JPH0950223A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent a user from getting injured by touching a handle when the handle is projected, and to improve the appearance of an image forming device when the handle is housed, by attaching a protective cover to the top area of the handle which can be housed in the side surface of a device housing and forming the handle so that its end face may be aligned with the armor surface of the housing when the handle is housed. SOLUTION: The handle 5 is attached to slide in the base structural body of the housing, and its rear end 6 is formed in an opening-out state so that the handle 5 may not fall off when it is drawn out from the device housing. In order to enhance member strength, the handle 5 has a U-shaped cross section. A stopper 7 made of a soft resin is attached to the top of the handle 5. A space between the stopper 7 and the rear end in the opening-out state is a grip part 8. The outer end face of the stopper 7 is shaped to conform to the armor surface of the housing in the case where the handle 5 is housed in the device housing. When the handle 5 is housed in the housing, it is outwardly integrated with the outside armor, and a place for directly drawing out the handle 5 from the outside is eliminated.

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 or a laser printer, and more particularly to a portable table-type apparatus in which an attached handle is used for carrying.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a so-called table-type image forming apparatus having a size of a medium-sized class or less, the weight thereof is relatively light, and therefore, the apparatus is generally lifted and transported during installation and movement. Is. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 1, a support portion 2 into which a hand can be inserted at the lower end edge of the apparatus housing 1.
It is known that the structure is integrally formed. In such a structure, since the support portion 2 is formed on the housing,
The manufacturing cost is low, and the appearance is natural.

However, because of its structure, the body of the device is supported by the fingertips during transportation, so that even a tabletop type is lighter in weight, but it is not safe to carry as the weight increases. There is a fear.

Therefore, there is also known a copying machine having a structure in which a handle is attached to a side surface parallel to the longitudinal direction of the housing. With such a structure, the device is more reliably supported when carried, and safety during transportation is ensured. On the other hand, however, the handle is present as a protrusion on the outside of the device casing, which is dangerous after the device is installed.

Recently, as shown in FIG. 2 (a),
An image forming apparatus having a handle 3 that can be put in and taken out of the apparatus housing 1 is being used. In such a device, the grip 3 is pulled out when moving, each grip is used by hand, and after installation, the grip is stored in the housing.

A pull-out type handle 3 is shown in FIG. 2 (b).
Handle 3 slidably attached to the base structure of the housing
Has a structure in which the outwardly open rear end 4 is locked to the base structure or the device housing so as not to be pulled out when fully pulled out from the device housing. Also, the tip of the handle has a bulge, which serves as a grip stopper. Since the handle is for supporting the entire weight of the main body of the device, strength is normally secured by using metal.

[0007]

However, when pulling out the handle when moving the device and forgetting to store the handle after installation, when the user passes near the device, the user comes into contact with the metal handle and is injured. There is a risk.

Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an object thereof is to form an image which is unlikely to be dangerous to the user even if the handle is forgotten to be stored, and which does not give an unnatural appearance when stored. To provide a device.

Further, the handle that can be stored needs to be easily pulled out at the time of use. On the other hand, if the handle can be pulled out and used while the device is in operation, it poses the above-mentioned danger, and the device is in operation during operation. There is also a risk of causing problems such as carrier deterioration due to skew or agent leakage, image deterioration of transfer paper, disconnection of power cord, etc. Therefore, as a second problem, an image forming apparatus is provided in which the handle can be easily pulled out while the apparatus is stopped and cannot be pulled out while the apparatus is in operation.

[0010]

In order to solve the first problem, according to the present invention, in an image forming apparatus having a handle which can be stored on the side surface of the apparatus housing, a protective cover is attached to the front end region of the handle. Then, when the handle is stored, the end surface is formed so as to match the exterior surface of the housing.

In order to solve the second problem, the handle pull-out means closed by the jam clearance opening formed on the side surface of the housing is arranged so as to be operably exposed when the opening is opened. It should be installed. Alternatively, when pulling out the paper feed tray that can be pulled out from the housing, the handle pulling-out means provided therein may be disposed so as to be operably exposed. It is still more convenient if the handle pull-out means is provided with the handle storage detecting means.

[0012]

The details of the present invention will be described based on the embodiments shown in the drawings. FIG. 3 shows a schematic appearance of the handle 5 according to the present invention. Like the conventional handle 3, this handle 5 is slidably attached to the base structure of the housing, and its rear end 6 is formed in an open-out shape so as not to fall off when the handle is pulled out from the apparatus housing. Has been formed. It has a U-shaped cross section to increase the strength of the member. A soft resin stopper 7 is attached to the tip of the handle. A grip portion 8 is formed between the resin stopper 7 and the rear end of the outer opening. As can be seen in FIG. 4, the outer end surface of the resin stopper 7 has a shape that follows the housing exterior surface when housed in the apparatus housing 1. When the handle 5 is housed in the housing, it is externally integrated with the housing exterior, and the portion where the handle is pulled out directly from the outside can be eliminated, and the handle can be prevented from being pulled out due to a malfunction, and the appearance can be improved. It will be possible. In FIG. 4, of the pair of grips 5, only the one on the rear side of the device housing 1 is projected from the housing. However, when one grip 5 is pulled out, the other grip is also pulled out. May be. One example thereof will be described below with reference to FIGS. 3 and 5.

On the side surface of the housing, in addition to the opening and closing by a pull-out type paper feed tray, there is a surface that can be opened for jam clearance and a surface that is opened when the manual feed tray is used. FIG. 5 shows a state in which the door 10 of the transfer sheet vertical transport unit, which is opened when a transfer sheet jam occurs, is opened. The picking portion 1 is provided at a position facing the side surface of the vertical transfer portion of the transfer paper.
1 is arranged so as to project through the guide hole 12. The door 10 is formed with a notch 13 for allowing the knob 10 to escape so that the presence of the knob 11 does not hinder the opening and closing of the door 10. As is apparent from FIG. 3, the knob portion 11 is slidable in the A and B directions along the guide hole 12. When the knob 11 is moved in the direction A, the rear claw 15 of the guide member 14 formed integrally with the knob 11 is formed.
However, by pushing the rear end of the handle 5, the handle grip portion 11 is projected from the housing, and the handle 5 can be pulled out by the grip portion 11. When the guide member 14 is displaced toward the outside of the housing by the operation of the knob portion 11, another guide member 18 also moves toward the outside of the housing via the crank arm 16, the crank shaft 17, etc. connected to the guide member 14, and the rear thereof. The claw 20 pushes the one grip 5 of the pair.

When the handle 5 has been used and is to be stored in the housing, when the stopper 7 is pushed into the housing, the rear end of the handle moves the guide member 14 rearward through the rear claw 15. The handle 11 is displaced and moves in the B direction along the guide hole 12. Rear convex portion 21 of the guide member 14
Operates the push-in detection means 22 and recognizes that the handle is completely stored. By operating this detection means 22,
It is possible to warn the user that the handle 5 is not housed or to forcibly stop the copying operation on the operation panel.

When using the handle, the gripping portion 1 is temporarily used.
1 is displaced in the A direction and the picking portion 11
When returning to the B direction, another vertical claw 24 formed on the guide member 14 comes into contact with the rear end of the handle, and the handle 5 is stored again in the housing. This can inform the user that the operation is inappropriate.

FIG. 6 shows another structure for pulling out the handle 5. When the lower tray 26 of the apparatus front drawer type paper feed tray is pulled out, the base structure 27 is exposed.
A knob 28 is projected on the base structure 27. When the knob 28 is moved along the guide hole 29, the handle 5 is protruded from the housing 1 via a guide member (not shown) in the same manner as above. You can withdraw.

The pulling out of the handle accompanying the opening of the paper carrying door and the paper feeding tray is performed only when the members are opened and the device is forcibly opened.
Since the device is forcibly stopped, use of the handle while the device is operating is reliably prevented.

[0018]

According to the apparatus of the first aspect, a protective cover is attached to the tip end region of the handle which can be stored on the side surface of the apparatus casing,
Since the end surface of the handle is formed so as to match the outer surface of the housing when the handle is stored, contact injury of the user when the handle is projected can be prevented, and the appearance of the image forming apparatus can be improved when the handle is stored.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the handle pull-out means closed by the jam clearance opening formed on the side surface of the housing is arranged so as to be operably exposed when the opening is opened. According to the apparatus of claim 3, when pulling out the paper feed tray that can be pulled out from the housing, the handle pulling-out means provided therein is disposed so as to be operably exposed. Therefore, as a condition that the handle can be used, it can be restricted only when the image forming apparatus is stopped, and when the handle is pulled out, the handle can be easily pulled out,
The handle cannot be pulled out when the device is in operation, and careless pulling out of the handle during operation can be prevented in advance, and movement of the device in operation can be avoided. According to the apparatus of claim 4, since the handle pull-out means is provided with the handle storage detecting means, the user is warned that the handle is not stored when not in use, and the handle is surely stored when the device is in operation. As a result, it is possible to prevent a user contact injury due to unnecessary pulling out of the handle.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a conventional structure in which a support recess for transportation is integrally formed at a lower end edge of an apparatus housing.

2A and 2B show a conventional structure having a pull-out type handle, wherein FIG. 2A is an overall perspective view, and FIG. 2B is a perspective view of the handle structure.

FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view of a handle and a guide member according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a state in which a handle of FIG. 3 is pulled out.

FIG. 5 is a schematic perspective view illustrating a structure in which opening / closing of a door of a vertical conveyance unit and pulling out of a handle are associated with each other.

FIG. 6 is a schematic perspective view illustrating a structure in which opening / closing of a paper feed tray and pulling out of a handle are associated with each other.

[Explanation of symbols]

 5 Handle 7 Stopper 11 Handle 12 Guide hole 14 Guide member 15 Rear claw 16 Crank arm 22 Push-in detection means

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. An image forming apparatus having a handle that can be stored on a side surface of an apparatus casing, wherein a protective cover is attached to a front end region of the handle, and an end surface of the protective cover is formed so as to coincide with an outer surface of the casing when the handle is stored. An image forming apparatus characterized by the above. 2. The handle pull-out means closed by a jam clearance opening formed on the side surface of the housing is arranged so as to be operably exposed when the opening is opened. The image forming apparatus according to Item 1. 3. The pulling-out means provided inside is arranged so as to be operably exposed when pulling out a paper feed tray that can be pulled out from the housing.
An image forming apparatus according to claim 1. 4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the handle pull-out means is provided with a handle storage detecting means.