JP2020003545A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide an image forming apparatus capable of easily taking out an optical scanner to the outside of the image forming apparatus.SOLUTION: An image forming apparatus includes: an optical scanner 12 provided inside the apparatus body; an ejection tray 13 which is provided at the upper part of the optical scanner 12 and which is exposed to the outside; a hook section provided in the ejection tray 13; and a peripheral edge section of a hole for hooking, which is provided in the apparatus body. The hook section engages with the peripheral edge section and the ejection tray 13 is fixed to the apparatus body when the apparatus is being used. When the optical scanner 12 is removed from the apparatus body, the optical scanner 12 can be removed from the apparatus body in a state that the engagement between the hook section and the peripheral edge section is released and the ejection tray 13 is removed from the apparatus body.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine and a printer.

  It is desirable that replacement of components and units constituting the image forming apparatus due to the life of the components and units and for some reason can be performed easily and in a short time. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. HEI 10-163566 describes an operation of replacing an optical scanning device such as a laser scanner, which is a main component of an image forming apparatus. In Patent Literature 1, a paper feeding unit from which a storage box containing a recording medium is removed is used as a moving space for attaching and detaching the optical scanning device, and the optical scanning device is put in and out of a mounting window of the paper feeding unit. Accordingly, repair, maintenance, replacement, and the like of the optical scanning device can be performed in a short time.

JP 2006-251082A

  However, in Patent Literature 1, since the paper feeding unit provided near the bottom of the image forming apparatus is used as a moving space for attaching and detaching the optical scanning device, the user must maintain a low posture and perform replacement work. However, there was a problem that workability was poor. Further, since the optical scanning device provided above the paper feed unit is moved from the space between the fixed stays to the space of the paper feed unit, rigidity between the fixed stays has been a problem.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus capable of easily taking out an optical scanning device out of the image forming apparatus.

  A typical configuration of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention for achieving the above object includes an optical scanning device provided in an apparatus main body of the image forming device, and an optical scanning device provided on the optical scanning device and exposed to the outside. An exterior part, an engagement part provided on the exterior part, and an engaged part provided on the device main body, and the engagement part engages with the engaged part when in use. The exterior portion is fixed to the device main body, and when the optical scanning device is detached from the device main body, the engagement between the engaging portion and the engaged portion is released, and the exterior portion is removed. The optical scanning device may be detachable from the apparatus main body in a state where the optical scanning apparatus is detached from the apparatus main body.

  According to the present invention, the optical scanning device can be easily taken out of the image forming apparatus.

FIG. 1 is an explanatory perspective view illustrating a configuration of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a perspective explanatory view showing a state in which a left door and a discharge tray provided on a left side surface of the image forming apparatus are opened. FIG. 2 is an explanatory perspective view illustrating a state in which the optical scanning device is attached to the image forming apparatus main body side. FIG. 3 is a perspective explanatory view showing a state in which the optical scanning device is taken out of the image forming apparatus. FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating a configuration of a discharge tray as viewed from a bottom surface side. It is the elements on larger scale of FIG. It is the elements on larger scale of FIG. FIG. 5 is a partial cross-sectional view illustrating a state where the discharge tray and the apparatus main body are engaged. FIG. 4 is a perspective explanatory view showing an opening for inserting a release member when the optical scanning device is taken out of the image forming apparatus.

  An embodiment of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention will be specifically described with reference to the drawings.

<Image forming apparatus>
The configuration of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 is an explanatory perspective view showing a configuration of an image forming apparatus 1 according to the present invention. The image forming apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 1 has an image reading device 2 provided on an upper portion of an apparatus main body 1a. An image forming unit 6 for forming an image on a recording material using an electrophotographic method, a feeding unit 7 for feeding the recording material to the image forming unit 6, and an image are formed below the image reading device 2. A discharge unit 8 for discharging the recording material out of the apparatus is provided.

<Image forming unit>
The image forming section 6 is provided with a cartridge 14 provided with various image forming process means. The cartridge 14 is provided with a photosensitive drum (not shown) serving as an image carrier and a charging device serving as charging means for uniformly charging the surface of the photosensitive drum. The surface of the photosensitive drum uniformly charged by the charging device is irradiated with laser light corresponding to image information from an optical scanning device 12 including a laser scanner to form an electrostatic latent image. A developer (toner) is supplied from a developing device (not shown) as a developing unit to the electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum, and the toner image is developed on the surface of the photosensitive drum.

  At the lower part of the image forming section 6, a feeding cassette 9 for accommodating a recording material is provided detachably with respect to the apparatus main body 1a. The recording material stored in the feeding cassette 9 is transported to the image forming unit 6 by the feeding unit 7. The toner image developed on the surface of the photosensitive drum is transferred to a recording material conveyed to the image forming unit 6 by the feeding unit 7 by a transfer device (not shown) serving as a transfer unit.

  The toner image transferred to the recording material is heat-fixed by a fixing device (not shown) serving as a fixing unit, and then discharged by a discharge unit 8 onto a discharge tray 13 provided outside the apparatus. A discharge tray 13 on which the recording material discharged outside the apparatus is stacked is provided above the optical scanning device 12 and is configured as an exterior part exposed to the outside.

<Image reading device>
The image reading device 2 is provided above the discharge tray 13. The image reading device 2 is provided with an ADF (Auto Document Feeder) 3 that automatically conveys a sheet-shaped document placed on a document tray 4. Further, an FBS (Flat-Bed Scanner) 11 serving as an image reading unit is provided. The sheet-shaped document fed to the image reading unit of the FBS 11 by the ADF 3 is discharged onto the discharge tray 5 after the document image is read while being transported.

  The ADF 3 is provided rotatably with respect to the apparatus main body 1a. The ADF 3 is rotated and opened, the book-shaped original is placed on the platen glass of the FBS 11, and then the ADF 3 is rotated and closed, so that the ADF 3 functions as a pressure plate and presses the back of the book-shaped original. In this state, the image reading unit of the FBS 11 moves along the platen glass on the lower surface side of the platen glass and reads the image of the book-shaped document. On the left side of FIG. 1 of the image forming apparatus 1, a left door 10 for attaching and detaching the cartridge 14 for supplying toner to the image forming apparatus 1 is provided so as to be openable and closable with respect to the apparatus main body 1a.

<Optical scanning device>
Next, the configuration of the optical scanning device 12 will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 2 is a perspective explanatory view showing a state where the left door 10 and the discharge tray 13 provided on the left side surface of the image forming apparatus 1 are opened. As shown in FIG. 2, the optical scanning device 12 is provided at a substantially central portion in the apparatus main body 1 a (in the apparatus main body) of the image forming apparatus 1.

  The optical scanning device 12 is fixed to a frame provided in the apparatus main body 1a with screws from above the image forming apparatus 1. In the case where the optical scanning device 12 is taken out of the image forming apparatus 1 by removing the screws, conventionally, it has been necessary to remove many components and units around the optical scanning device 12.

  The image forming apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment has a configuration in which each unit is assembled to a frame provided in the apparatus main body 1a. It is fixed by. In order to easily perform the replacement operation of the optical scanning device 12, the user can visually recognize the attachment / detachment operation of the optical scanning device 12 in a space formed between the image forming unit 6 and the image reading device 2 in the apparatus main body 1a. It needs to be in a state.

  Immediately above the optical scanning device 12, a discharge tray 13 on which recording materials discharged from the apparatus main body 1a to the outside of the apparatus by the discharge unit 8 are placed. By removing only the discharge tray 13 from the apparatus main body 1a while leaving the components and units around the optical scanning device 12 as they are, the user can reach the optical scanning device 12 in the shortest time. As a work space for removing the discharge tray 13, a space necessary for a user to grasp the recording material discharged onto the discharge tray 13 can be used.

  A discharge unit 8 is provided around the discharge tray 13 on the right side of FIG. Further, on the front side and the rear side in FIG. 1, there are provided exterior covers 24 and 25 of the image forming apparatus 1, a frame 26 constituting the apparatus main body 1a, and the like. Further, an operation unit 15 for a user to operate the image forming apparatus 1 is provided at the upper right of the front in FIG. The optical scanning device 12 is taken out of the apparatus main body 1a from the left side of the image forming apparatus 1 provided with the left door 10 that can be opened and closed with respect to the apparatus main body 1a.

  On the left side of FIG. 2 of the image forming apparatus 1, a cartridge 14 that is detachable from the apparatus main body 1a is mounted. When the toner contained in the cartridge 14 has been used up, the left door 10 is opened and the cartridge 14 is replaced. Below the left door 10, a rotation shaft 27 that pivotally supports the left door 10 with respect to the apparatus main body 1a is provided. The left door 10 opens about 90 degrees in the direction of arrow A in FIG. 2 about a rotation shaft 27 provided below.

  After rotating the left door 10 about the rotation shaft 27 in the direction of arrow A in FIG. 2, the discharge tray 13 fixed to the apparatus main body 1a is released, and the discharge tray 13 is moved to the position shown in FIG. Pull out diagonally to the upper left as indicated by arrow B. Thereafter, the screws fixing the optical scanning device 12 to the frame of the apparatus main body 1a are removed. Then, the optical scanning device 12 can be taken out in the direction of arrow C in FIG.

<Removal of the output tray>
Next, a method of attaching and detaching the discharge tray 13 from the apparatus main body 1a will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 3 is an explanatory perspective view showing a state in which the optical scanning device 12 is attached to the device main body 1a. FIG. 5 is an explanatory perspective view of the configuration of the discharge tray 13 as viewed from the bottom side. 6 and 7 are partially enlarged views of FIG. FIG. 8 is a partial cross-sectional view showing a state where the discharge tray 13 and the apparatus main body 1a are engaged. FIG. 9 is an explanatory perspective view showing the opening 18 into which the release member is inserted when the optical scanning device 12 is taken out of the apparatus main body 1a.

  As shown in FIG. 5, supported portions 23a and 23b are provided along the recording material discharge direction of the discharge tray 13. Each of the supported portions 23a and 23b is provided with a hook portion 21 serving as an L-shaped claw portion for restricting the vertical movement of the discharge tray 13 at two locations. The hook portion 21 is configured as an engaging portion provided on the discharge tray 13 (exterior portion).

  In addition, a cylindrical convex portion 22 for fixing the discharge tray 13 to the apparatus main body 1a is provided at substantially the center in the longitudinal direction of the supported portion 23b disposed on the rear side of the apparatus main body 1a. On the front side (the right side in FIG. 3) of the space where the discharge tray 13 of the apparatus main body 1a fits, a support portion 16 is provided on the frame of the apparatus main body 1a. The support portion 16 is provided with two hook holes 19 formed of through holes. The L-shaped hooking portion 21 provided on the supported portion 23a on the front side of the discharge tray 13 is inserted into a hooking hole 19 provided on the supporting portion 16 on the front side of the apparatus main body 1a. The hook hole 19 is hooked on the peripheral portion 16a.

  A support portion 17 is provided on the frame of the apparatus main body 1a on the rear surface side (the left side in FIG. 3) of the space for accommodating the discharge tray 13 of the apparatus main body 1a. The support portion 17 is also provided with two hook holes 19. The L-shaped hook portion 21 provided on the supported portion 23b on the rear surface side of the discharge tray 13 is inserted into a hook hole 19 provided on the support portion 17 on the rear surface side of the apparatus main body 1a. The hook hole 19 is hooked on the peripheral edge portion 17a. The peripheral portions 16a and 17a of these hook holes 19 are configured as engaged portions provided in the apparatus main body 1a.

  The apparatus main body 1a has support portions 16 and 17 for supporting the discharge tray 13 (exterior portion). Each of the support portions 16 and 17 is provided with a hook hole 19 serving as a first hole into which each hook portion 21 (claw portion) can be inserted. The upper surfaces of the support portions 16 and 17 are formed as flat surfaces. Each hook 21 (claw) is inserted into each hook hole 19 (first hole). In this state, the discharge tray 13 (exterior part) is moved on the upper surfaces of the support parts 16 and 17 along the longitudinal direction in the direction opposite to the direction of arrow B in FIG. At this time, each hook portion 21 (claw portion) is engaged with the peripheral edges 16a, 17a (engaged portion) of each hook hole 19 (first hole).

  As shown in FIG. 6, the support portion 17 is provided with a U-shaped through groove 17b, and a flexible portion 20 for retaining is provided inside the through groove 17b. The bending portion 20 is provided with a round hole 20a serving as a second hole. The bending portion 20 is elastically deformed by the projection 22 (projection) provided on the discharge tray 13 abutting and sliding.

  After the L-shaped hooking portions 21 provided on the discharge tray 13 are inserted into the hooking holes 19 provided on each of the support portions 16 and 17 of the apparatus main body 1a, the respective hooking holes 19 are removed. The catch tray 13 is caught by the peripheral portions 16a and 17a, and the vertical movement of the discharge tray 13 is restricted. At this time, the protruding portion 22, which is a protruding portion provided on the supported portion 23b of the discharge tray 13 and protrudes downward, slides on the bending portion 20 and the bending portion 20 bends downward, and the round hole 20a of the bending portion 20 is formed. The protrusion 22 is fitted into the inside. As a result, the discharge tray 13 is fixed to the apparatus main body 1a.

  When the discharge tray 13 fixed to the apparatus main body 1a is released, the discharge tray 13 located immediately above the bending portion 20 and the opening 18 provided on the exterior cover on the rear side of the apparatus main body 1a are released. An elongated release member is inserted to press the bending portion 20 to bend downward. As a result, the convex portion 22 of the discharge tray 13 fitted in the round hole 20a of the bending portion 20 is removed. Thus, the fixing of the discharge tray 13 can be released.

<Removal operation of optical scanning device of comparative example>
Next, an operation for detaching the optical scanning device 12 from the image forming apparatus 1 of the conventional comparative example by screwing will be described. First, to release the connection between the image forming apparatus 1 and the image reading apparatus 2 by screwing, the outer cover around the image reading apparatus 2 and the outer cover on the rear surface of the image forming apparatus 1 are removed.

  The removal of the outer cover on the rear surface of the image forming apparatus 1 is also for disconnecting the electrical connection between the image forming apparatus 1 and the image reading apparatus 2. Releases binding between bundles and inserts and removes connectors. Thereafter, the connection between the image forming apparatus 1 and the image reading apparatus 2 by the screw is released, the image reading apparatus 2 is removed, and the entire discharge tray 13 is made visible. If necessary, the metal frame serving as the installation base of the image reading device 2 is also removed.

  Next, in order to release the connection between the image forming apparatus 1 and the discharge tray 13 by screwing, the outer cover around the discharge unit 8 of the image forming apparatus 1 and the cover around the discharge tray 13 are removed. If necessary, the outer cover 24 on the front of the image forming unit 6 is also removed. The coupling between the image forming apparatus 1 and the discharge tray 13 by the screw is released, the discharge tray 13 is removed, and the coupling between the image forming apparatus 1 and the optical scanning apparatus 12 by the screw is released, and the optical scanning apparatus 12 is opened. Take it out.

  Depending on the configuration of the image forming apparatus 1, the image reading apparatus 2 may not need to be removed, but in this case, the detachment of the outer cover around the discharge tray 13 by screwing increases. As described above, in order to remove the optical scanning device 12 from the image forming apparatus 1 of the comparative example, it was necessary to release the connection and remove components by using a large number of screws.

<Removal operation of the optical scanning device of the present embodiment>
In the present embodiment, when the image forming apparatus 1 is used, the hooking portion 21 (engaging portion) of the discharge tray 13 (exterior portion) is connected to the hooking holes 19 provided in the support portions 16 and 17 of the apparatus main body 1a. Are engaged with the peripheral portions 16a and 17a (engaged portions) of the first and second portions. Thus, the position of the discharge tray 13 in the vertical direction with respect to the apparatus main body 1a is regulated.

  Here, when the discharge tray 13 is mounted on the apparatus main body 1a, the hook 21 (claw) is inserted into the hook hole 19 (the first hole). At this time, the convex portion 22 (protruding portion) presses and bends the bending portion 20. Then, when the discharge tray 13 is moved in the direction opposite to the direction of the arrow B in FIG. The discharge tray 13 is fitted into the round hole 20a (the second hole) and fixed to the apparatus main body 1a.

  In the present embodiment, when the optical scanning device 12 is detached from the apparatus main body 1a, first, as shown in FIG. 2, the left door 10 is pivoted around a rotation shaft 27 provided at a lower portion of the apparatus main body 1a. To open in the direction of arrow A. In this state, an elongated release member is inserted between the discharge tray 13 located immediately above the flexible portion 20 and the opening 18 provided on the outer cover on the rear side of the apparatus main body 1a, and the flexible portion 20 is pressed. To bend downward. As a result, the protrusion 22 (projection) of the discharge tray 13 that has been fitted in the round hole 20a (in the second hole) provided in the bending portion 20 is pulled out.

  In this state, when the discharge tray 13 is moved in the direction of arrow B in FIG. 2 along the longitudinal direction of the upper surface of each of the support portions 16 and 17, the hook portion 21 (engaging portion) and the hook hole 19 ( The engagement of the first hole) with the peripheral portions 16a and 17a (engaged portions) is released. Thereafter, the discharge tray 13 is lifted upward, the hook portion 21 is removed from the hook hole 19, and the discharge tray 13 is moved from the gap 28 formed between the discharge tray 13 and the image reading device 2 to the arrow B in FIG. Take out in the direction.

  With the discharge tray 13 detached from the apparatus main body 1a, the screws of the optical scanning device 12 are removed, and the optical scanning device 12 is removed from the gap 28 in the direction of arrow C in FIG. As a space required for taking the optical scanning device 12 out of the apparatus main body 1a, a gap 28 formed between the discharge tray 13 and the image reading device 2 can be used. Thereby, the optical scanning device 12 can be configured to be easily detachable from the apparatus main body 1a.

  The operation of taking out the optical scanning device 12 out of the image forming apparatus 1 is performed, as in the comparative example, on the discharge tray 13 provided above the optical scanning device 12 attached to the inside of the apparatus main body 1a and further above. It is not necessary to remove fixing screws and the like such as the image reading device 2 and the outer cover. Thus, the optical scanning device 12 is configured to be easily detachable from the device main body 1a. Thereby, the replacement work of the optical scanning device 12 in the image forming apparatus 1 can be easily performed. The optical scanning device 12 can be easily taken out of the image forming apparatus 1 with less parts and units to be attached and detached than in the comparative example, and with a small space for replacement work. Further, it is easy to replace the optical scanning device 12 while maintaining the rigidity of the entire frame of the image forming apparatus 1.

  In the above-described embodiment, an example of the discharge tray 13 has been described as an example of the exterior unit provided on the optical scanning device 12 and exposed to the outside. In addition, as an example of an exterior part provided above the optical scanning device 12 and exposed to the outside, an exterior cover of the apparatus main body 1a may be used instead of the discharge tray 13.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Image forming apparatus 1a ... Device main body 12 ... Optical scanning device 13 ... Discharge tray (exterior part)
19: hook hole (engaged part; first hole)
19a: Peripheral portion of hook hole 19 (engaged portion)
21 ... hook part (engagement part; claw part)

Claims (7)

An optical scanning device provided in an apparatus main body of the image forming apparatus;
An exterior part provided on an upper part of the optical scanning device and exposed to the outside,
An engaging portion provided on the exterior portion,
An engaged portion provided on the apparatus main body,
Has,
In use, the engaging portion is engaged with the engaged portion, and the exterior portion is fixed to the device main body,
When the optical scanning device is detached from the apparatus main body, the engagement between the engaging portion and the engaged portion is released, and the optical scanning device is detached from the apparatus main body in a state where the exterior portion is detached from the device main body. Wherein the image forming apparatus is detachable from the apparatus main body. The device body has a support portion that supports the exterior portion,
The engagement portion has an L-shaped claw portion,
The engaged portion is
A first hole provided in the support portion, into which the claw portion can be inserted;
A peripheral portion of the first hole, the peripheral portion being engaged with the claw portion when the exterior portion is moved in a state where the claw portion is inserted into the first hole;
Has,
The exterior part has a protrusion,
The support portion has a flexure portion in which the projection portion abuts and slides to elastically deform,
The flexure has a second hole,
When the claw portion is inserted into the first hole, the protrusion presses and bends the bending portion, and when the exterior portion is moved, the protrusion is caused by the elastic force of the bending portion to cause the protrusion to move. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the exterior part is fitted into the second hole and the exterior part is fixed to the apparatus main body. 3.   3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein when the exterior portion is removed from the apparatus main body, the protrusion is pressed by a release member to pull out the protrusion fitted in the second hole. 4. . An image reading device is provided on the upper part of the exterior part,
The device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the exterior unit and the optical scanning device are detachable from the apparatus main body through a gap formed between the exterior unit and the image reading device. Item 10. The image forming apparatus according to item 1. It has a door that can be opened and closed with respect to the device main body,
The exterior unit and the optical scanning device are configured to be detachable from the apparatus main body through a gap formed between the exterior unit and the image reading device with the door opened. Item 5. The image forming apparatus according to Item 4.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the exterior unit is a discharge tray on which a recording material discharged outside the apparatus is stacked.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the exterior part is an exterior cover of the apparatus main body.

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