JP4789639B2 - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine or a printer having a function of forming an image on a recording material such as a sheet.

  Some conventional image forming apparatuses are configured to allow the operator to recognize the completion state when the detachable detachable body is completely attached to the image forming apparatus main body.

  For example, Patent Document 1 proposes the following configuration. When the process cartridge is correctly placed in a predetermined position with respect to the image forming apparatus main body, the process cartridge presence / absence detecting means represented by the micro switch on the image forming apparatus main body is pushed by the process cartridge for the first time. Become. As a result, the CPU operates the display device to inform the operator that the cartridge has been correctly installed.

  For this notification method, a green LED or other cartridge mounting OK lamp is turned on, and a display such as “Cartridge installation complete” or “Please close the door” is displayed on a display device such as a liquid crystal display. Proposals such as making a sound have been made.

  In Patent Document 2, the following configuration is applied. In a cartridge tank liquid level notification device used for oil fan heaters, portable stoves, etc., a notification sound is generated by a speaker by operating a switch that opens and closes the float that moves up and down according to the liquid level. It is a configuration.

At this time, a method has been proposed in which the full and empty notification sounds are made different so that the user can easily recognize the state.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 09-106126 (FIG. 1) JP 2001-108228 A (FIG. 3)

  In an image forming apparatus typified by a conventional laser printer, when the feeding cassette is mounted on the apparatus main body, the operator may leave the state where the feeding cassette is not completely mounted. At this time, particularly in the case of a network printer, if the feeding operation is started, printing cannot be performed, and the printing operation cannot be performed unless the user corrects the feeding cassette again. May cause. Similar problems may occur with respect to the removable process cartridge and the cover that can be opened and closed.

  Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-228561 informs and informs when a process cartridge is completely installed, but notifies based on information on a switch for turning on / off energization and a micro switch for detecting that a process cartridge is installed. Take measures. This has a complicated structure and is expensive, and since the structure is complicated, it is considered that the reliability is lowered. In addition, when mounting the process cartridge, it is mentioned that it is possible to give the operator a sense of security by notifying that the mounting is completed. There is no mention.

  In that sense, Patent Document 2 mentions that notifications are made with different sounds in different states.

  Here, in a cartridge tank used for an oil fan heater or the like, a configuration of a liquid amount notification device is proposed that generates a notification sound by operating a switch that opens and closes a float that moves up and down according to the amount of liquid. At this time, the notification sound of the full amount and the empty amount are made different so that the user can easily recognize the state.

  However, like Patent Document 1, the configuration is complicated and expensive, and the apparatus is limited to an apparatus that notifies the amount of liquid.

  The present invention has been made in view of the circumstances as described above, and is a simple and inexpensive informing means for informing a user with sound in conjunction with an attaching / detaching operation of an attachable / detachable body that can be attached to and detached from the image forming apparatus main body. And it aims at providing with a highly reliable structure. It is another object of the present invention to provide a simple, inexpensive, and highly reliable notification means that notifies a user with sound in conjunction with an opening / closing operation of an opening / closing member that can be opened and closed with respect to the image forming apparatus main body. .

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides:
A detachable body that can be attached to and detached from the apparatus body;
Sound generating means for generating sound when the detachable body is mounted ;
In an image forming apparatus having
The sound generating means generates a first sound when the detachable body is mounted at a position where the detachable body of the apparatus main body is to be mounted, and the detachable body is mounted at an incorrect position of the apparatus main body. When generating a second sound,
The second sound is a sound having a frequency different from that of the first sound .

Also, a detachable body that can be attached to and detached from the apparatus main body ,
Sound generating means for generating sound when the detachable body is mounted ;
In an image forming apparatus having
The sound generating means generates a first sound when the detachable body is mounted at a position where the detachable body of the apparatus main body is to be mounted, and the detachable body is mounted at an incorrect position of the apparatus main body. When generating a second sound,
The second sound is generated a different number of times from the first sound .

  According to the present invention, it is possible to provide, with a simple, inexpensive, and highly reliable configuration, a notification unit that notifies a user with sound in conjunction with an attachment / detachment operation of an attachment / detachment body that can be attached to and detached from an image forming apparatus main body. Is possible. In addition, it is possible to provide a simple, inexpensive, and highly reliable notification means that notifies the user by sound in conjunction with the opening / closing operation of an opening / closing member that can be opened / closed with respect to the image forming apparatus main body. .

  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, and relative arrangements of the components described in this embodiment should be appropriately changed according to the configuration of the apparatus to which the invention is applied and various conditions. It is not intended to limit the scope to the following embodiments.

  The present invention realizes that the user (operator) can easily recognize the completion of the attachment / detachment operation or the completion of the opening / closing operation with respect to the image forming apparatus main body of the attachment / detachment member (detachment member) or the opening / closing member (opening / closing member). Here, examples of the detachable body include a feeding cassette and a process cartridge. Further, examples of the opening / closing member include an opening / closing cover, a feeding cassette that cannot be completely separated from the apparatus main body but slides to open / close, and an extension tray.

  In the present invention, a means for notifying the user by sound in conjunction with these attaching / detaching operations and opening / closing operations is provided with a simple, inexpensive and highly reliable configuration. For example, in order to make it easy for the user to recognize and recognize the state of the apparatus, different notification sounds are obtained when the removable body is inserted into and removed from the image forming apparatus, or when the opening and closing member is opened and closed. Is generated. In addition, when the detachable body is attached to an incorrect part of the apparatus main body, an easy-to-understand sound is notified.

  Embodiment 1 of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a laser beam printer (hereinafter referred to as a printer) 1 which is an example of an image forming apparatus including a sound generating unit according to the present embodiment.

  In FIG. 3, the printer 1 stores an image forming unit 2 that performs image formation and an upper feed cassette 4, and an upper recording material feeding device 5 that separates and feeds recording materials P one by one to the image forming unit 2. Etc. A lower recording material feeding device 5L is provided below the upper recording material feeding device 5, and a lower feeding cassette 4L different from the upper feeding cassette 4 is accommodated therein. Here, the upper feed cassette 4 and the lower feed cassette 4L constitute the opening / closing member or the detachable body according to the present invention.

  The image forming unit 2 includes a process cartridge 7, a transfer roller 9, and the like that can be attached to and detached from the printer 1 main body (hereinafter referred to as the apparatus main body 1). The upper recording material feeding device 5 includes an upper feeding cassette 4 which is a recording material storage means for stacking and storing recording materials, a pickup roller 6 which is a recording material feeding means, a feed roller 14 and a retard roller 15. A recording material separating and feeding unit is provided.

  Similarly, the lower recording material feeding device 5L also has a lower recording cassette 4L, which is a recording material storage means for loading and storing recording materials, and a recording material separation composed of a pickup roller, a feed roller, and a retard roller, which are recording material feeding means. A feeding section is provided. However, the upper feed cassette 4 has a path 4a for the recording material P fed from the lower recording material feeding device 5L. The process cartridge 7 includes a photosensitive drum 8, a charging roller 20, a developing unit 22, a cleaning unit (not shown), and the like.

  The charging roller 20 is provided in contact with the photosensitive drum 8 so as to be driven to rotate by the photosensitive drum 8, and is for charging the surface of the photosensitive drum uniformly when the photosensitive drum 8 rotates. The developing unit 22 supplies toner to the developing area of the photosensitive drum 8 to develop the latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 8.

  In the figure, 12 is a laser scanner unit, 10 is a fixing unit, 13 is a discharge roller for discharging the recording material P to the recording material discharge stacking base 16, and 11 is a control unit.

  Next, an image forming operation of the laser beam printer configured as described above will be described.

  When image information is sent from a personal computer (not shown) or the like, a controller board (not shown) that performs image formation processing on the image information generates a print signal. Then, the recording material P stacked on the upper feed cassette 4 that is detachably attached to the upper recording material feeder 5 or the lower feed cassette 4L that is detachably attached to the lower recording material feeder 5L. A feeding operation for feeding one of the stacked recording materials P is performed. The recording material P is fed one by one by a pickup roller and a recording material separating and feeding unit, and sent to the nip between the photosensitive drum 8 and the transfer roller 9 in the process cartridge 7.

  On the other hand, the laser scanner unit 12 irradiates the photosensitive drum 8 with a bit image of the image information (laser light) based on the image information together with the print command, and a latent image is formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 8 according to the bit image. Is formed. Further, a toner image is formed on the photosensitive drum 8 by developing the latent image.

  The toner image thus formed on the photosensitive drum 8 is then transferred to the recording material P fed into the nip between the photosensitive drum 8 and the transfer roller 9. Further, the recording material P to which the toner image is transferred is sent to the fixing unit 10 and is heated and pressurized by the fixing unit 10, whereby the toner image is fixed semipermanently. Further, thereafter, the recording material P on which the toner image is fixed is discharged to the recording material discharge stack 16 by the discharge roller 13.

  FIG. 1A is a schematic top view showing the configuration of sound generating means provided in the upper feed cassette 4 and the upper recording material feeding device 5. In the upper feed cassette 4 shown in FIG. 1 (a), the state indicated by the solid line represents the state of being completely accommodated, and the broken line represents the upper feed cassette (shown by reference numeral 104 in the drawing) in the pulled out state. ).

  As shown in the drawing, when the pulled-up upper feed cassette (104) is stored in the direction of arrow E, the contact member 23 provided on the side surface of the upper feed cassette 4 immediately before the storage is completed, The free end tip 24a of the cantilever metal piece 24 provided on the feeding device 5 (device main body side) is flipped. Thereby, the cantilever metal piece 24 vibrates sine or cosine, and a sound (notification sound) is generated. The sound wave of the generated sound is a sine wave or a cosine wave.

  Here, the abutting member 23 constitutes an abutting body according to the present invention, and the cantilever metal piece 24 constitutes an abutted member according to the present invention. The abutting member 23 and the cantilevered metal piece 24 constitute sound generating means according to the present invention. Further, the fact that the abutting member 23 repels the free end tip 24 a of the cantilevered metal piece 24 can be said to be separated after the abutting member 23 contacts the free end tip 24 a of the cantilevered metal piece 24.

  The fixed end of the cantilever metal piece 24 is fixed to the main body of the upper recording material feeding device 5 by a screw 25. The upper recording material feeder 5 is provided with a space 26 so that the cantilevered metal piece 24 can freely vibrate. Here, the upper recording material feeding device 5 is provided with a holding body 5s for positioning the positioning portion 4s of the upper feeding cassette 4 in the direction of arrow E, and a sound is generated immediately before or simultaneously with the positioning. It has a configuration.

  FIG. 1B is a detailed view for explaining the sound generating means, and is an enlarged view of the main part of FIG.

  In the present embodiment, at least the position of the contact member 23 in the longitudinal direction of the cantilevered metal piece 24 at the position where the contact member 23 repels the free end tip 24 a of the cantilevered metal piece 24. The upper feed cassette 4 is configured to slide so as to ensure accuracy. Thereby, it is possible to generate a stable sound.

  In view of sound stability, the overlap amount M in the direction substantially perpendicular to the direction in which the upper feed cassette 4 slides between the contact member 23 and the cantilevered metal piece 24 is 0.1 mm or more and 5 mm or less. It is desirable to be. In view of sound quality, the cantilevered metal piece 24 is preferably a carbon steel plate material, and the contact member 23 is preferably made of a hard resin or an iron-based material.

  FIG. 2 shows the waveform of the generated sound. As shown in FIG. 2, the generated sound gradually attenuates while maintaining a constant frequency. It is desirable that the duration of the generated sound be within 1 second and 10 seconds.

  In the configuration described so far, the sound is produced almost simultaneously with the completion of mounting of the cassette, that is, the positioning of the cassette with respect to the recording material feeding device, but high positional accuracy is required. Therefore, a configuration for reducing the positional accuracy will be described below.

  4 and 5 are diagrams for explaining the configuration of the drawing means for the upper recording material feeding device 5 of the upper feeding cassette 4.

  In FIG. 4, a total of six rotatable cassette rollers 56, three on each side, are provided at the bottom of both side surfaces of the upper feed cassette 4, and rolls on the bottom surface 57 of the upper recording material feeding device 5. Move.

  In a state where the upper feed cassette 4 is completely attached to the upper recording material feeding device 5, the cassette roller 56 falls with respect to the recess 58 provided in the bottom face 57 corresponding to each position. It is like that. Here, the cassette roller 56 and the recess 58 constitute the pull-in means according to the present invention.

  When the user pushes the upper feed cassette 4 in the direction of arrow N shown in FIG. 4, the cassette roller 56 eventually starts rolling on the slope of the recess 58. At this time, assuming that the drag force that the cassette roller 56 receives from the inclined surface is F1, F2, and F3, the force of the traveling direction component (Fx1 + Fx2 + Fx3) is transmitted to the upper feed cassette 4 on one side of the upper feed cassette 4, and the upper feed The pulling operation force in the direction of arrow N of the cassette 4 is obtained.

Here, the opposite side of the upper feed cassette 4 has the same configuration, and the drag received by the roller 56 on the opposite side from the inclined surface is F4, F5, and F6, respectively. In this case, in the upper feed cassette 4 from the moment when each roller starts to simultaneously contact the slope of the corresponding recess, the force of Fx expressed by the following equation 1 is used as the pulling operation force for the upper recording material feeding device 5. work.
Fx = Fx1 + Fx2 + Fx3 + Fx4 + Fx5 + Fx6 (Expression 1).

  At this time, even if the user stops the pushing operation with respect to the upper feeding cassette 4, the upper feeding cassette 4 is automatically drawn into the upper recording material feeding device 5 and is completely attached. Yes. This is because the pulling operation force by the pulling means assists the mounting of the upper recording material feeding device 5 completely (closing) immediately before the upper feeding cassette 4 is mounted (closed). It can also be said that it is acting.

  Next, the timing of sound generation by the sound generation means and the start of drawing of the upper feed cassette 4 will be described with reference to FIG. In the present embodiment, the sound generating means is set so as to generate sound when the pulling force by the pulling means is acting. This will be described in detail below.

In FIG. 5, a state where the upper feed cassette 4 is completely mounted is indicated by a two-dot chain line. At this time, the front surface of the upper feed cassette 4 is set to a position C. When the upper cassette 4 is inserted into the upper recording material feeder 5 in the direction of arrow N, each cassette roller 56 starts rolling on the slope of the recess 58 (the pull-in force Fx starts to work). The upper feed cassette 4 at the time) is indicated by a broken line.

  From here, the distance until the upper feed cassette 4 is completely mounted is B. Further, the state of the upper feed cassette 4 at the moment when the sound is generated by the sound generating means in the process of mounting the upper feed cassette 4 is indicated by a solid line. From here, the distance until the upper feed cassette 4 is completely mounted is represented by A.

  In such a case, in the present embodiment, B> A is set, and the distance z until the upper feed cassette 4 is completely mounted is set as z <B. As a result, even when the user removes his / her hand from the upper feed cassette 4, it is possible to generate a sound for notifying complete mounting and to fully attach the upper feed cassette 4.

  According to the present embodiment, with the configuration as described above, when the upper feed cassette 4 is inserted and removed, a reliable attachment / detachment state can be recognized by sound to the user. In other words, the user can easily grasp that it is completely worn by listening to a pleasant sound by the sound generation means, and conversely when the sound does not sound, the user can recognize that the wearing is incomplete. Can be re-installed.

  That is, the print feeding is started in a halfway (incomplete) mounting state of the upper feed cassette 4, and it is possible to prevent problems related to the conveyance of the recording material such as a jam. Here, when the abutting member 23 flips the cantilevered metal piece 24 during insertion, it becomes a resistance force in the traveling direction, but this resistance force is a force smaller than Fx.

  The pull-in means here uses the own weight of the feed cassette itself and the rollers and slopes provided in the feed cassette, but pull-in means using a spring, such as a toggle spring, or magnetic force is used. Retraction means may be used.

Further, by setting the frequency of at least one sound generated from the sound generating means to be approximately 440 × 2 ^x (Hz) (where x is 0 or a positive or negative integer), human beings are most comfortably accepted. It is desirable to include a notification sound.

  In the present embodiment, the abutted member provided on the apparatus main body side is composed of a metal material, that is, the cantilever metal piece 24, but is not limited thereto. That is, it is only necessary that at least one of the contacted member provided on the apparatus main body side and the contact member provided on the opening / closing member or the detachable body is made of a metal material. Further, as the contact body and the contacted member constituting the sound generating means, for example, a rigid protrusion and a cantilevered metal piece used as a music box vibrating body may be applied. Further, for example, the following may be applied to the contacted member (corresponding to the cantilevered metal piece 24). In the present embodiment, the cantilever member 24 is constituted by the cantilever metal piece 24. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a sounding body fixed or substantially simply supported on the apparatus main body side, such as a metal bell member (metal bell member). Member). You may comprise so that an alerting | reporting sound may generate | occur | produce, for example by separating after a contact body contacts a side surface among metal bell members.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a second embodiment of the present invention.

  6A is a top view of the upper recording material feeding device 5, and FIG. 6B is a cross-sectional view taken along the line DD of FIG. 6A. In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected about the component similar to Example 1 mentioned above, and the description is abbreviate | omitted.

  The difference from the first embodiment is that the upper recording material feeding device 5 (device main body side) is provided with a first cantilever metal piece 24 and a second cantilever metal piece 27 each having a different notification sound frequency. It is a point. Here, the first cantilevered metal piece 24 and the second cantilevered metal piece 27 constitute a contacted metal member according to the present invention.

  In the present embodiment, the frequency of the first cantilever metal piece 24 is set to a frequency higher than that of the second cantilever metal piece 27. Further, the upper feed cassette 4 is provided with a first contact member 23 and a second contact member 28. Here, as shown in FIG. 6A, when the advancing direction when the upper feed cassette 4 is attached is an arrow E direction, the first contact member 23 is more arrow E than the second contact member 28. It is located downstream in the direction (inside the main body of the apparatus).

  As shown in FIG. 6B, the first contact member 23 corresponds to the first cantilever metal piece 24, and the second contact member 28 corresponds to the second cantilever metal piece 27, respectively. Thus, two pairs of sound generating means are provided so as to be shifted in the vertical direction of the apparatus so as to generate sound.

  In addition, since the two contact members having different frequencies have different lengths (shapes), the projection height of the second contact member 28 is lower than that of the first contact member 23, and each contact member has a corresponding height. The tangential position conditions are matched.

  With such a configuration, when the upper feed cassette 4 is attached to the upper recording material feeder 5 in the direction of arrow E, immediately after the relatively high frequency sound is generated immediately before the attachment is completed, The lower sounds are generated sequentially at different timings. Conversely, when pulling out the upper feed cassette 4 from the mounted state, a relatively high sound is generated immediately after a sound having a relatively low frequency is generated in the order opposite to the timing at the time of mounting. Will be.

  Thus, in addition to the effects of the first embodiment, the upper feed cassette 4 is fully mounted in addition to the effects of the first embodiment by changing the order in which two different sounds are made when mounting and when drawing. And the user can recognize that it has been pulled out.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram showing Example 3 of the present invention.

  FIG. 7A is a view of the upper recording material feeding device 5 and the lower recording material feeding device 5L as viewed from the mounting direction of the upper feeding cassette 4. FIG. 7B is a schematic top view of the upper recording material feeding device 5. In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected about the component similar to Example 1 mentioned above, and the description is abbreviate | omitted.

  As shown in FIG. 7A, the upper feeding cassette 4 is mounted on the upper recording material feeding device 5, and the lower feeding cassette 4L is in the correct state when mounted on the lower recording material feeding device 5L. And In each cassette, recording materials of different sizes or different materials are set.

  As shown in the first embodiment, when the upper feeding cassette 4 is correctly mounted on the upper recording material feeding device 5, the abutment member 23 attaches the cantilevered metal piece 24 when the upper feeding cassette 4 is attached or detached. A notification sound is produced by playing. Similarly, when the lower feed cassette 4L is correctly attached to the lower recording material feed device 5L, the abutting member 23L repels the cantilevered metal piece 30 when the lower feed cassette 4L is attached or detached, so that a notification sound is generated. It rings.

At this time, the cantilevered metal piece 24 and the cantilevered metal piece 30 are set to sound a sound having the same frequency (first sound).

  Here, the contact member 23 is provided below the upper feed cassette 4, but the contact member 23 </ b> L is provided above the lower feed cassette 4 </ b> L.

  When the user erroneously tries to attach the lower feed cassette 4L to the upper recording material feeding device 5, a notification sound (second sound) unpleasant to the user is generated. Here, when the lower recording cassette 4L is to be mounted on the upper recording material feeding device 5, the contact member 23L is provided in the upper recording material feeding device 5 with a plurality of cantilever metal piece groups 29. Will be played continuously. Thereby, it is comprised so that the notification sound (2nd sound, sound group) unpleasant for a user may sound.

  That is, when the user erroneously mounts the cassette, it is possible to notify the user that an erroneous operation has been performed and to give attention.

  Here, the frequencies of the cantilevered metal piece group 29 are the same, but it is desirable that the cantilevered metal piece group 29 has a frequency characteristic lower than that of the cantilevered metal piece 24 and the cantilevered metal piece 30.

  Note that the cantilever metal piece group 29 is made to notice the user at an early stage when the user tries to install it incorrectly, so that the protrusion quickly hits the cantilever metal piece group 29 as shown in FIG. It is arranged on the cassette insertion opening side with respect to the cantilevered metal piece 24.

  Further, when the user mistakenly tries to attach the upper feed cassette 4 to the lower recording material feeding device 5L, the contact member 23 is provided with a plurality of cantilever metal pieces provided in the lower recording material feeding device 5L. The group 29L is continuously played, and a notification sound uncomfortable for the user is generated.

  With the above configuration, as in the first embodiment, when the cassette is normally mounted, the user can be made to recognize with a pleasant notification sound. Furthermore, when the cassette is inserted into the wrong mounting opening, it is possible to alert the user with an unpleasant continuous sound that is apparently wrong, and allow the user to recognize that the operation is incorrect.

  Whether the notification sound by the cantilever metal piece group 29 is a sound having a different frequency or a different number of times of the notification sound by the cantilever metal piece 24 and the cantilever metal piece 30. At least one of them.

  FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a waveform of a sound generated at the time of erroneous mounting.

  In FIG. 8, the respective waveforms of the cantilevered metal piece group 29L are w1, w2, w3, and w4 and are indicated by broken lines. These sums are actually audible sounds and are indicated by solid lines. If a normal sound is represented by the waveform in FIG. 2, the waveform is clearly different.

  In the present embodiment, this action is achieved with an inexpensive and simple configuration without using expensive parts such as speakers.

  FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

In the present embodiment, an example in which a notification sound is generated when the process cartridge 7 as the detachable body is mounted on the apparatus main body 1 will be described. In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected about the component similar to Example 1 mentioned above, and the description is abbreviate | omitted.

  The process cartridge 7 is provided with positioning pins 7 a for positioning with respect to the apparatus 1. The apparatus main body 1 is provided with a guide surface 1a (shaded portion) for guiding the positioning pins 7a when the process cartridge 7 is mounted.

  Thereby, the process cartridge 7 is guided in the direction of arrow G from the state of the process cartridge 107 before mounting shown by a broken line in the drawing to the state of the process cartridge 7 at the time of completion of mounting shown by a solid line.

  Here, in order to ensure the completion of the mounting of the process cartridge 7, a plate spring 31 is provided in the apparatus main body 1. This spring may be a wire spring.

  The leaf spring 31 is configured to press the positioning pin 7a of the process cartridge 7 in the arrow J direction when the mounting is completed. Further, as shown in FIG. 9, the leaf spring 31 is provided with a vertex portion 31a.

  At the time of mounting, the positioning pin 7a is guided in the direction of the arrow G while elastically deforming the leaf spring 31.

  From the point when the positioning pin 7a exceeds the apex 31a, the force of the G direction component of the pressing force acts on the positioning pin 7a by the action of the leaf spring 31, and the process cartridge 7 is pulled to the mounting completion position. It has become. Here, the positioning pin 7a and the leaf spring 31 constitute a pull-in means according to the present invention.

  In this embodiment, the contact member 23 is provided in the process cartridge 7, and the cantilevered metal piece 24 is fixed to the main body frame 1 b of the apparatus main body 1.

  When the process cartridge 7 is mounted, the contact member 23 repels the free end tip 24a of the cantilevered metal piece 24 after the positioning pin 7a exceeds the apex 31a and until the mounting is completed. As a result, the cantilevered metal piece 24 vibrates sine or cosine, and a sound is generated.

  According to the present embodiment, as in the first embodiment, even when the process cartridge 7 is mounted, the user can easily grasp that the process cartridge 7 is completely mounted by listening to a pleasant sound from the sound generating means. It becomes possible.

  FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

  FIG. 10 is an explanatory view showing an example in which the present invention is applied to an opening / closing cover 32 as an opening / closing member provided in the apparatus main body 1. FIG. 10A is a diagram illustrating a state in which the opening / closing cover 32 provided for jam processing and attachment / detachment of the process cartridge 7 is opened. FIG. 10B is a diagram showing a state in which the opening / closing cover 32 is closed. In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected about the component similar to Example 1 mentioned above, and the description is abbreviate | omitted.

  The contact member 23 of the present embodiment is provided on the side surface of an opening / closing cover 32 that is provided in the apparatus main body 1 and can be opened and closed by a rotating operation. A cantilever metal piece 24 serving as a sound source is provided in the apparatus main body 1.

The contact member 23 and the cantilevered metal piece 24 of the present embodiment repel the free end tip 24a of the cantilevered metal piece 24 when the opening / closing cover 32 is opened and closed as in the above-described embodiment. Thus, the cantilevered metal piece is arranged so as to generate sine vibration or cosine vibration to generate sound.

  With this configuration, as in the first embodiment, it is possible to easily grasp that the user has completely closed by listening to a pleasant sound by the sound generating means.

  Further, when closing the opening / closing cover 32 in the direction of arrow K, the sound generating means functions simultaneously with the operation of an interlock switch (not shown) that switches on / off of the high-voltage power source and the laser.

  As in the above-described embodiment, the opening / closing cover 32 may be closed by a pulling means using a spring, such as a toggle spring, a magnetic force, or a pulling means using the weight of the opening / closing cover 32 itself.

  As described above with reference to the first to fifth embodiments, according to the present invention, when the detachable body is inserted into and removed from the apparatus main body, the contact body is separated from the contacted body and then separated to notify the user. Thus, when the detachable body is inserted / removed, a reliable detachable state can be recognized by sound to the user.

  In other words, the sound information allows the user to easily recognize in advance the mounting state of the detachable body such as the feeding cassette and the process cartridge, that is, the abnormal mounting state, and correct it to the normal mounting state on the spot. Prompt.

  As a result, it is possible to prevent jamming due to printing of the detachable body with poor mounting, or to prevent printing from becoming impossible, and it is possible to improve usability.

  The same applies to an openable / closable opening / closing member such as an opening / closing cover that opens and closes when the process cartridge is attached / detached and a feeding cassette that does not completely come off the apparatus main body. In other words, the sound generating means allows the user to easily recognize the state in which the openable / closable operation member is incompletely closed, prompting the user to correct the close of the open / close cover normally on the spot, and preventing printing mistakes in advance. It becomes possible.

  Thus, it is one of the effects that the quality is improved by being recognized by the user with a comfortable sound rather than the recognition by the impact sound at the time of completion of the attachment of the detachable body or the opening / closing member to the apparatus main body. Such a configuration is particularly gentle for the visually impaired person, and it is possible to easily grasp the state of the detachable body or the opening / closing member.

The figure which shows the principal part for demonstrating a sound generation means in Example 1 of this invention. The figure which shows the waveform of the sound by a sound generation means in Example 1 of this invention. 1 is a diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention. FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating a pull-in configuration of a feeding cassette provided in the recording material feeding apparatus. The figure explaining the relationship between the automatic drawing-in operation | movement of the feeding cassette of a recording material feeding apparatus, and the timing which the sound of a sound generation means generate | occur | produces. The figure explaining the structure of a sound generation means in Example 2 of this invention. The figure explaining the structure of a sound generation means in Example 3 of this invention. The figure which shows the waveform of the sound at the time of incorrect mounting | wearing by the sound generation means in Example 3 of this invention. The figure explaining the structure of a sound generation means in Example 4 of this invention. The figure explaining the structure of a sound generation means in Example 5 of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

1. Main body (Laser beam printer)
2 Image forming unit 4, 4L feeding cassette 5, 5L recording material feeding device 7 process cartridge 23, 23L, 28 contact member (contact body)
24, 27, 29, 29L, 30 Cantilever metal piece (contacted member)
31 Leaf spring 32 Open / close cover

Claims (9)

A detachable body that can be attached to and detached from the apparatus body;
Sound generating means for generating sound when the detachable body is mounted ;
In an image forming apparatus having
The sound generating means generates a first sound when the detachable body is mounted at a position where the detachable body of the apparatus main body is to be mounted, and the detachable body is mounted at an incorrect position of the apparatus main body. When generating a second sound,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second sound is a sound having a frequency different from that of the first sound . The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second sound is generated a different number of times from the first sound. A detachable body that is detachable from the apparatus main body;
Sound generating means for generating sound when the detachable body is mounted;
In an image forming apparatus having
The sound generating means generates a first sound when the detachable body is mounted at a position where the detachable body of the apparatus main body is to be mounted, and the detachable body is mounted at an incorrect position of the apparatus main body. When generating a second sound,
2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second sound is generated a different number of times from the first sound. Before the mounting of the detachable body on the apparatus main body is completed, the pulling means acts on the detachable body to assist in completing the mounting of the detachable body on the apparatus main body,
4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sound generating unit generates a sound when a pulling force by the pulling unit is applied to the detachable body. 5. Sound generated from the sound generating means, the image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that a sinusoidal oscillation or cosine oscillation. Said sound generating means includes a contact portion provided on the detachable member, provided in the apparatus main body side provided with said abutting portion abutting the abutment member,
When instrumentation wearing the detachable body to the apparatus main body, wherein after contacting the contact portion is the contacted member, by spaced, claims 1 to 5, characterized in that said sound generating means generates a sound The image forming apparatus according to claim 1. The image forming apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein the contacted member is a cantilevered metal piece, and sound is generated when the abutting part repels the cantilevered metal piece . Said sound generating means includes a plurality of the abutted member, the plurality of abutted members are those respectively generate different sound frequencies, when instrumentation wearing the detachable member to the apparatus main body, the person by contacting portion is in contact at different timings to the plurality of the abutting member, said sound generating means generates a sequential sound, when pulling out the detachable body from the apparatus main body, said sound generating means when mounted The image forming apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein the sound is generated in a reverse order. 8. The image forming apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the contact portion and the contacted member are separated from each other in a state where the attachment of the detachable body to the apparatus main body is completed.

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