Patent Application
20250004410
Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to an extended operation unit such as a numeric keypad that is removably attachable to a control panel of, for example, an image forming apparatus and an image forming apparatus to which the extended operation unit is attached.
An extended operation unit such as a numeric keypad is removably attached as an option to some image forming apparatuses such as copiers, printers, facsimiles, or multifunction peripherals having at least two of copying, printing, and facsimile functions.
For example, Patent Literature (PTL) 1 (Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2021-086035) discloses an image forming apparatus that includes a numeric keypad as an extended operation unit removably attached to a side end of a control panel disposed at an upper front of the image forming apparatus. The numeric keypad includes a pair of insertion pins and one hook disposed between the pair of insertion pins.
The pair of insertion pins is inserted into a pair of pin insertion holes at the side end of the control panel while the hook is engaged with an engaged part inside the control panel through a hook hole at the side end of the control panel. Thus, the numeric keypad is attached to the control panel.
However, since the insertion pins of the numeric keypad are elongated in the lateral direction, the numeric keypad is easily inclined when an external force is unexpectedly applied to the insertion pins. In addition, the insertion pins are easily inclined due to variation in tolerance of components. When the insertion pins are inclined, the insertion pins are hardly inserted into the pin insertion holes of the control panel.
Further, in order to firmly support the insertion pins with the numeric keypad to prevent the elongated insertion pins from being easily inclined, respective base end portions of the insertion pins are to be extended deeply into the numeric keypad. However, in this case, an internal space of the numeric keypad is occupied by the base end portions of the insertion pins, resulting in reduction of a space in which the components of the numeric keypad are disposed. The elongated insertion pins also create a dead space in the control panel.
In light of the above-described problems, it is an object of the present invention to provide an extended operation unit that maintains a strength sufficient to be attached to an operation unit of an apparatus body without elongated insertion pins.
An extended operation unit attachable to an attachment face of an operation unit of an apparatus body in an attachment direction perpendicular to the attachment face includes a pair of projecting portions and a grip portion disposed between the pair of projecting portions.
The pair of projecting portions is engageable with a pair of positioning holes of the attachment face of the operation unit. The grip portion extends in the attachment direction beyond end portions of the pair of projecting portions. The grip portion sandwiches and grips, from front and back in the attachment direction, a gripped portion disposed inside the operation unit.
An image forming apparatus includes the extended operation unit that is removable.
According to one aspect of the present disclosure, an extended operation unit maintains a strength sufficient to be attached to an operation unit of an apparatus body without elongated insertion pins.
A more complete appreciation of the embodiments and many of the attendant advantages and features thereof can be readily obtained and understood from the following detailed description with reference to the accompanying drawings.
The accompanying drawings are intended to depict example embodiments of the present invention and should not be interpreted to limit the scope thereof. The accompanying drawings are not to be considered as drawn to scale unless explicitly noted. Also, identical or similar reference numerals designate identical or similar components throughout the several views.
In describing embodiments illustrated in the drawings, specific terminology is employed for the sake of clarity. However, the disclosure of this specification is not intended to be limited to the specific terminology so selected and it is to be understood that each specific element includes all technical equivalents that have a similar function, operate in a similar manner, and achieve a similar result.
Referring now to the drawings, embodiments of the present disclosure are described below. As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. For the sake of simplicity, like reference numerals are given to identical or corresponding constituent elements such as parts and materials having the same functions, and redundant descriptions thereof are simplified or omitted unless otherwise required.
Now, a description is given of the overall configuration of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.
The image forming apparatus 1 includes a sheet feeding unit 4, a document reading unit 5, and a sheet ejection unit 6. The sheet feeding unit 4 includes, for example, an input tray. The sheet ejection unit 6 includes, for example, an output tray 61. The image forming apparatus 1 further includes, for example, an image bearer, a transfer unit, and a fixing device inside the image forming apparatus 1.
As a printing operation starts, a sheet as a recording medium is supplied from the sheet feeding unit 4 into the image forming apparatus 1. Then, an image is transferred to the image bearer in an image forming process according to image data of a print job.
The image is transferred from the image bearer onto the sheet conveyed through a conveyance passage. The sheet bearing the transferred image is conveyed to the fixing device, which fixes toner of the image on the sheet. The sheet bearing the fixed image is output to the output tray 61.
As illustrated in
A numeric keypad 20 as an extended operation unit or a function expansion device is removably attached to the control panel 10. Current control panels often employ the touch panel system. However, such control panels employing the touch panel system may fail to provide a sufficient operational feeling or may require several steps of operations to display numbers 0 to 9 on the panel and allow the numbers 0 to 9 to be input.
An operator who is not familiar with the touch panel system may prefer the numeric keypad 20, which is a physical switch. Accordingly, the numeric keypad 20 optionally attached to the control panel 10 enhances the operability of the control panel 10 of the image forming apparatus 1.
The numeric keypad 20 and the control panel 10 have substantially the same length in the vertical direction (i.e., the length of the numeric keypad 20 in a longitudinal direction of the numeric keypad 20). When the numeric keypad 20 is attached to the control panel 10, a panel face of the control panel 10 and a body face of the numeric keypad 20 are at substantially the same height. At least one of such arrangements enhances the design of the operation unit disposed at the body front of the image forming apparatus 1 when the numeric keypad 20 is attached.
The control panel 10 has a side provided with a pair of positioning holes 11 and a laterally elongated opening 13.
In addition, for example, a universal serial bus (USB) insertion hole is disposed on the side of the control panel 10. The pair of positioning holes 11 is a pair of holes into which a pair of projecting portions 21 described below is fitted. The laterally elongated opening 13 is an opening through which a pair of grip portions G described below is inserted into the control panel 10.
Now, a detailed description is given of the numeric keypad 20. As illustrated in
The numeric keys 24 are disposed on an upper side of the body portion 29. The upper side is an operation side of the numeric keypad 20. A longitudinal direction and a short direction of the body portion 29 are parallel to the operation side. An operator presses the numeric keys 24 in a pressing direction B.
Now, a description is given of the pair of projecting portions 21. Each of the projecting portions 21 in a cylindrical shape has an end portion including a tapered face 21a that is tapered toward a distal end of each of the pair of projecting portions 21. The tapered face 21a facilitates insertion and fitting of the pair of projecting portions 21 into the pair of positioning holes 11 of the control panel 10.
Each of the projecting portions 21 is a metal member. When the numeric keypad 20 is electrically connected to the control panel 10 with the pair of projecting portions 21 inserted into the pair of positioning holes 11 of the control panel 10, grounding is ensured through the pair of projecting portions 21 as a pair of conductors.
The pair of projecting portions 21 extends in the short direction of the body portion 29 (i.e., an attachment direction A in which the numeric keypad 20 is attached to the control panel 10). In other words, each of the projecting portions 21 extends in a direction parallel to the upper side of the body portion 29 on which the numeric keys 24 is disposed and in a direction intersecting the longitudinal direction of the body portion 29.
The pair of projecting portions 21 are aligned in the longitudinal direction of the body portion 29. The pair of projecting portions 21 are disposed symmetrically across a longitudinal center position of the body portion 29. Particularly in the present embodiment, one of the projecting portions 21 is disposed near one longitudinal end side of the body portion 29 whereas the other one of the projecting portions 21 is disposed near the other longitudinal end side of the body portion 29.
Now, a description is given of the pair of grip portions G. The grip portions G are disposed as a symmetrical pair in the longitudinal direction of the body portion 29. In other words, the grip portions G are aligned in pair between the pair of projection portions 21 in a direction parallel to a direction in which the pair of projecting portions 21 are aligned. In other words, the symmetrical pair of grip portions G are disposed symmetrically across the longitudinal center position of the body portion 29 between the pair of projecting portions 21. The pair of grip portions G extends in the attachment direction A beyond the end portions of the pair of projecting portions 21. The pair of grip portions G can sandwich and grip, from the front and back in the attachment direction A, a pair of gripped pins 15 as a pair of gripped portions disposed inside the control panel 10. The pair of grip portions G thus disposed as a symmetrical pair allows the numeric keypad 20 to be coupled to the control panel 10 with an increased coupling force.
As illustrated in
An extending portion 56 of the second metal fitting 50 is inserted into an opening 48 of the first metal fitting 40 in a direction indicated by arrow in
After the first metal fitting 40 and the second metal fitting 50 are coupled to each other with screws, screws are inserted into screw holes 51 and 52 of the second metal fitting 50 and screwed into a lower side of the numeric keypad 20. On the other hand, screws are inserted into screw holes 41 of the first metal fitting 40 and screwed into the upper side of the numeric keypad 20. Thus, the pair of projecting portions 21 and the pair of grip portions G are included in the numeric keypad 20 via the first metal fitting 40 and the second metal fitting 50.
The first metal fitting 40 includes a symmetrical pair of arm portions 46 projecting forward (in the attachment direction A) between the pair of projecting portions 21. The pair of arm portions 46 is provided with the pair of grip portions G. Each of the grip portions G includes a hook member 23 that can be engaged with the gripped pin 15 from the front in the attachment direction A in
The receiving portion 46a is a semicircular arc-shaped concave portion formed at an end portion of the arm portion 46. The inclined portion 46b smoothly guides the gripped pin 15 into the receiving portion 46a.
Now, a description is given of attachment of the numeric keypad 20.
As illustrated in
As the pair of projecting portions 21 contacts the frame portions inside the control panel 10, the load of the numeric keypad 20 is supported by the control panel 10.
As illustrated in
By contrast, in one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, the projecting portion 21 has a total length of 2 cm to 3 cm at most. The length (2 cm to 3 cm) is about one fifth of the length (12 cm to 15 cm) of the typical insertion pins. The projecting portion 21 having such an extremely short total length hardly creates a dead space in the control panel 10.
In addition, since the base end portion of the projecting portion 21 does not extend into the numeric keypad 20, the internal space of the numeric keypad 20 is not sacrificed. Further, the projecting portion 21 is not bent or inclined by an unexpectedly acting external force.
The arm portion 46 has a pivot portion 47. The hook member 23 is supported by the pivot portion 47 such that the hook members 23 can rotate in the vertical direction in
A first inclined portion 23a and a second inclined portion 23b are formed at an end portion of the hook member 23.
When the hook member 23 moves in the attachment direction A toward the gripped pin 15, the first inclined portion 23a contacts the gripped pin 15 and moves the hook member 23 in a direction opposite the engagement direction against the biasing member. When the biasing member moves the hook member 23 in the engagement direction after the gripped pins 15 rides over the first inclined portion 23a, the second inclined portion 23b contacts the gripped pin 15 and moves the hook member 23 in the attachment direction A.
In
The receiving portion 46a of the arm portion 46 described above is located behind the vertex 23c of the hook member 23. When the movement of the numeric keypad 20 in the attachment direction A of
The hook member 23 is rotated and returned upward about the pivot portion 47 by the biasing member while the gripped pin 15 is received as illustrated in
Since the gripped pin 15 is sandwiched between the second inclined portion 23b and the receiving portion 46a while the resilient force of the biasing member acts on the gripped pin 15 at the second inclined portion 23b, the hook member 23 and therefore the numeric keypad 20 are pulled in the attachment direction A. Thus, the gripped pin 15 is sandwiched and held from the front and back in the attachment direction A by the hook member 23 and the receiving portion 46a.
The numeric keypad 20 and the control panel 10 are thus coupled to each other in good conditions prevent rattling of the numeric keypad 20 particularly in the attachment direction A. Since the gripped pin 15 is fitted to the semicircular arc-shaped receiving portion 46a while the pair of projecting portions 21 is fitted to the pair of positioning holes 11, the rattling of the numeric keypad 20 in the vertical and lateral directions is also prevented.
As described above, in the present embodiment, the numeric keypad 20 is attached to the control panel 10 in good conditions without rattling simply by inserting the projecting portion 21 into the positioning hole 11 in the attachment direction A and engaging the hook member 23 with the gripped pin 15. Such a configuration renders an operation such as screwing unnecessary and facilitates attachment and removal of the numeric keypad 20 to and from the control panel 10.
The above-described embodiments are illustrative and do not limit the present invention. Thus, numerous additional modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings. For example, elements and/or features of different illustrative embodiments may be combined with each other and/or substituted for each other within the scope of the present invention. For example, the image forming apparatus of the embodiments of the present disclosure is not limited to an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, and may be, for example, an inkjet image forming apparatus. In the present embodiment, a button-type numeric keypad has been described as an extended operation unit. However, in an alternative embodiment of the present disclosure, the extended operation unit may be a touch-panel numeric input device.
The extended operation unit is not limited to a numeric keypad, and may be, for example, an authentication device such as an integrated circuit (IC) card reader or a keyboard. Examples of the recording medium include, but are not limited to, plain paper, thick paper, a postcard, an envelope, thin paper, coated paper, art paper, tracing paper, an overhead projector (OHP) transparency, a plastic film, prepreg, and copper foil. Although the pair of grip portions G is disposed as a symmetrical pair in the embodiment described above, a single grip portion G may be disposed at a longitudinal center portion of the numeric keypad 20 (i.e., an intermediate portion between the pair of projecting portions 21).
This patent application is based on and claims priority to Japanese Patent Application No. 2021-209315, filed on Dec. 23, 2021, in the Japan Patent Office, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021-209315 | Dec 2021 | JP | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/IB2022/058442 | 9/8/2022 | WO |
