JP2003335018A - Imaging apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an imaging apparatus which requires no rack, has a good operability of an image scanner, prevents the operability of an imaging apparatus body (for example, printer) itself from being damaged and prevents the installation area from being increased. <P>SOLUTION: A storing part 11 for storing an image scanner unit 20 so that the image scanner unit can be drawn out is set at a lower part of the apparatus body 10. A paper feed cassette 12 is set at the apparatus body 10 so that the paper feed cassette can be taken out. A direction for taking out the paper feed cassette 12 is made the same as a direction for drawing out the image scanner unit 20. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,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 such as a printer, a facsimile, and a copying machine for forming an image (including characters). The present invention mainly relates to a printer that can have a copying machine function by adding an image scanner unit.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a printer as shown in FIG. 2 has been known as a printer which can have a copying machine function by adding an image scanner. Reference numeral 1 is a printer, and 2 is an image scanner. The printer 1 is basically sold as a single printer, but by adding the image scanner 2 as an option, it can be used as a copying machine.

[0003]

In the above-mentioned conventional technique, when an image scanner 2 is added to the printer 1 to have a copying machine function, a dedicated rack 3 is usually provided as shown in FIG. And the image scanner 2 is installed on the rack 3 (hence above the printer 1). Therefore, in the conventional technique, when the image scanner 2 is added to have a copying machine function, Rack 3 is required. 2. Since the image scanner 2 is located considerably above, it is difficult to open / close the document cover 2a and set the document. 3. From the standpoint of the printer 1 alone, it is convenient for the paper ejection tray unit 1a to be located above the printer 1 to take out the printed paper, and the printer 1 of FIG. 2 is also configured as such. By installing the image scanner unit 2 on the upper side, the removability of the paper from the paper discharge tray portion 1a is slightly deteriorated. There was a problem.
In addition, it is not desirable to arrange the image scanners 2 side by side on the printer 1 because the installation area is increased.

The object of the present invention is to solve the above problems, no rack is required, the operability of the image scanner is good, the operability of the image forming apparatus main body (for example, printer) itself is not impaired, and the installation area is reduced. It is to provide an image forming apparatus that does not increase.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above object, an image forming apparatus according to a first aspect of the present invention is characterized in that a storage portion for storing the image scanner unit in a retractable manner is provided at a lower portion of the apparatus main body. And An image forming apparatus according to a second aspect is the image forming apparatus according to the first aspect, wherein a sheet feeding cassette is provided in the apparatus so that the sheet feeding cassette can be pulled out, and a pulling direction of the sheet feeding cassette and a pulling out of the image scanner unit. It is characterized in that the directions are the same.

[0006]

In the image forming apparatus according to the first aspect of the present invention, the image forming apparatus according to the first aspect is provided with the accommodating portion for accommodating the image scanner unit in the lower portion of the main body of the apparatus. The following effects can be obtained. That is, when an image scanner unit is added to this image forming apparatus so as to have a copying machine function, the image scanner unit can be retractably housed in the housing section at the bottom of the apparatus body. When the image scanner unit is used, it can be pulled out and used, and when it is not used, it can be stored in the storage section. Therefore, (a) the rack becomes unnecessary. (B) Since the image scanner unit is located below, it is easy to open and close the document cover and set the document. (C) Since the image scanner unit is arranged below the apparatus main body, even if the paper ejection tray section is provided in the upper part of the apparatus main body, the removability of the paper from the paper ejection tray section is not impaired. (D) Since the image scanner unit is retractably stored in the storage section at the bottom of the apparatus body, the installation area does not increase. The effect is obtained. According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the first aspect, a sheet feeding cassette is provided in the apparatus so that the sheet feeding cassette can be pulled out, and the feeding direction of the sheet feeding cassette and the image scanner unit. Since the pull-out directions are the same, the attaching / detaching operation of the paper feed cassette and the pulling-out / storing operation of the image scanner unit are easier than in the case where the two pull-out directions are different. Further, it becomes easy to configure the image scanner unit storage section.

[0007]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 1A and 1B are schematic perspective views showing an embodiment of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention. FIG. 1A is a perspective view showing a state where an image scanner unit is housed in a lower portion of an apparatus main body, and FIG. 1B is an image scanner. It is a partial perspective view which shows the state which the unit was pulled out.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 10 denotes an image forming apparatus main body, and a housing portion 11 for housing the image scanner unit 20 so as to be drawn out is provided below the apparatus main body 10. The apparatus body 10 is provided with a paper feed cassette 12 that can be pulled out, and the paper feed cassette 12 is pulled out in the same direction as the image scanner unit 20 is pulled out.

The apparatus main body 10 is a printer, and an operation unit including a power button 13, a copy start button 14, a liquid crystal display 15 and the like on a top surface thereof, and a discharge tray unit for discharging the printed (or copied) paper. 16 and 16 are provided.

The image scanner unit 20 is an optional item, and is purchased and added to the apparatus body 10 when the user wants to use the apparatus body 10 as a copying machine. Image scanner unit 20
In consideration of the case where the purchase of the above is not desired, in this embodiment, instead of the image scanner unit 20, a paper feed cassette different from the above paper feed cassette 12 can be attached to the storage section 11. It is configured. Therefore, in this case, it is possible to mount the sheet cassettes in two stages.

As shown in FIG. 1B, the image scanner unit 20 has a unit main body 21 in which parts (not shown) necessary for scanning such as a scanning lamp are housed.
An original table 22 made of a transparent plate (such as a glass plate) provided on the upper surface of the unit main body 21, and the original table 22.
An original cover 23 that can be opened and closed to cover the upper surface of the unit main body 21 and a copy start button 24 provided on the upper surface of the unit main body 21 are provided. can do. That is, the cover 23 is opened, a document is set on the document table 22, and the cover 23 is used as in a normal copying machine.
And the copy start button 24 is pressed, the document is scanned, and the copy is formed in the apparatus main body 10 and discharged to the discharge tray unit 16. The copy start button is used for the apparatus main body 10 and the image scanner unit 20.
You may provide only in either one of them. Reference numeral 25 denotes a frame body that guides the image scanner unit 20 so that the image scanner unit 20 can be pulled out (slideable) and that constitutes the storage portion 11. The frame body 25 may be formed integrally with the apparatus body 10, or may be formed separately from the apparatus body 10 and detachably attached to the lower portion of the apparatus body 10.

According to the image forming apparatus as described above, the following operational effects can be obtained. (I) This image forming apparatus is provided at the bottom of the apparatus main body 10,
Since the storage unit 11 that stores the image scanner unit 20 in a retractable manner is provided, when the image scanner unit 20 is added to the image forming apparatus to have a copying machine function, the lower portion of the apparatus main body is provided. The image scanner unit 20 can be stored in the storage portion 11 of the storage device 11 so that it can be pulled out. Image scanner unit 2
When 0 is used, it can be pulled out and used as shown in FIG. 1B, and when not used, it can be stored in the storage portion 11 as shown in FIG. 1A. Therefore, (a) a rack (see reference numeral 3 in FIG. 2) which is conventionally required is not necessary. (B) Since the image scanner unit 20 is located below, it is easy to open and close the document cover 23 and set the document. Since the printer 10 as shown in FIG. 1 is usually installed on a desk, the position of the image scanner unit 20 does not become too low. (C) Since the image scanner unit 20 is arranged below the apparatus main body 10, the paper discharge tray section 16 is disposed in the apparatus main body 1.
Even if it is provided on the upper part of
The ability to take out the paper from the paper is not impaired. In addition, the operability of the operation unit including the power button 13 and the like is not impaired. (D) Since the image scanner unit 20 is retractably stored in the storage section 11 at the lower part of the apparatus body, the installation area does not increase. (Ii) Since the paper feed cassette 12 is provided in the apparatus main body 10 so as to be drawn out, and the drawing direction of the paper feed cassette 12 and the drawing direction of the image scanner unit 20 are the same, both Paper cassette 1
2 and the image scanner unit 20) are drawn in different directions (for example, the drawing direction of the paper feeding cassette 12 is the front-back direction, and the drawing direction of the image scanner unit 20 is the left-right direction). The operation and the operation of pulling out and storing the image scanner unit 20 become easy. Further, it becomes easy to configure the image scanner unit housing section 11. Furthermore, the work space around the apparatus required for the attachment / detachment operation of the paper feed cassette 12 and the drawing operation of the image scanner unit 20 can be reduced.

Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiments, and various modifications can be appropriately made within the scope of the gist of the present invention.

[0014]

According to the image forming apparatus of any one of claims 1 and 2, a rack is unnecessary, the operability of the image scanner unit is good, and the operability of the image forming apparatus body (for example, the printer) itself is not impaired. The advantage is that the installation area is not increased. Further, according to the image forming apparatus of the second aspect, the operation for attaching / detaching the paper feed cassette and the operation for pulling out / accommodating the image scanner unit are facilitated. Further, it becomes easy to configure the image scanner unit storage section.

[0015]

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing an embodiment of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention, in which (a) is a perspective view showing a state where an image scanner unit is housed in a lower portion of the apparatus main body;
FIG. 6B is a partial perspective view showing a state in which the image scanner unit is pulled out.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of a conventional technique.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 Image forming apparatus main body 11 Storage 12 paper cassettes 20 image scanner unit

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    F-term (reference) 2C061 AP04 AS02 BB05 BB10 BB35                       CD03 CE05                 2H171 FA01 FA12 FA22 FA28 GA03                       GA04 GA06 HA18 HA28 QB14                       QB18 SA19 SA22 WA01 WA04                       WA18 WA21                 5C062 AA02 AA05 AB02 AB17 AB22                       AC02 AD03 AD06 BA01

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. An image forming apparatus, comprising: a storage section for storing an image scanner unit so that the image scanner unit can be pulled out at the bottom of the apparatus main body. 2. The apparatus is provided with a paper feed cassette that can be pulled out, and the paper feed cassette withdrawal direction and the image scanner unit withdrawal direction are the same direction. 1. The image forming apparatus according to 1.