JPH067276B2 - Frame opening / closing mechanism with torsion bar - Google Patents

Description

Description: TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a frame opening / closing mechanism equipped with a torsion bar provided in an image forming apparatus such as a clamshell type electrostatographic copying machine or a facsimile. More specifically, the present invention relates to a frame opening / closing mechanism equipped with a torsion bar, which is provided with an opening restricting member that restricts the upper divided frame that is divided into upper and lower parts from opening with respect to the lower divided frame at a predetermined opening angle.

[Conventional technology]

Conventionally, in a frame opening / closing mechanism of a clamshell type image forming apparatus, in order to urge the upper divided frame in the opening direction, for example, as described in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 62-82670, As shown in FIG. 12, the connecting member 32 is integrally provided on the upper split frame 31, and the frame connecting member 34 attached to the lower split frame 33 is connected via the tubular connecting tool 35. Two torsion bars 36, 36 which are pivotally attached to the member 32 and whose both ends are bent.
On the other hand, while inserting one of the urging reaction force portions t of the torsion bar 36 into the frame connecting member 34 by twisting the shaft body portion s, and hooking the shaft body portion s. The other urging reaction force portion u of the torsion bar 36 is hooked on the connecting member 32 to apply an urging force in the opening direction to the upper divided frame 31.

[Problems to be solved by the invention]

However, since the biasing reaction force portions t and u of the torsion bars 36 and 36 are bent, it is very difficult to insert the biasing reaction force portions t and u into the tubular connector 35, and the torsion bar 36 Since it is necessary to largely twist the twisting shaft portion s and set it on both the members 32 and 34, there is a problem that a great deal of labor is required for assembly.

In order to eliminate such a difficulty, the connecting member 32 is formed separately so that it can be fixed to the upper divided frame 31 by screwing or the like, and the connecting member
Before fixing the 32 to the divided frame 31, the frame connecting member 34 is connected to the connecting member 32 via the tubular connecting member 35, and the tubular connecting member 35 is biased by the torsion bar 36. The reaction force parts t and u are inserted, and after that, the connecting member
It is conceivable to adopt a configuration in which 32 is fixed to the upper divided frame 31.

However, in this case, by forming the connecting member 32 as a separate body, the number of constituent members of the frame opening / closing mechanism and the number of assembling steps increase, which disadvantageously increases the cost.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances,
It is an object of the present invention to provide a frame opening / closing mechanism that allows the work of attaching the torsion bar to be performed easily without increasing the number of constituent members by a very rational improvement.

[Means for solving problems]

The present invention has the following means for achieving the above object.

That is, in the first aspect of the invention, the two divided frames are vertically swingable, and the two divided frames are swingable so that the upper divided frame is one-sided with respect to the lower divided frame. And the upper divided frame is urged in the opening direction by a torsion bar provided along the swing axis, and the opening angle of the upper divided frame with respect to the lower divided frame is opened. A frame opening / closing mechanism equipped with a torsion bar so as to be restricted to a predetermined opening angle by a restricting tool, and a rotation restricting member attached to one of the split frames,
A frame connecting member attached to the other of the divided frames and the opening restricting tool are pivotally connected to each other so as to be independently swingable, and the rotation restricting member swings at a predetermined opening angle by the frame connecting member. The movable range is restricted, and a deep opening is formed in the frame connecting member for inserting the torsion shaft portion of the torsion bar in a direction orthogonal to the shaft body, and the torsion bar is formed. A first locking portion for locking the urging reaction force portion on one end side of the
A second locking portion for locking the biasing reaction force portion on the other end side of the torsion bar is provided on the rotation restricting member or one of the divided frames, and the frame connecting member is provided on the other side. At the time of assembly attached to the divided frame, the predetermined opening angle of the rotation restricting member with respect to the frame connecting member causes the rotation restricting member when the opening restricting member is hooked on the frame connecting member. It is characterized in that it is set to be larger than the opening angle with respect to the opening restriction tool.

Further, in the second invention, it is removably attached to one of the divided frames in the first invention at an open regulation position and a rotation regulation position, and is attached to the other divided frame at each position. A single locked member that is brought into contact with and locked by each of the frame connecting members constitutes the opening restricting member and the rotation restricting member, and the second locking portion is attached to one of the divided frames. It is characterized by being provided.

[Action]

In the first invention, the rotation restricting member attached to one of the divided frames and the opening restricting member are pivotally connected to the frame connecting member attached to the other divided frame, and the opening of the widening formed in the frame connecting member. First, the torsion shaft body portion of the torsion bar is fitted into the frame, and the urging reaction force portions at both ends of the torsion bar are provided in the frame connecting member.
By engaging with the locking portion and the second locking portion provided on the rotation restricting member (or the other divided frame), the attachment work of the torsion bar can be easily completed.

In the fitting operation, for example, one biasing reaction force portion is locked to the first locking portion (or the second locking portion), and a reaction force that biases one of the divided frames in the opening direction is obtained. As described above, the other biasing reaction force portion is rotated to twist the shaft body portion, and the second shaft portion is locked by the second locking portion (or the first locking portion). After insertion,
The torsional reaction force of the torsion bar urges the torsion shaft body portion into the opening of the inner side so that the torsion shaft body portion does not come out and is engaged.

Then, the frame connecting member can be attached to the other divided frame with good workability in a state in which the one divided frame is widely opened with respect to the other divided frame.

Next, by locking the opening restricting tool to the frame connecting member, the opening angle of one of the divided frames with respect to the other dividing frame can be restricted to a predetermined opening angle by the opening restricting tool.

Further, in the second aspect of the invention, in the state where the locked member is attached to the rotation restricting position of the one of the divided frames, similarly to the above,
The installation work of the torsion bar can be performed easily.

Then, the hooked member can be removed and one of the divided frames can be pressed in the closing direction to be attached to the opening restriction position, and the opening angle of the one of the divided frames can be restricted to a predetermined opening angle by the opening restriction tool.

〔Example〕

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a detailed view of a frame opening / closing device A, and FIGS. 2 and 3 are schematic views of a so-called clamshell type electrostatographic copying machine. 1 is a diagram showing a copying machine, in which a photoconductor 3 is mounted horizontally on a copying machine frame 2 provided with a document mounting table 1 which is reciprocally movable in a paper feeding direction, and around the photoconductor 3.
Charging device 4, developing device 5, transfer device 6, and paper separating device 7
And the cleaning device 8 are arranged in that order in the rotation direction of the photoconductor 3, the exposure device 9 is provided in the space above the cleaning device 8, and the paper in the cassette case 10 is conveyed to the transfer device 6. The paper feed / conveyance device 11, the paper ejection / conveyance device 13 that conveys the separated paper to the fixing device 12, and the paper ejection roller pair 15 that ejects the paper after fixing to the tray 14.
Etc. are provided.

The copying machine frame 2 is divided into an upper (upper side) divided frame 2A and a lower (lower side) divided frame 2B with the sheet feeding path as a boundary, and both divided frames 2
The frame opening / closing device A (see FIG. 1) is provided on the upstream side in the sheet feeding direction across A and 2B, and the lock mechanism (not shown) provided on the downstream side in the sheet feeding direction is unlocked. The upper divided frame 2A including the photoconductor 3 and the exposure device 9 is configured to be swingable and openable around a horizontal axis (swing axis) P.

The frame opening / closing device A has two sets of connecting structures B having a symmetrical structure on both sides in the horizontal direction (specifically, the front-back direction of the copying machine frame 2) orthogonal to the paper feeding direction with respect to the copying machine frame 2. , B, and two torsion bars 16, 16 are provided across the two sets of connecting structures B, B.

More specifically, as shown in FIG. 4, a screw hole a is formed at the end.
The connecting shaft 17 having the axis is concentric with the horizontal axis P on the upper split frame 2A, while the frame connecting member 18 is fixed to the lower split frame 2B with screws. Torsion bar 16 torsion shaft part b
The opening c is formed so as to be inserted from the direction orthogonal to the axis Q thereof. Then, the frame connecting member 18 and the opening restricting tool 19 having the opened restricting portion d that comes into contact with the rotation restricting member 22 when the upper divided frame 2A is opened are respectively rotatable around the connecting shaft 17. A retaining member 20 that is pivotally connected and that prevents the opening restricting member 19 and the frame connecting member 18 from coming off is fixed to the upper divided frame 2A and the connecting shaft 17 by screws e, ....

The frame connecting member 18 includes the torsion bar 16
First locking body (first locking portion) 21 for locking one of the urging reaction force portions f, and the connecting projection g and the concave portion h of the lower split frame 2B are engaged. The recessed portion i and the protrusion j, and the rotation restricting member k that abuts on the rotation restricting member 22 and restricts the swing thereof are formed.
The second locking body (second locking part) 23 for locking the other urging reaction force part of the torsion bar 16 and the rotation restricting member 22 contacting the rotation restricted part k. Are formed.

The rotation restricting portion k of the frame connecting member 18 described above twists the torsion shaft body portion b of the torsion bar 16 in a direction for urging the upper divided frame 2A in the opening direction and urges the torsion shaft portion b. When the reaction force portion f is locked to the first and second locking bodies 21 and 23, the reaction force portion f is urged and abutted against the rotation restricting member 22, and in this state (before the upper and lower split frames 2A and 2B are assembled). (State), the opening restrictor 19 is in a rotatable state (see FIG. 1).

The procedure for assembling the upper and lower divided frames 2A and 2B will be described below in order. First, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 5, first, the frame connecting member 18 and the opening restricting member 19 are attached to the connecting shaft 17. The upper divided frame is fitted and held and the retaining member 20 is fixed to the upper divided frame 2A.
Attach two sets of connecting structures B, B to 2A.

Then, the torsion shaft body portion b of the first torsion bar 16 is inserted into the opening c, c of the both sides of the frame connecting members 18, 18.
Then, one of the biasing reaction force portions of the torsion bar 16 is locked to the first locking body 21 of the frame connecting member 18, and the torsion bar 16 is attached to the upper split frame 2A in the opening direction. The torsion shaft portion b is slightly twisted so as to apply a force, and the other urging reaction force portion is locked to the second locking body 23.

In this way, when the biasing reaction force portion f is locked to the locking bodies 21 and 23 in a state where the twisted shaft portion b is slightly twisted, the twisted shaft portion b Due to the twisting reaction force, the shaft portion b near the one biasing reaction force portion f is biased into the lower concave portion of the opening c of the back widening, and the other biasing reaction force portion is nearby. The shaft body portion b is urged into the upper concave portion of the opening c that extends deep. Therefore, the torsion bar 16 is prevented from slipping out of the opening c.

On the other hand, the rotation restricting member 22 of the retaining member 20 is urged and abutted against the rotation restricting portion k of the frame connecting member 18, thereby restricting the rotation range of the frame connecting member 18 with respect to the upper divided frame 2A. Will be done.

Then, the second torsion bar 16 can be easily assembled in the same procedure by reversing the left and right of the first torsion bar 16.
In this way, set both torsion bars 16 and 16 so that the upper divided frame 2A is set to the lower divided frame.
It is very easy to do before assembling to 2B, and
Torsion bar depending on the setting operation itself
It is attached so that 16 and 16 can be securely prevented from coming out.

In this way, the rotation range of the frame connecting member 18 is restricted against the biasing force of the torsion bar 16 so that the frame connecting member 18 is integrated with the upper divided frame 2A, and then, as shown in FIG. As shown in the above, the lower divided frame
The frame connecting member 18 is provided in the connecting projection g and the recess h of 2B.
The concave portion i and the projection j are engaged with each other, and the frame connecting member 18 is fixed to the lower divided frame 2B with a screw m, so that the upper and lower divided frames 2A and 2B are integrated.

Next, as shown in FIG. 7, the upper divided frame 2A
Is operated until the opening angle reaches a predetermined opening angle, and the opening restricting tool 19 is rotated to bring the open restricting portion d of the opening restricting tool 19 into contact with the rotation restricting member 22 and to open the same. A screw r is screwed into a screw hole q of the frame connecting member 18 corresponding to the notch n of the restricting tool 19, and the open restricting tool 19 is hooked on the frame connecting member 18. As a result, the opening control tool
At 19, the opening angle of the upper divided frame 2A can be regulated to the predetermined opening angle in a biased state. The eighth
The figure shows the fully closed state of the upper divided frame 2A.

To summarize the above, after the connecting structures B, B are attached to both sides of the upper divided frame 2A, the opening c
The torsion bars 16 and 16 are set on the upper part of the upper divided frame 2A by connecting the frame connecting member 18 to the lower divided frame 2B and hooking the opening restrictor 19 on the frame connecting member 18. The opening angle of the can be regulated to a predetermined opening angle.

Next, different embodiments of the frame opening / closing mechanism A are shown in FIGS. 9 to 11. This differs from the configuration of the above-described embodiment in the following points.

That is, in this embodiment, the second locking body 23 itself is provided on the upper divided frame 2A and the torsion bar 16 is provided.
When the twisting shaft portion b of the above is twisted a little and locked to the locking bodies 21 and 23, the rotation restricting member 22 with which the rotation restricted portion k of the frame connecting member 18 comes into contact, It is composed of a screw pin (locked member) and is detachably screwed (see FIG. 10) into a screw hole formed at a rotation restriction position of the upper divided frame 2A.

When the upper divided frame 2A is restricted to a predetermined opening angle, the rotation restricting member 22 formed of the screw pin, which is no longer needed, is pulled out from the screw hole at the rotation restricting position, and the opening restricting tool 19 is opened. As a result, the upper divided frame 2A is screwed (see FIG. 11) into a screw hole formed at the opening restriction position. In other words, screw pin (locked member)
Therefore, the rotation restricting member 22 and the opening restricting tool 19 are also used.

In each of the above embodiments, each of the connecting structures B and B is provided on the upper divided frame 2A, and the frame connecting member 18 of the connecting structures B and B is connected to the lower divided frame 2B. Although both the connecting structures B, B are provided in the lower divided frame 2B, the frame connecting member 18 of the connecting structures B, B is connected to the upper divided frame 2A. Good. Further, in addition to the electrostatic photocopier, the frame opening / closing mechanism equipped with the torsion bar of the present invention can be adopted in image forming apparatuses such as facsimiles and printers, and various other copying opening / closing structures.

〔The invention's effect〕

As described above, according to the frame opening / closing mechanism of the torsion bar device according to the present invention, the torsion bar is fitted into the back opening formed in the frame connecting member with the frame connecting member pivotally attached to one of the divided frames. In addition, with the torsion shaft portion of the torsion bar being slightly twisted, the urging reaction force portions at both ends of the torsion bar are divided into the first and second portions.
By setting the torsion bar to be locked, the setting of the torsion bar that applies the biasing force in the opening direction to one of the divided frames is achieved.

That is, the torsion shaft body portion of the torsion bar is fitted from the front of the opening of the inner side, and one biasing reaction force portion is locked to the first locking portion (or the second locking portion). Twist the twisting shaft part a little and set the other biasing reaction force part to the second
The torsion bar can be set very simply and easily by locking the locking portion (or the first locking portion).

Then, by attaching the frame connecting member to the other split frame and hooking the opening restricting tool to the frame connecting member or the other split frame, the opening angle of one of the split frames is regulated as predetermined, As a whole, the simple structure has made it possible to rationally solve the conventional difficulties.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a frame opening / closing mechanism equipped with a torsion bar, FIG. 2 is a schematic vertical cross-sectional view of an electrostatographic copying machine which is an example of an object to be equipped with the frame opening / closing mechanism, and FIG. 3 is an opening of an upper split frame. FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional view showing a state, FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of a connecting structure, FIG. 5 is a side view showing a state in which a frame opening / closing mechanism is set in an upper split frame, and FIG. 6 is a rotation range of a frame connecting member. Side view showing the regulated state, No. 7
FIG. 8 is a side view showing the opening angle regulation state of the upper divided frame, and FIG. 8 is a side view showing the fully closed state of the upper divided frame. 9 to 11 show different embodiments, FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view thereof, FIG. 10 is a side view showing a rotation range restriction state of a frame connecting member, and FIG. 11 is an upper split frame. It is a side view which shows an opening angle regulation state. FIG. 12 is a side view showing a conventional example of a frame opening / closing mechanism equipped with a torsion bar. 2A: Upper divided frame, 2B: Lower divided frame, 16
... Torsion bar, 18 ... Frame connecting member, 19 ... Release restricting tool, 21 ... First locking body, 22 ... Rotation restricting member, 23 ... Second locking body, b ... Torsional shaft body part, c ... A wide opening, f ...
One urging reaction force portion, ... The other urging reaction force portion.

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A two-divided frame which is divided into upper and lower parts, and the two divided frames are swingably connected so that the upper divided frame is one-sided open with respect to the lower divided frame. The upper divided frame is urged in the opening direction by a torsion bar provided along the swing axis, and the opening angle of the upper divided frame with respect to the lower divided frame is changed by the opening restrictor. A frame opening / closing mechanism equipped with a torsion bar so as to be restricted to a predetermined opening angle, wherein a rotation restricting member attached to one of the divided frames and a frame connecting member attached to the other of the divided frames, The opening restrictor is pivotally connected to each other so as to be swingable independently,
The rotation restricting member has its swingable range restricted to a predetermined opening angle by the frame connecting member, and the torsion shaft body portion of the torsion bar is inserted from a direction orthogonal to the shaft body. A wide opening is formed in the frame connecting member, and a first locking portion for locking the biasing reaction force portion on one end side of the torsion bar is provided in the frame connecting member, while the torsion bar is provided. Second locking portion for locking the urging reaction force portion on the other end side of the above is provided on the rotation restricting member or one of the divided frames, and the frame connecting member is provided on the other divided frame. At the time of mounting and mounting, the predetermined opening angle of the rotation restricting member with respect to the frame connecting member is set when the opening restricting member is locked to the frame connecting member. Torsion bars equipped frame opening and closing mechanism, characterized in that it is set to be larger than the opening angle relative to the opening regulating member of the regulating member. 2. One of the divided frames is detachably attached to an opening regulation position and a rotation regulation position, and at each of the positions, the frame coupling member attached to the other division frame is abutted. A single locked member that is locked by the open restriction member and the rotation restriction member, and the second locking portion is provided on one of the split frames. Claim (1)
A frame opening / closing mechanism with a torsion bar as described in paragraph.