Image forming apparatus

An image forming apparatus includes an apparatus body, a sheet stacking portion on which a sheet discharged from the apparatus body is to be stacked, an extension member, and an upper device. The extension member is rotatable about a rotating fulcrum between a first position at which the extension member is stored in the sheet stacking portion and a second position at which the extension member extends to downstream of the sheet stacking portion in a sheet discharge direction in which the sheet is discharged from the apparatus body. The upper device is disposed above the rotating fulcrum of the extension member and is supported to be openable by the apparatus body. The upper device in a closed state regulates a rotation of the extension member from the first position toward the second position.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The present disclosure relates to an image forming apparatus forming an image on a sheet.

Description of the Related Art

An image forming apparatus such as a printer, a copying machine, and a multifunctional peripheral forms an image on a sheet used as a recording medium, and discharges the sheet to a sheet stacking portion such as a discharge tray. Such a discharge tray may include an extension tray to handle a sheet large in size in a sheet discharge direction, and a stopper to enhance stacking property of the discharged sheet.

When a member such as a stopper discussed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-10220 is unexpectedly rotated due to, for example, vibration during product transportation and protrudes from the discharge tray, the member may be damaged. On the other hand, using an adhesive tape, a cushioning material, etc. to regulate rotation of the member leads to increase in cost.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present disclosure is directed to an image forming apparatus that makes it possible to prevent members from being damaged during transportation with a simple configuration.

According to an aspect of the present disclosure, an image forming apparatus includes an apparatus body, a sheet stacking portion on which a sheet discharged from the apparatus body is to be stacked, an extension member rotatable about a rotating fulcrum between a first position at which the extension member is stored in the sheet stacking portion and a second position at which the extension member extends to downstream of the sheet stacking portion in a sheet discharge direction in which the sheet is discharged from the apparatus body, and an upper device disposed above the rotating fulcrum of the extension member and supported to be openable by the apparatus body. The upper device in a closed state regulates a rotation of the extension member from the first position toward the second position.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Some embodiments of the present disclosure are described below with reference to drawings. In the following description, an “image forming apparatus” includes a printer, a copying machine, a facsimile, and a multifunctional peripheral including functions thereof. Further, a “sheet” indicates a recording medium or a sheet member usable as a document, and includes paper such as regular paper and thick paper, a plastic film such as a sheet for an overhead projector, a special-shaped sheet such as an envelope and index paper, and a fabric.

First, an image forming apparatus1according to a first embodiment is described with reference toFIG. 1toFIG. 9.FIG. 1is a perspective view of the image forming apparatus1according to the present embodiment, andFIG. 2is a cross-sectional view of the image forming apparatus1. As illustrated inFIG. 1andFIG. 2, the image forming apparatus1roughly includes an image forming apparatus body1A (hereinafter, referred to as an apparatus body) including an image forming function (printing function) and an image reading apparatus20that reads image information from a document.

The image reading apparatus20includes a reading unit21that is integrally provided with the apparatus body1A to configure a top part of the apparatus body1A, and an auto document feeder (ADF)22that is openable/closable to the reading unit21(seeFIG. 1). The ADF22includes a document tray23on which a document is placed, a document feeding unit that feeds a document one by one from the document tray23, and a discharge tray24to which a document, image information of which has been read, is discharged. The ADF22is openable upward in the figure to the apparatus body1A.

As illustrated inFIG. 2, the reading unit21includes a flat platen glass30and a reading sensor31that reads image information from a document placed on the platen glass30, and is supported by a frame of the apparatus body1A. Further, the reading sensor31can also read image information from a document fed by the ADF22. The reading sensor31includes a light source, a photoelectric conversion device, and an optical system that applies light from the light source to a document and guides reflected light to the photoelectric conversion device.

As illustrated inFIG. 1, an operation panel11for a user's operation of the image forming apparatus1is provided on one side of the reading unit21. In the following, with respect to the image forming apparatus1, a side on which the user operating the operation panel11stands is referred to as a “front side” of the image forming apparatus1, and a side opposite thereto is referred to as a “back side” of the image forming apparatus1. Further, a right side when the image forming apparatus1is viewed from the front side is referred to as a “right side” of the image forming apparatus1, and a side opposite thereto is referred to as a “left side” of the image forming apparatus1. Furthermore, a vertical direction in a case where the image forming apparatus1is installed on a flat installation surface is referred to as a “top side” or a “bottom side” of the image forming apparatus1.

As illustrated inFIG. 2, the apparatus body1A includes a sheet feeder3, a process unit4, a transfer section12, and a fixing section8. The sheet feeder3feeds a sheet P stacked on a feeding tray13one by one by a feeding roller3a. The process unit4performs an electrophotographic process to generate a toner image based on image information transmitted from the image reading apparatus20or an external computer. In other words, the process unit4charges a photoconductive drum5as a photoconductor, performs exposure by a laser scanner6based on the image information to form an electrostatic latent image on a surface of the photoconductive drum5, and develops the electrostatic latent image to a toner image.

The toner image carried on the photoconductive drum5is transferred to the sheet P by the transfer section12that includes the photoconductive drum5and a transfer roller7, and the transferred toner image is fixed to the sheet P by the fixing section8. The fixing section8includes a fixing film8bthat heats the sheet P and a pressurizing roller8athat presses the sheet P against the fixing film8b, and applies heat and pressure to the toner image transferred to the sheet P. As a result, the toner is melted and is then fixed to form an image fixed to the sheet P. The above-described process unit4is an example of an image forming unit that forms an image on a sheet. For example, an intermediate transfer electrophotographic unit or an inkjet image forming unit can be mounted on the apparatus body1A.

When image formation is requested to the image forming apparatus1, the sheet P stored in the feeding tray13is fed by the feeding roller3aat a predetermined timing corresponding to an operation of the process unit4. The sheet P, to which the toner image has been transferred by the transfer section12and the image has been fixed by the fixing section8, is discharged from the apparatus body1A by discharge rollers9, and is stacked on a discharge tray10. In a case where double-sided printing is performed, the discharge rollers9are reversely rotated after conveying the sheet P by a predetermined distance to feed the sheet P to a double-sided conveyance section29. Thereafter, the sheet P on which an image has been formed on the other surface reaches the discharge rollers9again and is discharged to the discharge tray10.

The discharge tray10is provided below the reading unit21of the image reading apparatus20at a position overlapped with the reading unit21as viewed from above. In other words, in the present embodiment, the sheet P discharged by the discharge rollers9is discharged to a discharge space that is provided between the housing of the apparatus body1A at a part containing the process unit4and the image reading apparatus20.

An extension tray15provided in the image forming apparatus1and positional relationship between the extension tray15and the operation panel11are described. The extension tray15is an extension member according to the present embodiment, and the discharge tray10is a sheet stacking portion according to the present embodiment. The operation panel11is an upper device according to the present embodiment.

As illustrated inFIG. 1andFIG. 2, the sheet P on which the image has been formed inside the apparatus body1A is discharged toward the front side of the image forming apparatus1. The extension tray15is provided on the front side (downstream side in a sheet discharge direction) of the image forming apparatus1, which is the sheet discharge direction according to the present embodiment relative to the discharge tray10. The extension tray15is rotatable with respect to the apparatus body1A about a rotating shaft15athat is a rotating fulcrum, and is movable to a storage position or a protrusion position as described below.

As illustrated inFIG. 3, the operation panel11is coupled, through a swing support portion16, to a bearing provided in the reading unit21, and is rotated with the swing support portion16as a rotating fulcrum. Illustration of the reading unit21, however, is omitted inFIG. 3. A direction of a rotation axis of the swing support portion16is coincident with a right-left direction of the image forming apparatus1, as with a rotation axis of the rotating shaft15aof the extension tray15.

The operation panel11can be tilted (subjected to a tilt operation) to an arbitrary angle between positions illustrated inFIGS. 4A and 4Bso as to be matched with a viewpoint height of the user.FIG. 4Aillustrates a state where the operation panel11is closed. In this case, the operation panel11takes an attitude extending in a vertical direction along a downstream-side surface (i.e., front surface1f) of the apparatus body1A in the sheet discharge direction, and a front surface of the operation panel11and the front surface1fof the apparatus body1A become substantially flush.FIG. 4Billustrates a state where the operation panel11is opened. In this case, the operation panel11protrudes forward from the front surface1fof the apparatus body1A.

Further, as illustrated inFIG. 3, the front surface of the operation panel11is configured as an operation surface18including a plurality of operation keys18aand a display18b. The user checks a current operation state and setting information of the image forming apparatus1from contents displayed on the display18b, and operates the operation keys18ato input an instruction to the image forming apparatus1. The instruction to the image forming apparatus1includes an instruction to perform a copy job that causes the image reading apparatus20to read image information and to form an image on the sheet, and an instruction to change a condition of the image formation (e.g., execution/inexecution of double-sided printing).

FIG. 5toFIG. 7are enlarged cross-sectional views each illustrating a vicinity of the extension tray15and the operation panel11inFIG. 2in an enlarged manner. The extension tray15is movable to a storage position (FIG. 5) at which the extension tray15is stored in the discharge tray10and a protrusion position (FIG. 7) at which the extension tray15protrudes to the downstream of the discharge tray10in the sheet discharge direction. The extension tray15is rotated in an X direction in the figures from the storage position to the protrusion position.

The extension tray15includes a support surface15bthat supports the sheet P together with a stacking surface10aof the discharge tray10, a rear surface15eon an opposite side of the support surface15b, and a regulation portion15cthat protrudes upward from the support surface15bin a state where the extension tray15is at the protrusion position. The regulation portion15cfunctions as a stopper that comes into contact with a downstream end in the sheet discharge direction of the sheet P discharged to the discharge tray10, to regulate movement of the sheet P in the sheet discharge direction. The discharge tray10includes a recessed portion10brecessed downward from the stacking surface10ato store the regulation portion15ewhen the extension tray15is at the storage position. Further, when the extension tray15is at the storage position (FIG. 5), the extension tray15can support the sheet by the rear surface15e, together with the discharge tray10.

As illustrated inFIG. 6, when the extension tray15is rotated in the X direction from the storage position to the protrusion position while the operation panel11is closed, the extension tray15comes into contact with a rear surface11aof the operation panel11. More specifically, the extension tray15and the operation panel11are configured to satisfy the following expression:
R1+R2>R3,
where R1is a rotation radius of the extension tray15, R2is a rotation radius of the operation panel11, and R3is a distance between the rotating fulcrum of the extension tray15and the rotating fulcrum of the operation panel11. The rotation radius R1of the extension tray15and the rotation radius R2of the operation panel11each indicate a radius of an arc drawn by an end part (15dand19) farthest from the rotating fulcrum of each of the members as viewed from an axis direction of the respective rotating fulcrums.

To move the extension tray15to the protrusion position, the user rotates and opens the operation panel11to retreat the operation panel11from a rotation locus tr1 of the extension tray15. Thereafter, the extension tray15is rotated to the protrusion position to protrude to outside of the apparatus body1A. As a result, the extension tray15can support the sheet together with the discharge tray10, on the downstream of the discharge tray10in the sheet discharge direction.

As described above, in the present embodiment, when the extension member (extension tray15) is rotated from a first position (storage position) to a second position (protrusion position) while the upper device (operation panel11) is closed, the extension member comes into contact with the upper device. Therefore, even if the extension tray15is rotated due to, for example, vibration during transportation of the image forming apparatus1, rotation of the extension tray15is regulated by the operation panel11located on the rotation locus of the extension tray15.

If the image forming apparatus1is transported while the extension tray15protrudes from the discharge tray10, the extension tray15may come into contact with a worker or surrounding articles, and may be accordingly damaged or deformed. Further, if a member such as an adhesive tape and a cushioning material is used to regulate unexpected rotation of the extension tray15, the cost is increased. According to the configuration of the present embodiment, unexpected rotation of the extension tray can be regulated by a simple configuration that regulates the positional relationship between the operation panel11and the extension tray15, which makes it possible to prevent the extension tray15from being damaged during transportation. In particular, in the present embodiment, since rotation of the extension tray15is regulated while the whole of the extension tray15is located on the back side of the front surface1fof the apparatus body1A (FIG. 8), it is possible to more assuredly prevent damage of the extension tray15.

A force necessary/sufficient to open the operation panel11from the one in the closed state is equivalent to a force enough to prevent the operation panel11from being opened if the extension tray15accidentally collides with the operation panel11. In this case, it is preferable that a load to rotate the operation panel11from a predetermined angle be made larger than the other angle by a hinge device including a click mechanism as the swing support portion16, or the operation panel11be attracted to the apparatus body1A by a magnet. As a result, it is possible to more assuredly prevent the operation panel11in the closed state from being unexpectedly opened. Further, in the present embodiment, the operation panel11in the closed state is substantially flush with the front surface1fof the apparatus body1A. Therefore, providing one packing material so as to face both of the operation panel11and the front surface1fmakes it possible to easily prevent rotation of the operation panel11during transportation.

In the above description with reference toFIG. 7, the user rotates the extension tray15to the protrusion position after the user opens the operation panel11; however, the user can rotate the extension tray15and the operation panel11in a rotation operation for the extension tray15. In other words, as illustrated inFIG. 8, the user can rotate the extension tray15in the X direction in the figure from the storage position and bring the extension tray15into contact with a contact portion19on the rear surface11aof the operation panel11in the closed state, and then further rotate the extension tray15in the X direction. The operation panel11is rotated in a Y direction in the figure by force F applied from the extension tray15.

In this case, in the present embodiment, the rotating shaft15aof the extension tray15is provided on upstream of the swing support portion16of the operation panel11in the sheet discharge direction. Further, a direction of the force F applied from the extension tray15to the operation panel11in the closed state at the contact portion19is a substantially horizontal direction. The direction is substantially coincident with a rotating direction of the contact portion19at the time when the operation panel11starts to open. If the rotating shaft15aof the extension tray15is located on the downstream of the swing support portion16of the operation panel11in the sheet discharge direction as illustrated inFIG. 9, the force F applied from the extension tray15to the contact portion19of the operation panel11contains a large amount of upward component Fb, as compared with the present embodiment. As a result, a component Fa in the horizontal direction of the force F becomes small, and it is accordingly necessary to operate the extension tray15with strong force in order to rotate the operation panel11. In contrast, according to the present embodiment, rotation of the extension tray15and the operation panel11is achieved with relatively weak force, which makes it possible to improve/refine operability as compared with a modification inFIG. 9.

An image forming apparatus according to a second embodiment is described with reference toFIG. 10toFIG. 12. The present embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that the image reading apparatus is openable/closable with respect to the apparatus body of the image forming apparatus and unexpected protrusion of the extension tray is regulated by the image reading apparatus in the closed state. The elements having configurations and action similar to the elements according to the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals as in the first embodiment, and description of such elements is omitted.

As illustrated inFIG. 10, an apparatus body43of an image forming apparatus2according to the present embodiment houses the sheet feeder3, the process unit4, the transfer section12, and the fixing section8. As with the first embodiment, a toner image formed by the process unit4is transferred to the sheet P fed from the sheet feeder3by the transfer section12, and the image is fixed by the fixing section8. A discharge tray42that is a sheet stacking portion according to the present embodiment is provided on a top surface of the apparatus body43. The sheet P passed through the fixing section8is discharged from the apparatus body43by the discharge rollers9, and is stacked on the discharge tray42.

An extension tray41that is an extension member according to the present embodiment is rotatable with respect to the discharge tray42, about a rotating shaft41aprovided at a downstream end in the sheet discharge direction as a rotating fulcrum. The extension tray41is movable to a storage position (FIG. 10) at which the extension tray41is stored in the discharge tray42and a protrusion position (FIG. 12) at which the extension tray41protrudes to the downstream in the sheet discharge direction from a front surface43fof the apparatus body43. The extension tray41moves through an upper part of the rotating shaft41abetween the storage position and the protrusion position.

As illustrated inFIG. 10, the extension tray41at the storage position can support the sheet together with the discharge tray42, by a rear surface41eon an opposite side of a support surface41b. On the other hand, as illustrated inFIG. 12, the extension tray41at the protrusion position supports the sheet by the support surface41btogether with the discharge tray42, and regulates movement of the sheet in the sheet discharge direction by a regulation portion41c.

As illustrated inFIG. 10andFIG. 12, an image reading apparatus40according to the present embodiment is provided so as to be openable/closable with respect to the apparatus body43by being rotated about the rotating shaft40awith respect to the apparatus body43. When the image reading apparatus40is closed (FIG. 10), the image reading apparatus40takes an attitude substantially horizontal to an installation surface of the apparatus body43, and the discharge tray42is covered with the image reading apparatus40as viewed from above. When the image reading apparatus40is rotated upward (FIG. 12), an upper part of the discharge tray42is opened.

As illustrated inFIG. 11, when the extension tray41is rotated from the storage position to the protrusion position while the image reading apparatus40is closed, the extension tray41comes into contact with a bottom part of the image reading apparatus40. In other words, rotation of the extension tray41as the extension member is regulated by the image reading apparatus40that is an upper device according to the present embodiment. More specifically, the extension tray41and the image reading apparatus40are configured to satisfy the following expression:
R4>R5,
where R4is a rotation radius of the extension tray41, and R5is a distance from the rotating shaft41aof the extension tray41to the image reading apparatus40in the vertical direction.

To move the extension tray41to the protrusion position, the image reading apparatus40is rotated in the Y direction as illustrated inFIG. 12. As a result, the image reading apparatus40is retreated from a rotation locus tr2 of the extension tray41, which allows for movement of the extension tray41to the protrusion position.

As described above, in the present embodiment, when the extension member (extension tray41) is rotated from the first position (storage position) to the second position (protrusion position) while the upper device age reading apparatus40) is closed, the extension member comes into contact with the upper device. Therefore, even if the extension tray41is rotated due to, for example, vibration during transportation of the image forming apparatus2, the image reading apparatus40prevents the extension tray41from unexpectedly protruding toward outside of the image forming apparatus2. This makes it possible to prevent the extension tray41from being damaged, with a simple configuration as with the first embodiment.

In the present embodiment, the case where the image reading apparatus40is disposed to be overlapped with the rotating shaft41aof the extension tray41as viewed from above has been described; however, the configuration is not limited thereto as long as the image reading apparatus40in the closed state regulates movement of the extension tray41to the protrusion position. For example, the downstream end of the image reading apparatus40in the sheet discharge direction may not extend to the rotating shaft41aof the extension tray41, and the upper part of the rotating shaft41amay be opened. In this case, it is sufficient to make the minimum distance from the rotating shaft41ato the image reading apparatus40in the closed state smaller than the rotation radius R4of the extension tray41.

In the above-described first and second embodiments, the operation panel and the image reading apparatus have been described as examples of the openable/closable upper device; however, the present technology can be applied to a configuration including other upper devices. For example, in a case where a plurality of discharge trays is disposed in a top-down direction, the discharge tray located above the other discharge tray provided with the extension tray can be openable/closable. Further, the “extension member” is not limited to the member including both of the support surface and the regulation portion (stopper) as described in the first and second embodiments, and can be a member solely supporting a sheet or a member solely regulating movement of a sheet.

According to the present embodiments, it is possible to prevent a member from being damaged during transportation with a simple configuration.

This application claims the benefit of Japanese Patent Application No, 2018-099853, filed May 24, 2018, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.