Access restriction device for consumable component and image forming apparatus including the access restriction device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2022004141-A1
Application number	US-202117363760-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jun 30, 2021
Priority date	Jul 2, 2020
Publication date	Jan 6, 2022
Grant date	—

Abstract

An access restriction device for a consumable component of an apparatus body includes an access restriction cover is rotatably attached to a side surface of the apparatus body; a lock mechanism to lock and unlock opening of the cover; the cover openable in an unlocked state of the lock mechanism; a hinge portion disposed at a lower position in a direction of gravity and a position closer to the apparatus body in a horizontal direction than a center of gravity of the cover in a closed state of the cover, the cover being rotatably coupled to the apparatus body via the hinge portion; and an engaged portion disposed at a position higher in the direction of gravity than the center of gravity of the cover in the closed state. The cover is engaged with an engaging portion of the lock mechanism via the engaged portion.

First claim

1 . An access restriction device for a consumable component of an apparatus body, the access restriction device comprising:
an access restriction cover rotatably attached to a side surface of the apparatus body; a lock mechanism configured to lock and unlock opening of the access restriction cover, the access restriction cover being openable in an unlocked state of the lock mechanism; a hinge portion disposed at a lower position in a direction of gravity and a position closer to the apparatus body in a horizontal direction than a center of gravity of the access restriction cover in a closed state of the access restriction cover, the access restriction cover being rotatably coupled to the apparatus body via the hinge portion; and an engaged portion disposed at a position higher in the direction of gravity than the center of gravity of the access restriction cover in the closed state of the access restriction cover, the access restriction cover being configured to engaged with an engaging portion of the lock mechanism via the engaged portion.

2 . The access restriction device according to claim 1 ,
wherein the engaged portion is disposed at a position closer to the apparatus body in the horizontal direction than the center of gravity of the access restriction cover in the closed state of the access restriction cover.

3 . The access restriction device according to claim 1 ,
wherein the lock mechanism is disposed on an opposite side of the hinge portion in the direction of gravity across the center of gravity of the access restriction cover in the closed state of the access restriction cover.

4 . The access restriction device according to claim 3 , further comprising a detection mechanism configured to detect an open state and a closed state of the access restriction cover, wherein the detection mechanism is disposed in vicinity of the lock mechanism.

5 . The access restriction device according to claim 4 ,
wherein the detection mechanism includes a push switch configured to press against the access restriction cover in the closed state of the access restriction cover and release pressing against the access restriction cover in the open state of the access restriction cover.

6 . The access restriction device according to claim 1 , further comprising another hinge portion disposed below the hinge portion of the access restriction cover in the direction of gravity; and an outer cover rotatable about said another hinge portion, wherein the engaged portion of the access restriction cover is configured to be at a position at which the engaged portion is engageable with the engaging portion of the lock mechanism, when the outer cover is closed.

7 . The access restriction device according to claim 5 ,
wherein the push switch is configured to press an upper end of the access restriction cover in an opening direction in the closed state of the access restriction cover.

8 . The access restriction device according to claim 6 ,
wherein when the outer cover rotates from an open state to the closed state, the outer cover is configured to abut against the access restriction cover in the open state to rotate the access restriction cover in a closing direction, and the engaged portion is engaged with the engaging portion of the lock mechanism to lock the opening of the access restriction cover.

9 . The access restriction device according to claim 8 , further comprising an elastic member disposed on an inner surface of the outer cover, wherein the elastic member is configured to abut against the access restriction cover when the outer cover rotates from the open state to the closed state.

10 . The access restriction device according to claim 9 ,
wherein the engaged portion of the access restriction cover is configured to, in response to a rotation of the outer cover from the open state to the closed state, be engaged with the engaging portion of the lock mechanism while the elastic member is kept in contact with the access restriction cover.

11 . The access restriction device according to claim 1 ,
wherein the engaging portion of the lock mechanism or the engaged portion of the access restriction cover includes a tapered portion, and wherein the access restriction cover is configured to be pulled toward the apparatus body by a tapering action of the tapered portion in response to a locking operation of the lock mechanism.

12 . The access restriction device according to claim 1 ,
wherein when a cover opening force in an opening direction acts on the access restriction cover in a locked state of the lock mechanism, a stopped portion on the engaged portion of the access restriction cover is configured to engage with a stopper portion on the engaging portion of the lock mechanism.

13 . The access restriction device according to claim 1 ,
wherein when a cover opening force in an opening direction acts on the access restriction cover in a locked state of the lock mechanism, a stopped portion on the engaged portion of the access restriction cover is configured to slide on a stopper portion on the engaging portion of the lock mechanism by the cover opening force, to bias the lock mechanism in a locking direction.

14 . An image forming apparatus comprising:
an apparatus body to which a toner bottle as a consumable component is attached; and the access restriction device according to claim 1 attached to an entrance of the apparatus body through which the toner bottle is inserted and removed.

Assignees

• Ricoh Co Ltd

Inventors

• Kita Emi
• Funamoto Noriaki
• Okamoto Hiroshi

Classifications

• G03G21/1604 Primary

  Arrangement or disposition of the entire apparatus · CPC title

• G03G2221/1654

  Locks and means for positioning or alignment · CPC title

• G03G21/1647

  Mechanical connection means · CPC title

• G03G21/1821

  means for connecting the different parts of the process cartridge, e.g. attachment, positioning of parts with each other, pressure/distance regulation (G03G21/1825 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G03G21/1633 Primary

  using doors or covers (G03G21/1638 takes precedence) · CPC title