JP2002033869A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming device where an outer cover and an image read section can selectively be fitted to an image forming section with a simple work and the image read section and the image forming section can be used as an integrated device or separated devices. SOLUTION: In the image forming device where an upper cover (outer cover) C and the image read section B can selectively be fitted to the image forming section A that outputs an image onto a sheet, the upper cover C and the image read section B are fitted to the same position of the image forming section A by using a common connection mechanism D. This invention eliminates the need for provision of a mount section respectively to the upper cover C and the image read section B, the upper cover C and the image read section B are selectively fitted to the image forming section A with a simple work and the image read section B and the image forming section A can be used as an integrated device or separate devices.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus capable of selectively attaching an outer cover and an image reading section to an image forming section for outputting an image to a sheet.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An image forming apparatus such as a printer is a device for forming image data sent from a personal computer or the like on a sheet and outputting the same. An image reading device such as a scanner is connected to the image forming device. By outputting the read image data, a function of a copying machine can be provided.
In such a case, the connection method between the printer and the scanner is such that the printer and the scanner are independent devices. A separate installation method has been adopted.

As another method, a part of the exterior of the printer is removed, the scanner is attached to the printer body, and both are connected as an integrated device.

If the method of connecting the printer and the scanner as an integrated device is used, advantages such as improvement in unity of the device, saving of space for installing the scanner, and cost reduction by eliminating the need for a scanner base or the like are obtained. Can be

[0005]

However, when the printer and the scanner are connected as an integrated device, if the fixing of the outer cover of the printer and the fixing of the scanner are performed at different positions and mechanisms, respectively, the respective mounting members are not provided. Is necessary, and this may cause an increase in cost, and may cause confusion in the work of replacing the outer cover and the scanner.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and a purpose thereof is to provide an external cover and an image reading section which can be selectively attached to an image forming section by a simple operation. An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus in which an image forming unit can be used as an integrated device or as a separate device.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, according to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus for outputting an image to a sheet, wherein an outer cover and an image reading section can be selectively attached to the image forming section. In the forming apparatus, the exterior cover and the image reading unit are attached to the same position of the image forming unit using a common connection mechanism.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the connection mechanism includes a projection member provided on the exterior cover and the image reading portion, and a projection member provided on the image forming portion. A mounting hole for connection on the receiving side of the member, a buffer member interposed between the image forming unit and the exterior cover or the image reading unit, and an exterior cover engaged with the projection member inserted into the mounting hole. Alternatively, the image reading unit is configured to include a stopper for preventing separation from the image forming unit.

Therefore, according to the present invention, since the exterior cover and the image reading section are attached to the same position of the image forming section by using a common connection mechanism, it is necessary to provide attachment sections for the exterior cover and the image reading section, respectively. The external cover and the image reading unit can be selectively attached to the image forming unit by a simple operation without using the image reading unit, and the image reading unit and the image forming unit can be used as an integrated device or as a separate device. Can be.

[0010]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

<Embodiment 1> FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention. An image reading section B and an upper cover C are located at the same position in an image forming section A of the illustrated image forming apparatus.
Can be detachably attached.

When the upper cover C is attached, the image forming section A is used as a single image forming apparatus like a printer, and forms and outputs image data sent from a personal computer or the like on a sheet. Can be.

When the image reading unit B is attached to the image forming unit A instead of the upper cover C, the image forming unit A functions as an image forming apparatus such as a printer in addition to a function of outputting image data from a personal computer or the like. By outputting an image read by the reading unit B on a sheet, a function as a copying machine can be provided.

Here, the connection mechanism D of the image reading section B is shown in FIG.
It will be described based on. FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing the configuration of the connection mechanism D.

In FIG. 2, reference numeral 51 denotes a pin mounted on the lower surface of the image reading unit B, 52 denotes a damper fixed to the image reading unit B, 53 denotes a mounting hole formed in the image forming unit A,
Reference numeral 54 denotes a stopper for preventing the image reading unit B and the image forming unit A from being separated, and reference numeral 55 denotes a guide for guiding the insertion of the stopper 54.

The pin 51 is a column having a tapered tip and a groove 56 for engaging the stopper 54.
Are formed, and the pins 51 are fixed to the frame of the image reading section B by caulking or screws. In addition, the pin 51 may be screwed to another metal plate or the like and screwed to the frame.

The damper 52 is an elastic body for absorbing vibration transmitted from the image reading unit B to the image forming unit A or from the image forming unit A to the image reading unit B. The damper 52 has a cylindrical shape combining three outer diameters. ing. The outer diameter of the cylinder of the damper 52 is the smallest in the center and coincides with the inner diameter of the mounting hole 53. The outer diameter of the lower side of the damper 52 is larger than the inner diameter of the mounting hole 53. However, since the damper 52 is an elastic body, the damper 52 can be screwed into the mounting hole 53. It is attached so that the portion comes to a position covering the inner periphery of the attachment hole 53. Since the damper 52 has a cylindrical shape, it is not necessary to define an angle when mounting the damper 52, and it is not necessary to provide a rotation stop or the like.

The lower portion of the damper 52 is tapered so that the damper 52 can be easily inserted into the mounting hole 53. A pin insertion hole 58 into which the pin 51 is inserted is formed through the center of the damper 52.

The mounting hole 53 is a burring aperture formed in the frame of the image forming section A. The burring aperture has a height of the aperture so that it can receive a lateral impact from the surface.

A notch 57 is formed in the stopper 54. The notch 57 allows the stopper 54 to expand on both sides, so that the stopper 54 can be detachably attached to the pin 51. The stopper 54
The tip of the stopper 54 is tapered so that the pin 51 can be easily inserted into the groove 56.

The guide 55 is attached to the image forming portion A, and has a guide portion for guiding the stopper 54 into the groove 56 of the pin 51. The guide 55 may be a single member of the guide, or a member such as a cover inside the exterior of the image forming unit A may have the same function.

As shown in FIG. 1, the connection mechanism D is provided at two places in front of the apparatus and one in each of the right side and the left side, for a total of four places, and supports almost four corners of the image reading section B. Therefore, the device can be fixed stably.

Since the front and right and left side surfaces of the image forming section A are provided with doors which can be opened and closed for jam clearance of sheets, the connection mechanism D can be accessed by opening these doors. Can be. The image forming unit A can be used as a single image forming apparatus by attaching the upper cover C without connecting the image reading unit B to the image forming unit A.

Incidentally, the upper cover C can be attached to the image forming section A by the same connection mechanism D as that of the image reading section B. That is, the pin 51 is attached to the lower surface of the upper cover C, or a part of the upper cover C protrudes from the lower surface in the shape of the pin 51.
The upper cover C is fixed to the image forming portion A by the stopper 54 by inserting the upper cover C into the same mounting hole 53 as the connection of. Accordingly, when the image reading unit B is not integrally connected to the image forming unit A, the image forming unit can be used alone with the upper cover C attached. It is also possible to use them separately.

Next, a procedure for attaching the image reading section B and the upper cover C to the image forming section A will be described.

In the image forming section A to which neither the image reading section B nor the upper cover C is attached, a mounting hole 53 for connecting the image reading section B or the upper cover C is exposed on the upper surface. The image reading unit B and the image forming unit A on the bottom surface of the upper cover C
At a position corresponding to the mounting hole 53 on the side, a pin 51 constituting the connection mechanism D is protruded.

When attaching the image reading section B or the upper cover C to the image forming section A, first, the damper 52 is fitted into the mounting hole 53 on the image forming section A side. At this time, utilizing the fact that the damper 52 is an elastic body, a portion larger than the inner diameter of the mounting hole 53 of the damper 52 is screwed in so that a portion having the same outer diameter as the inner diameter of the mounting hole 53 in the middle is formed in the mounting hole 53. So that it is located at the periphery. However, mounting holes 53
By cutting a part of the burring hole into a shape as shown in FIG. 3, the middle portion of the damper 52 having a small diameter can be contracted and inserted from the side, and the lower side has a larger diameter. This makes it possible to attach the damper 52 more securely.

Next, the four pins 51 are inserted into the pin insertion holes 58 of the damper 52 and positioned. Damper 52
When the pin 51 is inserted into the center pin insertion hole 58, the pin 51 cannot be bent inward as in the case where the pin 51 is attached to the attachment hole 53, so that the pin 51 does not come off from the attachment hole 53.

Next, the door of the image forming section A is opened and the guide 5 is opened.
When the stopper 5 is exposed and the stopper 54 is inserted along the guide portion of the guide 55, the groove 56 of the pin 51 is caught by the tapered shape of the tip of the stopper 54, and the stopper 54 opens left and right by the effect of the notch 57. As a result, the stopper 54 is attached to the pin 51 and the image reading unit B or the upper cover C is attached to the image forming unit A. At this time, since the head portion of the stopper 54 coincides with the entrance surface of the guide 55, the stopper 54 is attached without a sense of strangeness in appearance.

When the stopper 54 is mounted on the pin 51, the lower portion of the damper 52 is sandwiched between the periphery of the mounting hole 53 and the stopper 54, and the image reading section B or the upper cover C is separated. When a force is applied, the damper 52 is inserted between the stopper 54 and the mounting hole 53 and supported, so that the damper 52 separates the image reading portion B or the upper cover C while maintaining the damper effect. Can be prevented.

Thereafter, when the door of the image forming section A is closed, the connection mechanism D is completely invisible from the outside, so that the connection mechanism D does not affect the appearance.

When it is necessary to separate the image forming unit A from the image reading unit B or the upper cover C when replacing the image reading unit B and the upper cover C or when performing maintenance of the unit, the image forming unit A Open the door of the forming part A and open the stopper 5
4 and the image forming unit A and the image reading unit B
Alternatively, the upper cover C can be separated, and the image reading unit B and the upper cover C can be selectively attached to the image forming unit A.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the image reading unit B and the upper cover C are attached to the same position of the image forming unit A using the common connection mechanism D. The image reading unit B and the upper cover C can be selectively attached to the image forming unit A by a simple operation without the need to provide a mounting unit for each of the image forming unit A and the image reading unit. B can be used as an integrated device or as a separate device.

When mounting the upper cover C, there is no need to consider the influence of vibration. Therefore, the damper 52 is not used, and the pins 51 that engage with the mounting holes 53 are provided on the upper cover C. The upper cover C may be fixed by abutting the stopper 54 against the edge.

Second Embodiment Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration and operation of the connection mechanism of the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment, and FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a damper.

In the connection mechanism D according to the present embodiment, the insertion portion of the damper 52 into the mounting hole 53 is divided into a plurality of parts as shown in FIG.
The inner diameter of the pin insertion hole 58 into which the hole is inserted gradually decreases downward.

When connecting the units, FIG.
When the pin 51 is inserted into the damper 52 as shown in (b), the inner diameter of the pin insertion hole 58 of the damper 52 becomes smaller as described above, so that the damper 52 becomes smaller.
When the pin 51 is inserted, the damper 52 does not come out of the mounting hole 53 because the outer diameter of the portion that protrudes downward from the mounting hole 53 is larger than the inner diameter of the mounting hole 53 as shown in the figure. Disappears.

As in the first embodiment, after the pin 51 is inserted into the damper 52, the door of the image forming section A is opened and the stopper 54 is engaged with the groove 56 of the pin 51.
The pin 51 cannot be pulled out because the stopper 54 engages with the insertion portion of the damper 52 even if the user attempts to remove the pin 51.

As described above, since the pin 51 does not come off, the damper 52 does not come out of the mounting hole 53.
The image forming unit A and the exterior cover C or the image reading unit B are completely connected, and the workability of mounting the damper 52 to the mounting hole 53 is improved.

Third Embodiment Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 is an exploded cross-sectional view illustrating a configuration of a connection mechanism of the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment.

In the present embodiment, the damper 52 is divided into a first damper 52a and a second damper 52b, and the first damper 52a covers the inner periphery of the mounting hole 53, and the second damper 52 52 b is attached to the guide 55 and installed below the attachment hole 53.

After the pins 51 are inserted into the two dampers 52a and 52b, the door of the image forming section A is opened and the stopper 5 is inserted into the groove 56 of the pins 51, as in the first embodiment.
4, the second damper 52b is attached to the mounting hole 53.
And the second damper 52b enters between the stopper 54 and the mounting hole 53 when a force is applied to separate the outer cover C or the image reading unit B. By supporting the external cover C, it is possible to prevent the outer cover C or the image reading unit B from being separated while maintaining the damper effect.

<Fourth Embodiment> Next, a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 7 is a sectional view showing the configuration and operation of the connection mechanism of the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment.

In the connection mechanism D according to the present embodiment, an elastic body 52 serving as a damper is bonded between two metal plates 52c and 52d, and one of the metal plates 52c is crimped or screwed. Pin 51 is attached by
The other sheet metal 52d is screwed to the bottom of the image reading unit B.

When the image reading section B is connected to the image forming section A, the image reading section B is inserted into the mounting hole 53 of the image forming section A.
Side pin 51 is inserted, and the pin 51 is
From the mounting hole 53 is prevented.

In attaching the outer cover C,
Since there is no need to interpose the elastic body 52 therebetween, the pins 51 may be directly attached to the outer cover C or a part of the outer cover C may have the shape of the pins 51.

According to the present embodiment, there is no need to interpose a damper between the pin 51, the stopper 54 and the mounting hole 53, and this portion can be completely fixed. A more stable connection to the part A becomes possible.

[0048]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, in an image forming apparatus capable of selectively attaching an outer cover and an image reading unit to an image forming unit that outputs an image to a sheet, Since the exterior cover and the image reading unit are attached to the same position of the image forming unit using a common connection mechanism, the exterior cover and the image reading unit can be selectively attached to the image forming unit by a simple operation. Thus, an effect is obtained that the image reading unit and the image forming unit can be used as an integrated device or as a separate device.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of an image forming apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a configuration of a connection mechanism of the image forming apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing another form of the mounting hole of the connection mechanism.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a configuration and an operation of a connection mechanism of an image forming apparatus according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a damper constituting a connection mechanism of the image forming apparatus according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an exploded cross-sectional view illustrating a configuration of a connection mechanism of an image forming apparatus according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a configuration and operation of a connection mechanism of an image forming apparatus according to Embodiment 4 of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 A image forming section B image reading section C upper cover (exterior cover) D connection mechanism 51 pin (projection member) 52 damper (buffer member) 53 mounting hole 54 stopper

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Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. An image forming apparatus capable of selectively attaching an exterior cover and an image reading unit to an image forming unit that outputs an image to a sheet, wherein the exterior cover and the image reading unit are located at the same position in the image forming unit. An image forming apparatus, wherein the image forming apparatus is mounted using a common connection mechanism. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the connection mechanism includes a projection member provided on the exterior cover and the image reading unit, a connection mounting hole provided on the image forming unit and serving as a receiving side of the projection member, and an image. A buffer member interposed between the forming unit and the exterior cover or the image reading unit, and a stopper that engages with the protrusion member inserted into the mounting hole to prevent the exterior cover or the image reading unit from being separated from the image forming unit. And characterized in that: