JPH06319001A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To preclude erroneous function selecting operation, malfunction due to a forgetful unswitched state, etc., and miscopying. CONSTITUTION:The image forming device functions as a copying machine, a facsimle equipment, and a printer and a console panel 120 is equipped with dedicated key parts 124, 126, and 128 corresponding to the respective functions. Opening/closing lid plates 150, 152, and 154 cover the respective dedicated key parts in an openable/closable state and a detection switch 136 detects the respective dedicated key parts being opened and closed by the opening/closing lid plates 150, 152, and 154. On the basis of the detection signal of this detection switch 136, only the operation of an opened dedicated key part is enabled and the operation of a closed dedicated key part is disabled.

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 having at least two functions, for example, a copying machine, a facsimile and a printer.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional operation panel of an image forming apparatus of this type is provided with a numeric keypad (hereinafter referred to as a numeric keypad) for setting the number of copies and a telephone number, a start key for starting copying and transmission, and canceling each mode setting. A common key unit 1 such as a clear key, a dedicated key unit for each function, and a function selection key unit are provided. When using as a PPC, press the PPC key of the function selection key unit to enter the PPC mode,
Press the FAX key to use as FAX
When the mode is used for printing, the PRT key is pressed.

[0003]

However, the method of switching the mode by the function selection key causes a malfunction if the user forgets or makes a mistake in the operation, and causes a miscopy or a transmission error. For example, forgetting to switch to the FAX mode, leaving the original document in the PPC mode and pressing the start key, the copy of what was attempted to be sent as a FAX is wastefully performed.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to make an error in a function selection operation,
An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus capable of preventing malfunctions due to forgetting to switch or the occurrence of miscopy.

[0005]

The image forming apparatus of the first invention has at least two functions, first and second (for example, a function selected from a copying machine, a facsimile and a printer).
In an image forming apparatus that selectively executes these functions, a first dedicated key section corresponding only to the first function, and a second dedicated key section corresponding only to the second function,
A first cover member that opens and closes the first dedicated key portion, a second cover member that opens and closes the second dedicated key portion, and detection of opening and closing of the first and second cover members. Based on the detection means and the detection signal of this detection means,
And a control means for enabling operation of either the opened first or second dedicated key portion and disabling operation of the closed first or second dedicated key portion.

The image forming apparatus of the second invention has at least two functions of the first and second (for example, a function selected from a copying machine, a facsimile and a printer), and an image which selectively executes these functions. In the forming apparatus, an operation panel having a first dedicated key portion corresponding to only the first function and a second dedicated key portion corresponding to only the second function, and a first or second dedicated operation panel of the operation panel. And a cover member configured to cover the other of the first and second dedicated key portions when one of the key portions is opened.

[0007]

According to the first aspect of the invention, for example, when the image forming apparatus has the functions of a copying machine, a facsimile, and a printer, the operation panel has a common key section and a function corresponding to only a copying operation. It is provided with one dedicated key section, a second dedicated key section corresponding only to a facsimile operation, and a third dedicated key section corresponding only to a printer operation. The operation panel is provided with first, second, and third cover members capable of independently opening and closing the first to third dedicated key portions, and when the cover members are opened and closed, the opening and closing are detected by the detection means. . Based on the detection signal of the detecting means, the control means enables the opened dedicated key portion of the first to third dedicated key portions and disables the closed dedicated key portion. For example, when the user uses the image forming apparatus of the present invention as a copying machine, if the first dedicated key portion corresponding to only the copying operation is opened, this is detected by the detection means, and the first dedicated key portion of the first dedicated key portion is detected. Operation becomes possible. Next, when another user uses the image forming apparatus of the present invention as a facsimile,
When the first dedicated key portion corresponding only to the copying operation is closed, the operation of the first dedicated key portion becomes impossible. Then, when the second dedicated key portion corresponding to only the facsimile operation is opened, the second dedicated key portion can be operated. From this, it is possible to prevent a malfunction such as a facsimile communication being intended to be copied by mistake, or a facsimile communication being intended to be performed and making a copy.
The same is true when the printer is operated, and the malfunction can be prevented.

In the image forming apparatus of the second invention, the cover member is structured to cover only one of the first to third dedicated key portions of the operation panel so as to be openable. For example, when the user uses the image forming apparatus of the present invention as a copying machine, if the first dedicated key portion corresponding only to the copying operation is opened, another dedicated key portion (for facsimile operation) is opened along with the opening operation. It is not possible to open the second dedicated key section corresponding only to the third dedicated key section corresponding only to the printer). Therefore, the user does not operate the other second and third dedicated key portions, and there is no fear of malfunction. Next, when another user uses the image forming apparatus of the present invention as a facsimile, if the second exclusive key portion corresponding to only the facsimile is opened, the first operation corresponding to only the copying machine is performed along with the opening operation. The dedicated key unit and the third dedicated key unit corresponding only to the printer will be closed. From this, without pressing the other 1st and 3rd dedicated key parts,
Prevent malfunction.

[0009]

1 shows an operation panel 120 of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 1A, the operation panel 120 is provided with a common key section 122, a facsimile key section 124, a printer key section 126, and a copy key section 128, and a guidance display of operation contents and the like. A display unit is provided. The common key unit 122 includes, for example, a start key 122a, a clear key 122b, a ten key 122c, and the like. The facsimile-dedicated key unit 124 includes a shortened destination transmission key, a facsimile mode setting key, a facsimile density setting key, and the like. The printer-dedicated key unit 126 includes a forced ejection key and the like. The copy-dedicated key unit 128 includes a copy mode setting key, an enlargement / reduction key, a gradation setting key, and the like. Unlike the conventional device, the operation panel 120 does not have a function selection key for selecting each function (facsimile, printer, copier). As shown in FIG. 1 (b),
Each of the dedicated key sections 124, 126 and 128 has an opening / closing cover plate 130 for the facsimile key unit, which is a cover member, an opening / closing cover plate 132 for the printer key unit, and an opening / closing cover plate 134 for the printer key unit. Each opening / closing lid plate 130, 132 is provided.
, 134 can be opened and closed independently as shown in FIG. 1 (c).

FIG. 2 shows the opening / closing lid plates 130, 132 and 134.
The switch which detects opening and closing of is shown. The detection switches are provided in correspondence with the open / close positions of the open / close lid plates 130, 132, and 134, but one of them is shown in FIG. When the opening / closing cover plate 130 (or 132, 134) is opened / closed, the switch 136, which is a detection means for detecting the opening / closing of the cover member, detects this. Figure 5
FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of an image forming apparatus having a facsimile, a copying machine, and a printer function according to the present invention, in particular, an automatic document feeder.

On the upper part of the automatic document feeder main body 1, a document O is placed.
An automatic document feeder (ADF: automatic document feeder) 20 as a paper feeding device of the present invention for automatically conveying R is mounted. A document table (transparent glass) 2 on which the document OR fed by the automatic document feeder 20 is placed is provided on the upper surface of the main body 1.

A document scanning unit 3 for scanning and reading a document OR set on a document table 2 is provided in the main body 1, and an image forming unit 4 is provided in the lower portion. The original table 2 is fixed to the main body 1.

The document scanning section 3 is constructed, for example, as shown in FIG. That is, the first carriage 7 on which the exposure lamp 6 as a light source is installed, the second carriage 9 on which the mirror portion 8 that bends the optical path is installed, and the zoom lens 1.
0, a mirror unit 12 that guides the reflected light from the original document OR to the photoelectric conversion unit 11 and corrects the optical path length during zooming, a photoelectric conversion unit 11 that receives the reflected light from the original document OR, and the positions of these units are changed. It is composed of a drive system (not shown) and an A / D converter 13 for converting the output of the photoelectric converter 11, that is, the image data from analog data to digital data.

The first carriage 7 has an exposure lamp 6 for irradiating the original OR with light, a reflector 14 as a reflecting mirror for collecting the light from the exposure lamp 6 on the original surface, and a reflected light from the original OR. A mirror 15 that guides the second carriage 8 is mounted. The mirror section 8 includes mirrors 8a and 8b that guide the light guided by the mirror 15 to the zoom lens 10. The first and second carriages 7 and 9 are connected to each other by a timing belt (not shown), and the second carriage 9 moves in the same direction at half the speed of the first carriage 7. ing. Thereby, scanning can be performed so that the optical path length to the zoom lens 10 is constant. The zoom lens 10 has a fixed focal length and is moved in the optical axis direction during zooming. The mirror unit 12 is composed of two mirrors 12a and 12b, and these mirrors 1 are adjusted according to the change of the optical path length corresponding to the selected magnification.
The positions of 2a and 12b are changed, and the light from the zoom lens 10 is guided to the photoelectric conversion unit 11 by bending the optical path with the two mirrors 12a and 12b. The photoelectric conversion unit 11 is a document OR
Photoelectrically converts the reflected light from, for example, CC
The main component is a D-type line image sensor. In this case, one pixel of the original document OR corresponds to one element of the CCD sensor. The output of the photoelectric conversion unit 11 is output to the A / D conversion unit 13. The movement of the first and second carriages 7 and 9 and the mirrors 12a and 12b is
Each is performed by a stepping motor (not shown). The first and second carriages 7,
A timing belt (not shown) 9 is provided between a drive pulley (not shown) connected to the rotary shaft of the stepping motor and an idle pulley (not shown).
It is designed to be moved according to the movement of. In the zoom lens 10, a spiral shaft (not shown) is rotated by a corresponding stepping motor (not shown), and the spiral lens is moved in the optical axis direction. The image forming section 4 is composed of, for example, an image forming section in which a laser optical system and an electrophotographic system capable of forming an image on a transfer sheet are combined.

Next, the structure of the automatic document feeder 20 will be described with reference to FIG. Automatic document feeder 2
0 is a unit, and the cover main body 2 as its housing
A rear end edge portion 1 is attached to the rear end edge portion of the upper surface of the main body 1 via a hinge device (not shown) so as to be freely opened and closed. 2 has a structure capable of being opened.

As shown in FIG. 5, on the upper surface of the cover main body 21 slightly leftward, a document feeding table 22 is provided as a document holding means capable of holding a plurality of documents OR at once. Further, the originals OR, which are held by the original feeding table 22 with the image forming surface facing upward, are sequentially taken out one by one from the lower side and supplied to one end side (the left end side in the drawing) of the original table 2 A sending means 23 is provided.

The take-out / feeding means 23 is constructed as follows. The inclined lower end of the document feeding table 22 and the document table 2
A horizontal U-shaped sheet feeding path 25 is provided so as to communicate with the upper surface of the document stopper 2a arranged along the left edge of the document, and the document OR is inverted and guided so that the document forming surface faces downward. It is like this. In the upstream part of the paper feeding path 25,
A shutter 26 for aligning the end surfaces of the originals OR set on the original feed table 22 is provided, and a pickup roller 27 for taking out the originals OR, a weight plate 28 for pressing the originals OR on the pickup roller 27, an original document are provided in the vicinity of the shutter 26. An empty sensor 29 as an original detecting sensor for detecting the setting state of the original OR on the paper feed table 22 and an actuator 30 of the empty sensor 29 are provided. Furthermore, in the original pick-up direction of the pickup roller 27,
A sheet feeding roller 31, and a pressure spring 32 attached to the sheet feeding roller 31.
The separation belt 33, which is pressed very lightly by the urging force, is arranged so that the originals OR are reliably fed one by one. The separation belt 33 includes a pair of belt rollers 33a,
It is hung on 33b. Further, an aligning roller 34 as a registration roller pair and a feeding rotating body 35 for correcting the inclination (skew) of the original document OR and adjusting the feeding timing are disposed downstream of the sheet feeding path 25. At the same time, a registration sensor 36 is provided in front of the aligning roller 34 to detect the original document OR and to adjust the operation timing of the aligning roller 34 and the feeding rotary member 35. The feeding rotator 35 has a built-in detection unit (described later) that detects the overlapped feeding (overlapping conveyance) of the original document OR and the conveyance state such as the size and skew of the original document OR.

Further, a document transport belt 37 as a document transport means is stretched to cover the upper surface of the document table 2. Then, the original document OR fed by the take-out and feeding means 23 is conveyed from one end side (left end side) of the document table 2 to the other end side (right end side), and is ejected at the right side portion of the cover body 21. The paper unit 38 discharges the paper to a paper discharge receiving portion 39 formed on the upper surface of the cover body 21.

The document conveying belt 37 is a wide endless belt whose outer surface is wound around a pair of belt rollers 40, 40, and has a structure capable of traveling in both forward and reverse directions by a belt driving mechanism (not shown) described later. Has become. Further, a plurality of belt pressing rollers 41 for pressing the belt surface onto the document table 2 and a set switch 42 for detecting the set state of the document OR are provided on the back side of the inner peripheral portion of the document transport belt 37. ing.

Further, the paper discharging means 38 is constructed as follows. A horizontal U-shaped sheet discharge path 43 is provided so as to connect the right end edge of the document table 2 and the discharged sheet receiving portion 39, and the document OR is reversed and discharged so that the document forming surface faces up. ing. A transport roller 44, a pinch roller 45 that pushes the document OR against the transport roller 44, and a paper discharge unit as a document detection unit that detects the trailing edge of the document OR sent in the paper discharge direction in the midstream portion of the paper discharge path 43. A sensor 46 and an actuator 47 for the paper discharge sensor 46 are provided. A paper discharge roller 48 is provided on the downstream side of the paper discharge path 43, and the document OR is attached to the paper discharge roller 48.
A leaf spring 49 for pressing is provided. In addition, 5 in the figure
0 is a cover switch.

FIG. 7 shows a control circuit of the image forming apparatus having a copying function, a facsimile function and a printer function according to the present invention. The control circuit is provided with a control device (CPU) 100 for controlling the entire image forming apparatus, and an operation panel 120 for instructing various operations to the control device 100, a document scanning unit 140, an image forming unit 160, a so-called external unit. It is provided with a communication interface 180 for performing facsimile communication with and an interface 190 for performing printing based on data from the external device 200. As described above, the operation panel 120 is provided with the common key section 122, the facsimile dedicated key section 124, the printer dedicated key section 126, and the copy dedicated key section 128. Hereinafter, the operation of the image forming apparatus of this embodiment will be described based on the flow of the control circuit of FIG. If the opening / closing lid plates 130, 132, 134 are not open, the operation of any of the dedicated key portions 124, 126, 128 cannot be accepted.

When the user causes the image forming apparatus of the present invention to function as a copying machine, the opening / closing cover plate 130 corresponding to the exclusive key portion 124 corresponding only to the copying operation is opened (FIG. 1).
(See (C)). When this is detected by the detection switch 136 and this detection signal (copy mode detection signal) is input to the control device 100, the control device 100 sends a signal to the operation panel 120,
Only the functions of the common key section 122 and the copier key section 128 can be operated, and the functions of the facsimile key section 124 and the printer key section 126 are stopped. Even if another opening / closing lid plate is opened while one opening / closing lid plate is opened, the function of the other opening / closing lid plate does not operate. In this state, by performing a predetermined key-in and pressing the start key 122a, a predetermined copying function is performed.

That is, the automatic document feeder 2 shown in FIG.
The actuator 30 of 0 rotates and the empty sensor 29
Is turned on, and the shutter solenoid 68 and the weight plate solenoid 70 are turned on. The weight plate 28 suppresses the floating of the plurality of documents OR placed on the document feed table 22 in a batch, and the shutter 26 is retracted from the transport path 25. The pickup roller 27, the paper feed roller 31, and the separation belt 33 rotate, respectively, and the lowermost first original document OR on the original document feed table 22 is taken out and fed, and the aligning roller 34 and the feeding rotary member 35. It is fed to the lower surface side of the document conveying belt 37 which is running in the feeding direction via the pair of registration rollers. Then, the document is fed onto the document table 2, and thereafter, in order to bring the document OR into contact with the document stopper 24, the document transport belt 37 travels in the reverse direction by a constant pulse based on a signal from the set switch 42. The OR is returned and the setting of the original OR is completed.
When the setting of the original document OR is completed, the original document scanning section 3 in the main body 1 scans the original document, and the image forming section 4 starts the copying operation on the sheet as the transfer sheet. After the copying operation is completed, the original document OR is sent out from the original document table 2 as the original document transport belt 37 travels, and is ejected to the paper ejection receiver 39 via the paper ejection means 38. On the other hand, when the original document OR is sent out from the original document table 2, the next original document OR will be sent to the original document table 2. Then, the document O set on the document feed table 22
This operation is repeated until R is exhausted.

Next, when the user causes the image forming apparatus of the present invention to function as a facsimile, the user closes the opening / closing cover plate 134 of the dedicated key portion 128 corresponding only to the copying machine, and the operation of the dedicated key portion 128 is performed. It becomes impossible. Then, when the opening / closing cover plate 130 of the dedicated key portion 124 corresponding to only the facsimile is opened, the dedicated key portion 124 can be operated. And
By performing a predetermined key-in in this state and pressing the start key 122a, predetermined facsimile communication can be performed. That is, the signal from the operation panel 120 enters the control device 100, the information of the document read by the document scanning unit 140 enters the control device 100, and the predetermined information is transmitted through the communication interface 180 based on the signal from the operation panel 120. A signal is sent to the outside of.

Further, when the user uses the image forming apparatus of the present invention as a printer, a signal from the external device 200 enters the control device 100 through the interface 190,
A signal is sent from the control device 100 to the image forming unit 160 to print a predetermined image. In this case, if the opening / closing lid plate 132 of the dedicated key portion 126 corresponding to only the facsimile is closed, the operation of the dedicated key portion 132 becomes impossible. Then, when the opening / closing cover plate 130 of the exclusive key part 126 corresponding to only the printer is opened and the opening / closing cover plates 130 and 134 of the other exclusive key parts 124 and 128 are closed, only the exclusive key part 126 corresponding to only the printer can be operated. . Then, in this state, a predetermined key-in is performed and, for example, forced ejection is performed. FIG. 3 shows another operation panel of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention.

The arrangement of the common key portion and each dedicated key portion of this operation panel is the same as that of FIG. 1, but the structure of the cover member is different from that of FIG. As shown in FIGS. 3A and 3C, the cover member of FIG. 3 has a structure that opens and closes in a sliding manner to the left and right, and has two guide grooves (not shown) formed on both sides of the dedicated key portion of the operation panel. ) 3 open / close lid plates 150
, 152, 154 are arranged, and the cover plate for facsimile 1
50 and the copy cover plate 154 are inserted into the same first guide groove, and the printer opening / closing cover plate 152 is inserted into the second guide groove. When the printer dedicated key portion 126 is used (PRT mode), the printer opening / closing lid plate 152 is opened, but in this case, other dedicated key portions cannot be opened at the same time. When using the copy-only key unit 128 (P
In the PC mode), the lid plate 154 for copying is opened, but in this case, other dedicated key portions cannot be opened at the same time.
Similarly, when using the key section 124 for exclusive use of the facsimile (F
In the AX mode), the cover plate 150 for the facsimile is opened,
In this case, other dedicated key portions cannot be opened at the same time. As shown in (b), each opening / closing lid plate 150, 152, 15
4 is provided with detection convex pieces 150a, 152a, 154a at one end thereof so as to pass through the concave portion of the detection switch 156, and when the detection convex pieces 150a, 152a, 154a are inside the concave portion of the detection switch 156, the lid is provided. The detection signal indicating that the plate is closed,
When the detection protrusions 150a, 152a, 154a are separated from the recess of the detection switch 156, a detection signal indicating that the cover plate is open is output. FIG. 4 shows a further different operation panel of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention.

Dedicated key sections 124, 126 of this operation panel,
128 are arranged in a circular shape by partitioning at an angle of 120 degrees, and the lid plate 170 is formed in a disk shape that covers these dedicated key portions 124, 126, 128, and has an opening 17 at an angle of 120 degrees.
Two are provided. The operation panel and the lid plate 170 are provided with, for example, an uneven stopper, and when the lid plate 170 is rotated, the dedicated key portions 124, 126, 128 are completely opened, in other words, the opening portion. 172 is each dedicated key unit 12
It is designed to be positioned and fixed at the positions corresponding to 4, 126, and 128, respectively. Although not shown, a switch for detecting the position of the opening 172 is provided between the operation panel and the cover plate 170.

The lid plate of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 is different from the lid plate of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 in that the lid plate itself has only one dedicated key portion opened. It is a structure in which the remaining dedicated key portion is closed depending on the operation or in the open state. Therefore, the control device 100
Then, there is an advantage that it is not necessary to control the operation of the operation panel 120 by the control device 100 by detecting which dedicated key portion the cover plate is opened by the detection means. The other points are basically the same as the case of the cover plate of FIG. 1, and therefore the description of the operation is omitted here.

[0030]

[Effects of the Invention] Dedicated key portions corresponding to respective functions are collectively arranged on the operation panel, a cover member is provided on each dedicated key portion, and only the dedicated key portion with the cover member opened can be operated. Since it was done, mistakes in function selection operation,
It is possible to prevent erroneous operation due to forgetting to switch or the occurrence of miscopy.

[Brief description of drawings]

1A and 1B show an operation panel of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention, FIG. 1A is a plan view with a cover member removed, and FIG.
FIG. 3A is a plan view of a state in which all the cover members are covered with the dedicated key portion, and FIG. 7C is a perspective view of a state in which one dedicated key portion is opened.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a detection unit of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention.

3A and 3B show another operation panel of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention, FIG. 3A is a plan view showing a state in which a cover member is entirely covered with a dedicated key portion, FIG. 6] is an operation explanatory view of the cover member in a state where each dedicated key portion is opened (other dedicated key portions are closed).

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing still another operation panel of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of an automatic document feeder of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a control flow of a control circuit of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a schematic block diagram showing a control circuit of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a chart diagram of a control circuit of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

100 ... Control device, 120 ... Operation panel, 122 ... Common key part, 124 ... Facsimile key part, 126 ... Printer key part, 128 ... Copying key part, 130, 132, 134 ...
Open / close lid plate, 136 ... Detection switch, 140 ... Original scanning section, 15
0, 152, 154 ... Open / close lid plate, 156 ... Detection switch, 160
... image forming unit, 170 ... cover plate, 172 ... opening, 180 ... communication interface, 190 ... interface, 200 ... external device.

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. An image forming apparatus which has at least two functions, first and second, and which selectively executes these functions, and a first dedicated key section corresponding only to the first function, and the first key section. A second dedicated key part corresponding only to the second function,
A first cover member that opens and closes the first dedicated key portion, a second cover member that opens and closes the second dedicated key portion, and detection of opening and closing of the first and second cover members. Based on the detection means and the detection signal of this detection means,
An image forming device, comprising: a control unit that enables operation of either the opened first or second dedicated key unit and disables operation of the closed first or second dedicated key unit. apparatus. 2. An image forming apparatus having at least two functions of first and second and selectively executing these functions, a first dedicated key section and a second key section corresponding only to the first function. An operation panel having a second dedicated key portion corresponding only to the function, and when opening one of the first or second dedicated key portion of this operation panel, the other of the first or second dedicated key portion is covered. An image forming apparatus including a cover member configured as described above. 3. An image forming apparatus having at least two functions, first and second, selected from a copying machine, a facsimile machine and a printer, and selectively executing these functions, only corresponding to the first function. The first dedicated key part to
A second dedicated key portion corresponding only to the second function, and a first cover member that openably and closably covers the first dedicated key portion,
A second cover member that opens and closes the second dedicated key portion, a detection unit that detects the opening and closing of the first and second cover members, and the above-described opened opening based on a detection signal of the detection unit. An image forming apparatus comprising: a control unit that enables operation of either the first or second dedicated key unit and disables operation of the closed first or second dedicated key unit. 4. An image forming apparatus having at least two functions, first and second, selected from a copying machine, a facsimile machine and a printer, and selectively executing these functions, only corresponding to the first function. An operation panel having a first exclusive key part and a second exclusive key part corresponding only to the second function, and the first or second exclusive key part of the operation panel when the first or second exclusive key part is opened. An image forming apparatus comprising: a cover member configured to cover the other of the two dedicated key portions.