JP2008268492A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To support a plurality of units so as to be stably rotatable. <P>SOLUTION: When an MFP is used, an image forming section 1, a document reading section 2, and an ADF 3 are stacked in this order. The image forming section 1 has a first rotating shaft 21 that supports the document reading section 2 so that the document reading section 2 is rotatable, and a second rotating shaft 31 disposed in a place different from the first rotating shaft 21 and supporting the ADF 3 so that the ADF 3 is rotatable. Accordingly, the document reading section 2 and ADF 3 can be supported so as to be stably rotatable. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, and more particularly to an image forming apparatus provided with an automatic document feeder and a document reading device.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a multifunction peripheral has a configuration in which a document reading device that reads a document is arranged on an image forming apparatus that forms an image, and an automatic document conveyance device that conveys the document is arranged on the document reading device. There are many things. In recent years, in an image forming apparatus, when a sheet is jammed or the like, a document reading apparatus and an automatic document conveying apparatus arranged on the image forming apparatus are provided in order to facilitate the work for recovering from the failure. Multifunction machines that open and open the inside of the image forming apparatus from above have appeared.

  For example, in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-186742 (Patent Document 1), a plurality of units are stacked and assembled, and a unit positioned above the opened unit is configured to move integrally, and one operation member When opening and closing the two units with the operating member and opening the first unit with the operating member, the operating member can be operated only in the opening direction of the first unit and cannot be operated in the opening direction of the other units An apparatus is described.

  However, in the conventional unitization apparatus, since a plurality of units rotate around one rotating shaft (FIG. 7), the higher-order unit has a longer distance to the rotating shaft, and the unit is supported by the rotating shaft. There is a problem that the strength of the member must be increased.

Further, when the rotation axis of the automatic document feeder is provided in the document reader, when the document reader is opened with the automatic document feeder opened, the rotation angle of the automatic document feeder relative to the image reader is In addition to the rotation angle that rotates relative to the apparatus, a rotation angle that causes the document reading apparatus to rotate relative to the image forming apparatus is added. For this reason, there is a problem in that the automatic document feeder is greatly opened rearward with respect to the image forming apparatus, and the stability of the entire multifunction peripheral is impaired. In particular, automatic document feeders have increased in weight due to the addition of a mechanism for reading both sides of a document. For this reason, it is necessary to reinforce the structure for supporting the automatic document feeder with the document reading device, and there is a problem that the cost increases.
JP-A-10-186742

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and one of the objects of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus capable of stably supporting a plurality of units in a rotatable manner. is there.

  In order to achieve the above-described object, according to an aspect of the present invention, an image forming apparatus includes a first unit, a second unit, and a third unit, and the first unit and the second unit are in use. And an image forming apparatus that overlaps in the order of the third unit, the first rotating shaft that is provided in the first unit and rotatably supports the second unit, and the first rotating shaft of the first unit And a second rotating shaft that rotatably supports the third unit.

  According to this aspect, since the first unit has the first rotation shaft and the second rotation shaft separately from the first rotation shaft, the second unit and the third unit are stably supported to be rotatable. Can do. Further, the rotation of the second unit and the rotation of the third unit can be regulated separately. Further, even when the second unit and the third unit rotate together and do not overlap the first unit, the movement of the center of gravity of the image forming apparatus can be reduced. As a result, it is possible to provide an image forming apparatus capable of stably supporting a plurality of units in a rotatable manner.

  Preferably, the first rotation axis and the second rotation axis are parallel.

  According to this aspect, the second unit and the third unit can be rotated simultaneously.

  Preferably, the second unit protrudes toward the third unit on a surface facing the third unit, and a part of the third unit as the second unit and the third unit rotate. It has a sliding projection that comes into contact.

  According to this aspect, when the first unit and the second unit rotate together, the sliding protrusion comes into contact with a part of the third unit, so that the first unit and the second unit are Leave. For this reason, it is possible to prevent the first unit and the second unit from rubbing and being damaged.

  Preferably, a part of the other surface in contact with the sliding protrusion has a rotatable rotating part.

  According to this aspect, friction between the second unit and the third unit can be reduced and the rotation can be smoothly performed.

  Preferably, one of the surfaces of the second unit and the third unit facing each other has an engaging protrusion that protrudes toward the other surface, and the other surface is an engaging protrusion. It has a to-be-engaged groove part which slidably engages with the engaging projection part in a state where is inserted.

  According to this aspect, since the engaging protrusion engages with the engaged groove, the third unit and the second unit can be rotated simultaneously.

Preferably, an operation unit for receiving an operation on the upper surface of the first unit is further provided,
The second unit has a finger hook portion on a side surface, and the height of the operation portion is equal to or less than the length from the bottom surface of the second unit to the lower portion of the finger hook portion.

  According to this aspect, the operation unit can be fixed to the first unit.

  Preferably, an operation unit for accepting an operation is provided on the upper surface of the first unit, the second unit has a finger hook on the side surface, and the length of the operation unit in the first direction is the second The length of the unit in the first direction is shorter.

  According to this aspect, the operation unit can be fixed to the first unit.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following description, the same parts are denoted by the same reference numerals. Their names and functions are also the same. Therefore, detailed description thereof will not be repeated.

  FIG. 1 is a side view of an MFP according to one embodiment of the present invention. MFP 100 is an example of an image forming apparatus. Referring to FIG. 1, MFP 100 includes an image forming unit 1, a document reading unit 2 disposed on image forming unit 1, and an automatic document feeder (ADF) 3 disposed on document reading unit 2. And including. That is, the ADF 3, the document reading unit 2, and the image forming unit 1 are arranged from the top in this order.

  The ADF 3 handles a plurality of documents mounted on the document table and conveys them one by one to the reading surface of the document reading unit 2. The document reading unit 2 optically reads image information such as photographs, characters, pictures and the like from the document and acquires image data.

  When image data is input, the image forming unit 1 forms an image on a recording sheet based on the image data. The recording sheet includes plain paper as a paper medium, OHP paper, and the like. The image forming unit 1 forms a color image using toners of three colors of cyan, magenta, and yellow. The image forming unit 1 forms a monochrome image using any one of the toners of cyan, magenta, yellow, and black.

  The document reading unit 2 has a first rotation shaft 21, and the first rotation shaft is supported by the image forming unit 1. The document reading unit 2 is supported by the image forming unit 1 so as to be rotatable about the first rotation axis. MFP 100 is driven in a state where document reading unit 2 closes the upper side of image forming unit 1.

  The ADF 3 has a second rotation shaft 31, and the second rotation shaft is supported by the image forming unit 1 at a position different from the first rotation shaft. The ADF 3 is supported by the image forming unit 1 so as to be rotatable about the second rotation axis.

  The first rotation axis and the second rotation axis are parallel. For this reason, when the end of the document reading unit 2 opposite to the first rotating shaft 21 is lifted, the document reading unit 2 opens by rotating around the first rotating shaft 21, and the ADF 3 centers on the second rotating shaft 31. Rotate to. When the end of the ADF 3 opposite to the second rotation shaft 31 is lifted, the ADF 3 rotates around the second rotation shaft 31 without the document reading unit 2 rotating around the first rotation shaft 21. As a result, the upper surface of the document reading unit 2 is opened.

  FIG. 2 is a side view of the MFP in a state where the document reading unit is opened. Referring to FIG. 2, ADF 3 rotates approximately 90 degrees from the closed state, and the side surface on the second rotation shaft 31 side comes into contact with the upper surface of image forming unit 1. Since the upper surface of the image forming unit 1 regulates the rotation of the ADF 3, the ADF 3 can rotate approximately 90 degrees from the closed state. When the ADF 3 rotates 90 degrees or more, the center of gravity of the MFP 100 moves backward (rightward in the drawing), and thus the MFP 100 becomes unstable. Less and stable.

  When the document reading unit 2 is rotated and opened, the inside of the image forming unit 1 is opened on its upper side. For this reason, when a failure such as a paper jam occurs in the image forming unit 1, an operation for recovering the failure is facilitated. Further, the rotation of the document reading unit 2 is regulated by the ADF 3 whose rotation is regulated by the image forming unit 1. Here, the rotation of the document reading unit 2 is regulated by the ADF 3, but the ADF 3 is provided with a rotation regulating unit for regulating the rotation of the document reading unit 2 in the image forming unit 1. Independently, the rotation of the document reading unit 2 may be restricted. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent the document reading unit 2 from coming into contact with the ADF 3 in a state where the ADF 3 is rotated until its rotation is restricted (a state in which the ADF 3 is rotated approximately 90 degrees).

  MFP 100 according to the present embodiment can open and close ADF 3 independently of document reading unit 2. Therefore, the document can be placed directly on the platen glass provided on the upper surface of the document reading unit 2. Further, the document reading unit 2 can be opened with the ADF 3 opened. Further, when the image reading unit 2 is opened by rotating the document reading unit 2 from the state where the ADF 3 and the document reading unit 2 are closed (the state shown in FIG. 1), the ADF 3 is opened together with the document reading unit 2. At this time, since the first rotating shaft 21 and the second rotating shaft 31 are separated from each other, the upper surface of the document reading unit 2 and the lower surface of the ADF 3 are shifted in the surface direction.

  FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a portion A in FIG. Referring to FIG. 3, document reading unit 2 is separated from platen glass 25 serving as a document reading surface, cover 26 for fixing platen glass 25 to document reading unit 2, and rotating shaft 21 of platen glass 25. And a sliding projection 23 projecting toward the bottom surface of the ADF 3.

  The ADF 3 includes a document pressing unit 35 that conveys the document and presses the document against the platen glass 25 at a part of the bottom surface. The document pressing portion 35 is made of a soft member and has an elastic member such as a sponge on the back surface. Therefore, when the ADF 3 is closed, the document pressing portion 35 is pressed against the platen glass 25, whereby the elastic member contracts and presses the document against the platen glass 25.

  Here, the vertical distance between the upper surface of the platen glass 25 and the upper end of the cover 26 is B1, and the vertical distance between the bottom surface of the ADF 3 and the upper end of the sliding projection 23 of the document reading unit 2 is B2. The distance in the horizontal direction from the lower end to the upper end of the moving projection 23 is A1, and the distance between the end of the document pressing portion 35 and the cover 26 is A2. However, the distance B1 is a dimension when the elastic member of the document pressing portion 35 is not compressed.

  The sliding protrusion 23 has a horizontal length, a vertical length, and a position so that the following expressions (1) and (2) are satisfied. Further, the document pressing portion 35 and the cover member are arranged so that the expressions (1) and (2) are established.

A2> A1 (1)
B2> B1 (2)
When the document reading unit 2 and the ADF 3 are simultaneously rotated and opened, the first rotation shaft 21 and the second rotation shaft 31 are separated from each other, so that the document reading unit 2 and the ADF 3 are relatively moved in the surface direction. At this time, since a part 33 of the bottom surface of the ADF 3 follows the sliding protrusion 23, the document pressing portion 35 does not interfere with the cover 26. For this reason, it is possible to prevent the document pressing portion 35 from coming into contact with the cover 26 and being damaged.

<Modification>
You may make it provide the roller which can rotate in the part 33 contact | abutted with the sliding projection part 23 of ADF3. FIG. 4 is another view showing the portion A of FIG. 1 in an enlarged manner. Referring to FIG. 4, ADF 3 has a roller 37 at a portion that comes into contact with sliding protrusion 23. The rotation axis of the roller 37 is preferably parallel to the second rotation axis 31. As a result, the friction between the ADF 3 and the sliding projection 23 is reduced, so that the document reading unit 2 and the ADF 3 can be opened simultaneously with a small force.

  FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a part of the MFP in a state where only the ADF 3 is opened. Referring to FIG. 5, ADF 3 has a hook 39 extending toward document reading unit 2 on a part of the bottom surface facing the top surface of document reading unit 2. Further, the document reading unit 2 has a groove 29 on the upper surface thereof into which the hook 39 of the ADF 3 enters in a state of overlapping with the ADF 3. As described above, when the document reading unit 2 and the ADF 3 are opened at the same time, the document reading unit 2 and the ADF 3 are displaced in the surface direction in contact with each other. The length of the groove 29 in the direction perpendicular to the first rotation shaft 21 is equal to or longer than the length at which the document reading unit 2 and the ADF 3 are displaced. Therefore, when the document reading unit 2 and the ADF 3 are opened at the same time, the hook 39 enters the groove 29, so that the hook 39 does not interfere with the document reading unit 2.

  The groove 29 has a locking portion 29 </ b> A for engaging with the hook 39. The engaging portion 29 </ b> A is disposed along the longitudinal direction of the groove 29 at a position separated from the first rotating shaft 21 by a length for the hook 39 to enter.

  6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of the groove 29 where the locking portion 29A is not disposed. When the ADF 3 is closed in a state where the document reading unit 2 closes the upper surface of the image forming unit 1, the hook 39 of the ADF 3 enters a portion where the locking portion 29 </ b> A of the groove 29 is not disposed. For this reason, the hook 39 enters the groove 29 without interfering with the locking portion 29A. Therefore, the hook 39 does not engage with the groove 29 when the ADF 3 overlaps the original reading unit 2 and the upper surface of the image forming unit 1 is closed.

  FIG. 7A is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB in FIG. It is sectional drawing of the part by which the latching | locking part 29A of the groove | channel 29 is arrange | positioned. In a state where the document reading unit 2 is opened and the ADF 3 is closed, the hook 39 slides to the position where the locking portion 29A of the groove 29 is disposed. For this reason, the hook 39 is restricted by the locking portion 29 </ b> A and cannot come out of the groove 29. When the document reading unit 2 and the ADF 3 are opened simultaneously, if only the document reading unit 2 is lifted, the ADF 3 rotates together. However, even if the rotation of the document reading unit 2 is stopped, the ADF 3 does not stop rotating due to inertia. However, if the hook 39 enters the groove 29, the hook 39 is regulated by the locking portion 29A, and the hook 39 and the groove 29 are engaged, so that the ADF 3 rotates away from the document reading portion 2 due to inertia. Can be prevented.

  FIG. 7B is another cross-sectional view taken along line BB in FIG. For example, when the ADF 3 is opened first and then the original reading unit 2 is opened and the rotation angle is increased, the hook 39 hits the locking portion 29A of the groove 29. The hook 39 is made of an elastic member. When the tip of the hook 39 hits the locking portion 29A, the hook 39 is bent by elasticity. Further, when the rotation angle of the document reading unit 2 increases, the hook 39 gets over the locking portion 29A and enters the groove 29. Since the hook 39 enters the groove 29, it is possible to prevent the ADF 3 from rotating away from the document reading unit 2. Therefore, the ADF 3 can be rotated in accordance with the rotation of the document reading unit 2 after the ADF 3 is opened first and then the document reading unit 2 is opened and the ADF 3 is closed.

  FIG. 8 is a first perspective view showing a part of the MFP. Referring to FIG. 8, in MFP 100, operation panel 41 is arranged on a part of the front side of the upper surface of image forming unit 1. The operation panel 41 is fixed to the image forming unit 1. The document reading unit 2 has a first finger hooking portion 28 on the side surface (front surface) on the front side for a user to put his / her finger to lift and rotate the document reading unit 2. The ADF 3 has a second finger hooking portion 38 on the front side surface (front surface) for a user to hang a finger to lift and rotate the ADF 3.

  The height of the operation panel 41 is equal to or less than the length from the bottom surface of the document reading unit 2 to the lower side (end on the bottom surface side) of the first finger hook unit 28. For this reason, even when the document reading unit 2 is closed, the first finger hooking unit 28 is not blocked by the operation panel 41, so that the operation panel 41 can be fixed to the image forming unit 1. Further, since the weight of the document reading unit 2 can be reduced as compared with the case where the operation panel 41 is fixed to the document reading unit 2, the document reading unit 2 can be easily opened and closed.

  The operation panel 41 may be fixed to the document reading unit 2.

<Modification>
FIG. 9 is a second perspective view showing a part of the MFP. Referring to FIG. 9, in MFP 100, operation panel 41 is arranged on a part of the front side of the upper surface of image forming unit 1. The lateral length of the operation panel 41 is shorter than the lateral length of the document reading unit 2. Here, the operation panel 41 is arranged so that its left side is flush with the left side of the image forming unit 1, and is fixed to the image forming unit 1.

  The document reading unit 2 has a first finger hooking portion 28 </ b> A for a user to hang a finger to lift and rotate the document reading unit 2 on the side where the operation panel 41 on the front side surface (front) is not disposed. . The ADF 3 has a second finger hook portion 38 on the front side surface (front surface) for a user to hang a finger to lift and rotate the ADF 3.

  In the state where the document reading unit 2 is closed, the first finger hooking portion 28A is exposed to the right side of the operation panel 41, so that the first finger hooking portion 28A can be easily hooked. Therefore, the operation panel 41 can be fixed to the image forming unit 1. Further, since the weight of the document reading unit 2 can be reduced as compared with the case where the operation panel 41 is fixed to the document reading unit 2, the document reading unit 2 can be easily opened and closed.

  Here, an example in which the first reading unit 28A is provided in the document reading unit 2 has been described. However, the operation panel 41 is arranged in the center and is closed on the side surface (front side) of the document reading unit 2. You may make it provide the two 1st finger-hanging parts 28A in the part which becomes the both sides of the operation panel 41. FIG.

  Further, the operation panel 41 may be fixed to the document reading unit 2.

  As described above, MFP 100 according to the present embodiment is used in a state where image forming unit 1, document reading unit 2, and ADF 3 are overlapped in this order, and is provided in image forming unit 1. A first rotation shaft 21 that is rotatably supported and a second rotation shaft 31 that is provided at a position different from the first rotation shaft of the image forming unit 1 and rotatably supports the ADF 3 are provided. Since the first rotating shaft 21 and the second rotating shaft 31 are independently provided in the image forming unit 1, the document reading unit 2 and the ADF 3 can be stably and rotatably supported. Further, even if the document reading unit 2 and the ADF 3 rotate and do not overlap with the image forming unit 1, the movement of the center of gravity of the MFP 100 can be reduced, so that the MFP 100 can be stabilized during maintenance and the like. Can make the maintenance operation safe.

  Further, since the first rotating shaft 21 and the second rotating shaft 31 are made independent, the rotation of the ADF 3 and the rotation of the document reading unit 2 can be regulated separately. For this reason, the rotation angles of the ADF 3 and the document reading unit 2 can be made different.

  Further, since the first rotation shaft 21 and the second rotation shaft 31 are parallel, the ADF 3 can be rotated as the document reading unit 2 rotates.

  Further, since the sliding projection 23 is provided in the document reading unit 2, it is possible to prevent the document pressing unit 35 of the ADF 3 from hitting the document reading unit 2 and being damaged.

  Further, since the hook 39 is provided in the ADF 3 and the groove 29 is provided in the document reading unit 2, the ADF 3 can be rotated together with the document reading unit 2.

  The embodiment disclosed this time should be considered as illustrative in all points and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is defined by the terms of the claims, rather than the description above, and is intended to include any modifications within the scope and meaning equivalent to the terms of the claims.

<Appendix>
(1) The image forming apparatus according to claim 5, wherein when the second unit is in a first position with respect to the first unit, the engaging protrusion does not engage with the engaged groove. .

1 is a side view of an MFP according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a side view of the MFP in a state where a document reading unit is opened. It is sectional drawing which expands and shows the A section of FIG. It is another sectional drawing which expands and shows the A section of FIG. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a part of the MFP in a state where only ADF 3 is opened. It is the sectional view on the AA line of FIG. It is the BB sectional view taken on the line of FIG. FIG. 3 is a first perspective view showing a part of the MFP. FIG. 6 is a second perspective view showing a part of the MFP.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image formation part, 2 Document reading part, 3 ADF, 21 1st rotating shaft, 23 Sliding projection part, 25 Platen glass, 26 Cover, 28, 28A 1st finger hook part, 29 Groove, 29A Locking part, 31 1st 2 rotation shafts, 33 a part of the bottom surface, 35 document pressing portion, 37 rollers, 38 second finger hooking portion, 39 hook, 41 operation panel.

Claims (7)

An image forming apparatus comprising a first unit, a second unit, and a third unit, wherein the first unit, the second unit, and the third unit overlap in order in use,
A first rotating shaft provided in the first unit and rotatably supporting the second unit;
An image forming apparatus comprising: a second rotation shaft provided at a position different from the first rotation shaft of the first unit and rotatably supporting the third unit.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first rotation axis and the second rotation axis are parallel.   The second unit protrudes toward the third unit on a surface facing the third unit, and the second unit and the third unit rotate as the second unit and the third unit rotate. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a sliding protrusion that contacts a part of the image forming apparatus.   4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3, wherein a part of the third unit in contact with the sliding protrusion has a rotatable rotating portion.   One of the mutually facing surfaces of the second unit and the third unit has an engaging protrusion that protrudes toward the other surface, and the other surface is the engaging protrusion. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising an engaged groove portion that slidably engages with the engaging protrusion portion in a state where the is inserted. An operation unit for receiving an operation on the upper surface of the first unit;
The second unit has a finger hook on a side surface,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a height of the operation unit is equal to or less than a length from a bottom surface of the second unit to a lower side of the finger-hanging unit. An operation unit for receiving an operation on the upper surface of the first unit;
The second unit has a finger hook on a side surface,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein a length of the operation unit in the first direction is shorter than a length of the second unit in the first direction.

Images