JP5796979B2 - Connection apparatus and image forming system - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a connection device that detachably connects a second unit to a first unit. In particular, the present invention relates to a connection device between an image forming apparatus main body such as a copying machine and a printer and an optional device such as a sheet processing apparatus used by connecting to the image forming apparatus main body.

  As a conventional image forming system, for example, as shown in FIG. 11, an image forming apparatus main body 1 that forms an image on a sheet, and a sheet processing apparatus 3 that is detachably connected to the image forming apparatus main body 1 are used. Are known.

  In this image forming system, as shown in FIG. 11, a sheet processing apparatus 3 guided along a guide rail 2 extended from the image forming apparatus main body 1 is connected to the image forming apparatus main body by a connecting device described later. 1 is detachably connected.

  After receiving the image-formed sheet output from the image forming apparatus main body 1, the sheet processing apparatus 3 selectively performs processing such as alignment, folding, punching, stapling, and the processed sheet is placed on the processing tray 3a. It is a loading device.

  During maintenance of the image forming apparatus main body 1, the inside of the image forming apparatus main body 1 is accessed by opening and closing the door 4. At that time, the sheet processing apparatus 3 is slid so as to be separated from the image forming apparatus main body 1 by the casters 3b.

  One of the image forming apparatus main body 1 and the sheet processing apparatus 3 is provided with a connecting device having a lock member 6 having hooks 6b fixed to both ends of a rotatable shaft 6a as shown in FIG. ing. On the other side, a shaft-like locked member 5 that engages with the lock member 6 is provided. The image forming apparatus main body 1 and the sheet processing apparatus 3 are positioned and connected by this connecting device.

  FIG. 12B shows a connection state between the lock member 6 and the locked member 5 included in the connection device. The locked member 5 is connected by being fitted into a groove 6c provided in the hook 6b. Generally, the groove width d of the groove 6c is set larger than the outer diameter c of the member to be locked 5 (d> c) so that the lock member 6 is surely set at the lock position.

  When the lock member 6 is rotated in the direction of arrow a in the figure by a handle (not shown) connected to the lock member 6, the lock member 6 is locked to the member to be locked 5, and the image forming apparatus main body as described above. 1 and the sheet processing apparatus 3 are positioned and connected. On the other hand, when the lock member 6 is rotated in the direction of the arrow b in the figure, the lock is released and the image forming apparatus main body 1 and the sheet processing apparatus 3 can be separated.

  After the sheet processing apparatus 3 can be separated, the sheet processing apparatus 3 is moved along the guide rails 2 by the casters 3b, so that a space is provided between the sheet processing apparatus 3 and the image forming apparatus main body 1. By using this space to open the open / close door 4, maintenance of a sheet conveying device (not shown) and a fixing device related to image formation and paper jam processing are performed.

  Further, as a configuration of the detachable sheet processing apparatus, a method of engaging a keyhole-shaped lock plate with a groove of a grooved positioning pin as disclosed in Patent Document 1 has been proposed.

JP 2006-313252 A

  In the connection device described above, the groove width d of the groove 6c of the lock member 6 and the outer diameter c of the member to be locked 5 have a relationship of d> c, and thus there is some backlash. Therefore, for example, when a backlash occurs between the locking member 6 and the locked member 5 on one side and the other side in the axial direction, the connection of the sheet processing apparatus 3 to the image forming apparatus main body 1 is inclined in the axial direction. there is a possibility. In this case, there is a possibility that the sheet conveyance is misaligned or a paper jam occurs.

  As a countermeasure for preventing the above-mentioned rattling, it is conceivable to provide an urging unit that pulls or pushes the sheet processing apparatus 3 with respect to the image forming apparatus main body 1. However, in this case, by adding the urging force, the operating force increases at the time of connection or separation, and the usability may be reduced.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a connection device that can be reliably locked without rattling. Another problem is to solve the problem caused by the backlash of the connecting device with a simple configuration.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a locking means that engages with a locked member provided in the first unit in a second unit that is detachably connected to the first unit, A connecting device for connecting a first unit and the second unit, wherein the locking means is in contact with two contact points different from the locked member, and has a support surface that supports the locked member And having a cam surface that contacts the locked member at a contact different from the two contacts, and that fixes the locked member together with the two contacts, with the rotation fulcrum provided on the base member as the center, in a second direction in which the first direction or the cam surface cam surface is in contact with the locked member is away from the locked member includes a lock cam member rotatably supported, said first In disconnecting direction of the second unit with respect to knit, the cam surface provided on the downstream side of the rotation support, and the support surface provided on the downstream side of the cam surface, until the cam surface from the rotation fulcrum The cam diameter is formed so as to increase toward the upstream side in the first direction , and the locked member is supported by two different contacts on the support surface and is different from the two contacts on the support surface. The lock member is fixed to two contact points of the support surface different by the cam surface in contact with the lock member .

  According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a connection device that can be reliably locked without rattling. In addition, it is possible to solve the problem caused by the backlash of the connection device with a simple configuration.

Sectional view of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention 1 is a front view of an image forming apparatus and a sheet processing apparatus according to a first embodiment. 1 is a top view of an image forming apparatus and a sheet processing apparatus according to a first embodiment. The perspective view of the locking unit concerning a 1st embodiment. Detailed view of the locking unit according to the first embodiment (A)-(e) Operation | movement figure of the locking unit which concerns on 1st Embodiment. Front view of an image forming apparatus and a sheet processing apparatus 33 according to the second embodiment The perspective view of the locking unit concerning a 2nd embodiment. (A), (b) Operation diagram of the locking unit according to the second embodiment (A), (b) The front view showing the installation state of the image forming apparatus and sheet processing apparatus which concern on 2nd Embodiment A perspective view of a conventional image forming apparatus and sheet processing apparatus (A) Perspective view of locking means of conventional sheet processing apparatus, (b) Detailed view of locking member of conventional sheet processing apparatus

  Exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. However, the dimensions, materials, shapes, relative arrangements, and the like of the components described in this embodiment are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention only to those unless otherwise specified. Absent. Further, the materials, shapes, etc. of the members once described in the following description are the same as those in the first description unless otherwise described.

[First Embodiment]
An image forming apparatus (image forming system) having an image forming apparatus main body and an optional apparatus according to the first embodiment will be described. Here, a sheet processing apparatus that performs processing on a sheet discharged from the image forming apparatus main body is illustrated as an optional apparatus. FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a front view of the image forming apparatus main body 11 and the sheet processing apparatus 13 according to the first embodiment separated from each other.

  An image forming apparatus 10 according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. The image forming apparatus 10 includes an image forming apparatus main body 11 that is an electrophotographic copying machine, and a sheet processing apparatus 13 as an optional apparatus. The sheet processing apparatus 13 is connected to the image forming apparatus main body 11 and includes a stapler 1300 for side stitching as sheet processing means. The sheet discharged from the image forming apparatus main body 11 is taken into the sheet processing apparatus 13 as it is and can be processed online. In this embodiment, the sheet processing apparatus 13 is set as a detachable option and can be used by the image forming apparatus main body 11 alone. However, the sheet processing apparatus 13 is provided as a standard in the image forming apparatus main body 11. It may be an integrated type.

  Sheets fed from cassettes 1010a and 1010b as supply means in the image forming apparatus main body 11 are supplied to yellow, magenta, cyan, and black photosensitive drums 1020a to 1020d as image formation means, respectively. Then, after the four color toner images developed by the respective color developing units are transferred onto the sheet, the transferred sheet is conveyed to the fixing device 1030, and the toner image on the sheet is fixed by heat and pressure to be externally removed. To be discharged.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the image forming apparatus main body 11 is fixed to the floor surface by a caster 16 and an adjuster (not shown). The sheet discharged from the image forming apparatus main body 11 is sent to the sheet processing apparatus 13. The sheet processing apparatus 13 sequentially takes in the sheets discharged from the image forming apparatus main body 11. Then, various processes such as a process of aligning a plurality of captured sheets and bundling them into one sheet bundle (alignment process), and a stapling process of binding the rear end (upstream end in the sheet conveying direction) of the bundled sheet bundle with a stapler 1300 are performed. The processed sheet is placed on the stacking tray 14. The movement of the sheet processing apparatus 13 is regulated by a guide rail 12 as a rough guide fixed to the image forming apparatus main body 11, and can be reconnected to the image forming apparatus main body 11 satisfactorily.

  The sheet processing apparatus 13 can be moved in the extending direction of the guide rail 12 by a caster 15. The direction of arrow A in the figure is the direction of separation from the image forming apparatus main body 11, and the direction of arrow B is the direction of connection to the image forming apparatus main body 11.

  Next, FIG. 3 shows a top view (as viewed from arrow C) of the image forming apparatus main body 11 and the sheet processing apparatus 13. Here, the image forming apparatus main body 11 is illustrated as the first unit, and the sheet processing apparatus 13 is illustrated as the second unit that is detachably connected to the first unit.

  As shown in FIG. 3, two positioning pins 17 as locked members are arranged in a direction orthogonal to the extending direction of the guide rail 12 on the connection surface with the sheet processing apparatus 13 of the image forming apparatus main body 11 as the first unit. Each is fixed at intervals. In the sheet processing apparatus 13 as the second unit, two locking units 18 constituting a connecting device are arranged at positions facing the positioning pins 17. Each of the two locking units 18 is a locking means that engages with the two positioning pins 17 so as to be disengageable.

  By engaging the two locking units 18 with the two positioning pins 17, the image forming apparatus main body 11 and the sheet processing apparatus 13 are connected. Note that a release button (lock release member) 19 for releasing the connection of the locking unit 18 is provided on the upper front portion of the sheet processing apparatus 13.

  Subsequently, the configuration of the locking unit 18 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5. FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of the locking unit 18 and the release button 19 for releasing the connection. FIG. 5 is an enlarged top view of a principal part of the locking unit 18 shown in FIG. In order to simplify the explanation, illustrations other than the relevant part are omitted.

  The rod 24 is slidably supported by a support member 25 and a support member 26 that constitute a part of the structure of the sheet processing apparatus 13. Further, the release button 19 as the lock release member described above is fixed to one end portion of the rod 24.

  A compression spring 22 is set between the release button 19 and the support member 25. The compression spring 22 generates a force in the direction of arrow D in the drawing, that is, the direction in which the release button 19 is pushed out of the apparatus. Further, as shown in FIG. 5, the release button 19 is positioned at the initial position shown in FIG. 5 by receiving the urging force of the compression spring 22 and engaging with the cover 20 of the sheet processing apparatus 13.

  The rod 24 is provided with a release lever 24a for engaging with the locking unit 18 and maintaining the locking unit 18 in a disconnected state.

  Accordingly, by pressing the release button 19 in the direction of arrow E in FIG. 5, each release lever 24 a moves in the same direction together with the rod 24, and the locking unit 18 can be brought into a connection release state. When the pressing of the release button 19 is interrupted, the locking unit 18 automatically returns to the locked state (connected state) by the action of the compression spring 22.

  The locking unit 18 includes a base plate 21 fixed to the sheet processing apparatus 13, a lock cam 23 supported so as to be swingable about a rotation shaft 27 fixed to the base plate 21, and a lock cam 23 in the drawing. The tension spring 29 is biased in the direction of arrow F.

  The base plate 21 as a base member has a fixed surface 21 a and a fixed surface 21 b for guiding and supporting the positioning pins 17 included in the image forming apparatus main body 11. The fixed surface 21 a and the fixed surface 21 b are support surfaces that are supported by two contact points different from the positioning pin 17.

  The lock cam 23 as a lock cam member locks the positioning pin 17 together with the fixing surfaces 21a and 21b in a predetermined position with a guide surface 23a for guiding the positioning pin 17 toward the fixing surfaces 21a and 21b of the base plate 21. It has a cam surface 23b. As will be described later, the cam surface 23b is in contact with the positioning pin 17 at a contact different from the two contacts where the fixing surfaces 21a and 21b are in contact with the positioning pin 17, and the positioning pin 17 is fixed to the two contacts. To do. The guide surface 23a guides the positioning pin 17 to the cam surface 23b when the image forming apparatus main body 11 and the sheet processing apparatus 13 are connected.

  The lock cam 23 has a first direction in which the cam surface 23b is in contact with the positioning pin 17 (in the direction of arrow F in FIG. 5) or a cam surface 23b is separated from the positioning pin 17 around the rotation shaft 27 provided on the base plate 21. It is supported so as to be rotatable in the direction 2 (the direction of arrow G in FIG. 5). As will be described later, the lock cam 23 is formed such that the cam diameter from the center of the rotating shaft 27 to the cam surface 23b increases toward the upstream side in the first direction.

  At the same time, the lock cam 23 is integrally formed with a release bar 23c for engaging with the release lever 24a. Further, the lock cam 23 is urged in the direction of the arrow F contacting the stopper 21c formed on the base plate 21 by the tension spring 29, and thereby the initial standby position (the position contacting the stopper 21c shown in FIG. 5). Fixed.

  Next, the operation of the locking unit 18 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 6 is a diagram schematically showing how the positioning pin 17 and the locking unit 18 are attached and detached.

  FIG. 6A is a diagram showing a standby state of the locking unit 18. When the sheet processing apparatus 13 is separated from the image forming apparatus main body 11, the lock cam 23 is supported at the initial standby position in contact with the stopper 21 c by the action of the tension spring 29. In this standby position, the sheet processing apparatus 13 is separated from the image forming apparatus main body 11, so that the positioning pins 17 are not in contact with the locking unit 18.

  6B shows a state in which the sheet processing apparatus 13 is moved in a direction approaching the image forming apparatus main body 11 (arrow Y direction in the drawing), that is, the locking unit 18 is moved in a direction approaching the positioning pins 17. Represents a state. When the positioning pin 17 comes into contact with the locking cam 23, the lock cam 23 follows the positioning pin 17 and the guide surface 23 a follows the positioning pin 17 and resists the tension spring 29 while using the rotary shaft 27 as a fulcrum. Rotate in the direction of arrow G.

  FIG. 6C shows a state in which the positioning pin 17 and the locking unit 18 have been locked. That is, the connection completion state between the image forming apparatus main body 11 and the sheet processing apparatus 13 is shown. FIG. 6 (d) shows a detailed view of the vicinity of the positioning pin 17 (portion surrounded by a circle in FIG. 6 (c)).

The positioning pin 17 comes into contact with a total of three points, that is, two points (P1, P2) of the fixed surfaces 21a, 21b of the base plate 21 of the locking unit 18 and one point (P3) of the cam surface 23b of the lock cam 23. It is fixed (locked) in position. That is, the cam surface 23 b of the lock cam 23 fixes the positioning pin 17 to the two points (P 1, P 2) of the fixing surfaces 21 a, 21 b of the base plate 21.

  The contact P3 with the positioning pin 17 of the cam surface 23b when the lock cam 23 fixes the positioning pin 17 to the two contacts P1 and P2 is set as follows. That is, the contact point P3 of the cam surface 23b with the positioning pin 17 is set within the range of the arc Q1 formed by the intersection of each perpendicular line at the two contact points P1 and P2 with the positioning pin 17 and the positioning pin 17. Yes. Thereby, the positioning pin 17 is permanently fixed unless the base plate 21 and the lock cam 23 are destroyed without slipping through.

  The cam surface 23b has a relationship between a cam diameter R1 connecting the contact P3 and the rotation fulcrum S1, and a cam diameter R2 connecting an arbitrary point on the cam surface 23b upstream of the contact P3 in the first direction and the rotation fulcrum S1. , R1 ≧ R2. That is, the lock cam 23 is formed such that the cam diameter R from the center of the rotation shaft 27 to the cam surface 23b increases toward the upstream side in the direction of arrow F in FIG.

  Here, the cam surface 23b of the lock cam 23 is formed by an eccentric arc having a center at a position (fulcrum S2) different from the rotation fulcrum S1. This will be specifically described below.

  In FIG. 6D, the arc Q2 of the cam diameter R1 passing through the contact P3 with the rotation fulcrum S1 as the center is indicated by a broken line. The cam surface 23b is expressed by an arc of a cam R3 centered on a fulcrum S2 at a position deviated from the rotation fulcrum S1 toward the outside of the shaft. As shown in FIG. 6D, as the contact becomes an arbitrary contact upstream of the contact P3 in the first direction of the lock cam 23 (upstream in the direction in which the cam surface 23b contacts the lock cam 23), that is, as the angle θ increases, It can be seen that the cam diameter R2 of the cam surface 23b increases. That is, it can be seen that the cam diameter R from the center of the rotating shaft 27 to the cam surface 23b of the lock cam 23 increases toward the upstream side in the direction of arrow F in FIG.

  Here, the angle θ is a line connecting the rotation fulcrum S1 and the contact P3, and a line connecting an arbitrary point upstream of the contact P3 in the arrow F direction (upstream in the first direction) and the rotation fulcrum S1. Is the angle formed by

  6 (c) and 6 (d), when a force in the detaching direction (arrow A direction in FIG. 2) is applied to the positioning pin 17 and the locking unit 18, a tangent is formed from the contact P3 of the positioning pin 17 and the lock cam 23. A contact frictional force N is generated in the direction. However, even when the contact frictional force N is generated, as described above, the rotation of the lock cam 23 in the direction of arrow F increases the cam diameter R1, that is, the lock cam 23 bites into the positioning pin 17. Therefore, as the force is applied to the positioning pin 17 and the locking unit 18 in the separating direction, the restraining force increases. Therefore, the locked state is not released by an external force unless one of the positioning pin 17 and the lock cam 23 is broken.

  FIG. 6E shows a state when the release button 19 is pressed. When the release button 19 is pressed in the direction of arrow E against the urging force of the compression spring 22, the release lever 24a formed on the rod 24 is engaged with the release bar 23c formed on the lock cam 23, and the lock cam 23 is moved to the arrow. Rotate in the G direction. A broken line Q2 in the figure is the same as that described in FIG. Therefore, when the lock cam 23 rotates in the arrow G direction (second direction), the cam surface 23b of the lock cam 23 is separated from the positioning pin 17 without rolling. That is, when the release button 19 is pressed, the lock cam 23 that contacts the positioning pin 17 together with the fixing surfaces 21a and 21b and locks the positioning pin 17 in a predetermined position is rotated in the direction of arrow G, and the lock is released.

  In the present embodiment, the release button 19 is configured to always follow the pressed state of the operator, but is not limited to this configuration. For example, a configuration may be adopted in which a latch device that maintains the state when the release button 19 is pressed more than a certain amount is added to the release button 19 or the rod 24.

  In the present exemplary embodiment, the positioning pin 17 that is a member to be locked is disposed in the image forming apparatus main body 11 and the locking unit 18 that is a locking unit is disposed in the sheet processing apparatus 13. There is no problem. That is, the present invention can be applied to a configuration in which the sheet processing apparatus 13 is the first unit, the image forming apparatus main body 11 is the second unit, the positioning pins 17 are disposed in the sheet processing apparatus 13, and the locking unit 18 is disposed in the image forming apparatus main body 11. Is valid.

  Further, when the weight difference between the image forming apparatus main body 11 and the sheet processing apparatus 13 is large and the grounding surface is a soft floor surface such as a carpet or a carpet when the sheet processing apparatus 13 is connected, the respective apparatuses cause immobilization. There is. On the other hand, by making the length of the positioning pin 17 in the axial direction longer than the thickness of the lock cam 23, the height deviation between the image forming apparatus main body 11 and the sheet processing apparatus 13 can be easily absorbed.

  In the present embodiment, the positioning pin 17 is described as an independent component for the sake of simplicity, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, it goes without saying that the positioning pin 17 as a member to be locked may be integrally formed as a part of the shape constituting the exterior of the image forming apparatus main body 11.

  Furthermore, at least one of the two locking units 18 and the two positioning pins 17 can adjust the interval in the direction orthogonal to the extending direction of the guide rail 12. Thereby, each fixing surface 21a, 21b of the base plate 21 of the positioning pin 17 and the locking unit 18 can be reliably contacted.

  According to this embodiment, the connecting device having the locking unit 18 provided on one side can be reliably connected to the positioning pin 17 provided on the other side without rattling. That is, it is possible to provide a connection device that can be reliably locked without rattling. Thereby, it is possible to improve problems such as sheet conveyance failure due to the aforementioned rattling with a simple configuration. Further, since the lock cam 23 can be brought into and out of contact with the positioning pin 17 without rolling, the releasing operation can be performed with a small work amount.

  In addition, since the parts can be easily managed by forming the cam surface on an arc, a low-cost and high-quality connection device can be provided. Further, by making the arc of the cam surface eccentric, the locking operation can be made smooth and the releasing operation can be performed with a low load.

[Second Embodiment]
FIG. 7 is a front view of the image forming apparatus main body 11 and the sheet processing apparatus 13 according to the second embodiment. The sheet processing apparatus 13 is slidably fastened to a rail base 32 incorporating a slide rail. The rail base 32 is connected to the image forming apparatus main body 11, and the connection with the image forming apparatus main body 11 is not released by the slide of the sheet processing apparatus 13.

  FIG. 8 shows only the locking unit 18 and the positioning pins 17 according to the second embodiment for ease of explanation.

  If the locking unit 18 described in the first embodiment is a horizontal type, the locking unit 18 is a vertical type rotated by 90 °, and the locking unit 18 according to the second embodiment has the locking operation itself in the first embodiment. It is the same as the operation diagram shown in FIG.

  The rod 24 is rotatably supported through the front side plate 45 and the rear side plate 46 constituting the frame of the sheet processing apparatus 13. A locking unit 18 is rotatably supported on the rod 24. Further, as the arrangement of the locking unit 18 is changed, the positioning pin 17 is similarly arranged at a position rotated by 90 ° as shown in FIG. Further, a release button 19 as a lock release member is fixed to an end surface of the rod 24 on the front plate 45 side.

  The configuration of the locking unit 18 and the positioning pin 17 is the same as that of the locking unit 18 in the first embodiment described above except for the arrangement (position rotated by 90 degrees), and therefore the same function members are used. Reference numerals are assigned and description is omitted. Hereinafter, the difference in configuration from the first embodiment will be described.

  The releasing operation of the locking unit 18 will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 9A shows the locked state of the locking unit 18. Since the operation of the lock cam 23 of the locking unit 18 is the same as that of the first embodiment (see FIG. 6), the description thereof is omitted here.

  FIG. 9B shows the unlocking state of the locking unit 18 by rotating the release button 19 in the direction of the arrow J. When the release button 19 is rotated in the direction of arrow J, the release lever 19a formed integrally with the release button 19 engages with the release bar 23c formed integrally with the lock cam 23, and the positioning pin 17 can be disengaged. The lock cam 23 is retracted in the direction of arrow K to the position.

  In addition, since the sheet processing apparatus 13 supported by the caster has a certain amount of weight (for example, there are some which exceed 80 kg), the installation height when installing the sheet processing apparatus 13 depends on the state of the grounding surface to be installed. It is greatly influenced. That is, when the grounding surface is made of a material such as a carpet or carpet, the sheet processing apparatus 13 sinks greatly, and when the locking unit 18 is connected to the positioning pin 17, there is a possibility that a deviation in the height direction occurs. Increase.

  FIG. 10A shows a connection state when the installation height of the image forming apparatus main body 11 and the sheet processing apparatus 13 is shifted, that is, a partial cross-sectional view when the sheet processing apparatus 13 is shifted upward. FIG. 10B shows a partial cross-sectional view when displaced in the direction.

  In FIG. 10A, the sheet processing apparatus 13 is displaced upward with respect to the image forming apparatus main body 11. In this case, with the rod 24 fixed integrally with the release button 19 as a rotation fulcrum, the locking unit 18 swings downward in the figure according to the position of the positioning pin 17. Thereby, it is possible to perform reliable locking without applying a load to the locking unit 18.

  On the other hand, in FIG. 10B, the sheet processing apparatus 13 is shifted downward with respect to the image forming apparatus main body 11. In this case, contrary to FIG. 10A, the locking unit 18 swings upward in the drawing in accordance with the position of the positioning pin 17. Thereby, like the thing shown to Fig.10 (a), a reliable lock can be performed.

  Thus, in this embodiment, the locking unit 18 included in the sheet processing apparatus 13 is provided so as to be swingable in the vertical direction around the rotation fulcrum. As for this locking unit 18, the rocking | fluctuation range is controlled by the control pins 50 and 51 in a figure.

  In this embodiment, one locking unit 18 is provided so as to be able to swing in the vertical direction, but the other positioning pin 17 may be provided so as to be swingable. In the present embodiment, either the locking unit 18 or the positioning pin 17 is provided so as to be swingable to absorb the height deviation of the sheet processing apparatus 13 with respect to the image forming apparatus main body 11. An adjustment device may be provided to eliminate the swing mechanism.

  In this way, by making either one of the locking unit 18 or the positioning pin 17 swingable, it is possible to connect in a state where there is little deviation even in the connection between devices whose connection heights are different.

  The rocking fulcrum (rod 24) of the locking unit 18 is connected to the engagement point of the locking unit 18 and the positioning pin 17 (here, the position of the positioning pin 17) and the contact / separation direction of the sheet processing apparatus 13 with respect to the image forming apparatus main body 11. It is arranged along. Thereby, the position shift in the contact / separation direction can be suppressed to the minimum.

  Also in this embodiment, the same effect as the above-described embodiment can be obtained. In addition, by rotating the locking unit 18 by 90 ° with respect to the first embodiment, the installation dimension in the depth direction can be suppressed to be smaller than that of the first embodiment. Accordingly, the present invention can also be applied to a small image forming apparatus and a sheet processing apparatus. Further, by making the release button 19 rotatable, it is possible to reduce the unlocking operation force by setting the lever ratio freely.

  In the case where the locking mechanism capable of absorbing the connection height deviation is used as described above, the height deviation can be absorbed also in the sheet transfer portion from the image forming apparatus main body 11 to the sheet processing apparatus 13. Is required.

[Other Embodiments]
In the above-described embodiment, the configuration in which the cam surface of the lock cam is formed by the eccentric arc having the center at a position different from the rotation fulcrum of the lock cam is illustrated, but the present invention is not limited to this. The cam diameter may be formed so as to increase toward the upstream side in the first direction. For example, the cam surface may be formed by a linear tapered surface.

  In the above-described embodiment, the sheet processing apparatus that processes the sheet discharged from the image forming apparatus main body is illustrated as an optional apparatus that is detachably connected to the image forming apparatus main body. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. It is not something. For example, it may be another optional device that is detachably connected to the image forming apparatus main body, such as a sheet supply apparatus that supplies a sheet to the image forming apparatus main body.

  The image forming apparatus may be an image forming apparatus such as a printer, a copier, or a facsimile machine, or an image forming apparatus such as a multifunction machine that combines these functions. The same effect can be obtained by applying the present invention to a connection device used in any of these image forming apparatus main bodies and optional devices connected thereto.

P1, P2, P3 ... contact 10 ... image forming apparatus 11 ... image forming apparatus main body 12 ... guide rail 13 ... sheet processing device 17 ... positioning pin 18 ... locking unit 19 ... release button 21 ... base plates 21a, 21b ... fixing surface 21c ... stopper 22 ... compression spring 23 ... lock cam 23a ... guide surface 23b ... cam surface 23c ... release bar 24 ... rod 24a ... release lever 27 ... rotating shaft 29 ... tension spring 32 ... rail base 39 ... release button 39a ... release lever 50, 51 ... Restriction pin

Claims (9)

Locking means that engages with a member to be locked provided in the first unit is provided in a second unit that is detachably connected to the first unit, and the first unit, the second unit, A connecting device for connecting
The locking means is
A base member having a support surface that is in contact with two contact points different from the locked member and supports the locked member ;
The cam surface has a cam surface that is in contact with the member to be locked at a contact different from the two contacts, and that fixes the member to be locked together with the two contacts , and is centered on a rotation fulcrum provided on the base member. A lock cam member rotatably supported in a first direction in contact with the locked member or in a second direction in which the cam surface is separated from the locked member,
In the direction of separating the second unit from the first unit, the cam surface is provided downstream of the rotation fulcrum, and the support surface is provided downstream of the cam surface;
The cam diameter from the rotation fulcrum to the cam surface is formed so as to increase toward the upstream side in the first direction ,
The locked member is supported by the two contact points on the support surface and the cam surface is in contact with the locked member at a contact point different from the two contact points on the support surface. It fixes with respect to two different contacts, The connection apparatus characterized by the above-mentioned. When the lock cam member fixes the member to be locked together with the two contacts , the contact point of the cam surface with the member to be locked is the normal line of the two contacts with the member to be locked and the member to be locked. The connection device according to claim 1, wherein the connection device is set within a range formed by intersections with the connection device.   The connection device according to claim 1, wherein the cam surface is formed by an eccentric arc having a center at a position different from the rotation fulcrum. Connection device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the locking cam member provided swingably said vertically against the locked member. The lock means having the lock cam member and the cam surface is provided so as to be swingable in the vertical direction integrally with the second unit;
The connecting device according to claim 1, further comprising a restricting unit that restricts a range in which the lock unit swings. The rocking fulcrum of the locking means is disposed along an engagement point between the locking means and the member to be locked, and a direction in which the second unit is connected to the first unit. Item 6. The connection device according to Item 5 . The locking cam member of claim 1 to claim 6, characterized in that it has a guide surface for guiding the locked member with the cam surface when connecting the first unit and the second unit The connection device according to any one of claims. A lock release member that releases the lock by rotating the lock cam member that contacts the lock member together with the support surface to lock the lock member in a predetermined position in the second direction is provided. The connection device according to any one of claims 1 to 7 . An image forming apparatus main body that forms an image on a sheet, and a sheet processing apparatus that performs detachable connection to the image forming apparatus main body and that processes sheets discharged from the image forming apparatus main body or the image forming apparatus In an image forming system having a sheet supply device for supplying a sheet to a main body ,
As connecting device for connecting the image forming apparatus main body and the sheet processing apparatus or the sheet feeding apparatus, an image forming system, characterized in that it comprises a connection device according to any one of claims 1 to 8 .

Images