Switch mechanism and image forming apparatus

Abstract

This reduces the space occupied by the switch mechanism in the product, enabling miniaturization of the product. [Solution] The device includes a switch board on which a button that moves when pressed in one direction and a switch whose signal changes when pressed in one direction are mounted, and which is arranged such that the direction in which the button is pressed intersects the direction in which the switch is pressed, and an intermediate member which is placed between the button and the switch and transmits the force that presses the button in a first direction to the switch as a force that presses in a second direction intersecting the first direction.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a switch mechanism that switches a switch signal by pressing a button, and an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a printer, a facsimile machine, etc. provided with the same.

Background Art

[0002] Some image forming apparatuses have a button for turning on the power of the apparatus main body on the front of the product in order to ensure operability. The user operates a switch mounted on a substrate via the button. At that time, in order to notify the user of the switch operation feeling, a switch with a click feeling is adopted.

[0003] In particular, a switch mounted on a switch substrate is used for the switch for turning on / off the power. The switch is arranged so that the surface for pressing the switch is substantially perpendicular to the direction of pressing the button, from the click feeling of the switch for the user and the simplicity of the configuration. In other words, the direction of pressing the button and the direction of pressing the switch are the same direction, and the surface for pressing the button which is the user operation surface and the surface for pressing the switch which is the switch pressed surface are arranged substantially parallel.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] However, if the buttons and switches are arranged as described above, the circuit board on which the switches are mounted will protrude from the button area in the vertical and horizontal directions. Therefore, the dimensions of the edges of the image forming apparatus must be increased. For example, if the buttons are placed near the top surface, the dimensions of the upper edge of the image forming apparatus must be increased, which presents a challenge in miniaturizing the product. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] A typical configuration of the present invention is characterized by comprising: a switch board on which a button that moves when pressed in one direction and a switch whose signal is switched when pressed in one direction are mounted, and which is arranged such that the direction in which the button is pressed intersects the direction in which the switch is pressed; and an intermediate member positioned between the button and the switch, which transmits the force that presses the button in a first direction to the switch as a force that presses in a second direction intersecting the first direction. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the present invention, the space occupied by the switch mechanism in the product can be reduced, making it possible to miniaturize the product. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0008] [Figure 1] External perspective view of an image forming apparatus [Figure 2] External perspective view of an image forming apparatus [Figure 3] Schematic cross-sectional view of the power button and surrounding components. [Figure 4] A perspective view from below of the switch mechanism, which incorporates the intermediate component, switch board, and board holder. [Figure 5] A perspective view from below of the switch mechanism, which includes the switch board and board holder. [Figure 6] Perspective view of the intermediate member from below. [Figure 7] Perspective view of the intermediate member from above. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0009] Hereinafter, an embodiment of an image forming apparatus equipped with a switch mechanism according to the present invention will be specifically described with reference to the drawings. Note that the dimensions, materials, and relative positions of the components of the image forming apparatus shown below do not limit the scope of the present invention to those components unless otherwise specifically stated. Furthermore, components denoted by the same reference numerals in the drawings have the same configuration or function, and redundant explanations of these components will be omitted as appropriate.

[0010] In the following explanation, the directions U (upward), D (downward), R (rightward), L (leftward), B (rearward), and F (forward) shown in Figure 1 are defined as follows: The side of the image forming apparatus 1 shown in Figure 1 on which the power button 201 is located is defined as the front, and the opposite side is defined as the rear. Furthermore, the direction perpendicular to the front-to-back direction and vertically upward is defined as the upward direction, and the direction perpendicular to the front-to-back direction and vertically downward is defined as the downward direction. In addition, the side on which the power button 201 is located, which is one side of the direction perpendicular to the front-to-back direction and horizontal to the up-to-down direction, is defined as the left side, and the opposite side is defined as the right side.

[0011] Furthermore, in the following explanation, the first direction will be defined as the front-back direction, the second direction perpendicular to the first direction as the up-down direction, and the third direction perpendicular to both the first and second directions as the left-right direction.

[0012] An image forming apparatus 100 equipped with a switch mechanism will be described using Figures 1 to 3. Figures 1 and 2 are perspective views of the image forming apparatus 100 in this embodiment, viewed from the front. Figure 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the components surrounding the power button 201, viewed from the left side, when the front cover 151 is closed.

[0013] The image forming apparatus 100 has an image forming unit (not shown) for forming images on sheets, and a sheet feeding device (not shown) for feeding sheets one by one to the image forming unit, and forms images on sheets.

[0014] The image forming apparatus 100 includes a switch mechanism 200. The switch mechanism 200 has a power button 201, a switch board 202 on which a switch 203 is mounted, and an intermediate member 210.

[0015] The power button 201 is a button that moves when pushed in one direction. The switch board 202 has a switch 203 mounted thereon that switches signals when pushed in one direction. Here, the switch 203 is an example of a power switch that switches the on / off of the power of the image forming apparatus 100. The switch board 202 is arranged such that the direction in which the switch 203 is pushed intersects the direction in which the power button 201 is pushed. The intermediate member 210 is arranged between the power button 201 and the switch 203. The intermediate member 210 transmits the force of pushing the power button 201 in the rearward direction B as a force pushing in the upward direction U that intersects the rearward direction B to the switch 203.

[0016] The power button 201 that constitutes the switch mechanism 200 is a button for pushing the switch 203 that switches the on / off of the power of the image forming apparatus 100, and here it is arranged at the upper left of the front of the image forming apparatus 100 as shown in FIG. 1.

[0017] The image forming apparatus 100 includes an exterior cover (exterior member) that forms the exterior thereof. Here, as the exterior cover, a front cover 151 that forms the front exterior of the image forming apparatus 100 and a top cover 152 that forms the top exterior of the image forming apparatus 100 are exemplified.

[0018] The front cover 151 as the exterior cover is provided on the front of the image forming apparatus 100 so as to be openable and closable. As shown in FIG. 1, the power button 201 is arranged movably on the front cover 151 of the image forming apparatus 100. When the front cover 151 is opened as shown in FIG. 2, the internal inner cover 153 appears. The intermediate member 210 is arranged at a position on the inner cover 153 that faces the power button 201 when the front cover 151 is closed. The intermediate member 210 is covered by the front cover 151 in the closed position shown in FIG. 1.

[0019] Next, with reference to FIGS. 3 to 7, the configuration of the switch mechanism 200 that switches the on / off state of the power supply of the image forming apparatus 100 by pressing the power button 201 will be described in detail. FIG. 4 is a perspective view in which the intermediate member 210, the switch substrate 202, and the substrate holder 220 are incorporated. FIG. 5 is a perspective view in which only the switch substrate 202 and the substrate holder 220 are incorporated. FIGS. 4 and 5 are perspective views of the switch mechanism viewed from below. FIGS. 6 and 7 are perspective views showing details of the intermediate member 210. FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the intermediate member 210 viewed from below, and FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the intermediate member 210 viewed from above.

[0020] As described above, the switch mechanism 200 includes a power button 201, a switch substrate 202 on which a switch 203 is mounted, and an intermediate member 210. Further, the switch mechanism 200 includes a substrate holder 220. The substrate holder 220 is a holding member that holds the switch substrate 202 and pivotally supports the intermediate member 210 rotatably.

[0021] The power button 201 is held slidably in the moving direction X with respect to the front cover 151, and a part of it forms the outer surface of the image forming apparatus 100 together with the front cover 151.

[0022] The switch 203 is mounted on one surface (mounting surface) of the switch substrate 202. The switch substrate 202 is arranged such that the mounting surface of the switch 203 is parallel to the top cover 152, and the switch pressed surface of the switch 203 faces downward in the direction D. In other words, the switch substrate 202 is arranged such that the direction of pressing the switch 203 (upward direction U) intersects the direction of pressing the power button 201 (rearward direction B).

[0023] The intermediate member 210 is positioned near the power button 201. The intermediate member 210 has coaxial shafts 211 and 212 and is rotatably positioned between the power button 201 and the switch 203. The shafts 211 and 212 of the intermediate member 210 are rotatably supported by bearing portions 221 and 222 of the substrate holder 220, respectively, and are rotatable in the rotational direction r.

[0024] The intermediate member 210 is provided with a power button contact surface 213 on one end and a switch contact surface 214 on the other end, in a direction perpendicular to the centers of the rotation axes 211 and 212. The power button contact surface 213 is a first contact portion that faces the power button 201 and can contact the power button 201 in the direction of pressing the power button 201 (rear direction B). The switch contact surface 214 is a second contact portion that faces the switch 203 and can contact the switch 203 in the direction of pressing the switch 203 (upward direction U).

[0025] As shown in Figure 3, the contact area between the power button contact surface 213 and the power button 201 is located below the rotation axes 211 and 212 in the vertical direction, and to the right of the power button contact surface 213 in the front-to-back direction (BF direction). In other words, the positional relationship between the contact area between the power button contact surface 213 and the intermediate member 210 and the rotation axes 211 and 212 is such that when the power button 201 moves to the left and presses the intermediate member 210, a moment is applied from the power button contact surface 213 to the intermediate member 210 that causes the intermediate member 210 to rotate clockwise.

[0026] On the other hand, as shown in Figure 3, the contact portion between the switch contact surface 214 and the switch 203 is located to the left of the power button contact surface 213 in the front-to-back direction (BF direction), and above the rotation axes 211 and 212 in the up-to-down direction.

[0027] Due to this positional relationship, the following effect can be expected when the intermediate member 210 rotates clockwise in Figure 3. When the power button 201 is pressed in the rear direction B, the power button 201 pushes the power button contact surface 213 of the intermediate member 210 in the rear direction B, causing the intermediate member 210 to rotate around the rotation axes 211 and 212. This rotation causes the switch contact surface 214 to push the switch 203 in the upward direction U. In other words, the intermediate member 210 transmits the force pushing the power button 201 in the rear direction B (first direction) to the switch 203 as an upward force U that intersects the rear direction B.

[0028] With the above configuration, when a user operates the switch mechanism 200, pressing the power button 201 allows them to press the switch 203 via the intermediate member 210.

[0029] The switch mechanism 200 also includes stoppers 223 and 224, which are restricting parts that prevent the intermediate member 210 from rotating beyond a predetermined limit in the direction of pressing the switch 203. Here, a configuration is shown in which the stoppers 223 and 224 are provided on the substrate holder 220, which is a holding member. The stoppers 223 and 224 are positioned on both sides in the left-right direction of the switch 203 mounted on the switch substrate 202. The intermediate member 210 is also provided with stopper contact surfaces 215 and 216 that face the stoppers 223 and 224. The stopper contact surfaces 215 and 216 are positioned on both sides in the left-right direction of the switch contact surface 214. As a result, when the intermediate member 210 rotates due to pressing the power button 201, the stopper contact surfaces 215 and 216 come into contact with the stoppers 223 and 224, preventing the switch contact surface 214 of the intermediate member 210 from pressing the switch 203 too far.

[0030] The switch board 202 also has recesses 204 and 205 that narrow the width of the mounting surface for the switch 203. The stoppers 223 and 224 are provided within the recesses 204 and 205 of the switch board 202, respectively. This allows the stoppers 223 and 224 to be positioned inside the width of the switch board 202. The stopper contact surfaces 215 and 216 provided on the intermediate member 210 can also be positioned inside the width of the switch board 202. Therefore, the size of the intermediate member 210 is kept from increasing. With this configuration, a space-saving design can be achieved in which the switch 203 is not subjected to a load exceeding the allowable load when the user presses the power button 201.

[0031] The intermediate member 210 will now be described in detail. The switch board 202 is positioned so that the mounting surface of the switch 203 faces downward in the vertical direction. The intermediate member 210 includes a power button contact surface 213 and has a first projection 210a that protrudes toward the button in the front-to-back direction perpendicular to the vertical direction. The intermediate member 210 also includes a switch contact surface 214 and has a second projection 210b that protrudes toward the opposite side from the power button 201 in the front-to-back direction. The first projection 210a is inserted, for example, into a slit provided in the inner cover 153. Therefore, the intermediate member 210 can rotate within the range of the upper and lower surfaces of the slit.

[0032] As shown in Figure 3, in the switch mechanism of this embodiment, the center of gravity of the intermediate member 210 is located to the left of the rotation axes 211 and 212 in the front-to-back direction (BF direction). That is, the center of gravity G of the intermediate member 210 is located on the same side as the contact portion between the switch contact surface 214 and the switch 203. With this arrangement, when the user releases pressure on the power button and the power button contact surface 213 moves to the right in Figure 3, the center of gravity of the intermediate member 210 can rotate the intermediate member 210 counterclockwise, thereby releasing the pressure on the switch 203 by the switch contact surface 214 when the user releases pressure on the power button. In addition, the power button 201 is always in contact with the power button contact surface 213, suppressing play in the front-to-back direction of the power button 201 and improving the quality of the device.

[0033] The center of gravity G of the intermediate member 210 will now be explained. In this embodiment, the intermediate member 210 is made of a resin material with uniform density, and is pivotally supported in the front-to-back direction (BF direction) around the rotation axes 211 and 212 such that the volume on the left side of the intermediate member 210 is larger than the volume on the right side. With this configuration, the moment acting on the intermediate member 210 around the rotation axes 211 and 212 due to the center of gravity G of the intermediate member 210 is counterclockwise in Figure 3. Note that the center of gravity position of the intermediate member 210 may be adjusted using a weight or other component separate from the intermediate member 210.

[0034] Furthermore, the intermediate member 210 has reinforcing ribs 217 to prevent deformation of the intermediate member 210. In this embodiment, the switch 203 is a tact switch that generates a click sensation when pressed. By adopting the above configuration, the rigidity of the intermediate member 210 is increased, and the click sensation generated by the switch 203 can be felt by the user through the intermediate member 210 and the power button 201, thereby improving the feel of operation.

[0035] Although the image forming unit is not shown in the embodiments described above, the recording method may be an electrophotographic method. Alternatively, other recording methods such as an inkjet method may be used.

[0036] Furthermore, the image forming apparatus may be a printer, copier, facsimile machine, or any other image forming apparatus that combines these functions, such as a multifunction device. The same effect can be obtained by applying the present invention to the switch mechanism used in these image forming apparatuses.

[0037] Furthermore, in the embodiments described above, a switch mechanism for switching the power of an image forming apparatus on and off was given as an example of a switch mechanism, but the invention is not limited to this. Similar effects can be obtained by applying the present invention to any switch mechanism that can switch the signal of a switch by pressing a button.

[0038] Furthermore, in the embodiments described above, a rotatably supported intermediate member was exemplified as an intermediate member of the switch mechanism, but the invention is not limited to this. Any intermediate member that transmits the force of pressing the button in one direction to the switch as a force pressing in a direction intersecting that one direction may be used, and similar effects can be obtained by applying the present invention. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0039] G...center of gravity L1,L2…distance 100 ...Image forming apparatus 151 ... Front cover 152... Top cover 153 ...Inner cover 200 ... Switch mechanism 201... Power button 202 ... Switch board 203... Switch 204,205 ... recessed 210 ...Intermediate member 210a ... First protrusion 210b ... Second protrusion 211,212 ... Rotation axis 213 ... Power button contact surface (first contact portion) 214 ... Switch contact surface (second contact portion) 215,216 ... Stopper contact surface 217…Reinforcement ribs 220 ... Circuit board holder (holding member) 221,222…Bearing part 223,224 ... Stopper (regulator)

Claims

1. A button that moves when pressed in one direction, A switch is implemented in which a signal is switched when pressed in one direction, and a switch board is arranged such that the direction in which the button is pressed intersects with the direction in which the switch is pressed. A switch mechanism characterized by having an intermediate member disposed between the button and the switch, which transmits the force that pushes the button in a first direction to the switch as a force that pushes it in a second direction intersecting the first direction.

2. The switch mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the intermediate member includes a first contact portion that faces and can contact the button in the direction of pressing the button, and a second contact portion that faces and can contact the switch in the direction of pressing the switch, and is rotatably supported between the button and the switch.

3. The switch board is arranged such that the mounting surface of the switch faces downward in the vertical direction. The switch mechanism according to claim 2, characterized in that the intermediate member includes the first contact portion and comprises a first projection that protrudes toward the button in the first direction perpendicular to the vertical direction, and a second projection that includes the second contact portion and protrudes toward the opposite side from the button in the first direction.

4. The switch mechanism according to claim 2, characterized in that it has a restricting part that restricts the intermediate member from rotating beyond a predetermined limit.

5. The switch mechanism according to claim 4, characterized in that the switch board has a recess that narrows the width of the mounting surface of the switch, and the restricting portion is provided within the recess.

6. The aforementioned button is movably provided on the outer cover of the image forming apparatus that forms an image on a sheet. The aforementioned exterior cover is provided on the front of the image forming apparatus so as to be openable and closable. The switch mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that the intermediate member is covered by the outer cover in the closed position.

7. The switch mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that the switch switches the power on and off.

8. The switch mechanism according to claim 1, further comprising a holding member that holds the switch substrate and rotatably supports the intermediate member.

9. The switch mechanism according to claim 8, characterized in that the holding member has a restricting portion that restricts the intermediate member from rotating beyond a predetermined limit.

10. An image forming apparatus for forming an image on a sheet, characterized by comprising a switch mechanism according to any one of claims 1 to 9.

Images