JP2020016804A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide an image forming apparatus that allows easy take-out of a document and a sheet while ensuring confidentiality of the ejected document and sheet.SOLUTION: An image forming apparatus 1 comprises: a document ejection port 182 that ejects a conveyed document; a sheet ejection port 82 and a second sheet ejection port 92 that each eject a sheet on which an image is formed; and an ejection and storage unit 200 that is a space opening in at least one side of the apparatus, the space on which the document ejection port 182, sheet ejection port 82, and second sheet ejection port 92 face, and stores the document ejected from the document discharge port 182 and the sheets ejected from the sheet ejection port 82 and second sheet ejection port 92. The ejection and storage unit 200 opens on the front side (front face) and a lateral side (left face) of an apparatus body.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an image forming apparatus that reads an image of a document and forms an image on a sheet is known.

  Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H11-163873 includes a conveying unit having a recording material conveying surface on which a recording material can be conveyed, and a return moving surface which moves along a surface different from the recording material conveying surface and forms a part of a document conveying path. Image forming apparatus is described.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide an image forming apparatus capable of easily taking out a document and a sheet while securing confidentiality of the discharged document and sheet.

  The present invention is an image forming apparatus that conveys a document, reads an image of the conveyed document, and forms an image on a sheet, and includes a document discharge port for discharging the conveyed document, and a sheet on which the image is formed. A sheet discharge port to be discharged, and a space opened at least on one side of the apparatus, and a space facing the document discharge port and the sheet discharge port, and a document discharged from the document discharge port and a sheet discharged from the sheet discharge port. And a discharge storage unit that stores the stacked sheets.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an image forming apparatus capable of easily taking out a document and a sheet while securing confidentiality of the discharged document and sheet.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an image forming apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the image forming apparatus 1 shown in FIG. FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating a modification of the image forming apparatus 1 illustrated in FIG. 1. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a specific example of marks 140 and 36 of the image forming apparatus 1 illustrated in FIG. 3. FIG. 9 is a perspective view illustrating another modification of the image forming apparatus 1 illustrated in FIG. 1.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In each of the drawings for describing the embodiments of the present invention, components such as members and components having the same function or shape are described once by assigning the same reference numerals as much as possible after discrimination. Then, the description is omitted.

  FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an image forming apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is the width direction of the image forming apparatus 1, the Y axis direction is the height direction of the image forming apparatus 1, and the Z axis direction is the depth direction of the image forming apparatus 1.

  The image forming apparatus 1 is configured to transport a document and read an image of the transported document, a document transport reading device 100, a top plate 300 having an upper surface serving as a placement surface of articles, and placed on the top plate 300, The image forming apparatus 1 includes an operation unit 400 that receives an operation input to the image forming apparatus 1, an image forming unit 60 that forms an image on a sheet, and a discharge storage unit 200 that stores discharged documents and sheets.

The image forming apparatus 1 further includes an internal sheet mounting unit 10 for mounting a sheet to be supplied to the image forming unit 60 and a second internal sheet mounting unit for mounting a sheet to be supplied to the image forming unit 60 15 is provided inside the apparatus.

The image forming apparatus 1 further includes, on the right side surface 500 in the width direction (X direction), a sheet placing section 20 on which a sheet fed to the image forming section 60 is placed. A document placement unit 110 on which a document supplied inside is placed is provided on the side surface 500 of the image forming apparatus 1. The sheet placement unit 20 and the document placement unit 110 can be opened and stored in the image forming apparatus 1, and FIG.

A document placement surface (discharged document placement portion) 220 on which the discharged document is placed, and a sheet placement surface (discharged sheet placement portion) on which the discharged sheet is placed are provided in the discharge storage portion 200. 240 and a second sheet mounting surface (second discharged sheet mounting portion) 250 on which the discharged sheets are mounted. Note that the discharge accommodating section 200 provided with the original placing surface 220 may be configured to be included in the original transporting and reading apparatus 100.

The upper side of the image forming apparatus 1 in the height direction (Y-axis direction) is covered with the top plate 300, and the right side in the width direction (X-axis direction) of the image forming apparatus 1 is covered with the side surface 500. The rear side in the depth direction (Z-axis direction) of the image forming apparatus 1 is covered with a rear side surface 550. Thereby, the confidentiality of the original discharged on the original mounting surface 220 and the sheet discharged on the sheet mounting surface 240 can be secured.

In the discharge accommodating section 200, an opening 210 is formed on the front side in the depth direction (Z-axis direction) of the image forming apparatus 1 and on the left side on the left side in the width direction (X-axis direction) of the image forming apparatus 1. The document placement surface 220, the sheet placement surface 240, and the second sheet placement surface 250 are exposed to the outside of the image forming apparatus 1 through the opening 210. Thus, the document discharged to the document placing surface 220 and the sheets discharged to the sheet placing surface 240 and the second sheet placing surface 250 can be easily taken out from the image forming apparatus 1.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a plane including the width direction (X-axis direction) and the height direction (Y-axis direction) of the image forming apparatus 1 shown in FIG. It is sectional drawing seen from. The sheet placing unit 20 and the document placing unit 110 are in a state where they are released from the image forming apparatus 1. The sheet placement unit 20 and the document placement unit 110 project outward from the outer peripheral edge of the top plate 300 in the right direction in the width direction (X-axis direction) of the image forming apparatus 1.

  The document conveying and reading device 100 includes a document feeding unit 130 that feeds a document placed on the document placing unit 110 into the apparatus, and a document feeding unit 150 that transports a document fed from the document feeding unit 130. An image reading unit 160 that reads the lower surface (bottom surface) of the document conveyed by the document conveying unit 150 as a first surface (front surface); and uses the upper surface of the document conveyed by the document conveying unit 150 as a second surface (back surface). A second image reading unit 170 for reading and a document discharging unit 180 for discharging a document conveyed by the document conveying unit 150 are provided. An empty space 101 is formed between the upper part of the document feeder 100 and the lower part of the top plate 300. In addition, the document conveying and reading device 100 including the image reading unit 160 and the second image reading unit 170 is disposed below the operation unit 400.

  The document feeding unit 130 includes a document sensor 132 that detects the presence or absence of a document placed on the document placing unit 110, and a document feeding roller 134 that feeds a document from the document placing unit 110. When the document sensor 132 detects the presence of a document, the document feed roller 134 rotates while contacting the bottom surface of the document placed on the document placement unit 110, thereby feeding the document from the document placement unit 110. . When a plurality of documents are stacked on the document placement unit 110, the document feeding unit 130 feeds the lowest document among the documents placed on the document placement unit 110.

  The document transport unit 150 includes a pair of transport rollers 152 and 153 that transport the document fed from the document feed unit 130, a second pair of transport rollers 154 that transports the document transported from the pair of transport rollers 152 and 153, 155.

  A document discharge unit 180 discharges a document toward the document mounting surface 220, and discharges a document conveyed from the second pair of conveying rollers 154 and 155 toward the document discharge port 182. Roller pairs 184 and 185 are provided. The discharge accommodating section 200 is a space facing the document discharge port 182 and is formed to contain a document discharged from the document discharge port 182. The document is discharged from the document discharge port 182 toward the left side in the width direction (horizontal direction, X-axis direction) of the image forming apparatus 1. The document transport unit 150 and the document discharge unit 180 are configured to discharge the document placed on the document placing unit 110 from the document discharge unit 180 without turning over the document.

The image forming apparatus 1 includes an internal sheet feeding unit 11 that feeds a sheet placed on the internal sheet placing unit 10 to the image forming unit 60 and a sheet placed on the second internal sheet placing unit 15. A second internal sheet feeding unit 16 that feeds the sheet to the image forming unit 60, a sheet feeding unit 30 that feeds the sheet placed on the sheet placing unit 20 to the image forming unit 60 inside the apparatus, The sheet conveying unit 40 that conveys the sheet fed from the internal sheet feeding unit 11, the second internal sheet feeding unit 16 and the sheet feeding unit 30, and the image formed by the image forming unit 60 described above. The image forming apparatus includes a fixing unit 70 for fixing the sheet thereon, and a sheet discharging unit 80 for discharging a sheet on which an image is fixed. Here, the above-described document discharge unit 180 is disposed above the sheet discharge unit 80.

The sheet feeding section 30 includes a sheet sensor 32 for detecting the presence or absence of a sheet placed on the sheet placing section 20 and a sheet feeding roller 34 for feeding a sheet from the sheet placing section 20. When the sheet sensor 32 detects the presence of the sheet, the sheet feeding roller 34 feeds the sheet from the sheet placement unit 20 by rotating while contacting the bottom surface of the sheet placed on the sheet placement unit 20. . When a plurality of sheets are stacked on the sheet placement unit 20, the sheet feeding unit 30 feeds the lowermost sheet among the sheets placed on the sheet placement unit 20.

  The sheet conveying unit 40 includes a pair of conveying rollers 42 and 43 that convey the sheet toward the image forming unit 60, a conveyance switching unit 48 that switches a sheet conveying destination downstream of the fixing unit 70, and a sheet on which the image is fixed. A second pair of conveying rollers 44 and 45 for inverting and conveying, a third pair of conveying rollers 46 for conveying the sheet conveyed from the second pair of conveying rollers 44 and 45 toward the pair of conveying rollers 42 and 43, 47.

  The image forming unit 60 corresponds to toner storage units 62B, 62C, 62M, and 62Y that store black, cyan, magenta, and yellow toners, and images read by the image reading unit 160 and the second image reading unit 170. A writing unit 63 that generates image writing light; image forming units 64B, 64C, 64M, and 64Y that form black, cyan, magenta, and yellow images using the image writing light generated by the writing unit 63; and an image forming unit 64B. , 64C, 64M, and 64Y are provided with a transfer unit 66 for superimposing and transferring the images of the respective colors formed on the sheet.

The transfer unit 66 includes an intermediate transfer belt 67 on which images of respective colors formed by the image forming units 64B, 64C, 64M, and 64Y are superimposed and primary-transferred, and an image transferred on the intermediate transfer belt 67 into two sheets. And a secondary transfer section 68 for performing the next transfer.

The sheet discharge unit 80 includes a sheet discharge port 82 that discharges a sheet toward the sheet mounting surface 240, a pair of sheet discharge rollers 84 and 85 that convey the sheet toward the sheet discharge port 82, and a second sheet mounting unit. A second sheet discharge port 92 that discharges the sheet toward the surface 250 and a second pair of sheet discharge rollers 94 and 95 that convey the sheet toward the second sheet discharge port 92 are provided. The discharge accommodating section 200 is a space facing the sheet discharge port 82 and the second sheet discharge port 92, and is formed so as to store sheets discharged from the sheet discharge port 82 and the second sheet discharge port 92. The sheet is discharged from the sheet discharge port 82 and the second sheet discharge port 92 toward the left side in the width direction (lateral direction, X-axis direction) of the image forming apparatus 1.

  In the case of single-sided image formation, the sheet transport unit 40 and the sheet discharge unit 80 discharge sheets from the sheet discharge unit 80 such that the surface on which the image is formed by the image forming unit 60 faces downward.

In the case of one-sided image formation, the sheet conveyed from the fixing unit 70 is conveyed by the conveyance switching unit 48 toward the pair of sheet discharge rollers 84 and 85 or the second pair of sheet discharge rollers 94 and 95 and the sheet discharge port 82 Alternatively, the sheet is discharged from the second sheet discharge port 92.

  In the case of double-sided image formation, the sheet conveyed from the fixing unit 70 is conveyed toward the second sheet discharge port 92 by the conveyance switching unit 48. Then, before the sheet is completely discharged from the second sheet discharge port 92, the second sheet discharge roller pair 94, 95 is rotated in the reverse direction, so that the sheet is directed toward the second transport roller pair 44, 45. Inverted and transported.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a modification of the image forming apparatus 1 shown in FIG. The image forming apparatus 1 includes a mark 36 for identifying the sheet placement unit 20 and the sheet feeding unit 30 on the side surface 500, and the document conveyance reading device 100 identifies the document placement unit 110 and the document feeding unit 130. Mark 140 is provided on the side surface 500 of the image forming apparatus 1.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a specific example of the marks 36 and 140 shown in FIG. FIG. 4A shows a first specific example of the marks 36 and 140, and FIG. 4B shows a second specific example of the marks 36 and 140.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing another modification of the image forming apparatus 1 shown in FIG. The document placement unit 110 includes an extension 110E that can extend in a direction opposite to the direction in which the document is fed. The sheet placement unit 20 includes an extension 20E that can extend in the direction opposite to the direction in which the sheet is fed. Prepare. Further, the sheet placement unit 20 and the sheet feeding unit 30 are disposed below the document placement unit 110 and the document feeding unit 130 and in the depth direction (Z-axis direction) of the image forming apparatus 1. .

  As described above, the document feeding and reading apparatus 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention includes a document discharge port 182 for discharging a conveyed document, an opening at least on one side of the apparatus, and a document discharge port 182. And a discharge accommodating section 200 for accommodating a document discharged from the document discharge port 182. As a result, the document can be easily taken out from the document feeder 100 while ensuring the confidentiality of the discharged document.

Further, the image forming apparatus 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention includes a document discharge port 182 for discharging a conveyed document, a sheet discharge port 82 for discharging a sheet on which an image is formed, and a second sheet discharge port 92. A space opened at least on one side of the apparatus and facing the document discharge port 182, the sheet discharge port 82, and the second sheet discharge port 92, and the document and the sheet discharge port 82 discharged from the document discharge port 182. And a discharge storage unit 200 that stores the sheet discharged from the second sheet discharge port 92. As a result, it is possible to easily take out the original and the sheet from the image forming apparatus 1 while securing the confidentiality of the discharged original and the sheet.

  The discharge accommodating section 200 opens at least on the front side (front side) of the apparatus main body. Thus, the discharged document can be easily taken out from the front side of the image forming apparatus 1.

  The discharge accommodating section 200 opens on the front side (front side) and the lateral side (left side) of the apparatus main body. As a result, the discharged document can be easily taken out from the front side and the side surface of the image forming apparatus 1.

  A document placement surface 220 on which a document discharged from the document discharge port 182 is placed, a sheet placement surface 240 on which sheets discharged from the sheet discharge ports 82 and 92 are placed, The document placement surface 220 and the sheet placement surfaces 240 and 250 are exposed outside the apparatus. As a result, the document discharged to the document placing surface 220 and the sheets discharged to the sheet placing surfaces 240 and 250 can be easily taken out from the image forming apparatus 1.

  The direction in which the document is discharged from the document discharge port 182 (left side) is the same as the direction in which the sheet is discharged from the sheet discharge port 82 (left side). As a result, the discharged documents and sheets can be taken out of the image forming apparatus 1 collectively.

The image forming apparatus 1 further includes a document feeder 130 that feeds a document into the apparatus, and a sheet feeder 30 that feeds a sheet into the apparatus, and the document feeder 130 and the sheet feeder 30 Are located on the same side 500 of the device. Thus, the area occupied by the apparatus is reduced as compared with the case where the document feeding unit 130 and the sheet feeding unit 30 are arranged on different surfaces.

In the image forming apparatus 1, the document feeding unit 130 and the sheet feeding unit 30 include marks 140 and 36 for identifying each other. Accordingly, even when the document feeding unit 130 and the sheet feeding unit 30 are arranged on the same surface, the document feeding unit 130 and the sheet feeding unit 30 can be easily identified.

The image forming apparatus 1 includes a document placement unit 110 on which a document fed by the document feeding unit 130 is placed, a sheet placement unit 20 on which a sheet fed by the sheet feeding unit 30 is placed, Is provided. This makes it possible to easily feed a plurality of documents and sheets.

The document placement unit 110 and the sheet placement unit 20 include extension portions 110E and 20E that can extend in a direction opposite to the direction in which the document and the sheet are fed. Thereby, the size of the document placing portion and the sheet placing portion, that is, the occupied area can be changed according to the usage.

Of the original placing section 110 and the sheet placing section 20, the lower placing section is disposed on the front side of the apparatus with respect to the upper placing section. Thereby, the visibility of the mounting portion disposed on the lower side is improved.

The image forming apparatus 1 can store the document placement unit 110 and the sheet placement unit 20. Thus, the appearance of the apparatus can be improved when the document placing section 110 and the sheet placing section 20 are not used.

The image forming apparatus 1 includes, in addition to the sheet placing section 20, internal sheet placing sections 10 and 15 for placing sheets inside the apparatus. As a result, even when a large number of documents are used, an image can be formed on a large number of sheets.

1 Image Forming Apparatus 10, 15 Internal Sheet Placement Section 20 Sheet Placement Section 20E Extension Section 30 Sheet Feeding Section 36 Mark 82, 92 Sheet Exit 100 Document Conveyance Scanning Device 110 Document Placement Section 110E Extension Section 130 Document Feeding Section 140 mark 182 document discharge port 200 discharge accommodating section 220 document placement surface 240, 250 sheet placement surface 500 side surface

JP 2007-033817

Claims (12)

An image forming apparatus that reads an image of a fed document by transporting the document and forms an image on a sheet,
A document discharge port for discharging the conveyed document,
A sheet discharge port for discharging a sheet on which an image is formed,
A discharge opening that is open at least on one side of the apparatus and that faces the document discharge port and the sheet discharge port, and stores a document discharged from the document discharge port and a sheet discharged from the sheet discharge port. And an image forming apparatus.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the discharge accommodating portion is opened at least on a front side of the apparatus main body.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the discharge accommodating portion is opened on a front side and a lateral side of the apparatus main body. In the discharge accommodating portion, a document placement surface on which a document discharged from the document discharge port is placed, and a sheet placement surface on which a sheet discharged from the sheet discharge port is placed are arranged. ,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the document placing surface and the sheet placing surface are exposed outside the device.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a direction in which the document is discharged from the document discharge port is the same as a direction in which a sheet is discharged from the sheet discharge port. A document feeder that feeds a document into the apparatus, and a sheet feeder that feeds a sheet into the apparatus,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the document feeding unit and the sheet feeding unit are disposed on a same side of the apparatus. The image forming apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the document feeding unit and the sheet feeding unit each include a mark for identifying each other. A document placement unit for placing a document fed by the document feeding unit; and a sheet placement unit for placing a sheet fed by the sheet feeding unit. The image forming apparatus according to claim 6, wherein: 9. The image forming apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the document placing section and the sheet placing section are extendable in a direction opposite to a direction in which the document and the sheet are fed. 10. The image forming apparatus according to claim 8, wherein a lower one of the document placing part and the sheet placing part is disposed on a front side of the apparatus from an upper placing part. The image forming apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the document placement unit and the sheet placement unit can be stored in the device. The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 8 to 11, further comprising an internal sheet placement unit that places a sheet inside the apparatus, separately from the sheet placement unit.

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