JPH0118425B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a position switching device for a movable unit in a copying machine.

[Conventional technology]

As a movable unit of the copying machine, for example, there is a developing device in which a developing roller is installed inside a developing case, and the developing device is installed to be able to swing freely around an axis in the front and rear direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction of the copying machine. and a first position where the developing roller is positioned at a predetermined position close to the surface of the photoreceptor drum, where development is possible, and a second position where the developing roller is spaced apart from the surface of the photoreceptor drum, where development is not possible. A structure constructed as follows is proposed in Japanese Utility Model Application Publication No. 50-84044.

According to the developing device configured as described above, when the developing device is pulled out in the direction along the rotational axis of the photosensitive drum for replenishing developer to the developing case or for maintenance, etc., the developing device is removed from the second developing device. By switching to this position, it is possible to effectively prevent the drum surface from being damaged by the developer on the surface of the developing roller.

[Problem that the invention seeks to solve]

By the way, conventionally, in order to switch the developing device between two positions, a protrusion is provided on the swingable developing case, and an L-shaped handle for pressing the protrusion is attached to the developing case. The developing device is provided so as to be swingable around a longitudinal axis parallel to the swinging axis of the device, and the handle can be swinged in the left-right direction of the copying machine (i.e., in the transport direction of the copying machine). The position can be changed.

However, the above configuration requires a wide range of handle operation space in the left and right direction of the copying machine, and of course it is impossible to place other objects in this wide handle operation space, so the handle as well as the handle itself cannot be placed. Restricted by the placement of other objects,
The disadvantage was that the degree of freedom in design was reduced.

In addition, from an ergonomic point of view, it is difficult to apply force to swing the handle from side to side, and on top of that, it is difficult to use force when gripping the handle with your right hand and swinging it to the right (or to the left when gripping it with your left hand). It is easy for hands and fingers to separate from the handle when handling the copying machine, and at this time, it is easy for the hands and fingers to be injured by other objects. The drawback was that the copying machine became larger.

[Means for solving problems]

The purpose of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems through rational improvements, and the present invention has the following features: , a position switching device for a movable unit in a copying machine configured to be able to freely switch between a state where it is positioned at a predetermined position and a state where it is spaced apart from the predetermined position as the unit oscillates;
In order to position the movable unit at the predetermined position, a swing lever is configured to swing around a fixed axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis using one end as a fulcrum and support the movable unit at the other end. a handle provided so as to be movable back and forth in the front and rear directions in order to switch the movable unit between the two states; and a lock that engages with the handle to restrict the movable unit to the predetermined position. A stop member, an interlocking member for interlocking the swinging lever and the handle, and a connecting member for connecting the interlocking member to the swinging lever and the handle, so that the position of the movable unit can be changed. This is configured to be performed by reciprocating the handle via the connecting member, the interlocking member, and the swing lever.

[Effect]

According to the above characteristic configuration, by hooking your fingers on the handle and pulling the handle toward you, or by pushing your hand forward by placing your palm on the handle, the lever swings around the axis in the transport direction. The pivoting motion is converted into an up-and-down pivoting motion of the movable unit, thereby switching the movable unit between two positions.

〔Example〕

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described based on the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a developing device as an example of a movable unit in a copying machine, and a developing case 1 of the developing device.
A toner container 2 that can be freely inserted and removed in the axial direction of the photoreceptor drum 3 is attached to the toner container 2, and a toner supply roller 4 is mounted on a shaft at the bottom of the toner container 2. Further, as will be described later, a developing device support stand 5 for movably and detachably supporting the developing case 1 in the axial direction of the photosensitive drum 3 (that is, in the front-rear direction) with respect to the copying machine main body is attached to the copying machine. It is swingably mounted on the main body.

As shown in FIGS. 2 to 5, the toner container 2 includes a pair of side plates 6A and 6B that are constricted at the bottom, a pair of end plates 7A and 7B, and an upper plate 8.
It is made up of.

One end plate 7A is provided with a positioning plate 9, and the other end plate 7B is provided with a protrusion 10 for positioning the toner container. Further, an outer cover 13 is pivotally attached to the upper plate 8 by a hinge 14, and a viewing window 11 for viewing the amount of toner is formed in this outer cover 13. An inner cover 12 for opening and closing the window is formed in this window 11. It is provided so that it can swing. A handle 15 for pulling out the toner container extends from one end of the upper plate 8, and the toner supply roller 4 is supported by bearings 16, 16 on the end plates 7A, 7B.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 6 to 8, the developing case 1 includes an upper plate 17 and a lower plate 1 at the front.
7', a rear upper plate 18, a rear side plate 19, a bottom plate 20, and end plates 21, 22.

An angle member 24 in which a guide groove 23 is formed is attached between the bottom plate 20 and the front lower side plate 17'. Also, inside the developing case 1, a developing roller 25, a toner stirring roller 26, and a feeding roller 2 are provided.
The toner supplied from the toner container 2 is stirred and mixed by a toner stirring roller 26 and sent to the developing roller 25 by a feeding roller 27 .

The toner container 2 is accommodated in a fitting part 28 formed between the front upper side plate 17 and the rear upper side plate 18 in the upper part of the developing case 1, and is provided on the end plate 7B of the toner container 2. The bracket 2 is attached to the end plate 22 of the developing case 1.
9, and the copying operation is performed in this state.

When pulling out the toner container 2 from the developing case 1, the side plate 6 of the toner container 2 is pulled out by pulling the handle 15 of the toner container 2 toward you.
A and 6B are guided along the bent edges 17a and 18a of the front upper side plate 17 and the rear upper side plate 18, respectively, and can be easily pulled out, allowing you to check the amount of toner, replenish toner, etc. You can hang out.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 9, a shaft 32 having an axis parallel to the axis of the photoreceptor drum 3 is fixed to a support member 51 attached to the lower front end of the developing device support stand 5. , the shaft 32 is connected to the frame 5
2 to a bracket 31, so that the support base 5 can swing around a shaft 32. As a result, the developing device has a first position X where the developing roller 25 is positioned at a predetermined position close to the surface S of the photoreceptor drum 3, where development is possible;
The developing roller 25 is configured to be able to change its position to a second position Y where development is impossible, where the developing roller 25 is separated from the drum surface S and loses its developing function.

By forming the hole 53 of the frame 52 and the shaft holes 54, 54 of the bracket 31 into elongated holes, the position of the support stand 5 and the developing case 1 supported by the support stand 5 can be moved in the front-rear direction. In other words, the distance between the photosensitive drum 3 and the developing roller 25 can be adjusted.

Further, a guide groove 2 at the bottom of the developing case 1 is provided at the front end of the upper surface of the support stand 5 so that the developing case 1 can be moved in the axial direction of the photoreceptor drum 3.
A guide rail 33 that engages with 3 is attached.
34 in the figure is a developing case support member.

Next, to explain the lever mechanism for vertically swinging the developing device around the longitudinal axis perpendicular to the conveying direction of the copying machine, a support plate portion having a cross-sectional shape of 5a, one end side of two levers 37 (the number does not matter) is pivoted to a fixed stay 36 via a pin 55 having an axis in the conveyance direction, as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11. At the same time, on the other end side of each lever 37 that is swingable around the fixed axis, a roller 35 that is rotatable around an axis parallel to the swing axis of the lever 37 and that supports the support plate portion 5a is provided. Pivotally attached, and forming a long hole 38 in each lever 37,
A swing stay 39 is pivotally connected to each of the elongated holes 38 via a pin 40.

The operating handle 42 is pivotally connected to the bracket 44 via a pin 45 having an axis in the transport direction, and the lever 4 connected to the operating handle 42 is
A long hole 43 is drilled in 1, and a pin 56 connected to the end of the stay 39 is inserted into the long hole 43.

Therefore, as the operating handle 42 is reciprocated back and forth around the axis in the transport direction, the stay 39 is driven in the front and back direction of the copying machine, and in conjunction with this, the lever 37 is moved around the axis in the transport direction. At the same time, as the lever 37 swings, the rear end portion of the support base 5 supported by the rollers 35 is swinged in the vertical direction.

That is, the swinging movement of the lever 37 in the front and back direction linked to the operating handle 42 is converted into the vertical movement of the support base 5, thereby swinging the developing device up and down about the axis in the front and back direction. Then, the developing device is configured to be able to be switched between the first position X and the second position Y.

By switching the developing device to the second position Y when replenishing toner or performing maintenance on the developing case 1, development can be performed without damaging the drum surface S by the developer on the surface of the developing roller. The device can be pulled out toward the front along the guide rail 33.

As shown in FIG. 9, the operating handle 42
When the developing device is at a predetermined rotational position, that is, the normal first position X (that is, the developing position), the locking member 46 can be engaged with the locking groove 46a of the locking member 46 and locked.

The locking member 46 is pivotally attached to a substantially L-shaped bracket 47 attached to the fuselage body with a pin 48 so that it can be rotated left and right, and is attached to a spring stay fixed to the fuselage body. It is held in place by a spring 50 tensioned from 49. Therefore, when removing the operating handle 42 from the locking member 46, first rotate the locking member 46 to the left in FIG. 9, and then remove the operating handle 42 from the locking groove 46a. On the contrary, when returning the operating handle 42 to the predetermined position, the operating handle 42 is simply pressed and swung along the cam surface 46b provided at the end of the locking member 46. The operating handle 42 is automatically engaged with the locking groove 46a, and the developing device is locked at the first position X.

Note that when the operating handle 42 is released from the locking groove 46a and swung toward the front of the copying machine, the tip of the operating handle 42 is positioned outward from the closed position of the copying machine front cover (not shown). If configured so that the developing device protrudes into the first position, the front cover cannot be closed unless the operating handle 42 is engaged with the locking groove 46a to return the developing device to the first position X. It is possible to prevent a situation in which a user forgets to return to position 1 and performs a copying operation.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As explained above, the present invention is capable of swinging around an axis in the front-rear direction perpendicular to the conveying direction of a copying machine, and is positioned at a predetermined position and separated from the predetermined position as a result of the swinging. A position switching device for a movable unit in a copying machine configured to be able to freely switch between states, the movable unit being fixed at one end thereof as a fulcrum and orthogonal to the longitudinal axis, in order to position the movable unit at the predetermined position. a swinging lever that swings around an axis and supports the movable unit at the other end; a handle that is movable back and forth in the fore-and-aft direction for switching the movable unit between the two states; , a locking member for locking to the handle to restrict the movable unit to the predetermined position, an interlocking member for interlocking the swing lever and the handle, and a locking member for interlocking the swing lever and the handle; The movable unit is characterized in that the movable unit is configured to be switched in position by reciprocating the handle via the connecting member, the interlocking member, and the swing lever. However, by specifying the operating range of the handle in the front-rear direction, the arrangement of the handle and other objects that should be provided near the handle is less likely to be constrained, and the arrangement design of the handle and the other object becomes easier. In addition to increasing the degree of freedom on the surface, when reciprocating the handle, you can hook your fingers on the handle and pull the handle toward you, or place your palm on the handle and push your hand forward, making it safer. The handle can be operated easily, and the handle is ergonomically configured so that it is easy to apply force, so the handle can be operated easily.

Moreover, since the operating direction of the handle is the safe front-rear direction, there is no need for the handle to protrude forward from the front side plate from a safety standpoint, and as a result, it is possible to avoid increasing the size of the copying machine. Overall, we have been able to overcome all of the drawbacks of the prior art, even though it is a simple improvement.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

The drawings show one embodiment of the present invention, in which Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of the entire developing device, Figs. 2 to 5 show the toner container, Fig. 2 is a front view, and Fig. 3 is a right side view. FIG. 4 is a left side view, and FIG. 5 is a plan view.
6 to 8 show the developing case, with FIG. 6 being a front view, and FIGS. 7 and 8 being right and left side views. FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the support base and the support base rotation mechanism, and FIGS. 10 and 11 are explanatory diagrams showing the swinging state of the support base. 37... Lever, 42... Handle, 46... Locking member, X... First position, Y... Second position.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. It is configured to be able to swing freely around an axis in the front-rear direction perpendicular to the conveyance direction of the copying machine, and to be able to freely switch between a state in which it is positioned at a predetermined position and a state in which it is spaced apart from the predetermined position as it swings. A position switching device for a movable unit in a copying machine, comprising:
In order to position the movable unit at the predetermined position, a swing lever is configured to swing around a fixed axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis using one end as a fulcrum and support the movable unit at the other end. a handle provided so as to be movable back and forth in the front and rear directions in order to switch the movable unit between the two states; and a lock that engages with the handle to restrict the movable unit to the predetermined position. A stop member, an interlocking member for interlocking the swinging lever and the handle, and a connecting member for connecting the interlocking member to the swinging lever and the handle, so that the position of the movable unit can be changed. A position switching device for a movable unit in a copying machine, characterized in that the switching is performed by reciprocating movement of a handle via the connecting member, the interlocking member, and the swing lever.