JP5429619B2 - Opening / closing mechanism and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a cover opening / closing mechanism provided in, for example, an image forming apparatus (such as a copying machine, a printer, a facsimile, or a multifunction machine thereof). The present invention also relates to an image forming apparatus including the opening / closing mechanism.

  Generally, the image forming apparatus is provided with various covers on the apparatus main body, and the cover is opened to supply, for example, paper or perform maintenance. As such a cover, it is hinged to the apparatus main body so as to be rotatable, and is connected to both sides of the rotation end part to the connected parts provided on the apparatus main body side in accordance with the closing operation, respectively, so as to hold the closed state. There is one provided with a member (Patent Document 1).

JP-A-2005-18011

  The present invention prevents the occurrence of one-side connection in which only one of the connection portions provided on both sides of the cover member is connected, and prevents the proper cover member from being closed when all the connection portions are connected to the apparatus main body side. An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus that can be obtained reliably.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus main body, a cover member provided on the apparatus main body so as to be freely opened and closed, a connecting member provided on the cover member and having a plurality of connecting portions, and provided on the apparatus main body. A plurality of connected parts that hold the closed state of the cover member by connecting the connecting parts of the connecting member, and releasing the connected state of the connecting part to the connected parts. Release means that can be opened and each of the connecting portions is provided corresponding to each of the connecting portions, and when all of the connecting portions become connectable to the corresponding connected portions , all of the connecting portions. An opening / closing mechanism comprising: connecting means for simultaneously connecting to the corresponding connected parts.
According to a second aspect of the present invention, the connecting member is movably supported with respect to the cover member, and the connecting means regulates movement of the connecting portion corresponding to the connected portion, and the cover 2. The opening / closing mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the restriction of movement of the connecting member is released along with the closing operation of the member, and the connecting portions are connected to the connected portions.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the connecting member is slidably supported in a direction orthogonal to the opening / closing direction of the cover member and is urged in one direction by the urging member. A sliding member, and a claw portion that is integrally provided at both ends of the sliding member as the connecting portion and bends in one direction that is a connecting direction to the connected portion. A movable member that is provided corresponding to each of the claw portions and restricts sliding of the connecting member in the one direction, and is provided on the apparatus main body side corresponding to each of the movable members, and the cover member is closed. And an action part that acts on the movable member to release the restriction of the movable member to the connecting member and connects the claw part to the connected part.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the connecting member is rotatably supported about a direction orthogonal to the opening and closing direction of the cover member as an axis, and is rotated in one rotation direction by the biasing member. And a claw portion that is integrally provided at both ends of the rotation shaft member as the connecting portion and bends in the one rotation direction that is a connecting direction to the connected portion. The connecting means is provided corresponding to each of the claw portions, and is provided with a movable member for restricting the rotation of the connecting member in the one rotation direction, and provided on the apparatus main body side corresponding to each of the movable members. And an action portion that acts on the movable member to release the restriction of the movable member to the connecting member and connects the claw portion to the connected portion in accordance with the closing operation of the cover member. It is characterized by.

A fifth aspect of the present invention is an image forming apparatus including the opening / closing mechanism according to any one of the first to fourth aspects.

According to the first and second aspects of the invention, since all the connecting parts on the cover member side are connected to the connected parts on the apparatus main body side by the connecting means, the one-side connection is prevented, and an appropriate closed state of the cover member is obtained. You can definitely get it.

According to the invention of claim 3 , the structure of the connecting means can be simplified to suppress an increase in cost, and the one-side connection is reliably prevented.

According to the invention of claim 4 , the structure of the connecting means can be simplified to suppress an increase in cost, and one-side connection can be reliably prevented.

According to the invention of claim 5 , it is possible to obtain an image forming apparatus in which the one-side connection of the cover member is prevented and the cost increase is suppressed.

1 is a perspective view of a printer according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a side view schematically showing the internal structure of the printer of the first embodiment. It is a perspective view which shows the state which opened the cover of the printer. It is a figure which shows the opening / closing mechanism of 1st Embodiment, Comprising: It is a perspective view which shows both the open state and closed state of a cover. It is a top view which shows both the open state and closed state of the cover. It is a top view which shows the effect | action of the nail | claw part of the connection member which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a perspective view which shows the connection means of the cover of 1st Embodiment, Comprising: (a) A cover is a closed state, (b) A cover shows an open state. It is a perspective view which shows the suitable modification of the nail | claw part of the connection member which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a perspective view showing a suitable modification of a frame concerning a 1st embodiment. It is a figure which shows the opening-closing mechanism which concerns on 2nd Embodiment of this invention, Comprising: It is a perspective view which shows both the open state and closed state of a cover. It is a top view which shows both the open state and closed state of the cover. It is a perspective view which shows the connection means of the cover of 2nd Embodiment, Comprising: (a) A cover is a closed state and (b) A cover shows an open state. It is a perspective view which shows the key bracket which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. It is a side view which shows the effect | action of the key bracket which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the connection means which concerns on 3rd Embodiment of this invention, Comprising: It is a perspective view which shows both the open state and closed state of a cover. It is a top view which shows both the open state and closed state of the cover. It is a perspective view which shows the opening / closing mechanism of the cover of 3rd Embodiment, Comprising: (a) A cover is in a closed state and (b) A cover is in an open state. It is a top view which shows the suitable modification of the flame | frame which concerns on 3rd Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the opening-closing mechanism which concerns on 4th Embodiment of this invention, Comprising: It is a perspective view which shows both the open state and closed state of a cover. It is a top view which shows both the open state and closed state of the cover. It is a perspective view which shows the opening / closing mechanism of the cover of 4th Embodiment, Comprising: (a) A cover is a closed state and (b) A cover shows an open state. It is a perspective view which shows the elastic piece which concerns on 4th Embodiment. It is a perspective view which shows the opening / closing mechanism of the cover of 5th Embodiment of this invention, Comprising: (a) A cover is a closed state and (b) A cover shows an open state. It is a side view which shows the connection means of the cover of 5th Embodiment, Comprising: (a) A cover is a closed state, (b) A cover shows an open state.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
(1) First embodiment: FIGS. 1 to 9
FIG. 1 shows an appearance of a printer 1 that is an image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment, and FIG. 2 schematically shows an internal configuration of the printer 1. As shown in FIG. 1, the printer 1 includes an apparatus main body 10 and a cover 20 that opens the inside of the apparatus main body 10.

  The apparatus main body 10 includes a full-color image forming unit 30 as shown in FIG. A sheet feeding cassette 40 that stores a large number of sheets P in a stacked manner is detachably attached to the lower portion of the apparatus main body 10. The paper feed cassette 40 is pulled forward from the apparatus main body 10 (F direction side in FIGS. 1 to 3), and the paper P is stored therein.

  In the following description, directions such as front, rear, left, and right refer to directions in a state where the rear of the apparatus main body 10 is viewed from the front unless otherwise noted. Further, the right direction is indicated by an arrow R and the left direction is indicated by an arrow L as necessary.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the image forming unit 30 has four color image forming units 31Y, 31M, 31C, and 31K including process cartridges arranged in a stacked state from the bottom above the sheet feeding cassette 40. Is the subject. The paper P to be printed rises from the paper feed cassette 40 on the first conveyance path 11 formed on the left side in the apparatus main body 10 in FIG. Discharged.

  The first conveyance path 11 includes a conveyance belt 32 disposed to face the image forming units 31Y, 31M, 31C, and 31K, a plurality of paper feed roller pairs 33 on the upstream side of the conveyance belt 32, and fixing on the downstream side of the conveyance belt 32. A roller pair 34 and a plurality of paper discharge roller pairs 35 are included. The image forming units 31Y, 31M, 31C, and 31K form toner images of yellow, magenta, cyan, and black, respectively. The photosensitive drum 311, the charging roller 312, the exposure device 313, the developing roller 314, and the like. Consists of

  Color image information is input to the printer 1 from a personal computer or the like. When color image information is input, a sheet of paper P is sent from the paper feed cassette 40 to the paper feed roller pair 33 by the pick-up roller 36 and electrostatically adsorbed to the transport belt 32 charged by the charging device 37 to move upward. To be transported. On the other hand, the photosensitive drums 311 of the image forming units 31Y, 31M, 31C, and 31K are charged by the charging roller 312, and an electrostatic latent image corresponding to the image of each color is formed on the surface of each photosensitive drum 311 by the exposure device 313. Is done. This color image is developed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 311 by each developing roller 314, and this development is transferred to the paper P that is lifted and transported by the transport belt 32 by the action of the transfer roller 38 and developed.

  Such development from the photosensitive drum 311 to the paper P is sequentially performed at a predetermined timing in each of the image forming units 31Y, 31M, 31C, and 31K, and when passing through the black image forming unit 31K on the most downstream side, the paper P A full-color toner image is formed on.

  The paper P on which the full-color toner image has been transferred through the black image forming unit 31K passes through the fixing roller pair 34, and the full-color toner image is fixed to the paper P by pressing and heating by the fixing roller pair 34. The The paper P that has passed through the fixing roller pair 44 is discharged to the paper discharge tray 13 by the paper discharge roller pair 35.

  In addition, on the front side of the first conveyance path 11 in the apparatus main body 10, the paper P that has been conveyed through the first conveyance path 11 and has an image formed on one side is reversed and sent back to the first conveyance path 11 again. The second transport path 12 for forming an image on the back surface of P (the surface opposite to the side on which the image is formed on the first transport path 11) and performing double-sided printing is the first transport across the transport belt 32. It is provided opposite to the path 11. The second transport path 12 is formed by a pair of transport rollers 39 that are spaced apart in the vertical direction.

  In the case of forming an image on the back surface of the paper P, the paper P immediately before being discharged to the paper discharge tray 13 by the most downstream paper discharge roller pair 35 is switched back by the paper discharge roller pair 35 to be second. It is introduced into the conveyance path 12. Then, it is reversed by being sent back to the first conveyance path 11, and a full color toner image is formed and fixed on the back surface in the same manner as described above, and is discharged to the paper discharge tray 13.

Next, the opening mechanism for the cover 20 and the apparatus main body 10 of the cover 20 will be described.
In FIG. 1, the cover 20 is connected to the apparatus main body 10 side and closed, and FIG. 3 shows the cover 20 opened. As shown in these drawings, the cover 20 includes a pair of left and right side plate portions 21, a front plate portion 22 between the side plate portions 21, and a top plate portion 23 provided at the upper end portion of the side plate portion 21 and the front plate portion 22. Have. As for the cover 20, the lower end part of each side-plate part 21 is rotatably supported by the apparatus main body 10 via the hinge axis | shaft 24 extended in the left-right direction. As shown in FIG. 3, when the cover 20 is rotated in the A direction (front side) from the apparatus main body 10 side, the cover 20 is separated from the apparatus main body 10, and when it is rotated in the B direction, the cover 20 is connected to the apparatus main body 10 to stand upright. Closed in state.

  On the inner surface of the front plate portion 22 of the cover 20, as shown in FIG. 3, a roller 39 a on the near side of the conveying roller pair 39 that forms the second conveying path 12 is attached. When the cover 20 is closed, the other roller 39b (see FIG. 2) attached to the apparatus main body 10 side of the transport roller pair 39 and the roller 39a are set so as to be able to sandwich the paper P.

  When the cover 20 is opened, components in the apparatus main body 10 such as the image forming units 31Y, 31M, 31C, and 31K are attached and detached and replaced, or a paper jam occurs in the first conveyance path 11 or the second conveyance path 12. To deal with such troubles. In FIG. 3, the components in the apparatus main body 10 are not shown.

  As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 (FIGS. 4 and 5 show both the opened state and the closed state), the inner upper end of the cover 20 on the apparatus main body 10 side (rotation) The connecting member 50 is disposed at the end portion. The connecting member 50 includes a slide bar 51 extending in parallel with the hinge shaft 24 and a pair of left and right claws 52 integrally formed at both ends of the slide bar 51.

  The slide bar 51 is supported so as to be slidable in its longitudinal direction, but is urged to the right by a tension spring 53. The tension spring 53 is stretched over locking portions 221 and 511 formed on the front plate portion 22 and the slide bar 51, respectively. The left and right claw portions 52 are bent in the urging direction of the connecting member 50 by the tension spring 53. A tapered surface 521 is formed on the right side surface of the claw portion 52.

  On the other hand, at the positions corresponding to the respective claw portions 52 on the apparatus main body 10 side, the front end portions of the frames 14 that are incorporated in the apparatus main body 10 and constitute the apparatus main body 10 are arranged. These frames 14 are formed with a rectangular hole 141 that penetrates in the left-right direction, the claw portion 52 of the connecting member 50 is fitted and connected from the left side, and holds the cover 20 in a closed state.

  When the cover 20 rotates from the open state in the B direction, that is, in the closing direction, and the upper end portion of the cover 20 is close to the apparatus main body 10, the tapered surface 521 of the claw portion 52 has the corner 142 of the frame 14 as shown in FIG. It hits. When the cover 20 is further closed, as shown in FIG. 6B, the taper surface 521 is in sliding contact with the corner 142, so that the entire connecting member 50 is relatively pushed leftward by the frame 14, and the tension spring. The connecting member 50 moves to the apparatus main body 10 side together with the cover 20 while sliding leftward against 53. When the tip toward the right side of the claw portion 52 exceeds the corner 142, the tip moves rearward along this surface 143 while sliding on the left surface 143 of the frame 14, as shown in FIG. 6 (c). The claw portion 52 is fitted into the hole 141.

  As a result, the claw portion 52 is connected to the frame 14 so that the closed state of the cover 20 is maintained. Further, a release button 54 that is close to the end of the slide bar 51 of the connecting member 50 is attached to one side plate 21 of the cover 20 (in this case, the right side). When the release button 54 is pushed leftward, the connecting member 50 slides leftward against the tension spring 53, and the claw portion 52 comes out of the hole 141 to release the connection. In this state, the cover 20 can be opened.

  In this configuration, there is a possibility that a problem of one-side connection in which only one of the claw portions 52 on both sides is connected may occur due to low rigidity of the cover 20 or the like. Therefore, in the present embodiment, a connecting means 60A that reliably prevents one-side connection is provided.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the connecting means 60 </ b> A includes a collar 61 slidably and rotatably fitted around the urging direction side (right side) of each claw 52 in the connecting member 50 on the cover 20 side. It comprises a torsion spring 62 that urges the collar 61 to rotate in the direction of arrow C, and a forward projecting portion 144 formed on the frame 14 on the apparatus main body 10 side. The front protruding portion 144 is formed below the hole 141, and a stepped portion 144 a is formed on the upper portion of the front protruding portion 144.

  A convex strip 611 extending in the axial direction (longitudinal direction of the slide bar 51) is formed at the upper end portion of the collar 61, and a key extending in the axial direction communicating with the inner peripheral surface of the collar 61 is formed in the convex strip 611. A groove 612 is formed. On the other hand, the slide bar 51 is formed with a key 512 that can be fitted into the key groove 612. One end of the torsion spring 62 is engaged with the protrusion 611 of the collar 61 and the other end is engaged with the slide bar 51. A blade piece 613 extending downward along the radial direction of the collar 61 is formed at the lower end portion of the collar 61.

  The connecting means 60A operates as follows. In a state where the cover 20 is opened and the connecting member 50 is pulled rightward by the tension spring 53, the collar 61 is biased in the C direction by the torsion spring 62, as shown in FIG. The key groove 612 is positioned on the C direction side (front side) of the key 512 of the connecting member 50. The key 512 is in contact with the left end face of the collar 61, and movement in the right direction is restricted.

  When the cover 20 is closed from the open state and the upper end portion of the cover 20 is close to the apparatus main body 10, the blade piece 613 of the collar 61 hits the front projecting portion 144 of the frame 14. When the cover 20 is further closed, the blade piece 613 is pushed to the near side relative to the front protrusion 144, and the collar 61 rotates against the torsion spring 62 in the direction D shown in FIG. Then, as shown in the figure, the key groove 612 coincides with the key 512 of the connecting member 50 so that the key member 612 can be slid rightward by the tension spring 53, and the key 512 is inserted into the key groove 612. .

  As described above, the phase of the key 512 with respect to the key groove 612 coincides and the key 512 is fitted into the key groove 612. At the same time, the claw portion 52 is fitted into the hole 141 and connected as described above, so that the cover 20 is closed. Retained. To enable this operation, as shown in FIG. 6D, when the claw portion 52 reaches the side of the hole 141 and can be fitted into the hole 141, the key groove 612 has a key. 512 phases are made to coincide with each other.

  According to the connecting means 60A, when at least one key 512 is not fitted in the key groove 612, the key 512 is in contact with the end surface of the collar 61, and the sliding of the slide bar 51 to the right is still restricted. is there. Therefore, the slide bar 51 does not slide even if only one side of the left and right claw parts 52 is in a position where the cover 141 can be closed, that is, the position where the cover 20 can be closed. 141 is not connected.

  Therefore, although the cover 20 is closed before the one claw portion 52 can be connected to the hole 141, the amount of the cover 20 on the other claw portion 52 side is not enough to close the claw portion 52 more than the hole 141. Even if it is in a state on the near side, that is, a state where one-sided connection can occur, the connectable claw portion 52 cannot be connected to the hole 141. When the end of the cover 20 on the claw 52 side that cannot be connected is further closed and the collar 61 further rotates and the key 512 is inserted into the key groove 612, the slide bar 51 slides, and the claw portions on both sides 52 is connected to the hole 141 at the same time. Such an action prevents the one-side connection from occurring.

  When opening the cover 20, the release button 54 is pressed to slide the entire connecting member 50 to the left, and the claw portion 52 is taken out from the hole 141, whereby the cover 20 can be pulled forward and opened. When the connecting member 50 slides to the left, the key 512 is released from the key groove 612 and the collar 61 is returned to the original position by the torsion spring 62. The key 512 hits the end surface of the collar 61 and the connecting member 50 is in the normal position (the cover 20 is Held in the open position).

  When the cover 20 is opened, the cover 20 can be opened even when the sliding amount of the connecting member 50 when the release button 54 is pressed is less than the amount required for the claw portion 52 to come out of the hole 141. As shown in FIG. 8, it is a preferable form to form a tapered surface 522 in which a corner on the near side of the tip of the claw portion 52 is cut. When the tapered surface 522 is in sliding contact with the opening edge 141a (see FIG. 6D) of the hole 141, the connecting member 50 is automatically slid in the left direction by the operation of opening the cover 20, and the claw portion 52 is moved from the hole 141. After a while, the cover 20 can be opened.

  Further, instead of forming the tapered surface 522, as shown in FIG. 9, the opening edge 141a may be formed on the tapered surface 141b. In this case, when the tip of the claw portion 52 comes into sliding contact with the tapered surface 141b, the connecting member 50 automatically slides to the left by the operation of opening the cover 20, and the claw portion 52 eventually comes off from the hole 141, and the cover 20 can be opened. In FIG. 7, the frame 14 having the tapered surface 141b is shown.

  When the cover 20 is opened, the key 512 needs to be surely removed from the key groove 612. For this purpose, the key 512, the collar 61, and the collar 61 are formed when the claw portion 52 comes out of the hole 141. It is advisable to secure a gap between them.

  Then, 2nd-5th embodiment is described as other embodiment of the connection means concerning this invention. In the description of these embodiments, the same components as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted.

(2) Second Embodiment: FIGS. 10 to 14
As shown in FIGS. 10 to 12, the connecting means 60 </ b> B of the second embodiment includes a key bracket 55 provided in the vicinity of each claw portion 52 in the connecting member 50 on the cover 20 side, and covers the key bracket 55. The compression spring 56 is urged in the direction away from the front plate portion 22 (direction of arrow E), and the frame 14 on the apparatus main body 10 side.

  As shown in FIG. 13, the key bracket 55 includes upper and lower plate portions 551 and 552 that are parallel to each other, and a connecting portion 553 that connects one end of these plate portions 551 and 552. In the key bracket 55, the connecting portion 553 is arranged on the front side of the slide bar 51, the upper and lower plate portions 551, 552 extend forward, and the upper plate portion 551 can slide on the slide bar 51 in the front-rear direction. The lower plate portion 552 is inserted and set in a state of being arranged below the connecting member 50. The compression spring 56 is held by a spring holder (not shown) formed on the front plate portion 22 of the cover 20. The key bracket 55 is always urged in the E direction by the compression spring 56, and the upper plate portion 551 is normally inserted into the key groove 513 formed in the slide bar 51 and connected to the slide bar 51.

  According to the connecting means 60B, when the cover 20 is in an open state, the key bracket 55 is inserted into the key groove 513 of the slide bar 51 and connected, so that the connecting member 50 is restricted from moving rightward. Has been. When the cover 20 is closed, the lower plate portion 552 of the key bracket 55 is pushed relatively to the near side by the frame 14, and the upper plate portion 551 comes out from the slide bar 51 to the near side as shown in FIG. Then, the connecting member 50 urged by the tension spring 53 slides to the right, the claw portion 52 is connected to the hole 141, and the closed state of the cover 20 is maintained.

  In this connecting means 60B, unless the upper plate portions 551 of the key brackets 55 on both sides are removed from the slide bar 51, the connecting member 50 does not slide in the connecting direction, and therefore each claw portion 52 is not connected to the hole 141, thereby One side connection is prevented.

  When opening the cover 20, the release button 54 is pressed to slide the entire connecting member 50 in the left direction, and the claw portion 52 is taken out from the hole 141, whereby the cover 20 can be pulled forward and opened. When the cover 20 is opened and the cover 20 is separated from the apparatus main body 10, the key bracket 55 held by the frame 14 is moved forward by the compression spring 56, and the upper plate portion 551 is inserted into the key groove 513 and slides. By connecting to the bar 51, it returns to the original state where the sliding of the connecting member 50 to the left is restricted.

(3) Third embodiment: FIGS. 15 to 18
As shown in FIGS. 15 to 17, the connecting means 60 </ b> C of the third embodiment is a locking step portion formed at the base of the urging direction side (right side) of each claw portion 52 in the connecting member 50 on the cover 20 side. 71, an L-shaped bracket 72 that is locked to the locking step portion 71, a compression spring 73 that biases the connecting member 50 in a direction away from the front plate portion 22 of the cover 20 (arrow E direction), It is composed of a frame 14 on the apparatus main body 10 side.

  In this case, the locking step portion 71 constitutes a movable member according to the present invention. The bracket 72 is formed or fixed to the cover 20, and the slide bar 51 of the connecting member 50 is held by the bracket 72 so as to be movable in the front-rear direction (GE direction). The connecting member 50 is urged in the E direction by a compression spring 73 that pushes the slide bar 51 in the E direction, and is held against the inner surface of the bracket 72. In this state, the locking step 71 is locked to the bracket 72, and the sliding of the connecting member 50 to the right by the tension spring 53 is thus restricted. On the other hand, a pressing piece 145 is formed on the left surface of the frame 14 and behind the hole 141.

  According to the connecting means 60C, when the cover 20 is closed, the claw portion 52 first hits the holding piece 145, and further, the cover 20 is further closed so that the entire connecting member 50 is moved forward by the holding piece 145 via the claw portion 52. It is pushed relative to. Then, the latching step portion 71 is moved forward of the bracket 72 to be detached from the bracket 72, whereby the connecting member 50 urged by the tension spring 53 slides to the right, and the claw portion 52 is formed in the hole 141. And the closed state of the cover 20 is maintained.

  In this connecting means 60C, unless the locking step portions 71 on both sides are removed from the bracket 72, the connecting member 50 does not slide in the connecting direction, and therefore, each claw portion 52 does not connect to the hole 141, thereby one side connection is achieved. Is prevented.

  When opening the cover 20, the release button 54 is pressed to slide the entire connecting member 50 in the left direction, and the claw portion 52 is taken out from the hole 141, whereby the cover 20 can be pulled forward and opened. When the cover 20 is opened and the cover 20 is separated from the apparatus main body 10, the connecting member 50 is pushed forward by the compression spring 73, and the locking step portion 71 that has moved to the left is locked to the bracket 72. Then, the connecting member 50 returns to the original state where the sliding to the left is restricted.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 18, a tapered surface 141c is formed on the left edge of the hole 141 so that the cover 20 is opened and the locking step 71 of the connecting member 50 is securely locked to the bracket 72. When opening the cover 20, it is preferable that the end surface 71 a of the locking step 71 that contacts the bracket 72 is sufficiently separated from the bracket 72 when the claw portion 52 exceeds the tapered surface 141 c. That is, it is better that the dimension W1 is sufficiently larger than W2 in FIG.

(4) Fourth Embodiment: FIGS. 19 to 22
As shown in FIGS. 19 to 21, the connecting means 60 </ b> D of the fourth embodiment has an elastic piece 81 formed at both ends of the slide bar 51 of the connecting member 50, and an L shape that is locked to the elastic piece 81. Bracket 82 and the frame 14 on the apparatus main body 10 side.

  As shown in FIG. 22, the elastic piece 81 extends in the left-right direction, and is formed so as to be elastically swingable in the contact / separation direction with respect to the front plate portion 22 of the cover 20, that is, the front-rear direction, with the right end as a fulcrum. A projecting portion 811 protruding forward is formed at the swinging end portion of the elastic piece 81, and the connecting member 50 slides to the right by the projecting portion 811 engaging with the bracket 82. Is regulated.

  According to the connecting means 60D, when the cover 20 is closed, the convex portion 811 of the elastic piece 81 hits the frame 14, and the elastic piece 81 is relatively pushed forward by the frame 14 when the cover 20 is further closed. Then, the convex portion 811 is detached from the bracket 82, whereby the connecting member 50 biased by the tension spring 53 slides to the right, and the claw portion 52 is connected to the hole 141 so that the closed state of the cover 20 is maintained. The When the connecting member 50 slides to the right, the convex portion 811 of the elastic piece 81 slides on the front surface of the bracket 82.

  In this connecting means 60D, unless the convex portions 811 of the elastic pieces 81 on both sides are detached from the bracket 82, the connecting member 50 does not slide in the connecting direction, and therefore each claw portion 52 is not connected to the hole 141, thereby one side Connection is prevented.

  When opening the cover 20, the release button 54 is pressed to slide the entire connecting member 50 in the left direction, and the claw portion 52 is taken out from the hole 141, whereby the cover 20 can be pulled forward and opened. When the cover 20 is opened, the elastic piece 81 swings forward, the convex portion that has moved to the left side of the bracket 82 is locked again by the bracket 82, and the sliding of the connecting member 50 to the left is restricted. Return to the original state.

(5) Fifth embodiment: FIGS. 23 and 24
FIG. 23 shows the connecting means 60E of the fifth embodiment provided at both ends of the connecting member 90. In this case, the connecting member 90 is integrally formed with a rotating bar 91 supported by the cover 20 so as to be rotatable about its own longitudinal direction (a direction orthogonal to the opening / closing direction of the cover 20), and both ends of the rotating bar 91. And a pair of left and right claw portions 92 attached to each other. The claw portion 92 extends forward from the rotation bar 91, and the base end portion that is an attachment portion to the rotation bar 91 in the one claw portion 92 and the cover 20 have a lower side that rotates the entire connecting member 90 in the K direction. A tension spring 93 is spanned. The tip of the claw portion 92 is bent in the K direction.

  Further, a bent plate 94 having a front vertical plate portion 941 and a rear swash plate portion 942 is disposed on the right side of each claw portion 92. The bent plate 94 is supported by the cover 20 so as to be rotatable about a rotating shaft 943 parallel to the rotating bar 91. The other end of the upper tension spring 95 that extends upward and has one end locked to the cover 20 is locked to the end of the swash plate portion 942 of the bent plate 94. The rotating shaft 943 is biased to rotate in the M direction.

  A pin 921 extending rightward is formed at an intermediate portion of the claw portion 92, and a swash plate portion 942 of a bent plate 94 is connected to the pin 921 from below. Therefore, the claw portion 92 is biased to rotate in the J direction opposite to the K direction by the upper tension spring 95 via the pin 921 and the bent plate 94. The upper tension spring 95 has a stronger pulling force than the lower tension spring 93. Therefore, the claw portion 92 is normally biased in the J direction.

  On the other hand, on the apparatus main body 10 side, the rod 15 to which each claw portion 92 is connected when the cover 20 is closed is disposed at a position corresponding to the claw portion 92. The claw portion 92 rotates in the K direction and is connected to the rod. Therefore, the claw portion 92 is restricted from rotating in the connecting direction (K direction) by the bent plate 94. In this embodiment, the bending plate 94 and the frame 14 constitute the connecting means 60E according to the present invention.

  According to this connecting means 60E, when the cover 20 is closed from the state where the cover 20 shown in FIGS. 23 (b) and 24 (b) is opened, the vertical plate portion 941 of the bent plate 94 hits the frame 14, and further When the cover 20 is closed, the bending plate 94 rotates in the N direction against the upper tension spring 95. As a result, the claw 92 is released from urging in the J direction, and instead is rotated in the K direction by being pulled by the lower tension spring 93. At this time, the claw 92 is connected to the rod 15.

  In this connection means 60E, unless the bending plates 94 on both sides are pushed by the frame 14 and rotate sufficiently, the connection member 90 does not rotate in the connection direction, and therefore each claw portion 92 is not connected to the rod 15, thereby One side connection is prevented.

1 ... Printer (image forming apparatus)
10 ... Main body 14 ... Frame (action part)
141 .. Hole of frame (connected part)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 20 ... Cover 30 ... Image formation part 50, 90 ... Connection member 51 ... Slide bar (slide member)
52, 92 ... Claw part (connecting part)
53 ... Tension spring (biasing member)
54 ... Release button (release means)
55 ... Key bracket (movable member)
60A-60E ... Connection means 61 ... Collar (movable member)
71: Locking step (movable member)
81. Elastic piece (movable member)
91 ... Rotating bar (rotating shaft member)
93 ... Lower tension spring (biasing member)
94 ... Bent plate (movable member)

Claims (5)

The device body;
A cover member provided in the apparatus main body so as to be freely opened and closed;
A connecting member provided on the cover member and having a plurality of connecting portions;
A plurality of connected portions that are provided in the apparatus main body and each of the connecting portions of the connecting member is connected to hold the closed state of the cover member;
Release means for releasing the connection state of the connecting portion to the connected portion and opening the cover member;
Provided corresponding to each of the connecting portions, all of the connecting portion, when a connectable state to the corresponding the connected portion, at the same time all of the connecting portion thereof corresponding to the coupled portion Connecting means for connecting;
An opening / closing mechanism comprising: The connecting member is supported so as to be movable with respect to the cover member,
The connecting means restricts movement of the connecting portion corresponding to the connected portion, releases the restriction of movement of the connecting member in accordance with the closing operation of the cover member, and causes the connecting portions to move to the respective receiving portions. The opening / closing mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the opening / closing mechanism is connected to a connecting portion. The connecting member is slidably supported in a direction orthogonal to the opening / closing direction of the cover member and is urged in one direction by the urging member, and is integrally formed at both ends of the slide member as the connecting portion. And a claw portion that is bent in the one direction that is a connecting direction to the connected portion,
The connecting means is provided corresponding to each of the claw portions, provided with a movable member that restricts sliding of the connecting member in the one direction, and provided on the apparatus main body side corresponding to each of the movable members, And an action part that acts on the movable member to release the restriction of the movable member to the connecting member and connects the claw part to the connected part as the cover member is closed. The opening / closing mechanism according to claim 1 or 2 . The connecting member is rotatably supported about a direction orthogonal to the opening and closing direction of the cover member as an axis and is urged in one rotation direction by an urging member, and the rotating shaft member as the connecting portion And a claw portion that is integrally provided at both ends of the first and second portions and bends in the one rotation direction that is a connecting direction to the connected portion.
The connecting means is provided corresponding to each claw, provided with a movable member for restricting rotation of the connecting member in the one rotation direction, and provided on the apparatus main body side corresponding to each movable member, In accordance with the closing operation of the cover member, there is an action portion that acts on the movable member to release the restriction of the movable member to the connecting member and connects the claw portion to the connected portion. The opening / closing mechanism according to claim 1 or 2 . An image forming apparatus having an opening and closing mechanism according to any of claims 1-4.

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