JP4069931B2 - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there has been known an image forming apparatus integrally including an image reading unit for reading an image described on a document and an image forming unit for forming an image on a sheet of information read by the image reading unit. This is commercially available as a machine, a digital multi-function machine having a facsimile / network communication function, a printer, and the like.

  In this type of image forming apparatus, an image reading unit, an image forming unit, and an operation unit are integrally configured up to now, and it is difficult to replace each unit individually or change the combination. For this reason, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-171372 (Patent Document 1) proposes that these units be modularized or unitized.

  In this type of image forming apparatus, the pressure plate is attached to the apparatus main body via a hinge. As described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-261422 (Patent Document 2), a damper mechanism composed of a spring and a cam is used. By providing a hinge with a built-in hinge near the center of gravity of the pressure plate when the pressure plate rotates, there is only one expensive hinge for a strong spring or structure, and the other hinges are low cost It is described that.

  Further, in this type of image forming apparatus, a substrate for controlling the apparatus is provided. For example, in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-174761 (Patent Document 3), an image controller board is connected to an engine module and a paper feed. It is described that a large installation area can be secured by mounting across the modules after coupling with the module.

JP 2002-171372 A JP-A-9-261422 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-174761

  However, in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-171372 (Patent Document 1), the reading module, the operating module, and the recording module are configured as separate modules, respectively, and the operating module is arranged between the reading module and the recording module. These are positioned relative to each other. However, if each unit is a separate module in this way, the operation module, the reading module, and the recording module may be separated if the operation module is gripped and lifted during transportation.

  Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-261422 (Patent Document 2) describes that a hinge having a built-in damper mechanism is provided in the vicinity of the center of gravity of the pressure plate when the pressure plate rotates. Is not disposed at the center of gravity of the pressure plate when the pressure plate is rotated, and on the other hand, a careful assembling work is required to assemble the hinge while being disposed at the center of gravity of the pressure plate when the pressure plate rotates.

  Further, in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 11-174761 (Patent Document 3), the image controller board is mounted on both sides of the engine module and the paper feeding module connected to each other. When the module is mounted, it is necessary to consider the electrical connection from each unit mounted on the reading module to the image controller board.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus including an image forming apparatus main body and an image reading unit while simplifying the apparatus configuration and reading an image. An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus capable of reliably securing an electrical connection between a drive source for driving a portion and a circuit board for controlling the drive source.

In order to achieve the above object, an invention according to claim 1 forms an image on a recording medium on the basis of an image reading unit for reading an image described in a document and image information read by the image reading unit . In an image forming apparatus comprising a possible image forming apparatus main body, the image reading unit, and an operation panel unit for a user to operate the image forming apparatus main body , the image reading unit includes a drive source for reading a document In the image forming apparatus, a support member that supports the image reading unit and the operation panel unit is provided on the image forming apparatus main body, and the image forming apparatus main body and the support member are provided on the image forming apparatus main body. is the driving source and is electrically connected to the first circuit board and the second circuit board are is provided, the said drive source 1 is a circuit board and the second circuit board, it is characterized in that it is arranged on the same side of the horizontal direction of the image forming apparatus.

According to such a configuration, since the drive source, the first circuit board, and the second circuit board are arranged on the same side in the left-right direction in the image forming apparatus, the connection line that electrically connects them. Since the first circuit board and the second circuit board that are electrically connected to the drive source are provided on the image forming apparatus main body and the support member, the apparatus can be shortened. While simplifying the configuration, it is possible to ensure reliable connection between the drive source and the first circuit board and the second circuit board .

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the drive source, the first circuit board, and the second circuit board are on the same side in the front-rear direction of the image forming apparatus. It is characterized by being arranged.

According to such a configuration, since the drive source, the first circuit board, and the second circuit board are disposed on the same side in the front-rear direction of the image forming apparatus, the connection line that electrically connects them. It is possible to further shorten the length and the length of the wiring, and to secure a reliable connection between the drive source and the first circuit board and the second circuit board while further simplifying the device configuration. it can.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect of the present invention, the drive source, the first circuit board, and the second circuit board are electrically connected by a connection line. The image reading unit is provided with an insertion hole through which the connection line is inserted.

According to such a configuration, the connection line electrically connects the drive source and the first circuit board and the second circuit board via the insertion hole provided in the image reading unit. Further, it is possible to further shorten the length and the routing, and further secure the reliable connection between the drive source and the first circuit board and the second circuit board .

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the third aspect of the present invention, the insertion hole includes the driving source , the first circuit board, and the second circuit in the horizontal direction and the front-rear direction of the image forming apparatus . It is characterized by being arranged on the same side as the circuit board .

According to such a configuration, the insertion holes are arranged on the same side in the left and right direction and the front and rear direction of the drive source , the first circuit board and the second circuit board, and the image forming apparatus. In addition, the length and the length of the connection line to be connected can be further reduced, and the device configuration can be further simplified, and the drive source and the first circuit board and the second circuit board can be reliably connected. Connection can be secured.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the fourth aspect of the invention, the image reading unit is mounted on the original table so as to be openable and closable with respect to the original table on which the original is read. A document pressing member for pressing a document to be placed, and the document pressing member is mounted on the document table and is configured to open and close the document pressing member with respect to the document table. The insertion hole is arranged on the same side as the hinge member in the left-right direction and the front-rear direction of the image forming apparatus.

  According to such a configuration, the insertion hole is disposed on the same side in the left-right direction and the front-rear direction of the image forming apparatus with the hinge member that opens and closes the document pressing member with respect to the document table. Contact with the document pressing member that is opened and closed can be prevented from being entangled. Therefore, reliable operation of the apparatus can be ensured.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the invention according to any one of the first to fifth aspects, the image reading unit is mounted so as to be openable and closable with respect to the original platen on which the original is read and the original platen. A document pressing member that presses the document placed on the document table, and the document table includes a transparent plate on which the document is placed, and a document for reading the document placed on the transparent plate. An original reading unit is provided, and the original pressing member includes an original setting member for setting an original and an original conveying unit for conveying the original set on the original setting member to the original reading unit. The driving source is provided on the original platen, and is provided on a scanning driving source for scanning the original reading unit so as to face the transparent plate, and on the original pressing member, and drives the original conveying unit. To do It is characterized in that it has a document conveying drive source.

  According to such a configuration, the document reading unit and the document transport unit can be independently driven by the scanning drive source and the document transport drive source, so that an accurate operation can be ensured.

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, it is possible to secure a reliable connection between the drive source and the first circuit board and the second circuit board while simplifying the device configuration. it can.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, it is possible to secure a reliable connection between the drive source and the first circuit board and the second circuit board while further simplifying the device configuration.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, it is possible to further ensure the reliable connection between the drive source and the first circuit board and the second circuit board .

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the length and routing of the connection line that electrically connects the drive source and the first circuit board and the second circuit board can be further reduced, and further, While simplifying the device configuration, it is possible to ensure reliable connection between the drive source and the first circuit board and the second circuit board .

  According to the invention described in claim 5, it is possible to ensure the reliable operation of the apparatus.

  According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, since the document reading unit and the document transport unit can be independently driven by the scanning drive source and the document transport drive source, accurate operation can be ensured. .

  12 and 13 are perspective views showing a multi-function machine F that is an embodiment of the image forming apparatus of the present invention. In this multifunction machine F, a printer body 1 as an image forming apparatus body is equipped with a flat bed type scanner unit 81 as an image reading unit, and has a print function, a copy function, a facsimile function, a network communication function, and the like. ing.

  FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional side view of an essential part showing an embodiment of a printer main body 1. First, the printer main body 1 will be described with reference to FIG.

  In FIG. 1, a printer main body 1 is configured as a laser printer, and a paper feed section 4 for feeding a paper 3 as a recording medium into a resin main body frame 2 and a fed paper 3 Are provided with an image forming unit 5 for forming an image, a paper discharge unit 6 for discharging the paper 3 on which the image is formed, and the like. In the following description, the side of the printer main body 1 on which the paper feed roller 8 is provided is referred to as the front side (front side), and the side on which the later-described fixing unit 28 is provided is referred to as the rear side (back side).

  In the main body frame 2, the left frame to which the drive mechanism is attached is made of ABS (acrylonitrile / butadiene / styrene copolymer), and the right frame is made of PS (polystyrene). In particular, the left frame and the right frame are formed of a resin not containing a reinforcing agent such as glass fiber.

  The sheet feeding unit 4 includes a sheet feeding cassette 7, a sheet feeding roller 8 and a sheet feeding pad 9 provided above one end (front side) end of the sheet feeding cassette 7, and a sheet fed from the sheet feeding roller 8. 3 is provided with a paper feed path 10 for inverting 3 and transporting it to the rear side, and a paper dust removing roller 11 and a registration roller 12 facing the paper feed path 10.

The paper feed cassette 7 is formed in a box shape having an open top, and is detachably attached to the main body frame 2 of the printer main body 1 at the bottom of the main body frame 2 from the front side. A paper pressing plate 13 and a spring 14 are provided in the paper feeding cassette 7.

  The paper pressing plate 13 can stack the papers 3 in a stacked manner, and is supported so as to be swingable at the end far from the paper feed roller 8, so that the near end moves up and down. It is possible. The spring 14 is provided so as to urge the back surface of the end portion of the paper pressing plate 13 closer to the paper feed roller 8 upward. Therefore, the sheet pressing plate 13 is swung downward against the urging force of the spring 14 with the end far from the sheet feeding roller 8 as a fulcrum as the amount of stacked sheets 3 increases.

  The paper feed roller 8 and the paper feed pad 9 are disposed to face each other, and the paper feed pad 9 is pressed toward the paper feed roller 8 by a spring 15 provided on the back side of the paper feed pad 9.

  After the uppermost sheet 3 on the sheet pressing plate 13 is pressed from the back side of the sheet pressing plate 13 toward the sheet feeding roller 8 by the spring 14 and is sandwiched between the sheet feeding roller 8 and the sheet feeding pad 9. By rotating the paper feed roller 8, the paper 3 is fed toward the paper feed path 10 while being separated one by one by the paper feed roller 8 and the paper feed pad 9.

  The fed paper 3 is disposed above the paper feed roller 8 in the paper feed path 10, and after paper dust is removed by a paper dust removing roller 11 comprising a pair of rollers, Sent.

  The registration roller 12 is composed of a pair of rollers, and conveys the sheet 3 to the image forming position (contact position between the photosensitive drum 37 and the transfer roller 39) after registration.

  The paper feed unit 4 further includes a multi-purpose paper feed unit 21 that can stack and feed papers 3 of different sizes. That is, the printer main body 1 is provided with a front cover 16 on the front surface (front surface) of the main body frame 2, and the front cover 16 is provided with a multi-purpose paper feeding unit 21.

  As shown in FIG. 12, the front cover 16 has a substantially box-like shape that is open at one side (side facing the front of the main body frame 2) that is shallow in a substantially rectangular shape in side view and a substantially rectangular shape in front view. None, the front wall 17, an upper side wall 18, a lower side wall 19, and two side walls 20 are integrally formed as protruding portions of the receiving surface described later.

  The front cover 16 is rotatably supported by the main body frame 2 via a hinge (not shown) provided on the lower side wall 19 on the front surface of the main body frame 2, and as shown by an imaginary line in FIG. 18 is provided so as to be openable and closable with respect to the main body frame 2 by swinging in the front-rear direction (the discharge direction of the paper 3; the same applies hereinafter).

  As shown in FIGS. 15 and 16, the front cover 16 protrudes forward in the front-rear direction from a side cover 63 of the joint cover 61 described later in the side view, and the upper surface of the upper side wall 18 is In the direction from the side to the front side, it is formed in a shape that is inclined downward.

  Further, the main body side continuous portion 22 that is continuous with the front end concave portion 66 of the side cover 63 of the joint cover 61 (described later) at both ends of the width direction of the upper side wall 18 (the direction orthogonal to the paper discharge direction of the paper 3). The front end recessed portion 66 is formed in a shape that is continuous with no step, and similarly to the front end recessed portion 66, a curved inclined surface is formed that is inclined rearward on both outer sides.

As shown in FIG. 1, the multi-purpose sheet feeding unit 21 includes a multi-purpose tray 23 serving as a recording medium support unit provided on the front wall 17 of the front cover 16 and the body frame 2 in the front cover 16. A multi-purpose-side paper feed roller 24 and a multi-purpose-side paper feed pad 25 that are rotatably supported at the front lower end portion are provided.

  As shown in FIG. 12, the multipurpose tray 23 has a substantially rectangular plate shape when viewed from the front. As shown by the imaginary line in FIG. 1, the multipurpose tray 23 is connected to the front cover 16 via a hinge (not shown) provided at the lower end thereof. The front wall 17 is rotatably supported, and its upper end swings in the front-rear direction so that it can be opened and closed with respect to the front wall 17 of the front cover 16.

  The multi-purpose-side paper feeding roller 24 and the multi-purpose-side paper-feeding pad 25 are disposed so as to face each other, and a multi-purpose-side paper feeding pad is provided by a spring (not shown) disposed on the back side of the multi-purpose-side paper feeding pad 25. 25 is pressed toward the multi-purpose-side paper feed roller 24. The paper 3 stacked on the multipurpose tray 23 in the unfolded state is sandwiched between the multipurpose paper feed roller 24 and the multipurpose paper feed pad 25 by the rotation of the multipurpose paper feed roller 24, and then 1 The paper is fed toward the paper feed path 10 while being separated for each sheet.

  The image forming unit 5 includes a scanner unit 26, a process unit 27, a fixing unit 28, and the like.

  The scanner unit 26 is provided in the upper part of the main body frame 2 and includes a laser light emitting unit (not shown), a polygon mirror 29 that is driven to rotate, lenses 30 and 31, reflecting mirrors 32, 33, and 34. The laser beam based on the image data emitted from the laser light emitting unit passes or reflects in the order of the polygon mirror 29, the lens 30, the reflecting mirrors 32 and 33, the lens 31, and the reflecting mirror 34, as indicated by the chain line, The surface of the photosensitive drum 37 of the unit 27 is irradiated by high-speed scanning.

  The process unit 27 is disposed below the scanner unit 26 and is installed in a drum cartridge 35 that is detachably attached to the main body frame 2, a developing cartridge 36, a photosensitive drum 37, a scorotron charger 38, and a transfer roller 39. Etc. The drum cartridge 35 can be attached to and detached from the main body frame 2 by opening and closing the front cover 16 provided on the front surface of the main body frame 2.

  The developing cartridge 36 is detachably attached to the drum cartridge 35, and includes a developing roller 40, a layer thickness regulating blade 41, a supply roller 42, a toner hopper 43, and the like.

  The toner hopper 43 is filled with positively charged non-magnetic one-component toner as a developer. Examples of the toner include polymerizable monomers such as styrene monomers such as styrene, and acrylic monomers such as acrylic acid, alkyl (C1 to C4) acrylate, and alkyl (C1 to C4) methacrylate. Polymerized toners obtained by copolymerization by a known polymerization method such as suspension polymerization are used. Such a polymerized toner has a substantially spherical shape, has extremely good fluidity, and can achieve high-quality image formation.

  Such a toner is blended with a colorant such as carbon black, wax, and the like, and an additive such as silica is added to improve fluidity. The particle diameter is about 6 to 10 μm.

  The toner in the toner hopper 43 is agitated by the rotation of the agitator 45 supported by the rotation shaft 44 provided at the center of the toner hopper 43 in the arrow direction (clockwise direction), and the toner opened at the side of the toner hopper 43. It is discharged from the supply port 46.

  A supply roller 42 is rotatably disposed at a side position of the toner supply port 46, and a developing roller 40 is rotatably disposed opposite the supply roller 42. The supply roller 42 and the developing roller 40 are in contact with each other in a state where each of them is compressed to some extent.

  The supply roller 42 has a metal roller shaft covered with a roller made of a conductive foam material, and is driven to rotate in the direction of the arrow (counterclockwise).

  The developing roller 40 is a metal roller shaft covered with a roller made of a conductive rubber material, and is driven to rotate in the direction of the arrow (counterclockwise). More specifically, the roller of the developing roller 40 is coated with a coating layer of urethane rubber or silicone rubber containing fluorine on the surface of a roller body made of conductive urethane rubber or silicone rubber containing carbon fine particles. Has been. The developing roller 40 is configured to be applied with a developing bias.

  In addition, a layer thickness regulating blade 41 is disposed in the vicinity of the developing roller 40. This layer thickness regulating blade 41 is provided with a pressing portion having a semicircular cross section made of insulating silicone rubber at the tip of a blade body made of a metal leaf spring material. The pressing portion is configured to be pressed against the developing roller 40 by the elastic force of the blade body.

  The toner discharged from the toner supply port 46 is supplied to the developing roller 40 by the rotation of the supplying roller 42. At this time, the toner is positively frictionally charged between the supplying roller 42 and the developing roller 40, and further developed. The toner supplied onto the roller 40 enters between the pressing portion of the layer thickness regulating blade 41 and the developing roller 40 with the rotation of the developing roller 40, and forms a thin layer with a constant thickness on the developing roller 40. Supported.

  The photosensitive drum 37 is supported by the drum cartridge 35 so as to be rotatable in the arrow direction (clockwise) in a state facing the developing roller 40 at a side position of the developing roller 40. The photosensitive drum 37 is formed of a positively chargeable photosensitive layer having a drum body grounded and a surface made of polycarbonate or the like.

  The scorotron charger 38 is disposed above the photosensitive drum 37 so as not to contact the photosensitive drum 37 with a predetermined interval therebetween. The scorotron charger 38 is a positively charged scorotron charger that generates corona discharge from a charging wire such as tungsten, and is configured to uniformly charge the surface of the photosensitive drum 37 to a positive polarity. ing.

  The transfer roller 39 is disposed below the photosensitive drum 37 so as to face the photosensitive drum 37 and is supported by the drum cartridge 35 so as to be rotatable in an arrow direction (counterclockwise direction). The transfer roller 39 is configured such that a metal roller shaft is covered with a roller made of a conductive rubber material, and a transfer bias is applied during transfer.

The surface of the photosensitive drum 37 is first uniformly charged to a positive polarity by the scorotron charger 38 as the photosensitive drum 37 rotates, and then exposed by a laser beam from the scanner unit 26. Then, when the electrostatic latent image is formed and then faces the developing roller 40, the toner carried on the developing roller 40 and positively charged by the developing bias applied to the developing roller 40 is applied to the photosensitive drum 37. Of the electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 37 when facing the surface, that is, the surface of the photosensitive drum 37 that is uniformly positively charged, the potential is lowered due to exposure by the laser beam. A toner image is formed by being supplied to and selectively carried on the exposed portion, thereby achieving reversal development.

  Thereafter, the toner image carried on the surface of the photosensitive drum 37 is transferred to the sheet 3 by the transfer bias applied to the transfer roller 39 while the sheet 3 passes between the photosensitive drum 37 and the transfer roller 39. The

  The fixing unit 28 is disposed on the side of the process unit 27 and on the downstream side in the conveyance direction of the sheet 3. The fixing roller 28 is a heating roller 47, a pressing roller 48 that presses the heating roller 47, and the heating roller 47 and the pressing roller. A pair of conveying rollers 49 provided on the downstream side of 48 are provided.

  The heating roller 47 has a metal cylindrical shape, and includes a heater made of a halogen lamp, and is configured to be heated by the heater.

  Further, the pressing roller 48 is rotated by being driven by the heating roller 47 in a state where the heating roller 47 is pressed.

  In the fixing unit 28, the toner transferred on the paper 3 in the process unit 27 is thermally fixed while the paper 3 passes between the heating roller 47 and the pressing roller 48, and then the paper 3 is conveyed. A roller 49 conveys the paper to a paper discharge path 50 of the paper discharge unit 6.

  The paper discharge unit 6 includes a paper discharge path 50, a paper discharge roller 51 as a discharge means, and a paper discharge tray 52 as a receiving surface. The paper discharge path 50 is configured as a path extending in the vertical direction from the transport roller 49 to the paper discharge roller 51 disposed above the transport roller 49.

  The paper discharge tray 52 has a substantially rectangular plate shape in plan view, and the rear end portion is disposed in the middle in the vertical direction between the transport roller 49 and the paper discharge roller 51 and is inclined upward from the rear end portion toward the front side. The inclined plate portion 53 and the flat plate portion 54 formed in a substantially horizontal direction from the front end portion of the inclined plate portion 53 and having the front end portion opposed to the free end portion of the upper side wall 18 of the front cover 16 are continuously provided. It is integrally formed.

  Further, the discharge tray 52 is provided with a stopper member 55 for stopping the discharged paper 3 on the flat plate portion 54.

  That is, the flat plate portion 54 is formed with a substantially rectangular concave portion in plan view at a substantially central portion in the width direction, and a stopper member 55 is embedded in the concave portion. The stopper member 55 has a substantially rectangular plate shape in plan view, and is rotatably supported by the flat plate portion 54 via a hinge 56 provided at the front end portion thereof. 1, the stopper member 55 opens and closes with respect to the flat plate portion 54 by swinging the rear end portion in the front-rear direction with the hinge 56 provided at the front end portion as a fulcrum. In the unfolded state (the state indicated by the phantom line in FIG. 1), the sheet 3 to be discharged is arranged by being arranged so that the inclination angle toward the front upper side is larger than the inclined plate portion 53. Is prevented from falling from the front end of the paper feed tray 52.

  The paper 3 sent to the paper discharge path 50 by the transport roller 49 is sent to the paper discharge roller 51, and the paper discharge roller 51 causes the paper discharge tray 52 to move from the rear side (rear side) to the front side (front side). The paper is discharged toward the side.

In addition, the printer main body 1 is provided with a reverse conveying unit 57 as a double-sided printing unit in order to form images on both sides of the paper 3. The reverse conveying unit 57 includes a paper discharge roller 51,
A reverse conveyance path 58, a flapper 59, and a plurality of reverse conveyance rollers 60 are provided.

  The paper discharge roller 51 is composed of a pair of rollers and is configured to be able to switch between forward rotation and reverse rotation. As described above, the paper discharge roller 51 rotates in the forward direction when the paper 3 is discharged onto the paper discharge tray 52, but rotates in the reverse direction when the paper 3 is reversed.

  The reverse conveyance path 58 is configured as a path along the vertical direction so that the sheet 3 can be conveyed from the paper discharge roller 51 to a plurality of reverse conveyance rollers 60 disposed below the image forming unit 5. The upstream end is disposed near the paper discharge roller 51, and the downstream end is disposed near the reverse conveying roller 60.

  The flapper 59 is provided so as to be able to swing so as to face a branch portion between the paper discharge path 50 and the reverse conveyance path 58, and the paper is reversed by the paper discharge roller 50 by excitation or non-excitation of a solenoid (not shown). 3 can be switched from the direction toward the paper discharge path 50 to the direction toward the reverse conveyance path 58.

  A plurality of reverse conveyance rollers 60 are provided in a substantially horizontal direction above the paper feed cassette 7, and the most upstream reverse conveyance roller 60 is disposed near the rear end of the reverse conveyance path 58, and The most downstream reverse conveying roller 60 is provided so as to be disposed below the registration roller 12.

  When images are formed on both sides of the paper 3, the reverse conveying unit 57 is operated as follows. That is, when the sheet 3 having an image formed on one side is sent from the sheet discharge path 50 to the sheet discharge roller 51 by the transport roller 49, the sheet discharge roller 51 rotates forward with the sheet 3 interposed therebetween. Then, the paper 3 is once transported toward the outside (the paper discharge tray 52 side), most of the paper 3 is sent onto the paper discharge tray 52, and the rear end of the paper 3 is sandwiched between the paper discharge rollers 51. Sometimes, the forward rotation stops.

  Next, the paper discharge roller 51 rotates in the reverse direction, and the flapper 59 switches the transport direction so that the paper 3 is transported to the reverse transport path 58, and the paper 3 is moved to the reverse transport path 58 in the reverse direction. Transport it. When the conveyance of the paper 3 is completed, the flapper 59 is switched to the original state, that is, the state where the paper 3 sent from the conveyance roller 49 is sent to the paper discharge roller 51.

  Next, the sheet 3 conveyed in the reverse direction to the reverse conveyance path 58 is conveyed to the reverse conveyance roller 60, reversed from the reverse conveyance roller 60 in the upward direction, sent to the paper feed path 10, and the registration roller 12. Sent to. The paper 3 conveyed to the registration roller 12 is turned upside down and sent again to the image forming position after registration, whereby an image is formed on both sides of the paper 3.

  In the reversing conveyance unit 57 of the printer main body 1, the maximum size of the paper 3 that can be printed on both sides is set to A4 size.

  Further, in the printer main body 1, a main board 95 as a circuit board for controlling each part of the multifunction machine F is located on the left side in the left-right direction of the main body frame 2 and on the rear side in the front-rear direction as shown in FIG. It is provided on the side.

  In the multifunction machine F, an operation panel unit 71 (see FIG. 12) and a scanner unit 81 (see FIG. 12) are assembled to the printer main body 1.

  Next, a method for assembling such a multifunction machine F will be described with reference to FIGS.

  First, in this method, a joint cover 61 as a support member (an image reading apparatus support member and an operation panel support member) is provided on the main body frame 2 of the printer main body 1 shown in FIG. 2 as shown in FIGS. Installing.

  The joint cover 61 is molded from a PS (polystyrene) resin that does not contain a reinforcing agent such as glass fiber, and as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, covers the upper part of the main body frame 2 and is mounted with a scanner unit 81. A unit mounting portion 62, a side cover 63 as a side wall covering both sides of the body frame 2 in the width direction (left and right direction, the same applies hereinafter), a rear cover 64 covering the rear side of the body frame 2, and an upper front side of the body frame 2 A cover and an operation panel unit mounting portion 65 on which the operation panel unit 71 is mounted are integrally formed.

  As shown in FIG. 14, the scanner unit mounting portion 62 has a side wall 62 a, an upper wall 62 b, and a rear wall 62 c that are continuously formed at positions facing the paper discharge tray 52. The portion has a square shape when viewed from the front where the lower side and the front side are open, and the inner space is a paper discharge space for discharging the paper 3 in the paper discharge unit 99 described later.

  The side walls 62a are formed continuously with the front concave portions 66 of the side covers 63 described below.

  When the joint cover 61 is mounted on the main body frame 2, the side covers 63 are arranged to face each other with the paper discharge tray 52 interposed therebetween, and the lower ends thereof are formed to have a width that can cover both sides of the main body frame 2 in the width direction. Yes. Further, the side cover 63 is curved so as to protrude outward from both sides in the width direction of the main body frame 2 as it goes from the lower end portion to the upper end portion (particularly in the vicinity of the upper end portion), and the upper end thereof. The protrusion 63a is formed in a substantially mushroom shape (refer to FIG. 14) in a front view wider than the lower end so that the scanner unit 81 can be received.

  In addition, on the lower surface of the protruding portion 63a of each side cover 63, a grip portion 80 for lifting the multi-function device F is provided in a groove shape along the front-rear direction (see FIGS. 15 and 16).

  By forming the side cover 63 in such a shape, the multi-function device F can be easily lifted and carried by holding the holding portion 80 of the protruding portion 63a protruding in the left-right direction in the joint cover 61.

  Further, the front side (downstream side in the paper discharge direction, the same applies hereinafter) end of each side cover 63 is bent inward in the width direction, and the rear side ( A front end recess 66 is formed as a recess that is recessed in an arc shape toward the upstream side in the paper discharge direction (the same applies hereinafter) (see FIGS. 15 and 16).

  In addition, each front end recess 66 has a deepest portion (that is, an upstream end in the sheet discharge direction of the front end recess 66) at the center in the vertical direction that is recessed most rearward in each front end recess 66. A4 size paper 3 which is in front of the front end portion 82a of the original platen 82 (see FIGS. 15 and 16) and has an image formed on one side by the paper discharge roller 51 during duplex printing. Is once sent onto the paper discharge tray 52, it is arranged so as to be disposed in front of the rear end portion (that is, the front end portion in the front-rear direction of the printer main body 1) M of the sent paper 3. (See FIG. 19).

  In addition, each front end recess 66 has the deepest portion 66a of each front end recess 66 in front of the front end of the stopper member 55 in the accommodated state (the end on the support side where the hinge 56 is provided), and is open. It is formed so as to be arranged on the rear side of the rear end portion of the stopper member 55 (the free end portion on the side opposite to the side where the hinge 56 is provided) (see FIG. 19).

  In addition, each front end recess 66 of each side cover 63 is formed as a curved inclined surface 66b in which the widthwise outer side portion of the front surface is inclined toward both outer rear sides (see FIG. 14).

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, a resin mounting portion 68 as a mounting portion for inserting a tap tight screw 67 is provided in the middle in the front-rear direction at the lower end portion of each side cover 63. The bulge is formed in a substantially rectangular shape.

  The rear cover 64 is formed in a substantially rectangular plate shape when viewed from the back. Like the side cover 63, the rear cover 64 is a resin as a mounting portion for inserting a tap-tight screw 67 at both ends in the width direction at the lower end portion. A made mounting portion 68 is formed to bulge downward in a substantially rectangular shape.

  The operation panel unit mounting portion 65 is formed on the front side of the scanner unit mounting portion 62 so as to protrude forward from the front end recess 66 of each side cover 63 (see FIGS. 15 and 16). The operation panel side continuous portion 69 that is continuous with the front end concave portion 66 of each side cover 63 in the operation panel unit mounting portion 65 is formed in a shape that is smoothly continuous with the front end concave portion 66 without any step (FIGS. 15 and 16). reference).

  Further, the upper side of the operation panel unit mounting portion 65 is formed in substantially the same shape as the operation panel unit 71 in plan view to receive the operation panel unit 71, and is a screw for screwing the operation panel unit 71 A plurality (four) of the pedestal portions 70 are provided at predetermined positions in the width direction at positions where the rear end portions of the operation panel unit 71 face each other.

  The joint cover 61 also has a screw base 70 for screwing the document table 82 of the scanner unit 81 at a predetermined interval in the width direction in the vicinity of the rear cover 64 in the scanner unit mounting portion 62. A plurality (two) are provided.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the joint cover 61 is provided with a main board 95 of the printer main body 1, a scanning motor 84a and a conveyance motor 90a, which will be described later, on the left side in the left-right direction and on the rear side in the front-rear direction. A relay board 95a is provided as a circuit board for relaying a harness 96 for electrical connection.

  3 and 4, the joint cover 61 is put on the upper portion of the main body frame 2, and then a tap tight screw 67 is inserted into each attachment portion 68 of each side cover 63 and rear cover 64. Then, each screw 67 is screwed to the resin main body frame 2 to be attached to the main body frame 2 as shown in FIG.

  More specifically, the screw 67 screwed through the mounting portion 68 is screwed while deforming the portion of the resin main body frame 2 as the mounted portion facing the mounting portion 68, and the main body The frame 2 is fixed.

In this way, the resin mounting portion 68 is fixed to the resin main body frame 2 via the screw 67, that is, if both the mounting portions of the printer main body 1 and the joint cover 61 are made of resin, Thermal expansion and contraction can be made closer compared to the case where the mounting site is made of resin and metal. Therefore, the distortion of the printer main body 1 and the joint cover 61 at the mounting site can be reduced, and the rigidity of the apparatus can be improved.

  Next, in this assembling method, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, an operation panel unit 71 as an operation panel is mounted on the operation panel unit mounting portion 65 of the joint cover 61.

  The operation panel unit 71 is formed in a substantially elongated rectangular plate shape in plan view as a separate body from the scanner unit 81, and is adjacent to a document table 82 (described later) substantially flush with the joint cover 61. A flat upper end panel surface 72 and an inclined operation panel surface 73 that is bent obliquely downward from the front end of the upper end panel surface 72 opposite to the side adjacent to the document table 82 are integrated. Is formed. The operation panel surface 73 is provided with various operation key groups 74 for the user to operate the printer body 1 and the scanner unit 81.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 18, when the book 77 is opened and placed on the document table 82 of the scanner unit 81, which will be described later, the operation panel unit 71 has a part of the book 77 as operation keys. In order to prevent the group 74 from being pressed by mistake, an upper restriction protrusion 75, a lower restriction protrusion 75b, and a cover plate 76 are provided as an erroneous depression restriction part.

  The upper restricting protrusion 75 is an operation that continues from the upper end panel surface 72 at the bent portion of the boundary between the upper end panel surface 72 and the operation panel surface 73 by forming the operation panel surface 73 into a gentle protrusion in the front-rear direction. It is formed by curving so that the upper end part over the left-right direction full width of the panel surface 73 protrudes upwards. As a result, when the book 77 is opened and placed on the document table 82, even if a part of the book 77 may be placed above the operation key group 74 on the operation panel surface 73, the upper restricting protrusion 75 is provided. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent a part of the book 77 from being bent following the bent portion at the boundary between the upper end panel surface 72 and the operation panel surface 73, and to prevent the operation key group 74 from being pressed by the book 77. it can.

  The lower restricting protrusion 75b is such that the lower end of the operation panel 73 over the entire width in the left-right direction protrudes upward from the operation panel surface 73 in front of the position where the operation key group 74 is disposed on the operation panel surface 73. It is formed by curving. As a result, when the book 77 is opened and placed on the document table 82, the book 77 comes into contact with the upper restricting protrusion 75 and the lower restricting protrusion 75b, so that a part of the book 77 becomes the operation key group 74. It is possible to further prevent pressing of.

  As shown in FIGS. 12 and 18, the cover plate 76 covers the display unit provided at the center in the width direction of the operation panel unit 71, and the front and rear directions of the operation panel surface 73 are spaced from the operation panel surface 73 by a predetermined distance. It is provided so as to cover it apart. The cover plate 76 is formed of a transparent resin plate and is formed so as to rise slightly from the operation panel surface 73 in a state of covering the operation panel surface 73. As a result, when the book 77 is opened and placed on the document table 82, even if a part of the book 77 may be placed above the operation key group 74 of the operation panel surface 73, a part of the book 77 is placed. Is placed on the cover plate 76, it is possible to prevent the operation key group 74 from being pressed by the book 77.

  Accordingly, since the upper restriction protrusion 75, the lower restriction protrusion 75b, and the cover plate 76 can prevent a document such as a book 77 read by the scanner unit 81 from erroneously pressing the operation key group 74. Can be prevented from malfunctioning.

In the operation panel unit 71, as shown in FIG. 6, the rear end portion is formed at a height that allows contact with the screw base portion 70 of the joint cover 61. In the width direction of the rear end portion, A plurality (four) of mounting holes 78 are formed at predetermined intervals. With the operation panel unit 71 placed on the operation panel unit mounting portion 65, screws 79 are inserted into the mounting holes 78, and the screws 79 are screwed to the screw base portions 70 provided on the joint cover 61. By doing so, the operation panel unit 71 is attached to the joint cover 61 as shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 19, the operation panel unit 71 mounted in this manner is arranged so as to protrude forward from the printer main body 1, and the front end portion of the operation panel unit 71 is in front when not in use. As shown by the phantom line, it is located in front of the free end portion (the end portion on the opposite side of the end portion supported by the hinge not shown) of the multipurpose tray 23 in the accommodated state in the cover 16. When in use, the multi-purpose tray 23 that is in an open state from the front cover 16 is disposed behind the free end portion.

  Next, in this assembling method, the scanner unit 81 is attached to the joint cover 61 as shown in FIGS.

  As shown in FIG. 12, the scanner unit 81 includes a document table 82 and a document pressing cover 83 as a document pressing member that is attached to the document table 82 so as to be opened and closed.

  The document table 82 is formed in a substantially rectangular thick plate shape, and a glass plate 85 as a substantially rectangular transparent plate on which the document is placed is provided on the upper surface thereof. A CCD sensor 84 as reading means and a scanning motor 84a (see FIG. 17) as a scanning drive source for scanning the CCD sensor 84 so as to face the glass plate 85 are provided.

  The CCD sensor 84 always stands by at the left end of the glass plate 85, and the scanning motor 84a (see FIG. 17) is also in the vicinity of the CCD sensor 84, more specifically, on the left side in the left-right direction of the document table 82. The interior is on the rear side in the front-rear direction. The CCD sensor 84 is scanned in the left-right direction so as to face the glass plate 85 by driving of the scanning motor 84a.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 8, a plurality (two) of insertion holes 87 for inserting the fixing screw 86 at the rear end portion are formed in the document table 82 at predetermined intervals in the width direction. . Further, the document table 82 has hinge mounting grooves 88a and 88b in the width direction in which a main hinge 91 and a sub-hinge 92, which will be described later, for mounting the document pressing cover 83 in a freely openable / closable manner are fitted at the rear end. A plurality (two) are provided at predetermined intervals. A hinge mounting groove 88a into which a later-described main hinge 91 is inserted is provided on the left side in the left-right direction of the document pressing cover 83 and in the vicinity of the left side of the insertion hole 87 on the rear side in the front-rear direction.

  Further, the document table 82 is provided with a conveyance motor 90a of an ADF device 90, which will be described later, in the vicinity of the left side of a hinge mounting groove 88a into which a later-described main hinge 91, which will be described later, is inserted on the left side in the left-right direction. A connection opening 97 as an insertion hole for inserting a harness 96 (see FIG. 11) as a connection line for electrically connecting to the main board 95 passes through the document table 82 in the vertical direction. Is formed.

  Then, as shown in FIG. 8, the document table 82 is placed so that its front end portion overlaps the rear end portion of the operation panel unit 71, and each insertion hole 87 serves as the screw base of the joint cover 61 at the rear end portion. As shown in FIG. 9 and FIG. 10, after mounting so as to face the portion 70, the fixing screw 86 is inserted into each insertion hole 87, and each fixing screw 86 is screwed to each screw base portion 70. And attached to the joint cover 61.

  After the document table 82 is attached to the joint cover 61, as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, side cover members 93 are attached to both sides of the main body frame 2, and a rear cover member 94 is attached to the rear side of the main body frame 2. To do.

  As shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, the document pressing cover 83 has a document setting plate 89 as a document setting member on which the document can be set in a stack shape, and an ADF (auto document) as a document conveying means. A feeder device 90 is provided.

  An ADF (Auto Document Feeder) device 90 is provided on the left side in the left-right direction of the document pressing cover 83, and a document setting plate 89 is connected from the right side. The ADF device 90 includes a transport motor 90a (see FIG. 17) as a document transport drive source provided in a motor cover 98 provided on the left side in the left-right direction of the document pressing cover 83 and on the rear side in the front-rear direction. A document detection sensor is provided, and as described below, when the document detection sensor detects a document set on the document setting plate 89 with a scan key being pressed, the CCD sensor 84 is connected to the scanning motor 84a. By driving, it is moved to the ADF document reading position 84b which is the left side position of the glass plate 85, and the document set on the document setting plate 89 is automatically transported to the ADF document reading position 84b by driving the transport motor 90a. Then, the original is read by the CCD sensor 84.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 11, the document pressing cover 83 has a main hinge 91 and a sub-hinge 92 as hinge members attached to the document table 82 at the rear end thereof so as to be openable and closable at predetermined intervals in the width direction. It is provided apart.

  The main hinge 91 and the sub hinge 92 are formed in a substantially rectangular thick plate shape whose lower end portions can be fitted into the hinge mounting groove 88 of the document table 82.

  The center of gravity of the document pressing cover 83 is on the left side in the left-right direction of the document pressing cover 83 due to the weight of the ADF device 90, and the main hinge 91 is on the left side in the left-right direction and passes through the center of gravity of the document pressing cover 83. On the line L. The main hinge 91 includes a torque generation mechanism 91a configured by a spring, a cam and a slider (not shown). When the document pressing cover 83 is opened at a predetermined angle or more with respect to the document table 82, the torque generating mechanism 91a is urged (or held in that state) in a direction to open the document pressing cover 83 with respect to the document table 82. To generate torque.

  By providing such a torque generating mechanism 91a, when the document pressing cover 83 is opened at a predetermined angle or more with respect to the document table 82, the document pressing cover 83 is moved by the torque generated by the torque generating mechanism 91a. Since the urging is performed in the opening direction (or the state is maintained) with respect to 82, even if a heavy ADF device 90 in which the conveyance motor 90 a and the like are built is provided in the document pressing cover 83. Further, it is possible to prevent the document pressing cover 83 from falling down in the closing direction due to its own weight and coming into intense contact with the document table 82.

  Further, by providing the main hinge 91 having such a torque generating mechanism 91a on the line L in the front-rear direction passing through the center of gravity of the document pressing cover 83, the document pressing cover 83 is moved by the main hinge 91. Since the line passing through the center of gravity position can be opened and closed as a rotation fulcrum, the other sub-hinge 92 can be made inexpensively without the torque generating mechanism 91a and the like, and the document pressing cover 83 can be reliably opened and closed. Can be secured.

11, by inserting the main hinge 91 and the sub hinge 92 of the document pressing cover 83 into the hinge mounting grooves 88a and 88b of the document table 82, respectively, as shown in FIG. 12 and FIG. A document pressing cover 83 is attached to the document table 82 so as to be openable and closable.

  As shown in FIG. 11, the transport motor 90a of the ADF apparatus 90 is electrically connected to the main board 95 via the relay board 95a by a harness 96 inserted through the connection opening 97 of the document table 82. . A scanning motor 84a for scanning the CCD sensor 84 built in the document table 82 is also not shown in the figure, but is connected to the main via the relay board 95a by a harness passing through the connection opening 97 from the middle of the connection opening 97 in the vertical direction. It is electrically connected to the substrate 95.

  In addition, after the connection with the harness 96 and the harness (not shown) is completed, as shown in FIG. 15, the board cover member 93 a is mounted at the position facing the main board 95 in the main body frame 2.

  In the multifunction machine F assembled in this manner, the operation panel unit 71 and the scanner unit 81 are supported above the printer body 1 by the joint cover 61 attached to the printer body 1, and the printer body 1 is discharged. A connecting portion including a joint cover 61 between the printer main body 1 and the scanner unit 81, including the paper tray 52 and the upper side wall 18 of the front cover 16, is a discharge unit 99 as a discharge unit for discharging the paper 3. It is said that.

  In such a paper discharge unit 99, an inner space surrounded by the side walls 62a, the upper wall 62b, and the rear wall 62c of the joint cover 61 is a paper discharge space for discharging the paper 3, and the paper discharge of the printer main body 1 is performed. The tray 52 and the upper side wall 18 of the front cover 16 serve as receiving surfaces for receiving the discharged paper 3.

  In such a paper discharge unit 99, the side cover 63 and the rear cover 64 of the joint cover 61 are provided so as to also serve as the outer wall of the paper discharge unit 99.

  In the scanner unit 81, for example, as shown in FIG. 12, the document pressing cover 83 is opened, a document is placed on the glass plate 85 of the document table 82, then the document pressing cover 83 is closed, and the operation panel. When a scan key is pressed in the operation key group 74 of the unit 71, the CCD sensor 84 is scanned in the left-right direction so as to face the glass plate 85 of the document table 82 by driving of the scanning motor 84a, and thereby described on the document. The image to be read is read by the CCD sensor 84.

  Further, for example, as shown in FIG. 13, if the document pressing cover 83 is closed, a document is set on the document setting plate 89, and the scan key in the operation key group 74 of the operation panel unit 71 is pressed, A document detection sensor (not shown) detects the setting of the document on the document setting plate 89, and the ADF device 90 automatically transports the document toward the CCD sensor 84 by driving the transport motor 90a. Are sequentially opposed to the CCD sensor 84 that is on standby, so that the image written on the original is read by the CCD sensor 84. The document read by the CCD sensor 84 is discharged onto the upper surface of the document pressing cover 83.

  As described above, if the CCD sensor 84 and the ADF device 90 are independently driven by the scanning motor 84a and the conveyance motor 90a, an accurate operation according to the original setting position can be ensured.

  In particular, since the document pressing cover 83 is provided with the document setting plate 89 and the ADF device 90, when a plurality of documents are set on the document setting plate 89 in a stack, the ADF device 90 drives the transport motor 90a. As a result, the document is automatically and sequentially conveyed toward the CCD sensor 84, so that it is not necessary to place the document on the glass plate 84 of the document table 82 for each sheet, and the document is efficiently read by the CCD sensor 84. be able to.

  In the multi-function device F, image data read by the CCD sensor 84 is transmitted to the printer main body 1, and the printer main body 1 forms an image on the paper 3 based on the data, thereby achieving a copy function. Is done.

  In this multi-function machine F, the printer body 1 is provided with a joint cover 61, and the operation panel unit 71 and the scanner unit 81 are attached to the joint cover 61. The operation panel unit 71 and the scanner unit 81 can be reliably assembled to the printer main body 1. Therefore, the printer main body 1, the operation panel unit 71, and the scanner unit 81 are configured as separate bodies, and these parts can be replaced individually or the combination can be changed. The grip part 80 of 61 can be gripped and carried.

  Further, in this multi-function machine F, only by inserting the main hinge 91 and the sub hinge 92 into the hinge mounting grooves 88a and 88b of the document table 82, the document pressing cover 83 is placed on the document table 82, and the gravity center position of the document pressing cover 83 is reached. Since it can be mounted so that it can be opened and closed with the line L passing through 83a as a pivot point, a reliable opening / closing operation of the document pressing cover 83 can be ensured by simple assembly.

  The line L is a line that passes through the center of gravity 83a and is orthogonal to the central axis of opening and closing of the document pressing cover 83.

  Further, in this multifunction machine F, the main board 95 of the printer main body 1, the relay board 95a of the joint cover 61, the scanning motor 84a of the document table 82, and the drive motor 90a of the document pressing cover 83 are all on the same side, that is, this composite machine. Since it is arranged on the left side in the left-right direction and the rear side in the front-rear direction in the machine F, the length and routing of the harness 96 for electrically connecting them can be shortened, and the device configuration can be simplified. On the other hand, reliable connection between the scanning motor 84a and the drive motor 90a, and the relay board 95a and the main board 95 can be ensured.

  In particular, the drive motor 90a of the ADF device 90 has a connection opening of the document table 82 formed on the same side as the relay board 95a and the main board 95, that is, on the left side in the left-right direction and the rear side in the front-rear direction. Since the relay board 95a and the main board 95 are electrically connected via the harness 96 inserted through the portion 97, the length and routing of the harness 96 can be further shortened, and electrical noise is generated. Thus, reliable connection between the drive motor 90a, the relay board 95a, and the main board 95 can be ensured.

  Further, in this multi-function machine F, on the document table 82, the hinge mounting groove 88a into which the main hinge 91 is inserted is provided in the vicinity of the right side of the connection opening 97, that is, the connection opening 97 is the document. Since the main hinge 91 for opening and closing the document pressing cover 83 with respect to the table 82 and the left side in the left and right direction and the rear side in the front and rear direction of the multifunction machine F are arranged on the same side, the harness 96 is opened and closed. It is possible to prevent the document pressing cover 83 from coming into contact with the document pressing cover 83. Therefore, reliable operation of the apparatus can be ensured.

  In such an assembling method, after the joint cover 61 is attached to the printer main body 1, the operation panel unit 71 and the scanner unit 81 are attached to the joint cover 61. Therefore, the printer main body 1, the scanner unit 81, and the operation The panel unit 71 is configured as a separate body, and each of these parts can be replaced individually, or the combination can be changed, and reliable assembly can be achieved.

  Further, in this assembling method, when the scanner unit 81 is assembled, the original plate 82 is mounted on the joint cover 61 and then the original pressing cover 83 is mounted on the original plate 83, so that the scanner unit 81 is reliably assembled. can do.

  Further, in this multifunction machine F, the front end recesses 66 of the side covers 63 are formed so as to be recessed in an arc shape toward the rear side, so that the front end recesses 66 are supported while the scanner unit 81 is supported by the joint cover 61. From the depressed portion, the discharged paper 3 can be easily taken out from the side. Therefore, operability can be improved while ensuring the rigidity of the apparatus.

  Further, in this multi-function machine F, the center of gravity of the multi-function machine F is in the vicinity of the rear of the scanner unit 26 of the printer body 1 as indicated by a point P in FIG. Is disposed at the rear side in the front-rear direction, and the front end recess 66 of each side cover 63 is disposed at the front side in the front-rear direction. Therefore, it has sufficient rigidity to carry the MFP F with the gripping portions 80 of the side covers 63. Therefore, it is possible to ensure sufficient rigidity while providing the paper discharge unit 99 between the scanner unit 81 and the printer main body 1.

  In the paper discharge unit 99, since the joint cover 61 also serves as an outer wall, the number of parts can be reduced while ensuring the rigidity of the apparatus.

  15 and 16, the deepest portion 66a of the front end recess 66 of each side cover 63 is disposed in front of the front end portion 82a of the document table 82 of the scanner unit 81, as shown in FIGS. Therefore, the side cover 63 can ensure sufficient rigidity to support the document table 82. Therefore, even if the document table 82 is strongly pressed by hand, damage to the apparatus can be prevented.

  Further, in this multi-function machine F, at the time of duplex printing, the paper 3 with the image formed on one surface is once sent to the paper discharge unit 99 by the paper discharge roller 51 of the reverse conveyance unit 57 and then pulled back again, thereby the paper 3 In the middle of such double-sided printing, the A4 size paper 3 having an image formed on one side is temporarily sent out onto the paper discharge tray 52 by the paper discharge roller 51. The deepest portion 66a of the front end recess 66 of each side cover 63 is arranged on the front side of the rear end portion M of the fed paper 3 (see FIG. 19). Therefore, it is possible to prevent the user from accidentally taking out the sheet 3 without forming an image on the other side. Therefore, reliable double-sided printing can be ensured and operability can be improved.

  Further, in this multi-function machine F, as shown in FIGS. 15 and 16, the operation panel unit 71 is disposed so as to protrude forward (front side) from the printer body 1, so that the front operated by the user. On the side, the operation panel unit 71 can be disposed on the foremost side. Therefore, operability can be improved.

Further, in this multi-function machine F, as shown in FIG. 19, the front end portion of the operation panel unit 71 is a free end portion (with a hinge (not shown)) of the multipurpose tray 23 that is housed in the front cover 16 when not in use. The front end of the multipurpose tray 23 that is open from the front cover 16 when in use, as shown by the phantom line, is located on the front side of the supported end (the end opposite the supported end). It arrange | positions so that it may be located in the rear side.

  Therefore, when the multipurpose tray 23 is in a closed state, that is, when the multipurpose tray 23 is not used, the front end portion of the operation panel unit 71 is located on the front side, that is, the front side of the free end portion of the multipurpose tray 23. It is arranged in front of the multipurpose tray 23. When the multipurpose tray 23 is in an open state, that is, when the multipurpose tray 23 is used, the front end portion of the operation panel unit 71 is located behind the free end portion of the multipurpose tray 23, that is, on the front side. The multipurpose tray 23 is arranged in front of the operation panel unit 71. Therefore, it is possible to improve the operability of the multipurpose tray 23 when the multipurpose tray 23 is used while ensuring the operability of the operation panel unit 71 when the multipurpose tray 23 is not used.

  Further, in this multi-function machine F, as shown in FIG. 19, the front end recess 66 of each side cover 63 has the deepest portion 66a of each front end recess 66 at the front end of the stopper member 55 in the accommodated state (the hinge 56 is provided). End of the stopper member 55 in the open state, and the rear end of the stopper member 55 in the open state (the free end on the side opposite to the side where the hinge 56 is provided). Is formed.

  Therefore, when the stopper member 55 is in the closed state, that is, when the stopper member 55 is not used, the deepest portion 66a of each front end recess 66 is more forward than the stopper member 55, i.e., more than the stopper member 55 on the front side. The deepest portion 66a of the front end recessed portion 66 is disposed in front. In addition, when the stopper member 55 is in the open state, that is, when the stopper member 55 is used, the deepest portion 66a of each front end recess 66 is deeper than the front end recess 66 on the rear side, that is, the front side of the stopper member 55. The stopper member 55 is disposed in front of the portion 66a. Therefore, when the stopper member 55 is used, the sheet 3 stacked on the stopper member 55 can be easily taken out from the side while ensuring the rigidity of the apparatus, and the operability can be improved. .

  In the multi-function machine F, the upper surface of the upper side wall 18 of the front cover 16 is formed in a shape that inclines downward in the direction from the rear side to the front side in the paper discharge unit 99. A gap can be formed between the rear end S of the sheet 3 discharged onto the discharge tray 52 and the upper surface of the upper side wall 18. Therefore, it is possible to easily take out the paper 3 by placing a hand from below the rear end S of the paper 3.

  Further, in this multifunction machine F, the front end recesses 66 of the side covers 63 are formed so as to be recessed in a circular arc shape toward the rear side, and the side covers 63 in the operation panel unit mounting portion 65 of the joint cover 61 are formed. An operation panel side continuous portion 69 that is continuous with the front end concave portion 66 is formed in a shape that is continuous with the front end concave portion 66 without a step, and each side cover 63 at both ends in the width direction of the upper side wall 18 of the front cover 16. The main body side continuous portion 22 that is continuous with the front end concave portion 66 is formed in a shape that is continuous with the front end concave portion 66 without any step. Therefore, when the paper 3 is taken out, the paper 3 can be prevented from being caught at the side cover 63 or the boundary between the operation panel unit 71 side and the printer main body 1 side and each side cover 63. For this reason, it is possible to ensure good take-out of the paper 3.

Furthermore, in this multi-function machine F, as shown in FIG. 12, the widthwise outer portion of the front surface of the front end recess 66 of each side cover 63 is formed as a curved inclined surface 66b that is inclined downward toward the rear of both sides. Therefore, when the paper 3 is taken out, it is possible to prevent the paper 3 from being caught in the side cover 63. In addition, such an inclined surface can improve the rigidity.

  In the above description, the multi-purpose sheet feeding unit 21 that can stack and feed sheets 3 of different sizes is provided on the front surface of the front cover 16 of the printer main body 1. For example, as shown in FIG. Instead of the multi-purpose paper feeding unit 21, a manual feeding unit 101 for manually feeding the paper 3 may be provided. That is, in FIG. 20, a manual feed tray 102 as a recording medium supporting means that can be opened and closed is provided on the front surface of the front cover 16 as a manual feed portion 101 so as to be rotatable.

  Further, although the multi-purpose paper feeding unit 21 and the manual feeding unit 101 are provided to be openable and closable, they may be provided to be slidable.

  In the above description, the document pressing member 83 and the ADF device 90 are provided on the document pressing cover 83. However, depending on the purpose and application, the document pressing cover 83 without the document setting member 89 and the ADF device 90 may be provided. May be equipped.

FIG. 2 is a side cross-sectional view of a main part showing an embodiment of a printer body. It is a perspective view of the printer main body shown in FIG. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a state in which a joint cover is attached to the printer main body shown in FIG. 1 as viewed from the rear left side. It is the perspective view which looked at the state which attaches a joint cover to the printer main body shown in FIG. 1 from the back right side. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a state where a joint cover is attached to the printer main body shown in FIG. 1 as viewed from the rear left side. FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a state in which the operation panel unit is mounted on the joint cover shown in FIG. 5 as viewed from the rear left side. It is the perspective view which looked at the state where the operation panel unit was attached to the joint cover shown in FIG. 5 from the rear left side. It is the perspective view which looked at the state which mounts an original stand in the joint cover shown in FIG. 7 from the back left side. FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a state in which a document table is mounted on the joint cover shown in FIG. 7 as viewed from the rear left side. FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a state in which a document table is mounted on the joint cover shown in FIG. 7 as viewed from the front right side. FIG. 11 is an enlarged perspective view of a state where a document pressing cover is attached to the document table shown in FIG. 1 is a perspective view (a document pressing cover open state) showing a multifunction machine as an embodiment of an image forming apparatus of the present invention. 1 is a perspective view (a document holding cover closed state) showing a multifunction machine as an embodiment of the image forming apparatus of the present invention. FIG. 14 is a front view showing the multifunction machine shown in FIG. 13 (document holding cover closed state). FIG. 14 is a left side view of the multifunction peripheral shown in FIG. 13 (document holding cover closed state). FIG. 14 is a right side view of the multifunction machine shown in FIG. 13 (document holding cover closed state). FIG. 14 is a plan view showing the multifunction machine shown in FIG. 13 (document holding cover closed state). It is a principal part right view which shows the operation panel unit of the multifunctional machine shown in FIG. FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional side view of a main part of the multifunction machine shown in FIG. FIG. 10 is a perspective view (document holding cover closed state) showing a multifunction machine as another embodiment (an aspect equipped with a manual feed tray) as an image forming apparatus of the present invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Printer main body 2 Main body frame 3 Paper 61 Joint cover 63a Protrusion part 68 Mounting part 71 Operation panel unit 72 Upper end panel surface 73 Operation panel surface 74 Operation key group 75 Restriction concave surface 76 Cover plate 80 Holding part 81 Scanner unit 82 Document stand 83 Original Holding cover 84 CCD sensor 84a Scanning motor 85 Glass plate 89 Document set plate 90 ADF device 90a Transport motor 91 Main hinge 91a Torque generating mechanism 95 Main board 95a Relay board 97 Connection opening F Multifunction machine

Claims (6)

And an image reading unit for reading an image described in the document,
An image forming apparatus main body capable of forming an image on a recording medium based on image information read by the image reading unit ;
In an image forming apparatus comprising an operation panel unit for a user to operate the image reading unit and the image forming apparatus main body ,
The image reading unit is provided with a drive source for reading a document,
In the image forming apparatus, a support member that supports the image reading unit and the operation panel unit is provided on the image forming apparatus main body,
The image forming apparatus main body and the support member are provided with a first circuit board and a second circuit board that are electrically connected to the drive source,
The image forming apparatus, wherein the drive source, the first circuit board, and the second circuit board are disposed on the same side in the left-right direction of the image forming apparatus. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the driving source, the first circuit board, and the second circuit board are arranged on the same side in the front-rear direction of the image forming apparatus. . The drive source and the first circuit board and the second circuit board are electrically connected by a connection line,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image reading unit is provided with an insertion hole through which the connection line is inserted. The insertion hole is arranged on the same side as the drive source , the first circuit board, and the second circuit board in the left-right direction and the front-rear direction of the image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus according to 3. The image reading unit includes a document table on which a document is read, and a document pressing member that is attached to the document table so as to be openable and closable and presses the document placed on the document table.
The document pressing member is provided with at least one hinge member that is attached to the document table and opens and closes the document pressing member with respect to the document table.
The image forming apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the insertion hole is arranged on the same side as the hinge member in the left-right direction and the front-rear direction of the image forming apparatus. The image reading unit includes a document table on which a document is read, and a document pressing member that is attached to the document table so as to be openable and closable and presses the document placed on the document table.
The document table is provided with a transparent plate on which the document is placed and a document reading means for reading the document placed on the transparent plate,
The document pressing member is provided with a document setting member for setting a document, and a document conveying means for conveying the document set on the document setting member to the document reading means,
The drive source is provided on the document table, and is provided on a scanning drive source for scanning the document reading unit so as to face the transparent plate, and on the document pressing member, and drives the document conveying unit. 6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an original transport driving source.

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