# US 12,015,747 B2 · Image forming apparatus having improved accessibility to internal units > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,015,747 B2 - Document ID: US12015747B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/723,039 - Filed: 2022-04-18 - Published: 2022-11-03 - Granted: 2024-06-18 - Earliest claimed: 2021-04-28 - Assignees: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha - Applicants: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha - Inventors: Yoshisuke Kasuya - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12015747B2 ## CPC - G03G 21/1633: {using doors or covers (G03G21/1638 takes precedence)} - H04N 1/00543: {Allowing easy access, e.g. for maintenance or in case of paper jam (H04N1/00538 takes precedence)} - B41J 29/02: Framework - B41J 29/13: Cases or covers - B65H 31/22: removable or interchangeable - G03G 15/6552: {Means for discharging uncollated sheet copy material, e.g. discharging rollers, exit trays} - G03G 21/12: Toner waste containers - G03G 21/1604: {Arrangement or disposition of the entire apparatus} - H04N 1/00538: {Modular devices, i.e. allowing combinations of separate components, removal or replacement of components} - H04N 1/00557: {Connection or assembly of components or elements (H04N1/00538 takes precedence)} - H04N 1/00615: {Guiding elements, e.g. plates} - H04N 1/00631: {Ejecting or stacking (H04N1/00641 takes precedence)} - B65H 2402/45: Doors - B65H 2405/11151: with surface inclined upwardly in transport direction - B65H 2405/114: Side, i.e. portion parallel to the feeding / delivering direction - B65H 2405/31: Supports for sheets fully removable from the handling machine, e.g. cassette - B65H 2601/321: Access - B65H 2801/06: Office-type machines, e.g. photocopiers - G03G 15/1695: {with means for preconditioning the paper base before the transfer} - G03G 21/1671: {for the photosensitive element} - G03G 21/1695: {for paper transport} - G03G 2215/00544: Openable part of feed path - G03G 2221/169: Structural door designs - G03G: ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY - H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION - B41J: TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS - B65H: HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES ## Abstract An image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording medium, the image forming apparatus includes a discharge tray for supporting the recording medium, an internal unit disposed inside the apparatus main body, and a door serving as a part of outer surface members of the apparatus main body, the door being opened and closed to expose and cover an inside of the apparatus main body to the outside, wherein, by opening of the door, a fixing member that fixes the discharge tray to the apparatus main body is exposed to the outside, and removing of the fixing member from the apparatus main body allows the discharge tray to be detached from the apparatus main body without removing the outer surface members other than the door, and wherein detaching of the discharge tray from the apparatus main body allows the internal unit to be accessed. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording medium, the image forming apparatus comprising: a discharge tray configured to support the recording medium, wherein the recording medium is a recording medium on which the image has been formed and which has been discharged to an outside of an apparatus main body of the image forming apparatus; an internal unit disposed inside the apparatus main body and which is any one of the following: a scanner unit for irradiating an image bearing member with light, a bundle wire, or an electrical circuit board; and a door configured to be opened and closed by rotating around an axis to expose and cover a fixing member that removeably attaches the discharge tray to the image forming apparatus, wherein the discharge tray and the door are part of outer surface members of the apparatus main body of the image forming apparatus, wherein, by rotating the door to open the door, the fixing member is exposed to the outside of the apparatus main body and is accessible to be detached from the apparatus main body, and wherein detaching of the fixing member from the apparatus main body and then detaching the discharge tray from the apparatus main body allows the internal unit to be accessed without detaching the outer surface members of the apparatus main body other than the discharge tray. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a first side wall and a second side wall each disposed on a different one of both edges of the discharge tray in a recording medium width direction perpendicularly intersecting with a discharge direction of the recording medium discharged onto the discharge tray, wherein the first side wall and the second side wall are configured to regulate a widthwise position of the recording medium supported by the discharge tray, and wherein, in a state where the first side wall and the second side wall are attached to the apparatus main body, the discharge tray is separated from the first side wall and the second side wall and is detached from the apparatus main body. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a cartridge configured to be attached to and detached from the apparatus main body, wherein opening of the door allows the cartridge to be attached to and detached from the apparatus main body. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a guide member configured to form a conveyance path of the recording medium, wherein, by opening of the door, the guide member moves to open up the conveyance path. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a waste toner box configured to be attached to and detached from the apparatus main body, wherein opening of the door allows the waste toner box to be attached to and detached from the apparatus main body. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the internal unit is disposed below the discharge tray in a vertical direction, and wherein, when viewed from an upper side to a lower side in the vertical direction, an opening exposed by detaching the discharge tray from the apparatus main body is larger in size than the internal unit. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The image forming apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the internal unit is the scanner unit configured to irradiate an image bearing member with light. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a document reading apparatus disposed above the discharge tray in a vertical direction and configured to read a document. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the door is disposed on a downstream side in a discharge direction of the recording medium discharged onto the discharge tray. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a sheet cassette configured to be attached to and detached from the apparatus main body and to support the recording medium, wherein an attachment and detachment direction of the sheet cassette is parallel to a discharge direction of the recording medium discharged onto the discharge tray. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a sheet cassette configured to be attached to and detached from the apparatus main body and to support the recording medium, wherein an attachment and detachment direction of the sheet cassette is perpendicular to a discharge direction of the recording medium discharged onto the discharge tray. ### Claim 12 An image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording medium, the image forming apparatus comprising: a discharge tray configured to support the recording medium, wherein the recording medium is a recording medium on which the image has been formed and which has been discharged to an outside of an apparatus main body of the image forming apparatus; an internal unit disposed inside the apparatus main body; a door configured to be opened and closed by rotating around an axis to expose and cover a fixing member that removeably attaches the discharge tray to the image forming apparatus; and a cartridge for being attached to and detached from the apparatus main body, wherein opening of the door allows the cartridge to be attached to and detached from the apparatus main body, wherein the discharge tray and the door are part of outer surface members of the apparatus main body of the image forming apparatus, wherein, by rotating the door to open the door, the fixing member is exposed to the outside of the apparatus main body and is accessible to be detached from the apparatus main body, and wherein detaching of the fixing member from the apparatus main body and then detaching the discharge tray from the apparatus main body allows the internal unit to be accessed without detaching the outer surface members of the apparatus main body other than the discharge tray. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The image forming apparatus according to claim 12, further comprising a first side wall and a second side wall each disposed on a different one of both edges of the discharge tray in a recording medium width direction perpendicularly intersecting with a discharge direction of the recording medium discharged onto the discharge tray, wherein the first side wall and the second side wall are configured to regulate a widthwise position of the recording medium supported by the discharge tray, and wherein, in a state where the first side wall and the second side wall are attached to the apparatus main body, the discharge tray is separated from the first side wall and the second side wall and is detached from the apparatus main body. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The image forming apparatus according to claim 12, further comprising a guide member configured to form a conveyance path of the recording medium, wherein, by opening of the door, the guide member moves to open up the conveyance path. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The image forming apparatus according to claim 12, further comprising a waste toner box configured to be attached to and detached from the apparatus main body, wherein opening of the door allows the waste toner box to be attached to and detached from the apparatus main body. ### Claim 16 (depends on 12) The image forming apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the internal unit is disposed below the discharge tray in a vertical direction, and wherein, when viewed from an upper side to a lower side in the vertical direction, an opening exposed by detaching the discharge tray from the apparatus main body is larger in size than the internal unit. ### Claim 17 (depends on 12) The image forming apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the internal unit is the scanner unit configured to irradiate an image bearing member with light. ### Claim 18 (depends on 12) The image forming apparatus according to claim 12, further comprising a document reading apparatus disposed above the discharge tray in a vertical direction and configured to read a document. ### Claim 19 (depends on 12) The image forming apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the door is disposed on a downstream side in a discharge direction of the recording medium discharged onto the discharge tray. ### Claim 20 (depends on 12) The image forming apparatus according to claim 12, further comprising a sheet cassette configured to be attached to and detached from the apparatus main body and to support the recording medium, wherein an attachment and detachment direction of the sheet cassette is parallel to a discharge direction of the recording medium discharged onto the discharge tray. ### Claim 21 (depends on 12) The image forming apparatus according to claim 12, further comprising a sheet cassette configured to be attached to and detached from the apparatus main body and to support the recording medium, wherein an attachment and detachment direction of the sheet cassette is perpendicular to a discharge direction of the recording medium discharged onto the discharge tray. ### Claim 22 An image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording medium, the image forming apparatus comprising: a discharge tray unit having a first side wall, a second side wall, and a discharge tray removeably attached to the first side wall and the second side wall by a fixing member as a surface of the discharge tray unit that is for stacking, outside of the image forming apparatus, the recording medium on which the image has been formed; an internal unit having electronics and removeably disposed inside the apparatus main body at a position below the discharge tray; and a door configured to be opened and closed by rotating around an axis to expose and cover the fixing member that removeably attaches the discharge tray to the first side wall and the second side wall, wherein the discharge tray and the door are part of outer surface members of an apparatus main body of the image forming apparatus, and wherein, by rotating the door to open the door, the fixing member becomes accessible to be detached, and, by detaching the fixing member and then detaching the discharge tray from the first and second side walls such that the first and second side walls remain attached to the apparatus main body, the internal unit can be detached from the apparatus main body and brought out through an opening exposed by detaching the discharge tray from the apparatus main body, without detaching the remaining outer surface members other than the discharge tray. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The image forming apparatus according to claim 22, wherein the first side wall and the second side wall of the discharge tray unit extend in a direction of gravity and are approximately parallel to each other with no draft angle between the first side wall and the second side wall. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) The image forming apparatus according to claim 23, wherein the first side wall and the second side wall of the discharge tray unit are removeably attached to the image forming apparatus such that the discharge tray unit can be detached from the image forming apparatus when the discharge tray, the first side wall, and the second side wall are assembled as three parts of the discharge tray unit. ### Claim 25 (depends on 23) The image forming apparatus according to claim 23, wherein the discharge tray unit is a first discharge tray unit in which the first and second side walls are resin members made through injection molding and have distal ends that are separated from each other by a first distance A when assembled into the discharge tray unit, and wherein, in a case of a second discharge tray unit resin injected molded as a single piece configuration where first and second side walls of the second discharge tray unit are at a draft angle to each other and have distal ends that are separated from each other by a second distance B, the first distance A is shorter that the second distance B such that a widthwise size of the image forming apparatus having the multipiece configuration first discharge tray unit is reduced as compared to a widthwise size of the image forming apparatus having the single piece configuration second discharge tray unit. ### Claim 26 (depends on 22) The image forming apparatus according to claim 22, wherein the internal unit having the electronics is a serviceable part configured to be detached and replaced by a service engineer after failing or reaching an end of life. ### Claim 27 (depends on 22) The image forming apparatus according to claim 22, wherein the image forming apparatus is a monochromatic laser beam printer configured to employ an electrophotographic method. ### Claim 28 (depends on 22) The image forming apparatus according to claim 22, further comprising a top cover disposed on a top of the image forming apparatus as part of the outer surface members, wherein the door includes a top face part that is disposed on the top of the image forming apparatus as a part different from the top cover. ### Claim 29 (depends on 22) The image forming apparatus according to claim 22, wherein the door includes a top face part disposed as part of the outer surface members above a space configured to receive a process cartridge, the image forming apparatus further comprising: a document apparatus configured to read a document or to sort the recording medium on which the image has been formed into a plurality of bins; and a support unit provided adjacent to the top face part and below the document apparatus to support the document apparatus, wherein the document apparatus is an expansion unit supported above the discharge tray in a vertical direction in a way that the internal unit having the electronics is serviceable part configured to be detached and replaced by a service engineer without first moving the document apparatus. ### Claim 30 (depends on 22) The image forming apparatus according to claim 22, further comprising a sheet cassette configured to be attached to and detached from the apparatus main body and to support the recording medium, wherein an attachment and detachment direction of the sheet cassette is perpendicular to a discharge direction of the recording medium discharged onto the discharge tray. ### Claim 31 (depends on 22) The image forming apparatus according to claim 22, wherein the discharge tray includes a stacking surface configured to stack the discharged recording medium, and a stacking wall configured to regulate a position of an upstream end of the recording medium in a discharge direction of the recording medium discharged onto the stacking surface, and wherein detaching the discharge tray includes detaching the stacking surface from the first and second side walls such that the first and second side walls and the stacking wall remain attached to the apparatus main body. ### Claim 32 (depends on 22) The image forming apparatus according to claim 22, wherein the internal unit having the electronics is any one of the following: a scanner unit for irradiating an image bearing member with light, a bundle wire, or an electrical circuit board.