JP4869953B2 - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a printer, a copying machine, a facsimile machine, or a multifunction machine of these.

  An image forming apparatus such as a printer includes a developing mechanism that supplies toner to an image carrier, and a toner container that supplies toner to the developing mechanism. This toner container has a container main body for storing toner, and is usually detachable from the main body of the image forming apparatus so that it can be exchanged as the toner is consumed. The same applies to an ink cartridge in an ink jet printer or the like.

  Generally, an image forming apparatus has a housing structure, and the above-described image carrier, developing mechanism, toner container, and other constituent members are housed inside the housing and cannot be seen from the outside (for example, Patent Document 1). reference). When the user replaces the toner container, the user opens an opening / closing cover provided on the casing, takes out the used toner container from the casing, attaches a new toner container, and closes the opening / closing cover. The user can visually recognize the toner container only when the opening / closing cover is open.

Incidentally, a printer or the like is provided with a paper discharge surface that receives paper discharged after the image forming process. For example, in a small printer widely used in an office or the like, an auxiliary tray is often attached to the paper discharge surface. This auxiliary tray is used to support the paper in an auxiliary manner when discharging a large sized paper onto the paper discharge surface or when improving the alignment of the paper.
JP 2006-23347 A

  In the conventional image forming apparatus, when the open / close cover is closed, the user cannot know what type of toner container is actually installed. In other words, it is impossible to know which manufacturer's and which type of toner container is in the image forming apparatus main body, and in order to know this, the open / close cover must be opened. Therefore, when ordering a new toner container, or when requesting the notification of the model number of the toner container at the time of a maintenance request, the user has to bother to open the open / close cover and check the model number. It was.

  In view of this, it is conceivable to provide a window on the paper discharge surface of the printer, which is usually easily visible to the user, so that the user can visually recognize a part of the mounted toner container from the outside. However, as described above, an auxiliary tray is often attached to the paper discharge surface, and if the window is additionally provided, the paper discharge surface becomes unnecessarily complicated and the aesthetic impression is impaired. There is.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and enables a user to check a toner container, an ink cartridge, and the like mounted in the image forming apparatus main body from the outside. An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus or a consumable supply member receiving apparatus that can avoid the complicated feeling of the paper discharge surface.

  An image forming apparatus of the present invention that achieves the above object is provided with an apparatus main body that performs an image forming operation, a paper discharge surface that receives paper discharged after image forming processing is performed in the apparatus main body, and a paper discharge surface provided on the paper discharge surface. A window portion that allows a part of the apparatus main body to be visually recognized, a deployment posture attached to the paper discharge surface and supporting the discharged paper as an auxiliary, and a storage posture stored in the paper discharge surface. The window portion is provided on a bottom surface of a concave portion in which a part of the paper discharge surface is recessed, and the auxiliary tray is provided in the concave portion in the storage posture. It is housed and has a see-through portion for ensuring the visibility of the window (claim 1).

  According to such an image forming apparatus, the user can visually recognize a part of the apparatus main body through the window provided in the apparatus main body. Therefore, the user can know the internal state such as what member is actually attached to the apparatus main body without opening the opening / closing cover or the like. In addition, since the auxiliary tray is configured to be stored in the recessed portion provided with the window portion, there is no need to separately provide a storage portion of the auxiliary tray, and even if the auxiliary tray and the window portion are provided on the discharge surface, the discharge surface is complicated. The feeling can be avoided.

  In the above-described configuration, the auxiliary tray includes a frame portion having a shape that fits into the recess, and an opening formed inside the frame portion, and the frame portion is substantially equal to a recess depth of the recess. It is desirable to have a matching thickness (Claim 2).

  According to this configuration, when the auxiliary tray is in the storage position, the upper surface of the frame portion does not protrude from the paper discharge surface and is substantially flush. Therefore, the leading edge of the paper discharged on the paper discharge surface is not caught by the auxiliary tray.

  In this case, it is desirable that a tapered surface that is inclined downward toward the opening is formed on the surface that becomes the surface when the frame is in the storage posture.

  According to this configuration, since the tapered surface as described above is formed, even when the configuration in which the auxiliary tray is housed in the recess provided with the window portion is adopted, the window portion can be easily seen from a direction other than directly above. can do. Further, although there is a tendency that dust or the like is easily collected in the recess, the taper surface is provided so that the user can easily clean the dust or the like staying in the recess.

  In any one of the above configurations, the apparatus further includes a consumable supply member that is detachably attached to the apparatus main body, and the window portion supplies the consumable supplies in a state where the consumable supply member is attached to the apparatus main body. It is desirable that it is a window part which can visually recognize a part of member (Claim 4).

  According to this configuration, the user can visually recognize a part of the consumable supply member through the window provided in the apparatus main body. Therefore, the user can know what consumable supply member is actually attached to the apparatus main body without opening the opening / closing cover or the like.

  In this case, it is preferable that the apparatus main body includes a developing mechanism therein, and the consumable supply member is a toner container for supplying toner to the developing mechanism.

  According to this configuration, the user can know what toner container is actually attached to the apparatus main body without opening the opening / closing cover or the like.

  Further, in this case, it is desirable that a display unit for displaying predetermined display information is provided on a part or all of the visual recognition unit of the toner container.

  According to this configuration, the user can check the display information displayed on the toner container through the window. Therefore, the user can easily grasp the feature of the toner container based on the display information.

  In any one of the above-described configurations, it is desirable that the concave portion is provided on the leading end side in the conveyance direction of the paper discharged to the paper discharge surface and in the vicinity of the central portion in the width direction of the paper discharge surface. .

  According to this configuration, by setting the position of the concave portion as described above, the position of the auxiliary tray can also be set at the front end side in the sheet transport direction and at the center in the width direction of the paper discharge surface. Therefore, the auxiliary tray can be disposed at a location suitable for supporting the paper. In addition, the user can recognize the center position in the width direction of the sheet (sheet bundle) using the recess as a mark.

  In this case, it is desirable that the concave portion and / or the auxiliary tray have a symmetric shape having apexes oriented toward the rear end side in the paper transport direction of the paper discharge surface.

  According to this configuration, the center position in the width direction of the sheet bundle can be displayed in a simple and easy-to-understand shape. Furthermore, since the center display portion has a symmetrical shape having a vertex toward the rear end side of the paper discharge direction on the paper discharge surface, the design can be improved.

  According to the image forming apparatus of the present invention, the user can know what members are actually attached to the apparatus main body from the outside of the image forming apparatus main body. Therefore, for example, when ordering a toner container or when a maintenance request is made, it is possible to quickly grasp the model number of the toner container or the like, and the convenience of the user can be improved. Furthermore, since the auxiliary tray is housed in the concave portion provided with the window portion, even if the auxiliary tray and the window portion are provided on the paper discharge surface, the complexity of the paper discharge surface can be avoided and the design is excellent. be able to.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an appearance of a printer 1 according to an embodiment of an image forming apparatus (consumable supply member receiving apparatus) of the present invention. In FIG. 1, the XX direction is the front-rear direction, the YY direction is the left-right direction, the ZZ direction is the up-down direction, the + X direction is the front, the -X direction is the rear, the + Y direction is the right, -Y The direction is left, the + Z direction is up, and the -Z direction is down. This is the same in other drawings with direction indications.

  The printer 1 (image forming apparatus) performs image forming processing based on image information input from an external device of a personal computer, for example, and performs transfer processing on paper. The printer 1 is configured by mounting various devices for image formation in an apparatus main body 10 having a quadrangular prism casing structure.

  A paper feed cassette 11 is attached to the lower front portion of the apparatus main body 10. The paper feed cassette 11 is a box-shaped drawer container that stores a sheet bundle P1 (see FIG. 2) that is a set of sheets P subjected to transfer processing, and is detachable from the apparatus main body 10.

  A manual paper feed unit 12 is provided above the paper feed cassette 11. The manual paper feed unit 12 is formed of a rectangular plate-like member, and is attached to a lower portion of the manual feed unit 12 so as to be rotatable with respect to a front portion of the apparatus main body 10 and can be opened and closed with respect to the apparatus main body 10 (FIG. reference). When the user desires manual paper feeding instead of automatic paper feeding from the paper feeding cassette 11, the user can perform paper feeding with the manual paper feeding unit 12 opened. Note that the outer surface of the manual sheet feeder 12 also serves as a decorative plate in the front portion of the apparatus main body 10.

  A paper discharge unit 13 is provided on the upper surface of the apparatus main body 10. The paper discharge unit 13 is formed by partially denting the upper surface of the apparatus main body 10, and receives printed paper on the concave bottom surface (paper discharge surface 130). The paper discharge surface 130 includes a curved plate 131 positioned on the rear side of the upper surface of the apparatus main body 10 and an opening / closing cover 132 positioned on the front side. The curved plate 131 has a gradual curved surface that gradually increases in the downward direction from the front to the rear, and the portion adjacent to the paper discharge port 133 is the lowest. The open / close cover 132 is a flat plate-like member, and is assembled in a state of being inclined gently downward so as to be continuous with the front end edge of the curved plate 131. According to such a paper discharge unit 13, a plurality of sheets discharged from the paper discharge outlet 133 are aligned in the vicinity of the paper discharge outlet 133 on the rear end side in the transport direction due to the inclination of the paper discharge surface 130.

  The opening / closing cover 132 is opened upward with the rear edge side as a rotation axis (see FIGS. 3 and 4). The open / close cover 132 is opened and closed when the toner container 30 is replaced. Further, a confirmation portion 15 having a window portion 152 for making a part of the toner container 30 visible can be provided at the center in the left-right direction of the opening / closing cover 132. Further, an auxiliary tray 16 having a triangular shape is attached to the confirmation unit 15. These will be described in detail later.

  A shallow concave surface 134 extending in the front-rear direction is provided on the paper discharge surface 130 from the curved plate 131 to the opening / closing cover 132. The concave surface 134 is for reducing the contact resistance of the paper with respect to the paper discharge surface 130 and ensuring smooth paper discharge. The concave surface 134 has left and right side side steps 135 that expand from the rear to the front. Similarly, the paper discharge surface 130 is also widened from the rear to the front, and the upper wall 136 located on the left and right of the paper discharge surface 130 is formed to be thinner from the rear to the front. Therefore, for the user who operates (views) from the front side of the apparatus main body 10, the surface shape with a sense of depth and an aerodynamic feeling created by the presence of the side step 135 and the top wall 136 is stylish and speedy. It is supposed to give a aesthetic impression.

  The operation panel unit 14 is provided on the right upper wall 136. The operation panel unit 14 receives user operations on the printer 1 and displays information related to the operation of the printer 1 to the user. In this example, the operation panel unit 14 includes a display unit 141 including an indicator for displaying the storage status of paper and toner, the occurrence of a jam, a cancel key 142 for interrupting printing, and a start key 143 for executing printing. is doing. In addition to the above, an example in which the manufacturer emblem 17 is provided on the outer peripheral front surface of the apparatus main body 10 and the vent hole 18 and the power switch 19 are provided on the left side surface is shown.

  As described above, a part of the outer casing (housing) of the apparatus main body 10 is the decorative surface (front surface) of the paper feed cassette 11 and the manual paper feed unit 12 and the paper discharge surface 130 (upper surface) of the paper discharge unit 13. It is configured. The color of the outer casing may be a single color such as ivory. However, for example, the paper discharge surface 130 or the decorative surface of the paper discharge surface 130 and the manual paper feed unit 12 may be darker than the other portions. desirable. In this way, not only the design is enhanced by the two-tone color, but also the user can easily recognize the paper discharged onto the paper discharge surface 130. In this case, for example, the color of the paper discharge surface 130 or the like is set to 2 or less in the lightness in the Munsell chart (JIS) Munsell value, and the lightness difference between the paper discharge surface 130 or the like and the color of other parts is the lightness difference in the Munsell value. It should be 3 or more.

  Next, the internal structure of the printer 1 will be described. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing a side cross section in the front-rear direction of FIG. The printer 1 includes the above-described paper feed cassette 11, image forming unit 20, and fixing unit 27 in the apparatus main body 10. The paper feed cassette 11 stores a paper bundle P1 used for printing processing. The image forming unit 20 applies to each sheet P fed out from the sheet bundle P1 stored in the sheet feeding cassette 11 or to the sheet P fed from the manual sheet feeding unit 12 described above. Image transfer processing is performed. The fixing unit 27 performs a fixing process on the paper P on which the transfer process has been performed.

  The sheet feeding cassette 11 is provided with a lifter 111, and the feeding end (downstream end) side of the sheet bundle P1 is lifted. A pickup roller 112 is provided at the downstream end of the paper feed cassette 11 to feed out the paper P one by one from the paper bundle P1, and the end of the paper bundle P1 lifted by the lifter 111 is brought into contact with the pickup roller 112. ing. The paper P fed out by driving the pickup roller 112 is fed to the image forming unit 20 through a paper feed conveyance path 113 and a registration roller pair 114 provided at the downstream end of the paper feed conveyance path 113. . The paper P fed from the manual paper feed unit 12 is conveyed to the registration roller pair 114 via a paper feed roller (not shown).

  The image forming unit 20 performs a process of transferring a toner image onto the paper P based on image data given from an external device. The image forming unit 20 includes a photosensitive drum 21 rotatably provided around a drum core extending in the left-right direction, a charger 22 disposed along the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 21, an exposure device 23, and development. A device 24 (developing mechanism), a transfer roller 25 and a cleaning device 26 are included.

  The photosensitive drum 21 is for forming an electrostatic latent image and a toner image along the electrostatic latent image on its peripheral surface. As the photosensitive drum 21, an amorphous silicon photosensitive drum in which an amorphous silicon layer is laminated on the peripheral surface is suitable.

  The charger 22 forms a uniform charge on the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 21 rotating in the clockwise direction around the drum core. Here, the charger 22 is exemplified by a system that applies a charge to the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 21 by corona discharge. Instead of the charger 22, a charging roller that applies a charge to the photosensitive drum 21 while the peripheral surface of the charger 22 rotates while being in contact with the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 21 may be employed.

  The exposure device 23 irradiates the peripheral surface of the rotating photosensitive drum 21 with laser light to which intensity is applied based on the image data. The portion of the photosensitive drum 21 that has been irradiated with the laser light has its charge erased, whereby an electrostatic latent image corresponding to the laser light irradiation pattern is formed on the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 21.

  The developing device 24 supplies toner to the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 21 via a built-in developing roller 241. When the toner is supplied to the photosensitive drum 21, the toner adheres to the portion where the electrostatic latent image is formed, whereby a toner image is formed on the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 21. A toner container 30 is detachably attached to the developing device 24. When the toner in the developing device 24 is consumed, the toner is replenished from the toner container 30.

  The transfer roller 25 forms a nip portion with the photosensitive drum 21, and transfers a toner image formed on the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 21 to the paper P fed into the nip portion. The toner image on the circumferential surface of the photosensitive drum 21 is positively charged. On the other hand, the transfer roller 25 applies a negative charge having a polarity opposite to that of the toner image to the paper P. The toner image on the circumferential surface of the photosensitive drum 21 that is positively charged is peeled off toward the surface of the negatively charged sheet P and transferred to the sheet P.

  The cleaning device 26 removes the toner remaining on the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 21 after the transfer process and cleans it. The peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 21 cleaned by the cleaning device 26 is again directed to the charger 22 for the next image forming process.

  The fixing unit 27 performs a fixing process by heating the sheet P on which the toner image transfer process has been performed by the image forming unit 20. The fixing unit 27 includes a heat roller 271 in which an energization heating element is mounted, and a pressure roller 272 in which the peripheral surface of the heat roller 271 is disposed opposite to the heat roller 271. The sheet P after the transfer process passes through a nip portion between the heat roller 271 that is driven to rotate and the pressure roller 272 that is driven to rotate in the opposite direction to the heat roller 271, thereby generating heat from the heat roller 271. The fixing process is performed. The sheet P subjected to the fixing process is discharged to the paper discharge unit 13 through the paper discharge conveyance path 28. The paper discharge conveyance path 28 is a conveyance path through which each size of paper P is discharged with reference to the center line in the left-right width direction (direction orthogonal to the paper conveyance direction) of the paper discharge surface 130.

  FIGS. 3 and 4 are perspective views for explaining a mounting state of the toner container 30 (consumable supply member) to the apparatus main body 10, and FIG. 3 shows the toner container 30 mounted to the apparatus main body 10 (developing device 24). FIG. 4 shows a state where the toner container 30 is removed from the apparatus main body 10.

  When replacing the toner container 30, the user grasps the front end side of the opening / closing cover 132 and lifts it upward, rotates the opening / closing cover 132 about 90 degrees around the rotation shaft 132 a, and opens the opening / closing cover 132. To do. By this operation, as shown in FIG. 3, the toner container 30 mounted in the storage space V in the apparatus main body 10 is exposed.

  Next, the toner container 30 is taken out of the storage space V by lifting the left and right side surfaces of the toner container 30 with both hands (see FIG. 4). Then, a new toner container 30 filled with toner is mounted in the storage space V. At this time, the toner container 30 needs to be correctly aligned and attached to the installation portion 301 provided on the upper surface of the developing device 24. In other words, the user must be in the correct installation direction so that the toner discharge hole of the toner container 30 and the drive gear of the agitator are aligned with the toner receiving hole on the installation unit 301 side and the drive unit of the agitator. It is necessary to attach the toner container 30. When a new toner container 30 is installed, the open / close cover 132 is closed.

  In the printer 1 configured as described above, in this embodiment, it is possible to know what toner container 30 is actually attached to the apparatus main body 10 even when the open / close cover 132 is closed. Therefore, a confirmation unit 15 is provided on the opening / closing cover 132 in order to indicate the center position in the left-right direction of the sheet discharge unit 13 (sheet discharge surface 130). Further, on the upper surface of the container main body 31 of the toner container 30, a display unit 32 disposed at a position facing the confirmation unit 15 in a state where the toner container 30 is mounted on the apparatus main body 10 is provided. Hereinafter, these configurations will be described in detail.

  FIG. 5 is a top view of the opening / closing cover 132 and the toner container 30. The confirmation unit 15 is provided at the center position of the open / close cover 132 in the left-right direction and the front-rear direction. In the present embodiment, the confirmation unit 15 is provided on the window recess 151 in which the center position of the opening / closing cover 132 is recessed (a recess in which a part of the paper discharge surface is recessed) and the bottom surface of the window recess 151. Window portion 152.

  As described above, the window 152 is not provided flush with the opening / closing cover 132 but is provided on the bottom surface of the window recess 151, so that the window 152 rubs the paper discharged to the paper discharge unit 13, and the like. Interference with the other article can be prevented, and scratches and dirt can be prevented from entering the window 152. On the other hand, since there is a depression at the front end side of the paper discharge direction of the paper discharge unit 13, that is, the position where the user grips the paper when taking out the paper discharged to the paper discharge unit 13, There is an advantage that it becomes easy to pick.

  As the window portion 152, for example, a transparent plastic plate can be used. The window recess 151 is a recess having a substantially triangular shape when viewed from above, and the window 152 has a triangular shape that is slightly smaller than the window recess 151, both of which have directionality.

  The window portion 152 has an isosceles triangle shape whose bottom is parallel to the front edge of the apparatus body 10 and whose vertex 152T is oriented rearward. The window recess 151 has a similar isosceles triangle, but has a parallel portion 1511 closer to the front than the bottom, and the front edge side of the parallel portion 1511 is an inclined surface 1512. The parallel portion 1511 is a portion where a rotation shaft for causing the auxiliary tray 16 to rotate upward is formed. The inclined surface 1512 is a part for supporting the auxiliary tray 16 in a state where the auxiliary tray 16 is lifted and rotated at a predetermined rotation angle.

  In terms of the positional relationship with respect to the paper discharge unit 13, the apex 152T of the window 152 and the apex 151T of the window recess 151 are located at the leading end side in the paper transport direction and at the center in the horizontal width direction of the paper discharge surface 130. is doing. In addition, the orientation directions of the vertices 151T and 152T are the rear end side in the paper transport direction. With this positional relationship, the user can know the center position in the width direction of the paper discharged to the paper discharge unit 13. Therefore, even when a large number of sheets are stacked on the paper discharge surface 130 to form a thick sheet bundle, the user can recognize the center of the sheet bundle and hold the sheet bundle in a balanced manner at the center position. Therefore, even a user with weak finger strength or a user on a wheelchair can stably take out the sheet bundle from the sheet discharge surface 130 without breaking the stacked state of the sheets.

  In relation to the toner container 30, the vertex 152T of the window 152 and the vertex 151T of the window recess 151 are oriented in the direction in which the toner container 30 is installed with respect to the apparatus main body 10. In the printer 1 of the present embodiment, the toner container 30 is installed from the front side of the apparatus main body 10 as shown in FIGS. In order to easily show the installation direction of the toner container 30 to the user, the window portion 152 and the window recess portion 151 have a symmetrical shape in which the vertex 152T and the vertex 151T are oriented from the front to the rear of the apparatus body 10. It is a triangular shape. As a result, the user can navigate in the orientation directions of the vertex 152T and the vertex 151T and install the toner container 30 on the apparatus main body 10. Therefore, an error in the mounting direction of the toner container 30 can be prevented in advance. Furthermore, since the window part 152 and the window recessed part 151 are provided with a symmetrical shape having apexes in the installation direction, the design can be improved.

  Variations of the shape of the window 152 (window recess 151) are illustrated in FIGS. 6 (a) to 6 (e). The window 152a shown in FIG. 6A has an isosceles triangle shape similar to the window 152 illustrated in FIG. The window 152b in FIG. 6B has a substantially triangular (or pentagonal) shape with an extension parallel to the base. The window 152c in FIG. 6C has a shape in which the side toward the apex is a symmetrical curve. The window portion 152d in FIG. 6D has a substantially triangular shape in which the apex is not an acute angle but a curve, and an extension portion parallel to the base is attached. The window 152e in FIG. 6E has a substantially triangular (or hexagonal) shape in which the vicinity of the apex is parallel to the base and an extension parallel to the base is attached. As described above, it is desirable that the shape of the window 152 (window recess 151) is a left-right symmetrical shape constituted by a straight line or a curved line with apexes oriented in the installation direction of the toner container 30. However, the window 152 may have a shape having no directionality, for example, a circular or square shape.

  The toner container 30 includes a container main body 31 and a display unit 32 provided on the upper surface of the container main body 31. The container body 31 has a housing structure in which toner is stored. The container body 31 is equipped with an agitator for stirring the toner, a transport screw for guiding the toner to a toner discharge hole (not shown) provided in the lower end wall of the container body 31, and the like. .

  The display unit 32 is provided on the upper surface of the container body 31 and displays predetermined display information. The display unit 32 is disposed at a position facing the confirmation unit 15 in a state where the toner container 30 is mounted on the apparatus main body 10. The display unit 32 has an isosceles triangle shape that is substantially the same size as the window unit 152, and is provided in alignment with the correct mounting direction of the toner container 30 to the apparatus main body 10.

  As shown in FIG. 5, when the toner container 30 is attached to the apparatus main body 10 in the correct direction, the display section 32 faces the window section 152 in a shape-matching manner, that is, the apex 152T of the window section 152. The display unit 32 is provided on the upper surface of the container body 31 so that the direction of the display unit 32 and the apex 32T of the display unit 32 are aligned. That is, the display unit 32 has a triangular shape, which is a bilaterally symmetric shape, having a vertex 32 </ b> T oriented in the installation direction of the toner container 30, similar to the window unit 152. As described above, the window 152 and the display unit 32 have directionality, so that when the user attaches the toner container 30 to the apparatus main body 10 in the wrong direction, the window unit 152 and the display unit 32 are not connected. Based on the difference in directionality, it is possible to easily recognize the erroneous mounting. The shapes exemplified in FIGS. 6A to 6E can also be adopted as variations in the shape of the display unit 32.

  The display part 32 can be comprised by the seal | sticker etc. which have the adhesion surface which can be adhere | attached on the container main body 31 in a back surface. In the present embodiment, an example in which a substantially triangular display portion recess 33 is provided in the center of the upper surface of the container body 31 in a top view and a seal for the display portion 32 is attached to the bottom surface 331 thereof is shown. In addition, the display unit 32 displays a pictorial symbol display unit 321 that displays a pictorial symbol indicating toner, and a character display unit 322 that displays a manufacturer name (“ABCDE” in FIG. 5) as display information. And are provided. In addition, symbols or the like that do not constitute characters may be displayed on the display unit 32. Furthermore, instead of configuring the display unit 32 with a seal or the like, a triangular display unit including the above-described pictograms and characters may be directly formed on the upper surface of the container body 31 by die processing.

  Display information such as characters, symbols or pictograms displayed on the display unit 32 is determined when the front of the apparatus main body 10 which is the direction facing the printer 1 when the user replaces the toner container 30 is defined as the reference direction. When the toner container 30 is normally attached to the apparatus main body 10, the display information is directed in the positive direction when viewed from the front. That is, the characters “ABCDE” are printed from the front of the apparatus body 10 so that the user can read them from the normal direction. Thereby, when the toner container 30 is normally attached to the apparatus main body 10, the user can read the display information on the display unit 32 from the right direction from the front. Therefore, it is easy for the user to see the display information, and when the mounting direction of the toner container 30 is wrong, the character information or the like is reversed, so that the error can be quickly noticed.

  By the way, in the printer 1 according to the present embodiment, a window portion 152 is provided in the opening / closing cover 132 that bears a part of the outer casing of the apparatus main body 10. For this reason, external light can enter the apparatus main body 10 through the window 152. Since there are members that are influenced by external light, such as the photosensitive drum 21, in the apparatus main body 10, it is desirable to provide a light shielding structure in the vicinity of the window portion 152. This light shielding structure will be described with reference to FIG.

  7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line aa in FIG. In FIG. 7, the auxiliary tray 16 is omitted to simplify the illustration. As described above, the window 152 is provided on the bottom surface of the window recess 151 formed by recessing a part of the opening / closing cover 132. The window recess 151 includes a side wall 153 extending in the recess direction and a bottom wall 154 connected to the side wall 153, and a transparent plate constituting the window 152 is fitted to the edge 155 of the bottom wall 154. Yes.

  The recess 33 for the display part of the toner container 30 is provided on the upper surface 31F of the toner container 30, and includes a bottom surface 331 to which a seal constituting the display unit 32 is attached, and a side wall 332 connected to the periphery of the bottom surface 331. Yes. The display recess 33 has a triangular shape larger than the window recess 151 in a top view so that the window recess 151 can be accommodated, and the opening / closing cover 132 is closed at the normal position. It has a depth that does not interfere.

  When the open / close cover 132 is closed, the window 152 passes over the upper surface 31F of the toner container 30 and enters the display unit recess 33, and approaches the bottom surface 331 (display unit 32). Further, the side wall 153 of the window recess 151 opposes the side wall 332 of the display recess 33 in the vicinity. Further, the back surface of the opening / closing cover 132 and the upper surface 31F of the toner container 30 are closely opposed to each other. That is, both the display recess 33 and the window recess 151 projecting from the back surface of the opening / closing cover 132 have a directional shape. When the toner container 30 is mounted in the correct installation direction, the window recess 151 is displayed. It fits inside the side wall 332 that defines the recess 33 for part.

  Accordingly, external light incident from the window 152 is provided by the bottom surface 331 near the bottom wall 154 included in the display unit recess 33, the side wall 332 near the side wall 153, and the top surface 31F near the back surface of the opening / closing cover 132. Does not diffuse into the body 10. On the other hand, the toner particles may be scattered inside the apparatus main body 10, but the presence of the bottom surface 331, the side wall 332, and the upper surface 31 F makes it difficult for the scattered toner particles to reach the lower surface of the window portion 152. Pollution is suppressed.

  FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line aa of FIG. 5 showing another embodiment of the light shielding structure. Here, an example is shown in which a rib 333 is erected on the upper surface 31F of the toner container 30A so as to surround the window recess 151 protruding from the back surface of the opening / closing cover 132. That is, the standing shape of the rib 333 is a substantially triangular shape that is slightly larger than the window recess 151 in a top view. The rib 333 faces and opposes the side wall 153 of the window recess 151 when the opening / closing cover 132 is closed. The toner container 30 </ b> A with such a rib 333 also exhibits the above-described light shielding effect and the effect of preventing scattered toner particles.

  Next, the auxiliary tray 16 will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 9A is a top view showing the storage posture in which the auxiliary tray 16 is stored in the recess of the confirmation unit 15 (window recess 151), and FIG. 9B shows the auxiliary tray 16 being lifted upward. FIG. 6 is a top view showing a deployed posture that supports the leading end side in the transport direction of the paper that is rotated and discharged to the paper discharge unit 13. FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken along line bb of FIG.

  The auxiliary tray 16 is used for supporting the paper supplementarily when discharging a large size paper to the paper discharge unit 13 or improving the alignment of the paper, and has a triangular frame shape. The opening / closing cover 132 is rotatably attached to the confirmation portion 15. As a result of the auxiliary tray 16 being installed in the confirmation unit 15, the auxiliary tray 16 is positioned at the front end side in the paper transport direction and at the center in the width direction of the paper discharge surface, and at a location suitable for auxiliary paper support. positioned. The auxiliary tray 16 includes a frame portion 161, an opening peripheral wall 162, a tapered surface 163, a rotating portion 164, and a paper support surface 165.

  The frame part 161 is a triangular frame member that can be fitted into the window recess 151 and has an opening on the inside. As shown in FIG. 10, the frame portion 161 has a thickness that substantially matches the recess depth of the window recess 151, and the upper surface 161T of the frame portion 161 is substantially flush with the upper surface of the opening / closing cover in the retracted position. . Therefore, the leading edge of the paper discharged to the paper discharge surface 130 is not caught by the auxiliary tray 16. A slight gap is provided between the outer peripheral wall of the frame portion 161 and the side wall 153 of the window recess 151 so as not to impair the turnability of the auxiliary tray 16.

  The opening peripheral wall 162 is a triangular wall surface in a top view that forms the opening. The opening is provided to ensure the visibility of the window 152 when the auxiliary tray 16 is attached using the depression of the confirmation unit 15.

  The tapered surface 163 is an inclined surface that is inclined downward from the upper surface 161T of the frame portion 161 toward the opening peripheral wall 162. The tapered surface 163 has a function of making the window 152 easily visible from directions other than directly above. In addition, since the window recess 151 is a concave surface, dust tends to accumulate. However, since the tapered surface 163 is provided, the user not only near the center of the window 152 but also the opening peripheral wall 162 of the window 152. Dust staying in the vicinity can be easily cleaned.

  The rotating part 164 is provided in the vicinity of the bottom of the frame part 161 and is axially coupled to the parallel part 1511 of the window recess 151 to realize the lifting and turning of the auxiliary tray 16. The auxiliary tray 16 rotates about the axis of the rotating unit 164, so that the attitude of the auxiliary tray 16 can be changed between a storage attitude stored in the window recess 151 and an unfolding attitude for supporting the paper in an auxiliary manner. ing.

  The paper support surface 165 is a triangular support surface that is located on the back surface of the frame portion 161 and supports the paper. As shown in FIG. 9B, the paper support surface 165 appears on the upper surface side of the paper discharge unit 13 with a predetermined angle with respect to the paper discharge surface 130 when the auxiliary tray 16 is in the unfolded posture. At this time, the upper surface 161T of the frame portion 161 is in contact with the inclined surface 1512 of the window recess 151, and the auxiliary tray 16 is in a stable state. As shown in FIG. 11, the paper support surface 165 supports the paper P discharged to the paper discharge unit 13. On the other hand, when the auxiliary tray 16 is in the storage position, the sheet support surface 165 is in contact with the bottom wall 154 of the window recess 151.

  The user normally stores the auxiliary tray 16 configured as described above in the window recess 151, and lifts and rotates the auxiliary tray 16 as necessary to support the paper discharged to the paper discharge unit 13 as an unfolded posture. Can be made. In addition, since the auxiliary tray 16 is stored using the confirmation unit 15, it is not necessary to secure a separate storage location for the auxiliary tray 16, while the auxiliary tray 16 is provided with an opening. The visibility of the part 152 is not impaired. The auxiliary tray 16 can also be used as a handle when opening the opening / closing cover 132.

  According to the printer 1 according to the present embodiment configured as described above, the user can check the display information described on the display unit 32 of the toner container 30 through the window unit 152 from the outside of the printer 1. Accordingly, the user can know what toner container 30 is actually attached to the apparatus main body 10 without bothering to open the opening / closing cover 132. Therefore, for example, when ordering the toner container 30 or when a maintenance request is made, it is possible to quickly grasp the model number of the toner container 30 and the like, and the convenience for the user can be improved.

  Here, due to the provision of the window 152 in the outer casing of the apparatus main body 10, the influence of external light may be exerted on the image forming unit other than the photosensitive drum 21. However, in the present embodiment, a light shielding structure is employed in which the protruding portion of the window recess 151 is fitted into the display recess 33 of the toner container 30 when the opening / closing cover 132 is closed. Accordingly, the side wall 332 mainly serves as a light shielding wall, and diffusion of external light inside the apparatus main body 10 is suppressed. Such a light shielding structure also suppresses adhesion of toner particles that may be scattered in the apparatus main body 10 to the window portion 152.

  The window 152 is provided on the bottom surface of the window recess 151, and is disposed at a position that is one step lower than the paper discharge surface 130. For this reason, it becomes difficult for an external force to act on the window part 152, generation | occurrence | production of a crack and dirt is suppressed, and the visibility of the window part 152 can be ensured favorably over a long period of time.

  Further, the window 152 is provided at the center in the left-right width direction of the opening / closing cover 132 disposed on the front end side in the sheet conveying direction, and the vertex 152T of the window 152 (the vertex 151T of the window recess 151) is the discharge surface 130. Is located at the center in the left-right width direction. Therefore, the user can use the window portion 152 (vertex 152T) as a center display portion, and can know the center position in the width direction of the paper discharged to the paper discharge portion 13.

  Further, the auxiliary tray 16 is assembled by using the confirmation unit 15 (the window recess 151), and is normally stored in the window recess 151, and can be rotated when necessary to support the paper supplementarily. ing. Moreover, the auxiliary tray 16 is provided with an opening, and the visibility of the window 152 is ensured. As described above, since the concave portion of the paper discharge surface 130 provided for the window portion 152 is effectively used, it is not necessary to separately secure a storage place for the auxiliary tray 16. In addition, the paper discharge surface 130 is not complicated in terms of design.

  The printer 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention has been described above, but the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, the following embodiment can be taken.

[1] In the above embodiment, the printer 1 is illustrated as an example of the image forming apparatus. Needless to say, the present invention can also be applied to other image forming apparatuses such as a copying machine, a facsimile machine, or a complex machine of these.

[2] In the above embodiment, the example in which the window 152 is provided in the center in the width direction of the opening / closing cover 132 has been described, but the window 152 does not necessarily have to be provided in the center in the width direction. In addition to the window 152 where the auxiliary tray 16 is assembled, a window may be provided separately. For example, it may be provided on the front surface side of the apparatus main body 10 (the outer surface of the manual sheet feeder 12 in the above embodiment). Furthermore, in order to improve the visibility of the window part 152 even in a dark place, it is desirable to arrange the lighting device in the vicinity of the window part 152.

[3] In the above-described embodiment, an example in which an opening portion is provided in the auxiliary tray 16 as a see-through portion for ensuring the visibility of the window portion 152 has been described. You may make it attach a transparent plate, a transparent film, or a slit board to this opening part. Further, instead of providing an opening in the auxiliary tray 16, a transparent triangular plate may be used as the auxiliary tray 16.

[4] In the above-described embodiment, the display unit 32 of the toner container 30 is triangular, and characters and pictorial symbols are printed as display information. The shape of the display unit 32 is arbitrary, and may be various shapes having a direction other than a triangle or various shapes having no direction. Further, the shape of the window portion 152 and the shape of the display portion 32 of the toner container 30 are not necessarily matched.

  The display information preferably includes at least one of characters, symbols, or pictorial symbols, but may be simple color information or the like. Further, in order to improve the visibility of the display unit 32 in a dark place, the display unit 32 is formed of a fluorescent or phosphorescent material, or the display unit 32 is configured by a luminescent or heat-sensitive panel. You may do it.

  A portion of the toner container 30 (consumable supply member) that does not include display information may be used as the visual recognition unit. That is, the display part 32 as shown in the above embodiment is not particularly provided in the toner container 30, and a part of the surface of the toner container 30 (container main body 31) may be viewed from the window 152. Alternatively, the window 152 may be provided at a position where members other than the toner container 30 can be visually recognized.

[5] In the above-described embodiment, the fitting structure of the display recess 33 and the window recess 151 is illustrated as the light blocking structure. Instead of this, for example, on the back side of the opening / closing cover 132, the periphery of the window recess 151 is surrounded by a sponge-like light shielding seal material having a light shielding property, and the protruding end of the light shielding seal material is brought into contact with the upper surface of the toner container 30. Alternatively, a light shielding structure that is close to each other may be used.

[6] In the above embodiment, as an example of the image forming apparatus and the consumable supply member, the electrophotographic printer 1 and the toner container 30 attached thereto are illustrated. In addition, the present invention can also be applied to, for example, an ink jet printer and an ink cartridge attached to the printer. Furthermore, the present invention can be widely applied to various home appliances, various electric / mechanical devices for industrial use, and consumable supply members attached thereto.

1 is a perspective view illustrating an appearance of a printer according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is sectional drawing which shows the side cross section of the front-back direction of FIG. 1 simply. FIG. 6 is a perspective view for explaining a mounting state of the toner container with respect to the apparatus main body, and is a diagram illustrating a state in which the toner container is mounted on the apparatus main body. FIG. 6 is a perspective view for explaining a mounting state of the toner container with respect to the apparatus main body, and shows a state where the toner container is detached from the apparatus main body. FIG. 4 is a top view of an opening / closing cover and a toner container. It is a typical top view which shows the variation of the shape of a window part. It is the sectional view on the aa line of FIG. It is the sectional view on the aa line of FIG. 5 which shows deformation | transformation embodiment. (A) is a top view showing the auxiliary tray in the storage posture, (b) is a top view showing the auxiliary tray in the deployed posture. It is the bb sectional view taken on the line of Fig.9 (a). It is a perspective view which shows the utilization condition of an auxiliary tray.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Printer 10 Apparatus main body 13 Paper discharge part 130 Paper discharge surface 132 Opening / closing cover 15 Confirmation part 151 Recessed part for windows (recessed part of the discharged paper part is recessed)
151T vertex 152 window portion 16 auxiliary tray 161 frame portion 162 opening peripheral wall 163 taper surface 20 image forming portion 24 developing device (developing mechanism)
30 toner container 31 container main body 31F upper surface (surface of toner container)
32 Display unit 321 Pictogram display unit 322 Character display unit 33 Display unit recess

Claims (8)

An apparatus body for performing an image forming operation;
A paper discharge surface for receiving paper discharged after image forming processing is performed in the apparatus main body;
A window that is provided on the paper discharge surface and allows a part of the apparatus body to be visually recognized;
An auxiliary tray that is attached to the paper discharge surface and supports the discharged paper in an auxiliary manner, and an auxiliary tray that can be changed in posture between a storage posture stored in the paper discharge surface;
The window portion is provided on a bottom surface of a concave portion in which a part of the paper discharge surface is recessed.
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the auxiliary tray is housed in the recess when in the stowed posture and includes a see-through portion for ensuring the visibility of the window portion. The auxiliary tray includes a frame portion having a shape that fits into the recess, and an opening formed inside the frame portion,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the frame portion has a thickness that substantially matches a recess depth of the recess.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein a tapered surface that is inclined downward toward the opening is formed on a surface that is a surface when the frame portion is in the storage posture. Further comprising a consumable supply member that is detachably attached to the apparatus body,
The said window part is a window part which can visually recognize a part of consumables supply member in the state with which the said consumables supply member was mounted | worn with the apparatus main body. The image forming apparatus described. The apparatus main body includes a developing mechanism therein,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the consumable supply member is a toner container for supplying toner to the developing mechanism.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 5, wherein a display unit that displays predetermined display information is provided on a part or all of the visual recognition unit of the toner container.   7. The concave portion is provided at a leading end side in a conveyance direction of a sheet discharged to the paper discharge surface and in the vicinity of a central portion in the width direction of the paper discharge surface. Image forming apparatus.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the concave portion and / or the auxiliary tray have a symmetric shape having a vertex oriented toward a rear end side of the paper discharge surface in a paper transport direction.

Images