JP6610870B2 - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a printer, a facsimile, or a complex machine of these.

  An image forming apparatus such as a copying machine or a printer has a supply powder storage unit that stores toner as powder to be supplied to the image forming unit, and a recovered powder storage unit that stores toner collected from the image forming unit. Is provided.

  In general, these accommodating portions are accommodated inside the image forming apparatus main body {refer to Patent Document 1 (JP 2010-169735 A) and Patent Document 2 (JP 2004-151239 A)}.

  However, when the powder container is formed so as to match the shape of the image forming apparatus main body as in the prior art, there is a problem that the amount of powder that can be stored in the powder container is limited.

In order to solve the above-described problems, the present invention provides an image forming unit that forms an image on a recording medium, and an image forming unit that houses the image forming unit, and includes a protruding part in which a part of a side surface protrudes from the other part. The apparatus main body and powder to be supplied to the image forming unit are accommodated, and at least a part is accommodated in the projecting portion, and at least a part is disposed above the projecting portion. A discharge recording medium mounting section on which the recording medium discharged outside the apparatus can be mounted, and the upper surface of the protruding portion is inclined downward in the protruding direction, and the discharged recording medium mounting section Has a placement portion main body and an extension portion that can be extended from the placement portion main body, and the extension portion includes a first extension portion that can be pulled out and stored in the placement portion main body, and a first extension portion. A second extension that is rotatable with respect to the extension of the first extension. While extension and said second extension portion extending from the mounting section body, at least a part of the first extension portion or the second extended portion is disposed above the projecting portion Features.

  According to the present invention, by accommodating at least a part of the powder container in the protruding part in which a part of the side surface of the image forming apparatus main body is protruded, there is no restriction on the shape of the image forming apparatus main body. Thus, a large space for storing powder can be secured, and the amount of powder stored can be increased.

1 is an external perspective view of a monochrome laser printer that is an embodiment of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of the printer. (A) is a side view showing a schematic configuration of the process unit, (b) is a plan view showing a schematic configuration of the process unit. FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of the printer. It is a schematic block diagram of the image forming apparatus which concerns on other embodiment. FIG. 6 is a plan view of an image forming apparatus according to another embodiment. It is a schematic block diagram of the process unit which concerns on another embodiment. 1 is an external perspective view of an image forming apparatus provided with a vent. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an image forming apparatus provided with a vent hole. FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram of a process unit in which a toner conveyance path is inclined downward. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a process unit in which a toner storage unit and a collected toner storage unit are detachable. FIG. 2 is an external perspective view of a printer configured so that a process unit can be taken out to the right side. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an image forming apparatus including an image reading unit. FIG. 3 is an external perspective view of an image forming apparatus including the reading device. FIG. 11 is an external perspective view of an image forming apparatus according to another embodiment. FIG. 16 is a schematic configuration diagram of the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 15. It is a figure which shows the state which made the manual feed tray the use state. It is a figure which shows the state which opened the opening / closing cover. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an image forming apparatus according to a comparative example. FIG. 11 is an external perspective view of an image forming apparatus according to another embodiment. It is sectional drawing of the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. FIG. 21 is a side view of the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 20. 1 is an external perspective view of an image forming apparatus provided with a ventilation portion. It is a figure which shows an example of the installation state of the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. FIG. 11 is an external perspective view of an image forming apparatus according to another embodiment. FIG. 26 is an external perspective view of the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 25. It is a schematic block diagram of the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows the state which shortened the paper feed cassette. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a state where a toner storage unit is removed. It is an external appearance perspective view of an image forming apparatus showing a modification of a grip part. It is a schematic block diagram of the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows embodiment which a holding part functions as a control part which controls the edge part position of a paper. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a lock member that fixes a toner storage unit to the apparatus main body. It is a schematic block diagram of the image forming apparatus which concerns on another embodiment. FIG. 35 is a plan view of a process unit provided in the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 34. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an image forming apparatus according to a comparative example. It is a schematic block diagram of the image forming apparatus which concerns on another embodiment. It is a schematic block diagram of the image forming apparatus which concerns on another embodiment. It is a schematic block diagram of the image forming apparatus which concerns on another embodiment. It is a front view of the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. It is a schematic block diagram of the image forming apparatus which concerns on another embodiment. It is a schematic block diagram of the image forming apparatus which concerns on another embodiment. It is a schematic block diagram of the image forming apparatus which concerns on another embodiment. It is a schematic block diagram of the image forming apparatus which concerns on another embodiment. FIG. 45 is an external perspective view of the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 44. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a state where the manual feed tray is in a use state and an extended state, and the paper discharge tray is in an extended state. It is a figure which shows the state which opened the opening / closing cover. FIG. 45 is a right side view of the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 44. FIG. 45 is a left side view of the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 44. 1 is an external perspective view of an image forming apparatus including an image reading unit.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings for explaining the present invention, components such as members and components having the same function or shape are denoted by the same reference numerals as much as possible, and once described, the description will be given. Omitted.

FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of a monochrome laser printer which is an embodiment of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of the printer.
First, the overall configuration of the image forming apparatus will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. The present invention is not limited to a monochrome laser printer, but can be applied to other printers such as a color laser printer, a copying machine, a facsimile machine, or a multi-function machine that combines at least two of these.

  As shown in FIG. 2, a process unit 1 as an image forming unit is attached to an apparatus main body (image forming apparatus main body) 100 of the image forming apparatus. The process unit 1 visualizes a photoreceptor 2 as an image carrier that carries an image on the surface, a charging roller 3 as a charging unit that charges the surface of the photoreceptor 2, and a latent image on the photoreceptor 2. A developing device 4 as developing means, a cleaning blade 5 as cleaning means for cleaning the surface of the photoreceptor 2, and a powder container 7 for storing toner as powder used for image formation are provided.

  1, the surface facing the front A of the apparatus main body 100 is the front side surface 100a, the surface facing the rear B is the rear side surface 100b, the surface facing the left side C is the left side surface 100c, and the surface facing the right side D is the right side surface 100d. Then, an opening / closing cover 101 is provided on the front side surface 100 a of the apparatus main body 100. By opening the opening / closing cover 101, the process unit 1 can be attached to and detached from the apparatus main body 100 from the front side surface 100a side.

  The developing device 4 includes a developing roller 24 as a developer carrying member that carries toner on the surface, a supply roller 25 as a developer supply member that supplies toner to the developing roller 24, and a toner carried on the developing roller 24. The developing blade 26 is used as a regulating member for regulating the amount.

  The powder container 7 has at least a toner container (supply powder container) 8 that stores toner (supply powder) to be supplied to the photoreceptor 2 constituting the image forming unit. The powder container 7 of the present embodiment has a collected toner container (collected powder container) 9 that stores toner (collected powder) collected from the photoreceptor 2 in addition to the toner container 8. The toner storage unit 8 and the collected toner storage unit 9 are not limited to being configured integrally, and may be configured separately. In this embodiment, as the powder used for image formation, a one-component developer composed only of toner not containing a carrier is used. However, the present invention also applies to an image forming apparatus using a two-component developer containing a carrier. Is applicable.

  Further, the image forming apparatus includes a laser light emitting unit 6 as an exposure unit that exposes the surface of the photoreceptor 2, a transfer device 10 that transfers an image to a recording medium, a recording medium supply device 11 that supplies the recording medium, and a recording medium. A fixing device 12 for fixing the image transferred to the medium, a recording medium discharge device 13 for discharging the recording medium to the outside of the device, and the like are provided.

  The transfer device 10 includes a transfer roller 14 as transfer means. The transfer roller 14 is disposed so as to come into contact with the photoreceptor 2 in a state where the process unit 1 is mounted on the apparatus main body 100. Further, the transfer roller 14 is connected to a power source, and is applied with a predetermined DC voltage (DC) and / or AC voltage (AC).

  The recording medium supply device 11 is disposed in the lower part of the apparatus main body 100 and feeds a paper feed cassette (recording medium containing portion) 15 that contains paper P as a recording medium, and paper that is contained in the paper feed cassette 15. A paper feeding roller (feeding means) 16, and a transport roller 23 and a timing roller 17 disposed downstream of the paper feeding roller 16 in the paper feeding direction. In addition to plain paper, the paper includes thick paper, postcard, envelope, thin paper, coated paper (coated paper, art paper, etc.), tracing paper, and the like. In addition to paper, an OHP sheet, an OHP film, or the like can be used as a recording medium.

  The fixing device 12 includes a fixing roller 18 as a fixing member heated by a heating source such as a heater, and a pressure roller 19 as a pressure member that contacts the fixing roller 18 with a predetermined pressure to form a fixing nip. With.

  The recording medium discharge device 13 is disposed on the upper portion of the apparatus main body 100, and serves as a discharge roller 20 that discharges the sheet to the outside of the apparatus, and a discharge recording medium placement unit that places the sheet discharged by the discharge roller 20. A paper discharge tray 21 is provided.

Next, an image forming operation of the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.
When the image forming operation is started, the photosensitive member 2 is rotationally driven, and the surface of the photosensitive member 2 is uniformly charged to a predetermined polarity by the charging roller 3. Then, the laser light emitting unit 6 exposes the charged surface of the photoreceptor 2 based on image information from a reading device or a computer. As a result, an electrostatic latent image is formed on the surface of the photoreceptor 2. Toner is supplied to the electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive member 2 by the developing device 4, and the electrostatic latent image is developed (visualized) as a toner image. Specifically, when the developing roller 24 and the supply roller 25 in the developing device 4 rotate, toner is supplied onto the developing roller 24 by the supply roller 25. Next, the toner on the developing roller 24 is regulated to a certain amount (thickness) by the developing blade 26. Thereafter, the toner on the developing roller 24 is conveyed to a position facing the photoreceptor 2 and is transferred from the developing roller 24 onto the photoreceptor 2 to form a toner image.

  When the image forming operation is started, the paper feed roller 16 starts to rotate and the paper P is sent out from the paper feed cassette 15. The fed paper P is transported by the transport roller 23, and the transport is temporarily stopped by the timing roller 17. Thereafter, rotation of the timing roller 17 is started at a predetermined timing, and the sheet P is fed to the transfer nip in accordance with the timing at which the toner image on the photoreceptor 2 reaches the contact position (transfer nip) with the transfer roller 14. Is done.

  At the transfer nip, a predetermined voltage is applied to the transfer roller 14 to form a transfer electric field. When the paper P is fed to the transfer nip, the toner image on the photoreceptor 2 is transferred to the paper P by the transfer electric field. At this time, the toner on the photoreceptor 2 that has not been transferred to the paper P is removed by the cleaning blade 5 and conveyed to the collected toner storage unit 9.

  The sheet P on which the toner image has been transferred is conveyed to the fixing device 12 and heated and pressed by the fixing roller 18 and the pressure roller 19 to fix the toner image on the sheet P. Then, the paper P is discharged out of the apparatus by the paper discharge roller 20 and placed on the paper discharge tray 21.

Next, the configuration of the toner container 8 and the collected toner container 9 will be described in detail with reference to FIG.
3A is a side view showing a schematic configuration of the process unit 1, and FIG. 3B is a plan view showing the schematic configuration of the process unit 1.

  The toner storage unit 8 has a plurality of storage areas 8a, 8b, and 8c for storing toner. The plurality of storage areas 8c, 8b, 8a are arranged side by side in a direction away from the image forming unit (photosensitive member 2 and developing device 4) to the front of the apparatus main body 100 (right side in the drawing). Further, in each of the storage areas 8a, 8b, and 8c, stirring and transporting paddles 28a, 28b, serving as toner supply means (powder supply means) for stirring and transporting the toner stored in the storage areas 8a, 8b, and 8c to the image forming unit. 28c is provided. Each agitation transport paddle 28a, 28b, 28c rotates in the direction of the arrow shown in FIG. 3A, thereby agitating the toner accommodated in each of the accommodation areas 8a, 8b, 8c and adjacent to the downstream side. The toner is transported to the matching storage area, and the toner is transported from the storage area 8c to the developing device 4 side.

  In the present embodiment, the inner bottom surfaces 80a, 80b, 80c of the storage areas 8a, 8b, 8c are formed in an arc shape following the rotational trajectories of the tips of the blade portions 280a, 280b, 280c of the agitation transport paddles 28a, 28b, 28c. Is formed. Similarly, the inner bottom surface 40 of the developing device 4 is also formed in an arc shape. Here, when the heights Ha, Hb, Hc, H4 of the lowermost portions of the inner bottom surfaces 80a, 80b, 80c, 40 formed in the arc shape of each of the storage areas 8a, 8b, 8c and the developing device 4 are compared, The height of the bottom surface is set to be lower as it approaches the image forming unit (H4 <Hc <Hb <Ha). Accordingly, the heights Hd, He, and Hf of the rotation shafts 281a, 281b, and 281c of the agitation transport paddles 28a, 28b, and 28c are arranged at lower positions as they approach the image forming unit (Hf <He). <Hd).

  As described above, by setting the height of the inner bottom surfaces 80a, 80b, 80c, and 40 to be lower as they approach the image forming unit, the toner can easily move to the image forming unit according to gravity. In particular, in the configuration in which the plurality of storage areas 8c, 8b, and 8a are sequentially arranged in the direction away from the image forming unit as in the present embodiment, toner must be conveyed from a position far from the image forming unit. Therefore, the toner may not be supplied satisfactorily. Therefore, as described above, the height of the inner bottom surface is set to be lower as it approaches the image forming unit, so that the toner is easily supplied to the image forming unit and the situation where the toner is not supplied is avoided. be able to.

  The collected toner container 9 includes a first collected toner container (first collected powder container) 9a disposed on the left side of the figure and a second collected toner container (first container) disposed on the right side of the figure. 2 recovered powder container) 9b. The first collected toner storage unit 9a is disposed so as to face the photoreceptor 2 on the right side in the drawing, and stores the toner collected from the image forming unit (photoreceptor 2) by the cleaning blade 5. On the other hand, the second collected toner storage portion 9b is disposed on the opposite side (right side in the drawing) to the photoreceptor 2 with respect to the first recovery toner storage portion 9a. In addition, the developing device 4 is interposed.

  The first collected toner storage portion 9 a and the second recovered toner storage portion 9 b are connected to each other via a toner transport path (powder transport path) 30. In the toner conveyance path 30, a conveyance screw 31 is provided as toner conveyance means (powder conveyance means) for conveying the collected toner. When the conveying screw 31 is driven to rotate, the collected toner is conveyed from the first collected toner container 9a to the second collected toner container 9b.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, the toner collected from the image forming unit is temporarily stored in the first collected toner storage unit 9a, and then transported to the second recovered toner storage unit 9b by the transport screw 31. The If it is difficult to secure a space around the image forming unit, the first collected toner storage unit 9a may be omitted. In that case, the toner collected by the cleaning blade 5 is not temporarily stored, but is transported to the second collected toner storage unit 9b via the toner transport path 30 and stored.

  Further, in the second collected toner storage portion 9b, two collecting screws 32a and 32b are provided as toner collecting means (powder collecting means) for collecting the collected toner. These recovery screws 32a and 32b convey the toner (recovered toner) carried into the second recovery toner storage portion 9b so as to be stored in the second recovery toner storage portion 9b. The conveying direction of each of the collecting screws 32a and 32b may be the same direction (the back side from the toner carry-in position of the second collecting toner storage unit 9b) or may be opposite to each other. Moreover, in this embodiment, although the rotating shaft of each collection | recovery screw 32a, 32b is arrange | positioned at the same height, you may arrange | position at a different height.

  By the way, when the toner in the toner storage unit 8 is no longer consumed, the toner storage unit 8 is replenished with new toner, or the toner storage unit 8 or a unit (such as a process unit) configured integrally therewith is replaced. There is a need to. Further, when the collected toner storage unit 9 is full of recovered toner, it is necessary to replace it with a new collected toner storage unit 9. In order to reduce the frequency of such replenishment work or replacement work, it is effective to enlarge the toner storage portion 8 and the collected toner storage portion 9 in order to increase the amount of toner stored. However, there is a limit to the amount of toner that can be increased if the size and shape of the toner containing portion 8 and the collected toner containing portion 9 are designed to match the shape of the image forming apparatus main body so far.

  Therefore, in the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment, a part of the front side surface 100a of the apparatus main body 100 is protruded forward A. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 4, the middle portion and the upper portion in the height direction of the front side surface 100a of the apparatus main body 100 are projected forward A from the lower portion (position indicated by the dotted line E in the figure), and the protruding portion K is formed. In this projecting portion K, a part of the toner storage portion 8 and the second recovered toner storage portion 9b (entire) are stored. In other words, in the present embodiment, a protruding portion in which a part of the toner storage portion 8 and the second collected toner storage portion 9b are protruded from the lower portion (position indicated by the dotted line E in the figure) of the front side surface 100a of the apparatus main body 100. J is configured to cover this protruding portion J with the protruding portion K of the apparatus book 100. Accordingly, it is possible to secure a large space in which the supplied toner and the collected toner can be accommodated without being restricted by the shape of the apparatus main body 100, and it is possible to increase the accommodation amount of the supplied toner and the collected toner. . In the present embodiment, a part of the toner storage portion 8 and a part of the collected toner storage portion 9 are accommodated in the protruding portion K of the apparatus main body 100. Only a part of the collected toner storage unit 9 may be stored. The same applies to other embodiments.

  Further, the protruding direction of a part of the toner storage portion 8 and the second collected toner storage portion 9b is not upward, as in the image forming apparatus described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2008-20788, but only on the side. As a result, it is possible to prevent the height of the apparatus main body 100 from being increased and the attachment / detachment operability of the process unit 1 from being lowered, and it is difficult to secure the placement surface of the discharged paper.

  In particular, in the present embodiment, by projecting the front side surface 100a of the apparatus main body 100, the size of the apparatus main body 100 does not increase to the right side or the left side. Easy to place equipment and objects. However, the present invention is not limited to the case where the front side surface 100a is protruded. It is also possible to increase the storage space for the supplied toner or the collected toner by protruding the left side surface 100c, the right side surface 100d, or the rear side surface 100b of the apparatus main body 100 in the same manner.

  In general, it is necessary to arrange an exposure unit, a transfer unit, and the like around the image forming unit. Therefore, when the toner containing unit 8 is enlarged, the layout tends to be easily restricted, and the same applies to the present embodiment. . Therefore, when the toner storage unit 8 is enlarged, it is preferable to increase the distance from the image forming unit (photoreceptor 2) in order to avoid such a layout restriction around the image forming unit. Specifically, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, the front and rear dimensions La, Lb, and Lc of the storage areas 8a, 8b, and 8c are made longer as the storage area is farther from the photoconductor 2 (Lc <Lb). <La) A large amount of toner can be secured by avoiding layout restrictions around the image forming unit.

  As a method of increasing the amount of collected toner, a method of enlarging the first collected toner containing portion 9a can be considered in addition to providing the second collected toner containing portion 9b as in the present embodiment. . However, as in the present embodiment, when the first collected toner container 9a is disposed between the photoreceptor 2 and the fixing device 12, the first collected toner container 9a is subject to layout restrictions. There is a problem that it is difficult to enlarge.

  Therefore, in the present embodiment, a second collected toner container 9b is provided separately from the first collected toner container 9a, and the amount of toner collected without increasing the first collected toner container 9a is set. Many are secured. Further, in addition to the second collected toner container 9b, three or more collected toner containers such as a third collected toner container may be provided.

  Further, the reason why it is difficult to enlarge the first collected toner storage portion 9a is a problem of toner fixing due to heat of the fixing device 12. In other words, even if the first recovered toner storage portion 9a can be enlarged, if the distance from the fixing device 12 is reduced as a result, the recovered toner is fixed by the heat of the fixing device 12 and the recovery function is lowered. Therefore, it is not preferable to increase the size.

  Therefore, in the present embodiment, the second collected toner storage portion 9b is disposed at a position farther from the fixing device 12 than the first recovered toner storage portion 9a, and the recovered toner is stored finally. Yes. As a result, the collected toner is less likely to be affected by the heat of the fixing device 12, so that the toner can be prevented from sticking. In the first collected toner storage portion 9a, the recovered toner is only temporarily stored. Therefore, before the recovered toner is fixed under the influence of the heat of the fixing device 12, the toner is recovered. Can be conveyed to the second collected toner storage portion 9b.

  Further, since most of the recovered toner is stored in the second recovered toner storage portion 9b, the second recovered toner storage portion 9b is formed larger than the first recovered toner storage portion 9a. Therefore, a large amount of toner that can be accommodated can be secured. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, the front-rear dimension Mb and the height Nb of the second collected toner container 9b are set to be larger than the front-rear dimension length Ma and the height Na of the first collected toner container 9a. It is getting bigger. Further, in the second recovered toner storage portion 9b having a large toner storage amount, the two recovery screws 32a and 32b are provided as described above in order to smoothly store a large amount of toner.

  In the present embodiment, the toner collected from the photoreceptor 2 is affected by the heat of the fixing device 12 even if the toner is not fixed. Further, the collected toner may be heated by friction generated during image formation. The heat generated in the collected toner is transferred to the supplied toner stored in the toner storage unit 8, and if the supplied toner is melted, it may cause an image defect or an apparatus failure. It is desirable that the toner is not easily transmitted to the supplied toner.

  Therefore, in the present embodiment, the second collected toner storage portion 9b is disposed on the outer side (front side) than the toner storage portion 8. As a result, the second collected toner storage portion 9b is disposed closer to the outer wall of the apparatus main body 100 than the toner storage portion 8, so that the toner stored in the second recovered toner storage portion 9b is cooled. It becomes easy. In particular, in the present embodiment, since the entire second collected toner storage portion 9b is disposed so as to protrude from the apparatus main body 100, the toner can be cooled more effectively. As a result, the influence of heat received from the collected toner on the supplied toner can be reduced. Further, since the second collected toner storage portion 9b is disposed on the side opposite to the toner supply direction (the developing roller 24 side) in the toner storage portion 8, the heat of the recovered toner is supplied to the supplied toner. Difficult to communicate. That is, the toner in the toner storage unit 8 is transported in the direction away from the second recovered toner storage unit 9b by the agitation transport paddles 28a, 28b, and 28c, so that it is not easily affected by the heat of the recovered toner.

  As in the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, when the drawing direction of the paper feed cassette 15 and the removal direction of the process unit 1 are the same direction (in this case, the front A), the operator can access from the same direction. There is a merit that improves. However, on the other hand, when the drawing direction of the sheet cassette 15 is the same as the direction in which the apparatus main body 100 protrudes, there is a disadvantage that the sheet cassette 15 is difficult to see from above due to the protruding part of the apparatus body 100.

  Therefore, in the present embodiment, the lower surface (surface facing downward) 100a1 (see FIG. 4) of the protruding portion of the apparatus main body 100 is inclined upward toward the front A that is the protruding direction, so Visibility and drawer operability are improved. Furthermore, the workability of setting paper in the paper feed cassette 15 and the jam handling workability on the back side of the paper feed cassette 15 are improved. Further, since the lower surface 100a1 is inclined as described above, it is difficult to hold the apparatus main body 100 with a hand on the protruding lower surface 100a1. Therefore, when the protruding portion does not have sufficient strength to be held, the lower surface 100a1 can be inclined to prevent damage caused by holding the protruding portion.

  Further, in the present embodiment, when the process unit 1 is attached / detached from the front side surface 100a side of the apparatus main body 100, in order to avoid interference between the process unit 1 and the apparatus main body 100 and peripheral members, a protruding portion ( The upper surfaces of the storage area 8a) and the second collected toner storage portion 9b are flat. Furthermore, in the present embodiment, these upper surfaces are made to have the same height (same surface), so that there is no unevenness and the device main body 100 or the like is not easily caught.

  The configuration of another embodiment of the present invention will be described below. Note that, in the configuration of the embodiment described below, portions having the same functions as those of the above embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description is omitted.

  In the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, a part of the toner containing portion 8 and the second collected toner containing portion 9 b are arranged in a state protruding from the front side surface 100 a of the apparatus main body 100 to the front A and exposed to the outside. In this way, a part of the toner storage portion 8 and the second collected toner storage portion 9b may be projected so as to be exposed to the outside. Also in this case, it is possible to secure a large amount of supply toner and collected toner.

  In the present embodiment, among the three storage areas 8a, 8b, and 8c of the toner storage unit 8, the entire storage area 8a at the right end in the drawing protrudes. In other words, the boundary between the accommodation area 8a at the right end of the drawing and the intermediate accommodation area 8b is arranged at a position corresponding to the front side surface 100a where the apparatus main body 100 does not protrude.

  Further, a part of the toner containing portion 8 protruding from the apparatus main body 100 and the second collected toner containing portion 9b (a protruding portion J protruding from the position indicated by the dotted line E in FIG. 5) are covered with the outer wall of the apparatus main body 100. May be. In this case, when the upper surface of the apparatus main body 100 is configured with the same height including the protruding portion K (see FIG. 4) as in the above embodiment, the upper surface of the protruding portion K is placed on the upper surface. This is convenient when using a long sheet or the like. On the other hand, as shown by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 5, the upper surface of the protruding portion K of the apparatus main body 100 may be lowered one step. According to this, even when a long sheet or the like is discharged, the opening operation of the opening / closing cover 101 when removing the process unit has an effect that the sheet placed compared to the above embodiment does not get in the way. .

  Further, in the present embodiment, unlike the above-described embodiment, the heights of the inner bottom surfaces 80a, 80b, 80c of the storage areas 8a, 8b, 8c of the toner storage unit 8 are all set to the same height Hg. Instead, in the storage areas 8a and 8b far from the image forming unit, the toner agitation and conveyance force by the agitation and conveyance paddles 28a and 28b is increased as compared with the storage area 8c closer to these. Specifically, the heights Hd and He of the rotation shafts 281a and 281b of the stirring and conveying paddles 28a and 28b far from the image forming unit are higher than the height Hf of the rotating shaft 281c of the stirring and conveying paddle 28c close to the image forming unit. (Hf <He = Hd) away from the inner bottom surfaces 80a and 80b, the blade portions 280a and 280b are formed long in the radial direction. As a result, it becomes easier to supply toner from the distant storage areas 8a and 8b to the image forming unit, and a situation where toner is not supplied can be avoided.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the storage areas 8a and 8b far from the image forming unit are made larger than the storage areas 8c closer to these, and the toner storage amount is increased while avoiding interference with the peripheral members of the image forming unit. We are trying to secure it. In the example shown in FIG. 5, the lengths La and Lb in the front-rear direction of the storage areas 8a and 8b far from the image forming unit are made longer than the storage areas 8c near the image forming unit (Lc <Lb = La). Further, as described above, the toner agitation transport force by the agitation transport paddles 28a and 28b can be increased as described above even when the toner storage amount is increased in the storage regions 8a and 8b far from the image forming unit. Thus, the toner can be transported with sufficient stirring.

FIG. 6 is a plan view of an image forming apparatus according to another embodiment.
As in the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 6, the second collected toner storage portion 9 b may be disposed on the right side D of the toner storage portion 8. In the present embodiment, the second collected toner storage portion 9b is disposed adjacent to the right side D of the storage region 8a at the right end of the toner storage portion 8 in the drawing and the intermediate storage region 8b. On the contrary, the second collected toner storage portion 9b may be arranged on the left side C of the toner storage portion 8.

  As described above, when the second collected toner storage portion 9b is disposed on the left side C or the right side D of the protruding portion of the toner storage portion 8, the second recovered toner storage portion 9b is disposed as in the above embodiment. Compared with the configuration (see FIG. 4) arranged in front A of the toner storage portion 8, the amount of protrusion toward the front A can be suppressed. In addition, by adopting such an arrangement, the degree of freedom of layout is expanded. Further, as shown in FIG. 6, the front side surface, left side surface, right side surface, and upper and lower surfaces adjacent to the front side surface of the process unit 1 protrude from the front side surface 100 a of the apparatus main body 100. The arrangement of the second collected toner storage portion 9b and the toner storage portion 8 is not limited to that shown in FIG. 6, but can be applied to the embodiments shown in other drawings. By adopting such an arrangement, workability when removing the process unit 1 is improved.

FIG. 7 is a schematic configuration diagram of a process unit according to still another embodiment.
In the embodiment shown in FIG. 7, the second collected toner storage portion 9 b is disposed below the toner storage portion 8. As described above, when the bottom heights of the storage regions 8a, 8b, and 8c of the toner storage unit 8 are made different, a space may be formed below the toner storage unit 8, and the second collection is performed in the space. By arranging the toner storage portion 9b, space can be used effectively and the apparatus can be downsized. In this case, at least a part of the toner storage unit 8 and at least a part of the second collected toner storage unit 9 b protrude toward the front A of the apparatus main body 100.

  Further, in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the vent hole 33 is provided on the outer wall of the protruding portion that protrudes toward the front A of the apparatus main body 100. In this example, a plurality of vent holes 33 are provided on the upper and lower surfaces of the protruding portion. The outside air flows into the apparatus through the vent 33 and the hot air in the apparatus is discharged to cool the toner in the toner container 8 and the toner in the second collected toner container 9b. The toner can be effectively prevented from melting and fixing. Further, as a cooling means for cooling a part of the toner containing portion 8 protruding from the apparatus main body 100 and the second collected toner containing portion 9b, outside air is actively taken into the device in addition to the vent 33. An airflow generator such as a fan may be provided.

  In another embodiment shown in FIG. 10, the toner transport path 30 that connects the first collected toner container 9a and the second collected toner container 9b is connected to the second collected toner container 9a from the second collected toner container 9a. It is arranged so as to incline downward by the height F toward the collected toner storage portion 9b. As described above, by arranging the toner conveyance path 30, the toner easily moves toward the second collected toner storage portion 9b according to gravity. Thereby, it is possible to suppress the toner from aggregating and fixing in the toner conveyance path 30.

  In the above-described embodiment, the toner storage unit 8 and the second collected toner storage unit 9b are integrally formed with respect to the process unit 1 including the photoreceptor 2 and the like, but as in the example shown in FIG. The toner storage unit 8 and the second collected toner storage unit 9b may be configured to be detachable from the process unit 1. With this configuration, only the toner storage unit 8 or the second collected toner storage unit 9b can be replaced, so that a portion that does not need to be replaced can be used continuously and is economical.

  In the above-described embodiment, the process unit 1 is configured to be detachable forward A with respect to the apparatus main body 100. However, as illustrated in FIG. 12, the process unit 1 is detached to the right side D. It is good. Further, the removal direction of the process unit 1 may be the left side C or the rear B. That is, by making the direction in which the apparatus main body 100 protrudes be different from the direction in which the paper supply cassette 15 is pulled out, deterioration of the visibility and operability of the paper supply cassette 15 due to the protruding part of the apparatus main body 100 is avoided. be able to. Note that the drawing direction of the sheet cassette 15 is not limited to the front A, and may be the left side C, the right side D, or the rear B.

13 and 14 are schematic configuration diagrams showing an image forming apparatus provided with an image reading unit in the printer described above.
In the present embodiment, an image reading unit 90 that reads an image of a document is provided on the upper part of the image forming apparatus main body 100. The support member 91 supports the image reading unit 90 so as to form a paper discharge space for taking out paper between the paper discharge tray 21 and the lower surface of the image reading unit 90. The operator sets the document on the image reading unit 90 from the front A. In this case, since the document setting direction, the drawing-out direction of the paper feed cassette 15, and the removal direction of the process unit 1 are all the same direction, the operator can access from the same direction. Further, the process unit 1 protrudes to the front A side from the side surface of the image reading unit 90 on the front A side, and the image reading unit 90 is not disposed above the protruding portion of the process unit 1. For this reason, even if the protruding portion of the process unit 1 is enlarged upward, the paper discharge space between the paper discharge tray 21 and the image reading unit 90 is not narrowed. Therefore, the process unit 1 can be further enlarged to increase the toner storage amount without deteriorating the workability of taking out the discharged paper, and the degree of freedom in design is increased.

  13 and 14 have been described with the image forming apparatus shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 provided with the image reading unit 90. However, the image reading unit 90 may be provided in the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. . In that case, it is preferable to provide support members 91 on the rear B side and the left side C side, and take out the paper on the paper discharge tray 21 from the front A side. In this case, the protruding portion of the process unit 1 is disposed so as to protrude from the right side surface of the image reading unit 90 in the D direction.

15 to 18 show still another embodiment.
In FIG. 15 to FIG. 18, components having the same reference numerals as those in FIG. 1 or FIG. In each figure, the direction indicated by the arrow A is the front of the apparatus main body 100 of the image forming apparatus, the direction indicated by the arrow B is the rear of the apparatus main body 100, the direction indicated by the arrow C is the left side of the apparatus main body 100, and the arrow D is indicated. The direction shown will be described as the right side of the apparatus main body 100.

  As shown in FIG. 16, a process unit 1 as an image forming unit is mounted on the apparatus main body 100 of the image forming apparatus. The process unit 1 visualizes a photoreceptor 2 as an image carrier that carries an image on the surface, a charging roller 3 as a charging unit that charges the surface of the photoreceptor 2, and a latent image on the photoreceptor 2. A developing device 4 as developing means and a cleaning blade 5 as cleaning means for cleaning the surface of the photoreceptor 2 are provided.

  The image forming apparatus also includes a laser light emitting unit 6 as an exposure unit that exposes the surface of the photoreceptor 2, a powder container 7 that stores toner as powder used for image formation, and an image on a recording medium. A transfer device 10 for transferring, a recording medium supply device 11 for supplying a recording medium, a fixing device 12 for fixing an image transferred to the recording medium, a recording medium discharging device 13 for discharging the recording medium to the outside of the device, and the like. .

  The powder storage unit 7 includes a toner storage unit (supply powder storage unit) 8 that stores toner (supply powder) supplied to the photoconductor 2 constituting the image forming unit, and toner (from the photoconductor 2). And a recovered toner storage portion (collected powder storage portion) 9 for storing the recovered powder).

  The recording medium supply device 11 includes a paper feed cassette (recording medium storage unit) 15 that stores paper P as a recording medium, and a paper feed roller (feeding means) that feeds the paper stored in the paper feed cassette 15. 16, a manual feed tray (feed recording medium placement unit) 35 for placing paper, a manual paper feed roller (feed means) 36 for feeding paper on the manual feed tray 35, and a paper feed roller 16 or manual feed And a timing roller 17 for conveying the sheet fed by the paper roller 36 at a predetermined timing.

  The paper feed cassette 15 is disposed in the lower part of the apparatus main body 100 and is configured to be drawn forward A with respect to the apparatus main body 100. In the state shown in FIGS. 15 and 16, the paper feed cassette 15 is accommodated in the apparatus main body 100. In this state, the front end surface 15 a of the paper feed cassette 15 is disposed at the same position as the front side surface 100 a of the apparatus main body 100, but the rear end surface 15 b of the paper feed cassette 15 is behind the rear side surface 100 b of the apparatus main body 100. Arranged in a state protruding to B. A grip 41 is provided on the front end surface 15 a of the paper feed cassette 15. An operator can grip the grip portion 41 and pull out the paper feed cassette 15 from the apparatus main body 100.

  The manual feed tray 35 is disposed on the front side surface 100 a side of the apparatus main body 100 and is attached to the apparatus main body 100 so as to be rotatable. The manual feed tray 35 is rotated so as to be stored along the front side surface 100a of the apparatus main body 100 (the state shown in FIGS. 15 and 16) and so as to protrude forward A from the front side surface 100a. It is switched to the use state (state shown in FIG. 17). When the manual feed tray 35 is put into use, a paper feed port (opening) 45 provided on the front side surface 100 a of the apparatus main body 100 for feeding paper from the manual feed tray 35 is opened.

  In the apparatus main body 100, a conveyance path for feeding paper from the paper feed cassette 15 to a contact position (transfer nip) between the photosensitive member 2 and the transfer roller 14 and discharging the paper out of the apparatus through the fixing device 12. 43 is formed. In the present embodiment, the direction in which the conveyance path 43 starts feeding paper from the paper feed cassette 15 (left direction in FIG. 16) and the direction of paper ejection from the apparatus main body 100 (right direction in FIG. 16) are mutually different. It is a substantially C-shaped conveyance path that is in the opposite direction. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 17, the manual feed path 44 in the case of feeding from the manual feed tray 35 has a direction to start feeding (right direction in FIG. 17) and a direction to discharge from the apparatus main body 100 (FIG. 17). In the right direction) is a substantially S-shaped conveyance path in the same direction.

  An opening / closing cover 101 is provided on the rear side surface 100 b side of the apparatus main body 100. The opening / closing cover 101 is formed in an L-shape including a vertical portion constituting a part of the rear side surface 100 b of the apparatus main body 100 and a horizontal portion constituting a part of the upper surface 100 e of the apparatus main body 100. As shown in FIG. 18, by opening and closing the opening / closing cover 101 to the rear B, a part of the rear side surface 100b and a part of the upper surface 100e of the apparatus main body 100 are opened. The operator can attach and detach the toner storage unit 8 and the process unit 1 from the opened part.

  In addition, an operation panel 42 is provided on the front side surface 100a of the apparatus main body 100 for an operator to give a print instruction or the like.

  As shown in FIG. 16, in the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment, a part of the rear side surface 100 b of the apparatus main body 100 is protruded rearward B to form a protruding part K, and a toner containing portion is formed in the protruding part K. Part of 8 is housed. That is, by making a part of the toner storage portion 8 a protruding portion J that protrudes from the rear side surface 100b of the apparatus main body 100 (position indicated by the dotted line E in FIG. 16), the apparatus main body is similar to the above-described embodiment. Without being restricted by the shape of 100, it is possible to secure a large space in which toner can be accommodated and to increase the amount of toner accommodated.

  Furthermore, by projecting the toner accommodating portion 8 to the side rather than above the apparatus main body 100, it is possible to avoid the upper surface of the portion accommodating the toner accommodating portion 8 from protruding. As a result, it is possible to prevent the height of the apparatus main body 100 from being increased and the detachability of the toner storage unit 8 from being lowered, and it is difficult to secure the placement surface of the discharged paper.

  Incidentally, for example, as in the example shown in FIG. 19, even with a layout in which the toner storage portion 8 protrudes forward A, the toner storage amount can be increased without increasing the apparatus main body 100. However, when configured as in the example shown in FIG. 19, the protruding portion of the front side surface 100 a of the apparatus main body 100 is disposed above the manual feed tray 35 and the paper feed port 45. There arises a problem that visibility and workability deteriorate. Further, in the example shown in FIG. 19, the pull-out direction of the paper feed cassette 15 is the same as the protruding direction of the front side surface 100 a of the apparatus main body 100, so that visibility and workability when setting paper in the paper feed cassette 15 are improved. Also decreases.

  Therefore, in order to solve such a problem, in the present embodiment shown in FIGS. 15 to 18, as shown in FIG. 16, a manual feed tray 35 and a paper feed port 45 are provided, or the paper feed cassette 15 is pulled out. The side surface to be projected and the side surface from which the toner storage portion 8 protrudes are opposite to each other. Accordingly, as in the example shown in FIG. 19 described above, the protruding portions on the side surfaces of the toner storage portion 8 and the apparatus main body 100 are disposed above the manual feed tray 35 and the paper feed port 45, and the paper feed cassette 15 is pulled out. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the visibility and workability from being deteriorated when the paper is set on the manual feed tray 35 or the paper feed cassette 15.

  Further, as in the present embodiment, by adopting a substantially C-shaped transport path as the transport path 43 for transporting paper from the paper feed cassette 15, a side surface from which the toner storage portion 8 or the like as described above protrudes. It becomes easy to realize a layout in which the side surface on which the manual feed tray 35 and the like are provided is the opposite side surface.

  In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 15 to 18, a side surface (hereinafter referred to as “projection side surface”) from which the toner storage unit 8 projects, a manual feed tray 35 and a paper feed port 45, or a paper feed cassette 15 is provided. The side from which the paper is pulled out (hereinafter referred to as the “paper setting side”) is the side opposite to each other, but this prevents the visibility and workability during paper setting from being reduced. Is not limited to the case where these surfaces are opposite to each other. That is, the surface on the protruding side and the surface on the paper setting side may be different from each other.

  Therefore, as in the embodiment shown in FIG. 20, the protruding side surface and the paper setting side surface may be side surfaces in a direction orthogonal to each other. Specifically, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 20, the surface on the paper set side is the front side surface 100a, while the surface on the protruding side is the right side surface 100d.

  Also in this case, similarly to the above-described embodiment, it is possible to prevent the visibility and workability from being deteriorated when the paper is set in the manual feed tray 35 or the paper feed cassette 15. Further, by configuring the toner storage portion 8 to protrude from the right side surface 100d, the width of the installation space in the left-right direction is increased, but the width of the installation space in the front-rear direction can be reduced. Accordingly, whether the protruding side surface and the sheet setting side surface are the opposite side surfaces or the orthogonal side surfaces may be appropriately selected according to the layout of the installation location.

FIG. 21 is a cross-sectional view of the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 20 cut along a plane R in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 21, in the present embodiment, the toner storage portion 8 is arranged in a state of being exposed to the outside from the right side surface 100 d of the apparatus main body 100. As described above, the protruding portion of the toner storage portion 8 may be exposed to the outside without being covered with the outer wall of the apparatus main body 100. In this embodiment, the toner container 8 and the developing device 4 are connected via a toner conveyance path (powder conveyance path) 46. Further, a conveying screw (powder conveying means) 47 is accommodated from the toner accommodating portion 8 to the toner conveying path 46 and the developing device 4. As the conveying screw 47 rotates, the toner in the toner accommodating portion 8 is conveyed to the developing device 4 via the toner conveying path 46.

FIG. 22 is a side view of the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 20 viewed from the right side.
As shown in FIG. 22, in the present embodiment, the toner storage portion 8 is disposed so as to be within the range of the width X in the front-rear direction of the entire image forming apparatus excluding this. Further, the height T2 of the upper end portion of the toner storage portion 8 is set lower than the height T1 of the entire image forming apparatus excluding this. In this manner, by setting the height and the arrangement in the front-rear direction of the toner container 8, the installation space does not increase in the front-rear direction and the height direction even if the toner container 8 is protruded.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 23, when a ventilation portion 48 including an exhaust or intake fan or a vent is provided on the side surface (right side surface 100d in FIG. 23) of the apparatus main body 100, toner storage is performed. By protruding the portion 8 from the side surface where the ventilation portion 48 is provided, the protruding portion of the toner accommodating portion 8 can be used as a spacer. That is, as shown in the plan view of FIG. 24, when the side surface provided with the ventilation portion 48 is disposed so as to face the wall surface 200, even if the protruding portion of the toner storage portion 8 is brought into contact with the wall surface 200, An interval U can be provided between the portion 48 and the wall surface 200. Thereby, since the ventilation part 48 is not obstruct | occluded by the wall surface 200, ventilation | gas_flowing inside and outside of an apparatus by the ventilation part 48 can be performed favorably.

The configuration of still another embodiment is shown in FIGS.
The embodiment shown in FIGS. 25 to 29 differs from the embodiment shown in FIGS. 15 to 18 in the following points. First, the present embodiment is different in that the toner accommodating portion 8 protrudes in a state of being exposed to the rear B from the rear side surface 100b of the apparatus main body 100. Further, a protruding portion of the toner storage portion 8 is provided with a grip portion 49 that is gripped when the toner storage portion 8 is attached to and detached from the apparatus main body 100. Specifically, in this embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 25 and 26, a recess 52 is formed in the intermediate portion in the width direction of the rear upper part (corner part) of the toner storage portion 8, and a rod-like grip is formed in the recess 52. The part 49 is provided in the horizontal direction. The operator can easily attach and detach the toner accommodating portion 8 by grasping the grasping portion 49. In the present embodiment, since the toner container 8 is not covered with the opening / closing cover 101 as described above, the toner container 8 can be attached / detached without operating the opening / closing cover 101.

  Note that the grip portion 49 may be provided in a convex shape so as to protrude from the rear upper portion (corner portion) of the toner storage portion 8 as in the example shown in FIGS. 30 and 31.

  Next, the present embodiment also differs in that the paper feed cassette 15 is configured to be extendable / contractible in the paper length direction (feed direction) (see FIGS. 27 and 28). Specifically, the paper feed cassette 15 includes a main body 50 having a grip 41 on the front end surface 15a, and an extension 51 provided to be movable in the front-rear direction with respect to the main body 50.

  Thereby, the paper feed cassette 15 can be expanded and contracted according to the length of the paper. That is, as shown in FIG. 27, by pulling the extension 51 backward, a long sheet can be accommodated. Also, in the case of storing a short sheet, as shown in FIG. 28, the extension 51 is moved forward, so that the rear end surface 15b of the extension 51 is stored in the apparatus main body 100 and used in a compact manner. be able to. Further, during transportation, as shown in FIG. 29, by further removing the toner container 8, the image forming apparatus can be made more compact in the front-rear direction, and transportation costs can be reduced.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 26, the protruding portion J of the toner accommodating portion 8 is arranged so as to be within the range of the width V in the left-right direction of the entire image forming apparatus excluding the protruding portion J. Further, as shown in FIG. 27, in the state where the extension 51 of the paper feed cassette 15 is pulled out, the protruding portion J of the toner containing portion 8 is set to the width X in the front-rear direction of the entire image forming apparatus excluding the protruding portion J. It is arranged to be within the range of. Further, as shown in FIG. 27, the height T2 of the upper end portion of the protruding portion J of the toner containing portion 8 is set lower than the height T1 of the entire image forming apparatus excluding the protruding portion J. In this way, by setting the size and arrangement of the protruding portion J of the toner containing portion 8, an increase in installation space due to the protruding toner containing portion 8 can be suppressed.

  Furthermore, in another embodiment shown in FIG. 32, the upper surface of the portion of the toner storage portion 8 that protrudes from the side surface of the apparatus main body 100 is disposed on the extended line of the upper surface of the paper discharge tray 21. With this configuration, the upper surface of the toner storage portion 8 can be used as a recording medium placement portion on which the discharged paper is placed. Further, in this case, an extension member of the paper discharge tray 21 for placing a long sheet is not necessary.

  In the present embodiment, the convex grip 49 provided on the upper surface of the toner storage portion 8 regulates the position of the front end of the paper P discharged onto the toner storage portion 8 and the paper from the placement surface. It functions as a restricting portion 53 that prevents P from popping out or falling. As described above, the grip portion 49 also functions as the restricting portion 53 that restricts the end position of the paper P, so that the number of parts can be reduced.

FIG. 33 shows a configuration of the lock member 54 for fixing the toner storage portion 8 to the apparatus main body 100 in the embodiment shown in FIGS.
As shown in FIG. 33, the lock member 54 has a concave engaging portion 56 that can engage with a locked portion 55 provided in the toner accommodating portion 8. The lock member 54 is configured to be rotatable about a support shaft 57 provided in the apparatus main body 100. An end portion of the lock member 54 opposite to the support shaft 57 side is an operation portion 61 for placing a finger or the like when the operator rotates the lock member 54. Further, in the apparatus main body 100, a guide portion 58 for guiding the locked portion 55 to a lock position engageable with the engaging portion 56 of the lock member 54, and for positioning the locked portion 55 at the lock position. Positioning part 59 is provided.

  In order to fix the toner accommodating portion 8 to the apparatus main body 100, first, as shown in FIG. 33A, the toner accommodating portion 8 is moved to the left side in the drawing so that the locked portion 55 follows the guide portion 58. Let Thereafter, the locked portion 55 is abutted against the positioning portion 59 to be positioned at the lock position. In this state, as shown in FIG. 33B, the lock member 54 is rotated downward, and the engaging portion 56 of the lock member 54 is engaged with the locked portion 55 to be locked. Specifically, when the locked portion 55 is fitted into the concave engaging portion 56, movement of the toner accommodating portion 8 in the attaching / detaching direction (left-right direction in the drawing) is restricted by the engaging portion 56. Further, since the locked portion 55 is sandwiched between the lock member 54 (engagement portion 56) and the guide portion 58, the vertical movement of the toner containing portion 8 is also restricted. As a result, the toner storage unit 8 is fixed to the apparatus main body 100. Further, when removing the toner accommodating portion 8, the locked portion 55 is released from the engaging portion 56 by rotating the lock member 54 upward, and the locked state can be released.

  Further, in another embodiment shown in FIGS. 34 and 35, in addition to the first recovered toner storage portion (first recovered powder storage portion) 9a arranged on the left side of the drawing, the first arrangement is shown on the right side of the drawing. Two recovered toner storage portions (second recovered powder storage portions) 9b are provided. The first collected toner storage unit 9a is disposed so as to face the photoreceptor 2 on the right side in the drawing, and stores the toner collected from the image forming unit (photoreceptor 2) by the cleaning blade 5. On the other hand, the second collected toner storage portion 9b is disposed on the opposite side (right side in the drawing) to the photoreceptor 2 with respect to the first recovery toner storage portion 9a. In addition, the developing device 4 is interposed.

  As shown in FIG. 35 which is a plan view, the first collected toner container 9 a and the second collected toner container 9 b are connected to each other via a toner conveyance path (powder conveyance path) 30. In addition, a conveying screw 31 is provided in the toner conveying path 30 as toner conveying means (powder conveying means) for conveying toner. When the transport screw 31 is driven to rotate, the toner is transported from the first collected toner container 9a to the second collected toner container 9b.

  As shown in FIG. 34, in the present embodiment, a part of the rear side surface 100b of the apparatus main body 100 is protruded rearward B to form a protruding part K, and a part of the toner storage portion 8 and A second collected toner storage portion 9b (a protruding portion J protruding backward B from the position indicated by the dotted line E in the figure) is stored. With this configuration, a large storage space is provided for the toner supplied to the image forming unit and the toner collected from the image forming unit, and the amount of the toner is increased.

  As a method of increasing the amount of collected toner, a method of enlarging the first collected toner containing portion 9a can be considered in addition to providing the second collected toner containing portion 9b as in the present embodiment. . However, as in the present embodiment, when the first collected toner container 9a is disposed between the photoreceptor 2 and the fixing device 12, the first collected toner container 9a is subject to layout restrictions. There is a problem that it is difficult to enlarge.

  Accordingly, in the present embodiment, a second collected toner container 9b is provided separately from the first collected toner container 9a, and a large amount of collected toner is secured without increasing the first collected toner container 9a. I can do it. Further, in addition to the second collected toner container 9b, three or more collected toner containers such as a third collected toner container may be provided.

  Further, the reason why it is difficult to enlarge the first collected toner storage portion 9a is a problem of toner fixing due to heat of the fixing device 12. That is, even if the first collected toner storage portion 9a can be enlarged, if the distance from the fixing device 12 is reduced as a result, the collected toner is fixed by the heat of the fixing device 12 and the collecting function may be lowered. Therefore, it is not preferable to increase the size.

  Therefore, in the present embodiment, the second collected toner storage portion 9b is disposed at a position farther from the fixing device 12 than the first recovered toner storage portion 9a, and the recovered toner is stored finally. Yes. As a result, the collected toner is less likely to be affected by the heat of the fixing device 12, so that the toner can be prevented from sticking. Further, since most of the recovered toner is stored in the second recovered toner storage portion 9b, the second recovered toner storage portion 9b is formed larger than the first recovered toner storage portion 9a. Therefore, a large amount of toner that can be accommodated can be secured.

  In the first collected toner container 9a, the toner is only temporarily stored. Therefore, the second collected toner container 9b is fixed before the toner is fixed by the influence of the heat of the fixing device 12. Can be transported to. Further, when it is difficult to secure a space around the image forming unit, the first collected toner storage unit 9a may be omitted. In that case, the toner collected by the cleaning blade 5 is not temporarily stored, but is transported to the second collected toner storage unit 9b via the toner transport path 30 and stored.

  In the present embodiment, the toner collected from the photoreceptor 2 is affected by the heat of the fixing device 12 even if the toner is not fixed. Further, the collected toner may be heated by friction generated during image formation. The heat generated in the collected toner is transferred to the supplied toner stored in the toner storage unit 8, and if the supplied toner is melted, it may cause an image defect or an apparatus failure. It is desirable that the toner is not easily transmitted to the supplied toner.

  Therefore, in the present embodiment, the second collected toner storage portion 9b is disposed on the outer side (rear side) than the toner storage portion 8. As a result, the second collected toner storage portion 9b is disposed closer to the outer wall of the apparatus main body 100 than the toner storage portion 8, so that the toner stored in the second recovered toner storage portion 9b is cooled. It becomes easy. In particular, in the present embodiment, since the entire second collected toner storage portion 9b is disposed so as to protrude from the apparatus main body 100, the toner can be cooled more effectively. As a result, the influence of heat received from the collected toner on the supplied toner can be reduced. Further, since the second collected toner storage portion 9b is arranged on the side opposite to the toner supply direction (photoconductor 2 side) in the toner storage portion 8, the heat of the recovered toner is supplied to the supplied toner. Difficult to communicate. That is, the toner in the toner storage unit 8 is transported in a direction away from the second recovery toner storage unit 9b, so that it is not easily affected by the heat of the recovered toner.

  In the present embodiment, the toner storage unit 8 and the second collected toner storage unit 9b are integrally configured with respect to the process unit 1 including the photoreceptor 2 and the like, but as in the example shown in FIG. In addition, the toner storage unit 8 and the second collected toner storage unit 9 b may be configured to be detachable from the process unit 1. With this configuration, only the toner storage unit 8 or the second collected toner storage unit 9b can be replaced, so that a portion that does not need to be replaced can be used continuously and is economical.

  In the above-described embodiment, the case where the reduction in visibility and workability in the paper feeding unit due to the toner storage unit 8 or the collected toner storage unit 9 protruding from the apparatus main body 100 has been described as an example. The problem of visibility and workability caused by projecting the portion 8 and the like can also occur in the discharge portion.

Hereinafter, the problem in the paper discharge unit will be described by taking the configuration shown in FIG. 36 as an example.
In the example shown in FIG. 36, when paper is fed by the paper feed roller 16 from the paper feed tray 22 provided in the upper part of the apparatus main body 100, the paper is transferred to the photoreceptor 2 and the transfer roller 14 via the timing roller 17. The image is transferred to the transfer nip between the two. Thereafter, the sheet is sent to the fixing device 12, and after the image is transferred, the sheet is discharged by a sheet discharge roller 20 to a sheet discharge tray 21 provided below the apparatus main body 100.

  In such a configuration that discharges at the lower part of the apparatus main body 100, as shown in FIG. 36, if the toner storage portion 8 protrudes above the discharge tray 21 and the discharge outlet (opening) 60, the discharge is performed. This causes a problem that the visibility of the discharged paper is lowered and a problem that it is difficult to take out the paper from the paper discharge tray 21.

  With respect to such a problem, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 37, the side surface of the apparatus main body 100 in which the paper discharge tray 21 and the paper discharge port 60 are provided and the side surface of the apparatus main body 100 from which the toner container 8 protrudes are mutually connected. The side is on the opposite side. As a result, the protruding portion of the toner storage unit 8 is not disposed above the paper discharge tray 21 or the paper discharge port 60, thereby preventing deterioration in visibility and workability when taking out the discharged paper. Can do.

  Further, as in the embodiment shown in FIG. 38, the paper discharge tray 21 may not be provided. In this case, the discharged paper is not completely discharged from the paper discharge port 60, and is discharged in a state where the paper rear end is held by being sandwiched by the nip portion of the paper discharge roller 20. Also in the image forming apparatus having such a configuration, as described above, the side surface of the apparatus main body 100 in which the paper discharge port 60 is provided and the side surface of the apparatus main body 100 from which the toner storage portion 8 protrudes are opposite to each other. By doing so, it is possible to prevent a decrease in visibility and workability when taking out the discharged paper.

  In order to prevent the visibility and workability from being lowered when taking out the discharged paper, the side surface of the apparatus main body 100 where the paper discharge tray 21 and the paper discharge port 60 are provided, and the apparatus in which the toner container 8 protrudes. The present invention is not limited to the case where the side surfaces of the main body 100 are opposite to each other. You may make it these surfaces become a side surface of the direction orthogonal to each other. In short, the side surface on which the paper discharge tray 21 and the paper discharge port 60 are provided and the side surface on which the toner storage unit 8 protrudes may be different from each other.

  In each of the embodiments shown in FIGS. 15 to 18, 20 to 35, 37, and 38, visibility at the time of paper feeding work or paper discharging work by projecting the side surface of the apparatus main body 100, The problem to be solved is to prevent the workability from being lowered. However, as another problem when the side surface of the apparatus main body 100 is protruded, there is a problem that the apparatus main body 100 is enlarged and the installation area is increased. Further, when the amount of toner that can be stored is increased, the amount of toner collected is increased accordingly, and thus the collected toner storage unit 9 needs to be enlarged. This also increases the size of the apparatus main body 100 and the installation area. It becomes an inviting factor.

  Therefore, in order to deal with such a problem, in the following embodiment, an increase in installation area can be suppressed.

  Specifically, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 39, the manual feed tray 35 is arranged by arranging a part of the enlarged toner storage unit 8 and a part of the recovered toner storage unit 9 above the manual feed tray 35. Space is effectively utilized to prevent an increase in installation area.

  Hereinafter, the configuration of the embodiment shown in FIG. 39 will be described in detail. In addition, regarding the configuration of the present embodiment, the basic configuration is the same as the configuration shown in FIGS.

  As shown in FIG. 39, the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment includes a manual paper feeding device 34 as a recording medium feeding device different from the recording medium feeding device 11 including the paper feeding cassette 15 and the paper feeding roller 16. Is provided. The manual paper feed device 34 is a manual feed tray 35 as a supply recording medium placement unit for placing paper P to be supplied to the image forming unit, and a feeding unit for feeding paper from the manual feed tray 35 to the image forming unit. And a manual paper feed roller 36.

  The manual feed tray 35 is configured to be rotatable in the vertical direction around the support shaft 37 with respect to the apparatus main body 100. As a result, the manual feed tray 35 is switched between a storage state arranged along the front side surface 100a of the apparatus main body 100 and a use state arranged so as to protrude from the front side surface 100a. In other words, the storage state is a closed state in which the manual feed tray 35 is closed, and the use state is an open state in which the manual feed tray 35 is open. When the manual feed tray 35 is rotated from the retracted position about the support shaft 37 toward the outside of the apparatus main body 100, the manual feed tray 35 is brought into use. With the manual feed tray 35 in use and the paper P placed on the manual feed tray 35, the manual feed roller 36 rotates to start feeding the paper P via the timing roller 17 and the like. The paper P is conveyed to the image forming unit.

  The manual feed tray 35 includes a tray main body 35a attached to the apparatus main body 100, and an extension 35b provided so as to be able to be drawn out and stored in the length direction of the paper P with respect to the tray main body 35a. By placing the manual feed tray 35 in the above-described use state and pulling out the extension 35b, it is possible to place a longer sheet P. On the other hand, the extension 35b is stored, and the manual feed tray 35 is stored in the storage state by rotating the manual feed tray 35 upward, so that the manual feed tray 35 is stored compactly.

  The manual feed tray 35 is arranged so as not to enter the attachment / detachment path Q of the process unit 1 (or the powder container 7) when in use and in a state where the extension 35b is pulled out (state shown in FIG. 39). It is preferable that With this configuration, when the process unit 1 is attached or detached, the interference between the process unit 1 and the manual feed tray 35 can be avoided without shortening or putting the manual feed tray 35 into the storage state. More preferably, in a state where the number of sheets that can be placed on the manual feed tray 35 is set, the manual feed tray 35 is such that the uppermost end of the paper bundle is below the attachment / detachment path Q of the process unit 1. It is good to arrange. As a result, contact between the paper and the process unit 1 can also be avoided.

  As described above, the manual feed tray 35 is configured to be switchable between a use state and a storage state, but in general, the manual feed tray is often used in the use state. Therefore, it is necessary to secure at least an area that allows the manual feed tray 35 to be used as an installation area of the image forming apparatus. However, in the conventional configuration, there is often no space other than the manual feed tray in the space above or below the manual feed tray, and the space is not effectively used.

  Therefore, paying attention to this point, the size of the manual feed tray is increased above the manual feed tray 35 in order to effectively use the space in which the manual feed tray is arranged and to suppress the increase in the installation area associated with the enlargement of the toner storage space described above. A part of the toner container 8 and a part of the collected toner container 9 are arranged. In the present embodiment, a part of the front side surface 100a of the apparatus main body 100 is protruded forward A from the other part (position indicated by a dotted line E in FIG. 39) above the manual feed tray 35, and in the protruded space. In addition, a part of the enlarged toner container 8 and the second collected toner container 9b (entire) are housed. Accordingly, an increase in the installation area can be suppressed as compared with a case where a part of the toner storage unit 8 and the second collected toner storage unit 9b are protruded to the side surface where the manual feed tray 35 is not installed.

  Further, in order to more effectively suppress the increase in the installation area, the protruding portions (portions disposed on the right side of the dotted line E in FIG. 39) J of the toner storage portion 8 and the collected toner storage portion 9 are in use. In addition, it is preferable that the manual feed tray 35 from which the extension 35b is drawn out is disposed so as to be within a range of the width in the front-rear direction (the width in the direction protruding from the side surface of the apparatus main body 100) G. More preferably, the protruding portion (portion disposed on the right side of the dotted line E in FIG. 39) K covering the protruding portion J of the toner storage portion 8 and the collected toner storage portion 9 is arranged in front of and behind the manual feed tray 35. It is good to arrange | position so that it may be settled in the range of the width G of a direction.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 40, the protruding portion J of the toner storage portion 8 and the collected toner storage portion 9 is in the left-right direction of the manual feed tray 35 when the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. It is preferable that they are arranged so as to be within a range of W (width in the horizontal direction orthogonal to the protruding direction) W. More preferably, the protruding portion K of the apparatus main body 100 that covers the protruding portion J of the toner storage portion 8 and the collected toner storage portion 9 is disposed so as to be within the range of the width W in the left-right direction of the manual feed tray 35. Is good.

  In short, by arranging the protruding portion J of the toner storage portion 8 and the collected toner storage portion 9 or the protruding portion K of the apparatus main body 100 so as not to protrude from the range where the manual feed tray 35 is disposed, the installation area is increased. Can be effectively suppressed.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, at least a part of the toner storage unit 8 and the collected toner storage unit 9 is protruded in the same direction as the manual feed tray 35, so that the space above the manual feed tray 35 can be effectively used and installed. It is possible to suppress an increase in area. However, on the other hand, since the protruding portion K of the apparatus main body 100 is disposed above the manual feed tray 35, the manual feed tray 35 becomes difficult to see from above, and workability when setting paper on the manual feed tray 35 is reduced. Disadvantages arise.

  Therefore, in the present embodiment, the lower surface (surface facing downward) 100a1 (see FIG. 39) of the protruding portion K of the apparatus main body 100 is inclined upward toward the front A that is the protruding direction. This improves the visibility and workability when setting paper on the manual feed tray 35. Further, by inclining the lower surface 100a1 of the protruding portion K in this way, it is difficult to hold the apparatus main body 100 by placing a hand on the lower surface 100a1 of the protruding portion K, so the protruding portion K having insufficient strength is held. It is also possible to prevent damage due to being done.

  Also in the present embodiment, the second collected toner storage portion 9b may be arranged on the right side D or the left side C of the toner storage portion 8 as in the embodiment shown in FIG.

  Further, as in the embodiment shown in FIG. 41, the protruding portions J of the toner storage portion 8 and the collected toner storage portion 9 may be disposed below the manual feed tray 35. Also in this case, it is possible to effectively utilize the space in which the manual feed tray is arranged, and to suppress an increase in the installation area due to the enlargement of the toner storage space. Further, as in the embodiment shown in FIG. 41, the protruding portions J of the toner storage portion 8 and the collected toner storage portion 9 may be disposed so as to be exposed to the outside of the apparatus main body 100. In this case, since the toner container 8 is not covered with the opening / closing cover 101 as described above, the process unit 1 can be attached and detached without operating the opening / closing cover 101.

  In the embodiment shown in FIG. 42, the manual paper feeder 34 includes a relay roller 38 as a transport unit that transports the paper fed by the manual paper feed roller 36 in addition to the manual tray 35 and the manual paper feed roller 36. . In this embodiment, the manual feed tray 35, the manual feed roller 36, and the relay roller 38 that constitute the manual feed device 34 project forward A from the front side surface 100a (the position indicated by the dotted line E in FIG. 42). Are arranged as follows. That is, in the present embodiment, unlike the above-described embodiment in which only the manual feed tray 35 protrudes from the front side surface 100 a of the apparatus main body 100, the manual paper feed roller 36 and the relay roller 38 in addition to the manual feed tray 35 are also included in the apparatus main body 100. It arrange | positions so that it may protrude from the front side surface 100a.

  In such a configuration, the protruding portion J of the toner accommodating portion 8 and the collected toner accommodating portion 9 is a portion protruding from the front side surface 100a of the apparatus main body 100 of the manual sheet feeding device 34, in this case, from the manual sheet feeding roller 36 to the relay roller. Arranged above the portion reaching 38. As described above, in this embodiment, the protruding portion J of the toner storage portion 8 and the collected toner storage portion 9 is disposed above the protruding portion of the manual sheet feeding device 34, so that the space can be effectively used and the toner storage can be performed. The increase in the installation area accompanying the increase in space is suppressed. If there is an empty space below the manual paper feed roller 36 and the relay roller 38, the toner storage portion 8 and the protruding portion J of the collected toner storage portion 9 may be disposed there.

  In the present embodiment, the manual feed tray 35 is provided so as to protrude from the end portion in the protruding direction of the protruding portion K of the apparatus main body 100. Therefore, compared with the embodiment in which the protruding portion K of the apparatus main body 100 is disposed above the manual feed tray 35 as shown in FIG. 39, the visibility and workability when setting paper on the manual feed tray 35 are greatly increased. To improve.

  In the embodiment shown in FIG. 43, a part of the paper discharge tray 21 is arranged so as to protrude forward A from the front side surface 100 a of the apparatus main body 100. In such a configuration, the protruding portion J of the toner storage portion 8 and the collected toner storage portion 9 is disposed below the portion of the paper discharge tray 21 that protrudes from the apparatus main body 100, so that the space can be effectively used and the toner storage can be achieved. It is possible to suppress an increase in installation area due to the increase in size of the space. As described above, the place where the protruding portion J of the toner storage portion 8 and the collected toner storage portion 9 is disposed is not limited to the space above or below the recording medium supply device 11 having at least the manual feed tray 35 described above. The space above or below the recording medium discharge device 13 having at least 21 may be used.

  The side surface of the apparatus main body 100 from which the toner storage unit 8 or the collected toner storage unit 9 protrudes is not limited to the front side surface 100a, but may be other side surfaces (rear side surface 100b, right side surface 100d, or left side surface 100c). . That is, in a configuration in which at least a part of the recording medium transport device such as the recording medium supply device 11 or the recording medium discharge device 13 protrudes from the side surface other than the front side surface 100a of the apparatus main body 100, the toner container 8 Alternatively, the same effect can be obtained by projecting the collected toner accommodating portion 9 and disposing the projecting portion above or below the projecting portion of the recording medium conveying apparatus.

  Further, the paper feed tray or the paper discharge tray is not limited to one that can be rotated and switched between the storage state and the use state as in the above-described manual feed tray 35, but one that is fixed to the apparatus main body 100, Alternatively, it may be configured to be detachable.

  Further, in each of the embodiments shown in FIGS. 39 to 43 described above, the toner storage unit 8 and the second collected toner storage unit 9b are configured integrally with the process unit 1 including the photoreceptor 2 and the like. However, as in the example shown in FIG. 11, the toner container 8 and the second collected toner container 9 b may be configured to be detachable from the process unit 1.

Hereinafter, still another embodiment will be described.
First, the configuration of a part common to any of the above-described embodiments will be described. 44 to 49 showing the configuration of the present embodiment, components having the same reference numerals as those in FIG. 1 or FIG. 2 have the same functions, and thus detailed description thereof is omitted. To do. In each figure, the direction indicated by the arrow A is the front of the apparatus main body 100 of the image forming apparatus, the direction indicated by the arrow B is the rear of the apparatus main body 100, the direction indicated by the arrow C is the left side of the apparatus main body 100, and the arrow D is indicated. The direction shown will be described as the right side of the apparatus main body 100.

  As shown in FIG. 44, a process unit 1 as an image forming unit is attached to the apparatus main body 100 of the image forming apparatus. The process unit 1 visualizes a photoreceptor 2 as an image carrier that carries an image on the surface, a charging roller 3 as a charging unit that charges the surface of the photoreceptor 2, and a latent image on the photoreceptor 2. A developing device 4 as developing means and a cleaning blade 5 as cleaning means for cleaning the surface of the photoreceptor 2 are provided.

  The image forming apparatus also includes a laser light emitting unit 6 as an exposure unit that exposes the surface of the photoreceptor 2, a powder container 7 that stores toner as powder used for image formation, and an image on a recording medium. A transfer device 10 for transferring, a recording medium supply device 11 for supplying a recording medium, a fixing device 12 for fixing an image transferred to the recording medium, a recording medium discharging device 13 for discharging the recording medium to the outside of the device, and the like. .

  The powder storage unit 7 includes a toner storage unit (supply powder storage unit) 8 that stores toner (supply powder) supplied to the photoconductor 2 constituting the image forming unit, and toner (from the photoconductor 2). And a recovered toner storage portion (collected powder storage portion) 9 for storing the recovered powder). A part of the toner accommodating portion 8 is accommodated in a protruding portion K configured such that a part of the front side surface 100a of the apparatus main body 100 protrudes from the other portion (position indicated by a dotted line E in FIG. 44). Here, the protruding portion K is a portion that protrudes to the outside (front A) of the apparatus main body 100 from the paper feed cassette 15 of the recording medium supply device 11. Further, the protruding portion K is a portion that protrudes to the outside (front A) of the apparatus main body 100 with respect to the paper discharge tray 21 that is a placement surface of the discharged paper. Further, the protruding portion K is a portion protruding toward the outside (front A) of the apparatus main body 100 from the support shaft 63 of the opening / closing cover 101 and the support shaft of the manual feed tray 35 provided coaxially therewith. The protruding portion K is a portion protruding outward (front A) from 100 f of the bottom surface of the apparatus main body 100 (the surface of the apparatus main body 100 facing the installation surface on which the image forming apparatus is installed). As described above, since a part of the toner accommodating portion 8 is accommodated in the protruding portion K of the apparatus main body 100, the toner is not restricted by the shape of the apparatus main body 100 as in the above-described embodiments. Therefore, it is possible to ensure a large space in which toner can be stored, and to increase the toner storage amount. In the present embodiment, the toner storage unit 8 and the collected toner storage unit 9 are integrally formed with respect to the process unit 1. However, as shown in FIG. You may comprise so that attachment or detachment with respect to the unit 1 is possible.

  At least a part of the toner storage portion 8 is covered from below by an open / close cover 101 as an open / close member provided in the apparatus main body 100 and a manual feed tray 35. That is, the opening / closing member is provided below the toner accommodating portion 8. The opening / closing member may be only one of the opening / closing cover 101 and the manual feed tray 35. The toner storage unit 8 has a plurality of storage areas 8a and 8b for storing toner. The storage areas 8a and 8b are arranged side by side in the direction away from the image forming unit (photosensitive member 2 and developing device 4) to the front A of the apparatus main body 100. In each of the storage areas 8a and 8b, stirring transport paddles 28a and 28b are provided as toner supply means (powder supply means) for stirring and transporting the stored toner and supplying the toner to the image forming unit. Yes. As the agitating and conveying paddles 28a and 28b rotate, the toner in each of the storage areas 8a and 8b is agitated, and the toner is conveyed to the developing device 4 side.

  The recording medium supply device 11 includes a paper feed cassette (recording medium storage unit) 15 that stores paper P as a recording medium, and a paper feed roller (feeding means) that feeds the paper stored in the paper feed cassette 15. 16, a manual feed tray (feed recording medium placement unit) 35 for placing paper, a manual paper feed roller (feed means) 36 for feeding paper on the manual feed tray 35, and a paper feed roller 16 or manual feed And a timing roller 17 for conveying the sheet fed by the paper roller 36 at a predetermined timing.

  The manual feed tray 35 is disposed on the front side surface 100 a side of the apparatus main body 100 and is configured to be rotatable with respect to the apparatus main body 100. By rotating the manual feed tray 35, the storage state (the state shown in FIG. 45) arranged along the front side surface 100a of the protruding portion K of the apparatus main body 100 and the front side 100a of the protruding portion K from the front side A to the front A. It is switched to a use state (state shown in FIG. 46) arranged so as to protrude.

  When the manual feed tray 35 is put into use, a paper feed port (opening) 45 provided on the front side surface 100a of the apparatus main body 100 for feeding paper from the manual feed tray 35 is opened. In this state, the paper P is placed on the manual feed tray 35, and the manual paper feed roller 36 rotates to start feeding the paper P. The paper P is fed to the image forming unit via the timing roller 17 and the like. It is conveyed to. The image forming operation for forming an image on the paper P is the same as in the above-described embodiment.

  The manual feed tray 35 includes a tray main body (mounting unit main body) 35a attached to the apparatus main body 100, and an extension 35b provided so as to be able to be pulled out and stored in the length direction of the paper P with respect to the tray main body 35a. It is configured. As shown in FIG. 46, it is possible to place a longer sheet P by placing the manual feed tray 35 in the above-described use state and further pulling out the extension 35b. On the other hand, the extension portion 35b is stored, and the manual feed tray 35 is rotated upward to be in the storage state shown in FIG. 45, whereby the manual feed tray 35 is stored compactly. In this state, the manual feed tray 35 constitutes a part of the side surface of the protruding portion K.

  In a state where the manual feed tray 35 is in use, the protruding portion K of the apparatus main body 100 is disposed above the manual feed tray 35. Thus, by arranging the protruding portion K above the manual feed tray 35, it is possible to effectively use the space above the manual feed tray 35 and suppress an increase in the installation area.

  An opening / closing cover 101 that constitutes a part of the side surface of the protruding portion K is provided on the front side surface 100 a side of the apparatus main body 100. The open / close cover 101 is rotatably attached to the apparatus main body 100. As shown in FIG. 47, the front side surface 100 a side of the apparatus main body 100 is opened by rotating the opening / closing cover 101 to the front A and opening it. The operator can integrally attach and detach the process unit 1, the toner storage unit 8 and the collected toner storage unit 9 from the opened part.

  The manual feed tray 35 and the opening / closing cover 101 are both provided on the front side surface 100 a side of the apparatus main body 100. As described above, since both the manual feed tray 35 and the opening / closing cover 101 are provided on the same side, the operator can access from the same direction, so workability is improved. In addition, since the worker can access from the same direction, there is no need to secure a space for accessing the apparatus main body 100 in multiple directions, and the installation area of the image forming apparatus can be reduced. It is also possible to place a wall or an object close to the side surface in a direction not accessed.

  Further, the process unit 1 is attached to and detached from the apparatus main body 100 at a portion of the toner accommodating portion 8 disposed in the protruding portion K (a protruding portion J protruding forward A from the position indicated by the dotted line E in FIG. 44). A grip portion 49 is provided for gripping when performing. The operator can easily attach and detach the process unit 1 by gripping the grip portion 49.

  The paper feed cassette 15 is disposed in the lower part of the apparatus main body 100 and is configured to be drawn forward A with respect to the apparatus main body 100. Further, as shown in FIG. 45, a grip 41 is provided on the front end surface 15 a of the paper feed cassette 15. An operator can grip the grip portion 41 and pull out the paper feed cassette 15 from the apparatus main body 100.

  Although the protruding portion K exists above the sheet feeding cassette 15 and the manual feed tray 35, the lower surface (surface facing downward) 100a1 of the protruding portion K is inclined upward toward the front A that is the protruding direction. The visibility and operability of the paper feed cassette 15 and the manual feed tray 35 are improved. Furthermore, the workability of setting sheets on the paper feed cassette 15 and the manual feed tray 35 and the workability of jam handling in the apparatus are improved. Further, since the lower surface 100a1 is inclined in this way, it is difficult to hold the apparatus main body 100 with a hand on the lower surface 100a1 of the protruding portion K. Therefore, when the projecting portion K does not have sufficient strength to be held, the lower surface 100a1 can be inclined to prevent damage due to the projecting portion K being held.

Next, unique components of the present embodiment will be described.
In the present embodiment, the manual feed tray 35 is attached to the open / close cover 101, and the manual feed tray 35 and the open / close cover 101 constitute the lower surface 100a1 of the protruding portion K. Further, the manual feed tray 35 is configured to be rotatable about a support shaft that is coaxial with a support shaft 63 (see FIG. 44) that is the center of rotation of the opening / closing cover 101 with respect to the apparatus main body 100. That is, the manual feed tray 35 is attached to the opening / closing cover 101 so as to be rotatable.

  Basically, the manual feed tray 35 is held so as not to rotate with respect to the open / close cover 101 in the housed state in order to prevent unexpected use. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 47, when the opening / closing cover 101 is rotated and opened, the manual feed tray 35 rotates together with the opening / closing cover 101 and is held in the stored state. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 46, when the manual feed tray 35 is put into use, the operator manually holds the grip 64 (see FIG. 45) of the manual feed tray 35 with the open / close cover 101 closed. By turning the tray 35 so as to be tilted forward A, the storage state is switched to the use state.

  As shown in FIG. 48, a release portion 65 for releasing the closed state of the open / close cover 101 is provided on the right side surface of the open / close cover 101 that constitutes a part of the right side surface 100d of the protruding portion K. . Thus, since the release unit 65 is located near the opening / closing cover 101, it is easy to operate the release unit 65 to open the opening / closing cover 101. The release unit 65 is, for example, a push button switch. By pressing the release unit 65, the lock of the lock unit that is locked to the apparatus main body 100 with the open / close cover 101 closed is released, and the open / close cover 101 is released. Can be opened.

  As shown in FIGS. 45 and 46, the paper discharge tray 21 includes a tray main body (mounting portion main body) 21a attached to the apparatus main body 100, a first extension portion 21b and a second extension portion 21b that can be extended from the tray main body 21a. And an extension portion 21c. The first extension portion 21b is provided so as to be able to be pulled out and stored in the length direction of the paper P with respect to the tray body 21a. The second extension portion 21c is provided so as to be rotatable in the length direction of the paper P with respect to the first extension portion 21b. As shown in FIG. 46, by pulling out the first extension portion 21b to the front A and further rotating the second extension portion 21c to the front A, it becomes possible to place a longer sheet P. On the other hand, the second extension 21c is rotated backward B to overlap the first extension 21b, and the first extension 21b is accommodated in the tray body 21a. Can be made compact.

  As described above, in this embodiment, the discharge tray 21 is configured to be extendable. However, in the point that a part of the discharge tray 21 is disposed above the protruding portion K, the embodiment shown in FIG. Common with form. That is, as shown in FIG. 48, in the present embodiment, a part of the first extension 21b and the second extension 21b in a state where the first extension 21b and the second extension 21c are extended forward A. The extended portion 21c is disposed above the protruding portion K. Thus, by disposing at least a part of the paper discharge tray 21 above the protruding portion K, the installation space for the paper discharge tray 21 and the protruding portion K can be shared, and space saving can be achieved.

  Further, when the first extension portion 21b and the second extension portion 21c of the paper discharge tray 21 are extended, a space is formed between these and the upper surface (surface facing upward) 100a2 of the protruding portion K. The Even in the state in which the extension portions 21 b and 21 c are stored, a gap is formed between the portion of the first extension portion 21 b exposed from the tray main body 21 a and the upper surface of the apparatus main body 100. As described above, since there is an interval, it is easy to perform the drawer / accommodation operation of the first extension portion 21 b and to easily take the paper P placed on the paper discharge tray 21.

  Moreover, in this embodiment, the upper surface 100a2 of the protrusion part K inclines below toward the front A which is the protrusion direction. Thus, since the upper surface 100a2 of the protruding portion K is inclined, it becomes easier to ensure a larger distance from the paper discharge tray 21. In addition, since the top surface 100a2 of the projecting portion K is inclined, it is difficult to place an object on the top surface 100a2 of the projecting portion K. Can be prevented.

  In the above-described embodiment, the protruding portion K is formed in a substantially rectangular shape or a substantially trapezoidal shape when viewed from the side, but in the present embodiment, the protruding portion K is formed in a substantially triangular shape when viewed from the side. Yes. That is, unlike the protruding portion K in the above-described embodiment, the protruding portion K in the present embodiment does not have the vertical front side surface 100a, and connects the inclined lower surface 100a1 and the inclined upper surface 100a2 with a curved surface. It is formed in a substantially triangular shape.

  As shown in FIG. 49, in the present embodiment, an information communication medium 66 for communicating information about the image forming apparatus with other apparatuses is detachably provided on the left side surface 100c of the apparatus main body 100. . In particular, at least a part of the information communication medium 66 is disposed in the protruding portion K in a state where the information communication medium 66 is attached to the apparatus main body 100.

  Further, the toner storage unit 8 of the present embodiment is the same as the embodiment shown in FIG. 3 in that the toner storage unit 8 has a plurality of storage regions, but in the above-described embodiment, the number of storage regions is three. In this embodiment, there are two (accommodating areas 8a, 8b, 8c) (accommodating areas 8a, 8b). Correspondingly, the number of stirring and transporting paddles is two (stirring and transporting paddles 28a and 28b). In the present embodiment, at least a part of the agitating / conveying paddle 28b far from the image forming unit enters the region of the protruding portion K (front A from the position indicated by the dotted line E in FIG. 44) when rotated. Are arranged as follows. In the present embodiment, the grip 49 provided in the toner storage unit 8 is covered from below by the opening / closing members (the opening / closing cover 1010 and the manual feed tray 35) provided in the apparatus main body 100. That is, the opening / closing member is provided below the grip portion 49.

  In the present embodiment, a scale 67 (see FIG. 45) for confirming the remaining amount of the stored paper P is provided on the front end surface 15a of the paper feed cassette 15. As described above, in the present embodiment, the scale 67 is provided on the front end surface 15a of the paper feed cassette 15. However, since the lower surface 100a1 of the protruding portion K is inclined as described above, the visibility of the scale 67 is visible. Can be prevented.

  The embodiment shown in FIG. 50 is an example in which an image reading unit 90 that reads an image of a document is provided on the upper part of the apparatus main body 100 of the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment shown in FIGS. The embodiment is the same as the embodiment shown in FIGS. 44 to 49 except that the image reading unit 90 is provided.

  The configuration, operation, and effects of the embodiment of the present invention described above are summarized as follows.

(Configuration 1)
An image forming unit that forms an image on a recording medium P, an image forming apparatus main body 100 that accommodates the image forming unit, and at least a part protrudes from a side surface of the image forming apparatus main body 100 and is supplied to the image forming unit An image forming apparatus comprising: a powder storage unit that stores powder to be collected or powder recovered from the image forming unit.

  According to Configuration 1, by projecting at least a part of the powder container 7 from the side surface of the image forming apparatus main body 100, a space in which powder can be stored without being restricted by the shape of the image forming apparatus main body 100. A large amount can be secured, and the amount of powder contained can be increased.

(Configuration 2)
An image forming unit that forms an image on a recording medium P, an image forming apparatus main body 100 that houses the image forming unit, at least a part of the image forming apparatus main body 100 protrudes from the front side surface 100a, and the image forming unit An image forming apparatus, comprising: a powder container 7 configured to store powder to be supplied to or collected powder collected from the image forming unit.

  According to the configuration 2, the powder can be accommodated without being restricted by the shape of the image forming apparatus main body 100 by projecting at least a part of the powder accommodating portion 7 from the front side surface 100a of the image forming apparatus main body 100. A large space can be secured, and the amount of powder contained can be increased. In this case, the image forming apparatus main body 100 does not increase in size to the right side or the left side, so that another apparatus or object can be easily placed on the right side or the left side of the apparatus main body 100.

(Configuration 3)
An image forming unit that forms an image on the recording medium P, an image forming apparatus main body 100 that stores the image forming unit, and at least a part protrudes from a side surface of the image forming apparatus main body 100 and stores powder. Powder supply means 28a, 28b, 28c for supplying the powder to the image forming section or powder collecting means 32a, 32b for containing the recovered powder recovered from the image forming section and recovering the powder An image forming apparatus, comprising: a powder container 7 having the same.

  According to the configuration 3, by projecting at least a part of the powder container 7 from the side surface of the image forming apparatus main body 100, a space in which the powder can be stored without being restricted by the shape of the image forming apparatus main body 100 is provided. A large amount can be secured, and the amount of powder contained can be increased. Further, since the powder container 7 has powder supply means 28a, 28b, 28c for supplying powder to the image forming section or powder recovery means 32a, 32b for recovering powder, supply or recovery of powder. Can be performed reliably.

(Configuration 4)
An image forming unit that forms an image on a recording medium P, an image forming apparatus main body 100 that stores the image forming unit, and a powder storage unit 7 that stores powder used for image formation. The accommodating portion 7 is accommodated in the image forming apparatus main body 100 and includes a first collected powder accommodating portion 9a that accommodates the collected powder collected from the image forming portion, and at least a part of the image forming apparatus. An image forming apparatus comprising: a second recovered powder storage portion 9b that protrudes from a side surface of the main body 100 and stores the recovered powder recovered from the image forming portion.

  According to the configuration 4, the powder container 7 has the second collected powder container 9b at least partially protruding from the side surface of the image forming apparatus main body 100, so that the shape of the image forming apparatus main body 100 is restricted. Therefore, it is possible to secure a large space in which the collected powder can be accommodated without increasing the amount of the collected powder.

(Configuration 5)
An image forming unit that forms an image on a recording medium P, an image forming apparatus main body 100 that stores the image forming unit, and a powder storage unit 7 that stores powder used for image formation. The accommodating portion 7 protrudes at least partially from the side surface of the image forming apparatus main body 100, and supplies a powder supply portion 8 that accommodates powder to be supplied to the image forming portion, and at least partially includes the image forming apparatus. An image forming apparatus, comprising: a recovered powder storage unit 9 that protrudes from a side surface of the main body 100 and stores the recovered powder recovered from the image forming unit.

  According to the configuration 5, the powder container 7 includes the supply powder container 8 and the recovered powder container 9 at least partially protruding from the side surface of the image forming apparatus body 100, whereby the image forming apparatus body. Without being restricted by the shape of 100, it is possible to ensure a large space in which powder can be accommodated and to increase the amount of powder accommodated.

(Configuration 6)
An image forming unit that forms an image on the recording medium P, an image forming apparatus main body 100 that stores the image forming unit, and a plurality of storage areas 8a, 8b, and 8c that store powder to be supplied to the image forming unit. In addition, an image forming apparatus comprising: a powder containing portion 7 in which a part of the containing areas 8a, 8b, and 8c protrudes from a side surface of the image forming apparatus main body 100.

  According to the configuration 6, by projecting a part of the storage areas 8a, 8b, and 8c of the powder storage unit 7 from the side surface of the image forming apparatus main body 100, the shape of the image forming apparatus main body 100 is not restricted. Thus, a large space for storing powder can be secured, and the amount of powder stored can be increased.

(Configuration 7)
The image forming apparatus according to Configuration 4, further comprising: a powder conveyance unit 31 configured to convey the collected powder from the first collected powder container 9a to the second collected powder container 9b.

  According to Configuration 7, the collected powder can be reliably conveyed from the first collected powder container 9a to the second collected powder container 9b by the powder conveying means 31.

(Configuration 8)
The powder conveyance path 30 through which the powder is conveyed by the powder conveyance means 31 is inclined downward from the first recovered powder storage portion 9a toward the second recovered powder storage portion 9b. 8. The image forming apparatus according to Configuration 7, wherein:

  According to the configuration 8, the collected powder is easily moved to the second collected powder containing portion 9b side according to gravity, so that the collected powder is prevented from aggregating and adhering in the powder conveyance path 30. Can do.

(Configuration 9)
A fixing device 12 that heats and fixes an image transferred to the recording medium P is provided, and the second collected powder container 9b is farther from the fixing device 12 than the first collected powder container 9a. The image forming apparatus according to any one of configurations 4, 7, and 8 disposed at a position.

  According to Configuration 9, since the collected powder is hardly affected by the heat of the fixing device 12, it is possible to prevent the powder from sticking.

(Configuration 10)
The image forming apparatus according to any one of configurations 4 and 7 to 9, wherein the entire second collected powder containing portion 9b is protruded from a side surface of the image forming apparatus main body 100.

  According to the configuration 10, the powder stored in the second recovered powder storage portion 9b is compared with the case where a part of the second recovered powder storage portion 9b protrudes from the side surface of the image forming apparatus main body 100. The body can be cooled more effectively.

(Configuration 11)
The image forming apparatus according to any one of configurations 4 and 7 to 10, wherein the second collected powder container 9b is larger than the first collected powder container 9a.

  According to the structure 11, the amount of powder accommodated in the second recovered powder accommodating portion 9b can be increased.

(Configuration 12)
Configurations 4 and 7 including a supply powder storage unit 8 for storing powder to be supplied to the image forming unit, and the second recovered powder storage unit 9b being disposed outside the supply powder storage unit 8. The image forming apparatus according to any one of 11 to 11.

  According to the configuration 12, the second collected powder container 9b is disposed closer to the outer wall of the image forming apparatus main body 100 than the supplied powder container 8 and therefore the second collected powder container 9b has the inside. It becomes easy to cool the powder accommodated in the container.

(Configuration 13)
At least a part protrudes from the side surface of the image forming apparatus main body 100, and includes a supply powder storage unit 8 that stores powder to be supplied to the image forming unit, and the second recovered powder storage unit 9b includes: The image forming apparatus according to any one of configurations 4 and 7 to 12 disposed on a right side or a left side of a portion protruding from the image forming apparatus main body 100 of the supply powder container 8.

  According to the configuration 13, it is possible to suppress the protruding amounts of the supply powder container 8 and the second recovered powder container 9b from the image forming apparatus main body 100. In addition, by adopting such an arrangement, the degree of freedom of layout is expanded.

(Configuration 14)
14. The image forming apparatus according to any one of configurations 4, 7 to 13, wherein a plurality of powder collecting means 32a and 32b for collecting powder are provided in the second collected powder containing portion 9b.

  According to the configuration 14, the powder can be reliably recovered in the second recovered powder container 9b by the plurality of powder recovery means 32a and 32b.

(Configuration 15)
6. The image forming apparatus according to Configuration 5, wherein the upper surface of the supply powder container 8 is a flat surface.

  According to the configuration 15, interference between the supplied powder container 8 and the image forming apparatus main body 100 and peripheral members is less likely to occur.

(Configuration 16)
The image forming apparatus according to Configuration 5 or 15, wherein an upper surface of the collected powder storage unit 9 is a flat surface.

  According to the configuration 16, interference between the collected powder container 9 and the image forming apparatus main body 100 and peripheral members is less likely to occur.

(Configuration 17)
The image forming apparatus according to any one of configurations 5, 15, and 16, wherein an upper surface of the supply powder container 8 and an upper surface of the recovered powder container 9 are flush with each other.

  According to the configuration 17, there is no unevenness between the upper surface of the supplied powder container 8 and the upper surface of the collected powder container 9, and the image forming apparatus main body 100 is not easily caught.

(Configuration 18)
The plurality of storage areas 8a, 8b, 8c are arranged side by side in a direction away from the image forming unit, and the heights Ha, Hb, Hc of the inner bottom surfaces 80a, 80b, 80c of the storage areas 8a, 8b, 8c are 7. The image forming apparatus according to Configuration 6, wherein the height is lower in the storage area 8c closer to the storage area 8a far from the image forming unit.

  According to the configuration 18, the powder easily moves from the storage region 8a far from the image forming unit to the storage region 8c close to the image forming unit according to gravity. Thereby, it becomes easy to supply powder to an image forming part, and the situation where powder is not supplied can be avoided.

(Configuration 19)
The configuration 6 or 18 in which the plurality of storage areas 8a, 8b, and 8c are arranged side by side in a direction away from the image forming unit, and the storage area 8a far from the image forming unit is larger than the close storage area 8c. The image forming apparatus described in 1.

  According to Configuration 19, it is possible to avoid a restriction on the layout around the image forming unit and secure a large amount of powder.

(Configuration 20)
The plurality of storage areas 8a, 8b, 8c are arranged side by side in a direction away from the image forming unit, and powder agitation transport means 28a, 28b for stirring and transporting the powder into each of the storage areas 8a, 8b, 8c. , 28c, and the powder agitating / conveying force of the powder agitating / conveying means 28a, 28b, 28c is increased in the accommodating area 8a far from the accommodating area 8c close to the image forming portion. 20. The image forming apparatus according to any one of items 19 and 19.

  According to the structure 20, it becomes easy to supply the powder from the remote storage area 8a to the image forming unit, and a situation where the powder is not supplied can be avoided.

(Configuration 21)
21. The image forming apparatus according to any one of configurations 6, 18 to 20, wherein a boundary between the storage areas 8a and 8b arranged so as to be adjacent to each other is at a position corresponding to a non-projecting side surface of the image forming apparatus main body 100. .

  It is also possible to adopt a layout like the configuration 21.

(Configuration 22)
The image forming apparatus according to any one of configurations 1 to 21, further comprising a cooling unit configured to cool a portion of the powder container 7 protruding from a side surface of the image forming apparatus main body 100.

  According to the structure 22, the powder accommodated in the powder accommodating part 7 can be cooled effectively.

(Configuration 23)
23. The image forming apparatus according to configuration 22, wherein the cooling unit is a vent 33 provided in the image forming apparatus main body 100.

  According to the configuration 23, the outside air is allowed to flow into the apparatus through the vent 33, and the hot air in the apparatus is discharged to the outside, whereby the powder in the powder container 7 can be cooled.

(Configuration 24)
The image forming apparatus according to any one of configurations 1 to 21, wherein the powder container 7 has a front side surface and right and left side surfaces adjacent to the front side surface protruding from a side surface of the image forming apparatus main body 100.

  According to the structure 24, workability | operativity when removing the powder accommodating part 7 improves.

(Configuration 25)
7. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least a part of an upper surface of the powder container 7 is a flat surface.

  According to Configuration 25, interference between the powder container 7 and the image forming apparatus main body 100 and peripheral members is less likely to occur.

(Configuration 26)
26. The image forming apparatus according to configuration 25, wherein an upper surface of the powder container 7 and an upper surface of the image forming apparatus main body 100 are surfaces having the same height.

  According to the configuration 26, the upper surface of the powder container 7 can be used as a mounting unit for mounting the recording medium P, which is convenient when a long recording medium P or the like is used.

(Configuration 27)
26. The image forming apparatus according to Configuration 25, wherein the powder container 7 has a front side surface and upper and lower surfaces adjacent to the front side surface protruding from the side surface of the image forming apparatus main body 100.

  According to the structure 27, workability | operativity when removing the powder accommodating part 7 improves.

(Configuration 28)
A recording medium storage unit 15 that stores the recording medium P and can be pulled out from the image forming apparatus main body 100 is provided. The powder storage unit 7 is detachable from the image forming apparatus main body 100, and the removal direction is the above-described direction. 7. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus has the same drawing direction as the recording medium housing unit 15.

  According to the configuration 28, the drawing workability of the recording medium storage unit 15 and the takeout workability of the powder storage unit 7 are improved.

(Configuration 29)
A recovered powder storage unit 9 for storing recovered powder recovered from the image forming unit is provided, and the recovered powder storage unit 9 is disposed below at least a part of the plurality of storage regions 8a, 8b, and 8c. The image forming apparatus according to 18.

  According to the configuration 29, the recovered powder storage unit 9 is disposed in a lower space generated by varying the bottom height of the storage regions 8a, 8b, and 8c of the powder storage unit 8, thereby effectively utilizing the space. This can reduce the size of the apparatus.

(Configuration 30)
7. The image according to any one of configurations 1 to 6, further comprising an image reading unit 90 that reads an image of a document on an upper portion of the image forming apparatus main body 100, and the powder container 7 projects from a side surface of the image reading unit 90. Forming equipment.

  According to the structure 30, since the magnitude | size of the protrusion part of the powder accommodating part 7 can be enlarged, the freedom degree of design increases.

(Configuration 31)
An image forming unit that forms an image on the recording medium P, an image forming apparatus main body 100 that houses the image forming unit, and an opening provided on a side surface of the image forming apparatus main body 100 for supplying or discharging the recording medium P Part 45, 60 and powder supplied from the side surface different from the side surface provided with the openings 45, 60 of the image forming apparatus main body 100 and supplied to the image forming unit or the image forming unit An image forming apparatus comprising: a powder storage unit 7 configured to store the recovered powder recovered from the unit.

  According to the configuration 31, by projecting at least a part of the powder container 7 from the side surface of the image forming apparatus main body 100, a large space for storing powder can be secured, and the amount of powder stored can be increased. can do. Further, by making the direction in which the powder container 7 is protruded is not on the image forming apparatus main body 100 but on the side, it is possible to avoid the upper surface of the part in which the powder container 7 is stored from protruding. it can. Furthermore, since the powder container 7 protrudes from a side surface different from the side surface on which the openings 45 and 60 of the image forming apparatus main body 100 are provided, the recording medium to be supplied or discharged is set. It is possible to prevent the visibility and workability from being lowered when the medium is taken out.

(Configuration 32)
An image forming unit that forms an image on a recording medium P, an image forming apparatus main body 100 that stores the image forming unit, a recording medium P, and a drawer that can be pulled out from the side surface of the image forming apparatus main body 100 The recording medium container 15 and powder or at least part of the image forming apparatus main body 100 that protrudes from the side surface different from the side surface from which the recording medium container 15 is pulled out and that is supplied to the image forming unit An image forming apparatus comprising: a powder storage unit 7 configured to store the recovered powder recovered from the unit.

  According to the configuration 32, by projecting at least a part of the powder container 7 from the side surface of the image forming apparatus main body 100, a large space for storing powder can be secured, and the amount of powder stored can be increased. can do. Further, by making the direction in which the powder container 7 is protruded is not on the image forming apparatus main body 100 but on the side, it is possible to avoid the upper surface of the part in which the powder container 7 is stored from protruding. it can. Further, since the powder container 7 protrudes from the side surface different from the side from which the recording medium container 15 of the image forming apparatus main body 100 is pulled out, the visibility and workability when setting the recording medium to be supplied are lowered. Can be prevented.

(Configuration 33)
An abbreviation for transporting the recording medium P so that the direction in which the recording medium P starts to be supplied to the image forming unit and the direction in which the recording medium P is discharged from the image forming apparatus main body 100 are opposite to each other. 33. The image forming apparatus according to Configuration 31 or 32, comprising a C-shaped conveyance path 43.

  According to the configuration 33, the layout as described in the configuration 31 or the configuration 32 can be easily realized by adopting the substantially C-shaped conveyance path.

(Configuration 34)
34. The image forming apparatus according to any one of configurations 31 to 33, wherein a portion of the powder container 7 that protrudes from a side surface of the image forming apparatus main body 100 is disposed so as to be exposed to the outside.

  According to Configuration 34, since the protruding portion of the powder container 7 is exposed to the outside, the powder container 7 can be accessed without operating the opening / closing cover 101.

(Configuration 35)
A configuration in which a grip portion 49 that grips the powder container 7 when the powder container 7 is attached to and detached from the image forming apparatus body 100 is provided at a portion of the powder container 7 that protrudes from the side surface of the image forming apparatus body 100. The image forming apparatus according to any one of 31 to 34.

  According to the structure 35, it becomes easy to attach or detach the powder container 7.

(Configuration 36)
36. The image forming apparatus according to any one of configurations 31 to 35, wherein an upper surface of a portion of the powder container 7 that protrudes from a side surface of the image forming apparatus main body 100 is a recording medium placement unit.

  According to the configuration 36, the upper surface of the powder container can be used as the recording medium placement unit.

(Configuration 37)
A configuration 36 in which a convex regulating portion 53 that regulates the position of the end of the recording medium P placed on the upper surface of the powder containing portion 7 that protrudes from the side surface of the image forming apparatus main body 100 is provided. The image forming apparatus described.

  According to Configuration 37, the recording medium P can be prevented from jumping out or falling from the upper surface of the powder container.

(Configuration 38)
38. The image forming apparatus according to configuration 37, wherein the restricting portion 53 functions as a grip portion 49 that grips when the powder container 7 is attached to and detached from the image forming apparatus main body 100.

  According to the configuration 38, since the restricting portion 53 also functions as the grip portion 49, the number of parts can be reduced.

(Configuration 39)
Any one of configurations 31 to 38 in which the portion of the powder container 7 protruding from the side surface of the image forming apparatus main body 100 is disposed within the range of the width X in the front-rear direction of the entire image forming apparatus excluding the protruding portion. An image forming apparatus according to claim 1.

  According to the structure 39, the increase in the installation space by having protruded the powder accommodating part 7 can be suppressed.

(Configuration 40)
Any one of configurations 31 to 39 in which the portion of the powder container 7 that protrudes from the side surface of the image forming apparatus main body 100 is disposed within the range of the width V in the left-right direction of the entire image forming apparatus excluding the protruding portion. An image forming apparatus according to claim 1.

  According to the structure 40, the increase in the installation space by having protruded the powder accommodating part 7 can be suppressed.

(Configuration 41)
From the configuration 31 in which the height T2 of the upper end portion of the powder container 7 protruding from the side surface of the image forming apparatus main body 100 is lower than the height T1 of the entire image forming apparatus excluding the protruding portion. 40. The image forming apparatus according to any one of 40.

  According to the structure 41, the increase in the installation space by having protruded the powder accommodating part 7 can be suppressed.

(Configuration 42)
42. The image forming apparatus according to any one of configurations 31 to 41, wherein the powder container 7 is configured to be detachable independently from the image forming apparatus main body 100.

  According to the structure 42, since only the powder container 7 can be replaced, a portion that does not need to be replaced can be used continuously.

(Configuration 43)
The image forming apparatus according to a configuration 32, wherein the recording medium housing unit 15 is configured to be extendable and contractable in a feeding direction of the recording medium P.

  According to the structure 43, the long recording medium P can be accommodated by extending the recording medium accommodating portion 15. On the other hand, when the short recording medium P is accommodated, the recording medium accommodating portion 15 can be contracted to be used in a compact manner.

(Configuration 44)
44. The image forming apparatus according to any one of configurations 31 to 43, further comprising a lock member 54 for fixing the powder container 7 to the image forming apparatus main body 100.

  According to the configuration 44, the powder container 7 can be fixed to the image forming apparatus main body 100.

(Configuration 45)
From the configuration 31 in which a ventilation portion 48 for venting the inside and outside of the apparatus is provided on the side surface of the image forming apparatus main body 100, and the powder container 7 is protruded from the side surface where the ventilation portion 48 is provided more than the ventilation portion 48. 45. The image forming apparatus according to any one of 44.

  According to the configuration 45, the protruding portion of the powder container 7 can be used as a spacer that provides a gap U between the ventilation portion 48 and the wall surface 200. Thereby, since the ventilation part 48 is not obstruct | occluded by the wall surface 200, ventilation | gas_flowing inside and outside of an apparatus by the ventilation part 48 can be performed favorably.

(Configuration 46)
The image forming apparatus according to any one of 31 to 45, wherein the powder container 7 is a supply powder container 8 that stores powder to be supplied to the image forming unit.

  According to the configuration 46, it is possible to secure a large amount of powder to be supplied to the image forming unit.

(Configuration 47)
46. The image forming apparatus according to any one of configurations 31 to 45, wherein the powder container 7 is a collected powder container 9 that stores collected powder collected from the image forming unit.

  According to the configuration 47, it is possible to secure a large amount of the collected powder collected from the image forming unit.

(Configuration 48)
The collected powder container 9 is housed in the image forming apparatus main body 100, and the first collected powder container 9a that houses the collected powder collected from the image forming unit, and the image forming apparatus. 48. The image forming apparatus according to configuration 47, further comprising: a second recovered powder storage unit 9b that protrudes at least partially from a side surface of the main body 100 and stores the recovered powder recovered from the image forming unit.

  According to the configuration 48, it is possible to secure a large amount of the collected powder collected from the image forming unit.

(Configuration 49)
An image forming unit that forms an image on the recording medium P, an image forming apparatus main body 100 that houses the image forming unit, and at least the recording medium mounting units 21 and 35 as portions protruding from the side surfaces of the image forming apparatus main body 100. And a recording medium transport apparatus that supplies a recording medium from the recording medium mounting section 35 to the image forming section or discharges the recording medium to the recording medium mounting section 21, and the recording medium transport apparatus. Above or below a portion protruding from the side surface of the image forming apparatus main body 100, at least a part J protrudes from the side surface of the image forming apparatus main body 100 and is supplied to the image forming unit or the image forming An image forming apparatus comprising: a powder storage unit 7 configured to store the recovered powder recovered from the unit.

  According to the configuration 49, even if at least a part J of the powder container 7 is protruded from the side surface of the image forming apparatus main body 100 to increase the amount of powder stored in the powder container 7, the protruding part J is not By arranging the recording medium conveying device above or below the portion protruding from the side surface of the image forming apparatus main body 100, it is possible to effectively utilize the vacant space and suppress an increase in the installation area.

(Configuration 50)
A portion J of the powder container 7 that protrudes from the side surface of the image forming apparatus main body 100 is within the range of the width G in the protruding direction of the portion that protrudes from the side surface of the image forming apparatus main body 100 of the recording medium transport device. 50. The image forming apparatus according to Configuration 49.

  According to the structure 50, the increase in installation area can be suppressed more effectively.

(Configuration 51)
The horizontal width of the portion J protruding from the side surface of the image forming apparatus main body 100 of the powder container 7 is perpendicular to the protruding direction of the portion protruding from the side surface of the image forming apparatus main body 100 of the recording medium conveying device. 51. The image forming apparatus according to 49 or 50, wherein the image forming apparatus is disposed within a range of W.

  According to the structure 51, the increase in installation area can be suppressed more effectively.

(Configuration 52)
52. Image formation according to any one of configurations 49 to 51, wherein a portion J of the powder container 7 that protrudes from a side surface of the image forming apparatus main body 100 is disposed above or below the recording medium mounting portions 21 and 35. apparatus.

  According to the configuration 52, the space above or below the recording medium placement units 21 and 35 can be effectively used, and an increase in the installation area can be suppressed.

(Configuration 53)
The side surface of the image forming apparatus main body 100 has a protruding portion K that covers the protruding portion J of the powder container 7 and protrudes above the recording medium mounting portions 21 and 35, and the image forming apparatus main body. 53. The image forming apparatus according to any one of configurations 49 to 52, wherein a surface 100a1 facing downward of the protruding portion K of 100 is inclined upward in a protruding direction.

  According to the configuration 53, the visibility and workability when the recording medium P is placed on the recording medium placement portions 21 and 35 or when the recording medium P is taken out from the recording medium placement portions 21 and 35 are improved.

(Configuration 54)
The recording medium conveyance device includes a recording medium placing unit 35 and a feeding unit 36 that feeds the recording medium P from the recording medium placing unit 35 to a portion protruding from a side surface of the image forming apparatus main body 100. And a conveying means 38 for conveying the recording medium P fed by the feeding means 36, and a portion J of the powder container 7 projecting from the side surface of the image forming apparatus main body 100 is fed to the feeding medium. 52. The image forming apparatus according to any one of configurations 49 to 51, which is disposed above the means 36 and the conveying means 38.

  According to the configuration 54, the space above or below the feeding unit 36 and the conveying unit 38 can be effectively used, and an increase in the installation area can be suppressed.

(Configuration 55)
The side surface of the image forming apparatus main body 100 has a protruding portion K that covers the protruding portion of the powder container 7, and the recording medium mounting portion 35 protrudes from the protruding portion K of the image forming apparatus main body 100. 55. The image forming apparatus according to configuration 54, which is provided so as to protrude from an end portion in the direction.

  According to the configuration 55, the visibility and workability when the recording medium P is placed on the recording medium placement unit 35 are improved.

(Configuration 56)
The powder container 7 is configured to be detachable from the image forming apparatus main body 100 so that the recording medium mounting parts 21 and 35 do not enter the attachment / detachment path Q of the powder container 7. 56. The image forming apparatus according to any one of configurations 49 to 55.

  According to the configuration 56, when the powder container 7 is attached and detached, interference between the powder container 7 and the recording medium placement units 21 and 35 can be avoided.

(Configuration 57)
The recording medium placement units 21 and 35 are switched between a storage state arranged along the side surface of the image forming apparatus main body 100 and a use state arranged so as to protrude from the side surface of the image forming apparatus main body 100. Configurations 49 to 56 in which the portion J of the powder container 7 that protrudes from the side surface of the image forming apparatus main body 100 is arranged above or below the recording medium mounting portion 35 in the use state. The image forming apparatus according to any one of the above.

  According to the structure 57, the space above or below the recording medium mounting portions 21 and 35 in the use state can be effectively used, and an increase in the installation area can be suppressed.

(Configuration 58)
The powder container 7 is above or below a portion protruding from the side surface of the image forming apparatus main body 100 of the recording medium conveying device, and at least a part protrudes from the side surface of the image forming apparatus main body 100, and At least a part of the image forming unit is provided above or below a supply powder storage unit 8 for storing powder to be supplied to the image forming unit and a part protruding from a side surface of the image forming apparatus main body 100 of the recording medium conveying apparatus. The image forming apparatus according to any one of configurations 49 to 57, further comprising: a collected powder storage unit 9 that protrudes from a side surface of the apparatus main body 100 and that stores the recovered powder recovered from the image forming unit.

  According to the configuration 58, at least a part of the supply powder storage unit 8 and at least a part of the recovered powder storage unit 9 are located above a portion protruding from the side surface of the image forming apparatus main body 100 of the recording medium conveyance device. Alternatively, by projecting from the side surface of the image forming apparatus main body 100 below, it is possible to increase the amount of powder that can be accommodated in each of the powder accommodating portions 8 and 9 while suppressing an increase in the installation area.

(Configuration 59)
The powder storage unit 7 is stored in the image forming apparatus main body 100, and includes a first recovered powder storage unit 9a that stores the recovered powder recovered from the image forming unit, and the recording medium transport device. Above or below the portion protruding from the side surface of the image forming apparatus main body 100, at least a part protrudes from the side surface of the image forming apparatus main body 100 and accommodates the collected powder recovered from the image forming unit. 59. The image forming apparatus according to any one of configurations 49 to 58, comprising: a second collected powder storage unit 9b.

  According to the configuration 59, at least a part of the second collected powder container 9b is located above or below the portion of the recording medium transport device that protrudes from the side surface of the image forming apparatus body 100. By projecting from the side surface, it is possible to increase the amount of the recovered powder that can be accommodated while suppressing an increase in the installation area.

(Configuration 60)
From the configuration 49, the powder container 7 includes powder supply means 28a, 28b, 28c for supplying powder to the image forming section or powder collecting means 32a, 32b for collecting powder from the image forming section. 59. The image forming apparatus according to any one of 59.

  According to the configuration 60, the powder container 7 has the powder supply means 28a, 28b, 28c for supplying the powder to the image forming section or the powder recovery means 32a, 32b for recovering the powder. Can be reliably supplied or recovered.

(Configuration 61)
The powder storage unit 7 has a plurality of storage areas 8a, 8b, and 8c for storing powder to be supplied to the image forming unit, and protrudes from the side surface of the image forming apparatus main body 100 of the recording medium transport device. 61. The image forming apparatus according to any one of configurations 49 to 60, wherein a part of the storage areas 8a, 8b, and 8c protrudes from a side surface of the image forming apparatus main body 100 above or below the portion.

  According to the configuration 61, a part of the storage areas 8a, 8b, and 8c is above or below the portion of the recording medium transport device that protrudes from the side surface of the image forming apparatus main body 100 and from the side surface of the image forming apparatus main body 100. By making it protrude, the powder quantity which can be accommodated can be increased, suppressing the increase in an installation area.

(Configuration 62)
An image forming unit that forms an image on a recording medium P, an image forming apparatus main body 100 that houses the image forming unit, and has a protruding portion K in which a part of the side surface protrudes from the other part, and the image forming unit A powder container 7 that accommodates powder to be supplied to the container, and at least a part of the powder is accommodated in the protruding part K, a storage state that is disposed along a side surface of the protruding part K, and the protruding part K A supply recording medium mounting portion 35 that can be switched to a use state protruding from the side surface of the recording medium and can mount the recording medium P supplied to the image forming portion. Image forming apparatus.

  According to the configuration 62, the shape of the image forming apparatus main body 100 is restricted by accommodating at least a part of the powder container 7 in the protruding portion K in which a part of the side surface of the image forming apparatus main body 100 is protruded. Therefore, it is possible to ensure a large space in which the powder can be stored without increasing the amount of powder and to increase the amount of powder stored. Further, the supply recording medium mounting portion 35 is switched from the usage state in which the supply recording medium mounting portion 35 is protruded from the side surface of the protruding portion K to the storage state in which the supply recording medium mounting portion 35 is disposed along the side surface of the protruding portion K. The part 35 can be stored compactly.

(Configuration 63)
An image forming unit that forms an image on a recording medium P, an image forming apparatus main body 100 that houses the image forming unit, and has a protruding portion K in which a part of the side surface protrudes from the other part, and the image forming unit And a powder container 7 that accommodates at least a part of the powder to be supplied to the projecting part K, and at least a part of the powder container 7 is disposed above the projecting part K and is discharged outside the apparatus. And an ejected recording medium mounting portion 21 on which the recorded recording medium P can be mounted, and an upper surface 100a2 of the protruding portion K is inclined downward in the protruding direction.

  According to the configuration 63, the shape of the image forming apparatus main body 100 is restricted by accommodating at least a part of the powder container 7 in the protruding portion K in which a part of the side surface of the image forming apparatus main body 100 is protruded. Therefore, it is possible to ensure a large space in which the powder can be stored without increasing the amount of powder and to increase the amount of powder stored. Further, since at least a part of the ejected recording medium mounting portion 21 is disposed above the protruding portion K, the installation space for the ejected recording medium mounting portion 21 and the protruding portion K can be shared, and space saving can be achieved. In addition, since the top surface 100a2 of the projecting portion K is inclined, it becomes difficult to place an object on the upper surface 100a2 of the projecting portion K. Can be prevented.

(Configuration 64)
63. The image forming apparatus according to a configuration 62, wherein the supply recording medium placing portion 35 constitutes at least a part of a side surface of the protruding portion K in the housed state.

  According to the structure 64, the supply recording medium mounting part 35 and the side surface of the protrusion part K can be comprised with a common member.

(Configuration 65)
The discharge recording medium placing portion 21 includes a placing portion main body 21a and extensions 21b and 21c that can be extended from the placing portion main body 21a. The extending portions 21b and 21c are the placing portion main body 21a. 64. The image forming apparatus according to the configuration 63, wherein at least a part of the extended portions 21b and 21c are disposed above the protruding portion K in a state extended from the protrusion.

  According to the configuration 65, at least a part of the extension portions 21b and 21c is disposed above the protruding portion K in a state where the extension portions 21b and 21c extend from the placement portion main body 21a. The installation space of 21c and the protrusion part K can be shared, and space saving can be achieved.

(Configuration 66)
66. The image forming apparatus according to configuration 63 or 65, wherein an interval is formed between an upper surface 100a2 of the protruding portion K and a portion of the discharge recording medium mounting portion 21 disposed above the protruding portion K.

  According to the configuration 66, an interval is formed between the upper surface 100a2 of the protruding portion K and the portion of the discharged recording medium mounting portion 21 disposed above the protruding portion K, so that the operator can perform discharge recording. It becomes easy to take the recording medium P placed on the medium placement unit 21.

(Configuration 67)
67. The image forming apparatus according to any one of configurations 62 to 66, wherein at least a part of a side surface of the protruding portion K is an openable openable cover 101.

  According to the configuration 67, the opening / closing cover 101 and the side surface of the protruding portion K can be configured by a common member.

(Configuration 68)
68. The image forming apparatus according to configuration 67, wherein a release portion 65 that releases the closed state of the opening / closing cover 101 is provided in the protruding portion K.

  According to the configuration 68, since the release unit 65 is located near the opening / closing cover 101, it is easy to operate the release unit 65 to open the opening / closing cover 101.

(Configuration 69)
69. The image forming apparatus according to configuration 67 or 68, wherein a supply recording medium mounting unit 35 on which the recording medium P supplied to the image forming unit can be mounted is provided on the opening / closing cover 101.

  According to the structure 69, since the supply recording medium mounting part 35 is provided in the opening / closing cover 101, an operator can access from the same direction, so that workability is improved.

(Configuration 70)
70. The image forming apparatus according to configuration 69, wherein the opening / closing cover 101 and the supply recording medium placing portion 35 constitute at least a part of a lower surface 100a1 of the protruding portion K.

  According to the configuration 70, the opening / closing cover 101 and the supply recording medium mounting portion 35 can be formed of a common member with the lower surface 100a1 of the protruding portion K.

(Configuration 71)
71. The image forming apparatus according to any one of configurations 62 to 70, wherein a lower surface 100a1 of the protruding portion K is inclined upward in the protruding direction.

  According to the configuration 71, the lower surface 100a1 of the protruding portion K is inclined upward in the protruding direction, so that the visibility below the protruding portion K is improved.

(Configuration 72)
72. The image forming apparatus according to any one of configurations 62 to 71, wherein an information communication medium 66 for communicating information regarding the image forming apparatus with another apparatus is provided in the protruding portion K.

  According to the structure 72, the range of usefulness expands by providing the information communication medium 66.

(Configuration 73)
73. The image forming apparatus according to configuration 72, wherein the information communication medium 66 is detachable from the protruding portion K.

  According to the structure 73, the convenience is improved because the information communication medium 66 is removable.

7 Powder container 21 Paper discharge tray (discharged recording medium placement unit)
21a Tray body (mounting unit body)
21b 1st extension part 21c 2nd extension part 35 Manual feed tray (supply recording medium mounting part)
65 Release unit 66 Information communication medium 100 Image forming apparatus main body 100a1 Lower surface 100a2 Upper surface 101 Opening / closing cover K Projecting portion

JP 2010-169735 A JP 2004-151239 A

Claims (4)

An image forming unit for forming an image on a recording medium;
An image forming apparatus main body that houses the image forming unit and has a protruding part in which a part of the side surface protrudes from the other part,
A powder container for containing the powder to be supplied to the image forming unit, and at least a part of which is accommodated in the protruding portion;
An ejected recording medium mounting portion on which at least a part is disposed above the protruding portion and on which a recording medium ejected outside the apparatus can be placed;
With
The upper surface of the protruding portion is inclined downward in the protruding direction;
The discharge recording medium placement unit has a placement unit main body, and an extension that can be extended from the placement unit main body,
The extension part has a first extension part that can be drawn out and stored in the mounting part main body, and a second extension part that is rotatable with respect to the first extension part,
At least a part of the first extension part or the second extension part is disposed above the projecting part in a state where the first extension part and the second extension part are extended from the mounting part main body. an image forming apparatus characterized in that it is. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second extension portion is configured to be able to be accommodated in the placement main body so as to overlap the first extension portion . A storage medium arranged along the side surface of the protruding portion and a use state protruding from the side surface of the protruding portion can be switched, and a recording medium supplied to the image forming unit is placed The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a supply recording medium mounting portion that can be used. An opening / closing cover that opens and closes by rotating at least a part of a side surface of the protruding portion with respect to the image forming apparatus main body;
The said supply recording medium mounting part is rotatably provided in the said opening / closing cover centering on the spindle which is coaxial with the rotation center of the said opening / closing cover with respect to the said image forming apparatus main body. Image forming apparatus.

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