JP2020086102A - Exterior structure and image formation device - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide an exterior structure, for example, which can suppress variations in the gap in the boundary part between an external cover covering a part of the device body and an opening/closing cover, which moves to cover and expose another part of the device body, while being adjacent to a part of the external cover.SOLUTION: The exterior structure includes: covering means 32 for covering a first part of the device body to be covered; and opening/closing means 4, which moves between the position where the opening/closing means covers a second part of the device body while being located adjacent to a part 37 of the covering means 32 and the position where the opening/closing means exposes the second part. The part 41 of the opening/closing means 4 which is adjacent to the part 37 of the covering means 32 in the covering position is formed as a movable part 43 provided in a displaceable manner in directions D1 and D2 intersecting with moving directions C1 and C2.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

The present invention relates to an exterior structure and an image forming apparatus.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as an image forming apparatus having an improved exterior portion having a cover that opens and closes, for example, one described in Patent Document 1 below is known.

In Patent Document 1, a device cover that is opened and closed by rotating around a rotation fulcrum provided in the device body, and a cover member that serves as an outer ring surface when the device cover is opened are provided in the device body. In the image forming apparatus described above, an image forming apparatus in which a projection is provided on a part of the surface of the cover member facing the apparatus cover is described.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2009-169084 (claim 1, FIG. 2 to FIG. 7, etc.)

The present invention relates to an exterior cover (covering means) for covering a part of an apparatus main body, and an opening/closing cover (opening/closing means) for moving so as to cover and expose another part of the apparatus main body adjacent to a part of the exterior cover. The present invention provides an exterior structure capable of suppressing the variation in the gap existing at the boundary part of the above, and an image forming apparatus using the same.

The exterior structure of the invention (A1) is
A covering means for covering a part of the device body to be covered,
An opening/closing unit that moves between a position that covers another part of the device body in a state of being adjacent to a part of the covering unit and a position that exposes the other part,
Equipped with
The opening/closing means is configured as a movable part in which a portion adjacent to a part of the covering means at the covering position is displaceable in a direction intersecting the moving direction with respect to a main body portion other than the covering portion. Is what

The exterior structure of the invention (A2) is
A covering means for covering a part of the device body to be covered,
An opening/closing unit that moves between a position that covers another part of the device body in a state of being adjacent to a part of the covering unit and a position that exposes the other part,
Equipped with
A portion of the cover means adjacent to a part of the opening/closing means when in the cover position is displaceable in a direction intersecting the moving direction of the opening/closing means with respect to another part of the apparatus body. It is configured as a movable part provided in the.

The exterior structure of the invention (A3) is the exterior structure of the invention A1, wherein the covering means includes a positioning means that determines a position of the opening/closing means in the intersecting direction when the opening/closing means moves to the covering position. In addition, the movable part of the opening/closing means has a positioned means to be positioned in contact with the positioning means.
The exterior structure of the invention (A4) is the exterior structure of the invention A1 or A3, wherein the covering means is a means for covering a part of an upper surface portion of the apparatus body, and the opening/closing means is an upper surface of the apparatus body. And a side portion that covers a side surface portion continuous from another portion of the upper surface portion of the apparatus body, and the upper portion is configured as the movable portion. is there.

The exterior structure according to the invention (A5) is the exterior structure according to the invention A2, wherein the covering means is a non-movable portion other than the movable portion, and the opening/closing means has the above-mentioned opening/closing means when the opening/closing means moves to the covering position. The second opening/closing means has a second positioning means for determining a position in the intersecting direction, the opening/closing means contacts the second positioning means for positioning, and the movable part of the covering means has the second positioning means. Third positioning means for positioning in the intersecting direction, and the movable part of the covering means has third positioned means for positioning in contact with the third positioning means. It is a thing.
In the exterior structure of the invention (A6), in the exterior structure of the invention A5, when the opening/closing means moves to the covering position, a third positioning means of the opening/closing means is a third part of a movable portion of the covering means. After contacting the positioned means, the second positioned means in the opening/closing means is provided so as to contact the second positioning means in the non-movable portion of the covering means.
The exterior structure of the invention (A7) is the exterior structure of the invention A2, A5, or A6, which is a portion of the apparatus main body that approaches the one end of the movable portion of the covering means in the intersecting direction so as to intersect. A second cover means for covering the second cover means and a movable portion of the cover means for contacting and joining a part of the second cover means when the movable portion moves to at least the one end in the intersecting direction. The second covering means has a joined portion that can be brought into contact with and joined to the joining portion.
In the exterior structure of the invention (A8), in the exterior structure of the invention A7, one of the joining portion and the joined portion may be configured as an insertion portion, and the other may contact the insertion portion in the intersecting direction. It is configured as a sandwiching receiving portion that is sandwiched and received.
The exterior structure according to the invention (A9) is the exterior structure according to the invention A2, A5, A6, A7 or A8, wherein the covering means is a means for covering a part of an upper surface portion of the apparatus main body. A part adjacent to a part of the opening/closing means is configured as the movable part when is moved to the covering position, and the opening/closing means covers the other part of the upper surface part of the apparatus body and It is composed of a side portion that covers a side surface portion that is continuous from another portion of the upper surface portion of the apparatus body.

Further, in the image forming apparatus of the present invention (B1), a covering means for covering a part of the apparatus body of the image forming apparatus and a position for covering another part of the apparatus body in a state of being adjacent to a part of the covering means. And an exterior structure including an opening/closing means that moves between a position where the other part is exposed and the exterior structure, and the exterior structure includes any of the exterior structures of the inventions A1 to A9.

According to the exterior structure of the above inventions A1 and A2, the covering means for covering a part of the apparatus main body is compared with the case where a part of the opening/closing means is not configured as a movable part or a part of the covering means is not configured as a movable part. It is possible to suppress the variation in the gap existing at the boundary between the opening and closing means that moves so as to cover and expose the other part of the apparatus main body adjacent to the part of the covering means.

According to the exterior structure of the invention A3, as compared with the case where the covering means does not have the positioning means and the movable part of the opening/closing means does not have the positioned means, the moving means moves to the position for covering the opening/closing means. It is possible to easily suppress the variation in the gap due to the operation.
According to the exterior structure of Invention A4, it is possible to suppress the variation in the gap on the upper surface where the aesthetic appearance is easily noticeable.

According to the exterior structure of the invention A5, the non-movable portion of the covering means does not have the second positioning means and the opening/closing means has the second positioned means and the third positioning means. As compared with the case where the movable portion of the covering means does not have the third positioned means, the variation in the gap can be easily suppressed with the operation of moving the opening/closing means to the covering position.
According to the exterior structure of the invention A6, when the opening/closing means moves to the covering position, the third positioning means of the opening/closing means contacts the third positioned means of the movable part of the covering means, Utilizing that the movable portion of the covering means is displaceable in the intersecting direction as compared with the case where the second positioned means is not provided so as to contact the second positioning means of the non-movable portion of the covering means. As a result, it is possible to efficiently suppress the variation in the gap.
According to the exterior structure of the invention A7, compared with the case where the movable portion of the covering means does not have the joint portion and the second covering means does not have the jointed portion, the movable portion of the covering means is displaced in the intersecting direction. When doing so, the second covering means is interlocked with each other to displace or bend, and it becomes difficult to form a step between the second covering means and the end of the movable portion.
According to the exterior structure of the invention A8, one of the joining portion of the movable portion of the covering means and the joined portion of the second covering means is not configured by the insertion portion, and the other is configured by the sandwiching portion. As compared with the case where the movable portion of the covering means is displaced, the second covering means is displaced or flexed following the displacement of the movable portion of the movable portion in any direction in which the movable portion intersects with the movable portion. It becomes difficult to do.
According to the exterior structure of the invention A9, it is possible to suppress the variation in the gap on the upper surface where the appearance is easily noticeable.

According to the image forming apparatus of the invention B1, the covering means for covering a part of the apparatus body of the image forming apparatus and the other part of the apparatus body are moved so as to cover and expose the other part of the apparatus body adjacent to the part of the covering means. It is possible to suppress variations in the gap existing at the boundary with the opening/closing means.

1 is a schematic perspective view showing an external appearance of an image forming apparatus including an exterior structure according to a first embodiment of the present invention. 1A is a schematic cross-sectional view showing one state of the exterior structure of FIG. 1 (a state in which the open/close cover is closed), and FIG. 1B is a schematic cross-sectional view showing another state of the exterior structure (a state in which the open/close cover is slightly open). It is a figure. It is a schematic perspective view which shows a part of state which decomposed|disassembled a part of exterior structure. It is a perspective view which shows a part of the state where the open/close cover of the exterior structure is slightly opened from the back side. It is a perspective view which shows a part of the state which opened and closed the cover of an exterior structure from the front side a little. It is a partial perspective view which shows the state which closed the opening/closing cover of exterior structure from the back side. It is a schematic perspective view which shows some open/close covers. It is a schematic perspective view which shows the state which decomposed|disassembled a part of opening/closing cover. It is a schematic diagram showing the composition of an open-close cover. It is a schematic perspective view which shows a part of opening/closing cover and the structure of an upper surface cover from a lower side. It is a schematic top view which shows a part of opening/closing cover and the structure of a top cover. It is a schematic perspective view which shows the state which closed the opening/closing cover from the lower side. It is a schematic top view which shows the state just before closing an opening/closing cover. FIG. 6 is a schematic perspective view showing an appearance of an image forming apparatus including an exterior structure according to a second embodiment. 14A is a schematic cross-sectional view showing one state (a state in which the open/close cover is closed) of the exterior structure of FIG. 14, and FIG. 14B is a schematic cross-sectional view showing another state of the exterior structure (a state in which the open/close cover is slightly opened). It is a figure. It is a schematic perspective view which shows a part of state which decomposed|disassembled a part of exterior structure. It is a perspective view which shows a part of the state where the open/close cover of the exterior structure is slightly opened from the back side. It is a partial perspective view which shows the state which closed the opening/closing cover of exterior structure from the back side. It is a schematic perspective view which shows a movable part of a top cover and a part of the attachment state. (A) is a schematic sectional view showing the states of the upper surface and the back surface of the movable portion of the top cover, and (B) is a schematic sectional view taken along the line Q-Q of the movable portion of (A). It is a schematic top view which shows the movable part of an upper surface cover, and the upper surface cover to which it attaches. It is a schematic perspective view which shows some open/close covers. It is a schematic perspective view which shows the state which decomposed|disassembled a part of opening/closing cover. It is a schematic top view which shows the structure of the movable part and non-movable part of an upper surface cover, and some open/close covers. (A) is a schematic perspective view showing a configuration of a non-movable part of the top cover and one end of the opening/closing cover, and (B) is a schematic perspective view showing a configuration of a movable part of the top cover and the other end of the opening/closing cover. is there. It is a schematic perspective view which shows a part of state of the opening/closing cover just before closing with respect to the movable part and non-movable part of an upper surface cover from a lower side. It is a schematic top view which shows the state of a part of opening/closing cover just before closing with respect to the movable part and non-moving part of an upper cover. (A) is a schematic diagram showing a configuration of a movable portion of the top cover and a part of the side cover, and (B) is a schematic diagram showing a state where the movable portion of the top cover and a part of the side cover are combined. It is a schematic perspective view which shows a part of the right side surface and back surface side of the exterior structure of FIG.

Hereinafter, embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[Embodiment 1]
1 shows an appearance of an image forming apparatus including an exterior structure according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention, and FIG. 2 shows a part of the image forming apparatus.
The arrows indicated by the symbols X, Y, and Z in the drawings indicate the respective directions of width, height, and depth assumed in each drawing. Further, in the drawing, the circle mark at the portion where the arrows in the X and Y directions intersect indicates that the Z direction is directed vertically downward in the drawing.

The image forming apparatus 1A shown in FIG. 1 is configured as, for example, a printer that forms an image on a sheet based on image information input from an external connection device or the like.
The image forming apparatus 1A includes an apparatus main body 2 having a substantially box-like appearance.

The external appearance of the device main body 2 is made by using a material such as a support frame and a partition material. For example, as shown by a broken line in FIGS. 1 and 2, the upper surface portion 21, the four side surface portions 22 to 25 ( It has an outer shape having a front surface portion 22, a rear surface portion 23, left and right side surface portions 24, 25) and a bottom surface portion 26. Further, the apparatus main body 2 is provided therein with equipment (not shown) necessary for forming an image (photoconductor, charging device, developing device, transfer device, fixing device, etc.).

Further, at least the upper surface portion 21 and the four side surface portions 22 to 25 of the apparatus body 2 are attached with a cover 3 as an example of a covering means for covering from the outside thereof, thereby forming an exterior structure 10A. The cover 3 is formed of a material such as synthetic resin.

Of these, the upper surface portion 21 of the apparatus main body 2 includes a first upper surface cover 31 that covers the upper surface portion 21a from the front surface to the middle of the rear surface, and an upper surface portion that overlaps a part of the first upper surface cover 31 and extends to the rear surface side. It is mainly covered with the second upper surface cover 32 that covers 21b.

The first upper surface cover 31 is not limited to the covering means for covering the part 21a of the upper surface portion 21 of the apparatus main body 2, and includes the sheet storage surface 31a and the sheet discharge surface 31a including the inclined surface for storing the sheet on which an image is formed and discharged. It is a plate-shaped member on which an operation unit 31c including an outlet 31b and a display unit (not shown) is formed. Further, the first upper surface cover 31 has an interior portion 31d that is overlapped with the second upper surface cover 32 from the outside. The first upper surface cover 31 functions as a modeling unit that plays a part of the structural portion of the apparatus main body 2 because the sheet accommodation surface 31a, the sheet ejection port 31b, and the operation unit 31c are formed.
On the other hand, the second upper surface cover 32 is a plate-shaped member formed in a shape that covers a part 21b of the first upper surface cover 31 and also covers an upper surface portion from the sheet ejection port 31b to the back side.

The first upper surface cover 31 is attached to the upper surface portion 21 of the apparatus body 2 in a fixed position. The second upper surface cover 32 is attached to the first upper surface cover 31 in a fixed position. The second upper surface cover 32 may of course be configured to be attached to the upper surface portion 21 of the apparatus body 2 in a fixed state.

The front part 22 of the apparatus body 2 is covered with a front cover 33 which is divided into two parts, an upper part 33a and a lower part 33b. The rear surface portion 23 of the apparatus body 2 is divided into two parts, that is, a part (42) of the opening/closing cover (4) described later, two side edges of the opening/closing cover (4), and a peripheral portion 34b surrounding the lower side. Is covered with. The right side surface portion 25 of the apparatus body 2 is covered with a right side surface cover 36 which is divided into a rectangular inner portion 36a and a peripheral portion 36b surrounding the upper side and two side sides thereof.

Further, as shown in FIG. 1 to FIG. 3 and the like, the apparatus main body 2 includes a part of the upper surface 41 and a part of the rear cover 34, which is a part of the second upper surface cover 32 located on the rear surface side (parts other than the peripheral part 34b). It is a cover having a shape in which the side wall portion 42 obtained by dividing is divided into a continuous position that covers a part of the apparatus main body 2 (mainly a part of the upper surface part 21 and the back surface part 23) and a part thereof. An opening/closing cover 4 that moves between an open position and an exposed position is attached.

The open/close cover 4 is rotatably supported by a support shaft 49 provided on the rear surface 23 of the apparatus body 2 at the lower portion of the side wall 42, and swings and moves in the directions indicated by arrows C1 and C2. ing.

Further, the upper portion 41 of the opening/closing cover 4 is a portion that covers a part 21c of the upper surface portion 21 of the apparatus main body 2, and has a plate shape of a substantially rectangular shape having a planar shape that is long in the left-right width direction (direction along arrow X). It is composed of members. On the other hand, in the second upper surface cover 32, the portion corresponding to the upper portion 41 is divided and does not exist. Therefore, the rear surface side of the second upper surface cover 32 is shown in FIGS. 1 and 3 to 6 and the like. As described above, there is a recess 37 that is cut out in a substantially rectangular shape that is long in the left-right width direction so as to correspond to the planar shape of the upper portion 41. Further, the upper portion 41 has a strictly upper rear portion having a shape hanging from the end portion on the rear side thereof.

Further, the side wall portion 42 of the opening/closing cover 4 is a portion that covers a part of the back surface portion 23 of the apparatus main body 2, and is configured by a plate-shaped member having a substantially rectangular planar shape that is long in the up-down direction. On the other hand, in the rear cover 34, since the portion corresponding to the side wall portion 42 is divided and does not exist, the central portion of the rear cover 34 corresponds to the side surface shape of the side wall portion 42 of the opening/closing cover 4. There is a recess cut out in a substantially rectangular shape that is long in the vertical direction.

Then, in the exterior structure 10A, when the opening/closing cover 4 is moved so as to swing in the direction indicated by the arrow C1, the opening/closing cover 4 moves to the open position as illustrated in FIG. 2B. .. As a result, in the image forming apparatus 1A, a part 21c of the upper surface part 21 and a part of the back surface part 23 which are parts of the apparatus body 2 can be exposed (opened) to the outside.
Further, in the exterior structure 10A, when the opening/closing cover 4 is moved so as to swing in the direction indicated by the arrow C2, the opening/closing cover 4 moves to the position where it is closed as illustrated in FIG. 1 and FIG. To do. As a result, in the image forming apparatus 1A, it is possible to cover the part 21c of the upper surface part 21 and the part of the back surface part 23 which are part of the apparatus main body 2.

On the other hand, in this exterior structure 10A, when the opening/closing cover 4 is closed, the upper portion 41 of the opening/closing cover 4 enters the recess 37 of the second upper surface cover 32 and is adjacent to the opening 41, as shown in FIGS. become.
At this time, at the boundary between the upper portion 41 of the open/close cover 4 and the recess 37 of the second upper surface cover 32 in the closed state, there is a gap 12 having a shape like a depression.
In addition, the gap 12 at this time extends linearly long along the directions D1 and D2 (corresponding to the width direction extending in the left and right direction) intersecting the directions C1 and C2 when the opening/closing cover 4 moves (opens and closes) 1. The gap portion has a book gap portion 12a and a pair of gap portions 12b and 12c that extend linearly from both ends of the one gap portion 12a toward the back side and are present in a state of being opposed to each other.

However, in such an exterior structure 10A, when the opening/closing cover 4 is closed, the gaps α1 and α2 (FIG. 6) between the pair of gap portions 12b and 12c facing each other in the gap 12 may vary.
It is considered that this is due to factors such as the tolerance of the shape and mounting state of the opening/closing cover 4, the degree of force input in the opening/closing operation of the opening/closing cover 4, and a slight distortion due to the temperature change of the opening/closing cover 4. Be done.
Further, if the intervals α1 and α2 between the pair of opposing gap portions 12b and 12c vary, the external appearance (aesthetic appearance) of the exterior structure 10A deteriorates. In the worst case, the upper portion 41 of the opening/closing cover 4 may not fit in the recess 37 of the second upper surface cover 32.

<Detailed structure of exterior structure>
Therefore, in this exterior structure 10A (and the image forming apparatus 1A including this exterior structure 10A), as shown in FIG. 4 to FIG. The upper portion 41 that is a portion adjacent to the concave portion 37 that is a portion is provided so as to be displaceable in the directions D1 and D2 that intersect the moving directions C1 and C2 when opening and closing with respect to the side wall portion 42 that is a main body portion other than that portion. The movable part 43.
Here, the intersecting direction is a direction substantially orthogonal to each other, and corresponds to the left-right width direction when viewed from the front side of the apparatus body 2 (direction parallel to the direction of arrow X).

As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, in the opening/closing cover 4 according to the first embodiment, the lower end portion of the upper rear surface portion on the rear surface side of the upper portion 41 as the movable portion 43 is the upper end portion of the side wall portion 42 that becomes the main body portion. A mounting structure is employed in which the mounting structure is inserted so as to be sandwiched between and supported so as to be supported while being movable so as to be displaceable in the intersecting directions D1 and D2.
Specifically, in the upper portion 41, a lower end portion 41a extending downward on the back surface side is configured as one side portion of the insertion, and a plurality of (for example, five) insertions having a shape protruding downward to the inner surface side of the lower end portion 41a. Parts 44A to 44E are provided.
One side wall portion 42 is configured such that the outer surface side of the upper end portion 42a thereof is joined to the lower end portion 41a of the upper portion 41, and the plurality of insertion portions 44A to 44E are intersected with the inner surface side of the upper end portion 42a in the direction D1. , D2 are provided with a plurality of frame portions 45A to 45E which are movably received and held.

The insertion portions 44A to 44E are formed as rectangular protrusions that extend downward from the inner surface of the lower end portion 41a on the back side of the upper portion 41 with a gap S (FIG. 10) for insertion. .. Further, the insertion portions 44A to 44E are formed with a predetermined protrusion length and predetermined widths w1 and w2, as shown in FIG.
The frame portions 45A to 45E are formed as linear raised portions having left and right frames that regulate the range of movement of the insertion portions 44A to 44E in the intersecting directions D1 and D2. As shown in FIG. 9, the frame portions 45A to 45E are formed such that the left and right frames thereof have predetermined widths w3 and w4.
The widths w3 and w4 of the left and right frames of the frame portions 45A to 45E are set to be larger than the widths w1 and w2 of the insertion portions 44A to 44E in order to secure the movement range of the insertion portions 44A to 44E ( w3>w1, w4>w2).

In addition, through holes 46 for inserting screws (not shown) for connecting with the side wall portion 42 are formed in the two inserting portions 44A, 44E arranged on both ends of the inserting portions 44A to 44E. In one of the frame portions 45A to 45E, two frame portions 45A and 45E arranged at both ends in the left-right width direction are formed with screw holes 47 for attaching screws (not shown) for connecting to the side wall portion 42. ..
The through hole 46 is formed of a long hole that is long in the left-right width direction. Further, the lateral width w5 of the through hole 46 is set to be larger than the hole diameter d2 of the screw hole 47 from the viewpoint of enabling the displacement of the insertion portions 44A to 44E in the intersecting directions D1 and D2. w5>d2).

In FIG. 7 and FIG. 8, reference numeral 401 is a handle part (a part on the back side) mainly used when the opening/closing cover 4 is opened, reference numeral 402 is a guide plate when the opening/closing cover 4 is closed, and reference numeral 403 is, for example, conveyance during image formation. A rib-shaped sheet guide member for guiding the formed sheet, reference numeral 404 is an attachment support portion having a screw hole for attaching and supporting other components such as the sheet guide member with screws.

Further, in this exterior structure 10A, as shown in FIG. 4 and FIG. 10, when the opening/closing cover 4 is moved to the closing position on the second upper surface cover 32, the opening/closing cover 4 in the intersecting directions D1 and D2. While the positioning means 51 for deciding the position is provided, on the upper part 41 which is the movable portion 43 of the opening/closing cover 4, the positioned means 52 which is brought into contact with the positioning means 51 and is positioned is provided.

The positioning means 51 is composed of an insertion recess formed in the recess 37 of the second upper surface cover 32 substantially at the center of the long side 37a along the intersecting directions D1 and D2. As shown in FIG. 11, the insertion recess of the positioning means 51 has a pair of left and right guide walls forming a guide space having a predetermined width w6 along the intersecting directions D1 and D2.
One of the positioned means 52 is composed of a plug-in projection formed at a substantially central portion of the tip portion 41b of the upper portion 41 which is the movable portion 43. As shown in FIG. 11, the insertion protrusion of the positioned member 52 is formed in a shape having a predetermined protrusion length and a predetermined width w7.

In particular, the width w7 of the inserting projection of the positioned means 52 is set to be substantially the same as the width w6 of the guiding space in the inserting recess of the positioning means 51 (a size that allows insertion) (w7≈w6).
Further, the tip of the inserting projection of the positioned means 52 is formed as a tapered surface or a rounded surface such that the left and right corners along the intersecting directions D1 and D2 are tapered as a whole.
Further, when the insertion protrusion of the positioned member 52 is inserted into the insertion recess of the positioning unit 51, the tip finally passes through the insertion recess and rides on the back surface side of the second upper surface cover 32 and is held. It is formed in a shape inclined slightly downward in the protruding direction so as to stop in the state (FIG. 12).

Further, in this exterior structure 10A, as shown in FIG. 4 and FIG. 10, the second upper surface cover 32 holds the open/close cover 4 in the closed state when the open/close cover 4 moves to the closed position. While the means 53 is provided, the held portion 54 that is inserted into and held by the holding means 53 is provided on the upper portion 41 that is the movable portion 43 of the opening/closing cover 4.

The holding means 53 is formed as a recess having a recessed shape with a predetermined width w8. One of the held members 54 is formed as a protrusion having a shape with a predetermined width w9.
Further, the width w8 of the holding means 53 is set to be larger than the width w9 of the held means 54 in order to hold the inserted projections of the held means 54 so as to be displaceable in the intersecting directions D1 and D2. (W8>w9). Further, when the projection of the held means 54 is inserted into the concave portion of the holding means 53, the tip finally passes through the concave portion and rides on the back surface side of the second upper surface cover 32 and is held (FIG. 12). ) Is formed in a shape that is inclined slightly downward in the protruding direction.

In addition, in the concave portion 37 of the second upper surface cover 32, on the long side portion 37a, the tip end holding portions 55A and 55B for holding the tip end portion 41b of the upper portion 41 which becomes the movable portion 43 of the opening/closing cover 4 have the positioning means 51. It is provided in a sandwiched state.
Further, in the concave portion 37, the left and right short side portions 37b and 37c extending from both ends of the long side portion 37a substantially orthogonal to the back side are provided with the left end portion 41c and the right end portion of the upper portion 41 which become the movable portion 43 of the opening/closing cover 4. End holding portions 56A and 56B respectively holding the portion 41d are provided.

<Operation when closing the open/close cover>
Then, in the exterior structure 10A, particularly when the open/close cover 4 is moved to the closed position, it operates as follows.

That is, in the exterior structure 10A, when the opening/closing cover 4 is moved toward the closed position in the direction of the arrow C2, the upper portion 41, which is the movable portion 43 thereof, is moved to the second upper surface cover as shown in FIGS. After entering the concave portion 37 of 32, the back surfaces of the left and right end portions 41c and 41d of the upper portion 41 are held by the left and right end portion holding portions 56A and 56B of the concave portion 37 while the inner side of the concave portion 37 (long side It moves toward the part 37a).

Subsequently, in the opening/closing cover 4, the insertion convex portion of the positioned means 52 on the upper portion 41 is in contact with the insertion concave portion of the positioning means 51 on the concave portion 37 of the second upper surface cover 32, and further on the back side. Moving.
At this time, the opening/closing cover 4 is positioned in the intersecting directions D1 and D2 of the upper portion 41, which is the movable portion 43, by inserting and fitting the insertion protrusion of the positioned member 52 into the insertion recess of the positioning member 51. Can be decided.

That is, when the opening/closing cover 4 is moved to the closing position in a state of being displaced in the intersecting directions D1 and D2 instead of being in the normal posture, the upper portion 41 which is the movable portion 43 of the opening/closing cover 4 is inserted into the positioning means 52. When the convex portion is introduced into the insertion concave portion of the positioning means 51, the convex portion receives a guiding action, whereby the convex portion is displaced by a necessary amount on either side of the intersecting directions D1 and D2. Strictly speaking, the upper portion 41 of the opening/closing cover 4 is displaced to a necessary side in the directions D1 and D2 intersecting the side wall portion 42 which is the main body of the opening/closing cover 4.

Further, at this time, even if the upper portion 41 that is the movable portion 43 of the opening/closing cover 4 is displaced in the intersecting directions D1 and D2, the width relation w8>w9 is set. There is no possibility that the protrusion of the held means 54 at 41b abuts the concave portion of the holding means 53 at the concave portion 37 of the second upper surface cover 32 to make it difficult to enter.

As a result, in the exterior structure 10A, when the opening/closing cover 4 is moved to the closing position, the position in the crossing directions D1 and D2 of the upper portion 41 which is the movable portion 43 is the second upper surface cover 32 (the positioning means 51 thereof). It is adjusted based on the standard.

By the way, finally, as shown in FIG. 12, the opening/closing cover 4 at this time has the tip of the insertion convex portion of the positioned means 52 in the upper part 41 which is the movable part 43 and the held means 54A, 54B. The tip of the projection is stopped in a state where the tip of the projection passes through the insertion concave portion of the positioning means 51 in the concave portion 37 of the second upper surface cover 32 and the concave portions of the holding means 53A and 53B and rides on the back surface of the second upper surface cover 32, The movement to the close position is completed.
As a result, in the upper portion 41 which is the movable portion 43, with the back surface of the tip end portion 41b held by the tip end holding portions 55A and 55B in the concave portion 37, the tip end of the insertion convex portion of the positioned portion 52 and the held portion. Since the tips of the protrusions 54A and 54B are in contact with the back surface of the second upper surface cover 32, the concave portions 37 of the second upper surface cover 32 are held with the long side portions 37a sandwiched therebetween.

Therefore, in the exterior structure 10A, when the open/close cover 4 is moved to the closed position, the positions in the intersecting directions D1 and D2 of the upper portion 41 of the open/close cover 4 are the same position with respect to the recess 37 of the second upper surface cover 32. Held in.
Therefore, among the gaps 12 formed at the boundary portion between the upper portion 41 of the opening/closing cover 4 and the recess 37 of the second upper surface cover 32 when moved to the closing position, particularly the gap α1 between the pair of gap portions 12b and 12c. , Α2 are almost kept at the initial setting values, and variations in the gap portions 12b and 12c are suppressed.
In particular, according to the exterior structure 10A, variations in the gap portions 12b and 12c can be easily suppressed along with the operation of moving the opening/closing cover 4 to the closing position.

By the way, in the exterior structure 10A, the upper part 41 which is a part of the opening/closing cover 4 is displaced in the intersecting directions D1 and D2 to adjust the position, and the side wall portion 42 which is the main body part intersects in the intersecting direction D1. , D2 is not affected. For this reason, the opening/closing cover 4 as a whole may be deformed so as to bend due to the action of being displaced in the intersecting directions D1 and D2, and the contact state of the opening/closing cover 4 with the support shaft 49 may be changed to hinder the opening/closing operation. There is no danger of it coming.

As described above, in the exterior structure 10A according to the first embodiment, and by extension, in the image forming apparatus 1A including the exterior structure 10A, the exterior structure exists at the boundary between the upper portion 41 of the opening/closing cover 4 and the recess 37 of the second top cover 32. The gap 12 (in particular, the pair of gap portions 12b and 12c) is maintained in a substantially uniform state, and there is no fear that the appearance (aesthetics) of the external appearance will be spoiled even though the aesthetic appearance is conspicuous.

[Embodiment 2]
14 shows an appearance of an image forming apparatus including an exterior structure according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention, and FIG. 15 shows a part of the state of the image forming apparatus.
The image forming apparatus 1B according to the second embodiment has the same configuration as the image forming apparatus 1A according to the first embodiment except that a part of the outer structure 10B is different from the outer structure 10A according to the first embodiment. Is.

Similar to the image forming apparatus 1A according to the first embodiment, the image forming apparatus 1B is configured as a printer and includes an apparatus main body 2 having a substantially box-like appearance.
Further, also in the apparatus main body 2, the cover 3 as an example of the covering means is attached to at least the upper surface portion 21 and the four side surface portions 22 to 25, thereby forming the exterior structure 10B.

In the exterior structure 10B of the image forming apparatus 1B, as shown in FIG. 14 to FIG. 16, etc., the first upper surface cover that covers the upper surface portion 21a of the apparatus main body 2 from the front side to the middle of the back side thereof. 31 and at least a second upper surface cover 32 that overlaps a part of the first upper surface cover 31 and covers the upper surface portion 21b up to the back side are attached.
Further, in the exterior structure 10B, as shown in FIG. 14, FIG. 15, etc., the remaining portions (front surface portion 22, back surface portion 23, right side surface portion 25) of the apparatus body 2 excluding the upper surface portion 21 and the bottom surface portion 26 are The same cover 3 (33, 34, 36) as in the case of the exterior structure 10A according to the first embodiment is attached and covered.

Further, in the exterior structure 10B, as shown in FIG. 14 to FIG. 18, etc., the device main body 2 has a shape in which an upper portion 41 and a side wall portion 42 which are substantially the same as those of the opening/closing cover 4 in the first embodiment are continuous. , Opening and closing that moves between a closing position that covers a part of the apparatus main body 2 (mainly a part 21c of the upper surface part 21 and the back surface part 23) and an opening position that exposes a part thereof to the outside The cover 4B is attached.
As shown in FIG. 15, the open/close cover 4B swings in the directions indicated by arrows C1 and C2 while being rotatably supported by the support shaft 49, as in the case of the open/close cover 4 in the first embodiment. It is designed to move.

As shown in FIGS. 22 and 23, the open/close cover 4B in the second embodiment has the lower end portion of the upper back surface on the rear surface side of the upper portion 41 sandwiched by the upper end portion of the side wall portion 42 that is the main body portion. It uses a mounting structure that is inserted and supported.

Specifically, in the upper portion 41, a lower end portion 41a extending downward on the back surface side is configured as one side portion of the insertion, and a plurality of (for example, five) insertions having a shape protruding downward to the inner surface side of the lower end portion 41a. Parts 44F to 44J are provided. Further, the upper portion 41 is provided with a plurality (for example, four) of insertion frames 48A to 48D having an open lower end on the inner surface side of the lower end portion 41a.
One side wall portion 42 is configured such that the outer surface side of the upper end portion 42a thereof is joined to the lower end portion 41a of the upper portion 41, and a plurality of receiving portions 44G to 44I are received and held on the inner surface side of the upper end portion 42a. Frame portions 45F to 45H are provided. Further, the side wall portion 42 is provided with a plurality of (for example, six) insertion protrusions 49A to 49F to be inserted into the insertion portions 44F to 44J on the inner surface side of the upper end portion 42a.

The insertion portions 44F and 44J at the left and right ends of the insertion portions 44F to 44J are in contact with the left and right ends of the upper end portion 42a of the side wall portion 42 and fix their positions.
The left and right width dimensions held by the frame portions 45F to 45H are set to be substantially the same as the left and right widths into which the insertion portions 44G to 44I are inserted.
Two of the insertion protrusions 49A to 49F are provided with a circular through hole 47B through which a screw (not shown) to be mounted in the screw hole 46 is provided so as to face the screw hole 46 provided in the upper portion 41 and to be installed therein. ing.

The opening/closing cover 4B is inserted by inserting the lower end of the upper rear surface on the rear side of the upper portion 41 into the upper end of the side wall portion 42 which is the main body, and fixing the screw to the screw hole 46 through the through hole 47B. Integrated and assembled.
The open/close cover 4B according to the second embodiment is different from the open/close cover 4 according to the first embodiment in that the upper portion 41 thereof is not configured as a movable portion displaceable in the intersecting directions D1 and D2.

<Detailed structure of exterior structure>
In the exterior structure 10B of the image forming apparatus 1B, the pair of facing gap portions 12b and 12c of the gaps 12 (FIG. 6) existing when the opening/closing cover 4 is closed as described in the first embodiment. The following configuration is adopted from the viewpoint of suppressing variations in the intervals.
That is, in this exterior structure 10B (and the image forming apparatus 1B including this exterior structure 10B), as shown in FIG. 14 to FIG. 21, etc., the opening/closing cover 4B of the second top cover 32 at the closed position. A portion adjacent to a part of the device main body 2 with respect to the other part 21d (part 31e of the first upper surface cover 31 in this example) of the opening/closing cover 4B. , D2 as movable parts 39 provided displaceably.

First, in the exterior structure 10B, as a portion adjacent to a part of the opening/closing cover 4B when the second upper surface cover 32 is in the closed position, the second upper surface cover 32 is compared with the second upper surface cover 32 in the first embodiment. A third upper surface cover 38, which is obtained by dividing a part of the upper surface cover 32, is adopted, and the third upper surface cover 38 is configured as the movable portion 39. More specifically, this third upper surface cover 38 can be regarded as a divided portion including a part of the recess 37 of the second upper surface cover 32 in the first embodiment.

Further, in the exterior structure 10B, since the third upper surface cover 38 is used as the movable portion 39, the second upper surface cover 32 constitutes a part of the recess 37 as shown in FIGS. 14 and 15. The upper surface cover has a shape having the first recess 37A. The first recess 37A is formed, for example, as a recess in which one corner of a cover portion having a rectangular planar shape is cut out in a quadrangular shape.
In the second upper surface cover 32, a portion including one end of the upper portion 41 of the opening/closing cover 4B (for example, a portion including the left end portion 41c) enters the first recess 37A and is in a state of being adjacent. By the way, the second upper surface cover 32 is attached to the part 31d of the first upper surface cover 31 in a fixed position. Therefore, unlike the third upper surface cover 38 as the movable portion 39, the second upper surface cover 32 is a non-movable portion.

On the other hand, the third upper surface cover 38 is an upper surface cover having a shape having a second recess 37B that constitutes the remaining part of the recess 37. The second recess 37B is formed as a recess having a rectangular planar shape so that a portion including the other end of the upper portion 41 of the opening/closing cover 4B (for example, a portion including the right end portion 41d) can be inserted.

Further, since the third upper surface cover 38 is a cover having the second concave portion 37B, as shown in FIGS. 17 to 21, etc., the third upper surface cover 38 has a substantially rectangular planar shape facing the tip portion 41b of the upper portion 41 of the opening/closing cover 4B. And an upper side surface portion 382 having a shape that extends toward the back side including one end portion of the upper surface main portion 381 so as to face the other end (right end portion 41d) of the upper portion 41 of the opening/closing cover 4B. And is configured as a top cover having a substantially L-shaped planar shape as a whole.
As a result, the third upper surface cover 38 serves as a cover that utilizes the rectangular space existing between the upper surface main portion 381 and the upper side surface portion 382 as the second recess 37B.

Then, as shown in FIGS. 19 to 21, the third upper surface cover 38 has a plurality of (for example, four) key portions 385A to 385D provided on the back surface side of the upper surface main portion 381, other than the device main body 2. Of the first upper surface cover 31 that is also a part 21d of the first upper cover 31 is attached by being hooked into a plurality of mounting holes 312A to 312D and being displaceably held in the intersecting directions D1 and D2. ..

As shown in FIGS. 19 and 20, the upper surface main portion 381 has a projecting piece 383 at the end opposite to the upper side surface portion 382. The protruding piece 383 is a portion to be present below the second upper surface cover 32.
Further, as shown in FIG. 20, the key portions 385A to 385D of the upper surface main portion 381 are portions formed in a shape that is bent in the same direction after protruding from the back surface of the third upper surface cover 38.
The mounting holes 312A to 312D provided in the part 31e of the first upper surface cover 31 are rectangular openings that are long along the intersecting directions D1 and D2, and are provided at one end of each mounting hole 312A to 312D in the longitudinal direction. The bent portions of the key portions 385A to 385D are hooked.

The third upper surface cover 38 inserts the hook portions 385A to 385D into the mounting holes 312A to 312D and holds the hooked portions 385A to 385D, so that the third upper surface cover 38 has a predetermined distance in both the intersecting directions D1 and D2 in the part 31e of the first upper surface cover 31. You can move within. When the third upper surface cover 38 is displaced to the side of the intersecting direction D1, for example, an end portion 381b of the upper surface main portion 381 facing the second upper surface cover 32 is predetermined with the second upper surface cover 32 as shown in FIG. It stops with the gap 13 of the interval α5.
Further, when the third upper surface cover 38 is attached together with the second upper surface cover 32 on the first upper surface cover 31, as shown in FIG. 17 and FIG. One recess 37 is formed by combining the second recesses 37B in the upper surface cover 38.

Further, in this exterior structure 10B, as shown in FIGS. 17 and 24 to 26, etc., the second positioning means 61, the second positioned means 62, the third positioning means 63 and the third positioned means. Positioning means 64 is provided.

Specifically, the second top cover 32 is provided with second positioning means 61 for determining the positions of the opening/closing cover 4B in the intersecting directions D1 and D2 when the opening/closing cover 4B is moved to the closing position. The second positioning means 61 also serves as means for determining the positional relationship of the portion including the left end portion 41c of the upper portion 41 of the opening/closing cover 4B with respect to the first recess 37A in the second upper surface cover 32 when moved to the closing position. ..
Further, on the opening/closing cover 4B, the second positioned means 62 positioned in contact with the second positioning means 61 and the third upper surface cover 38, which is the movable portion 39, are positioned in the intersecting directions D1 and D2. The third positioning means 63 is provided. Of these, the third positioning means 63 also serves as means for determining the positional relationship between the upper surface 41 of the opening/closing cover 4B and the portion including the left end portion 41c with respect to the second recess 37B in the third upper surface cover 38 when moved to the closing position. Become.
Furthermore, the third upper surface cover 38 is provided with a third positioned means 64 that is positioned by contacting the third positioning means 63. The third positioned means 64 is means for determining the position with respect to the open/close cover 4B when the third upper surface cover 38 is moved to the closing position.

The second positioning means 61 in the second upper surface cover 32 is configured by a groove provided in an inner corner portion of the first recess 37A of the second upper surface cover 32.
As shown in FIG. 25(A), the groove of the second positioning means 61 is a groove that linearly extends by a predetermined length k1 with a predetermined width w11 along the moving directions C1 and C2 of the opening/closing cover 4B. And an upstream end in the moving direction C2 of the opening/closing cover 4B is formed as a groove opened as an inlet. Further, the groove has a tapered surface 61a for guiding the second positioned member 62 into the groove at the corner of the opening serving as the inlet. Further, the bottom surface of this groove is provided with an elongated hole 61b for accommodating the second positioned means 62 (a convex portion which will be described later).

The second positioned member 62 of the opening/closing cover 4B is formed of a convex portion provided so as to project downward on the back surface of the upper portion 41 of the opening/closing cover 4B.
The convex portion of the second positioned member 62 is introduced into the groove of the second positioning member 61 for positioning, and as shown in FIG. 25(A), it has a cylindrical shape with a predetermined diameter d12. It is formed in a shape protruding at a predetermined height. In addition, the diameter d12 of this convex portion is set to be approximately the same as the width w11 of the groove of the second positioning means 61 (a dimension that allows entry).

The third positioning means 63 in the opening/closing cover 4B is composed of a convex portion provided on the back surface of the upper portion 41 of the opening/closing cover 4B so as to project downward.
The convex portion of the third positioning means 63 is introduced and positioned in a groove of the third positioned means 64, which will be described later, and has a predetermined diameter d13 as shown in FIG. 25(B). It is formed in a columnar shape so as to project at a predetermined height. The diameter d13 of the convex portion of the third positioning means 63 is set to be substantially the same as the width w12 of the groove of the third positioned means 64, which will be described later (the size that allows the entry).

The third positioned member 64 of the third upper surface cover 38 is formed by a groove provided at an inner corner of the second recess 37B of the third upper surface cover 38.
As shown in FIG. 25(B), the groove of the third positioned member 64 linearly extends by a predetermined length k2 with a predetermined width w12 along the moving directions C1 and C2 of the opening/closing cover 4B. The groove is formed, and the upstream end of the opening/closing cover 4B in the moving direction C2 is formed as an opening. Further, the groove has a tapered surface 64a for guiding the convex portion of the third positioning means 63 into the groove at the corner of the opening serving as the inlet. Further, an elongated hole 64b for accommodating the convex portion of the third positioning means 63 is provided on the bottom surface of this groove.

Further, in this exterior structure 10B, when the opening/closing cover 4B moves to the closing position, the third positioning means 63 in the opening/closing cover 4B comes into contact with the third positioned means 64 in the third upper surface cover 38, and then opens/closes. The second positioned means 62 of the cover 4B is provided so as to come into contact with the second positioning means 61 of the second upper surface cover 32.

In the second embodiment, the groove of the second positioning means 61, the convex part of the second positioned means 62, the convex part of the third positioning means 63, and the groove of the third positioned means 64 are defined as follows. They are provided in a positional relationship that satisfies the dimensional conditions.
That is, in the second embodiment, as shown in FIG. 24, the distance L2 between the convex portion of the third positioning means 63 and the opening of the groove of the third positioned means 64 is the second distance. The condition is set so that the dimension is smaller than the distance L1 between the convex portion of the positioned means 62 and the opening of the groove of the second positioning means 61 (L2<L1).

Further, in this exterior structure 10B, as shown in FIGS. 17 and 22, the opening/closing cover 4B is closed when the opening/closing cover 4B is moved to the position where the opening/closing cover 4B is closed by the second upper surface cover 32 and the third upper surface cover 38. While the second holding means 71 for holding in a state is provided, the second held means 72 that is inserted and held in the holding means 71 is provided on the upper surface 41 of the opening/closing cover 4B.

As for the second holding means 71, as shown in FIG. 17 and the like, one holding means 71A is provided on the wall surface 32c forming one side of the first recess 37A of the second top cover 32, and one holding means 71A is provided. Two holding means 71B, 71C are provided on the wall surface 38c forming one side of the second recess 37B. Each of these second holding means 71A to 71C is configured as a rectangular opening.
As shown in FIG. 22 and the like, the second held means 72 is provided with three held means 72A to 72C at the tip portion 41b of the upper portion 41 of the open/close cover 4B. Each of the second held members 72A to 72C is formed as a protruding protrusion. Further, the projections of the second held means 72A to 72 are easily inserted into the openings of the second holding means 71A to 71C as shown in FIGS. In addition, the upper surface is formed of an inclined surface that descends in a protruding direction so as to be held in close contact with the upper side of the opening.

Further, the width dimension of the opening of the second holding means 71A in the second upper surface cover 32 and the width dimension of the protrusion of the second held means 72A in the upper portion 41 of the opening/closing cover 4B may be in a fitting relationship. Therefore, the dimensions are set to be almost the same.
On the other hand, the width dimension of the opening of the second holding means 71B, 71C in the third upper surface cover 38 may be displaced in the directions D1, D2 intersecting with the third upper surface cover 38 as the movable portion 39. Thus, the size is set to be larger than the width of the protrusion of the second held means 72B, 72C on the upper portion 41 of the opening/closing cover 4B.

In addition, as shown in FIG. 17 and the like, on the upper portions of the two wall surfaces that form the first recess 37A of the second upper surface cover 32, the tip end portion 41b of the upper portion 41 of the opening/closing cover 4B when moved to the closing position is shown. A planar holding portion 55E that holds the back surface of the left end portion 41c is provided.
In addition, a planar holding portion 55F that holds the back surface of the front end portion 41b and the right end portion 41d of the upper portion 41 of the opening/closing cover 4B is also provided above the two wall surfaces forming the second recess 37B of the third upper surface cover 38. It is provided.

<Operation when closing the open/close cover>
Then, in the exterior structure 10B, particularly when the open/close cover 4B is moved to the closed position, it operates as follows.

That is, in the exterior structure 10B, when the opening/closing cover 4B is moved toward the closed position in the direction of the arrow C2, the upper portion 41 of the opening/closing cover 4B is moved to the second upper surface cover as shown in FIGS. After entering the recess 37 formed by the first recess 37A of 32 and the second recess 37B of the third top cover 38, the back surfaces of the left end 41c and the right end 41d of the upper part 41 are the second top cover 32. While being held by the holding portion 55E in and the holding portion 55F in the third upper surface cover 38, it moves toward the inner side of the recess 37 (the side where the third upper surface cover 38 is located).

In the opening/closing cover 4B at this time, first, as shown in FIG. 27, the convex portion of the third positioning means 63 on the back surface of the right end portion 41d of the upper portion 41 of the opening/closing cover 4B is the second concave portion 37B of the third upper surface cover 38. In the state of being in contact with the opening (tapered surface 64a) of the groove of the third positioned means 64 at the inner corner portion of, the further moving to the inner side.

At this time, in the third upper surface cover 38 serving as the movable portion 39, the convex portion of the third positioning means 63 on the opening/closing cover 4B side is introduced into the groove of the third positioned means 64 and fitted therein, The positions of the intersecting directions D1 and D2 of the third upper surface cover 38 are determined.
That is, at this time, the third upper surface cover 38 receives the guiding action when the convex portion of the third positioning means 63 is introduced into the groove of the third positioned means 64, so that the intersecting directions D1, D2. Can be displaced on either side by the required amount. Strictly speaking, the third upper surface cover 38 at this time is displaced to the necessary side in the directions D1 and D2 intersecting with the first upper surface cover 31 fixedly attached to the apparatus body 2.

As a result, in the exterior structure 10B, when the opening/closing cover 4B is moved to the closing position, first, the position in the intersecting directions D1 and D2 of the third upper surface cover 38, which is the movable portion 39, is the upper portion 41 of the opening/closing cover 4B. It is adjusted with reference to (the third positioning means 63).

Subsequently, in the opening/closing cover 4B, as shown in FIG. 27 and the like, the convex portion of the second positioned member 62 on the back surface of the left end portion 41c of the upper portion 41 is the first concave portion 37A of the second upper surface cover 32. In the state of being in contact with the opening (tapered surface 61a) of the groove of the second positioning means 61 located at the inner corner portion of the second positioning means 61, it moves further to the inner side.

At this time, in the opening/closing cover 4B, the convex portion of the second positioned member 62 is introduced into the groove of the second positioning member 61 on the second upper surface cover 32 side and fitted into the opening/closing cover 4B so that the opening/closing cover 4B intersects. The positions of the directions D1 and D2 to be set are determined.
At this time, the third upper surface cover 38, which is integrated with the open/close cover 4B by fitting the convex portion of the third positioning means 63 into the groove of the third positioned means 64, also intersects again. The positions of the directions D1 and D2 to be set are determined.
That is, the opening/closing cover 4</b>B at this time receives the guiding action when the convex portion of the second positioned member 62 is introduced into the groove of the second positioning member 61, so that the opening/closing cover 4</b>B with the second upper surface cover 32 as a reference. Is displaced compulsorily by the required amount on either side of the intersecting directions D1, D2. Further, since the third upper surface cover 38 at this time is the movable portion 39, it can be displaced by a necessary amount on either side of the directions D1 and D2 that intersect with the opening/closing cover 4B integrally.

As a result, in the exterior structure 10B, when the opening/closing cover 4B is moved to the closing position, the positions of the opening/closing cover 4B (the upper portion 41 and the side wall portion 42) in the intersecting directions D1 and D2 are (the second upper surface cover 32). It is adjusted with reference to the second positioning means 61).
At this time, the positions of the third upper surface cover 38 in the intersecting directions D1 and D2 are also adjusted again with reference to (the third positioning means 63 of) the adjusted opening/closing cover 4B.

By the way, in the opening/closing cover 4B at this time, the tip ends of the protrusions of the second held members 72A to 72C in the upper portion 41 are the third holding member 71A and the third holding member 71A in the second upper surface cover 32. The second holding means 71B and 71C on the upper surface cover 38 enter the openings. As a result, the open/close cover 4B is maintained in the closed state.
Further, at this time, even if the third upper surface cover 38, which is the movable portion 39, is displaced again in the directions D1 and D2 integrally intersecting with the opening/closing cover 4B as described above, the upper portion 41 of the opening/closing cover 4B does not move. There is no risk of unnecessarily colliding in the directions D1 and D2 in which the projections of the second held means 72B and 72C and the openings of the second holding means 71B and 71C in the third upper surface cover 38 intersect.

Also in this exterior structure 10B, when the open/close cover 4B is closed, the upper portion 41 of the open/close cover 4B and the third recess 37A of the second upper surface cover 32 and the third recess 37A are closed as shown in FIGS. The upper cover 38 enters the concave portion 37 formed by the second concave portion 37B and is adjacent to the concave portion 37. Further, at this time, in the boundary portion between the upper portion 41 of the opening/closing cover 4B and the concave portion 37 formed by the second upper surface cover 32 and the third upper surface cover 38, as shown in FIG. Almost the same as in the case of the exterior structure 10A according to the present embodiment, there is a gap 12 in a depressed state.

The gap 12 at this time is also one gap portion 12a extending linearly along the directions D1 and D2 intersecting the directions C1 and C2 when the opening/closing cover 4B is moved (opening/closing), and the one gap. The gap has a pair of gap portions 12b and 12c that extend linearly from both ends of the portion 12a toward the back side and are present in a state of facing each other.
However, the one gap portion 12a at this time includes the gap portion 12aa existing in the boundary portion where the upper portion 41 of the opening/closing cover 4B faces the first recess 37A of the second upper surface cover 32 and the upper portion 41 of the opening/closing cover 4B. 3 The gap is the sum of the gap portion 12ab existing at the boundary portion facing the second recess 37B of the upper surface cover 38. Further, in the pair of gap portions 12b and 12c, one of the gap portions 12b is a gap at a boundary portion facing the first recess 37A in the second upper surface cover 32, and the other gap portion 12c is in the third upper surface cover 38. It becomes a gap at the boundary portion facing the second recess 37B.

However, also in this exterior structure 10B, when the opening/closing cover 4B is closed, the gap α3 between the pair of gap portions 12b and 12c in the gap 12 is almost the same as in the case of the exterior structure 10A according to the first embodiment. α4 (FIG. 18) may vary greatly and vary.

On the other hand, in the exterior structure 10B, when the opening/closing cover 4B is moved to the closing position, the positions of the movable portion 39, which is the third upper surface cover 38, in the intersecting directions D1 and D2 are based on the opening/closing cover 4B. After being adjusted and determined, the positions of the opening/closing cover 4B in the intersecting directions D1 and D2 are adjusted and determined based on the second upper surface cover 32.
That is, in the exterior structure 10B, as a whole, opening/closing is performed with the second upper surface cover 32 fixedly attached to the part 31c of the first upper surface cover 31 fixedly attached to the apparatus main body 2 as a reference. The positions of the cover 4B and the third upper surface cover 38 in the intersecting directions D1 and D2 are determined.

Therefore, in the exterior structure 10B, when the opening/closing cover 4B is moved to the closed position, the positional relationship between the upper portion 41 of the opening/closing cover 4B, the second upper surface cover 32, and the third upper surface cover 38 in the directions D1 and D2 intersects. It is kept almost constant.
Therefore, the boundary between the upper portion 41 of the opening/closing cover 4B when moved to the closing position and the concave portion 37 formed by the first concave portion 37A of the second upper surface cover 32 and the second concave portion 37B of the third upper surface cover 38. Among the gaps 12 formed in the portions, the gaps α3 and α4, particularly between the pair of gap portions 12b and 12c, are kept substantially at the initial setting values, and variations in the gap portions 12b and 12c are suppressed.
In particular, even with this exterior structure 10B, variations in the gap portions 12b and 12c can be easily suppressed in accordance with the operation of moving the opening/closing cover 4B to the closing position.

As described above, in the exterior structure 10B according to the second embodiment, and further in the image forming apparatus 1B including the exterior structure 10B, the exterior structure 10B extends over the upper part 41 of the open/close cover 4B, the second upper surface cover 32, and the third upper surface cover 38. The gap 12 (especially the pair of gap portions 12b and 12c) existing at the boundary with the formed concave portion 37 is maintained in a state where there is almost no variation. There is no risk of losing its appearance.

In the exterior structure 10B according to the second embodiment, as shown in FIG. 28, the third upper surface cover 38 intersects with the upper side surface portion 382 at the right end of the third upper surface cover 38, which is the movable portion 39. A joining portion 81 is provided that comes into contact with the upper end portion of the peripheral portion 36b of the right side surface cover 36 and joins when moving in the directions D1 and D2. Further, the joined portion 85 is provided in contact with the joining portion 81 on the upper end portion 36e of the peripheral portion 36b of the right side surface cover 36 that covers the right side surface portion 25 of the third upper surface cover 38.

Of these, the joined portion 85 is linearly formed in a portion of the upper end portion 36e of the peripheral portion 36b of the right side cover 36 facing the upper side surface portion 382 of the third upper surface cover 38 so as to bulge upward from that portion. The insertion convex portion 86 is formed. Further, the joint portion 81 is configured as a sandwiching receiving portion 82 provided with a recessed portion 83 that is sandwiched and received so as to come into contact when the insertion convex portion 86 of the joined portion 85 moves in the directions D1 and D2 intersecting with each other. ..
The concave portion 83 of the sandwiching receiving portion 82 may have left and right restricting wall portions 83a and 83b that secure a width wider than the width of the inserting convex portion 86 in the intersecting directions D1 and D2.

Thereby, in the exterior structure 10B, for example, when the third upper surface cover 38 is attached to the part 31e of the first upper surface cover 31, the joint portion 81 is in a state of being joined to the joined portion 85, and the third upper surface cover is formed. The upper side surface portion 382 of 38 is joined to the upper end portion 36e of the peripheral portion 36b of the right side surface cover 36.

In the exterior structure 10B, when the opening/closing cover 4B is moved to the closing position, when the third upper surface cover 38, which is the movable portion 39, is displaced in the intersecting directions D1 and D2 as described above, the bonded portion 85 Since the insertion convex portion 86 comes into contact with either of the left and right restricting wall portions 83a and 83b of the concave portion 83 in the sandwiching receiving portion 82 of the joining portion 81, as shown in FIG. 29, the displacement operation of the third upper surface cover 38. The upper end 36e of the peripheral portion 36b of the right side cover 36 also moves in the same direction (D1 or D2) in association with the above, and is displaced or bent.
As a result, even if the third upper surface cover 38 is displaced in the intersecting directions D1 and D2 as described above, the upper side surface portion 382 of the third upper surface cover 38 and the upper end portion of the peripheral portion 36b of the right side surface cover 36. It is unlikely that a step (positional shift in the intersecting directions D1 and D2) is formed between the groove 36 and 36e.

However, when the upper end of the peripheral portion 36b of the right side cover 36 is displaced or bent in conjunction with the displacement of the third upper surface cover 38, as shown in FIG. The gap of the gap 14 existing at the boundary between the upper portion of the back surface portion and the side wall portion 42 of the opening/closing cover 4B may vary. However, since the gap 14 is located on the back surface of the exterior structure 10B or the image forming apparatus 1B, it is less noticeable and looks better than the gap (for example, the gap 12) on the top surface of the exterior structure 10B or the image forming apparatus 1B. Less likely to occur.

Further, in the exterior structure 10B, the insertion convex portion 86 of the left and right restricting wall portions 83a and 83b in the concave portion 83 of the sandwiching receiving portion 82 is irrespective of which side the third upper surface cover 38 is displaced in the intersecting direction D1 or D2. Since it contacts with either one, the upper end of the peripheral portion 36b of the right side cover 36 is displaced or bent following the displacement of the third upper surface cover 38.
Therefore, the step is unlikely to occur regardless of which side the third upper surface cover 38 is displaced in the intersecting direction D1 or D2.

[Modification]
The exterior structure according to the present invention is limited to the exterior structures 10A and 10B including the opening/closing covers 4 and 4B configured to cover a part of the upper surface portion 21 of the apparatus body 2 as exemplified in the first and second embodiments. However, the external structure may include an opening/closing cover configured to cover other parts of the apparatus main body 2.
Further, regarding the joint portion 81 and the jointed portion 85, the joint portion 81 may be configured as the insertion convex portion 86, and the jointed portion 85 may be configured as the sandwiching receiving portion 82.

Further, the exterior structure of the present invention is not limited to the case of being applied to the apparatus body 2 of the image forming apparatus illustrated in the first and second embodiments, and the apparatus body that needs to be covered with the cover 3 of another apparatus. The exterior structure may be. Examples of other devices include devices related to image formation, such as a post-processing device and a large-capacity paper feeding device, and devices in the technical field other than the image forming device.

1A, 1B... Image forming device 2... Device body 3... Cover (covering means)
4, 4B... Opening/closing cover (an example of opening/closing means)
10A, 10B... Exterior structure 21... Upper surface portion 21b... Part of upper surface portion (an example of a part of the apparatus main body)
21c: Part of the upper surface (an example of another part of the apparatus main body)
32... Second upper surface cover (an example of a covering means for covering a part of the apparatus main body)
36b... Peripheral part of right side cover (an example of second covering means)
37... Recessed portion (an example of a part adjacent to the opening/closing means of the covering means)
38... Third upper surface cover (a portion adjacent to a part of the opening/closing means of the covering means, an example of a movable portion)
39... Movable part 41... Upper part (a part adjacent to a part of the covering means of the opening/closing means. An example of the movable part)
42... Side wall portion (an example of side portion)
43... Movable part 51... Positioning means 52... Positioned means 61... Second positioning means 62... Second positioned means 63... Third positioning means 64... Third positioned means 81... Joined portion 85... Target Joining part 82... Sandwich receiving part 86... Inserting convex part C1, C2... Moving direction D1, D2... Crossing direction

Claims (10)

A covering means for covering a part of the device body to be covered,
An opening/closing unit that moves between a position that covers another part of the device body in a state of being adjacent to a part of the covering unit and a position that exposes the other part,
Equipped with
The opening/closing means is configured as a movable part in which a portion adjacent to a part of the covering means at the covering position is displaceable in a direction intersecting the moving direction with respect to a main body portion other than the covering portion. Exterior structure. A covering means for covering a part of the device body to be covered,
An opening/closing unit that moves between a position that covers another part of the device body in a state of being adjacent to a part of the covering unit and a position that exposes the other part,
Equipped with
A portion of the cover means adjacent to a part of the opening/closing means when in the cover position is displaceable in a direction intersecting the moving direction of the opening/closing means with respect to another part of the apparatus body. An exterior structure configured as a movable part provided in the. The covering means has positioning means for determining a position of the opening/closing means in the intersecting direction when the opening/closing means moves to the covering position,
The exterior structure according to claim 1, wherein the movable portion of the opening/closing means has a positioned means which is positioned in contact with the positioning means. The covering means is a means for covering a part of an upper surface portion of the apparatus main body,
The opening/closing means is composed of an upper part that covers another part of the upper surface of the device body and a side part that covers a side surface part that continues from another part of the upper surface of the device body. The exterior structure according to claim 1 or 3, which is configured as the movable portion. The covering means has a second positioning means in a non-movable portion other than the movable portion, which determines a position of the opening/closing means in the intersecting direction when the opening/closing means moves to the covering position,
The opening/closing means has a second positioned means that is positioned in contact with the second positioning means, and a third positioning means that positions the movable portion of the covering means in the intersecting direction. ,
The exterior structure according to claim 2, wherein the movable portion of the covering means has a third positioned means that is positioned by contacting the third positioning means. When the opening/closing means moves to the covering position, the third positioning means in the opening/closing means comes into contact with the third positioned means in the movable part of the covering means, and then the second positioned means in the opening/closing means. The exterior structure according to claim 5, wherein is provided so as to contact the second positioning means in the non-movable portion of the covering means. A second cover means for covering a portion of the main body of the apparatus that approaches the one end of the movable portion of the cover means in the intersecting direction so as to intersect with the one end,
The movable portion of the covering means has a joint portion that is in contact with and joins a part of the second covering means when the movable portion is moved to at least the one end portion in the intersecting direction,
The exterior structure according to claim 2, 5 or 6, wherein the second covering means has a joined portion that can be brought into contact with and joined to the joining portion. The said joining part and the said to-be-joined part are comprised as one insert part, and the other is comprised as a pinch receiving part which pinches and receives the said insertion part so that it may contact in the said crossing direction. Exterior structure. The covering means is a means for covering a part of an upper surface portion of the apparatus main body, and a portion adjacent to a part of the opening/closing means is configured as the movable portion when the opening/closing means moves to the covering position. And
The opening/closing means includes an upper portion that covers another portion of the upper surface of the apparatus body and a side portion that covers a side surface portion that continues from the other portion of the upper surface of the apparatus body. The exterior structure according to 5, 6, 7 or 8. Between a covering means for covering a part of the apparatus main body of the image forming apparatus, a position for covering another part of the apparatus main body adjacent to the part of the covering means, and a position for exposing the other part. And an exterior structure having an opening/closing means that moves by
An image forming apparatus, wherein the exterior structure includes the exterior structure according to any one of claims 1 to 9.

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