JPH1039683A - Operation display section for image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an operation display section for an image forming device arranged protrusively from the upper face of the image forming device main body, rotatably supported, and capable of securing the stability at the time of operation without impairing the smoothness of its rotation. SOLUTION: An operation display section 4 is protruded upward from the device main body l of an image forming device. The image forming device is provided with s support member 5 protruded upward from the device main body 1 and having a polygonal columnar section 5a at the tip, a supported section 11 protruded from the back face of the operation display section 4, and a polygonal columnar hole 11a provided on the supported section 11 and removably matched with the polygonal columnar section 5a. The connecting direction of the support member 5 and the supported section 11 can be changed.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a copying machine, a printer,
The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus using an electrophotographic process such as a facsimile apparatus, and particularly to an image forming apparatus in which an operation display section is arranged to protrude upward from the apparatus main body, by eliminating the influence of external force such as vibration. The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus having improved installation stability and operability.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, an operation panel provided with a display unit is usually arranged on the upper surface of the front part of the apparatus main body. It has a simple configuration. On the other hand, a relatively high-speed and multifunctional image forming apparatus requires a relatively large LCD because the operability and visibility of the operation display unit need to be improved.
There is a case where a box-shaped operation display unit having a module is arranged so as to protrude upward from the upper surface of the apparatus main body (for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. Hei 6-3881). In this conventional example, consideration is given to improving the operability and workability by enabling the direction of the operation display unit to be changed (rotated) according to the convenience and demand of the operator. Further, when a serviceman performs an inspection work while operating the apparatus on the back of the apparatus body, for example, it is clear that if the operation display unit can be turned rearward, the workability is improved, and the above-described conventional example is as described above. In order to satisfy such demands, the operation display unit is rotatable over a wide range. However, if the rotation range is widened and the rotation is facilitated,
When an external force is applied by a finger or the like for operation of a key or the like on the operation display unit, or when the apparatus main body vibrates, the operation display unit may rotate to deteriorate operability. On the other hand, when the support of the operation display unit is strongly held so as not to be easily rotated by force or vibration during operation, it is desirable to rotate the operation display unit to enhance operability and workability. This is contrary to the demand.

[0003]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above, and has an operation display section which is arranged so as to protrude from an upper surface of an image forming apparatus main body and is rotatably supported. It is an object of the present invention to provide an operation display unit of an image forming apparatus capable of ensuring stability during operation without impairing rotation smoothness of the operation display unit.

[0004]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus having an operation display portion projecting upward from an apparatus main body, wherein the image forming apparatus has an operation display section projecting upward from the apparatus main body and having a front end. A supporting member having a polygonal columnar portion, a supported portion protruding from the back surface of the operation display portion, and a polygonal column-shaped hole provided in the supported portion and detachable in alignment with the polygonal columnar portion. With this configuration, the connecting direction between the support member and the supported portion is configured to be variable. The invention according to claim 2 is characterized in that the operation display section has a configuration in which a display section and an operation section are arranged adjacent to each other, and the supported section is provided on the back side of the operation section. The invention according to claim 3 is characterized in that the support member comprises the polygonal column portion detachably connected to the supported portion, and a columnar portion coaxially connected to an upper end of the polygonal column portion. I do.

[0005]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an overall configuration of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG.
3B is a perspective view and a cross-sectional view of the operation display unit. In this image forming apparatus, a document is transferred to an apparatus main body 1, a paper feed tray 2 for transfer paper which is supported so as to be able to be drawn in and out from the front of the apparatus main body 1, and a contact glass (not shown) on the upper surface of the apparatus main body. An automatic document feeder (ADF) 3 automatically feeds one sheet at a time, and an operation display unit 4 supported by a support member 5 erected at a corner on the upper surface of the apparatus main body.
The operation display unit 4 includes a box-shaped main body 10 as illustrated,
A support arm (supported portion) 11 integrally projecting from the rear surface of the main body 10; a display unit 12 such as a liquid crystal display unit on the front surface of the main body 10; And an operation unit 13 including hard keys and the like.
The liquid crystal display unit 12 includes, for example, a touch panel on its surface. The operation unit 13 has a start key, a numeric keypad, and a mode clear key. These keys are used to set various modes such as the number of copies. The touch panel on the surface of the display unit 12 is used, for example, for various detailed mode settings other than those set by a group of keys on the operation unit 13 and for guidance display of how to use the apparatus. The operation display section 4 is disposed so as to protrude upward from the upper surface of the image forming apparatus main body by a predetermined distance by supporting the supported section 11 by the support member 5, and is designed to enhance visibility and operability. I have.

[0006] The characteristic configuration of this embodiment is that the apparatus main body 1
The polygonal column hole 11a of the supported part 11 is configured to be detachable in alignment with the polygonal columnar part 5a of the polygonal columnar support member 5 protruding upward from the upper surface of the support member 5, so that the support member 5 and the The point is that the connection state (angle) with the support portion 11 is configured to be variable. That is, as shown in FIGS. 2 (a) and 2 (b), the operation display unit 4 has a polygonal column shape penetrating in the vertical direction at the rear end of the supported part 11 which extends integrally from the back of the operation display unit main body 10. The polygonal column hole 11a has an inner diameter matching a polygonal columnar portion 5a coaxially protruding from an upper part of the support member 5, and both are removable in the axial direction and have an angle. It can be changed and installed. Reference numeral 15 denotes a screw, which is a means for fixing the operation display unit main body 10 to the support member 5 to prevent the operation display unit main body 10 from falling off. When there is little backlash in the fitting between the polygonal columnar portion 5a and the polygonal column hole 11a, the screw 15 is unnecessary. In this embodiment, the front end of the base 5A of the support member 5 is formed into a regular hexagonal column shape over a predetermined length, so that rotation is prevented at all times (stability during key operation is ensured) and the direction of the operation display unit is changed. Although it is possible, this is an example, and all regular polygonal prisms other than hexagonal prisms can be applied. However, the equilateral triangle and the square are preferably hexagonal prisms or more because the range of selectable directions that can be changed is narrow.

Next, FIG. 3 is a plan view of another embodiment of the present invention. The operation display section 4 of this embodiment is viewed from the back of an operation section 13 which is arranged adjacent to the display section 12 side. By integrally projecting the supported portion 11, the pressing force when pressing a key group on the operation portion 13 with a finger is directly absorbed and alleviated by the supported portion 11 and the support member 5, and the operation stability is further improved. Considered to increase. Next, FIG. 4 is a partial vertical cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the configuration of the operation display unit 4 is the same as that of each of the above embodiments.
The structure of the support member 5 is different. That is, in this embodiment, the supporting member 5 is composed of a large-diameter base 5A, a polygonal columnar portion 5a coaxially integrated with the distal end of the base 5A, and a small-diameter cylindrical portion 5a integrated with the distal end of the polygonal column 5a. The feature is that it is composed of the columnar portion 5b. According to this embodiment, the polygonal columnar portion 5a can be used for fixing the angle of the supported portion 11 similarly to the above embodiments, while the supported portion 11 is slid to the position of the columnar portion 5b. Since the rotation of the supported portion 11 becomes free when the operation display portion is lifted, the operation display portion is moved to the support member 5.
Change its angle and direction without completely removing it from
After the change, the fixing is completed by directly dropping the outer periphery of the polygonal columnar portion 5a. That is, in this embodiment,
Since the cylindrical portion 5b has such a small diameter as to be relatively rotatable without interfering with the inner wall of the polygonal column hole 11a of the supported portion 11, the above-described operation becomes possible. Therefore, the columnar portion 5b may be a polygonal column as long as the diameter is small.

[0008]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention,
The distal end of the support member projecting upward from the upper surface of the image forming apparatus main body has a polygonal column shape, and a polygonal column hole detachably fitted to the polygonal column portion is provided in a supported portion projecting from the back of the operation display unit. Therefore, the direction of the operation display section
The angle can be changed within a range of 60 degrees, and the fixed state can be maintained without using particularly strong fixing means. This makes it possible to easily select an installation direction with good operability and workability according to the convenience of the work of the operator or the serviceman, and to obtain a sufficient connection strength with a simple configuration. . According to the second aspect of the invention, it is supported at the position corresponding to the back of the operation unit on which the hard key group is arranged (the position where the strength against the pressing force at the time of operation is particularly required) on the front of the operation display unit. Since the parts are arranged, the supported part and the support member are directly subjected to the pressing force generated at the time of the key operation, so that the stability at the time of the operation is maximized and the workability can be improved. According to the invention of claim 3, the support member protruded from the apparatus main body has a polygonal columnar portion,
Since the columnar portions are connected, the operation display portion can be fixed by the polygonal columnar portions, and the operation display portion can be rotated by sliding the operation display portion to the columnar portions. Thus, the installation direction can be changed without attaching / detaching the operation display unit, and operability and workability are improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 2A and 2B are a perspective view and a partial longitudinal sectional view showing a support structure of an operation display unit of the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of an operation display unit according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a partial longitudinal sectional view of an operation display unit according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Apparatus main body, 2 paper feed tray, 3 automatic document feeder (ADF), 4 operation display section, 5 support members, 5A base section, 5a polygonal column section, 5b cylindrical section, 10 operation display section main body, 11 support arm (Supported portion), 11a polygonal column hole, 12 display portion, 13 operation portion,

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. An image forming apparatus comprising an operation display section protruding upward from an apparatus main body, a support member protruding upward from the apparatus main body and having a polygonal column-shaped portion at a tip, and a back surface of the operation display section. By providing a projecting supported portion and a polygonal column-shaped hole provided in the supported portion and detachable in alignment with the polygonal columnar portion, the connecting direction between the support member and the supported portion can be changed. An operation display unit of the image forming apparatus, wherein the operation display unit is configured as described above. 2. The operation display unit according to claim 1, wherein the operation display unit has a configuration in which a display unit and an operation unit are arranged adjacent to each other, and the supported unit is provided on a back side of the operation unit. Operation display unit of the image forming apparatus. 3. The support member comprises the polygonal column portion detachably connected to the supported portion, and a columnar portion coaxially connected to an upper end of the polygonal column portion. Item 3. The operation display unit of the image forming apparatus according to item 1 or 2.