JP6933289B2 - Operation panel and image forming apparatus equipped with it - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an operation panel having a panel surface including an operation area and a light source arranged on a peripheral edge of the panel surface, and an image forming apparatus including the operation panel.

Conventionally, an image forming apparatus such as a copier, a printer, and a facsimile is equipped with an operation panel for a user to make various settings. The user operates a plurality of operation keys provided on the panel surface of the operation panel to input the number of prints, the magnification, the start of printing, and the like.

By the way, in order to visually inform the user of the device state, an operation panel provided with a plurality of light sources such as LEDs is known. For example, the operation panel is covered with an opaque resin cover to prevent light leakage to the outside. Then, an opening is provided in a portion of the opaque resin cover facing the light source that informs the user of the state of the device, and a white translucent member is arranged in the opening. As a result, when the light source emits light, the light emitted by the light source is emitted to the outside of the operation panel via the translucent member, and the user can be notified of the device status.

An image forming apparatus provided with an operation panel provided with a plurality of light sources such as LEDs in order to visually inform the user of the apparatus state is disclosed in, for example, Patent Document 1.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2012-10137

However, in the conventional operation panel, since the translucent member is white, there is a problem that the light emitted from the light source is difficult to see when the image forming apparatus is installed in a bright space such as an office. Further, since an opening is provided in the portion of the resin cover facing the light source and the semitransparent member is arranged in the opening, a step or a groove is generated at the boundary portion between the resin cover and the translucent member. Therefore, when a visually impaired person operates the operation panel, there is a problem that the semi-transparent member is mistaken for an operation key.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to improve the visibility of the light emitted by the light source and to improve the operability for the visually impaired. It is to provide a possible operation panel and an image forming apparatus equipped with it.

In order to achieve the above object, the operation panel of the present invention is an operation panel mounted on an image forming apparatus, and the upper surface thereof is substantially flush with the panel surface including the operation area and at least the peripheral surface of the panel surface. A black semi-transparent member provided so as to be The translucent member is formed so as to straddle the side surface erected downward from the peripheral edge of the panel surface, and the reflective member is formed around the light source in the left-right direction of the light source and on the side surface sandwiching the light source. Surrounding in opposite directions, the light from the light source is visible from above and from the side of the operation panel, and the image forming apparatus includes an apparatus main body and an image reading unit arranged on the upper portion of the apparatus main body. An in-body discharge space is formed between the light source and the image reading unit, and the panel surface is arranged adjacent to the in-body discharge space.

According to the operation panel of the present invention, a light source is provided below the black translucent member. As a result, the light emitted from the light source is emitted to the outside of the operation panel via the black translucent member, so that the light source emits even when the image forming apparatus is installed in a bright space such as an office. It is possible to prevent the light from becoming difficult to see. Therefore, the visibility of the light emitted from the light source can be improved.

Further, since the translucent member is provided so that the upper surface is substantially flush with each other along at least the peripheral edge of the panel surface, the portion of the translucent member facing the light source when the visually impaired person operates the operation panel. Is not mistaken for an operation key, and operability for the visually impaired can be improved. Further, by arranging the operation panel adjacent to the in-body discharge space where the user's line of sight is easy to face, it is possible to further improve the user's visibility.

It is a perspective view which showed the structure of the image forming apparatus provided with the operation panel of one Embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view which showed the structure excluding the lower cover member of the operation panel of one Embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view which showed the structure around the operation key in the state which removed the upper cover member and the lower cover member of the operation panel of one Embodiment of this invention. It is sectional drawing which showed the structure around the light source of the operation panel of one Embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view which showed the structure around the light source in the state which removed the upper cover member and the lower cover member of the operation panel of one Embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view which showed the structure of the upper cover member of one Embodiment of this invention from the lower side. It is a perspective view which showed the structure of the upper cover member of the modification of this invention from the lower side.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

An image forming apparatus 100 including an operation panel 3 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 7. As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus 100 (here, a digital multifunction device is shown as an example) includes an apparatus main body 1 and an image reading unit 2 arranged above the apparatus main body 1.

The image reading unit 2 is provided with a reading unit that reads the image information of the document on the contact glass 2a. The reading unit includes a scanning optical system equipped with a scanner lamp and a mirror, a condensing lens that condenses the reflected light from the document and forms an image, and a CCD sensor that converts the imaged image light into an electric signal ( Neither is shown), and the original image is read and converted into image data.

An operation panel 3 having a display unit and operation keys is provided on the front portion of the image reading unit 2. A platen (not shown) for holding the document placed on the contact glass 2a is provided on the upper part of the image reading unit 2 so as to be openable and closable.

Between the image reading unit 2 and the apparatus main body 1, an in-body paper ejection space 4 that is widely opened toward the left side surface and the front surface is provided.

A plurality of (here, two) paper feed cassettes 5 for storing paper (recording medium) are detachably provided on the front portion of the apparatus main body 1 with respect to the apparatus main body 1.

An image forming portion, a fixing portion, a paper conveying portion, and the like (not shown) are provided inside the apparatus main body 1. The image forming unit forms an image by transferring the toner image to the supplied paper based on the image data read by the image reading unit 2. The image forming unit includes a photoconductor drum that carries an electrostatic latent image, a charging unit that charges the surface of the photoconductor drum, and an exposure that forms an electrostatic latent image corresponding to the original image on the surface of the photoconductor drum by a laser beam or the like. Includes a unit, a developing unit that forms a toner image by adhering a developer to the formed electrostatic latent image, a transfer roller that transfers the toner image to paper, a cleaning blade that removes residual toner on the surface of the photoconductor drum, etc. There is. Further, the fixing portion fixes the toner image on the paper by heating and pressurizing the paper on which the toner image is transferred. The paper transport section (not shown) extends upward along the right side surface of the apparatus main body 1 and transports paper from the paper feed cassette 5 to the image forming section.

Next, the structure of the operation panel 3 will be described.

As shown in FIG. 2, the operation panel 3 has a panel surface 3a (upper surface of the operation panel 3) on which a plurality of operation keys 10 and a display panel 11 are arranged, and a side surface 3b standing downward from the peripheral edge of the panel surface 11. And a bottom surface that is arranged to face the panel surface 3a.

The operation area R1 (the area on the right side of FIG. 2) of the panel surface 3a is provided with a plurality of operation keys 10 pressed (operated) by the user so as to project upward from the panel surface 3a. The operation key 10 includes a numeric keypad, a power key, a reset key, a stop key, a start key, and the like for accepting a numerical input by a user.

A display panel 11 composed of a liquid crystal display panel is arranged in the display area R2 (the area on the left side of FIG. 2) on the panel surface 3a. The display panel 11 may have a touch panel on the display surface side (upper side) where the user touches and performs an input operation. The display panel 11 displays information on the image forming operation, an icon image (operation key) for touch panel operation, and the like.

Further, the operation panel 3 is an upper cover made of a translucent resin in which an insertion hole is formed at a position corresponding to a plurality of operation keys 10 and an opening is formed at a position corresponding to an image display area of the display panel 11. Covers the member (semi-transparent member) 21, the circuit board 22 (see FIG. 3) provided with a switch (not shown) that is pressed by pressing the operation key 10, and the lower portion of the operation panel 3. It includes a lower cover member 23 (see FIG. 4) made of an opaque resin. The upper cover member 21 constitutes a part (upper side) of the panel surface 3a and the side surface 3b, and the lower cover member 23 constitutes a part (lower side) and the bottom surface of the side surface 3b.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, a recess 21a is formed in a predetermined region (region corresponding to the operation region R1) on the upper surface of the upper cover member 21. In the recess 21a, an operation unit cover 25 made of an opaque resin having insertion holes formed at positions corresponding to the plurality of operation keys 10 is arranged. Characters and symbols such as "power", "reset", "stop", and "start" are printed at the positions corresponding to the operation keys 10 of the operation unit cover 25, and for example, "" is printed on the peripheral portion of the operation unit cover 25. Characters such as "Processing", "Memory", and "Attention" and the corresponding symbols are printed.

Further, a plurality of (three in this case) light sources 26a to 26c (see FIGS. 3 and 4) are arranged below the peripheral edge of the upper cover member 21. As shown in FIG. 5, the light sources 26a to 26c are attached to predetermined positions on the peripheral edge of the circuit board 22 (near the “processing”, “memory”, and “attention” printed on the operation unit cover 25). The light sources 26a to 26c are for notifying the user of the device status by turning on the light sources 26a to 26c. For example, the light source 26a corresponding to "processing" notifies the user that printing operation processing is in progress, and the light source 26b corresponding to "memory" notifies the user that printing processing cannot be performed due to insufficient memory, and corresponds to "attention". The light source 26c informs the user that a device error such as a paper jam or a communication error has occurred. In FIG. 5, the reflection member 27 described later corresponding to the light source 26b is omitted.

Further, on the circuit board 22, reflection members 27 are attached in the vicinity of the light sources 26a to 26c. The reflecting member 27 is oriented in the left-right direction of FIGS. 3 of the light sources 26a to 26c, the left direction of FIG. 4 (the direction toward the inside of the operation panel 3), and the diagonally upward left direction of FIG. 4 (the direction toward the operation unit cover 25). It is arranged so as to surround it. As a result, the light emitted from the light sources 26a to 26c is reflected as it is or by the reflecting member 27, and is emitted toward the upper side and the front surface of the operation panel 3.

The upper cover member 21 is formed of a black-based (black, dark gray, dark blue, etc.) translucent resin, and transmits light emitted from the light sources 26a to 26c. The upper cover member 21 has a higher light transmittance than the operation unit cover 25 and the lower cover member 23, and has a lower light transmittance than the white translucent resin.

As shown in FIG. 2, the upper cover member 21 is formed so that the upper surface thereof is substantially flush with each other along at least the peripheral edge portion of the panel surface 3a. In other words, the upper cover member 21 is formed so as to have a flat upper surface and no steps or grooves along at least the peripheral edge of the panel surface 3a. Further, the upper cover member 21 is formed so as to extend from the panel surface 3a to the side surface 3b as shown in FIG.

Further, the facing portions 21b (see FIG. 6) in which the light sources 26a to 26c of the upper cover member 21 are arranged to face each other are formed to have a thickness smaller than that of the other portions of the upper cover member 21. The facing portion 21b is formed to have a thickness smaller than that of the other portions of the upper cover member 21 by forming the inner surface side of the upper cover member 21 in a concave shape. As shown in FIG. 7, the facing portions 21b may be formed in different shapes such as a square, a circle (or Δ), and the like.

Further, fine irregularities are formed on the outer surface of at least the peripheral edge of the upper cover member 21 by embossing.

In the present embodiment, as described above, the light sources 26a to 26c are provided below the upper cover member 21 made of a black translucent resin. As a result, the light emitted from the light sources 26a to 26c is emitted to the outside of the operation panel 3 via the black upper cover member 21, so that this is the case when the image forming apparatus 100 is installed in a bright space such as an office. However, it is possible to prevent the light emitted by the light sources 26a to 26c from becoming difficult to see. Therefore, the visibility of the light emitted by the light sources 26a to 26c can be improved.

Further, since the upper cover member 21 is provided so that the upper surface is substantially flush with the upper surface along at least the peripheral edge portion of the panel surface 3a, the light source of the upper cover member 21 when a visually impaired person operates the operation panel 3. The portion facing the 26a to 26c is not mistaken for the operation key 10, and the operability for the visually impaired can be improved.

Further, as described above, the upper cover member 21 is formed so as to extend from the panel surface 3a to the side surface 3b. As a result, light can be emitted from the side surface 3b of the operation panel 3, so that even a user at a low position or a user at a position away from the image forming apparatus 100 can easily visually recognize the light emitted by the light sources 26a to 26c. can do.

Further, as described above, the facing portions 21b in which the light sources 26a to 26c of the upper cover member 21 are arranged to face each other are formed to have different shapes and a thickness smaller than the other portions of the upper cover member 21. May be good. With this configuration, the device state can be easily confirmed by the shape of the shining region (opposing portion 21b) of the upper cover member 21.

Further, as described above, the facing portion 21b is formed to have a thickness smaller than that of the other portions of the upper cover member 21 by forming the inner surface side of the upper cover member 21 in a concave shape. As a result, unlike the case where the outer surface side of the upper cover member 21 is formed in a concave shape, the upper cover member 21 is not mistaken for the operation key 10 when the visually impaired person operates the operation panel 3.

Further, as described above, the outer surface of the upper cover member 21 is textured. As a result, the light can be scattered on the outer surface of the upper cover member 21, so that the light can be emitted from the upper cover member 21 in a uniform state.

Further, as described above, a reflecting member 27 that reflects the light from the light sources 26a to 26c in a predetermined direction is provided in the vicinity of the light sources 26a to 26c. As a result, the light toward the inside of the operation panel 3 can be emitted toward the front of the image forming apparatus 100, so that the loss of light can be suppressed and the user who is in front of the image forming apparatus 100 can visually recognize the light. The sex can be improved.

It should be noted that the embodiments disclosed this time are exemplary in all respects and are not considered to be restrictive. The scope of the present invention is shown by the scope of claims rather than the description of the above-described embodiment, and further includes all modifications within the meaning and scope equivalent to the scope of claims.

For example, in the above embodiment, an image forming apparatus using an electrophotographic method has been exemplified, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the present invention can be applied to an image forming apparatus to which another image forming method such as an inkjet method or a thermal transfer method is applied. Is.

Further, in the above embodiment, the example in which the facing portion 21b of the upper cover member 21 is formed in a square, a circle (or Δ) or the like has been described, but the facing portion 21b may be formed in a character, a symbol or the like.

3 Operation panel 3a Panel surface 3b Side surface 21 Top cover member (semi-transparent member)
21b Opposing part 26a to 26c Light source 27 Reflecting member 100 Image forming device R1 Operating area

Claims (5)

An operation panel mounted on an image forming apparatus.
The panel surface including the operation area and
A black translucent member provided so that the upper surface is substantially flush with at least the peripheral edge of the panel surface.
A light source arranged below the translucent member at the peripheral edge of the panel surface,
A reflective member provided in the vicinity of the light source and reflecting light from the light source in a predetermined direction,
With
The translucent member is formed so as to straddle a side surface of the panel surface that stands downward from the peripheral edge portion.
The reflecting member surrounds the light source in the left-right direction of the light source and in the direction opposite to the side surface of the light source.
The light from the light source is visible from above and from the side of the operation panel.
The image forming apparatus includes an apparatus main body and an image reading unit arranged on the upper portion of the apparatus main body, and an in-body discharge space is formed between the apparatus main body and the image reading unit.
The operation panel is characterized in that the panel surface is arranged adjacent to the in-body discharge space. A plurality of the light sources are provided, and the light source is provided.
The first aspect of the present invention, wherein the facing portions of the translucent member to which the light sources are arranged to face each other have different shapes and a thickness smaller than other portions of the translucent member. Operation panel. The operation according to claim 2, wherein the facing portion is formed to have a thickness smaller than that of the other portion of the semitransparent member by forming the inner surface side of the semitransparent member in a concave shape. panel. The operation panel according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the outer surface of the translucent member is textured. An image forming apparatus comprising the operation panel according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

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