JP4135201B2 - Device cover assembly structure and method - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a cover assembly structure and method applied to devices such as image scanners, facsimiles, and copiers.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, in the cover assembly structure of this type of device, when the exterior cover is finely divided due to the structure of the device, a fastening screw for attaching the cover is exposed to the outside.
Further, in an image reading / recording apparatus including a reading unit (scanner unit) that reads a document image and a recording unit that records a received or read image on a recording sheet, in order to reduce the size of the entire apparatus, There is a case where a configuration in which a part of the scanner unit is disposed above the recording unit is employed.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, if the fastening screws are exposed on the outer surface of the device, it is not preferable in design. Further, when the configuration of the image reading / recording apparatus as described above is adopted, it is necessary to open the upper part of the recording unit in order to replace the ink in the recording head of the recording unit or to jam the recording paper in the conveyance path. There is. Therefore, a configuration in which the scanner unit is pivotally supported with respect to the apparatus main body on both sides is conceivable. In this case, a configuration is adopted in which the scanner unit is rotatably provided between the left and right side plates made of metal plates attached to the device body frame. In such a configuration, in order to conceal the side plate made of a metal plate for design reasons, the inner and outer surfaces of the side plate are covered with a cosmetic side cover. In that case, a fastening screw for fixing the side cover is used. Kinds are easily exposed to the outside.
[0004]
The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-described problems. When the exterior cover is divided into a plurality of parts due to the structure of the apparatus, the fastening screws for fixing the exterior cover are provided on the apparatus. Assembling the cover of the equipment so that it is not visible from the outside, especially when the image reading unit is pivotally provided on the side plate of the main body of the device so as to cover the side plate so as not to impair the beauty. It is an object to provide a structure and method.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, the invention of claim 1 is a device cover assembly structure in which each of the side plates attached to the left and right sides of the body frame of the device is covered with a cover from the inner and outer surfaces, and the outer surface side of the side plate. An outer side cover that is attached to the inner side of the side plate, and a spacer that is inserted and fixed between the rear edge of the inner side cover and the main body frame. The inner side cover is positioned by being attached to the side plate, and the inner side cover is positioned by being inserted into and fixed to the side plate.
In this configuration, the outer side cover is positioned and fixed by the side plate, and the inner side cover is positioned and fixed in the front-rear direction by the side plate and the spacer. The outer side cover and the inner side cover are attached to the side plates by mutual engagement of protrusions and holes provided in each member, and the spacer can be screwed at a position where it cannot be seen from the outer surface. In addition, the retaining screw for fixing the inner side cover may not be visible from the outer surface. Moreover, it is possible to cover the side plate with both side covers.
[0006]
According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the device cover assembly structure according to the first aspect, the device includes an image reading unit for reading a document image and a recording unit for recording the image on a recording medium, and the image reading unit. Is pivotally supported between the left and right side plates, and when the head is tilted forward, the upper part of the recording part is opened, and a discharge path for the recording medium after recording by the recording part is provided below the unit. The inner side cover faces this discharge path. In this configuration, in an apparatus including an image reading unit and a recording unit that records an image on a recording medium, an operation equivalent to the above can be obtained. Further, the recording medium discharge path located below the image reading unit is also partitioned by the inner side cover.
[0007]
The invention of claim 3 is a device cover assembling method in which each of the side plates attached to the left and right sides of the main body frame of the device is covered with a cover from the inner and outer surfaces, and the inner side cover is provided on the inner surface side of the side plate. Attach it to the position slightly slid rearward from the normal position, slide the outer side cover slightly forward from the normal position on the outer side of the side plate, and attach it to the normal position. The inner side cover is positioned in the front-rear direction by sliding it forward to obtain a normal position and inserting and fixing a spacer between the rear edge of the inner side cover and the main body frame.
In this method, the inner side cover is first mounted on the side plate at a position slightly slid rearward from the normal position, and the outer side cover is slid from the rear position slightly forward to the normal position. Thereafter, the inner side cover is slid forward to obtain the normal position, and the inner side cover is positioned by the spacer. Thereby, the outer side cover and the inner side cover can be fixed to the normal position with respect to the side plate only by screwing the spacer inserted on the inner surface side of the side plate.
[0008]
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the device cover assembling method according to the third aspect, the device includes an image reading unit for reading a document image and a recording unit for recording the image on a recording medium. Is supported between the left and right side plates so as to be pivotable in a forward tilting posture, and a discharge path for the recording medium after recording by the recording unit is formed below the unit, with the inner side cover facing this discharge path. It is. In this configuration, in an apparatus including an image reading unit and a recording unit that records an image on a recording medium, an operation equivalent to the above can be obtained.
[0009]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, embodiments of the invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is an external view of a multifunction device equipped with a scanner as an embodiment of a device to which a cover assembly structure is applied. The multi-function device 1 has various functions such as a facsimile function, a printer function, a copy function, and a scanner function.
[0010]
The main body of the multi-function device 1 is formed in a box shape, and its left and right side surfaces are covered with left and right side covers 2 and 3 (outer side covers) which are decorative cases. These side covers 2 and 3 are attached to a body frame (not shown). An image reading unit 4 that reads an image of a document (not shown) is supported between the side covers 2 and 3 so as to be rotatable around a shaft portion 22 (FIG. 2) with respect to the apparatus main body. In addition, a recording unit 5 (FIG. 2) for recording an image on recording paper (recording medium) is built in the apparatus main body, and the image reading unit 4 is overlapped vertically so as to cover a part of the recording unit 5. It is arranged to save space. A recording paper cassette 6 for stacking and storing recording papers is mounted at the rear of the apparatus main body.
[0011]
On the upper surface of the image reading unit 4, an operation panel 7 having a key operation unit and a display unit including an LCD display is disposed. A rear part of the image reading unit 4 is provided with a document placing portion 9 on which a facsimile document transmitted to the other facsimile apparatus during the facsimile function and a copy document copied during the copy function can be stacked. A document discharge section 10 is provided on the front surface of the apparatus main body, and a document discharge tray 12 is mounted on the document discharge section 10. A recording paper discharge unit 13 is provided below the document discharge unit 10, and a recording paper discharge tray 14 is attached to the recording paper discharge unit 13.
[0012]
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the multi-function device 1, and each component inside the main body will be described below. The document reading unit 4 includes a scanner 15, and the scanner 15 includes an image sensor 17 made of a CCD or the like facing a conveyance path 16 that conveys a read document placed on the document placement unit 9. A separation roller 18 that separates and feeds the document, a paper feed roller 19 that transports the document, a discharge roller 20 that discharges the document after reading to the document discharge unit 10, and the like are disposed in the transport path 16. The document reading unit 4 is pivotally supported by a shaft portion 22 on a main body frame side plate 21 made of a metal material or the like, and can be rotated in a forward tilt posture. As a result, the upper portion of the recording portion 5 is opened as necessary. To be able to.
[0013]
The recording unit 5 includes a recording head 25 of an ink jet printer that ejects ink droplets. The recording head 25 is mounted on a carriage 26 together with an ink cartridge 27. The carriage 26 is guided by the carriage shaft 28 and moved by a driving mechanism (not shown) during a recording operation.
[0014]
The recording paper cassette 6 includes a cassette case 31, a front lid 32, a pressure plate 33 on which recording paper is set and biased by a spring, a paper feed roller 34, and the like. The recording paper P set in the recording paper cassette 6 is separated and fed to the transport path 35 by the paper feed roller 34. Facing the conveyance path 35, a paper feed roller 36, a platen 37 facing the recording head 25, a paper discharge roller 38 for discharging the recording paper P after recording to the recording paper discharge section 13, and the like are arranged. A driving mechanism for driving various rollers and the like is not shown.
[0015]
The shaft portion 22 of the image reading unit 4 has a hollow cylindrical shape, and is formed integrally with the case on the left and right case side walls of the unit 4. The unit 4 is pivotally supported by allowing the shaft portion 22 to pass through a hole provided in the main body frame side plate 21 to be rotatable. A front cover 54 is attached to the back and bottom surfaces of the recording paper discharge unit 13, and the front cover 54 is attached to a lower cover 55 (main body frame) located behind the front cover 54 with screws 56.
[0016]
FIG. 3 is a plan view showing a cross section of the side cover portion of the multi-function device 1. The main body frame side plate 21 is fixed to the lower cover 55 by attachment pieces 21a, and the left and right side covers 2, 3 are connected to the main body frame side plate 21 and the lower cover 55 by a plurality of mutual engaging members, for example, side covers 2, 3. The projections 2c and 3c are attached to the holes of the main body frame side plate 21 and the like. A front side cover 52 (inner side cover) is attached to the inner side surfaces of the left and right side covers 2 and 3 so as to cover the main body frame side plate 21. The front side cover 52 is mounted by engaging the projection 52b with the hole in the main body frame side plate 21, and the spacer 53 is inserted and fixed between the rear end edge of the front side cover 52 and the front wall of the lower cover 55. Is positioned. The front side cover 52 forms both side surfaces of the rotating document reading unit 4 and side surfaces of the recording paper discharge unit 13. Details of these assembling methods will be described later.
[0017]
Further, a bowl-shaped dust receiver 57 is formed on the inner edge of the side covers 2 and 3 to prevent dust and dirt from entering inward from the gap with the document reading unit 4. Further, a telephone handset receiver 50 is attached to the side surface of the side cover 2.
[0018]
FIGS. 4 to 6 are right side views arranged in order of the first to third assembling procedures for explaining an assembling method of each cover member divided into a plurality of parts. This will be described with reference to these drawings and FIG. 3 described above. The main body frame side plates 21 are attached to the left and right sides of the lower cover 55 (main body frame) by mounting pieces 21a. (Only one side cover 3 is shown in FIGS. 4 to 5) and a front side cover 52 are mounted and positioned and fixed by a spacer 53. When assembling the side cover 3 and the front side cover 52 to the main body frame side plate 21, each member is abutted and engaged, so that some members were slid from the final normal position during the assembly. Must be installed in position.
[0019]
Below, the assembly procedure of each member of a cover is demonstrated. First, as shown in FIG. 4, the front side cover 52 is placed slightly rearward (rightward in FIG. 4) from the normal position on the inner surface side of the body frame side plate 21 (for example, from 5 mm forward to 10 mm rearward from the normal position). ) Attach to the slide position. Here, mounting is performed by engaging a plurality of protrusions 52 b and the like provided on the front side cover 52 with holes 21 b and end surfaces provided on the body frame side plate 21. The side cover 3 indicated by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 4 indicates a normal position to be mounted.
[0020]
Secondly, as shown in FIG. 5, the side cover 3 is slid slightly forward (5 mm) from the normal position to the outer surface side of the main body frame side plate 21 and attached to the normal position. Here, mounting is performed by engaging a plurality of protrusions 3 c and the like provided on the side cover 3 with holes 21 c and the like provided on the main body frame side plate 21. In the end, the end surface of the front side cover 52 comes into contact with the inner wall surface of the side cover 3, but in the state shown in FIG. 5, the front side cover 52 is slid rearward from the normal position. Therefore, there is a gap d between the inner wall surface of the side cover 3 and the end surface of the front side cover 52. The thickness of the cover member is between the outline of the side cover 3 and the inner broken line.
[0021]
Then, thirdly, as shown in FIG. 6, the front side cover 52 is slid forward (5 mm) to the normal position, and the spacer 53 is provided between the rear edge of the front side cover 52 and the lower cover 55. Is inserted in the lateral direction from the center of the main body, that is, the space of the recording paper discharge unit 13 (see FIG. 2) and fixed with screws (not shown), thereby positioning the front side cover 52 in the front-rear direction. Thus, the assembly of the side cover 3 and the front side cover 52 is completed. After that, the front cover 54 is mounted from the front side of the recording paper discharge unit 13 and fixed with screws 56 (FIG. 2).
[0022]
Since the assembly structure is as described above, the spacer 53 can be screwed in a position that cannot be seen from the outer surface, and the fastening screws for fixing the side covers 2 and 3 and the front side cover 52 are not visible from the outside. In addition, the main body frame side plate 21 made of a metal plate can be covered with both side covers, which is desirable in design.
[0023]
Next, a structure for attaching the handset receiver 50 (cover) of the telephone set attached to the side surface of the side cover 2 in the multi-function device 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. 7 shows the side surface of the side cover 2 to which the handset receiver 50 is attached, FIG. 8 shows the side surface of the side cover 2 in a state where the handset receiver 50 and the like are not attached, and FIG. 9 shows the side surface of the handset receiver 50. 10 shows a cross section taken along the line BB of FIG. 8, and FIG. 11 shows a cross section taken along the line DD of FIG.
[0024]
As shown in FIG. 8, the side cover 2 is formed with a handset receiving mounting recess 60, and holes 61, 62, and 63 are provided side by side (front-rear direction) on the lower edge of the mounting recess 60. The projections 64, 65, 66 are formed so as to protrude from the lower ends of the holes 61, 62, 63. Holes 67 are provided between the holes 61 and 62 and between the holes 62 and 63, respectively. Further, a screw insertion hole 68 and a hole 69 are provided in the upper part of the mounting recess 60. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 9, attachment pieces 71, 72, 73 are formed in the handset receiver 50, and holes 74, 75, 76 are provided in the upper portions of the attachment pieces 71, 72, 73. ing. Projections 77 are provided between the attachment piece 71 and the attachment piece 72 and between the attachment piece 72 and the attachment piece 73, respectively.
[0025]
The attachment pieces 71 to 73 of the handset receiver 50 correspond to the holes 61 to 63 on the side cover 2 side, and the holes 74 to 76 of the handset receiver 50 correspond to the protrusions 64 to 66 on the side cover 2 side. 77 corresponds to the hole 67 on the side cover 2 side, and as shown in FIGS. 7, 10, and 11, the handset receiver 50 is held by the side cover 2 by being fitted to each other. . Further, as shown in FIG. 10, the handset receiver 50 is provided with a screw receiver 78 and a protrusion 79 corresponding to the screw insertion hole 68 and the hole 69, and the handset receiver 50 is fixed to the side cover 2 with a screw 78a. . The handset receiver 50 includes an upper member 50a and a bottom member 50b.
[0026]
In the mounting structure described above, the handset receiver 50 is mounted by fitting the mounting pieces 71 to 73 positioned side by side into the holes 61 to 63 of the side cover 2 side by side. Even if a force that pulls outward is applied at the front and rear ends of the handset receiver 50, the attachment pieces 71 to 73 bite into the side cover 2, and the handset receiver 50 is difficult to come off.
[0027]
The operation of the multi-function device 1 according to the above embodiment will be described in detail. In this multi-function device 1, a facsimile original is read by the image reading unit 4 in the facsimile transmission function, a received image is recorded on the recording paper P by the recording unit 5 in the facsimile reception function, and copied by the image reading unit 4 in the copy function. The original is read and the read image is recorded on the recording paper P by the recording unit 5. Furthermore, it also has a function of recording image data transmitted from an external device (not shown) on the recording paper P by the recording unit 5. Further, the apparatus 1 has a configuration in which the image reading unit 4 and the recording unit 5 partially overlap each other in a space-saving and downsized manner, and the image reading unit 4 is rotated around the shaft unit 22. By moving it, the upper part of the recording unit 5 can be opened, and maintenance of the recording unit 5, ink replacement, jam processing in the transport path 35, and the like can be easily performed.
[0028]
In addition, this invention is not restricted to the structure of the said embodiment, A various deformation | transformation is possible. For example, in the above embodiment, the present invention is applied to the multi-function device 1 having a facsimile function, a copy function, etc., but a single function device such as a scanner in which the image reading unit 4 is rotatably provided, It may be applied to other devices.
[0029]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, the outer side cover and the inner side cover whose cover is divided into a plurality of parts can be positioned and fixed by the side plates and the spacers. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the screws from being visible from the outer surface, and it is possible to cover the side plates with both side covers, which is desirable in design.
[0030]
According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus including an image reading unit and a recording unit for recording an image on a recording medium, and a discharge path for the recording medium located below the image reading unit is also provided on the inner side cover. The effect is the same as that described above. In addition, the image reading unit and the recording unit partially overlap each other, and both can be incorporated into the main body in a space-saving manner. In addition, in such a case, by rotating the image reading unit to the forward inclined posture, the recording medium conveyance path in the recording unit can be opened as necessary, and operations such as jam processing can be easily performed. it can.
[0031]
Further, according to the invention of claim 3, the inner side cover and the outer side cover can be slid relative to the side plate, and finally the whole can be fixed at a regular position using a spacer. The retaining screw for fixing the cover and the inner side cover can be hidden from the outer surface.
[0032]
According to the invention of claim 4, there is provided an apparatus including an image reading unit and a recording unit for recording an image on a recording medium, and the same effect as described above can be obtained.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an external view of a multi-function device according to an embodiment of an image reading device of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a multi-function device.
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional plan view of a side cover portion of the multi-function device.
FIG. 4 is a right side view in a first assembly procedure for explaining a method of assembling each cover member.
FIG. 5 is a right side view in a second assembly procedure for explaining a method of assembling each member of the cover.
FIG. 6 is a right side view in a third assembling procedure for explaining a method of assembling each cover member.
FIG. 7 is a side view of a side cover to which a handset receiver is attached.
FIG. 8 is a side view of the side cover in a state where a handset receiver or the like is not attached.
FIG. 9 is a side view of the handset receiver.
10 is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB in FIG.
11 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line DD of FIG.
[Explanation of symbols]
2, 3 Side cover (outside side cover)
4 Image reading unit 5 Recording unit 21 Body frame side plate 22 Shaft (support shaft)
52 Front side cover (inner side cover)
53 Spacer 55 Under cover (main frame)

Claims (4)

A cover assembly structure for a device in which each of the side plates attached to the left and right sides of the body frame of the device is covered with a cover from the inner and outer surfaces,
An outer side cover mounted on the outer surface side of the side plate;
An inner side cover mounted on the inner surface side of the side plate;
A spacer inserted and fixed between the rear edge of the inner side cover and the main body frame;
The outer side cover is positioned by being attached to the side plate,
The cover assembly structure for an apparatus, wherein the inner side cover is mounted on the side plate and positioned by inserting and fixing the spacer. The apparatus includes an image reading unit that reads a document image, and a recording unit that records the image on a recording medium.
The image reading unit is pivotally supported between the left and right side plates, and the upper part of the recording unit is opened when the image reading unit is rotated to a forward tilt posture.
2. The cover assembly structure for an apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a discharge path for a recording medium after recording by the recording unit is provided below the unit, and the inner side cover faces the discharge path. A device cover assembling method in which each of the side plates attached to the left and right sides of the device main body frame is covered with a cover from the inner and outer surfaces,
Install the inner side cover on the inner surface side of the side plate at a position slightly slid backward from the normal position,
Slide the outer side cover on the outer surface side of the side plate slightly from the normal position to the front position, and then attach it to the normal position.
The inner side cover is slid forward to a normal position, and a spacer is inserted and fixed between the rear edge of the inner side cover and the main body frame to position the inner side cover in the front-rear direction. A cover assembly method for equipment. The apparatus includes an image reading unit that reads a document image and a recording unit that records an image on a recording medium, and the image reading unit is pivotally supported between the left and right side plates so as to be pivotable forward.
A discharge path for the recording medium after recording by the recording unit is formed below the unit,
The apparatus cover assembling method according to claim 3, wherein the inner side cover faces the discharge path.

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