Image forming apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11841992-B2
Application number	US-202117374760-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 13, 2021
Priority date	Feb 5, 2019
Publication date	Dec 12, 2023
Grant date	Dec 12, 2023

Abstract

An image forming apparatus controls a general-purpose numerical key unit so as to maintain a state in which a NumLock LED is turned on in the case where a connecting cable of the general-purpose numerical key unit including a NumLock key capable of selectively switching, in a case that the general-purpose numerical key unit is connected to an information processing device including a display screen, a condition when the information processing devices processes an inputted key signal, between a first processing condition in which the key signal is processed as information on a numerical value and a second processing condition in which the key signal is processed as information for moving a cursor displayed on the display screen, and the NumLock LED capable of notifying a user of that the first processing condition is set for the information processing device by being turned on is connected to a connecting portion (step S15).

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An image forming apparatus to which an input device is connectable,
the input device including:
a plurality of hardware keys which include a numerical key portion where a plurality of numerical keys capable of inputting numerical information on 0 to 9, respectively, by being pushed down by a user are provided in an arrangement of an electronic calculator type,
an outputting portion for outputting a key signal corresponding to each of the hardware keys,
a switching key capable of selectively switching, in a case that said input device is connected to an information processing device including a display screen, a condition when the information processing device processes the key signal from the outputting portion, between a first processing condition in which the key signal is processed as information on a numerical value and a second processing condition in which the key signal is processed as information for moving a cursor displayed on the display screen, and
a light emitting portion capable of notifying a user of that the first processing condition is set for the information processing device by being turned on and capable of notifying the user of that the second processing condition is set for the information processing device by being turned off,

said image forming apparatus comprising:
an image reading device for reading an image of an original;
an image forming portion for forming the image on a recording medium on the basis of a reading result of said image reading device;
an operating panel capable of displaying a software execution key, as a software key, for providing an instruction of a start of image reading to said image reading device;
a connecting portion capable of connecting the input device;
a receiving portion for receiving the key signal;
a processing portion for processing the key signal received by said receiving portion on the basis of a processing condition; and
a setting portion for setting the processing condition,
wherein the light emitting portion is switched between a turn-on state and a turn-off state on the basis of an operation of the switching key, and
wherein the setting portion sets, as the processing condition, a condition where the key signal received by the receiving portion is processed to be numerical information irrespective of the turn-on state or the turn-off state of the light emitting portion.

2. An image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising a controller for controlling said image forming apparatus on the basis of the processing condition set by said setting portion.

3. An image forming apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein said controller is capable of setting a number of sheets subjected to image formation in said image forming portion on the basis of the key signal received by said receiving portion.

4. An image forming apparatus according to claim 2 , further comprising a communication portion capable of transmitting and receiving data via a telephone line,
wherein said controller is capable of inputting a designation number of facsimile on the basis of input from the numerical key portion.

5. An image forming apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein said controller controls said operating panel so as to display, on a display screen of said operating panel, a display to the effect that operation of the switching key is invalid in a case that the switching key is operated.

6. An image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said connecting portion is a connector of a USB standard.

7. An image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising a discharging portion, provided below said image reading portion with respect to a vertical direction, for discharging the recording medium on which the image is formed by said image forming portion,
wherein said operating panel is provided above said discharging portion with respect to the vertical direction.

8. An image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising an apparatus main assembly including said image forming portion therein,
wherein said operating panel is provided rotatably relative to said apparatus main assembly.

Assignees

• Canon Kk

Inventors

• Suga Daisuke

Classifications

• G06F3/0219 Primary

  Special purpose keyboards · CPC title

• H04N1/0049 Primary

  providing a visual indication to the user, e.g. using a lamp (H04N1/00408 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G03G21/00

  Arrangements not provided for by groups G03G13/00 - G03G19/00, e.g. cleaning, elimination of residual charge · CPC title

• B41J29/00

  Details of, or accessories for, typewriters or selective printing mechanisms not otherwise provided for · CPC title

• G06F3/02

  Input arrangements using manually operated switches, e.g. using keyboards or dials · CPC title