# US 9,438,757 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 9,438,757 B2 - Document ID: US9438757B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/013,668 - Filed: 2016-02-02 - Published: 2016-05-26 - Granted: 2016-09-06 - Earliest claimed: 2012-04-16 - Assignees: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha - Applicants: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha - Inventors: Kenji Nakanishi; Masahiro Imoto; Yasuhiro Suto; Shohichi Fukutome; Hisashi Yamanaka; Mitsuharu Yoshimoto - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9438757B2 ## CPC - H04N 1/0057: {Conveying sheets before or after scanning (arrangements for conveying sheets as part of the scanning operation H04N1/04 and subgroups)} - B41J 29/13: Cases or covers - B65H 29/14: and introducing into a pile - B65H 29/52: Stationary guides or smoothers - B65H 31/00: Pile receivers (carriers used for associating, collating or gathering articles B65H39/00) - G03G 15/00: Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern (G03G16/00, G03G17/00 take precedence) - G03G 15/60: {Apparatus which relate to the handling of originals (for photographic purposes in general G03B)} - G03G 15/6552: {Means for discharging uncollated sheet copy material, e.g. discharging rollers, exit trays} - G03G 21/1619: {Frame structures} - H04N 1/00522: {Reducing apparatus footprint, e.g. wall-mounted or vertically arranged apparatus} - H04N 1/00527: {Discharge tray at least partially sandwiched between image generating and reproducing components} - H04N 1/00543: {Allowing easy access, e.g. for maintenance or in case of paper jam (H04N1/00538 takes precedence)} - H04N 1/00631: {Ejecting or stacking (H04N1/00641 takes precedence)} - H04N 1/00795: {Reading arrangements (details of scanning heads H04N1/024; scanning arrangements therefor H04N1/04)} - H04N 1/0083: {Arrangements for transferring signals between different components of the apparatus, e.g. arrangements of signal lines or cables (for control or supervision between image input and output device H04N1/32)} - H04N 1/1026: {using a belt or cable} - B65H 2301/5133: Removing electrostatic charge - B65H 2405/115: Cover - B65H 2801/06: Office-type machines, e.g. photocopiers - H04N 2201/0082: Image hardcopy reproducer (H04N2201/0091 - H04N2201/0094 take precedence) - 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 - G03G: ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY ## 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. ## Claims ### Claim 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 a discharge section configured to discharge the paper sheet on which an image is formed by the image forming section to a direction perpendicular to the sub-scanning direction; 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, wherein 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 rib pieces extending in a paper discharging direction perpendicular to the sub-scanning direction, and the plurality of rib pieces are formed at different intervals. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of rib pieces extend to the front side of the discharge section in the discharging direction. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the discharge tray comprises a flat surface without a projection. ### Claim 4 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 a discharge section configured to discharge the paper sheet on which an image is formed by the image forming section to a direction perpendicular to the sub-scanning direction; 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, wherein 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 rib pieces extending in a paper discharging direction perpendicular to the sub-scanning direction, and the plurality of rib pieces are formed at different intervals, and a surface of the discharge tray facing the plurality of rib pieces comprises a flat surface without a projection. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The image forming apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the plurality of rib pieces extend to the front side of the discharge section in the discharging direction. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The image forming apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the discharge tray comprises a flat surface without a projection. ### Claim 7 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 a discharge section configured to discharge the paper sheet on which an image is formed by the image forming section to a direction perpendicular to the sub-scanning direction; 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 extending from the discharge section to a front surface side of the image forming apparatus at both sides of the discharge tray, wherein a bottom surface of the image reading section at the front surface side of the image forming apparatus in the in-body paper discharge space includes a plurality of rib pieces extending in a paper discharging direction perpendicular to the sub-scanning direction, and the plurality of rib pieces are formed at different intervals. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The image forming apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the plurality of rib pieces extend to the front side of the discharge section in the discharging direction. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The image forming apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the discharge tray comprises a flat surface without a projection.