Abstract:
A cover structure including a cover member movable between open and closed positions relative to an apparatus body, a supporting member that includes one end portion fixed to the cover member and another end portion attached to the apparatus body, the supporting member supports the cover member in the open position thereof, the apparatus body includes an engaging member that engages the supporting member to resist the movement of the supporting member and engages a portion of the supporting member when the cover member is in the closed position to maintain the cover member in the closed position.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is based on and claims priority under 35 USC 119 from Japanese Patent Application No. 2013-167715 filed Aug. 12, 2013. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Technical Field 
     The present invention relates to a cover opening/closing structure, and an image forming apparatus having the same. 
     SUMMARY 
     According to an aspect of the invention, there is provided a cover opening/closing structure including: 
     a cover member that performs an opening/closing operation with one end side as a rotation center with respect to an apparatus body; 
     a supporting member that includes one end portion fixed to the cover member and the other end portion locked to the apparatus body to support the cover member in an opened state; and 
     an engaging member that is provided at the apparatus body to give resistance to the supporting member with the opening/closing operation of the cover member, and that engages a portion to be engaged, which is provided at the supporting member to maintain the cover member in a closed state. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail based on the following figures, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic perspective view showing an image forming apparatus having a cover opening/closing structure according to the present exemplary embodiment; 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic perspective view showing the cover opening/closing structure according to the present exemplary embodiment; 
         FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective view showing the configuration of the cover opening/closing structure according to the present exemplary embodiment; 
         FIG. 4  is a schematic side view showing a closed state of a cover member in the present exemplary embodiment; 
         FIG. 5  is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a state of a strap member and a hold member when the cover member in the present exemplary embodiment is closed, along the longitudinal direction of the strap member; 
         FIG. 6  is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a state of the strap member and the hold member when the cover member in the present exemplary embodiment is opened, along the longitudinal direction of the strap member; 
         FIG. 7  is a schematic side view showing a state in the middle of opening/closing of the cover member in the present exemplary embodiment; 
         FIG. 8  is a schematic side view showing an opened state of the cover member in the present exemplary embodiment; and 
         FIG. 9  is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a state of the strap member and the hold member when the cover member in the present exemplary embodiment is opened, along the longitudinal direction of the strap member. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Hereinafter, an exemplary embodiment of the invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In addition, for convenience of description, as appropriately shown in  FIG. 1 , arrow UP is defined as an upward direction, arrow FR is defined as a front direction, and arrow RI is defined as a right direction. Additionally, when an up-and-down direction, a front-and-rear direction, and a left-and-right direction are described without being specially mentioned in the following description, these directions represents upward and downward in the up-and-down direction, front and rear in the front-and-rear direction, and left and right in the left-and-right direction, in the closed state of a cover member  22  to be described below. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , an image forming apparatus  10  includes an apparatus body  12 . An image forming section (not shown) that forms an image on a recording sheet (not shown) as an example of a recording medium, and a sheet transporting section (not shown) that transports a recording sheet are arranged within the apparatus body  12 , and a sheet feeding section (not shown) that accommodates a recording sheet is arranged at a lower portion of the apparatus body  12 . Also, a sheet ejection section  16  that ejects a recording sheet on which an image is formed is formed substantially at the center of an upper wall portion  12 A of the apparatus body  12 . 
     Additionally, the cover member  22 , which has a rotation center having the left-and-right direction as an axial direction located on a lower end portion side (one end side) and which opens and closes an opening portion  18  formed on a front portion side of the apparatus body  12 , is provided on a front wall portion  12 B side of the apparatus body  12  above the sheet feeding section. The cover member  22  is adapted such that, in the closed state where the opening portion  18  is closed, an upper wall portion  22 A thereof constitutes a portion of the upper wall portion  12 A that constitutes the opening portion  18  of the apparatus body  12 , and a front wall portion  22 B thereof covers the front wall portion  12 B that constitutes the opening portion  18  of the apparatus body  12  from a front side. 
     Also, the cover member  22  includes a side wall portion  24  that has an “L” shape as viewed from the left-and-right direction, and is adapted so as to be matched with a cutout portion  14 A formed on a front portion side and an upper portion side of a side wall portion  14  of the apparatus body  12  to constitute a portion of the side wall portion  14 . In addition, a portion of the side wall portion  24  that extends in the up-and-down direction in the closed state of the cover member  22  is hereinafter referred to as a side wall portion  24 A. 
     The cover member  22  is configured so as to be rotatable with the left-and-right direction (width direction of the apparatus body  12 ) as a rotating shaft direction by a rotating shaft  26  (refer to  FIG. 4 ) provided at a lower end portion of the side wall portion  24 A being rotatably supported by the apparatus body  12 . Also, the closed state and the opened state of the cover member  22 , are maintained by a cover opening/closing structure  20 . 
     In addition, since the cover opening/closing structure according to the present exemplary embodiment has a symmetrical shape, the cover opening/closing structure  20  on one side (right side) will be described below. Additionally, the inside and the outside are represented relative to the apparatus body  12 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the cover opening/closing structure  20  includes a strap member  30  as an example of a supporting member that includes one longitudinal end portion  30 A fixed to the side wall portion  24 A of the cover member  22  via a bracket  28 , and a hold member  40  as an example of an engaging member that is provided on an inner surface side of the side wall portion  14  of the apparatus body  12  and engages the strap member  30 . 
     The strap member  30  is formed in a substantially flat plate shape having the left-and-right direction as a thickness direction, and is formed in a circular-arc shape (curved shape) centered on the rotating shaft  26  as viewed from the left-and-right direction, a direction along the circular-arc shape is set as a longitudinal direction, and the radial direction of the circular-arc shape is set as a width direction. 
     Also, the strap member  30  is inserted through a slit-shaped insertion hole  13  that is formed in the front wall portion  12 B of the apparatus body  12  and is long in the up-and-down direction. Accordingly, the insertion hole  13  has an inside dimension slightly greater than the outside dimension of the strap member  30 , in a front view in which the apparatus body  12  is viewed from the front side. 
     A projection portion  32  as an example of a portion to be engaged is provided to protrude toward the inner side of the apparatus body  12  from a middle portion of the strap member  30  in a width direction, on an inner surface of the strap member  30  in a longitudinal halfway portion. In addition, as shown in  FIG. 5 , a rear wall portion of the projection portion  32  is formed with a tapered surface  32 B for easy ride over to a front wall portion  46 A of a pressing portion  46  (to be descried below) of the hold member  40  at the time of the closing operation of the cover member  22 . 
     Also, a front wall portion of the projection portion  32  is formed with a tapered surface  32 A for easy ride over to a rear wall portion  46 B of the pressing portion  46  at the time of the opening operation of the cover member  22 . In addition, the inclination angle of the tapered surface  32 A in the front wall portion of the projection portion  32  is made greater than the inclination angle of the tapered surface  32 B in the rear wall portion of the projection portion  32  so that the tapered surface may be engaged with (locked to) the rear wall portion  46 B of the pressing portion  46  at the time of the completion of the closing operation of the cover member  22 . 
     Additionally, as shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the strap member  30 , around the projection portion  32  excluding the other longitudinal end portion  30 B side, is formed with a substantially U-shaped slit portion  34 . Accordingly, a portion of the strap member  30  from which the projection portion  32  is provided to protrude is formed with a tongue piece  36  that is elastically deformable in the left-and-right direction (the rotating shaft direction of the cover member  22 ), with the other longitudinal end portion  30 B side as a center. 
     Additionally, a cutout portion  37  is provided on the one longitudinal end portion  30 A side of the strap member  30 . The cutout portion  37  is formed so as to be cut out to the inside in the width direction (in a direction orthogonal to the axial direction of the rotation center) from the circular-arc shaped appearance (outer edge portion) of the strap member  30 . In the cutout portion  37 , the width of the strap member  30  is shorter compared to the width of other portions. 
     Additionally, the cutout portion  37  is provided further toward the cover member  22  side (position near the cover member  22 ) than the projection portion  32  (slit portion  34 ), and the cutout portion  37  passes through the insertion hole  13  after the projection portion  32  passes through the insertion hole  13  when the cover member  22  blocks the opening portion  18 . 
     Additionally, a locking portion  38  locked to the rear wall portion  46 B (apparatus body  12 ) of the pressing portion  46  in the opened state of the cover member  22  is provided to protrude from the middle portion of the strap member  30  in the width direction, on the inner surface of the strap member  30  in the other longitudinal end portion  30 B. The locking portion  38  extends in the width direction of the strap member  30 , and has rigidity (strength) capable of supporting the cover member  22  in the opened state. 
     The hold member  40  is formed in a substantially rectangular planar shape having the width direction of the strap member  30  as a longitudinal direction, and is laid between a pair of mounting platforms  15  provided to protrude from the inner surface of the side wall portion  14  at an interval that is equal to or greater than the width of the strap member  30 . In detail, one longitudinal end portion  40 A and the other longitudinal end portion  40 B of the hold member  40  are attached to the respective mounting platforms  15  by screw stoppers or the like, respectively. 
     Additionally, a pair of ribs  42  and  44  as an example of protruding portions with which the strap member  30  slidably contacts with are provided to protrude from the inner surface of the side wall portion  14  between the mounting platforms  15 . The respective ribs  42  and  44  are formed so as to extend along a circumferential direction (sliding direction) of the strap member  30 , and the upper rib  42  is formed to be longer than the lower rib  44 . 
     The respective ribs  42  and  44  contact with both ends in the width direction in the external face (surface directed to the outside in the left-and-right direction) of the strap member  30  from the outside in the left-and-right direction, and as shown in  FIG. 4 , the tongue piece  36  passes between the pair of ribs  42  and  44 . That is, the pair of ribs  42  and  44  are adapted so as not to hinder the elastic deformation of the tongue piece  36  in the left-and-right direction. 
     Additionally, the pressing portion  46  that protrudes in a substantially rectangular planar shape to the strap member  30  side (to the outside in the left-and-right direction) is integrally formed on the halfway portion of the hold member  40  in the longitudinal direction. The pressing portion  46 , as shown in  FIG. 4 , is formed with a size such that the pressing portion is arranged among the pair of ribs  42  and  44  as viewed from the left-and-right direction, and presses the middle portion of the inner surface (surface directed to the inside in the left-and-right direction) of the strap member  30  in the width direction from the inside in the left-and-right direction, with the opening/closing operation of the cover member  22 . 
     In detail, as shown in  FIG. 5 , the interval between tip portions of the pair of ribs  42  and  44 , and the pressing portion  46  is made smaller than the plate thickness of the strap member  30  by, for example, 0.2 mm. Accordingly, the pair of ribs  42  and  44  contact with the external face (surface to be contacted) of the strap member  30  from the outside in the left-and-right direction, and the pressing portion  46  presses the inner surface (surface to be pressed) of the strap member  30  from the inside in the left-and-right direction (toward the outside in the left-and-right direction). 
     That is, the strap member  30  is pinched from the left-and-right direction by the pair of ribs  42  and  44 , and the pressing portion  46  of the hold member  40 . Accordingly, sliding resistance (damper function) is given to the strap member  30 , and the magnitude of the sliding resistance (friction) is adjusted by appropriately setting the above interval (protruding height of the pressing portion  46 ) and the above plate thickness. 
     In addition, as described above, the locking portion  38  is locked to the rear wall portion  463  of the pressing portion  46  when the cover member  22  opens the opening portion  18  (refer to  FIGS. 8 and 9 ). Also, the projection portion  32  of the strap member  30  engages the rear wall portion  46 B of the pressing portion  46  when the cover member  22  closes the opening portion  18 . 
     In detail, as shown in  FIG. 4 , the front wall portion of the projection portion  32  engages the rear wall portion  46 B of the pressing portion  46  so as to prevent the opening of the cover member  22  in the closed state of the cover member  22 . This maintains the closed state of the cover member  22 . That is, the cover member  22  is locked so as not to rotate with respect to the apparatus body  12 . 
     When the cover member  22  opens the opening portion  18 , the projection portion  32  (tapered surface  32 A) is pressed by the pressing portion  46  toward the outside in the left-and-right direction with an opening operation (rotation) centered on the rotating shaft  26  of the cover member  22 . Thus, the tongue piece  36  from which the projection portion  32  is provided to protrude is elastically deformed to the outside in the left-and-right direction. This releases the locking (engagement of the projection portion  32 ) of the cover member  22  to the apparatus body  12 . 
     Additionally, when the cover member  22  blocks the opening portion  18 , the projection portion  32  (tapered surface  32 B) bumps against the front wall portion  46 A of the pressing portion  46  and is pressed by the pressing portion  46  toward the outside in the left-and-right direction with a closing operation (rotation) centered on the rotating shaft  26  of the cover member  22 . Thus, the tongue piece  36  from which the projection portion  32  is provided to protrude is elastically deformed to the outside in the left-and-right direction. Then, as the elastic deformation is recovered, the front wall portion of the projection portion  32  engages the rear wall portion  46 B of the pressing portion  46 . This locks the cover member  22  to the apparatus body  12 . 
     In this way, in the cover opening/closing structure  20  according to the present exemplary embodiment, a damper function for the strap member  30 , and a locking function (latching function) for the cover member  22  are given to the hold member  40  (the hold member  40  is used for both the damper function and the locking function (latching function)). Additionally, the strap member  30  or the hold member  40  is made of resin, such as ABS (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene) or PC (polycarbonate). 
     In the cover opening/closing structure  20  having the configuration as described above, next, the process thereof will be described. 
     For example, when maintenance of the image forming section provided within the apparatus body  12  is performed, the opening portion  18  of the apparatus body  12  is opened by rotating the cover member  22  around the rotating shaft  26 . At this time, since the damper function is given to the cover member  22  by the cover opening/closing structure  20 , the cover member  22  performs an opening operation (rotation) gently. 
     In detail, when the upper wall portion  22 A side of the cover member  22  is pulled toward the front (opening direction) in the closed state of the cover member  22  shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the front wall portion in the projection portion  32  of the strap member  30  is pressed toward the outside in the left-and-right direction by the pressing portion  46  of the hold member  40  while the cover member  22  rotates in the clockwise direction in  FIG. 4  around the rotating shaft  26 . 
     Then, as shown in  FIG. 6 , since the tapered surface  32 A is formed on the front wall portion of the projection portion  32 , the projection portion  32  rides over the pressing portion  46  smoothly while the tongue piece  36  is elastically deformed to the outside in the left-and-right direction. In addition, the maximum height of the projection portion  32  is set as a height such that the projection portion may ride over the pressing portion  46  even when the elastic deformation of the tongue piece  36  to the outside in the left-and-right direction is regulated by the side wall portion  14 . 
     When the engagement (locking) with the pressing portion  46  by the projection portion  32  of the cover member  22  is released in this way, as shown in  FIG. 7 , the sliding resistance (friction) caused by the strap member being pinched by the pair of ribs  42  and  44  and the pressing portion  46  from the outside and the inside in the left-and-right direction is given to the strap member  30 . Thus, the cover member  22  performs an opening operation (rotation) gently with the lower end portion side (rotating shaft  26 ) as a rotation center. 
     That is, the cover member  22  is kept or prevented from opening roughly, and the opening portion  18  of the apparatus body  12  is opened by the termination of the opening operation (rotation centered on the rotating shaft  26 ). In addition, as shown in  FIGS. 8 and 9 , when the locking portion  38  of the strap member  30  is locked to the rear wall portion  46 B of the pressing portion  46 , the opening operation (rotation centered on the rotating shaft  26 ) of the cover member  22  is stopped. 
     On the other hand, when the maintenance work of an image forming section is terminated, the upper wall portion  22 A side of the cover member  22  is pushed in rearward (in the closed direction) (is rotated in an opposite direction around the rotating shaft  26 ), but the cover member  22  performs a closing operation (rotation) gently at this time. That is, since the strap member  30  slides in a direction opposite to that when the cover member  22  performs an opening operation while being pinched by the pair of ribs  42  and  44  and the pressing portion  46  (while friction is given), the strap member  30  is kept or prevented from operating to close roughly. 
     Then, as shown in  FIG. 7 , when the rear wall portion in the projection portion  32  of the strap member  30  bumps against the front wall portion  46 A of the pressing portion  46 , the projection portion  32  is pressed toward the outside in the left-and-right direction by the pressing portion  46 . Then, since the tapered surface  32 B is formed on the rear wall portion of the projection portion  32 , the projection portion  32  rides over the pressing portion  46  smoothly while the tongue piece  36  is elastically deformed to the outside in the left-and-right direction. 
     Then, as shown in  FIG. 4 , as the elastic deformation of the tongue piece  36  is recovered, the front wall portion of the projection portion  32  engages the rear wall portion  46 B of the pressing portion  46 , and the opening portion  18  of the apparatus body  12  is closed by the cover member  22 . That is, the cover member  22  is locked to the apparatus body  12 . 
     Although the cover member  22  is locked to the apparatus body  12  in the above-described way, when the projection portion  32  rides over the pressing portion  46  and recovers, a portion of the tongue piece  36  located further toward the one end portion  30 A side than the projection portion  32  bumps against the pressing portion  46 , and thus latch sound is generated. Accordingly, the locking of the cover member  22  to the apparatus body  12  is confirmed. 
     In this way, in the cover opening/closing structure  20  according to the present exemplary embodiment, the locking function (latching function) and the damper function are given to the strap member  30  (cover member  22 ) by the pressing portion  46  of the hold member  40 . Thus, the number of parts may be reduced compared to a configuration in which a locking mechanism (latching function) or a damper mechanism are given separately from the hold member  40 . 
     Additionally, the cover opening/closing structures  20  are provided on both the right and left sides of the apparatus body  12  and the cover member  22 . Accordingly, even when the cover member  22  is pushed in the direction in which the opening portion  18  is blocked (even when the cover member  22  is operated to close), for example, in a state where the cover member  22  is twisted with respect to the apparatus body  12 , the strap member  30  slides while being pinched by the pair of ribs  42  and  44  and the pressing portion  46 . Thus, the twisting of the cover member  22  is corrected. 
     Hence, for the locking (latching) of the cover member  22 , for example, even when a hook-shaped snap member (not shown) is provided at the cover member  22  and a snap receiving member (not shown) is provided at the apparatus body  12 , the snap member does not easily deviate from a regular track, and the snap member does not bump against the snap receiving member. That is, there is no possibility that the snap member or the snap receiving member may be damaged. 
     Additionally, according to the cover opening/closing structure  20  according to the present exemplary embodiment, the snap member and the snap receiving member may not be provided at the cover member  22  and the apparatus body  12 , respectively. Accordingly, compared to a case where the snap member and the snap receiving member are provided, there is an advantage that the shape of the cover member  22  or the apparatus body  12  is not restricted (the appearance thereof is not influenced). 
     Additionally, the cover opening/closing structure  20  according to the present exemplary embodiment has a configuration in which the strap member  30  is pinched in the left-and-right direction by the pair of ribs  42  and  44  and the pressing portion  46  of the hold member  40  (is pressed from the left-and-right direction to generate friction). Therefore, for example, compared to a configuration in which both end faces of the strap member  30  in the width direction are pinched (are pressed from the up-and-down direction to generate friction), the cover member  22  is easily assembled to the apparatus body  12 , and the magnitude of the sliding resistance (friction) is adjusted by appropriately setting the protruding height of the pressing portion  46 . Thus, there is an advantage that adjustment is easy. 
     Additionally, when the cover member  22  blocks the opening portion  18 , for example, when one side of right and left sides of the cover member  22  is pressed and blocked, the projection portion  32  may not gently pass through the insertion hole  13  and the front wall portion  46 A due to deflection deformation of the cover member  22 , the strap member  30 , or the like, and the closing operation of the cover member  22  may stop depending on the case. 
     However, according to the cover opening/closing structure  20  according to the present exemplary embodiment, the strap member  30  has a certain degree of elasticity even in a direction of the closing operation by the cutout portion  37 . Thus, even when the cover member  22  is going to stop in the middle of the closing operation and a user is going to close the cover member  22  further from the stopped state, a force with that the user is going to close the cover member  22  is absorbed by the cutout portion  37 . This reduces the possibility of damage of the strap member  30  or the like. 
     Although the cover opening/closing structure  20  according to the present exemplary embodiment has been described with reference to the drawings, the cover opening/closing structure  20  according to the present exemplary embodiment is not limited to the illustrated one, and appropriate design changes may be made without departing from the concept of the invention. For example, the shape of the pressing portion  46  of the hold member  40  is not limited to the illustrated substantially rectangular planar shape. 
     Additionally, the position where the hold member  40  is provided is also not limited to the illustrated position, and is appropriately set depending on the length of the strap member  30 , the position of the locking portion  38 , or the like. Additionally, the pair of ribs  42  and  44  may be configured to be provided to integrally protrude not from the inner surface of the side wall portion  14  of the apparatus body  12  but from the external face of the strap member  30 . 
     The foregoing description of the exemplary embodiments of the present invention has been provided for the purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed. Obviously, many modifications and variations will be apparent to practitioners skilled in the art. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical applications, thereby enabling others skilled in the art to understand the invention for various embodiments and with the various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the following claims and their equivalents.