Sound absorber, electronic device with sound absorbing device, and image forming apparatus with sound absorber

1. A sound absorber having at least one cavity, the sound absorber comprising:

a top surface forming member including at least one flange projecting therefrom in a direction into or out of the at least one cavity to direct sound from a sound source of an electronic device into the cavity, at least a portion of the top surface forming member forming a top surface of the sound absorber, the at least one flange defining an opening in the top surface to communicate the at least one cavity with an outside of the sound absorber;

a bottom surface opposing the top surface; and

at least two side walls extending linearly from the bottom surface to the top surface in a cross-section perpendicular to the top surface forming member to connect the top surface with the bottom surface, wherein

the at least two side walls are made of resin,

the bottom surface is an exterior cover of the electronic device, and

the top surface and the bottom surface each being inclined with respect to the at least two side walls while a distance between adjacent ones of the at least two side walls associated with a same one of the at least one cavity is same from the bottom surface to the top surface such that the at least one flange is inclined with respect to the at least two side walls.

2. The sound absorber according to claim 1 , wherein the top surface is inclined with respect to the bottom surface.

3. The sound absorber according to claim 1 , wherein the top surface is parallel to the bottom surface.

4. The sound absorber according to claim 1 , wherein the top surface, the bottom surface and the at least two side walls are a plurality of members that constitute the at least one cavity, the plurality of members being made of materials having different densities from each other.

5. The sound absorber according to claim 1 , wherein a material associated with the top surface has a density higher than a density associated with making the at least one cavity.

6. The sound absorber according to claim 1 , wherein the top surface is made of metal.

7. The sound absorber according to claim 6 , wherein the at least one flange is produced by drawing.

8. The sound absorber according to claim 6 , wherein the at least one flange projects perpendicular to the top surface.

9. The sound absorber according to claim 6 , wherein the at least one flange is located within the at least one cavity.

10. The sound absorber according to claim 1 , wherein the top surface forming member includes a surface having a different angle from an angle of the top surface.

11. The sound absorber according to claim 1 , wherein

the top surface forming member includes bent portions at two opposite edges of the top surface forming member across the opening, and

the bent portions are bent perpendicular to the top surface.

12. The sound absorber according to claim 11 , wherein the bent portions are extended in a longitudinal direction of the top surface forming member.

13. An electronic device comprising:

the sound absorber according to claim 1 to absorb the sound generated by the sound source; and

the sound source configured to generate the sound.

14. The electronic device according to claim 13 , wherein the at least two side walls are part of the exterior cover of the electronic device.

15. The electronic device according to claim 13 , further comprising:

a frame;

a drawing unit withdrawably inserted in the frame; and

a drawing unit exterior member, the drawing unit exterior member being part of an exterior of the electronic device, the drawing unit exterior member configured to cover a front end of the drawing unit in a direction in which the drawing unit is drawn, wherein

the drawing unit exterior member includes the sound absorber.

16. The electronic device according to claim 13 , further comprising:

a frame; and

an exterior swinging member configured to pivot on a rotary axis to open and close the frame, wherein

the exterior swinging member includes the sound absorber.

17. An image forming apparatus comprising:

at least one image forming unit, wherein the at least one image forming unit includes the electronic device according to claim 13 .

18. An electronic device, comprising:

a frame;

the sound absorber according to claim 1 , the sound absorber configured to absorb the sound generated in the electronic device;

a drawing unit withdrawably inserted in the frame; and

a drawing unit exterior member, the drawing unit exterior member being part of an exterior of the electronic device, the drawing unit exterior member configured to cover a front end of the drawing unit in a direction in which the drawing unit is drawn, wherein

the cavity of the sound absorber disposed in the drawing unit exterior member.

19. A sound absorber having at least one cavity, the sound absorber comprising:

a top surface forming member including at least one flange projecting therefrom in a direction into or out of the at least one cavity, at least a portion of the top surface forming member forming a top surface of the sound absorber, the at least one flange defining an opening in the top surface to communicate the at least one cavity with an outside of the sound absorber;

a bottom surface opposing the top surface; and

at least one side wall extending linearly from the bottom surface to the top surface in a cross-section perpendicular to the top surface forming member to connect the top surface with the bottom surface, wherein

the at least one side wall is made of resin,

at least one of the top surface and the bottom surface is inclined with respect to the at least one side wall, and

the top surface, the bottom surface and the at least one side wall are a plurality of members that constitute the at least one cavity, the plurality of members being fastened to each other by one or more screws.