JPH09188031A - Connection mechanism between main device and auxiliary device and imaging device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable the judgement of whether or not the connection is possible without checking the connection of an electrically connecting means when disconnecting the electrically connecting means by making it possible to disconnect a mechanically connecting means when the electrically connecting means is disconnected. SOLUTION: When an imaging device (main body) 1 as a main device is connected to a printing web feed device (option) 2 as an auxiliary device, a dent grip 1a is provided at four positions on the lateral face of the main body 1, and the main body 1 is connected to the upper face of the option 2 with the grip 1a using a mechanical means such as a positioning pin. An electrically connecting part with a cover 5 which is transferable to a position where the cover 5 is opened by moving it vertically, is provided on the main body 1. In addition, the cover 5 has an integrally formed blocking part 5a for blocking the reaching of the head way inside the grip 1a. If the cover 5 concealing a lattice connector 4 is transferred in an arrow A direction, the blocking part 5a, interlocked with the transfer of the cover 5, conceals part or the whole of the grip part 1a. Thus it is impossible for an operator to insert the hand into the grip part 1a and therefore, to lift up the main body 1.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a connecting mechanism for a main body of, for example, an image forming apparatus main body, and a sub-device connected thereto, for example, a sheet material feeding apparatus having a sheet material feeding means, and a connecting mechanism therefor. And an image forming apparatus connected thereto.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an image forming apparatus main body is used as a main device, and a sheet material feeding device for feeding a sheet material connected to the image forming apparatus main body is used as an auxiliary device. There is an image forming apparatus formed by connecting devices.

The connection mechanism between the main body of the image forming apparatus and the sheet material feeding apparatus is arranged, for example, by arranging the sheet material feeding apparatus having mechanical connecting means such as positioning pins on the lower surface of the main body of the image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus main body is installed on the upper surface of the sheet material feeding device by a mechanical connecting means.

After the mechanical connection is completed, the image forming apparatus main body and the sheet material feeding apparatus are provided with a lattice connector, a cable or the like as an electrical connecting means for supplying power and delivering an electric signal. It is adapted to make an electrical connection to.

[0005]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional example, the electrical connection by the lattice connector, the cable, etc. is made on the rear surface of the image forming apparatus main body and the sheet material feeding apparatus (the side opposite to the side used by the user). Because it is done in
Since it is difficult to see whether or not the electrical connection has been made, the electrical connection means must not be disconnected when the image forming apparatus main body is detached from the sheet material feeding device for some reason. And again, the image forming apparatus main body must be connected again to the sheet material feeding device by a mechanical connecting means, or in the worst case, the image forming apparatus main body is lifted. However, there is a possibility of causing a problem of damaging the electrical connection means such as the lattice connector or the cable.

The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, and its purpose is to:
An object of the present invention is to provide a connection mechanism of a main device and a sub device that can easily and surely connect / disconnect mechanical connection means and electrical connection means, and an image forming apparatus using the connection mechanism.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, a first aspect of the present invention provides a connection mechanism for connecting a main device and a sub device with an electrical connection means and a mechanical connection means. It is characterized in that the mechanical connecting means has means capable of being released when the connection of the electrical connecting means is released.

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, a second invention of the present application is a connecting mechanism for connecting a main device and a sub device with an electrical connecting means and a mechanical connecting means, wherein the electrical connecting means is connected. The mechanical connection means has means for notifying that the mechanical connection means cannot be released.

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, a third invention of the present application uses a connector as an electrical connecting means in the connecting mechanism of the main device and the auxiliary device according to the first or second invention, A positioning pin is used as a mechanical connecting means, the main device is arranged on the sub device, and a grip portion for lifting the main device is provided.

In order to achieve the above object, a fourth invention of the present application is a cover for covering an electrical connection portion of an electrical connection means in a connection mechanism of a main device and a sub device according to the third invention. A member is provided, and the cover member is movable to a position for covering the electrical connection portion and a position for exposing the electrical connection portion.

In order to achieve the above object, a fifth invention according to the present application is, in the connection mechanism of the main device and the auxiliary device according to the fourth invention, that the handle portion is a recess and the cover member is electrically connected. A blocking member is disposed to prevent the hand from entering the grip portion in conjunction with the movement of the cover member when the connection portion is exposed, and the cover member is provided when the electrical connection portion is covered. It is characterized in that the blocking member is removed from the handle portion in conjunction with the movement of the.

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, a sixth invention of the present application is, in the connection mechanism of the main device and the auxiliary device according to the fifth invention, when a hand is put in the handle portion,
It is characterized in that the cover member is immovable to a position where the electrical connection portion is exposed.

In order to achieve the above object, a seventh invention of the present application is the connecting mechanism for connecting the main device and the auxiliary device according to the sixth invention, wherein the cover member is provided at a position for covering the electrical connecting portion. It is characterized in that a biasing means for biasing is provided.

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, an eighth aspect of the present invention relates to a connecting mechanism for connecting a main device and a sub device according to the third aspect, which is interlocked with the electrical connection of the electrical connecting means. A blocking member is disposed on the handle portion.

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, a ninth invention of the present application is the connection mechanism of the main device and the sub device according to the third invention, wherein the handle portion is disconnected from the electrical connection means. It is characterized in that it projects from the main unit when it is opened and can be stored in the main unit when the electrical connection means is connected.

In order to achieve the above object, a tenth invention of the present application is the image forming apparatus main body which is the main device of the connection mechanism of the main device and the subdevice according to the first to ninth inventions, and the sub device. Is an image forming apparatus which is a sheet material feeding device having a feeding means for feeding the sheet material to the main body of the image forming apparatus.

In the first aspect of the invention, since the mechanical connection can be released when the connection of the electrical connecting means is released, the mechanical connecting means must be released unless the connection of the electrical connecting means is released. Is not released. Therefore, when the electrical connection means is connected, it is impossible to disconnect the mechanical connection means. Therefore, when disconnecting the mechanical connection means, whether or not the electrical connection means is connected. You can see if the connection is possible without checking.

From this, it is understood that the connection of the electrical connection means is not released after the connection of the mechanical connection means is released as in the conventional case, and the connection of the mechanical connection means must be made again. There is no.

In the second aspect of the invention, the electric connecting means can be easily provided by providing means for notifying that the mechanical connecting means cannot be released when the electric connecting means is connected. You can see if the connection is possible.

According to the third aspect of the invention, before the main unit is lifted by holding the handle and released from the positioning pin,
Since it is possible to determine whether or not the connector can be connected, it is possible to prevent the connector from being damaged by the force of lifting as in the conventional case.

In the fourth aspect of the invention, the cover member covers the electrical connection portion of the electrical connection means.
It can be easily seen that the electrical connection means has been disconnected.

In the fifth aspect of the invention, when the electrical connection is made by the electrical connection means, the cover member which covers the electrical connection portion is located at the position where the electrical connection portion is covered. A blocking member that moves in conjunction with the cover member by moving to a position exposed from the position for lifting or moving the main device in an attempt to disconnect the mechanical connection means between the main device and the auxiliary device. It is possible to inform that the electrical connection means has not been disconnected because the depression-shaped handle portion cannot be put into the hand, or when the hand is put in, the hand cannot be completely put in.

In the sixth aspect of the invention, when the handle is put in the hand, the cover member covering the electrical connecting portion cannot move to the position exposing the electrical connecting portion. When the main device is lifted or moved by putting a hand in the handle portion, the electrical connection means is not connected. Therefore, the electric connection means is not damaged by the momentum when it is lifted or moved.

In the seventh aspect of the invention, since the cover member is automatically moved to the position for covering the electrical connecting portion by the biasing means, no trouble is caused and the electrical connecting means can be securely operated. Covered when the connection is released.

In the eighth aspect of the invention, since the blocking member is arranged in the handle portion in conjunction with the electrical connection of the electrical connecting means, the electrical connecting means can be connected easily and reliably without trouble. You can see that

In the ninth aspect of the invention, whether or not the electrical connecting means can be connected can be easily and reliably determined by the presence or absence of the protrusion of the handle portion.

In the tenth aspect of the invention, by using the connecting mechanism of the main device and the sub-device according to the first to ninth aspects of the invention for the image forming apparatus, the image forming apparatus main body and the sheet material feeding device. It may be possible to easily and surely connect / disconnect the connection with.

[0028]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a view best showing the features of the present invention, and shows a main part of an image forming apparatus using a connection mechanism of a main device and a sub device according to the present embodiment. The main body of the image forming apparatus, the sub device is a sheet material feeding device having a sheet material feeding means for feeding the sheet material to the main body of the image forming apparatus, and the main body of the image forming apparatus is arranged on the sheet material feeding device. It is a thing.

FIG. 1A shows an image forming apparatus main body (hereinafter referred to as a main body) 1 as a main device, and mechanically connected to a lower portion of the main body 1 by a positioning pin (not shown) as a mechanical connecting means. A sheet material feeding device (hereinafter referred to as an option) 2 having a sheet material feeding means as an auxiliary device is connected by a lattice connector, a cable or the like as an electrical connecting means for supplying power and transmitting and receiving signals. It represents the state that is not.

FIG. 1B shows the main body 1 and the option 2
Shows the state where the mechanical connection by the mechanical connection means and the electrical connection by the electrical connection means are performed.

When the main body 1 is connected to the option 2, as shown in FIG. 2, a total of four recessed grips 1a are provided on the two side surfaces of the main body 1, and the grips 1a are held by the main body 1 and The main body 1 is connected to the upper surface of the option 2 by a mechanical connecting means such as a positioning pin (not shown).

A cover 5, which is a cover member for moving the electric connection portion to the cover and the exposed position, is attached to the main body 1 so as to be movable in the vertical direction. Further, the cover 5 is integrally provided with a blocking portion 5a which serves as a blocking member for blocking the grip of the handle 1a.

The blocking portion 5a is located in the main body 1 and is an L-shaped member extending from the surface of the main body 1 having the electrical connection portion to the surface having the handle 1a.

On the other hand, the handle 1a has a blocking portion 5 (not shown).
It has an opening such as a notch so that a can enter.

Further, on the side surface of the electrical connection portion of the blocking portion 5a,
A spring 6 is attached as an urging means for urging the cover 5 in a direction to cover (hide) the electrical connection portion.

FIG. 3 shows a state in which the main body 1 and the option 2 are connected by the electrical connecting means, and the lattice connector with cable 3 having a cable is connected to the lattice connector 4 as a connector forming the electrical connecting means. 1 is a detailed view of the portion shown in FIG. 1. As shown in FIG. 1B, the cover 5 that hides the lattice connector 4 is moved in the direction of arrow A against the urging force of the spring 6 to move the lattice connector. 4 and the lattice connector with cable 3 are connected.

When the cover 5 is moved in the direction of the arrow A, the blocking portion 5a is interlocked with the cover 5 so that the handle 1a is partially or entirely hidden, and the user can remove the main body 1 from the option 2. However, since the handle portion 1a cannot be reached, the main body 1 cannot be lifted.

From this, it is understood that the connection between the lattice connector 4 and the cable-attached lattice connector 3 is not released after disconnecting the mechanical connecting means as in the conventional case, and the mechanical means must be connected again. In addition, the lattice connector 4 and the cable-equipped lattice connector 3 are not damaged by the force of lifting.

Therefore, it is possible to easily and reliably connect / disconnect the mechanical connecting means and the electrical connecting means.

Further, it is possible to know that the electrical connection is still made on the back surface 1b of the main body 1 because the grip portion 1a cannot be put into a hand. From this, it is possible to easily determine whether or not electrical connection can be made, and the workability of connecting / disconnecting the mechanical connecting means is improved.

Further, as described above, it is understood that the cover 5 covers the electrical connection portion of the lattice connector 4 so that the connection of the lattice connector with cable 3 is easily released.

Further, since the cover 5 is automatically moved by the spring 6 to the position for covering the electrical connection portion, it does not take time and is surely covered when the connection of the lattice connector with cable 3 is released. Will be.

From the above, the connection between the main body 1 and the option 2 can be easily and surely made possible.

(Other Embodiments) In another embodiment, the handle portion 1a for lifting the main body 1 is projected from the main body 1a to the outside of the machine, and in the image forming apparatus which can be stored in the machine, the handle is provided. By preventing the portion 1a from protruding when it is electrically connected, the same effect as the above-described embodiment can be obtained.

Also, the cover 5 for covering the electrical connection portion.
In an image forming apparatus that does not have a connector, a connector portion such as a lattice connector is configured to be fixed at a position where the connector is connected and a position where the connector is not connected. The same effect as that of the above-described embodiment can be obtained by using the movement to move the blocking portion 5a in and out of the grip portion 1a to prevent the grip portion 1a from entering.

When an electrical connection is made by using an electromagnetic clutch or the like, the mechanical connection is automatically locked, and the blocking portion 5a is provided to prevent the handle portion 1a from getting a hand. It can be easily determined that the same effect as that of the above embodiment can be obtained by moving the.

[0048]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the invention, when the electrical connecting means is connected, it is impossible to release the connection of the mechanical connecting means. When the connection is released, the propriety of the connection can be known without checking whether or not the electrical connecting means is connected.

From this, it is understood that the connection of the electrical connection means is not released after the connection of the mechanical connection means is released as in the conventional case, and the connection of the mechanical connection means must be performed again. Is eliminated and it does not take time.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, since the mechanical connecting means has a means for notifying that the mechanical connecting means cannot be released when the electrical connecting means is connected, the electric connecting means can be easily connected. You can see whether or not.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, since it is possible to determine whether or not the connector can be connected before the main device is lifted by holding the handle and released from the positioning pin, the connector is damaged by the force of lifting as in the conventional case. Never.

According to the fourth aspect of the invention, since the cover member covers the electrical connection portion of the electrical connection means, it is understood that the connection of the electrical connection means is easily released.

According to the fifth invention, when the electrical connection is made by the electrical connecting means, the cover member covering the electrical connecting portion is exposed from the position covering the electrical connecting portion. The blocking member that moves in tandem with the cover member when moved to the closed position has a recessed shape for lifting or moving the main device in an attempt to disconnect the mechanical connection means between the main device and the auxiliary device. It is possible to inform that the electrical connection means has not been disconnected because the hand is not put into the handle part or the hand is put into the hand part.

According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, since the cover member that covers the electrical connecting portion cannot move to the position where the electrical connecting portion is exposed when the hand is put in the handle portion,
When the main device is lifted or moved by putting a hand in the handle portion, the electrical connection means is not connected. Therefore, the electric connection means is not damaged by the momentum when it is lifted or moved.

According to the seventh aspect of the invention, since the cover member is automatically moved to the position for covering the electrical connecting portion by the biasing means, it is possible to securely connect the electrical connecting means without any trouble. Covered when released.

According to the eighth aspect of the invention, the blocking member is arranged in the handle portion in conjunction with the electrical connection of the electrical connecting means, so that the electrical connecting means is connected easily and reliably without trouble. I understand.

According to the ninth aspect of the invention, whether or not the electrical connecting means can be connected can be easily and reliably determined by the presence or absence of the protrusion of the handle portion.

From the above, it is possible to easily and reliably connect / disconnect the mechanical connecting means and the electrical connecting means.

According to the tenth aspect of the invention, by using the connecting mechanism of the main device and the auxiliary device according to the first to ninth aspects of the invention for the image forming apparatus, the main body of the image forming apparatus and the sheet material feeding device are connected. The connection can be easily and surely made possible.

[Brief description of the drawings]

1A and 1B are detailed perspective views of an electrical connection portion of a connection mechanism of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a state in which the image forming apparatus main body and the sheet material feeding device of the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention are detached.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a state in which the image forming apparatus main body and the sheet material feeding device of the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention are mounted.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Image Forming Apparatus Main Body (Main Device) 1a Handle (Handle Member) 1b Back 2 Sheet Material Feeding Device (Auxiliary Device) 3 Lattice Connector with Cable (Connector: Electrical Connection Means) 4 Lattice Connector (Connector: Electrical Connection) Means) 5 Cover (cover member) 5a Blocking part (blocking member) 6 Spring (biasing means)

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. A connection mechanism for connecting a main device and a sub device with an electrical connection means and a mechanical connection means, wherein the mechanical connection means can be released when the connection of the electrical connection means is released. A connecting mechanism for a main device and a sub device, characterized in that 2. A connection mechanism for connecting a main device and a sub device with an electrical connection means and a mechanical connection means, wherein the mechanical connection means cannot be released when the electrical connection means is connected. A connection mechanism between a main device and a sub device, characterized in that it has means for notifying the user. 3. The connecting mechanism for a main device and a sub device according to claim 1, wherein a connector is used as an electrical connecting means, and a positioning pin is used as a mechanical connecting means, A connection mechanism for a main device and a sub device, the connection mechanism being disposed on the sub device and having a grip portion for lifting the main device. 4. The connection mechanism for connecting the main device and the sub device according to claim 3, further comprising a cover member that covers the electrical connection portion of the electrical connection means, and the cover member covers the electrical connection portion. A connecting mechanism for a main device and a sub device, wherein the connecting mechanism is movable between a position where the main device and an auxiliary device are exposed. 5. The connection mechanism for a main device and a sub device according to claim 4, wherein when the cover member is a recess and the cover member is in a position to expose the electrical connection part, movement of the cover member is prevented. A blocking member that blocks the entry of a hand into the handle portion is provided in association with the handle portion. When the electrical connection portion is covered, the blocking member is removed from the handle portion in conjunction with the movement of the cover member. A connection mechanism between a main device and a sub device, which is characterized by being configured. 6. The connection mechanism for connecting the main device and the auxiliary device according to claim 5, wherein when the grip portion has a hand,
A connection mechanism between a main device and a sub device, wherein the cover member is immovable to a position where the electrical connection portion is exposed. 7. The main-device / sub-device connection mechanism according to claim 6, further comprising an urging means for urging the cover member to a position for covering the electrical connection portion. And sub-device connection mechanism. 8. The connection mechanism for connecting the main device and the sub device according to claim 3, wherein a blocking member is arranged in the grip portion in conjunction with the electrical connection of the electrical connecting means. A connection mechanism between a device and a sub device. 9. The connection mechanism between the main device and the sub device according to claim 3, wherein the grip portion projects from the main device when the connection of the electrical connection means is released, and the electrical connection means is connected. A connection mechanism between a main device and a sub device, which is capable of being stored in the main device while being operated. 10. The method according to claim 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,
And a sheet material feeding device having a feeding means for feeding the sheet material to the main body of the image forming apparatus and the sub apparatus of the connection mechanism of the main apparatus and the sub apparatus described in 8 or 9. An image forming apparatus characterized by the above.