JP2012237944A - Outer cover, and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an outer cover that prevents a degradation of appearance quality and an increase in costs, and an image forming apparatus.SOLUTION: An outer cover includes a louver 110 formed by arranging a plurality of elongated vane-like members 111 in parallel at an interval 112. The louver 110 includes: at least one open louvers 120 having the interval 112 that penetrates from the inside to the outside of an image forming apparatus 50; and at least one closed louvers 130 having the interval 112, an inner part of which is closed by a closing member 131. The closing member 131 is provided with a pinpoint gate mark 140.

Description

  The present invention relates to an exterior cover and an image forming apparatus including the exterior cover.

  In recent years, in industrial products such as automobiles and home appliances, not only functions but also design, that is, appearance quality, has become an important factor for improving user satisfaction.

  In particular, an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine has a large number of exterior covers on its surface, so the appearance quality is mainly determined by the exterior cover, and color, shape, surface properties, gaps, steps, etc. are taken into consideration. There are many points to be done.

  Many of the exterior covers are manufactured by injection molding using a mold. In general, in the case of large-sized resin parts, the problem of appearance defects is sink marks that occur because the resin material cannot be uniformly filled during injection molding due to an insufficient number of gates, that is, insufficient filling.

  This insufficient filling can be mitigated by increasing the mold clamping force and increasing the injection pressure of the resin material, but in that case, a large facility is required and there is a concern about an increase in cost. The

  For example, if the trace of the pinpoint gate is on the surface of the exterior cover, it is a place where it can be directly touched by the user's eyes, which is not preferable from the viewpoint of appearance quality. It is preferable that a design that suppresses the above is made.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, for an exterior cover, a technique is known in which the amount of gaps and steps between exterior covers, which is one of the appearance qualities, is reduced (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  However, although the thing of patent document 1 can reduce the clearance gap amount and level | step difference amount between exterior covers, when pinpoint gate is installed in order to pour resin uniformly at the time of resin molding, the pinpoint There was a problem that the gate marks had an adverse effect on the appearance quality.

  In other words, if molding defects such as sink marks occur in the mold of the exterior cover, which is a large resin part, usually in an image forming apparatus, etc., in addition to examining the molding conditions, Consider installing a pinpoint gate at the edge of the cover or behind the other exterior cover.

  However, since there is no place that is not easily noticeable by the user at the center of the exterior cover, the pinpoint gate cannot be installed without sacrificing the appearance quality. For this reason, pinpoint gates are used to prevent molding defects at the expense of appearance quality to some extent.

  However, this method has a problem in that the gate mark of the pinpoint gate remains on the outermost surface of the exterior cover.

  As a method of improving molding defects without sacrificing appearance quality, there is a method of forming two exterior cover members. For example, an exterior cover of an image forming apparatus is provided with a louver formed by arranging a plurality of elongated blades in parallel with a gap in order to exhaust heat generated in the apparatus. By using the parts, molding defects can be improved by pouring the resin through the side gate from the portion where the louvers originally existed. In this case, there exists a problem that metal mold | die cost, process expense, etc. will increase by using two bodies.

  As described above, in the exterior cover of the image forming apparatus or the like, there is no conventional exterior cover for a large-sized resin part that takes into consideration the installation property and appearance quality of the gate and suppresses the cost.

  SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is that it provides an exterior cover and an image forming apparatus that can prevent deterioration in appearance quality and increase in cost.

  An exterior cover according to the present invention is an exterior cover provided on the surface of an apparatus, and includes a louver formed by arranging a plurality of elongated slat-like members in parallel with a gap, and the louver includes the gap as described above. It has at least one each of an open louver penetrating the inside and outside of the device and a closing louver in which the back of the gap is closed by a closing member, and pinpoint gate marks are arranged on the closing member. And

  According to the present invention, since the pinpoint gate trace is arranged on the closing member in the back of the gap of the closing louver among the louvers, it is hidden from the slat-like member from the user's line of sight, so the appearance quality Pinpoint gate traces can be installed without lowering.

  Further, by arranging the pinpoint gate trace on the louver, it becomes possible to satisfactorily fill the resin at the time of injection molding without forming the louver as a separate member (two bodies) from the exterior cover. It is possible to prevent an increase in cost due to body formation.

  Therefore, it is possible to prevent a decrease in appearance quality and an increase in cost.

1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a schematic configuration of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which shows the exterior cover which concerns on one embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the louver of the exterior cover which concerns on one embodiment of this invention. (A) is sectional drawing which shows the AA cross section of the open louver of FIG. 3 of the exterior cover which concerns on one embodiment of this invention, (b) is B- of the obstruction | occlusion louver of FIG. 3 of an exterior cover. It is sectional drawing which shows B cross section. It is a figure which shows the pinpoint gate trace arrange | positioned at the obstruction | occlusion louver of the exterior cover which concerns on one embodiment of this invention. (A) is sectional drawing which shows the state which does not provide a guide member in the back surface of the open louver of the exterior cover which concerns on one embodiment of this invention, (b) provided the guide member in the back surface of the obstruction | occlusion louver. It is sectional drawing which shows a state.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  First, the configuration will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus 50 includes a photosensitive member 2 (2a, 2b, and 2b) on which toner images of respective colors are formed in the order of BK (black), C (cyan), M (magenta), and Y (yellow). 2c, 2d), an exposure device 1 in which a latent image is written on the photosensitive member 2 by a laser, a developing device 26 (26a, 26b, 26c, 26d) for forming a toner image on the photosensitive member 2, and a toner image of each color is superimposed. An image forming unit 25 including the intermediate transfer belt 3 is provided.

  The photosensitive member 2a and the developing device 26a correspond to BK color, the photosensitive member 2b and the developing device 26b correspond to C color, the photosensitive member 2c and the developing device 26c correspond to M color, and the photosensitive member 2d and the developing device. 26d corresponds to the Y color, but when the description is made without distinguishing each color, they are simply referred to as the photoreceptor 2 and the developing device 26.

  The image forming apparatus 50 includes a sheet feeding unit 22 including a sheet feeding tray 10, a sheet feeding roller 11, and a separating unit 12, and a manual feeding unit including a manual feed tray 13, a pickup roller 14, a sheet feeding roller 15, and a separating unit 16. A paper feeding unit 23 for paper is provided. The paper feeding units 22 and 23 have paper presence / absence detection means 18 and 21 for detecting the presence or absence of paper (recording material), respectively.

  When the leading edge of the sheet fed from the sheet feeding unit 22 or the sheet feeding unit 23 is detected by the registration sensor 8 provided in front of the registration roller 4, the leading end of the sheet abuts against the registration roller 4 to form a deflection. After the skew of the paper is corrected, the paper feed rollers 11 and 15 and the pickup roller 14 are stopped and stand by.

  The registration roller 4 is driven in synchronism with the image formed by the image forming unit 25 to convey the sheet to the secondary transfer roller 5.

  After the image is transferred from the intermediate transfer belt 3 to the sheet by the secondary transfer roller 5 and the image is fixed on the sheet by the fixing device 6, the printed sheet is discharged from the sheet discharge roller 7 onto the sheet discharge tray 24. ing.

  The fixing paper discharge sensor 9 detects the leading edge of the paper conveyed from the fixing device 6 and the trailing edge of the paper discharged by the paper discharge roller 7 and monitors whether there is a conveyance abnormality.

  The operation unit 17 includes a button (not shown) for performing an operation instruction operation and a setting operation, and a liquid crystal screen (not shown) for display. The status is displayed.

  The image forming apparatus 50 includes a control unit 28 that performs overall control including control of drive start timing and drive stop timing of the paper feed rollers 11 and 15 and the registration roller 4.

  The image forming apparatus 50 is characterized in that the following control is performed when the sheet is conveyed to the secondary transfer unit 27 in synchronization with the image formed by the image forming unit 25 in synchronization.

  That is, in the image forming apparatus 50, the paper feed rollers 11 and 15 are driven simultaneously with the start of driving of the registration roller 4 or before the driving starts to support the start of paper conveyance by the registration roller 4, and the front end of the paper is subjected to secondary transfer. Before reaching the section 27, the drive of the paper feed rollers 11 and 15 is stopped so that the paper feed rollers 11 and 15 are rotated (driven state).

  Further, the image forming apparatus 50 includes an exterior cover 100 on the outer surface thereof.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the exterior cover 100 includes a flat plate portion 101 and a louver 110 having at least a part of a ventilation hole that performs intake and exhaust for releasing heat inside the image forming apparatus 50 to the outside. It is provided and is integrally formed by injection molding.

  Note that the louver 110 is closely related to the module in the image forming apparatus 50 on the back of the installation position. If the module is not provided, it is difficult to intake and exhaust air into the apparatus, and the image quality is increased by heat. There is concern about the impact on

  As shown in FIGS. 3, 4 (a), and 4 (b), the louver 110 is formed by arranging a plurality of elongated blade-like members 111 in parallel with a gap 112 therebetween. Each wing plate-like member 111 is inclined from the back side (inside of the image forming apparatus 50) toward the front side (outside of the image forming apparatus 50).

  The louver 110 is spaced from the open louver 120 in which the gap 112 of the wing plate-like member 111 penetrates the inside and outside of the image forming apparatus 50 and the inner part of the gap 112 of the wing plate-like member 111, that is, the outermost surface of the exterior cover 100 At least one closing louver 130 whose position retracted inward by a is blocked by the closing member 131 is provided.

  The gap 112 of the open louver 120 functions as a ventilation hole that performs intake and exhaust for releasing heat inside the image forming apparatus 50 to the outside. Further, the closing louver 130 is provided with a pinpoint gate trace 140 that is a resin filling port at the time of injection molding on the closing member 131, and has a role as an installation part of the pinpoint gate trace 140.

  It is preferable that the closing louver 130 is disposed at a substantially central portion of the exterior cover 100, that is, at the central portion and in the vicinity thereof. In general, at the time of injection molding, the portion far from the pinpoint gate is less likely to be filled with resin. Therefore, by providing the closing louver 130 where the pinpoint gate trace 140 is disposed at the substantially central portion of the exterior cover 100, the injection molding is performed. Sometimes the resin can be efficiently filled.

  That is, if the pinpoint gate is arranged so that the pinpoint gate mark 140 is provided at one end portion of the outer cover 100, there is a risk of filling failure at the other end side. By arranging the pinpoint gate so that 130 and the pinpoint gate mark 140 are provided, the resin can be efficiently and evenly filled from the substantially center portion to the end portion of the exterior cover 100 at the time of injection molding, Filling failure can be prevented.

  Further, when a plurality of louvers 110 are provided on the exterior cover 100, the closing louvers 130 can be installed at any number of the plurality of louvers 110. In this case, it is preferable to install the closing louver 130 provided with the pinpoint gate trace 140 so that the pinpoint gate trace 140 is arranged at the optimum position of the pinpoint gate obtained by resin flow analysis or the like.

  The blocking member 131 and the pinpoint gate trace 140 disposed on the blocking member 131 can be seen when the exterior cover 100 is viewed from the side as shown in FIG. 5, but are viewed from above, which is the normal user direction. In such a case, since it is located behind the wing plate-like member 111, it is shielded and is not visually recognized.

  Since the image forming apparatus 50 and the general apparatus provided with the exterior cover 100 are lower than a standard eye height (for example, 150 cm), the pinpoint gate mark 140 is not visually recognized.

  In addition, when the exterior cover 100 is provided at a position higher than the standard eye height, the pinpoint gate can be formed by designing or changing the angle of the slat-like member 111 so as to be upside down from the state of FIG. It is possible to prevent the trace 140 from being visually recognized.

  As shown in FIG. 6A, on the back side of the closing louver 130, the inner part of the gap 112 is closed by the closing member 131 and ventilation is not performed, so that heat generated inside the image forming apparatus 50 is generated. There is a risk of delay.

  Therefore, as shown in FIG. 6B, by providing a projection-shaped guide member 132 for guiding the air from the inside of the image forming apparatus 50 to the outside to the open louver 120 on the back side of the closing louver 130, the efficiency is improved. Heat can be exhausted.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 6B, the guide member 132 is formed in a triangular projection shape so that one guide point of the triangle protruding from the back side of the closing louver 130 toward the inside of the image forming apparatus 50 is formed. Further, the air from the inside to the outside of the image forming apparatus 50 is divided and flows toward the open louver 120, so that the exhaust gas is prevented from stagnation on the back side of the closing member 131.

  In addition, arrangement | positioning of the open louver 120 and the obstruction | occlusion louver 130 can be made into the aspect demonstrated below.

  As a first aspect, when only one louver 110 is provided on the exterior cover 100, a partial area of the louver 110 is configured as a closed louver 130 and the remaining area is configured as an open louver 120. In this case, it is preferable that the louver 110 is provided at a substantially central portion of the exterior cover 100.

  As a second aspect, when a plurality of louvers 110 are provided on the exterior cover 100 (the aspect of FIG. 2), a part of each louver 110 is configured as a closed louver 130 and the remaining area is an open louver 120. Configure as. In this case, it is preferable that at least one of the plurality of louvers 110 is provided at a substantially central portion of the exterior cover 100.

  Specifically, as shown in FIG. 2, when the louver 110 is provided in the upper part and the center part of the exterior cover 100, a part of the upper louver 110 is configured as a closed louver 130, and the remaining area is defined as the louver 110. The open louver 120 is configured, and the central louver 110 is similarly configured as a closed louver 130 and a remaining area as the open louver 120.

  As a third aspect, when a plurality of louvers 110 are provided on the exterior cover 100 (the aspect of FIG. 2), at least one louver 110 is configured as a closed louver 130 and the remaining louvers 110 are configured as open louvers 120. In this case, it is preferable that at least one closing louver 130 is provided at a substantially central portion of the exterior cover 100.

  Specifically, as shown in FIG. 2, when the louver 110 is provided at the upper part and the central part of the exterior cover 100, the central louver 110 is configured as a closed louver 130, and the upper louver 110 is configured as an open louver 120. To do.

  As described above, the closing louver 130 may be integrally configured adjacent to the open louver 120, or may be configured separately from the open louver 120. Moreover, you may use combining the 1st-3rd aspect.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the louver 110 in which a plurality of elongated slat-like members 111 are arranged in parallel with a gap 112 is exemplified as the heat exhausting shape portion. Alternatively, a plurality of plate members may be arranged in a lattice pattern with a gap 112 therebetween, and a part of the back of the gap 112 may be closed with a closing member 131.

  As described above, the exterior cover 100 according to the present embodiment includes the louver 110 in which a plurality of elongated slat-like members 111 are arranged in parallel with a gap 112 therebetween. The forming apparatus 50 has at least one open louver 120 penetrating the inside and outside of the forming device 50 and a closing louver 130 whose back portion of the gap 112 is closed by the closing member 131. It is characterized by arranging.

  With this configuration, the pinpoint gate trace 140 is disposed on the closing member 131 in the back of the gap 112 of the closing louver 130 in the louver 110, so that it is not conspicuous because it is hidden by the slat member 111 from the user's perspective. Therefore, the pinpoint gate trace 140 can be installed without deteriorating the appearance quality.

  Further, since the pinpoint gate mark 140 is disposed on the louver 110, it is possible to satisfactorily fill the resin during the injection molding without forming the louver 110 as a separate member (two bodies) from the exterior cover 100. Further, it is possible to prevent an increase in cost due to the two members.

  Therefore, it is possible to prevent a decrease in appearance quality and an increase in cost.

  In addition, the exterior cover 100 according to the present embodiment has the open louver 120 and the closing louver 130 disposed adjacent to each other, and air that is directed from the inside of the image forming apparatus 50 to the outside is opened to the back of the closing louver 130. A guide member 132 for guiding is provided.

  With this configuration, the air from the inside to the outside of the image forming apparatus 50 is guided to the open louver 120 by the guide member 132, so that the exhaust can be efficiently performed.

  In addition, the exterior cover 100 according to the present embodiment is characterized in that the closing louver 130 is disposed at a substantially central portion.

  With this configuration, since the pinpoint gate mark 140 is provided at the substantially central portion of the exterior cover 100, the resin can be efficiently filled into the mold at the time of injection molding.

  Moreover, the exterior cover 100 according to the present embodiment is characterized in that a plurality of closing louvers 130 are provided.

  With this configuration, pinpoint gate traces 140 are provided at a plurality of locations on the exterior cover 100, so that the resin can be efficiently filled into the mold at the time of injection molding.

  In addition, the image forming apparatus 50 according to the present embodiment includes the above-described exterior cover 100.

  With this configuration, in the image forming apparatus 50, it is possible to prevent a decrease in appearance quality and an increase in cost.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 50 Image forming apparatus 100 Exterior cover 101 Flat plate part 110 Louver 111 Blade-like member 112 Crevice 120 Open louver 130 Closure louver 131 Closure member 132 Guide member 140 Pinpoint gate mark

JP 2010-034958 A

Claims (5)

An exterior cover provided on the surface of the device,
A louver formed by arranging a plurality of elongated blade-like members in parallel with a gap between them,
The louver has at least one of an open louver in which the gap penetrates the inside and outside of the device, and a closed louver in which the inner part of the gap is closed by a closing member,
An exterior cover, wherein pinpoint gate marks are arranged on the closing member. Placing the open louver and the closed louver adjacent to each other;
The exterior cover according to claim 1, wherein a guide member is provided on the back surface of the closing louver to guide the air directed from the inside to the outside of the device to the open louver.   The exterior cover according to claim 1, wherein the closing louver is disposed at a substantially central portion.   The exterior cover according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a plurality of the closing louvers are provided.   An image forming apparatus comprising the exterior cover according to claim 1.

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