JPH11198483A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming apparatus wherein an inner side and devices in the inner side can be easily and visually observed when a cover is opened. SOLUTION: A cover 10 at a front side of a device body 1 in a laser printer is constituted of an operation section 11 positioned at an upper face of the device body 1 and a cover section 12 covering a front face of the device body 1. The operation section 11 is separated from the device body 1 and is integrally formed with the cover section 12. A button which is operated when opening or closing the cover 10 is provided at the front face of the cover section 12. A finger hanging section 15 being recessed in a baggage shape to which a forefinger 14a or the like of a hand 14 of an operator can be inserted when executing an opening/ closing operation is formed on a side face portion corresponding to the button. When the cover 10 which is weighted because of the integrated operation section 11 and cover section 12, is opened, the operator can easily hold the cover by inserting the forefinger 14a or the like into the finger hanging section 15. It is possible to prevent the impact which may occur when the cover 10 is opened rapidly.

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, a printer, and the like, and more particularly to an improved apparatus for inspecting and replacing internal devices.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a commonly used image forming apparatus, for example, a laser printer, an internal device such as an image carrier, a process cartridge unit including the image carrier, and a fixing unit is inspected. In order to perform replacement, a cover that can be opened and closed in the vertical direction is provided on the front side of the image forming apparatus main body. For example, when a paper jam occurs, this cover is opened to remove the jammed paper. Can be done.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an example of the above-described laser printer. An operation unit 2 is provided at an upper portion on the front side of the apparatus main body 1, and a cover 3 is mounted below the operation unit 2 so that the lower end thereof can be opened and closed in a vertical direction. In the figure, reference numeral 4 denotes an internal device such as a fixing unit, and 5 denotes a hook receiver. When the cover 3 is closed, a hook (not shown) provided on the cover 3 is locked to prevent the cover 3 from being opened by its own weight or the like. . Reference numeral 6 in the figure denotes an operation member (slider, button, etc.) for performing an operation of removing the above-mentioned hook (not shown) from the hook receiver 5.

On the other hand, in recent years, the size of the apparatus has been reduced, which makes it difficult to see the inside of the apparatus main body 1 even when the cover 3 is opened, and to operate the internal device 4. Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus in which the inside of the image forming apparatus main body is easily seen when a cover is opened, in view of the above-mentioned conventional problems.

[0005]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus, comprising: a cover which can be opened and closed in a vertical direction for inspection and replacement of internal equipment; An image forming apparatus having an operation unit having a button, a display unit, and the like in the vicinity of the cover of the image forming apparatus main body, wherein the operation unit is formed separately from the image forming apparatus main body; It is characterized in that it can be opened and closed together with the cover.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in order to achieve the above-mentioned object, a finger recess is provided on a side surface of the cover in the opening and closing direction.

[0007]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In the following description, the same or similar parts as those in the conventional example are denoted by the same reference numerals. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a laser printer which is an embodiment of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention. In this laser printer, a lower end of a cover 10 on the front side of the apparatus main body 1 is rotatably supported in the vertical direction as in the related art. The cover 10 is located on the upper surface of the apparatus main body 1. The operation unit 11 includes a cover unit 12 that covers the front surface of the apparatus main body 1. The operation unit 11 is separated from the apparatus main body 1 and is formed integrally with the cover unit 12.

A pair of buttons 13 for operating the cover 10 is provided on the front surface of the cover 12 so that the index finger 14a of the operator's hand 14 can be inserted into the position corresponding to the side button 13 at the time of opening / closing operation. A pair of finger hooks 15 are formed in the bag. Although the figure shows only one finger hook 15 on one side, it is also provided at a corresponding position on the other side.

That is, since the operation unit 11 and the cover unit 12 are integrated, the cover 10 is relatively heavy, and the downward rotating moment when opening it is large. Not only is it possible for the cover 10 to rotate downward enough to cause an impact that adversely affects the pivotal support to the apparatus main body 1 and the internal device 4, but also the cover 10 itself can be damaged.
Then, the button 13 operated when opening and closing the cover 10 is used.
The finger hook 15 is provided beside the, and when the button 13 is operated, the finger hook 15 is immediately noticed, and it is easy for the operator to put the index finger 14a or the like into the operation, and the above-mentioned impact is caused. This prevents any actions that may occur.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, the operation of opening and closing the cover 10 in the laser printer shown in FIG. 2 will be described. First, as shown in FIG.
Then, the user inserts the index finger 14a or the like into the finger hook 15 and presses the button 13 to release the hook (not shown) provided on the cover 12 from the hook receiver 5 in the apparatus body 1. Then, since the cover 10 tends to fall to the front side by its own weight, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the cover 10 is slowly rotated downward while supporting the cover 10 with the index finger 14b inserted into the finger hook portion 15. 1 is opened so that the internal device 4 can be seen from the outside. Of course, if the cover 10 is prevented from falling down by its own weight even if the hook is released, the cover 10 is pulled toward the near side by the index finger 14a put in the finger holder 15, and thereafter the same. Open with support.

In any case, when the cover 10 is opened, the operation unit 11 is disengaged from the apparatus main body 1 so that the operation shown in FIG.
As shown in (1), the area opened on the front side of the apparatus main body 1 increases, so that the inside of the apparatus main body 1 can be seen well, and the operation of the internal device 4 can be easily performed. When closing the cover 10, the cover 10 is lifted and rotated upward by the index finger 14 a put in the finger hook 15, and a hook (not shown) of the cover 10 is engaged with the hook receiver 5 in the apparatus main body 1. When engaging the cover 12
In some cases, it is necessary to perform an operation such as strongly pressing the button toward the apparatus main body 1.

In the above-described embodiment, only an example in which the cover is opened and closed on the front side of the main body of the image forming apparatus is shown. Obviously, even those are applicable. Further, the positions, shapes, numbers, and the like of the buttons 13 and the finger hooks 15 may be appropriately provided.
The present invention is not limited to the illustrated example.

[0013]

As described above, the image forming apparatus according to the first aspect of the present invention is provided with a cover which can be opened and closed in the up and down direction provided on the main body of the image forming apparatus for inspection and replacement of internal devices. The operation unit including the buttons and the display unit located in the unit is integrated, and the operation unit is formed separately from the image forming apparatus main body and can be opened and closed together with the cover, so that when the cover is opened, the image forming apparatus main body is opened. Area increases,
For this reason, there is an effect that the inside of the image forming apparatus main body becomes easy to see, and the operation of the internal device becomes very easy.

As described above, the image forming apparatus according to the second aspect of the present invention is provided with a finger-holding recess on the side surface in the opening and closing direction of the cover. This makes it easier for the user to take the action of putting his / her finger on the concave portion, and has the effect of preventing the cover, which has become heavier by integrating the operation unit, to open vigorously under its own weight and to prevent the occurrence of problems such as breakage.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating an example of a laser printer.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a laser printer which is an embodiment of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the laser printer of FIG. 2 with a cover opened.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective view showing a state where a finger is hooked on a finger hook in the state of FIG. 3;

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 device main body 2 operation unit 3 cover 4 internal device 5 hook receiver 6 operation member 10 cover 11 operation unit 12 cover unit 13 button 14 operator's hand 14a index finger 14b thumb 15 finger hook

 ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuing from the front page (72) Inventor Tomio Wakabayashi Ricoh Co., Ltd. 1-3-6 Nakamagome, Ota-ku, Tokyo

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. An operation in which a cover that can be opened and closed in a vertical direction for checking and replacing internal devices is provided on an image forming apparatus main body, and a button, a display unit, and the like are provided near the cover of the image forming apparatus main body. An image forming apparatus comprising: an image forming apparatus, wherein the operation unit is formed separately from the image forming apparatus main body, is integrated with the cover, and can be opened and closed together with the cover. 2. The device according to claim 1, wherein a side surface of the cover in the opening / closing direction is provided with a recess for hanging a finger.
Image forming apparatus.