JP2001075322A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To smoothly carry out an operation of fetching ejected recording paper by economically illuminating inside of a paper ejecting space that is positioned below an image reading part in a device main body in the image forming device. SOLUTION: This device is provided with an image reading part 1 with the original platen 12 where an original is placed, an image reading means 14 reading an image of the original by radiating light on the original placed on an original platen with and a light source lamp 15 and a light transmitting window 42 is provided in bottom surface part, an image recording part 3 provided with an image recording means 33 recording the image on recording paper, a paper ejecting space 2 that is provided stacked below the image reading part and where recording paper ejected from the image recording part is received and retained and a reflecting mirror 41 (optical means) by which light emitted by the light source lamp 15 of the image reading means is received and conducted inside a paper ejecting space 21 through the light transmitting window 42 provided on the bottom surface of the image reading part.

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 in which a discharge space for receiving a recording sheet on which an image is recorded is provided below an image reading section.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In an image forming apparatus used as a copying machine or a facsimile apparatus, an image reading section for arranging an original on an original arranging section in an apparatus main body and reading an image described on the original by optical image reading means; The image reading unit includes an image recording unit that records the image of the document read by the image reading unit on recording paper, and a paper discharge unit that records the image from the image recording unit and receives the recording paper discharged.

Generally, in this image forming apparatus, an image reading section is provided at an upper portion of the apparatus main body so that an operator can easily handle a document, and a sheet discharge section (sheet discharge stacker) is protruded to the side of the apparatus complement. In order to reduce the occupied area so as not to cause such a situation, there has been proposed a structure in which a paper discharge space portion is provided below the image reading section in the apparatus main body. The paper discharge space is opened at the side of the apparatus main body, and the operator inserts his hand into the paper discharge space from the outside of the apparatus main body to take out the recording paper discharged to the paper discharge space. I have. This type of image forming apparatus is called an internal discharge type because of its structure.

[0004]

However, in this internal-discharge type image forming apparatus, since the image reading section is provided above the discharge space of the apparatus main body, the discharge space is not provided. Most of the light from the lighting equipment provided in the room where the image forming apparatus is installed is covered by the image reading section, and most of the light is not blocked by the image reading section and is inserted only through an open portion opened at the side of the apparatus body. It only enters the discharge space.
That is, the light emitted from the indoor lighting device is blocked by the image reading unit located above the paper discharge space, and a shadow falls on the paper discharge space. During the day, the inside of the paper discharge space is very difficult to see due to the reasons described above, depending on the installation location and the lighting at night, etc. Therefore, when the operator takes out the recording paper discharged to the paper discharge space, there is a problem that the work of taking out the recording paper with the recording paper cannot be performed smoothly because the inside of the paper discharge space is dark.

The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus in which the brightness of a paper discharge space located below an image reading section in the apparatus main body is increased so that the operation of taking out the discharged recording paper can be performed smoothly. The purpose is to provide.

[0006]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus which irradiates a document placed on the document placement section with light by a document placement section for placing a document and a light source lamp, and writes the light on the document. An image reading unit having an image reading unit for reading a read image and a light-transmitting window provided on a bottom surface, an image recording unit including an image recording unit for recording an image on a recording sheet, and a lower side of the image reading unit A paper discharge space for receiving recording paper discharged from the image recording unit, and a light emitted from a light source lamp of the image reading means, and transmitting the light to a bottom surface of the image reading unit. Optical means for guiding the inside of the paper discharge space through an optical window.

According to the configuration of the present invention, the paper discharge space located below the image reading section can be provided by an economic means using a light source lamp which is a light source of the image reading means without providing a special light source. The operation of taking out the discharged recording paper by illuminating the inside of the unit to make it bright can be performed smoothly.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the first aspect, a detection unit for detecting an object that has entered from outside is provided in the discharge space, and a light source lamp of the image reading unit is provided with a light source lamp. It is characterized in that it is turned on by a signal detected by the detecting means.

According to the structure of the present invention, the light source lamp, which is the light source of the image reading means, is turned on only when the operator inserts his hand into the paper discharge space and takes out the discharged document. Since the lighting is performed, it is more economical than the case where the light source lamp is constantly lit and illuminated.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the first aspect, the image reading means is arranged in the document placing section by reciprocating a light source lamp between a standby position and a turn-back position. The document is irradiated with light, and the translucent window and the optical unit are provided at a position facing a standby position of a light source lamp of the image reading unit.

According to the structure of the present invention, since the operator inserts his hand into the paper discharge space and takes out the document when the image recording is completed, the operator sets the light transmitting window and the optical means to the image reading means. By providing the light source lamp at a position facing the standby position of the light source lamp, the light of the light source lamp can be effectively guided to the paper discharge space.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the first aspect, the optical means includes a concave mirror for reflecting light emitted from a light source lamp of the image reading means. .

According to the structure of the present invention, the light of the light source lamp can be effectively collected and guided to the paper discharge space.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus of the first aspect, the image recording section is provided below the discharge space.

According to the configuration of the present invention, the image recording unit is provided by utilizing the space below the paper discharge space, and the occupation occupation occupation surface responsibility of the apparatus can be reduced.

[0016]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

In this embodiment, the present invention is applied to a copying machine. 1 and 2 are diagrams schematically showing a configuration of a copying machine according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a state of waiting for a copying operation, and FIG. 2 is performing a copying operation. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a state, and FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an appearance of the copying machine.

In the figure, reference numeral 51 denotes a copying machine main body (hereinafter referred to as a main body). An image reading section 1 is provided in an upper part of the main body 51, and a lower part of the image reading section 1 is overlapped and discharged in the middle part. A paper space section 2 is provided, and an image recording section 3 is provided at a lower portion so as to overlap below the paper discharge space section 2.

The document reading section 1 includes a case 11, a document placing plate 12, which is an example of a document placement section made of a transparent glass plate horizontally provided on the upper surface of the case 11, and places a document on the upper surface. A cover 13 is provided on the case 11 so as to be swingable and rotatable, and covers the upper surface of the document placing plate 12 so as to be openable and closable. It has image reading means 14 for reading. The image reading means 14 includes a light source lamp 15 for irradiating the original with light, a plurality of reflecting mirrors 16 for reflecting the light emitted from the light source lamp 15, and a light reflected by the plurality of reflecting mirrors 16 and converted into an electric signal. The light source lamp 15 and the plurality of reflecting mirrors 16 are provided with a light receiving element unit 17 using, for example, a CCD. The inside of the case 11 is divided into a standby position A and a folding position B separated from the standby position A by a predetermined distance.
Is mounted on a reciprocating movement mechanism 18 that linearly reciprocates between and. The standby position A is set at a position close to the rear surface of the case 11, and the turnback position B is set at a position close to the front surface. The light source lamp 15 is located above the document placing plate 12 in order to irradiate the document placed on the document placing plate 12 with light. In the image reading section 1, an operation panel 19 provided with various keys for performing a copying operation is provided on a front portion of the case 11.

The paper discharge space 2 has a case 21, the front of the case 21 is open, the top is closed by the bottom of the image reading unit 2, and the bottom is the front of the image reading unit 2. The stacker 22 is formed so as to be inclined so as to become lower toward the rear surface portion. A paper discharge port 23 that opens inside the case 21 is formed on the rear surface of the case 21. That is, the entire inside of the case 21 is a paper discharge space.

The image recording section 3 has a case 31, a cassette 32 for stacking and storing recording paper P, and an image recording means 33 for recording an image on the recording paper P by an electrophotographic method. A transport path for transporting the recording paper P to the paper discharge port 23 via 33 is set. A transport roller (not shown) for transporting the recording paper P is provided in the transport path.
A discharge roller for discharging the recording paper P from the discharge port 23 is provided.

Next, a configuration for illuminating the paper discharge space 2 which is a feature of the present invention will be described. A reflection mirror 41 is provided above the rear end of the inside of the case 11 of the image reading unit 1. The reflecting mirror 41 uses the light source lamp 15 of the image reading unit 14 as a light source, and
This is an example of an optical unit that receives light emitted from the optical disc and guides the light to the inside of the paper discharge space 2 through a light transmitting window 42 provided on the bottom surface of the case 11 as described later. The reflecting mirror 14 is provided above the rear end inside the case 11 and receives and reflects light from the light source lamp 15 at the standby position A. This is because the operator inserts his hand in the paper discharge space 2 and takes out the original when the image recording is completed and the image reading means 14 is at the standby position.
This is because the light from the light source lamp 15 can be effectively guided to the inside of the paper discharge space 2 by providing the light source lamp 5 at a position facing the standby position A of the light source lamp 15.

The reflecting mirror 15 is, for example, a concave mirror. This is because the reflecting mirror 15 effectively collects the light emitted from the light source lamp 15 and the light transmitting window 4 provided on the bottom of the case 11.
This is because the light is guided to the inside of the paper discharge space portion 2 and irradiated in an appropriate range. The reflecting mirror 7 composed of a concave mirror collects light emitted from the light source lamp 15 and smoothly guides the light emitted from the light source lamp 15 to the inside of the paper discharge space 2 through the light transmitting window 42. Is set.

The rear end of the bottom of the case 11 (a position facing the standby position A of the light source lamp 15) has a light-transmitting window 4
2 is provided to realize transmission of light from the inside of the case 11 of the image reading unit 1 to the inside of the case 21 of the paper discharge space 2. This translucent window 42 is
As described above, the rear end of the bottom surface of the case 11 in order to effectively transmit the light reflected by the reflecting mirror 41 provided at the position facing the standby position A of the light source lamp 15 into the discharge space 2. And the size and shape are set appropriately. The light-transmitting window 42 is provided with a ground glass plate (clouded glass plate: an extremely small number of irregularities exist and diffuses light), and diffuses the light reflected by the reflecting mirror 42 to form the inside of the paper discharge space 2. Is illuminated over a wide area.

In the light transmitting window 42, a lens is provided as means for diffusing the light reflected by the reflecting mirror 41, and the reflecting mirror 4 is provided.
It is also possible to make adjustments so that the light reflected by 1 can be reliably guided to the inside of the paper discharge space 2 and irradiated with an appropriate size.

A sensor 43 is provided inside the case 21 of the paper discharge space 2, and the sensor 43 detects the hand when the operator puts his / her hand through the open front of the case 21. For example, an infrared sensor is used. In order to perform the above-described operation, the sensor 43 is disposed at a position from half the length in the direction connecting the front opening portion and the rear surface portion of the case 21 to the portion from the front opening portion. Attach to the appropriate part of the part. The signal detected by the sensor 43 is transmitted to the device main body 51.
The control circuit receives a detection signal from the sensor 43 and turns on the light source lamp 15 of the image reading means 14. That is, in the image reading means 14 of the type of reading an image by reciprocating the light source lamp 15, the light source lamp 15
Is normally turned off when the camera is at the standby position A because no image is read. Therefore, the light source lamp 15 is turned on for illumination only when the hand is inserted into the paper discharge space 2 and the recording paper P discharged to the paper discharge space 2 is taken out. The light source lamp 15 is turned on by instructing the control circuit to turn on the light for a predetermined time set in advance.
Alternatively, the light source lamp 15 is turned on while the sensor 43 detects the inserted hand. As a result, when the operator places his hand in the paper discharge space 2, the light source lamp 15 is automatically turned on, so that the operation is very convenient and easy, and the light source lamp 15 is turned on only when necessary. The life of the light source lamp 15 can be extended, and unnecessary power consumption can be suppressed.

The operation of the copier thus constructed will be described. As shown in FIG. 2, the manuscript cover 13 is swung up to place the manuscript F on the manuscript mounting plate 12, and
3, the document F is pressed down from above. Operation panel 19
By operating a start key provided on the image reading unit 1, the light source lamp 15 and the reflecting mirror 16 of the image reading means 14 provided on the image reading unit 1 are moved from the standby position A to the folding position B by the reciprocating movement mechanism 18, and from the folding position B again. Move to standby position A. During the reciprocating movement, the light source lamp 15 irradiates the original F placed on the original placing plate 12 with light during the forward movement. This light is reflected by each reflecting mirror 16, reaches the light receiving element unit 17, and is converted into an image signal. Incidentally, the light source lamp 15 of the image reading means 14 returning to the standby position A is turned off.

In the image recording section 3, an image is recorded by the image recording means 33 by an electrophotographic method while the recording paper P stored in the cassette 32 is fed out and transported. This image is based on the image signal read by the image reading means 14. The recording paper P on which the image has been recorded is discharged into the discharge space 2 from a discharge port 23 formed on the rear surface of the case 21 in the discharge space 2, and is discharged onto the stacker 22 provided in the discharge space 2. To fall. The recording paper P on which the image is recorded in this manner is sequentially discharged to the paper discharge space 2 and is
It is stacked and stored.

Here, in order to take out the recording paper P on which the image has been recorded and discharged to the paper discharge space 2, the operator inserts his hand from the outside of the main body 51 into the inside of the paper discharge space 2 through the front opening portion. Then, the sensor 43 provided in the paper discharge space 2 detects that the hand has entered. The control circuit receives the detection signal from the sensor 43 and turns on the light source lamp 15 of the image reading unit 14 in the image reading unit 1. As shown in FIG. 1, light emitted from the light source lamp 15 is received by a reflecting mirror 41 formed of a concave mirror, reflected downward, and diffused while transmitting through a frosted glass plate of a light transmitting window 42 provided on the bottom of the case 11. The inside of the paper discharge space 2 is entered. As a result, the inside of the paper discharge space 2 is brightly and softly illuminated in a wide range, and the recording paper P stacked on the stacker 22 is illuminated.
For this reason, the operator can easily check the recording paper P inside the bright paper discharge space 2, grasp it by hand, and take it out of the paper discharge space 2.

That is, in this copying machine, the upper side of the paper discharge space 2 is covered by the image reading unit 1, and most of the light of the lighting equipment provided in the room where the copying machine is installed is blocked by the image reading unit 1. However, when the ejected recording paper P is taken out from the paper ejection space 2, the inside of the paper ejection space 2 is illuminated and brightened. Work can be done smoothly. The means for illuminating the inside of the paper discharge space 2 is very economical because the light source lamp 15 which is the light source of the image reading means 14 provided in the image reading section 1 is used without providing a special light source. .

In the copying machine of this embodiment, since the image recording section 3 is provided by utilizing the space below the paper discharge space 2, the occupied area of the copying machine is very small. Can be suppressed.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, but can be implemented with various modifications. For example, in the above-described embodiment, the image recording unit is provided so as to overlap the lower side of the paper discharge space. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the image recording unit may be provided adjacent to the paper discharge space. The image forming apparatus of the present invention is not limited to a copying machine, but can be applied to a facsimile machine and the like.

[0033]

According to the image forming apparatus of the first aspect of the present invention, an economical means using the light source lamp of the image reading means without providing a special light source is provided below the image reading section in the apparatus main body. The work in taking out the discharged recording paper by increasing the brightness in the paper discharge space located on the side can be performed smoothly.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the light source lamp, which is the light source of the image reading means, is turned on only when the operator inserts his hand into the paper discharge space and takes out the discharged document. Since the lighting is performed, it is very economical as compared with the case where the light source lamp is always lit and illuminated.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, since the operator inserts his hand into the paper discharge space and takes out the original when image recording is completed, the light transmitting window and the optical unit are replaced by the image reading unit. By providing the light source lamp at a position facing the standby position of the light source lamp, the light of the light source lamp can be effectively guided to the paper discharge space.

According to the fourth aspect of the invention, by using a reflecting mirror for the optical means, the light of the light source lamp of the document reading means can be effectively collected and guided to the paper discharge space.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the image recording section is provided by utilizing the space below the paper discharge space, so that the occupation occupation occupancy of the apparatus can be reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically showing a configuration of a copying machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram schematically showing a configuration of the copying machine according to the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is an exemplary perspective view showing the appearance of the copying machine according to the embodiment;

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Image reading part, 2 ... Paper discharge space part, 3 ... Image recording part, 11 ... Case, 12 ... Original mounting plate, 14 ... Image reading means, 15 ... Light source lamp, 21 ... Case, 22 ... Stacker, 23 .., Paper ejection outlet, 33, image recording means, 41, reflecting mirror (optical means), 42, translucent window, 43, sensor.

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page F term (reference) 2H027 DC12 ED04 ED19 EF06 EF09 EF13 ZA10 2H071 BA05 BA23 BA27 BA29 DA03 DA24 EA12 2H072 AB17 FB01 FB06 3F054 AC02 AC03 BA02 BJ02 5C062 AA05 AB35 AC65 AD06

Claims (5)

[Claims] An image reading means for irradiating a document placed on the document placement unit with light by a light source lamp to read an image described on the document; An image reading unit provided with an optical window, an image recording unit provided with an image recording unit for recording an image on a recording sheet, and a recording sheet discharged from the image recording unit and provided below the image reading unit. A discharge space portion receiving the light, and an optical unit that receives light emitted from a light source lamp of the image reading unit and guides the light to the inside of the discharge space portion through the light transmitting window provided on a bottom portion of the image reading unit. An image forming apparatus comprising: 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a detecting means for detecting an object entering from the outside is provided in the discharge space, and a light source lamp of the image reading means is turned on by a signal detected by the detecting means. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1. 3. An image reading means for irradiating a document placed on the document placement section with light by reciprocating a light source lamp between a standby position and a turn-back position. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the optical unit is provided at a position facing a standby position of a light source lamp of the image reading unit. 4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the optical unit includes a concave mirror that reflects light emitted from a light source lamp of the image reading unit. 5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image recording unit is provided below the discharge space.