JP4085248B2 - Frame structure and processing apparatus using the same - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a frame structure used in a processing apparatus such as a copying machine or a printer, and more particularly to an improvement in a frame structure supported by a plurality of supports and a processing apparatus using the frame structure.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In general, processing apparatuses such as image forming apparatuses such as copiers and printers, sheet supply apparatuses, and sheet post-processing apparatuses are equipped with an image forming engine and a sheet conveyance system in a casing. In order to ensure this, the casing usually has a predetermined frame structure.
This type of frame structure is supported by a plurality of casters as a support, for example, and includes a base frame provided with the casters and a main body frame constructed on the base frame.
[0003]
By the way, in this kind of frame structure, since the weight of the entire apparatus acts on the base frame, a method of using a frame material having a substantially rectangular cross section for securing a certain degree of rigidity is employed.
In this case, the base frame may be one in which a plurality of frame materials are joined together to construct a substantially rectangular planar frame. However, if a caster is fixed to the lower surface of the frame material, at least the caster must be The dimension increases the height of the frame structure (or casing).
[0004]
In such a technical background, when there is a restriction on the height dimension of the processing apparatus, naturally, it is indispensable to suppress the height dimension of the frame structure. In this case, a device in which the base frame is devised to suppress the height of the frame structure has been proposed (see, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Nos. 2000-269669 and 9-50158).
Here, the former is a technique in which a recess for caster attachment is formed in a square pipe-shaped frame material, and the caster is attached to this recess to suppress the height of the frame structure by the amount of the recess. is there.
On the other hand, in the latter case, another part (bracket) having a substantially hat-shaped cross section is attached to a part of the frame frame, and a caster is attached to a recess recessed from the lower surface of the frame frame of the bracket. It is a technology that suppresses the height.
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In such a frame structure, for example, in the former prior art, when forming a recess in the frame material, for example, drawing processing becomes inseparable, and accordingly, the manufacturing process of the base frame becomes troublesome. It leads to cost increase.
In addition, because the recess of the frame material is drawn, the flatness accuracy of the bottom surface of the recess of the frame material is low, so it is difficult to keep the caster mounting accuracy good, and the drawing position on the frame material is drawn. Since it is restricted by the law, the degree of freedom of the caster mounting position is limited.
[0006]
On the other hand, in the latter prior art, a separate part (bracket) and its fastening parts are required in addition to the frame material, which leads to an increase in cost due to an increase in the number of parts.
In addition, since the bracket is provided in the frame frame, the caster mounting position is inevitably located inside the frame frame span, making it difficult to stably support the frame structure.
Furthermore, if a structure in which casters are attached to the bracket is adopted, the grounding property of the frame structure (EME: abbreviation for noise terminal voltage, VCCI: abbreviation for information processing equipment, etc.) A large number of fastening parts or welding is required to attach the bracket.
Furthermore, even if the rigidity of the frame is increased, it is difficult to increase the rigidity of the bracket itself, and it is difficult to ensure the support rigidity of the entire frame structure.
[0007]
The present invention has been made in order to solve the above technical problems, and has a frame structure capable of ensuring rigidity with a simple configuration and capable of suppressing the height dimension, and a processing apparatus using the same. Is to provide.
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
That is, as shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, the present invention is a frame structure 1 that is used in a housing of a processing apparatus and supported by a plurality of supports 2, and includes a plurality of supports 2. And a main body frame 4 constructed on the base frame 3. The base frame 3 includes a pair of upper frame members 5a positioned on the upper side as a frame member 5 having a substantially rectangular outer cross-section. One lower frame material 5b is connected at one end of the pair of upper frame materials 5a so as to connect the pair of lower frame materials 5b positioned below the upper frame material 5a at least in a cross- beam shape , In addition, the other lower frame material 5b is connected at a position away from the other end of the pair of upper frame materials 5a, and one lower frame material 5b connected to one end of the upper frame material 5a is treated. The place in the operating side, the height dimension of the support body 2 with the operating side of the processing apparatus of the pair of lower frame member 5b to fix the respective support 2 immediately opposite side of the upper frame member 5a Further, the height dimension of the lower frame member 5b is set to be smaller .
[0009]
In such technical means, the plurality of supports 2 are typically casters, but are not limited thereto, and widely include support members that can be adjusted up and down. Further, it is necessary to provide a plurality of supports 2 from the viewpoint of stably supporting the frame structure 1.
The frame structure 1 only needs to include the base frame 3 and the main body frame 4.
Here, as the base frame 3, it is sufficient that the frame material 5 having a substantially rectangular outer cross section is connected at least in a cross-girder shape. Of course, a frame material can be added.
[0010]
In this case, the “outer cross-section substantially rectangular shape” means that the shape of the frame material is solid or hollow as long as the outer shape is a substantially rectangular shape, but the viewpoint of achieving weight reduction while maintaining rigidity Therefore, it is preferable to use the hollow frame material 5. Further, the main body frame 4 is not limited as in the base frame 3, and a frame material having a substantially rectangular outer cross section may be used, or a plate-shaped frame material may be appropriately selected.
Furthermore, the mounting position of the support 2 is the normal lower surface of the upper frame member 5a, but is not limited to this, and may be set at an arbitrary part.
[0011]
Moreover, the height dimension of the frame material 5 (the upper frame material 5a and the lower frame material 5b) constituting the base frame 3 may be arbitrarily set.
However, in view of the size of the support 2, the height m of the lower frame member 5 b needs to be set to be at least smaller than the height of the support 2.
In this case, from the viewpoint of securing the support rigidity of the base frame 3, the section modulus is increased by increasing the height dimension of the upper frame member 5a, so that the support rigidity (bending rigidity) of the base frame 3 is increased. It can be easily increased.
Further, the section modulus can be increased by increasing the width dimension of the lower frame member 5b, and it is also possible to ensure the support rigidity.
Here, as a preferable structure of the lower frame member 5b, an aspect in which the width dimension of the lower frame member 5b disposed on the operation side is set smaller than the width dimension of the other lower frame member 5b can be cited. .
[0012]
Further, the present invention is not limited to the frame structure 1, and is also intended for a processing apparatus including the frame structure 1.
Here, the processing apparatuses widely include apparatuses that perform various processes such as an image forming apparatus, a sheet supply apparatus, and a post-processing apparatus.
[0013]
Further, in the processing apparatus, from the viewpoint of setting the height dimension to a short dimension, a subunit (not shown) provided near the base frame 3 is fitted between the upper frame members 5a of the base frame 3. Arranged embodiments are preferred.
Here, although the height dimension of the subunit mounted on the processing apparatus depends on the height dimension of the entire apparatus, the height of the entire apparatus is set by setting the arrangement position of the subunit near the base frame 3 to a low position. The size can be suppressed.
[0014]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail based on embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings.
FIG. 2 shows an outline of an embodiment of a processing apparatus to which the present invention is applied and the main part of its frame structure.
In the present embodiment, the processing apparatus 10 is an image forming apparatus in which an image forming engine (not shown) such as an electrophotographic system and subunits such as a plurality of stages of paper feed cassettes 12 are mounted in a casing 11. It is shown. In this example, the image reading unit 13 is disposed above the housing 11 via a space, and a recording paper discharge unit 14 is provided between the housing 11 and the image reading unit 13.
[0015]
Here, the casing 11 has a predetermined frame structure 20 in order to ensure its rigidity. The frame structure 20 is supported by a plurality of casters 21 and an outer cover is provided around the frame structure 20. It is a thing covered.
As shown in FIG. 2, the frame structure 20 includes a base frame 30 provided with casters 21 and a main body frame 40 constructed on the base frame 30.
[0016]
In particular, in this embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3A and 3B, the base frame 30 welds four pipes (corresponding to frame materials) 31 to 34 having a rectangular outer cross-section. A pair of front and rear pipes 31 and 32 and a pair of left and right pipes 33 and 34 orthogonal to the front and rear pipes 31 and 32 are connected in a grid pattern.
In this example, the pair of pipes 31 and 32 is a lower frame material positioned on the lower side, and the pair of pipes 33 and 34 is an upper frame material positioned on the upper side, but the pipe 31 is a pair of left and right pipes 33, The pipe 32 is spanned and connected to the bottom surface of the pair of left and right pipes 33 and 34, and is spanned and coupled to the bottom surface of the pair of left and right pipes 33 and 34.
[0017]
Further, in the present embodiment, the caster 21 is configured such that the caster main body 23 is rotatably supported on the support bracket 22, and the support bracket 22 is attached to the fastening tool 24 on the lower surface of the pipes 33 and 34 that are upper frame materials. It is fixed by fastening.
Here, the mounting positions of the casters 21 are set before and after the pipes 33 and 34, respectively, but in order to secure a wide front and rear span of the casters 21, in this example, the front and rear casters 21 are the front and rear pipes 31, It is attached immediately after each of 32.
[0018]
Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the main body frame 40 is divided into, for example, a main body lower frame 40 a and a main body upper frame (not shown). For example, the main body lower frame 40 a is formed by the left and right pipes 33 of the base frame 30. , 34, for example, support columns (frame materials) 41, 42 are erected on the upper surface aligned with the front end position, and rear plate (frame material) 43 is erected on the upper surface, aligned with the rear end positions of the left and right pipes 33, 34. Further, the support columns 41 and 42 are appropriately connected by left and right connection frame members 44 extending in the left and right direction, and the support columns 41 and 42 and the back plate 43 are connected by front and rear connection frame members 45 extending in the front and rear direction. Appropriately connected.
In this example, the main body lower frame 40a corresponds to a portion of the casing 11 that accommodates the paper feed cassette 12, and the main body lower frame 40a is provided with a guide rail that allows the paper feed cassette 12 to be pulled out. 46 (partially omitted) is appropriately provided.
[0019]
Next, the operation of the frame structure according to the present embodiment and the processing apparatus using the frame structure will be described.
In the present embodiment, since the base frame 30 is obtained by connecting the pipes 31 to 34 in a cross beam shape, the support rigidity (bending rigidity) of the base frame 30 is set to be sufficiently large.
That is, in order to ensure that the support rigidity of the base frame 30 is sufficiently large, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3C, for example, the height dimension k of a pair of left and right pipes 33 and 34, which is an upper frame material. Is set to be large, and the bending modulus is increased by increasing the section modulus of the pipes 33 and 34, or the width dimension d of at least one of the pipes 31 and 32, for example, the lower frame material is set to be large. Then, the section modulus itself of the pipes 31 and 32 may be increased so as to increase the bending rigidity, or the two may be appropriately selected.
[0020]
Further, since the casters 21 are fixed to the lower surfaces of the pair of left and right pipes 33 and 34 that are the upper frame material, the dimensional difference between the ground surface of the caster 21 and the pair of front and rear pipes 31 and 32 that are the lower frame material is reduced. can do.
Specifically, if the height dimension of the caster 21 is h, and the height dimension of the pipes 31 and 32 is m, the dimensional difference between the caster 21 ground surface and the pair of front and rear pipes 31 and 32, which are the lower frame material. Is hm. However, it is necessary that h> m.
For this reason, the base frame 30 is disposed at a low position, and accordingly, the height dimension of the frame structure 20 (or the housing 11) is set to be small.
[0021]
Further, the paper feed cassette 12 near the base frame 30, that is, the lowermost paper feed cassette 12 is mounted along the guide rail so that it can be pulled out from the front opening of the lower frame 40a. The paper cassette 12 is preferably fitted and disposed between a pair of left and right pipes 33 and 34 that are upper frame members of the base frame 30.
In such an aspect, the arrangement position of the lowermost sheet cassette 12 is set to a low position without being affected by the height dimension k of the pair of left and right pipes 33 and 34 that are the upper frame material. Therefore, there is no concern that the height dimension of the housing 11 will unnecessarily increase.
[0022]
Here, the superiority of the frame structure according to the present embodiment will be described by comparing with the first and second comparative examples.
4 (a) and 4 (b) show a frame structure according to Comparative Embodiment 1. A pipe frame in which four pipes 301 to 304 having a rectangular outer cross section are connected by welding on the same surface is used as a base frame 300. FIG. The casters 21 are fixed to the lower surfaces of the pipes 303 and 304 (the same surfaces as the lower surfaces of the pipes 301 and 302).
According to this comparative example 1, since the dimensional difference between the ground contact surface of the caster 21 and the lower surface of the base frame 300 is the height dimension h of the caster 21, the height dimension of the frame structure (H in the figure is the base). The height dimension h of the caster 21 is added as it is, and the height dimension of the frame structure is increased.
In particular, when the height dimension m of the pipes 301 to 304 is increased in order to increase the rigidity of the base frame 300, the height dimension H of the frame structure increases accordingly.
[0023]
5 (a) and 5 (b) show a frame structure according to comparative embodiment 2, and a pipe frame (frame) in which a plurality of pipes 311 to 316 having a rectangular outer cross section are connected by welding on the same surface. The base frame 310 is used as a base frame 310, and a bracket 317 having a hat-shaped cross section is attached to the base frame 310. The casters 21 are fixed to the recesses 318 recessed from the lower surface of the pipe frame of the bracket 317. According to the second comparative example, the dimensional difference (h−c) between the ground contact surface of the caster 21 and the base frame 310 is set to be small by the depth dimension c of the recess 318 of the bracket 317. The height dimension of the frame structure can be set small.
However, according to the second comparative example, since the casters 21 are attached via the brackets 317 in the base frame 310, the span between the casters 21 is inevitably shortened with respect to the base frame 310. Accordingly, there is a concern that the stability of the frame structure is poor and the processing apparatus is likely to fall over. In addition, when using the bracket 317, it is necessary to pay attention to securing the grounding property.
[0024]
In this regard, according to the frame structure according to the present embodiment, since the casters are attached to the upper frame material (in this example, the pipes 33 and 34) constituting the base frame 30, it is not necessary to add the bracket 317. The cost can be reduced as much as possible, and the caster 21 mounting portion can be formed with high accuracy because there is no accumulation due to mounting errors of other parts.
Further, the caster 21 can be attached at any position on the upper frame material of the base frame 30, so that the span between the casters 21 can be sufficiently separated, and the stability of the frame structure can be improved. Can be secured.
Furthermore, since no additional parts are added, the grounding property of the frame structure can be easily ensured.
As in the prior art disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-269669, in a mode in which a recess is provided in the frame material itself constituting the base frame and a caster is attached to the recess, the recess is formed. Although drawing is required above, drawing is not required in the present embodiment, so that the cost can be reduced by that amount, and the processing accuracy is not reduced by drawing. Therefore, the caster mounting portion can be formed with high accuracy.
[0025]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the frame structure according to the present invention, since at least the frame material (upper frame material, lower frame material) constituting the base frame has a cross-girder structure, the base frame support rigidity (bending rigidity) ) And the rigidity of the frame structure itself can be easily secured, and since the support is fixed to the upper frame material, the space between the grounding surface of the support and the lower frame material is The dimensional difference can be reduced, and the height dimension of the frame structure can be suppressed accordingly.
Furthermore, in the present invention, one lower frame member is connected at one end of the pair of upper frame members, and the other lower frame member is connected at a position away from the other end of the pair of upper frame members. At the same time, one lower frame member connected to one end of the upper frame member is disposed on the operation side of the processing device, and immediately after the side opposite to the operation side of the processing device of the pair of lower frame members among the upper frame members. Since the respective supports are fixed, the lower frame material is arranged on the operation side of the processing apparatus having the frame structure, and the step portion and the support between the upper frame material and the lower frame material are not arranged on the operation side of the processing apparatus. In addition, a wide span between the supports can be secured.
Moreover, in the processing apparatus using such a frame structure, it is possible to easily provide a processing apparatus having high support rigidity and a reduced height dimension.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1A is an explanatory view showing an outline of a frame structure according to the present invention, and FIG. 1B is an arrow view seen from a B direction in FIG.
FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a main part of a frame structure used in the processing apparatus according to the embodiment.
3A is an explanatory plan view of a frame structure according to the present embodiment, FIG. 3B is an arrow view seen from the B direction in FIG. 3A, and FIG. It is explanatory drawing which shows the aspect which raised support rigidity more.
4A is an explanatory plan view of a frame structure according to Comparative Embodiment 1, and FIG. 4B is an arrow view seen from the B direction in FIG.
5A is an explanatory plan view of a frame structure according to Comparative Example 2, and FIG. 5B is an arrow view seen from the B direction in FIG. 5A.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Frame structure, 2 ... Support body, 3 ... Base frame, 4 ... Main body frame, 5 ... Frame material, 5a ... Upper frame material, 5b ... Lower frame material

Claims (5)

A frame structure that is used in a housing of a processing apparatus and supported by a plurality of supports,
A base frame provided with a plurality of supports, and a main body frame constructed on the base frame;
Base frame, to be coupled to at least parallel crosses the pair of lower frame member positioned below the pair of upper frame members and the upper frame member positioned on the upper side as the outline substantially rectangular section of the frame member, wherein One lower frame material is connected at one end of the pair of upper frame materials, and the other lower frame material is connected at a position away from the other end of the pair of upper frame materials,
One lower frame member connected to one end of the upper frame member is disposed on the operation side of the processing device, and immediately after the side opposite to the operation side of the processing device of the pair of lower frame members among the upper frame members. frame structure, characterized in that fixes the respective support, than the height of the support is set small the height of the lower frame member. The frame structure according to claim 1,
A frame structure characterized in that a height dimension of an upper frame material constituting a base frame is set larger than a height dimension of a lower frame material. Claim 1 In the frame structure described,
A frame structure characterized in that a width dimension of a lower frame member arranged on the operation side is set smaller than a width dimension of the other lower frame member. A processing apparatus comprising the frame structure according to claim 1 . The processing apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein
The processing unit is characterized in that the subunits provided near the base frame are fitted and arranged between the upper frame members of the base frame.

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