JP2021094836A - Processing device - Google Patents

Abstract

To reduce decay in a radio signal in a radio communication.SOLUTION: An option device (processing device) such as a first paper feeder 301 and a finisher 305 is connected to an image formation device 300 via a base station 200 so as to be capable of communication. A radio communication device (such as 451 or 411) in the option device is disposed in a position free from a shielding object between the radio communication device and an exterior part (such as 487 or 497) inside the exterior part which is an upper part of the option device and constitutes part of a housing of the option device.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 7

Description

The present invention relates to a processing device communicatively connected to an image forming apparatus.

Conventionally, when a processing device (optional device) that executes processing on a sheet before or after image formation is connected to the image forming device in order to expand the function of the image forming device that prints an image on a sheet (paper). There is. For example, when printing on a large number of sheets, the number of sheets loaded can be increased by connecting the paper feeding device to the image forming device. Further, when it is desired to bind a sheet after image formation, the bookbinding becomes possible by connecting the bookbinding device to the image forming device. Generally, information such as the content of processing performed by the processing device, status information of the device, and sheet delivery timing is exchanged between the processing device and the image forming device. As a method of giving and receiving, a method of wired communication via a cable connecting devices is the mainstream.

However, in the method of connecting the devices by wire, if the number of processing devices to be connected is large, the number of cables increases, and the cables may be complicated. In addition, when replacing or adding a processing device, the work of disconnecting and attaching the cable is required, which increases the time and effort.

Therefore, in Patent Document 1, information is exchanged between the processing apparatus and the image forming apparatus wirelessly using infrared rays. Further, also in Patent Document 2, wireless communication is performed between the processing device and the image forming device, and the image forming device controls the processing device. As a method of wireless communication between devices as disclosed in Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2, there are a method of infrared communication using infrared rays and a method of short-range wireless communication such as Bluetooth and NFC using radio waves.

However, the communication delay time in the above-mentioned short-range wireless communication is several hundred ms or more, and the delay is large. Therefore, there is a possibility that the communication speed does not meet the requirements as the speed of the device increases and the communication capacity increases.

As a method of wireless communication, there is a fifth-generation mobile wireless communication system (hereinafter referred to as 5G), which is a next-generation communication standard. The amount of communication delay in wireless communication using 5G is expected to be about 1 ms. Therefore, 5G is expected to improve the communication speed as compared with the 4th generation mobile wireless communication system (hereinafter referred to as 4G).

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2000-295238 Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2010-173151

However, when a radio wave having high straightness such as a radio wave (millimeter wave) used in 5G is used, the radio wave attenuation becomes large when it is shielded by a shield made of metal or the like. Therefore, it is necessary to arrange the wireless communication device so that the radio waves are not attenuated as much as possible.

An object of the present invention is to reduce the attenuation of radio wave signals in wireless communication.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is a processing device that is communicably connected to an image forming apparatus and executes processing on a sheet before or after image forming by the image forming apparatus. It has an exterior portion forming a part of a housing and a communication device that performs wireless communication using a radio signal, and the communication device is the upper part of the processing device and inside the exterior portion. It is characterized in that it is arranged at a position where it does not have a shield between it and the exterior portion.

According to the present invention, it is possible to reduce the attenuation of radio signals in wireless communication.

It is an overall block diagram of an image formation system. It is a control block diagram of an image formation system. It is a block diagram of the wireless communication device which an image forming apparatus has. It is a flowchart of wireless communication processing via a base station. It is the whole block diagram of the image formation system of a modification. It is a perspective view of the back side of a finisher. It is a schematic cross-sectional view which looked at the upper part of a finisher from the back direction. It is a perspective view of a wireless communication device. It is a perspective view of the back side of the 1st paper feed device. It is a schematic cross-sectional view which looked at the upper part of the 1st paper feed device from the back direction. It is a perspective view of a wireless communication device.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of an image forming system including a processing device and an image forming device according to an embodiment of the present invention. The image forming system 100 includes an image forming device 300 which is a main device for forming an image, at least one optional device (processing device), and a base station 200 (communication base station). Examples of the optional device include a first paper feeding device 301, a second paper feeding device 302, an inserter 304, and a finisher 305. As long as it is an optional device having a wireless communication device described later, other optional devices can also be applied as the processing device in the present invention. Regarding the physical connection, the optional device is not limited to the one directly connected to the image forming device 300, and may be connected to the image forming device 300 via another optional device. ..

FIG. 2 is a control block diagram of the image forming system 100. 1 and 2 show the overall configuration of the image forming system 100. The image forming apparatus 300 and each optional apparatus are controlled by the CPU of each. First, the image forming apparatus 300 has a CPU 460. The first paper feed device 301, the second paper feed device 302, the inserter 304, and the finisher 305 have CPUs 410, 420, 440, and 450, respectively. The image forming apparatus 300 includes a wireless communication apparatus 471. The first paper feed device 301, the second paper feed device 302, the inserter 304, and the finisher 305 have wireless communication devices 411, 421, 441, and 451 respectively.

The wireless communication devices 471, 411, 421, 441, and 451 are all communication devices that perform wireless communication using radio signals, and specifically, communication devices that perform communication by a fifth generation mobile communication system (5G). Is. The base station 200 has a base station antenna 200a. The wireless communication devices 471, 411, 421, 441, and 451 can each wirelessly communicate with each other via the base station 200, and can also send and receive information to and from the external host PC by wireless communication. Wireless communication between wireless communication devices via the base station 200 or with an external host PC is hereinafter simply referred to as "wireless communication".

As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus 300 includes an operation unit 310 and a reader scanner 303. The image forming apparatus 300 forms an image on a sheet (paper) based on the sheet processing setting set by the user in the operation unit 310 or the external host PC and the image information sent from the reader scanner 303 or the external host PC. To do. The sheet processing setting referred to here also includes the processing contents of each of the optional devices, the paper feed devices 301 and 302, the inserter 304, and the finisher 305. Therefore, the image forming apparatus 300 transmits the processing content to be performed by each optional apparatus to each optional apparatus by wireless communication. Each optional device receives the processing content by wireless communication, and executes the received processing content at a predetermined timing by its own CPU.

Hereinafter, a series of processes in which sheet transfer, image formation, and post-processing are executed in the image forming system 100 and output as a deliverable will be described. The paper feed devices 301 and 302 have similar configurations to each other. The paper feeding device 301 has a paper feeding function of supplying the sheet before image formation to the image forming device 300. As shown in FIG. 1, the paper feeding device 301 has a two-stage paper feeding unit of an upper paper feeding unit 311 and a lower paper feeding unit 312. The sheets are stored in the storage chambers 313 and 314 provided in the upper paper feed unit 311 and the lower paper feed unit 312, and the sheets are fed from the storage chambers 313 and 314. Sheets are separated and fed one by one by the paper feed transfer units 315 and 316 provided in each paper feed unit. The sheet fed from the upper paper feed unit 311 is conveyed by the upper transfer unit 317. The sheet fed from the lower paper feed unit 312 is conveyed by the lower transfer unit 318, and further conveyed to the merging transfer unit 319 that merges with the upper transfer unit 317. Each transport unit is provided with a stepping motor for transport (not shown). Sheet transfer is realized by rotating the transfer rollers of each transfer unit by the driving force mechanically transmitted from each stepping motor.

When the JOB (job) sheet request specified by the user is sent and received by wireless communication, the first paper feed device 301 sequentially separates the sheets of each storage 313 and 314 one by one according to the sheet request. And transport. The paper feeding device 301 sequentially conveys the sheets to the image forming device 300. At this time, the paper feed device 301 transmits information on the sheet transfer timing to the image forming device 300 by wireless communication. The image forming apparatus 300 executes the sheet receiving process from the paper feeding device 301 based on the information of the sheet conveying timing, and continues the sheet conveying.

It is desirable that the communication delay of the sheet transfer timing information is several ms or less. For example, when the sheet is conveyed at a speed of 1000 mm / s, if the wireless communication communication delay is 100 ms, the sheet is conveyed 100 mm during that time. To. In this case, the sheet receiving process of the image forming apparatus 300 may not be in time and a jam may occur. Since the wireless communication (5G) used in the present embodiment has a communication delay of about 1 ms, the sheets can be normally transferred between the devices described above.

The configuration of the upper paper feed unit 321 and the lower paper feed unit 322 and the storage 323 and 324 in the paper feed device 302 includes the upper paper feed unit 311, the lower paper feed unit 312, and the storage 313 and 314 of the paper feed device 301. Similar to the configuration. The configuration of the paper feed transport unit 325, 326, the upper transport unit 327, and the lower transport unit 328 in the paper feed device 302 includes the paper feed transport unit 315, 316, the upper transport unit 317, and the lower transport unit 318 of the paper feed device 301. Similar to the configuration.

Similar to the paper feeding device 301, the paper feeding device 302 also sequentially separates and conveys the sheets of each storage 323 and 324 one by one. The paper feeding device 302 sequentially conveys the sheets to the paper feeding device 301. At this time, the paper feed device 302 transmits information on the sheet transfer timing to the paper feed device 301 by wireless communication. The paper feed device 301 executes the sheet receiving process from the paper feed device 302 based on the information on the sheet transfer timing, and continues the sheet transfer.

The image forming apparatus 300 receives the sheets one by one from the paper feeding device 301 in the previous stage. In the image forming apparatus 300, the CPU 460 sets the image forming conditions based on the sheet type specified by the operation unit 310 and the setting information such as the basis weight data and the image quality detected by the paper feeding device 301. Then, the image forming unit 332 as the forming means forms an image based on the set image forming conditions. After receiving the sheet from the paper feeding device 301, the image forming apparatus 300 controls each conveying unit to convey the sheet, and the image forming device 300 draws an image based on the received image data starting from the detection of the sheet by the resist sensor 331. The image forming operation is performed by the unit 332.

In the image forming operation, the CPU 460 controls the lighting and the amount of light of the semiconductor laser in the laser scanner unit 334, and also controls the scanner motor that rotates the polygon mirror (not shown). Then, the CPU 460 forms a latent image on the photoconductor drum 335 by the laser beam based on the image data. Toner is replenished to the developing unit 337 from the toner bottle 336. The CPU 460 develops toner on the latent image image on the photoconductor drum 335 by the developing unit 337, and transfers the developed toner image to the intermediate transfer belt 338.

The toner image transferred on the intermediate transfer belt 338 is transferred to the sheet to form a toner image on the sheet. At this time, the sheet tip position is detected by the image reference sensor 339, and the tip alignment is performed. The sheet after the transfer of the toner image is conveyed to the fixing portion 340, and the toner is melted and fixed to the sheet by applying heat and pressure.

In the case of double-sided printing, it is printed on the back surface of the sheet after fixing. When it is necessary to invert the front and back of the sheet as in the case of double-sided printing, the sheet is conveyed to the inversion transport unit 309. When it is not necessary to reverse the front and back of the sheet as in the case of the end of printing, the sheet is conveyed to the inserter 304 downstream. At this time, the image forming apparatus 300 transmits information on the sheet transfer timing to the inserter 304 in the subsequent stage by wireless communication. The inserter 304 executes the sheet receiving process from the image forming apparatus 300 based on the information on the sheet transfer timing, and continues the sheet transfer.

The inserter 304 supplies the insert sheet loaded on the loading unit 361 at a predetermined timing according to the sheet insertion information exchanged by wireless communication. The sheet and the insert sheet received from the image forming apparatus 300 are conveyed via the sheet conveying portions 362 and 363, and are conveyed to the finisher 305 downstream. At this time, the inserter 304 transmits information on the sheet transfer timing to the finisher 305 by wireless communication. The finisher 305 executes the sheet receiving process from the inserter 304 based on the information on the sheet transfer timing, and continues the sheet transfer.

The finisher 305 has a function of performing post-processing on the sheet after image formation. That is, the finisher 305 performs post-processing on the sheet according to the processing contents (staple, drilling, folding, sorting, etc.) given and received by wireless communication. The post-processed sheet is conveyed via the conveying unit 452, is sequentially output to one of the output trays 360 as a deliverable, and is provided to the user.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the wireless communication device 471 included in the image forming apparatus 300. Since the configurations of the wireless communication devices 411, 421, 441, and 451 of the optional devices are the same as those of the wireless communication device 471, their description will be omitted.

The wireless communication device 471 includes a wireless communication CPU 500, an antenna 501, an oscillator unit 502, and a receiver unit 503. In the reception of wireless communication, the antenna 501 receives a radio wave signal, and the receiving unit 503 filters the received signal at a predetermined frequency, amplifies it, and then demodulates the modulated signal to generate a data string. The receiving unit 503 inputs the generated data string to the wireless communication CPU 500. The wireless communication CPU 500 transmits the received content input from the receiving unit 503 to the CPU 460 of the image forming apparatus 300.

Further, in the transmission of wireless communication, the wireless communication CPU 500 receives the content (transmission content) to be transmitted by wireless communication from the CPU 460, and inputs the data string of the received transmission content to the oscillation unit 502. The oscillating unit 502 modulates the input data string, oscillates and amplifies it at a predetermined frequency, and inputs it to the antenna 501. The antenna 501 radiates a radio signal corresponding to the input signal. Here, the predetermined frequency is a frequency of about 450 to 6000 MHz and 30 to 100 GHz defined by 3GPP (Third Generation Partnership Project) as a frequency band of 5G. Therefore, the wireless communication device 471 performs wireless communication using radio waves generally called millimeter waves.

The radio signal radiated by the wireless communication devices 411, 421, 441, 451 and 471 by the method described above is received by the base station antenna 200a of the base station 200 shown in FIG. The base station 200 radiates a radio signal from the base station antenna 200a to the wireless communication devices 411, 421, 441, 451 and 471 corresponding to the received contents according to the received contents. The radio signal is received by the corresponding wireless communication devices 411, 421, 441, 451 and 471. The image forming apparatus 300 and each optional device that have received the radio wave signal execute processing according to the received contents.

As described above, the wireless communication device 471 transmits the information addressed to the optional device (addressed to the processing device) to the base station 200 by wireless communication, and receives the information from the optional device from the base station 200 by wireless communication. It is a communication means of 1. Further, the wireless communication devices 411, 421, 441, and 451 are second communication means for transmitting information addressed to the image forming device 300 (to the image forming device) to the base station 200 by wireless communication. The wireless communication devices 411, 421, 441, and 451 as the second communication means further receive information from the base station 200 by wireless communication from another optional device or the image forming device 300.

The radio signal emitted by the wireless communication devices 411, 421, 441, 451 and 471 includes a discrimination code indicating a transmission destination. The base station 200 discriminates the image forming apparatus 300 or the optional device of the transmission destination by the discrimination code included in the received radio wave signal, and transmits the radio wave signal to the discriminated transmission destination.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a process of performing wireless communication between the image forming apparatus 300 and one optional apparatus via the base station 200. Among the processes shown in FIG. 4, in the process executed by the image forming apparatus 300, the CPU 460 expands the program stored in the ROM (not shown) provided in the image forming apparatus 300 into the RAM (not shown) and executes the program. Is realized by. Among the processes shown in FIG. 4, in the process executed by each optional device, the CPU 410, 420, 440, and 450 expand the program stored in the ROM (not shown) provided in each optional device into the RAM (not shown). It is realized by executing. The processing by the optional device is executed by each of the paper feeding device 301, 302, the inserter 304, and the finisher 305, but FIG. 4 shows one optional device.

First, a process of transmitting information from the image forming apparatus 300 to the optional apparatus via the base station 200 will be described. In step S101, the CPU 460 (FIG. 2) of the image forming apparatus 300 transmits information on the processing content addressed to the optional apparatus to the wireless communication apparatus 471. The information of the processing content includes a discrimination code indicating a transmission destination. In step S102, the wireless communication CPU 500 (FIG. 3) of the wireless communication device 471 radiates a radio signal corresponding to the information of the processing content from the antenna 501 by the method described above.

In step S106, the base station antenna 200a of the base station 200 receives the radio signal radiated in step S102. In step S107, the base station 200 performs a predetermined process and radiates the radio signal from the base station antenna 200a to the transmission destination indicated by the discrimination code included in the received radio signal.

In step S110, the optional device, which is the transmission destination indicated by the discrimination code included in the radio wave signal, receives the radio wave signal radiated in step S107. In step S111, the wireless communication device of the optional device transmits the converted information of the received radio wave to the CPU of the optional device. In step S112, the CPU of the optional device executes processing according to the received information. For example, assuming that the optional device is the finisher 305, in step S110, the wireless communication device 451 of the finisher 305 receives the radiated radio wave signal. Then, in step S111, the wireless communication device 451 transmits the received content to the CPU 450 of the finisher 305. In step S112, the CPU 450 executes a process according to the received information.

Here, as processing according to the received information, for example, the CPU 450 performs post-processing such as stapling, drilling, folding, and sorting on the sheet according to the received processing content. In this way, the image forming apparatus 300 can notify the optional apparatus to be the transmission destination of the processing content. The optional device can execute the processing according to the notified processing content.

Next, a process of transmitting information from the optional device to the image forming apparatus 300 via the base station 200 will be described. In step S108, the CPU of the optional device transmits information addressed to the image forming apparatus 300 to the wireless communication device of the optional device. This information includes a discriminant code indicating the image forming apparatus 300 as a transmission destination. In step S109, the wireless communication device of the optional device emits a radio signal according to the information to be transmitted by the method described above.

In step S106, the base station antenna 200a of the base station 200 receives the radio signal radiated in step S109. In step S107, the base station 200 performs a predetermined process and radiates the radio signal from the base station antenna 200a to the transmission destination (here, the image forming apparatus 300) indicated by the discrimination code included in the received radio signal.

In step S103, the antenna 501 of the wireless communication device 471 of the image forming apparatus 300 receives the radio signal radiated in step S107. In step S104, as described above, the receiving unit 503 performs a predetermined process on the received radio wave signal and inputs it to the wireless communication CPU 500, and the wireless communication CPU 500 transmits the received content to the CPU 460. In step S105, the CPU 460 executes processing according to the received contents. For example, it is assumed that the optional device that is the source of the radio wave signal is the first paper feeding device 301. In this case, the CPU 460 executes the sheet receiving process and the sheet transfer process according to the information on the sheet transfer timing transmitted as the radio wave signal.

As described above, by wireless communication using 5G, the image forming apparatus 300 and the optional apparatus can exchange a large amount of information at high speed. Therefore, there is no need to make a wired connection between the two, and the trouble of cable complication, removal and installation is eliminated. Therefore, the function of the image forming apparatus 300 can be easily expanded.

In the image forming system 100, the first paper feeding device 301 and the inserter 304 are directly connected to the front stage and the rear stage of the image forming device 300, respectively. The second paper feed device 302 and the finisher 305 were indirectly connected to the image forming device 300 via another optional device. However, wireless communication between the image forming apparatus 300 and the optional device indirectly connected to the image forming apparatus 300 can also be realized by the same processing as the processing shown in FIG. Further, wireless communication between each optional device and wireless communication between each optional device and another device (not shown) can be realized by the same process as the process shown in FIG. Wireless communication between devices that are not adjacent to each other in the front and back can also be realized by the same process as the process shown in FIG. Therefore, each optional device may receive information from the other optional device or the image forming apparatus 300 from the base station 200 by wireless communication. For example, when the finisher 305 receives the sheet transfer timing information from the inserter 304 via the base station 200, the CPU 450 processes the sheet from the inserter 304 based on the received sheet transfer timing information. Execute.

The information transmitted / received by wireless communication includes device status information, consumables information, print job progress information, sheet transfer timing information, pre-processing and post-processing content information, and the like. Information such as sheet transfer timing is particularly useful between directly connected devices. The content of information sent and received by wireless communication is not limited.

FIG. 5 is an overall configuration diagram of an image forming system of a modified example. The image forming system 100 of the modified example is different from the image forming system 100 shown in FIG. 1 in that the base station antenna 200a is attached to the system rather than being outside. For example, the base station antenna 200a is attached to the image forming apparatus 300. In this case, the base station 200 may be outside the image forming system 100, or may be attached to the image forming apparatus 300 and included in the system.

Next, the arrangement of the wireless communication device in each optional device will be described with reference to FIGS. 6 to 11. Since the millimeter-wave radio wave used for the above-mentioned 5G wireless communication has a large radio wave attenuation when shielded by a shield made of metal or the like, it is desirable that there is little shield between the millimeter wave radio wave and the base station antenna 200a which is the communication partner. Further, since the radio wave used in 5G has high directivity and a narrow directivity range, it is desirable to properly match the direction with the communication partner. Therefore, in order to perform accurate wireless communication, it is necessary to arrange the wireless communication device in consideration of these characteristics. On the other hand, the base station antenna 200a is generally arranged above the image forming system 100 in the height direction. Further, when there is a movable part for jam processing or the like, it is necessary to arrange the wireless communication device so that the movable part does not interfere with the communication. Therefore, in consideration of these circumstances, a wireless communication device is arranged. 6 to 8 exemplify the finisher 305 as an optional device, and FIGS. 9 to 11 exemplify the first paper feeding device 301 as an optional device. However, the device for arranging the wireless communication device can be similarly applied to the second paper feeding device 302 and the inserter 304.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the back side of the finisher 305. Hereinafter, each direction will be referred to with reference to the direction when the image forming system 100 of FIG. 1 is viewed from the front. For example, the upper side, right side, and left side of FIG. 1 are the upper side, right side, and left side of each optional device. The front side of the paper in FIG. 1 is the front side. Therefore, in FIG. 6, the back surface 305a of the finisher 305 is visible.

The housing of the finisher 305 is composed of an apparatus front cover 483, an exterior resin cover 487 (including a back surface 305a, a right side surface 305b, and a left side surface 305c), an opening portion 484, and the like. Therefore, the exterior resin cover 487 forms a part of the housing of the finisher 305. Further, the finisher 305 has a paper feed port 481 and a paper output tray 360. The finisher 305 receives the sheet from the image forming apparatus 300, which is an upstream apparatus, via the paper feed port 481. The post-processed sheet is discharged to the output tray 360. The opening unit 484 can be opened by the user in the upward direction during jam processing.

In addition to the wireless communication device 451, a main control board 459 that controls the wireless communication device 451 and a cable 482 that electrically connects them are provided inside the device. The opening portion 484 is opened when processing the jam paper accumulated on the sheet transport path. Therefore, the opening portion 484 has a width (depth) equal to or greater than the width of the paper feed port 481 and the width of the transport portion 452 (FIG. 1) in the front-rear direction (width direction). The opening portion 484 is a movable portion that forms a part of the housing of the finisher 305 and is movable relative to the exterior resin cover 487 at the upper part of the housing. The rear end position P1 of the opening portion 484 is behind the rear end position of the paper feed port 481. Further, the rear end position P1 is the same as or behind the rear end position of the transport portion 452. The wireless communication device 451 is located behind the rear end position P1 of the opening unit 484.

The main control board 459 is arranged on the back surface of the device (near the back surface 305a) in consideration of the ease of cable wiring with other components and the power supply. The wireless communication device 451 is arranged on the back side like the main control board 459 so that the wiring length of the cable 482 connected to the main control board 459 is shortened. In particular, by arranging the wireless communication device 451 on the back side of the rear end position P1 of the opening portion 484, the position and orientation of the wireless communication device 451 do not change even when the opening portion 484 is open. As a result, stable wireless communication can be performed. Further, the wireless communication device 451 is arranged on the upper part of the housing (the top surface of the device). Thereby, the radio wave attenuation in the communication with the base station 200 can be reduced.

FIG. 7 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the upper portion of the finisher 305 as viewed from the rear direction. FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the wireless communication device 451. As shown in FIG. 7, the metal frame 486 is arranged inside the outermost exterior resin cover 487. The mounting pedestal 488 is arranged on the metal frame 486. The wireless communication device 451 is mounted on the mounting pedestal 488. The wireless communication device 451 is located between the exterior resin cover 487 and the metal frame 486 in the vertical direction. Therefore, the wireless communication device 451 is arranged at a position which is above the finisher 305 and inside the exterior resin cover 487 so as not to have a shield from the exterior resin cover 487. Thereby, the attenuation of the radio wave signal in the wireless communication can be reduced.

As shown in FIG. 8, the wireless communication device 451 is attached to the mounting pedestal 488 so that the antenna 457 is on the upper side. Moreover, the antenna 457 is arranged so as to face upward. By connecting the cable 482 to the connector 489 of the wireless communication device 451 the wireless communication device 451 is physically and electrically connected to the main control board 459. Since the wireless communication device 451 is arranged on the metal frame 486 which is a metal support portion, the wireless communication device 451 is not shielded by a metal shield. Since the antenna 457 faces upward, good wireless communication with the communication partner can be ensured even when a radio wave having high directivity such as a millimeter wave radio wave in 5G is used.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the back side of the first paper feeding device 301. The paper feeding device 301 has a paper feeding port 490, a paper ejection port 491, an apparatus front cover 492, an exterior resin cover 497, and a paper ejection tray 493. The paper feed port 490 receives the sheet from the upstream device (here, the second paper feed device 302). The paper ejection port 491 delivers the sheet to the downstream device (here, the image forming device 300). The housing of the first paper feeding device 301 is composed of the device front cover 492, the exterior resin cover 497, and the like. Therefore, the exterior resin cover 497 forms a part of the housing of the first paper feeding device 301. Further, inside the device, in addition to the wireless communication device 411, a main control board 494 that controls the wireless communication device 411 and a cable 496 that connects them are provided.

The paper discharge tray 493 is a discharge unit for discharging jam paper, double feed sheets (sheets that are unexpectedly transported in a state where a plurality of sheets are stacked) and the like. Therefore, the output tray 493 has a width (depth) equal to or greater than the width of each of the paper feed port 490, the paper discharge port 491, and the transport unit (feed feed transport unit 315, 316) (FIG. 1) in the front-rear direction (width direction). ). The rear end position of the output tray 493 is P2. The rear end position P2 of the output tray 493 is located at the same position as or behind each of the rear end positions of the paper feed port 490, the paper output port 491, and the transport section. The wireless communication device 411 is located behind the rear end position P2 of the output tray 493.

The main control board 494 is arranged near the back surface of the device in consideration of the ease of cable wiring with other components and the power supply. The wireless communication device 411 is arranged on the back side like the main control board 494 so that the wiring length of the cable 496 connected to the main control board 494 is shortened. In particular, by arranging the wireless communication device 411 on the back side of the output tray 493, stable wireless communication can be performed without being affected by the sheets ejected from the output tray 493. Further, the wireless communication device 411 is arranged on the upper part of the housing (the top surface of the device). Thereby, the radio wave attenuation in the communication with the base station 200 can be reduced.

FIG. 10 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the upper portion of the first paper feeding device 301 as viewed from the rear direction. FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the wireless communication device 411. As shown in FIG. 10, the metal frame 498 is arranged inside the outermost exterior resin cover 497. The mounting pedestal 499 is arranged on the metal frame 498. The wireless communication device 411 is mounted on the mounting pedestal 499. The wireless communication device 411 is located between the exterior resin cover 497 and the metal frame 498 in the vertical direction. Therefore, the wireless communication device 411 is arranged at a position which is above the first paper feeding device 301 and inside the exterior resin cover 497 so as not to have a shield from the exterior resin cover 497. Thereby, the attenuation of the radio wave signal in the wireless communication can be reduced.

As shown in FIG. 11, the wireless communication device 411 is attached to the mounting pedestal 499 so that the antenna 600 faces upward and faces upward. By connecting the cable 496 to the connector 601 of the wireless communication device 411, the wireless communication device 411 is physically and electrically connected to the main control board 494. Since the wireless communication device 411 is arranged on the metal frame 498 which is a metal support portion, the wireless communication device 411 is not shielded by a metal shield. Since the antenna 600 faces upward, good wireless communication with the communication partner can be ensured even when a radio wave having high directivity such as a millimeter wave radio wave in 5G is used.

If the other optional device also has a discharge unit for discharging the sheet, the wireless communication device is arranged behind the rear end position of the discharge unit. Further, when the transport portion for transporting the sheet is provided, the wireless communication device is arranged behind the rear end position of the transport portion. Further, when the movable portion is movable relative to the exterior portion forming a part of the housing, the wireless communication device is arranged behind the rear end position of the movable portion.

According to the present embodiment, the optional device (processing device) and the image forming device 300 can communicate with each other via the base station 200 by wireless communication using radio waves. In addition, the optional devices can also communicate with each other via the base station 200 by wireless communication using radio waves.

That is, the image forming apparatus 300 transmits the information addressed to the optional apparatus (processing apparatus) to the base station 200 by wireless communication, and receives the information from the optional apparatus from the base station 200. Further, the optional device transmits information addressed to the image forming apparatus 300 to the base station 200 by wireless communication, and receives information from another optional device or the image forming apparatus 300 from the base station 200 by wireless communication. Then, the optional device executes the processing on the sheet before or after the image formation by the image forming apparatus 300 based on the received information. Therefore, the wired connection between the image forming apparatus 300 and each processing apparatus becomes unnecessary, and the function expansion of the image forming apparatus 300 can be facilitated. Further, since the optional devices can also exchange information via the base station 200, it is possible to eliminate the need for a wired connection between the processing devices. Moreover, since wireless communication is wireless communication by 5G, a large amount of information can be communicated at high speed.

According to the present embodiment, the wireless communication device (451, 411, etc.) in the optional device (305, 301, etc.) is arranged above the optional device. Thereby, the radio wave attenuation in the communication with the base station 200 can be reduced. Moreover, the wireless communication device is arranged at a position inside the exterior portion (487, 497, etc.) forming a part of the housing of the optional device so as not to have a shield from the exterior portion. As a result, since there is no shield other than the resin exterior portion, the attenuation of the radio wave signal in wireless communication can be reduced.

Further, since the wireless communication device is arranged on the metal support portion (486, 498, etc.), it is not shielded by the metal shield. Further, since the antenna (457, 600, etc.) faces upward, good communication with the communication partner can be performed when wireless communication is performed by radio waves having high directivity.

Further, in the finisher 305, since the wireless communication device 451 is located behind the rear end position P1 of the opening portion 484, the position and orientation of the wireless communication device 451 do not change even if the opening portion 484 is movable, and are stable. Communication is possible. Further, in the first paper feeding device 301, since the wireless communication device 411 is located behind the rear end position P2 of the paper ejection tray 493, stable wireless communication can be performed without being affected by the ejected sheet. It can be carried out.

In the present embodiment, a configuration in which an effect is produced even if a wireless communication other than 5G is adopted is included in the present invention.

Although the present invention has been described in detail based on the preferred embodiments thereof, the present invention is not limited to these specific embodiments, and various embodiments within the scope of the gist of the present invention are also included in the present invention. included.

200 Base station 300 Image forming device 301 First paper feeding device 305 Finisher 471, 411, 421, 441, 451 Wireless communication device 487, 497 Exterior resin cover

Claims (10)

A processing device that is communicably connected to an image forming apparatus and executes processing on a sheet before or after image forming by the image forming apparatus.
An exterior part that forms a part of the housing of the processing device and
Has a communication device that performs wireless communication using radio signals,
The processing device is characterized in that the communication device is arranged at a position above the processing device and inside the exterior portion so as not to have a shield with the exterior portion. The processing device according to claim 1, wherein the communication device is arranged on a metal support portion. The processing device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the communication device has an antenna arranged so as to face upward. It forms a part of the housing and has a movable part that is relatively movable with respect to the exterior part.
The processing device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the communication device is located behind the rear end position of the movable portion. It has a discharge part that discharges the sheet,
The processing device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the communication device is located behind the rear end position of the discharge unit. The processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the exterior portion is made of a resin. The processing device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the communication device communicates with the image forming device via a communication base station. The processing device according to claim 7, wherein the communication device communicates with a fifth-generation mobile communication system. The processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising a paper feeding function for supplying a sheet before image formation to the image forming apparatus. The processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising a function of executing post-processing on a sheet after image formation by the image forming apparatus.

Images