Image forming apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2023057365-A1
Application number	US-202117540238-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Dec 2, 2021
Priority date	Aug 23, 2021
Publication date	Feb 23, 2023
Grant date	—

Abstract

An image forming apparatus includes a placing portion onto which a recording medium having an image formed is to be placed, and an opening-closing member that covers an opening provided at least at one side face of the placing portion and automatically opens the opening with a predetermined timing.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . An image forming apparatus comprising:
a placing portion onto which a recording medium having an image formed is to be placed; and an opening-closing member that covers an opening provided at least at one side face of the placing portion and automatically opens the opening with a predetermined timing.

2 . The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 ,
wherein the opening-closing member opens and closes the opening by moving up and down with an aid of a link mechanism that is driven by a drive source.

3 . The image forming apparatus according to claim 2 ,
wherein the drive source is provided to an apparatus body, wherein the opening-closing member is provided to an openable covering that covers the apparatus body, and wherein the drive source transmits a driving force to the opening-closing member through a pair of driving-force-transmitting members that are capable of coming into and going out of mesh with each other.

4 . The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 ,
wherein the predetermined timing is a time point when an operation of placing the recording medium onto the placing portion is complete.

5 . The image forming apparatus according to claim 4 , further comprising:
a first detecting unit that detects the completion of the operation of placing the recording medium.

6 . The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 ,
wherein the predetermined timing is a time point when a user approaching an apparatus body to pick up the recording medium placed on the placing portion is detected.

7 . The image forming apparatus according to claim 6 , further comprising:
a second detecting unit that detects a distance between the apparatus body and the user.

8 . The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 ,
wherein the predetermined timing is a time point when a command for executing an operation of forming an image on the recording medium is received.

9 . The image forming apparatus according to claim 8 , further comprising:
a display, wherein the opening is opened when the command for executing the operation of forming an image is issued by a user through the display.

10 . The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising:
an openable covering that covers an apparatus body, wherein the opening is neither opened nor closed when the covering is open.

11 . The image forming apparatus according to claim 10 ,
wherein the openable covering serves as a front covering to which the opening-closing member is provided.

12 . The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 ,
wherein the placing portion is provided inside a frame of an apparatus body.

13 . The image forming apparatus according to claim 2 ,
wherein the placing portion is provided inside a frame of an apparatus body.

14 . The image forming apparatus according to claim 3 ,
wherein the placing portion is provided inside a frame of an apparatus body.

15 . The image forming apparatus according to claim 4 ,
wherein the placing portion is provided inside a frame of an apparatus body.

16 . The image forming apparatus according to claim 5 ,
wherein the placing portion is provided inside a frame of an apparatus body.

17 . The image forming apparatus according to claim 6 ,
wherein the placing portion is provided inside a frame of an apparatus body.

18 . The image forming apparatus according to claim 7 ,
wherein the placing portion is provided inside a frame of an apparatus body.

19 . The image forming apparatus according to claim 8 ,
wherein the placing portion is provided inside a frame of an apparatus body.

20 . The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 ,
wherein the opening of the placing portion is provided at a front face of an apparatus body, the front face facing a user when the user operates the image forming apparatus.

Assignees

• Fujifilm Business Innovation Corp

Inventors

• Shiokawa Yuya
• Ishihara Daisuke
• Tachibana Kohei

Classifications

• G03G21/1633

  using doors or covers (G03G21/1638 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G03G15/6552 Primary

  Means for discharging uncollated sheet copy material, e.g. discharging rollers, exit trays · CPC title

• G03G15/5016 Primary

  User-machine interface; Display panels; Control console · CPC title