Power switch structure and image forming apparatus including same

• US 8,626,019 B2
• Filed: 04/25/2011
• Issued: 01/07/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Inventors: Amemiya, Kanae, Ishii, Hiroshi, Shimada, Toshihiro
• Primary Examiner(s): GRAINGER, QUANA MASHELL
• Application Number:
  US13/064,895
• Publication Number:
  US 20110280608A1
• Time in Patent Office: 988 Days
• Field of Search: 399/88, 399/124
• US Class Current: 399/88
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/5016 User-machine interface; Display panels; Control console

Abstract

A power switch structure for an apparatus, including a recess provided in a side surface of the apparatus and having a distal sloped face facing a front side of the apparatus and a proximal sloped face surface, and a power switch, inclined with respect to the side surface of the apparatus, positioned on the distal sloped face surface to face the front side of the apparatus.

Claims

1. A power switch structure for an apparatus, comprising:

a V-shaped recess, having a distal sloped face facing a front side of the apparatus and a proximal sloped face, provided in a lateral side of the apparatus; and

a power switch, inclined with respect to the side surface of the apparatus, positioned on the distal sloped face of the V-shaped recess and facing the front side of the apparatus.

2. The structure according to claim 1, wherein the power switch pivots within the V-shaped recess.

3. The structure according to claim 2, further comprising a rotary shaft around which the power switch pivots thereof within the V-shaped recess.

4. The structure according to claim 2, wherein the switch is a rocker-type switch.

5. The structure according to claim 1, wherein the power switch pivots substantially vertically within the V-shaped recess.

6. The structure according to claim 5, further comprising a rotary shaft around which the power switch pivots substantially vertically within the V-shaped recess.

7. The structure according to claim 5, wherein the switch is a rocker-type switch.

8. The structure according to claim 1, wherein the power switch moves reciprocally back and forth within the V-shaped recess and with respect to the distal sloped face surface of the V-shaped recess.

9. The structure according to claim 1, wherein the power switch is a push-type switch.

10. The structure according to claim 1, further comprising a switch cover hinged to the apparatus and disposed over the opening of the V-shaped recess.

11. The structure according to claim 10, wherein the switch cover swings substantially horizontally to open and close the V-shaped recess.

12. The structure according to claim 10, wherein the switch cover swings substantially vertically to open and close the V-shaped recess.

14. The structure according to claim 6, further comprising a pivotable plate including a movable contacting portion.

15. The structure according to claim 14, wherein the movable contacting portion contacts and separates from a fixed contacting portion provided on an upper face of supporting terminals.

16. The structure according to claim 15, wherein when the movable contacting portion contacts the fixed contacting portion, the supporting terminals conduct electricity to each other to so that the power switch is at an ON state.

17. The structure according to claim 11, wherein the switch cover is attached to an opening edge of the distal sloped surface in the V-shaped recess.

18. The structure according to claim 12, wherein the switch cover is attached to a top edge of the distal sloped surface in the V-shaped recess.

19. The structure according to claim 10, wherein a color of the switch cover is different than a color of the power switch.

20. The structure according to claim 10, wherein a color of the switch cover is different than a color of the side surface of the apparatus.

13. An image forming apparatus, comprising:

an apparatus body;

a V-shaped recess, having a distal sloped face facing a front side of the apparatus and a front face, provided in one side of the apparatus body; and

a power switch, inclined with respect to the side surface of the apparatus body, provided on the distal sloped face of the V-shaped recess and facing the front side of the apparatus body.