JP3983406B2 - 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 facsimile machine, and a printer, and more particularly to an improved exterior cover structure in which a paper surface sensor is detachably provided.
[0002]
[Prior art and problems to be solved by the invention]
In a paper discharge device currently used in an image forming apparatus such as a printer, if paper is discharged and stacked above a predetermined height on a paper discharge tray, the paper discharge port is blocked and the paper is jammed. Arise. Therefore, a means for detecting that the sheets are stacked up to a predetermined height is required. The printer shown in FIG. 1 is provided with a paper surface sensor 4 on a cover 3 that covers a paper discharge port 2 formed at the top of the printer main body 1. Normally, the paper 5 is discharged from the paper discharge port 2 onto the paper discharge unit 6. . The paper surface sensor 4 is mounted on the cover 3 so as to protrude onto the paper discharge unit 6 so that the discharged paper 5 does not exceed the allowable number.
[0003]
As shown in FIG. 2, the paper surface sensor 4 includes a sensor unit 4a on the lower surface side, and when the discharged paper 5 reaches an allowable number, it detects this and sends a signal to stop printing. .
[0004]
Further, the printer can be equipped with a finisher 7 as an option. At this time, the paper 5 is transported from the paper discharge port 2 of the printer main body 1 to the finisher 7, so that the paper discharge port 2 and the finisher 7 are connected. A relay unit 8 that connects the two can be attached. FIG. 3 shows a state in which the finisher 7 and the relay unit 8 are attached. As is clear from the drawing, the paper surface sensor 4 needs to be removed in advance.
[0005]
As shown in FIG. 4, in this type of printer, the printer body 1 and the paper surface sensor 4 are generally connected by a connector 9 and a harness 10, but when the finisher 7 is attached, the paper surface sensor 4 can be removed. Of course, the connection connector 9 and the harness 10 are useless and are left without being connected anywhere. However, if the connection connector 9 and the harness 10 are left unattended, they will hang down to the front side of the paper discharge port 2 as shown in FIG.
[0006]
The only way to prevent this is to either remove the connection connector 9 and the harness 10 from the cover 3 or store them inside the cover 3. However, the former is not only troublesome to remove, but if the optional finisher 7 and relay unit 8 are to be removed, they must be reattached to the cover 3, and this work can be done by disassembling the cover 3, etc. This is very troublesome. Further, in order to store the connection connector 9 and the harness 10 without detaching them, there is no specific structural measure known to the inventors of the present application, and the connection connector 9 and the harness 10 are adhered to the outer surface and the inner surface of the cover 3 forcibly. It was fixed with tape. In the case of the former, not only the appearance is bad, but it becomes an obstacle when connecting the relay unit 8, and in the case of the latter, the connection connector 9 and the harness 10 are likely to be imperfectly fixed. There is a problem that the connector 9 or the harness 10 hangs down and protrudes to the paper discharge port 2 to prevent smooth discharge of the paper 5 and cause a paper jam.
[0007]
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above-described conventional problems, an object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus having a structure that can easily store a connector and a harness and does not obstruct the attachment of an optional device or sheet conveyance.
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, the image forming apparatus according to the first aspect of the present invention includes a paper surface sensor that detects that a certain number or more of discharged sheets have accumulated in the vicinity of the discharge port, and is an option. In the image forming apparatus in which the paper surface sensor is detachable from the image forming apparatus main body in order to attach a relay unit for transporting paper between the finisher installed in the paper and the paper discharge port, the paper surface sensor and the image forming apparatus In order to house the connector that has been electrically connected to the main body into the image forming apparatus main body after the paper surface sensor is removed, a cutout is provided in the cover member in the vicinity of the connector mounting position of the image forming apparatus main body. It is characterized by.
[0009]
According to the second aspect of the present invention, a wall is provided inside the notch to form a housing space for the connector.
[0010]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In the following description, common parts are denoted by common reference numerals, and redundant description is omitted.
FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a main part of an embodiment of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention. The cover 3 of the present embodiment is provided with a notch 20 at the edge facing the upper portion of the paper discharge port 2, and the harness 10 for connecting to the paper surface sensor 4 comes out from the notch 20. Yes. When the finisher 7 is attached as an option, the harness 10 is put back inside the cover 3 when the relay unit 8 is attached, and the connection connector 9 is housed inside the notch 20 so as not to obstruct the attachment of the relay unit 8. It is like that.
[0011]
FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a main part of another embodiment of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention. In the cover 3 of this embodiment, the back side of the notch 20 is partitioned into a box shape by a wall body 21 to form a storage space 22. In the case of this embodiment, when the finisher 7 is attached as an option, the connecting connector 9 and the harness 10 are pushed into the storage space 22 inside the cover 3 when attaching the relay unit 8 so as not to be exposed to the inside of the cover 3 at all. Thus, contact with the internal parts of the cover 3 is prevented.
[0012]
【The invention's effect】
In the image forming apparatus according to the first aspect, since the notch for housing the paper surface sensor in the image forming apparatus main body is provided in the cover member near the connector installation position, when the finisher is optionally installed The connector does not obstruct the installation of the relay unit for cooperation with the finisher, and there is an effect that it is possible to prevent the paper from being dropped to the paper discharge port causing the paper jam.
[0013]
In the image forming apparatus according to the second aspect, since the wall is provided inside the notch to provide a storage space, in addition to the above-described common effect, the connector and the harness are in contact with other components in the image forming apparatus main body. This has the effect of preventing the occurrence of defects.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a printer that is detachably equipped with a paper surface sensor and that can be equipped with a finisher as an option.
FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the vicinity of a paper discharge port of the printer of FIG.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the printer of FIG. 1 with a finisher attached.
4 is a perspective view showing a state in which a paper surface sensor is removed by the printer of FIG. 1. FIG.
5 is a perspective view showing a state after a paper surface sensor is removed by the printer of FIG. 1. FIG.
FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a main part of an embodiment of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention.
FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a main part of another embodiment of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Printer main body 2 Paper discharge port 3 Cover 4 Paper surface sensor 4a Sensor part 5 Paper 6 Paper discharge part 7 Finisher 8 Relay unit 9 Connector 10 Harness 20 Notch 21 Wall body 22 Storage space

Claims (2)

In order to install a relay unit that transports paper between the finisher installed as an option and the paper discharge port, as well as a paper surface sensor that detects that a certain number or more of discharged paper has accumulated near the paper discharge port, In the image forming apparatus in which the paper surface sensor is removable from the image forming apparatus main body, the connector that electrically connected the paper surface sensor and the image forming apparatus main body is connected to the inside of the image forming apparatus main body after the paper surface sensor is removed. The image forming apparatus is characterized in that a notch is provided in the cover member in the vicinity of the position where the connector of the image forming apparatus main body is disposed. 2. An image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a wall is provided inside said cutout to form a housing space for said connector.

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