JP5257688B2 - Elevating device and image forming apparatus for height adjustment - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a height adjusting lifting mechanism for placing office equipment equipped with a cooling system on a floor surface with a predetermined gap, and an image forming apparatus including the height adjusting lifting mechanism.

  2. Description of the Related Art Image forming apparatuses such as copiers, printers, facsimiles, and multi-functional machines equipped with these are internally provided with a plurality of units that generate heat during image forming operations such as a writing device, a developing device, and a fixing device. Furthermore, in recent image forming apparatuses, the amount of heat generated by each unit (writing device, developing device, etc.) increases as the speed increases, and each unit (writing device, developing device, etc.) increases within the apparatus as the size decreases. Therefore, it is difficult to sufficiently cool each unit with the conventional air cooling method using a cooling fan. For this reason, in order to further increase the cooling capacity, the refrigerant (coolant) C as shown in FIG. 7 is circulated through the temperature rising portion in the apparatus, and the heat generated from each unit or the like and stored in the refrigerant is There has been proposed an image forming apparatus including a so-called liquid cooling type cooling unit 100 that radiates heat to the outside of the apparatus via a heat radiating section (heat exchanger) 105 (Patent Document 1).

  As shown in FIG. 7, the cooling unit 100 built in the image forming apparatus 110 is connected to the circulation pipe 101 through which the coolant C is circulated, and the development pipe 102 connected to the circulation pipe 101 and serving as a temperature rise portion. A heat receiving member 103, a pump 104 for circulating the coolant C, a heat exchanger 105 that dissipates the heat of the coolant C whose temperature has increased, and a tank 106 in which the coolant C is stored. Have. Then, when the pump 104 is activated, the coolant C circulates in the circulation pipe 101 along the direction of the arrow. As a result, the heat generated from the developing device 102 is absorbed by the coolant C via the heat receiving member 103, thereby cooling the developing device 102. The heated coolant C is sent to the heat exchanger 105 to radiate the heat stored in the coolant C to the outside.

  FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing the entire copying machine 110 in which the cooling unit 100 is built. At the four corners of the bottom surface of the copying machine 110, casters 111 for device movement are provided, and gaps S are formed between the floor surface and the device bottom surface. The gap S has a predetermined size in consideration of the transportability (step overstep and forklift insertion space) during production and installation. In recent years, there has been a tendency for the installation area to be reduced due to higher functionality and downsizing of devices such as copying machines and printers. Along with this, it is necessary to increase the size of the device in the height direction, but since there is a document surface above the device, the height of the device is limited in consideration of operability. On the other hand, it is necessary to secure a sufficient gap below the equipment for inserting the forklift into the lower part of the equipment during production and transportation.

  For this reason, as shown in FIG. 9, by adjusting the length of the caster 111 provided at the bottom of the device 110, the height S of the device 110 is adjusted by increasing or decreasing the gap S between the device bottom surface 110a and the floor G. A height adjusting mechanism has been proposed (Patent Document 2). The height adjustment mechanism of Patent Document 2 includes a base frame 112, a support bolt 113 attached to the base frame 112, and a nut member 115a that is provided on a fixed portion 114 of the equipment bottom surface 110a and into which the support bolt 113 is inserted. 115b, a pair of forks 116 extending downward in a U-shape from the base frame 112, and wheels 117 provided on the forks 116 and having a clamp mechanism 118.

  When the height adjusting mechanism as described above rotates the support bolt 113, the support bolt 113 is screwed in the direction indicated by the arrow A, and the protrusion amount of the support bolt 113 from the equipment bottom surface 110a becomes large. As a result, the gap S between the floor G and the equipment bottom surface 110a becomes large, and a gap necessary for inserting the forklift when the equipment is carried in can be secured. On the other hand, when the support bolt 113 is rotated in the reverse direction at the time of equipment installation or use, the support bolt 113 is screwed in the direction indicated by the arrow B, and the protruding amount of the support bolt 113 from the equipment bottom surface 110a. Becomes small. As a result, the gap S between the floor G and the apparatus bottom surface 110a can be reduced, and the height of the entire apparatus can be lowered, so that the document surface height is within the limited range.

  When the height adjustment mechanism of Patent Document 2 is used, it is very difficult for an operator to rotate the support bolts 113 arranged at the lower corners of the equipment 110 and to check the positions of the nut members 115a and 115b. Therefore, workability is poor. In addition, when there are four or more casters 111 provided in the device 110, it is very difficult to adjust all the casters 111 while grounding due to the flatness or unevenness of the floor G during height adjustment, and the adjustment time increases. Also occurred.

  Therefore, in view of such circumstances, the present invention can easily adjust the height of the device, shorten the working time, and improve the workability, and a height adjusting lifting device and its height adjustment. Provided is an image forming apparatus provided with a lifting device.

  The lifting device for height adjustment of the present invention is a lifting mechanism for height adjustment for placing office equipment having a cooling system having a circulation path through which a cooling fluid circulates on a floor surface with a predetermined gap. And an equipment leg that adjusts the predetermined gap by expanding and contracting by supplying and discharging the working fluid, and connecting the working fluid supply and discharge flow path to the circulation path of the cooling system, This is a combination of

  The elevation adjusting apparatus according to the present invention can adjust the predetermined gap by expanding and contracting the device legs by adjusting the amount of fluid supplied. In addition, since the cooling fluid circulation path and the working fluid supply / exhaust flow path are connected, the fluid used as the working fluid of the device legs can function as the cooling fluid of the cooling system. The fluid can also be used, and the cooling system can be operated and the device legs can be expanded and contracted with one kind of fluid.

  The fluid that has been made to function as the cooling fluid of the cooling system can be made to function again as the working fluid of the equipment leg. Thereby, a fluid can be circulated reversibly between the cooling system side and the equipment leg side.

  A cylinder mechanism having a cylinder body and a piston rod is provided, and the device leg is composed of at least a piston rod, and a predetermined gap is adjusted by reciprocating the piston rod by supplying and discharging working fluid from the cylinder body. can do. That is, when the working fluid is supplied to the cylinder body, the piston rod moves forward with respect to the cylinder body, and the protruding amount of the piston rod increases to increase the predetermined gap. On the other hand, when the working fluid is discharged from the cylinder body, the piston rod moves backward with respect to the cylinder body, and the protruding amount of the piston rod is reduced to make the predetermined gap small. For this reason, by operating the piston rod which comprises an apparatus leg, the stroke part of a piston rod can be made into the adjustment amount of a predetermined clearance gap.

  A caster can be attached to the tip of the piston rod. Thereby, a caster rotates and the movement of an apparatus in the horizontal direction can be performed easily.

  A plurality of the device legs are provided, and the expansion and contraction of each device leg can be synchronized, and the expansion and contraction amount can be made the same. Thereby, the length dimension of each apparatus leg can be made the same by one operation.

  A plurality of the device legs are provided, and the expansion and contraction of each device leg can be made independent and the amount of expansion and contraction can be adjusted by each device leg. Thereby, according to the floor surface state which installs an apparatus, arbitrary apparatus legs can be made into desired length independently.

  The office equipment can be an image forming apparatus. In this case, an image forming apparatus including a paper feeding mechanism may be used.

  The image forming apparatus of the present invention is provided with the height adjusting lifting device of the present invention.

  According to the elevation adjusting device and the image forming apparatus including the same according to the present invention, it is not necessary for the operator to perform operations such as rotating the screw portion and the nut portion. That is, by adjusting the fluid supply amount, the device leg can be expanded and contracted to adjust the predetermined gap. For this reason, the apparatus leg can be easily expanded and contracted, and the working time can be shortened and the workability can be improved. In addition, the working fluid and the cooling fluid can be used together, and it is not necessary to use two kinds of fluids, so that the material cost can be saved and the cost can be reduced.

  Since the fluid can be reversibly circulated between the cooling system and the equipment leg side, it is necessary to increase the predetermined gap again when the equipment needs to be transported again even after the equipment has been installed once. can do.

  If the equipment leg is provided with a cylinder mechanism having a cylinder and a piston rod, the stroke of the piston can be adjusted by a predetermined gap, so that the operator manually adjusts the length of the equipment leg. There is no need for this, and the desired length can be automatically set and adjusted accurately.

  If a caster is attached to the tip of the piston rod, the apparatus can be transported more smoothly and the working time can be shortened.

  If the expansion and contraction movements of each device leg are synchronized and the amount of expansion and contraction is the same, the length of each device leg can be made the same by one operation, for example, matching the height with the peripheral device In some cases, the device can maintain a stable posture even if the predetermined gap is changed.

  When the expansion and contraction movement of each equipment leg is made independent, any equipment leg can be made the desired length independently according to the floor surface condition where the equipment is installed. Even so, it is possible to carry out the work with all equipment legs grounded to the floor. Thereby, the stability of the apparatus can be ensured.

  The elevation adjusting mechanism according to the present invention is suitable for an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a printer, a facsimile machine, or a multifunction machine having at least two of these functions, and is provided with a paper feeding mechanism. Also suitable for.

1 is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating an image forming apparatus including a lifting device for height adjustment according to a first embodiment of the present invention. It is the schematic which shows the flow path of the fluid which distribute | circulates the raising / lowering apparatus for height adjustment which shows 1st Example of this invention, and a cooling system. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a lifting device for height adjustment according to a first embodiment of the present invention, where (a) is when an image forming apparatus is installed and used, and (b) is when an image forming apparatus is carried in. . It is the schematic which shows the flow path of the fluid which distribute | circulates the raising / lowering apparatus for height adjustment and cooling system which show 1st Example of this invention, (a) is at the time of apparatus conveyance, (b) And (c) is an apparatus. At the time of installation, (d) is when the device is used, and (e) and (f) are when the device is re-transported. It is sectional drawing which shows the vertical motion of the raising / lowering apparatus for height adjustment which shows 1st Example of this invention. It is sectional drawing of the raising / lowering apparatus for height adjustment which shows 2nd Example of this invention. It is a schematic block diagram which shows the image forming apparatus provided with the raising / lowering apparatus for the conventional height adjustment. It is a perspective view of the conventional image forming apparatus provided with the raising / lowering apparatus for height adjustment. It is a fragmentary sectional view of the raising / lowering apparatus for the conventional height adjustment.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating an office device provided with a lifting device for height adjustment according to a first embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, an image forming apparatus 1 as office equipment has a charging device 3, a writing device (exposure device) 4, and a developing container 5a in which toner (not shown) is stored around a photosensitive drum 2. A developing device 5, a transfer device 6, a cleaning device 7 including a cleaning member 7 a and the like are disposed, and a fixing device 8 including a fixing roller 8 a and a pressure roller 8 b on the downstream side of the transfer device 6. As a cooling system 10 for preventing the temperature of the developing device 5 from rising. The lower part of the image forming apparatus 1 includes four lifting mechanisms for height adjustment according to the present invention.

  The basic operation of the image forming apparatus will be described below with reference to FIG. First, during the image forming operation of the image forming apparatus 1, the surface of the photosensitive drum 2 that is rotationally driven at a predetermined process speed is uniformly charged by the charging device 3, and is read by a reading device (not shown). In accordance with the image information, the writing device 4 performs exposure to form an electrostatic latent image, and then development with the toner (developer) of the developing device 5 forms a toner image on the photosensitive drum 2. The

  Then, the toner image carried on the photosensitive drum 2 is transferred by the transfer device 6 to the recording paper P which is conveyed from the cassette 9 to the transfer site through a conveyance path (not shown) at a predetermined timing. The recording paper P to which the toner image has been transferred is conveyed to the fixing device 8 and heated and pressurized between the fixing roller 8a and the pressure roller 8b, whereby the toner image is fixed on the recording paper P. The recording paper P on which the toner image is fixed is discharged to the outside by a paper discharge roller (not shown). After the toner image on the photosensitive drum 2 is transferred to the recording paper P, the toner remaining on the surface of the photosensitive drum 2 is removed by the cleaning member 7a of the cleaning device 7 and used for the next image formation. .

  During the image forming operation described above, frictional heat or the like is generated during the developing operation by the developing device 5 when the toner and the carrier are agitated to impart chargeability to the toner. As a result, the developing device 5 is cooled by the cooling system 10 in order to prevent the toner in the developing container 5a from rising above the softening point temperature.

  The cooling system 10 circulates a refrigerant, which is a fluid, in a temperature rising portion in the image forming apparatus, and dissipates heat generated from each unit stored in the refrigerant to the outside of the apparatus via a heat radiating unit (heat exchanger). To do. The cooling system 10 of the present embodiment is a so-called liquid cooling system that uses a liquid (coolant C) as a fluid. As shown in FIG. 1, the cooling unit 10 is in contact with a circulation pipe 11 through which the coolant C is circulated and a temperature rise portion in the image forming apparatus (in this embodiment, the developing container 5 a of the developing device 5). Heat provided with the heat receiving member 12 provided, the pump 13 for circulating the coolant C, the heat dissipating fins 16 for radiating the heat of the coolant C whose temperature has risen, and the fan 17 for effectively radiating heat. It has the exchanger 14 and the tank 15 in which the cooling fluid C is stored. Then, the coolant C circulates in the circulation pipe 11 in the order of the heat receiving member 12, the heat exchanger 14, and the tank 15 along the direction of the arrow by the operation of the pump 13. A check valve (not shown) is disposed in the vicinity of the pump 13 of the circulation pipe 11.

  The pump 13 is installed on the downstream side of the tank 15 with respect to the circulation direction of the coolant C. In the circulation pipe 11, a first valve 18 is provided between the pump 13 and the heat receiving member 12 so that the flow path can be switched between an open state and a closed state.

  Next, an elevation mechanism for height adjustment according to the present embodiment will be described. The elevation adjustment mechanism is for placing an image forming apparatus (hereinafter referred to as device 1) with a predetermined gap S from the floor G, and includes a cylinder mechanism 31 for adjusting the predetermined gap S. Yes. Here, the predetermined gap S refers to a space formed between the bottom surface 1a of the device 1 and the floor G on which the device 1 is placed. In the present embodiment, four cylinder mechanisms 31 (a first cylinder mechanism 31A, a second cylinder mechanism 31B, a third cylinder mechanism 31C, and a fourth cylinder mechanism 31D) are provided at the bottom of the device 1.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the cylinder mechanisms 31A to 31D are connected to a first pipe 38A to a fourth pipe 38D, and the first pipe 38A to the fourth pipe 38D are connected by a single coupling pipe 22. The coupling pipe 22 is further coupled to the tank 15 by a first coupling pipe 23. The first connecting pipe 23 is provided with a second valve 24 that enables switching between an open state and a closed state of the flow path. The coupling pipe 22 is connected to the downstream side of the pump 13 of the circulation pipe 11 by a second connection pipe 25. The second connecting pipe 25 is provided with a third valve 26 that enables switching between an open state and a closed state of the flow path. A supply / discharge flow for supplying and discharging fluid to / from each of the cylinder mechanisms 31A to 31D by the first connection pipe 23, the second connection pipe 25, the coupling pipe 22, and the first pipe 38A to the fourth pipe 38D. A path is formed, and the supply / discharge flow path is connected to the circulation path of the cooling system 10.

  In addition, valves are provided on the pipes 38A, 38B, 38C, and 38D that connect the first cylinder mechanism 31A, the second cylinder mechanism 31B, the third cylinder mechanism 31C, the fourth cylinder mechanism 31D, and the coupling pipe 22, respectively. ing. These are called a fourth valve 27, a fifth valve 28, a sixth valve 29, and a seventh valve 30 in this order.

  By setting it as the above structures, in the apparatus 1, the flow path as shown in FIG. 2 will be comprised between the cooling system 10 and each cylinder mechanism 31A-31D.

  Next, the configuration of the cylinder mechanisms 31A to 31D will be described. Since the first cylinder mechanism 31A to the fourth cylinder mechanism 31D have the same configuration, the configuration of the first cylinder mechanism 31A will be described. As shown in FIG. 3A, the cylinder mechanism 31 includes a cylinder body 34, a piston 33 accommodated in the cylinder body 34, and a piston rod 35 protruding from the cylinder body 34. A pipe 38 for supplying fluid (working fluid) F is connected to the cylinder body 34, and the fourth valve 27 is provided on the pipe 38 as described above. A caster 32 is attached to the tip of the piston rod 35, and the caster 32 is provided with a clamp mechanism 40 that stops its rotation. The piston rod 35 and the caster 32 constitute an equipment leg (hereinafter referred to as a leg) 21.

  The piston 33 is provided with a seal mechanism 36 such as an O-ring, and the hydraulic fluid F is supplied to a compartment 37 sealed by the seal mechanism 36. That is, when the hydraulic fluid F is supplied into the compartment, the volume of the compartment 37 increases and pushes the piston 33 downward, and the piston 33 moves forward in the direction of arrow A with respect to the cylinder body 34. Thereby, since the protrusion amount of the leg 21 increases, the bottom face 1a of the apparatus 1 rises and the predetermined clearance S becomes large. On the other hand, when the hydraulic fluid F is discharged from the compartment, the volume of the compartment 37 decreases, the piston 33 is pressed upward, and the piston 33 moves backward in the direction of arrow B with respect to the cylinder body 34. Thereby, since the protrusion amount of the leg 21 reduces, the bottom face 1a of the apparatus 1 descends and the predetermined gap S becomes small. In this manner, the stroke of the piston 33 (piston rod 35) can be set as the adjustment amount of the predetermined gap S by supplying and discharging the hydraulic fluid F. The predetermined gap S can be adjusted by expanding and contracting the leg bodies 21B to 21D provided in the other cylinder mechanisms 31B to 31D in the same manner.

  Next, a method for operating the elevation adjusting mechanism of the present invention will be described. At the time of equipment delivery, etc., the second valve 24 and the third valve 26 are closed as shown in FIG. 4 (a) while the compartments 37A to 37D are filled with the hydraulic fluid F. In this case, as shown in FIG. 3B, the piston 33 is located at the lowest position of the cylinder body 34, and the protruding amount of each leg 21A to 21D is maximum. A predetermined gap S between the bottom surface 1a of the device 1 and the floor surface G at this time is X. In addition, X is a dimension which can insert a forklift. Thereby, the forklift is inserted into the predetermined gap S and the device 1 can be carried in.

  Next, when the device is installed, as shown in FIG. 4B, when the second valve 24 is opened, the cooling system 10 and the cylinder mechanisms 31A to 31D are connected. Thereby, the fluid which functioned as the hydraulic fluid F in each cylinder mechanism 31A-31D is sent to the tank 15 of the cooling system 10 by an equipment load. That is, as shown in FIG. 5, the hydraulic fluid F is discharged from each compartment, the volume of each compartment 37 decreases, the piston 33 is pressed upward, and each piston 33 is connected to its respective cylinder. Retreat in the direction of arrow B with respect to the main body 34. Accordingly, the bottom surface 1a of the device 1 is lowered by the stroke Y of the piston 33, and the predetermined gap S is (XY). In this way, the predetermined gap S can be variously adjusted by the stroke of the piston 33 (piston rod 35). 5 indicates the cylinder mechanism 31 and the bottom surface 1a of the device 1 when the device is loaded. At the time of installation of the device, the predetermined gap S can be reduced by Y more than the predetermined gap S at the time of carrying in the device and the height of the entire device can be lowered. The operability of the device 1 during use can be improved.

  In this case, the pipes 38A to 38D connected to the cylinder bodies 34A to 34D are connected to the single connecting pipe 22, and the connecting pipe 22 is connected to the tank 15. Therefore, the second valve 24 is opened. If it is in a state, the discharge amount of the hydraulic fluid F discharged from the respective compartments 37 will be substantially the same. For this reason, the stroke of each piston 33 becomes substantially the same, and the protrusion amount of each leg 21A-21D can be made substantially the same. Thus, the expansion and contraction movements of the legs 21A to 21D can be synchronized to make the expansion and contraction amounts the same, and the lengths of the legs 21A to 21D can be made the same by one operation. .

  In addition, valves 27, 28, 29, and 30 are provided on the pipes 38A to 38D connected to the legs 21A to 21D, respectively. For this reason, at the time of equipment installation or the like, the expansion and contraction movements of the leg bodies 21A to 21D are made independent without synchronizing the expansion and contraction movements of the leg bodies 21A to 21D, and the expansion / contraction amount is adjusted by the leg bodies 21A to 21D. be able to. That is, only an arbitrary leg (for example, the first leg 21A) can be set to a desired length independently according to the floor surface state where the device 1 is installed. In this case, as shown in FIG. 4C, the second valve 24 is opened, and the fifth to seventh valves 28-30 are closed. As a result, the hydraulic fluid F is discharged only from the first compartment of the first cylinder mechanism 31A, the volume of the first compartment 37A is reduced, and only the first piston 33A is pressed upward, and the arrow Retreat in the direction of B. Accordingly, the length of only the first leg 21A is (XY). On the other hand, the volume of the second compartment 37B to the fourth compartment 37D does not change while the hydraulic fluid F is filled, and the length of the second leg 21A to the fourth leg 21D is X. In this way, the expansion / contraction amount of only the arbitrary leg 21A can be adjusted.

  When the device is used after the device installation work is completed, as shown in FIG. 4D, the second valve 24 is closed and the connection state between the cylinder mechanisms 31A to 31D and the cooling system 10 is released. . Thereby, each cylinder mechanism 31A-31D will be in the state isolate | separated from the flow path of the cooling system 1 in the state by which the predetermined clearance S was maintained by (XY). When the apparatus 1 is used, frictional heat or the like is generated when the toner and the carrier are agitated during the developing operation by the developing device 4 and the toner is charged. At this time, the developing device 4 is cooled by the cooling system 10 so that the toner in the developing container 5a does not exceed the softening point temperature. That is, the pump 13 is operated based on a signal from a control device (not shown), and the coolant C is sucked from the tank 15 to the pump 13 and flows through the flow path as shown by the arrow in FIG.

  As a result, the heat generated from the developing device 5 is absorbed by the coolant C through the heat receiving member 12, and the developing device 5 is cooled. The heated coolant C is sent to the heat exchanger 14 through the circulation pipe 11 to radiate the heat stored in the coolant C to the outside. The coolant C radiated by the heat exchanger 14 returns to the tank 15, and thereafter circulates in the circulation pipe 11 to cool the developing device 5.

  Thus, since the liquid used as the hydraulic fluid F for expanding and contracting the leg 21 can function as the cooling fluid C, the hydraulic fluid F and the cooling fluid C can be used together. As a result, the amount of liquid required can be reduced.

  When the predetermined gap S is changed to the state at the time of carrying in the device due to the necessity of transporting the device 1 again, as shown in FIG. 3 The valve 26 is opened. Then, the pump 13 is operated to supply liquid from the tank 15. As a result, as shown in FIG. 3 (b), the hydraulic fluid F is supplied into each compartment, the volume of each compartment 37A-37D increases, and the piston 33 is pressed downward. Advance to 34. Thereby, the protrusion amount of each leg 21A-21D increases, the bottom face 1a of the apparatus 1 raises, and the predetermined clearance S becomes X again.

  Also in this case, only a desired leg (for example, the first leg 21A) can be set to a desired length independently according to the floor surface state where the device 1 is installed. In this case, as shown in FIG. 4F, the first valve 18 is closed, the third valve 26 is opened, and the fifth to seventh valves 28 to 30 are closed. Thereby, the hydraulic fluid F is supplied only to the first compartment of the first cylinder mechanism 31A, the volume of the first compartment 37A is increased, and only the first piston 33A is pressed upward, It moves forward with respect to the cylinder body 34A. Accordingly, the length of only the first leg 21A is X. On the other hand, the volume of the second compartment 37B to the fourth compartment 37D does not change, and the length of the second leg 21A to the fourth leg 21D is (XY). In this way, the expansion / contraction amount of only the arbitrary leg 21A can be adjusted.

  As described above, the fluid that has been caused to function as the coolant C of the cooling system 10 can be caused to function again as the working fluid F of the leg 21, so that the fluid is circulated reversibly between the cooling system side and the leg side. Can be made.

  Thus, in the lifting device for height adjustment according to the first embodiment of the present invention, it is not necessary for the operator to perform operations such as rotating the screw portion and the nut portion. That is, by adjusting the liquid supply amount, the predetermined gap S can be adjusted by expanding and contracting the leg 21. Thereby, the leg 21 can be easily expanded and contracted, and the working time can be shortened and the workability can be improved. Further, the hydraulic fluid F and the cooling fluid C can be used together, and it is not necessary to use two kinds of fluids, so that material costs can be saved and costs can be reduced.

  Since the liquid can be reversibly circulated between the cooling system 10 and the legs 21, even after the device 1 has been installed once, when it becomes necessary to transport it again, the predetermined gap S is again formed. Can be large.

  If the leg body 21 includes a cylinder mechanism 31 having a cylinder 33 and a piston rod 35, the stroke of the piston 33 can be adjusted by the predetermined gap S, so that the operator can set the length of the leg body 21. There is no need to adjust, and the desired length can be automatically obtained, and the adjustment can be made accurately.

  When the caster 32 is attached to the tip of the piston rod 35, the transfer work of the device 1 can be performed more smoothly, and the work time can be shortened.

  If the expansion and contraction movements of the plurality of legs 21 are synchronized and the expansion and contraction amounts are the same, the lengths of the legs 21 can be made the same by one operation, for example, the height with the peripheral device is adjusted. In some cases, the device can maintain a stable posture even if the predetermined gap S is changed.

  When the expansion and contraction movement of each leg 21 is made independent, any leg 21 can be made to have a desired length independently according to the floor surface state where the device 1 is installed. Even in a bad case, the work can be performed while all the legs 21 are in contact with the floor G. Thereby, the stability of the device 1 can be ensured.

  FIG. 6 shows a lifting mechanism for height adjustment according to the second embodiment of the present invention. In this case, a bellows-like bag 39 is provided in the compartment 37 as shown in FIG. The piston 33 moves forward or backward relative to the cylinder body 34 by supplying and discharging the hydraulic fluid F into the bag body 39. Thereby, the quantity of the hydraulic fluid F which should be supplied / discharged in the compartment 37 can be decreased. For this reason, since the amount of liquid required as a whole can be reduced, the overall weight of the device can be reduced, the device can be reduced in size, and the conveyance can be facilitated, and the material cost can be saved.

  In addition, this invention is not limited to the above-mentioned Example, Of course, a various change can be added in the range which does not deviate from the summary of this invention. For example, the number of legs 21 is not limited to four, and may be any number that can stably support the device 1. The tip of the leg 21 may not have the caster 32. The cooling system 10 does not cool the developing device 5 but may cool other heat generating portions. The fluid is not limited to a liquid and may be a gas.

  The office equipment 1 can be an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a printer, a facsimile machine, or a multifunction machine having at least two of these functions, and may be an image forming apparatus provided with a paper feeding mechanism.

1 Office equipment (image forming device)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Cooling system 21 Equipment leg 31 Cylinder mechanism 32 Caster 34 Cylinder main body 35 Piston rod C Cooling fluid F Working fluid G Floor surface S Predetermined clearance

JP 2008-180831 A JP 2001-233002 A

Claims (9)

A lifting mechanism for height adjustment for placing office equipment having a cooling system having a circulation path through which a cooling fluid circulates on a floor surface with a predetermined gap,
A device leg is provided that adjusts the predetermined gap by expanding and contracting by supplying and discharging the working fluid, and connecting the working fluid supply and discharge flow path to a circulation path of the cooling system, and connecting the working fluid and the cooling fluid. Elevating mechanism for height adjustment characterized by being also used.   2. The lifting mechanism for height adjustment according to claim 1, wherein the fluid functioning as the cooling fluid of the cooling system is made to function again as the working fluid of the equipment leg.   A cylinder mechanism having a cylinder body and a piston rod is provided, and the device leg is composed of at least a piston rod, and a predetermined gap is adjusted by reciprocating the piston rod by supplying and discharging working fluid from the cylinder body. The elevation adjusting mechanism for height adjustment according to claim 1 or 2, wherein   4. A lifting mechanism for height adjustment according to claim 3, wherein a caster is attached to the tip of the piston rod.   The height adjustment device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein a plurality of the device legs are provided, the expansion and contraction movements of the device legs are synchronized, and the expansion and contraction amounts are the same. Lifting mechanism.   5. The height of any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein a plurality of the device legs are provided, the expansion and contraction of each device leg is made independent, and the amount of expansion and contraction is adjusted by each device leg. Lifting mechanism for height adjustment.   The elevation mechanism for height adjustment according to claim 1, wherein the office equipment is an image forming apparatus.   The elevation mechanism for height adjustment according to claim 7, wherein the office equipment is an image forming apparatus provided with a paper feed mechanism.   An image forming apparatus comprising the elevation adjusting mechanism according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

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