JPH0414754Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] <Technical Field> The present invention relates to a frame separation mechanism for an image forming apparatus in which a frame can be vertically separated in a paper conveyance section using one end as a fulcrum.

<Prior Art and Its Disadvantages> Some current image forming apparatuses such as copying machines have frames that can be separated from each other at a paper conveyance section so that paper can be easily removed in the event of a paper jam. That is, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the frame of the copying machine 1 is made separable into an upper frame 3 and a lower frame 4 at a paper conveyance section with one end as a fulcrum 2,
In addition to a separation lever 14, a claw 12 for locking the lower frame 4 is attached to a rotating shaft 11 rotatably attached to the other end of the upper frame 3, and an operating end 13 is provided at one end of the rotating shaft 5. By connecting the upper and lower ends of the frame, the separation lever 14 can be operated to release the claw 12 from the lower frame 4, thereby separating only the upper frame 3 and lifting it upward around the fulcrum 2. A separation mechanism is provided in the copying machine 1. However, when separating the frame into the upper and lower parts, if you lift the upper frame 3 with the openable front exterior, which is provided as a cover in front of the frame 1, closed, there is a risk of damaging the front exterior. The separation mechanism is provided with a safety mechanism that prevents the upper frame 3 from being lifted unless the front exterior is opened. Conventionally, for such safety, the other end of the separation lever 14 is connected to the rotating shaft 11 via a connecting plate 15, and a safety bar 17 biased by a return spring 16 is pivotally attached to the connecting plate 15. I was using it. To explain the operation of this safety mechanism, when the front exterior 18 is closed, as shown in FIG. 7A and FIG.
However, since the protrusion 20 of the safety bar 17 is pressed down against the bias of the return spring 16, the stopper 21 provided on the safety bar 17 is engaged with the edge of the punched hole 22 of the upper frame 3, and the separation lever 14 The fifth
This means that it will not be possible to operate in the direction of the arrow shown in the figure and FIG. Furthermore, when the front exterior 18 is open, the front exterior rib 19 comes off the protrusion 20 and the safety bar 17 is rotated forward by the bias of the return spring 16, as shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B. Because it moves,
The stopper 21 does not engage the edge of the punched hole 22, and the separation lever 14 can now be operated in the direction of the arrow shown in FIGS. 5 and 6.

However, the conventional copying machine frame vertical separation mechanism uses a stopper 21 as a safety mechanism.
Since the rotating shaft 11 is prevented from rotating even if the operating end 13 of the operating lever 14 is operated,
This has the disadvantage that the structure is complicated, the assembly work is complicated, and the manufacturing cost is high. Also,
If the operating end 13 is erroneously operated while the front exterior 18 is closed, a load is placed on the stopper 21, and the stopper 21 may be damaged.

<Purpose of the invention> In view of these drawbacks, the purpose of this invention is to have a simple structure, and to provide a device in which the force of the operating part (operating lever) is not transmitted to the separation lever (connecting plate) when the front exterior is closed. It is an object of the present invention to provide a frame vertical separation mechanism for an image forming apparatus that uses a safety mechanism to simplify manufacturing work and reduce costs, and can prevent the safety mechanism from being damaged.

<Structure and effects of the invention> This invention enables the frame of an image forming apparatus to be separated vertically in the paper conveyance section using one end as a fulcrum, and includes a locking claw for locking the support shaft attached to the upper frame to the lower frame. is attached, and by rotating this locking pawl, it is released from the lower frame, and only the upper frame can be separated and lifted upwards around the fulcrum, and the front cabinet can be opened and closed. In the frame vertical separation mechanism of the image forming apparatus, a support shaft pressing piece is provided at a position facing the front end of the support shaft of the cabinet, supports the support shaft so as to be movable in the front and back direction, and supports the support shaft in a forward direction. A separation lever is provided on the support shaft, and an arm is provided on the upper frame that rotates when the operating section is operated, and the arm is connected to the support shaft pressing piece when the cabinet is closed. When the support shaft moves forward, the support shaft is set in a position where it does not face the separation lever, and when the cabinet is opened and the support shaft moves forward, it faces the separation lever, and the operation section is operated. The present invention is characterized in that a rotating shaft is provided for rotating the lock pawl with the movement of the separation lever by the arm.

With the above configuration, according to this invention, when the cabinet is closed, the arm does not face the separation lever, so even if the arm is rotated by operating the operating section, the arm will not come into contact with the separation lever. Since no extra force is applied to the arm or separation lever, it is possible to prevent the arm or separation lever from being damaged. In addition, when the cabinet is open, the arm and separation lever face each other, so when the operating section is operated, the arm rotates and presses the upper end of the separation lever, which causes the lock pawl to rotate on the rotating shaft. This releases the lower frame, allowing the upper frame to be separated and lifted upwards around the fulcrum. Furthermore, compared to the conventional mechanism that uses a stopper to transmit the force of the operation part (operation lever) to the separation lever (connection plate) and prevent the locking pawl from rotating, the present invention has a separation lever attached. Since only a mechanism for moving the support shaft in the front and back direction is attached, the structure is simple, and the assembly work is also simple, resulting in lower costs.

<Embodiment> FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a frame to which a frame vertical separation mechanism according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied, separated into an upper frame and a lower frame. The same parts as those shown in FIGS. 5 to 8B are designated by the same numbers.

The copying machine 1 is separated into an upper frame 3 and a lower frame 4 at a paper conveyance section using a fulcrum 2 as a fulcrum. The lower frame 4 is provided with a cabinet 8 that can be opened and closed. The upper frame 3 is provided with a separation mechanism section 5. The separation mechanism section 5 is provided with a support shaft 51 as part of a safety mechanism for preventing damage to the cabinet 81. This support shaft 51
is supported so as to be movable in the front and rear directions relative to the upper frame 3. At the front end of the support shaft 51, there is a pressing portion 51a having a cross section larger than that of the support shaft.
is provided. A support shaft pressing piece 7 is provided on the kinbinet 8 at a position facing the pressing portion 51a. The support shaft 51 has a lock claw 52 for locking the upper frame 3 and the lower frame 4.
a, 52a' are provided. This lock claw 52
a and 52a' are formed by bending the ends of one holding plate 52. The lower frame 4 has lock holes 6 at positions facing the lock claws 52a and 52a'.
6' is provided. The holding plate 52 is rotatably supported by the upper frame 3 by a rotating shaft 53,
The lock claws 52a, 52a' rotate to lock the lock hole 6,
The upper frame 3 and the lower frame 4 are locked or separated by engaging with or disengaging from the frame 6'.

FIG. 1 is a partial perspective view of the separation mechanism section.

The approximately inverted U-shaped holding plate 52 has its periphery bent to obtain strength. The front and rear bent portions of this bent portion serve as lock claws 52a, 52a'.
A rotating shaft 53 is fixed to the lock claws 52a, 52a'. A support shaft 51 is located below the rotating shaft 53.
is supported so as to be movable in the front-back direction. A pressing portion 51a is provided at the front end of the support shaft 51. A separation lever 54 is fixed inside the lock claws 52a, 52a' of the support shaft 51. This separation lever 54 is formed by bending the end of a single SAS board, and the front and rear bent portions 54
a and 54b are L-shaped. This L
It is fixed to the support shaft 51 at the lower portions of the letter-shaped bent portions 54a and 54b. Bending portion 54
A stopper 52b is formed by cutting and raising the holding plate 52 in front of the point a. The support shaft 51 passes through the stopper 52b so as to be movable in the front-rear direction. A spring 55 is provided behind the bent portion 54b of the support shaft 51. spring 5
A biasing portion 52c is formed at the rear of the holding plate 52 by cutting and raising the holding plate 52. The support shaft 51 passes through the biasing portion 52c so as to be movable in the front-back direction. The separation lever 54 is urged forward by the urging portion 52c and the spring 55. That is, the support shaft 51 is also urged forward. A notch 52d is provided in the upper bent portion of the holding plate 52. A separation lever 54 passes through this notch 52d.

An arm 56 is provided above the separation lever 54. The arm 56 is fixed to an upper operating section 57 of the copying machine 1 with a support section 57a. The support portion 57a is fixed to the copying machine 1, and the operating portion 57 and the arm 56 are rotatable in the direction of arrow a about the support portion 57a as a fulcrum.

Next, the operation will be explained. FIGS. 2A to 3B are diagrams showing the operating state of this separation mechanism.

Figure 2 A and B show cabinet 8 of copying machine 1.
FIG. 4 is a front view and a side view of the separation mechanism section 5 in a closed state. In the closed state of the cabinet 8 in FIG. 4, the pressing portion 51a of the support shaft 51 is urged rearward by the pressing piece 7. As a result, the separation lever 54 fixed to the support shaft 51 along with the support shaft 51 moves rearward and no longer comes into contact with the arm 56. Therefore, even if the arm 56 is rotated by pressing down the operating portion 57, the separation lever 54 will not rotate.

Figure 3 A and B show cabinet 8 of copying machine 1.
FIG. 4 is a front view and a side view showing the separation mechanism section 5 in an open state. When the cabinet 8 in FIG. 4 is opened, the force that urges the pressing portion 51a of the support shaft 51 backward is removed, and the separation lever 54 is urged forward by the spring 55 and the urging portion 52c, and is pressed against the stopper 52b. It moves to a position where the bent portion 54a abuts. In this state, the separation lever 54 and the lower end of the arm 56 come into contact.
When the operating portion 57 is pressed, the arm 46 rotates in the direction of the arrow a in FIG. 3B, and presses the upper end of the separation lever 54 in the direction of the arrow a'. The separation lever 54 is supported by the holding plate 52 at the notch 52d, and since the support shaft 51 to which the separation lever 54 is fixed is supported by the holding plate 52, the upper end of the holding plate 52 is connected to the arm 56. It exhibits an effect similar to that of being twisted and pressed. That is, the lower end of the holding plate 52 that is pressed against the upper end of the separation lever 54 is connected to the rotating shaft 53.
Rotate in the direction of arrow b using the fulcrum as the fulcrum. Holding plate 52
The locking claws 52a, 52a' at the front and rear ends rotate,
The lock holes 6, 6' are disengaged, and the upper and lower frames 3, 4 can be separated using the fulcrum 2 in FIG. 4 as a fulcrum.

As described above, according to this embodiment, when the cabinet 8 is closed, the arm 56 and the separation lever 54
Therefore, even if the operating part 57 is pressed due to an erroneous operation, the arm 56 will simply rotate idly and no extra force will be applied, preventing damage to the arm 56 or the separation lever 54. do not have. In addition, it is sufficient to provide a mechanism for moving the support shaft 51 in the front-back direction as a safety mechanism, which has the advantage that the structure is simple and the manufacturing cost is low.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a partial perspective view of the separation mechanism of a frame according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIGS. 2A to 3B are views showing the operating state of the separation mechanism of this frame, and FIG. 4 is a frame FIGS. 5 to 8B are perspective views of a copying machine to which a separation mechanism is applied, and FIGS. 5A to 8B are views showing a frame separation mechanism of a conventional copying machine. 5... Separation mechanism section, 6, 6'... Lock hole, 7
... Support shaft pressing piece, 51 ... Support shaft, 52a, 5
2a'... Lock claw, 53... Rotating shaft, 54... Separation lever, 55... Spring, 56... Arm, 57... Operation section.

Claims (1)

[Claims for Utility Model Registration] A frame of an image forming apparatus is made to be vertically separable in a paper conveyance section with one end serving as a fulcrum, and a lock claw for locking the frame to the lower frame is attached to a support shaft attached to the upper frame. By rotating this locking pawl, the lower frame is unlatched, and only the upper frame can be separated and lifted upwards around the fulcrum, and the image forming apparatus has a front cabinet that can be opened and closed. In the frame vertical separation mechanism, a support shaft pressing piece is provided at a position facing the front end of the support shaft of the cabinet, and supports the support shaft so as to be movable in the front-back direction and presses the support shaft forward. In addition to providing an elastic member, a separation lever is provided on the support shaft, and an arm is provided on the upper frame that rotates by operating an operating section, and the arm is supported by the support shaft pressing piece when the cabinet is closed. When the shaft moves forward, it is set in a position where it does not face the separation lever, and when the cabinet is opened and the support shaft moves forward, it faces the separation lever, and when the operating section is operated, the 1. A frame vertical separation mechanism for an image forming apparatus, characterized in that a rotation shaft is provided for rotating the lock pawl with the movement of a separation lever by an arm.