JP2000131905A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming device which secures a wide space as a worktable or the like without making a device large. SOLUTION: An ADF 24 is provided almost in the middle of the table-like top face of a copying-machine body unit 20, and a table 30 and an original paper ejection tray 25 are provided in the form of wings projecting left and right with the ADF 24 between them. A flat table face for a first tier is formed of the top face 28 of the copying-machine body unit 20, the top face 40 of a paper feed unit 26 for a large quantity, and the top face 42 of a paper ejection unit 27, and a wide flat table face for a second tier is formed of the top faces of the ADF 24 and the paper ejection tray 25 and the top face of the table 30. Therefore, even in the case a worktable or the like is not situated nearby, an area for placing originals, paper subjected to image formation, clips, pens, etc., is secured.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, and more particularly, to an image forming apparatus in which the shape and structure of the upper surface of the image forming apparatus are improved to increase the space usable as a worktable or the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As shown in FIG. 1, an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine or a printer is integrally combined with an image forming apparatus main body 1, an ADF 2 serving as a paper feeding unit, a paper discharging device 3, and an operation display device 4. As shown in FIG. 2, the image forming unit 5 and the large-volume paper feeding unit 6 and the paper discharging unit 7 as shown in FIG.
Alternatively, there is a configuration in which a paper processing unit and the like are combined.

It is necessary to consider that these image forming apparatuses and their surrounding environment often include a document, an image-formed sheet, or a stationery such as a clip or a pen when the image forming operation is performed. is there.

[0004]

However, since the conventional image forming apparatus is not designed in consideration of the place where the original is placed, it is often troublesome to have no space. For example, in the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 1, the upper surface portion of the image forming apparatus main body 1 is mostly occupied by the ADF 2 and the operation display device 3, and another table is arranged around the apparatus or a cabinet around the apparatus. There was no choice but to use the top surface. Further, in the image forming apparatus shown in FIG.
Although there is some space on the large-volume paper feed unit 6 and the paper discharge unit 7, the height of the large-volume paper supply unit 6 is low, which is inconvenient for work. At present, the work table 9 has to be used as shown in FIG. 3 because the work table 9 cannot be properly placed, falls, or protrudes onto the paper discharge tray 8 to prevent paper discharge.

In recent years, examples of using a small personal computer in combination with an image forming apparatus have been increasing. However, in such a case, the image forming apparatuses of FIGS. As shown in FIG. 3, a work table 9 is arranged around the apparatus, and a personal computer 10 is mounted on the work table 9. In an image forming apparatus of a type configured by combining a plurality of units in a large size, for example, as shown in FIG.
Next to the image processing unit 12 and other units 1
3, the personal computer 10 is mounted on the image processing unit 12, but the size of the personal computer 10 is considerably increased.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of such conventional problems, and has as its object to provide an image forming apparatus capable of providing a large space as a work table without increasing the size. I do.

[0007]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus comprising: a table section having a flat upper surface on an upper surface of a main body of the image forming apparatus; Are provided in two or more stages.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in order to achieve the above object, the image forming apparatus has a unit or a convex portion projecting from the upper surface of the main body, and the upper surface is aligned with the upper surface of the unit or the convex portion. A flat table portion is provided corresponding to at least a part of the outer periphery of the unit or the convex portion.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in order to achieve the above object, the table portion is formed as a part of the unit or the convex portion.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in order to achieve the above object, the table portion is formed to protrude in a blade shape from the unit or the convex portion within a range of the upper surface of the image forming apparatus main body. It is characterized by the following.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in order to achieve the above object, all or a part of the unit or the convex portion is provided so as to be openable and closable, thereby avoiding interference with the table portion at the time of opening and closing. It is characterized by having means.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in order to achieve the above object, a transparent space on which articles can be placed is provided between the upper surface of the image forming apparatus main body and the table. .

[0013]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention. The image forming apparatus in the illustrated example is a copying machine. In the figure, reference numeral 20 denotes a main body unit of the copying machine.
4. A document discharge tray 25 is provided. Reference numeral 26 in the figure denotes a large-volume paper feed unit, and 27 denotes a paper discharge unit.

Each of the units 20, 26 and 27 has a front surface which is almost flat and has no unevenness as shown in the figure, and is configured so as to have the same height and depth.

In the copying machine main unit 20, an ADF 24 is provided at a substantially central position of a table-like upper surface portion 28, and a document discharge tray 25 is arranged on the right side of the ADF 24, and portions other than those occupied by these components are flat. A surface is formed. In the figure, reference numeral 29 denotes a power switch which is arranged in a small recess formed in the upper surface portion 28.

Although not shown in detail, the original discharge tray 25 is provided on the right side of the ADF 24 in the drawing so as to open and close together when the ADF 24 is opened and closed by means such as screws or insertion. A table 30 is provided on the left side in the figure similarly. That is, ADF
A document discharge tray 25 and a table 30 are formed to protrude left and right around the center 24 in a blade shape, and a flat portion on the upper surface thereof can be used as a table for a sheet, a document 32 and the like. In the illustrated embodiment, the operation display device 31 is provided at the center of the upper surface of the table 30. However, if the installation position is the end of the table 30, the upper surface can be used more widely. FIG. 6 shows a state in which a laptop personal computer 33 is placed on the upper surface of the table 30.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing another mounting mode of the table 30. As shown in FIG. 7A, an arm 34 is provided on the back side of the upper surface 28 of the copier main unit 20, and a table 30 is mounted thereon. 7B, the table 30 is mounted directly on the upper surface 28 of the copier main unit 20 with screws 35. 7C, the mounting member 36 is placed on the upper surface of a peripheral device such as the paper discharge unit 27, and is directly mounted together with the table 30 with the screw 35. Of course, these attachment modes can also be applied to the document discharge tray 25.

The large-volume paper feed unit 26 has a plurality of paper feed stages 37 to 39, and almost the entire upper surface 40 is flattened. The sheet discharge unit 27 is provided with a large-volume sheet discharge tray 41 on the left side thereof so as to be vertically movable, and a sheet discharge tray 43 provided by cutting out a central portion on the left edge side of the upper surface portion 42. The portion other than the portion where the paper tray 43 is provided has a flat shape.

For this reason, when the units 20, 26, and 27 are connected to constitute one image forming apparatus, the upper surface 28 of the copier main unit 20 and the large-volume sheet feeding unit 2
6 and the upper surface 4 of the paper discharge unit 27.
2 are connected to form a first-stage table surface, and ADF2
4 and the upper surface of the document discharge tray 25 and the upper surface of the table 30 form an extremely wide second flat table surface. There is no need to worry about where to place image-formed paper, clips, pens, etc.

In the illustrated embodiment, since a two-stage table surface is formed, not only the document 32 and the personal computer 33 are placed, but also the document discharge tray 25 and the table 30 and the units 20, 26 and 27. Upper surface part 28, 4
A relatively thick bundle of sheets 44 and the like can be placed between the transparent portions 0 and 42, which is very convenient. Of course, not only the original 32 and the sheet bundle 44 but also a unitized machine, device, and the like can be installed.

A unit mounted on the copier main unit 20, such as the ADF 24, or the copier main unit 2
There may be a case where a portion that needs to be provided to be openable and closable, such as a cover for jam clearance, is present on the convex portion provided on the zero. In such a case, if the mounting mode of the table 30 as shown in FIG. 7 is adopted, the operation of the opening / closing part will be interfered. Therefore, for example, the mounting structure as shown in FIG. 8 can be adopted as means for avoiding interference.

In the structure shown in FIG. 8A, the table 30 is mounted on the copier main unit 20 so as to be horizontally rotatable about a shaft 45, and when the cover 46 of the ADF 24 is opened and closed, the table 30 is horizontally moved from the ADF. It is intended to be able to be rotated away. In the structure shown in FIG. 8B, the cover 46 of the ADF 24 can be removed upward. Further, the structure shown in FIG.
An overhang 47 is provided in the cover 46 (or in the vicinity of the portion where the cover 46 of the ADF 24 is provided) to fill the gap with the table 30 so that the center of rotation of the cover 46 is slightly away from the edge of the table 30. When the cover 46 is opened and closed, the overhang 47 enters the lower side of the table 30. In the structure shown in FIG. 8C, even if the document 32 or the like is placed on the table 30 or the cover 46, the drop can be prevented.

[0023]

As described above, in the image forming apparatus according to the present invention, two or more steps of the table portion having the flat upper surface are provided on the upper surface of the image forming apparatus main body, or the upper surface is formed in the flat shape. Is provided in correspondence with at least a part of the outer periphery of the unit or the protrusion protruding from the upper surface of the image forming apparatus main body. As a result, it is possible to greatly increase the space as a result, and to improve the working efficiency.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, as described above, the table portion is formed into a blade shape from a unit or a projection projecting from the upper surface of the image forming apparatus main body within the range of the upper surface of the image forming apparatus main body. Since it is overhanging, in addition to the above-mentioned common effects, there is an effect that the space as a work table or a storage space can be increased without increasing the space required for installation as an image forming apparatus.

In the image forming apparatus according to the fifth aspect, as described above, the interference between the unit protruding from the upper surface of the image forming apparatus main body and the table portion when opening and closing a portion provided to be openable and closable is provided. Since there is a means to avoid, in addition to the above-mentioned common effect, there is an effect that the installation of the table portion is not restricted by the presence of the opening and closing portion.

In the image forming apparatus according to the sixth aspect, as described above, a transparent space on which articles can be placed is provided between the upper surface of the image forming apparatus main body and the table section. In addition, there is an effect that not only the placement of the articles on the table section but also the placement and storage of the articles in the transparent space can be performed without reducing the space of the table section.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating an example of a conventional image forming apparatus.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an example of a conventional image forming apparatus.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a working state in the conventional image forming apparatus of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating an example of another conventional image forming apparatus.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing another example of use of the embodiment of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing an example of mounting the table of the embodiment of FIG. 5;

FIG. 8 is a plan view (A), a perspective view (B), and a side sectional view (C) showing an example of avoiding interference of the table of the embodiment of FIG. 5 and an opening / closing portion that may interfere with the table.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 20 Copier main unit 21-23 Paper feed tray 24 ADF 25 Document discharge tray 26 Large-volume paper feed unit 27 Paper discharge unit 28 Top part of copier main unit 29 Power switch 30 Table 31 Operation display device 32 Paper and document 33 Personal Computer 34 Arm 35 Screw 36 Mounting member 37-39 Paper feed stage of high-volume paper feed unit 40 Upper surface of high-volume paper feed unit 41 High-volume paper discharge tray 42 Upper surface of high-volume paper discharge tray 43 Paper discharge tray 44 Paper bundle 45 Table Shaft 46 ADF cover 47 ADF cover overhang

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. An image forming apparatus, comprising: an upper surface of an image forming apparatus main body, and two or more table sections having a flat upper surface. 2. An image forming apparatus comprising: a unit or a protrusion protruding from an upper surface of a main body of the image forming apparatus; and a table having a flat upper surface in accordance with the upper surface of the unit or the protrusion. An image forming apparatus provided to correspond to at least a part of the image forming apparatus. 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the table section is formed as a part of the unit or the projection. 4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said table portion is formed to protrude like a blade from said unit or convex portion within a range of an upper surface of said image forming apparatus main body. 5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein all or a part of the unit or the convex portion is provided so as to be openable and closable, and means is provided for avoiding interference with the table portion at the time of opening and closing. Image forming apparatus. 6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a transparent space on which articles can be placed is provided between an upper surface of the image forming apparatus main body and the table.