JP2018146783A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming apparatus that is integrally provided with a server part, and effectively prevents the apparatus from falling when an external force is applied to the apparatus and an earthquake occurs.SOLUTION: An image forming apparatus comprises: an image forming part that forms an image on a recording medium; and a server part 50 that has a server function. When viewing the image forming apparatus in plan view, the center of gravity of the image forming apparatus is arranged in the vicinity of the center position P of the image forming apparatus compared with the center of gravity of the image forming apparatus when the server part 50 is excluded.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus.

  Regarding a conventional image forming apparatus, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2009-8987 (Patent Document 1) prevents the office equipment body from being overturned or moved during an earthquake disaster, and does not interfere with evacuation. A fall prevention device and office equipment have been disclosed for the purpose of realizing a mass production of a necessary fall prevention mechanism with sufficient safety and low cost.

  The office equipment disclosed in Patent Document 1 includes an office equipment body, a support leg housed in the office equipment body, an extension support leg that is held by the support leg and is provided so as to be movable in the longitudinal direction of the support leg, It has an upper end that is pivotably coupled to the office equipment body, and a holding leg that has a lower end that can be pivoted in the horizontal direction due to seismic vibration and its own weight. At the time of the earthquake, when the lower end of the holding leg is pivoted and the support leg is rotated outward beyond the predetermined angle, the extending support leg is extended downward by its own weight.

  In addition, as a document disclosing a conventional image forming apparatus, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-240395 (Patent Document 2), Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 10-291722 (Patent Document 3), and Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2006-267668 (Patent Document). 4), JP 2010-210869 A (Patent Document 5), JP 2012-119493 A (Patent Document 6), JP 2012-238958 A (Patent Document 7), JP 2013-107258 A ( Patent Document 8) and Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2008-275694 (Patent Document 9).

JP 2009-8987 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-240395 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-291722 JP 2006-267668 A JP 2010-210869 A JP 2012-119493 A JP 2012-238958 A JP 2013-107258 A JP 2008-275694 A

  As disclosed in the above-mentioned patent documents, an image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording medium such as paper is known. In such an image forming apparatus, it is required to effectively prevent the image forming apparatus from overturning when an external force is applied to the apparatus or when an earthquake occurs. On the other hand, with the recent introduction of IT, there is also an idea that an image forming apparatus is provided with a server unit having a server function.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to solve the above-described problem, and in an image forming apparatus in which a server unit is integrally provided, the apparatus falls when an external force is applied to the apparatus or an earthquake occurs. An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus that effectively suppresses this.

  An image forming apparatus according to one aspect of the present invention is an image forming apparatus including an image forming unit that forms an image on a recording medium and a server unit having a server function. When the image forming apparatus is viewed in plan, the center of gravity of the image forming apparatus is arranged closer to the center of the image forming apparatus than the center of gravity of the image forming apparatus when the server unit is removed. The

  According to the image forming apparatus configured as described above, the server unit, which is a heavy object, is provided so that the gravity center position of the image forming apparatus is closer to the center position of the image forming apparatus in a plan view. The fall of the image forming apparatus can be effectively suppressed when the apparatus is added or an earthquake occurs.

  An image forming apparatus according to another aspect of the present invention is an image forming apparatus including an image forming unit that forms an image on a recording medium and a server unit having a server function. In the image forming apparatus, the center of gravity of the image forming apparatus is arranged below the center of gravity of the image forming apparatus when the server unit is excluded.

  According to the image forming apparatus configured as described above, the server unit, which is a heavy object, is provided so that the center of gravity of the image forming apparatus is positioned below, so that an external force is applied to the apparatus or an earthquake occurs. When it occurs, the image forming apparatus can be effectively prevented from falling.

  Preferably, the image forming unit includes an electrical unit having a drive source, a power source, and a control board. The electrical component is arranged shifted to one side with respect to the center position of the image forming apparatus in plan view. The server unit is arranged shifted to the other side with respect to the center position of the image forming apparatus in plan view.

  Preferably, the image forming unit includes a transport unit that transports the recording medium. The conveyance unit is arranged to be shifted to one side with respect to the center position of the image forming apparatus in a plan view. The server unit is arranged shifted to the other side with respect to the center position of the image forming apparatus in plan view.

  According to the image forming apparatus configured as described above, the electrical component or transport unit, which is a heavy object, and the server unit are respectively connected to one side and the other of the center position of the image forming apparatus in plan view. By shifting to the side, the image forming apparatus can be more effectively prevented from falling.

  Preferably, the image forming apparatus further includes a bottom plate disposed to face the installation surface of the image forming apparatus. The server unit is installed on the bottom plate.

  According to the image forming apparatus configured as described above, the fall of the image forming apparatus can be more effectively suppressed by setting the center of gravity of the image forming apparatus to a lower position.

  Preferably, the image forming apparatus detects a tilt of the image forming apparatus with respect to the horizontal direction, a tilt detecting unit that detects the tilt of the image forming apparatus, a moving mechanism unit that moves the server unit, and the tilt detecting unit. In addition, the server unit further includes a control device that drives the moving mechanism unit so that the image forming apparatus moves to the side inclined upward with respect to the horizontal direction.

  According to the image forming apparatus configured as described above, the server unit is moved in accordance with the inclination of the image forming apparatus detected by the inclination detecting unit, thereby more effectively suppressing the overturn of the image forming apparatus. Can do.

  Preferably, the control device drives the moving mechanism unit so that the server unit returns to the original position when the detection of the tilt of the image forming apparatus in the tilt detection unit is canceled.

  According to the image forming apparatus configured as described above, the control device controls the movement of the server unit by the moving mechanism unit based on the original position of the server unit.

  Preferably, the control device holds the position of the server unit when the tilt detection unit detects the tilt of the image forming apparatus. More preferably, when the inclination detection unit detects the inclination of the image forming apparatus again, the control unit is configured so that the server unit moves to a side where the image forming apparatus is inclined upward with respect to the horizontal direction. Drive the moving mechanism.

  According to the image forming apparatus configured as described above, the control device controls the movement of the server unit by the moving mechanism unit based on the position of the destination of the server unit.

  Preferably, the image forming apparatus further includes a bottom plate disposed to face the installation surface of the image forming apparatus. The inclination detecting unit is provided so as to protrude from the bottom plate, and operates to change the protruding length from the bottom plate while maintaining a state in contact with the installation surface of the image forming device as the image forming device is inclined. The image forming apparatus includes a protruding portion, a detecting portion that detects an operation amount of the protruding portion, and an inclination specifying portion that specifies an inclination of the image forming apparatus based on a detection result in the detecting portion.

  According to the image forming apparatus configured as described above, it is possible to detect the inclination of the image forming apparatus with a simple configuration.

  As described above, according to the present invention, in an image forming apparatus in which a server unit is integrally provided, when an external force is applied to the apparatus or an earthquake occurs, it is effective that the apparatus falls. It is possible to provide an image forming apparatus that suppresses the above.

It is sectional drawing which shows the internal structure of the image forming apparatus in Embodiment 1 of this invention. FIG. 2 is a perspective view schematically showing an internal structure in a state where a server unit is removed from the image forming apparatus in FIG. 1. FIG. 2 is a perspective view schematically showing an internal structure of the image forming apparatus in FIG. 1. FIG. 2 is a top view showing a change in the center of gravity position of the image forming apparatus before and after arrangement of the server unit in the image forming apparatus in FIG. 1. FIG. 2 is a top view showing a change in the center of gravity position of the image forming apparatus before and after arrangement of the server unit in the image forming apparatus in FIG. 1. FIG. 2 is a top view showing a positional relationship between an electrical component and a server in the image forming apparatus in FIG. 1. FIG. 2 is a top view showing a positional relationship between an electrical component and a server in the image forming apparatus in FIG. 1. FIG. 2 is a front view showing a change in the center of gravity position of the image forming apparatus before and after arrangement of the server unit in the image forming apparatus in FIG. 1. FIG. 2 is a front view showing a change in the center of gravity position of the image forming apparatus before and after arrangement of the server unit in the image forming apparatus in FIG. 1. It is a front view which shows the image forming apparatus in Embodiment 2 of this invention. It is a front view which shows the image forming apparatus in Embodiment 2 of this invention. FIG. 12 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an inclination detection unit in the image forming apparatus in FIGS. 10 and 11.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the drawings referred to below, the same or corresponding members are denoted by the same reference numerals.

(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing the internal structure of the image forming apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

  Referring to FIG. 1, an image forming apparatus 100 according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention includes an image forming unit 10 that forms an image on a sheet 18 as a recording medium, and a server unit 50 having a server function.

  The image forming unit 10 is an MFP (Multifunctional Peripherals) having a plurality of functions such as a copy function, a facsimile function, a printer function, and a scanner function.

  The image forming unit 10 includes image forming units 12Y, 12M, 12C, and 12K, an intermediate transfer belt 6, a secondary transfer roller 8, a fixing device 9, a paper discharge tray 11, a paper feed tray 17P, and a paper feed tray. 17Q. Note that when the paper feed tray 17P and the paper feed tray 17Q are not particularly distinguished, they are simply referred to as “paper feed tray 17”.

  The image forming units 12Y, 12M, 12C, and 12K include a photoreceptor 1 (image carrier), a charging device 2, an exposure device 3, a developing device 4, a primary transfer roller 5, and a cleaning blade 7. The image forming units 12Y, 12M, 12C, and 12K respectively use these devices to transfer toner images having yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K) colors to the intermediate transfer belt. 6 is formed on the surface.

  The toner images of the respective colors are superimposed on the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 6. Thereafter, the intermediate transfer belt 6 conveys the color toner image to a secondary transfer portion between the intermediate transfer belt 6 and the secondary transfer roller 8.

  The paper feed tray 17 is configured to store paper 18 as a recording medium. A plurality of sheets 18 are stored in the sheet feed tray 17. Typically, different sizes of paper 18 are stored in the paper feed tray 17P and the paper feed tray 17Q. The paper feed tray 17 is provided below the exposure device 3. The paper feed tray 17P and the paper feed tray 17Q are provided side by side.

  In the present embodiment, the configuration in which the paper feed trays 17 are provided in two stages has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a single-stage paper feed tray 17 may be provided, or three or more stages may be provided. A paper feed tray 17 may be provided.

  The paper 18 stored in the paper feed tray 17 is conveyed to a secondary transfer portion between the intermediate transfer belt 6 and the secondary transfer roller 8 using various rotating rollers. The color toner image carried on the intermediate transfer belt 6 is transferred to the surface of the paper 18 at the secondary transfer portion. The color toner image is fixed on the surface of the paper 18 by the fixing device 9. The paper 18 on which an image is formed by the above process is discharged to the paper discharge tray 11.

  The server unit 50 has a plurality of server functions such as a database server, a Web server, an application server, and an FTP server (file server). The server unit 50 has a network IF. The server unit 50 is configured to be connectable to an external network via the network IF.

  The server unit 50 is configured to be able to transmit and receive data to and from the image forming unit 10 through a data communication line (not shown). For example, the stored document stored in the server unit 50 is transmitted to the image forming unit 10, and the document is imaged on the paper 18 by the image forming unit 10, or the data scanned by the image forming unit 10 is stored in the server The data can be transmitted to the unit 50, and the data can be stored in the server unit 50.

  The image forming apparatus 100 is provided independently of a first power supply unit (not shown) for supplying power to the image forming unit 10 and the first power supply unit, and supplies power to the server unit 50. 2nd electric power supply part (not shown). The 1st electric power supply part and the 2nd electric power supply part are comprised from the power cord, for example. The server unit 50 can operate independently of the image forming unit 10.

  FIG. 2 is a perspective view schematically showing the internal structure in a state where the server unit is removed from the image forming apparatus in FIG. FIG. 3 is a perspective view schematically showing the internal structure of the image forming apparatus in FIG.

  With reference to FIGS. 1 to 3, image forming apparatus 100 further includes a cabinet 41. The cabinet 41 is a housing that forms the appearance of the image forming apparatus 100. The cabinet 41 forms an internal space 42 that accommodates the image forming unit 10 and an internal space 43 that accommodates the server unit 50.

  As a typical example, the image forming apparatus 100 (cabinet 41) has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape as a whole. The image forming apparatus 100 includes a front side surface 16A, a rear side surface 16B, a right side surface 16C, a left side surface 16D, a top surface 16E, and a bottom surface 16F.

  The front side surface 16A, the rear side surface 16B, the right side surface 16C, and the left side surface 16D are arranged facing the side (horizontal direction). The front side surface 16 </ b> A is normally disposed on the front side of the image forming apparatus 100 where the user of the image forming apparatus 100 is standing. The rear side surface 16B is disposed behind the front side surface 16A and on the back side of the image forming apparatus 100. The right side surface 16C and the left side surface 16D extend between the front side surface 16A and the rear side surface 16B. The right side surface 16C is disposed on the right side of the apparatus when the image forming apparatus 100 is viewed from the front side, and the left side surface 16D is disposed on the left side of the apparatus when the image forming apparatus 100 is viewed from the front side. The left side surface 16D is disposed on the back side of the right side surface 16C.

  The top surface 16E is arranged facing vertically upward. A paper discharge tray 11 of the image forming unit 10 is provided on the top surface 16E. The bottom surface 16F is disposed on the back side of the top surface 16E and facing vertically downward. The bottom surface 16F is disposed to face an installation surface (floor) 61 on which the image forming apparatus 100 is installed.

  The paper feed tray 17 is provided to be openable and closable on the front side surface 16A. More specifically, the paper feed tray 17 is opened from the closed state by being pulled forward from the front side surface 16A, and the paper 18 is supplied to the paper feed tray 17 in the opened state.

  The image forming apparatus 100 further includes a plurality of casters (wheels) 71. The caster 71 is provided as a transporting member used when transporting the image forming apparatus 100. The caster 71 is attached to the bottom surface 16F. For example, four casters 71 are attached to the four corners of the bottom surface 16F. The casters 71 are provided within the range of the floor projection shape of the image forming apparatus 100 (planar shape obtained when the image forming apparatus 100 is projected onto the installation surface 61).

  In FIG. 1 to FIG. 3, a collection of various parts constituting the image forming unit 10 is represented as a block of the image forming unit 21, the storage unit 22, the transport unit 23, and the electrical unit 24 for each space occupying the cabinet 41. It has been.

  More specifically, the image creating unit 21 is disposed on the front side of the apparatus adjacent to the front side surface 16A and on the upper part of the apparatus. The image forming unit 21 is a general term for means for forming an image on the paper 18. In addition to the image forming units 12Y, 12M, 12C, and 12K and the intermediate transfer belt 6, the image forming unit 21 includes a driving roller for the intermediate transfer belt 6 and a cleaning blade for collecting residual toner from the intermediate transfer belt 6. And a waste toner box and a toner cartridge that are detachably provided to the image forming apparatus 100.

  The storage unit 22 is disposed on the front side of the apparatus adjacent to the front side surface 16 </ b> A and below the image forming unit 21. The storage unit 22 is a part for storing the paper 18, and includes a paper feed tray 17P and a paper feed tray 17Q.

  The conveyance unit 23 is disposed on the right side of the apparatus adjacent to the right side surface 16C and at a position overlapping the image forming unit 21 and the storage unit 22 in the height direction. The conveyance unit 23 is disposed between the image forming unit 21 and the storage unit 22 and the right side surface 16C in the left-right direction in which the right side surface 16C and the left side surface 16D face each other. The conveyance unit 23 is arranged so as to be shifted to the side closer to the right side 16C in the left-right direction in which the right side 16C and the left side 16D face each other.

  The transport unit 23 is a general term for means for transporting the paper 18 stored in the storage unit 22 to the paper discharge tray 11 through the secondary transfer unit between the intermediate transfer belt 6 and the secondary transfer roller 8. . The conveyance unit 23 includes various rotation rollers and a conveyance guide, a support member for supporting the rotation roller, sensors for detecting the paper 18 being conveyed, a belt for transmitting power to the rotation roller, And a power transmission mechanism such as a gear.

  The electrical unit 24 is disposed on the back side of the apparatus adjacent to the rear side surface 16B and at a position overlapping the image forming unit 21 and the storage unit 22 in the height direction. The electrical unit 24 is disposed between the image forming unit 21 and the storage unit 22 and the rear side surface 16B in the front-rear direction in which the front side surface 16A and the rear side surface 16B are opposed to each other. The electrical component 24 is arranged shifted to the side closer to the rear side surface 16B in the front-rear direction in which the front side surface 16A and the rear side surface 16B face each other.

  The electrical unit 24 is a part in which various electrical components are gathered in the image forming apparatus 100, and includes a drive source, a power source, and a control board.

  More specifically, the drive source is a drive source related to an image forming operation in the image forming unit 21 (for driving the motor for driving the photosensitive member 1, the motor for driving the intermediate transfer belt 6, and the laser irradiation in the exposure device 3). And a drive source (such as a motor for driving a rotating roller and a motor for picking up the paper 18 in the paper feed tray 17) related to the conveyance of the paper 18.

  The power source is a general term for means for supplying power to a drive source, and includes an inverter that converts AC power into DC power and a DC / DC converter that converts the voltage of DC power. The control board includes a control apparatus that controls various operations of the image forming apparatus 100 and a board on which these control apparatuses are mounted.

  4 and 5 are top views showing changes in the center of gravity of the image forming apparatus before and after the arrangement of the server unit in the image forming apparatus in FIG. 4 and 5 representatively illustrate the transport unit 23 and the electrical unit 24 among a plurality of blocks constituting the image forming unit 10.

  With reference to FIGS. 1 to 5, when the image forming apparatus 100 is viewed in plan, the center of gravity position of the image forming apparatus 100 is higher than the center of gravity position of the image forming apparatus 100 when the server unit 50 is removed. It is arranged near the center position of the device 100.

  That is, in the plan view of the image forming apparatus 100 shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the gravity center position Gb of the image forming apparatus 100 in the state where the server part 50 shown in FIG. 5 is arranged is the server part shown in FIG. It is arranged closer to the center position P of the image forming apparatus 100 than the center of gravity position Ga of the image forming apparatus 100 in a state in which 50 is not arranged.

  The gravity center position Ga and the gravity center position Gb of the image forming apparatus 100 can be specified by, for example, a method described below.

  First, components constituting the image forming unit 10 are divided into a plurality of blocks (in the present embodiment, the above-described image forming unit 21, storage unit 22, transport unit 23, and electrical unit 24) for each space occupying the cabinet 41. To divide. The gravity center position and weight of each block of the image forming unit 21, the storage unit 22, the transport unit 23, the electrical component unit 24, and the cabinet 41 are specified. At this time, the barycentric position of each block may be approximately set as the center position of the space occupied by each block.

  Next, based on the gravity center position and weight of each block of the image forming unit 21, the storage unit 22, the transport unit 23, the electrical unit 24, and the cabinet 41 specified in the previous step, the server unit 50 is not arranged. The gravity center position Ga of the image forming apparatus 100 is calculated. In addition to the center of gravity position and weight of each block of the image forming unit 21, storage unit 22, transport unit 23, electrical unit 24, and cabinet 41, the server unit 50 is taken into account. The center-of-gravity position Gb of the image forming apparatus 100 in a state where is arranged is calculated.

  2 and 3, the gravity center positions of the image forming unit 21, the storage unit 22, the transport unit 23, the electrical unit 24, the cabinet 41, and the server unit 50 are G1, G2, G3, G4, G5 and It is indicated by the position of the circle indicated by G6, and the weights of the image forming unit 21, the storage unit 22, the transport unit 23, the electrical unit 24, the cabinet 41, and the server unit 50 are indicated by G1, G2, G3, G4, G5, and G6. It is represented by the size of a circle.

  The position of the center of gravity is not limited to computer analysis. For example, the extension line of the string when the structure is hung from one arbitrary point by the string and the extension of the string when the structure is hung from another point by the string You may use the method which makes the intersection with a line the gravity center position of a structure.

  The center position P of the image forming apparatus 100 in plan view corresponds to the centroid of the floor projection shape of the image forming apparatus 100. When the image forming apparatus 100 has a rectangular planar view as a whole, the center position P of the image forming apparatus 100 in the planar view is an intersection of two straight lines connecting diagonals of the rectangular shape.

  According to such a configuration, the server unit 50, which is a heavy object, is provided so that the center of gravity of the image forming apparatus 100 is closer to the center position P of the image forming apparatus 100 in a plan view, thereby applying an external force to the apparatus. The fall of the image forming apparatus 100 can be effectively suppressed in the case of an accident or an earthquake.

  In the present embodiment, in the image forming unit 10, the transport unit 23 that is a heavy object is disposed adjacent to the right side surface 16C, and the electrical component 24 that is a heavy object is disposed adjacent to the rear side surface 16B. 4, the center-of-gravity position Ga of the image forming apparatus 100 in a state where the server unit 50 shown in FIG. 4 is not disposed is present on the right rear side of the apparatus in the plan view of the image forming apparatus 100. For this reason, when an external force is applied to the image forming apparatus 100 from the left front, the image forming apparatus 100 is particularly likely to fall over.

  On the other hand, the server unit 50, which is a heavy object, is arranged in a biased manner at the corners of the front side surface 16A and the left side surface 16D in the plan view of the image forming apparatus 100. With such a configuration, the position of the center of gravity of the image forming apparatus 100 moves toward the center position P of the image forming apparatus 100 in plan view. As a result, it is possible to realize an apparatus configuration that does not easily collapse even when an external force is applied to the image forming apparatus 100 from the left front.

  6 and 7 are top views showing the positional relationship between the electrical unit and the server unit in the image forming apparatus shown in FIG.

  With reference to FIGS. 5 to 7, electrical component 24 is arranged shifted to one side with respect to center position P of image forming apparatus 100 in a plan view. The server unit 50 is arranged shifted to the other side with respect to the center position P of the image forming apparatus 100 in plan view.

  More specifically, an arbitrary virtual straight line 101 passing through the center position P in the plan view of the image forming apparatus 100 is assumed. In this case, the electrical unit 24 is shifted to the region 103 on one side with respect to the virtual straight line 101, and the server unit 50 is shifted to the region 102 on the other side with respect to the virtual straight line 101. Has been.

  In FIG. 6, the entire electrical unit 24 is located in the region 103 on one side with respect to the virtual straight line 101, and the entire server unit 50 is located in the region 102 on the other side with respect to the virtual straight line 101. . For example, as shown in FIG. 7, even if a part of the server unit 50 protrudes from the region 103 on one side with respect to the virtual straight line 101, most of the server unit 50 is If the server unit 50 is located in the area 102 on the other side with respect to the virtual straight line 101, it is determined that the server unit 50 is shifted to the area 102 on the other side with respect to the virtual straight line 101. .

  Similarly, the conveyance unit 23 is arranged so as to be shifted to one side with respect to the center position P in the plan view of the image forming apparatus 100. The server unit 50 is arranged shifted to the other side with respect to the center position P of the image forming apparatus 100 in plan view.

  According to such a configuration, the electrical component 24 and the transport unit 23, which are heavy objects, and the server unit 50 are provided on the opposite side of the center position P in the plan view of the image forming apparatus 100. By arranging in the server unit 50, the position of the center of gravity of the image forming apparatus 100 can be more easily brought close to the center position P of the image forming apparatus 100 in plan view.

  8 and 9 are front views showing changes in the center of gravity of the image forming apparatus before and after the arrangement of the server unit in the image forming apparatus in FIG. 8 and 9 representatively show the transport unit 23 and the electrical unit 24 among a plurality of blocks constituting the image forming unit 10.

  Referring to FIGS. 8 and 9, the center of gravity of image forming apparatus 100 is disposed below the center of gravity of image forming apparatus 100 when server unit 50 is excluded.

  That is, the center-of-gravity position Gb of the image forming apparatus 100 in the state where the server unit 50 shown in FIG. 9 is arranged is more than the center-of-gravity position Ga of the image forming apparatus 100 in the state where the server unit 50 shown in FIG. Is also arranged below in the vertical direction.

  According to such a configuration, by providing the server unit 50 so that the position of the center of gravity of the image forming apparatus 100 is disposed below, image formation is performed when an external force is applied to the apparatus or an earthquake occurs. The fall of the apparatus 100 can be effectively suppressed.

  In the present embodiment, in the image forming unit 10, the heavy electrical component 24 is disposed at a position near the top surface 16 </ b> E, and the heavy transport unit 23 is disposed adjacent to the right side surface 16 </ b> C. Therefore, the center-of-gravity position Ga of the image forming apparatus 100 in a state where the server unit 50 shown in FIG. 8 is not disposed is present on the upper right side of the apparatus in the front view of the image forming apparatus 100. For this reason, when an external force is applied to the image forming apparatus 100, the apparatus is likely to fall over, and in particular, the resistance to the overturn is low against an external force from the left side.

  On the other hand, the server unit 50, which is a heavy object, is arranged to be biased toward the corners of the bottom surface 16F and the left side surface 16D in the front view of the image forming apparatus 100. With such a configuration, the position of the center of gravity of the image forming apparatus 100 moves downward of the apparatus. As a result, it is possible to realize an apparatus configuration that does not easily collapse even when an external force (particularly, an external force from the left side) is applied to the image forming apparatus 100.

  Referring to FIG. 1, image forming apparatus 100 has a bottom plate 44. The bottom plate 44 is a part of the cabinet 41 and constitutes a bottom surface 16 </ b> F arranged to face the installation surface 61. The server unit 50 is installed on the bottom plate 44. The server unit 50 is installed at the bottom of the cabinet 41.

  According to such a configuration, the fall of the image forming apparatus 100 can be more effectively suppressed by setting the center of gravity of the image forming apparatus 100 to a lower position.

  As a technique for preventing the image forming apparatus from toppling over, for example, a method of providing a leg for preventing toppling in an outline region larger than the floor projection shape of the apparatus is conceivable. However, in this case, there is a problem that the floor projection area of the image forming apparatus becomes large, a problem that the user may trip on a leg for preventing the fall, and a problem that the design of the appearance of the image forming apparatus is impaired. .

  As another method for preventing the image forming apparatus from overturning, a method of providing another heavy object for moving the center of gravity of the image forming apparatus is conceivable. However, in this case, a heavy object not related to the function of the image forming apparatus increases the weight of the entire apparatus, which makes it difficult to transport and transport the apparatus.

  On the other hand, in the image forming apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment, the position of the center of gravity of the image forming apparatus 100 is optimized through the arrangement of the server unit 50 that is a heavy object, thereby realizing an apparatus configuration that is difficult to fall. For this reason, the various problems mentioned above can be solved.

  In addition, arrangement | positioning of the image creation part 21, the storage part 22, the conveyance part 23, the electrical equipment part 24, and the server part 50 in the cabinet 41 demonstrated above is an example.

  For example, in the present embodiment, the configuration in which the transport unit 23 is disposed adjacent to the right side surface 16C has been described. However, the transport unit 23 may be disposed adjacent to the left side surface 16D, or the rear side surface 16B. May be arranged next to each other. Moreover, the electrical equipment part 24 may be arranged at a position close to the bottom surface 16F.

(Embodiment 2)
10 and 11 are front views showing an image forming apparatus according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. FIG. 12 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an inclination detection unit in the image forming apparatus in FIGS. 10 and 11.

  The image forming apparatus in the present embodiment basically has the same structure as that of the image forming apparatus 100 in the first embodiment. Hereinafter, the description of the overlapping structure will not be repeated.

  Referring to FIGS. 1 and 10 to 12, image forming apparatus 200 in the present embodiment further includes an inclination detection unit 81. The inclination detection unit 81 is configured to detect the inclination of the image forming apparatus 200 with respect to the horizontal direction.

  More specifically, the inclination detecting unit 81 includes a protruding portion 82A and a protruding portion 82B, a detecting unit 84, and an inclination specifying unit 83. In addition, when not distinguishing especially the protrusion part 82A and the protrusion part 82B, it only calls "the protrusion part 82".

  The protrusion 82 has a pin shape extending in one direction. The protruding portion 82 is provided so as to protrude from the bottom plate 44. The protruding portion 82 extends from the inside of the cabinet 41 through the bottom plate 44 toward the installation surface 61. The protruding portion 82 is in contact with the installation surface 61 at the tip protruding from the bottom plate 44. The protrusion 82 is in contact with the installation surface 61 by its own weight. The projecting portion 82 operates to change the projecting length from the bottom plate 44 while maintaining the state in contact with the installation surface 61 as the image forming apparatus 200 is tilted.

  The protruding portion 82A and the protruding portion 82B are provided to be separated from each other in the horizontal plane. In a front view of the image forming apparatus 200, the protruding portion 82A is provided adjacent to the left side surface 16D, and the protruding portion 82B is provided adjacent to the right side surface 16C.

  The detection unit 84 is configured to be able to detect the amount of movement of the protrusion 82 accompanying the inclination of the image forming apparatus 200. As the detection unit 84, for example, a contact type or non-contact type displacement sensor is used. The inclination specifying unit 83 specifies the inclination of the image forming apparatus 200 based on the detection result in the detection unit 84.

  As an example, FIG. 11 shows an inclination when the image forming apparatus 200 receives an external force from the upper side and the right side. In this case, the projecting portion 82A is pushed into the cabinet 41 so as to reduce the projecting length JA from the bottom plate 44 while maintaining a state in contact with the installation surface 61. The projecting portion 82 </ b> B extends toward the outside of the cabinet 41 so as to increase the projecting length JB from the bottom plate 44 while maintaining a state in contact with the installation surface 61.

  At this time, the detector 84 measures the amount of movement of the protrusion 82A and the protrusion 82B in the protrusion direction. The inclination specifying unit 83 calculates the inclination of the image forming apparatus 200 with respect to the horizontal plane based on the pushing amount of the protruding portion 82A into the cabinet 41 and the extending amount of the protruding portion 82B outside the cabinet 41.

  The image forming apparatus 200 further includes a moving mechanism unit 66 and a control device 86. The moving mechanism 66 is provided in the internal space 43. The moving mechanism unit 66 is configured to be able to move the server unit 50 in the internal space 43.

  More specifically, the moving mechanism unit 66 includes a drive motor 69, a wire 68, and a mounting table 67. The mounting table 67 is supported by a support member (not shown) so as to be movable in the horizontal direction. The server unit 50 is mounted on the mounting table 67. A wire 68 is connected to the mounting table 67. The wire 68 is routed in a ring shape in the vertical plane. The wire 68 is connected to a drive motor 69 on the annular route. When the wire 68 receives the rotation output from the drive motor 69 and is fed out to the left and right, the position of the server unit 50 mounted on the mounting table 67 moves in the left-right direction.

  When the inclination detecting unit 81 detects the inclination of the image forming apparatus 200, the control device 86 causes the server unit 50 to move to the side where the image forming apparatus 200 is inclined upward with respect to the horizontal direction. The moving mechanism part 66 is driven.

  As an example, in FIG. 11, the inclination specifying unit 83 specifies that the left side of the image forming apparatus 200 is inclined downward with respect to the horizontal plane, and the right side of the image forming apparatus 200 is inclined upward with respect to the horizontal plane. In this case, the control device 86 drives the movement mechanism unit 66 so that the server unit 50 moves to the right side.

  With such a configuration, the position of the center of gravity moved to the left side of the apparatus along with the inclination of the image forming apparatus 200 is corrected toward the right side of the apparatus by the movement of the server unit 50. As a result, the image forming apparatus 200 can be prevented from falling to the left.

  As described above, when the image forming apparatus 200 receives an external force, the inclination of the apparatus generated by the image forming apparatus 200 is detected, and the server unit 50 that is a heavy object is moved to the side receiving the external force. The center of gravity position of 200 is also moved. As a result, the resistance of the image forming apparatus 200 to overturning can be increased, and the overturning of the apparatus can be suppressed and prevented.

  The control device 86 may drive the moving mechanism unit 66 so that the server unit 50 returns to the original position when the detection of the tilt of the image forming apparatus 200 in the tilt detection unit 81 is canceled.

  The control device 86 may hold the position of the server unit 50 when the tilt detection unit 81 detects the tilt of the image forming apparatus 200. In this case, when the inclination detecting unit 81 detects the inclination of the image forming apparatus 200 again, the control device 86 moves the server unit 50 to the side where the image forming apparatus 200 is inclined upward with respect to the horizontal direction. Then, the moving mechanism 66 is driven. Thereby, even when the tilt direction of the image forming apparatus 200 changes in a short time, the center of gravity position of the apparatus can be corrected without delay with respect to the change in the tilt direction.

  In addition, in this Embodiment, in order to demonstrate easily, although the case where the protrusion part 82 was provided in two places was demonstrated, the protrusion part 82 may be provided in three or more places. In the moving mechanism unit 66, in addition to the wire 68, a wire may be provided in a vertical plane orthogonal to the paper surface shown in FIGS. 10 and 11. In this case, the image forming apparatus detected by the inclination detecting unit 81. In accordance with the inclination of 200, the server unit 50 can be freely moved in a horizontal plane.

  The embodiment disclosed this time should be considered as illustrative in all points and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is defined by the terms of the claims, rather than the description above, and is intended to include any modifications within the scope and meaning equivalent to the terms of the claims.

  The present invention is applied to an image forming apparatus in which a server unit is integrally provided.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Photoconductor, 2 Charging apparatus, 3 Exposure apparatus, 4 Developing apparatus, 5 Primary transfer roller, 6 Intermediate transfer belt, 7 Cleaning blade, 8 Secondary transfer roller, 9 Fixing apparatus, 10 Image formation part, 11 Paper discharge tray , 12C, 12K, 12M, 12Y Image forming unit, 16A front side, 16B rear side, 16C right side, 16D left side, 16E top, 16F bottom, 17, 17P, 17Q paper feed tray, 18 paper, 21 image forming Part, 22 storage part, 23 transport part, 24 electrical equipment part, 41 cabinet, 42, 43 internal space, 44 bottom plate, 50 server part, 61 installation surface, 66 moving mechanism part, 67 mounting table, 68 wires, 69 drive motor , 71 casters, 81 tilt detector, 82, 82A, 82B protrusion, 83 tilt specifier, 84 detector, 8 6 Control device, 100, 200 Image forming device, 101 Virtual straight line, 102, 103 area.

Claims (10)

An image forming apparatus including an image forming unit that forms an image on a recording medium and a server unit having a server function,
When the image forming apparatus is viewed in plan, the center of gravity of the image forming apparatus is arranged closer to the center of the image forming apparatus than the center of gravity of the image forming apparatus when the server unit is removed. An image forming apparatus. An image forming apparatus including an image forming unit that forms an image on a recording medium and a server unit having a server function,
An image forming apparatus in which the center of gravity of the image forming apparatus is arranged below the center of gravity of the image forming apparatus when the server unit is excluded. The image forming unit includes an electrical unit having a drive source, a power source, and a control board,
The electrical component is arranged to be shifted to one side with respect to the center position in the plan view of the image forming apparatus,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the server unit is arranged to be shifted to the other side with respect to a center position of the image forming apparatus in a plan view. The image forming unit includes a transport unit that transports a recording medium,
The transport unit is arranged to be shifted to one side with respect to the center position in the plan view of the image forming apparatus,
4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the server unit is arranged to be shifted to the other side with respect to a center position of the image forming apparatus in a plan view. A bottom plate disposed opposite to the installation surface of the image forming apparatus;
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the server unit is installed on the bottom plate. An inclination detector for detecting an inclination of the image forming apparatus with respect to a horizontal direction;
A moving mechanism unit for moving the server unit;
When the tilt detection unit detects the tilt of the image forming apparatus, the server unit moves the moving mechanism unit so that the image forming apparatus moves to the side tilted upward with respect to the horizontal direction. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a control device for driving.   The control device according to claim 6, wherein the control unit drives the moving mechanism unit so that the server unit returns to the original position when the tilt detection unit detects the tilt of the image forming apparatus. Image forming apparatus.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the control device holds the position of the server unit when the tilt detection unit detects the tilt of the image forming apparatus.   When the tilt detection unit detects the tilt of the image forming apparatus again, the control unit moves the server unit to a side where the image forming apparatus is tilted upward with respect to the horizontal direction. The image forming apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the moving mechanism unit is driven. A bottom plate disposed opposite to the installation surface of the image forming apparatus;
The inclination detecting unit is provided so as to protrude from the bottom plate, and the protrusion length from the bottom plate is changed while maintaining a state in contact with the installation surface of the image forming apparatus as the image forming apparatus is inclined. And a detection unit that detects an operation amount of the protrusion, and an inclination specifying unit that specifies an inclination of the image forming apparatus based on a detection result in the detection unit. The image forming apparatus according to any one of 6 to 9.

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