JP2005205598A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming apparatus which enables a different language to be switched to a user's mother tongue by only one button operation, even if the user using the different language uses the same image forming apparatus. <P>SOLUTION: This image forming apparatus comprises: an operation part which is equipped with a selective key for selecting various kinds of operational details; a display part which displays information such as setting details, operational procedures and an apparatus status, in accordance with the operational details of the selecter key; and a voice guide part which provides notification of the information by voice. The image forming apparatus is provided with a storage means which stores the respective pieces of information by means of a plurality of different languages, a display language switching means for selecting one language from the storage means so as to display the information on the display part by using the language, and a language selecter key which switches among the languages for use by means of the display language switching means. The language selecter key is provided in the operation part. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a printer, and a facsimile, and more particularly to an image forming apparatus having display language switching means corresponding to a plurality of languages.

  In recent years, in image forming apparatuses such as copiers, printers, facsimiles, and multi-function machines, display devices such as LCDs have been used from the viewpoint of improving user operability as the functions of the apparatuses become higher and more multifunctional. It is often equipped with a voice guide that guides the operation panel and operation contents by voice. These operation panels and voice guides not only display and guide the operation contents of the selection keys, but also display and guide information such as operation mode settings, setting method procedures, and device status. ing.

  By the way, it is desirable that the characters displayed on the operation panel or the voice guide or the language to be guided be displayed in the language of the country in which the image forming apparatus is used, and the image forming apparatus has conventionally dealt with the variety of places of use. Thus, the display language on the operation panel and the language used for the voice guide can be converted into the native language of each country.

  However, as internationalization progresses, the use of a single image forming apparatus by a plurality of users and the language used by each user is increasing, and the language of the country in which the operation panel or voice guide is installed has increased. However, once it is set to the language of the country, it is difficult to change the usage of the image forming apparatus, and it is very difficult for all users to accurately operate the function according to the purpose. Become.

For such problems, an image having a language switching function for automatically selecting the language to be displayed and switching the display by automatically determining the use area of the image forming apparatus from the set paper size, power supply voltage, etc. There have been proposed a forming apparatus (Patent Document 1), an image forming apparatus (Patent Document 2) having a display language switching function for switching display in different languages every predetermined time, and the like.
JP 05-127475 (paragraph numbers 0009 to 0010) JP2002-073241 (paragraph number 0001)

  However, when the display language is switched in accordance with the regional characteristics of each country, it is not possible to cope with a case where a person who uses a plurality of different languages uses one image forming apparatus, and for a predetermined time. In an image forming apparatus having a display language switching function for switching the display in a different language every time, when the number of switching languages increases, the convenience is impaired.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and when a user using a different language uses the same image forming apparatus, the language used on the operation panel and the voice guide is switched to the native language with a single button operation. It is intended to provide an image forming apparatus that can improve the convenience by providing the switching button on the operation unit or the display unit and can accurately and quickly operate the function according to the purpose of use. .

  In order to achieve the above object, an image forming apparatus according to the present invention includes an operation unit having a selection key for selecting various operation contents, and information such as setting contents, operation procedures, and apparatus states according to the operation contents of the selection keys. And a voice guide part for guiding the information by voice.

  The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the storage unit stores the information in a plurality of different languages, and selects one language from the storage unit, and the information is displayed on the display unit in the language. The display language switching means for displaying and a language selection key for switching the language used by the display language switching means are configured, and the language selection key is provided in the operation unit.

  The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the information is stored in a plurality of different languages, and one language is selected from the storage units, and the information is guided by sound of the language. Voice language switching means, and a language selection key for switching the language used by the voice language switching means. The language selection key is provided in the operation unit.

  The image forming apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the information is stored in a plurality of different languages, and one language is selected from the storage units, and the information is displayed on the display unit in the language. The language switching means for displaying and guiding the information with the voice of the language and a language selection key for switching the language used by the language switching means are provided, and the language selection key is provided in the operation unit. ing.

  In the image forming apparatus according to the fourth aspect, the display unit is a liquid crystal operation panel that can be selected and operated from the surface of the panel, so that a language selection key is provided in the liquid crystal operation panel. According to such a configuration, the following operations and effects can be obtained.

  According to the image forming apparatus of the first aspect of the present invention, since the user can easily change the display language of the display unit by pressing the language selection key of the operation unit, the user can easily display the function in the native language. This makes it possible to operate the function according to the purpose accurately and promptly.

  According to the image forming apparatus of the second aspect of the present invention, the user can easily change the language used by the voice guide unit by pressing the language selection key of the operation unit, so that the user listens to the announcement in the native language. It is possible to operate the function according to the purpose accurately and promptly.

  According to the image forming apparatus of the third aspect of the present invention, the user can easily change the display language of the display unit and the language used of the voice guide unit by pressing the language selection key of the operation unit. It is possible to listen to announcements in the native language while looking at the function display of the native language, and to select and operate the function according to the purpose more accurately and quickly.

  According to the image forming apparatus of the fourth aspect of the present invention, since the language selection key is provided in the liquid crystal operation panel, the user can select a function by graphic display on the display unit. Therefore, even if it is necessary to switch between a large number of languages without depending on the display by language, it is possible to operate the function according to the purpose accurately and promptly with one touch.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of an image forming apparatus 100 equipped with an operation panel according to the present invention. However, the image forming apparatus according to the present invention is not limited to this embodiment. In many cases, a multi-function machine having a facsimile function, a scanner function, and a printer function in addition to a copying function is used.

  The image forming apparatus 100 includes a document transport unit 10, an image reading unit 20, an image processing unit 30, an image forming unit 50, a fixing device 60, a paper feed unit 70, a paper discharge unit 80, and a re-transport unit for automatic two-sided copying. 90. An image reading unit 20 is mounted on the upper part of the main body of the image forming apparatus 100, and a document conveying unit 10 is further mounted thereon.

  Documents placed on the document table 11 of the document conveying unit 10 with the writing surface facing upward are separated one by one by the pickup roller 12 and sent to the document conveying path by the conveying roller 13. When the original passes through the slit glass 14 disposed on the upper surface of the image reading unit 20, an image is read by the optical system of the image reading unit 20.

  The image reading unit 20 includes a scanning unit A composed of a light source 23 for illuminating a document and a mirror 24, a traveling body B composed of two roof mirrors 25 and 26 for guiding reflected light, an imaging lens 27, and a CCD image sensor 28 (hereinafter referred to as “scanning unit A”). , CCD sensor). In the image reading unit 20, the original is irradiated by the scanning unit A when the original passes over the slit glass 14, and the optical path length of the reflected light is adjusted by the traveling body B having the two roof mirrors 25 and 26. While being guided by the imaging lens 27, an image is formed on the CCD sensor 28.

  The CCD sensor 28 converts the read light image into electronic image data and sends it to the image processing unit 30. The image processing unit 30 performs analog processing, A / D conversion, shading correction, image compression processing, and the like on the electronic image data, and then transports digitized image information data to the image forming unit 50.

  The image forming section 50 has a photosensitive drum 51 as an image carrier on which a latent image is formed on the surface, and the photosensitive drum 51 is arranged in the order of operation along the outer peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 51. The toner is transferred to the latent image formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 51 by the charging device 52 that charges the surface substantially uniformly, the exposure device 40 that writes the electrostatic latent image on the surface of the photosensitive drum, and the toner. A developing device 53 that forms an image, a transfer separation device 54 that transfers the toner image on the surface of the photosensitive member to the recording paper P, and a cleaning device 55 that cleans the surface of the photosensitive drum 51 after the transfer are disposed. .

  The exposure device 40 of the image forming unit 50 electrically modulates the semiconductor laser based on the digitized image information data, and performs sub-scanning by a polyhedral reflector (polygon mirror) 43 and a lens group 42 through a collimator lens. Do. Further, by rotating the photosensitive drum 51, main scanning is performed, and an electrostatic latent image is reproduced on the photosensitive drum 51.

  Prior to exposure, a predetermined surface charge is applied to the photosensitive drum 51 by corona discharge of the charging device 52, but the charge of the exposed portion is reduced in accordance with the amount of exposure by the irradiation of the laser beam. As described above, an electrostatic latent image corresponding to the image information data is formed on each photosensitive drum 51. The electrostatic latent image is visualized by the developer toner supplied from the developing device 53 and becomes a toner image.

  On the other hand, a paper feeding unit 70 is provided in the lower part of the main body of the image forming apparatus 100. In the paper feed cassette 71 for storing the recording paper P, there is disposed a movable plate 72 whose free end is always urged upward by an urging means such as a leaf spring, and the recording paper P placed thereon is arranged. The uppermost one is configured to come into contact with the paper feed pickup roller 73.

  The recording paper P in contact with the paper feed pickup roller 73 is discharged from the paper feed cassette 71, separated one by one by the paper feed rollers 74 and 74A, and then guided to the registration rollers 75 by being guided by a plurality of intermediate rollers. The

  The conveyed recording paper P is fed to the transfer / separation device 54 by the registration roller 75 at the paper feed timing, and the toner image formed on the photosensitive drum 51 is collectively transferred onto the recording paper P by the transfer / separation device 44. And separated from the photosensitive drum 51. The recording paper P to which the toner image has been transferred is conveyed to the fixing device 60 and subjected to a fixing process. As shown in FIG. 1, the recording paper P sent out from the paper feed cassette 71 is transported to the fixing device 60 through a transport path formed in a substantially vertical direction.

  The recording paper P heated for the fixing process is cooled by a cooling fan (not shown), is sandwiched between paper discharge rollers 81, is discharged outside the apparatus, and is placed on a paper discharge tray 82. Alternatively, the recording paper P that has been subjected to single-sided image processing sent to the re-conveying means 90 by the paper discharge path switching plate 83 is again subjected to double-sided image processing in the image forming unit 50 and then discharged by the paper discharge roller 81 of the paper discharge unit 80. The paper is placed and placed on the paper discharge tray 82.

  The image forming apparatus 100 configured as described above is configured as a multifunction machine that can be used as a facsimile, a scanner, and a printer in addition to a copying machine by providing a control unit with a communication function, a storage function, a connection interface with a computer, and the like. be able to. FIG. 2 is an external perspective view of the image forming apparatus 100 according to the multifunction peripheral. An operation panel 1 serving as an input unit for operating various functions of the image forming apparatus 100 is provided on the upper part of the apparatus main body.

  FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of the operation panel 1. The upper figure is the conventional operation panel 1, and the lower figure is the operation panel 1 according to the present invention. FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a control unit related to display language switching of the image forming apparatus 100 according to the present invention. In the drawings, the same reference numerals are given to portions representing the same thing or function.

  The function selection and operation contents of the image forming apparatus 100 are normally input via various operation buttons arranged on the operation unit 3 of the operation panel 1 shown in FIG. In addition to the heater switch, stop key, etc., the operation unit 3 has a numeric key located in the center of the operation panel, and a printer, scanner, fax, and copy function selection button 31 on the top, and a function start start button on the right. In addition to 32, keys for interrupt processing and confirmation copying are arranged on the left side, setting confirmation keys for performing various initial settings, help keys for displaying operation details, other job memories, reset keys, etc. Yes. Particularly in the present invention, the operation unit 3 is provided with a display language / voice guide switching key 2.

  A display unit 4 is arranged on the right side of the operation unit 3. The display unit 4 normally uses liquid crystal, but a touch input type liquid crystal operation panel is used so that input from the display unit is possible. On the liquid crystal operation panel, information such as an operation procedure and an apparatus state is displayed according to the function selected by the function selection button 31 of the operation unit 3. For example, if the copy function is selected, the display unit 4 will display “Settings can be copied” and “Standby”, as well as setting screens such as mode setting, size selection, and copy magnification. Then, an instruction screen such as “You can fax” or “Please select a group” is displayed.

  Note that the image forming apparatus 100 according to this embodiment is provided with a voice guide unit 5 that performs not only information display by characters but also operation guide by voice in order to improve the convenience of use. This voice guide unit 5 guides the explanation of the display contents of the display unit 4 and the explanation of the operation procedure together with the display or only by voice according to the selection of the function selection button 31 or the like.

  In the present invention, the display language of the display unit 4 and the language used for the voice guide unit 5 are set to only one language, and the simple change at the time of use is not impossible. The display language / voice guide switching key 2 can be changed with one touch. The optimum operation of the image forming apparatus 100 according to the present invention will be described below with reference to FIG.

  When the display language / voice guide switching key 2 provided on the operation unit 3 is selected, the language switching means 6 as the control means is activated. The language switching means 6 has a display language switching unit 61 and a voice language switching unit 62, and is normally configured such that both functions are switched by operation of the display language / voice guide switching key 2. However, switching of only the display language or switching of only the voice language can be selected by setting.

  The language switching means 6 is connected to the storage device 7. The storage device 7 stores information of each language such as Japanese at address 01, English at address 02, Spanish at address 03, and the necessary information on the language required by the address signal of language switching means 6 is stored. Is selected. As for the selected information, only necessary information is displayed on the display unit 4 by the operation of various selection keys of the operation unit 3 and is expressed by the voice by the voice guide unit 5. Note that audio information is usually stored on a tape, but can be output as synthesized sound.

  In the optimum embodiment, the display unit 4 is provided as a liquid crystal operation panel, and the display language / voice guide switching key 2 is provided as a touch switch 41 on the display unit 4. The touch switch 41 can display various languages in a list, and unlike the case of the button type selection key, even if there are a large number of languages to be selected, it can be easily selected with one touch. Of course, various changes can be made to the form of the switch without departing from the scope of the present invention.

1 is an overall configuration diagram of an image forming apparatus equipped with an operation panel according to the present invention. 1 is an external perspective view of an image forming apparatus according to a multifunction machine. It is an enlarged view of an operation panel. The upper figure is an operation panel according to the prior art, and the lower figure is an operation panel according to the present invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the control part which concerns on the display language switching of the image forming apparatus which concerns on this invention.

Explanation of symbols

1 Operation Panel 2 Display Language / Voice Guide Switch Key 3 Operation Unit 4 Display Unit 5 Voice Guide Unit 6 Language Switching Unit 7 Storage Device 30 Image Processing Unit 31 Function Selection Button 40 Exposure Device 41 Touch Switch 50 Image Forming Unit 51 Photosensitive Drum 61 Display language switching unit 62 Spoken language switching unit 100 Image forming apparatus P Recording paper

Claims (4)

An operation unit with a selection key for selecting various operation contents;
In accordance with the operation content of the selection key, a display unit that displays information such as setting content, operation procedure, and device status;
In an image forming apparatus having a voice guide unit that guides the information by voice,
Storage means for storing the information in a plurality of different languages, a display language switching means for selecting one language from the storage means and displaying the information on the display unit in the language; A language selection key for switching the language used by the display language switching means,
An image forming apparatus, wherein the language selection key is provided in the operation unit. An operation unit with a selection key for selecting various operation contents;
In accordance with the operation content of the selection key, a display unit that displays information such as setting content, operation procedure, and device status;
In an image forming apparatus having a voice guide unit that guides the information by voice,
Storage means storing each of the information in a plurality of different languages, Spoken language switching means for selecting one language from the storage means, and guiding the information with the sound of the language, and the spoken language A language selection key for switching the language used by the switching means,
An image forming apparatus, wherein the language selection key is provided in the operation unit. An operation unit with a selection key for selecting various operation contents;
In accordance with the operation content of the selection key, a display unit that displays information such as setting content, operation procedure, and device status;
In an image forming apparatus having a voice guide unit that guides the information by voice,
A storage unit that stores the information in a plurality of languages, and a language selected from the storage unit, the information is displayed on the display unit in the language, and the information is expressed in the language. An image forming apparatus comprising: a language switching unit for guiding the language; and a language selection key for switching a language used by the language switching unit, wherein the language selection key is provided in the operation unit.   4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the display unit is a liquid crystal operation panel, and the language selection key is provided in the liquid crystal operation panel.

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