JP5412410B2 - Electrical connection mechanism and image forming apparatus having the same - Google Patents

Description

  In the present invention, after the image forming apparatus main body is installed on the optional device and the drawer connectors provided on both are securely connected to each other, the power supply switch is turned on to supply power to the optional device from the image forming apparatus main body. The present invention relates to an electrical connection mechanism configured as described above and an image forming apparatus including the electrical connection mechanism.

  In an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine or a printer that forms an image on a sheet by electrophotography, a paper feeder may be added as an optional device. In this case, the image forming apparatus main body is positioned and placed on the paper feeder, but it is necessary to electrically connect the two to supply power from the image forming apparatus main body side to the paper feeder side.

  Conventionally, a service person often sets up optional equipment such as a paper feeder, and electrical connection between the optional equipment and the main body of the image forming apparatus is often performed exclusively using electric wires.

  However, in recent years, the number of cases where users set up optional equipment has increased, and electrical connection between the optional equipment and the image forming apparatus main body is made by a drawer connector that does not require any wires. In this case, for example, if the drawer connector on the option device side protrudes, the user may hit the image forming apparatus body against the drawer connector and damage the drawer connector when installing the image forming apparatus body on the option device. is there.

  Therefore, in Patent Document 1, the drawer connector is retracted in the optional device alone (in a state where the image forming apparatus main body is not placed), and when the image forming apparatus main body is installed on the drawer connector, the operation is linked to the operation. Then, a configuration has been proposed in which the drawer connector protrudes to the connection position and is connected to the drawer connector on the image forming apparatus main body side.

JP 7-295319 A

  According to the configuration proposed in Patent Document 1, when the image forming apparatus main body is installed in the option device, the drawer connector on the option device side is retracted, so that the problem of damage does not occur. Even when the drawer connector on the side and the drawer connector on the option device side are incompletely connected, there is a possibility that power is supplied from the image forming apparatus main body side to the option device side.

  Therefore, in conjunction with the installation operation of the image forming apparatus body on the optional device, the drawer connector on the optional device side is raised and connected to the drawer connector on the image forming apparatus body side. An image in a state where the power supply switch provided on the image forming apparatus main body side is turned on using the descending stroke and the connection between the drawer connectors provided in the image forming apparatus main body and the optional device is incomplete. It is conceivable to ensure high safety by preventing power supply from the forming apparatus body to the optional equipment.

  However, even with the configuration as described above, the drawer connector on the option device side rises unexpectedly by the user's operation before the image forming apparatus main body is installed on the option device. Since the optional device protrudes upward from the upper surface, there is a possibility that a malfunction such as damage of the drawer connector due to external force may occur.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and the object of the present invention is to prevent the drawer connector from being damaged and protect the drawer connector, and to connect the drawer connector on the image forming apparatus main body side and the optional equipment side to each other. It is an object of the present invention to provide an electrical connection mechanism that can prevent the occurrence of problems caused by the above and an image forming apparatus including the electrical connection mechanism.

  In order to achieve the above object, according to a first aspect of the present invention, an optional device and an image forming apparatus main body installed thereon are each provided with a drawer connector, and a power supply switch is provided separately from the drawer connector in the image forming apparatus main body. The electrical connection is configured so that the power supply switch is turned on and power is supplied from the image forming apparatus main body to the optional equipment after the image forming apparatus main body is installed on the optional equipment and both drawer connectors are securely connected. In the mechanism, the optional device is provided with a slider to which the drawer connector is attached and a main body detection lever so as to be movable up and down, and a drawer raising lever connected to the slider by a long hole engagement is provided rotatably. The drawer raising lever in a state before the image forming apparatus main body is installed on the optional device. Lock means for locking the rotation of the drawer, and the main body detection lever is pushed down by the operation of installing the main body of the image forming apparatus on the optional device to release the lock of the drawer raising lever by the lock means In addition, the slider is raised together with the drawer connector attached to the drawer ascending lever manually, and connected to the drawer connector on the image forming apparatus main body side, and the power supply switch is turned on. It is characterized by.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the lock means includes a lock claw formed on the main body detection lever, and a lock pin that is provided on the drawer raising lever and engages / disengages with the lock claw. It is characterized by comprising.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect of the present invention, a cam groove is formed in a housing that accommodates and holds the main body detection lever and the drawer raising lever so as to move up and down, and protrudes from the drawer raising lever. The pin boss is inserted into and engaged with the cam groove, and a handle for manual operation is attached to an end portion of the pin boss protruding from the cam groove.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the third aspect of the present invention, there is provided an urging means for urging the drawer raising lever in a pushing down direction, and the pin boss is fitted when the slider is at the upper limit position. A mating recess is formed in the cam groove.

  An image forming apparatus according to a fifth aspect includes the electrical connection mechanism according to any one of the first to fourth aspects.

  According to the present invention, the drawer connector on the option device side is raised by manual operation by the operator and connected to the drawer connector on the image forming apparatus body side, but the state before the image forming apparatus body is installed on the option device In this case, since the rotation of the drawer raising lever is locked by the locking means, the operator inadvertently manually operates the drawer raising lever to raise the drawer connector on the option device side and project it from the upper surface of the option device itself. Occurrence is prevented, and damage caused by an external force of the drawer connector is surely prevented. Even if the operator operates the main body detection lever before the image forming apparatus main body is installed on the optional device, the rotation of the main body detection lever and the drawer raising lever (drawer connector on the optional device side) Since the drawer connector does not rotate, the drawer connector on the optional equipment side does not rise and the drawer connector protrudes from the upper surface of the optional equipment. Is prevented.

  Since the image forming apparatus main body is installed on the optional device and both drawer connectors are securely connected, the power supply switch is turned on to supply power from the image forming apparatus main body to the optional device. Problems caused by poor connection between the drawer connectors on the main unit side and optional equipment side can be reliably prevented.

  In addition, there is an urging means that urges the drawer raising lever in the direction to push it down, and a fitting recess in which the pin boss of the drawer raising lever fits when the slider is in the upper limit position is formed in the cam groove of the housing. The lever is prevented from rotating by the biasing means, the slider is held at the upper limit position, and the connection between the drawer connectors on the image forming apparatus main body side and the option device side and the ON state of the power supply switch are maintained.

  When the image forming apparatus main body is lifted and removed from the paper feeder, the slider is lifted together with the image forming apparatus main body by the joining force between the drawer connectors, so that the drawer raising lever that engages with the slider in the long hole is also lifted. . When the drawer raising lever is lifted in this way, the pin boss projecting from it rises and disengages from the fitting recess of the cam groove, so that the drawer raising lever is rotated by the urging force of the urging means. When the slider is pushed down, the drawer connector attached to the slider descends and is housed in the housing, and the drawer raising lever, slider, and drawer connector automatically return to the state before the image forming apparatus main body was installed on the paper feeder. Return.

1 is a perspective view of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention. It is a perspective view of the paper feeder which is an option apparatus. (A), (b) is a front view which shows the procedure which installs an image forming apparatus main body on a paper feeder. It is a perspective view of the electrical connection mechanism which concerns on this invention. It is action | operation explanatory drawing of the electrical connection mechanism which concerns on this invention. It is action | operation explanatory drawing of the electrical connection mechanism which concerns on this invention. It is action | operation explanatory drawing of the electrical connection mechanism which concerns on this invention. It is action | operation explanatory drawing of the electrical connection mechanism which concerns on this invention. It is action | operation explanatory drawing of the electrical connection mechanism which concerns on this invention. It is action | operation explanatory drawing of the electrical connection mechanism which concerns on this invention. It is action | operation explanatory drawing of the electrical connection mechanism which concerns on this invention.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  1 is a perspective view of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a paper feeder, and FIGS. 3A and 3B are front views showing a procedure for installing the main body of the image forming apparatus on the paper feeder. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the electrical connection mechanism according to the present invention, and FIGS. 5 to 11 are explanatory views of the operation of the electrical connection mechanism.

  An image forming apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 1 is a multifunction peripheral (MFP) having a copying function, a printer function, and a facsimile function, and includes an image forming apparatus main body 2 and an optional device, a paper feeder (PF) 3. The paper feeder 3 is installed on the floor surface, and the image forming apparatus main body 2 is stacked thereon.

  An image reading device 4 is disposed in the upper part of the image forming apparatus main body 2, and an optical scanning device such as a photosensitive drum, a charger, and a laser beam scanner (LSU) (not shown) Various process devices such as a developing device, a transfer device, a fixing device, and a cleaning device are incorporated. An operation display unit 4 a is provided on the front side of the image reading device 4, and a paper discharge tray 6 is formed between the image reading device 4 and the image forming unit 5. The image forming unit 5 is provided with upper and lower two-stage paper feeding cassettes 7 and 8 that can be pulled out to the front side, and each of the paper feeding cassettes 7 and 8 stores a plurality of sheets.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 2, the paper feeder 3 is provided with upper and lower two-stage paper feeding cassettes 9 and 10 that can be pulled out toward the front side, and each of the paper feeding cassettes 9 and 10 has a plurality of sheets. Is housed. Then, lock nails 11 (only three are shown in FIG. 2) are provided at each of the four corners on the upper surface of the paper feeder 3 on which the image forming apparatus main body 2 is placed. Positioning pins 12 are erected, and between these positioning pins 12, a main body detection lever 13 that vertically moves and constitutes a part of the electrical connection mechanism according to the present invention projects vertically. Although not shown, a positioning hole into which the positioning pin 12 is inserted is formed at a position corresponding to the positioning pin 12 on the bottom surface of the image forming apparatus main body 2.

  Here, the configuration and operation of the electrical connection mechanism according to the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.

  As shown in FIG. 6, a drawer connector 14 and a power supply switch 15 are fixed to the lower part of the image forming apparatus main body 2, and these drawer connector 14 and power supply switch 15 are housed inside the image forming apparatus main body 2. The image forming apparatus main body 2 does not protrude from the lower surface.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the paper feeder 3 is provided with a drawer connector 16 supported so as to be movable up and down. The drawer connector 16 is provided on the paper feeder 3 on the image forming apparatus main body 2. In the state before installation of the paper feeder (in the single state shown in FIGS. 2 and 3A), the paper feeder 3 is not retracted and protrudes from the upper surface of the paper feeder 3 as shown in FIGS. .

  Thus, in the present embodiment, the drawer connector 14 on the image forming apparatus main body 2 side and the drawer connector 16 on the paper feeder 3 side are connected to each other, and all the connector pins provided on these drawer connectors 14 and 16 respectively. 8 and 9, the power supply switch 15 is turned on to enable power supply from the image forming apparatus main body 2 side to the paper feeder 3 side, as shown in FIGS.

  By the way, in this Embodiment, the drawer connector 16 by the side of the paper feeder 3 is comprised so that it may raise manually. Then, in a state before the image forming apparatus main body 2 is installed on the paper feeder 3, the drawer connector 16 is manually prevented from being lifted by the locking means, and then the image forming apparatus main body 2 is installed on the paper feeder 3. By this operation, the drawer connector 16 is unlocked by the locking means, and the drawer connector 16 is allowed to rise manually.

  That is, a rectangular box-shaped housing 17 that is vertically penetrated is attached to the center in the width direction of the rear surface of the paper feeder 3, and the main body detection lever 13 and the rectangular block-shaped slider 18 are vertically moved in the housing 17. The drawer raising lever 19 is rotatably accommodated while being movably accommodated and held.

  The housing 17 is formed with a rectangular window 17a, an arcuate cam groove 17b, and a long hole 17c that is long in the vertical direction.

  The drawer connector 16 is attached to the upper portion of the slider 18. A pin boss 18a penetrating the elongated hole 17c of the housing 17 is integrally provided on the front surface of the slider 18, and the power supply switch provided on the image forming apparatus main body 2 side at one end in the width direction of the upper surface of the slider 18. A projecting operation element 18b that presses 15 to turn it on is erected integrally.

  The main body detection lever 13 is a member that is long in the vertical direction, and a lock claw 13a that is long in the vertical direction is formed at one end in the width direction of the lower end portion. The main body detection lever 13 is always biased upward by a biasing means (not shown) such as a spring, and in a state where the image forming apparatus main body 2 is not installed on the paper feeder 3, FIGS. 5 protrudes from the upper surface of the paper feeder 3.

  The drawer raising lever 19 is provided with a lock pin 19a that engages with and disengages from the lock claw 13a formed at the lower end portion of the main body detection lever 13 and protrudes toward the back side in the vertical direction in FIGS. The pin boss 19b protrudes in the direction opposite to the lock pin 19a (the front side in the direction perpendicular to the paper surface in FIGS. 5 to 11). The drawer raising lever 19 is formed with a long hole 19c and a locking claw 19d. Note that the lock claw 13a formed on the main body detection lever 13 and the lock pin 19a protruding from the drawer lift lever 19 are in a state before the image forming apparatus main body 2 is installed on the paper feeder 3. The lock means for locking the rotation (the rise of the drawer connector 16) is configured.

  Thus, the pin boss 18a projecting from the slider 18 is inserted into and engaged with the elongated hole 19c of the drawer raising lever 19 and the elongated hole 17c formed in the housing 17, whereby the drawer raising lever 19 is elongated into the slider 18. Is engaged. Further, the pin boss 19b protruding from the drawer raising lever 19 is inserted into and engaged with the cam groove 17b of the housing 17, and as shown in FIG. 4, at the end protruding from the cam groove 17b of the pin boss 19b, A handle 20 for manual operation is attached. Then, as shown in FIGS. 5 to 11, the drawer raising lever 19 (drawer connector 16) is pushed down between the locking claw 19 d of the drawer raising lever 19 and the locking step 17 d of the housing 17 (see FIG. 5). The spring 21 is biased as a biasing means for biasing in the clockwise direction. A fitting recess 17b-1 is formed at one end of the cam groove 17b of the housing 17 to which the pin boss 19b of the drawer raising lever 19 is fitted when the drawer raising lever is in the upper limit position as shown in FIG. Yes.

  Thus, in the state before the image forming apparatus main body 2 is placed on the paper feeder 3 as shown in FIGS. 3A, 4 and 5, the main body detection lever 13 is moved to the paper feeder 3 as described above. Since the drawer raising lever 19 is in the lower limit position, the drawer connector 16 is also in the lower limit position and is accommodated in the housing 17. At this time, as shown in FIG. 5, the lock pin 19 a protruding from the drawer raising lever 19 is engaged with the lock claw 13 a formed on the main body detection lever 13, and therefore the handle 20 (see FIG. 4). The drawer raising lever 19 cannot be turned by operating along the cam groove 17b of the housing 17, and accordingly, the slider 18 connected to the drawer raising lever 19 and the drawer connector 16 attached thereto are prevented from rising. . Therefore, in a state before the image forming apparatus main body 2 is placed on the paper feeder 3, the drawer connector 16 is accommodated in the housing 17 and does not protrude from the upper surface of the paper feeder 3. Damage due to external force is reliably prevented.

  When the image forming apparatus main body 2 is lowered by aligning a positioning hole (not shown) formed on the bottom surface of the image forming apparatus main body 2 with the positioning pin 12 (see FIG. 2) on the paper feeder 3 side from the above state, FIG. As shown, the bottom surface of the image forming apparatus main body 2 abuts against the main body detection lever 13 on the paper feeder 3 side and pushes it down against the biasing force of a biasing means (not shown). Since the formed lock claw 13a is positioned below the lock pin 19a of the drawer raising lever 19 and the engagement between the two is released, the rotation lock of the drawer raising lever 19 is also released.

  Therefore, when the handle 20 is gripped from this state and moved in the arrow direction of FIG. 6 along the cam groove 17b of the housing 17, the drawer raising lever 13 rotates in the arrow direction (counterclockwise) A slider 17 formed with a pin boss 18a that engages with the long hole 19c of the drawer raising lever 19 rises vertically along the long hole 17c of the housing 17, and is attached to the upper portion of the slider 18 as shown in FIG. The drawer connector 16 protrudes from the upper surface of the paper feeder 3 and starts to be connected to the drawer connector 14 on the image forming apparatus main body 2 side. Further, the operation element 18b provided upright on the slider 18 is also raised.

  When the handle 20 is operated to move the pin boss 19b of the drawer raising lever 19 to the end (upper limit position) of the cam groove 17b of the housing 17, as shown in FIG. 8, the slider 18 and the drawer connector attached to the slider 18 are attached. 16 and the operator 18b erected on the slider 18 are both raised to the upper limit position, the connector pins of the drawer connectors 14 and 16 are securely connected to each other, and the actuator 18b provided on the slider 18 is imaged. Since the power supply switch 15 provided on the forming apparatus main body 2 side is pressed and turned on, power can be supplied from the image forming apparatus main body 2 side to the paper feeder 3 side. When the operator removes his / her hand from the handle 20 from this state, the drawer raising lever 19 attempts to descend by the biasing force of the spring 21. This lowering is caused by the pin boss 19b formed on the drawer raising lever 19 as shown in FIG. Is held by fitting into a fitting recess 17b-1 formed at the end (upper limit end) of the cam groove 17b of the housing 17, so that the connection between the drawer connectors 14 and 16 and the ON of the power supply switch 15 are maintained. State is maintained. When the image forming apparatus main body 2 is completely placed and set on the paper feeder 3 as shown in FIG. 3B, the four lock claws 11 (FIG. 2) project on the upper surface of the paper feeder 3. Is engaged with a positioning hole (not shown) formed on the bottom surface of the image forming apparatus main body 2, the image forming apparatus main body 2 and the fader feeder 3 are connected and integrated.

  Next, when the image forming apparatus main body 2 is lifted and removed from the paper feeder 3, the slider 18 is lifted together with the image forming apparatus main body 2 by the joining force between the drawer connectors 14 and 16. The drawer raising lever 19 to be engaged is also lifted. When the drawer raising lever 19 is lifted in this way, the pin boss 19b projecting from the lever rises as shown in FIG. 10 and disengages from the fitting recess 17b-1 of the cam groove 17, so that the drawer rises. The lever 19 is rotated in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 11 (clockwise) by the urging force of the spring 21 to push down the slider 18. Then, the drawer connector 16 attached to the slider 18 is lowered and accommodated in the housing 17, and the drawer raising lever 19, the slider 18 and the drawer connector 16 are in the state shown in FIG. 1 (the image forming apparatus main body 2 is on the paper feeder 3. Automatically return to the state prior to installation. When the image forming apparatus main body 2 is removed from the paper feeder 3, the main body detection lever 13 is moved upward by an urging means (not shown) and protrudes from the upper surface of the paper feeder 3 as shown in FIGS.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, the drawer connector 16 on the paper feeder 3 side is raised by manual operation by the operator and connected to the drawer connector 14 on the image forming apparatus body 2 side. In the state before being installed on the paper feeder 3, the rotation of the drawer raising lever 19 is locked by the locking means (the lock pin 19a and the lock claw 13a). The occurrence of a situation where the drawer connector 16 on the paper feeder 3 side is raised by operating it to protrude from the upper surface of the paper feeder 3 is prevented, and damage due to an external force or the like of the drawer connector 16 is surely prevented. Even when the operator presses the main body detection lever 13 before the image forming apparatus main body 2 is installed on the paper feeder 3, the rotation of the main body detection lever 13 and the drawer raising lever 19 (paper feeder 3). Since the drawer lift lever 19 does not rotate and the drawer connector 16 on the paper feeder 3 side does not rise, the drawer connector 16 does not move up, and the upper surface of the paper feeder 3 does not work. Occurrence of defects such as damage caused by protruding from the tube is surely prevented.

  In the electrical connection mechanism according to the present embodiment, after the image forming apparatus main body 2 is installed on the paper feeder 3 and the drawer connectors 14 and 16 are securely connected, the power supply switch 15 is turned on and the image is switched on. Since power is supplied from the forming apparatus main body 2 to the paper feeder 4, it is possible to reliably prevent the occurrence of problems due to poor connection between the drawer connectors 14 and 16 on the image forming apparatus main body 2 side and the perper feeder 3 side. The effect of ensuring high safety is also obtained.

  Although the present invention has been described with respect to an embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a multifunction peripheral, the present invention can be similarly applied to other arbitrary image forming apparatuses such as a copying machine or a printer as a single unit. Of course. The present invention is also applicable to an electrical connection mechanism of an image forming apparatus that includes optional equipment other than a paper feeder.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image forming apparatus 2 Image forming apparatus main body 3 Paper feeder (optional equipment)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 4 Image reader 4a Operation display part of image reader 5 Image formation part 6 Paper discharge tray 7-10 Paper feed cassette 11 Lock claw 12 Positioning pin 13 Main body detection lever 13a Lock claw of main body detection lever 14 Drawer connector 15 Power supply switch 16 Drawer connector 17 Housing 17a Housing rectangular window 17b Housing cam groove 17b-1 Cam groove fitting recess 17c Housing long hole 17d Housing locking step 18 Slider 18a Slider pin boss 18b Slider operating lever 19 Drawer raising lever 19a Drawer lift lever lock pin 19b Drawer lift lever pin boss 19c Drawer lift lever slot 19d Drawer lift lever latch 20 Grip 21 Spring (biasing means)

Claims (5)

The optional device and the image forming apparatus main body installed thereon are each provided with a drawer connector, and the image forming apparatus main body is provided with a power supply switch separately from the drawer connector, and the image forming apparatus main body is installed on the optional device and both In the electrical connection mechanism configured to supply power from the image forming apparatus main body to the optional device by turning on the power supply switch after the drawer connector is securely connected,
The optional device is provided with a slider to which the drawer connector is attached and a main body detection lever so as to be movable up and down, and a drawer raising lever connected to the slider by a long hole engagement so as to be rotatable. Locking means for locking the rotation of the drawer raising lever in a state before the main body is installed on the optional device is provided, and the main body detection lever is moved by the operation of installing the image forming apparatus main body on the optional device. When the drawer is pushed down, the lock of the drawer raising lever by the locking means is released, and the slider is raised together with the drawer connector attached to the drawer raising lever by a manual turning operation of the drawer raising lever. And connect the power switch to the drawer connector Electrical connection mechanism, characterized by being configured to N.   2. The electrical connection according to claim 1, wherein the locking means is constituted by a lock claw formed on the main body detection lever and a lock pin provided on the drawer raising lever and engaged with and disengaged from the lock claw. mechanism.   A cam groove is formed in a housing that accommodates and holds the main body detection lever and the drawer raising lever so as to be movable up and down, and a pin boss protruding from the drawer raising lever is inserted into and engaged with the cam groove. 3. The electrical connection mechanism according to claim 1, wherein a handle for manual operation is attached to an end protruding from the groove.   An urging means for urging the drawer raising lever in a direction to push down is provided, and a fitting recess into which the pin boss is fitted when the slider is at the upper limit position is formed in the cam groove. 3. The electrical connection mechanism according to 3. An image forming apparatus comprising the electrical connection mechanism according to claim 1.

Images