JP2017033720A - Image formation device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce the thickness of a control panel by reducing a housing space of a side face push button.SOLUTION: In a configuration of a simplex side key 31 arranged on a side face of an operation section for operating an image formation device, the operation section 11 can be reduced in thickness by arranging an arm 31b of the simplex side key 31 in a depth direction (a vertical direction with respect to an operation surface) with respect to the operation surface 31a of the simplex side key 31.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

  The present invention relates to an operation device having a push button mounted on an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a printer, or a facsimile.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, image forming apparatuses such as copying machines, printers, and facsimiles are provided with an operation panel on a main body operation surface. The operation panel includes a display unit that indicates an operation state of the image forming apparatus, an input display unit that directly inputs the functions of the image forming apparatus from the display unit, and a plurality of pushes that directly input the functions of the image forming apparatus. A button is provided.

  As a configuration of an operation panel having a push button, a push button is integrally formed with a common support bar by an arm, and a configuration in which the common support bar is screwed or welded to an operation unit case is described in Patent Document 1. Yes. The push button and the arm have a hinge structure with a common support rod as an axis, and the arm is made of an elastic member. Further, below the push button, a switch for inputting a key in conjunction with the push button, a printed board having a switch and an electronic circuit are provided.

JP 09-269860 A

  However, in the configuration of the conventional operation panel, the arm is formed in a planar direction with respect to the pressing surface of the push button. In order to reduce the operating force when the push button is pressed, it is necessary to reduce the elastic force of the arm by increasing the length of the arm or reducing the thickness of the arm. For this reason, a space in the plane direction is required with respect to the pressing surface of the push button. When such a push button is arranged on the side surface of the operation panel, the thickness of the operation panel is increased.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an operating device that has a small area occupied by a push button while improving operability.

  Therefore, the present invention provides an operation device for operating an image forming apparatus that forms an image on a recording material, and is disposed on a side surface of the operation device and is movable in a direction orthogonal to the side surface. Positioning part for determining the position of the button part, and provided on the side surface side of the button part, one end side is connected to the positioning part, and the other end side that is bent back multiple times from the one end side is connected to the button part. The connecting portion at one end and the connecting portion at the other end are arranged side by side in a plane direction along the side surface of the button portion.

  According to the present invention, the area occupied by the push button can be reduced while improving the operability.

Configuration explanatory diagram 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. The perspective view of the operation part which concerns on the Example of this invention. The principal part structure perspective view around the push button according to the embodiment of the present invention. The principal part structure expansion perspective view around the push button according to the embodiment of the present invention. The disassembled perspective view of the right main seen from the front right upper side which shows the arrangement configuration of the push button based on the Example of this invention The disassembled perspective view of the left main seen from front left upper direction which shows the arrangement configuration of the push button which concerns on the Example of this invention. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing a push button support method according to an embodiment of the present invention. Configuration plan view showing a push button support method according to an embodiment of the present invention Cross-sectional view around the push button according to an embodiment of the present invention Cross-sectional view of the configuration around the push button according to the second embodiment of the present invention

Example 1
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of the configuration of the image forming apparatus of the first embodiment, and FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the image forming apparatus of Example 1. Note that the XYZ coordinate system designated in FIG. 1 and subsequent figures is designated to describe the installation direction of the image forming apparatus. More specifically, the X direction is the width direction of the image forming apparatus, the arrow direction is the right direction with respect to the front surface of the image forming apparatus, and the reverse direction of the arrow is the left direction with respect to the front surface of the image forming apparatus. Subsequently, Y is the depth direction of the image forming apparatus, the arrow direction is the back direction from the front of the image forming apparatus, and the reverse direction of the arrow is the front direction with respect to the front of the image forming apparatus. That is, in this embodiment, the front side of the image forming apparatus is in the direction opposite to the Y direction. Finally, Z is the height direction of the image forming apparatus, the arrow direction is the upward direction, and the arrow reverse direction is the downward direction. Further, the symbol “◯” indicates the tip of each arrow of the X, Y, and Z axes, and the symbol “X” indicates the trailing end of each arrow of the X, Y, and Z axes. In this embodiment, the front of the image forming apparatus is a direction in which the operator faces the operation unit.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment is a tandem type full-color multifunction peripheral in which image forming units PY, PM, PC, and PK are arranged along an intermediate transfer belt 12.

  The image forming unit of this embodiment includes a photosensitive drum as an image carrier, a charging member for charging the photosensitive drum, a developing device for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum, and toner remaining on the photosensitive drum after transfer. Each has a cleaning device to be removed. In this embodiment, the exposure device 13 that forms an electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum is disposed below the intermediate transfer belt.

  In the image forming unit PY housed in the main body 3, a yellow toner image is formed and is primarily transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 12. In the 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 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 transferred to the primary transfer sequentially.

  The four-color toner images carried on the intermediate transfer belt 12 are conveyed to the secondary transfer portion T2, and are secondarily transferred to the recording material P that is nipped and conveyed on the intermediate transfer belt 12 with the secondary transfer portion T2. . The recording material P onto which the toner image has been secondarily transferred at the secondary transfer portion T2 is heated and pressurized by the fixing device 14 accommodated in the vertical path portion 4 to fix the toner image on the surface, and then the discharge roller. 15 is discharged to the discharge tray 5.

  The paper feed cassette 2 is arranged at the lower part of the main body 3 and is arranged to be able to be pulled out to the front side. The recording materials P drawn one by one from the paper feed cassette 2 stand by before the secondary transfer portion T2, and are sent to the secondary transfer portion T2 in synchronization with the toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 12.

  An image reading unit (flatbed scanner) 6 is disposed above the main body 3 via a vertical path unit 4. The image reading unit 6 optically reads an image on the lower surface of the document placed on the reading surface (glass plate) and converts it into image data. The image reading unit 6 is in a state where the automatic document feeder (ADF) 7 is lifted. A document is placed on the reading surface 6a. The automatic document feeder 7 separates the bundled documents stacked on the document tray 8 one by one, passes the reading surface, and causes the image reading unit 6 to flow and read the document.

  The operation unit 11 is arranged at the height position of the image reading unit 6 with the operation surface facing upward (Z direction). In the vertical path portion 4 immediately below the operation portion 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, which is an example of a stacking unit, is disposed between the main body 3 and the image reading unit 6, and stacks the recording material P on which an image is formed on the main body 3 so that the recording material P can be taken out from the front side.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the operation unit 11 is disposed on the front side of the image reading unit 6 at a position lower than the reading surface 6 a 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 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 opening the automatic document feeder 7 upward. The uppermost portion of the operation unit 11 is positioned 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, and the recording material Enter information such as type and 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 main body 3, and discharged to the paper discharge tray 5 via the vertical path unit 4. Loaded.

  Next, the characteristic configuration of the operation unit 11 of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the operation unit 11, FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the main part configuration around the push button, and FIG. 5 is an enlarged perspective view of the main part configuration around the push button. 6 is an exploded perspective view of the right main viewed from the front right upper side showing the arrangement of the push buttons, and FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of the left main viewed from the upper right of the front showing the arrangement of the push buttons. FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view showing a push button support method, FIG. 9 is a plan view showing the push button support method, and FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view around the push button.

  FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the operation unit 11. In the figure, the operation unit 11 has an outer surface constituted by a front cover 21 having a substantially flat upper surface and a side cover 22 having a frame shape that forms the periphery of the side surface. A liquid crystal display 23 having a display function for displaying the operation state of the image forming apparatus 1 and a touch panel function as a substitute for keys, which will be described later, is disposed on substantially the same plane as the front cover 21. . On the same plane as the front cover 21, a start key 24 for starting an image forming operation such as a copy operation, a stop key 25 for stopping the image forming operation, the number of prints, a FAX number, and an e-mail address. A number / alphabet key 26 for inputting the etc. and a reset key 27 for resetting various setting conditions are arranged. Further, at least one single side key 31 for confirming the number of printed sheets and device information is disposed on the right side surface of the operation unit 11, and at least a multi-stage side key 32 for adjusting the brightness of the liquid crystal display unit is provided. One is arranged.

  FIG. 4 is an explanatory view of a main part configuration around the push button, and FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of a part A in FIG. 4 and 5, a single side key 31 as a push button, a multi-stage side key 32 as a multi-stage push button, and an electronic circuit are provided to convert input information from various push buttons into electrical signals. A printed circuit board 41 is shown. Further, it is fastened to a reinforcing stay 52 (see FIG. 10) having substantially the same area as a projection plane of the operation unit 11 to be described later and securing the rigidity of the operation unit 11 with screws, caulking, etc. A support member 51 that supports the lower portion of the expression side key 32 is shown.

  The printed circuit board 41 is disposed substantially parallel to the upper surface of the front cover 21 and is directly fixed by screws or the like on the back surface of the front cover 21 (not shown). Further, on the upper surface of the printed circuit board 41, a planar switch 42 is mounted that is energized in conjunction with input of push buttons such as a start key 24 and a stop key 25 arranged on the upper surface, and the input surface is the upper surface.

  Next, the side switch 43 and the single side key 31 will be described with reference to FIG. The side switch 43 is provided at the right end of the printed circuit board 41. A side switch 43 is provided so that power is supplied in conjunction with the input of the single side key 31 and the multi-stage side key 32 arranged on the right side surface, and the input surface is the right side surface. Next, the single side key 31 will be described. The single side key of this embodiment has a rectangular button part 310 and arms 31b provided at both ends in the longitudinal direction of the button part. The operation surface 31a is a surface pressed by the operator. The operation surface 31a is a part of the pressing portion (button portion) 310 that is pressed by the operator. When the operation surface is pressed by the operator, the button unit moves in a direction orthogonal to the operation surface. In the present embodiment, the operation surface 31 a is a surface substantially parallel to the side surface of the operation unit 11. Next, the arm 31b will be described. A pair of arms 31b is provided along each side surface 31a1 located on the side surface side with respect to the operation surface 31a. In this embodiment, the arm 31b has an S shape when viewed from the side surface with respect to the operation surface 31a. The arm 31b is arranged side by side on the operation surface 31a in the Y direction, and extends in the back direction (left direction) from the operation surface 31a. A front cover fixing portion 31c as a positioning portion for determining the position of the single side key 31 with respect to the operation portion 11 is connected to the pair of arms 31b and restricts the position in the height direction with respect to the front cover 21. The arm portion 31b has a function of a connecting portion that connects the button portion having the operation surface 31a and the front cover fixing portion 31c. The operation surface 31a, a pair of arm portions 31b, and a front cover fixing portion 31c are integrally formed. Here, the arm 31b is configured to be folded back multiple times. That is, the arm 31b is substantially S-shaped or inverted S-shaped in a side view having the curved portions 31b1, 31b2, 31b3, and 31b4. In this embodiment, a connecting portion 31b5 that connects one end side of the arm portion 31b and the front cover fixing portion 31c, and a connecting portion 31b6 that connects the other end side of the arm portion 31b and the button portion 310 having the operation surface 31a, Are arranged side by side in the Z-axis direction. That is, the connection part 31b5 and the connection part 31b6 are arranged side by side in the planar direction along the side surface 31a1. In the entire operation portion 11, the arm portion 31b is attached so that the connection portion 31b5 and the connection portion 31b6 are arranged side by side in the thickness direction of the operation portion 11. The front cover fixing portion 31c is provided with a fitting hole 31d and a fitting long hole 31e for determining the position of the front cover 21 in the planar direction.

  Note that the arm configuration of push buttons such as the start key 24 and stop key 25 arranged on the upper surface is the same as that of the conventional example, and the description thereof is omitted.

  FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of the right main as viewed from the front upper right, showing the arrangement of the single side key 31 and the side switch 43 corresponding thereto. FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of the left main as viewed from the front left upper side, showing the arrangement of the single side key 31 and the side switch 43 corresponding thereto. As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the single-side key 31 has an input protrusion 31 f formed integrally with the right pressing surface 31 a and the input surface 43 a of the side switch 43 substantially at the center of the back surface of the operation pressing surface 31 a. Is done. With this configuration, when the operation surface 31 a of the single side key 31 is pressed, the input surface 43 a of the side switch 43 is pressed via the input protrusion 31 f of the single side key 31.

  FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view of a supporting structure showing a lower part supporting method of the single side key 31 and the multi-stage side key 32, and FIG. 9 is a right side support structure plan view showing a supporting method of the push button. As shown in FIG. 8, a support protrusion 31g is formed integrally with the bottom surface of the single side key 31 at the approximate center of the operation surface 31a, and a support protrusion 32g is formed integrally with the bottom surface of the multi-stage side key 32 at the approximate center of the operation surface 32a. Is done. 9, the support protrusion 31g of the single-side key 31 and the support protrusion 32g of the multi-stage side key 32 come into contact with the upper surface of the support member 51 fastened to the reinforcing stay 52 (see FIG. 10). This prevents the single side key 31 and the multi-stage side key 32 from falling due to their own weight.

  FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken along the arrow B in FIG. As shown in FIG. 10, the upper surface of the front cover fixing portion 31 c of the single side key 31 is in contact with the lower surface of the side key support portion 21 a formed integrally with the back surface of the front cover 21. Further, as described above, the support protrusion 31 g of the single key 31 again contacts the upper surface of the support member 51. Thus, the single side key 31 is sandwiched between the side key support portion 21a of the front cover 21 and the support member 51 in the height direction. Here, a pair of bosses (not shown) are integrally formed on the lower surface of the side key support portion 21 a of the front cover 21, and one boss of the pair of bosses is fitted into the fitting hole 31 d of the single side key 31. Then, the other boss is fitted into the fitting long hole 31 e of the single side key 31. With the above configuration, the position of the single side key 31 in the thickness direction (Z-axis direction) and the XY plane direction is determined in the operation unit 11. In this embodiment, the single side key 31 is configured to be positioned on the upper surface side of the operation unit.

  The operation of the single side key 31 will be described with reference to FIG. The operator presses the operation surface 31a of the single side key 31 arranged on the right side surface of the operation unit 11 in the arrow C direction (left direction, inner direction of the operation unit). As a result, the front cover fixing portion 31 c side of the single side key 31 is maintained and fixed by the side key support portion 21 a of the front cover 21. On the other hand, the support member 51 side of the single side key 31 can be moved against the elastic force of the substantially S-shaped arm 31 b because the support protrusion 31 g is in contact with the upper surface of the support member 51. Specifically, the bending portions 31b1, 31b2, 31b3, and 31b4 of the arm 31b of the single side key 31 move in the arrow C direction (left direction). Thereafter, the input projection 31 f of the single side key 31 is pressed down on the input surface 43 a of the side switch 43. When the operator stops pressing the single side key 31, the single side key 31 returns to the arrow D direction (right direction) by the elastic force of the arm 31b and enters a standby state.

(Example 2)
In the first embodiment, the arm 31b of the single side key 31 is substantially S-shaped in a side view. As another configuration, as long as the space in the height direction and the pressing direction of the operation unit 11 allows, for example, one bending portion or another bending portion to be added to form an S-shaped double stack, the side surface shape is changed. Even if it is changed, the same effect can be obtained.

  FIG. 11 is a structural cross-sectional view around the single side key 31 according to the second embodiment. The same parts as those in FIG. As shown in FIG. 10, the single side key 31 has a configuration in which the arm 31b has a substantially S-shape in two steps in the height direction in a side view. As a result, the elastic force of the arm 31b is reduced, the spring constant can be lowered, and the operating force when the single side key is pressed can be reduced.

  As described above in the embodiment, according to the present embodiment, the arm 31b of the single side key 31 is disposed in the depth direction (perpendicular to the operation surface) with respect to the operation surface 31a, so that the operation unit 11 is thin. Can be The arm of the single side key 31 can be arranged with a degree of freedom in the depth direction with respect to the 31b operation surface 31a.

  In this embodiment, the arm 31b is provided on both sides of the button portion. As another configuration, even if the arm is provided in the vertical direction of the button unit (the upper surface side and the lower surface side of the operation unit), the area occupied by the push button can be reduced.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image forming apparatus 11 Operation part 21a Side key support part (fixed part)
24 Start key (flat key top)
25 Stop key (flat push button)
26 Number / Alphabet Key (Plane push button)
27 Reset key (flat push button)
31 Single side key (side push button)
31a Press surface 31b Arm (connecting part)
31c Front cover fixing part (operation part fixing part)
41 Printed circuit board 42 Planar switch 43 Side switch 43a Input surface

Claims (6)

In an operating device for operating an image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording material, a button unit disposed on a side surface of the operating device and movable in a direction orthogonal to the side surface, and the position of the button unit with respect to the operating device A positioning portion for determining the position, and a connecting portion provided on a side surface side of the button portion, one end side is connected to the positioning portion, and the other end side bent back from the one end side is connected to the button portion. Have
The operating device according to claim 1, wherein the connecting portion at the one end and the connecting portion at the other end are arranged side by side in a plane direction along a side surface of the button portion.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the connecting portion is provided at each of both end portions of the button portion in a longitudinal direction of the button portion.   The operating device according to claim 1, wherein the positioning unit is fixed to the operating device.   The operating device according to claim 1, wherein the positioning unit is provided on an upper surface side of the operating device with respect to the button unit.   The operating device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the button portion, the connecting portion, and the positioning portion are integrally formed. The operating device according to claim 1, wherein the connecting portion has an S shape.

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