JP2005111896A - Cover open / close detection mechanism - Google Patents

Abstract

In view of the above-described problems of the prior art, the present invention provides a cover open / close detection mechanism that can detect the open / close of a plurality of covers with a simple structure while keeping the detection sensor fixed. It is the purpose.
Rod-like actuating members 22 and 23 are respectively provided on a side cover 10 and a front cover 11, and an arm member 20 is slidably provided on a pedestal portion 15 of a frame of the apparatus main body toward a detection switch 21. The arm member 20 does not rotate to operate the detection switch 21 when pressed by any one of the operation members, but slides toward the detection switch 21 by being pressed by both operation members. Then, the detection switch 21 is operated.
[Selection] Figure 3

Description

  The present invention relates to a cover open / close detection mechanism suitable for an apparatus provided with a plurality of covers that can be opened and closed, for example, an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a printer, and a facsimile machine.

  A cover that can be opened and closed is provided on the main body of the device so that it can be opened easily when performing maintenance inside the device, etc., but it must be closed or not completely closed. Since it causes a trouble, the opening / closing of such a cover is detected and notified.

  However, if the apparatus is provided with a plurality of covers, it is necessary to detect the opening and closing of each cover, and a plurality of detection sensors for that purpose must be provided. Therefore, the number of detection sensors increases, and the cost increases due to wiring to the detection sensors, detection processing, and the like.

Therefore, a mechanism for detecting the opening / closing of a plurality of covers with one detection sensor has been proposed. For example, in Patent Document 1, a rotation holder that rotates when one of two covers is opened is provided, and the rotation holder includes a rotation switch that detects opening of the cover. It is described that the dynamic switch is turned on or off when one of the two covers is opened.
JP 7-156510 A

  In the cover opening / closing detection mechanism described above, the opening of the two covers is detected by one rotation switch, but since the rotation switch is mounted on the rotation holder, an extra rotation space is required. become. Since the rotation switch itself is also mounted on the rotation holder, it is necessary to reduce the size and weight. Furthermore, since the rotation switch is not fixed, it is inevitable that the operation becomes unstable. In addition, the wiring of the rotation switch swings following the movement of the rotation holder, which may hinder the movement of the rotation holder and may cause troubles such as disconnection in the wiring.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above-described problems of the prior art, an object of the present invention is to provide a cover opening / closing detection mechanism that can detect the opening / closing of a plurality of covers with a simple structure while keeping the detection sensor fixed. It is what.

  A cover opening / closing detection mechanism according to the present invention includes a movable member having two actuated surfaces on which a plurality of operating members respectively disposed on the inside of a plurality of cover members provided on the apparatus main body so as to be freely opened and closed, and the device A cover open / close detection sensor provided on the main body, and the movable member has a rotation shaft disposed between the two actuated surfaces and slidable toward the cover open / close detection sensor. And when the actuating member acts only on one of the actuated surfaces, the movable member pivots about the pivot shaft, and when the actuating member acts on the two actuated surfaces. The movable member slides to operate the cover open / close detection sensor. Further, the rotating shaft of the movable member is fitted in a sliding groove provided in a frame of the apparatus main body, and biasing means for biasing the rotating shaft away from the cover open / close detection sensor. Is provided. Furthermore, the movable member and the cover open / close detection sensor are installed between two assembly frames of the apparatus main body, and are held at predetermined positions by a press contact means provided on one assembly frame. To do. Further, the cover open / close detection sensor is provided with an operation bar that swings in contact with the movable member, and the movable member is provided with a cut-off for avoiding contact with the operation bar when the movable member rotates. A notch is formed.

  By having the configuration as described above, the rotation shaft of the movable member is slidable toward the cover open / close detection sensor, so that the operating member acts only on one actuated surface of the movable member. The cover open / close detection sensor does not operate because the movable member only rotates, but when the operation member acts on the two affected surfaces, the movable member slides toward the cover open / close detection sensor and the cover open / close detection sensor operates. To come. Accordingly, the cover open / close detection sensor can be attached to the apparatus main body side, and the cover open / close detection sensor operates only when the operating member acts on the two actuated surfaces of the movable member. It is possible to reliably detect that is closed. Since the opening / closing detection of a plurality of covers can be performed with a simple configuration of a movable member having a rotation shaft and a slidable cover and a cover opening / closing detection sensor, the number of components can be reduced and the cost can be reduced.

  Furthermore, by providing a biasing means that fits the rotation shaft of the movable member into the sliding groove provided in the frame of the apparatus main body and biases the rotation shaft away from the cover open / close detection sensor. With the structure, the movable member can be set to be slidable with certainty, and it is movable only when the actuating member acts on the two working surfaces by being always separated from the cover open / close detection sensor by the biasing means. The member can be slid toward the cover open / close detection sensor.

  Furthermore, the movable member and the cover open / close detection sensor are installed between the two assembly frames of the apparatus main body, and are held at predetermined positions by the pressure contact means provided on one of the assembly frames. The mounting operation of the detection sensor to the apparatus main body can be easily performed, and the parts for mounting can be suppressed to the minimum necessary.

  Further, the cover open / close detection sensor is provided with an operating bar that swings in contact with the movable member, and the movable member is formed with a notch for avoiding contact with the operating bar when the movable member is rotated. Thus, it is possible to prevent the cover open / close detection sensor from operating by mistake when it comes into contact with the operation bar when the operation member rotates on one surface to be actuated by the movable member.

  Hereinafter, embodiments according to the present invention will be described in detail. The embodiments described below are preferable specific examples for carrying out the present invention, and thus various technical limitations are made. However, the present invention is particularly limited in the following description. Unless otherwise specified, the present invention is not limited to these forms.

  FIG. 1 is an overall perspective view of an image forming apparatus 100 using an embodiment according to the present invention. The image forming apparatus 100 includes two paper feed cassettes 200 that can be attached and detached in the direction of the arrow. And the side cover 10 is provided in the side part, and the front cover 11 is provided in the front part.

  The main body frame of the image forming apparatus 100 is an assembly type, and can be separated into an upper frame 13 having an upper discharge tray and a lower frame 14 on which the upper frame 13 is stacked. FIG. 2 shows a state in which the upper frame 13 is removed. A cover opening / closing detection mechanism 12 is provided at a corner between the side cover 10 and the front cover 11 provided on the lower frame 14. The cover open / close detection mechanism 12 is disposed on a pedestal portion 15 integrally formed with the lower frame 14, and a pressure contact portion 16 made of a pressing body such as a leaf spring attached to the upper frame 13 is pressed from above so that both It is stably held between the frames.

  FIG. 3 is an enlarged top view showing the cover opening / closing detection mechanism 12. The cover open / close detection mechanism 12 includes an arm member 20 that is a movable member and a detection switch 21 that is a cover open / close detection sensor. A rod-like actuating member 22 projects from the inside of the side cover 10, and a rod-like actuating member 23 projects from the inside of the front cover 11. A band-shaped frame 24 is erected on the edge of the pedestal 15 on the cover side. The operating member 22 enters and exits the passage hole 25 formed in the frame 24, and the passage hole 26 operates. The member 23 is set to enter and exit. In addition, a linear sliding groove 27 is provided in the central portion of the base portion 15 toward the detection switch 21.

  The arm member 20 has a fan-like shape, and a boss 28 serving as a rotation shaft projects from a bottom surface of a portion corresponding to the main part of the fan. The boss 28 is fitted in the sliding groove 27, and the arm member 20 moves to a position separated from the detection switch 21 and a position close to the boss 28 by sliding the boss 28 in the sliding groove 27. . Further, edge portions extending linearly from both sides of the fan to the both sides are actuated surfaces 29 and 30, respectively, and the actuating member 22 abuts on the actuated surface 29 and acts on the actuated surface 30. Are in contact with each other. A straight rib 31 is formed on the upper surface of the arm member 20 along the center line AA of the fan passing through the main part of the fan, and the edge where the center line AA intersects with the detection switch 21. It is the contact part 32 which contacts. Notches 33 are formed on both sides of the contact portion 32, and ribs are formed on the entire periphery of the arm member 20.

  The detection switch 21 is provided with an operation bar 34 that is fixed to one end portion and extends toward the other end portion. The operation bar 34 has a root portion made of an elastic member such as a leaf spring, and is always from the switch body. It is biased in the direction of separation. The operating bar 34 is disposed at a position where the contact portion 32 of the arm member 20 can contact. A pressing body 35 is provided in the switch body so as to be able to appear and retract. When the operating bar 34 comes close to the switch body, the pressing body 35 is pushed into the switch body by the operating bar 34 and the switch is connected. . When the switch is connected, a cover close signal is transmitted from the terminal 36 of the detection switch 21 to the control unit of the image forming apparatus main body.

  FIG. 3 shows a state in which the side cover 10 and the front cover 11 are closed. The operation member 22 protruding from the side cover 10 and the operation member 23 protruding from the front cover 11 are respectively arm members. The arm member 20 moves toward the detection switch 21 because it presses against the 20 actuated surfaces 29 and 30. Therefore, the contact part 32 comes to press the operation bar 34, the pressing body 35 is pushed in, and the switch is connected. Therefore, a cover close signal is transmitted from the detection switch 21.

  FIG. 4 shows a top view (FIG. 4A) and a sectional view taken along the center line AA (FIG. 4B) regarding a state where both the side cover 10 and the front cover 11 are opened. As shown in FIG. 4B, a coil spring 37 is inserted into the sliding groove 27 and urges the boss 28 so as to contact the end of the sliding groove 27. Therefore, the arm member 20 is always urged to a position farthest from the detection switch 21. The operating bar 34 is in contact with the contact portion 32, but does not move to a position where the pressing body 35 indicated by the dotted line is inserted. Therefore, the switch is not connected and the cover close signal is not transmitted.

  FIG. 5 shows a top view relating to a state in which only the front cover 11 is closed. In this state, the operating member 23 comes into pressure contact with the actuated surface 30 of the arm member 20. The arm member 20 is rotated clockwise around the boss 28 by the pressing force of the actuating member 23. That is, the arm member 20 is slidably moved in the sliding groove 27 because the boss 28 projecting from the bottom surface is fitted in the sliding groove 27 and further biased by the coil spring 37. It will be restricted and will rotate. Therefore, the arm member 20 does not approach the detection switch 21, and the operating bar 34 does not move to a position where the pressing body 35 indicated by the dotted line is pushed in although it contacts the contact portion 32. Therefore, the switch is not connected and the cover close signal is not transmitted.

  FIG. 6 shows a top view relating to a state in which only the side cover 10 is closed. In this case, the operating member 22 comes into pressure contact with the surface 29 to be actuated, but the arm member 20 rotates counterclockwise without approaching the detection switch 21 as in FIG. Therefore, the operating bar 34 does not move to a position where the pressing body 35 indicated by a dotted line is pressed, although it is in contact with the contact portion 32. Therefore, the switch is not connected and the cover close signal is not transmitted. Further, since the arm member 20 is formed with the notch 33, when the arm member 20 is rotated, the edge of the arm member 20 is brought into contact with the operation bar 34 so as not to malfunction.

  As described above, the arm member 20 transmits a cover close signal only when both the side cover 10 and the front cover 11 are closed, and the two covers are closed by one detection switch 21. Can be detected. Even if either one of the covers is in a half-open state, the cover closing signal is not transmitted unless the operating member is correctly pressed against the arm member, so that the opening / closing of the cover can be reliably detected.

  In the above-described embodiment, the opening / closing detection of the front cover and the side cover has been described. However, the present invention can be applied to other covers as long as the operating member acts on the two acting surfaces of the arm member. it can.

1 is a schematic perspective view of an entire image forming apparatus using an embodiment according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the image forming apparatus in FIG. 1. It is a top view which expands and shows embodiment of this invention. It is the top view and sectional view showing an embodiment in the state where both covers were opened. It is a top view which shows embodiment of the state in which only one cover was closed. It is a top view which shows embodiment of the state in which only one cover was closed.

Explanation of symbols

10 Side cover
11 Front cover
12 Cover open / close detection mechanism
13 Upper frame
14 Lower frame
15 pedestal
16 Pressure weld
20 Arm member
21 Detection switch
22 Actuating member
23 Actuating member
100 Image forming device
200 Paper cassette

Claims (4)

  A movable member having two actuated surfaces on which a plurality of actuating members respectively disposed inside a plurality of cover members provided in the apparatus main body so as to be freely opened and closed; a cover open / close detection sensor provided in the apparatus main body; The movable member has a rotation shaft that is disposed between the two actuated surfaces and is slidable toward the cover open / close detection sensor, and is provided only on the one actuated surface. When the actuating member acts, the movable member pivots about the pivot shaft, and when the actuating member acts on the two actuated surfaces, the movable member slides to cover the cover A cover open / close detection mechanism that operates an open / close detection sensor.   The rotating shaft of the movable member is fitted in a sliding groove provided in a frame of the apparatus main body, and an urging means for urging the rotating shaft so as to be separated from the cover open / close detection sensor is provided. The cover open / close detection mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the cover open / close detection mechanism is provided.   The movable member and the cover open / close detection sensor are disposed between two assembly frames of the apparatus main body, and are held at predetermined positions by a pressure contact means provided on one assembly frame. Item 3. The cover open / close detection mechanism according to Item 1 or 2.   The cover open / close detection sensor is provided with an operation bar that swings in contact with the movable member, and the movable member has a notch for avoiding contact with the operation bar when the movable member is rotated. The cover open / close detection mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the cover open / close detection mechanism is formed.

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