Image forming apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016282803-A1
Application number	US-201615080774-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Mar 25, 2016
Priority date	Mar 27, 2015
Publication date	Sep 29, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A relay conveyance device detachably mounted on an image forming apparatus body is provided with a fixing member that holds a mounting state of the relay conveyance device to the image forming apparatus body. The fixing member is provided with a relay connector that relays the image forming apparatus body and the post-processing device. The post-processing device is electrically connected to the image forming apparatus body via the relay connector.

First claim

1 . An image forming apparatus comprising:
an image forming apparatus body; and a relay conveyance device that is detachably mounted on the image forming apparatus body and conveys a paper, which was subjected to image formation and discharged to a paper discharge unit of the image forming apparatus body, to a post-processing device provided to the image forming apparatus body, wherein the relay conveyance device is provided with a fixing member that holds a mounting state of the relay conveyance device to the image forming apparatus body, the fixing member is provided with a relay connector that relays the image forming apparatus body and the post-processing device, and the post-processing device is electrically connected to the image forming apparatus body via the relay connector.

2 . The image forming apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the fixing member is rotatably supported to a rear end surface in a mounting direction of the relay conveyance device so as to be vertically rotatable such that the fixing member moves along the rear end surface, is stored in the rear end surface in the mounting direction of the relay conveyance device at a horizontal posture, at which the fixing member has rotated upward, so as not to protrude from the rear end surface at a time of packing, and protrudes from the rear end surface in the mounting direction of the relay conveyance device at a vertical posture, at which the fixing member has rotated downward, and is coupled to the image forming apparatus body at a time of mounting of the relay conveyance device to the image forming apparatus body.

3 . The image forming apparatus of claim 2 , wherein an engaging part and an engaged part are respectively provided to one side and an opposite side of the fixing member and the rear end surface in the mounting direction of the relay conveyance device, and engagement/disengagement between the engaging part and the engaged part is performed by a rotation operation of the fixing member.

4 . The image forming apparatus of claim 1 , wherein a cylindrical shaft is formed in the relay conveyance device,
the relay connector is connected to a harness extending from the cylindrical shaft, the fixing member is configured with a base member and a cover member, the base member has a shaft hole into which the cylindrical shaft is inserted, the cover member has an opening for exposing the relay connector to an exterior, and the harness is accommodated in a space surrounded by the base member and the cover member and the relay connector is exposed from the opening of the cover member.

5 . The image forming apparatus of claim 4 , wherein a surface formed with the shaft hole of the base member is formed with a first insertion hole into which a coupling member connected to the image forming apparatus body is inserted and a connection plate upright toward the post-processing device, and
the connection plate is formed with a second insertion hole into which a coupling member connected to the post-processing device is inserted.

6 . The image forming apparatus of claim 5 , wherein, in the fixing member, the connection plate is adjacent to the relay connector and protrudes in a protruding direction of the relay connector, and a degree of protrusion of the connection plate is larger than a degree of protrusion of the relay connector.

Assignees

• Kyocera Document Solutions Inc

Inventors

• Osaki Shuji
• Koyanagi Tsuyoshi

Classifications

• B65H29/20

  by contact with rotating friction members, e.g. rollers, brushes, or cylinders {(with suction rollers B65H29/243)} · CPC title

• B65H37/00

  Article or web delivery apparatus incorporating devices for performing specified auxiliary operations (incorporating cutting or line-perforating devices B65H35/00) · CPC title

• G03G21/1647 Primary

  Mechanical connection means · CPC title

• G03G2221/1696

  for auxiliary devices, e.g. add-on modules · CPC title

• B65H2557/10

  for signal transmission · CPC title