Patent Publication Number: US-11048199-B2

Title: Image forming apparatus

Description:
INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE 
     The present application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 to Japanese Patent Application No. 2017-135898, filed on Jul. 12, 2017. The contents of this application are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. 
     BACKGROUND 
     The present disclosure relates to an image forming apparatus. 
     An image forming apparatus includes a casing having a main body front wall and an upper wall. The main body front wall has a front cover. The front cover is openable and closable relative to the casing with a lower edge side serving as a fulcrum. The upper wall has a central portion and a front edge portion. The front edge portion is openable so as to stand up on a front side of the central portion. The front edge portion is openable after the front cover has been opened. In the above-mentioned image forming apparatus, the front cover and the front edge portion are opened for jam removal, for example. 
     SUMMARY 
     An image forming apparatus according to the present disclosure includes an image forming section, a casing, and an open-close section. The image forming section forms an image on a recording medium. The casing internally houses the image forming section. The casing includes a first opening and a second opening. The first opening is formed in a side surface of the casing. The second opening is formed in an upper surface of the casing. The open-close section includes a first cover, a second cover, and an interlocking section. The first cover includes a first cover main body that opens and closes the first opening. The second cover includes a second cover main body that opens and closes the second opening. The interlocking section opens the second cover main body as the first cover main body is opened. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view illustrating the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view illustrating an interlocking section according to the embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 4  is a side view illustrating an open-close section according to the embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 5  is another side view illustrating the open-close section according to the embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 6A  is a diagram illustrating a left side surface of a third link strip according to the embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 6B  is a diagram illustrating left side surfaces of a main body section and the third link strip according to the embodiment of the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     An embodiment of the present disclosure will be described as follows reference to the drawings. However, the present disclosure is not limited to the following embodiment. Note that elements within the drawings that are the same or equivalent will be referred to with the same reference numbers and description thereof will not be repeated. 
     An image forming apparatus  1  according to the embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 1  is a diagram illustrating a configuration of the image forming apparatus  1  according to the present embodiment. As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the image forming apparatus  1  is a printer. The image forming apparatus  1  forms an image on a sheet S. 
     The sheet S is an example of a recording medium according to the present disclosure. Examples of the sheet S include plain paper, copy paper, recycled paper, thin paper, thick paper, glossy paper, and overhead projector (OHP) transparency. 
     The image forming apparatus  1  includes a casing  2 , a sheet feed section  3 , an image forming section  4 , a fixing section  5 , an exit table  6 , and an open-close section  8 . The casing  2  is box-shaped. The casing  2  internally houses the sheet feed section  3 , the image forming section  4 , and the fixing section  5 . 
     The casing  2  includes a first opening  2   a , a second opening  2   b , and an upper surface portion  21 . The exit table  6  is formed in the upper surface portion  21 . In  FIG. 1 , a side of the image forming apparatus  1  on which the first opening  2   a  is located is defined as front of the image forming apparatus  1 , thus defining a front-back direction. A side of the image forming apparatus  1  that is left when the image forming apparatus  1  is viewed in a direction from the front is defined as left of the image forming apparatus  1 , thus defining a left-right direction. A direction that is orthogonal to both the front-back direction and the left-right direction is defined as an up-down direction. 
     According to the present embodiment, the first opening  2   a  is formed in a front surface (side surface in front) of the casing  2 . The second opening  2   b  is formed in an upper surface of the casing  2 . In detail, the second opening  2   b  is formed in the upper surface of the casing  2 , in the front of the upper surface portion  21 . The second opening  2   b  is connected to the first opening  2   a.    
     The sheet feed section  3  feeds the sheet S. The sheet feed section  3  includes a sheet feed cassette  31 . The sheet feed cassette  31  is located in a lower edge portion of the casing  2 . The sheet feed cassette  31  is attachable to and detachable from the casing  2 . The sheet feed cassette  31  may house a plurality of sheets S. The sheet feed section  3  feeds the sheets S housed in the sheet feed cassette  31  a sheet at a time. 
     The image forming section  4  includes an image bearing member  41 , a charger  42 , an exposure section  43 , a developing section  44 , and a transfer section  45 . The image forming section  4  forms a toner image on the sheet S fed from the sheet feed section  3 . The fixing section  5  fixes the toner image to the sheet S. The sheet S with the toner image fixed thereon is fed to the exit table  6 . 
     The open-close section  8  is openable and closeable relative to the casing  2 . The open-close section  8  covers the first opening  2   a  and the second opening  2   b . The open-close section  8  includes a first cover  81 , a second cover  85 , and an interlocking section  9 . 
     The first cover  81  is located on the front surface of the casing  2 . The first cover  81  is located on the front surface of the casing  2  in a higher position than the sheet feed cassette  31 . The first cover  81  includes a first cover main body  82  and a first shaft  83 . 
     The first cover main body  82  opens and closes the first opening  2   a . The first cover main body  82  is plate-shaped. The first shaft  83  is provided in a lower edge portion of the first cover main body  82 . The first shaft  83  is pivotably supported by the casing  2 . The first cover main body  82  is pivotable around the first shaft  83 . The first cover main body  82  opens and closes the first opening  2   a  by pivoting around the first shaft  83 . In the following, a position of the first cover main body  82  when the first opening  2   a  is open is referred to as a “first open position”. A position of the first cover main body  82  when the first opening  2   a  is closed is referred to as a “first closed position”. 
     The second cover  85  is located on the upper surface of the casing  2 . The second cover  85  is located on the upper surface of the casing  2  in front of the exit table  6 . The second cover  85  includes a second cover main body  86  and a second shaft  87 . 
     The second cover main body  86  opens and closes the second opening  2   b . The second cover main body  86  is plate-shaped. The second shaft  87  is provided in a back edge portion of the second cover main body  86 . The second shaft  87  is pivotable supported by the casing  2 . The second cover main body  86  is pivotable around the second shaft  87 . The second cover main body  86  opens and closes the second opening  2   b  by pivoting around the second shaft  87 . In the following, a position of the second cover main body  86  when the second opening  2   b  is open is referred to as a “second open position”. A position of the second cover main body  86  when the second opening  2   b  is closed is referred to as a “second closed position”. 
     When the first cover main body  82  is in the first closed position and the second cover main body  86  is in the second closed position, a front surface of the second cover main body  86  faces an upper edge portion of a back surface of the first cover main body  82 . In detail, the front surface of the second cover main body  86  makes contact with the upper edge portion of the back surface of the first cover main body  82 . 
     The interlocking section  9  moves (opens) the second cover main body  86  from the second closed position to the second open position when the first cover main body  82  moves (is opened) from the first closed position to the first open position. In other words, the interlocking section  9  opens the second opening  2   b  when the first opening  2   a  is opened. The interlocking section  9  also holds the second cover  85  open when the first cover  81  is open. In other words, the interlocking section  9  holds the second opening  2   b  open when the first opening  2   a  is open. 
     In the image forming apparatus  1  according to the present embodiment, the interlocking section  9  opens the second cover main body  86  in conjunction with the motion of the first cover main body  82  as the first cover main body  82  opens. Accordingly, a user can perceive that the upper surface (second cover main body  86 ) of the casing  2  is openable. In detail, according to the present embodiment, the interlocking section  9  puts the second cover main body  86  in an inclined posture relative to the upper surface of the casing  2  when the first cover main body  82  is opened. For example, the interlocking section  9  inclines the second cover main body  86  at 45° relative to the upper surface of the casing  2 . 
     Next, opening and closing movement of the first cover main body  82  will be described with reference to  FIG. 2 .  FIG. 2  is a perspective view illustrating the image forming apparatus  1 . In detail,  FIG. 2  illustrates the first cover main body  82  and the second cover main body  86  in an open state. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the first cover main body  82  can move (open) from the first closed position illustrated in  FIG. 1  to the first open position illustrated in  FIG. 2 . The first cover main body  82  covers the first opening  2   a  when the first cover main body  82  is in the first closed position. The first cover main body  82  opens the first opening  2   a  when the first cover main body  82  is in the first open position. 
     The second cover main body  86  covers the second opening  2   b  when the second cover main body  86  is in the second closed position. The second cover main body  86  opens the second opening  2   b  when the second cover main body  86  is in the second open position. According to the present embodiment, the interlocking section  9  opens the second cover main body  86  to the second open position. 
     The open-close section  8  further includes a release button  80 . When the first cover main body  82  is in the first closed position and the user operates the release button  80 , the first cover main body  82  is opened. In detail, the casing  2  includes an engaging section and a pushing section. The engaging section engages the first cover main body  82  when the first cover main body  82  is in the first closed position. The pushing section pushes the first cover main body  82  forward when the first cover main body  82  is in the first closed position. When the user operates the release button  80 , the first cover main body  82  and the engaging section are released from engagement. As a result, the pushing section opens the first cover main body  82 . 
     The first cover main body  82  opens by moving due to the weight thereof to the first open position when opened by the pushing section. Accordingly, when the user operates the release button  80 , the first cover main body  82  is opened and the second cover main body  86  is also opened in conjunction with the first cover main body  82 . Therefore, the user can easily open the first cover main body  82  and the second cover main body  86 . 
     Next, a configuration of the interlocking section  9  will be described with reference to  FIG. 3 .  FIG. 3  is a perspective view illustrating the interlocking section  9 . In detail,  FIG. 3  is a diagram in which a right side surface of the interlocking section  9  is viewed from the back. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the interlocking section  9  includes a main body section  90 , a first link strip  91 , a second link strip  92 , a third link strip  93 , a fourth link strip  94 , a fixed shaft  95 , a first movable shaft  96 , and a second movable shaft  97 . The main body section  90  is fixed to the casing  2 . The fixed shaft  95  is fixed to the main body section  90 . 
     The first link strip  91  connects to the first cover main body  82 . In detail, the first link strip  91  is fixed to the back surface of the first cover main body  82 . The first link strip  91  extends into the casing  2  from the first cover main body  82 . The first link strip  91  is arc-shaped and partially encircles the first shaft  83  when viewed from the side. When the first cover main body  82  is in the first closed position, the first link strip  91  extends backward and downward from the back surface of the first cover main body  82  so as to trace an arc. 
     The first link strip  91  includes a support surface  91   a . The support surface  91   a  is on an upper surface of the first link strip  91 . The support surface  91   a  is arc-shaped and concentric to the first shaft  83 . 
     The first link strip  91  further includes a protrusion  91   b . The protrusion  91   b  is formed on a back end of the first link strip  91 . In other words, the protrusion  91   b  is provided on an opposite end of the first link strip  91  from an end connected to the first cover main body  82 . The protrusion  91   b  protrudes from the support surface  91   a . In detail, the protrusion  91   b  protrudes outward from the support surface  91   a  in a radial direction of the support surface  91   a . The protrusion  91   b  is arc-shaped when viewed from the side. The protrusion  91   b  smoothly connects to the support surface  91   a . As the first cover main body  82  is opened and the first link strip  91  turns about the first shaft  83 , the protrusion  91   b  ascends. 
     The first link strip  91  supports the second link strip  92  from beneath. In detail, at least one of the support surface  91   a  and the protrusion  91   b  of the first link strip  91  supports the second link strip  92  from beneath. The second link strip  92  is arc-shaped corresponding to the arc shape of the support surface  91   a  when viewed from the side. The second link strip  92  is slidable along the support surface  91   a  and the protrusion  91   b . In detail, the second link strip  92  includes the first movable shaft  96  (an example of a movable shaft) and the second movable shaft  97 . The first movable shaft  96  is provided in a back end of the second link strip  92 . The first movable shaft  96  is movable in the up-down direction. The second movable shaft  97  is provided in a front end of the second link strip  92 . The second movable shaft  97  is movable along the support surface  91   a  and the protrusion  91   b . The second link strip  92  is slidable with the first movable shaft  96  and the second movable shaft  97  serving as fulcrums. As the first cover main body  82  is opened, the second link strip  92  mounts the protrusion  91   b  after sliding along the support surface  91   a . Thereafter, the second link strip  92  slides along the protrusion  91   b . The back end (first movable shaft  96 ) of the second link strip  92  is elevated by the protrusion  91   b  as the second link strip  92  mounts the protrusion  91   b . In other words, the first movable shaft  96  is elevated by the protrusion  91   b  as the first cover main body  82  is opened. 
     The third link strip  93  extends in the up-down direction. The third link strip  93  connects to the second cover main body  86 . According to the present embodiment, an upper end of the third link strip  93  is in contact with the second cover main body  86 . The third link strip  93  includes an opening  93   a . The opening  93   a  is formed in a central portion of the third link strip  93  in the up-down direction. The opening  93   a  extends in the up-down direction. The fixed shaft  95  is inserted into the opening  93   a . As described above, the fixed shaft  95  is fixed to the main body section  90 . Accordingly, the third link strip  93  is supported by the main body section  90  through the fixed shaft  95  so as to move in an extending direction of the opening  93   a  (up-down direction). 
     A lower end of the third link strip  93  pivotably supports the first movable shaft  96 . Herewith, the lower end of the third link strip  93  connects to the back end of the second link strip  92  through the first movable shaft  96 . Accordingly, the third link strip  93  ascends together with the back end (first movable shaft  96 ) of the second link strip  92  as the first cover main body  82  is opened. As the third link strip  93  ascends, the upper end of the third link strip  93  pushes the second cover main body  86  upward. As a result, the second cover main body  86  opens. 
     The fourth link strip  94  restricts a movement direction of the third link strip  93  to the up-down direction. Specifically, the fourth link strip  94  extends toward the second movable shaft  97  from the fixed shaft  95 . In detail, the fourth link strip  94  includes an opening  94   a  formed in a back end (an end toward the fixed shaft  95 ) thereof. The opening  94   a  extends in an extending direction of the fourth link strip  94 . The fixed shaft  95  is inserted into the opening  94   a  of the fourth link strip  94 . Herewith, the fourth link strip  94  is supported by the main body section  90  through the fixed shaft  95 . In detail, the fourth link strip  94  is movably supported by the fixed shaft  95  in the extending direction of the opening  94   a . A front end (an end toward the second movable shaft  97 ) of the fourth link strip  94  pivotably supports the second movable shaft  97 . Accordingly, the front end of the fourth link strip  94  is connected to the front end of the second link strip  92  through the second movable shaft  97 . 
     Next, the configuration of the main body section  90  will be further described with reference to  FIG. 4 .  FIG. 4  is a side view illustrating the open-close section  8 . As illustrated in  FIG. 4 , a guide groove  90   a  is formed extending in the up-down direction in a lower portion of the main body section  90 . An end of the first movable shaft  96  is inserted into the guide groove  90   a . The first movable shaft  96  is movable in the up-down direction along the guide groove  90   a.    
     Next, opening and closing movement of the first cover main body  82  and the second cover main body  86  will be described with reference to  FIGS. 4 and 5 .  FIG. 5  is a side view illustrating the open-close section  8 . In detail,  FIG. 4  illustrates the open-close section  8  with the first cover main body  82  in the first closed position and the second cover main body  86  in the second closed position.  FIG. 5  illustrates the open-close section  8  with the first cover main body  82  in the first open position and the second cover main body  86  in the second open position. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 4 , the protrusion  91   b  of the first link strip  91  is at the lowest position thereof when the first cover main body  82  is in the first closed position and the second cover main body  86  is in the second closed position. The support surface  91   a  of the first link strip  91  supports the second link strip  92  spanning a front end and a central portion of the first link strip  91 . 
     An arrow D 1  illustrated in  FIG. 5  indicates an opening direction of the first cover main body  82 . An arrow D 2  illustrated in  FIG. 5  indicates an opening direction of the second cover main body  86 . As illustrated in  FIG. 5 , the front end of the first link strip  91  moves forward when the first cover main body  82  is opened as indicated by the arrow D 1  from the first closed position. Herewith, the first link strip  91  turns about the first shaft  83 . As the first link strip  91  turns about the first shaft  83 , the second link strip  92  slides along the support surface  91   a  and a portion of the second link strip  92  supported by the first link strip  91  mounts the protrusion  91   b . When the second link strip  92  mounts the protrusion  91   b , the back end (first movable shaft  96 ) of the second link strip  92  ascends, and the third link strip  93  ascends. As a result, the upper end of the third link strip  93  pushes the second cover main body  86  upward, and the second cover main body  86  moves as indicated by the arrow D 2  from the second closed position to the second open position. In other words, the second cover main body  86  opens. 
     According to the present embodiment, the second cover main body  86  when in the second open position inclines at an acute angle relative to the second cover main body  86  when in the second closed position. Typically, the second cover main body  86  when in the second open position inclines at an angle of 45° relative to the second cover main body  86  when in the second closed position. Accordingly, the user can perceive that the second cover main body  86  is openable by opening the first cover main body  82 . 
     Next, the interlocking section  9  will be further described with reference to  FIGS. 6A and 6B .  FIG. 6A  is a diagram illustrating a left side surface of the third link strip  93 .  FIG. 6B  is a diagram illustrating left side surfaces of the main body section  90  and the third link strip  93 . 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 6A and 6B , the interlocking section  9  further includes an elastic member  98 . The elastic member  98  is fixed to the lower end of the third link strip  93 . The elastic member  98  extends upward from the lower end of the third link strip  93 . The elastic member  98  is a spring, for example. 
     When the third link strip  93  moves upward relative to the main body section  90 , an upper end of the elastic member  98  comes in contact with the main body section  90 . As a result, the elastic member  98  is compressed between the main body section  90  and the third link strip  93 . In the image forming apparatus  1  according to the present embodiment, the elastic member  98  is compressed between the main body section  90  and the third link strip  93  when the first cover  81  is opened. Accordingly, the elastic member  98  moderates the opening speed of the first cover  81 . As a result, the interlocking section  9  can reduce impact shock to the image forming apparatus  1  when the first cover  81  is opened. 
     The image forming apparatus  1  according to the embodiment of the present disclosure has been described above with reference to  FIGS. 1 to 6B . However, the present disclosure is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiment, and may be performed in various manners within a scope not departing from the gist thereof. 
     For example, according to the embodiment of the present disclosure, the second cover main body  86  opens by moving from the second closed position to the second open position. However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto. The second cover main body  86  may be opened further from the second open position. For example, the second cover main body  86  may be opened to an upright position. The user moves the second cover main body  86  to the upright position, for example. As a result, the open-close section  8  can be opened wider, and jam removal can be easily performed in the back of the casing  2 , for example. 
     Note that the drawings are schematic, emphasizing elements of configuration for ease of understanding. Properties of the elements of configuration in the drawings such as thickness and length may differ from actual properties thereof to facilitate preparation of the drawings. Also, shapes and the like of the elements of configuration illustrated in the above embodiment are but one example and are not particularly limited. The elements of configuration may be variously altered within a scope not substantially departing from the effects of the present disclosure.