JP7180326B2 - image forming device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus.

Patent Document 1 discloses an inner cover having reinforcing ribs, an outer cover mounting portion, and a handle portion, and an outer cover having a mounted portion mounted on the outer cover mounting portion and having a shape exposing the handle portion. is described.

Patent Literature 2 describes an electronic device in which the front cover is formed into a plate shape from transparent resin, and the decorative paper is molded integrally with the front cover so that the decorative paper is fixed to the back surface of the front cover. ing.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide an image forming apparatus with good decorativeness.

The present invention comprises an exterior cover having a transparent or translucent transparent layer and a decorative layer formed in close contact with the inner side of the transparent layer , wherein the exterior cover has an open position for opening the interior of the apparatus, provided in an opening/closing member movable between a closed position for closing the inside of the apparatus, the opening/closing member having a handle member, and the outer cover and an inner cover provided inside the outer cover, The image forming apparatus is characterized by being supported by a handle member .

The present invention can provide an image forming apparatus with good decorativeness.

1 is a perspective view of an image forming apparatus 1 that is an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 1. It is sectional drawing (b) of the cover 108 shown in FIG. 1. It is the front view (a) and top view (b) which include the cover 108 shown in FIG. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the state of use of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1; 2 is a front view (a) and a right side view (b) including a cover 109C shown in FIG. 1; FIG. It is a modification of the embodiment shown in FIG. FIG. 7 is a top view including a cover 109C shown in FIG. 6; It is a second modification of the embodiment shown in FIG. 9 is a front view of the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 8 with a door closed; FIG.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an image forming apparatus 1 that is one embodiment of the present invention. The X-axis direction shown in FIG. 1 is the width direction of the image forming apparatus 1 , the Y-axis direction is the height direction of the image forming apparatus 1 , and the Z-axis direction is the depth direction of the image forming apparatus 1 .

The image forming apparatus 1 includes a scanner 2 for reading an image of a document, an automatic document feeder 3 for feeding and reading the image of the fed document, an operation unit 4 for receiving an operation input to the image forming apparatus 1, A paper discharge section 5 for discharging a sheet on which an image is formed, a placement section 6 for placing a document, a sheet, etc., an image forming section 7 for forming an image on the sheet, and the image forming section 7. A jam processing unit 8 for processing sheet jams, and sheet trays 9A, 9B, and 9C for stacking sheets conveyed to the image forming unit 7 are provided.

The image forming apparatus 1 also includes covers 107, 108, 109A, 109B, and 109C on the surfaces of the image forming section 7, the jam processing section 8, and the sheet trays 9A, 9B, and 9C.

The image forming apparatus 1 further includes covers 109D, 110L, and 110R on the front (the front side in the Z direction), a cover 100R on the right side (the right side in the X direction), and a left side (the right side in the X direction) and a back (not shown). A similar cover is provided on the rear side in the Z direction).

Covers 107, 108 each include handle members 7A, 8A, upper hinge members 7B, 8B, and lower hinge members 7C, 8C. The upper hinge member 7B and the lower hinge member 7C rotatably support the cover 107, and the upper hinge member 8B and the lower hinge member 8C rotatably support the cover .

The covers 107 and 108 are examples of opening and closing members that can move between an open position to open the inside of the device and a closed position to close the inside of the device. It is rotatable around the members 7B, 8B and the lower hinge members 7C, 8C.

Covers 109A, 109B, 109C are provided with handle members 19A, 19B, 19C, respectively. The covers 109A, 109B, and 109C are another example of opening/closing members movable between an open position for opening the inside of the apparatus and a closed position for closing the inside of the apparatus, and the handles 19A, 19B, and 19C are respectively provided. By pulling, the sheet trays 9A, 9B, and 9C can be pulled out.

The image forming apparatus 1 is an electrophotographic apparatus equipped with a well-known photosensitive member, charging means, exposure means, developing means, transfer means, fixing means, and sheet conveying means, and forms images with Y, M, C, and BK toners. It is desirable that the image forming apparatus is a full-color electrophotographic type image forming apparatus. Alternatively, the image forming apparatus 1 may be an inkjet type image forming apparatus using an inkjet head.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of cover 108 shown in FIG. The cover 108 will be described below as an example, but covers 107, 109A, 109B, 109C, covers 109D, 110L, 110R, cover 100R, a left side (not shown in the drawing) (right side in the X direction) cover, and a rear (back side in the Z direction) cover. also has the following configuration:

The cover 108 includes a transparent or translucent transparent layer 21, a decoration layer 23 formed in close contact with the inside of the transparent layer 21, and a white protective layer 25 formed in close contact with the inside of the decoration layer 23. An exterior cover 26 and an inner cover 27 arranged inside the exterior cover 26 are provided.

The outer cover 26 is made of resin in a plate shape, the inner cover 27 is made of sheet metal, and the outer cover 26 is attached to the inner cover 27 .

Since the exterior cover 26 allows the decoration layer 23 to be recognized from the outside through the transparent layer 21, a glossy design can be expressed, and since the decoration layer 23 is not exposed to the outside, the design of the decoration layer 23 can be improved. is prevented from fading or scratching.

Since the decoration layer 23 is formed in close contact with the inside of the transparent layer 21, there is no air layer or adhesive layer between the decoration layer 23 and the transparent layer 21. - 特許庁This prevents the decoration layer 23 from fading due to the air layer or the adhesive layer. When a plurality of outer covers 26 are provided, variations in gloss and color fading among the plurality of outer covers 26 are prevented, and decorativeness as a whole is improved.

The decoration layer 23 is formed by coating with an ink-jet method, whereby the thickness of the decoration layer 23 can be freely changed, and textured decoration can be performed.

In the case of the image forming apparatus 1 of the electrophotographic type, the fixing means or the like exists as a heat source, and in the case of the image forming apparatus 1 of the ink jet type, the drying means or the like exists as a heat source. By including the formed protective layer 25, discoloration and deterioration of the decoration layer 23 due to heat from the inside of the device can be reduced.

In the image forming apparatus 1, the heat from the inside of the apparatus is localized due to the arrangement of the heat sources. and a uniform quality of decorativeness can be obtained. In addition, when a plurality of exterior covers 26 are provided, provision of the protective layer 25 prevents variations in gloss and color fading among the plurality of exterior covers 26, thereby improving decorativeness as a whole.

By forming the protective layer 25 white, it is possible to prevent the color inside the exterior cover 26 from interfering with the decorative layer 23, thereby improving the decorativeness.

By forming the exterior cover 26 in a plate shape, the size can be easily processed.

In addition, by providing the inner cover 27 inside the outer cover 26 , the cover 108 can achieve both the decorative effect of the outer cover 26 and the rigidity of the inner cover 27 .

Since the inner cover 27 is made of sheet metal, it is excellent in heat resistance and fire resistance even if it is thin.

3A and 3B are a front view (a) and a top view (b) including the cover 108 shown in FIG.

The upper hinge member 8B includes a cover side member 81B, a rotation fulcrum 83B, and a main body side member 85B. The rotation fulcrum 83B is fixed to the body side member 85B and rotatably supports the cover side member 81B.

The exterior cover 26 and the inner cover 27 are integrally supported at one end by the cover side member 81B and integrally supported at the other end by the handle member 8A. In order to reduce the number of parts and hold the outer cover 26 and the inner cover 27, it is desirable to hold the four corners of the outer cover 26 and the inner cover 27. FIG.

Since the outer cover 26 and the inner cover 27 are held by the handle member 8A and the cover side member 81B, for example, the outer cover 26 can be easily replaced by removing the handle member 8A. As a result, the number of parts is reduced, and the number of fastening parts is reduced, thereby improving the aesthetic appearance of the design.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the state of use of the embodiment shown in FIG. The sheet tray 9C is pulled out by pulling the handle member 19C.

FIG. 5 is a front view (a) and a right side view (b) including cover 109C shown in FIG. The cover 109C will be described below as an example, but the covers 109A and 109B also have the following configuration.

The outer cover 26 and the inner cover 27 are integrally supported by the handle member 19C at one end and integrally supported by the screw 28 at the other end. Since the outer cover 26 and the inner cover 27 are held by the handle member 19C, the outer cover 26 can be easily replaced by removing the handle member 19C and the screws 28, for example. As a result, the number of parts is reduced, and the number of fastening parts is reduced, thereby improving the aesthetic appearance of the design.

FIG. 6 is a modification of the embodiment shown in FIG. The image forming apparatus 1 includes handle members 29A, 29B and 29C on covers 109A, 109B and 109C, respectively, instead of the handle members 19A, 19B and 19C. The sheet tray 9C is pulled out by pulling the handle member 29C. The cover 109C will be described below as an example, but the covers 109A and 109B also have the following configuration.

FIG. 7 is a top view including cover 109C shown in FIG. The outer cover 26 and the inner cover 27 are sandwiched and integrally supported by the handle member 29C and the fastening member 290C. Since the outer cover 26 and the inner cover 27 are held by the handle member 29C, the outer cover 26 can be easily replaced by, for example, removing the handle member 29C. As a result, the number of parts is reduced, and the number of fastening parts is reduced, thereby improving the aesthetic appearance of the design.

FIG. 8 is a second modification of the embodiment shown in FIG. FIG. 9 is a front view of the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 8 with the door closed.

The image forming apparatus 1 accommodates an image forming apparatus main body 100 that forms an image on a sheet. The size of the image forming apparatus 1 is 900 mm in the X-axis direction and 450 mm in the Z-axis direction, and general cabinets for storing things can be arranged in parallel.

The image forming apparatus 1 includes a top plate 200, and on the right side in the X-axis direction, a right door 10R as an example of an opening/closing unit that opens the internal space of the image forming apparatus 1, and a handle 11R provided on the right door 10R. , the image forming apparatus main body 100 , the operation unit 4 arranged at substantially the same height as the top plate 200 and receiving an operation input to the image forming apparatus main body 100 , and formed between the top plate 200 and the image forming apparatus main body 100 . A right upper space 300R is provided.

The top plate 200 has a flat upper surface, so that objects can be placed on the top plate 200 and used as a workbench.

Image forming apparatus 1 has, on the left side in the X-axis direction, left door 10L as an example of an opening/closing unit for opening the internal space of image forming apparatus 1, handle 11L provided on left door 10L, shelf 16, and shelf 16. a scanner 2 arranged above the scanner 2 for reading an image of a document and sending image information to the image forming apparatus main body 100; A document feeder 3 for sending image information to the apparatus main body 100 and a left upper space 300L that is a space formed between the top plate 200 and the document feeder 3 are provided. Supplies such as toner and sheets may be placed in the upper left space 300L. A notch 240 is formed in the top plate 200 above the left upper space 300L.

The image forming apparatus 1 further includes a right side plate 210R and a left side plate 210L arranged at the right end and the left end in the X-axis direction, respectively; A positioning portion 14 for positioning the image forming apparatus main body 100 with respect to the support plate 12 by screwing or the like, and a partition plate 310 for partitioning the upper right space 300R and the upper left space 300L are provided.

Below the support plate 12, an opening that opens toward the front side (the front side in the Z-axis direction) is formed to provide a space for storing supplies such as toner and sheets, and a space for a wheelchair user's feet. can be secured. The dimension of the opening in the width direction is larger than the dimension of the image forming apparatus main body 100 in the width direction. A wheelchair user can get closer to the image forming apparatus main body 100 by putting his or her foot into the opening when using the image forming apparatus main body 100 .

The partition plate 310 has cutouts formed on the front side and the rear side in the Z-axis direction, and the right upper space 300R and the left upper space 300L communicate through the cutouts. In the drawing, portions of the partition plate 310 other than the notch are shown.

The image forming apparatus main body 100 includes a front side plate 111F arranged at the front end in the Z-axis direction, and a right side plate 111R and a left side plate 111R arranged at the right end and left end in the X-axis direction, respectively. 111L, a right exhaust port 120R and a left exhaust port 120L arranged respectively on the right side plate 111R and the left side plate 111L, an upper plate 111∪ arranged at the upper end in the Y-axis direction, and an image mounted on the upper plate 111∪. It has a sheet discharging section 5 for discharging formed sheets, and sheet feeding sections 9A and 9B for feeding sheets for image formation.

The paper discharge section 5 is covered with a top plate 200 via a right upper space 300R. A right upper space 300R between the paper discharge section 5 and the top plate 200 has a sufficient space for easily taking out the discharged sheets stacked on the paper discharge section 5 . The sheet feeding units 9A and 9B are configured as sheet trays for stacking sheets, and at least a portion thereof is pulled out from the inside of the image forming apparatus main body 100 by being pulled in the front direction of the image forming apparatus main body 100 .

The shelf 16 has a middle side plate 210M arranged at the right end in the X-axis direction, and the left end in the X-axis direction is attached to the left side plate 210L of the image forming apparatus 1 . The shelf 16 may contain supplies such as toner and sheets.

The image forming apparatus 1 has the exterior cover 26 described with reference to FIG. According to this configuration, a space is provided between the image forming apparatus main body 100 and the image forming apparatus 1 (for example, the right side plate 110R and the right side plate 210R), and an air flow is formed in this space. As a result, the transparent layer 21 and the decoration layer 23 are more effective than the structure in which the exterior cover 26 is provided directly on the right side plate 110R or the like of the image forming apparatus main body 100. hard to receive. In this case, the protective layer 25 may not be provided, but the provision of the protective layer 25 further reduces the influence of heat.

Further, since the image forming apparatus main body 100 has the right exhaust port 120R and the left exhaust port 120L on the right side plate 111R and the left side plate 111L, respectively, when the image forming apparatus main body 100 is directly installed, the image forming apparatus main body 100 side is Other equipment and devices installed on the other side receive the exhaust air directly, and you feel uncomfortable when using other equipment and devices for desk work.

In this modified example, even when the image forming apparatus main body 100 having an exhaust port on the side is installed, the other facilities/devices installed on the side of the image forming apparatus main body 100 are not directly exposed to the exhaust air, and desk work is facilitated. To provide an image forming apparatus 1 that does not make one feel uncomfortable when using other equipment/devices.

The right side plate 210R (outer side plate) of the image forming apparatus 1 faces the right side plate 111R and the right exhaust port 120R of the image forming apparatus main body 100, and the image forming apparatus main body 100 is located between the right side plate 111R and the right side plate 210R. It is positioned with respect to the support plate 12 by the positioning portion 14 so that a space is formed between the two.

As a result, the exhaust air discharged from the exhaust port 120R is prevented from being directly discharged to the outside. This makes it easier to install other equipment/apparatuses on the sides of the image forming apparatus main body 100 and the image forming apparatus 1 .

In addition, since the image forming apparatus main body 100 is covered with the image forming apparatus 1, the joints of the exterior can be eliminated to improve the aesthetic appearance of the design. Even if the image forming apparatus 1 is put down, the user does not feel uncomfortable. That is, with the image forming apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment, the image forming apparatus main body 100 having the exhaust port on the side surface can be fully used, and desk work can be comfortably performed.

The middle plate 210M of the shelf 16 faces the left side plate 111L and the left exhaust port 120L of the image forming apparatus main body 100, and the image forming apparatus main body 100 has a space formed between the left side plate 111L and the middle side plate 210M. , it is positioned with respect to the support plate 12 by the positioning portion 14 .

The right side plate 210R of the image forming apparatus 1 is not provided with an exhaust port, and a notch 240 formed on the left side of the top plate 200 communicates with the space between the right side plate 111R and the right side plate 210R.

Specifically, when the right door 10R and the left door 10L are closed, the exhaust air discharged from the right exhaust port 120R flows through the space between the right side plate 111R and the right side plate 210R through natural convection to the main body of the image forming apparatus. It passes through the space between the upper plate 100∪ of 100 and the top plate 200 and the cutout portion of the partition plate 310 and is discharged to the outside of the image forming apparatus 1 through the cutout 240 . The exhaust air discharged from the left exhaust port 120L is exhausted to the outside of the image forming apparatus 1 from the space between the left side plate 111L and the middle side plate 210M through the notch 240 due to natural convection.

As a result, the heat of the image forming apparatus main body 100 is discharged from the notch 240, so that the temperature rise in the space between the image forming apparatus main body 100 and the image forming apparatus 1 can be reduced, and the image forming apparatus main body 100 and the image forming apparatus can be reduced. It is possible to make it easy to install other equipment/devices on the side of one.

The operation unit 4 is arranged on the right side of the top plate 200 so as not to overlap the notch 240 arranged on the left side of the top plate 200 . As a result, the person using the operation unit is not directly exposed to the exhaust air.

The image forming apparatus main body 100 can form an image on a sheet and discharge the image-formed sheet to the discharge unit 5 even when the right door 10R or the left door 10L is opened. As a result, the image forming apparatus main body 100 does not stop every time the right door 10R or the left door 10L is opened, and workability such as sheet replenishment is prevented from deteriorating. Even when the image forming apparatus main body 100 is printing, by opening the right door 10R or the left door 10L, it is possible to replenish or take out stored items such as toner and supplies stored in the shelf 16.例文帳に追加

On the other hand, when the front side plate 111F is opened, the image forming apparatus main body 100 does not perform the operation of forming an image on the sheet. This ensures safety.

1 Image forming apparatus 8A Handle member 8B Upper hinge member 8C Lower hinge member 19C Handle member 29C Handle member 21 Transparent layer 23 Decorative layer 25 Protective layer 26 Exterior cover 27 Inner cover 81B Cover side member (hinge member)
108 cover

Japanese Patent No. 4674451 JP-A-2004-119852

Claims (11)

an exterior cover having a transparent or translucent transparent layer and a decorative layer formed in close contact with the inner side of the transparent layer ;
The outer cover is provided on an opening/closing member that is movable between an open position that opens the inside of the device and a closed position that closes the inside of the device,
The opening/closing member has a handle member,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the outer cover and the inner cover provided inside the outer cover are supported by the handle member . 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, comprising a plurality of said exterior covers. 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the outer cover includes a protective layer formed in close contact with the inner side of the decoration layer. 4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the exterior cover is made of resin. 5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the exterior cover is formed in a plate shape. 6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an inner cover inside the outer cover. 7. The image forming apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the outer cover is attached to the inner cover. 8. An image forming apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said inner cover is made of sheet metal. a hinge member that rotatably supports the opening and closing member;
9. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the outer cover and the inner cover provided inside the outer cover are supported by the hinge member. The main body of the image forming apparatus that forms an image on the sheet is housed,
The image forming apparatus main body includes a side plate having an exhaust port,
An outer plate facing the side plate,
10. The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 9 , wherein the exterior cover is provided on the outer plate. 11. The image forming apparatus according to claim 10 , further comprising a positioning portion for positioning the image forming apparatus main body so that a space is formed between the side plate and the outer plate.

Images