JPH0776062B2 - Document guide device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION <Industrial Field of Application> The present invention mainly deals with originals having different widths when transferring the originals in an image forming apparatus such as a facsimile machine or a copying machine. The present invention relates to a document guide device that can be smoothly transported by adjusting the distance between a pair of left and right slide guide members.

<Prior Art> A conventional document guide device of this type is shown in an exploded perspective view in FIG. 5 and a partial sectional view in a sixth view.
The configuration is as shown in FIG. 7 and FIG. That is, the pair of left and right slide guide members 2 and 3 for adjusting the document width are provided with guide pieces 2a and 3a on the upper surface which are in contact with the left and right ends of a document (not shown) and regulate the transport direction thereof. Connection shafts 2b and 3b having screw holes are integrally formed on the lower surface, respectively, while a screw is provided at the center of the lower surface of the apparatus main body 1 which is a rectangular plate long in the direction orthogonal to the document transfer direction. A mounting boss 1a having a hole is vertically provided, and elongated guide holes 1b and 1c parallel to the longitudinal direction are symmetrically arranged on both sides of the mounting boss 1a.

Then, the connecting shafts 2b, 3b of the slide guide members 2, 3 are inserted into the guide holes 1b, 1c from above respectively as shown by the one-dot chain line in FIG. 5, and as shown in FIG. Attach the mounting screws 6 inserted into the mounting holes 4a, 5a of the racks 4, 5 from below to the slide guide members 2,
By screwing into the screw holes of the three connecting shafts 2b, 3b, the slide guide members 2, 3 are retained by the racks 4, 5 and attached to the apparatus main body 1, and the connecting shafts 2b, 3b are By being slidably inserted into the guide holes 1b, 1c, the guide holes 1b, 1c are movably mounted along the guide holes 1b, 1c.

Further, the pinion gear 7 for interlocking the two slide guide members 2 and 3 in opposite directions is provided with a mounting boss of the apparatus main body 1 as shown by the alternate long and short dash line in FIG. 5 and FIG. 7, respectively.
After inserting the washer 8, the compression spring 9, and the washer 10 into the 1a in this order, cover the pinion gear 7, insert the mounting screw 12 into the pinion gear 7 with the washer 11 interposed, and screw it into the screw hole of the mounting boss 1a. The 7th
As shown in the figure, the pinion gears 7 are attached to the racks 4 and 5 in mesh with each other to connect the racks 4 and 5 so as to interlock with each other in opposite directions. The racks 4 and 5, and thus both slide guide members 2 and 3 are held at positions adjusted so as not to move.

<Problems to be Solved by the Invention> However, in the above-mentioned document guide apparatus, the apparatus is in a state where the mounting screws 6 are inserted into the mounting holes 4a, 5a of the racks 4, 5 when the slide guide members 2, 3 are mounted. It has to be screwed into the screw holes of the connecting shafts 2b, 3b from the rear surface side of the main body 1, which requires a lot of man-hours due to extremely poor assemblability, and the slide guide members 2, 3, the racks 4, 5, 4. In addition, the number of components and the number of the mounting screws 6 are large, and these are factors that increase the cost. Further, as is apparent from FIG. 6, in addition to the thickness of the apparatus main body 1, a space is vertically provided by the sum of the respective thicknesses of the slide guide members 2, 3, the racks 4,5 and the screw heads of the mounting screws 6. In addition to the requirement, the linked parts are also restricted, which is one of the causes of hindering the miniaturization of the device.

Furthermore, when the compression spring 9 for applying a load to the pinion gear 7 is attached, burrs and the like are generally generated at both ends of the compression spring 9. Since washers 8 and 10 are provided on both ends of the compression spring 9 so as not to be shaved, the number of parts is further increased, the assemblability is deteriorated, and the thickness is increased accordingly.

The present invention has been made in view of the above conventional problems, and provides a document guide device having a configuration in which a slide guide member or the like can be attached with a small number of parts and without requiring screwing work. This is a technical issue.

<Means for Solving the Problems> The present invention has a document guide device configured as follows as a technical means for achieving the above-mentioned problems. That is,
A pair of left and right document width adjusting slide guide members that contact the left and right sides of the document to be transported and regulate the document transport direction are slidably supported on the apparatus main body in a direction orthogonal to the transport direction. A pair of left and right racks that connect the slide guide members to each other below the main body of the apparatus and pinion gears that mesh with the racks. In the document guide device adapted to be adjusted to the interval corresponding to the above, each of the slide guide members is provided with an elastic engaging projection piece having a protruding shape downward from the slide guide member and having a lock claw at its tip. And the rack extending in parallel with the slide guide member from a position in the vicinity of the engaging protrusion are integrally formed. , The apparatus main body is configured as characterized in that the pair of guide holes shaped to slidably engaged to, which are formed by the rack is inserted and that the locking pawl of the engagement protrusion.

<Operation> With the above-described configuration, in assembling, first, the rack integrally formed with each slide guide member is inserted into the guide hole from above the apparatus main body, and then the engaging protrusion is removed. When the lock claw at the tip of the engaging projection is released from the guide hole while being bent by the elastic force, the locking claw is applied to the lower edge of the guide hole by the restoring force of the engaging projection. Engagement, whereby the engaging projection is slidably attached to the guide hole without falling off. Therefore, the slide guide member integrated with the upper part of the engaging projection is slidably mounted on the main body of the apparatus along the guide hole, and the rack integrated with the lower part of the engaging projection is provided with the pinion gear. Is held in a position that meshes with.

Therefore, according to this document guide device, since the slide guide member, the rack, and the engaging projection piece are integrally formed, it is possible to reduce the four parts on the left and right sides, and at the time of assembling, guide the rack from above. All that is required is to insert it into the hole and press the engaging projection into the guide hole to engage the lock claw at the tip with the lower edge of the guide hole, and no need to screw down the device body. Therefore, the assemblability is remarkably improved.

<Example> Hereinafter, a preferred example of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

In FIG. 1, which is an exploded perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention seen from below, the same or equivalent parts as those in FIGS. 5 and 6 are designated by the same reference numerals, and are different from each other. Explaining only the configuration, the slide guide members 13 and 14 respectively having guide pieces 13a and 14a, two pairs of engaging projections 15 and 16, and racks 17 and 18 are integrally formed by molding with synthetic resin. Has been formed. Then, the engaging projections 15,1
As shown in FIG. 2, 6 is hung from the lower surface of the slide guide members 13, 14 in a shape slightly longer than the depth of the guide holes 1b, 1c, and the elastic force of the synthetic resin itself can be used.
In addition, the guide holes 1b, 1c are formed in a thickness that smoothly slides,
Lock claws 15a and 16a are formed at the tip. Rack 17,
18 is formed in the shape of a band having a width slightly smaller than the width of the guide holes 1b, 1c, and protrudes in a direction parallel to the slide guide members 13, 14 from the vicinity of the lock claws 15a, 16a of the engaging protrusions 15, 16. As shown by the alternate long and short dash line in FIG. 2, its vertical position has a predetermined clearance with respect to the lower surface 1d of the apparatus body 1 when the engaging projections 15 and 16 are inserted into the guide holes 1b and 1c. It is located at a height position below.

On the other hand, at the mounting location of the pinion gear 7, the two washers 8 and 10 of the conventional device are removed, and the compression spring 19 is internally folded at both ends into a "V" shape as shown in FIG. It has a shape in which the tip is directed inward by d with respect to the bent portion.

Therefore, when assembling, each slide guide member 13, 14
Racks 17 and 18 integrally formed with the engaging projections 15 and 16
The corresponding guide holes 1 from above the device body 1.
After being inserted through b and 1c, the locking claws 15a and 16a are bent while the engaging protrusions 15 and 16 are bent inward by their own elastic force.
Are simultaneously pressed into the guide holes 1b and 1c, and when the lock claws 15a and 16a at the tip of the lock claws 15a and 16a escape from the guide holes 1b and 1c, the locking claws 15a and 16a are restored by the restoring force of the respective engaging projections 15 and 16. 2 engages with the lower end edges of the guide holes 1b, 1c as shown in FIG. 2, whereby the engaging projections 15, 16 are securely engaged in the guide holes 1b, 1c so as to be slidably contactable without falling off. To be done. Therefore, the engaging projections 15,1
The slide guide members 13 and 14 integrated with the upper part of 6 are slidably mounted on the apparatus main body 1 along the guide holes 1b and 1c, and integrated with the lower parts of the engaging projections 15 and 16. The racks 17 and 18 that have become smaller are held at a height position where they mesh with the pinion gear 7. On the other hand, when mounting the pinion gear 7, the compression spring 19 is inserted through the mounting boss 1a and then the pinion gear 7 is covered, and the mounting screw 12 is inserted through the washer 11 and the mounting boss 1a. As shown in FIG. 3, the pinion gears 7 are attached to the racks 17 and 18 in mesh with each other by screwing them into the screw holes of 1a so that the racks 17 and 18 are interlocked in the opposite directions. At the same time, the load is not applied to the pinion gear 7 by the compression spring 19, so that the slide guide members 13 and 14 are held at the adjusted positions.
At this time, since the bent portions at both ends of the compression spring 19 come into contact with the device main body 1 and the pinion gear 7, burrs and the like at both ends inward of the bent portion do not come into contact with each other, and a washer is interposed. Even if it is not performed, the device body 1 and the pinion gear 7 will not be scraped by burrs or the like.

Further, in this document guide device, the slide guide member 1
Since the racks 3, 14 and the racks 17, 18 and the engaging projections 15, 16 are integrally formed, four parts and compression springs 19 are provided on both left and right sides.
The two washers on both sides of the rack can be eliminated, and when assembling them, the racks 17 and 18 are inserted into the guide holes 1b and 1c from above, and the engaging projections 15 and 16 are press-fitted into the guide holes 1b and 1c. Then, only the work of engaging the lock claws 15a, 16a at the tips with the lower end edges of the guide holes 1b, 1c is required, and the complicated screw tightening work below the device main body 1 is not required. Greatly improved. Further, by shortening the lengths of the engaging projections 15 and 16, the thickness of the entire device can be reduced and the size can be reduced.

<Effects of the Invention> Since the present invention is configured and operates as described above, it has the following effects. In other words, the number of parts can be significantly reduced, and it is possible to install by simply press-fitting the engaging protrusions from above the device body without the need for complicated screw tightening work below the device body. It is possible to achieve a considerable cost reduction. However, regardless of the linked parts, it is possible to reduce the thickness by simply shortening the length of the engaging projection piece, and to achieve a marked reduction in size.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention seen from below, FIGS. 2 and 3 are longitudinal end views of a part thereof, respectively, and FIG. 4 is a front view of a part thereof. FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of the conventional device as seen from below, and FIGS. 6 and 7 are longitudinal end views of a part thereof. 1 …… Main body 7 …… Pinion gear 1b, 1c …… Guide hole 13,14 …… Slide guide member 15,16 …… Engagement protrusion 15a, 16a …… Lock claw 17,18 …… Rack

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A pair of left and right document width adjusting slide guide members, which come into contact with the left and right sides of a document to be transported and regulate the document transport direction, are slidable on the apparatus body in a direction orthogonal to the transport direction. Supported by a pair of left and right racks that connect the slide guide members to each other below the apparatus main body and pinion gears that mesh with the racks, the slide guide members are interlocked in opposite directions. In a document guide device adapted to be adjusted to an interval corresponding to a document width to be transferred, each of the slide guide members is provided with an elasticity having a protruding shape downward from the slide guide member and having a lock claw at its tip. The engaging protrusion and the rack extending in parallel with the slide guide member from the vicinity of the engaging protrusion are provided. A pair of guide holes formed in the body and having a shape that allows each of the racks to be inserted therethrough and slidably engages the engaging protrusions with the lock pawls. Document guide device.