Electrophotography – Machine operation – Operator interface
Reexamination Certificate
2002-06-10
2004-09-21
Ngo, Hoang (Department: 2852)
Electrophotography
Machine operation
Operator interface
C399S107000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06795662
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to image-forming devices including an independent control panel which is separate from a main body of the image-forming device. In particular, the present invention relates to a copying device including an independent control panel having a display function, arranged so as to minimize the size of the copying device, and particularly to minimize the floor space required for installation of the copying device, including the main body itself and an operational area of the copying device.
2. Description of the Related Art
A copying device, as a known image-forming device, is shown in
FIGS. 7 and 8
. Other known image-forming devices include printers, facsimiles, combinations of printers and facsimiles, and the like.
A copying device
100
shown in
FIGS. 7 and 8
is provided with an automatic document-feeder
102
at an upper part of a main body
101
of the copying device
100
. The automatic document-feeder
102
automatically feeds original sheets to an image reader
103
, as shown in FIG.
8
. The automatic document-feeder
102
includes a mounting part
102
a
for setting the original sheets thereon. The image reader
103
optically reads the original sheets or books that are placed upon the image reader
103
. The image reader
103
is disposed at the uppermost part of the main body
101
, which opposes a lower face of the automatic document-feeder
102
.
The automatic document-feeder
102
can pivot on hinges disposed at the rear side thereof. This allows the automatic document-feeder
102
to be maintained open at any desired angle with respect to the main body
101
, so that an original sheet or a book can be set on the image reader
103
for reading.
An original-sheet discharge-tray
102
b
for stacking original sheets which have been read and discharged by the automatic document-feeder
102
is provided at the right side of the upper part of the main body
101
. The main body
101
is provided with a display
106
a
at the front side of the automatic document-feeder
102
and at the upper part of the main body
101
.
A sheet-supply tray
105
for stacking sheets for printing, when the sheets are manually supplied to the main body
101
by an operator, protrudes from the left side of the main body
101
.
When the operator operates the copying device
100
by using a control panel
106
, the image reader
103
reads data from an original sheet or a book, an imaging unit (not shown) provided in the main body
101
transfers an image data corresponding to the read data to a sheet which was supplied from a sheet cassette
107
or the sheet-supply tray
105
, and the sheet is discharged to a sheet-discharge tray
110
.
The control panel
106
of the known copying device
100
is positioned at the front side of the upper part of the main body
101
, that is, between the automatic document-feeder
102
and the operator. The control panel
106
preferably is positioned toward the front side of the copying device
100
, because if it is disposed toward the rear side of the copying device
100
, the control panel
106
will interfere with the easy opening and closing of the automatic document-feeder
102
or setting of the original sheets or books on the image reader
103
.
Therefore, the control panel
106
conventionally has been positioned toward the front side. Since the space provided to install the control panel
106
is limited at the front side, however, the size of the control panel
106
has had to be reduced.
In recent years, however, the size of the control panel
106
of known copying devices has increased. Currently, a large liquid crystal monitor including a touch panel often is provided in order to cope with the trend toward multiple functionality of the copying device and improved maneuverability thereof. As a result, an enlarged control panel
106
displaces the automatic document-feeder
102
and the image reader
103
toward the rear side of the main body
101
, whereby the original sheets or books are not easily set on the image reader
103
and the size of the copying device
100
is increased.
In particular, it may be particularly difficult for an operator in a wheelchair, who operates the copying device
100
from a position lower than that of an operator who operates the same while standing, to set original sheets or books on the image reader
103
and handle the automatic document-feeder
102
.
Moreover, it is difficult for an operator in a wheelchair to view a control panel
106
, which is substantially horizontal to the upper face of the main body
101
(the control panel
106
has poor visibility for the operator in a wheelchair).
The visibility of the control panel
106
may be improved by providing an operation surface of the control panel
106
that is substantially vertical, and by providing the control panel
106
toward the front side of the main body
101
of the copying device
100
.
However, when the control panel
106
is disposed toward the front side of the main body
101
, the control panel
106
and a supporting member for the control panel
106
may interfere with the opening and closing of the automatic document-feeder
102
and with the opening and closing of a cover
104
of the main body
101
of the copying device
100
. However, if the control panel
106
is disposed toward the rear side of the main body
101
of the copying device
100
, remote from the operator, operability and maneuverability of the copying device
100
is reduced.
Copying devices that attempt to overcome the above drawbacks are disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open Nos. 9-6185 and 11-119498. The copying device disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-6185 is provided with a control panel
121
having a display
121
a
, as shown in
FIG. 9
, which is movable to a position appropriate for operation. The copying device disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-119498 is provided with an inclined control panel
131
, as shown in
FIG. 10
, of which the angle of inclination is variable.
Each of copying devices
120
and
130
shown in
FIGS. 9 and 10
, respectively, is provided with sheet cassettes
107
which can be drawn from the main body
101
. The copying device
120
is provided with a cover
104
for opening and closing the main body
101
. The automatic document-feeder
102
is provided with a mounting part
102
a
for setting original sheets thereon.
The copying devices
120
and
130
are provided with control panels
121
and
131
, respectively, and displays
121
a
and
131
a
, respectively, which are positioned at the respective front sides of the automatic document feeders
102
. Since the control panel
121
or
131
is positioned at the front side, the control panel
121
or
131
interferes with the opening and closing of the automatic document-feeder
102
. Therefore, the display
121
a
of the control panel
121
must be moved or the angle of inclination of the control panel
131
must be changed each time the automatic document-feeder
102
is opened or closed.
Moreover, it is difficult to position the automatic document-feeder
102
further toward the front side, and it is necessary to form a space around a main body
122
or
132
of the copying device
120
or
130
, respectively, in which the display
121
a
or the control panel
131
, respectively, can move. That is, there is a drawback in that the space around the copying device
120
or
130
is inefficiently used, because, when the device is operated, a larger operational space is required in addition to the space which is occupied by the copying device
120
or
130
when it is operated.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an image-forming device including an independent control panel provided with a display function, in which an installation space of the device, including an operational space of a main body of the image-forming device, is minimized.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an image-forming dev
Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
Fitzpatrick ,Cella, Harper & Scinto
Ngo Hoang
LandOfFree
Image forming device with independent control panel does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Image forming device with independent control panel, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Image forming device with independent control panel will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3248279