JP2004287453A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming apparatus whose operation part is easy-to-view and whose operation is easy not only for a normal user operating the apparatus on a condition that he stands on a floor surface but also for a user such as a handicapped person who must operate the apparatus on a condition that he sits on a wheelchair in a simple constitution by a simple operation. <P>SOLUTION: The image forming apparatus is used on a condition that it is installed on the floor surface, and is equipped with an image forming part for forming an image on transfer paper, a reading part provided above the image forming part and reading the image of an original and the operation part for operating the image forming apparatus. The image forming part has an ejection tray to which the paper on which the image has been formed is ejected on the upper surface of the image forming part. The operation part is attached to the front side of the reading part at the upper part of the front side of the ejection tray, and its inclination angle is changed at least two or more steps. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as an electrophotographic copying machine, a printer, and a facsimile, and particularly, in an image forming apparatus used while being installed on a floor, in addition to operating while standing on a normal floor, The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus that can be easily operated even in a state of being seated in a wheelchair or the like.

JP-A-62-153871 JP-A-9-6185

Generally, an image forming apparatus such as the above-described electrophotographic copying machine, printer, facsimile, or the like is used while being installed on a floor. At that time, the user usually uses an image forming apparatus such as an electrophotographic copying machine by operating an operation panel while standing on the floor.
By the way, in recent years, social advancement of persons with a physical disability has become active, and the opportunity of operating an image forming apparatus such as an electrophotographic copier in an office or the like while the person with a physical disability is sitting in a wheelchair has increased. Is coming.

  However, since the conventional image forming apparatuses such as the electrophotographic copying machine are manufactured on the assumption that they are operated while standing on the floor, a person with a physical disability or the like may be electrophotographically copied while sitting on a wheelchair. When operating an image forming apparatus such as an image forming apparatus, there is a problem that a display unit of an operation panel of the image forming apparatus is hard to see or a key operation is difficult.

  Therefore, as a technique capable of solving such a problem, for example, techniques disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Nos. 62-153871 and 9-6185 have already been proposed. The image forming apparatus disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 62-153871 optically scans a document placed on a platen by scanning means operated in response to operation of an operation means provided on an operation panel, An image forming apparatus for transferring an image corresponding to an image of a document onto a material to be transferred includes a display unit rotatably provided on the operation panel for performing various displays, and a driving unit for driving the display unit. It is configured as follows.

  Further, the multifunction device according to the above-mentioned Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-6185 is a multifunction device including a large display device as an operation unit and having functions such as a scanner, a printer, a copy, and a facsimile. At this time, a large-sized display device supporting means which can be moved to an optimum position for operating the large-sized display device is provided.

  However, the conventional technique has the following problems. That is, in the case of the former image forming apparatus according to Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 62-153871, a display means rotatably provided on an operation panel for performing various displays, and a drive means for driving the display means are provided. By rotating the display means to a desired angle, it is possible to make the liquid crystal display panel easier to see, but since the angle of the display means alone is adjusted, it is necessary to use a wheelchair. For a physically handicapped person who has to operate in a sitting state, there is a problem that operation keys are difficult to see and operation is difficult.

  Also, in the case of the latter multi-functional apparatus according to Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-6185, a large-sized display device supporting means is provided so as to be movable to an optimum position for operating the large-sized display device when each function is operated. Since the large display device is moved to an appropriate position by the large display device support means because of the configuration, it is easy to see the large display device even for a physically handicapped person who has to operate while sitting in a wheelchair. In addition, the operation can be facilitated.

  However, in the case of the composite apparatus disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-6185, the large-sized display device can be moved to an optimum position by the large-sized display device support means. In addition to the complexity, the user must always adjust the position of the large display device to the optimal position for himself when operating a multifunction device equipped with functions such as a printer and copying. However, it is not possible to use a composite device and has a large degree of freedom in adjusting the position of the large display device, but has a new problem that the operation of adjusting the position of the large display device is troublesome. In particular, it is difficult for a physically handicapped person who has to operate in a wheelchair to adjust the large display device to a position where the user can easily see and operate the large display device. Still had the problem of not being able to improve the work of.

  Therefore, the present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to operate with a simple configuration and a simple operation while standing on the floor. It is an object of the present invention to provide an image forming apparatus in which an operation section is easy to see and easy to operate for not only ordinary users but also users such as physically handicapped persons who have to operate in a wheelchair.

That is, the invention described in claim 1 is:
In an image forming apparatus used while installed on a floor,
An image forming unit that forms an image on transfer paper;
A reading unit that is provided above the image forming unit and reads an image of a document;
An operation unit for operating the image forming apparatus;
The image forming unit has a discharge tray from which a sheet on which an image is formed on the upper surface of the image forming unit is discharged,
The image forming apparatus is characterized in that the operation unit is mounted above the front side of the discharge tray and in front of the reading unit, and the inclination angle can be changed in at least two steps. .

The invention according to claim 2 is
In an image forming apparatus used while installed on a floor,
An image forming unit that forms an image on a transfer sheet, and has a discharge tray on an upper surface for discharging the transfer sheet on which the image is formed,
A reading unit for reading an image of a document;
An operation unit that operates the image forming apparatus attached to a front side of the reading unit;
A support member that lifts the reading unit so as to be placed above the discharge tray,
An image forming apparatus, characterized in that the inclination angle of the operation unit can be changed in at least two steps.

Further, the invention according to claim 3 is:
The tilt angle of the operation unit can be set stepwise,
Any first angle in the range of 20 to 30 degrees downward with respect to the horizontal direction;
3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the angle can be set to any second angle within a range of 0 to 15 degrees downward with respect to the horizontal direction. 4.

The invention according to claim 4 is:
The operation unit has a display panel and an operation key group.A display panel is provided on the left side toward the operation unit, and an operation key group including a numeric keypad and a start key is provided on the right side toward the operation unit. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

Further, the invention described in claim 5 is
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the operation unit is provided so as to protrude toward a front side of the image forming unit.

The invention described in claim 6 is
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the operation unit is rotatably attached to a front side of the reading unit via a rotation shaft.

Further, the invention according to claim 7 is:
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the operation unit changes a tilt of the operation unit by operating an operation handle that can be operated from a back side. is there.
The invention according to claim 8 is
The image forming apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the operation panel can be pushed down or pushed up when the operation handle is grasped.
Further, the invention according to claim 9 is
The image forming apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the operation handle is provided at a central portion of the operation unit.
The image forming apparatus according to claim 4, wherein a viewing angle of the display panel is wider on a front side of the apparatus than on a rear side of the apparatus.
Furthermore, the invention according to claim 11 is:
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an operation surface of the operation unit is between 890 mm and 965 mm.

  As described above, according to the present invention, by a simple configuration and simple operation, not only a normal user who operates while standing on the floor, but also a user who has to operate while sitting in a wheelchair is inevitable. It is possible to provide an image forming apparatus in which a user such as a physically handicapped can easily view the operation unit and easily operate the operation unit.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described based on the illustrated embodiment.
FIG. 3 shows an image forming apparatus having the functions of a copier / facsimile / printer according to an embodiment of the present invention. This image forming apparatus is used in a state where it is installed on a floor. Is configured.

  In FIG. 3, reference numeral 1 denotes a main body of the image forming apparatus as an image forming unit, and an image of an original is read by an image reading apparatus 33 shown in FIG. Image processing apparatus 2 that performs predetermined image processing as needed on image information sent from a personal computer or the like, and image information that has been subjected to predetermined image processing by the image processing apparatus 2. A ROS 3 (Raster Output Scanner) for performing image exposure based on the image information is provided, and the ROS 3 performs image exposure using a laser beam LB according to image information.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the ROS 3 emits a laser beam LB from a semiconductor laser (not shown) according to gradation data of image information. The laser beam LB emitted from the semiconductor laser is deflected and scanned by the rotary polygon mirror 4 and is scanned and exposed on the photosensitive drum 7 via the reflection mirrors 5 and 6.

  For example, a photoconductor using an organic photoconductive substance is used as the photoconductor drum 7 on which the laser beam LB is scanned and exposed by the ROS 3. The photoconductor drum 7 is driven in a direction indicated by an arrow by a driving unit (not shown). Along with a predetermined speed. As shown in FIG. 3, the surface of the photosensitive drum 7 is previously charged to a predetermined potential by a charging roll 8 and then scanned and exposed to laser light LB in accordance with image information to form an electrostatic latent image. It is formed. The electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 7 is developed by the developing roll 10 of the developing device 9 to become a toner image.

  The toner image formed on the photosensitive drum 7 is transferred onto a transfer paper 12 by a transfer roll 11 arranged so as to be in contact with the photosensitive drum 7, and the transfer paper on which the toner image has been transferred. The photosensitive drum 12 is separated from the photosensitive drum 7 by being neutralized by a separating charger 13 composed of a needle electrode. An AC voltage or an AC voltage on which a DC voltage is superimposed is applied to the separation charger 13 including the needle electrodes. As shown in FIG. 3, the transfer paper 12 is fed by a paper feed roll 17 from a plurality of paper cassettes 14, 15, 16 disposed at a lower portion in the image forming apparatus main body 1. The fed transfer paper 12 is transported to the surface of the photosensitive drum 7 by the transport roll 18 and the registration roll 19, respectively.

  Further, as described above, the transfer paper 12 on which the toner image has been transferred from the photoreceptor drum 7 is discharged by the separation charger 13 composed of a needle-shaped electrode and separated from the surface of the photoreceptor drum 7. After the toner image is conveyed to the fixing device 20 and the toner image is fixed on the transfer paper 12 by the heat and pressure by the fixing device 20, the toner image is discharged onto the discharge tray 22 by the discharge roll 21, thereby completing the image forming process.

  After the toner image transfer process is completed, the surface of the photosensitive drum 7 is cleaned of residual toner, paper dust, and the like by a cleaning device 23 having a cleaner blade, a brush, and the like, and is ready for the next image forming process. It has become.

  In the image forming apparatus configured as described above, the photosensitive drum 7 and the developing device 9 and the cleaning device 23 around the photosensitive drum 7 are integrally unitized as a CRU 24 in order to improve maintenance and the like. Can be integrally attached to and detached from the image forming apparatus main body 1.

  By the way, the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment has an operation unit for operating the image forming apparatus in an image forming apparatus used in a state where the image forming apparatus is installed on a floor surface. A configuration in which at least a first angle inclined downward to any angle within a range of 20 to 30 degrees with respect to the horizontal direction and a second angle smaller than the first angle can be changed. Have been.

  That is, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the image forming apparatus according to this embodiment is configured to be used while installed on a floor 30. The main body 1 of the image forming apparatus is The device main body 1 is fixedly mounted on the floor 30 via a caster 31 capable of moving. An image reading device 33 as a reading unit having an automatic document feeder 32 for automatically feeding a document is provided on an upper portion of the image forming apparatus main body 1 for mounting on a floor surface. Are arranged in a state where they are placed on the support member 34 of the above.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the image reading device 33 having the automatic document feeder 32 has a control panel 35 serving as an operation unit for operating the image forming device, having the same width as the image reading device 33. The control panel 35 is disposed so as to protrude across the front surface thereof, and the control panel 35 has a first angle whose installation angle is inclined to any angle within a range of 20 to 30 degrees downward with respect to the horizontal direction. The angle can be changed to a second angle smaller than the first angle.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the control panel 35 displays an operation state of the image forming apparatus, and a 9.4-inch liquid crystal display panel including a touch panel on which a user operates the screen by pressing the screen with a finger or the like. And an operation key 37 for operating functions of the image forming apparatus as a copy, a printer, and a facsimile. The liquid crystal display panel 36 has a screen set larger than that of a normal image forming apparatus, and the image displayed on the liquid crystal display panel 36 is also set larger than that of a normal apparatus. The user can easily view the display image. As shown in FIG. 4, the operation keys 37 of the control panel 35 include a start key 38, a stop key 39, a reset key 40, a manual reception key 41, a numeric key 42, a clear key 43, an interrupt key 44, and a function key. Various keys are provided, such as a switching key 45, a setting confirmation key 46, a state confirmation key 47, a voice guide key 48, a volume control volume 49, and a transmission setting unit 50 in which facsimile transmission setting keys are arranged. Of the various operation keys 37, a start key 38, a stop key 39, a reset key 40, a manual reception key 41, and an interruption key 44 for performing a basic operation of the image forming apparatus are shown in FIGS. As described above, the start key 38 is formed in a flat elliptical shape, and is formed in a three-dimensional shape in which the central portion is lowered, so that the key can be used by a user who has low vision and who has low vision or a blind person. The stop key 39 and the reset key 40 have a flat rectangular shape and are set slightly higher than the surface 35a of the control panel 35, whereas the manual reception key 41 Is a flat rectangular shape like the stop key 40 and the like, but is set at the same height as the surface 35a of the control panel 35 to prevent erroneous operation. It is configured to. A prevention guide 38b for preventing erroneous operation is provided around the start key 38. When a user sitting in a wheelchair or the like operates the stop key 39 or the reset key 40, the start key 38 is erroneously operated. It is configured to prevent an erroneous operation of pressing 38. Further, marks 38a, 39b, and 40a are provided on the start key 38, the stop key 39, and the reset key 40 so that the keys can be identified by touching with hands.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the control panel 35 is rotatably mounted on the front side surface of the image reading device 33 via a rotation shaft 51, and its installation angle is set with respect to the horizontal direction. A first angle θ1 inclined downward at any angle within a range of 20 to 30 degrees, and a first angle θ1 downward within a range of 0 to 15 degrees with respect to a horizontal direction H smaller than the first angle; The angle can be changed by the angle changing mechanism 52 to the second angle θ2 inclined to the angle. The angle changing mechanism 52 includes a support member 53 attached to the back side of the control panel 35, an operation lever 55 attached to the support member 53 via a shaft 54 so as to be tiltable, and a front side of the image reading device 33. And an angle member 57 provided with a shaft member 56 for adjusting the angle. Further, an L-shaped groove 58 that engages with an angle adjusting shaft member 56 provided on the angle member 57 on the image reading device 33 side is provided at a distal end portion of the operation lever 55. When the angle changing mechanism 52 is set at the second angle θ2 close to horizontal as shown in FIG. 7, the angle adjusting shaft member provided on the angle member 57 on the image reading device 33 side. 56 is engaged with the distal end 58a of the L-shaped groove 58 of the operation lever. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 8, the operation lever 55 provided on the control panel 35 side is pushed up to the control panel 35 side by hand, and the shaft member 56 for angle adjustment is turned into the L-shaped groove 58 of the operation lever. By pushing down the entire control panel 35 in a state where the control panel 35 is moved to the intermediate portion 58b, the angle adjusting shaft member 56 provided on the angle member 57 on the image reading device 33 side becomes the L-shaped of the operation lever 55. The control panel 35 is moved to the base end 58c of the shape groove 58, and stops in a state where the control panel 35 is set at the first angle θ1, as shown in FIG.

  By the way, the present inventors, when the angle of the control panel 35 can be changed between the first angle and the second angle by the angle changing mechanism 52 as described above, Whatever angle the angle 2 is set to, the user who operates the liquid crystal display panel 36 provided on the control panel 35 while sitting on a wheelchair or the like is easy to see, and the operation keys provided on the control panel 35 37 is easy for a user who operates while sitting in a wheelchair or the like, and a user U who operates a liquid crystal display panel 36 provided on a control panel 35 while standing on the floor 30 is easy to see and has a control panel. Whether the user U who operates the various operation keys 37 provided on the floor 35 while standing on the floor 30 is easy to operate. In order to Raka, were carried out a variety of ergonomic considerations. The results of the study will be described below.

  First, as shown in FIG. 12, the viewing angle of the liquid crystal display panel 36 provided on the control panel 35 is set to 40 degrees on the near side and 25 degrees on the other side. Using such a control panel 35, as a user U, Japanese male and female users of average height stand on the floor 30 and in a state of sitting on a wheelchair 60. At two points, an operation of "seeing the liquid crystal display panel" and an operation of "pressing the operation key", the installation angle of the control panel 35 which is easy to operate was evaluated and determined. From the viewpoint of evaluation, regarding the operation of “viewing the liquid crystal display panel”, whether or not the screen of the liquid crystal display panel 36 can be naturally viewed from the control panel 35 at the standing position shown in FIGS. With regard to the operation of “pressing a key”, the operation key 37 on the control panel 35 is sensed as “push vertically” with the pad of a finger so that the nail of the operating hand does not get in the way and does not touch other operation keys. Whether or not the operation can be performed.

  FIGS. 11 and 12 show a situation in which, when the height of the fulcrum of the control panel 35 is set to 890 mm, the average U and Japanese male and female users as the user U stand on the floor and are in a wheelchair. The figure shows the result of evaluation from the above-mentioned point of view at the two points of "view the liquid crystal display panel" operation and "press the operation key" operation of the control panel 35 while sitting at 60.

  As a result, the set angle θ of the control panel 35 which is easy for the user U who operates while standing on the floor 30 to operate was 5 degrees to 20 degrees as shown in FIG. In addition, the set angle θ of the control panel 35 that is easy to operate by the user U who operates while sitting in the wheelchair 60 was 22 degrees to 30 degrees as shown in FIG.

  FIGS. 13 and 14 show a state in which, when the height h of the fulcrum of the control panel 35 is set to 965 mm, the male and female users of Japanese average height are standing on the floor 30 as the user U. The figure shows the results of evaluation from the above viewpoints at two points of the operation of “viewing the liquid crystal display panel” on the control panel 35 and the operation of “pressing the operation key” on the control panel 35 while sitting in a wheelchair.

  As a result, as shown in FIG. 13, the set angle θ of the control panel 35 that is easy for the user operating while standing on the floor 30 to be 5 to 30 degrees. Further, the setting angle θ of the control panel 35 that is easy for the user U who operates while sitting in the wheelchair 60 to operate is 30 degrees as shown in FIG.

  FIG. 15 shows the result of consideration regarding the height of the operation surface 35a that is easy for a male and a female of average height to operate when the height of the fulcrum of the operation surface 35a of the control panel 35 is changed. Things.

  As a result of the study, it has been found that when the height of the fulcrum of the operation surface 35a of the control panel 35 is higher than the elbow of the user U, the work efficiency is extremely reduced and the fatigue is also increased. Further, it was found that when the height of the operation surface of the control panel 35 was lower than the user's elbow by 150 mm or more, the workability was rather lowered. Accordingly, the condition that the operation surface of the control panel 35 is within a range of 0 to 150 mm lower than the elbow of the operator is a condition that the operator can operate without feeling discomfort.

  FIG. 15 is a graph showing the ratio of people who can perform comfortable operations when the height of the operation surface of the control panel 35 is changed.

  In FIG. 15, when covering about 80% by gender average and about 60% by gender, it is considered that the operation can be performed in a relatively comfortable state. Therefore, the height of the operation surface of the control panel 35 is , 890 mm to 965 mm.

  FIGS. 16A and 16B show the control panel obtained as shown in FIGS. 11 to 14 when the height of the operation surface of the control panel 35 is set within the range of 890 mm to 965 mm. The graph shows the installation angle of the control panel 35 in which the operation of “viewing the liquid crystal display panel” of 35 and the operation of “pressing the operation key” are easy.

  As can be seen from FIGS. 16A and 16B, the range of the installation angle θ at which the control panel 35 is easy to operate is shown in FIG. 16A for the user U who operates while sitting in the wheelchair 60. As shown, when the height of the operation surface of the control panel 35 is set to 890 mm, the user U of a Japanese male is 5 to 30 degrees and the user U of a Japanese female is 22 to 30 degrees narrower than this. Range. When the height of the fulcrum of the operation surface of the control panel 35 is set to 965 mm, the operability is good only at 20 to 30 degrees for the Japanese male user U and at almost 30 degrees for the Japanese female user U. I understand.

  On the other hand, the range of the installation angle at which the operation of the control panel 35 is easy for the user U who operates while standing on the floor 30 as shown in FIG. When the height of the fulcrum is set to 890 mm, it is in the range of 5 to 20 degrees together with the Japanese male and female users U, and when the height of the fulcrum of the operation surface of the control panel 35 is set to 965 mm, It can be seen that the range extends from 5 degrees to 30 degrees for both female users U.

  Further, FIG. 17 shows a case where the height of the fulcrum of the operation surface 35a of the control panel 35 is set to two types of 890 mm and 965 mm, and the "liquid crystal display" of the control panel 35 obtained as shown in FIGS. 5 is a graph illustrating the range of angles at which the operation of “view panel” is easy to see and the range of angles at which the operation of “pressing an operation key” is easy to press for Japanese male and female users U. In FIG. 17, the distance from the control panel 35 to the head is 300 mm in the sitting position, and the distance from the control panel 35 to the head is 200 mm in the standing position.

  As can be seen from FIG. 17, the range of angles at which the operation of “viewing the liquid crystal display panel” of the control panel 35 is easy to see is relatively wide, but the range of angles at which the operation of “pressing the operation key” is easy to press is relatively wide. The set angle θ of the control panel 35 is set to an angle that is narrow and satisfies both the range of the easy-to-view angle of the “view the liquid crystal display panel” operation and the range of the easy-to-press angle of the “press the operation key” operation.

  As can be seen from FIG. 17, when the height of the fulcrum of the operation surface of the control panel 35 is 890 mm and the female is sitting, the height of the fulcrum of the operation surface of the control panel 35 is 965 mm and the height of the female is 965 mm. In the case of a sitting position, the height of the fulcrum of the operation surface of the control panel 35 is only 890 mm. In the case of a male sitting position, the height of the fulcrum of the operation surface of the control panel 35 is 965 mm. In the case of a male sitting position, 22 to 30 degrees is an angle that satisfies both the range of the easy-to-view angle of the “see liquid crystal display panel” operation and the range of the easy-to-press angle of the “press operation key” operation. is there.

  Also, as can be seen from FIG. 17, when the height of the fulcrum of the operation surface of the control panel 35 is 890 mm and the woman is standing, the height of the fulcrum of the operation surface of the control panel 35 is 5 to 20 degrees. The height of the fulcrum of the operation surface of the control panel 35 is 5 to 30 degrees when the female is standing at 965 mm, and the height of the fulcrum of the operation surface of the control panel 35 is 5 to 20 degrees when the male is standing. When the height of the fulcrum is 965 mm and the male is standing, 5 degrees to 30 degrees are the range of the angle at which the operation of "seeing the liquid crystal display panel" is easy to see and the range of the angle at which the operation of "pressing the operation key" is easy to press. Is an angle that satisfies both.

  As a result of the various studies described above, the present inventors have found that the user U operating the control panel 35 in the state of being seated in a wheelchair, as shown in FIGS. A first angle θ1 inclined 22 degrees downward with respect to the horizontal direction, and a first angle θ1 that is easy to perform “see the liquid crystal display panel” operation and “press the operation key” operation, The user U who operates while standing can easily perform the operation of “viewing the liquid crystal display panel” of the control panel 35 and the operation of “pressing the operation key”, and the fifth angle of 5 degrees smaller than the first angle θ1 is easy. The angle θ2 can be changed in two steps by the angle changing mechanism 52 described above. The installation angle θ of the control panel 35 may be set in three or more steps, not two steps.

  In the above configuration, in the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment, not only a normal user who operates while standing on the floor with a simple configuration and a simple operation as follows, but also Even for a user such as a physically handicapped who has to operate while sitting in a wheelchair, the operation unit is easy to see and the operation is easy.

  That is, as shown in FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus according to this embodiment is used in a state where it is installed on a floor surface 30, and is controlled by an image reading apparatus 33 disposed above the image forming apparatus. The panel 35 is provided so as to project to the front side. By operating the control panel 35, operations such as copying, printing, and facsimile are performed in the image forming apparatus.

  By the way, in recent years, the social advancement of physically handicapped persons and the like has become active, and in offices and the like, opportunities for the physically handicapped persons and the like to operate the image forming apparatus while sitting in a wheelchair are increasing.

  In the image forming apparatus according to this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 7, by operating the operation lever 55 of the angle changing mechanism 52, the installation angle θ of the control panel 35 is changed as shown in FIGS. 11 and 12. In addition, the user U who operates while sitting in the wheelchair 60 can easily perform the operation of “looking at the liquid crystal display panel” of the control panel 35 and the operation of “pressing the operation key”. The first angle θ1 inclined at an angle of 22 degrees and the user U who operates while standing on the floor 30 can easily perform the “view the liquid crystal display panel” operation of the control panel 35 and “ The operation can be changed in two stages to a second angle θ2 of 5 degrees smaller than the first angle θ1 in which the “push” operation is easy.

  Therefore, as shown in FIG. 12, when the user U operates while sitting in the wheelchair 60, the image forming apparatus operates the operation lever 55 of the angle changing mechanism 52 to install the control panel 35. By setting the angle θ to 22 degrees, even if the user U operates while sitting in the wheelchair 60, the liquid crystal display panel 36 of the control panel 35 is easy to see and the operation keys 37 are easy to press, so that the image forming apparatus Very easy to operate. In addition, the user U who operates while sitting in the wheelchair 60 simply grasps the operation lever 55 provided on the back side of the control panel 35 with his hand, and pushes down the control panel 35, and the user U operates while sitting in the wheelchair 60. Since the user U who operates the control panel 35 can automatically set the control panel 35 at an angle of 22 degrees at which the control panel 35 can be easily operated, the operation of adjusting the installation angle θ of the control panel 35 can be easily performed. .

  As shown in FIG. 11, when the user U operates while standing on the floor 30, the image forming apparatus operates the operation lever 55 of the angle changing mechanism 52 to control the control panel 35. By setting the installation angle θ to 5 degrees, even if the user U operates while standing on the floor surface 30, the liquid crystal display panel 36 of the control panel 35 is easy to see, and the operation keys 37 are also easy to press, The image forming apparatus can be operated very easily. In addition, the user U who operates while standing on the floor 30 simply grasps the operation lever 55 provided on the back side of the control panel 35 with his hand and pushes up the control panel 35, so that the user U can operate on the floor 30. Since the user U operating while standing can automatically set the control panel 35 at an angle of 5 degrees at which the user can easily operate the control panel 35, it is easy to adjust the installation angle θ of the control panel 35. It can be carried out.

  As described above, in the image forming apparatus according to the above-described embodiment, not only a normal user U who operates while standing on the floor 30 with a simple configuration and a simple operation, but also sits in the wheelchair 60. The control panel 35 is easy to see and easy to operate even for a user U such as a physically handicapped who has to operate in the state.

FIG. 1 is an external perspective view showing an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is an external perspective view showing a control panel of the image forming apparatus as one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram showing an image forming apparatus as one embodiment of the present invention. FIGS. 4A to 4C are a plan view, a front view, and a side view, respectively, showing the control panel. FIG. 5 is an external perspective view showing the operation keys of the control panel. FIGS. 6A to 6E are a plan view and a sectional view showing operation keys of the control panel, respectively. FIG. 7 is a side view showing the angle changing mechanism of the control panel. FIG. 8 is an external perspective view showing an angle changing mechanism of the control panel. FIG. 9 is an external perspective view showing an angle changing mechanism of the control panel. FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing the viewing angle of the liquid crystal display panel of the control panel. FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing the operation state of the control panel. FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram showing the operation state of the control panel. FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram showing an operation state of the control panel. FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram showing the operation state of the control panel. FIG. 15 is a graph showing the height of the fulcrum of the operation surface of the control panel. FIGS. 16A and 16B are graphs respectively showing the relationship between the installation angle and the height of the control panel. FIG. 17 is a graph showing the relationship between the installation angle and the height of the control panel.

Explanation of reference numerals

  1: image forming apparatus main body, 30: floor, 35: control panel, 36: liquid crystal display panel, 37: operation keys, 52: angle changing mechanism, θ1: first angle, θ2: second angle.

Claims (11)

In an image forming apparatus used while installed on a floor,
An image forming unit that forms an image on transfer paper;
A reading unit that is provided above the image forming unit and reads an image of a document;
An operation unit for operating the image forming apparatus;
The image forming unit has a discharge tray from which a sheet on which an image is formed on the upper surface of the image forming unit is discharged,
The image forming apparatus is characterized in that the operation unit is mounted above the front side of the discharge tray and in front of the reading unit, and the inclination angle can be changed in at least two steps. In an image forming apparatus used while installed on a floor,
An image forming unit that forms an image on a transfer sheet, and has a discharge tray on an upper surface for discharging the transfer sheet on which the image is formed,
A reading unit for reading an image of a document;
An operation unit that operates the image forming apparatus attached to a front side of the reading unit;
A support member that lifts the reading unit so as to be placed above the discharge tray,
An image forming apparatus, wherein the inclination angle of the operation unit can be changed in at least two steps. The tilt angle of the operation unit can be set stepwise,
Any first angle in the range of 20 to 30 degrees downward with respect to the horizontal direction;
3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the angle can be set to any second angle within a range of 0 to 15 degrees downward with respect to the horizontal direction. 4. The operation unit has a display panel and an operation key group.A display panel is provided on the left side toward the operation unit, and an operation key group including a numeric keypad and a start key is provided on the right side toward the operation unit. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the operation unit is provided so as to protrude toward a front side of the image forming unit. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the operation unit is rotatably attached to a front side of the reading unit via a rotation shaft. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the operation unit changes an inclination of the operation unit by operating an operation handle that can be operated from a back side. The image forming apparatus according to claim 7, wherein when the operation handle is grasped, the operation panel can be pushed down or pushed up. The image forming apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the operation handle is provided at a center of the operation unit. The image forming apparatus according to claim 4, wherein a viewing angle of the display panel is wider on a front side of the apparatus than on a rear side of the apparatus. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an operation surface of the operation unit is between 890 mm and 965 mm.

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