JP3467254B2 - 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 a front cover of an image forming apparatus that employs in-body sheet discharge.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, since the space for ejecting paper is obstructive, paper ejection is performed on the upper surface of an image forming apparatus, and the copying machine is digitized, so that it is necessary to read a photoconductor from a document reading device like a conventional analog copying machine. Since there is no optical path for exposing the drum, and the exposure to the photosensitive drum can be performed by laser or LED, the layout is not limited, and a copying machine, a printer, and the like for discharging in the cylinder have appeared, and space saving has become possible. FIG. 4 shows an example. The image forming apparatus of this conventional example includes a main body 1, a scanner unit 2, an operation display unit 3, an in-body discharge tray 5, and a paper feed cassette 7 (two stages of 7172), and paper is fed from the paper feed cassette 7. The sheet is printed with a toner image on the sheet by the image forming unit in the main body, and is discharged from the discharge port 4 to the in-body discharge tray 5.

[0003]

However, in such a structure, since the discharged paper is inside the cylinder as described above, such an image forming apparatus is used as a printer, and
When the image information is to be output from C, the paper is ejected after a while after issuing a printing command, but it is difficult to see whether the paper has been ejected by a quick look. When I went to pick it up, there was a problem that it was not printed, or it was printed but left alone.
In order to solve this, there is an invention in which a display lamp or the like is provided in the image forming apparatus so that confirmation can be performed from a distance, but it is necessary to purposely provide such a lamp or the like, resulting in an increase in cost.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to make it easy to visually confirm whether or not a sheet is discharged with a simple structure in such an image forming apparatus for discharging a sheet from the inside of the body.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention is an image forming apparatus having a scanner section, an in-body discharge tray, a discharge port, and a front cover. The sheet is laid out at the top of the main body of the image forming apparatus, and the sheet on which the image information is printed is ejected in a substantially horizontal direction with respect to the sheet ejection tray, and the ejected sheet is ejected in the body. It is in a position where it falls naturally with respect to the paper tray, and the in-body discharge tray is above the image forming unit of the image forming apparatus and below the scanner unit, and it is possible to take out the paper printed and discharged from the front surface of the main body. Thus, the front surface is open, and the front exit of the front cover has a gentle slope so that the discharge port side becomes lower. The front surface of the front cover has a first surface and a second surface arranged side by side. Line made from the second surface and the second surface Use the image forming apparatus is characterized in that are substantially the same position in front and laterally of the discharge by the sheet of the internal sheet discharge tray.

Particularly, since the paper is most often passed in the A4 landscape, the length from the discharge port to the ridge is A4 landscape size (2
It is preferable to use an image forming apparatus having a size of 10 mm.

[0007]

According to the present invention, since the front edge of the discharged sheet and the ridge line of the front cover are substantially aligned, the line of sight from the ridge line of the front cover to the discharge tray can be visually checked when the sheet is discharged. By shifting, it becomes easier to check the position of the edge of the paper. Generally, it is advisable to make the front end of the paper when it is discharged to the paper discharge tray in the A4 landscape, which is frequently used, the same as the lateral position of the edge line of the front cover.

[0008]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An image forming apparatus adopting the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. In this image forming apparatus, a main body 1 includes a scanner unit 2, an operation display unit 3, a discharge port 4, a discharge tray 5, and a front cover. The scanner unit 2 is provided on the uppermost part of the main body, and irradiates the document with light, and the reflected light is read by the CCD sensor. In the present embodiment, DF (Document-nt)
It has a feeder) and can automatically read a sheet-shaped document.

The operation display unit 3 is provided on the front surface of the upper portion of the main body 1, and from there, the function switching of the copying machine / facsimile / printer, job setting, number of sheets, exposure intensity, and other settings can be performed.

The paper discharge port 4 is laid out at such a position in order to discharge the paper printed on the in-body discharge tray. More specifically, as shown in FIG. 2, the paper fed from the paper feed cassette 7 passes through the vertical transport path 11 and is temporarily stopped by the pair of registration rollers 12 to have its leading edge adjusted, and the LSU 13 to the photoconductor of the image forming unit 14. It starts again in synchronization with the timing when the image information is written on the drum, the toner image is transferred onto the paper, and the toner image is fixed by being nipped and heated by the heat roller and the pressure roller of the fixing means 15, and the discharged paper is conveyed. The paper is discharged from the paper discharge port 4 via the path 16.

Returning to FIG. 1 again, the explanation will be continued. The in-body discharge tray is located above the main body such as an image forming unit of the image forming apparatus and below the scanner unit 2, and has a front surface opened so that the printed and discharged paper can be taken out from the front surface of the main body. ing. The discharged paper has a gentle slope so that the paper exit side is lowered so that the paper naturally comes close to the paper exit side. Inevitably it becomes Kuku viewing the presence or absence of paper that is paper ejection for such a layout. In the present embodiment, the discharge tray 5 is provided with a gentle inclination so that the front surface is lowered so that it can be easily seen from the front.

The front cover 6 has a first surface 61 and a second surface 6.
2 and a ridge line 63 consisting of these two faces.
It can be opened and closed by a hinge part (not shown) on either left side, and a closed state is maintained by a locking function (not shown) such as a magnet on the side opposite to the hinge part. The front cover is opened only when a paper jam occurs or when toner is replenished.

The ridge line 63 of the front cover 6, which is a characteristic part of the present invention, will be described in detail with reference to FIG. This ridge 63
The position of is in the right direction in the figure by the size of the paper discharged from the paper discharge port 4. In general, there are many prints in the A4 lateral direction, so the distance is about 210 mm from the discharge port. When the user confirms the presence / absence of ejected paper, first confirms the ridge line 63 of the front cover 6 and shifts the line of sight as it is,
If there is a front edge of the ejected paper, it can be confirmed that there is paper. Similarly, a groove may be provided at this position, or a printed mark may be used, but in the case of a groove, dirt is likely to accumulate and there is concern about strength such as breaking from the groove portion. Therefore, it is better to use the surface and the ridge line formed by the surface as in this embodiment.

[0014]

According to the present invention, since the front edge of the ejected paper and the ridgeline of the front cover are substantially aligned, the ridgeline of the front cover is ejected when visually recognizing whether or not the paper is ejected. By shifting the line of sight on the tray, it becomes easier to check the position of the edge of the paper. Generally used frequently A
It is advisable that the front end of the sheet when it is discharged to the discharge tray in the horizontal direction is the same as the lateral position of the ridgeline of the front cover.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an appearance of an image forming apparatus adopting the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view of an image forming apparatus adopting the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing sheet conveyance of an image forming apparatus for in-body sheet discharge to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 4 is a schematic view of a conventional image forming apparatus for in-body discharge.

[Explanation of symbols]

1; body 2; Scanner section 3; Operation display section 4; paper exit 5: In-body discharge tray 6; Front cover 61; the first side 62; Second surface 63; Ridge 7: Paper cassette

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. An image forming apparatus having a scanner section, an in-body discharge tray, a discharge port, and a front cover, wherein the scanner section is laid out at the top of the image forming apparatus main body, and the discharge port is an image. The paper on which the information is printed is discharged in a substantially horizontal direction with respect to the discharge tray, and the discharged paper is in a position where it naturally drops with respect to the discharge tray inside the body. The tray is located above the image forming unit of the image forming apparatus and below the scanner unit.The tray has an open front surface so that the paper printed and discharged from the front surface of the main body can be taken out. The front cover has a first surface and a second surface which are arranged side by side in a lateral direction, and the ridgeline formed by the first surface and the second surface is the in-body discharge. Approximately the same as the front edge of the ejected paper in the tray in the horizontal direction The image forming apparatus is located at the position. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the length of the ridgeline from the paper discharge port is the length of A4 horizontal size (about 210 mm) in the horizontal direction.