JP6589407B2 - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus.

  A scanner unit for reading an image of a document is provided at the upper part of the apparatus main body, and an image forming unit for recording the read image on a sheet by a recording unit is provided at the lower part, and a sheet after recording is provided between the image forming unit and the scanner unit. In an image forming apparatus provided with a paper discharge stack portion for discharging the recording medium, the image forming apparatus includes a pair of side plates arranged and supported with a recording portion interposed therebetween, and a column is provided integrally or firmly on the side plate, and the scanner unit is supported by the column. An image forming apparatus is known (Patent Document 1).

JP-A-10-26854

  An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus capable of suppressing distortion of an image reading apparatus.

In order to solve the above problem, an image forming apparatus according to claim 1,
A housing that houses an image forming unit that forms an image on a recording medium;
An image reading device disposed above the image forming unit;
A support that is fixed to a side surface of the housing and supports and fixes one end of the image reading device when the width of the image reading device is not narrower than the width of the housing;
When the width of the image reading device is narrower than the width of the housing, a connection body that connects one end side of the image reading device to the support, and
The support body cantilevered from a position fixed to the housing to support the image reading apparatus, a fixing section that fixes the image reading apparatus to the support body, the coupling body, and the A through-hole through which a fixing means for fixing the image reading device is inserted,
It is characterized by that.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the first aspect,
The support is detachably fixed to the housing for the image reading device.
It is characterized by that.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the first or second aspect ,
The coupling body fixes the image reading device to the support body in a detachable manner.
It is characterized by that.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to any one of the first to third aspects,
The cross-sectional shape intersecting the longitudinal direction is a box shape, and one end of the box shape is closed,
It is characterized by that.

The invention according to claim 5 is the image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4 ,
The connection body is fixed to a side surface of the support body, and includes a support portion that supports the image reading device, and a fixing portion that fixes the image reading device.
It is characterized by that.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, it is possible to suppress distortion of an image reading apparatus that is selected from a plurality of types of image reading apparatuses and that can be exchanged .
According to the second aspect of the present invention, the image reading apparatus can be supported in a replaceable manner.
According to the third aspect of the present invention, it is possible to mount an image reading device narrower than the casing width.
According to invention of Claim 4 , a deformation | transformation of a coupling body can be suppressed.
According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the image reading apparatus can be supported in a replaceable manner.

2 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing an internal configuration of the image forming apparatus 1. FIG. FIG. 3 is a perspective view with a viewpoint on the image reading device 3 side of a housing 100 to which a support body 150 and a connection body 160 are fixed. (A) is the perspective view which put the viewpoint on the inner surface side of the support body 150, (b) is the perspective view which put the viewpoint on the outer surface side. FIG. 5A is a perspective view showing a state in which the connecting body 160 is attached to the support 150 with the viewpoint on the support 150 side, and FIG. 5B is a perspective view showing the viewpoint on the connection body 160 side. 3 is a perspective view showing a state in which the image reading device 3A is attached to the housing 100 via a support 150. FIG. 3 is a side view showing a state in which the image reading device 3A is attached to the housing 100 via the support 150 with a viewpoint on the support 150 side. FIG. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a state in which the image reading device 3B is attached to the housing 100 via a coupling body 160 and a support body 150. 3 is a side view showing a state in which the image reading device 3B is attached to the housing 100 via a coupling body 160 and a support body 150 from the viewpoint of the support body 150 side. FIG.

Next, the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the drawings with reference to embodiments and specific examples. However, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments and specific examples.
Also, in the description using the following drawings, it should be noted that the drawings are schematic and the ratio of each dimension and the like are different from the actual ones, and are necessary for the description for easy understanding. Illustrations other than the members are omitted as appropriate.

(1) Overall Configuration and Operation of Image Forming Apparatus FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view showing the overall configuration and internal configuration of the image forming apparatus 1.
Hereinafter, the overall configuration and operation of the image forming apparatus 1 will be described with reference to the drawings.

The image forming apparatus 1 is configured such that an image forming unit 2 that forms an image by an electrophotographic method and an image reading device 3 that reads a document or the like are supported above the image forming unit 2 by an image reading device support unit 4. ing.
In the image forming unit 2, a control device 10, a paper feeding device 20, a photosensitive unit 30, a developing unit 40, a transfer unit 50, and a fixing unit 60 are arranged in a housing 100 (shown in FIG. 2). On the upper surface (Z direction) of the image forming unit 2, a discharge tray unit T for discharging and storing a sheet on which an image is recorded is formed.

(1.2) Image Forming Unit The control device 10 includes a controller 11 that controls the operation of the image forming device 1, an image processing unit 12 that is controlled by the controller 11, a power supply device 13, and the like. The power supply device 13 applies a voltage to the photoconductor unit 30, the developing unit 40, the transfer unit 50, and the like.
The image processing unit 12 converts print information input from an external information transmission apparatus (for example, a personal computer) into image information for forming a latent image, and outputs a drive signal to the exposure apparatus LH at a preset timing. To do.

  At the bottom of the image forming unit 2, a paper feeding device 20 on which a large number of recording media P are stacked is provided. The paper P whose position in the width direction is determined by a regulating plate (not shown) is 1 from the top. Each sheet is pulled forward (−X direction) by the sheet drawer 22 and then conveyed to the nip portion of the registration roller pair 23.

  The photoconductor unit 30 includes a photoconductor drum 31 that is provided in parallel above the sheet feeding device 20 (Z direction) and is driven to rotate. Yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K) toner images are formed on the respective photosensitive drums 31 by the respective developing units 40.

  Each color toner image formed on the photosensitive drum 31 of each photoconductor unit 30 is sequentially electrostatically transferred (primary transfer) onto the intermediate transfer belt 51 of the transfer unit 50 to form a superimposed toner image in which each color toner is superimposed. Is done. The superimposed toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 51 is sent out from the registration roller pair 23 and is collectively transferred by the secondary transfer roller 52 onto the paper P guided by the conveyance guide.

The paper P on which the toner images are collectively transferred in the transfer unit 50 is conveyed to the fixing unit 60 in a state where the toner images are not fixed, and the pair of heating modules 61 and pressurizing modules 62 causes the toner images to be pressed and heated. Is established.
The paper P on which the fixed toner image is formed is guided by a conveyance guide, and is discharged and accommodated from the discharge roller pair 63 to a discharge tray T formed on the upper surface (Z direction) of the image forming unit 2.

(2) Configuration of Case FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the case 100 to which the support body 150 and the connecting body 160 are fixed as viewed from the image reading device 3 side, and FIG. FIG. 4B is a perspective view with the viewpoint on the outer surface side, and FIG. 4A shows the state where the connecting body 160 is attached to the support 150 with the viewpoint on the support 150 side. A perspective view and (b) are perspective views showing the connecting body 160 from a viewpoint.
Hereinafter, the configuration of the housing 100 of the image forming apparatus 1 will be described with reference to the drawings.

(2.1) Overall Configuration of Housing As shown in FIG. 2, the housing 100 of the image forming apparatus 1 includes a first side plate 110, a second side plate 120, and a first side plate 110 that stand upright from the left and right sides. A support plate 111, a second support column 112, a first side plate 110 and a second side plate 120 that connect the bottom plate 130 at the bottom of the housing, a first connection member 141 that connects the first support column 111 and the second side plate 120 at the top of the housing, a first A second connecting member 142 for connecting the two struts 112 and the second side plate 120 at the upper part of the housing; a third connecting member 143 for connecting the first struts 111 and the second side plate 120 at the lower part of the housing; The frame includes a fourth connecting member 144 that connects the side plates 120 at the lower part of the housing, and has a frame structure as a whole.

An opening 110a is formed in the first side plate 110, and the photosensitive unit 30, the developing unit 40, and the transfer unit 50 (see FIG. 1) can be attached and detached from the front side of the image forming apparatus 1.
On the inner surface side of the second side plate 120, a drive transmission unit 121 of a driving device (not shown) that drives the photosensitive unit 30, the developing unit 40, and the transfer unit 50 mounted in the housing 100 protrudes and is supported. Yes.

  A support 150 is fixed to the upper part of the side surface 120a of the second side plate 120 by screws. FIG. 2 shows a state in which the connecting body 160 is attached to the support body 150.

(2.2) Support Body The support body 150 is screwed to the side surface 120a of the second side plate 120, supports the one end side of the image reading apparatus 3A, and connects the image reading apparatus 3B narrower than the casing width to the connecting body 160. Support through.

  The support 150 protrudes toward the inner surface of the support 150 at a position away from the fixing portions 150a, 150b, and 150c, the first support portion 151 that cantilevered from the fixing portion 150b, and the first support portion 151. The second support part 152 formed in the aperture pocket shape, the fixing part 153 for fixing the image reading apparatus 3A to the support 150 from the side surface, and the screws as fixing means for fixing the coupling body 160 and the image reading apparatus 3B. And a through hole 154 to be inserted.

The fixing portion 150a is entirely configured as a flat surface on one end side of the support 150 (indicated by hatching in FIG. 3A), and is fixed to the side surface 120a of the second side plate 120 with a screw through an attachment hole 155.
In this embodiment, screws are fixed at five locations. The fixing portions 150b and 150c are screwed to the second side plate 120 through mounting holes 156 and 157 in a direction intersecting with the fixing portion 150a.
As a result, the support 150 is firmly fixed to the second side plate 120 of the housing 100, and supports one end of the image reading devices 3A and 3B in a cantilever manner.

The first support portion 151 is integrally formed with the support body 150 as a surface that extends in a cantilevered manner from the fixed portion 150 b and protrudes in a direction intersecting the fixed portion 150 a of the support body 150.
The first support portion 151 is provided with an attachment portion 151a, and one end side of the image reading apparatus 3A is screwed and supported. In the present embodiment, three attachment portions 151a are provided at regular intervals.
When the image reading device 3B narrower than the housing width is selected as the image reading device, the coupling body 160 is screwed to the attachment portion 151a.

A fixing portion 153 is provided on the inner surface side of the support 150 that intersects the first support portion 151, and the image reading device 3 </ b> A is positioned on the support 150 and fixed with screws from the outside of the support 150. In the present embodiment, the fixing portions 153 are provided at five locations at regular intervals.
The second support portion 152 has a diaphragm surface, and is fixed with screws in a state where the image reading device 3A is supported from below with the first support portion 151.

  The support 150 is provided with a plurality of through holes 154. The through-hole 154 is used as a hole through which a screw for fixing the image reading device 3B to the connecting body 160 is inserted when the image reading device 3B narrower than the casing width is attached via the connecting body 16.

(2.3) Linkage When the image reader 3B narrower than the housing width is attached to the housing 100, the connector 160 is connected to the support 150 and the image reader 3B that support one end of the image reader 3A. Is an auxiliary member that is detachably fixed to the support 150.

  The connecting body 160 has a box-shaped cross section that is closed at one end 161 and intersects the longitudinal direction, and deformation due to the load of the image reading apparatus 3B when the image reading apparatus 3B is connected to the support 150 is suppressed.

  As shown in FIG. 4A, the coupling body 160 is fixed to the first support portion 151 of the support body 150 by inserting a screw through a through hole 164 provided in the upper surface 160b (see an arrow in FIG. 4A). R1), the support 150 is detachable.

  As shown in FIG. 4B, on the inner surface 160 a side of the coupling body 160, a support portion 162 that supports one end side of the image reading device 3 </ b> B and a fixing that fixes the image reading device 3 </ b> B supported by the support portion 162. Part 163. In the present embodiment, the fixing portions 163 are provided at four locations at regular intervals.

  The image reading device 3B is fixed to the inner surface 160a side of the coupling body 160 via the fixing portion 163 with a screw inserted through the through hole 154 of the supporting member 150 in a state where the image reading device 3B is supported by the supporting portion 162 from below (FIG. 4). (See middle arrow R2).

(3) Support Structure of Image Reading Device FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a state where the image reading device 3A is attached to the housing 100 via the support 150, and FIG. FIG. 7 is a side view showing a state where the image reading device 3B is attached via the connector 160 and the support 150. FIG. FIG. 8 is a side view showing a state in which the image reading device 3B is attached to the housing 100 via the coupling body 160 and the support body 150 from the viewpoint of the support body 150 side.

  As shown in FIG. 5, when an image reading device 3A having a width dimension W1 substantially the same as the housing width W0 is selected as the image reading device 3 of the image forming apparatus 1, the other end of the image reading device 3A is selected. The side is placed and fixed on the upper surface 141a (see FIG. 2) of the first connecting member 141.

  One end side of the image reading device 3A is outside the support 150 while being supported by the first support 151 and the second support 152 of the support 150 fixed to the side surface 120a of the second side plate 120 of the housing 100. And fixed with a screw S1 through a fixing portion 153 (see FIG. 6).

  As shown in FIG. 7, when an image reading device 3B having a width W2 narrower than the casing width W0 is selected as the image reading device 3 of the image forming apparatus 1, the image is read in the same manner as the image reading device 3A. The other end side of the reading device 3B is placed and fixed on the upper surface 141a (see FIG. 2) of the first connecting member 141.

  As shown in FIG. 8, one end side of the image reading apparatus 3 </ b> B is supported by the support portion 162 of the connection body 160 fixed to the support body 150, and the fixing portion 163 of the connection body 160 is moved from the outside of the support body 150. And fixed with a screw S2 (see FIG. 8).

  Since the connecting body 160 is screwed to the support body 150 while being supported by the first support portion 151 of the support body 150 fixed to the side surface 120a of the second side plate 120 of the housing 100, the support body 150 is supported. The image reading apparatus 3 </ b> B is detachably supported by the support 150 via the coupling body 160.

For this purpose, a shared housing 160 is connected to a support 150 that supports one end of the image reading device in a cantilever manner by using a connecting body 160 according to the width dimension of the image reading device to be arranged. For the image forming apparatus 1 having the body 100, an image reading device can be selected from a plurality of types of image reading devices.
Even when an image reading device that is narrower than the housing width is selected, the support 150 fixed to the housing 100 is connected to the support body 160 using one end closed and a box-shaped connecting body 160. Thus, distortion when a load is applied to the image reading apparatus is suppressed, and the image reading accuracy is not deteriorated.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Image forming apparatus 2 ... Image forming part 3 ... Image reading apparatus 4 ... Image reading apparatus support part 10 ... Control apparatus 20 ... Paper feeder 30 ... Photoconductor unit 40 ... developing unit 50 ... transfer unit 60 ... fixing unit 100 ... housing 110 ... first side plate 111 ... first column 112 ... second column 120 ... first Two side plates 130 ... bottom plate 141 ... first connecting member 142 ... second connecting member 143 ... third connecting member 144 ... fourth connecting member 150 ... support 151 ... first DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Support part 152 ... 2nd support part 153 ... Fixing part 154 ... Through-hole 160 ... Connection body 161 ... Closure end part 162 ... Supporting part 163 ... Fixing part 164. ..Through holes

Claims (5)

A housing that houses an image forming unit that forms an image on a recording medium;
An image reading device disposed above the image forming unit;
A support that is fixed to a side surface of the housing and supports and fixes one end of the image reading device when the width of the image reading device is not narrower than the width of the housing;
When the width of the image reading device is narrower than the width of the housing, a connection body that connects one end side of the image reading device to the support, and
The support body cantilevered from a position fixed to the housing to support the image reading apparatus, a fixing section that fixes the image reading apparatus to the support body, the coupling body, and the A through-hole through which a fixing means for fixing the image reading device is inserted,
An image forming apparatus. The support is detachably fixed to the housing for the image reading device.
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1. The coupling body fixes the image reading device to the support body in a detachable manner.
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that. The cross-sectional shape intersecting the longitudinal direction is a box shape, and one end of the box shape is closed,
The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that. The connection body is fixed to a side surface of the support body, and includes a support portion that supports the image reading device, and a fixing portion that fixes the image reading device.
The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that.

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