JP2005197616A - Console panel - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a console panel decreasing a manufacturing cost and a distribution cost required to change a representation of the console panel in answer to a user's request, and to provide an electronic equipment. <P>SOLUTION: The console panel 1 comprises a representation member 7 having a plurality of small coupled pieces having the representation corresponding to a specific user, and a body member 4 having a plurality of fit-in parts in which the plurality of small exchangeable pieces are fit with the representation of the plurality of small pieces visible from the obverse side. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an operation panel.

  As a man-machine interface in an electronic device or the like, an operation panel having a switch for a user to perform a desired operation, a notation indicating the content of the operation, or a notation for guiding operation is known. The notation of the operation panel needs to be changed for each user due to the difference in the language used by the user or a symbol that is conventionally used in overseas export or the like. Therefore, the product specifications are usually determined for each shipping country, and products with the notation corresponding to the shipping country are shipped. However, depending on the country of shipment, there are cases where several languages are used in one country, and there are cases where sales dealers are in charge of several countries that use different languages. It is not always possible. Therefore, conventionally, the entire operation panel can be replaced, and a plurality of operation panels having a notation corresponding to the region to be shipped are packed together with the main body and shipped.

However, since the operation panel greatly contributes to improving the appearance of the product, expensive items such as painting, printed marking, and parts are often used. Manufacturing a product has a problem of increasing the manufacturing cost. Further, when the operation panel is large, packing and transporting a plurality of the operation panels increases the distribution cost in terms of the packing material and the packing volume.
The present invention was created to solve such problems, and an operation panel and an electronic device that reduce the manufacturing cost and the distribution cost for enabling the notation of the operation panel to be changed according to the user. The purpose is to provide.

  In order to achieve the above object, an operation panel according to the present invention includes a notation member having a plurality of connected small pieces having a notation corresponding to a specific user, and the plurality of small pieces are fitted in an exchangeable manner. And a main body member having a plurality of insets that can be visually recognized from the front side. In one operation panel, only the above-mentioned notation member is packed and shipped in a necessary type according to the corresponding use language, etc., so that the user can select the notation member corresponding to the desired use language and use it as the main body member of the operation panel. An operation panel with a desired notation can be obtained. Compared to packing the entire operation panel into the main unit, it is possible to change the notation of the operation panel by packing only a much smaller number of notation members. Can be reduced. In addition, since a plurality of small pieces having a notation can be connected to each other so that the plurality of small pieces can be fitted at once, it is possible to save labor during work as compared with the case where the small pieces are fitted for each notation. it can.

Furthermore, in the operation panel according to the present invention, the notation member is fitted into the fitting portion from the back side of the main body member. By fitting the notation member to which the small piece portions are connected to the main body member from the back side, the portion connecting the small pieces can be prevented from appearing on the surface of the operation panel, and the appearance can be improved.
Furthermore, in the operation panel according to the present invention, the fitting portion is an opening. By setting the fitting portion of the main body member as an opening, the main body member can be made of an opaque material, and the manufacturing cost can be reduced.

  Furthermore, in the operation panel according to the present invention, at least a part of the main body member is transparent, and the fitting portion is a recess formed on the back surface of the transparent portion of the main body member. Since the notation member is fitted on the back side of the transparent part of the main body member, there is no gap between the main body member and the notation member formed when the fitting portion is an opening. Intrusion can be prevented.

Furthermore, in the operation panel according to the present invention, the notation member is made of a material different from that of the main body member. By manufacturing the notation member using a material different from that of the main body member, the degree of freedom of design is improved, such as making it easier to see the notation content of the notation member and making it easier to pay attention.
Furthermore, in the operation panel according to the present invention, the notation member is fixed to the main body member by press fitting. By allowing the marking member to be fitted into the main body member by press-fitting, a screw, an adhesive, or the like is not necessary, and the user can easily fit the marking member.

Furthermore, in the operation panel according to the present invention, the small piece portion has a notation formed by a two-color molding method. By forming the small piece portion by a two-color molding method, it is possible to prevent the small piece portion from being difficult to visually recognize due to wear or the like.
The operation panel according to the present invention further includes an operation button corresponding to the small piece portion. By providing the operation buttons corresponding to the small pieces, it is possible to obtain an operation button with a notation corresponding to a specific user.
In order to achieve the above object, an electronic apparatus according to the present invention includes the operation panel and a main body operated by the operation panel.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described based on examples.
(First Example)
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the multifunction device 30 including the operation panel according to the first embodiment of the present invention as viewed obliquely from above, and FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating the multifunction device 30 as an electronic device.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the multifunction machine 30 includes a scanner unit 31, a printer unit 32, an operation panel 1, and a control unit 34. The housing of the multifunction machine 30 includes a scanner case 35 that houses the scanner unit 31, and a printer case 36 that houses the printer unit 32 and the control unit 34. The operation panel 1 is fixed to the printer case 36. The scanner case 35 is slidably connected to the printer case 36 by a hinge 37. The operation panel 1 includes a main body 4, a notation unit 5, and a substrate 3. The substrate 3 is fixed to the printer case 36, and the operation buttons 2, a display (not shown), an indicator, and the like are mounted thereon. The main body 4 covers the substrate 3 so that the operation buttons 2 and the like can be operated and viewed from the front side of the operation panel 1, and is fixed to the printer case 36 so as to be detachable by, for example, snap fitting.

  The board 3 receives a user operation by the operation button 2 or the like, and transmits a predetermined request signal to the control unit 34. Based on the request signal transmitted from the substrate 3, the control unit 34 controls the scanner unit 31, the printer unit 32, the display of the substrate 3, display of indicators, and the like. For example, a case where a predetermined document is copied will be specifically described. When the user places a document on the document table 38 and presses the operation button 2 corresponding to “copy” on the operation panel 1, a “copy” request signal is transmitted from the substrate 3 to the control unit 34. Next, when the control unit 34 transmits a “read” request signal to the scanner unit 31, the scanner unit 31 reads a document placed on the document table 38 and outputs image data to the control unit 34. The printer unit 32 performs printing on the print medium 40 supplied from the paper feed port 39 based on the image data output from the control unit 34.

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing a main body 4 and a notation portion 5 of an operation panel 1 in the first embodiment of the present invention.
The operation panel 1 includes a main body 4 as a main body member and a notation portion 5 as a notation member. The main body 4 is provided with a plurality of openings 8 so that the operation buttons 2 provided on the substrate 3 can be operated from the front side. The main body 4 is provided with an opening 10 as a fitting portion. The notation 5 is fitted into the opening 10 from the back side of the main body 4 by press fitting.

  Alternatively, the main body 4 may be formed of a partially transparent member, and a recessed portion may be provided on the back surface of the transparent portion of the main body 4 to form a fitting portion so that the notation portion 5 fixed to the concave portion can be viewed from the front side. Alternatively, a recess may be provided on the front side of the main body 4 to form a fitting portion, and the notation portion 5 may be press-fitted into the recess from the front side to fix the notation portion 5 to the main body.

  FIG. 4 is a plan view showing the operation panel 1, and FIG. 5 is a plan view showing an example of the notation unit 5. The notation portion 5 is formed by injection molding of a resin material. The notation unit 5 has a shape in which a plurality of pieces 13 each having a notation indicating the meaning of an operation button disposed in the vicinity of the notation unit 5 when it is fitted in the main body 4 are connected by a connecting unit 14. More specifically, the small pieces 13 of the notation 5 are press-fitted into the corresponding openings 10. For example, the small pieces 21 (13) on which “On” is printed become the openings 22 (10). The notation “On” indicates the meaning of the nearby button 23 (2).

  In this embodiment, the small piece 13 and the connecting portion 14 for connecting the small piece 13 are integrally formed by injection molding. However, after each small piece 13 is molded, the small piece 13 is joined by a separate connecting portion 14. And may be connected. Further, the notation of the notation unit 5 does not necessarily indicate the meaning of the operation buttons arranged in the vicinity, but may indicate the meaning of the nearby indicator or the like, or may be a notation necessary for operation. In addition, the notation may be performed by two-color molding regardless of printing, or may be described by providing unevenness during molding. In addition, the member of the notation portion 5 is not necessarily the same member as the main body 4, may be a deformable rubber or the like, or may be a transparent resin that can transmit the light of the indicator provided on the substrate 3.

  As described above, according to the operation panel 1 of the first embodiment of the present invention, the main body 4 is attached to the printer case 36 by a method that can be easily attached and detached, such as a snap fit. Since the fitting into the head is also by press-fitting, screws and adhesives are unnecessary, so that the user can easily replace the notation portion 5 of the operation panel 1. Therefore, when shipping to regions that require different notations, if only a plurality of necessary notation members are packed in one operation panel 1, the user can easily select the notation 5 and select the notation 5 Therefore, the distribution cost can be reduced as compared with the case where the entire operation panel 1 is packed and shipped.

(Second embodiment)
FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view showing the main body 4, the notation portion 5, and the base 20 in the operation panel 1 in the second embodiment of the present invention. The operation panel 1 according to the second embodiment of the present invention includes a main body 4, a notation unit 5, a substrate 3, and a base 20. About the part substantially the same as a 1st Example, description is abbreviate | omitted using the same code.
In the operation panel 1 according to the second embodiment of the present invention, the notation portion 5 has each small piece 13 fitted in the opening 10 of the main body 4 and the main body 4 and the base 20 are detachably joined by a snap fit or the like. As a result, the body 4 and the base 20 are sandwiched and fixed.

  As described above, according to the operation panel 1 of the second embodiment of the present invention, the main body 4 and the base 20 are detachable, and the notation portion 5 is simply sandwiched between the main body 4 and the base 20. Therefore, the replacement of the notation unit 5 can be facilitated. Therefore, by packing only a plurality of necessary notation members for one operation panel 1, the distribution cost can be reduced.

  In the first embodiment and the second embodiment described above, the notation portion indicates the meaning of the operation button in the vicinity thereof, but the notation portion itself may have the function of the operation button. For example, the operation button is divided into a surface portion and a functional portion including a spring, a contact, etc., and a member formed by connecting the surface portion of the operation button having a notation portion with a deformable member such as rubber is formed on the base. It may be fixed or sandwiched between the operation panel main body and the base, and may be operated from an opening provided in the operation panel main body.

The disassembled perspective view which shows the operation panel which concerns on 1st Example of this invention. 1 is a perspective view showing a multifunction machine according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a multifunction machine according to an embodiment of the present invention. The top view which shows the operation panel which concerns on 1st Example of this invention. The top view which shows the description part which concerns on the Example of this invention. The disassembled perspective view which shows the operation panel which concerns on the 2nd Example of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Operation panel, 2 Operation button, 4 Main body (main body member), 5 Notation part (notation member), 6 Notation part (notation member), 7 Notation part (notation member), 10 Opening part (insertion part), 30 MFP (Electronics)

Claims (9)

A notation member having a plurality of linked pieces having a notation corresponding to a specific user;
A main body member having a plurality of inset portions, wherein the plurality of small piece portions are exchangeably fitted, and the notations of the plurality of small piece portions are visible from the front side;
An operation panel comprising:   The operation panel according to claim 1, wherein the notation member is fitted into the fitting portion from the back side of the main body member.   The operation panel according to claim 1, wherein the fitting portion is an opening.   The operation panel according to claim 1, wherein at least a part of the main body member is transparent, and the fitting portion is a concave portion formed on a back surface of a transparent portion of the main body member.   The operation panel according to claim 1, wherein the notation member is made of a material different from that of the main body member.   The operation panel according to claim 1, wherein the notation member is fixed to the main body member by press fitting.   The operation panel according to claim 1, wherein the small piece portion has a notation formed by a two-color molding method.   The operation panel according to claim 1, further comprising an operation button corresponding to the small piece portion. The operation panel according to any one of claims 1 to 8,
A main body operated by the operation panel;
An electronic device comprising:

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