Image formation apparatus

Abstract

To provide an image formation apparatus that can be safely and easily lifted and moved.SOLUTION: An image formation apparatus 10 comprises a housing 70 that accommodates an image formation unit 30, and a pair of first grips provided on one side of the housing. The first grips include a groove-shaped first grip part 72 provided at a front end portion on one side surface of the housing, and a groove-shaped second grip part 74 provided at an end portion on one side surface of a rear surface of the housing. The image formation apparatus further includes a recessed portion 70d formed in the rear surface of the housing and opened toward one side surface of the housing, and the second grip part is provided on an upper surface of the recessed portion.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an image forming apparatus, and more particularly to, for example, an image forming apparatus that is provided with a pair of handles on the side of a housing that houses an image forming unit. [Background technology]

[0002] An example of a conventional image forming apparatus is disclosed in Patent Document 1. In the technology of Patent Document 1, the components of the apparatus are housed in a roughly rectangular parallelepiped housing, and a pair of first concave handles (grip handles) for carrying the apparatus are formed on one side of the housing, and a pair of second concave handles are formed on the other side of the housing. The first handles are arranged in the space between the transfer device and the optical scanning device, which are arranged above and below each other in the height direction within the housing, and the second handles are arranged at the bottom of the housing. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2015-18089 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In the technology of Patent Document 1, a pair of handles are formed on the same side, and the handles are close to each other, making it difficult to balance the front and back (right and left hand sides) when lifting the image forming device, which may result in the image forming device tipping over. Also, the handle on the other side (second handle) is located at the bottom (lower end) of the housing, making it difficult to insert fingers into the handle, and there is also the risk of fingers getting pinched between the handle and the installation surface.

[0005] Therefore, a primary object of this disclosure is to provide a novel image forming apparatus.

[0006] Another object of this disclosure is to provide an image forming apparatus that can be safely and easily lifted and moved. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The first disclosure is an image forming device that includes a housing that houses an image forming unit, and that has a pair of first handles provided on one side of the housing at a height position that is a predetermined distance from the bottom end of the housing, and the pair of first handles include a first gripping portion that is provided at the front end of one side of the housing and is formed in a groove shape extending in the front-to-back direction, and a second gripping portion that is provided at the end of one side of the back of the housing and is formed in a groove shape extending in the left-to-right direction, and that has a recessed portion that is provided on the back of the housing and is open to one side, and the second gripping portion is provided on the top surface of the recessed portion.

[0008] According to the first disclosure, the first gripping portion and the second gripping portion are positioned at separate locations, making it easy to balance the image forming apparatus front to back (right hand side and left hand side) when lifting it. In particular, by providing the second gripping portion on the rear surface of the housing, the image forming apparatus can be lifted by holding it from the rear side, ensuring stability when lifting and moving it and appropriately preventing the image forming apparatus from tipping over. Furthermore, the pair of first handles are provided at a height position a predetermined distance from the bottom end of the housing, making it easy to insert a hand into each of the first gripping portion and the second gripping portion and preventing a hand from being pinched between the first gripping portion and the second gripping portion and the installation surface. Furthermore, the second gripping portion is provided in a recessed portion that opens on one side of the housing. Therefore, even if the rear side of the image forming apparatus is against a wall, a hand can be inserted from one side to grasp the second gripping portion, making it easy to move the image forming apparatus.

[0009] The second disclosure is dependent on the first disclosure, and the top surface of the recessed portion has an inclined surface that slopes upward toward the rear, and the second grip portion is provided on the inclined surface.

[0010] The third disclosure is dependent on the first or second disclosure, and the first gripping portion and the second gripping portion are provided at the same height position.

[0011] A fourth disclosure is dependent on the first or second disclosure, and includes a pair of second handles provided on the other side of the housing at a height position spaced a predetermined distance from the lower end of the housing.

[0012] The fifth disclosure is dependent on the first or second disclosure, and the second gripping portion extends to one side surface of the housing and is open to the one side surface.

[0013] A sixth disclosure is dependent on the first or second disclosure, and includes a position indicator provided at a peripheral position of the second gripping portion to indicate a position of the second gripping portion. [Effects of the Invention]

[0014] According to this disclosure, stability can be ensured when lifting and moving the image forming apparatus. Furthermore, hands can be easily inserted into the pair of first handles, preventing hands from getting pinched between the pair of first handles and the installation surface. Furthermore, even if the back side of the image forming apparatus is against a wall, hands can be inserted from one side of the housing to grasp the second grip portion, making it easy to move the image forming apparatus.

[0015] The above and other objects, features, and advantages of the present disclosure will become more apparent from the following detailed description of the embodiments, which proceeds with reference to the drawings. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0016] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing an internal structure of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a perspective view schematically illustrating the right side and rear of the image forming apparatus. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a right side view showing the image forming apparatus. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a rear view showing the image forming apparatus. [Figure 5] FIG. 2 is a left side view showing the image forming apparatus. [Figure 6] 4 is a cross-sectional view showing the periphery of a second gripping portion of the image forming apparatus. FIG. [Figure 7]10 is a diagram showing the second grip portion and its surroundings of the image forming apparatus as viewed from inside the apparatus. FIG. [Figure 8] FIG. 10 is a perspective view schematically illustrating the right side and rear of an image forming apparatus according to another embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 9] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the lower rear surface of an image forming apparatus according to still another embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 10] 10 is a diagram showing the lower right side of the image forming apparatus in FIG. 9. FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0017] [First Example] 1 and 2, an image forming apparatus 10 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is an electrophotographic image forming apparatus that forms a multicolor or monochrome image on paper (recording medium). As will be described in detail later, a pair of first handles 72, 74 are provided on a housing 70 of the image forming apparatus 10, and an operator can use the first handles 72, 74 to lift and move the image forming apparatus 10.

[0018] First, a brief description will be given of the basic configuration of the image forming apparatus 10. In this disclosure, the front (front face) is defined as the surface facing the position where a user who operates the image forming apparatus 10 stands, i.e., the surface on which the operation panel 26 is provided, and the front-to-rear direction (depth direction) of the image forming apparatus 10 and its components is defined. The left-to-right direction (horizontal direction) of the image forming apparatus 10 and its components is defined based on the state when the image forming apparatus 10 is viewed from the front.

[0019] 1 and 2, image forming apparatus 10 is a multifunction peripheral (MFP) having functions such as a copy function, a printer function, a scanner function, and a facsimile function. Image forming apparatus 10 includes a device main body 12 equipped with an image forming unit 30 and the like, and an image reading device 14 disposed above the device main body 12.

[0020] The image reading device 14 includes a document table 16 made of a transparent material. A document retaining cover 18 is attached above the document table 16 via a hinge or the like so that it can be opened and closed freely. This document retaining cover 18 is provided with an ADF (automatic document feeder) 24 that automatically feeds documents placed on a document tray 20 one by one to an image reading position 22. In addition, on the front side of the document table 16, an operation panel 26 is provided that accepts input operations such as printing instructions from the user. This operation panel 26 is appropriately provided with a touch panel display, operation buttons, etc.

[0021] The image reading device 14 has a built-in image reading unit 28 equipped with a light source, multiple mirrors, an imaging lens, a line sensor, etc. The image reading unit 28 exposes the surface of the document to light from the light source, and guides the light reflected from the document surface to the imaging lens using multiple mirrors. The imaging lens then forms an image of the reflected light on the light-receiving elements of the line sensor. The line sensor detects the luminance and chromaticity of the reflected light that forms an image on the light-receiving elements, and generates image data based on the image of the document surface. A CCD (Charge Coupled Device), CIS (Contact Image Sensor), etc. is used as the line sensor.

[0022] The device main body 12 includes a housing 70 formed in a generally rectangular parallelepiped shape as a whole. The housing 70 is composed of a frame that forms the skeleton and supports each component, and an exterior member that covers the outer surface of the frame. Inside this housing 70 (i.e., inside the device main body 12), a control unit (not shown) including a CPU, memory, etc., and the image forming unit 30, etc. are housed. The control unit sends control signals to each part of the image forming device 10 in response to input operations on the operation panel 26, etc., and causes the image forming device 10 to perform various operations.

[0023] The image forming section 30 includes an exposure unit 32, a developing unit 34, a photosensitive drum 36, a cleaning device 38, a charging device 40, an intermediate transfer belt unit 42, a transfer roller 44, and a fixing unit 46, and forms an image on paper conveyed from a paper feed tray 48 or the like, and discharges the paper with the image formed on it to a paper discharge tray 50. Image data for forming an image on paper is obtained from image data read by the image reading section 28 or image data transmitted from an external computer.

[0024] The image data handled by the image forming apparatus 10 corresponds to color images of four colors: black (K), cyan (C), magenta (M), and yellow (Y). Therefore, four developing units 34, four photosensitive drums 36, four cleaning devices 38, and four charging devices 40 are provided so as to form four types of latent images corresponding to each color, and these constitute four image stations.

[0025] The photosensitive drum 36 is an image carrier having a photosensitive layer formed on the surface of a cylindrical conductive base, and the charging device 40 is a member that charges the surface of the photosensitive drum 36 to a predetermined potential. The exposure unit 32 is configured as a laser scanning unit (LSU) equipped with a laser emitter and a reflecting mirror, etc., and exposes the charged surface of the photosensitive drum 36 to light, thereby forming an electrostatic latent image on the surface of the photosensitive drum 36 according to image data. The development unit 34 visualizes the electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 36 with four-color (YMCK) toner. The cleaning device 38 removes toner remaining on the surface of the photosensitive drum 36 after development and image transfer.

[0026] The intermediate transfer belt unit 42 includes an intermediate transfer belt 52, a drive roller, a driven roller, and four intermediate transfer rollers 54. The intermediate transfer belt 52 is provided so as to contact each photosensitive drum 36, and the toner images of each color formed on each photosensitive drum 36 are transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 52 in order by the intermediate transfer rollers 54, thereby forming a multi-color toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 52. In addition, a transfer roller 44 is disposed near the drive roller, and the toner image formed on the intermediate transfer belt 52 is transferred onto the paper as the paper passes through the nip region between the intermediate transfer belt 52 and the transfer roller 44.

[0027] The fixing unit 46 includes a heat roller, a pressure roller, etc., and is disposed above the transfer roller 44. The heat roller is set to a predetermined fixing temperature, and when the paper passes through the nip area between the heat roller and the pressure roller, the toner image transferred to the paper is melted, mixed, and pressed against the paper, thereby thermally fixing the toner image to the paper.

[0028] Also formed within the device body 12 is a first paper transport path L1 for sending paper from the paper feed tray 48 or the like to the paper output tray 50 via the registration rollers 56, the transfer roller 44, and the fixing unit 46. Also, when performing double-sided printing on the paper, a second paper transport path L2 is formed for returning the paper, after single-sided printing is completed and the paper has passed through the fixing unit 46, to the first paper transport path L1 upstream in the paper transport direction of the transfer roller 44. A plurality of transport rollers 58 for applying a propulsive force to the paper are appropriately provided on the first paper transport path L1 and the second paper transport path L2.

[0029] The image forming apparatus 10 described above is heavy (approximately 30 kg in this embodiment), and is therefore intended to be lifted and moved by two people. Therefore, the housing 70 is provided with a pair of first handles 72, 74 on the right side (one side) and a pair of second handles 76, 78 (see FIG. 5 ) on the left side (the other side). If the first handles 72, 74 and the second handles 76, 78 were provided on the same surface (for example, the first handles 72, 74 were provided on the right side 70 a of the housing 70, and the second handles 76, 78 were provided on the left side 70 c of the housing 70), it would be difficult to balance the image forming apparatus 10 front to back (right hand side and left hand side) when lifting it, and there is a risk of the image forming apparatus 10 tipping over.

[0030] Therefore, in this embodiment, the configuration (arrangement) of the first handles 72, 74 is devised so that the image forming apparatus 10 can be lifted and moved safely and easily. As shown in Fig. 5, each of the pair of second handles 76, 78 is formed in a groove shape extending in the front-rear direction, and is arranged side by side in the front-rear direction at a height position a predetermined distance from the bottom end of the housing 70 (in this embodiment, at a height position approximately at the center of the left side surface 70c of the housing 70). The configuration of the first handles 72, 74 will be described in detail below.

[0031] As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, the first handles 72, 74 include a first gripping portion 72 and a second gripping portion 74, and are provided on the right side of the housing 70 at a height position a predetermined distance from the bottom end of the housing 70. In this embodiment, the first gripping portion 72 and the second gripping portion 74 are provided at the same height position on the bottom end of the housing 70. The first gripping portion 72 is formed in a groove shape (concave shape) extending in the front-rear direction and is provided at the front end of the right side surface 70a (one side surface) of the housing 70. On the other hand, the second gripping portion 74 is formed in a groove shape extending in the left-right direction and is provided at the end of the back surface 70b of the housing 70 on the right side surface 70a side. A finger hook portion 74a, which is a protrusion extending in the left-right direction, is formed on the upper edge of the opening of the second gripping portion 74 (see FIG. 6).

[0032] In this embodiment, the second grip portion 74 is provided on the top surface of a recessed portion 70d formed at the lower end of the back surface 70b of the housing 70. This recessed portion 70d is open to the back surface 70b and also to the right side surface 70a. The top surface of the recessed portion 70d has an inclined surface 70e that slopes upward toward the rear, and the second grip portion 74 is provided on this inclined surface 70e. In this embodiment, a bulge 70f is formed at the rear of the housing 70 so as to protrude rearward, and part of the lower surface of this bulge 70f is made into the inclined surface 70e that slopes upward toward the rear, thereby providing the recessed portion 70d at the lower end of the back surface 70b of the housing 70. The second grip portion 74 is provided on the inclined surface 70e that forms the top surface of the recessed portion 70d (the lower surface of the bulge 70f).

[0033] 6 and 7, the upper peripheral portion of the second gripping portion 74 is reinforced by a metal reinforcing member 80. The reinforcing member 80 is formed in a substantially U-shape and is fixed to the frame of the housing 70. The exterior member on which the second gripping portion 74 is formed is screwed to the reinforcing member 80. Providing such a reinforcing member 80 can prevent the second gripping portion 74 and the exterior member from being deformed or damaged when an operator grasps the second gripping portion 74 and lifts the image forming apparatus 10.

[0034] In the image forming apparatus 10 having the first handles 72 and 74, the first gripping portion 72 and the second gripping portion 74 are positioned at separate locations, making it easy to balance the image forming apparatus 10 from front to back (right hand side and left hand side) when lifting it. In particular, by providing the second gripping portion 74 on the rear surface 70b of the housing 70, the image forming apparatus 10 can be lifted by holding it with the right hand from the rear surface 70b of the housing 70. This ensures stability when lifting and moving the image forming apparatus 10 and prevents the image forming apparatus 10 from tipping forward or backward. Furthermore, by providing the pair of first handles 72 and 74 at a height position a predetermined distance from the bottom end of the housing 70, it is easy to insert a hand into each of the first gripping portion 72 and the second gripping portion 74 and also prevents the hand from being pinched between the first gripping portion 72 and the second gripping portion 74 and the installation surface. Furthermore, by providing the first gripping portion 72 and the second gripping portion 74 at the same height, the load on both hands is evened out, making it easy to lift the image forming apparatus 10 in a balanced and straight manner. Furthermore, by providing a second gripping portion 74 in a recessed portion 70d that opens to the right side surface 70a of the housing 70, even if the back side of the image forming device 10 is a wall, the second gripping portion 74 can be grasped by inserting a hand from the right side surface 70a.

[0035] As described above, according to the first embodiment, stability can be ensured when lifting and moving the image forming apparatus 10, and the image forming apparatus 10 can be appropriately prevented from tipping over. In addition, the pair of first handles 72, 74 can be easily inserted, and the hands can be prevented from being pinched between the pair of first handles 72, 74 and the installation surface. Furthermore, even if the back side of the image forming apparatus 10 is against a wall, the second grip portion 74 can be grasped by inserting the hand from the right side surface 70a of the housing 70, so the image forming apparatus 10 can be easily moved.

[0036] [Second Example] Next, an image forming apparatus 10 according to a second embodiment of this disclosure will be described with reference to FIG. 8. In the second embodiment, the configuration of the second gripping portion 74 differs from that of the first embodiment described above. Since the other parts are similar, the same reference numerals are used for parts common to the first embodiment described above, and duplicated descriptions will be omitted or simplified. Omission of duplicated descriptions will also be applied to the other embodiments described below.

[0037] As shown in Figure 8, the second gripping portion 74 of the second embodiment is formed in a roughly L-shape that extends to the right side surface 70a (one side surface) of the housing 70, and is open (opened) on the right side surface 70a side in addition to the back surface 70b side.

[0038] According to the second embodiment, even if the rear side of the image forming apparatus 10 is a wall, it is easier to insert fingers into the second grip portion 74 from the right side surface 70a of the housing 70.

[0039] [Third Example] Next, an image forming apparatus 10 according to a third embodiment of this disclosure will be described with reference to Figures 9 and 10. The third embodiment differs from the first embodiment in that position indicators 82 and 84 that indicate the position of the second gripping portion 74 are provided.

[0040] 9 and 10, in this third embodiment, position indicators 82, 84, which are indicators for informing an operator of the position of second grip portion 74, are provided around second grip portion 74. In this embodiment, position indicators 82, 84 are provided at the rear end of right side surface 70a of housing 70 and at the end of back surface 70b on the right side surface 70a side, respectively.

[0041] According to the third embodiment, the operator can easily know the position of the second gripping portion 74.

[0042] In the above-described embodiments, the top surface of the recessed portion 70d of the housing 70 (the lower surface of the bulging portion 70f) is the inclined surface 70e, but the top surface of the recessed portion 70d may be a horizontal surface located at a height position a predetermined distance from the lower end of the housing 70, and the second gripping portion 74 may be formed on the top surface of the horizontal recessed portion 70d. However, if the top surface of the recessed portion 70d is a horizontal surface, there is a possibility that an operator may accidentally grip a portion of the top surface of the recessed portion 70d other than the second gripping portion 74 (an unreinforced portion), which may deform or damage the exterior member, and therefore it is preferable to provide the second gripping portion 74 on the inclined surface 70e.

[0043] In addition, in each of the above-described embodiments, the pair of first handles 72, 74 are provided at the same height position at the bottom end of the housing 70, but the height positions of the pair of first handles 72, 74 can be changed as appropriate, and the first grip portion 72 and the second grip portion 74 can also be provided at different height positions. Furthermore, in each of the above-described embodiments, the pair of first handles 72, 74 are provided on the right side of the housing 70, and the pair of second handles 76, 78 are provided on the left side of the housing 70, but these positions may be reversed. Furthermore, with respect to the pair of second handles 76, 78, one of the grip portions can also be provided on the back surface 70b of the housing 70, similar to the pair of first handles 72, 74.

[0044] In addition, in the above-described embodiments, an image forming apparatus (multifunction device) that combines a copier, a facsimile, a printer, etc. has been exemplified, but the image forming apparatus may be any one of a copier, a facsimile, a printer, etc., or a multifunction device that combines at least two of these. The image forming apparatus may also be a monochrome machine. Furthermore, the image forming apparatus is not limited to an electrophotographic type, and may also be an inkjet type image forming apparatus.

[0045] It should also be noted that in this disclosure, the term "same" height position and the like does not refer to a strict definition, but rather to an "approximately same" height position.

[0046] The specific numerical values ​​and part shapes given above are merely examples and can be changed as needed depending on the product specifications, etc. [Explanation of symbols]

[0047] 10...Image forming device 12...Device body 30...Image forming unit 70...Case 70a...Right side (one side) 70b…back 70c…Left side (other side) 70d...recessed part 70e…Slanted surface 70f...bulge 72 ... First gripping portion (one of the pair of first grips) 74 ... Second gripping portion (the other of the pair of first grips) 76, 78 ... Pair of second handles 82, 84 ... Position notification section

Claims

1. An image forming apparatus including a housing in which an image forming unit is housed, a pair of first handles provided on one side of the housing at a height position a predetermined distance from a lower end of the housing; The pair of first handles include: a first grip portion provided at a front end portion of one side surface of the housing and formed in a groove shape extending in the front-rear direction; and a second grip portion provided at an end of the one side surface of the rear surface of the housing and formed in a groove shape extending in the left-right direction, a recessed portion provided on the rear surface of the housing and open to the one side surface, The image forming apparatus, wherein the second gripping portion is provided on a top surface of the recessed portion.

2. The top surface of the recessed portion has an inclined surface that slopes upward toward the rear, The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the second gripping portion is provided on the inclined surface.

3. 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first gripping portion and the second gripping portion are provided at the same height.

4. 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a pair of second handles provided on the other side of the housing at a height spaced a predetermined distance from the bottom end of the housing.

5. 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second gripping portion extends to the one side surface and is open on the one side surface.

6. 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a position indicator provided at a periphery of the second gripping portion, the position indicator indicating the position of the second gripping portion.

Images