JP2009109779A - Turning member and image forming apparatus equipped therewith - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a turning member capable of reducing damage of a member and lightening operator's burden by attaching the bearing of the turning member to be openable/closable and with good positioning accuracy to the turning shaft of a device main body, and an image forming apparatus equipped therewith. <P>SOLUTION: The bearing parts 30a and 30b attachably/detachably and turnably engaged with a shaft 29 are provided to the engaging parts 25aa and 25bb of the lower end 25a of a double-sided unit 25. Communicating grooves 33a and 33b are formed to be held between first projecting parts 34a and 34b and second projecting parts 35a and 35b projecting nearly in parallel from the opening ends of the bearing parts 30a and 30b. Guide parts 36a and 36b are formed at the tip parts of the first projecting parts 34a and 34b. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a sheet conveying apparatus used for conveying a sheet to an image forming unit, and an image forming apparatus such as a digital copying machine and a laser printer provided with the sheet conveying apparatus, and more particularly, a method for opening and closing a rotating member such as an opening / closing cover and a duplex unit. About.

  In a conventional image forming apparatus, a duplex unit that forms a part of the conveyance path on the left side cover side in the duplex conveyance path is mounted on the duplex conveyance path, and the duplex unit is located at a position facing the duplex unit of the left side cover. Some are provided with an open / close cover for attaching and detaching. FIG. 10 shows an enlarged side view of the duplex unit 25 and the opening / closing cover 28 in the conventional image forming apparatus, and FIG. 11 shows a state in which the duplex unit 25 and the opening / closing cover 28 are opened.

  As shown in FIG. 10, the duplex unit 25 includes a plurality of transport rollers 26, and is provided at both ends of the lower end 25 a (lower side of FIG. 10) of the duplex unit 25 in the longitudinal direction of the apparatus body (perpendicular to the plane of FIG. 10). Is provided with a U-shaped engagement groove 25b that can be engaged with a shaft 29 provided in the apparatus main body. By engaging the engaging groove 25b with a shaft 29 provided in the apparatus main body, the double-sided unit 25 can be attached to and detached from the apparatus main body, and the shaft 29 is attached to the apparatus main body so as to be rotatable. Yes.

  Further, engagement grooves 28b that can be engaged with the shaft 29 are provided at both ends in the front-rear direction of the lower end portion 28a of the opening / closing cover 28 provided on the left side cover 2, and a U-shaped engagement groove is provided. 28b is engaged with the shaft 29 with the two engagement grooves 25b of the double-sided unit 25 sandwiched in the longitudinal direction of the shaft 29, so that the opening / closing cover 28 can be attached to and detached from the apparatus main body, and the shaft 29 is used as a rotation fulcrum. It is mounted so that it can rotate.

  The open / close cover 28 and the duplex unit 25 are locked to open / close with the apparatus main body by a lock mechanism (not shown). Then, as shown in FIG. 11, when the opening / closing cover 28 is rotated and opened, the double-sided unit 25 disposed inside thereof can be rotated to open the double-sided conveyance path. It is possible to remove jammed paper and the like generated in step 1.

  In such rotating members such as the double-sided unit 25 and the opening / closing cover 28, it is difficult to accurately align the positions of the tips of the engagement grooves 25b and 28b and the shaft 29 when mounted. When 29 collides, the engagement grooves 25b and 28b or the shaft 29 may be damaged or workability may be affected.

  On the other hand, as described above, various methods for detachably engaging the rotation member with the rotation fulcrum are disclosed. For example, in Patent Document 1, an opening / closing fulcrum of the manual feed unit is provided in the conveyance guide on the copying machine main body side, and an opening portion that can be attached to and detached from the shaft of the opening / closing fulcrum at a predetermined opening / closing angle is provided at the tip of the manual feed unit. Disclosed is a method for improving the conveyance accuracy of manual paper by providing it in the section.

  Patent Document 2 discloses a bottom plate that is rotatably and detachably mounted on a paper discharge frame at the top of the recording apparatus main body and that receives the discharged recording medium, and a recording medium between the bottom plate and the paper discharge frame. An elastic member that bends according to the loading amount, a rotation center shaft on one of the bottom plate and the discharge frame, a bearing on the other, a flat portion on the outer periphery of the rotation center shaft, and a bearing It is disclosed that a bearing portion in which the rotation center shaft is rotatably fitted and an attachment / detachment groove that allows the rotation center shaft to come out of the bearing portion only when the bottom plate is in the attachment / detachment position. Accordingly, a method is disclosed in which the bottom plate can be reliably attached and detached at the attachment / detachment position, and the rotation center shaft is prevented from being inadvertently pulled out outside the attachment / detachment position.

  Further, in Patent Document 3, in an opening / closing cover configured to be openable / detachable with respect to the apparatus body, either the opening / closing cover or the apparatus body has a columnar first protrusion and a columnar cover. A first hole or bearing that is provided on the outer peripheral surface with a second protrusion that forms at least one plane parallel to the axial direction of the cylindrical shape, and can be fitted to the first protrusion on the other of the opening / closing cover or the apparatus main body. A portion (bearing) and a second hole or bearing portion that can be fitted to the second protrusion are provided, and corresponds to the width of the second protrusion in the direction perpendicular to the plane formed on the second protrusion. It is disclosed that an opening is formed by forming a groove having a width to be formed in a part of the second hole or the bearing portion. This eliminates the need for deformation of the opening / closing cover and the support member that supports the opening / closing operation of the opening / closing cover, and facilitates the attachment / detachment operation of the opening / closing cover with a simple configuration.

  Further, Patent Document 4 includes a first transport guide and a second transport guide that are rotatably supported with respect to the same axis, and a third transport guide having a bearing portion that supports these pivot shafts. In the sheet material conveying apparatus that forms a U-shaped conveying path, the third conveying guide is provided with a first bearing portion and a second bearing portion at both ends in the axial direction, respectively, and the rotation shaft is rotated on the first bearing portion. A first hole that freely supports the shaft and an insertion groove that guides the rotation shaft to the first hole are provided, and a second hole that rotatably supports the rotation shaft is provided in the second bearing portion. It is disclosed. As a result, after the rotation shaft is supported in the second hole in the second bearing portion, the rotation shaft can be introduced to the first hole by the communication groove in the first bearing portion, so that the assemblability is improved and the attachment is possible. It is possible to improve the position accuracy.

Further, in Patent Document 5, a document cover that is attached to a document placement portion of an image forming apparatus and that opens and closes around a fulcrum is opened to a fully opened position without stopping when opened from the closed position. It is disclosed that when closing from the open position, a holding means (bearing) that can be temporarily stopped at the intermediate position between the fully open position and the closed position and can be rotated to the closed position by once lifting the document cover is disclosed. This prevents the cover from being overly closed due to its own weight when the cover is closed, and allows the cover to be easily replaced, thereby improving safety and workability.
JP-A-6-9115 Japanese Patent No. 3022985 JP-A-9-114351 JP 2001-072275 A Japanese Patent No. 3456681

  However, in Patent Document 1, although the manual feed unit can be attached to and detached from the apparatus main body so as to be rotatable, when the opening of the manual feed unit is inserted into the rotary shaft, the tip of the opening can be engaged. If the manual feed unit is not accurately placed at a proper position, the manual feed unit may fall due to its own weight, the opening may collide with the bottom plate, and the opening or the bottom plate may be damaged. Also, in Patent Documents 2 to 5, although the rotation shaft can be detachably attached to each bearing having an open groove, each rotation is required unless the rotation shaft is arranged with high positioning accuracy at the open front end portion of the bearing. The member may fall on the ground or the apparatus main body, and the rotating member or the constituent member of the apparatus main body may be damaged.

  In particular, when the rotating member is heavy, it is difficult and difficult for the operator to dispose the rotating shaft and the opening or the open tip of the bearing at a position where it can be engaged. This leads to a heavy burden.

  In view of the above-described problems, the present invention can reduce the damage to the member and the burden on the operator by attaching the bearing of the rotating member to the rotating shaft of the apparatus main body so that the bearing can be opened and closed with high positioning accuracy. It is an object of the present invention to provide a rotating member and an image forming apparatus including the rotating member.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is a rotating member that is detachably engaged with a rotating shaft provided in an apparatus main body and is rotatably supported by the rotating shaft, One end of the rotating member is provided with a substantially C-shaped bearing part having an opening in a part thereof, and a communication groove sandwiched between first and second projecting parts projecting substantially parallel from the opening end of the bearing part. The tip of the first protrusion is extended from the second protrusion to form a guide part.

  In the present invention, the pivot shaft is disposed substantially horizontally, and the pivot member is mounted from above the pivot shaft disposed substantially horizontally, and when the pivot member is mounted, The first protrusion is disposed so as to contact the upper surface of the rotation shaft.

  Further, the invention is characterized in that the protruding length of the guide portion is larger than the radius of the rotating shaft.

  In the present invention, the width of the communication groove is smaller than the inner diameter of the bearing portion.

  Further, the present invention is characterized in that a flat portion that allows passage of the communication groove only when the rotating member rotates to a predetermined position along the axial direction is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the rotating shaft. Yes.

  Further, the present invention is characterized in that chamfered portions are provided on the inner surfaces of the guide portion and the second projecting portion at the front end.

  According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus including the rotating member.

  According to the first configuration of the present invention, one end of the rotating member that is detachably engaged with the rotating shaft provided in the apparatus main body and is pivotally supported by the rotating shaft is attached to one end. A substantially C-shaped bearing part having an opening in the part and a communication groove sandwiched between first and second projecting parts projecting substantially parallel from the opening end of the bearing part, and the tip of the first projecting part is By forming the guide part extending beyond the two projecting parts, it is possible to guide the movement of the bearing part in the mounting direction simply by abutting the inner surface of the guide part on the rotating shaft and sliding in the mounting direction. it can.

  As a result, the positioning accuracy between the communication groove and the rotation shaft can be improved, so that the member can be prevented from being damaged when the rotation member is mounted on the rotation shaft. In addition, workability can be improved by reducing the burden on the operator and shortening the work time.

  Further, according to the second configuration of the present invention, in the rotating member of the first configuration, the rotating shaft is disposed substantially horizontally, and the rotating member is mounted from above the rotating shaft. When the rotating member is mounted, the guide portion can be placed on the rotating shaft by arranging the first projecting portion so as to contact the upper surface of the rotating shaft. The bearing portion can be guided in the mounting direction by the guide portion. Therefore, the workability can be further improved. In particular, when the rotating animal is heavy, such workability can be further improved.

  Further, according to the third configuration of the present invention, in the rotating member having the first or second configuration, the protrusion length of the guide portion is made larger than the radius of the rotating shaft, thereby ensuring more reliable and Since the inner surface of the guide portion can be easily brought into contact with the rotation shaft, the workability can be further improved.

  According to the fourth configuration of the present invention, in the rotating member having any one of the first to third configurations, the width of the communication groove is made smaller than the inner diameter of the bearing portion, so When the member rotates, it can be prevented from coming off the rotation axis.

  According to the fifth configuration of the present invention, in the rotating member having the fourth configuration described above, communication is performed only when the rotating member rotates to the predetermined position along the axial direction on the outer peripheral surface of the rotating shaft. By providing a flat portion that allows passage of the groove, the rotating member can be easily attached to and detached from the rotating shaft without applying a load to the rotating member and the rotating shaft, and can be rotated from the rotating shaft. can do.

  According to the sixth configuration of the present invention, in the rotating member having any one of the first to fifth configurations, the chamfered portions are provided on the inner surfaces of the distal ends of the guide portion and the second protruding portion, respectively. The damage due to the collision with the rotation shaft on the inner surface side of the tip can be prevented. Further, since the inner surfaces of the guide portion and the second projecting portion are easily brought into contact with the rotation shaft, and the communication groove easily sandwiches the rotation shaft, the burden on the operator and the work time can be further reduced. Workability can be improved.

  Further, according to the seventh configuration of the present invention, by providing the rotating member having any one of the first to sixth configurations, workability at the time of attaching / detaching the rotating member in assembly or maintenance is improved. This is an image forming apparatus capable of

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is an external view of an image forming apparatus equipped with a rotating member according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a schematic view showing a schematic configuration viewed from the front. 1 and 2, reference numeral 100 denotes an image forming apparatus, and here, a digital multifunction peripheral is shown as an example. In FIGS. 1 and 2, the same reference numerals are given to the portions common to FIGS. 10 and 11, and description thereof is omitted.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, in the image forming apparatus 100, when performing a copying operation, in the image forming unit 3 in the multifunction machine main body 1, a small-diameter photosensitive member that is rotated in the direction A in the figure by the charging unit 4. The drum 5 is uniformly charged, and an electrostatic latent image is formed on the photosensitive drum 5 by a laser beam from an exposure unit (laser scanning unit or the like) 7 based on document image data read by the image reading unit 6. A developer (hereinafter referred to as toner) is attached to the electrostatic latent image by the developing unit 8 to form a toner image. The toner is supplied to the developing unit 8 from the toner container 9.

  The sheet is conveyed from the sheet feeding mechanism 10 to the image forming unit 3 via the sheet conveying path 11 and the registration roller pair 12 toward the photosensitive drum 5 on which the toner image is formed as described above. 3, the toner image on the surface of the photosensitive drum 5 is transferred onto the sheet by the transfer roller 13. The sheet onto which the toner image has been transferred is separated from the photosensitive drum 5 and conveyed to a fixing device 14 having a fixing roller pair 14a to fix the toner image. The sheet that has passed through the fixing device 14 is sent to a sheet conveyance path 15 branched in a plurality of directions, and is conveyed in a conveyance direction by path switching mechanisms 21 and 22 having a plurality of path switching guides provided at branch points of the sheet conveyance path 15. Are distributed as they are (or after being sent to the double-sided conveyance path 16 and double-sided copying) and discharged to the paper discharge section of the first discharge tray 17a and the second discharge tray 17b via the discharge roller pair 20a or 20b. The

  Although not shown, a static elimination device that removes residual charges on the surface of the photosensitive drum 5 is provided on the downstream side of the cleaning device 18. Further, the paper feed mechanism 10 is detachably attached to the multifunction machine main body 1 and includes a plurality of paper feed cassettes 10a and 10b for storing paper, and a stack bypass (manual feed tray) 10c provided thereabove. These are connected to the image forming unit 3 including the photosensitive drum 5 and the developing unit 8 by the paper transport path 11. Reference numeral 24 denotes a platen (original presser) that presses and holds an original placed on the image reading unit 6.

  Specifically, the sheet conveyance path 15 first branches into a left and right fork on the downstream side of the fixing roller pair 14a, and one path 15a (a path branching in the right direction in FIG. 2) passes through the discharge roller pair 20a. It is configured to communicate with the first discharge tray 17a. On the other hand, the other path 15b (the path branching leftward in FIG. 2) is further bifurcated, and one path discharges the sheet to the second discharge tray 17b via the discharge roller pair 20b. The other path is configured to communicate with the duplex conveying path 16.

  Note that the double-sided conveyance path 16 is a path through which a sheet of paper on which an image is formed is switched back and conveyed, and a different one-side image is formed again by the image forming unit 3 and discharged (double-sided copying). A double-sided unit 25 that forms part of the conveyance path is mounted on the left side cover 2 side of the double-side conveyance path 16.

  FIG. 3 is a partial perspective view showing the tip and shaft of the double-sided unit according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 4 is a partial side view seen from the direction B of FIG. Portions common to FIGS. 1, 2, 10, and 11 are denoted by common reference numerals and description thereof is omitted. In the present embodiment, the engaging portions 25aa and 25ab in FIG. 3 and the bearing portions 30a and 30b disposed on the engaging portions 25aa and 25ab have the same configuration. Therefore, in FIG. The code | symbol of was described in the parenthesis. In FIG. 3, the B direction indicates the horizontal direction (the direction perpendicular to the paper surface of FIG. 3 and the left-right direction of FIG. 10).

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, engaging portions 25aa and 25ab are projected from both ends of the lower end portion 25a of the double-sided unit 25 in the B direction, and a central portion at the distal ends of the engaging portions 25aa and 25ab. Are formed with substantially C-shaped bearing portions 30a and 30b that are rotatably and detachably engaged with a columnar shaft (rotating shaft) 29 provided in the apparatus main body.

  The first projecting portions 34a and 34b and the second projecting portions 35a and 35b project from the open ends of the bearing portions 30a and 30b opposite to the bottom portions 31a and 31b. Further, communication grooves 33 a and 33 b are formed between the first projecting portions 34 a and 34 b and the second projecting portions 35 a and 35 b so as to communicate the bearing portions 30 a and 30 b with the outside in the longitudinal direction of the double-sided unit 25. The first protrusions 34a and 34b and the second protrusions 35a and 35b are formed substantially in parallel.

  Further, the inner diameters Rp of the bearing portions 30a and 30b are formed to be larger than the width W of the communication grooves 33a and 33b, and the width W is formed to be smaller than the diameter Rs1 of the shaft 29. As shown in FIG. 3, the bearing portions 30 a and 30 b can be engaged with the shaft 29 by the double-sided unit 25 moving to the lower right (direction C in FIG. 3).

  Further, the first protrusions 34a and 34b are located outside the second protrusions 35a and 35b by a length L1 with respect to the outer surface and the vertical surface S of the communication grooves 33a and 33b including the tips of the second protrusions 35a and 35b. The protruding portions form guide portions 36a and 36b that guide the bearing portions 30a and 30b when the bearing portions 30a and 30b are engaged with the shaft 29 (when the double-sided unit 25 is mounted). . The protruding length L1 of the guide portions 36a and 36b is formed to be larger than the radius Rs2 of the shaft 29.

  The first protrusions 34a and 34b and the second protrusions 35a and 35b bend outward when the shaft 29 passes through the communication grooves 33a and 33b, and the shaft 29 is inserted into the bearing parts 30a and 30b. It has an elastic force to return to its original state when it is detached to the outside. Thus, the bearing portions 30a and 30b can be attached to and detached from the shaft 29, and can be prevented from being detached from the shaft 29 when the double-sided unit 25 opens and closes around the shaft 29 as a rotation center.

  Further, chamfered portions 37a, 37b and 38a, 38b that are obliquely cut out along the axial direction of the shaft 29 are provided on the inner side of the distal ends of the guide portions 36a, 36b and on the inner surface of the distal end of the second projecting portions 35a, 35b. Is provided. The double-sided unit 25 is supported by the apparatus main body via a belt (not shown) so as not to rotate more than a predetermined angle after being mounted on the apparatus main body. The double-sided unit 25 is closed and the double-sided conveyance path 16 (see FIG. 2) is closed. When a part is configured, the opening and closing is locked by a lock mechanism (not shown).

  Next, the engagement and disengagement operations of the duplex unit 25 and the shaft 29 will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4 based on FIGS. FIG. 5 is a partial side view showing a state where the guide portion of the double-sided unit is in contact with the shaft, and FIG. 6 is a partial side view showing a state where the bearing portion of the double-sided unit is engaged with the shaft. Portions common to those in FIG. 3 and FIG.

  Here, the duplex unit 25 is engaged with the shaft 29 from the upper left of the shaft 29 (upper left of FIG. 5). First, the duplex unit 25 is moved to the lower right, and the guide portions 36 a and 36 b are placed on the shaft 29 so that the inner surfaces thereof are supported by the shaft 29. Then, due to the weight of the double-sided unit 25, the guide portions 36a and 36b slide on the surface of the shaft 29 to the inside of the apparatus main body (lower right in FIG. 5), and the inner surfaces of the tip end portions of the second projecting portions 35a and 35b. The chamfered portions 38 a and 38 b are in contact with the shaft 29.

  Next, when the duplex unit 25 is pushed downward to the right, the first projecting portions 34 a and 34 b and the second projecting portions 35 a and 35 b are bent outward and slide into the apparatus main body while sandwiching the shaft 29. When the first projecting portions 34a and 34b and the second projecting portions 35a and 35b pass through the shaft 29, the bearing portions 30a and 30b fit the shaft 29 and engage with each other. And the double-sided unit 25 is mounted so that the upper end side can be rotated about the shaft 29 as a rotation fulcrum.

  On the other hand, by pulling out the double-sided unit 25 to the upper left, the first protruding portions 34a and 34b and the second protruding portions 35a and 35b pass through the shaft 29 while being bent outward, and the double-sided unit 25 is detached from the apparatus main body. Can do.

  As described above, since the guide portions 36a and 36b are formed at the lower end portion 25a of the duplex unit 25, the inner surfaces of the guide portions 36a and 36b are placed on the surface of the shaft 29 and are simply slid in the mounting direction of the bearing portions 30a and 30b. Can be guided. Thereby, damage to engagement part 25aa, 25ab of the lower end part 25a and the shaft 29 can be prevented. Further, the positioning of the communication grooves 33a and 33b and the shaft 29 can be performed easily and accurately, and the workability can be improved by reducing the burden on the operator and shortening the working time.

  In the present embodiment, the shaft 29 is disposed substantially horizontally, the duplex unit 25 is mounted from above the shaft 29, bearings 30a and 30b are provided at the lower end 25a of the duplex unit 25, and the guide unit 36a. 36b abuts on the shaft 29 from above the second projecting portions 35a, 35b, so that the guide portions 36a, 36b are placed on the surface of the shaft 29, and then the bearing portion 30a is utilized by utilizing the weight of the duplex unit 25. , 30b can be guided to the shaft 29. Thereby, workability | operativity can be improved more, such as reducing a worker's burden and shortening working time.

  However, the mounting direction of the double-sided unit 25 is not particularly limited to this embodiment, and for example, it can be mounted on the shaft 29 from the horizontal direction. Further, the arrangement of the shaft 29 double-sided unit 25 is not limited to the arrangement that opens and closes in the vertical direction as in this embodiment, and can be arranged on the side surface of the apparatus main body so as to open and close in the horizontal direction, for example.

  In the present embodiment, since the chamfered portions 37a, 37b and 38a, 38b are provided on the inner surfaces of the guide portions 36a, 36b and the second projecting portions 34a, 34b, damage to the inner surfaces of the tip portions can be prevented. . Further, the inner surfaces of the guide portions 36a and 36b and the second projecting portions 35a and 35b are easily hooked on the shaft 29, and the communication groove 33 is easily sandwiched between the shafts 29, so that the bearing portions 30a and 30b are guided more reliably. The shaft 29 can be engaged. Therefore, the burden on the operator can be further reduced and the working time can be shortened, and workability can be improved.

  In this embodiment, since the length L1 of the guide portions 36a and 36b is made larger than the radius Rs2 of the shaft 29, the guide portions 36a and 36b are placed on the surface of the shaft 29 more stably and slid thereon. Can be made. Thereby, the guide effect of the guide parts 36a and 36b can be improved. However, the length of the guide portions 36a and 36b is not particularly limited as long as the guide portions 36a and 36b protrude outward from the second protrusion portions 35a and 35b, and the size, shape, and weight of the duplex unit 25 are not limited. Alternatively, it can be set as appropriate depending on the shape and size of the shaft 29, the arrangement state on the apparatus main body, and the like.

  Further, since the width W of the communication grooves 33a and 33b is made smaller than that of the shaft 29, the bearing portions 30a and 30b are detached from the shaft 29 when the duplex unit 25 rotates after the shaft 29 is fitted into the bearing portions 30a and 30b. This can be prevented, and the bearing portions 30a and 30b can be engaged with the shaft 29 more reliably.

  However, the width W of the communication grooves 33a and 33b is not particularly limited to this embodiment, and depends on the size, shape and weight of the double-sided unit 25, the shape and size of the shaft 29, and the main body of the apparatus after mounting. It can set suitably according to a support state. For example, as described above, the rotation angle of the duplex unit 25 is limited via a belt after being mounted on the apparatus main body. In such a case, since there is no possibility that the double-sided unit 25 is detached after the mounting, for example, the width W of the communication grooves 33a and 33b can be made the same as the inner diameter Rp of the bearing portions 30a and 30b.

  Further, in this embodiment, the shaft 29 has a cylindrical shape, but the shape of the shaft 29 can be appropriately set according to the size, shape, weight of the duplex unit 25, the support state in the apparatus main body, and the like. It is not specifically limited to.

  FIG. 7 is a partial side view showing the tip and shaft of the double-sided unit used in the second embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 8 is a plan view of FIG. 7 viewed from below, and FIG. It is a figure which shows the state which the double-sided unit of 2nd Embodiment and a shaft engage. Portions common to FIGS. 3 to 6 are denoted by common reference numerals and description thereof is omitted.

  As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, in the second embodiment, the flat portion 29 a in which the outer peripheral surface is cut out at both ends in the longitudinal direction on the outer peripheral surface of the shaft 29 so as to have a D-shaped cross section along the longitudinal direction. 29b. Since the configuration other than the above is exactly the same as that of the first embodiment, the description thereof is omitted.

  In FIG. 7, the center P1 in the direction perpendicular to the axial direction of the flat portions 29a and 29b (the left-right direction on the paper surface) is connected to the intersection P2 of the outer peripheral surface of the curved surface portion 29c of the shaft 29 passing through P1 with the diameter Rs1. The straight line length L2 (corresponding to the distance between the flat portions 29a and 29b and the shaft outer peripheral surface) is formed to be smaller than the width W of the communication grooves 33a and 33b.

  Then, as shown in FIG. 9, the double-sided unit 25 is rotated by a predetermined angle so that the inner surfaces of the guide portions 36a, 36b are arranged in parallel with the flat portions 29a, 29b and at a predetermined position where they can come into contact therewith. When the double-sided unit 25 is moved to the lower right substantially parallel to the flat portions 29a and 29b, the guide portions 36a and 36b slide on the flat portions 29a and 29b, and then the communication grooves 33a and 33b sandwich the shaft 29. However, when sliding into the inside of the apparatus main body, the shaft 29 can be fitted into the bearing portions 30a and 30b. At this time, the communication grooves 33a and 33b and the shaft 29 are not loaded.

  Further, when the double-sided unit 25 is inverted after the bearings 30a and 30b and the shaft 29 are engaged, the double-sided conveyance path 16 can be formed (see FIGS. 2 and 10). The double-sided unit 25 does not come off the shaft 29 unless the guide portions 36a and 36b rotate to a position substantially parallel to the flat portions 29a and 29b.

  On the other hand, when the double-sided unit 25 is detached from the apparatus main body, the flat surface portions 29a and 29b are substantially parallel to the guide portions 36a and 36b by rotating the double-sided unit 25 by a predetermined angle from the closed position (see FIG. 10). When the double-sided unit 25 is pulled out and pulled out, the double-sided unit 25 can be easily detached from the apparatus main body without applying a load to the communication grooves 33a and 33b and the shaft 29. The predetermined position and the predetermined rotation angle at which the double-sided unit 25 can be attached and detached can be appropriately set according to the shape, size and weight of the double-sided unit 25 and the arrangement state in the apparatus main body.

  Thus, by providing the shaft 29 with the flat portions 29a and 29b that allow the passage of the communication grooves 33a and 33b only when the duplex unit 25 is disposed at a predetermined position, the bearings 30a and 30b and the shaft 29 are loaded. The bearing portions 30a and 30b of the double-sided unit 25 can be detachably attached to the apparatus main body without giving a squeeze, and can be prevented from being detached from the apparatus main body when the double-sided unit 25 rotates after the attachment. Moreover, damage to the bearing portions 30a and 30b and the shaft 29 can be prevented.

  Furthermore, since it is not necessary to give elasticity to the bearing portions 30a and 30b, they can be formed using a material having higher rigidity. In the above-described embodiment, the bearing portions 30a and 30b can be made of, for example, resin. However, the material is not particularly limited.

  In the first embodiment and the second embodiment, the bearing portions 30a and 30b are provided in the engaging portions 25aa and 25ab at both ends of the tip portion 25a, respectively. It is not something. In the above-described embodiment, the bearing portions 30a and 30b are engaged with the single shaft 29. In addition, the bearing portions 30a and 30b are respectively engaged with the bearing portions 30a and 30b from positions facing the bearing portions 30a and 30b in the apparatus main body. Two shafts 29 that can be combined can be provided, and is not particularly limited.

  In the above embodiment, the flat portions 29a and 29b are provided at both end portions of the shaft 29. However, the flat portions 29a and 29b are arranged along the longitudinal direction of the shaft 29 according to the arrangement state of the bearing portions 30a and 30b. It can be formed as one surface that communicates or can be formed only at one end of the shaft 29, and the number of plane portions 29a and 29b formed is not particularly limited.

  In the above embodiment, the flat portions 29a and 29b are provided on the outer peripheral surface of the shaft 29 so as to have a D-shaped cross section. For example, two flat portions 29a and 29b are provided at opposing positions on the outer peripheral surface. The flat portions 29 a and 29 b can be formed along two or more different outer peripheral surfaces of the shaft 29, such as the shape of the shaft 29. Further, the cross-sectional shape of the shaft 29 can be appropriately set according to the shape and size of the double-sided unit 25, the arrangement position, and the like, and is not particularly limited. Further, the shapes of the chamfered portions 37a, 37b, 38a, and 38b can be appropriately set, and are not particularly limited.

  In the above embodiment, the double-sided unit 25 is disposed on the left side cover 2 side of the apparatus main body. However, the double-sided unit 25 is disposed at a predetermined location inside the apparatus main body according to the apparatus configuration and the like. Can do.

  In addition, this invention is not limited to the said embodiment, A various change is possible in the range which does not deviate from the meaning of this invention. For example, in the above embodiment, the double-sided unit 25 is used, but the present invention can also be applied to the opening / closing cover 28. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 10, the double-sided unit 25 and the opening / closing cover 28 are attached to the shaft 29. It can also be engaged. Further, the present invention can be applied to other rotating members, and a plurality of rotating members can be engaged with the shaft 29 in various ways. The open / close cover 28 can be provided on the right side cover, the top cover, the front cover, the back cover, or the like according to the configuration of the apparatus main body, and the arrangement thereof is not particularly limited.

  The rotating member of the present invention is applied to various types of copying machines such as digital copying machines, tandem color copying machines, analog monochrome copying machines, or image forming apparatuses such as facsimiles and laser printers. Is possible. Furthermore, the present invention can be applied to precision equipment, electronic equipment, and the like other than the image forming apparatus.

  The present invention is a rotating member that is detachably engaged with a rotating shaft provided in the apparatus main body and is pivotally supported by the rotating shaft, and is provided at one end of the rotating member. A substantially C-shaped bearing part having an opening in a part thereof, and a communication groove sandwiched between first and second projecting parts projecting substantially parallel from the opening end of the bearing part, the first projecting part The distal end of the first projection is extended from the second projecting portion to form a guide portion.

  As a result, the positioning accuracy between the bearing portion and the rotating shaft can be improved, so that when the rotating member is mounted on the rotating shaft, the member can be prevented from being damaged, reducing the burden on the operator. It is possible to improve workability such as shortening the work time.

  In addition, the rotation shaft is disposed in a substantially horizontal direction, and the rotation member is mounted from above the rotation shaft, and when the rotation member is mounted, the first protrusion comes into contact with the upper surface of the rotation shaft. By arranging in this way, the guide portion can be placed on the rotating shaft, so that the bearing portion can be guided in the mounting direction by the guide portion using the weight of the rotating member, and the above workability is further improved. Can be made. In addition, by making the protruding length of the guide portion larger than the radius of the rotation shaft, the inner surface of the guide portion can be brought into contact with the rotation shaft more reliably and easily, thus improving the workability. Can be made.

  Further, by making the width of the communication groove smaller than the inner diameter of the bearing portion, it is possible to prevent the rotation member from being detached from the rotation shaft when the rotation member is rotated after the mounting. Further, by providing a flat portion on the outer peripheral surface of the rotation shaft along the axial direction that allows passage of the communication groove only when the rotation member is rotated to a predetermined position, the rotation member and the rotation shaft are burdened. The rotating member can be easily attached to and detached from the rotating shaft without being applied, and can be engaged with the rotating shaft so as to be rotatable.

  Further, by providing chamfered portions on the inner surfaces of the guide portion and the second projecting portion, damage to the rotation shaft on the inner surface side of the tip portion can be prevented. Since the inner surface can easily come into contact with the rotation shaft, the workability can be improved. In addition, by providing the rotating member having the above-described configuration, the image forming apparatus can improve workability when the rotating member is attached or detached during assembly or maintenance.

FIG. 2 is a schematic view showing an image forming apparatus equipped with a rotating member of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration of an image forming apparatus to which a rotating member of the present invention is attached. These are the perspective views which show the front-end | tip part and shaft of the double-sided unit which concern on 1st Embodiment of this invention. These are figures which show the front-end | tip part and shaft of a duplex unit, and are the side views seen from the B direction of FIG. It is a perspective view which shows the state before attaching a guide member. These are the partial side views which show the state which the guide part of a double-sided unit engages with a shaft. These are the partial side views which show the state which the bearing part of the double-sided unit engaged with the shaft. These are figures which show the front-end | tip part and shaft of a double-sided unit used for 2nd Embodiment of this invention. These are the top views seen from the right side of FIG. 7 which shows the shaft used for 2nd Embodiment. These are the partial side views which show the state which the guide part of a double-sided unit engages with a shaft. FIG. 10 is an enlarged side view of a duplex unit and an opening / closing cover of a conventional image forming apparatus. These are expanded side views which show the state which the conventional double-sided unit and the opening-and-closing cover were open | released.

Explanation of symbols

1 Copier body (apparatus body)
2 Left side cover 16 Double-sided conveyance path 25 Double-sided unit (rotating member)
25a Lower end part 25b Engaging groove 25aa, 25ab Engaging part 26 Conveying roller 28 Opening / closing cover (rotating member)
28a Lower end portion 28b Engaging groove 29 Shaft (rotating shaft)
29a, 29b Plane portion 30a, 30b Bearing portion 31a, 31b Bottom portion 33a, 33b Communication groove 34a, 34b First protrusion (first protrusion)
35a, 35b Second protrusion (second protrusion)
36a, 36b Guide part 37a, 37b, 38a, 38b Chamfered part 100 Image forming apparatus L1 Projection length of guide part 36a, 36b L2 Distance between flat part 29a, 29b and outer peripheral surface of shaft 29 Rp Inner diameter of bearing part 30a, 30b Rs1 Diameter of shaft 29 Rs2 Radius of shaft 29 S Communication groove 33a including tips of second projecting portions 35a, 35b,
Outside direction of 33b and vertical plane W Width of communication grooves 33a and 33b

Claims (7)

A rotating member that is detachably engaged with a rotating shaft provided in the apparatus body, and is rotatably supported by the rotating shaft;
At one end of the rotating member, there is a substantially C-shaped bearing portion having an opening in a part thereof, and a communication groove sandwiched between first and second projecting portions projecting substantially parallel from the opening end of the bearing portion. A rotating member provided, wherein a tip of the first protrusion is extended from the second protrusion to form a guide part. The pivot shaft is disposed substantially horizontally,
The rotating member is mounted from above the rotating shaft, and when the rotating member is mounted, the first projecting portion is disposed so as to contact the upper surface of the rotating shaft. Item 2. The rotating member according to Item 1.   The rotating member according to claim 1, wherein a protruding length of the guide portion is larger than a radius of the rotating shaft.   The rotation member according to claim 1, wherein a width of the communication groove is smaller than an inner diameter of the bearing portion.   The flat surface part which accept | permits passage of the said communicating groove only when the said rotation member rotates to the predetermined position along the axial direction was provided in the outer peripheral surface of the said rotation axis | shaft. The rotating member described.   The rotating member according to claim 1, wherein chamfered portions are provided on the inner surfaces of the guide portion and the second projecting portion.   An image forming apparatus comprising the rotating member according to claim 1.

Images