Patent Publication Number: US-9846404-B2

Title: Opening-closing portion and image forming apparatus comprising the same

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is based on and claims priority under 35 USC 119 from Japanese Patent Application No. 2016-038945 filed Mar. 1, 2016. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Technical Field 
     The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus. 
     SUMMARY 
     According to an aspect of the invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus including an object to be taken out, the object being disposed in an apparatus body so as to be capable of being taken out of the apparatus body through an opening in an upper section of the apparatus body; an opening-closing portion including a rear portion attached to the upper section of the apparatus body in such a manner that the opening-closing portion is rotatable around an axis that extends in a left-right direction of the apparatus, the opening-closing portion covering the opening from above and rotating upward to open the opening; and an operating portion attached to the upper section of the apparatus body so as to be rotatable around an axis that extends in the left-right direction of the apparatus at a location closer to a front of the apparatus than the opening-closing portion is. The operating portion is disposed at a position on a rotation trajectory along which the opening-closing portion rotates upward and on a path along which the object is taken out of the apparatus body through the opening. The operating portion rotates toward the front of the apparatus so as to be retracted from the rotation trajectory and the path along which the object is taken out, and so that the path along which the object is taken out is formed between the operating portion and the opening-closing portion in a state in which the opening-closing portion opens the opening. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       An exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail based on the following figures, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram illustrating the structure of an image forming apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view illustrating the structure of a transfer unit according to the exemplary embodiment; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view illustrating the structure of the image forming apparatus according to the exemplary embodiment; 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view illustrating the state in which the transfer unit is being taken out of an image forming apparatus body illustrated in  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a side view illustrating the structure of an upper section of the image forming apparatus body according to the exemplary embodiment; 
         FIG. 6  is a side view illustrating the manner in which an operation panel is rotated forward from the state illustrated in  FIG. 5 ; 
         FIG. 7  is a side view illustrating the state in which an opening-closing cover is opened from the state illustrated in  FIG. 6 ; 
         FIG. 8  is a side view illustrating the state in which the transfer unit is being taken out of the image forming apparatus body illustrated in  FIG. 7 ; 
         FIG. 9  is a perspective view illustrating the state in which recording media are placed on the opening-closing cover, which serves as an output portion according to the exemplary embodiment; 
         FIG. 10  illustrates the image forming apparatus viewed from the upper front in the state illustrated in  FIG. 4 ; 
         FIG. 11  is an enlarged perspective view of the operation panel according to the exemplary embodiment; and 
         FIG. 12  is a perspective view illustrating the state in which the opening-closing cover is being opened from the state illustrated in  FIG. 11 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     An exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. 
     Image Forming Apparatus  10   
     First, the structure of an image forming apparatus  10  will be described.  FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram illustrating the structure of the image forming apparatus  10 . In the following description, the front, rear, right, left, top, and bottom of the apparatus respectively correspond to the directions of arrows (FRONT, REAR, RIGHT, LEFT, TOP, and BOTTOM) in the drawings. The front, rear, right, left, top, and bottom of the apparatus may sometimes be referred to simply as front (front side), rear (rear side), right (right side), left (left side), top (top side), and bottom (bottom side). In the drawings, circles having “X” therein indicate the direction from the near side to the far side in each figure, and circles having dots therein indicate the direction from the far side to the near side in each figure. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the image forming apparatus  10  includes an image forming apparatus body  11  (example of apparatus body) in which components are disposed. The components disposed in the image forming apparatus body  11  include a container  12 , which contains recording media P, such as paper sheets; an image forming section  14 , which forms an image on a recording medium P; a fixing device  60 , which fixes the image formed on the recording medium P to the recording medium P; and a transport unit  16 , which transports the recording medium P from the container  12  to the image forming section  14 . An output portion  18 , to which the recording medium P having the image fixed thereto by the fixing device  60  is output, is disposed in an upper section of the image forming apparatus body  11 . 
     The image forming section  14  includes image forming units  22 Y,  22 M,  22 C, and  22 K (hereinafter referred to as image forming units  22 Y to  22 K), which serve as units for forming yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K) toner images, and a transfer unit  21  (example of an object to be taken out), which serves as a transfer device including an intermediate transfer belt  24  (transfer body). The toner images formed by the image forming units  22 Y to  22 K are transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt  24 . The image forming section  14  also includes a second transfer roller  28  that transfers the toner images that have been transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt  24  by first transfer rollers  26  onto a recording medium P. The image forming section  14  does not necessarily have the above-described structure, and may have any structure as long as the image forming section  14  forms an image on the recording medium P. 
     The image forming units  22 Y to  22 K are arranged along a line inclined relative to the horizontal direction in the image forming apparatus body  11 . Each of the image forming units  22 Y to  22 K includes a photoconductor  32  that rotates in one direction (for example, clockwise in  FIG. 1 ). The image forming units  22 Y to  22 K have the same structure; therefore, reference numerals for components of the image forming units  22 Y,  22 M, and  22 C are omitted in  FIG. 1 . 
     A charging roller  23  and a developing device  38  are arranged around each photoconductor  32  in that order from the upstream side in the rotation direction of the photoconductor  32 . The charging roller  23  serves as a charging device that charges the photoconductor  32 . The developing device  38  forms a toner image by developing an electrostatic latent image formed by an exposure process performed on the photoconductor  32  charged by the charging roller  23 . 
     The developing device  38  includes a developer supplier  38 A that supplies developer to the photoconductor  32  and a transport member  38 B that transports the developer to be supplied to the developer supplier  38 A while stirring the developer. Plural containers  54  that contain the developer to be supplied to the developing devices  38  of the image forming units  22 Y to  22 K are disposed in front of the image forming units  22 Y to  22 K. 
     An exposure device  36  is disposed below the image forming units  22 Y to  22 K. The exposure device  36  forms electrostatic latent images on the photoconductors  32  of the image forming units  22 Y to  22 K by performing an exposure process on the photoconductors  32  that have been charged by the charging rollers  23  of the image forming units  22 Y to  22 K. 
     The transfer unit  21  is disposed above the image forming units  22 Y to  22 K. The transfer unit  21  includes the intermediate transfer belt  24 , wrap rollers  42 ,  43 ,  44 , and  45  around which the intermediate transfer belt  24  is wrapped, and the first transfer rollers  26 , which transfer the toner images formed by the image forming units  22 Y to  22 K onto the intermediate transfer belt  24 . 
     The intermediate transfer belt  24  has an annular shape and is disposed above the image forming units  22 Y to  22 K. The wrap roller  43 , for example, is rotated so that the intermediate transfer belt  24  moves, or rotates, in one direction (for example, counterclockwise in  FIG. 1 ) while being in contact with the photoconductors  32 . The wrap roller  42  serves as an opposing roller that opposes the second transfer roller  28 . 
     Each first transfer roller  26  opposes the corresponding photoconductor  32  with the intermediate transfer belt  24  interposed therebetween. The space between each first transfer roller  26  and the corresponding photoconductor  32  is a first transfer position T 1  at which the toner image formed on the photoconductor  32  is transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt  24 . 
     A first transfer voltage having a polarity opposite to the toner polarity (first transfer current) is applied to each first transfer roller  26 . Accordingly, a first transfer electric field is formed between the first transfer roller  26  and the corresponding photoconductor  32 , so that the toner image formed on the photoconductor  32  receives an electrostatic force and is transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt  24  at the first transfer position T 1 . 
     The second transfer roller  28  opposes the wrap roller  42  with the intermediate transfer belt  24  interposed therebetween. The space between the second transfer roller  28  and the wrap roller  42  is a second transfer position T 2  at which the toner images that have been transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt  24  are transferred onto the recording medium P. 
     A second transfer voltage having a polarity opposite to the toner polarity (second transfer current) is applied to the second transfer roller  28 . Accordingly, a second transfer electric field is formed between the second transfer roller  28  and the wrap roller  42 , so that the toner images on the intermediate transfer belt  24  receive an electrostatic force and are transferred onto the recording medium P at the second transfer position T 2 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the transport unit  16  includes a feed roller  46  that feeds a recording medium P contained in the container  12 , a transport path  48  along which the recording medium P fed by the feed roller  46  is transported, and transport rollers  50  that transport the recording medium P fed by the feed roller  46  toward a downstream side. Among the transport rollers  50 , the pair of rollers closest to the second transfer position T 2  are registration rollers. 
     The fixing device  60  is located downstream of the second transfer position T 2  in the transporting direction. The fixing device  60  includes a heating roller  62  and a pressing roller  64 . The fixing device  60  fixes the toner images that have been transferred onto the recording medium P from the intermediate transfer belt  24  to the recording medium P by applying heat with the heating roller  62  and pressure with the pressing roller  64 . 
     An image forming operation performed by the image forming apparatus  10  according to the present exemplary embodiment to form an image on a recording medium P will now be described. 
     In the image forming apparatus  10  according to the present exemplary embodiment, the recording medium P fed from the container  12  by the feed roller  46  is transported to the second transfer position T 2  by the transport rollers  50  (see  FIG. 1 ). 
     In each of the image forming units  22 Y to  22 K, the photoconductor  32  charged by the charging roller  23  is subjected to the exposure process by the exposure device  36 , so that an electrostatic latent image is formed on the photoconductor  32 . The electrostatic latent image is developed by the developing device  38 , so that a toner image is formed on the photoconductor  32 . The toner images of the respective colors formed by the image forming units  22 Y to  22 K are transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt  24  at the first transfer positions T 1 , so that a color image is formed. The color image formed on the intermediate transfer belt  24  is transferred onto the recording medium P at the second transfer position T 2 . 
     The recording medium P on which the toner image has been transferred is transported to the fixing device  60 , and the fixing device  60  fixes the transferred toner image to the recording medium P. The recording medium P to which the toner image has been fixed is output to the output portion  18  by transport rollers  52 . The image forming operation is performed in the above-described manner. 
     Structure of Transfer Unit  21   
     The structure of the transfer unit  21  will now be described.  FIG. 2  illustrates the structure of the transfer unit  21 . In  FIGS. 4 to 8 and 10 , the structure of the transfer unit  21  is simplified. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the transfer unit  21  includes a pair of frame members  70  that form the frame of the transfer unit  21 . The pair of frame members  70  are disposed one on each side (each of left and right sides) of the four first transfer rollers  26  in the rotational axis direction. 
     Each of the pair of frame members  70  has plural projections  72  on an outer surface thereof. The projections  72  function as guide portions that are guided by guide grooves (not shown) formed in inner walls of the image forming apparatus body  11  when the transfer unit  21  is attached to or detached from the image forming apparatus body  11 . 
     Holder portions  71 , which are held by an operator when the transfer unit  21  is attached to or detached from the image forming apparatus body  11 , are provided at upper ends of front portions of the pair of frame members  70 . 
     The transfer unit  21  is detached from the image forming apparatus body  11  after separating the intermediate transfer belt  24  from the photoconductors  32  by moving the four first transfer rollers  26 , which are in contact with the inner peripheral surface of the intermediate transfer belt  24 , upward with a retracting mechanism (not shown). 
     Structure for Detaching Transfer Unit  21  from Image Forming Apparatus Body  11   
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , an opening  105 , through which the transfer unit  21  is taken out of the image forming apparatus body  11 , is formed in the upper section of the image forming apparatus body  11 . As illustrated in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , an opening-closing cover  110  (example of opening-closing portion), which opens and closes the opening  105 , an operation panel  120  (example of operating portion), which is operated by an operator, such as a user, and a panel support  130  (example of support), which supports the operation panel  120 , are provided on the upper section of the image forming apparatus body  11 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 5 , the opening  105  is located in front of and obliquely above the transfer unit  21 . The guide grooves (not shown) formed in the inner walls of the image forming apparatus body  11  guide the projections  72  (see  FIG. 2 ) formed on the frame members  70 , thereby allowing the transfer unit  21  to be taken out through the opening  105  in a forward and obliquely upward direction. In this manner, the transfer unit  21  disposed in the image forming apparatus body  11  is taken out of the image forming apparatus body  11  through the opening  105 . Thus, in the present exemplary embodiment, the path along which the transfer unit  21  is taken out through the opening  105  in the forward and obliquely upward direction is the path along which the transfer unit  21  is taken out of the image forming apparatus body  11  through the opening  105 . 
     The opening-closing cover  110  includes a rear end portion (example of rear portion of the opening-closing cover) that is attached to the upper section of the image forming apparatus body  11  in such a manner that the opening-closing cover  110  is rotatable around an axis that extends in a left-right direction of the apparatus. The opening-closing cover  110  rotates upward from a closed state (closed position) illustrated in  FIGS. 3, 5, and 6 , in which the opening-closing cover  110  closes the opening  105  by covering the opening  105 , to open the opening  105  (see  FIGS. 4, 7 , and  8 ). Accordingly, in the present exemplary embodiment, the path along which the opening-closing cover  110  rotates upward from the closed state to open the opening  105  serves as an upward rotation trajectory of the opening-closing cover  110 . The opening-closing cover  110  rotates downward from the open state (open position) illustrated in  FIGS. 4, 7, and 8 , in which the opening-closing cover  110  opens the opening  105 , to close the opening  105  (see  FIGS. 3, 5, and 6 ). In  FIG. 3 , the dotted area is the opening-closing cover  110 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 9 , the opening-closing cover  110  serves as the output portion  18  in the closed state in which the opening-closing cover  110  covers the opening  105 . More specifically, the recording media P output from the image forming apparatus body  11  are stacked on a portion of the top surface of the opening-closing cover  110  in the left-right direction. 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the panel support  130  is located closer to the front of the apparatus than the opening-closing cover  110  is at the left end of the upper section of the image forming apparatus body  11 . In front view, a right portion of the panel support  130  overlaps a left portion of the opening-closing cover  110  in the left-right direction (see  FIG. 9 ). In side view, a rear portion of the panel support  130  overlaps a front portion of the opening-closing cover  110  in the front-rear direction (see  FIG. 6 ). 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 6 , the panel support  130  projects upward from the top surface of the image forming apparatus body  11 . The panel support  130  has a top surface  132  that is inclined upward toward the rear. The top surface  132  functions as a surface that receives the rear surface of the operation panel  120 . A hinge portion  134  (support portion), which supports the bottom end portion of the operation panel  120  in such a manner that the operation panel  120  is rotatable around an axis that extends in the left-right direction of the apparatus, is provided on a front portion of the top surface  132 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 10 , the panel support  130  has a cut portion  136  (example of cut) in a right rear section thereof. The cut portion  136  is located on the rotation trajectory along which the opening-closing cover  110  rotates upward and on a path along which the transfer unit  21  is taken out of the image forming apparatus through the opening  105 . 
     The operation panel  120  is plate-shaped. The front surface of the operation panel  120  is a touch panel that functions as a display portion that displays various information for the operator and as an operating portion that is operated by the operator. 
     The bottom end portion of the operation panel  120  is supported by the hinge portion  134  so that the operation panel  120  is attached, in such a manner that the operation panel  120  is rotatable around an axis that extends in the left-right direction of the apparatus, to the upper section of the image forming apparatus body  11  at a position closer to the front of the apparatus than the opening-closing cover  110  is. 
     When the operation panel  120  is in the lying position (lying state) illustrated in  FIGS. 3 and 5 , in which the rear surface of the operation panel  120  is placed on the top surface  132  of the panel support  130 , the operation panel  120  is located on the rotation trajectory along which the opening-closing cover  110  rotates upward and on the path along which the transfer unit  21  is taken out of the image forming apparatus through the opening  105 . 
     The operation panel  120  is retracted from the rotation trajectory of the opening-closing cover  110  and from the path along which the transfer unit  21  is taken out (see  FIGS. 4 and 6 ) by being rotated toward the front of the apparatus from the lying position at which the operation panel  120  is placed on the top surface  132  of the panel support  130 . When the opening-closing cover  110  is opened while the operation panel  120  is in the retracted position (retracted state), the path along which the transfer unit  21  is taken out is formed between the operation panel  120  and the opening-closing cover  110  in the open state. Namely, the transfer unit  21  is taken out of the image forming apparatus body  11  through the space between the opening-closing cover  110  in the open state and the rear surface of the operation panel  120  in the retracted state at the side opposite to the side of the touch panel. 
     The operation panel  120  returns to the lying position, at which the operation panel  120  is placed on the top surface  132  of the panel support  130 , by being rotated toward the rear of the apparatus from the above-described retracted position. The operation panel  120  may be operated while the operation panel  120  is in the lying position and the retracted position. 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 11 and 12 , the operation panel  120  is provided with a restricting portion  128  (example of restricting portion) that restricts the opening movement of the opening-closing cover  110  when the operation panel  120  is in the lying position (lying state). More specifically, the restricting portion  128  is a groove formed in the rear surface of the operation panel  120 . When the opening-closing cover  110  is rotated upward from the closed state while the operation panel  120  is in the lying state, as illustrated in  FIG. 12 , the opening-closing cover  110  comes into contact with the restricting portion  128 , so that further rotation is restricted. 
     Operation of Present Exemplary Embodiment 
     The operation of the present exemplary embodiment will now be described. 
     In the present exemplary embodiment, to take the transfer unit  21  out of the image forming apparatus body  11 , first, the operator rotates the operation panel  120  toward the front of the apparatus (see  FIG. 6 ) from the lying position in which the operation panel  120  is placed on the top surface  132  of the panel support  130  (see  FIGS. 3 and 5 ). Thus, the operation panel  120  is retracted from the rotation trajectory of the opening-closing cover  110  and from the path along which the transfer unit  21  is taken out. 
     Next, the operator rotates the opening-closing cover  110  upward from the closed state (closed position) illustrated in  FIG. 6  in which the opening-closing cover  110  closes the opening  105  (see  FIG. 7 ). Thus, the opening-closing cover  110  opens the opening  105 . In addition, the path along which the transfer unit  21  is taken out is formed between the operation panel  120  in the retracted state and the opening-closing cover  110  in the open state. 
     Then, as illustrated in  FIGS. 4 and 8 , the operator holds the holder portions  71  of the transfer unit  21  and takes out the transfer unit  21  in a forward and obliquely upward direction through the opening  105 . Thus, the transfer unit  21  is taken out of the image forming apparatus body  11  through the space between the operation panel  120  in the retracted state and the opening-closing cover  110  in the open state. 
     If the operation panel  120  is located to the left of the rotation trajectory of the opening-closing cover  110  and the path along which the transfer unit  21  is taken out (comparative example), the operation panel  120  does not interfere with the transfer unit  21  that is taken out. However, the operation panel  120  projects leftward from the image forming apparatus body  11 , and the width of the image forming apparatus  10  in the left-right direction increases. As a result, the size of the image forming apparatus  10  increases. 
     In contrast, in the present exemplary embodiment, the operation panel  120  does not project from the image forming apparatus body  11  in the left-right direction. Therefore, unlike the above-described comparative example, the size of the image forming apparatus  10  may be reduced while reducing the occurrence of interference between the transfer unit  21  and the operation panel  120  when the transfer unit  21  is taken out. 
     In addition, in the present exemplary embodiment, the path along which the transfer unit  21  is taken out is formed between the operation panel  120  in the retracted state and the opening-closing cover  110  in the open state. Therefore, the operation panel  120  in the retracted state, the space through which the transfer unit  21  is taken out, and the opening-closing cover  110  in the open state overlap. Accordingly, it is not necessary to provide a large space for taking out the transfer unit  21 , and the size of the apparatus may be reduced. 
     In addition, in the present exemplary embodiment, as illustrated in  FIG. 10 , the cut portion  136  of the panel support  130  is located on the rotation trajectory along which the opening-closing cover  110  rotates upward and on the path along which the transfer unit  21  is taken out of the image forming apparatus through the opening  105 . Therefore, the occurrence of interference between the panel support  130  and the transfer unit  21  when the transfer unit  21  is taken out is lower than that in the structure in which the cut portion  136  is not provided. 
     In addition, in the present exemplary embodiment, as illustrated in  FIG. 12 , the restricting portion  128  restricts the opening movement of the opening-closing cover  110  when the operation panel  120  is in the lying state. Therefore, the risk that the opening-closing cover  110  will be opened while the operation panel  120  is not retracted from the rotation trajectory of the opening-closing cover  110  and from the path along which the transfer unit  21  is taken out is lower than that in the structure in which the opening movement of the opening-closing cover  110  is not restricted. 
     In addition, in the present exemplary embodiment, by rotating the operation panel  120  toward the front of the apparatus (see  FIG. 6 ) from the lying position (see  FIGS. 3 and 5 ) in which the operation panel  120  is placed on the top surface  132  of the panel support  130 , the height (angle) of the operation panel  120  may be adjusted so that the operation panel  120  may be easily operated by, for example, an operator who is short or an operator sitting on a wheelchair. Thus, in the present exemplary embodiment, the rotation direction in which the operation panel  120  is rotated to adjust the height (angle) of the operation panel  120  is the same as the rotation direction in which the operation panel  120  is rotated to enable the transfer unit  21  to be taken out. Therefore, the size of the rotating mechanism, such as a hinge, is not increased. When, for example, the rotation directions are not the same and the operation panel  120  is rotated around two axes, a larger rotating mechanism, such as a hinge, is necessary. 
     Modifications 
     In the present exemplary embodiment, the transfer unit  21  is described as an example of the object to be taken out. However, the object to be taken out is not limited to this, and may instead be, for example, a waste toner box that contains waste toner or any other component that is taken out of the image forming apparatus body  11 . 
     In the present exemplary embodiment, the restricting portion is a groove. However, the restricting portion is not limited to this, and may instead be, for example, a projection that projects downward from the rear surface of the operation panel  120 . 
     The present invention is not limited to the above-described exemplary embodiment, and various modifications, changes, and improvements are possible without departing from the gist of the present invention. For example, the above-described modifications may be employed in combination as appropriate. 
     The foregoing description of the exemplary embodiment 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 embodiment was 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.