Patent ID: 12192421

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Respective directions of front, rear, left, right, top/upper, and bottom/lower are defined in conjunction with an orientation in which an image forming apparatus1is intended to be used, as depicted inFIG.1. A side of the image forming apparatus1having a front surface21may be defined as a front side, and a side opposite to the front side may be defined as a rear side. A left side and a right side of the image forming apparatus1may be defined with respect to the image forming apparatus1as viewed from its front side. A side of the image forming apparatus1on which a second casing3is disposed is the upper side. A side of the image forming apparatus1on which a first casing2is disposed is the lower side. In the illustrative embodiment, the front-rear direction is an example of a first direction and the left-right direction is an example of a second direction and a width direction perpendicular to a discharging direction of a sheet by discharge rollers28.

Configuration of Image Forming Apparatus

FIG.1is a perspective view of the image forming apparatus1according to an illustrative embodiment.FIG.2is a front view of the image forming apparatus1.FIG.3is a top view of the image forming apparatus1.FIG.4is a right side view of the image forming apparatus1.FIG.5is a cross-sectional view of the image forming apparatus1, taken along a line A-A ofFIG.3, illustrating a discharged sheet stopper62is in a use position. The image forming apparatus1employs an interior sheet discharge system. The image forming apparatus1includes the first casing2, the second casing3, a support portion4, and a control panel5.

The first casing2includes a cover20having a generally rectangular parallelepiped shape. The cover20defines an appearance of the first casing2. The cover20includes the front surface21, a rear surface22, a left surface23, a right surface24, a top surface25, and a bottom surface26. The cover20has an opening211at a lower portion of the front surface21. Through the opening211, a sheet tray27is attached or removed.

The first casing2houses the sheet tray27configured to support a stack of one or more sheets, a conveying mechanism configured to convey a sheet from the sheet tray27, an image forming unit configured to form an image on the sheet conveyed by the conveying mechanism, a sheet discharge mechanism configured to discharge the sheet from the image forming unit to an exterior of the first casing2. The sheet discharge mechanism includes the discharge rollers28disposed at a most downstream portion thereof in a sheet conveying direction (e.g., the sheet discharging direction).

The sheet tray27is configured to move in a front-rear direction between a fully attached position (as depicted inFIG.1) and a separated position. At the fully attached position, the sheet tray27is fully attached to the first casing2through the opening211. At the separated position, the sheet tray27is at least partially separated or removed from the first casing2toward the front through the opening211. The image forming unit may form an image based on, but not limited to, an electrophotographic method, an inkjet method, or other method.

A sheet discharge tray6is located at the top surface25of the first casing2. The sheet discharge tray6is configured to receive a sheet discharged by the sheet discharge mechanism. The sheet discharge tray6is formed on the top surface25of the first casing2into a convex shape curving upward from the rear side toward the front side. The sheet having an image formed thereon may be discharged by the sheet discharge mechanism in a rear-to-front direction onto the sheet discharge tray6.

The sheet discharge tray6includes a protruding portion61disposed at a central portion thereof in the width direction, and the discharged sheet stopper62disposed at the protruding portion61. The protruding portion61protrudes upward relative to other area of the sheet discharge tray6. The protruding portion61has a trapezoidal shape whose rear portion is inclined downward. The discharged sheet stopper62has a generally rectangular plate shape. The discharged sheet stopper62has a rear end portion that is pivotally supported by the protruding portion61. The discharged sheet stopper62is configured to move between an accommodated position (as depicted inFIG.4) and a use position (as depicted inFIG.5). At the accommodated position, the discharged sheet stopper62is flush with the upper end portion of the protruding portion61. At the use position, a front end portion of the discharged sheet stopper62is raised. When the discharged sheet stopper62is in the use position, a sheet discharged onto the sheet discharge tray6may contact the discharged sheet stopper62, so that the position of the sheet on the sheet discharge tray6may be regulated.

In a case where the sheet discharged on the sheet discharge tray6has curling ends, in the width direction, that curl upward, the protruding portion61raises and supports the central portion of the sheet in the width direction and may reduce the curling. When a stack of one or more sheets is supported on the sheet discharge tray6, a space is provided below the stack near the protruding portion61. The space may allow a user to hold the stack. The protruding portion61may not necessarily be provided but may be omitted.

The image forming apparatus1includes a power switch29disposed at the top surface25of the first casing2. For easy recognition and operation, the power switch29may preferably be disposed at a portion of the top surface25of the first casing2further toward the front than the discharged sheet stopper62and outside an area of the sheet discharge tray6in the width direction. In the illustrative embodiment, the power switch29is located at a right front portion of the top surface25.

The second casing3is disposed above the first casing2and includes a document scanner31. The document scanner31includes a scanner casing32. The scanner casing32includes a document glass321on an upper surface thereof. The document glass321is configured to support a document. The scanner casing32houses an image scanner configured to scan an image on the document supported by the document glass321. The document scanner31further includes a document cover33disposed above the scanner casing32. The document cover33is configured to pivotally move about a pivot axis provided at one end portion, e.g., a rear end portion, of the document cover33between a closed position and an open position. At the closed position, the other end portion, e.g., a front end portion, of the document cover33is pivotally moved down and the document cover33covers the document glass321. At the open position, the front end portion of the document cover33is pivotally moved up and the document cover33uncovers the document glass321.

The document cover33includes an auto document feeder (“ADF”)34disposed at an upper portion thereof. The ADF34is configured to automatically feed a document to the document glass321. The ADF34has a front end surface34A having an opening extending therethrough in the front-rear direction, thereby defining a grip35. A user may hold the grip35to move the document cover33between the closed position and the open position. When the ADF34is at the closed position, the front end surface34A intersects with an upper surface of the document glass321at an angle. In illustrative embodiment, the angle is, for example, a right angle. The image forming apparatus1includes a motor341disposed at a rear end portion of the ADF34. The motor341is a drive source for the ADF34.

The support portion4includes a left support portion41, a right support portion42, and a rear support portion43. The left support portion41, the right support portion42, and the rear support portion43are respectively disposed at a left end portion, a right end portion, and a rear end portion of the top surface25of the first casing2, raising the second casing3. The second casing3is disposed above the sheet discharge tray6via a discharge space63in which a sheet is discharged. The left support portion41, the right support portion42, the top surface25of the first casing2, and a lower surface of the second casing3define an open portion44at a front side of the image forming apparatus1. The discharge space63is open toward the front, via the open portion44. A user can be accessible to a sheet discharged onto the sheet discharge tray6via the open portion44.

In illustrative embodiment, the right support portion42includes a front end surface42A that is located further to the rear than a front end surface3A of the second casing3. The configuration may allow a right portion of the discharge space63to open widely, allowing a user to take a stack of one or more sheets discharged on the sheet discharge tray6from the right side of the image forming apparatus1.

The control panel5has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape. The control panel5has a dimension in the left-right direction shorter than the dimension of the second casing3in the left-right direction. In the illustrative embodiment, the control panel5has a dimension in the left-right direction equal to or less than a half of the dimension of the second casing3in the left-right direction. The control panel5extends frontward from the front end surface3A of the second casing3such that a left end portion of the control panel5is flush with a left end portion of the second casing3. The location of the control panel5is not limited to a particular location as long as the control panel5is disposed downstream of the discharge rollers28in the discharging direction. The control panel5is configured to enable operations of the image forming apparatus1, e.g., the document scanner31. The control panel5includes an upper surface51on which a display, such as an LCD panel, and an input device, such as a touchscreen and keys/buttons, configured to operate the image forming unit and the image scanner, are disposed.

NFC

As depicted inFIG.2, the ADF34has an NFC indication71provided, e.g., printed, on the front end surface34A. The NFC indication71indicates a location to which an external device (e.g., an IC card and a smartphone) having an NFC function is to be brought into proximity to establish a wireless communication between the image forming apparatus1and the external device. The size and the shape of the NFC indication71are not limited to a particular size and shape. The NFC indication71may be provided in a manner other than printing. For example, the NFC indication71may include translucent member. The translucent member may illuminate the NFC indication71with a light source (e.g., a light-emitting diode) disposed under the translucent member. Using the NFC indication71as a guide, a user may bring the external device into proximity to the NFC indication71, thereby establishing a wireless communication between the external device and the image forming apparatus1.

Since the NFC indication71is provided at the front end surface34A of the ADF34, a user needs to bring the external device into proximity to the NFC indication71while securely holding the external device by hand. This may prevent a user from opening the document cover33with an external device on the document scanner31. The front end surface34A, which is created or defined by the thickness of the ADF34, may be effectively used for the NFC indication71. Since the NFC indication71is disposed at an upper portion of the document scanner31closer to a user, the user may readily identify the NFC indication71. The document scanner31having a novel configuration and the image forming apparatus1including the document scanner31may thus be provided.

The NFC indication71and the control panel5may be preferably located on a same side (e.g., a left side) of the image forming apparatus in the width direction. In other words, the NFC indication71and the control panel5may be located closer to one end (e.g., a left end) of the image forming apparatus1in the width direction than the other end (e.g., a right end) of the image forming apparatus1opposite to the one end in the width direction. To achieve such configuration, the ADF34on which the NFC indication71is provided needs to be disposed on the same side as the control panel5in the width direction. In other words, the ADF34needs to be located closer to the one end of the image forming apparatus1in the width direction than the other end of the image forming apparatus1in the width direction. In the illustrative embodiment, the ADF34and the control panel5is located on the left side of the image forming apparatus1. The NFC indication71is also located on the left side of the image forming apparatus1and is provided at a position overlapping with the control panel5in the left-right direction.

The NFC indication71and the control panel5are both located closer to the one end (e.g., the left end) of the image forming apparatus1in the width direction than the other end (e.g., the right end) of the image forming apparatus1in the width direction. This configuration may allow a user to readily identify both the NFC indication71and the control panel5by looking in one direction.

An NFC board70is located, facing the NFC indication71, inside the ADF34, to establish a favorable wireless communication between the image forming apparatus1and the external device. In the illustrative embodiment, the NFC board70is disposed behind the NFC indication71along an inner surface (e.g., a rear surface) of the front end surface34A of the ADF34. The NFC board70is a circuit board having a generally rectangular shape. The NFC board70includes a loop antenna72and circuits, such as a communication circuit and a detection circuit.

The loop antenna72is disposed on a front surface of the NFC board70such that the loop antenna72is located behind the NFC indication71. The loop antenna72is configured to transmit to or receive from an external device, radio waves for NFC communication. The communication circuit is configured to process the radio waves transmitted to or received from the external device into signals. The detection circuit is configured to detect a current that flows in the loop antenna72, thereby detecting intensities of the radio waves transmitted or received by the loop antenna72.

In the illustrative embodiment, the NFC indication71and the NFC board70are disposed at a front end portion of the ADF34and the motor341is disposed at a rear end portion of the ADF34. The motor341is disposed opposite to the NFC indication71and the NFC board70in the front-rear direction. This configuration may prevent or reduce degradation of communication performance between the image forming apparatus1and an external device, due to noises of the motor341.

USB

As depicted inFIG.4, the image forming apparatus1includes a USB port81to which a terminal of a USB device, such as a USB memory and a digital camera, is connectable. The USB port81is located at a side surface of the control panel5closer to the center of the image forming apparatus1in the width direction. In the illustrative embodiment, the USB port81is located at a right surface52of the control panel5. The USB port81may be located at any portion of the right surface52of the control panel5. The control panel5has a USB indication82provided, e.g., printed, at a portion of the right surface52near the USB port81. The USB indication82or the USB port81may help a user to recognize the location of the USB port81.

Since the USB port81is located at a side surface of the control panel5closer to the center of the image forming apparatus1in the width direction, a USB device inserted into the USB port81may not stick out relative to a surface (e.g., a right surface) of the first casing2when viewed from the top. This configuration may reduce risks of damaging the USB device as a user hits the USB device. In addition, this configuration may ensure a space for attaching and removing the USB device. Since the USB port81is disposed above the sheet discharge tray6, a user may visually identify the USB port81readily. Further, a user may readily identify both the control panel5and the USB port81by looking in one direction.

The USB port81at a side surface of the control panel5may enhance visibility of the USB port81and operability of the control panel5at the same time. In addition, a USB device inserted into the USB port81may not cover the NFC indication71, which may ensure visibility of the NFC indication71even when the USB device is inserted into the USB port81.

A USB board80is located inside the control panel5. The USB board80is a circuit board having a generally rectangular shape. The USB board80includes the USB port81and circuits. The USB port81is disposed on an upper surface of the USB board80and protrudes rightward.

First Modification

FIG.6is a perspective view of an image forming apparatus9according to a first modification. The image forming apparatus9according to the first modification is different from the image forming apparatus1with respect to a document scanner91, which does not include an ADF, and positions of an NFC indication92and an NFC board93. Except for the document scanner91and the positions of the NFC indication92and the NFC board93, the image forming apparatus9has the same or similar configuration as the image forming apparatus1. Like numerals in the drawings denote like components and the detailed description of those components described above is omitted, with respect toFIGS.6-8.

The document scanner91includes a document cover94having a plate shape, which may be obtained by removing the ADF34from the document cover33. The document cover94has a front end surface94A. When the document cover94is at the closed position, the front end surface94A intersects with the upper surface of the document glass321at an angle. In the first modification, the angle is, for example, a right angle.

The NFC indication92is located at a position that satisfies the same condition as the position of the NFC indication71. InFIG.6, the NFC indication92is provided at a portion of the front end surface94A of the document cover94above the control panel5. The NFC board93is similar to the NFC board70and has a thickness corresponding the thickness of the document cover94. The NFC board93is located inside the document cover94, facing the NFC indication92.

In such configuration in which the document scanner91does not include an ADF and the NFC indication91is provided at the front end surface94A of the document cover94, effects similar to those of the image forming apparatus1may be obtained.

Second Modification

FIG.7is a right side view of an image forming apparatus10according to a second modification. The image forming apparatus10according to the second modification is different from the image forming apparatus1with respect to a pivotable control panel101. Except for the pivotable control panel101, the image forming apparatus10has the same or similar configuration as the image forming apparatus1.

The control panel101includes a pivot shaft102disposed at a rear end portion of the control panel101. The pivot shaft102extends in the left-right direction. The pivot shaft102is pivotally supported by a recess portion provided in the second casing3. This configuration may allow the control panel101to pivotally move about the pivot shaft102between an inclined position (as depicted by a solid line inFIG.7) and a horizontal position (as depicted by a phantom line inFIG.7). At the inclined position, a front portion of an upper surface103of the control panel101is lower than a rear portion of the upper surface103. At the horizontal position, the upper surface103is horizontal. In other words, an angle of the control panel101relative to the NFC indication71is changeable.

Configuration of the second modification may allow a user to adjust an angle of the control panel101as desired, and to see the NFC indication71and the control panel101both at a glance. If the control panel101and the NFC indication71are close to each other, the control panel101may be moved to, for example, the inclined position, thereby preventing or reducing interference between the control panel101and an external device brought into proximity to the NFC indication71. This may lead to increased operability.

Third Modification

FIG.8is a right side view of an image forming apparatus11according to a third modification. The image forming apparatus11according to the third modification is different from the image forming apparatus1with respect to a pivotable control panel111. Except for the pivotable control panel111, the image forming apparatus11has the same or similar configuration as the image forming apparatus1.

The control panel111includes a pivot shaft112disposed at a front end portion of a bottom surface of the control panel111. The pivot shaft112extends in the left-right direction. The pivot shaft112is pivotally supported by a recess portion provided in the left support portion41. This configuration may allow the control panel111to pivotally move about the pivot shaft112between a horizontal position (as depicted by a solid line inFIG.8) and an inclined position (as depicted by a phantom line inFIG.8). At the horizontal position, an upper surface113of the control panel111is horizontal. At the inclined position, a front portion of the upper surface113is lower than a rear portion of the upper surface113. In other words, an angle of the control panel111relative to the NFC indication71is changeable.

Configuration of the third modification may allow a user to adjust the position of the control panel111, as desired, for example, to the horizontal position, and to see the NFC indication71and the control panel111both at a glance. If the control panel111and the NFC indication71are close to each other, the control panel111may be moved to, for example, the inclined position, thereby preventing or reducing interference between the control panel111and an external device brought into proximity to the NFC indication71. This may lead to increased operability.