FIELD OF THE INVENTION AND RELATED ART

The present invention relates tan image forming system including an operating unit freely mountable on a top surface of the image forming system.

An image forming apparatus such as a copying machine includes the operating unit for permitting a user to switch an operation and to make detailed settings in various operation, and the like. Also, in a system (image forming system) in which various option devices such as a sheet (paper) feeding unit, a conveying unit and a post-processing unit are connected to the image forming apparatus, the user performs a setting operation of the various option devices by the operating unit.

Incidentally, in the case of a large-size image forming system in which the plurality of option devices are connected to the image forming apparatus and which has a long full-length as described above, the user performs an operation for the option devices in a place distant from the image forming apparatus provided with the operating unit in some instances. It is troublesome that the user comes and go between these option devices every time when the user operates the option devices and the operating unit.

Therefore, for example, an operating unit provided not only on an image forming apparatus but also on option devices has also been disclosed (Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application (JP-A) 2010-243977). The operating unit disclosed in JP-A 2010-243977 includes a display information for a user, an arm supporting the display, and a supporting table for supporting the display through the arm. To the display, a cable is connected, and supply of electric power to the display and transmission of signals used for communication are carried out through the cable. The user is capable of freely mounting the operating unit on the image forming apparatus and the option devices within an allowable range of a length of the cable.

However, depending on the image forming system, on the top surface, a reading device (reader) or a bottle accommodating portion for accommodating toner bottles is provided (mounted) in some instances. The reader or the bottle accommodating portion is provided an openable portion which is a cover for opening and closing the reader or the bottle accommodating portion. However, in a constitution in which the operating unit as described above is freely mountable on the top surface of the image forming system, there was a liability that the cable connected to the operating unit is caught by the openable portion.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming system having a top surface, comprising: an openable portion configured to open and close a reader for reading an image of an original, the reader being provided on the top surface; an operating unit freely mounted on the top surface and configured to receive an operation by a user; a cable connected to the operating unit and configured to supply electric power to the operating unit; an accommodating portion configured to accommodate the cable, wherein when the top surface is viewed along a vertical direction, the accommodating portion is formed on the top surface along a first direction from a rear surface toward a front surface of the image forming system and formed on the top surface in parallel to the openable portion with respect to a second direction perpendicular to the first direction and the vertical direction; a cable cover configured to cover the accommodating portion accommodating the cable; a retaining portion configured to retain the cable inside the accommodating portion; and an opening formed on a front side of the cable cover, the opening permitting leading-out of the cable to an outside of the accommodating portion, wherein when the cable cover is viewed along the vertical direction, an edge portion of an edge of the opening on a side where the openable portion is positioned with respect to the second direction is positioned on a side opposite from the side where the openable portion is positioned with respect to the second direction when an end portion, on the side where the openable portion is positioned, of an outer peripheral surface of the cable retained by the retaining portion with respect to the second direction is.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming system having a top surface, comprising: an openable portion configured to open and close a bottle accommodating portion for accommodating a toner bottle, the bottle accommodating portion being provided on the top surface; an operating unit freely mounted on the top surface and configured to receive an operation by a user; a cable connected to the operating unit and configured to supply electric power to the operating unit; an accommodating portion configured to accommodate the cable, wherein when the top surface is viewed along a vertical direction, the accommodating portion is formed on the top surface along a first direction from a rear surface toward a front surface of the image forming system and formed on the top surface in parallel to the openable portion with respect to a second direction perpendicular to the first direction and the vertical direction; a cable cover configured to cover the accommodating portion accommodating the cable; a retaining portion configured to retain the cable inside the accommodating portion; and an opening formed on a front side of the cable cover, the opening permitting leading-out of the cable to an outside of the accommodating portion, wherein when the cable cover is viewed along the vertical direction, an edge portion of an edge of the opening on a side where the openable portion is positioned with respect to the second direction is positioned on a side opposite from the side where the openable portion is positioned with respect to the second direction when an end portion, on the side where the openable portion is positioned, of an outer peripheral surface of the cable retained by the retaining portion with respect to the second direction is.

Further features of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of exemplary embodiments with reference to the attached drawings.

