JP7002018B2 - Housing structure, electronic equipment and image forming equipment - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a housing structure, an electronic device and an image forming apparatus.

The electrophotographic image forming apparatus is provided with an exterior cover that covers each apparatus for forming an image arranged inside the housing and spatially partitions the inside and the outside. As an image forming apparatus of this type, Patent Document 1 describes a configuration in which an opening / closing cover that rotates about a rotation axis with respect to a housing body is provided as an exterior cover. It is said that this exterior cover can suppress the transmission of sound from the inside to the outside of the housing and suppress the occurrence of sound leakage.

However, in the configuration including the opening / closing cover as in the image forming apparatus described in Patent Document 1, the edge portion of the opening / closing cover on the side where the rotation axis is provided and the adjacent cover having the edge portion adjacent to the edge portion are provided. It is common to provide a gap between them. Sound leakage may occur from this gap.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention comprises an opening / closing cover that rotates about a rotation axis with a cover member that spatially partitions the inside and the outside of the housing, and the opening / closing cover that rotates together with the opening / closing cover. Instead, the opening / closing cover is provided with a non-rotating portion having an edge portion on the side of the rotating shaft and an adjacent edge portion, and the edge portion on the side of the rotating shaft of the opening / closing cover and the non-rotating portion. In the housing structure that forms a gap between the opening and closing cover and the non-rotating portion , one of the opening / closing cover and the non-rotating portion is provided with a protrusion, and the other is formed so as to surround the tip of the protrusion. When the opening / closing cover is in the closed state, the gap is formed between the tip end portion and the inner surface of the recess so as to extend from the inside to the outside of the housing, and the protrusion in the opening / closing cover. The portion or the portion forming the recess is formed in the opening / closing cover so as to protrude from the exterior surface of the opening / closing cover toward the inside of the housing structure, and the opening / closing cover is opened in the protruding portion from the closed state. It is characterized by providing a rib that does not come into contact with the concave portion when moving to the state .

According to the present invention, the housing structure provided with the opening / closing cover has an excellent effect of suppressing sound leakage.

The cross-sectional explanatory view of the exterior opening / closing cover and the exterior non-rotating cover which concerns on embodiment. Schematic front view of the copying machine according to the embodiment. The schematic perspective view of the copying machine which concerns on embodiment. An enlarged explanatory view of the exterior opening / closing cover as seen from the right side in FIG. 2 of the image forming portion of the copying machine with the exterior opening / closing cover closed. An enlarged perspective view of the vicinity of the lower right part of the exterior opening / closing cover in FIG. The cross-sectional explanatory view which shows the rotation locus of the exterior opening / closing cover when opening the exterior opening / closing cover. The cross-sectional explanatory view in the BB cross section in FIG. An explanatory view of the exterior opening / closing cover according to the first modification, (a) is a cross-sectional explanatory view of the exterior opening / closing cover and the exterior non-rotating cover, and (b) is a cross-sectional explanatory view of the CC cross section in (a). .. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional explanatory view showing a rotation locus of the exterior opening / closing cover when the exterior opening / closing cover of Modification 1 is opened. The perspective explanatory view of the exterior opening / closing cover and the exterior non-rotating cover which concerns on modification 1. FIG. A partially enlarged view in FIG. 10, (a) is an enlarged view of the region “α”, and (b) is an enlarged view of the region “β”. An enlarged perspective view of the vicinity of the rotating shaft protrusion of the exterior opening / closing cover of the modified example 1. The cross-sectional explanatory view of the exterior opening / closing cover and the exterior non-rotating cover which concerns on modification 2. FIG. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional explanatory view showing a rotation locus of the exterior opening / closing cover when the exterior opening / closing cover of Modification 2 is opened. The cross-sectional explanatory view of the exterior opening / closing cover and the exterior non-rotating cover which concerns on modification 3. FIG. A cross-sectional explanatory view of an exterior opening / closing cover and an exterior non-rotating cover according to a reference example.

Hereinafter, an image forming apparatus to which the present invention is applied will be described.
FIG. 2 is a schematic front view of the copying machine 1 which is an image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment.
As shown in FIG. 2, the copying machine 1 is a tandem type color copying machine. Further, the copying machine 1 includes an automatic document transporting device (hereinafter referred to as ADF) 10 and a device main body 11. Further, the apparatus main body 11 is composed of an image forming unit 5 for forming an image on paper as a recording medium, a feeding unit 3 for feeding paper to the image forming unit 5, and an image reading unit 4.

The ADF 10 includes a document tray 20, a document paper feed roller 21, a document transfer belt 22, a document output roller 23, and a document output tray 24. The ADF 10 is attached to the image reading unit 4 so as to be openable and closable. The image reading unit 4 includes a reading housing 40, a scanning optical unit 41, and a contact glass 42. The contact glass 42 is provided on the upper part of the reading housing 40 of the image reading unit 4, and constitutes the upper surface portion of the reading housing 40.

The paper feed unit 3 includes a paper feed cassette 30 and a paper feed device 31. The three paper cassettes 30 accommodate paper as a recording medium having different paper sizes. The paper feed device 31 conveys the paper stored in the paper feed cassette 30 to the main transport path 70 of the image forming unit 5.
On the side surface of the image forming unit 5, an exterior opening / closing cover 6 that functions as a manual feed tray by rotating the copying machine 1 with a rotation axis is arranged so as to be openable / closable with respect to the image forming unit 5. There is. With the exterior opening / closing cover 6 open, the top paper in the bundle of paper manually inserted on the upper surface thereof is sent out toward the main transport path 70 by the delivery roller.
A resist roller pair 70a is arranged in the main transport path 70, and the resist roller pair 70a sandwiches the paper transported in the main transport path 70 between the rollers and then performs a secondary transfer at a predetermined timing. Send toward the nip.

The image forming unit 5 includes an exposure unit 51, a tandem image forming unit 50, an intermediate transfer belt 44, an intermediate transfer roller 55, a secondary transfer device 52, a fixing unit 53, a main transfer path 70, an inverted transfer path 73, and paper ejection. It has a road 60 and the like.
As shown in FIG. 2, the exposure unit 51 is arranged adjacent to the tandem image forming unit 50. Each of the four photoconductors 74 corresponding to each color is exposed.
The tandem image forming unit 50 is on the intermediate transfer belt 44, and is composed of four image forming units 75 of yellow, cyan, magenta, and black along the rotation direction of the intermediate transfer belt 44. Each image forming unit 75 is provided with a charging device, a developing device, a photoconductor cleaning device, a static elimination device, etc. around the photoconductor 74, constitutes a process cartridge that integrally supports the photoconductor 74, and is detachable from the device main body 11. It has become.

In the tandem image forming unit 50, a toner image is formed by color-coding each photoconductor 74 based on the image information read by the image reading unit 4 and color-separated. Further, the toner image formed on each of the photoconductors 74 is transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 44.
On the other hand, a secondary transfer device 52 is provided on the opposite side of the tandem image forming unit 50 with the intermediate transfer belt 44 interposed therebetween. The secondary transfer device 52 has a secondary transfer roller 521 which is a transfer member, and the secondary transfer roller 521 is pressed against the intermediate transfer belt 44 to form a secondary transfer nip. In this secondary transfer nip, the toner image transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 44 is transferred to the paper conveyed from the paper feed unit 3.

The paper on which the toner image is transferred by the secondary transfer nip is fed to the fixing unit 53 by the paper transport belt 56 stretched on the two support rollers 57.
The fixing unit 53 is configured by pressing a pressure roller 59 against a fixing belt 58 which is an endless belt. In the fixing unit 53, heat and pressure are applied to the paper by the pressure roller 59 to melt the toner of the toner image transferred to the paper and fix it on the paper.
The paper on which the toner image is fixed is stacked on the output tray 61 outside the machine via the output path 60 as the output transfer path.

As shown in FIG. 2, an inverting transfer path 73 is provided below the secondary transfer device 52 and the fixing unit 53. In order to form an image on both sides of the paper, the reverse transfer path 73 reverses the front and back of the sheet discharged from the fixing unit 53 and supplies the sheet to the secondary transfer device 52 again via the main transfer path 70. Is for.

FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view of the copying machine 1.
As shown by the arrow "D" in FIG. 3, the exterior opening / closing cover 6 rotates around the rotation shaft 6a to open a part of the exterior on the right side surface of the copying machine 1, and the arrow "D". It is configured to close the open part by rotating in the opposite direction.
Further, as shown by the arrow "F" in FIG. 3, the paper feed unit opening / closing cover 35 rotates around the vertical rotation shaft 35a to cover the exterior of the right side surface of the paper feed unit 3 of the copying machine 1. A part is opened and the opened part is closed by rotating in the direction opposite to the arrow "F".

FIG. 4 is an enlarged explanatory view of the exterior opening / closing cover 6 when the image forming portion 5 of the copying machine 1 in a state where the exterior opening / closing cover 6 is closed is viewed from the right side in FIG. FIG. 5 is an enlarged perspective view of the vicinity of the lower right portion of the exterior opening / closing cover 6 in FIG.
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional explanatory view of an exterior opening / closing cover 6 and an exterior non-rotating cover (right side upper cover 2 and right side lower cover 7) in a cross section taken along the line AA in FIG.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional explanatory view showing a rotation locus of the exterior opening / closing cover 6 when the exterior opening / closing cover 6 is opened from the state shown in FIG. The closed exterior opening / closing cover 6 shown by the solid line in FIG. 6 rotates around the rotation shaft 6a in the direction of the arrow D in FIG. The cover 6 can be displaced. In the copying machine 1 of the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6, the rotation angle when the exterior opening / closing cover 6 rotates from the closed state to the open state is 90 [°], but the rotation angle is not limited to this.

As shown in FIGS. 1, 3 and 4, the exterior of the right side surface of the image forming unit 5 is composed of three exterior covers of the right side surface upper cover 2, the right side surface lower cover 7, and the exterior opening / closing cover 6. Has been done.
As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, near the left and right lower portions of the exterior opening / closing cover 6, a columnar rotating shaft protrusion 6d protruding outward from the left and right edges of the exterior opening / closing cover 6 is provided. The exterior opening / closing cover 6 is attached to the right side lower cover 7 so that the rotating shaft protrusion 6d enters the rotating shaft engaging hole 7b provided in the right side lower cover 7. As a result, as shown in FIG. 6, the exterior opening / closing cover 6 can rotate with respect to the right side upper cover 2 and the right side lower cover 7.
Further, the virtual line that is the center line of the cylindrical rotation shaft protrusion 6d is the rotation shaft 6a of the exterior opening / closing cover 6.

By closing the exterior opening / closing cover 6 with respect to the main body of the copying machine 1 to obtain the state shown in FIG. 1, the inside and the outside of the copying machine 1 are spatially partitioned by the exterior opening / closing cover 6. In FIG. 1, the left side of the exterior opening / closing cover 6 is the inside of the copying machine 1, and the right side is the outside of the copying machine 1.
In the present embodiment, the right side upper cover 2 and the right side lower cover 7 form an adjacent cover adjacent to the exterior opening / closing cover 6. Further, the right side upper cover 2 and the right side lower cover 7 are non-rotating covers that do not rotate together with the exterior opening / closing cover 6, and the right side lower cover 7 rotatably supports the exterior opening / closing cover 6. Make up the body.

In the copying machine 1, various sounds such as a driving sound of a drive motor that transmits rotational driving to various rollers, a moving sound of moving members such as various rollers, and a rotating sound of a polygon mirror of a scanning optical unit 41 are generated. Such a sound may be transmitted to the outside of the copying machine 1 and become a noise that causes discomfort to people in the vicinity. The exterior covers such as the right side upper cover 2, the right side lower cover 7, and the exterior opening / closing cover 6 that spatially partition the outside and the inside of the copying machine suppress the sound generated inside from being transmitted to the outside. The generation of noise can be suppressed.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, there is a gap (hereinafter, "tip") between the edge of the closed exterior opening / closing cover 6 on the tip end side (upper side in FIGS. 1 and 4) and the right side upper cover 2. A side gap 12 ”) is formed. Further, as shown in FIG. 4, a gap (hereinafter referred to as “side end gap 18”) is formed between the edges of both ends of the exterior opening / closing cover 6 in the lateral direction and the lower cover 7 on the right side surface. Further, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, between the edge of the support end side (lower side in FIGS. 1 and 4) on the rotation shaft 6a side of the exterior opening / closing cover 6 and the right side lower cover 7. Also, a gap (hereinafter referred to as "support end side gap 17") is formed.

A gap is provided between the edges of the four sides of the exterior opening / closing cover 6, both ends in the lateral direction, and the support end side, and the right side upper cover 2 and the right side lower cover 7, which are adjacent covers. This makes it possible to prevent the right side upper cover 2 and the right side lower cover 7 from interfering with each other when the exterior opening / closing cover 6 is opened / closed.
However, since the tip side gap 12, the side end gap 18, and the support end side gap 17 have a gap that communicates the inside and the outside of the copying machine 1 with the exterior cover sandwiched between them, the sound generated inside the copying machine 1 is produced. There is a risk of leakage to the outside through these gaps.

Further, in a housing structure having an opening / closing cover that can rotate with respect to the main body around the rotating shaft, such as the exterior opening / closing cover 6, the edge portion of the opening / closing cover on the side where the rotating shaft is provided and the edge portion thereof. It is necessary to provide a gap between the and the adjacent cover having the adjacent edge.
This is due to the following reasons.

That is, it is conceivable that the opening / closing cover is closed and the edge portion of the opening / closing cover on the rotation shaft side is brought into contact with the adjacent cover so that no gap is provided. However, the open / close cover and the adjacent cover are thick. Therefore, even if the opening / closing cover is to be rotated with the end surface of the opening / closing cover on the rotation shaft side in contact with the adjacent cover, the adjacent cover will be located on the rotation locus of the end surface. As a result, the opening / closing cover cannot be opened / closed, or the edge portion of the opening / closing cover on the rotation shaft side and the edge portion of the adjacent cover come into contact with each other and are easily damaged. Further, considering the component tolerance, the assembly tolerance, and the operability at the time of opening and closing, a configuration without a gap is not realistic.

Therefore, it is necessary to provide a gap between the edge portion of the opening / closing cover on the rotation shaft side and the adjacent cover adjacent to the edge portion.
However, the sound generated inside the housing structure passing through this gap may leak to the outside and become noise.
On the other hand, in the copying machine 1 of the present embodiment, the gap is formed between the edge portion of the exterior opening / closing cover 6 as the opening / closing cover on the support end side and the right side lower cover 7 which is the adjacent cover. The support end side gap 17 has a labyrinth shape having a plurality of detour portions. Therefore, the sound generated inside the copying machine 1 and passing through the support end side gap 17 and going to the outside cannot be emitted to the outside of the copying machine 1 unless it is diffracted a plurality of times.
As a result, sound leakage can be suppressed by forming a gap between the edge portion on the support end side of the exterior opening / closing cover 6 and the lower right surface cover 7.

As shown in FIG. 1, the exterior opening / closing cover 6 includes an opening / closing cover support end side protrusion 6b protruding toward the inside of the copying machine 1 at the edge portion on the support end side. Further, the right side lower cover 7 includes a lower cover protrusion 7a extending upward from the opening lower end surface 7c facing the edge portion on the support end side of the exterior opening / closing cover 6. When the exterior opening / closing cover 6 is in the closed state, the opening / closing cover support end side protrusion 6b is configured to enter the inside of the recess formed by the lower end surface 7c of the opening and the surface of the lower cover protrusion 7a. Then, the lower end surface 7c of the opening and the surface of the lower cover protrusion 7a face each other so as to surround the tip of the opening / closing cover support end side protrusion 6b without contacting the surface of the opening / closing cover support end side protrusion 6b. By doing so, the support end side gap 17 is formed.
With such a configuration, the path from the inside of the copying machine 1 formed by the support end side gap 17 to the outside through the support end side gap 17 has a shape having a plurality of bent portions.

Among the sounds traveling as indicated by the arrow "a" in FIG. 1, the first portion between the tip surface of the lower cover protrusion 7a in the support end side gap 17 and the inner wall surface of the exterior opening / closing cover 6. At the diffraction port 17a, the diffracted sound proceeds as indicated by the arrow “b”.
Further, among the sounds traveling as indicated by the arrow "b", between the surface adjacent to the tip surface of the lower cover protrusion 7a in the support end side gap 17 and the tip of the opening / closing cover support end side protrusion 6b. At the second diffraction port 17b, which is a portion, the diffracted sound proceeds as indicated by the arrow “c”.
Further, among the sounds traveling as indicated by the arrow “c”, the front end surface of the opening / closing cover support end side protrusion 6b in the support end side gap 17 and the surface of the lower cover protrusion 7a facing the tip surface. At the third diffraction port 17c, which is a portion in between, the diffracted sound proceeds as indicated by the arrow “d”.
As described above, the sound insulation effect can be exhibited by making the structure so that the sound generated inside the copying machine 1 does not leak to the outside of the copying machine 1 unless it is diffracted a plurality of times in the gap 17 on the support end side. ..

Further, as shown in FIG. 1, the exterior opening / closing cover 6 is provided with an opening / closing cover tip side protrusion 6c protruding toward the inside of the copying machine 1 at the edge portion on the tip side. Further, the right side upper cover 2 includes an upper cover protrusion 2a extending downward from the opening upper end surface 2c facing the edge on the tip end side of the exterior opening / closing cover 6.
When the exterior opening / closing cover 6 is in the closed state, the opening / closing cover tip side protrusion 6c is configured to enter the inside of the recess formed by the opening upper end surface 2c and the surface of the upper cover protrusion 2a. Then, in the closed state, the upper end surface 2c of the opening and the surface of the upper cover protrusion 2a face each other so as to surround the opening / closing cover tip side protrusion 6c without contacting the surface of the opening / closing cover tip side protrusion 6c. By doing so, the tip side gap 12 is formed. Like the support end side gap 17, the tip side gap 12 also has a labyrinth shape having a plurality of detour portions, and can exhibit a sound insulation effect.

Further, the side end gap 18 is also made into a labyrinth shape so that a gap is provided between the edges of all four sides of the exterior opening / closing cover 6 and the adjacent cover (right side upper cover 2 and right side lower cover 7). It is possible to suppress the sound generated inside the device from leaking to the outside.

FIG. 16 is an explanatory view of a reference example in which the support end side gap 17 between the exterior opening / closing cover 6 and the right side lower cover 7 has a labyrinth shape, and the exterior opening / closing cover 6 cannot be opened / closed. be.
As described above, the sound generated in the copying machine 1 may be transmitted to the outside of the copying machine 1 through the gap between the exterior covers, resulting in sound leakage. In particular, an opening / closing cover such as the exterior opening / closing cover 6 tends to have a gap at the boundary with another exterior cover. Sound leakage can be suppressed by forming a labyrinth structure in the gap between the exterior covers.

The opening / closing cover may have a labyrinth structure with the gap between the opening and closing cover and the other exterior covers on the three edges other than the edge on the rotation axis side among the four edges that are the boundaries with the other exterior covers. It's relatively easy. However, when the tip of the open / close cover is rotated toward the outside of the device around the rotation shaft to open the open / close cover, the edge of the open / close cover on the rotation shaft side sandwiches the rotation shaft. Since it is located on the opposite side of the tip of the open / close cover, it rotates toward the inside of the device. At this time, the portion forming the labyrinth shape of the edge portion on the rotation shaft side of the opening / closing cover may interfere with the portion forming the labyrinth shape on the main body side, so that the opening / closing cover cannot be opened / closed. ..

In the reference example shown in FIG. 16, when the exterior opening / closing cover 6 is rotated around the rotation shaft 6a toward the outside of the copying machine 1 as shown by the arrow “D” in FIG. 16 and is to be opened. The protrusion 6b on the support end side of the opening / closing cover rotates toward the inside of the copying machine 1 as indicated by the arrow “D'” in FIG. However, in the configuration of the reference example shown in FIG. 16, the labyrinth shape on the main body side is on the rotation locus of the opening / closing cover support end side protrusion 6b, which is a portion forming the labyrinth shape of the edge portion on the support end side of the exterior opening / closing cover 6. The lower cover protrusion 7a, which is a portion forming the above, is located. Therefore, the opening / closing cover support end side protrusion 6b and the lower cover protrusion 7a interfere with each other, and the exterior opening / closing cover 6 cannot be displaced to the open position shown by the alternate long and short dash line in FIG.

On the other hand, in the copying machine 1 of the present embodiment, the rotation shaft 6a of the exterior opening / closing cover 6 is located inside the labyrinth shape. Specifically, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 6, when viewed from a direction parallel to the rotation shaft 6a, the inside of the recess formed by the lower end surface 7c of the opening and the lower cover protrusion 7a is rotated. The structure is such that the moving shaft 6a is located. By arranging the rotation shaft 6a inside the recess, the exterior opening / closing cover 6 is centered on the rotation shaft 6a for the opening / closing cover support end side protrusion 6b that is located inside the recess and forms a labyrinth shape in the closed state. It is possible to reduce the turning radius when turning to.

As shown in FIG. 6, when the exterior opening / closing cover 6 is rotated and opened toward the outside of the copying machine 1 as shown by the arrow “D” in FIG. 6 around the rotation shaft 6a, the opening / closing cover 6 is opened. The support end side protrusion 6b rotates about the rotation shaft 6a in the direction indicated by the arrow “E” in FIG. Since the turning radius of the opening / closing cover support end side protrusion 6b is small, the opening / closing cover support end side protrusion 6b can rotate in the recess without interfering with the lower cover protrusion 7a, and the support end side gap 17 can be rotated. It is possible to realize a configuration that forms a labyrinth shape.
Therefore, sound leakage can be suppressed while ensuring a gap (gap 17 on the support end side) required for rotation of the exterior opening / closing cover 6.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional explanatory view of the BB cross section in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 1, the opening / closing cover support end side protrusion 6b projects in a direction orthogonal to the opening / closing cover exterior surface 6f of the exterior opening / closing cover 6. Further, the lower end surface 7c of the opening and the surface of the lower cover protrusion 7a face each other so as to surround three sides of the tip end portion of the opening / closing cover support end side protrusion 6b. Therefore, in the cross section parallel to the open / close cover exterior surface 6f shown in FIG. 7, the open / close cover support end side protrusion 6b, the right side lower cover 7 forming the concave shape surrounding the open / close cover support end side protrusion 6b, and the lower cover protrusion 7a are formed. It has an arranged configuration. As a result, the support end side gap 17 has a labyrinth shape having a plurality of detour portions.

[Modification 1]
Next, a first modification of the copying machine 1 according to the present embodiment (hereinafter, referred to as “modification example 1”) will be described.
FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram of the exterior opening / closing cover 6 of the copying machine 1 according to the modified example 1. FIG. 8A is a cross-sectional explanatory view of the exterior opening / closing cover 6 and the exterior non-rotating cover (right side upper cover 2 and right side lower cover 7) in a cross section corresponding to the AA cross section in FIG. 8 (b) is an explanatory cross-sectional view taken along the line CC in FIG. 8 (a).

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional explanatory view showing a rotation locus of the exterior opening / closing cover 6 when the exterior opening / closing cover 6 is opened from the state shown in FIG. 8A. The closed exterior opening / closing cover 6 shown by the solid line in FIG. 9 rotates around the rotation shaft 6a in the direction of the arrow D in FIG. The cover 6 can be displaced. As shown in FIG. 9, the copying machine 1 of the modified example 1 has a configuration in which the rotation angle when the exterior opening / closing cover 6 rotates from the closed state to the open state is larger than 90 [°].

FIG. 10 is a perspective explanatory view of the exterior opening / closing cover 6 and the exterior non-rotating cover (right side upper cover 2 and right side lower cover 7) of the copying machine 1 according to the modified example 1. FIG. 10 is a partial step view in which the exterior opening / closing cover 6 is cut in the middle of the Y-axis direction. 11 is a partially enlarged view in FIG. 10, FIG. 11 (a) is an enlarged view of the region “α” in FIG. 10, and FIG. 11 (b) is a region “β” in FIG. It is an enlarged view of.
FIG. 12 is an enlarged perspective view of the vicinity of the rotating shaft protrusion 6d at the lower right in FIG. 10 of the exterior opening / closing cover 6 of the modified example 1.

The rotation shaft 6a of the exterior opening / closing cover 6 in the copying machine 1 of the modification 1 is arranged inside the recess as in the configuration shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 8, the exterior opening / closing cover 6 of the modified example 1 is configured to include a plurality of opening / closing cover support end side protrusions 6b.

If there is only one protrusion 6b on the support end side of the open / close cover, the following problems may occur. That is, when an attempt is made to narrow the gap between the tip surface of the opening / closing cover support end side protrusion 6b and the lateral surface of the portion extending above and below the lower cover protrusion 7a facing the front end surface, the opening / closing from the rotation shaft 6a is performed. The length to the tip of the cover support end side protrusion 6b becomes long. In such a case, in order to suppress the interference between the tip of the opening / closing cover support end side protrusion 6b and the lower cover protrusion 7a during rotation, the upper surface and the lower cover protrusion of the opening / closing cover support end side protrusion 6b in the closed state. It is necessary to secure a wide gap between the upper portion of the portion 7a and the lower surface of the portion extending in the horizontal direction. If this gap is widened, the effect of suppressing sound leakage due to the labyrinth shape is reduced.

On the other hand, in the modified example 1, a plurality of open / close cover support end side protrusions 6b are provided, and in the configurations shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, three open / close cover support end side protrusions 6b are provided. FIG. 8 (FIG. 8): The opening / closing cover support end side protrusion 6b located in the center of the three arranged in the vertical direction in the closed state is directed toward the lateral surface of the vertically extending portion of the lower cover protrusion 7a. a) By forming the shape so as to protrude to the left in the inside, the gap between the lower cover protrusion 7a and the surface is narrowed. Further, since the rotation shaft 6a is located at the base of the opening / closing cover support end side protrusion 6b, even if the shape protrudes to the left in FIG. 8A toward the surface of the lower cover protrusion 7a. The turning radius of the tip of the opening / closing cover support end side protrusion 6b can be reduced.

Further, the opening / closing cover support end side protrusion 6b located above the three arranged in the vertical direction has a small protrusion amount to the left in FIG. 8A, but the upper surface and the lower cover protrusion thereof. The gap between the upper part of 7a and the lower surface of the horizontally extending portion is narrowed. Further, the opening / closing cover support end side protrusion 6b located below among the three arranged in the vertical direction has a small protrusion amount to the left in FIG. 8A, but its lower surface and the lower end surface of the opening 7c. The gap with is narrowed.
With such a shape, the gap between the three inner surfaces of the recess and the opening / closing cover support end side protrusion 6b can be narrowed, and the opening / closing cover support end side protrusion 6b can rotate inside the recess. It is possible to improve the effect of suppressing sound leakage while maintaining the above. Further, by providing a plurality of open / close cover support end side protrusions 6b, the distance between the support end side gaps 17 and the members forming the recesses can be increased without making one open / close cover support end side protrusions 6b thick. It will be possible to adjust.

Further, a protrusion reinforcing rib 6e is provided as a shape for connecting the plurality of opening / closing cover support end side protrusions 6b to each other. By providing the protrusion reinforcing ribs 6e at a plurality of positions orthogonal to FIG. 8A (Y-axis direction), the strength and the shielding property are improved, and the width of the support end side gap 17 is optimized. ing.

Further, as shown in FIG. 8A, the copying machine 1 of the modified example 1 is provided with an opening / closing cover inclined portion 6g inclined with respect to the opening / closing cover exterior surface 6f at the lower end of the exterior opening / closing cover 6 in the closed state. Further, a lower cover inclined portion 7d inclined with respect to the lower cover exterior surface 7f of the right side lower cover 7 is provided at a portion facing the opening / closing cover inclined portion 6g of the right side lower cover 7. By providing the opening / closing cover inclined portion 6g and the lower cover inclined portion 7d, the range of angles at which the exterior opening / closing cover 6 can be rotated without interfering with the lower end of the exterior opening / closing cover 6 and the right side lower cover 7 is 90 [°]. Can be made larger than.
As a result, it is possible to improve the operability and visibility of the inside of the exterior opening / closing cover 6 when it is opened.

The larger the angle of the rotation range of the exterior opening / closing cover 6, the wider the gap between the edge portion on the support end side of the exterior opening / closing cover 6 and the lower cover 7 on the right side surface, and the sound tends to leak easily. On the other hand, in the modified example 1, by providing the opening / closing cover inclined portion 6g and the lower cover inclined portion 7d, the vicinity of the outer end portion of the exterior cover in the support end side gap 17 is the inner side (FIG. 8 (FIG. 8). The taper becomes narrower toward the left side of a). As a result, the angle of the rotation range of the exterior opening / closing cover 6 is made larger than 90 [°] while narrowing the gap at the position where the edge portion on the support end side of the exterior opening / closing cover 6 and the opening lower end surface 7c are closest to each other. It becomes possible. Therefore, it is possible to maintain the performance of suppressing sound leakage while increasing the angle of the rotation range of the exterior opening / closing cover 6.

[Modification 2]
Next, a second modification of the copying machine 1 according to the present embodiment (hereinafter referred to as “modification 2”) will be described.
FIG. 13 is a cross section corresponding to the AA cross section in FIG. 4 of the exterior opening / closing cover 6 and the exterior non-rotating cover (right side upper cover 2 and right side lower cover 7) of the copying machine 1 according to the modification 2. It is a cross-sectional explanatory view in. FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional explanatory view showing a rotation locus of the exterior opening / closing cover 6 when the exterior opening / closing cover 6 is opened from the state shown in FIG. The closed exterior opening / closing cover 6 shown by the solid line in FIG. 9 rotates around the rotation shaft 6a in the direction of the arrow D in FIG. The cover 6 can be displaced.

The copying machine 1 of the second modification has a concave shape that surrounds the tip of the lower cover protrusion 7a in the vicinity of the edge of the exterior opening / closing cover 6 on the support end side, and the rotation shaft 6a is inside the concave portion. It is a positioned configuration. In the copying machine 1 of the second modification, a labyrinth-shaped support end side gap 17 is formed between the concave portion formed near the edge portion on the support end side of the exterior opening / closing cover 6 and the lower cover protrusion 7a. Even with such a configuration of Modification 2, sound leakage can be suppressed while ensuring a gap required for rotation of the exterior opening / closing cover 6 as in the configuration of the above-described embodiment.

[Modification 3]
Next, a third modification of the copying machine 1 according to the present embodiment (hereinafter referred to as “modification 3”) will be described.
FIG. 15 is a cross section corresponding to the AA cross section in FIG. 4 of the exterior opening / closing cover 6 and the exterior non-rotating cover (right side upper cover 2 and right side lower cover 7) of the copying machine 1 according to the modified example 3. It is a cross-sectional explanatory view in. FIG. 15 shows the rotation locus of the exterior opening / closing cover 6 when the exterior opening / closing cover 6 is opened from the closed state.

As shown in FIG. 15, the copying machine 1 of the modified example 3 includes an inner cover 8 as an interior member covered by the exterior opening / closing cover 6 in a state where the exterior opening / closing cover 6 is closed. The inner cover 8 is fixed to the frame of the main body of the copying machine 1 together with the right side upper cover 2 and the right side lower cover 7, and is a part of the adjacent cover. Then, the opening / closing cover support end side protrusion 6b is not in contact with the surface, but is opposed so as to surround the tip of the opening / closing cover support end side protrusion 6b so as to form a recessed portion 17 forming a support end side gap 17. The inner cover 8 is partially responsible.
Even in the copying machine 1 of the modification 3, the support end side gap 17 has a labyrinth shape, and sound leakage can be suppressed while ensuring a gap required for rotation of the exterior opening / closing cover 6.

In the above-described embodiment and each modification, a vertically open type exterior opening / closing cover 6 that opens / closes in the vertical direction around a rotating shaft 6a extending in the horizontal direction has been described.
The above-mentioned configuration in which the support end side gap 17 has a labyrinth shape and the configuration in which the tip side gap 12 and the side end gap 18 have a labyrinth shape open and close laterally around a vertical rotation shaft 35a extending in the vertical direction. It can also be applied to the side-opening type paper feed section opening / closing cover 35 (see FIG. 3).

The support end side gap 17 of the copying machine 1 of the above-described embodiment and each modification is provided with a plurality of detours in an air path that can linearly connect the inside and the outside of the exterior cover, and the path is repeated a plurality of times. It is a shape that makes a detour. In this way, by detouring the gas path multiple times, the sound generated inside the copying machine 1 and passing through the support end side gap 17 which is the gas path and going to the outside is not diffracted multiple times. And cannot go out of the copying machine 1. Then, the sound can be attenuated by diffracting it a plurality of times, and sound leakage can be suppressed.

In the above-described embodiment and each modification, a detour portion having a shape that detours the air path is formed by bending the cover member at a right angle. The shape of the cover member forming the detour portion may be a continuously curved shape.

In the above-described embodiment and each modification, a labyrinth-shaped support end side gap 17 is formed between the exterior opening / closing cover 6 which is an opening / closing cover and the right side lower cover 7 or the inner cover which is a fixed exterior cover. Is. The member forming the labyrinth-shaped support end side gap 17 is not limited to the exterior cover and the inner cover, and a part of the main body frame of the copying machine 1 may form a part of the support end side gap 17. In this case, the main body frame functions as an adjacent cover.

Further, the opening / closing cover that forms a gap on the support end side of the opening / closing cover is not limited to the member that forms the exterior of the copying machine 1 like the exterior opening / closing cover 6. It may be a member that opens and closes with an interior cover (also referred to as an "inner cover") that is exposed by removing another exterior cover or is exposed by opening an openable and closable exterior cover.
Further, the opening / closing cover that forms a gap on the support end side of the opening / closing cover is not limited to the exterior cover and the interior cover of the image forming apparatus, but is a device arranged inside the image forming apparatus such as the scanning optical unit 41 and the driving device. It may be a cover member of the housing structure of.

In the present embodiment, the case where the housing structure including the opening / closing cover is the housing of the image forming apparatus has been described. However, the same configuration can be applied to electronic devices other than image forming devices as long as the configuration includes a sound source unit that generates sound during operation and an opening / closing cover that spatially partitions the inside and the outside where the sound source unit is arranged. It is possible.
Further, not limited to electronic devices, a configuration in which a labyrinth shape is formed in a gap on the support end side of an opening / closing cover is applicable to a housing structure that is required to suppress sound leakage from the inside to the outside.

Further, as a configuration for forming a labyrinth shape in the gap on the rotation shaft side of the opening / closing cover, one of the opening / closing cover and the adjacent cover is provided with a protrusion, and the other is provided with a recess for forming a gap so as to surround the protrusion. It is not limited to the configuration. A labyrinth shape may be formed in the gap on the rotation shaft side of the opening / closing cover so that the opening / closing cover and the adjacent cover do not interfere with each other during the opening / closing operation of the opening / closing cover.

What has been described above is an example, and has a unique effect in each of the following aspects.

(Aspect A)
A plurality of cover members such as a right side upper cover 2, a right side lower cover 7, and an exterior opening / closing cover 6 that spatially partition the inside and the outside of the housing are provided. The opening / closing cover is provided with an opening / closing cover such as an exterior opening / closing cover 6 that rotates around the center, and an adjacent cover such as a right side lower cover 7 having an edge adjacent to the side edge of the rotating shaft of the opening / closing cover. In the housing structure such as the exterior of the copying machine 1 that forms a gap such as a support end side gap 17 between the edge portion on the side of the rotating shaft and the edge portion of the adjacent cover, one of the opening / closing cover and the adjacent cover. Is provided with a protrusion such as an opening / closing cover support end side protrusion 6b, and a recess (opening lower end surface 7c and lower cover protrusion 7a) that forms a gap such as a support end side gap 17 so as to surround the tip of the protrusion on the other side. It has a concave shape formed by the surface of the surface, etc.).
According to this, as described in the above embodiment, the gap is formed so as to surround the tip of the protruding portion by the concave portion, so that the gap has a shape having a plurality of detour portions. As a result, the sound generated inside the housing, passing through the detours at a plurality of places in the gap, and going to the outside is diffracted a plurality of times. Since the sound becomes small when diffracted a plurality of times, it is possible to suppress sound leakage from the gap even in the configuration provided with the gap. Therefore, in the aspect A, the sound leakage can be suppressed by the housing structure provided with the opening / closing cover.
The detour portion is a bent portion or a curved portion provided in a path that can be connected linearly, and is a portion that makes a detour rather than connecting the path through which sound is transmitted linearly. In the above-described embodiment, the configuration has a plurality of bent portions in which the path bends at a right angle, but a configuration may include a plurality of curved portions in which the path changes its direction in a curved shape.

(Aspect B)
In the aspect A, the rotation shaft such as the rotation shaft 6a is located inside the recess (the shape of the recess formed by the lower end surface 7c of the opening and the surface of the lower cover protrusion 7a).
According to this, as described in the above embodiment, the turning radius of the protruding portion such as the opening / closing cover support end side protrusion 6b can be reduced, and the protruding portion is formed in the concave portion of the right side lower cover 7 or the like. A configuration that rotates without interfering with the member forming the concave portion can be realized. As a result, it is possible to realize a configuration in which the opening / closing cover such as the exterior opening / closing cover 6 can be rotated while forming a shape having a plurality of detour portions in the gap such as the support end side gap 17.

(Aspect C)
In aspects A or B, at least a part of the adjacent cover is an exterior cover such as a right side lower cover 7 that spatially partitions the inside and the outside of the housing.
According to this, as described above, it is possible to realize a configuration for suppressing sound leakage in a housing structure including an opening / closing cover such as an exterior opening / closing cover 6.

(Aspect D)
In any of the embodiments A to C, at least a part of the adjacent cover is an interior member such as an inner cover 8 covered with the opening / closing cover when the opening / closing cover such as the exterior opening / closing cover 6 is closed.
According to this, as described in the above-mentioned modification 3, it is possible to realize a configuration for suppressing sound leakage in a housing structure including an opening / closing cover such as an exterior opening / closing cover 6.

(Aspect E)
In any of the embodiments A to D, the protrusion such as the opening / closing cover support end side protrusion 6b is formed in a virtual plane (BB cross section or the like) parallel to the surface of the opening / closing cover such as the exterior opening / closing cover 6. A recess (a portion forming the opening lower end surface 7c of the right side lower cover 7 and a lower cover protrusion 7a, etc.) is located.
According to this, as described in the above-described embodiment, it is possible to realize a configuration having a plurality of detour portions in the gap such as the support end side gap 17.

(Aspect F)
In any of the embodiments A to E, the protruding portion such as the opening / closing cover support end side protrusion 6b surrounded by the concave portion (the concave shape formed by the lower end surface 7c of the opening and the surface of the lower cover protrusion 7a) is formed. There are multiple.
According to this, as described in the above-mentioned modification 1, it is possible to adjust the space between the gaps such as the support end side gap 17 formed between the protrusions and the recesses without making the protrusions thicker. Become.

(Aspect G)
In the F aspect, the protrusions such as the plurality of opening / closing cover support end side protrusions 6b are provided with protrusions having different protrusion amounts from each other.
According to this, as described in the above-mentioned modification 1, the amount of protrusion of each protrusion with respect to the rotation shaft such as the rotation shaft 6a is set so that the protrusion does not interfere with the member forming the recess during rotation. It becomes possible to adjust.

(Aspect H)
In the aspect F or G, the protrusions such as the protrusion reinforcing ribs 6e for connecting the protrusions such as the plurality of opening / closing cover support end side protrusions 6b are provided.
According to this, as described in the above-mentioned modification 1, it is possible to improve the strength of the opening / closing cover such as the exterior opening / closing cover 6 and the shielding property by the opening / closing cover.

(Aspect I)
A plurality of cover members such as a right side upper cover 2, a right side lower cover 7, and an exterior opening / closing cover 6 that spatially partition the inside and the outside of the housing are provided. The opening / closing cover is provided with an opening / closing cover such as an exterior opening / closing cover 6 that rotates around the center, and an adjacent cover such as a right side lower cover 7 having an edge adjacent to the side edge of the rotating shaft of the opening / closing cover. In the housing structure such as the exterior of the copying machine 1 that forms a gap such as a support end side gap 17 between the edge portion on the side of the rotating shaft and the edge portion of the adjacent cover, the gap from the inside of the housing. The route that passes through and goes to the outside has a plurality of detours.
According to this, as described with respect to the above-described embodiment, the sound that passes through the detour portions at the plurality of points in the gap and tries to go to the outside is diffracted a plurality of times. Since the sound becomes small when diffracted a plurality of times, it is possible to suppress sound leakage from the gap even in the configuration provided with the gap. Therefore, in the aspect A, the sound leakage can be suppressed by the housing structure provided with the opening / closing cover.

(Aspect J)
In any of the embodiments A to I, the rotation angle of the opening / closing cover such as the exterior opening / closing cover 6 is 90 [°] or more.
According to this, as described in the above-mentioned modification 1, the operability of the opening / closing operation of the exterior opening / closing cover 6 can be improved, and the operability and visibility of the inside when the opening / closing cover is opened can be improved.

(Aspect K)
In any of the embodiments A to J, the vicinity of the outer end portion of the housing such as the exterior cover in the gap such as the support end side gap 17 is tapered toward the inner side.
According to this, as described in the above-mentioned modification 1, it is possible to maintain the performance of suppressing sound leakage while increasing the angle of the rotation range of the opening / closing cover.

(Aspect L)
In any of the embodiments A to K, the non-rotating shaft side edge portion which is an edge portion other than the rotating shaft side edge portion such as the rotating shaft 6a in the opening / closing cover such as the exterior opening / closing cover 6 and the right side. Non-rotating shaft side gap such as tip side gap 12 and side end gap 18 as a gap between the edge portion adjacent to the non-rotating shaft side edge portion in the adjacent cover such as the surface upper cover 2 and the right side lower surface cover 7. The path from the inside of the housing to the outside through the non-rotating shaft side gap has a plurality of detour portions.
According to this, as described in the above-described embodiment, by providing the non-rotating shaft side gap, it is possible to prevent the adjacent covers from interfering with each other when opening and closing the opening / closing cover. Further, the sound that passes through the plurality of detours in the non-rotating shaft side gap and tries to go to the outside is diffracted a plurality of times. Since the sound becomes small when diffracted a plurality of times, it is possible to prevent the sound generated inside the device from leaking to the outside through the gap on the non-rotating shaft side. In the above-described embodiment, the exterior opening / closing cover 6 is provided with protruding portions on the edges of three sides other than the edge portion on the support end side. Then, a non-rotating shaft side gap is formed in the right side upper cover 2 and the right side lower cover 7 that form a non-rotating shaft side gap between the edges of these three sides so as to surround the tip of the protruding portion. It is configured to have a recessed portion. As a result, the gaps at the edges of the entire circumference of the exterior opening / closing cover 6 have a plurality of detour portions, and it is possible to suppress the sound generated inside the device from leaking to the outside.

(Aspect M)
In any of the embodiments A to L, the opening / closing cover such as the paper feed section opening / closing cover 35 opens and closes laterally with the rotation shaft such as the vertical rotation shaft 35a extending in the vertical direction. For example, as described above, the side-opening open / close cover can realize a configuration for suppressing sound leakage.

(Aspect N)
In any of the embodiments A to L, the opening / closing cover such as the exterior opening / closing cover 6 opens and closes vertically with the rotating shaft such as the rotating shaft 6a extending in the horizontal direction.
According to this, as described above, it is possible to realize a configuration for suppressing sound leakage with a vertically opening opening / closing cover.

(Aspect O)
In an electronic device such as a copying machine 1 provided with a sound source device such as a drive motor or a scanning optical unit 41 that generates sound during operation and a housing such as an exterior cover that covers the sound source device, the housings A to N are used. The housing structure according to any one of the above is used.
According to this, as described above, it is possible to suppress the sound generated during the operation of the electronic device provided with the opening / closing cover such as the exterior opening / closing cover 6 from leaking to the outside.

(Aspect P)
An image forming apparatus such as a copying machine 1 includes a configuration of an electronic device according to aspect O.
According to this, as described above, it is possible to suppress the sound generated at the time of image formation of the image forming apparatus including the opening / closing cover such as the exterior opening / closing cover 6 from leaking to the outside.

1 Copying machine 2 Right side upper cover 2a Upper cover protrusion 2c Opening upper end surface 3 Paper feeding part 4 Image reading part 5 Image forming part 6 Exterior opening / closing cover 6a Rotating shaft 6b Opening / closing cover Support end side protrusion 6c Opening / closing cover tip side Protrusion 6d Rotating shaft Protrusion 6e Reinforcing rib 6f Opening / closing cover Exterior surface 6g Opening / closing cover Inclined part 7 Right side Lower cover 7a Lower cover Protrusion 7b Rotating shaft engaging hole 7c Opening lower end surface 7d Lower cover inclined portion 7f Bottom cover Exterior surface 8 Inner cover 11 Device body 12 Tip side gap 17 Support end side gap 17a First diffractive port 17b Second diffractive port 17c Third diffractive port 18 Side end gap 20 Document tray 21 Document paper feed roller 22 Document transport belt 23 Original paper ejection roller 24 Original paper ejection tray 30 Paper feed cassette 31 Paper feed device 35 Paper feed unit opening / closing cover 35a Vertical rotation shaft 40 Reading housing 41 Scanning optical unit 42 Contact glass 44 Intermediate transfer belt 50 Tandem image forming unit 51 Exposure unit 52 Secondary transfer device 53 Fusing unit 55 Intermediate transfer roller 56 Paper transfer belt 57 Support roller 58 Fusing belt 59 Pressurized roller 60 Paper discharge path 61 Paper discharge tray 70 Main transfer path 70a Resist roller pair 73 Inverted transfer path 74 Photosensitivity Body 75 Image 521 Secondary transfer roller

JP-A-2015-181157A

Claims (4)

An open / close cover that rotates around a rotation axis with a cover member that spatially partitions the inside and outside of the housing,
It is provided with a non-rotating portion that does not rotate together with the opening / closing cover and has an edge portion on the side of the rotating shaft of the opening / closing cover and an adjacent edge portion.
In the housing structure that forms a gap between the edge portion of the opening / closing cover on the side of the rotating shaft and the edge portion of the non-rotating portion.
One of the opening / closing cover and the non-rotating portion is provided with a protrusion, and the other is provided with a recess for forming the gap so as to surround the tip of the protrusion .
When the opening / closing cover is in the closed state, the gap extending from the inside to the outside of the housing is formed between the tip portion and the inner surface of the recess, and the protruding portion or the recess in the opening / closing cover is formed. The portion to be formed is formed on the opening / closing cover so as to protrude from the exterior surface of the opening / closing cover toward the inside of the housing structure.
A housing structure characterized in that the protruding portion is provided with a rib that does not come into contact with the concave portion when the opening / closing cover moves from the closed state to the open state . In the housing structure of claim 1,
The rib is a housing structure provided in a plurality of protrusions along the direction of the rotation axis. In an electronic device provided with a sound source that generates sound during operation and a housing that covers the sound source.
An electronic device characterized in that the housing structure according to any one of claims 1 to 2 is used as the housing. In the image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus comprising the configuration of the electronic device according to claim 3 .

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