JP3968779B2 - Control panel and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is, for example, or a facsimile machine (FAX), an image forming apparatus having the control panel and this image forming apparatus so as to combine the facsimile function and a copying function.
[0002]
[Prior art]
For devices that have communication functions, such as FAX and image forming devices that have both a FAX function and a copying function, register the telephone (facsimile) number of the other party so that they can communicate with the other party with a single touch. Equipped with a one-touch dial key. If there are many destinations, a large number of one-touch dial keys are required. However, due to the limitation of the flat layout space, it is possible to register multiple destinations for each one key on the key panel. A key panel having a hole for exposing a key is provided, and one side of the key panel can be turned on both sides with a pivot fulcrum shaft. Depending on which side the key panel is opened, the key changeover switch is switched. The transmission destination corresponding to the key registration destination can be easily selected. In the one-touch dial mechanism provided in the FAX, for example, when two key panels are arranged, two panel surfaces without using the panel and front and back surfaces of two openable key panels can be used. Therefore, the dial surface that can be used can be set to six. By selecting any one of the plurality of key panels as a target, a large number of destination keys can be set as transmission destinations, and transmission to any transmission destination can be easily performed. (For example, refer to Patent Document 1).
[0003]
[Patent Document 1]
JP 2002-268802 A
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In recent years, devices such as FAX tend to be miniaturized, and the one-touch dial portion provided on the control panel is often formed in accordance with the miniaturization of the device main body, and the panel arranged on the one-touch dial portion. In the selection unit, the key panel is also formed as a thin one. However, when the key panel is configured to be thin and small, the tongue piece used for opening and closing the key panel is very difficult to turn, and there is a problem that the operator misoperates. Cheap.
[0005]
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to configure a tongue piece provided on a key panel of the FAX so that an operator can easily put a finger on it so that an erroneous operation can be prevented.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
According to the first aspect of the present invention, there are provided a plurality of key panels configured to be arranged in a stackable manner on a substrate on which a plurality of keys are arranged, and each of which is rotatably supported, and the plurality of key panels. Each of the control panels, and the tongue piece is formed with a step with respect to the substrate, the step when the key panel is overlaid The gap between the tongue pieces adjacent to each other in the thickness direction of the key panel is set to be larger than the gap between the key panels adjacent to each other in the thickness direction .
[0007]
A second aspect of the present invention is an image forming apparatus including the control panel according to the first aspect.
[0009]
With the configuration as described above, even if the key panel disposed in the panel selection unit is thin and small, it is easy to put a finger on the tongue of the key panel and prevent erroneous operation. And for key panels that are frequently used, a key piece in the panel selection section is provided by protruding the front side of a tongue that is larger in size, protrudes greatly, or has a large step. The operability can be further improved.
[0010]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
An embodiment of the present invention will be described according to the illustrated example. The example shown in FIG. 1 is for explaining the configuration of a commonly used FAX (facsimile apparatus). An ADF (automatic document feeder) 2 is provided at the top, and a recording section using an electrophotographic system at the center. 5 is configured as a FAX 1 provided with a paper feed unit for mounting the paper feed cassette 6 at the bottom. The ADF 2 arranged on the upper part of the FAX 1 can feed the originals set on the original tray 3 one by one toward the reading unit and discharge the read originals to the discharge tray 4 in the same manner as a general FAX. Composed. In addition to the ADF function, the FAX 1 is provided with an FBS (Flatbed Scanner) function so that it can be applied to reading a document of a book. A configuration is possible as in the case.
[0011]
The FAX 1 is provided with a control panel 10 for controlling the operation of the apparatus. In the control panel 10, as in the case of a general FAX or an image forming apparatus, an operation button 12 and a function selection are selected. In addition to the button 13 and the start button 14, a numeric keypad 15 and the like are arranged. The operation content set using the keys is displayed on the display 11 so that the operator can easily confirm it. In addition to the buttons and keys, a panel selection unit 20 as will be described later is provided for setting a speed dial number used for facsimile transmission.
[0012]
2 and 3, the control panel 10 is provided with a plurality of key panels that can be opened and closed via a support shaft with respect to abbreviated keys arranged in the one-touch dial section. The panel selection unit 20 is provided in a state where key panels 22, 24, 26 supported by a support shaft 21 are stacked. On the substrate 17 of the one-touch dial section 16, a number of shortened keys 18 are arranged in a predetermined arrangement order, and one telephone number is set for each of the shortened keys 18. Further, when the front or back surface of the key panel 21 is used corresponding to each of the shortened keys 18, a label for displaying the company name of the transmission destination is pasted on the back surface. The label or the like is displayed in correspondence with the set speed dial number, and the telephone number is input to the control unit in accordance with the display of the speed dial number or the like.
[0013]
In the panel selection unit 20, a plurality of key panels 22, 24, and 26 are provided so as to be openable and closable on the left and right sides of the drawing via the support shafts 21 at the ends. A hole is formed so that the shortening key 18 protrudes from the surface of the panel selection unit 20. In the plurality of key panels 22... Arranged in the panel selection unit 20, tongue pieces 23 are projected from the front side (the front side of the apparatus). Each of the tongue pieces 23, 25, 27 is attached so that the tongue pieces that protrude from the key panels to the front side have a step with respect to the laminated key panels as in the example shown in FIG. ing.
[0014]
And even if the key panel arranged in the panel selection unit 20 is thin, it is arranged so as not to overlap each other with a phase shifted laterally between the tongue pieces. Is formed. Therefore, the operator can easily touch the desired tongue piece, so that the selection of the key panel is not wrong and the occurrence of erroneous operations can be reduced.
[0015]
In the example shown in FIG. 3, the length of the key panel protruding toward the front side is varied, and the tongue pieces 23 are arranged so that the operation of opening and closing the key panel can be easily performed. Yes. As shown in FIG. 3, when the protruding lengths of the tongue pieces are different, the uppermost key panel 22 that is considered to be most frequently used is provided with a large tongue piece 23. The lowermost key panel 26 which can be considered is provided with a tongue piece 27 which is protruded small. Therefore, by changing the protruding length of the tongue piece as described above, the operation of selecting the tongue piece can be easily performed when opening and closing the key panel.
[0016]
In the example shown in FIG. 4, tongue pieces 23,... With different widths are provided on the key panel arranged in the panel selection unit 20. In each of the tongue pieces 23, 25, 27 attached to the key panels, a wide tongue piece 23 is provided on the uppermost key panel 22 which is considered to be most frequently used, and it is considered that the use frequency is low. A narrow tongue 27 is provided on the lowermost key panel 26. Therefore, even if the width of the tongue pieces is varied as described above, the operator's operability can be improved by arranging the tongue pieces with a large area so that they can be easily opened and closed for frequently used key panels. Can be maintained well.
[0017]
As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, each of the example in which the protruding length of the tongue piece is different and the example in which the width is different are as follows. It can be configured in combination with means for providing and configuring. Therefore, when two tongue piece structures as described in each of the above embodiments are combined, or by combining three examples, the panel selection unit with better operability can be obtained. It can be configured.
[0018]
The example of the configuration of the panel selection unit can be provided on the control panel of an image forming apparatus in which a copying machine and a facsimile machine are combined. In addition to a FAX dedicated machine, image formation that requires a panel selection unit is possible. It can be provided in the apparatus. Further, in each embodiment of the panel selection unit, it has been described that the shortening key is disposed on both sides of the support shaft that supports the key panel. However, a support shaft is provided on the rear side of the control panel to support the key panel. In the case of using the one-touch dial portion, it is possible to configure the key panel to open so as to stand up and correspond to the shortened key, and in particular, an opening / closing mechanism of the key panel, The number of key panels to be stacked is not limited.
[0019]
【The invention's effect】
With the configuration as described above, even if the key panel disposed in the panel selection unit is thin and small, it is easy to put a finger on the tongue of the key panel and prevent erroneous operation. And for key panels that are frequently used, a key piece in the panel selection section can be provided by protruding the front side of a tongue that has been increased in size, greatly protruded, or has a large level difference. The operability can be further improved.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of a configuration of a facsimile machine.
FIG. 2 is an explanatory view showing a configuration of a tongue piece attached to a key panel.
FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of a tongue piece provided in a panel selection unit.
FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of another example of a tongue piece provided in the panel selection unit.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 FAX, 2 ADF, 3 Document tray, 4 Ejection tray,
5 recording section, 6 paper cassette, 10 control panel,
11 Display, 12-14 Input key, 15 Numeric keypad,
16 One-touch dial, 17 Substrate, 18 Speed key,
20 panel selector, 21 spindle,
22 ・ 24 ・ 26 Key panel, 23 ・ 25 ・ 27 Tongue piece.

Claims (2)

A plurality of key panels that can be arranged in a stack on a substrate on which a plurality of keys are arranged and that are rotatably supported, and a finger that is provided on each of the plurality of key panels for opening and closing. A control panel comprising a tongue piece,
The tongue piece is formed with a step with respect to the substrate ,
The step is provided such that when the key panels are overlapped, the gap between the tongue pieces adjacent in the thickness direction of the key panel is larger than the gap between the key panels adjacent in the thickness direction. Control panel characterized by being .   An image forming apparatus comprising the control panel according to claim 1.

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