Patent Application
20240409302
This application claims foreign priority to Japanese Patent Application No. 2023-093015. filed Jun. 6, 2023, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
The present invention relates to a packing member.
An electrophotographic image forming apparatus, such as a multifunction machine, is provided with a fixing device for fixing a toner image onto a recording medium, such as a sheet. In such a configuration, a heater built in the fixing device generates heat. The fixing device pressurizes and heats the toner placed on the sheet to fix the toner as a toner image on the sheet surface. The fixing device is configured to be detachable from and attachable to the image forming apparatus. For example, a fixing device described in Patent Literature 1, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. H 4-116678, is integrally provided with a knob. Then, the used fixing device is detached from the image forming apparatus by using the knob, and a new fixing device is attached to the image forming apparatus, whereby a replacement operation is performed. Furthermore, in an image forming apparatus described in Patent Literature 2, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2019-12490, a cooling unit is provided and cooling wind is constantly sent to a handle of a fixing device to cool it.
Even when the temperature of the fixing device is still high, such as during continuous printing or immediately after the end of printing, there is a demand for replacing a used fixing device with a new fixing device and restarting the next printing early.
When a replacement work of the fixing device is performed, it is considered that a packing member packing the new fixing device is used for packing the used fixing device as it is and the used fixing device is transported. When the packing member is reused as mentioned, the packing member from which the new fixing device has been taken out and which has become empty can be used without being discarded. Conventionally, a used fixing device with a high-temperature is removed from an image forming apparatus after waiting for decrease of the temperature of the used fixing device, and the used fixing device removed from the image forming apparatus is packed in a packing member. Since it is necessary to wait until the temperature of the fixing device decreases, performing a replacement work takes time, and workability is not satisfactory. Further, the fixing device may be replaced not only by a service technician skilled in replacement works but also by an inexperienced user. In such a case, there is a possibility that a worker carelessly comes into contact with a fixing device, such as the worker holds the fixing device whose temperature is not sufficiently lowered. Furthermore, when a fixing device comes into contact with a hand or clothes of a worker, a toner of the fixing device may adhere to the hand or clothes and stain them, and thus the workability of the replacement is not satisfactory.
In a case where a cooling unit for cooling a fixing device is provided, there is a risk that the fixing device is always cooled by cooling wind and fixing performance of toner is influenced. Therefore, further improvement is desired so that easy and inexpensive replacement of a fixing device is enabled.
An object of the present invention is to provide a packing member capable of enhancing workability of a replacement of a fixing device while enhancing utility values.
To achieve at least one of the abovementioned objects, according to an aspect of the present invention, a packing member reflecting one aspect of the present invention includes the following configurations.
Hereinafter, one or more embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the respective drawings. However, the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments.
The image forming apparatus 1 adopts an intermediate transfer method utilizing an electrophotographic process technology. The image forming apparatus 1 mainly includes an image reading section 2 that reads an image from an object to be copied such as a document, an operation panel 3 and a controller (not shown). The controller includes a central processing unit (CPU), a read only memory (ROM), a random access memory (RAM), and the like. The CPU reads a program relating to processing contents from the ROM and develops the program in the RAM. The CPU controls each section of the image forming apparatus 1 by cooperating the developed program and various data stored in a storage section such as a storage.
The image forming apparatus 1 forms a toner image from input image data read or input by the image reading section 2. The image forming apparatus 1 is provided with a fixing device 5 that pressurizes and heats the toner image placed on the conveyed recording media P to fix the toner image. Furthermore, a maintenance opening 1a is formed at a side part of the image forming apparatus 1. The maintenance opening 1a is provided with a cover body that is openable and closable. Inside the maintenance opening 1a, an attachment part 4 to which the fixing device 5 is installed as detachable and attachable is provided.
As shown in
Furthermore, in the housing 5a of the fixing device 5, an attachment surface 5b is formed at a front end portion in the attachment direction F so as to face the attachment part 4. The attachment part 4 is provided inside the image forming apparatus 1. The attachment part 4 allows the fixing device 5 to be attached to and detached from the side in an attachment direction F in a state where a cover body provided in a side part of the image forming apparatus 1 is opened. For example, when a maintenance work is performed, the used fixing device 5 is removed from the image forming apparatus 1 and replaced with a new fixing device 5. When maintenance work is performed, the fixing device 5 attached to the attachment part 4 may be removed toward the rear in the attachment direction F by releasing an engagement of the attachment surface 5b to the attachment part 4.
Next, a new fixing device 5 to be replaced is oriented toward the front in the attachment direction F and the attachment surface 5b is engaged with the attachment part 4. Thus, the new fixing device 5 is attached to the inside of the image forming apparatus 1. The fixing device 5 is configured to be electrically connected to the controller when the connecting part of the attachment surface 5b is connected and attached to the image forming apparatus 1.
As illustrated in
As illustrated in
As shown in
Further, as shown in
The cover part 11a of the embodiment 1 integrally connects the left gripping part 14 and the right gripping part 15 to each other while separating them from each other. That is, the left gripping part 14 and the right gripping part 15 are formed of the heat insulator having the same pulp mold as the cover part 11a. The pulp mold is a molded product molded a paper material, such as corrugated cardboard or waste paper of newspaper, as a main raw material. Therefore, in a manufacturing process when the first packing member 11 is manufactured by molding, the left gripping part 14 and the right gripping part 15 are integrally provided in the vicinity of right and left end portions of a cover section 11a respectively. Thus, the cover part 11a, the left gripping part 14 and the right gripping part 15 may be molded simultaneously in the step of molding the first packing member 11. Therefore, the manufacturing process of the left gripping part 14 and the right gripping part 15 is simplified.
Then, the left gripping part 14 and the right gripping part 15 are elastically deformed when a pressing force is applied in a direction in which the left gripping part 14 and the right gripping part 15 are compressed in the up-down direction H. The left gripping part 14 and the right gripping part 15 are pressed against respective outer walls of the left and right gripped parts 5c formed in the fixing device 5. Thus, a worker grips the respective gripped parts 5c via the left gripping part 14 and the right gripping part 15 without directly touching the gripped part 5c. In the embodiment 1, half or more of the fixing device 5 is inserted into the cover part 11a in the attachment direction F (refer to
Further, the flange part 11b has a vertical wall surface 11e and a flange surface 11f (see
The second packing member 12 further includes a cover part 12a for covering a smaller part of the fixing device 5 as compared with the first packing member 11, and a flange part 12b provided around the cover part 12a and contacting the inner side 31 of the outer box 30. The cover part 12a is formed in a bag shape that is convex forward in the attachment direction F. Thus, the cover part 12a of the second packing member 12 covers a part of the fixing device 5 toward the rear in the attachment direction F, that is, the remaining part that is not covered with the first packing member 11.
In the packing member 10 of the embodiment 1, the first packing member 11 and the second packing member 12 are combined together in the attachment direction F. Thus, an inner space for accommodating the fixing device 5 is formed inside the cover section 11a and the cover section 12a. The inner space of the embodiment has a dimension in the longitudinal direction similar to the dimension of the fixing device 5 in the left-right direction D. Then, the fixing device 5 is packed in a state where each surface of the outer walls of the fixing device 5 is covered with the cover part 11a of the first packing member 11 and the cover part 12a of the second packing member 12.
When the fixing device 5 is stored or transported, the fixing device 5 is covered with the cover part 11a and the cover part 12a and is put inside of the inner side 31 of the outer box 30 together with the first packing member 11 and the second packing member 12 (refer to
The heat insulator constituting the first packing member 11 and the second packing member 12 has a thermal conductivity λ[W/m·K] of less than 2.0. The first packing member 11 and the second packing member 12 of the embodiment 1 are composed of pulp mold as a heat insulator. The thermal conductivity λ of the pulp mold is about the same as the thermal conductivity λ of 1.3 of the paper material, that is, λ of 1.2 to 1.4. Furthermore, the pulp mold used for the left gripping part 14 and the right gripping part 15 has recesses and projections like wrinkles formed on at least one of the surfaces. In this case, the thermal conductivity λ of the left gripping part 14 and the right gripping part 15 may be further reduced.
Preferably, the heat insulator is made of ceramic (including earthenware or porcelain), and may be used only for the left gripping part 14 and the right gripping part 15 to ensure desired deformability. Ceramic has a thermal conductivity λ of 1.0 to 1.6. Therefore. the thermal conductivity λ of the heat insulator can be less than 2.0.
Further, preferably, the thermal conductivity λ of the thermal insulator may be less than 1.0. For example, the heat insulator may be made of rubber, plastic, or the like. Rubber has a thermal conductivity λ of 0.13 to 0.20. The resin has a thermal conductivity λ of 0.13 to 0.67 (e.g., Bakelite (phenol resin) which is a thermosetting resin). Therefore. the thermal conductivity λ of the heat insulator may be set to less than 1.0. In the case where rubber or resin is used as the heat insulator, a material which is not melted by the heat of the fixing device 5, for example, another additive may be mixed with the rubber or resin.
More preferably, the thermal conductivity λ of the thermal insulator may be less than 0.06. For example, the heat insulator may be formed of a cloth material such as cotton or a paper material. Cotton has a thermal conductivity λ of 0.059. Further, regarding the paper material, the thermal conductivity λ of the heat insulator may be further reduced by containing a gas such as air having a further lower thermal conductivity λ. Therefore, by using a cloth material such as cotton, a paper material, or the like for at least part of the left gripping part 14 and the right gripping part 15. it is possible to easily set the heat conductivity λ to less than 0.06.
The left gripping part 14 and the right gripping part 15 respectively has a mark 19. The mark 19 of the embodiment 1 includes a finger placing recess section 19a which has a concave shape and a window section 19b formed by cutting out a part of a flange part 11b located outside the finger placing recess section 19b. Note that the mark 19 may be any one of the finger placing recess section 19a and the window section 19b. Further, the mark 19 may be configured to be different in color, texture, or material from the other parts except for the left gripping part 14 and the right gripping part 15 of the first packing member 11. Furthermore, the mark 19 may be formed by a combination of the finger placing recess section 19a or the window section 19b and different parts thereof.
The left gripping part 14 and the right gripping part 15 are distinguished from other constituent parts by these marks 19, and a position can be easily identified as to which part of the first packing member 11a worker should grip when performing maintenance work. As illustrated in
Furthermore, as illustrated in
Further, as shown in
Further, in the embodiment 1, a dimension H1 is set between the fixing device 5 and a part of the cover part 11a that locates around where the right gripping part 15 is integrally provided. The dimension H1 is set to be equal size to the dimension H3 between the fixing device 5 and the cover part 11a that locates around where the left gripping part 14 is integrally provided. Furthermore, a dimension H2 between the right gripping part 15 and the fixing device 5 is set to be equal size to a dimension H4 between the left gripping part 14 and the fixing device 5. However, the present invention is not particularly limited thereto. For example, at least one of the dimensions H1 and H3 and at least one of the dimensions H2 and H4 may be set to be different.
Further, in the embodiment 1, as shown in
As a result, the left gripping part 14 and the right gripping part 15 are insulated by the heat insulator having the desired thickness dimension W1, so that heat from the fixing device 5 is hardly transmitted to the worker who grips them. Further, even if the left gripping part 14 and the right gripping part 15 include the heat insulator having the desired thickness dimension W1 to insulate heat between the inner surface 11c and the outer surface 11d, the surrounding cover part 11a and flange part 11b are easily bent by the pressing force of the outer surface 11d. Therefore, with a small stroke (e.g., (H1>H2) illustrated in
At this time, the worker distinguishes the positions of the left gripping part 14 and the right gripping part 15 from other constituent parts by the marks 19 (
As illustrated in
In addition, the finger placing recess section 19a in a concave shape formed as the mark 19 is projectingly disposed on the gripped part 5c. Therefore, the dimensions H2 and H4 that are the dimensions between the inner surface 14c, 15c of the left gripping part 14 and the right gripping part 15 and the outer wall 5f of the gripped part 5c are further reduced as compared with the case where the finger placing recess section 19a is not formed. Thus, the innersurfaces 15c of the left gripping part 14 and the right gripping part 15 come in contact with the outer wall 5f of the gripped part 5c more easily by deformation. Therefore, the fixing device 5 is more reliably gripped from the outer surface 15d of the left gripping part 14 and the right gripping part 15.
Furthermore, the heat of the fixing device 5 is blocked by the pulp molds constituting the left gripping part 14 and the right gripping part 15 and is not easily transmitted to fingers and hands of the worker. In the embodiment 1, furthermore, a thickness dimension W1 that is between the inner surface 14c and the outer surface 14d of the left gripping part 14 or the like is set to be greater than those of other parts. Therefore, heat is less likely to be transmitted to the finger. Thus, as shown in
In the embodiment 1, as shown in
Further, the thickness dimension W2 of the cover part 11a or the thickness dimension W3 of the flange part 11b is smaller than the thickness dimension W1 of the left gripping part 14 and the right gripping part 15. Therefore, the area around the left gripping part 14 and the right gripping part 15 are easily deformed. Thus, regarding the left gripping part 14 and the right gripping part 15 facing the gripped part 5c, the inner surface 14c having a flat surface comes in contact with uneven slip stoppers of the gripped part 5c in a wide range. Therefore, replacement works are easily performed so that the fixing device 5 does not slip down. Therefore, workers can take the fixing device 5 out from the attachment part 4 of the image forming apparatus 1 by releasing the engagement of the attachment surface 5b of the fixing device 5 even in the middle of continuous printing or immediately after the end of printing.
At this time, an area between the left gripping part 14 and the right gripping part 15 is integrally connected by the cover section 11a formed of the same pulp mold as the left gripping part 14 and the right gripping part 15. Therefore, the fixing device 5 does not directly contact the worker. Thus, it is possible to safely remove the fixing device 5 having residual heat whose temperature has not been sufficiently lowered from the image forming apparatus 1. Further, there is no possibility that the toner of the fixing device 5 adheres to hands or clothes of the worker to stain the hands or clothes.
As shown in
As shown in
Further, as illustrated in
The packing member 50 of the embodiment 2 thus configured has the left first packing member 22 and the right first packing member 23, which are obtained by dividing the first packing member 21 into two at the intermediate portion in the right-left direction D. Therefore, in addition to the effects of the packing member 10 of the embodiment 1, the packing member 50 of the embodiment 2 covers the fixing device 5 with the left first packing member 22 and the right first packing member 23 individually. Therefore, the workability in performing maintenance of the fixing device 5 is further improved.
The left first packing member 22 and the right first packing member 23 are also divided into two in the right-left direction D. The left cover part 24 extends from the area around the left gripping part 14 toward the right gripping part 15 located the other side. The right cover part 25 extends from the area around the right gripping part 15 toward the left gripping part 14 located the other side. Thus, when a worker takes the fixing device 5 out from the attachment part 4 while holding the left gripping part 14 with the left hand and the right gripping part 15 with the right hand, the worker does not directly contact the fixing device 5 in a heated state. The other configuration and operational effects are the same as those of the packing member 10 of the embodiment 1, and therefore, the description is omitted.
As described above, the packing member of the embodiments includes the cover part 11a for covering the fixing device 5. Further, the packing member includes a left gripping part 14 and a right gripping part 15 which are provided on both left and right sides of the cover part 11a and which grip a gripped part 5c formed in the fixing device 5. The packing members 10 and 50 configured as described above increase the utility value and improve the workability in replacing the fixing device 5.
That is, even when the temperature of the fixing device 5 is still high, for example, during continuous printing or immediately after the end of printing, a replacement of the used fixing device 5 with a new fixing device 5 and a quick restart of the next printing are allowed. Further, even a worker unfamiliar with the replacement work does not contact the fixing device 5. Therefore, there is no possibility that the toner of the fixing device 5 adheres to hands or the clothes and stains them.
In addition, the packing member packing the new fixing device can be used as it is to pack and transport the used fixing device. Therefore, the packing member that has become empty due to removal of a new fixing device is reused without being discarded, thereby improving the value of use. Therefore, the packing members 10 and 50 of the embodiments 1 and 2 exhibit good workability in replacement.
Further, in the packing member 10 of the embodiment 1, the thickness dimension W2 of the cover part 11a or the thickness dimension W3 of the flange part 11b is set smaller than the thickness dimension W1 of the left gripping part 14 and the right gripping part 15. Thus, the weight of the packing member 10 may be reduced as compared with a case where the packing member 10 is entirely constituted of the left gripping part 14 and the right gripping part 15 and the same thickness dimension W1. In addition, the amount of a material as a main raw material is reduced, which is a practically beneficial effect.
Although some embodiments of the present invention have been described above, these embodiments are merely examples and do not limit the technical scope of the present invention. The present invention can take other various embodiments, and furthermore, various changes such as omission and substitution can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. These embodiments and modifications thereof are included in the scope and spirit of the invention described in the present specification and the like, and are also included in the invention described in the claims and the scope of equivalents thereof.
For example, although the embodiment has been described with reference to the left gripping part 14 and the right gripping part 15 provided in the vicinity of the left and right end portions, respectively, of the side of the cover part 11a, the present invention is not particularly limited thereto. For example, at least one gripping part may be provided at any part of the first packing member 11. In addition, the intermediate position may not be the center position at which the first packing member 11 is divided into two as long as it is between the right and left end portions of the first packing member 11. That is, the gripping part may be formed continuously with the cover part 11a. As described above, the shape, quantity, material, and formed position of the gripping part are not limited by the embodiment.
In addition, the mark 19 in the embodiments has a finger placing recess section 19a in a concave shape in each of the left gripping part 14 and the right gripping part and a window section 19b which is formed by cutting out a part of the flange part 11b located outside the finger placing recess section 19a. Furthermore, it has been described that the mark 19 may have a different color, texture, or material. However, the mark 19 is not particularly limited thereto. For example, one of the finger placing recess section 19a and the window section 19b may be provided. Furthermore, no mark 19 may be provided on the left gripping part 14 and the right gripping part 15. That is, the shape, quantity, material, color, and the like of the mark 19 are not limited to those in the embodiment.
Further, in the embodiments, as shown in
Although embodiments of the present invention have been described and illustrated in detail, the disclosed embodiments are made for purposes of illustration and example only and not limitation. The scope of the present invention should be interpreted by terms of the appended claims.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023-093015 | Jun 2023 | JP | national |
