JP3737007B2 - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides an image reading unit that reads a document image, an image forming unit that is disposed below the image reading unit and forms a recording image on a recording sheet, and the image reading unit and the image forming unit between the image reading unit and the image forming unit. A sheet stacking unit for stacking recording sheets on which a recording image is formed and disposed on the image forming unit; on the side opposite to the sheet discharge unit side on which the recording sheet is discharged to the sheet stacking unit; and image formation A column that is disposed on the front side of the apparatus and supports the image reading unit with a space from the image forming unit, and the image reading unit on the front side of the image forming apparatus; The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus in which a front opening for taking out a recording sheet, which is partitioned by an image forming unit, the support column, and an image forming apparatus housing part opposite to the support column, is formed.
[0002]
[Prior art]
An image forming apparatus of the above-described type configured as a copying machine, a printer, a facsimile machine, a multifunction machine having at least two of these functions, or a printing machine is conventionally known. According to this type of image forming apparatus, the recording sheet on which the recording image is formed in the image forming unit is discharged to the sheet stacking unit between the image reading unit and the image forming unit. Compared to an image forming apparatus that discharges a recording sheet onto a sheet discharge tray that protrudes greatly from the section, it is possible to reduce the size of the structure and the installation space (see JP-A-8-337349).
[0003]
By the way, in the image forming apparatus of the type described at the beginning, the recording sheet stacked on the sheet placement surface of the sheet stacking unit is taken out through the front opening. At this time, the recording sheet opens the front opening. There is a risk that the recording sheet may not be smoothly taken out by being caught by the partitioning columns.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
An object of the present invention is to propose an image forming apparatus of the type described at the beginning, which eliminates the above-mentioned conventional drawbacks.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, in the image forming apparatus of the type described at the beginning, the surface of the column facing the sheet take-out direction when the recording sheet on the sheet placement surface is taken out through the front opening. An image forming apparatus is proposed in which the lower part of the image forming apparatus is inclined so as to widen toward the bottom from above.
[0006]
At that time, a side opening for taking out a recording sheet, which is partitioned by the image reading unit, the image forming unit, and the support column, is formed on the side of the image forming apparatus opposite to the sheet discharge unit. It is advantageous that the lower part of the surface of the column facing the sheet take-out direction when the recording sheet on the sheet placement surface is taken out through the side opening is inclined so as to widen from the upper side to the lower side. (Claim 2).
[0007]
Further, in the image forming apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, it is advantageous that the inclined surface of the support column inclined in a divergent shape is formed to be concavely curved (claim 3).
[0008]
The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the width of the front opening in the conveyance direction of the recording sheet discharged to the sheet stacking unit is on a sheet mounting surface of the sheet stacking unit. It is effective that the length is set to be smaller than the length of the maximum size recording sheet placed on the sheet.
[0009]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.
[0010]
FIG. 1 is a schematic vertical sectional view showing the arrangement of each part of the image forming apparatus of this example, and FIG. 2 is an external perspective view of the image forming apparatus as viewed obliquely from the front. The image forming apparatus shown here is configured as a multi-function machine having a copying machine, a printer, and a facsimile function. The image reading unit 1 reads a document image and an image forming unit disposed below the image reading unit 1. The image forming unit 2 includes a unit 2 and a sheet feeding unit 3 for feeding the recording sheet S to the image forming unit 2. The image forming unit 2 is used to form a recording image on the recording sheet S as described later. The image reading unit 1 is disposed above the image forming unit 2 with a space therebetween, and a recording sheet on which a recording image is formed in the image forming unit 2 is placed in a space between the image reading unit 1 and the image forming unit 2. A sheet stacking unit 26 for stacking is configured.
[0011]
The image reading unit 1 of this example includes a reading unit housing 4A, a contact glass 5 fixed to the upper portion of the housing 4A, and various elements arranged inside the reading unit housing 4A, that is, a light source 6 and the like. , First to third mirrors 7, 8, and 9, an imaging lens 10, and a CCD 11 as an example of an optical conversion element. When the document P is placed on the contact glass 5 and the print start key of the operation unit 12 (FIG. 2) disposed on the upper outer surface of the reading unit housing 4A is pressed, the light source 6 and the first mirror 7, The second and third mirrors 8 and 9 move to the left in FIG. 1, and the original P is illuminated by the light from the light source 6. As a result, the reflected light from the original P is reflected by the first to third mirrors 7, 8, and 9, passes through the imaging lens 10, and reaches the CCD 11. In this way, the original image is formed on the CCD 11 and subjected to photoelectric conversion. As described above, the image reading unit 1 includes the optical system that forms an original image and the CCD 11 that is an example of a photoelectric conversion device on which the original image is formed. Although read, other types of image reading units may be employed.
[0012]
On the other hand, the image forming unit 2 includes an image forming unit housing 4B, a drum-shaped photoconductor 13 which is an example of an image carrier disposed therein, and various devices or elements described below. . As the print start key is pressed, the photosensitive member 13 is driven to rotate counterclockwise in FIG. 1, and at this time, the surface of the photosensitive member is charged to a predetermined polarity by the charging device 14, and a laser as an example of an exposure device. The writing unit 15 emits laser light L that is light-modulated in accordance with the image information read by the image reading unit 1 as described above, and exposes the surface of the photosensitive member charged with the laser light L. As a result, an electrostatic latent image is formed on the surface of the photoreceptor. The electrostatic latent image is visualized as a toner image by the developer when passing through the developing device 16, and the toner image is photosensitized as will be described later by a transfer device 17 positioned facing the photoconductor 13. The image is transferred to the surface of the recording sheet S sent to the transfer portion between the body 13 and the transfer device 17. The toner remaining on the surface of the photoconductor after the toner image is transferred is removed by the cleaning device 18, and the electric potential on the surface of the photoconductor is initialized by a static eliminator (not shown). In this way, the image forming unit 2 forms a recording image corresponding to the image information read by the image reading unit 1 on the recording sheet.
[0013]
An image forming method other than the one shown in the figure can also be adopted as appropriate. For example, the toner image on the surface of the photoreceptor can be primarily transferred to the intermediate transfer member, and the toner image can be secondarily transferred to the recording sheet. In this case, the intermediate transfer member also constitutes a component of the image forming unit.
[0014]
On the other hand, the sheet feeding unit 3 of this example is stacked up and down on the feeding unit housing 4C, two sheet feeding trays 19 and 19A disposed therein, and the sheet feeding trays 19 and 19A. And sheet feeding means for feeding out the recording sheets S stored therein one by one. As the recording sheet S, for example, paper, a resin sheet, a resin film, or a cloth is used. Each of the paper feed trays 19 and 19A stores recording sheets S and S having different sizes or recording sheets S and S having different mounting directions.
[0015]
The sheet feeding means of this example includes calling rollers 20 and 20A for feeding the uppermost recording sheet in contact with the upper surfaces of the recording sheets S and S accommodated in the sheet feeding trays 19 and 19A, and the fed recording sheet S. Are sent out toward the image forming unit 2. The recording sheet S carried out from one of the paper feed trays 19 and 19A in the directions of arrows A and A1 reaches the registration roller pair 22 through the conveyance path, and is photosensitive at a predetermined timing by the rotation of the registration roller pair 22. The toner image is transferred to the transfer portion between the body 13 and the transfer device 17, and the toner image is transferred onto the surface of the recording sheet S as described above. It can also be configured such that the recording sheet can be fed to the transfer section from a manual feed tray (not shown).
[0016]
The recording sheet S to which the toner image is transferred from the surface of the photosensitive member is further conveyed upward, and passes through the fixing device 25 disposed above the elements such as the photosensitive member 13 constituting the image forming unit 2. The toner image is fixed on the surface of the recording sheet S by the action of pressure. The recording sheet S that has passed through the fixing device 25 is discharged to the sheet stacking unit 26 and stacked there. The sheet stacking unit 26 of this example includes first and second sheet discharge trays 27 and 28, and the recording sheet S that has exited the fixing device 25 has a first position corresponding to the switching position of the branching claw 29. Alternatively, the sheet is discharged onto the second sheet discharge tray 27 or 28 as indicated by arrows B and B1. That is, the recording sheet S that has passed through the fixing device 25 passes through the conveyance roller 30 and is guided by the branch claw 29 when the branch claw 29 is at the position shown in FIG. The sheet is discharged onto the sheet placement surface 35 of the lower first sheet discharge tray 27. When the branching claw 29 is switched, the recording sheet S is further conveyed upward, passes through the conveyance roller 31, and then is conveyed by the second sheet discharge roller 33 to the sheet placement surface 36 of the upper second sheet discharge tray 28. Discharged to the top. In this example, the first and second paper discharge rollers 32 and 33 constitute a discharge unit for the recording sheet S discharged to the sheet stacking unit 26. The first and second paper discharge rollers 32 and 33, the transport rollers 30 and 31 and the branching claw 29 are arranged on one side of the image forming apparatus when viewed from the front, on the right side in the example shown in the figure. Is housed in the image forming apparatus housing portion 4D located in the section. The sheet stacking unit can also be configured by one or three or more sheet discharge trays.
[0017]
The reading unit housing 4A, the image forming unit housing 4B, the feeding unit housing 4C, and the image forming apparatus housing portion 4D are configured by separate members, and each of them is assembled. Alternatively, two or more of these housings and housing portions or the entirety thereof may be constituted by a member integrally joined. These casings 4A, 4B, and 4C and the casing portion 4D constitute the casing 4 of the entire image forming apparatus.
[0018]
The sheet stacking unit 26 is disposed between the image reading unit 1 and the image forming unit 2, and in the illustrated example, the first sheet discharge tray 27 is configured by the upper wall of the image forming unit housing 4B. Yes. Further, the second sheet discharge tray 28 is fixed to the wall portion 4E on the back side that constitutes a part of the housing portion 4D and the image forming apparatus housing 4 described above. When the image forming apparatus is viewed from the front side as shown in FIG. 1, the sheet stacking unit 26 is surrounded on the right side and the back side by the housing portion 4D and the wall portion 4E on the back side. However, as apparent from FIG. 2, the front side and the left side of the sheet stacking unit 26 are open. In addition, a column 34 is provided on the side opposite to the sheet discharge unit (the discharge rollers 32 and 33 in the illustrated example) from which the recording sheet S is discharged to the sheet stacking unit 26 and on the front side of the image forming apparatus. The support column 34 is used to support the image reading unit 1 with a space from the image forming unit 2. When the image forming apparatus is viewed from the front, the column 34 is provided on the side opposite to the casing portion 4D located on one side of the image forming apparatus and on the front side of the image forming apparatus. is there.
[0019]
The upper part of the column 34 is fixed to the reading unit housing 4A by a fixing tool such as a screw, and the lower part and the middle part of the column 34 are assembled and fixed to the first and second sheet discharge trays 27 and 28, respectively. Yes. These can also be assembled by placing the lower part of the column 34 on the first sheet discharge tray 27. In this way, the columns 34 are respectively joined to the sheet placement surfaces 35 and 36 of the sheet stacking unit 26 and are connected to the reading unit housing 4A and the image forming unit housing 4B, respectively, so that the image reading unit 1 is viewed from below. The load is supported by the image forming unit housing 4B. As a result, the image reading unit 1 is held almost horizontally in a stable state, and the image reading accuracy is improved.
[0020]
If the column 34 is not provided, the reading unit housing 4A may be deformed downward by the weight of the image reading unit 1, and the accuracy of correct image reading may be reduced. Although it is possible to prevent the image reading unit 1 from being deformed downward by setting the plate thickness of the wall 4E on the back side that partitions the sheet stacking unit 26 to be large and increasing the rigidity thereof, when configured in this way, The weight and cost of the housing 4 increase. By providing the columns 34, it is possible to suppress an increase in the cost and weight of the image forming apparatus and to improve the image reading accuracy.
[0021]
By providing the column 34 as described above, the image reading unit 1, the image forming unit 2, the column 34, and the image forming apparatus housing part opposite to the column 34 are provided on the front side of the image forming apparatus. A front opening 37 (FIG. 2) for taking out the recording sheet partitioned by 4D is formed. Similarly, on the side of the side of the image forming apparatus opposite to the sheet discharge unit, a side opening 38 for taking out a recording sheet defined by the image reading unit 1, the image forming unit 2, and the support column 34 (FIG. 2). ) Is formed.
[0022]
Accordingly, the user puts his / her hand into the front opening 37 or the side opening 38 of the recording sheet discharged onto the first and second sheet discharge trays 27 and 28 and grasps the recording sheet before opening each opening 37. , 38, the recording sheet can be taken out in the direction indicated by arrow C or D in FIG.
[0023]
As shown in FIG. 2, the center front side of the first sheet discharge tray 27 is recessed so that the recording sheet discharged onto the sheet placement surface 35 of the first sheet discharge tray 27 can be easily taken out from the front surface of the image forming apparatus. A step is formed around the periphery. For the same purpose, the center front side of the second sheet discharge tray 28 is greatly cut away. This notch facilitates the user to check the recording sheet discharged to the first sheet discharge tray 27 by the user. Further, by configuring the second sheet discharge tray 28 with a clear material such as acrylic resin, the visibility of the recording sheets on the first sheet discharge tray 27 can be further enhanced. As can be seen from FIGS. 1 and 2, the right-side portions of the first and second sheet discharge trays 27 and 28 are inclined downward in order to align the rear ends of the discharged recording sheets.
[0024]
The sheet stacking unit 26 is disposed between the image reading unit 1 and the image forming unit 2, and the recording sheets are discharged into the cylinder and stacked on the sheet stacking unit 26. Compared to an image forming apparatus that discharges a recording sheet onto an overhanging sheet discharge tray, the overall structure of the image forming apparatus can be reduced in size, and the image forming apparatus can be arranged in a small space. Moreover, since the recording sheet is discharged into the cylinder of the image forming apparatus, even if the content of the image recorded on the recording sheet is a confidential document, it is difficult for a person nearby to see the content. Further, in the image forming apparatus of the present example, the recording sheet is discharged to the sheet stacking unit 26 with the image surface facing downward, which is particularly excellent in maintaining confidentiality.
[0025]
Further, since the sheet stacking unit 26 is provided with a plurality of two-stage sheet discharge trays 27 and 28 in the example shown in the figure, a recording sheet is provided for each function of the copying machine, the facsimile, and the printer. It can control so that it can discharge to a discharge tray. By separating the discharge locations of the recording sheets for each function, it is possible to prevent the discharged recording sheets from being mixed even when a plurality of functions are continuously performed. Further, by switching the branching claw 29 during the continuous copying process, the recording sheets can be collated using the first and second sheet discharge trays 27 and 28, and the number of copies is large. In this case, for example, the recording sheet is first discharged to the first sheet discharge tray 27, and when it reaches a certain number, the branch claw 29 is switched to discharge the recording sheet onto the second sheet discharge tray 28. By doing so, the number of copies during one continuous copy can be increased. If the number of sheet discharge trays is increased, the above-described advantages can be further ensured.
[0026]
FIG. 3 is a schematic view of the image forming apparatus shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 when viewed from the left side. As shown in FIG. 3, the image reading unit 1 is located on the rear side of the image forming apparatus. The positions are shifted. That is, the center SC of the image reading unit 1 in the front-rear direction (the left-right direction in FIG. 3) of the image forming apparatus is shifted from the center HC in the width direction of the recording sheet in the image forming unit 2 to the rear of the image forming apparatus. . As a result, the space in front of the image reading unit 1 (the front side of the image forming apparatus) can be widened, and the operation unit 12 is arranged in the widened space. Thereby, the front surface of the operation unit 12 does not protrude forward of the image forming apparatus housing 4, and the visibility and ease of taking out of the recording sheet discharged to the sheet stacking unit 26 are improved. Further, the front surface 4F of the upper wall of the sheet stacking unit 26 located at the lower portion of the operation unit 12 is inclined, so that the front and front of the operation unit 12 do not protrude and the recording sheet is visible and taken out. Ease is improved.
[0027]
By the way, when taking out the recording sheets stacked on the first or second sheet discharge trays 27 and 28 to the front side, the recording sheets are pulled out through the front opening 37. At this time, the front opening is opened. Since the support post 34 that divides 37 is provided, when the recording sheet is taken out, there is a possibility that the recording sheet hits the support post 34 and is not smoothly taken out. Since the image forming apparatus of this example is configured as follows, the recording sheet is particularly likely to hit the column 34 when the recording sheet is taken out.
[0028]
FIG. 4 is a schematic explanatory view showing a state in which the recording sheet S is placed on the first sheet discharge tray 27, with the second sheet discharge tray 28 omitted, and as can be seen from this drawing. In addition, the width E of the front opening 37 in the conveyance direction of the recording sheet S discharged to the sheet stacking unit 26 is the maximum size (maximum length) mounted on the sheet mounting surface 35 of the sheet stacking unit 26. It is set smaller than the length F of the sheet stacking section S in the sheet conveyance direction (E <F). As a result, the overall width G of the image forming apparatus can be reduced. Assuming that the width of the column 34 is H, by setting E + H> F, the maximum size recording sheet S can be prevented from protruding from the sheet discharge tray 27.
[0029]
As described above, since the width E of the front opening 37 is set such that E <F, when the maximum size recording sheet S is discharged onto the first sheet discharge tray 27, the recording sheet S is placed on the back side of the column 34, and the leading end corner portion S 1 of the recording sheet S is located on the back side of the column 34. For this reason, when the recording sheet S is pulled out from the front opening 37 in the direction of arrow C and taken out, the leading end corner portion S1 of the recording sheet S hits the support column 34. At this time, if the recording sheet S strongly hits the support column 34, the recording sheet S may be damaged. This is the same when the maximum size recording sheet on the second sheet discharge tray 28 is taken out from the front opening 37.
[0030]
Therefore, in the image forming apparatus of this example, the occurrence of the above-described problems is prevented as follows.
[0031]
FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the column 34 as viewed from the first sheet discharge tray 27 side. As shown in this figure, the support column 34 is joined to the sheet placement surface 35 at a joint portion 39 and rises substantially perpendicular to the sheet placement surface 35. The recording sheet S on the sheet placement surface 35 is pulled in the direction indicated by the arrow C and taken out through the front opening 37. As described above, the lower part 34A of the surface of the column 34 that faces the sheet take-out direction C when the recording sheet S on the sheet placement surface 35 is taken out through the front opening 37 is inclined in a divergent manner from the upper side to the lower side. ing. In FIG. 5, the lower portion 34A is hatched, and the lower portion 34A is referred to as a first facing surface as necessary (the same applies to the examples shown in FIGS. 6 to 9). .
[0032]
Since the first opposing surface 34A of the support 34 is inclined as described above, when the recording sheet S is pulled out in the direction of the arrow C, the front end side corner portion S1 located on the back side of the support 34 is While being guided by the facing surface 34A, the sheet is scooped up, and smoothly passes through the column 34 while slidingly contacting the column 34 in a state where the leading end side of the recording sheet S is curved. For this reason, the malfunction that the front end side corner part S1 of the recording sheet S is caught by the support | pillar 34 and this breaks does not generate | occur | produce.
[0033]
Further, as can be seen from FIG. 5, in the image forming apparatus of this example, the width I of the side opening 38 is set larger than the width J of the maximum size recording sheet S1, but the recording sheet is shown in FIG. When the recording sheet is placed in the state indicated by the chain line, when the recording sheet is pulled out in the direction of arrow D and taken out from the side opening 38, the leading end corner portion again hits the support column 34 (the recording sheet indicated by the chain line). Is denoted by reference numeral SA1). Therefore, in the image forming apparatus of this example, the lower part 34B of the surface of the column 34 that faces the sheet take-out direction D when the recording sheet on the sheet placement surface 35 is taken out through the side opening 38 is also directed from the upper side to the lower side. Inclined in a divergent shape. In FIG. 5, dots are attached to the column surface portion 34 </ b> B, and the lower portion 34 </ b> B is referred to as a second facing surface as necessary (the same applies to the examples shown in FIGS. 6 to 9). .
[0034]
With the above configuration, when the recording sheet SA1 indicated by the chain line in FIG. 5 is pulled in the direction of arrow D and taken out from the side opening 38, the leading end corner portion SA1 of the recording sheet SA is guided to the inclined second opposing surface 34B. Therefore, the recording sheet SA can be taken out smoothly without damaging the recording sheet SA.
[0035]
In the example shown in FIG. 6, the lower column surface portion is divided into three surfaces 40, 41, and 42, and the first surface 34 </ b> A is configured by the two surfaces 40, 41, and similarly 2 The two opposing surfaces 34 </ b> B are configured by the two surfaces 41 and 42. Also with this configuration, the recording sheets S and SA can be smoothly taken out through the front opening 37 or the side opening 38.
[0036]
Also in the example shown in FIG. 7, the first opposing surface 34 </ b> A is configured by the two surfaces 40, 41, and the second opposing surface 34 </ b> B is configured by the two surfaces 41, 42 similarly to the case of FIG. 6. However, in the case of the example shown in FIG. 6, the surfaces 40, 41, 42 are flat, whereas the surfaces 40, 41, 42 shown in FIG. 7 are concave. It is depressed. The inclined surface of the support column inclined in a divergent shape is formed in a concave curve. When the first and second opposing surfaces 34A and 34B are curved in this manner, the edges of the recording sheets S and SA are guided more smoothly by the opposing surfaces 34A and 34B, and the smoothness at the time of taking out is enhanced.
[0037]
In the example shown in FIG. 8, the first facing surface 34 </ b> A and the second facing surface 34 </ b> B are configured by one inclined surface. The recording sheets S and SA can be smoothly taken out from the front opening 37 or the side opening 38 also by the first and second facing surfaces 34A and 34B in this example.
[0038]
FIG. 9 shows another example of the column 34, and FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view showing cross sections taken along lines II, II-II, III-III and IV-IV in FIG. The cross-sectional forms indicated by reference numerals I, II, III, and IV in FIG. In this example, the first facing surface 34A facing the sheet take-out direction C when the recording sheets S and SA are taken out from the front opening 37 is as shown in FIG. 10, and the recording sheets S and SA are placed in the side openings 38. The second facing surface 34B that faces in the sheet take-out direction D when taking out is also as shown in FIG.
[0039]
The relationship between the second sheet discharge tray 28 and the column 34 is also the same as that described above with reference to FIGS. 5 to 10 (see FIG. 3), and the sheet placement on the second sheet discharge tray 28 is performed. The recording sheet on the surface 36 can be smoothly taken out from the front opening 37 or the side opening 38. However, when a plurality of sheet discharge trays are provided, the configuration shown in FIGS. 5 to 10 can be adopted only for at least one of the sheet discharge trays.
[0040]
The present invention can be widely applied to an image forming apparatus other than a multifunction peripheral, for example, an image forming apparatus such as a digital copying machine, a printer, a facsimile, or a printing machine.
[0041]
【The invention's effect】
According to the first aspect of the present invention, the lower part of the column surface facing the sheet take-out direction when the recording sheet on the sheet placement surface is taken out through the front opening is inclined in a divergent shape from the upper side to the lower side. Therefore, when the recording sheet is taken out from the front opening, the recording sheet can be taken out smoothly, and the problem that the recording sheet hits the support column and is damaged can be prevented.
[0042]
According to the second aspect of the present invention, the lower portion of the column surface facing the sheet take-out direction when the recording sheet on the sheet placement surface is taken out through the side opening is inclined in a divergent shape from the upper side to the lower side. Therefore, when the recording sheet is taken out from the side opening, the recording sheet can be taken out smoothly, and the trouble that the recording sheet hits the support column can be prevented.
[0043]
According to the invention of claim 3, since the inclined surface of the support column inclined in a divergent shape is curved in a concave shape, the recording sheet can be taken out more smoothly.
[0044]
According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the width of the front opening in the conveyance direction of the recording sheet discharged to the sheet stacking unit is the maximum size of the recording sheet mounted on the sheet mounting surface of the sheet stacking unit. Since the length is set smaller than the length in the sheet conveying direction, the image forming apparatus can be downsized and the sheet can be taken out smoothly.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic vertical sectional view of an image forming apparatus.
FIG. 2 is an external perspective view of the image forming apparatus shown in FIG.
3 is a schematic explanatory diagram when the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 1 is viewed from the left. FIG.
FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective view illustrating the relationship between the width of the front opening of the image forming apparatus and the length of a recording sheet.
FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing an example of a form of a first opposing surface and a second opposing surface of a support column.
FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing another example of the form of the first facing surface and the second facing surface of the support column.
FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing still another example of the form of the first opposing surface and the second opposing surface of the support column.
FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing still another example of the form of the first facing surface and the second facing surface of the support column.
FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing still another example of the form of the first facing surface and the second facing surface of the support column.
10 is a diagram in which cross sections taken along lines II, II-II, III-III, and IV-IV in FIG. 9 are collectively shown in one figure.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 Image reader
2 Image creation department
4D image forming device casing
26 Sheet stacking section
34 prop
34A, 34B Lower part
37 Front opening
38 Side opening
C Sheet removal direction
D Sheet removal direction
E width
F length
S Recording sheet
SA recording sheet

Claims (4)

An image reading unit that reads a document image; an image forming unit that is disposed below the image reading unit and that forms a recorded image on a recording sheet; and is disposed between the image reading unit and the image forming unit. A sheet stacking unit for stacking recording sheets on which a recording image is formed in the image forming unit; a side opposite to a sheet discharge unit side where the recording sheet is discharged to the sheet stacking unit; and a front portion of the image forming apparatus And a column that supports the image reading unit with a space from the image forming unit, and on the front side of the image forming apparatus, the image reading unit, the image forming unit, and In the image forming apparatus in which a front opening for taking out a recording sheet defined by the support column and the image forming apparatus housing part opposite to the support column is formed,
The lower part of the surface of the column that faces the sheet take-out direction when the recording sheet on the sheet placement surface is taken out through the front opening is inclined so as to widen from the upper side to the lower side. Image forming apparatus.   A side opening for taking out a recording sheet partitioned by the image reading unit, the image forming unit, and the support column is formed on the side of the image forming apparatus opposite to the sheet discharge unit, and the sheet 2. The image according to claim 1, wherein a lower portion of the surface of the support column facing the sheet take-out direction when the recording sheet on the placement surface is taken out through the side opening is inclined in a divergent shape from the upper side to the lower side. Forming equipment.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the inclined surface of the support column inclined in a divergent shape is formed in a concave curve.   The width of the front opening in the conveyance direction of the recording sheet discharged to the sheet stacking unit is set to be smaller than the length of the maximum size recording sheet placed on the sheet placement surface of the sheet stacking unit. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1.

Images