JP4048833B2 - Display / operation unit of image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
[Technical field to which the invention belongs]
The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, which displays / operates an operation unit for setting image forming conditions such as the number of images, transfer paper size, copy magnification, and a liquid crystal panel for displaying the set image forming conditions. Related to the department.
[0002]
[Prior art]
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a configuration of a copying machine as an image forming apparatus, and FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the appearance thereof. A plurality of originals with the front side facing up are placed on the original placement unit 11 of the ADF 10 capable of automatically feeding originals. The first document fed out by the rollers 12 a and 12 b is fed onto the platen glass 14 by the rollers 13.
[0003]
When the original passes over the platen glass 14 by the roller 13, the original surface of the original is irradiated by the light source 23, and the reflected light passes through the mirrors 24, 25, 26, and the photoelectric conversion means via the imaging optical system 27. An image is formed on the light receiving surface of the CCD 28. Here, the light source 23, the mirrors 24, 25, and 26, the imaging optical system 27 and the CCD 28, and the optical system driving means (not shown) constitute the image reading unit 20. The read image data of the document is sent from the CCD 28 to image memory means (not shown) and stored therein.
[0004]
In this way, the document from which the image has been read is sent out onto the paper discharge tray 15 with the front side facing down. On the other hand, the transfer paper P is sent out from the tray 30 (30a, 30b, 30c) on which the transfer paper is loaded by the paper feed roller, and is fed to the image forming unit 50. The transfer paper P fed to the image forming unit 50 is synchronized with the registration roller at the entrance, and then approaches the photosensitive drum 51.
[0005]
The image data stored in the image memory means is input to the image writing unit 40, and a laser beam corresponding to the image data is irradiated on the photosensitive drum 51 from the laser diode in the image writing unit 40, and electrostatic A latent image is formed. The electrostatic latent image is developed by the developing unit 53 to form a toner image on the photosensitive drum 51.
[0006]
This toner image is transferred onto the transfer paper P by the transfer section 54 below the photosensitive drum 51. Then, the transfer paper P that is pressure-bonded to the photosensitive drum 51 is separated by the separation unit 55. The transfer paper P separated from the photosensitive drum 51 enters the fixing unit 58 via the transport mechanism 57, and the toner image is fixed by heat and pressure. The transfer paper P on which image formation is completed in this way is discharged onto the paper discharge tray 70 by the discharge roller 65.
[0007]
The image forming apparatus has display input means 80 at the top of the apparatus. This is composed of a panel unit 81 composed of a liquid crystal panel, a numeric keypad 82, and the like, and various image forming conditions are set here before the user starts copying. For example, setting of the number of copies, setting of copy density, setting of copy magnification, and the like.
[0008]
In the above conventional example, the panel unit 81 is only for display, and input is performed from the numeric keypad 82. However, depending on the model, the panel unit 81 is a touch panel, and the numeric keypad 82 is also displayed in the panel unit and input by the panel unit 81. Some also serve as both displays.
[0009]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
The panel portion 81 has a rotation shaft on the lower front side of the image forming apparatus, and is rotatably attached to the image forming apparatus main body. Then, when installing the image forming apparatus, the service person has fixed the angle of the panel unit 81 after hearing the user's wishes. If the user wishes to change the angle after installation, it is possible to change the angle, but it has been a troublesome work such as annoying the serviceman again. Further, the angle can be changed only in a stepwise manner, and cannot be fixed at an arbitrary rotational position. In addition, the mechanism for maintaining the angle is the engagement between the concave and convex portions, and there is a problem that rattling is likely to occur and the operational feeling is poor.
[0010]
The present invention has been conceived from the above facts, and an object of the present invention is to provide a display / operation unit of an image forming apparatus that can be easily adjusted to an arbitrary angle and does not cause backlash.
[0011]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above-described problems, the display / operation unit of the image forming apparatus of the present invention has a panel unit for inputting or displaying the image forming conditions of the image forming apparatus, and the panel unit is rotatable to the image forming apparatus main body. and a support angle holder, the angle holding portion, and the rotation axis of the panel, have a torque limiter that is connected to the pivoting axis, wherein the torque limiter is a spring torque limiter And a reduction gear train is interposed between the torque limiter and the rotation shaft of the panel portion .
[0012]
Or a structure in which torque depressing the upper Symbol panel portion is larger than the torque boost, torque depressing the panel unit, or a torque larger structure generated by the force pressing the buttons provided on the panel, The said angle holding | maintenance part can be set as the structure provided in multiple places.
[0013]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a part of an angle holding unit 810 that is a connection portion between the panel unit 81 and the frame 100 of the image forming apparatus main body. FIG. 2 is a view as seen from the direction A in FIG. 1 and shows the overall configuration of the angle holding unit. The panel unit 81 is composed of a liquid crystal panel or the like, but may be one that performs only display, or may be one that performs both display and input as a touch panel. Further, only the input part such as the numeric keypad 82 may be configured not to include a display unit.
[0014]
One end of the lower side of the panel unit 81 is supported by the image forming apparatus main body by an angle holding unit 810. The angle holding unit 810 has the following configuration. First, a rotation shaft 811 is provided on the panel portion 81, and the rotation shaft 811 is supported by a bracket 101 erected on the frame 100. Although not shown, the same rotation shaft and bracket are provided at both ends of the panel portion 81, and the panel portion 81 is pivotally supported by the frame 100 of the image forming apparatus main body.
[0015]
The rotating shaft 811 passes through the bracket 101, and a large sector gear 812 is fixed to the tip. The large sector gear 812 meshes with a small sector gear 814 fixed to one end of the intermediate shaft 813. The intermediate shaft 813 is pivotally supported by brackets 102 and 103 erected on the frame 100.
[0016]
A large gear 815 is fixed between the brackets 102 and 103 of the intermediate shaft 813. The large gear 815 meshes with a small gear 818 fixed to the shaft 817 of the torque limiter 816. The shaft 817 of the torque limiter 816 is pivotally supported by the brackets 102 and 103 at both ends.
[0017]
In the embodiment of the present invention, the shaft 817 of the torque limiter 816 is disposed concentrically with the rotation shaft 811 of the panel portion 81. With such a configuration, the size of the angle holding unit 810 can be reduced.
[0018]
The torque limiter 816 rotates relative to the shaft 817 and the torque limiter 816 when a torque greater than the value set between the shaft 817 and the torque limiter 816 is applied. It is configured not to. Various structures such as a friction plate clutch are known. Here, a spring type torque limiter using a coil spring and capable of bidirectional rotation is used.
[0019]
An example of such a spring type torque limiter is disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 4-307129. This includes an outer coil spring and an inner coil spring, and when the applied torque is a direction to tighten one of the outer coil spring and the inner coil spring, the other is a direction to open the coil. As a result, regardless of the direction of the torque acting between the shaft and the hub, it acts in the direction in which one of the coil springs is opened, and sliding is possible with a torque above a certain level. The set torque value can be freely set by design, and a different torque can be set for each rotation direction.
[0020]
With the above configuration, when the operator of the image forming apparatus wants to change the angle of the panel unit 81, the upper end of the panel unit 81 is grasped by hand and a slight force is applied so that the panel unit 81 is centered on the rotation shaft 811. What is necessary is just to rotate. If the hand is released from the panel unit 81 when the panel unit 81 has a desired angle, the panel unit 81 maintains its position.
[0021]
As for the force when rotating the panel unit 81, that is, the set torque of the torque limiter 816, it is preferable to increase the set torque in the direction of pushing down the panel unit 81 and reduce the torque in the push up direction. The panel unit 81 has buttons or a touch button in the liquid crystal screen, and is pressed to input image forming conditions and the like. If the set torque for turning the panel 81 downward is less than the torque generated by the force applied to the button or touch button during input, the angle of the panel 81 is easily changed during operation. It becomes difficult. Therefore, it is desirable that the set torque is sufficiently larger than the torque generated by this force so that the panel portion 81 does not turn unexpectedly during operation or the like. On the other hand, when the panel portion 81 is pushed up, there is nothing to do with the force input by pushing the button. In this embodiment, the set torque of the torque limiter 816 is set so that the force applied to the upper end of the panel 81 when the panel 81 is pushed down is about 20 to 22N.
[0022]
In the above configuration, among the configurations of the angle holding unit 810, the large sector gear 812, the small sector gear 814, the large gear 815, and the small gear 818 constitute a reduction gear train. That is, the rotation angle of the shaft 817 of the torque limiter 816 is transmitted to the panel portion 81 as a small rotation angle by the reduction gear train. The reduction ratio in this embodiment is about 3. Thus, the following effects can be produced by using the reduction gear train.
[0023]
The torque limiter 816 adjusts to a desired angle by pushing down or pushing up the panel portion 81. However, the spring-type torque limiter rotates slightly in the opposite direction when the load is released after setting the desired angle. A so-called springback phenomenon is known. This springback amount tends to increase in a torque limiter having a large set torque. Therefore, if the connection is made via the reduction gear train as in the embodiment, the set torque of the torque limiter 816 can be reduced. In addition, the amount of springback also decreases in inverse proportion to the deceleration rate. In the embodiment, since the deceleration rate is about 3, the amount of springback is reduced to about 、, and the operation angle of the panel portion 81 becomes almost negligible.
[0024]
In the above embodiment, the angle holding portion 810 is provided at the end of the panel portion 81. A similar angle holding portion 810 may be provided at the other end portion, but the rotation shaft 811 provided at the panel portion 81 may simply be supported. Further, a configuration in which the angle holding unit 810 is provided at the center of the panel unit 81 or at a plurality of locations such as both ends of the panel unit 81 is also possible. When a plurality of angle holding portions 810 are provided, the set torque of one torque limiter can be lowered, and the spring back is further reduced. Further, although the pivot shaft 811 of the panel unit 81 is provided horizontally at the lower end of the panel unit 81, the present invention can also be applied to the case where it is provided at the upper end of the panel unit 81 or vertically at the left end or right end of the panel unit 81. .
[0025]
Further, since the rotation angle of the panel portion 81 is actually less than 90 °, a sector gear can be used. Since the angle holding unit 810 is inside the unit of the display input means 80 and becomes the center of rotation, there is a demand for miniaturization as much as possible. By using the large sector gear 812 and the small sector gear 814 in this way, the angle holding unit 810 The size of 810 can be reduced.
[0026]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, the display / operation unit of the image forming apparatus of the present invention inputs the panel for inputting or displaying the image forming conditions of the image forming apparatus, and rotatably supports the panel unit on the image forming apparatus main body. An angle holding unit, and the angle holding unit includes a rotation shaft of the panel unit and a torque limiter connected to the rotation shaft. The panel section angle can be easily changed to an arbitrary angle. In addition, it has become possible to eliminate backlash in the panel portion. Further, the torque limiter is a spring-type torque limiter, and a springback amount when the angle of the panel unit is adjusted by interposing a reduction gear train between the torque limiter and the rotation shaft of the panel unit. Can be reduced.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a connection portion between a panel unit and a frame of an image forming apparatus main body.
FIG. 2 is a diagram as seen from the direction A in FIG. 1, and is a diagram showing an overall configuration of an angle holding unit.
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a copier as an image forming apparatus.
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the image forming apparatus.
[Explanation of symbols]
81 Panel portion 810 Angle holding portion 811 Rotating shaft 812, 814, 815, 818 Reduction gear train 816 Torque limiter

Claims (4)

A panel unit for inputting or displaying the image forming conditions of the image forming apparatus, and an angle holding unit for rotatably supporting the panel unit on the image forming apparatus main body, the angle holding unit rotating the panel unit. and shaft, have a torque limiter that is connected to the pivoting axis, wherein the torque limiter is a spring-type torque limiter, between the rotation axis of the torque limiter and the panel section, a reduction gear train A display / operation unit of an image forming apparatus characterized by being interposed . Display / operation unit according to claim 1 Symbol placement of the image forming apparatus, characterized in that it is larger than the torque torque depressing the panel portion pushes up. 3. The display / operation unit of an image forming apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein a torque for pushing down the panel unit is larger than a torque generated by a force for pressing buttons provided on the panel unit. The angle holding unit, the display / operation unit of the image forming apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that provided a plurality of locations 3.

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