JP2006010867A - Image processor - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image processor constituted so that an operation panel can be automatically moved to a position suitable to the user's operation, and also, the operation panel does not interfere with opening/closing of a front cover at jamming processing. <P>SOLUTION: The image processor is provided with a jamming detecting means for detecting the jamming in the apparatus main body, and a moving means for moving the movable operation panel movably installed in the apparatus main body to a position suitable to the user's operation in a normal state, and moving the movable operation panel to a retreat position when the jamming is detected. When the jamming is detected, the movable operation panel is moved to the retreat position, then, the movable operation panel does not interfere with the opening of the front cover. Besides, it is allowed to install the movable operation panel on the front cover so that the front cover can be opened, irrespective of the position of the movable operation panel. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus including a movable operation panel, and more particularly to an image processing apparatus that moves a movable operation panel to a position that does not interfere with jam processing when jam processing occurs.

Usually, since an operation panel of an image processing apparatus or the like is fixed, it may be difficult for a specific user such as a tall person, a child, or a wheelchair user to operate. In view of this, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-110399 discloses an automatic elevating device that allows all users to easily operate the operation panel. The automatic lifting device includes means for detecting the height of the user, and automatically changes the height of the entire device or only the operation panel based on the height of the user.
JP-A-9-110399

  From the point of view of user operability, the same effect can be obtained by either raising / lowering the entire device or raising / lowering only the operation panel. However, in consideration of power consumption, etc., compared to raising / lowering the entire device. It is preferable to raise and lower only the operation panel. However, if only the operation panel is moved up and down to a height that matches the user's height, for example, if the front cover is opened during jam processing, the operation panel is positioned in front of the front cover, and the front cover It is assumed that cannot be opened.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an image processing apparatus that can automatically move an operation panel to a position suitable for a user's operation and that does not obstruct the opening and closing of the front cover during jam processing. And

  An image processing apparatus according to the present invention detects a jam by detecting a jam of a device main body, and a movable operation panel that is normally movably installed on the device main body to a position suitable for a user operation. And moving means for moving the movable operation panel to the retracted position when the operation is performed.

  The retracted position is a position that does not obstruct the opening and closing of the front cover, such as the front of the front cover attached to the device so as to be openable and closable.

  A mobile operation panel may be installed on the front cover. When the mobile operation panel is installed on the front cover, the mobile operation panel moves together with the front cover, so that the mobile operation panel does not obstruct the opening and closing of the front cover.

  As described above, in the image processing apparatus of the present invention, when a jam occurs, the movable operation panel moves to a position where it does not interfere with the opening and closing of the front cover. Therefore, the user opens the front cover and quickly handles the jam. be able to.

  When the mobile operation panel is installed on the front cover, the front cover can be opened regardless of the position of the mobile operation panel.

  FIG. 1A is a side view of the image processing apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment, and FIG. 1B is a front view of the image processing apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, the image processing apparatus 100 includes a platen cover 101, a document table 102, a front cover 103, and a paper feed cassette 104. Next to the front cover 103 in front of the image processing apparatus 100, a support shaft 105 that can extend and contract in the vertical direction is installed via two upper and lower support portions 106.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the support shaft 105 includes a rail 201 and a moving body 202 that is supported so as to be movable up and down with respect to the support portion 106 and moves up and down along the rail 201. The moving body 202 is moved up and down by a motor 203.

  A movable operation panel 107 is installed at the upper end of the moving body 202. The surface of the mobile operation panel 107 is provided with a hard key such as a liquid crystal monitor and a numeric keypad (not shown), and the height (for example, height) of the user is detected inside the mobile operation panel 107. A reflective height detection sensor 108 is provided.

  A reflection type distance sensor 109 that projects light in front of the image processing apparatus 100 and measures the distance from the front of the image processing apparatus 100 to the user is provided on the side of the support shaft 105.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the image processing apparatus 100 includes a jam detection unit 301 that detects a jam that occurs in a paper feeding unit, a transfer unit, and the like. The jam detection unit 301 detects a jam while the image processing apparatus 100 is powered on (FIG. 4, S301 → S311). When the jam detecting means 301 detects a jam, the jam detecting means 301 generates a warning sound and notifies the user of that.

  In the image processing apparatus 100, the moving unit 302 moves the moving operation panel 107 up and down. When the jam detecting unit 301 detects no jam, the moving unit 302 moves the movable operation panel 107 up and down to a position suitable for the user's operation (FIG. 4, S302, N).

  That is, when the distance sensor 109 detects that the user has approached the image processing apparatus 100 for a certain distance to copy or fax with the image processing apparatus 100 (FIG. 4, S303, Y), the moving means 302 The height of the user is detected by changing the projection angle of the height detection sensor 108 (S304 in FIG. 4). When detecting the height of the user, the moving means 302 detects the current position of the movable operation panel 107 based on a value output from the rotary encoder 204 that counts the number of rotations of the motor 203. When the moving means 302 detects the current position of the movable operation panel 107, the moving means 302 determines whether or not the current position is suitable for an operation according to the height of the user (FIG. 4, S305).

  When the moving means 302 determines that the current position of the movable operation panel 107 is not a position suitable for operation, the moving means 302 moves the movable body 202 up and down to move the movable operation panel 107 to a position suitable for operation ( FIG. 4, S305, Y → S306).

  On the other hand, when the moving means 302 determines that the current position of the movable operation panel 107 is a position suitable for the operation, the moving means 302 does not move the movable operation panel 107 up and down and stays there (FIG. 4, S305, N).

  As described above, since the mobile operation panel 107 moves according to the height of the user, the mobile operation panel 107 can be easily operated by any user.

  On the other hand, when the jam detection sensor 301 detects a jam when the power is on, the moving means 302 first determines that the current position of the mobile operation panel 107 is jammed based on the value output from the rotary encoder 204. It is determined whether or not the standby position does not get in the way (FIG. 4, S307).

  The standby position that does not interfere with the jam processing is, for example, when the front cover 103 is opened such as a position higher than the front cover 103 as shown in FIG. 5, the movable operation panel 107 comes into contact with the front cover 103. There is no position.

  When the moving means 302 determines that the mobile operation panel 107 is located at the standby position, the moving means 302 stores the current position of the mobile operation panel 107 regardless of the detection result of the height detection sensor 108 and forces it. Therefore, it is moved to the standby position (S308 in FIG. 4). When the movable operation panel 107 is moved to the standby position and the occurrence of a jam is notified from the jam detection unit 301, the user can open the front cover 103 and perform jam processing promptly.

  When the jam detecting means 301 detects that the jam has been resolved, the moving means 302 moves the movable operation panel 107 to the position stored before moving to the standby position (FIG. 4, S309 → S310).

  When the jam is resolved, the mobile operation panel 107 automatically returns to the original position, so that after the jam processing, the user can operate the mobile operation panel 107 at a position where it can be easily operated.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step 307 that the current position of the mobile operation panel 107 is the standby position, the moving means 302 does not move the mobile operation panel 107 and stays at the standby position.

(Embodiment 2)
In the image processing apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6, the support shaft 105 is installed on the front surface of the front cover 103 via two upper and lower support portions 106, and the above-described movement is performed on the upper end of the support shaft 105. An operation panel 107 is installed. The configuration of the support shaft 105 of the present embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment.

  Similar to the image processing apparatus 100 described in the first embodiment, the image processing apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment has a height sensor 108 built in the movable operation panel 107, and a distance sensor 109 is provided in front of the image processing apparatus 100. Is provided.

  The image processing apparatus 100 of the present embodiment is the same as the image processing apparatus 100 described in the first embodiment in that the movable operation panel 107 moves according to the height of the user. A configuration for moving the movable operation panel 107 to the standby position even when a jam is detected is not employed.

  This is because the movable operation panel 107 is installed so as to be interlocked with the opening and closing of the front cover 103, so that even if the front cover is opened when the movable operation panel 107 is positioned in front of the front cover 103, Since the front cover and the mobile operation panel 107 move as one body and the front cover does not interfere with opening the mobile operation panel 107, the front cover can be moved without moving the mobile operation panel 107 to the retracted position. This is because the cover 103 can be opened.

The side view and front view of an image processing apparatus. The enlarged view of a support shaft and a movable operation panel. The functional block diagram of an image processing apparatus. It is a flowchart of a movement of a movable operation panel. Front view of the image processing apparatus with the movable operation panel moved to the retracted position The side view and front view of an image processing apparatus.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Image processing apparatus 103 Front cover 105 Support shaft 106 Support part 107 Mobile operation panel 108 Height detection sensor 109 Distance sensor 301 Jam detection means 302 Movement means

Claims (2)

In an image processing apparatus comprising: a movable operation panel that is movably installed in a device main body; and a panel moving unit that moves the movable operation panel to a position suitable for a user operation.
Jam detection means for detecting the jam of the device,
When the jam is detected, the moving means moves the movable operation panel not to a position suitable for a user's operation but to a retreat position that does not interfere with jam processing. A mobile operation panel movably installed on the front cover of the device body;
An image processing apparatus comprising panel moving means for moving the movable operation panel to a position suitable for a user operation.