JP7192436B2 - image forming device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to image forming apparatuses such as copiers, printers, facsimiles, and multifunction machines thereof.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, image forming apparatuses such as copiers and printers are widely known to have a switch for turning on/off the electric power supplied to electric parts in the apparatus, which is installed separately from the main power switch. (See Patent Document 1, for example).

On the other hand, in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-100001, for the purpose of preventing the malfunction that the main power switch is operated by mistake for the power switch for energy saving, a recess is formed in the exterior cover of the image forming apparatus so that the power switch can be hidden in the recess. A technique is disclosed for placing a main power switch in the

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in an image forming apparatus, there has been a demand to install a switch, which is used less frequently than a main power switch, inside the apparatus in a state in which an openable exterior cover is opened and an interior cover is exposed.
However, the switch module, which is a modularized switch, harness, housing, bracket, etc., has a relatively large portion other than the switch. was difficult to install. As a result, the size of the image forming apparatus is increased.
Even if the technique disclosed in Patent Document 1 is applied to provide a concave portion in the interior cover and the switch module is installed so as to be hidden in the concave portion, the problem cannot be sufficiently resolved.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-mentioned problems. To provide an image forming apparatus which can be installed.

An image forming apparatus according to the present invention includes a main power switch for supplying and cutting off power from the power source to the image forming apparatus main body while the image forming apparatus main body is connected to the power supply, and an openable and closable exterior cover. an interior cover that covers part or all of the main body side plate installed inside the device so that part or all of the body side plate installed inside the apparatus is not exposed when the exterior cover is opened; and opening and closing of the exterior cover. a switch that can be manually operated without being turned on/off or off/on in conjunction with the external cover so that the switch is exposed through an opening formed in the internal cover when the external cover is open. a switch module held by the main body side plate, wherein the switch is turned on when using an electric component installed in the image forming apparatus main body and turned off when the electric component is not used; A cap member is detachably installed so as to cover the switch so as to prevent the switch from being operated when the exterior cover is open, and the main body side plate is configured to partially detach the switch module from the interior cover. A hole or recess is formed for embedding in the direction of separation.

According to the present invention, to provide an image forming apparatus in which a switch can be installed inside the apparatus in a state in which an openable exterior cover is opened and an interior cover is exposed without enlarging the image forming apparatus. can be done.

1 is an overall configuration diagram showing an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 1A is a schematic perspective view showing an image forming apparatus, and FIG. 1B is a schematic perspective view showing an image forming apparatus with an exterior cover opened. FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view showing a state in which the inner cover and the switch module are removed from the image forming apparatus and the main body side plate is exposed; FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a switch module; FIG. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a switch module; 3 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the switch module is installed in the image forming apparatus main body; FIG. (A) A perspective view showing a state in which the switch is exposed from the interior cover, and (B) a perspective view showing a state in which the cap member is installed on the interior cover. FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which a switch module is installed in the main body of the image forming apparatus as a modified example;

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Hereinafter, embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In each figure, the same or corresponding parts are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description thereof will be appropriately simplified or omitted.

First, the overall configuration and operation of the image forming apparatus 100 will be described with reference to FIG.
In FIG. 1, reference numeral 100 denotes a printer as an image forming apparatus; 1, a photosensitive drum on which a toner image is formed; 7, exposure light L based on image information input from an input device such as a personal computer; 1 is an exposure unit (writing unit) for irradiating onto the surface of the photosensitive drum 1; 9 is a transfer roller for transferring the toner image carried on the photosensitive drum 1 onto the sheet P conveyed to the transfer nip portion (transfer position); A paper feed unit (paper feed cassette) containing sheets P, 14 a dehumidifying heater for reducing the moisture content of the sheets P stored in the paper feed unit 12, and 16 the photosensitive drum 1 and the transfer roller 9. A registration roller (timing roller) that conveys the sheet P toward the transfer nip portion in contact therewith, 20 a fixing device that fixes an unfixed image on the sheet P, 21 a fixing roller installed in the fixing device 20, and 22 a fixing device. A pressure roller installed at 20 is shown.
Around the photosensitive drum 1, a charging roller 4, a developing device 5, a cleaning device 2, and the like are arranged.

A normal image forming operation in image forming apparatus 100 will be described with reference to FIG.
First, when image information is transmitted from an input device such as a personal computer to the exposure unit 7 of the image forming apparatus 100 , the exposure light L (laser light) based on the image information is emitted from the exposure unit 7 onto the surface of the photosensitive drum 1 . emitted towards.
On the other hand, the photosensitive drum 1 is rotating in the direction of the arrow (clockwise). First, the surface of the photosensitive drum 1 is uniformly charged at the portion facing the charging roller 4 (charging step). Thus, a charging potential (approximately -900 V) is formed on the photosensitive drum 1 . After that, the charged surface of the photosensitive drum 1 reaches the position where the exposure light L is irradiated. Then, the potential of the portion irradiated with the exposure light L becomes the latent image potential (approximately 0 to -100 V), and an electrostatic latent image is formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 1 (in the exposure step). .).

After that, the surface of the photosensitive drum 1 on which the electrostatic latent image is formed reaches a position facing the developing device 5 . Then, toner is supplied onto the photosensitive drum 1 from the developing device 5, and the latent image on the photosensitive drum 1 is developed to form a toner image (developing process).
After that, the surface of the photosensitive drum 1 after the development process reaches the transfer nip portion (transfer position) with the transfer roller 9 . Then, at the transfer nip portion with the transfer roller 9, a transfer bias (a bias with a polarity different from that of the toner) is applied from the power source to the transfer roller 9, thereby the sheet conveyed by the registration roller 16. A toner image formed on the photosensitive drum 1 is transferred onto P (transfer step).

After the transfer process, the surface of the photosensitive drum 1 reaches a position facing the cleaning device 2 . At this position, the cleaning blade mechanically removes the untransferred toner remaining on the photosensitive drum 1 and collects it in the cleaning device 2 (cleaning process).
Thus, a series of image forming processes on the photosensitive drum 1 are completed.

On the other hand, the sheet P conveyed to the transfer nip portion (transfer position) between the photosensitive drum 1 and the transfer roller 9 operates as follows.
First, the uppermost sheet of the sheets P stored in the paper feeding unit 12 is fed toward the conveying path by the paper feeding roller 15 .
After that, the sheet P reaches the position of the registration roller 16 . Then, the sheet P that has reached the position of the registration roller 16 is aligned with the image formed on the photoreceptor drum 1 at the transfer nip portion (between the transfer roller 9 and the photoreceptor drum 1). contact position).

After the transfer process, the sheet P passes through the position of the transfer nip portion (transfer roller 9) and then reaches the fixing device 20 through the conveying path. After reaching the fixing device 20, the sheet P is fed between the fixing roller 21 and the pressure roller 22, and the image is fixed by the heat received from the fixing roller 21 and the pressure received from both members 21 and 22. . The sheet P on which the image is fixed is discharged from the image forming apparatus main body 100 after being delivered from between the fixing roller 21 and the pressure roller 22 (fixing nip portion).
Thus, a series of image forming processes are completed.

The configuration and operation of image forming apparatus 100, which are characteristic of this embodiment, will be described in detail below.
Image forming apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment is covered with a plurality of outer covers, as shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 3B, a part of the front exterior cover is configured as an exterior cover 90 (openable cover) that can be opened and closed.
Specifically, the exterior cover 90 is held by the image forming apparatus main body 100 so as to be rotatable around a support shaft 90a (rotation center axis). The exterior cover 90 rotates counterclockwise in FIG. 1 around the support shaft 90a to be in a closed state (the state shown in FIGS. 1 and 3A), or to rotate the support shaft 90a. By turning clockwise in FIG. 1 about the center, the opening state (the state shown in FIG. 3(B)) is made.

In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3B, when the exterior cover 90 is open, the interior cover 80 and the switch 41 (dehumidification heater switch) are exposed, and the process cartridge (photoreceptor) is exposed. (a unit in which the drum 1, the developing device 5, the charging roller 4, and the cleaning device 2 are integrated) is detachably exposed to the image forming apparatus main body 100. FIG. Then, with the exterior cover 90 opened, the process cartridge is replaced with a new one. Further, as shown in FIG. 1, the image forming process (printing operation) described above with reference to FIG. 1 is performed with the exterior cover 90 closed.
As shown in FIG. 2, a main power switch 30 (main switch) is arranged to be exposed on the side of the image forming apparatus 100 . The main power switch 30 is a rocker switch. By turning on/off the main power switch 30 while the image forming apparatus 100 is connected to the commercial power supply, the power supply from the commercial power supply to the image forming apparatus 100 is turned on or off.

Here, image forming apparatus 100 in the present embodiment is configured such that interior cover 80 is exposed when exterior cover 90 is opened, as shown in FIG. 2B.
The interior cover 80 is part of the body side plate 70 (see FIGS. 3 and 6) so that part or all of the body side plate 70 (see FIGS. 3 and 6) installed inside the apparatus is not exposed when the exterior cover 90 is opened. or to cover the whole. In this embodiment, the interior cover 80 and the exterior cover 90 are made of a resin material, and the main body side plate 70 is a plate-shaped member made of a metal material.
The main body side plate 70 functions as a part of the housing (structure) that is the skeleton of the image forming apparatus 100, and includes various structural members (for example, units, stays, electronic parts, harnesses, clamps, and the like). ) are sometimes fixed with screws or welding. By providing the interior cover 80, it is possible to prevent the user from touching these constituent members, causing injury or damaging the constituent members.
Note that, referring to FIG. 3, the interior cover 80 is fixedly installed on the main body side plate 70 with screws 110 (decorative screws).

Further, in the image forming apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2B, when the exterior cover 90 is opened, the switch 41 (dehumidification heater switch) different from the main power switch 30 is exposed. is configured as
Since the switch 41 (dehumidification heater switch) is a switch whose frequency of use (frequency of on/off operation) is less than that of the main power switch 30, the openable exterior cover 90 is opened and the interior cover 80 is exposed. By installing the main power switch 30 inside the device, it is possible to reduce the problem that the operator mistakenly operates the main power switch 30 installed on the exterior.

This switch 41 is a rocker switch, and when the image forming apparatus 100 is connected to the commercial power supply and the main power switch 30 is turned on (or regardless of whether the main power switch 30 is turned on or off), the dehumidifying operation is performed. It is for switching on and off the power supply to the heater 14 (see FIG. 1).
The dehumidifying heater 14 is arranged at a position facing the sheet feeding section 12 . In the dehumidification heater 14, the moisture content of the sheet P accommodated in the paper feeding unit 12 becomes large, causing a large curl in the sheet P, causing a conveyance failure, or improving the transfer process at the transfer nip portion. This is to prevent things from not being done. When the switch 41 is turned on by an operator such as a user or a serviceman in a high-humidity environment to supply power to the dehumidification heater 14, the radiant heat of the dehumidification heater 14 reduces the moisture content of the sheet P. reduced, such defects will be deterred. In addition, when the environment is normal, the switch 41 is turned off by the operator's operation to cut off the power supply to the dehumidification heater 14, thereby preventing wasteful consumption of power and preventing the sheet P from being wasted. Problems due to dehumidification are suppressed.

The switch 41 (dehumidification heater switch) that can be operated by the operator is provided in the switch module 40 (switch unit) as shown in FIGS. 3 to 5 and the like. 6, the switch module 40 is held by the body side plate 70 so that the switch 41 is exposed through an opening 80a formed in the interior cover 80 when the exterior cover 90 is opened.

Specifically, referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, the switch module 40 includes a switch 41, a housing 43, a bracket 42, a harness 44, and the like.
The switch 41 is held by the bracket 42 with its base portion 41 a fitted into the opening 42 a of the bracket 42 .
Housing 43 is configured to be connected to switch 41 . A terminal 41 b of the switch 41 and part of a harness 44 (the harness 44 extending from the switch 41 ) connected to the terminal 41 b are housed inside the housing 43 .
The bracket 42 is formed by subjecting a sheet metal to various bending processes, and is configured to hold the switch 41 and the housing 43 . The bracket 42 has an opening 42a for holding the switch 41, a hook 42b for fixing the bracket 42 to the main body side plate 70, a screw hole 42c, and a clamping hole 42c for installing the clamp 47. Holes 42d, etc. are formed.
A harness 44 is installed so as to extend from the switch 41 . The harness 44 has one end connected to the terminal 41 b of the switch 41 and the other end connected to the power supply unit of the apparatus main body 100 .

The bracket 42 of the switch module 40 constructed in this manner is fixed and held on the body side plate 70 .
More specifically, as shown in FIG. 6, the bracket 42 (switch module 40) is attached to the main body side plate 70 through the screw hole 42c in a state in which the hook portion 42b is hooked to the hook hole 70c of the main body side plate 70. It is fixed to the main body side plate 70 by screwing the screw 115 into the female screw portion 70b.

Here, as shown in FIG. 6, a part of the switch module 40 (indicated by a double-headed arrow D) is attached to the body side plate 70 in a direction away from the interior cover 80 (to the right in FIG. 6). A hole portion 70a for embedding is formed.
The hole portion 70a is formed by punching the main body side plate 70, which is a plate-like member made of a metal material.
Then, as shown in FIG. 6, with the exterior cover 90 closed, in the space between the exterior cover 90 and the interior cover 80 (the space within the range indicated by the double arrow N), the switch 41 is turned on. It is configured to protrude from the opening 80 a of the cover 80 toward the exterior cover 90 .

As described above, in the present embodiment, the body side plate 70 is provided with the hole portion 70a to secure a space for a part of the switch module 40 to enter the inside of the device more than the body side plate 70. 5) (see dimension H in FIG. 5) is installed inside the apparatus, the outer cover 90 and the inner cover 80 shown in FIG. The switch module 40 can be installed inside the device without setting a large gap N between the inner cover 80 and the main body side plate 70 . Therefore, it is possible to reduce the problem that the image forming apparatus 100 is enlarged by installing the switch module 40 inside the apparatus.
That is, when the body side plate 70 is not provided with the hole 70a into which a part of the switch module 40 is inserted, the portion indicated by the range H in FIG. ), the range M in FIG. 6 becomes large, and the position of the exterior cover 90 is also shifted to the left side in FIG. 6, resulting in an increase in size of the device.
On the other hand, in the present embodiment, the portion of the switch module 40 within the range D in FIG. Since it is installed so as to be embedded in the right side of the main body side plate 70, such problems can be reduced.
Further, with this configuration, there is no need to configure the outer cover 90 to protrude outward only at the portion where the switch module 40 is installed, and the gap N (space) between the outer cover 90 and the inner cover 80 is eliminated. It becomes possible to configure substantially uniformly over the entire area.

Here, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6, in the space between the interior cover 80 and the body side plate 70, the clamp 47 (holding member) for holding the harness 44 is mounted between the bracket 42 and the body side plate. 70 and 70, respectively. In FIG. 6, the clamp 47 installed on the bracket 42 and a part of the harness 44 are shown in solid lines for easy understanding.
More specifically, the bracket 42 of the switch module 40 has a clamping hole 42d formed in its side surface, and the fitting portion of the clamp 47 is fitted into the clamping hole 42d so that the clamp 47 is attached to the bracket 42. held. The main body side plate 70 is also formed with a clamp hole 70d, and the clamp 47 is held by the main body side plate 70 by fitting the clamp 47 into the clamp hole 70d. A plurality of clamps 47 are arranged on the side plate 70 of the main body 70 at intervals to the vicinity of the power supply unit.
A harness 44 that relays the switch module 40 and the power supply unit is held by a plurality of clamps 47 and distributed in the space between the main body side plate 70 and the interior cover 80 .
By configuring in this way, it is possible to reduce the problem that the harness 44 is caught by other components in the space between the main body side plate 70 and the interior cover 80 .

Here, referring to FIGS. 6, 7A, etc., in the present embodiment, the interior cover 80 is formed with an edge portion 80b. When the exterior cover 90 is closed, the edge portion 80b extends around the opening 80a of the interior cover 80 in the space between the exterior cover 90 and the interior cover 80 on the side of the exterior cover 90 (Fig. 6).
Then, as shown in FIG. 7B, a cap member 85 is detachably attached to the edge portion 80b to cover the switch 41. As shown in FIG. Even if the cap member 85 is installed on the edge portion 80b and the exterior cover 90 is closed, the cap member 85 does not interfere with the exterior cover 90. - 特許庁
When the switch 41 is not used (when the dehumidifying heater 14 is not used), the cap member 85 configured in this manner is set on the edge portion 80b. It is possible to prevent troubles caused by operation.

<Modification>
FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the switch module 40 is installed in the image forming apparatus main body 100 as a modification, and corresponds to FIG. 6 in the present embodiment.
As shown in FIG. 8, in the modification, the main body side plate 70 is provided with a recess 70f instead of the hole 70a into which a part of the switch module 40 is inserted. A concave portion 70f is formed for embedding a portion of the switch module 40 in a direction away from the interior cover 80. As shown in FIG. The concave portion 70f can be formed by drawing the main body side plate 70, which is a plate-like member made of a metal material.
Even when the recessed portion 70f is formed in the main body side plate 70 in this way, the image forming apparatus 100 does not need to be enlarged in size as in the case of the present embodiment. A switch 41 can be installed inside the device in a state where the is exposed.

As described above, the image forming apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment is configured such that when the outer cover 90 is opened, the main body side plate 70 installed inside the apparatus is partially or wholly not exposed. An interior cover 80 is installed to cover part or all of the. The switch module 40 is held by the main body side plate 70 so that the switch 41 is exposed through an opening 80a formed in the interior cover 80 when the exterior cover 90 is opened. A hole portion 70a (or a concave portion 70f) for embedding a part of the switch module 40 in a direction away from the interior cover 80 is formed in the main body side plate 70. As shown in FIG.
Accordingly, the switch 41 can be installed inside the apparatus in a state in which the openable and closable outer cover 90 is opened and the inner cover 80 is exposed without increasing the size of the image forming apparatus 100 .

Although the present invention is applied to the monochrome image forming apparatus 100 in the present embodiment, the present invention can of course be applied to a color image forming apparatus.
In addition, in the present embodiment, the present invention is applied to the electrophotographic image forming apparatus 100, but the application of the present invention is not limited to this, and other types of image forming apparatuses (for example, inkjet system image forming apparatus, offset printing press, etc.) can be naturally applied to the present invention.
Even in these cases, the same effects as those of the present embodiment can be obtained.

In addition, although a rocker switch is used as the switch 41 in this embodiment, the switch 41 is not limited to this, and a toggle switch, a push button switch, a push switch, or the like can be used as the switch 41, for example.
Further, in the present embodiment, the switch 41 for turning on/off the dehumidifying heater 14 is used, but the switch 41 is not limited to this, and the switch 41 for turning on/off other electrical components is used. can also be used.
Even in these cases, the same effects as those of the present embodiment can be obtained.

It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the present embodiment, and it is obvious that the present embodiment can be appropriately modified within the scope of the technical idea of the present invention other than suggested in the present embodiment. be. Moreover, the number, position, shape, etc. of the constituent members are not limited to those of the present embodiment, and the number, position, shape, etc. can be set to be suitable for carrying out the present invention.

In the specification of the present application, the term "main body side plate" is not limited to a plate-like member installed in a vertical direction, but also includes a plate-like member installed in another direction, a top plate, and the like. defined as
In the specification and the like of the present application, the term "main body side plate" is not necessarily limited to a plate-like member, and may function as a part or the whole of a housing (structure) that is the framework of the image forming apparatus. For example, it is defined as including a structure molded from a resin material.

14 static elimination heater,
30 main power switch (main switch),
40 switch module (switch unit),
41 switch (dehumidification heater switch),
41b terminal,
42 brackets,
42a opening, 42b hook,
42c screw hole, 42d clamp hole,
43 housing,
44 Harness,
47 clamp,
70 main body side plate (housing),
70a hole,
70b female screw portion 70c hooking hole 70d clamping hole portion
70f recess,
80 interior cover,
80a opening, 80b edge (wall),
85 cap member,
90 Exterior cover (opening/closing cover),
100 image forming apparatus (image forming apparatus main body),
110, 115 screws.

JP 2016-120621 A

Claims (7)

a main power switch for supplying/cutting off power from the power supply to/from the image forming apparatus main body while the image forming apparatus main body is connected to the power supply;
an exterior cover that can be opened and closed,
an interior cover that covers part or all of the body side plate so that part or all of the body side plate installed inside the apparatus is not exposed when the exterior cover is opened;
A switch is provided that can be manually operated without being turned on/off or off/on in conjunction with the opening and closing of the outer cover, and the switch is opened from an opening formed in the inner cover when the outer cover is open. a switch module held on the main body side plate so that the is exposed;
with
the switch is turned on when using the electric parts installed in the image forming apparatus main body and turned off when the electric parts are not used;
a cap member for preventing the switch from being operated when the outer cover is open is detachably installed to cover the switch;
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the main body side plate is formed with a hole or a recess for burying a part of the switch module in a direction away from the interior cover. 3. The switch is configured to protrude from the opening toward the exterior cover in a space between the exterior cover and the interior cover when the exterior cover is closed. 1. The image forming apparatus according to 1. In a space between the exterior cover and the interior cover when the exterior cover is closed, the interior cover is formed with an edge projecting toward the exterior cover from the switch around the opening. is,
the cap member is detachably fitted to the edge to cover the switch ;
3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the cap member does not interfere with the exterior cover when the exterior cover is closed . The switch module includes the switch, a harness extending from the switch, a housing connected to the switch, and a bracket holding the switch and the housing,
4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said bracket of said switch module is fixedly held by said main body side plate. 5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 4, wherein a clamp for holding the harness is installed on each of the bracket and the body side plate in a space between the interior cover and the body side plate. . The main body side plate is a plate-like member made of a metal material,
1, wherein the hole is formed by punching the plate-like member, or the concave portion is formed by drawing the plate-like member. Item 6. The image forming apparatus according to any one of Item 5. The electrical component is a dehumidification heater,
When the dehumidifying heater is used, the switch is turned on while the image forming apparatus main body is connected to the power source and the main power switch is turned on, or regardless of whether the main power switch is turned on or off. 7. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein is turned on.

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