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 102a 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 102b 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 106a 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 121a, 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 102a for setting original sheets thereon.
The copying devices 120 and 130 are provided with control panels 121 and 131, respectively, and displays 121a and 131a, 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 121a 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 121a 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.
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 device including an independent control panel, in which the control panel is easily accessible by an operator, and in particular, an operator confined to a wheelchair, without requiring excessive reach to the control panel, when the operator operates the control panel at the front side of the image-forming device.
To these ends, according to an aspect of the present invention, an image-forming device comprises a main body; a protrusion extending from a side surface of the main body; a support member provided either on the protrusion or on the protrusion and the main body; and a control panel including a display. The control panel is separate from the main body and supported by the support member toward a front side of the protrusion.
The support member of the image-forming device according to the present invention may extend above the protrusion from a rear side of the protrusion toward the front side thereof and support the control panel at the extended distal end of the support member.
The control panel of the image-forming device according to the present invention may be supported by the supporting member such that the control panel is capable of pivoting, rotating or turning in at least one of a vertical direction and a horizontal direction, by any arbitrary angle.
The protrusion of the image-forming device according to the present invention may include a control member which provides control in connection with at least one operation/function of the control panel, such as copy start, copy count, and the like.
The control member of the image-forming device according to the present invention may be provided at the front side of the protrusion.
The protrusion of the image-forming device according to the present invention may comprise a tray for stacking original sheets or sheets for printing images to be supplied to or discharged from the main body.
The protrusion of the image-forming device according to the present invention may comprise a mounting table for receiving thereon or therein operation manuals.
The control panel of the image-forming device according to the present invention is separate from the main body and supported by the support member toward the front side of the protrusion, where the support member is provided either on the protrusion or on the protrusion and the main body, whereby the maneuverability, accessibility and visibility of the control panel is improved.
The control panel of the image-forming device according to the present invention is supported and is disposed using a protrusion which is necessary for operation of the image-forming device. Therefore, it is not necessary to provide an additional exclusive mounting space, whereby the size of the image-forming device can be reduced.
Since the control panel does not protrude significantly from the front face of the main body, the image-forming device can be reduced in size and the space necessary for operation can be reduced to a minimum, whereby the image-forming device can be installed in a more compact space.
Further objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of the preferred embodiments with reference to the attached drawings.