Patent Grant
11573518
The present invention relates to a sheet conveying apparatus that includes an image forming apparatus such as an electrophotographic copying machine or an electrophotographic printer (for example, a laser beam printer or an LED printer).
A rocker switch is widely used in an image forming apparatus, which is an apparatus representative of a sheet conveying apparatus provided with a conveying portion that conveys sheets. The rocker switch operates an operation portion to perform a seesaw operation so as to switch on and off the main power supply of the image forming apparatus or the power supply of an electronic component installed in the image forming apparatus. Furthermore, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2011-244112 discloses a configuration in which a mark indicating the direction in which the operation portion is pushed in when switching the power supply on or off is disposed in the vicinity of a rocker switch on the outer cover.
Due to the large number of rocker switches with a bilaterally symmetrical shape, it is not uncommon for a rocker switch to be attached with an orientation which is the opposite of the orientation intended in its design. In cases where a rocker switch is thus attached with an orientation which is the opposite of the intended orientation, the mark disposed in the vicinity of the rocker switch then ends up having the opposite meaning, which may confuse the user and reduce usability.
Moreover, similarly to a rocker switch, there are also a lot of connectors that have a bilaterally symmetrical shape, and it is not uncommon for same to be attached with an orientation which is the opposite of the orientation intended in their design. In cases where a connector is attached in this manner with an orientation which is the opposite of the intended orientation, insertion may prove to be difficult when inserting another connector into the connector, and there is a risk of reduced workability during assembly.
The present invention desirably provides a sheet conveying apparatus that makes it possible to prevent a rocker switch or a connector from being attached with an orientation which is the opposite of the intended orientation.
A representative configuration of the present invention is a sheet conveying apparatus provided with:
a rocker switch that switches on and off the power supply of the sheet conveying apparatus or of a member installed in the sheet conveying apparatus, the rocker switch having three terminals and an operation portion that is pressed down so as to swing between an on side and an off side;
a plurality of connectors each connected to two of the three terminals of the rocker switch;
an outer cover of the sheet conveying apparatus, the outer cover being provided with a mark indicating the on and/or off of the power supply of the rocker switch; and
a housing portion in which the rocker switch is housed, the housing portion having a fitting hole into which the rocker switch is fitted and a wall portion which is disposed, in the direction of insertion of the plurality of connectors into the two terminals, so as to oppose the surface in which the fitting hole is formed and so as to oppose the end surface of the rocker switch on the opposite side from the side where the operation portion is disposed,
wherein the connector among the plurality of connectors which is positioned farthest from the center of the rocker switch in a parallel direction of the two terminals protrudes toward an end portion of the end surface of the rocker switch which is on the connector side, and
wherein the wall portion is disposed in a position opposing an end portion on the opposite side from the end portion of the end surface of the rocker switch in the parallel direction of the two terminals and in a position closer, in the insertion direction, to the rocker switch than the end surfaces of the plurality of connectors on the opposite side from the side where the rocker switch is disposed.
Further features of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of exemplary embodiments with reference to the attached drawings.
<Image Forming Apparatus>
The overall configuration of an image forming apparatus constituting a sheet conveying apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention will first be described hereinbelow with reference to the drawings, together with the operation during image formation. Note that the dimensions, material properties, shapes, and relative arrangement, and the like, of the constituent components described hereinbelow do not, unless specified otherwise, limit the scope of the invention thereto.
An image forming apparatus A according to the present embodiment is an intermediate tandem-type image forming apparatus that forms an image by transferring toner in four colors, namely, yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K) to an intermediate transfer belt and then transferring an image to a sheet. Note that, in the following description, although Y, M, C, and K are assigned as subscripts to the members using the toners of each of the foregoing colors, the configurations and operations of each member are substantially the same except for the fact that the colors of the toners being used are different, and hence the subscripts are suitably omitted except in cases where differentiation is required.
The image forming apparatus A is also provided with an image reading portion 8 that reads an original image. The image reading portion 8 is configured from a reader 8a and an ADF 8b. The reader 8a uses an image pickup element (not illustrated) such as a CCD to read the original image, which has been placed on a placing table (not illustrated) formed from a glass plate, and converts the image to image data. The ADF 8b automatically conveys the original which has been loaded into a manuscript tray 8b1 and reads the image. The ADF 8b is turnably supported, and the ADF 8b can be turned so as to open upward to enable access to the placing table of the reader 8a.
The image forming apparatus A is also provided with a sheet cassette 60 for storing a sheet S whereon an image is formed. A cassette heater 61 which heats the sheet S stored in the sheet cassette 60 so as to dry the sheet S is disposed in the vicinity of the sheet cassette 60. By using the cassette heater 61 to dry the sheet S in this manner, bending of the sheet S during image formation is suppressed.
Further, a touch panel-type operation panel 9 for making image formation-related settings and the like is disposed on the front side of the image forming apparatus A. Keys for inputting various information and numerical values are displayed on a display 9a of the operation panel 9. By operating the keys displayed on the display 9a to input the numerical values, the user is able to set the number of images to be formed and make image reading-related settings.
Next, image forming operations by the image forming apparatus A will be described. When an image is to be formed, an image formation job signal is first input to the controller (not illustrated). Accordingly, the sheet S stored in the sheet cassette 60 is picked up by the pick roller 29 and is conveyed to a registration roller 19 by a transport roller 11 and a conveying roller 18. Next, the sheet S is fed, with predetermined timing by the registration roller 19, into a secondary transfer portion that is formed from the secondary transfer roller 16 and the secondary transfer counter roller 12.
Meanwhile, the surface of the photosensitive drum 1Y is first charged in the image forming portion 4 by the charging roller 2Y. Thereafter, the laser scanner unit 98 irradiates the surface of the photosensitive drum 1Y with laser light according to an image signal of the original image read by the image reading portion 8, and forms an electrostatic latent image on the surface of the photosensitive drum 1Y. Subsequently, the yellow toner is made by the developing apparatus 3Y to adhere to the electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 1Y, thereby forming a yellow toner image on the surface of the photosensitive drum 1Y. Due to a primary transfer bias being applied to the primary transfer roller 5Y, the toner image formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 1Y undergoes primary transfer to the intermediate transfer belt 6.
Through a similar process, magenta, cyan, and black toner images are also formed on the photosensitive drums 1M, 1C, and 1K. Further, due to a primary transfer bias being applied to the primary transfer rollers 5M, 5C, and 5K, toner images thereof are transferred in a superposed manner to the yellow toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 6. A full-color toner image which corresponds to the image signal is thus formed on the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 6.
Thereafter, because the intermediate transfer belt 6 moves in a circular manner due to a driving force being transmitted from the drive roller 17, the full-color toner image is fed to the secondary transfer portion. Further, due to a secondary transfer bias being applied by the secondary transfer portion to the secondary transfer roller 16, the full-color toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 6 is transferred to the sheet S.
Next, the sheet S to which the toner image has been transferred undergoes heating and pressurization in a fixing apparatus 15, thereby fixing the toner image on the sheet S to the sheet S. Subsequently, the sheet S with the fixed toner image is discharged by a discharge roller 13 to a discharge portion 7.
<Power Supply Switch>
Next, the configuration of a power supply switch 70 that switches on and off the power supply of the cassette heater 61 will be described.
The power supply switch 70 is disposed such that the operation portion 70a is exposed via an opening 25b in an outer cover 25 on the back side of the image forming apparatus A. A print 70a1 (another mark) which is a mark indicating the on side of the power supply is provided on the surface of the operation portion 70a. Also provided, in the vicinity of the opening 25b in the outer cover 25, is a marking 25a, which is a mark indicating the direction in which the operation portion 70a is to be pressed in when switching on the power supply of the power supply switch 70.
When the power supply switch 70 is attached with the correct orientation, the side of the operation portion 70a where the print 70a1 is provided is pressed in on the marking 25a side of the outer cover 25, thereby turning on the power supply of the cassette heater 61. Note that the print 70a1 of the operation portion 70a may also be a marking, and that the marking 25a of the outer cover 25 may also be a print. Furthermore, the print 70a1 of the operation portion 70a and the marking 25a of the outer cover 25 may also be configured to indicate the direction in which the operation portion 70a is pressed in when switching off the power supply of the power supply switch 70. Additionally, the print 70a1 of the operation portion 70a and the marking 25a of the outer cover 25 may be configured to have either one or both of the words “on” and “off”. The shape of the marks preferably have shapes that are easily discriminated by the user as on or off, such as a circular mark to indicate the on side and a minus-sign mark to indicate the off side.
A recess 75a1, which is recessed on the side of the operation portion 70a where the print 70a1 is disposed, is also formed in the inner wall of the fitting hole 75a in the direction of the arrow K2, which is the direction parallel to the terminals 70c1 to 70c3. When attaching the power supply switch 70, the power supply switch 70 is attached with the correct orientation by attaching the print 70a1 of the operation portion 70a so as to be positioned on the recess 75a1 side.
Furthermore, the holder 75 has a rib 75b (a wall portion) in a position opposing the surface where the fitting hole 75a is formed in the direction of the arrow K1. The rib 75b also opposes an end surface 70x (see
<Power Supply Switch Attachment Method>
Next, a method for attaching the power supply switch 70 to the holder 75 will be described.
As illustrated in
Next, the operator presses in the power supply switch 70 in the direction of the arrow V1 illustrated in
Here, when the power supply switch 70 is fitted in the fitting hole 75a, an end surface 77b2 of the connector 77b, which is positioned farthest from the center of the power supply switch 70 in the direction of the arrow K2, protrudes toward an end portion 70x1 of the end surface 70x of the power supply switch 70 which is on the connector 77b side. Furthermore, the rib 75b is disposed in a position opposing an end portion 70x2 of the end surface 70x of the power supply switch 70 on the opposite side from the end portion 70x1 in the direction of the arrow K2. Moreover, the rib 75b is disposed in a position closer, in the direction of the arrow K1, to the power supply switch 70 than end surfaces 77a1 and 77b1 of the connectors 77a and 77b on the opposite side from the side where the power supply switch 70 is disposed. Note that line C1 illustrated in
By disposing the rib 75b in this manner, the connectors 77 or cables 76 butt against and interfere with the rib 75b when the power supply switch 70 is pressed in in the direction of the arrow V1 so as to enter inside the holder 75 from the fitting hole 75a with an orientation which is the opposite of the foregoing orientation, as illustrated in
Next, a second embodiment of the image forming apparatus constituting the sheet conveying apparatus according to the present invention will be described using the drawings. Note that the same reference signs are assigned to those parts for which the descriptions overlap with the first embodiment, and descriptions thereof are omitted.
In this embodiment, when the power supply switch 70 is fitted in the fitting hole 75a, the connector 77b of the power supply switch 70 is positioned, in the direction of the arrow K2, more toward the center of the power supply switch 70 than the end portion 70x1 of the end surface 70x of the power supply switch 70 on the connector 77b side. The distance, in the direction of the arrow K2, between the end portion 70x1 of the end surface 70x of the power supply switch 70 and an end surface 77b2 of the connector 77b is L1.
Furthermore, when the power supply switch 70 is fitted in the fitting hole 75a, the rib 75b extends toward the center of the power supply switch 70 in the direction of the arrow K2 by a distance greater than or equal to a distance L1 from the position in which the end surface 70x of the power supply switch 70 opposes the end portion 70x2. Moreover, the rib 75b is disposed in a position closer, in the direction of the arrow K1, to the power supply switch 70 than end surfaces 77a1 and 77b1 of the connectors 77a and 77b on the opposite side from the side where the power supply switch 70 is disposed.
By disposing the rib 75b in this manner, the connectors 77 butt against and interfere with the rib 75b when the power supply switch 70 is pressed in in the direction of the arrow K1 so as to enter inside the holder 75 from the fitting hole 75a with an orientation which is the opposite of the intended orientation, as illustrated in
Next, a third embodiment of the image forming apparatus constituting the sheet conveying apparatus according to the present invention will be described using the drawings. Note that the same reference signs are assigned to those parts for which the descriptions overlap with the first embodiment, and descriptions thereof are omitted.
More specifically, the rib 75b of the holder 75 is disposed in a position opposing an end portion 70x2 of the end surface 70x of the power supply switch 70 on the opposite side from the end portion 70x1 in the direction of the arrow K2. Moreover, the rib 75b is disposed between the end surfaces 77a1 and 77b1 of the connectors 77a and 77b on the opposite side from the side where the power supply switch 70 is disposed in the direction of the arrow K1, and a position separated by a distance L2 from the end surfaces 77a1 and 77b1 in the direction of separation from the power supply switch 70. Here, in this embodiment, L2 is set to equal 15 mm.
By disposing the rib 75b in this manner, the cables 76 butt against and interfere with the rib 75b when the power supply switch 70 is pressed in in the direction of the arrow K1 so as to enter inside the holder 75 from the fitting hole 75a with an orientation which is the opposite of the intended orientation, as illustrated in
Note that the configuration of this embodiment may also be applied to the configuration of the second embodiment. In other words, in the configuration of the second embodiment, the rib 75b is installed in a position between the end surfaces 77a1 and 77b1 of the connectors 77a and 77b on the opposite side from the side where the power supply switch 70 is disposed in the direction of the arrow K1, and a position separated by the distance L1 from the end surfaces 77a1 and 77b1. It is therefore possible to prevent the power supply switch 70 from being attached with an orientation which is the opposite of the intended orientation.
Furthermore, although a configuration in which the power supply of the cassette heater 61 is switched on and off by the power supply switch 70 was described in the first to third embodiments, the present invention is not limited to or by this configuration. In other words, the foregoing advantageous effects can also be obtained with a configuration in which all the power supplies of the image forming apparatus A (the main power supply) and the power supplies of members other than the cassette heater 61 which are installed in the image forming apparatus A are switched on and off by means of the power supply switch 70.
Furthermore, the power supply switch 70 disclosed in the first to third embodiments may also be applied to a switch that is connected to the image forming apparatus A and that, in addition to the image forming apparatus A, turns on and off the power supplies of optional apparatuses constituting the image forming system. Examples of optional apparatuses include: a sheet deck which is connected in the width direction of the image forming apparatus A separately from the sheet cassette 60 provided to the image forming apparatus A, or a post-processing apparatus which is connected to the image forming apparatus A in order to perform binding or the like. An image forming system 500 wherein these optional apparatuses are installed will be described hereinbelow.
The high-capacity stacker 100 loads sheets S which have images formed by the image forming apparatus A into a stacker tray 101. Casters (not illustrated) are attached to the stacker tray 101, enabling the user to use the casters to easily move a large amount of sheets S loaded in the stacker tray 101.
The inserter 200 is a sheet deck constituting an optional apparatus which is connected in the width direction of the image forming apparatus A. The inserter 200 has sheet cassettes 201a, 201b, and 201c. The inserter 200 feeds the sheets S stored in the sheet cassettes 201a, 201b, and 201c to the glue binding machine 300 and the saddle stitching machine 400.
The glue binding machine 300 is a post-processing apparatus constituting an optional apparatus which is connected to the image forming apparatus A in order to perform binding and the like. The glue binding machine 300 performs, in a binding portion 302, glue binding processing such as natural-glue binding processing or case binding processing of sheets S which have images formed by the image forming apparatus A and sheets S fed from the inserter 200. The sheets S which have undergone glue binding processing by the glue binding machine 300 are discharged to a discharge tray 301.
The saddle stitching machine 400 is a post-processing apparatus constituting an optional apparatus which is connected to the image forming apparatus A in order to perform binding and the like. The saddle stitching machine 400 performs, in a processing portion 402a and a binding portion 402b, processing such as saddle stitching, punching, cutting, shift paper discharge, and folding of sheets S which have images formed by the image forming apparatus A and sheets S fed from the inserter 200. Sheets S which have undergone the saddle stitching by the saddle stitching machine 400 are discharged to discharge trays 401a and 401b.
Here, the image forming apparatus A, the high-capacity stacker 100, inserter 200, the glue binding machine 300, and the saddle stitching machine 400 that constitute the image forming system 500 are sheet conveying apparatuses which are each provided with a conveying portion for conveying the sheets S. In other words, here, sheet conveying apparatuses comprise the image forming apparatus A, high-capacity stacker 100, inserter 200, glue binding machine 300, and saddle stitching machine 400. In other words, the foregoing advantageous effects can also be obtained with a configuration in which all the power supplies of the sheet conveying apparatuses (the main power supply) and the power supplies of members which are installed in the sheet conveying apparatuses are switched on and off by means of the power supply switch 70 of the first to third embodiments.
Next, a fourth embodiment of the image forming apparatus constituting the sheet conveying apparatus according to the present invention will be described using the drawings. Note that the same reference signs are assigned to those parts for which the descriptions overlap with the first embodiment, and descriptions thereof are omitted.
This embodiment describes an attachment configuration of a connector 80 that integrally holds a plurality of cables 86a to 86d for electrically connecting the cassette heater 61 to a power supply substrate (not illustrated), the plurality of cables 86a to 86d being held at one end thereof. The power supply substrate (not illustrated) is provided with a transformer and receives a supply of power from a commercial power supply, and generates power which is used by the cassette heater 61 and the other devices and supplies this power to these devices.
Furthermore, a rib 85b is formed in the holder 85 in a position opposing the fitting hole 85a in the direction of the arrow K4. The rib 85b also opposes an end surface 80x (see
Next, a method for attaching the connector 80 to the holder 85 will be described.
As illustrated in
Thus, the insertion opening 80a in the connector 80 is exposed via the fitting hole 85a to the outside of the holder 85, and the connector 80 is fitted into the fitting hole 85a. At such time, the retaining portion 80b of the connector 80 is compressed through elastic deformation while abutting the inner wall of the fitting hole 85a, and when the connector 80 moves to the position in which same is fitted into the fitting hole 85a, the retaining portion 80b is restored so as to abut the surface where the fitting hole 85a in the holder 85 is formed. The retaining portion 80b thus regulates disengagement of the connector 80 fitted in the fitting hole 85a. The connector 80 is thus attached.
Here, when the connector 80 is fitted into the fitting hole 85a, the cable 86d, which is positioned farthest from the center of the connector 80 in the direction of the arrow K3, is positioned more toward the center of the connector 80 than an end portion 80x1 of the end surface 80x of the connector 80 on the cable 86d side. The distance, in the direction of the arrow K4, between the end portion 80x1 of the end surface 80x of the connector 80 on the cable 86d side and an end surface 86d 1 of the cable 86d is L3. Note that line C2 illustrated in
Furthermore, when the connector 80 is fitted in the fitting hole 85a, the rib 85b extends toward the center of the connector 80 in the direction of the arrow K4 by a distance greater than or equal to a distance L3 from the position in which the end portion 80x1 of the end surface 80x of the connector 80 opposes the end portion 80x2. Moreover, the rib 85b is disposed in a position between, in the direction of the arrow K3, the end surface 80x of the connector 80 and a position separated by a distance L4 from the end surface 80x in the direction of separation from the connector 80. In this embodiment, L4 is set to equal 15 mm.
By disposing the rib 85b in such a position, the cable 86d interferes with the rib 85b when an attempt is made to fit the connector 80 into the fitting hole 85a in the holder 85 with an orientation which is the opposite of the intended orientation, as illustrated in
While the present invention has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed exemplary embodiments. The scope of the following claims is to be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent structures and functions.
This application claims the benefit of Japanese Patent Application No. 2020-041248, filed Mar. 10, 2020, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| JP2020-041248 | Mar 2020 | JP | national |
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| Number | Date | Country |
|---|---|---|
| 2011-244112 | Dec 2011 | JP |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20210286310 A1 | Sep 2021 | US |
