JPH11160942A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent an elastic holding member for leading a cable provided between a reading part and a main body part from being bitten between the reading part and the main body part, when the reading part is moved down to close, in an image forming device in which the reading part is pivotally supported to enable opening/closing with respect to the main body part. SOLUTION: A level difference surface 12 is formed in such a manner that the top end side of an attaching part 11 projectingly provided in the frame 10 of the main body part S is formed by bending and the attached end partside surface 6b of the holding member is abutted/fixed on the level difference surface 12. Thus, the holding member is easily attached in a upright posture. Further, the attached end part side surface 6b is abutted on the level difference surface 12, so that the holding member is prevented from tuning around a machine screw 7. Thus, there is no fear that an accident of the fact that the holding member is bitten between the reading part and the main body part S occurs when the reading part is operated to open/close.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an improvement in an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a facsimile machine, or the like, in which a reading unit is pivotally supported so as to be able to open and close with respect to a main body.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine or a facsimile machine includes a reading section for reading image information of a document and a main body for processing the received image information. For example, in the case of a copy machine, the reading unit is provided with a document placing surface made of a transparent glass plate or the like, and a light source, a mirror,
A scanning mechanism including a mirror carriage, mirror carriage driving means, a lens, a CCD unit, and the like is incorporated.
The main unit has an information processing mechanism that processes image information converted into electrical signals by a CCD or the like and processes it as necessary. A copy that forms an image on recording paper by electrophotography or the like based on an output signal from the information processing mechanism In addition to a mechanism and a paper feed mechanism that supplies recording paper to the copying mechanism, a power supply mechanism that supplies power to each device, a control mechanism that controls the operation of each device, and the like are incorporated.

In the case of a facsimile apparatus, a transmission mechanism for converting an image information signal fetched by a scanning mechanism of a reading section into an appropriate format and transmitting the converted signal to another facsimile apparatus is transmitted to the main body, and transmitted from another facsimile apparatus. An image information receiving mechanism, a printing mechanism for converting the received image information into an appropriate format and outputting the converted information on recording paper are provided.

The reading section and the main body are controlled by a signal cable for transmitting image information from the scanning mechanism to the main body, and a control for transmitting a control signal from the main body to various devices including the scanning mechanism of the reading section. They are connected to each other by a cable, a power supply cable for supplying power, or the like. By the way, from the necessity of maintenance, the reading unit may be pivotally supported by a hinge or the like with respect to the main body unit so as to be openable and closable. In this case, in order to prevent the opening / closing operation of the reading unit from adversely affecting each of the cables, each cable connecting the reading unit and the main body is conventionally wired so as to bypass the hinge portion.

[0005]

In the conventional image forming apparatus, the length of each cable connecting the reading section and the main body is long because the cable bypasses the hinge, and the influence of noise is reduced. It has the disadvantage of being more susceptible. Therefore, by providing a flexible holding member between the reading unit and the main body and wiring the cable along the holding member, it is possible to reduce the required length of the cable and reduce the influence of noise. Conceivable.

[0006] However, the holding member is usually fixed to a mounting portion of each of the reading section and the main body section by one screw. Therefore, when the holding member is attached in a posture obliquely inward of the apparatus, when the reading unit is closed and lowered, the holding member is caught between the main body and the holding member itself or the cable. May cause damage. In addition, the holding member bends and stretches following the opening and closing operation of the reading unit, but at this time, it may swing in and out of the apparatus,
This may also cause the holding member to be caught between the reading unit and the main unit.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus in which a reading section is pivotally supported so as to be openable and closable with respect to a main body, and a bending and stretching mechanism for guiding a cable provided between the reading section and the main body. A possible holding member is to provide means capable of preventing the reading unit from being caught between the main unit and the reading unit when the reading unit is closed, and is characterized by the reading unit and / or the reading unit. A structure for preventing the holding member from being displaced in and out of the apparatus is provided at a portion of the main body where the holding member is attached.

[0008] The structure for preventing the holding member from being displaced in and out of the apparatus includes, for example, forming a step surface at the mounting portion of the reading member and / or the main body portion of the holding member, and forming the step surface on the step surface. It is possible to adopt a structure in which the side surface of the mounting end of the holding member abuts. Further, in this case, the step surface may be formed so as to guide the holding member obliquely outward of the apparatus from the mounting portion.

[0009]

FIG. 1 shows an example of an image forming apparatus P in which the present invention is carried out. For example, an image forming apparatus P of a copying machine includes a scanning mechanism and an automatic document feeder (AD).
F), a reading unit R having a built-in information processing mechanism, a copying mechanism,
In many cases, the main body S includes a paper feeding mechanism, a power feeding mechanism, a control mechanism, and the like, and the reading unit R is pivotally supported by the hinge H so as to be openable and closable with respect to the main body S. (A) of the figure shows a state in which the reading unit R is opened,
(B) shows the closed state, respectively.

A reading section R is provided between the reading section R and the main body section S.
And a holding member 1 for guiding a cable K (or harness) connecting the electric device M of the reading unit R and the electric device N of the main unit S to each other.

As shown schematically in FIG. 5, an ADF 20 composed of various rollers and a mirror carriage 2 provided with a light source 21 and a mirror 22 are provided inside the reading unit R.
3, a mirror carriage 26 provided with mirrors 24 and 25, a driving means (not shown) for these mirror carriages 23 and 26, a scanning mechanism including a lens 27, a CCD unit 28 and the like are built in. The cable K guided by the holding member 1 outputs operation power and a control signal from the main body unit S to the ADF and the scanning mechanism of the reading unit R, and transmits image information read by the scanning mechanism to the main body unit S. It is for.

The holding member 1 is, for example, as shown in FIG.
It is conceivable that the upper half 2 and the lower half 4 are connected to each other at the bending joint 3 so as to be able to bend and stretch following the opening and closing operation of the reading unit R. By manufacturing the holding member 1 with a synthetic resin, it is easy to form the bent joint portion 3 so as to be able to bend and stretch. In addition, an electromagnetic wave shielding paint may be applied to the surface to reduce the influence of noise on the cable K. At the tip of the upper half 2, a mounting end 5 is provided,
The mounting end 5 has a pin insertion hole 5a for pivotally attaching the mounting end 5 to a proper position of the reading unit R. At the end of the lower half 4, a mounting end 6 is formed so as to drop down, and the mounting end 6 is provided with a screw insertion hole 6 a for fixing the mounting end 6 to the main body S. Each of the upper half 2 and the lower half 4 has guards 2a and 4a for protecting the cable K, and a cutout 8 for passing a fastening band 9 for binding the cable K is provided at an appropriate position. Have been.

The mounting structure of the holding member 1 in the present embodiment is as follows. As shown in FIG. 3, a part of a housing or frame 10 made of a sheet metal or the like of the main body part S is protruded to form an attachment part 11, and the attachment part 1
1 is bent to form a stepped surface 12.
Then, the mounting end 6 of the holding member lower half 4 is connected to the mounting portion 1.
1 and screwing the screw 7 passing through the insertion hole 6a of the mounting end 6 into the screw hole 11a of the mounting portion 11 in a state where the side surface 6b of the mounting end 6 is in contact with the stepped surface 12. And fix it. Since the mounting end 6 of the holding member 1 is fixed by the single screw 7 as described above, the mounting posture cannot be straightened unless the mounting operation is carefully performed. There was a risk of tilting. In addition, the holding member 1 rotates around the screw 7 due to the bending / extending operation accompanying the opening and closing of the reading unit R, and as a result, there is a possibility that the holding member 1 swings in and out of the apparatus. However, in this example, the side surface 6b of the mounting end 6
Abuts on the step surface 12, it is easy to mount the holding member 1 in a straight and correct posture. Further, the holding member 1 can be prevented from rotating about the screw 7 by making the mounting end side surface 6b abut on the step surface 12. Therefore, it is possible to eliminate an accident that the holding member 1 is caught between the main body S and the reading unit R when the reading unit R is opened and closed.

Usually, a problem arises when the holding member 1 swings inward of the apparatus. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 4, the step surface 12 may be formed to be slightly inclined. By bringing the side surface 6b of the mounting end 6 into contact with the inclined step surface 12, the holding member 1 is slightly inclined to the outer side of the apparatus, so that the reading unit R and the main unit S It is possible to reliably prevent an accident of being caught between the two.

Means for preventing the holding member 1 from swaying inward of the apparatus is to form a projection at an appropriate position on the frame 10 of the main body portion S in addition to the above-mentioned stepped surface 12, and to attach the holding member 1 to the side of the mounting end. A structure (not shown) in which the protrusion 6b is brought into contact with the protrusion is also possible. Further, these anti-shake structures may be provided not only on the main unit S but also on the reading unit R side, or may be provided on both sides.

The present invention can be implemented as long as the image forming apparatus is configured such that the reading section can be opened and closed with respect to the main body section.
In addition to copying machines, facsimile machines and scanners are also applicable. Further, a specific configuration of the present invention is:
It does not prevent changing as appropriate according to the embodiment.

[0017]

According to the present invention, in an image forming apparatus having a structure in which a reading unit is pivotally supported so as to be capable of opening and closing with respect to a main body, a bendable and stretchable holding member for guiding a cable connecting the reading unit and the main body is provided. Since the apparatus is configured not to swing inward of the apparatus, it is possible to eliminate an accident that the holding member is caught between the reading section and the main body when the reading section is closed.
Further, by mounting the holding member so as to guide it obliquely outward of the apparatus, the above-mentioned effect is further ensured.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view showing an example of an image forming apparatus to which the present invention is applied, wherein FIG. 1 (A) is a state where a reading unit is opened, and FIG. 1 (B) is a diagram where a reading unit is closed. .

FIG. 2 shows one embodiment of a holding member according to the present invention, and is a perspective view of the entire holding member.

FIG. 3 illustrates one embodiment of a holding member according to the present invention, and is a perspective view of a main part illustrating a procedure for attaching the holding member.

FIG. 4 is a plan view partially showing another embodiment of a holding member according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a side view schematically illustrating an example of an image forming apparatus to which the present invention is applied, and schematically illustrating a mechanism of a reading unit.

[Explanation of symbols]

P ... Image forming apparatus R ... Reading section S ... Main body section K ... Cable H ... Hinge 1 ... Holding member 2 ... Upper half 3 ... Bend joint 4 ... Lower half 6 ... Mounting end 6b ... Side of the mounting end 7 ... Screw
Reference numeral 10: frame 11: mounting portion 12: step surface

Claims (3)

[Claims] An image forming apparatus in which a reading unit is pivotally supported on a main body so as to be openable and closable, wherein a bending / extendable holding member for guiding a cable or the like is provided between the reading unit and the main body. An image forming apparatus, wherein a structure for preventing the holding member from being displaced in and out of the apparatus is provided at a mounting portion of the reading unit and / or the main body unit where the holding member is attached. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a step surface that abuts a side surface of a mounting end of the holding member is formed at a mounting portion of the reading unit and / or the main body unit where the holding member is mounted. 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the step surface is formed so as to guide the holding member obliquely outward of the apparatus from a mounting portion.