Image forming apparatus including option device attachable to and detachable from apparatus main body

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9975713-B2
Application number	US-201615247638-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 25, 2016
Priority date	Aug 28, 2015
Publication date	May 22, 2018
Grant date	May 22, 2018

Abstract

An image forming apparatus includes an option device, the option device is coupled with a lower surface of an apparatus main body. A second connector is configured to be displaced between a first position and a second position. A push portion is configured to be pressed toward an inside of the option device when the option device is coupled with the lower surface. A link portion is pivotably supported, coupled with both the push portion and the second connector, and configured to, interlocking with the push portion being pressed, cause the second connector to be displaced from second position to first position. A first coupling portion couples the push portion with the link portion. A second coupling portion is configured to couple the second connector with the link portion. The first coupling portion and/or the second coupling portion is configured to release the coupling with the link portion.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An option device coupled with a lower surface of an apparatus main body of an image forming apparatus in an attachable/detachable manner, the option device comprising:
a second connector disposed on an upper surface of the option device and configured to be displaced between a first position and a second position, the second connector at the first position being connected to a first connector which is disposed on the lower surface of the apparatus main body, the second connector at the second position retracting downward with respect to the first connector and not being connected to the first connector;
a push portion disposed adjacent to the second connector and configured to be pressed toward an inside of the option device when the option device is coupled with the lower surface of the apparatus main body;
a support frame configured to support the second connector and the push portion;
a link portion pivotably supported by the support frame, coupled with both the push portion and the second connector, and configured to, interlocking with the push portion being pressed, cause the second connector to be displaced from the second position to the first position;
a biasing member configured to couple the support frame with the link portion, bias the second connector toward the second position via the link portion, and bias the push portion toward the apparatus main body;
a first coupling portion configured to couple the push portion with the link portion; and
a second coupling portion configured to couple the second connector with the link portion, wherein
at least one of the first coupling portion and the second coupling portion is configured to release the coupling with the link portion.

2. An option device coupled with a lower surface of an apparatus main body of an image forming apparatus in an attachable/detachable manner, the option device comprising:
a second connector disposed on an upper surface of the option device and configured to be displaced between a first position and a second position, the second connector at the first position being connected to a first connector which is disposed on the lower surface of the apparatus main body, the second connector at the second position retracting downward with respect to the first connector and not being connected to the first connector;
a push portion disposed adjacent to the second connector and configured to be pressed toward an inside of the option device when the option device is coupled with the lower surface of the apparatus main body;
a support frame configured to support the second connector and the push portion;
a link portion pivotably supported by the support frame, coupled with both the push portion and the second connector, and configured to, interlocking with the push portion being pressed, cause the second connector to be displaced from the second position to the first position;
a first coupling portion configured to couple the push portion with the link portion; and
a second coupling portion configured to couple the second connector with the link portion, wherein
the push portion is supported by the support frame so as to be displaceable between a projected position and a buried position, the push portion at the projected position projecting upward from the upper surface of the option device, the push portion at the buried position being buried downward in the inside of the option device from the upper surface of the option device, and
at least one of the first coupling portion and the second coupling portion is configured to release the coupling with the link portion.

3. An option device coupled with a lower surface of an apparatus main body of an image forming apparatus in an attachable/detachable manner, the option device comprising:
a second connector disposed on an upper surface of the option device and configured to be displaced between a first position and a second position, the second connector at the first position being connected to a first connector which is disposed on the lower surface of the apparatus main body, the second connector at the second position retracting downward with respect to the first connector and not being connected to the first connector;
a push portion disposed adjacent to the second connector and configured to be pressed toward an inside of the option device when the option device is coupled with the lower surface of the apparatus main body;
a support frame configured to support the second connector and the push portion;
a link portion pivotably supported by the support frame, coupled with both the push portion and the second connector, and configured to, interlocking with the push portion being pressed, cause the second connector to be displaced from the second position to the first position;
a first coupling portion configured to couple the push portion with the link portion; and
a second coupling portion configured to couple the second connector with the link portion, wherein
the support frame includes a holder holding the second connector, the holder being supported in a storage portion provided in the support frame so as to be able to move in an up-down direction, and
at least one of the first coupling portion and the second coupling portion is configured to release the coupling with the link portion.

4. The option device according to claim 1 , wherein
the first coupling portion includes a pin member configured to be, in an attachable/detachable manner, inserted through a through hole formed in the link portion and be engaged with an engagement hole formed in the push portion, and when the pin member is removed from the through hole, a coupling between the link portion and the push portion is released.

5. The option device according to claim 3 , wherein
the second coupling portion includes a pin member configured to be, in an attachable/detachable manner, inserted through a through hole formed in the link portion and be engaged with an engagement hole formed in the holder, and when the pin member is removed from the through hole, a coupling between the link portion and the second connector is released.

6. The option device according to claim 4 , wherein
the pin member includes at least one protruding piece protruding outward from a circumferential surface of the pin member, and
the link portion includes at least one groove which is formed in a cut shape that extends from a peripheral edge of the through hole in an insertion direction of the pin member with respect to the through hole and in which the protruding piece enters in a state where the pin member is inserted through the through hole.

7. The option device according to claim 1 , wherein
the option device is a sheet feed device configured to store sheet members and feed the sheet members to the apparatus main body.

8. The option device according to claim 2 , wherein
the option device is a sheet feed device configured to store sheet members and feed the sheet members to the apparatus main body.

9. The option device according to claim 3 , wherein
the option device is a sheet feed device configured to store sheet members and feed the sheet members to the apparatus main body.

10. The option device according to claim 4 , wherein
the option device is a sheet feed device configured to store sheet members and feed the sheet members to the apparatus main body.

11. The option device according to claim 5 , wherein
the option device is a sheet feed device configured to store sheet members and feed the sheet members to the apparatus main body.

12. The option device according to claim 6 , wherein
the option device is a sheet feed device configured to store

Assignees

• Kyocera Document Solutions Inc

Inventors

• Yamaguchi Yoshihiro

Classifications

• B65H2801/06

  Office-type machines, e.g. photocopiers · CPC title

• B65H1/28 Primary

  compartmented to receive piles side-by-side · CPC title

• G03G21/16

  Mechanical means for facilitating the maintenance of the apparatus, e.g. modular arrangements · CPC title

• B65H2402/62

  Operations & Transport · mapped topic

• G03G2221/1696

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