JPH0872361A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To connect a printer, a facsimile device, and a copying machine in a superposing way by constituting each of them in a unit structure and improve operability by arranging an operating section on a front face of a device. CONSTITUTION: A facsimile part read unit 1, a display/operating part unit 2, a printer unit 3, a charge adjustment unit 4, and a power source unit 5 are superposed in the vertical direction. The unit 1 arranged at the upper part and the unit 2 arranged underneath the unit 1 are positioned by a positioning protrusion and a positioning recess which engages with the protrusion. Base boards are provided for unit-to-unit signal transfers and for supply of power. Each base board is connected by connectors provided at its both ends. To each pin of each connector, a signal line and a power source line are all arranged to the same pin numbers. Thus, each unit can be connected to any other unit.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus in which the functions of a printer, a facsimile, a copying machine, etc. are combined.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, this type of image forming apparatus has been constructed as shown in FIG. 5, for example. In FIG.
Reference numeral 101 is a facsimile reading unit, 102 is a document inlet tray, 103 is a document discharge tray, and 1
Reference numeral 04 is a printer unit, 105 is a paper cassette, 106 is a discharge tray, 107 is print paper, and 108 is an operation / display unit.

This image forming apparatus has a facsimile function and a printer function integrally mounted in a housing. The document set on the document inlet tray 102 is guided to the facsimile reading unit 101, and image information of the document is read by a reading mechanism (for example, CCD) inside the reading unit.

Print information sent from an external computer or the like through a connector, a received facsimile signal, or copy information from a read original is printed by the printer unit 104. The printer unit includes a printing mechanism such as an electrophotographic printing mechanism or an inkjet printing mechanism.

The paper fed from the paper cassette 105 is printed by a printing mechanism (not shown), and is ejected as a print paper 107 onto the paper ejection tray 106. 1
An operation / display unit 08 is used to instruct printing or operate a facsimile function.

[0006]

However, the above-mentioned conventional example has the following drawbacks because the facsimile section and the printer section are always integrated. (1) Since all are integrated, it is difficult to partially improve the functions of only the facsimile part or the printer part. (2) Since it is mounted in one housing, there is little freedom in the arrangement of each part, and it is easy for the user to operate it. (3) It is difficult to make a combination that suits the user's will. (4) Since the power supply section also uses one power supply in the same housing, it is difficult to cope with the increase in the power supply capacity accompanying the functional improvement.

[0007]

According to the present invention, each functional portion is formed as a unit to enable overlapping connection, and the operating portion is arranged on the front surface of the apparatus to improve operability. It is a thing. In addition, the display unit, the power supply unit, the charge clearing unit for public use, etc. are also configured as units to improve the function expandability.

[0008]

EXAMPLES Next, examples of the present invention will be described.

(First Embodiment) FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an image forming apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. Reference numeral 1 is a facsimile unit reading unit, 2 is a display / operation unit, 3 is a printer unit, 4 is a charge settlement unit, and 5 is a power supply unit.

That is, the facsimile unit reading unit 1, the display / operation unit unit 2, the printer unit 3, the fee clearing unit 4, and the power supply unit 5 are vertically stacked. The facsimile unit reading unit,
Hereinafter, other units may be simply referred to as units.

The units are connected as shown in FIG. In FIG. 2, for example, reference numeral 11 indicates the facsimile unit reading unit 1, and reference numeral 12
Indicates the display / operation unit unit 2, and 13 indicates the printer unit 3.

The upper unit 1 and the lower unit 2 are positioned by the positioning projection 14 and the positioning recess 15 fitted therein. The board 16 is provided for transferring signals and supplying electric power between the units.
17, 18 and the like are arranged, and the respective boards are connected by connectors 20, 21 and the like installed at both ends thereof.

Signal lines, power lines, etc. are all arranged at the same pin number on each pin of the connector. For this reason,
Each unit can be connected to any unit. The topmost unit can be covered with the connector by covering the unit at the top, for example, as shown in FIG.

The display / operation unit 2 can display the status of each unit such as a facsimile and a printer, and can instruct the operation such as a copy command with a button or the like. The fee clearing unit 4 enables the use of coins or bills when it is necessary to settle the fee according to the usage record such as when the image forming apparatus is used under the public. The capacity of the power supply unit 5 can be selected according to the number of units to be combined and stacked. In addition, all major operations of each unit can be performed from the front. This is possible because each unit is given a function and stacked.

(Second Embodiment) FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an image forming apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 3, each unit does not have to be a separate unit, and a plurality of the same units may be stacked.
That is, for example, in FIG. 3, 31 is a facsimile reading unit and 32 is a display / operation unit 3
3, 33 is a printer unit, 34 is a fee clearing unit, 35 is a power supply unit, and FIG.
As is apparent from the above, two printer unit units are used.

As described above, by having a plurality of printer unit units, it is possible to improve the printing speed and simultaneously use facsimile output and printing.

(Third Embodiment) FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an image forming apparatus according to a third embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 4, in the third embodiment, each unit is connected in the lateral direction. Here, 40 is a printer unit, 41 is a facsimile reading unit, and 42 is a power supply. Further, any other unit may be combined.

As described above, the printer, the copying machine,
By forming each function of the facsimile or the like as a unit, it is possible to stack and arrange the functions, and it is possible to obtain the most optimal structure according to the required function.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an image forming apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view for explaining the connection of each unit.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an image forming apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an image forming apparatus according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a conventional image forming apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Facsimile reading unit 2 Display / operation unit 3 Printer unit 4 Charge clearing unit 5 Power supply unit

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Hiroyuki Ishii 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc.

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. An image forming apparatus having a function of at least one of a printer, a facsimile, and a copying machine, wherein each functional portion is configured as a unit, and each unit is stacked in a vertical direction or a horizontal direction to be connected to form a whole. An image forming apparatus comprising: 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1,
An image forming apparatus, wherein an operation section of each unit or one operation section is arranged on a front surface of the apparatus. 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1,
An image forming apparatus further comprising a charge clearing unit. 4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1,
An image forming apparatus further comprising a power supply unit. 5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus includes a plurality of identical units. 6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each unit has a signal line and a power line arranged in the same manner so that each unit can be connected to any other unit. An image forming apparatus comprising: