JPH0980986A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To execute operation while looking at a display part and to improve operability by providing a display part for displaying the state of a mechanism part inside an equipment to the outside of the title device and a pivoting means for pivoting the display part. SOLUTION: A transparent touch panel 1 and a liquid crystal display part 2 superimposed on the panel 1 are arranged on a control panel 5 and a gear 3 fitted to one edge of the liquid crystal display part 2 is driven by a step motor, to pivot the part 2. In a normal state, the display part 2 is located on the lower side of the touch panel 1, an operating method, a function selecting picture, an operating state, etc., are displayed in the display part 2 and visually recognized through the transparent touch panel 1 and a desired function can be selected by touching a fixed part. For instance, when jamming occurs, the fact is displayed in the display part 2. When an operator opens a front cover, the display part 2 is pivoted as well. In this state, at the time of executing jam processing, the operator can confirm the display in the display part 2 and execute the operation, in the state where he or she stoops down.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

[Object of the invention]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine or a printer having an image display section.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, there has been proposed an image forming apparatus having a liquid crystal display section provided on an operation panel section for an operator to operate the apparatus. With such a configuration, there is an advantage that necessary information can be converted into characters or animation and displayed more concretely, and by combining with a touch panel, it is possible to reduce the number of operation buttons.

FIG. 7 is a schematic perspective view of an image forming apparatus having a liquid crystal display section. The operation panel 105 is provided with a liquid crystal display section 101, and the operation mode, state, etc. of the apparatus. Can be displayed in a timely manner. FIG. 8 shows an example in which the liquid crystal display unit 101 displays the occurrence of a jam, whereby the operator releases the openable / closable lid body which is usually provided on the front side of the apparatus main body. ,
The transfer material clogged at the position indicated by the display section is removed, and after confirming that the display on the liquid crystal display section has disappeared, the work is restarted.

In the image forming apparatus as described above, the operation panel having the liquid crystal display section is in a state in which it is easy for an operator standing upright to see, that is, a position where it is easy to see from the direction A in FIG. It is arranged in a posture. However, in the event of a jam as described above, the operator releases the front cover and then
It is necessary to lower the posture and remove the jammed transfer material from the mechanism inside the apparatus at a low position as it is.

Jam processing and the like is not a trivial amount of work by itself, but when complicated work is required, it is necessary to stand up and visually confirm the display many times during work in order to confirm the progress status of the work. There was a problem that workability was poor.

The present invention has been made in order to cope with such a situation, and is provided with a display section for displaying the state of the mechanical section inside the equipment, in which an operator works while observing the display section. It is an object of the present invention to provide an image forming apparatus which is capable of performing the above and has good workability.

[0007]

Configuration of the Invention

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention provides an image forming apparatus having display means for displaying toward the outside of the image forming apparatus.
In the image forming apparatus (1) characterized by comprising rotating means for rotating the display means, or in the above (1), the rotating means responds to opening and closing of a front cover of the image forming apparatus. An image forming apparatus (2) characterized by the above, or
In any one of the above (1) or (2),
An image forming apparatus (3), characterized in that the display means and the input means for inputting thereto rotate as a unit, or
The image forming apparatus (4), which is arranged inside the image forming apparatus and has a display means for displaying toward the outside of the apparatus by a reflection means, or the above-mentioned (4) In the image forming apparatus (5), wherein the reflecting means rotates in response to opening and closing of the front cover of the image forming apparatus, or in the above (1) to (5), the rotating means is driven. The image forming apparatus (6) characterized in that the source is a motor, or in any one of the above (1) to (5), the rotating means is a link mechanism that interlocks with the front cover. Image forming apparatus (7).

With this configuration, when an accident such as a jam is to be dealt with, the worker can perform the work while leaning against the mechanical portion in the apparatus, and the workability can be improved.

[0009]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS "FIG. 1" and "FIG. 2" are side sectional views of the essential part showing a first embodiment of the present invention. These figures show the image formation as shown in "FIG. 7" above. Only the operation panel part of the device is shown.

FIG. 1 shows a case where the image forming apparatus is operating normally. A transparent touch panel 1 and a liquid crystal display section 2 are provided on the operation panel 5 so as to overlap the liquid crystal display. The gear 3 attached to one edge of the portion 2 is driven by an appropriate drive source such as a step motor,
And the liquid crystal display unit 2 is rotated as described later.

In the normal state, as described above, the liquid crystal display unit 2 is located below the touch panel 1 to display the operation method,
Displays the function selection screen and normal operation status. The operator can visually recognize this state through the transparent touch panel 1 and touch a predetermined portion to select a desired function.

For example, when a jam has occurred, the liquid crystal display unit 2 indicates the occurrence of the jam, its location, etc., as illustrated in FIG. 8 described above. As a result, when the operator opens the front cover (the portion indicated by reference numeral 13 in FIG. 7) of the apparatus main body, a drive source (not shown) is activated to rotate the gears 4 and 3, and the liquid crystal display unit 2 is displayed. 2 ”to rotate.

When the liquid crystal display section 2 is in such a state,
When the operator bends down to jam the image forming portion below the apparatus main body, the operator can perform the work while keeping the body as it is and checking the liquid crystal display unit. After the work is completed, the drive source is activated by closing the front cover 13, the gear 4 rotates in the opposite direction, and the state shown in FIG. 1 is restored.

FIG. 3 is a side sectional view of the essential part showing the second embodiment. On the operation panel 5, a transparent touch panel 1 and a liquid crystal display unit 2 are integrally arranged so as to overlap each other to form a liquid crystal operation unit 6, which is used in a normal state in the same manner as that shown in FIG. it can.

When the front cover 13 is released due to an accident such as a jam and the liquid crystal display unit 2 is rotated through the gears 4 and 3, the touch panel 1 is moved to the liquid crystal display unit 2 as shown in FIG.
Rotate with it to take the position shown in the figure.

Therefore, since the jam can be removed and the touch panel can be easily touched, it is possible to carry out the forward or backward instruction for the jam removal displayed on the liquid crystal display without changing the posture. It will be easier to use.

In a command mode called a service mode, which is used by a service person for maintenance, various settings can be made while looking at the inside of the device, which contributes to improvement of serviceability and maintainability.

FIG. 4 shows a modification of the device of the above-mentioned embodiment. In this device, the touch panel 1 and the liquid crystal display unit 2 are integrally formed to form the liquid crystal operating unit 6. When in the rotation position as shown in the drawing, the abutting member 7 provided at a proper position on the apparatus main body-side immovable portion is arranged to contact the back thereof. With this configuration,
Since the member 7 receives the force when the touch panel 1 is touched, the operation feeling is improved. Further, by using the member 7 as the positioning means, the cost can be reduced.

It can be easily understood that, with such a structure, the devices shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 have the same operational effects as the device shown in FIG. 1 described above. Further, it goes without saying that the liquid crystal display unit 2 to the liquid crystal operating unit 6 can be manually rotated as necessary.

FIG. 5 is a sectional side view of the essential part showing the third embodiment. The operation panel 5 is provided with the transparent touch panel 1, and the liquid crystal display unit 2 is rotatably provided under the transparent touch panel 1, which is the same as that of each of the above-described embodiments, and corresponds to them. The same reference numerals are attached to the parts to be shown.

The liquid crystal display unit 2 is attached to an end of an arm 11 rotatably provided on a shaft 17 mounted in the main body of the apparatus, and a link 12 is rotatably attached to the other end of the arm 11. It is attached to.

The other end of the link 12 is rotatably attached to one end of an arm 10 rotatably arranged on a shaft 9 fixed at a proper position in the apparatus. In addition, the front cover 1 of the device body
A protrusion 8 is provided on the upper portion of the armature 3 so that when the cover 13 is closed, it is brought into contact with the end portion of the arm 10 opposite to the link 12.

With such a structure, when the front cover 13 is closed and brought to the position of the reference numeral [13], the arm 10 is moved to the position of the reference numeral [10] by the protrusion 8. As a result, the link 12 comes to the position of the code [12], the arm 11 takes the code [11], and the liquid crystal display unit 2 comes under the touch panel 1 shown by the code [2] to operate normally.

The front cover 13 for handling accidents such as jams
When is released, the arm 10 is released from the projection 8 and can be in the position shown by the solid line in the figure, and the liquid crystal display unit 2 is rotated from the position of the reference numeral [2] and also takes the position of the solid line. . Therefore, the same effects as those of the above-described respective embodiments can be obtained thereafter.

FIG. 6 is a side sectional view of the essential portion showing the fourth embodiment of the present invention. A liquid crystal display unit 16 is arranged in the main body of the image forming apparatus, and the liquid crystal display unit 16 is provided on the front cover 13 via a mirror 15 supported by a stay 14.
Can be viewed from above the touch panel 1. In the normal operating state, the operator thus observes the display and touches the touch panel with his / her hand to select a function. In this case, it goes without saying that a vertically inverted image is displayed on the display unit so that the display on the liquid crystal display unit looks normal when viewed from the upper outside.

When a jam occurs, if the front cover 13 is released to correct the jam, the cover 13 is released and the mirror 15 is also removed from the front of the liquid crystal display unit 16. , The liquid crystal display unit 16 can be seen in the state of being bent down for jam clearance. At this time, the upside down display is switched so that the display section of the liquid crystal display section looks normal to the operator.

In the above apparatus, the mirror 15 is fixed to the front cover 13, but it may be rotatable on the main body side (not shown) so that the mirror can be retracted when the front cover is opened. Further, it will be easily understood that the mirrors can be appropriately combined to eliminate the need for switching the image on the liquid crystal display unit.

With this configuration, the operator can perform the processing operation while looking at the liquid crystal display unit without changing the posture during the jam processing. Further, in this device, the liquid crystal display unit can be fixedly arranged, so that the reliability of the device can be improved.

[0029]

As described above, according to the present invention,
In an image forming apparatus in which a liquid crystal display unit is provided on the operation panel portion to know the state of the apparatus main body and a required operation can be performed, the liquid crystal display unit is viewed from above the operation panel during normal operation. In addition, when an accident such as a jam occurs, the operator can perform the accident processing while looking down at the liquid crystal display while bending down to handle the accident. Has a remarkable effect on the improvement of.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side sectional view showing a mode of a main part of an operation panel section of an image forming apparatus during normal operation, showing a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side sectional view of a main part showing a state at the time of handling an accident.

FIG. 3 is a side sectional view of an essential part of a second embodiment of the present invention showing a state at the time of handling an accident.

FIG. 4 is a side sectional view of a main part showing the above-described deformation device.

FIG. 5 is a side sectional view of an essential part showing the configuration and action of a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a side sectional view showing a mode of a fourth embodiment of the present invention at the time of normal operation.

FIG. 7 is a schematic perspective view of an image forming apparatus suitable for applying the present invention.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing a part of the same operation panel as above.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Touch panel 2 Liquid crystal display part 3, 4 Gear 5 Operation panel 7 Abutting member 10, 11 Arm 12 Link 13 Front cover 15 Mirror 16 Liquid crystal display part

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. An image forming apparatus comprising a display means for displaying toward the outside of the image forming apparatus, comprising an rotating means for rotating the display means. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the rotating means responds to opening and closing of a front cover of the image forming apparatus. 3. An image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the display means and the input means for inputting the display means rotate integrally. 4. An image forming apparatus, characterized by comprising display means which is disposed inside the image forming apparatus and which displays by a reflecting means toward the outside of the apparatus. 5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the reflecting means rotates in response to opening and closing of the front cover of the image forming apparatus. 6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the driving source of the rotating means is a motor. 7. The "claim 1" to "claim 5" characterized in that the rotating means is a link mechanism interlocking with the front cover.
The image forming apparatus according to any one of the above.