JP6049292B2 - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus including a movable member that can change a posture with respect to an apparatus main body.

  In an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a facsimile, or a printer, a cover member is configured to be openable and closable with respect to the apparatus main body for jam processing, CRG replacement, and the like. Some cover members as such movable members are provided with a damper mechanism so as not to be suddenly closed or opened. As such a damper mechanism, Patent Document 1 discloses a configuration that obtains a damper effect by sandwiching and pressing a pressed portion of a cover member between two members and applying a load due to frictional force on the pressed portion. Yes.

  Further, as the opening angle of the cover member is smaller, a force in the closing direction due to the weight of the cover member acts on the cover member. For this reason, if the load due to the frictional force applied to the cover member by the damper mechanism is constant, the speed of the cover member increases as the cover member is closed, and the cover member may be closed vigorously. Therefore, in FIG. 5 of Patent Document 2, the thickness of the pressed portion of the cover member is gradually increased as the cover member is closed so that the load due to the frictional force increases as the cover member is closed. Is disclosed.

JP 2004-45585 JP 2006-3825

  Here, in the damper mechanism that presses the pressed portion of the cover member as in Patent Document 2, the frictional force applied to the cover member as the holding force for holding the cover member is determined by the thickness of the pressed portion. Therefore, when the cover member is stationary at a predetermined opening angle, the same friction is applied to the cover member when the cover member starts to move in a direction against gravity and when the cover member starts to move in a direction along gravity. Force load acts. For this reason, when moving a cover member in the direction which resists gravity, the load which generate | occur | produces with a damper mechanism may interfere with operation, and there exists room for improvement of operativity.

  In view of the above problems, an object of the present invention is to improve the operability of a movable member.

  Therefore, the present invention includes an opening / closing member that moves relative to the apparatus body and can open the inside of the apparatus body, and a holding portion that holds the opening / closing member. The opening / closing member has a first position and a second position. In the image forming apparatus that can move between the first position and the second position, if the third position is the position between the first position and the second position, the opening and closing member is moved from the third position toward the second position. The member moves at least vertically downward, and when the opening / closing member is moved from the third position toward the first position, the opening / closing member moves at least vertically upward, and the opening / closing member is moved from the third position to the first position. The holding portion is configured such that a force required to start moving toward the second position is greater than a force required to start moving the opening / closing member from the third position toward the first position. Holds the movable member And wherein the door.

  According to the present invention, the operability of the movable member is improved.

(A) Schematic sectional view of the image forming apparatus. FIG. 2B is an external view of the image forming apparatus. 1 is a schematic diagram of a damper mechanism 100. FIG. (A) Detailed view of the damper mechanism 100. FIG. (B) Detailed view of the damper mechanism 100. FIG. (C) Detailed view of the damper mechanism 100. FIG. (D) Detailed view of the damper mechanism 100. FIG. Schematic of the damper mechanism 200. FIG. (A) The detail of the damper mechanism 200. FIG. (B) Detailed view of the damper mechanism 200. FIG. Schematic of the damper mechanism 300. FIG. (A) Detailed view of the damper mechanism 300. FIG. (B) Detailed view of the damper mechanism 300. FIG. (C) Detailed view of the damper mechanism 300. FIG. Schematic of the damper mechanism 300. FIG.

Therefore, the present invention includes an apparatus main body and a movable member capable of changing a posture with respect to the apparatus main body, and the movable member is movable around a first rotation axis, and has a first position and a second position. If the position between the positions is the third position, when the movable member moves from the third position toward the second position, the movable member moves at least vertically downward, and the movable member moves to the third position. In the image forming apparatus in which the movable member moves at least vertically upward when moved from the first position to the first position, the pressing member presses the movable member from a direction parallel to the first rotation axis. The pressing member is rotatable around a second rotation axis different from the first rotation axis, and the pressing member is moved when the movable member is moved from the third position toward the second position. Contact point between member and movable member With respect to the moving direction of the movable member in the second axis of rotation, the located downstream of the contact portion, the pressing member when said movable member moves toward the second position from the third position The frictional force generated between the movable members is the friction generated between the pressing member and the movable member when the movable member moves from the third position toward the first position. It is characterized by greater than force.

[Image forming apparatus]
FIG. 1A is a schematic sectional view of the image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus is an electrophotographic image forming apparatus. An image forming apparatus main body 1 (hereinafter, main body 1) includes a paper feed cassette 2 that accommodates a sheet material at a lower portion. The sheet material accommodated in the sheet feeding cassette 2 is fed to the conveyance path 10 by a feeding unit 3 having a sheet feeding conveyance roller and the like, and is conveyed through the conveyance path 10 by the conveyance rollers 4 and 5. The main body 1 is detachably mounted with a process cartridge 6 in which a photosensitive drum 6a, a charging unit (not shown) as an electrophotographic process unit, a developing unit, and a cleaning unit are integrated. A scanner unit 9 is provided above the process cartridge 6 of the main body 1 as exposure means for irradiating the photosensitive drum 6a with laser light. A transfer roller 7 serving as a transfer unit is disposed at a position facing the photosensitive drum 6a across the conveyance path 10 of the main body 1. The fixing unit 9 is disposed further downstream of the conveyance path 10, and the discharge roller is disposed further downstream. A paper roller 11 and a paper discharge tray 12 on which sheet materials are stacked are provided. The above-described configuration in the main body 1 and the process cartridge 6 function as an image forming unit that forms an image on a sheet material.

  Next, an image forming operation of the image forming unit will be described. When the image forming operation is started, the sheet materials stacked in the sheet feeding cassette 2 are conveyed one by one. Next, the surface of the rotating photosensitive drum 6a is charged by the charging unit and exposed by the scanner unit 9 to form a latent image, and then the latent image is visualized (developed) by toner from the developing unit. Through such a process, a toner image is formed on the photosensitive drum 6a.

  Then, the sheet material is conveyed to a transfer nip formed by the photosensitive drum 6 a and the transfer roller 7 in synchronization with the toner image on the photosensitive drum 6 a, and the sheet material is generated by the transfer bias voltage applied to the transfer roller 7. A toner image is transferred onto the sheet material from the photosensitive drum 6a. Thereafter, the sheet material to which the toner image is transferred is conveyed to the fixing unit 8 and heat and pressure are applied to fix the toner image on the sheet material. Finally, the sheet material on which the toner image is fixed is conveyed and discharged onto the paper discharge tray 12 by the paper discharge roller 11. By such an image forming operation, a toner image is formed on the sheet material.

  FIG. 1B is an external view of the main body 1. A cover member 13 serving as an opening / closing member capable of opening the inside of the main body 1 is provided in a part of the exterior of the main body 1 in order to perform maintenance such as attachment / detachment of the process cartridge 6 and jam processing. The cover member rotates about the rotation shaft 14, can be opened / closed with respect to the main body 1, opens the main body 1 at a first position opened with respect to the main body 1, and closes with respect to the main body 1. Close the main body 1 at the position. When opening the cover member 13, the cover member 13 is moved against the weight of the cover member 13, and when closing the cover member, the cover member 13 is moved in a direction along the weight of the cover member 13. For this reason, the main body 1 is provided with a damper mechanism 100 (see FIG. 2) for preventing the cover member 13 from closing with force. Further, the damper mechanism 100 can hold the opening / closing member at an arbitrary third position between the first position opened with respect to the main body 1 and the second position closed.

[Damper mechanism 100]
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the damper mechanism 100. The damper mechanism 100 presses the cover member 13, is supported by the rotation shaft 18, can be rotated around the shaft, the spring 16 applies a pressing force to the pressing member 15, and the pressing member 15. It has the receiving member 17 which pinches | interposes. The pressing member 15 contacts the cover member 13 by the action of the spring 16 and presses it toward the receiving member 17. With this configuration, the frictional force between the cover member 13 and the pressing member 15 and the frictional force between the cover member 13 and the receiving member 17 become loads that impede the movement of the cover member 13. It prevents moving vigorously. Further, the cover member 13 can be held at an arbitrary third position by the load due to the frictional force. Note that the cover member 13 is configured to be sandwiched between the pressing member 15 and the receiving member 17, whereby the twist and backlash of the cover member 13 can be reduced.

  Further, the cover member 13 is integrally formed with a pressed portion 13 a that is sandwiched between and in contact with the pressing member 15 and the receiving member 17. The pressed portion 13a is formed so that the radius (distance) from the rotation shaft 14 gradually increases from r1 to r2 (r2> r1), and the pressed portion 13a is in contact with the pressing member 15 of the pressed portion 13a. The distance from the rotating shaft 14 is configured to increase as the cover member 13 is closed. With this configuration, as the cover member 13 is closed, the frictional force between the pressing member 15 and the cover member 13 acting on the cover member 13 as a moment around the rotation shaft 14 gradually increases. Therefore, the holding effect by the damper mechanism 100 increases as the opening angle of the cover member 13 is smaller.

  FIG. 3 is a view of the damper mechanism 100 as viewed from the direction of the rotation shaft 18 of the pressing member 15. As shown in FIG. 3A, the pressing member 15 has a rotation fulcrum (rotating shaft) 18, and the direction in which the pressing member 15 is allowed to move is that the pressing member 15 is pressed against the pressed portion 13 a of the cover member 13. It is a direction (A direction in the figure) to press on the. The other is the direction in which the pressing member 15 moves away from the pressed portion 13a of the cover member 13 (the B direction in the figure). A surface 13b of the pressed portion 13a that comes into contact with the pressing member 15 and a surface 13c that comes into contact with the receiving member 17 are parallel to the moving direction of the pressed portion 13a, and are both surfaces orthogonal to the rotation shaft 14 of the cover member 13. is there. The pressing member 15 is pressed in the A direction by the action of the spring force Fb of the spring 16. For this reason, the pressing member 15 presses the pressed portion 13a with a force Fb1 in the normal direction of the surfaces 13b and c (the direction of the rotating shaft 14). Accordingly, when the cover member 13 is moved in the closing direction (C direction in the figure), a frictional force R proportional to the force Fb1 is applied.

  FIG. 3B shows the force that the pressing member 15 receives from the pressed portion 13a when the cover member 13 is about to move in the closing direction (direction C in the drawing). At this time, a frictional force Fm, which is a reaction force of the frictional force R, acts on the pressing member 15 in the C direction. This frictional force D can be decomposed into a tangential component Fm1 and a rotational axis component Fm2, and as shown in FIG. 3C, a force Fm11 of the normal component of the surfaces 13b and c of the cover member 13 of D1 is generated. To do. The force Fm2 of the rotation axis direction component cancels out due to the reaction from the rotation shaft 18. For this reason, the force acting on the pressed portion 13a in the normal direction of the surfaces 13b and c is Fb1 + Fm11, and the frictional force R increases. Thus, when the cover member 13 is moved in the C direction, a force Fm11 that presses the pressing member 15 against the cover member 13 is generated by the frictional force between the pressed portion 13a and the pressing member 15. The pressing force by 15 increases. For this reason, the frictional force R which finally tries to prevent the movement of the cover member 13 increases. As described above, when the cover member is moved in the opening direction (C direction), the damper mechanism 100 is in a so-called bite-in state and the holding force for holding the cover member 13 is relatively large.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 3 (d), when the cover member 13 operates in the opening direction (D direction in the figure), the pressing member 15 is a tangential force Fm1 of the frictional force Fm received from the pressed portion 13a. Thus, a force that moves in a direction away from the cover member 13 is received. For this reason, the pressing force that presses the pressed portion 13a in the normal direction of the surfaces 13b and c is reduced, and the frictional force that finally prevents the movement of the cover member 13 is reduced. As described above, when the cover member is moved in the closing direction (D direction), the damper mechanism 100 is in a state of so-called escape, and the holding force for holding the cover member 13 is relatively small.

  The above-described bite-in and escape-out are the rotation of the pressing member 15 with respect to the direction in which the pressed portion 13a moves at the contact point between the pressing member 15 and the pressed portion 13a when the cover member 13 is closed. This is because the shaft 18 is on the downstream side of the pressed portion 13a.

  In the present embodiment, the pressed portion 13a is formed so that the radius (distance) from the rotation shaft 14 gradually increases from r1 to r2 (r2> r1). However, in all of the pressed portions 13a. The radius may be constant. Alternatively, a configuration may be adopted in which the radius gradually changes in part and the radius is constant in other portions.

  In the present embodiment, the rotating shaft 14 of the cover member 13 and the rotating shaft 18 of the pressing member 15 are orthogonal or twisted.

  Thus, in this embodiment, the frictional force that acts as a holding force of the cover member 13 and prevents the movement of the cover member is made different from when the cover member 13 is closed and when the cover member 13 is opened. Specifically, when the cover member 13 at a predetermined position (third position) is moved against gravity (when the cover member 13 moves at least vertically upward due to the movement), the cover member 13 is more susceptible to gravity. The frictional force (holding force) is made smaller than when the cover member 13 is moved along (when the cover member 13 moves at least vertically downward by the movement). In other words, when the cover member 13 at the predetermined position (third position) is moved against gravity (when the cover member 13 is moved at least vertically upward by the movement), the cover member 13 follows the gravity. The force required to start the movement is made smaller than when the cover member 13 is moved (at least when the cover member 13 is moved vertically downward by the movement). For this reason, the operativity at the time of moving the cover member 13 against gravity can be improved.

  In the present embodiment, the case where the movable member that moves relative to the main body 1 is the cover member 13 has been described. However, the damper mechanism 100 of the present embodiment is not limited to the holding portion of the cover member 13 and can be applied. In other words, the present invention can also be applied to a portion that holds an operation unit provided with buttons, a touch panel, and a display for a user to control an image forming operation. In this case, the friction force (holding force) is increased when the user moves the operation unit in a direction along the direction in which the user presses the button or the like of the operation unit, and the friction force (holding force) is increased when moving in the opposite direction. What is necessary is just to make it small.

Second Embodiment
Next, a second embodiment will be described. Since the configuration of the entire image forming apparatus and the configuration of the cover member 13 are the same as those in the first embodiment, the description thereof is omitted. For the other parts, the same parts as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof is omitted. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the damper mechanism 200. The feature of this embodiment is that the portion of the pressing member 15 that contacts the pressed portion 13a differs depending on the moving direction of the cover member 13. That is, the pressing member includes a first pressing portion (first contacting portion) 15a that contacts the pressed portion 13a when the cover member 13 is closed, and a second pressing portion that contacts the pressed portion 13a when the cover member 13 is opened. (Second contact portion) 15b is provided. Furthermore, the second pressing portion 15b is made of a material having a smaller coefficient of friction with the pressed portion 13a than the first pressing portion 15a. As in the first embodiment, the pressed portion 13a is formed such that the distance from the rotation shaft 14 of the cover member 13 gradually increases from r1 to r2, and the opening angle of the cover member 13 is small. As shown, the holding effect of the damper mechanism 200 increases.

  Next, the damper mechanism 200 will be described. FIG. 5 is a view of the damper mechanism 200 as seen from the direction of the rotating shaft 18 of the pressing member 15. The pressing member 15 can rotate around the rotation shaft 18, and the rotation shaft 18 itself can move in the Z direction (the direction of the rotation shaft 13 of the cover member 13). The pressing member 15 is pressed in the Z direction by a spring 16.

  FIG. 5A shows the posture of the pressing member 15 when the cover member 13 is operated in the direction in which the cover member 13 is closed (G direction in the figure). The pressed portion 13a is in contact with the first pressing portion 15a. It touches. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 5B, when the cover member 13 is moved in the direction of opening the cover (the H direction in the figure), the pressing member 15 changes the posture and is the portion to be pressed at the second pressing portion 15b. 13a abuts. The second pressing portion 15b is made of a material having a smaller coefficient of friction with the pressed portion 13a than the first pressing portion 15a. For this reason, the load caused by the frictional force is smaller when the cover member 13 is operated in the opening direction than when the cover member 13 is closed.

  In the present embodiment, the rotating shaft 14 of the cover member 13 and the rotating shaft 18 of the pressing member 15 are orthogonal or twisted.

  Thus, in this embodiment, as in the first embodiment, the frictional force that acts as a holding force for the cover member 13 and prevents the movement of the cover member is different from when the cover member 13 is closed and when the cover member 13 is opened. did. Specifically, when the cover member 13 at a predetermined position (third position) is moved at least vertically upward by the movement, the cover member 13 is moved at least vertically downward by the movement. The frictional force (holding force) was made smaller than when it was done. In other words, when the cover member 13 at the predetermined position (third position) is moved at least vertically upward by the movement, the cover member 13 is moved at least vertically downward by the movement. The force required to start moving is less than the time. For this reason, the operativity at the time of moving the cover member 13 against gravity can be improved.

  In the present embodiment, the case where the movable member movable with respect to the main body 1 is the cover member 13 has been described. However, the damper mechanism 200 of the present embodiment is applicable not only to the holding portion of the cover member 13. In other words, the present invention can also be applied to a portion that holds an operation unit provided with buttons, a touch panel, and a display for a user to control an image forming operation. In this case, the friction force (holding force) is increased when the user moves the operation unit in a direction along the direction in which the user presses the button or the like of the operation unit, and the friction force (holding force) is increased when moving in the opposite direction. What is necessary is just to make it small.

  In this embodiment, the frictional force can be easily adjusted by changing the material of the first pressing portion 15a and the second pressing portion 15b, and the holding force can be set appropriately.

<Third Embodiment>
Next, a third embodiment will be described. Since the configuration of the entire image forming apparatus and the configuration of the cover member 13 are the same as those in the first embodiment, the description thereof is omitted. For the other parts, the same parts as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof is omitted. FIG. 6 is a schematic view of the damper mechanism 300. The feature of this embodiment is that the direction in which the pressing member 15 presses the pressed portion 13 a of the cover member 13 is a direction orthogonal to the rotation shaft 14 of the cover member 13. In other words, in the present embodiment, the rotating shaft 14 of the cover member 13 and the rotating shaft 18 of the pressing member 15 are substantially parallel, and the cover member 13 is pressed between the pressing member and the rotating shaft 14. It is.

  In the present embodiment, similarly to the first embodiment, the pressed portion 13a is formed such that the distance of the cover member 13 from the rotation shaft 14 gradually increases from r1 to r2, and the opening angle of the cover member 13 is increased. The smaller the is, the higher the holding effect of the damper mechanism 300 is. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the pressing member 15 presses the pressed portion 13a in a direction orthogonal to the rotation shaft 14 of the cover member 13, so that the pressing force of the spring 15 increases as the cover member 13 is closed. However, the load is increased. Therefore, the holding effect of the damper mechanism 300 can be further enhanced as the opening angle of the cover member 13 is smaller.

  FIG. 6A shows details of the holding structure of the pressing member 15. The direction in which the pressing member 15 has the rotation fulcrum 18 and the movement of the pressing member 15 is permitted is one in which the pressing member 15 is pressed against the cover member 13 (direction I in the figure), and the other is the pressing member from the cover member 13. It is the direction (J direction in the figure) going away.

  FIG. 6B shows the force applied to the pressing member 15 when the cover member 13 operates in the closing direction (K direction in the figure), and the frictional force acting on the pressing member 15 as in the first embodiment. M attempts to move the pressing member 15 in the direction in which the pressing member 15 is pressed against the cover member 13 and increases the pressing force. It will be in a state of so-called bite.

  FIG. 6C shows the force applied to the pressing member 15 when the cover member 13 operates in the opening direction (L direction in the figure), and the frictional force N acting on the pressing member 15 causes the pressing member 15 to cover the pressing member 15. Attempt to move in a direction away from 13 reduces the pressing force. It becomes a so-called escape state.

  Therefore, when the cover member 13 is moved against the gravity, the load due to the frictional force is smaller than when the cover member 13 is moved along the gravity. Therefore, the operational feeling when operating the cover member 13 against gravity can be improved.

  The above-described bite-in and escape-out are the rotation of the pressing member 15 with respect to the direction in which the pressed portion 13a moves at the contact point between the pressing member 15 and the pressed portion 13a when the cover member 13 is closed. This is because the shaft 18 is on the downstream side of the pressed portion 13a.

  Moreover, you may provide the slope 13b in the to-be-pressed part 13a of the cover member 13 like FIG. With this configuration, immediately before the cover member 13 is closed, the pressing force F of the pressing member 15 acts in the direction in which the cover member 13 is closed, whereby the cover member 13 can be pulled in and reliably closed. Further, when the cover member 13 is closed, it can also be prevented from bouncing against the main body 1.

  Thus, in this embodiment, as in the first embodiment, the frictional force that acts as a holding force for the cover member 13 and prevents the movement of the cover member is different from when the cover member 13 is closed and when the cover member 13 is opened. did. Specifically, when the cover member 13 at a predetermined position (third position) is moved at least vertically upward by the movement, the cover member 13 is moved at least vertically downward by the movement. The frictional force (holding force) was made smaller than when it was done. In other words, when the cover member 13 at the predetermined position (third position) is moved at least vertically upward by the movement, the cover member 13 is moved at least vertically downward by the movement. The force required to start moving is less than the time. For this reason, the operativity at the time of moving the cover member 13 against gravity can be improved.

  In the present embodiment, the case where the movable member that is movable relative to the main body 1 is the cover member 13 has been described. However, the damper mechanism 300 according to the present embodiment is applicable not only to the holding portion of the cover member 13. In other words, the present invention can also be applied to a portion that holds an operation unit provided with buttons, a touch panel, and a display for a user to control an image forming operation. In this case, the friction force (holding force) is increased when the user moves the operation unit in a direction along the direction in which the user presses the button or the like of the operation unit, and the friction force (holding force) is increased when moving in the opposite direction. What is necessary is just to make it small.

1 Image forming device body (main body)
13 Cover member 13a Pressed portion 14 Rotating shaft of cover member 15 Pressing member 16 Spring 17 Receiving member 18 Rotating fulcrum (rotating shaft) of pressing member
100, 200, 300 Damper mechanism

Claims (6)

The device body;
A movable member capable of changing a posture with respect to the apparatus main body, the movable member being movable about a first rotation axis, and a position between the first position and the second position being a third position. Then, when the movable member moves from the third position toward the second position, the movable member moves at least vertically downward, and the movable member moves from the third position toward the first position. Then, in the image forming apparatus in which the movable member moves at least vertically upward,
A pressing member that presses the movable member from a direction parallel to the first rotation axis,
The pressing member is rotatable about a second rotation axis different from the first rotation axis, and the pressing member when moving the movable member from the third position toward the second position, Regarding the moving direction of the movable member at the contact point with the movable member, the second rotation shaft is on the downstream side of the contact point,
The frictional force generated between the pressing member and the movable member when the movable member moves from the third position toward the second position is such that the movable member moves from the third position to the first position. An image forming apparatus comprising: a friction force generated between the pressing member and the movable member when moving toward a position.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the movable member is held in a posture with respect to the apparatus main body at the third position by a pressing force applied to the movable member by the pressing member. It said second rotary shaft and is perpendicular said first rotary shaft and the pressing member of said movable member, or an image according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that have a relationship of twist Forming equipment. The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that it has the pressing member facing the receiving member through the movable member. The movable member includes a pressed portion that is pressed by the pressing member, and the pressed portion has a distance between a region pressed by the pressing member at the second position and the first rotation shaft. the image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the greater than the distance of the region to be pressed by the pressing member and the first rotation axis in the first position. Said movable member, said first opening the device body at a position, the image of any one of claims 1 to 5 in a second position, wherein the device is a closing member for closing the main body Forming equipment.

Images