Image forming apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9632445-B2
Application number	US-201615045939-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 17, 2016
Priority date	Feb 24, 2015
Publication date	Apr 25, 2017
Grant date	Apr 25, 2017

Abstract

An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit that forms an image on a recording sheet. A casing constituting an outer shell of the image forming apparatus is formed in a table shape including a top plate and a leg portion supporting the top plate, the top plate including a flat working surface. The image forming unit is located inside the top plate. The top plate includes a recording sheet outlet from which the recording sheet having an image formed thereon is discharged.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An image forming apparatus including an image forming unit configured to form an image on a recording sheet, the image forming apparatus comprising:
a casing constituting an outer shell of the image forming apparatus, the casing being formed in a table shape including a top plate unit and a leg portion supporting the top plate unit, the top plate unit including a flat working surface,
wherein the image forming unit is located inside the top plate unit,
the top plate unit includes a recording sheet outlet from which the recording sheet having an image formed thereon is discharged,
the working surface is provided on a top face of the top plate unit,
the recording sheet outlet is located on a side face of the top plate unit,
a discharge guide member having a flat plate shape and inclined toward the working surface in an outward direction from the side face of the top plate unit, is provided on the side face of the top plate unit, so as to guide the recording sheet discharged through the recording sheet outlet,
a first eaves is provided on the top face of the top plate unit so as to cover the recording sheet outlet and the discharge guide member in a view from above,
the top plate unit further includes an image reading unit configured to read an image,
a document inlet is provided in the top plate unit so as to insert a document an image on which is to be read, and
the document from which the image has been read by the image reading unit is discharged through the recording sheet outlet.

2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 ,
wherein the top plate unit further includes a toner container,
the top face of the top plate unit is openable, and
the toner container is exposed when the top face is opened, so as to be removed from inside the top plate unit.

3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 ,
wherein the working surface is provided on the top face of the top plate unit,
the document inlet is located on a side face of the top plate unit, and
an insertion guide member having a flat plate shape and inclined toward the working surface in an outward direction from the side face of the top plate unit, is provided on the side face of the top plate unit, so as to guide the document to the document inlet.

4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3 , further comprising second eaves provided on the top face of the top plate unit so as to cover the document inlet and the insertion guide member in a view from above.

5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 4 ,
wherein the second eaves is formed of a light-transmissive material, and the insertion guide member can be visually recognized in a view from above.

6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 ,
wherein the top plate unit includes a first light emitter located in an end portion of the top face on a side of the document inlet,
the top plate unit includes a second light emitter located in an end portion of the top face on a side of the recording sheet outlet,
the image forming apparatus further comprising:
a control unit configured to control a light emitting operation of the first light emitter and the second light emitter; and
a reception unit configured to receive an instruction of a user,
wherein the control unit continuously or intermittently turns on the first light emitter when the reception unit receives an image reading instruction, and continuously or intermittently turns on the second light emitter when the recording sheet is discharged through the recording sheet outlet.

7. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a reading unit provided on the top face of the top plate unit and configured to read identification information proper to a user, from an object to be read brought close to the reading unit;
an authentication unit configured to perform user authentication with the identification information read by the reading unit;
a communication unit configured to perform transmission and reception of data to and from an external device;
a reception unit configured to receive the data transmitted from the external device; and
a control unit configured to allow the image forming unit to form the image based on an image data designated by an image forming instruction on the recording sheet, when the authentication unit successfully performs the user authentication and the reception unit receives the image forming instruction transmitted from the external device used by an authenticated user.

8. The image forming apparatus according to claim 7 ,
wherein the control unit is configured to cause, when the image forming unit forms an image on the recording sheet, the communication unit to transmit, to an external server, charging information according to a number of recording sheets on which the image is formed, together with the identification information.

9. The image forming apparatus according to claim 7 ,
wherein the top plate unit further includes a toner container,
the top face of the top plate unit is openable, and
the toner container is exposed when the top face is opened, so as to be removed from inside the top plate unit,
the image forming apparatus further comprising a lock mechanism that locks the opening action of the top face of the top plate unit,
wherein the authentication unit is configured to decide whether any of predetermined administrator identification information agrees with the identification information read by the reading unit, and
the control unit is configured to unlock the lock mechanism engaged with the top face of the top plate unit, when the authentication unit decides that the administrator identification information agrees with the identification information read by the reading unit.

10. An image forming apparatus including an image forming unit configured to form an image on a recording sheet, the image forming apparatus comprising:
a casing constituting an outer shell of the image forming apparatus, the casing being formed in a table shape including a top plate unit and a leg portion supporting the top plate unit, the top plate unit including a flat working surface,
wherein the image forming unit is located inside the top plate unit, and
the top plate unit includes a recording sheet outlet from which the recording sheet having an image formed thereon is discharged,
the top plate unit further includes an image reading unit configured to read an image,
a document inlet is provided in the top plate unit so as to insert a document an image on which is to be read,
the document from which the image has been read by the image reading unit is discharged through the recording sheet outlet,
the working surface is provided on the top face of the top plate unit,
the document inlet is located on a side face of the top plate unit,
an insertion guide member having a flat plate shape and inclined toward the working surface in an outward direction from the side face of the top plate unit, is provided on the side face of the top plate unit, so as to guide the document to the document inlet, and
eaves is provided on the top face of the top plate unit so as to cover the document inlet and the insertion guide member in a view from above.

11. The image forming apparatus according to claim 10 ,
wherein the eaves is formed of a light-transmissive material, and the insertion guide member can be visually recognized in a view from above.

12. The image forming apparatus according to claim 10 ,
wherein the top plate unit further includes a toner container,
the top face of the top plate unit is openable, and
the toner container is exposed when the top face is

Assignees

• Kyocera Document Solutions Inc

Inventors

• Watanabe Toshihiko
• Kuroki Hirofumi

Classifications

• G03G15/5087

  for receiving image data · CPC title

• G03G15/5016 Primary

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

• G03G21/1604

  Arrangement or disposition of the entire apparatus · CPC title

• G03G15/5075

  Remote control machines, e.g. by a host · CPC title

• G03G15/0142 Primary

  Structure of complete machines · CPC title