Image forming apparatus

Abstract

To improve the operability of an image formation device using a communication instrument.SOLUTION: An image formation device includes: an image formation part forming images on sheets; a discharge tray which supports the sheet on which images are formed by the image formation part and which is discharged from a discharge port; and an antenna part for short-range radio communication. The antenna part is provided at a position offset relative to the discharge tray to the outer side in a width direction orthogonal to a sheet discharge direction.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus including an antenna unit for short-range wireless communication. [Background Art]

[0002] For example, the image forming apparatus described in Patent Document 1 enables short-range wireless communication between the image forming apparatus and a mobile device. [Prior Art Documents] [Patent Documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2011-103572 [Summary of the Invention] [Problems to be Solved by the Invention]

[0004] However, if the installation position of the antenna unit used for short-range wireless communication is inappropriate, the operability of the image forming apparatus using a communication device such as a mobile device will be degraded. In view of the above points, an object of the present invention is to improve the operability of an image forming apparatus using a communication device. [Means for Solving the Problems]

[0005] To achieve the above object, the present invention includes: an image forming unit (5) that forms an image on a sheet; a housing (3) that constitutes an exterior design surface; and an antenna unit (11A) for short-range wireless communication disposed inside the housing (3), wherein a communication unit (11B) corresponding to the antenna unit (11A) in the housing (3) is provided at a position where the communication unit (11B) can be viewed from above.

[0006] As a result, in this invention, the communication device can be easily brought close to or in contact with the communication unit (11B), thereby enabling reliable wireless communication between the antenna unit (11A) and the communication device, and improving the operability of the image forming apparatus using the communication device.

[0007] "Short-range wireless communication" refers to wireless communication within a range of, for example, approximately 1 meter. Incidentally, the symbols in parentheses for each of the above means, etc., are merely examples showing the correspondence with the specific means, etc., described in the embodiments described later, and the present invention is not limited to the specific means, etc., indicated by the symbols in parentheses for each of the above means, etc. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0008] [Figure 1] This is an external perspective view of an image forming apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] This is a central cross-sectional view of an image forming apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] This is a projection view onto a horizontal plane of an image forming apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] This is an external perspective view of the image forming apparatus 1 according to a second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 5] This is an external perspective view of the image forming apparatus 1 according to the third embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] This figure shows a modified example of the image forming apparatus 1 according to the third embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7] This is an external perspective view of the image forming apparatus 1 according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0009] The "embodiments of the invention" described below are merely examples of embodiments. In other words, the features defining the invention as described in the claims are not limited to the specific means, structures, etc., shown in the embodiments below. Embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings.

[0010] (First Embodiment) 1. Schematic configuration of the image forming apparatus As shown in Figure 1, the housing 3 of the image forming apparatus 1 according to this embodiment constitutes the external design surface of the image forming apparatus 1. Inside the apparatus body, that is, inside the housing 3, an image forming unit 5 that forms an image on a sheet such as paper is housed, as shown in Figure 2.

[0011] In this embodiment, the image forming unit 5 is a monochrome image forming unit among electrophotographic image forming means having a photoreceptor 5A, a charger 5B, an exposure unit 5C, a transfer unit 5D, and a fuser 5E, etc.

[0012] The photoreceptor 5A carries the developer image. The charger 5B charges the photoreceptor 5A. The exposure unit 5C exposes the surface of the charged photoreceptor 5A to form an electrostatic latent image on the surface of the photoreceptor 5A. When the charged developer is supplied to the photoreceptor 5A on which the electrostatic latent image has been formed, the developer image is carried on the surface of the photoreceptor 5A.

[0013] The transfer body 5D is a means for transferring the developer image supported on the photoreceptor 5A to a sheet, and is positioned opposite the photoreceptor 5A. The fuser 5E fixes the developer image transferred to the sheet. In this embodiment, the fuser 5E is a heating type fuser that heats the developer to fuse it to the sheet.

[0014] The sheets, after image formation is complete, are discharged from the discharge port 7A onto the discharge tray 7 and placed thereon. In this embodiment, the discharge port 7A is located at the upper rear of the housing 3 and opens towards the front. The discharge tray 7 is constructed with an inclined surface that slopes downwards as it approaches the discharge port 7A.

[0015] Furthermore, a paper feed tray 9, which has a mounting section 9A capable of holding multiple sheets, is provided below the image forming section 5 within the housing 3. This paper feed tray 9 is detachably attached to the main body of the device, i.e., the housing 3. In this embodiment, the paper feed tray 9 can be attached to and detached from the housing 3 by moving it in the front-to-back direction.

[0016] Then, the sheets placed in a stacked state on the paper feed tray 9 are sequentially fed to the image forming section 5 from the upper end side in the stacking direction. 2. Antenna section for short-range wireless communication As shown in FIG. 2, a communication board 11 having an antenna section 11A for short-range wireless communication is disposed inside the housing 3. In the image forming apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment, for example, the following actions can be performed by performing short-range wireless communication with a communication device such as a portable device (not shown) via the antenna section 11A.

[0017] That is: (a) operating the image forming apparatus 1 via the operation section of the communication device; (b) directly transmitting image data to be formed on a sheet from the communication device to the image forming apparatus 1 for printing without intervention of a computer or the like; or (c) authenticating the owner of the communication device, thereby executing operations permitted in advance for the owner and prohibiting operations other than the permitted operations.

[0018] Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 1, the communication section 11B corresponding to the antenna section 11A on the outer surface of the housing 3 is provided at a position where the communication section 11B can be viewed from above. In other words, at least above the communication section 11B, no part constituting the image forming apparatus 1 is provided, and this area is a space. Therefore, there is nothing blocking the user's view in the area extending from above the communication section 11B to the communication section 11B, and the user can view the communication section 11B from above.

[0019] Specifically, the communication section 11B is provided on the upper surface of the front side of the housing 3. An operation section 13 operated by a user is provided on the front side of the housing 3. That is, the communication section 11B according to the present embodiment is provided on the same side as the operation section 13 at least in the front-rear direction of the housing 3.

[0020] More specifically, the communication unit 11B according to this embodiment is located in a position offset forward of the discharge tray 7 in the front-to-back direction of the housing 3. The "front side in the front-to-back direction of the housing 3" refers, for example, to the side where the operation unit 13 is located relative to the center in the front-to-back direction.

[0021] Therefore, when the antenna section 11A and the charger 5B are projected onto a horizontal plane, the antenna section 11A projected onto the horizontal plane is offset from the charger 5B projected onto the horizontal plane, as shown in Figure 3. In other words, in this embodiment, the antenna section 11A projected onto the horizontal plane is located on the opposite side of the fuser 5E projected onto the horizontal plane, with the charger 5B projected onto the horizontal plane in between.

[0022] Furthermore, the communication unit 11B is formed in a horizontal, planar shape, as shown in Figure 2. "Horizontal" means that when the communication device is placed on the communication unit 11B, it will not slide off the communication unit 11B, i.e., the housing 3. "Planar" means that when the communication device is placed on the communication unit 11B, it will not wobble significantly.

[0023] Furthermore, the front of the housing 3 is provided with an opening 3A and a front cover 3B. The opening 3A connects the inside and outside of the housing 3. The front cover 3B is assembled to the housing 3 so as to be displaceable between a position that closes the opening 3A and a position that opens it. In this embodiment, the front cover 3B opens and closes the opening 3A by swinging and displacing around its lower end.

[0024] The antenna section 11A is positioned above the upper edge of the front cover 3B. In other words, the antenna portion 11A is located in a position offset outward from the outer edge of the opening 3A when viewed from the opening direction of the opening 3A (in this embodiment, the front-to-back direction).

[0025] The opening 3A in this embodiment is a work opening for tasks such as attaching and detaching the process unit 5F and removing jammed sheets. Incidentally, the process unit 5F is a casing that houses the photoreceptor 5A and developer, etc.

[0026] 3. Features of the image forming apparatus according to this embodiment In this embodiment, the communication unit 11B is positioned so that it can be seen from above, allowing a communication device such as a smartphone to easily approach or touch the communication unit 11B. Therefore, wireless communication between the antenna unit 11A and the communication device can be established successfully, thereby improving the operability of the image forming apparatus using the communication device.

[0027] In this embodiment, the antenna section 11A is positioned such that it is offset from the charger 5B projected onto the horizontal plane, allowing for a relatively large distance between the antenna section 11A and the charger 5B. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the antenna section 11A from receiving electrical noise from the charger 5B.

[0028] In this embodiment, the antenna section 11A projected onto the horizontal plane is positioned on the opposite side of the fuser 5E projected onto the horizontal plane, with the charger 5B projected onto the horizontal plane in between. This allows the antenna section 11A to be separated from the fuser 5E. Therefore, when a heating type fuser 5E is used, the antenna section 11A can be protected from the heat of the fuser 5E.

[0029] In this embodiment, since the communication unit 11B is positioned offset from the discharge tray 7, it is possible to prevent problems such as the communication device being unable to approach or come into contact with the communication unit 11B due to obstructions caused by sheets placed on the discharge tray 7.

[0030] In this embodiment, since the communication unit 11B is located on the upper surface of the front side, users can easily approach or touch the communication unit 11B with their communication device. In this embodiment, since the communication unit 11B is formed in a horizontal planar shape, the communication device can be left unattended while placed on the communication unit 11B. Therefore, the user does not need to continuously hold the communication device, which improves the usability of the image forming apparatus.

[0031] In this embodiment, the antenna unit 11A is positioned above the upper end of the front cover 3B, so that the user can easily bring the communication device close to or into contact with the communication unit 11B, regardless of the position of the front cover 3B.

[0032] In other words, if the communication unit 11B is mounted on a movable member such as the front cover 3B, the position of the communication unit 11B will be displaced depending on the state of the movable member, making it difficult to bring the communication device close to or into contact with the communication unit 11B.

[0033] (Second Embodiment) In the first embodiment, the communication unit 11B was positioned in the front-to-back direction of the housing 3, offset from the discharge tray 7. However, in this embodiment, as shown in Figure 4, the communication unit 11B is positioned in the left-to-right direction of the housing 3, offset from the discharge tray 7.

[0034] Furthermore, the communication unit 11B according to this embodiment is formed in a sloping surface that becomes lower towards the front. A holding part 11C for holding the communication device is provided at the lower end of the communication unit 11B.

[0035] The inclined surface constituting the communication unit 11B of the housing 3 can be integrally molded with the top cover 3C of the housing 3, or it can be molded separately from the top cover 3C and then assembled to the top cover 3C; the configuration of this surface is not limited.

[0036] Furthermore, since the communication unit 11B according to this embodiment is formed in a sloping surface that becomes lower towards the front, for example, if a display unit is provided on the communication device, the user can easily view the display unit while the communication device remains mounted on the communication unit 11B.

[0037] Furthermore, in this embodiment, a holding portion 11C for holding the communication device is provided on the lower end side of the communication unit 11B, so the user does not need to continuously hold the communication device. Therefore, the usability of the image forming apparatus can be improved.

[0038] In Figure 4, the communication unit 11B is located on the rear side, that is, behind the center in the front-to-back direction. However, this embodiment is not limited to this configuration, and the communication unit 11B may also be located on the front side.

[0039] Furthermore, although Figure 4 shows the retaining portion 11C as a groove extending in the left-right direction, this embodiment is not limited to this, and for example, the retaining portion 11C may be formed by a projection that protrudes upward from the top cover 3C, the flat surface of the top cover 3C may be used as the retaining portion 11C, or the retaining portion 11C may be eliminated altogether.

[0040] (Third embodiment) As shown in Figure 5, this embodiment applies the present invention to an image forming apparatus 1 that integrates a reading unit 20 for reading image information written on a document.

[0041] In other words, the housing 3 according to this embodiment is configured to include a first housing portion 31 and a second housing portion 32, etc. The first housing portion 31 is a housing portion in which the image forming unit 5 is housed, and is the part corresponding to the housing according to the first embodiment.

[0042] The second housing section 32 houses the reading unit 20 and is located above the first housing section 31, separated by a space 30A. In other words, the reading unit 20 is located above the output tray 7, separated by a space 30A.

[0043] Furthermore, an operation panel 32A, which forms part of the second housing 32 and has an operation section 13, is provided at a position offset from the reading section 20 within the second housing 32. A communication section 11B is provided on the operation panel 32A.

[0044] Therefore, when the reading unit 20 and the antenna unit 11A are projected onto a horizontal plane, the antenna unit 11A projected onto the horizontal plane will be offset from the reading unit 20 projected onto the horizontal plane. In this embodiment, the operation panel 32A is positioned forward of the reading unit 20 and is also positioned so that the operation panel 32A can be seen from above.

[0045] Therefore, in this embodiment, the user can easily bring the communication device close to or into contact with the communication unit 11B without the reading unit 20 being an obstacle. Furthermore, since the communication unit 11B is provided in the second housing unit 32 located above the first housing unit 31, the user can easily bring the communication device close to or into contact with the communication unit 11B from above. It is possible.

[0046] In this embodiment, the communication unit 11B is configured in an inclined surface shape similar to that of the second embodiment, as shown in Figure 5, but the holding portion 11C is not provided. However, this embodiment is not limited to this, and the holding portion 11C may be provided on the lower end side of the communication unit 11B, or the communication unit 11B may be made horizontal, etc.

[0047] Furthermore, if a retaining portion 11C is provided, for example, as shown in Figure 6, a recess 11D may be provided that is recessed downward from the upper surface of the operation panel 32A, and the lower end of the communication unit 11B or the entire communication unit 11B may be located at the bottom of the recess 11D. With such a configuration, the communication device can be fitted into the recess 11D, and the recess 11D can function as a retaining portion 11C.

[0048] (Fourth Embodiment) In the third embodiment, the communication unit 11B is provided in the second housing 32, but in this embodiment, as shown in Figure 7, the communication unit 11B is provided in the first housing 31 at a position that can be seen from above.

[0049] In this embodiment as well, when the reading unit 20 and the antenna unit 11A are projected onto a horizontal plane, the antenna unit 11A projected onto the horizontal plane is offset from the reading unit 20 projected onto the horizontal plane.

[0050] Therefore, in this embodiment as well, the user can easily bring the communication device close to or into contact with the communication unit 11B without the reading unit 20 becoming an obstacle. (Other embodiments) Although the image forming unit according to the above embodiment was a monochrome electrophotographic system, the present invention is not limited thereto, and the image forming unit may be of any type, such as a color electrophotographic system or a monochrome or color inkjet system.

[0051] Furthermore, the specific applications of short-range wireless communication are not limited to those shown in the embodiments described above, but may include other applications. For example, in the case of a communication device having a display unit such as an LCD panel, the display unit of the communication device may be used to function as the display unit of an image forming apparatus via short-range wireless communication. By using the communication device as the display unit of the image forming apparatus, it is possible to realize a configuration in which the display unit is omitted from the image forming apparatus, thereby reducing the manufacturing cost of the image forming apparatus.

[0052] Furthermore, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, as long as it conforms to the spirit of the invention as stated in the claims, and each component of each of the above embodiments may be used in combination. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0053] 1…Image forming apparatus 3…Housing 3A…Opening 3B...Front cover 3C...Top cover 5...Image forming unit 5A...Photoreceptor 5B...Charger 5C...Explorer 5D...Transfer disc 5E...Fuser unit 5F...Process unit 7A...Discharge port 7...Discharge tray 9A... Mounting section 9... Paper feed tray 11A... Antenna section 11... Communication board 11B...Communication unit 11C...Holding unit 13...Operation unit 20...Reading unit 30A...Space 31...First housing section 32...Second housing section 32A...Operation panel

Claims

1. An image forming apparatus, A first housing portion that houses an image forming unit that forms an image on a sheet, A reading unit is positioned above the first housing section, leaving a space in between, to read image information from the original document. An operating unit positioned in front of the aforementioned reading unit and operated by the user, Antenna section for short-range wireless communication, Equipped with, The first housing portion includes an opening that connects the inside and outside of the first housing portion for performing sheet removal work, a front cover that is displaceable between a position that closes the opening and a position that opens the opening, and a communication unit that enables wireless communication between the antenna portion and the external communication unit by bringing the external communication unit into contact with or close to the external communication unit. The image forming apparatus is characterized in that the communication unit is positioned in the first housing portion in front of the reading unit and offset from the operating unit in the left-right direction, and is positioned above the upper end of the front cover when it is in a position to close the opening.

2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the communication unit is formed on the upper surface of the first housing portion.

3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that the communication unit is formed in a horizontal planar shape of the first housing portion.

4. The antenna section is located inside the first housing section. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the antenna portion projected onto the horizontal plane is shifted forward relative to the reading portion projected onto the horizontal plane.

5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that it performs an operation that has been previously authorized for the owner of the external communication device by authenticating the owner of the external communication device.

6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the communication unit is located on the end side of the image forming apparatus in the left-right direction, compared to the operation unit.

7. The front end of the reading unit is located behind the front end of the first housing unit, The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the communication unit is located between the front end of the first housing and the front end of the reading unit in the front-rear direction.

8. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the first housing portion has a paper feed tray that can be attached and detached by moving it in the front-rear direction.

9. The image forming unit comprises a photoreceptor that carries a developer image and a charger that charges the photoreceptor. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that when the antenna portion and the charger are projected onto a horizontal plane, the antenna portion projected onto the horizontal plane is offset from the charger projected onto the horizontal plane.

10. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the communication unit is located on the end side of the image forming apparatus in the left-right direction, relative to the discharge tray of the first housing.

Images