JP3795704B2 - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a printer, and a facsimile, and more particularly to an image forming apparatus having a so-called magnet catch type opening / closing cover.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In general, in an image forming apparatus, in order to replace a toner replenishing unit or a process unit, for example, an opening / closing cover is pivotally supported on one end side of the apparatus main body so as to be freely opened and closed.
The opening / closing cover is held in the closed position by a magnetic force. For example, a magnet member is attached to two positions on the apparatus main body side, and a magnetic material such as iron is fixed to the opening / closing cover corresponding to the attachment / detachment. It has become.
[0003]
The magnet member is composed of a magnet and a synthetic resin holder that holds the magnet, and the holder has leg-shaped locking pieces that can be elastically deformed at both ends in the longitudinal direction. The free end of the locking piece is formed in a T shape.
The mounting part on the device main body side is formed in the shape of a recess that accommodates the magnet member, and each locking piece is bent inward so that the locking pieces come close to each other at the bottom (elastically deformed state) ) And a through hole for allowing the T-shaped free end portion to pass therethrough and a locking hole provided continuously therewith are formed.
[0004]
When attaching the magnet member to the mounting part, the operator inserts the magnet member into the mounting part while holding it with two fingers so that the locking pieces on both sides are bent inward, and the locking piece passes through the through hole. I released the press at the stage.
When the presser is released, the locking piece returns to its original position by the elastic force, so that the T-shaped free end moves to the locking hole and is locked, preventing it from coming off the mounting part. It is attached in the state which was done.
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
The conventional magnet member mounting structure described above does not use an operation tool, so it is called so-called one-touch mounting. The work to do is extremely troublesome and often cannot be performed by a single operation, and requires the dexterity and skill of the operator.
For this reason, the assembly efficiency is poor and the production cost is adversely affected.
[0006]
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, the present invention provides an image forming apparatus capable of easily and quickly attaching a magnet member in one operation without requiring the dexterity and skill of an operator, and improving assembly efficiency. To do.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, according to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an open / close cover that is supported at one end side by the apparatus main body so as to be openable and closable and a magnet member for holding the open / close cover in a closed position. in images forming apparatus, provided in the apparatus main body or the cover, a mounting recess for mounting and accommodating the magnet member, provided in the magnet member, the inner surface of the mounting recess by operation of pushing the magnet member A positioning piece for guiding the magnet member to the bottom surface side of the mounting recess while slidingly contacting, and positioning in at least one direction out of two directions orthogonal to the pushing operation direction of the magnet member with respect to the mounting recess, and the magnet member The free end extending toward the downstream of the pushing operation direction of the magnet member is A locking piece having a locking portion that is locked to the bottom surface side of the recessed portion, and a sliding piece that is provided on the inner surface of the mounting recess and that slides toward the center of the magnet member in response to a pressing operation of the magnet member. And a guide rib for locking the retaining piece back to the inner surface side of the mounting recess so as to prevent it from coming off at the retaining position of the magnet member. ing.
[0008]
According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the configuration of the first aspect, the positioning piece is positioned in the other direction of the two directions by contacting the side surface of the guide rib . .
[0009]
【Example】
Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 shows the appearance of a printer 2 as an image forming apparatus. A plurality of paper feed trays 6, 8, 10, and 12 are provided in the lower part of the apparatus main body 4 of the printer 2, and an image forming unit (not shown) is formed on paper supplied from any one of the paper feed trays. After the toner image formed in step 1 is transferred and fixed, the toner image is discharged to a discharge tray 14 on the upper surface of the apparatus body 4.
The image forming unit is the same as a well-known one. After an electrostatic latent image is formed on a uniformly charged photoreceptor based on image information by an exposure unit, the electrostatic latent image is developed by a developing unit. A toner image as a visible image is formed. The toner image formed on the photoconductor is transferred onto a sheet by a transfer unit. The sheet on which the toner image has been transferred is sent to a fixing unit, where the toner is melted and fixed on the sheet by heat and pressure.
[0010]
An operation panel 16 is provided on the front side of the upper surface of the apparatus main body 4 so as to input and set the number of prints.
An opening / closing cover 18 is provided at a portion corresponding to the operation surface side of the image forming unit so that a lower end portion thereof is pivotally supported by a device such as a hinge on the apparatus main body 4 and can be opened and closed in the vertical direction. The opening / closing cover 18 is opened and closed by a handle 18a formed at the upper center portion thereof.
[0011]
FIG. 2 shows a state in which the opening / closing cover 18 is opened. With the open / close cover 18 opened, the toner supply unit 20 is replaced, the process unit 22 is replaced, or jam processing is performed.
An inner cover 24 integrally formed of synthetic resin is provided on the outer side (outer / outlet side) of the toner supply unit 20 and the like, and a magnet for holding the open / close cover 18 in the closed position on both upper sides of the inner cover 24. Members 26 are provided. Corresponding to the position of the magnet member 26, magnetic bodies 28 such as iron plates are fixed to the inner surface of the opening / closing cover 18.
When the opening / closing cover 18 is closed, the magnet member 26 and the magnetic body 28 are brought into close contact with each other by magnetic force, and the opening / closing cover 18 is held in the closed position.
[0012]
As shown in FIG. 3, the magnet member 26 includes a magnet 30 and a holder 32 that accommodates and holds the magnet 30 in a partially protruding state. The magnet 30 is accommodated via a magnetic body 34 such as iron so that it does not directly contact the magnetic body 28 of the open / close cover 18.
[0013]
The holder 32 has locking pieces 38, 38 extending along the side surface of the holder main body 36 on both sides in the longitudinal direction. A T-shaped locking portion 38a is formed at the free ends of the locking pieces 38, 38, and a plurality of step portions for stabilizing the locking state are formed on the upper surface of the locking portion 38a.
Positioning pieces 40 are formed on the holder body 36 on the side of the locking portion 38a. The holder body 36, the locking pieces 38, 38, and the positioning pieces 40, 40 are integrally formed of synthetic resin.
Thus, the locking pieces 38, 38 can be elastically deformed so that the locking portion 38a side is inward (in the direction of the arrow), that is, close to each other.
[0014]
As shown in FIG. 4, the magnet members 26, 26 are attached to attachment recesses 42, 42 as attachment portions formed integrally with the inner cover 24 by a one-touch method.
On the bottom surface (depth surface) of the mounting recess 42, there are guide ribs 44, 44 for elastically deforming the locking pieces 38, 38 inward, and only when the locking pieces 38, 38 are bent inward. The through holes 46 and 46 through which the stop portion 38a passes, the locking holes 48 and 48 that communicate with the through hole 46 and lock the locking portion 38a, and the positioning concave portions 50 and 50 are formed.
Cylindrical positioning convex portions 52, 52 are formed on the bottom surface of the holder main body 36, and the positioning concave portion 50 is in a positional relationship for accommodating it.
[0015]
The guide ribs 44 have a guide surface that is inclined downward, and as shown in FIG. 5, a pair of guide ribs 44 are provided so as to correspond to both sides of the T-shaped locking portions 38a of the locking pieces 38, 38. ing.
Next, the attaching operation of the magnet member 26 will be described.
When the magnet member 26 is inserted into the mounting recess 42 from the state shown in FIG. 4, the locking portions 38 a of the locking pieces 38, 38 abut against the guide ribs 44 when no external force is applied as shown in FIG. 6. Maintained in a state.
In this state, when the magnet member 26 is pushed by the force of F with a thumb or an index finger, the locking portions 38a are guided inwardly by the inclined surfaces of the guide ribs 44 as shown in FIG. The pieces 38, 38 bend inward so as to approach each other. That is, it is elastically deformed.
The positioning piece 40 guides the magnet member 26 to the bottom surface side of the mounting recess 42 while slidingly contacting the inner surface of the mounting recess 42.
[0016]
In this state, the locking portion 38 a and the through hole 46 are aligned, and the locking portion 38 a enters the through hole 46. Thereafter, the locking pieces 38 are displaced outward by an elastic restoring force and move to the locking hole 48. As a result, the locking portions 38 a of the locking pieces 38, 38 are located on the bottom surface of the guide rib 44, and the magnet member 26 is locked to the mounting recess 42. Further, at the same time as the locking portion 38 a enters the through hole 46, the positioning convex portion 52 enters the positioning concave portion 50.
[0017]
FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of each main part in a state where the magnet member 26 is locked to the mounting recess 42.
When the locking portion 38a is locked, it is prevented from coming off from the mounting recess 42, and when the positioning projection 52 is engaged with the positioning recess 50, positioning in the left-right direction in the drawing is performed. Further, the positioning pieces 40 are brought into contact with the side surface of the guide rib 44, whereby the vertical positioning in the drawing is performed.
When the positioning piece 40 is in sliding contact with the inner surface of the mounting recess 42, the positioning in the left-right direction in the drawing is performed in the same manner as the positioning projection 52.
[0018]
As described above, according to the present embodiment, the magnet member 26 can be attached to the mounting recess 42, and the magnet member 26 can be mounted in a state in which the magnet member 26 is prevented from being detached from the mounting recess 42 simply by pushing.
Since it is not necessary to insert into the mounting recess 42 while maintaining the state in which the locking pieces 38, 38 are picked with fingers and bent inward as in the prior art, it is easy and quick regardless of the operator's dexterity and skill. Can be assembled to.
[0019]
In the above embodiment, the magnet member 26 is attached to the apparatus main body 4 side. However, the magnet member 26 may be attached to the opening / closing cover 18. Further, the magnet member 26 may be attached to either the apparatus main body 4 side or the opening / closing cover 18.
[0020]
【The invention's effect】
According to the first aspect of the present invention, since the guide rib is formed on the mounting portion so as to elastically deform the locking piece in accordance with the pushing operation, a prior operation for bending the locking piece inward is required. It can be locked simply by pushing in, and the assembly efficiency can be improved. As a result, the work cost can be reduced, and the cost of the image forming apparatus can be reduced.
[0021]
According to invention of Claim 2, since it was set as the structure which has the positioning piece with which a holder contact | abuts the side surface of a guide rib, the rattling after latching can be suppressed with high precision.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a printer as an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of a state in which an opening / closing cover is opened.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a magnet member.
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a state before the magnet member is attached to the attachment portion on the apparatus main body side.
FIG. 5 is a schematic plan view of an attachment portion.
FIG. 6 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a state in which a magnet member is inserted into an attachment portion.
FIG. 7 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a state in which a magnet member is pushed in and locked to an attachment portion.
FIG. 8 is a schematic cross-sectional view in plan view showing the positional relationship between the main parts after locking.
[Explanation of symbols]
4 Device body 18 Open / close cover 26 Magnet member 30 Magnet 32 Holder 38 Locking piece 40 Positioning piece 42 Mounting recess 44 as mounting portion Guide rib

Claims (2)

A closing cover provided openably supported one end to the apparatus main body, the images forming apparatus that have a magnet member for holding the cover in the closed position,
An attachment recess provided in the apparatus main body or the opening / closing cover, for accommodating and attaching the magnet member;
The magnet member is provided on the magnet member, guides the magnet member to the bottom surface side of the mounting recess while being in sliding contact with the inner surface of the mounting recess by the pressing operation of the magnet member, and is orthogonal to the pressing operation direction of the magnet member with respect to the mounting recess. Positioning pieces for positioning in at least one of the two directions
A locking piece provided on the magnet member, and having a locking portion in which a free end extending toward the downstream in the pushing operation direction of the magnet member is locked to the bottom surface side of the mounting recess;
The locking piece is provided on the inner surface of the mounting recess and is guided while sliding in the center direction of the magnet member according to the pressing operation of the magnet member, and the locking piece is held at the locking position of the magnet member. A guide rib that returns to the inner surface side of the mounting recess and locks it so that it can be prevented from coming off;
An image forming apparatus characterized in that it has a. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1.
The positioning piece abuts against the side surface of the guide rib, thereby
An image forming apparatus characterized in that positioning in another direction is performed .

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