JP6573376B2 - Grip device and fixing device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a grip device that can be attached to a large or heavy article (conveyed object) and easily transported. This grip device can be used, for example, for attachment to a fixing device mounted on an image forming apparatus such as an electrophotographic system.

  As a fixing device of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, generally, a heating member and a pressure member are used to convey a toner image-carrying recording material while being pressurized and heated to fix the toner image on the recording material. Is often used.

  In order to facilitate maintenance work such as component replacement, the fixing device employs a configuration in which the fixing device is unitized and is easily attached to and detached from the image forming apparatus main body. In order to remove and transport the fixing device, a product has been proposed in which a fixing device casing is provided with a handle and can be held by hand.

  In the fixing device of Patent Document 1, a handle for locking the fixing device to the image forming apparatus main body is also used as a handle for holding the fixing device.

JP 2006-162997 A

In recent years, in image forming apparatuses classified as production printers, the speed of image forming operations has been increasing. As the speed increases, it is necessary to improve the fixability of the fixing device, so that the heat capacity of the fixing member is increasing. In addition, usable recording materials (hereinafter referred to as “paper”) are diversified, and the maximum size of the paper is also increased. For this reason, the fixing device has also been increased in size and weight.
Production printers are required not to generate downtime in order to exhibit their productivity.

  Further, production printers often handle the output products as commodities, and a high level of product status is required.

  In such a production printer, for the following reasons, an operation is performed in which a plurality of fixing devices are replaced and used for one image forming apparatus.

  When a fixing operation is performed on a sheet of a certain size by the fixing device, there is a case in which circumferential flaws are caused on the fixing member by edges (so-called edge portions) at both ends in a direction orthogonal to the sheet conveyance direction. . When a transfer material having a larger size is fixed with a fixing member having a circumferential scratch, the circumferential scratch is transferred to the image surface and may appear as a scratch on the image surface (so-called edge scratch). In order to prevent the occurrence of edge scratches, a plurality of fixing devices are prepared, and operations are performed in which the fixing devices are exchanged for each paper size.

  Another reason for operating multiple fixing devices is that they do not generate wrinkles when fixing to special paper such as envelopes. There is also a case.

  When a plurality of fixing devices are operated, the frequency of replacing the fixing devices is inevitably increased. However, since the fixing device of a production printer is large and heavy, it is difficult to lift and replace it easily like the fixing device described in Patent Document 1. Conventionally, replacement work (replacement) of a large and heavy fixing device has been performed only by specialized maintenance workers. However, the downtime caused by requesting replacement work from a specialized maintenance worker greatly reduces the operating rate of the image forming apparatus.

  In order not to cause downtime due to the replacement operation of the fixing device, it is required that the user of the image forming apparatus can easily replace the large and heavy fixing device in a short time.

  In order to solve this problem, an object of the present invention is to provide a grip device that can be easily transported even if the object to be transported is large and heavy.

  A typical configuration of the handle device according to the present invention for achieving the above-described object is a handle device for detachably mounting a transported object and lifting and transporting the transported object. It is attached to the handle member having a shape that can be gripped, and one end side and the other end side in the longitudinal direction of the handle member, and can be engaged with and held by the engaged member on the transported object side. Two support members, at least one of which is a movable support member attached so as to be movable along the length of the handle member, and restricting the position of the movable support member in the longitudinal direction of the handle member A locking member that engages with the locking member, and the moving support member engages with the engaged member on the side of the object to be transported. In the engaged part The position of the moving support member in the longitudinal direction of the handle member is restricted to a predetermined mounting position, and the moving support member is restricted to the predetermined mounting position in a predetermined direction. When the operating force in the direction different from the predetermined direction is applied to the lock member, the engagement of the lock member with the engaged portion is released.

  By using the handle device of the present invention, the object to be transported can be easily transported even if it is large and heavy.

1 is a configuration explanatory diagram of a grip device of Embodiment 1. FIG. It is explanatory drawing (the 1) of the attachment point with respect to the fixing device as a to-be-conveyed object. It is explanatory drawing (the 2) of the attachment point with respect to the fixing device as a to-be-conveyed object. It is explanatory drawing of the removal point. 1 is a longitudinal front view of an example of an image forming apparatus. FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of changing the fixing device. FIG. 6 is a configuration explanatory diagram of a handle device according to a second embodiment. It is explanatory drawing of the attachment point with respect to the fixing device as a to-be-conveyed object. It is explanatory drawing of the removal point. 1 is a schematic longitudinal sectional view of a fixing device to which a grip device of Example 1 is attached.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below, but this embodiment is an example of the best embodiment of the present invention, but the present invention is not limited to these embodiments.
Example 1
[Image forming apparatus]
FIG. 5 is a longitudinal front view of a schematic configuration of the image forming apparatus 1 in the present embodiment. The image forming apparatus 1 can operate based on image information input from an external terminal (host device) A such as a personal computer (PC) to the control circuit unit B to form a toner image on the recording material P. This is an intermediate transfer type, tandem color electrophotographic printer. Since this printer configuration is well-known, its description will be simplified.

  An image forming unit 2 in the apparatus main body 1A of the image forming apparatus 1 includes four image forming units U (Y, M, C, K) and an intermediate transfer belt unit 9. Each image forming unit U includes a photosensitive drum 3, a charger 4, a laser scanner 5, a developing device 6, a primary transfer charger 7, a drum cleaner 8, and the like. In order to avoid complication of the drawing, the reference numerals for these devices in the image forming units UM, UC, UK other than the image forming unit UY are omitted.

  Each image forming unit U forms yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K) toner images on the rotating photosensitive drum 3. Then, the toner images of the four colors are sequentially superposed on the endless intermediate transfer belt 10 that rotates from the photosensitive drum 3 of each image forming unit U in order to be primary-transferred, thereby being unfixed on the belt 10. A full-color toner image is formed.

  A recording material (transfer material, sheet: hereinafter referred to as paper) P is introduced at a predetermined control timing into a secondary transfer nip portion, which is a pressure contact portion between the belt 10 and the secondary transfer roller 13, and the belt The toner image on 10 is secondarily transferred to the paper P. The sheet P is separated and fed from the sheet feeding cassette 11A or 11B, and is introduced into the secondary transfer nip portion through the conveyance path a including the registration roller pair 12.

  The paper P exiting the secondary transfer nip is separated from the belt 10 and introduced into a fixing device (fixing unit: hereinafter referred to as a fixing device) 15 through a conveyance path b. The surface of the belt 10 after paper separation is cleaned by a belt cleaner 14 and repeatedly used for image formation.

  The paper P introduced into the fixing device 15 undergoes thermal fixing of the toner image. When in the single-sided printing mode, the paper P exiting the fixing unit 15 is guided to the paper discharge path c by the flapper 16 and discharged to the tray 17 as a full-color image formed product (product) of single-sided printing. .

  In the double-sided printing mode, the first-side printed paper P that has exited the fixing device 15 is guided to the reverse path d side by the flapper 16 and is fed back by the switchback conveying path e to pass through the double-sided conveying path f. Then, it enters the conveyance path a, and is reintroduced into the secondary transfer nip portion in a reverse state. As a result, a toner image is formed on the second side of the paper P. Thereafter, as in the single-sided printing mode, the paper P is transported through the fixing unit 15 and the paper discharge path c, and is discharged to the tray 17 as a full-color image formed product for double-sided printing.

  In the case of mono-color image formation, the image forming unit U necessary for forming the image performs an image forming operation, and the other image forming units do not perform the image forming operation only by the drum 3 rotating idly.

[Fixer]
The fixing device 15 in the image forming apparatus 1 of the present embodiment is a heat roller type image heating apparatus. The fixing device 15 is in contact with the surface of the paper P on which the toner image is formed, and a fixing roller 15A as a rotatable heating rotator that heats the toner image, and a rotatable adding roller 15A that forms a fixing nip. A pressure roller 15B as a pressure rotating body is provided. In addition, the image forming apparatus includes an external heating unit that heats the fixing roller 15A and the pressure roller 15B, a cleaning unit, an internal paper discharge unit (none of which is shown). Moreover, it has a housing (fixing device exterior) 15C for housing them.

  The paper P carrying the unfixed toner image conveyed from the image forming unit 2 side to the fixing device 15 enters the fixing device 15 through the entrance 15D of the housing 15C, enters the fixing nip, and is nipped and conveyed. As a result, the paper P is heated and pressurized, and the toner image is melted and thermally fixed to the paper P. The paper P exiting the fixing nip goes out of the fixing device 15 through the outlet 15E of the housing 15C.

[Replace the fixing unit]
The fixing device 15 is detachably mounted on the mounting portion C in the apparatus main body 1A, and can be replaced with another fixing device. In the image forming apparatus 1 of the present embodiment, the fixing device 15 is replaced (detached and replaced) in the following manner.

  In the image forming apparatus 1 of this embodiment, the front side of the apparatus is the front side in the direction perpendicular to the paper surface of FIG. The back side is the opposite side. An opening / closing door (not shown) that can open and close the opening D (FIG. 6) on the front side of the mounting portion C by an operator is disposed on the front side of the apparatus main body 1A.

  The mounting portion C is provided with a movable base (moving member: hereinafter referred to as a carriage) 1B on which the fixing device 15 can be placed. The carriage 1B is supported by a slide mechanism (not shown) such as an aclide slide rail. The carriage 1B passes through the opening D and passes between a predetermined inner position E (FIG. 5) inside the apparatus main body 1A and a predetermined outer position F (FIG. 6) outside the apparatus main body 1A. It is movable in the front-rear direction substantially horizontally with respect to the main body 1A. In FIG. 6, X indicates the moving direction of the carriage 1 </ b> B from the inner position E to the outer position F, and Y indicates the pushing movement direction from the outer position F to the inner position E.

  An inner position E of the carriage 1B is a position where the fixing device 15 placed on the carriage 1B is placed on the mounting portion C in the apparatus main body 1A. The outside position E of the carriage 1B is a position where the fixing device 15 can be attached to and detached from the carriage 1B outside the apparatus main body 1A.

  The carriage 1B is a horizontal plate-like member that is long in the front-rear direction of the apparatus main body 1A. The fixing device 15 has a longitudinal direction (rotational axis direction of the rollers 15A and 15B) with respect to a predetermined mounting position G on the carriage 1B, and a longitudinal direction on one end side (driving side). On the back side and the other end side (non-driving side) on the near side.

  In a state in which the carriage 1B on which the fixing device 15 is mounted is moved to the inner position E, and the opening / closing door is closed and the opening D is closed, the carriage 1B is on the apparatus main body 1A side. The movement is stopped by a locking operation of a locking mechanism (not shown). The fixing device 15 is pressed and fixed to the carriage 1B by a pressing operation (not shown) on the apparatus main body 1A side.

  In addition, a drive receiving unit and a power receiving unit (both not shown) disposed on one end side of the fixing device 15 are coupled to a drive transmission unit and a power feeding unit (none shown) on the apparatus main body 1A side. . In this state, the image forming apparatus 1 is ready for an image forming operation.

  When the fixing device 15 is replaced, the opening / closing door is opened to open the opening D. In conjunction with the opening and closing of the opening / closing door, the pressing mechanism for fixing and fixing the fixing device 15 is released. Further, the detent of the carriage 1B by the lock mechanism is also released. As a result, the carriage 1B can be pulled out from the inner position E to the outer position F.

  Therefore, the operator grasps the handle 1B-1 on the front side of the carriage facing the opening D which is opened when the open / close door is opened, and moves the carriage 1B from the inner position E to the outer position F. The carriage 1B is sufficiently pulled out to a predetermined outer position F until further pulling movement is restricted by a stopper (not shown). As a result, the entire fixing device 15 placed on the carriage 1B and mounted at the mounting position C of the apparatus main body 1A is exposed outside the front side of the apparatus main body 1A as shown in FIG.

  Therefore, the operator attaches a grip device 300 (FIG. 1), which will be described later, to the fixing device 15, and lifts and removes the fixing device 15 from the carriage 1B using the grip device. The operator also attaches the grip device 300 to the other fixing device 15 to be replaced, lifts the fixing device 15 using the grip device, and sets the fixing device 15 at a predetermined position G on the carriage 1B. Place. Once placed, the handle device is removed from the fixing device 15. Then, after the carriage 1B is sufficiently pushed and moved from the outer position F to the inner position E, the opening / closing door is closed and the opening D is closed.

  In conjunction with the closing of the open / close door, the carriage 1B is stopped by the locking operation of the locking mechanism. Further, the fixing device 15 can be positioned and fixed to the carriage 1B by the pressing operation of the pressing mechanism. In addition, the drive receiving unit and the power receiving unit on the fixing device 15 side are coupled to the drive transmission unit and the power feeding unit on the apparatus main body 1A side. In this state, the image forming apparatus 1 is ready for an image forming operation.

[Grip device]
In the present embodiment, grip members 103R and 103F are respectively provided on the upper portion of one end side and the other end side in the longitudinal direction of the casing 15C of the fixing device 15 so as to protrude outward. In this embodiment, the grip members 103R and 103F at both ends thereof are of the same size and the same shape, and the space in the apparatus main body 1A of the image forming apparatus 1 is limited and the size is limited. Although fingers of both hands can be hung on the grip members 103R and 103F, it is difficult to stably lift the high weight of the fixing device 15.

  For this reason, normally, the operation of lifting the fixing device 15 by holding the grip members 103R and 103F with both hands is not performed. When units such as the fixing roller 15A, the pressure roller 15B, the external heating unit, and the internal paper discharge unit are removed from the fixing device 15 to reduce the weight substantially to only the housing 15C, the handle members 103R and 103F It can be lifted and transported by holding the fingers of both hands. The handle device 300 (FIG. 1) described below enables an operator to easily and surely replace the fixing device 15 as a large-sized, heavy object to be transported.

  The handle device 300 is detachably attached to the fixing device 15. Then, it is attached to the fixing device 15, and the operator can lift and carry the fixing device 15 by holding the handle device 300 by hand. When the lifting and transport are finished, the grip device 300 is removed from the fixing device 15.

  1A is an external perspective view of the handle device 300 in the present embodiment, FIG. 1B is a partially enlarged view of FIG. 1A, FIG. 1C is a longitudinal sectional view, and FIGS. Dd line cross-sectional arrow view and ee line cross-sectional arrow view of FIG.

  The handle device 300 includes a handle member 301 having a shape that can be firmly held with both hands. The handle member 301 of the present embodiment is a straight rod member having rigidity, and uses a square pipe member having a rectangular cross section made of metal such as aluminum. At both ends of the handle member 301, one end side that can be engaged with and held by grip members 103R and 103F as engaged members on the one end side and the other end side of the fixing device 15 that is a transported object, and Support members 302 and 303 on the other end side are provided. For example, synthetic resin molded products can be used for the supporting members 302 and 303.

  At least one of the support members 302 and 303 is mounted on the handle member 301 so as to be slidable within a predetermined movable range in the longitudinal direction of the handle member. In this embodiment, the support member 302 at one end is fixed to the handle member 301 (hereinafter referred to as a fixed support member), and the support member 303 at the other end is slidable as described above. (Slide support member: hereinafter referred to as a moving support member).

  In the present embodiment, the movable range (slide movement range) of the movement support member 303 is a predetermined range by the first and second slide restriction portions 303b and 303c on the movement support member side and the stopper portion 301b on the handle member 301 side. Regulated by

  A lock member 304 is attached to the movable support member 303 on the upper surface side so as to be rotatable (swingable) in the vertical direction about a rotation shaft (rotation shaft) 304b on the base side. The lock member 304 extends in the direction from the base side supported by the rotating shaft 304b toward the fixed support member 302, and the distal end portion is bent downward and further bent inward to be a hooking claw portion (engagement portion) 304a. It is said that. Further, the lock member 304 has a spring receiving seat (spring force acting point) 304c that protrudes downward from the position of the rotation shaft 304b on the base side, and a knob portion 304d that protrudes upward.

  A hook member (engaged portion) 301 a to which the hooking claw portion 304 a can be engaged and disengaged is fixedly attached to the upper surface portion of the handle member 301 at a predetermined position near the moving support member. A spring 305 is contracted (compression spring: urging member) between a spring receiving seat 301 c fixed to the hollow portion of the handle member 301 and a spring receiving seat 304 c of the lock member 304.

  The locking member 304 is always urged to rotate (oscillate) in a predetermined direction in which the hooking claw 304 a is pressed against the upper surface of the handle member 301 by the compression reaction force of the spring 305. . Similarly, the moving support member 303 is always slid and biased in a predetermined direction (hereinafter referred to as a backward direction) J that increases the distance from the fixed support member 302 by the compression reaction force of the spring 305.

  The movable support member 303 is moved to a predetermined retracted position (non-attached position) M by the biasing force of the spring 305 in the free state of FIG. 1 when the engagement of the hooking claw 304a with the hook member 301a is released. . In other words, as shown in FIG. 1C, the movement support member 303 is restricted from further movement in the backward direction J because the first slide restricting portion 303b hits the stopper portion 301b on the handle member 301 side. It moves to the predetermined backward position M by the urging force of the spring 305.

  The fixed support member 302 is engaged with one of the handle members 103R and 103F on one end side and the other end side of the fixing device 15 on the inner surface portion of the portion protruding downward from the lower surface portion of the handle member 301. It has a joint part (concave part) 302a. Further, the moving support member 303 has an engaging portion (concave portion) 303 a that fits and engages with the other handle member on the inner surface portion of the portion protruding downward from the lower surface portion of the handle member 301.

  As described with reference to FIG. 6, when the fixing device 15 is lifted and removed from the carriage 1 </ b> B drawn to the outer position F, the grip device 300 is attached to the fixing device 15. The attachment procedure will be described with reference to FIGS.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2A, the handle device 300 disengages the hooking claw portion 304a of the lock member 304 from the hook member 301a and moves the movable support member 303 to the retracted position M. In this state, the distance W2 between the inner surface portion having the engaging portion 302a of the fixed support member 302 and the inner surface portion having the engaging portion 303a of the moving support member 303 is set between the one end side and the other end side of the fixing device 15. The distance between the tips W1 of the handle members 103R and 103F is also set to be large.

  In this state, the inner surface portion having the engaging portion 302a of the fixing support member 302 of the gripping device 300 is made to correspond to one of the grip members 103R and 103F on one end side and the other end side of the fixing device 15. In this example, it corresponds to the handle member 103R. Further, the inner surface portion having the engaging portion 303a of the moving support member 303 is made to correspond to the other handle member 103F. Here, since W2> W1, both the engaging portion 302a of the fixed support member 302 and the engaging portion 303a of the moving support member 303 are simultaneously engaged with the grip members 103R and 103F at both ends of the fixing device 15. It is impossible to do. Therefore, the fixing device 15 cannot be lifted ((a) of FIG. 2).

  Therefore, as shown in FIG. 2B, the engaging portion 302a of the fixed support member 302 is engaged with the corresponding handle member 103R. Even in this state, the handle member 103F corresponding to the engaging portion 303a of the moving support member 303 is not engaged.

  In the state shown in FIG. 2B, the distance between the movable support member 303 positioned at the retracted position M and the fixed support member 302 is increased against the urging force of the spring 305 as shown in FIG. It is pushed and moved in a narrowed predetermined direction (hereinafter referred to as a forward direction) K.

  As the moving support member 303 is pushed in in the forward direction K, the lock member 304 is also moved forward together with the moving support member 303 so that the hooking claw portion 304a at the tip is moved from the upper surface portion of the handle member 301 to the hook member 301a. Then ride on the slope 301d. As this rides, the lock member 304 rotates around the rotation shaft 304b in the clockwise direction of the arrow in FIG. 2C against the urging force of the spring 305. Further, as the movement support member 303 moves in the forward direction K, the engaging portion 303a starts to engage with the handle member 103F.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 3A, the moving support member 303 is sufficiently pushed in and moved in the forward direction K until the second slide restricting portion 303c hits the stopper portion 301b on the handle member 301 side and is received. Then, the hooking claw portion 304a at the tip of the lock member 304 gets over the hook member 301a. Since the lock member 304 is applied with a counterclockwise moment around the rotation shaft 304b by the biasing force of the spring 305, the lock member 304 rotates counterclockwise as indicated by an arrow. Further, the engaging portion 303a of the moving support member 303 is in a state of being fully fitted and engaged with the handle member 103F.

  The hooking claw 304 a at the tip of the lock member 304 that has passed over the hook member 301 a hits the upper surface of the handle member 301. In this state, the hand is released from the movement support member 303 (the operation force to be pushed in the forward direction K is removed). Then, when the movement support member 303 is slightly moved in the backward direction J by the biasing force of the spring 305 as shown in FIG. 3B, the hooking claw portion 304a of the lock member 304 is engaged with the hook member 301a.

  Thereby, the further backward movement of the movement support member 303 is regulated. Even if the moving support member 303 moves slightly in the backward direction J, the fitting engagement of the engaging portion 303a of the moving support member 303 with the handle member 103F is sufficiently maintained.

  The movement support member 303 is locked at a predetermined forward position (mounting position) N with respect to the handle member 301 by the engagement of the hooking claw portion 304a and the hook member 301a. That is, at a position where the movement support member 303 is engaged with the handle member 103F that is the engaged member of the fixing device 15, the hooking claw portion 304a of the lock member 304 is engaged with the hook member 301a that is the engaged portion. As a result, the position of the movement support member 303 in the longitudinal direction of the handle member 301 is restricted to the predetermined forward movement position N.

  The state shown in FIG. 3B is a state in which the handle device 300 is completely attached to the fixing device 15. In this state, the distance W3 between the inner surface portion having the engaging portion 302a of the fixed support member 302 and the inner surface portion having the engaging portion 303a of the moving support member 303 is the tip of the grip members 103R and 103F of the fixing device 15. The inter-distance W1 is also configured to be small.

  As a result, the grip members 103R and 103F at both ends of the fixing device 15 are held in a state where both the engaging portions 302a of the fixed support member 302 and the engaging portions 303a of the moving support member 303 are simultaneously engaged. The fixing device 15 can be lifted by the apparatus 300.

  That is, the engaging portion 302a of the fixed support member 302 and the engaging portion 303a of the moving support member 303 are engaged with the handle members 103R and 103F, which are engaged portions of the fixing device 15, respectively. The engaging portion 302a of the fixed support member 302 and the engaging portion 303a of the moving support member 303 are not only embedded under the handle members 103R and 103F, but also supported on both sides in the width direction (left and right direction) of the handle members 103R and 103F. The surface is also supported.

  In FIG. 6, W4 is the width dimension of the handle members 103R and 103F. In FIGS. 1D and 1E, W5 is the width dimension of the engaging portions 302a and 303a. W5 has a slightly larger dimensional relationship than W4. For this reason, in a state where the fixed support member 302 and the moving support member 303 are engaged with the handle members 103R and 103F, the force applied to the handle device 300 in any direction does not come off the fixing device 15.

  In this manner, the operator can hold the handle member 301 in a state where the handle device 300 is attached to the fixing device 15, thereby lifting and removing the fixing device 15 from the carriage 1 </ b> B drawn to the outer position F. it can. Here, the space for putting a finger between the handle member 301 and the top plate 15Ca of the housing 15C in order for the operator to hold the handle member 301 can be grasped without causing the finger to touch the top plate 15Ca. In this configuration, a sufficient space is formed.

  Then, the operator also attaches the grip device 300 to the other fixing device 15 to be replaced, and lifts the fixing device 15 using the attached grip device 300 so that the fixing device 15 is lifted with respect to a predetermined placement position G on the carriage 1B. Can be placed in a predetermined manner.

  In the fixing device 15 of this embodiment, the maximum size width of the paper P that can be passed is 13 inches (330.2 mm), and the longitudinal dimension of the fixing device 15 (the grips on one end side and the other end side of the fixing device 15). The distance W1) between the tips of the members 103R and 103F is 500 mm. The length of the grippable portion of the handle member 301 of the handle device 300 is about 450 mm. Therefore, with the handle device 300 attached to the fixing device 15, two workers can easily lift the fixing device 15 by holding the handle member 301 with both hands.

  In the state shown in FIG. 3B where the handle device 300 is attached to the fixing device 15, the hooking claw portion 304a at the tip of the lock member 304 overlaps and engages with the hook member 301a. For this reason, unless the movement support member 303 moves in the forward direction K, the engagement is not released. That is, unless the force against the urging force by the spring 305 is intentionally applied, the engagement between the handle device 300 and the fixing device 15 is not released. Even when the lock member 304 is unintentionally touched during transportation of the fixing device 15 to which the handle device 300 is attached, the lock is not released.

  Further, when the hooking claw portion 304a of the lock member 304 is released from the moving support member 303 in the state of FIG. 2C, for example, before the hook member 301a is engaged with the hook member 301a, the moving support member 303 is moved to the spring 305. It moves in the backward direction K by the urging force. That is, it returns to the retracted position M in FIG. At the retracted position M, both the fixed support member 302 and the movable support member 303 cannot simultaneously engage with the grip members 103R and 103F of the fixing device 15, and therefore the fixing device 15 cannot be lifted by the grip device 300. .

  That is, when both the fixed support member 302 and the moving support member 303 are not correctly engaged with the grip members 103R and 103F of the fixing device 15, the hooking claw portion 304a of the lock member 304 and the hook member 301a are not engaged. . Therefore, the grip device 300 is not attached to the fixing device 15. For this reason, the fixing device 15 is not lifted in a state in which the grip device 300 is not correctly mounted.

  After the handle device 300 is attached to the fixing device 15 as described above and the fixing device 15 is removed from the carriage 1B and transported, or after another fixing device 15 to be replaced is placed on the carriage 1B, the grip device is used. 300 is removed from the fixing device 15. The removal procedure will be described with reference to FIG.

  In the state where the handle device 300 is attached to the fixing device 15 as shown in FIG. 3B, the operator supports the movement in the locked state at the forward position N by the engagement of the hooking claw portion 304a and the hook member 301a. The member 303 is pushed and moved in the forward direction K against the urging force of the spring 305.

  That is, the movable support member 303 is sufficiently moved until the second slide restricting portion 303c hits the stopper portion 301b on the handle member 301 side and is received. Then, the hooking claw portion 304a at the tip of the lock member 304 comes out of the hook member 301a and does not overlap with the hook member 301a as shown in FIG. That is, the hooking claw portion 304a is not engaged with the hook member 301a.

  In this state, as shown in FIG. 4B, when the operation force indicated by the arrow Q is applied to the knob portion 304d of the lock member 304 against the urging force of the spring 305, the lock member 304 moves about the rotation shaft 304b. Rotate clockwise as indicated by the arrow. As a result, the hooking claw 304 a at the tip of the lock member 304 is lifted from the upper surface of the handle member 301 to a position higher than the hook member 301 a.

  That is, in a state where the movement support member 303 is regulated at the forward movement position N, an operating force in a predetermined direction K is applied to the movement support member 303. At the same time, when an operating force in a direction Q different from the predetermined direction K is applied to the lock member 304, the engagement of the lock member 304 with the hook member 301a which is the engaged portion of the hooking claw portion 304a is released.

  And the operation force which pushes the movement support member 303 to the advancing direction K is loosened, maintaining the operation force of arrow Q. Then, the moving support member 303 moves in the backward direction J by the urging force of the spring 305, and the first slide restricting portion 303b hits the stopper portion 301b on the handle member 301 side as shown in FIG. It moves to the predetermined retreat position M received and stops. The hooking claw 304a lifted from the upper surface of the handle member 301 passes over the hook member 301a without being caught by the hook member 301a.

  Further, when the moving support member 303 moves to the retracted position M, the engaging portion 303a of the moving support member 303 is sufficiently disengaged from the handle member 103F of the fixing device 15 to be in the disengaged state. Then, the operation force of the arrow Q with respect to the knob portion 304d of the lock member 304 is released. Then, the lock member 304 is urged by the compression reaction force of the spring 305 so that the hooking claw portion 304a is pressed against the upper surface portion of the handle member 301 about the rotation shaft 304b, and the handle device 300 is shown in FIG. (B) is reached.

  Therefore, the worker releases the engagement of the engagement portion 302a of the fixed support portion 302 with the handle member 103R. Thereby, as shown in FIG. 2A, the handle device 300 can be detached from the fixing device 15.

  Even when only the operation force indicated by the arrow Q is applied to the lock member 304 without applying the operation force in the forward direction K to the movement support member 303 in a state where the handle device 300 is attached to the fixing device 15, the lock member The engagement between 304 and the hook member 301a is not released.

  As described above, since the grip device 300 can be attached to and detached from the fixing device 15, a space in the image forming apparatus can be secured, and the grip device 300 is not overheated. Less waiting time. As long as the handle device 300 can be removed from the fixing device 15, the handle device 300 may be different from the embodiment.

  FIG. 10 is a schematic vertical sectional view of the fixing device 15 in a state where the grip device 300 is mounted. Only the fixing roller 15A and the pressure roller 15B are shown as internal devices of the casing 15C. W5 is the length dimension of the housing 15C, W6 is the length dimension of the fixing roller 15A and the pressure roller 15B, and the relational structure is W6> W5> W3> W1.

  That is, the grip device 300 holds the fixing device 15 at a position outside the ends of the fixing roller 15A and the pressure roller 15B. The fixing roller 15A has the most heat storage in the fixing device 15 and is not easily cooled. Since the support members 302 and 303 of the handle device 300 hold the longitudinal ends of the fixing device 15, the handle device 300 is hardly heated by the preheating of the fixing roller 15A (because the heat convection is directed upward).

  As long as the handle device 300 holds the end of the fixing device 15, the handle device 300 may have a different form from the embodiment. In the case where independent handle devices are attached to both ends in the longitudinal direction of the fixing device 15, each grip device is only a force that sandwiches the front and back of the grip members 103R and 103F on one end side and the other end side of the fixing device 15, respectively. Must support. Compared to this, the gripping device 300 of this embodiment has not only the front and back surfaces of the gripping members 103R and 103F but also the fixing device 15 sandwiched in the longitudinal direction (the shape of the gripping device 300 through the longitudinal direction of the fixing device 15). The fixing device can be securely and stably held.

Example 2
FIGS. 7A and 7B are configuration explanatory views of the handle device 300 according to the second embodiment. FIG. 7A is a longitudinal sectional view of the handle device 300, and FIG. is there.

  In contrast to the handle device 300 of the first embodiment, the handle device 300 of the second embodiment has no knob portion 304d of the lock member 304. Instead, an opening 303d is provided on the front surface side of the movement support member 303, and the outer surface side of the spring seat (spring force acting point) 304c of the lock member 304 is exposed to the opening 303d as a release button portion 304e. It is made the structure made to do. The other configuration of the handle device is the same as that of the handle device 300 of the first embodiment, so that common device components and portions are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted.

  FIG. 8 shows how to attach the gripping device 300 of the second embodiment to the fixing device 15. The attachment procedure is the same as that of the handle device 300 of the first embodiment. FIGS. 8A to 8D are respectively the same as (b), (c), and FIG. Since it corresponds to a) and (b), the description thereof will be omitted.

  FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating how the handle device 300 according to the second embodiment is detached from the fixing device 15. In the state where the handle device 300 is attached to the fixing device 15 as shown in FIG. 8D, the operator pushes the release button portion 304e of the lock member 304 with a finger to bias the moving support member 303 with the spring 305. Push it in the forward direction K against it.

  The moving support member 303 is sufficiently pushed and moved until the second slide restricting portion 303c hits the stopper portion 301b on the handle member 301 side and is received. Then, the hooking claw portion 304a at the tip of the lock member 304 comes out of the hook member 301a and does not overlap the hook member 301a. That is, the engagement of the hooking claw portion 304a with the hook member 301a is released.

  A clockwise rotation moment acts on the hook member 301a around the rotation shaft 304b by pressing the release button portion 304e against the urging force of the spring 305. Therefore, when the engagement of the hooking claw portion 304a with the hook member 301a is released, the hook member 301a rotates around the rotation shaft 304b in the clockwise direction as shown in FIG. 9A. As a result, the hooking claw 304 a at the tip of the lock member 304 is lifted from the upper surface of the handle member 301 to a position higher than the hook member 301 a.

  That is, in a state where the movement support member 303 is restricted to the forward movement position (mounting position) N, when the operating force in the predetermined direction K is applied to the lock member 304, the engagement portion of the hooking claw portion 304a of the lock member 304 is engaged. Engagement with a hook member 301a is released.

  From the state of FIG. 9A, the operation force for pushing the release button portion 304e in the forward direction K is loosened. Then, the moving support member 303 moves in the backward direction J by the urging force of the spring 305. The hooking claw 304a lifted from the upper surface of the handle member 301 passes over the hook member 301a without being caught by the hook member 301a.

  As shown in FIG. 9B, the movement support member 303 moved backward moves to a predetermined backward position M where the first slide restriction portion 303b hits the stopper portion 301b on the handle member 301 side and is received. Stop. The locking member 304 rotates in a direction in which the hooking claw 304 a is pressed against the upper surface of the handle member 301 around the rotation shaft 304 b by the compression reaction force of the spring 305. When the moving support member 303 moves to the retracted position M, the engagement of the engaging portion 303a with the handle member 103F is released.

  Therefore, the worker releases the engagement of the engagement portion 302a of the fixed support portion 302 with the handle member 103R. Thereby, the grip device 300 can be detached from the fixing device 15.

  As described above, according to the handle device 300 of the second embodiment, the lock of the handle device 300 attached to the fixing device 15 can be released by one-touch operation of pressing and releasing the release button portion 304e, and the replacement is efficiently performed. Work can be performed.

  In the first and second embodiments, the engaged members 103R and 103F on the fixing device 15 side are convex members, and the engaging portions 302a and 303a of the support members 302 and 303 on the handle device 300 side to be engaged with them are provided. Although it is a recess, it may be reversed. That is, the engaged members 103R and 103F may be concave portions and the engaging portions 302a and 303a may be convex portions.

  As described above, by using the handle device 300 of the first and second embodiments, the fixing device 15 can be easily and reliably replaced. Even when the fixing device 15 needs to be replaced, there is no need to request a replacement from a specialized maintenance worker, and the operator of the image forming apparatus 1 can replace the fixing device 15 at an arbitrary timing. It becomes possible. For this reason, it is possible to increase the operating rate of the image forming apparatus 1 and exhibit high productivity.

  300 .. Handle device, 15 .. Object to be transported (fixing device), 103 R,.. 103 F.. Engaged member, 301.. Handle member, 301 a. 304 .. Lock member

Claims (6)

A handle device for detachably attaching to a transported object and lifting and transporting the transported object,
A handle member having a shape that can be grasped by a hand;
The handle member is attached to one end side and the other end side in the longitudinal direction of the handle member, and is a support member that can be engaged with and held by an engaged member on the transported object side, at least one of which is a support member Two support members that are movable support members attached movably along the length of the handle member;
A lock member for limiting a position of the movable support member in the longitudinal direction of the handle member;
An engaged portion that engages with the lock member;
At a position where the moving support member engages with an engaged member on the side of the object to be transported, the lock member engages with the engaged portion and the position of the moving support member in the longitudinal direction of the handle member Is controlled at a predetermined mounting position and the movement support member is regulated at the predetermined mounting position, an operation force in a predetermined direction is applied to the movement support member and the lock member is different from the predetermined direction. The handle device according to claim 1, wherein when the operating force in the direction is applied, the engagement of the lock member with the engaged portion is released. And a biasing member for biasing the movement support member in a predetermined direction along the length of the handle member, and when the engagement of the lock member with the engaged portion is released, the movement support member handle device according to claim 1, characterized that you have moved to the non-mounting position can not be fitted the grip apparatus to the object to be transported article by the biasing force of the biasing member. The lock member is swingably attached to the moving support member, and the biasing member swings and biases the lock member in a predetermined direction, and moves the moving support member through the lock member. The handle device according to claim 2 , wherein the handle device is biased to move in a predetermined direction . The lock member is rotatably attached to the movable support member via a shaft, and has an engaging portion that engages with the engaged portion on one end side, and has a predetermined direction on the other end side. by applying the operating force, the handle device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in Rukoto engagement is released against the engaged portion of the locking member.   5. A fixing device mounted on an image forming apparatus, wherein the handle device according to claim 1 is detachably mounted and lifted and conveyed, and the two support members engage with each other. A fixing device comprising an engaged member. The engaged member fixing device according to claim 5, wherein the handle member der Rukoto for lifting the fixing device.