Image formation device

Abstract

To provide small and medium-sized image formation devices including a fixing mechanism capable of preventing moving and overturning after the installation.SOLUTION: An image formation device includes a fixing mechanism 15 which supports a device body on an installation surface T immovably. The fixing mechanism 15 includes: an elastically deformable suction cup 21 which is disposed between a bottom surface of the device body and the installation surface T and forms an internal space S between the surfaces; and an arm 23 which is supported by the device body so as to be movable between an open position for opening the internal space S of the suction cup 21 to the atmospheric air and a closed position for sealing the internal space S. The device body is installed on the installation surface to cause the arm 23 to move to the closed position and seal the internal space S. Subsequently, when a force is applied to the device body so as to deform the suction cup 21 elastically, the internal space S is decompressed to cause the suction cup 21 to adhere to the installation surface T. Through the action, the image formation device makes the device body unable to move relative to the installation surface T.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus including a fixing mechanism for preventing movement and tipping over after installation.

Background Art

[0002] Small or medium-sized image forming apparatuses are generally used by being placed on a table. In this case, when an earthquake occurs or a strong impact is applied artificially, there is a risk that the image forming apparatus may move or fall off the table.

[0003] In the case of a large-sized image forming apparatus, for example, as described in Patent Document 1, a seismic isolation device is installed between the object to be installed and the installation floor. The seismic isolation device includes a floor board having a surface area at least larger than the installation area of the object to be installed, a rubber sheet adhered to the floor board, and screws for connecting the object to be installed and the seismic isolation device. Further, the anti-tipping device of Patent Document 1 includes a fixing bracket fixed to the bottom surface of the apparatus main body, and an L-shaped cross-section anti-tipping member fixed to the fixing bracket.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] As described above, in the case of a large-sized image forming apparatus mainly installed on the floor surface, many seismic isolation devices and anti-tipping devices have been proposed. However, when such devices are applied to small or medium-sized image forming apparatuses, there is a problem that the weight of the apparatus increases or a large installation space is required, which is not suitable for the use of small or medium-sized image forming apparatuses.

[0006] Therefore, in view of the above circumstances, an object of the present invention is to provide a small and medium-sized image forming apparatus provided with a fixing mechanism capable of preventing movement and tipping over after installation.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0007] To achieve the above object, an image forming apparatus of the present invention is an image forming apparatus provided with a fixing mechanism for supporting a device main body immovably on an installation surface, wherein the fixing mechanism is disposed between a bottom surface of the device main body and the installation surface, and includes an elastically deformable suction cup that forms an internal space between both surfaces, and an arm movably supported by the device main body between an open position for opening the internal space of the suction cup to the atmosphere and a closed position for closing the internal space. When the device main body is installed on the installation surface, the arm moves to the closed position and the internal space is sealed. Thereafter, when a force is applied to the device main body such that the suction cup elastically deforms, the internal space is depressurized and the suction cup adheres to the installation surface, thereby making the device main body immovable with respect to the installation surface.

[0008] In the present invention, a bottom plate of the device main body may have an opening communicating with the internal space of the suction cup, the arm may be movably supported on an upper surface of the bottom plate, and may close the opening in the closed position and open a part of the opening in the open position.

[0009] In the present invention, the fixing mechanism may include a biasing member that biases the arm to move to the closed position, and a handle supported by the device main body so as to be gripped by a user when moving the device main body. When the handle is gripped by the user, the arm moves to the open position against the biasing force of the biasing member, and after the device main body is installed on the installation surface, when the user releases the hand from the handle, the arm is biased by the biasing member and moves to the closed position.

[0010] In the present invention, the suction cup may have legs that contact the installation surface, and when the device body is installed on the installation surface, the legs may be elastically deformed so that the inner surface of the legs contacts the installation surface.

[0011] In the present invention, it may further include a leg member provided around the suction cup, to which the weight of the device body is applied when the device body is installed on the installation surface.

Advantages of the Invention

[0012] According to the present invention, when a force is applied to the device body after the device body is installed on the installation surface, the suction cup is deformed so that the pressure in the internal space of the suction cup becomes lower than the atmospheric pressure, thereby causing the suction cup to adhere to the installation surface and restricting the movement of the device body from the installation surface.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0013]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4A

Figure 4B

Figure 4C

Figure 5A

Figure 5B

Figure 5C

Figure 6

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0014] Hereinafter, an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0015] First, with reference to FIG. 1, the overall configuration of the image forming apparatus 1 will be described. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the image forming apparatus 1 not installed on the installation surface. Fr, Rr, L, and R shown in each figure indicate the front side, rear side, left side, and right side of the image forming apparatus 1, respectively.

[0016] The image forming apparatus 1 includes an apparatus main body 3 having a substantially rectangular parallelepiped-shaped hollow portion. The apparatus main body 3 is formed by vertical columns provided at the four corners, a plurality of horizontal columns connecting adjacent vertical columns, a top plate 3a, a bottom plate 3b, a plurality of side plates 3c, and the like.

[0017] In the hollow portion of the apparatus main body 3, a paper feed cassette 5 for accommodating sheets and an image forming unit 7 for forming a toner image on the sheets fed from the paper feed cassette 5 by an electrophotographic method are accommodated. On the upper surface of the top plate 3a of the apparatus main body 3, a paper discharge tray 9 on which the sheets with images formed by the image forming unit 7 are stacked is formed. Further, at the center of the lower edge of the left and right side plates 3c of the apparatus main body 3, notches 11 into which both hands of the user are inserted when lifting the image forming apparatus 1 are formed.

[0018] Above the apparatus main body 3, a document conveying device 13 is provided. The image forming unit 7 forms a toner image on the sheet based on the image data of the document conveyed by the document conveying device 13.

[0019] In this way, the image forming apparatus 1 is small or medium-sized and is generally installed not on the floor surface but on the installation surface of a table or a desk. The installation surface is a smooth flat surface. At the left and right ends of the bottom plate 3b of the apparatus main body 3, after the image forming apparatus 1 is installed on the installation surface, left and right fixing mechanisms 15 (not shown in FIG. 1, see FIG. 2) for preventing the movement of the image forming apparatus 1 when a force is applied to tilt or lift the image forming apparatus 1 are respectively provided.

[0020] Next, the fixing mechanism 15 will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the right fixing mechanism 15, and FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing the fixing mechanism 15. The fixing mechanism 15 includes front and rear suction cups 21F, 21R (see FIG. 3, hereinafter collectively referred to as suction cup 21), front and rear arms 23F, 23R (see FIGS. 2 and 3, hereinafter collectively referred to as arm 23), two coil springs 25, and a handle 27.

[0021] First, the bottom plate 3b of the apparatus main body 3 will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3. As shown in FIG. 3, circular openings 31 are formed at the four corners of the bottom plate 3b of the apparatus main body 3. Further, a central opening 33 is formed between the middle of the front and rear openings 31 on the left side and the middle of the front and rear openings 31 on the right side. The central opening 33 has a rectangular shape that is long in the front-rear direction. The central opening 33 communicates with the notches 11 (also see FIG. 1) of the left and right side plates 3c.

[0022] Furthermore, on the upper surface of the bottom plate 3b, between the central opening 33 and the front and rear openings 31, a first guide projection 35 and a second guide projection 37 are formed side by side in the front-rear direction. The first guide projection 35 is arranged on the side closer to the central opening 33, and the second guide projection 37 is arranged on the side closer to the front and rear openings 31. The first guide projection 35 has two protruding pieces 36 (see FIG. 2) arranged at a predetermined interval in the left-right direction. The two protruding pieces 36 have legs that stand vertically from the bottom plate 3b and tip portions that bend so as to face each other from the legs. The second guide projection 37 is erected along the left-right direction between the two protruding pieces 36 of the first guide projection 35.

[0023] Further, on the upper surface of the bottom plate 3b, inside the central opening 33 (on the side opposite to the side plate 3c), a guide wall 39 (see FIG. 2) is formed along the side edge of the central opening 33.

[0024] Also, leg members 41 are fixed to the four corners of the lower surface of the bottom plate 3b. As shown in FIG. 3, the leg member 41 has a bottom wall and a peripheral wall along the periphery of the bottom wall, and a circular opening 43 is formed in the center of the bottom wall. The diameter of the opening 43 is smaller than the diameter of the opening 31 of the bottom plate 3b. The four leg members 41 are arranged such that the opening 43 of the bottom wall and the opening 31 of the bottom plate 3b are coaxial, and the bottom wall is fixed to the bottom plate 3b. Since the diameter of the opening 43 of the bottom wall is smaller than the diameter of the opening 31 of the bottom plate 3b, the opening edge of the opening 43 of the bottom wall protrudes inward from the opening 31 of the bottom plate 3b.

[0025] Next, the suction cup 21 will be described with reference to FIG. 4A. FIG. 4A is a perspective view showing the suction cup 21. The suction cup 21 has a cylindrical portion 51 and a leg portion 53 that expands in diameter like a trumpet downward from the lower end of the cylindrical portion 51, and is made of flexible rubber. The height of the suction cup 21 is higher than the height of the leg member 41. The cylindrical portion 51 has a height lower than that of the leg member 41 and an outer diameter equal to the diameter of the opening 43 of the bottom wall of the leg member 41. At the upper end portion of the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion 51, two annular protrusions are formed along the circumferential direction, and a groove 55 is formed between the two annular protrusions along the circumferential direction.

[0026] As shown in FIG. 3, the suction cup 21 is fixed to the leg member 41 inside the peripheral wall of the leg member 41 fixed to the bottom plate 3b. That is, the opening edge of the opening 43 of the bottom wall protruding inward from the opening 31 of the bottom plate 3b is fitted into the groove 55 of the cylindrical portion 51. The inner surface of the groove 55 of the cylindrical portion 51 and the outer surface of the opening edge of the opening 43 of the bottom wall are in close contact. Also, the upper end surface of the cylindrical portion 51 is on the same plane as the upper surface of the bottom plate 3b, and the leg portion 53 protrudes downward from the leg member 41.

[0027] Next, the arm 23 will be described with reference to FIG. 4B. FIG. 4B is a perspective view showing the arm 23. The arm 23 has a rectangular plate shape, and its lower surface is formed flat. At one end of the arm 23 in the longitudinal direction, a closing portion 61 having a size capable of closing the opening 31 of the bottom plate 3b is formed. At the other end of the arm 23 in the longitudinal direction, a rectangular tube-shaped portion 63 along the vertical direction is formed. The lower surface 63a of the tip of the rectangular tube-shaped portion 63 is inclined upward in a direction opposite to the closing portion 61. A guide groove 65 is formed along the longitudinal direction between the closing portion 61 and the rectangular tube-shaped portion 63.

[0028] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the front and rear arms 23F and 23R are arranged along the front-rear direction such that the rectangular tube-shaped portions 63 face each other between the central opening 33 of the bottom plate 3b and the front and rear openings 31. The arm 23 is disposed between the two protruding pieces 36 of the first guide protrusion 35, and the second guide protrusion 37 is inserted into the guide groove 65. Thereby, the arm 23 is guided by both guide protrusions 35 and 37 and is movable along the front-rear direction on the bottom plate 3b. Also, the upward movement is restricted by the tip portions of the two protruding pieces 36 of the first guide protrusion 35.

[0029] When the front and rear arms 23F and 23R move so as to approach the central opening 33 most closely, the front and rear openings 31 of the bottom plate 3b (the opening 43 of the bottom wall of the leg member 41, the upper opening of the suction cup 21) are closed by the closing portion 61 of the arm 23 (see FIGS. 2 and 3). On the other hand, when the front and rear arms 23F and 23R move so as to move farthest from the central opening 33, the closing portion 61 of the arm 23 is displaced from the front and rear openings 31 of the bottom plate 3b (the opening 43 of the bottom wall of the leg member 41, the upper opening of the suction cup 21), and the guide groove 65 overlaps the opening 31, and a part of the opening 31 opens.

[0030] Next, the coil spring 25 will be described. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the coil spring 25 is disposed between the square tubular portion 63 of the arm 23 and the second guide projection 37 of the bottom plate 3b. The coil spring 25 biases the square tubular portion 63, that is, the arm 23, toward the central opening 33 with respect to the second guide projection 37. Thus, the coil spring 25 is an example of a biasing member that biases the arm 23 to move to the closed position in the present invention. In a state where the arm 23 is biased toward the central opening 33 by the coil spring 25, the closing portion 61 of the arm 23 closes the opening 31 of the bottom plate 3b.

[0031] Next, the handle 27 will be described with reference to FIG. 4C. FIG. 4C is a perspective view showing the handle 27. The handle 27 has a concave portion 71 recessed upward and a plate-like portion 73 provided on one side surface of the concave portion 71. The upper surface of the concave portion 71 has a central flat surface 71a and inclined surfaces 71b inclined downward from both ends of the flat surface 71a. The angle of the inclined surface 71b with respect to the horizontal plane is equal to the angle of the lower surface 63a of the square tubular portion 63 of the arm 23 with respect to the horizontal plane.

[0032] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the handle 27 is disposed on the bottom plate 3b between the inner surface of the side plate 3c and the guide wall 39 provided on the bottom plate 3b. The concave portion 71 overlaps the central opening 33 of the bottom plate 3b and enters the notch 11 of the side plate 3c (see also FIG. 1). The plate-like portion 73 is in contact with the inner surface of the side plate 3c. Further, the two inclined surfaces 71b of the concave portion 71 are in contact with the lower surfaces 63a of the square tubular portions 63 of the front and rear arms 23F and 23R.

[0033] The operation in which the apparatus main body 3 is fixed immovably to the installation surface by the fixing mechanism 15 having the above configuration will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 3 and FIGS. 5A, 5B, 5C, and 6. FIGS. 5A to 5C are cross-sectional views showing the fixing mechanism 15, and FIG. 6 is a front view showing a state in which the apparatus main body 3 is inclined.

[0034] When installing the image forming apparatus 1 on the installation surface, the user inserts both hands into the notches 11 on the left and right side plates 3c of the apparatus main body 3 and lifts the apparatus main body 3. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, since the concave portion 71 of the handle 27 fits into the notch 11 of the side plate 3c, if the user puts a hand into the notch 11 and lifts the apparatus main body 3 as it is, the handle 27 will be lifted within the notch 11.

[0035] As shown in FIG. 5A, when the handle 27 is lifted (see arrow A1 in FIG. 5A), the inclined surface 71b of the handle 27 presses the lower surface 63a of the square tube-shaped portions 63 of the front and rear arms 23F, 23R, and the front and rear arms 23F, 23R move in a direction away from the central opening 33 (see arrow A2 in FIG. 5A). At this time, the front and rear arms 23F, 23R are guided in the front-rear direction by the first and second guide protrusions 35, 37. When the front and rear arms 23F, 23R move in a direction away from the central opening 33 in this way, the closing portions 61 of the front and rear arms 23F, 23R move away from the front and rear openings 31 (the openings 43 in the bottom wall of the leg member 41 and the upper opening of the suction cup 21) of the bottom plate 3b, the guide grooves 65 overlap the front and rear openings 31, and a part of the front and rear openings 31 opens.

[0036] After that, the user places the apparatus main body 3 on the installation surface T while keeping a hand inserted into the notch 11 of the side plate 3c of the apparatus main body 3. Specifically, the four leg members 41 of the apparatus main body 3 are brought into contact with the installation surface T. Here, as described above, since the legs 53 of the suction cup 21 protrude downward from the leg member 41, as shown in FIG. 5B, the legs 53 first come into contact with the installation surface T. In this state, the lower opening of the suction cup 21 is closed by the installation surface T, and a part of the upper opening is open through the guide groove 65 of the arm 23. That is, the internal space S of the suction cup 21 is open to the atmosphere.

[0037] After the leg portion 53 of the suction cup 21 comes into contact with the installation surface T, the leg member 41 comes into contact with the installation surface T. Then, as shown in FIG. 5C, the suction cup 21 is compressed between the lower surface of the bottom plate 3b and the installation surface T, and the leg portion 53 deforms so as to expand outward, and the inner surface of the leg portion 53 adheres closely to the installation surface T like a suction cup. That is, the lower opening of the suction cup 21 is closed. Also, the weight of the apparatus main body 3 is applied to the four leg members 41.

[0038] Thereafter, when the user releases their hands from both notches 11, that is, releases their hands from both handles 27, the front and rear arms 23F, 23R are biased by the coil springs 25 and move in a direction approaching the central opening 33 (see arrow A3 in FIG. 5C). As a result, the opening 31 of the bottom plate 3b, that is, the upper opening of the suction cup 21, is closed by the closing portion 61 of the arm 23. As a result, the internal space S is sealed. The pressure in the internal space S at this time is equal to the atmospheric pressure. Also, the handle 27 passes between the side plate 3c and the guide wall 39, descends within the notch 11, and comes into contact with the bottom plate 3b (see arrow A4 in FIG. 5C).

[0039] After the apparatus main body 3 is installed on the installation surface T in this way, when a force is applied to tilt or lift the apparatus main body 3, as shown by the two-dot chain line in FIG. 6, the bottom plate 3b of the apparatus main body 3 tilts, and any one of the suction cups 21 fixed to the bottom plate 3b is elastically deformed by being pulled upward. Then, the pressure in the internal space S of the suction cup 21 decreases and becomes lower than the atmospheric pressure. Due to this negative pressure, the suction cup 21 adheres to the installation surface T, preventing the apparatus main body 3 from tilting or lifting from the installation surface T. Furthermore, since the internal space S is decompressed, a frictional force is generated between the inner surface of the leg portion 53 of the suction cup 21 and the installation surface T, making it difficult for the inner surface of the leg portion 53 of the suction cup 21 to separate from the installation surface T.

[0040] On the other hand, when moving the image forming apparatus 1 from the installation surface T, the user first inserts both hands into the two notches 11 on both side plates 3c of the apparatus main body 3 and lifts it up. Then, the handle 27 is lifted (see the two-dot chain line in FIG. 5C). When the handle 27 is lifted, the lower surfaces 63a of the square tube portions 63 of the front and rear arms 23F, 23R are pushed by the inclined surfaces 71b in front of and behind the handle 27, and the front and rear arms 23 move in a direction away from the central opening 33 against the biasing force of the coil spring 25 (see the two-dot chain line in FIG. 5C). As a result, the guide grooves 65 of the front and rear arms 23F, 23R overlap a part of the opening 31 of the bottom plate 3b, exposing the opening 31. Thereby, the internal spaces S of all the suction cups 21 are opened to the atmosphere.

[0041] By thus opening the internal spaces S of all the suction cups 21 to the atmosphere, the force with which the suction cups 21 stick to the installation surface T is weakened. Therefore, the apparatus main body 3 can be easily lifted from the installation surface T.

[0042] As described above, according to the present invention, when a force is applied to the apparatus main body 3 after the apparatus main body 3 of the image forming apparatus 1 is installed on the installation surface T, the suction cup 21 elastically deforms and the pressure in the internal space S becomes lower than the atmospheric pressure, so that the suction cup 21 sticks to the installation surface T and the movement of the apparatus main body 3 from the installation surface T is restricted. Further, due to the frictional force generated between the inner surface of the leg portion 53 of the suction cup 21 and the installation surface T, it becomes more difficult for the suction cup 21 to separate further from the installation surface T. Therefore, after a small or medium-sized image forming apparatus 1 is installed on the installation surface T of a desk or a table, the movement and inclination of the apparatus main body 3 can be reliably restricted.

[0043] Also, by inserting a hand into the notch 11 and lifting the image forming apparatus 1, the arm 23 moves via the handle 27 between a closed position where the opening 31 is closed to decompress the internal space S of the suction cup 21 and an open position where the opening 31 is opened to release the internal space S of the suction cup 21 to atmospheric pressure. Therefore, the image forming apparatus 1 can be installed on the installation surface T by the fixing mechanism 15 only through a series of operations of installing the image forming apparatus 1 on the installation surface T. That is, in order to make the image forming apparatus 1 immovable after installation, it is not necessary to operate the operation member. Further, the fixing mechanism 15 can be arranged in the space-saving areas at the left and right ends of the upper surface of the bottom plate 3b.

[0044] On the other hand, when moving the image forming apparatus 1 from the installation surface T, since the fixing mechanism 15 is automatically released by the user inserting a hand into the notch 11 and lifting it, the image forming apparatus 1 can be easily moved.

[0045] Also, since the weight of the apparatus main body 3 is applied to the four leg members 41, the apparatus main body 3 can be stably installed on the installation surface T. However, the leg members 41 may not be provided, the cylindrical portion 51 of the suction cup 21 may be formed to be inelastic, and only the legs 53 may be formed to be elastic.

[0046] Although the present invention has been described with respect to specific embodiments, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments. The above embodiments may be variously changed, substituted, and modified without departing from the scope and gist of the present invention, and the claims include all embodiments that can be included within the scope of the technical idea.

Explanation of reference numerals

[0047] 1 Image forming apparatus 3 Apparatus main body 3b Bottom plate 15 Fixing mechanism 21 Suction cup 23 Arm 25 Coil spring (biasing member) 27 Handle 31 Opening 53 Foot

Claims

1. An image forming apparatus including a fixing mechanism that supports a device main body so as not to move on an installation surface, wherein the fixing mechanism includes: an elastically deformable suction cup disposed between a bottom surface of the device main body and the installation surface and forming an internal space therebetween; and an arm movably supported by the device main body between an open position where the internal space of the suction cup is opened to the atmosphere and a closed position where the internal space is sealed, wherein when the device main body is installed on the installation surface, the arm moves to the closed position to seal the internal space, and then when a force is applied to the device main body such that the suction cup elastically deforms, the internal space is depressurized and the suction cup adheres to the installation surface, thereby preventing the device main body from moving relative to the installation surface.

2. A bottom plate of the device main body has an opening communicating with the internal space of the suction cup, wherein the arm is movably supported on an upper surface of the bottom plate, closes the opening in the closed position, and opens a part of the opening in the open position. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1.

3. The fixing mechanism includes: a biasing member that biases the arm to move to the closed position; and a handle supported by the device main body so as to be gripped by a user when moving the device main body, and moving the arm to the open position when gripped, wherein the arm moves to the open position against the biasing force of the biasing member when the handle is gripped by the user, and moves to the closed position biased by the biasing member when the user releases the hand from the handle after the device main body is installed on the installation surface. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2.

4. The suction cup has legs that contact the installation surface, wherein when the device main body is installed on the installation surface, the legs elastically deform and an inner surface of the legs contacts the installation surface. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1.

5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a leg member provided around the suction cup and to which the weight of the device main body is applied when the device main body is installed on the installation surface.

Images