JPH10268600A - Supporting member - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a supporting member which can be inserted from the burr surface of a sheet metal part, whose engaging part is prevented from coming off with respect to a sagging surface and which can be attached through one action. SOLUTION: This member 1 is constituted to be attached to a member to be attached in order to support the parts. In such a case, the member 1 is provided with a supporting shaft part 1b having a diameter large enough to be inserted in a hole formed on the member to be attached, supporting arm parts 1d1 and 1d2 integrated with the shaft part 1b at a root part, having shape spreading from the root part to a top part and can be elastically deformed, and a base plate part 1a integrally formed with the shaft part 1b. The arm parts 1d1 and 1d2 are constituted so that the outer surface of the root part may be inside the diameter of the shaft part 1b and the top part may be spread more outward than the hole diameter of the member to be attached, then they have plane parts 1i1 and 1i2 capable of abutting on the member to be attached.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a support member for connecting components such as a frame, a chassis and a housing of an apparatus such as an image forming apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a frame, a chassis, or a housing of office equipment such as an image forming apparatus is formed of a molded product, such as a plastic molded product, or a sheet metal part.
When connecting a plurality of components to each other, if the rotating component is supported by another sheet metal component, it is difficult to form a shaft integrally with the sheet metal component. Prepare members separately. Alternatively, when the sheet metal parts are directly screwed or the like, chattering occurs in a sheet feeding operation of the image forming apparatus or the like, so that a support member, which is a molded product, is separately provided between the sheet metal parts.

FIG. 12 shows a main frame configuration of a paper feeding unit of an image forming apparatus using a conventional dowel support member 50 as a typical example, and FIG. 12A is a top view, and FIG. The front view and (c) are right side views.

[0005] Reference numeral 51 denotes a front frame which is a sheet metal part, 52 denotes a rear frame which is a molded product, and 53 denotes a paper guide plate formed of a sheet metal part. The paper guide plate 53 has a dowel support member on the near side.
It is supported by the front frame 51 via 50, and the back side is the rear frame
It is inserted and attached to a shaft 52a integrally formed from 52. With such a configuration, the paper guide plate 53 is rotatable, and is retracted from a predetermined position when a jam (paper jam) occurs during paper conveyance.

FIG. 13 is an enlarged explanatory view of the vicinity of the dowel supporting member 50 in FIG. 12, and FIG. 14 is a detailed explanatory view of the shape of the dowel supporting member 50. As shown in the figure, a support shaft 50b, a rotation shaft 50c, a knob 50d, and a screw hole 50e are integrally formed from the base plate 50a. After the support shaft 50b is inserted into the hole 51a of the front frame 51, the rotating shaft 50c is inserted into the hole 53a of the paper guide plate 53, and the front frame 51 is screwed through the screw hole 50e.
The dowel support member 50 is screwed into a screw lower hole 51b provided in the 51. At this time, the operator holds the knob 50d and
Align 50e with the pilot hole 51b.

[0006]

However, the conventional dowel support member 50 has the following problems.

(1) In the front frame 51 formed by pressing a sheet metal, since a paper feed mechanism component (not shown) is attached to the inner side 51c, the inner side 51c is a sagging surface, and the outer side 51d is a burr surface. Become. In order to insert the dowel support member 50 from the burr surface, one-touch mounting, which is a fixing method using elastic engaging claws, cannot be performed. For this reason, in the conventional example,
The dowel support member 50 was attached by screwing,
For this purpose, the area of the base plate 50a and the space for the knob 50d must be secured.

Further, a screw 54 has to be prepared for providing a screw lower hole 51b for screwing, which has been a factor of cost increase.

(2) The punched burrs can be said to be the fate of press working for manufacturing sheet metal parts, and burrs are generated even with a high-precision mold. As a method of economically treating this deburring, there is C-face punching by a press punch.

FIG. 15 shows the concept of the press punch. Fig. 15
The burr 55a of the sheet metal part 55 shown in (a) is crushed as shown in (b) by incorporating the press punch 56 into the process, and the C surface 55 is formed.
b can be processed. In the sheet metal part 55 processed in this way,
As shown in FIGS. 16 and 17, there is a conventional example in which the dowel support member 57 is attached one-touch with an engagement claw.

In FIGS. 16 and 17, a support shaft 57a has
Two engaging claws 57b having elasticity are provided integrally.
The support shaft 57a is inserted into the hole 55c of the sheet metal part 55,
Since the guide 57b is guided by the C surface 55b, it is bent by its elasticity and is inserted sufficiently smoothly to be locked on the end face 55d, so that the dowel supporting member 57 is attached to the sheet metal part 55.

However, in order to provide the C surface 55b in the sheet metal part 55, the straight portion 55f of the inner end surface 55e of the hole 55c becomes smaller than the plate thickness t, and the thrust load applied to the dowel supporting member 57 is sufficiently received. Can not do. That is, this conventional example is difficult to apply for load-bearing applications.

In press working, a round surface 55i is formed on a sagging surface 55h opposite to the burr surface 55g.
For b, it is promoted in the exit direction. For this reason,
This conventional example does not have sufficient pull-out strength and is difficult to apply to a structure in which a load is applied in the pull-out direction. Further, as shown in FIG. 15 (c), the mold is poor or the mold is worn, so that the burrs 55a are not sufficiently crushed and remain, and the holes 55a remain.
c, the one-touch attachment with the engagement claw is usually inserted from the sagging surface 55h side.
It becomes impossible to insert the 57a and the engaging claw 57b.

(3) As a similar supporting member, a member 58 commonly called a locking support as shown in FIG.
It has been known. This is mainly used for fixing a board which is an electric component, 59 is a sheet metal part as a chassis or a main board, and 60 is a board to be mounted. Also, 58a
Is an engaging claw having elasticity, which is inserted into the hole 59a. 59
Is a sheet metal part, it is inserted through the sagging surface 59b.

On the other hand, when both 59 and 60 are substrates,
Since the material is paper phenol or glass epoxy, and no burrs are formed around the holes 59a and 60a during processing, it is inserted from any direction.

However, such a locking support 58 has the size and shape of the engaging claw 58a which is easy to remove for maintenance of the substrate 60, and the insertion surface 58b of the engaging claw 58a is also inserted from the burr surface. Not considered.
Further, the weight of the substrate 60 is usually several hundred grams, and no load other than its own weight is applied.
Does not take into account sufficient load resistance, pull-out strength, and the like, and does not take into account, for example, the rotation of attached components.

Therefore, the above-mentioned locking support 58 is not suitable for use of a sheet metal member constituting a frame, such as being inserted through a burr surface.

The present invention solves the above problems,
An object of the present invention is to provide a support member which can be inserted by a burr surface of a sheet metal part and can be attached by one-touch so that an engagement portion does not come off from a sag surface.

[0019]

In order to achieve the above object, a typical configuration according to the present invention is a support member which is mounted on a member to be mounted for supporting a component, wherein a hole formed in the member to be mounted is provided. A support shaft having a diameter that can be inserted,
A support arm that is integral with the support shaft portion at the base portion and that extends from the base portion toward the distal end portion and that can be elastically deformed; and a base plate portion that is integrally formed with the support shaft portion. The support arm portion is configured such that the outer surface of the base portion is inside the diameter of the support shaft portion, and the distal end portion is wider than the hole diameter of the member to be mounted, and the mounting member and It is characterized in that it has a contactable flat part.

In the above configuration, since the outer surface of the base portion of the support arm portion is inside the diameter of the support shaft portion, the support arm portion is inserted into the hole from the burr surface of the sheet metal member having a burr as a member to be attached. In addition, the tip of the support arm portion elastically deformed and inserted into the hole spreads out beyond the diameter of the hole, and the flat portion is formed on the member to be attached, so that the tip comes off from the sagging surface. Without this, the engaged state is maintained.

[0021]

Next, a support member according to an embodiment of the present invention will be specifically described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a main frame configuration of a sheet feeding unit of an image forming apparatus using a dowel supporting member according to an embodiment of the present invention. Note that, if (a) is a top view, (b) is a front view, and (c) is a right side view.

In the figures, 1 is a dowel support member, 2 is a front frame which is an attached member formed by pressing a sheet metal, 3 is a rear frame which is a molded product, and 4 is a paper guide plate which is formed of a sheet metal. ing. The paper guide plate 4 has a front side provided with a front frame 2 through a dowel support member 1.
The rear side is inserted and attached to a shaft 3a integrally formed from the rear frame 3.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of the vicinity of the dowel support member 1 of FIG. The dowel support member 1 which is a molded product has a support shaft portion 1b formed integrally with a base plate portion 1a, and a rotary shaft portion 1c formed integrally therewith.

FIG. 3 is a detailed explanatory view of the dowel support member 1, where (a) is a top view, (b) is a front view, (c) is a right side view, (d) is a rear view, and (e) () Is an AA cross-sectional view of (b). FIG. 4 is an enlarged explanatory view of FIG. 1 (a), and FIG.
FIG. 6 is an enlarged explanatory view of FIG. 1B, FIG. 6 is an enlarged explanatory view of FIG.
8 is an enlarged explanatory view of FIG. 1D, and FIG. 8 is an enlarged explanatory view of FIG.

The support arm 1d is located at a symmetric position of the support shaft 1b.
1 and 1d2 are formed, and a slit 1e is provided on each side.
1 and 1e2 are formed, whereby the support arm 1 is formed.
d1 and 1d2 are elastically deformable.

As shown in FIG. 8, the support arms 1d1 and 1d2 are provided integrally with the support shaft 1b at the base, and extend from the base toward the tip (insertion into the hole 2a). (Backward in the direction). The outer surface of the base portion is configured to be inside the diameter of the support shaft portion 1b, and the front end portion is wider than the hole diameter of the front frame 2 which is the attached member.

FIG. 9 is a top view showing a state where the dowel supporting member 1 is attached to the front frame, and FIG. 10 is a right side view of the same.

The support shaft 1b is inserted through a hole 2a provided in the front frame 2. C around the tip of the support shaft 1b
The surface 1f is formed, and the support shaft 1b is inserted into the hole 2a without being hindered by the burr 2b existing around the hole 2a. The rotating shaft 1c is inserted through a hole 4a provided in the paper guide plate 4. A C-plane 1g is formed around the tip of the rotating shaft 1c, so that the rotating shaft 1c is smoothly inserted into the hole 2a.

Further, as described above, in the dowel support member 1, in order to facilitate the insertion of the front frame 2 from the burr surface 2c, the base portions of the support arms 1d1 and 1d2, that is, the support arms 1
The outer surface of the portion where d1, 1d2 first enters the hole 2a is set smaller than the diameter of the support shaft portion 1b. As shown in FIG. 7, the outer surfaces 1h1, 1h1 of the bases of the support arms 1d1, 1d2
1h2 is inside the diameter D1 of the support shaft 1b by a dimension a.

Therefore, since the outer surfaces of the support arms 1d1 and 1d2 are widened outward, the support shaft 1b enters the hole 2a first, so that the support shaft 1b enters the hole 2a for smooth insertion. An opportunity is given. That is,
The support arms 1d1 and 1d2 are smoothly inserted in the range of the dimension b in FIG. 9 in which the outer surfaces of the support arms 1d1 and 1d2 are inside D1. In the present embodiment, the dimension b is about 40% of the total length c of the support arms 1d1 and 1d2, which is sufficient as a trigger for smooth insertion.

Here, a method of engaging and supporting the dowel support member 1 will be described. At the tips of the support arms 1d1 and 1d2,
The engagement slope portions 1j1 and 1j2 are provided. As a result of press working, the periphery of the sagging surface 2d of the hole 2a is rounded 2e, and by setting the dimensions and shapes of the engaging slopes 1j1 and 1j2 to be slightly shrunk, the support arms 1d1 and 1d2 are formed.
The dowel support member 1 is engaged and supported by the hole 2a due to the elasticity of the dowel. Actually, the size and shape of the round saw 2e can change due to the accuracy and wear of the press die, so that it is effective to set the round saw 2e to be slightly shrunk.

The base plate portion 1a has a burr surface 2c.
Is attached with a gap of dimension d from. For this purpose, four projections 1k are formed at equal intervals in the circumferential direction of the base plate portion 1a with a height of a dimension d higher than the height of the burr 2b, and the dowel support member 1 is formed with the projection 1k and the engaging slope portion 1j1.
, 1j2. The projection 1k causes the base plate portion 1a to float from the burr surface 2c,
Burr escape. In this case as well, by setting the distance between the projection 1k and the engaging slopes 1j1 and 1j2 to be slightly tightened, the dowel support member 1 is formed by the elasticity of the support arms 1d1 and 1d2 and the elasticity of the base plate 1a. 2a
Is engaged and supported.

Outside the engaging slopes 1j1 and 1j2, locking flats 1i1 and 1i2 are provided continuously. This is because when a force in the pull-out direction is applied to the dowel support member 1,
Since the engagement slopes 1j1 and 1j2 are in contact with the rounding 2e, the support arms 1d1 and 1d2 are bent inward and move in the direction in which the engagement is released. At this time, the locking flat portions 1i1 and 1i
2 comes into contact with a flat surface 2f outside the round view 2e, so that the dowel support member 1 does not fall out of the hole 2a, and the engaged and supported state is maintained. For this reason, the dimension e in the thrust direction (the direction perpendicular to the direction in which the support member 1 is inserted) of the locking flat portions 1i1 and 1i2 becomes important.

The dowel support member 1 includes locking flat portions 1i1, 1
The outer surface shape of i2 is set to an arc larger than the diameter D1 or a straight line. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5, the outer surfaces 1m1 and 1m2 of the locking flat portions 1i1 and 1i2, respectively.
Is an arc larger than the diameter D1. For example, if the diameter D1 is a radius R = 4 mm, the outer surfaces 1m1 and 1m2 are R = 4.
Can be set to 7mm. Alternatively, the outer surfaces 1m1 and 1m2 may be set as straight lines as shown by thin lines in FIG.

The thus formed supporting arms 1d1, 1d
In the process in which d2 is bent and inserted into the hole 2a, from the position on the diameter D1 of the ridge lines 1n1 and 1n2 of the outer surfaces of the support arms 1d1 and 1d2, that is, from the positions 1p1 and 1p2 of the dimension b,
The burr 2b cuts the ridge lines 1n1 and 1n2 within the range of the end positions 1q1 and 1q2 of the ridge lines 1n1 and 1n2.
The area to be cut is a range shown by oblique lines in FIG. The amount of cutting in the thrust direction is a portion from the outer surface 1m1, 1m2 to the diameter D1, and the area is shown by hatching in FIG.
In FIG. 11, the outer surface 1m1 is represented by a straight line for easy understanding.

By configuring the dowel support member as described above, when the dowel support member 1 is inserted through the burr surface 2c of the hole 2a, the ridge lines 1n1, 1n2 of the support arm portions 1d1, 1d2.
And the center 1r of the outer surface of the locking flat portions 1i1 and 1i2.
In 1 and 1r2, the dimension e required for the engagement support is substantially maintained, and the engagement support state can be reliably maintained without the dowel support member 1 falling out of the hole 2a.

Further, in the support member 1 of the present embodiment,
The support arms 1d1 and 1d2 extend inside, and the knob 1
s1 and 1s2 are formed. Thus, when the dowel support member 1 is detached from the front frame 2, the knobs 1s1,
1s2 can be pinched and bent to be easily extracted.
Since the protrusions of the knobs 1s1 and 1s2 from the base plate 1a are very small, space efficiency is not sacrificed.

As shown in FIG. 5, the base plate portion 1a has a D-cut portion 1t in which a circular part is cut out.
Is provided, and thereby a rotation stopper is provided. Therefore, the dowel support member 1 can be easily positioned and mounted in the set direction. For example, in the paper feeding unit of the present embodiment shown in Fig. 1, the same dowel supporting members 1 'and 1 "are attached, and the front frame 2 is formed with a bent portion 2g. The D-cut portion 1t abuts against the bent portion 2g, so that the dowel support member 1 'does not rotate.Instead of the bent portion 2g, the rotation stop portion is formed by embossing by protrusion or the like. Even if there is, the same effect can be obtained.

In the above-described embodiment, the dowel support member 1 is used.
Is mounted on the front frame 2 of the paper feeding unit of the image forming apparatus to support the paper guide plate 4, but this support member 1 connects not only the paper feeding unit of the image forming apparatus but also other members. Of course, it is also possible to use it.

[0041]

As described above, according to the present invention, since the outer surface of the base portion of the support arm portion is located inside the diameter of the support shaft portion, the hole is formed from the burr surface of the sheet metal member having the burr as a member to be mounted. Can be inserted, and the tip of the support arm portion that is elastically deformed and inserted into the hole extends outward from the diameter of the hole, and a flat portion can be attached to the member to be attached. The engagement state is maintained without falling off the sagging surface.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 shows a main frame configuration of a sheet feeding unit of an image forming apparatus using a dowel supporting member according to an embodiment of the present invention, (a) is a top view, (b) is a front view, and (c) Is a right side view.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of the vicinity of a dowel support member of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a detailed explanatory view of the dowel support member, (a) is a top view, (b) is a front view, (c) is a right side view, (d) is a rear view,
(e) is an AA sectional view of (b).

FIG. 4 is an enlarged explanatory view of FIG. 1 (a).

FIG. 5 is an enlarged explanatory view of FIG. 1 (b).

FIG. 6 is an enlarged explanatory view of FIG. 1 (c).

FIG. 7 is an enlarged explanatory view of FIG. 1 (d).

FIG. 8 is an enlarged explanatory view of FIG. 1 (e).

FIG. 9 is a top view showing a state where the dowel support member is attached to the front frame.

FIG. 10 is a right side view showing a state where the dowel supporting member is attached to the front frame.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram of a region cut by inserting a support member.

FIG. 12 shows a main frame configuration of a paper feed unit of an image forming apparatus using a conventional dowel support member, where (a) is a top view,
(b) is a front view, and (c) is a right side view.

FIG. 13 is an enlarged explanatory view of the vicinity of a dowel support member of FIG. 12;

FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram of a detailed shape of a dowel support member.

FIG. 15 is a conceptual explanatory view of a press punch.

FIG. 16 is a top view showing a state where a conventional dowel support member is attached to a front frame.

FIG. 17 is a right side view showing a state where a conventional dowel support member is attached to a front frame.

FIG. 18 is an explanatory diagram of a locking support member.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Dowel support member 1a ... Base plate part 1b ... Support shaft part 1c ... Rotation shaft part 1d1, 1d2 ... Support arm part 1e1, 1e2 ... Slit 1f ... C surface 1g ... C surface 1h1, 1h2 ... Original part outer surface 1i1, 1i2 Locking flat surface portion 1j1, 1j2 ... engaging slope portion 1k ... projection 1m1, 1m2 ... outer surface 1n1, 1n2 ... ridge line 1p1, 1p2 ... position 1q1, 1q2 ... position 1r1, 1r2 ... outer surface 1s1. Cut part 2 ... front frame 2a ... hole 2b ... burr 2c ... burr surface 2d ... sagging surface 2e ... round view 2g ... bending part 3 ... rear frame 3a ... shaft 4 ... paper guide plate 4a ... hole

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A support member attached to a member to be mounted for supporting a component, wherein the support shaft has a diameter insertable into a hole formed in the member to be mounted, and a base part integral with the support shaft. And an elastically deformable support arm having a shape that expands from the base toward the tip, and a base plate formed integrally with the support shaft. The outer surface is configured to be inside the diameter of the support shaft portion, and the tip portion has a flat portion that is wider than the hole diameter of the attached member and can contact the attached member. A support member characterized by the following. 2. The support member according to claim 1, wherein the outer surface of the flat portion has an arc shape or a linear shape larger than a diameter of the support shaft portion. 3. The support member according to claim 1, wherein a tip portion of the support arm has a slope having a slope in a direction opposite to a direction in which the support arm expands. 4. The support member according to claim 1, wherein a projection is provided on the base plate portion, and the mounted member can be sandwiched between the projection and a tip portion of the support arm portion. 5. The support member according to claim 4, wherein the height of the projection is equal to or greater than the height of a burr around the hole of the member to be mounted. 6. The support member according to claim 1, wherein a tip portion of the support arm portion has a knob portion extending outward from the base plate portion. 7. The support member according to claim 1, wherein the base plate portion has a rotation stopping portion.