JP6777444B2 - Image forming device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus having a hinge mechanism that rotatably supports the unit .

Conventionally, an image forming apparatus such as a printer equipped with a copier or a scanner has been known. Some of these image forming devices include a scanner that reads an image of a document or the like arranged above the device, and an image forming unit that forms an image on a sheet below the device. Here, an in-body space is formed between the scanner and the image forming unit, and an discharge tray for discharging and loading the image-formed sheet is arranged in the in-body space to reduce the installation area of the image forming apparatus. Some are.

In the image forming apparatus having such an in-body space, an operation panel operated by the user is arranged so as not to interfere with the user taking out the sheet from the discharge tray in the body.

For example, in Patent Document 1, a strut portion that supports the right end of the scanner and a front upper end portion of the strut portion are attached so as to form an in-body discharge space that is open at least in front of the scanner. An image forming apparatus including an operation panel that rotates about an axis along the left-right direction is described on the lower end side of the operation surface. By arranging the operation panel so as to fit in the upper end of the front side of the support column portion in this way, the operation panel does not get in the way when the user takes out the seat from the discharge space in the body.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2013-38690

However, the image forming apparatus described in Patent Document 1 is a small panel having a two-stage configuration in which the operation surface of the operation panel is composed of an upper stage and a lower stage, and is provided separately by sliding the upper operation surface to the left side. However, when the operation panel becomes a large panel that covers at least a part of the exhaust space in the body in order to improve the visibility and operability of the operator, the operation panel is used as an image forming device. The support member for rotatably attaching the support member is also large. Therefore, when the seat is taken out from the discharge space in the body, the support member of the large operation panel becomes an obstacle, and the workability is deteriorated.

In view of the above-mentioned problems, it is an object of the present invention to provide an image forming apparatus in which a support means for rotatably supporting an operation panel does not hinder workability.

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the apparatus main body is an upper housing, a lower housing provided under the upper housing, and a support column portion connecting the upper housing and the lower housing. In the front-back direction and the orthogonal direction orthogonal to the vertical direction of the device main body, a support portion provided at an end portion of the upper housing and surrounding the upper housing and the lower housing to form a space is provided. In the image forming apparatus provided, a reading means provided in the upper housing and provided on the space to read an image of a document, and an image forming unit provided in the lower housing to form an image on a sheet. A loading means provided in the lower housing and under the space for loading a sheet on which an image is formed by the image forming portion, and an operation panel operated by an operator, which is a first stop position. It can rotate between the second stop position and the rotation center line provided on the front side of the space in the front-back direction and extending in the orthogonal direction, and overlaps with the space in the orthogonal direction. When it is located at the first stop position and the second stop position, the operation panel provided on the front side of the space in the front-back direction and the first operation panel attached to the device main body and supporting the operation panel. The operation panel is supported together with the first support means so that the support means and the operation panel attached to the device main body can rotate between the first stop position and the second stop position. a second support means for, in the perpendicular direction, relative to the first support means, the side where the strut is not provided, a second supporting means for supporting the operation panel, the The first support means includes a hinge mechanism provided with a torque generating means for generating a load torque when the operation panel rotates between the first stop position and the second stop position. The second support means does not have a means for generating a load torque when the operation panel rotates between the first stop position and the second stop position. To do.

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an image forming apparatus in which the supporting means for rotatably supporting the operation panel does not hinder workability.

It is a front sectional schematic diagram which shows the whole structure of the copying machine as an image forming apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a front perspective view of the image forming apparatus when the operation panel is tilted forward. It is a front perspective view of the image forming apparatus when the operation panel is tilted upward. It is the external perspective view of the operation part unit seen from the back side. It is an external perspective view which attached the operation part auxiliary plate to the front upper corner of the support part of an image forming apparatus. It is an external perspective view on the right side of the hinge unit. It is an exotropia view of the torque hinge mechanism on the right side of the hinge unit. It is an external perspective view of a torque hinge shaft. It is an external perspective view of a hinge support. It is external perspective view explaining the rotation stop by the right side of a rotation stop part. It is external perspective view explaining the rotation stop by the rotation stop part left. It is an external perspective view on the left side of the hinge unit.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

(Configuration of image forming apparatus)
FIG. 1 is a schematic front cross-sectional view showing the overall configuration of a copying machine as an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. The image forming apparatus may be a facsimile, a printer, or the like.

The copying machine 1 of the present embodiment is an in-body discharge type image forming apparatus in which a discharge tray 7 is arranged in a so-called in-body space 22. The upper surface of the body space 22 of the present embodiment is covered with an image reading device 6 as an image reading means such as an image scanner, and the body has a sheet loading surface of the discharge tray 7 on the lower surface and a discharge port 31 on the right side surface. A side wall of a housing (support portion 21 described later) that defines a part of the inner space 22 and a back side wall having an intake fan 9a and a blower fan 9b are arranged on the back side. Further, the left side and the front side of the body space 22 are opened to the outside of the copying machine 1 and communicate with each other, from which the user can take out a recording medium such as a recorded sheet from the discharge tray 7.

The copying machine 1 as the first unit includes a cassette 2 in which the sheet P is housed under the copying machine 1. The pickup roller 23 feeds the sheet P from the cassette 2. The transport roller pair 10 brings the tip of the sheet P fed from the cassette 2 into contact with the resist roller pair 32 that has stopped rotating to form a deflection in the sheet P and correct the skew of the sheet P. ..

On the other hand, the image reading device 6 reads a document (not shown) and transmits the image data to the laser unit 12. The laser unit 12 irradiates the photoconductor drum 11 as an image carrier with the laser beam L based on the image information. The image reading device 6 of the present embodiment is supported by a support portion 21 (see FIGS. 2 and 3) which is located on the right side side of the copying machine 1 and serves as a housing defining the right side of the body space 22. It constitutes the upper surface of the inner space 22. Further, inside the support portion 21, a transport path for the sheet P from the flag 19 to the discharge roller pair 5 is formed.

The photoconductor drum 11 is charged by a charger 25 as a charging means. An electrostatic latent image is formed on the surface of the photoconductor drum 11 by the laser beam L. This electrostatic latent image is toner-developed by a developer 13 as a developing means and visualized as a toner image.

The resist roller pair 32 feeds the sheet P between the photoconductor drum 11 and the transfer device 14 as a transfer means in accordance with the position of the toner image formed on the photoconductor drum 11. The transfer device 14 transfers the toner image of the photoconductor drum 11 to the sheet P to be fed.

In this way, the toner image is transferred to the sheet P by the image forming unit 3 as an image forming means composed of the image carrier, the charging means, the developing means, and the transferring means.

Next, the sheet P on which the toner image is transferred is fed to the fixing device 4 as the fixing means by the rotation of the transfer device 14 and the photoconductor drum 11. The fuser 4 fixes the toner image on the sheet P by heating and pressurizing the toner image transferred to the sheet P in collaboration with the heating roller 15 and the pressurizing roller 16.

The fixing device 4 and the above-mentioned image forming unit 3 form an image forming means for forming the image data read by the image reading device 6 as a toner image on the sheet P.

When the fixing discharge sensor 26 detects the sheet P, the discharge roller 17 and the discharge roller 18 of the discharge roller pair 5 rotate to discharge the sheet P from the discharge port 31 to the discharge tray 7. That is, the discharge roller pair 5 as the discharge means discharges the sheet P to which the toner image is fixed by being heated to the discharge tray 7 as the loading means and loads the sheet P. The discharge sensor 20 detects that the sheet P has been discharged to the discharge tray 7 by detecting the rotation of the flag 19 that rotates in contact with the sheet P to be conveyed.

The discharge tray 7 is an in-body discharge type discharge tray formed in the lower part of the in-body space 22 formed in the copying machine 1. Here, as described above, the body space 22 is configured such that the upper surface facing the discharge tray 7 is covered with an image reading device 6 or the like, and the sheet P on the discharge tray 7 is taken out from the front or the side. .. Further, the notch 71 (see FIG. 5) takes out the sheet P by taking out the sheet P while the user puts his / her hand in the notch 71 when taking out the sheet P discharged into the discharge tray 7. It is possible to improve the sex.

Further, on the side wall on the back side of the body space 22, an intake fan 9a for discharging the atmosphere (air) in the body space 22 from the body space 22 to the outside of the copying machine 1 and a body from the outside of the copying machine 1 A blower fan 9b that supplies air into the inner space 22 is arranged.

(Appearance of copier and operation panel)
FIG. 2 shows when the operation panel 80 is tilted forward (inclination angle 70 ° and a position covering at least a part of the in-body space 22), and FIG. 3 shows the operation panel tilted upward (tilt angle). It is a front perspective view of each copying machine at 0 ° (a position that does not cover the interior space 22).

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the operation panel 80 is rotatably attached to the copying machine 1. The operation panel 80 has a tilt-type panel structure that can be rotatably tilted and maintained within a range of an angle of 0 ° or more and 70 ° or less with respect to the horizontal direction by the user's operation. This is to ensure a certain level of visibility regardless of the installation location of the copier 1 or the height of the user.

(Operation panel configuration)
FIG. 4 is an external perspective view of the operation unit unit 8 as the second unit as viewed from the back surface side.

The operation unit 8 is attached to the back surface of the operation panel 80, the operation unit plate 81 attached to almost the entire back surface excluding the peripheral portion thereof, and the support portion 21 of the copying machine 1 as the first unit. It is composed of an operation unit auxiliary plate 82 as a support frame, a hinge unit right 83 as a torque hinge mechanism connecting the operation unit plate 81 and the operation unit auxiliary plate 82, and a hinge unit left 84 as a hinge mechanism.

The hinge unit right 83 as the first support means and the hinge unit left 84 as the second support means are attached to the operation unit plate 81, respectively. The configuration of these two hinge unit right 83 and hinge unit left 84 will be described in detail later.

(Structure of operation part auxiliary plate)
FIG. 5 is an external perspective view in which the operation unit auxiliary plate 82 is attached to the front upper corner of the support portion 21 of the copying machine 1, and the hinge unit right 83 and the hinge unit left 84 are attached to the operation unit auxiliary plate 82. Indicates the state of being.

The operation unit auxiliary plate 82 has an appearance in which two surfaces 82a and 82b are connected at an angle close to a right angle. The operation unit auxiliary plate 82 is attached to the support portion 21 so that the two surfaces 82a and 82b cover the upper front corner of the support portion 21 of the copying machine 1.

In the operation unit auxiliary plate 82, the hinge unit right 83 is arranged at the portion 82a1 facing the outer surface of the front surface of the support portion 21, and the hinge unit left 84 is arranged at the portion 82a2 covering at least a part of the front surface of the body space 22. Is arranged. The two hinge unit right 83 and hinge unit left 84 have the operation unit plate 81 attached to the back surface of the operation panel 80 within a predetermined angle range with respect to the operation unit auxiliary plate 82 (0 ° in this embodiment). It is possible to attach it to the operation unit auxiliary plate 82 so that it can rotate at 70 ° or less) and can stand still while maintaining a desired rotation angle within the angle range.

The lower end of the part 82a2 of the operation part auxiliary plate 82 where the hinge unit left 84 is arranged is in the direction toward the discharge tray 7 as compared with the lower end of the part 82a1 of the operation part auxiliary plate 82 where the hinge unit right 83 is arranged. The distance from the front corner of the support portion 21 is shortened so that the plate width of the support portion 21 is shortened, and the lower end side near the discharge tray 7 is chipped.

With this configuration, when the user puts his / her hand in the body space 22 from the front side and takes out the sheet P from the discharge tray 7, the operation unit auxiliary plate 82 can be made difficult to touch by the user's hand, and is provided in the discharge tray 7. Together with the cutout portion 71, a shape that does not hinder the removal of the sheet P from the discharge tray 7 is provided.

(Hinge unit right configuration)
FIG. 6 is an external perspective view of the hinge unit right 83 as the first support means. The hinge unit right 83 includes a hinge stay right 830, an operation unit arm right 833, a free stop hinge stay 831, a torque hinge shaft 832, and a hinge support 834.

The hinge stay right 830 is provided with a hole 830a for screwing the hinge unit right 83 to the operation portion plate 81. Further, the operation unit arm right 833 as a fixing portion is provided with a hole 833a for screwing the hinge unit right 83 to the operation unit auxiliary plate 82.

FIG. 7 is an external perspective view of the hinge unit right 83, which is a torque hinge mechanism. The torque hinge mechanism of FIG. 7 shows a configuration in which the hinge stay right 830, the operation unit arm right 833, and the hinge support 834 are removed from the hinge unit right 83, and includes a free stop hinge stay 831 and a torque hinge shaft 832. The configuration is shown.

The free stop hinge stay 831 includes a rotation stop portion right 831a and a rotation stop portion left 831b.

FIG. 8 is an external perspective view of the torque hinge shaft 832. The torque hinge shaft 832 has a configuration in which a metal portion 832b is coaxially press-fitted into the cylindrical portion of the resin portion 832a. Here, the outer diameter of the metal portion 832b is within a range in which the resin portion 832a and the metal portion 832b are relatively rotatable, but the relative positions of the two can be maintained when the external load is removed. It is slightly larger than the inner diameter of the inside of the cylinder of the portion 832a.

The metal portion 832b of the torque hinge shaft 832 is fixed to the free stop hinge stay 831 by being crimped to the side plate of the free stop hinge stay 831 provided with the rotation stop portion right 831a.

The other resin portion 832a is inserted into a hole in the side plate of the free stop hinge stay 831 provided with the rotation stop portion left 831b, and is not fixed to the free stop hinge stay 831. Therefore, the free stop hinge stay 831 and the resin portion 832a can rotate relatively freely.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the hinge support 834. The hinge support 834 has an engaging portion 834a for engaging with the notched protrusion 832c provided at the end of the resin portion 832a of the torque hinge shaft 832. Further, the hinge support 834 is provided with a hole 834b for screwing to the right 833 of the operation unit arm.

The resin portion 832a of the torque hinge shaft 832 is fixed to the operation unit arm right 833 via the hinge support 834 by screwing the hinge support 834 to the operation unit arm right 833.

With the above configuration, when the hinge stay right 830 rotates around the torque hinge shaft 832, it rotates integrally with the free stop hinge stay 831 and the metal portion 832b of the torque hinge shaft 832. Further, when the right 833 of the operation unit arm rotates around the torque hinge shaft 832, it rotates integrally with the resin portion 832a of the torque hinge shaft 832. At that time, as described above, since the outer diameter of the metal portion 832b is slightly larger than the inner diameter of the inside of the cylinder of the resin portion 832a within a predetermined range, the outer peripheral surface of the metal portion 832b and the resin portion 832a Friction occurs in the portion that is in pressure contact with the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion. Due to this friction, when one of the resin portion 832a and the metal portion 832b is rotated, a torque is generated to rotate the other in the same direction. By appropriately selecting the difference between the outer diameter and the inner diameter within a predetermined range as described above, the hinge stay right 830 and the operation unit arm right 833 can only rotate at a rotation angle intended by the user within a predetermined range. The structure is such that it can be rotated relatively and the rotation angle at that time can be maintained when the user releases the hand (when the load from the outside is removed).

FIG. 10 is an external perspective view illustrating the rotation stop by the rotation stop portion right 831a, and is a view of the hinge unit right 83 as viewed from the right side surface of the copying machine 1.

A stopper 82c is provided in the vicinity of the corner where the two surfaces 82a and 82b of the operation unit auxiliary plate 82 are connected at an angle close to a right angle.

Here, when the operation panel 80 is to be rotated further downward (direction A in FIG. 10) from the horizontal direction (state of the operation panel 80 in FIG. 3), the hinge stay right 830 attached to the operation panel 80 is used. The structure is such that the free stop hinge stay 831 that rotates together with the rotation stop portion right 831a hits the stopper 82c to prevent further rotation. In the present embodiment, the operation panel 80 is stopped at 0 ° so as not to rotate further downward than the horizontal 0 ° and take an angle at which the operation surface faces backward.

FIG. 11 is an external perspective view illustrating the rotation stop by the rotation stop portion left 831b, and is a view of the hinge unit right 83 viewed from diagonally right front of the copying machine 1.

Here, when the operation panel 80 is rotated (direction B in FIG. 11) so that the operation panel 80 faces forward (the state of the operation panel 80 in FIG. 2), the hinge stay right attached to the operation panel 80 is right. Since the rotation stop portion left 831b of the free stop hinge stay 831 that rotates together with the 830 hits the operation portion arm right 833, the structure is such that the rotation cannot exceed the angle at that time. In the present embodiment, the rotation stop portion left 831b is provided so that the operation panel 80 tilted so as to face forward from the horizontal does not rotate beyond 70 °.

In this way, in the hinge unit right 83, the operation panel 80 is moved forward from 0 ° (position where the operation panel 80 does not cover the in-body space 22) when the operation panel 80 is tilted horizontally with respect to the copying machine 1. It can be rotated to a state of being tilted to 70 ° (a position where the operation panel 80 covers at least a part of the body space 22) so as to face, and a tilted state of being tilted at an arbitrary angle within the rotatable range. It has a structure that can be maintained.

(Hinge unit left configuration)
FIG. 12 is an external perspective view of the hinge unit left 84 as the second supporting means. The hinge unit left 84 includes a hinge stay left 840, an operation unit arm left 843, a hinge shaft 842, and a hinge bearing stay 841. The hinge stay left 840 is provided with a hole 840a for screwing the hinge unit left 84 to the operation plate 81. Further, the operation unit arm left 843 as the fixing portion is provided with a hole 843a for screwing the hinge unit left 84 to the operation unit auxiliary plate 82.

Further, the hinge shaft 842 is coupled to a hole provided in the left 843 of the operation unit arm and is supported by the hinge bearing stay 841 so as to be freely rotatable.

With the above configuration, the operation panel 80 is integrated with the hinge stay left 840 screwed to the operation portion plate 81 and the hinge bearing stay 841 screwed to the hinge stay left 840, and the rotational torque with respect to the hinge shaft 842. It has a structure that allows free rotation without generating. As a result, the hinge shaft 842 supports the operation panel 80 in a free-rotating manner together with the operation unit arm left 843 screwed to the operation unit auxiliary plate attached to the copying machine 1.

(Relationship between the two hinge units and the in-body discharge tray)
When the operation panel 80, which is a part of the operation means, is pressed by the user's switch pressing operation, the operation unit plate 81 is deformed by receiving the pressing pressure, which may affect the operability of the operation panel 80. Conceivable. Therefore, the hinge unit right 83 as the two first support means and the hinge unit left 84 as the second support means that support the operation panel 80 and the operation part plate 81 with respect to the operation part auxiliary plate 82 as the intermediate member. The optimum arrangement is selected in consideration of the material and structure of the operation unit plate 81 and the operation unit auxiliary plate 82.

In the present embodiment, the arrangement interval between the two hinge unit right 83 and the hinge unit left 84 is increased. Then, the strength of the entire operation unit 8 is increased by increasing the operation unit auxiliary plate 82 as an intermediate member supporting the two hinge units right 83 and the hinge unit left 84 according to the arrangement interval of the two hinge units. Is increasing.

Further, when the operation panel 80 is rotated, a load torque is generated on the torque hinge shaft 832. The load torque generated at this time applies a force to the joint portion between the operation unit arm right 833 and the operation unit auxiliary plate 82. On the other hand, at the joint between the operation unit arm left 843 and the operation unit auxiliary plate 82, no torque is generated on the hinge shaft 842, so that the force caused by this torque is not transmitted to the operation unit auxiliary plate 82 as an intermediate member. Therefore, the area of the joint surface between the operation unit auxiliary plate 82 and the operation unit arm left 843 can be made smaller than the area of the joint surface between the operation unit auxiliary plate 82 and the operation unit arm right 833. Further, by making the joint surface on the left 843 side of the operation unit arm smaller than the joint surface on the right 833 side of the operation unit arm, the area of the portion 82a2 of the operation unit auxiliary plate 82 required to support the hinge unit left 84 is reduced. can do.

As a result, the lower end of the portion 82a2 of the operation unit auxiliary plate 82 as an intermediate member on which the hinge unit left 84 as the second support means is arranged is the operation unit auxiliary plate 82 on which the hinge unit right 83 is arranged. The distance from the front corner of the support portion 21 can be shortened as compared with the lower end of the portion 82a1. That is, the plate width in the direction toward the discharge tray 7 at this portion can be shortened. With this configuration, when the user puts his / her hand in the body space 22 from the front side and takes out the sheet P from the discharge tray 7 as the loading means, the operation unit auxiliary plate 82 as an intermediate member and the user's hand are hard to touch. This makes it possible to improve the ease of taking out the sheet P from the discharge tray 7.

1 ... Copier (first unit)
6 ... Image reader 7 ... Discharge tray 8 ... Operation unit (second unit)
21 ・ ・ ・ Support part 22 ・ ・ ・ Body space 80 ・ ・ ・ Operation panel 81 ・ ・ ・ Operation part plate 82 ・ ・ ・ Operation part auxiliary plate 83 ・ ・ ・ Hinge unit right 84 ・ ・ ・ Hinge unit left 830 ・・ ・ Hinge stay right 831 ・ ・ ・ Free stop Hinge stay 831a ・ ・ ・ Rotation stop right 831b ・ ・ ・ Rotation stop left 832 ・ ・ ・ Torque hinge shaft 832a ・ ・ ・ Resin part 832b ・ ・ ・ Metal part 833 ・ ・・ Operation arm right 834 ・ ・ ・ Hinge support 840 ・ ・ ・ Hinge stay left 841 ・ ・ ・ Hinge bearing stay 842 ・ ・ ・ Hinge shaft 843 ・ ・ ・ Operation arm left

Claims (3)

The device main body is a support portion connecting the upper housing, the lower housing provided under the upper housing, and the upper housing and the lower housing, and is in the front-back direction and up and down of the device main body. In an image forming apparatus including a support portion provided at an end portion of the upper housing and forming a space by surrounding the upper housing and the lower housing in an orthogonal direction orthogonal to the direction.
A reading means provided in the upper housing and above the space to read an image of a document,
An image forming portion provided in the lower housing and forming an image on the sheet,
A loading means provided in the lower housing and under the space for loading a sheet on which an image is formed by the image forming portion.
An operation panel operated by an operator that rotates between a first stop position and a second stop position with respect to a rotation center line provided on the front side of the space in the front-back direction and extending in the orthogonal direction. Movable,
When the space overlaps with the space in the orthogonal direction and is located at the first stop position and the second stop position, the operation panel provided on the front side of the space in the front-back direction and
A first support means attached to the device body and supporting the operation panel, and a first support means attached to the device body so that the operation panel can rotate between the first stop position and the second stop position. A second support means that supports the operation panel together with the first support means, and the side in which the support column portion is not provided with respect to the first support means in the orthogonal direction. A hinge mechanism including a second support means for supporting the operation panel, and
Have,
The first support means has a torque generating means for generating a load torque when the operation panel rotates between the first stop position and the second stop position, and the second support means. Is an image forming apparatus, characterized in that the operation panel does not have a means for generating a load torque when rotating between the first stop position and the second stop position. The first support means includes a first fixing portion that is fixed to the device body.
The second support means includes a second fixing portion that is fixed to the device body.
The area of the contact surface where the first fixing portion is in contact with the device main body is larger than the area of the contact surface where the second fixing portion is in contact with the device main body.
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1. When the operation panel is located at the first stop position, the operation panel covers at least a part of the space, and when the operation panel is located at the second stop position, the operation panel is The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the space is not covered.

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