Image formation apparatus

Abstract

To provide an image formation apparatus that can prevent deformation or damage of a handle by surely bringing the handle into contact with a structural member during transport without increasing the number of components.SOLUTION: An image formation apparatus includes an image formation unit housed inside a casing and includes: a handle member (11) which is a portion of the casing, formed on a side surface of the casing that is supported when the casing is lifted; and a structural member and side plates (12, 13) which form the casing. The side plate includes guide grooves (12a, 13a) in the long hole shape which have the longitudinal dimension in a vertical direction of the casing. The handle member includes a handle portion (11a) which is recessed inward from the side surface of the casing (1a), and guide portions (11b, 11c) having a width dimension approximately equal to that of the guide grooves (12a, 13a). The handle member (11) can move in the vertical direction relative to the casing (1a) by the guide grooves (12a, 13a) and the guide portions (11b, 11c). When the handle member (11) moves upward, it comes into contact with the structural member and the movement is regulated.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, there is known an image forming apparatus having an image forming unit inside a housing, the apparatus including a handle member formed on a side surface of the housing that is part of the housing and is supported when lifting the housing, and a structural member forming the housing. The handle member is movable in the vertical direction with respect to the housing, and when the handle member moves upward, it abuts against the structural member and its movement is restricted. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses such an image forming apparatus in which a handle member is made movable in the vertical direction with respect to the housing by engaging a guide groove having a long hole shape with a longitudinal dimension in the vertical direction of the housing and a guide portion. According to this, it is said that it is possible to always bring the handle member into contact with the structural member during transportation to prevent deformation and breakage of the handle portion.

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0003] However, due to the detachment of the handle member, it is necessary to provide a regulating member

[1111] in FIG. 4 of Patent Document 1, etc., which increases the number of parts.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0004] An image forming apparatus including an image forming unit inside a housing, comprising: a handle member formed on a side surface of the housing that is part of the housing and is supported when lifting the housing; a structural member and a side plate forming the housing; the handle member having a handle portion recessed inward from the side surface of the housing; either one of a long hole-shaped guide groove having a longitudinal dimension in the vertical direction of the housing and a guide portion having a dimension substantially equal to the width dimension of the guide groove is provided on the handle member, and the other is provided on the side plate; the handle member is movable in the vertical direction with respect to the housing by the guide groove and the guide portion; when the handle member moves upward, it abuts against the structural member and the movement is restricted.

Advantages of the Invention

[0005] According to the present invention, during transportation, the handle portion can always be brought into contact with the structural member to prevent deformation and breakage of the handle portion, and it does not cause an increase in the number of parts.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0006]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

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Figure 8

Figure 9

Figure 10

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0007] FIG. 1 is a front view showing a schematic configuration of the internal structure of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the following, the image forming apparatus 1 will be described as a monochrome machine, but the present invention may be applied to a color machine. The image forming apparatus 1 includes a process cartridge 2 for forming a toner image of K (black) color in a housing 1a. The process cartridge 2 has a photoreceptor module, a charging module, a developing module, and a cleaning module, and is detachable from the main body of the image forming apparatus 1. The process cartridge 2 includes a drum-shaped photoreceptor 3.

[0008] Further, the image forming apparatus 1 includes a writing unit 4. The writing unit 4 irradiates irradiation light such as laser light toward the photoreceptor 3 charged by the charging module to form an electrostatic latent image. The developing module develops the electrostatic latent image with developer toner. Above the writing unit 4, there is provided a toner bottle 5 for storing developer toner.

[0009] The transfer unit 6 has a transfer roller 7. The transfer roller 7 and the photoreceptor 3 are in contact with each other to form a transfer nip. At the transfer nip, a transfer electric field is formed by applying a transfer bias to the transfer roller 7, and the toner image on the photoreceptor 3 is transferred to a recording medium such as paper.

[0010] Further, the image forming apparatus 1 includes a fixing unit 8 for fixing the toner image transferred onto the recording medium above the transfer unit 6 in the upper side in the figure. The fixing unit 8 has a heating roller having a heating element inside. Also, between the transfer unit 6 and the fixing unit 8, the recording medium after the toner image transfer is conveyed along the conveyance direction of the recording medium toward the fixing unit 8.

[0011] In addition, the image forming apparatus 1 includes a paper feeding unit 9 that feeds a recording medium to the transfer unit 6 at the lower part of the housing 1a. Further, the image forming apparatus 1 includes a paper discharging unit 10 that discharges the recording medium that has passed through the fixing unit 8 outward of the apparatus, on the left side in the drawing of the fixing unit 8. Each component provided inside the housing 1a mentioned above, such as the process cartridge 2, constitutes an image forming section.

[0012] FIG. 2 is an external perspective view of the image forming apparatus 1. The image forming apparatus 1 includes a handle member 11 having a concave handle portion 11a that is recessed inward on the right side surface of the housing 1a. The handle member 11 is formed of resin from the viewpoints of safety and the formation of the grip shape.

[0013] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the handle member 11, and also shows a partially enlarged view. The handle member 11 has guide portions 11b and 11c that are cylindrical convex portions protruding outward in the horizontal direction of the handle member at both ends in the horizontal direction (width direction or longitudinal direction) of the handle portion.

[0014] FIG. 4 shows the guide portions 11b and 11c of the handle member 11. FIG. 4(a) is the guide portion 11b on the front side of the housing 1a, and FIG. 4(b) is the guide portion 11c on the back side. The guide portions 11b and 11c are provided on an elastic deformation portion 11d having a certain length at the end of the handle member 11. This elastic deformation portion 11d is deformable in the axial direction of the cylindrical shape of the guide portion. That is, the elastic deformation portion 11d is deformable so that the tip is displaced in the horizontal direction.

[0015] FIG. 5 shows the mounting configuration of the handle member 11. Two side plates 12 and 13 are provided so as to sandwich the handle member 11, and the side plates 12 and 13 have guide grooves 12a and 13a having a long hole shape with a longitudinal dimension in the vertical direction. The handle member 11 is attached to the side plates 12 and 13 such that the guide portions 11b and 11c of the handle member 11 fit into the guide grooves of the side plates.

[0016] As shown in Fig. 6, the handle member 11 is attached to the side plates 12 and 13 by utilizing the elastic deformation of the above-described elastic deformation portion 11d. Specifically, the tip portions of the guide portions 11b and 11c are fitted so as to protrude outside the side plates 12 and 13, and by ensuring a sufficient amount A of the guide portions 11b and 11c engaged with the side plates 12 and 13, the handle member 11 is prevented from falling off the side plates 12 and 13. As a result, unlike Patent Document 1, a regulating member for preventing detachment (such as the regulating member

[1111] in Fig. 4 of Patent Document 1) is unnecessary, leading to a reduction in the number of parts.

[0017] As shown in Fig. 7, the width dimensions of the guide portions 11b and 11c of the handle member 11 and the guide grooves 12a and 13a of the side plates 12 and 13 are configured to be substantially the same, and the handle member 11 is movable in the vertical direction with respect to the side plates 12 and 13. The handle member 11 moves downward by its own weight and is regulated when the lower ends of the guide portions 11b and 11c provided on the handle member 11 come into contact with the lower ends of the guide grooves 12a and 13a provided on the side plates 12 and 13. This state is maintained except during transportation, and the position and posture of the handle member 11 can be uniquely maintained.

[0018] Fig. 8 shows a cross-sectional view in the vicinity of the handle portion 11a. In order to prevent deformation and breakage of the handle member 11 due to the load during transportation, a structural member 14 for regulating upward deformation and movement of the handle member 11 is provided. The structural member 14 is composed of a member with high rigidity such as metal. When the handle member 11 lifts the handle portion 11a, it moves upward as shown by the arrow B and comes into contact with the structural member 14, and further upward movement is regulated. As a result, since the handle portion 11a always comes into contact with the structural member 14 during transportation, deformation and breakage of the handle portion 11a are prevented. This point is the same as in Patent Document 1, and unlike Patent Document 2, since the handle member 11 is movable in the vertical direction, deformation and breakage of the handle portion 11a can be prevented.

[0019] FIG. 9 is a diagram showing the positional relationship between the handle member 11 having the handle portion 11a and the cover members 15 and 16 adjacent thereto. FIG. 9(a) shows the side of the cover member 15, and FIG. 9(b) shows the side of the cover member 16. As shown in FIG. 9(a), the distance (C) between the lower end of the guide groove 12a of the side plate 12 and the lower end of the handle member 11 and the distance (D) from the lower end of the guide groove 12a of the side plate 12 to the lower end of the adjacent cover member 15 are configured to be substantially the same. Since this positional relationship is maintained except during transportation, the lower ends of the cover member 15 adjacent to the handle member 11 are aligned and the appearance quality is not impaired.

[0020] Similarly, also on the side of the cover member 16, as shown in FIG. 9(b), the distance (E) between the lower end of the guide groove 13a of the side plate 13 and the lower end of the handle member 11 and the distance (F) from the lower end of the guide groove 13a of the side plate 13 to the lower end of the adjacent cover member 16 are configured to be substantially the same. Since this positional relationship is maintained except during transportation, the lower ends of the cover member 16 adjacent to the handle member 11 are aligned and the appearance quality is not impaired.

[0021] In the image forming apparatus to which this content is applied, it may have only one of the cover members 15 or 16 adjacent to the handle member 11, or may have both.

[0022] FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of various modification examples. FIG. 10(a) schematically shows the above-described embodiment regarding which of the handle member 11 and the side plates 12 and 13 are provided with the guide portion and the guide groove, and where the elastically deformable portion is provided. That is, in the above-described embodiment, the guide portion is provided on the handle member, the guide groove is provided on the side plate, and the elastically deformable portion is provided on the support member.

[0023] FIG. 10(b) is an example in which the objects provided with the guide portion and the guide groove are interchanged between the attachment member and the side plate with respect to FIG. 10(a). FIG. 10(c) is an example in which an elastically deformable portion is provided at a location where the support member faces the side plate from the outside in the width direction with respect to FIG. 10(a).

[0024] FIG. 10(c) shows a state in which an external force is applied to elastically deform the tip of the elastic deformation part 20 that elastically deforms to engage the guide part and the groove, causing the tip to spread. When the external force is released, as indicated by the arrow, the tip returns to its original shape and shrinks, and the guide enters the groove and engages. FIG. 10(d) is an example in which the object provided with the guide part and the guide groove is interchanged between the mounting member and the side plate with respect to FIG. 10(c).

[0025] FIG. 10(e) is an example in which the elastically deformable portion is provided on the side plate, whereas in FIGS. 10(a) to 10(c), the elastically deformable portion was provided on the handle member 11. An elastic deformation part 21 is provided on one side plate 13, and an external force is applied to elastically deform the tip of the elastic deformation part 20 that elastically deforms to engage the guide part and the groove, causing the tip to spread. When the external force is released, as indicated by the arrow, the tip returns to its original shape and shrinks, and the guide enters the groove and engages. The elastic deformation part 21 may be provided on the other side plate 12 in the same manner. Also, with respect to FIG. 10(e), the object provided with the guide part and the guide groove may be interchanged between the mounting member and the side plate.

[0026] In the above embodiments, as a counterpart for engaging the handle member with the groove and the guide part, a side plate extending in a direction intersecting the outer surface of the device where the handle member is provided is used, and the insertion / removal direction of the groove and the guide part intersects the outer surface of the device, which contributes to preventing detachment. When the handle member moves in a direction perpendicular to the outer surface of the device and attempts to fall off, the moving direction intersects the insertion / removal direction of the groove and the guide part. Compared with the case where they do not intersect, the engagement between the groove and the guide part is less likely to become disengaged.

[0027] However, with only this, if this structure is only present on one side in the width direction and moreover, when the side plate on the other side to which the handle member is attached is another device outer surface that intersects the above-described device outer surface, detachment may occur. To prevent this, in the case of a device outer surface, an engagement structure formed by a groove and a guide portion may be provided on both sides in the width direction, and the engagement relationship may be reversed in the width direction, thereby preventing detachment. This is because the movement in the width direction that would cause the engagement between the groove and the guide portion to become disengaged is restricted. Regarding the insertion of the guide portion into the groove, a structure may be considered in which elastic deformation is not used, the guide portion or the groove forming portion is made into a separate part, and after the guide portion is inserted into the groove, the guide portion or the like is fixed.

[0028] As described above, the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been explained. However, the present invention is not limited to such specific embodiments, and various modifications and changes are possible within the scope of the gist of the present invention described in the claims, unless otherwise specifically limited in the above description. For example, although the image forming apparatus of the present invention includes an electrophotographic image forming unit, it can also be applied to an apparatus including an image forming unit of another image forming method such as an inkjet method. The effects described in the embodiments of the present invention are merely an enumeration of the most suitable effects resulting from the present invention, and the effects of the present invention are not limited to those described in the embodiments of the present invention.

[0029] What has been described above is an example, and the present invention exhibits specific effects for each of the following aspects. The symbols in parentheses after the component names in the description of the aspects are examples of the corresponding members, and the present invention is not limited to these member examples. (Aspect 1) An image forming apparatus (1) having an image forming unit inside a housing (1a), comprising a handle member (11) formed on a side surface of the housing (1a) which is a part of the housing (1a) and is supported when lifting the housing (1a), a structural member (14) forming the housing (1a), and side plates (12, 13). The handle member (11) has a handle portion (11a) recessed inward from the side surface of the housing. The handle member (11) has either one of guide grooves (12a, 13a) in a long hole shape having a longitudinal dimension in the vertical direction of the housing (1a) and guide portions (11b, 11c) having a dimension substantially equal to the width dimension of the guide grooves (12a, 13a), and the side plates (12, 13) have the other. The handle member (11) is movable in the vertical direction with respect to the housing (1a) by the guide grooves (12a, 13a) and the guide portions (11b, 11c). When the handle member (11) moves upward, it abuts against the structural member (14) and the movement is restricted. According to this, during transportation, the handle portion can always be abutted against the structural member to prevent deformation and breakage of the handle portion, and an increase in the number of parts is not caused.

[0030] (Aspect 2) (In Aspect 1), guide grooves (12a, 13a) are formed in the side plates (12, 13). When the handle member (11) moves downward with respect to the structural member (14), the lower ends of the guide portions (11b, 11c) abut against the lower ends of the guide grooves (12a, 13a). According to this, the position and posture of the handle member (11) other than during transportation can be uniquely maintained.

[0031] (Aspect 3) (In Aspect 1) or (Aspect 2), the housing (1a) includes adjacent cover members (15, 16) adjacent to the handle member (11). The distances (C, E) between the lower ends of the guide grooves (12a, 13a) of the side plates (12, 13) and the lower end of the handle member (11) and the distances (D, F) from the lower ends of the adjacent cover members (15, 16) to the positions corresponding to the lower ends of the guide grooves (12a, 13a) of the side plates (12, 13) are substantially the same. According to this, the lower ends of the cover members (15, 16) adjacent to the handle member (11) other than during transportation are aligned and the appearance quality is not impaired.

[0032] (Aspect 4) In any one of (Aspect 1) to (Aspect 3), a handle member (11) is formed with guide portions (11b, 11c), and the guide portions (11b, 11c) are formed in a convex shape extending in the horizontal direction of the handle portion (11a). According to this, by attaching the handle member (11) to the side plates (12, 13) using elastic deformation, it is possible to prevent dropping, and a member for preventing dropping is unnecessary.

[0033] (Aspect 5) An image forming apparatus (1) includes a handle member (11) formed on a side surface of a housing (1a) that is supported when the housing (1a) is lifted, a structural member (14) forming the housing (1a), and side plates (12, 13). The handle member (11) engages with the side surface of the housing (1a) from a direction intersecting the surfaces of the side plates (12, 13) and is attached so as to be movable in the vertical direction. When the handle member (11) moves upward, it abuts against the structural member (14) and the movement is restricted.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0034] 1: Image forming apparatus 1a: Housing 2: Process cartridge 3: Photoconductor 4: Writing unit 5: Toner bottle 6: Transfer unit 7: Transfer roller 8: Fixing unit 9: Paper feeding unit 10: Paper discharging unit 11: Handle member 11a: Handle portion 11b: Guide portion 11c: Guide portion 11d: Elastic deformation portion 12: Side plate 12a: Guide groove 13: Side plate 13a: Guide groove 14: Structural member 15: Cover member 16: Cover member 20: Elastic deformation part 21: Elastic deformation part A: Engagement amount B: Arrow

Prior art documents

Patent documents

[0035]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Claims

1. An image forming apparatus including an image forming unit inside a housing, a handle member formed on a side surface of the housing that is supported when lifting the housing, comprising a structural member and a side plate forming the housing, the handle member having a handle portion recessed inward from the side surface of the housing, either one of a long hole-shaped guide groove having a longitudinal dimension in the vertical direction of the housing and a guide portion having a dimension substantially equal to the width dimension of the guide groove is provided on the handle member, and the other is provided on the side plate, and the handle member is movable in the vertical direction with respect to the housing by the guide groove and the guide portion, when the handle member moves upward, it abuts against the structural member and the movement is restricted, An image forming apparatus characterized by the above.

2. A guide groove is formed in the side plate, when the handle member moves downward with respect to the structural member, the lower end of the guide portion abuts against the lower end of the guide groove, The image forming apparatus according to claim 1.

3. The housing includes an adjacent cover member adjacent to the handle member, the distance between the lower end of the guide groove of the side plate and the lower end of the handle member, the distance from the lower end of the adjacent cover member to the position corresponding to the lower end of the guide groove of the side plate is substantially the same, The image forming apparatus according to claim 1.

4. A guide portion is formed on the handle member, the guide portion is characterized by being in a convex shape extending in the horizontal direction of the handle portion The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

5. An image forming apparatus, a handle member formed on a side surface of the housing that is supported when lifting the housing, comprising a structural member and a side plate forming the housing, the handle member engages with the side surface of the housing from a direction intersecting the surface of the side plate and is attached so as to be movable in the vertical direction. When the handle member moves upward, it abuts against the structural member and the movement is restricted. An image forming apparatus characterized by the above.

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