JP7276375B2 - image forming device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus having means for detecting a human body outside the apparatus and an external object outside the apparatus.

In an image forming apparatus, the main body of the image forming apparatus (hereinafter simply called the apparatus) is used to detect an operator standing in front of the apparatus or an object placed in front of the apparatus (hereinafter collectively referred to as a human body). A human body detection sensor is arranged in front of the main body). Such a human body detection sensor unit is of a fixed type, and is exposed on the exterior material of the device main body. Also known is a human body detection sensor unit arranged above a toner replenishment section in the apparatus main body.

However, conventional human body detection sensors , in the case of a fixed type that is fixed to the main body of the image forming apparatus , are vulnerable to external shocks because the sensors are mounted directly on the substrate .

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2004-100000 discloses that an RFID tag is stored in a memory when a human body is detected for the purpose of preventing destruction of an RFID tag due to a power-off operation or a replacement part removal operation while data is being written by a human body detection sensor. An arrangement is disclosed for writing data to the RFID tag. However, the problem that the human body detection sensor may be destroyed by an external impact has not been resolved.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide an image forming apparatus capable of avoiding damage to a sensor substrate even if an impact is applied to a human body detection sensor unit.

The present invention comprises a human body detection sensor unit provided in a device main body, a base plate of the device main body to which the human body detection sensor unit is attached, and a cover having a notch portion and covering the base plate, wherein the human body detection device comprises: The sensor unit has a detection section that detects a human body, and a sensor holding unit that holds the detection section. is provided closer to the one end side than the center of the front surface of the apparatus main body in a state in which the sensor holding unit tilts such that one end side protrudes forward from the other end side and is held by the sensor holding unit, and the sensor holding unit It is fixed to the base plate, and the detection section is exposed from the main body of the device through the notch to detect a human body. The substrate is pressed forward in the device by a fixing portion that is fixed so as to be movable in the depth direction of the device main body while maintaining the direction of the detection surface, and a plurality of contact portions having elasticity and having different lengths. and a rear holding member that holds the substrate from the base plate side by tilting such that the one end side protrudes forward of the device more than the other end side.

According to the present invention, by making the member holding the human body detection sensor movable with respect to the device main body, it is possible to avoid the influence of external impact.

1 is a perspective view for explaining the configuration of an image forming apparatus to which the present invention can be applied; FIG. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the arrangement and configuration of a toner supply section and a human body detection sensor unit with the front door opened; FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the arrangement and configuration of the toner supply unit and the human body detection sensor unit with the front door closed; FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the appearance of the human body detection sensor unit; FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view for explaining the configuration of the human body detection sensor unit; FIG. 3 is a perspective view for explaining the arrangement of human body detection sensor units; FIG. 4 is a perspective view for explaining the configuration of the upper cover and the human body detection sensor unit; FIG. 4 is a perspective view for explaining the configuration of the upper cover and the human body detection sensor unit; It is a perspective view of the front side of the sensor holding unit. It is an exploded perspective view of the same. It is a perspective view of the back side of the front holding member of the sensor holding unit. It is a perspective view of the back side of the state where the detection sensor board is attached to the front holding member. FIG. 4 is a perspective view for explaining the configuration of a sensor holding unit and a detection sensor substrate; FIG. 4 is a perspective view for explaining the configuration of a sensor holding unit and a detection sensor substrate; It is a perspective view which shows the shape of a shoulder screw, and the range of each diameter. FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a structure relating to positional accuracy between a cutout portion of the upper cover and a cutout portion of the front door portion of the human body detection sensor unit; FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a structure relating to positional accuracy between a cutout portion of the upper cover and a cutout portion of the front door portion of the human body detection sensor unit;

An embodiment of the present invention will be described.
The present invention has the following features in an image forming apparatus having a movable human body detection sensor unit. In short, it is characterized in that the human body detection sensor unit moves so as to avoid the body of the apparatus even if an impact is applied from the outside. That is, conventionally, the detection sensor board was restrained with respect to the apparatus main body via a holding member, and thus was vulnerable to external shocks. However, when the member holding the board on which the detection sensor is mounted moves with respect to the apparatus main body , even if an impact is applied from the outside, the apparatus main body can avoid the impact. As a result , the member holding the human body detection sensor can move with respect to the device main body, thereby avoiding the influence of impact from the outside.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating the configuration of an image forming apparatus to which the present invention can be applied.
An image forming apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 1 comprises an automatic document feeder (hereinafter referred to as ADF) 2 and an apparatus main body including a paper feeding section 3 and the like. The main body of the apparatus includes a paper feed section 3 , an image reading section 4 , an image forming section 5 and an operation section 6 . The front side F of the image forming section 5 is composed of a toner replenishing section 7 provided with a front door section, which will be described later, and a drawer unit 8 . An operation unit 6 arranged above the image forming unit 5 is composed of a human body detection sensor unit provided on the upper surface of a base plate, which will be described later, and an upper cover on which an operation panel is mounted. The front side F of the image forming apparatus 1 means the front side of the image forming apparatus 1 , and the rear side R means the back side of the image forming apparatus 1 .

2 and 3 are perspective views for explaining the arrangement of the toner supply section and the human body detection sensor unit.
The toner supply section 7 is composed of a front door section 9 , a toner cartridge 10 and a toner storage section 11 . To replace the toner, the front door portion 9 is rotated 90 degrees forward from the apparatus main body to open, and the toner cartridge 10 to be replaced is taken out by holding the handle portion 10a and pulling it forward. Then, a new toner cartridge is accommodated in the depth direction along the rail portion 11a of the accommodation portion and attached (see FIG. 2).

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the appearance of the human body detection sensor unit.
Even when the front door 9 of the toner supply section 7 is closed, the human body detection sensor unit 100 detects the detection section 13 of the human body detection sensor unit 100 from the outer shape of the upper cover 12 and the outer notch of the front door portion 9 . It becomes exposed. Also, the human body detection sensor unit 100 is arranged above the toner cartridge 10 . At the time of toner replacement, the front door portion 9 of the toner supply portion 7 is opened. When the toner cartridge 10 is accommodated, the clearance between the upper portion of the toner cartridge 10 and the lower surface of the human body detection sensor unit 100 is narrow, so when the toner cartridge 10 is manually inserted, there is a risk of contact with the human body detection sensor unit 100 during insertion. There is Therefore, a configuration is adopted in which the unit holding the human body detection sensor unit 100 moves when the toner cartridge 10 comes into contact with the human body detection sensor unit 100 (described later). To simplify the following description, the x, y, and z directions are defined as shown in FIG. That is, the x direction indicates the width direction of the device main body, the y direction indicates the same height direction, and the z direction indicates the same front and rear direction.

5 is an exploded perspective view for explaining the configuration of the human body detection sensor unit 100, and FIG. 6 is a perspective view for explaining the arrangement of the human body detection sensor unit 100. As shown in FIG.
The human body detection sensor unit 100 includes a sensor holding unit 14 , fixing portions 15 and 16 , compression springs 17 and 18 , and stepped screws 19 and 20 . A stepped screw 19 via a compression spring 17 and a stepped screw 20 via a compression spring 18 are passed through the holes 14a and 14b of the sensor holding unit 14 and screwed into the screw holes provided in the fixing portions 15 and 16, respectively. Install. As a result, the stepped screws 19 and 20 are restrained by the fixed portions 15 and 16, and a force is generated to constantly press the sensor holding unit 14 against the fixed portions 15 and 16. FIG.

Furthermore, by pressing the fixed portions 15 and 16 against the base plate 21 of the operation portion 6 (in the direction of arrow c in FIG. 6), the fixed portions 15 and 16 of the human body detection sensor unit 100 are restrained with respect to the device main body. be. Then, when the sensor holding unit 14 is applied with a stress exceeding the force pressed by the compression springs 17 and 18 from the front direction, the sensor holding unit 14 is configured to move in the rear direction. Further, by separating the fixed parts 15 and 16 from the apparatus main body, the holding member can be unitized. In addition to this, the lower surfaces of the fixed parts 15 and 16 are placed on the upper surface of the base plate 21, and the fixed parts 15 and 16 are positioned and pressed (in the c direction), thereby increasing the positional accuracy of the human body detection sensor unit 100 with respect to the device main body. and mounting workability are improved.

That is, the sensor holding unit 14 is movable in the depth direction with respect to the main body of the apparatus, and is attached by being pressed to one side by compression springs 17 and 18 which are elastic members. It is made to come down.

Further, the detection section 13 is unitized by pressing the sensor holding unit 14 against the fixing sections 15 and 16, and is pressed against the apparatus main body in an upright state. This facilitates fastening to the apparatus main body by separating, for example, a sheet metal member for fixing to the apparatus main body.

By providing the compression springs 17 and 18 and the stepped screws 19 and 20 for integrally moving the detection section 13 and the sensor holding unit 14 , even if an external impact is applied to the sensor holding unit 14 , it will not be pressed. It can be configured such that an overload is not applied to the internal detection unit 13 that is held.

7 and 8 are perspective views for explaining the configurations of the upper cover 12 and the human body detection sensor unit 100. FIG.
The fixing portions 15 and 16 have the function of pressing the sensor holding unit 14 against the apparatus main body and also the function of regulating the positioning in the y direction when the upper cover 12 is attached. By positioning and attaching the claws of the upper cover 12 with reference to the bending of the fixed portions 15 and 16, the fixed portions 15 and 16 of the human body detection sensor unit 100 restrained by the base plate 21 serve as a reference, and the upper cover 12 and the holding are performed. It is possible to suppress positional variation of the member.

Next, the configuration of the sensor holding unit 14 will be described.
9 to 12 are perspective views for explaining the configuration of the sensor holding unit 14. FIG.
The sensor holding unit 14 is composed of a front holding member 22, detection sensor substrates 23 and 24 on which detection sensors are mounted , a rear holding member 25, and fixing screws 26 for fastening them. there is

The detection sensor substrate 23 accommodates the outer shape of the detection sensor using the hole 22A of the front holding member 22 as a guide. At this time , the contact portions 22a, 22b, and 22c are in contact with the outer shape of the substrate, and the contact portions 22d and 22e function as regulating portions, thereby positioning in the xyz direction. Similarly, the detection sensor substrate 24 accommodates the outer shape of the detection sensor using the hole 22B of the front holding member 22 as a guide. At this time , the contact portions 22f, 22g, and 22h are in contact with the outer shape of the substrate, and the contact portions 22i and 22j function as regulating portions, thereby positioning in the xyz direction.

The tips of the contact portions 22a to 22h of the front holding member 22 are spherical, and are shaped to receive the detection sensor substrates 23 and 24 at three points respectively. Further, the contact portions 22d and 22i have the shape of guiding the detection sensor substrates 23 and 24 and elasticity.

The contact portions 22e and 22j perform positional regulation in the x direction. Since the detection sensor substrates 23 and 24 are lowered by their own weight when receiving the outer shape of the substrate at the three spherical points of the contact portions 22a to 22h, the contact portions 22e and 22j function as stoppers. The detection sensor substrates 23 and 24 are attached along the guidance of the contact portions 22d and 22i to improve insertability, and after insertion, the elasticity of the contact portions 22d and 22i presses in the x direction. However, if there is only the front holding member 22 and the detection sensor substrates 23 and 24, the z direction is in a free state. It cannot be said that the outer shape of the substrate is in contact with the contact portion of the . Therefore, the detection sensor substrates 23 and 24 are brought into contact with the front holding member 22 by engaging the detection sensor substrates 23 and 24 from the rear surface with the rear holding member 25 and pressing them.

13 and 14 are perspective views for explaining the configuration of the sensor holding unit and the detection sensor substrate.
The rear holding member 25 has contact portions 22k to 22p. The contact portions 22k to 22p of the rear holding member 25 have spherical tips, and are shaped to receive the detection sensor substrates 23 and 24 at three points each. Further, the contact portions 22k, 22l, and 22m of the rear holding member 25 have a spherical shape at the tip thereof, and serve as contact points that press against the detection sensor substrate 23. As shown in FIG. The contact portions 22k, 22l, and 22m have a function of avoiding an overload when the detection sensor substrate 23 is pressed by the elasticity of the rear holding member 25. FIG. When inserting/removing a male side connector to/from a connector (female side) 23a mounted on the detection sensor board 23, it is assumed that a load is applied to the outer shape of the sensor board particularly when the connector is pulled out. Since the detection sensor substrate 23 is pulled in the -x direction, the +y direction, and the -z direction with respect to the pressed portions of the contact portions 22k, 22l, and 22m of the rear holding member 25, it has the following functions.

That is, since an overload exceeding the stress applied to the original fitting is not applied to the substrate, the bases of the contact portions 22k and 22l to the rear holding member 25 bend in the -z direction. Further, since the spherical tips of the contact portions 22k, 22l, and 22m are bent in the -x direction, the front holding member can be reliably secured without damaging the detection sensor substrate 23 and without changing the position of the detection sensor substrate 23. 22. The detection sensor substrates 23 and 24 can be held without being damaged by pressing.

The spherical shape of the tip of the contact portions 22n, 22o, and 22p of the rear holding member 25 is the same.
That is, the contact portions 22n, 22o, and 22p have a function of avoiding an overload when the detection sensor substrate 24 is pressed against the detection sensor substrate 24 by the elasticity of the rear holding member 25. FIG. When the connector (female side) 24a mounted on the detection sensor board 24 is unplugged, the detection sensor board moves in the +x direction and the +y direction with respect to the pressing points of the contact portions 22n, 22o, and 22p of the rear holding member 25. , -z direction, it has the following functions.

That is, the roots of the contact portions 22n and 22o are bent in the -z direction, and the spherical tips of the contact portions 22n, 22o and 22p are bent in the +x direction. To surely press the front holding member 22 without changing the substrate position.

FIG. 15 is a perspective view showing the shape of the shoulder screw and the range of each diameter. Since the shoulder screws 19 and 20 have the same shape, only the shoulder screw 19 will be illustrated and explained. A distal end portion 19 a of the stepped screw 19 has a male thread shape so as to have a function of fastening the stepped screw 19 to the fixed portion 15 . The trunk portion 19b has a tapered shape, and the diameter of the trunk portion 19b decreases as it approaches the boundary with the head portion 19c from the boundary with the front end portion 19a. That is, the stepped screw 19 has a diameter smaller than the inner diameter of the elastic member, and the length from the root thereof exceeds the tight contact height of the elastic member. can be prevented. The stepped screw 19 has a slope in the longitudinal direction in the movable range of the holding member, and is fastened to the fixed portion 15 via the front holding member 22 so as to press the front holding member 22 against the fixed portion 15 . As a result, play is provided when the front holding member 22 is moved in the depth direction, and positioning in the vertical and horizontal directions is possible when it is pressed forward.

As the sensor holding unit 14 moves in the depth direction of the apparatus main body, the clearance between the holes 14a and 14b of the rear holding member 25 and the shaft diameter increases. As a result, the degree of freedom of movement of the sensor holding unit 14 is improved, and it has a function of reliably returning to the initial position when moving forward of the apparatus main body. The head portion 19c has a length exceeding the contact height of the compression coil spring, and even if the sensor holding unit 14 operates beyond the original movable range, the diameter of the head portion 19c serves as a stopper to hold the sensor. Unit 14 cannot move further inward. As a result, since there is a margin for the tight contact height of the compression coil spring, the spring is not overloaded, and damage to the spring can be avoided.

16 and 17 are perspective views showing the structure related to the positional accuracy of the cutout portion of the upper cover of the human body detection sensor unit and the cutout portion of the front door portion.
That is, the front holding member 22 is pressed to one side with respect to the apparatus main body and is positioned by providing the stepped screws 19 and 20 having slopes. By positioning the front holding member 22 at the time of pressing, it is possible to return to the initial detection position, and the positional accuracy between the cutout portion of the upper cover of the human body detection sensor unit and the cutout portion of the front door portion is improved. interference can be prevented.

Positioning in the xy direction is performed by inserting the convex portions 25a and 25b of the rear holding member 25 into the elongated hole 15a of the fixing portion 15 and the round hole 16a of the fixing portion 16. As shown in FIG. As a result, the positional accuracy of the human body detection sensor unit 100 with respect to the notched portion of the outer shape of the front door portion 9 and the notched portion of the upper cover 12 of the operating portion 6 is improved when the front door portion 9 is closed in the apparatus body. , interference with the outer shape can be prevented.

Also, the convex portions 25a and 25b of the rear holding member 25 have a large diameter at the root four times the small diameter at the tip, and a slope length twice the straight length. The sensor holding unit 14 is always in a fixed position in the xy direction when it is pressed forward by the compression spring. However, when moving, the xy direction becomes a free state when the straight portion is exceeded. Therefore, in addition to the sliding operation, the farther it moves, the more it becomes possible to perform the tilting operation within the range of the clearance between the stepped screw and the hole of the front holding member 22 . Furthermore, since the convex portions 25a and 25b are sloped rather than stepped, even when the sensor holding unit 14 moves forward due to the action of the spring pressure, it has the function of smoothly returning to the initial detection position. there is

Regarding the configuration of the detection sensor described above, although human body detection is mentioned as an embodiment, detection means or notification means other than human body detection may be used. Also, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and many modifications are possible within the technical concept of the present invention by those skilled in the art.

1 image forming apparatus
10: Toner cartridge
11 Toner storage unit
13... detector
14...Sensor holding unit
17, 18... elastic member (compression spring)
23, 24 ... detection sensor board
100 Human body detection sensor unit

JP 2006-015495 A

Claims (1)

a human body detection sensor unit provided in the device main body;
a base plate of the apparatus main body to which the human body detection sensor unit is attached;
a cover having a notch and covering the base plate,
The human body detection sensor unit has a detection unit that detects a human body and a sensor holding unit that holds the detection unit,
The detection section and the sensor holding unit are arranged such that the substrate of the detection section is tilted so that one end of the substrate protrudes toward the front of the device from the other end on the front surface of the device, and is held by the sensor holding unit. , provided on the one end side from the center of the front surface of the device main body,
the sensor holding unit is fixed to the base plate, and the detection unit is exposed from the device body through the notch to detect a human body ;
The human body detection sensor unit includes:
a fixing portion that fixes the sensor holding unit to the base plate so as to be movable in the depth direction of the device main body while maintaining the direction of the detection surface of the detection portion;
By pressing the substrate toward the front of the device with a plurality of elastic contact portions having different lengths, the substrate is tilted so that the one end protrudes toward the front of the device more than the other end, and the substrate is moved toward the base plate. a rear holding member that holds from
An image forming apparatus comprising :

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