JP5446234B2 - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, and more particularly to an operation panel mounting structure provided so as to protrude from a main body of the image forming apparatus.

  In general, an image forming apparatus has an operation panel for receiving image forming conditions such as the number of copies to be printed, setting of magnification, paper selection, and the like at a predetermined position on the front surface of the apparatus main body. The angle and orientation of the operation panel that can be easily used by each user are different due to various factors such as the height of the user, the difference in the operation posture when operating on a wheelchair, and the like.

Therefore, in recent years, the tilt and position of the operation panel can be adjusted up and down, left and right from the viewpoint of universal design that provides good visibility and operability regardless of the physical characteristics and installation conditions of such individual users. Are being adopted.
In the case of such a configuration, the operation panel should be installed in an overhanging state on the front surface of the apparatus main body in order to reduce the size of the apparatus main body while ensuring a space for adjusting the tilt and position of the operation panel. There are many.
JP-A-8-39894 JP 2003-143339 A

However, if the operation panel protrudes from the main body of the image forming apparatus, not only handling is required when transporting or carrying in the image forming apparatus, but also the packaging size increases, resulting in improved transport efficiency and resource saving. It is not preferable also from a viewpoint.
Therefore, it is reasonable to remove the operation panel from the main body during transportation, and attach the operation panel when the product is delivered and installed at the user's place of use. Conventionally, as shown in FIG. First, the mounting bracket 100 supporting the main body of the operation panel unit 50 is fixed to the frame 6 inside the main body of the image forming apparatus with screws 7. Further, the fixing portion is covered with a cover 831, and the cover 831 is fixed to the screws 7. It is fixed to the image forming apparatus main body exterior 8 by 'so as not to impair the appearance.

However, with the above configuration, after the operation panel unit 50 is screwed, it is necessary to attach a separate cover, which takes time to install the operation panel, and takes time for installation at the delivery destination.
Even after delivery, when the installation location of the image forming apparatus is changed, the user temporarily removes the operation panel from the apparatus main body so that the operation panel is not damaged when moving. However, even in such a case, it takes time and is not easy to use.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and in an image forming apparatus provided with an operation panel, the image forming apparatus main body is attached to and detached from the operation panel in order to improve convenience during transportation. The purpose is to make it easier.

In order to solve the above problems, an image forming apparatus according to an aspect of the present invention is an image forming apparatus including an operation panel that receives an image forming condition. The operation panel includes an operation panel main body and the operation panel. A posture changing mechanism for changing the posture of the panel main body with respect to the device main body, and a bracket for attaching the operation panel main body to the device main body via the posture changing mechanism, the operation panel main body and A bracket extending from the back surface of the posture changing mechanism is fixed to a frame inside the apparatus main body by a fastening member, and an exterior of the apparatus main body covers a fixing portion of the bracket by the fastening member. It consists of a package member, a second exterior member covering the other portions, the first exterior member, the opening of the gap between the operation panel body bracket Together are attached to, is provided with a plurality of through-holes or a plurality of openings in the engagement and release operations are possible positions of the fastening member by inserting the fasteners from the outside, when removal of the operation panel The first exterior member is detached from the apparatus main body integrally with the operation panel, the posture changing mechanism supports the operation panel main body so as to be rotatable with respect to the apparatus main body, and the bracket is The frame is fixed to the frame at a plurality of positions, the frame has an upper surface and a side surface, the plurality of positions are the upper surface and the side surface, and the operation panel main body is in a normal posture. Further, among the plurality of through holes or openings, at least the through hole or opening for fixing the bracket to the upper surface is hidden by the operation panel body. To.

With the configuration described above, the complexity of the operation when attaching and detaching the operation panel to / from the image forming apparatus main body is reduced, and the simplicity of the operation and the reduction of the operation time can be achieved. Further, by removing the operation panel at the time of shipment and packing it, the overhanging portion is eliminated, the size of the packing box can be reduced, and the packing material can be saved.
Wherein said bracket is at a plurality of locations, ing fixed to the frame.

Accordingly, the operation panel can be more firmly and stably fixed to the image forming apparatus main body.
Further, the fastening member may be a screw.
Accordingly, the operation panel can be easily attached to and detached from the apparatus main body using a screw tightening driver as a fastener.

Furthermore, a communication harness between the operation panel and the apparatus main body and a connector for connecting a power harness for supplying power from the apparatus main body to the operation panel are provided on the operation panel and / or the image forming apparatus main body side. It may be characterized by.
Accordingly, the operation panel is completely separated from the main body of the image forming apparatus, and the place where the removed operation panel is placed is not limited to the range of the length of the communication harness, so that the work efficiency such as packing is improved.

  Further, a flat portion is formed on at least a part of the bottom surface of the operation panel, and there is no portion protruding downward from the flat portion, and the operation panel is placed on a flat placement surface. The bottom surface of the operation panel is formed so that the projected point of the center of gravity of the operation panel on the mounting surface is located in a region where the flat portion and the mounting surface are in contact with each other. It may be characterized by.

  As a result, the operation panel can be stably placed even when the bottom surface of the operation panel is down, so that it is not necessary to place the removed operation panel with its display panel side facing down during assembly work. The risk of damage is reduced.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention will be described by taking a case where it is applied to a digital copying machine as an example.
(1. Overall configuration of image forming apparatus)
FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of the digital copying machine (hereinafter simply referred to as “copying machine”) 1.

As shown in the figure, the copying machine 1 is constructed by stacking a printer unit 3 and an image reading unit 2 in order on a paper feeding unit 4 as main components, and an operation panel unit 5 is provided at the upper part of the printer unit 3. It is detachably provided at a position close to the image reading unit 2.
The copying machine 1 is a so-called in-body discharge type copying machine that uses the space between the printer unit 3 and the image reading unit 2 as a discharge tray.

The image reading unit 2 includes a scanner unit (not shown) that holds a light source and a folding mirror. The document image reflected by the folding mirror is received by a CCD sensor through an optical lens to generate image data. It has a known configuration.
The printer unit 3 is an electrophotographic type, and performs a series of operations such as exposure, development, primary transfer, secondary transfer, and fixing of the photosensitive drum, and the image data output from the image reading unit 2 Is printed on paper.

The paper feeding unit 4 conveys the sheets one by one from the paper feeding cassette in which the sheets for recording images are stored to the printing unit 3 at a timing.
The operation panel unit 5 receives input of image forming conditions from the user, and displays error information and the like. The operation panel unit 5 can be rotated left and right (XX ′ direction) and up and down (ZZ ′ direction) by a posture changing mechanism 52 described later, as shown in FIG. The angle and position can be changed and adjusted for easy operation.
(2. Configuration of operation panel)
As shown in FIG. 2, the operation panel unit 5 includes an operation panel body 51, a posture changing mechanism 52, and a bracket 53.

The operation panel main body 51 includes a start key 511 for instructing the start of copying (copying), a numeric keypad 512 for inputting the number of copies, a reset key 513 for returning the setting of the number of copied copies to zero, A liquid crystal touch panel 514 and the like are provided on the upper surface.
The liquid crystal touch panel 514 has a touch panel laminated on the surface thereof, and accepts input (touch input) such as setting of a copy magnification, selection of paper, selection of a copy mode, and the like from the user, and the number of copies, the state of the copying machine 1, For example, a message indicating a paper jam (jam) or the like is displayed.

The posture changing mechanism 52 is disposed below the operation panel main body 51 and moves the operation panel main body 51 up and down (see FIG. 5) so that the operation panel main body 51 can be adjusted to an angle and a position that can be easily operated by the user. 1: ZZ ′ direction) and left and right (FIG. 1: XX ′ direction).
The posture changing mechanism 52 is supported by a bracket 53, and the entire operation panel unit 5 is held by the copying machine main body via the bracket 53.
(3. Operation panel mounting structure)
FIG. 3 is a view showing a vertical cross section of the attachment portion and a side surface of the operation panel main body 51 in a state where the operation panel unit 5 is attached to the copier 1 main body.

As shown in the figure, the operation panel main body 51 is provided on its side with a harness 90 for supplying power from the copying machine 1 main body to the operation panel main body 51 and transmitting / receiving image information, input information from the user, etc. 4) and a power switch 516.
The bracket 53 is for supporting the operation panel main body 51 via a posture changing mechanism 52 provided in the middle and attaching to the main body of the copying machine 1. The cross section of the mounting portion 530 provided on the main body side of the bracket 53 has an inverted L shape, and the horizontal portion and the vertical portion thereof are in contact with the upper surface and the front side surface of the frame 6 of the apparatus main body, respectively. The screws 7a to 7d (in FIG. 3, the screws 7a and 7c do not appear to overlap the front screws 7b and 7c, respectively) are fixed to the frame 6.

Of the exterior of the copying machine 1, a portion (cover member) 531 that covers the attachment portion 530 is a separate member from the other portions of the exterior, and is mounted on the bracket 53 side. It is configured to be removable from the main body (see FIG. 4).
The cover member 531 may be attached in advance to the bracket 53 with an adhesive, a screw, or the like. Alternatively, the cover member 531 is provided with a claw at the 531 and is fitted into the attachment portion 530 to engage the claw with the bracket 53. It may be made to attach by making it, and the means is not limited.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a state in which the bracket 53 is detached from the frame 6 of the apparatus main body and detached together with the cover member 531. In the figure, for convenience, the posture changing mechanism 52 is not shown and the operation panel unit 51 is indicated by a virtual line (two-dot chain line).
As shown in the figure, an opening 80 is provided in a portion of the casing of the copying machine 1 corresponding to the mounting location of the mounting portion 530 of the bracket 53 of the operation panel unit 5, and through the opening 80. The mounting portion 530 of the bracket 53 is inserted, and the mounting portion 530 is screwed to the frame 6.

With the bracket 53 attached to the frame 6, the cover member 531 is just in a state of covering the opening 80, and the aesthetics is maintained by making the inside of the casing invisible from the outside. Consideration is given to prevent foreign matter from entering.
Cylindrical holes 532a and 532b are provided in the upper part of the cover member 531, and cylindrical holes 532c and 532d are provided in the lower part, respectively. Through holes for penetrating 7 a to 7 d are formed, and through holes 533 a to 533 d are formed at the same position of the attachment portion 53.

The operation panel unit 5 is fixed to the main body of the copying machine 1 by screwing the screws 7a to 7d into the screw holes 61a to 61d formed in the frame 6 and tightening them through the through holes 533a to 533d. .
In addition, instead of the screw holes 61 a to 61 d of the frame 6, pilot holes may be formed and fixed by using tapping screws as the screws 7 a to 7 d, or when the thickness of the frame 6 is not so large For example, only through holes may be provided at the positions of the screw holes 61a to 61d of the frame 6, a projection nut may be welded to the back side, and a normal screw may be screwed to the projection nut and fastened. .

  FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a vertical section of the mounting portion and a side surface of the operation panel in a state where the operation panel main body 51 is rotated downward in the vertical direction (FIG. 1: Y direction). In the state shown in the figure, when the cover member 531 is looked down vertically from above, the heads of the screws 7a and 7b can be seen through the cylindrical hole portions 532a and 532b provided on the upper surface of the cover member 531. Thus, the screw 7a and 7b can be easily tightened by inserting the tip of the driver 9 into the cylindrical holes 532a and 532b from above.

6 shows that the operation panel body 51 is in a normal posture (the state where the upper surface of the front portion is almost horizontal without tilting left and right, see FIG. 3). It is the figure which looked at the panel main-body part 51. FIG.
As shown in the figure, the head of the screw 7c can be seen through the cylindrical hole 532c, and the screw 7c can be easily inserted by inserting the tip of the driver 9 into the cylindrical hole 532c from the horizontal direction. Can be tightened.

FIG. 7 is a plan view of a portion where the operation panel unit 5 of the copying machine 1 is attached in a state where the operation panel body 51 is rotated to the left (FIG. 1: X direction). In the state of FIG. 7, it is the figure which looked at the operation panel unit 5 from the slightly downward direction of the arrow A in the figure.
As shown in FIG. 8, when the operation panel main body 51 is rotated to the left, the head of the screw 7d can be seen through the cylindrical hole portion 532d, and the tip of the driver 9 is placed horizontally. The screw 7d can be easily tightened by inserting it into the cylindrical hole 532d from the direction.

As described above, by appropriately rotating the operation panel body 51, the head of the screw fixing the operation panel unit 5 to the copying machine 1 body can be brought into a state where the head of the screw can be viewed from the vertical or horizontal direction. The operation panel unit 5 can be attached to the apparatus main body by tightening the screws 7 a to 7 d using the driver 9.
Since the cover member 531 is also attached at the same time as the operation panel unit 5 is attached, the trouble of attaching the exterior of this part again becomes unnecessary, and the operation of attaching the operation panel unit 5 becomes extremely easy. The same applies to the removal.
(4. Bottom shape of operation panel)
Conventionally, the bottom of the operation panel is generally constituted by a curved surface or an angled surface, and it is difficult to stably place it on a flat surface. If the posture is not stable when placed on a flat surface, it may wobble or fall over and collide with the flat surface or other objects, resulting in failure or damage to the operation panel, which is also a precision instrument. Since there is a concern, when the operation panel is removed from the main body of the image forming apparatus, it is often placed with the relatively flat display unit side down.

However, when attaching and removing the operation panel, there is a high possibility that parts such as screws and tools are placed around the operation panel. Otherwise, the display unit may be inadvertently damaged by tools or tools.
FIG. 9 is a view showing a vertical section of the mounting portion and a side surface of the operation panel main body 51 when the operation panel unit 5 is removed from the copying machine 1 main body.

As shown in the figure, the operation panel unit 5 includes a flat portion 522 at the bottom, and the flat portion 522 is in surface contact with the flat surface P. The lever portion 521 (refer to 10 (a) and (b) described later) and the cover member 531 are designed so as to be slightly retracted from the position of the flat surface P so as not to contact.
The point at which the center of gravity G (see FIG. 7) of the operation panel unit 5 removed from the main body of the copying machine 1 is projected onto the flat surface P in the direction orthogonal to the flat surface P is the contact between the flat surface P and the flat portion 522. By designing so as to exist inside the surface, when the operation panel unit 5 is placed on the flat surface P with the bottom portion down, a stable posture can be maintained with the flat portion 522 as the bottom surface. .

Thereby, the removed operation panel unit 5 can be safely placed with the liquid crystal touch panel 514 side up, and there is no possibility of damaging the liquid crystal touch panel 514, the numeric keypad 512, etc., and the work efficiency is also improved.
In the above embodiment, the lever portion 521 and the cover member 531 are not in contact with the flat surface P. However, it is assumed that the lever portion 521 and / or the cover member 531 are in contact with the flat surface P. Also good. By doing in this way, when the operation panel unit 5 is placed on the flat surface P, it becomes possible to maintain a more stable posture.
(5. Configuration of posture changing mechanism 52)
In the present embodiment, the operation panel unit 5 is configured to be rotatable up and down and left and right. Although the rotation mechanism of the operation panel is known, an example thereof will be briefly described.

FIG. 10A is a perspective view showing the inside of the posture changing mechanism 52 by removing the operation panel unit 5 from the copying machine 1 main body and further removing the operation panel main body 51 and the posture changing mechanism 52. .
By pulling the lever portion 521 toward the front, the posture changing mechanism 52 can release the vertical angle position restriction and change the vertical angle.

Moreover, it is designed to swing left and right by applying an external force in the horizontal direction.
More specifically, the posture changing mechanism 52 includes a base unit 10, a slide unit 20, a horizontal rotation unit 30, and a biaxial swing unit 70.
The base portion 10 is for arranging a plurality of members constituting the posture changing mechanism 52, and supports the biaxial swinging portion 70 so as to be pivotable in the vertical direction, and the operation panel main body portion 51 and An operation panel fixing member 40 to be joined is included.

As shown in the figure, the biaxial oscillating portion 70 has a vertical shaft portion 72 having an axis that coincides with the rotation axis V, and an axis that is loosely inserted in the torsion spring 41 and coincides with the rotation axis H. The horizontal shaft portion is biased upward by a torsion spring 41.
Here, the vertical swing position of the biaxial swing portion 70 is regulated by fitting the claw 33 of the horizontal turning portion 30 into any of the plurality of through holes 71 provided in the vertical direction. .

Further, the vertical shaft portion 72 is formed of a screw, and the biaxial swinging portion 70 with respect to the mounting portion 530 (the mounting portion 530 is hidden by the cover member 531 in FIG. (See FIG. 4).
The slide portion 20 includes a slide member 26 that slides in the front-rear direction (ZZ ′ direction) on the base portion 10 and a tension spring 25, and a lever portion 521 is provided at the end of the slide member 26. It is attached. Further, the lever portion 521 is biased in the Z ′ direction by the tension spring 25.

Further, the sliding member 26 is provided with elongated holes 21 and 23 extending in the Z-axis direction, and by engaging guide pins 22 and 24 erected on the base portion 10 respectively, It is possible to slide only.
Further, a guide pin 32 is erected on the sliding member 26.
The horizontal rotation unit 30 is configured such that a rotation member 34 is pivotally supported on the base unit 10 by a guide pin 24.

The rotation member 34 is provided with a link groove 31 on a surface in contact with the sliding member 26, and the guide pin 32 is engaged with the link groove 31.
Thereby, for example, when the lever portion 521 is pulled in the Z direction, the guide pin 32 moves in the Z direction, and as shown in FIG. 10B, the rotating member 34 uses the guide pin 24 as an axis. Rotating clockwise (in the direction of arrow C), the claw 33 provided on the rotating member 34 is detached from the through hole 71 provided on the biaxial oscillating portion 70, and the biaxial oscillating portion 70 rotates. The vertical rotation restriction about the axis H is released.

At this time, the user adjusts the angle of the operation panel main body 51 to his or her preferred angle, and then returns the lever portion 521 to the original position so that the claw 33 engages with another through-hole 71. Thus, the vertical angle of the operation panel main body 51 can be fixed.
In addition, when changing the angle of the left-right direction of the operation panel main-body part 51, it is only necessary to apply force to the direction to move.

Further, the shape of the through hole 71 may be a circular shape, an oval shape, a long hole shape, a polygonal shape, or the like as long as it does not hinder the smooth fitting / removal of the claw 33.
<Modification>
As described above, the present invention has been described based on the embodiment. However, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and the following modifications can be implemented.
(1) In the above embodiment, by rotating the operation panel main body 51, the screws 7a to 7d fixing the operation panel unit 5 to the main body of the copying machine 1 and the screws 7a to 7d are inserted. Although the cylindrical hole portions 532a to 532d provided with the through holes 533a to 533d are exposed, the cover member 531 is sufficiently larger than the operation panel main body portion 51 and the posture change mechanism 52, and the operation panel main body portion 51 and the posture change are performed. Cylindrical hole portions 532a to 532d and through holes 533a to 533d may be provided at positions exposed without rotating mechanism 52. In that case, it goes without saying that the centers of the screw holes 61a to 61d formed in the frame 6 are located on a straight line passing through the center line of the axes of the screws 7a to 7d inserted into the through holes 533a to 533d. .
(2) Although the screw is used as a fastening member for fixing the operation panel unit 5 to the frame 6 in the above embodiment, the same effect can be obtained even if a push-pull rivet is used instead.

  The image forming apparatus in the above embodiment is an apparatus that forms an image using, for example, an electrophotographic system. Specifically, the image forming apparatus is a copier, a facsimile machine, a printer, or an MFP having these functions. (Multifunction Peripheral). In any case, as long as an operation panel that accepts user operation input is provided, the present invention can be applied to obtain the effect.

  Further, the contents of the above embodiment and the above modification examples may be combined within a possible range.

  The present invention can be widely applied to an image forming apparatus having an operation panel provided at a position protruding from the main body of the image forming apparatus.

1 is an external perspective view showing a schematic configuration of a copying machine 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. 2 is an external perspective view showing a schematic configuration of an operation panel unit 5. FIG. FIG. 3 is a view showing a vertical section of the mounting portion and a side surface of the operation panel in a state where the operation panel unit is attached to the copying machine main body. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a state in which a bracket 53 is attached to the copying machine 1 main body. It is a figure which shows the cross section of the orthogonal | vertical direction of an attaching part, and the side surface of an operation panel in the state which rotated the operation panel main-body part 51 to the up-down direction lower side. FIG. 3 is a plan view of the copying machine 1 viewed from the front of an operation panel. FIG. 3 is a plan view of the operation panel unit 5 and the copying machine 1 main body in a state where the operation panel main body 51 is rotated to the left (X direction). In the state of FIG. 7, it is the figure which looked at the operation panel unit 5 from the direction of the arrow A in the figure. FIG. 3 is a view showing a vertical section of the mounting portion and a side surface of the operation panel in a state where the operation panel unit 5 is detached from the copying machine 1 main body and placed on the flat surface P. (A) is a figure which shows the structure of the attitude | position change mechanism 52, (b) is a figure which shows the operation | movement. It is a figure which shows the cross section of the orthogonal | vertical direction of an attaching part, and the side surface of an operation panel which show the conventional attachment method to the image forming apparatus main body of an operation panel.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Copier 10 Base part 100 Mounting bracket 2 Image reading part 20 Sliding part 21 Long hole 22 Guide pin 23 Long hole 24 Guide pin 25 Tension spring 26 Sliding member 3 Printer part 30 Horizontal rotation part 31 Link groove 32 Guide pin 33 Claw 34 Rotating member 4 Paper feed unit 40 Operation panel fixing member 41 Torsion springs 5 and 50 Operation panel unit 51 Operation panel body 511 Start key 512 Ten key 513 Reset key 514 Liquid crystal touch panel 515 Panel connector 516 Power switch 52 Posture change mechanism 521 Lever part 522 Flat part 53 Bracket 530 Mounting part 531 Cover members 532a to 532d Cylindrical hole parts 533a to 533d Through hole 6 Frames 61a to 61d Screw holes 7a to 61d, 7 'screw 70 Biaxial swinging part 71 Through hole 72 Vertical Shaft 8 Image forming equipment Body armor 80 openings 831 cover 9 driver 90 Harness

Claims (4)

An image forming apparatus having an operation panel for receiving image forming conditions,
The operation panel attaches the operation panel main body to the apparatus main body via the operation panel main body, an attitude change mechanism for changing the attitude of the operation panel main body with respect to the apparatus main body, and the attitude change mechanism. A bracket extending from the back of the operation panel main body and the posture changing mechanism is fixed to a frame inside the apparatus main body by a fastening member,
The exterior of the apparatus main body is composed of a first exterior member that covers a fixing portion of the bracket by the fastening member, and a second exterior member that covers the other part,
The first exterior member, with being attached to the bracket opening the gap between the operating panel body, the operation of the engagement and release of the fastening member by inserting the fastener from outside A plurality of through holes or a plurality of openings are provided at possible positions,
When removing the operation panel, the first exterior member is detached from the apparatus main body together with the operation panel,
The posture changing mechanism supports the operation panel main body so as to be rotatable with respect to the apparatus main body.
The bracket is fixed to the frame at a plurality of positions,
The frame has an upper surface and a side surface, and the plurality of positions are the upper surface and the side surface,
When the operation panel main body is in a normal posture, at least the through hole or opening for fixing the bracket to the upper surface among the plurality of through holes or openings is hidden by the operation panel main body. An image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the fastening member is a screw. A communication harness between the operation panel and the apparatus main body and a connector for connecting a power harness for supplying power from the apparatus main body to the operation panel are provided on the operation panel and / or the image forming apparatus main body side. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 or 2 . A flat portion is formed on at least a part of the bottom surface of the operation panel, and there is no portion projecting downward from the flat portion, and when the operation panel is placed on a flat placement surface, The shape of the bottom surface of the operation panel is formed so that the projection point of the center of gravity of the operation panel onto the placement surface is located in a region where the flat portion and the placement surface are in contact with each other. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 .

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