JP6115096B2 - Cover member rotation support mechanism and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a rotation support mechanism for a cover member and an image forming apparatus.

  Image forming apparatuses such as electrophotographic copiers, printers, facsimiles, etc. are arranged on the side or upper surface of the main body of the apparatus in order to facilitate the removal of jammed paper and the replacement and inspection of toner cartridges. There is a model that has a cover member that can be turned. Such a cover member has, for example, a driving mechanism for conveying paper or supplying toner inside the cover member. When the cover member is closed, power is transmitted from the main body side to the drive mechanism on the cover side, and the gear train and clutch of the drive gear are engaged with the main body side.

  In addition, when a sensor for detecting opening / closing of the cover member is provided on the apparatus main body side, the switch pressing convex portion disposed on the back side of the cover member is switched to the switch portion of the main body side sensor when the cover member is closed. Insert into. A positioning mechanism is provided between the cover member and the apparatus main body in order to smoothly engage the gear train and the clutch or to insert the switch pressing convex portion.

  For example, in the image forming apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 1 (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2010-197695), a sensor that detects opening and closing of a cover member is provided on the main body side, and a convex portion that presses the sensor is disposed inside the cover member. (The action part 140 of the rear cover 100 in FIGS. 2 and 3 of Patent Document 1). When the cover member is closed, the convex portion is aligned with the switch on the main body side by the positioning mechanism (inclined surfaces 211A and 212A in FIG. 4 of Patent Document 1) using the tapered guide surface, and the switch is switched at the correct position. To press.

  The rotation shaft constituting the rotation support mechanism of the cover member is inserted into a vertically long shaft hole (the long hole 25 in FIGS. 1 and 5 of Patent Document 1) on the main body side. The position of the cover member can be adjusted in the vertical direction at the time of positioning by the positioning mechanism, that is, immediately before the cover member is closed. That is, play in the vertical direction of the rotating shaft is a prerequisite for the positioning mechanism using the tapered guide surface.

  However, in the conventional rotation support mechanism, there is play in the rotation shaft of the cover member not only in a state immediately before the cover member is closed but also in a wide angle range from the previous state to the fully opened state of the cover member. For this reason, each time the cover member is opened and closed, rattling occurs between the rotation shaft of the cover member and the shaft hole on the main body side, and the parts of the rotation support mechanism such as the rotation shaft and the shaft hole are twisted. Unnecessary loads such as impacts are generated. Therefore, when the number of times of opening and closing the cover member is increased, a load is accumulated on the components of the rotation support mechanism, and the rotation support mechanism is fatigued.

  The object of the present invention is to form play on the rotating shaft in the closed state of the cover member, while eliminating the play on the rotating shaft in the open state, to accurately position the cover member in the closed state, and to open and close the cover member. The purpose is to prevent the rotation support mechanism from being broken by repeated operations.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the invention of claim 1 includes a bearing member or a body member having a pivot shaft rotatably supported by the bearing portion, and a cover member having the pivot shaft or the bearing portion. Is a rotation support mechanism of a cover member that is rotatably connected to the bearing portion by a rotation shaft, and the shape of the bearing portion and the rotation shaft is set in the closed state of the cover member. The pivot shaft of the cover member can be reciprocated along one direction within the bearing portion, and the pivot shaft of the cover member can be reciprocated along the one direction within the bearing portion when the cover member is open. This is a cover member rotation support mechanism characterized in that the shape of the cover member is regulated.

  In the present invention, the rotation shaft of the cover member can be reciprocated along one direction in the bearing portion when the cover member is closed, and the rotation shaft of the cover member can be moved within the bearing portion when the cover member is open. Since reciprocation along one direction is restricted, when the cover member is closed, accurate positioning can be performed based on the main body member, and even when the cover member is repeatedly opened and closed The shaft does not rattle and prevents parts such as the rotation shaft and shaft hole of the rotation support mechanism from generating loads such as torsion and impact, improving operability when opening and closing the rotation support mechanism, In addition, low noise and long life can be achieved.

1 is a schematic view of an image forming apparatus having a rotation support mechanism for a cover member of the present invention. It is a schematic side view of the cover member in a closed state. It is a schematic perspective view of a cover member. (A)-(C) are side views which show three types of rotation support mechanisms. The relationship between a rotation support mechanism and a positioning mechanism is shown, (a) shows the positional relationship immediately before the closed state of a cover member, (b) shows the positional relationship of the closed state of a cover member. It is a figure which shows operation | movement of three types of rotation support mechanisms.

  DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of a cover member rotation support mechanism and an image forming apparatus having the rotation support mechanism according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. In each drawing for explaining this embodiment, constituent elements such as members and components having the same function or shape are given the same reference numerals as much as possible to distinguish them, and then the explanation will be given. Is omitted.

(Image forming device)
FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an image forming apparatus having a rotation support mechanism according to an embodiment of the present invention. This image forming apparatus can be configured in a so-called AIO (all-in-one) format as a multifunction machine in which functions of a copying machine, a printer, and a facsimile are integrated. The image forming apparatus includes four process units 1Y, 1C, 1M, and 1Bk as image forming units, and a developing device is provided in the process unit.

  In the following description, Y, C, M, and Bk next to the reference numbers indicate yellow, cyan, magenta, and black, and when explaining a common configuration for each color, Y, C, M , Bk are omitted as appropriate and only numbers are used.

  The process units 1Y, 1C, 1M, and 1Bk have the same configuration except that they contain toners of different colors of yellow, cyan, magenta, and black corresponding to the color separation components of the color image.

  Specifically, each of the process units 1Y, 1C, 1M, and 1Bk includes a photosensitive member 2 as an image carrier, a charging roller 3 as a charging unit that charges the surface of the photosensitive member 2, and a toner on the photosensitive member 2. A developing device 4 for forming an image and a cleaning blade 5 for cleaning the surface of the photoreceptor 2 are provided.

  The process units 1Y, 1C, 1M, and 1Bk are configured to be detachable integrally with the image forming apparatus main body 11. Although the process units have been described in the order of yellow, cyan, magenta, and black, they are not specified in this order, and the order is arbitrary.

  A toner cartridge 6 filled with toner of each color is provided on the upper portion of the image forming apparatus main body 11. Each color toner in the toner cartridge 6 is transferred to the toner accommodating portion 7 of the corresponding developing device 4 via a toner supply mechanism (not shown).

  Under each process unit 1Y, 1C, 1M, 1Bk, an exposure device 8 for exposing the surface of each photoconductor 2 is disposed. Laser light is irradiated from the exposure device 8 to each photosensitive member 2. A transfer device 9 is disposed below each of the process units 1Y, 1C, 1M, and 1Bk.

  The transfer device 9 has an intermediate transfer belt 10 composed of an endless belt as a transfer body. The intermediate transfer belt 10 is stretched between a driving roller 12 and a tension roller 13, and the driving roller 12 rotates so that the intermediate transfer belt 10 runs in the direction of the arrow in the figure.

  Four primary transfer rollers 14 as primary transfer means are disposed at positions facing the four photoconductors 2. The primary transfer roller 14 is a conductive elastic roller, and is disposed so as to be pressed against the photoreceptor 2 from the back surface of the intermediate transfer belt 10.

  A constant current controlled bias is applied to the primary transfer roller 14 as a primary transfer bias. A primary transfer nip is formed at a location where the intermediate transfer belt 10 is sandwiched by each primary transfer roller 14 and each photoreceptor 2.

  Further, a secondary transfer roller 15 as a secondary transfer unit is in contact with the outer peripheral surface on the right side of FIG. A secondary transfer nip is formed at a position where the intermediate transfer belt 10 is sandwiched by the secondary transfer roller 15 and the driving roller 12 facing the secondary transfer roller 15.

  A power supply for secondary transfer bias is connected to the driving roller 12. By applying a voltage having the same polarity as the toner to the driving roller 12, a voltage is generated in which the toner travels from the intermediate transfer belt 10 toward the transfer paper. Thereby, the toner image can be transferred onto the transfer paper.

  A belt cleaning blade 16 that cleans the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 10 is disposed adjacent to the driving roller 12 of the intermediate transfer belt 10. The front end portion of the belt cleaning blade 16 makes a counter contact with the intermediate transfer belt 10, and the transfer residual toner scraped off at the front end portion is collected in a waste toner storage portion 17 below the intermediate transfer belt 10. It has become.

  Under the image forming apparatus main body 11, a paper feed tray 19 that accommodates transfer paper P as a recording medium, a paper feed roller 20 that carries the transfer paper P out of the paper feed tray 19, and the like are provided. Further, a conveyance path R for guiding the transfer paper P upward from the paper feed tray 19 is formed in the image forming apparatus main body 11.

  In the transport path R, a pair of timing rollers 21 for measuring the transport timing of the transfer paper P is disposed on the way from the position where the paper feed roller 20 is disposed to the position where the secondary transfer roller 15 is disposed. Has been. A fixing device 22 for fixing the image on the transfer paper P is disposed above the position where the secondary transfer roller 15 is disposed. Further, a pair of paper discharge rollers 24 is disposed above the fixing device 22. The paper discharge roller 24 discharges the transfer paper P after image fixing to a stock portion 23 formed by denting the upper surface of the image forming apparatus main body 11.

(Operation of image forming apparatus)
The basic operation of the image forming apparatus will be described below with reference to FIG.
When the image forming operation is started, the photosensitive members 2 of the process units 1Y, 1C, 1M, and 1Bk are rotated in the clockwise direction in FIG. 1 by a driving device (not shown), and the surface of each photosensitive member 2 is charged by the charging roller 3. It is uniformly charged to a predetermined polarity.

  The surface of each charged photoconductor 2 is irradiated with laser light from the exposure device 8, and an electrostatic latent image is formed on the surface of each photoconductor 2. At this time, the image information to be exposed on each photoconductor 2 is monochromatic image information obtained by separating a desired full-color image into color information of yellow, cyan, magenta, and black. By supplying toner to the electrostatic latent image formed on the photoreceptor 2 in this way by each developing device 4, the electrostatic latent image is visualized (visualized) as a toner image.

  The intermediate transfer belt 10 travels in the direction indicated by the arrow in the figure when the drive roller 12 that has passed the intermediate transfer belt 10 with a predetermined tension is rotationally driven. Further, a constant voltage or a constant current-controlled voltage having a polarity opposite to the charging polarity of the toner is applied to each primary transfer roller 14. As a result, a transfer electric field is formed in the primary transfer nip between each primary transfer roller 14 and each photoconductor 2.

  The toner images of the respective colors formed on the photoreceptors 2 of the process units 1Y, 1C, 1M, and 1Bk are sequentially transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 10 by the transfer electric field formed in the primary transfer nip. The Thus, a full color toner image is carried on the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 10. When the transfer of the toner image is completed, the toner remaining on the surface of each photoreceptor 2 is removed by the cleaning blade 5.

  When the image forming operation is started, the paper feed roller 20 starts to rotate, and the transfer paper P stored in the paper feed tray 19 is sent out to the transport path R. The transfer paper P sent out to the transport path R is temporarily stopped by the timing roller 21. Thereafter, the driving of the timing roller 21 is resumed, and the transfer paper P is sent to the secondary transfer nip between the secondary transfer roller 15 and the intermediate transfer belt 10 in synchronization with the toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 10. It is done.

  A transfer voltage having a polarity opposite to the toner charging polarity of the toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 10 is applied to the secondary transfer roller 15, and a transfer electric field is formed in the secondary transfer nip by this reverse polarity transfer voltage. ing. When the transfer paper P and the toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 10 reach the secondary transfer nip, the toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 10 is transferred onto the transfer paper P by the transfer electric field formed in the secondary transfer nip. Are collectively transferred.

  The toner remaining on the intermediate transfer belt 10 after the transfer is removed by the belt cleaning blade 16. The transfer paper P onto which the toner image has been transferred is conveyed to the fixing device 22 where the toner image is fixed on the transfer paper P by pressure and heating. Thereafter, the transfer paper P is discharged to the stock unit 23 by the paper discharge roller 24.

  The above description is an image forming operation when a full-color image is formed on a transfer sheet. A single-color image is formed using any one of the four process units 1Y, 1C, 1M, and 1Bk, and 2 Two or three process units can be used to form a two or three color image.

(Cover member rotation support mechanism)
Next, the rotation support mechanism 30 of the cover member 31 according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described. The rotation support mechanism 30 is applied to a cover member 31 as a rotation member disposed on the upper part of the apparatus main body 11.

  Four toner cartridges 6 of yellow, cyan, magenta, and black are held on the lower surface of the cover member 31. Then, the toner cartridge 6 can be replaced / inspected and the developing device 4 disposed below the toner cartridge 6 can be replaced / inspected with the cover member 31 opened about 90 degrees upward.

  Thereby, the space in the apparatus can be effectively used and the apparatus can be reduced in size. Further, there is an effect that the toner cartridge 6 can be attached and detached without exposing the image forming unit such as the photosensitive member 2 to light.

  The cover member 31 has a box shape as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, and a rotating shaft 32 protruding in the horizontal direction is formed on both side surfaces of the rear end portion. The pair of left and right rotating shafts 32 are inserted and supported in shaft holes 34 of a vertical plate-like support portion 33 formed on the apparatus main body 11 side as a main body member. The arrangement of the rotation shaft 32 and the shaft hole 34 may be reversed. In other words, the rotation shaft 32 may be provided on the apparatus main body side and the shaft hole 34 may be provided on the cover member 31 side.

  A guide groove 38 extending obliquely upward is formed in the lower part of the middle part in the front-rear direction on both the left and right sides of the cover member 31. The guide groove 38 is basically formed in an arc shape centered on the rotation shaft 32.

  However, the upper end portion or the innermost portion of the guide groove 38 extends in a direction slightly away from the rotation shaft 32 than the lower portion thereof. When the cover member 31 is opened and closed, a pin 39 as a convex portion fixed to the inner side surface of the apparatus main body 11 enters and exits the guide groove 38.

  The shape of the convex portion is not necessarily a columnar shape like the pin 39. Any shape that allows entry and exit while sliding with respect to the guide groove 38 may be used.

  In a state where the pin 39 enters the innermost part of the guide groove 38, the final closed position of the cover member 31 with respect to the apparatus main body 11 is determined. That is, the guide groove 38 and the pin 39 constitute a positioning mechanism 41 for the cover member 31.

  The arrangement of the pin 39 and the guide groove 38 may be reversed. That is, the guide groove 38 may be provided on the apparatus main body side and the pin 39 may be provided on the cover member 31 side.

  The details of the rotation support mechanism are as shown in FIG. FIG. 4 shows a rotation support mechanism when the cover member 31 is closed. Here, three types of rotation shafts 32 and 42 of the rotation support mechanism are illustrated as embodiments of (A) to (C), but the rotation shafts 32 and 42 are not limited to the shape.

  In FIG. 4A, a rhombus-shaped regulating member 40 is fitted to the outer periphery of the rotation shaft 32 so as not to rotate in a side view or a cross-sectional shape. The rotating shaft 32 is formed with a planar cutout portion 32a on a part of the cylindrical outer peripheral surface thereof so as not to rotate the regulating member 40.

  By fitting the regulating member 40 to the turning shaft 32 having the notch 32a formed in this way, the turning shaft 32 and the regulating member 40 are integrated in the rotation direction. It is also possible to make the rotation shaft 32 itself a rhombus shape without making the rotation shaft 32 and the regulating member 40 separate.

  In the following description, the term “rotating shaft” includes both the rotating shaft 32 in FIG. 4A and the rotating shaft 32 in which the regulating member 40 is integrated. The rotation shaft 32 is supported by the apparatus main body 11 via the support portion 33.

  The rhombus shape of the regulating member 40 is a symmetrical shape with the axis of the rotation shaft 32 as the center. A pair of small circular arc portions 40 a are formed at both ends in the long axis direction of the regulating member 40. A pair of large circular arc portions 40 b are formed at both ends in the short axis direction of the regulating member 40. Further, four straight portions 40c are formed so as to connect both arc portions.

  The restriction member 40 is formed of a material having high rigidity and good slidability. Such a material can prevent damage to the regulating member 40 and improve the opening / closing operability of the cover member 31. By configuring the rotating shaft 32 and the regulating member 40 as separate bodies, the material selection of the regulating member 40 can be facilitated and the cost can be reduced.

  On the other hand, the shaft hole 34 as a bearing portion formed in the support portion 33 is formed to extend in the horizontal direction in accordance with the shape of the regulating member 40. The shaft hole 34 has upper and lower first straight portions 34a extending in the horizontal extension direction, left and right second straight portions 34b extending in the vertical direction, and an upper right portion between the first straight portion 34a and the second straight portion 34b. And a circular arc part 34c connecting the two lower left corner parts.

  The upper and lower large circular arc portions 40b of the restricting member 40 are in contact with the first straight portion 34a. Thereby, the vertical movement of the rotation shaft 32 is restricted. A space is formed between the second straight part 34 b and the small arc part 40 a of the restricting member 40. Thereby, the rotating shaft 32 can reciprocate only in one direction where the space exists. Further, when the cover member 31 is opened and closed, the small arc portion 40a of the restricting member 40 is configured to come into sliding contact with the arc portion 34c.

  FIG. 4B shows an example in which a rotation shaft 42 having a horizontally long cross section and a shaft hole 44 having a horizontally long elliptical shape are used. Both ends of the radial portion 42a of the rotating shaft 42 are formed as arc portions 42b swelled on both sides in the long axis direction so as to be able to rotate smoothly along the inner peripheral surface of the shaft hole 34. A space is formed on the side of the arc portion 42b. In this state, the rotation shaft 42 reciprocates only in the horizontal direction (the front-rear direction of the apparatus main body 11, the longitudinal direction of the cover member 31 in the closed position) in the shaft hole 44. It can be moved.

  Further, a pair of thin circular plate portions 42c are arranged on both sides in the width direction of the radial portion 42a. And the said circular arc board part 42c is urged | biased outside by the compression spring 42d as an elastic member arrange | positioned at the both sides of the radial direction part 42a. Accordingly, the circular arc plate portion 42c is always in sliding contact with the inner peripheral surface of the shaft hole 34 by the compression spring 42d.

  The arc plate portion 42c is formed of a material having good slidability. Thereby, the operativity at the time of opening and closing of the cover member 31 improves. FIG. 4C shows a structure in which a compression rubber 42e is provided instead of the compression spring 42d, and the other configuration is the same as that in FIG. 4B. By using the compression spring 42d and the compression rubber 42e, it becomes unnecessary to process the rotating shaft 42 with high accuracy, and a movement restricting structure of the rotating shaft 42 can be constructed at low cost. In the embodiments (B) and (C), the arc portion 42b and the arc plate portion 42c function as the regulating member 40 in the embodiment (A).

(Operation of the rotation support mechanism)
Next, FIG. 5 shows the positional relationship between the rotation support mechanism 30 and the positioning mechanism 41. FIG. 5 illustrates the positional relationship (a) immediately before the cover member 31 is closed and the positional relationship (b) of the cover member 31 in the closed state, taking the rotating shaft 32 of the embodiment of FIG. Indicates.

  In the following description, when the cover member 31 is simply referred to as “closed state” or “closed position”, the cover member 31 is not completely closed as shown in FIG. The cover member 31 is almost closed as shown in FIG.

  In the closed state of the cover member 31 shown in FIG. 5B, the pin 39 on the main body side and the guide groove 38 on the cover member 31 side are engaged, so that the positioning accuracy of the cover member 31 is improved. In this state, a toner replenishing gear (not shown) provided inside the cover member 31 is connected to a driving clutch (not shown) provided in the apparatus main body 11. When the toner supply gear is driven, the toner supply member inside the toner cartridge 6 held by the cover member 31 is driven.

  The cover member 31 is opened and closed when the developing device 4 is attached / detached or the toner cartridge 6 is replaced / inspected. At the time of opening and closing, the rotation support mechanism 30 described above smoothly engages and disengages the guide groove 38 of the cover member 31 and the pin 39 on the main body side as shown in FIGS. Done.

  That is, when the cover member 31 is closed as shown in FIG. 5A, when the pin 39 enters the guide groove 38, the cover member 31 moves in the horizontal arrow direction while descending with respect to the pin 39. Further, the rotation shaft 32 moves in the horizontal arrow direction while rotating clockwise in the shaft hole 34.

  When the cover member 31 reaches the final closed position as shown in FIG. 5B, the pin 39 moves to the upper end portion or the innermost portion of the guide groove 38, and the cover member 31 is finally moved toward the main body side. The closing position is determined accurately. At this time, the rotation shaft 32 moves to a substantially intermediate position in the left-right direction of the shaft hole 34. It contacts the first straight part 34a. Therefore, the rotation shaft 32 cannot be moved in the vertical direction, and the cover member 31 does not rattle in the vertical direction. When the cover member 31 is opened, the operation is the reverse of the above.

  FIG. 6 shows operating states of the three types of rotation support mechanisms shown in FIG. 6A to 6C, the cover member 31 is supported by the support portion 33 on the main body side via the rotation shafts 32 and 42.

  The left column is a rotation support mechanism in a closed state in which the cover member 31 is completely closed. The center column is a rotation support mechanism immediately before starting the positioning of the cover member 31 or immediately after releasing the positioning. The right column shows the rotation support mechanism in the open state in which the cover member 31 is fully opened.

  Explaining from the upper embodiment (A), in the closed state of A1, the upper and lower small circular arc portions 40a and a part of the linear portion 40c of the regulating member 40 come into contact with the upper and lower first linear portions 34a of the shaft hole 34. ing. In this state, spaces are formed on the left and right sides of the restricting member 40, and the rotation shaft 32 can move back and forth in the shaft hole 34 in the horizontal direction (the front-rear direction of the apparatus body 11). However, actually, since the pin 39 is engaged with the guide groove 38, the cover member 31 does not move in the horizontal direction in the closed state.

  Next, when the cover member 31 is slightly opened as in A <b> 2, the left and right small circular arc portions 40 a of the restricting member 40 come into contact with the left and right second straight portions 34 b of the shaft hole 34. Further, the upper and lower large circular arc portions 40 b of the regulating member 40 abut on the upper and lower first linear portions 34 b of the shaft hole 34.

  Therefore, the regulating member 40 is in a state where it cannot move vertically and horizontally within the shaft hole 34. When the cover member 31 is opened in this state, the small arc portion 40a of the restricting member 40 moves along the arc portion 34c of the shaft hole 34, and the large arc portion 40b of the restricting member 40 is moved upward and downward of the shaft hole 34. It rotates while abutting on one linear portion 34b.

  Therefore, until the cover member 31 is completely opened as shown in (3), the state in which the rotary shaft 32 cannot move vertically and horizontally continues. For this reason, there is no vibration or backlash during the opening / closing operation of the cover member 31, and component damage of the rotation support mechanism 30 is prevented. In addition, the opening / closing operability of the cover member 31 is smooth, and noise is low.

  When the cover member 31 is completely opened, as shown in A3, a part of the small arc portion 40a and the straight portion 40c come into contact with the upper and lower first straight portions 34a of the shaft hole 34, and the cover member 31 is further counterclockwise. It cannot be rotated in the direction. Therefore, the cover member 31 is prevented from falling naturally to the opposite side.

  Next, embodiment (B) is demonstrated. In this embodiment (B), as shown in B <b> 1 to B <b> 3, the arc plate portion 42 c regulates the left and right movements and the vertical movements of the rotation shaft 42. In the closed state of B 1, the upper and lower arc plate portions 42 c are in contact with the upper and lower inner surfaces of the shaft hole 44.

  Spaces are formed on the left and right sides of the arc portions 42 b at both ends of the rotation shaft 42, and the rotation shaft 42 is capable of reciprocating in the horizontal direction (the front-rear direction of the apparatus main body 11) within the shaft hole 44. However, actually, since the pin 39 is engaged with the guide groove 38, the cover member 31 does not move in the horizontal direction in the closed state.

  As the cover member 31 is opened, the pin 39 is detached from the guide groove 38. Further, the arc portion 42b of the rotating shaft 42 contacts the upper and lower inner surfaces of the shaft hole 44, and the arc plate portion 42c contacts the left and right inner surfaces of the shaft hole 44 by the urging force of the compression spring 42d. As a result, the rotation shaft 42 cannot move vertically and horizontally within the shaft hole 44. When the cover member 31 is further opened in this state, the arc plate portion 42c of the rotating shaft 42 moves like B3 along the inner surface of the shaft hole 44, and the arc portion 42b of the rotating shaft 42 moves to the shaft hole 44. It contacts the upper and lower inner surfaces.

  Therefore, until the cover member 31 is completely opened as shown in (3), the state in which the rotation shaft 42 cannot move vertically and horizontally continues. For this reason, there is no vibration or backlash during the opening / closing operation of the cover member 31, and component damage of the rotation support mechanism is prevented. In addition, the opening / closing operability of the cover member 31 is smooth, and noise is low.

  In the embodiment (C), a compression rubber 42e is used instead of the compression spring 42d of the embodiment (B). The operation is the same as in the embodiment (B). Accordingly, even in the embodiment (C), there is no vibration or backlash during the opening / closing operation of the cover member 31, and the parts of the rotation support mechanism are prevented from being damaged. In addition, the opening / closing operability of the cover member 31 is smooth, and noise is low.

  The embodiment of the present invention has been described above, but the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and it is needless to say that various modifications can be made without departing from the gist of the present invention.

  The rotation support mechanism 30 of the cover member 31 according to the present invention is not limited to the color image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 1, but is provided in a monochrome image forming apparatus, other copiers, printers, facsimiles, or complex machines thereof. It is also possible.

  Further, the rotation support mechanism 30 of the cover member 31 according to the present invention is not limited to the image forming apparatus, but can be widely applied to an apparatus having a cover member that can be rotated or opened and closed.

1Y, 1C, 1M, 1Bk: process unit 2: photoconductor 4: developing device 6: toner cartridge 8: exposure device 9: transfer device 11: image forming apparatus main body 30: rotation support mechanism 31: cover members 32, 42: Rotating shaft 33: support portion 34, 44: shaft hole 38: guide groove 39: pin 40: regulating member 42d: compression spring (elastic member)
42e: Compressed rubber (elastic member)

JP 2010-197695 A

Claims (6)

A main body member having a bearing portion or a pivot shaft that is rotatably supported by the bearing portion, and a cover member having the pivot shaft or the bearing portion can be pivoted by the bearing portion and the pivot shaft. A rotation support mechanism for the cover member to be coupled, and a positioning mechanism for determining a closed position of the cover member with respect to the main body member ; and a shape of the bearing portion and the rotation shaft,
In the closed state of the cover member, the rotation shaft of the cover member can reciprocate along one direction in the bearing portion, and
The cover member rotation support mechanism, wherein the cover member has a shape in which the rotation axis of the cover member is restricted from reciprocating along the one direction in the bearing portion when the cover member is in an open state. The positioning mechanism has a guide groove provided in the cover member or the main body member and a convex portion provided in the main body member or the cover member, and before the cover member reaches the closed position, the convex portion wherein by entering the guide groove, the rotation support mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the cover member is characterized in that it is positioned at a predetermined closed position. The cross-sectional shape of the rotating shaft is a rhombus shape, the shaft hole of the bearing portion is a shape extending in the longitudinal direction at the closed position of the cover member, and a part of the outer periphery of the rhombus shape is the shaft 3. The rotation support mechanism according to claim 1, wherein movement of the rotation shaft in a direction perpendicular to the linear portion is restricted by contacting the linear portion in the extending direction of the hole. The portion of the rotating shaft is formed of an elastic member such as a spring or rubber, any one of the claims 1-3 in which the movement of the pivot shaft by the urging force of the elastic member, characterized in that it is regulated Rotation support mechanism. An image forming apparatus having any one of the rotation support mechanism of claims 1 to 4. 6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein a toner cartridge is held by the cover member.

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