JP2009169126A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming apparatus in which exterior covers are easily and correctly attached with satisfactory operability. <P>SOLUTION: In the image forming apparatus in which an L-shaped or U-shaped side cover (exterior cover) 6 having two flat faces orthogonal to each other is attached to the body frame, engagement holes and a fitting hole are formed in the body frame, engagement pawls 6b are formed on the end edge of one of the two flat faces of the side cover 6, which are orthogonal to each other, and a projection is formed on the internal face of the other one of them. The engagement pawls 6b of the side cover are engaged with the engagement holes of the body frame. The side cover 6 is rotated around the engagement part. The projection formed on the internal face of the side cover is fitted in the fitting hole of the body frame or the fitting hole of a top cover (other exterior cover), thereby fixing the side cover 6. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus in which an L-shaped exterior cover having two planes orthogonal to each other is attached to a main body frame.

An image forming apparatus such as a copying machine or a printer that forms an image on paper by an electrophotographic method is surrounded by a main body frame in which various process devices such as an image carrier, a charging device, a developing device, a transfer device, and a fixing device are incorporated. Covered with a resin exterior cover. Specifically, the periphery of the main body frame is covered with a front cover, left and right side covers, and a rear cover, the upper surface is covered with a top cover, and a paper discharge tray is formed on the upper surface of the top cover.
JP 2006-058688 A JP 2000-071558 A

  By the way, the side cover of the exterior cover is formed in an L shape having two planes orthogonal to each other, and is attached to the main body frame with a screw. However, when fixing the screw, the side cover is held with one hand. There was a problem that it was necessary to mount while supporting, and the mounting workability was poor.

  SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is that it provides an image forming apparatus in which an exterior cover can be easily and accurately attached with good operability.

  In order to achieve the above object, according to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus in which an exterior cover having a part of other intersecting surfaces is attached to a main body frame. Forming an engaging claw at one end edge of a part of the other surface of the outer cover, projecting a protrusion on the other inner surface, and connecting the engaging claw of the outer cover to the body frame. Engage with the engagement hole, rotate the exterior cover using the engagement portion as a fulcrum, and the protrusion protruding from the inner surface of the exterior cover is formed in the fitting hole of the main body frame or other exterior cover The exterior cover is fixed by being fitted in the fitting hole.

  The invention according to claim 2 is characterized in that, in the invention according to claim 1, the projection of the exterior cover is formed in a boss bag shape, and a screw hole is formed in the central portion of the projection.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, the engaging claw formed on the edge of one plane of the outer cover is engaged with the engaging hole of the main body frame, and the outer cover is rotated with the engaging portion as a fulcrum. Since the outer cover can be temporarily held in the main body frame by fitting the protrusion projecting on the inner surface of the other plane into the fitting hole of the main body frame or other outer cover. Can easily attach the exterior cover to the body frame with one hand with good operability. At this time, since the protrusion functions as a positioning means, the exterior cover can be accurately attached to the main body frame.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, since the projection of the exterior cover has a boss bag shape and the screw hole is formed in the central portion of the projection, the exterior cover is attached to the main body frame or other exterior cover by the screw inserted into the screw hole. While being able to fix reliably, the external appearance of an exterior cover is improved because the head of a screw is hidden in the boss bag of a projection and does not protrude on the surface of the exterior cover.

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

  1 is a perspective view of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the image forming apparatus, FIG. 3 is a partial perspective view of a main body frame portion of the image forming apparatus, and FIG. FIG. 5 is a partial perspective view in the direction of arrow A in FIG. 4, FIG. 6 is a partial perspective view of the top cover, and FIG. 7 is a partial perspective view showing a state in which the side cover is attached to the main body frame. 8 is a cross-sectional perspective view showing a state where the side cover is temporarily held by fitting the protrusion of the side cover into the fitting hole of the top cover.

  An image forming apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 1 is a laser printer and includes a rectangular box-shaped apparatus main body 2. The apparatus main body 2 is incorporated in a main body frame 3 as shown in FIG. Various process devices (all not shown) such as a photosensitive drum, a charger, a developing device, a transfer device, and a fixing device are incorporated. The front surface of the apparatus main body 2 (the front side in FIG. 1 is the front side) is covered with an openable / closable front cover 4 that also serves as a manual feed tray, the left and right sides are covered with side covers 5 and 6, and the rear surface is covered with a rear cover 7. The top surface is covered with a top cover 8. The front cover 4, the side covers 5, 6, the rear cover 7 and the top cover 8 constitute an exterior cover, all of which are integrally formed of resin.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a paper feed cassette 9 shown in FIG. 2 is detachably attached to the lower part of the apparatus main body 2, and the paper feed cassette 9 is attached and detached from the front side of the apparatus main body 2. In addition, an operation panel 10 is mounted on the front side right corner of the top cover 8.

  Thus, in the laser printer 1 according to the present embodiment, an image is formed on a sheet through an electrophotographic process by various process devices (not shown) built in the apparatus main body 2, but the sheet on which the image is formed is formed. Is discharged to the top cover 8 and stocked. Here, the top cover 8 is provided with an opening / closing cover 8A that can be opened as shown in FIG. 1 during maintenance such as jam handling. The opening / closing cover 8A is pivoted up and down by a hinge 11 up and down. Supported as possible. An inner cover 8B for covering the process equipment in the apparatus main body 2 when the front cover 4 is opened is attached to the back surface of the open / close cover 8A substantially vertically.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the right side cover 6 has a rectangular opening 6 a for accessing the inside of the apparatus body 2, and the opening 6 a is blocked by the auxiliary cover 12. ing.

  Next, a structure for attaching the right side cover 6 of the exterior cover to the main body frame 3 will be described. The left side cover 5 mounting structure is the same as the right side cover 6 mounting structure, and illustration and description thereof will be omitted.

  As shown in FIG. 3, rectangular engagement holes 3 a that are long in the vertical direction are formed above and below the right front end surface of the main body frame 3. Further, as shown in FIG. 6, a notch circular fitting hole 8a is formed in the right end portion of the rear surface of the top cover 8 attached to the upper surface of the main body frame 3. A circular screw hole 13 is formed at the center of the hole 8a. Then, lateral guide ribs 8b are integrally formed on one side of the fitting hole 8a on the rear surface of the top cover 8 in three upper and lower stages.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 4, the right side cover 6 is formed in an L shape having two planes orthogonal to each other, and the front end portion of the longer plane is bent in an L shape. 6A is formed, and engaging claws 6b are formed above and below the edge of the bent portion 6A. Note that a U-shaped fitting projection 6c is integrally projected toward the rear (left side in FIG. 4) on the upper inner surface of the bent portion 6A.

  Further, the mounting portion 6B constituting the shorter plane of the side cover 6 is formed integrally with the rear end upper portion of the side cover 6, and a circular boss bag is formed on the inner surface thereof as shown in FIG. 6d (bottomed cylindrical shape) is integrally projected forward (to the right in FIG. 5), and a circular screw hole 14 is formed at the center.

  Thus, the side cover 6 is attached to the main body frame 3 and the top cover 8 in the following manner.

  That is, the engaging claw 6b formed on the front end edge of the longer plane of the side cover 6 is engaged with the engaging hole 3a (see FIG. 3) of the main body frame 3 as shown in FIG. As a fulcrum, the side cover 6 is rotated, and a boss bag-like protrusion 6d (see FIG. 5) is formed on the rear surface of the top cover 8 so as to protrude from the inner surface of the mounting portion 6B at the rear end of the side cover 6. It is made to fit in the fitting hole 8a (refer FIG. 6). When the projection 6d of the side cover 6 is fitted into the fitting hole 8a of the top cover 8, the mounting portion 6B of the side cover 6 is bent and deformed by the height of the projection 6d, and the projection 6d is the rear surface of the top cover 8. When the guide ribs 8b (see FIG. 6) formed on the guide holes 8a are fitted into the fitting holes 8a, and the protrusions 6d are fitted into the fitting holes 8a, the side cover 6 is deformed by deformation due to elasticity. In order to return to the original state, the projection 6 protruding from the mounting portion 6B is securely fitted into the fitting hole 8a, and the side cover 6 is accurately positioned with respect to the main body frame 3 and the top cover 8. . The fitting protrusion 6c (see FIG. 4) protruding from the upper inner surface of the bent portion 6A of the side cover 6 is fitted into a fitting hole (not shown) formed at a corresponding position of the main body frame 3. .

  As described above, the engaging claw 6 b of the side cover 6 is engaged with the engaging hole 3 a of the main body frame 3, the side cover 6 is rotated with the engaging portion as a fulcrum, and the attaching portion 6 B of the side cover 6. Since the side cover 6 can be temporarily held on the main body frame 3 and the top cover 8 by fitting the boss bag-shaped protrusion 6d protruding on the inner surface of the boss bag into the fitting hole 8a of the top cover 8, The side cover 6 can be easily attached to the main body frame 3 and the top cover 8 with one hand with good operability. At this time, since the projection 6d functions as a positioning means, the side cover 6 can be accurately attached to the main body frame 3 and the top cover 8.

  Thus, when the side cover 6 is temporarily held as described above, as shown in FIG. 8, screw holes formed at the center portions of the projections 6 d of the side cover 6 and the fitting holes 8 a of the top cover 8. Since 14 and 13 are matched, the side cover 6 can be fixed to the top cover 8 by screwing screws 15 into these screw holes 13 and 14. Here, in the present embodiment, the protrusion 6d of the side cover 6 has a boss bag shape, and the screw hole 14 is formed at the center of the protrusion 6d. Therefore, the side cover 6 is covered with the top cover by the screw 15 inserted into the screw hole 14. 8 and the head of the screw 15 is hidden in the boss bag of the projection 6d so that it does not protrude from the surface of the side cover 6, so that the appearance of the side cover 6 is enhanced.

  In the present embodiment, the protrusion 6d of the side cover 6 is fitted into the fitting hole 8a formed in the top cover 8, and the side is provided by the screw 15 inserted through the screw hole 13 formed in the fitting hole 8a. Although the structure which fixes the cover 6 to the top cover 8 was employ | adopted, the fitting hole was formed in the main body frame 3, the protrusion 6d of the side cover 6 was fitted in this fitting hole, and this side cover 6 was attached to the main body frame 3 Even if a configuration is employed in which the side cover 6 is fixed to the main body frame 3 with screws 15 inserted through screw holes formed in the fitting holes, the same effects as described above can be obtained.

  Further, the embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a laser printer has been described above. However, the present invention can be similarly applied to other arbitrary image forming apparatuses such as a copying machine and a facsimile in addition to a printer. Of course.

1 is a perspective view of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention. 1 is an exploded perspective view of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention. 2 is a partial perspective view of a main body frame portion of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention. FIG. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a side cover of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention as viewed from the inner surface side. It is a fragmentary perspective view of the arrow A direction of FIG. 1 is a partial perspective view of a top cover of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention. FIG. 3 is a partial perspective view illustrating a state in which a side cover is attached to the main body frame of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional perspective view illustrating a state in which the side cover is temporarily held by fitting the protrusion of the side cover of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention into the fitting hole of the top cover.

Explanation of symbols

1 Laser printer (image forming device)
2 Device body 3 Body frame 3a Body frame engagement hole 4 Front cover (exterior cover)
5,6 Side cover (exterior cover)
6A Side cover bent portion 6B Side cover mounting portion 6a Side cover opening 6b Side cover engagement claw 6c Side cover fitting projection 6d Side cover projection 7 Rear cover (exterior cover)
8 Top cover (exterior cover)
8A Open / close cover 8B Inner cover 8a Top cover fitting hole 8b Top cover guide rib 9 Paper feed cassette 10 Operation panel 11 Hinge 12 Auxiliary cover (lid member)
13, 14 Screw hole 15 Screw

Claims (2)

In an image forming apparatus in which an exterior cover having a part of another surface that intersects each other is attached to a main body frame,
An engagement hole and a fitting hole are formed in the main body frame, an engagement claw is formed on one end edge of a part of the other surface of the exterior cover, and a protrusion is provided on the other inner surface. The engaging claw of the outer cover is engaged with the engaging hole of the main body frame, the outer cover is rotated using the engaging portion as a fulcrum, and the protrusion protruding from the inner surface of the outer cover is fitted to the fitting of the main body frame. An image forming apparatus, wherein an exterior cover is fixed by fitting into a fitting hole or a fitting hole formed in another exterior cover. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the projection of the outer cover is formed in a boss bag shape, and a screw hole is formed in a central portion of the projection.

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