CABINET, CABINET-EQUIPPED IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS, AND CABINET-LOADED OBJECT

Abstract

To provide a cabinet in which the load can be pulled out or the door can be unlocked regardless of the lock of the cabinet body.SOLUTION: There is provided a cabinet 20 which has a load 30 having a drawer or a door to be placed on a top plate and is provided with a drawer or a door and a locking mechanism. A lock set interlocking mechanism is provided to lock the drawer or the door 31 of the load 30 in conjunction with the lock set operation of a lock mechanism 40 of the cabinet body. A mechanism 51 for unlocking the drawer or the door of the load is provided.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a cabinet, an image forming apparatus with a cabinet, and an object loaded into the cabinet. [Background technology]

[0002] 2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a cabinet is known in which a load having a drawer or door is placed on a top plate, and which has a drawer or door and a locking mechanism. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses such a cabinet, in which a storage device with a tray drawer is detachably attached to the top surface of the top plate of a cabinet body with multiple drawers. This storage device corresponds to the load. A locking rod that moves up and down in conjunction with the locking and unlocking action of a locking device built into the top plate is suspended from the side frame of the cabinet body. An engagement piece at the upper end of the locking rod is passed through a through hole in the top plate and positioned inside the storage device. When this locking rod moves up in conjunction with the locking action of the locking device, the locking rod engages (locks) with the appropriate positions of each drawer to prevent it from being pulled out, and the engagement piece engages with the appropriate position of the tray drawer to prevent it from being pulled out. According to this, it is said that the drawer of the cabinet body and the drawer of the storage device can be locked at the same time. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0003] However, this does not take into consideration the need to be able to unlock the load drawer or door independently of the locking of the cabinet body drawer. [Means for solving the problem]

[0004] In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides a method for placing a load having a drawer or a door on a top plate and connecting the drawer or the door to the load. , drawer or door In the cabinet having a lock mechanism, a lock set interlocking mechanism is provided for locking the drawer or door of the load in conjunction with the lock set operation of the lock mechanism of the cabinet body, and a lock release mechanism is provided for the drawer or door of the load. The release mechanism releases the lock of the drawer or door of the load while the lock mechanism of the cabinet body is in a locked state. It is characterized by the above. Effect of the Invention

[0005] According to the present invention, the lock of the load drawer or door can be released independently of the lock of the cabinet body. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0006] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the cabinet wagon according to the embodiment. [Diagram 2] An explanatory diagram of a cabinet wagon. [Diagram 3] FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of a mechanism for moving the actuator using a reciprocating member. [Figure 4] 6 is an explanatory diagram of a mechanism on the paper feeder side that engages with a lock pin. [Diagram 5] FIG. [Figure 6] FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram of the wagon cabinet in use. [Figure 7] FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram of an example in which a cabinet with a drawer is used as a storage object. [Figure 8] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of the internal structure of a printing device. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0007] Hereinafter, an embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a cabinet wagon, which is a cabinet with casters, will be described. This type of cabinet wagon is widely used in a size that can be installed under the top of a desk. Cabinets of this size are generally called side cabinets.

[0008] In recent years, as image forming devices have become smaller, an increasing number of users are placing their printing devices under desks to operate them. For example, in places with limited space, such as Japanese medical offices (reception areas), printing devices are installed under desks to print large volumes of prescriptions, receipts, etc. Printing devices are designed for use on desks. For this reason, if a printing device is placed directly on the floor under a desk, it becomes difficult to refill the printer with paper or to remove jammed paper.

[0009] In addition, since the printing device must be installed under the desk, the side cabinet of the desk that has traditionally been used cannot be used, which is inconvenient. In particular, for those who are accustomed to using side cabinets with locks on the drawers, the inability to use lockable drawers is particularly inconvenient.

[0010] The cabinet of this embodiment realizes a side cabinet with a printing device placed on the top panel as a load in the space where a conventional side cabinet was placed. This side cabinet also allows the paper feed tray of the printing device to be locked at the same time as the key lock for the drawer of the cabinet body. And, for the following reasons, the lock of the paper feed tray of the paper feed device can be released regardless of the key lock for the drawer of the cabinet body.

[0011] In other words, if the key is shared between the cabinet drawer and the paper feed tray of the printing device, the printing device will be shared by multiple users, and so the unlocking method needs to be made public. This is because when paper becomes jammed (a jam occurs), the paper feed tray is pulled out to remove the jammed paper. It is inconvenient and impractical to ask the cabinet administrator to unlock the tray every time a jam occurs. This is why we have provided a unique unlocking means for the paper feed tray, making it possible to pull out the paper feed tray without releasing the cabinet key lock.

[0012] To realize the above side cabinet, the basic configuration of the cabinet wagon according to the embodiment is such that a printing device is placed on the top plate as a load having a drawer, and the cabinet wagon has a drawer and a locking mechanism. Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a side cabinet 10 of this embodiment. Fig. 1(a) shows the cabinet wagon 20 with the drawer 22 stored. Fig. 1(b) shows the cabinet wagon 20 with the drawer 22 pulled out. Fig. 1(c) is a perspective view of the cabinet wagon 20 in this state, seen from a different direction. Fig. 1(d) shows the printing device 30 with the paper feed tray 31 pulled out and removed.

[0013] As shown in Fig. 1(a), the cabinet wagon 20 has a printing device 30 placed on its top plate. The cabinet wagon 20 has four casters 21 and a drawer 22. The front panel 23 of the drawer 22 has a handle 24 and a locking device 40. The printing device 30 has a paper feed tray 31 at its lower part. The paper feed tray 31 has a handle 32. The printing device 30 has a paper output tray 33 at its upper part. The printing device 30 has a release button on its right cover 34 that constitutes a release mechanism. 51 The printing device 30 is fixed to the top plate of the cabinet wagon 20 by screws inserted into screw holes 37 formed in a bottom plate 36 of the printing device 30 shown in FIG.

[0014] As shown in Fig. 1(b), the cabinet wagon 20 has a cabinet stopper 45 on the right side surface 28 of the drawer 22. The drawer 22 is locked when the lower end portion 47 of the arm member 46 (see Fig. 3) moved by the locking device 40 abuts against the cabinet stopper 45. The lower end portion 47 of the arm member protrudes from the inner wall surface of the right side plate of the cabinet wagon 20 shown in Fig. 1(c).

[0015] Fig. 2 is an explanatory diagram of the cabinet wagon 20. Fig. 2(a) is a perspective view of the cabinet wagon alone. Fig. 2(b) is an enlarged view of a portion of the front panel 23 of the drawer 22 where the locking device 40 is provided. Fig. 2(c) is a perspective view showing the back side of the front panel 23 of the drawer 22. Fig. 2(d) is a partial enlarged view of Fig. 2(c).

[0016] The locking device 40 includes a knob 41 as shown in FIG. 2(a), and also includes a dial 44 for enabling the knob 41 to rotate (see FIG. 4(a)). The cabinet wagon 20 includes a movable lock pin 26 that protrudes upward from a through hole in the top plate 25. The lock pin 26 constitutes a lock set interlocking mechanism. The lock pin 26 is fixed to the upper end of an arm member 46 that moves up and down by the rotation of the knob 41. The lock pin 26 is fixed, for example, by a screw. A convex screw is formed on the lower end of the lock pin 26, and is screwed into a screw hole in the arm member 46. As shown in FIG. 2(c), the locking device 40 includes an advancing and retreating member 42 that advances and retreats by the rotation of the knob 41, and a guide portion 43 that guides the advancing and retreating member 42.

[0017] Fig. 3 is an explanatory diagram of the mechanism for movement by the advancing / retreating member 42. Fig. 3(a) is an explanatory diagram seen from the front when the advancing / retreating member 42 is in the retracted position. Fig. 3(b) is an explanatory diagram seen from the front when the advancing / retreating member 42 is in the extended position. This mechanism includes a lock lever 48, one end of which is pushed and rotated by the extension of the advancing / retreating member 42, and an arm member 46 which is moved up and down by the up and down movement of the other end of the lock lever 48. The lock lever 48 is supported by the body of the cabinet wagon 20 via a rotation shaft 49 so as to be swingable.

[0018] As shown in Fig. 3(c), arm member 46 is housed within right side plate 29 of the body of cabinet wagon 20, with its lower end 47 protruding from a through hole in the inner wall of the right side plate and extending into the drawer space. This lower end 47 moves up and down as arm member 46 moves up and down. As shown in Fig. 3(d), cabinet stopper 45 is fixed to right side surface 28 of drawer 22, which is the back side of front panel 23 of drawer 22. A gap G is generated between the front end of cabinet stopper 45 and the back surface of front panel 23. When drawer 22 is closed, lower end 47 of arm member 46 is located in the area in the drawer direction where gap G is located.

[0019] When arm member 46 is at its lowest position as shown in Figure 3(a), its position is vertically misaligned with cabinet stopper 45. On the other hand, when arm member 46 is raised, its vertical position coincides with that of cabinet stopper 45. This makes it impossible to pull out the drawer. The locking device 40, lock lever 48, arm member 46, cabinet stopper 45, etc. described above constitute the locking mechanism for the cabinet body. At the same height as lock pin 26 in the raised position shown in Figures 3(a) and 3(b) is paper feed tray lock lever 50 provided on the paper feed tray.

[0020] When the lock pin 26 is in the raised position as shown in Fig. 3(b), the paper feed tray lock lever 50 abuts against the lock pin 26, and the paper feed tray 31 cannot be pulled out. When the lock pin 26 is in the lowered position as shown in Fig. 3(a), the paper feed tray 31 can be pulled out. In this way, by turning the knob 41 of the lock device 40, the lock pin 26 is brought to the raised position, and the pull-out of the paper feed tray 31 can be locked. In other words, the lock pin 26 provided at the upper end of the arm member 46 and the paper feed tray lock lever 50 constitute a lock set interlocking mechanism that locks the pull-out of the load or the door in conjunction with the lock set operation of the lock mechanism of the cabinet body.

[0021] Furthermore, by turning knob 41 of locking device 40 in the opposite direction, lock pin 26 is lowered to the lowered position, thereby unlocking the drawer of paper feed tray 31. In other words, lock pin 26 provided at the upper end of arm member 46 and paper feed tray lock lever 50 constitute an unlocking interlocking mechanism that unlocks the drawer of the loaded object or the door in conjunction with the unlocking operation of the locking mechanism of the cabinet body.

[0022] FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of the mechanism on the paper feed device (paper feed tray 31) side that engages with the lock pin 26. FIG. 4(a) is a perspective view showing a paper feed tray lock lever 50, which is an engagement member on the paper feed device side that engages with the lock pin 26, and a release button 51. The right cover 34 (see FIG. 1) is removed. The paper feed tray 31 is provided with a paper feed tray lock lever 50 at a position facing the lock pin 26 that protrudes through a through hole in the top plate 25 of the cabinet body. This paper feed tray lock lever 50 is rotatably supported by a rotation shaft 52 as shown in FIG. 4(b), and is urged to rotate by a spring 53. A stopper 58 is also provided to stop the rotation of the paper feed tray lock lever 50 against this urging force.

[0023] FIG. 4(c) shows the state in which the release button 51 is pressed to rotate the paper feed tray lock lever 50. The paper feed tray lock lever 50 rotates and disengages from the position facing the lock pin 26. In this state, the paper feed tray 31 can be pulled out. That is, the position of the paper feed tray lock lever 50 in this state is the retracted position. When the release button 51 is released from being pressed, the paper feed tray lock lever 50 returns to the state shown in FIG. 4(b). In this state, the paper feed tray lock lever 50 faces the lock pin 26 and the paper feed tray 31 cannot be pulled out. That is, the position of the paper feed tray lock lever 50 in this state is the engaged position.

[0024] Figure 4(d) shows the support mechanism for the release button 51. The right cover 34 of the printing device 30 is equipped with a button holder 54. The button holder 54 has a spring 55 inside. This spring 55 constantly urges the release button 51 outward. A stopper 57 is attached to the portion of the release button shaft 56 of the release button 51 that protrudes from the bottom of the button holder 54. The stopper 57 prevents the release button 51 from jumping out against the spring force.

[0025] FIG. 4(e) shows the state where the release button 51 is pressed. The tip of the pressed release button 51 rotates the paper feed tray lock lever 50 and displaces it from the position of the lock pin 26. This allows the lock of the paper feed tray 31 to be released from the engagement between the lock pin 26 and the paper feed tray lock lever 50. This release button 51 corresponds to a moving mechanism that moves the engagement member from the engagement position to the retracted position. This release button 51 also constitutes an unlocking mechanism for the load drawer or the door in conjunction with the unlocking operation of the locking mechanism of the cabinet body. Moreover, this release mechanism can unlock the load drawer or the door while the locking mechanism of the cabinet body is in the locked state. This allows even a person who does not know the number of the dial 44 of the locking device 40 to press the release button 51 to release the lock of the paper feed tray 31.

[0026] FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of a modified example. In this modified example, a key lever 60 is provided for permitting or prohibiting pressing of the release button 51. The key lever 60 has a keyhole 61 and can be rotated by a key 62 inserted therein. FIG. 5(a) is an explanatory diagram from the front showing a state in which the key lever 60 with the keyhole has rotated to a position permitting pressing of the release button 51. FIG. 5(b) is an explanatory diagram of an example of a key 62. FIG. 5(c) is an explanatory diagram from the front showing a state in which the key lever 60 has rotated to a position prohibiting pressing of the release button 51. FIG. 5(d) is an explanatory diagram of the same state as viewed from a direction perpendicular to the surface of the right cover 34, and FIG. 5(e) is a plan view of the same state.

[0027] When the user rotates the screw hole portion counterclockwise using the key 62 from the position in FIG. 5(a) that allows the release button 51 to be pressed, the key lever 60 takes the release button pressing prohibition position as shown in FIG. 5(c)(d). Conversely, when the user rotates the key lever 60 clockwise using the key 62 from the release button pressing prohibition position as shown in FIG. 5(c)(d), the key lever 60 takes the position that allows the release button 51 to be pressed. When the key lever 60 takes this permitting position, the feed tray lock lever 50 can be moved to the release position by pressing the release button. In other words, the key 62 can be used to release the lock of the feed tray 31 drawer. In this example, the key lever 60 is used to release the lock of the feed tray 31 drawer by pressing the release button 51, but instead, the key lever 60 may be used to release the lock of the feed tray 31 drawer only by a key operating member such as the key lever 60.

[0028] FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of a state in which the side cabinet 10 is placed in the space below a drawer 66 of a desk 65.

[0029] In the above embodiment, the placed object was the printing device 30, but the placed object may be something else. Fig. 7 shows an example in which a cabinet 70 with a drawer 71 is used as the placed object. The drawer 71 also has a handle 72. This cabinet 70 also has a mechanism similar to the paper feed tray lever that abuts against the lock pin 26, or a mechanism similar to a release button or key lever. The example in Fig. 7 is an example in which a release button 51 is provided. The placed object may be something other than the printing device 30 or the cabinet 70, so long as it has a drawer or a door.

[0030] 8 shows an example of the internal structure of the main body of a printing device 30. The printing device 30 in this example has a paper feed tray 31 at the bottom. The paper feed tray 31 has sheets stacked on a bottom plate 80. The sheets are fed out by a paper feed roller 81. The paper feed tray 31, bottom plate 80, and paper feed roller 81 constitute the paper feed device. In this printing device 30, a tray image formed by electrophotography on the surface of a photoconductor 82 is transferred to the sheet fed out by the paper feed roller 81. A fixing device 83 fixes the toner image to the sheet. The sheet with the fixed toner image is discharged onto the paper discharge tray 33 by a paper discharge roller 84.

[0031] The image forming apparatus may be a printing apparatus that employs another recording method, such as an inkjet method, instead of an electrophotographic method. In the example of FIG. 1, the paper feeder is fixedly incorporated in the image forming apparatus main body of the printing apparatus 30, but the paper feeder alone may be configured separately. In this case, only the paper feeder of the image forming apparatus may be fixed to the cabinet with screws or the like. The other components of the image forming apparatus main body may be placed integrally on the paper feeder fixed in this way, and in this state, the paper feeder may be fixed to the paper feeder with screws or the like. [Explanation of symbols]

[0032] 10: Side cabinet 20: Cabinet wagon 21: Caster 22: Drawer 23: Front panel 24: Toride 25: Tabletop 26: Lock pin 28: Right side 29: Right side plate 30:Printing device 31: Paper feed tray 32: Toride 33: Paper output tray 34: Right cover - 3 6: Bottom plate 37: Screw hole 40: Locking device 41: Knob 42: Moving member 43: Guide section 45: Cabinet stopper 46: Arm member 47: Bottom end 48: Lock lever 49: Rotating shaft 50: Paper feed tray lock lever 51: Release button 52: Rotating shaft 53: Spring 54: Button holder 55: Spring 56: Release button axis 57: Clasp 58: Stopper 60: Key lever 61: Keyhole 62:Key 65: desk 66: Drawer 70: Cabinet 71: Drawer 72: Handle 80: Bottom plate 81: Paper feed roller 82: Photoreceptor 83: Fixing device 84: Paper ejection roller G: Gap [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0033] [Patent Document 1] JP 2006-125075 A

Claims

1. A cabinet having a drawer or door and a locking mechanism for the drawer or door, the cabinet being configured to have a top plate on which a load having a drawer or door is placed, A lock set interlocking mechanism is provided for locking the drawer or door of the load in conjunction with the lock set operation of the lock mechanism of the cabinet body, A mechanism for unlocking the drawer or door of the load is provided, The release mechanism unlocks the drawer or door of the load while the lock mechanism of the cabinet body remains locked.

2. The cabinet according to claim 1, A cabinet, characterized in that the release mechanism is provided on the load.

3. The cabinet according to claim 1 or 2, The cabinet is characterized in that the release mechanism allows the lock on the load drawer or door to be released by a key.

4. A cabinet according to any one of claims 1 to 3, A cabinet comprising an unlocking interlocking mechanism that unlocks a drawer or a door of the loaded object in conjunction with an unlocking operation of the locking mechanism of the cabinet body.

5. A cabinet according to any one of claims 1 to 4, The cabinet, wherein the load is a paper feeder for an image forming apparatus.

6. A cabinet according to claim 5; an image forming apparatus with a cabinet, the image forming apparatus comprising an image forming apparatus main body having the paper feeder at a lower portion thereof;

7. A cabinet load is loaded on a cabinet having a top plate for placing a load having a drawer or a door, a drawer or a door, and a lock mechanism for the drawer or the door, and is provided with a cabinet side interlocking element which is a component of a lock set interlocking mechanism that interlocks with a lock set operation of the lock mechanism of a cabinet body and locks the drawer or the door of the load, A cabinet load comprising an engaging member which is a load side element which constitutes the lock set interlocking mechanism together with the cabinet side interlocking element, and which is movable between an engagement position in which it engages with the cabinet side interlocking element and a retracted position in which it does not engage with the cabinet side interlocking element while the cabinet side interlocking element is in a locked state, and a moving mechanism which moves the engaging member from the engagement position to the retracted position.

Images