JPH09222763A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming device capable of making the dirt and a break on an outside cover on a front surface of the device main body being inconspicuous by an observer. SOLUTION: In this device, the front surface 8 and the rear surface of the outside cover 4 can be used as the outside surface, by providing the outside cover 4 of the front surface of the device main body in freely attachably and detachably corresponding to the device main body, while disposing the same shape engaging part for instance, an engaging hole 11, which is severally present on either front or rear surface of the outside cover 4, on the position becoming the same position in a state that the outside cover 4 is inverted in the lateral direction in the case of viewing it from the front surface.

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 and a printer, and more particularly to the structure of an exterior cover on the front of the main body of the apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, in an image forming apparatus, an outer cover on the front surface of the main body of the apparatus (the surface on the side of the user) is opened and closed to
Replaces a unit with a long life, such as a single photosensitive body, a photosensitive body cartridge, or a developing cartridge, or performs jam processing and supply supply.

[0003]

As described above, since the user's front exterior cover is frequently opened and closed by directly touching the hand, it is more likely to get dirty and scratched than other exterior surfaces of the apparatus body. There was a problem.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide an image forming apparatus capable of preventing the exterior cover on the front surface of the apparatus main body from being contaminated and damaged.

[0005]

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus, wherein an outer cover on the front side of the apparatus body is detachably attached to the apparatus body, and the front and back surfaces of the outer cover are different from each other. It is characterized in that a locking portion having the same shape is provided at the same position when the exterior cover is inverted in the left-right direction when viewed from the front of the hand.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the first aspect, the same design is applied to the front surface and the back surface of the exterior cover.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the first aspect, different designs are provided on the front surface and the back surface of the exterior cover.

[0008]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment. An exterior cover 4 on the front side is provided by covers 2 and 3 on both sides of the apparatus main body 1 so as to be rotatable around shaft support portions 5 and 6 on both sides of the lower end (both sides of the lower end when viewed from the front). ing.

An operation display section 7 is provided above the front of the apparatus body 1 so that the user can stand on the front side of the apparatus body 1 to operate the operation display section 7 and confirm the displayed contents. ing. Also, as mentioned above, unit replacement,
The exterior cover 4 is rotated as needed to open and close the inside for supplementation of supplies, jam processing, and the like.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the surface of the outer cover and the structure of the shaft support portion, and FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the back surface of the outer cover. As shown in FIG. 2, a product name 9 such as “A-5550” is printed on the surface 8 of the outer cover 4. Engaging pins 10 are formed so as to project inward on the device body side (covers 2, 3 side), and engaging holes for engaging with the engaging pins 10 are formed on both sides of the lower end on the exterior cover 4 side. 1
1 is formed.

The engaging pin 10 and the engaging hole 11 form the exterior cover 4
The shaft support portions 5 and 6 of the exterior cover 4 are configured by engaging at both ends of the. The outer cover 4 can be removed from the apparatus main body 1 by pushing the covers 2 and 3 slightly outward and pulling out the engagement pin 10 from the engagement hole 11.

As shown in FIG. 3, the back surface 1 of the outer cover 4 is shown.
Different from the surface 8, a predetermined pattern is printed on the surface 2.
Also on the back surface 12, engagement holes 11 that engage with the engagement pins 10 are formed on both sides of the lower end thereof. That is, with the back surface 12 facing outward, the exterior cover 4 is attached to the apparatus main body 1
It can also be set to.

The front surface 8 and the back surface 12 of the outer cover 4 have different designs in the above embodiment, but they may have the same design. The contents of the design are painting, printing,
Various things such as two-color molding and sheet attachment are possible.

Further, as the structure of the shaft supporting portions 5 and 6, the engaging pins 10 are provided on the covers 2 and 3, and the engaging hole 1 is formed on the exterior cover 4.
Although 1 is provided, the relationship may be reversed. Further, instead of directly providing the shaft supporting portion on the covers 2 and 3, a bracket of a sheet metal may be taken out from the apparatus main body 1 and formed there.

Generally, the shaft supporting portions 5 and 6 have the same structure (the engaging pin 10 and the engaging hole 11), but for example, the shaft supporting portion 5 on the left side when viewed from the front is a cylindrical engaging pin and an engaging pin. It is also possible to use a cylindrical engagement hole and use the right-side shaft support portion 6 as a triangular prism-shaped engagement pin and a triangular engagement hole.

Therefore, the front surface 8 and the back surface 1 of the outer cover 4
In order to set the outer cover 2 and the outer cover 4 respectively outwardly, at least on the front and back surfaces of the outer cover 4, and when the outer cover 4 is flipped in the left-right direction when viewed from the front side, the same shape is used. It is necessary to provide a stop (locking hole 11 in this example).

FIG. 4 is a side view showing a state where the outer cover 4 is fixed, and FIG. 5 is a side view showing a state where the outer cover 4 is opened. A push-pull type latch 13 is provided on the apparatus main body 1 side, and the outer cover 4 is fixed by the claws of the latch 13 (see FIG. 4). By pushing the outer cover 4, the claws of the latch 13 are opened upward, and the outer cover 4 is opened (see FIG. 5). When closing, the claws of the latch 13 are pushed and fixed by the upper part of the exterior cover 4.

[0018]

According to the present invention, when one side of the exterior cover is soiled or damaged, the other side can be used as the exterior surface. Also, by giving each surface a different appearance, the machine can be used with a different design.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a structure of a surface of an outer cover and a shaft support portion.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the back surface of the exterior cover.

FIG. 4 is a side view of the exterior cover in a closed state.

FIG. 5 is a side view of the same in an opened state.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Device Main Body 4 Exterior Cover 10 Engagement Pin 11 Engagement Hole

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification number Office reference number FI technical display location H05K 5/03 G03G 15/00 554

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. An outer cover on the front side of the apparatus main body is detachably attached to the main body of the apparatus, and in a state where the outer cover is on the front and back sides of the outer cover in the left-right direction when viewed from the front side of the hand. An image forming apparatus characterized in that locking portions having the same shape are provided at the same position. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the front surface and the back surface of the outer cover have the same design. 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the exterior cover and the back surface have different designs.