Operation unit for operating image forming system and image forming apparatus

Abstract

To provide an image forming system and an operation unit that, even when the posture of the palm is changed with an operation unit being mounted on the palm, prevents the operation unit from slipping out of the palm and being damaged and allows a user to use the operation unit in a posture that the user feels optimum.SOLUTION: An operation unit 80 comprises: a display that can receive a touch operation performed by a user and displays information on image formation; and a band 92 that is provided on the opposite side of a side where the display is provided and allows the user to pass the fingertips therethrough.EFFECT: The passing of the fingertips through the band 92 can prevent falling of the operation unit 80 even if the user rotates the wrist.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 10

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an image forming system having an image forming apparatus and an operation unit for operating the image forming apparatus, the operation unit being freely positionable on a top surface of a housing. [Background technology]

[0002] Image forming apparatuses such as copiers have an operation unit that allows the user to change operations and operate detailed settings for each operation, etc. Even in a system (image forming system) in which optional devices such as a paper feed unit, a transport unit, and a post-processing unit are connected to the image forming apparatus, the user uses the operation unit to perform setting operations for various optional devices.

[0003] In the case of a large-scale image forming system having a long overall length in which multiple optional devices are connected as described above, a user may perform operations on the optional devices at a location distant from the image forming apparatus in which the operation unit is installed, and it is troublesome for the user to move back and forth between these optional devices every time they operate the optional devices and the operation unit.

[0004] In view of this, for example, an operation unit has been proposed that can be installed not only in an image forming apparatus but also in an optional device (Patent Document 1). The operation unit described in Patent Document 1 has a display that displays information to a user, an arm that supports the display, and a support base that supports the display via the arm. The display supported by the arm extending from the support base is at a predetermined angle with respect to the placement surface on which the support base is placed. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] JP 2010-243977 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] For example, if the images or characters displayed on the display panel of the operation unit are small, some users may find them difficult to see. In such cases, the user may adjust their posture by bending over or move closer to the display panel. Thus, the posture and distance from the display panel that makes it easy to see the display on the display panel vary from user to user.

[0007] Therefore, we consider a form in which a user can operate the operation unit while it is placed on the palm of his / her hand. In general, when operating the operation unit while placed on the palm of his / her hand, the operation unit is placed on the palm with the fingertips facing upward and the palm facing the face. In this state, the user can operate the operation unit in a posture that feels optimal for each user by adjusting the angle of his / her arm or wrist.

[0008] Here, a situation may be considered in which a user who is using the operation unit while holding it in the palm of his / her hand shows the display of the operation unit to another user who is next to him / her. A specific example of such a situation is when the other user checks a screen showing a preview of a document to be printed before printing or a screen for setting printing conditions. When the user wants to show the display to the other user who is next to him / her, he / she rotates his / her wrist with his / her fingertips facing upward so that his / her palm faces the face of the user who is next to him / her. In this way, the display of the operation unit held in the palm of his / her hand faces the face of the user who is next to him / her.

[0009] However, when the display of the operation unit is shown to a user standing next to the user using the above-mentioned method, there is a possibility that the operation unit may slip out of the user's hand. If the operation unit slips out of the user's hand and hits the floor, the operation unit may be damaged by the impact. [Means for solving the problem]

[0010] In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the image forming system of the present invention has an image forming unit that forms an image on paper, a housing having a top surface, and an operation unit that is freely positioned relative to the top surface and accepts operations by a user to cause the image forming unit to form an image on paper, wherein the operation unit is characterized by having a display unit that is capable of accepting touch operations by the user and displays information related to image formation, and a band that is provided on the side opposite the side on which the display unit is provided and through which the user's fingertips can be passed.

[0011] In addition, in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the operation unit used to operate the image forming system of the present invention is characterized in that it can be freely positioned on the top surface of the image forming system, and is equipped with a display unit that can accept touch operations by a user and display information related to image formation, and a band that is provided on the opposite side to the side on which the display unit is provided and through which the user's fingertips can be passed. Effect of the Invention

[0012] According to the present invention, when an operation unit is placed on the palm with the fingertips facing upward, even if the wrist is rotated to change the position of the palm, the risk of the operation unit slipping off the palm and hitting the floor can be reduced. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0013] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an image forming system. [Diagram 2] 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a portion of an image forming system. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining a control configuration of an operation unit in the image forming system. [Figure 4] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an operation unit disposed on the top surface of a housing to the left of a reading device. [Diagram 5] FIG. 13 shows an operation unit disposed on the top surface of a housing to the right of the reading device. [Figure 6] FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining an operation unit. [Figure 7] FIG. [Figure 8] 5A and 5B are diagrams for explaining a mechanism for adjusting the tilt angle of the display panel with respect to the top surface. [Figure 9] 11A and 11B are diagrams for explaining the effect of providing a band on the operation unit. [Figure 10] A band provided on the operating unit. [Figure 11] An enlarged view of the attachment part of the band to the operation unit. [Figure 12] FIG. 13 is a diagram for explaining a space formed by a band. [Figure 13] FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining the positional relationship between a band and a cable. [Figure 14] 13A and 13B are diagrams for explaining a configuration (modification) for attaching a band to an operation unit. [Figure 15] A configuration in which the band is provided at a location other than the arm (Example 2). [Figure 16] A diagram of an arm that also functions as a band (Example 3). [Figure 17] 13 shows a system configuration of an image forming apparatus capable of wireless communication with an operation unit (Fourth embodiment). [Figure 18] 13 shows a system configuration of an operation unit capable of wireless communication with an image forming apparatus (Fourth embodiment). [Figure 19] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the transition of communication states during wireless communication. [Figure 20] FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining a configuration of wireless communication. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0014] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The dimensions, materials, shapes, and relative positions of the components described below are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention unless otherwise specified. In the following description of the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, the front side facing the image forming device 2 is defined as the front direction F, the back side (back side) as the rear direction B, the left side as the left direction L, the right side as the right direction R, the upper side as the upper direction U, and the lower side as the lower direction D.

[0015] ● Image formation system configuration As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming system 1 of the present embodiment includes an image forming apparatus 2, which is, for example, a printer, and a post-processing apparatus 103 that is arranged adjacent to the left direction L side of the image forming apparatus 2 and can stack sheets S on which images are formed. In this embodiment, the image forming apparatus 2, the post-processing apparatus 103, etc. are defined as a housing. A top surface 109 that can be used as a work space is provided on the upper surface of the image forming apparatus 2. In this embodiment, the area of ​​the top surface 109 is larger than the maximum size of the sheet S on which the image forming apparatus 2 can form an image. A user spreads a drawing on the top surface 109 to perform work such as drawing. Therefore, assuming that the floor on which the image forming system 1 is installed is horizontal, the top surface 109 is also configured to be horizontal. In addition, the top surface 109 is configured to be as flat as possible. Here, the area indicated by the reference numeral 1010 in FIG. 4 described later is an example of the work space. If the image forming system 1 is installed horizontally, the work space 1010 is also horizontal. In addition, this area is flat because it is a part of the top surface 109. The term "flat surface" refers to a surface designed to eliminate as many irregularities as possible, such as grooves, except for connection points between components that are unavoidably created in the design of the exterior of the image forming system 1. The working space 1010 is sufficient if it has an area large enough to spread out an A3 size sheet of paper, and a flat surface is sufficient in this area. The top surface 109 is made of, for example, a resin plate, and is considered to be a "flat surface" even if it has some wobbles or ripples that are unavoidable during manufacturing. The term "horizontal" used here does not mean horizontal in the strict mathematical sense, but is a concept that includes horizontality that can be considered to be horizontal in practical terms, that is, approximately horizontality.

[0016] In this embodiment, a tandem type full color printer is described as an example of the image forming apparatus 2. However, the present invention is not limited to the tandem type image forming apparatus 2, but may be an image forming apparatus of another type, and is not limited to being full color, but may be monochrome or mono color.

[0017] As shown in FIG. 2, in this embodiment, the image forming device 2, which is an example of a housing, can be divided into two parts: an image forming unit housing 2a and a conveying unit housing 2b. The conveying unit housing 2b conveys the paper on which an image is formed in the image forming unit housing 2a toward a post-processing device 103 (not shown). The image forming unit housing 2a and the conveying unit housing 2b are also examples of housings. The image forming unit housing 2a has a top surface 109a, and the conveying unit housing 2b has a top surface 109b. The image forming unit housing 2a and the conveying unit housing 2b can be connected to each other, and the top surface 109a and the top surface 109b are also connected to each other to form a single flat top surface 109. In this way, the image forming unit housing 2a and the conveying unit housing 2b can be connected and separated from each other, so that when transporting to a high-rise floor of a building, for example, they can be placed in an elevator in a separated state and transported to a predetermined floor. In this way, even if the image forming system 1 is large and has a long overall length, it can be easily transported to a predetermined floor in a building using an elevator or the like.

[0018] The device includes a toner supply unit 20, a sheet feeding section 30, an image forming section 40, a sheet transport section 50, a sheet discharge section 60, an electrical unit 70, and an operation unit 80. The sheet S, which is a recording material, is a material on which a toner image is formed, and specific examples thereof include plain paper, a synthetic resin sheet that is a substitute for plain paper, cardboard, and a sheet for an overhead projector.

[0019] The sheet feeding section 30 is disposed at the bottom of the image forming apparatus 2 and includes a sheet cassette 31 for stacking and storing sheets S, and a feeding roller 32, and is configured to feed the sheets S to the image forming section 40.

[0020] The image forming section 40 includes an image forming unit 41, a toner bottle 42, an exposure device 43, an intermediate transfer unit 44, a secondary transfer section 45, and a fixing device 46, and is configured to form an image.

[0021] The image forming unit 41 includes four image forming units 41y, 41m, 41c, and 41k for forming toner images of four colors, yellow (y), magenta (m), cyan (c), and black (k). Each of these is detachable from the image forming device 2 by a user. For example, the image forming unit 41y includes a photoconductor drum 47y for forming a toner image, a charging roller 48y, a developing sleeve 49y, a drum cleaning blade (not shown), and toner. 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 the same structure as the image forming unit 41y except for the color of the toner, so detailed description will be omitted.

[0022] The exposure device 43y serves as an exposure unit that exposes the surface of the photosensitive drum 47y to light to form an electrostatic latent image on the surface of the photosensitive drum 47y.

[0023] The intermediate transfer unit 44 is disposed 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 and primary transfer rollers 44y, 44m, 44c, and 44k, and an intermediate transfer belt 44b wound around these rollers. The primary transfer rollers 44y, 44m, 44c, and 44k are disposed opposite the photosensitive drums 47y, 47m, 47c, and 47k, respectively, and are adapted to abut against the intermediate transfer belt 44b. By applying a positive transfer bias to the intermediate transfer belt 44b by the primary transfer rollers 44y, 44m, 44c, and 44k, the toner images having negative polarity on the photosensitive drums 47y, 47m, 47c, and 47k are sequentially transferred in a multi-layer manner to the intermediate transfer belt 44b. As a result, a full-color image is formed on the intermediate transfer belt 44b.

[0024] The secondary transfer section 45 includes a secondary transfer inner roller 45a and a secondary transfer outer roller 45b. A positive secondary transfer bias is applied to the secondary transfer outer roller 45b to transfer 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 facing the secondary transfer inner roller 45a with the intermediate transfer belt 44b in between.

[0025] The fixing device 46 includes a fixing roller 46a and a pressure roller 46b. As the sheet S is sandwiched and transported between the fixing roller 46a and the pressure roller 46b, the toner image transferred to the sheet S is pressurized and heated, and fixed to the sheet S. In the present embodiment, the transport unit housing 2b includes the fixing device 46, but this is not limiting. For example, the image forming unit housing 2a may include the fixing device 46, and the transport unit housing 2b may not include the fixing device 46. Naturally, each of the housings may include a fixing device.

[0026] The sheet conveying section 50 is adapted to convey the sheet S fed from the sheet feeding section 30 from the image forming section 40 to the sheet discharge section 60, and is provided with a pre-secondary transfer conveying path 51, a pre-fixing conveying path 52, a discharge path 53, and a re-conveying path 54.

[0027] The sheet discharge section 60 includes a pair of discharge rollers 61 arranged downstream of the discharge path 53, and a discharge outlet 62 arranged on the side of the image forming apparatus 2 in the left direction L. The pair of discharge rollers 61 feeds the sheet S conveyed from the discharge path 53 from a nip portion and discharges the sheet S from the discharge outlet 62. The discharge outlet 62 is capable of feeding the sheet S to a post-processing device 103 arranged on the left direction L side of the image forming apparatus 2.

[0028] As shown in Fig. 3, the electrical unit 70 incorporates an image controller 710, which is a control board including a control unit, and a hard disk drive (hereinafter referred to as HDD) 72, which is a removable large-capacity storage device. The image controller 710 is configured by a computer, and includes, for example, a CPU 73, a ROM 74 that stores programs for controlling each unit, a RAM 75 that temporarily stores data, and an input / output circuit (I / F) 76 that inputs and outputs signals to and from the outside. The HDD 72 is a removable large-capacity storage device for storing electronic data, and can mainly store image processing programs, digital image data, and supplementary information for the digital image data. When an image is formed, image data is read from the HDD 72.

[0029] The CPU 73 is a microprocessor that is responsible for the overall control of the image forming apparatus 2, and is the main part of the system controller. The CPU 73 is connected to the sheet feeding section 30, the image forming section 40, the sheet transport section 50, the sheet discharge section 60, the HDD 72, and the operation unit 80 via an input / output circuit 76, and is adapted to exchange signals with each section and control the operation. The image controller 710 can be operated or set by a user in response to a command from a computer (not shown) connected to the image forming apparatus 2, or by operating the operation unit 80.

[0030] The operation unit 80 is provided separately from the image forming apparatus 2, and is capable of operating each part of the image forming apparatus 2. The operation unit 80 includes a driver board 81 and a display panel 82 (display section). 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 toner supplied to the image forming apparatus 2, warning messages when these consumables run out, and display of procedures for replenishing consumables. The display panel 82 also receives user operation inputs, such as the size and basis weight of the sheets S, image density adjustment, and setting of the number of copies to be output.

[0031] The operation unit 80 is connected to the electrical unit 70 of the image forming apparatus 2 by a cable 90 so as to be electrically connected thereto. The cable 90 is a bundle of a signal line 90a and a power line 90b, but the signal line 90a and the power line 90b may be separate cables. The signal line 90a connects the input / output circuit 76 of the image controller 710 to the driver board 81, and the power line 90b connects the power supply 17 of the image forming apparatus 2 to the driver board 81.

[0032] Next, an image forming operation in the image forming apparatus 2 configured as above will be described.

[0033] When the image forming operation is started, first, the photoconductor drums 47y, 47m, 47c, and 47k rotate and the surfaces are charged by the charging rollers 48y, 48m, 48c, and 48k. Then, the exposure devices 43y, 43m, 43c, and 43k emit laser light to the photoconductor drums 47y, 47m, 47c, and 47k based on image information, and electrostatic latent images are formed on the surfaces of the photoconductor drums 47y, 47m, 47c, and 47k. Toner adheres to the electrostatic latent images, which are developed and visualized as toner images and transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 44b.

[0034] Meanwhile, in parallel with such a toner image forming operation, the feed roller 32 rotates and separates and feeds the topmost sheet S of the sheet cassette 31. Then, in synchronization with the toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 44b, the sheet S is transported to the secondary transfer unit 45 via the secondary pre-transfer transport path 51. Furthermore, an image is transferred from the intermediate transfer belt 44b to the sheet S, and the sheet S is transported to the fixing device 46, where the unfixed toner image is heated and pressurized to be fixed on the surface of the sheet S. The sheet S is then discharged from a discharge outlet 62 by a pair of discharge rollers 61 and supplied to a post-processing device 103.

[0035] ● Operation unit configuration First, the electrical component unit 70, the operation unit 80, the cable 90, the cover 101, and the opening 102 will be outlined.

[0036] The electrical component unit 70 is provided on the back of the image forming apparatus 2. A connector (not shown) provided at one end of a cable 90 is connected to the electrical component unit 70. The cable 90 transmits a control signal for controlling the operation unit 80 from the transmission unit 70 to the operation unit 80. The cable 90 serves to connect the image forming apparatus 2 and the operation unit 80 so that they can communicate with each other. The other end of the cable 90 is provided with a connector (not shown) and is connected to the operation unit 80. In this way, although the operation unit 80 is connected to the image forming apparatus 2 by a cable, it 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 within the range of the cable extension. In this way, the "free" mentioned here means that the operation unit 80 is not fixed to the top surface 109 by, for example, a screw or the like, that is, the operation unit 80 is configured to be freely changed in its position on the top surface 109.

[0037] In this embodiment, the image forming apparatus 2 and the operation unit 80 perform bidirectional communication via the cable 90. Therefore, as described above, the position of the operation unit 80 can be freely changed within the range of the cable length of the cable 90. As another embodiment, a wireless communication method can be used, which will be described in detail in the fourth embodiment. In this case, the range in which the operation unit 80 can be moved is not limited by the cable. Therefore, the operation unit 80 can be moved beyond the range of the length of the cable 90. Even in this case, the position of the operation unit 80 can be freely changed on the top surface 109, so the operation unit 80 can be freely arranged on the top surface 109.

[0038] 4 and 5 are diagrams for explaining positions where the operation unit 80 can be arranged on the top surface 109. For example, as shown in FIG. 4, the operation unit 80 can be arranged in a space near the document reading device 115 on the top surface 109 of the image forming device 2, and as shown in FIG. 5, the operation unit 80 can also be arranged in a space on the top surface 106 of the paper feeder 105. Even if the operation unit 80 is arranged in a location not shown in FIG. 4 or FIG. 5, the operation unit 80 can be arranged on the top surface of the image forming system, such as the top surface 104 of the post-processing device 103. Even in a space other than the top surface of the image forming system, a work table or the like can be installed near the image forming system, and the operation unit 80 can be arranged on the work table (not shown).

[0039] 6(a) is a diagram of the operation unit 80 viewed vertically from above, FIG. 6(b) is a diagram of the bottom surface of the operation unit 80, and FIG. 6(c) is a side view of the operation unit 80. FIG.

[0040] As shown in FIG. 6(a), the operation unit 80 has a display panel 82. The display panel 82 of the operation unit 80 in this embodiment is a liquid crystal touch panel. That is, the display panel 82 can receive touch operations by the user. The touch operation is an operation of touching the display panel 82 with a fingertip, and is a general term for operations such as flicking and scrolling. A cable 90 extends from the rear of the operation unit 80. Also, as shown in FIG. 6(b), rubber feet 85 (85a, 85b1), which are an example of an elastic member, are provided on the bottom surface of the operation unit 80. These rubber feet 85 are also an example of the first to fourth contact portions, and are parts that come into contact with the top surface 109. The rubber feet 85 are parts that come into contact with the top surface 109 when the operation unit 80 is placed on the top surface 109. The rubber feet 85 are made of an elastic member with a high surface friction coefficient. Also, the rubber feet 85 are configured to bend slightly when the operation unit 80 is placed on the top surface 109. Therefore, it is possible to support the operation unit 80 at four points as in this embodiment. Although three points determine one point in terms of plane wave mathematics, all four points come into contact with the top surface 109 when any of the rubber feet 85 bends. In the operation unit 80 of this embodiment, the front side rubber feet 85a are provided at two locations on the front side, and the rear side rubber feet 85b1 are provided at two locations on the rear side. This reduces the risk of the operation unit 80 becoming unsteady even if the user presses any part of the display panel 82.

[0041] 6(b), the four rubber feet 85 are arranged so as to surround the center of gravity G of the operation unit 80. In other words, the center of gravity G is located within the area surrounded by the four rubber feet 85. By arranging them in this manner, the operation unit 80 is stably supported by the four rubber feet 85. In other words, the operability for the user is improved. When the operation unit 80 is viewed from above along the vertical direction, the rubber foot 85a is located upstream of the center of gravity G and the rubber foot 85b1 is located downstream of the center of gravity G in a direction perpendicular to both a direction perpendicular to a display surface 820 described later and a direction perpendicular to the vertical direction (the front-to-back direction of the paper) and a direction perpendicular to the display surface 820, which is a direction climbing the inclination of the display panel 82.

[0042] Furthermore, one of the two rubber feet 85b1 is provided at the right end of the bottom surface of the operation unit 80, and the other is provided at the left end. Here, since it is assumed that the operation unit 80 arranged on the top surface 109 is viewed from the bottom side of the operation unit 80, the left side of the paper is defined as the right side of the operation unit 80, and the right side of the paper is defined as the left side of the operation unit 80. Assuming that the width of the operation unit 80 in the left-right direction is L1, it is preferable that one rubber foot 85b1 is located in the rightmost area (one end side) when L1 is divided into four, and the other rubber foot 85b1 is located in the leftmost area (the other end side) when L1 is divided into four. In this way, by arranging the two rubber feet 85b1 at a distance from each other, the stability of the operation unit 80 when arranged on the top surface 109 can be improved.

[0043] The left-right direction here refers to a direction perpendicular to both a direction perpendicular to a display surface 820 (described later) and a vertical direction, and is the width direction of the operation unit 80.

[0044] FIG. 6(c) is a view of the operation unit 80 placed on the top surface 109, viewed from the right side of the operation unit 80. Here, the surface that is formed by the rubber feet 85 conforming to the top surface 109 when the operation unit 80 is placed is called the rubber foot surface, and is shown as surface B in the figure. As described above, if the rubber feet 85 are rigid and come into contact with the top surface 109 at four points, one of the four points will float up. This is unavoidable due to part tolerances. Therefore, by making at least two of the four rubber feet 85 elastic, all of the four rubber feet 85 will conform to the top surface 109. This allows the user to stably operate the operation unit 80 on the top surface 109.

[0045] Here, the advantage of the cable 90 extending from the rear of the operation unit 80 will be described with reference to Fig. 6(c). As shown in Fig. 6(c), when the operation unit 80 is viewed vertically, the cable 90 extends from the operation unit 80 in a direction ascending the display panel 82. When the operation unit 80 is viewed vertically, this "extending direction" coincides with a direction perpendicular to both the vertical direction and a direction perpendicular to a display surface 820 (described later) and a direction perpendicular to the display surface 820 (the front-to-back direction of the paper).

[0046] In this way, the cable 90 extends backward from the back side of the operation unit 80, so that the connection portion between the cable 90 and the operation unit 80 is invisible to the user operating the operation unit 80. This makes it possible to improve the design of the operation unit 80.

[0047] 7(a) is a perspective view of the operation unit 80 and an enlarged view of the display panel 82. As shown in the figure, the operation unit 80 has a support base 86. The support base 86 supports the display panel 82. More specifically, the support base 86 supports the display panel 82 with respect to the top surface 109 so that the display panel 82 is at a predetermined angle with respect to the top surface 109 when the operation unit 80 is placed on the top surface 109.

[0048] Furthermore, the support base 86 has rubber feet 85 (85a, 85b1). More specifically, rubber feet 85a are provided at the right and left ends on the front side of the support base 86, and an arm 822 is provided at the back side of the support base 86. Rubber feet 85b1 are also provided at the right and left ends of the arm 822. When these four rubber feet 85 are in contact with the top surface 109, the angle of the display panel 82 with respect to the top surface 109 is determined to a predetermined angle.

[0049] The display panel 82 has a display surface 820 capable of displaying information related to image formation, such as a button for starting copying, a screen for setting the paper size, a screen for setting the number of copies to be printed, and a screen for displaying the remaining toner amount. In this embodiment, the display surface 820 is provided on a portion of the display panel 82 excluding the ends, but information related to image formation and a screen for print settings may be displayed on the entire surface of the display panel 82. In either case, however, the inclination angle of the display surface 820 with respect to the top surface 109 means the angle that the vicinity of the center of the display panel 82 (the area corresponding to the display surface 820 in FIG. 7(a)) forms with the top surface 109.

[0050] Figure 8 is a diagram for explaining the function of an arm 822 provided on the operation unit 80. Figure 8(a) shows a state in which the arm 822 is stored on the back side of the operation unit 80. Also, Figure 8(b) shows the operation unit 80 in a state in which the arm 822 is raised.

[0051] As shown in Fig. 8, an arm 822 that is rotatable with respect to the operation unit 80 is provided on the back side of the operation unit 80. The angle of the display panel 82 with respect to the top surface 109 can be adjusted by storing the arm 822 on the back side of the operation unit 80 (Fig. 8(a)) or raising the arm 822 (Fig. 8(b)). In this embodiment, this angle is 30 degrees when the arm 822 is stored on the back side of the operation unit 80. Also, when the arm 822 is raised, it is 45 degrees. Since the angle of the display panel 82 with respect to the top surface 109 can be adjusted in this way, there is an effect that it is easy to use for various users with different eye heights, such as a user in a wheelchair or a tall user.

[0052] Effect of providing a band on the operation unit In the case of the present embodiment where the operation unit 80 can be freely arranged on the top surface 109, the user can pick up the operation unit 80, lift it, and place it anywhere on the top surface 109 for use. Some users use the operation unit 80 in a state where it is not arranged on the top surface 109 but in a state where it is held in the hand. For example, when characters or figures displayed on the display panel 82 seem small, the user may want to bring the eyes closer to the display panel 82. In such a case, in order to view the display panel 82 of the operation unit 80 arranged on the top surface 109 up close, the user needs to take a crouching posture, and some users find it troublesome to take such a posture. In particular, such users tend to prefer viewing and operating the display panel 82 with the operation unit 80 placed on their palm.

[0053] In the embodiment described above, the communication between the operation unit 80 and the image forming apparatus 2 is performed via the cable 90, but a communication via wireless communication is also possible. The wireless communication form will be described in detail later as Example 4. In such a wireless communication form, the operation unit 80 is often operated at a position away from the image forming apparatus 2, and therefore it is even more likely that a user will use the operation unit 80 while holding it in the palm of their hand.

[0054] 9 is a diagram for explaining a usage mode of the operation unit 80 using a band 92 described later. Here, it is assumed that the operation unit 80 is used with the display panel 82 at an angle of about 30 to 45 degrees with respect to the horizontal plane. In other words, the situation assumed here is a situation in which the operation unit 80 is held with the palm facing the user's face (FIG. 9(a)). As shown in FIG. 9(a), when the operation unit 80 is placed on the palm, the operation unit 80 will not fall.

[0055] However, when the wrist is rotated in the state of FIG. 9(a), that is, when the palm is turned over from the state of FIG. 9(a), the operation unit 80 falls. Even if the palm is not completely turned over, even if the wrist is rotated slightly, the operation unit 82 may slip off the palm. For example, the display panel 82 may be shown to another user next to the user in order to have the other user check the information displayed on the display panel 82. Specifically, the print contents may be previewed on the display panel 82 before printing on paper, and the screen may be shown to another user, or the number of copies, double-sided / single-sided settings, etc. (information related to image formation) may be shown to another user. The degree to which the wrist must be rotated to cause the operation unit 80 to slip off the palm depends on the condition of the palm and the material and shape of the back side of the operation unit 80 that is in contact with the palm, but the operation unit 80 will slip off at least before the palm is turned over. In a case where the user wants to show the display panel 82 to a user next to them, some users pay attention to the posture of their palm so that the operation unit 80 does not slip off their palm, but it is quite conceivable that the user may unconsciously rotate their wrist. Even in such a case, if the user places the palm (fingertips) through the band 92, which will be described in detail later, the operation unit 80 can be prevented from falling off due to the rotation of the wrist. This is illustrated in FIG. 9(b). In FIG. 9(b), the user has turned the palm completely over, and the operation unit 80 has slipped off the palm. However, since the user has placed the palm through the band 92, the band 92 gets caught on the palm, preventing the operation unit 80 from falling and hitting the floor.

[0056] Here, FIG. 9(c) shows a state where the palm is oriented with the fingertips facing down. If the palm is oriented in this way, even if the band 92 is placed around the palm, the band 92 may slip off the fingertips, causing the operation unit 80 to slip off the palm. Therefore, when showing the display panel 82 to a user next to the user or a user facing the user, the display panel 82 should not be shown in the manner shown in FIG. 9(c). The band 92 in this embodiment is intended to reduce the possibility that the operation unit 80 will slip off the palm, but does not prevent the operation unit 80 from falling off even when the fingertips are facing down. The band 92 in this embodiment is intended to reduce the possibility that the operation unit 80 will slip off the palm when the wrist is rotated with the fingertips facing up.

[0057] Band configuration in Example 1 10 is a perspective view of the back side of the operation unit 80. The back side of the operation unit 80 referred to here is the side opposite to the side on which the display panel 82 is provided. When the rubber feet 85 of the operation unit 80 are in contact with the top surface 109, the display panel 82 faces upward in the vertical direction. This state is defined as the normal use state, and the side facing upward at this time, i.e., the side on which the display panel 82 is provided, is defined as the front side of the operation unit 80. Therefore, at this time, the back side of the operation unit 80 faces the top surface 109.

[0058] FIG. 10(a) shows a state in which the arm 822 is closed relative to the operation unit 80, that is, the arm 822 is housed on the back side of the operation unit 80. Furthermore, a groove 93 for housing the band 92 is formed in the arm 822. In this way, the groove 93 has a space capable of completely housing the band 92. When the band 92 is completely housed in the groove 93, the band 92 is not exposed from the imaginary plane determined by the rubber feet 85. The imaginary plane may be defined by selecting any three feet from among the rubber feet 85. The state in which the band 92 is not exposed from the imaginary plane is defined as the state in which the band 92 is housed in the groove 93. The size (volume occupying space) of the entire operation unit 80 including the band 92 is smaller when the band 92 is housed in the groove 93 than when the band 92 is exposed from the back side of the operation unit 80. In other words, by forming the groove 93 on the back side of the operation unit 80, the operation unit 80 can be made compact. In addition, the fact that the band 92 is not exposed from the back side of the operation unit 80 also has the effect of improving the aesthetics. If a part of the band 92 were exposed from the back side of the operation unit 80 when the operation unit 80 was placed on the top surface 109, it is expected that a certain number of users would feel that the aesthetics were impaired. When the band 92 is not used, the band 92 can be stored in the groove 93, so that the above-mentioned deterioration in the aesthetics can be suppressed. Furthermore, when the band 92 is stored in the groove 93, the band 92 is not exposed from the virtual plane determined by the multiple rubber feet 85. Therefore, when the operation unit 80 is placed on the top surface 109, the risk that a part of the band 92 will come into contact with the top surface 109 and the operation unit 80 will become unsteady can be reduced. When the band 92 is not used, that is, when the operation unit 80 is not used by placing it on the palm, the operation unit 80 is often placed on the top surface 109. Since a groove 93 is formed on the back side of the operation unit 80, the band 92 can be accommodated therein, so that even when the operation unit 80 is used by placing it on the top surface 109, the operation unit 80 can be used stably without wobbling.

[0059] Next, a method of inserting and removing the band 92 into and from the groove 93 will be described with reference to Figs. 10(a) and 10(b). As shown in Figs. 10(a) and 10(b), a long hole 95 is formed on one end of the band 92. One end of the band 92 is fixed to the back side of the operation unit 80 through the long hole 95 with a screw 94b. That is, one end of the band 92 can slide relative to the operation unit 80 within the range of the long hole 95. Meanwhile, the other end of the band 92 is fixed to the back side of the operation unit 80 with a screw 94a. In this way, by sliding one end of the band 92 toward the other end, a bend occurs near the center of the band 92. The bent portion of the band 92 is exposed from the groove 93. This makes it easier to put your finger through the band 92. By sliding one side of band 92 away from the other side, the bent portion of band 92 is stretched, and the entire band 92 is accommodated in groove 93. Note that, in this embodiment, only one end side of band 92 is configured to be slidable relative to the back side of operation unit 80, but both one end side and the other end side may be configured to be slidable relative to the back side of operation unit 80.

[0060] As described above, even if one end or both ends of the band 92 are not attached to the back side of the operation unit 80 so as to be slidable, a method of pushing the band 92 into the groove 93 and storing it when the band 92 is not used is also conceivable. Although such a method is acceptable, there is a risk that a part of the band 92 may protrude from the groove 93 due to its own weight when the operation unit 80 is lifted. On the other hand, by adopting a configuration in which one end or both ends of the band 92 are attached to the back side of the operation unit 80 so as to be slidable, it is possible to reduce the risk that a part of the band 92 may protrude from the groove 93 due to its own weight when the operation unit 80 is lifted. This is because, in order for the band 92 to bend, one end or both ends of the band 92 need to slide against the back side of the operation unit 80, and a frictional force is generated for that. Unless the force of the band 92 trying to bend due to its own weight exceeds this frictional force, the band 92 is unlikely to protrude from the groove 93.

[0061] FIG. 11(a) is a cross-sectional view of the operation unit 80. The attachment portion (attachment areas 92a, 92b) of the band 92 to the back side of the operation unit 80 is shown enlarged. As shown in FIG. 11(a), the bottom 93a of the groove 93 has attachment areas 92a, 92b, support areas 92d, 92e, and a recess 92c. The band 92 is attached to the bottom 93a. More specifically, the band 92 is attached to the attachment areas 92a and 92b of the bottom 93a. A recess 92c is formed between one end of the band 92 and the attachment portion (attachment area 92a) to the back side of the operation unit 80 and the attachment portion (attachment area 92b) to the back side of the operation unit 80. Support areas 92d and 92e that support a part of the band 92 are present to the right and left of the recess 92c. That is, the support areas 92d, 92e are adjacent to the recess 92c. When the back side of the operation unit 80 is oriented vertically upward, the recess 92c is located below the band 92. A part of the band 92 covers the recess 92c. Since the support areas 92d, 92e support a part of the band 92 and the recess 92c, which is recessed further than the support areas 92d, 92e, is formed in the bottom 93a of the groove 93, the user can easily insert his / her fingertips into the band 92.

[0062] 11(b), an inclined surface 93b is formed on the front side of the groove 93 toward the bottom of the groove 93. This allows the user to easily insert the fingertip into the groove 93 and then into the depression 92c by sliding the fingertip along the inclined surface 93b.

[0063] When one end side and the other end side of the band 92 are fully slid toward the center of the band 92, that is, when the band 92 is bent as much as possible, the space formed between the band 92 and the back side of the operation unit 80 is 30 mm or more in height and 90 mm or more in width. With this amount of space, the user can fully put his / her palm between the band 92 and the back side of the operation unit 80. Here, the action of "putting the palm through the band" is defined as the action of putting four fingers other than the thumb through the band 92 out of the five fingers, the thumb, the index finger, the middle finger, the ring finger, and the little finger. Then, the state where the second joint of the three fingers, the index finger, the middle finger, and the ring finger, and the first joint of the little finger are put through the band 92 can be said to be the state where the palm is put through the band 92. In other words, the user operates the operation unit 80 with his / her fingertips put through the band 92. In this embodiment, "the state where the palm is put through the band" and "the state where the fingertips are put through the band" mean substantially the same thing. In this embodiment, the space formed between the band 92 and the rear side of the operation unit 80 is 35 mm high and 100 mm wide.

[0064] Here, the height (h) of the space is a value determined by the height from the imaginary line L connecting the support area 92d and the support area 92e to the center of the band 92, as shown in FIG. 12. The distance from the midpoint of the imaginary line L to the intersection point of the band 92 with a line drawn perpendicular to the imaginary line L is the height of the space. The width (w) of the space is a value determined by the distance from the attachment part between one end of the band 92 and the back side of the operation unit 80 to the attachment part between the other end of the band 92 and the back side of the operation unit 80. When measuring the height and width of the space, the band 92 is folded so that the space has a rectangular parallelepiped shape, as shown in FIG. 12. The space thus formed is the space through which the user passes his or her palm.

[0065] According to the inventor's experiment, the optimal values ​​for the height and width of the space calculated from the size of the user's palm are 35 mm for height and 100 mm for width. As described later, depending on the material of the band 92, it is preferable to set the height within the range of 30 to 60 mm and the width within the range of 90 to 180 mm. If the height and width of the space are small, some users may not be able to fit their palms in the space. From this viewpoint, the lower limit values ​​of the height and width of the space are determined to be 30 mm and 90 mm, respectively. On the other hand, if the height and width of the space are too large, the movement amount of the operation unit 80 that slips out of the palm when the user rotates the wrist becomes large. This increases the possibility that the band 92 will also slip out of the palm. From this viewpoint, the upper limit values ​​of the height and width of the space are determined to be 60 mm and 180 mm, respectively.

[0066] Furthermore, the band 92 in this embodiment is mainly made of nylon, and although it has some elasticity, it does not have the elasticity of rubber. This is to minimize the feeling of tightness from the band 92 when the user places his / her palm between the band 92 and the back side of the operation unit 80. Palms vary in size from user to user, and some users are concerned about the band 92 tightening their palms. Therefore, the band 92 in this embodiment is made of nylon, which does not have the elasticity of rubber.

[0067] On the other hand, by using rubber as the material of the band 92, the possibility of the operation unit 80 slipping off the palm can be further reduced. Specifically, the possibility of the operation unit 80 slipping off sideways from the palm when the wrist is rotated can be reduced. In terms of figures, the possibility of the state changing from FIG. 9(a) to FIG. 9(b) can be reduced. This stabilizes the position of the operation unit 80 on the palm. When determining the material of the band 92, it is sufficient to make a decision by balancing the degree of fastening of the palm by the band 92 with the stability of the position of the operation unit 80 on the palm.

[0068] ● Position of the band and cable Fig. 13 is a diagram for explaining the positional relationship between the band 92 and the cable 90. Fig. 13(a) is a schematic diagram of the operation unit 80 as viewed from the left side of the operation unit 80. The example of Fig. 13(a) is a configuration in which the cable 90 is led out from the wall part on the far side of the operation unit 80.

[0069] Here, the band 92 is provided on the back side of the operation unit 80. Therefore, when the palm is passed through the band 92, the palm is in contact with the back side of the operation unit 80. The lead-out location of the cable 90 from the operation unit 80 is on the back side of the band 92. Therefore, the possibility that the cable 90 will get between the palm passed through the band 92 and the back side of the operation unit 80 is extremely low. If the cable 90 exists between the palm and the back side of the operation unit 80, it becomes difficult to stably place the operation unit 80 on the palm. Therefore, by providing the band 92 on the back side of the operation unit 80 and leading the cable 90 from the back side of the operation unit 80, the handling of the operation unit 80 in the state where the palm is passed through the band 92 is improved. Note that whether the lead-out location of the cable 90 from the operation unit 80 is on the back side of the band 92 can be easily determined by looking at the operation unit 80 in a state where it is placed on the top surface 109. First, the user places the operation unit 80 on the top surface 109 and assumes a normal use posture. Specifically, the user stands in front of the image forming system 1. At this time, the cable 90 extends from the operation unit 80 toward the rear side of the image forming system 1. In this state, it is determined whether or not the point where the cable 90 exits from the operation unit 80 is located behind the band 92 as viewed from the user.

[0070] The example of FIG. 13(b) is an example of a configuration in which the cable 80 is led out from the back side of the operation unit 80, and the cable 90 is further arranged along the back side of the operation unit 80. As shown in FIG. 13(b), the cable 90 is led out from the back side of the operation unit 80. The lead-out opening is formed on the back side of the groove 93 to which the band 92 is attached. Further back than the lead-out opening, a fastener 95 for fastening a part of the cable 90 to the operation unit 80 is provided. Since the fastener 95 is provided on the back side of the lead-out opening, the cable 90 extends from the lead-out opening toward the back side of the operation unit 80. In this way, by providing the lead-out opening on the back side of the band 92 and providing the fastener 95 on the back side of the lead-out opening, it is possible to prevent the band 92 and the cable 90 from being buffered. In other words, it is possible to reduce the possibility that the cable 90 will get between the palm of the user who has passed through the band 92 and the back side of the operation unit 80. This configuration also improves the ease of handling of the operation unit 80 when the palm is passed through the band 92.

[0071] - About the band designed to be worn with the finger (variation) 14 is a diagram for explaining a band 92 provided on the operation unit 80, which is intended for one or two fingers to pass through, instead of the palm of the hand. The attachment configuration of the band 92 to the back side of the operation unit 80 and the sliding configuration of the band 92 relative to the back side of the operation unit 80 are similar to those of the above-mentioned first embodiment. The configuration of this modification differs from the above-mentioned first embodiment only in the size of the space formed by the band 92 and the back side of the operation unit 80.

[0072] The height and width of the space formed in the configuration of this modified example are each 30 mm assuming that only one finger is passed through. If two fingers are passed through, the height is 30 mm and the width is 60 mm. The size of this space is determined for the same reasons as those explained in the first embodiment. It is desirable that the height of the space is within the range of 25 mm to 40 mm, and the width of the space is within the range of 25 mm to 70 mm. The definition of the method for measuring the space is also the same as that explained in the first embodiment.

[0073] Configuration in which a band is provided in a location other than the arm (Example 2) Fig. 15 is a diagram for explaining a configuration in which the band 92 is provided at a position other than the arm 822. As shown in Fig. 15, the band 92 is attached to the back side of the operation unit 80, in front of the arm 822. In other words, the band 92 can be mounted even on an operation unit 80 that does not have an arm 822.

[0074] Furthermore, even if the operation unit 80 has the arm 822, the band 92 may be provided at a location other than the arm 822. In the case where the band 92 is provided at the arm 822, bending the fingers while the operation unit 80 is placed on the palm of the hand may cause the posture of the arm 822 to change slightly. In other words, if the relative positional relationship between the arm 822 and the operation unit 80 changes, the relative positional relationship between the palm and the operation unit 80 also changes. It is considered that some users do not like the position of the operation unit 80 changing on the palm of the hand. Therefore, in the second embodiment, the band 92 is provided directly on the operation unit 80. This makes it possible to more stabilize the posture of the operation unit 80 on the palm of the hand.

[0075] On the other hand, from the viewpoint of the design freedom of the operation unit 80, the configuration of the second embodiment also has a disadvantage. The operation unit 80 is equipped with many components such as a circuit board, a touch panel, and a liquid crystal panel. In addition, the operation unit 80 is required to be designed more compactly in order to improve aesthetics and ease of handling. In other words, the operation unit 80 needs to be designed so that the volume occupied by the operation unit 80 is as small as possible while it needs to be equipped with more components to measure the fullness of functions. Forming a groove 93 for accommodating the band 92 and a portion for fixing the band 93 in the operation unit 80 may lead to restrictions on the arrangement of the circuit board inside the operation unit 80. In other words, the design freedom of the operation unit 80 is reduced. The arm 822 does not have a component such as a circuit board, and there are few components that can be accommodated inside. Therefore, the arm 822 often has more space to form the groove 93 than the main body of the operation unit 80. As described above, from the viewpoint of the stability of the posture of the operation unit 80 on the palm, it is better to attach the band 92 directly to the main body of the operation unit 80 rather than to the arm 822. On the other hand, from the viewpoint of improving the degree of freedom in designing the operation unit 80, the configuration in which the band 92 is attached to the arm 822 is better than the configuration according to the second embodiment.

[0076] ● Configuration with arm functioning as a band (Example 3) FIG. 16 shows an example in which an arm 822 has a function equivalent to that of the band 92. FIG. 16(a) is a perspective view of the operation unit 80 with the arm 822 closed, and FIG. 16(b) is a perspective view of the operation unit 80 with the arm 822 open. As shown in FIG. 16(b), an opening 91 is formed near the center of the arm 822, and a user can put his or her palm through the opening 91. In other words, when the user wants to pick up the operation unit 80, the user raises the arm 822. The size of the opening 91 corresponds to the size of the space formed by the band 92 in the first and second embodiments.

[0077] In this way, by forming the opening 91 for passing the palm in the arm 822 itself, there is no need to provide a new member equivalent to the band 92. The arm 822 can serve both the function of supporting the operation unit 80 and the function of a member for passing the palm. In other words, the number of parts can be reduced, and manufacturing costs can be kept down.

[0078] On the other hand, in the configuration according to the third embodiment, it is necessary to take the trouble of raising the arm 822 in order to pass the palm through the opening 91. In addition, there is a disadvantage that the arm 822 itself becomes large in order to make the size of the opening 91 large enough for the palm to pass through. The fact that there is a restriction on the size of the arm 822 means that the degree of freedom in designing the arm 822 is reduced. If the band 92 is used as in the first and second embodiments, the above-mentioned disadvantages are eliminated.

[0079] As described above, the configurations according to Examples 1 to 3 all have the effect of reducing the possibility that the operation unit 80 will slip off the palm of the hand and hit the floor. In addition to this effect, each embodiment has its own advantages and disadvantages, so they can be used according to the desired effect.

[0080] ● Wireless communication capable operation unit (Example 4) In the above, a configuration has been described in which the operation unit 80 is connected to the image forming apparatus 2 via the cable 90. However, the operation unit 80 may be configured to communicate with the image forming apparatus 2 via wireless communication.

[0081] Fig. 17 is a system configuration diagram of an image forming device 2 capable of wireless communication with an operation unit 80. As shown in Fig. 17, the image forming device 2 includes a DCON control unit 10, an SCON control unit 200, and an RCON control unit 300 as control units that control the image forming device 2 by receiving a power supply voltage from a power supply device 17.

[0082] Here, the DCON control unit 10 controls drive units such as motors that drive various conveying members and the image forming unit 15 of the image forming apparatus 2, and sensors such as sheet detection sensors. The SCON control unit 200 controls the entire system of the image forming apparatus 2, and controls communication with external devices via an interface (not shown), image processing, and the like. More specifically, the SCON control unit 200 is capable of receiving image formation jobs, transmitting main body information of the image forming apparatus 2, and image processing control of images read by the reader 14 and image data received from external devices, etc. The RCON control unit 300 controls the reader 14 and post-processing device 16.

[0083] Here, the state where the power switch 79 is ON means that the image forming apparatus is started up. In other words, this is a state where commercial power is supplied to the power supply device 17 via an outlet or the like, and power supply voltage is supplied from the power supply device 17 to the DCON control unit 10, the SCON control unit 200, and the RCON control unit 300.

[0084] When the image forming apparatus 2 is connected to a commercial power source or the like via an outlet or the like, the power supply device 17 supplies a power supply voltage of +5V to the SCON 200 as a constant night power supply. Then, by turning on the power switch 79, the power supply device 17 becomes able to supply a power supply voltage of +12V or +24V as an emergency night power supply to the DCON control unit 10, the SCON control unit 200, and the RCON control unit 300. In this embodiment, the configuration is such that each control unit is controlled by supplying a plurality of types of voltage, but the magnitude and type of voltage need not be limited to this configuration.

[0085] The DCON control unit 10 includes, as built-in modules, a CPU 11, a ROM 12, and a RAM 13. An image forming unit 15, a display panel 71, and the like are connected to the DCON control unit 10. In addition, a network connection unit 84 that connects with external devices (not shown) via a network is connected to the DCON control unit 10.

[0086] The ROM 12 stores various programs related to the control of the image forming apparatus 2 and various image data. The CPU 11 performs various arithmetic processing based on the control programs stored in the ROM 12. The RAM 13 temporarily stores data. That is, the CPU 11 uses the RAM 13 as a working area based on the control programs stored in the ROM 12, and controls the image forming unit 15, the reader 14 connected to the CPU 130, the post-processing device 16, and the like, to perform the image forming operation described above.

[0087] Further, a panel connection unit 800 that performs connection with the operation unit 80 is connected to the DCON control unit 10. The panel connection unit 800 has a power supply connector 730a, and is equipped with a panel mounting unit 730 to which the operation unit 80 is connected, and a wireless communication unit 810 that performs wireless communication with the operation unit 80. The charging connector 55 of the operation unit 80 is connected to the power supply connector 730a of the panel mounting unit 730.

[0088] The wireless communication unit 810 has a command communication unit 825 (transmission unit, reception unit) and an image transmission unit 830. The CPU 11 reads out an image stored in the ROM 12, and transmits the image to the operation unit 80 via the image transmission unit 830 of the wireless communication unit 810. The CPU 11 also generates instructions for the operation unit 80, and transmits the instructions to the operation unit 80 via the command communication unit 825. The CPU 11 also receives notifications and instructions generated by the operation unit 80 via the command communication unit 825. Note that, although the command communication unit 825 and the image transmission unit 830 are configured separately in this embodiment, they may be configured to be integrated into a single communication line.

[0089] The image forming apparatus 2 and the operation unit 80 also perform wireless communication by Wi-Fi Direct communication, which is a communication form that directly connects the apparatuses wirelessly. That is, in this example, the image forming apparatus 2 and the operation unit 80 perform wireless communication with each other without going through a server. Miracast, which is a display transmission technology that applies the Wi-Fi Direct communication method, is used in, for example, mobile phones, displays, projectors, and the like. Note that the wireless communication method is not limited to Wi-Fi Direct communication, and may be configured to perform wireless communication using, for example, a Wi-Fi router as an access point. However, from the viewpoint of security, Wi-Fi Direct communication is preferable. Also, instead of wireless communication by Wi-Fi, wireless communication may be performed by other methods such as Bluetooth or NFC.

[0090] Meanwhile, "remote access" is known as a method for accessing other electronic devices or various servers in remote locations from an electronic device such as a PC or a tablet terminal. One form of remote access is, for example, a method called a VPN (Virtual Private Network) method. VPN is a mechanism for constructing a virtual private network on the Internet. In this method, a method called "tunneling" is generally used, in which a virtual tunnel is constructed and communication is performed when sending and receiving data. Furthermore, a technology called "encapsulation" is sometimes used to protect data from malicious intrusion into the tunnel. In this way, security is maintained. The communication method using the VPN method is via the Internet as described above, and is therefore different from the communication method between the operation unit 80 and the image forming apparatus 2 in the present embodiment.

[0091] There is also a method called screen transfer, in which the screen of the target electronic device, such as a PC or tablet, is transferred to the screen of the electronic device being operated via the Internet. When performing this screen transfer, a VPN connection is established between the electronic devices via a relay server.

[0092] Also, a power supply device 17 is connected to the DCON control unit 10. The power supply device 17 receives power from a commercial power source via an outlet plug 19, converts the power into power used by each device, and supplies the power to each device. Specifically, the power supply device 17 first supplies power to the DCON control unit 10 when the main power switch 79 is switched from off to on. After that, the power supply device 17 supplies power to the reader 14, the image forming unit 15, the post-processing device 16, the display panel 71, the operation unit 80 mounted on the panel mounting unit 730, the wireless communication unit 81, the network connection unit 84, and the like, based on instructions from the DCON control unit 10.

[0093] The SCON control unit 200 also has a CPU 120, and executes system control of the entire image forming apparatus 2, and control of image processing of images read by the reader 14. Since the SCON control unit 200 controls the entire image forming apparatus 2, when the image forming apparatus 2 is connected to a commercial power source, the power supply voltage (+5V) is always supplied to it.

[0094] The RCON control unit 300 has a CPU 130 and executes control of the reader 14 and post-processing device 16. Here, the RCON control unit 300 outputs an image read via the reader 14 to the CPU 120. As a result, the CPU 120 generates image processing information used for image formation performed by the DCON control unit 10 by controlling the drive motor and the like.

[0095] The DCON control unit 10, the SCON control unit 200 and the RCON control unit 300 are not limited to the above configurations, and may be equipped with an ASIC or other CPU to perform each control.

[0096] Here, the image forming device 2 of this embodiment can be shifted to multiple states, such as a standby mode in which image forming operation is possible, and a sleep mode in which the supply of power supply voltage to each control unit is limited and which is a power saving state in which power consumption is less than in a state in which image forming operation is possible. Here, the standby mode is a state in which the power switch 79 is turned on and power supply voltage is supplied to the DCON control unit 10, the SCON control unit 200, and the RCON control unit 300. In other words, the standby mode is a state in which power supply voltage is supplied to all control units and image forming operation is possible.

[0097] Moreover, the sleep mode is a state in which the power supply voltage is supplied to the SCON control unit 200, but the power supply voltage to the DCON control unit 10 and the RCON control unit 300 is cut off.

[0098] Incidentally, the transition from the sleep mode to the standby mode and the transition from the standby mode to the sleep mode are performed by an operation by a user (operator, serviceman), such as operating a sleep key (not shown) provided on the operation unit 80. At this time, when the sleep key of the operation unit 80 is operated, a sleep signal is output from the operation unit 80 to the power supply device 17. As a result, the power supply device 17 controls the DCON control unit 10, the SCON control unit 200, and the RCON control unit 300, respectively, to transition to the sleep mode. Also, the sleep mode may be one in which the image forming device 2 is transitioned from the power SW_ON state when the image forming device 2 is not operated for a predetermined time or more, that is, when a period during which no image formation instruction is given to the image forming device 2 has passed a predetermined time. The predetermined time here may be set in advance to, for example, 60 seconds, or may be set by the user to any time.

[0099] This predetermined time is measured by a timer (counter) 202 controlled by the DCON control unit 10. The timer 202 measures the time during which the image forming device 2 is not instructed to form an image by the user. The measurement may be an actual time, or an independent count may be performed based on the actual time. The count value may be, for example, counted up such as 1 second, 2 seconds, 3 seconds, etc., or may be counted down such as 60 seconds, 59 seconds, 58 seconds, etc. In the present embodiment, an instruction to form an image to the image forming device 2 means, for example, a print job being sent to the image forming device 2. The timing when the instruction to form an image is no longer given means the timing when the image forming process by the image forming unit 15 is completed. Specifically, it is the timing when the rotation of the photosensitive drum 9 stops. However, this timing is not limited to the timing when the rotation of the photosensitive drum 9 stops, and may be, for example, the timing when the rotation of the intermediate transfer belt 6 stops, or the timing when the paper on which the toner image has been transferred is discharged to the discharge tray 16a.

[0100] Next, a system configuration of the operation unit 80 capable of wireless communication with the image forming apparatus 2 will be described. Fig. 18 is a system configuration diagram of the operation unit 80. As shown in Fig. 18, the operation unit 80 includes a control unit 67 having a CPU 68, a ROM 29 (storage unit), a RAM 36, and a timer 37. The timer 34 measures time when the control unit 67 performs various processes.

[0101] The ROM 69 stores data such as various programs related to the control of the operation unit 80. The CPU 68 performs various arithmetic processing based on the control programs stored in the ROM 69. The RAM 36 temporarily stores data. That is, the CPU 68 controls the display 82, speaker unit 38, lighting unit 39, etc. connected to the control unit 67 based on the control programs stored in the ROM 69 while using the RAM 36 as a working area.

[0102] The operation unit 80 also includes a connection unit 900 for connection with the image forming apparatus 2. The connection unit 900 includes a charging connector 55 for connection to the power supply connector 730a of the image forming apparatus 2, and a wireless communication unit 910 for wireless communication with the image forming apparatus 2.

[0103] The wireless communication unit 910 has a command communication unit 920 connected to the CPU 68, and an image receiving unit 930 connected to the display 82. The CPU 68 generates instructions and notifications for the image forming apparatus 2, and transmits them to the command communication unit 82 of the image forming apparatus 2 via an antenna (not shown) of the command communication unit 920. The CPU 68 also receives instructions and information transmitted from the command communication unit 82 of the image forming apparatus 2 via the command communication unit 920.

[0104] The image receiving unit 930 receives image data transmitted from the image transmitting unit 83 of the image forming apparatus 2 via an antenna (not shown), converts the image data into image data to be displayed on the display 82, and displays the image data on the display 82. Note that, although the command communication unit 920 and the image receiving unit 930 are configured separately in the present embodiment, they may be configured to be integrated into a single communication line.

[0105] The operation unit 80 also includes a panel power supply unit 56. The panel power supply unit 56 includes a battery 57 and a power generation unit 58. The battery 57 is the main power supply for the operation unit 80 and is composed of a rechargeable battery. When the charging connector 1 is connected to the power supply connector 730a of the image forming apparatus 2, power is supplied from the power supply device 17 of the image forming apparatus 2 to the battery 57, and the battery 57 is charged. The power generation unit 58 also adjusts the power of the battery 57 to a voltage that can be used by each device included in the operation unit 80. When the power of the power switch 52 is switched from off to on, the battery 57 is charged, and the power adjusted by the power generation unit 58 is supplied to the control unit 67, the display 82, the speaker unit 38, the lighting unit 39, and the connection unit 900.

[0106] Next, wireless communication between the image forming apparatus 2 and the operation unit 80 will be described.

[0107] 19 is a communication transition diagram between the image forming apparatus 2 and the operation unit 80. When wireless communication is performed between the image forming apparatus 2 and the operation unit 80, the user first operates the power switch 79 to start up the image forming apparatus 2 (S11), and operates the power switch 26 to start up the operation unit 80 (S21).

[0108] When the operation unit 80 is started up, a negotiation request is transmitted from the command communication unit 920 of the operation unit 80 to the command communication unit 82 of the image forming apparatus 2 (S22). Next, the command communication unit 82 of the image forming apparatus 2 transmits a response signal to the command communication unit 920 of the operation unit 80 (S12). When the operation unit 80 receives the response signal, the connection sequence ends and wireless communication is established.

[0109] Next, conditions for wireless communication such as communication speed and image compression rate are mutually set between the image forming apparatus 2 and the operation unit 80 via the command communication units 825, 920 (S13, S23). After this setting is completed, a signal of the image stored in the ROM 69 of the image forming apparatus 2 is transmitted from the image transmission unit 83 of the image forming apparatus 2 to the image reception unit 930 of the operation unit 80 in response to an instruction from the CPU 11 of the image forming apparatus 2 (S14).

[0110] Next, the image receiving unit 930 of the operation unit 80 converts the received image signal and displays the image on the display 82. Thereafter, when the user operates the display 82, the CPU 68 of the operation unit 80 transmits operation information of the display 82 to the command communication unit 82 of the image forming apparatus 2 via the command communication unit 920 (S24).

[0111] Here, the CPU 68 transmits operation information of the display 82 to the image forming apparatus 2 as coordinate information. This will be described below. Fig. 20 is a diagram showing coordinate display on the display 82 of the operation unit 80. As shown in Fig. 20, the display 82 is divided in both the X and Y directions. The number of divisions depends on the type of touch panel, etc., but in the resistive touch panel of this embodiment, it is divided into 2048 in the X direction and 1024 in the Y direction.

[0112] Coordinates are expressed as (X, Y) based on the origin (0, 0) according to the distance from the origin. For example, position P shown in FIG. 20 is located at a position 1024 away from the origin in the X direction and 512 away in the Y direction, and is expressed as coordinates (1024, 512). The coordinate data is transmitted from the touch panel 59 of the display 82 to the CPU 68 of the operation unit 80, and is transmitted from the command communication unit 920 to the image forming apparatus 2 in response to an instruction from the CPU 68. In this embodiment, since the communication between the image forming apparatus 2 and the operation unit 80 is 8 bits long, the numerical value of the coordinate data is divided by eight and transmitted. That is, when the coordinate is (1024, 512), it is replaced with (128, 64) and transmitted.

[0113] The CPU 11 of the image forming device 2 determines which position on the display 82 of the operation unit 80 the user has touched based on the input coordinate data. Then, depending on the touched position, the CPU 11 issues instructions to the operation unit 80, such as sending image data, instructing the lighting control of the illumination unit 25, and turning on / off the sound from the speaker unit 38 (S15, 16). Note that the image forming device 2 issues the above-mentioned instructions to the operation unit 80 depending on the state of the image forming device 2 and the state of the operation unit 80, even when it has not received operation information of the display 82 from the operation unit 80.

[0114] As described above, the operation unit 80 may be in the form of wired communication with the image forming apparatus 2 or wireless communication. Whether the image forming apparatus 2 and the operation unit 80 are connected to each other via a cable for wired communication or in the form of wireless communication between the image forming apparatus 2 and the operation unit 80, the user can pick up the operation unit 80 by hand. By providing the band 92 on the back side of the operation unit 80, the risk of the operation unit 80 slipping off the palm of the hand and hitting the floor can be reduced, whether the operation unit 80 employs a wired communication method or a wireless communication method. [Explanation of symbols]

[0115] 1. Image forming system 2. Image forming device 80 Operation Unit 82 Display Panel 85 Rubber feet 90 Cable 92 Bands 93 Groove 103 Top 822 Arm

Claims

1. An image forming apparatus including an image forming unit that forms an image on a sheet and a housing having a top surface; an operation unit connected to the image forming apparatus via a cable, the operation unit being movably disposed on the top surface within a range of the length of the cable and configured to receive operations by a user; having the operation unit further includes a display unit that receives a touch operation by a user and displays information related to image formation, and a band that is provided on an opposite side to the side where the display unit is provided and through which a user can put a finger, When facing the operation unit, in the front-rear direction, the cable connected to the operation unit is led out from the rear side of the band.

1. An image forming system comprising:

2. 2. The image forming system according to claim 1, wherein a groove for receiving the entire band is formed on the opposite side, and the band is attached to a bottom of the groove.

3. The image forming system according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that one end side of the band is attached to one end side of the operation unit in the width direction of the operation unit and the other end side of the band is attached to the other end side of the operation unit in the width direction, and the one end side of the band is slidable relative to the operation unit in the width direction.

4. An image forming system as described in any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that when the orientation of the operation unit is such that the opposite side faces vertically upward, a recess is formed in a portion of the opposite side corresponding to below the band, and the opposite side has an area adjacent to the recess in the width direction of the operation unit, and an area supporting the band on one side and the other side of the recess.

5. The operation unit further includes a support part that supports the operation unit and rotates in a predetermined direction, 2. The image forming system according to claim 1, wherein an angle between the display unit and the top surface changes in response to rotation of the support unit in the predetermined direction.

6. The image forming system as described in Claim 5, characterized in that the angle between the support part and the top surface changes when the support part rotates in the specified direction.

7. The image forming system as described in claim 1, characterized in that the operation unit further comprises a plurality of contact portions each of which comes into contact with the top surface when placed on the top surface.

8. The image forming system according to claim 7, characterized in that the band does not come into contact with the top surface when the operation unit is placed on the top surface.

9. The image forming system according to claim 7, characterized in that the operation unit further comprises a storage portion capable of storing the band.

10. The image forming system described in Claim 9, characterized in that when the band is accommodated in the accommodation portion, it does not protrude from a virtual plane defined by the multiple contact portions.

Images