Operation device in which special input portion can be covered up during normal use, and image forming apparatus

An operation device operated by a person, comprising:

• an operation portion which includes a normal input portion on a front surface thereof and a special input portion on a back surface or side surface thereof;
• an attachment portion which supports the operation portion such that an angle of the operation portion can be changed between a tilted angle at which the operation portion is set in a tilted attitude and an erected angle at which the operation portion is set in an erected attitude;
• and
• an opening/closing portion which covers up the special input portion when the operation portion is set at the tilted angle and exposes the special input portion when the operation portion is set at the erected angle, wherein
• the opening/closing portion includes:
• a cover which is supported by the operation portion while being slidable between a closing position at which the special input portion is covered up and an opening position at which the special input portion is exposed;
• and
• a lever which is rotatably supported by the attachment portion at an intermediate portion thereof in a longitudinal direction and has one end portion in the longitudinal direction movably engaged with the cover and another end portion in the longitudinal direction movably engaged with the operation portion,
• when the operation portion is set from the tilted angle to the erected angle, the lever causes the cover to slide from the closing position to the opening position while rotating in one direction, and
• when the operation portion is set from the erected angle to the tilted angle, the lever causes the cover to slide from the opening position to the closing position while rotating in another direction.