Patent Grant
7658563
This application is related to Japanese application No. 2005-322594 filed on Nov. 7, 2005 whose priority is claimed under 35 USC §119, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference in its entirety.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus having a unit which can be pulled/pushed from/to the apparatus for allowing a user to access to an image formation section and/or a sheet transporting section in the apparatus and having a mechanism for permitting the unit to be housed.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, an image forming apparatus for performing high-seed printing process has been developed. Although the printing speed of a so-called high speed apparatus (high speed machine) in standard sheet size (a landscape A4 size) was 40 to 60 sheets/minute a few years ago, it is speeded up to 100 to 120 sheets/minute.
When a sheet jam occurs in such an apparatus, a number of sheets being transported are stopped in sheet transporting paths in the apparatus. To restart printing, all of the sheets remaining in the sheet transporting paths have to be removed by a user to open the transporting paths in the apparatus. However, in a high-speed machine as described above, when a sheet jam occurs, total 5 to 10 sheets may jam at each part of the sheet transporting paths in the apparatus for the reasons such that the sheets are transported at reduced intervals for high-speed printing, the size of the apparatus is large to address high-speed printing, and the sheet transporting paths are complicated and long. Therefore, as compared with an intermediate-speed or low-speed machine, there is a tendency that the work of removing the jammed sheets is complicated. Since it increases the burden on the user, an apparatus for easily removing the jammed sheets has been requested.
To address the request, a method of unitizing a part of the apparatus and enabling the unit to be pulled from the body to largely open the sheet transporting paths when removing the remaining sheets in the apparatus has been proposed. With such a configuration, visibility and operability of the user is improved. An apparatus is also known such that a unit which can be pulled is divided into a plurality of units to address the complicated shape of the sheet transporting paths, a first unit is pulled from the body to the front side (the direction orthogonal to the sheet transporting direction), and then a second unit is pulled to the front side from the first unit (refer to, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-open No. Hei 10-143046).
The method of dividing the unit which can be pulled into a plurality of units is particularly effective to the following case. In the case where a switchback section for duplex printing exists in one of the sheet transporting paths, the sheet transporting path may be constructed so that the transported sheet is turned around in a small radius. In such a case, by pulling the first unit, the sheet transporting paths for simplex printing can be mainly opened. Further, by pulling the second unit, the sheet transporting path(s) for duplex printing including the switchback section can be opened.
As another method of pulling a plurality of units, a method of pulling the first unit to the front side from the body and pulling the second unit to a sheet evacuation side (the sheet transporting direction) or a sheet feed side (the direction opposite to the sheet transporting direction) from the body is known.
However, the method of pulling the units in two stages to the front side requires assurance of a large space on the front side so that the units can be pulled. The method of pulling the first unit to the front side and pulling the second unit to the sheet evacuation side or sheet feed side does not require a large space on the front side but requires a space on the sheet feed side or the sheet evacuation side. In many cases, a finisher is attached to the sheet evacuation side and a large-capacity sheet feeder and the like is attached on the sheet feed side. To pull the units, such peripheral apparatuses have to be moved, so that the operation is troublesome. Further, the user has to perform a work of removing sheets on the front side and, further, a work of removing sheets on the sheet evacuation side or sheet feed side. Also from the viewpoint that the user has to change his/her position, the work is troublesome. Another method is therefore considered in which the first unit is pulled in a first direction (for example, to the front side) to open a sheet transporting path in a state where a photoconductor and a developing unit are left in the body and, further, a second unit is pulled from the first unit to a second direction (for example, to the sheet evacuation side) to open the sheet transporting path in the first unit.
In such a manner, a large occupation area is not required and, moreover, sheets can be removed nearby, so that the burden on the user is lighter.
In the method of pulling the first unit to the first direction and pulling the second unit from the first unit to the second direction different from the first direction, as long as the second unit is housed in the first unit, pulling the first unit from the body and pushing back the first unit to the body causes no trouble. However, in a state that the second unit is pulled from the first unit, pushing back the first unit into the body causes trouble because the pulled second unit collides with a side face of the body. As a result, there is the possibility such that the second unit, the first unit, or the body is damaged or deformed and necessary mechanism precision cannot be assured.
The present invention has been achieved in consideration of such circumstances and provides an image forming apparatus in which a first unit can be housed in the body when the user performs a predetermined operation to house the first unit into the body, thereby preventing the first unit from being inadvertently housed in the body.
The present invention provides an image forming apparatus including: an apparatus body; a first unit which can be pulled/pushed from/to the body along a first direction and which includes at least a part of an image forming section for forming an image and/or of a sheet transporting section for transporting a sheet onto which the formed image is transferred, and; a second unit which can be pulled/pushed from/to the first unit along a second direction in a state where the first unit is pulled from the body, the second direction being different from the first direction; and a housing permitting mechanism for permitting the first unit to be pushed into the body by a predetermined operation, the housing permitting mechanism being provided for at least one of the body and the first unit.
Since the image forming apparatus of the invention has the housing permitting mechanism which permits the first unit to be pushed into the body when a predetermined operation is performed, a situation can be prevented such that the first unit is inadvertently housed into the body, the pulled second unit collides with the body, the second unit, the first unit, or the body is damaged or deformed and necessary mechanism precision cannot be assured.
As each of the first and second units regarding the present invention, a unit which can be pulled from the body when a sheet jam occurs is mainly assumed. By making a mechanism of units and pulling any of the units from the body, when a sheet jam occurs, sheet transporting paths are opened and the jammed sheets in the apparatus can be easily removed. However, the unit of the invention is not limited to the above-described unit. A mechanism for accessing the inside of the apparatus may be also employed for the purpose of periodical replacement or maintenance performed by the user or a service engineer. A example of such a mechanism is a cleaner for removing residual toner on a transfer roller and a transfer belt and a cleaner for a charging device. However, the invention is not limited to the above.
In a concrete embodiment, a transfer mechanism, a fuser unit, and sheet transporting paths around them are disposed in the first unit, and an duplex printing mechanism and sheet transporting paths are disposed in the second unit. In a different mode, for example, a fuser unit may be provided on the body side. A photoconductor and units disposed around the photoconductor such as a charging unit, a developing unit, and a cleaner unit may be disposed in the first unit. A duplex printing mechanism and sheet transporting paths may be disposed in the first unit and sheet transporting units may be disposed in the second unit. The invention is not limited to the modes. The invention includes various modes in which by pulling the first and second units, the user or a service engineer can access an image forming section and/or a sheet transporting path in the apparatus.
The image forming apparatus according to the invention may further include: a rail fixed to the body and extending in the first direction and a moving member fixed to the first unit and moving along the rail. The housing permitting mechanism is a press section using an slastic member, being disposed in one or more places in the rail and pressing the moving member with elasticity of the elastic member when the moving member passes, and the predetermined operation is an operation of pushing the first unit against a press force of the press section. With the configuration, at the time of housing the first unit into the body, the first unit has to be pushed with a force larger than a predetermined force. Consequently, situations can be prevented such that the first unit slides due to a slight tilt and dead load balance, and the user erroneously touches the first unit, causing collision between the second unit and the body.
The press section may make the elastic member come into direct contact with the moving member. Alternatively, the contact part may be a member different from the elastic member, and the press section may be constructed by combining the members. A single press section may be provided near the end position in which the first unit is pulled. A plurality of press sections such as detention mechanisms for suppressing movement of the first unit may be provided in a portion in which the first unit is pulled.
In the image forming apparatus according to the invention, the predetermined operation may be an operation of pushing the second unit pulled from the first unit to a predetermined position in the first unit, and the housing permitting mechanism may be a mechanism of suppressing housing of the first unit into the body when the second unit is pulled from the first unit more than the predetermined position. With such a configuration, housing of the first unit to the body is suppressed by the housing permitting mechanism when the second unit is pulled more than the predetermined position from the first unit. Thus, when the second unit is pulled, the first unit is reliably prevented from being housed, and the second unit is prevented from colliding with the body.
In the image forming apparatus according to the invention, the housing permitting mechanism may include a suppressing member and a moving mechanism, the suppressing member being attached to the first unit and can move between a suppress position and a release position, and the moving mechanism being provided for moving the suppressing member to the suppress position when the second unit is pulled from the first unit more than the predetermined position. The suppress position may be a position in which the suppressing member comes into contact with the body, and the release position may be a position in which the suppressing member does not come into contact with the body. With such a configuration, the housing permitting mechanism can be realized with a simple mechanism which is moved according to the position of the second unit.
The movable suppressing member means, for example, that the suppressing member is swingably attached. The invention is not limited to the mode. The mode of movement is not limited as long as the member moves between the suppress position and the release position. For example, the suppressing member may move in parallel or move while changing the angle.
In the image forming apparatus according to the invention, the moving mechanism may include a link member which is supported by the second unit and can be come into contact with the suppressing member, and an energizing member for energizing the suppressing member toward the suppress position. The link member may come into contact with the suppressing member to move the suppressing member to the release position when the second unit is pushed to a predetermined position in the first unit. The link member may be apart from the suppressing member to permit the suppressing member to move to the suppress position when the second unit is pulled more than the predetermined position.
In the image forming apparatus according to the invention, the link member may move the suppressing member to the release position when the second unit is pushed to a position in which contact between the second unit and the body is avoided even if the first unit is housed in the body. With such a configuration, when the second unit is pushed to the position in which contact between the second unit and the body is avoided, the suppressing member moves to the release position, and the first unit is permitted to be housed in the body. Thus, collision between the second unit and the body can be avoided with reliability.
The image forming apparatus according to the invention may further include: a suppressing member position detector for detecting that the suppressing member is in the suppress position; and a notifying section for notifying of the fact that housing of the first unit to the body is suppressed when the suppressing member is in the suppress position on the basis of detection of the suppressing member position detector. With the configuration, by notifying of the fact that housing of the first unit to the body is suppressed, a situation can be avoided such that the user applies an excessive force to house the first unit to the body without noticing that the suppressing member is in the suppress position, thereby damaging the body or the first unit.
The suppressing member position detector may detect the position of the suppressing member by, for example, disposing a microswitch or a reflection-type photosensor at a predetermined position. It is also possible to dispose a transmission-type photointerrupter near the suppressing member and fix a slit plate interrupting an optical path to the suppressing member. The notifying section may be realized by displaying a message on an operation panel provided for the image forming apparatus and providing the interface to the user. Alternatively, the notification may be performed by providing a predetermined display lamp on the operation panel and turning on the display lamp. The configuration of the suppressing member position detector and the notifying section is not limited to the above. The configuration may be a mechanical configuration such that the position of the suppressing member and a display for displaying a message on a display window provided on the front side of the body are linked to each other mechanically by a linking mechanism and display of the display window is changed by turning the display plate in accordance with the position of the suppressing member.
The image forming apparatus according to the invention may further include: a second unit position detector for detecting that the second unit is in the predetermined position; and a notifying section for notifying of the fact that housing of the first unit to the body is suppressed when the second unit is in a position other than the predetermined position on the basis of detection of the second unit position detector. Similar effects as those in the detection and notification by the suppressing member position sensor are obtained by detecting the position of the second unit in place of the suppressing member and notifying of the fact that housing of the first unit to the body is suppressed. Specifically, a situation can be avoided such that the user applies an excessive force to house the first unit to the body without noticing that the suppressing member is in the suppress position, thereby damaging the body or the first unit.
The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. By the following description, the invention will be further understood. However, the following description is to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive.
Description of Operation of Imaging Apparatus
The image forming apparatus 11 forms a monochrome image on a predetermined sheet (recording sheet) in accordance with image data received from the outside. As shown in
The charging unit 19 is provided for uniformly charging the surface of the drum of the photoconductor 17 to a predetermined potential. In the embodiment, the charging unit 19 in a charger type is used as shown in
The exposure unit 13 is a laser scanning unit (LSU) having a laser emitting unit 35 and a reflection mirror 37 for emitting a laser beam that scanned in the rotary axis direction of the photoconductor 17 as shown in
The exposure unit 13 exposes the photoconductor 17 which is uniformly charged by the charging unit 19 in accordance with input image data. By the exposure, an electrostatic latent image according to the image data is formed on the surface of the photoconductor 17.
The developing unit 15 makes the electrostatic latent image formed on the photoconductor 17 visible by using toner. The cleaner unit 21 removes/collects residual toner on the surface of the photoconductor 17 after development and transfer.
The toner with which the image is made visible on the photoconductor 17 as described above is transferred onto a sheet of paper transported on the sheet transporting path 31. A transfer mechanism 39 (in apparatus, a transfer belt unit) is a mechanism for transferring toner onto the sheet by applying an electric field of the polarity opposite to that of the charges held in the toner. For example, when an electrostatic latent image bears charges having the negative (−) polarity, the polarity of charges applied to the transfer mechanism 39 is the positive (+) polarity.
The transfer mechanism 39 of the apparatus has the transfer belt 45 hung over a drive roller 41, a driven roller 43, and other rollers and having a predetermined resistance value (the range of 1×109 to 1×1013 Ω·cm). In a contact part 47 between the photoconductor 17 and the transfer belt 45, an elastic conductive roller 49 which is a roller different from the drive roller 41 and the driven roller 43 and can apply a transfer electric field is disposed. The elastic conductive roller 49 has elasticity. By the property, the photoconductor 17 and the transfer belt 45 have face contact with a predetermined width (called a transfer nip), not line contact. Consequently, the efficiency of transfer to a sheet of paper transported can be improved.
Further, on the downstream side of the transfer region of the transfer belt 45, a discharging roller 51 is disposed. The discharging roller 51 neutralizes the sheet of paper charged by the applied voltage when the sheet passes through the contact part 47 to make the sheet of paper smoothly carried to the next process. The discharging roller 51 is disposed on the back face of the transfer belt 45.
Further, in the transfer mechanism 39, a cleaning unit 53 and a discharging mechanism 55 for removing the residual toner on the transfer belt 45 and neutralizing the transfer belt 45 are disposed. The discharging mechanism 55 can employ a method of connecting the discharging mechanism 55 to the ground or a method of positively applying an electric field having the polarity opposite to that of the transfer electric field.
The toner transferred onto the sheet of paper by the transfer mechanism 39 is transported to the fuser unit 23.
The fuser unit 23 has a heat roller 57 and a pressure roller 59. A sheet separation claw 61, a roller surface temperature detecting member 63 (thermistor), and a roller surface cleaning member 65 are disposed in the outer peripheral part of the heat roller 57. In the inner peripheral part of the heat roller 57, a heat source 67 for heating the surface of the roller to a predetermined temperature (fixing setting temperature: about 160 to 200° C.) is disposed.
On the other hand, pressure members capable of making the pressure roller 59 come into contact with the heat roller 57 with a predetermined pressure amount are disposed at both ends of the pressure roller 59. Further, in the outer periphery of the pressure roller 59, like the outer periphery of the heat roller 57, the sheet separation claw 61 and the roller surface cleaning member 65 are disposed.
The sheet of paper on which the toner image is transferred is transported to the pressure contact part (called a fusing nip part) between the heat roller 57 and the pressure roller 59. In the fusing nip part, the fuser unit 23 heats the unfixed toner which is transferred to the sheet at the temperature of the surface of the heat roller 57 so as to be fused, and the unfixed toner on the sheet is fixed onto the sheet with the pressure force of the pressure roller by a riveting action.
The sheet feeding tray 25 is a tray for storing sheets (recording sheets) used for forming images. In the apparatus, the sheet feeding tray 25 is provided in the lower side of an image forming section and a side wall face. The apparatus is directed to realize a high-speed printing process, so that each of a plurality of sheet feeding trays 25 disposed below the image forming section can house 500 to 1,500 standard-sized sheets. On the other hand, on a side face of the apparatus, a large-capacity sheet feeding cassette 73 capable of housing 4,000 sheets and a manual sheet feeding tray 75 used mainly for performing printing on a non-standard-sized sheet are disposed.
The sheet exit tray 33 is disposed on the side face of the apparatus opposite to the manual sheet feeding tray 75. In place of the sheet exit tray 33, a post-treatment processor (finisher) for the evacuated sheets (an apparatus for performing processes such as stapling, punching, and the like), and a plurality of sheet exit trays 33 can be disposed.
The image forming apparatus 11 has a not-shown controller. The controller controls the operation of the image forming apparatus 11. The controller is constructed by, for example, a microcomputer, a ROM, a RAM, a nonvolatile memory, an input circuit, an output circuit, and the like. The ROM houses a control program as a procedure of processes executed by the microcomputer. The RAM provides the microcomputer with a work area. The nonvolatile memory holds so as to back up data necessary for control. To the input circuit, input signals from a sensor and a switch are connected, and the input circuit includes an input buffer and an A/D converter. The output circuit includes a driver for driving loads such as a motor, a solenoid, and a lamp.
A sheet transporting process executed in correspondence with image formation of the image forming apparatus 11 will be described in detail. By the microcomputer in the controller, a sheet addressing a printing request is selected from the plurality of sheet feeding trays 25. The selected sheet is fed from the sheet feeding tray housing the selected sheet and transported to the resist roller 29 via a transporting roller 93 in a transporting path. The transported sheet is temporarily stopped at the timing the tip of the sheet reaches the resist roller 29 under control of the microcomputer. The microcomputer makes the resist roller 29 re-rotate at timing so that the tip of the sheet synchronized with the image formed on the photoconductor 17. By the re-rotation, the sheet is transported to the transfer mechanism 39. In the transfer mechanism 39, the toner corresponding to image information is transferred onto the sheet. After that, the sheet is led to the fuser unit 23, and the toner transferred onto the sheet is fixed on the sheet. Subsequently, the sheet is evacuated to the sheet exit tray 33. The microcomputer controls a method of transporting a sheet over the fuser unit 23 to the sheet exit tray 33 in accordance with a printing mode (a copier mode, a printer mode, a facsimile mode, or the like) and a printing process method (simplex printing, duplex printing, or the like). Usually, in the copier mode, the user stays near the apparatus and performs various operations. For convenience of the user, sheet transporting control is often performed so that a sheet is evacuated with a printing surface facing upward. The operation is called “face-up evacuation”. On the other hand, in each of the printer mode and the facsimile mode, in many cases, the user does not stay near the apparatus. Consequently, a “face-down evacuation” method capable of arranging the page order of evacuated sheets by a simple configuration and process is often used.
The apparatus has a mechanism capable of switching between the face-up evacuation and the face-down evacuation in accordance with the printing mode. The switching mechanism is formed by disposing a plurality of transporting paths and a plurality of branch claws before the evacuation position of the sheet exit tray 33. Sheets can be evacuated in accordance with the printing mode.
Switching of Sheet Feeding Paths
As shown in
1) Face-up Evacuation in Simplex Printing
The microcomputer switches the position of the branch claw A 77 so as to open the transporting path A 79 and close the transporting path B 81 at a timing just before a sheet passed through the fuser unit 23 passes through the transporting roller 93. The tip of the transported sheet is led to the branch claw A 77, passes through the transporting path A 79, and evacuated to the sheet exit tray 33 via the sheet exit roller 95.
2) Face-down Evacuation in Simplex Printing
The microcomputer switches the position of the branch claw A so as to open the transporting path B 81 and close the transporting path A 79 at a timing just before a sheet passed through the fuser unit 23 passes through the transporting roller 93. Further, the microcomputer switches the position of the branch claw C to open the transporting path C 34 and closes the transporting path E 90. The tip of the transported sheet is led to the branch claw A 77 and passes through the transporting path B 81. Further, the tip of the sheet passes through the branch claw B and reaches the branch claw B by the hardness of the tip of the sheet and the transporting force. After that, the tip of the sheet is led to the branch claw C and led to the transporting path C 84. When the rear end of the sheet reaches the position of the branch claw E 92, the microcomputer temporarily stops transporting of the sheet. The microcomputer switches the position of the branch claw C to open the transporting path D 87 and close the transporting path E 90. As described above, the branch claw B is energized by an elastic member and closes the transporting path B 81. In such a manner, after switching of the position of the branch claw C, the microcomputer makes a reverse transporting roller 94 inversely rotate to transport the sheet in the direction opposite to the entry direction. The sheet passes the transporting path D 87 setting, as the tip side, the side close to the branch claw E 92, that is, the rear end side at the time of entry to the transporting path C 84, and is evacuated to the sheet exit tray 33 via the sheet exit roller 95.
3) Evacuation in Duplex Printing
After completion of printing on a first face (surface) and just before a sheet which has passed through the fuser unit 23 passes through the transporting roller 93, the microcomputer switches the position of the branch claw A 77 to open the transporting path B 81 and close the transporting path A 79. Further, the microcomputer switches the position of the branch claw C to open the transporting path E 90 and close the transporting path C 84. The microcomputer switches the position of the branch claw D to open the transporting path D 87. The tip of the transported sheet is led to the branch claw A 77 and passes through the transporting path B 81. Further, the tip of the sheet passes through the branch claw B by the hardness of the tip of the sheet and the transporting force. After that, the tip of the sheet is led to the branch claw C, passes through the transporting path E 90, and is led to a transporting path F 91. When the rear end of the sheet reaches the transporting path F 91, the microcomputer temporarily stops transportation of the sheet (completion of switch back of the first face). The microcomputer switches the position of the branch claw D to close the transporting path E 90 and open the transporting path C 84. After that, the microcomputer makes a switchback roller 105 reversely rotate to transport the sheet in the direction opposite to the direction at the time of entry to the switchback section. The sheet passes through the branch claw E 92 in a state where the rear end side at the time of entry to the transporting path F 91 is set as the tip, and is led to the transporting path C 84. After that, the sheet is transported to the resist roller 29 disposed just before the print process (the transfer mechanism 39), and is transported onto the transfer belt 45 synchronously with an image. After printing on the second face (back side) is finished and the sheet passes through the fuser unit 23, the microcomputer switches the position of the branch claw A 77 to lead the sheet to the transporting path A 79 and to evacuate the sheet to the sheet exit tray 33.
First Unit 101, Second Unit 103, and Mechanism for Pulling the Units
Units and a mechanism for pulling the units, which are operated in the case where a jam occurs in the image forming apparatus 11 and a jammed sheet in the sheet transporting path 31 is removed, will be described.
As shown in
Housing Permitting Mechanism of First Unit 101
As shown in
In the first embodiment, as a mode of the mechanism of avoiding collision between the second unit 103 and the body, a mode of providing a mechanism requiring a predetermined force for pushing the first unit 101 to the predetermined position or more will be described. By the mechanism, the first unit 101 can be prevented from being inadvertently housed.
In
When the roller 111 moves along the fixed rail 107 and passes through the press section, the periphery of the roller 111 and the lower end of the press member 117 come into contact with each other, and the press member 117 is pushed up. Consequently, the press spring 121 contracts and presses the roller 111 downward. The sectional shape in the direction along the fixed rail 107 of the press member 117 is an inverted trapezoid in which the upper base is larger than the lower base and is a shape obtained by vertically cutting the oblique lines near the upper base. When the periphery of the roller 111 is in contact with the lower base of the press member 117, the roller 111 is subjected to the largest downward press force. In a state where the periphery of the roller 111 is in contact with the oblique line, the press force applied on the roller 111 decreases as the roller 111 moves with distance from the center of the press member 117.
When the first unit 101 is pushed/pulled, the roller 111 is pressed by the press sections near the first and second positions, and the user operating the first unit 101 feels knocks. Therefore, in the case where the first unit 101 pulled to the terminating end is pushed into the body, when the roller 111 passes through the first positions 113 and second positions 115, a resistance force acts. If the first unit 101 is not pushed with a predetermined force larger than the resistance force, the sliding of the first unit 101 stops. That is, the first unit 101 is prevented from being inadvertently pushed into the body.
In a second embodiment, an example of the housing permitting mechanism having a suppressing member (a stopper 127) for preventing the first unit 101 from being housed when the second unit 103 is pulled will be described. The stopper 127 is provided to prevent the first unit 101 from being pushed further than a predetermined position by coming into contact with a part of the body.
When the second unit 103 is further pushed from the position, the stopper 127 swings and the other end of the stopper 127 rises from the lower swing end to the position in which the other end does not come into contact with the beam 137.
When the first unit 101 is pulled from the state of
A stopper position sensor for detecting the position of the stopper 127 may be provided. When the stopper 127 is in the suppress position, the sensor may notify the user of the state by displaying it. In this case, a signal of the stopper position sensor is input to the controller, and the microcomputer detects the signal from the stopper position sensor. When the stopper 127 is in the suppress position, the microcomputer displays a message on a not-shown operation panel. To house the first unit 101 into the body, first, the microcomputer notifies the user of the fact that the second unit 103 has to be pushed. As a sensor for detecting the position of the stopper 127, for example, a reflection-type photosensor or a microswitch can be used. It is sufficient to dispose such a sensor on the back frame 129 near the stopper 127 and detect the position of the stopper 127.
Alternatively, a second unit position sensor may be provided to detect the position of the second unit 103, not the position of the stopper 127. For example, as the second unit position sensor, a microswitch or a photosensor for detecting the position of the link member 133 is disposed on the back frame 129. The sensor detects that the link member 133 is in contact with the stopper 127 and the message is displayed.
Finally, it is obvious that not only the foregoing embodiment but also various modifications of the invention are possible. It should not be interpreted that such modifications are not within the scope of the present invention. All changes that fall within meets and bounds of the claims, or equivalence of such meets and bounds are intended to be embraced by the claims of the invention.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005-322594 | Nov 2005 | JP | national |
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| 5797068 | Otsuki et al. | Aug 1998 | A |
| 6941093 | Park et al. | Sep 2005 | B2 |
| 7031640 | Komoda et al. | Apr 2006 | B2 |
| 7418220 | Shiraishi et al. | Aug 2008 | B2 |
| 20040265031 | Ueda | Dec 2004 | A1 |
| 20080075503 | Tanaka et al. | Mar 2008 | A1 |
| Number | Date | Country |
|---|---|---|
| 10-143046 | May 1998 | JP |
| 11-167331 | Jun 1999 | JP |
| 2000-039770 | Feb 2000 | JP |
| 2004-013031 | Jan 2004 | JP |
| 2004-149301 | May 2004 | JP |
| 2004-272296 | Sep 2004 | JP |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20070104530 A1 | May 2007 | US |
