Image forming device

Abstract

To appropriately protect a cable connected to a display unit without using a flexible member when the display unit is rotatably supported.SOLUTION: A cable cover 5 covers a portion of a cable 30 extending from a swing member 42 to a main body 1. The cable cover 5 includes a plurality of element cover members 50 that are sequentially overlapped and are coupled each other to enable a change in an overlap state. The plurality of element cover members 50 include: a first element cover member 51 connected to the swing member 42; and one or more second element cover members 52 rotatably supported about a tilt axis by a support shaft 40. A portion of the plurality of element cover members 50 rotates in conjunction with rotation of the swing member 42, and the overlap state of the plurality of element cover members 50 changes, therefore the cable cover 5 is extendable and contractible according to the rotation of the swing member 42.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 16

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus having a mechanism for rotatably supporting a display unit. [Background technology]

[0002] Image forming devices such as printers, copiers, and multifunction peripherals include a display unit that can display various types of information and images. The image forming device may also include a support mechanism that rotatably supports the display unit and achieves a so-called tilt function.

[0003] For example, it is known that the support mechanism includes a hinge mechanism having two swing shafts and a flat hollow hinge cover that covers the hinge mechanism (see, for example, Patent Document 1). The hinge cover covers the hinge mechanism as well as a cable connected to the display unit. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2009-258452 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] Incidentally, the cable connected to the display unit needs to be properly protected by a cable cover in the wiring path extending from the rear surface of the display unit to the inside of the main body.

[0006] When the support mechanism rotatably supports the display unit, the area that the cable cover must cover changes, and therefore the cable cover is required to deform in response to the rotation of the display unit.

[0007] On the other hand, there are cases where flexible members such as rubber pipes or bellows pipes cannot be used as the cable cover due to required specifications such as heat resistance.

[0008] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus that can adequately protect a cable connected to a display unit without using a flexible member when the display unit is rotatably supported. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] According to one aspect of the present invention, an image forming apparatus includes a main body, a display unit, a support mechanism, a cable, and a cable cover. The main body houses a printing device that forms an image on a sheet. The support mechanism is fixed to the main body and supports the display unit. One end of the cable is connected to the display unit. The cable cover covers a portion of the cable. The support mechanism includes a base member, a support shaft, a swing member, and a unit connecting mechanism. The base member is fixed to the main body. The support shaft is supported by the base member in a state along a first direction, which is the left-right direction of the main body. The swing member is supported by the support shaft to be rotatable about a tilt axis passing through the center of the support shaft, and has a main opening that penetrates in a second direction, which is the thickness direction of the display unit. The unit connecting mechanism connects the swing member to the rear surface of the display unit. The cable is routed from the rear surface of the display unit through the inside of the main opening and into the main body. The cable cover covers a portion of the cable extending from the swinging member to the main body. The cable cover includes a plurality of element cover members arranged one on top of the other and connected so that their overlapping states can be changed. The plurality of element cover members include a first element cover member connected to the swinging member and one or more second element cover members supported by the support shaft so as to be rotatable about the tilt axis. Some of the plurality of element cover members rotate in conjunction with the rotation of the swinging member, and the overlapping states of the plurality of element cover members change, allowing the cable cover to expand and contract in accordance with the rotation of the swinging member. [Effects of the Invention]

[0010] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an image forming apparatus that can adequately protect a cable connected to a display unit without using a flexible member when the display unit is rotatably supported. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0011] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a front view of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a first side view of the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment (with the display unit in a forward position). [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a second side view of the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment (with the display unit in the upward position). [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of the inside of the main body of the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a first perspective view of the support mechanism in the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment (in a state where the support mechanism supports the display unit in a landscape orientation). [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a second perspective view of the support mechanism in the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment (in a state where the support mechanism supports the display unit in a portrait orientation). [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the support mechanism from which the unit support member and the leaf spring have been removed in the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a front view of the support mechanism from which the unit support member is removed in the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a base member and a swing member of a support mechanism in the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a rotating member of a support mechanism in an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment, as viewed from the front side. [Figure 11]FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a rotating member of a support mechanism in an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment, seen from the rear side. [Figure 12] FIG. 12 is a perspective view of an interposition member of a support mechanism in an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment, as viewed from the front side. [Figure 13] FIG. 13 is a perspective view of an interposition member of a support mechanism in an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment, as viewed from the rear side. [Figure 14] FIG. 14 is a perspective view of a reinforcing member of a support mechanism in the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment. [Figure 15] FIG. 15 is a side view of the periphery of the display unit in the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment. [Figure 16] FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional view of a display unit, a support mechanism, and a cable cover in an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment. [Figure 17] FIG. 17 is an exploded side view of the cable cover in the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment. [Figure 18] FIG. 18 is a perspective view of the periphery of the attachment opening of the main body of the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0012] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the following embodiment is an example of the present invention, and does not limit the technical scope of the present invention.

[0013] [Configuration of image forming apparatus 10] The image forming apparatus 10 according to the embodiment is capable of executing a print process for forming an image on a sheet 9.

[0014] The image forming apparatus 10 includes a display unit 3 capable of displaying various types of information (see FIGS. 1 to 3). The image forming apparatus 10 further includes a support mechanism 4 that supports the display unit 3 (see FIGS. 2 and 3).

[0015] Image forming apparatus 10 includes a main body 1, a document transport device 2, and a display unit 3. Main body 1 includes a housing that houses the main parts of image forming apparatus 10 and components attached to the housing. Main body 1 houses a sheet storage unit 11, a sheet transport device 12, a printing device 13, and a control device 14 (see FIG. 4). In this embodiment, main body 1 also houses an image reading device 15.

[0016] The document transport device 2 is connected to the upper part of the main body 1 (see Figures 1 to 3). The document transport device 2 is supported so as to be movable between a closed position where it covers a specific area on the top surface of the main body 1 and an open position where it opens the specific area. The display unit 3 is connected to a portion of the upper part of the main body 1 that runs along the front surface of the main body 1 by a support mechanism 4 (see Figures 2 and 3).

[0017] The document transport device 2 includes a document supply tray 21, a document transport mechanism 22, and a document discharge tray 23 (see FIG. 1). The document transport mechanism 22 sends out documents on the document supply tray 21 to the transport path 20, and further discharges the documents from the transport path 20 onto the document discharge tray 23.

[0018] The sheet storage unit 11 can store a plurality of sheets 9. The sheet transport device 12 feeds the sheets 9 one by one from the sheet storage unit 11 to the transport path 100, and further transports the sheets 9 along the transport path 100. The sheet transport device 12 further feeds the sheets 9 from the transport path 100 to a downstream device (not shown).

[0019] The printing device 13 performs the printing process on the sheet 9 conveyed along the conveying path 100. In the example shown in Fig. 4, the printing device 13 performs the printing process by electrophotography.

[0020] The printing device 13 may be a device that executes the printing process using other methods such as an inkjet method.

[0021] Image reading device 15 includes an image sensor 151 that reads an image from the document transported by document transport device 2 (see FIG. 4). Image reading device 15 also includes a scanning mechanism 152 and a platen glass 153. Scanning mechanism 152 moves image sensor 151 along the lower surface of platen glass 153. This enables image sensor 151 to read an image from the document on platen glass 153.

[0022] The control device 14 controls the document transport device 2, the image reading device 15, the sheet transport device 12, the printing device 13, and the display unit 3. The control device 14 includes a processor, a secondary storage device, a signal interface, a communication device, etc., all of which are not shown.

[0023] The processor controls each device by executing a computer program stored in the secondary storage device, acquires detection results from various sensors through the signal interface, and outputs control signals to the controlled devices through the signal interface.

[0024] The processor receives a print request from another device through the communication device, and causes the sheet transport device 12 and the printing device 13 to execute the print process corresponding to the print request.

[0025] The display unit 3 can display various information and images. For example, the display unit 3 is a touch panel unit including a panel display device and a touch panel. The panel display device can be a liquid crystal display panel or an organic electroluminescent display.

[0026] The display unit 3 has a rectangular screen 3a and a rectangular outline that corresponds to the outer shape of the screen 3a (see FIG. 1). The shape of the screen 3a and the outline of the display unit 3 may be a rectangle with some or all of the four corners chamfered.

[0027] The control device 14 displays various menu screens, images to be printed, etc. on the display unit 3. Fig. 1 shows a state in which the display unit 3 is supported by the support mechanism 4 in a position in which the screen 3a is horizontally long.

[0028] In the image forming apparatus 10, there are cases where it is desired to display the entire portrait-oriented image to be printed on the display unit 3.

[0029] For example, the image to be printed may be reduced and displayed on the screen 3a so that the vertical length of the image to be printed fits within the length of the short side of the screen 3a. In this case, the displayed image is too small, which reduces the visibility of the image to be printed.

[0030] On the other hand, it is also conceivable that the image to be printed may be displayed on the screen 3a rotated by 90 degrees, in which case the displayed image may be displayed in a different orientation from the original orientation, thereby reducing the visibility of the image to be printed.

[0031] As will be described later, the support mechanism 4 supports the display unit 3 in a state in which the orientation of the display unit 3 can be changed. This allows the image to be printed to be displayed on the rectangular screen 3a with high visibility, regardless of whether the image to be printed is a portrait-oriented image or a landscape-oriented image.

[0032] [Configuration of support mechanism 4] 5 to 14, the configuration of the support mechanism 4 will be described. The support mechanism 4 is fixed to the main body 1 and supports the display unit 3.

[0033] In each figure, the width direction D1 is the left-right direction of the main body 1, the depth direction D2 is the front-to-back direction of the main body 1, and the up-to-down direction D3 is the up-to-down direction of the main body 1. In addition, the front direction D21 is the direction from the back to the front of the main body 1, and the rear direction D22 is the direction from the front to the back of the main body 1.

[0034] The support mechanism 4 includes a base member 41, a support shaft 40, a swinging member 42, a rotating member 43, a unit support member 44, and a plurality of bolts 46 (see FIGS. 5 and 6).

[0035] The support mechanism 4 further includes an interposing member 45 and one or more leaf springs 48 (see FIGS. 5 to 8). The support mechanism 4 further includes a reinforcing member 47 (see FIGS. 5 and 14). The leaf spring 48 is an example of an elastic member.

[0036] In this embodiment, the rotation member 43, the unit support member 44, the interposition member 45, the plurality of bolts 46, and the reinforcing member 47 are an example of a unit connection mechanism that connects the swing member 42 and the rear surface 3b of the display unit 3.

[0037] 5 and 6 are perspective views of the support mechanism 4. Fig. 7 shows the support mechanism 4 with the unit support member 44, the plurality of bolts 46, and the leaf spring 48 removed. Fig. 8 is a front view of the support mechanism 4 with the unit support member 44 removed.

[0038] Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the base member 41 and the swinging member 42 in the support mechanism 4. Fig. 9 shows the support mechanism 4 from which the unit support member 44, the rotating member 43, the plurality of bolts 46, and the leaf spring 48 have been removed.

[0039] The base member 41 is fixed to a portion along the front surface of the upper part of the main body 1 (see FIG. 5). In this embodiment, the base member 41 is made up of a pair of members arranged side by side in the width direction D1.

[0040] The base member 41 has a fixed portion 411 and a pair of vertical plate portions 412 formed by extending upward from the fixed portion 411. The fixed portion 411 is fixed to the main body 1 by screws or bolts (not shown). In this way, the base member 41 is fixed to the main body 1.

[0041] The support shaft 40 is supported along the width direction D1 by a pair of vertical plate portions 412. In this embodiment, the support shaft 40 is made up of a pair of shaft members aligned on a straight line along the width direction D1.

[0042] The swinging member 42 is supported by the support shaft 40 so as to be rotatable about a first axis line X1. The first axis line X1 is a straight line that passes through the center of the support shaft 40. In other words, the first axis line X1 is a straight line that extends along the width direction D1.

[0043] The swinging member 42 has a front plate portion 421, a pair of supported portions 422, and a first opening 420 (see FIGS. 6 and 9). The front plate portion 421 is formed in a plate shape parallel to the first axis X1. The first opening 420 is formed to penetrate the front plate portion 421 in the thickness direction. The first opening 420 is an example of a main opening.

[0044] The thickness direction of the front panel 421 is also the thickness direction of the display unit 3 attached to the unit support member 44. In the following description, the thickness direction of the front panel 421 and the display unit 3 will be referred to as the unit thickness direction.

[0045] The unit thickness direction is a direction intersecting with the width direction D1. The front plate portion 421 is formed in a plate shape perpendicular to the unit thickness direction. Note that the width direction D1 is an example of a first direction, and the unit thickness direction is an example of a second direction intersecting with the first direction.

[0046] The pair of supported portions 422 are formed to extend from the front plate portion 421 to a position intersecting the first axis X1. The pair of supported portions 422 are rotatably supported by the support shaft 40. This allows the swinging member 42 to rotate about the first axis X1.

[0047] The rotary member 43 is supported by the front plate portion 421 of the swinging member 42 so as to be rotatable about the second axis X2 (see FIGS. 5 to 7). The second axis X2 is a straight line extending along the thickness direction of the unit.

[0048] The rotating member 43 has an insertion portion 431 and a flange portion 432 (see FIGS. 10 and 11). The insertion portion 431 is a portion that is inserted into the first opening 420 of the front plate portion 421. The flange portion 432 is formed to protrude from the outer edge of the insertion portion 431 along the back surface 421b of the front plate portion 421 (see FIGS. 9 to 11).

[0049] The flange 432 contacts the rear surface 421b of the front plate 421. The flange 432 limits the movement of the rotation member 43 toward the front surface 421a of the front plate 421.

[0050] The insertion portion 431 has a third opening 430 that penetrates the insertion portion 431 in the unit thickness direction. Furthermore, the insertion portion 431 has one or more spring holding portions 4311 that hold one or more leaf springs 48 (see FIGS. 7 and 8). The third opening 430 is an example of an inner opening that penetrates inside the first opening 420 in the unit thickness direction.

[0051] In this embodiment, the support mechanism 4 has three leaf springs 48, and the insertion portion 431 has three spring holding portions 4311 (see FIG. 8). Each leaf spring 48 is held by the spring holding portion 4311. Each leaf spring 48 has a curved portion that protrudes outward from the outer edge of the insertion portion 431.

[0052] The intervening member 45 is a member sandwiched between the front plate portion 421 of the swinging member 42 and the unit support member 44 (see FIGS. 5, 6, 12, and 13). A back surface 45b of the intervening member 45 contacts a front surface 421a of the front plate portion 421, and the front surface 45a of the intervening member 45 contacts the unit support member 44 (see FIGS. 7, 12, and 13).

[0053] Intervening member 45 has a second opening 450 penetrating in the unit thickness direction. Second opening 450 communicates with first opening 420 of insertion portion 431 in the unit thickness direction (see FIG. 8). In FIG. 8, intervening member 45 is indicated by a virtual line (two-dot chain line).

[0054] The intervening member 45 has a pair of protrusions 451 that protrude toward the front plate portion 421 (see FIGS. 8 and 13). Meanwhile, a pair of locking holes 425 are formed in the front plate portion 421 (see FIGS. 7 and 8). The pair of protrusions 451 are inserted into the pair of locking holes 425 (see FIG. 8). The pair of locking holes 425 lock the pair of protrusions 451, thereby preventing the intervening member 45 from rotating in conjunction with the rotation of the rotating member 43.

[0055] The insertion portion 431 of the rotation member 43 is inserted into the first opening 420 of the front plate portion 421 and the second opening 450 of the interposition member 45 (see FIGS. 7 and 8).

[0056] The unit support member 44 is connected to the rotation member 43 by a plurality of bolts 46 (see FIGS. 5 and 6), which allows the unit support member 44 to rotate together with the rotation member 43 about the second axis X2.

[0057] The display unit 3 is fixed to the unit support member 44 by screws or bolts (not shown) (see FIGS. 5 and 6). In FIGS. 5 and 6, the display unit 3 is shown by imaginary lines.

[0058] Therefore, the display unit 3 can rotate about the first axis X1 together with the unit support member 44, the rotating member 43, and the swinging member 42. This realizes a so-called tilt function. The display unit 3 can rotate between a forward position in which the screen 3a faces forward of the main body 1 and an upward position in which the screen 3a faces upward. The first axis X1 is an example of a tilt axis.

[0059] 1 and 2 show the display unit 3 in the forward position, and Fig. 3 shows the display unit 3 in the upward position. The display unit 3 is supported by a support mechanism 4 so as to be rotatable between the forward position and the upward position.

[0060] In this embodiment, the forward orientation of the display unit 3 is an orientation in which the screen 3a faces forward in a horizontal direction D21 (see FIGS. 1 and 2). On the other hand, the upward orientation of the display unit 3 is an orientation in which the screen 3a faces vertically upward (see FIG. 3). That is, the display unit 3 can be rotated within a range of 90 degrees around the first axis X1.

[0061] In the example shown in FIG. 2, when the display unit 3 is in the forward position, the front surface of the display unit 3 is arranged along an extension line of the surface of the front exterior panel 1x of the main body 1.

[0062] In the example shown in FIG. 3, when the display unit 3 is in the upward position, the front surface of the display unit 3 is arranged along an extension line of the surface of the upper exterior panel 1y of the main body 1.

[0063] Furthermore, the display unit 3 can rotate about the second axis X2 together with the unit support member 44 and the rotation member 43. The display unit 3 can rotate between a landscape orientation in which the screen 3a is in a landscape orientation and a portrait orientation in which the screen 3a is in a portrait orientation (see FIGS. 5 and 6). This achieves a so-called pivot function. The second axis X2 is an example of a pivot axis.

[0064] The imaginary lines in Figure 5 and Figure 1 show the display unit 3 in the landscape orientation. The imaginary lines in Figures 1 and 6 show the display unit 3 in the portrait orientation. The display unit 3 can be rotated within a range of 90 degrees around the second axis line X2.

[0065] As described above, the display unit 3 can be rotated between the landscape orientation and the portrait orientation, allowing the user to change the orientation of the display unit 3 depending on the orientation of the image displayed on the display unit 3.

[0066] When the control device 14 causes the display unit 3 to display the entire image to be printed, the control device 14 causes the display unit 3 to display the image to be printed with the long side of the image to be printed aligned with the long side of the screen 3a.

[0067] If the image to be printed is a horizontally oriented image, the user can rotate the display unit 3 so that the display unit 3 assumes the horizontal orientation. On the other hand, if the image to be printed is a vertically oriented image, the user can rotate the display unit 3 so that the display unit 3 assumes the vertical orientation. This improves the visibility of the image to be printed.

[0068] Furthermore, the user can rotate the display unit 3 between the forward position and the upward position according to his or her height, thereby improving the visibility of various images, such as the image to be printed, displayed on the display unit 3.

[0069] In this embodiment, the base member 41, the swinging member 42, and the unit support member 44 are made of metal such as iron or aluminum, while the rotating member 43 and the intervening member 45 are made of synthetic resin.

[0070] When the display unit 3 rotates around the second axis X2, the unit support member 44 rubs against the front surface 45a of the interposition member 45, and the flange 432 of the rotation member 43 rubs against the back surface 421b of the front plate portion 421.

[0071] That is, when the display unit 3 rotates around the second axis X2, the metal members rub against the synthetic resin members, but the metal members do not rub against each other, which allows the rotation member 43 to rotate smoothly.

[0072] Furthermore, a pair of annular members 401 are sandwiched between the pair of vertical plate portions 412 of the base member 41 and the pair of supported portions 422 of the swinging member 42 (see FIG. 8). The pair of annular members 401 are each made of synthetic resin.

[0073] The support shaft 40 passes through the pair of annular members 401. As a result, the pair of annular members 401 are supported by the support shaft 40.

[0074] When the display unit 3 rotates around the first axis X1, the pair of supported portions 422 rub against the pair of annular members 401. At that time, the pair of supported portions 422 do not rub against the pair of vertical plate portions 412.

[0075] That is, when the display unit 3 rotates around the first axis X1, the metal members rub against the synthetic resin members, but the metal members do not rub against each other, which allows the swing member 42 to rotate smoothly.

[0076] The reinforcing member 47 is disposed along the back surface 431b of the insertion portion 431 (see FIGS. 11 and 14). The rotation member 43 further has a tubular portion 433 and an engagement portion 434 that protrude from the back surface 431b of the insertion portion 431 (see FIG. 11).

[0077] The reinforcing member 47 is a plate-shaped metal member. The reinforcing member 47 has a connecting portion 471 and an engaging portion 472 (see FIG. 14). The connecting portion 471 has an opening 470 into which the cylindrical portion 433 of the rotating member 43 is inserted.

[0078] The unit support member 44 is connected to the insertion portion 431 of the rotation member 43 and the connecting portion 471 of the reinforcing member 47 by a plurality of bolts 46 (see FIGS. 5 and 6).

[0079] More specifically, the unit support member 44 and the connecting portion 471 of the reinforcing member 47 are connected by a plurality of bolts 46 , and the insertion portion 431 of the rotation member 43 is sandwiched between the unit support member 44 and the connecting portion 471 .

[0080] Therefore, the unit support member 44 is rotatable together with the rotation member 43 and the reinforcing member 47 about the second axis X2.

[0081] The engaging portion 472 of the reinforcing member 47 engages with the engaging portion 434 of the rotating member 43. The engaging portion 472 and the engaging portion 434 prevent rattle of the rotating member 43 and the reinforcing member 47 in the rotational direction.

[0082] By connecting the unit support member 44 and the reinforcing member 47, which are made of metal, the unit support member 44, the rotating member 43 and the reinforcing member 47 are firmly connected together.

[0083] The insertion portion 431 of the rotary member 43 has a third opening 430 penetrating in the thickness direction of the unit (see FIGS. 5 to 7 and 11). The third opening 430 is also an opening of a cylindrical portion 433 (see FIG. 11).

[0084] Similarly, the unit support member 44 has a fourth opening 440 penetrating in the unit thickness direction (see FIGS. 5 and 6). The fourth opening 440 communicates with the third opening 430 in the unit thickness direction.

[0085] The image forming apparatus 10 further includes a cable 30 having one end connected to the display unit 3 (see FIGS. 5 and 16). The cable 30 is routed from the rear surface 3b of the display unit 3 to the control device 14 in the main body 1 through the fourth opening 440 and the inside of the third opening 430 (see FIG. 5). This allows the cable 30 to be routed over a short path. In addition, the insertion portion 431 and the cylindrical portion 433 of the rotating member 43 serve to protect the cable 30.

[0086] The front plate portion 421 of the swinging member 42 has one or more first fitting portions 423 and one or more second fitting portions 424 (see FIGS. 8 and 9). In this embodiment, the first fitting portions 423 and the second fitting portions 424 are recesses formed on the edge of the first opening 420.

[0087] In this embodiment, the front plate portion 421 has three first fitting portions 423 and three second fitting portions 424 corresponding to the three leaf springs 48.

[0088] The first fitting portion 423 fits into the leaf spring 48 when the display unit 3 is in the landscape position. Fig. 8 shows a state in which the first fitting portion 423 is engaged with the curved portion of the leaf spring 48. The first fitting portion 423 is released from the engagement with the leaf spring 48 when the display unit 3 rotates from the landscape position to the portrait position.

[0089] The second fitting portion 424 fits into the curved portion of the leaf spring 48 when the display unit 3 is in the portrait position. The second fitting portion 424 is disengaged from the leaf spring 48 when the display unit 3 rotates from the portrait position to the landscape position.

[0090] The leaf spring 48, the first fitting portion 423, and the second fitting portion 424 give a clicking sensation to the user's hand when rotating the display unit 3.

[0091] That is, when the display unit 3 rotates and reaches the horizontal position, the leaf spring 48 and the first fitting portion 423 give the user a clicking sensation in their hand. When the display unit 3 rotates and reaches the vertical position, the leaf spring 48 and the second fitting portion 424 give the user a clicking sensation in their hand.

[0092] The click feeling is given to the user's hand, causing the user to stop rotating the display unit 3. This prevents excessive rotational force from being applied to the display unit 3.

[0093] The reinforcing member 47 further has a first protrusion 473 and a second protrusion 474 that protrude from the outer edge of the connecting portion 471 (see FIG. 14). On the other hand, the swinging member 42 has a first locking portion 426 and a second locking portion 427 (see FIG. 5).

[0094] The first locking portion 426 locks the reinforcing member 47 in the position when the display unit 3 is in the landscape orientation by locking the first protrusion 473 (see FIG. 5). The second locking portion 427 locks the reinforcing member 47 in the position when the display unit 3 is in the portrait orientation by locking the second protrusion 474.

[0095] The reinforcing member 47 is an example of a metal member connected to the rotating member 43. The first locking portion 426 and the second locking portion 427 may lock the unit support member 44. The unit support member 44 is also an example of a metal member connected to the rotating member 43.

[0096] The first locking portion 426, the second locking portion 427, the first protrusion 473 and the second protrusion 474 prevent excessive force from being applied to the rotation member 43 made of synthetic resin.

[0097] Incidentally, the cable 30 connected to the display unit 3 needs to be appropriately protected in the wiring path extending from the rear surface 3b of the display unit 3 to the inside of the main body 1.

[0098] 16, the image forming apparatus 10 further includes a cable cover 5 that covers a portion of the cable 30. The cable cover 5 protects the portion of the cable 30 that extends from the support mechanism 4 to the main body 1.

[0099] When the support mechanism 4 supports the display unit 3 so that it can rotate about the first axis X1, the area that the cable cover 5 must cover changes. Therefore, the cable cover 5 is required to deform in response to the rotation of the display unit 3.

[0100] On the other hand, there are cases where flexible members such as rubber pipes or bellows pipes cannot be used as the cable cover 5 due to required specifications such as heat resistance.

[0101] In this embodiment, the cable cover 5 has a configuration for adequately protecting the cable 30 without using a flexible member. The cable cover 5 will be described below.

[0102] [Cable Cover 5 Configuration] The cable 30 is partially covered by the cable cover 5. The cable 30 is routed from the rear surface 3b of the display unit 3 to the inside of the main body 1 through the inside of the third opening 430 of the rotating member 43 and the inside of the cable cover 5 (see FIG. 16).

[0103] In this embodiment, a part of the interior of the third opening 430 of the rotating member 43 includes the interior of the first opening 420 of the swinging member 42 and the interior of the second opening 450 of the intervening member 45 .

[0104] The cable cover 5 covers the portion of the cable 30 extending from the swinging member 42 to the main body 1 (see FIG. 16).

[0105] The cable cover 5 includes a plurality of element cover members 50 (including FIGS. 16 and 17). For example, each of the element cover members 50 is made of a flame-retardant synthetic resin such as polyvinyl chloride, fluororesin, or polyphenylene sulfide.

[0106] The plurality of element cover members 50 are arranged one on top of the other and are connected to each other so that the overlapping state can be changed.

[0107] The plurality of element cover members 50 includes a first element cover member 51 and one or more second element cover members 52. In this embodiment, the cable cover 5 includes three element cover members 50, and the three element cover members 50 each include two second element cover members 52.

[0108] The first element cover member 51 is connected to the swinging member 42. As a result, when the swinging member 42 rotates, the first element cover member 51 rotates together with the swinging member 42 about the first axis X1.

[0109] Each second element cover member 52 has a supported portion 5a that is rotatably supported by the support shaft 40. In the example shown in Fig. 17, the supported portion 5a has a recess into which the support shaft 40 is fitted.

[0110] Each second element cover member 52 is supported by a support shaft 40 so as to be rotatable about the first axis X1.

[0111] One of two adjacent members among the three element cover members 50 has a protrusion 5b, and the other has an arc-shaped fitting hole 5c. In the example shown in Fig. 17, one of the two element cover members 52 connected adjacent to the first element cover member 51 and the first element cover member 51 have a protrusion 5b. In addition, each of the two element cover members 52 has a fitting hole 5c.

[0112] The three element cover members 50 are connected so that the overlapping state can be changed by the engagement of the protrusions 5b with the fitting holes 5c.

[0113] The supported portion 5a is supported by the support shaft 40, so that the fitting hole 5c is disposed along an arc centered on the first axis X1. The protrusion 5b fits into the fitting hole 5c and is slidable along the fitting hole 5c.

[0114] Therefore, the cable cover 5 can expand and contract along an arc centered on the first axis X1 by changing the overlapping state of the three element cover members 50.

[0115] Specifically, when the swinging member 42 rotates, the first element cover member 51 rotates together with the swinging member 42 about the first axis X1. At that time, parts of the three element cover members 50 rotate in conjunction with the rotation of the swinging member 42, and the overlapping state of the three element cover members 50 changes. As a result, the cable cover 5 expands and contracts in accordance with the rotation of the swinging member 42.

[0116] When the display unit 3 rotates from the forward position to the upward position, the cable cover 5 contracts along an arc centered on the first axis X1. On the other hand, when the display unit 3 rotates from the upward position to the forward position, the cable cover 5 expands along an arc centered on the first axis X1.

[0117] In this embodiment, the main body 1 has a mounting seat 1b, a cover support portion 1c, and a mounting opening 1a (see FIG. 18). The mounting seat 1b is a portion to which a base member 41 of the support mechanism 4 is fixed. The mounting opening 1a is an opening that communicates with the mounting seat 1b and the cover support portion 1c (see FIG. 18).

[0118] The cover support portion 1c is a portion that supports an end cover member 52a, which is one of the multiple element cover members 50 (see FIG. 16). The end cover member 52a is one of the three element cover members 50 that is connected to the end on the main body 1 side. In this embodiment, the end cover member 52a is one of the two second element cover members 52.

[0119] The end cover member 52a has legs 5d formed to protrude downward (see FIG. 16). The legs 5d abut against the cover support portion 1c. A portion of the end cover member 52a, including the legs 5d, is inserted into the mounting opening 1a of the main body 1. As a result, the portion of the end cover member 52a, including the legs 5d, is covered by the edge of the mounting opening 1a of the main body 1.

[0120] The end cover member 52a further has an engaged portion 5e that protrudes along the inner surface of the edge of the mounting opening 1a in the main body 1 (see Figures 16 and 17). The engaged portion 5e is engaged with the edge of the mounting opening 1a, thereby preventing the entire end cover member 52a from slipping out of the mounting opening 1a.

[0121] The leg 5d of the end cover member 52a forms a wiring space extending from the inside of the cable cover 5 to the rear direction D22 of the main body 1. The cable 30 is routed from the inside of the cable cover 5 to the side of the leg 5d to the control device 14 in the main body 1 (see FIG. 16).

[0122] By employing the cable cover 5, the cable 30 can be appropriately protected without using a flexible member such as a rubber pipe or a bellows pipe.

[0123] [Notes on the Invention] The following is a summary of the invention extracted from the above-described embodiment. Note that the configurations and processing functions described in the following supplementary notes can be selected and combined as desired.

[0124] <Appendix 1> a main body containing a printing device that forms an image on a sheet; A display unit; a support mechanism fixed to the main body and supporting the display unit; a cable having one end connected to the display unit; a cable cover that covers a portion of the cable, The support mechanism includes: a base member fixed to the main body; a support shaft supported by the base member in a state along a first direction that is a left-right direction of the main body; a swinging member supported by the support shaft so as to be rotatable about a tilt axis passing through the center of the support shaft, and having a main opening formed therein that penetrates in a second direction, which is the thickness direction of the display unit; a unit connection mechanism that connects the swing member and the back surface of the display unit, the cable is routed from the rear surface of the display unit through the main opening into the main body, the cable cover covers a portion of the cable extending from the swing member to the main body, The cable cover includes a plurality of element cover members that are arranged one on top of the other and are connected to each other so that the overlapping state of each element cover member can be changed, The plurality of element cover members include: a first element cover member connected to the swing member; one or more second element cover members supported by the support shaft so as to be rotatable about the tilt axis line, An image forming apparatus in which some of the multiple element cover members rotate in conjunction with the rotation of the swinging member and the overlapping state of the multiple element cover members changes, thereby allowing the cable cover to expand and contract in accordance with the rotation of the swinging member.

[0125] <Appendix 2> The body includes: a mounting seat to which the base member is fixed; a cover support portion that supports an end cover member that is one of the plurality of element cover members connected to the end of the main body side; a mounting opening that is an opening that communicates with the mounting seat and the cover support portion, the end cover member has a leg portion formed to protrude downward and abut against the cover support portion, 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a portion of the end cover member including the leg portion is inserted into the mounting opening of the main body.

[0126] <Appendix 3> The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the end cover member has a locking portion that protrudes along an inner surface of an edge of the mounting opening in the main body.

[0127] <Appendix 4> the display unit has a rectangular screen; The unit connection mechanism includes: a rotating member having an insertion portion inserted into the main opening and an inner opening that is an opening that penetrates the insertion portion in the second direction, and supported by the swinging member so as to be rotatable about a pivot axis that extends along the second direction; a unit support member connected to the rotary member, rotatable together with the rotary member, and having the display unit fixed thereto; The image forming device described in any one of Appendix 1 to Appendix 3, wherein the cable is wired from the back of the display unit through the inside of the inner opening and the inside of the cable cover into the main body.

[0128] <Appendix 5> The image forming device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the display unit is supported by the support mechanism so as to be rotatable between a forward position in which the screen faces forward of the main body along the horizontal direction and an upward position in which the screen faces vertically upward. [Explanation of symbols]

[0129] 1: Main unit 3: Display unit 3a: Screen 4: Support mechanism 5: Cable cover 5a: Supported part 5b:Protrusion 5c: Mating hole 5d: Legs 5e:Locked part 10: Image forming device 13: Printing device 14: Control device 30: Cable 40: Support shaft 41: Base member 42: Swinging member 43: Rotating member 44: Unit support member 45:Intervening member 47: Reinforcement member 48: Leaf spring 50: Element cover member 51: First element cover member 52: Second element cover member 52a: End cover member 420: First opening 421: Front plate part 423: First fitting part 424: Second fitting part 426: First locking part 427: Second locking part 430: Third opening 431: Insertion part 432: Tsuba section 434: Engagement part 440: 4th opening 450: Second opening

Claims

1. a main body containing a printing device that forms an image on a sheet; A display unit; a support mechanism fixed to the main body and supporting the display unit; a cable having one end connected to the display unit; a cable cover that covers a portion of the cable, The support mechanism includes: a base member fixed to the main body; a support shaft supported by the base member in a state along a first direction that is a left-right direction of the main body; a swinging member supported by the support shaft so as to be rotatable about a tilt axis passing through the center of the support shaft, the swinging member having a main opening formed therein and penetrating in a second direction, which is a thickness direction of the display unit; a unit connection mechanism that connects the swing member and the back surface of the display unit, the cable is routed from the rear surface of the display unit through the main opening into the main body, the cable cover covers a portion of the cable extending from the swing member to the main body, The cable cover includes a plurality of element cover members that are arranged one on top of the other and are connected to each other so that the overlapping state of each element cover member can be changed, The plurality of element cover members include: a first element cover member connected to the swing member; one or more second element cover members supported by the support shaft so as to be rotatable about the tilt axis line, An image forming apparatus in which some of the multiple element cover members rotate in conjunction with the rotation of the swinging member and the overlapping state of the multiple element cover members changes, thereby allowing the cable cover to expand and contract in accordance with the rotation of the swinging member.

2. The body includes: a mounting seat to which the base member is fixed; a cover support portion for supporting a terminal cover member, which is one of the plurality of element cover members connected to the end of the main body side; a mounting opening that is an opening that communicates with the mounting seat and the cover support portion, the end cover member has a leg portion formed to protrude downward and abut against the cover support portion, 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a portion of said end cover member including said leg portion is inserted into said mounting opening of said main body.

3. 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the end cover member has a locking portion that protrudes along an inner surface of an edge of the mounting opening in the main body.

4. the display unit has a rectangular screen; The unit connection mechanism includes: a rotating member having an insertion portion inserted into the main opening and an inner opening that is an opening that penetrates the insertion portion in the second direction, and supported by the swinging member so as to be rotatable about a pivot axis that extends along the second direction; a unit support member connected to the rotary member, rotatable together with the rotary member, and having the display unit fixed thereto; 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the cable is routed from the rear surface of the display unit to the inside of the main body through the interior of the inner opening and the interior of the cable cover.

5. 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the display unit is supported by the support mechanism so as to be rotatable between a forward position in which the screen faces forward of the main body along a horizontal direction and an upward position in which the screen faces vertically upward.

Images