Image forming apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9948801-B2
Application number	US-201615226269-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 2, 2016
Priority date	Apr 16, 2012
Publication date	Apr 17, 2018
Grant date	Apr 17, 2018

Abstract

An image forming apparatus includes an image reading unit, an image forming unit, a discharge unit, and a discharge tray. The image reading unit is configured to read a document placed on a document placement table by moving and scanning of a scanning body in a sub-scanning direction. The image forming unit is configured to form an image read by the image reading unit on a paper sheet. The discharge unit is configured to discharge the paper sheet on which an image is formed by the image forming unit to a direction perpendicular to the sub-scanning direction. The discharge tray is on which the paper sheet from the discharge unit is to be placed with a space portion at a lower side of the image reading unit. A bottom surface of a housing of the image reading unit facing the discharge tray is constituted of a first surface and a second surface. The first surface is a surface at a front side of the discharge unit in a discharging direction and high with respect to the discharge tray. The second surface is a surface at a back side of the discharge unit in the discharging direction lower than the first surface with respect to the discharge tray. A pulling member and/or a movable wiring are/is arranged at an upper side of the second surface inside the housing. The pulling member is configured to move the scanning body back and forth in the sub-scanning direction. One end portion of the movable wiring is secured to the scanning body.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An image forming apparatus, comprising:
an image reading section configured to read a document placed on a document placement table by moving and scanning of a scanning body in a sub-scanning direction; and
an image forming section configured to form an image read by the image reading section on a paper sheet;
wherein:
an in-body paper discharge space is formed between the image reading section and the image forming section and opens to a front surface side of an apparatus main body, and
a discharge section configured to discharge the paper sheet on which an image is formed by the image forming section; and
a discharge tray situated in the in-body paper discharge space and on which the paper sheet from the discharge section is to be placed, the discharge tray comprising wall surfaces at both sides of the discharge tray;
a bottom surface of the image reading section at a front surface side of the image forming apparatus in the in-body paper discharge space includes a plurality of ribs extending in a paper discharging direction;
the plurality of ribs are formed at different intervals.

2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein
the discharge section discharges the paper sheet from a back surface side to the front surface side of the apparatus main body.

3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein
a lower surface at the front surface side of the apparatus main body of the image reading section is formed to an inclined surface.

4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the paper discharging direction is perpendicular to the sub-scanning direction.

5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein
the discharge tray comprises a flat surface without a projection.

6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein
the wall surfaces formed at both sides of the discharge tray extend from the discharge section to the front surface side of the image forming apparatus.

7. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein
the plurality of ribs extend to the front side of the discharge section in the discharging direction.

Assignees

• Sharp Kk

Inventors

• Nakanishi Kenji
• Imoto Masahiro
• Suto Yasuhiro
• Fukutome Shohichi
• Yamanaka Hisashi
• Yoshimoto Mitsuharu

Classifications

• G03G21/1619

  Frame structures · CPC title

• H04N2201/0082

  Image hardcopy reproducer (H04N2201/0091 - H04N2201/0094 take precedence) · CPC title

• B65H2801/06

  Office-type machines, e.g. photocopiers · CPC title

• G03G15/6552

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

• H04N1/00543

  Allowing easy access, e.g. for maintenance or in case of paper jam (H04N1/00538 takes precedence) · CPC title