Image forming device

Abstract

To provide an image forming device equipped with a notification lamp so that visibility of a paper discharge space is excellent.SOLUTION: An image forming device includes an image reading part, a printing part provided below the image reading part, a paper discharge tray in which a paper discharge space which is provided between the image reading part and the printing part, and where a sheet on which printing is performed by the printing part is discharged is formed between the image reading part and the paper discharge tray, and an operation panel attached to a part in front of the image reading part. The operation panel includes an operation part to be operated by a user, a frame part provided to enclose the operation part, and a light emission part including a lamp for giving a prescribed notice to the user. The light emission part, in a front view of the image forming device, protrudes from a lower side part of the frame part in a position except the paper discharge space.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an image forming apparatus. [Background technology]

[0002] In recent years, image forming apparatuses have been developed, as disclosed in the following Patent Document 1. In such image forming apparatuses, an operation panel is attached to the front of an image reading device. The operation panel is provided with a light-emitting unit having a notification lamp for notifying a user of the status of the image forming apparatus, such as an error. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2022-123524 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In the image forming apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 1, when viewed from the front, a large portion of the operation panel overlaps with the paper discharge space between the printing unit and the image reading unit, which makes it difficult to see the paper discharge space from the front of the image forming apparatus.

[0005] The present disclosure has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and an object of the present disclosure is to provide an image forming apparatus provided with a notification lamp to improve visibility of the paper discharge space. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The image forming apparatus of the present disclosure is an image forming apparatus comprising an image reading unit, a printing unit provided below the image reading unit, a paper output tray provided between the image reading unit and the printing unit that forms a paper output space between the image reading unit and the printing unit into which paper printed by the printing unit is output, and an operation panel attached to the front of the image reading unit, wherein the operation panel includes an operation unit configured to be operated by a user, a frame provided to surround the operation unit, and a light-emitting unit including a lamp for providing predetermined notifications to the user, and the light-emitting unit protrudes from the lower part of the frame at a position that avoids the paper output space when viewed from the front of the image forming apparatus. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0007] [Figure 1] 1 is a front view of an image forming apparatus according to a first embodiment. [Figure 2] 1 is a perspective view of an image forming apparatus according to a first embodiment. [Figure 3] 2 is a perspective view showing a state in which the door of the printing unit of the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment is open. FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 11 is a front view of an image forming apparatus according to a second embodiment. [Figure 5] FIG. 11 is a functional block diagram of an image forming apparatus according to a third embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a state in which a light-emitting unit of an image forming apparatus according to a third embodiment protrudes from a frame unit. [Figure 7] FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a state in which a light-emitting unit of an image forming apparatus according to a third embodiment is housed in a frame. [Figure 8] FIG. 11 is a perspective view of an image forming apparatus according to a fourth embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0008] Hereinafter, an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. In the drawings, the same or equivalent elements are designated by the same reference numerals, and redundant description will not be repeated.

[0009] (Embodiment 1) An image forming apparatus 100 according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

[0010] Fig. 1 is a front view of an image forming apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment, and Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the image forming apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment.

[0011] 1 and 2, the image forming apparatus 100 is a multifunction peripheral having a copy function, a print function, a facsimile function, and a scanner function. As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the image forming apparatus 100 includes a document transport device 10, an image reading unit 20, a printing unit 30, a paper output tray 40, an operation panel 50, a control unit 60, and a paper supply tray 90.

[0012] The document transport device 10 transports a document supplied to a transport path by a user to the image reading unit 20. The image reading unit 20 reads an image drawn on the document transported along the transport path. The image data read by the image reading unit 20 is sent to the control unit 60.

[0013] The printing unit 30 is provided below the image reading unit 20. The printing unit 30 has a door 31 that opens to the front side of the image forming apparatus 100. Based on a command signal sent from the control unit 60, the printing unit 30 prints the image data read by the image reading unit 20 onto paper supplied from the paper supply tray 90.

[0014] The paper output tray 40 is provided between the image reading unit 20 and the printing unit 30. A paper output space S is formed between the paper output tray 40 and the image reading unit 20, into which paper P printed by the printing unit 30 is output. The output space S is a recessed portion that is recessed from the front to the back of the image forming apparatus 100. Paper P printed by the printing unit 30 is output to the paper output space S on the paper output tray 40 in the direction indicated by the outline arrow in FIGS. 1 and 2. In other words, printed paper P is output from the back side of the paper output space S to the front side. However, printed paper P may also be output from the right side to the left side of the paper output space S, or from the left side to the right side of the paper output space S.

[0015] The operation panel 50 is a touch panel on which icons and the like are displayed. The operation panel 50 is used to send command signals to the control unit 60 in response to user operations. The control unit 60 controls the printing operation of the printing unit 30 based on the command signals sent from the operation panel 50. The control unit 60 controls the on, off, or blinking state of the notification lamp 53L based on the command signals sent from the operation panel 50.

[0016] The operation panel 50 is attached to the front of the image reading unit 20. The operation panel 50 includes an operation unit 51, a frame unit 52, and a light-emitting unit 53. The frame unit 52 of the operation panel 50 may include a push button switch.

[0017] The operation unit 51 includes a touch panel configured to be operated by a user. The frame 52 is provided to surround the operation unit 51. The operation unit 51 is formed of a liquid crystal panel, and the frame 52 is made of plastic. The light-emitting unit 53 includes a lamp 53L for providing predetermined notifications to the user. The lamp 53L is intended to notify the user of the status of the image forming apparatus 100, such as the occurrence of an error such as a paper jam, by lighting up, for example. The horizontally elongated light-emitting unit 53 includes a horizontally elongated lamp 53L therein. The lamp 53L is made up of a light-emitting diode and a plastic cover that diffuses the light emitted by the light-emitting diode, or the like.

[0018] The light-emitting unit 53 protrudes from the lower portion 52L of the frame 52 at a position that avoids the paper discharge space S when viewed from the front of the image forming apparatus 100 (see FIG. 1). In other words, the light-emitting unit 53 is provided so as not to overlap the paper discharge space S when viewed from the front of the image forming apparatus. This allows the provision of a notification lamp 53L that improves visibility of the paper discharge space S from a position on the front side of the image forming apparatus 100. This also reduces the risk of a jam occurring due to the light-emitting unit 53 coming into contact with the paper P discharged onto the paper discharge tray 40.

[0019] The corners of the light-emitting unit 53 are curved, with no sharp corners, reducing the risk of injury to the user if the user touches the corners of the light-emitting unit 53 with their hands or other objects.

[0020] Furthermore, a portion of the lower side of the operation panel 50 is positioned so as to overlap the paper discharge space S when viewed from the front of the image forming apparatus 100. Therefore, the operation panel 50 is enlarged to improve the operability of the operation panel 50 for the user, while a notification lamp 53L can be provided to improve the visibility of the paper discharge space S.

[0021] In the present embodiment, operation panel 50 is provided at a position offset to the left side when viewed from the front of image forming apparatus 100. Therefore, light-emitting unit 53 protrudes from lower portion 52L of frame unit 52 at a position to the left of operation panel 50 when viewed from the front of image forming apparatus 100.

[0022] This makes it possible to effectively utilize the left-side location of the operation panel 50 and provide the lamp 53L for notifying the user of a predetermined situation so that the visibility of the paper discharge space S is improved.

[0023] 3 is a perspective view showing a state in which door 31 of printing unit 30 of image forming apparatus 100 of this embodiment is open. The arrow in FIG. 3 indicates the direction in which door 31 opens.

[0024] 3, the light-emitting unit 53 protrudes from the lower portion 52L of the frame unit 52 at a position that avoids the opening and closing path of the door 31, in other words, the trajectory of movement of the door 31, when viewed from the front of the image forming apparatus 100. Therefore, the notification lamp 53L can be provided to improve the visibility of the paper discharge space S while preventing the light-emitting unit 53 from interfering with the opening and closing of the door 31 of the printing unit 30 by the user.

[0025] (Embodiment 2) Image forming apparatus 100 of the second embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 4. Note that the following description will not repeat the same points as those of image forming apparatus 100 of the first embodiment. Image forming apparatus 100 of the present embodiment differs from image forming apparatus 100 of the first embodiment in the following points.

[0026] 4 is a front view of the image forming apparatus 100 of this embodiment. In FIG. 4, the outline arrow indicates the direction in which the paper P is discharged into the discharge space S.

[0027] 4, in this embodiment, operation panel 50 is provided at a position offset to the right side when viewed from the front of image forming apparatus 100. Therefore, in image forming apparatus 100 of this embodiment, light-emitting unit 53 protrudes from lower portion 52L of frame 52 at a position to the right of operation panel 50 when viewed from the front of image forming apparatus 100 (see FIG. 4).

[0028] This makes it possible to effectively utilize the offset arrangement of the operation panel 50 to the right, and to provide the lamp 53L for notifying the user of a predetermined situation so that the visibility of the paper discharge space S is good.

[0029] (Embodiment 3) Image forming apparatus 100 of embodiment 3 will be described with reference to Figures 5 to 7. Note that, in the following, description of the same points as image forming apparatus 100 of embodiment 1 or 2 will not be repeated. Image forming apparatus 100 of this embodiment differs from image forming apparatus 100 of embodiment 1 or 2 in the following points.

[0030] FIG. 5 is a functional block diagram of image forming apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment.

[0031] As shown in FIG. 5, image forming apparatus 100 of this embodiment further includes a human sensor 70 and a moving unit 80 in addition to the configuration of image forming apparatus 100 of the first embodiment.

[0032] The human presence sensor 70 detects that a user is present at a position within a predetermined range from the reference position of the image forming apparatus 100, and transmits a detection signal capable of identifying this to the control unit 60. The movement unit 80 is a mechanism that is controlled by the control unit 60 and moves the light-emitting unit 53 relative to the frame unit 52. The movement unit 80 changes between a state in which the light-emitting unit 53 protrudes from the frame unit 52 (see FIG. 6) and a state in which the light-emitting unit 53 is housed in the frame unit 52 (see FIG. 7). When the human presence sensor 70 does not detect that a user is present at a position within a predetermined range from the reference position of the image forming apparatus 100, the light-emitting unit 53 is housed in the frame unit 52 (see FIG. 6).

[0033] Fig. 6 is a diagram showing a state in which light-emitting unit 53 of image forming apparatus 100 of the present embodiment protrudes from frame portion 52. Fig. 7 is a diagram showing a state in which light-emitting unit 53 of image forming apparatus 100 of the present embodiment is housed in frame portion 52. The arrows in Figs. 6 and 7 indicate the movement direction of light-emitting unit 53.

[0034] In the present embodiment, the control unit 60 controls the moving unit 80 to move the light-emitting unit 53 based on the detection result of the human presence sensor 70. There is a case where the human presence sensor 70 detects that a user is present at a position within a predetermined range from the reference position of the image forming apparatus 100.

[0035] In this case, control unit 60 controls movement unit 80 to change the state of operation panel 50 from the state in which light-emitting unit 53 protrudes from frame unit 52 shown in Fig. 6 to the state in which light-emitting unit 53 is housed in frame unit 52 shown in Fig. 7. Therefore, when a user is using image forming apparatus 100, it is possible to prevent protruding light-emitting unit 53 from interfering with the user's operation or work in front of operation panel 50.

[0036] (Fourth embodiment) Image forming apparatus 100 of the fourth embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 8. Note that, in the following, description of the same points as image forming apparatuses 100 of the first to third embodiments will not be repeated. Image forming apparatus 100 of the present embodiment differs from image forming apparatuses 100 of the first to third embodiments in the following points.

[0037] 8 is a perspective view of the image forming apparatus 100 of this embodiment. In FIG. 8, the outline arrow indicates the direction in which the paper P is discharged into the discharge space S.

[0038] 8, image forming apparatus 100 of the present embodiment is a dedicated printer. Even in such a dedicated printer, if the relationship between operation panel 50 and discharge space S in a front view as described in the first to third embodiments is established, the same effects as those described in the first to third embodiments can be obtained. [Explanation of symbols]

[0039] 10 Document transport device 20 Image reading unit 30 Printing Department 40 Paper output tray 50 Operation Panel 51 Operation section 52 Frame 52L lower part 53 Light-emitting part 53L Lamp 60 Control Unit 70 Human Sensor 80 Moving Part 90 Paper supply tray P Paper S Paper delivery space

Claims

1. an image reading unit; a printing unit provided below the image reading unit; a paper output tray provided between the image reading unit and the printing unit, the paper output tray forming a paper output space between the image reading unit and the printing unit into which paper printed by the printing unit is output; an operation panel attached to a front face of the image reading unit, the operation panel includes an operation unit configured to be operated by a user, a frame portion provided to surround the operation unit, and a light-emitting portion including a lamp for giving a predetermined notification to the user, the light-emitting unit protrudes from a lower portion of the frame at a position that avoids the paper discharge space when viewed from the front of the image forming apparatus. Image forming device.

2. a part of a lower side of the operation panel is provided at a position overlapping the paper discharge space in the front view; The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 .

3. the printing unit has a door that opens to the front side of the image forming apparatus, The light emitting portion protrudes from a lower portion of the frame portion at a position that avoids a path along which the door opens and closes when viewed from the front. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 .

4. a human presence sensor that detects the presence of the user at a position within a predetermined range from a reference position of the image forming apparatus; a moving unit that moves the light emitting unit relative to the frame unit; a control unit that controls the moving unit to move the light-emitting unit based on a detection result of the human presence sensor, When the human presence sensor detects that the user is present at a position within the predetermined range from the reference position, the control unit controls the movement unit to change the state of the operation panel from a state in which the light-emitting unit protrudes from the frame unit to a state in which the light-emitting unit is housed in the frame unit. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 .

5. the operation panel is provided at a position offset to the left side in the front view, the light-emitting unit protrudes from a lower portion of the frame at a position to the left of the operation panel when viewed from the front; The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 .

6. the operation panel is provided at a position offset to the left side in the front view, the light-emitting unit protrudes from a lower portion of the frame at a position to the right of the operation panel when viewed from the front; The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 .

Images