Cover locking device and image forming apparatus

An image forming apparatus includes a restriction member that is rotatable between a first position, in which opening of a locking cover is restrictable in engagement with the locking cover, and a second position in which engagement with the locking cover is disengaged, a coil spring that urges the restriction member to the first position, a solenoid that is driven according to electric conduction to move the restriction member to the second position, a link member that transmits driving force generated in the solenoid to the restriction member, and a restraint part that restrains movement of the link member in a direction crossing a driving direction.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2016-207503 filed on Oct. 24, 2016, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

The technology of the present disclosure relates to an image forming apparatus that forms an image by using a developer, and a cover locking device provided to the image forming apparatus.

In an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, an image forming process is performed to form an image on a sheet by using a developer such as toner. This type of image forming apparatus includes a developer accommodating unit which is detachable from its own apparatus and accommodates a developer.

Furthermore, in this type of image forming apparatus, detachment of the developer accommodating unit mounted at its own apparatus may be restricted. For example, there has been proposed an image forming apparatus in which a cover member opened and closed at the time of attachment/detachment of the developer accommodating unit is locked, so that the developer accommodating unit can be restricted from being detached by a user.

Specifically, the image forming apparatus employing the aforementioned related art includes a restriction member, an urging member, and a solenoid. The restriction member is rotatable between a first position, in which opening of the cover member is restricted in engagement with the cover member in a closed state, and a second position in which engagement with the cover member is disengaged. The urging member urges the restriction member to the first position. The solenoid is driven according to electric conduction to move the restriction member to the second position.

SUMMARY

A cover locking device according to one aspect of the present disclosure includes a cover member, a restriction member, an urging member, a solenoid, a link member, and a restraint part. The cover member opens and closes an opening provided at a side of an image forming apparatus. The restriction member is rotatable between a first position, in which opening of the cover member is restrictable in engagement with the cover member in a closed state, and a second position in which engagement with the cover member is disengaged, the second position being located inside the cover member from the first position. The urging member urges the restriction member to the first position. The solenoid is provided inside the cover member from the restriction member and is driven according to electric conduction to move the restriction member to the second position. The link member is provided in a long shape along a driving direction of the solenoid, includes a rotating shaft of the restriction member, is connected to the restriction member in a position different from a position crossing a reference surface perpendicular to the driving direction, and transmits driving force generated in the solenoid to the restriction member. The restraint part restrains movement of the link member in a direction crossing the driving direction in contact with the link member.

An image forming apparatus according to another aspect of the present disclosure includes the cover locking device, a developer accommodating unit, and an image forming unit. The developer accommodating unit is detachably provided to the opening and accommodates developers. The image forming unit forms an image by using the developers supplied from the developer accommodating unit.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the technology of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. The following embodiment is an embodied example of the technology of the present disclosure and is not intended to limit the technical scope of the present disclosure. In addition, the embodiment will be described using a front and rear direction and an upper and down direction defined in the drawings.

As illustrated inFIG. 1, a multifunctional peripheral300(an example of an image forming apparatus) according to an embodiment includes an image forming device100and an image reading device200. The image reading device200is mounted on the image forming device100. The image reading device200can read image data from a document placed on a document table200A by using an imaging element such as a CCD. The image forming apparatus may be a printer at which the image reading device200is not mounted.

The image forming device100is a color printer including a container accommodating unit10, an image forming unit20, sheet feeding cassettes30and the like. To the container accommodating unit10, a plurality of developer accommodating units101(seeFIG. 4) accommodating developers such as a plurality of colors of toner are individually detachable.

The container accommodating unit10is provided at a front surface thereof with a front cover10A that is openable and closable. Furthermore, the image forming unit20is provided at a front surface thereof with a front cover20A that is openable and closable. In addition, the image forming device100is provided with an opening and closing detection unit10B (seeFIG. 2) such as an optical sensor in order to detect the opening and closing of the front cover10A.

Each of the front cover10A and the front cover20A, for example, is supported such that its lower end portion is rotatable by a rotating shaft parallel to the right and left direction. That is, each of the front cover10A and the front cover20A is opened when its upper part is rotated forward. Each of the sheet feeding cassettes30is detachable from the image forming device100and stores sheets such as papers on which an image is formed.

FIG. 2illustrates the multifunctional peripheral300in a state in which the front cover10A has been opened. The container accommodating unit10is provided with a locking unit40for switching attachment/detachment of the plurality of developer accommodating units101accommodating developers such as toner.

The locking unit40is an optional unit detachable from the container accommodating unit10of the image forming device100. The locking unit40includes a plurality of cover locking devices11(seeFIG. 5) corresponding to the plurality of developer accommodating units101. In the cover locking devices11, locking covers111(an example of a cover member) corresponding to the developer accommodating units101accommodating developers of each color are individually openable and closable.

FIG. 3illustrates the multifunctional peripheral300in a state in which the locking covers111have been detached. In the front surface of the multifunctional peripheral300, each of the locking covers111is provided at an inside thereof with an opening110that is opened and closed by the locking cover111. The developer accommodating unit101is detachable from the opening110. The locking cover111is opened and closed at the time of attachment/detachment of the developer accommodating unit101.

Furthermore, the cover locking device11can switch the presence or absence of restriction of opening (the presence or absence of locking) of the locking cover111. Details of the locking unit40will be described later. In the image forming device100, even in a state in which the locking unit40is not mounted, since the attachment/detachment of the developer accommodating unit101is possible, the image forming device100is available in the state in which the locking unit40is not mounted.

As illustrated inFIG. 4, the image forming unit20includes a plurality of image forming units1to4, an intermediate transfer belt5, an optical scanning device6, a secondary transfer device7, a fixing device8and the like. The image forming unit20can form a monochromatic image or a color image on the sheet such as the paper supplied from the sheet feeding cassette30by using the developers accommodated in the developer accommodating units101.

Each of the image forming units1to4is an electrophotographic image forming unit that forms an image by using the developers accommodated in the developer accommodating units101. Each of the image forming units1to includes a photosensitive drum, a charging device, a developing device, a primary transfer device, a drum cleaning device and the like. The image forming units1to4are provided in parallel along a traveling direction of the intermediate transfer belt5to constitute the so-called tandem type image forming unit20. To the developing device of each of the image forming units1to4, the developers of each YMCK color are supplied from each of the developer accommodating units101.

Furthermore, the image forming device100is provided with a control unit9which includes a CPU, a ROM, a RAM and the like to control the image forming device100and the image reading device200. Specifically, the control unit9detects a remaining amount or a used amount of the developer accommodated in each of the developer accommodating units101, and informs a display unit and the like (not illustrated) of an error of reduction of a remaining developer amount when the remaining amount or the used amount of the developer reaches a threshold value decided in advance. For example, the remaining amount or the used amount of the developer can be detected on the basis of a detection result by an optical sensor, a weight sensor and the like, or a calculation result based on the number of printed sheets, a printing rate and the like.

Furthermore, as described above, the control unit9performs the locking control process for arbitrarily switching the opening or closing of each of the locking covers111in the cover locking devices11to be described later. Specifically, in the locking control process, when the remaining amount of the developer accommodated in each of the developer accommodating units101is detected, the control unit9locks a locking cover111corresponding to a developer accommodating unit101in which the remaining amount of the developer exceeds the threshold value, and unlocks a locking cover111corresponding to a developer accommodating unit101in which the remaining amount of the developer is equal to or less than the threshold value.

More specifically, in a state in which the remaining amount of the developer of a certain developer accommodating unit101is equal to or less than the threshold value, when the opening of the front cover10A is detected by the opening and closing detection unit10B, the control unit9unlocks a locking cover111corresponding to the developer accommodating unit101. In this case, the locking cover111, which is unlocked among the plurality of locking covers111, is only a locking cover111corresponding to a developer accommodating unit101in which the remaining amount of the developer is equal to or less than the threshold value.

In this way, when a user opens the front cover10A, the locking cover111, which corresponds to the developer accommodating unit101required to be exchanged among the plurality of locking covers111, is unlocked. Accordingly, a developer accommodating unit101, which is not required to be exchanged because the remaining amount of the developer exceeds the threshold value, is prevented from being wastefully exchanged. In addition, unlocking conditions of the locking covers111are not limited thereto.

Subsequently, with reference toFIG. 5toFIG. 7, the locking unit40will be described.FIG. 7is a diagram illustrating a state in which locking of the locking covers111by the cover locking device11has been released.

As illustrated inFIG. 5, the locking unit40includes a frame member40A and four cover locking devices11. The frame member40A is a member that forms an upper part of each of the openings110. On the upper surface of the frame member40A, concave parts40B formed along the front and rear direction are provided in correspondence with the cover locking devices11.

As illustrated inFIG. 5, each of the cover locking devices11includes the locking cover111, a restriction member112, a coil spring113(an example of an urging member), a solenoid114, a link member115, and a restraint part116. The restriction member112, the coil spring113, and the solenoid114of each of the cover locking devices11are provided on the upper surface of the frame member40A. Furthermore, the link member115and the restraint part116of each of the cover locking devices11are provided in the concave part40B of the frame member40A.

The locking cover111is supported such that its lower end portion is rotatable by the rotating shaft which is provided to a frame member (not illustrated) forming a lower part of each of the openings110and is parallel to the right and left direction. That is, similarly to the front cover10A of the container accommodating unit10, the locking cover111is opened when its upper part is rotated forward.

The locking cover111is provided at an upper portion thereof with an engaged part111A engageable with the restriction member112. The engaged part111A is formed in a hook shape that protrudes from the rear surface of the locking cover111and is bent in the right direction as illustrated inFIG. 6.

The restriction member112has an engaging part112A engageable with the engaged part111A of the locking cover111. The engaging part112A is formed in a hook shape that protrudes forward and is bent in the left direction as illustrated inFIG. 6.

Furthermore, the restriction member112is provided on the upper surface of the frame member40A so as to be rotatable. Specifically, the frame member40A is provided on the upper surface thereof with a rotating shaft40C as illustrated inFIG. 6. On the other hand, the restriction member112has a shaft hole112B into which the rotating shaft40C can be inserted. The shaft hole112B is inserted around the rotating shaft40C, so that the restriction member112is supported to the frame member40A so as to be rotatable in a rotation direction D1.

The restriction member112can be rotated between a first position P1(seeFIG. 6) in which the opening of the locking cover111can be restricted and a second position P2(seeFIG. 6andFIG. 7) in which restriction (locking) of the opening of the locking cover111is released. The first position P1is a position in which the engaging part112A is engageable with the engaged part111A of the locking cover111in a closed state as illustrated inFIG. 6. Furthermore, the second position P2is located inside the locking cover111from the first position P1and is a position in which the engagement of the engaging part112A and the engaged part111A of the locking cover111is disengaged as illustrated inFIG. 6andFIG. 7. In addition, rotation of the restriction member112to the left from the first position P1and rotation of the restriction member112to the right from the second position P2are restricted by a locking part (not illustrated) provided on the upper surface of the frame member40A.

The coil spring113urges the restriction member112to the first position P1. Specifically, as illustrated inFIG. 6, the coil spring113is provided on the upper surface of the frame member40A to extend in the right and left direction. The coil spring113has one end in the longitudinal direction, which is fixed to a first fixing part112D provided at the left side of the restriction member112, and the other end which is fixed to a second fixing part40D provided on the upper surface of the frame member40A. The coil spring113is fixed to the first fixing part112D and the second fixing part40D in a more extended state than a natural length. Therefore, the restriction member112is pulled leftward by the coil spring113and is urged to the first position P1.

As illustrated inFIG. 6, the solenoid114is provided inside the locking cover111from the restriction member112. The solenoid114is driven according to electric conduction to move the restriction member112to the second position P2. Specifically, the solenoid114is configured to be driven in a so-called pull type and has a long plunger114A along a driving direction D21.

The solenoid114drives the plunger114A in the driving direction D21in accordance with power from a power source (not illustrated) based on a control instruction of the control unit9. In this way, the restriction member112is moved from the first position P1to the second position P2via the link member115to be described later, so that the locking of the locking cover111is released.

In addition, it is sufficient if the driving timing (the locking release timing) of the solenoid114by the control unit9is an arbitrary timing set in advance. For example, the control unit9drives a solenoid114corresponding to a developer accommodating unit101, in which the remaining amount of the developer is equal to or less than the threshold value, at a timing at which the remaining amount of the developer in the developer accommodating unit101is equal to or less than the threshold value and the front cover10A is opened.

The restriction member112is provided with a pressing part112C that presses the engaged part111A of the locking cover111toward the opening direction of the locking cover111when the restriction member112is moved from the first position P1to the second position P2as illustrated inFIG. 6. When the locking by the restriction member112is released, the locking cover111is pressed by the pressing part112C and is shifted from the closed state to the opened state.

When a predetermined time lapses after the driving of the solenoid114is started, the supply of the power to the solenoid114from the power source is stopped. In this way, the restriction member112is moved from the second position P2to the first position P1by the urging force of the coil spring113. In addition, when the supply of the power to the solenoid114from the power source is stopped, the plunger114A is returned to a position before driving by an urging member provided inside the solenoid114.

Thereafter, when attachment/detachment work of the developer accommodating unit101by a user is ended and the opened locking cover111is closed by the user, the engaged part111A of the locking cover111and the engaging part112A of the restriction member112are engaged with each other by snap-fit. In this way, the locking cover111is locked by the restriction member112, so that attachment/detachment of the developer accommodating unit101with respect to the container accommodating unit10is restricted by the locking cover111.

Meanwhile, in a case where the plunger114A of the solenoid114is directly connected to the restriction member112, when an impact is applied to the locking cover111, the locking of the locking cover111by the restriction member112may be released. For example, when the locking cover111is hit by a user, since the restriction member112is rotated to the second position P2side by the impact, locking by the restriction member112may be released. In this regard, the urging force of the coil spring113is reinforced, so that it is possible to suppress the rotation of the restriction member112when an impact is applied to the locking cover111. However, in this case, it is necessary to reinforce the driving force of the solenoid114in accordance with the reinforcement of the urging force of the coil spring113, resulting in an increase in driving electric power in the solenoid114or an increase in the size of the solenoid114.

In contrast, in the multifunctional peripheral300according to the present embodiment, it is possible to avoid the release of locking of the locking cover111when an impact is applied to the locking cover111without reinforcing the urging force of the coil spring113as will be described below.

The link member115connects the plunger114A of the solenoid114to the restriction member112and transmits driving force generated in the solenoid114to the restriction member112. As illustrated inFIG. 6, the link member115is provided in a long shape along the driving direction D21of the solenoid114.

The link member115has a shaft hole115A at one end in the longitudinal direction. Into the shaft hole115A, a shaft114B provided to the plunger114A of the solenoid114is inserted. In this way, the plunger114A and the link member115are connected to each other. In addition, the shaft hole115A may be provided to the plunger114A of the solenoid114and the shaft114B may be provided to the link member115.

Furthermore, the link member115has a shaft115B (an example of a shaft) at the other end in the longitudinal direction. The shaft115B is inserted into a shaft hole112E (an example of a bearing) provided to the restriction member112. In this way, the link member115and the restriction member112are connected to each other. In addition, the shaft hole112E may be provided to the link member115and the shaft115B may be provided to the restriction member112.

Furthermore, as illustrated inFIG. 6, the link member115includes the rotating shaft40C of the restriction member112and is connected to the restriction member112in a position different from a position crossing a reference surface X1perpendicular to the driving direction D21. Specifically, the link member115is connected to the restriction member112at the locking cover111side from the reference surface X1. Therefore, in the multifunctional peripheral300, when the solenoid114is driven and the restriction member112is rotated in a rotation direction D11illustrated inFIG. 7, the shaft hole112E is displaced in a movement direction D31(seeFIG. 7) side in a direction perpendicular to the driving direction D21.

In the multifunctional peripheral300, the shaft115B of the link member115is loosely fitted to the shaft hole112E of the restriction member112. That is, a gap with a predetermined distance is provided between an outer periphery of the shaft115B and an inner periphery of the shaft hole112E. In this way, movement of the shaft115B in the movement direction D31with the displacement of the shaft hole112E is suppressed. For example, in the multifunctional peripheral300, the gap is set such that the shaft115B is not moved in the movement direction D31when the solenoid114is driven and the restriction member112is rotated from the first position P1to the second position P2. Therefore, when the solenoid114is driven and the restriction member112is rotated in the rotation direction D11, the link member115is not moved in the movement direction D31with the displacement of the shaft hole112E. In addition, the gap may permit the movement of the link member115in the movement direction D31with the driving of the solenoid114.

On the other hand, in the multifunctional peripheral300, even when an impact is applied to the locking cover111, the restriction member112is rotated in the rotation direction D11. When an impact is applied to the locking cover111, the link member115is moved in the movement direction D31by an impact transmitted from the restriction member112.

FIG. 8illustrates the states of the shaft115B of the link member115and the shaft hole112E of the restriction member112when an impact is applied to the locking cover111. When an impact is applied to the locking cover111and the restriction member112is rotated in the rotation direction D11, the shaft115B of the link member115contacts with the shaft hole112E, which is displaced with the rotation, in a contact position P3. In this way, the link member115receives force F1in a direction vertical to the peripheral surface of the shaft hole112E in the contact position P3from the restriction member112. The force F1includes component force in the driving direction D21and component force in the movement direction D31. The link member115is moved in the movement direction D31by the component force in the movement direction D31included in the force F1. Specifically, the link member115is rotated in the movement direction D31by employing the shaft hole115A as a fulcrum by the component force in the movement direction D31included in the force F1. Furthermore, the link member115is moved in the driving direction D21by the component force in the driving direction D21included in the force F1.

The restraint part116restrains the movement of the link member115in a direction, which crosses the driving direction D21, in contact with the link member115.

Specifically, the restraint part116is a protruding part provided to protrude in the shaft direction of the rotating shaft40C of the restriction member112. On the other hand, the link member115is provided with a hole115C into which the restraint part116can be inserted. The hole115C is formed in a long shape along the driving direction D21in a position of a connection part side of the link member115with the restriction member112as illustrated inFIG. 6. The restraint part116is provided apart from the inner peripheral surface of the hole115C in the right and left direction by a predetermined gap in the inside of the hole115C.

When an impact is applied to the locking cover111, if the link member115is rotated in the movement direction D31by the component force in the movement direction D31included in the force F1received from the restriction member112, the link member115contacts with the restraint part116in a contact position P4as illustrated inFIG. 8. In this way, further movement of the link member115in the movement direction D31is prohibited.

Furthermore, the link member115receives the component force in the movement direction D31included in the force F1and contacts with the restraint part116, so that there occurs frictional force F2against the movement of the link member115in the driving direction D21by the component force in the movement driving direction D21included in the force F1. In this way, the movement of the link member115in the driving direction D21is restricted and the rotation of the restriction member112in the rotation direction D11is restricted. Therefore, the rotation of the restriction member112when an impact is applied to the locking cover111is suppressed. Accordingly, it is possible to avoid the release of locking of the locking cover111when an impact is applied to the locking cover111without reinforcing the urging force of the coil spring113.

For example, the outer peripheral surface of the restraint part116is subjected to roughening processing for increasing a frictional coefficient with the link member115. In addition, the roughening processing may be performed on the inner peripheral surface of the hole115C of the link member115.

In the multifunctional peripheral300, the restraint part116is provided in the inside of the hole115C. In this way, the installation space of the restraint part116is removed to miniaturize the configuration of the cover locking device11as compared with the configuration in which the restraint part116is provided at a lateral side in the movement direction D31side of the link member115. In addition, the restraint part116may be a rib provided at a lateral side in the movement direction D31side of the link member115. Furthermore, the restraint part116may be a wall surface of the concave part40B of the frame member40A.

In addition, in the multifunctional peripheral300, the link member115may be connected to the restriction member112at the solenoid114side from the reference surface X1. Furthermore, in the multifunctional peripheral300, the shaft114B of the plunger114A of the solenoid114may be loosely fitted to the shaft hole115A of the link member115.

Furthermore, the cover locking device according to the technology of the present disclosure may be applied to a cover member capable of opening and closing an opening in which a member different from the developer accommodating unit101is accommodated. For example, the cover locking device according to the technology of the present disclosure may be applied to a cover member capable of opening and closing an opening to/from which an ink accommodating unit for accommodating ink is attached/detached.