1. An imaging system, comprising:

an image forming unit configured to form an image on a sheet;

a housing having a top surface; and

an operation unit freely placed on the housing top surface and configured to receive a user operation for causing the imaging unit to perform imaging, wherein the operation unit includes:

a touch panel having a display surface on which information related to imaging is displayed, and configured to receive a touch operation performed by a user, an

A support base configured to support the touch panel such that an inclination angle at which the display surface is inclined with respect to the housing top surface becomes 5 degrees or more and 45 degrees or less when the operation unit is placed on the housing top surface.

2. The imaging system according to claim 1, further comprising four elastic members that are elastically deformed when the support base is in contact with the housing top surface,

wherein, when the operation unit placed on the top surface of the housing is viewed in the vertical direction of the operation unit, the center of gravity of the operation unit is located within a region surrounded by the four elastic members.

3. The imaging system as set forth in claim 2,

wherein, when the operation unit is viewed in a vertical direction of the operation unit, in an inclined ascending direction of the display surface inclined with respect to the top surface of the housing, a first elastic member and a second elastic member of the four elastic members are arranged on a downstream side of the center of gravity, and the other two elastic members as a third elastic member and a fourth elastic member are arranged on an upstream side of the center of gravity, and

wherein the ascending direction is a direction perpendicular to both a direction perpendicular to the display surface and an operation unit width direction that is perpendicular to both a direction perpendicular to the display surface and an operation unit vertical direction.

4. The imaging system according to claim 3, wherein the first elastic member is arranged on one end side in an operation unit width direction of the operation unit, and the second elastic member is arranged on the other end side in the operation unit width direction of the operation unit.

5. The imaging system of claim 1, further comprising:

a control circuit board configured to output a signal for displaying information related to imaging on the display surface;

a cable connected to the control circuit board and the operation unit and configured to transmit the signal from the control circuit board to the operation unit;

a lead-out port through which the cable is led out, wherein the lead-out port is formed on a lower surface of the support base in an operation unit vertical direction when the operation unit is placed on the housing top surface; and

a clamping member disposed on the support base and configured to clamp the cable to the support base,

wherein the clamping member is disposed on a downstream side of the outlet port in an inclined ascending direction of the display surface inclined with respect to the top surface of the housing.

6. The imaging system of claim 1, further comprising:

a control circuit board configured to output a signal for displaying information related to imaging on the display surface; and

a cable connected to the control circuit board and the operation unit and configured to transmit the signal from the control circuit board to the operation unit;

wherein in an inclined ascending direction of the display surface inclined with respect to the housing top surface, the ascending direction is a direction perpendicular to both a direction perpendicular to the display surface and an operation unit width direction, the operation unit width direction is perpendicular to both a direction perpendicular to the display surface and an operation unit vertical direction, and

wherein a lead-out port is formed on a wall of a rear side of the support base when the operation unit is viewed from an upstream side of the operation unit.

7. The imaging system according to claim 1, further comprising an optional numerical value input unit freely placed on the top surface of the housing and configured to receive a user operation for inputting a plurality of pieces of numerical information of 0 to 9, wherein the optional numerical value input unit includes:

a plurality of numeric keys, wherein the plurality of numeric keys are hardware keys configured to receive an input of respective pieces of numeric information, an

A frame configured to expose the plurality of number keys,

wherein the display surface is inclined with respect to the top surface of the housing at an inclination angle substantially the same as an angle formed by the top surface of the housing and a surface of the frame in a region between the plurality of number keys.

8. The imaging system as set forth in claim 1,

wherein the support base includes an arm and a storage unit configured to store the arm,

wherein the arm includes an elastic member that is elastically deformable and is arranged on one end side of the arm and the other end side of the arm in an operation unit width direction, and is configured to rotate with a rotation shaft as a rotation center, the rotation shaft being arranged on a downstream side of a center of gravity of the operation unit in an inclined ascending direction of the display surface inclined with respect to the top surface of the housing,

wherein the ascending direction is a direction perpendicular to both a direction perpendicular to the display surface and the operation unit width direction, the operation unit width direction is perpendicular to both a direction perpendicular to the display surface and an operation unit vertical direction,

wherein the arm is movable to a first position in which a front end of the arm is positioned inside the storage unit and a second position in which the front end of the arm is positioned outside the storage unit and in contact with the top surface of the housing, and

wherein an inclination angle at which the display surface is inclined with respect to the housing top surface when the arm is located at the second position is larger than the inclination angle when the arm is located at the first position.

9. The imaging system according to claim 8, further comprising an optional numerical value input unit freely placed on the top surface of the housing and configured to receive a user operation for inputting a plurality of pieces of numerical information of 0 to 9,

wherein the optional numerical value input unit includes:

a plurality of numeric keys, wherein the plurality of numeric keys are hardware keys configured to receive an input of respective pieces of the numeric information, an

A frame configured to expose the plurality of number keys,

wherein the display surface is inclined with respect to the top surface of the housing at an inclination angle substantially the same as an angle formed by the top surface of the housing and a surface of the frame in a region between the plurality of number keys when the arm is in the first position.

10. The imaging system as set forth in claim 1,

wherein the support base includes a first leg member and a second leg member disposed on a downstream side of a center of gravity of the operation unit in an inclined ascending direction of the display surface inclined with respect to the housing top surface and configured to support the operation unit with respect to the housing top surface when the operation unit is viewed in an operation unit vertical direction,

wherein the ascending direction is a direction perpendicular to both the display surface and an operation unit width direction, the operation unit width direction is perpendicular to both the display surface and an operation unit vertical direction,

wherein the first leg member is arranged on one end side of the operation unit in the operation unit width direction perpendicular to both the direction perpendicular to the display surface and the operation unit vertical direction, and the second leg member is arranged on the other end side of the operation unit in the operation unit width direction perpendicular to both the display surface and the operation unit vertical direction,

wherein the first leg member and the second leg member are screwed into respective screw holes formed on the support base, and

wherein the protruding amount of each of the first leg member and the second leg member with respect to the support base is adjustable by rotating the first leg member and the second leg member.

11. The imaging system of claim 10, further comprising:

a control circuit board configured to output a signal for displaying information related to imaging on the display surface;

a cable connected to the control circuit board and the operation unit and configured to transmit the signal from the control circuit board to the operation unit;

a lead-out port through which the cable is led out, wherein the lead-out port is formed on a lower surface of the support base in a vertical direction of the operation unit when the operation unit is placed on the top surface of the housing; and

a clamping member disposed on the support base and configured to clamp the cable to the support base,

wherein the clamping member is disposed on a downstream side of the outlet port in an inclined ascending direction of the display surface inclined with respect to the top surface of the housing.

Background

An image forming apparatus such as a copying machine includes an operation unit that allows a user to change an operation mode and make detailed settings for each operation. In a system (image forming system) including an image forming apparatus and optional apparatuses (e.g., a sheet feeding unit, a conveying unit, and a post-processing unit) connected to the image forming apparatus, a user performs setting operations of the various optional apparatuses on an operation unit.

In the above-described large-sized imaging system which is long in length and includes a plurality of optional devices connected to each other, a user may operate the optional devices at a place distant from the imaging device on which the operation unit is placed. In this case, it is troublesome to move between the optional devices each time the user operates the optional devices and the operation unit.

Therefore, for example, there is provided an operation unit that can be placed not only on the image forming apparatus but also on an optional apparatus (japanese patent laid-open No. 2010-243977). The operation unit discussed in japanese patent laid-open No.2010-243977 includes a display for displaying information to a user, an arm supporting the display, and a support base supporting the display by the arm. The display supported by the arm extending from the support base forms a predetermined angle with respect to a placement surface on which the support base is placed.

However, the display of the operation unit included in the imaging apparatus discussed in japanese patent laid-open No.2010-243977 forms an angle of about 90 degrees with respect to the placement surface on which the support base is placed. Therefore, there is a possibility that the display cannot be easily observed from a high viewpoint. On the other hand, if the display is placed parallel to the placement surface, the display cannot be easily viewed from a low viewpoint.

Disclosure of Invention

According to one aspect of the present disclosure, an imaging system includes: an image forming unit configured to form an image on a sheet; a housing having a top surface; and an operation unit freely placed on the housing top surface and configured to receive a user operation for causing the imaging unit to perform imaging, wherein the operation unit includes: a touch panel having a display surface on which information related to imaging is displayed, and configured to receive a touch operation performed by a user; and a support base configured to support the touch panel such that an inclination angle of the display surface inclined with respect to the housing top surface becomes 5 degrees or more and 45 degrees or less when the operation unit is placed on the housing top surface.

As described above, by disposing the display panel included in the operation unit at an angle of 5 degrees or more and 45 degrees or less with respect to the placement surface of the operation unit placed on the top surface of the imaging apparatus, information displayed on the display panel can be easily observed from both a high viewpoint and a low viewpoint.

Other features of the present disclosure will become apparent from the following description of exemplary embodiments with reference to the attached drawings.

Drawings

FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an imaging system.

Fig. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a portion of an imaging system.

Fig. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration for controlling the operation unit by the imaging system.

Fig. 4 is a diagram showing a state in which, in the top surfaces of the respective housings included in the imaging system, the operation unit is placed on the top surface on the left side of the reading apparatus.

Fig. 5 is a diagram showing a state in which, in the top surfaces of the respective housings included in the imaging system, the operation unit is placed on the top surface on the right side of the reading apparatus.

Fig. 6A to 6C are diagrams illustrating an operation unit.

Fig. 7A and 7B are diagrams schematically showing perspective views of the operation unit.

Fig. 8A to 8C are diagrams showing the operation unit in the case where the inclination angle of the display surface with respect to the top surface is changed.

Fig. 9 is a diagram showing visibility when the display surface of the operation unit is viewed from viewpoints of different heights.

Fig. 10A to 10D are diagrams illustrating an arm disposed on a support base for supporting an operation unit.

Fig. 11A and 11B are diagrams illustrating adjustment of the inclination angle of the display surface with respect to the top surface by rotating the arm.

Fig. 12A to 12C are perspective views of the operation unit showing the rotation of the arm.

Fig. 13A to 13C are sectional views of the operation unit showing the rotation of the arm.

Fig. 14A to 14C are sectional views of the operation unit showing the periphery of the arm.

Fig. 15A and 15B are diagrams illustrating a mechanism for adjusting the inclination angle of the display surface with respect to the top surface by using the leg portion on which the screw groove is formed.

Fig. 16A to 16C are diagrams schematically showing perspective views of the leg portion and the operation unit.

Fig. 17 is a diagram showing a state where a cable is drawn out from the lower surface of the support base.

Fig. 18A to 18D are diagrams showing a numerical value input unit as an alternative means.

Detailed Description

Hereinafter, an imaging system according to the present exemplary embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. The scope of the present disclosure is not intended to be limited to the size, materials, shapes, and relative arrangement of the constituent elements described below, unless such specific limitations are specifically described.

< image Forming apparatus >

The present exemplary embodiment will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. As shown in fig. 1, in the present exemplary embodiment, a direction toward the front side of the imaging device 2 is referred to as a forward direction F, a depth side (rear side) thereof is referred to as a rearward direction B, a left side is referred to as a leftward direction L, a right side is referred to as a rightward direction R, an upper side is referred to as an upward direction U, and a lower side is referred to as a downward direction D.

For example, as shown in fig. 1, an image forming system 1 according to the present exemplary embodiment includes an image forming apparatus 2 such as a printer and a post-processing apparatus 103 in which sheets S on which images are formed are stacked. The post-processing device 103 is disposed adjacent to one side of the imaging device 2 in the leftward direction L. In the present exemplary embodiment, each of the imaging device 2 and the post-processing device 103 is defined as a housing. A top surface 109 capable of serving as a work space is provided on the top surface of the image forming apparatus 2. In the present embodiment, the size of the top surface 109 is larger than the maximum size (e.g., a3 size) of the sheet S on which the image forming apparatus 2 can perform image formation. For example, a user using the imaging system 1 develops a drawing on the top surface 109 to perform a drawing work. Thus, the top surface 109 is a horizontal surface that is as flat as possible. Here, the region denoted by reference numeral 1010 in fig. 4 described below is one example of a workspace. If the imaging system 1 is horizontally mounted, the workspace 1010 is horizontal. This region is designed so that irregularities such as grooves are eliminated as much as possible except for the connecting portions between the components that are inevitably formed due to the external design of the imaging system 1. This region therefore constitutes a surface which is as flat as possible. It is sufficient to provide the workspace 1010 with an area that is at least capable of unfolding a 3-sized sheets, so as to ensure a flat surface for this area. In addition, the top surface 109 is made of, for example, a resin plate, and even if there is some degree of unavoidable manufacturing instability or unevenness, the top surface 109 is regarded as a plane. Further, the concept of level here does not mean level in the strict mathematical sense but means level in the actual sense, that is, substantially level.

In the present exemplary embodiment, a tandem type full-color printer is described as an example of the image forming apparatus 2. However, the present disclosure may be applied not only to the tandem type image forming apparatus 2 but also to another type of image forming apparatus. Further, the present disclosure may be applied not only to a full-color image forming apparatus but also to a black-and-white or monochrome image forming apparatus.

As shown in fig. 2, in the present exemplary embodiment, the image forming apparatus 2 as one example of the housing may be divided into two parts, i.e., an image forming unit housing 2a and a conveying unit housing 2 b. The conveying unit housing 2b conveys the sheet on which image formation is performed by the image forming unit housing 2a to a post-processing apparatus 103 (not illustrated). Each of the imaging unit casing 2a and the conveyance unit casing 2b is also an example of a casing. The imaging unit housing 2a includes a top surface 109a, and the conveyance unit housing 2b includes a top surface 109 b. The imaging unit housing 2a and the transfer unit housing 2b may be connected to each other such that the top surfaces 109a and 109b are connected to constitute one flat top surface 109. As described above, the imaging unit housing 2a and the conveyance unit housing 2b can be connected to and separated from each other. Therefore, for example, in the case of transporting the imaging unit housing 2a and the transporting unit housing 2b to a high floor of a building, each of the housings 2a and 2b can be separately transported to a predetermined floor using an elevator. With this configuration, it is possible to easily transport the long-length large-sized imaging system 1 to a predetermined floor of a building using an elevator.

The image forming apparatus 2 includes a toner supply unit 20, a sheet feeding unit 30, an image forming unit 40, a sheet conveying unit 50, a sheet discharging unit, an electric unit 70, and an operation unit 80. The sheet S is a recording material on which a toner image is formed. Specific examples of the sheet include a plain sheet, a synthetic resin sheet used as a substitute for the plain sheet, a thick sheet, and an overhead projector sheet.

The sheet feeding unit 30 is provided at a lower portion of the image forming apparatus 2. The sheet feeding unit 30 includes a sheet cassette 31 and a feeding roller 32, and sheets S are stacked and stored in the sheet cassette 31. The sheet feeding unit 30 feeds the sheet S to the image forming unit 40.

The image forming unit 40 includes an image forming unit 41, a toner bottle 42, an exposure device 43, an intermediate transfer unit 44, a secondary transfer unit 45, and a fixing device 46, and performs image formation.

The image forming unit 41 includes four image forming units 41y, 41m, 41c, and 41k for forming toner images of four colors of yellow (y), magenta (m), cyan (c), and black (k). Each of the imaging units 41y, 41m, 41c, and 41k can be attached to the imaging apparatus 2 and detached from the imaging apparatus 2 by a user. For example, the image forming unit 41y includes a photosensitive drum 47y for forming a toner image, a charging roller 48y, a developing sleeve 49y, a drum cleaning blade (not shown), and toner (not shown). Toner is supplied to the image forming unit 41y from a toner bottle 42y filled with toner. The other image forming units 41m, 41c, and 41k have a configuration similar to that of the image forming unit 41y except for the color of the toner. Therefore, a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

The exposure device 43y is an exposure unit that exposes the surface of the photosensitive drum 47y with light to form an electrostatic latent image on the surface of the photosensitive drum 47 y.

The intermediate transfer unit 44 is disposed at a position in the downward direction D of the image forming unit 41. The intermediate transfer unit 44 includes a plurality of rollers, such as a driving roller 44a, primary transfer rollers 44y, 44m, 44c, and 44k, and an intermediate transfer belt 44b stretched around these rollers. The primary transfer rollers 44y, 44m, 44c, and 44k are arranged to face the photosensitive drums 47y, 47m, 47c, and 47k, respectively, to contact the intermediate transfer belt 44 b. A transfer bias of positive polarity is applied from the primary transfer rollers 44y, 44m, 44c, and 44k to the intermediate transfer belt 44b, so that the toner images of negative polarity formed on the respective photosensitive drums 47y, 47m, 47c, and 47k are multi-transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 44b in order. With this operation, a full-color image is formed on the intermediate transfer belt 44 b.

The secondary transfer unit 45 includes a secondary transfer inner roller 45a and a secondary transfer outer roller 45 b. A secondary transfer bias of positive polarity is applied to the secondary transfer outer roller 45b, thereby transferring the full-color image formed on the intermediate transfer belt 44b to the sheet S. The secondary transfer inner roller 45a stretches the intermediate transfer belt 44b inside the intermediate transfer belt 44b, and the secondary transfer outer roller 45b is disposed at a position opposing the secondary transfer inner roller 45a across the intermediate transfer belt 44 b.

The fixing device 46 includes a fixing roller 46a and a pressure roller 46 b. When the sheet S is nipped and conveyed by the fixing roller 46a and the pressing roller 46b, the toner image transferred onto the sheet S is pressed, heated, and fixed onto the sheet S. In the present exemplary embodiment, the conveying unit housing 2b includes the fixing device 46, but the present exemplary embodiment is not limited thereto. For example, the configuration may be such that the image forming unit casing 2a includes the fixing device 46, and the conveying unit casing 2b does not include the fixing device 46. Of course, each of the housings 2a and 2b may include the fixing device 46.

The sheet conveying unit 50 includes a pre-secondary-transfer conveying path 51, a pre-fixing conveying path 52, a discharge path 53, and a re-conveying path 54, and conveys the sheet S fed from the sheet feeding unit 30 from the image forming unit 40 to a sheet discharge unit 60.

The sheet discharge unit 60 includes a discharge roller pair 61 disposed on a downstream side of the discharge path 53 and a discharge port 62 disposed on a side surface of the image forming apparatus 2 in the leftward direction L. The discharge roller pair 61 feeds the sheet S conveyed on the discharge path 53 from the nip portion to the discharge port 62 to discharge the sheet S therefrom. The sheet S discharged from the discharge port 62 may be fed to a post-processing apparatus 103 disposed adjacent to the image forming device 2 in the leftward direction L.

As shown in fig. 3, the electric unit 70 includes: an image controller 71 as a control circuit board, which includes a control unit; and a hard disk drive (hereinafter referred to as HDD)72 as a removable mass storage device. The image controller 71 is constituted by a computer, and includes, for example, a Central Processing Unit (CPU)73, a Read Only Memory (ROM)74 for storing programs for controlling these units, a Random Access Memory (RAM)75 for temporarily storing data, and an input-output circuit (interface (I/F))76 for receiving signals from and transmitting signals to external units. The HDD72 is a removable mass storage device for holding electronic data, and is capable of mainly storing an image processing program, digital image data, and supplementary information relating to the digital image data. When image formation is performed, image data is read from the HDD 72.

The CPU73 is a microprocessor responsible for the overall control of the imaging apparatus 2. The CPU73 is the main constituent element of the image controller 71. The CPU73 is connected to the sheet feeding unit 30, the image forming unit 40, the sheet conveying unit 50, the sheet discharging unit 60, the HDD72, and the operation unit 80 through an input/output circuit (I/F)76, exchanges signals with these units, and controls the operation thereof. The image controller 71 allows a user to operate and set the imaging apparatus 2 by inputting an instruction via a computer (not shown) connected to the imaging apparatus 2 or by operating the operation unit 80.

The operation unit 80 is provided separately from the image forming apparatus 2, and the respective units of the image forming apparatus 2 can be operated by using the operation unit 80. The operation unit 80 includes a driver circuit board 81 and a display panel 82. The display panel 82 displays information necessary for the user to operate the image forming apparatus 2, such as the remaining amount of sheets S and the remaining amount of toner supplied to the image forming apparatus 2, a warning message indicating that these consumables have been exhausted, and the process of supplying the consumables. The display panel 82 receives user operation inputs related to the size and basis weight of the sheets S, adjustment of image density, and number setting of output sheets.

The operation unit 80 is connected to the electric unit 70 of the image forming apparatus 2 through a cable 90, thereby being capable of receiving electric power supplied therefrom. The cable 90 is a wire harness composed of a signal line 90a and a power supply line 90 b. Alternatively, the signal line 90a and the power line 90b may be provided as separate cables. The signal line 90a connects the input-output circuit (I/F)76 of the image controller 71 and the driver circuit board 81, and the power supply line 90b connects the power supply 12 of the imaging apparatus 2 and the driver circuit board 81.

After that, an image forming operation performed by the image forming apparatus 2 configured as above will be described.

When the image forming operation is started, first, the photosensitive drums 47y, 47m, 47c, and 47k rotate, and the surfaces thereof are charged by the charging rollers 48y, 48m, 48c, and 48 k. Then, the exposure devices 43y, 43m, 43c, and 43k emit laser light based on the image information to irradiate the photosensitive drums 47y, 47m, 47c, and 47k with the laser light, so that electrostatic latent images are formed on the surfaces of the photosensitive drums 47y, 47m, 47c, and 47 k. Then, toner is attached to the electrostatic latent image, so that the electrostatic latent image is developed and visualized as a toner image, and is transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 44 b.

While the above-described operation for forming the toner image is performed, the feed roller 32 rotates to separate and feed the uppermost sheet S from the sheet cassette 31. Then, the sheet S is conveyed to the secondary transfer unit 45 via the pre-secondary-transfer conveying path 51 while adjusting the timing to coincide with the timing of the toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 44 b. The image is further transferred from the intermediate transfer belt 44b onto the sheet S, and the sheet S is conveyed to a fixing device 46. In the fixing device 46, the unfixed toner image is heated, pressed, and fixed onto the surface of the sheet S. Then, the sheet S is discharged from the discharge port 62 by the discharge roller pair 61 and is fed to the post-processing apparatus 103.

< operating Unit >

An operation unit 80 used by a user to operate the imaging system 1 is connected to the electric unit 70 through a cable 90. The electric unit 70 is disposed on the rear surface of the image forming apparatus 2, and a connector (not shown) disposed at one end of the cable 90 is connected to the electric unit 70. The cable 90 transmits a control signal for controlling the operation unit 80 from the electric unit 70 to the operation unit 80. The cable 90 is used to communicably connect between the image forming apparatus 2 and the operation unit 80. The other end of the cable 90 is connected to the operation unit 80. As described above, the operation unit 80 is connected to the image forming apparatus 2 through the cable 90, and is not fixed to the top surface 109. Therefore, the user can freely place the operation unit 80 at any position on the top surface 109 as long as the position is within the range of the cable length of the cable 90. Here, freely placing the operation unit 80 refers to a state in which the operation unit 80 is not fixed to the top surface 109 with screws, that is, a state in which the placement position of the operation unit 80 on the top surface 109 can be freely changed. However, it is also possible to provide a position on the top surface 109 where the operation unit 80 can be fixed with screws or magnets. Therefore, it is decided by the user whether or not to use the operation unit 80 in a state where the operation unit 80 is fixed to the position. In this way, the user can freely place the operation unit 80 on the top surface 109 when the screw is removed therefrom.

Fig. 4 and 5 are diagrams showing positions on the top surface 109 where the operation unit 80 can be placed. For example, as shown in fig. 4, the operation unit 80 may be placed on the top surface 109 of the image forming apparatus 2 in a space near the document reading device 115. Alternatively, as shown in fig. 5, the operation unit 80 may be placed in a space on the top surface 106 of the sheet feeding device 105. Instead of placing the operation unit 80 as shown in fig. 4 or 5, the operation unit 80 may be placed on the top surface of the imaging system 1 such as the top surface 104 of the post-processing apparatus 103. Further, the operation unit 80 may be placed in a space other than the top surface of the imaging system 1, for example, on a table (not shown) installed near the imaging system 1.

Fig. 6A is a diagram showing the operation unit 80 placed on a horizontal plane when viewed in the vertical direction from the upper side of the operation unit 80. Fig. 6B is a diagram showing the operation unit 80 placed on a horizontal plane when viewed in the vertical direction from the lower side of the operation unit 80. In other words, fig. 6B is a diagram showing the bottom surface of the operation unit 80. Fig. 6C is a diagram showing the operation unit 80 as viewed from the right side thereof.

As shown in fig. 6A, the operation unit 80 includes a display panel 82 capable of displaying information related to imaging. The display panel 82 is a liquid crystal touch panel capable of receiving a touch operation performed by a user.

The cable 90 extends from the rear side of the operation unit 80. As shown in fig. 6B, rubber legs 85(85a and 85B1) are arranged on the bottom surface of the operation unit 80 as an example of elastic members. The rubber foot 85 is an example of the first to fourth contact portions. The rubber foot 85 is a rubber member that contacts the top surface 109 when the operation unit 80 is placed on the top surface 109. Since the surface of each rubber foot 85 is constituted by a member having a higher friction coefficient than that of the resin cover constituting the exterior member of the operation unit 80, the rubber foot 85 is slightly warped (elastically deformed) when the operation unit 80 is placed on the top surface 109. Therefore, as described in the present exemplary embodiment, the operation unit 80 can be supported at four points.

Although the plane is generally determined by three points, since any one of the rubber legs 85 is warped, all of the four rubber legs 85 are in contact with the top surface 109. In the present exemplary embodiment, the front side rubber legs 85a are arranged at two positions on the front side of the operation unit 80, and the depth side rubber legs 85b1 are arranged at two positions on the depth side. With this configuration, even if the user presses anywhere on the display panel 82, the operation unit 80 does not tilt, so that the risk of making the operation unit 80 unstable can be reduced.

As shown in fig. 6B, four rubber legs 85 are arranged around the center of gravity G of the operation unit 80. In other words, in the vertical direction, when the operation unit 80 is viewed in the vertical direction from the upper side of the operation unit 80, the center of gravity G is located within a region surrounded by the four rubber legs 85. With this configuration, the operation unit 80 is stably supported by the four rubber legs 85, thereby improving the operability for the user. In addition, the number of rubber legs is not limited to four, and a fifth rubber leg that does not substantially contribute to the support of the operation unit 80 may be provided thereon. For example, a fifth rubber leg having a higher coefficient of friction than the four rubber legs 85 may be in contact with the top surface 109. In this case, the amount by which the fifth rubber leg protrudes from the support base 821 is set to be slightly smaller than the amount by which each of the four rubber legs 85 protrudes from the support base 821, so that the fifth rubber leg is in contact with the top surface 109 when the four rubber legs 85 are elastically deformed.

In the inclined upward direction of the display panel 82, the rubber leg 85a is located on the upstream side of the center of gravity G, and the rubber leg 85b1 is located on the downstream side of the center of gravity G. Here, the "sloping upward direction of the inclination of the display panel 82" is a direction parallel to both: "a direction perpendicular to both the direction perpendicular to the display surface 820 and the vertical direction (front surface-rear surface direction of the sheet)" and "a direction perpendicular to the display surface 820".

One of the two rubber legs 85b1 is disposed at the right-side end portion on the bottom surface of the operation unit 80, and the other of the two rubber legs 85b1 is disposed at the left-side end portion on the bottom surface of the operation unit. Here, since it is assumed that the operation unit 80 placed on the top surface 109 is viewed from the bottom side of the operation unit 80, the left side of fig. 6B is defined as the right side of the operation unit 80, and the right side of fig. 6B is defined as the left side of the operation unit 80. When the width in the left-right direction of the operation unit 80 is denoted as L1, it is preferable that when the width L1 is divided into four regions, one of the rubber legs 85b1 is located in a region on the rightmost side (one end side), and the other of the rubber legs 85b1 is located in a region on the leftmost side (the other end side). As described above, by arranging the two rubber legs 85b1 with a space therebetween, the stability of the operation unit 80 can be improved when the operation unit 80 is placed on the top surface 109.

Here, the left-right direction refers to a width direction of the operation unit 80, i.e., a direction perpendicular to both the direction perpendicular to the display surface 820 and the vertical direction.

Fig. 6C is a diagram showing a side view of the operation unit 80 placed on the top surface 109. The face formed because the rubber foot 85 follows the top face 109 when the operation unit 80 is placed on the top face is referred to as a rubber foot face, which is denoted as a face B in fig. 6C. Since the operation unit 80 is a rigid body, when a rigid body is used for the four rubber legs 85, a plane is formed by three of the four rubber legs 85 in terms of component tolerance. In the case where the rubber feet 85 are arranged in four positions, an elastic body will be used for at least two or more rubber feet 85, so that the rubber feet 85 serve as a support portion following the top surface 109.

Here, the display panel 82 has a pressing area in the front-rear direction of the apparatus. The user performs an operation in a direction perpendicular to the display panel 82. Therefore, the pressing force applied to the front side of the device is referred to as a device front-side pressing force F1a, and the pressing force applied to the depth side of the device is referred to as a device depth-side pressing force F1 b. Then, lines extending to the rubber foot 85 represent pressing directions of the pressing forces F1a and F1b, which are referred to as a device front side pressing direction line K1a and a device depth side pressing direction line K1b, respectively. When the front side end portion of the front side rubber leg 85a is referred to as a front side rubber end P and the depth side end portion of the depth side rubber leg 85b1 is referred to as a depth side rubber end M1, the front side rubber end P and the depth side rubber end M1 are arranged such that the device front side pressing direction line K1a and the device depth side pressing direction line K1b extend to a range between the front side rubber end P and the depth side rubber end M1.

In order to satisfy the above-described condition, as described below, if the front side rubber end P of the operation unit 80 is specified as a reference, the depth side rubber end M1 must be arranged at a position further to the depth side when the inclination angle a is increased. Thus, if the front side is specified as the reference, the size of the operation unit 80 must be larger on the depth side.

With this configuration, even if the display panel 82 is pressed, the operation unit 80 does not pivot with the front side rubber end P or the depth side rubber end M1 so that the rubber leg on the opposite side (i.e., the depth side rubber leg 85b1 or the front side rubber leg 85a) does not rise upward. Therefore, the operability thereof can be prevented from being lowered. If the weight of the operation unit 80 is increased in order to prevent rotation from occurring when the operation unit 80 is operated, the user cannot easily move the operation unit 80, and thus operability will be degraded.

It is assumed that the angle a formed by the rubber leg face B and the panel face C is set to 30 degrees, that is, a predetermined angle at which good operability can be obtained as described below. Here, the panel face C is a virtual plane parallel to the display face 820 of the display panel 82 described below. Further, the rubber leg surface B is a surface parallel to the top surface 109. However, the parallel concept herein does not mean parallel in the strict mathematical sense, but means parallel in the actual sense, i.e., substantially parallel.

The benefit of extending the cable 90 from the rear side of the operating unit 80 will be described with reference to fig. 6C. As shown in fig. 6C, when the operation unit 80 is viewed in the vertical direction, the cable 90 extends from the operation unit 80 in the uphill direction of the display panel 82. In other words, the cable 90 extends from the operation unit 80 along an inclined uphill direction of the display panel 82, which is a direction parallel to both: a direction perpendicular to both the direction perpendicular to the display surface 820 described below and the vertical direction (front surface-rear surface direction of the sheet), and a direction perpendicular to the display surface 820. Specifically, when a user standing on the upstream side of the operation unit 80 views the operation unit 80 in an inclined uphill direction of the display panel 82, a lead-out port 95 from which the cable 90 is led out is formed on a wall on the rear side of the support base 821. The cable 90 extends from the outlet port 95.

Since the cable 90 extends rearward from the depth side of the operation unit 80, the user operating the operation unit 80 does not see the connecting portion of the cable 90 and the operation unit 80. In this way, the design of the operation unit 80 can be improved.

< inclination angle of display surface of operation unit with respect to top surface of housing >

Fig. 7A shows a perspective view of the operation unit 80 and an enlarged schematic view of the display panel 82. As shown in fig. 7A, the operation unit 80 includes a support base 821 having rubber legs 85. The display panel 82 is inclined at a predetermined angle with respect to the top surface 109 due to the provision of the support base 821. Further, the support base 821 has an arm 822 on which the rubber foot 85b1 is disposed. The arm 822 is rotatably provided to the support base 821. By rotating the arm 822 with respect to the support base 821, the inclination angle of the display panel 82 with respect to the top surface 109 can be adjusted.

The display panel 82 includes a display surface 820. A screen displaying information related to image formation and print condition setting (for example, a screen displaying a copy start button, a screen for setting a sheet size, a screen for setting the number of prints, and a screen displaying the remaining amount of toner) may be displayed on the display surface 820. For example, the user can set the number of copies to be printed by touching and selecting a numeric key displayed on the display surface 820. In the present exemplary embodiment, the display surface 820 is provided in a portion of the display panel 82 other than an edge portion thereof. However, a screen for displaying information relating to image formation and print setting may be displayed on the entire face of the display panel 82. However, in any of these cases, the angle that the portion near the center of the display panel 82 (i.e., the area equivalent to the display surface 820 in fig. 7A) forms with the top surface 109 is defined as the inclination angle of the display surface 820 with respect to the top surface 109. By adjusting the inclination angle of the display surface 820 to the top surface 109 to be 5 degrees or more and 45 degrees or less, visibility preferable for the user can be ensured. In order to easily measure the tilt angle, an area of 30 square millimeters including the center of the display surface 820 is specified, and an angle formed by a line extending from the area and the top surface 109 is measured. Measuring the angle that a ruler placed over the area makes with the top surface 109 is one example of a simple measuring method.

A conventionally known operation unit will be briefly described. The conventionally known operation unit is a facade operation unit having a display forming an angle of 90 degrees with respect to a top surface. Typically, the display of the facade operating unit is rotatably attached to the arm. In other words, the user is able to change the angle of the display relative to the top surface according to his preferences.

However, the display of the facade operation unit is not suitable for touch operation. Because the display is rotatably attached to the arm, when the user presses the display to perform a touch operation, the display may rotate around the arm. Initially, when a user performs a touch operation on the display of the facade operation unit, the operation unit becomes unstable unless the user adjusts the touch force. Therefore, the operation cannot be easily performed.

Next, the inclination angle a of 5 degrees (regarded as the lower limit of the inclination angle a) will be described. When the operation unit 80 can be freely placed, the operation unit 80 can be rotated by 90 degrees or 180 degrees without particular limitation. Therefore, the operation unit 80 can be placed in an orientation different from the orientation in which the front face of the operation unit 80 coincides with the apparatus front face F. In this case, if the lower limit of the inclination angle a is close to the inclination angle of the horizontal plane, for example, 0 degrees, the user standing on the apparatus front face F side may not recognize the front face of the operation unit 80. Therefore, there is a possibility that the operation unit 80 is operated in an orientation in which the operation unit 80 is rotated by 90 degrees or 180 degrees. Further, when the user moves the operation unit 80 to make the front side of the operation unit 80 coincide with the front side of the imaging system 1, it may be difficult to distinguish which side is the front side of the operation unit 80.

Thus, the display surface 820 is arranged to be slightly inclined at the inclination angle a. With this configuration, even if the user is slightly away from the operation unit 80, the user can recognize which side is the front side of the operation unit 80. Fig. 8A is a diagram showing a side view of the operation unit 80 having the inclination angle a of 5 degrees. If the inclination angle a is less than 5 degrees, it will be difficult to discern which side is the original front side when moving the operation unit 80. Therefore, there is a risk that the user cannot easily determine from which direction to operate. Therefore, the inclination angle a is preferably 5 degrees or more.

Similarly to the above-described example in which the inclination angle is 30 degrees, when the inclination angle is 5 degrees, the pressing forces are referred to as the front-side pressing force F2a and the depth-side pressing force F2 b. Then, lines extending to the rubber foot 85, which indicate the pressing direction, are defined as a front side pressing direction line K2a and a depth side pressing direction line K2b, respectively. The front side rubber end P and the depth side rubber end M2 are arranged such that the intersection of the front side pressing direction line K2a and the top surface 109 and the intersection of the depth side pressing direction line K2b and the top surface 109 are located within the range between the front side rubber end P and the depth side rubber end M2.

With this configuration, even if the display panel 82 is pressed, the operation unit 80 does not pivot with the front side rubber end P or the depth side rubber end M2 so that the rubber leg on the opposite side (i.e., the depth side rubber leg 85b2 or the front side rubber leg 85a) does not rise upward. Therefore, the operability thereof can be prevented from being lowered.

Typically, the height from the floor surface on which the imaging system 1 is mounted to the top surface 109 is 900 to 1100 mm. In measuring the height of the top surface 109, the distance from the floor surface to the portion of the top surface 109 of the imaging system 1 having the largest flat area is measured. The measurement is defined as the height of the top surface 109. In other words, the height of the workspace 1010 from the floor surface may also be defined by the measurement. Thus, for example, the top surface of the document reading device 115 is not regarded as the work space 1010. However, if there is a portion described as a placement portion of the operation unit 80 in the product catalog, the portion may be defined as one of the workspaces 1010.

Here, more than 90% of men are 1600mm to 1790mm in height and more than 90% of women are 1500mm to 1690mm in height according to statistics. Therefore, for example, if the display surface 820 is viewed from a viewpoint 1500mm high from the floor surface when the height of the top surface 109 is 1100mm, the height difference is 400 mm. Since such a user observes the operation unit 80 from a relatively low viewpoint, if the inclination angle with respect to the top surface 109 is less than 5 degrees, the visibility of the display surface 820 will be reduced. By setting the inclination angle to 5 degrees or more, the user can view the display surface 820 in a posture with less stress.

As described above, the inclination angle of the display surface 820 with respect to the top surface 109 is preferably 5 degrees or more.

Next, the inclination angle a of 45 degrees (regarded as the upper limit of the inclination angle a) will be described with reference to fig. 8B. Similar to the above example in which the inclination angle is 30 degrees, when the inclination angle is 45 degrees, the pressing forces are referred to as the front-side pressing force F3a and the depth-side pressing force F3 b. Then, lines extending to the rubber foot 85, which indicate the pressing direction, are defined as a front side pressing direction line K3a and a depth side pressing direction line K3b, respectively. The front side rubber end P and the depth side rubber end M3 are arranged such that the intersection of the front side pressing direction line K3a and the top surface 109 and the intersection of the depth side pressing direction line K3b and the top surface 109 are located in the range between the front side rubber end P and the depth side rubber end M3.

With this configuration, even if the display panel 82 is pressed, the operation unit 80 does not pivot with the front side rubber end P or the depth side rubber end M3 so that the rubber leg on the opposite side (i.e., the depth side rubber leg 85b3 or the front side rubber leg 85a) does not rise upward. Therefore, the operability thereof can be prevented from being lowered.

In fig. 8C, in a state where each front rubber end P of the operation unit 80 is aligned with the other front rubber ends P, in addition to the examples of the inclination angles of 5 degrees and 45 degrees in fig. 8A and 8B, respectively, an inclination angle of 60 degrees is shown as one example of the inclination angle larger than 45 degrees.

Similar to the above example in which the inclination angle is 30 degrees, when the inclination angle is 60 degrees, the pressing forces are referred to as the front-side pressing force F4a and the depth-side pressing force F4 b. Then, lines extending to the rubber foot 85, which indicate the pressing direction, are defined as a front side pressing direction line K4a and a depth side pressing direction line K4b, respectively. The front side rubber end P and the depth side rubber end M4 are arranged such that the intersection of the front side pressing direction line K4a and the top surface 109 and the intersection of the depth side pressing direction line K4b and the top surface 109 are located within the range between the front side rubber end P and the depth side rubber end M4.

Here, the depth of the operation unit 80 inclined by 5 degrees (referred to as 5-degree operation unit depth) is represented as N2, the depth of the operation unit 80 inclined by 45 degrees (referred to as 45-degree operation unit depth) is represented as N3, and the depth of the operation unit 80 inclined by 60 degrees (referred to as 60-degree operation unit depth) is represented as N4.

As shown in fig. 8C, when the front rubber end P is used as a reference, the depth side rubber end M2 moves to the positions of the depth side rubber ends M3 and M4 with an increase in the inclination angle, so that the operation unit depth N2 also increases to N3 and N4. In particular, when the inclination angle is 45 degrees or more, the expansion rate of the operation unit 80 in the depth direction N increases. Therefore, the size of the operation unit 80 increases, and the installation position thereof is limited. Therefore, it is preferable that the upper limit of the inclination angle a is 45 degrees.

Further, when the height of the user's viewpoint is 1790mm and the height of the top surface 109 from the floor surface is 900mm, the height difference is 890 mm. In this case, if the angle of inclination of the display surface 820 with respect to the top surface 109 is too steep, it is difficult for the user to view the display surface 820 unless the user leans forward. By adjusting the inclination angle of the display surface 820 with respect to the top surface 109 to 45 degrees or less, the user viewing the display surface 820 from a relatively high viewpoint can easily visually recognize the display surface 820.

Therefore, by setting the inclination angle a of the display surface 820 to the top surface 109 to be 5 degrees or more and 45 degrees or less, good visibility and operability can be ensured.

< preferred Angle of inclination A >

An angle suitable for ensuring the visibility of the display panel 82 is set within the above-described upper and lower limits in consideration of the height of the position where the operation unit 80 is placed and the visibility height depending on the height of the operator. In the present exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the inclination angle a is set to an angle at which both tall and short users can visually recognize the display panel 82 when the operation unit 80 is placed on the top surface 109.

The present exemplary embodiment will be described with reference to fig. 9. Fig. 9 is a diagram showing a side view of the operation unit 80 placed on the work space 1010 of the top surface 109. In the present exemplary embodiment, it is assumed that the height of the top surface 109 from the floor surface is 1040mm, and the inclination angle a at which the display panel is visually recognizable when the operation unit 80 is placed on the top surface 109 is set to 30 degrees.

The liquid crystal cells of the display panel 82 have a range (viewing angle) in which a certain level of contrast is ensured. In fig. 9, a line perpendicular to the liquid crystal cell is denoted by G, the observation range on the depth side is denoted by I, and the observation range on the front side is denoted by H. Then, an angle formed by the line G and the range I is referred to as a depth-side viewing angle θ I, and an angle formed by the line G and the range H is referred to as a front-side viewing angle θ H. In the present exemplary embodiment, a liquid crystal member in which the viewing angle θ i and the viewing angle θ h are both set to 50 degrees is used.

Further, when the positions 87a, 87b, and 87c represent the positions of the eyes of the user of average height, the positions of the eyes of the tall user, and the positions of the eyes of the short user, respectively, if the angle of the operation unit 80 placed on the top surface 109 at a height 1040mm from the floor surface is set to 30 degrees, the lines indicating the visibility from the positions 87a, 87b, and 87c are substantially included in the observation ranges H to I. Therefore, good visibility and operability can be ensured.

With this configuration, display panel 82 can be better seen from the eye level of a tall user as well as the eye level of a short user.

In the present exemplary embodiment, a suitable angle of the operation unit 80 is designated as 30 degrees based on the condition that the height of the top surface 109 on which the operation unit 80 is placed is 1040 mm. However, there are cases where the height of the place where the operation unit 80 is moved is higher or lower than 1040 mm. There is a suitable angle for each height. In general, as long as this height is the height of the multifunction peripheral mounted on the floor and falls within a range of about 900mm to 1100mm, the user can view the display panel 82 at an inclination angle of 5 to 45 degrees by changing the placement position by moving the operation unit 80 forward or backward.

< adjustment mechanism for operation means Angle A >

Users of different heights, from tall to short, touch and operate the unit 80. In the present exemplary embodiment, the suitable operating unit angle a calculated from different heights is described as 30 degrees based on the condition that the operating unit 80 is placed on the top surface 109 of the imaging apparatus 2 at a height of 1040mm from the floor surface. However, there are cases where the operation unit 80 is operated by a relatively tall or relatively short user. Further, there are also cases where the user prefers to set the operation unit angle a to be less than or greater than 30 degrees.

In view of the above-described user, the present exemplary embodiment will be described with respect to the operation unit 80 capable of adjusting not only the operation unit angle a to 30 degrees but also to an angle much smaller than 30 degrees (for example, 15 degrees).

Hereinafter, an adjustment mechanism (also referred to as an angle adjustment mechanism) of the operation unit angle a will be described. First, the configuration of the angle adjustment mechanism will be described. Fig. 10A is a perspective view of the lower surface side of the operation unit 80, fig. 10B is a perspective view of the arm 86, fig. 10C is a rear view of the arm 86, and fig. 10D is a perspective view of the lower surface side of the operation unit 80 with the arm 86 removed. As shown in fig. 10B and 10C, the rubber leg 85B1, the rubber leg 85C, the shaft 86a, the projection 86B, the abutment surface 86C, and the slit 86d are arranged on the arm 86. Since the slit 86d is arranged thereon, the shaft 86a and the attachment face 86e having the protruding portion 86b can be warped in the right direction R. A shaft 86a, a protruding portion 86b, an abutment face 86c, and a slit 86d (not shown) having a similar shape are also arranged on the opposite side in the right direction R. Further, as shown in fig. 10D, a bearing 88a and protruding portions 88b and 88c are disposed on the operation unit 80 from which the arm 86 is removed. A bearing 88a and protruding portions 88b and 88c (not shown) having similar shapes are also arranged on the opposite side in the rightward direction R.

The arm 86 is attached to the operation unit 80 by inserting the shaft 86a of the arm 86 in fig. 10B into the bearing 88a in fig. 10D, as shown in fig. 10A. When the shaft 86a is inserted into the bearing 88a, the attachment face 86e having the shaft 86a is warped by using the slit 86d of the arm 86 in fig. 10B, so that the shaft 86a is inserted into the bearing 88 a.

Next, the opening and closing of the arm 86 will be described. Fig. 11A is a side view of the operation unit 80 (operation unit angle a is 15 degrees) when the arm 86 is closed, and fig. 11B is a side view of the operation unit 80 (operation unit angle a is 30 degrees) when the arm 86 is opened. Fig. 12A is a perspective view of the lower surface side of the operation unit 80 when the arm 86 is closed, fig. 12B is a perspective view of the lower surface side of the operation unit 80 when the arm 86 enters an intermediate state between the opened state and the closed state, and fig. 12C is a perspective view of the lower surface side of the operation unit 80 when the arm 86 is opened. Fig. 13A is a sectional view taken along line a-a in fig. 12A, fig. 13B is a sectional view taken along line B-B in fig. 12B, and fig. 13C is a sectional view taken along line C-C in fig. 12C. As shown in fig. 10A to 10D, since the arm 86 is attached to the operation unit 80 by a shaft 86a (one example of a rotation shaft), the arm 86 can be opened and closed with the shaft 86a as a rotation center. When the arm 86 is closed, the rubber leg 85b1 comes into contact with the protruding portion 88b as shown in fig. 13A, and when the arm 86 is opened, the abutment surface 86C abuts on the protruding portion 88C as shown in fig. 13C. With this configuration, the opening and closing angle of the arm 86 is regulated. Therefore, as shown in fig. 11A and 11B, the operation unit angle a can be adjusted to two stages, that is, an angle of 15 degrees when the arm 86 is closed (the first state of the arm 86), and an angle of 30 degrees when the arm 86 is open (the second state of the arm 86). The distance between the axis of rotation and the top surface 109 in the second state is greater than the distance between the axis of rotation and the top surface 109 in the first state.

As shown in fig. 12C, a storage space 880 for storing the arm 86 is provided at the bottom side of the operation unit 80. The arm 86 is stored in the storage space 880.

As shown in fig. 13A, when the arm 86 is closed, the rubber leg 85b1 comes into contact with the protruding portion 88b, not only regulating the opening and closing angle, but also reducing the contact noise. In the present exemplary embodiment, when the arm 86 is opened, the abutment surface 86c abuts on the protruding portion 88c to regulate the opening and closing angle. However, the opening and closing angle may also be regulated by arranging the rubber leg 85c at a position where the rubber leg 85c can contact the protruding portion 88 b.

Next, the retracting force acting when switching the first state and the second state of the arm 86 will be described. Fig. 14A to 14C are sectional views each showing the vicinity of the shaft 86a of the arm 86 when viewed from the lower surface side of the operation unit 80. Fig. 14A is a sectional view taken along line D-D in fig. 13A, showing a state in which the arm 86 is closed. Fig. 14B is a sectional view taken along line E-E in fig. 13B, showing a state in which the arm 86 is in an intermediate state between the closed state and the open state. Fig. 14C is a sectional view taken along line F-F in fig. 13C, showing a state in which the arm 86 is opened. An arrow shown in the upper right portion of each of fig. 14A to 14C indicates the orientation of the operation unit 80 placed on the top surface 109 of the image forming apparatus 2. The front side as viewed from the front side of the imaging device 2 is referred to as a forward direction F, the depth side (rear side) thereof is referred to as a rearward direction B, the left side thereof is referred to as a leftward direction L, and the right side thereof is referred to as a rightward direction R. As shown in fig. 14A to 14C, the positional relationship is such that the protruding portion 86b of the arm 86 is in contact with any one of the inclined surface 88a1, the horizontal surface 88a2, and the inclined surface 88a3 of the bearing 88a in accordance with the open-closed state of the arm 86.

As shown in fig. 14A, when the arm 86 is closed, the attachment face 86e warps in the right direction R. Therefore, a force for restoring the attachment face 86e to the non-warped state (i.e., a restoring force in the leftward direction L) acts thereon, thereby generating an inclined-surface pressing force FaL that causes the protruding portion 86b to press the inclined surface 88a 1. The inclined-surface pressing force FaL acts on the inclined surface 88a 1. Therefore, due to the pressing force Fa regarded as the inclined-surface pressing force FaL in the direction of the inclined surface 88a1, the protruding portion 86b continuously slides on the inclined surface 88a1 until the opening and closing angle is regulated.

Similarly, as shown in fig. 14C, when the arm 86 is opened, the attachment face 86e warps in the right direction R. Therefore, a force for restoring the attachment face 86e to the non-warped state (i.e., a restoring force in the leftward direction L) acts thereon, thereby generating an inclined-surface pressing force FcL that presses the protruding portion 86b against the inclined surface 88a 3. The inclined-surface pressing force FcL acts on the inclined surface 88a 3. Therefore, due to the pressing force Fc regarded as the inclined-surface pressing force FcL in the direction of the inclined surface 88a3, the protruding portion 86b continuously slides on the inclined surface 88a3 until the opening and closing angle is regulated.

With this configuration, the force for sliding the projection portion 86b on the inclined surface is converted into a force for opening and closing the arm 86 by the shaft 86a, so that a retracting force is generated when switching the first state and the second state of the arm 86.

As shown in fig. 14B, when the arm 86 enters an intermediate state between the closed state and the open state, the attachment face 86e is also warped in the right direction R. Therefore, a force for restoring the attachment face 86e to the non-warped state (i.e., a restoring force in the leftward direction L) acts thereon, thereby generating a horizontal surface pressing force Fb that presses the protruding portion 86b against the horizontal surface 88a 2. Since the horizontal-surface pressing force Fb acts on the horizontal surface 88a2, a sliding force in the forward direction F or the backward direction B is not generated on the protruding portion 86B. Therefore, the retracting force acting when switching the first state and the second state of the arm 86 is not generated.

In the present exemplary embodiment, a configuration in which rubber feet 85 (an example of a contact portion) are arranged at four positions of the operation unit 80 placed on the top surface 109 of the image forming apparatus 2 has been described as an example. However, it is also possible to arrange the rubber legs 85 at two positions by connecting the rubber legs 85 to each other. Further, although the integral arm 86 is described as an example, the arm 86 may be divided into two or more parts.

Next, a modification of the above-described angle adjustment mechanism will be described. In the angle adjustment mechanism, the inclination angle a of the operation unit 80 can be set to only two stages. Therefore, the operation unit 80 having the threaded leg 185A serving as the stepless angle adjustment mechanism will be described with reference to fig. 15A and 15B.

Fig. 15A is a side view of the operation unit 80 (operation unit angle a is 15 degrees) when the screw leg 185A is shortened. Fig. 15B is a side view of the operation unit 80 (operation unit angle a is 25 degrees) when the screw leg 185a is extended. Fig. 16A is a perspective view of the lower surface side of the operation unit 80 when the screw leg 185a is shortened. Fig. 16B is a perspective view of the lower surface side of the operation unit 80 when the screw leg 185a is extended.

As shown in fig. 16B, the threaded leg 185a is attached to the operation unit 80 by a threaded portion 185B. Therefore, as shown in fig. 16A and 16B, the screw leg 185a is attached to the operation unit 80 in an extendable state.

In the present exemplary embodiment, the angle can be adjusted steplessly by providing the threaded leg 185 a. Therefore, the user can adjust the operation unit angle a to an arbitrary angle at which the display panel 82 can be easily viewed.

However, in this mechanism, if the operating unit angle a is to be further increased, the threaded portion 185b must be made longer. In this case, a storage portion (not shown) of the threaded portion 185b when the threaded leg 185a is shortened must be accommodated in a space formed at the operation unit angle a of the operation unit 80 when the threaded leg 185a is shortened.

Fig. 16C is a schematic view of the threaded leg 185a and the threaded portion 185 b. The threaded leg 185a and the threaded portion 185b are collectively referred to as a support member. As shown in fig. 16C, a screw groove is formed on the screw portion 185b, and the screw portion 185b is screwed into a screw hole formed in the bottom of the operation unit 80. The user adjusts the amount by which the threaded portion 185b protrudes from the operation unit 80 by holding and rotating the threaded leg 185a to adjust the separation distance between the top surface 109 and the bottom surface of the operation unit 80.

Fig. 17 is a diagram showing a configuration in which the cable 90 is drawn out in the vertical direction from the lower side (bottom surface side) of the support base 821. As shown in fig. 17, a lead-out port 95 is formed on the bottom surface side of the support base 821, and the cable 90 is led out to the outside of the operation unit 80 through the lead-out port. In addition, a clamp member 96 is attached to the bottom surface side of the support base 821 at a position on the depth side of the lead-out port 95. Since the clamp member 96 for the cable 90 is provided on the depth side of the outlet port 95, the cable 90 is fixed on the support base 821 and extends from the outlet port 95 toward the rear side of the operation unit 80.

< numerical value input Unit >

Next, the numerical value input unit 861 will be described with reference to fig. 18A to 18D. The numerical value input unit 861 is an optional external unit that can be attached and detached according to a request of the user.

In the present exemplary embodiment, with reference to fig. 18A to 18D, the numerical value input unit 861 will be described as a hard key unit that is freely placed on the top surface 109 in a similar manner to the operation unit 80. Fig. 18A is a top surface view, fig. 18B is a right side surface view, fig. 18C is a perspective view of the top surface, and fig. 18D is a perspective view of the lower surface.

The numerical value input unit 861 includes numerical keys 861c (an example of numerical keys), a start key 861a, and a stop key 861b, and the user operates the numerical value input unit 861 while viewing the display panel 82 of the operation unit 80. The numeric keys 861c are hardware keys for inputting numerical information of 0 to 9. These hardware keys are exposed from the frame 871. The numerical value input unit 861 is placed on the top surface 109 in a movable state by rubber legs 861 d.

Here, in a state where operation surface J of numerical value input unit 861 is positioned substantially on the right side of display panel 82 of operation unit 80, operation surface C of operation unit 80 and operation surface J of numerical value input unit 861 are aligned substantially on the same plane. The operation surface J is a surface parallel to the frame 871 located between the numeric keys 861 c. With this configuration, when the user operates one of the numerical value input unit 861 and the display panel 82, the user is less likely to press a key of the other unit, so that the occurrence of erroneous operation can be reduced.

In particular, in the present exemplary embodiment, since the user operates the numerical value input unit 861 while viewing the display of the operation unit 80, good operability can be obtained when the numerical value input unit 861 and the operation unit 80 are arranged close to each other. In the case where there is a difference in height between the surfaces of the operation unit 80 and the numerical value input unit 861, in order to prevent an erroneous operation, it is necessary to arrange the operation unit 80 and the numerical value input unit 861 at a certain distance. Therefore, the operability will be reduced.

In the present exemplary embodiment, the numerical value input unit 861 is arranged on the right side of the operation unit 80. However, the numerical value input unit 861 may be arranged on the left side thereof. Therefore, good operability can be obtained also for a left-handed user.

Further, by making the inclination angle of the frame 871 of the numerical value input unit 861 with respect to the top surface 109 slightly gentler than the inclination angle of the display surface 820 with respect to the top surface 109, the operability of the user can be improved. In the case where the inclination angle of the frame 871 of the numerical value input unit 861 with respect to the top surface 109 is steeper and higher than the inclination angle of the display surface 820 with respect to the top surface 109, the display surface 820 may be obstructed by the numerical value input unit 861 and may not be observable by a user standing beside the user who is operating the operation unit 80. By making the inclination angle of the frame 871 of the numerical value input unit 861 with respect to the top surface 109 gentler than the inclination angle of the display surface 820 with respect to the top surface 109, the risk of occurrence of such a problem can be reduced.

While the present disclosure has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that the disclosure is not limited to the disclosed exemplary embodiments. The scope of the following claims is to be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent structures and functions.