JP4200622B2 - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a laser printer.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, an example of a laser printer is shown in FIG. This is provided with a face-up discharge port 2 for discharging the paper P upward and a face-down discharge port 3 for discharging the paper P to the side at the top of the housing 1. The paper discharge trays 4 and 5 are provided at the respective paper discharge ports 2 and 3, and the paper feed tray 6 is detachably disposed at the lower part in the housing 1.
[0003]
In the above configuration, when printing is performed, as shown by a solid line in FIG. As a result, only one sheet P on the paper feed tray 6 is sent to the printing unit (not shown) based on the print command, and the printed sheet P is discharged to the face-up discharge port 2 or the face-down discharge. It is discharged from the paper mouth 3.
[0004]
When carrying the laser printer, one outer paper discharge tray 4 is removed from the housing 1, and the other paper discharge tray 5 is rotated and stored on the housing 1 (see the phantom line in FIG. 12). The casing 1 is gripped and carried to a predetermined position.
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In the conventional configuration, the paper discharge tray 4 removed from the housing 1 is bulky and obstructive. In addition, since there is nothing that locks the paper discharge tray 5 stored on the housing 1, there is a possibility that the paper discharge tray 5 rotates unexpectedly due to an impact when carrying the housing 1 and is damaged.
[0006]
Therefore, for example, based on the technique described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 4-223964, a hook is provided on the paper discharge tray 5, and a latch is provided on the housing 1 so as to face the hook, and the hook is fitted to the latch. It is conceivable to lock the paper discharge tray 5 to the housing 1 by doing this, but in this case, in order to release the lock, the hook is forcibly released from the latch by grasping and pulling up the tip of the paper discharge tray 5. There is a possibility that the lock function by the hook and the latch is lowered due to an excessive load caused by the separation, and the root portion of the paper discharge tray 5 may be damaged.
[0007]
In view of the above-described conventional drawbacks, the present invention stores the two discharge trays so as not to be bulky, reliably locks the stored state, and easily cancels the locked state. The purpose is to provide.
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, according to the first aspect of the present invention , a concave groove is formed on the upper surface of the housing , and a face-up discharge port for discharging the paper upward in the concave groove, and the paper A face-down discharge port for discharging to the side, an outer discharge tray facing the face-up discharge port, and an inner discharge tray facing the face-down discharge port, In an image forming apparatus configured to discharge paper from the face-up discharge port to the outer discharge tray or from the face-down discharge port to the inner discharge tray, at the base end of the outer discharge tray A projecting pivot shaft is pivotally mounted on one end of the side surface of the concave groove, and a pivot shaft projecting on the base end portion of the inner discharge tray is the other end of the side surface of the concave groove. Is pivotally attached to the inside, and the inner output tray is turned toward the groove. Formed an outer sheet discharge tray after to store the two trays by polymerizing outer sheet discharge tray inner discharging tray by the this pivoting towards in the groove in the groove, A pair of left and right locking means for locking the front both ends of the outer sheet discharge tray in its stored state to the casing is provided, and each of the locking means is an elastically deformable synthetic resin disposed in a space in the casing A lock piece having a U-shaped frame, and a push button formed of one end of the U-shaped frame is movably inserted into a through-hole penetrating the top plate portion of the housing, and is formed of the other end of the U-shaped frame Is movably inserted through a through-hole penetrating the bottom plate portion of the concave groove, a protrusion is projected on the side surface of the front end of the lock piece, and a spring for urging the U-shaped frame upward is disposed in the space. The lock holes are formed at both front ends of the outer paper discharge tray so as to face the lock pieces. By inserting the lock pieces of the lock means into the lock holes and engaging the protrusions of the lock pieces with the side edges of the lock holes, the front ends of the outer paper discharge tray are locked to the housing. The lock piece is released from the lock hole by depressing the push button against the spring .
[0009]
According to the above configuration, when the casing is carried, the outer discharge tray is locked by the locking means so that the inner discharge tray is also locked so as not to rotate. There is no risk of accidental rotation and damage.
[0010]
In addition, by simply depressing the push button, the lock piece integrally formed with the push button can be released from the outer paper discharge tray, and the lock can be easily released. The function can be reliably maintained over a long period of time, and there is no possibility of damaging the root portion of the outer paper discharge tray when the lock is released.
[0011]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
1 to 6 show a laser printer according to an embodiment of the present invention, in which both discharge trays 4 and 5 are disposed in a concave groove 7 formed on the upper surface of the housing 1, and FIG. Pivoting shafts 4a and 5a projecting from the base ends of the paper discharge trays 4 and 5 are pivotally attached to the side surfaces of the concave grooves 7, and the paper discharge trays 4 and 5 are overlapped with each other to form a concave. A pair of left and right locking means 8 for locking the outer paper discharge tray 4 in the state of being stored in the groove 7 are provided at both front ends of the housing 1. In FIG. 1, 9 is an operation panel. Components other than those described above are denoted by the same reference numerals as those shown in FIG. 12, and description thereof is omitted.
[0012]
The locking means 8 has an elastically deformable synthetic resin U-shaped frame 11 disposed in a space 10 in the casing 1, and a push button 11 a formed from one end of the U-shaped frame 11 is provided on the casing 1. The lock piece 11b formed of the other end portion of the U-shaped frame 11 is movably inserted into the through hole 13 that penetrates the bottom plate portion of the concave groove 7 while being movably inserted into the through hole 12 that penetrates the top plate portion. In addition, an arc-shaped protrusion 14 protrudes from the side surface of the distal end of the lock piece 11 b, and a spring 15 that biases the U-shaped frame 11 upward is disposed in the space 10. Further, lock holes 16 are provided at both front ends of the outer sheet discharge tray 4 so as to face the lock pieces 11b.
[0013]
In the above configuration, the state indicated by the solid lines in FIGS. 1 and 3 is a state in which both the discharge trays 4 and 5 are overlapped and stored in the concave groove 7 and the outer discharge tray 4 is locked by the both locking means 8. The lock piece 11b of each lock means 8 is fitted into the lock hole 16, and the protrusion 14 of each lock piece 11b is engaged with the side edge of the lock hole 16.
[0014]
According to the above configuration, when the casing 1 is carried, the outer discharge tray 4 is locked by the locking means 8 so that the inner discharge tray 5 is also locked so as not to rotate. There is no possibility that the trays 4 and 5 are unexpectedly rotated and damaged as in the prior art.
[0015]
In the above configuration, when printing, the push button 11a of each lock means 8 is pushed down against the spring 15. As a result, the lock piece 11b is elastically deformed and pulled out from the lock hole 16, and the outer paper discharge tray 4 is unlocked. Subsequently, as indicated by phantom lines in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, by expanding the inner and outer discharge trays 4, 5, the base end portion of each discharge tray 4, 5 is the engaging portion 18 in the concave groove 7. , 19 and the respective paper discharge trays 4 and 5 are held in the paper discharge posture. Next, as in the prior art, only one sheet P on the paper feed tray 6 is sent to a printing unit (not shown) based on a print command, and the printed sheet P is fed to the face-up discharge port 2. Alternatively, the sheet is discharged from the face-down discharge port 3.
[0016]
According to the above configuration, the outer discharge tray 4 can be unlocked simply by pushing down the push buttons 11a of the lock means 8 against the spring 15, and the outer discharge tray 4 can be unlocked as in the prior art. Since it is not necessary to forcibly release the lock by lifting the tip, the lock function can be reliably maintained for a long time, and the root portion of the outer paper discharge tray 4 may be damaged when the lock is released. There is no.
[0017]
7 and 8 show a laser printer which is an example of reference of the present invention, and each of the locking means 8 has a synthetic resin T-shaped frame 21 arranged in a space 10 in the housing 1. A slide button 21a formed of a rising portion of the T-shaped frame 21 is inserted into the top plate portion of the housing 1 along the directions a and b perpendicular to the rotation direction of the outer sheet discharge tray 4. The front end of the lock piece 21b formed of the horizontal portion of the T-shaped frame 21 protrudes into the groove 7 and is engaged with the side edge of the outer paper discharge tray 4. Since the configuration other than the above is substantially the same as that of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 6, the same parts are denoted by the same reference numerals and the description thereof is omitted.
[0018]
According to the above configuration, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the outer discharge tray 4 is locked by engaging the locking piece 21b of each locking means 8 with the side edge of the outer discharge tray 4. from state, each slide button 21a only is slid in the direction of arrow a, each lock piece 21b is detached from the outer sheet discharging tray 4 can be released easily lock, the same effect as an embodiment Obtainable.
[0019]
9 and 10 show a laser printer which is another example of the reference of the present invention, and a pair of left and right locking means 8 are projected from the base end portion of the inner sheet discharge tray 5 to be discharged outside. The lock piece 24 has a lock piece 24 that is removably fitted into a lock hole 25 that penetrates the front end portion of the paper tray 4, and the lock piece 24 is formed in a bifurcated shape by forming a slit 26 in the center portion. A pair of left and right arm portions 24 a that can be deformed is provided, and an arcuate protrusion 27 formed on the outer surface of each arm portion 24 a is engaged with the peripheral edge of the lock hole 25.
[0020]
According to the above configuration, as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, both arm portions 24 a are engaged from the state where both arm portions 24 a of the lock piece 24 are engaged with the lock holes 25 and the outer sheet discharge tray 4 is locked. Are pressed in a direction approaching each other to release the engaged state between the arm portions 24a and the lock holes 25, and the inner and outer discharge trays 4 and 5 are locked only by pulling up the outer discharge tray 4. It can be easily released, and the same effect as in the embodiment can be obtained.
[0021]
Further, after releasing the lock, the inner discharge tray 5 is rotated, whereby the lock piece 24 is engaged with the engaging portion 28 of the concave groove 7 as shown in FIG. 5 is held.
[0022]
According to the above configuration, the locking piece 24 which is the locking means 8 for the inner and outer discharge trays 4 and 5 also serves as a stopper for maintaining the discharge posture of the inner discharge tray 5. Compared with the case where the stopper is provided separately, the number of parts is reduced and the manufacturing cost is reduced.
[0023]
【The invention's effect】
According to the first aspect of the present invention, when the casing is carried, the outer discharge tray is locked by the locking means so that the inner discharge tray is also locked so as not to rotate. However, there is no fear that it will be accidentally rotated and damaged as in the prior art.
[0024]
In addition , by simply depressing the push button, the lock piece integrally formed with the push button can be released from the outer paper discharge tray, and the lock can be easily released. The function can be reliably maintained over a long period of time, and there is no possibility of damaging the root portion of the outer paper discharge tray when the lock is released.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a state where both discharge trays of a laser printer according to an embodiment of the present invention are locked.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a state where both the paper discharge trays are in a paper discharge posture.
FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a state in which both the paper discharge trays are locked.
FIG. 4 is a plan view showing a state in which both the paper discharge trays are locked.
FIG. 5 is a partial front view of the paper discharge trays in a locked state.
FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of the main part.
FIG. 7 is a partial plan view showing a state in which both discharge trays of a laser printer as an example of reference of the present invention are locked.
FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view of the main part.
FIG. 9 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a state where both discharge trays of a laser printer which is another example of the reference of the present invention are locked.
10 is an AA enlarged arrow view of FIG. 9;
FIG. 11 is a partial vertical cross-sectional view showing a state where both the paper discharge trays are in a paper discharge posture.
FIG. 12 is a side view showing a conventional example.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Case 2 Face-up paper discharge port 3 Face-down paper discharge port 4 Outer paper output tray 5 Inner paper output tray 8 Locking means 11a Push button 11b Lock piece 15 Spring 21a Slide button 21b Lock piece 24 Lock piece

Claims (1)

A concave groove is formed in the upper surface of the housing, and a face-up discharge port for discharging the paper upward and a face-down discharge port for discharging the paper sideways are formed in the groove. An outer discharge tray that faces the face-up discharge port and an inner discharge tray that faces the face-down discharge port. In the image forming apparatus formed so as to be discharged from the face-down discharge port onto the inner discharge tray, a pivot shaft protruding from the base end portion of the outer discharge tray is formed at one end of the side surface of the concave groove. A pivot shaft pivotably mounted on the base end of the inner discharge tray is pivotally mounted on the other end of the side surface of the concave groove so that the inner discharge tray is recessed. After turning it into the groove, turn the outer paper output tray into the groove. Thus, the outer discharge tray is superposed on the inner discharge tray so that both trays are stored in the recessed grooves, and both front ends of the stored outer discharge tray are locked to the housing. A pair of left and right locking means for each, each of the locking means having an elastically deformable synthetic resin U-shaped frame disposed in the space in the casing, and a push button comprising one end of the U-shaped frame Is movably inserted into a through-hole penetrating the top plate portion of the housing, and a lock piece made of the other end of the U-shaped frame is movably inserted into the through-hole penetrating the bottom plate portion of the concave groove. A protrusion is provided on the side surface of the front end of the lock piece, and a spring for urging the U-shaped frame upward is disposed in the space. The lock hole is penetrated, and the lock piece of each lock means is inserted into the lock hole. By engaging the protrusions of each lock piece with the side edge of the lock hole, both front ends of the outer paper discharge tray are locked to the housing, and the push button is pushed down against the spring to lock it. An image forming apparatus, wherein the piece is detached from the lock hole .

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