阅读说明：本技术 供纸装置与设置于其上侧的图像形成装置的定位结构 (Positioning structure of paper feeding device and image forming device arranged on upper side of paper feeding device ) 是由 石井晃 山田雅之 于 2020-08-27 设计创作，主要内容包括：本发明提供一种定位结构。定位结构具有定位辅助部件,该定位辅助部件被安装于供纸装置的横梁,在与该横梁相向的相向部具有定位孔。该定位辅助部件具有引导部,当将图像形成装置设置在供纸装置的上侧时,从该供纸装置的横梁的延设方向来观察,该引导部以在图像形成装置的横梁的下表面上形成的定位孔接近连结于定位辅助部件的第一定位销部的方式来引导该图像形成装置的横梁。根据本发明,能够简单地进行供纸装置与设置于其上侧的图像形成装置的定位作业。(The invention provides a positioning structure. The positioning structure includes a positioning assistance member attached to a cross member of the paper feeding device, and a positioning hole is provided in an opposing portion facing the cross member. The positioning support member includes a guide portion that guides the cross member of the image forming apparatus such that a positioning hole formed in a lower surface of the cross member of the image forming apparatus is close to the first positioning pin portion connected to the positioning support member, as viewed from an extending direction of the cross member of the image forming apparatus when the image forming apparatus is disposed on an upper side of the sheet feeding apparatus. According to the present invention, the positioning operation of the paper feeding device and the image forming apparatus provided above the paper feeding device can be easily performed.)

1. A positioning structure of a sheet feeding device and an image forming apparatus provided above the sheet feeding device,

the lower end part of the framework of the image forming device comprises a cross beam with a positioning hole on the lower surface,

the upper end part of the framework of the paper supply device comprises a cross beam with a positioning hole on the upper surface,

the positioning structure is provided with a positioning auxiliary component, a first positioning pin part and a second positioning pin part, wherein,

the positioning auxiliary member is mounted on a cross member of the paper feeding device, and has a positioning hole in an opposing portion opposing the cross member;

the first positioning pin part is connected to the positioning auxiliary component and is clamped with a positioning hole formed on a beam of the image forming device;

the second positioning pin portion is inserted into both a positioning hole formed in a cross member of the sheet feeding device and a positioning hole of the positioning assistance member to position the positioning assistance member with respect to the cross member,

the positioning support member includes a guide portion that guides the cross member of the image forming apparatus so that a positioning hole formed in a lower surface of the cross member of the image forming apparatus approaches the first positioning pin portion connected to the positioning support member, as viewed in an extending direction of the cross member of the image forming apparatus when the image forming apparatus is disposed on the upper side of the paper feeding apparatus.

2. The positioning structure according to claim 1,

the positioning assistance member mounted on the cross member of the sheet feeding device has a groove portion that receives the cross member of the image forming device,

the guide portion of the positioning assistance member includes a pair of inclined surfaces that face each other with the groove portion therebetween and are inclined downward toward the inner side of each other when viewed from the extending direction of the cross member of the paper feeding device.

3. The positioning structure according to claim 1,

the positioning assistance member includes: a mounting plate section which is mounted on an upper surface of a cross member of the sheet feeding device and has the positioning hole into which the second positioning pin section is fitted; a pair of upper extension parts extending upward from the carrier plate part and facing each other with the positioning hole therebetween,

the guide portion is formed at an upper end portion of each of the pair of upper side extension portions.

4. The positioning structure according to claim 3,

the positioning assistance member further includes a pair of lower extending portions extending downward from the mounting plate portion and facing each other with the cross member of the paper feeding device interposed therebetween.

5. The positioning structure according to any one of claims 1 to 4,

the first positioning pin part and the auxiliary positioning component are formed in a split way,

the diameter of the first positioning pin part is larger than that of the second positioning pin part,

the first positioning pin portion and the second positioning pin portion are coaxially arranged with each other and are integrated.

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a positioning structure of a paper feeding device and an image forming apparatus provided above the paper feeding device.

Background

In an image forming apparatus such as a printer or a multifunction peripheral, a paper feeding device may be added as an optional device. In this case, the image forming apparatus is placed on the upper side of the paper feeding device, but if the position of the paper feeding device is shifted with respect to the image forming apparatus, there is a problem that paper jam occurs during paper feeding operation.

In order to solve this problem, a positioning structure has been proposed in which a pair of positioning pins are provided on the upper surface of the frame of the sheet feeding device, and the positioning pins are engaged with positioning holes formed in the lower surface of the frame of the image forming apparatus.

Disclosure of Invention

However, in the case of the positioning structure proposed above, the operator needs to lift the image forming apparatus, which is a relatively large structure, and align the image forming apparatus so that the positioning holes on the lower surface of the image forming apparatus engage with the positioning pins on the upper surface of the paper feeding device. However, since the operator cannot visually recognize the positioning hole in the lower surface of the image forming apparatus, the operator needs to perform the alignment operation intuitively, which causes a problem that the operation is difficult.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a positioning structure capable of easily performing positioning work between a paper feeding device and an image forming apparatus provided above the paper feeding device.

The positioning structure according to the present invention is directed to a positioning structure of a paper feeding device and an image forming apparatus disposed above the paper feeding device.

In the above positioning structure, the lower end portion of the framework of the image forming apparatus includes a beam having a positioning hole in a lower surface thereof. In addition, the upper end of the framework of the paper feeding device comprises a cross beam with a positioning hole on the upper surface.

The positioning structure includes a positioning auxiliary member, a first positioning pin portion, and a second positioning pin portion. The positioning support member is attached to a cross member of the sheet feeding device, and has a positioning hole in an opposing portion that faces the cross member. The first positioning pin portion is connected to the positioning auxiliary member and engages with a positioning hole formed in a cross member of the image forming apparatus. The second positioning pin portion is inserted into both a positioning hole formed in a cross member of the sheet feeding device and a positioning hole of the positioning auxiliary member, and positions the positioning auxiliary member with respect to the cross member. The positioning assistance member has a guide portion. When the image forming apparatus is disposed above the sheet feeding device, the guide portion guides the cross member of the image forming apparatus such that the positioning hole formed in the lower surface of the cross member of the image forming apparatus approaches the first positioning pin portion connected to the positioning support member, as viewed in the extending direction of the cross member of the sheet feeding device.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram showing internal configurations of an image forming apparatus and a selective paper feeding apparatus positioned by a positioning structure according to an embodiment.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing the image forming apparatus and the selective paper feeding apparatus separated from each other.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing a skeleton of the image forming apparatus.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing a frame of the selective paper feeder.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view showing a state in which the frame of the image forming apparatus is mounted on the upper surface of the frame of the selective paper feeder.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged perspective view showing a VI portion of fig. 5 in an enlarged manner.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view showing the positioning assistance member.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view showing a state in which a pin member is assembled to the positioning assistance member.

Fig. 9 is a sectional view taken along line IX-IX of fig. 6.

Fig. 10 is an explanatory view for explaining a procedure of attaching the positioning assistance portion to the rear lateral tube of the selective paper feeding device.

Fig. 11 is an explanatory view for explaining a process of guiding the rear side lateral tube of the image forming apparatus to a regular mounting position by the positioning assistance member.

Fig. 12 is a view corresponding to fig. 9 showing another embodiment.

Detailed Description

Hereinafter, examples of the embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. The present invention is not limited to the following embodiments.

Detailed description of the preferred embodiments

Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the image forming apparatus 1 and the selective paper feeding device 20 positioned by the positioning structure 300 in the embodiment. The selective paper feeder 20 has four casters 21 on the lower surface and is disposed on the floor surface, and the image forming apparatus 1 is disposed above the selective paper feeder 20 in an overlapping manner. The image forming apparatus 1 performs positioning in the front-rear direction and the left-right direction with respect to the selective paper feeding device 20 by the positioning structure 300. In the following description, the front side, the rear side, the left side, and the right side are defined directions in terms of directional axes shown in the respective drawings with reference to the image forming apparatus 1.

[ Structure of image Forming apparatus 1 ]

The image forming apparatus 1 is constituted by, for example, an in-body paper-discharge type copying machine, and includes an image forming apparatus main body 2 and an image reading device 3 provided above the image forming apparatus main body 2. The image reading apparatus 3 optically reads an original image to generate image data thereof.

An image forming unit 4 is provided in the image forming apparatus main body 2, and the image forming unit 4 forms an image by transferring the image data of the original document read by the image reading device 3 onto the sheet S. An exposure device 5 for irradiating laser light is disposed below the image forming unit 4, and a transfer belt 6 is disposed above the image forming unit 4. The paper feeder 7 is disposed below the exposure device 5 so as to cover two portions. A selective paper feeding device 20 described later is disposed below the lower paper feeding device 7. A fixing unit 8 is disposed above the right side of the transfer belt 6, and the fixing unit 8 performs a fixing process on the image transferred and formed on the sheet S. A paper discharge space V is provided between the image forming apparatus main body 2 and the image reading apparatus 3, and the paper discharge space V is a space for discharging the sheet S subjected to the fixing process by the fixing section 8. A sheet discharge tray part 9 is formed on the upper surface of the image forming apparatus main body 2, and the sheet discharge tray part 9 receives the sheet S discharged to the sheet discharge space V.

The image forming apparatus main body 2 is provided with a sheet transport path T1 extending from each paper feed device 7 to the paper discharge tray portion 9, and a selective transport path T2 merging from the selective paper feed device 20 to the sheet transport path T1. The sheet feeding device 7 has a sheet feeding cassette 7a that can be pulled out to the front side, and sheets S (for example, recording sheets or OHP sheets) are stacked in a stacked state in the sheet feeding cassette 7 a. Each paper feed device 7 separates the uppermost sheet S one by the pickup roller 7b and feeds the sheet S to the sheet conveying path T1.

The image forming portion 4 has 4 image forming units 10 corresponding to yellow, magenta, cyan, or black. Each image forming unit 10 has a photosensitive drum 11, and an electrostatic latent image written on the photosensitive drum 11 by the exposure device 5 is developed by a developer and visualized as a toner image of each color. The image forming section 4 sequentially transfers and superimposes the toner images of the respective colors formed on the photosensitive drums 11 of the respective image forming units 10 onto the transfer belt 6, and then transfers the toner images onto the sheet S fed by the paper feeding device 7 or the selective paper feeding device 20.

The fixing unit 8 includes a heat roller 8a and a pressure roller 8 b. When the sheet S fed by the image forming portion 4 passes between the heating roller 8a and the pressing roller 8b, the fixing portion 8 heats and presses the toner image carried by the sheet S and thermally fixes it on the sheet S. The sheet S after the fixing process is discharged to the sheet discharge tray portion 9.

A rectangular opening 2a is formed in the right side surface of the image forming apparatus main body 2 adjacent to the sheet conveying path T1 and the selecting conveying path T2. The opening 2a can be opened and closed by the opening/closing cover 12. The opening/closing cover 12 is supported by a shaft 13 extending along the lower edge of the opening 2a so as to be rotatable with respect to the shaft 13. The opening/closing cover 12 is opened by being rotated from this closed state to the outside (right side in fig. 1) of the image forming apparatus main body 2 about the shaft portion 13 as a fulcrum. By opening the opening/closing cover 12 by the user, a jam on the sheet conveying path T1 or the selective conveying path T2 can be processed.

[ Structure of Selective paper feeder 20 ]

The optional paper feeder 20 is externally mounted on the lower surface of the image forming apparatus 1. The selective feeder 20 has a casing 22 having four casters 21 on the lower surface thereof. Case 22 is configured by covering the surfaces of skeleton 200 (see fig. 4) assembled into a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape with a resin outer cover. In the case 22, a pair of paper feed cassettes 23 and 24 arranged in the left-right direction are housed so as to be able to be pulled out toward the front side. In each of the paper feed cassettes 23 and 24, the sheets S are stacked in a stacked state and stored. The maximum number of sheets stored in each of the paper feed cassettes 23 and 24 is set to be larger than the maximum number of sheets stored in the paper feed cassette 7a that is equipped in accordance with the standard of the image forming apparatus 1, and can be applied to business purposes required for mass printing.

A sheet discharge port 22a is formed at the right side end portion of the upper surface of the case 22. The cassette 22 is provided with a first sheet conveyance path U1 and a second sheet conveyance path U2 extending from the paper feed cassettes 23 and 24 to the sheet discharge port 22 a. The two-sheet conveying paths U1 and U2 merge at the sheet discharge port 22a and are connected to the selecting conveying path T2 of the image forming apparatus 1. In the selective paper feeder 20, the uppermost sheets S stored in the paper feed cassettes 23 and 24 are separated one by the pickup rollers 23a and 24a and are fed from the sheet transport paths U1 and U2 to the selective transport path T2 in the image forming apparatus main body 2 through the sheet discharge port 22 a.

As shown in fig. 2, the selective paper feeder 20 is configured to be separable from the image forming apparatus 1. As described above, the image forming apparatus 1 is provided on the upper surface of the selective paper feeding device 20, and when the installation position is deviated from the predetermined position, paper jam or the like occurs during paper feeding operation by the selective paper feeding device 20, and the paper feeding operation is stopped. To prevent such a problem, the image forming apparatus 1 and the selective paper feeding device 20 are positioned with each other by the positioning structure 300.

In the positioning structure 300, a pair of left and right pin members 320 are provided projecting from the upper surface of the selective paper feeder 20, and the positional relationship between the image forming apparatus 1 and the selective paper feeder 20 in the front-rear direction and the left-right direction is restricted by engaging each pin member 320 with a positioning hole 122a formed in the lower surface of the image forming apparatus 1.

However, in the positioning structure of the related art, when the operator lifts the image forming apparatus 1 and sets it on the upper surface of the selective paper feeder 20, the positioning hole 122a on the lower surface of the image forming apparatus 1 cannot be visually recognized, and therefore, it is necessary to perform the positioning work based on the intuition of the operator, which causes a problem that the work is difficult.

In contrast, in the positioning structure 300 of the present embodiment, the positioning work is facilitated by attaching the positioning assistance member 310 to the frame 200 of the selective paper feeding device 20. Before describing the details of the positioning assistance member 310, the schematic configurations of the frame 100 of the image forming apparatus 1 and the frame 200 of the selective paper feeding device 20 will be described.

As shown in fig. 3, the frame 100 of the image forming apparatus 1 is configured by combining tubes (an example of a cross member) having a rectangular cross section. Specifically, the framework 100 has an upper frame portion 110, a lower frame portion 120, and an intermediate frame portion 130. The upper end frame portion 110 and the lower end frame portion 120 are each formed in a rectangular frame shape that is long in the left-right direction. The upper surface of the upper frame portion 110 constitutes a mounting surface of the image reading apparatus 3. The lower surface of the lower frame portion 120 constitutes a surface on which the selective feeder 20 and the frame 200 are combined. The intermediate frame portion 130 is formed in a three-dimensional shape by combining a plurality of horizontal tubes 131 and vertical tubes 132, and the upper frame portion 110 and the lower frame portion 120 are connected by the intermediate frame portion 130. A sheet metal frame 133 is attached to the rear side surface of the intermediate frame portion 130, and the sheet metal frame 133 abuts against the rear end surface of the image forming unit 10 of each color.

The lower end frame portion 120 includes: a front cross tube 121 and a rear cross tube 122 arranged at a distance in the front-rear direction; the left cross tube 123 and the right cross tube 124 are arranged at a distance in the left-right direction. On the lower surface of the rear cross tube 122, a pair of positioning holes 122a (see fig. 1 and 10) are formed at intervals in the left-right direction. The positioning hole 122a engages with a pin member 320 provided in the selective paper feeding device 20. The pin member 320 is attached to the frame 200 of the selective paper feeding device 20 together with the positioning assistance member 310. A pair of vibration-proof pads 125 are attached to the lower surfaces of the left and right lateral tubes 123 and 124, respectively, and are spaced apart from each other in the front-rear direction. The thickness of the vibration-proof pad 125 is slightly larger than the gap formed between the lower frame portion 120 of the image forming apparatus 1 and the upper frame portion 210 of the selective sheet feeding device 20.

As shown in fig. 4, the frame 200 of the selective sheet feeding device 20 includes an upper frame portion 210, a lower frame portion 220, and an intermediate frame portion 230. Both the upper end frame portion 210 and the lower end frame portion 220 are formed in a rectangular shape long in the left-right direction. The upper surface of the upper frame portion 210 constitutes a surface of the image forming apparatus 1 combined with the frame 100. The four casters 21 are attached to the lower surface of the lower frame portion 220. Three rail members 25 are attached to the lower end frame portion 220, and the three rail members 25 guide the left sheet cassette 23 and the right sheet cassette 24 of the option sheet feeding device 20 in the front-rear direction. A pair of support pipes 240 protruding rearward to support a control box, not shown, are connected to the rear end of the lower end frame portion 220. The intermediate frame 230 is composed of four vertical tubes 231 extending in the vertical direction, and connects four corners of the upper frame 210 and four corners of the lower frame 220.

The upper end frame portion 210 includes: a left lateral tube 211 and a right lateral tube 212 arranged at a distance in the left-right direction; a reinforcement metal plate 213 that connects the distal ends of the cross pipes 211, 212; and a rear cross tube 214 connecting the rear end portions of the cross tubes 211 and 212. A pair of pin members 320 are respectively mounted on the rear cross tube 214 together with the positioning assistance member 310. In the figure, reference numeral 250 denotes a connector support mechanism 250 that supports the electrical connector 251 of the selective paper feeding device 20.

Fig. 5 shows a state in which the frame 100 (see fig. 3) of the image forming apparatus 1 is assembled above the frame 200 (see fig. 4) of the selective paper feeder 20. Fig. 6 is an enlarged view showing a VI portion of fig. 5 in an enlarged manner. As shown in the drawings, the positioning support member 310 is interposed between and engaged with the frame 200 of the selective paper feeding device 20 and the frame 100 of the image forming apparatus 1.

[ Structure of positioning assistance Member 310 ]

Details of the positioning assistance member 310 are explained with reference to fig. 7 to 9. Fig. 7 is a perspective view showing the positioning assistance member 310, fig. 8 is a perspective view showing a state where the pin member 320 is attached to the positioning assistance member 310, and fig. 9 is a sectional view taken along a line IX-IX of fig. 6. In the following description, unless otherwise specified, the setting position assistance member 310 is described in an assembled state (state of fig. 9).

The positioning assistance member 310 is formed of, for example, an integrally molded product of a resin material. The positioning assistance member 310 has a placement plate portion 311, a pair of upper extension portions 312, and a pair of lower extension portions 313.

The mounting plate portion (corresponding to the opposing portion) 311 is formed in a rectangular plate shape having a thickness in the height direction, and is mounted to face the upper surface of the rear cross tube 214 (see fig. 9) of the selective paper feeding device 20. The mounting plate portion 311 has a positioning hole 311a penetrating in the thickness direction and a cylindrical hole 311b connected to the upper end portion of the positioning hole 311 a. The bottom surface 311c of the cylindrical hole 311b is formed by an annular flat surface surrounding the positioning hole 311a, and forms a seating surface for the pin member 320.

The pair of upper extending portions 312 extend upward from the front end and the rear end of the mounting plate portion 311, respectively, and are formed to face each other in the front-rear direction.

Specifically, each upper extension 312 includes: vertical plates 312a extending in parallel in the left-right direction (vertical direction to the paper in fig. 9); and two ribs 312b extending in the front-rear direction from both left and right end edges of the vertical plate 312a along the end edges of the mounting plate portion 311. Thus, each upper extension 312 is formed in a japanese katakana "コ" shape when viewed from above.

An inclined surface 312c (an example of a guide portion) is formed on the upper end side of each rib 312 b. The inclined surfaces 312c of the two front ribs 312b are inclined downward toward the rear side, and the inclined surfaces 312c of the rear ribs 312b are inclined downward toward the front side. In other words, the pair of upper extending portions 312 have inclined surfaces 312c, and the inclined surfaces 312c are inclined toward the inner sides toward the lower sides of each other. A groove 314 for receiving the rear cross tube 122 of the image forming apparatus 1 is formed between the inner surfaces 312d of the pair of upper extending portions 312 (end surfaces extending in the vertical direction of the inclined surfaces 312c connected to the ribs 312 b). The groove portion 314 is a japanese katakana "コ" opened upward when viewed from the left-right direction (vertical direction of the paper of fig. 9). The width W1 of the groove portion 314 is set to be slightly larger than the width of the rear cross tube 122.

The pair of lower extending portions 313 are formed to extend downward from the front end and the rear end of the mounting plate portion 311, respectively, and to face each other in the front-rear direction. The inner side surfaces 313a of the pair of lower extending portions 313 are flat surfaces extending in the vertical direction, and a groove 315 for receiving the rear cross tube 214 of the selective paper feeding device 20 is formed between the inner side surfaces 313 a. The width W2 of the groove 315 is set to be slightly larger than the width of the rear cross tube 214.

Rectangular recesses 313c are formed in the outer surfaces of the pair of lower extending portions 313. Accordingly, the thickness of the lower extension portion 313 is reduced to improve the moldability. The outer and lower corner portions 313b of the pair of lower extending portions 313 are chamfered from the viewpoint of safety.

[ Structure of the Pin Member 320 ]

Next, the structure of the pin member 320 attached to the positioning assistance member 310 will be described with reference to fig. 9.

The pin member 320 is constituted by a stepped pin having a first positioning pin portion 321, a second positioning pin portion 322, and a seat portion 323. The first positioning pin portion 321, the second positioning pin portion 322, and the seat portion 323 are formed coaxially.

The upper half of the first positioning pin portion 321 is formed in a tapered shaft shape having a gradually decreasing diameter toward the upper side. The lower half of the first positioning pin portion 321 is formed in a cylindrical shape having a constant diameter regardless of the position in the up-down direction. The second positioning pin portion 322 is formed in a cylindrical shape whose diameter is constant over the entire vertical direction. The diameter of the second positioning pin portion 322 is smaller than the diameter of the lower half (constant diameter portion) of the first positioning pin portion 321. The seat portion 323 protrudes radially outward from the outer peripheral surface of the lower end portion of the first positioning pin portion 321 in a flange shape, and has a diameter larger than the lower half of the first positioning pin portion 321.

The first positioning pin portion 321 is fitted into the positioning hole 122a formed in the lower surface of the rear cross tube 122, and the second positioning pin portion 322 is fitted into both the positioning hole 311a formed in the positioning assistance member 310 and the positioning hole 214a formed in the rear cross tube 214 of the selective paper feeding device 20. The positioning assisting member 310 is positioned with respect to the rear cross tube 214 of the selective feeder 20 by the second positioning pin 322, and the rear cross tube 122 of the image forming apparatus 1 is positioned with respect to the rear cross tube 214 of the selective feeder 20 by the first positioning pin 321 and the second positioning pin 322. The seat 323 of the pin member 320 abuts against the bottom surface 311c of the cylindrical hole 311b formed in the mounting plate 311, thereby regulating the vertical position of the pin member 320.

[ mounting order of the image forming apparatus 1 with respect to the optional paper feeder 20 ]

Next, the operation procedure when the image forming apparatus 1 is installed above the selective paper feeding device 20 will be described with reference to fig. 10 and 11. In the drawings, the exterior cover is omitted for ease of explanation, but in the actual assembly operation, as shown in fig. 2 and 3, each of the frames 100 and 200 is covered with the exterior cover, and only the position required for positioning (the attachment position of the positioning assistance member 310, the formation position of the positioning hole 214a, and the like) is exposed to the outside from the exterior cover.

First, as shown in fig. 10, the operator mounts two positioning assistance members 310 (only one of which is shown in fig. 10) on the rear cross tube 214 of the selective paper feeder 20 at a left-right interval. Then, the positions of the positioning assistance members 310 are adjusted so that the positioning holes 311a of the positioning assistance members 310 coincide with the left and right positioning holes 214a formed in the rear cross tube 214. Then, the second positioning pin portions 322 of the pin members 320 are inserted into the positioning holes 311a and 214a in a piercing manner, whereby the positioning assistance members 310 are positioned so as to be immovable in the front-rear direction and the left-right direction with respect to the rear cross tube 214.

Next, the operator lifts the image forming apparatus 1 and inserts the first positioning pin portions 321 of the left and right pin members 320 into the left and right positioning holes 122a formed in the rear cross tube 122 of the frame 100. At this time, even if the rear cross tube 122 of the image forming apparatus 1 is displaced forward or rearward from the target position, the rear cross tube 122 abuts against the front or rear inclined surface 312c of the positioning assistance member 310 and moves obliquely downward along the inclined surface 312 c. Accordingly, the rear cross tube 122 is guided by the inclined surface 312c so that the positioning hole 122a of the rear cross tube 122 of the image forming apparatus 1 approaches the first positioning pin portion 321 of the pin member 320. The solid lines in fig. 11 show an example in which the rear cross tube 122 is shifted to the front side from the normal attachment position. In this case, the rear cross tube 122 moves obliquely downward (in the direction of the two-dot chain line arrow in the figure) by gravity while contacting the rear inclined surface 312c, and finally reaches the normal mounting position shown by the two-dot chain line in fig. 11.

[ Effect ]

As described above, in the present embodiment, the positioning assistance member 310 has four inclined surfaces 312c, and when the frame 100 of the image forming apparatus 1 is disposed on the upper side of the frame 200 of the selective feeder 20, the four inclined surfaces 312c guide the rear cross tube 122 of the image forming apparatus 1 such that the positioning holes 122a formed in the lower surface of the rear cross tube 122 of the image forming apparatus 1 are close to the first positioning pin portions 321 of the pin members 320, as viewed from the extending direction of the rear cross tube 214 of the selective feeder 20 (as viewed from the direction perpendicular to the sheet of fig. 11).

According to this configuration, as described above, the rear cross tube 122 is guided by the inclined surfaces 312c so that the positioning holes 122a of the rear cross tube 122 of the image forming apparatus 1 are close to the first positioning pins 321 of the pin member 320. Therefore, when the image forming apparatus 1 is assembled to the selective paper feeder 20, even if the positioning hole 122a on the lower surface of the image forming apparatus 1 cannot be visually recognized by the operator, the positioning hole 122a can be easily engaged with the first positioning pin portion 321. Therefore, the positioning operation of the image forming apparatus 1 and the selective paper feeder 20 can be facilitated, and the burden on the operator can be reduced.

The positioning assistance member 310 has a groove 314 for receiving the rear cross tube 122 at the lower end of the image forming apparatus 1, and four inclined surfaces 312c of the positioning assistance member 310 are formed by arranging two front and rear inclined surfaces 312c facing each other across the groove 314 at a left-right interval. The front inclined surface 312c and the rear inclined surface 312c are formed so as to be inclined downward toward the inner side of each other.

According to this configuration, even if the position of the rear cross tube 122 of the image forming apparatus 1 is shifted to either the front side or the rear side, the rear cross tube 122 can be guided to a regular position. Further, since the front inclined surface 312c and the rear inclined surface 312c are inclined inward toward the lower side, the interval between them is relatively large near the upper end position. Therefore, even if the front-rear position of the rear cross tube 122 is slightly shifted, the rear cross tube 122 can be reliably brought into contact with the front or rear inclined surface 312c and guided to a proper position.

The positioning assistance member 310 includes: a mounting plate portion 311 which is mounted on the upper surface of the rear cross tube 214 of the selective paper feeding device 20 and has a positioning hole 311a into which the second positioning pin portion 322 is fitted; and a pair of left and right upper extension portions 312 extending upward from the mounting plate portion 311 and facing each other with the positioning hole 311a interposed therebetween, two inclined surfaces 312c being formed on the left upper extension portion 312, and the remaining two inclined surfaces 312c being formed on the right upper extension portion 312.

With this configuration, the positioning assistance member 310 can be formed in a simple shape. Therefore, molding failure is less likely to occur when the positioning assistance member 310 is resin molded.

The positioning assistance member 310 further includes a pair of lower extending portions 313, and the pair of lower extending portions 313 extend downward from the mounting plate portion 311 and face each other with the rear cross tube 214 of the selective paper feeding device 20 interposed therebetween.

According to this configuration, even if the positioning assistance member 310 rotates around the axial center of the pin member 320 or tilts in the front-rear direction, the pair of lower extending portions 313 abut against the rear cross tube 214 of the selective paper feeding device 20 to regulate the movement of the positioning assistance member 310. Therefore, it is possible to avoid the inclined surfaces 312c from interfering with the guiding function of the rear cross tube 122 due to the rotation or inclination of the positioning assistance member 310.

In the above embodiment, the first positioning pin 321 and the second positioning pin 322 are disposed coaxially with each other and are integrated into one pin member 320.

According to this structure, the number of parts can be reduced, and the manufacturing cost can be reduced. In addition, since the number of the positioning holes 311a formed in the positioning assistance member 310 can be set to one, the positioning structure 300 can be simplified.

Other embodiments

In the above embodiment, the guide portion provided on the positioning assistance member 310 is configured by the inclined surface 312c, but the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, as shown in fig. 12, the guide portion may be configured by the arc surface 312e, and the slope of the arc surface 312e becomes gradually lower. Accordingly, the rear cross tube 122 can be guided gently along the arc surface 312e, and thus the impact when the positioning hole 122a of the rear cross tube 122 is fitted into the first positioning pin portion 321 of the pin member 320 can be alleviated.

In the above embodiment, the positioning structure 300 is configured such that two inclined surfaces 312c as the guide portions are provided on both the front and rear sides of the pin member 320, respectively, but the number and arrangement of the inclined surfaces 312c are not limited to this, and the inclined surfaces 312c may be provided only on the front side or the rear side of the pin member 320, and the total number of the inclined surfaces 312c is not limited to four, may be one, or may be three or more.

In the above embodiment, the first positioning pin portion 321 and the second positioning pin portion 322 are integrated as the pin member 320, but the present invention is not limited thereto, and the first positioning pin portion 321 and the second positioning pin portion 322 may be separately disposed at different positions. In this case, for example, a positioning hole for the first positioning pin portion 321 and a positioning hole for the second positioning pin portion 322 may be formed in the positioning assistance member 310.

In the above embodiment, the first positioning pin portion 321 and the second positioning pin portion 322 are configured separately from the positioning assistance member 310, but the present invention is not limited thereto, and may be integrally molded with the positioning assistance member 310. In this case, from the viewpoint of securing strength, it is preferable that the positioning assistance member 310 is made of a metal material.

In the above embodiment, the image forming apparatus 1 is a multifunction peripheral (MFP), but is not limited thereto, and may be a copier, a printer, a facsimile machine, or the like, for example.