JP2008162087A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming device which can obtain the function of keeping the direction of the display part attached in an opening/closing cover in the direction enabling the display content to be easily seen (the direction when the opening/closing cover is kept opened) regardless of the state of opening or closing of the cover with a small and simple mechanism. <P>SOLUTION: The image forming device is equipped with a display part spindle 4 for pivotably supporting the display part 3, an interlocking mechanism 5b for interlocking the pivoting of the display part 3 with the rocking of a locking member 5 and an elastic energizing means 7 for making the direction of the display part 3 kept in the same direction R1 as the one in the closed state of the opening/closing cover 1 in the opened state of the cover concerned while making the locking member 5 in the locked state (engaged state to an engaged part 9) by making the display part 3 or the locking member 5 elastic-energized. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an open / close cover that is pivotally supported by an apparatus main body and is opened and closed, and an image forming apparatus that includes a display unit provided on the open / close cover.

In general, image forming apparatuses such as printers, copiers, and facsimile machines are used to remove the recording paper jammed in the conveyance path and replace the developer (toner, ink, etc.) supply unit. An open / close cover is provided for opening the door. This open / close cover is pivotally supported (axially supported) on the apparatus main body to be opened and closed.
In addition, a small image forming apparatus is provided with the opening / closing cover on the front surface of the apparatus body so that various confirmations and operations can be performed even in a narrow space such as a wall or a space between furniture. In many cases, a display / operation panel in which an operation unit such as a display unit and operation buttons for displaying information on the state of the apparatus and various types of guidance is incorporated is provided. A typical example of the display unit is a liquid crystal panel.
Incidentally, the display / operation panel provided on the opening / closing cover is naturally attached so as to face in a direction (upward or obliquely upward) that is easy for the user to visually recognize when the opening / closing cover is in the closed state. For this reason, in the open state of the opening / closing cover, the display unit faces in a direction that is difficult for the user to visually recognize (for example, in the horizontal direction or downward). Then, there is a problem that it is difficult to work while viewing display information (such as operation guidance) on the display unit in the open state of the opening / closing cover, which is inconvenient.
On the other hand, in Patent Document 1, an angle maintaining mechanism including a gear, a pulley, and a belt is used to connect a support shaft of an open / close-type manual feed tray (corresponding to the open / close cover) and a support shaft of a display panel. An image forming apparatus is shown in which the orientation of the display panel is kept constant even when the button is opened and closed.
JP 2006-62183 A

However, the angle maintaining mechanism disclosed in Patent Document 1 is a mechanism that connects the support tray of the manual feed tray near the lower end of the manual feed tray (opening / closing cover) and the support shaft of the display panel near the upper end of the manual feed tray. There was a problem that the installation space in the equipment was large. In addition, in an image forming apparatus having a large opening / closing cover that covers almost the entire front surface of the apparatus in order to improve the operability inside the apparatus, a support shaft near the lower end of the opening / closing cover and an area near the upper end of the opening / closing cover. Since the distance to the display unit is long, the installation space for the angle maintaining mechanism is particularly large.
Accordingly, the present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and the object of the present invention is to make it easy to see the display contents of the orientation of the display portion provided on the opening / closing cover regardless of the opening / closing state of the opening / closing cover. An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus that realizes the function of maintaining the orientation (orientation when the open / close cover is in the open state) with a small and simple mechanism.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides an opening / closing cover that is pivotally supported by an apparatus main body, and that is swingably supported by the opening / closing cover. A lock member that switches between a locked state that holds the open / close cover closed and a unlocked state that disengages the open / close cover, and a display unit that is provided on the open / close cover and displays predetermined information. (1) to (3) of the image forming apparatus provided with the constituent elements.
(1) A display unit support shaft that rotatably supports the display unit.
(2) An interlocking mechanism that interlocks the rotation of the display unit and the swing of the lock member.
(3) By elastically energizing the display unit or the lock member or a portion provided integrally therewith, the lock member is held in the locked state in the closed state of the open / close cover, and the open / close cover Elastic biasing means for holding the display portion in the open state in substantially the same direction as that in the closed state of the opening / closing cover.
In the image forming apparatus according to the present invention, regardless of the opening / closing state of the opening / closing cover, the direction of the display unit provided on the opening / closing cover is substantially the same as that when the opening / closing cover is open (display contents). (Orientation is easy to see).
Further, the lock member and the elastic biasing means itself are originally provided in the image forming apparatus having the opening / closing cover, and the holding mechanism for the orientation of the display unit in the present invention is obtained by adding a few parts. This can be realized with a simple configuration.
Further, when the opening / closing cover is pivotally supported in the vicinity of the lower end thereof, the display unit, the lock member, the display unit supporting shaft, the interlocking mechanism, and the elastic biasing means are provided on the opening / closing cover. It may be provided near the upper end.
Generally, the display unit and the lock member are both provided on the side (upper end side) opposite to the support shaft (lower end side) of the opening / closing cover, so that they are disposed relatively close to each other. For this reason, the interlocking mechanism may be small, and the installation space for the entire holding mechanism for the orientation of the display unit may be small. This is the same even when the opening / closing cover is large enough to cover almost the entire front surface of the apparatus main body (the distance between the support shaft of the opening / closing cover and the display unit).

Further, when the interlocking mechanism is operated to push or pull the display unit or a portion provided integrally with the display unit in the closed state of the opening / closing cover, the display unit is rotated. It is possible to switch the lock member from the locked state to the unlocked state.
Further, it is conceivable that the interlocking mechanism is a mechanism in which a part of the lock member elastically urged by the elastic urging means abuts a part of the display unit. Thereby, the interlocking mechanism can be configured very simply.
Alternatively, it is conceivable that the interlocking mechanism interlocks the rotation of the display unit and the swing of the lock member by a gear mechanism.

  According to the present invention, regardless of the open / closed state of the open / close cover, the function of holding the direction of the display unit provided in the open / close cover in an easy-to-see direction (direction when the open / close cover is open). Can be realized by a small and simple mechanism.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings so that the present invention can be understood. The following embodiment is an example embodying the present invention, and does not limit the technical scope of the present invention.
1 is a sectional view (locked state) of the image forming apparatus X1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the image forming apparatus X1 (unlocked state), and FIG. 3 is an image forming apparatus X1. FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the image forming apparatus X2 according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

[First Embodiment]
The configuration of the image forming apparatus X1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the cross-sectional views shown in FIGS. The image forming apparatus X1 shown in FIG. 1 is a printer that executes electrophotographic image formation, but is also an image forming apparatus such as a facsimile machine, a copying machine, or a multifunction machine having these functions. It doesn't matter.
As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus X1 includes an apparatus main body 20, an opening / closing cover 1, a cover support shaft 2, a display unit 3, a display unit support shaft 4, a lock member 5, a lock member support shaft 6, a spring 7, and a handle. A portion 8 and an engaged portion 9 are provided. The image forming apparatus X1 includes other components included in a general printer, but the description thereof is omitted in FIG.
The apparatus main body 20 is a housing in which various components relating to image formation are accommodated. Inside the apparatus main body 20, a toner unit, an image forming unit (a photoreceptor, a charging device, a latent image writing device, a developing device, etc.) for forming a toner image on a recording paper, and an unfixed toner image on the recording paper are heated. A fixing device for fixing, a conveyance roller for conveying recording paper, a conveyance path thereof, and the like are accommodated.

The opening / closing cover 1 is a member for opening the inside of the apparatus main body 20 when removing recording paper jammed in the conveyance path or replacing a supply unit of developer (toner, ink, etc.).
The opening / closing cover 1 shown in FIG. 1 is a member that covers almost the entire front surface (right side as viewed in FIG. 1) of the apparatus main body 20 and forms a part of the exterior. The opening / closing cover 1 is pivotally supported by the cover support shaft 2 in the vicinity of the lower end portion thereof, and is rotated in the vertical direction to be in a closed state (the state shown in FIG. 1) or an open state (the state shown in FIG. 3). )
The display unit 3 is provided on the opening / closing cover 1 and displays information relating to the state of the apparatus and various types of guidance, such as a liquid crystal panel. The display unit 3 is rotatably supported (supported) by the display unit support shaft 4 supported by the opening / closing cover 1. Thus, by rotating the display unit 3 about the display unit support shaft 4, the relative orientation of the display unit 3 with respect to the opening / closing cover 1 (the direction of the surface on which information is displayed) changes. In FIG. 1, the opening / closing cover 1 is in a closed state, and the orientation R0 of the display unit 3 when the lock member 5 is engaged with the engaged portion 9 (hereinafter referred to as a locked state) ( The diagonally upward direction) is shown.
Note that the direction of the display unit 3 simply refers to the direction with respect to the apparatus main body 20 unless otherwise specified.

The lock member 5 is pivotally supported by the lock member support shaft 6 supported by the cover member 1, and as a result, is supported to be swingable with respect to the cover member 1. The lock member 5 has an engagement portion 5a formed at one end thereof, and the engagement portion 5a is a part of the apparatus main body 20 by swinging about the lock member support shaft 6 as a rotation center. The state is switched between a locked state (the state shown in FIG. 1) that engages with the engaged portion 9 and holds the open / close cover 1 in a closed state and a unlocked state (the state shown in FIG. 2) that is disengaged.
The lock member 5 is pivotally supported so that the other end portion 5b abuts against the back surface of the display portion 3, and the end portion 5b (hereinafter referred to as the abutment portion 5b) serves as the display portion 3. An interlocking mechanism that interlocks the rotation of the lock member 5 and the rotation (swing) of the lock member 5 is realized.
The spring 7 elastically biases the lock member 5, thereby holding the lock member 5 in the locked state when the opening / closing cover 1 is closed (the state shown in FIG. 1). Further, the spring 7 elastically biases the lock member 5 to change the direction of the display unit 3 in the open state of the open / close cover (the state of FIG. 3) to the direction R0 in the closed state of the open / close cover 1. It is held in substantially the same direction R1.

The handle portion 8 is provided integrally with the display portion 3 and is operated by a user when the lock member 5 is switched from the locked state (the state shown in FIG. 1) to the unlocked state (the state shown in FIG. 2). Part.
The display unit 3, the lock member 5, the display unit support shaft 4 and the spring 7 are provided near the upper end of the opening / closing cover 1 (on the opposite side to the position of the cover support shaft 2). It has been. The lock member 5 includes the contact portion 5b (an example of the interlocking mechanism) which is a part of the lock member 5.

Hereinafter, the movement of each part when the opening / closing cover 1 is opened will be described with reference to FIGS.
As shown in FIG. 1, when the lock member 5 is in the locked state, the engaging portion 5a of the lock member 5 is pressed against the engaged portion 9 by the urging force of the spring 7, thereby State is maintained. Further, in this locked state, the abutting portion 5b of the locking member 5 abuts on a part of the display portion 3 (here, the back surface), so that the display portion 3 is in a predetermined direction R0 (diagonally upward). Is held in a state of facing (direction).
When the lock member 5 is in the locked state, when the operation of pulling the handle portion 8 toward the front side or the operation of pushing the lower portion of the display portion 3 is performed, as shown in FIG. The display unit 3 integrated with the unit 8 rotates about the display unit support shaft 4. At the same time as the rotation of the display unit 3, the contact part 5 b that contacts a part (back surface) of the display unit 3 is displaced against the urging force of the spring 7, thereby the lock member 5. Swings (turns) to enter the unlocked state.
As described above, the interlocking mechanism realized by the contact portion 5b of the lock member 5 is an operation of pushing the display portion 3 in the closed state of the opening / closing cover 1 or the handle provided integrally with the display portion 3. When the operation of pulling the portion 8 is performed and the display portion 3 is rotated, the lock member 5 is switched from the locked state to the unlocked state.

Further, when the handle portion 8 is further pulled forward after the unlocked state, the opening / closing cover 1 is rotated to the near lower side around the cover support shaft 2 as shown in FIG. The opening / closing cover 1 is opened.
In the open state of the opening / closing cover 1, the engaged portion 9 that restricts the movement of the lock member 5 against the bias by the spring 7 does not exist in the swing range of the lock member 5. For this reason, in the open state of the opening / closing cover 1, the lock member 5 is more rotated (swinged) in the biasing direction by the spring 7 than in the closed state (the locked state). The display unit 5 is in a relative orientation with respect to the opening / closing cover 1 by the pressing from the contact portion 5b of the lock member 5 so that the opening / closing cover 1 is in a closed state (the state shown in FIG. 1). In comparison with the case, the opening / closing cover 1 is rotated in the direction opposite to the opening direction. As a result, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the direction R1 of the display unit 3 in the opened state of the opening / closing cover 1 is substantially the same as the direction R0 of the display unit 3 in the closed state of the opening / closing cover 1. Retained.
Note that the image forming apparatus X1 includes a stopper mechanism that stably fixes the display unit 3 in a state in which the display unit 3 faces in the direction R1 (substantially the same direction as the direction R0) when the opening / closing cover 1 is open. As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, the stopper mechanism includes a restricting portion 21 provided on the apparatus body 20 side and a restricted portion 3 a provided integrally with the display portion 3, and the opening / closing cover 1. In the opened state, the regulated portion 3a abuts on the regulating portion 21, so that the display portion 3 rotates in a direction opposite to the direction in which the opening / closing cover 1 is opened rather than the direction R1 (the biasing force of the spring 7 rotates). In the direction). The restricted portion 3 a in the stopper mechanism may be provided integrally with the lock member 5.

As described above, the image forming apparatus X1 determines whether the display content of the display unit 3 provided in the opening / closing cover 1 is easy to see regardless of the opening / closing state of the opening / closing cover 1 (the opening / closing cover). 1 is held in the direction R0) when it is in the open state. This makes it easy to work while viewing the display information (such as operation guidance) on the display unit 3 in the open state of the open / close cover 1 (the state shown in FIG. 3). Convenience increases.
The lock member 5 and the spring 7 itself are originally provided in the image forming apparatus having the opening / closing cover 1, and the holding mechanism for the orientation of the display unit according to the present invention can be simplified by adding a few parts. Can be realized with a simple configuration.
A configuration in which the handle portion 8 is not provided is also conceivable.

[Second Embodiment]
Next, the configuration of the image forming apparatus X2 according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the cross-sectional view shown in FIG.
The image forming apparatus X2 is the same as the image forming apparatus X1 except that the structure of the interlocking mechanism that interlocks the rotation of the display unit 2 and the swing of the lock member 5 is different from the image forming apparatus X1. It has a configuration. In FIG. 4, the same components as those shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 are denoted by the same reference numerals. In the image forming apparatus X2, the spring 7 has a biasing position with respect to the lock member 5 that is different from that of the image forming apparatus X1, but its function is the same as that of the image forming apparatus X1.
The interlocking mechanism in the image forming apparatus X2 interlocks the rotation of the display unit 3 and the swing (rotation) of the lock member 5 by a gear mechanism.
Specifically, the interlocking mechanism in the image forming apparatus X2 includes a first gear 10 having a rotation shaft fixed to the display unit support shaft 4, and a second gear having a rotation shaft fixed to the lock member support shaft 6. A gear 11 and a third gear 12 that is rotatably supported and meshes with both the first gear 10 and the second gear 11 are configured. The first gear 10 shown in FIG. 4 has a fan shape.

Hereinafter, the movement of each part when the opening / closing cover 1 is opened in the image forming apparatus X2 will be described.
When the lock member 5 is in the locked state, the engaging portion 5a of the lock member 5 is pressed against the engaged portion 9 by the urging force of the spring 7, thereby holding the locked state. Further, in this locked state, the gears 10 to 12 are fixed (held at a predetermined rotational angle position) by the urging force of the spring 7, and the display unit 3 is directed in a predetermined direction R0 (an obliquely upward direction). Held in a state.
When the lock member 5 is in the locked state, if the operation of pulling the handle portion 8 toward the front side or the operation of pushing the lower portion of the display portion 3 is performed, the handle portion 8 is integrated. The display unit 3 is rotated about the display unit support shaft 4. Simultaneously with the rotation of the display unit 3, the first gear 10 is rotated, and the third gear 12 and the second gear 11 are rotated in conjunction with the rotation of the first gear 10. The lock is released by swinging (turning) against the urging force.

Further, after the unlocking state is established, when the opening / closing cover 1 is pulled forward by an operation of the handle portion 8 or the like, the opening / closing cover 1 is rotated to the near lower side about the cover support shaft 2. The opening / closing cover 1 is opened.
In the open state of the opening / closing cover 1, the engaged portion 9 that restricts the movement of the lock member 5 against the bias by the spring 7 does not exist in the swing range of the lock member 5. For this reason, in the open state of the opening / closing cover 1, the lock member 5 is more rotated (swinged) in the biasing direction by the spring 7 than in the closed state (the locked state). The display unit 5 is based on the opening / closing cover 1 by the rotational force transmitted to the first gear 10 through the second gear 11 and the third gear 12 due to the biasing force of the spring 7. The relative direction is a direction rotated in the direction opposite to the direction in which the opening / closing cover 1 is opened compared to when the opening / closing cover 1 is in the closed state (the state shown in FIG. 1). As a result, as shown in FIG. 3, the direction R1 of the display unit 3 in the opened state of the opening / closing cover 1 is substantially the same as the direction R0 of the display unit 3 in the closed state of the opening / closing cover 1. Retained.
Such an image forming apparatus X2 also has the same effects as the image forming apparatus X1.

In the image forming apparatuses X1 and X2 described above, the spring 7 is provided so as to elastically urge the lock member 5, but the spring 7 may be the display unit 3, the display unit 3 or the The part provided integrally with the lock member 5 may be provided so as to elastically urge.
For example, in the image forming apparatus X2, it can be considered that the spring 7 is configured to elastically urge the lower portion of the display unit 3 from the back side.
Similarly, in the image forming apparatus X1, the contact portion 5b and the back side portion of the display portion 3 are rotatably linked via a predetermined axis, and the spring 7 is provided at the bottom of the display portion 3. It is also conceivable that the lens is configured to be elastically biased from the back side.
As long as the spring 7 is elastically biased, it can be replaced by other members such as rubber in addition to various springs such as a coil spring, a torsion spring, and a leaf spring.

  The present invention can be used in an image forming apparatus including an opening / closing cover and a display unit.

1 is a cross-sectional view (locked state) of an image forming apparatus X1 according to a first embodiment of the present invention. Sectional drawing of image forming apparatus X1 (lock release state). Sectional drawing of the image forming apparatus X1 (cover open state). Sectional drawing (cover open state) of the image forming apparatus X2 which concerns on 2nd Embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

X1, X2: Image forming apparatus 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention: Open / close cover 2: Cover support shaft 3: Display portion 3a: Restricted portion 4: Display portion support shaft 5: Lock member 6: Lock member support shaft 7: Spring 8: Handle portion 9: Engaged portion 10: First gear 11: Second gear 12: Third gear 20: Device main body 21: Restricting portion

Claims (6)

An opening / closing cover that is pivotally supported by the apparatus main body, and a lock that is swingably supported by the opening / closing cover and that engages with a part of the apparatus main body by the swing to hold the opening / closing cover in a closed state. An image forming apparatus comprising: a lock member that switches between a state and an unlocked state in which the engagement is disengaged; and a display unit that is provided on the opening and closing cover and displays predetermined information.
A display unit support shaft that rotatably supports the display unit;
An interlocking mechanism for interlocking rotation of the display unit and swinging of the lock member;
By elastically urging the display unit or the lock member, the lock member is held in the locked state in the closed state of the open / close cover, and the orientation of the display unit is changed in the open state of the open / close cover. Elastic biasing means for holding in the substantially same direction as in the closed state;
An image forming apparatus comprising:   The opening / closing cover is pivotally supported in the vicinity of the lower end thereof, and the display unit, the lock member, the display unit supporting shaft, the interlocking mechanism, and the elastic biasing means are disposed near the upper end of the opening / closing cover. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus is provided.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the opening / closing cover covers substantially the entire front surface of the apparatus main body.   When the interlocking mechanism is pushed or pulled with respect to the display unit or a portion provided integrally with the display unit in the closed state of the opening / closing cover, the lock member is rotated. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus is switched from the locked state to the unlocked state.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the interlocking mechanism is a mechanism in which a part of the lock member elastically urged by the elastic urging unit abuts on a part of the display unit.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the interlocking mechanism interlocks the rotation of the display unit and the swing of the lock member by a gear mechanism.

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