# US 12,222,670 B2 · Image forming apparatus > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,222,670 B2 - Document ID: US12222670B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/500,551 - Filed: 2023-11-02 - Published: 2024-02-29 - Granted: 2025-02-11 - Earliest claimed: 2021-12-20 - Assignees: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha - Applicants: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha - Inventors: Ryuji Hamasaki - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12222670B2 ## CPC - G03G 21/1619: {Frame structures} - G03G 15/5075: {Remote control machines, e.g. by a host} - G03G 21/1642: {for connecting the different parts of the apparatus} - G03G 21/1647: {Mechanical connection means} - G03G 21/1657: {Wireless connection means, e.g. RFID} - G03G 15/0142: {Structure of complete machines} - G03G 21/1604: {Arrangement or disposition of the entire apparatus} - G03G 2221/1651: for connecting the different parts - G03G 2221/1678: Frame structures - G03G: ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY ## Abstract An image forming apparatus includes the following: an image forming portion; a first metal side plate and a second metal side plate provided opposite each other with respect to the image forming portion; an antenna for communicating with external equipment; a housing including a top cover that is provided above the first metal side plate and the second metal side plate in a vertical direction, and a side cover that is provided on an outer side opposite to an inner side where the image forming portion is provided with respect to the first metal side plate, wherein the image forming apparatus further includes a support member provided on the first metal side plate, the support member including a housing support portion that supports at least one of the top cover and the side cover, and an antenna support portion that supports the antenna. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An image forming apparatus comprising: an image forming portion configured to form an image on a recording material; a first metal side plate and a second metal side plate provided opposite each other with respect to the image forming portion, the first metal side plate and the second metal side plate extending in an extension direction; an antenna unit including an antenna for communicating with external equipment, and a substrate on which the antenna is provided; a housing including a top cover provided above the first metal side plate and the second metal side plate in a vertical direction; and a support member provided on the first metal side plate, and the support member including (i) an antenna support portion supporting the substrate so that a lowermost end of the substrate is positioned higher than an uppermost end of the first metal side plate in a vertical direction, and (ii) a first support portion configured to support the top cover so that the top cover is away from the antenna unit. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the support member includes a second support portion configured to support the top cover so that the top cover is away from the antenna unit. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the antenna unit is positioned between the first support portion and the second support portion in the extension direction. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The image forming apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the second support portion is: disposed away from the top cover; and configured to contact the top cover when the top cover is deformed by an external force in the vertical direction. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the antenna support portion is provided at a position not overlapping the first support portion as viewed from a direction orthogonal to a surface of the first metal side plate facing the second metal side plate. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the support member is made of resin. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the housing is made of resin. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the housing is configured of a plurality of members. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first metal side plate is shorter than the second metal side plate in the extension direction. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The image forming apparatus according to claim 9, wherein: the housing is provided with a discharge port that discharges the recording material, on which the image is formed by the image forming portion, from one end in the extension direction toward another end on an opposite side from the one end, and the first metal side plate is disposed closer to the one end than to the another end in the extension direction. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The image forming apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising: a feeder cassette that stores the recording material and is insertable into and extractable from the housing, wherein the feeder cassette is pullable out from one end in the extension direction toward another end on an opposite side from the one end, and wherein the first metal side plate is disposed closer to the one end than to the another end in the extension direction. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The image forming apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising: an operation portion for a user to operate, wherein the operation portion is provided on another end on an opposite side from one end in the extension direction, and wherein the first metal side plate is disposed closer to the one end than to the another end in the extension direction. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a display portion configured to display predetermined information, wherein the support member includes a display support portion supporting the display portion. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: the first metal side plate includes a first end and a second end opposite to the first end in the extension direction, and the support member includes an extension portion, the extension portion being further from the first end than the second end is in the extension direction. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The image forming apparatus according to claim 14, further comprising: a lower cover; and a support cover disposed between the lower cover and the extension portion, wherein in a case where an external force is applied to the top cover in the vertical direction, the extension portion, the support cover, and the lower cover are configured to receive the external force. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The image forming apparatus according to claim 15, further comprising: a display portion configured to display predetermined information, wherein the extension portion supports the display portion. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first support portion is: disposed away from the top cover; and configured to contact the top cover when the top cover is deformed by an external force in the vertical direction.