and supported by the box member 46 so as to be movable up and down with respect to the document placement surface 32A from the initial position shown in FIG.

  A rack portion 44C that can mesh with the gear teeth is formed on the support portion 44B, and a gear member 48 that meshes with the rack portion 44C and rotates is pivotally supported by the box member 46. The gear member 48 applies a resistance force to the rack portion 44 </ b> C to regulate the moving speed of the base member 44.

  On the other hand, the rotating portion 52B of the free stop hinge 52 fitted in the cylindrical portion 44A of the base member 44 is only used when the opened document pressing member 36 is rotated toward the closing position (see FIG. 5). A clutch member 50 that transmits the frictional force of the top hinge 52 to the rotation shaft 42 of the document pressing member 36 is provided.

  In other words, when the opened document pressing member 36 is to be rotated to the closing position, the document pressing member 36 is not affected by the friction of the free stop hinge 52 even if the user releases the document pressing member 36 during the rotation. It stops at that position by force.

(Action / Effect)
When the image of the original sheet member P is read using the ink jet recording apparatus 10 and an image is formed on the sheet member P based on the read image data, first, as shown in FIG. As a result, the discharge tray 24 on which the sheet member P on which the image is formed is discharged is opened from the closed state (see FIG. 5), and is opened. Thereby, the sheet member P can be discharged to the discharge tray 24.

  Further, the document pressing member 36 of the image reading device 30 provided on the upper part of the ink jet recording apparatus 10 is rotated about the rotation shaft 42 to press the document sheet member P placed so as to cover the document placement surface 32A. From the closed position (refer to FIG. 5), the document placement surface 32A is rotated to an open position.

  Here, when the document pressing member 36 is rotated from the closed position to the open position, the clutch member 42 does not transmit the resistance force of the free stop hinge 52 to the rotating shaft 42, so that the user does not feel resistance but the document pressing member. 36 is lifted from the closed position.

  The user places the document sheet member P on the document placement surface 32A with the document placement surface 32A open. Further, the document pressing member 36 in the open position is rotated about the rotation shaft 42 toward the closing position, and the document sheet member P placed with the document placement surface 32A covered with the document pressing member 36 is pressed.

  Here, in the middle of rotating the opened document pressing member 36 toward the closing position, for example, the user may notice that the placement position of the document sheet member P is shifted. In such a case, even if the user releases his / her hand from the document pressing member 36 during the rotation, the document pressing member 36 stops at that position by the frictional force of the free stop hinge 52. The user corrects the placement position of the document sheet member P without manually supporting the document pressing member 36.

  When the original sheet member P placed on the original placement surface 32A is thin, the original pressing member 36 moves to the closing position without moving the base member 44 from the initial position shown in FIG. .

  On the other hand, in the case of a thick original sheet member P (for example, a book) having a thick original sheet member P placed on the original placement surface 32A, the base member 44 is positioned at the initial position shown in FIG. When the document pressing member 36 is rotated toward the closing position in the disposed state, the document pressing member 36 contacts the corner portion of the thick document sheet member P. For this reason, the document pressing member 36 cannot press the entire thick document sheet member P from above toward the document placement surface 32A.

  However, as shown in FIG. 1, when the document pressing member 36 comes into contact with the corner of the thick document sheet member P, the rotation shaft 42 tries to move upward (in the direction of arrow B), thereby causing the base member to move. 44 also tries to move upward. When the base member 44 attempts to move upward, the gear member 48 rotates in the direction of arrow A, and the base member 44 including the rack portion 44C that meshes with the gear member 48 protrudes from the document placement surface 32A (arrow). B direction). Then, the document pressing member 36 is separated from the document placement surface 32A and presses the entire thick document sheet member P from above.

  Here, since the gear member 48 provides resistance to the rack portion 44C and restricts the moving speed of the base member 44, the base member 44 does not move suddenly.

  Further, when the image reading operation of the document sheet member P is completed and the thick document sheet member P is removed from the document placement surface 32A, the document pressing member 36 is rotated about the rotation shaft 42, and the document pressing member 36 is rotated. Is moved to the open position (see FIG. 4). After moving the document pressing member 36 to the open position, the user removes the thick document sheet member P from the document placement surface 32A.

  As shown in FIG. 2, when the document pressing member 36 is moved to the open position (see FIG. 4), a downward force (arrow D direction) acts on the base member 44 due to the weight of the document pressing member 36. This is transmitted to the gear member 48 through the rack portion 44C. When the weight of the document pressing member 36 acts on the gear member 48 through the rack portion 44C, the gear member 48 rotates in the arrow D direction, the base member 44 moves downward (in the arrow C direction), and the base member 44 moves. Return to the initial position. Since the gear member 48 applies a resistance force to the rack portion 44C to restrict the moving speed of the base member 44, the base member 44 does not move suddenly to the initial position.

  In this way, by supporting the base member 44 so as to be movable up and down with respect to the document placement surface 32A, the document pressing member 36 even when the document placed on the document placement surface 32A is the thick document sheet member P. Can be separated from the original placement surface 32A and the entire thick original sheet member P can be pressed from above.

  Further, by applying a resistance force to the base member 44 where the gear member 48 moves up and down, the base member 44 can be prevented from moving rapidly and the operational feeling of the document pressing member 36 can be improved.

  Further, when the position of the document sheet member P placed on the document placement surface 32A is adjusted while the opened document push member 36 is being rotated toward the closing position, the document push member 36 is adjusted. Even if the hand is released, the document pressing member 36 is stopped by the frictional force of the free stop hinge 52, so that the position of the document sheet member P can be adjusted with both hands.

  Further, when the document pressing member 36 is rotated from the closed position to the open position, the clutch member 42 does not transmit the frictional force of the free stop hinge 52 to the rotating shaft 42, so that the document does not feel the resistance of the free stop hinge 52. The pressing member 36 can be easily lifted from the closed position.

  Although the present invention has been described in detail with respect to specific embodiments, the present invention is not limited to such embodiments, and various other embodiments are possible within the scope of the present invention. It is clear to the contractor. For example, in the above embodiment, the opening / closing mechanism 40 is employed in the image reading device 30 provided in the ink jet recording apparatus 10 as the image forming device. However, the scanner as the image reading device provided separately from the image forming device. For example, an opening / closing mechanism may be employed.

  In the above embodiment, the base member 44 and the like are provided on the two rotation shafts 42 formed on the document pressing member 36. However, the base member and the like may be provided only on one side of the rotation shaft.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing an opening / closing mechanism according to the embodiment of the present invention, in which a document pressing member is in a closed position. FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing an opening / closing mechanism according to an embodiment of the present invention, with a document pressing member in an open position. It is the disassembled perspective view which showed the opening-and-closing mechanism which concerns on embodiment of this invention. 1 is a perspective view showing an image forming apparatus employing an opening / closing mechanism according to an embodiment of the present invention, in which a document pressing member is in an open position. 1 is a perspective view showing an image forming apparatus employing an opening / closing mechanism according to an embodiment of the present invention, in which a document pressing member is in a closed position.

Explanation of symbols

10 Inkjet recording device (image forming device)
30 Image reading device 32A Document placement surface 36 Document pressing member (opening / closing member)
40 Opening / closing mechanism 42 Clutch member 42 Rotating shaft 44 Base member 48 Gear member 50 Clutch member 52 Free stop hinge

Claims (5)

An opening / closing member that is rotatably held between a closing position that presses the original placed on the original placing surface on which the original to be read is placed and an open position that opens the original placing surface. When,
A base member that rotatably supports a rotation shaft provided in the opening and closing member and is supported to be movable up and down with respect to the document placement surface;
A damper member for imparting resistance to the base member that moves up and down relative to the document placement surface;
Opening and closing mechanism comprising. The base member includes a rack portion,
2. The opening / closing mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the damper member is a gear member that meshes with the rack portion and rotates and imparts a resistance force to the rack portion. A free stop hinge that is attached to the base member and applies a frictional force to the rotating shaft of the opening and closing member to stop the opening and closing member at an arbitrary opening angle;
A clutch member that is connected to the free stop hinge and transmits the frictional force of the free stop hinge to the rotating shaft only when the opened opening / closing member is rotated toward the closed position;
The opening / closing mechanism according to claim 1 or 2.   An image reading apparatus comprising the opening / closing mechanism according to claim 1.   An image forming apparatus comprising the image reading apparatus according to claim 4.

Images