JP4048834B2 - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an interlock device that operates by opening and closing a predetermined opening / closing door in an image forming apparatus such as an electrophotographic copying machine, a printer, and a facsimile.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In the image forming apparatus, when a warning such as toner shortage or paper jam occurs, the user opens an opening / closing door such as a front door to perform toner replenishment and paper jam processing. When the open / close door is opened in this way, the interlock switch is operated in conjunction with the open / close door to stop power feeding that impairs the safety of the user.
[0003]
Next, FIG. 7 shows a conventional configuration for operating the interlock switch.
In FIG. 7, when a predetermined opening / closing door (not shown) is closed, the actuator 80 protruding from the opening / closing door presses the switch operating member 81. The switch operating member 81 is configured to be rotatable about a support shaft 82. When the opening / closing door is not closed, the switch operating member 81 is rotated clockwise from the state of FIG. Since the leaf spring 83 is integrally attached to the switch operating member 81, and the actuator 80 does not press the switch operating member 81 when the door is not closed, the leaf spring 83 is the first interlock switch. The first interlock switch 84 is turned off because it is retracted from the pressing portion 84a of 84. On the other hand, when the open / close door is closed, the actuator 80 presses the switch operating member 81 and the leaf spring 83 presses the pressing portion 84a of the first interlock switch 84, so that the first interlock switch 84 is turned on.
[0004]
The second interlock switch 85 is a switch having a photo interrupter portion 85a composed of a light emitting portion that emits infrared light and a light receiving portion that receives the infrared light, and operates when the door is not closed. Since the member 81 is rotated clockwise from the state of FIG. 7, the shielding portion 81a provided on the switch operating member 81 is retracted from the photo interrupter portion 85a, and the infrared light emitted from the light emitting portion is received by the light receiving portion. Therefore, the second interlock switch 85 is turned off. On the other hand, when the open / close door is closed, the shielding portion 81a is inserted into the photo interrupter portion 85a to shield the infrared light emitted from the light emitting portion so that the light receiving portion cannot receive light and is turned on.
[0005]
In the above configuration, since the two interlock switches are operated, the switch operating member 81 is required. However, if only one interlock switch needs to be operated, the actuator 80 is not connected to the first interlock switch. The lock switch 84 may be actuated directly.
[0006]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the configuration in which the conventional interlock switch is operated, the position of the actuator 80 at the time of closing is varied due to the variation of the open / close door, so that there is a possibility that an excessive load is applied to the first interlock switch 84. Therefore, in order to avoid this, it is necessary to adjust the position of the first interlock switch 84 and the like. Further, even if the first interlock switch 84 is operated via the leaf spring 83, the leaf spring inherently has a high spring constant, so that it is difficult to sufficiently manage the leaf spring due to the relationship between the load and the deformation amount. is there. Further, when two interlock switches are operated by one actuator, a large space is required as shown in FIG. 7, which hinders downsizing of the image forming apparatus.
[0007]
The present invention has been made in view of such a problem, and an actuator is operated by an actuator via a compression spring having a low spring constant without using a leaf spring having a high spring constant. An object of the present invention is to propose an image forming apparatus provided with an interlock device that does not apply an excessive load and does not require adjustment and operates reliably. Further, according to the present invention, since the screws are not fixed when the interlock device is assembled, the assembly can be easily performed and the automatic assembly can be performed.
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The above object is achieved by the following means.
[0009]
In an image forming apparatus provided with an interlock device that operates by opening and closing a predetermined opening and closing door,
The interlock device includes a cylindrical first operating member having an inner peripheral wall and an outer peripheral wall that are operated by operating the predetermined opening and closing door , an interlock switch that operates a predetermined circuit,
Both ends of the second operating member that engages and moves with the inner peripheral wall to operate the interlock switch, and the first operating member and the second operating member abut on the first operating member. A compression spring that is pressed by the movable member to move the second actuating member, a holding member that is fitted to the outer peripheral wall and holds the first actuating member, a base body that locks the holding member, and the door An image forming apparatus comprising: a magnet catch that attracts an attached magnetic member, wherein the holding member holds at least one of the interlock switches and the magnet catch .
[0010]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Embodiments of the image forming apparatus of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
[0011]
First, the overall configuration of the image forming apparatus will be described with reference to FIG.
The image forming apparatus main body A includes an image reading device 1, an image processing unit 2, an image writing unit 3, an image forming unit 4, cassette paper feeding units 5A and 5B, a large amount of paper feeding units 5C and 5D, a manual paper feeding unit 5E, and a conveyance. Means 6, fixing means 7, paper discharge means 8, and re-transport means (ADU) 9 for automatic duplex copying are provided.
[0012]
On the upper part of the image forming apparatus main body A, a double-sided document automatic feeder RADF is supported so as to be openable and closable.
[0013]
In the double-sided automatic document feeder RADF, a is a document feed table, b is a feed roller, c is a separation roller, d is a registration roller, e is a transport drum, f is a flapper, and g is a discharge roller. The double-sided document automatic feeder RADF has a single-sided document reading function and a double-sided document reading function.
[0014]
The optical system of the image reading apparatus 1 includes an exposure unit 14 including a light source and a first mirror, a V mirror unit 15 including a second mirror and a third mirror, a lens 16, and a CCD image sensor 17.
[0015]
Document reading by the double-sided document automatic feeder RADF is performed at a position where the exposure unit 14 is stopped at the initial position (home position) below the slit exposure glass 13. Document reading is performed when the document passes through the stopped exposure unit 14.
[0016]
Reading a document on the platen glass 11 is performed while moving the exposure unit 14 and the V mirror unit 15.
[0017]
Image information of the document image read by the image reading apparatus 1 is subjected to image processing by the image processing means 2, converted into a signal as image data, and temporarily stored in a memory.
[0018]
In the image writing means 3, the output light from the semiconductor laser is irradiated onto the photosensitive drum of the image forming means 4 to form a latent image. In the image forming unit 4, processes such as charging, exposure, development, transfer, separation, and cleaning are performed, and the image is transferred to the sheet P conveyed from the cassette sheet feeding unit 5A. The paper P carrying the image is conveyed by the conveying means 6, fixed by the fixing means 7, and discharged by the paper discharging means 8 onto the paper discharge tray 61 outside the apparatus.
[0019]
Alternatively, the paper P on which the image is formed on the first surface sent to the re-transport unit 9 by the transport path switching plate 62 is again formed on the second surface by the image forming unit 4, and then is discharged from the apparatus by the paper discharge unit 8. The paper is discharged onto the paper discharge tray 61.
[0020]
Alternatively, the paper P branched from the normal paper discharge path by the transport path switching plate 62 is switched back and reversed in the reverse paper discharge unit 63, and then placed on the paper discharge tray 61 outside the apparatus by the paper discharge unit 8. Discharged.
[0021]
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the image forming apparatus including the image forming apparatus main body A and the double-sided document automatic feeder RADF.
[0022]
A front door 22 is hinged to the image forming apparatus main body A and supported so as to be openable and closable below the operation panel 21 disposed on the upper part of the image forming apparatus main body A. Below the front door 22, cassette paper feeding means 5A, 5B, re-conveying means 9, and mass paper feeding means 5C, 5D are arranged so as to be drawable.
[0023]
FIG. 3 is a side view of the image forming apparatus with the front door opened, and FIG. 4 is a perspective view thereof.
[0024]
These drawings show a state in which the front door 22 is rotated to open the front side of the image forming unit 4, the conveying unit 6, and the fixing unit 7 of the image forming apparatus main body A.
[0025]
On the right side surface of the image forming apparatus main body A, a paper feed base 23 of the manual paper feeding unit 5E is hinged to the image forming apparatus main body A and is supported so as to be opened and closed. Below the paper feed table 23, a paper feed check opening / closing door 24 for checking the paper feed state by the cassette paper feed means 5A, 5B, and a paper feed state by the mass paper feed means 5C, 5D. A paper feed inspection opening / closing door 25 is hinged to the image forming apparatus main body A and supported so as to be openable and closable.
[0026]
On the left side surface of the image forming apparatus main body A, a paper discharge inspection opening / closing door 23 for checking a paper discharge state by the paper discharge means 8 is hinged to the image forming apparatus main body A and supported so as to be openable and closable. Yes.
[0027]
As shown in FIG. 4, opening the front door 22 exposes the hinge 27, the opening locking band 28, the actuator 29 for detecting the interlock, the magnetic member 30, and the like.
[0028]
Here, when the front door 22 is closed, the magnetic member 30 is attracted to a magnet member on the main body side (not shown) to form a so-called magnet catch so that the closed state of the front door 22 is reliably maintained, and the actuator 29 Is inserted into the opening 41a provided in the interlock device 40, and the internal interlock device is activated.
[0029]
Next, an embodiment of an interlock device according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
[0030]
FIG. 5 is a diagram of the interlock device when the interlock switch is off, and FIG. 6 is a diagram of the interlock device when the interlock switch is on.
[0031]
In both figures, the members constituting the interlock device are held by the base 41, and members other than the interlock device are also held by the base 41, but these are not shown. The base 41 is provided with an opening 41a, and the actuator 29 shown in FIG. 4 is inserted into and removed from the opening 41a.
[0032]
The base body 41 is provided with a plurality of holding portions 41 b that hold the holding member 42 and a plurality of locking claws 41 c that lock the holding member 42. The base 41 holds the holding member 42 by the locking claw 41 c penetrating and locking through the locking hole 42 a provided in the holding member 42.
[0033]
Further, the holding member 42 is also provided with a plurality of holding portions 42b and a plurality of locking claws 42c, and the holding member 42 is attached to the switch by engaging through the locking holes 43a provided in the switch mounting plate 43. A plate 43 is held.
[0034]
A first interlock switch 44 and a second interlock switch 45 are attached to the switch mounting plate 43. The first interlock switch 44 is a switch that is turned on when the pressing portion 44a is pressed, and is a switch that turns on / off a power system such as a motor of 24V or 100V. The second interlock switch 45 has a photointerrupter unit 45a composed of a light emitting unit that emits infrared light and a light receiving unit that receives the infrared light. A light is emitted when a shielding object is inserted into the photointerrupter unit 45a. This is a switch that is turned on when the infrared light emitted from the unit is blocked and the light receiving unit cannot receive light, and a switch that is turned on / off to control a signal system such as 5V.
[0035]
Here, when the actuator 29 is inserted into the opening 41 a of the base body 41, the actuator 29 and the first interlock switch 44 are substantially coaxial with the pressing portion 44 a, and the holding member 42 located in the middle thereof is substantially free from the holding member 42. A coaxial through hole 42d is provided, and the outer peripheral wall of the first actuating member 46 formed in a cylindrical shape is fitted in the through hole 42d. The first operating member 46 has a flange 46 a that is pressed by the actuator 29. Further, the outer peripheral wall of the second operating member 47 is fitted to the inner peripheral wall of the first operating member 46.
[0036]
A flange 47 a is provided at the end of the second operating member 47 on the first interlock switch 44 side, and a compression spring 48 is sandwiched between the flange 47 a and the end of the first operating member 46. Yes. Further, the second actuating member 47 is provided with a shielding part 47b for actuating the photo interrupter part 45a of the second interlock switch 45.
[0037]
A plurality of long grooves 46b are provided in the axial direction on the side wall of the first operating member 46 on the actuator 29 side, and a plurality of locking claws 47c provided on the second operating member 47 are respectively inserted into the long grooves 46b. By comprising in this way, the 1st action member 46, the 2nd action member 47, and the compression spring 48 are unitized.
[0038]
Further, a magnet member 49 that is a magnet catch is mounted on the base body 41, and a leg portion 42 e provided on the holding member 42 holds the magnet member 49. The magnet member 49 attracts the magnetic member 30 when the front door 22 is closed.
[0039]
In the interlock device configured as described above, when the front door 22 is not completely closed, the actuator 29 is not in contact with the flange portion 46a of the first actuating member 46 as shown in FIG. Not. Here, the first interlock switch 44 is in an off state when the pressing portion 44a is not pressed, and is biased in a direction in which the pressing portion 44a protrudes by a spring provided therein, and the pressing portion 44a. Presses the flange 47a of the second actuating member 47. Accordingly, the second actuating member 47 moves, the first actuating member 46 moves toward the actuator 29 by the compression spring 48 via the flange 47a, and the flange 46a comes into contact with the inner wall 41b of the base body 41. ing. Further, since the shielding part 47b is retracted from the photointerrupter part 45a of the second interlock switch 45 by the movement of the second operating member 47, the second interlock switch 45 is also in an OFF state.
[0040]
Next, when the front door 22 is completely closed, as shown in FIG. 6, the actuator 29 presses the flange portion 46 a of the first actuating member 46, so that the flange 47 a of the second actuating member 47 and the end portion of the first actuating member 46. The compression spring 48 sandwiched therebetween is compressed, but the urging force of the compression spring 48 is stronger than the spring pressure provided in the first interlock switch 44, so the flange 47a of the second actuating member 47 is It moves by being pressed by the compression spring 48, the pressing portion 44a is pressed by the flange 47a, and the first interlock switch 44 is turned on. Moreover, since the shielding part 47b is inserted into the photointerrupter part 45a of the second interlock switch 45 by the movement of the second operating member 47, the second interlock switch 45 is also turned on.
[0041]
With this configuration, the actuator 29 operates the first interlock switch 44 via the compression spring 48 having a low spring constant. Therefore, the first interlock switch 44 is not subjected to an excessive load and can be adjusted. It is unnecessary and works reliably. Further, since no screws are used when assembling the interlock device, it can be easily assembled and can be automatically assembled.
[0042]
The interlock device according to the above description is operated by the actuator 29 provided on the front door 22. However, the interlock device is not necessarily limited to the front door 22, and the sheet feeding state by the cassette sheet feeding means 5A, 5B is inspected. The paper feeding check opening / closing door 24, the paper feeding check opening / closing door 25 for checking the paper feeding state by the large volume paper feeding means 5C, 5D, or the paper discharge for checking the paper discharge state by the paper discharge means 8. An actuator may be provided on the inspection opening / closing door 23 to operate the interlock device as described above.
[0043]
Further, an actuator as described above may be provided on a developing device attaching / detaching door, a toner cartridge opening / closing door, or a laser unit opening / closing door (not shown) to operate the interlock device as described above. In this way, the opening / closing door falls within the scope of the present invention even if it is an opening / closing door that opens and closes for any purpose in the image forming apparatus.
[0044]
【The invention's effect】
According to the image forming apparatus of the first aspect , since the actuator includes the interlock device in which the interlock switch is operated via the compression spring having the low spring constant without using the plate spring having the high spring constant. The lock switch is not overloaded and does not require adjustment, so it operates reliably. Moreover, according to the present invention, since the screws are not fixed when the interlock device is assembled, the assembly can be easily performed and automatic assembly can be performed.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an overall configuration of an image forming apparatus.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the image forming apparatus.
FIG. 3 is a side view of the image forming apparatus with a front door opened.
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the image forming apparatus with a front door opened.
FIG. 5 is a diagram of an interlock device when an interlock switch is off.
FIG. 6 is a diagram of an interlock device when an interlock switch is on.
FIG. 7 is a diagram of a conventional interlock device.
[Explanation of symbols]
22 Front door 29 Actuator 41 Base 42 Holding member 43 Switch mounting plate 44 1st interlock switch 45 2nd interlock switch 46 1st operation member 47 2nd operation member 48 Compression spring 49 Magnet member

Claims (1)

In an image forming apparatus provided with an interlock device that operates by opening and closing a predetermined opening and closing door,
The interlock device includes a cylindrical first operating member having an inner peripheral wall and an outer peripheral wall that are operated by operating the predetermined opening / closing door , an interlock switch that operates a predetermined circuit, and the inner peripheral wall. and a second actuating member for actuating the interlock switch by moving the first ends to the actuating member and the second actuating member abuts is pressed by the operation of the first actuating member, said first (2) a compression spring that moves the operating member; a holding member that is fitted to the outer peripheral wall and holds the first operating member; a base body that locks the holding member; and a magnetic member that is attached to the open / close door has a magnet catch for adsorbing, wherein the holding member includes at least one of said interlock switch, the image forming apparatus characterized by holding the magnet catch.

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