JP2008129294A - Control panel and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a control panel having constitution capable of achieving the reduction of cost further as compared with the conventional one while restraining irregular light quantity of a ring-shaped light emitting part provided around a button. <P>SOLUTION: A start button 22 comprises a button main body 221 and the light emitting part 222 annularly mounted on the button main body 221. The light emitting part 222 is formed in a shape that its width W is maximum at a part 2221 on the front side of the apparatus and is gradually narrowed toward the inner side of the apparatus in plane view. An LED 31 is arranged right under the part 2221 on the front side of the apparatus of the light emitting part 222. Light from the LED 31 is made incident from the part 2221 of the light emitting part 222 and diffused in the light emitting part 222, whereby the light emitting part 222 emits light in ring shape. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an operation panel and an image forming apparatus including the operation panel.

Various buttons for accepting input from the user are usually arranged on the operation panel of the copying machine. Among them, the start button is a button for starting copying, which is a basic function of the copying machine. In many cases, a device has been devised to make it easy for the user to recognize the button and prevent the user from mistaken it for other buttons.
For example, as shown in the plan view of FIG. 10, a start button 90 in which an annular light emitting portion 92 having a uniform width is mounted on a circular button body 91, and four LEDs 93 are arranged at equal intervals directly below the light emitting portion 92. Conventionally, an operation panel having a configuration in which the light emitting unit 92 is irradiated with light from each LED 93 and the light emitting unit 92 emits light in a ring shape is conventionally employed.

With this configuration, since the periphery of the start button 90 emits light in a ring shape, attention is drawn more than other buttons, and the user can easily recognize the start button 90 on the operation panel.
JP 2006-147498 A

The reason for emitting light around the start button 90 is to attract the user's attention, but there may be a sense of incongruity when a bright and dark part is formed in the ring-shaped light emitting part and the user perceives it as uneven light quantity. Therefore, it is desired that the amount of light is not perceived as uneven as much as possible.
Conventionally, in order to suppress unevenness in the amount of light, about four light sources such as LEDs are dispersedly arranged as described above. However, increasing the number of light sources is disadvantageous in terms of cost.

Further, if the light source is arranged at a position below the start button 90 and the light from the light source is diffused to illuminate the periphery of the start button 90, the number of light sources can be reduced while suppressing unevenness in the amount of light. However, the operation panel cannot be reduced in thickness, and the brightness of the ring-shaped light-emitting portion is reduced as the distance increases.
The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and provides an operation panel having a configuration capable of reducing the cost of the light emitting unit while suppressing unevenness in the light amount of the light emitting unit, and an image forming apparatus including the operation panel. The purpose is to do.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides an operation panel provided in an image forming apparatus, which is provided so as to surround a button body, a light source, and the button body, and light from the light source is incident thereon. A light-emitting part that guides the incident light around the button body and emits light, and the light-emitting part is narrowed as it moves away from the part having the largest width in plan view in the circumferential direction of the button body. It is formed in a shape that becomes.

  The present invention is an image forming apparatus including an operation unit, and includes the operation panel as the operation unit.

By forming the light emitting part in such a shape, when the light emitting part emits light, it is difficult for the user to feel that the light amount unevenness due to light and dark has occurred, while making the user not feel unnatural, Cost reduction can be achieved by reducing the number of light sources.
Further, the button body and the light emitting part are integrally formed.
In this way, since the light emitting part is also a part of the button, the area of the button surface can be increased, and the operability for the user when pressing the button is improved.

Furthermore, the button body, in which the button body and the light emitting portion are integrally formed, is formed in a curved surface shape that is convexly curved.
In this way, the user can visually check that the light is emitted from the lateral direction with respect to the position of the operation panel, for example, and the operation of moving to the front is unnecessary to confirm the presence or absence of light emission. .

Further, the image forming apparatus is provided on the front side of the image forming apparatus, a portion having the maximum width of the light emitting unit is positioned on the front side of the device, and light from the light source is incident from a back side of the portion having the maximum width. And
In this way, the width of the portion near the light source in the light emitting section is widened, and the width of the separated portion is narrowed. Therefore, even if the light from the light source may be difficult to reach because it is separated from the light source. Because it is narrow to the user's eyes, it is difficult to stand out and it is difficult to project unnaturally.

Furthermore, the light source is arranged at a position facing the back side of the maximum width portion of the light emitting unit.
In this way, the light source can be arranged at a position in the vicinity of the light emitting unit, and further downsizing of the entire operation panel can be achieved.
Further, the button body has a circular shape in plan view, and the light emitting section has a circular shape in plan view, and is provided over one circumference of the button body.

If it does in this way, a light emission part will become a ring (ring) shape, and the design property will improve more.
Further, the button main body includes another button, and the other button is not provided with a member corresponding to the light emitting portion around the button.
In this way, the user can easily distinguish between the button body and the other button on the operation panel, and can prevent erroneous button presses.

The button body is a start button for starting an image forming operation of the image forming apparatus.
In this way, the user can easily recognize the start button on the operation panel, and can immediately press the button without making a mistake.

Hereinafter, embodiments of an operation panel and an image forming apparatus according to the present invention will be described by taking a copying machine as an example.
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an overall configuration of a copying machine 1 according to the present embodiment.
As shown in FIG. 1, the copying machine 1 includes a scanner unit 2, a printer unit 3, an operation panel 4, a control unit 5, and the like.

The copying machine 1 has a function of executing various jobs such as a scan job for reading an image of a document and a copy job for printing a document image based on image data obtained by reading.
The scanner unit 2 conveys a set document and reads an image of the document to obtain image data. The printer unit 3 forms an image on a sheet based on the image data obtained by the scanner unit 2 using a known electrophotographic technique.

The operation panel 4 is disposed at a position where the user can easily operate when standing in front of the copying machine 1, in this case, on the front surface of the scanner unit 2.
FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the configuration of the operation panel 4.
As shown in the figure, the operation panel 4 includes a first operation unit 11 and a second operation unit 12.
The first operation unit 11 is provided with a plurality of buttons such as a numeric keypad 21, a start button 22, a stop button 23, and a power save button 24 as so-called hard keys. Here, the numeric keypad 21 is a button for setting the number of copies and the start button 22 is a button for instructing the start of copying. The stop button 23 is a button for interrupting the copy operation, and the power save button 24 is a button for shifting to the power saving mode and returning to the normal mode. When the user presses any button, a signal indicating that the button has been pressed is sent to the control unit 5. The same applies to the other buttons.

  The second operation unit 12 includes a plurality of buttons such as a sub power button 13 and a mode memory button 14 and a liquid crystal display unit 15. The liquid crystal display unit 15 is formed by laminating a translucent touch panel on the surface of the liquid crystal display panel, and includes a screen including a copy number, a message indicating the status of the copier 1 and a key for receiving various inputs from the user. In addition to the display, a touch on the screen by the user is accepted as a key press, and a signal indicating the press is sent to the control unit 5. As shown in FIG. 1, the first operation unit 11 is mounted on the second operation unit 12 so that the direction can be changed in the direction of the arrow, and is devised so that the user can easily see and press the button.

The control unit 5 controls the printer unit 3 and the like so as to smoothly execute a copy job or the like in the copying machine 1. Further, it receives a signal sent from the operation panel 4 indicating that a button or key has been pressed, and executes an operation based on the received signal.
FIG. 3 is an enlarged plan view showing the start button 22, and FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA in FIG. In FIG. 3, the pattern provided on the start button 22 and the exterior cover 29 (FIG. 2) are omitted.

As shown in both figures, the start button 22 has a button body 221 and a light emitting unit 222 integrally formed, and has a curved surface with a convexly curved surface.
A circuit board 30 is disposed immediately below the start button 22, and an LED 31 and a switch 32 are mounted on the circuit board 30. When the user presses the start button 22, the actuator 321 of the switch 32 is pressed and a signal indicating that the switch 32 is pressed is output to the control unit 5.

The button body 221 of the start button 22 has a circular shape in a plan view and is made of resin or the like, and does not have translucency here.
The light emitting unit 222 has an annular shape in plan view, is made of translucent glass, acrylic resin, or the like, and is wrapped around the button body 221. Inside the light emitting part 222, light diffusing particles, specifically those having a refractive index different from the material of the light emitting part 222, more specifically, inorganic particles such as silica and alumina, and organic particles such as polycarbonate resin, etc. include.

The light emitting unit 222 has a maximum width W2 on the front side of the copying machine 1 (apparatus) in plan view, and becomes narrower as it moves to the back side of the apparatus in the circumferential direction of the button body 221, and a part on the back side of the apparatus 2222 is formed to be minimum. The LED 31 is disposed directly below the maximum portion 2221 of the width W in the light emitting unit 222.
When the light L from the LED 31 is incident from a portion (light incident portion) 2223 facing the LED 31 on the back surface (back surface) of the light emitting portion 222, the incident light is diffused by reflection or the like inside the light emitting portion 222. The light is guided around the main body 221 and emitted from the surface 2224 of the light emitting unit 222 toward the user. For example, when the LED 31 is lit blue, the button body 221 emits light in a circular ring shape with a blue color.

  FIGS. 5A and 5B are diagrams illustrating a state where the light emitting unit 222 emits light by turning on the LED 31. FIG. 5A is a plan view, and FIG. 5B is a view when the start button 22 is viewed from the direction of arrow B in FIG. The figure of (c) has shown the figure when it sees from the arrow C direction of FIG. In the drawing, the brightness of the light emitting unit 222 is represented by shading, where the light portion corresponds to the bright portion and the dark portion corresponds to the dark portion.

  From FIG. 5A, it can be seen that the light emitting unit 222 has the brightest part 2221 on the front side of the apparatus and becomes darker as it moves to the back side of the apparatus. The device back side portion 2222 is less likely to receive light from the LED 31 than the device front side portion 2221, but the width W becomes narrower as the device goes to the back side of the device, so that the area to be emitted is reduced. Therefore, even if the amount of light is small, the light can be emitted with a certain amount of light by gathering in a narrow portion. From the viewpoint of the user, since the darkened portion gradually becomes narrower, it is difficult to feel that the unevenness in the amount of light due to light and dark has occurred, and it is suppressed that the user feels uncomfortable.

  On the other hand, when the start button 90 including the light emitting unit 92 having the uniform width as shown in FIG. 10 is used, if the configuration in which one LED 95 is arranged as shown in FIG. The portion 94 on the back side of the device becomes conspicuous. Further, if a configuration is adopted in which two LEDs 95 are arranged as shown in FIG. 6B, bright portions and dark portions appear alternately and it becomes easy to recognize light amount unevenness.

  Returning to FIG. 5, since the start key 22 has a convex shape, when the user is away from the copying machine 1, the start button 22 is pressed in the direction of the arrows shown in FIGS. 5 (b) and 5 (c). Even when viewed, it is easy to visually recognize that the light emitting unit 222 emits light. Therefore, for example, if the LED 31 is lit in a copyable state, it is convenient for the user to check whether or not the copy is possible without going to the front of the copying machine 1.

  As described above, the start button 22 of the operation panel 4 according to the present invention is formed in a shape in which the width W of the light emitting unit 222 is maximized on the front side of the apparatus and becomes narrower as it moves to the back side of the apparatus. Therefore, it is possible to enjoy the cost reduction effect by reducing the number of LEDs as the light source to one while preventing the user from feeling unnatural. Further, since the LED 31 can be disposed directly below the start button 22, the operation panel 4 can be made thin.

The light emitting unit 222 is not limited as long as it functions as a light emitting unit that guides incident light around the button body and emits light. For example, a device corresponding to the light guiding portion in Patent Document 1 may be used.
(Modification)
As described above, the present invention has been described based on the embodiment. However, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and the following modifications may be considered.

(1) FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of the operation panel 4 according to a modification.
As shown in the figure, in the configuration of this modification, the LED 35 is arranged at a position shifted to the front side of the apparatus, not directly below the start button 22, and a reflecting member 36 is arranged at a position immediately below the apparatus. This point is different from the above embodiment. The light emitted from the LED 35 is reflected by the reflecting member 36 and is incident on the light emitting unit 222 of the start button 22. The degree of freedom of LED arrangement can be improved while realizing a thin operation panel 4.

(2) FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a start button according to a modification.
As shown in the figure, the start button 25 of the present modification has a square shape in plan view, and is different in shape from the start button 22.
The start button 25 includes a light emitting unit 252 arranged around a trapezoidal button body 251. Like the light emitting unit 222, the light emitting unit 252 has a maximum width 2521 on the front side of the apparatus, and is formed in a shape having a part 2522 that becomes narrower as it moves to the back side of the apparatus. The LED 31 is disposed immediately below the portion 2521.

When light from the LED 31 enters the portion 2521, the incident light is diffused in the light emitting unit 252 and emitted from the surface of the light emitting unit 252. As a result, the periphery of the button body 251 emits light in a square ring shape.
(3) In the above description, the configuration example in the case where the start button is circular or quadrangular has been described, but the present invention is not limited thereto. If the width of the light emitting part is formed so as to gradually narrow from the front side of the apparatus to the back side of the apparatus, the cost reduction effect can be obtained by reducing the number of LEDs without causing the user to feel uncomfortable as described above. For example, an elliptical shape can be considered.

(4) In the above-described embodiment, the example in which the maximum width of the light emitting unit 222 is the portion 2221 on the front side of the device has been described. However, for example, the portion on the back side of the device has the maximum width, and the portion on the front side of the device It may be formed to have a minimum width. In this case, the LED 31 is arranged on the back side of the apparatus.
(5) In the above embodiment, the light emitting unit 222 has an annular shape and surrounds the button main body 221 one round, but is not limited to one round. If the light emitting unit is provided so as to surround the button body, for example, a part thereof is cut, specifically, the shape is such that the width becomes zero until reaching the back part 2222 of the device. However, by having a portion whose width gradually narrows, the same effect as described above can be expected.

(6) Although the number of LEDs is one in the above embodiment, the number is not limited to one. For example, when n (≧ 2) LEDs are conventionally arranged, the number of LEDs can be reduced by (n−1) or less by the configuration of the present invention, and the number of LEDs is reduced as compared with the conventional one. Cost reduction.
Moreover, although the example using LED as a light source was demonstrated, it cannot be overemphasized that it is not restricted to this. For example, a small light bulb can be used.

(7) In the above description, an example in which the start button 22 is configured by integrating the button main body 221 and the light emitting unit 222 has been described. For example, the button main body and the light emitting unit are separated and the light emitting unit is covered with an exterior cover. The structure provided in the side can also be taken.
FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example when the button body and the light emitting unit are separated.
As shown in the figure, in this configuration example, the button main body 26 is a member that is movable when pressed, and the light emitting unit 27 is fixed to an exterior cover 29. The button body 26 and the light emitting unit 27 are basically formed of the same material as the button body 221 and the light emitting unit 222.

Although a slight gap 28 is formed between the button body 26 and the light emitting unit 27, the user appears to emit light in a ring shape around the button body 26 and the width gradually decreases. It is possible to obtain the same effect as the form.
(8) In the above embodiment, the example in which the button of the present invention is applied to the start button 22 has been described. However, the user (user) can visually recognize that the light emitting unit emits light even from a position away from the apparatus. The button is not limited to the start button as long as it is a button for executing a required function. For example, if the configuration is applied to the power save button 24 and emits light in the power save (power saving) state, the user can easily confirm that the power is saved.

(9) In the above-described embodiment, the configuration in which a copying machine is taken as an example of the image forming apparatus having the operation panel of the present invention has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, a printer, a facsimile machine, a multi-function multifunction peripheral (MFP: It can be applied to general image forming apparatuses such as multiple function peripherals and scanners.
Further, the above embodiment and the above modification examples may be combined.

  INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The present invention is useful as a technique for reducing costs without making the user feel uncomfortable on an operation panel configured to emit light around a button.

1 is a diagram illustrating an overall configuration of a copying machine 1 according to an embodiment. 2 is a plan view showing a configuration of an operation panel 4 provided in the copying machine 1. FIG. 4 is an enlarged plan view showing a start button 22 of the operation panel 4. FIG. It is arrow sectional drawing when the start button 22 is cut | disconnected by the AA line of FIG. It is a figure which shows a mode when the light emission part 222 is light-emitted by lighting of LED31. It is a figure which shows the example of a mode that a light emission part light-emits when the structure of the conventional start button is used. It is a figure which shows the structure of the operation panel 4 which concerns on a modification. It is a figure which shows the structural example of the start button which concerns on a modification. It is a figure which shows the structural example of the button main body and light emission part which concern on a modification. It is a top view which shows the structural example of the conventional start button 90. FIG.

Explanation of symbols

1 Copier 4 Operation panel 22, 25 Start button 26, 221, 251 Button body 27, 222, 252 Light emitting unit 31, 35 LED
2221 The front side of the light emitting unit 2222 The back side of the light emitting unit 2223 Light incident part 2224 The surface of the light emitting part

Claims (9)

An operation panel provided in the image forming apparatus,
The button body,
A light source;
A light-emitting unit that is provided so as to surround the button body, and emits light by guiding the incident light around the button body when light from the light source is incident;
The operation panel is characterized in that the light emitting portion is formed in a shape that becomes narrower as the distance from the portion having the maximum width in a plan view increases in the circumferential direction of the button body.   The operation panel according to claim 1, wherein the button main body and the light emitting unit are integrally formed.   The operation panel according to claim 2, wherein the button main body and the light emitting unit are integrally formed so that a surface of the button is formed in a curved shape that is convexly curved. Provided on the front side of the image forming apparatus;
4. The light source unit according to claim 1, wherein a portion with the maximum width of the light emitting unit is positioned on the front side of the apparatus, and light from the light source is incident from a back side of the portion with the maximum width. Operation panel.   The operation panel according to claim 4, wherein the light source is disposed at a position facing a back side of a maximum width portion of the light emitting unit. The button body has a circular shape in plan view,
6. The operation panel according to claim 1, wherein the light emitting unit has an annular shape in a plan view, and is provided over one circumference of the button main body. The button body includes a separate button,
The operation panel according to claim 1, wherein a member corresponding to the light emitting portion is not provided around the other button.   The operation panel according to claim 7, wherein the button body is a start button for starting an image forming operation of the image forming apparatus. An image forming apparatus including an operation unit,
An image forming apparatus comprising the operation panel according to claim 1 as the operation unit.

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