JP7401276B2 - Exterior cover and reader - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an exterior cover that covers a non-contact communication section having a light emitting section, and a reading device equipped with the same.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an authentication device that is detachable from an image processing device and an information processing device has been provided. Such an authentication device has a built-in contactless card reader such as an IC card reader for authentication, and reads data from the IC card by holding the IC card over a cover that covers the contactless card reader. Further, some of such non-contact card readers include a lamp that displays the state of the non-contact card reader, such as a data reading state and an error state, and is visible from the outside (for example, Patent Document 1).

Such an image forming device has a cover that covers the contactless card reader in a color and transparency that prevents the case of the contactless card reader from being seen from the outside, and a window that allows light from a lamp of a different color and transparency to pass through. It is conceivable to provide a structure in which the cover is provided with the cover.

Patent No. 6264471

However, the conventional exterior cover covering a non-contact card reader has a problem of poor design when providing a window that transmits light from light emitting parts such as lamps with different colors and degrees of transparency.

An object of the present invention is to provide an exterior cover and a reading device that can transmit light from a light emitting section to the outside without deteriorating the design.

The exterior cover of the present invention is an exterior cover that covers a non-contact communication unit having a light-emitting part, and includes a seat mounting part provided above the light-emitting part and having a first hole facing the light-emitting part; a transmission prevention part provided above the sheet attachment part and having a second hole at a position corresponding to the first hole and blocking light; It is characterized by having a semi-transparent sheet with no difference in transparency and color between a region facing the hole and a region other than the facing region.

According to the present invention, the light from the light emitting section can be transmitted to the outside without deteriorating the design.

1 is a schematic diagram of an image forming apparatus equipped with a reading device according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. 1 is a perspective view of an image forming apparatus equipped with a reading device according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. 1 is a perspective view of an IC card reader installed in a reading device according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a reading device according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. 5 is a sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. 4, schematically showing a state in which the lamp of the reading device according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention is turned off. FIG. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. 4, schematically showing the reading device according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention, with the anti-transmission printing layer removed. 5 is a sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. 4, schematically showing a state in which the lamp of the reading device according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention is lit. FIG. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing a state in which the lamp of the reading device according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention is turned off. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing a state in which the lamp of the reading device according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention is lit.

Hereinafter, embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

(Embodiment 1)
<Configuration of image forming apparatus>
The configuration of an image forming apparatus 1 equipped with a reading device 200 according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.

The image forming apparatus 1 includes a paper feed cassette 2, a vertical path section 4, a paper ejection tray 5, an image reading section 6, an automatic document feeder 7, a document tray 8, a manual feed tray 9, and a vertical path section. It has a section cover 10. The image forming apparatus 1 also includes an operation section 11, an intermediate transfer belt 12, an exposure section 13, an image forming section PY, an image forming section PM, an image forming section PC, and an image forming section PK. are doing. Further, the image forming apparatus 1 includes a secondary transfer section T2, a fixing device 14, a discharge roller 15, and a reading device 200. The image forming apparatus 1 is exemplified here as a tandem-type full-color multifunction machine in which image forming units PY, PM, PC, and PK are arranged along an intermediate transfer belt 12.

The paper feed cassette 2 is provided in the lower part of the apparatus main body 3 so as to be able to be pulled out toward the front side (toward the front side with respect to the paper surface), and stores recording materials. The paper feed cassette 2 sequentially supplies the stored recording materials one by one toward the secondary transfer section T2.

The vertical path section 4 is provided above the apparatus main body 3 and below the operation section 11, and is also provided on the upstream side in the conveyance direction of the recording material on the paper discharge tray 5. The vertical path section 4 houses a recording material conveyance mechanism including a discharge roller 15, various sensors, a blower fan, and the like.

The paper discharge tray 5 is arranged between the apparatus main body 3 and the image reading section 6. The paper ejection tray 5 removably stacks recording materials on which images are formed in the apparatus main body 3 and ejected by the ejection roller 15 via the vertical path section 4.

The image reading section 6 includes a reading surface 6a that is a glass plate, and is provided above the main body 3 of the apparatus. The image reading section 6 optically reads the image of the lower surface of the document placed on the reading surface 6a based on the information input to the operation section 11 and converts it into image data, and the converted image data is not shown in the figure. Output to controller. The image reading unit 6 is exemplified here as a flatbed scanner.

The automatic document feeder 7 separates the bundle of documents stacked on the document tray 8 one by one and causes the image reading section 6 to read the documents one by one by passing them through the reading surface 6a. When the automatic document feeder 7 is rotated in the manual reading mode, the reading surface 6a of the image reading section 6 is opened upward to allow access to the reading surface 6a.

Documents are stacked and set on the document tray 8 during automatic reading mode.

In the open state shown in FIG. 2, the manual feed tray 9 feeds the stacked recording materials to the secondary transfer section T2.

The vertical path section cover 10 covers the vertical path section 4 below the operation section 11.

The operation unit 11 is provided on the front side (the front side with respect to the page in FIG. 1) than the image reading unit 6. The top of the operating section 11 is located at a position lower than the reading surface 6a so as not to impede the accessibility of the operation of setting a document on the reading surface 6a. Information such as black and white or color reading mode, copy output size, type of recording material, number of copies, etc. is input to the operation unit 11 . The operation unit 11 is provided with an operation surface (not shown) that is arranged facing upward and employs a touch panel system in which the display unit and the input unit are the same. By pressing a soft key displayed in a predetermined area on the operation surface of the operation section 11, the number of copies or the telephone number of the other party at the time of facsimile transmission is input.

The intermediate transfer belt 12 conveys the four-color toner images primarily transferred by the image forming sections PY, PM, PC, and PK toward the secondary transfer section T2.

The exposure section 13 irradiates and exposes the surfaces of the photosensitive drums of the image forming sections PY, PM, PC, and PK with laser light.

The image forming unit PY forms a yellow toner image and primarily transfers it onto the intermediate transfer belt 12 .

Image forming section PM forms a magenta toner image and primarily transfers it onto intermediate transfer belt 12 .

The image forming unit PC forms a cyan toner image and primarily transfers it onto the intermediate transfer belt 12 .

The image forming unit PK forms a black toner image and primarily transfers it onto the intermediate transfer belt 12 .

The secondary transfer section T2 is on standby in front of the intermediate transfer belt 12, and holds and conveys the recording material sent out in synchronization with the toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 12, so that the recording material is primarily transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 12. The four-color toner image is transferred to the recording material all at once. The secondary transfer section T2 conveys the recording material onto which the toner image has been secondarily transferred toward the fixing device 14.

The fixing device 14 is housed in the vertical path section 4, and fixes the toner image on the surface of the recording material by heating and pressurizing the recording material conveyed from the secondary transfer section T2. The fixing device 14 conveys the recording material on which the toner image is fixed toward the discharge roller 15 .

The discharge roller 15 discharges the recording material conveyed from the fixing device 14 to the paper discharge tray 5.

The reading device 200 is arranged below and around the operating section 11 . The reading device 200 is an authentication device that performs contactless communication with a storage medium such as an IC card (not shown) and reads authentication information and the like recorded on the storage medium.

<Configuration of reading device>
The configuration of reading device 200 according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 3 to 5.

The reading device 200 includes a device housing section 21, a device mounting table 34, an operation lower right cover 36, a sheet material 36a, and an IC card reader 61. The operation lower right cover 36 and the sheet material 36a constitute an exterior cover.

The device accommodating portion 21 is formed as a space between the top surface of the device mounting table 34 and the bottom surface of the lower right operation cover 36, and is capable of accommodating the IC card reader 61. The device housing section 21 is not used by users who do not need an authentication device, but is used by users who need an authentication device.

The device mounting table 34 is fixed to a fixed table (not shown) fixed to the image reading section 6 .

The operation lower right cover 36, which serves as a seat attachment portion, is made of resin. The operation lower right cover 36 is fixed to a fixed base (not shown) fixed to the image reading section 6, and covers the lower side of the operation section 11 and the top surface of the vertical path section cover 10. It is preferable that the operation lower right cover 36 is made of a color with a brightness of L=80 or more. The operation lower right cover 36 is made of opaque resin (for example, white resin) with a thickness of about 2 mm.

Holes 36b1 to 36b5 are formed in the operation lower right cover 36 as first holes that penetrate in the vertical direction (see FIG. 4). The holes 36b1 to 36b5 are provided at positions facing the lamps 61a at different positions, corresponding to the fact that the positions of the lamps 61a in the IC card reader 61, which will be described later, differ depending on the type of the IC card reader 61.

For example, the holes 36b1 to 36b3 correspond to the positions of the lamps of an NTware IC card reader. Further, the hole 36b4 corresponds to the position of the lamp of an IC card reader manufactured by Saxa, and the hole 36b5 corresponds to the position of the lamp of an IC card reader manufactured by Toppan Forms. In this way, the holes 36b1 to 36b5 are provided to correspond to the positions of the lamps of various types of IC card readers.

The sheet material 36a is attached to the operation lower right cover 36 and closes the plurality of holes 36b1 to 36b5. It is preferable that the sheet material 36a is formed as thin as possible. Note that details of the configuration of the sheet material 36a will be described later.

The IC card reader 61 as a contactless communication unit has a built-in LED (not shown), and as shown in FIG. 3, the LED light is emitted to the outside and is used to display the operating status of the IC card reader 61. A lamp 61a is provided as a light emitting section. The LED and lamp 61a are provided at different positions depending on the type of IC card reader 61. For example, the lamp 61a lights up in green when the information on the IC card is read normally, and lights up in red when the information is not read normally. IC card reader 61 is covered with sheet material 36a. The IC card reader 61 is electrically connected to the device main body 3 via a cable 62 and a connector 63.

<Structure of sheet material>
The structure of the sheet material 36a according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 5.

The sheet material 36a includes a transparent sheet 36a1, a translucent printing layer 36a2, a transmission prevention printing layer 36a3, and a double-sided tape 36a4.

The transparent sheet 36a1 as the first transparent sheet is transparent and made of a polycarbonate material with a thickness of 0.5 mm, for example.

A semitransparent printing layer 36a2 serving as a semitransparent portion is printed on the lower surface of the transparent sheet 36a1. The semitransparent printing layer 36a2 is semitransparent, and the entire surface is formed in the same color with no difference in transparency and color.

Specifically, the translucent printing layer 36a2 desirably has a transmittance of greater than 5% and less than 25% in the range of 400 mm to 700 mm where the wavelength of light is visible light; for example, the transmittance is 10%. Set to %. When the transmissivity of the semi-transparent printed layer 36a2 is 5% or less, the light from the lamp 61a of the IC card reader 61 is not transmitted through the semi-transparent printed layer 36a2, so visibility from the outside is poor. Further, when the transmissivity of the semi-transparent printing layer 36a2 is 25% or more, too much light passes through the layer 36a2, making the hole 36b visible from the outside, which impairs the design.

It is preferable that the semi-transparent printing layer 36a2 is composed of a color having a lightness L=80 or more, and for example, the lightness L is set to about 85. The translucent printing layer 36a2 has a chromaticity a representing hue and saturation of about -1 to 0, and a chromaticity b of about 0 to 1, so that the chromaticity is set to a number close to white. There is. Here, chromaticity a and b indicate the direction of color; chromaticity a indicates the red direction, chromaticity -a indicates the green direction, chromaticity b indicates the yellow direction, and chromaticity -b indicates the blue direction. ing.

The transmission prevention printed layer 36a3 serving as a transmission prevention portion is printed on the lower surface of the semitransparent printing layer 36a2, and prevents light from passing through. The anti-transmission printed layer 36a3 is made of silver or black and has a transmittance of 1% or less in the visible light wavelength range of 400 mm to 700 mm. In the anti-transmission printing layer 36a3, holes 36b6 to 36b8 are formed as second holes penetrating in the vertical direction at positions facing the holes 36b1 to 36b5 provided in the lower right cover 36 of the operation. The inner diameter a of the holes 36b6 to 36b8 of the anti-transmission printing layer 36a3 is smaller than the inner diameter b of the holes 36b1 to 36b3 of the operation lower right cover 36 (a<b). Specifically, the inner diameter a is 6 mm, and the inner diameter b is 8 mm.

The double-sided tape 36a4 fixes the anti-transmission printed layer 36a3 to the operation lower right cover 36 at a position on the outer peripheral edge of the sheet material 36a that does not overlap the holes 36b1 to 36b3 in the vertical direction.

<Operation of reading device>
The operation of reading device 200 according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 5 to 7.

Note that in the explanation using FIGS. 5 to 7, explanation of the holes 36b4 and 36b5 is omitted, but the holes 36b4 and 36b5 are also similar to the holes 36b1 to 36b3. Further, in the explanation using FIGS. 5 to 7, explanation of the holes opposite to the holes 36b4 and 36b5 in the anti-transmission printed layer 36a3 is omitted, but the holes opposite to the holes 36b4 and 36b5 are also This is similar to 36b6 to 36b8.

5 to 7, an IC card reader 61 having a lamp 61a at the hole 36b1 will be described as an example. Note that the operation of the reading device 200 when the lamp 61a is provided in any of the holes 36b2 to 36b5 is the same as the operation of the reading device 200 when the lamp 61a is provided at the hole portion 36b1.

First, the operation of the reading device 200 when the lamp 61a is off will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6.

When the user U views the area where the holes 36b1 to 36b3 of the operation lower right cover 36 and the holes 36b6 to 36b8 of the anti-transmission printing layer 36a3 are not present from above, as shown by the arrow C in FIG. The light reflected from the translucent printing layer 36a2 of the sheet material 36a is visually recognized. As a result, user U recognizes white.

Furthermore, when the user U views the area where the holes 36b1 to 36b3 and the holes 36b6 to 36b8 are located from above, the user U can visually recognize the light reflected from the translucent printing layer 36a2, as shown by the arrow D in FIG. I will do it. At this time, the transmitted light that has passed through the semi-transparent printing layer 36a2 is absorbed and does not reach the user U because the inside and lower part of the holes 36b6 to 36b8 and the holes 36b1 to 36b3 are dark. From this, the user U visually recognizes the light reflected from the entire surface of the translucent printing layer 36a2, regardless of the presence or absence of the holes 36b1 to 36b3 and the holes 36b6 to 36b8. Therefore, the user U recognizes that the color of the area where the holes 36b1 to 36b3 and the holes 36b6 to 36b8 are present and the area where they are not are approximately the same.

At this time, light can be reliably reflected by configuring the operation lower right cover 36 and the translucent printing layer 36a2 with a color having a brightness of L=80 or more. Furthermore, by setting the transmittance of the anti-transmission printing layer 36a3 in the range of visible light from 400 mm to 700 mm to 1% or less, the light transmitted through the semi-transparent printing layer 36a2 can be reliably blocked and absorbed. I can do it.

Here, a case in which there is no anti-transmission printed layer 36a3 will be described with reference to FIG. 6. In FIG. 6, when the user U views the area where the holes 36b1 to 36b3 are located from above, the user U will visually recognize the light reflected from the translucent printing layer 36a2, as shown by arrow D in FIG. .

Furthermore, when the user U views the area without the holes 36b1 to 36b3 from above, he/she will visually recognize the light reflected by the semi-transparent print layer 36a2, as shown by arrow E in FIG. On the other hand, the transmitted light that has passed through the semi-transparent printed layer 36a2 is reflected on the top surface of the lower right cover 36, passes through the semi-transparent printed layer 36a2 again, and is visible to the user U. As a result, the user U feels as if there is a light source on the back side of the sheet material 36a, and recognizes that the area without the holes 36b1 to 36b3 is brighter than the area with the holes 36b1 to 36b3. Therefore, there is a difference in brightness between the area where the holes 36b1 to 36b3 are present and the area where there are no holes 36b1 to 36b3, which impairs the appearance.

In order to reliably prevent such reflection of light by the lower right cover 36, as shown in FIG. The inner diameter b of the hole portions 36b1 to 36b3 is increased (a<b). Thereby, it is possible to reliably prevent light from being reflected by the upper surface of the operation lower right cover 36. Such a configuration is especially necessary when the operation lower right cover 36 is a light-reflecting color such as white.

Next, the operation of the reading device 200 when the lamp 61a is lit will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 7.

The light from the lamp 61a passes through the hole 36b1, and also passes through the semi-transparent printing layer 36a2 and the transparent sheet 36a1 made of transparent material, and is irradiated to the outside. At this time, since the translucent printing layer 36a2 transmits light with a transmittance of about 10%, the user U can visually recognize the light emitted from the lamp 61a when viewed from above.

In this way, when the lamp 61a is off, the user U cannot see the difference in color between the areas where the holes 36b1 to 36b3 and the holes 36b6 to 36b8 are present and the area where they are not. Also, the presence of the holes 36b6 to 36b8 cannot be visually recognized. As a result, the user U sees the sheet material 36a as having a uniform color when viewed from above. Therefore, even if a plurality of holes 36b1 to 36b3 and holes 36b6 to 36b8 are provided, erroneous recognition of the lamp 61a due to visibility of the holes 36b1 to 36b3 and holes 36b6 to 36b8 can be prevented. Further, when the lamp 61a is on, the user U can visually recognize the light emitted from the lamp 61a.

In addition, there is no need to prepare sheets without printed layers corresponding to the positions of the lamps 61a of the IC card reader 61, and it is possible to use one sheet for each position, reducing costs. can do. Further, since there is no need to distinguish between the sheet materials 36a attached to the lower right cover 36 during assembly, assembly can be simplified and assembly efficiency can be improved.

Furthermore, by printing and forming the translucent printing layer 36a2 on the transparent sheet 36a1, the transparent sheet 36a1 can be made cheaper than when the transparent sheet includes a translucent portion.

In this embodiment, the operation lower right cover 36 is provided above the lamp 61a and has a hole 36b1 facing the lamp 61a. Further, it has an anti-transmission printed layer 36a3 provided above the operation lower right cover 36, having a hole 36b6 at a position corresponding to the hole 36b1, and blocking light. Furthermore, it has a translucent printing layer 36a2 which is provided above the transmission prevention printing layer 36a3 and has no difference in transparency and color between the area facing the hole 36b6 and the area other than the area facing the hole 36b6. Thereby, the light from the light emitting section can be transmitted to the outside without deteriorating the design.

In this embodiment, the anti-transparent printing layer 36a3 is provided by printing on the lower surface of the semi-transparent printed layer 36a2, but the anti-transparent printing layer 36a3 is printed on the lower surface of the semi-transparent printing layer 36a2. It may be provided below the layer 36a2.

Further, in the present embodiment, the lower right cover for operation is provided with a plurality of holes 36b1 to 36b5, and the anti-transmission printed layer 36a3 is provided with a plurality of holes 36b6 to 36b8. A single hole may be provided in each of the printed layers.

(Embodiment 2)
The image forming apparatus according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention has the same configuration as the image forming apparatus 1 except that a reading apparatus 300 is provided in place of the reading apparatus 200 in the image forming apparatus 1, so a description thereof will be omitted.

<Configuration of reading device>
The configuration of reading device 300 according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 8 and 9.

Note that in FIGS. 8 and 9, parts having the same configuration as those in FIGS. 3 to 7 are designated by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be omitted.

The reading device 300 includes a device housing section 21, a device mounting table 34, an operation lower right cover 36, a sheet material 36e, and an IC card reader 61. The operation lower right cover 36 and the sheet material 36e constitute an exterior cover.

The sheet material 36e is attached to the IC card reader 61 and closes the plurality of holes 36b1 to 36b5. It is preferable that the sheet material 36e be formed as thin as possible.

IC card reader 61 is covered with sheet material 36e.

<Structure of sheet material>
The structure of the sheet material 36e according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 8 and 9.

Note that in FIGS. 8 and 9, parts having the same configuration as those in FIGS. 3 to 7 are designated by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be omitted.

The sheet material 36e includes a transparent sheet 36a1, a translucent printing layer 36a2, an end adhesive layer 36a5, and a sheet 36c.

The end adhesive layer 36a5 is a transparent adhesive or a transparent tape, and bonds the transparent sheet 36a1 and the sheet 36c together.

The sheet 36c is provided above the operation lower right cover 36, and is attached to the operation lower right cover 36 with double-sided tape 36c3 at a position that does not overlap with the holes 36b1 to 36b3 at the outer peripheral edge of the translucent printed layer 36a2. It is being The double-sided tape 36c3 is arranged so as not to prevent the light emitted from the lamp 61a from passing through the semi-transparent print layer 36a2 and the transparent sheet 36a1.

Specifically, the sheet 36c is composed of a transparent sheet 36c1 and a transparent print layer 36c2.

The transparent sheet 36c1 as the second transparent sheet is transparent and made of, for example, a polycarbonate material with a thickness of 0.5 mm.

The transmission prevention printed layer 36c2 as a transmission prevention section is printed on the top surface of the transparent sheet 36c1, and is silver or black and has a transmittance of 1% or less in the visible light wavelength range of 400 mm to 700 mm. formed to prevent light from passing through. In the anti-transmission printing layer 36c2, holes 36b9 to 36b11 are formed as second holes penetrating in the vertical direction at positions facing the holes 36b1 to 36b5 provided in the lower right cover 36 of the operation. The inner diameter a of the holes 36b9 to 36b11 of the anti-transmission printing layer 36c2 is smaller than the inner diameter b of the holes 36b1 to 36b3 of the operation lower right cover 36 (a<b). Specifically, the inner diameter a is 6 mm, and the inner diameter b is 8 mm.

<Operation of reading device>
The operation of reading device 300 according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 8 and 9.

Note that in the explanation using FIGS. 8 and 9, explanation of the holes 36b4 and 36b5 is omitted, but the holes 36b4 and 36b5 are also similar to the holes 36b1 to 36b3. In addition, in the explanation using FIGS. 8 and 9, explanation of the holes opposite to the holes 36b4 and 36b5 in the anti-transmission printed layer 36c2 is omitted, but the holes opposite to the holes 36b4 and 36b5 are also This is similar to 36b9 to 36b11.

In FIGS. 8 and 9, an IC card reader 61 having a lamp 61a at the hole 36b1 will be described as an example. Note that the operation of the reading device 300 when the lamp 61a is provided in any of the holes 36b2 to 36b5 is the same as the operation of the reading device 300 when the lamp 61a is provided at the hole portion 36b1.

First, the operation of the reading device 300 when the lamp 61a is off will be described in detail with reference to FIG.

When the user U views the area where the holes 36b1 to 36b3 of the operation lower right cover 36 and the holes 36b9 to 36b11 of the anti-transmission printing layer 36c2 are not present from above, as shown by the arrow F in FIG. The light reflected from the translucent printing layer 36a2 of the sheet material 36a is visually recognized. As a result, user U recognizes white.

The light that has passed through the translucent print layer 36a2 reaches the anti-transmission print layer 36c2 and is absorbed by the black anti-transmission print layer 36c2.

Furthermore, when the user U views the area where the holes 36b1 to 36b3 and the holes 36b9 to 36b11 are located from above, the user U can visually recognize the light reflected from the translucent printing layer 36a2, as shown by the arrow G in FIG. I will do it. At this time, the transmitted light that has passed through the semi-transparent print layer 36a2 passes through the transparent sheet 36c1. The light that has passed through the transparent sheet 36c1 is absorbed and does not reach the user U because the inside and below of the holes 36b9 to 36b11 and the holes 36b1 to 36b3 are dark.

From this, the user U visually recognizes the light reflected from the entire surface of the translucent printing layer 36a2, regardless of the presence or absence of the holes 36b1 to 36b3 and the holes 36b9 to 36b11. Therefore, the user U recognizes that the color of the area where the holes 36b1 to 36b3 and the holes 36b9 to 36b11 are present and the area where they are not are approximately the same.

Next, the operation of the reading device 300 when the lamp 61a is lit will be described in detail with reference to FIG.

The light from the lamp 61a passes through the hole 36b1 and passes through the transparent sheet 36c1, and also passes through the hole 36b10, passes through the translucent print layer 36a2 and the transparent sheet 36a1 made of transparent material, and is irradiated to the outside. At this time, since the transparent sheet 36c1 and the transparent sheet 36a1 are transparent, and the translucent printing layer 36a2 transmits light with a transmittance of about 10%, the user U can see that the user U is not irradiated by the lamp 61a when viewed from above. visible light.

In this way, when the lamp 61a is off, the user U cannot see the difference in color between the areas where the holes 36b1 to 36b3 and the holes 36b9 to 36b11 are present and the area where they are not. Also, the presence of the holes 36b9 to 36b11 cannot be visually recognized. As a result, the user U sees the sheet material 36e as having a uniform color when viewed from above. Therefore, even if a plurality of holes 36b1 to 36b3 and holes 36b9 to 36b11 are provided, erroneous recognition of the lamp 61a due to visibility of the holes 36b1 to 36b3 and holes 36b9 to 36b11 can be prevented. Further, when the lamp 61a is on, the user U can visually recognize the light emitted from the lamp 61a.

In addition, there is no need to prepare sheets without printed layers corresponding to the positions of the lamps 61a of the IC card reader 61, and it is possible to use one sheet for each position, reducing costs. can do. Further, since there is no need to distinguish between the sheet materials 36e attached to the lower right cover 36 during assembly, assembly can be simplified and assembly efficiency can be improved.

Furthermore, by providing the transparent sheet 36c1 between the transmission prevention printing layer 36c2 and the lower right operation cover 36, the cost of the transparent sheet 36c1 can be made lower than when the transparent sheet includes a transmission prevention section.

In this embodiment, the operation lower right cover 36 is provided above the lamp 61a and has a hole 36b1 facing the lamp 61a. Further, it is provided above the operation lower right cover 36, has a hole 36b9 at a position corresponding to the hole 36b1, and has an anti-transmission printed layer 36c2 that blocks light. Furthermore, it has a translucent printing layer 36a2 which is provided above the transmission prevention printing layer 36c2 and has no difference in transparency and color between the area facing the hole 36b9 and the area other than the area facing the hole 36b9. Thereby, the light from the light emitting section can be transmitted to the outside without deteriorating the design.

In this embodiment, the anti-transmission printed layer 36c2 is provided by printing on the upper surface of the transparent sheet 36c1, but it is also possible to provide an anti-transmission printed sheet separate from the transparent sheet 36c1 above the transparent sheet 36c1 as a transmission prevention section. You can.

In addition, in the present embodiment, the operation lower right cover 36 is provided with a plurality of holes 36b1 to 36b5, and the transmission prevention printing layer 36c2 is provided with a plurality of holes 36b9 to 36b11. A single hole may be provided in each of the printed layers.

(Other embodiments)
In the first and second embodiments described above, two layers, the transparent sheet 36a1 and the semi-transparent printed layer 36a2, are provided, but instead of this, one layer of a transparent sheet containing a semi-transparent material is provided. Good too. In this case, the translucent printing layer 36a2 can be made unnecessary, so costs can be reduced.

Further, in the second embodiment, two layers, the transparent sheet 36c1 and the anti-transmission printed layer 36c2, are provided, but instead of this, one layer of a transparent sheet containing an anti-transmission material may be provided. In this case, the transmission prevention printing layer 36c2 can be made unnecessary, so that costs can be reduced.

It goes without saying that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and can be modified in various ways without departing from the spirit thereof.

Specifically, in the first and second embodiments described above, the lamp 61a is provided, but any light source other than the lamp may be provided as the light emitting section.

Further, in the first and second embodiments described above, the semitransparent printing layer 36a2 is provided by printing on the lower surface of the transparent sheet 36a1, but a translucent printing sheet separate from the transparent sheet 36a1 is used as a semitransparent printing section. It may be provided below the transparent sheet 36a1.

Further, in the above embodiment and second embodiment, the IC card reader 61 is covered with the sheet material 36a or the sheet material 36e, but any device including a light emitting section other than the IC card reader 61 may be covered with the sheet material 36a. I can do it.

1 Image forming apparatus 3 Apparatus main body 21 Apparatus accommodating part 34 Apparatus mounting table 36 Operation lower right cover 36a Sheet material 36a1 Transparent sheet 36a2 Translucent printing layer 36a3 Transmission prevention printing layer 36a4 Double-sided tape 36a5 Edge adhesive layer 36b1 Hole 36b2 Hole 36b3 Hole 36b4 Hole 36b5 Hole 36b6 Hole 36b7 Hole 36b8 Hole 36b9 Hole 36b10 Hole 36b11 Hole 36c1 Transparent sheet 36c2 Anti-transmission printing layer 36c3 Double-sided tape 36e Sheet material 61 IC card reader 61a Lamp 2 00 reading device 300 reading device

Claims (10)

An exterior cover that covers a contactless communication section having a light emitting section,
a seat attachment section provided above the non-contact communication section and including a first hole section facing the light emitting section;
a transmission prevention portion provided above the sheet attachment portion, having a second hole portion at a position corresponding to the first hole portion, and blocking light;
a semi-transparent part that is provided above the transmission prevention part and has no difference in transparency and color between a region facing the second hole and a region other than the facing region;
An exterior cover characterized by having. The seat mounting part is
comprising a plurality of the first holes,
The transmission prevention part is
each of the second hole portions being provided at a position corresponding to the plurality of first hole portions;
The exterior cover according to claim 1, characterized in that: The semi-transparent part is
A transparent sheet containing a translucent material,
The exterior cover according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that: a first transparent sheet provided above the semi-transparent part;
The exterior cover according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that: a second transparent sheet is provided between the transmission prevention part and the sheet attachment part;
The exterior cover according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that: The transmission prevention part is
A transparent sheet containing a transparent material.
The exterior cover according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that: The first hole portion is
larger than the second hole;
The exterior cover according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that: The semi-transparent part and the sheet attachment part are
Consists of colors with a brightness of L=80 or higher,
The exterior cover according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that: The exterior cover according to any one of claims 1 to 8 ,
the contactless communication unit that communicates with a storage medium in a non-contact manner to read authentication information recorded on the storage medium;
A reading device comprising: The contactless communication unit is
Provided around the operation unit of the image forming apparatus,
The reading device according to claim 9 , characterized in that:

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