Latching Structure of an Open / Close Body and Electronic Device

Abstract

A latching structure for an opening / closing body and an electronic device, characterized in that it comprises: an opening / closing body supported to be movable between an open position where an opening formed in a device main body is opened and a closed position where the opening is closed; and a push latch device, in which a latch body is pushed by a mating body to latch the opening / closing body in the closed position, and if the mating body is further pushed in the closed position, the latching of the opening / closing body is released and the opening / closing body is pushed out in a direction opposite to the pushing direction. The mating body is disposed on the device main body and protrudes along the pushing direction on the opening / closing body. Even if the opening / closing body is pushed in the pushing direction in the closed position, the opening / closing body does not move and the push latch device remains in a latched state.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a locking structure for an opening / closing body and an electronic device. Background Art

[0002] There is known an opening / closing device for a lid body, which includes: a lid body that is attached to a device main body at one end via a rotation shaft so that an opening formed in the device main body can be opened and closed, and a engaging portion is provided on the side of the device main body opposite to the side where the lid body is attached via the rotation shaft; a push latch device that is disposed on the device main body and locks and unlocks the lid body and the device main body when the engaging portion of the lid body is pressed; and a rotation restricting portion that abuts against the lid body before the engaging portion engages with the push latch device to prohibit the lid body from rotating. An elastic deformation portion that can deform toward the device main body side is formed at the other end of the lid body where the engaging portion is provided. When the elastic deformation portion is pressed in a state where the rotation of the lid body is restricted by the rotation restricting portion, the deformed engaging portion presses the push latch device, and the lid body is locked or unlocked with respect to the device main body (Patent Document 1).

[0003] Patent Document 1: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2010-232296 Summary of the Invention

[0004] An object of the present invention is to provide a locking structure for an opening / closing body and an electronic device that can prevent accidental unlocking caused by pushing an opening / closing body other than an operating body even when a push latch is used.

[0005] In order to solve the above problems, the locking structure for an opening / closing body according to Solution 1 is characterized by including:

[0006] An opening / closing body that is supported so as to be movable between an open position for opening an opening formed in a device main body and a closed position for closing the opening;

[0007] A push latch device in which a latch body is pushed by a latching body to lock the opening / closing body at the closed position, and if the latching body is further pushed at the closed position, the locking of the opening / closing body is released and the opening / closing body is pushed out in a direction opposite to the pushing direction. The latching body is disposed on the device main body and protrudes in the pushing direction on the opening / closing body. Among them,

[0008] Even when the opening / closing body is pushed in the pushing direction at the closed position, the opening / closing body does not move and the push latch device remains in the locked state; and

[0009] A restricting body is disposed on the device main body to prevent the opening / closing body located at the closed position from moving in the pushing direction. The restricting body is composed of a main body capable of moving in the vertical direction intersecting with the pushing direction of the opening / closing body and a protruding body that is elastically pushed upward in the main body and capable of moving in the vertical direction. Among them,

[0010] Even when the opening / closing body is pushed in the pushing direction at the closed position, the restricting body contacts the opening / closing body to restrict the movement of the opening / closing body, and the push latch device remains in the locked state.

[0011] The invention according to Scheme 2 is characterized in the locking structure of the opening / closing body according to Scheme 2,

[0012] The main body is pushed by the latch body that moves in the pushing direction as the opening / closing body moves to the closed position, and moves upward, and prevents the opening / closing body from moving in the pushing direction.

[0013] The invention according to Scheme 3 is characterized in the locking structure of the opening / closing body according to Scheme 2,

[0014] When the opening / closing body returns to the closed position after overtraveling in the pushing direction, the protruding body is provided on the opening / closing body and is set to protrude from the moving track of the rib body protruding in the pushing direction to prevent the opening / closing body from moving in the pushing direction.

[0015] The invention according to Scheme 4 is characterized in the locking structure of the opening / closing body according to Scheme 2 or 3,

[0016] The main body has a protruding portion protruding in the horizontal direction intersecting with the vertical direction. When the main body is pushed upward by the latch body that moves in the pushing direction as the opening / closing body moves to the closed position, the protruding portion is supported by the second rib body provided on the opening / closing body and is held at the position of moving upward.

[0017] The invention according to Scheme 5 is characterized in the locking structure of the opening / closing body according to any one of Schemes 1 to 4,

[0018] The engaging body is composed of an operating body capable of being inserted through a hole provided in the opening / closing body and an engaging claw protruding in the pushing direction, and is configured to be elastically pushed in the direction opposite to the pushing direction and capable of moving relative to the opening / closing body in the pushing direction, and the locking of the opening / closing body is released by pushing the operating body at the closed position.

[0019] To solve the above problems, the electronic device according to Scheme 6 is characterized by including the locking structure of the opening / closing body according to any one of Schemes 1 to 5.

[0020] Advantages of the Invention

[0021] According to the first and sixth aspects of the present invention, even when a push latch is used, it is possible to prevent accidental release of the locking due to pushing the opening / closing body other than the operating body.

[0022] According to the second aspect of the present invention, it is possible to move the restricting body to a position that prevents the opening / closing body from moving in the pushing direction as the latch body of the push latch device moves.

[0023] According to the third aspect of the present invention, it is possible to prevent the opening / closing body from moving in the pushing direction.

[0024] According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to hold the restricting body at a position that prevents the opening / closing body from moving in the pushing direction.

[0025] According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to release the locking of the opening / closing body at the closed position. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0026] The embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the following drawings.

[0027] Figure 1 FIG. is a perspective view of the front side of an image forming apparatus to which a locking structure of an opening / closing body according to the present embodiment is applied;

[0028] Figure 2 FIG. is a perspective view of the locking structure of the opening / closing body as viewed from the front side;

[0029] Figure 3 (a) to Figure 3 (c) of FIG. are diagrams for explaining the operation of the push latch device;

[0030] Figure 4 (a) of FIG. and Figure 4 (b) of FIG. are schematic cross-sectional views for explaining the operation of the protruding body of the restricting body;

[0031] Figure 5 FIG. is a perspective view of the locking structure of the opening / closing body as viewed from the back side;

[0032] Figure 6 FIG. is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the working state of the locking structure of the opening / closing body before the engaging body comes into contact with the push latch device;

[0033] Figure 7 FIG. is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the working state of the locking structure of the opening / closing body when the engaging body starts to come into contact with the push latch device;

[0034] Figure 8 FIG. is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the working state of the locking structure of the opening / closing body when the engaging body is engaged with the push latch device;

[0035] Figure 9 A cross-sectional schematic view showing the working state of the locking structure of the opening / closing body when the front cover has an overstroke toward the push latch device;

[0036] Figure 10 A cross-sectional schematic view showing the working state of the locking structure of the opening / closing body when the front cover is locked in the closed position;

[0037] Figure 11 A cross-sectional schematic view for explaining the operation of releasing the engagement between the front cover locked in the closed position and the push latch device;

[0038] Figure 12 A cross-sectional schematic view showing the state where the engagement between the front cover and the push latch device is released;

[0039] Figure 13 A cross-sectional schematic view for explaining the release of the engagement of the front cover of the locking structure of the opening / closing body in a comparative example without a restricting body.

[0040] Symbol Explanation

[0041] 1 - Locking structure of the opening / closing body, 100 - Image forming apparatus, 110 - Front cover, 114 - Rib body, 115 - Second rib body, 120 - Push latch device, 122 - Latch body, 123 - Arm portion, 130 - Engaging body, 131 - Operating body, 132 - Engaging claw, 140 - Restricting body, 141 - Main body, 141a - Inclined surface portion, 141c - Protrusion portion, 142 - Protruding body. Detailed Embodiment

[0042] (1) Structure of the locking structure of the opening / closing body

[0043] Figure 1 A perspective view of the front side of the image forming apparatus 100 to which the locking structure 1 of the opening / closing body according to the present embodiment is applied, Figure 2 A perspective view of the locking structure 1 of the opening / closing body observed from the front side, Figure 3 from (a) to Figure 3 (c) are diagrams for explaining the operation of the push latch device 120, Figure 4 from (a) and Figure 4 (b) are cross-sectional schematic views for explaining the operation of the protruding body 142 of the restricting body 140, Figure 5 A perspective view of the locking structure 1 of the opening / closing body observed from the back side.

[0044] Hereinafter, the configuration of the locking structure 1 of the opening / closing body will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0045] (1.1) Overall configuration of the locking structure of the opening / closing body

[0046] AsFigure 1 As shown, the locking structure 1 of the opening and closing body connects the main body housing F of the image forming apparatus 100 as an example of electronic equipment and the front cover 110 as an example of the opening and closing body covering the opening 101 of the image forming apparatus 100 in an openable and closable manner.

[0047] The main frame F is provided with a push latch device 120, and the front cover 110 is provided with an engaging body 130 composed of an operating body 131 and an engaging claw 132. When the front cover 110 is moved to the closed position, the engaging claw 132 of the engaging body 130 is pushed into the push latch device 120, and the front cover 110 is locked in the closed position covering the opening 101.

[0048] (1.2) Front cover

[0049] Figure 1 , the front cover 110 is shown in the open position to open the opening 101 of the image forming device 100. The front cover 110 is composed of a flat plate portion 111 that is thin in shape as a whole so as to close the opening 101 of the image forming device 100 in the closed position, and a rotation fulcrum 112 that is rotatably supported relative to the main frame F, and is connected to the main frame F via an opening link mechanism 113 so as to be rotatably movable between the open position and the closed position.

[0050] The engaging body 130 composed of an operating body 131 and an engaging claw 132 is provided on the flat plate portion 111 so as to be movable relative to the flat plate portion 111 by a predetermined stroke. Figure 2 As shown, the surface 131a is exposed from the flat plate 111 to the outside. When the front cover 110 in the closed position is released, the operator presses the operating body 131 to release the engagement. The engagement claw 132 is provided to protrude from the inner surface 131b of the operating body 131, and a claw portion 132a is formed at the front end.

[0051] The flat plate 111 has a first rib 114 and a second rib 115 protrudingly provided adjacent to the operating body 131. When the front cover 110 is pushed in with the front cover 110 locked in the closed position, the first rib 114 interferes with a protrusion 142 of the restricting body 140 to prevent the front cover 110 from moving in the pushing direction.

[0052] Regarding the second rib 115, when the front cover 110 moves to the closed position and then overtravels toward the main frame F side, it supports the protrusion 141c formed on the side 141b of the limiting body 140 described later from below, and the limiting body 140 is maintained in a state of moving upward (Z direction).

[0053] (1.3) Push latch device

[0054] like Figure 2As shown, a push bolt lock device 120 and a restricting body 140 are installed in the main body frame F. The push bolt lock device 120 includes a latch body 121 and a latch 122 that can be engaged and disengaged with an engaging body 130 provided on the front cover 110.

[0055] As Figure 3 shown in (a) of Figure 3 , the latch 122 has: a known holding mechanism that holds the engaging claw 132 protruding from the engaging body 130 in a holding position where it is held in the pushed-in position and, as Figure 3 shown in (b) of

[0056] is further pushed in from the holding position to release the holding state and, as

[0057] shown in (c) of

[0058] (1.4) Restricting body

[0059] The restricting body 140 is composed of a main body 141 and a protruding body 142 that can move in the vertical direction within the main body 141, and is arranged adjacent to the push bolt lock device 120 so as to be movable in the vertical direction (Z direction) relative to the main body frame F.

[0060] As Figure 2 shown, an inclined surface portion 141a that is inclined toward the arm portion 123 of the latch 122 of the push bolt lock device 120 is formed in the main body 141. The inclined surface portion 141a contacts the arm portion 123 that protrudes from the latch 122 in the horizontal direction (X direction), and the main body 141 can move upward (Z direction) as the latch 122 moves in the pushing direction (Y direction).

[0061] As Figure 4 shown in (a) of Figure 4As shown in (b), the protruding body 142 is elastically pushed upward (Z direction) by the spring SR within the main body 141 and protrudes upward from the main body 141. The protruding body 142 protrudes to a position that interferes with the movement trajectory of the front cover 110 in a state where the front cover 110 is locked in the closed position, thereby preventing the front cover 110 from moving in the pushing direction.

[0062] On the side surface 141b of the main body 141, a protruding portion 141c that protrudes in the horizontal direction (X direction) intersecting the vertical direction (Z direction) is formed. As Figure 5 shown, with respect to the protruding portion 141c, when the front cover 110 moves to the closed position and further overtravels toward the main body frame F side, it is supported by the second rib body 115 protruding from the flat plate portion 111 of the front cover 110. When the front cover 110 returns to the closed position, it is held in a state of moving upward (Z direction) of the main body 141.

[0063] Thus, in a state where the front cover 110 returns to the closed position, the restricting body 140 is held in a state of moving upward (Z direction), and the protruding body 142 protruding upward from the main body 141 interferes with the first rib body 114 protruding from the flat plate portion 111 of the front cover 110, thereby preventing the front cover 110 from moving in the pushing direction.

[0064] (2) Latching action of the latching structure of the opening / closing body

[0065] Figure 6 It is a cross-sectional schematic diagram showing the working state of the latching structure 1 of the opening / closing body before the engaging body 130 contacts the push latch device 120. Figure 7 It is a cross-sectional schematic diagram showing the working state of the latching structure 1 of the opening / closing body when the engaging body 130 starts to contact the push latch device 120. Figure 8 It is a cross-sectional schematic diagram showing the working state of the latching structure 1 of the opening / closing body when the engaging body 130 is engaged with the push latch device 120. Figure 9 It is a cross-sectional schematic diagram showing the working state of the latching structure 1 of the opening / closing body when the front cover 110 overtravels toward the push latch device 120 side. Figure 10 It is a cross-sectional schematic diagram showing the working state of the latching structure 1 of the opening / closing body when the front cover 110 is latched in the closed position.

[0066] (2.1) Latching structure of the opening / closing body of the comparative example

[0067] Figure 13 It is a cross-sectional schematic diagram for explaining the latching of the front cover 110A of the latching structure 1A of the opening / closing body of the comparative example that does not have the restricting body 140.

[0068] As Figure 13As shown, in the opening / closing body locking structure 1A of the push latch device 120A provided in the main body frame F and without the restricting body 140, a clearance for moving the front cover 110A needs to be provided between the front cover 110A and the main body frame F side when releasing the engagement of the engaging body 130.

[0069] Therefore, as Figure 13 shown by the arrow R0 in, when a user of the image forming apparatus 100A inadvertently touches the front cover 110A and pushes a part of the front cover 110A, the engaging body 130 also moves together with the front cover 110A, and the engagement between the push latch device 120A and the engaging body 130 is released and interlocked to open, which may cause the operation of the image forming apparatus 100A to stop.

[0070] (2.2) Locking of the opening / closing body in the closed position

[0071] As Figure 6 shown, in a state where the front cover 110 starts to rotate in a manner of moving from the open position to the closed position (reference arrow R1 in the figure), the push latch device 120 provided in the main body frame F is located at a protruding position where the latch body 122 protrudes forward (-Y direction).

[0072] In this state, the arm portion 123 integrally provided on the latch body 122 does not contact the inclined surface portion 141a of the main body 141 of the restricting body 140, and the restricting body 140 does not move upward (Z direction).

[0073] As Figure 7 shown, even if the front cover 110 rotates in a manner of moving from the open position to the closed position (reference arrow R1 in the figure) and the engaging claw 132 of the engaging body 130 provided on the front cover 110 contacts the latch body 122 of the push latch device 120 provided in the main body frame F, in a state where the front cover 110 is not further pushed in, the arm portion 123 integrally provided on the latch body 122 also does not contact the inclined surface portion 141a of the main body 141 of the restricting body 140, and the restricting body 140 does not move upward (Z direction).

[0074] As Figure 8 shown, after the engaging claw 132 of the engaging body 130 contacts the latch body 122 of the push latch device 120, as Figure 8 shown by the arrow R1 in, if the front cover 110 is further pushed in, the engaging claw 132 of the engaging body 130 engages with the latch body 122 of the push latch device 120 and is held at the holding position of the push latch device 120.

[0075] In this state, as Figure 8As shown by arrow R2, the arm portion 123 of the latch body 122 is integrally provided in contact with the inclined surface portion 141a of the main body 141 of the restricting body 140, causing the main body 141 to move upward (in the Z direction). However, the protruding body 142 does not move to a position where it interferes with the movement locus of the first rib body 114 provided upright on the front cover 110. Therefore, the front cover 110 is in a state where it can move in a manner that further overtravels in the pushing direction.

[0076] As Figure 9 shown, if the front cover 110 further overtravels toward the main body frame F side from the state where the engaging claw 132 is engaged with the latch body 122 of the push latch device 120, then as Figure 9 shown by arrow R2, the latch body 122 further moves in the pushing direction from the holding position, and the main body 141 of the restricting body 140 is pushed upward (in the Z direction) by the arm portion 123.

[0077] With this movement, the second rib body 115 protruding from the flat plate portion 111 of the front cover 110 enters below the protruding portion 141c of the restricting body 140 that is pushed upward (in the Z direction), and the restricting body 140 is held in a state of moving upward (in the Z direction). At this time, the protruding body 142 protruding upward (in the Z direction) from the restricting body 140 is in a state of being pushed downward on the lower surface 114a of the first rib body 114 protruding from the flat plate portion 111 of the front cover 110 (reference arrow R3 in the figure).

[0078] As Figure 10 shown, if the front cover 110 that has overtraveled is pushed back to the holding position by the push latch device 120 (reference arrow R4 in the figure), the protruding body 142 pushed downward by the first rib body 114 protrudes upward (in the Z direction) to a position where it interferes with the movement locus of the first rib body 114 (reference arrow R2 in the figure).

[0079] Thereby, even if the front cover 110 is pushed toward the main body frame F side, as Figure 10 shown by arrow W, the first rib body 114 also contacts the protruding body 142 of the restricting body 140 to prevent the front cover 110 from moving in the pushing direction. That is, when the front cover 110 is in the closed position, even if the user of the image forming apparatus 100 accidentally touches the front cover 110 and pushes a part of the front cover 110, the front cover 110 is prevented from moving in the pushing direction due to the protruding body 142 of the restricting body 140, so that the engagement between the push latch device 120 and the engaging body 130 is not released.

[0080] (2.3) Disengagement of the engagement at the closed position of the opening / closing body

[0081] Figure 11 It is a cross-sectional schematic view for explaining the operation of releasing the engagement between the front cover 110 and the push latch device 120 that is locked in the closed position.Figure 12 A cross-sectional schematic view showing a state in which the engagement between the front cover 110 and the push latch device 120 is released.

[0082] When releasing the engagement between the front cover 110 that is latched in the closed position and the push latch device 120, as Figure 11 shown by the arrow P in the figure, by pressing the operating body 131 of the engaging body 130 that is movably provided in the front cover 110 with a specified stroke, the engagement between the latch body 122 of the push latch device 120 and the engaging claw 132 is released.

[0083] As Figure 12 shown by the arrow R4 in the figure, the push latch device 120 whose engagement between the front cover 110 and the engaging claw 132 is released functions as follows, that is, it ejects the front cover 110 in the direction opposite to the pushing-in direction. Thereby, as Figure 12 shown by the arrow R5 in the figure, the latching of the front cover 110 in the closed position is released, and it is in a state where it can move to the open position. Thus, according to the latching structure 1 of the opening / closing body according to the present embodiment, even when the push latch device 120 is used, it is possible to prevent the latching from being inadvertently released due to the front cover 110, which is an opening / closing body other than the operating body 131, being pushed.

[0084] In the present embodiment, the latching structure 1 of the opening / closing body of the image forming apparatus 100 having the front cover 110 as the opening / closing body has been described. However, as the opening / closing body, it may also be a manual paper feed tray that can be set to be foldable relative to the apparatus main body or a paper guide provided so as to be able to open and close in the paper conveyance path of the image forming apparatus 100.

[0085] Moreover, the electronic device is not limited to the image forming apparatus 100, and in particular, it can be applied to a device in which an interlocking mechanism is provided in the opening and closing of the opening / closing body and the main body can operate by the latching of the opening / closing body in the closed position.

[0086] The above-described embodiments of the present invention are provided for the purpose of illustration and explanation. In addition, the embodiments of the present invention do not comprehensively and exhaustively include the present invention, and do not limit the present invention to the disclosed manner. Obviously, various modifications and changes are obvious to those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains. The present embodiment is selected and described in order to most easily explain the principle of the present invention and its applications. Thus, other technicians in the technical field can understand the present invention through various modified examples that are optimized for specific uses assumed to be various embodiments. The scope of the present invention is defined by the above claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A latching structure for an opening / closing body, characterized in that, it comprises: an opening / closing body, which is supported so as to be movable between an open position where an opening formed in a device main body is opened and a closed position where the opening is closed; a push latch device, in which a latch body is pushed by a mating body to latch the opening / closing body at the closed position, and if the mating body is further pushed at the closed position, the latching of the opening / closing body is released and the opening / closing body is pushed out in a direction opposite to the pushing direction, the mating body is arranged on the device main body and protrudes in the pushing direction on the opening / closing body, wherein, even if the opening / closing body is pushed in the pushing direction at the closed position, the opening / closing body does not move and the push latch device maintains the latched state; and a restricting body, which is arranged on the device main body to prevent the opening / closing body located at the closed position from moving in the pushing direction, the restricting body is composed of a main body capable of moving in the up-and-down direction intersecting with the pushing direction of the opening / closing body and a protruding body elastically pushed upward in the main body and capable of moving in the up-and-down direction, wherein, even if the opening / closing body is pushed in the pushing direction at the closed position, the restricting body contacts the opening / closing body to restrict the movement of the opening / closing body and the push latch device maintains the latched state.

2. The latching structure for an opening / closing body according to claim 1, characterized in that, the main body is pushed by the latch body moving in the pushing direction as the opening / closing body moves to the closed position, moves upward, and prevents the opening / closing body from moving in the pushing direction.

3. The latching structure for an opening / closing body according to claim 2, characterized in that, when the opening / closing body returns to the closed position after overtraveling in the pushing direction, the protruding body is arranged on the opening / closing body and is arranged to protrude from the movement locus of a rib protruding in the pushing direction to prevent the opening / closing body from moving in the pushing direction.

4. The latching structure for an opening / closing body according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that, the main body has a protrusion protruding in a horizontal direction intersecting with the up-and-down direction, and when the main body is pushed upward by the latch body moving in the pushing direction as the opening / closing body moves to the closed position, the protrusion is supported by a second rib arranged on the opening / closing body and is held at the position of moving upward.

5. The latching structure for an opening / closing body according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that, the mating body is composed of an operating body capable of being inserted through a hole arranged on the opening / closing body and a engaging claw protruding in the pushing direction, and is arranged to be elastically pushed in a direction opposite to the pushing direction and capable of moving relative to the opening / closing body in the pushing direction, and the latching of the opening / closing body is released by pushing the operating body at the closed position.

6. An electronic device, characterized in that, it comprises the latching structure for an opening / closing body according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

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