OPERATION PANEL AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS THEREWITH

• US 20170353617A1
• Filed: 05/31/2017
• Published: 12/07/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions, Inc. (Kyocera Corporation)
• Original Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions, Inc. (Kyocera Corporation)
• Inventors: KAINUMA, Takashi
• Granted Patent: US 10,084,929 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00384 Key input means, e.g. buttons or keypads electromechanical details of key input means in general H01H13/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00411 the display also being used for user input, e.g. touch screen
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00424 using a list of graphical elements, e.g. icons or icon bar
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/0049 providing a visual indication to the user, e.g. using a lamp H04N1/00408 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00496 Constructional details of the interface or console not otherwise provided for, e.g. rotating or tilting means
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0094 Multifunctional device, i.e. a device capable of all of reading, reproducing, copying, facsimile transception, file transception

Abstract

An operation panel used in an image forming apparatus has a panel face, a semi-transparent member of a black or similar color, and a light source. The panel face has an operation region. The semi-transparent member is arranged such that its top face is approximately flush with the panel face at least along a peripheral part of it. The light source is arranged under the semi-transparent member in the peripheral part of the panel face.

Claims

1. An operation panel for use in an image forming apparatus, comprising:

a panel face including an operation region;

a semi-transparent member of a black or similar color arranged such that a top face thereof is approximately flush with the panel face at least along a peripheral part thereof; and

a light source arranged under the semi-transparent member in the peripheral part of the panel face.

2. The operation panel of claim 1, wherein

the operation panel has a side face extending downward from the peripheral part of the panel face, and

the semi-transparent member is formed to lie continuously over the panel face to the side face.

3. The operation panel of claim 1, wherein

the light source comprises a plurality of light sources,

opposite parts of the semi-transparent member opposite which the light sources are arranged are formed in mutually different shapes and in addition with a thickness smaller than a thickness of another part of the semi-transparent member.

4. The operation panel of claim 3, wherein

the opposite parts are given a thickness smaller than the thickness of the other part of the semi-transparent member as a result of an inner face of the semi-transparent member being formed in a recessed shape.

5. The operation panel of claim 1, wherein

an outer face of the semi-transparent member is grained by a surface graining process.

6. The operation panel of claim 1, further comprising:

a reflective member near the light source, the reflective member reflecting light from the light source in a predetermined direction.

7. An image forming apparatus, comprising:

the operation panel of claim 1;

an image forming section configured to form an image.