JP5162848B2 - Scanner holding device and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a scanner holding device used for holding a scanner unit of an image forming apparatus such as a digital copying machine or a facsimile machine, and an image forming apparatus including the scanner holding device.

The scanner unit support of an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine maintains a horizontal state so that an original image can be accurately read, and further prevents distortion and deformation even when a load is applied. It is necessary to install.
In recent years, there is an increasing number of in-cylinder discharge types that have a configuration in which a paper discharge unit is provided above the plotter unit and a scanner unit is disposed above the paper discharge unit. In this case, the paper is discharged below the scanner unit. In order to improve the take-out performance of the sheet, layouts are increasing in which one of the pair of scanner support members provided on the left and right is fixed to the apparatus only on the rear side and a space is provided below the front side. .

In this case, in order to keep the scanner unit support portion horizontal as described above, it is necessary to improve the strength of the scanner support member that is cantilevered on the rear side. In some cases, the horizontality can be finely adjusted by disposing a position adjusting member that can be moved up and down at the tip of a cantilevered scanner support member when the scanner does not become horizontal due to variations.
In the existing image forming apparatus, a long hole is provided on the side surface of the scanner support member that is cantilevered, and a screw hole for attachment is provided in the position adjustment member. Even if the position adjustment member is moved up and down, it is screwed. It can be done.

However, in the conventional image forming apparatus, since the position adjusting member is fastened from the side surface, there is a problem that if a long hole is used, the position adjusting member may be displaced downward due to a load from above.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a scanner holding device and an image forming apparatus including the scanner holding device that can prevent the screw fixing portion from being displaced by a load from above while allowing the vertical position of the scanner position adjusting member to be adjusted by a set screw. There is to do.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the invention described in claim 1 is directed to a scanner holding device having a pair of scanner support members and a positioning plate for supporting a scanner unit, at the tip of at least one scanner support member. has mounted and the scanner position adjustment member movable up and down by set screws, the scanner supporting member sequence substantially the same round hole and the outer diameter of the set screw mounting the scanner position adjustment member in a plurality rows in the The scanner position adjusting member is also provided with a plurality of screw holes arranged in a line, and at least one of the arrangement direction of the plurality of round holes and the arrangement direction of the plurality of screw holes. horizontal height position of the round hole or threaded hole is provided so as to change stepwise in the array direction, and, when performing screwing on for changing the round holes and the threaded holes to be used, Serial positioning pin projecting from the positioning plate through the screw hole of the round hole and the scanner position adjustment member of the scanner supporting member, by performing their positions fixed, the support height of the scanner unit stepwise It is characterized by adjusting .
According to a second aspect of the present invention, the positioning plate includes the positioning pins above and below the hole for inserting the set screw, and the scanner support member has holes arranged in three rows, and the scanner member for adjusting the position one column and said scanner holding device according to claim 1 having a hole in three rows a screw hole.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, the heights of the plurality of screw holes provided in the scanner position adjusting member are made the same in the horizontal direction, and the heights of the plurality of round holes provided in the scanner support member are set in the horizontal direction. The scanner holding device according to claim 1 , wherein the scanner holding device is changed step by step.
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the height of the plurality of round holes provided in the scanner support member is the same in the horizontal direction, and the height of the plurality of screw holes provided in the scanner position adjustment member is the horizontal direction. The scanner holding device according to claim 1 , wherein the scanner holding device is changed step by step.
According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, the height of the plurality of round holes provided in the scanner support member is changed stepwise in the horizontal direction, and the height of the plurality of screw holes provided in the scanner position adjusting member. The scanner holding device according to claim 1 , wherein the scanner holding device is changed stepwise in the direction opposite to the height of the plurality of round holes provided in the scanner support member and in the horizontal direction.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, a hole row in the lowermost direction of the plurality of holes in the scanner support member is a vertically long hole, and a hole row in the lowermost direction of the plurality of holes in the position adjusting member. The scanner holding device according to claim 1 , wherein the scanner holding device is also provided as a vertically long hole, and the position is adjusted by a positioning plate having positioning pins at the top and bottom for each stage.
The invention described in claim 7 is characterized in that the scanner holding device according to any one of claims 1 to 6 is provided with a numerical display in the vicinity of the round hole of the scanner support member.
According to an eighth aspect of the invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus including the scanner holding device according to any one of the first to seventh aspects.

According to the present invention, the support height of the scanner unit can be positioned and adjusted with high accuracy by changing the round hole and screw hole to be used and screwing even if a load is applied from above. Accordingly, it is possible to provide a scanner holding device and an image forming apparatus including the same.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing an image forming apparatus to which the present invention can be applied. It should be understood that this image forming apparatus is only shown as an example of a configuration having a body discharge section, and that the appearance does not affect the present invention.
An image forming apparatus 30 in FIG. 1 includes a scanner unit 31 including an automatic document feeder, an image forming unit 32 that forms an image based on information from the scanner unit 31, and a recording that transfers an image formed by the image forming unit 32. A recording paper feed unit 33 for supplying paper and a body paper discharge unit 34 for discharging and depositing the transferred and heat-fixed recording paper.

FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view showing a state in which the scanner unit is placed on the structure of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention. FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view showing a state in which the scanner unit is placed on the structure of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention shown in FIG. FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective view showing the structure including the scanner holding device of the image forming apparatus in a single state from the same angle as FIG.
The structure A includes a scanner holding device including a first scanner support plate 5 and a second scanner support plate 6 in order to hold the scanner unit 4 horizontally.

  The scanner unit 4 includes a first scanner receiving portion 8 of the first scanner support plate 5 (left side of the first scanner support plate 5 in FIG. 4) and a second scanner receiving portion 9 of the first scanner support plate 5 (first in FIG. 4). 1 on the right side of the scanner support plate 5), the first scanner receiving portion 10 of the second scanner support plate 6 (on the left side of the second scanner support plate 6 in FIG. 4), and the second scanner receiving portion 11 of the second scanner support plate 6 ( The right side of the second scanner support plate 6 in FIG. 4 is supported at four locations, and among these four locations, the first scanner support portion 10 of the second scanner support plate 6 moves the scanner position adjustment plate 7 up and down. By adjusting the position, the position can be adjusted.

FIG. 5 is a schematic perspective view showing an assembled state of the second scanner support plate and the scanner position adjusting plate. 6 is a schematic perspective view of the assembled state of the second scanner support plate and the scanner position adjusting plate of FIG. 5 as viewed from the back of FIG. FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view showing two scanner support plates and a scanner position adjusting plate in an exploded state.
On the side surface of the second scanner support plate 6, there are two round holes 6 a and a pair of vertically long holes 6 b in the vertical direction, and a plurality of sets of hole pairs are provided in the horizontal direction.
The holes constituting the hole pair of the second scanner support plate 6 have a main reference round hole 6a on the upper side and a vertical reference hole 6b on the lower side, and the horizontal height of these holes 6a and 6b is, for example, As shown in FIG. 7, as it goes from the left end to the right end (toward the end of the second scanner support plate 6), it is shifted in steps.

Further, the main reference round hole 6a is formed to be substantially the same as the maximum outer diameter of the set screw 12 of the scanner position adjusting plate 7, and the width of the sub-standard vertical hole 6b is set to the set screw 13 of the scanner position adjusting plate 7. It is almost the same as the maximum outer diameter dimension.
On the other hand, the scanner position adjusting plate 7 is similarly provided with screw holes 7a and 7c in the vertical direction, and two sets of them are provided in the horizontal direction as rows. These screw holes 7a and 7c have a horizontal height. Are the same. FIG. 6 further shows a scanner reinforcing plate 15 of the second scanner support plate 6, a scanner post-receiving plate 16 of the second scanner support plate 6, and a post-scanner reinforcing plate 17 of the second scanner support plate 6.
Although not shown in the drawing, the screw holes 7a and 7c of the scanner position adjusting plate 7 are shifted in steps in the horizontal direction in the same manner as the holes constituting the hole pair of the second scanner support plate 6. You can also.

As shown in FIG. 7, on the side surface of the second scanner support plate 6, the position adjustment height is displayed in the vicinity of the space between the longitudinal holes 6 c for the set screws 14 to be screwed into the screw holes 7 b of the scanner position adjustment member 7. Alternatively, a display portion 6e indicated by a scale is provided. The display portion 6e is an opening, and is configured so that numbers or scales at corresponding positions on the scanner position adjusting plate 7 can be seen from the opening. As a result, the amount of change in the support height of the scanner unit 4 can be easily understood.
Although not shown, the arrangement of the plurality of round holes 6a, 6b provided in the second scanner support plate 6 and the plurality of screw holes 7a, 7c provided in the scanner position adjusting member 7 may be a staggered arrangement. it can.

Further, the position of the scanner in the direction opposite to the holes 6a and 6b of the second scanner support plate 6 rising in a stepwise manner from the left end toward the right end (toward the end of the second scanner support plate 6). The screw holes 7a and 7c of the adjustment member 7 may be formed by stepwise shifting from the right end to the left end, as opposed to the left end to the right end, as described for the second scanner support plate 6, for example.
In addition to the set screws 12 and 13 for connecting the scanner position adjusting plate 7 and the second scanner support plate 6, the scanner position adjusting plate 7 is further provided with a screw hole 7 b for the set screw 14. The second scanner support plate 6 is provided with a vertically long hole 6c for the set screw 14.
When adjusting the height of the scanner position adjusting plate 7 with a jig or the like so that the flatness of the scanner receiving portions 8, 9, 10, and 11 at the four front, rear, left and right locations becomes a predetermined value, the second scanner support plate 6 and the scanner position adjusting plate 7 can be temporarily fixed by a set screw 14.

FIG. 8 is a schematic view showing screwing of the second scanner support plate and the scanner position adjustment plate in the first state. FIG. 9 is a schematic view showing screwing of the second scanner support plate and the scanner position adjustment plate in the second state. FIG. 10 is a schematic view showing screwing of the second scanner support plate and the scanner position adjustment plate in the third state.
The second scanner support plate 6 and the scanner position adjustment plate 7 are shown in a state where their holes 6a, 6b and screw holes 7a are changed and screwed. 8 to 10, the screw holes 7 a and 7 c of the scanner position adjusting plate 7 are at the same height in the horizontal direction, and the holes 6 a and 6 b of the second scanner support plate 6 are the right end of the second scanner support plate 6 in the figure. The height position is rising toward.

8 shows the second scanner support plate 6 and the scanner position adjusting plate 7 using the left hole 6a and the screw hole 7a, FIG. 9 using the center hole 6a and the screw hole 7a, and FIG. 10 using the right hole 6a and the screw hole 7a. Are fixed with set screws 12 and 13. Thus, the vertical position of the scanner position adjusting plate 7 can be adjusted by changing the hole 6a and the screw hole 7a to be used to the right side, the center, and the left side of the row.
Further, since the width of the main reference round hole 6a and the secondary reference vertical hole 6b of the second scanner support plate 6 is limited to the outer diameter of the set screws 12 and 13 of the scanner position adjustment plate 7, Even if a strong load is applied from the direction, the scanner position adjusting plate 7 can be prevented from being displaced.
By changing the screw holes to be used, the support height of the scanner unit 4 (FIG. 2) can be adjusted stepwise. It is possible to prevent the scanner position adjusting member 7 from rotating by screwing the round hole 6a as a main reference and the vertically long hole 6b as a sub reference.

FIG. 11 is a schematic perspective view showing the positioning plate 18 added to the positioning of the second scanner support plate and the scanner position adjusting plate. FIG. 12 is an exploded perspective view showing the positioning of the second scanner support plate and the scanner position adjustment plate of FIG.
The second scanner support plate 6 is provided with three holes 6a, 6b and 6d in the vertical direction having different sizes and shapes, with the horizontal height position slightly shifted and arranged in rows in the horizontal direction. The position adjustment plate 7 is provided with holes 7c, 7d, and 7e having the same diameter in three rows without shifting the vertical height position at positions corresponding to the holes 6a, 6b, and 6d of the second scanner support plate 6. Yes.

  In addition, a display unit 6e with numbers and scales is provided in the vicinity of the vertically long hole 6c of the second scanner support member 6 (the display unit 6e is an opening, and the numbers and scales provided on the corresponding scanner position adjusting plate 7 are displayed. Configured to read). As shown in FIG. 7, the second scanner support plate 6 and the scanner position adjustment plate 7 can be temporarily fixed by a set screw 14 using the screw hole 7 b and the vertically long hole 6 c of the second scanner support member 6. It has become.

Positioning pins 20 and 21 protrude from the positioning plate 18 at two positions above and below the set screw insertion hole 18a. The positioning pins 20 and 21 are connected to the round and long holes 6a and 6b of the second scanner support plate 6 and the scanner. The support height of the scanner unit 4 (FIG. 2) can be positioned and adjusted with higher accuracy by penetrating through the round holes 7a and 7c of the position adjusting plate 7, and the positioning unit can be adjusted even when a load is applied from above. It is possible to configure a scanner holding device that is not likely to shift.
The positioning plate 18 includes positioning pins 20 and 21 on the upper and lower sides of an insertion hole 18a for inserting a set screw 19, and the scanner support member 6 has holes 6a, 6b, and 6d arranged in three rows, and a scanner position adjusting member. 7 has three rows of holes 7a, 7c and 7d which are screw holes.

As in the case of having two rows of holes, the heights of the plurality of screw holes provided in the scanner position adjusting member 7 are the same in the horizontal direction, and the heights of the plurality of round holes provided in the scanner support member 6 are as follows. It can be changed stepwise in the horizontal direction.
Although not shown, the heights of the holes 6d in the hole row provided in the scanner support member 6 are the same in the horizontal direction, and the heights of the plurality of screw holes 7d provided in the scanner position adjusting member 7 are set in the horizontal direction. It can also be changed in stages.

The height of the round holes 6a of the hole row provided in the scanner support member 6 is changed stepwise in the horizontal direction, and the height of the hole 7a provided in the scanner position adjusting member 7 is set to the round hole provided in the scanner support member 6. It is also possible to change it stepwise in the direction opposite to the height change of 6a and in the horizontal direction.
Screwing of the scanner position adjusting plate 7 and the second scanner support plate 6 is performed in a screw hole 18a which is a central hole of the positioning plate 18. The bottom row of holes 6a, 6d, 6b in the scanner support member 6 is a vertically long hole 6b, and the second scanner support of the plurality of holes 7a, 7d, 7c in the scanner position adjustment member 7 is provided. A hole array in the lowermost direction corresponding to the vertically long hole 6b of the plate 6 is also provided as a vertically long hole (not shown), and the position can be adjusted by a positioning plate 18 having positioning pins 20 and 21 at both ends in the longitudinal direction.

  By providing the scanner holding device having the above-described configuration, the support height of the scanner unit is adjusted with higher accuracy and the image is kept in a horizontal state so that the original image can be read accurately. It is possible to provide an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine that does not cause the problem.

1 is a schematic diagram illustrating an image forming apparatus to which the present invention can be applied. FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view showing a state in which a scanner unit is placed on the structure of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention. It is a schematic perspective view which shows the state which mounted the scanner unit in the structure of the image forming apparatus by this invention of FIG. 2 from another angle of 90 degrees. It is a schematic perspective view which shows the structure containing the scanner holding | maintenance apparatus of an image forming apparatus in the state of a single body from the angle in FIG. It is a schematic perspective view which shows the assembly | attachment state of a 2nd scanner support plate and a scanner position adjustment plate. FIG. 6 is a schematic perspective view showing the assembled state of the second scanner support plate and the scanner position adjustment plate of FIG. It is a disassembled perspective view which shows a 2nd scanner support plate and a scanner position adjustment plate in the decomposition | disassembly state. It is the schematic which shows the screwing of a 2nd scanner support plate and a scanner position adjustment plate in a 1st state. It is the schematic which shows the screwing of a 2nd scanner support plate and a scanner position adjustment plate in a 2nd state. It is the schematic which shows the screwing of a 2nd scanner support plate and a scanner position adjustment plate in a 3rd state. It is a schematic perspective view which shows the positioning plate added to positioning of a 2nd scanner support plate and a scanner position adjustment plate. FIG. 12 is an exploded perspective view illustrating positioning of the second scanner support plate and the scanner position adjustment plate of FIG. 11.

Explanation of symbols

A Scanner holding device (structure)
4 scanner unit 5 first scanner support member (first scanner support plate)
6 Second scanner support member (second scanner support plate)
6a hole (round hole)
6b Long hole (round hole)
6c Vertically long hole 6d hole (round hole)
7 Scanner position adjustment member (scanner position adjustment plate)
7a Screw hole 7b Screw hole 7c Screw hole 7d Screw hole 7e Hole (round hole)
12 Set screw (main standard for position adjustment)
13 Set screw (secondary standard for position adjustment)
14 Set screw (for temporary fixing)
18 Positioning plate 19 Positioning plate set screw 20 Positioning pin (main reference)
21 Positioning pin (Follow standard)
30 Image forming apparatus

Claims (8)

  In a scanner holding apparatus having a pair of scanner support members and a positioning plate for supporting a scanner unit, at least one scanner support member has a scanner position adjustment member attached to a front end thereof by a set screw and movable up and down. The scanner support member is provided with a plurality of rows of round holes that are substantially the same as the outer diameter of a set screw for attaching the scanner position adjustment member, and the scanner position adjustment member is also provided with a plurality of screw holes. Further, the horizontal height of at least one of the round holes or the screw holes in the arrangement direction of the plurality of round holes and the arrangement direction of the plurality of screw holes is stepwise in the arrangement direction. And a positioning pin that protrudes from the positioning plate when the screwing is performed after changing the round hole or screw hole to be used. A scanner holding device, wherein the support height of the scanner unit is adjusted stepwise by passing through the round hole of the holding member and the screw hole of the scanner position adjusting member and fixing the positions thereof. .   The positioning plate includes the positioning pins above and below the hole for inserting the set screw, the scanner support member has holes arranged in three rows, and the scanner position adjusting member has one row of screw holes. The scanner holding device according to claim 1, wherein the scanner holding device has three rows of holes.   The height of the plurality of screw holes provided in the scanner position adjustment member is the same in the horizontal direction, and the height of the plurality of round holes provided in the scanner support member is changed stepwise in the horizontal direction. The scanner holding device according to claim 1, wherein:   The plurality of round holes provided in the scanner support member have the same height in the horizontal direction, and the heights of the plurality of screw holes provided in the scanner position adjustment member are changed stepwise in the horizontal direction. The scanner holding device according to claim 1, wherein: The height of the plurality of round holes provided in the scanner support member is changed stepwise in the horizontal direction, and the height of the plurality of screw holes provided in the scanner position adjustment member is set to a plurality of heights provided in the scanner support member. that is changed stepwise in the horizontal direction and in the height direction opposite round hole according to claim 1 Symbol placement of the scanner holding device and said.   The lowermost hole row of the plurality of holes in the scanner support member is a vertically long hole, and the lowermost hole row of the plurality of holes in the position adjusting member is also provided as a vertically long hole. 2. The scanner holding device according to claim 1, wherein the position is adjusted by a positioning plate having positioning pins.   The scanner holding device according to claim 1, wherein a display unit with numerals or scales is provided in the vicinity of the round hole of the scanner support member.   An image forming apparatus comprising the scanner holding device according to claim 1.

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