JPH11119857A - Support structure of opening/closing operation panel - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide such a stable operability that can smoothly open and close a display unit and that does not move the display unit at the time of operating the display unit. SOLUTION: The device body is provided with a front part link 13 and a rear part link 14 relatively rotatably by way of a link shaft 11, the end part of the front part link 13 is freely movably linked to a fixed guide 16, an end part of the rear part link 14 to a movable guide 20 integrated with a display unit respectively. Between both of the links 13 and 14 is provided a lock spring 23 that acts so that a display unit does not move backward at the time of operating the display unit and it can be moved when closed, and improvements of the opening/closing performance and the stability of the operation are attained.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an operation panel such as a display unit of a laptop type word processor which is tilted rearward from an open position which is set at an angle within a predetermined range with respect to a main body of the apparatus to set an intermediate position. The present invention relates to a support structure for an openable / closable operation panel that reciprocates and supports a closed position where the opening / closing operation panel becomes substantially horizontal.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, in the field of information processing equipment, many models have been developed which have been reduced in size and weight and made easier to operate. As one example, as shown in FIG. 7, a laptop is provided in which a display unit 30a mainly made of liquid crystal is provided with a touch panel on the front surface of the display unit 30, and the touch panel is operated to perform data input / output operations and the like. There is a type word processor.
This device has a configuration in which a keyboard portion 32 is integrally provided at a front portion of a device main body 31, and a display unit 30 is provided at a rear portion of the keyboard portion 32 via a uniaxial hinge portion 33 so as to be freely opened and closed. I have. In use, the display unit 30 is opened from the apparatus main body 31 and stands up, and a finger or a pen is pressed against a touch panel on the front surface thereof to perform input / output operations. Display unit 30
Is held by interposing a resistance means such as rubber between the fixed portion and the movable portion of the hinge portion 33 so that the device body 31 does not move backward by the pressing force on the touch panel. Has become.

[0003]

By the way, with the improvement of operability and multi-functionality of the touch panel, a keyboard type word processor as an input device has been omitted, and a laptop type word processor of a type in which all input is performed by the touch panel has been developed. I have. As such a device, a display unit is rotatably provided at a front end of the device main body. When the display unit is stored, the display unit is tilted backward (closed) and placed horizontally on the device main body. In some cases, space can be saved by setting the entire unit upside down.
However, when the display unit is opened from the main body of the apparatus, there is no keyboard part which acts to stabilize the main body of the apparatus by receiving a reaction force of the opening operation as in the apparatus shown in FIG. In some cases, the rear part of the main body of the apparatus may rise. Therefore, when the display unit is opened, the user has to hold down the main body of the apparatus, resulting in a problem that the operability is poor.

Accordingly, the present invention provides an opening / closing type in which an operation panel such as a display unit can be smoothly opened and closed in a device having the above-mentioned structure without a keyboard portion, and a stable operability can be obtained when pressing the operation panel. An object of the present invention is to provide a support structure for an operation panel.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention, an operation panel of an apparatus main body is moved from an open position set at an angle within a predetermined range to a closed position in which the operation panel is tilted rearward through an intermediate position and becomes substantially horizontal. A support structure of an openable and closable operation panel that supports reciprocatingly rotatable, wherein the device main body is connected via a link shaft,
A front link and a rear link each of which has a base end rotatably attached along a rotation plane of the operation panel; and a front link provided in front of the link shaft in the apparatus body. And a fixed guide for restricting the rotation range of the front link to a predetermined range while being engaged with the operation panel, and extending along the front end from the rotation axis side of the operation panel. A movable guide that rotates integrally with the operation panel, and is interposed between the front link and the rear link, and the relative rotation of the rear link to the front relative to the front link depends on the rotating power applied. A locking means for regulating the relative rotation in the rearward direction when the applied rotation power is equal to or less than a predetermined load, and a locking means interposed between the apparatus main body and the rear link, wherein the operation panel is provided. In the closed position Fixing means for detachably fixing the rear link to the apparatus main body when the operation panel is rotatably supported at a front end of the front link, and a front end of the rear link, The front link and the rear link are movably engaged along the movable guide, and the front link and the rear link are fixed to each other in a state where the angle formed therebetween is constant within a range in which the front link rotates along the fixed guide. When the operation panel is rotated forward in the opening position direction from the intermediate position range, only the rear link is rotated forward from the intermediate position range. It is characterized by having.

According to the above configuration, the operation panel is held in the closed position in a state where the rear link is fixed by the fixing means and the front link is restricted by the rear end of the fixed guide. If the operation panel is in the closed position and the entire structure can be set up with the front side down, space can be saved during storage. When the operation panel is opened from the closed position, the rear link is disengaged from the fixing means, and both links integrally rotate forward in the range of the intermediate position of the operation panel. When the front link is restricted by the front end of the fixed guide, it becomes the most inclined state at the open position of the operation panel. As the operation panel is further opened (standing), the rear link follows the movable guide and moves forward. When the front end of the movable guide is restricted by the front end of the movable guide, the operation panel stops at the most open position. When such an opening operation is performed in reverse, the operation panel returns to the closed position. Even if the operation panel is operated in the open position, that is, if the operation panel is pressed rearward, the rear link is restricted from rotating backward by the locking means, so that the operation panel does not move rearward. When closing the operation panel, a force greater than the pressing force at the time of operating the operation panel is applied to release the operation of the locking means, and the operation panel can be closed.

With such an operation, the operation panel can be smoothly opened and closed (reciprocating rotation) from the closed position to the open position, and the open angle can be easily set to an arbitrary angle within a predetermined range. . When the operation panel is operated at the set open position, the operation panel is always held at the open position by the lock means, so that stable operability can be obtained.

[0008]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 to FIG. 4 show a laptop type data processing apparatus to which the present invention is applied. This device has a configuration in which a display unit (operation panel) 2 equipped with a touch panel on the front side is openably and closably provided at a front portion (left side in the figure) of a device main body 1 having a printer 1a at an upper portion. In the following description, a description regarding directions such as front and rear, left and right, and up and down is defined as a direction for the device itself.

FIG. 5 and FIG.
Are fixed in a state in which a fixed plate 10 extending in the front and rear directions is built in. At the rear of the fixing plate 10,
A link shaft 11 extending left and right is provided rotatably. As shown in FIG. 1, the link shaft 11 is disposed at a position slightly forward from the center of the apparatus main body 1 in the front-rear direction. As shown in FIG. 6A, the link shaft 11 has a small-diameter portion 11a, a medium-diameter portion 11b, a large-diameter portion 11c, and a flange portion 11d in this order from the inside. In the link shaft 11, a circumferential groove 12 formed in the small diameter portion 11a is fitted into the fixed plate 10, and the base end of the front link 13 is fixed outside the small diameter portion 11a. As shown in FIG. 6A, a rear link 14 is provided on the middle diameter portion 11b of the link shaft 11.
A collar 15 fixed to the base end of the camera is rotatably mounted. The outer diameter of the collar 15 is the same as the outer diameter of the large diameter portion of the link shaft 11. With such a configuration, the front link 13 and the rear link 14 are relatively rotatable in the front-rear direction about the link shaft 11 as a fulcrum. Above the front end of the fixed plate 10 is provided a fixed guide 16 having a guide hole 16a having a predetermined arc length and curved along the rotation direction of the front link 13. A hinge 17 rotatably attached to the distal end of the front link 13 is movably engaged along the guide hole 16a. The front link 13 includes a hinge 17 and a fixed guide 16.
(In this case, 20 degrees), and the hinge 17 is fixed to the display unit 2. That is, the display unit 2 is attached to the front end of the front link 13 via the hinge 17 so as to be pivotable back and forth.

On the other hand, on both sides of the display unit 2, movable guides 20 having guide holes 20a extending in the front-rear direction of the display unit 2 and rotating integrally with the display unit 2 are provided. And
Guide pin 2 attached to the tip of rear link 14
1 is movably engaged along the guide hole 20a. As shown in FIG. 6A, the guide pin 21 is provided with a roller 22 for smoothing the movement of the guide pin 21.

As shown in FIG. 6A, the link shaft 1
A lock spring (lock means) 23 is externally provided on the outer periphery of the large diameter portion 11c and the collar 15. The lock spring 23 is a torsion coil spring having an arm (not shown) at one end thereof, and the arm is locked to the collar 15. The lock spring 23 is unwound and loosened when the collar 15 rotates in the direction A in FIG. 6A as the rear link 14 rotates forward, whereby the rear link 1 is rotated.
Reference numeral 4 indicates that forward rotation is permitted according to the applied rotation power. Conversely, if the collar 15 attempts to rotate in the direction B to rotate the rear link 14 backward, the lock spring 23 is tightened and the large diameter portion 1 is rotated.
The rear link 14 is integrated with the front link 13 so that the rear link 14 is restricted from rotating backward with respect to the front link 13. Its regulatory action is
When the force for rotating the rear link 14 rearward is equal to or less than a predetermined load, when the load exceeds the predetermined load, the lock spring 23 rotates together with the collar 15 and slides on the outer peripheral surface of the large diameter portion to rotate. The rear link 14 can be rotated rearward.

As shown in FIG. 6 (b), a stopper claw (fixing means) 24 which protrudes outward and regulates the rearward tilt limit of the rear link 14 is formed at the rear of the fixing plate 10. As shown in FIG. The rear link 14 does not further lean backward by contacting the stopper claw 24. At this time, the convex portion 14a (fixing means) formed on the inner surface of the rear link 14 is replaced with the concave portion 10a formed on the outer surface of the stopper piece 10a standing on the rear portion of the fixing plate 10.
b is detachably fitted to the rear link 14, so that the rearward tilt limit of the rear link 14 is simultaneously restricted by this fitting.

Next, the opening and closing operation of the display unit 2 will be described. As shown in FIG.
Abuts against the stopper claw 24 and the convex portion 14a is fitted in the concave portion 10b of the stopper piece 10a of the fixing plate 10 in the most backwardly inclined state, the front link 13 is at the upper limit, and the hinge 17 is the fixed guide. It is locked to the upper end of 16. In this state, the movable guide 20 is horizontal, and as shown in FIG. 1, the display unit 2 is placed horizontally on the printer 1a of the apparatus main body 1 and is in the closed position where the front touch panel faces directly upward. is there. When the display unit 2 is raised (opened) forward from the closed position with the hinge 17 as a fulcrum, the convex portion 14a comes off the concave portion 10b, and the rear link 14 moves forward. With the movement of the rear link 14, the guide pin 21 at the tip of the rear link 14
Moves forward along the movable guide 20, and the hinge 1
7 is lowered along the fixed guide 16 to the lower limit. Up to this point, the front and rear links 13 and 14 have been rotated integrally, and this state is the open position where the display unit 2 shown in FIG. In this case, the display unit 2 is inclined backward by 20 degrees with respect to the apparatus main body 1.

As shown in FIG. 3, when the display unit 2 is further opened forward from the most rearwardly opened position, the display unit 2 is fixed to the fixed guide 16.
The rear link 14 rises forward with the guide pin 21 at the distal end portion moving forward along the movable guide 20 with the hinge 17 kept locked at the lower end of the front end. . When the guide pin 21 moves to the lower end of the guide hole 20a of the movable guide 20 and cannot move any further, the display unit 2 cannot rotate forward any further. Is set to the most open position. In this case, the display unit 2 stands at 85 degrees with respect to the apparatus main body 1.

As described above, the range in which the front link 13 is locked to the lower end of the fixed guide 16 and only the rear link 14 rotates (20 to 85 degrees) is the use state in which the display unit 2 is opened. The user arbitrarily adjusts the opening angle to a desired angle. The user operates the touch panel on the front of the display unit 2 with a pen or the like to input and output data, and prints the data with the printer 1a as necessary. Here, to operate the touch panel means to press the touch panel, so that the display unit 2 is subjected to a rearward load. However, even if the load is applied, the rear link 14 is restricted from rotating backward by the action of the lock spring 23 described above, so that the display unit 2 does not move backward.
Therefore, stable operability of the touch panel can be obtained.

When the opening angle of the display unit 2 is adjusted, an operation of tilting the display unit 2 backward naturally occurs, but the rotating power required for the operation is as follows.
It is larger than the pressing force to operate the touch panel with a pen or the like.
At this time, the lock spring 23 rotates together with the collar 15 and slides on the outer peripheral surface of the link shaft 11 to rotate.
4 can be rotated backward, and the display unit 2 can be tilted backward. In other words, the above-mentioned predetermined load related to the turning power for tilting the display unit 2 backward is the turning power required to close the display unit 2 greater than the own weight of the display unit 2, and the turning force generated by the pressing force for operating the touch panel. The power is assumed to be much smaller.

Next, in order to return the display unit 2 to the closed position, the display unit 2 is tilted rearward against the force of the lock spring 23 (winding force), and further rearward from the most inclined backward open position. To rotate. Then
With the rotation of the display unit 2, the front link 13
Rotates rearward together with the rear link 14, and the fixed guide 1
When the hinge 17 is locked at the upper end of the back 6, it returns to the closed position.
When the display unit 2 is in the closed position and the whole is stored upright with the front side down, space can be saved during storage.

According to the support structure of the display unit 2, the display unit 2 is moved from the closed position to the open position.
Can be smoothly opened and closed (reciprocating rotation), and the open angle can be easily set to an arbitrary angle within a predetermined range. When operating the touch panel at the set open position, the lock spring 2
3, the rear link 14 cannot be rotated rearward, so that the display unit 2 does not move rearward due to the operation force, and the display unit 2 is always held in the open position, so that a stable operation environment can be obtained.

The above embodiment is an example in which the present invention is applied to a laptop type data processing apparatus, and the present invention is not limited to this embodiment. Operation panel,
The present invention can be applied to any form of reciprocating pivotal support from an open position set at an angle within a predetermined range to a closed position where it is tilted rearward and becomes substantially horizontal via an intermediate position.

[0021]

As described above, according to the operation panel support structure of the present invention, the operation panel can be smoothly opened and closed from the closed position to the open position, and the open angle can be set within a predetermined range. The operation panel can be easily set to any angle, and in addition, even if the operation panel is operated in the set open position, the operation panel is always kept at the open position without being moved by the lock means, so that stable operability is obtained. Can be. Also, if the operation panel is in the closed position and the whole structure can be set up with the front side down, space can be saved during storage.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view showing a state where a display unit of a data processing apparatus to which an embodiment of the present invention is applied is in a closed position;

FIG. 2 is a side view showing a state where the display unit of the device is in an open position where it is most inclined backward.

FIG. 3 is a side view showing a state where the display unit of the device is in the middle of the range of the open position.

FIG. 4 is a side view showing a state where a display unit of the apparatus is opened most;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a support member of the display unit.

6A is a plan view and FIG. 6B is a side view of a support member of the display unit.

FIG. 7 is a side view of a laptop type word processor to which a conventional display unit support structure is applied.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Apparatus main body 2 Display unit (operation panel) 11 Link shaft 13 Front link 14 Rear link 14a Convex part (fixing means) 16 Fixed guide 20 Movable guide 23 Lock spring (Lock means) 24 Stopper claw (Fixing means)

Claims (2)

[Claims] An operation panel is supported on an apparatus main body so as to be reciprocally rotatable from an open position set at an angle within a predetermined range to a closed position where the operation panel is tilted rearward and becomes substantially horizontal through an intermediate position. A support structure for an openable / closeable operation panel, wherein a front end of each base end is attached to the apparatus main body via a link shaft so as to be relatively rotatable along a rotation surface of the operation panel. A link and a rear link, a fixed guide that is provided in front of the link shaft in the apparatus main body, a distal end of the front link is engaged, and a rotation range of the front link is restricted to a predetermined range; A movable guide provided on the operation panel, extending along a tip end side from a rotation axis side of the operation panel, and a movable guide rotatable integrally with the operation panel. . The rear link is interposed between the front link and the rear link, and the front link is allowed to rotate relative to the front link in a forward direction relative to the front link. Locking means for restricting the movement when the applied rotational force is equal to or less than a predetermined load, and the rear link when the operation panel is in the closed position, interposed between the apparatus main body and the rear link. Fixing means for detachably fixing to the main body, the operation panel is rotatably supported at the tip of the front link, and the tip of the rear link is movable along the movable guide. The front link and the rear link are integrally rotated within a range of the intermediate position in a state where an angle between them is constant in a range where the front link rotates along the fixed guide. , From the range of this intermediate position, 2. The opening / closing operation panel according to claim 1, wherein only the rear link is rotated forward as the operation panel is rotated forward in the opening position direction. Support structure.