JP2615165B2 - Automatic document feeder opening and closing mechanism - Google Patents

Description

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an opening / closing mechanism of an automatic document feeder provided in an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine and a facsimile machine.

[Conventional technology]

Conventionally, an automatic document feeder that can be opened and closed (hereinafter ADF)
Image forming apparatuses such as a copying machine and a facsimile machine equipped with an image forming apparatus. There is an ADF opening / closing mechanism configured to be easily attached to and detached from the image forming apparatus main body.

The configuration of the ADF opening / closing mechanism will be described with reference to side sectional views shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. The opening / closing mechanism 1 includes a main body-side support portion 2, an ADF-side support portion 3, and a spring member 4.

The main body side support portion 2 includes a base 20, a support member 22, a support shaft 23, and a positioning member 24. The support member 22 is provided below the base 20, and the support member 22 is provided in a mounting hole of the image forming apparatus main body 5. The ADF 6 is attached to the main body 5 by being inserted into the 51. The support shaft 23 is provided behind the base 20 and rotatably supports the following ADF-side support portion 3. Positioning member
24 is fixed so as to protrude downward from the front end of the base 20 by a certain length, and the lower end 241 of the positioning member 24 abuts on the upper surface 52 of the main body 5. It has a constant length interval.

The upper end of the ADF-side support portion 3 is fixed to the inner wall of the cover 61 of the ADF 6, and is supported by the base 20 by the support shaft 23, so that the ADF 6 is opened around the support shaft 23. The ADF-side support portion 3 has a spring member 4 having one end locked to the notch portion 31 and the other end locked to the main body-side support portion 2.
Is biased in a diagonally upward direction, that is, a direction in which the ADF 6 is opened. A handle 62 provided at the front end of the cover 61
A relatively small force, for example, about 1.5k compared to the weight of ADF6
The ADF6 can be opened by lifting it with a force F of about gW.

The spring member 4 includes a coil spring 41 and locking members 42 and 43. The locking member 43 on the cover 61 locks one end of the coil spring 41 and has a protruding shaft 44 in the lateral direction. The notch 31 locks. On the other hand, the locking member 42 locks the other end of the coil spring 41 and has a protruding shaft 45 in the lateral direction. The protruding shaft 45 locks the locking member 42 to the main body side support portion 2. The coil spring 41 is locked in a compressed state by the locking members 42 and 43, and the ADF-side support portion 3 is biased obliquely upward by the spring force of the coil spring 41. Further, the spring force of the coil spring 41 is set such that when the ADF 6 is opened at an angle of, for example, 60 ° to 70 °, the spring force of the coil spring 41 and the weight of the ADF 6 balance and stop at the above angle. .

[Problems to be solved by the invention]

However, in the opening and closing mechanism of the automatic document feeder, when the ADF 6 is closed, the locking member 42 is urged obliquely downward by the coil spring 41 by the spring force of the coil spring 41, and the support shaft 23 is used as a fulcrum. A counterclockwise moment is applied to the column member 22.

In addition, the width of the front and back of the support member 22 is slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the mounting hole 51, for example, about
As shown in FIG. 7, the support member 22 has a lower end portion 222 below the rear wall 512 of the mounting hole 51 and an upper end portion 224 of the front wall 511 of the mounting hole 51, as shown in FIG. Tilt forward to be pressed against the top.

Therefore, the support member 22 is tilted forward by a small angle with respect to the ADF (hereinafter, referred to as a small tilt angle). Therefore, the ADF 6 is pushed forward and shifts forward with respect to the main body 5, and Accordingly, the document conveyed to the platen glass 53 of the main body 5 is also shifted forward.

Further, when the support member 22 is tilted forward, the opening / closing mechanism 1 is slightly opened, so that the upward biasing force on the ADF-side support portion 3 due to the spring force of the coil spring 41 is closed. It may be stronger than in the state, and the cover 61 of the ADF 6 may bend.

As a countermeasure for this, as shown in FIG. 8, it is conceivable to fix the rear surface 223 of the support member 22 and the rear wall 512 of the mounting hole 51 using screws 54 or the like. Attaching and detaching the ADF 6 is difficult and time-consuming, and there is a problem that the number of parts such as the screws 54 increases and costs increase.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to solve the above problem and to provide a low-cost automatic document feeder opening / closing mechanism capable of accurately transporting a document to a platen glass.

[Means for solving the problem]

In order to achieve the above object, in claim 1 of the present invention,
In the opening / closing mechanism of the automatic document feeder, which is mounted on the main body by inserting a support member into a mounting hole formed perpendicularly to the main body and opened and closed while being urged upward by a coil spring, An elastic member is interposed between the support member and the mounting hole to press the rear surface of the support member and the rear wall of the mounting hole, or the front surface of the support member and the front wall of the mounting hole.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the opening / closing mechanism of the automatic document feeder, which is mounted on the main body by inserting a support member into the mounting hole of the main body and opened and closed while being urged upward by a coil spring, The rear surface of the support member is formed with a predetermined gradient with respect to the automatic document feeder, and the rear wall of the mounting hole is rearward with respect to the main body by a slight tilt angle from the predetermined gradient. It is formed by tilting.

[Action]

According to the configuration of the first aspect, when the support member is inserted into the mounting hole of the main body, the rear surface of the support member and the rear wall of the mounting hole, or the front surface of the support member and the front wall of the mounting hole are elastic. The support members are pressed against each other so that the support members are perpendicular to the main body.

Further, according to the configuration of the second aspect, when the support member is inclined backward by a small inclination angle and inserted into the mounting hole, the support member is inclined forward by a small inclination angle by the coil spring and returns to the original angle.

〔Example〕

FIG. 1 is a side sectional view showing a first embodiment of an ADF opening / closing mechanism according to the present invention. In the drawings, the same reference numerals as those in FIGS. 5 and 6 denote the same components.

The opening / closing mechanism 1 includes a main body side support part 2, an ADF side support part 3, and a spring member 4.

The main body side supporting portion 2 includes a base 20, a leaf spring 21 as an elastic member.
The support member 22 includes a support member 23, a support shaft 23, and a positioning member 24.The support member 22 is formed in a U-shape in cross section, and the open portion thereof is directed to the front surface 221. The width before and after 22 is slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the mounting hole 51, for example, about 0.1 mm. The leaf spring 21 is formed, for example, in a U-shaped cross-section, and is formed such that the convex portion faces downward. Further, the fixing portion 211 of the leaf spring 21 is fixed to an upper portion inside the column member 22. Leaf spring 21
The end of the main body 5 has an end portion 212 formed by bending the support member 22 into an arc shape in order to smoothly attach and detach the support member 22 to and from the mounting hole 51. When the support member 22 is inserted into the mounting hole 51 of the main body 5, The end 212 is pressed against the front wall 511 of the mounting hole 51.

Then, the spring force of the leaf spring 21 is applied to the fixed portion 211 with the end portion 212 as a fulcrum, and the upper portion of the support member 22 is urged rearward through the fixed portion 211, and furthermore, the counterclockwise moment described above causes Since the lower end 222 of the support member 22 is pressed against the lower part of the rear wall 512 of the mounting hole 51, the rear surface 223 of the support member 22 is pressed along the rear wall 512. In addition, support member 2
The front wall 511 and the rear wall 512 of the mounting hole 51 into which 2 is inserted are formed perpendicular to the upper surface 52 of the main body 5.

Therefore, while the support member 22 is easily detachable from the mounting hole 51, it does not tilt forward due to the spring force of the coil spring 41, so that the ADF 6 does not shift forward, and the cover 61 of the ADF 6 is bent. Nothing to do.

The leaf spring 21 is fixed to the front wall 511 of the mounting hole 51, and the support member 22 is inserted into the mounting hole 51 of the main body 5 when the support member 22 is inserted into the mounting hole 51.
The front surface 221 of the support 22 may be pressed against the rear surface 223 so that the rear surface 223 is pressed against the rear wall 512.
May be pressed against the front wall 511 of the mounting hole 51.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
This will be described with reference to the side sectional view of FIG. In the present embodiment, the rear surface 223 of the support member 22 is attached to the automatic document feeder, for example,
It is formed vertically, and the rear wall 512 of the mounting hole 51 is
Is inclined backward by a small angle of inclination. In the following embodiment, a description will be given of a case where the minute inclination angle is 1 ° when the front and rear widths of the support member 22 are formed to be smaller than the inner diameter of the mounting hole 51 by about 0.1 mm.

That is, as shown in FIG. 2 (a), the rear surface 223 of the support member 22 is formed perpendicular to the bottom surface 201 of the base 20 of the main body side support portion 2, and the front surface 221 is located forward with respect to the rear surface 223. And the gradient is formed, for example, at 2 °.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG.
1 is inclined forward, and a gradient of, for example, 1 ° is formed with respect to the vertical direction of the upper surface 52 of the main body 5. The rear wall 512 is tilted rearward, and forms a gradient of 1 ° with respect to the vertical direction of the upper surface 52.

That is, in the above configuration, as shown in FIG. 2 (c), when the support member 22 is inserted into the mounting hole 51, the base 20 of the main body side support 2 is inclined backward by 1 °. And
When the ADF 6 is closed in this state, a counterclockwise moment about the support shaft 23 causes the support member 22 to lean forward by 1 ° and return to the original angle. Therefore, the ADF 6 does not shift forward, and the cover 61 of the ADF 6 does not bend.

The front surface 221 of the support member 22 and the wall 5 of the mounting hole 51
Each slope of 11,512 is an angle when the width of the support member 22 is formed about 0.1 mm smaller than the inner diameter of the mounting hole 51, and appropriately according to the gap between the mounting hole 51 and the support member 22 and the length thereof, Be changed.

Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
This will be described with reference to the side sectional view of FIG. In the present embodiment, the rear surface 223 of the support member 22 is attached to the automatic document feeder, for example,
The rear wall 512 of the mounting hole 51 is formed to be inclined backward by, for example, 2 ° with respect to the main body 5 while being formed to be inclined backward by 1 °.

That is, as shown in FIG. 3 (a), the front surface 221 of the support member 22 is inclined forward with respect to the vertical direction of the bottom surface 201 of the base 20, and at the same time, for example,
A gradient of ° is formed. The rear surface 223 is also inclined backward with respect to the vertical direction, and the inclination is formed at 1 °.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG.
1 is formed, for example, perpendicular to the upper surface 52 of the main body 5. Also, the rear wall 512 is tilted rearward, and the upper surface 5
A gradient of 2 ° is formed with respect to two vertical directions.

That is, even in the above configuration, as shown in FIG. 3 (c), when the support member 22 is inserted into the mounting hole 51, it tilts backward by 1 °. When the ADF 6 is closed in this state, the support member 22 is inclined forward by 1 ° and returns to the original angle by the spring force of the coil spring 41.
Therefore, ADF6 does not shift forward,
The bending of the cover 61 of the ADF 6 does not occur.

In addition, each of the above-mentioned gradients is appropriately changed according to the gap between the mounting hole 51 and the support member 22 and the length thereof.

Next, a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
This will be described with reference to the side sectional view of FIG. In the present embodiment, the rear surface 223 of the support member 22 is attached to the automatic document feeder, for example,
It is formed to be inclined forward by 1 °, and the rear wall 512 of the mounting hole 51 is formed, for example, perpendicular to the main body 5.

That is, as shown in FIG. 4A, for example, the front surface 221 of the support member 22 is inclined forward with respect to the vertical direction of the bottom surface 201 of the base 20, and at the same time, for example, A gradient of ° is formed. The rear surface 223 is also inclined forward with respect to the vertical direction, and has a gradient of 1 °.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG.
1 is tilted forward, and a gradient of, for example, 2 ° is formed with respect to the vertical direction of the upper surface 52. Also, the back wall 51
2 is formed perpendicular to the upper surface 52.

That is, even in the above configuration, as shown in FIG. 4 (c), when the support member 22 is inserted into the mounting hole 51, it tilts backward by 1 °. When the ADF 6 is closed in this state, the support member 22 is inclined forward by 1 ° and returns to the original angle by the spring force of the coil spring 41.
Therefore, ADF6 does not shift forward,
The bending of the cover 61 of the ADF 6 does not occur.

In addition, each of the above-mentioned gradients is appropriately changed according to the gap between the mounting hole 51 and the support member 22 and the length thereof.

〔The invention's effect〕

According to the first aspect of the present invention, when the support member is inserted into the mounting hole of the main body, the rear surface of the support member and the rear wall of the mounting hole, or the front surface of the support member and the front wall of the mounting hole are connected. By pressing, the support member can be prevented from tilting forward due to the spring force of the coil spring, so that the automatic document feeder can be easily attached to and detached from the mounting hole, but when the automatic document feeder is closed. The automatic document feeder can be prevented from being shifted from the main body, and the document can be accurately conveyed to the platen glass. Further, since the automatic document feeder can be closed steadily, it is possible to prevent the automatic document feeder from being bent by the spring force of the coil spring.

According to the second aspect, after the support member is inserted backward into the mounting hole of the main body at a slight inclination angle, the support member is inclined forward by a small inclination angle by the spring force of the coil spring to return to the original angle. Returning, the original can be accurately conveyed to the platen glass. Further, it is possible to prevent the automatic document feeder from being bent by the spring force of the coil spring.
Furthermore, since the slope of the surface of the support member and the slope of the wall of the mounting hole can be formed by appropriately designing a mold for manufacturing the support member or the mounting hole, the number of parts is not increased.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional side view showing a first embodiment of an opening / closing mechanism of an automatic document feeder according to the present invention, and FIGS.
(C) is a side sectional view showing a second embodiment of the present invention, FIGS. 3 (a), (b) and (c) are side sectional views showing a third embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. ), (B) and (c) correspond to the fourth embodiment of the present invention.
5 and 6 are side sectional views showing the structure of an opening / closing mechanism of a conventional automatic document feeder, and FIGS.
FIG. 8 is a side sectional view for explaining the problem of the opening / closing mechanism of the conventional automatic document feeder. 1 Opening / closing mechanism, 2 Main body side support, 5 Main body, 20
... Base, 21 ... leaf spring, 22 ... support member, 24 ... positioning member, 51 ... mounting hole, 52 ... top surface, 201 ... bottom surface, 2
21 ... front, 223 ... rear, 511 ... front wall, 512 ... rear wall.

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] An automatic document feeder is mounted on a main body by inserting a support member into a mounting hole formed perpendicular to the main body, and is opened and closed while being urged upward by a coil spring. In the opening / closing mechanism, an elastic member that presses the rear surface of the support member and the rear wall of the mount hole or the front surface of the support member and the front wall of the mount hole is interposed between the support member and the mounting hole. An opening / closing mechanism for an automatic document feeder. 2. An opening / closing mechanism of an automatic document feeder which is mounted on a main body by being inserted into a mounting hole of the main body and is opened / closed while being urged upward by a coil spring. The rear surface is formed with a predetermined gradient with respect to the automatic document feeder, and the rear wall of the mounting hole is tilted rearward by a small tilt angle with respect to the main body with respect to the predetermined gradient. An opening and closing mechanism for an automatic document feeder, wherein the opening and closing mechanism is formed.