JPH08305107A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To provide an image forming device capable of preventing a balance of the torsion of a torsion bar and working force with the weight of an upper structure from being loosen by dividing the image forming device in two and adjusting the angle of torsion of the torsion bar for turning/energizing one end of the upper structure in an opening direction with respect to a lower structure by using the other end as a supporting point, for holding a fixed inclined position, with a simple mechanism and easy adjusting work. CONSTITUTION: The image forming device constituted in such a manner that it is divided into the upper and lower structures 1 and 3 and the upper structure 1 is supported to enable opening/closing with respect to the lower structure 3 by using one end as the supporting point, is provided with the torsion bar 4 which is arranged to pass through both structures in a position corresponding to the supporting point, so that the upper structure is energized in a direction where it is opened with respect to the lower structure by using one end as the supporting point, an adjusting member 6 which is slidably attached to the side plate 5 of the upper structure 1, to adjust the angle of torsion of the torsion bar 4 and an inclined end surface 7 provided in the adjusting member, to come into slidable contact with the end part of the bar 4 and keep the angle of torsion of the bar 4 a prescribed angle.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a facsimile machine, a printer, a scanner, or a multifunction machine having these functions together, and more particularly, it is composed of an upper structure and a lower structure. The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus having a structure in which an upper structure can be opened and closed vertically with respect to a lower structure by using one end as a fulcrum.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a facsimile machine, a printer, a scanner, or a multifunction machine having these functions together, such as a small clamshell type electrophotographic copying machine, is costly. In order to reduce the noise, etc., the copying machine is divided into an upper structure and a lower structure.
There is a structure in which the upper structure can be opened and closed vertically with respect to the lower structure by using one end as a fulcrum. Is held in an open state at a predetermined opening angle. When the torsion bar is made up of two elastic members that are twisted with each other, and abuts against each elastic member, attaches the torsion bar to one of the upper and lower units, and then assembles the upper and lower units. A technique is known in which a contact member for increasing the twist angle is formed at a mounting portion of another unit (see Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 62-82670).

A technique is also known in which the effective length of an adjusting screw that abuts in the torsion direction of a torsion bar can be changed so that the torsion angle of the torsion bar can be changed (Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 62-82671). reference). Further, the torsion bar is composed of two elastic members having twist angles with each other, and the elastic members are abutted against each of the elastic members, and the torsion bar is attached to one unit, and then the elastic members are attached when the upper and lower units are assembled. There is also known a technique in which a contact member that comes into contact with the end portion of the torsion bar and changes the torsion angle in accordance with the magnitude of the torsion moment acting on each elastic member is provided at the mounting portion of the torsion bar (Actual exploitation 62). -8267
See the publication of No. 2). However, even in this case, when a heavy unit is mounted on the upper structure, for example, when an automatic document feeder is mounted, the balance between the torsional force of the torsion bar and the acting force due to the weight of the upper structure is lost, There is a problem in that the upper structure becomes insufficiently open, which makes it difficult to remove jammed paper from the transfer paper transport path.

[0004]

In the above-mentioned conventional image forming apparatus, the upper structure is configured to be openable and closable with respect to the lower structure with one end as a pivot point, and the torsion bar provided at the pivot point is used. In the image forming apparatus in which the upper structure is rotated and biased in the opening direction to hold the predetermined tilt position, a heavy unit is placed on the upper structure,
For example, when the automatic document feeder is installed, the torsional force of the torsion bar and the acting force due to the weight of the upper structure become unbalanced, the upper structure becomes insufficiently open, and the jammed paper is removed from the transfer paper transport path. There was a problem that the work etc. became difficult.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Therefore, the present invention is to solve such a problem. That is, the upper structure is configured to be openable and closable with respect to the lower structure with one end as a pivot point, and the upper structure is pivotally biased in the opening direction by a torsion bar provided at the pivot point so that the upper structure has a predetermined tilt position. In the image forming apparatus configured to hold, the adjustment of the torsion angle of the torsion bar for holding the inclination angle of the upper structure at a predetermined value can be performed by a simple mechanism and easy adjustment work. An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus capable of preventing the balance of the acting force due to the torsional force of the torsion bar and the weight of the upper structure body.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 1 is divided into an upper structure and a lower structure, and the upper structure uses one end as a fulcrum with respect to the lower structure. In an image forming apparatus that is supported so as to be openable and closable, in order to urge the upper structure in the opening direction with respect to the lower structure with one end as a fulcrum, it is necessary to penetrate both structures at a position corresponding to the fulcrum. The torsion bar arranged, and an adjusting member slidably attached to the side plate of the upper structure to adjust the torsion angle of the torsion bar, and the torsion bar slidably contacting the end of the torsion bar to adjust the torsion angle of the torsion bar. And an inclined end surface provided on the adjusting member for holding the adjustment member in a predetermined manner.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, the adjusting member has a structure in which a plurality of mounting member holes are arranged along the sliding direction. According to a third aspect of the invention, at least one of the mounting member holes is a mounting member elongated hole. According to the invention of claim 4,
At least one of the mounting member holes is an elongated hole having large diameter holes at both ends.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, the slanted end face is slanted in a direction that prevents the adjustment member from being displaced when the upper structure is biased in the opening direction. And The invention according to claim 6 is characterized in that the side plate is provided with an index indicating a sliding position of the adjusting member.

[0009]

According to the first aspect of the invention, the image forming apparatus constructed as described above is provided on the adjusting member by adjusting the position of the adjusting member slidably attached to the side plate of the upper structure. Since the torsion angle of the torsion bar that contacts the inclined end face and pushes up the upper structure is adjusted to open the upper structure at a predetermined angle with respect to the lower structure, a mechanism that makes it easy to adjust the torsion angle of the torsion bar. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the unbalance between the torsional force of the torsion bar and the acting force due to the weight of the upper structure.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, the adjusting member slidably attached to the side plate of the upper structure is provided with a plurality of mounting member holes in the sliding direction, and the torsion angle of the torsion bar is adjusted by adjusting the position of the inclined end surface. Since the upper structure is opened to a predetermined angle with respect to the lower structure, the torsion angle of the torsion bar can be adjusted by a simple mechanism and easy adjustment work. It is possible to reliably prevent the imbalance of the acting force due to the weight of the.

In the present invention, the adjusting member slidably mounted on the side plate of the upper structure is provided with a mounting member hole,
At least one of the mounting member holes is a mounting member elongated hole, and by adjusting the position of the inclined end surface by changing the position of the adjusting member, the torsion angle of the torsion bar is adjusted, and the upper structure with respect to the lower structure. Since it is opened to a predetermined angle with a simple mechanism and easier adjustment work, the torsion bar torsion angle and the acting force due to the weight of the upper structure are unbalanced. It can be surely prevented.

In the present invention, the adjusting member slidably attached to the side plate of the upper structure is provided with the attaching member hole,
At least one of the mounting member holes is an elongated hole having large diameter holes at both ends, and the torsion angle of the torsion bar is adjusted by adjusting the position of the inclined end surface by changing the position of the adjusting member. Since the upper structure is opened at a predetermined angle with respect to the lower structure, the torsion angle of the torsion bar can be adjusted by a simple mechanism and easier adjustment work. It is possible to reliably prevent the imbalance of the acting force due to the weight.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the mechanism in which the torsion bar pushes up the adjusting member slidably attached to the side plate of the upper structure, the inclined end surface is provided so as to be inclined in the direction for preventing the adjusting member from being displaced. Therefore, by adjusting the position of the adjusting member, the torsion angle of the torsion bar can be adjusted, and the upper structure can be opened to a predetermined angle with respect to the lower structure, so that the torsion angle of the torsion bar can be easily adjusted. Therefore, the adjustment work becomes easier, and the balance between the torsional force of the torsion bar and the acting force due to the weight of the upper structure can be prevented from being lost.

In the present invention, since the index for clarifying the position of the adjusting member is formed on the side plate, the opening angle of the upper structure is accurately adjusted by determining the position of the adjusting member using the index as a guide. Therefore, it becomes possible to reliably prevent the balance between the torsional force of the torsion bar and the acting force due to the weight of the upper structure from being unbalanced.

[0015]

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 are views for explaining the conventional problems. In FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus is, for example, a small clamshell type electrophotographic copying machine, and the upper and lower structures are provided. It is divided into two. Upper structure 1
A torsion bar 4 is used to maintain a state in which one end of the lower structure 3 is a fulcrum 2 and the other end is open. Since the pressure plate 9 is used on the upper structure 1 in FIG. 1, the load applied from the upper structure is reduced, so that the upper structure 1 is rotationally biased with respect to the lower structure 3 about the fulcrum 2. The open angle A is maintained by the elastic force of the torsion bar 4 (front torsion bar 4a, rear torsion bar 4b).

Next, on the upper structure 1 of FIG. 2, a unit having a heavier weight than the pressure plate 9, for example, an automatic document feeder 10 is provided.
And the like, the opening angle B when the upper structure 1 is rotationally biased with respect to the lower structure 3 about the fulcrum 2 is as follows: opening angle A> opening angle B It is in a state where a wide opening angle cannot be obtained.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing an open state of the image forming apparatus to which the present invention is applied, and FIGS. 4 and 5 are enlarged views of the essential parts thereof. 3 to 5, side plates 5 (front side plate 5a1 and front side plate 5a) provided on the upper structure 1 and the lower structure 3, respectively.
2, rear side plate 5b1, fulcrum 2 provided on the rear side plate 5b1)
The front torsion bar 4a and the rear torsion bar 4b are respectively penetrated through the (through holes), and one of the axial end portions of the front torsion bar 4a and the rear torsion bar 4b has a lower structure so that a predetermined torsion angle can be obtained. It is fixed to the body 3, and the other engages with the adjusting member 6 provided on the upper structure 1. That is, both the torsion bars 4a and 4b always open the upper structure 1 at a predetermined angle and urge it so as to maintain the open state, but when the upper structure is closed to the lower structure, A lock member (not shown) maintains the closed state. However, when the lock member is released, the upper structure is opened by the spring force of both torsion bars 4a and 4b,
Maintain a predetermined opening angle.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of a main part on the front side of FIG. 3, and FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of a main part on the back side. In the front side shown in FIG. 4, one end 4b 'of one torsion bar 4b has a lower structure. It is fixed by a fixing portion 11 provided on the body 3, and the other torsion bar 4
The end 4c 'of a is slidably engaged with the inclined end surface 7 of the adjusting member 6. On the back side shown in FIG. 5, the end 4a ″ of the other torsion bar 4a is fixed by the lower structure 3, and the end 4b ″ of the one torsion bar 4b is the inclined end surface of the adjusting member 6 provided in the upper structure 1. 7 is slidably engaged.
The inclined end surface 7 of this embodiment is formed at the tip edge of the plate portion 6A extending in the direction orthogonal to each side plate 5, and the inclined end surface 7 has an inclined state in which it projects upward.

In the above structure, when the lock is released, the spring force of the torsion bar causes each torsion bar end 4 to move.
a ', 4b "presses the inclined end face 7 of each adjusting member and pushes it up. Therefore, the upper structure 1 is opened in the opening direction. Between the inclined end face 7 and the end of the torsion bar. Since the thrust force acts on the upper member, the upper member can be reliably pushed up without the risk of disengagement between the two members, and the adjusting member 6 is configured to be detachable with respect to the side plate or vertically slidable, It is possible to adjust the opening angle of the upper structure by adjusting the vertical position (position in the D direction) with a screw etc. Therefore, when the weight of the upper structure is large, the position of the adjusting member 6 is predetermined. It is possible to prevent the decrease of the opening amount as a result of setting the opening angle to a large value by shifting the opening lengthwise upward.

6 and 7 show another embodiment of the present invention, in which the inclined end surface of the adjusting member of the embodiment of FIGS. 4 and 5 is the side plate 5.
Although it is provided at the tip edge of the plate portion 6A extending in the direction orthogonal to, the characteristic feature of this embodiment is that the inclined end surface is provided at the lower end edge of the adjusting member having a surface parallel to the side plate surface. . That is, in FIG. 6 and FIG. 7, the adjusting member 6 has a configuration in which a plurality of mounting member holes 8 are arranged in the sliding direction of the arrow E shown in the drawing. A configuration having four holes 8d, a mounting member hole 8e, and a mounting member hole 8f will be described.

When the mounting member hole 8d and the mounting member hole 8f of the adjusting member 6 are screwed to the side plate 5 by the set screw 13, the adjusting member 6 is fixed in the solid line position, so that the upper structure 1
When is rotated from the closed position to the open position, the torsion amount of the torsion bar 4 becomes the torsion angle F (FIG. 6). When the adjusting member 6 is moved to the right in the sliding direction of the arrow E in the drawing and the mounting member hole 8c and the mounting member hole 8e are screwed to the side plate 5 (not shown) by the set screw 13, the adjusting member 6 becomes Since it moves to the position indicated by the dotted line 6 in FIG. 6, the torsion amount of the torsion bar 4 when the upper structure is opened is the torsion angle G (FIG. 7). The twist angle F is larger than the twist angle G, and the twist angle F> the twist angle G. Therefore, when a load such as an automatic document feeder is mounted on the upper structure 1, the opening angle is adjusted to F. By positioning the members,
It is possible to prevent the situation where the opening angle becomes small due to the increase in load. The inclined end surface 7 with which the end 4'formed by bending the tip of the torsion bar 4 abuts is sufficiently protruded from the side plate 5 so that the end 4'can be easily engaged.

FIG. 8 shows another embodiment. In FIG.
The mounting member hole 8 is at least one mounting member elongated hole 8
a, for example, the mounting member hole 8a, the mounting member hole 8e,
It has three mounting member holes 8f. The longitudinal direction of the long hole 8a and the arrangement direction of the holes 8e and 8f are parallel to the sliding direction (H direction). The adjusting member 6 can move in the sliding direction of the arrow H shown by loosening the set screw 13 of the mounting member elongated hole 8a, and either the mounting member hole 8e or the mounting member hole 8f can be moved. When the set screw 13 is screwed, the torsion bar 4 when the upper structure is closed
The difference in the twist angle of is I as shown in the figure. As described above, the twist angle is selected according to the weight of the upper structure.

FIG. 9 shows another embodiment. In FIG.
The mounting member hole 8 has at least one large diameter hole portion 8b, and here, for example, the mounting member elongated hole 8a and the large diameter hole portion 8 are provided.
A configuration having two b will be described. In other words,
Large diameter holes 8b1 and 8b2 are provided at both ends of one of the two elongated holes 8a and 8b. After loosening the set screw 13 attached to the large diameter hole 8b and moving the adjusting member 6 in the sliding direction of the arrow J shown in the figure, either one end 8b1 or the other end b2 of the large diameter hole 8b is removed. When the set screw 13 is screwed, the difference in the torsion angle of the torsion bar 4 when the upper structure is closed is ΔK shown in the figure.

FIG. 10 shows an embodiment of an image forming apparatus to which the adjusting members shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 are applied. The inclined end face 7 is tilted in the tilting direction of the upper structure 1 with respect to the lower structure 3. It is set to be higher in the direction of the fulcrum 2 at one end (FIG. 10, upper left). FIG. 11 is a modification of FIG.
On the side plate 5, an index 12 such as a marking line is provided at the sliding position of the adjusting member 6 which slides in the direction of the arrow N shown. Therefore, the position of the adjusting member 6 is clarified by the index 12, and the opening force of the upper structure 1 (not shown) with respect to the lower structure 3 (not shown) can be specified accurately with the aim.

FIG. 12 shows another embodiment, in which the inclined end face 7 of the adjusting member is in the opposite direction to that of FIG. 10, and the inclined end face is lowered toward the fulcrum 2. Therefore, when one end of the upper structure 1 is opened to the lower structure 3 in the direction of the arrow L with the fulcrum 2 as a fulcrum 2 and, for example, when the torsion angle of the torsion bar 4 is changed, through the mounting member hole Even if the set screw 13 that fixes the adjustment member 6 to the side plate 5 is loosened, the force of the torsion bar 4 pushing up the inclined end surface 7 causes the adjustment member 6 to move toward the inclined end surface 7.
Since it can be prevented from sliding down in the direction of the arrow M along the direction, the adjusting member 6 can be positioned at a predetermined position by an easy work.

[0026]

As described above, according to the invention of claim 1, by adjusting the position of the adjusting member slidably attached to the side plate of the upper structure, the inclined end surface provided on the adjusting member is adjusted. The torsion angle of the torsion bar that slides and pushes it up can be adjusted, and the upper structure is opened to a predetermined angle with respect to the lower structure, so the torsion angle of the torsion bar can be easily adjusted, and the torsion bar can be adjusted. It is possible to prevent the balance of the acting force from being unbalanced due to the torsional force of the bar and the weight of the upper structure.

According to the invention of claim 2, the torsion angle of the torsion bar is adjusted by adjusting the position of the adjusting member which is slidably mounted on the side plate of the upper structure and has a plurality of mounting member holes in the sliding direction. Is adjusted so that the upper structure is opened at a predetermined angle with respect to the lower structure, the torsion angle of the torsion bar can be easily adjusted, and the mechanism is also simple. It is possible to reliably prevent the imbalance of the acting forces due to the weight of the structure.

According to the third aspect of the invention, the position of the adjusting member which is slidably mounted on the side plate of the upper structure and at least one of the mounting member holes is the mounting member elongated hole is adjusted to adjust the position of the torsion bar. Since the upper structure is opened to a predetermined angle with respect to the lower structure by adjusting the twist angle, it is easy to adjust the torsion angle of the torsion bar, and the torsion bar torsion force and the action force due to the weight of the upper structure. It is possible to reliably prevent the imbalance of the.

According to the fourth aspect of the invention, the torsion bar is adjusted by adjusting the position of the adjusting member slidably attached to the side plate of the upper structure and having the long holes having the large diameter holes at both ends. Since the upper structure is opened to a predetermined angle with respect to the lower structure by adjusting the twist angle of the, the torsion angle of the torsion bar can be easily adjusted, and the torsion force of the torsion bar and the weight of the upper structure can be adjusted. It is possible to reliably prevent the imbalance of the acting forces.

According to the invention of claim 5, the inclined end surface provided on the adjusting member slidably attached to the side plate of the upper structure is constructed so as to be inclined in the direction in which the deviation of the adjusting member is prevented. The torsion angle of the torsion bar is adjusted by adjusting the position of the adjusting member, and the upper structure can be opened to a predetermined angle with respect to the lower structure.As a result, the torsion angle of the torsion bar can be easily adjusted, and the torsion bar of the torsion bar can be easily adjusted. It is possible to prevent the balance of the acting force from being unbalanced due to the torsional force and the weight of the upper structure.

According to the invention of claim 6, by adjusting the position of the adjusting member slidably attached to the side plate having the index for clarifying the sliding position, the position of the inclined end face provided on the adjusting member is adjusted. Since the torsion angle of the torsion bar is adjusted by properly setting, the upper structure can be opened to a predetermined angle with respect to the lower structure, and the torsion angle of the torsion bar can be easily adjusted. It is possible to reliably prevent the unbalance of the acting force due to the twisting force of the upper structure and the weight of the upper structure.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a defect of a conventional image forming apparatus.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a defect of a conventional image forming apparatus.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating an image forming apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view illustrating a main part of an adjusting member according to an embodiment of the present invention.

5 is an enlarged view for explaining a main part of another adjusting member of the embodiment of FIG.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a state of a main part of an image forming apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention.

7 is an explanatory diagram of the operation of the embodiment of FIG.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a state of a main part of another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a state of a main part of another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is an operation explanatory diagram of the image forming apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a structural explanatory view of an image forming apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is an operation explanatory diagram of an image forming apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... Upper structure, 2 ... Support point, 3 ... Lower structure,
4 ... torsion bar, 4a ... front torsion bar, 4b ... rear torsion bar, 5 ... side plate, 5a
1-2: front side plate, 5b1-2: rear side plate, 6 ...
・ Adjusting member, 7 ... Inclined end face, 8 ... Mounting member hole,
8a ... Mounting member oblong hole, 8b ... Large diameter hole portion, 8b1
... one end, 8b2 ... other end, 8c ... mounting member hole, 8d ... mounting member hole, 8e ... mounting member hole, 8
f ... Mounting member hole, 9 ... Pressure plate, 10 ... Automatic document feeder, 11 ... Fixed part, 12 ... Index, 13
... Set screws.

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. An image forming apparatus that is divided into an upper structure and a lower structure, and the upper structure is openably and closably supported with respect to the lower structure with one end as a fulcrum. A torsion bar arranged so as to penetrate through both structures at a position corresponding to the fulcrum in order to urge it in the opening direction, and slidably attached to the side plate of the upper structure. An adjusting member for adjusting the torsion angle of the torsion bar, and an inclined end surface provided on the adjusting member for slidingly contacting the end portion of the torsion bar to hold the torsion angle of the torsion bar at a predetermined value. Image forming apparatus. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1,
The image forming apparatus, wherein the adjusting member has a structure in which a plurality of mounting member holes are arranged along the sliding direction. 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the mounting member holes is a mounting member elongated hole. 4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein at least one of the mounting member holes is an elongated hole having large diameter holes at both ends. Image forming apparatus. 5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, 2, 3 or 4, wherein the inclined end surface is inclined in a direction that prevents the adjustment member from being displaced when the upper structure is biased in the opening direction. An image forming apparatus having the above structure. 6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5, wherein the side plate is provided with an index indicating a fixed position in the sliding direction of the adjusting member. apparatus.