KR20060136084A - image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

Disclosed is an image forming apparatus which can cut off a power supply of a main body when a paper stacking cover is removed. The image forming apparatus includes: a main body including at least one sidewall frame having at least one opening, and an upper surface frame detachably attached to the paper stacking cover; A door part installed in the side wall frame to open or close the opening; A power cut-off unit installed at the side wall frame and configured to turn on / off power supplied to a driving unit of at least one internal device to perform a printing operation in the main body according to the opening / closing operation of the door unit; And a cover locking portion installed between the paper stacking cover and the top frame and allowing the paper stacking cover to be separated from the top frame only when the door part is open. According to the present invention, since the paper stacking cover is detached from the upper frame only when the door is open, the printing operation is performed by a power cut-off unit operating in conjunction with the door when the paper stacking cover is separated from the upper frame. It is possible to cut off the power supplied to the driving unit of the internal device to perform the, as a result there is no need for a separate power cut for the paper stacking cover can be reduced manufacturing cost.

Paper stacking cover, separation, door, open, power, shut off,

Description

Image forming apparatus

1 is a schematic perspective view of a general laser printer.

2A and 2B are partial plan views illustrating the power cut-off unit of the laser printer shown in Fig. 1;

3 is a perspective view illustrating an arrangement relationship between a paper stacking cover and a cover separation detecting sensor of the laser printer shown in FIG. 1;

Figure 4 is a partial perspective view illustrating in detail the connection relationship between the paper stacking cover and the cover separation detection sensor shown in FIG.

5 is a schematic perspective view of a laser printer according to the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a partial perspective view illustrating in detail a connection relationship between a paper stacking cover and a cover locking unit of the laser printer shown in FIG. 5; FIG.

7A and 7B are partial plan views illustrating the operation of the paper stacking cover and the cover locking unit shown in FIG.

8A and 8B are partial plan views illustrating the operation of the door locking unit shown in FIG.

* Explanation of symbols for main parts of drawings *

100: laser printer 112: top frame

114: paper stacking cover 115: front door

120: side door unit 140: power cut off unit

210: cover locking unit 211, 261: locking projection

215, 251: protrusion receiving portion 221: locking blocking portion

222: blocking plate 225: elastic spring

250: door locking unit

The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a laser printer, a copying machine, and the like, and more particularly, to an image forming apparatus which can cut off a power supply of a main body when a paper stacking cover is removed.

In general, the image forming apparatus, for example, the laser printer 1, as shown in Figure 1, the printer body 10 having a front frame 11, rear frame 13 and the top frame 12, The developing unit 30 detachably installed on the printer body 10 through the opening 10a formed in the front frame 11, and the side of the printer body 10 to open and close the sides of the printer body 20. The side door unit 20 is hinged.

The upper frame 12 of the printer main body 10 has a paper stacking cover 14 through which the printed paper is discharged. The paper stacking cover 14 is detachably coupled to the upper frame 12 for repair or replacement of the internal parts of the printer body 10.

The developing unit 30 is composed of a developing base body 33 having a photosensitive drum 31 and the like, and can be attached to the printer body 10 together with the toner cartridge 17. When the life of the photosensitive drum 31 or the like expires, the developing unit 30 is usually integrated to replace the unit itself with a new one.

The side door unit 20 is provided to open and close the side of the printer body 10 when removing jam or replacing other parts.

The laser printer 1 having such a configuration includes a state in which the developing unit 30 is separated from the printer body 10, a side door unit 20 in an open state, and / or a paper stacking cover 14 in the printer body. When the printer 1 is driven by carelessness or malfunction of the user while being separated from the upper frame 12 of (10), a high voltage power source or a laser required for driving a fixing unit (not shown) or the like during the printing operation. The laser beam emitted from the scanning unit (not shown) may directly damage the user's body.

Therefore, in order to prevent such a risk, the conventional laser printer 1 has a main power supply (shown when the side door unit 20 and / or the front door 15 are opened, as shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B). Power cut-off unit 40 having a safety switch 23 for physically cutting off power supplied to a driving unit of various devices such as a developing unit 30, a fixing unit, a laser scanning unit, etc. in the main body frame 10). ) Is installed in the main body frame 10 with respect to the side door unit 20 and / or the front door 15.

As shown in FIG. 2A, when the side door unit 20 and / or the front door 15 are closed, the operation portion 61 of the switch operating member 60 is pressed down by the pressing protrusion 50. . Accordingly, the switch contact portion 63 of the switch operating member 60 rotates clockwise about the hinge portion 62 against the elastic force of the spring 64 to press the safety switch 23. Therefore, the driving unit such as the developing unit 30, the fixing unit, the laser scanning unit, and the like are supplied with power to operate normally.

Next, when the front door 15 and / or the side door unit 20 is opened, as shown in FIG. 2B, since the pressing protrusion 50 is spaced apart from the operation unit 61, the switch contact portion 63 is The switch 23 is released by rotating counterclockwise around the hinge portion 62 by the elastic force of the spring 64. Therefore, the driving unit of the developing unit 30, the fixing unit, the laser scanning unit, and the like stops the power supply.

3 and 4, when the paper stacking cover 14 is separated from the upper frame 12 of the printer body 10, the developing unit 30, the fixing unit, and the laser scanning unit from the main power supply. In order to cut off the power supplied to the driving unit such as the software, the cover separation sensor 70 is installed in the printer body 10 near the paper stacking cover 14.

The cover separation detecting sensor 70 includes a sensing actuator 71, an elastic spring 78, and a sensor unit 75. The sensing actuator 71 is installed to reciprocate on a fixing bracket (not shown) of the upper frame 12, and is provided with a first end 71a facing the operation protrusion 85 of the paper stacking cover 14. The second end 71b protrudes toward the sensor unit 75. The elastic spring 78 is disposed between the spring support 71C of the sensing actuator 71 and the spring support (not shown) of the fixing bracket of the upper frame 12, and the first end 71a of the sensing actuator 71. Press the sensing actuator 71 to protrude toward the working projection (85). The sensor unit 75 is fixed to the fixing bracket of the upper frame 12 and includes a light emitting unit for emitting light and a light receiving unit for receiving light emitted from the light emitting unit.

Therefore, when the paper stacking cover 14 is separated from the upper frame 12 of the printer body 10, the sensing actuator 71 is moved in the direction of the arrow A by the elastic spring 78, and thus the sensor Part 75 is 'on'. As a result, the cover separation sensor 70 outputs an 'on' signal to a controller (not shown), and the control unit according to the 'on' signal of the cover separation sensor 70 is developed unit 30, the fixing unit The software operates to cut off the power supplied to the driving unit such as the laser scanning unit.

However, the conventional laser printer 1 having such a power cutoff unit 40 and a cover separation sensor 70 opens the front door 15 and / or the side door unit 20, or a paper stacking cover. When the 14 is separated from the upper frame 12 of the printer main body 10, the power supplied to the driving unit of the developing unit 30, the fixing unit, the laser scanning unit, and the like is cut off, so that the user of the printer 1 In operation, a problem of physical damage due to exposure to a high voltage power required for driving a fixing unit or a laser beam emitted from the laser scanning unit has been prevented, but the power cutoff unit 40 and the cover separation detection sensor 70 are respectively prevented. Since the door 15 and / or the side door unit 20 and the paper stacking cover 14 need to be installed, there is a problem that the printer manufacturing cost increases.

In the conventional laser printer 1, when the paper stacking cover 14 is separated from the upper frame 12 of the printer body 10, the laser printer 1 is supplied to a driving unit such as a developing unit 30, a fixing unit, a laser scanning unit, or the like. Since the power is blocked by the operation of the cover separation sensor 70 in software, there is a risk that the power supplied to the driving unit of the various devices due to the software error or the like is not cut off.

In addition, the conventional laser printer 1 must isolate the cover separation sensor 70 from the wires and terminals of the drive unit inside the printer body 10 in order to prevent a malfunction of the cover separation sensor 70, the upper surface In addition to the need for a separate cover to protect the sensor in the frame 12, there was a problem that the installation space is increased.

 In addition, the conventional laser printer 1 requires very precise manufacturing dimension management in order for the sensor unit 75 of the cover separation detecting sensor 70 to be accurately operated by the sensing actuator 71.

Therefore, in order to solve the problems of the conventional laser printer 1 as described above, there is a need for an image forming apparatus having a new power cutoff mechanism that can be easily manufactured at a low cost and can operate more safely.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, an object of the present invention is to provide a power cut mechanism that can be easily cut off at a low cost as well as to cut off the power of the main body more securely when the paper stacking cover is removed. It is to provide an image forming apparatus having.

An image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention for achieving the above object, the main body having at least one side wall frame having at least one opening, and the upper surface frame detachably attached to the paper stacking cover. ; A door part installed in the side wall frame to open or close the opening; A power cut-off unit installed at the side wall frame and configured to turn on / off power supplied to a driving unit of at least one internal device to perform a printing operation in the main body according to the opening / closing operation of the door unit; And a cover locking portion installed between the paper stacking cover and the top frame and allowing the paper stacking cover to be separated from the top frame only when the door part is open.

The cover locking portion is formed on the first locking protrusion formed on the door, the paper stacking cover, the first protrusion accommodating portion which accommodates and locks the first locking protrusion, and is supported to be elastically movable to the upper frame, and the paper stacking cover is supported. And a locking blocking portion that prevents the first locking protrusion from moving to the position locked to the first protrusion accommodation portion when separated from the upper frame. At this time, the locking blocking portion is preferably composed of a blocking plate supported on the upper frame so as to be moved by the first projection receiving portion, and an elastic spring for pressing the blocking plate toward the first projection receiving portion.

An image forming apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention includes a front frame including at least one first opening, at least one side frame including at least one second opening, and a paper stacking cover. A main body having a top frame; At least one first door part installed on the front frame to open or close the first opening; At least one second door part installed on the side frame to open or close the second opening; A power cut-off unit installed in the side frame and configured to turn on / off power supplied to a drive unit of at least one internal device which performs a printing operation in the main body according to the opening and closing operation of the second door part; A cover locking portion installed between the paper stacking cover and the top frame, the paper stacking cover being separated from the top frame only when the first door part is opened; And a door locking part installed between the first door part and the second door part to open the first door part only when the second door part is open.

The door locking portion is preferably composed of a second locking protrusion formed on the second door portion, and a second protrusion accommodation portion formed on the first door portion to receive and lock the second locking protrusion.

Hereinafter, an image forming apparatus according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

5 schematically shows an image forming apparatus according to the present invention.

The double-sided printing image forming apparatus according to the present invention is a double-sided printing laser printer 100 for printing and outputting data input from an external device such as a PC.

As shown in Figure 5, the laser printer 100 of the present invention, the printer main body 110, the side door unit 120, the printer main body 110, which is installed on the side of the printer main body 110 to be opened and closed. When the opening and closing of the developing unit 130, and the side door unit 120, the various devices of the printer body 110, that is, the developing unit 130, the fixing unit (not shown) and the laser scanning unit ( And a power cut-off unit 140 that cuts off power supplied to the driving unit.

The printer body 110 includes a front frame 111, a rear frame 113, first and second side frames 119 and 128, and an upper frame 112. The front frame 111 is formed such that the first opening 110a is opened and closed by the front door 115 supported by the hinge portion (not shown). Through the opening 110a, the developing unit 130 may enter and exit the printer body 110. In addition, the toner cartridge 117 for supplying the toner to the developing unit 130 through the first opening 110a is detachable together with the developing unit 130.

The upper frame 112 includes a paper stacking cover 114 through which the printed paper is discharged. The paper stacking cover 114 is detachably coupled to the upper frame 112 for repair or replacement of the internal parts of the printer body 110. Since the coupling structure of the paper stacking cover 114 and the upper frame 112 is the same as a generally known configuration, a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

In addition, a paper cassette 118 in which printing paper is accommodated is installed below the printer body 110.

The second side opening 119a is formed in the first side frame 119 to be opened and closed by the side door unit 120. The side door unit 120 has a door bracket 121 hinged to the printer body 110 and a transfer roller rotatably installed on the door bracket 121 so as to open and close the side of the printer body 110. 123 and a paper feed roller 125 are provided. The transfer roller 123 contacts the photosensitive drum 131 installed in the developing unit 130 when the developing unit 130 is mounted in the printer main body 110, and passes printing paper therebetween.

Since the developing unit 130 is complementary to the toner cartridge 117, the developing unit 130 is coupled to the printer body 110 through the first opening 110a. The developing unit 130 includes a photosensitive drum 131 for forming an electrostatic latent image by light scanned by a laser scanning unit, not shown, and a developing base 133 rotatably supporting the photosensitive drum 131. .

The power cut-off unit 140 is a push switch (not shown) installed in the safety switch 123 installed on the rear frame 113, the switch operating member 160, and the door bracket 121 of the side door unit 120. It is provided. The safety switch 123 is an auxiliary switch for turning on / off the power supplied to the driving unit of the developing unit 130, the fixing unit, and the laser scanning unit of the printer main body 110 from the main power not shown.

The configuration and operation of the power cut-off unit 140 is the same as the conventional power cut-off unit 40 described with reference to FIG. Therefore, detailed description thereof will be omitted.

Here, although the power cut-off unit 140 has been described as the same as the conventional power cut-off unit 40, it is a matter of course that it may be composed of other switches known in conjunction with the opening and closing operation of the side door unit 120.

The laser printer 100 of the present invention, like the conventional printer 1, detects that the paper stacking cover 114 is separated from the upper frame 112, the developing unit 130, the fixing unit of the printer body 110 And a cover locking unit 210 and a door locking unit 250 so as not to install a cover separation detecting sensor for cutting off power supplied to a driving unit such as a laser scanning unit.

The cover locking unit 210 is for separating the paper stacking cover 115 from the upper frame 112 only when the front door 115 is opened. The first locking protrusion 211 and the first protrusion receiving portion 215 And a locking cut-off portion 221.

5 and 6, the first locking projection 211 is formed on the upper inner surface of the front door 115 and protrudes into the printer main body 110. The first protrusion receiving portion 215 is formed in the paper stacking cover 114 perpendicular to the first locking protrusion 211 and includes an accommodation groove or hole 216 for receiving and locking the first locking protrusion 211. do. The locking blocking portion 221 is a position in which the first locking protrusion 211 is locked to the receiving hole 216 of the first protrusion receiving portion 215 when the paper stacking cover 114 is separated from the upper frame 112. To block the movement, it is supported to be movable in the support hole (112a) of the upper frame (112). The blocking blocking portion 221 is a blocking plate 222 supported by the support hole 112a of the upper frame 112 so as to be moved in the arrow directions C and D by the first protrusion accommodating portion 215, and a blocking plate. It is composed of an elastic spring 225 for pressing the 222 toward the first projection receiving portion 215. The elastic spring 225 is supported between the spring support 226 of the blocking plate 222 and the blocking plate support bracket 227 of the upper frame 112.

Therefore, when the paper stacking cover 114 is coupled to the top frame 112, the first protrusion receiving portion 215 moves the blocking plate 222 against the elastic force of the elastic spring 225 in the direction of the arrow (C). To the position shown in FIGS. 6 and 7A. As a result, the first locking protrusion 211 formed on the inner surface of the front door 115 can be freely inserted into the accommodation hole 216 of the first protrusion accommodation portion 215, whereby the front door 115 is It can be closed without interruption.

 On the contrary, when the paper stacking cover 114 is separated from the upper frame 112, the blocking plate 222 is moved in the direction of the arrow D by the elastic force of the elastic spring 225 to the position shown in Fig. 7B. Is located. As a result, the blocking plate 222 blocks the movement of the first locking protrusion 211 of the front door 115 even when the front door 115 is closed, thereby preventing the front door 115 from closing.

In addition, when the paper stacking cover 114 is coupled to the upper frame 112, the paper stacking cover 114, when the front door 115 is closed, the first locking projection 211 is the first projection receiving portion ( Since it is inserted into the receiving hole 216 of 215, it cannot be separated from the upper frame 112, and is separated from the upper frame 112 only when the front door 115 is open.

The door locking unit 250 is to open the front door 115 only when the side door unit 120 is open, and is installed between the front door 115 and the side door unit 120.

The door locking unit 250 includes a second locking protrusion 261 provided on the side door unit 120, and a second protrusion receiving part 251 installed on the front door 115.

The second locking protrusion 261 is formed on the door bracket 121 of the side door unit 120 to protrude toward the inside of the main body frame 110. The second protrusion accommodating part 251 is formed in the front door 115 to protrude into the main body frame 110 through the insertion hole 111a (FIG. 5) formed in the front frame 111, and the second locking protrusion at the center thereof. An accommodation groove or hole 253 for accommodating 261 is provided.

Therefore, as shown in FIG. 8A, when the side door unit 120 is closed, the second locking protrusion 261 formed on the door bracket 121 of the side door unit 120 has the second protrusion accommodating part 251. The front door 115 is not opened because it is inserted into the receiving hole 253 and locked.

On the contrary, as shown in FIG. 8B, when the side door unit 120 is open, the second locking protrusion 261 is spaced apart from the accommodation hole 253 of the second protrusion accommodation portion 251, so that the front door is closed. 115 is opened freely.

In the above, the laser printer 100 of the present invention has been illustrated and described that the front door 115 and the side door unit 120 is configured to be locked by the door locking unit 250, using the door locking unit 250 It will be understood that the front door 115 and the side door unit 120 may be configured not to lock each other. In this case, when the front door 115 is opened, a separate power cut-off unit having the same configuration as the power cut-off unit 140 to cut off the power supplied to the driving unit such as the developing unit 130, the fixing unit and the laser scanning unit. (Not shown) is further provided with respect to the front door 115.

As such, the laser printer 100 of the present invention includes a cover locking unit 210 and / or a side door unit which allows the paper stacking cover 114 to be separated from the upper frame 112 only when the front door 115 is open. Since the front door 115 is opened only when the door 120 is open, the front door 115 is opened when the paper stacking cover 114 is separated from the upper frame 112 or the front door 115 is opened. If so, it is supplied to the driving unit such as the developing unit 130, the fixing unit and the laser scanning unit by the power cut-off unit 140 that operates in conjunction with the opening and closing operation of the side door unit 120 and / or front door 115 Can be turned off. Therefore, a separate power cutoff device for the paper stacking cover 114 and / or the front door 115 is not required, thereby reducing manufacturing cost, and the paper stacking cover 114 as in the conventional printer 1. ), It is not necessary to use a cover separation sensor for detecting that the cover frame is separated from the upper frame 112. Risk is avoided.

The separation and coupling operation of the paper stacking cover 114 of the laser printer 100 according to the present invention having the above configuration will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 5 to 8B.

First, the side door unit 120 is opened from the position shown in FIG. 8A to the position shown in FIG. 8B in order to repair and replace a specific device inside the printer main body 110 by removing the paper stacking cover 114. .

When the side door unit 120 is opened, since the pressing projection of the power cut-off unit 140 is spaced apart from the switch operating member 160, the safety switch 123 is released from the switch operating member 160 to release the 'off'. do. Therefore, the driving unit of the developing unit 130, the fixing unit, the laser scanning unit, and the like stops the power supplied from the main power source.

Subsequently, the front door 115 is opened. In this case, as shown in FIG. 8B, since the second locking protrusion 261 is spaced apart from the accommodation hole 253 of the second protrusion accommodation portion 251, the front door 115 is freely opened.

As the front door 115 is opened, the first locking protrusion 211 formed in the front door 115 is removed from the accommodation hole 216 of the first protrusion accommodation portion 215, and as a result, the first protrusion The paper stacking cover 114 in which the accommodating portion 215 is formed is in a state where it can be freely separated without a part to be locked anywhere.

In this state, the paper stacking cover 114 is pulled in the arrow direction E as shown in FIG. 7B to be separated from the upper frame 112. At this time, as the first protrusion accommodating part 215 is removed together with the paper stacking cover 114, the blocking plate 222 is moved in the direction of arrow D by the elastic force of the elastic spring 225, and thus, FIG. 7B. Located at the location shown. Therefore, the blocking plate 222 blocks the movement of the first locking protrusion 211 of the front door 115 even when the front door 115 is closed, thereby preventing the front door 115 from closing.

After the specific device inside the printer main body 110 has been repaired and replaced, the paper stacking cover 114 is pushed in the direction of the arrow F as shown in FIG. 7A to be coupled to the upper frame 112. At this time, the first protrusion accommodating part 215 formed in the paper stacking cover 114 pushes the blocking plate 222 in the arrow direction C against the elastic force of the elastic spring 225 and is positioned at the position shown in FIG. 7A. Let's do it.

Subsequently, when the front door 115 is closed, the first locking protrusion 211 formed on the inner surface of the front door 115 is inserted into the accommodation hole 216 of the first protrusion accommodation portion 215 to cover the paper stacking cover 114. Lock).

Subsequently, as shown in FIG. 8A, when the side door unit 120 is closed, the second locking protrusion 261 formed on the door bracket 121 of the side door unit 120 has a second protrusion accommodation portion 251. Is inserted into the receiving hole 253, the front door 115 is locked, and the bonding operation of the paper stacking cover 14 is completed.

As described above, according to the present invention, the image forming apparatus includes a cover locking part which allows the paper stacking cover to be separated from the upper frame only when the front door is opened, and / or the front door is opened only when the side door unit is open. A developing unit which performs printing operation by a power cut-off unit operating in conjunction with the front door and / or the side door unit when the paper stacking cover is detached from the upper frame or when the front door is opened, since the door locking part is provided. The power supplied to the driving unit of the unit, the laser scanning unit, etc. may be cut off, and as a result, a separate power cut-off unit for the paper stacking cover and / or the front door may be unnecessary, thereby reducing manufacturing cost. In addition, since it is not necessary to use a cover separation sensor for detecting that the paper stacking cover is separated from the upper frame as in a conventional printer, it is difficult to manufacture due to the installation of the cover separation sensor and software by the cover separation sensor Risk of malfunction due to constant power off is prevented.

In the above, certain preferred embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated and described. However, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications and variations can be made by any person having ordinary skill in the art without departing from the gist of the present invention as claimed in the claims. It will be possible.

Claims (5)

A main body having at least one side wall frame having at least one opening, and an upper surface frame detachably attached to the paper stacking cover; A door part installed in the side wall frame to open or close the opening; A power cut-off unit installed at the side wall frame and configured to turn on / off power supplied to a driving unit of at least one internal device performing a printing operation in the main body according to the opening / closing operation of the door unit; And And a cover locking portion disposed between the paper stacking cover and the upper frame, and allowing the paper stacking cover to be separated from the upper frame only when the door portion is open. The method of claim 1, wherein the cover locking portion, A first locking protrusion formed on the door part; A first protrusion accommodating part formed on the paper stacking cover to accommodate and lock the first locking protrusion; And A locking cut-off portion which is elastically movable to the upper frame and prevents the first locking protrusion from moving to a position locked to the first protrusion accommodation portion when the paper stacking cover is separated from the upper frame; Image forming apparatus comprising a. The method of claim 2, wherein the locking blocking portion, A blocking plate supported by the upper frame to be moved by the first protrusion accommodating part; And And an elastic spring for pressing the blocking plate toward the first protrusion accommodating portion. A main body having a front frame having at least one first opening, at least one side frame having at least one second opening, and a top frame removably attaching a paper stacking cover; At least one first door part installed in the front frame to open or close the first opening; At least one second door part installed in the side frame to open or close the second opening; A power cut-off unit installed in the side frame and configured to turn on / off power supplied to a driving unit of at least one internal device which performs a printing operation in the main body according to the opening / closing operation of the second door unit; A cover locking unit disposed between the paper stacking cover and the upper frame and allowing the paper stacking cover to be separated from the upper frame only when the first door is open; And And a door locking part disposed between the first door part and the second door part to open the first door part only when the second door part is opened. The method of claim 4, wherein the door locking unit, A second locking protrusion formed on the second door part; And And a second protrusion accommodating part formed in the first door part to receive and lock the second locking protrusion.

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