Input device and image forming device

Abstract

An input device (300) comprises: a button (211) that is positioned on a corner (51) of a housing (50) formed by a first surface (23b) and a second surface (23c), that can be pressed by a user, and that has a third surface (211b) extending along a first direction (D1) and a fourth surface (211c) extending along a second direction (D2); a light source (222); a light guide (212) that guides light emitted from the light source (222) toward the outside of the button (211); a first light-shielding part (213) that is disposed between the light guide (212) and a first gap (GP1) between the first surface (23b) and the third surface (211b), and that covers the first gap (GP1); and a second light-shielding part (211f) that is disposed between the light guide (212) and a second gap (GP2) between the second surface (23c) and the fourth surface (211c), and that covers the second gap (GP2).

Description

Input device and image forming device

[0001] The present invention relates to an input device that is attached to a housing.

[0002] In recent years, there has been a demand for miniaturization in image forming devices such as copiers, printers, and facsimiles. The user operation unit of an image forming device can be operated in a variety of ways, such as mechanical button switches and electrostatic touch panels, and an operation method suited to the product specifications is used. Among these, mechanical button switches are commonly used as an inexpensive configuration. Patent Document 1 discloses a key input device that includes key tops and key switches that are pressed by the key tops pressed by a user.

[0003] JP 2008-299444 A

[0004] For example, a configuration is conceivable in which the key top is illuminated by light emitted from a light source so that the key top is easily visible to the user. However, the key top described in Patent Document 1 has a gap between the housing around the key top, which may cause light from the light source to leak through the gap.

[0005] According to one aspect of the present invention, an input device attached to a housing having a first surface extending in a first direction and a second surface extending in a second direction intersecting the first direction includes a button that is positioned at a corner of the housing formed by the first surface and the second surface and can be pressed by a user, the button having a third surface extending along the first direction and a fourth surface extending along the second direction; a light source; a light guide that guides light emitted from the light source toward the outside of the button; a first light-shielding portion that is positioned between a first gap between the first surface and the third surface and the light guide and covers the first gap; and a second light-shielding portion that is positioned between a second gap between the second surface and the fourth surface and the light guide and covers the second gap.

[0006] According to the present invention, it is possible to prevent light from the light source from leaking through the gap between the housing and the button.

[0007] Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which the same or similar elements are designated by the same reference numerals.

[0008] 6 is an overall schematic diagram showing an image forming apparatus according to a first embodiment; a perspective view showing the image forming apparatus; a cross-sectional view showing the cross-section 3A-3A in FIG. 2; an enlarged cross-sectional view of FIG. 3; a perspective view showing a power button; a perspective view showing an image forming apparatus according to a second embodiment; and an enlarged cross-sectional view showing the cross-section 7A-7A in FIG.

[0009] First Embodiment [Overall Configuration] First, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described. Image forming apparatus 100 is an electrophotographic laser beam printer that forms a monochrome toner image. In the following description, sheet P refers to a material on which an image is formed by image forming apparatus 100, and includes, for example, paper, OHT sheets, etc.

[0010] Furthermore, the term "image forming apparatus" includes printers, copiers, facsimiles, and multifunction peripherals, and refers to an apparatus that forms an image on a sheet used as a recording medium based on image information input from an external PC or image information read from an original. In addition to the main body having an image forming function, an image forming apparatus may be connected to accessory devices such as an optional feeder, an image reader, and a sheet processing device, and the entire system connected to such accessory devices is also a type of image forming apparatus.

[0011] 1, the image forming apparatus 100 includes a sheet feeding unit 10 that feeds stacked sheets, an image forming section 20 that forms an image on the sheet, and a fixing device 115 that fixes the image transferred to the sheet. The image forming apparatus 100 also includes a pair of discharge rollers 116 that can discharge the sheet onto a discharge tray 31.

[0012] When an image formation job is output to the image forming apparatus 100, an image formation process is started by the image forming unit 20 based on image information input from an external computer or the like connected to the image forming apparatus 100. The image forming unit 20 has a laser scanner (not shown), a photosensitive drum 114, a charging roller and a developing roller (not shown), and a transfer roller 113. The photosensitive drum 114, the charging roller, and the developing roller are integrated into a cartridge called a process cartridge 118 so that they can be replaced as a unit. The photosensitive drum 114 and the transfer roller 113 form a transfer nip T1.

[0013] Based on the input image information, the laser scanner irradiates the photosensitive drum 114 with laser light. At this time, the photosensitive drum 114 is pre-charged by a charging roller, and an electrostatic latent image is formed on the photosensitive drum 114 by irradiating it with laser light. Thereafter, this electrostatic latent image is developed by a developing roller, and a monochrome toner image is formed on the photosensitive drum 114.

[0014] In parallel with the image forming process described above, sheets are fed from a sheet feeding unit 10. The sheet feeding unit 10 has a cassette 11 that can be pulled out and attached to the apparatus main body 100A of the image forming apparatus 100, and a feeding section 111 that is composed of a roller pair and the like. The sheets stored in the cassette 11 are fed by the feeding section 111.

[0015] In addition, the cassette 11 may be provided with a middle plate that can support a sheet and be raised and lowered, and for example, the middle plate may be raised when an image formation job is input, so that the sheet supported by the middle plate comes into contact with the feeding section 111.

[0016] The sheet fed by the feeding unit 111 is conveyed toward the transfer nip T1 by a pair of conveying rollers 112. The toner image on the photosensitive drum 114 is transferred onto the sheet at the transfer nip T1 by an electrostatic load bias applied to the transfer roller 113. Residual toner remaining on the photosensitive drum 114 is collected by a cleaning blade (not shown). The sheet onto which the toner image has been transferred is subjected to predetermined heat and pressure by a fixing device 115, thereby melting and fixing (fixing) the toner. The sheet that has passed through the fixing device 115 is discharged onto the discharge tray 31 by a pair of discharge rollers 116.

[0017] The conveying roller pair 112 may be configured with a registration roller pair that can correct skew of the sheet. The sheet is corrected for skew by hitting the nip of the registration roller pair that is in a stopped state. The registration roller pair conveys the sheet P in accordance with the transfer timing of the toner image at the transfer nip T1.

[0018] When forming images on both sides of a sheet, the sheet with an image formed on its first side is switched back by the discharge roller pair 116 and conveyed to the double-sided conveying path 40. The double-sided conveying path 40 guides the sheet again to the conveying roller pair 112. Then, an image is formed on the second side of the sheet in the transfer nip T1, and the sheet is discharged to the discharge tray 31.

[0019] The image forming apparatus 100 has a cartridge door unit 119 as a door that is rotatably supported on the apparatus main body 100A. The apparatus main body 100A (excluding the image forming unit 20) and the cartridge door unit 119 form a housing 50. The cartridge door unit 119 is rotatable (openable and closable) in the direction of arrow A in FIG. 1 around a rotation fulcrum 119a. The cartridge door unit 119 is opened and closed relative to the apparatus main body 100A in order to install and remove a process cartridge 118 as a cartridge.

[0020] That is, when replacing the process cartridge 118, the user first opens the cartridge door unit 119 relative to the apparatus main body 100A. Next, the user can remove the process cartridge 118 from the apparatus main body 100A by moving the process cartridge 118 in the direction of arrow B in Figure 1. After replacing the process cartridge 118, the user closes the cartridge door unit 119 relative to the apparatus main body 100A.

[0021] The direction of arrow B points upward as it approaches the front of the image forming apparatus 100. This allows the user to easily install and remove the process cartridge 118, improving usability. Also, if a sheet jams near the conveying roller pair 112, for example, the jam can be cleared by removing the process cartridge 118.

[0022] [Power Button Unit] Figure 2 is a perspective view showing the image forming apparatus 100. Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view showing the cross section taken along line 3A-3A in Figure 2. Figure 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of Figure 3. As shown in Figures 1 and 2, a power button unit 21 is attached to the cartridge door unit 119. In other words, the power button unit 21 is attached to the housing 50.

[0023] 2 and 3, the cartridge door unit 119 has a cartridge door 23 and a cartridge door inner cover 24. The cartridge door 23 and the cartridge door inner cover 24 sandwich and hold a power supply board 22. The power supply board 22 is a board on which an LED (Light Emitting Diode) 222 serving as a light source and a power switch 221 serving as a switch are mounted. The power supply board 22, the LED 222, the power switch 221, and the power button unit 21 constitute an input device 300.

[0024] 2, the image forming apparatus 100 has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape. A direction parallel to the front and back directions of the image forming apparatus 100 is defined as a first direction D1, a direction parallel to the up-down or vertical direction is defined as a second direction D2, and a direction parallel to the left-right direction of the image forming apparatus 100 is defined as a third direction D3. In other words, the first direction D1, the second direction D2, and the third direction D3 intersect and are perpendicular to each other. In the first direction D1, the side of the image forming apparatus 100 where the power button unit 21 is provided is the front side.

[0025] 2 and 3 , the cartridge door 23 has a door upper surface 23 b as a first surface extending in the first direction D1 and a door front surface 23 c as a second surface extending in the second direction D2. The door upper surface 23 b and the door front surface 23 c form part of the exterior surfaces of the image forming apparatus 100 and the housing 50.

[0026] The power button unit 21 is disposed at a corner 51 of the housing 50 formed by the door upper surface 23 b and the door front surface 23 c. In other words, the power button unit 21 is disposed along the ridge line 51 a between the door upper surface 23 b and the door front surface 23 c.

[0027] As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 , the power button unit 21 includes a depressible power button 211, a light guide 212 that transmits light from the LED 222, and a light guide cover 213 that is separate from the power button 211 and does not transmit light. The cartridge door 23 is provided with a convex portion 23a extending in a first direction D1, and the power button 211 is provided with a concave portion 211a that engages with the convex portion 23a. The engagement between the convex portion 23a and the concave portion 211a allows the power button 211 to move in the first direction D1 but not in the second direction D2 relative to the cartridge door 23. The light guide 212 and the light guide cover 213 are supported by the power button 211 and therefore move together with the power button 211 in the first direction D1. Movement of the power button 211 in a third direction D3 is restricted by the cartridge door 23.

[0028] The power button 211 has a button top surface 211b as a third surface extending along the first direction D1, a button front surface 211c as a fourth surface extending along the second direction D2, and a switch contact portion 211d facing the power switch 221. The button top surface 211b and the button front surface 211c are flush with the door top surface 23b and the door front surface 23c, respectively, when the power button 211 is not pressed by the user.

[0029] The direction of arrow C shown in Figures 1 and 4 is parallel to the first direction D1 and is the direction from the front side to the back side of the image forming apparatus 100. When the power button 211 is pressed in the direction of arrow C by a user, it moves in the direction of arrow C. Then, the switch contact portion 211d of the power button 211 presses the power switch 221. This switches the power of the image forming apparatus 100 on and off. Note that when the image forming apparatus 100 is on, the LED 222 is lit, and when the image forming apparatus 100 is off, the LED 222 is turned off. In other words, the operation of the LED 222 is switched when the power switch 221 is pressed.

[0030] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the power button 211. As shown in FIG. 5, the power button 211 has side surfaces 211g disposed on both sides of the button top surface 211b and the button front surface 211c in the third direction D3, and a spring portion 211e extending outward in the third direction D3 beyond the side surfaces 211g. The power button 211 also has an opening 211k that opens into the button front surface 211c. When the power button 211 is pressed in the direction of arrow C, the spring portion 211e comes into contact with a contact portion (not shown) of the cartridge door inner cover 24, thereby elastically deforming. When the user releases the power button 211, the elastic force of the spring portion 211e returns the power button 211 to its reference position (the position shown in FIG. 4).

[0031] As shown in Fig. 4, the light guide 212 has an incident surface 212a that faces the LED 222 and into which light emitted from the LED 222 is incident, and an exit surface 212b that emits the light that has entered the incident surface 212a. The exit surface 212b is formed flush with a front button surface 211c of the power button 211 that is positioned at the reference position. That is, the light guide 212 guides the light emitted from the LED 222 outward from the power button 211, as indicated by arrow D in Fig. 4. The light guide 212 fits into an opening 211k of the power button 211, and the edge of the opening 211k and the exit surface 212b are flush with each other.

[0032] 4, a first gap GP1 is provided between the door upper surface 23b and the button upper surface 211b in the first direction D1. This gap GP1 is equal to or greater than the distance that the power button 211 moves in the direction of arrow C when pressed by a user. Furthermore, a second gap GP2 is provided between the door front surface 23c and the button front surface 211c in the second direction D2. These first gap GP1 and second gap GP2 are necessary for the power button 211 to move in the first direction D1 without interfering with the cartridge door 23.

[0033] The light guide cover 213 as a first light-blocking portion is disposed between the first gap GP1 and the light guide 212, and covers the first gap GP1. The light guide cover 213 prevents the light guide 212 from being visible through the first gap GP1 from outside the housing 50 and the input device 300. This prevents light transmitted through the light guide 212 from leaking out of the housing 50 and the input device 300 through the first gap GP1.

[0034] The power button 211 also has a light-shielding portion 211f disposed between the second gap GP2 and the light guide 212, and the light-shielding portion 211f, which serves as a second light-shielding portion, covers the second gap GP2. The light-shielding portion 211f prevents the light guide 212 from being visible through the second gap GP2 from the outside of the housing 50 and the input device 300. This prevents light transmitted through the light guide 212 from leaking out of the housing 50 and the input device 300 through the second gap GP2. The side surface 211g (see FIG. 5 ) of the power button 211 also prevents most of the light emitted from the light guide 212 in the third direction D3 from leaking out of the housing 50 and the input device 300.

[0035] As described above, in the present embodiment, the light guide cover 213 and the light-shielding portion 211f can prevent light transmitted through the light guide 212 from leaking out of the housing 50 and the input device 300 through the first gap GP1 and the second gap GP2. In other words, it is possible to prevent light from the LED 222 from leaking out of the gaps (GP1, GP2) between the housing 50 and the power button 211. This allows the user to see only the light emitted from the emission surface 212b of the light guide 212, limits the emission direction of light from the input device 300 to one direction, and improves the design of the input device 300.

[0036] Furthermore, the light output surface 212b of the light guide 212 is formed flush with the front button surface 211c of the power button 211, so the user can easily recognize that the front button surface 211c is the surface for pressing the power button 211. This improves the operability of the input device 300.

[0037] Furthermore, the power button unit 21 is provided at the corner 51 of the cartridge door unit 119, and the light guide 212 guides light emitted from the LED 222 outward from the power button 211, thereby enabling the miniaturization of the input device 300. Furthermore, since the power button 211 can be operated only in the first direction D1, the stroke of the power button 211 only needs to be ensured in the first direction D1, enabling the miniaturization of the input device 300. Furthermore, the use of a mechanical button-type power button 211 and power switch 221, which can be constructed inexpensively, allows for cost reduction.

[0038] <Second Embodiment> Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described, in which the cartridge door 23 of the first embodiment is divided into two parts, and a light blocking portion 211h is provided instead of the light guide cover 213. For this reason, the same components as those in the first embodiment will not be shown in the drawings or will be described with the same reference numerals in the drawings.

[0039] FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing an image forming apparatus 1100 according to the second embodiment. FIG. 7 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing the cross section 7A-7A of FIG. 6. As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, a power button unit 1021 is attached to a cartridge door unit 1119 serving as a door. The cartridge door unit 1119 has a first cartridge door 231 serving as a first exterior member, a second cartridge door 232 serving as a second exterior member, and a cartridge door inner cover 24. The first cartridge door 231 and the cartridge door inner cover 24 hold the power supply board 22 by sandwiching it between them. The power supply board 22, the LED 222, the power switch 221, and the power button unit 1021 constitute an input device 1300.

[0040] The first cartridge door 231 has a door upper surface 23b. The second cartridge door 232 has a door front surface 23c and a protrusion 23a that can be engaged with a recess 211a of the power button 211.

[0041] The power button unit 1021 has a power button 1211 as a button and a light guide 212 that transmits light from the LED 222. The power button 1211 has a light-shielding portion 211h that serves as a first light-shielding portion that does not transmit light. In other words, the light-shielding portion 211h is configured integrally with the power button 1211. The light-shielding portion 211h is disposed between the first gap GP1 and the light guide 212, and covers the first gap GP1. The light-shielding portion 211h prevents the light guide 212 from being visible through the first gap GP1 from outside the housing 50 and the input device 1300.

[0042] As a result, the same effects as those of the first embodiment can be achieved. Furthermore, the cartridge door is divided into two parts, the first cartridge door 231 and the second cartridge door 232, which allows for greater freedom in design. Furthermore, the light-shielding portion 211h is integrated with the power button 1211, which allows for further cost reduction.

[0043] Other Embodiments In all of the above-described embodiments, the first direction D1 is the front-to-rear direction of the image forming apparatus, and the second direction D2 is the vertical direction. However, this is not limited to this. In other words, as long as the first direction D1, the second direction D2, and the third direction D3 are perpendicular to one another, any of the directions may be the front-to-rear direction, the vertical direction, or the left-to-right direction. For example, the first direction D1 may be the vertical direction, in which case the power button 211, 1211 may be configured to be movable in the vertical direction.

[0044] In addition, in all of the above-described embodiments, the light source of the input device 300 is the LED 222, but this is not limiting. For example, instead of the LED 222, an incandescent lamp, a halogen lamp, a fluorescent lamp, or the like may be used.

[0045] In addition, in any of the above-described embodiments, the light blocking portion 211f is formed integrally with the power button 211, 1211. However, this is not limiting. For example, the light blocking portion 211f may be formed separately from the power button 211, 1211.

[0046] In addition, in all of the above-described embodiments, the door top surface 23b and the button top surface 211b are formed flush with each other, but this is not limiting. For example, the door top surface 23b and the button top surface 211b may be slightly offset in the second direction D2. In addition, the door front surface 23c and the button front surface 211c are formed flush with each other, but this is not limiting. For example, the door front surface 23c and the button front surface 211c may be slightly offset in the first direction D1.

[0047] In addition, in all of the above-described embodiments, the light exit surface 212b of the light guide 212 is formed flush with the front surface 211c of the button, but this is not limiting. For example, the power button 211 may have a light-transmitting portion instead of the opening 211k, and the light emitted from the light exit surface 212b of the light guide 212 may be irradiated to the outside of the input device 300 via the light-transmitting portion.

[0048] In addition, in any of the above-described embodiments, the power button 211, 1211 is a button for turning on or off the power of the image forming apparatus 100, 1100, but is not limited to this. For example, instead of the power button 211, 1211, a button for issuing other instructions such as starting printing may be used.

[0049] In addition, in all of the above-described embodiments, the LED 222 is switched between on and off when the power switch 221 is pressed by the switch contact portion 211d of the power button 211, but this is not limiting. For example, the LED 222 may be switched between flashing and off when the power switch 221 is pressed by the switch contact portion 211d of the power button 211. In other words, it is sufficient if the operation of the LED 222 is switched.

[0050] The present invention is applicable to input devices in which the vicinity of buttons is illuminated, and such input devices are applicable to image forming devices such as printers, copiers, facsimiles, and multifunction devices having these functions.

[0051] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Therefore, the following claims are appended to apprise the public of the scope of the present invention.

[0052] 20: Image forming unit / 22: Board (power supply board) / 23b: First surface (top surface of door) / 23c: Second surface (front surface of door) / 50: Housing / 51: Corner portion / 100, 1100: Image forming device / 118: Cartridge (process cartridge) / 119, 1119: Door (cartridge door unit) / 211, 1211: Button (power button) / 211b: Third surface (top surface of button) / 211c: Fourth surface (front surface of button) / 211f: Second light blocking section (light-shielding section) / 211h, 213: first light-shielding section (light-shielding section, light guide cover) / 212: light guide / 212a: incident surface / 212b: exit surface / 221: switch (power switch) / 222: light source (LED) / 231: first exterior member (first cartridge door) / 232: second exterior member (second cartridge door) / 300, 1300: input device / D1: first direction / D2: second direction / GP1: first gap / GP2: second gap

Claims

1. An input device attached to a housing having a first surface extending in a first direction and a second surface extending in a second direction intersecting the first direction, comprising: a button that is disposed at a corner of the housing formed by the first surface and the second surface and can be pressed by a user, the button having a third surface extending along the first direction and a fourth surface extending along the second direction; a light source; a light guide that guides light emitted from the light source toward the outside of the button; a first light-shielding portion that is disposed between a first gap between the first surface and the third surface and the light guide and covers the first gap; and a second light-shielding portion that is disposed between a second gap between the second surface and the fourth surface and the light guide and covers the second gap.

2. An input device as described in claim 1, wherein the light guide cannot be seen from outside the housing and the input device through the first gap and the second gap due to the first light-shielding portion and the second light-shielding portion.

3. The input device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the light guide moves together with the button.

4. The input device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the first light-blocking portion is configured separately from the button and moves integrally with the button.

5. An input device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the first light-shielding portion is integral with the button.

6. The input device according to claim 1, wherein the button is movable in the first direction when pressed.

7. The input device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the second light-shielding portion is formed integrally with the button.

8. An input device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the light guide has an incident surface facing the light source and into which light emitted from the light source is incident, and an exit surface formed flush with the third surface and which emits light incident on the incident surface.

9. The input device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein when the button is not pressed, the first surface and the third surface are flush with each other, and the second surface and the fourth surface are flush with each other.

10. An input device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9, further comprising: a switch that is pressed by the button that moves in the first direction when pressed; and a substrate supported by the housing and on which the light source and the switch are mounted.

11. The input device according to claim 10, wherein the operation of the light source is switched by pressing the switch with the button.

12. An image forming apparatus comprising: the housing; an input device according to any one of claims 1 to 11; and an image forming unit that forms an image on a sheet.

13. The image forming apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the housing has a first exterior member including the first surface, and a second exterior member including the second surface.

14. An image forming apparatus as described in claim 12 or 13, wherein the image forming unit has a cartridge, the housing has a door that can be opened and closed to attach and detach the cartridge to and from the housing, and the door has the first surface and the second surface and supports the button.

Images