U.S. patent application number 16/593983 was filed with the patent office on 2020-01-30 for image forming apparatus.
The applicant listed for this patent is Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha. Invention is credited to Osamu KAWATA, Yasushi NAKAMURA.
Application Number | 20200036842 16/593983 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 58523257 |
Filed Date | 2020-01-30 |
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United States Patent
Application |
20200036842 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
NAKAMURA; Yasushi ; et
al. |
January 30, 2020 |
IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS
Abstract
An image forming apparatus includes an image reading portion,
and an operation unit having at least a touch panel display is
provided in a front side of the image reading portion. A housing of
the image reading portion has a housing projection portion that is
projected frontward as compared with a front surface of a document
pressing cover, and a power key that is a hardware key is provided
on an upper surface of the housing projection portion in a back
side as compared with the touch panel display and within a range of
a breadth of the operation unit. Accordingly, it is possible to
prevent the power key from being operated carelessly, and it
becomes easy to recognize a position of the power key.
Inventors: |
NAKAMURA; Yasushi; (Osaka,
JP) ; KAWATA; Osamu; (Osaka, JP) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha |
Osaka |
|
JP |
|
|
Family ID: |
58523257 |
Appl. No.: |
16/593983 |
Filed: |
October 5, 2019 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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15854842 |
Dec 27, 2017 |
10469677 |
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16593983 |
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15290095 |
Oct 11, 2016 |
9888138 |
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15854842 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04N 1/00411 20130101;
H04N 1/00888 20130101; H04N 1/00551 20130101; H04N 1/00384
20130101; H04N 2201/0094 20130101 |
International
Class: |
H04N 1/00 20060101
H04N001/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Oct 20, 2015 |
JP |
2015-206013 |
Claims
1-19. (canceled)
20. An image forming apparatus, comprising: an image reading
portion; a document pressing cover that is openably provided on an
upper surface of the image reading portion; a housing projection
portion that is formed on an upper portion of the image reading
portion so as to be projected outside as compared with the document
pressing cover when viewed from a top side of the image forming
apparatus; a display; and at least one of a power key and a power
saving key that are hardware keys and provided on an upper surface
of the housing projection portion in a back side as compared with
the display, wherein the upper surface of the housing projection
portion is a level surface.
21. The image forming apparatus according to claim 20, wherein the
at least one of the power key and the power saving key are provided
within a range of a breadth of the display.
22. The image forming apparatus according to claim 20, comprising
at least one of a fax receiving situation indicator and an alarm
indicator provided on the housing projection portion.
23. The image forming apparatus according to claim 20, comprising
another hardware key, wherein the at least one of the power key and
the power saving key and the another hardware key are arranged in
line in a front-back direction.
24. The image forming apparatus according to claim 20, comprising
at least one of a fax receiving situation indicator and an alarm
indicator provided in a back side as compared with the display.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE OF RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser.
No. 15/854,842, filed on Dec. 27, 2017, which is a continuation of
U.S. application Ser. No. 15/290,095, filed on Oct. 11, 2016, now
U.S. Pat. No. 9,888,138, the entire disclosures of which are
incorporated herein by reference.
[0002] The disclosure of Japanese patent application No.
2015-206013 filed on Oct. 20, 2015 is incorporated by
reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Field of the invention
[0003] The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus,
and more specifically, an image forming apparatus comprises an
operation unit having at least a touch panel display on an upper
surface thereof in a front side of an image reading portion.
Description of the Related Art
[0004] An example of a conventional image forming apparatus is
disclosed in Japanese patent application laying-open No.
2011-170070 [G03G 21/00, H04M 11/00, B41J 29/00, B41J 29/38]
(Literature 1) laid-open on Sep. 1, 2011. An image forming
apparatus disclosed in the literature 1 comprises an operation unit
provided in a front side of an image reading portion, and a touch
panel display (touch sensitive key) and hardware keys such as a
power key, a power saving key, a home key, a ten key, etc. are
provided on an upper surface of this operation unit. If various
kinds of operation keys are arranged on a single operation unit as
the image forming apparatus of the literature 1, the power key is
indistinguishable from other operation keys, and it is hard to
recognize importance of the power key. Accordingly, there is an
occasion that a user operates the power key carelessly
(unconsciously) in a series of flows to operate other operation
keys such as the touch panel display. When the power key is
operated by mistake, it is inconvenient because it takes time until
the apparatus is rebooted.
[0005] On the other hand, another example of an image forming
apparatus comprising an operation device provided in a front side
of an image reading portion is disclosed in Japanese patent
application laying-open No. 2014-112353 [G06F 3/02, H01H 13/02,
H03M 11/04, G06F 3/023, G06F 3/041] (Literature 2) laid-open on
Jun. 19, 2014. The operation device provided in the image forming
apparatus of the literature 2 has a first operation portion
provided in a tiltable manner and a second operation portion fixed
in an untiltable manner. Then, the first operation portion is
provided with a touch panel display and a home key that is a
capacitance type key, and the second operation portion is provided
with a power key and a power saving key that are mechanical keys.
By thus using a mechanical key for the power key and power saving
key that are relatively important keys, and by arranging these
mechanical keys to the second operation portion that is fixed and
untiltable, an erroneous operation of an important operation key
can be prevented.
[0006] However, in the image forming apparatus of the literature 2,
since the touch panel display, the home key, the power saving key
and the power key are arranged to be spread in a lateral direction
(left-right direction), the power key cannot enter easily in an
effective field of view of a user. Accordingly, there is an
occasion that a user is unable to recognize the position of the
power key easily.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] Therefore, it is a primary object of the present invention
to provide a novel image forming apparatus.
[0008] It is another object of the present invention to provide an
image forming apparatus that it is possible to prevent a power key
from being operated carelessly and a position of the power key can
be recognized easily.
[0009] The present invention, in order to solve the above problems,
adopts the following configurations.
[0010] A first invention is an image forming apparatus that
comprises an image reading portion, a document pressing cover that
is openably provided on an upper surface of the image reading
portion, and an operation unit that is provided in a front side of
the image reading portion, wherein the operation unit has at least
a touch panel display on an upper surface thereof, and a housing of
the image reading portion has a housing projection portion that is
projected frontward as compared with a front surface of the
document pressing cover, and the image forming apparatus further
comprises a power key that is a hardware key and provided on an
upper surface of the housing projection portion in a back side as
compared with the touch panel display and within a range of a
breadth of the operation unit.
[0011] In the first invention, the image forming apparatus
comprises the image reading portion. The document pressing cover is
provided on the upper surface of the image reading portion in a
manner that it is freely opened and closed, and the operation unit
having at least the touch panel display on the upper surface
thereof is provided in the front side of the image reading portion.
Furthermore, the housing of the image reading portion has the
housing projection portion that is projected frontward as compared
with the front surface of the document pressing cover, and the
power key that is a hardware key is provided on the upper surface
of the housing projection portion in the back side as compared with
the touch panel display and within the range of the breadth (a
width in a lateral direction) of the operation unit. Thus, by
forming the housing projection portion on the housing of the image
reading portion to provide the power key on the upper surface
thereof, and by providing the touch panel display on the operation
unit that is a separate unit from the image reading portion, it
becomes easy for a user to recognize importance of the power key,
and therefore, it is possible to prevent the power key from being
operated carelessly. Furthermore, by providing the power key in the
back side as compared with the touch panel display and within the
range of the breadth of the operation unit, the power key becomes
to be located in a front side of a line of sight direction of the
user, and thus, to easily enter in an effective field of view of
the user.
[0012] According to the first invention, it is possible to prevent
the power key from being operated carelessly, and it becomes easy
to recognize a position of the power key. Therefore, operability of
the image forming apparatus improves.
[0013] A second invention is the image forming apparatus according
to the first invention. In the second invention, the upper surface
of the housing projection portion is made into a level surface,
i.e., a surface parallel to a document placing table of the image
reading portion.
[0014] A third invention is the image forming apparatus according
to the first invention. In the third invention, the operation unit
has, in addition to the touch panel display, a hardware key such as
a home key, etc. on the upper surface thereof. Then, the power key
and the hardware key that is provided on the operation unit are
arranged in line in a front-back direction. By thus arranging the
hardware keys in line in the front-back direction, it becomes
easier for the user to recognize the position of the power key.
[0015] A fourth invention is the image forming apparatus according
to the first invention. In the fourth invention, the upper surface
of the operation unit is an inclined surface that is inclined
front-downwardly with respect to the upper surface of the housing
projection portion. That is, the surface that is provided with the
touch panel display is inclined to the surface that is provided
with the power key. Accordingly, since it becomes easier for a user
to recognize the importance of the power key, it is possible to
more surely prevent the power key from being operated
carelessly.
[0016] A fifth invention is the image forming apparatus according
to the first invention. In the fifth invention, a level difference
is formed between the upper surface of the housing projection
portion and the upper surface of the operation unit, and the upper
surface of the operation unit is arranged in a position lower than
the upper surface of the housing projection portion. By thus
forming the level difference between the upper surface of the
housing projection portion and the upper surface of the operation
unit, it becomes easier for a user to recognize the importance of
the power key. Furthermore, it is possible to prevent the power key
from being operated carelessly in a series of flows to operate
other operation keys on the operation unit since it is interfered
by this level difference. Therefore, it is possible to more surely
prevent the power key from being operated carelessly.
[0017] A sixth invention is the image forming apparatus according
to the fifth invention. In the sixth invention, a front surface of
the housing projection portion has a downwardly inclined surface
that comes in a back side as it goes downward, i.e., a lower end
becomes a back side as compared with an upper end. Then, the
operation unit is arranged so that a back end portion thereof comes
beneath the inclined surface of the housing projection portion.
Although it is clear that the image reading portion and the
operation unit are separate units, a feeling of unity occurs by
this, and therefore, an aesthetic sense of the image forming
apparatus improves.
[0018] A seventh invention is the image forming apparatus according
to the fifth invention. In the seventh invention, the front surface
of the housing projection portion has a depression portion. Then,
the operation unit is arranged so that a back end portion thereof
comes in the depression portion of the housing projection portion,
i.e., comes beneath the depression portion or enters into the
depression portion. Although it is clear that the image reading
portion and the operation unit are separate units, a feeling of
unity occurs by this, and therefore, an aesthetic sense of the
image forming apparatus improves. The above described objects and
other objects, features, aspects and advantages of the present
invention will become more apparent from the following detailed
description of the present invention when taken in conjunction with
the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0019] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an appearance of an
image forming apparatus of a first embodiment according to the
present invention.
[0020] FIG. 2 is a front elevational view showing the image forming
apparatus of FIG. 1.
[0021] FIG. 3 is a top plan view showing the image forming
apparatus of FIG. 1.
[0022] FIG. 4 is a left side view showing the image forming
apparatus of FIG. 1.
[0023] FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a manner viewing an
operation unit peripheral part of the image forming apparatus of
FIG. 1 from front-obliquely above.
[0024] FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the operation unit peripheral
part of the image forming apparatus of FIG. 1.
[0025] FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a manner viewing an
operation unit peripheral part of an image forming apparatus of a
second embodiment according to the present invention from
front-obliquely above.
[0026] FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a manner viewing an
operation unit peripheral part of an image forming apparatus of a
third embodiment according to the present invention from
front-obliquely above.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF NON-LIMITING EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS
First Embodiment
[0027] With reference to FIG. 1, an image forming apparatus 10 that
is an embodiment according to the present invention is an image
forming apparatus of an in-barrel sheet discharge type that an
in-barrel sheet discharge portion 16 is formed between an image
forming portion 12 and an image reading portion 14, and the image
forming apparatus 10 comprises an operation unit 18 that is
provided as a separate unit in a front side of the image reading
portion 14. As described later, the image forming apparatus 10
forms, based on image data etc. read by the image reading portion
14, a multicolor or monochromatic image to a predetermined sheet
(recording medium), and discharges the sheet having been formed
with the image to the in-barrel sheet discharge portion 16. In the
first embodiment, the image forming apparatus 10 is a multifunction
peripheral (MFP) that has a copying function, a printer function, a
scanner function, a facsimile function, etc.
[0028] In addition, in this specification, a front-back direction
(a depth direction) as for the image forming apparatus 10 and its
structural members is defined on the assumption that a surface
opposite to a standing position of a user, i.e., a surface in a
side provided with the operation unit 18 is a front surface (a
front side), and a left-right direction (a lateral direction) as
for the image forming apparatus 10 and its structural members is
defined on the basis of a state where the image forming apparatus
10 is viewed from the user.
[0029] First, basic structure of the image forming apparatus 10
will be described. As shown in FIG. 1-FIG. 4, the image forming
apparatus 10 comprises the image forming portion 12 and the image
reading portion 14 provided above the image forming portion 12.
[0030] A housing of the image forming portion 12 includes a first
coupling housing 12a formed in a right side upper part and a second
coupling housing 12b formed in a back side upper part, and the
image reading portion 14 is supported by these first coupling
housing 12a and the second coupling housing 12b. Accordingly, the
in-barrel sheet discharge portion 16 that is an in-barrel space
where sheets each having been formed with an image are stored is
formed in an undersurface side of the image reading portion 14.
Furthermore, a front surface 24c of the housing 24 of the image
reading portion 14 is located in a back side as compared with a
front surface of the housing of the image forming portion 12, and a
front surface of the first coupling housing 12a is formed in an
inclined surface that a lower end is projected frontward as
compared with an upper end.
[0031] The image forming portion 12 comprises an exposure unit, a
developer, a photoreceptor drum, a charger, an intermediate
transfer belt, a transfer roller, a fixing unit, etc. The image
forming portion 12 forms an image with an electrophotographic
system onto a sheet that is fed from a sheet cassette 20 etc.
arranged below. More specifically, the image forming portion 12
forms an electrostatic latent image according to image data on the
photoreceptor drum by the charger, the exposure unit, etc., and
visualizes the electrostatic latent image on the photoreceptor drum
with a toner by the developer. Furthermore, a toner image formed on
the photoreceptor drum is transferred onto the sheet by the
intermediate transfer belt, the transfer roller, etc., and the
toner image transferred to the sheet is thermally fixed by the
fixing unit. Subsequently, the sheet having been formed with an
image is discharged from a discharge port 22 that is formed on the
first coupling housing 12a to the in-barrel sheet discharge portion
16. In addition, image data for forming an image on a sheet may be
image data that is read by the image reading portion 14, image data
that is transmitted from an external computer, etc.
[0032] The image reading portion 14 comprises a housing 24 that has
a document placing table that is formed of transparent material on
its upper surface. In this housing 24, a light source, a plurality
of mirrors, a focusing lens, a line sensor, etc. are provided. The
image reading portion 14 exposes a document surface by the light
source, and leads a reflection light reflected from the document
surface to the focusing lens by the plurality of mirrors. Then, the
reflection light is focused onto light receiving elements of the
line sensor by the focusing lens. In the line sensor, the
brightness and chromaticity of the reflection light that is focused
on the light receiving elements are detected, and image data based
on the image on the document surface is produced. As the line
sensor, a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) or a CIS (Contact Image
Sensor) is used.
[0033] As for the in-barrel sheet discharge portion 16, a bottom
surface and a top surface are partitioned with the housing of the
image forming portion 12 and the housing 24 of the image reading
portion 14, respectively, and a right side surface and a back side
surface are partitioned with the first coupling housing 12a and the
second coupling housing 12b. That is, a front side and a left side
of the in-barrel sheet discharge portion 16 are opened.
Furthermore, the in-barrel sheet discharge portion 16 is provided
with a discharge tray 26 for receiving the sheet that is formed
with the image and discharged from the discharge port 22.
[0034] Furthermore, a document pressing cover 30 is openably
attached to the upper surface of the image reading portion 14 via a
hinge etc. being arranged in a back side. This document pressing
cover 30 is provided with an ADF (automatic document feeder) 34
that automatically feeds a document placed on a document placing
tray 32 to an image reading position in the image reading portion
14 one by one.
[0035] Moreover, in this first embodiment, the housing 24 of the
image reading portion 14 has a housing projection portion 24a that
is projected frontward as compared with a front surface of the
document pressing cover 30. That is, a front end portion of the
housing 24 is projected frontward as compared with the front
surface of the document pressing cover 30. Then, the operation unit
18 is provided in a front side of the housing 24 of this image
reading portion 14. Specific structure of the operation unit 18 and
the housing projection portion 24a will be described later.
[0036] Furthermore, although illustration is omitted, a control
portion that controls operations or actions respective components
or portions of the image forming apparatus 10 is provided in a
predetermined position of the image forming apparatus 10. The
control portion comprising a CPU, a memory, etc., and transmits
control signals to respective components or portions of the image
forming apparatus 10 according to an input operation to the
operation unit 18 by the user so as to make the image forming
apparatus 10 perform various kinds of operations or actions.
[0037] Subsequently, with reference to FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 together
with FIG. 1-FIG. 4, specific structure of the operation unit 18 and
a front end portion (housing projection portion 24a) to which this
operation unit 18 is attached of the housing 24 of the image
reading portion 14 will be described.
[0038] The operation unit 18 is formed in a shape of a
substantially rectangle plate laterally long. A breadth (a length
of a left-right direction) of the operation unit 18 is, for
example, set at half or approximately half a size of a breadth of
the housing 24 of the image reading portion 14, and the operation
unit 18 is arranged on a front right side of the housing 24.
However, a size of the operation unit 18 is changeable suitably
according to a size of a touch panel display 50 that is mounted
thereon, and it is not limited especially. Furthermore, the
operation unit 18 is provided with being slightly inclined
front-downwardly so that a user can easily see an upper surface
thereof. The touch panel display 50 and a home key 52 are provided
in the upper surface of this operation unit 18.
[0039] The touch panel display 50 is a touch panel integrated type
liquid crystal display that is constructed by laminating a
transparent electrode etc. on a liquid crystal display panel, and
is provided in a region except a periphery and a right side region
of the upper surface of the operation unit 18. In this first
embodiment, a capacitance system is used as a detection system of a
touch position of the touch panel display 50. However, other known
systems such as an infrared ray cutting-off system, a surface
acoustic wave system, a resistance film system, etc. can be used
suitably. Software keys for receiving various setting and printing
instructions, etc. by a user, a message, etc. are displayed on this
touch panel display 50. As an example, a home screen for selecting
a desired operation mode out of various kinds of operation modes
that the image forming apparatus 10 can perform is displayed on the
touch panel display 50.
[0040] The home key 52 is a hardware key of a capacitance system
that detects an operation by the user based on a change of an
electrostatic capacitance value, and is provided in a right side
region of the touch panel display 50. The home key 52 is a key for
applying instructions for shifting to the home screen, and if the
home key 52 is operated by the user, the home screen will be
displayed on the touch panel display 50.
[0041] In addition, a software key means a key that is reproduced
on a screen by software. In contrast, a hardware key means a key
(button) that is provided as a physical device.
[0042] Furthermore, the operation unit 18 can change its
inclination angle with respect to the image reading portion 14.
Although the operation unit 18 is essentially arranged in a basic
position in a state where it is slightly inclined front-downwardly
(inclination for 10 degrees, for example with respect to a
horizontal direction), when the low eyes user such as a wheelchair
user utilizes the image forming apparatus 10, in order to fit the
user's eyes, an inclined angle is suitably changed so that the
upper surface of the operation unit 18 may turn to the front side
more. In this first embodiment, the operation unit 18 is made
turnable about a center of a fulcrum 44 from the basic position as
shown in each of drawings to a position that becomes parallel or
approximately parallel to the front surface of the first coupling
housing 12a by a manual operation of the user.
[0043] On the other hand, as for the housing projection portion 24a
that is a front end portion of the housing 24 of the image reading
portion 14, an upper surface 24b is made into a surface parallel to
the document placing table, that is, the level surface as well
shown in FIG. 4 and FIG. 6. Then, a level difference is formed
between the upper surface 24b of the housing projection portion 24a
and the upper surface of the operation unit 18, and the upper
surface of the operation unit 18 is arranged in a position lower
than the upper surface 24b of the housing projection portion
24a.
[0044] Furthermore, the front surface 24c of the housing projection
portion 24a (i.e., the front surface of the housing 24) is made
into a downwardly inclined surface that comes in a back side as it
goes downward. Moreover, a depression portion 24d extended in the
lateral direction is formed in the front surface 24c of the housing
projection portion 24a. Then, an upper surface back end of the
operation unit 18 is located in a back side as compared with an
upper end of the inclined surface that is formed in the front
surface 24c of the housing projection portion 24a, and a back end
portion of the operation unit 18 is made to come beneath the
inclined surface of the housing projection portion 24a. Moreover,
the upper surface back end of the operation unit 18 is located in a
back side as compared with an upper end of the depression portion
24d that is formed in the front surface 24c of the housing
projection portion 24a, and the back end portion of the operation
unit 18 is made to come beneath the depression portion 24d of the
housing projection portion 24a (or enter an inside of the
depression portion 24d).
[0045] Since the back end portion of the operation unit 18 is made
to come beneath the inclined surface of the housing projection
portion 24a, there occurs a feeling of unity though it is clear
that the image reading portion 14 and the operation unit 18 are
separate units, and accordingly, an aesthetic sense of the image
forming apparatus 10 improves. Furthermore, since the back end
portion of the operation unit 18 comes beneath the depression
portion 24d of the housing projection portion 24a or enters into an
inside of the depression portion 24d of the housing projection
portion 24a, a feeling of unity of the image reading portion 14 and
the operation unit 18 increases more. Moreover, since the front
surface 24c of the housing projection portion 24a is formed into an
inclined surface, it becomes easy to perform visual confirmation of
a state of sheets stored in the in-barrel sheet discharge portion
16, and easy to take out a sheet.
[0046] Furthermore, the housing 24 of the image reading portion 14
is constituted by assembling a plurality of housing members, and a
partitioning portion 42 that is one of boundaries of the plurality
of housing members is extended in a front-back direction in a
center portion or an approximately center portion in the left-right
direction of the upper surface 24b of the housing projection
portion 24a. The operation unit 18 is arranged between this
partitioning portion 42 and a right end of the housing 24 (housing
projection portion 24a). Accordingly, it becomes easy for the user
to recognize the operation unit 18.
[0047] Then, in this first embodiment, a power key 54 is provided
to the upper surface 24b of this housing projection portion 24a.
The power key 54 is a mechanical hardware key that detects an
operation of the user based on a change of a state of a mechanical
contact, and is an operation key for turning a power supply of the
image forming apparatus 10 on/off.
[0048] Here, in this first embodiment, as well shown in FIG. 2 and
FIG. 5, the power key 54 is provided in a back side as compared
with the touch panel display 50 and within a range of a breadth of
the operation unit 18. More specifically, the power key 54 is
provided in a right end portion of the upper surface 24b of the
housing projection portion 24a, and the power key 54 and the home
key 52 that is a hardware key provided in the operation unit 18 are
arranged in line in the front-back direction.
[0049] Thus, the housing projection portion 24a is formed in the
housing 24 of the image reading portion 14, and the power key 54 is
provided on the upper surface 24b thereof, and other operation keys
such as the touch panel display 50 etc. are provided on the
operation unit 18 that is a separate unit from the image reading
portion 14, and therefore, it becomes easy for the user to
recognize importance of the power key 54. Therefore, it is possible
to prevent the power key 54 from being operated carelessly.
Furthermore, by providing the power key 54 in the back side as
compared with the touch panel display 50 and within the range of
the breadth of the operation unit 18, the power key 54 comes to be
located on a front side of the line of sight direction of the user,
and thus, to easily enter the effective field of view of the user.
Therefore, it becomes easy for the user to recognize (visually
confirm) a position of the power key 54.
[0050] Furthermore, by providing the power key 54 to the upper
surface 24b that is the level surface of the housing projection
portion 24a while providing other operation keys such as the touch
panel display 50 etc. to the upper surface that is the inclined
surface of the operation unit 18, that is, by arranging the power
key 54 and other operation keys by dividing into the level surface
and the inclined surface, it becomes easier for the user to
recognize the importance of the power key 54 more. Therefore, it is
possible to more surely prevent the power key 54 from being
operated carelessly. However, the upper surface 24b of the housing
projection portion 24a does not necessarily need to be the level
surface. If the upper surface of the operation unit 18 is an
inclined surface that is inclined front-downwardly with respect to
the upper surface 24b of the housing projection portion 24a, that
is, if a surface that other operation keys such as the touch panel
display 50 etc. are provided is inclined with respect to the
surface that the power key 54 is provided, (if arranging angles
thereof are different from each other), it is possible to obtain
the same effect.
[0051] Moreover, by forming the level difference between the upper
surface 24b of the housing projection portion 24a and the upper
surface of the operation unit 18, it becomes easier for the user to
recognize the importance of the power key 54 more. Furthermore, the
power key 54 is prevented from being operated carelessly in a
series of flows to operate other operation keys on the operation
unit 18 because of interference by this level difference.
Therefore, it is possible to more surely prevent the power key 54
from being operated carelessly.
[0052] Moreover, it becomes easier for the user to recognize the
position of the power key 54 by arranging hardware keys (the home
key 52 and the power key 54) in line in the front-back direction.
Furthermore, by providing the power key 54 in the right end portion
of the upper surface 24b of the housing projection portion 24a, the
power key 54 becomes easy to be operated by the user, and the power
key 54 does not become an obstacle at the time of performing action
or operation of others, like the user opens the document pressing
cover 30.
[0053] Furthermore, as well shown in FIG. 5, an LED lamp 60 is
provided in the upper surface 24b of the housing projection portion
24a in the immediate left of the power key 54. When the power
supply of the image forming apparatus 10 is in an on-state, this
LED lamp 60 is turned on.
[0054] Moreover, a FAX receiving situation indicator 62, an alarm
indicator 64 and a USB connector 66 are provided in an upper end
portion of the front surface 24c of the housing projection portion
24a. Here, in this first embodiment, the FAX receiving situation
indicator 62 and the alarm indicator 64 are also provided in a back
side as compared with the touch panel display 50 and within the
range of the breadth of the operation unit 18. Accordingly, the FAX
receiving situation indicator 62 and the alarm indicator 64 come to
be located on the front side of the line of sight direction of the
user, and thus, to easily enter the effective field of view of the
user. Therefore, it becomes easy for the user to recognize that the
FAX receiving situation indicator 62 and/or the alarm indicator 64
are being lighted when operating the operation unit 18.
Furthermore, by separately arranging the FAX receiving situation
indicator 62 and the alarm indicator 64 on both end portions within
the breadth of the operation unit 18, it becomes easy for the user
to grasp a situation of the image forming apparatus 10 even from a
position away from the image forming apparatus 10.
[0055] As described above, according to this first embodiment, it
is possible to prevent the power key 54 from being operated
carelessly, and it becomes easy to recognize the position of the
power key 54. That is, although various kinds of operation keys are
collectively arranged in neighborhood positions, it is possible to
prevent the power key 54 from being operated accidentally.
Therefore, operability of the image forming apparatus 10
improves.
Second Embodiment
[0056] Next, with reference to FIG. 7, an image forming apparatus
10 of the second embodiment according to the present invention will
be described. This second embodiment is different from the
above-described first embodiment in a point that the operation unit
18 comprises a power saving mode key 56. Since structure of other
portions is not changed, by applying the same reference numerals to
portions which are common in the above-mentioned first embodiment,
a duplicate description is omitted or simplified.
[0057] In this second embodiment, as shown in FIG. 7, in the upper
surface of the operation unit 18, there are provided with the power
saving mode key 56 as well as the touch panel display 50 and the
home key 52.
[0058] The power saving mode key 56 is a hardware key of a
capacitance system that detects an operation of the user based on a
change of electrostatic capacitance, and is provided in a region in
a right back side of the upper surface of the operation unit 18.
The power saving mode key 56 is an operation key for instructing to
shift from a normal mode to a power saving mode or vice versa. In
addition, the shift to the power saving mode is performed not only
when the power saving mode key 56 is depressed but when a
predetermined time period elapses in a state where there is no
input operation by a user. Here, the normal mode means a state
where the power supply is turned on and all the operation modes can
be performed. The power saving mode means a state where the power
supply is turned on and only a part of operation modes can be
performed.
[0059] On the other hand, the power key 54 that is a mechanical
hardware key is provided in the upper surface 24b of the housing
projection portion 24a of the image reading portion 14 in a back
side as compared with the touch panel display 50 and within the
range of the breadth of the operation unit 18.
[0060] Here, in this second embodiment, the home key 52, the power
saving mode key 56 and the power key 54 are arranged in line in the
front-back direction in this order from the front side.
Furthermore, sizes of respective operation keys are made larger in
an order of the home key 52, the power saving mode key 56 and the
power key 54. This is because the home key 52, the power saving
mode key 56 and the power key 54 have operation frequencies that
become higher in this order, and priorities must be prevented from
being depressed are low in this order.
[0061] According to this second embodiment, like the first
embodiment, it is possible to prevent the power key 54 from being
operated carelessly, and it becomes easy to recognize the position
of the power key 54. Therefore, operability of the image forming
apparatus 10 improves.
Third Embodiment
[0062] Subsequently, with reference to FIG. 8, an image forming
apparatus 10 of the third embodiment according to the present
invention will be described. The third embodiment is different from
the above-described first embodiment in a point that the housing 24
of the image reading portion 14 comprises a power saving mode key
56. Since structure of other portions is not changed, by applying
the same reference numerals to portions which are common in the
above-mentioned first embodiment, a duplicate description is
omitted or simplified.
[0063] In this third embodiment, as shown in FIG. 8, the touch
panel display 50 and the home key 52 are provided in the upper
surface of the operation unit 18.
[0064] On the other hand, in the upper surface 24b of the housing
projection portion 24a of the image reading portion 14, the power
key 54 as well as the power saving mode key 56 that is a mechanical
hardware key are provided in back side as compared with the touch
panel display 50 and within the range of the breadth of the
operation unit 18. Specifically, the power saving mode key 56 is
provided in a region on the immediate left of the power key 54.
[0065] According to this third embodiment, like the first
embodiment, it is possible to prevent the power key 54 from being
operated carelessly, and it becomes easy to recognize the position
of the power key 54. Similarly, it is possible to prevent the power
saving mode key 56 from being operated carelessly, and it becomes
easy to recognize a position of the power saving mode key 56.
Therefore, the operability of the image forming apparatus 10
improves.
[0066] In addition, although the hardware key that is provided on
the upper surface of the operation unit 18 (the home key 52 or the
power saving mode key 56) is of a capacitance type in each of the
above-described embodiments, the hardware key to be provided on the
upper surface of the operation unit 18 does not necessarily need to
be a capacitance type, and may be a mechanical hardware key.
[0067] Furthermore, although the front surface 24c of the housing
24 is made into an inclined surface that is inclined downwardly in
each of the above-described embodiments, it does not need to
necessarily make the front surface 24c of the housing 24 into a
downwardly inclined surface, may be a vertical surface.
Furthermore, a part of the front surface 24c may be a downwardly
inclined surface. Moreover, although the front surface 24c of the
housing 24 is made into the downwardly inclined surface and the
depression portion 24d is formed in the front surface 24c thereof
in each of the above-described embodiments, it is sufficient that
the front surface 24c of the housing 24 has either one of the
inclined surface and the depression portion 24d. Then, when the
back end portion of the operation unit 18 comes beneath either one
of the inclined surface and the depression portion 24d of the front
24c of the housing 24, it is possible to produce a feeling of unity
though it is clear that the image reading portion 14 and the
operation unit 18 are separate units.
[0068] Furthermore, although the operation unit 18 is made tiltable
to a desired angle in each of the above-described embodiments, the
operation unit 18 does not necessarily need to be tiltable.
Furthermore, although an angle of the operation unit 18 is manually
changed by the user, it does not need to be limited to this. For
example, it is also possible to have a configuration that an angle
change of the operation unit 18 is performed by an electric
according to a key operation etc. by the user.
[0069] Moreover, although the operation unit 18 is arranged on the
front right side of the housing 24 in each of the above-described
embodiments, it does not need to be limited to this. For example,
the operation unit 18 may be arranged on the front left side of the
housing 24, and may be arranged in the front center of the housing
24.
[0070] Moreover, although the power key 54 is made to completely
enter within the range of the breadth of the operation unit 18 in
each of the above-described embodiments, the power key 54 may be
arranged so as to some protrudes from the range of the breadth of
the operation unit 18. That is, providing the power key 54 within
the range of the breadth of the operation unit 18 includes a state
where at least a part of the power key 54 enters within the range
of the breadth of the operation unit 18.
[0071] Furthermore, although the multifunction peripheral combining
a copying machine, a facsimile, a printer, etc. is shown as the
image forming apparatus 10 in each of the above-described
embodiments, the image forming apparatuses 10 may be either a
copying machine, a facsimile, a printer, etc. and a multifunction
peripheral combining at least two of them. Furthermore, the image
forming apparatus 10 does not necessarily need to be an in-barrel
sheet discharge type.
[0072] Although the present invention has been described and
illustrated in detail, it is clearly understood that the same is by
way of illustration and example only and is not to be taken by way
of limitation, the spirit and scope of the present invention being
limited only by the terms of the appended claims.
* * * * *