Patent ID: 7447458

Claim:
An image forming apparatus comprising: a platen having an upper surface for a document to be placed thereon; an image forming section forming an image on a recording sheet in accordance with an image data read from the document placed on the platen; and an operation panel including: a panel surface exposed to outside of an apparatus body and substantially flush with the upper surface of the platen; a key mounting surface mounted at a side closer to a first end of the panel surface and recessed by a predetermined length from the panel surface; and a first key mounted on the key mounting surface to protrude beyond the key mounting surface by a length shorter than the predetermined length and configured to set the apparatus body to perform a predetermined operation based on a function previously assigned thereto when depressed, wherein said operation panel includes plural second keys, the second keys being mounted to a position which does not include said key mounting surface of said panel surface and is at a side closer to a second end of the panel surface than said key mounting surface, a protrusion length of said first key from said key mounting surface being equal to that of said second keys from said panel surface, and a key closer to a side of the second end of the panel surface, of said second keys, being provided with a rib protruded a predetermined length from the panel surface therearound.