JP2010210996A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming apparatus which is safely carried without directly contacting a frame part when a part except an exclusively-provided handle is held on carrying. <P>SOLUTION: At a lower part of the rear surface 26 of an exterior part 23 of a laser printer 30, a cassette cover 8 is rotatably provided so as to cover structure 20 using one end 8b as a supporting point, a space for the handle is provided on the rear surface 26 of the exterior part 23, and is protected from burr and an edge, etc. of the structure 20 by the cassette cover 8. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus including a paper feed cassette that is detachable from a main body of the image forming apparatus.

  In developing image forming apparatuses such as printers and copiers, downsizing and cost reduction of apparatuses are important issues. In recent years, the miniaturization of the device has progressed, and the weight of the main body has also become lighter, so that it can be carried by one person. Many of these downsized image forming apparatuses have been proposed in which the space of the handle part for transportation is reduced in order to secure the space for arranging parts by downsizing.

  In such an image forming apparatus in which the space of the handle part for transportation is reduced, there are cases where other parts are used instead of the handle part for transporting the equipment. In particular, when carrying by holding the handle portion for removing the paper feed cassette and the frame portion of the device casing opposite to the handle portion, the user holds the bottom surface portion of the main body as the frame portion. There are things to do.

  When holding and handling the handle portion of the paper cassette, there is a problem that if the paper cassette comes off, the device falls down and breaks. In order to solve such a problem, At the time of shipment of the image forming apparatus, a technique (see Patent Document 1) has been proposed in which a paper feed cassette is locked by a link component interlocked with a level bolt so as not to come off.

  In addition, when transporting the image forming apparatus, the paper cassette is locked when the transport handle is pulled out, and the lock is unlocked when the transport handle is returned in conjunction with the movement of the transport handle pulled out from the main unit. (See Patent Document 2) has been proposed.

  When holding and transporting the frame part of the housing of the image forming apparatus, the bottom part of the main body is generally different from the side part, and the edges of resin parts and the burrs and edges of sheet metal parts may be exposed. Many of them were difficult to hold and could hinder transportation.

  Further, in the technique described in Patent Document 1, the level bolt is moved when the image forming apparatus is used, so that the cassette is unlocked and the cassette is detached when the cassette is held and transported, and the level bolt is not moved. However, there was a problem that the cassette could not be removed during use and could not be fed.

  The technique described in Patent Document 2 is for a medium-sized or large-sized machine provided with a transport handle. When the image forming apparatus main body is transported while holding the paper feed cassette without pulling out the handle, the paper feed cassette is There is still a risk of detachment and the possibility of touching the frame.

  The present invention aims to solve such problems.

  That is, the present invention provides an image forming apparatus that can be safely transported without directly touching the frame portion when holding a portion other than a handle provided exclusively for transporting the image forming apparatus. It is aimed.

  The invention described in claim 1 includes an internal device that forms an image on a print medium, a frame portion that holds the internal device, an exterior portion that is attached to cover the outside of the frame portion, and the exterior portion. An image forming apparatus including a paper feed cassette that is slidably attached from the lower side to the inner side so as to cover the frame portion with the vicinity of the lower side of the other surface of the exterior portion as a fulcrum. The image forming apparatus is provided with a rotatable cover portion.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, a convex portion is provided on a surface facing the frame portion when the cover portion rotates, and the convex portion An interlock switch that stops the operation of the image forming apparatus when pressed by the portion is provided in the frame portion.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect of the present invention, the paper feed cassette can be expanded toward the other surface in accordance with the size of the print medium accommodated therein. An extension tray is provided, and the cover portion is provided so as to be rotatable so as to cover the extension tray with a lower portion near the other surface of the exterior portion as a fulcrum.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, the cover portion that can be rotated so as to cover the frame portion with the vicinity of the lower side of the other surface of the exterior portion as a fulcrum is provided. Can be provided, and the cover portion can protect the frame portion from burrs, edges, and the like, so that it can be transported safely.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, since the interlock switch that turns off the image forming apparatus by being pressed by the convex portion of the cover portion when the cover portion is rotated is provided. Even if it is moved during operation, such as when it is out, the operation can be stopped simply by rotating the cover, and the device can be safely moved and maintained by the user's unexpected operation. it can.

  According to the invention described in claim 3, the paper feed cassette is provided with the extension tray that can be expanded toward the other surface in accordance with the size of the print medium accommodated therein, and the other surface of the exterior portion. Since the extension tray is rotatably provided so as to cover the extension tray, the stain on the uppermost surface of the print medium exposed from the apparatus main body can be reduced by the extension tray, and the stain can be reduced. As a result, it is possible to reduce the adhesion of dirt to the paper feed roller and the like to reduce paper feed errors.

1 is a side view showing an overall configuration of a laser printer as an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is an external perspective view of the paper feed cassette in a state where it is removed from the main body in the laser printer shown in FIG. 1. It is an external appearance perspective view of the laser printer shown in FIG. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a state of a rear portion of a paper feed cassette in a main body portion in the laser printer shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 2 is an enlarged view showing a fitting portion between an end fence and an extension tray in the laser printer shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 2 is a side view showing a configuration of an interlock switch in the laser printer shown in FIG. 1. In the laser printer shown in FIG. 1, it is the side view which showed the state which the extension tray exposed from the main-body part.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is a side view showing the overall configuration of a laser printer as an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is an external perspective view of the paper feed cassette in a state where it is removed from the main body in the laser printer shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is an external perspective view of the laser printer shown in FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing the state of the rear portion of the paper feed cassette in the main body in the laser printer shown in FIG. FIG. 5 is an enlarged view showing a fitting portion between the end fence and the extension tray in the laser printer shown in FIG. FIG. 6 is a side view showing the structure of the interlock switch in the laser printer shown in FIG. FIG. 7 is a side view showing a state in which the extension tray is exposed from the main body in the laser printer shown in FIG.

  A laser printer 30 as an image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 1 includes a writing device 1, an image forming device 2, an intermediate transfer device 3, a paper feed cassette 4, a transfer device 5, a fixing device 6, and a paper discharge unit 7. The main body 24 has a structure 20 made of sheet metal or resin for holding the above-described internal device and the like, and an exterior part 23 provided outside the structure 20, and is a general electronic device. A full-color image is formed on paper as a printing medium according to a photographic process.

  The writing device 1 includes four laser diodes for forming images of four different colors, yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K). Digital image data is written by irradiating light (laser beams) from the laser diodes to the photoreceptors in the four image forming apparatuses 2Y, 2M, 2C, and 2K, respectively. Further, the image forming apparatus 2 is opened in the direction indicated by the arrow A in FIG. 1 together with the cover provided on the top surface of the exterior portion 23, so that the image forming apparatus 2 can be taken out upward.

  The image forming apparatus 2 includes four image forming apparatuses 2Y, 2M, 2C, and 2K corresponding to each color of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K). A toner image for each color is formed on a built-in photoreceptor by light emitted from the apparatus 1.

  The intermediate transfer device 3 sequentially superimposes and transfers the toner images formed on the image forming devices 2Y, 2M, 2C, and 2K onto the transfer belt, and collectively transfers the toner images superimposed and transferred by the transfer roller onto a sheet.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the paper feed cassette 4 is provided with a handle portion 4 a, a set portion 4 b, an end fence 9, and an extension tray 13. The handle portion 4 a is provided on the front surface portion of the paper feed cassette 4, and can be removed from the state accommodated in the main body portion 24 by being slid in the direction of arrow C (the front surface 25 direction of the exterior portion 23). . That is, it is slidably attached from the lower side of the front surface 25 as one surface of the exterior part 23 toward the inside. The set unit 4b is configured in a tray shape for stacking sheets. The end fence 9 is attached on an extension tray 13 to be described later in order to regulate the rear end portion of the paper, and constitutes a part of the tray of the set portion 4b. When the paper size is longer than the set portion 4b of the paper feed tray 4, the extension tray 13 is extendable so that the end fence 9 can be moved as shown in FIG. Can be expanded and set to fit the paper size.

  The transfer device 5 is opened in the direction indicated by the arrow B in FIG. 1 together with the cover provided on the front surface 25 of the exterior portion 23, so that it can be easily processed when a paper jam occurs.

  The fixing device 6 melts and permeates the toner by heating and pressurizing the paper transferred by the intermediate transfer device 3 by a fixing roller incorporating a heat source and a pressure roller while holding and conveying the image. Is fixed on the paper.

  The paper discharge unit 7 discharges the paper conveyed from the fixing device 6 onto the upper surface of the main body unit 24.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the laser printer 30 includes a lower portion of the right side surface portion 10 of the exterior portion 23 and a lower portion of the left side surface portion 11 of the exterior portion 23 that are substantially parallel to the attachment (slide) direction of the paper feed cassette 4. Are provided with handle portions 10a, 11a, which can normally be held and transported.

  Further, a cassette cover 8 is provided at the lower portion of the back surface 26 as the other surface of the exterior portion 23 for insulating the operation sound during the operation of the main body. As shown in FIG. 4, the cassette cover 8 normally constitutes a part of the back surface 26 of the exterior portion 23 (positioned parallel to the exterior portion 23), but is one end portion attached to the lower portion of the back surface 26. 8b can be rotated inward and outward of the main body 24 with the fulcrum as a fulcrum.

  Next, in the laser printer 30 having the above-described configuration, the handle portion 4a of the paper feed cassette 4 and the opposite surface side (the back surface 26 of the main body portion 24) are held and transported without using the handle portions 10a and 11a. A description will be given of how to do this.

  When the user holds the handle portion 4a of the paper feed cassette 4 and the opposite surface side without carrying the original handle portions 10a and 11a and carries the main body, the cassette cover 8 behind the paper feed cassette 4 is for carrying. As shown in FIG. 4B, the hand is turned in the direction of arrow D on the inside of the apparatus main body. At this time, the end fence 9 on the rotation locus is pushed by the cassette cover 8 and moves in the direction of arrow E (front direction of the main body 24).

  As shown in FIG. 5 (a), the contact portions 9a and 13a of the end fence 9 and the extension tray 13 have a saw-like shape with surfaces that are substantially perpendicular to the inclined surfaces. This is because the contact portion 9a of the end fence 9 is moved over the contact portion 13a of the extension tray 13 by the force F1 along the inclined surface where the force F pushed in the direction of the arrow E is decomposed by the inclined surface.

  In the state shown in FIG. 4C, the cassette cover 8 is in close contact with the structure 20, and the user can lift the laser printer 30 in this state. The cassette cover 8 allows the user to safely carry the structure 20 without directly contacting the screws 14 fastening the parts 15 and 16 of the structure 20 and the edge 15a of the parts. That is, the cassette cover 8 is rotated so as to cover the structure 20.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 6, an interlock switch is provided at a position where the cassette cover 8 of the structure 20 is in close contact as shown in FIG. 6 in case the laser printer 30 is transported without being noticed while the laser printer 30 is in operation. 17 may be provided.

  As shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B, the interlock switch 17 is normally turned on by an L-shaped component 18 urged by the urging means 19, and the cassette cover 8 is rotated. The component 18 is pushed by the projecting striker 8a as the convex portion provided in the cassette cover 8 to be in the OFF state. When the interlock switch 17 is turned off, the operation of the laser printer 30 is stopped. By doing in this way, when the cassette cover 8 comes into close contact with the component 16 of the structure 20, the switch is turned off, so that it can be transported safely. The biasing means 19 may be any one of compression, tension, and torsion coil spring.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 6C, the interlock switch 17 may be configured to be turned off when the L-shaped holding component 21 is rotated by the striker 8a.

  By the way, if the size of the paper loaded on the paper feed cassette is larger than the paper feed cassette 4, in this embodiment, the extension tray 13 is extended as shown in FIG. The set portion 4b can be expanded by moving to the position.

  In this state, as shown in FIG. 7, when the paper feed cassette 4 is attached (accommodated) to the main body 24, the cassette cover 8 is rotatable to the outside of the main body 24 with the one end 8b as a fulcrum. The end fence 9 pushes up the cassette cover 8 so that the rear portion of the sheet feeding cassette 4 is exposed from the back surface of the main body 24. That is, the cassette cover 8 is rotatably provided so as to cover the extension tray 13 with the vicinity of the lower portion of the back surface 26 of the exterior portion 23 as a fulcrum. In this state, since the cassette cover 8 covers the exposed portion of the paper feed cassette, it is possible to prevent the upper surface of the paper from becoming dirty, and to reduce paper feed errors due to such dirt.

  According to the present embodiment, since the cassette cover 8 is provided at the lower part of the back surface 26 of the exterior part 23 of the laser printer 30 so as to cover the structure 20 with the one end 8b as a fulcrum, the main body 24 Since a space for a handle can be provided on the back surface 26 of the housing, and it can be protected from burrs and edges of the structure 20 by the cassette cover 8, it is easy to hold and can be transported safely. In addition, safety can be ensured at a lower cost compared to providing a dedicated protective member for the structure 20 or adding a process for rounding the edge.

  Further, since an interlock switch 17 is provided which is turned off when the cassette cover 8 is rotated inside the main body 24, the operation is stopped when the cassette cover 8 is moved during the operation such as a printout. Therefore, it is possible to safely move the laser printer 30 even in the unexpected operation of the user and maintain the laser printer 30 itself.

  In addition, the paper feed cassette 4 is provided with an extension tray 13 that can be expanded in the sliding direction according to the size of the paper accommodated therein, and the cassette cover 8 has a lower vicinity of the back surface 26 of the exterior portion 23 as a fulcrum. Since the extension tray 13 is rotatably provided so as to cover the uppermost surface of the paper exposed from the main body 24 by the extension tray 13, the paper can be fed by reducing the dirt. It is possible to reduce the adhesion of dirt to a roller or the like and reduce paper feeding errors.

  The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. That is, various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

4 Paper cassette 4a Handle section 8 Cassette cover (cover section)
8a striker (convex)
13 Extension tray 17 Interlock switch 20 Structure (frame part)
23 exterior 25 front (one side)
26 Back (the other side)

JP 2006-64888 A JP-A-8-44272

Claims (3)

An internal device that forms an image on a print medium, a frame portion that holds the internal device, an exterior portion that is attached so as to cover the outside of the frame portion, and a downward direction from one surface of the exterior portion toward the inside. And an image forming apparatus including a paper feed cassette that is slidably mounted.
An image forming apparatus comprising: a cover portion that is rotatable so as to cover the frame portion with a lower portion of the other surface of the exterior portion as a fulcrum.   A convex portion is provided on the surface facing the frame portion when the cover portion rotates, and an interlock switch that stops the operation of the image forming apparatus when pressed by the convex portion. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus is provided in the frame portion.   The paper feed cassette is provided with an extension tray that can be expanded toward the other surface according to the size of the print medium accommodated therein, and the cover portion is the other surface of the exterior portion. 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus is provided so as to be rotatable so as to cover the extension tray with a vicinity below the fulcrum as a fulcrum.

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