JPH09244543A - Adjusting device for operation panel - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an adjusting device capable of adjusting the angle of inclination of an operation panel with an inexpensive mechanism. SOLUTION: This adjusting device has a display function for displaying various kinds of information and an operation function for an operator to make instruction and input, is supported freely turnably on a device body and is so constituted as to adjust the operation panel adjustable in the angle of inclination. In such a case, an adjusting member which consists of an operation section 51 which is operated by the operator at the time of adjusting the angle of inclination described above, an angle changing section 52 in sliding contact with the base of the operation panel 1 and the upper surface of the device body and a supporting section 53 for freely turnably supporting the operation section 5 and the angle changing section 52 is integrally molded. The upper surface of the device body is provided with the supporting section 53 so that the angle of inclination of the operation panel 1 is adjusted by turning the angle changing section 52 by the operation of the operation section 51.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an operation panel adjusting device for adjusting an inclination angle of an operation panel in an electronic device such as a copying machine or a facsimile machine.

[0001]

2. Description of the Related Art Electronic devices such as copiers and facsimiles are provided with an operation panel including an operation key for an operator to input an instruction and a liquid crystal display for displaying various kinds of information to improve operability. There is also a touch panel that integrates the functions of the operation keys and the liquid crystal display in order to save space and save space. Normally, such an operation panel is fixed to the upper surface of the electronic device, but since the liquid crystal display has directivity, the displayed contents may be difficult to see depending on the amount of light. In such a case, the operator has to move to change the position or adjust the illuminance of the liquid crystal display device to cope with the problem, and there is a problem in legibility of the display content.

In order to solve such a problem, for example, an operating device disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 63-66850 has been conventionally proposed. In this operating device, the operating device including the liquid crystal panel is rotatable about a support shaft, and a lock member is provided so that the operating device can be held at any position. By changing the tilt angle of the liquid crystal panel, It is a solution to the problem.

However, the conventional operating device described above requires a support shaft for supporting the operating device, a knurled roller that rotates with the support shaft, a lock member that engages with the knurl of the roller, and the like, so that the number of parts increases. However, it has been difficult to provide an inexpensive operating device with good operability.

[0004]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and provides an adjusting device for an operation panel capable of adjusting the tilt angle of the operation panel with an inexpensive mechanism. To aim.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above object, an adjusting device for an operation panel according to the present invention has a display function for displaying various information and an operation function for an operator to input an instruction. In an adjusting device for an operation panel, which is rotatably supported with respect to a main body and is capable of adjusting an inclination angle, an operation section operated by an operator when adjusting the inclination angle, a bottom surface of the operation panel and an upper surface of the apparatus main body are slid. An adjusting member composed of an angle changing portion that comes into contact with the operating portion and a supporting portion that rotatably supports the operating portion and the angle changing portion is integrally formed, the supporting portion is provided on the upper surface of the apparatus main body, and the operating portion is used to operate The tilt angle of the operation panel is adjusted by rotating the angle changing unit. Further, an elastic member having a contracting force is interposed between the bottom surface of the operation panel and the top surface of the apparatus main body, and the bottom surface of the operation panel is brought into pressure contact with the angle changing portion. Further, a recess is provided on at least one of the bottom surface of the operation panel and the top surface of the main body of the apparatus on the locus of the rotating angle changing portion, and the operation panel is moved by engaging the angle changing portion with the recess. It is characterized in that it is held at a predetermined inclination angle.

[0006]

In the adjusting device for the operation panel according to the present invention, since the adjusting member integrally formed is used, the number of parts is reduced,
It is possible to adjust the tilt angle of the operation panel with an inexpensive mechanism. Further, since the bottom surface of the operation panel is always pressed against the angle changing portion by the elastic member, the operation panel can be kept in a stable state when adjusting the inclination angle. Further, since the concave portion provided on at least one of the bottom surface of the operation panel and the upper surface of the apparatus main body is engaged with the angle changing portion, the operation panel can be held in a stable state.

[0007]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a view showing an external appearance of an electronic device to which an operation panel adjusting device according to the present invention is applied. The operation panel 1 is composed of a liquid crystal touch panel and is provided on the upper surface of the electronic device 3 together with other operation keys 2. . Further, the operation panel 1 is pivotally supported by the main body of the electronic device 3 at one side on the front side (the A side in the drawing) of the electronic device 3, and is rotatable about the supporting shaft 4 thereof. 5 (not shown in the figure), the inclination angle can be adjusted.

2 and 3 are views of the adjusting member 5 and the operation panel 1 as seen from above, and FIGS. 4 and 5 are views showing changes in the inclination of the operation panel 1. Adjustments will be made in accordance with these drawings. The member 5 will be described. The adjustment member 5 supports the operation unit 51 that is operated by an operator when adjusting the angle, the angle changing unit 52 that changes the angle of the operation panel 1 by contacting the bottom surface of the operation panel 1 and the upper surface 31 of the electronic device 3, and the adjustment member 5. And a supporting portion 53 that operates. The operating portion 51, the angle changing portion 52, and the supporting portion 53 are integrally molded into a substantially rod shape by resin molding or the like, and have the operating portion 51 at one end side and the supporting portion 53 at the other end side, and between them. An angle changing section 52 is provided at a portion contacting the bottom surface of the operation panel 1.

Further, the operation section 51 protrudes to the side of the operation panel 1 so that the operator can operate it, and the angle changing section 52 and the support section 53 do not protrude from the operation panel 1 on the upper surface 31 of the electronic device 3. Are arranged at the respective positions, and the supporting portion 53
The entire adjusting member 5 is rotatably supported around (see FIG. 2 and FIG. 3). It should be noted that the operation unit 51 may have any shape that is easy for the operator to operate, and the angle changing unit 52 rotates while slidingly contacting the bottom surface of the operation panel 1 and the top surface 31 of the electronic device 3, so that the friction resistance is small. For example, it is desirable that the shape is substantially spherical.

Next, the angle adjustment of the operation panel 1 by the adjusting member 5 will be described. As shown in FIG. 2, when the operation unit 51 is positioned on the back side (left side in the drawing) when viewed from the front of the electronic device 3, the angle changing unit 52 is also positioned on the back side of the upper surface 31, and the angle changing unit 52 is Since it comes into contact with the bottom surface of the operation panel 1 at a position distant from the support shaft 4, the inclination angle of the operation panel 1 does not become large as shown in FIG. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 3, when the operation unit 51 is positioned on the front side (right side in the drawing) of the electronic device 3, the angle changing unit 52 is also positioned on the front side of the upper surface 31, and as shown in FIG. Since 52 contacts the bottom surface of the operation panel 1 at a position close to the support shaft 4, the inclination angle of the operation panel 1 becomes large.

As described above, the adjusting member 5 is rotatable around the support portion 53 while slidingly contacting the bottom surface of the operation panel 1 and the top surface 31 of the electronic device 3, so that the operation portion 51 is shown in FIG.
3 to FIG. 3, the angle of the operation panel 1 can be freely set.

FIG. 6 is a view showing a second embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the elastic member 6 is interposed between the bottom surface and the upper surface 31 of the operation panel 1, and the operation panel is contracted by the elastic force of the elastic member 6. 1 is pulled toward the upper surface 31. Therefore,
Since the bottom surface of the operation panel 1 is constantly in pressure contact with the angle changing portion 52, even when the angle changing portion 52 is rotated around the support portion 53 to adjust the angle as described above, the operation panel 1 is also operated.
It does not flutter and can be kept in a stable state. still,
As the elastic member 6, for example, a coil spring may be used.

Further, FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a third embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the bottom surface and the upper surface 31 of the operation panel 1 are shown.
A recess 7 is provided in the. A plurality of the concave portions 7 are provided on the locus of the angle changing portion 52 that rotates around the support portion 53. The upper portion of the angle changing portion 52 is in the concave portion 7 on the bottom surface of the operation panel 1, and the angle changing portion is also formed. The lower portions of 52 are adapted to enter the recesses 7 on the upper surface 31, respectively. Therefore,
The operation panel 1 can be held in a stable state.
The recesses 7 may be provided on at least one of the bottom surface and the upper surface 31 of the operation panel 1, and the number of the recesses 7 can be set arbitrarily.

Although the embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to this. For example,
The operation panel 1 is not limited to the liquid crystal touch panel, and may be a liquid crystal panel having only a display function. In this case, the operation display unit is formed together with the operation keys 2 and the angle of the operation display unit is adjusted. You can do it. Also, the second
It is also possible to implement the embodiment and the third embodiment in combination.

[0015]

In the adjusting device for an operation panel according to the first aspect of the present invention, since the adjusting member integrally formed is used, the adjusting device which can reduce the number of parts and adjust the inclination angle of the operating panel by an inexpensive mechanism is provided. can do. Further, since the angle changing portion that slidably contacts the bottom surface of the operation panel and the upper surface of the apparatus main body is rotatably provided, the angle of the operation panel can be freely set by locating the operation portion at an arbitrary place.

In the operation panel adjusting device according to the second aspect, since the bottom surface of the operation panel is always in pressure contact with the angle changing portion by the elastic member, when the angle changing portion is rotated around the support portion, the angle adjustment is performed. Also, the operation panel does not flap,
Can be kept stable.

In the adjusting device for an operation panel according to a third aspect of the present invention, since the concave portion provided on at least one of the bottom surface of the operation panel and the upper surface of the apparatus main body and the angle changing portion are engaged with each other, the operation panel can be held in a stable state. You can

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external view of an electronic device to which the present invention has been applied.

FIG. 2 is a view of an adjusting member and an operation panel according to the present invention as viewed from above.

FIG. 3 is a view of an adjusting member and an operation panel according to the present invention as viewed from above.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a change in inclination of an operation panel.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a change in inclination of an operation panel.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a third embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Operation panel 2 Operation keys 3 Electronic equipment 31 Upper surface of electronic equipment 4 Spindle 5 Adjustment member 51 Operation part 52 Angle changing part 53 Support part 6 Elastic member 7 Recessed part

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. An adjusting device for an operation panel, which has a display function for displaying various kinds of information and an operation function for an operator to input an instruction, is rotatably supported with respect to the main body of the device, and has an adjustable tilt angle. In the above, in the adjustment of the tilt angle, an operation section operated by an operator, an angle changing section that slidably contacts the bottom surface of the operation panel and the upper surface of the apparatus main body, and a supporting section that rotatably supports the operation section and the angle changing section. And a support member is provided on the upper surface of the apparatus main body, and the angle changing unit is rotated by operating the operation unit to adjust the tilt angle of the operation panel. Control panel adjustment device. 2. An elastic member having a contracting force is interposed between a bottom surface of the operation panel and an upper surface of the apparatus main body, and the bottom surface of the operation panel is brought into pressure contact with the angle changing portion. Adjustment device for the operation panel described. 3. A recess is provided on at least one of the bottom surface of the operation panel and the top surface of the main body of the apparatus on the locus of the rotating angle changing section, and the angle changing section is engaged with the recess. The operation panel adjusting device according to claim 1, wherein the operation panel is held at a predetermined inclination angle.