JP2664108B2 - Image forming device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as shown in FIG.
An image forming unit 102 for forming an image based on electrophotography, a fixing unit 103, and a paper discharge roller 104 are provided in a paper transport path 101 provided substantially horizontally inside the paper transport path 1.
01 and an end of a sheet cassette 105 provided thereunder are connected by a sheet feeding path 106 curved in a U-shape, and a sheet feeding roller 107 provided in the sheet feeding path 106 controls the inside of the sheet cassette 105. The paper is conveyed to the image forming unit 102,
The image formed by the image forming unit 102 is transferred onto a sheet, the sheet is further conveyed to a fixing unit 103 to fix the transferred image, and the fixed sheet is discharged to a discharge tray 108 by a discharge roller 104. Image forming apparatus.

In such an image forming apparatus, a circuit board 109 is required to control the operation of each section. Conventionally, the circuit board 109 is provided near the bottom surface of the main body 100 or indicated by a virtual line. As described above, a structure provided on the upper surface side of the main body 100 or arranged vertically along the inner side surface of the main body 100 is employed.

[0004]

What is shown in FIG.
Since the paper in the paper supply cassette 105 is curved into a U-shape and supplied to the image forming unit 102, if the radius of curvature of the paper is reduced, the paper will bend and the paper will be skewed. The diameter of the paper roller 107 and the radius of the paper feed path 106 cannot be made too small. Thus, the sheet transport path 101 and the sheet cassette 1
There is a dead space between the two. Further, by providing the circuit board 109 on the bottom or the top of the main body 100, or by arranging it vertically on the side surface of the main body 100,
Dead space for reversing the sheet and supplying it to the image forming unit 102 is completely wasted, and the overall height of the main body 100 is increased.

Further, conventionally, since the circuit board 109 and the operation panel are separately provided as separate components, they have to be connected by a cable, and assembling work or repair work is complicated.

[0006]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a sheet conveying path provided substantially horizontally inside a main body, an image forming section and a fixing section provided in the sheet conveying path, and the sheet conveying section. a feed path which is curved downward from one end of the road, and the sheet storage section for accommodating a pre-Symbol number of sheets of paper is arranged below the sheet conveying path in a stacked state, the sheet feeding path side of the sheet storage section A paper feed roller rotatably provided at one end, an operation panel in which operation switches and a display unit are arranged and an operation panel exposed on the outer surface of the main body, and a circuit board on which circuit elements are mounted are attached to a common lower surface opening. An operation control unit mounted on a support member and provided between the paper transport path and the paper storage unit.

[0007]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an operation control unit having a circuit board and an operation panel utilizing a dead space for reversing the path of a sheet between a sheet conveying path and a sheet storage unit. Can be reduced in overall height. In addition, since the circuit board and the operation panel are mounted on a common support member to form a unit, the length of a connection line connecting the circuit board and the operation panel can be extremely short to facilitate wiring work. it can. Furthermore, the operation control unit
The support member is an opening at the bottom and is attached to the circuit board .
The heated circuit elements are located near the top of the paper compartment and generate heat, so if the paper in the paper compartment is humid, remove the moisture and prevent the moisture from lowering the electrical resistance of the paper. As a result, the conditions for transferring the toner from the photoreceptor to the sheet can be favorably maintained.

[0009]

[0010]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. A plurality of image forming apparatuses 1 and 2 are provided in a stack on the upper part of the sheet storage device 3. A substantially horizontal paper transport path 5 is provided in the main body 4 of the upper image forming apparatus 1, and a plurality of image forming units 6, 7 are provided along the paper transport path 5.
, One fixing unit 8, transport roller 9, and transport belt 1
0 is provided. The image forming units 6 and 7 according to the present embodiment include a photoconductor 11, an exposure unit 13 and a control circuit 14 held on a support 12 provided inside the photoconductor 11, and a photoconductor 11. The developing unit 16 includes a developing unit 16 having a developing roller 15 facing the exposure unit 13 on the outer periphery, and a transfer unit 17 facing the photoreceptor 11 with the sheet conveyance path 5 interposed therebetween. The exposure section 13 is formed by arranging a number of LEDs along the longitudinal direction of the photoconductor 11, and the operation of the exposure section 13 is controlled by the control circuit 14.

The photoreceptor 11 comprises a transparent cylinder (not shown) and a transparent electrode and a photoconductive layer formed on the outer periphery thereof. The developing roller 15 is composed of an electromagnetic roller and a sleeve rotatably fitted to the outer periphery of the developing roller 15. By rotating the sleeve, a magnetic brush is formed, and the toner in the developing device 16 is raised. A developing bias is applied between the sleeve of the developing roller 15 and the transparent electrode of the photoconductor 11, and an optical signal corresponding to a print signal is emitted from the inside of the photoconductor 11 by the exposure unit 13. The potential of the low-resistance toner in the magnetic brush is substantially equal to the developing bias in any part. Surface of photoconductor 11 (photoconductive layer)
Is low before contact with the magnetic brush,
A strong electric field is generated between the magnetic brush and the photoreceptor 11, and in this state, the surface of the photoreceptor 11 is rubbed by the conductive toner layer, so that the electrical contact is improved and the charge is easily injected. The injected charge is captured by the trap, and the surface of the photoconductor 11 is charged. When the photoconductor 11 is charged to substantially the same potential as the toner layer, no toner adheres to that portion. Here, when an optical signal is emitted from the exposure unit 13 to the inner surface of the photoconductor 11, the potential of the exposed portion is lowered, and toner adheres to the exposed portion according to the principle of reversal development. And
The rotation of the photoconductor 11 causes the toner adhering to the exposed portion to quickly separate from the toner on the sleeve of the developing roller 15, so that the developed toner remains on the photoconductor 11 without being disturbed and is transferred to a sheet by the transfer unit 17. Is done. After the transfer, the residual toner on the photoreceptor 11 comes into contact with the toner layer on the developing roller 15 again by the rotation of the photoreceptor 11, and the outer peripheral portion of the photoreceptor 11 at this contact portion is injected with the electric charge through the residual toner, and the potential is reduced. Rise, and the toner floats. The floating toner is scraped off by the blade of the developing device 16 and is attracted by the magnetic force of the developing roller 15. That is, the image forming units 6 and 7 in this embodiment perform the processes of cleaning, charging, exposing, and developing the photoconductor 11 substantially simultaneously.

Further, a paper cassette 18 serving as a paper storage unit is provided at the bottom of the main body 4, and the paper in the paper cassette 18 is bent into a U-shape so that the paper transport path 5 is formed.
A paper feed path 19 is provided for guiding to the entrance side of the paper feed path, and a paper feed roller 20 driven in a counterclockwise direction is provided in the paper feed path 19. A manual tray 21 and a tractor 22 driven in a counterclockwise direction are rotatably mounted on the entrance side of the paper transport path 5. Further, the exit side of the paper transport path 7 is connected to a paper discharge path 23 curving upward and a paper discharge path 24 curving downward, and the upper paper discharge path 23 is formed on the upper surface of the main body 4. It is connected to a paper tray 25.
A direction switching lever 26 that is rotated by a drive unit (not shown) is provided in a branch path between the paper discharge paths 23 and 24, and a paper detection lever 28 that is displaced in the paper supply cassette 18 depending on the presence or absence of paper inside. Is rotatably mounted.

An operation control unit 27 is provided between the sheet transport path 5 and the sheet cassette 18. As shown in FIG. 2, the operation control unit 27 is fixed to a circuit board 29, a conductive case 30 having a lower opening as a support member in which the circuit board 29 is housed, and a front surface of the case 30. An operation panel 31 is provided. The operation panel 31 is provided with various operation switches 32, a large-sized display unit 33 formed of a liquid crystal panel, and a display unit 33a such as an LED that lights up according to the operation state of each unit.
A display unit 34 having the same function as the display unit 34 is provided on the upper surface of the case 30. On the front surface of the main body 1, there is formed a storage section 35 into which the sheet cassette 18 and the operation control section 27 are inserted so as to be able to be pulled out.

As shown in FIG. 4, a frame 37 is fixed to a side plate 36 provided on the main body 4, and a motor 38, a control circuit 39 and a connector 40 are fixed to the frame 37. Is fixed to the connecting portion 41. The control circuit 39 and the connector 40 are connected. The connection part 41 is connected to the motor 38 and the power cord 42.
And a connector 44 connected to a cable 44 connected to a print data input device such as a personal computer. The circuit board 29 is fixed to a plurality of bosses 45 formed on the ceiling surface of the case 30 by means of screws or the like. The circuit board 29 detects the operation of the circuit element 46 and the paper detection lever 28. And a photo sensor (not shown) for detecting the presence or absence of a sheet. The operation switch 32 and the display units 33 and 3
3a is connected to the circuit board 29 by a short line.
A part of the back of the case 30 is connected to the connector 4.
It is open facing 0. Further, handles 47 and 48 for hanging fingers from below are formed on the front surface of the sheet cassette 18 and the front surface of the case 30, and a concave portion 49 for letting the fingers on the handle 48 escape is formed on the upper portion of the handle 47. Have been. The shape of the recess 49 is also shown in FIGS.

Further, as shown in FIG.
Is composed of a heat roller 51 having a built-in heater 50 and a press roller 52 pressed against the heat roller 51. On the outer peripheral surface of the heat roller 51, a temperature control element 53 such as a thermistor or a thermostat,
Claw 54 that separates the paper passing through from heat roller 51
And the cleaning pad 55 are provided in contact with each other. The cleaning pad 55 is inserted into a cover 56 that covers the upper portion of the heat roller 51.

As shown in FIG. 6, the cover 56 is formed with an opening 57 into which the cleaning pad 55 is inserted and drain grooves 58 located on both sides. Both ends of these grooves 58 are closed by plugs 59 and are connected to the outside of the main body 4 by pipes 60.

Next, the structure of the image forming apparatus 2 will be described with reference to FIG. A substantially horizontal paper transport path 62 is provided in the main body 61 of the image forming apparatus 2. A plurality of image forming units 6 and 7, a fixing unit 8, and a plurality of transport belts 10 are provided along the paper transport path 62. Is provided. The image forming units 6 and 7 and the fixing unit 8 have the same structure as that of the image forming apparatus 1. On the left side of the main body 61, a paper discharge path 63 connected to the paper discharge path 24 of the image forming apparatus 1 and heading directly below, and branched from the paper discharge path 63 and connected to the left end of the paper conveyance path 62. A paper feed path 64 is formed, and a directional switch lever 26 for changing the sheet conveyance direction is provided in a branch path between the paper discharge path 63 and the paper feed path 64. A transport roller 68 located above the lever 26 is provided. Further, on the right side of the main body 61, the paper discharge paths 65 and 66 connected to the right end of the paper transport path 62 and the paper transport path 62 of the upper image forming apparatus 1 intersecting with the paper transport path 62 are connected. A paper feed path 67 is formed. The paper discharge path 65 is directed to the right side of the main body 61, and the paper discharge path 66 is curved downward of the main body 61. A direction switching lever 26 is provided in a branch path of these paper discharge paths 65 and 66. Further, on the right side of the main body 61, a paper discharge tray 69 for receiving the paper discharged from the paper discharge path 65 is provided rotatably.

Next, the structure of the paper storage device 3 is shown in FIG.
It will be described based on. On both sides of the main body 70 of the paper storage device 3, a paper discharge path 71 connected to the paper discharge path 63 of the image forming apparatus 2 and a paper discharge path 7 connected to the paper discharge path 66.
2 are provided so as to extend right below in parallel, and a plurality of branch discharge paths 73, 74 that are curved inward are branched from these discharge paths 71, 72, respectively. A branch path between the paper discharge path 71 and the branch discharge path 73 and a paper discharge path 72 and a branch discharge path 74
A direction switching lever 26 is provided in the branch path.
The main body 70 of the paper storage device 3 has six paper discharge receivers 75 having an upper surface opening for receiving paper discharged from the branch paper discharge paths 73 and 74, and a paper discharge tray from the top to the fourth level. Receiving 7
5 and four paper feed cassettes 76 located below. Further, a transport roller 77 is provided above the paper discharge path 71, a transport roller 78 is provided above the paper discharge path 72, and a paper discharge roller 79 is provided in each of the branch paper discharge paths 73. Each of the branch discharge paths 74 is provided with a discharge roller 80.

Further, on the right side of the main body 70 of the paper storage device 3, a paper supply path 81 connected to the paper supply path 67 of the image forming apparatus 2 is provided in parallel with the paper discharge path 72, A plurality of paper feed rollers 82 for feeding out the paper in the paper feed cassette 76 are arranged in the paper feed path 81.

As shown in FIG. 2, on the front surface of the main body 70 of the paper storage device 3, there is formed a storage portion 83 for removably storing the paper discharge receiver 75 and the paper supply cassette 76. In the center of the lower part of the opening surface of the storage portion 83, a concave portion 84 is provided in order to easily pull out the sheet cassette 76.
Are formed.

In such a configuration, a usage mode in which only the upper image forming apparatus 1 performs single-side printing will be described.
As described above, a developed image is formed on the photoconductor 11, but when the paper in the paper cassette 18 is supplied by the paper feed roller 20 in synchronization with this developing operation, the developed image on the photoconductor 11 is transferred. The image is transferred to a sheet by the unit 17. The sheet is transported by the transport roller 9 and the transport belt 10, and the transfer image is fixed by the fixing unit 8. Here, in the case of monochromatic printing, only one image forming unit 6 is used, and in the case of printing in a plurality of colors, both image forming units 6 and 7 are used. In this case, the color of the toner supplied to the developing device 16 of the image forming units 6 and 7 is different.

As described above, the paper is generally fed from the paper feed cassette 18 built in the image forming apparatus 1, but if the size of the paper to be used is different, the paper is provided in the paper storage device 3. The paper is sent out from a given paper feed cassette 76 by a paper feed roller 82 and fed to paper feed paths 81 and 6.
7 and 19 are supplied to the image forming units 6 and 7. Also, a method of opening the manual feed tray 21 and feeding paper from the right side of the main body 4 or a method of moving the tractor 22 in the horizontal direction as shown by a virtual line and supplying continuous paper from the right side of the main body 4 by the tractor 22 Can also be selected.

There are two paper discharging methods. The first is paper ejection path 2
The second method is to discharge the paper from the left side to an arbitrary paper receiver 75 through the paper discharge paths 24, 63, 71 and the branch discharge path 73. It is. The second method is a use method as a sorter. Switching of the discharge direction is performed by rotating the direction switching lever 26 in an arbitrary direction.

When only one-sided printing is performed as described above,
Only the upper image forming apparatus 1 can be installed on a desk and used. This is the most popular form of use. Further, when the size of the paper to be used is various, a plurality of paper feed cassettes 76 may be used without using the image forming apparatus 2 at the next stage.
The image forming apparatus 1 can be directly installed on the paper storage device 3 having At this time, since the upper end of the paper feed path 81 of the paper storage device 3 coincides with the lower end of the tractor 22, the paper supplied to the upper end of the paper feed path 81 is
Can be conveyed to the image forming units 6 and 7. Further, since the paper discharge path 24 of the image forming apparatus 1 is connected to the upper part of the paper discharge path 71 of the paper storage device 3, the printed paper can be discharged to an arbitrary paper discharge receiver 75.

The angle at which the sheet transport path 62 intersects with the paper feed path 67 and the angle at which the paper feed path 81 intersects with the branch discharge path 74 are set to angles close to a right angle. Is not conveyed out of the direction. Although not shown, the paths of the respective sheets are formed by facing the guide plates at predetermined intervals, but the guide plates are positioned at the intersections with other paths to pass the sheets. Slits are formed.

As described above, the upper image forming apparatus 1
The circuit board 2 uses a dead space for reversing the paper path between the paper transport path 5 and the paper feed cassette 18.
By providing the operation control unit 27 having the panel 9 and the operation panel 31, the overall height of the main body 4 can be reduced. Further, since the circuit board 29 and the operation panel 31 are mounted on a common case 30 to form a unit, the length of the connection line connecting the circuit board 29 and the components on the operation panel 31 is extremely short, and the wiring is performed. Work can be facilitated. At the time of maintenance, the operation control unit 27 is
Can be easily pulled out of the storage section 35 of the
The circuit board 29 can be connected to the connector 40 of the main body 4 with one touch. Operation control unit 2
When the image forming apparatus 1 is operated on a trial basis in a state in which the image forming apparatus 1 is pulled out and placed on the floor, the operating state can be checked while looking at the display unit 34 arranged on the upper surface of the case 30, and maintenance can be performed. Can be easier.

Further, the circuit board 29 is mounted on the sheet cassette 18.
The paper cassette 18 is located near the upper part of the paper cassette and generates heat.
If the paper inside is moist, the moisture can be removed, the electrical resistance of the paper can be prevented from lowering due to the humidity, and the condition for transferring the toner from the photoreceptor 11 to the paper can be maintained well. Furthermore, the circuit element 46 mounted on the circuit board 29 can be shielded from external noise by the conductive case 30 to prevent malfunction. Further, the case 30 can prevent dust from entering and short circuit of the circuit board 29 and the like can be prevented.

Further, as shown in FIG. 3, a paper discharge port 25a located at the end of the paper discharge receiver 25 is located at an upper portion of the main body 4 and is opened substantially at the upper part of the fixing section 8. When spilling beverages such as coffee or tea, water from a vase, or the like on the upper surface of the fixing device 4, the liquid may flow near the fixing unit 8. However, the liquid does not cover the cover 5 as shown in FIGS.
6, flows into the groove 58, and can be led out of the main body 4 by the pipe 60. Accordingly, it is possible to avoid abnormalities such as a state in which the liquid is applied to the heat roller 51 that emits high heat and a vapor is generated, and a state in which the liquid adheres to the electric wiring portion and a short circuit occurs.

In order to achieve the same purpose, as shown in FIG. 7, the liquid guided to the groove 58 of the cover 56 may be guided from both ends of the groove 58 by the shielding plates 85 to the outside of the main body 4. . Also, as shown in FIG. 8, the cover 56 is inclined downward toward both sides, and bent pieces 86 are formed on both side edges of the cover 56 to guide the liquid received by the cover 56 to both sides. The light may be absorbed by the absorbing member 87.

Next, a description will be given of a use mode in which two image forming apparatuses 1 and 2 perform double-sided printing. The principle of printing by the image forming apparatus 2 is the same as the principle of printing by the image forming apparatus 1, and a description thereof will be omitted. As described above, the paper is fed from the paper feed cassette 18 built in the image forming apparatus 1, from the paper feed cassette 76 built in the paper storage device 3, and from the manual feed tray 21. , The paper feed from the right side of the main body 4 by the tractor 22 is selected. The paper printed by the image forming apparatus 1 is inverted into a U-shape by the paper discharge path 24, the paper discharge path 63, and the paper discharge path 64, and is conveyed through the paper conveyance path 62 of the next image forming apparatus 2 to form an image. It is printed by the device 2. Also in double-sided printing, only the image forming unit 6 is operated in the case of single color printing, and both image forming units 6 and 7 are used in the case of printing in a plurality of colors.

The discharge method in double-sided printing is to open the discharge tray 69 on the right side of the next image forming apparatus 2 in the horizontal direction,
There is a method of discharging paper to this paper discharge tray 69. Further, there is a method in which the sheet is fed from the sheet transport path 62 to the upper part of the sheet discharge path 72 of the sheet storage device 3 via the sheet discharge path 66, and is discharged from the right side to an arbitrary sheet discharge receiver 75 by the branch discharge path 74.

Conventionally, since the image forming units are arranged in one place, one side of the sheet is conveyed to the image forming unit located in the one place, and the sheet printed on one side in the image forming unit is conveyed. After the sheet is once withdrawn, the sheet is turned over and the sheet is conveyed to the same image forming section again to perform double-sided printing. For this reason, the transport path for reversing the sheet becomes complicated, the overall length of the transport path becomes longer, and the apparatus becomes larger. Further, as described in Japanese Patent Application No. 3-92367, there is an image forming apparatus in which two image forming apparatuses are vertically connected. In such a type, one-side printing is performed by using only the upper image forming apparatus, and printing is performed on one side of the sheet by the lower image forming apparatus, and the sheet is inverted and supplied to the upper image forming apparatus. Then, it is conceivable to perform double-sided printing by printing on the other side of the sheet by the upper image forming apparatus. However, since the upper and lower image forming apparatuses each have a configuration that can be used independently, it is necessary to individually provide a paper feeder, which requires a large-scale facility and increases costs.

As shown in the present embodiment, by connecting a plurality of image forming apparatuses 1 and 2, two-sided printing can be performed in the process of transporting a sheet in one direction.
This is similar to that described in Japanese Patent Application No. 3-92367, but does not require a paper feeding device in the next image forming apparatus 2. The operation panel 31 of the operation control unit 27 of the upper image forming apparatus 1 has a structure in which a connection unit connected to the operation control unit 27 of the upper image forming apparatus 1 is simply provided in the next image forming apparatus 2. The operation of the image forming units 6 and 7, the fixing unit 8, and the conveyor belt 10 of the next-stage image forming apparatus 2 can be controlled by a signal from the operation control unit 27.
That is, it is not necessary to provide the operation control unit 27 in the image forming apparatus 2 at the next stage. Thereby, the capital investment amount can be reduced.

Next, a modification of the operation control unit 27 will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 9 shows a case 30 in which a plurality of bosses 45 are formed on the ceiling surface and the edge of the lower opening surface, and two circuit boards 29, 29a each having a circuit element connected thereto are attached to these bosses 45. Circuit board 29,2
9a is connected by a connector 88. Also,
FIG. 10 shows a case 30 in which another circuit board 29a is fixed on the upper surface of a case 30 in which a circuit board 29 is mounted.
Another conductive case 30a having a lower surface opening is fixed to the upper surface of the device, the two circuit boards 29, 29a are connected by a connector 88, and the display section 34 provided on the upper surface of the case 30a is connected to the circuit board 29a. It is. In any case, the circuit board 29,
29a can be protected from external noise.

[0035]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a sheet conveying path provided substantially horizontally inside a main body, an image forming section and a fixing section provided in the sheet conveying path, and a sheet conveying path extending from one end of the sheet conveying path. a feed path which is curved downward, and the sheet storage section for accommodating a plurality of sheets of paper is disposed below the front Symbol sheet conveying path in a stacked state, rotatably on one end of the paper feed path side of the sheet storage section An operation panel and a circuit, in which a paper feed roller provided in the apparatus, an operation switch and a display unit are arranged and exposed on an outer surface of the main body.
Open the circuit board on which the elements are mounted
The paper feed path is mounted on the support member of the mouth and configured by the operation control section provided between the paper transport path and the paper storage section, so that the paper path is reversed between the paper transport path and the paper storage section. By providing an operation control unit having a circuit board and an operation panel by utilizing the dead space, the overall height of the main body can be reduced, and the circuit board and the operation panel are mounted on a common support member. Because it is unitized, the length of the connection line connecting the circuit board and the operation panel can be extremely short to facilitate the wiring work, and further, the support member of the operation control unit is a lower surface opening,
In addition, since the circuit elements mounted on the circuit board are located near the upper portion of the paper storage unit and generate heat, if the paper in the paper storage unit is humid, the moisture is removed and the electric resistance of the paper is reduced by the humidity. Is prevented from lowering, and the conditions for transferring the toner from the photoreceptor to the sheet can be favorably maintained.

[0036]

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional front view.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the image forming apparatus.

FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional side view showing a mounted state of an operation control unit and a sheet feeding cassette.

FIG. 5 is a front view of a fixing unit.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a cover of a fixing unit.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a modification of the cover of the fixing unit.

FIG. 8 is a vertical sectional front view showing a modification of the cover of the fixing unit.

FIG. 9 is a longitudinal sectional side view showing a modification of the operation control unit.

FIG. 10 is a longitudinal sectional side view showing a modification of the operation control unit.

FIG. 11 is a vertical sectional front view showing a conventional image forming apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

 4 Main body 5 Paper transport path 6, 7 Image forming section 8 Fixing section 18 Paper storage section 19 Paper feed path 23, 24 Paper discharge path 27 Operation control section 31 Operation panel 29, 29a Circuit board 30 Case (support member)

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification number Office reference number FI Technical display location B41J 29/00 G (56) References JP-A-3-5184 (JP, A) JP-A-1 -100566 (JP, A) JP-A-3-220571 (JP, A) JP-A-57-99677 (JP, A) JP-A-3-242658 (JP, A) JP-A-1-136943 (JP, U) )

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A sheet conveyance path provided substantially horizontally inside a main body, an image forming unit and a fixing unit provided in the sheet conveyance path, and a sheet feeding curved downward from one end of the sheet conveyance path. road and, before Symbol a sheet storage section for accommodating a plurality of sheets of paper is arranged below the sheet conveying path in a stacked state, rotatably provided a feeding roller at one end of the paper feed path side of the sheet storage section An operation panel and a circuit element, wherein an operation switch and a display unit are arranged and are exposed on an outer surface of the main body, are attached.
An image forming apparatus comprising: a circuit board mounted on a support member having a common lower surface opening; and an operation control unit provided between the paper conveyance path and the paper storage unit.