JPH0114590B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a fixing device for an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine or a printer, which is detachably attached to the main body of the image forming apparatus and is divided into two units. It is about improvement. Conventionally, there have been devices that can be freely pulled out from the main body of the image forming apparatus and are divided into two units (for example, the
153240). However, the operation of pulling out the fixing device and the operation of opening and closing the unit must be performed separately, and the operation lacks speed. The present invention has been developed in view of the above-mentioned difficulties in the prior art, and is divided into at least two units, which are housed in the main body of the copying machine so as to be freely drawn out, hinged on one side, and freely openable and closable on the other side. In the fixing device, a support shaft is fixed to the swing unit, and an engagement lever that can freely engage the engagement shaft fixed to the fixed unit is attached to the support shaft. A spring is mounted to bias this in the engaging direction, and a rotary shaft is rotatably mounted, and the rotary shaft has a second engaging lever that can be freely engaged with a part of the copying machine body, and a fixing lever. An operating lever for pulling out the device is fixedly installed, and a spring is attached to bias the second engagement lever in the engagement direction, and the operating lever is further configured to engage the first engagement lever. The fixing device is characterized in that it includes a display unit that displays a disengaged state when the fixing device and the fixing member are not engaged with each other. DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS As an embodiment of the present invention, an electronic copying machine in which the present invention is implemented will be described below with reference to the drawings. Fig. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a copying machine in which a fixing device according to an embodiment of the present invention is housed, Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing the main parts, and Figs. 3 to 8 show the fixing device pulled out and the swing unit shown. FIG. 6 is an operation explanatory diagram sequentially explaining each operation of closing after opening. In FIG. 1, a document table 2 is placed on the upper surface of a copying machine main body 1 serving as an image forming apparatus main body, and is movable in the left-right direction. In addition, a photoreceptor drum 3 is rotatably mounted in the center.
Around it, a developing device 4, a transfer corotron 5, a separating corotron 6, a neutralizing corotron 7, a cleaning device 8, and a charging corotron 9 are arranged in order in the counterclockwise direction. Reference numeral 10 denotes a paper feed cassette in which copy sheets are stacked and stored, and register rollers 11, 11 are provided on the downstream side of the paper feed cassette. Further, downstream of the separation corotron 6, there is provided a conveyor 12 for conveying the copy paper onto which the toner image has been transferred. Reference numeral 13 denotes a short focus lens array provided on the top of the photoreceptor drum 3, which forms an image of the document illuminated by the exposure lamp 14 on the side surface of the photoreceptor drum 3.

The above is the general structure of the copying machine. Next, the structure of the fixing device 15 located downstream of the conveyor 12 will be explained mainly based on FIG. 2.
The fixing device 15 is composed of a swinging unit 17 having a heating roller 16 installed therein, and a fixed unit 19 having a pressure roller 18 installed therein. It is connected with a hinge 20 at. 21 is the copying machine main body 1
A guide rail extending downstream from the bottom of the
This may be configured to be able to move in and out of the copying machine main body 1. Furthermore, this guide rail 21
A stopper 22 for stopping the fixing device 15 when it is pulled out is fixedly provided at the downstream end of the fixing device 15 . A support shaft 23 as a support member is fixed to the swing unit 17 on the downstream side of the heating roller 16, and a first engagement lever 24 having a hook-shaped lower end is rotatably attached to the support shaft 23. Ru. Further, a rotation shaft 25 parallel to the rotation axis of the heating roller 16 is loosely fitted into the upper part of the first engagement lever 24 so as to be freely rotatable. Reference numeral 26 denotes a first tension spring that urges the first engagement lever 24 to rotate counterclockwise about the rotating shaft 25, and is tensioned between a part of the swing unit 17 and the first engagement lever 24. be done. 27
is an engagement shaft as an engagement member fixed to the fixing unit 19, and the first tension spring 26
The lower end of the engagement lever 24 is engaged. The rotation shaft 25 has a second engagement lever 2 extending toward the upstream side.
8 is fixedly installed, and its free end is formed into a hook shape,
It is engaged with an engagement hole 29 formed in a part of the copying machine main body 1. Reference numeral 30 denotes an operating lever that is fixedly installed substantially at the center of the rotating section 25 and extends downstream, and serves as a handle for pulling out the entire fixing device 15 from the copying machine main body 1 and lifting up the swinging unit 17. . 31
is a second tension spring stretched between the operating lever 30 and a part of the fixing unit 19, which biases the second engagement lever 28 in the direction of engagement with the engagement hole 29 of the copying machine main body 1. do. Further, a cover 33 in which a through hole 32 is formed is provided above the actuation lever 30, and an indicator 34 is provided on the upper surface of the cover 33 at a position corresponding to the through hole 32. The positional relationship between the indicator 34 and the through hole 32 is
As shown in the figure, the first engagement lever 24 is connected to the engagement shaft 2.
7, the center lines 34a, 3
2a are in a matching relationship.

Next, the operation of pulling out and opening the fixing device 15 according to the embodiment of the present invention will be explained in FIGS. 3 to 7.
This will be explained based on the diagram.

FIG. 3 shows a state in which the fixing device 15 is housed in the main body 1 of the copying machine. From this state, when the operator lifts the operating lever 30 in the direction of the arrow, the second engagement lever 28 rotates counterclockwise against the second tension spring 31, and the engagement hole 28 of the copying machine body 1 rotates counterclockwise. depart from,
It becomes a disengaged state. Therefore, when the operator pulls the operating lever 30 to the right in this state, the fixing device 15 moves on the rail 21 until it is stopped by the stopper 32. FIG. 5 shows this state, in which the fixing device 15 is completely pulled out from the main body 1 of the copying machine. From this state, when the operating lever 30 is further pulled slightly to the right, the rotating shaft 25 is moved to the supporting shaft 2, as shown in FIG.
Move slightly clockwise using 3 as a fulcrum. As a result, the first engagement lever 24 separates from the engagement shaft 27 against the first tension spring 26 and enters the non-engaged state. When the actuating lever 30 is lifted significantly upward, the swing unit 17 rotates counterclockwise about the hinge 20, and both units 17 and 19 are opened. FIG. 7 shows this state.

In order to house the fixing device 15 in the copying machine main body 1, the fixing device 15 can be pushed into the copying machine main body 1 along the rail 21 after rotating the swinging unit 17 clockwise. At this time, since the tips of the first engagement lever 24 and the second engagement lever 28 are sharp, both the engagement levers 24 and 28 automatically engage with the engagement pin 27 and the engagement hole 26, respectively. .

However, if the first engagement lever 2
4 and the engagement shaft 27 are not completely engaged, the first engagement lever 24 rotates slightly clockwise about the support shaft 23, as shown in FIG.
Therefore, the rotating shaft 25 also moves clockwise about the support shaft 23, and the operating lever 30 projects downstream. Therefore, the indicator 34 and the through hole 3
The center lines 34a and 32a of the two do not match, and the operator cannot confirm the presence of the indicator 34 through the through hole 32. That is, if the operator cannot check the indicator 34, it means that the first engagement lever 24 and the engagement shaft 27 are not completely engaged. Then, when the operator pushes down the swing unit 17 again, the first engagement lever 24 and the engagement shaft 27 are completely engaged.

Although one embodiment of the present invention has been described above in detail in an electronic copying machine, the present invention can also be applied to various other image forming apparatuses such as LED printers.

As described above, according to the present invention, the operator slightly lifts the operating lever while holding it. Keep pulling while the fixing device moves. With the fixing device pulled out, pull it out a little more. Lift it up with a slight tension. By simply performing this series of actions, both units can be released. Therefore, even if copy paper jams in the fixing device, it can be cleared with a single touch, and operations can be performed quickly.

In addition, if the first engagement lever and the engagement member are not completely engaged, the indicator will display the disengaged state, so if the first engagement lever and the engagement member are not completely engaged, the disengaged state will be displayed. You won't be pushed.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Each of the drawings shows one embodiment of the present invention.
2 is a perspective view showing essential parts of the fixing device, and FIGS. 3 to 8 are operation explanatory diagrams sequentially explaining opening and closing operations of the fixing device. 1... Copying machine main body, 15... Fixing device, 17...
... Swinging unit, 19... Fixed unit, 20...
... Hinge, 23 ... Support shaft, 24 ... First engagement lever, 25 ... Rotation shaft, 26 ... First tension spring, 2
7... Engagement shaft, 28... Second engagement lever, 30...
...Operating lever, 31...Second tension spring, 32...
...Through hole, 33...Cover, 34...Indicator.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A fixing device which is housed in a device main body so as to be freely drawn out and is divided into at least two parts, a swinging unit and a fixed unit, which are hinged on one side and can be opened and closed, wherein the swinging unit has a fixed unit. A support member is fixedly installed, and a first engagement lever that can freely engage with an engagement member that is fixed to the fixing unit and is biased with an engagement force is attached to the support member. A rotating shaft is rotatably attached to the lever, and an operating lever and a second engaging lever that can freely engage with a part of the device body and are applied with an engaging force are fixed to the rotating shaft. . The fixing device, wherein the actuation lever is provided with a display means for displaying a disengaged state when the first engagement lever and the engagement member are not engaged. 2. The fixing device according to claim 1, wherein the swinging unit includes a heating roller, and the fixed unit includes a pressure roller.