Expansion box for image forming apparatus and method of assembling image forming apparatus

Abstract

An expansion box is used for an image forming apparatus including a main body part in which an image forming part is housed, and a sheet feeder cassette which is mounted to the main body part and in which sheets to be fed to the image forming part are contained. The expansion box is attached to the main body part, covers the sheet feeder cassette protruding from the main body part, and includes an opening through which a front part of the sheet feeder cassette is exposed. The image forming apparatus includes the main body part, the sheet feeder cassette and the expansion box. An assembly method of the image forming apparatus is also provided. The assembly method includes assemblage with attachment of the expansion box to the main body part and optionally a step of assemblage without attachment of the expansion box to the main body part.

1 . An image forming apparatus comprising: 
 a main body part including an image forming part;    a sheet feeder cassette removably attachable to the main body part and at least partially extending therefrom when fully attached to the main body part;    an expansion box attachable to the main body part, the expansion box covering the portion of the sheet feeder cassette that at least partially extends from the main body part, the expansion box including an opening through which at least a portion of the front part of the sheet feeder cassette is exposed.    
   
   
       2 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the main body part comprises a main body frame in which the image forming part is housed and a main body cover which substantially covers the main body frame.  
   
   
       3 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the expansion box is attachable to the main body cover.  
   
   
       4 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the expansion box is attachable to the main body frame.  
   
   
       5 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the expansion box includes a port for exposing an operational device.  
   
   
       6 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein the operational device is a power switch.  
   
   
       7 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein the operational device is a control panel.  
   
   
       8 . An expansion box for an image forming apparatus, the expansion box comprising: 
 an expansion frame attachable to the image forming apparatus; and    a front cover which substantially covers the sheet feeder cassette protruding from the main body part, the front cover including opening through which at least a portion of the front part of the sheet feeder cassette is exposed.    
   
   
       9 . The expansion box according to  claim 8 , further comprising an expansion frame attachable to a frame of the main body of the image forming apparatus.  
   
   
       10 . The expansion box according to  claim 9 , wherein the expansion frame is attachable to a rail member along which the sheet feeder cassette slides.  
   
   
       11 . The expansion box according to  claim 9 , wherein an operational device is attached to the expansion frame, and the front cover includes a port through which the operational device is exposed.  
   
   
       12 . The expansion box according to  claim 11 , wherein the operational device is a power switch.  
   
   
       13 . The expansion box according to  claim 11 , wherein the operational device is a control panel.  
   
   
       14 . The expansion box according to  claim 9 , wherein an operational device is attached directly to the front cover.  
   
   
       15 . The expansion box according to  claim 8 , wherein the front cover includes a vent hole, and a space surrounded by the front cover and the expansion frame functions as an air duct.  
   
   
       16 . An image forming apparatus comprising: 
 a main body part in which an image forming part is housed;    a sheet feeder cassette which is attachable to the main body part for containing sheets to be fed to the image forming part; and    an expansion box which is attachable to the main body part, the expansion box substantially covering the sheet feeder cassette protruding from the main body part, and including an opening through which at least a front part of the sheet feeder cassette is exposed,    wherein the front part of the sheet feeder cassette and at least one surface of the expansion box lie in substantially the same plane.    
   
   
       17 . A method of assembling plural types of image forming apparatuses comprising: 
 assembling a main body part in which an image forming part is housed;    providing a sheet feeder cassette capable of being mounted to the main body part;    providing an expansion box capable of substantially concealing the sheet feeder cassette protruding from the main body part, the expansion box including an opening through which a front part of the sheet feeder cassette is at least partially exposed;    selecting whether to attach the expansion box to the main body part according to whether an expansion box is desired in the finished apparatus or not.