JP2022008418A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an operation unit and an image forming apparatus that can improve operability without causing an increase in size of an apparatus body.

SOLUTION: An operation unit comprises: a panel unit 71 that is connected to a control unit of an apparatus body 10 and can execute at least one of display of information obtained from the control unit and input of the information to the control unit; and an NFC substrate 72 that has an antenna 74 capable of transmitting and receiving a radio wave to and from a portable terminal 101 brought into proximity thereto and allows communication between the portable terminal 101 brought into proximity to the antenna 74 and the control unit in a short-range radio communication system. The antenna 74 is arranged in a lower part of the panel unit 71 and near the panel unit 71 when the panel unit 71 is viewed from the front.

SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

COPYRIGHT: (C)2022,JPO&INPIT

Description

The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus.

Conventionally, in an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a printer, a facsimile, and a multifunction device having a plurality of these functions, various methods for inputting data to the main body of the apparatus have been developed. As one of these methods, a short-range wireless communication method (hereinafter referred to as NFC) that enables data communication with the device body by bringing a mobile terminal or a contactless IC card (authentication card) close to the device body. An image forming apparatus that employs (Patent Document 1) has been developed.

This image forming apparatus includes a panel portion which is a touch panel for a liquid crystal display provided on the upper part of the apparatus main body, and an NFC substrate having an antenna portion provided on the left side of the panel portion. In this image forming apparatus, the user brings a mobile terminal or an authentication card close to the NFC board, thereby enabling various data communications by short-range wireless communication with the apparatus main body.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2014-171156

However, in the image forming apparatus of Patent Document 1 described above, since the NFC board is arranged on the left side of the panel portion, the panel portion is hidden by the user's hand when the user brings the mobile terminal or the authentication card close to the NFC board. The visibility and operability were poor. Further, since the NFC board is arranged on the left side of the panel portion, when the user brings the mobile terminal or the authentication card close to the NFC board, the user's hand or the mobile terminal or the authentication card comes into contact with the panel portion and the device. There was a risk that the main body would malfunction, and the operability was poor. In order to solve these problems, it is conceivable to secure a sufficient area on the left side of the panel part so that the user's hand or the mobile terminal or the authentication card does not hang on the panel part even if the mobile terminal or the authentication card is brought close to each other. In this case, the main body of the device becomes large.

An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus capable of improving operability without inviting an increase in size of the apparatus.

The present invention is an image forming apparatus having an image forming portion for forming an image on a sheet and a discharge port for discharging the sheet on which an image is formed by the image forming portion, and the sheet discharged from the discharging port is loaded. A reading unit for reading the original image, the reading unit provided above the discharge tray in the vertical direction at a position overlapping the discharge tray when viewed from the vertical direction, and the above. The operation unit includes an operation unit provided in front of the reading unit in the front-rear direction of the image forming apparatus and provided at a position where a part of the image forming apparatus overlaps a part of the discharge tray in the left-right direction of the image forming apparatus. Is an antenna unit capable of communicating between a touch panel unit that can be touch-operated by the user and a smartphone by a short-range wireless communication method, and is located on the left side of the right end of the touch panel unit in the left-right direction. The antenna portion is located between the end portion of the operation portion and the end portion of the touch panel portion in the lateral direction of the touch panel portion, and the touch panel portion is in the longitudinal direction of the touch panel portion. It is an image forming apparatus characterized in that it is provided at a position overlapping with a region where a portion is provided.

According to the present invention, operability can be improved without inviting an increase in size of the apparatus.

It is a schematic perspective view which shows the image forming apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a schematic block diagram which shows the control system of the image forming apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a schematic front view which shows the operation part which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a schematic cross-sectional view which shows the state which brought the mobile terminal close to the operation part which concerns on 1st Embodiment in parallel. It is a schematic cross-sectional view which shows the state which the mobile terminal is tilted and brought close to the operation part which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a schematic perspective view which shows the image forming apparatus which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. It is a schematic front view which shows the operation part which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. It is a schematic cross-sectional view which shows the state which brought the mobile terminal close to the operation part which concerns on 2nd Embodiment in parallel. It is a schematic cross-sectional view which shows the state which the mobile terminal is tilted and brought close to the operation part which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. It is a schematic perspective view which shows the image forming apparatus which concerns on 3rd Embodiment. It is a schematic perspective view which shows the image forming apparatus which concerns on 4th Embodiment.

<First Embodiment>
Hereinafter, the first embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 1 to 5. In the present embodiment, as shown in each figure, the front side is the front direction F, the back side (dorsal side) is the rear direction B, the left side is the left direction L, and the right side is the right direction toward the image forming apparatus 1. R, the upper side is the upward direction U, and the lower side is the downward direction D. Further, the image forming apparatus 1 is configured such that the user performs various operations from the front F side to the rear B side.

As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus 1 of the present embodiment is an electrophotographic multifunction device having a plurality of functions of a copying machine, a printer, and a facsimile. However, the present invention is not limited to the electrophotographic multifunction device, and may be an inkjet system or an image forming apparatus having a single function such as a copying machine or a printer.

The image forming apparatus 1 includes an image forming apparatus main body (hereinafter referred to as an apparatus main body) 10. The apparatus main body 10 includes an image reading unit 20, a sheet feeding unit 30, an image forming unit 40 (see FIG. 2), a sheet discharging unit 50, a control unit 60 (see FIG. 2), and an operating unit 70. It is equipped with. The sheet that is the recording material forms a toner image, and specific examples thereof include plain paper, resin sheets that are substitutes for plain paper, thick paper, and sheets for overhead projectors.

The image reading unit 20 is, for example, a flatbed scanner device, and is provided on the upper part of the device main body 10. The image reading unit 20 includes a platen glass (not shown) as a document mounting table, a light source (not shown) that irradiates a document placed on the platen glass with light, and an image sensor (not shown) that converts reflected light into a digital signal. Etc. are provided.

The sheet feeding unit 30 is arranged in the lower part of the apparatus main body 10, includes sheet cassettes 31a and 31b for loading and accommodating sheets such as recording paper, and supplies the sheets to the image forming unit 40 (see FIG. 2). I will send it.

The image forming unit 40 includes an image forming unit (not shown), a toner bottle, an intermediate transfer unit, a secondary transfer unit, a fixing device, and the like, and can form an image on a sheet based on image information from the control unit 60. Is.

The sheet discharging unit 50 includes a discharging roller 51 for discharging the sheet after image formation, and a discharging tray 52 arranged on the downstream side of the discharging roller 51. The discharge roller 51 discharges the image-formed sheet to the discharge tray 52 through the discharge port 10a formed in the apparatus main body 10. The discharge tray 52 is a face-down tray, and loads the sheets discharged from the discharge port 10a. Further, the space between the image reading unit 20 and the discharge tray 52 constitutes the in-body space portion 12.

As shown in FIG. 2, the control unit 60 is composed of a computer, for example, a CPU 61, a ROM 62 for storing a program for controlling each unit, a RAM 63 for temporarily storing data, and input / output for inputting / outputting signals to and from the outside. It is equipped with a circuit (I / F) 64. The control unit 60 is connected to the image reading unit 20, the sheet feeding unit 30, the image forming unit 40, the sheet discharging unit 50, and the operating unit 70 via the input / output circuit 64, and exchanges signals with each unit and operates. Control.

Next, the operation unit 70, which is a feature unit of the image forming apparatus 1 of the present embodiment, will be described in detail. In the present embodiment, the operation unit 70 can execute communication with the user's mobile terminal (communication means, for example, a smartphone) 101 by a short-range wireless communication method (hereinafter referred to as an NFC method). The communication means is not limited to the mobile terminal, and may be a non-contact IC card.

As shown in FIG. 1, the operation unit 70 is provided on the front upper portion of the apparatus main body 10. In the present embodiment, the operation unit 70 is arranged on the F side in the front direction of the image reading unit 20 and is provided at a position where the user can easily operate the operation unit 70. The operation unit 70 is provided integrally with the device main body 10 and fixedly fixed to the device main body 10 so as not to be movable. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the operation unit 70 includes a panel unit 71, an NFC board (communication unit) 72, and an input unit 73.

The panel portion 71 is provided substantially horizontally, and for example, a resistance film type or capacitance type touch panel and a liquid crystal display type display panel are configured to be stacked in the thickness direction. The panel unit 71 can perform various input operations by pressing the operation keys displayed on the touch panel. The panel unit 71 is connected to the control unit 60 of the main body 10 and can execute at least one of displaying information obtained from the control unit 60 and inputting information to the control unit 60. Specifically, the panel unit 71 displays the remaining amount of the sheet and the remaining amount of toner supplied to the apparatus main body 10, a warning message when these consumables are exhausted, a procedure for replenishing the consumables, and the like. , Display information necessary for the user to operate the image forming apparatus 1. Further, the panel unit 71 accepts user operation inputs such as sheet size and basis weight, image density adjustment, and setting of the number of output sheets.

The NFC board 72 can communicate with the mobile terminal 101 by the NFC method, and has an antenna 74 composed of a loop antenna, a communication circuit 75, and a detection unit 76. That is, the NFC board 72 can communicate between the mobile terminal 101 close to the antenna 74 and the control unit 60 by the NFC method. Further, in the present embodiment, the antenna 74, the communication circuit 75, and the detection unit 76 are integrally formed with respect to the NFC board 72. That is, the panel portion 71 and the antenna 74 are integrally provided with the device main body 10 and fixedly fixed to the device main body 10 so as not to be movable. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, the antenna may be arranged at a position away from the NFC board, and the antenna and the NFC board may be connected by a cable. In this case, the degree of freedom in the arrangement position of the antenna can be increased.

The antenna 74 can transmit and receive radio waves by the NFC method to and from a nearby mobile terminal 101, whereby communication is possible. The communication circuit 75 processes the radio waves transmitted and received as signals. The detection unit 76 detects the intensity of the radio wave (received wave) received by the antenna 74 and the radio wave (transmitted wave) transmitted from the antenna 74 by detecting the current flowing through the antenna 74.

Here, as shown in FIG. 3, the NFC board 72 in which the antenna 74 is integrated is arranged below the panel portion 71 and in the vicinity of the panel portion 71 when the panel portion 71 is viewed from the front. In the front view here, it is assumed that the panel portion 71 is viewed from a direction perpendicular to the panel surface in the direction of normal use.

In the present embodiment, since the panel portion 71 is provided substantially horizontally, the antenna 74 is arranged on the F side in the front direction of the panel portion 71 with respect to the apparatus main body 10. Further, in the present embodiment, the antenna 74 is provided at the front end portion 70a of the operation portion 70 of the apparatus main body 10. In this embodiment, the NFC board 72 is arranged near the upper part (front side) of the operation unit 70. This makes it possible to prevent the user from hiding the panel portion 71 by hand when the mobile terminal 101 is brought close to the NFC board 72. Further, since the NFC board 72 is arranged in the vicinity of the panel portion 71, the user can easily know the position of the NFC board 72.

The input unit 73 has, for example, a numeric keypad for inputting numbers, a key for inputting a start or stop of the device, and the like. In this embodiment, the input unit 73 is provided on the right side R side of the panel unit 71. That is, the input unit 73 is arranged on at least one side in the left-right direction of the panel unit 71, and information can be input to the control unit 60. As a result, it is possible to prevent the user from hiding the panel unit 71 by hand when operating the panel unit 71 while visually observing the panel unit 71.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 2, the mobile terminal 101 is, for example, a smartphone, and includes a terminal control unit 160, an NFC board 172, a panel unit 171 and the like.

Like the control unit 60, the terminal control unit 160 is composed of a computer, for example, a CPU 161, a ROM 162 for storing a program, a RAM 163 for temporarily storing data, and an input / output circuit for inputting / outputting signals to and from the outside. It is equipped with I / F) 164. The NFC board 172 can communicate with the operation unit 70 by the NFC method, and has an antenna 174 composed of a loop antenna, a communication circuit 175, and a detection unit 176, like the NFC board 72. The NFC board 172 is attached to the back surface side of the mobile terminal 101 (the surface opposite to the surface on which the panel portion 171 is provided). The panel unit 171 has a structure in which a touch panel of a resistance film type or a capacitance type and a display panel of a liquid crystal display type are overlapped in the thickness direction, and by pressing an operation key displayed on the touch panel, the panel unit 171 is operated. Various input operations can be performed. That is, the operation unit 70 can operate the image forming unit 40 and the like via the control unit 60. In order to communicate between the operation unit 70 and the mobile terminal 101 by the NFC method, it is necessary to bring the mobile terminal 101 close to the antenna 74 so that the distance between the two antennas 74 and 174 to be communicated is within the communication distance.

Next, in the image forming apparatus 1 of the present embodiment, an operation of executing NFC-type communication with the mobile terminal 101 will be described.

First, as shown in FIG. 4, a case where the user makes the mobile terminal 101 substantially parallel to the operation unit 70 and brings the mobile terminal 101 close to the operation unit 70 will be described. In this case, guidance for holding the mobile terminal 101 is displayed on the panel unit 71. The user brings the mobile terminal 101 close to the radio wave region of the NFC board 72, and brings the mobile terminal 101 close to each other so that the antenna 74 and the antenna 174 are within the distance L1 to enable communication. When the antenna 74 and the antenna 174 are close to each other within the distance L1, the control unit 60 performs authentication and the like, and the panel units 71 and 171 display the authentication results, respectively. In this case, since the hand holding the mobile terminal 101 does not overlap with the panel unit 71, the probability that the panel unit 71 is hidden or the operation key of the panel unit 71 is erroneously pressed can be reduced. Further, since the NFC board 72 having the antenna 74 is arranged in the vicinity of the panel portion 71, the user can easily see the guidance and the operability is high. Further, since the user can visually recognize the panel portions 71 and 171 almost without moving the line of sight (dashed-dotted line in FIG. 4), the operability is further improved.

Next, as shown in FIG. 5, a case where the user tilts the mobile terminal 101 with respect to the operation unit 70 and brings the mobile terminal 101 close to the operation unit 70 will be described. In this case, the user is in a state where communication can be performed by bringing the mobile terminal 101 close to each other so that the antenna 74 and the antenna 174 are within the distance L2. Here, on the front surface of the apparatus main body 10, that is, the front end portion 70a of the operation unit 70, the tip of the mobile terminal 101 is separated from the panel unit 71 so as to be close to the panel unit 71 so that the mobile terminal 101 does not touch the panel unit 71. This makes it possible to bring the NFC board 172 on the mobile terminal 101 side close to the radio waves and communicate between the antennas 74 and 174.

In either case, the position of the NFC board 72 is also far from the right side of the panel unit 71 on which the input unit 73 is arranged, so that an erroneous operation of touching the input key of the input unit 73 during NFC communication is prevented. ..

As described above, according to the image forming apparatus 1 of the present embodiment, the antenna 74 is arranged below the panel portion 71 and in the vicinity of the panel portion 71 when the panel portion 71 is viewed from the front. Therefore, when the user brings the mobile terminal 101 close to the antenna 74, it is possible to prevent the panel unit 71 from being hidden by the user's hand and the user's hand or the mobile terminal 101 from coming into contact with the panel unit 71. can. Further, since the flat space for the mobile terminal 101 and the authentication card is not required, the operation unit 70 can be downsized. As a result, operability can be improved without inviting an increase in size of the apparatus main body 10.

Here, when the NFC board 72 is arranged on the R side in the right direction of the panel portion 71, when the mobile terminal 101 is brought close to the NFC board 72 with the left hand, the panel portion 71 may be hidden by an arm or touched by a hand. There is a high possibility of doing so. Further, in general, since the input unit 73 is arranged close to the R side in the right direction of the panel unit 71, the NFC board 72 needs to be arranged further to the R side in the right direction than the input unit 73, and the panel unit The distance from the 71 to the NFC board 72 is increased, and the operability while looking at the panel portion 71 deteriorates.

Further, when the NFC board 72 is arranged on the L side in the left direction, the panel portion 71 may be hidden by an arm or touched by a hand when the mobile terminal 101 is brought close to the NFC board 72 by the right hand. Will be higher. Further, when the NFC board 72 is arranged on the rear B side, when the mobile terminal 101 is brought close to the NFC board 72 with either the right hand or the left hand, the panel portion 71 may be hidden by the arm or touched by the hand. Is more likely to do.

On the other hand, according to the image forming apparatus 1 of the present embodiment, the NFC substrate 72 is arranged on the front side F side of the panel portion 71. Therefore, it is difficult for the panel portion 71 to be hidden by the arm or touched by hand, and since the input portion 73 is arranged in the left-right direction of the panel portion 71, the possibility of erroneous operation is low.

Further, according to the image forming apparatus 1 of the present embodiment, since the antenna 74 is arranged at the front end portion 70a of the operation unit 70, the mobile terminal 101 or the authentication card is erected in front of the operation unit 70. It becomes possible to communicate. As a result, for example, even when the user brings the mobile terminal 101 close to the operation unit 70 while hanging it from the neck, communication with the operation unit 70 becomes possible. In this case as well, the risk of touching the panel unit 71 and the input unit 73 can be reduced, and by ensuring the visibility of the panel unit 71, further improvement in operability can be realized.

<Second embodiment>
Hereinafter, the second embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 6 to 9. The present embodiment differs from the first embodiment in that the operation unit is an operation unit 270 that is movably provided with respect to the device main body 10 separately from the device main body 10. However, since the other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment, the same reference numerals are given and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

As shown in FIG. 6, the operation unit 270 is composed of an elevation operation panel provided on the front upper portion of the apparatus main body 10 via an arm 277. The operation unit 270 is separate from the device main body 10 and is movably supported by the arm 277 with respect to the device main body 10. As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the operation unit 270 has a panel unit 271, an NFC board (communication unit) 272, and an input unit 273.

The panel portion 271 is provided substantially vertically, and for example, a resistance film type or capacitance type touch panel and a liquid crystal display type display panel are configured so as to be overlapped with each other in the thickness direction. The NFC board 272 can communicate with the mobile terminal 101 by the NFC method, and has an antenna 274 composed of a loop antenna, a communication circuit 275, and a detection unit 276. That is, the NFC board 272 can communicate with the mobile terminal 101 close to the antenna 274 and the control unit 60 by the NFC method. The panel portion 271 and the antenna 274 are provided integrally with the device main body 10 and fixedly fixed to the device main body 10 so as not to be movable.

Here, the NFC board 272 integrated with the antenna 274 is arranged below the panel portion 271 and in the vicinity of the panel portion 271 when the panel portion 271 is viewed from the front. In the present embodiment, since the panel portion 271 is provided substantially vertically, the antenna 274 is arranged on the downward D side of the panel portion 271 with respect to the apparatus main body 10. Further, in the present embodiment, the antenna 274 is provided on the edge portion 270a of the operation unit 270. This makes it possible to prevent the user from hiding the panel portion 271 by hand when the mobile terminal 101 is brought close to the NFC board 272. Further, since the NFC board 272 is arranged in the vicinity of the panel portion 71, the user can easily know the position of the NFC board 272.

Next, in the image forming apparatus 1 of the present embodiment, an operation of executing NFC-type communication with the mobile terminal 101 will be described.

First, as shown in FIG. 8, a case where the user makes the mobile terminal 101 substantially parallel to the operation unit 270 and brings the mobile terminal 101 close to the operation unit 270 will be described. In this case, guidance for holding the mobile terminal 101 is displayed on the panel unit 271. The user brings the mobile terminal 101 close to the radio wave region of the NFC board 272, and brings the mobile terminal 101 close to each other so that the antenna 274 and the antenna 174 are within the distance L3, so that communication can be performed. When the antenna 274 and the antenna 174 are close to each other within the distance L3, the control unit 60 performs authentication and the like, and each panel unit 271, 171 displays the result of the authentication. In this case, since the hand holding the mobile terminal 101 does not overlap with the panel unit 271, the probability that the panel unit 271 is hidden or the operation key of the panel unit 271 is erroneously pressed can be reduced. Further, since the NFC board 272 having the antenna 274 is arranged in the vicinity of the panel portion 271, the user can easily see the guidance and the operability is high. Further, since the user can visually recognize each of the panel portions 271 and 171 almost without moving the line of sight (one-dot chain line in FIG. 8), the operability is further improved.

Next, as shown in FIG. 9, a case where the user tilts the mobile terminal 101 with respect to the operation unit 270 and brings the mobile terminal 101 close to the operation unit 270 will be described. In this case, the user is in a state where communication can be performed by bringing the mobile terminal 101 close to each other so that the antenna 274 and the antenna 174 are within the distance L4. Here, in the edge portion 270a of the operation unit 270, the tip of the mobile terminal 101 is separated from the panel portion 271 and brought close to the panel portion 271 so that the mobile terminal 101 does not touch the panel portion 271. This makes it possible to bring the NFC board 172 on the mobile terminal 101 side close to the radio waves and communicate between the antennas 274 and 174.

As described above, also in the image forming apparatus 1 of the present embodiment, the antenna 274 is arranged below the panel portion 271 and in the vicinity of the panel portion 271 when the panel portion 271 is viewed from the front. Therefore, when the user brings the mobile terminal 101 close to the antenna 274, it is possible to prevent the panel unit 271 from being hidden by the user's hand and the user's hand or the mobile terminal 101 from coming into contact with the panel unit 271. can. Further, since the flat space for the mobile terminal 101 and the authentication card is not required, the operation unit 270 can be downsized. As a result, the operability can be improved without increasing the size of the image forming apparatus 1.

Further, also in the image forming apparatus 1 of the present embodiment, since the antenna 274 is arranged at the edge portion 270a of the operation unit 270, communication is performed with the mobile terminal 101 or the authentication card tilted below the operation unit 270. It becomes possible to do. As a result, for example, even when the user brings the mobile terminal 101 close to the operation unit 270 while hanging it from the neck, communication with the operation unit 270 becomes possible.

<Third embodiment>
Hereinafter, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIG. The present embodiment differs from the first embodiment in that the panel portion 371 of the operation unit 370 is provided substantially vertically. However, since the other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment, the same reference numerals are given and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

As shown in FIG. 10, the operation unit 370 is composed of an elevation operation panel provided on the front side wall 11 on the upper side of the body space portion (recess) 12 of the apparatus main body 10. In the present embodiment, the operation unit 370 is arranged on the F side in the front direction of the image reading unit 20 and is provided at a position where the user can easily operate the operation unit 370. The operation unit 370 is integrally provided with the device main body 10 and is fixedly fixed to the device main body 10 so as not to be movable. The operation unit 370 has a panel unit 371, an NFC board (communication unit) 372, and an input unit 373.

The panel portion 371 is provided substantially vertically, and is configured, for example, by stacking a resistance film type or capacitance type touch panel and a liquid crystal display type display panel in the thickness direction. The NFC board 372 can communicate with the mobile terminal 101 by the NFC method, and has an antenna 374 including a loop antenna.

Here, the NFC board 372 into which the antenna 374 is integrated is arranged on the lower side of the panel portion 371 and in the vicinity of the panel portion 371 when the panel portion 371 is viewed from the front. In the present embodiment, since the panel portion 71 is provided substantially vertically, the antenna 374 is arranged on the downward D side of the panel portion 371 with respect to the apparatus main body 10. Further, in the present embodiment, the antenna 374 is provided on the upper side of the body space portion 12 recessed on the rear side formed in the apparatus main body 10.

In the image forming apparatus 1 of the present embodiment, the operation of executing the NFC method communication with the mobile terminal 101 is the same as that of the second embodiment having the substantially vertical panel portion 271. The explanation is omitted.

As described above, also in the image forming apparatus 1 of the present embodiment, the antenna 374 is arranged below the panel portion 371 and in the vicinity of the panel portion 371 when the panel portion 371 is viewed from the front. Therefore, when the user brings the mobile terminal 101 close to the antenna 374, it is possible to prevent the panel unit 371 from being hidden by the user's hand and the user's hand or the mobile terminal 101 from coming into contact with the panel unit 371. can. Further, since the flat space for the mobile terminal 101 and the authentication card is not required, the operation unit 370 can be downsized. As a result, the operability can be improved without increasing the size of the image forming apparatus 1.

<Fourth Embodiment>
Hereinafter, a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIG. The present embodiment differs from the first embodiment in that the operation unit is an operation unit 470 that is movably provided with respect to the device main body 10 separately from the device main body 10. However, since the other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment, the same reference numerals are given and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

As shown in FIG. 11, the operation unit 470 is composed of an elevation operation panel provided so as to be self-supporting by the base 477. The operation unit 470 is separate from the device main body 10, is connected to the control unit 60 of the device main body 10 by a cable 478, and is movably supported with respect to the device main body 10. The operation unit 470 can be placed at an appropriate position within the reach of the cable 478. The operation unit 470 has a panel unit 471, an NFC board (communication unit) 472, and an input unit 473.

The panel portion 471 is provided substantially vertically, and is configured, for example, by stacking a resistance film type or capacitance type touch panel and a liquid crystal display type display panel in the thickness direction. The NFC board 472 can communicate with the mobile terminal 101 by the NFC method, and has an antenna 474 composed of a loop antenna. The NFC board 472 integrated with the antenna 474 is arranged below the panel portion 471 and in the vicinity of the panel portion 471 when the panel portion 471 is viewed from the front. In the present embodiment, since the panel portion 471 is provided substantially vertically, the antenna 474 is arranged on the downward D side of the panel portion 471 with respect to the apparatus main body 10. Further, in the present embodiment, the antenna 474 is provided on the edge portion 470a of the operation unit 470. This makes it possible to prevent the user from hiding the panel portion 471 by hand when the mobile terminal 101 is brought close to the NFC board 472.

In the image forming apparatus 1 of the present embodiment, the operation of executing the NFC method communication with the mobile terminal 101 is the same as that of the second embodiment having the substantially vertical panel portion 271. The explanation is omitted.

As described above, also in the image forming apparatus 1 of the present embodiment, the antenna 474 is arranged below the panel portion 471 and in the vicinity of the panel portion 471 when the panel portion 471 is viewed from the front. Therefore, when the user brings the mobile terminal 101 close to the antenna 474, it is possible to prevent the panel unit 471 from being hidden by the user's hand and the user's hand or the mobile terminal 101 from coming into contact with the panel unit 471. can. Further, since the flat space for the mobile terminal 101 and the authentication card is not required, the operation unit 470 can be downsized. As a result, the operability can be improved without increasing the size of the image forming apparatus 1.

1 ... Image forming device, 10 ... Device main body, 12 ... Internal space part (recess), 40 ... Image forming part, 60 ... Control unit, 70, 370 ... Operation unit, 70a ... Front end part, 71,271,3711 471 ... Panel unit, 72,272,372,472 ... NFC board (communication unit), 73,273,373,473 ... Input unit, 74,274,374,474 ... Antenna, 101 ... Portable terminal (communication means), 270, 470 ... Operation unit (operation unit), 270a, 470a ... Edge portion.

The present invention is an image forming apparatus having an image forming portion for forming an image on a sheet and a discharge port for discharging the sheet on which an image is formed by the image forming portion, and the sheet discharged from the discharging port is loaded. A reading unit that is provided above the discharge tray in the vertical direction and is provided above the discharge tray at a position where a part of the discharge tray overlaps the discharge tray when viewed from above in the vertical direction, and a reading unit for reading the original image, and the image. The operation unit is provided with an operation unit provided in front of the reading unit in the front-rear direction of the forming device and at a position where a part thereof overlaps a part of the discharge tray in the left-right direction of the image forming device. Has a touch panel unit that can be touch-operated by the user and an antenna unit that can communicate with a smartphone by a short-range wireless communication method, and the antenna unit is a front end portion of the touch panel in the front-rear direction. The surface of the operating portion corresponding to the antenna portion is provided at a position between the front end portion and the front end portion of the operating portion, and is inclined with respect to the horizontal plane so that the front side is lowered in the front-rear direction. It is an image forming apparatus characterized by the above.

Claims (10)

A panel unit that is connected to the control unit of the main body of the apparatus and can execute at least one of displaying information obtained from the control unit and inputting information to the control unit.
It has an antenna capable of transmitting and receiving radio waves to and from a close communication means, and includes a communication unit capable of communicating the communication means close to the antenna and the control unit by a short-range wireless communication method.
The antenna is arranged below the panel portion and in the vicinity of the panel portion when the panel portion is viewed from the front.
An operation unit characterized by that. The panel portion and the antenna are provided integrally with the device main body and fixedly fixed to the device main body so as not to be movable.
The operation unit according to claim 1. The panel portion is provided substantially horizontally, and the panel portion is provided substantially horizontally.
The antenna is arranged in front of the panel portion with respect to the device main body.
The operation unit according to claim 2. The antenna is provided at the front end of the device body.
The operation unit according to claim 3. The panel portion is provided substantially vertically, and the panel portion is provided substantially vertically.
The antenna is arranged below the panel portion with respect to the device main body.
The operation unit according to claim 2. The antenna is provided above the rear recessed recess formed in the device body.
The operation unit according to claim 5. The panel portion and the antenna are operation units that are separate from the device main body and are movably provided with respect to the device main body.
The operation unit according to claim 1. The antenna is provided at the edge of the operation unit.
The operation unit according to claim 7. It is arranged on at least one side in the left-right direction of the panel unit, and has an input unit capable of inputting information to the control unit.
The operation unit according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the operation unit is characterized in that. An image forming unit provided on the main body of the apparatus and capable of forming an image on a sheet based on image information from the control unit.
The operation unit according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the image forming unit can be operated via the control unit.
An image forming apparatus characterized in that.

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