JP4585845B2 - Fall prevention mechanism and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a toppling prevention mechanism for preventing the apparatus from toppling over, and an image forming apparatus having the same.

  In a large floor-standing type image forming apparatus including a sheet feeding device that feeds a sheet under the image forming apparatus main body, a caster or the like is provided on the bottom side of the apparatus in order to facilitate the movement of the image forming apparatus. Some are provided with rolling elements capable of turning. In such image forming apparatuses, many image forming apparatus main bodies and feeding apparatuses have a plurality of drawer-type cassettes in order to cope with mass printing and sheets of various sizes. When replenishing sheets, these cassettes are pulled out and the sheets are filled. However, if the sheet is filled while the cassette is pulled out, the position of the center of gravity of the entire apparatus moves toward the outside of the apparatus, and the apparatus itself becomes unstable.

  FIG. 12 is a side view highlighting a state where a plurality of cassettes provided in the feeding device under the image forming apparatus main body are pulled out and become unstable. As shown in FIG. 12, when the apparatus main body is reduced in weight and the cassettes 200 on which sheets are stacked are pulled out simultaneously in a plurality of stages, the balance of the entire image forming apparatus 100 becomes extremely unstable. In this state, if an external force due to any factor acts on the image forming apparatus main body or the cassette by mistake, the image forming apparatus itself may be tilted and fall down.

  As countermeasures against this, countermeasures can be taken by installing casters or adjusting means to adjust the distance between the bottom surface of the device and the device installation surface at a position protruding from the footprint of the device body (installation area of the device body). There is something that went. However, if the caster position protrudes from the footprint, the caster is large, so there is a risk that the user may get caught in the foot, and there is a waste of installation space, and there is a problem that efficient placement cannot be performed when installing the device. is there. Further, in the case where the adjusting means is provided, when the apparatus is moved once after the apparatus is installed, there is a problem that the adjusting means collides with these when passing through a step or an obstacle.

As a method of solving this problem, there is an apparatus that uses an adjusting means that can be attached to and detached from the apparatus main body as a means for preventing the apparatus main body from falling, so that the adjusting means can be removed when the apparatus is moved (for example, Patent Document 1).
JP-A-10-236670

  However, in the case of the conventional example provided with a plurality of adjusting means that can be attached to and detached from the apparatus main body as described above, the apparatus installer rotates the adjuster screw installed at several places and installs it on the floor. Is necessary, and workability is very poor. In addition, when the device is moved once with the caster after it has been installed, if the adjuster is moved without forgetting to remove it, the adjuster may be damaged by hitting a step or an obstacle. is there.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a fall prevention mechanism capable of improving the operability and suppressing the occurrence of breakage, and an image forming apparatus including the same.

  The present invention employs the following means in order to solve the above problems.

That is, the fall prevention mechanism of the present invention is
In a fall prevention mechanism that is provided in a device having rolling elements for moving on the floor and prevents the device from falling when the device is installed,
By supporting the device together with the rolling element by a reaction received from the floor surface, either the fall prevention position for preventing the device from falling or the retreat position for leaving the floor so as not to contact the floor when the device is moved A stopper provided to be selectively movable ,
A holding member that rotatably supports the stopper by an axis substantially parallel to the installation surface of the apparatus;
A first urging member that urges the stopper toward the retracted position when the stopper moves from the fall prevention position;
One of the stopper and the holding member is provided with a convex portion, and the other is provided with a concave portion that fits into the convex portion. By fitting the convex portion and the concave portion, the stopper is prevented from falling. Held in
When the stopper receives an external force greater than a predetermined value, the fitting between the convex portion and the concave portion is released, and the stopper is moved to the retracted position by the biasing force of the first biasing member. It is characterized by.

  According to the configuration of the present invention, when the apparatus is installed, the stopper is moved to the fall prevention position, and when the apparatus is moved, the stopper is moved to the retracted position, so that the operation is easy. . In addition, when the device is moved while the stopper is in the fall-preventing position, even if the stopper collides with a step or an obstacle, the stopper automatically moves to the retracted position when a predetermined external force is applied. Therefore, breakage of the stopper can be suppressed. Even if the user hooks his / her foot on the stopper, the stopper automatically retracts, which is excellent in terms of safety.

  As described above, according to the present invention, the operability can be improved and the occurrence of breakage can be suppressed.

  The best mode for carrying out the present invention will be exemplarily described in detail below with reference to the drawings. However, the dimensions, materials, shapes, relative arrangements, and the like of the components described in this embodiment are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention only to those unless otherwise specified. .

  With reference to FIGS. 1-11, the fall prevention mechanism based on the Example of this invention is demonstrated. In this embodiment, an example of an image forming apparatus will be described as an example of an apparatus to which the fall prevention mechanism is applied.

<Image forming apparatus>
First, in particular, an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. In the present exemplary embodiment, a description will be given of an example in which a feeding device 11 that is configured separately (optionally) from the image forming apparatus main body is attached to the lower portion of the image forming apparatus main body 1. However, the fall prevention mechanism according to the embodiment of the present invention can also be applied to an image forming apparatus integrally including a number of cassettes.

The image forming apparatus main body 1 is provided with an image forming unit 1A that forms an image by electrophotography. The image forming unit 1A includes a photosensitive drum 2 on which a toner image is formed, a transfer roller 3 that transfers the toner image formed on the photosensitive drum 2 to the sheet S, and the like. In the image forming unit 1A configured as described above, when an image forming operation is started, first, the light corresponding to the image signal is irradiated onto the photosensitive drum 2 by the laser scanner 4. Then, by irradiating light according to such an image signal, a latent image is formed on the photosensitive drum. Next, the latent image is developed with toner stored in the toner cartridge 5 to form a toner image (visible image) on the photosensitive drum.

  Further, the sheet S is fed from one of a plurality of provided sheet storage cassettes 6 in accordance with the timing of the image forming operation in the image forming unit 1A. The sheet S is conveyed to a transfer unit constituted by the photosensitive drum 2 and the transfer roller 3 so as to be synchronized with the image formed on the photosensitive drum 2 by the conveying roller 7 and the registration roller 7A. Then, a toner image is transferred to the sheet S by applying a bias to the transfer roller 3 in this transfer portion.

  The sheet S on which the toner image is transferred in this manner is then conveyed to the fixing unit 8. The toner image is fixed on the sheet by being heated in the fixing unit 8. Further, thereafter, the sheet S is discharged to the discharge unit 10 at the upper part of the apparatus by the discharge roller 9.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the feeding device 11 is provided with a three-stage sheet storage cassette 6 that can store a large volume of sheets and accommodate various sheet sizes. Each sheet storage cassette 6 is configured to be pulled out to the paper supply position when replenishing sheets or changing the sheet size. Further, the feeding device 11 receives the weights of the feeding device 11 itself and the image forming apparatus main body 1 at four corners of the bottom surface thereof, and casters 12 as rolling elements that can move these in any direction of 360 degrees. It has. In the present embodiment, a wheel-shaped caster is taken as an example of the rolling element, but other ones (for example, spherical ones) can be applied as long as they move so as to roll on the floor.

  In the image forming apparatus according to this embodiment, the image forming apparatus (image forming apparatus main body 1 and There are two fall prevention mechanisms 13 for preventing the feed device 11) from falling over.

<Detailed description of fall prevention mechanism>
In particular, the fall prevention mechanism will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a part of the fall prevention mechanism according to the embodiment of the present invention as viewed obliquely from above. The fall prevention mechanism 13 according to the present embodiment is a stopper that can support the image forming apparatus main body 1 and the feeding apparatus 11 together with the casters 12 by a reaction received from the floor surface in order to prevent the fall of the image forming apparatus. The L-shaped stand 14 and a holding member 15 for holding the L-shaped stand 14 are provided.

<< Detailed explanation about operation of L-shaped stand only >>
First, in particular, the operation of only the L-shaped stand 14 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5 are perspective views of a part of the fall prevention mechanism according to the embodiment of the present invention as seen obliquely from below. 4 shows a case where the L-shaped stand 14 is set up and the image forming apparatus is installed at a desired position. FIG. 5 shows a state where the L-shaped stand 14 is retracted to move the image forming apparatus. ing.

  The L-shaped stand 14 supports the image forming apparatus together with the casters 12 by the reaction received from the floor surface, thereby preventing the image forming apparatus from overturning (the state shown in FIGS. 3 and 4) or the image forming apparatus. It is configured to be selectively movable to any one of the retreat positions (state shown in FIG. 5) that are separated from the floor so as not to contact the floor during movement. This point will be described in more detail.

The L-shaped stand 14 that plays the role of preventing overturning is a rotation fulcrum shaft 1 with respect to the holding member 15.
6 is held rotatably around the center. The rotation fulcrum shaft 16 is provided so as to be substantially parallel to the installation surface of the image forming apparatus. As a result, the L-shaped stand 14 has a weight that exceeds a predetermined weight because the longitudinal tip is in contact with the floor surface (installation surface) (or a large amount of sheets are stacked or the user leans against it). It can be rotated and moved in a direction in which the tip is separated from the floor surface (from a position slightly separated from the floor surface) so as to come into contact when a load is applied.

  When the image forming apparatus is installed, the L-shaped stand 14 is provided with a boss 17 as a convex portion as a holding mechanism for holding (fixing) the L-shaped stand 14 in the fall prevention position. The member 15 is provided with a recess 18 that fits into the boss 17. In the present embodiment, a click feeling is obtained when the boss 17 and the recess 18 are fitted. When a predetermined force or more (a predetermined force or more) is applied to the L-shaped stand 14 in the direction of rotation around the rotation fulcrum shaft 16, the boss 17 and the recess 18 are fitted to each other. It is released and the L-shaped stand 14 rotates.

  Here, the L-shaped stand 14 constitutes a toggle mechanism. That is, a toggle spring 19 as a first urging member is hung between the L-shaped stand 14 and the holding member 15 that can rotate around the rotation fulcrum shaft 16. One end of the toggle spring 19 is hooked on a shaft (hereinafter referred to as B-axis 21) provided on the L-shaped stand 14, and the other end is provided on a shaft (hereinafter referred to as A-axis 20) provided on the holding member 15. It is hung on. Then, when the L-shaped stand 14 is in the fall-preventing position, the rotation fulcrum shaft 16, the A-axis 20 and the B-axis 21 (fixed portions at both ends of the toggle spring 19) of the L-shaped stand 14 are aligned. It is configured. At this time, the extension of the toggle spring 19 is maximized, but the L-shaped stand 14 is at a neutral point position that does not rotate in the clockwise direction or the counterclockwise direction with respect to the rotation fulcrum shaft 16. At this position, the L-shaped stand 14 is positioned with respect to the holding member 15 by the concave and convex fitting by the boss 17 and the concave portion 18. In this way, the L-shaped stand 14 is set at the fall prevention position.

  In this state, an external force is applied to the L-shaped stand 14 in a direction rotating with respect to the rotation fulcrum shaft 16, and the boss 17 on the L-shaped stand side and the recess 18 on the holding member side are disengaged. When a force larger than the necessary force is applied, the concave-convex fitting is released, and the L-shaped stand 14 is out of the neutral point of the toggle mechanism. Then, the L-shaped stand 14 rotates in the direction in which the force is applied by the contraction force of the toggle spring 19 and moves to the retracted position (the state shown in FIG. 5).

  As described above, when a force is applied to the L-shaped stand 14 in a direction rotating around the rotation fulcrum shaft 16, that is, when an external force of a predetermined level or more is applied in a direction perpendicular to the rotation fulcrum shaft 16. Even if the L-shaped stand 14 is in the fall prevention position, the L-shaped stand 14 automatically moves to the retracted position. In the present embodiment, in a state where no external force is applied, the rotation fulcrum shaft 16 is disposed so as to extend in the front-rear direction with respect to the front surface of the apparatus. Therefore, when an external force is applied to the L-shaped stand 14 only in the left-right direction with respect to the front of the apparatus, the holding member 15 does not rotate and the L-shaped stand 14 is in the retracted position as described above. Automatically rotate to move.

<< Detailed explanation about operation of L-shaped stand with operation of holding member >>
Next, the operation of the L-shaped stand 14 accompanied by the operation of the holding member 15 will be described in detail with particular reference to FIGS. FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the overturn prevention mechanism according to the embodiment of the present invention in which a mounting portion of the holding member can be seen. 7 and 8 are bottom views showing portions of the fall prevention mechanism according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7 shows a state when no external force is applied, and FIG. 8 shows a state when an external force is applied. 9 to 11 are perspective views of a part of the fall prevention mechanism according to the embodiment of the present invention as seen obliquely from below. 9 to 11.
Fig. 4 shows how the holding member 15 and the L-shaped stand 14 operate when an external force is applied in the direction in which the holding member 15 turns (rotates). FIG. 9 shows a state immediately after the external force is applied, FIG. 10 shows the state after the external force is applied, and FIG. 11 shows a state after the external force is no longer applied.

  When an external force including a component in the front-rear direction with respect to the front of the apparatus acts on the L-shaped stand 14, not only the L-shaped stand 14 but also the operation of the holding member 15 is accompanied. Hereinafter, this point will be described in detail.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the holding member 15 is configured to be rotatable around a shaft 23 that is substantially perpendicular to the installation surface of the apparatus with respect to the bottom surface 22 of the feeding apparatus 11. Further, the protruding portion 15 a provided on the holding member 15 is configured to be inserted into an arc-shaped hole 23 a provided on the bottom surface 22 of the feeding device 11. Thereby, the rotatable range of the holding member 15 is regulated. In this embodiment, the holding member 15 is 45 degrees clockwise and counterclockwise with respect to the initial position (as described above, the position where the rotation fulcrum shaft 16 extends in the front-rear direction with respect to the front of the apparatus). It is configured to be able to rotate.

  Then, as shown in FIG. 7 and the like, a spring 24 as a second urging member is provided between the holding member 15 and the feeding device 11. The holding member 15 is stopped with the position where the spring 24 is most contracted as an initial position. When a force acts on the L-shaped stand 14 or the holding member 15 in the front-rear direction in front of the apparatus in a state where the holding member 15 is in the initial position, as shown in FIG. 8, the L-shaped stand 14 and the holding member 15. Rotates about the axis 23.

  At this time, if the force is large and the L-shaped stand 14 and the holding member 15 rotate about the shaft 23 from the initial position to a position of 45 degrees (see FIGS. 8 and 9), the force in the front-rear direction against the front of the apparatus is 45. The degree direction component acts on the L-shaped stand 14. As a result, a force acts on the L-shaped stand 14 in the direction of rotating around the rotation fulcrum shaft 16. When this force exceeds a predetermined value, the concave / convex fitting by the boss 17 and the concave portion 18 is released as described above, and the L-shaped stand 14 automatically rotates from the fall prevention position to the retracted position (FIG. 10). reference).

  Then, after the L-shaped stand 14 moves to the retracted position, the holding member 15 is returned to the initial position by the force of the spring 24 when the external force is not applied (see FIG. 11).

<Excellent point of the fall prevention mechanism according to this embodiment>
As described above, in the fall prevention mechanism according to the present embodiment, when the toggle spring 19 is hung between the L-shaped stand 14 and the holding member 15 and a force exceeding a predetermined level is applied to the L-shaped stand 14, the L-shaped A toggle mechanism in which the stand 14 rotates around the rotation fulcrum shaft 16 is configured, and the holding member 15 that holds the L-shaped stand 14 is configured to be rotatable with respect to the bottom surface of the apparatus.

  With such a configuration, the L-shaped stand 14 can be retracted regardless of the direction in which the external force acts on the L-shaped stand 14. Therefore, when the image forming apparatus is moved while the L-shaped stand 14 is in the fall prevention position, the L-shaped stand 14 hits a step or collides with an obstacle. Even if it exists, since the L-shaped stand 14 automatically moves to the retracted position, damage to the L-shaped stand 14 and the holding member 15 can be suppressed.

When the image forming apparatus is installed at a desired location, the L-shaped stand 14 is moved with respect to the rotation fulcrum shaft 16 until the click position (falling prevention position) where the boss 17 and the concave portion 18 of the holding member are fitted. Just rotate it. Further, when the image forming apparatus is moved, the L-shaped stand 14 is automatically rotated to the retracted position only by slightly rotating the L-shaped stand 14 from the fall prevention position. Thus, the image forming apparatus can be installed or moved without requiring a troublesome operation by the operator.

  Further, when the external force stops working, the holding member 15 is returned to the initial position by the force of the spring 24, so that there is an advantage that the work for re-installing the L-shaped stand 14 becomes easy. That is, when an external force is applied to the L-shaped stand 14 in a direction in which the toggle mechanism cannot be operated, the holding member 15 is rotatable so that the force is applied in the direction in which the L-shaped stand 14 is rotated. It is configured. However, the L-shaped stand 14 plays the role of preventing the fall when the holding member 15 is in the initial position. Therefore, when the L-shaped stand 14 is reinstalled, it is necessary to return the holding member 15 to the initial position. In the present embodiment, since the holding member 15 is returned to the initial position by the force of the spring 24, it is not necessary for the operator to return the holding member 15 to the initial position, so that the installation work is facilitated.

  Furthermore, even if the user of the image forming apparatus hooks his / her foot on the L-shaped stand 14, the L-shaped stand 14 automatically retracts, which is excellent in terms of safety. In this embodiment, the image forming apparatus has been described as an example of the apparatus to which the fall prevention mechanism is applied. However, the fall prevention mechanism described above can be applied to other apparatuses.

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a part of the fall prevention mechanism according to the embodiment of the present invention as viewed obliquely from above. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a part of the fall prevention mechanism according to the embodiment of the present invention as seen obliquely from below. FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a part of the fall prevention mechanism according to the embodiment of the present invention as seen obliquely from below. FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the fall prevention mechanism according to the embodiment of the present invention in which the attachment portion of the holding member can be seen. FIG. 7 is a bottom view showing a part of the fall prevention mechanism according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 8 is a bottom view showing a part of the fall prevention mechanism according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a part of the fall prevention mechanism according to the embodiment of the present invention as seen obliquely from below. FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a part of the fall prevention mechanism according to the embodiment of the present invention as seen obliquely from below. FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a part of the fall prevention mechanism according to the embodiment of the present invention as seen obliquely from below. FIG. 12 is a side view highlighting a state where a plurality of cassettes provided in the feeding device under the image forming apparatus main body are pulled out and become unstable.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image forming apparatus main body 1A Image forming part 2 Photosensitive drum 3 Transfer roller 4 Laser scanner 5 Toner cartridge 6 Sheet storage cassette 7 Conveyance roller 7A Registration roller 8 Fixing means 9 Discharge roller 10 Discharge part 11 Feeder 12 Caster 13 Fall prevention Mechanism 14 L-shaped stand 15 Holding member 15a Protrusion 16 Rotating fulcrum shaft 17 Boss 18 Recess 19 Toggle spring 20 A-axis 21 B-axis 22 Bottom 23 Axis 23a Hole 24 Spring

Claims (5)

In a fall prevention mechanism that is provided in a device having rolling elements for moving on the floor and prevents the device from falling when the device is installed,
By supporting the device together with the rolling element by a reaction received from the floor surface, either the fall prevention position for preventing the device from falling or the retreat position for leaving the floor so as not to contact the floor when the device is moved A stopper provided to be selectively movable ,
A holding member that rotatably supports the stopper by an axis substantially parallel to the installation surface of the apparatus;
A first urging member that urges the stopper toward the retracted position when the stopper moves from the fall prevention position;
One of the stopper and the holding member is provided with a convex portion, and the other is provided with a concave portion that fits into the convex portion. By fitting the convex portion and the concave portion, the stopper is prevented from falling. Held in
The stopper is configured such that when the stopper receives an external force of a predetermined level or more, the fitting between the convex portion and the concave portion is released, and the stopper is moved to the retracted position by the biasing force of the first biasing member. A fall prevention mechanism characterized by The holding member is pivotally supported by an axis substantially perpendicular to the installation surface of the apparatus, and can be turned around the vertical axis by an external force acting on the stopper or the holding member. The fall prevention device according to 1. The holding member is configured to be rotatable in the clockwise and counterclockwise directions with respect to the initial position, even when the holding member is rotated by receiving an external force, the holding when an external force is no longer acting The fall prevention mechanism according to claim 1, further comprising a second urging member that urges the holding member so that the member returns to the initial position . Wherein the first biasing member is a spring having one end fixed to the stopper,
In the state where the stopper is held at the fall prevention position, the spring is in an extended state, and the portion where the stopper is pivotally supported and the fixed portions at both ends of the spring are aligned in a straight line. anti-tip mechanism according to any one of claims 1 to 3 force in the rotational direction the stopper is characterized in that it is configured not to act. A cassette for stacking multiple sheets;
Image forming means for forming an image on a sheet conveyed from the cassette;
In order to enable the apparatus main body to move on the floor, an image forming apparatus comprising a rolling element provided on the bottom surface side of the apparatus main body,
A bottom side of the apparatus main body, on the side where the cassette is drawn out, the image forming apparatus characterized by being provided with anti-tip mechanism according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

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