JP2004252179A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming apparatus provided with a connection member which is hardly deformed by external force in the case of electrically connecting the image forming apparatus with a paper feeding device. <P>SOLUTION: In the image forming apparatus constituted by attaching the paper feeding device 1 to an image forming apparatus body 3, the paper feeding device 1 is provided with the connection member 5 electrically connected with the image forming apparatus body 3, and the connection member 5 is provided with a head part 13 projected on the surface of the paper feeding device 1 and movable in a projecting direction, and the head part 13 is formed into a curved shape as a whole, and when the paper feeding device 1 is attached to the image forming apparatus body 3, the head part 13 of the connection member 5 comes into contact with the image forming apparatus body 3, so that they are electrically connected. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a printer and a copying machine, and more particularly to an electrical connection between an image forming apparatus and a sheet feeding device.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, when a paper feeding device is disposed at a lower position of an image forming apparatus such as a printer or a copying machine, it is necessary to mechanically and electrically connect the image forming apparatus and the paper feeding device. For this purpose, a dedicated connector was used. However, when connecting the image forming apparatus and the paper feeder using the connector, if the connectors are displaced from each other or are connected in an oblique state, the connectors may be damaged, and it is necessary to secure sufficient strength. (For example, Patent Document 1).
[0003]
On the other hand, as shown in FIGS. 8 to 11, a leaf spring 105 is disposed on the upper surface of the sheet feeding device 100, and the leaf spring 105 is fixed with a screw 107 or the like. Then, by placing the image forming apparatus main body 103 on the sheet feeding apparatus 100 from above, the leaf spring 105 is bent as shown in FIG. 10, and the image forming apparatus main body 103 and the sheet feeding apparatus 100 are grounded.
[0004]
[Patent Document 1]
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-211206
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, since the shape of the leaf spring 105 protrudes in a substantially L-shape, the leaf spring 105 may be deformed at the time of packing, for example. In addition, the end of the leaf spring 105 needs to be subjected to an end surface treatment such as bending or pasting of a mylar 106, and there is a problem that processing cost is increased. Further, since the leaf spring 105 is fixed by the screw 107, when there is no gap between the image forming apparatus main body 103 and the sheet feeding apparatus 100, it is necessary to use a special screw 107 having a small screw head.
[0006]
Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus provided with a connecting member that is not easily deformed by an external force when the image forming apparatus is electrically connected to a sheet feeding apparatus.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The invention according to claim 1 is an image forming apparatus in which a paper feeding device is mounted on an image forming device main body, wherein the paper feeding device includes a connection member that is electrically connected to the image forming device main body, and the connection member is A head is provided on the surface of the sheet feeding device and is movable in the projecting direction.The head has a curved shape as a whole. The head is in contact with the image forming apparatus main body, and both are electrically connected.
[0008]
According to the first aspect of the invention, in order to mount the sheet feeding device on the image forming apparatus main body, the sheet feeding apparatus is aligned with a predetermined position of the image forming apparatus main body, and both are mechanically connected. The sheet feeding device includes a conductive connecting member. When the image forming apparatus main body is mounted on the sheet feeding device, the head of the connecting member comes into contact with the image forming apparatus main body, and both are electrically connected.
[0009]
At this time, since the head of the connecting member has a curved shape as a whole, it is difficult to be deformed by an external force.
[0010]
According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, the paper feeder includes a concave storage portion that stores the connection member, and the connection member has a leg that supports the head, Are stored in the storage section.
[0011]
According to the second aspect of the invention, the same operation and effect as those of the first aspect of the invention can be obtained, and since the legs of the connecting member are housed in the housing, it is not necessary to attach the connecting member with a screw or the like. Therefore, it can be easily manufactured and cost can be reduced.
[0012]
According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus having a paper feeding device mounted on the image forming device main body, the image forming device main body houses a connecting member electrically connected to the paper feeding device and a connecting member. The connecting member has a head that protrudes from the surface of the image forming apparatus main body and is movable in the protruding direction, and a leg that supports the head. When the paper feeding device is mounted on the main body of the image forming apparatus, the head of the connection member comes into contact with the paper feeding device, and both are electrically connected.
[0013]
According to the third aspect of the invention, the same functions and effects as those of the first or second aspect of the invention are obtained.
[0014]
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the first to third aspects of the present invention, the head of the connecting member has a flat top.
[0015]
According to the fourth aspect of the invention, the same effects as those of the first to third aspects are obtained, and the head of the connecting member has a flat top, so that the connection member can be connected to the image forming apparatus main body. The area can be increased, and a more reliable electrical connection can be obtained.
[0016]
According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, when the head is pressed against the urging force of the elastic member, the head is located in the storage portion. And
[0017]
According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the same operation and effect as those of the first to third aspects can be obtained, and the connecting member can be pushed in at the time of packing, so that the connecting member can be easily packed without protruding. Further, when an external force is applied to the connecting member, the connecting member moves against the urging force and is less likely to receive the force, so that the connecting member is less likely to be damaged.
[0018]
According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the second or third aspect of the present invention, the connecting member is integrally formed by a leaf spring, and a leg in the storage portion is bent to form a spring. I do.
[0019]
According to the sixth aspect of the invention, the same operation and effect as those of the second or third aspect of the invention can be obtained, and the legs can be formed only by bending, so that the processing can be performed easily and inexpensively.
[0020]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. 1 is a perspective view showing the periphery of the connection member of the sheet feeding device shown in FIG. 7, FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing the periphery of the connection member shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 4 to 6 are cross-sectional views showing modified examples of the connection member, and FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a state where a sheet feeding device is mounted on the image forming apparatus main body.
[0021]
As shown in FIG. 7, an image forming apparatus 2 according to the present embodiment is configured by mounting a sheet feeding device 1 on an image forming apparatus main body 3. A reference pin 9 is provided at a corner of the sheet feeding device 1, and a positioning hole 11 is formed on the image forming apparatus main body 3 at a position facing the reference pin 9. The metal frame of the sheet feeding device 1 includes a connection member 5 that is electrically connected to the image forming apparatus main body 3.
[0022]
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the metal frame on the upper part of the paper feeding device 1 is provided with a concave storage part 7 for storing the connection member 5, and the connection member 5 is stored in the storage part 7. . The connection member 5 has a substantially hemispherical head 13, and a leg 15 integrally formed with the head 13 extends from a lower portion of the head 13. The leg 15 is formed to be bent in an arc shape from the lower edge periphery of the head 13 to the outside, and the lower end of the leg 15 is in contact with the bottom 7 a of the storage unit 7.
[0023]
The storage part 7 has a circular opening 7b on the upper surface thereof, and the size of the opening 7b is formed slightly larger than the head 13 so that the head 13 can be moved up and down. It has become.
[0024]
Next, the operation of the present embodiment based on the above configuration will be described. When the paper feeding device 1 is mounted on the image forming device main body 3, the image forming device main body 3 is lifted from the front-back direction, and the positions of the reference pins 9 of the paper feeding device 1 placed on the floor and the positioning holes 11 are adjusted. The two are connected by lowering the image forming apparatus main body 3.
[0025]
When the image forming apparatus main body 3 is mounted on the sheet feeding device 1, when the image forming apparatus main body 3 is lowered, the head 13 of the connecting member 5 is pushed, and the leg 15 supporting the head 13 is elastically deformed. Before the head 13 is pushed, the head 13a is located at the position shown by the one-dot chain line in FIG. 3, but is pushed from above and gradually enters the storage part 7 as shown by the solid line in the figure. When the connection surface of the sheet feeding device 1 and the connection surface of the image forming apparatus main body 3 coincide with each other, they are mechanically connected. At this time, the head 13 of the connection member 5 contacts the metal frame on the lower surface of the image forming apparatus main body 3, and the lower end of the leg 15 contacts the bottom 7 a of the storage unit 7, which is the metal frame of the sheet feeding device 1. By doing so, both are electrically connected.
[0026]
Since the head 13 of the connecting member 5 is formed in a substantially hemispherical shape, a force is not applied to only a part of the head 13 intensively, and the head 13 is not easily deformed by an external force. Therefore, when the image forming apparatus main body 3 is attached to or detached from the sheet feeding device 1, the image forming apparatus main body 3 or the connecting member 5 is hardly damaged.
[0027]
Further, when the head 13 is pressed, the connection member 5 can be pushed in at the time of packing because the head 13 is located in the storage portion 7 against elastic deformation, so that the connection member 5 protrudes. It is easy to pack without. In addition, when an external force is applied to the connecting member, the connecting member moves hardly to receive the force against the urging force, and the connecting member 5 is hardly damaged. In addition, user safety can be ensured. Further, by changing the thickness and the number of the legs 15, the elastic force of the connecting member 5 can be changed, and the head 13 comes into contact with the image forming apparatus main body 3 in a desired size, thereby establishing electrical connection. It can be done reliably.
[0028]
Next, a modified example will be described. In the modification shown in FIG. 4, the top 13a of the head 13 of the connection member 5 is flattened. As described above, since the top 13a of the head 13 of the connection member 5 is flat, the connection area with the image forming apparatus main body 3 can be increased, and more reliable electrical connection can be obtained.
[0029]
In the modification shown in FIG. 5, the head 13 of the connecting member 5 has a substantially conical shape. Also in this case, similarly to the case where the head 13 is formed in a substantially hemispherical shape, the head 13 is not easily deformed by an external force.
[0030]
In the modification shown in FIG. 6, the step 17 is formed by bending the upper wall of the sheet feeding device 1 into a concave shape, and the connecting member 5 is stored using the step 17. Also in this case, the connecting member 5 is set on the upper surface of the step 17 so that the leg 15 is placed thereon, and the periphery of the head 13 is surrounded by the regulating member 19 so that the connecting member 5 does not come off.
[0031]
The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention.
[0032]
The connection member 5 is provided with the connection member 5 on the paper feeder 1 side, but is not limited thereto. The storage member 7 is formed on the image forming apparatus main body 3 side, and the connection member 5 is provided in the storage portion 7. It may be arranged.
[0033]
The connection member 5 has the head 13 and the leg 15 integrally formed so that the leg 13 functions as a spring. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and an elastic body such as a coil spring is disposed at the lower end of the head 13. May be.
[0034]
Further, the paper feeder 1 is not limited to the one in which the paper feeder 1 is disposed below the main body 3 of the image forming apparatus, and may be one in which the paper feeder 1 is connected in parallel with the main body 3 of the image forming apparatus. Is provided on the side plate of the sheet feeding device 1, and the connection member 5 stored in the storage portion 7 protrudes to one side in the left-right direction, so that the sheet feeding device 1 and the image forming apparatus main body 3 are electrically connected.
[0035]
【The invention's effect】
According to the first aspect of the present invention, since the head of the connecting member has a curved shape as a whole, it is difficult to be deformed by an external force.
[0036]
According to the second aspect of the present invention, the same operation and effect as those of the first aspect of the invention are provided, and since the legs of the connecting member are housed in the housing, it is not necessary to attach the connecting member with a screw or the like. Yes, it can be easily manufactured and cost can be reduced.
[0037]
According to the third aspect of the invention, the same effect as the first or second aspect of the invention is obtained.
[0038]
According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the same effects as those of the first to third aspects are achieved, and the head of the connection member is flat with the top of the image forming apparatus. The connection area can be increased, and more reliable electrical connection can be obtained.
[0039]
According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the same effects as those of the first to fourth aspects of the invention can be obtained, and the connecting member can be pushed in at the time of packing, so that the connecting member can be easily packed without protruding. Further, when an external force is applied to the connecting member, the connecting member moves against the urging force and is hardly subjected to the force and is hardly damaged.
[0040]
According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, the same operation and effect as those of the second or third aspect can be obtained, and the legs can be formed only by bending, so that the processing can be easily and inexpensively manufactured.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a periphery of a connection member of the sheet feeding device according to FIG. 7;
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view around a connection member according to FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the vicinity of a connection member when the image forming apparatus main body is mounted on the sheet feeding device.
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a modification of the connection member.
FIG. 5 is a sectional view showing a modification of the connection member.
FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing a modification of the connection member.
FIG. 7 is a perspective view illustrating a state in which the image forming apparatus main body is mounted on the sheet feeding device.
8 is a perspective view of the connection member of the conventional example shown in FIG.
FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view showing the connection member of the conventional example according to FIG. 11;
10 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a connection member when a sheet feeding device is mounted on the image forming apparatus main body illustrated in FIG.
FIG. 11 is a perspective view illustrating a conventional example in which an image forming apparatus main body is mounted on a sheet feeding device.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Paper feeder 2 Image forming apparatus 3 Image forming apparatus main body 5 Connection member 7 Storage part 13 Head part 13a Top part 15 Leg part

Claims (6)

In an image forming apparatus in which a paper feeding device is mounted on an image forming device main body, the paper feeding device includes a connection member electrically connected to the image forming device main body, and the connection member protrudes and protrudes from a surface of the paper feeding device. The head has a curved shape as a whole, and the head of the connecting member comes into contact with the image forming apparatus main body when the paper feeding device is mounted on the image forming apparatus main body. And an image forming apparatus wherein the two are electrically connected. 2. The paper feeder according to claim 1, further comprising a concave storage portion for storing the connection member, wherein the connection member has a leg supporting the head, and the leg is stored in the storage portion. Image forming device. In an image forming apparatus in which a sheet feeding device is mounted on an image forming device main body, the image forming device main body includes a connection member that is electrically connected to the sheet feeding device, and a concave storage portion that stores the connection member. The connecting member has a head protruding from the surface of the image forming apparatus main body and movable in the protruding direction, and a leg supporting the head, and the head has a curved shape as a whole. An image forming apparatus, wherein when a paper feeding device is mounted on a main body, a head of a connecting member comes into contact with the paper feeding device and both are electrically connected. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a top of the head of the connection member is flat. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the connection member is pressed against the head against the urging force of the elastic member, the head is positioned in the storage portion. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the connection member is integrally formed by a leaf spring, and a leg in the storage portion is bent to form a spring.

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