JP2015066752A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming device which inhibits cables exposed outside a device body from abutting on an attaching/detaching lever of an attachment/detachment unit, and which can prevent the attachment/detachment unit from dropping off because the attaching/detaching lever turns.SOLUTION: An image forming device has an attaching/detaching lever 15 which can be operated from outside, and is provided with a detachment/attachment unit 10 detachably mounted on a device body 30. The device body 30 has a support structure 31 supporting a cable 32 on at least either of a surface on which the attachment/detachment unit 10 is mounted and a surface adjacent to the surface on which the attachment/detachment unit 10 is mounted, or a surface on which the cable 32 exposed outside the device body 30 may abut. The attachment/detachment unit 10 has a retention member 11 retaining the cable 32 exposed outside the device body 30 on at least either surface of a surface parallel to the surface having the support structure 31 and a surface adjacent to the parallel surface, of the device body 30.

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, and more particularly to an image forming apparatus including a detachable unit that is detachable from an apparatus main body.

  In recent years, various image forming apparatuses such as copying machines and printers have a tendency to have a double-sided printing function for forming an image on both sides of a recording sheet from the viewpoints of resource saving and environmental protection. In recent years, many of the relatively low-speed and small-sized image forming apparatuses include a duplex conveyance unit. On the other hand, in such a low-speed and small-sized image forming apparatus, there is still a great demand in the market for a space-saving and cost-reduced configuration in which the double-sided function is omitted as in the conventional case.

In order to meet such market demands, an optional double-sided conveyance unit, rear sheet feeding unit, and the like that can add a double-sided function to the image forming apparatus by so-called retrofitting have been developed.
These double-sided transport unit, rear sheet feeding unit, and the like have a mechanism (such as a lock mechanism) that can be easily attached to and detached from the image forming apparatus main body.

  On the other hand, as members attached to the image forming apparatus, for example, there are cables such as a power cable and a communication cable (LAN cable, modular cable, etc.). ) And the cable itself exposed to the outside of the apparatus may limit the degree of freedom in installing the image forming apparatus.

  On the other hand, Patent Document 1 discloses that a predetermined area portion of a portion to which a modular jack connector is attached is formed in an outer recess portion by a predetermined amount on the outer surface of the device. According to the structure of Patent Document 1, even when a modular jack is connected to the modular jack connector, a modular cord (cable) extending from the modular jack is stored in the exterior recess and prevented from jumping out of the exterior surface. In addition, it is described that it is possible to improve the degree of freedom in installation of the device without disturbing when the device is placed in contact with a wall or the like.

The above-described detachably mounted double-sided conveyance unit, rear paper feed unit, and the like (hereinafter referred to as “detachable unit”) include a detachable lever that enables external detachment operation, and the end of the detachable lever is pressed. It is known that it has a mechanism that is rotated by being released and the fixing between the apparatus main body and the detachable unit is released.
In such a detachable unit, for example, when the cables move with the movement of the image forming apparatus and come into contact with the detachable lever, the detachable lever is actuated, and the detachable unit is released from being fixed. There was a case.

  In the exterior structure of Patent Document 1, it is disclosed that the modular cord is housed in a concave area with respect to the exterior surface and does not interfere with the arrangement of the modular cord in contact with a wall or the like. However, it does not describe preventing contact with the detachable lever.

  Therefore, in view of the above problems, the present invention avoids the cables exposed to the outside of the apparatus main body from coming into contact with the detachable lever of the detachable unit, and the detachable lever rotates to drop off the detachable unit. An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus capable of preventing the above.

In order to solve the above-described problems, an image forming apparatus according to the present invention includes an attachment / detachment unit that is detachably attached to an apparatus main body, and has an attachment / detachment lever that can be externally operated. A support structure for supporting the cable is provided on at least one of a surface on which the unit is mounted and a surface adjacent to the surface on which the detachable unit is mounted, and the detachable unit has the support structure of the apparatus main body. An image forming apparatus comprising: a holding member that holds the cable exposed to the outside of the apparatus main body on at least one of a plane parallel to the plane having the plane and a plane adjacent to the parallel plane. .
In addition, the apparatus has a detachable unit that can be externally operated and is detachably mounted on the apparatus body. The apparatus body includes a surface on which the detachable unit is mounted and a surface on which the detachable unit is mounted. A support structure for supporting a cable on at least one of the surfaces adjacent to the device, and the detachable unit is disposed on a surface on which the cable exposed to the outside of the device main body can abut on the outside of the device main body. An image forming apparatus comprising a holding member for holding the exposed cable.

  According to the image forming apparatus of the present invention, the cables exposed to the outside of the apparatus main body are prevented from coming into contact with the attaching / detaching lever of the attaching / detaching unit, and the attaching / detaching lever rotates to prevent the attaching / detaching unit from dropping. An image forming apparatus that can be prevented can be provided.

It is the external appearance side view (A) and external appearance perspective view (B) which show the prior art example of an image forming apparatus. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of an internal structure of an image forming apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment. It is a figure explaining operation | movement of the attachment / detachment lever. 1 is an external perspective view of an image forming apparatus according to a first embodiment. FIG. 10 is an external perspective view of an image forming apparatus according to a second embodiment. FIG. 6 is a side view (A) and an external perspective view (B) of an image forming apparatus according to a second embodiment. FIG. 10 is an external perspective view of an image forming apparatus according to a third embodiment. FIG. 10 is a side view (A) and an external perspective view (B) of an image forming apparatus according to a third embodiment. FIG. 10 is an external perspective view of an image forming apparatus according to a fourth embodiment. It is a figure explaining the relationship between the lever for attachment / detachment and the protection part which comprises a holding member. It is a figure explaining the relationship between the outer surface of an apparatus main body, and the protection part which comprises a holding member. It is a figure explaining the relationship between the protection part which comprises the detachable lever and the outer surface of an apparatus main body, and a holding member.

  Hereinafter, an image forming apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments of the examples shown below, and other embodiments, additions, modifications, deletions, and the like can be changed within a range that can be conceived by those skilled in the art. Any aspect is included in the scope of the present invention as long as the operations and effects of the present invention are exhibited.

1A and 1B are external views showing an example of a conventional image forming apparatus. FIG. 1A shows a side view and FIG. 1B shows a perspective view.
FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing an internal structure common to a conventional image forming apparatus and the image forming apparatus of the present invention.
The image forming apparatus (hereinafter, also simply referred to as “apparatus”) shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 is a serial type ink jet printer, and a cover is provided on the upper surface side of the apparatus main body 30 so as to be openable and closable. You can access the internal mechanism by opening the cover.

  The right side surface in FIG. 1A and the back side in FIG. 1B are the front of the apparatus. On the front side of the apparatus, there are provided a paper feed tray for storing paper and a paper discharge tray constituting a paper discharge means for discharging a recording medium on which an image is formed. An opening is provided in the front of the apparatus, and the recording medium placed on the paper discharge tray can be taken out from the opening.

On the other hand, on the back surface opposite to the front surface, there is a detachable unit 15 that has a detachable lever 15 that can be operated from the outside and is detachably mounted on the apparatus main body 30.
Examples of the detachable unit 10 include a double-sided conveyance unit having a mechanism that enables double-sided printing, and a back surface feeding unit.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the interior of the image forming apparatus supports a carriage 4 slidably in a main scanning direction by a guide member 3 which is a guide member horizontally mounted on the left and right main side plates 1A and 1B. The carriage 4 is moved and scanned in the main scanning direction by a motor 5 via a timing belt 8 stretched between a driving pulley 6 and a driven pulley 7. The carriage 4 is supplied with a liquid discharge head as an image forming unit that discharges yellow (Y), cyan (C), magenta (M), and black (K) droplets, and ink is supplied to the liquid discharge head. A recording head unit (hereinafter also simply referred to as “recording head”) 27 including a head tank is arranged in a sub-scanning direction orthogonal to the main scanning direction, and a droplet discharge direction is directed downward. Wearing. The plurality of recording heads 27 are unitized by being held by a head holder (not shown) and mounted on the carriage 4.

  An encoder scale 25 is arranged along the main scanning direction of the carriage 4, and an encoder sensor 26 composed of a transmissive photosensor that reads the scale (scale: position identification unit) of the encoder scale 25 is attached to the carriage 4 side. The encoder scale 25 and the encoder sensor 26 constitute a linear encoder as a position detecting device.

  A conveyance belt 21 is disposed below the carriage 4 as a conveyance unit that conveys a recording medium (not shown) in the sub-scanning direction. The conveyance belt 21 is an endless belt, is stretched between the conveyance roller 22 and the tension roller 23, and the conveyance roller 22 is rotationally driven by the sub-scanning motor 51 via the timing belt 52 and the timing pulley 53. Thus, it is moved around in the sub-scanning direction.

  Further, a maintenance / recovery mechanism 41 that performs maintenance / recovery of the recording head 27 is disposed on the side of the conveyance belt 21 on one side of the carriage 4 in the main scanning direction. The maintenance / recovery mechanism 41 includes, for example, a cap member for capping the nozzle surface (surface on which the nozzles are formed) of the recording head 27, a wiper member for wiping the nozzle surface, and an empty discharge receiver for discharging liquid droplets that do not contribute to image formation. Etc.

  In the printer configured as described above, the fed recording medium is intermittently conveyed by the conveying belt 21, and the recording head 27 is driven in accordance with the image signal while moving the carriage 4 in the main scanning direction. Forming an image on a recording medium by discharging a droplet onto a stopped recording medium to record one line, transporting the recording medium by a predetermined amount, and repeating the operation of recording the next line. Thereafter, the recording medium is discharged.

As shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, an AC cable (hereinafter simply referred to as a “cable”) 32 that supplies power for operating the apparatus is attached to the image forming apparatus. The cable 32 is provided with a connecting portion on the side surface (surface in the X direction in the drawing) of the image forming apparatus 30 and is guided from the side surface to the back surface (surface on which the detachable unit 10 is mounted).
The cable 32 is secured to a certain length so that the image forming apparatus can be carried in the attached state, and the image forming apparatus can be disposed at a location away from the outlet position.

  Since the cable 32 guided to the back of the image forming apparatus and exposed to the outside of the apparatus main body is not fixed, the cable 32 can freely move in all directions including the vertical and horizontal directions indicated by arrows in FIG. it can. When the image forming apparatus is moved in this state, the cable 32 may come into contact with the attachment / detachment lever 15 and the attachment / detachment unit 10 may be released from being fixed when the lever is operated.

The operation of the attachment / detachment lever 15 will be described with reference to FIG.
The attachment / detachment lever 15 shown in FIG. 3 is engaged with an operation portion 15b protruding from the exterior surface of the attachment / detachment unit 10 at one end portion in the longitudinal direction, and engaged with a fixed end inside the image forming apparatus at the other end portion. A portion 15 a and an L-shaped piece 15 c serving as a fulcrum are provided, and the portions other than the operation portion 15 b are disposed inside the detachable unit 10 and the apparatus main body 30.

FIG. 3A shows a state in which the detachable unit 10 is fixed to the apparatus main body 30, and the detachable lever 15 is also locked.
In the state shown in FIG. 3A, the cable 32 is not in contact with the operation portion 15b, but can move in the direction of the arrow. FIG. 3B shows a state where the cable 32 moves in the direction of the arrow on the left side and abuts against the operation unit 15b.

  FIG. 3B shows a state in which the cable 32 comes into contact with the operation portion 15b of the detachable lever on the right side of the drawing, the operation portion 15b is pressed and rotated, and the lock is released. This is a phenomenon that occurs, for example, when the image forming apparatus is moved while the cable 32 is under tension.

In order to prevent such a phenomenon seen in the conventional image forming apparatus, the image forming apparatus of the present invention has a mechanism for avoiding the cable 32 from contacting the detachable lever 15.
Hereinafter, an example of the image forming apparatus of the present invention will be described.

[First embodiment]
As shown in FIG. 4, the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment includes an attachment / detachment unit 10 that has an attachment / detachment lever 15 that can be operated from the outside and is detachably attached to the apparatus body 30. At least one of a surface on which the detachable unit 10 is mounted (a surface contacting the detachable unit 10) and a surface adjacent to the surface on which the detachable unit 10 is mounted (a surface adjacent to the surface contacting the detachable unit 10); Alternatively, a support structure 31 that supports the cable 32 is provided on a surface on which the cable 32 exposed to the outside of the apparatus main body 30 can abut, and the detachable unit 10 includes a surface parallel to the surface of the apparatus main body 30 including the support structure 31 and The holding member 11 that holds the cable 32 exposed to the outside of the apparatus main body 30 is provided on at least one of the parallel surface and the adjacent surface.

The detachable unit 10 has the holding member 11 on a surface adjacent to the cable 32 extending from the support structure 31 of the apparatus main body 30, that is, a surface on which the cable 32 exposed to the outside of the apparatus main body 30 can come into contact.
The detachable unit 10 is not only a surface parallel to the one surface 30a of the apparatus main body 30 or a surface adjacent to the parallel surface, but also a surface close to the extending cable 32 (virtual axis of the cable 32). The holding member 11 that can hold the cable can be formed.
The surface on which the holding member is formed includes not only a flat surface but also a curved surface.

The support structure 31 includes at least a surface on which the detachable unit 10 is mounted (surface that contacts the detachable unit 10) and a surface that is adjacent to the surface on which the detachable unit 10 is mounted (surface that is adjacent to the surface that contacts the detachable unit 10). In the example shown in FIG. 4, the support structure has a concave cross section on the surface of the apparatus main body 30 on which the detachable unit 10 is mounted and on the surface adjacent to the surface on which the detachable unit 10 is mounted. 31 is formed.
The support structure 31 provided on the surface (exterior surface 30a) adjacent to the surface on which the detachable unit 10 is mounted is a concave structure that can be accommodated without protruding the side surface of the cable 32 from the external surface 30a. The insertion port for the cable 32 is also provided at a position lower than the exterior surface 30a of the apparatus main body.

Further, the holding member 11 provided on the surface having the attachment / detachment lever 15 includes a guide portion 14 for guiding the cable 32 and a protection portion 13 for preventing contact with the attachment / detachment lever 15.
The holding member 11 provided in the apparatus of the present embodiment fixes the cable 32 by sandwiching the cable 32 between the guide portion 14 and the protection portion 13. Thereby, the free operation | movement of the cable 32 shown in FIG.1 (B) can be suppressed.

[Second Embodiment]
In addition to the configuration of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment further includes holding members on other surfaces. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 5, the detachable unit 10 has the first holding member 11 on a surface parallel to the surface 30 a having the support structure 31 of the apparatus main body 30, and the support structure 31 of the apparatus main body 30 is provided. The second holding member 12 is provided on a surface adjacent to a surface parallel to the surface 30a.
The shape and structure of the holding member 12 are not particularly limited as long as the cable 32 can be guided and supported, and examples thereof include a structure having a groove portion and holding the cable 32 in the groove portion. .

As shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B, the detachable unit 10 includes an opening / closing member 16 that can open the inside of the unit in order to cope with a jam of a recording medium or a failure of a part. The exposed cable 32 is preferably disposed in a region that does not interfere with the opening / closing operation of the opening / closing member 16, and is preferably disposed in a region that does not interfere at least when the opening / closing member 16 is opened. Although the example of the area | region which does not interfere is shown with the broken line in the figure as the space S, it is not limited to this.
In the apparatus of the present embodiment, the cable 32 exposed to the outside of the apparatus main body 30 is disposed in a region that does not interfere with the opening / closing operation of the opening / closing member 16 by being guided by the holding member 12. In addition, the contact with the opening / closing member 16 is also prevented from being interfered with.
In the present embodiment, the opening / closing member 16 opens downward. However, for example, the opening / closing member 16 may be configured to open upward according to the position of the hinge, or may be opened by sliding in the −Z direction in the figure. It can also be set as the structure to do. In any configuration, the second holding member 12 is disposed so that the cable 32 is disposed at a position that does not interfere with the opening / closing operation of the opening / closing member 16.

[Third embodiment]
As shown in FIG. 7, the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment has a concave shape that can be accommodated so that the side surface of the cable 32 does not protrude from the exterior surface as the holding member 11 provided on the surface having the detachable lever 15. A member with structure 18 is provided. The holding member 11 is provided so as not to protrude from the surface (outer surface 30 a) of the apparatus main body 30 having the support structure 31. The holding member 11 may be a member molded integrally with the detachable unit 10 or may be attached later as a separate member.
The side surface of the cable 32 is preferably accommodated so as not to protrude from the exterior surface of the holding member 11, but the cable 32 to be held does not completely protrude from the exterior surface when viewed in cross section. The structure (for example, the cross section is C-shaped) that holds more than half of the cross-sectional area (semicircle if circular) may be held so as not to easily fall off.

In the image forming apparatus main body 30, the cable insertion port is provided at a position lower than the exterior surface, and the concave support structure 31 is provided. Further, in the holding member 11 of the detachable unit 10, the retention shape is set to the exterior surface. A concave structure 18 is provided.
Further, similarly to the second embodiment described above, the detachable unit 10 can be configured to include the second holding member 12 on a surface adjacent to the surface having the support structure 31 of the apparatus main body 30.

Further, as shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B, the detachable unit 10 includes an opening / closing member 16 that can open the inside of the unit in order to cope with a jam of a recording medium or a failure of a part. The exposed cable 32 is preferably disposed in a region that does not interfere with the opening / closing operation of the opening / closing member 16, and is preferably disposed in a region that does not interfere at least when the opening / closing member 16 is opened. Although the example of the area | region which does not interfere is shown with the broken line in the figure as the space S, it is not limited to this.
In the apparatus of the present embodiment, the cable 32 exposed to the outside of the apparatus main body 30 is disposed in a region that does not interfere with the opening / closing operation of the opening / closing member 16 by being guided by the holding member 12. In addition, the contact with the opening / closing member 16 is also prevented from being interfered with.

[Fourth embodiment]
In the image forming apparatus of the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 9, the guide portion 14 constituting the holding member 11 is a movable member that is interlocked with the operation of the attachment / detachment lever 15, and the guide portion 14 is indicated by an arrow in the figure. Move in the direction shown. For example, with the operation of removing the detachable unit 10 of the detachable lever 15, it moves to the left of the arrow in the figure and operates to release the holding of the cable 32.
On the other hand, since the protection part 13 which comprises a holding member does not operate | move, it can prevent that the cable 32 contact | abuts to the detachable lever of an detachable unit.
With such a configuration, when removing the detachable unit 10, it is possible to prevent the cable 32 held by the holding member 11 from being released and applying an excessive force to the cable 32.

Based on FIGS. 10 to 12, the relationship between the attaching / detaching lever 15 and the outer surface 30 a of the apparatus main body and the protective portion 13 constituting the holding member 11 will be described.
In the image forming apparatuses according to the first to fourth embodiments described above, as shown in FIGS. 10 and 12, the protection unit 13 constituting the holding member 11 provided on the surface having the attaching / detaching lever 15 is provided on the installation surface. It is preferable that the position L1 having the highest height from the position L2 is higher than the position L2 from which the detachable lever 15 protrudes most. That is, the distance W1 from L1 to L2 is preferably 0 or more.
Thereby, it is possible to reliably avoid the cable 32 exposed to the outside of the apparatus main body 30 from coming into contact with the attachment / detachment lever 15.

11 and 12, the highest position L1 of the exterior surface of the detachable unit 10 is preferably lower than the exterior surface of the apparatus main body 30 (the outer surface 30a of the apparatus main body) L3. That is, the distance W2 from L3 to L1 is preferably 0 or more.
As a result, there is no member projecting outward from the exterior surface of the apparatus main body 30, so that the degree of freedom in installing the image forming apparatus can be improved.

In the above-described embodiment, the AC cable is described as an example of the exposed cable 32. However, the cable is not limited to the AC cable as long as it is a cable that extends from the apparatus main body 30 to the outside and can be disposed on the back of the apparatus. For example, it can be applied to a LAN cable or a modular cable.
Further, the image forming apparatus is not limited to the above-described inkjet printer as long as the image forming apparatus includes an attachment / detachment unit that is detachably attached to the apparatus main body, and is applicable to an electrophotographic image forming apparatus.

10 Detachable unit 11 Holding member (first holding member)
12 Holding member (second holding member)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 13 Protection part 14 Guide part 15 Detachable lever 16 Opening / closing member 30 Apparatus main body 30a Outer surface of apparatus main body 31 Support structure 32 Cable (AC cable)

JP 2000-349460 A

Claims (9)

It has a detachable lever that can be operated from the outside, and is equipped with a detachable unit that can be detachably attached to the device body.
The apparatus main body has a support structure for supporting a cable on at least one of a surface on which the detachable unit is mounted and a surface adjacent to the surface on which the detachable unit is mounted,
The detachable unit holds the cable exposed to the outside of the device main body on at least one of a surface parallel to the surface having the support structure of the device main body and a surface adjacent to the parallel surface. An image forming apparatus having a member. It has a detachable lever that can be operated from the outside, and is equipped with a detachable unit that can be detachably attached to the device body.
The apparatus main body has a support structure for supporting a cable on at least one of a surface on which the detachable unit is mounted and a surface adjacent to the surface on which the detachable unit is mounted,
The image forming apparatus, wherein the detachable unit has a holding member that holds the cable exposed to the outside of the apparatus main body on a surface that can contact the cable exposed to the outside of the apparatus main body.   The detachable unit has a first holding member on a surface parallel to the surface having the support structure of the device main body, and a second surface adjacent to the surface parallel to the surface having the support structure of the device main body. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a holding member. The detachable unit includes an opening / closing member capable of opening the inside of the unit,
4. The cable according to claim 1, wherein the cable exposed to the outside of the apparatus main body is disposed in a region that is guided by the holding member and does not interfere with an opening / closing operation of the opening / closing member. Image forming apparatus.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the support structure of the apparatus main body is a concave structure that can be accommodated without projecting a side surface of the cable from an exterior surface.   The said holding member provided in the surface which has the said attaching / detaching lever consists of a guide part which guides the said cable, and a protection part which prevents contact | abutting to the said attaching / detaching lever. The image forming apparatus according to any one of the above.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the highest position from the installation surface of the protection unit constituting the holding member is higher than the attachment / detachment lever.   The guide portion constituting the holding member is a movable member that is interlocked with the operation of the attachment / detachment lever, and operates to release the holding of the cable in accordance with an operation of removing the attachment / detachment unit of the attachment / detachment lever. The image forming apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the image forming apparatus is an image forming apparatus. The holding member provided on the surface having the detachable lever is a member having a concave structure that can be accommodated so that the side surface of the cable does not protrude from the exterior surface, and the support structure of the apparatus main body The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus is provided so as not to protrude with respect to a surface having a surface.