JP2014170063A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming apparatus capable of suppressing deterioration of conveyability of a device main body with an inexpensive and simple configuration.SOLUTION: An image forming apparatus comprises landing feet 7 and 8 landing on a landing surface 10 on a bottom face of an image forming unit 4. The landing feet 7 and 8 have side faces 7a and 8a that are not brought into contact with the landing surface 10, and inclined to form an acute inclination angle θ with the landing surface 10. This configuration makes it easier for the landing feet 7 and 8 to ride over steps such as a projection 11 on the landing surface 10.

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus having a landing foot on the bottom surface of an apparatus main body.

  Image forming apparatuses such as scanners, facsimile machines, and copiers are installed in various forms, such as a single apparatus body mounted on a table or an optional sheet feeder. For example, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, a plurality of landing feet 101, 102 are generally provided on the bottom surface of the apparatus main body 100, and the landing feet 101, 102 are connected to the floor surface 110 or a sheet feeding device. It is landed on an object such as 111. The heights of the landing feet 101 and 102 are set so as not to damage the objects to be installed such as the floor surface 110 and the paper feeding device 111. For example, the height h1 of the landing feet 101 and 102 is h1> h2 + p1 in consideration of the height h2 of the protrusion 103 provided on the bottom surface of the apparatus main body 100 and the flatness p1 of the floor 110 landing. Is set to

  However, as shown in FIG. 4, the side surface of the conventional landing foot 101 is formed to be substantially perpendicular to the landing surface. Resin material is generally used for the landing foot so as not to damage the object to be installed, and the side is slightly inclined so that it can be easily removed from the mold during molding, but the inclination angle is extremely small. It is. As a result, even if it is assumed that the device main body 100 is lifted and transported, it may be dragged during transport, and “the landing foot is caught by a step on the landing and the transportability is poor”, “the landing foot is landing. There was a problem such as "they would get caught on the step of the foot and the landing foot would come off."

  As a countermeasure for these problems, as shown in FIG. 5, it is possible to use a rollable caster as the landing foot 102. However, the cost increases as compared with the case where the landing foot 101 shown in FIG. 4 is used. . In addition, since the image forming apparatus is mounted in various forms such as the apparatus main body mounted on a table or an optional device, the rollable caster is wasted depending on the form. There is a problem of end.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus capable of suppressing deterioration in transportability of the apparatus main body with an inexpensive and simple configuration.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, the present invention provides an image forming apparatus having a landing foot on a bottom surface of an apparatus main body on a landing surface of an installation object, and at least a part of a side surface of the landing foot that does not contact the landing surface. Is characterized in that it is inclined such that the angle between the object and the landing surface is an acute angle.

  Even if the present invention is dragged during transportation, the landing foot can easily get over the level difference of the landing surface by an inexpensive and simple configuration in which the side surface of the landing foot is inclined, and deterioration of transportability can be suppressed. .

1 is a configuration diagram showing a schematic configuration of a copier according to an embodiment. The schematic diagram explaining the mode of the vicinity of a landing foot. FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram showing a schematic configuration of a copying machine according to another embodiment. 1 is a configuration diagram showing a schematic configuration of a conventional copying machine. 1 is a configuration diagram showing a schematic configuration of a conventional copying machine.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of a copying machine which is an image forming apparatus to which the present invention is applied will be described in detail. FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing a schematic configuration of the copying machine according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, a copying machine 1 according to this embodiment includes an automatic document feeder 2 that conveys a document, a scanner 3 that includes an image reading unit that reads an image of a document, and a document that is read by the scanner 3. The image forming unit 4 is recorded on a recording sheet as a recording medium. The automatic document feeder 2 is mounted on the scanner 3 via an opening / closing mechanism (for example, a hinge) (not shown) so as to be opened and closed. The scanner 3 is fixed to the upper part of the image forming unit 4. The copier 1 also includes paper feed trays 5a and 5b arranged in multiple stages for supplying recording papers of various sizes to the image forming unit 4. The copier 1 also includes a paper discharge tray 6 that discharges the recording paper on which an image is formed by the image forming unit 4, an operation unit (not shown) that performs an input operation by the user and a notification to the user. In addition, about the structure of the image formation unit 4, conventionally well-known electrophotographic systems, inkjet systems, etc. can be employ | adopted, The detailed description is abbreviate | omitted.

  Then, at the four corners of the substantially rectangular bottom surface of the image forming unit 4, the floor surface, which is an installation object, is the landing surface 10, and landing feet 7 and 8 (two on the back side) are placed respectively so as to land on the landing surface 10. The landing foot is not shown). FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram for explaining a state in the vicinity of the landing foot. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, these landing feet 7 and 8 are formed in a substantially cylindrical shape, and an angle between the landing surface 10 and a side surface that does not contact the landing surface 10 (hereinafter referred to as an inclination angle) θ. The side surfaces 7a and 8a are inclined so that is an acute angle. In addition, although the landing feet 7 and 8 which concern on this embodiment were made into the substantially cylindrical shape, it cannot be overemphasized that a substantially prismatic shape may be sufficient.

  By the way, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, when the copying machine 1 is pulled by the force F in the right direction in the drawing, the landing feet 7 and 8 are brought into contact with the convex portion 11, the concave portion 12, the projection 13, etc. on the floor surface. It may interfere with the step and get caught. At this time, if the side surfaces 7a and 8a of the landing feet 7 and 8 are inclined, as shown in FIG. 2, for example, a force f1 acting in the right direction in the figure is applied to the contact point with the protrusion 13 of the landing foot 7 as shown in FIG. In this figure, a force f2 that lifts upward is applied. In the case where the side surface of the landing foot is formed substantially perpendicular to the landing surface, even if an attempt is made to move the copying machine with the force F in the right direction in the figure, the force F in the right direction in the drawing is applied to the landing foot. Only the reaction force is applied and the landing foot is damaged. On the other hand, by inclining the side surfaces 7a and 8a of the landing feet 7 and 8, the landing foot 7 can easily get over the protrusions 13 on the landing surface 10 by the pulling force F. That is, even if the copying machine 1 is dragged during transportation, it is possible to prevent the transportation performance from deteriorating.

  Here, as shown in FIG. 2, if the inclination angle θ of the side surface 7a of the landing foot 7 is 45 °, when the copying machine 1 is to be moved by the force F in the right direction in the drawing, The force f1 acting in the right direction in the figure and the force f2 trying to lift upward in the figure are applied with the same magnitude. Therefore, by setting the inclination angle θ of the side surface 7a of the landing foot 7 to 45 ° or less, the force f2 to be lifted can be made larger than the force f1 in the right direction in the figure. This is because the landing foot 7 can get over the protrusion 13 before it breaks.

  However, when the inclination angle θ of the side surfaces 7a and 8a of the landing feet 7 and 8 is reduced, the support region b where the landing feet 7 and 8 support the image forming unit 4 is provided with respect to the landing region a of the landing feet 7 and 8. As a result, the area occupied by the landing feet 7 and 8 becomes large. As a result, restrictions on the device configuration occur. For example, in the landing foot 7 having the configuration shown in FIG. 2, the landing region a is set in a region that is inward by the dimension c from the outer shape of the image forming unit 4. Generally, the frame strength of an object to be installed such as a paper feeder has strength in a region close to the outer shape. Therefore, when it is installed on an object to be installed such as a paper feeding device, it becomes necessary to install a reinforcing member on the frame in accordance with the landing area a, and the cost also increases.

  Therefore, in the apparatus main body according to the present embodiment, it is not necessary to provide an inclination over the entire side surface of the landing foot. FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram showing a configuration of a copying machine according to another embodiment. In FIG. 3, the same components as those described above are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted. In the copying machine 20 shown in FIG. 3, grips 21 and 22 for carrying the copying machine 20 are attached to the left and right side surfaces of the image forming unit 4. And the side surface 23a facing the handle 21 of the landing leg 23 located on the left side opposite to the right side to which the handle 21 is attached is inclined. Similarly, the side surface 24a facing the handle 22 of the landing foot 24 located on the right side opposite to the left side to which the handle 22 is attached is inclined.

  By limiting the sloped areas provided on the side surfaces 23a, 24a of the landing feet 23, 24, it seems to be easily caught by steps such as the convex portion 11 and the concave portion 12 of the landing surface 10. However, generally, when the copying machine 20 is carried by sliding the landing 10, the direction of the force F that pulls the handle 21 is oblique as shown by the arrow direction in the figure. For this reason, it is easy to get over the convex portion 11 of the landing 10 for the landing foot 24 in the vicinity of the handle 21. Therefore, by providing an inclination only on the side surface 23a facing the handle 21 of the landing foot 23 away from the handle 21, the area occupied by the landing foot 23 can be reduced without impairing the transportability. Similarly, by providing an inclination only on the side surface 24a facing the handle 22 of the landing foot 24 away from the handle 22, the area occupied by the landing foot 24 can be reduced without impairing the transportability. As a result, an increase in cost due to the increase in size of the landing feet 23 and 24 and an accompanying increase in cost due to reinforcement of the optional device can be suppressed. In the copying machine 20 shown in FIG. 3, the handles 21 and 22 are provided on the left and right side surfaces of the image forming unit 4, but the handles may be provided on the front and rear side surfaces of the image forming unit 4. Even in that case, as described above, it is possible to suppress the deterioration of the transportability by providing an inclination to only a part without providing an inclination to the entire region of the side surface of the landing foot.

  A resin material may be used for the landing feet 7 and 8 according to the present embodiment so as not to damage the landing surface 10. A conventionally well-known thing can be used for the resin material, and it is not specifically limited.

What has been described above is merely an example, and the present invention has a specific effect for each of the following modes.
(Aspect A)
An image forming apparatus provided with landing feet such as landing feet 7 and 8 that land on a landing surface such as a landing surface 10 of an object such as a floor surface on the bottom surface of the apparatus main body such as the copying machine 1 (image forming unit 4). , At least a part of the side surfaces such as the side surfaces 7a and 8a that do not contact the landing surface of the landing foot is inclined so that an angle with the landing surface becomes an acute angle.
According to this, as explained in the above embodiment, the low cost and simple configuration of inclining the side surface of the landing foot makes it easier for the landing foot to get over the step on the landing surface, and suppresses deterioration in transportability. be able to.
(Aspect B)
In the image forming apparatus of (Aspect A), an angle between the inclined side surface of the landing foot and the landing is 45 ° or less.
According to this, as described in the above embodiment, even when the landing foot is caught by a step on the side surface during transportation, it is easy to get over the step without damaging the landing foot.
(Aspect C)
In the image forming apparatus according to (Aspect A) or (Aspect B), a plurality of landing feet 23 having a gripping member for transport such as grips 21 and 22 for transporting the apparatus main body by at least one side surface are provided. , 24, etc., the slopes are provided only on the side surfaces such as the side surfaces 23a, 24a facing the handle member of the landing feet arranged on the other side surface side.
According to this, as described in the above embodiment, since the area occupied by the landing foot can be reduced, an increase in cost due to an increase in the size of the landing foot and an accompanying increase in cost due to reinforcement of the optional device are suppressed. be able to.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Copier 2 Automatic document feeder 3 Scanner 4 Image forming unit 5 Paper feed tray 6 Paper discharge trays 7 and 8 Landing feet 10 Landing surfaces 20 Copiers 21 and 22 Handles 23 and 24 Landing feet

Claims (3)

In the image forming apparatus having a landing foot for landing on the ground of the object to be installed on the bottom surface of the apparatus body
An image forming apparatus, wherein at least a part of a side surface of the landing foot that does not contact the landing is inclined such that an angle with the landing is an acute angle. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1.
An image forming apparatus, wherein an angle between the inclined side surface of the landing foot and the landing surface is 45 ° or less. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 or 2,
Having a handle member for transporting the device main body by an operator on at least one side surface;
An image forming apparatus characterized in that, among the plurality of landing feet, an inclination is provided only on a side surface facing the handle member of the landing foot disposed on the other side surface side.

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