Electrophotography – Diagnostics
Reexamination Certificate
2002-01-30
2004-01-13
Braun, Fred L. (Department: 2852)
Electrophotography
Diagnostics
C399S013000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06678481
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a copier, a laser beam printer or a facsimile apparatus, and particularly to an image forming apparatus in which the opening and closing of an openable and closable member are detected.
2. Description of Related Art
An openable and closable cover and an opening and closing detecting mechanism according to the conventional art will hereinafter be described in detail with reference to
FIG. 7
of the accompanying drawings.
FIG. 7
is a schematic view of the openable and closable cover mechanism of a laser beam printer according to the conventional art.
In
FIG. 7
, the reference numeral
101
designates the main body of the apparatus, and the reference numeral
102
denotes an openable and closable cover. The openable and closable cover
102
is assembled to the main body
101
of the apparatus for rocking movement with a rocking movement support shaft
107
as a fulcrum. A restraining member
108
for restraining the openable and closable cover
102
on the main body
101
of the apparatus is assembled to the openable and closable cover
102
for rocking movement with a rocking movement support shaft
109
as a fulcrum. The reference numeral
106
designates a switch for detecting the opening and closing of the openable and closable cover
102
, and the reference numeral
105
denotes a holder for holding the switch
106
. The holder
105
is fixed to the main body
101
of the apparatus by a positioning boss
101
c
provided in the main body
101
of the apparatus. The openable and closable cover
102
is turned from its opened state to its closed state about the rocking movement support shaft
107
, whereby the restraining member
108
is rocked with the rocking movement support shaft
109
as a fulcrum and a hook portion
108
a
is hooked on a lock portion
101
b
, whereby the openable and closable cover
102
is restrained in its closed state on the main body
101
of the apparatus. A pressure member
104
assembled to the openable and closable cover
102
pressed the switch
106
, which thus detects the closed state of the openable and closable cover
102
.
Also, when the grip portion
108
b
of the restraining member
108
is raised, the restraining member
108
rocks about the rocking movement support shaft
109
and the hook portion
108
a
is disengaged from the lock portion
101
b
to thereby release the restraint of the openable and closable cover
102
. When the released openable and closable cover
102
is turned to its opened state, the pressure member
104
releases its pressure against the switch
106
to thereby detect the opened state of the openable and closable cover
102
.
However, the above-described conventional art has suffered from a problem as will be described below.
In recent years, the structure of the laser beam printer has become complicated, and numerous parts are interposed between the switch
106
and the pressure member
104
as will be seen from the assembling tolerance of the holder
105
to the main body
101
of the apparatus, the assembling tolerance of the openable and closable cover
102
to the main body
101
of the apparatus, the assembling tolerance of a positioning member (such as the positioning boss
101
c
) and the pressure member
104
to the openable and closable cover
102
, and so on, and the tolerances of the respective parts affect the accuracy of the positional relationship between the switch
106
and the pressure member
104
.
That is, in the main body
101
of the image forming apparatus, it is difficult to improve the accuracy of the positional relationship between the switch
106
for detecting the opened and closed states of the openable and closable cover
102
and the pressure member
104
for pressing the switch
106
provided in the main body
101
of the apparatus.
Therefore, there is the possibility of causing a malfunction due to an erroneous detection that in spite of the openable and closable cover
102
having been closed, the switch is not pressed but the opened state is detected and the printer does not operate or although the openable and closable cover
102
is not properly closed, the closed state thereof is detected and the printer operates. Particularly, in the case where the openable and closable cover
102
serves also as a part of a conveying route for a sheet, although an openable and closable guide is not in its regular closed state, its closed state is detected to thereby cause a jamming of the sheet.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is a first object of the present invention to provide an image forming apparatus in which the opened and closed states of an openable and closable member are reliably detected.
It is a second object of the present invention to provide an image forming apparatus having an openable and closable member openable and closable relative to the main body of the apparatus, and detecting means for detecting the opened and closed states of the openable and closable member, the openable and closable member having an engagement portion engaged with the detecting means, one of the detecting means and the engagement portion of the openable and closable member being movable relative to the other.
It is a third object of the present invention to provide an image forming apparatus having a first openable and closable member openable and closable relative to the main body of the apparatus, a second openable and closable member openable and closable relative to the main body of the apparatus, and detecting means for detecting the opened and closed states of the first openable and closable member and the second openable and closable member, wherein the detecting means detects the closed state only when both of the first openable and closable member and the second openable and closable member have been closed.
Further objects of the present invention will become apparent from the following description
REFERENCES:
patent: 4260904 (1981-04-01), Horie et al.
patent: 6125251 (2000-09-01), Shiraishi et al.
patent: 2-99975 (1990-04-01), None
patent: 7-92879 (1995-04-01), None
patent: 8-152756 (1996-06-01), None
patent: 8-285183 (1996-11-01), None
patent: 2000-207970 (2000-07-01), None
patent: 2001-125331 (2001-05-01), None
patent: 2001-152726 (2001-06-01), None
Noguchi Tomio
Sawanaka Kei
Braun Fred L.
Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
Fitzpatrick ,Cella, Harper & Scinto
LandOfFree
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