JP2006062177A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming apparatus in which when the body of the image forming apparatus and an optional unit are coupled to each other, an electric connector is hardly broken and erroneous electric action after the coupling does not occur. <P>SOLUTION: There is disclosed the image forming apparatus wherein an electric connector and a positioning means are provided to each of a body 11 of the image forming apparatus and the optional unit 12 by corresponding them to each other and the optional unit 12 can be detachably attached to the lower section of the body 11 of the image forming apparatus. The optional unit 12 has an action pin 15 and a connector elevating mechanism 16 for projecting and depressing a movable connector 14b from the top face of the optional unit 12 interlocking with the vertical movement of the active pin 15. A fixed connector 14a for completing the electric connection by insertion of the movable connector 14b is provided to the body 11 of the image forming apparatus at a portion buried from the bottom thereof and a small projection 17 for pushing the active pin 15 is provided to the body 11 of the image forming apparatus. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a facsimile machine, and a printer, and more particularly to an image forming apparatus having a structure in which an option unit is detachably connected to a lower portion of an image forming apparatus main body.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there is an image forming apparatus in which an option unit is coupled below the image forming apparatus main body and electrically connected by a connector. FIG. 8 is an external perspective view schematically showing such a known image forming apparatus.

  In this type of image forming apparatus 100, the positioning pin 103 provided on the upper surface of the option unit 102 is aligned with a positioning hole (not shown) provided on the bottom surface of the image forming apparatus 100, and the option is provided protruding. By inserting a connector 104 on the unit 102 side and a connector (not shown) on the image forming apparatus 101 main body side, both circuit boards can be used by being electrically connected.

  However, the connector 104 provided so as to protrude from the upper surface of the option unit in this way becomes an obstacle when the large and heavy image forming apparatus main body 101 is placed on and connected to the option unit 102. There is a possibility that the connector breaks due to breakage or the like.

Therefore, Patent Document 1 below discloses a configuration in which even when a relatively low strength connector is used, the connector is retracted downward together with the circuit board so that the connector does not protrude so as not to be damaged.
JP 2000-267372 A

  However, in the above-mentioned Patent Document 1, after connecting the main unit and the option unit, the circuit board is pushed upward by inserting the paper cassette into the option unit, and the connector on the option unit side protrudes upward. It is configured to be connected to the connector on the main unit side. That is, since the connector cannot be electrically connected unless the paper cassette is inserted, for example, if the main unit is turned on before inserting the paper cassette, the main unit operates as if the optional unit is not connected. If a paper cassette is inserted after that, a malfunction occurs.

  Therefore, in order to solve this problem, it may be possible to adopt a so-called hot plug that allows the connector to be connected even when the power of the main unit is turned on, but this makes the configuration complicated in terms of software and hardware There is a concern that the cost will rise.

  The present invention is proposed in order to solve such a problem, has a simple structure, and there is no possibility of damaging the electrical connector when connecting the image forming apparatus main body and the option unit. An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus that does not cause electrical malfunction after connection.

  In order to achieve the above object, according to a first aspect of the present invention, an electrical connector and positioning means are provided corresponding to each of the image forming apparatus main body and the option unit, and the option unit is provided below the image forming apparatus main body. In the image forming apparatus structured to be detachably connected to the operation unit, the option unit includes an operation pin and a connector elevating mechanism for projecting and retracting the movable connector from the upper surface of the option unit in conjunction with the vertical movement of the operation pin. The image forming apparatus main body is provided with a fixed connector that is inserted into the movable connector to complete the electrical connection so as to be submerged from the bottom surface of the image forming apparatus main body, and that presses the operation pin. An image forming apparatus having a structure provided with a protrusion is proposed.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided the image forming apparatus according to the first aspect, wherein the small protrusion portion is structured so as to be recessed from the bottom surface of the main body of the image forming apparatus when the image forming apparatus is not connected to the option unit.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, the small protrusion is formed in a positioning insertion hole formed corresponding to the operating pin so as not to protrude from the bottom surface of the image forming apparatus main body. An image forming apparatus is proposed.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in any one of the first to third aspects, the connector raising / lowering mechanism includes mechanical power transmission means for converting a pressing and lowering operation of the operating pin into an upward movement operation of the movable connector. A forming apparatus is proposed.

  Here, the mechanical power means includes known power conversion means such as a lever mechanism, a link mechanism, a worm pinion mechanism, and a pulley mechanism.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, the option unit includes an operation pin and a connector lifting mechanism for projecting and retracting the movable connector from the upper surface of the option unit in conjunction with the vertical movement of the operation pin. The forming apparatus body has a structure in which a fixed connector that completes electrical connection by inserting the movable connector is provided so as to be immersed from the bottom surface of the image forming apparatus body, and a small protrusion that presses the operating pin is provided. Therefore, since the movable connector of the option unit is accommodated in the unit when not connected, there is no possibility of damaging the connector when the image forming apparatus main body and the option unit are connected.

  Also, with such a structure, the movable connector rises and is electrically connected to the fixed connector in the process of positioning and mounting the image forming apparatus main body, so that it is not necessary to insert the paper cassette after assembly. Even if the power is turned on immediately, no malfunction will occur.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, the small protrusion is formed so as to be immersible from the bottom surface of the main body of the image forming apparatus when the image forming apparatus is not connected to the optional unit. There is also no risk of damaging the small protrusions against other objects.

  According to the third aspect, the small protrusion is formed inside the positioning insertion hole formed corresponding to the operating pin so as not to protrude from the bottom surface of the image forming apparatus main body. The bottom surface on the side can be configured cleanly, and since there is no protrusion, it does not break when touched during transportation.

  According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, since the connector lifting mechanism is constituted by mechanical power transmission means, the structure is simple and can be realized at low cost.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below.

  FIG. 1 is an external perspective view schematically showing an image forming apparatus of the present invention.

  2A and 2B are diagrams showing a cross-sectional structure of the connector lifting mechanism, in which FIG. 2A shows a state when the electrical connector is not connected, and FIG. 2B shows a state when the electrical connector is connected. FIG. 3 is an example of a drawer connector employed as an electrical connector in the present invention.

  Here, a facsimile apparatus is shown as the image forming apparatus, but the present invention can be applied to an image forming apparatus having a structure in which an option unit is connected below the main body of the image forming apparatus, such as a multifunction machine or a printer. Here, the optional unit refers to a unit that is configured separately from the image forming apparatus main body and requires electrical connection. For example, in addition to a paper feeding unit that supplies printing paper, a staple, It is configured as a post-processing unit or the like that performs post-processing such as punching.

  1 and 2, 1 is an image forming apparatus, 11 is an image forming apparatus main body, 12 is an optional unit, 15 is an operating pin, 16 is a connector lifting mechanism, and 17 is a small protrusion. In this embodiment, The operating pin 15 and the small protrusion 17 constitute positioning means, but positioning pins and positioning holes may be separately provided as positioning means.

  When the electrical connector (fixed connector) 14a on the image forming apparatus main body 11 side and the electrical connector (movable connector) 14b on the option unit 12 side are connected, the connecting portion 14d of the electrical connector 14b is connected to the electrical connector 14a. Electrical connection is made by being inserted into the portion 14c.

  The electrical connector is not limited to the one shown in the figure, and can be used in various connectors such as a power source, a signal, and a common type.

  In addition, although the operation pin 15 and the small projection part 17 are shown by the cylindrical shape in the figure, it is not restricted to this, A prismatic shape may be sufficient.

  2 and 4 show an example in which a lever mechanism is employed as the mechanical power transmission means of the connector lifting mechanism 16.

  To explain the operation, when the image forming apparatus 11 is aligned with the upper surface of the option unit 12, the small protrusion 17 accommodated in the hole 17b and given elastic force in the protruding direction by the spring 17a is formed on the upper surface of the option unit 12. The operating pin 15 accommodated together with the spring 15a is pressed downward into the recess 15d formed in the above. Then, the lower end 15c of the operating pin 15 pushes down one end 16c of the lever plate 16a of the connector elevating mechanism 16 (this is the power point), and the concave portion 16b formed at the center of the lever plate 16a is supported by the convex portion 13, The portion 13 serves as a fulcrum, and the rotatable connecting pin portion 14c that connects the movable connector 14b and the lever plate 16 is lifted upward (this is the operating point). As a result, the movable connector 14b accommodated in the option unit 12 protrudes from the upper surface of the option unit 12, and is inserted into the fixed connector 14a on the image forming apparatus main body 11 side to be electrically connected (FIG. 2 ( b)).

  Here, the recess 16b of the lever plate 16a is formed in a horizontally long shape, and the movable connector 14b can be raised by moving the fulcrum position according to the pressing force of the operating pin 15.

  On the other hand, when the unit is not connected or when the image forming apparatus main body 11 is detached from the option unit 12, the operating pin 15 is raised to the original position by the restoring elasticity of the spring 15a. As a result, the movable connector 14b is accommodated in the option unit 12 (FIG. 2A).

  According to the above structure, the movable connector 14b is accommodated in the option unit 12 when not connected, so that when the image forming apparatus body 11 and the option unit 12 are connected, the bottom surface of the image forming apparatus body 11 is connected. There is no possibility of being damaged by hitting the movable connector 14b.

  Also, with such a structure, the movable connector 14b protrudes from the upper surface of the option unit 12 and is electrically connected to the fixed connector 14a in the process of positioning and placing the image forming apparatus main body 11, so that the paper cassette Regardless of the insertion, no malfunction will occur even if the power is turned on immediately after assembly.

  As an alternative to the small protrusion 17, it is eliminated, and instead a positioning point is provided on the bottom surface of the image forming apparatus main body 11, and the positioning point matches the operating pin 15 protruding from the top surface of the option unit 12. Thus, when the image forming apparatus main body 11 is placed on the upper surface of the option unit 12, the positioning point pushes and lowers the operating pin 15 to raise the movable connector 14b to complete the electrical coupling. May be.

  FIG. 4 shows another example of the small protrusion.

  In this structure, the small protrusion 17 is formed so as to protrude into the positioning insertion hole 18 formed on the bottom surface of the image forming apparatus main body 11, and the operation pin 15 is accommodated in the insertion hole 18 at the time of connection. By accommodating the cylindrical body 15b to be supported, the operating pin 15 can be pressed by the small protrusion 17, and the lever plate 16a of the connector lifting / lowering mechanism 16 is pressed and lowered in the same manner as described above, so that the movable connector 14b is optional. The unit 12 protrudes from the upper surface.

  Reference numeral 19 denotes a spring mechanism for smoothing the sunk operation of the movable connector 14b when the pressing force applied to the operating pin 15 is released.

  According to such a connector lifting / lowering mechanism 16, when the units are connected, the connector lifting / lowering mechanism 16 has the option of moving the movable connector 14 b by simply inserting the operating pin 15 accommodated and supported by the cylinder 15 b into the positioning insertion hole 18. By projecting from the upper surface of the unit 12, the electrical connection with the fixed connector 14a can be completed. In FIG. 4, parts common to those in FIG. 2 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description of the members is omitted.

  Next, an embodiment of the connector lifting mechanism 16 will be described.

  5 to 7 show examples in which the connector lifting mechanism is constituted by mechanical power transmission means.

  In either case, only the structure on the option unit 12 side is shown in a non-connected state.

Each of the connector raising / lowering mechanisms 16 shown in the drawings includes mechanical power transmission means for converting the pressing and lowering operation of the operating pin 15 into the upward movement operation of the movable connector 14b.
Such a connector lifting / lowering mechanism 16 is interposed between the movable connector 14b and the operating pin 15 and interlocks with the vertical movement of the operating pin 15 so that the movable connector 14b protrudes and retracts from the upper surface of the option unit 12. It consists of mechanical transmission means such as a lever mechanism, a link mechanism, a rack and pinion mechanism, and a pulley mechanism. Also good.

The connector raising / lowering mechanism 16 shown in FIG. 5 connects the three link arms R1 to R3 by articulation, and converts the pressing and lowering operation of the operating pin 15 into the upward movement operation of the movable connector 14b.
The link arms R1 to R are connected to each other by link pins A, B, and C, respectively. When the operation pin 15 is pressed downward, the link arms R1 to R are connected using a point D fixed and supported at an appropriate position on the wall surface as a fulcrum. The points C, B, A move to points C ′, B ′, A ′ in the figure, and the connecting portion 14e of the movable connector 14b is moved upward. As a result, the movable connector 14b is moved from the upper surface of the option unit 12. It protrudes and is electrically connected to a fixed connector (not shown) on the image forming apparatus 11 side.

  On the other hand, when the unit is not connected, the operating pin 15 is released from the downward pressing and returns to the original position by the restoring elasticity of the spring 15a, so that the link arms R1 to R3 are also interlocked to return to the original position and are movable. The connector 14b is accommodated in the option unit 12.

  6 has a rack type gear portion G1 formed on the side surface of the movable connector 14b, meshed with the pinion gear portion G2, and the gear G is connected to the lower end 15c of the operating pin 15 via the link bar R. When the operating pin 15 is pushed down, the movable connector 14b is raised by rotating the pinion gear portion G2 in the right direction. When the pressing of the operating pin 15 is released, the restoring force of the spring 15a is used. The movable connector 14b is lowered by reversing the pinion gear portion G2 in the left direction. In addition, although the example which employ | adopted link bar R is shown here, if it intervenes between the operating pin 15 and the gear G and makes the gear G forward and reverse according to the up-and-down operation of the operating pin 15, For example, you may use the wire which consists of metal wires.

The connector raising mechanism 16 in FIG. 7 is a wire W made of a metal wire or the like, connects the lower end 15c of the operating pin 15 and the connecting portion 14f of the movable connector 14b, rotates the pulley P, and moves the movable connector 14b. It is an example converted into an upward movement operation.
At the time of unit connection, the connecting portion 14f of the movable connector 14b is pulled up by the wire W with the pulley P fixed and supported inside the option unit 12 in conjunction with the operation pin 15 pressed downward, thereby moving the movable connector 14b. Is pulled up from the upper surface of the option unit 12 and can be electrically connected and connected to the fixed connector 14a. When the unit is not connected, the operating pin 15 is released from the downward pressure, and the restoring elasticity of the spring 15a is released. As a result, the wire W is also linked to the original position and returned to the original position, and the movable connector 14b can be accommodated in the option unit 12.

  In any of the examples shown in FIGS. 5 to 7, a spring mechanism 19 as shown in FIG. 4 may be provided in order to smoothly move the movable connector 14 b.

  As described above, the connector raising / lowering mechanism 16 may be any mechanical power transmission unit that converts the pressing and lowering operation of the operating pin 15 into the upward movement operation of the movable connector 14b, and other known power conversion units are employed. .

  In addition, the connection structure of the connector 14 employed in the image forming apparatus of the present invention is not only the connection between the image forming apparatus main body 11 and the option unit 12, but also the connection between a plurality of option units 12 connected below the image forming apparatus main body 11. A similar configuration can be adopted.

1 is a perspective view showing an overview of an image forming apparatus of the present invention. The cross-sectional structure of a connector raising / lowering mechanism is shown, (a) is the figure which showed the state at the time of non-connection of an electrical connector, (b) is the figure which showed the state at the time of connection. It is a figure which shows an example of the connector employ | adopted as the image forming apparatus of this invention. It is the figure which showed an example of the connector raising / lowering mechanism. It is the figure which showed the other example of the raising / lowering mechanism of a connector. It is the figure which showed the further another example of the raising / lowering mechanism of a connector. It is the figure which showed the further another example of the connector raising / lowering mechanism. It is a perspective view which shows the outline of the conventional image forming apparatus.

Explanation of symbols

11 Image forming apparatus body 12 Option unit 14a Fixed connector (electrical connector)
14b Movable connector (electrical connector)
15 Actuation pin 16 Connector lifting mechanism 17 Small protrusion

Claims (4)

In the image forming apparatus having the structure in which an electrical connector and positioning means are provided corresponding to each of the image forming apparatus body and the option unit, and the option unit is detachably connected to the lower side of the image forming apparatus body.
The optional unit is provided with an operating pin and a connector lifting mechanism for projecting and retracting the movable connector from the upper surface of the optional unit in conjunction with the vertical movement of the operating pin.
The image forming apparatus main body is provided with a fixed connector that is inserted into the movable connector to complete an electrical connection so as to be immersed from the bottom surface of the image forming apparatus main body, and a small protrusion that presses the operating pin. An image forming apparatus having a provided structure. In claim 1,
The image forming apparatus having a structure in which the small protrusion portion is recessed from the bottom surface of the main body of the image forming apparatus when the image forming apparatus is not connected to the option unit. In claim 1,
The image forming apparatus, wherein the small protrusion is formed in a positioning insertion hole formed corresponding to the operating pin so as not to protrude from the bottom surface of the image forming apparatus main body. In any one of Claims 1-3,
The connector raising / lowering mechanism includes mechanical power transmission means for converting a pressing and lowering operation of the operating pin into an upward movement operation of the movable connector.

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