Patent Publication Number: US-2022239802-A1

Title: Image forming apparatus

Description:
The present application is based on, and claims priority from JP Application Serial Number 2021-009355, filed Jan. 25, 2021, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 
     BACKGROUND 
     1. Technical Field 
     The present disclosure relates to an image forming apparatus. 
     2. Related Art 
     A housing of an image forming apparatus disclosed in JP-A-8-339107 has a concave discharge section  4  that is surrounded by the housing except for the front. The image forming apparatus also includes an illumination lamp  46  on the upper rear of the discharge section  4 . The illumination lamp  46  is automatically switched on when a paper sheet is discharged onto a discharge tray  41  and is switched off when a predetermined time period has elapsed. 
     Such a known image forming apparatus illuminates the print product discharged onto the concave section in the housing to enable the user to locate the print product more readily in the concave section, which tends to be dark, but the apparatus fails to provide any further information when the concave section is viewed from a distance. The present disclosure enables users to readily check the state of an image forming apparatus from a distance. 
     SUMMARY 
     According to an aspect of the present disclosure, an image forming apparatus includes a housing, an image reading section configured to read a document mounted on a document placing table, an image forming section configured to form an image read by the image reading section or form another image on a sheet, a discharge section configured to discharge the sheet on which the image is formed by the image forming section, and a discharge tray configured to receive the sheet discharged from the discharge section. In the image forming apparatus, an internal discharge space is defined between the image reading section and the image forming section, the internal discharge space has an opening in a front of the image forming apparatus, and a light emitting section having a predetermined length along a border between the internal discharge space and the housing is provided. 
     The image forming apparatus according to the aspect of the present disclosure includes a housing, an image reading section configured to read a document mounted on a document placing table, an image forming section configured to form an image read by the image reading section or form another image on a sheet, a discharge section configured to discharge the sheet on which the image is formed by the image forming section, and a discharge tray configured to receive the sheet discharged from the discharge section. When the image reading section reads a document mounted on the document placing table or an image is externally supplied, the image forming section forms the image read by the image reading section or the other image on a sheet, and the discharge section discharges the sheet on which the image is formed by the image forming section onto the discharge tray. 
     An internal discharge space is defined between the image reading section and the image forming section and the internal discharge space has an opening in a front of the image forming apparatus. Since the internal discharge space has the opening in the front of the image forming apparatus, the border between the internal discharge space and the housing is located in the front of the image forming apparatus. A light emitting section having a predetermined length along the border is provided and emits light along the predetermined length of the border. 
     The image forming apparatus according to the aspect of the present disclosure emits light along the predetermined length of the border with the internal discharge space in the front of the image forming apparatus, enabling the user to visually check the light emission state from a distance. Accordingly, a state of the image forming apparatus can be indicated by the light emitting section. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an external perspective view illustrating an image forming apparatus. 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic view illustrating main components of the image forming apparatus. 
         FIG. 3  is an external perspective view illustrating an image forming apparatus according to a modification. 
         FIG. 4  is an external perspective view illustrating an image forming apparatus according to a modification. 
         FIG. 5  is a partial sectional view illustrating the image forming apparatus. 
         FIG. 6  is an external perspective view illustrating an image forming apparatus according to a modification. 
         FIGS. 7A to 7E  are schematic views each illustrating a light emission state of a light emitting section according to a modification. 
         FIG. 8  is an external perspective view illustrating an image forming apparatus according to a modification. 
         FIG. 9  is a partial sectional view illustrating the image forming apparatus. 
         FIG. 10  is a partial sectional view illustrating the image forming apparatus according to a modification. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS 
     Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the attached drawings.  FIG. 1  is an external perspective view illustrating an image forming apparatus. In  FIG. 1 , an image forming apparatus  10  includes a body  12  that has a housing  11  which has a substantially prism shape and which is substantially rectangular in plan view. The body  12  includes an image reading section  13 , an image forming section  14 , a discharge section  15 , and a discharge tray  16 . The image reading section  13  is disposed on the housing  11  and reads a document mounted on a document placing table  13   a . The image forming section  14  is disposed below the image reading section  13  and forms an image read by the image reading section  13  on a predetermined sheet. The discharge section  15  discharges the sheet on which the image is formed by the image forming section  14 . The discharge tray  16  receives the sheet discharged from the discharge section  15 . In this embodiment, an auto document feeder (ADF)  13   b  is provided as a part of the image reading section  13 . The ADF  13   b  is disposed on the document placing table  13   a.    
     The ADF  13   b  includes a document feeding table  13   b   1  that is inclined gently upward from a central portion to the right. The ADF  13   b  includes a mechanism section  13   b   3  on the left. The mechanism section  13   b   3  feeds a document on the document feeding table  13   b   1  downward, reverses the document by 180 degrees, transports the document that has passed a left upper surface of the document placing table  13   a , and discharges the document onto a document discharge tray  13   b   2  disposed below the document feeding table  13   b   1 . The ADF  13   b  including the mechanism section  13   b   3  is bright white overall, whereas the document feeding table  13   b   1  and the document discharge tray  13   b   2  are dark gray. Documents are generally white paper and can be readily distinguished on the document feeding table  13   b   1  and document discharge tray  13   b   2  which have a dark color. 
     The housing  11  of the body  12  has an internal discharge space  17  that is defined below the image reading section  13 , and the front and the left side of the internal discharge space  17  are open. Accordingly, except for the internal discharge space  17 , the housing  11  of the body  12  extends continuously in an up-down direction on the rear and on the right of the internal discharge space  17 . The housing  11  is bright white overall, and a wall surface  17   a  of the internal discharge space  17  is dark gray overall. 
     The body  12  accommodates the image forming section  14  below the internal discharge space  17 , and thus the internal discharge space  17  is defined between the image reading section  13  and the image forming section  14  in the body  12 . As described above, the body  12  has the internal discharge space  17  defined between the image reading section  13  and the image forming section  14 , and the body  12  may have a portion, in which the internal discharge space  17  is not provided, on the rear and on the right between the image reading section  13  and the image forming section  14 . 
       FIG. 2  is an external perspective view illustrating main components of the image forming apparatus.  FIG. 2  illustrates a lower portion of the image forming apparatus below the internal discharge space  17 , in which the bottom of the internal discharge space  17  serves as the discharge tray  16 . The discharge tray  16  is an inclined surface that is inclined downward from the left to the right. As described above, the wall surface  17   a  of the internal discharge space  17  is dark gray overall, and an upper wall surface  17   a   1  (the top portion) of the wall surface  17   a  is horizontal, a right wall surface  17   a   2  is vertical, and a lower wall surface  17   a   3  (the bottom portion) is an inclined surface that is inclined downward from the left to the right. An operation panel (also referred to as an operation unit)  12   a  protrudes forward from the body  12  on the right of the internal discharge space  17 . The rear of the operation panel  12   a  is bright white and the operation panel  12   a  includes a touch panel provided at almost the entire top, on which operations are performed, and a surrounding bezel portion is black. 
     The discharge section  15  has a discharge port  15   a  on the right of the internal discharge space  17 . The discharge section  15  discharges a sheet, on which an image has been formed by the image forming section  14  disposed below the internal discharge space  17 , onto the discharge tray  16  via the discharge port  15   a . The discharge section  15  is a part of a transport unit  18  that includes a transport belt, rollers, and other components. The transport unit  18  transports paper sheets in a paper cassette  19  disposed in a lower portion of the body  12  to the image forming section  14  and discharges the paper sheets on which images are formed. As described above, the transport unit  18  feeds paper sheets from the paper cassette  19  disposed in the lower part, transports the paper sheets in the image forming section  14 , and discharges the paper sheets in the discharge section  15 . In this embodiment, the transport unit  18  performs all transport operations; however, a mechanism in which the transport operations are individually performed in respective steps may be provided. 
     The image forming apparatus  10  according to the embodiment transports paper sheets in the right portion of the body  12  and forms images on the paper sheets by using the ink jet image forming section  14  during transport of the paper sheet, and a space is defined on the left of the image forming section  14  below the internal discharge space  17 . A consumable-item attachment section  20  of the image forming apparatus  10  is provided in this space. The consumable-item attachment section  20  accommodates an ink cartridge  21  in an upper portion, an ink supply unit  22  below the ink cartridge  21 , and a waste liquid box  23  adjacent to the ink supply unit  22 . A predetermined color ink contained in the ink cartridge  21  is supplied to a head of the image forming section  14  via the ink supply unit  22  and is used to form images. Waste liquid that is discharged during head cleaning performed at a predetermined timing is collected into the waste liquid box  23 . The ink cartridge  21  and the ink supply unit  22  are collectively referred to as an ink supply section, and the waste liquid box  23  is also referred to as a waste liquid container. The housing  11  accommodates a controller  12   b , which controls display of operations and operations input to the operation panel  12   a  and controls corresponding components in response to the operations. 
     In  FIG. 1 , the upper wall surface  17   a   1 , the right wall surface  17   a   2 , and the lower wall surface  17   a   3  of the internal discharge space  17  have respective borders with a front wall surface of the housing  11 . The border between the right wall surface  17   a   2  and the front wall surface and the border between the lower wall surface  17   a   3  and the front wall surface of the housing  11  each have an arc. A light emitting section  30  is provided at a front end portion of the lower wall surface  17   a   3 . More specifically, a light-emitting diode (LED) that emits white light is disposed straight in the lower wall surface  17   a   3 , and the top of the LED is covered by a blue plate to enable diffusion of blue light. The light emitting section  30  is disposed substantially straight from a left end of the lower wall surface  17   a   3 , which is inclined downward from the left to the right, to a right end, at which the arc starts. In other words, the light emitting section  30  extends straight substantially along the length of the front end of the lower wall surface  17   a   3 . A method of switching on the light emitting section  30  to indicate a light emission state of the light emitting section  30  is appropriately controlled by the controller  12   b  depending on the state of the image forming apparatus  10 . 
     As described above, the internal discharge space  17  has the opening in the front of the image forming apparatus  10  and has the light emitting section  30  having a predetermined length along the border between the internal discharge space  17  and the housing  11 . The light emitting section  30  emits light along the predetermined length of the border with the internal discharge space  17  in the front of the image forming apparatus  10 , and thus a portion of the outer surface is illuminated in the form of a line, enabling the user to readily visually check the light emission state from a distance. Accordingly, a state of the image forming apparatus  10  can be indicated by the light emitting section  30 . When the light emitting section  30  is switched on, blue light is emitted and diffused. The blue light emitted at the border between the dark-color portion and the bright-color portion is clearly visible, resulting in increased visibility. Accordingly, the user can readily check the blue light from a distance. 
     Examples of indication of states of the image forming apparatus  10  include indicating sheet discharge after image formation, slowly blinking during a series of print jobs, continuously illuminating after print job completion, and rapidly repeatedly blinking when an error has occurred. These examples of indication are merely examples, and indication control by other methods may be made. The light emitting section  30  according to the embodiment extends at the border between the internal discharge space  17  and the housing  11 . In addition, light emission may be performed in a lower portion of the operation panel  12   a . In such a case, the operation panel  12   a  is a plate-shaped operation unit that protrudes forward from a front portion of the image reading section  13  of the housing  11  and includes a sub-light emitting section  31  that emits light in a lower portion of the operation panel  12   a , in addition to the light emitting section  30 . The sub-light emitting section  31  is disposed at a position readily viewable by the user, resulting in increased visibility. The image forming apparatus  10  according to the embodiment includes one paper cassette  19  in the lower portion, enabling the user to readily perform operations when the image forming apparatus  10  is placed, for example, on a table in an office. It should be noted that the structure according to the embodiment is not limited to this example. 
       FIG. 3  is an external perspective view illustrating an image forming apparatus according to a modification. An image forming apparatus  110  according to the modification includes a body  112  that has a substantially prism-shaped housing  111  that is taller than the image forming apparatus  10  according to the above-described embodiment. The image forming apparatus  110  includes an image reading section  113 , an image forming section  114 , a discharge section  115 , and a discharge tray  116 . The image reading section  113  is disposed in an upper portion of the image forming apparatus  110 . The image forming section  114  is disposed below the image reading section  113  and forms an image read by the image reading section  113  on a predetermined sheet. The discharge section  115  discharges the sheet on which the image is formed by the image forming section  114 . The discharge tray  116  receives the sheet discharged from the discharge section  115 . The image forming apparatus  110  includes four paper cassettes  119  in a lower portion, and this structure having such a height enables the user to readily perform operations when the image forming apparatus  110  is placed, for example, on the floor in an office. 
     In this modification, the housing  111  of the body  112  has an internal discharge space  117  that is defined below the image reading section  113 , and the front and the left side of the internal discharge space  117  are open. A wall surface  117   a  of the internal discharge space  117  is dark gray overall. The wall surface  117   a  of the internal discharge space  117  has a horizontal upper wall surface  117   a   1 , a vertical right wall surface  117   a   2 , and a lower wall surface  117   a   3  that is an inclined surface inclined downward from the left to the right. 
     The light emitting section  30  according to the above-described embodiment is provided at the front end portion of the lower wall surface  17   a   3 , whereas a light emitting section  120  according to the modification is provided at a border between the vertical right wall surface  117   a   2  and a front wall surface of the housing  111 . More specifically, the light emitting section  120  is disposed substantially straight from a top end of the vertical right wall surface  117   a   2  to a bottom end, at which an arc starts. In other words, the light emitting section  120  extends straight substantially along the length of the front end of the right wall surface  117   a   2 . A light emission state of the light emitting section  120  is appropriately controlled by a controller (not illustrated) depending on the state of the image forming apparatus  110 . 
     In the light emitting section  120 , an LED that emits white light is disposed straight, and the top of the LED is covered by a blue plate to enable the diffusion of blue light. As described above, the internal discharge space  117  has the opening in the front of the image forming apparatus  110  and has the light emitting section  120  having a predetermined length along the border between the internal discharge space  117  and the housing  111 . The light emitting section  120  emits light along the predetermined length of the border with the internal discharge space  117  in the front of the image forming apparatus  110 , enabling the user to readily visually check the light emission state from a distance. Accordingly, a state of the image forming apparatus  110  can be indicated by the light emitting section  120 . When the light emitting section  120  is switched on, blue light is emitted and diffused. 
     In this modification, the light emitting section  120  is elongated in the vertical direction and is less likely to be affected by obstacles when viewed from a distance. The light emitting section  120  according to the modification is provided at the front end portion of the right wall surface  117   a   2 , whereas the light emitting section  30  according to the above-described embodiment is provided at the front end portion of the lower wall surface  17   a   3 . In this modification, a light emitting section  130  may be provided at both front end portions of the right wall surface  117   a   2  and the lower wall surface  117   a   3 . In such a case, the light emitting section  130  may be provided at an arc portion where the right wall surface  117   a   2  and the lower wall surface  117   a   3  are continuous. The elongated light emitting section  130  achieves increased visibility. 
     The image forming apparatus  10  according to the above-described embodiment and the image forming apparatus  110  according to the above-described modification include the light emitting section  30  and the light emitting section  130 , respectively, each having the LED, which emits white light and is disposed straight, and the top of the LED is covered by the blue plate to enable the diffusion of blue light. However, the structure of the light emitting sections is not limited to this example.  FIG. 4  is an external perspective view illustrating an image forming apparatus according to a modification.  FIG. 5  is a partial sectional view illustrating the image forming apparatus. 
     An image forming apparatus  210  according to the modification includes a door  211   a  that is openable toward the user and is disposed in a lower portion in the front of a housing  211 . The door  211   a  is openable and closable about a rotation shaft at the right end and is rotatable toward the user at the left end. The door  211   a  has a substantially U-shaped recess  211   a   1  at a top end that is open at the top to enable the user to pull the door  211   a  to open or to close the door  211   a  as illustrated in  FIG. 5 . The recess  211   a   1  includes a front wall member  211   a   1   a , a bottom wall member  211   a   1   b , and a rear wall member  211   a   1   c . The front wall member  211   a   1   a  is a front wall that constitutes the front of the housing  211 . The bottom wall member  211   a   1   b  extends toward the rear from a position lower than a top end of the front wall member  211   a   1   a  to some extent. The rear wall member  211   a   1   c  is continuous with the bottom wall member  211   a   1   b  and extends upward from a position offset toward the rear of the image forming apparatus  210 . The recess  211   a   1  is referred to as a step portion. In the step portion, the front wall member  211   a   1   a  is lower than the rear wall member  211   a   1   c , which enables the user to place their fingertips into the step portion and hold and pull the top end of the front wall member  211   a   1   a  to open the door  211   a.    
     A light emitting section  230  is provided on a rear wall surface of the front wall member  211   a   1   a , which is a surface of the housing  211  opposite to the front. The light emitting section  230  includes a straight light emitter  230   a  in which the top of an LED  230   a   1  that emits white light is covered by a blue plate  230   a   2 . The top end of the door  211   a  is adjacent to a bottom wall surface  217   a   3  of an internal discharge space  217  and extends straight in a substantially horizontal direction. With this structure, the light emitting section  230  has a predetermined length along the border between the internal discharge space  217  and the door  211   a  constituting the front of the housing  211 . 
       FIG. 6  is an external perspective view illustrating an image forming apparatus according to a modification. The image forming apparatus  210  illustrated in  FIG. 4  includes the light emitting section  230  disposed at the border with the front end of the bottom wall surface  217   a   3  of the internal discharge space  217 , whereas an image forming apparatus  310  illustrated in  FIG. 6  includes a light emitting section  330  that is disposed at a border with a front end of a right wall surface  317   a   2  of an internal discharge space  317 . 
     In the image forming apparatus  210 , the light emitting section  230  illuminates from the rear of the front wall member  211   a   1   a  to the front of the rear wall member  211   a   1   c , providing indirect lightning. Accordingly, the image forming apparatus  210  can provide light that is bright yet gentle on the eyes. It should be noted that the image forming apparatus  310  can also achieve similar effects. In the above-described embodiments, the light emitting sections only illuminate or blink, but the present disclosure is not limited to this example. 
       FIGS. 7A to 7E  are schematic views each illustrating a light emission state of a light emitting section according to a modification. A light emitting section  430  illustrated in  FIGS. 7A to 7E  includes four light emitters  421  to  424  that can be individually selectively switched on or switched off. As illustrated in  FIGS. 7A to 7E , all light emitters are switched off in a default state, and starting from light emitter  421  on the left, the light emitters  422  to  424  can be sequentially switched on to the right. The changes of the light emission states are controlled by a controller (not illustrated). With the light emitters individually switched on sequentially, a paper discharge state can be indicated and operations of the image forming apparatus can be checked from a distance. 
       FIG. 8  is an external perspective view illustrating an image forming apparatus according to a modification.  FIG. 9  is a partial sectional view illustrating the image forming apparatus. In this modification, an ADF  513   b  is provided as a part of an image reading section  513 . The ADF  513   b  is disposed on a document placing table  513   a . The ADF  513   b  includes a document feeding table  513   b   1  that is inclined gently upward from a central portion to the right. The ADF  513   b  includes a mechanism section  513   b   3  on the left. A document discharge tray  513   b   2  is disposed below the document feeding table  513   b   1 . 
     A top end of the ADF  513   b  is substantially rectangular and, except for the document feeding table  513   b   1  and the document discharge tray  513   b   2 , is a bright color. The top of the ADF  513   b , except for the document feeding table  513   b   1  and the document discharge tray  513   b   2 , has a substantially L-shape. A light emitting section  530 , which emits blue light, is provided around an edge of a peripheral line of the L-shaped portion. 
     The cross-section of the light emitting section  530  illustrated in  FIG. 9  has an L-shape, whereas the cross-section of the light emitting section  530  illustrated in  FIG. 10  has a trapezoidal shape. The L-shape enables the light emitting section  530  to emit light from at least two sides. The trapezoidal shape enables the light emitting section  530  to emit light from three sides except for the bottom. Both light emitting sections  530  emit blue light upward and in the peripheral edge direction. As described above, the image reading section  513  including the ADF  513   b  is disposed on the top of a housing  511  and the light emitting section  530  having a predetermined length is provided at the top edge portion of the ADF  513   b  of the image reading section  513 . The top of the ADF  513   b  is the highest position in an image forming apparatus  510 , and thus the light emitting section  530  can be viewed without obstruction in an office, and the state of the image forming apparatus  510  can be readily checked from a distance by viewing the light emission state. 
     The light emitting section  530  may be located between the internal discharge space  317  and the document placing table  513   a.    
     It should be noted that the present disclosure is not limited to the above-described embodiments. Although it will be apparent to a person skilled in the art, the following are disclosed as embodiments of the present disclosure: 
     Any combination of the interchangeable components, structures, or the like disclosed in the above-described embodiments may be applied appropriately; Although not disclosed in the above-described embodiments, any component, structure, or the like disclosed in the above-described embodiments may be replaced with a replaceable component, structure, or the like known in the art, and any combination of the components, structures, or the like may be changed and applied appropriately; and Although not disclosed in the above-described embodiments, any component, structure, or the like disclosed in the above-described embodiments may be replaced with a component, structure, or the like known in the art or the like assumed to be substituted for the components, structures, or the like disclosed in the above-described embodiments by a person skilled in the art, and any combination of the components, structures, or the like may be changed and applied appropriately.