JP3961540B2 - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a facsimile machine, and a printer, and in particular, between a scanner unit for reading discharged paper and a main body housing unit including a discharge tray for discharging the paper to the upper part. The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus (hereinafter referred to as an in-cylinder discharge type image forming apparatus).

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, image forming apparatuses having a copying machine, a facsimile, a printer, and the like are discharged when using a paper storage unit (discharge unit) for storing transfer paper discharged when using a copying function, a facsimile function, or a printer function. There is a paper storage section (discharge section) for storing a receiving sheet.
Further, an image forming apparatus (hereinafter referred to as an in-cylinder discharge type image forming apparatus) in which the paper storage section is stored between a scanner section for reading a document and a main body housing section having a discharge tray for discharging the paper to the top. There is.)

JP 2000-289917 A

However, in the in-cylinder discharge type image forming apparatus as described above, the sheet is discharged between the scanner unit and the main body housing unit having the discharge tray built therein.
However, the scanner part has a restriction on the upper part for user operation, and the main body housing part must house the built-in paper feed cassette and processes necessary for image formation. Space is needed.
For this reason, the space between the scanner section and the main body housing section (hereinafter referred to as an accommodation space) becomes narrow, and there is a problem that it is difficult for the user to identify.
Further, such an in-cylinder discharge type image forming apparatus has an image in which the entire apparatus seems to be weak because there is a cavity in the in-cylinder discharge.

Further, since the colors of the front part of the scanner part, the main body housing part, and the first support pillar part were substantially the same, the visibility of the accommodation space was further poor.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an image forming apparatus that improves the visibility of the accommodation space and makes it easier to take out the discharged transfer paper, that is, improves the operability for the user.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, a paper storage portion for storing discharged paper, a main body housing portion located at a lower portion of the paper storage portion, and a scanner for reading a document at the upper portion of the paper storage portion. And an image forming apparatus having a first support portion having a discharge function for discharging a sheet between the scanner section and the main body housing section, wherein the space of the sheet storage section is a lower surface of the scanner section, The upper surface of the main body housing part and the first column part are partitioned, and the color of the front part of the first column part is darker than the color of the front part of the main body housing part. It is an object of the present invention to provide an image forming apparatus characterized in that an open part for taking out is provided in front of the apparatus, and the open part is wider than the back part of the apparatus in the vertical width.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, a paper storage portion for storing discharged paper, a main body housing portion located at a lower portion of the paper storage portion, and a scanner for reading a document at the upper portion of the paper storage portion. And an image forming apparatus having a first support portion having a discharge function for discharging a sheet between the scanner section and the main body housing section, wherein the space of the sheet storage section is a lower surface of the scanner section, The upper surface of the main body housing part and the first support column part are defined, and the color of the front part of the first support column part is darker than the color of the front part of the main body housing part . The difference in lightness in the Munsell value is 3 or more, and the paper storage portion has an open portion for taking out paper at the front of the device, and this open portion is configured wider than the back of the device in the vertical width. There is provided an image forming apparatus according to claim Rukoto.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, the color of the front portion of the first support column has a lightness in the Munsell chart (JIS) Munsell value of 2 or less. The image forming apparatus described in 1) is provided.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the color of the operation unit provided in the scanner unit is substantially equal to the color of the front part of the first support column. The image forming apparatus according to any one of Items 3 to 3 is provided.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, since the shadow of the storage space and the color of the portion constituting the paper storage portion between the scanner unit and the main body housing portion are substantially integrated, the visibility of the storage space is improved. Thus, it is easy to take out the discharged transfer paper, that is, there is an effect of improving user operability.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the color of the portion constituting the paper storage portion between the scanner portion and the main body housing portion is darker than the color of the other portions, and the brightness of the Munsell chart (JIS) Munsell value When the difference is 3 or more and the difference is large, the visibility of the accommodation space is further improved, and the discharged transfer paper can be easily taken, that is, the user operability is improved.

According to the invention described in claim 3, when the color of the portion constituting the paper storage portion between the scanner portion and the main body housing portion is 2 or less in lightness in the Munsell chart (JIS) Munsell value, Since the shadow of the space and the color adjacent to the storage space are integrated, the visibility of the storage space is further improved and the discharged transfer paper can be easily taken, that is, the operability of the user is improved. is there.

  According to the invention of claim 4, further, the color of the operation unit provided in the scanner unit is made substantially equal to the color of the part constituting the paper storage unit between the scanner unit and the main body housing unit, Since the entire scanner unit can be grasped, the visibility of the accommodation space is further improved, and the discharged transfer paper can be easily taken, that is, the operability for the user is improved.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described based on specific examples shown in the accompanying drawings.
In addition, the following embodiment is an example which actualized this invention, and does not have the character which limits the technical scope of this invention.
FIG. 1 is an example showing an in-cylinder discharge type image forming apparatus according to the present invention.
The image forming apparatus 100 basically includes a scanner unit 200, a main body housing unit 120, a first column unit 300, and a second column unit 400.

Further, the scanner unit 200 includes an operation unit 210, and the user operates the image forming apparatus 100 by inputting to the operation unit 210.
The main body housing portion 120 accommodates a sheet for accommodating the discharged paper between the scanner portion 200 for reading a document and the main body housing portion 120 having a discharge tray for discharging the paper to the top. The part 110 is provided on the upper part of the main body housing part 120.

Furthermore, a front cover 101 and a built-in cassette 121 (a first built-in cassette 122 and a second built-in cassette 123) are housed in the lower portion of the main body housing portion 120.
Between the main body housing part 120 and the scanner part 200, there are a first support part 300 and a second support part 400 that support the scanner part 200, respectively.

The first support column 300 supports the scanner unit 200 while standing on the main body housing unit 120 on the left side of the image forming apparatus 100.
Similarly, the second support column 400 supports the scanner unit 200 while standing on the main body housing unit 120 on the rear side of the image forming apparatus 100.

(A) 1st invention The 1st invention characterized by the color of the part which comprises the paper accommodating part between a scanner part and a main body housing part being darker than the color of another part is FIG. 2 will be described.
The invention is characterized in that the portion 600 constituting the paper storage portion between the scanner portion and the main body housing portion is darker than the color of other portions, for example, the paper cassette 121.

A dark color means, for example, a low Munsell value defined by JIS, for example, a range of N1 to N2.
Since the shadow of the storage space 500 and the color of the portion 600 constituting the paper storage portion are close to each other, the visibility of the storage space 500 is improved and the discharged transfer paper can be easily taken, that is, user operability. There is an effect of improving.

  In addition, since the front side of the apparatus is configured to be wider, the sheet storage unit has an effect of making it easier to take out the transferred transfer paper, that is, improving the operability for the user.

(B) 2nd invention The color of the part which comprises the paper storage part between a scanner part and a main body housing part is darker than the color of another part, The difference in the brightness in the Munsell chart (JIS) Munsell value The second invention, characterized in that is 3 or more, will be described with reference to FIGS.
The portion 600 constituting the paper storage portion between the scanner portion and the main body housing portion is darker than the color of the other portions, for example, the paper cassette 121, and the difference in brightness in the Munsell chart (JIS) Munsell value is 3 or more. It is the invention characterized by being.

  The shadow of the storage space 500 and the color of the portion 600 constituting the paper storage portion are close to each other, and further, the difference in Munsell value with respect to other portions, for example, the paper cassette 121 is 3 or more. Since the image of the portion 600 and the other portions is received, the visibility of the accommodation space 500 is improved, and the discharged transfer paper can be easily taken, that is, the operability for the user is improved. .

  In addition, since the front side of the apparatus is configured to be wider, the sheet storage unit has an effect of making it easier to take out the transferred transfer paper, that is, improving the operability for the user.

(C) 3rd invention 3rd invention, The color of the part which comprises the paper storage part between a scanner part and a main body housing part is a Munsell chart (JIS) Munsell value is 2 or less, 3rd characterized by the above-mentioned. The invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
The invention is characterized in that the color of the portion 600 constituting the paper storage portion has a Munsell chart (JIS) Munsell value of 2 or less.

  Since the shadow of the storage space 500 and the color of the portion 600 constituting the paper storage portion are close to each other, the visibility of the storage space 500 is improved and the discharged transfer paper can be easily taken, that is, user operability. There is an effect of improving.

(D) 4th invention The color of the operation part provided in the scanner part was made substantially equivalent to the color of the part which comprises the paper storage part between a scanner part and a main body housing part, It is characterized by the above-mentioned. A fourth invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
The operation unit 210 is substantially the same as the color of the portion 600 constituting the paper storage unit.

  Since the operation unit 210 and the portion 600 constituting the paper storage unit are differentiated from other parts, for example, the paper cassette 121, the visibility of the storage space 500 and the operation unit 210 is improved, and the user operability is improved. There is an effect of improving.

(E) Fifth Invention 0.6 ≧ La / Lb ≧ 0.3
La: The distance between the foremost front part of the first support column located at the rear and the position of the scanner part located at the front and the position of the foremost front part of the main body housing part. Lb: A distance from the lowermost position of the paper discharge tray in the paper storage unit will be described with reference to FIGS.

Conventionally, in such an in-cylinder discharge type image forming apparatus, the positions of the front portions of the scanner unit 200, the main body housing unit 120, and the first support column 300 are the same or substantially the same, that is, approximately La = 0 to 0. 30 (mm), Lb = 200 to 400 (mm), and La / Lb = 0 to 0.15.
Further, conventionally, there has been no technical idea that the above formula is established and the position of the front portion of the first support column 300 is set based on the range satisfying the formula.
That is, the optimal position of the front portion of the first support column 300 is not determined by the value of (La / Lb).
Therefore, by satisfying the above formula, in the state of operation (A in FIG. 4), the forefront part of the first support column is not visible and is in a slightly separated position (A in FIG. 4) The forefront portion of the first support column is in a position where it can be clearly confirmed.

For example, in the in-cylinder discharge type image forming apparatus of the present invention, La = 80 (mm), Lb = 200 (mm), and La / Lb = 0.4.
That is, the user can feel the distance between the scanner portion and the main body housing portion because the front portion in front of the first support column portion cannot be seen in the operating state (a in FIG. 4). Also, in the position in a slightly separated position (a in FIG. 4), the front part in front of the first support column can be seen well, so you can feel unity between the scanner part and the main body housing part. You can feel the strength of the entire device.

More specifically, such an in-cylinder discharge type image forming apparatus has an image that the entire apparatus seems to be weak because there is a cavity in the in-cylinder discharge.
Here, in the case of (La / Lb) ≧ 0.6, the front part of the forefront of the first support column tends to be invisible at both positions a and b in FIG. Problems arise.
In the case of (La / Lb) ≦ 0.3, the forefront portion of the first support column tends to be visible at both positions a and b in FIG. 120 and the first support post 300 have a sense of unity, making it difficult to remove the paper from the in-body discharge type space.

(F) Sixth invention 0.8 ≧ La / Lc ≧ 0.6
La: Distance between the front part of the front part of the first column part located at the rear and the position of the front part of the scanner part located at the front part and the front part of the front part of the main body housing part. An average distance between the paper discharge tray and the paper discharge tray in the paper storage unit will be described with reference to FIGS.

For example, in the in-cylinder discharge type image forming apparatus of the present invention, La = 80 (mm), Lc = 1.
20 (mm) and La / Lc = 0.667.
As in the fifth invention, by satisfying the above mathematical formula, in the operating state (a in FIG. 4), the front part in front of the first support column is not visible and is in a slightly separated position (see FIG. At the time of (4) b), the forefront portion of the first support column is in a position where it can be clearly confirmed.

That is, the user can feel the distance between the scanner portion and the main body housing portion because the front portion in front of the first support column portion cannot be seen in the operating state (a in FIG. 4). Also, in the position in a slightly separated position (a in FIG. 4), the front part in front of the first support column can be seen well, so you can feel unity between the scanner part and the main body housing part. You can feel the strength of the entire device.
Here, in the case of (La / Lc) ≧ 0.8, the forefront portion of the first column portion tends to be invisible at both positions a and b in FIG. Problems arise.
In the case of (La / Lc) ≦ 0.6, the front part of the forefront of the first column part tends to be seen at both positions a and b in FIG. 120 and the first support post 300 have a sense of unity, making it difficult to remove the paper from the in-body discharge type space.

Overall view of the present invention The figure which showed the area in the front view of this invention The figure which showed the space in a trunk | drum in the front view of this invention Right side view of the present invention

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Image forming apparatus 101 Front cover 120 Main body housing part 121 Built-in cassette 200 Scanner part 210 Operation part 300 1st support | pillar part 400 2nd support | pillar part 500 Storage space

Claims (4)

A paper storage portion for storing discharged paper, a main body housing portion located at a lower portion of the paper storage portion, a scanner portion for reading a document at an upper portion of the paper storage portion, and a scanner portion and a main body housing portion. In an image forming apparatus having a first support section having a discharge function for discharging paper,
The space of the paper storage unit is defined by the lower surface of the scanner unit, the upper surface of the main body housing unit, and the first support column, and the color of the front portion of the first support column is the same as that of the main unit housing unit. Darker than the front color,
The image forming apparatus, wherein the sheet storage unit has an open part for taking out the sheet in front of the apparatus, and the open part is wider than the back part of the apparatus in the vertical width. A paper storage portion for storing discharged paper, a main body housing portion located at a lower portion of the paper storage portion, a scanner portion for reading a document at an upper portion of the paper storage portion, and a scanner portion and a main body housing portion. In an image forming apparatus having a first support section having a discharge function for discharging paper,
The space of the paper storage unit is defined by the lower surface of the scanner unit, the upper surface of the main body housing unit, and the first support column, and the color of the front portion of the first support column is the same as that of the main unit housing unit. It is darker than the color of the front part , the difference in lightness in the Munsell chart (JIS) Munsell value is 3 or more,
The image forming apparatus, wherein the sheet storage unit has an open part for taking out the sheet in front of the apparatus, and the open part is wider than the back part of the apparatus in the vertical width.   3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the color of the front portion of the first support column has a lightness in a Munsell chart (JIS) Munsell value of 2 or less. 4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a color of an operation unit provided in the scanner unit is substantially equal to a color of a front portion of the first support column unit. 5. .

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