JPH05207209A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To improve the operability by providing a means used to move an operation panel inputting image forming information to two positions or above on the upper face of the image forming device so as to attain the control operation in every direction. CONSTITUTION:Operation panels 500, 501 being information inputting means are arranged at a diagonal position to each other with an original placing glass 30 inbetween. The operation panel 500 is moved between home positions 505A and 505D and the operation panel 501 is moved between home positions 505C and 505B by a moving means such as rails. Moreover, a sensor such as a photo interrupter being an operation panel position detecting means provided on each home position detects on which home position the operation panels are present. Thus, it is possible to implement various control with respect to the device operation in each direction shown in arrows A-D, thereby in considerably improving the operability.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a facsimile, a printer, etc., whose upper surface has a substantially rectangular shape.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, introduction of office automation equipment has been promoted in offices, and therefore many office automation equipments are installed. At present, a large space is occupied for the installation of these office automation equipment, and as a result, a large office floor area is required. On the other hand, especially in urban areas, office rents increase and become expensive, and the office floor area is reduced as much as possible.
It is desired to save as much space as possible for the installation of equipment.

[0003]

When the layout of an image forming apparatus such as a desk, a chair, a bookshelf, an equipment shelf, a personal computer, or a copying machine in an office is taken into consideration, the image forming apparatus such as a copying machine is equipped with these devices. When the input operation can be performed from all directions of the surroundings, the degree of freedom in installing the image forming apparatus is increased, and the space can be saved. However, in the space-saving image forming apparatus, it is inevitable that the operability is deteriorated.

An object of the present invention is to propose an improvement in operability in an image forming apparatus which saves space for installation in response to the above-mentioned demand.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention, the above-mentioned problem is solved by an image forming apparatus having an operation panel for inputting image forming information arranged on the upper surface and two or more operation panels on the upper surface. This is solved by having operation panel moving means for moving to a position and operation panel position detecting means for detecting the position of the operation panel.

Further, in the present invention, in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the operation panel moving means is provided with a shaft arranged so as to bisect the corner of two adjacent side edges of the upper surface. Yes, it is proposed that the operating panel be pivoted about this axis so that the operating portion can be located on both sides along the two adjacent sides.

Further, in the present invention, in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the operation panel moving means has a shaft arranged so as to bisect the corner of two adjacent side edges of the upper surface. It is proposed to have a frame body that is rotatable around this axis and that pivotally supports the operation panel.

[0008]

The operation panel arranged on the upper surface of the image forming apparatus having a substantially rectangular upper surface can be moved to two or more positions on the upper surface by the operation panel moving means. The operation panel can be operated by moving the operation panel to a position suitable for the operation direction at that time, depending on whether the operation is performed from.

[0009]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The details of the present invention will be described below with reference to a copying machine to which the present invention is applied shown in the drawings.

In FIG. 1, the copying machine 1 includes an image forming engine casing 100 and a scanner means 20 which are formed in a substantially rectangular parallelepiped.
0, and a supporting means 180 for supporting the scanner means 200 above the image forming engine housing 100 with a space. In the image forming engine casing 100, an image forming engine 2, a sheet feeding device 3 below the image forming engine 2, and a sheet stacking unit 400 above the image forming engine 2 are arranged.

The sheet conveyed from the sheet feeding device 3 by the sheet feeding roller 4 is conveyed to the image carrier composed of the drum-shaped photoconductor 10 after the timing is adjusted by the registration roller 5 and the skew is corrected. It The photoreceptor is
It is driven to rotate counterclockwise in the figure. During rotation, the surface of the photoconductor is charged by corona discharge by the charging unit 12, and the laser light from the optical unit 13 is irradiated.
This laser light is emitted so that the digital image information read by the scanner means 200 is converted into a latent image. In addition to the scanner means, it is also possible to issue digital image information sent through an external interface so as to form a latent image. A latent image is formed on the photoconductor by these laser beams. This latent image
When passing through the developing unit 6, it is visualized by toner. This visible image is electrostatically transferred to the sheet conveyed to the photoconductor by the transfer unit 9 utilizing corona discharge or the like. The transferred image is fixed by the fixing unit 8. Next, the sheet exiting the fixing unit is fed by the sheet discharging means 402 to the sheet stacking unit 40
0 is discharged to the tray 403. On the other hand, the residual toner is removed from the photoconductor after the transfer of the visible image by the cleaning unit 7, and the removed toner is collected and stored in the cleaning unit.

The image forming engine housing 100 has the sheet stacking section 400 above the image forming engine 2. In addition, the scanner unit 200 is provided above the image forming engine 2 with the supporting unit 1.
Placed by 80. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the support means includes two columns 180 arranged on the upper surface of the image forming engine casing 100 at a substantially apex position on a diagonal line.
a and 180b. One of them, for example a support 180a
Is hollow, and a cable for transmitting the image information converted into an electric signal by the scanner means to the image forming engine 2, a cable connected to the operation panel, and the like are arranged in the hollow portion.

With this configuration, it is possible to provide a tray outside the main body of the copying machine and discharge the sheets discharged there into the main body. Further, by providing the above-mentioned space between the scanner unit 200 and the image forming engine housing 100, the discharged sheet can be taken out without the operation of opening the drawer or the like. Similarly, an image is formed. It is possible to visually check the sheet without the above-mentioned operation, thereby making it possible to reduce the ratio of the used space of the copying machine to the work space, and to perform the work without impairing the operability.

As described above, since the supporting means 180 is composed of the two columns 180a and 180b which are diagonally arranged on the upper surface of the housing 100, the supporting columns 180a and 180b are arranged on the upper surface of the housing 100. It is designed so that it does not block any one side. As a result, when the operator is performing the copying work from the direction A, if the sheet is taken out from the right side of the operator, there is no support on the right side, so that the operability is further improved. Further, when operated from the D direction, if the sheet is taken out from the left, the sheet can be taken out without being obstructed by the support. Similarly, with respect to the B direction and the C direction, one of the left and right directions is a free space, and it is easy to take out the sheet. Thus, no matter which direction the copier is operated, the sheet cannot be taken out by the supporting means, and the operability is improved. Further, since it is possible to take out the sheet from four directions, the degree of freedom of the installation location of the device is increased.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the scanner means 2
00 has a plane area that substantially covers the sheet stacking section 400, in other words, has substantially the same area as the bottom area of the image forming engine casing 100, and is horizontally above the sheet stacking section 400 with a space by the supporting means 180. Supported.

In FIGS. 2 and 3, an operation panel 500 and an operation panel 501, which are means for inputting information to the image forming apparatus, are arranged diagonally across the original placing glass 30. Also, in the figure, arrows A, B, C, and D are drawn corresponding to the four directions of the image forming apparatus having a substantially rectangular upper surface, and the operation panels 500 and 501 corresponding to the four directions. Has home positions 505A, 505B, 505C, 505D on the scanner means 200.

2 shows that the operation panel 500 is at the home position 505A and the operation panel 501 is at the home position 505C, and in FIG. 3, the operation panel 500 is at the home position 505D and the operation panel 501 is at the home position. 505B. Then, by moving each of the above-mentioned operation panels by moving means such as a rail, the operation panel 500 can be moved between the home position 505A and the home position 505D, and the operation panel 501 is moved to the home position 505C and the home position 505B. It becomes possible to move between and. Further, a sensor such as a photo interrupter serving as operation panel position detection means provided at each home position shown in the figure detects which home position the operation panel is at, and thereby, arrows A, B, C,
It is possible to perform various controls regarding the operation of the image forming apparatus from each direction of D.

FIG. 4 is a control block diagram showing the control relating to the operation of the copying machine. It can be seen from FIG. 4 that each of the above controls is performed by the CPU on the control engine board of the copying machine. Operation panel position detection means A, B,
In C and D, the operation panel 500 or the operation panel 501 has the home positions 505A, 505B, and 5 respectively.
It is detected whether it is located at 05C or 505D.

FIGS. 5 to 10 show a shaft 502 provided as an operation panel moving means on the upper surface of the image forming apparatus on the bisector of one corner thereof. Then, the operation panel 50 is arranged in the order of the arrows E and F shown in FIGS.
It is shown that by rotating 0, 501 about the axis 502, the operation panels 500, 501 rotate in the order of FIG. 5, FIG. 6, and FIG. 7 or in the reverse order.

FIG. 8, FIG. 9 and FIG. 10 are diagrams showing the above-mentioned operation in a simplified manner.

In each of the above figures, the operation panels 500, 50
When 1 is in the home position, it is illustrated that the operation unit 503 is located on the surface along the two adjacent side edges of the upper surface of the image forming apparatus. As a result, even when the operation panels 500 and 501 move between home positions by the above-described operation, at each home position, one of the operation sections 503 provided on both sides of the operation panels 500 and 501 causes the image forming apparatus to operate. Since it is on the upper surface, it becomes possible to input information to the image forming apparatus.

11 to 16 show an operation panel 50.
0 and 501 rotate between the home positions by the shaft 502 as described with reference to FIGS. 5 to 10. In this embodiment, the frame body 520 rotates around the shaft 502 in the directions of arrows E and F, and the operation panels 500 and 501 rotate in the directions of arrows G1 and G2 shown in FIG. 12 in the hollow portion of the frame body. To do. In this case, when the operation panels 500 and 501 are at the home position, the operation section 503 provided on one side thereof always appears on the upper surface.

Further, FIGS. 14 to 16 are diagrams in which the above-mentioned operation is simplified.

Further, FIG. 17 is a diagram showing the details of the above-mentioned operation configuration. Here, the gear 507 fixed to the shaft 502 of the frame 520 and the gear 5 fixed to the shaft 508 which is the shaft of the operation panels 500 and 501 rotating in the frame.
09, and a timing belt 510 installed between the gears 507 and 509 to perform transmission between the gears. With the above-described configuration, when the frame body 520 rotates in the direction of the arrow EF, the timing belt 51
0 rotates in the directions of arrows H1 and H2 by the gear 507,
This rotation causes the gear 509 to rotate in the direction of arrow I. Therefore, the operation panels 500 and 501 rotate in the directions of the arrows G1 and G2. Therefore, the operation panel 5 is operated by the above-mentioned operation.
When 00 and 501 are at the home position, the operation unit 503 always appears on the upper surface of the image forming apparatus, and information can be input to the image forming apparatus.

[0025]

According to the first aspect of the invention, in the image forming apparatus having a substantially quadrangular upper surface, it is possible to perform an input operation from at least two or more directions.

According to the structure of claim 2, it is possible to perform an input operation from two adjacent directions with a relatively simple structure.

According to the third aspect of the invention, the same object can be achieved by using the operation panel having the operation section on only one side.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view showing a cross section of a part of a copying machine to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the copying machine.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the copying machine with an operation panel moved.

FIG. 4 is a control block diagram of the copying machine.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a first embodiment of the operation panel moving means.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the movement of the operation panel of the first embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing an operation panel after the movement of the first embodiment.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory view showing a simplified version of FIG.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory view showing a simplified version of FIG. 6.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing a simplified version of FIG. 7.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing a second embodiment of the operation panel moving means.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing the progress of movement of the operation panel of the second embodiment.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing an operation panel after the movement of the second embodiment.

14 is an explanatory diagram showing a simplified version of FIG. 11. FIG.

FIG. 15 is an explanatory view showing a simplified version of FIG.

FIG. 16 is an explanatory diagram showing a simplified version of FIG. 13.

FIG. 17 is a perspective view showing a specific configuration of the second embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Copier 100 Image forming engine housing 180 Supporting means 180a, 180b Strut 200 Scanner means 500, 501 Operation panel 502 Axis 503 Operation part 520 Frame body

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Yoshiya Inoue 1-3-6 Nakamagome, Ota-ku, Tokyo Inside Ricoh Co., Ltd. (72) Fukuo Ichikawa 1-3-6 Nakamagome, Ota-ku, Tokyo Stock company Ricoh

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. An image forming apparatus having a substantially quadrangular upper surface shape, an operation panel for inputting image forming information arranged on the upper surface, and an operation for moving the operation panel to two or more positions on the upper surface. An image forming apparatus comprising: a panel moving means and an operation panel position detecting means for detecting a position of the operation panel. 2. The operation panel moving means is a shaft arranged so as to bisect the corner of two adjacent side edges of the upper surface, and the operation panel is rotated around this shaft. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the operation unit can be located on both surfaces along the two adjacent side edges. 3. The operation panel moving means is provided with a shaft arranged so as to bisect the corner of two adjacent side edges of the upper surface, and rotatable about the shaft. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a frame body that rotatably supports the operation panel.