# US 2021/0344806 A1 · Input device and image forming apparatus > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2021/0344806 A1 - Document ID: US20210344806A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 17/376,370 - Filed: 2021-07-15 - Published: 2021-11-04 - Earliest claimed: 2019-02-05 - Assignees: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha - Applicants: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha - Inventors: Kenji Fukushi - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20210344806A1 ## CPC - H04N 1/00384: {Key input means, e.g. buttons or keypads (electromechanical details of key input means in general H01H13/00)} - B41J 29/00: Details of, or accessories for, typewriters or selective printing mechanisms not otherwise provided for - G03G 21/00: Arrangements not provided for by groups G03G13/00 - G03G19/00, e.g. cleaning, elimination of residual charge - G03G 21/16: Mechanical means for facilitating the maintenance of the apparatus, e.g. modular arrangements - G06F 1/16: Constructional details or arrangements - G06F 3/02: Input arrangements using manually operated switches, e.g. using keyboards or dials - H04N 1/00: Scanning, transmission or reproduction of documents or the like, e.g. facsimile transmission; Details thereof - H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION - B41J: TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS - G03G: ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) ## Abstract An input device and an image forming apparatus includes a numerical key unit 70 mountable on an image forming apparatus 1 and capable of inputting information to the image forming apparatus 1, which includes an operating key 100 composed of a hardware key capable of inputting information on at least a numerical value, a connecting cable 75 provided in a casing 70a and USB-connecting the image forming apparatus 1 and the numerical key unit 70, and an external USB port 72 which is provided in the casing 70a, which is capable of being USB-connected to external equipment, and through which the USB-connected external equipment is electrically connectable to the image forming apparatus 1 via the connecting cable 75. The external USB port is disposed on a side surface 70F on a front side than the operating key 100 in a state in which the numerical key unit 70 is mounted on the image forming apparatus 1. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An input device mountable on an image forming apparatus that includes an image reading portion for reading an image of an original, an image forming portion capable of forming the image on a recording medium on the basis of a reading result of the image reading device, and an operating portion including a display screen capable of displaying a software execution key, as a software key, for providing an instruction of a start of image reading to the image reading device, the input device comprising: a casing; a numerical key portion including a plurality of numerical keys capable of inputting information on numerical values of at least 0 to 9, the numerical keys being arranged as hardware keys; a connecting portion provided in the casing and capable of electrically connecting the image forming apparatus and the input device, the connecting portion being capable of outputting a signal to the image forming apparatus in response to an operation of the numerical key portion; and a USB port provided in the casing and capable of USB-connecting external equipment that is different from the image forming apparatus to the input device, wherein, as viewed from a front side of the numerical key portion, the USB port is provided on a side surface of the numerical key portion. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) An input device according to claim 1, further comprising another USB port capable of USB-connecting the external equipment different from the image forming apparatus to the input device via the connecting portion, wherein, as viewed from the front side of the numerical key portion, the another USB port is provided on a side surface on a right side of the numerical key portion. ### Claim 3 An input device mountable on an image forming apparatus that includes an image reading portion for reading an image of an original, an image forming portion capable of forming the image on a recording medium on the basis of a reading result of the image reading device, and an operating portion including a display screen capable of displaying a software key capable of inputting predetermined information, the input device comprising: a casing; a numerical key portion including a plurality of numerical keys capable of inputting information on numerical values of at least 0 to 9, the numerical keys being arranged as hardware keys; a connecting portion provided in the casing and capable of electrically connecting the image forming apparatus and the input device, the connecting portion being capable of outputting a signal to the image forming apparatus in response to an operation of the numerical key portion; and a USB port provided in the casing, the USB port being capable of USB-connecting external equipment different from the image forming apparatus to & the input device, wherein the connecting portion is capable of electrically connecting the USB-connected external equipment and the image forming apparatus, and wherein, as viewed from a front side of the numerical key portion, the USB port is provided on a side surface on a right side of the numerical key portion. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) An input device according to claim 1, further comprising a USB hub electrically connected to the connecting portion and aid the USB port. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) An input device according to claim 1, wherein the connecting portion includes a USB communication portion for communicating with the image forming apparatus by using a USB standard, and another communication portion for communicating with the image forming apparatus by a communication standard different from the USB standard, wherein the external equipment connected to the USB port is communicates with the image forming apparatus via the USB communication portion, and wherein input from the numerical key portion communicates with the image forming apparatus via the communication portion. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) An input device according to claim 1, wherein the connecting portion and the USB port are electrically connected to each other inside of the casing. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) An input device according to claim 1, further comprising a light emitting portion capable of emitting light by a signal from the image forming apparatus. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) An image forming apparatus comprising: an image reading portion for reading an image of an original; an image forming portion capable of forming the image on a recording medium on the basis of a reading result of the image reading portion; an operating portion including a display screen capable of displaying a software execution key, as a software key, for providing an instruction of a start of image reading to the image reading device; and an input device according to claim 1. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) An image forming apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the operating portion is provided on a front side with respect to a front-rear direction of the image forming apparatus, and wherein the input device is disposed on a right side of the operating portion in a direction perpendicular to the front-rear direction and a vertical direction of the image forming apparatus in a state in which the casing is mounted on the image forming apparatus.