JP3201583B2 - Sensor operation mechanism - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a sensor operation that operates a sensor via a rotary operation lever that rotates in conjunction with the operation of a detected portion in a device such as a printer, a facsimile machine, a word processor, and a typewriter. It concerns the mechanism.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In devices such as printers, facsimile machines, word processors, and typewriters,
Various sensors such as a sensor for detecting that the cover member is opened, a sensor for detecting the leading and trailing edges of the paper, a sensor for detecting the presence or absence of the paper cassette, and a sensor for detecting that the paper tray cover is opened. Is provided. Then, due to the difficulty in securing a space for providing these sensors near the detected part or the convenience of electric wiring for the sensors, the sensors are placed at a position distant from the detected part (for example, near the bottom of the main body case of the apparatus). In many cases, a sensor operating mechanism is provided to operate the sensor via a rotary operating lever that is arranged and rotates in conjunction with the operation of the detected part.

This sensor operating mechanism is usually arranged in a side wall structure of a main body case made of a synthetic resin due to space restrictions, and has a rotary operating lever and a pivot shaft for supporting the operating lever to the main body case. Is often integrally formed of a synthetic resin material, and a photo interrupter is often applied as the sensor. Conventionally, the rotary operating lever as described above is not configured to be guided by the main body case at a location other than the pivot shaft or to be restricted in position.

[0004]

In the above-described sensor operating mechanism having the rotary operating lever, if the operating lever is short, there is not much problem. However, if the operating lever is long, the problem does not occur. Since the length from the pivot shaft that pivots the operating lever to the actuator that activates the sensor increases, even if there is slight backlash in the pivot that pivots the operating lever, the actuator that activates the sensor is Positional deviation increases. In this case, the operating portion of the operating lever is disengaged from the detecting portion of the sensor, and the sensor cannot be operated reliably.

In particular, when the sensor is a small photointerrupter, the width of the detection unit is small, so that the photointerrupter cannot be operated even if the operation unit is slightly displaced. In addition, if the main body case and the operating lever are made of synthetic resin, it is difficult to improve their manufacturing accuracy, and if the operating lever and the pivot are integrally formed of a synthetic resin material, the Since the manufacturing accuracy with the pivot hole on the main body case side is apt to be reduced, the above problem is likely to occur. An object of the present invention is to make it possible to reliably operate a sensor with a rotary operation lever in a sensor operation mechanism, to regulate an operation lever to a desired position with a simple configuration, and to use a main body case and an operation lever. The required accuracy can be relaxed, and so on.

[0006]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the sensor operating mechanism is provided via a rotary operating lever that rotates in conjunction with the operation of a detected portion in a device such as a printer, a facsimile machine, a word processor, and a typewriter. In a sensor operating mechanism for operating the sensor by means of the sensor, at a substantially intermediate position between the pivot shaft for rotatably supporting the operating lever to the main body case of the device and the sensor, the operating lever is a shaft of the pivot shaft. It is a regulation unit that regulates not to swing in the direction of the heart
The regulating part , which is a separate member from the sensor, is provided in the main body case.

In this sensor operating mechanism, the rotary operating lever is rotatably supported by the main body case via a pivot shaft, and when the detected portion operates, the operating lever rotates in conjunction therewith. Then, the sensor is operated by the operation lever, and the operation of the detected portion is detected by the sensor. The regulating part is provided between the sensor and a pivot shaft that pivotally supports the operating lever .
At a substantially intermediate position , the operating lever is restricted from swinging in the axial direction of the pivot shaft. Therefore, even if there is play between the pivot shaft and the pivot hole for pivotally supporting the pivot shaft, the sensor can be reliably operated without the operating lever swinging in the axial direction of the pivot shaft. Since the required accuracy of the pivot shaft and the pivot portion is also eased, it is advantageous in terms of manufacturing the main body case, the operating lever, and the pivot shaft.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, the pivot shaft and the operating lever are integrally formed of a synthetic resin material so that the pivot shaft does not move in the axial direction.
The collar for positioning is formed integrally with the pivot shaft.
It is characterized in that the. Pivoting through the collar
The shaft can be positioned so that it does not move in the axial direction.
To improve the position accuracy of the operating lever in the axial direction.
Can be. It is advantageous that the number of parts can be reduced by integrally forming the pivot shaft and the operating lever with a synthetic resin material. It is not easy to maintain high production accuracy of the synthetic resin molded product, but there is no problem because the required accuracy is relaxed as described in the first aspect. In addition, the same operation as the first aspect is achieved.

[0009] Sensor actuation mechanism according to claim 3 is the invention of claim 1 or 2, wherein the regulating portion is Ri Do a pair of ribs intersecting substantially perpendicularly with the actuating lever in the opposite sides of the actuating lever, these 1 The pair of ribs
It is characterized by being provided over the entire range . Therefore, even when the operating lever rotates, the operating lever can be reliably restricted without interfering with the operating lever. Since the restricting portion includes a pair of ribs, the restricting portion has a simple configuration. In addition, the same operation as the first or second aspect is achieved.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the third aspect of the invention, at least one of the pair of ribs constituting the restricting portion is a reinforcing rib for reinforcing the main body case. is there. As described above, since the reinforcing rib for reinforcing the main body case is effectively used as at least a part of the restricting portion, the configuration of the restricting portion can be further simplified. In addition, the same operation as the third aspect is achieved.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a sensor operating mechanism.
4. The sensor according to claim 4, wherein the sensor is a photo interrupter. In the case of a sensor other than the photo interrupter, a certain amount of displacement of the operating unit can be tolerated by increasing the size of the operating unit that operates the detecting unit of the sensor of the operating lever. Although the width of the rectangular groove is small, the allowable width of the positional deviation of the operating portion of the operating lever is reduced, but the photo interrupter can be reliably operated by regulating the operating lever by the regulating portion. In addition, the same operation as in any one of claims 1 to 4 is achieved.

[0012]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. This embodiment is an example in which the present invention is applied to a sensor operation mechanism of a facsimile machine. As shown in FIG. 1, the facsimile machine 1 includes:
An opening / closing cover 3 made of synthetic resin is provided to cover the upper surface of the synthetic resin main body case 2 so as to be openable and closable, and a paper tray 4 for setting cut paper is provided at a rear portion of the main body case 2. The paper tray 4 is provided with a paper tray cover 5 that can be opened forward by a predetermined angle when paper is set on the paper tray 4.

As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, a paper feed table 7 urged by a spring 6 is provided inside the paper tray 4, and the paper tray cover 5 is
The paper can be switched between a closed position shown by a solid line and an open position shown by a chain line, and the paper (not shown) in the paper tray 4 is fed by a paper feed roller 9. Photointerrupter 1 serving as a sensor for detecting opening and closing of the paper tray cover 5
No. 0 is provided on the upper surface of the sensor mounting plate 11 near the bottom of the main body case 2.
The sensor operation mechanism 20 that operates the photointerrupter 10 in conjunction with the operation of “a” is provided as follows.

The sensor operating mechanism 20 comprises a first operating lever 21, a pivot 22, a second operating lever 23, a spring member 24, a third operating lever 25, and an integral part of the third operating lever 25. It comprises a pivot shaft 26, a pivot member 27 that pivotally supports the pivot shaft 26, a regulating portion 28 that regulates the position of the third operating lever 25, and the like. The first operating lever 21, the pivot shaft 22, and the second operating lever 23 are integrally molded products of synthetic resin, and the third operating lever 25 and the pivot shaft 26 are integrally molded products of synthetic resin. The second operating lever 23, the third operating lever 25, the pivot 26, and the pivot member 2
7 and the regulating portion 28 are disposed inside the right side wall structure 13 on the right end side of the main body case 2.

The pivot shaft 22 is disposed slightly in front of and above the paper feed roller 9 in a horizontal direction.
Is rotatably supported by the support portion 12 of the main body case 2, and the front end of the first operating lever 21 is integrally formed at the left end of the pivot shaft 22. At the right end of the pivot shaft 22, an upper end of the second operating lever 23 is integrally formed,
A first operating lever 21 and a second operating lever 23 are urged in a counterclockwise direction in FIG. 2 by a spring member 24 provided on the pivot 22.

When the paper tray cover 5 is in the closed position, the detected portion 5a is in contact with the upper surface of the rear end of the first operating lever 21, and the first and second operating levers 21 and 23 are moved as shown in FIG. When the paper tray cover 5 is held at the position indicated by the solid line and the paper tray cover 5 is opened, the detected portion 5a is separated from the first operation lever 21, and the first and second operation levers 21 and 23 are switched to the positions indicated by chain lines in FIG. , Hold that position. At the lower end of the second operating lever 23, an engaging piece 23a is provided for engaging the upper end of the third operating lever 25 from the front. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the third operating lever 25 has a substantially vertical long lever portion 25a and a substantially horizontal long horizontal lever portion 25b. A directional pivot shaft 26 is integrally formed, and the pivot shaft 26 is pivotally attached to a synthetic resin pivot member 27 so as to be rotatable. The pivot shaft 26 has its flange 26 a connected to the pivot member 2.
It is positioned in the left-right direction sandwiching between the wall 7 and the wall 14.

The pivot member 27 is of a portal type when viewed from the front, and a pair of left and right open bottom pivot holes 2 is formed at the lower end of the pivot member 27.
7a is formed on the upper wall portion 27b of the pivotal support member 27.
An opening 27c through which the operating lever 25 is loosely inserted is formed, and its upper wall 27b is connected to the right side wall structure 1 of the main body case 2.
3 is fixed to the right side wall structure 13 by being fitted into the opening 15 of the shelf plate 3, and the third operating lever 25 is
Are pivotally supported by a pair of left and right pivotal support holes 27a, and are supported by the main body case 2 via the pivotal support members 27.

When the paper tray cover 5 is in the closed position,
In FIG. 2, the second operating lever 23 is at the position indicated by the solid line, and the engaging piece 23a of the second operating lever 23 is separated from the third operating lever 25 forward, so that the third operating lever 25 is at the position indicated by the solid line. (Because the horizontal lever portion 25b is heavier), the operating portion 25c at the tip thereof is
The photointerrupter 10 is turned off in order to shut off the 0 detection unit 10a. When the paper tray cover 5 is opened,
When the second operation lever 23 is at the position indicated by the dashed line, the engagement piece 23a
To push the upper end portion of the third operating lever 25 backward, the third operating lever 25 is switched to the position indicated by the dashed line, and the photo interrupter 10 is turned on because the detection unit 10a of the photo interrupter 10 is not interrupted by the operating unit 25c. become.

Since the third operating lever 25 is a long lever and has a large length from the pivot 26 to the operating portion 25c, the third operating lever 25 is loose due to rattling in the pivot supporting the pivot 26 in the pivot hole 27a. When the operating portion 25c of the third operating lever 25 swings in the left and right direction, the photo interrupter 10
Therefore, a restricting portion 28 for restricting the horizontal lever portion 25b of the third operating lever from swinging in the left-right direction is provided as follows. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the right side wall structure 13 of the main body case 2 is provided.
In the right side wall structure 1
A column 16 having a tapered rectangular tube shape for securing the rigidity of 3 is provided, and a plate-like reinforcing rib 29 that is substantially vertically oriented and oriented in the left-right direction is integrally formed on the rear surface of the column 16.

[0020] The reinforcing ribs 29 are to be crossed substantially perpendicularly to the horizontal lever portion 25b of the third operating lever 25 when viewed from the side, the reinforcing ribs 29 and pivot shaft 26 follower
The reinforcing rib 29 is formed at a substantially intermediate position between the interrupter 10 and a notch opening 30 having an open lower end for allowing the horizontal lever portion 25b of the third operating lever 25 to pass therethrough with a small gap. Of the ribs 29, the left and right ribs 29a and 29b located on the left and right sides of the notch opening 30 swing the horizontal lever portion 25b in the vertical direction.
The regulation unit 28 over the entire range of movement
A restricting portion 28 is formed separately from the taper 10, and the horizontal lever portion 25 is formed by the left and right ribs 29 a and 29 b.
b is restrained from substantially swinging in the left-right direction, and the photo-interrupter 1 is
0 is reliably operated.

The operation of the sensor operation mechanism 20 described above will be described. The operation in conjunction with the opening and closing of the paper tray cover 5 is as described above, and a duplicate description thereof will be omitted. When the horizontal lever portion 25b of the third operation lever 25 swings in the left-right direction, the horizontal lever portion 25b abuts on the left rib 29a or the right rib 29b and does not swing any more. As described above, since the horizontal lever portion 25b of the third operating lever 25 is prevented from swinging in the left and right direction by the restricting portion 28 including the pair of right and left ribs 29a and 29b,
Even if the pivot portion of the third operation lever 25 is loose, the horizontal lever portion 25b does not swing in the left-right direction as the operation portion 25c departs from the detection portion 10a of the photo-interrupter 10, and interlocks with the opening and closing of the paper tray cover 5. As a result, the photointerrupter 10 can be reliably operated, and the reliability of the sensor operation mechanism 20 is improved.

Since the required manufacturing accuracy of the pivot shaft 26 for pivotally supporting the third operating lever 25 and the pivot hole 27a is also eased, it is advantageous in terms of manufacturing the third operating lever 25 and the pivot member 27. become. Since the restricting portion 28 is composed of a pair of right and left ribs 29a and 29b, the configuration is extremely simple. The restricting portion 28 is configured by effectively utilizing the reinforcing rib 29. The structure does not become complicated. In addition, since the pair of ribs 29a and 29b constituting the regulating portion 28 are disposed substantially orthogonal to the horizontal lever portion 25b of the third operating lever 25 in a side view, the pair of ribs 29a and 29b are provided. Does not interfere with the horizontal lever portion 25b, and reliably exerts a regulating action. Further, since the first operating lever 21, the pivot shaft 22, and the second operating lever 23 are an integrated product made of synthetic resin, and the third operating lever 25 and the pivot shaft 26 are an integrated product made of synthetic resin. The number of parts can be reduced, the assembly is simple, and the production cost is advantageous.

Here, an example in which the above embodiment is partially modified will be described. The pivot shaft 26 for pivotally supporting the third operating lever 25 may be formed separately from the third operating lever 25. In addition, the pivot shaft 26 is provided in the pivot hole of the main body case 2 without using the pivot member 27. You may comprise so that it may pivot directly.
In the embodiment, the reinforcing rib 29 is effectively used to control the restricting portion 2.
8, a dedicated rib or member functioning as the regulating portion 28 can be provided, or only one of the pair of ribs 29 a and 29 b constituting the regulating portion 28 is constituted by the reinforcing rib 29. Is also good.

The sensor operating mechanism 20 of the above embodiment includes:
Rotary first, second and third operating levers 21, 23, 25
However, the present invention can be similarly applied to a sensor operating mechanism having one or two rotary operating levers. Also,
The present invention can be similarly applied to a sensor operating mechanism that operates various sensors such as a micro switch and a limit switch, in addition to the sensor operating mechanism 20 that operates the photo interrupter 10. The present invention can of course be applied to a sensor operating mechanism for detecting the operation of various detected parts other than the paper tray cover 5, and in addition to the facsimile apparatus 1, devices such as a printer, a word processor, a typewriter, etc. The present invention can be similarly applied to various sensor operating mechanisms described above.

[0025]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the sensor is substantially intermediate between the pivot shaft that pivotally supports the operating lever and the sensor.
In position, the actuating lever is a separate member from the a regulating portion for regulating so as not shake the axial direction of the pivot shaft sensor Tadashi
Since the control portion is provided, even if there is play between the pivot shaft and the pivot hole for pivotally supporting the pivot shaft, the operation lever can be reliably operated without the operating lever swinging in the axial direction of the pivot shaft. . Also,
Since the required accuracy of the pivot shaft and the pivot hole is also reduced, it is advantageous in terms of manufacturing the main body case, the operating lever, and the pivot shaft.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, it is preferable that the
Position the pivot axis so that it does not move in the axial direction.
High accuracy in the axial direction of the operating lever.
Can be In addition, it is advantageous that the number of parts can be reduced by integrally forming the pivot shaft and the operating lever with a synthetic resin material. Although it is not easy to maintain high manufacturing accuracy of the synthetic resin molded product, there is no problem because the required accuracy is relaxed as described in the first aspect. The other effects are the same as those of the first aspect.

According to the invention of claim 3, restricting portion, Ri Do a pair of ribs intersecting substantially perpendicularly with the actuating lever in the opposite sides of the actuating lever, these pair of ribs actuating lever
In <br/> the provided manner over the entire range of swing range, even when the actuating lever is pivoted, without interfering with the actuating lever, can be restricted reliably actuating lever. Since the restricting portion includes a pair of ribs, the restricting portion has a simple configuration. In addition, the same effect as the first or second aspect is obtained.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, at least one of the pair of ribs constituting the restricting portion is a reinforcing rib for reinforcing the main body case, and the reinforcing rib for reinforcing the main body case is at least partially provided in the restricting portion. The configuration of the regulating unit can be further simplified. The other effects are the same as those of the third aspect.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the sensor is a photointerrupter, and the detecting portion of the photointerrupter has a narrow rectangular groove shape, and the position of the operating portion of the operating lever for operating the photointerrupter. Although the allowable width of the displacement is reduced, the photointerrupter can be reliably operated by restricting the operating lever by the restricting portion. In addition, the same effect as any one of the first to fourth aspects can be obtained.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall perspective view of a facsimile apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional side view of a main part including a sensor operating mechanism of the facsimile machine.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged vertical sectional side view of a main part of a sensor operating mechanism and a peripheral part thereof.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional front view of a main part of a sensor operating mechanism and a peripheral part thereof.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Facsimile apparatus 10 Photointerrupter 20 Sensor operation mechanism 21 1st operation lever 22 pivotal support shaft 23 2nd operation lever 25 3rd operation lever 26 pivotal support shaft 26a flange 28 regulation part 29 reinforcement rib 29a left side rib 29b right side rib

Claims (5)

(57) [Claims] 1. A printer, a facsimile machine, a word processor
Of the part to be detected in devices such as
Sensing via a rotary actuating lever that rotates in conjunction with operation
A sensor actuating mechanism for actuating the operating lever, wherein an operating lever is pivotally supported on a main body case of the device.
Between the pivot axis and the sensorAlmost in the middle ofsmell
The operating lever so that it does not swing in the axial direction of the pivot shaft.
Regulatory department to controlAnd a restricting portion of a member separate from the sensor.
Provided in a main body case.
Structure. 2. The pivot shaft and the operating lever are integrally formed of a synthetic resin material, and the pivot shaft does not move in the axial direction.
The sensor operating mechanism according to claim 1, wherein a flange portion for positioning is formed integrally with the pivot shaft . 3. The restricting portion comprises a pair of ribs that intersect the operating lever at right angles on both sides of the operating lever.
The pair of ribs is the entire range of the swing range of the operating lever.
The sensor operating mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the sensor operating mechanism is provided so as to extend over the sensor operating mechanism. 4. The sensor operating mechanism according to claim 3, wherein at least one of the pair of ribs constituting the restricting portion is a reinforcing rib for reinforcing a main body case. 5. The sensor operating mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the sensor is a photo interrupter.