JP2012234101A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming apparatus that is configured to erect an operation unit so as to be directed to an operator of an operation screen, and reduces the amount of protrusion of an operation unit from an apparatus body during the rotation operation of the operation unit so as to reduce the size of an occupied space.SOLUTION: An image forming apparatus 1 comprises: an apparatus body 3 that forms an image on a recording material P; and an operation unit 11 that is attached to the apparatus body 3 with an operation screen facing upward for the operation of the apparatus body 3. The image forming apparatus 1 further comprises a hinge mechanism 300 (300L, 300R) that draws the operation unit 11 toward an operating side and at the same time rotates the operation unit 11 to be directed to the operating side.

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus in which an operation unit with an operation surface facing upward is disposed in a housing in which an image formation unit is housed. More specifically, the operation unit is erected so that the operation surface is directed toward the operation side. The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus having a characteristic in structure.

  An image reading unit (for example, a flatbed scanner) is arranged on the upper part of a casing in which an image forming unit (for example, an electrophotographic method or an ink jet method) is housed, and an operation unit having a liquid crystal screen is arranged at a height position of the image reading unit. An image forming apparatus arranged in the above has been put into practical use. In such an image forming apparatus, generally, the upward operation surface of the operation unit is positioned lower than the reading surface so as not to obstruct the operation of placing the document on the reading surface of the image reading unit from the operation side. Has been placed.

  However, when an operation unit with an operation surface facing upward is arranged at the top of the casing of a tall image forming apparatus, for example, for children and wheelchair users, various operations are performed on the operation unit while viewing the display image on the liquid crystal screen. It may not be easy to set up and operate. For this reason, there has been proposed an image forming apparatus in which an operation unit, which is normally arranged with its operation surface facing upward, is erected as necessary so that it can be easily operated from a low position on the operation side (patent) Reference 1).

  In Patent Document 1, as shown in FIGS. 14 and 15 of the present application, an operation unit 500 arranged at the upper part of the casing of the image forming apparatus is slid out to the front side (FIG. 14A), An image forming apparatus is disclosed which is rotated downward at the pulled-out position (FIG. 14B). More specifically, the image forming apparatus described in Patent Document 1 supports the operation unit 500 so that the operation unit 500 can be rotated downward by a rotation shaft arranged at the left and right center back end portions of the operation unit 500, so It has a free hinge mechanism 504 (FIG. 15) that can be held at an intermediate position. The image forming apparatus also includes a slider 506 as a slide mechanism for supporting the fixed side member of the universal hinge mechanism 504 so that the fixed side member can be pulled out to the side where the operation unit 500 is operated. The slider 506 is guided by a left rail 508 and a right rail 509 formed on the support unit 507, and can move smoothly in the front-rear direction. When the display / input unit 501 is moved back and forth, the rail roller 505 that is integrally supported by the slider 506 is guided to the left rail 508 and the right rail 509. Further, in the image forming apparatus, a moving space of the extra length portion of the bundled wire 511 that is connected to the operation unit 500 and hangs downward is formed inside the housing surface of the image forming unit (FIG. 15). In addition, a long and narrow opening 510 (FIG. 15) that penetrates the bundled wire 511 is formed on the housing surface of the image forming unit arranged so as to block the drawer path of the operation unit 500.

JP 2010-102143 A

  However, the slide mechanism described in Patent Document 1 has the following problems.

  That is, the universal hinge mechanism 504 is disposed at the left and right center back end of the operation unit 500, and after the operation unit 500 is pulled out to the maximum pull-out position (FIG. 14A) by the pull-out operation, the operation unit 500 is lowered downward therefrom. It is designed to rotate. For this reason, during the rotation operation, the protruding amount of the operation unit 500 from the apparatus main body is large, and the occupied space becomes large. Therefore, since the operator must work at a position away from the apparatus main body, it may be difficult to work.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to reduce the amount of protrusion of the operation unit from the apparatus body during the rotation of the operation unit in a configuration in which the operation unit can be erected so that the operation surface is directed toward the operation side, and to occupy the space It is an object to provide an image forming apparatus capable of reducing the size of the image forming apparatus.

  The above object is achieved by the image forming apparatus according to the present invention. In summary, the present invention provides an image forming apparatus having an apparatus main body for forming an image on a recording material, and an operation unit attached to the apparatus main body with an operation surface facing upward to operate the apparatus main body. An image forming apparatus comprising: a hinge mechanism that rotates the operation unit toward the operation side simultaneously with pulling the operation unit toward the operation side.

  According to the present invention, in the configuration in which the operation unit can be erected so that the operation surface is directed toward the operation side, the protruding amount of the operation unit from the apparatus body during the rotation of the operation unit is reduced, and the occupied space is reduced. can do.

1 is an explanatory diagram of a configuration of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a perspective view of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an operation unit of the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating a state where the operation unit of the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention is pulled out and rotated at the same time. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a state where an operation unit of the image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention is rotated to a maximum rotation position. FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of a main part of an operation unit of the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of a main part of an operation unit of the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. 3A is a cross-sectional view of the main part of the operation unit of the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing in detail a part of a hinge mechanism of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is an operation explanatory diagram of a hinge mechanism of the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is an operation explanatory diagram of the hinge mechanism of the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. It is a side view which shows a part of hinge mechanism of the image forming apparatus which concerns on the other Example of this invention in detail. FIG. 10 is an operation explanatory diagram of a hinge mechanism of an image forming apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention. It is a perspective view of the operation part of a prior art example. It is the perspective view which looked at the operation part of the prior art example from the lower part.

  The image forming apparatus according to the present invention will be described below in more detail with reference to the drawings.

Example 1
1. Image Forming Apparatus FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of a configuration of an image forming apparatus 1 of the present embodiment. In the following description, the front side of the sheet of FIG. 1 is referred to as “front (front)” of the image forming apparatus 1 and the rear side of the sheet is referred to as “rear”. Further, the left and right sides of the image forming apparatus 1 are left and right when the image forming apparatus 1 is viewed from the front, and the upper and lower sides are up and down in the vertical direction. The front side of the image forming apparatus 1 is usually the side on which the operator operates the image forming apparatus 1.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus 1 of the present embodiment includes first, second, third, and third toner images that are formed by electrophotography along the moving direction of the image carrying surface of the intermediate transfer belt 12. This is a tandem-type full-color multi-function peripheral in which a fourth image forming unit PY, PM, PC, PK is arranged.

  In the first image forming unit PY housed in the main body (apparatus main body) 3 of the image forming apparatus 1, a yellow toner image is formed and primarily transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 12. In the second image forming unit PM, a magenta toner image is formed and primary-transferred over the yellow toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 12. In the third and fourth image forming units PC and PK, a cyan toner image and a black toner image are formed, respectively, and similarly, the toner images on the intermediate transfer belt 12 are sequentially superimposed and sequentially transferred.

  The four color toner images carried on the intermediate transfer belt 12 are transported to the secondary transfer portion T2, and are secondarily transferred to the recording material P separately transported to the secondary transfer portion T2.

  The recording material P on which the toner image is secondarily transferred by the secondary transfer portion T2 is heated and pressurized by the fixing device 14 accommodated in the vertical path portion 4, and is discharged after the toner image is fixed on the surface. The paper is discharged to the paper discharge tray 5 by the roller 15.

  A paper feed cassette 2 is arranged at the lower part of the apparatus main body 3 so as to be pulled out to the front side. A recording material P such as a recording sheet pulled out one by one from the sheet feeding cassette 2 stands by in front of the secondary transfer portion T2, and in time with the toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 12, the secondary transfer portion T2. Sent out.

  An image reading unit (flat bed scanner in this embodiment) 6 is disposed above the apparatus main body 3 via a vertical path unit 4. The image reading unit 6 optically reads an image on the lower surface of a document placed on a reading surface (a glass plate in this embodiment) and converts it into image data. A document can be placed on the reading surface 6a with the automatic document feeder (ADF) 7 lifted. The automatic document feeder 7 separates the documents one by one from the bundled document loaded on the document tray 8 and passes the document through the reading surface 6a to cause the image reading unit 6 to flow and read the document.

  The operation unit 11 is disposed at the height position of the image reading unit 6 with the operation surface facing upward, and is drawn out to the front side, which is the operation side, and rotated downward, thereby being indicated by a broken line in FIG. It is possible to stand the operation surface at the position toward the front side. The operation surface of the operation unit 11 is a main plane formed by the operated element group on the operation unit 11, and in this embodiment, the surface of the liquid crystal display unit 102 to be described later or the input key group to be described later is covered. It is represented by a plane including the pressing part.

  In the vertical path section 4 immediately below the operation section 11, a conveyance mechanism for the recording material P including the paper discharge roller 15, various sensors, a blower fan, and the like are housed.

  A paper discharge tray 5 serving as a stacking unit on which the recording material P output from the apparatus main body 3 is stacked is disposed between the apparatus main body 3 and the image reading unit 6, and a recording material on which an image is formed by the apparatus main body 3. P is loaded so that it can be taken out from the front side.

2. Basic Configuration of Operation Unit FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the image forming apparatus 1 of the present embodiment. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the operation unit 11. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a state in which the operation unit 11 is pulled out and rotated simultaneously. FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the state in which the operation unit 11 is rotated to the maximum rotation position.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the operation unit 11 is disposed at a position lower than the reading surface 6 a as a height position below the reading surface 6 a of the image reading unit 6 and on the front side of the image reading unit 6. A vertical path cover 10 is disposed below the operation unit 11 so as to cover the vertical path 4 on the upstream side of the paper discharge tray 5 in the conveyance direction of the recording material P.

  In the automatic reading mode, a document is set on the document tray 8 of the automatic document feeder 7. In the manual reading mode, the reading surface 6a of the image reading unit 6 can be accessed by rotating the automatic document feeder 7 rearward and opening it upward. The operation unit 11 is always positioned at a position lower than the reading surface 6a so as not to hinder the accessibility of the operation of setting a document on the reading surface 6a.

  Then, after setting the document on the document tray 8 of the automatic document feeder 7 (or the reading surface 6a of the image reading unit 6), through the operation unit 11, the monochrome or color reading mode, the copy output size, the recording material P Enter information such as the type of copy and the number of copies.

  Based on the information input to the operation unit 11, the image reading unit 6 reads the image information of the document. Then, the recording material P stacked in the paper feed cassette 2 or on the open manual feed tray 9 is fed, an image is formed by the apparatus main body 3, and is discharged to the paper discharge tray 5 via the vertical path unit 4. Loaded.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the display / input unit 101 of the operation unit 11 is provided with a liquid crystal display unit 102 that displays an operation state of the image forming apparatus 1 and has a touch panel function as a substitute for keys to be described later. ing. The display / input unit 101 is also provided with a start key 103 for starting a copy operation and a print operation and a stop key 104 for stopping the operation. The display / input unit 101 is also provided with a number / alphabet key 105 for inputting the number of prints, a FAX number, an e-mail address, and the like. These input keys have a plurality of switch actuating members (buttons).

  As shown in FIG. 4, the display / input unit 101 is supported by the support unit 201 so that it can be rotated simultaneously with being pulled out to the front side. The support unit 201 is fixed to the apparatus main body 3. Accordingly, the display / input unit 101 can freely move in the front-rear direction with respect to the support unit 201. More specifically, the display / input unit 101 has a storage position (first position) that is pushed backward with respect to the support unit 201 and a maximum rotation position (second position) that is rotated simultaneously with being pulled out to the front side. It is possible to move between

  The support unit 201 has the same or similar appearance color and / or surface treatment as the exterior cover of the apparatus main body 3 or the operation unit 11 in order to improve the appearance quality when the display / input unit 101 is pulled out. A tray-like cover 311 is attached (FIGS. 4 and 5).

  In the present embodiment, the display / input unit 101 is rotated simultaneously with being pulled out along the support unit 201 to the front side, and is rotated downward with respect to the support unit 201, thereby bringing the liquid crystal display unit 102 to the front side. Can stand up to its own weight. In this embodiment, when the display / input unit 101 is at the maximum rotation position, the liquid crystal display unit 102 is set to have an angle of about 50 degrees downward with respect to the horizontal.

  Accordingly, even if the operation unit 11 is installed at a high position, an operator with a low line of sight, such as a short stature or a wheelchair user, pulls the operation unit 11 forward and simultaneously rotates the liquid crystal display. The part 102 can be set so as to be easily seen. As described above, by changing (tilting) the angle of the display / input unit 101, the visibility of the liquid crystal display 102 and the operability of the operation unit 11 are improved.

  Further, the front side of the display / input unit 101 is tilted downward so that the rear vertex position of the display / input unit 101 is kept below the reading surface 6a of the document reading unit 6 at the maximum rotation position. Rotate. For this reason, as shown in FIG. 2, the accessibility to the reading surface 6a of the image reading unit 6 located behind the operation unit 11 and higher than the operation unit 11 can be ensured.

  Further, since the display / input unit 101 is disposed on the front side of the image reading unit 6 and on the right side of the paper discharge tray 5, the display / input unit 101 can be accessed even if the display / input unit 101 is tilted. Can be secured. If the display / input unit 101 gets in the way when the recording material P stacked on the paper discharge tray 5 is taken out to the front side, the display / input unit 101 may be temporarily rotated upward.

  Further, in the state where the display / input unit 101 is in the storage position, as shown in FIG. 2, the side surface on the front side of the operation unit 11 and the side surface on the front side of the vertical path unit cover 10 are on the same plane. Appearance quality is improved.

3. Hinge Mechanism FIGS. 6 and 7 are exploded perspective views of the main part of the operation unit 11. FIG. 8A is a cross-sectional view (a cross section taken along line AA in FIG. 8B) in which the main part of the operation unit 11 is cut in the left-right direction. FIG. 8B is a view of an operation unit stay, which will be described later, as viewed from below. FIG. 9 is a detailed view of a part of the hinge mechanism. FIG. 10 is an operation explanatory diagram of the hinge mechanism. FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram of the operation of the hinge mechanism.

  With reference to FIG. 6, the fixing member 202 of the support unit 201 is fixed to the image reading unit 6 and the apparatus main body 3 by a plurality of fixing screws (not shown). Further, as shown in FIG. 6, the left hinge portion 300L and the right hinge portion 300R as a hinge mechanism having a plate-like cam member are fixed to the left and right end portions of the operation portion stay 312 with screws 309 and 310, respectively. Is done. The hinge portions 300R and 300L are fixed to the fixing member 202 as will be described later. The operation unit stay 312 is for attaching each unit such as the liquid crystal display unit 102 in the display / input unit 101 and an electric board (control board) such as the liquid crystal display unit 102 and the number / alphabet key 105 (not shown). . Each of these units is fixed to the operation unit stay 312 via the fixing plate 320. Therefore, the display / input unit 101 is fixed to the fixing member 202 via the hinge portions 300R and 300L so that it can be rotated and pulled out as will be described later.

  The left hinge part 300L and the right hinge part 300R have the configurations and functions shown in the following (1) to (4), respectively. In the present embodiment, the left hinge portion 300L is symmetrical to the right hinge portion 300R. Accordingly, the right side hinge part 300R (hereinafter also simply referred to as “hinge part”) will be mainly described in detail below as an example. However, those having the same name have substantially the same configuration and function as those of the right hinge part 300R except that the left hinge part 300L is provided symmetrically.

  (1) The hinge part 300R has a cam plate 301 as a plate-like cam member. As shown in FIG. 9, the cam plate 301 has a substantially straight cam groove 301 a as a groove for sliding the display / input unit 101. The cam groove 301a has a width that allows a slide boss 307, which will be described later, to slide smoothly without play when the display / input unit 101 is pulled out and rotated simultaneously. In the present embodiment, the cam groove 301a has the longitudinal direction extending in a substantially horizontal direction with the hinge part 300R assembled and the display / input unit 101 in the storage position, and both ends thereof are curved upward slightly. ing. As a result, the display / input unit 101 can be smoothly slid along with the rotation of the rotation arm 303 described later. The cam plate 301 is fixed to the right end portion of the operation portion stay 312 by a screw 309 passed through the screw hole 301b.

  In the present embodiment, the cam plate 302 of the left hinge portion 300L uses the same components as the cam plate 301 of the right hinge portion 300R.

  (2) The hinge part 300R has a turning arm 303 as a turning member. As shown in FIG. 9, the turning arm 303 is a substantially straight thick plate-like member or rod-like member. In the present embodiment, the pivot arm 303 is bent upward so that the hinge portion 300R is assembled and the display / input unit 101 is in the storage position. On one end side of the rotation arm 303, a rotation boss 305 a to be described later is rotatably fitted to form a first rotation hole 303 a that forms the rotation center of the rotation arm 303. . Further, a second connecting rotation boss 305b, which will be described later, for rotatably connecting the rotating arm 303 to the operation unit stay 312 is fitted on the other end side of the rotating arm 303. Rotation hole 303b.

  In this embodiment, the rotation arm 303 of the left hinge 300L uses the same components as the rotation arm of the right hinge 300R.

  (3) The hinge portion 300 </ b> R has a rotation boss 305 a as an axial protrusion that constitutes the rotation axis of the rotation arm 303. As shown in FIG. 7, the rotating boss 305 a is fixed to a rotating shaft hole 202 b of a fixing portion (bending portion) 202 a formed by standing upward at the right end portion on the front side of the fixing member 202. The rotation boss 305a is inserted into the first rotation hole 303a of the rotation arm 303 disposed inside the fixed member 202, and connects the rotation arm 303 to the fixed member 202 so as to be rotatable. In addition, the hinge part 300R has a connection turning boss 305b as an axial protrusion that constitutes an action part that defines the moving direction of the operation part 11 in the turning direction. The connection rotation boss 305 b is fixed to the connection rotation shaft hole 312 a of the operation unit stay 312. The connection rotation boss 305b is inserted into the second rotation hole 303b of the rotation arm 303 disposed inside the fixing member 202, and connects the rotation arm 303 to the operation unit stay 312 so as to be rotatable. . In a state where the hinge portion 300R is assembled and the display / input unit 101 is in the storage position, there is a rotating boss 305a behind a slide boss 307, which will be described later, and a connecting rotating boss 305b behind the rotating boss 305a. is there. Accordingly, the slide boss 307 and the rotation boss 305 a are provided from the front end portion of the fixing member 202, and the connection rotation boss 305 b is connected from the rear end portion of the operation unit stay 312.

  (4) The hinge portion 300R has a slide boss 307 as a shaft-like protrusion that constitutes the guide protrusion. As shown in FIG. 7, the slide boss 307 is fixed to the guide protrusion hole 202c of the fixing portion (bending portion) 202a formed by protruding upward at the right end portion on the front side of the fixing member 202. The slide boss 307 is inserted (engaged) so as to be slidable in the cam groove 301a of the cam plate 301 disposed outside the fixing member 202. The slide boss 307 defines the slide movement direction of the display / input unit 101 via the cam plate 301 and slides it when the display / input unit 101 is pulled out and rotated simultaneously.

  In this embodiment, step screws are used as the rotating boss 305a, the connecting rotating boss 303b, and the slide boss 307.

  As described above, the left hinge part 300L has a symmetrical form with the right hinge part 300R. That is, as shown in FIG. 6, the left hinge portion 300L includes a cam plate 302, a rotating arm 304, a rotating boss 306a, a connecting rotating boss 306b, a slide boss 308, and a screw 310. A fixing portion (bending portion) 202a is formed on the left end portion on the front side of the fixing member 202 so as to stand upward.

  As described above, in this embodiment, the image forming apparatus 1 includes the apparatus main body 3 that forms an image on the recording material P, and the operation attached to the apparatus main body 3 with the operation surface facing upward in order to operate the apparatus main body 3. Part 11. In this embodiment, the image forming apparatus 1 includes a hinge mechanism 300 (300L, 300R) that rotates the operation unit 11 toward the operation side at the same time that the operation unit 11 is pulled out. . In particular, in this embodiment, the hinge mechanism 300 includes guide protrusions 307 provided on the apparatus main body side at both ends of the operation unit 11 in a direction substantially orthogonal to the pulling-out direction. In addition, the hinge mechanism 300 is fixed to the both end portions of the operation portion 11, and a groove portion 301 a that defines the moving direction of the operation portion 11 in the pulling-out direction by moving the guide protrusion 307 in each of them. A plate-like cam member 301 is formed. In addition, the hinge mechanism 300 has a rotation shaft 305 a provided on the apparatus main body side at both ends of the operation unit 11. In addition, the hinge mechanism 300 includes an arm 303 whose one end is rotatably attached to the rotation shaft 305a and the other end is rotatably attached to the operation unit 11 at both ends of the operation unit 11. Have. When the operation unit 11 is pulled out, the posture of the operation unit 11 is determined by the guide protrusion 307 that moves in the groove 301a (inside the groove) and the arm 303 that rotates around the rotation shaft 305a. Is done.

4). Operation Next, an operation of simultaneously pulling out the display / input unit 101 and rotating it will be described.

  As shown in FIGS. 6 and 8B, the display / input unit 101 has a handle portion on the lower surface (bottom surface) of the front side end portion of the left and right center portion of the operation portion stay 312 which is a part of the housing. 106 is integrally formed. In the handle portion 106, a recess 106a is formed so that an operator's finger can be hooked. Further, the support unit 201 has a notch 203 (FIG. 6) formed in an arrangement and shape corresponding to the handle 121.

  2 forms the casing surface of the apparatus main body 3 so as to be continuous with the side surface of the operation unit 11 on the side to be operated. Therefore, the vertical path portion cover 10 is also formed with a recess 10a that serves as an entry path for fingers toward the recess 106a of the handle portion 106.

  As described above, in this embodiment, the pull-out handle 106 is formed on the lower surface of the operation unit 11 on the operation side. In this embodiment, a notch 203 serving as an entry path for fingers toward the handle 106 is formed on the housing surface of the apparatus main body 3 arranged so as to be continuous with the side of the operation unit 11 on the operation side. ing.

  As shown in FIG. 3, when the display / input unit 101 is held in the storage position by the support unit 201, the display / input unit 101 can be easily pulled out from the support unit 201 by accessing the handle 106. It is possible to rotate. That is, the operation unit 11 is rotated simultaneously with being pulled out to the operation side, and can be rotated in a direction (downward) for shielding the paper discharge tray 5 from the operation side.

  This will be further described with reference to FIGS. In FIG. 11, the operation unit stay 312 and the display / input unit 101 are not shown. The display / input unit 101 can be rotated downward while being pulled out along the support unit 201. The display / input unit 101 is supported by the support unit 201 via the hinge portions 300R and 300L, rotates from the storage position to the maximum rotation position, and is held at the maximum rotation position by its own weight. Thus, in this embodiment, when the operation unit 11 is pulled out to the limit, the operation unit 11 maintains its position with its own weight.

  That is, when the display / input unit 101 is pulled out from the storage position shown in FIG. 11A, the cam groove of the cam plate 301 fixed to the operation portion stay 312 of the slide boss 307 fixed to the fixing member 202. The slide in 301a is started. When the slide boss 307 starts to slide, the operation unit stay 312 moves toward the front side. At the same time, the rotation of the rotation arm 303 in the direction of the arrow in the figure is started using the rotation boss 305a fixed to the fixing member 202 as a rotation axis. When the rotation of the rotation arm 303 is started, the connection portion between the rotation arm 303 and the operation unit stay 312 by the connection rotation boss 303b is lifted upward. Thereby, the operation of pulling out the display / input unit 101 from the support unit 201 is started. When the display / input unit 101 is in the storage position, the slide boss 307 abuts against the front end 301a1 of the cam groove 301a. Further, when the display / input unit 101 is in the storage position, the rotating arm 303 is in one limit position of the rotatable range (the connecting rotating boss 305b is on the rear side).

  Then, as shown in FIG. 10A, when the display / input unit 101 is further pulled out, the slide boss 307 further slides in the cam groove 301a. At the same time, the rotating arm 303 further rotates in the direction of the arrow in the figure. When the connection portion between the connection rotation boss 303b and the operation unit stay 312 passes the uppermost part by the rotation of the rotation arm 303, the operation unit stay 312 moves downward while moving to the front side.

  Thereafter, as shown in FIGS. 10B and 11B, the display / input unit 101 is at the maximum rotation position. That is, when the slide boss 307 hits the rear end 301a2 of the cam groove 301a and the rotation arm 303 moves to the other limit position of the rotation range (the connection rotation boss 305b is on the front side), the display / The input unit 101 is in the maximum rotation position. After moving to the maximum rotation position, the display / input unit 101 is held at that position by its own weight.

  As described above, according to the mechanism of this embodiment, the display / input unit 101 is smoothly slid in the front-rear direction and is simultaneously rotated, and is rotated at a predetermined inclination angle. Get smaller. Therefore, since the operator can operate at a position closer to the apparatus main body 3, the operability can be improved. That is, in the mechanism of the present embodiment, the operation unit 11 is pulled out to the front side, and at the same time, the upward operation surface of the operation unit 11 is rotated to a position lower than the reading surface to make the operation surface face front. be able to. Therefore, the amount of protrusion from the apparatus main body 3 is small, and it is possible to improve the visibility and operability of the operation unit 11 together.

  Moreover, in a mechanism like patent document 1, when an operator carelessly hits the front-end | tip of the operation part 500 after rotation, the operation part 500 may be damaged (FIG. 14, FIG. 15). On the other hand, in the mechanism of the present embodiment, the operation unit 11 is held at the maximum rotation position by its own weight after the rotation. Therefore, for example, even if a force such as an operator hitting the tip of the operation unit 11 is applied, the operation unit 11 is retracted, so that an effect that damage to the operation unit 11 can be reduced is obtained.

  As described above, according to this embodiment, in the configuration in which the operation unit can be erected so that the operation surface is directed toward the operation side, the protruding amount of the operation unit from the apparatus main body during the rotation of the operation unit is reduced. The space occupied can be reduced.

Example 2
Next, another embodiment of the present invention will be described. The basic configuration and operation of the image forming apparatus of this embodiment are the same as those of the first embodiment. Accordingly, elements having the same functions or configurations as those of the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof is omitted.

  FIG. 12 shows the cam plate 301 in this embodiment. FIG. 13 shows the right hinge part 300R in the state of being at the maximum rotation position in this embodiment. As in the first embodiment, the left hinge portion 300L is symmetrical to the right hinge portion 300R.

  In the present embodiment, the rear end 301a2 of the cam groove 301a provided in the cam plate 301 in the first embodiment restricts the movement of the slide boss 307 in a state where the operation unit 11 is at the maximum rotation position. A holding cam groove 301c as a groove portion was added.

  The holding cam groove 301c restricts the position of the slide boss 307 when the operation unit 11 is pulled out to the maximum rotation position. A protruding portion 301d is formed between the cam groove 301a and the holding cam groove 301c so as to protrude toward the inside of the groove. The protruding portion 301d protrudes from the front side to the upper side when the operation unit 11 is pulled out to the maximum rotation position. The protruding portion 301d has a protrusion that allows the slide boss 307 to get over the holding cam groove 301c and return to the cam groove 301a when a force such as an operator hitting the tip of the operating portion 11 is applied. It has a shape. As described above, in this embodiment, the end portion of the groove portion 301a has the holding groove portion 301c that restricts the movement of the guide protrusion 307 at the position where the operation portion 11 is pulled out to the limit.

  The holding cam groove 301c has an effect of preventing the operation unit 11 from inadvertently moving when the operator performs an input operation to the operation unit 11 when the operation unit 11 is pulled out to the maximum rotation position. It is done.

  As mentioned above, although this invention was demonstrated according to the specific Example, this invention is not limited to the above-mentioned Example. As long as the operation unit is pulled out at the same time as being pulled out, the present invention can be implemented in another embodiment in which part or all of the configuration of the above-described embodiment is replaced with the alternative configuration. Further, the present invention is not limited to an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, but can also be implemented by an inkjet image forming apparatus. The present invention is not limited to an image forming apparatus that uses an intermediate transfer belt, and can also be implemented in an image forming apparatus that transfers a toner image to a recording material carried on a recording material conveyance belt. The present invention can be implemented not only in a tandem type in which a plurality of photosensitive drums are arranged along the belt member but also in a single drum type in which one photosensitive drum is arranged.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 Operation part 101 Display / input unit 106 Handle part 201 Support unit 202 Fixing member 300 Hinge part 301, 302 Cam plate 301a Cam groove 301b Holding cam groove 303, 304 Rotating arm 305, 306 Rotating boss 307, 308 Slide boss 312 Operation unit stay

Claims (5)

In an image forming apparatus having an apparatus main body for forming an image on a recording material, and an operation unit attached to the apparatus main body with an operation surface facing upward to operate the apparatus main body,
An image forming apparatus comprising: a hinge mechanism that rotates the operation unit toward the operation side at the same time that the operation unit is pulled out.   The hinge mechanism is fixed to the guide protrusions provided on the apparatus main body side at both ends of the operation portion in a direction substantially orthogonal to the pull-out direction, and fixed to the both ends of the operation portion, respectively. A plate-like cam member formed with a groove for defining the moving direction of the operating portion in the pulling-out direction by moving the projecting portion inside, and at both end portions of the operating portion on the apparatus main body side A rotation shaft provided, and an arm whose one end is rotatably attached to the rotation shaft at both ends of the operation portion and the other end is rotatably attached to the operation portion; When the operation unit is pulled out, the posture of the operation unit is determined by the guide protrusion that moves in the groove and the arm that rotates around the rotation shaft. With features The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 that.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising: a holding groove portion that restricts movement of the guide protrusion at a position where the operation portion is pulled out to a limit at an end portion of the groove portion.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the operation unit is pulled out to a limit, the operation unit maintains its position by its own weight.   A pull-out handle portion is formed on the lower surface of the operation portion on the operation side, and the handle surface of the device main body arranged to be continuous with the side surface on the operation portion of the operation portion is connected to the handle portion. The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein a notch serving as an approach path for a finger to go is formed.

Images