Abstract: An image-forming device includes: an image-forming unit; a sheet discharge unit; a sheet support unit; a top cover; and a panel. The image-forming unit forms images on a recording sheet. The sheet discharge unit discharges, in a sheet discharging direction, a recording sheet formed with an image by the image-forming unit. The sheet support unit is disposed above the image-forming unit, and supports sheet discharged from the sheet discharge unit. The top cover is disposed above the sheet support unit so as to cover the sheet support unit with a underside surface of the top cover opposing a top surface of the sheet support unit. The top cover has a front side and a rear side in the sheet discharge direction, the front side being on a downstream side of the rear side in the sheet discharge direction. The panel is disposed on the front side of the top cover and includes at least one of a control unit and a display unit on the top thereof.

Abstract: In a printer, a scanner unit is formed into a taper shape having a thinner thickness on a side of a pick-up roller in a removing direction of a process unit, to allow the process unit to be removed from the printer. A part of a sheet feeding path is formed in an area between the process unit and a sheet cassette. An image forming position on the sheet feed path is set lower than an upper end of the pick-up roller. Thus, removal of the process unit can be readily performed. Further, the height of the printer at a position of the pick-up roller can be reduced as compared with a case where the scanner unit is not formed into a taper shape.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus configured to prevent damage to an opening/closing member when external force is applied in a direction perpendicular to a direction where a scanner unit is opened or closed with respect to an image forming unit.

Abstract: An image scanner section is disposed above a printer section. The image scanner section is supported by the printer section in such a manner as to be pivotable about a pivotal axis. The printer section has a lower housing having a substantially rectangular shape as viewed from above. The image scanner section has an upper housing having a substantially rectangular shape as viewed from above. The upper housing and the lower housing are configured such that a second upper corner portion, which is a corner portion of the upper housing, projects beyond a second lower corner portion, which is a corner portion of the lower housing and is located just under the second upper corner portion.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit and an image reading unit. The image forming unit may include a receiving portion disposed above an image forming part, and a pair of contacted portions disposed on opposite sides on the image forming part. The image reading unit may be disposed above the image forming unit and configured to open to expose the receiving portion and configured to close to cover the receiving portion. The image reading unit may include a pair of contacting portions disposed on opposite sides of an image reading portion, extending downward toward the image forming unit, and being configured to contact the contacted portions when the image reading unit is closed, and a first gripping portion horizontally protruding from the image reading portion and extending toward its opposite sides.

Abstract: A multifunction device includes a scanning unit, an image-forming unit, and a joint holder for supporting the scanning unit on top of the image-forming unit. The joint holder is configured of a rear holder disposed on the upper rear side of the image-forming unit and two side holders disposed on top of the image-forming unit on the left and right sides for supporting the scanning unit on three sides. A network control unit is accommodated in an internal space in the rear holder, while a backup battery and a speaker are accommodated in internal spaces in the side holders. Accordingly, the multifunction device is downsized.

Abstract: A front cover and an upper panel of the image forming device is engaged with each other by an engagement mechanism. The engagement mechanism includes a claw and an engagement member that engages with the claw. The claw is disposed on an upper section of the front cover, and the engagement member is disposed on the upper panel. The engagement mechanism further includes surfaces of the front cover and ribs that abut the surfaces. The ribs are provided to the upper section of the front cover and protrude in a direction perpendicular to a direction in which the front cover is opened and closed.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an image forming unit that forms an image on a recording medium; an image reading unit that reads the image entered on an original and is disposed upwardly of the image forming unit; a joint member that connects the image forming unit and the image reading unit, the joint member including a first recess depressed toward a space formed between the image forming unit and the image reading unit; and a cover member including: a lower side fixed to the image forming unit; an upper side extending toward the image reading unit for covering the first recess; and a second recess depressed toward the first recess so as to follow the shape of the first recess.

Abstract: An image formation device having a hierarchically structured function setting menu in which plural function setting items including a function setting item for an optional device are managed in a hierarchical structure, the hierarchically structured function setting menu being sequentially displayed according to the hierarchical structure to select a desired function setting item to perform a function setting, the image formation device including a detector that detects a connection of the optional device, and a changing unit that changes the function setting item for the optional device to a top level of the hierarchically structured function setting menu when the connection of the optional device is detected by the detector.

Abstract: A discharge tray is provided on a predetermined surface of an image forming unit for receiving a recording medium discharged from the image forming unit. The image reading unit is disposed in confrontation with the discharge tray for reading an image from an original document. The coupling portion is disposed at a first position on the image forming unit. The coupling portion couples the image reading unit with the image forming unit, allowing the image reading unit to pivotally move about a first pivoting axis. The image reading unit is pivotally movable between a closed position for covering the discharge tray and an open position for exposing the discharge tray. The pivoting-restricting portion is disposed at a second position different from the first position. The pivoting-restricting portion restricts pivotal movement of the image reading unit past the open position in an opening direction.

Abstract: A multifunction device includes a scanning unit, an image-forming unit, and a joint holder for supporting the scanning unit on top of the image-forming unit. The joint holder is configured of a rear holder disposed on the upper rear side of the image-forming unit and two side holders disposed on top of the image-forming unit on the left and right sides for supporting the scanning unit on three sides. A network control unit is accommodated in an internal space in the rear holder, while a backup battery and a speaker are accommodated in internal spaces in the side holders. Accordingly, the multifunction device is downsized.

Abstract: An electronic device which displays a function setting menu for managing plural items by a hierarchical structure on a display and sets setting contents of various functions based on the function setting menu displayed on the display, comprising: a display control unit which displays each item in the function setting menu having the hierarchical structure on the display based on the hierarchical structure in accordance with an operation by a user; a function selection unit which selects and displays on the display the content of a desired function based on the items of the function setting menu displayed by the display control unit; and a hierarchical structure changing unit which changes the hierarchical structure of the function setting menu so to have the item, which is selected by the function selection unit and displayed on the display, positioned at the top of the hierarchical structure.

Abstract: An image-forming apparatus includes a body casing having on upper surface thereof a paper ejection tray on which a sheet of paper ejected after formation of an image is stacked; a side cover capable of opening and closing a side surface of the body casing on the downstream side in the direction of ejection of the sheet of paper so as to cover the side surface of the body casing; and an extension tray being attached to an upper portion of the side cover. The extension tray is capable of extending to the downstream side in the direction of ejection of the sheet of paper with respect to the paper ejection tray so as to support an end portion of the sheet of paper.

Abstract: In a laser printer capable of printing on both sides of a sheet, alignment or skew of the sheet is corrected with register rollers before printing is performed first on a side of the sheet. The sheet with an image having been formed by a process unit is fed to a re-circulation path for printing on the other side of the sheet. The sheet alignment or skew is corrected in the re-circulation path by a guide plate while the sheet is fed by re-circulation feed rollers. The sheet fed back to the register rollers is fed toward the process unit without being temporarily stopped at the register rollers before printing on the other side of the sheet.

Abstract: An image-forming device includes: an image-forming unit; a sheet discharge unit; a sheet support unit; a top cover; and a panel. The image-forming unit forms images on a recording sheet. The sheet discharge unit discharges, in a sheet discharging direction, a recording sheet formed with an image by the image-forming unit. The sheet support unit is disposed above the image-forming unit, and supports sheet discharged from the sheet discharge unit. The top cover is disposed above the sheet support unit so as to cover the sheet support unit with a underside surface of the top cover opposing a top surface of the sheet support unit. The top cover has a front side and a rear side in the sheet discharge direction, the front side being on a downstream side of the rear side in the sheet discharge direction. The panel is disposed on the front side of the top cover and includes at least one of a control unit and a display unit on the top thereof.

Abstract: An image-forming device includes: an image-forming unit; a sheet discharge unit; a sheet support unit; and a reading unit. The image-forming unit forms images on a recording sheet. The sheet discharge unit discharges, in a sheet discharging direction, a recording sheet formed with an image by the image-forming unit. The sheet support unit is disposed above the image-forming unit, and supports sheet discharged from the sheet discharge unit. The reading unit is disposed above the sheet support unit, with an underside surface of the reading unit opposing a top surface of the sheet support unit. The sheet discharge unit is configured to discharge the sheet diagonally upwardly so that sheet discharged by the sheet discharge unit contacts the underside surface of the reading unit.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit having an image forming portion positioned over a partition wall that vertically partitions a body frame above a cover plate. A second circuit board in which a tall electronic component-mounting side is upward directed is placed in a space between the partition wall and the cover plate. A first circuit board in which an electronic component-mounting side is downward directed is placed on a lateral side of the second circuit board. The first and second circuit boards are placed in a stepwise manner so that the level of the first circuit board is higher than that of the second circuit board. A return path for reversely transporting a sheet is formed between the cover plate and the upper face of a return tray.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a main casing; a photosensitive member; a process cartridge that can be installed or removed with respect to the main casing along a removal path; a scanner unit located above the process cartridge when the process cartridge is installed in the main casing; a sheet accommodating portion located at a bottom portion of the main casing; a pick-up roller located above the sheet accommodating portion; and a feed path along which a sheet can be conveyed from the sheet accommodating portion to a discharge port.

Abstract: A front cover and an upper panel of the image forming device is engaged with each other by an engagement mechanism. The engagement mechanism includes a claw and an engagement member that engages with the claw. The claw is disposed on an upper section of the front cover, and the engagement member is disposed on the upper panel. The engagement mechanism further includes surfaces of the front cover and ribs that abut the surfaces. The ribs are provided to the upper section of the front cover and protrude in a direction perpendicular to a direction in which the front cover is opened and closed.

Abstract: In a laser printer capable of printing on both sides of a sheet, alignment or skew of the sheet is corrected with register rollers before printing is performed first on a side of the sheet. The sheet with an image having been formed by a process unit is fed to a re-circulation path for printing on the other side of the sheet. The sheet alignment or skew is corrected in the re-circulation path by a guide plate while the sheet is fed by re-circulation feed rollers. The sheet fed back to the register rollers is fed toward the process unit without being temporarily stopped at the register rollers before printing on the other side of the sheet.