JP7602736B2 - Image forming device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an image forming device equipped with an antenna unit for short-range wireless communication.

For example, the image forming device described in Patent Document 1 enables short-range wireless communication between the image forming device and a mobile device.

JP 2011-103572 A

However, if the location of the antenna unit used for short-distance wireless communication is inappropriate, the operability of the image forming apparatus using a communication device such as a portable device decreases.
SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT DISCLOSURE In view of the above, an object of the present invention is to improve the operability of an image forming apparatus that utilizes a communication device.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is characterized in that it comprises an image forming unit (5) that forms an image on a sheet, a housing (3) that constitutes the exterior design surface, and an antenna unit (11A) for short-range wireless communication arranged within the housing (3), and the communication unit (11B) of the housing (3) that corresponds to the antenna unit (11A) is arranged in a position that allows the communication unit (11B) to be seen from above.

As a result, in the present invention, the communication device can be easily brought close to or into contact with the communication unit (11B), so that wireless communication between the antenna unit (11A) and the communication device can be satisfactorily established, thereby improving the operability of the image forming device that utilizes the communication device.

It should be noted that "short-distance wireless communication" refers to wireless communication within a range of, for example, approximately one email at most.
Incidentally, the symbols in parentheses for each of the above means, etc. are an example showing the correspondence with the specific means, etc. described in the embodiment described later, and the present invention is not limited to the specific means, etc. shown by the symbols in parentheses for each of the above means, etc.

1 is a perspective view of an external appearance of an image forming apparatus 1 according to a first embodiment of the present invention; 1 is a central cross-sectional view of an image forming apparatus 1 according to a first embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a projection view of an image forming apparatus 1 according to a first embodiment of the present invention onto a horizontal plane. FIG. 11 is an external perspective view of an image forming apparatus 1 according to a second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 11 is an external perspective view of an image forming apparatus 1 according to a third embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a modified example of the image forming apparatus 1 according to the third embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 11 is an external perspective view of an image forming apparatus 1 according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

The "embodiment of the invention" described below is one example of an embodiment. In other words, the invention-specific matters described in the claims are not limited to the specific means and structures shown in the embodiment below. Below, an embodiment of the present invention is described with reference to the drawings.

First Embodiment
1, a housing 3 of an image forming apparatus 1 according to this embodiment constitutes the exterior design surface of the image forming apparatus 1. Inside the apparatus main body, i.e., inside the housing 3, an image forming unit 5 that forms an image on a sheet such as paper is housed as shown in FIG.

Note that the image forming unit 5 in this embodiment is a monochrome image forming unit among electrophotographic image forming means having a photoconductor 5A, a charger 5B, an exposure unit 5C, a transfer body 5D, and a fixing unit 5E, etc.

The photoconductor 5A carries a developer image. The charger 5B charges the photoconductor 5A. The exposure device 5C exposes the charged surface of the photoconductor 5A to light, thereby forming an electrostatic latent image on the surface of the photoconductor 5A. When a charged developer is then supplied to the photoconductor 5A on which the electrostatic latent image has been formed, the developer image is carried on the surface of the photoconductor 5A.

The transfer body 5D is a means for transferring the developer image carried on the photoreceptor 5A to a sheet, and is disposed in a position opposite the photoreceptor 5A. The fixing device 5E fixes the developer image transferred to the sheet. Note that the fixing device 5E in this embodiment is a heating type fixing device that heats the developer to fuse it to the sheet.

Then, the sheet on which image formation has been completed is discharged from the discharge outlet 7A and placed on the discharge tray 7. Note that the discharge outlet 7A in this embodiment opens toward the front at the top of the rear side of the housing 3. The discharge tray 7 is configured with an inclined surface that is inclined so that it becomes lower as it approaches the discharge outlet 7A.

Furthermore, within the housing 3, below the image forming unit 5, a paper feed tray 9 is provided with a placement section 9A on which multiple sheets can be placed. This paper feed tray 9 is removably attached to the device main body, i.e., the housing 3. Note that in this embodiment, the paper feed tray 9 can be attached and detached to the housing 3 by moving the paper feed tray 9 in the forward and backward directions.

The sheets stacked on the sheet feed tray 9 are fed to the image forming unit 5 in order from the top end in the stacking direction.
2, a communication board 11 having an antenna unit 11A for short-range wireless communication is disposed inside the housing 3. In the image forming apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment, short-range wireless communication is performed with a communication device (not shown) such as a portable device via the antenna unit 11A, thereby making it possible to perform the following actions, for example.

That is, (a) the image forming device 1 is operated via an operation unit of the communication device. (b) image data to be formed on a sheet is directly sent from the communication device to the image forming device 1 without going through a computer or the like, and printed. Or (c) by authenticating the owner of the communication device, operations that have been permitted in advance for that owner are executed, and operations other than those permitted operations are prohibited, etc.

Furthermore, on the outer surface of the housing 3, the communication unit 11B corresponding to the antenna unit 11A is provided at a position that allows the communication unit 11B to be seen from above, as shown in FIG.
In other words, at least above the communication unit 11B, there is no part constituting the image forming apparatus 1, and there is a space. Therefore, there is nothing obstructing the user's view from the upper side of the communication unit 11B to the communication unit 11B, and the user can see through the communication unit 11B from above.

Specifically, the communication unit 11B is provided on the top surface of the front side of the housing 3. The front side of the housing 3 is provided with an operation unit 13 that is operated by the user. In other words, the communication unit 11B according to this embodiment is provided on the same side as the operation unit 13, at least in the front-to-rear direction of the housing 3.

More specifically, the communication unit 11B according to this embodiment is provided at a position shifted forward from the discharge tray 7 in the front-rear direction of the housing 3. Note that the "front side in the front-rear direction of the housing 3" refers to the side where the operation unit 13 is provided, for example, in the center in the front-rear direction.

For this reason, when the antenna section 11A and the charger 5B are projected onto a horizontal plane, the antenna section 11A projected onto the horizontal plane is misaligned with respect to the charger 5B projected onto the horizontal plane, as shown in FIG. 3. In other words, in this embodiment, the antenna section 11A projected onto the horizontal plane is located on the opposite side of the charger 5B projected onto the horizontal plane from the fixing unit 5E projected onto the horizontal plane, across the charger 5B projected onto the horizontal plane.

Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 2, the communication unit 11B is formed in a horizontal, planar shape. Note that "horizontal" refers to a level that prevents the communication device from slipping off the communication unit 11B, i.e., the housing 3, when the communication device is placed on the communication unit 11B. Also, "planar" refers to a level that prevents the communication device from significantly wobbling when the communication device is placed on the communication unit 11B.

Furthermore, an opening 3A and a front cover 3B are provided on the front surface of the housing 3. The opening 3A connects the inside and outside of the housing 3. The front cover 3B is attached to the housing 3 so that it can be displaced between a position that closes the opening 3A and a position that opens it. Note that the front cover 3B in this embodiment opens and closes the opening 3A by pivoting and displacing around the lower end side.

The antenna portion 11A is disposed above the upper end of the front cover 3B.
In other words, the antenna portion 11A is located at a position shifted outward from the outer edge of the opening 3A when viewed from the opening direction of the opening 3A (the front-rear direction in this embodiment).

In this embodiment, the opening 3A is an access port for performing operations such as attaching and detaching the process unit 5F and removing a clogged sheet. Incidentally, the process unit 5F is a casing that contains the photoconductor 5A and developer, etc.

3. Features of the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment In the present embodiment, the communication unit 11B is provided at a position where the communication unit 11B can be seen from above, so that a communication device such as a smartphone can be easily brought close to or into contact with the communication unit 11B. Therefore, wireless communication between the antenna unit 11A and the communication device can be satisfactorily established, and the operability of the image forming apparatus using the communication device can be improved.

In this embodiment, the antenna portion 11A is disposed so that the antenna portion 11A projected onto a horizontal plane is offset from the charger 5B projected onto the horizontal plane, so the distance between the antenna portion 11A and the charger 5B can be made relatively large. This makes it possible to prevent the antenna portion 11A from receiving electrical noise from the charger 5B.

In this embodiment, the antenna section 11A projected onto the horizontal plane is disposed so that it is located on the opposite side of the charger 5B projected onto the horizontal plane from the fixing device 5E projected onto the horizontal plane, so that the antenna section 11A can be separated from the fixing device 5E. Therefore, when a heating type fixing device 5E is used, the antenna section 11A can be protected from the heat of the fixing device 5E.

In this embodiment, the communication unit 11B is positioned offset from the discharge tray 7, which can prevent problems from occurring, such as the sheets placed on the discharge tray 7 obstructing the communication device from approaching or contacting the communication unit 11B.

In this embodiment, the communication unit 11B is located on the upper surface on the front side, so that the user can easily bring the communication device close to or into contact with the communication unit 11B.
In this embodiment, the communication unit 11B is formed in a horizontal plane, so that the communication device can be left placed on the communication unit 11B. Therefore, the user does not need to keep holding the communication device, which improves the usability of the image forming apparatus.

In this embodiment, the antenna unit 11A is disposed above the top end of the front cover 3B, so the user can easily bring the communication device close to or into contact with the communication unit 11B regardless of the position of the front cover 3B.

In other words, if the communication unit 11B were provided on a movable member such as the front cover 3B, the position of the communication unit 11B would change depending on the state of the movable member, making it difficult to bring the communication device close to or into contact with the communication unit 11B.

Second Embodiment
In the first embodiment, the communication unit 11B was provided at a position shifted forward from the discharge tray 7 in the front-to-back direction of the housing 3, but in this embodiment, the communication unit 11B is provided at a position shifted from the discharge tray 7 in the left-to-right direction of the housing 3, as shown in Figure 4.

The communication unit 11B according to this embodiment is formed as an inclined surface that becomes lower toward the front side. A holding portion 11C that holds the communication device is provided on the lower end side of the communication unit 11B.

The inclined surface that constitutes the communication unit 11B of the housing 3 may be integrally molded with the top cover 3C that constitutes the housing 3, or may be molded separately from the top cover 3C and assembled to the top cover 3C.

The communication unit 11B in this embodiment is formed with an inclined surface that becomes lower toward the front side, so that, for example, if the communication device is provided with a display unit, the user can easily view the display unit while placing the communication device on the communication unit 11B.

In addition, in this embodiment, a holding section 11C that holds the communication device is provided at the lower end side of the communication section 11B, so the user does not need to continue holding the communication device. This improves the usability of the image forming device.

Note that in FIG. 4, the communication unit 11B is provided on the rear side, i.e., rearward of the center in the front-to-rear direction, but this embodiment is not limited to this, and the communication unit 11B may be provided on the front side.

In addition, in FIG. 4, the holding portion 11C is formed by a groove extending in the left-right direction, but this embodiment is not limited to this. For example, the holding portion 11C may be formed by a protrusion protruding upward from the top cover 3C, the flat surface of the top cover 3C may be used as the holding portion 11C as it is, or the holding portion 11C may be eliminated.

Third Embodiment
In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5, the present invention is applied to an image forming apparatus 1 integrated with a reading section 20 that reads image information written on a document.

That is, the housing 3 according to this embodiment is configured to have a first housing section 31 and a second housing section 32, etc. The first housing section 31 is a housing section that houses the image forming section 5, and corresponds to the housing according to the first embodiment.

The second housing part 32 is a housing part that houses the reading unit 20 and is located above the first housing part 31, separated by a space 30A. In other words, the reading unit 20 is located above the discharge tray 7, separated by a space 30A.

In addition, an operation panel 32A that constitutes part of the second housing 32 and has an operation unit 13 is provided at a position of the second housing 32 that is offset from the reading unit 20. A communication unit 11B is provided on the operation panel 32A.

Therefore, when the reading unit 20 and the antenna unit 11A are projected onto a horizontal plane, the antenna unit 11A projected onto the horizontal plane is misaligned with respect to the reading unit 20 projected onto the horizontal plane.
In this embodiment, the operation panel 32A is shifted forward with respect to the reading unit 20 and is provided at a position that allows the operation panel 32A to be seen from above.

For this reason, in this embodiment, the user can easily bring the communication device close to or into contact with the communication unit 11B without being hindered by the reading unit 20. And since the communication unit 11B is provided in the second housing unit 32 disposed above the first housing unit 31, the user can easily bring the communication device close to or into contact with the communication unit 11B from above.

Note that, as shown in FIG. 5, the communication unit 11B according to this embodiment is configured in an inclined plane shape similar to that of the second embodiment, but does not include a holding portion 11C. However, this embodiment is not limited to this, and the holding portion 11C may be provided on the lower end side of the communication unit 11B, or the communication unit 11B may be configured in a horizontal plane shape, etc.

When providing the holding portion 11C, for example, as shown in FIG. 6, a recess 11D recessed downward from the top surface of the operation panel 32A may be provided, and the lower end side of the communication portion 11B or the entire communication portion 11B may be located at the bottom of the recess 11D. With such a configuration, the communication device can be fitted into the recess 11D, so that the recess 11D can function as the holding portion 11C.

Fourth Embodiment
In the third embodiment, the communication unit 11B is provided in the second housing unit 32, but in this embodiment, the communication unit 11B is provided in a position that can be seen from above in the first housing unit 31, as shown in Figure 7.

In this embodiment, when the reading unit 20 and antenna unit 11A are projected onto a horizontal plane, the antenna unit 11A projected onto the horizontal plane is misaligned with respect to the reading unit 20 projected onto the horizontal plane.

Therefore, in this embodiment as well, the user can easily bring the communication device close to or into contact with the communication unit 11B without the reading unit 20 becoming an obstacle.
Other Embodiments
The image forming unit in the above-described embodiment was a monochrome electrophotographic type, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the image forming unit may be of any type, such as a color 27 electrophotographic type, or a monochrome or color 27 inkjet type.

Furthermore, the specific usage form of the short-range wireless communication is not limited to the usage form shown in the above-mentioned embodiment, and other usage forms are also possible.
For example, in a communication device having a display unit such as a liquid crystal panel, the display unit of the communication device may be used as the display unit of the image forming device through short-range wireless communication. By using the communication device as the display unit of the image forming device, a configuration can be realized in which the display unit is omitted from the image forming device, thereby reducing the manufacturing cost of the image forming device.

Furthermore, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments as long as it conforms to the spirit of the invention described in the claims, and each component of each of the above-described embodiments may be used in combination.

1...image forming apparatus 3...housing 3A...opening 3B...front cover 3C...top cover 5...image forming section 5A...photoconductor 5B...charging device 5C...exposure device 5D...transfer body 5E...fixing device 5F...process unit 7A...discharge outlet 7...discharge tray 9A...mounting section 9...paper feed tray 11A...antenna section 11...communication board 11B...communication section 11C...holding section 13...operation section 20...reading section 30A...space 31...first housing section 32...second housing section 32A...operation panel

Claims (9)

an image forming unit that forms an image on a sheet;
A reading unit that reads image information of a document;
a housing having a first housing portion housing the image forming unit and a second housing portion housing the reading unit, the second housing portion being located above the first housing portion with a space therebetween;
a discharge tray on which sheets to be discharged into the space are placed;
an operation panel provided at a front of the second housing and having an operation unit operated by a user;
A communication board having an antenna unit for short-range wireless communication;
a communication section formed on the housing in a horizontal plane at a position below an upper surface of the operation panel and in front of the second housing section, the communication section being offset in the left- right direction from the operation section of the operation panel, the communication section being capable of mounting a communicator for short-range wireless communication with the communication board via the antenna section, in front of the reading section;
Equipped with
the antenna portion projected on a horizontal plane is shifted forward with respect to the reading portion projected on the horizontal plane ,
the first housing portion has a front cover capable of opening and closing an opening for performing an operation of attaching and detaching a process unit including at least one of a photoconductor and a developer;
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the communication unit is disposed above an upper end of the front cover when the front cover is in a position that closes the opening . The image forming device according to claim 1, characterized in that the antenna unit is disposed within the housing. The image forming device according to claim 1, characterized in that it executes operations that have been pre-authorized for the owner by authenticating the owner of the communication device that communicates with the communication board by short-range wireless communication. The image forming device according to claim 1, characterized in that the communication unit is located closer to the end of the image forming device than the operation unit in the left-right direction. a front end of the second housing portion is located rearward of a front end of the first housing portion,
2 . The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the communication unit is located between a front end of the first housing unit and a front end of the second housing unit in the front-rear direction. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first housing portion has a paper feed tray that is detachable by moving in a front-rear direction.
the image forming unit includes a photoconductor that carries a developer image and a charger that charges the photoconductor;
2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the antenna portion and the charger are projected onto a horizontal plane, the antenna portion projected onto the horizontal plane is misaligned with respect to the charger projected onto the horizontal plane. The image forming device according to claim 1, characterized in that the communication unit is located closer to the end of the image forming device than the discharge tray in the left-right direction. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the antenna portion is disposed above an upper end of the front cover when the front cover is in a position to close the opening.

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