JP4763625B2 - Image forming apparatus and composite device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus having a document reading apparatus attached to an upper surface of an apparatus main body so as to be openable and closable, or a composite apparatus in which two apparatuses are combined.

  Conventionally, an image forming apparatus 100 as shown in FIG. 7 is known. In FIG. 7, unnecessary members are not shown for easy explanation, and only the essential part of the prior art to be compared with the present invention is shown. In FIG. 7, the XX direction is referred to as the left-right direction, and the YY direction is referred to as the front-rear direction. In particular, the -X direction is referred to as the left, the + X direction is referred to as the right, the -Y direction is referred to as the front.

  The image forming apparatus 100 includes a device main body 101 having a box shape in which various image forming devices such as a photosensitive drum and a developing device are mounted, and a left-right direction with respect to an upper surface opening of the apparatus main body 101. By rotating around the extending support shaft 103, the document reading apparatus 102 is attached so that the posture can be changed between the closing posture S1 ((A) in FIG. 7) and the opening posture S2 ((B) in FIG. 7). And.

  An original reading device 102 includes an unillustrated contact glass that faces the original surface, an unillustrated light source that irradiates light on the original surface, a plurality of unillustrated mirrors that guide reflected light from the original surface to the CCD, and these light sources. And a heavy object equipped with a moving mechanism (not shown) for moving the mirror. The document reader 102 can be opened and closed because the document reader 102 is opened to inspect the inside of the apparatus main body 101 and to attach / detach a developing device (not shown) for updating. is there.

  A pair of left and right connecting arms 104 are interposed between the apparatus main body 101 and the document reading apparatus 102. These connecting arms 104 are pivotally supported around a fulcrum shaft 104 a extending in the left-right direction at the lower end, while the upper end 104 b is prevented from coming off in a guide groove 105 formed on the lower surface side of the document reading apparatus 102. It is possible to move while being guided by the state. Therefore, when the document reading apparatus 102 is opened and closed, each connecting arm 104 rotates about the fulcrum shaft 104 a and its upper end 104 b moves forward and backward along the guide groove 105.

  A pair of left and right stoppers 106 are provided to maintain the open posture S2 in a state where the document reading apparatus 102 is set to the open posture S2. When the upper end portion 104b of the connecting arm 104 passes over the stopper 106 from the front end portion of the guide groove 105 and the document reading apparatus 102 is set to the open posture S2, the upper end portion 104b of each connecting arm 104 is shown in FIG. As shown in (b), the stoppers 106 are stopped. The connecting arm 104 is prevented from rotating clockwise around the fulcrum shaft 104a by the stopper 106, whereby the document reading apparatus 102 is maintained in the open posture S2.

  The stopper 106 is pivotally supported around a vertical axis 106 a provided at an appropriate position inside the connecting arm 104 on the lower surface side of the document reading apparatus 102. In a state where the connecting arm 104 passes over the stopper 106 and the document reading apparatus 102 is set in the open position S2, the stopper 106 is stopped by a protrusion 106b protruding from the lower surface side of the document reading apparatus 102. . Therefore, even if the upper end 104b of the connecting arm 104 presses the stopper 106 forward, the stopper 106 does not rotate. Thereby, the open posture S2 of the document reading apparatus 102 is maintained.

  An operation lever 107 that rotates the stopper 106 around the vertical axis 106 a toward the connecting arm 104 is provided on the front side of the document reading apparatus 102. When the operation lever 107 is operated to the right, for example, the outer end of each stopper 106 rotates around the vertical axis 106a toward the connecting arm 104. Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 7C, the stopper 106 once pushes the connecting arm 104 backward and then moves to a position where the interference with the connecting arm 104 is released (retracted position). .

  By moving the stopper 106 to the retracted position by operating the operation lever 107, the pair of connecting arms 104 can rotate clockwise around the fulcrum shaft 104a. For this reason, it is possible to change the posture of the document reading apparatus 102 from the open posture S2 toward the closed posture S1 shown in FIG.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-151561 describes an image forming apparatus including an apparatus main body configured to be capable of image forming processing and a document reading apparatus attached to the apparatus main body so as to be openable and closable. However, the thing of this patent document 1 does not exist what corresponds to the said stopper 106. FIG.
JP 2005-62326 A

  By the way, in the image forming apparatus 100 shown in FIG. 7, when the document reading apparatus 102 set in the open position S2 is returned to the closed position S1, the stopper 106 is rotated around the vertical axis 106a by operating the operation lever 107. The document reader 102 must be lifted once through the connecting arm 104 by rotating it in the direction and counterclockwise and pressing the connecting arm 104 that is inclined toward the upright direction.

  However, it is very difficult to lift the heavy document reading apparatus 102 only by operating the operation lever 107. Therefore, when closing the document reading apparatus 102, the user has performed a troublesome operation of moving the operation lever 107 with the other hand while lifting the front end portion of the document reading apparatus 102 with one hand.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus that can be easily closed without taking the trouble of lifting the document reading device once and improving the operability of the closing operation of the document reading device. is there.

  An image forming apparatus according to an aspect of the present invention includes an apparatus main body that performs an image forming operation, and a posture between a closed posture and an open posture by rotating about a predetermined support shaft with respect to an upper surface of the device main body. A document reading device to be changed, a first end portion, and a second end portion located on the opposite side of the first end portion, the first end portion being rotatably connected to the apparatus main body. In addition, the second end portion is movably connected to the document reading device, and the first posture is a posture for supporting the document reading device in an open posture in an upright state, and the document reading device is in a closing posture. A connecting arm that can change its posture between a second posture that is closer to the horizontal than the standing state, and the second end portion of the connecting arm that is provided on the document reading apparatus side. A guide member having a guide surface for guiding the movement of the guide, and the connection A stopper that is pivotally supported around a predetermined axis so that the posture can be changed between an interference posture that interferes with the second end of the arm and a release posture in which the interference is released; The guide surface of the guide member is provided with a relief recess capable of accommodating the second end, and when the stopper changes its posture from the interference posture to the release posture, the pressing force applied from the stopper The second end portion is guided to the escape recess (claim 1).

  According to such a configuration, in a state where the document reading device is set in the closed posture in which the upper surface of the apparatus main body is closed, the document reading device is rotated around the support shaft to change the posture toward the open posture. The connecting arm that has been set to the second posture is turned toward the first posture by rotating the first end in a predetermined direction around the fulcrum shaft while the second end is guided by the guide member. Become. After the second end of the connecting arm that rotates toward the first posture passes through the stopper, the stopper returns from the released posture to the interference posture, thereby preventing the stopper from changing the posture toward the second posture. Therefore, the open posture of the document reading device supported by the connecting arm is reliably maintained.

  And the escape recessed part which can accommodate the 2nd edge part of a connection arm is provided in the guide surface of a guide member. The second end of the connecting arm is guided to the relief recess by the pressing force applied from the stopper to the connecting arm when the stopper changes its posture from the interference posture to the releasing posture. For this reason, when returning the original reading apparatus once set to the open position to the original closed position, the stopper is provided by inserting the second end of the connecting arm into the escape recess without raising the original reading apparatus by a considerable amount. Can be changed from the interference posture to the release posture. This eliminates the need to lift the heavy document reader once with one hand as in the prior art, and improves the operability of closing operation of the document reader without increasing the number of parts.

In the above configuration, further comprising a biasing member that biases the stopper toward the interference posture,
The stopper includes an inclined surface that slidably contacts the second end when the connecting arm is moved from the second posture to the first posture, and the second end is the inclined surface. A stop surface that stops after passing through the interference posture, and a protrusion provided between the inclined surface and the stop surface, and the stopper is provided on the biasing member. It is desirable that a pressing force is applied from the protruding portion to the second end when the posture is changed from the interference posture to the release posture against the urging force.

  According to this configuration, in the process of changing the posture of the connecting arm from the second posture to the first posture, the second end portion is in sliding contact with the inclined surface provided on the stopper, and the stopper in the interference posture is placed on the biasing member. By turning around a predetermined axis against the urging force, it is directed to the release posture. When the second end portion passes over the inclined surface of the stopper, the stopper is restored from the release posture to the interference posture by the biasing force of the biasing member. As a result, the connecting arm is set to the first posture in a state where the second end of the connecting arm is in contact with the stopping surface of the stopper, so that the document reading apparatus is in a stable state with the connecting arm in the first posture. It is supported and an open posture is maintained.

  Next, when returning the original reading apparatus once set to the open position to the original closed position, the stopper is rotated about a predetermined axis from the interference position to the release position against the urging force of the urging member. Just operate. In this way, after the protruding portion of the stopper presses the second end portion of the connecting arm once in the direction away from the second posture, the posture of the stopper is changed to the released posture deviating from the turning trajectory of the connecting arm. The connecting arm is unlocked by the stopper at the second end thereof, whereby the posture of the document reading device is changed from the open posture to the closed posture by rotation about the fulcrum shaft from the first posture to the second posture.

  By using such a stopper, the structure for locking and unlocking the standing posture with respect to the connecting arm can be simplified, and the opening and closing operation of the document reading apparatus can be facilitated in cooperation with the escape recess. it can.

  In any one of the above-mentioned configurations, the relief recess has an inclined introduction surface for introducing the second end portion, and the original with the angle of the inclined introduction surface with respect to the guide surface set to an open posture It is desirable that the reading device is set to be smaller than the inclination angle with respect to the horizontal plane.

  According to such a configuration, the connecting arm is set in the standing posture, and the second end portion of the connecting arm is in the relief recess in a state where the posture change to the release posture is prevented by the stopper set in the interference posture. There is no entry. If the inclination angle of the relief recess is large, the upper end of the connecting arm fits into the relief recess and the document reading device is lowered by that amount, so that the document reading device must be lifted once when closing the document reading device. However, this configuration avoids such inconvenience.

  In any one of the above-described configurations, it is preferable that an operation lever for rotating the stopper around the predetermined axis is further provided.

  According to such a configuration, the operation of turning the stopper around the predetermined axis to return the document reading apparatus set in the open posture to the original closed posture can be easily performed by operating the operation lever. .

  In any one of the above-described configurations, the apparatus further includes a unit member that is replaceably mounted in the apparatus main body, and a paper discharge tray that discharges paper after image formation, and the document reading device is located above the apparatus main body. The paper discharge tray is provided on an upper surface of the apparatus main body, and a part or all of the paper discharge tray can be opened and closed as an opening / closing cover for replacement of the unit member. In a preferred configuration, the opening / closing cover can be opened and closed without interfering with the document reading device when the apparatus is in an open posture.

  A composite device according to another aspect of the present invention is a composite device in which two devices are combined, and rotates around a predetermined support shaft with respect to the first device and the upper surface of the first device. A second device that changes posture between a closed posture and an open posture, and a first end and a second end located on the opposite side of the first end, and the first device The first end portion is rotatably connected to the second end portion, and the second end portion is movably connected to the second device to support the second device in an open position in an upright state. A connecting arm that is changeable between a first posture that is a posture to be moved and a second posture that is a posture when the second device is in a closed posture and is closer to the horizontal than the standing state; 2 and a guide surface that guides the movement of the second end of the connecting arm. Pivotally supported around a predetermined axis so that the posture can be changed between an interference posture that interferes with the second member and the second end of the connecting arm and a release posture in which the interference is released. A relief recess capable of accommodating the second end portion is provided on the guide surface of the guide member, and when the stopper changes its posture from the interference posture to the release posture, The second end is guided to the escape recess by the applied pressing force (claim 6).

  According to the image forming apparatus (composite device) of the present invention, the document reading device (second device) can be easily closed without having to take care of lifting the document reading device (second device) once. The operability of the closing operation of the device can be improved.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an image forming apparatus 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention, in which (A) is a perspective view of an appearance, and (B) and (C) are explanatory views in a side sectional view. (B) shows a state where the document reading device is set to the closed posture S1, and (C) shows a state where the document reading device is set to the open posture S2. In FIG. 1, the XX direction is referred to as the left-right direction, and the YY direction is referred to as the front-rear direction. In particular, the -X direction is referred to as the left, the + X direction is referred to as the right, the -Y direction is referred to as the front, and the + Y direction is referred to as the rear.

  As shown in FIG. 1A, the image forming apparatus 10 according to this embodiment is a so-called in-body discharge type. The image forming apparatus 10 includes an apparatus main body 20 (first device) in which various image forming members are mounted, and a document reading apparatus 30 provided on the upper portion of the apparatus main body 20 via a connecting portion 11. (Second device). On the top of the apparatus main body 20 between the apparatus main body 20 and the document reading apparatus 30, a paper discharge tray 12 for discharging the fixed paper P is formed. The connecting part 11 is erected on the rear part of the apparatus main body 20.

  The apparatus main body 20 includes a photosensitive drum 22, a charging device 23, an exposure device 24, a developing device 25, a lower outer cover body 21 having a box shape, as shown in FIGS. A cleaning device 26, a fixing device 27, and the like are mounted. A removable paper cassette 28 is attached to the bottom of the lower exterior cover body 21. During the image forming process, sheets P are fed one by one from the sheet cassette 28 to the apparatus main body 20, and an image based on image information read by the document reading device 30 is transferred to the sheet P.

  The photoconductive drum 22 is provided so as to be rotatable about an axis, and an electrostatic latent image and a toner image are formed on the peripheral surface while rotating. The toner image formed on the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 22 is transferred onto the paper P, whereby the paper P is subjected to a transfer process.

  The charging device 23 applies a uniform charge to the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 22 rotating around the axis. The exposure device 24 irradiates the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 22 on which uniform charges are formed with light rays based on the image information of the document image read by the document reading device 30 to form an electrostatic latent image. The developing device 25 supplies toner to the electrostatic latent image formed on the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 22 to form a toner image. The cleaning device 26 removes and cleans the residual toner remaining on the circumferential surface of the photosensitive drum 22 after the transfer process of the toner image onto the paper P.

  The fixing device 27 performs a fixing process on the toner image of the paper P transferred from the circumferential surface of the photosensitive drum 22. The fixing device 27 includes a fixing roller 271 provided with a heating element therein, and a pressure roller 272 whose peripheral surface is in contact with the peripheral surface of the fixing roller 271. The sheet P after the transfer process is subjected to a fixing process by obtaining heat from the fixing roller 271 while passing between the fixing roller 271 and the pressure roller 272.

  The paper P after the fixing process is raised through the inside of the connecting portion 11 and discharged toward a paper discharge tray 12 provided at a position in front of the connecting portion 11.

  The document reading device 30 includes various members for reading a document image in an upper exterior cover body 31 having a flat rectangular parallelepiped shape. The members to be installed include, for example, a light source lamp, a reflecting mirror, a moving mechanism that moves the light source lamp and the reflecting mirror, and a CCD (charge coupled device) image sensor that receives reflected light from the document surface via the reflecting mirror. It is. A document pressing cover 32 that can be opened and closed is provided on the upper surface of the document reading device 30.

  A contact glass 33 ((B) in FIG. 1) for placing a document is fitted into the upper surface opening of the upper exterior cover body 31. The document pressing cover 32 can be opened and closed by rotating around a predetermined portion of the rear edge portion. The document pressing cover 32 presses the document placed on the contact glass 33 by being set to the closed posture.

  At the front part of the upper exterior cover body 31, there is provided an operation console 311 that protrudes outward. By performing a predetermined push button operation on various operation keys provided on the operation table 311, an image forming process according to the set conditions is executed.

  In the present embodiment, the developing device 25 loaded with toner is detachably attached to the apparatus main body 20. When the toner is consumed, the developing device 25 is replaced with a new developing device.

  For such replacement of the developing device 25, as shown in FIG. 1C, the front side of the discharge tray 12 rotates counterclockwise around a predetermined horizontal axis, and the lower exterior cover body The front upper part of 21 can be opened. At the time of the opening operation by the paper discharge tray 12, the paper discharge tray 12 interferes with the document reading device 30 thereabove. Therefore, when the paper discharge tray 12 is opened, the closing posture S1 is set prior to this. The posture of the document reading device 30 is changed to the open posture S2.

  The document reading device 30 is pivotally supported at its rear end lower portion around a support shaft 34 provided in the upper portion of the connecting portion 11 and extending in the left-right direction. The document reading device 30 is rotated counterclockwise around the support shaft 34 in the state set to the closing posture S1 shown in FIG. As described above, the posture is changed to the open posture S2. Accordingly, when replacing the developing device 25 with a new one, the paper discharge tray 12 is first opened with the document reading device 30 opened and set in the open posture S2.

  FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a state in which the document reading device 30 is opened for explaining an embodiment of the lock structure 40 for locking the opening posture S2 of the document reading device 30. FIG. 2A shows a state in which the opened document reading device 30 is viewed from the left front, and FIG. 2B shows a state in which the opened document reading device 30 is viewed from the right front. FIG. 3 is a view showing the lock structure 40 of FIG. 2 from the lower surface side of the document reading device 30. 3A shows a state in which the stopper 70 is set in the interference posture S5, and FIG. 3B shows a state in which the stopper 70 is set in the release posture S6.

  4 and 5 are perspective views for explaining the principle of the lock structure 40. FIG. 4 shows a state of the lock structure 40 when the document reading device 30 is set to the closed posture S1, and FIG. 5 shows a state of the lock structure 40 when the document reading device 30 is set to the open posture S2. Each is shown. 2 to 5 are the same as those in FIG. 1 (X is the left-right direction (-X: leftward, + X: rightward), Y is the front-rear direction (-Y: forward, + Y). : Back)).

  Hereinafter, the lock structure 40 according to the present invention will be described mainly based on FIGS. 4 and 5 and referring to FIGS. 1 to 3 as necessary. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the lock structure 40 is interposed between the connecting portion 11 and the document reading device 30, and is between the lying posture S <b> 3 (second posture) and the standing posture S <b> 4 (first posture). The pair of left and right connecting arms 50 whose postures are changed in this way, the guide member 60 that guides the posture changes of these connecting arms 50, and the standing posture S4 of the connecting arms 50 are locked, thereby opening the document reader 30 in the open posture S2. A stopper 70 for locking and an operation structure 80 for operating the stopper 70 are provided.

  The connecting arm 50 is set to have a length slightly shorter than half of the longitudinal length excluding the operation table 311 of the document reading device 30. The connecting arm 50 is a rod-shaped arm having a proximal end (first end) and a distal end (second end) located on the opposite side. The base end side (rear side) of the connecting arm 50 is pivotally supported around a fulcrum shaft 51 that is supported at a slightly forward position from the central portion in the front-rear direction at the top of the connecting portion 11. On the other hand, the end on the front end side is movably connected to the document reading device 30. The connecting arm 50 has a projecting shaft 52 projecting outward from the front end side (front side).

  The guide member 60 guides the projecting shaft 52 of the connecting arm 50 in accordance with the opening / closing operation of the document reading device 30, and is fixed to the front left and right positions on the lower surface of the document reading device 30. The guide member 60 is provided with a guide long hole 61 extending in the front-rear direction, and the protruding shaft 52 is fitted in the guide long hole 61 in a sliding contact state. Accordingly, when the document reading device 30 is opened and closed, the projecting shaft 52 moves forward and backward in the guide long hole 61 accordingly, whereby the connecting arm 50 is in the lying posture S3 (FIG. 4) and the standing posture S4 ( The posture can be changed between FIG. An escape recess 62 that can accommodate the protruding shaft 52 (second end portion) of the connecting arm 50 is provided on the inner peripheral wall (guide surface) of the guide long hole 61. The escape recess 62 will be described in detail later.

  The stopper 70 prevents the protruding shaft 52 from moving in the guide slot 61 to maintain the standing posture S4 in a state where the connecting arm 50 is set to the standing posture S4 as shown in FIG. Is. The stopper 70 is disposed close to the guide member 60 at a position outside the guide member 60.

  The stopper 70 is pivotally supported at a substantially central portion in the front-rear direction so as to be rotatable around a vertical axis (predetermined axis) 71 provided in the document reading device 30. The rear portion of the stopper 70 enters the rotation trajectory of the connecting arm 50 by fitting into the guide long hole 61. Accordingly, the stopper 70 is positioned between the interference posture S5 (FIGS. 3A and 4) that interferes with the projecting shaft 52 and the release posture S6 (FIG. 3B) in which the interference is released. The posture can be changed. A first compression spring 72 (biasing member) is attached to the rear end portion of the stopper 70, and the stopper 70 is normally subjected to an interference posture S5 by the urging force of the first compression spring 72 as shown in FIG. The posture is set.

  The stopper 70 includes an inclined edge surface (inclined surface) 73, a stop surface 74 and a protrusion 75. The inclined edge surface 73 is provided in the rear part from the vertical axis 71 on the side edge surfaces of the pair of stoppers 70 facing each other, and is inclined so that the distance between them becomes shorter toward the rear. The stop surface 74 is connected to the rear end surface of each stopper 70 at an acute angle with the inclined edge surface 73 and stops the protruding shaft 52. The projecting portion 75 is provided at the intersecting position of the inclined edge surface 73 and the stop surface 74, and rotates the projecting shaft 52 of the connecting arm 50 set in the standing posture S4 toward the outside around the vertical axis 71. To press toward the escape recess 62. FIGS. 3A and 3B show the movement trajectory R of the protrusion 75 when the stopper 70 rotates about the vertical axis 71.

  Accordingly, when the document reading device 30 is changed from the closing posture S1 (FIG. 4) toward the opening posture S2 (FIG. 5), the projecting shaft 52 of the connecting arm 50 is placed in the guide slot 61 of the guide member 60. When moving the rearward, the stopper shaft 70 rotates around the vertical axis 71 against the urging force of the first compression spring 72 by the projecting shaft 52 pressing the inclined edge surface 73. Accordingly, the posture is set to the release posture S6 (indicated by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 5) in which the protruding portion 75 has once left the guide slot 61.

  Then, by continuing the opening operation of the document reading device 30, the protruding shaft 52 presses the inclined edge surface 73 and rotates the stopper 70 around the vertical axis 71. When the projecting shaft 52 passes over the inclined edge surface 73, each stopper 70 is rotated around the vertical axis 71 in the direction in which the projecting portions 75 approach each other by the urging force of the first compression spring 72. As a result, each projecting portion 75 is returned to the interference posture S5 fitted again into the guide slot 61 as indicated by a solid line in FIG. 3A and a dotted line in FIG.

  When the stopper 70 is set to the interference position S5 in a state where the document reading device 30 is set to the open position S2, the protruding shaft 52 is moved to the stopper 70 as shown in FIGS. Interfering with the stop surface 74. Accordingly, the projecting shaft 52 cannot move forward in the guide slot 61, and the opening posture S2 of the document reading device 30 is locked.

  The operation structure 80 is for unlocking the opening posture S2 of the document reading device 30 by a predetermined operation. The operation structure 80 includes an operation lever 81 provided on the lower surface of the operation table 311 of the document reading apparatus 30, an elevating member 82 that is moved up and down by the operation of the operation lever 81, and a horizontal direction according to the elevating and lowering of the elevating member 82. And a pair of interposed rods 83 in the left-right direction interposed between the stopper 70 and moving vertically.

  The operation lever 81 has an operation rod 811 that protrudes rearward from the rear edge. An operation shaft 812 provided in the operation table 311 and extending in the left-right direction is passed through the rear portion of the operation lever 81. By rotating the operation lever 81 around the operation shaft 812, the rear end of the operation rod 811 is moved up and down.

  The elevating member 82 is brought into contact with the front end (rear end) of the operation rod 811 on the upper surface thereof. The elevating member 82 has an inverted U shape, and includes an upper rod 821 extending in the left-right direction and a pair of right and left triangular pieces 822 suspended from the left and right sides of the upper rod 821. Each triangular piece 822 is provided with an inclined edge surface 823 that is set such that the distance between the triangular pieces 822 becomes shorter toward the opposite edge surface. The elevating member 82 is urged upward by a second compression spring 84 disposed immediately below the upper collar 821.

  Therefore, when the user presses the operation lever 81 upward by hand (specifically, by manually grasping the operation table 311 and the operation lever 81), the operation rod 811 rotates counterclockwise around the operation shaft 812. Rotate toward Due to the lowering of the front end (rear end) of the operation rod 811 due to this rotation, the elevating member 82 descends against the urging force of the second compression spring 84.

  The interposed rod 83 includes an inner engagement protrusion 831 that protrudes forward from the inner end in the left-right direction, and an outer engagement protrusion 832 that protrudes upward from the outer end. I have. For convenience of illustration, in FIGS. 4 and 5, the outer engagement protrusion 832 protrudes upward from the interposed rod 83. However, in the example shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the outer engagement protrusion 832 protrudes upward. A protrusion 832 protrudes downward from the interposed rod 83.

  The interposed rod 83 has a length dimension such that the inner engagement protrusion 831 contacts the inclined edge surface 823 of the elevating member 82 and the outer engagement protrusion 832 contacts the outer edge surface of the front end of the stopper 70. Is set. The document reading device 30 is provided with a guide structure that movably supports the elevating member 82 and the interposed rod 83, but the illustration thereof is omitted in FIGS.

  On the other hand, locking holes (not shown) are provided at positions corresponding to the outer engaging protrusions 832 on the inner surfaces in the left-right direction of the upper exterior cover body 31 of the document reading device 30. In a state where the document reading device 30 is set to the closing posture S1 (FIG. 4), each outer engagement protrusion 832 is fitted and locked in the corresponding locking hole, so that the document reading device 30 is normally used. It will not open. When the operation lever 81 is turned counterclockwise around the operation shaft 812, the outer engagement projections 832 are fitted by the movement of the interposition rods 83 toward each other. It will come off from each locking hole. By this operation, the document reading device 30 moves from the closed posture S1 to the open posture S2.

  According to the operation structure 80 configured as described above, when the operation table 311 and the operation lever 81 are grasped by hand and the operation lever 81 is pressed upward, the operation rod 811 rotates counterclockwise around the operation shaft 812. As a result, the elevating member 82 is pressed by the front end (rear end) of the operation rod 811 and descends against the urging force of the second compression spring 84.

  When the elevating member 82 is lowered, the inner engagement protrusions 831 of the respective interposing rods 83 that are in contact with the respective inclined edge surfaces 823 formed on the respective triangular pieces 822 are guided to the respective inclined edge surfaces 823. Move toward each other. As the inner engagement protrusion 831 moves, the outer engagement protrusions 832 respectively pull the front end of the stopper 70 toward the inner side. By the rotation of the stoppers 70 about the vertical axis 71 due to this drawing, the rear ends of the stoppers 70 come out of the guide slots 61 of the guide member 60, and the release posture S6 from the interference posture S5 ((A) in FIG. 3). The posture is changed to ((b) in FIG. 3).

  In the state where the document reading device 30 is set to the closing posture S1 (FIG. 4), the operation lever 81 and the operation table 311 are grasped with fingers and the operation lever 81 is turned counterclockwise around the operation shaft 812. By rotating the stopper 70, the posture of the stopper 70 is changed from the interference posture S5 to the release posture S6, and at the same time, the outer engaging protrusions 832 are removed from the locking holes, and the document reading device 30 can be opened. For this reason, when the user opens the document reading device 30 while holding the operation table 311 and the operation lever 81, the protruding shaft 52 passes over the protruding portion 75 of the stopper 70, and the document reading device. 30 becomes an open posture S2. In this state, when the grasping state of the operation table 311 and the operation lever 81 is released (that is, when the grasped finger is loosened), the stopper 70 returns to the original interference posture S5 by the urging force of the first compression spring 72. Therefore, the projecting shaft 52 interferes with the protruding portion 75 of the stopper 70 in the interference posture S5. As a result, the document reading device 30 maintains the open posture S2 as shown in FIG.

  Incidentally, in the present embodiment, as described above, the inclined edge surface 73 is provided on the stopper 70, and when the document reading device 30 is opened, the projecting shaft 52 of the connecting arm 50 is in sliding contact with the inclined edge surface 73. The stoppers 70 are rotated in the direction in which the inclined edge surfaces 73 are separated. For this reason, once the outer engaging projection 832 is released from the locking hole of the document reading device 30 by the operation of the operation lever 81, the hand is released from the operation lever 81 and only the operation table 311 is gripped to perform the opening operation. In addition, it is possible to change the posture of the document reading device 30 from the closed posture S1 to the open posture S2.

  Next, when the manuscript reading device 30 is operated to press the operation lever 81 toward the operation table 311 with the posture set to the open posture S2, as shown in FIG. The guide long hole 61 is removed. For this reason, the projecting shaft 52 of the connecting arm 50 can move within the guide slot 61, and the document reading device 30 can be changed in posture from the open posture S2 to the closed posture S1.

  In the present embodiment, a structure (posture change facilitating structure) that can easily change the posture of the document reading device 30 to the closing posture S1 in the state where the document reading device 30 is set to the open posture S2. The member 60 is adopted.

  FIG. 6 is a side view of the guide member 60 for explaining an example of the posture change facilitating structure according to the embodiment of the present invention. Note that the direction indication by Y in FIG. 6 is the same as in FIG. 1 (−Y: forward, + Y: backward). FIG. 6 shows a state in which the document reading device 30 is set to the open posture S2.

  In a state where the document reading device 30 is set to the open posture S2, the connecting arm 50 is set to the standing posture S4 tilted slightly forward from the upright posture. Accordingly, the connection arm 50 in this state tries to rotate clockwise around the fulcrum shaft 51 because of the weight of the document reading device 30, but the protruding portion 75 and the stop surface 74 of the stopper 70. Is inserted into the guide slot 61 of the guide member 60, the projecting shaft 52 of the connecting arm 50 interferes with the projecting portion 75 and the stop surface 74 of the stopper 70. Due to this interference, the clockwise rotation around the fulcrum shaft 51 of the connecting arm 50 is prevented, that is, the locked state.

  In order to release this locked state, as described in detail above, the operation lever 81 is pressed. By this pressing operation, the stopper 70 is rotated about the vertical axis 71 in the counterclockwise direction in FIG. 3, and from the interference posture S5 shown in FIG. 3A to the release posture shown in FIG. The posture is changed to S6. Due to this change in posture, the protrusion 75 of the stopper 70 presses the protruding shaft 52 rearward, so that the connecting arm 50 slightly rotates counterclockwise around the fulcrum shaft 51 in FIG. By this rotation, the protruding shaft 52 has to lift the document reading device 30 through the upper edge of the guide slot 61. However, since the document reading device 30 is heavy, it is extremely difficult to lift the document reading device 30 only by the force applied to the protruding shaft 52 by the operation of the operation lever 81. In order to perform this rotation, the manuscript reading device 30 must be lifted with the other hand while operating the operation lever 81 with one hand, which is very troublesome.

  Therefore, in the present embodiment, the rear end of the stopper 70 which is the upper edge portion of the guide long hole 61 and is set in the interference posture S5 (that is, the stop surface 74 of the stopper 70 entering the guide long hole 61). An inverted V-shaped escape recess 62 is provided at a further rear position. The inclination angle α of the front inclined surface 621 formed on the front side of the escape recess 62 with respect to the direction in which the guide slot 61 (guide surface) extends is the rotation trajectory of the projecting shaft 52 at the upper end of the connecting arm 50. It is set so that it may follow along.

  When the stopper 70 is changed from the interference posture S5 to the release posture S6 against the urging force of the first compression spring 72 by the operation of the operation lever 81, the stopper 70 rotates about the vertical axis 71, as shown in FIG. As shown, the protrusion 75 moves along the movement path R. By providing the relief recess 62 described above, the projecting portion 75 and the stop surface 74 move along the movement trajectory R, and when the projecting shaft 52 of the connecting arm 50 is pressed, the projecting shaft 52 starts as a starting point. It fits into the escape recess 62. That is, the projecting shaft 52 is relieved to a position where the projecting portion 75 does not interfere with the movement trajectory R with a relatively small force given by the operation of the operation lever 81 (see (B) in FIG. 3). Thereby, the lifting amount of the document reading device 30 can be made as small as possible.

  Accordingly, the user presses the operation lever 81 with only one hand while holding the stopper 70 without performing a complicated operation such as operating the operation lever 81 with the other hand while lifting the document reading device 30 with one hand. It is possible to easily change the posture from the interference posture S5 to the release posture S6. As a result, the posture changing operation of the document reading device 30 from the open posture S2 to the closed posture S1 can be easily performed.

  In the present embodiment, the inclination angle α of the front inclined surface 621 of the relief recess 62 with respect to the guide slot 61 is set to be smaller than the inclination angle β with respect to the horizontal plane of the document reading apparatus 30 set in the open position S2. ing. By doing so, the connecting arm 50 supporting the weight of the document reading device 30 rotates counterclockwise around the fulcrum shaft 51 without being pressed by the stopper surface 74 of the stopper 70, and the projecting shaft It is possible to prevent the occurrence of inconvenience that 52 is fitted into the escape recess 62.

  As described above in detail, the image forming apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment rotates between the closing posture S1 and the opening posture S2 by rotating around the support shaft 34 with respect to the upper surface of the image forming apparatus main body 20. The posture of the document reading device 30 whose posture is to be changed and the fulcrum shaft 51 provided on the upper portion of the apparatus main body 20 are rotated between the standing posture S4 and the lying posture S3 so that the posture can be changed, and the posture is set to the standing posture S4. In this state, the connecting arm 50 that supports the document reading device 30 and the stopper 70 that prevents the connecting arm 50 from changing its posture from the standing posture S4 to the lying posture S3 are provided.

  The stopper 70 rotates about the vertical axis 71 so that the posture can be changed between the interference posture S5 that interferes with the turning trajectory around the fulcrum shaft 51 of the connecting arm 50 and the release posture S6 in which the interference is released. The connecting arm 50 is pivotally supported and is configured to return to the turning trajectory of the connecting arm 50 after the connecting arm 50 is once moved to the standing posture S4 with a predetermined turning amount.

  According to the image forming apparatus 10 configured as described above, the document reading device 30 is rotated around the support shaft 34 in a state where the document reading device 30 is set to the closed posture S1 in which the upper surface of the apparatus main body 20 is closed. By moving and changing the posture toward the open posture S2, the connecting arm 50 which has been set in the lying posture S3 is rotated around the fulcrum shaft 51 in a predetermined direction and is directed to the standing posture S4.

  The connecting arm 50 that rotates toward the standing posture S4 passes through the stopper 70 that has interfered with the rotation locus, and then returns to the rotation locus so that the posture change toward the recumbent posture S3 is prevented. Therefore, the open posture S2 of the document reading device 30 supported by the connecting arm 50 is reliably maintained.

  An escape recess 62 that substantially follows the rotation trajectory of the upper end of the connecting arm 50 is provided at a position behind the upper edge of the guide slot 61 of the guide member 60 provided in the document reading device 30. For this reason, when the document reading device 30 once set to the open posture S2 is returned to the original closing posture S1, the stopper 70 is moved from the interference posture S5 to the release posture S6 without particularly raising the document reading device 30 by a considerable amount. It is possible to change. As a result, it is not necessary to once lift the heavy document reading device 30 with one hand, and the operability of the closing operation of the document reading device 30 can be improved without increasing the number of parts. .

  Further, the front inclined surface 621 of the relief recess 62 is set so that the angle with respect to the lower surface of the document reading device 30 is smaller than the inclination angle with respect to the horizontal plane of the document reading device 30 set to the open posture S2. Therefore, the connecting arm 50 that supports the weight of the document reading device 30 is rotated counterclockwise around the fulcrum shaft 51 without being pressed by the contact surface 74 of the stopper 70, so that the protruding shaft 52 is moved. It is possible to prevent the occurrence of inconvenience such as fitting into the escape recess 62.

  Further, since an operation lever 81 configured to be able to rotate the stopper 70 around the vertical axis 71 is provided, the stopper 70 is rotated around the vertical axis 71 to be set in the open posture S2. The operation of returning the original document reading device 30 to the original closing posture S <b> 1 can be easily performed by operating the operation lever 81.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and includes the following contents.
(1) In the above embodiment, a copying machine has been described as an example of the image forming apparatus 10. However, the present invention is not limited to the image forming apparatus 10 being a copying machine. Or a printer.
(2) In the above embodiment, the operation structure 80 including the operation lever 81, the elevating member 82, and the interposed rod 83 has been described as an example. Instead of the operation structure 80, for example, without providing the operation lever 81 and the elevating member 82, the inner engagement protrusions 831 of the pair of interposed rods 83 are projected from the operation table 311 to the outside. You may make it change the attitude | position of the stopper 70 by picking the inner engaging protrusion 831 with a finger | toe and attracting each other. Further, the stopper 70 may be changed in posture by using various link mechanisms.
(3) In the above embodiment, the inclination angle α of the front inclined surface 621 of the relief recess 62 is made smaller than the inclination angle β of the document reading apparatus 30 set to the open position S2. However, even if the inclination angle α of the front inclined surface 621 is larger than the inclination angle β of the document reading device 30, the tangent to the rotation locus of the projecting shaft 52 of the connecting arm 50 is set smaller than the angle with respect to the rotation locus. It ’s fine. In this case, the same effect as that of the above embodiment can be obtained.
(4) In the above-described embodiment, an example in which the posture of the connecting arm 50 is changed between the standing posture S4 (first posture) and the lying posture S3 (second posture) has been described. However, the second posture does not necessarily have to be in a recumbent state, as long as it is closer to the horizontal than the first posture.
(5) In the above embodiment, the example in which the document reading device 30 is rotatably attached to the apparatus main body 20 of the image forming apparatus 10 has been described. The present invention is not limited to this, and is a composite device in which two devices are combined, and is closed by rotating around a predetermined support shaft with respect to the first device and the upper surface of the first device. The present invention can be applied to all devices including a second device whose posture is changed between the posture and the open posture. For example, the present invention can be applied to various home appliances, industrial equipment, test equipment, and the like.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS It is a figure which shows one Embodiment of the image forming apparatus which concerns on this invention, (A) is a perspective view of an external appearance, (B) and (C) are explanatory drawings of a side sectional view. (B) shows a state where the document reading device is set to the closed posture, and (C) shows a state where the document reading device is set to the open posture. 2A and 2B are perspective views showing a state in which the document reading device is opened, in which (a) shows the opened document reading device as viewed from the left front, and (b) shows the opened document reading device from the right front. Each state is shown. FIGS. 3A and 3B are diagrams illustrating the lock structure of FIG. 2 from the lower surface side of the document reading apparatus, in which FIG. 2A illustrates a state in which the stopper is set to an interference posture, and FIG. Respectively. FIG. 5 is a perspective view for explaining the principle of the lock structure, and shows a state of the lock structure when the document reading apparatus is set to the closed position. It is a perspective view for explaining the principle of the lock structure, and shows the state of the lock structure when the document reading apparatus is set to the open position. It is a side view of a guide member. FIG. 2 is a perspective view conceptually showing a conventional image forming apparatus, in which (A) is a state in which the document reading device is set to a closed posture, and (B) is a state in which the document reading device is locked to an open posture by a stopper. The state (c) shows a state where the stopper once pushed the connecting arm backward.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Image forming apparatus (composite apparatus) 11 Connection part 12 Paper discharge tray 20 Apparatus main body (1st apparatus)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 21 Lower exterior cover body 22 Photosensitive drum 23 Charging apparatus 24 Exposure apparatus 25 Developing apparatus 26 Cleaning apparatus 27 Fixing apparatus 271 Fixing roller 272 Pressure roller 28 Paper cassette 30 Document reading apparatus (2nd apparatus) 31 Upper exterior cover body 311 Operation table 32 Document holding cover 33 Contact glass 34 Support shaft 40 Lock structure 50 Connecting arm 51 Support shaft (first end) 52 Projecting shaft (second end)
60 Guide member 61 Guide long hole 62 Escape recess 621 Front inclined surface 70 Stopper 71 Vertical axis (predetermined axis)
72 First compression spring (biasing member) 73 Inclined edge surface (inclined surface)
80 Operation structure 81 Operation lever 811 Operation rod 812 Operation shaft 82 Elevating member 821 Upper rod 822 Triangular piece 823 Inclined edge surface 83 Interposing rod 831 Inner engagement protrusion 832 Outer engagement protrusion 84 Second compression spring P Paper S1 Closing posture S2 Open posture S3 Recumbent posture (second posture)
S4 Standing posture (first posture) S5 Interference posture S6 Release posture

Claims (6)

An apparatus body for performing an image forming operation;
A document reading device that changes its posture between a closed posture and an open posture by rotating around a predetermined support shaft with respect to the upper surface of the device body;
A first end and a second end located opposite to the first end, the first end being rotatably connected to the apparatus body, and the second end Is movably connected to the document reading device, and is a first posture that supports the document reading device in an open position in an upright state, and a posture when the document reading device is in a closed posture, and A connecting arm capable of changing posture between a second posture closer to the horizontal than the standing state;
A guide member provided on the document reading device side and having a guide surface for guiding the movement of the second end of the connecting arm;
A stopper that is pivotally supported around a predetermined axis so that the posture can be changed between an interference posture that interferes with the second end of the connecting arm and a release posture in which the interference is released; With
The guide surface of the guide member is provided with a relief recess capable of accommodating the second end, and when the stopper changes its posture from the interference posture to the release posture, the pressing force applied from the stopper causes the first An image forming apparatus characterized in that two end portions are guided to the relief recess. A biasing member that biases the stopper toward the interference posture;
The stopper is
When the connecting arm moves from the second posture to the first posture, an inclined surface that turns the stopper toward the release posture while slidingly contacting the second end portion;
A stop surface that stops after the second end passes through the inclined surface and is changed to an interference posture;
A protrusion provided between the inclined surface and the stop surface,
2. The pressing force is applied from the protruding portion to the second end when the stopper changes its posture from an interference posture to a releasing posture against the urging force of the urging member. Image forming apparatus. The escape recess has an inclined introduction surface for introducing the second end,
3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an angle of the inclined introduction surface with respect to the guide surface is set to be smaller than an inclination angle with respect to a horizontal plane of the document reading device set to an open posture. .   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an operation lever that rotates the stopper around the predetermined axis. A unit member which is replaceably mounted in the apparatus main body, and a paper discharge tray for discharging paper after image formation;
The document reading device is disposed with a space above the device body,
The discharge tray is provided on the upper surface of the apparatus main body, and a part or all of the discharge tray can be opened / closed as an opening / closing cover for replacement of the unit member, and the document reading apparatus is in an open posture. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the opening / closing cover is openable / closable without interfering with the document reading apparatus. A compound device that combines two devices,
A first device;
A second device that changes its posture between a closed posture and an open posture by rotating around a predetermined support axis with respect to the upper surface of the first device;
A first end and a second end located on the opposite side of the first end, the first end being rotatably connected to the first device, and the second end A first posture in which an end portion is movably connected to the second device and supports the second device in an open posture in an upright state; and when the second device is in a closed posture. A connecting arm capable of changing posture between a posture and a second posture closer to the horizontal than the standing state;
A guide member provided on the second device side and having a guide surface for guiding the movement of the second end of the connecting arm;
A stopper that is pivotally supported around a predetermined axis so that the posture can be changed between an interference posture that interferes with the second end of the connecting arm and a release posture in which the interference is released; With
The guide surface of the guide member is provided with a relief recess capable of accommodating the second end, and when the stopper changes its posture from the interference posture to the release posture, the pressing force applied from the stopper causes the first A composite device characterized in that two end portions are guided to the escape recess.

Images