Image forming apparatus

Abstract

To achieve a cover support mechanism with a simple configuration.SOLUTION: A part 51 to be supported of a cover member 5 is rotatably supported by a main support part 61 of a main body 1, which can be slidably moved with respect to the main support part 61 along an extending direction. A first joint part 71 of a link member 7 is supported rotatably by a joint support part 62. A second joint part 72 of the link member 7 engages with a joint guide part 52 slidably along the extending direction. When the cover member 5 is at an opening position, a cover engagement part 53 engages with a main body-engagement part 63 and the second joint part 72 engages with a guide base end 52a of the joint guide part 52. When the cover member 5 is at the opening position, a moment load of the cover member 5 with the second joint part 72 as a center acts as force for holding the engagement of the cover engagement part 53 with the main body engagement part 63.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus including a cover member capable of opening and closing a side opening of a main body.

Background Art

[0002] An image forming apparatus such as a printer, a copying machine, or a multifunction peripheral includes a cover member and a cover support mechanism. The cover member closes an opening formed in a side surface of the main body. The cover support mechanism openably and closably supports the cover member (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Prior Art Literature

Patent Literature

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problem to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] Incidentally, in the image forming apparatus, it is desired that the cover support mechanism is realized with a simple configuration.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus in which a cover support mechanism that supports a cover member capable of opening and closing a side opening of a main body can be realized with a simple configuration.

Means for Solving the Problem

[0006] An image forming apparatus according to one aspect of the present invention comprises a printing unit, a cover member, and a cover support mechanism. The printing unit is disposed within the main body and forms an image on a sheet. The cover member closes a side opening formed on the side surface of the main body. The cover support mechanism supports the cover member so that it can rotate between a closed position and an open position. In the closed position, the cover member closes the side opening, and in the open position, it protrudes outward from the lower edge of the side opening on the main body. The cover support mechanism comprises a main support unit, a supported unit, a joint support unit, a joint guide unit, a link member, a main body engaging unit, and a cover engaging unit. The main support unit is provided on the lower edge of the side opening on the main body. The supported unit is provided on the base end of the cover member. The joint support unit is provided on the main body at a higher position than the main support unit. The joint guide unit is formed on the cover member along its extending direction. The link member has a first joint unit and a second joint unit. The main body engagement portion is provided on the main body at a position on the inner side of the side opening relative to the main support portion. The cover engagement portion is provided on the base end of the cover member and is engageable with the main body engagement portion. The extending direction is along the line connecting the base end and the end of the cover member. The supported portion is rotatably supported by the main support portion and is slidable relative to the main support portion along the extending direction. The first joint portion is rotatably supported by the joint support portion. The second joint portion engages with the joint guide portion so as to be slidable along the extending direction. When the cover member is in the closed position, the main support portion supports the supported portion at one end of the sliding range along the extending direction. The cover member is rotatable between the closed position and the open position around the main support portion. When the cover member rotates, the link member rotates around the first joint portion and the joint guide portion guides the second joint portion along the extending direction.When the cover member is in the open position, the cover engagement portion engages with the main body engagement portion, and the second joint portion engages with the guide base end, which is one end of the cover member on the base end side of the joint guide portion. When the cover member is in the open position, the moment load of the cover member centered on the second joint portion acts as a force that maintains the engagement between the cover engagement portion and the main body engagement portion, and the link member and the main body engagement portion hold the cover member in the open position. When the cover member is in the open position, the support of the supported portion by the main support portion is released. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an image forming apparatus that can realize a cover support mechanism for supporting a cover member that can open and close a side opening of the main body with a simple configuration. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0008] [Figure 1] Figure 1 is a configuration diagram of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment. [Figure 2] Figure 2 is a diagram showing the configuration of the cover support mechanism in the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment. [Figure 3] Figure 3 is a side view of the cover support mechanism in the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment when the cover member is in the closed position. [Figure 4] Figure 4 is a side view of the cover support mechanism in the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment when the cover member is in the open position. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0009] Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. Note that the following embodiments are merely examples of the present invention and do not limit the technical scope of the present invention.

[0010] [Configuration of the image forming apparatus 10] The image forming apparatus 10 according to this embodiment includes a printing apparatus 4 that performs printing. The printing process is the process of forming an image on a sheet 9. The printing apparatus 4 is an example of a printing unit.

[0011] The printing device 4 performs the printing process using an electrophotographic method. The sheet 9 is an image-forming medium such as paper or a sheet-like resin material.

[0012] As shown in Figure 1, the image forming apparatus 10 includes a sheet transport device 3 and a printing device 4 located within the main body 1. The main body 1 is a housing that contains the sheet transport device 3, the printing device 4, and the like.

[0013] Furthermore, the image forming apparatus 10 includes one or more sheet cassettes 2 that are retractably mounted on the main body 1. Each sheet cassette 2 is capable of accommodating multiple sheets 9.

[0014] The printing apparatus 4 comprises one or more image forming units 4x, a light scanning device 40, a transfer device 44, and a fixing device 46. The image forming unit 4x includes a drum-shaped photoreceptor 41, a charging device 42, a developing device 43, and a drum cleaning device 45, etc.

[0015] The sheet conveying device 3 comprises a sheet dispensing device 31 and multiple pairs of conveying rollers 32. The sheet dispensing device 31 sends the sheets 9 contained in the sheet cassette 2 to the sheet conveying path 30 inside the main body 1. The sheet conveying path 30 forms a passage through which the sheets 9 are conveyed.

[0016] Multiple pairs of conveyor rollers 32 are driven and rotated by a drive device (not shown). Multiple pairs of conveyor rollers 32 convey the sheet 9 along the sheet conveyor path 30. One of the multiple pairs of conveyor rollers 32 discharges the sheet 9 from the sheet conveyor path 30 onto the discharge tray 101.

[0017] The printing device 4 forms an image on a sheet 9 conveyed along a sheet conveyance path 30. In the present embodiment, the printing device 4 forms a toner image on the sheet 9. The toner is an example of a granular developer.

[0018] The image forming apparatus 10 illustrated in Fig. 1 is a tandem-type color image forming apparatus. Therefore, the printing device 4 includes a plurality of image forming units 4x corresponding to the toners of a plurality of colors. In the present embodiment, the printing device 4 includes four image forming units 4x corresponding to four colors of yellow, cyan, magenta, and black.

[0019] In each of the image forming units 4x, a photoconductor 41 rotates, and a charging device 42 charges a surface of the photoconductor 41. Further, an optical scanning device 40 writes an electrostatic latent image on the surface of the photoconductor 41 by scanning with laser light.

[0020] Further, a developing device 43 develops the electrostatic latent image on the surface of the photoconductor 41 as the toner image. The photoconductor 41 is an example of an image bearing member that rotates while carrying the toner image.

[0021] A transfer device 44 transfers the toner image from the surface of the photoconductor 41 to the sheet 9. The transfer device 44 includes an intermediate transfer belt 441, four primary transfer devices 442 corresponding to the four image forming units 4x, a secondary transfer device 443, and a belt cleaning device 444.

[0022] In the transfer device 44, the primary transfer device 442 transfers the toner image on the surface of the photoconductor 41 onto a surface of the intermediate transfer belt 441. As a result, the color toner image is formed on the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 441.

[0023] The secondary transfer device 443 transfers the toner image formed on the intermediate transfer belt 441 onto the sheet 9 conveyed along the sheet conveyance path 30.

[0024] If the image forming apparatus 10 is a monochrome image forming apparatus, the secondary transfer apparatus 443 transfers the toner image on the photoreceptor 41 to the sheet 9.

[0025] The drum cleaning device 45 removes waste toner remaining on the surface of the photoreceptor 41. The belt cleaning device 444 removes the waste toner remaining on the intermediate transfer belt 441.

[0026] The fixing device 46 heats and pressurizes the toner image transferred to the sheet 9. This causes the fixing device 46 to fix the toner image to the sheet 9.

[0027] The main body 1 has a side opening 102. The side opening 102 is an opening formed on the side of the main body 1.

[0028] The image forming apparatus 10 further comprises a cover member 5 and a cover support mechanism 50. The cover member 5 closes the side opening 102 of the main body 1. The cover support mechanism 50 supports the cover member 5 so that it can be opened and closed.

[0029] The side opening 102 is formed above the sheet cassette 2. When the cover member 5 is covering the side opening 102, the cover member 5 is adjacent to the side wall portion 2a of the sheet cassette 2 in an upward direction.

[0030] When the cover member 5 is open, one or more process units constituting the printing device 4 can be removed from inside the main body 1 through the side opening 102. For example, the process units include a drum unit containing a photoreceptor 41 and a developing unit containing a developing device 43.

[0031] Incidentally, in the image forming apparatus 10, it is desirable that the cover support mechanism 50 be implemented with a simple configuration.

[0032] In this embodiment, the cover support mechanism 50 is implemented with a simple configuration. The configuration of the cover support mechanism 50 will be described below.

[0033] [Cover support mechanism 50] As shown in Figures 2 to 4, the cover support mechanism 50 supports the cover member 5 so that it can rotate between a closed position and an open position.

[0034] Figure 3 shows the cover member 5 in the closed position. Figure 4 shows the cover member 5 in the open position. Figure 2 shows the cover member 5 in a position between the closed position and the open position.

[0035] In the closed position, the cover member 5 closes the side opening 102 (see Figure 3). In the open position, the cover member 5 protrudes outward from the lower edge of the side opening 102 on the main body 1 (see Figure 4).

[0036] In Figures 1 to 4, the base end 5a of the cover member 5 is the end that connects to the main body 1. The end portion 5b of the cover member 5 is the end opposite to the base end 5a.

[0037] In Figures 2 to 4, the extension direction D1 is the direction along the line connecting the base end 5a and the end end 5b of the cover member 5. The width direction D2 is the direction along which the lower and upper edges of the side opening 102 follow. The width direction D2 is the direction intersecting the extension direction D1. In this embodiment, the width direction D2 is the direction perpendicular to the extension direction D1.

[0038] The cover support mechanism 50 comprises one or more cover-side members 5x, a main body-side member 6, and a link member 7. For example, the cover support mechanism 50 comprises two sets of member sets, each consisting of a cover-side member 5x, a main body-side member 6, and a link member 7. The two sets of member sets are positioned at both ends of the width direction D2 of the side opening 102 in the main body 1.

[0039] The cover-side member 5x is fixed to the cover member 5. The main body-side member 6 is fixed to the main body 1. The link member 7 connects the cover-side member 5x and the main body-side member 6.

[0040] The cover-side member 5x, the main body-side member 6, and the link member 7 are each molded members made of synthetic resin.

[0041] The main body side member 6 includes a main support portion 61, a joint support portion 62, and a main body engaging portion 63. The cover side member 5x includes a supported portion 51, a joint guide portion 52, and a cover engaging portion 53. The link member 7 includes an arm portion 70, a first joint portion 71, and a second joint portion 72.

[0042] The main support portion 61 is provided on the lower edge of the side opening 102 in the main body 1. The joint support portion 62 is provided at a higher position than the main support portion 61 in the main body 1.

[0043] The supported portion 51 is provided on the base end portion 5a of the cover member 5. The supported portion 51 is rotatably supported by the main support portion 61.

[0044] In this embodiment, the supported portion 51 has an elongated hole or groove with the extending direction D1 as its longitudinal direction. The main support portion 61 has an axis along the width direction D2. The main support portion 61 is inserted into the supported portion 51.

[0045] The supported portion 51 is slidable relative to the main support portion 61 along the extending direction D1.

[0046] The joint guide portion 52 is formed in the cover member 5 along the extending direction D1. In this embodiment, the joint guide portion 52 has an opening in the width direction D2 and forms a groove or elongated hole along the extending direction D1.

[0047] In the link member 7, the arm portion 70 is formed extending from the joint support portion 62 of the main body 1 to the joint guide portion 52 of the cover member 5. The first joint portion 71 is formed at the first end of the arm portion 70, and the second joint portion 72 is formed at the second end of the arm portion 70.

[0048] The first joint portion 71 is rotatably supported by the joint support portion 62. In this embodiment, the joint support portion 62 has a hole that opens in the width direction D2.

[0049] The first joint portion 71 is a projection inserted into the joint support portion 62. The first joint portion 71 protrudes from the arm portion 70 along the width direction D2.

[0050] The second joint portion 72 is slidably engaged with the joint guide portion 52 along the extending direction D1. In this embodiment, the joint guide portion 52 has a groove or elongated hole that opens in the width direction D2 and is aligned with the extending direction D1.

[0051] The second joint portion 72 is a projection inserted into the joint guide portion 52. The second joint portion 72 protrudes from the arm portion 70 along the width direction D2.

[0052] The main body engagement portion 63 is located on the inner side of the side opening 102 relative to the main support portion 61 of the main body 1. The main body engagement portion 63 is located lower than the joint support portion 62 of the main body 1.

[0053] The cover engagement portion 53 is provided on the base end portion 5a of the cover member 5. The cover engagement portion 53 can engage with the main body engagement portion 63.

[0054] In this embodiment, the cover engagement portion 53 is a convex portion formed on the edge of the base end portion 5a of the cover member 5. On the other hand, the main body engagement portion 63 is a concave portion into which the cover engagement portion 53 fits.

[0055] The cover engagement portion 53 may be concave, and the main body engagement portion 63 may be convex.

[0056] When the cover member 5 is in the closed position, the main support portion 61 supports the supported portion 51 at one end of the sliding range along the extending direction D1 (see Figure 3).

[0057] In this embodiment, when the cover member 5 is in the closed position, the first longitudinal end 51a of the supported portion 51 is supported by the main support portion 61.

[0058] The first end 51a of the supported portion 51 is the end of the cover member 5 on the end portion 5b side in the extending direction D1. The second end 51b of the supported portion 51 is the end of the cover member 5 on the base portion 5a side in the extending direction D1.

[0059] The cover member 5 is rotatable between the closed position and the open position around the main support portion 61 (see Figure 2).

[0060] When the cover member 5 rotates, the link member 7 rotates around the first joint portion 71, and the joint guide portion 52 guides the second joint portion 72 along the extending direction D1 (see Figure 2).

[0061] When the cover member 5 is in the open position, the cover engaging portion 53 engages with the main body engaging portion 63, and the second joint portion 72 engages with the guide base end 52a of the joint guide portion 52 (see Figure 4). The guide base end 52a is one end of the joint guide portion 52 on the side of the base end 5a of the cover member 5.

[0062] When the cover member 5 is in the open position, the moment load F1 of the cover member 5 centered on the second joint portion 72 acts as a force F2 that maintains the engagement between the cover engagement portion 53 and the main body engagement portion 63 (see Figure 4).

[0063] Furthermore, when the cover member 5 is in the open position, the link member 7 and the main body engagement portion 63 hold the cover member 5 in the open position. On the other hand, when the cover member 5 is in the open position, the support of the supported portion 51 by the main support portion 61 is released.

[0064] In this embodiment, when the cover member 5 is in the open position, the main support portion 61 is positioned so as not to contact either of the longitudinal ends of the supported portion 51 (see Figure 4). As a result, the support of the supported portion 51 by the main support portion 61 is released.

[0065] When the cover member 5 is in the open position, the process unit may be placed on the portion of the cover member 5 closer to the end portion 5b than the guide base end 52a. In this case, the load of the process unit acts as a force that increases the moment load F1 of the cover member 5. As a result, the force F2 that maintains the engagement between the cover engagement portion 53 and the main body engagement portion 63 is further strengthened.

[0066] By employing the cover support mechanism 50, a mechanism for supporting the cover member 5 so that it can be opened and closed is realized with a simple configuration. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0067] 1: Main unit 2: Sheet Cassette 3: Sheet conveying device 4: Printing device 5: Cover component 5a: Base end of cover member 5b: End portion of cover member 5x: Cover side member 6: Main body side components 7: Link member 10: Image forming apparatus 40: Optical scanning device 41: Photoreceptor 42: Charging device 43: Developing equipment 44: Transfer device 50: Cover support mechanism 51: Supported part 52: Joint guide section 52a: Guide base 53: Cover engagement part 61: Main support part 62: Joint support section 63: Main body engagement part 70: Arm section 71: First joint section 72: Second joint section 102: Side opening

Claims

1. A printing unit located inside the main body that forms an image on the sheet, A cover member that closes the side opening formed on the side of the main body, An image forming apparatus comprising a cover support mechanism that rotatably supports the cover member between a closed position and an open position, The cover member closes the side opening in the closed position and protrudes outward from the lower edge of the side opening on the main body in the open position. The cover support mechanism is, A main support portion provided at the lower edge of the side opening in the main body, The support portion provided at the base end of the cover member, A joint support portion is provided at a position higher than the main support portion in the main body, The cover member has a joint guide portion formed along the extending direction, A link member having a first joint portion and a second joint portion, A body engagement portion is provided in the main body with respect to the main support portion, at a position on the inner side of the side opening, The cover member is provided with a cover engagement portion at its base end that is capable of engaging with the main body engagement portion, The main body engagement portion is provided at a lower position than the joint support portion. The aforementioned extending direction is along the line connecting the base end and the end of the cover member. The main support portion forms an axis along the width direction of the side opening, The supported portion has an elongated hole or groove with the extending direction as the longitudinal direction, The main support portion is inserted into the supported portion, The supported portion is rotatably supported by the main support portion and is slidable relative to the main support portion along the extending direction. The joint support portion has a hole that opens in the width direction of the side opening, The joint guide portion has a groove or elongated hole that opens in the width direction and is aligned with the extending direction. The first joint portion is a projection that is inserted into the joint support portion, The second joint portion is a projection that is inserted into the joint guide portion, The first joint portion is rotatably supported by the joint support portion, The second joint portion engages with the joint guide portion so as to be slidable along the extending direction, When the cover member is in the closed position, the main support portion supports the supported portion at one end of the sliding range along the extending direction. The cover member is rotatable between the closed position and the open position around the main support portion. When the cover member rotates, the link member rotates around the first joint portion, and the joint guide portion guides the second joint portion along the extending direction. When the cover member is in the open position, the cover engagement portion engages with the main body engagement portion, and the second joint portion engages with the guide base end, which is one end of the cover member on the base end side of the joint guide portion. When the cover member is in the open position, the moment load of the cover member centered on the second joint acts as a force that maintains the engagement between the cover engagement portion and the main body engagement portion, and the link member and the main body engagement portion hold the cover member in the open position. An image forming apparatus in which, when the cover member is in the open position, the main support portion is in a position where it does not contact either of the longitudinal ends of the supported portion, thereby releasing the support of the supported portion by the main support portion.

2. The cover engagement portion is a convex portion formed on the edge of the base end of the cover member, The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the main body engagement portion is a concave portion into which the cover engagement portion fits.

3. The first synthetic resin member fixed to the main body includes the main support portion, the joint support portion, and the main body engagement portion, The second synthetic resin member fixed to the cover member includes the supported portion, the joint guide portion, and the cover engagement portion. The link member is made of synthetic resin, The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the main support portion forms an axis thinner than the first joint portion and the joint support portion.

Images