JP4692409B2 - Snap-fit mechanism for opening / closing cover of image forming device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a snap-fit mechanism for an opening / closing cover of an image forming apparatus configured such that a projection part gets over a locking part when opening / closing an opening / closing cover such as a manual feed tray of the image forming apparatus.

  There are image forming apparatuses such as a copying machine, a printer, a facsimile machine, or a so-called multifunction machine having a plurality of these functions. This image forming apparatus has a main body portion covered with a synthetic resin main body cover, and manually feeds paper to a side surface portion of the main body cover manually into a paper transport mechanism installed in the main body portion. The manual feed tray is provided with a manual feed tray that is rotatably installed with its lower end portion as a fulcrum. When manually feeding paper to the paper transport mechanism, open the manual feed tray and place the paper on it, so that the paper on the manual feed tray can be fed from the manual feed slot into the paper transport mechanism in the main unit. (Patent Document 1).

The manual feed tray is provided with a snap-fit mechanism including a protrusion formed on the side surface portion and a step-shaped locking portion formed at a position facing the side surface portion on the main body cover side. There is something. While this snap-fit mechanism locks the manual feed tray in the closed position, if the operator applies a force to open the manual feed tray, the protruding portion gets over the latching portion to manually The tray is open. Thus, the snap fit mechanism prevents the manual feed tray from being opened and closed inadvertently by applying a certain resistance to the force for opening and closing the manual feed tray.
JP 2005-138965 A

  However, in the conventional snap-fit mechanism, since the shape of the protrusion is a button shape, a large force is required when the protrusion rides on the locking portion. There is a problem in that the protruding portion gets over the latching portion at the position, and almost no force is required to open the manual feed tray. In this way, the required force suddenly changes during the opening / closing operation, causing the manual feed tray to suddenly rotate due to its inertial force, producing a strong impact or a loud collision sound. The operability and feel of the device were not so good, and the burden on the device was large.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described points, and an object of the present invention is to provide an image that can improve the operability and feel during opening and closing without the force required to open and close the opening and closing cover changing rapidly. An object of the present invention is to provide a snap-fit mechanism for an opening / closing cover of a forming apparatus.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the invention according to claim 1 of the present application is an opening / closing cover that is rotatably attached to a cover member of an image forming apparatus, and a protrusion formed on a side surface of the opening / closing cover provided with a rotation shaft. And a step-shaped locking portion provided on a surface of the cover member that faces the side surface, and the protrusion has an arc shape whose longitudinal direction is centered on the rotation axis in the side surface. formed a elongated projections, when the cover is opened and closed by rotating between the fully open open position and a closed position, said protrusion at the open position or the closed position of the cover part rides on the locking portion, and wherein during, in that the protrusion is configured such state continues for riding on the locking portion of the cover therefrom is moved to the closed position or the open position To do.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the snap-fit mechanism of the open / close cover of the image forming apparatus according to the first aspect, at least one end portion in the longitudinal direction of the projection portion projects toward the tip end. It is characterized in that it is formed in an inclined shape in which becomes smaller.

The invention according to claim 3 of the present application is the snap fit mechanism of the opening / closing cover of the image forming apparatus according to claim 1 or 2 , wherein one end portion in the longitudinal direction of the protrusion is at the closed position of the opening / closing cover. And the other end in the longitudinal direction of the projection is in contact with and locked to the locking portion at the open position of the opening / closing cover. .

The invention according to claim 4 of the present application is the snap fit mechanism of the opening / closing cover of the image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3 , wherein the opening / closing cover places the loaded paper in the image forming apparatus. It is a manual feed tray that supplies the paper to the paper transport mechanism.

According to the invention described in claim 1 of the present application, since the protruding portion is formed in a long shape whose longitudinal direction is directed to the rotation direction of the opening / closing cover, the opening / closing while the protruding portion rides on the locking portion. Since the rotation range of the cover is increased and it is possible to prevent the force required for the opening / closing operation from changing suddenly during the opening / closing, the operability and feel when opening / closing the opening / closing cover are improved. In particular, it is possible to prevent the opening / closing cover from suddenly becoming unnecessary while the opening / closing cover is being opened. Disappear.
In addition, since the protrusion is formed in an arc shape along the rotation direction of the opening and closing cover, the rotation range of the opening and closing cover can be increased while the protrusion is riding on the locking portion, and the opening and closing operation can be performed during the opening and closing. Since the force required for the opening can be prevented from changing suddenly, the operability and feel when opening and closing the opening / closing cover are improved.

According to the invention described in claim 2 of the present application, since at least one end portion in the longitudinal direction of the projection portion is formed in an inclined shape in which the projection dimension becomes smaller toward the tip, the projection portion becomes the locking portion. It is possible to prevent a sudden change in the force required for the opening / closing operation of the opening / closing cover when getting on or when getting off the riding-on locking part, and the operability and feel when opening / closing the opening / closing cover are improved. In addition, since the opening / closing of the opening / closing cover becomes smooth, the opening / closing cover can be opened / closed with a smaller force.

According to the invention described in claim 3 of the present application, since the end portion of the protruding portion comes into contact with and is locked at the closed position and the open position of the open / close cover, the open / close cover is opened and closed. It is possible to prevent the ratchet of the open / close cover at those positions.

According to the invention described in claim 4 of the present application, the open / close cover is a manual feed tray that supplies the loaded paper to the paper transport mechanism in the image forming apparatus. A feeling can be made favorable.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic front view of an image forming apparatus including a snap-fit mechanism for an opening / closing cover according to an embodiment of the present invention. The image forming apparatus according to the present invention may be any of a copying machine, a printer, a facsimile machine, or a so-called multifunction machine having a plurality of functions among them. The image forming apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 1 has a paper transport mechanism for transporting recording paper and an image forming mechanism (not shown) including a photosensitive drum and a transfer roller for forming an image on the recording paper. A paper cassette 3 for storing recording paper is installed on the lower side of the main body 2, and the original placed on the original tray 5 is placed on the upper side of the main body 2. An automatic document feeder (ADF device) 4 for feeding onto a platen glass (not shown) provided on the upper surface of the printer is installed. The main body 2 is covered with a main body cover 6 which is a cover member made of synthetic resin, and one side surface 6a of the main body cover 6 is accessed to access a paper transport mechanism and an image forming mechanism in the main body 2. Jam access opening 7 (see FIG. 3 below) is provided. A jam access cover 20 and a manual feed tray 30 described below are attached to the jam access opening 7 so as to be freely opened and closed.

  FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the side surface portion 6 a of the main body cover 6 of the image forming apparatus 1. 3 is a view showing a state where the jam access cover 20 and the manual feed tray 30 are integrally opened, and FIG. 4 is a view showing a state where only the manual feed tray 30 is opened. FIG. 5 is a schematic side view (partially sectional view) of the jam access cover 20 and the manual feed tray 30. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the jam access opening 7 is a manual paper feed port 7 a for supplying the paper manually to the paper transport mechanism.

  Each of the jam access cover 20 and the manual feed tray 30 is a molded product made of synthetic resin and is formed in a substantially rectangular flat plate shape. As shown in FIG. 5, the jam access cover 20 is provided with a pair of columnar shaft portions 21 (only the front side is shown) projecting outwardly in the vicinity of the lower end portions on both side surfaces. The cover 6 is inserted into an insertion portion comprising a circular opening (not shown) provided on the inner peripheral side surface of the jam access opening 7 and is rotatably attached. The first rotation fulcrum is formed by the shaft 21 and the insertion portion. 15 is configured. Further, as shown in FIG. 2, the jam access cover 20 includes a pair of projecting portions 22 projecting upward on both sides of the upper end thereof, and a shape in which the space between the projecting portions 22 is cut out in a substantially U shape. Is formed.

  As shown in FIG. 3, a lock mechanism that locks the jam access cover 20 in a closed position is provided on the inner surface side of the jam access cover 20. This locking mechanism is provided on the back side of a pair of engagement hooks 50 (only the front side is shown) attached near both sides of the inner surface of the jam access cover 20 and the inner peripheral end of the jam access opening 7 of the main body cover 6. When the engagement hook 50 rotates about the rotation shaft portion 52 and the engagement portion 54 at the tip thereof engages with the engagement portion 8, the jam access cover 20 is provided. Is configured to be locked in a closed state.

  On the other hand, the manual feed tray 30 which is an opening / closing cover of the present invention is provided with a pair of cylindrical shaft portions 31 (only the front side is shown) projecting outward on both side surfaces of the lower end portion thereof as shown in FIG. The shaft portion 31 is inserted into an insertion portion 22a formed of a circular opening provided on the inner surface of the pair of protrusions 22 of the jam access cover 20, and is rotatably attached. The shaft portion 31 and the insertion portion 22a Thus, the second rotation fulcrum 16 is configured. The manual feed tray 30 has the second rotation fulcrum 16 as a fulcrum and a closed position (position shown in FIG. 5) located on the same plane as the jam access cover 20 and a predetermined angle with respect to the jam access cover 20. And an open position (position shown in FIG. 7 (b) described below).

  The manual feed tray 30 is provided with a snap fit mechanism. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a detailed configuration of the snap-fit mechanism, and is a partially enlarged view of the manual feed tray 30 as viewed from one side surface side. As shown in the figure, the snap fit mechanism 40 includes a protrusion 34 formed integrally with a side surface 30a of the manual feed tray 30 (a surface on which the rotation shaft 31 is provided), and a protrusion 22 of the jam access cover 20. A step-shaped locking portion 24 formed integrally with the side surface (side surface facing the side surface 30a) 22b is provided. The protrusion 34 has a long shape whose longitudinal direction is directed in the rotation direction of the manual feed tray 30 (rotation direction around the second rotation fulcrum 16). It is formed in the circular arc shape (arc shape centering on the 2nd rotation fulcrum 16) along the said rotation direction. On the other hand, the locking portion 24 is a substantially rectangular plate-like portion formed on the inner side surface 22 b, and includes one side (side on the main body 2 side) 24 a and the other side in the rotation direction of the manual feed tray 30. (Side opposite to the main body portion 2) 24b is formed in a straight line extending in the vertical direction of the jam access cover 20.

  In addition, the protrusion 34 has one end (the end opposite to the main body 2) 34 b in the longitudinal direction of the manual feed tray 30 in the closed position, and one side (the main body) of the locking portion 24. (Side 2) 24a is abutted and locked, and in the state where the manual feed tray 30 is in the open position, the other end (end on the main body 2 side) 34a in the longitudinal direction is the locking portion. It is formed in a length dimension (length dimension in the arc direction) that is brought into contact with and latched on the other side 24 (side opposite to the main body portion 2) 24b. Further, the protrusion 34 is formed with the same projecting dimension except for both ends 34a and 34b in the longitudinal direction, while the both ends 34a and 34b are formed in a substantially spherical shape. The projecting dimensions become inclined as they go to their tips. In each drawing, only the snap fit mechanism 40 on the side surface 30a on the near side of the manual feed tray 30 is shown, but the snap fit mechanism 40 having the same configuration is also provided on the opposite side surface.

  Here, the opening / closing operation | movement of the jam access cover 20 of the said structure and the manual feed tray 30 is demonstrated. FIG. 7 is an operation explanatory diagram for explaining these opening and closing operations. First, when the jam access cover 20 is closed as shown in FIG. 2, the engaging portion 54 of the engaging hook 50 is engaged and locked with the engaged portion 8 of the main body cover 6. Then, the jam access cover 20 cannot be opened. Further, in the state where the manual feed tray 30 is in the closed position shown in FIG. 5, one end 34 b in the longitudinal direction of the protrusion 34 is brought into contact with and locked with one side 24 a of the locking portion 24. When the grip 35 at the upper end of the manual feed tray 30 is pulled to the near side from the state of FIG. 5, the force causes the side surface 30 a of the manual feed tray 30 or the locking portion 24 of the jam access cover 20 to bend, As shown in FIG. 7A, one end 34 b of the protrusion 34 rides on the locking portion 24. Here, since the end portion 34 b is formed in an inclined surface shape, the projection portion 34 can smoothly run on the locking portion 24. Therefore, when the projection portion 34 rides on the locking portion 24, the manual feed tray The force required to open 30 does not have to increase suddenly.

  When the grip 35 of the manual feed tray 30 is further pulled forward from this state, the manual feed tray 30 is further rotated in the opening direction. At this time, the projection 34 is formed in an arc shape (long shape) along the rotation direction of the manual feed tray 30, so that the manual feed tray remains in a state where the projection 34 rides on the locking portion 24. 30 will be opened. Therefore, the force required for the operation of opening the manual feed tray 30 does not change suddenly, and the manual feed tray 30 can be opened with a substantially constant force applied. The manual feed tray 30 is opened. The operability and operational feeling of the operation are improved.

  When the manual feed tray 30 is further opened, as shown in FIG. 7B, the protrusion 34 completely gets over the locking portion 24, and the other end 34 a of the protruding portion 34 extends from the locking portion 24. get off. Since the end portion 34a is also formed in an inclined surface shape, the end portion 34a can be smoothly lowered from the locking portion 24. Also in this case, the force necessary to open the manual feed tray 30 is suddenly increased. Will not change. When the protruding portion 34 descends from the locking portion 24, the manual feed tray 30 is positioned at the open position as shown in FIG. 7B, and the end 34 a of the protruding portion 34 is the side of the locking portion 24. It will be in the state which contact | abutted to 24b and was latched.

  In this open position, as shown in FIG. 4, the paper feed pad 32 attached to the inner surface 37 side of the manual feed tray 30 is arranged to face the paper feed roller 38 provided in the manual feed port 7a. Further, if the folding tray 36 installed on the inner surface 37 side of the manual feed tray 30 is pulled out and developed, the inner surface 37 of the manual feed tray 30 and the surface of the folding tray 36 are in communication with the manual feed port 7a. The recording paper placed on the manual feed tray 30 can be sequentially supplied to the paper transport mechanism in the main body 2 by the paper feed roller 38.

  Further, when the manual feed tray 30 is in the open position, when the grip 35 is lifted and the manual feed tray 30 is closed, the projection 34 moves in the opposite direction to over the locking portion 24. Also in this case, the force required to close the manual feed tray 30 does not change suddenly because the end 34a and the end 34b of the projection 34 are formed in an inclined surface. Further, since the protruding portion 34 is formed in an arc shape (long shape) along the rotation direction, the manual feed tray 30 is closed while the protruding portion 34 rides on the locking portion 24. The manual feed tray 30 can be closed in a state where a substantially constant force is always applied, and the operability and operational feeling of the operation of closing the manual feed tray 30 are improved. When the manual feed tray 30 returns to the closed position shown in FIG. 5, the snap-fit mechanism 40 is again locked.

  On the other hand, when the unlocking lever 70 exposed on the outer surface of the jam access cover 20 is pulled upward in the state shown in FIG. 5, the engaging hook 50 is rotated via the rotating member 60, and the engaging portion 54 is covered. The jam access cover 20 is unlocked by shifting from the engagement position with the engagement portion 8. When the grip 35 of the manual feed tray 30 is pulled to the near side in this state, the jam access cover 20 and the manual feed tray 30 engaged by the snap-fit mechanism 40 are moved to the first position as shown in FIG. The first pivot fulcrum 15 is pivotally opened to the near side with the pivot point 15 as a fulcrum. When the jam access cover 20 and the manual feed tray 30 are opened in this procedure, the entire jam access opening 7 is opened as shown in FIG. 3, so that maintenance for eliminating problems such as a paper jam in the paper transport mechanism is performed. Can be done.

  In the above-described snap fit mechanism 40, the protrusion 34 is formed in an arc-shaped long shape whose longitudinal direction is directed to the rotation direction of the manual feed tray 30. The required force can be prevented from changing suddenly, and the operability and feel when opening and closing the manual feed tray 30 are improved. In particular, when the manual feed tray 30 is opened, it is possible to prevent that the force for opening the manual feed tray 30 suddenly becomes almost unnecessary during the operation, so that the manual feed tray 30 can be suddenly rotated and opened by inertial force. This eliminates the possibility of producing a strong impact or a loud collision sound.

  In addition, since both end portions 34a and 34b in the longitudinal direction of the projection 34 are formed in an inclined shape in which the projection dimension becomes smaller toward the tip, the projection 34 rides on the engaging portion 24 or is on the board. Since it is possible to prevent the force required for the opening / closing operation of the manual feed tray 30 from changing suddenly when getting off the stop portion 24, the operability and the feel when opening / closing the manual feed tray 30 are improved. Further, since the manual feed tray 30 can be opened and closed smoothly, the manual feed tray 30 can be opened and closed with a smaller force.

  Further, in the snap fit mechanism 40 described above, the end 34 b of the projection 34 is brought into contact with and locked to the side 24 a of the locking portion 24 at the closed position of the manual feed tray 30, and the projection is formed at the open position of the manual feed tray 30. Since the end portion 34a of the portion 34 abuts on the side 24a of the locking portion 24 and is locked, the manual feed tray 30 can be locked at the open position and the closed position. The backlash of the tray 30 can be prevented.

  In particular, in the manual feed tray 30 that is rotatably attached to the upper end portion of the jam access cover 20 as described above, when the manual feed tray 30 is opened and closed with the lock mechanism being locked, the projection 34 is formed. Open and close over the locking portion 24. Therefore, when a strong force or impact is applied to the locking portion 24 when the protrusion 34 gets over the locking portion 24, a force that rotates in the opening / closing direction is applied to the jam access cover 20, so that each time the manual feed tray 30 is opened / closed. As a result, the jam access cover 20 may be rattled and the opening / closing operability of the manual feed tray 30 may be deteriorated. However, if the snap-fit mechanism 40 according to the present invention is provided, when only the manual feed tray 30 is opened / closed with the jam access cover 20 closed, a large force is not applied to the locking portion 24 and an impact is applied. Therefore, it is possible to effectively prevent the jam access cover 20 from rattling. Therefore, the opening / closing operability and operation feeling of the manual feed tray 30 are improved.

  Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the technical idea described in the claims and the specification and drawings. Is possible. It should be noted that any shape, structure, and material not directly described in the specification and drawings are within the scope of the technical idea of the present invention as long as the effects and advantages of the present invention are exhibited. For example, in the above-described embodiment, the case where the manual feed tray 30 that is the opening / closing cover of the present invention is rotatably attached to the upper end portion of the jam access cover 20 has been described. Alternatively, a manual feed tray directly attached to the main body cover 6 so as to be freely rotatable may be used. In that case, the main body cover 6 is provided with a locking portion over which the projection 34 of the manual feed tray gets over to constitute a snap fit mechanism. Furthermore, the opening / closing cover to which the snap-fit mechanism of the present invention is applied is not limited to the manual feed tray, and may be an opening / closing cover that can be freely opened and closed attached to a cover member such as a main body cover of the image forming apparatus. An opening / closing cover that opens and closes a part or the like may be used.

  Further, in the above-described embodiment, the protrusion 34 is provided on the manual feed tray 30 that is an open / close cover, and the protrusion 34 gets over the jam access cover 20 that is a cover member to which the manual feed tray 30 is rotatably attached. Contrary to this, the projection 24 and the locking portion constituting the snap-fit mechanism of the present invention are formed with a projection on the cover member side and the projection on the opening / closing cover side. What formed the latching | locking part may be used. In addition, the specific shape and length dimension of the protrusion and the locking portion are not limited to those shown in the above-described embodiment, and any shape or the like that can exert the action of the snap-fit mechanism of the present invention, It is also possible to appropriately make these other shapes. For example, in the above embodiment, the case where both the end portions 34a and 34b in the longitudinal direction of the protrusion 34 are formed in an inclined shape is shown, but only one of the end portions 34a or 34b can be formed in an inclined shape. In addition, the specific shape in the case of the inclined shape is not limited to the spherical shape, but may be formed in other shapes such as an inclined flat shape that is inclined along the longitudinal direction of the protrusion 34.

1 is a schematic front view illustrating an external configuration example of an image forming apparatus. FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a side surface portion of a main body cover of the image forming apparatus, showing a jam access cover and a manual feed tray attached to a jam access opening (manual paper feed port) provided on the side surface portion. It is a figure which shows the state which opened both the jam access cover and the manual feed tray. It is a figure which shows the state which opened only the manual feed tray. It is a schematic side view (partial sectional view) of a jam access cover and a manual feed tray. It is the elements on larger scale which show the detailed structure of a snap fit mechanism, and is the elements on larger scale which looked at the manual feed tray from the side. It is a figure for demonstrating opening and closing operation | movement of a manual feed tray and a jam access cover.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image forming apparatus 2 Main-body part 3 Paper feed cassette 4 Automatic document feeder (ADF apparatus)
5 Document tray 6 Main body cover 6a Side surface portion 7 Jam access opening 7a Manual feed port 15 First rotation fulcrum 16 Second rotation fulcrum 20 Jam access cover 22 Projection portion 24 Locking portion 24a Side (main body portion 2) Side)
24b side (side opposite to the main body 2)
30 Manual feed tray (open / close cover)
30a Side surface 34 Projection 34a End (end on the main body 2 side)
34b end (end opposite to main body 2)
35 Grasping part 40 Snap fit mechanism 50 Engagement hook

Claims (4)

An opening / closing cover rotatably attached to a cover member of the image forming apparatus, a protrusion formed on a side surface of the opening / closing cover provided with a rotation shaft, and a stepped shape provided on a surface of the cover member facing the side surface And a locking portion,
The protrusion is a long protrusion formed in an arc shape whose longitudinal direction is centered on the rotation axis in the side surface,
When the cover is opened and closed by rotating between the fully open open position and a closed position, the protrusion in the open position or the closed position of the cover rides on the locking portion, from which wherein while the cover is moved to the closed position or the open position, the projection is a snap-fit mechanism of the cover of the image forming apparatus characterized by being configured such state continues for riding on the locking portion .
The snap fit mechanism of the opening / closing cover of the image forming apparatus according to claim 1 ,
A snap-fit mechanism for an opening / closing cover of an image forming apparatus, wherein at least one end portion in the longitudinal direction of the projection portion is formed in an inclined shape in which a projecting dimension decreases toward the tip. In the snap fit mechanism of the open / close cover of the image forming apparatus according to claim 1 or 2,
At the closed position of the opening / closing cover, one end portion in the longitudinal direction of the projection portion is brought into contact with and locked to the locking portion, and at the open position of the opening / closing cover, the other end portion in the longitudinal direction of the projection portion. A snap fit mechanism for an opening / closing cover of an image forming apparatus, wherein the portion is brought into contact with and locked by the locking portion. In the snap fit mechanism of the open / close cover of the image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3 ,
The snap-fit mechanism for the open / close cover of the image forming apparatus, wherein the open / close cover is a manual feed tray that supplies the loaded paper to a paper transport mechanism in the image forming apparatus.

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