IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS

An image processing apparatus includes an exterior cover, a scanner unit configured to scan an image formed on a sheet, a printer unit configured to form an image on a sheet, and a first speaker including a coil for vibrating a vibration plate. A first part of the exterior cover that covers at least a part of one of the scanner unit or the printer unit forms the vibration plate of the first speaker.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2020-016834, filed on Feb. 4, 2020, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD

Embodiments described herein relate generally to an image processing apparatus.

BACKGROUND

An image processing apparatus has a speaker for outputting various sounds in response to an input operation made by the operator, an occurrence of a certain error, and the like. Such sounds may reach people other than the operator, and thereby may bother the other people unintentionally. Thus, there is a need for an image processing apparatus capable of suppressing the sounds from reaching people other than the operator.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

An image processing apparatus according to an embodiment includes an exterior cover, a scanner unit configured to scan an image formed on a sheet, a printer unit configured to form an image on a sheet, and a first speaker including a coil for vibrating a vibration plate. A first part of the exterior cover that covers at least a part of one of the scanner unit and the printer unit forms the vibration plate of the first speaker.

Hereinafter, an image processing apparatus according to one or more embodiments will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1is a schematic diagram of an image processing apparatus1according to an embodiment. For example, the image processing apparatus1is an image forming apparatus configured to form an image on a sheet S. The image processing apparatus1includes a housing10, a scanner unit2, a speaker50, a printer unit3, a sheet supply unit4, a conveyance unit5, a sheet discharge tray7, an inversion unit9, an operation panel8, and a control unit6.

The housing10houses various parts of the image processing apparatus1. The housing10has a plurality of exterior covers10cthat cover some of the parts of the image processing apparatus1. The exterior covers10care formed of a resin material having a small elastic modulus or the like.

The scanner unit2reads an image printed on a target document and generates an image signal. The scanner unit2outputs the generated image signal to the printer unit3. The scanner unit2includes an automatic document feeder (ADF)2fthat conveys the document to be read. The automatic document feeder2fautomatically conveys the document from an upper tray to a lower tray through a reading unit of the scanner unit2.

A speaker50outputs a particular sound such as an operation sound or an error sound in response to an input operation made via the operation panel8. The speaker50uses an exterior cover10cthat covers the front surface of the automatic document feeder2fas a vibration plate. The details of the speaker50will be described later.

The printer unit3forms an output image (hereinafter referred to as a toner image) by a recording agent such as toner on the basis of the image signal received from the scanner unit2or an image signal received from an external device via a network. The printer unit3transfers the toner image onto the surface of the sheet S. The printer unit3heats and presses the toner image on the surface of the sheet S, and fixes the toner image to the sheet S. The details of the printer unit3will be described later.

The sheet supply unit4supplies the sheets S one by one to the conveyance unit5in accordance with the timing at which the printer unit3forms the toner image. The sheet supply unit4includes a sheet storage unit20and a pickup roller21.

The sheet storage unit20stores the sheets S of a predetermined size and type.

The pickup roller21picks up the sheets S one by one from the sheet storage unit20. The pickup roller21supplies the sheet S to the conveyance unit5.

The conveyance unit5conveys the sheet S from the sheet supply unit4to the printer unit3. The conveyance unit5includes a conveyance roller pair23and a registration roller pair24.

The conveyance roller pair23conveys the sheet S from the pickup roller21to the registration roller24. The conveyance roller pair23makes the leading end (sheet edge) of the sheet S in the conveyance direction abut against a nip N of the registration roller pair24.

The registration roller pair24bends the sheet S at the nip N, thereby adjusting the position of the leading end of the sheet S. The registration roller pair24conveys the sheet S in accordance with the timing at which the printer unit3transfers the toner image to the sheet S.

The printer unit3includes a plurality of image forming units25, a laser scanning unit26, an intermediate transfer belt27, a transfer unit28, and a fixing device30.

Each of the image forming units25includes a photosensitive drum25d.The image forming unit25forms a toner image on the photosensitive drum25din accordance with an image signal from the scanner unit2or from an external device. The plurality of image forming units25Y,25M,25C, and25K form toner images of yellow, magenta, cyan, and black toner, respectively.

A charger, a developing device, and the like are disposed around the photosensitive drum25d.The charger charges the surface of the photosensitive drum25d.The developing device contains a developer containing one of yellow, magenta, cyan, and black toners. The developing device develops the electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum25d.As a result, a toner image is formed on the photosensitive drum25dby toner of each color.

The laser scanning unit26scans the charged photosensitive drum25dwith the laser light L, and exposes the photosensitive drum25d.The laser scanning unit26exposes the photosensitive drums25dof the image forming units25Y,25M,25C, and25K with different laser beams LY, LM, LC, and LK, respectively. Accordingly, the laser scanning unit26forms an electrostatic latent image on each of the photosensitive drums25d.

The toner image on the surface of the photosensitive drum25dis transferred to the intermediate transfer belt27(primary transfer).

The transfer unit28transfers the toner image formed on the intermediate transfer belt27to the surface of the sheet S (secondary transfer).

The fixing device30heats and presses the toner image transferred onto the sheet S, and fixes the toner image to the sheet S.

The inversion unit9reverses the sheet S to form an image on the back surface of the sheet S. The inversion unit9reverses the sheet S discharged from the fixing device30by switchback. The inversion unit9conveys the reversed sheet S back toward the registration roller pair24.

The sheet discharge tray7holds a sheet S after an image been formed thereon and then discharged.

The operation panel8is an input device for the operator to operate the image processing apparatus1. The operation panel8includes a touch panel and various kinds of hardware keys or buttons.

The control unit6controls the components of the image processing apparatus1.

FIG. 2is a functional diagram of the image processing apparatus1according to an embodiment. The image processing apparatus1includes: a control unit6including a central processing unit (CPU) or a processor91, a memory92, and an auxiliary storage device93; a speaker50, a microphone60, an analog/digital (AD) conversion unit62, and a communication unit90connected by a bus, and executes one or more programs. The image processing apparatus1controls the scanner unit2, the printer unit3, the sheet supply unit4, the conveyance unit5, the inversion unit9, the operation panel8, the speaker50, the communication unit90, and the like, by executing the programs.

The CPU91of the control unit6executes a program(s) stored in the memory92and the auxiliary storage device93. The control unit6controls the operation of each unit of the image processing apparatus1.

The auxiliary storage device93is a storage device such as a magnetic hard disk device (HDD) or a semiconductor storage device. The auxiliary storage device93stores various data and programs.

The communication unit90is a communication interface circuit for communicating with an external device via a network.

The speaker50will be described in detail.FIG. 3is a schematic diagram of the speaker50. The speaker50outputs a particular sound such as an operation sound or an error sound in response to an operation made via the operation panel8. The speaker50includes a vibration plate52and a vibration source54.

The vibration plate52is a part of the exterior cover10cof the image processing apparatus1. In other words, a part of the exterior cover10cof the image processing apparatus1is used as the vibration plate52of the speaker50. The vibration plate52is formed of a resin material having a small elastic modulus or the like. The vibration plate52is formed in a planar shape. The vibration plate52is formed in a thin plate shape and has a small elastic modulus, and thus is easily vibrated.

The vibration source54is installed behind the vibration plate52(i.e., inside of the image processing apparatus1). The vibration source54includes a coil55and a magnet56.

The coil55is wound in parallel to the vibration plate52. The coil55is fixed to the rear surface of the vibration plate52.

The magnet56is a permanent magnet fixed to the inside of the image processing apparatus1. The magnet56is arranged along the coil55. The magnet56generates a magnetic field which is parallel to the vibration plate52and is orthogonal to the winding of the coil55.

When the coil55disposed in the magnetic field of the magnet56is energized, a Lorentz force is generated on the coil55in a direction corresponding to Fleming's law. The Lorentz force causes the vibration plate52to vibrate in the front-rear direction along with the coil55. As a result, a sound is output in front of the vibration plate52.

As described above, a part of the exterior cover10cof the image processing apparatus1is used as the vibration plate52of the speaker50. Accordingly, there is no need to provide a separate speaker in the image processing apparatus1, and thus the size of the image processing apparatus1can be reduced.

Since the vibration plate52is formed in a planar shape, the sound output from the vibration plate52is a plane wave. The sound of the plane wave travels in a specific direction without spreading substantially in various directions other than along the specific direction. That is, the sound output from the vibration plate52primarily travels forward in the direction perpendicular to the vibration plate52.

FIG. 4is a front view of the image processing apparatus1.FIG. 5is a side view of the image processing apparatus1. In one embodiment, the image processing apparatus1includes a first speaker50aand a second speaker50b. The image processing apparatus1may include both of the first speaker50aand the second speaker50b, and may have either one of them.

The first speaker50ais disposed in the automatic document feeder2fabove the operation panel8. The vibration plate52of the first speaker50ais a part of the exterior cover10cof the automatic document feeder2f. The operation panel8is installed in the −Y direction of the image processing apparatus1inFIG. 4. The vibration plate52is a part of the exterior cover10cfacing in the −Y direction.

The second speaker50bis disposed in a main body of the image processing apparatus1below the operation panel8. The vibration plate52of the second speaker50bis a part of the exterior cover10cof the body. The vibration plate52is a part of the exterior cover10cfacing in the −Y direction. Since the exterior cover10cof the body portion has a large area, the vibration plate52easily vibrates. The second speaker50bcan output a sound at a high volume.

The operation panel8is installed on the −Y direction side of the image processing apparatus1. The operator of the operation panel8stands on the −Y direction side of the operation panel8, faces the operation panel8, and operates the operation panel8. The sounds output from the vibration plate52of the first speaker50aand the second speaker50btravel in the −Y direction with directivity, and reaches the operator. Since the sound output from the vibration plate52does not spread, it is unlikely for the sound to reach people other than the operator. A particular sound, such as an error sound, generated in response to an operation made via the operation panel8, can set to be a relatively unpleasant sound having a large sound pressure and a high frequency, so as to notify or alert the operator. According to the above-described configuration, it is possible to prevent the sound output from the image processing apparatus1from giving discomfort to people other than the operator.

The operation panel8is disposed facing upward. The operator of the operation panel8looks down at the operation panel8from above, and operates the operation panel8from this position. Since the first speaker50ais arranged above the operation panel8, it is relatively close to the ears of the operator. The sound output from the first speaker50ais likely to be heard by the operator even when the sound pressure is small (that is, the sound is low/quiet). Therefore, it is possible to minimize the volume of the sound output from the first speaker50a. Accordingly, it is possible to reduce the sounds reaching people other than the operator.

A cancel function of the operation sound of the image processing apparatus1will be described.

As shown inFIGS. 1 and 2, the image processing apparatus1includes a microphone60and an analog-to-digital (A/D) conversion unit62.

The microphone60detects noise/sounds from the image processing apparatus1. Some of the units of the image processing apparatus1are driven by motors. The main operation noise of the image processing apparatus1is generated by such motors. Those motors are typically disposed on the +Y direction side inside the image processing apparatus1. Therefore, the microphone60is disposed towards the +Y direction side (i.e., the back surface side) inside the image processing apparatus1. Among the various operating noises, the noise from operations of the conveyance unit5conveying a sheet is also typically large. Therefore, as shown inFIG. 1, the microphone60is disposed on the +X direction side inside the image processing apparatus1that is in the vicinity of the conveyance unit5. However, the microphone60may be disposed at another position inside the image processing apparatus1, or may instead be disposed outside the image processing apparatus1. The microphone60outputs a first signal corresponding to the received operation noise of the image processing apparatus1.

The A/D conversion unit62receives the first signal from the microphone60. The A/D conversion unit62performs signal conversion between an analog signal and a digital signal. The A/D conversion unit62converts the first signal, which is an analog signal, into an intermediate signal, which is a digital signal, and outputs this intermediate signal.

The control unit6(or the CPU91) functions to acquire the intermediate signal output from the A/D conversion unit62. The control unit6generates a second signal having a phase opposite to that of the first signal based on the intermediate signal. The generation of the second signal may be performed by a signal processing unit inside or outside of the control unit6. The control unit6outputs the generated second signal to the speaker50.

Upon receipt of the second signal, a power supply unit of the speaker50energizes the coil55of the vibration source54according to the second signal. Thereby, a sound that cancels the noise corresponding to the first signal (i.e., the noise from the motor) is output from the vibration plate52.

The cancellation sound is output from the exterior cover10c. The vibration plate52of the speaker50is a part of the exterior cover10c. The operation noise of the image processing apparatus1has a phase opposite to the cancellation sound output from the vibration plate52. As such, at least a part of the operation noise is canceled by the output of the cancellation sound. Therefore, the environmental operation noise of the image processing apparatus1is reduced.

The relationship between the magnitude of the operation noise and the magnitude of the first signal corresponding to the operation sound is stored in the control unit6in advance. Additionally, the relationship between the magnitude of the second signal and the magnitude of the cancellation sound corresponding to the second signal is stored in the control unit6in advance. The control unit6may generate the second signal such that the magnitude of the operation noise and the magnitude of the cancellation sound become identical by using those relationships. As a result, a large part of the operation noise can be canceled by the cancellation sound. Therefore, the operation noise of the image processing apparatus1is reduced.

As described above, the image processing apparatus1includes the vibration plate52and the vibration source54, and the vibration plate52is at least a part of the exterior cover10c. The vibration plate52has a planar shape. The vibration source54is installed inside the vibration plate52.

Since the vibration plate52has a planar shape, a sound that is output from the vibration plate52primarily travels in a specific direction. Since the sound output from the vibration plate52does not spread in all direction, it is less likely to reach people other than the operator who is typically present along the specific direction. Accordingly, it is possible to reduce the sound reaching people other than the specific person operating the image processing apparatus1.

The vibration plate52is made of a resin material. Since the resin material has a small elastic modulus, the vibration plate52vibrates well. Accordingly, it is possible to output a sound having a sufficient volume from the vibration plate52.

The image processing apparatus1includes the operation panel8installed on the −Y direction side thereof. The vibration plate52is a part of the exterior cover10cthat is disposed on the −Y direction side of the automatic document feeder2fabove the operation panel8.

The operator of the operation panel8faces the operation panel8to operate it. The sound output from the vibration plate52disposed in the automatic document feeder2fabove the operation panel8travels in the direction of the operator with directivity. Accordingly, it is possible to reduce the sound reaching people other than the operator.

The operator of the operation panel8looks down the operation panel8from above the operation panel8. The vibration plate52disposed in the automatic document feeder2fabove the operation panel8is close to the ears of the operator. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the sound output from the vibration plate52. Accordingly, it is possible to reduce the sound reaching people other than the operator.

The image processing apparatus1includes the operation panel8installed on the −Y direction side thereof. The vibration plate52is a part of the exterior cover10cdisposed on the −Y direction side of the lower side of the operation panel8.

The operator of the operation panel8faces the operation panel8to operate it. The sound output from the vibration plate52disposed below the operation panel8travels towards the operator with directivity. Accordingly, it is possible to reduce the sound reaching people other than the operator.

Since the exterior cover10cdisposed below the operation panel8has a large area, the vibration plate52vibrates well. Accordingly, it is possible to output the sound at a sufficient volume from the vibration plate52.

The image processing apparatus1includes the microphone60and the control unit6. The microphone60outputs the first signal corresponding to the detected operation noise generated by the image processing apparatus1. The control unit6generates a second signal having a phase opposite to that of the first signal, and outputs the second signal to the speaker50.

When the vibration source54of the speaker50is operated by the second signal, a cancellation sound having a phase opposite to that of the operation noise of the image processing apparatus1is output from the vibration plate52. At least a part of the operation noise will be canceled by the cancellation sound. Therefore, the operation noise of the image processing apparatus1is reduced.

The image processing apparatus1may be a decoloring apparatus. A decoloring apparatus performs a process of decoloring an image formed on a sheet with a decolorable toner.

According to at least one of the above-described embodiments, the exterior cover10chas a planar vibration plate52that is a part of the exterior cover. Accordingly, it is possible to reduce the sound reaching people other than the specific person operating the image processing apparatus1.