Image forming device

Abstract

To solve such a problem that a user unfamiliar with an image forming device cannot find a door for replacement of consumable supplies.SOLUTION: When an image reading unit 13 reads a manuscript placed on a manuscript placement table 13a, an image forming unit 14 forms an image read by the image reading unit 13 on a prescribed sheet, and an ejection unit 15 ejects the sheet formed with the image by the image forming unit 14 and places the sheet on an ejection tray 16. An in-cylinder ejection space 17 is formed between the image reading unit 13 and the image forming unit 14 in a body 12, a housing 11 includes therein, a consumable supply attachment portion to which a consumable supply used in the image forming unit 14 is attached, and also includes a transparent portion 11b in which at least a partial surface of a region in the consumable supply attachment portion in the housing 11 is formed transparent. When the consumable supply is used up and replenishment is required, an operator can visually recognize the region of the consumable supply attachment portion in the housing 11 from the outside of the body 12 via the transparent portion 11b.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, and more particularly to an image forming apparatus that accommodates removable consumables. [Background technology]

[0002] A laser color copier, which is a type of image forming device, contains a toner unit as a consumable item. The conventional laser color printer disclosed in Patent Document 1 has a door that is part of the main body and can be opened and closed, and this door must be opened when removing and installing the toner unit. This door is part of the exterior of the main body and is colored the same color as the other parts. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2012-018385 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In the above-mentioned conventional image forming apparatus, since the door constitutes a part of the exterior, it is colored the same color as the other exterior, so if you are unfamiliar with it, you cannot tell which part is the door for replacing the consumables. In other words, there is a problem that you cannot tell which part to attach and detach the consumables. The present invention provides an image forming apparatus in which consumables can be easily attached and detached. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] The present invention is an image forming device that is provided with a main body having a specified housing, and that includes an image reading unit that reads a document placed on a document placing table, an image forming unit that forms an image read by the image reading unit on a specified sheet, an ejection unit that ejects the sheet on which the image has been formed by the image forming unit, and an ejection tray on which the sheet ejected from the ejection unit is placed, wherein an internal ejection space is formed between the image reading unit and the image forming unit in the main body, the housing has a consumable mounting unit therein into which consumables to be used in the image forming unit are mounted, and the housing is configured to have a transparent portion in which at least a portion of the surface of the area of ​​the consumable mounting unit in the housing is formed transparent.

[0006] In the above configuration, when the image reading unit reads the document placed on the document placement table, the image forming unit forms the image read by the image reading unit on a predetermined sheet, and the sheet on which the image has been formed by the image forming unit is discharged and placed on a discharge tray by a discharge unit. Also, an internal discharge space is formed between the image reading unit and the image forming unit in the main body, the housing has a consumables mounting unit therein in which consumables used in the image forming unit are mounted, and the housing has a transparent unit in which at least a part of the surface of the area of ​​the consumables mounting unit in the housing is formed transparent. Therefore, when the consumables run out and need to be replenished, the operator can visually check part of the area of ​​the housing where the consumables are mounted from outside the main body through the transparent portion. Effect of the Invention

[0007] According to the present invention, at least a portion of the surface of the area of ​​the consumable mounting section in the exterior casing has a transparent section that is formed to be transparent, so that the consumable mounting section can be seen from the outside through the transparent section, and even unfamiliar people can easily understand the consumable mounting section and easily attach and remove the consumables. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an external appearance of an image forming apparatus. [Diagram 2]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the appearance of the image forming apparatus with the door open. [Diagram 3] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a main configuration of an image forming apparatus. [Figure 4] FIG. 13 is a perspective view of an external appearance of an image forming apparatus according to a modified example. [Diagram 5] FIG. 13 is a perspective view of an external appearance of an image forming apparatus according to a modified example. [Figure 6] FIG. 13 is a perspective view of an external appearance of an image forming apparatus according to a modified example. [Figure 7] FIG. 13 is a perspective view of an external appearance of an image forming apparatus according to a modified example. [Figure 8] FIG. 13 is a perspective view of an external appearance of an image forming apparatus according to a modified example. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0009] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the appearance of an image forming apparatus, and FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the appearance of the image forming apparatus with its door open. In the figure, the image forming apparatus 10 is provided with a main body 12 having a housing 11 in a substantially prismatic column shape that is generally rectangular in plan view. The main body 12 is provided with an image reading unit 13 that reads an original placed on an original placement table 13a located on the upper part of the housing 11, an image forming unit 14 that is disposed below the image reading unit 13 and forms an image read by the image reading unit 13 on a predetermined sheet, a discharge unit 15 that discharges the sheet on which the image has been formed by the image forming unit 14, and a discharge tray 16 that places the sheet discharged from the discharge unit 15. In this embodiment, an ADF 13b is attached as a part of the image reading unit 13, and the original placement table 13a is located below the ADF 13b.

[0010] The housing 11 of the main body 12 has an internal discharge space 17 formed therein, which is located below the image reading unit 13 and opens to the front and left. Furthermore, excluding this internal discharge space 17, the main body 12 has the housing 11 which is continuous in the vertical direction behind and to the right of the internal discharge space 17. The housing 11 is generally colored a light white color, and the wall surface 17a which forms the internal discharge space 17 is colored mostly dark. However, the document placement platform 13a on which some of the documents of the image reading unit 13 of the housing 11 are placed, and the portion of the ADF 13b where the documents are discharged are also colored dark. Of the wall surfaces 17a, an upper wall surface 17a1 (ceiling portion) is formed horizontally, a right wall surface 17a2 is formed vertically, and a lower wall surface 17a3 (bottom portion) is formed as an inclined surface that slopes upward to the left and downward to the right.

[0011] Since the image forming unit 14 is accommodated below and to the right of the internal body discharge space 17 within the main body 12, the internal body discharge space 17 is formed between the image reading unit 13 and the image forming unit 14 in the main body 12. In this way, the internal body discharge space 17 is formed between the image reading unit 13 and the image forming unit 14 in the main body 12, but it does not matter if there are parts between the image reading unit 13 and the image forming unit 14 to the rear and right where the internal body discharge space 17 does not exist.

[0012] FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing the main configuration of the image forming apparatus. The figure shows a portion below the internal discharge space 17, and the bottom surface of the internal discharge space 17 is formed with a discharge tray 16. The discharge tray 16 is formed to have an inclined surface that slopes upward to the left and downward to the right. As described above, the wall surface 17a that forms the internal discharge space 17 is generally colored dark, and the upper portion (ceiling portion) of the wall surface 17a is formed horizontally, the right wall surface is formed vertically, and the lower portion (bottom portion) is an inclined surface that slopes upward to the left and downward to the right. An operation panel 12a is formed to protrude forward in a portion of the main body 12 to the right of the internal discharge space 17. The operation panel 12a is generally colored dark, and predetermined operation switches and displays are arranged in the operation portion.

[0013] A paper discharge outlet 15a of the discharge section 15 is formed on the right side of the internal discharge space 17, and the discharge section 15 discharges sheets on which images have been formed in the image forming section 14 located below the internal discharge space 17 to the discharge tray 16 via the paper discharge outlet 15a. The discharge section 15 constitutes part of a transport unit 18 consisting of a transport belt, rollers, etc., and the transport unit 18 transports paper from several stages of paper cassettes 19 arranged at the bottom of the main body 12 to the image forming section 14 and discharges the paper on which an image has been formed. In this way, the transport unit 18 is a mechanism that partially pulls out paper from the paper cassettes 19, transports the paper in the image forming section 14, and discharges the paper in the discharge section 15. In this embodiment, the transport unit 18 is responsible for all of the transport, but it may also be a mechanism that functions separately at each stage.

[0014] In the image forming apparatus 10, paper is transported in the right part inside the main body 12, and in the process, the inkjet type image forming unit 14 forms an image on the paper, and a space is left of the image forming unit 14 below the discharge space 17 inside the main body. The consumables mounting unit 20 of the image forming apparatus 10 is provided in this space. The consumables mounting unit 20 has an ink cartridge 21 accommodated in the upper part, an ink supply unit 22 arranged below it, and a waste liquid box 23 arranged nearby. A predetermined color ink accommodated in the ink cartridge 21 is supplied to the head of the image forming unit 14 via the ink supply unit 22 and used to form an image. In addition, waste liquid discharged during head cleaning performed at a predetermined timing is collected in the waste liquid box 23. The ink cartridge 21 and the ink supply unit 22 are collectively referred to as the ink supply unit, and the waste liquid box 23 is also referred to as the waste liquid storage unit.

[0015] The ink cartridge 21 is housed below the internal discharge space 17 in the main body 12 and to the left of the image forming unit 14, and the ink cartridge 21 needs to be detached to replace the consumables when the color ink runs out. For this reason, a door 11a is formed on the front of the housing 11 to open the consumables mounting unit 20 to the outside. This door 11a is formed in a rectangular shape when viewed from the front, and is supported rotatably at the upper and lower ends on the right side, and the left end draws an arc so that it can be opened and closed. For this reason, the door 11a is also called an opening and closing cover. The door 11a is generally colored in the same light white color as the housing 11, but a part of the ink cartridge 21 is a transparent part 11b formed transparently. That is, at least a part of the surface of the area of ​​the consumables mounting unit 20 in the door 11a constituting the housing 11 has a transparent part 11b formed transparently. In addition, the outer edge of the transparent part in the transparent part 11b is formed in a dark color.

[0016] In this way, the image forming section 14 forms an image on a paper (sheet) by receiving ink from the ink cartridge 21 and the ink supply unit 22, which are ink supply sections, and the ink supply section corresponds to a consumable item. Furthermore, the image forming section 14 is provided with a waste liquid storage section, which is a waste liquid box 23 that collects waste liquid discharged from the image forming section 14, and this waste liquid storage section also corresponds to a consumable item.

[0017] Next, the operation of this embodiment having the above configuration will be described. Under normal conditions, when the image forming device 10 reads an original document placed on the original document placement table 13a of the image reading unit 13, the image forming unit 14 forms the image read by the image reading unit 13 on a specified sheet, and the discharge unit 15 discharges and places the sheet on which the image has been formed by the image forming unit 14 on a discharge tray 16 in the internal discharge space 17.

[0018] When an image is formed in the image forming unit 14, color inks are supplied from the ink cartridges 21 in the ink supply unit and are consumed. The ink cartridges 21 are arranged in a consumables mounting unit, and a transparent portion 11b is formed in the door 11a corresponding to a partial area of ​​this consumables mounting unit. Therefore, when it becomes necessary to replace the ink cartridge 21, which is a consumable, an operator can visually confirm the ink cartridge 21 inside through the transparent portion 11b when looking at the main body 12. Therefore, the consumables mounting unit can be easily visually confirmed, and the operator can open the door 11a, remove the ink cartridge 21, and replace it with a new ink cartridge 21. The transparent portion 11b is surrounded by a dark color, and the boundary between the ink cartridge 21 and the housing 11 is a dark area. The dark area is placed between the light-colored housing 11 and the outer peripheral surface of the ink cartridge 21, which gives a calm feeling, and the overall balance can be improved by adjusting the width of the dark area. The ink cartridge 21 may be in a transparent or semi-transparent case so that the remaining amount of color ink inside can be seen.

[0019] The image forming apparatus 10 of the above embodiment is provided with several stages of paper cassettes 19 at the bottom, and is at a height that is easy to work with when installed on the floor of an office. Of course, the present embodiment is not limited to such a configuration. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the appearance of an image forming apparatus according to a modified example. Image forming apparatus 110 of this modified example also comprises a main body 112 having a roughly rectangular column-shaped housing 111 that is shorter in height than image forming apparatus 10 of the above embodiment, and is equipped with an image reading unit 113 located at the top, an image forming unit 114 located below this image reading unit 113 and forming an image read by the image reading unit 113 on a specified sheet, a discharge unit 115 that discharges the sheet on which the image has been formed by this image forming unit 114, and a discharge tray 116 on which the sheet discharged from this discharge unit 115 is placed.

[0020] The discharge tray 116 is located in an internal discharge space 117 formed between the image reading unit 113 and the image forming unit 114, and the consumables mounting section below this internal discharge space 117 is formed between the image reading unit 113 and the image forming unit 114 in the main body 112. The entire front portion of the housing 111 is an openable and closable door 111a, and when the door 111a is opened, the internal consumables mounting section is exposed to the outside. A transparent section 111b is formed in a portion of the door 111a that corresponds to a portion of the area of ​​the consumables mounting section. More specifically, the transparent section 111b is formed so as to face a portion of the side of the ink cartridge 121 housed in the consumables mounting section.

[0021] As a result, when it becomes necessary to replace ink cartridge 121, which is a consumable item, the location of ink cartridge 121 can be immediately seen through transparent portion 111b of door 111a, and the worker will not be confused about where ink cartridge 121 is located in main body 112 when performing the replacement work. In addition, since the ink cartridge 121 itself, which constitutes the ink supply unit, has a transparent container, the remaining amount of ink can be seen through transparent portion 111b. The main body 112 is generally colored in a light white color, while the document placement platform 113a, the internal discharge space 117, and the periphery of the transparent portion 111b are colored in a dark color.

[0022] In the above-described embodiment, the transparent portion is provided at a position facing the ink cartridge, but the consumable mounting portion is not limited to the ink cartridge. FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the appearance of an image forming apparatus according to a modified example. In the case of this image forming device 210, the position where the transparent portion 211b is formed is different from that of the image forming device 10 shown in Fig. 1, and the transparent portion 211b is formed at a position facing the mounting area of ​​the sub-tank 222 of the ink supply unit included in the consumable mounting unit. Although it is the ink cartridge (not shown) that is attached and detached, the installation location of the sub-tank 222 connected to the ink supply unit can be seen through the transparent portion 211b, so that the worker can see that the area is the consumable mounting unit. If the position of the consumable mounting unit can be seen, the corresponding door 211a can be easily identified, and it becomes easy to open and close it to replace the ink cartridge.

[0023] In the embodiment described above, the wall surface 17a forming the internal discharge space 17 is dark in color, but from a design standpoint, the dark colored portion may be extended to include the internal discharge space 17 and extend to its periphery. 6 and 7 are perspective views of the appearance of an image forming apparatus according to a modified example. 6, a dark colored portion is formed so as to communicate from the internal discharge space 317 to the consumables mounting portion directly below. In this case, the transparent portion 311b is formed from a smoked transparent plate, and while being designed as a dark colored area communicating from directly below the internal discharge space 317, the inside can be seen so as to know the position of the consumables mounting portion.

[0024] Since the consumables mounting section also includes the waste liquid storage section 323, the door 311a may be provided with an additional transparent section 311b1 at a location corresponding to the waste liquid storage section 323. In the image forming device 410 shown in Fig. 7, a dark colored portion is formed so as to connect from the discharge space 417 in the body to the consumables mounting portion directly below, and the transparent portion 411b is formed from a smoked transparent plate, and is designed as a dark colored area that connects from the discharge space 417 in the body. In addition, in response to the transparent portion 411b having a design that slopes downward to the right, a dark colored portion is formed so as to slope upward to the right from its bottom end, creating a symmetrical design. The design is well balanced. In this case, too, the inside can be seen through the transparent portion 411b, and the position of the consumables mounting portion is easy to understand.

[0025] 8 is a perspective view of the appearance of an image forming apparatus according to a modified example 510. In this modified image forming apparatus 510, a transparent portion 511b corresponds to a portion corresponding to an ink flow path. The ink flow path makes it easy to imagine the consumables mounting portion, and by informing the operator that the area around the ink flow path 524 is the consumables mounting portion, the attachment and detachment work can be facilitated. In the above-described embodiment, the transparent portion allows the consumable mounting portion to be seen from the outside. However, to make it easier to see, a light-emitting portion may be provided inside so that light can be emitted from the inside to irradiate the outside.

[0026] As an example, a light emitting element such as an LED is disposed at the rear side of the ink cartridge 21, and emits light from the rear of the ink cartridge 21 toward the transparent portion 11b. Similarly, light may be emitted from the rear of the subtank 222, which is an ink supply portion, toward the transparent portion 211b. Similarly, a light emitting element such as an LED may be disposed at the rear side of the waste liquid box 23 or the ink flow path 524, and emits light from the rear of the waste liquid box 23 or the ink flow path 524 toward the transparent portions 11b, 511b.

[0027] It goes without saying that the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiment. -Appropriately change and apply the mutually replaceable members and configurations disclosed in the above embodiments. · Appropriately replacing members and configurations that are not disclosed in the above embodiments but are publicly known and can be mutually substituted for the members and configurations disclosed in the above embodiments, and changing the combinations thereof for application. - Substitute members and configurations, etc. that are not disclosed in the above embodiments but that a person skilled in the art could imagine as substitutes for the members and configurations, etc. disclosed in the above embodiments based on publicly known techniques, and change and apply the combinations. is disclosed as one embodiment of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0028] 10...image forming apparatus, 11...casing, 11a...door, 11b...transparent portion, 12...main body, 12a...operation panel, 13...image reading section, 13a...original placement table, 13b...ADF, 14...image forming section, 15...discharge section, 15a...paper discharge port, 16...discharge tray, 17...discharge space inside the body, 17a...wall surface, 18...transport unit, 19...paper cassette, 20...consumables mounting section, 21...ink cartridge, 22...ink supply unit, 23...waste liquid box, 110...image forming apparatus, 111...casing, 111a...door, 111b...transparent portion, 112...main body, 113...image reading section, 113a...original placement table, 114...image forming section, 115...discharge section, 116...discharge tray, 117...discharge space within body, 121...ink cartridge, 210...image forming device, 211a...door, 211b...transparent section, 222...subtank, 310...image forming device, 311a...door, 311b...transparent section, 311b1...transparent section, 317...discharge space within body, 323...waste liquid storage section, 410...image forming device, 411b...transparent section, 417...discharge space within body, 510...image forming device, 511b...transparent section, 524...ink flow path.

Claims

1. A main body having a predetermined housing includes: an image reading unit that reads a document placed on a document placement table; an image forming unit that forms the image read by the image reading unit on a predetermined sheet; a discharge section that discharges the sheet on which the image is formed by the image forming section; an ejection tray on which the sheet ejected from the ejection section is placed, an internal discharge space is formed between the image reading unit and the image forming unit in the main body, the housing has a consumables mounting unit therein in which consumables used in the image forming unit are mounted, 2. An image forming apparatus comprising: a housing having a transparent portion, at least a part of a surface of which in an area of ​​the consumable mounting portion in the housing is formed transparently.

2. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the transparent portion is formed immediately below the internal discharge space.

3. 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the transparent portion and the surrounding area adjacent thereto are colored in a dark color.

4. 4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming section is supplied with ink from an ink supply section to form an image on the sheet, and the consumable item is the ink supply section.

5. 4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising a waste liquid storage unit that stores waste liquid discharged from the image forming unit, and the consumable item is the waste liquid storage unit.

6. The housing includes an opening / closing cover for attaching and detaching the ink supply unit or the waste liquid storage unit, and the transparent portion is formed on at least a part of the opening / closing cover.

6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the first and second electrodes are arranged in a first direction.

7. 7. The image forming apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the ink supply section is transparent.

8. 8. The image forming apparatus according to claim 4, wherein a sub-tank connected to the ink supply unit is formed, and the transparent portion is formed in an area where the sub-tank is attached.

9. 9. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a light emitting portion for illuminating the consumables is formed inside the housing.

10. 10. The image forming apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the image forming section receives ink from an ink supply section through an ink flow path to form an image on the sheet, and the light emitting section irradiates the ink flow path.

11. 11. The image forming apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the light emitting portion emits light from inside the ink supply portion toward the outside through the transparent portion.

Images