JP2007168133A - Operation part of apparatus, operation part of image forming apparatus, and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an operation part of an apparatus such as an image forming apparatus which attains improvement of the plainness of the operation part and reduction of a user's daily operation burden. <P>SOLUTION: A plurality of button keys such as a power supply button key 50 and operation button keys 60 and 70 are arranged on a top face of the operation part 1. Since the power supply button key 50 is highest in operation frequency among them, the power supply button key is formed larger than the other operation button keys 60 and 70 on the operation part 1, and arranged at a position nearer to an operator than the other operation button keys 60 and 70. The operation part 1 is disposed in a slantwise upward state to have its top edge side located slightly at an upper part in the case where the operation part 1 is set at the front right side of an apparatus body 11. Therefore, the power supply button key 50 as a key of the highest operation frequency is fitted near a lower right corner of the operation part 1 to be positioned near to the operator and the user who stand in front of the apparatus. The power supply button key 50 can be made greatly easy to find and easy to operate. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an operation unit of an apparatus such as an image forming apparatus and an image forming apparatus using the same.

  In an operation unit such as an ink jet printer or an operation unit such as a laser printer, a plurality of keys are arranged on the operation unit.

  For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a display unit mounted on a main body housing unit, a touch panel disposed on a surface thereof, a cover unit having a size that covers the display unit, and includes a window unit, and the display unit. A hinge portion that connects the main body housing portion and the cover portion so as to be openable and closable so that a closed state in which the portion is concealed and an open state in which the portion is exposed can be taken, and a predetermined position of the display portion exposed from the window portion in the closed state A first display screen provided with a frequently used upper and operation switch displayed on the screen, a second display screen provided with detailed information and various operation keys displayed on the entire display unit in the opened state, A switching unit that switches between the two display screens in conjunction with opening and closing of the cover unit, and includes a first display unit suitable for a confirmation operation at the time of configuration and a second display screen suitable for a normal confirmation operation. Easily switches in conjunction with the flattening operation of the cover In Rukoto, the information processing apparatus and its method of operation good confirmation operation to suit the use forms can be obtained has been proposed.

Further, in Patent Document 2, in an electronic device provided with a touch panel, by preventing a pressing operation from being concentrated only on a specific part of the touch panel, it is possible to prevent dirt and scratches from being concentrated on a specific part, In order to improve the life of the touch panel, it has a function to change the position of the display for input including frequently used operation buttons every predetermined time. Cumulative usage time of the device (total of actual usage time (time when the power is on) from when the user purchased the device and first turned on the system power), and the cumulative usage time has passed the predetermined time Each time, for example, by switching the display position of the input display 3 to another preset position every 1000 hours or 2000 hours, and switching the display position of the input display In accordance with the changing switches the partial region of the contact sensible state in the touch sensor panel, thereby, techniques that will allow an input operation by the operation buttons after the display position switching is disclosed.
JP 09-533334 A JP 2002-297316 A

  In other words, in conventional devices such as a printer, a plurality of keys are arranged on the operation unit, but most of them are used only for initial settings, and only the power key is used for daily operations. If a frequently used key seems to be mixed with another key without considering the arrangement, it becomes difficult to find a frequently used key such as a power key.

  In view of the above points, the present invention provides an operation unit of an apparatus such as an image forming apparatus and the like and an image forming apparatus using the same, which improves the understandability of the operation unit and reduces the daily operation burden on the user. The purpose is to provide.

  The operation unit of the apparatus of the present invention according to claim 1 is characterized in that a key having the highest operation frequency on the operation unit is formed larger than other keys on the operation unit.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the operation unit of the apparatus of the first aspect, the most frequently operated key is arranged at a position closer to the operator than other keys on the operation unit. And

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the operation portion of the device according to the first or second aspect, the operation portion is disposed on the front right side of the device main body and arranged in an obliquely upward state in which the upper edge side is located slightly above, The most frequently operated key is arranged near the lower right corner.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the operation unit of the apparatus according to the first to third aspects, the most frequently operated key is a power key.

  The operation unit of the image forming apparatus according to a fifth aspect is the operation unit of the first to third aspects, wherein the most frequently operated key is a start key.

An operation unit of an image forming apparatus according to a sixth aspect includes the operation unit of any one of the first to fifth aspects.
According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus including the operation unit of any one of the first to fifth aspects.

  The present invention makes it easier for an operator and a user to find a key with the highest frequency of operation and makes it easier to operate the apparatus.

  The best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described below with reference to the embodiments shown in the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an ink jet printer according to an embodiment of the present invention when viewed from the front right direction.

  In the inkjet printer 10 of the present embodiment, as shown in the figure, the LCD display unit 2 faces upward on the operation unit 1 located on the front right hand side of the apparatus main body 11 (in the present invention, upward refers not only to the horizontal upward direction, but also to the illustration). As well as the diagonally upward state with the upper edge side positioned upward as in the embodiment of FIG. 2) and facing toward the front side, in order from the front left side of the apparatus main body 11, black (K), cyan (C), magenta An ink cartridge mounting portion 12 in which the ink cartridges 3 of each color (M) and yellow (Y) can be attached and detached is provided in a substantially rectangular box shape. Of course, the arrangement of the ink cartridges is not limited to this order. Although not shown in detail, the apparatus main body 11 has a main configuration as an ink jet printer, and on the left side of the ink cartridge mounting portion 12 in the drawing, a tray 13 on which a plurality of sheets can be stacked, and A paper discharge unit 14 is provided so as to cover the top.

  Further, the ink cartridge mounting portion 12 includes a transparent ink cartridge door 4 so that the ink cartridge 3 inside can be seen even when the ink cartridge is closed. For example, in the illustrated example, the color ink cartridges 3 display colors on the spine-like display section 3a, but it is of course possible to use other display forms. The ink cartridge door 4 is not completely transparent and may be transparent so that the inside can be seen. Alternatively, the inside of the ink cartridge door 4 can be visually recognized even if it is opaque as a whole. A window may be provided. In the figure, 4a is a handle of the ink cartridge door 4, and 4b is an opening / closing shaft.

  Further, an LED display unit 20 is provided above the operation unit 1 of the apparatus main body 11. 2 and 3, the lower surface side of the portion 30 located on the upper side of the LED display unit 20 of the apparatus main body 11 has a hollow structure, and it is in a shadow formed by illumination light from above. An LED display unit 20 is inserted. Thus, by arranging the LED display unit 20 in the shadow, it becomes easy for the user to know that the LED is lit. In addition, although the site | part 30 is right above the LED display part 20 so that FIG. 3 may show, it is not limited to this arrangement | positioning. What is necessary is just to be located in the direction of the light which injects into the LED display part 20. FIG.

  Further, by disposing the operation unit 1 so as to be inclined obliquely upward, the LED display unit 20 faces obliquely upward, the LED light (optical axis) is covered upward by the portion 30, and the optical axis 40, or ambient light around the LED display unit 20 is difficult to directly irradiate the LED display unit 20. Even under a bright room light, the LED display unit 20 is a part of the device main body 11 (part 30). ) Makes it easier to understand that it is lit. Moreover, it is easy to understand that the light is turned on when the light of the LED is directed to the operator and the use side.

  In addition, the operation unit 1 of the present embodiment has a plurality of button keys arranged on its upper surface such as a power button key 50 and operation button keys 60 and 70. Of these, the power button key 50 has the highest operation frequency, so it is formed larger than the other operation button keys 60, 70 on the operation unit 1 (in the illustrated example, the diameter is larger). It is arranged at a position closer to the operator than the other operation button keys 60, 70.

  Specifically, the operation unit 1 is arranged on the right side of the front surface of the apparatus main body 11, but since the upper edge side is arranged in an obliquely upward state with the upper edge side positioned slightly upward, the power source that is the most frequently operated key is used. The button key 50 is arranged near the lower right corner of the operation unit 1 and is located close to an operator and a user standing at the front of the apparatus, so that it is very easy to find and operate.

  In the embodiment, only the example of the ink jet printer is shown and described, and the description of the other examples is omitted. However, the same or similar in laser printers, other image forming apparatuses, and apparatuses using the same type of display unit. Of course, it is possible to obtain the same visibility by taking the above-described configuration and arrangement.

The perspective view which shows the inkjet printer which concerns on the Example of this invention seeing from the front right direction.

Explanation of symbols

1: Operation unit 2: LCD display unit 3: Ink cartridge 3a: spine-like display unit 4: Ink cartridge door 4a: Handle of ink cartridge door 4b: Same opening / closing axis 5: Remaining amount display 10: Inkjet printer 11: Apparatus Main body 12: Ink cartridge mounting unit 13: Tray 14: Paper discharge unit 20: LED display unit 30: Site located above the LED display unit 40: LED optical axis 50: Power button key 60, 70: Operation button key

Claims (7)

An operation unit of the device, wherein a key having the highest operation frequency on the operation unit is formed larger than other keys on the operation unit. The operation unit of the apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the key having the highest operation frequency is arranged at a position closer to the operator than other keys on the operation unit. 3. The operation part of the apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the operation part is arranged on the front right side of the apparatus main body and arranged in an obliquely upward state in which the upper edge side is located slightly above, and the key with the highest operation frequency is lowered. An operation unit of the apparatus, which is arranged near the right corner. 4. The operation unit of the apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the most frequently operated key is a power key. 4. The operation unit of the image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the most frequently operated key is a start key. An operation unit of an image forming apparatus comprising the operation unit of the apparatus according to claim 1. An image forming apparatus comprising the operation unit of the apparatus according to claim 1.