Image forming apparatus
By designing a reasonable layout for the original document reading section, the ejection section, and the ejection section in the image forming apparatus, and by adopting a straight path and an overlapping structure, the space waste problem caused by the protruding original document ejection section in the prior art is solved, thereby achieving a compact device and improved ease of operation.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Applications(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- AICHUANG YILIAN CO LTD
- Filing Date
- 2025-10-29
- Publication Date
- 2026-06-23
AI Technical Summary
In existing image forming apparatuses, the original document ejection section protrudes horizontally, resulting in an excessively large mechanical footprint, which affects the space utilization of the equipment and the ease of user operation.
Design an image forming apparatus in which the original document reading section, the original document ejection section, and the ejection section are arranged sequentially in the horizontal direction, the original document ejection port is located in the center of the apparatus and partially overlaps with the main body of the apparatus, and the original document is transported by a straight path to reduce the mechanical size occupied in the horizontal direction.
It effectively reduces the horizontal area occupied by the image forming device, improves the convenience of user operation and the visual recognizability of the original, and simplifies the paper recycling process after the original and image are formed.
Smart Images
Figure CN122260733A_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] This invention relates to an image forming apparatus. Background Technology
[0002] Previously, there was a known image forming apparatus, which included an image forming unit provided with an image forming section for forming an image on a recording medium, and a document reading device for reading a document provided on the apparatus body.
[0003] For example, Patent Document 1 discloses an image forming apparatus in which a document reading device has a document reading unit, a document reading unit, and a document ejection unit arranged sequentially in a horizontal direction when viewed from the front of the image forming apparatus.
[0004] However, in the image forming apparatus described in Patent Document 1, since the original document placement part, which holds the original document discharged from the original document reading part, protrudes significantly outward from the main body of the image forming apparatus in the horizontal direction when viewed from the front of the image forming apparatus, the mechanical occupancy size in the horizontal direction during operation becomes larger.
[0005] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2010-119080 Summary of the Invention
[0006] To solve the above problems, the image forming apparatus of the present invention includes an apparatus main body having an image forming section for forming an image on a recording medium, and a document reading device for reading a document disposed on the apparatus main body. The image forming apparatus is characterized in that the document reading device has: a document reading section for holding the document before reading; a document reading section for reading the document; a document discharge port for discharging the document read by the document reading section from the document reading section; and a document discharge section for holding the document discharged from the document discharge port. The document reading section, the document reading section, and the document discharge section are arranged sequentially in a horizontal direction when viewed from the front of the image forming apparatus. The document discharge port is located further towards the center in the horizontal direction than both ends of the apparatus main body, and at least a portion of the document discharge section overlaps with the apparatus main body in the vertical direction.
[0007] According to the present invention, compared with the prior art, the horizontal mechanical occupancy size of the image forming apparatus when viewed from the front during operation can be reduced. Attached Figure Description
[0008] Figure 1 The image shown is a front view illustrating the general structure of a photocopier.
[0009] Figure 2A , 2BThe diagram shown is an explanatory diagram of the manual paper feed tray and the opening and closing cover of the copier.
[0010] Figure 3 The image shown is a front view illustrating the general structure of the original document reading device of the copier.
[0011] Figure 4 The image shown is a front view of the various parts of the original document reading device.
[0012] Figure 5 The diagram shows the positional relationship between the original document tray and the paper feeding section inside the original document reading device.
[0013] Figure 6 The diagram shown is another illustration of the positional relationship between the original paper tray and the paper output section inside the body.
[0014] Figure 7 The diagram shows the positional relationship between the manuscript outlet and the paper feeding section inside the manuscript reading device.
[0015] Figure 8 The diagram shows the positional relationship between the original document reading unit and the manual tray of the original document reading device. Detailed Implementation
[0016] Hereinafter, an embodiment of a copier, which is an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, will be described. Figure 1 The image shown is a front view illustrating the general configuration of copier 1. Copier 1 includes: a copier body 100, which is a device body equipped with an image forming section for forming images on a recording medium; and a document reading device 200 that reads originals disposed on the copier body 100. Figure 1 In this context, the X direction is the horizontal direction (left-right or width direction) when viewed from the front of the image forming apparatus, the Y direction is the depth direction of the apparatus, and the Z direction is the vertical direction. First, an example of the internal structure configuration of the copier body 100 and the original document reading device 200 will be explained.
[0017] An image forming unit 10 is provided inside the copier body 100. In addition, a paper feeding unit 20, a scanning unit 30, and a paper reversing unit 40 are provided.
[0018] The image forming unit 10 includes four processing cartridges 11 (Y, M, C, K), an intermediate transfer belt 12, a light writing unit 13, a fixing device 14, a paper discharge roller 15, etc. A so-called internal paper discharge section 50 is formed between the image forming unit 10 and the scanning unit 30. The front and left sides of the internal paper discharge section 50 are open to the outside and are used to load the recorded paper discharged from the paper discharge roller 15.
[0019] The intermediate transfer belt 12 is tensioned and mounted by multiple tension rollers and Figure 1 The intermediate transfer body moves counterclockwise on the surface. The symbols Y, M, C, and K in the four processing cartridges 11 represent photosensitive materials for yellow, magenta, cyan, and black, respectively. The four processing cartridges 11 are largely identical in structure, except for the different colors of the toners they use.
[0020] The processing cartridge 11 is a unit in which charging means, developing means, etc. are integrally supported around the photosensitive element that serves as the latent image carrier.
[0021] The light writing unit 13 forms an electrostatic latent image on a photoreceptor based on image information from the original image read by the scanning unit 30 or the original document reading device 200, or image information input from an external device such as a personal computer. This electrostatic latent image is imaged by a toner through a development process, and the toner image is superimposed on the intermediate transfer belt 12 to form a full-color image on the intermediate transfer belt 12.
[0022] The scanning unit 30 scans the original document placed on the contact glass disposed on the upper part of the copier body 100 in a left-right direction while reading image information. The original document reading device 200 is installed on the inside of the copier body 100 such that the contact glass can be opened and closed freely by swinging about a left-right extending rotation axis. When the copier body 100 is configured to form an image using only the image information of the original document image read by the original document reading device 200, the scanning unit 30 may be omitted.
[0023] The full-color image on the intermediate transfer belt 12 is transferred onto transfer paper, which serves as the recording medium, supplied and conveyed from the paper supply section 20. The transfer paper with the full-color image is fixed in the fixing device 14 by heating and pressurizing to fix the full-color image, and the fixed transfer paper is discharged from the paper discharge port (formed in the wall) through the paper discharge roller 15. The transfer paper discharged from the paper discharge port is loaded onto the paper discharge receiving section 51 provided in the paper discharge section 50 of the body.
[0024] exist Figure 1 In the copier body 100, above the intermediate transfer belt 12, a toner bottle 16 for holding various toners is detachably disposed relative to the copier body 100. A manual paper feed tray 60 that can be opened and closed is provided on the right side of the copier body 100, and a paper feeding means 61 for feeding transfer paper onto the manual paper feed tray 60 is also provided inside the copier body 100.
[0025] The conveyor rollers and guide plates constituting the paper reversing section 40, as well as the manual paper feed tray 60 and paper feeding means 61, are held in a closable cover 71 via a rotating shaft 70 located at the lower right of the copier body 100. By opening the cover 71, the delivery path from the paper feed section 20 to the paper discharge roller 15 can be opened for paper jam handling, etc.
[0026] Figure 2A This is an illustration of the manual paper feed tray in the 60° open position. Figure 2B This is an explanatory diagram showing the open / closed cover 71 in the open state. The above is an example of the configuration of the copier body 100 when using electrophotography as the recording method, but other recording methods such as inkjet can also be used instead.
[0027] Figure 3 This is a front view illustrating the general configuration of the document reading device 200. The document reading device 200 includes a document reading and mounting unit 210, a document reading unit 220, and a document ejection and mounting unit 230. The document reading and mounting unit 210, the document reading unit 220, and the document ejection and mounting unit 230 are arranged sequentially in the horizontal direction when viewed from the front of the image forming apparatus, and the document transport path is a so-called straight path.
[0028] The original document loading unit 210 includes an original document table 211 and an extendable original document table 212 that can be pulled out and stored from the original document table 211. Alternatively, instead of being able to be pulled out and stored, a swing shaft or the like can be provided at the right end of the original document table 211 in the figure so that it can be folded or extended. The original document table 211 has a chute roller 214 that contacts the lower surface of the original document to apply a conveying force.
[0029] The original document reading unit 220 is equipped with a pickup roller 221, a brake roller 222, an original document detection sensor 223, conveying rollers 224 (224a, 224b), an LED lighting device 225 (back lighting device 225a, surface lighting device 225b), and discharge rollers 226 (226a, 226b) along the conveying path (shown by dashed lines in the figure) for conveying the original document from the original document reading placement unit 210. Furthermore, a back-side reading optical device 227a and a front-side reading optical device 227b are also provided.
[0030] The original document reading unit 220 has an upper frame 228a and a lower frame 228b that supports the upper frame 228a and can be opened and closed. The lower surface of the upper frame 228a forms an upper guide for the original document transport path, and the upper surface of the lower frame 228b forms a lower guide for the original document transport path.
[0031] A manuscript discharge tray 231 is provided in the manuscript discharge placement section 230.
[0032] The original manuscripts placed on the manuscript table 211 (the bottom manuscript when two or more are placed) are conveyed between the upper and lower guide members in the manuscript conveying direction from right to left in the figure by the rotation of the chute roller 214 and the pick-up roller 221. When multiple original manuscripts are placed on the manuscript table 211, the brake roller 222 separates only the original manuscripts placed on the manuscript table 211 that are in contact with the pick-up roller 221.
[0033] The original document is guided by the upper and lower guides and fed between the drive roller 224a and the driven roller 224b of the conveyor roller 224. The original document is fed between the back illumination device 225a and the surface illumination device 225b by the rotation of the conveyor roller 224, and the back and surface are read by the back reading optics 227a and the surface reading optics 227b. By the rotation of the discharge rollers 226 (226a, 226b), the read original document is discharged through the original document discharge port 229 onto the original document discharge tray 231.
[0034] The original document reading device 200 does not have an original document reversal path or a U-shaped turning path, but only a straight reading path (straight path) from the original document table 211 to the original document output tray 231. Therefore, it is possible to save space in the original document reading section and improve the visual recognizability of the original document after reading.
[0035] Next, the configuration of the original document reading device 200, which is the feature section in this embodiment, will be described. Figure 4 This is a front view showing the various parts of the original document reader 200 and the copier body 100 that should be noted in the configuration of the original document reader 200. Note the original document loading unit 210, the original document loading unit 220, the original document ejection unit 230 of the original document reader 200, and the paper ejection unit 50 inside the copier 100. In the figure, reference numeral 10 indicates the image forming unit 10.
[0036] Figure 5 This is a perspective view taken from slightly above the front, showing the positional relationship between the original document reader 200's document tray 231 and the internal paper discharge section 50 of the copier body 100. Reference numeral W1 indicates the width region (X-direction region) of the internal paper discharge section 50; the right end of this region W1 is the paper discharge port formed on the internal wall of the internal paper discharge section 50, and the left end is the left side surface 100a of the copier 100. Reference numeral W2 indicates the width region (X-direction region) of the original document placement section 230; the right end is the original document discharge port 229 formed on the cover of the original document reader 220, and the left end is the front end of the original document tray 231.
[0037] Figure 6This is a front view illustrating the general configuration of the original (after reading) and the internal paper discharge section 50 of the copier body 100. It shows the discharged original bundle D stacked on the original discharge tray 231 of the original discharge placement section 230 and the image-formed transfer paper bundle P stacked on the paper receiving section 51 of the internal paper discharge section 50. The internal paper discharge section 50 has a width (X-direction length) capable of discharging and accommodating paper A3 along its long side. The transfer paper bundle P, as shown in the icon, represents the transfer paper bundle discharged along the short side of A4. The original bundle D on the original paper discharge tray 231, as shown in the icon, also represents the original bundle discharged along the short side of A4.
[0038] like Figures 4 to 6 As shown, in this embodiment, in a copier 1 equipped with a document reader 200 that transports originals along a straight path, the document discharge outlet 229 is positioned closer to the center than both ends of the copier body 100 in the left-right direction (X direction), and at least a portion of the document discharge mounting section 230 is configured to overlap with the copier body 100 in the vertical direction (Z direction). More specifically, the document paper tray 231 and the paper discharge section 50 inside the copier body 100 are in an overlapping position in the vertical direction (Z direction).
[0039] This reduces the amount by which the original document tray 231 protrudes outward from the copier body 100 (left side 100a) in the left-right direction. Consequently, the area occupied by the copier 1 as a whole, including the original document reader 200, in the width direction (X direction) during operation can be reduced.
[0040] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the direction in which the original document is conveyed from the original document reading unit 210 to the original document discharge unit 230 is the same as the direction in which the transfer paper is discharged into the internal paper discharge unit 50, resulting in a positional relationship where the original document discharged to the original document discharge unit 230 overlaps with the internal paper discharge unit 50. Therefore, when reading an original document and forming an image in one operation, the range of hand movement required by the user is reduced when the transfer paper after image formation is discharged into the internal paper discharge unit 50 and the original document after reading are collected together, thus improving usability.
[0041] Figure 7This is an explanatory diagram illustrating the positional relationship between the original document reader 200's document discharge outlet 229 and the internal paper discharge section 50 of the copier body 100. In a copier 1 equipped with an original document reader 200 that transports originals along a straight path, the original document discharge outlet 229 is preferably located at the center of the copier body 100, at least one-third of the left-right dimension X of the internal paper discharge section 50, starting from the left-right end of the copier body 100. In the figure, x represents the width W1 of the internal paper discharge section 50. The reference numeral y indicates the dimension from the left side 100a of the copier body 100 to the original document discharge outlet 229. The original document placement area W3 of this dimension y is the area in the original document placement section 230 that overlaps with the copier body 100 in the vertical direction (Z direction). The position from the left side 100a of the copier body 100 to the dimension (1 / 3)x is indicated by auxiliary lines. The original document discharge port 229 is located on the side of the central part of the copier body 100, which is closer to the center than this part.
[0042] This significantly reduces the amount of the original document tray 231 protruding outward from the copier body 100 (from the left side 100a) in the left-right direction. Furthermore, when performing original document reading and printing operations at the same time, by bringing the original document tray 231 and the internal paper discharge section 50 (especially the discharge outlet) close together, the travel distance (action path) during the return of the original and image transfer paper can be reduced, making the return operation easier.
[0043] In this embodiment, the copier body 100 has a manual paper tray 60 that serves as a recording medium placement unit. This manual tray 60 can be positioned to protrude from the side wall. The original document placement unit 210 is located on the same side as the manual tray 60 in the left-right direction (X direction). Furthermore, the original document placement unit 210 protrudes from the side wall of the copier body 100 by a smaller amount in the left-right direction than the amount by which the manual paper tray 60 protrudes from the copier body 100.
[0044] Figure 8 This is an explanatory diagram illustrating the positional relationship between the original document loading unit 210 of the original document loading device 200 and the manual paper feed tray 60 of the copier body 100. The original document loading unit 210 is located on the same side of the copier body 100 as the manual paper feed tray 60. The protrusion 'a' of the original document stage 211 and the pull-out original document stage 212 relative to the copier body 100 is configured to be smaller than the protrusion 'b' of the manual tray 60 (including the pull-out tray portion 62 starting from the front end of the manual paper feed tray 60) protruding from the copier body 100. As a result, the area occupied in the width direction of the entire device, including the original document loading device, during operation can be reduced.
[0045] In addition, in this embodiment, such as Figure 8As shown, the operation panel 300, which is the operation unit for users to decide on the reading operation, and the operation panel 300 and the original document loading unit 210 are located on the same side relative to the copier body 100 in the left-right direction. As a result, when the user operates the operation panel 300 to read the document after loading the original document onto the original document table 211, the distance the hand moves can be reduced, making the operation easier.
[0046] While preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiments described above. Unless otherwise specified in the above description, various modifications and alterations can be made within the scope of the concept of the present invention as described in the scope of the claims.
[0047] The effects described in the embodiments of this invention are merely examples of the best effects produced by this invention, and the effects of this invention are not limited to those described in the embodiments of this invention.
[0048] The above description is merely an example, and the invention has unique effects in the various embodiments described below. In the description of the embodiments, the reference numerals in parentheses following the constituent names are examples of corresponding components, and are not limited to those component examples.
[0049] (Method 1) An image forming apparatus includes an apparatus body (100) having an image forming unit (10) for forming an image on a recording medium, and a document reading device (200) for reading a document disposed on the apparatus body (100). The image forming apparatus is characterized in that the document reading device (200) comprises: a document reading mounting unit (210) for mounting the document before reading; a document reading unit (220) for reading the document; and a document discharge port (229) for discharging the document from the document reading unit (220). The original document is read and the original document is placed in the ejection section (230), which holds the original document ejected from the original document ejection port (229). The original document reading section (210), the original document reading section (220), and the ejection section (230) are arranged sequentially in the horizontal direction when viewed from the front of the image forming apparatus. The original document ejection port (229) is closer to the center in the horizontal direction than the two ends of the apparatus body (100), and at least a part of the ejection section (230) overlaps with the apparatus body (100) in the vertical direction.
[0050] Therefore, compared with existing technologies, the horizontal mechanical footprint of the image forming apparatus when viewed from the front during operation can be reduced. Furthermore, the visual legibility of the original is also good due to the straight path. The overlapping apparatus body is the portion of the apparatus body extending downstream in the original ejection direction of the original document reading apparatus. Temporary protrusions, such as a manual tray in a protruding posture, or a paper discharge tray partially protruding from the side of the apparatus body, are not included on the apparatus body side.
[0051] (Method 2) The image forming apparatus according to method 1 is characterized in that: an internal paper discharge section (50) is provided on the main body (100) of the apparatus, the internal paper discharge section having an opening for operation from the outside and discharging a recording medium on which an image is formed, and a manuscript discharge placement section (230) is configured such that at least a portion of itself and at least a portion of the manuscript discharged to the manuscript discharge placement section (230) overlap the internal paper discharge section (50) in the vertical direction.
[0052] This reduces the range of hand movements required for the user during the reading of the original and the creation of the image, thus improving usability.
[0053] (Method 3) The image forming apparatus according to method 2 is characterized in that the direction in which the original is transported from the original reading unit (210) to the original discharge unit (230) is the same as the direction in which the recording medium is discharged into the paper discharge unit (50).
[0054] This further reduces the range of hand movements required for the user to read the original and create the image, thus improving usability.
[0055] (Method 4) The image forming apparatus according to any one of methods 1 to 3 is characterized in that: the original document reading device (230) does not have an original document reversal transport path that overlaps in the vertical direction after reversal.
[0056] Therefore, compared with the original document reading device of Patent Document 1, which has an original document reversal transport path that overlaps in the vertical direction after reversal in addition to a straight path, space saving of the original document reading section can be achieved.
[0057] (Method 5) The image forming apparatus according to any one of methods 1 to 4 is characterized in that: the apparatus body (100) has a recording medium placement section (60) capable of taking a posture that protrudes from the side wall of the apparatus body (100), and the original document placement section (210) is arranged in the horizontal direction on the same side as the recording medium placement section (60).
[0058] Therefore, compared to the case where the original document mounting section and the recording medium mounting section protrude to opposite sides relative to the main body of the device, the proprietary area during use can be reduced.
[0059] (Method 6) The image forming apparatus according to method 5 is characterized in that: the original document mounting section (210) protrudes from the side wall of the apparatus body (100) in the horizontal direction by a protrusion smaller than that of the recording medium mounting section (60).
[0060] Therefore, by making the protrusion of the original document mounting section smaller than the protrusion of the recording medium mounting section, the proprietary area during use can be further reduced.
[0061] (Method 7) The image forming apparatus according to any one of methods 1 to 6 is characterized in that: it has an operation unit (300) for performing a user-determined reading operation, and the operation unit (300) and the original document loading unit (210) are located on the same side in the horizontal direction relative to the apparatus body (100).
[0062] Therefore, after placing the original document in the document holder, the distance the hand needs to move is reduced when performing the reading operation, making the task easier.
Claims
1. An image forming apparatus comprising an apparatus body having an image forming section for forming an image on a recording medium, and an original document reading device for reading an original document disposed on the apparatus body, characterized in that: The original document reading device has: The original manuscript is read and placed in the original manuscript before it is read. The manuscript reading department is responsible for reading the original manuscripts. The original document discharge port discharges the original document read by the original document reading unit from the original document reading unit, and The original manuscript placement section holds the original manuscripts discharged from the original manuscript discharge port. The original document loading unit, the original document reading unit, and the original document ejection unit are arranged sequentially in a horizontal direction when viewed from the front of the image forming apparatus. The manuscript discharge port is located further towards the center in the horizontal direction than both ends of the device body, and at least a portion of the manuscript discharge mounting portion overlaps with the device body in the vertical direction.
2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that: The device body is provided with an internal paper discharge section, which has an opening for external operation and discharges a recording medium on which an image is formed. The manuscript ejection section is configured such that at least a portion of itself and at least a portion of the manuscript ejected to the manuscript ejection section overlap with the in-body paper ejection section in the vertical direction.
3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that: The original document is conveyed from the original document reading unit to the original document discharge unit in the same direction as the recording medium is discharged into the paper discharge unit.
4. The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that: The original document reading device does not have an original document reversal transport path that overlaps in the vertical direction after reversal.
5. The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that: The device body has a recording medium mounting section capable of protruding from the side wall of the device body. The original document mounting section is positioned on the same side as the recording medium mounting section in the horizontal direction.
6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 5, characterized in that: The original document mounting portion protrudes from the side wall of the device body in the horizontal direction by a smaller amount than that of the recording medium mounting portion.
7. The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that: It has an operation unit to perform the reading action as determined by the user. The operating unit and the original document loading unit are located on the same side relative to the main body of the device in the horizontal direction.