JP2006290551A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent forgetting to close a protective panel protecting a receiving terminal, in a printer with a specialty paper feeding unit detachably attached thereto. <P>SOLUTION: This image forming apparatus (printer) 100 with the specialty paper feeding unit 150 detachably attached thereto is provided with a main body case 110 including a paper feeding part 112 connected with the specialty paper feeding unit 150 thereto and the receiving terminal 113 connected with a terminal 153 of the specialty paper feeding unit 150 thereto; a manual paper feeding tray 120 attached to the main body case 110 to be openable/closable and covering the paper feeding part 112 in the closed state; and the protect panel 130 attached to the main body case 110 to be openable/closable and covering the receiving terminal 113 in the closed state. The receiving terminal 113 is provided in the paper feeding part 112. In a closed state of the protect panel 130, when the manual paper feeding tray 130 is shifted from the opened state to the closed state, the protective panel 130 is shifted to the closed state in conjunction with the closing operation of the manual paper feeding tray 120. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus typified by a printer or the like, and more particularly to an image forming apparatus to which a special paper feeding unit that can feed special paper such as an envelope can be detachably attached.

  In image forming apparatuses represented by printers, facsimiles, copiers, etc., not only printing on ordinary paper (plain paper) and image formation, but also printing on special paper (special paper) represented by envelopes, etc. It is desirable to support image formation. However, special paper such as envelopes is difficult to feed from a paper feed cassette built in the image forming apparatus or a so-called manual feed tray provided in the main body case. In many cases, paper is fed through a special paper feed unit that is detachably attached.

As described above, the special paper feeding unit is often detachably attached to the manual feed tray provided in the main body case. At that time, a paper feeding roller provided in the special paper feeding unit or the like forms an image. It is necessary to control the operation of the special paper feed unit so as to operate in conjunction with the operation of the main body of the apparatus. Therefore, in general, a terminal is provided in the special paper feed unit and a receiving terminal for receiving this terminal is provided in the main body case, and the operation control of the special paper feed unit can be realized in a state where these terminals are connected to each other. The configuration is adopted. Although such an operation control via the terminal and the receiving terminal is not realized, as a document disclosing an image forming apparatus in which a special paper feeding unit is detachable, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-219366 (Patent Document 1).
JP 2000-219366 A

  As a printer in which the special paper feeding unit adopting the above-described configuration is detachably attached, the above-described receiving terminal is provided in a portion covered by a manual feed tray (first panel) that is detachably attached to the main body case. A structure in which a protective panel (second panel) is provided for the purpose of protecting the receiving terminal so as to be openable and closable so as to cover the front surface of the receiving terminal is known. This protective panel is intended to prevent electrostatic discharge from being generated on the receiving terminal due to rubbing of clothes etc. on the receiving terminal when the manual feeding tray is used, and when the manual tray is left open for a long time. It is provided for the purpose of preventing dust from adhering to the receiving terminal.

  In the above-described conventional printer, all the opening and closing operations of the protection panel are left to the user. After using the special paper feeding unit, the user forgets to close the protection panel. There has been a problem that the clothes are rubbed against the receiving terminal and electrostatic discharge is generated, or dust adheres to the receiving terminal. If a problem due to such forgetting to close the protective panel occurs, even if the special paper feeding unit is installed, it does not operate correctly, and printing on special paper and image formation may not be possible.

  Therefore, the present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and in an image forming apparatus in which a special paper feeding unit is detachably attached, a protective panel for protecting a receiving terminal provided in a main body case. The object is to prevent dust from adhering to the receiving terminal and electrostatic discharge by preventing forgetting to close.

  An image forming apparatus according to a first aspect of the present invention has a special paper feed unit detachably attached thereto, and includes a unit connection area to which the special paper feed unit is connected and the special paper feed unit. A body case including a terminal connection region to which the terminal is connected, a manual feed tray that is attached to the body case so as to be openable and closable, covers the unit connection region in the closed state, and exposes the unit connection region in the open state; And a protection panel which is attached to the main body case so as to be openable and closable, covers and conceals the terminal connection region in the closed state, and exposes the terminal connection region in the open state. The terminal connection area is included in a part of the unit connection area, and the upper end of the protection panel is pivotally supported by the main body case. The manual feed tray is provided with a protruding portion, and the protective panel is provided with a contacted portion capable of contacting the protruding portion. In the image forming apparatus according to the first aspect of the present invention, when the manual feed tray is shifted from the open state to the closed state when the protective panel is in the open state, the protruding portion is in contact with the contacted portion. The protective panel starts moving when it comes into contact with the part, and then the contact of the projection with the contacted part is released, so that the protective panel shifts to the closed state by its own weight. In addition, when the protective panel is in the closed state, the protective panel is configured to maintain the closed state without interlocking with the movement of the manual tray when the manual tray is shifted from the closed state to the open state. Is done.

  With this configuration, after using the special paper feeding unit, that is, when both the manual feed tray and the protective panel are in an open state, the protective panel is always closed simultaneously by closing the manual feed tray. For this reason, forgetting to close the protective panel is prevented, and adhesion of dust to the terminals provided in the main body case and electrostatic discharge are surely prevented. Therefore, it is possible to reliably prevent the occurrence of a malfunction due to forgetting to close the protective panel. Further, since the prevention of forgetting to close the protective panel can be realized with a very simple configuration, the forgetting to close the prevention can be implemented at low cost without pressing the manufacturing cost. In addition, since the protective panel can be closed using its own weight, even if the turning radius of the manual feed tray and that of the protective panel differ greatly, it is possible to absorb this turning radius with a simpler configuration. It becomes. Furthermore, it is possible to realize a use state in which the manual feed tray is in the open state and the protective panel is in the closed state, and the protective panel is surely provided even in the use state in which the manual feed tray is not used without using the special paper feeding unit. It can be in a closed state.

  An image forming apparatus according to a second aspect of the present invention has a special paper feed unit detachably attached thereto, and includes a unit connection area to which the special paper feed unit is connected and the special paper feed unit. A main body case including a terminal connection area to which the terminal is connected, and a first panel attached to the main body case so as to be openable and closable, covering the unit connection area in the closed state and exposing the unit connection area in the open state And a second panel attached to the main body case so as to be openable and closable, covering the terminal connection area in the closed state and exposing the terminal connection area in the open state. The terminal connection area is included in a part of the unit connection area. In the image forming apparatus according to the second aspect of the present invention, when the second panel is in the open state, the second panel is moved when the first panel is shifted from the open state to the closed state. The panel is configured to shift from the open state to the closed state in conjunction with the movement of the first panel.

  With this configuration, after the use of the special paper feed unit, that is, when both the first panel and the second panel are in the open state, the first panel is always closed, so that Since the second panel is also closed, it is possible to prevent the second panel from being forgotten to be closed, and to reliably prevent dust from adhering to the terminals provided on the main body case and electrostatic discharge. Become. Therefore, it is possible to reliably prevent the occurrence of a malfunction due to forgetting to close the second panel.

  In the image forming apparatus according to the second aspect of the present invention, the first panel is provided with a protruding portion, and the second panel is provided with a contacted portion capable of contacting the protruding portion. It is preferred that In that case, in the image forming apparatus according to the second aspect of the present invention, when the second panel is in the open state, the first panel is moved from the open state to the closed state. It is preferable that the second panel is configured to shift from the open state to the closed state in conjunction with the movement of the first panel, when the protruding portion contacts the contacted portion.

  With this configuration, the above-described second panel can be prevented from being forgotten to be closed with a very simple configuration, so that the cost for manufacturing can be prevented at low cost without reducing the manufacturing cost. .

  In the image forming apparatus according to the second aspect of the present invention, it is preferable that the upper end portion of the second panel is pivotally supported by the main body case. In that case, in the image forming apparatus according to the second aspect of the present invention, when the second panel is in the open state, the first panel is shifted from the open state to the closed state. When the protrusion comes into contact with the contacted part, the second panel starts moving, and then the contact of the protrusion with the contacted part is released. It is preferable that the two panels are configured to shift to a closed state by their own weight.

  By configuring in this way, it is possible to realize the closing operation of the second panel using its own weight. Therefore, even when the rotation radii of the first panel and the second panel are greatly different, This turning radius can be absorbed with a simple configuration.

  In the image forming apparatus according to the second aspect of the present invention, when the second panel is in the closed state, when the first panel is shifted from the closed state to the open state, the second panel is used. It is preferable that the panel is configured so as to maintain a closed state without being interlocked with the movement of the first panel.

  By configuring in this way, it is possible to realize a use state in which the first panel is in the open state and the second panel is in the closed state.

  According to the present invention, in an image forming apparatus in which a special paper feeding unit is detachably attached, it is possible to prevent forgetting to close the protective panel that protects the receiving terminal provided in the main body case. It is possible to prevent adhesion of dust and electrostatic discharge.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the embodiment described below, a printer is exemplified as an image forming apparatus.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a printer according to an embodiment of the present invention. 2A is a left side view of the manual feed tray (first panel) of the printer in this embodiment, and FIG. 2B is a rear view. 3A is a front view of the protective panel (second panel) of the printer in this embodiment, FIG. 3B is a right side view, and FIG. 3C is a bottom view. It is. First, the structure of the printer in the present embodiment will be described with reference to these drawings.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the printer 100 in the present embodiment has a box-shaped main body case 110. A manual feed tray 120 as a first panel and a protection panel 130 as a second panel are attached to the front surface of the main body case 110 so as to be openable and closable with respect to the main body case 110. In addition, a paper feed section 112 and a receiving terminal 113 are provided on the front surface of the main body case 110, respectively.

  As shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, the manual feed tray 120 has a hinge portion 122 at its end, and the main body case 110 is inserted into a circular groove provided in the hinge portion 122. The manual feed tray 120 is rotatably attached to the main body case 110 by fitting a provided shaft portion (not shown). Further, as shown in FIGS. 3A to 3C, the protective panel 130 has a shaft portion 132 at an end thereof, and the shaft portion 132 is a hinge portion provided in the main body case 110. The protective panel 130 is rotatably attached to the main body case 110 by being fitted into (not shown).

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the manual feed tray 120 has a stacking unit 121 on which plain paper is stacked on the back side, and a fixed sheet feeding guide 123 </ b> A is provided at one end of the stacking unit 121. The movable paper feed guide 123B is provided at the other end so as to rise from the back of the manual feed tray 120. The hinge portion 122 provided on the manual feed tray 120 is positioned at the lower end portion of the manual feed tray 120, and the main body case 110 pivotally supports the lower end portion of the manual feed tray 120 provided with the hinge portion 122. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 1, the manual feed tray 120 opens and closes in the direction of arrow A in the figure on the front surface of the main body case 110.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the protection panel 130 is provided at a predetermined position of the paper feeding unit 112 located inside the manual feed tray 120. The shaft portion 132 provided on the protection panel 130 is located at the upper end portion of the protection panel 130, and the main body case 110 pivotally supports the upper end portion of the protection panel 130 provided with the shaft portion 132. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 1, the protection panel 130 opens and closes in the direction of arrow B in the figure on the front surface of the main body case 110.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the manual feed tray 120 exposes the paper feed unit 112 provided on the front surface of the main body case 110 in the open state, and covers the paper feed unit 112 in the closed state. The paper feed unit 112 corresponds to a unit connection area to which a special paper feed unit 150 described later is connected. On the other hand, the protection panel 130 exposes the receiving terminal 113 disposed on the front surface of the main body case 110 in the open state, and covers the receiving terminal 113 in the closed state. The receiving terminal 113 corresponds to a terminal connection area to which a terminal of a special paper feeding unit 150 described later is connected.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the special paper feed unit 150 has a stacking unit 151 on which special paper such as an envelope is stacked at a predetermined position. Further, a terminal 153 that can be connected to the receiving terminal 113 provided in the main body case 110 is provided on the back surface of the special paper feeding unit 150. In a state where the terminal 153 is connected to the receiving terminal 113, a drive motor (not shown) provided in the special paper feeding unit 150 and a control circuit unit (not shown) provided in the main body case 110. ) And a power supply circuit unit (not shown) are electrically connected to each other, and a control signal from the control circuit unit is transmitted to the drive motor to supply a paper feed roller (not shown) provided in the special paper feed unit 150. Z)).

  When the special paper feeding unit 150 is attached to the main body case 110, the manual feed tray 120 is opened, and the protective panel 130 is opened. From the front side of the main body case 110 toward the arrow C direction in the figure. Then, the special paper feeding unit 150 is attached. At this time, the special paper feed unit 150 is attached so as to cover the paper feed unit 112 which is a unit connection area provided on the front surface of the main body case 110. Further, the terminal 153 provided on the back surface of the special paper feed unit 150 is connected to the receiving terminal 113 provided on the front surface of the main body case 110 at this time. As described above, special paper such as an envelope can be fed to the printer 100. When the special paper feed unit 150 is removed from the main body case 110, the special paper feed unit 150 is removed by moving the special paper feed unit 150 in the direction opposite to the mounting direction.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, in the printer 100 according to the present embodiment, a protrusion 125 is provided on the manual feed tray 120 that is the first panel, and the protective panel 130 that is the second panel is covered. A contact portion 135 is provided. The protrusion 125 protrudes rearward from the left side surface of the fixed paper feed guide 123 </ b> A of the manual feed tray 120, and the contacted portion 135 protrudes forward from the right side surface of the protection panel 130. The protruding portion 125 and the contacted portion 135 have contact surfaces 125a and 135a formed so as to have curved surfaces, respectively, and when the protective panel 130 is in the open state, the manual feed tray 120 is in the open state. These contact surfaces 125a and 135a are formed so as to contact each other when shifting from the closed state to the closed state.

  FIGS. 4 to 6 are operation diagrams illustrating an operation when the manual feed tray is shifted from the open state to the closed state when the protective panel is in the open state in the printer according to the present embodiment. In these drawings, O1 represents the rotation center of the manual feed tray 120, and O2 represents the rotation center of the protective panel 130.

  As shown in FIG. 4, when the protection panel 130 is in the open state, when the manual feed tray 120 is shifted from the open state to the closed state, the manual feed tray 120 is rotated and moved in the direction of arrow A1 in the drawing. When the manual feed tray 120 is rotated by a predetermined amount, as shown in FIG. 5, the contact surface 125 a of the protrusion 125 and the contact surface 135 a of the contacted portion 135 come into contact with each other. In this state, when the manual feed tray 120 is further rotated in the direction of the arrow A1 in the figure, the contacted part 135 is pushed downward by the protrusion 125 (in the direction of the arrow B1 in the figure), and the protrusion The contact between the contact surface 125a of the portion 125 and the contact surface 135a of the contacted portion 135 is released. Since the protective panel 130 has already been rotated by a predetermined amount after the contact is released, the protective panel 130 moves in the direction of the arrow B1 in FIG. 5 due to its own weight and reaches the closed position shown in FIG. Reach. At approximately the same time, the manual feed tray 120 also reaches the closed position.

  As described above, by using the printer 100 as in the present embodiment, after the special paper feeding unit 150 is used, that is, when both the manual feed tray 120 and the protection panel 130 are in the open state, By closing the manual feed tray 120, the protective panel 130 is always closed at the same time. For this reason, forgetting to close the protective panel 130 is prevented, dust adhesion to the receiving terminal 113 and electrostatic discharge are surely prevented, and the occurrence of problems that have occurred in the past can be prevented. Is possible. In addition, since the above-mentioned structure for preventing forgetting to close can be realized with a very simple configuration, it is possible to implement measures for preventing forgetting to close at low cost without reducing the manufacturing cost.

  Further, since the closing operation of the protection panel 130 can be realized using its own weight, even when the rotation radius of the manual feed tray 120 and the protection panel 130 is greatly different, the rotation radius of the simpler configuration can be reduced. Absorption is possible. Furthermore, it is possible to realize a use state in which the manual feed tray 120 is in an open state and the protective panel 130 is in a closed state, and even in a use state in which only the manual feed tray 120 is used without using the special paper feeding unit 150, In addition, the protective panel 130 can be closed.

  7 and 8 are views showing a modification of the printer in the present embodiment, and FIG. 7A is a left side view of the manual feed tray (first panel) of the printer in the modification. FIG. 2B is a rear view. FIG. 8A is a left side view of the protective panel (second panel) of the printer in this modification, FIG. 8B is a front view, and FIG. 8C is a bottom view. is there. Parts similar to those in FIGS. 2 and 3 described above are denoted by the same reference numerals in the drawings, and description thereof will not be repeated here.

  As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, also in the configuration of the present modification, a protrusion 125 is provided on the manual feed tray 120 which is the first panel, and the contacted portion 135 is provided on the protection panel 130 which is the second panel. Is provided. However, the protrusion 125 is not provided on the fixed paper feed guide 123A of the manual feed tray 120, and protrudes backward from a predetermined position of the manual feed tray. It protrudes forward from the left side instead of the surface. The protruding portion 125 and the contacted portion 135 have contact surfaces 125a and 135a formed so as to have curved surfaces, respectively, and when the protective panel 130 is in the open state, the manual feed tray 120 is in the open state. These contact surfaces 125a and 135a are formed so as to contact each other when shifting from the closed state to the closed state.

  Thus, the formation positions of the protrusion 125 and the contacted part 135 are not particularly limited, and can be appropriately changed. Further, the shapes of the protrusion 125 and the contacted portion 135 are not particularly limited, and can be changed as appropriate.

  Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment and its modification, the case where the interlocking of the manual feed tray and the protection panel is configured by the protrusion provided on the manual feed tray and the contacted portion provided on the protection panel is exemplified. However, the present invention is not limited to such an interlocking mechanism, and other interlocking mechanisms such as those using a motor, those using an elastic member such as a spring, those using a crank mechanism, etc. Various mechanisms can be used.

  In the above-described embodiment and its modifications, the printer is exemplified as the image forming apparatus. However, the present invention can naturally be applied to other image forming apparatuses such as a facsimile and a copying machine. is there.

  Thus, the above-described embodiment disclosed herein is illustrative in all respects and is not restrictive. The technical scope of the present invention is defined by the terms of the claims, and is intended to include any modifications within the scope and meaning equivalent to the terms of the claims.

FIG. 5 is a schematic perspective view schematically illustrating a mounting operation when a special paper feed unit is mounted in the printer according to the embodiment of the present invention. (A) is a left side view of the manual feed tray (first panel) of the printer in the embodiment of the present invention, and (B) is a rear view. (A) is a front view of the protective panel (second panel) of the printer in the embodiment of the present invention, (B) is a right side view, and (C) is a bottom view. FIG. 10 is an operation diagram illustrating an operation when the manual feed tray is shifted from the open state to the closed state when the protective panel is in the open state in the printer according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 10 is an operation diagram illustrating an operation when the manual feed tray is shifted from the open state to the closed state when the protective panel is in the open state in the printer according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 10 is an operation diagram illustrating an operation when the manual feed tray is shifted from the open state to the closed state when the protective panel is in the open state in the printer according to the embodiment of the present invention. (A) is a left side view of a manual feed tray (first panel) of a printer in a modification of the embodiment of the present invention, and (B) is a rear view. (A) is a left side view of a protective panel (second panel) of a printer in a modification of the embodiment of the present invention, (B) is a front view, and (C) is a bottom view.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Printer, 110 Main body case, 112 Paper feeding part (unit connection area), 113 Receiving terminal (terminal connection area), 120 Manual feed tray (1st panel), 121 (Regular paper) stacking part, 122 Hinge part, 123A Fixed paper feed guide, 123B Movable paper feed guide, 125 Protruding part, 125a contact surface, 130 Protection panel (second panel), 132 Shaft part, 135 Contact part, 135a Contact surface, 150 Special paper feed Unit, 151 (special paper) stacking unit, 153 terminal.

Claims (5)

An image forming apparatus to which a special paper feeding unit is detachably attached,
A main body case including a unit connection area to which the special paper feed unit is connected and a terminal connection area to which a terminal of the special paper feed unit is connected;
A manual feed tray that is attached to the main body case so as to be opened and closed, covers the unit connection area in the closed state, and exposes the unit connection area in the open state;
A protective panel that is attached to the main body case so as to be openable and closable, covers and conceals the terminal connection region in the closed state, and exposes the terminal connection region in the open state;
The terminal connection area is included in a part of the unit connection area,
The protective panel has an upper end pivotally supported by the body case,
The manual feed tray is provided with a protrusion,
The protection panel is provided with a contacted portion capable of contacting the protrusion,
When the protective panel is in the open state, when the manual feed tray is shifted from the open state to the closed state, the protective panel starts moving when the protrusion comes into contact with the contacted part, Thereafter, the contact of the protrusion with the contacted portion is released, so that the protective panel shifts to the closed state by its own weight, and the manual feed tray is in the closed state when the protective panel is in the closed state. An image forming apparatus in which the protective panel maintains the closed state without interlocking with the movement of the manual feed tray when the printer is shifted from the closed state to the open state. An image forming apparatus to which a special paper feeding unit is detachably attached,
A main body case including a unit connection area to which the special paper feed unit is connected and a terminal connection area to which a terminal of the special paper feed unit is connected;
A first panel attached to the main body case so as to be openable and closable, covering the unit connection area in the closed state, and exposing the unit connection area in the open state;
A second panel that is attached to the body case so as to be openable and closable, covers and conceals the terminal connection region in the closed state, and exposes the terminal connection region in the open state;
The terminal connection area is included in a part of the unit connection area,
When the second panel is in the open state, when the first panel is shifted from the open state to the closed state, the second panel is closed from the open state in conjunction with the movement of the first panel. An image forming apparatus that shifts to a state. The first panel is provided with a protrusion,
The second panel is provided with a contacted portion capable of contacting the protrusion,
When the second panel is in the open state, when the first panel is shifted from the open state to the closed state, the protrusion comes into contact with the contacted portion, so that the second panel is The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the image forming apparatus shifts from an open state to a closed state in conjunction with the movement of the first panel. The upper end of the second panel is pivotally supported by the main body case,
When the second panel is in the open state, when the first panel is shifted from the open state to the closed state, the protrusion comes into contact with the contacted portion, so that the second panel is The image according to claim 3, wherein the second panel is moved to a closed state by its own weight by starting the movement and then releasing the contact of the protrusion with the contacted portion. Forming equipment.   In the case where the second panel is in the closed state, when the first panel is shifted from the closed state to the open state, the second panel is brought into the closed state without being interlocked with the movement of the first panel. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the image forming apparatus is maintained.

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