Image forming apparatus

Abstract

An image forming apparatus allowing a user to easily access an operating section even in a large-size apparatus can be provided. An image forming apparatus 100 includes a main machine 110 including an operating section 113 and capable of functioning as a multifunction machine by itself, and at least one option machine 120 to 190 added to a side-face side of an enclosure 111 of the main machine. The apparatus 100 includes the operating section 113 at a fixed position in the width w direction of the enclosure. The enclosure has a unified first color of a same tone at a front face thereof, and an operating position line 101 is formed at a part of the front face of the enclosure and has a second color that is clearly different from the first color so as to be a guide indicating a position of the operating section 113.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An image forming apparatus including an operating section,
 wherein:   the operating section is disposed in a partial region in a width direction of an enclosure of the image forming apparatus;   the enclosure has a first color at a front face thereof except a part;   the part of the front face of the enclosure has a second color that is different from the first color; and   the part of the front face of the enclosure is at a position substantially agreeing with the operating section in the width direction of the enclosure and has a constant width substantially equal to a width of the operating section.   
     
     
         2 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the operating section is disposed on a lateral part of the enclosure in the width direction of the enclosure. 
     
     
         3 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the part is a part from an upper part of the front face of the enclosure to a lower part of the front face of the enclosure. 
     
     
         4 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the part covers a vertical conveyance path to convey a sheet from a sheet-feeding cassette in which sheets are contained to an image forming section. 
     
     
         5 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the enclosure includes the part and another part that are manufactured as separate components. 
     
     
         6 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the operating section is an operating panel with a tilting configuration. 
     
     
         7 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the upper part of the front face of the enclosure has the second color and includes an open/close section that is openable and closable above the upper part. 
     
     
         8 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein:   at least one option machine is added to a side-face side of the enclosure, and   an upper part of a front face of the option machine has the second color.   
     
     
         9 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein:   at least one option machine is added to a side-face side of the enclosure;   an upper part of a front face of the option machine has the second color; and   the upper part of the front face of the enclosure and the upper part of the front face of the option machine are aligned in height.