Housing structure

Abstract

To secure the rigidity of a housing, when a load is applied in the vertical direction to two frames arranged to cross the vertical direction and not being in contact with each other in the vertical direction, without providing a new frame that is disposed to cross the vertical direction and is in contact with the two frames.SOLUTION: A housing structure includes: a first frame 44; a second frame 43 positioned below the first frame 44 and provided with a handle part 70, the second frame 43 having an action surface 43a that extends in a direction crossing the vertical direction Z such that an external force F input to the handle part 70 acts on the action surface; and an accommodation part 52 accommodating a substrate 60 positioned between the first frame 44 and the second frame 43, the accommodation part 52 including a part overlapping the action surface 43a of the second frame 43 in an up-down direction Z.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a housing structure. [Background technology]

[0002] For example, Patent Document 1 discloses an electronic device housing configuration having a non-flammable box-shaped case with an open top and a non-flammable box-shaped lid with an open bottom that engages with the case to cover it, wherein the case has at least one first partition plate that rises from the bottom of the case and is arranged approximately across the bottom, and the lid has at least one second partition plate that hangs down from the top of the lid and is arranged approximately across the top, and the first and second partition plates are arranged approximately parallel to each other with a small gap between them to prevent the passage of flames when the case and the lid are engaged. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2012-33801 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] Here, in a housing that includes two frames that are arranged so as to intersect with the vertical direction and where the two frames are not in contact with each other in the vertical direction, there may be concerns about insufficient rigidity when, for example, trying to lift the housing, one of the frames receives a load in the vertical direction. The object of the present invention is to ensure the rigidity of a housing when a load is applied in the vertical direction to two frames arranged to intersect with the vertical direction and not in contact with each other in the vertical direction, without providing a new frame that is arranged to intersect with the vertical direction and in contact with the two frames. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] The invention described in claim 1 is a housing structure comprising a first frame, a second frame located below the first frame and having a handle portion, the second frame extending in a direction intersecting the vertical direction and having an action surface on which an external force input to the handle portion acts, and a storage portion for accommodating a substrate located between the first frame and the second frame, the storage portion having a portion that overlaps in the vertical direction with the action surface of the second frame. The invention described in claim 2 is the housing structure described in claim 1, characterized in that the handle portion is located below the active surface of the second frame, and the upper inner surface of the inner surface formed by recessing inwardly into the second frame is a recessed portion that is a surface that guides the user's fingers in the depth direction. The invention described in claim 3 is the casing structure described in claim 2, characterized in that an end portion in the depth direction of the recessed portion is located within a section corresponding to the overlapping portion. The invention described in claim 4 is the housing structure described in claim 1, characterized in that when an external force is input to the handle portion of the second frame, a predetermined portion of the overlapping portion transmits the external force received from the action surface to the first frame. The invention described in claim 5 is the housing structure described in claim 4, characterized in that the predetermined portion is separated from the acting surface when no external force is input to the handle portion. The invention described in claim 6 is the casing structure described in claim 1, characterized in that the second frame does not have a portion extending downward from the operating surface. The invention described in claim 7 is the casing structure described in claim 1, characterized in that the storage section is made of a non-flammable resin. Effect of the Invention

[0006] According to the invention of claim 1, when a load is applied in the vertical direction to two frames arranged so as to intersect with the vertical direction and the two frames are not in contact with each other in the vertical direction, the rigidity of the housing can be ensured without providing a new frame arranged so as to intersect with the vertical direction and in contact with the two frames. According to the invention of claim 2, the handle portion is located below the active surface of the second frame, and the upper inner surface of the inner surface formed by recessing inward into the second frame is a recessed portion that guides the user's fingers in the depth direction, thereby reducing the concentration of load on the user's fingers holding the handle portion compared to a case where the handle portion does not have such a configuration. According to the invention of claim 3, the strength of the storage section can be ensured, compared to a case where the configuration in which the end in the depth direction of the recessed portion is not positioned within the section corresponding to the overlapping portion is not provided. According to the invention of claim 4, the accommodating portion can ensure the rigidity of the housing compared to a case in which the accommodating portion does not have a configuration in which, when an external force is input to the handle portion of the second frame, a predetermined portion of the overlapping portion transmits the external force received from the acting surface to the first frame. According to the invention of claim 5, the assembly workability can be improved compared to a case in which the predetermined portion is not provided with a configuration in which it is separated from the acting surface when no external force is input to the handle portion. According to the invention of claim 6, the second frame can utilize the internal space more effectively than when the second frame does not have a configuration that does not have a portion extending downward from the action surface. According to the seventh aspect of the invention, the container can have improved fire resistance compared to a container not having a configuration in which the container is made of a non-flammable resin. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0007] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an overall configuration of an image forming apparatus. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view partially showing a housing of the image forming apparatus. [Diagram 3]1 is a schematic perspective view showing a state in which an outer member covering a board is attached to a housing. FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view including a lower member and an upper member. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 is a partial enlarged view of an area K in FIG. [Figure 6] 5A and 5B are diagrams for explaining a gap between the working surface of the lower member and the rear end of the inner member, where (a) shows a case where there is a gap and (b) shows a case where there is no gap. [Figure 7] FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram illustrating a support structure of the inner member. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0008] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Note that the size, thickness, and other dimensions of each part in the drawings referred to in the following description may differ from the actual dimensions. Fig. 1 is a diagram showing an overall configuration of an image forming apparatus 1. Additionally, Fig. 1 is a diagram showing the image forming apparatus 1 as viewed from the front side thereof. The image forming apparatus 1 includes an image forming section 10, a paper supply section 20, and a fixing section 30. The image forming unit 10 forms a toner image on a sheet of paper P, which is an example of a recording material, by using an electrophotographic method. The paper supply unit 20 supplies the sheet of paper P to the image forming unit 10. The fixing unit 30 fixes the toner image, i.e., the image, formed on the sheet of paper P by the image forming unit 10, to the sheet of paper P.

[0009] The image forming section 10 is provided with a photoconductor drum 11 that rotates in the direction indicated by the arrow A. The image forming section 10 also is provided with a charging roll 12, an exposure device 13, a developing device 14, a transfer roll 15, and a cleaning device 16.

[0010] The photoconductor drum 11 is made of a cylindrical body, and a photosensitive layer (not shown) is formed on the surface of the cylindrical body. The charging roll 12 is made of a conductive rubber roll or the like, and charges the photoconductor drum 11 . The exposure device 13 irradiates the photoconductor drum 11 charged by the charging roll 12 with light from a light source such as a laser light source or an LED (Light Emitting Diode), thereby forming an electrostatic latent image on the surface of the photoconductor drum 11.

[0011] The developing device 14 includes a developing roll 14A that deposits toner on the surface of the photoconductor drum 11 and develops the electrostatic latent image formed on the photoconductor drum 11 with toner of a predetermined color. As a result, a toner image is formed on the surface of the photoconductor drum 11 in this embodiment. A developer is contained in the developing device 14. The developer in this embodiment is made up of a magnetic carrier and a colored toner, and is a so-called two-component developer. Furthermore, in this embodiment, a developer storage container 19 is provided in which developer to be supplied to the developing device 14 is stored. In this embodiment, new developer is supplied from the developer storage container 19 to the developing device 14 through a developer transport path (not shown).

[0012] The transfer roll 15 is made of a conductive rubber roll or the like. In this embodiment, the point where the transfer roll 15 and the photosensitive drum 11 face each other is the transfer section T, and the toner image on the surface of the photosensitive drum 11, i.e., the toner image held by the photosensitive drum 11, is transferred to the transported paper P at this transfer section T. The cleaning device 16 is provided with a contact member 16A that is arranged in contact with the photoconductor drum 11, and the cleaning device 16 removes deposits such as toner on the photoconductor drum 11. In this embodiment, the transfer roll 15 transfers to the paper P. However, the present invention is not limited to this. The transfer roll 15 may transfer to an intermediate transfer belt (not shown).

[0013] The paper supply section 20 is provided with a paper container 21 for storing paper P, and a delivery mechanism 22 for delivering paper P from the paper container 21. Furthermore, in this embodiment, a paper transport mechanism 23 that transports the paper P sent out from the paper supply unit 20 through the transfer unit T and the fixing unit 30 is provided.

[0014] The fixing unit 30 is provided with a pair of rotors 31 that rotate in contact with each other. One of the pair of rotors 31 has a heat source (not shown) provided therein. In the fixing unit 30, the paper P is pressurized and heated by these two rotating bodies 31, and the toner image on the paper P is fixed to the paper P.

[0015] The image forming operation in the image forming apparatus 1 will be described. In the image forming unit 10, a photoconductor drum 11 rotating in the direction of arrow A is charged by a charging roll 12. Next, exposure is performed by an exposure device 13, and an electrostatic latent image corresponding to image information is formed on the surface of the photoconductor drum 11. Thereafter, development is carried out by the developing device 14, and a toner image corresponding to the electrostatic latent image is formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 11.

[0016] The toner image formed on the photoconductor drum 11 moves toward the transfer unit T as the photoconductor drum 11 rotates. Also, the paper P sent out from the paper supply unit 20 is transported to the transfer unit T by the paper transport mechanism 23. Then, the toner image on the photoconductor drum 11 is transferred to the transported paper P at the transfer section T. Thereafter, the paper P to which the toner image has been transferred passes through the fixing section 30, where it is heated and pressurized, and the toner image is fixed onto the paper P.

[0017] 2 is a schematic perspective view partially showing the housing 40 of the image forming apparatus 1. In the figure, the description will be made using the X direction, Y direction, and Z direction. The Z direction is the height direction, up-down direction, or lengthwise direction, and is the vertical direction. The X direction is the width direction or lateral direction, and is a direction intersecting with the vertical direction. The Y direction is the depth direction, and is a direction intersecting with the vertical direction. 2, the housing 40 is configured to include members 41 and 42 extending in the Z direction, and a lower member 43 and an upper member 44 extending in the X direction and positioned apart in the Z direction. Note that the housing 40 is also configured to include members 45 to 47 extending in the Y direction, although some of these are not shown in FIG.

[0018] More specifically, the lower member 43 is located below the upper member 44. That is, the lower member 43 and the upper member 44 are disposed so as to intersect with the Z direction, and are not in contact with each other in the Z direction. The lower member 43 is connected to the members 41 and 42, and the upper member 44 is connected to the members 41 and 42. That is, in the example of Fig. 2, a space is formed in the area surrounded by the members 41 and 42, the lower member 43, and the upper member 44, and the frame of the housing connected vertically to the lower member 43 and the upper member 44 does not exist in the space. Here, the lower member 43 is an example of a second frame, and the upper member 44 is an example of a first frame.

[0019] FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view showing a state in which an outer member 51 that covers a substrate 60 is attached to the housing 40, and members such as members 45 to 47 (see FIG. 2) are not shown. 3 is a printed circuit board located between the lower member 43 and the upper member 44, for implementing the functions of the image forming apparatus 1 (see FIG. 1). More specifically, the board 60 handles high voltage power supply and requires a fireproof enclosure to minimize the spread of fire or flames from within.

[0020] The fireproof enclosure for the substrate 60 in this embodiment is configured to include an outer member 51 and an inner member 52 (see FIG. 4) described later. The outer member 51 is a plate-shaped member, and the inner member 52 is a member having a recess. Therefore, the substrate 60 is housed by utilizing the space created by the recess of the inner member 52, and the outer member 51 separates the space of the inner member 52 from the outside. The inner member 52 is an example of a housing portion.

[0021] FIG. 4 is a vertical cross-sectional view including the lower member 43 and the upper member 44, and is a cross-sectional view including the Y direction and the Z direction. 4, the substrate 60 is disposed so that the solder surface 60b faces the outer member 51 and the component mounting surface 60a faces the inner member 52. In the figure, a component mountable area on the component mounting surface 60a is indicated by a dashed line.

[0022] The inner member 52 has a shape that forms a space for accommodating the substrate, and is a member that supports a load. The inner member 52 is made of a non-flammable resin. The outer member 51 is a metal cover member, and since it is plate-shaped as described above, it is not a member that supports a load. To explain further, when an external force (not shown) acts on the outer member 51 such that the outer member 51 bends, the external force is transmitted to the inner member 52, which has higher rigidity than the outer member 51, and the bending of the outer member 51 is suppressed. This prevents the outer member 51 from coming into contact with the substrate 60.

[0023] Here, handle portions 70 are provided on the lower side of the lower member 43. The handle portions 70 are used when lifting the image forming apparatus 1 (see FIG. 1), and are arranged at intervals in the X direction (see, for example, FIG. 2). The number of handle portions 70 is, for example, two so that it can be held with both hands. The handle portion 70 may be integral with the lower member 43, or may be a separate member.

[0024] The handle portion 70 is a recessed portion having an inner surface 71 formed by being recessed inward (in the Y direction) of the lower member 43. An upper inner surface 72 (see FIG. 5) of the inner surface 71 is a surface that guides the user's fingers in the Y direction. As a result, when the user holds the handle portion 70, the user's fingers come into contact with the upper inner surface 72, thereby suppressing concentration of load on the fingers. The upper inner surface 72 is an example of a surface that guides the user's finger in the depth direction.

[0025] The lower member 43 extends in the Y direction, i.e., a direction intersecting the vertical direction, and has an action surface 43a on which an external force F acts when the external force F is input to the handle portion 70. The action surface 43a is the lower surface of the lower member 43. The handle portion 70 is located below the action surface 43a. In this embodiment, the handle portion 70 is formed as a recessed portion, but is not limited to this, and may be formed as a grip portion or a handle portion (not shown).

[0026] To explain further, the lower member 43 does not have a portion extending downward from the action surface 43a due to bending. This allows for effective use of the internal space of the housing 40. Note that the portion extending downward from the action surface 43a referred to here refers to a portion resulting from bending in such a way that the internal space is restricted. Therefore, it is conceivable to provide a step in the lower member 43 instead of bending it when the internal space is not substantially restricted.

[0027] FIG. 5 is a partial enlarged view of an area K in FIG. 4, and is a view for explaining the relationship between the action surface 43a of the lower member 43 and the handle portion 70. As shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 5, when the acting surface 43a of the lower member 43 on which an external force F (see FIG. 4) acts is portion L1, the handle portion 70 has a portion L2 that overlaps with the portion L1 in the up-down direction. This ensures the rigidity of the housing without providing a new member that is arranged to intersect with the Z direction and contacts the lower member 43 and the upper member 44, for example.

[0028] 5, the handle portion 70, i.e., the end portion 73 in the Y direction of the recessed portion, is located within the section corresponding to the overlapping portion L2. This allows the inner member 52 to be used as a member for supporting the housing.

[0029] In this embodiment, a notch 74 is formed in the handle portion 70 to allow a user's finger inserted into the handle portion 70 to access the action surface 43a of the lower member 43. Note that instead of a configuration in which the notch 74 is provided, a configuration in which the handle portion 70 abuts on the action surface 43a of the lower member 43 when an external force F is input to the handle portion 70 may be employed.

[0030] FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating the gap G between the working surface 43a of the lower member 43 and the rear end portion 52a of the inner member 52, where (a) shows the case where the gap G exists and (b) shows the case where the gap G does not exist. When no external force F is applied to the handle portion 70 (see, for example, FIG. 5), as shown in FIG. 6(a), the rear end 52a of the inner member 52 is separated from the action surface 43a, leaving a gap G. In other words, when no external force F is applied to the handle portion 70, the rear end 52a is separated from the action surface 43a.

[0031] On the other hand, when an external force F is input and acts on the action surface 43a, as shown in FIG. 6(b), the action surface 43a bends in the Z direction and comes into contact with the rear end portion 52a, eliminating the gap G. As a result, the rear end portion 52a transmits the external force F received from the action surface 43a to the upper member 44.

[0032] In this embodiment, a configuration is adopted in which a gap G is formed when no upward external force F is applied, thereby improving the ease of assembling the housing. The rear end 52a of the inner member 52 is an example of a predetermined portion of the overlapping portion.

[0033] FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram illustrating the support structure of the inner member 52. As shown in FIG. 7, the inner member 52 has a high-rigidity region 52b having high rigidity in the Z direction surrounded by a dashed line. The high-rigidity region 52b includes a rear end portion 52a that comes into contact with the lower member 43 when an upward external force F is applied. Further, the high rigidity region 52b includes an upper end portion 52c of the inner member 52. The upper end portion 52c does not come into contact with the upper member 44 unless an external force F is applied thereto, but comes into contact with the upper member 44 when an external force F is applied thereto, as shown in Fig. 7. Note that the upper end portion 52c is not limited to this, and may be connected to the upper member 44.

[0034] The inner member 52 functions like a pillar that supports the load of the external force F, which is directed upward, and transmits it to the upper member 44 due to the high rigidity region 52b surrounded by the dashed line. For this reason, when an upward external force F from the handle portion 70 (see FIG. 4) acts on the action surface 43a of the lower member 43, the external force F is transmitted to the upper member 44 by the high rigidity region 52b of the inner member 52. Furthermore, by providing the high rigidity region 52b in the inner member 52 that constitutes a part of the fire enclosure, the rigidity of the housing is ensured without providing a new member.

[0035] <Additional Notes> (((1))) A first frame; a second frame located below the first frame and having a handle portion, the second frame extending in a direction intersecting the vertical direction and having an action surface on which an external force inputted to the handle portion acts; an accommodation section for accommodating a substrate located between the first frame and the second frame, the accommodation section having a portion overlapping with the working surface of the second frame in a vertical direction; A housing structure comprising: (((2))) The handle portion is a recessed portion located below the working surface of the second frame, and an upper inner surface of the inner surface formed by recessing inwardly of the second frame is a surface that guides a user's finger in the depth direction. The housing structure described in (((1))) is characterized in that (((3))) an end portion in the depth direction of the recessed portion is located within a section corresponding to the overlapping portion; The housing structure described in (((2))) is characterized in that (((4))) When an external force is input to the handle portion of the second frame, a predetermined portion of the overlapping portion transmits the external force received from the action surface to the first frame. 2. A housing structure according to claim 1, wherein the housing structure is a housing having a first opening and a second opening. (((5))) The predetermined portion is in a state of being separated from the action surface when no external force is applied to the handle portion. The housing structure described in (((4))) is characterized in that (((6))) The second frame does not have a portion extending downward from the action surface. 2. A housing structure according to claim 1, wherein the housing structure is a housing having a first opening and a second opening. (((7))) The storage section is formed of a non-flammable resin. 2. A housing structure according to claim 1, wherein the housing structure is a housing having a first opening and a second opening.

[0036] According to the invention (((1))), when a load is applied in the vertical direction to two frames that are arranged so as to intersect with the vertical direction and that do not contact each other in the vertical direction, the rigidity of the housing can be ensured without providing a new frame that is arranged so as to intersect with the vertical direction and that contacts the two frames. According to the invention (((2))), the handle portion is located below the active surface of the second frame, and the upper inner surface of the inner surface formed by recessing inward into the second frame is a recessed portion that guides the user's fingers in the depth direction, thereby reducing the concentration of load on the user's fingers holding the handle portion compared to a case where the handle portion does not have this configuration. According to the invention (((3))), the strength of the storage section can be ensured compared to a case in which the depth direction end of the recessed portion is not positioned within the section corresponding to the overlapping portion. According to the invention (((4))), when an external force is input to the handle portion of the second frame, the storage portion can ensure the rigidity of the housing compared to a case in which the storage portion does not have a configuration in which a predetermined portion of the overlapping portion transmits the external force received from the acting surface to the first frame. According to the invention (((5))), the predetermined portion can be made easier to assemble than when it is not provided with a configuration in which it is separated from the acting surface when no external force is applied to the handle portion. According to the invention (((6))), the second frame can utilize the internal space more effectively than if it did not have a configuration that did not have a portion extending downward from the action surface. According to the invention (((7))), the storage section can have improved fire resistance compared to a case in which the storage section does not have a configuration in which the storage section is made of a non-flammable resin. [Explanation of symbols]

[0037] 1: image forming apparatus, 43: lower member, 43a: action surface, 44: upper member, 52: inner member, 52a: rear end, 71: inner surface, 72: upper inner surface, F: external force, L2: overlapping portion

Claims

1. A first frame; a second frame located below the first frame and having a handle portion, the second frame extending in a direction intersecting with the vertical direction and having an action surface on which an external force inputted to the handle portion acts; an accommodation portion for accommodating a substrate located between the first frame and the second frame, the accommodation portion having a portion overlapping with the working surface of the second frame in a vertical direction; A housing structure comprising:

2. The handle portion is a recessed portion located below the working surface of the second frame, and an upper inner surface of an inner surface formed by recessing inwardly of the second frame is a surface that guides a user's finger in a depth direction. The housing structure according to claim 1 .

3. an end portion in the depth direction of the recessed portion is located within a section corresponding to the overlapping portion; The housing structure according to claim 2 .

4. When an external force is input to the handle portion of the second frame, a predetermined portion of the overlapping portion transmits the external force received from the action surface to the first frame. The housing structure according to claim 1 .

5. The predetermined portion is in a state of being separated from the action surface when no external force is applied to the handle portion.

5. The housing structure according to claim 4.

6. The second frame does not have a portion extending downward from the action surface. The housing structure according to claim 1 .

7. The storage section is formed of a non-flammable resin. The housing structure according to claim 1 .

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