JP3643714B2 - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention includes a scanner unit body provided with a scanner device for reading an original image and a printer unit body provided with a printer device for forming an image on paper, and is provided on the front side of an exterior body covering the outside of the device. The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus whose part is open.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, there is an image forming apparatus in which a scanner apparatus and a printer apparatus are integrated. In this type of image forming apparatus, in order to facilitate replacement of components mounted in the printer apparatus and installation inside the image forming apparatus, It is necessary to open a part of the printer device to the outside so that the work can be performed. For this purpose, for example, the scanner unit body of the scanner device is rotatably supported with respect to the printer unit body of the printer device. Thus, by rotating the scanner unit body, the upper opening and the front side of the printer unit body can be opened to the outside.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the case of the configuration of the conventional image forming apparatus, the exterior body in the printer unit body has an open shape that is wide open on the front side. -Deformation occurs when the unit body is opened and closed, and plastic deformation may occur over time.
[0004]
The present invention solves the above-described conventional problems and provides an image forming apparatus capable of providing an exterior body with excellent strength by a relatively simple structure even if the exterior body structure has an open front side. The purpose is to do.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, the present invention comprises a scanner unit body having a scanner device for reading an original image, and a printer unit body having a printer device for forming an image on paper, and the printer unit. In the image forming apparatus in which the scanner unit body is rotatably mounted on the exterior body of the body and the front surface side of the exterior body is opened, the open portion of the exterior body of the printer unit body is the front outer body covering is obtained by the beam shape that is extended between both walls extending to face on opposite sides of the opening portion in the outer body, this configuration utilizing the front outer body The lateral strength of the entire exterior body can be reinforced to prevent the side wall of the printer unit body from collapsing in the lateral direction. Can.
[0007]
The present invention also includes a scanner unit body having a scanner device for reading an original image and a printer unit body having a printer device for forming an image on a sheet, and an upper side of the exterior body of the printer unit body. In the image forming apparatus in which the scanner unit body is rotatably mounted and the front side of the exterior body is opened, a front exterior body that covers an open portion of the exterior body of the printer unit body is provided. the bridges the said extending to face on either side of the open portion both walls of the outer package, and are those portions for reinforcing the vertical both wall portion has a beam shape formed, this Depending on the configuration, the front exterior body can be used to reinforce the entire exterior body so that the strength in the left-right and vertical directions is increased.
[0008]
Further, the present invention is such that a grid-like reinforcing rib is formed on the side surface of the front exterior body. With this configuration, the front exterior body is reinforced and deformation such as twisting occurs in the front exterior body itself. Can be prevented.
[0009]
Further, according to the present invention, an engraved display portion is formed on the upper surface of the front exterior body. With this configuration, it is not necessary to separately install a warning display portion or the like, and the configuration is simplified.
[0010]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
[0011]
FIG. 1 is an overall perspective view of an image forming apparatus in which a scanner and a printer are integrated to explain an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a rotation of a scanner unit body in the image forming apparatus of FIG. FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of a side sectional view for schematically explaining the internal structure of the image forming apparatus of FIG. 1, wherein 1 is a scanner unit body on which the scanner device is mounted, 2 is A printer unit body in which a printer device is mounted, and a scanner unit body 1 is configured to be rotatably supported on the back side of the printer unit body 2.
[0012]
The scanner unit body 1 is provided with a contact glass 11 on which a document is placed on the upper part of a scanner unit main body 10 made of resin (for example, ABS resin) which is also an exterior body, and the front side (right side in FIGS. 1 and 2). The left side in FIG. 3 is provided with switches for setting various operation modes and an operation / display panel 12 for displaying an operation state or a mode setting state. On the upper side of the contact glass 11, a pressure plate 13 that presses a book-type document placed on the contact glass 11 is installed. The pressure plate 13 is rotatable, and an end portion thereof is supported by a part of the document transport unit unit 14.
[0013]
The document transport unit 14 transports a sheet-type document. The document transport unit 14 feeds a document roller 15 that feeds documents stacked on the upper surface of the pressure plate 13 as shown in FIG. A separation conveyance roller 16 that conveys the document one by one, a pair of conveyance rollers 17, a document pressing plate 18 provided at a document reading position a provided between the pair of conveyance rollers 17, A paper tray 19 is provided.
[0014]
On the pressure plate 13 on which the sheet type document is placed, document width guide plates 20 and 21 for regulating the document width are provided, and one document width guide plate 20 moves with respect to the other document width guide plate 21. This is possible, and the position of the placed document is regulated with reference to the other document width guide plate 21.
[0015]
An optical pick 22 is movably provided below the contact glass 11 in the scanner unit main body 10, and the optical pick-up 22 is arranged laterally for a book-type document placed on the contact glass 11. To read the document information. Further, for a sheet-type document transported by the document transport unit 14, the document that moves (rightward in FIG. 3) at the document reading position a with the optical pickup 22 fixed to the document reading position a. Read information.
[0016]
In the printer unit body 2, an electrostatic image forming apparatus is mounted in a printer unit main body 30 made of resin (for example, ABS resin) which is also an exterior body. The configuration of the electrostatic image forming apparatus is known, and as shown in FIG. 3, a laser light emitting unit that mainly exposes the photoconductor 31 to form a latent image on the photoconductor 31. Unit 32, developing unit 33 for developing toner on the latent image on photoconductor 31, transfer unit 34 for transferring the toner image onto the paper, and fixing unit for fixing the transferred image by heating and pressurizing the transferred paper. 35, a paper storage cassette 36, a registration roller 37 that feeds the paper fed from the paper storage cassette 36 to the nip portion of the photosensitive member 31 and the transfer unit 34, a paper discharge roller 38, and the like. Yes.
[0017]
On the front side of the printer unit main body 30, a paper discharge tray section 40, which is a paper discharge stack section for receiving the paper on which the image discharged by the paper discharge roller 38 is formed, is integrally formed. An extension tray 41 is provided on the front side of the paper tray portion 40 so as to be received when a large-size sheet is discharged.
[0018]
As shown in FIG. 2, a damper member 45 is installed between the scanner unit body 1 and the printer unit body 2 in order to buffer an impact generated when the scanner unit body 1 rotates. The damper member 45 includes a gas damper portion 46 in which a highly viscous gas is sealed, and a rod portion 47 provided so as to be able to enter and exit the gas damper portion 46. In this example, the gas damper portion 46 is a scanner / scanner. A part 47 of the unit main body 10 is rotatably supported, and a rod portion 47 is rotatably supported by a part of the printer unit main body 30.
[0019]
An operation hook portion 50 of a lock mechanism that locks the operation of the scanner unit body 1 is disposed on the lower side of the front side of the scanner unit main body 10. As shown in FIG. 2, the operation hook portion 50 is provided at one end portion of an inverted L-shaped slide body 51. The slide body 51 is slidably provided on the inner surface of the bottom cover 52 provided at the bottom of the scanner unit main body 10, and a pair of engaging claws 53 are provided at a distance on the opposite side to the operation hook portion 50. Is provided. Similar to the operation hook portion 50, the engaging claw portion 53 is exposed to the outside from a part of the bottom cover 52.
[0020]
The engaging claw portion 53 engages with a part of the inner periphery of a locking hole 55 formed at the front upper portion of the standing wall portion 30a that is integrally provided on both sides of the paper discharge tray portion 40 in the printer unit main body 30. The scanner unit body 1 is held in a locked state.
[0021]
One end of a tension spring 56 is engaged with the slide body 51 constituting the lock mechanism on the side where the operation hook portion 50 is provided and one engagement claw portion 53 is provided. The engagement claw portion 53 and the engagement hole 55 in the locked state are maintained so as to maintain the engagement state.
[0022]
Therefore, if the operator holds the operation hook portion 50 and pulls it outward against the tensile force of the tension spring 56, the operator moves the slide body 51 to the near side to move the engagement claw portion 53 and the locking hole 55. Can be released, and the scanner unit body 1 can be rotated.
[0023]
FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing only the printer unit main body. The printer unit main body 30 has an upright wall portion 30a and a back wall portion 30b which are erected on both sides, and are integrally molded with resin. And a part on the back side are open. The side wall of the standing wall 30a is integrally formed with a support for various components such as gears, or a member that has been manufactured as a separate part in the past, and a part of the exterior is designed to enhance the decorativeness on the outer surface. Molded as a surface.
[0024]
At the bottom of the printer unit main body 30, a paper discharge tray unit 40 and a paper conveyance path portion 57 in the electrostatic image forming apparatus are formed integrally and continuously with the paper discharge tray unit 40. Further, the storage portion 58 of the extension tray 41 is also integrally formed on the front side of the paper discharge tray portion 40.
[0025]
The side surface of the standing wall 30a is covered with an exterior side plate 59 or the like. Further, as shown in FIG. 4, the space between the front surface portions 60 in the standing wall portion 30 a is open when the printer unit main body 30 is a single unit, and in this state, the printer unit main body 30 is deformed in the horizontal and vertical directions. Further, there is a problem in strength in supporting the scanner unit body 1. Therefore, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, the front wall portion 30a is reinforced by using a front exterior body 62 that covers the space between the front surface portions 60 of the vertical wall portion 30a except for the paper discharge opening 61 and covers the internal structure. Is going.
[0026]
5 is a front view of the front exterior body, FIG. 6 is a rear view of the front exterior body, FIG. 7 is a side view of the front exterior body, and each part of the front exterior body 62 is integrally formed of ABS resin or the like. It has a substantially inverted concave shape in front view and a substantially inverted L shape in side view. As shown in FIG. 4, the overhanging portion 64 formed on the upper portion of the front exterior body 62 has a width in which the end portion 64 a is placed in the receiving recess 65 formed on the upper portion of the front surface portion 60 in the compatible wall portion 30 a. Through holes 68 and 69 are formed so as to correspond to the screw holes 66 and the small protrusions 67 provided in the respective receiving recesses 65.
[0027]
In addition, the hanging portion 70 formed continuously from the overhanging portion 64 of the front exterior body 62 is formed with leg portions 71 at both lower end portions, and projecting portions 72 project from each leg portion 71. The hanging portion 70 has a width that reaches the back surface 60a of the front surface portion 60 of the compatible wall portion 30a.
[0028]
As shown in FIG. 6, the front exterior body 62 has lattice-shaped reinforcing ribs 73 formed on the back side thereof, and as shown in FIGS. A triangular rib 74 is formed at a joint portion with 70. An installation portion 76 is provided on the rear side of the front exterior body 62. The installation portion 76 is provided with a static elimination sheet 75 for removing static electricity on the paper in contact with the paper discharged from the paper discharge opening 61. ing.
[0029]
Further, a small concave portion 80 is formed between the portions where the through holes 68 and 69 are formed on both sides of the overhanging portion 64 of the front exterior body 62 as shown in FIG. 4, and the small concave portion 80 is necessary for the apparatus. The display can be indicated by a stamp or the like. In this example, as shown in FIG. 3, the fixing portion 35 is configured to be installed in the inner portion of the front exterior body 62, so that this portion becomes hot as in the plan view shown in FIG. 8. Is indicated by a stamp 81.
[0030]
When the front exterior body 62 is inserted on the back surface 60a side of the front surface portion 60 in the compatible wall portion 30a with the leg portion 71 of the hanging portion 70 facing down, the protrusion 72 of the leg portion 71 is shown in FIG. As shown in the figure, it fits into a fitting hole 82 formed in the vicinity of the back surface 60 a of both front surface portions 60 at the bottom of the printer unit main body 30. In this state, both side portions of the hanging portion 70 are respectively joined to the back surface 60a of the front surface portion 60 in the compatible wall portion 30a, and the end portion 64a of the overhang portion 64 is respectively connected to the receiving recessed portion 65 of the front surface portion 60 in the compatible wall portion 30a. In addition, the small protrusions 67 are fitted into one through hole 68 at both end portions 64 a, and the screw hole 66 is installed opposite to the other through hole 69. In this state, the front exterior body 62 is fixed to the standing wall portion 30a by screwing screws 83 into the screw holes 66 through the respective through holes 69.
[0031]
As described above, in the present embodiment, the front exterior body 62 is formed in a beam shape that is laid between the front surface sections 60 in the compatible wall section 30a. The protruding portion 64, the hanging portion 70, and the leg portion 71 can be reinforced.
[0032]
Accordingly, the front exterior body 62 can be used to reinforce the overall strength of the printer unit main body 30 so that the lateral strength of the entire printer unit main body 30 is increased. Further, it can be reinforced so that the strength in the vertical direction of the entire printer unit main body 30 is increased. In particular, in the structure of this example in which the scanner unit body 1 is supported by the printer unit body 2, it is sufficient to receive the weight of the scanner unit body 1 and the reaction force when the scanner unit body 1 is lifted. It is advantageous that the structural strength can be withstood.
[0033]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, even if the structure of the exterior body is such that the front side is open and the scanner unit body is rotatably mounted on the upper side, Since it can be reinforced to increase the strength in the left and right and up and down directions of the entire body, it can be made into an exterior body with excellent strength, and the engraved display part is formed using the upper surface of the front exterior body Therefore, an image forming apparatus having a large practical effect can be provided, for example, the configuration of the display unit can be simplified as compared with the related art.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an overall perspective view of an image forming apparatus in which a scanner and a printer are integrated to explain an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 shows a scanner unit body in the image forming apparatus of the present embodiment upward. Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing a rotated state. Fig. 3 is a side cross-sectional configuration diagram for schematically explaining the internal structure of the image forming apparatus of the embodiment. Fig. 4 is a printer unit main body of the image forming apparatus of the embodiment. FIG. 5 is a front view of a front exterior body in the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment. FIG. 6 is a rear view of the front exterior body in the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment. FIG. 8 is a plan view of a protruding portion of the front exterior body in the image forming apparatus of the present embodiment.
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Scanner unit body 2 Printer unit body 10 Scanner unit main body 30 Printer unit main body 30a Standing wall part 35 Fixing part 60 Front surface part 60a in a standing wall part Front surface rear surface 62 Front exterior body 64 Front exterior body projecting part 65 Receiving recessed portion 66 Receiving recessed screw hole 67 Receiving recessed small projection 70 Front exterior body hanging portion 71 Hanging portion leg portion 73 Reinforcing rib 80 Small recessed portion 81 Stamp 83 Screw

Claims (4)

A scanner unit body having a scanner device for reading a document image; and a printer unit body having a printer device for forming an image on a sheet. The scanner unit body is provided above the exterior body of the printer unit body. In the image forming apparatus in which the body is rotatably mounted and the front surface side of the exterior body is opened, the front exterior body that covers the open portion of the exterior body of the printer unit body is provided in the exterior body . 2. An image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said image forming apparatus is in the form of a beam erected between compatible walls extending opposite to each other on both sides of said open portion. A scanner unit body having a scanner device for reading a document image; and a printer unit body having a printer device for forming an image on a sheet. The scanner unit body is provided above the exterior body of the printer unit body. In the image forming apparatus in which the body is rotatably mounted and the front surface side of the exterior body is opened, the front exterior body that covers the open portion of the exterior body of the printer unit body is provided in the exterior body . image forming apparatus, characterized in that said extending to face on either side of the open portion is extended between both walls, and were on a beam shape part for reinforcing the vertical direction is formed in both wall portions. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a grid-like reinforcing rib is formed on a side surface of the front exterior body . 4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a marking display portion is formed on an upper surface of the front exterior body .

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