JP2003188551A - Image formation device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To deal with multi-functions when fitting up a control device of an image formation device with an extension function as an option by additionally setting an arbitrary number of boxes in a rear side in addition to fitting of a main body with an option board. <P>SOLUTION: A slot 20 for an option function covered with a removable panel provided to a side of an image formation device is provided with a space for allowing two option boards 25, 26 to be attached. Furthermore, if an extension function is additionally fixed, a control function in a control device can be added by fixing additional boxes 30, 31... to a rear side of a device main body 2 in superposition one by one and mounting an option board on each additional box. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

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 combining a plurality of functions such as a copying machine and a facsimile.
The present invention relates to a device capable of arbitrarily adding an extension box accommodating an option board in response to adding a large number of optional functions.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In an image forming apparatus constructed by combining the functions of a copying machine, a facsimile machine, and / or a printer, a device having one or more other functions is connected to a predetermined position of the apparatus body. For this purpose, a slot for mounting the end of the control cable is provided. In addition, a part for inserting a control board is provided inside the main body of the apparatus for transmitting information to and from the main body control section, and it is easy to cope with the addition of one or two optional functions. It is configured to be possible. As the optional function, a network board, a printer parallel board, a PC scanner board, etc. are generally used, and by installing the function to be added among the functions in the mounting section, The function can be easily added.

[0003]

In the accommodating portion of the control board provided inside the apparatus body, the accommodating space is limited, and when the control board is mounted in the accommodating space,
There is a problem that you cannot add more extensions. However, with respect to the image forming apparatus, it is necessary to gradually add a large number of functions as the usage patterns of users are diversified. Therefore, in order to be able to meet the various requirements of those users, in order to accommodate connection means such as terminals for dealing with optional functions and a control board for additional functions, the device body Although it is required to form a large space, the provision of a space for accommodating a large number of substrates and the like inside the apparatus body also causes the apparatus to become large. In response to the above-mentioned problems, an increase in the size of the device causes inconvenience to the user who is satisfied with a small number of functions because the device becomes difficult to use due to the extra functions.

According to the present invention, an expansion function can be easily added to the image forming apparatus so that the image forming apparatus can be expanded, and an apparatus capable of adding an arbitrary number of boxes having additional functions to the rear surface of the apparatus body is provided. Is intended.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus having a slot capable of accommodating an option board having an expansion function. The invention according to claim 1 of the present invention is characterized in that an extension box capable of accommodating an option board can be mounted through a connecting means provided in the apparatus main body.

The invention of claim 2 is characterized in that the expansion box is provided with expansion means so that the expansion box can be further connected to the expansion box.

By configuring as described above, the control board that cannot be accommodated in the accommodation space provided inside the apparatus main body can be accommodated in the dedicated box to be added behind the apparatus, so that an optional board having an optional expansion function can be installed. A large number of extended functions can be added to the image forming apparatus by additionally installing them. Then, it is possible to easily connect the extension box additionally provided to the device and the control device of the main body,
An image forming apparatus that can operate as a multifunctional apparatus can be configured.

[0008]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION The configuration of an image forming apparatus of the present invention will be described with reference to the illustrated example. The examples shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 are perspective views seen from the front side and the rear side of the image forming apparatus, and the image forming apparatus 1 is configured as a multi-function machine including a facsimile machine and a copying machine. The image forming apparatus can be provided with a printer and other arbitrary functions, and a control panel 8 is provided on the upper front side of the apparatus main body in order to operate those functions. Then, as in the case of the conventional image forming apparatus, the image information of the document read by using the ADF (automatic document feeder / reader) function is transmitted by FAX, or the read image or the FAX received image information is transmitted. It is configured as a device capable of performing arbitrary operations such as printing on recording paper based on the original.

Further, the image forming apparatus 1 is connected to a personal computer or other image information output device to receive image information created by the personal computer and print on a recording paper or other communication means. It is also possible to connect and use it as a multi-function device capable of transmitting and receiving image information. In the image forming apparatus 1, an image reading device provided on the upper part of the device main body 2 is provided as an ADF 5,
The document tray 6 and the document discharge tray 7 are combined for handling the document in F5. An image recording device is arranged on the upper side of the main body 2 of the image forming apparatus 1, a paper is fed from a paper feed tray 3 mounted on the lower side, an image is recorded on the paper, and the central part of the main body is provided. The recording paper discharge tray 4 is configured to discharge the recording paper.

In the image forming apparatus 1, a cover member provided around the apparatus main body 2 is constructed so as to be freely attachable / detachable, and with respect to the components arranged inside the main body,
It is configured in the same manner as in the case of the conventional image forming apparatus so that the cover member can be easily attached / detached when performing work such as maintenance. A front cover 10 is provided between the control panel 8 and the paper feed tray 3 on the front side of the main body of the apparatus, and an upper cover provided on the upper surface of the main body serves as the discharge tray 7 of the ADF. Further, as shown in FIG. 1, the right side cover 11 arranged on the right side of the apparatus main body 2 is configured to be openable and closable by using a hinge means (not shown) so that it is possible to cope with a work such as a jam processing on a sheet conveying path. To do so. As shown in FIG. 2, the side cover 12 arranged on the left side of the apparatus main body 2 is
Optional attachment / detachment panel 1 on the rear side of the main body
3 is provided so as to be openable / closable or attachable / detachable so that a control board or the like having optional functions can be easily attached.

The rear panel 15 for covering the rear side of the image forming apparatus main body 2 has a plurality of slit-like openings for exhausting heat or letting out heat to the inside, and an access cover is provided at a predetermined position thereof. 16 is provided so that it can be opened and closed. The top rear cover 17 arranged on the upper portion of the rear panel 15 is provided as a member that also serves as the rear cover of the ADF. The rear panel 15 and the top rear cover 17 are connected by screws and are configured to be detachable as one body. However, by removing the screws from the rear panel 15, the top rear cover 17 can be detached alone. Composed.

In the image forming apparatus having the above-described structure, inside the portion covered by the opening / closing panel 13 provided on the side cover 12 shown in FIG. 2, optional functions as shown in FIGS. As a connecting means for additionally mounting the option board, an option function slot 20 is provided in a function adding section for mounting an option board (control board). The detachable panel 13 is provided with an opening for mounting an option port or the like corresponding to an additional function, and even if the panel is closed, a device having another function can be connected to a conventional device. Configured similarly. In addition, inside the optional function slot 20, two sets of substrate support frames (mounting rails) 21 and 22 arranged vertically are arranged, and one of the option boards 25 and 26 can be mounted respectively. Each of the option boards 25 is made to be used for the extended function. However, in the case where the option board can be accommodated within the range of one support frame, the option function slot 20 can be equipped with two additional option function boards. As described above, in the case of a board having a thickness that extends over two frames, for example, in the case of a board for the Internet FAX, only one function needs to be set and the slot for the optional function 20
There is a problem that there is no room inside.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, therefore, as shown in FIG. 5, an option board accommodating box (expansion box) for accommodating one option board for adding a function can be accommodated. ) 30 is added and it is configured to be attached along the rear panel 15. Then, an option board with an extended function that cannot be accommodated due to space restrictions or the like can be installed in the extension box in the optional function slot 20 provided in the apparatus body. Therefore, the option board 33 having a program corresponding to an arbitrary extended function
(Indicated by a phantom line in the drawing) is inserted and held from the slot 32, and a signal transmission operation can be performed with the control device of the apparatus main body. When the extension box is attached to the back of the apparatus body, it may be attached by using an arbitrary fixing and holding means, and the connector of the apparatus body and the connector provided in the extension box 30 may be connected. As a connection method, any conventionally known connection means can be used.

In the example shown in FIG. 6, if additional boxes 31 ... Are additionally stacked on the above-mentioned additional box 30 and mounted on the rear surface of the apparatus main body, an arbitrary number of extended functions can be controlled by the image forming apparatus. Can be added to the equipment and equipped. When the additional box 30 is added and installed along the rear panel, the access cover 16 shown in FIG. 2 is removed so that the signal transmission system can be connected to the connection connector exposed on the rear surface of the device. To do. As the connecting means, as shown in FIG. 6, a mounting projection 35 is provided on one side, and a mounting recess 36 is provided on the other side, which is exposed by removing the access cover of the apparatus body. By inserting the mounting projection 35 of the expansion box 30 into the mounting recess 18 to be mounted, the expansion box 30 can be fixed and the connector of the signal transmission system can be connected.

An extension box 3 mounted on the apparatus body
When installing another expansion box 31 for 0,
By inserting the mounting projection 35a of the expansion box 31 into the mounting recess 36 provided on the rear surface of the expansion box 30, the combination of the two expansion boxes 30 and 31 and the connection of the signal transmission system (connector). I try to be able to do and at the same time. When a large number of extension boxes are to be installed in a stack, the mounting projections and the mounting recesses having the same configuration are sequentially combined, so that the extension box can be connected to the control device of the apparatus main body through the connector of each extension box. It becomes possible to construct a signal transmission system. The connection position of the expansion box to the main body of the apparatus is not limited to the rear side of the image forming apparatus, but may be provided in an optional extra space (side surface) provided around the main body of the image forming apparatus. In addition, the shape and structure of the insertion convex portion and the insertion concave portion for mounting / fixing the extension box and the configuration of the connector are not particularly limited, and any conventionally known connector or the like may be used. Is also possible.

When the additional box 30 is additionally equipped, the additional box can accommodate one option board and two thick option boards 27, etc. Therefore, an extension box corresponding to the extension function can be arbitrarily added to the rear side of the apparatus main body 2. In addition,
An option board having a high priority is installed in the option function slot 20, and option boards having a low priority are sequentially installed in the separately provided expansion boxes 30, 31 ,. It can be configured as a functional device.

As the option board for the option (additional) function that can be set in the image forming apparatus, for example, "network board", "printer parallel board", "GDI", "PC scanner board" have been conventionally used. Etc. are used, and in addition, "telephone two-line board", "Internet FAX board", etc. are also used. The "telephone two-line board" is for connecting to two telephone lines so that FAX transmission and reception can be performed using one line even when one line is being used by the telephone. , Other optional function boards, etc.
It corresponds to the extension function that is generally used conventionally. Even if one or a plurality of the additional boxes are additionally arranged on the rear side of the main body, the control circuit can be easily connected to the terminal of the control device of the main body of the apparatus, so that a large number of The image forming apparatus equipped with the option board can be effectively operated.

In order to add an extended function to the image forming apparatus, in the extension box provided on the rear side of the apparatus as shown in FIG. 5, a housing means corresponding to the option board which can be mounted in the optional function slot. By providing the (mounting rail), an option board having the same specifications as the optional function slot may be easily mounted. In addition, for the option board for exhibiting a special extension function that cannot be configured as the option board with the common specifications, an extension box corresponding to the specific size is provided from the beginning,
The expansion boxes 30 and 31 corresponding to specific functions
It is also possible to add it to …….

[0019]

With the above-described structure, the control board that cannot be accommodated in the accommodation space provided inside the apparatus main body can be accommodated in the dedicated box to be installed behind the apparatus, so that an option having any expansion function is provided. By installing an additional board, it is possible to add many expansion functions to the image forming apparatus. Then, it is possible to easily connect the extension box additionally provided to the device and the control device of the main body,
A device capable of performing operations using an option board having many functions can be easily configured by installing an optional number of additional boxes.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a front side of an image forming apparatus.

FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of the image forming apparatus.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of a configuration of an option function slot.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of an option board housed inside an option function slot.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of a state in which an extension box is added.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of an example in which a plurality of extension boxes are stacked and attached.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 image forming apparatus, 2 main body, 3 paper feed tray, 4 discharge tray, 5 ADF, 6 document tray, 7 discharge tray, 8 control panel, 10 front cover, 11 side cover,
12 side cover, 13 removable panel, 15 rear panel, 16 access cover, 17 top rear cover, 18 connector recess, 20 optional function slot, 21/22 board support frame,
25, 26, 32 Option board, 30 ・ 31
Expansion box, 35 mounting protrusion, 36 mounting recess.

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    F-term (reference) 2C061 AP01 AP03 AP04 CE07 CF01                 2H171 FA05 GA03 GA06 GA40 MA02                       MA13                 4E360 AB16 EA21 EB01 EC12 ED03                       GA04 GB24 GB48                 5C062 AA05 AB00 AD06 BA00

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. An image forming apparatus having a slot capable of accommodating an option board having an extended function, wherein an extension box capable of accommodating the option board can be mounted through a connecting means provided in the apparatus main body. An image forming apparatus characterized by. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the extension box is provided with extension means so that the extension box can be further connected to the extension box.