JP2007304463A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming apparatus having a back cover that has satisfactory fit. <P>SOLUTION: The back cover 14, covering an opening 13 provided to the body of the apparatus is fastened with fixing screws so as to be freely detachable. Locking pieces 17 are formed on the edges of the left and right sides of the opening 13 so as to project in the inward direction of the opening 13. The inner face side, extending from the edges of the left and right sides of the back cover 14, has hooking parts 14e formed so as to lock on the corresponding locking pieces 17 from above so as to be freely unlocked. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus provided with a cover plate that is easy to assemble during maintenance or the like.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in image forming apparatuses such as copiers and facsimile machines, drive-related parts such as clutches are often located inside the main body. Accordingly, a cover for maintaining these components is generally arranged so as to be accessed from the back of the apparatus main body.

  Such a cover is fixed to the apparatus main body by a plurality of screws, and the cover is attached and detached through attachment / detachment of each screw.

  In addition, a back cover that can be opened and closed by rotation is provided on the back of the main body of the apparatus, and it is possible to perform jam processing on the recording paper transport path or to serve as a recording paper discharge stand when opened. There is also an image forming apparatus (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

JP 2000-15893 A

  However, in the conventional structure in which the cover is detachable by screwing, the cover plate is pressed in a state where each screwing portion of the apparatus main body and each screw insertion hole of the flat cover plate are aligned with each other, While holding the pressed state with one hand, it is necessary to screw with the other hand, which is troublesome and inferior in assembly.

  In addition, an apparatus in which the cover plate cannot be removed due to the connecting portion of the option cassette needs to remove the option cassette before removing the cover plate.

  In view of the above, an object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus including a cover plate with good assemblability.

  The technical means for solving the above-described problem is that, in an image forming apparatus in which a cover plate that closes an opening provided in the apparatus main body is detachably attached by fastening a fixing screw, right and left side edges of the opening And a hook portion that is detachably engaged with each of the engaging portions from above is provided on the inner surface side of the left and right side edge portions of the cover plate. There is in point.

  Each of the left and right side edges of the cover plate is provided with bent pieces that are bent inward substantially over the entire length in the vertical direction. It is good also as a structure where the hook groove part which can pass a stop part and extends upwards in the groove | channel back part is formed, and each bending piece part located above each hook groove part is made into the said hook part.

  Furthermore, it is good also as a structure where the said cover plate is arrange | positioned at the back surface of the said apparatus main body.

  In addition, a paper feed cassette is disposed on the lower surface of the apparatus main body, and an upwardly projecting connection bracket provided on the rear surface of the paper feed cassette is detachably fastened to the apparatus main body by inserting the cover plate with a fixing screw. It is good also as the structure currently made.

  As described above, according to the image forming apparatus of the present invention, the right and left side edges of the opening are provided with the locking portions protruding inward of the opening, and the locking portions can be freely engaged and disengaged from above. Since the hooks to be stopped are provided on the inner surfaces of the left and right side edges of the cover plate, when the cover plate is attached to the main body, it is attached to the left and right side edges of the cover plate. The hooks can be fastened with fixing screws in the locked state where the hooks are hooked to the locking parts provided on the left and right side edges of the opening in the main unit. There is no need to support and hold the structure, and there is an advantage that the assembling work is facilitated, the assembling efficiency is improved, and the assembling property is improved.

  Further, when removing the cover plate from the apparatus main body, after removing all the fixing screws, it is only necessary to release the locked state between each hook portion and each locking portion, and there is an advantage that the removing operation can be easily performed.

  Furthermore, the left and right side edges of the cover plate are respectively provided with bent pieces that are bent inward substantially over the entire length in the vertical direction, and each of the bent pieces is provided with each locking portion from its inner edge. Can be passed, and a hook groove portion extending upward is formed at the back of the groove, and each bent piece portion located above each hook groove portion is a hook portion. The rib function of one part has the advantage that the rigidity of the cover plate can be improved.

  Further, if the cover plate is arranged on the back side of the apparatus main body, the cover plate can be attached and removed satisfactorily, so that there is an advantage that maintenance of internal parts such as drive-related parts can be performed efficiently.

  Furthermore, a paper feed cassette is disposed on the lower surface of the apparatus main body, and an upward projecting connection bracket provided on the rear surface of the paper feed cassette is detachably fastened to the apparatus main body by inserting a cover plate with a fixing screw. Even if it is a structure, there is an advantage that the cover plate can be mounted and removed without any trouble.

  DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a facsimile apparatus 1 as an example of an image forming apparatus of the present invention. In this facsimile apparatus 1, a reading unit 3 for reading a document is arranged at the upper part of the apparatus main body 2, and a recording unit 4 for recording data read by the reading unit 3 is arranged at the lower part.

  The recording unit 4 is provided with a recording device and a paper feed cassette. The paper placed in the paper feed cassette is fed to the recording device for recording and then discharged to the recording paper discharge tray. Is configured to do.

  Further, a document pressing cover 6 configured to be openable and closable via a pivot portion 5 disposed on the back surface is disposed above the reading unit 3, and is placed at a predetermined position on the upper surface of the reading unit 3 by the document pressing cover 6. It is configured to hold the placed document from above. Then, the placed document is scanned by the reading unit 3 to read the document.

  Further, an automatic document feeder (ADF device) 7 for automatically feeding a document is provided at one end of the document pressing cover 6, and the automatic document feeder 7 is placed on the document supply tray 8. The read originals are picked up one by one, conveyed to a predetermined position of the reading unit 3, and after reading image information consisting of characters and the like displayed on the surface of the original by the reading unit 3, so-called original contents are supplied. It is configured to be discharged to a document discharge tray 9 disposed below the tray 8, that is, provided on the upper surface of the document pressing cover 6.

  That is, the reading unit 3 is used as a flat bed type scanner that scans a reading document (not shown) to read a stationary document, and as a sheet feed type scanner that reads a document while fixing the position of the reading device. It is comprised so that it can be used.

  In addition, a key panel for operating the facsimile apparatus 1 is attached to the front of the reading unit 3, and by reading various operation keys on the key panel, the content of the original is read or the read content is transmitted by facsimile. The transmission destination is set, and the received content and the read content are recorded.

  Further, in the present embodiment, a structure in which a sheet feeding cassette 10 serving as a lower cassette is mounted on the lower surface of the apparatus main body 2 as an optional cassette. A pair of connecting brackets 11 are provided on the back surface of the lower paper feed cassette 10 so as to protrude in an upward projecting manner in a lateral direction, and each connecting bracket 11 is fixed to the apparatus main body 2 by a fixing screw 12. It is structured.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the facsimile apparatus 1 of the present embodiment has a structure in which a back cover 14 as a cover plate that covers an opening 13 provided on the back surface of the apparatus body 2 is detachably mounted. It is said that. Each of the connection brackets 11 is a screw provided in the apparatus main body 2 through the screw insertion hole 11a formed in the connection bracket 11 by the fixing screw 12 and the screw insertion hole 14a formed in the back cover 14. It is configured to be detachably fixed by screwing and fastening each to the stopper 15.

  At the time of assembly at the time of shipment, since the paper feed cassette 10 is assembled after the back cover 14 is attached to the apparatus main body 2, each connecting bracket 11 does not become an obstacle for assembling the back cover 14.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 to 5, the back cover 14 is a bent piece formed inwardly on the left and right side edges of a metal plate made of a flat metal plate or the like over substantially the entire length in the vertical direction. Each part 14b is provided.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 2, a plurality of screw insertion holes 14c are formed in the upper edge portion and the lower edge portion of the back cover 14 with appropriate intervals in the left-right direction. Screw fixing portions 16 are respectively provided on the upper edge portion and the lower edge portion of the opening 13 of the apparatus main body 2 corresponding to the position 14c.

  In the present embodiment, each screwing portion 15 to which the connecting bracket 11 is fixed and each screwing portion 16 to which the back cover 14 is fixed are formed by bending a tongue piece portion of a metal plate made of sheet metal or the like. And a structure in which a female screw hole is formed.

  Further, as shown in FIGS. 2, 3, and 5, the right and left side edges of the opening 13 are locked as a locking portion protruding inward of the opening 13 at an appropriate height position. Each piece 17 is provided. In the present embodiment, these locking pieces 17 have a structure in which a tongue piece portion of a metal plate made of sheet metal or the like is bent inward.

  On the other hand, each bent piece portion 14b of the back cover 14 is formed with a notch groove extending from the inner edge to the bent portion, as shown in FIGS. Each locking piece 17 has a groove width through which it can pass, and constitutes a hook groove portion 14d that is shaped to extend and extend upward at the back of the groove.

  Then, as shown in FIG. 5, with the hook grooves 14 d on both side edges of the back cover 14 aligned with the locking pieces 17 on both side edges of the opening 13, the arrow P By pushing the back cover 14 as shown, the locking pieces 17 are relatively guided into the hook groove portions 14d. Thereafter, when the back cover 14 is moved downward, as shown in FIG. 4, the back cover 14 is detachably locked to the locking pieces 17. Here, each bent piece 14b positioned above the hook groove 14d constitutes a hook 14e that is detachably locked to each locking piece 17 from above.

  Each screwing portion 16 and each screw insertion hole 14c and each screwing portion 15 and each screw insertion hole 14a are aligned with each other by the locked state of the back cover 14 with respect to each locking piece 17. It is configured.

  Then, in this aligned state, the device main body is screwed and fastened to each screwing portion 16 of the device main body 2 through the screw insertion holes 14c of the back cover 14 by the fixing screws 18 respectively. 2, the back cover 14 is detachably fixed.

  The present embodiment is configured as described above. When removing the back cover 14 on the back during maintenance or the like, first, the fixing screws 12 and the fixing screws 18 are loosened and removed. In this case, since the hook portions 14e on both sides of the back cover 14 are locked to the locking pieces 17 on both side edges of the apparatus body 2, the back cover 14 is removed when the fixing screws 12 and 18 are removed. There is no need to hold it by hand. After the fixing screws 12 and 18 are removed, the back cover 14 is lifted upward, and then the back cover 14 is moved to the rear side so that the locking pieces 17 and the hook portions 14e are locked. It is released and the back cover 14 can be removed.

  When the back cover 14 is attached after maintenance or the like, first, the hook portions 14e on both sides of the back cover 14 are hooked on the locking pieces 17 located on both sides of the opening 13 of the apparatus body 2 from above to be locked. . Because of this locking, the back cover 14 is held by the apparatus main body 2, so that it is not necessary to support and hold the back cover 14 by hand when performing the subsequent fastening operation of the fixing screws 12, 18.

  In addition, it is necessary to insert the back cover 14 between the connecting bracket 11 and the corresponding screwing portion 16 simultaneously with the above-described locking, but since the back cover 14 is inserted from above, Insertion can be performed simultaneously.

  In the locked state of the locking pieces 17 and the hook portions 14e of the back cover 14, the screw fixing portions 16, the screw insertion holes 14c, the screw fixing portions 15, and the screw insertion holes 14a are connected. Since they are aligned, each fixing screw 12 or each fixing screw 18 may be screwed and fastened to each screwing portion 15 or each screwing portion 16.

  As described above, when removing the back cover 14 from the apparatus main body 2, it is only necessary to release the locking state between the hook portions 14 e and the locking pieces 17 after removing all the fixing screws 12 and 18. When the back cover 14 is attached to the apparatus main body 2, the hook portions 14e are hooked on the locking pieces 17 to be locked, and the fixing screws 12 and 18 are fastened in this state. When the cover 14 is attached or removed, there is no need to hold and hold the back cover 14 by hand as in the prior art, and the assembling work and the removing work are facilitated, and the assembling efficiency and the removing efficiency are improved. Here, assemblability and detachability are good.

  And since the removal operation | work of the back cover 14 can be performed satisfactorily, there exists an advantage which can maintain efficiently internal components, such as a drive-related component.

  In addition, each hook part 14e on both side edges of the back cover 14 is constituted by bent piece parts 14b that are formed at both side edges of the back cover 14 over substantially the entire length in the vertical direction. There is an advantage that the rigidity of the back cover 14 can be improved by the rib function of each bent piece 14b.

  Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the lower sheet feeding cassette 10 is further arranged on the lower surface of the apparatus main body 2. However, when the back cover 14 is attached, the lower edge of the back cover 14 is attached to the apparatus. Each hook portion 14e of the back cover 14 is positioned above each locking piece 17 of the apparatus main body 2 while being positioned between the screw fixing portions 15 and 16 of the main body 2 and the connection brackets 11 of the lower sheet cassette 10. After that, the fixing screws 12 and 18 may be fastened.

  Further, when the back cover 14 is removed, the back cover 14 is lifted upward with the fixing screws 12 and 18 removed, and the engagement state between the hook portions 14e and the locking pieces 17 is released. Good.

  Therefore, even when the lower sheet cassette 10 is disposed, there is an advantage that the back cover 14 can be mounted and removed without any trouble.

  In the present embodiment, both sides of the back cover 14 are held in a fixed state by being locked with the locking pieces 17 by the hooks 14e, so that both sides are also fastened with fixing screws. Compared to this, the number of screwing operations can be reduced, and from this point, there is an advantage that the mounting and dismounting operations can be performed satisfactorily.

  And even in an apparatus having a structure with screwed portions protruding inward on both sides of the opening as in the prior art, it can be easily diverted by simply replacing the back cover 14 as in this embodiment. .

  In addition, in the said embodiment, although what comprised each hook part 14e of the back cover 14 by the bending piece part 14b formed by bending is shown, the structure etc. which separately fixed the hook member to the inner surface of the back cover 14 etc. It may be, and is not limited to the shape structure of the embodiment at all.

  Moreover, although what was comprised with the latching piece 17 formed by bending was shown as a latching | locking part, a latching part etc. like a rod shape etc. may be sufficient and it is not limited to the shape structure of embodiment at all.

  Furthermore, although the structure employ | adopted as the back cover 14 is shown as a cover plate, the structure applied to the detachable cover plate arrange | positioned at a side surface, a front surface, etc. may be sufficient.

  Moreover, although the structure which provided each locking piece 17 and each hook part 14e in the left-and-right both sides edge part is shown, respectively, the structure provided in multiple numbers or the structure from which a number differs in right and left may be sufficient. What is necessary is just to determine suitably according to.

  Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the structure applied to the facsimile apparatus 1 as an image forming apparatus has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and may be applied to other image forming apparatuses such as a copying machine and a scanner apparatus. it can.

1 is a rear view of a facsimile apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a rear view of the state which removed the back cover. It is a partially expanded view in FIG. FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line IV-IV in FIG. 3. FIG.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Facsimile apparatus 2 Apparatus main body 10 Paper feed cassette 11 Connection bracket 11a Screw insertion hole 13 Opening part 14 Back cover 14a Screw insertion hole 14b Bending piece part 14c Screw insertion hole 14d Hook groove part 14e Hook part 15 Screw fixing part 16 Screw fixing part 17 Locking piece 18 Fixing screw

Claims (4)

In an image forming apparatus in which a cover plate that closes an opening provided in the apparatus main body is detachably attached by fastening a fixing screw.
The left and right side edges of the opening are provided with locking portions that project inward from the opening, and hook portions that are detachably locked to the locking portions from above are provided on the left and right side edges of the cover plate. An image forming apparatus provided on the inner surface side of each part. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1.
Each of the left and right side edges of the cover plate is provided with bent pieces that are bent inward substantially over the entire length in the vertical direction. Is formed, and a hook groove portion extending upward is formed at the back of the groove, and each bent piece portion located above each hook groove portion is used as the hook portion. apparatus. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:
The image forming apparatus, wherein the cover plate is disposed on a back surface of the apparatus main body. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3.
A sheet feeding cassette is disposed on the lower surface of the apparatus main body, and an upward projecting connection bracket provided on the rear surface of the sheet feeding cassette is detachably fastened to the apparatus main body by inserting the cover plate with a fixing screw. An image forming apparatus.

Images