JPH07253745A - Opening/closing mechanism for image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To easily open/close an opening/closing member and to obtain the feeling of click by turnably attaching one end of a locking member to the opening/closing member and fitting a projection formed on a main body in an opening. CONSTITUTION:The locking member 20 formed of synthetic resin as material is turnably attached to an original platen 1 by a pin 21 through an attaching hole 20b, and attached to the main body 18 by fitting the projection 22 formed on the main body 18 in the opening 20d. In the case of closing the original platen 1, the projection 22 is movably fitted in the base part 20g of the opening 20d, so that the closed state of the main body 18 and the original platen 1 is maintained. In the case of opening the original platen 1, the leading edge Ia of the original platen 1 is lifted and turned, so that the locking member 20 is moved while it is regulated by the projection 22 fitted in the opening 20d. When the projection 22 abuts on and gets over a locking projection 20c, an elastic part 20e is elastically deformed toward the outside, and when the projection 22 reaches a leading edge 20h, the elastic deformation is released and the moving limit of the locking member 20 is attained.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an opening / closing mechanism for an image forming apparatus in which an apparatus main body and an opening / closing member are pivotally attached so as to be openable and closable.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an opening / closing lid in which an opening / closing member is pivotally attached to the main body of the apparatus so as to be openable and closable is very commonly used in office equipment such as copying machines or facsimiles and other mechanical devices. Various mechanisms have been proposed.

Among them, for example, the opening / closing mechanism of the opening / closing lid of the facsimile is a fulcrum of rotation provided on the main body 23 of the apparatus as shown in FIG.
An opening / closing lid 25 is rotatably pivotally attached to the opening 24, and an L-shaped projection 26 provided on the opening / closing lid 25 and the apparatus main body 23 are connected to each other with a tension spring 27 interposed therebetween so that tension is always applied between the two. Therefore, the open / close position of the opening / closing lid 25 with respect to the apparatus main body 23 can be stably maintained.

[0004]

However, in such an opening / closing mechanism, when the opening / closing lid 25 is opened or closed, tension is always applied to the opening / closing lid 25 by the tension spring 27. There is a problem in that the rigidity of the device main body 23 must be increased and the volume of the device main body 23 must be increased to accommodate the tension spring 27.

The present invention has been developed in view of the above-mentioned conventional problems, and an object thereof is to apply no external force to the opening / closing member even when the opening / closing member is opened or closed, and An object of the present invention is to provide an opening / closing mechanism of an image forming apparatus capable of opening / closing the opening / closing member with one touch and further providing a click feeling when opening / closing.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, the structure according to the present invention has an opening / closing mechanism of an image forming apparatus in which an opening / closing member is openably / closably mounted on an apparatus main body and is locked to an inner peripheral portion. Having an opening provided with a projection and an elastically deformable locking member, one end of the locking member is rotatably attached to the opening / closing member, and the opening is fitted to the projection provided on the main body. Thus, when the opening / closing member is opened, the protrusion of the main body abuts on the locking protrusion of the opening of the locking member to maintain the open posture of the opening / closing member, and when closing the opening / closing member, the protrusion of the main body. Is elastically deformed to get over the locking protrusion of the opening of the locking member, and a click feeling can be obtained by a reaction when the elastic deformation of the locking member is released.

[0007]

In the above structure, one end of the locking member is rotatably attached to the opening / closing member, and the opening provided with the locking projection formed on the locking member is fitted to the projection provided on the main body. Since the locking member is interposed between the main body and the opening / closing member, no external force is applied to either the main body or the opening / closing member when the opening / closing member is closed, and the protrusion on the main body side is opened when the opening / closing member is opened. The open position of the opening / closing member can be maintained by contacting the locking projection provided in the opening of the locking member, and when the opening / closing member is further opened / closed, the projection on the main body side is provided in the opening of the locking member. When moving beyond the locking projections, the locking member can be overcome by elastically deforming.

Then, due to the reaction when the elastic deformation is released when the projection on the main body side passes over the locking projection,
A click feeling is obtained.

[0009]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment in which the opening / closing mechanism of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention is applied to a facsimile machine will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of an opening / closing mechanism, FIG. 2 is a sectional explanatory diagram of a facsimile to which the opening / closing mechanism shown in FIG. 1 is applied, and FIG. 3 is a perspective explanatory diagram thereof.

First, a schematic structure of a facsimile will be described with reference to FIGS. In the figure, A is a document feeding and reading system, and a plurality of documents 2 stacked and placed with the document surface facing down on a document table 1 also serving as a device cover are guided by sheet guide members 3 at both ends. Several sheets from the bottom of the stacked originals 2 are conveyed by the preliminary conveying roller 4 and separated one by one by the separating roller 5. Further, the separated document 2 is conveyed by a pair of conveying rollers 6a, 6b and 7a, 7b.
While being conveyed at a constant speed, the light source 8 irradiates the light, and the reflected light reaches the photoelectric conversion element 11 such as CCD through the mirror 9 and the lens 10 to be converted into an electric signal, and this signal is transmitted to a predetermined recording system. It is configured to be sent.

When the recording signal is input to the recording system B,
The platen roller 12 is rotated in the direction of arrow a, and the recording head 13 that generates heat in accordance with an image signal is driven so that a predetermined image is recorded on the roll-shaped recording sheet 14, and the recording sheet after recording is recorded. The cutter 14 is configured to be cut from the rear end of the image by the cutter 15 and to be stored in the reversing tray 16. Reference numeral 17 is an opening for taking out the recording sheet 14 after recording.

In FIG. 3, C is an operation unit for operating the facsimile and an operation display unit.

In the facsimile constructed as described above, as shown in FIG. 1, the original placing table 1 also serving as the apparatus cover.
Is rotatably pivotally attached to a rotation fulcrum 19 provided on the apparatus body 18. The original placing table 1 is attached to the arrow b shown in FIG.
The roll-shaped recording sheet 14 can be easily replaced by rotating the recording sheet 14 in the direction to open the inside of the apparatus main body 18.

A locking member 20 is interposed between the document placing table 1 and the main body 18 of the apparatus, and when the document placing table 1 is opened by the engaging member 20, the open state is maintained. I'm supposed to get it.

Here, the locking member 20 will be described in detail. The locking member 20 is made of synthetic resin such as polyacetal resin. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the shape of the locking member 20 is asymmetrical with respect to its longitudinal axis. That is, the bulging portion 20a is formed on one side surface of the locking member 20.

A mounting hole 20b is formed at one end of the locking member 20, and an opening 20d having a locking projection 20c is formed at a predetermined position on the inner peripheral portion. An elastic portion 20e and a rigid portion 20f are formed in the locking member 20 by the opening 20d.

The locking member 20 is attached to the mounting hole 20 by a pin 21.
It is rotatably attached to the document placing table 1 via b, and the opening 20d is fitted to the projection 22 provided on the apparatus main body 18.

The opening 20d is formed to have a width larger than the diameter of the protrusion 22. Also, the base 20 of the opening 20d
As shown in FIG. 4, g is formed so as to extend to a position where it does not come into contact with the projection 22 when the document table 1 is closed. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 5, a tip 20h of the opening 20d is provided with an abutting protrusion 20i that abuts the protrusion 22 when the document placing table 1 is opened. Further, a slit 20j is formed on the elastic portion 20e side of the abutting protrusion 20i.

The locking projection 20c formed on the inner peripheral portion of the opening 20d is formed on the rigid portion 20f side of the locking member 20.
Also, the locking projections 20c are provided when the document table 1 is opened.
By holding the protrusion 22 in cooperation with the elastic portion 20e,
The document table 1 is provided at a position where it can be maintained at a preset angle. The width of the engaging projection 20c of the opening 20d is smaller than the diameter of the projection 22.

Next, the opening / closing of the document placing table 1 by the opening / closing mechanism using the locking member 20 having the above structure will be described.

As described above, the locking member 20 is rotatably attached to the document placing table 1 through the attachment hole 20b by the pin 21, and the projection 22 provided with the opening 20d in the main body 18 is provided.
It is attached to the main body 18 by being fitted into.

As shown in FIG. 4, when the document table 1 is closed, the projection 22 is loosely fitted in the base portion 20g of the opening 20d to maintain the closed state of the main body 18 and the document table 1. . At this time, no external force is applied to any of the main body 18, the document table 1, and the locking member 20.

When the document table 1 is opened, when the front end 1a of the document table 1 is lifted and rotated in the direction of arrow b, the document table 1 rotates about a fulcrum 19. With the rotation of the document placing table 1, the locking member 20 moves while being restricted by the projection 22 fitted in the opening 20d. The projection 22 and the locking projection 20 come into contact with each other, and as the projection 22 gets over the locking projection 20c, the elastic portion 20e elastically deforms outward. At this time, the rigid portion 20f is hardly deformed. When the projection 22 passes through the locking projection 20c and reaches the tip portion 20h, the elastic deformation of the elastic portion 20e due to the projection 22 is released, and the abutting projection 20i comes into contact with the projection 22 to limit the movement of the locking member 20. Become. At this time, the document table 1 is open as shown in FIG.
When the document table 1 is open, the protrusion 22 is the locking protrusion 20c.
It is maintained by abutting against the elastic portion 20e.

The above-described shape of the opening 20d of the locking member 20 is such that when the original placing table 1 is opened, the projection 20i abuts on the outer periphery of the projection 22.
An inclined surface on the side of the tip portion 20h forming the locking projection 20c and an elastic portion
If they are formed so as to be in contact with 20e at the same time, the document placing table 1 can maintain an open posture without rattling.

When forming the slit 20j, the length of the slit 20j from the locking projection 20c is set to the base portion 20 of the opening 20d.
By making the distance between g and the locking projection 20c equal, it is advantageous to elastically deform the elasticity 20e when the projection 22 gets over the locking projection 20c.

Further, the above-mentioned locking member 20 is shown in FIG.
It may be formed in a shape as shown in FIG.

FIG. 6 (A) relates to a locking member 20 'which does not have the slit 20j. In this case, the load when the projection 22 gets over the locking projection 20c becomes large, but the opening / closing member such as the document table 1 can be more reliably maintained in the open posture.

In FIG. 6B, the slit 20j is not formed, the elastic member 20e is cut at the tip h of the locking groove 20d, and the elastic portion 20e is formed in a cantilever shape with the base 20g as a supporting point. This relates to the stop member 20 ″. In this case, the load when the projection 22 gets over the locking projection 20c can be reduced.

When the opening / closing member is opened / closed by the opening / closing mechanism constituted by using the above-mentioned each locking member, the operation load when the projection provided on the apparatus main body passes through the locking projection provided on the opening of the locking member And the elastic deformation of the elastic member is released immediately after the protrusion passes through the locking protrusion, and the reaction of the elastic member collides with the protrusion to give a click feeling to the operator. And therefore
It is possible to surely perform the opening / closing operation of the opening / closing member.

[0031]

As described above, the present invention has the opening provided with the locking projection on the inner peripheral portion thereof, and one end of the elastically deformable locking member is rotatably attached to the opening / closing member and the opening is formed in the main body. Since it is fitted on the provided projection, it can be easily opened and closed by rotating the opening and closing member when opening and closing the opening and closing member.

Even when the opening / closing member is closed, no extra external force is applied to the opening / closing member and the main body by the opening / closing mechanism.

Further, since the size of the locking member can be made smaller than that of the tension spring used conventionally, the volume of the device can be reduced.

Further, when the opening / closing member is closed, the projection of the main body elastically deforms and rides over the locking projection of the opening of the locking member, and a recoil when the elastic deformation of the locking member is released gives a click feeling. Since it is configured as described above, the operator can obtain a reliable operation feeling when opening / closing the opening / closing member, and can easily confirm the opening / closing.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of an opening / closing mechanism.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional explanatory diagram of a facsimile.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a facsimile.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of an opening / closing mechanism with an opening / closing member closed.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of an opening / closing mechanism with an opening / closing member opened.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory view of another embodiment of the locking member.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of a conventional technique.

[Explanation of symbols]

 A ... Conveyance reading system B ... Recording system C ... Operation system 1 ... Document placing table 2 ... Document 3 ... Sheet guide member 4 ... Preliminary conveying roller 5 ... Separation roller 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b ... Conveying roller 8 ... Light source 9 ... Mirror 10 ... Lens 11 ... Photoelectric conversion element 12 ... Platen roller 13 ... Recording head 14 ... Recording sheet 15 ... Cutter 16 ... Reversing tray 17 ... Opening 18 ... Device body 19 ... Support point 20 ... Locking member 20b ... Mounting hole 20c ... Engagement Stop protrusion 20d ... Opening 20e ... Elastic portion 20f ... Rigid portion 20g ... Base portion 20h ... Tip portion 20i ... Abutting protrusion 20j ... Slit 21 ... Pin 22 ... Protrusion

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An opening / closing mechanism of an image forming apparatus, wherein an opening / closing member is attached to a main body of the apparatus so as to be openable / closable, and has an opening provided with a locking protrusion in an inner peripheral portion and an elastically deformable locking member. , One end of the locking member is rotatably attached to the opening / closing member, and the opening is fitted to a protrusion provided on the main body, so that when the opening / closing member is opened, the protrusion of the main body is The opening posture of the opening / closing member is maintained by abutting the locking projection of the opening, and when closing the opening / closing member, the projection of the main body elastically deforms and rides over the locking projection of the opening of the locking member, An opening / closing mechanism for an image forming apparatus, wherein a click feeling is obtained by a reaction when elastic deformation of a locking member is released.