JP3486502B2 - Digital copier - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a digital copying machine.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, there has been a market demand for downsizing and space saving of copying machines. In order to realize space saving, digital copying machines have various functions such as copy application (hereinafter, "application" and "app"). Say)
In addition to these, optional applications (extended functions) such as printer application and fax (FAX) application are added, and the resources (image reading device, image forming device, operation unit, memory, peripheral device, etc.) possessed by the digital copying machine are added. ) Are shared to save space and reduce costs.

In such a digital copying machine, a function desired by a user can be switched (selected) by operating a function switching key on the operation unit, and the function can be used (operation). In the device disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-755, in order to prevent a decrease in productivity, transition (switching) to another function (interruption mode) is permitted / prohibited according to the state of the discharge device.

[0004]

However, in such a conventional digital copying machine, when the image forming apparatus is out of order, the toner or the like is insufficiently supplied, or the jam or the like is abnormal, the entire apparatus is used. Since it becomes impossible, all the combined functions cannot be used at once. For this reason, there is a problem in that even if the function is such that only some of the resources in which an error has not occurred is used, the entire device is down and unusable.

For example, the fax transmission function (fax application) can operate regardless of an error of the image forming apparatus as long as the image reading apparatus can be used. However, even in this case, since the warning display indicating the abnormality of the entire apparatus is displayed on the actual screen of the operation unit, the fax transmission function cannot be selected and used. The present invention has been made in view of the above points, eliminates the above-mentioned problems,
The purpose is to improve the operability and productivity of a digital copying machine.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention has an image reading means for optically reading an image of a document and converting it into an electric signal, and an image image sent by the electric signal on a paper. and an image forming means for forming an image on, the digital copying machine that enables operation of various functions by using both or any one of the image reading means and image forming means, provided each of the following means It is characterized by that.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, when an error that cannot form an image occurs in the image forming means, warning display means for displaying warning information indicating that, and display of the warning information by an external instruction are canceled. Warning canceling means, function selecting means for selecting a function designated from the outside of the above functions, and a display right for the function selected by the means.
A passing means, an operation possible / impossible judging means for judging whether or not the function to which the display right has been passed is operable without using the image forming means, and a warning display when the above-mentioned error occurs in the image forming means. When the warning information is displayed by the means, the display right is passed by the operation possibility determination means.
If it is determined that the function is operable, the warning cancellation permission means for permitting the cancellation of the warning information by the warning cancellation means, and the warning information is displayed by the warning display means when the error occurs in the image forming means. When the function to which the display right has been passed is determined to be inoperable by the operation permission / inhibition determination means, a warning cancellation prohibition means for prohibiting cancellation of the warning information by the warning cancellation means is provided . table
The means to pass the authority can be operated in parallel by the function selection means.
If multiple functions are selected, one of them is selected.
It is a means of passing the display right only to the function .

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the digital copying machine according to the first aspect, after the display of the warning information is canceled by the warning canceling means, the display right is passed to a function different from the function having the display right until now. When the warning is given, the warning display means is provided with a redisplay instruction means for displaying the warning information again.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, when an error occurs in which the image forming means cannot form an image, warning display means for displaying warning information indicating the error and a function designated from the outside of the above functions. and function selection means for selecting, 該手
The means for transferring the display right to the function selected by the step, the operation possibility determining means for determining whether or not the function designated by the outside is operable without using the image forming means, and the image forming means When an error occurs, a selection prohibiting unit that prohibits only selection of a function that is determined to be inoperable by the operation availability determining unit and an operation by the operation availability determining unit
If a display right is passed to a function that is determined to be possible, a warning is issued.
A warning solution that cancels the display of the above warning information by the notification display means.
And a means for handing over the above display right to the function selecting hand.
If multiple functions that can operate in parallel are selected depending on the stage
In the case of
It was done.

[0010]

In the digital copying machine according to the first and second aspects of the present invention, when an error (an abnormality such as a jam or a failure) in which an image cannot be formed by the image forming means occurs, warning information indicating that fact is displayed. Functions (display rights passed
Function can operate without using the image forming means, the warning information can be canceled. Therefore, even when the error occurs in the image forming means, the image reading means can be used and the operability is improved. And productivity is improved. Further, since the warning information is displayed once and the operator is asked to confirm the warning information, it can be surely notified to the operator that an error has occurred in the image forming means.

Further, after the display of the warning information is canceled, the display right is given to the function different from the function having the display right until now.
When it is passed, by displaying the warning information again, the image forming means are left in an error state, it is also possible to prevent the lead to serious error (failure). Also,
The function that uses the image forming means is selected (
If the display right is passed), it is possible to prevent a problem that the operator does not notice the error.

The digital copying machine according to the invention of claim 3 is
When an error in which the image forming means cannot form an image occurs, warning information indicating that fact is displayed. When the error occurs, a function that can be operated without using the image forming means can be selected. And when the function is selected (the machine
By canceling the display of the warning information when the display right is passed to the image forming means), the image reading means can be used even when the error occurs in the image forming means as described above, and the operability and Productivity is improved.

[0014]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be specifically described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a conceptual example of a control system of a digital copying machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.

This digital copying machine includes a system unit 6 having resources (devices) such as an operation unit 1, an image reading device 2, an image forming device 3, a memory unit 4 and a system control layer 5, a copy application 7 and a printer application. 8,
It consists of an application layer such as a fax (FAX) application 9. Since this digital copying machine constitutes a multitasking system, optional applications such as the printer application 8 and the fax application 9 can be installed in addition to the copy application 7.

The operation unit 1 is, for example, as shown in FIG.
It is composed of various display parts such as the CD message display part 31 and various operation keys such as three application switching keys 32 and four function keys 33. The image reading device 2 illuminates a document with a light source, reads the reflected light image (image) with a CCD (solid-state image sensor), converts the image into an electric signal (video signal), and then performs necessary image processing. Is.

The image forming apparatus 3 uses an electrophotographic system, a thermal system, a thermal transfer system, an ink jet system, or the like to print an image image sent from the image reading apparatus 2 or the like by an electric signal, such as plain paper or thermal paper. An image forming unit that forms an image on top. The memory unit 4 is a storage means such as a hard disk device or a magneto-optical disk device for storing the image image sent from the image reading device 2 or the like by an electric signal.

The system control layer 5 controls each resource (device) via a device control layer (not shown) (not shown). The following (1) to (1)
It functions as the means shown in (7). (1) When an error occurs in which the image forming apparatus 3 cannot form an image, warning information indicating the error is displayed in the LC of the operation unit 1.
Warning display means for displaying on the D message display section 31.

(2) Warning canceling means for canceling the display of the warning information in accordance with an instruction from the operation unit 1 (external). (3) Function selecting means for selecting a function designated by the operation unit 1 among the applications (functions) 7 to 9. (4) Operation availability determination means for determining whether or not the selected function can operate without using the image forming apparatus 3.

(5) If the function selected when the error occurs in the image forming apparatus 3 and the warning information is displayed on the LCD message display section 31 of the operation section 1 is operable, the above warning is issued. Warning release permission means that permits release of information. (6) When the above error occurs in the image forming apparatus 3, the operation unit 1
If the selected function is inoperable when the warning information is displayed on the LCD message display section 31, the warning cancellation prohibition means for prohibiting cancellation of the warning information.

(7) After canceling the display of the warning information,
Re-display instruction means for re-displaying the warning information on the LCD message display unit 31 of the operation unit 1 when a function different from the function selected so far is selected. Copy app 7
Performs the copy operation using both the image reading device 2 and the image forming device 3. That is, the image of the original is read by the image reading device 2, and the image image is formed on the paper by the image forming device 3.

The printer application 8 uses the image forming apparatus 3 to perform a printing operation. That is, the image image transmitted from the outside by an electric signal is received by fax, and the image forming apparatus 3 forms an image on a sheet.
The fax application 9 uses the image reading device 2 to perform a fax operation. That is, the image of the original is read by the image reading device 2, and the image is faxed to the outside by an electric signal. In addition, each application 7
Since ~ 9 is software, it is not possible to directly operate the resource, but here, for convenience of explanation, such a description is used.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a concrete example of the control unit of this digital copying machine. The system control layer 5 includes a system controller 10 that controls the entire device,
An operation unit controller 11 that controls the operation unit 1, a peripheral device controller 12 that controls a peripheral device (not shown), an image reading device controller 13 that controls the image reading device 2,
Image forming apparatus controller 1 for controlling the image forming apparatus 3
4, and a memory controller 15 for controlling the memory unit 4. The input / output controller 16 controls input / output of a video signal or a control signal (command) to / from each resource, and serves as a device control layer.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an example of the connection relationship between the system unit 6 of FIG. 1 and the copy application 7, printer application 8, and fax application 9. In this digital copying machine, each unit in the system unit 6 is connected to a copy application 7, a printer application 8 and a fax application 9 by a control signal line 21. The operation unit 1 in the system unit 6, the copy application 7, the printer application 8, and the fax application 9 are connected to the image reading device 2, the image forming device 3, and the memory unit 4 in the system unit 6 by the operation unit control bus 22. Copy application 7, printer application 8, fax application 9 and video signal bus 23
Are connected to each other.

In this digital copying machine, a CPU (central processing unit) is provided for each application as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, and one system control layer 5 and one device control layer (see FIG. 2) are provided. Although controlled by the CPU, each application, system control layer, and each resource have a CPU, and control signals from the system controller 10 to the other controllers 11 to 15 shown in FIG. It may be transmitted. Therefore, since the system / hardware configuration can be freely constructed, the description of FIG. 3 is not limited but is a conceptual description.

Next, an example of using the resources when the application is operating will be described with reference to FIGS. The resource indicated by the solid line indicates that the virtual resource assigned to each application is in use.
FIG. 5 shows a state in which the copy application 7 occupies all the resources possessed by this digital copying machine and performs the following operation.

The copy application 7 optically reads an image of a document by the image reading device 2, transfers the image image to the memory unit 4 for storage, and at the same time outputs it to the image forming device 3 to form an image on a sheet. Let At this time, it is necessary to synchronize all the start timings of the image reading operation by the image reading device 2, the image storing operation by the memory unit 4, and the image forming operation by the image forming device 3.

FIG. 6 shows a state in which the copy application 7 outputs an image image stored in the memory unit 4 in the foreground to the image forming apparatus 3 to perform an electronic sort output operation for forming an image on a sheet. ing. In this case, the image reading device 2 is in the unused state. FIG. 7 shows a state in which the copy application 7 performs the above-described electronic sort output operation in the background while the fax application 9 performs the above-described image reading operation in the foreground.

Here, in many cases, even a system in which a plurality of applications are registered has a very limited operation unit. In such a case, it is necessary to give up the operation unit for the application used by the user, and the application to which the display right of the operation unit has been passed is expressed as a “foreground application”. Almost all the key input notifications are sent from the system unit 6 to the foreground application, and the virtual screen of itself is displayed on the actual operation unit. The screen prepared for each application is referred to as a “virtual screen”. Therefore, although there are a plurality of virtual screens, only one is always displayed on the real screen.

On the other hand, an application that does not have the display right is referred to as a “background application”, but this background application does not interrupt the operation only because it does not have the display right. For example, even if the printer application 8 is in the background, if print data is sent from a host such as a personal computer (PC) while the image forming apparatus 3 is idle, an image forming operation based on the print data is performed. It is also possible to try. Limited key input notifications are sent from the system unit 6 to the background application,
Display on the virtual screen is allowed.

In order to save space in the electronic sort, instead of a conventional sorter device, an image image read from a document is stored in the memory unit 4, and a sheet (copy) on which the image image is formed is copied. In this mode, the sheets are automatically sorted into the same paper ejection port. In order to improve operability, sheets of the same size and different orientations are sequentially fed for each copy, and the memory unit 4 is provided on each sheet surface.
There is also a case where each image stored in the above is sequentially rotated by 90 degrees to form an image (copy), and the respective sheets are ejected by alternately changing the direction one by one.

8 to 11 show display examples in which a mode setting screen or a warning screen of each application is displayed on the LCD message display unit 31 of the operation unit 1. On the LCD message display section 31, 40 half-width characters (20 full-width characters) x 4 lines of characters and ruled lines RL (Fig. 8), a warning display frame WD (Fig. 9), and function keys for displaying the functions of the function keys 33. A function display FK (FIG. 8) and the like can be displayed.

Function key function display FK is LCD
It corresponds to the four function keys 33 (Fig. 4) immediately below the message display section 31, and the function when the function key 33 is pressed changes depending on the type of foreground application and the setting state of the mode. ,
Displays the current function of each key in real time. Further, the operation unit 1 has three application switching keys 32, each of which can switch (switch) to the application displayed on the key top.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of a mode setting screen for the copy application 7. In the first line (uppermost row), the copy enabled / disabled state and the copy number set value are set, and in the second line, the copy magnification is set. The setting values are displayed on the third line and the function key functions are displayed on the fourth line (bottom). FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of a warning screen for the copy application 7, and the first line in the warning display frame WD is a paper misfeed (hereinafter referred to as “jam”) which is an error type.
And the occurrence location thereof are displayed on the second and third lines, respectively, instruction information to the user (operator) is displayed.

This warning screen (warning information) is displayed when a jam occurs in the image forming apparatus 3 (an error in which the image forming apparatus 3 cannot form an image), and then all the jammed paper from the image forming apparatus 3 is displayed. The process continues until the jammed state is removed and the fax state is switched to the fax application 9 that can operate without using the image forming apparatus 3. During this period, the copy mode cannot be set or the copy operation cannot be performed. However, when switching to the fax application 9, another warning screen shown in FIG. 11 is displayed instead of canceling the display of the warning screen.

FIG. 10 shows a mode setting screen (fax transmission screen) for the fax application (fax transmission function) 9.
Similar to the copy application 7, the enabled / disabled state and the mode setting state are displayed on the first to third lines, and the function key function is displayed on the fourth line.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of a warning screen for the fax application 9. At the time of fax transmission, the image forming apparatus 3 is not normally used, so that a jam does not occur. However, due to interleaving described below, a jam occurs during an image forming operation by another application, or an application is switched in a jam state. If so, the situation as described above may occur.

Here, in a normal digital copying machine, for example, the image forming operation is performed in function units (= job units) so that the image forming operation by the printer application 8 is switched after the image forming operation by the copy application 7 is completed. I am trying. On the other hand, inserting the image forming operation of another job into the image forming operation of one job is called “interleave”.

In the warning screen of FIG. 11, the same information as the warning screen by the copy application of FIG. 9 is displayed on the first to third lines, and the “confirmation key” is displayed on the fourth line. The confirmation key display shows that the rightmost key of the function keys 33 is functioning as a confirmation key.
The user sees the warning screen and sees the machine status (here, jam)
If the confirmation key is pressed after removing the jammed paper after confirming, the warning information display is canceled (erased).
You can return to the 0 fax transmission screen.

On this fax transmission screen, it is possible to set a mode and transmit a fax document. Further, the application switching key 32 can also be used while the warning screen is being displayed, but the switched application is the image forming apparatus 3.
In the case of an application that uses (for example, copy application 7), the warning screen without the confirmation key (hereinafter also referred to as “no confirmation key warning screen”) shown in FIG. 9 is displayed again, and the mode setting and operation by the application are performed. Prohibit

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing an example of warning display processing by the system control layer 5 when a jam occurs. This routine is started by being called by a main routine (not shown). First, in step 1, it is checked from the machine information of the image forming apparatus 3 whether or not a jam has occurred therein.

If no jam has occurred,
LCD message display unit 31 shown in FIG. 4 in step 8
It is determined whether or not the warning screen (warning information indicating that a jam has occurred) shown in FIG. 9 or 11 is displayed in FIG. 11, and if it is not displayed, the process directly returns to the main routine, but is displayed. If so, in step 9, the display of the warning screen is canceled (erased) to return to the original mode setting screen, and the process returns to the main routine.

If a jam has occurred in the image forming apparatus 3, it is determined in step 2 whether the foreground application (the currently selected application) is operable without using the image forming apparatus 3. If it is determined that it is operable (if the fax application 9 does not use the image forming apparatus 3), whether the jam has been confirmed by the user in step 3 (while the warning screen with the confirmation key shown in FIG. 11 is displayed) It is determined whether or not the rightmost one of the function keys 33 has been pressed.

If the jam has not been confirmed, it is judged at step 4 whether the warning screen shown in FIG. 11 (hereinafter also referred to as "confirmation key warning screen") is displayed on the LCD message display section 31, If it is displayed, the process directly returns to the main routine, but if not displayed, a warning screen with a confirmation key is displayed on the LCD message display section 31 in step 5, and the process returns to the main routine.

If the jam has been confirmed, it is judged in step 8 whether or not the warning screen is displayed on the LCD message display section 31. In this case, the warning screen with the confirmation key is displayed. Even if it is occurring, the warning screen is canceled in step 9, the original mode setting screen is restored, and the process returns to the main routine.

In step 3, if the app is switched after the warning screen with the confirmation key is released even after it has been determined that the jam has been confirmed (in this embodiment, an app other than the fax app 9 is temporarily used). Even if it is switched to, it is not possible to proceed to the determination in step 3 unless it is switched to the fax application 9 again, but if a new application that can operate without using the image forming apparatus 3 is installed and the application is switched to that application, In step 3), it can be determined that the jam has not been confirmed. Therefore, in step 5, the warning screen with the confirmation key can be displayed again on the LCD message display unit 31.

On the other hand, if the foreground application is the copy application 7 or the printer application 8 that cannot operate unless the image forming apparatus 3 is used, the confirmation message without a confirmation key shown in FIG. It is judged whether or not it is displayed, and if it is displayed, the process directly returns to the main routine. If it is not displayed, a warning screen without a confirmation key is displayed on the LCD message display section 31 in step 7, and the process returns to the main routine.

Accordingly, even if the display of the warning screen with the confirmation key is canceled when the foreground application is the fax application 9 which can operate without using the image forming apparatus 3, the image forming apparatus 3 is not used thereafter. When the application is switched to one that cannot operate, a warning screen without confirmation key can be displayed on the LCD message display unit 31.

As described above, in the digital copying machine of this embodiment, when a jam (error) in which an image cannot be formed in the image forming apparatus 3 occurs, warning information indicating that fact is displayed, but the selected application is selected. (Function) is the image forming apparatus 3
Since the warning information can be canceled if the image forming apparatus 3 can be operated without using the image reading apparatus 2, the image reading apparatus 2 can be used even if a jam occurs in the image forming apparatus 3, and operability and productivity are improved. To do. Further, since the warning information is displayed once and the operator is asked to confirm the warning information, it is possible to reliably inform the operator that a jam has occurred in the image forming apparatus 3.

Further, after the display of the warning information is cancelled, the warning information is displayed again when an application different from the application selected so far is selected, so that the image forming apparatus 3 is left in the jammed state. It is also possible to prevent a serious error (fault). Further, when an application using the image forming apparatus 3 is selected, it is possible to prevent a problem that the operator does not notice the error.

Next, another embodiment of the present invention will be described. Since the hardware configuration is the same as that of the above-described embodiment, FIGS. 1 to 11 will be used again. In another embodiment of the present invention, the system control layer 5 has the following (1) to
It functions as the means shown in (6).

(1) When an error (jam) in which the image forming apparatus 3 cannot form an image occurs, a warning display means for displaying warning information indicating the error on the LCD message display section 31 of the operation section 1. (2) Function selecting means for selecting a function designated by the operation unit 1 among the applications (functions) 7 to 9.

(4) The selected function is the image forming apparatus 3
Operation availability determination means for determining whether or not operation is possible without using. (5) Selection prohibition means for prohibiting only selection of functions that cannot operate unless the image forming apparatus 3 is used when the above-mentioned error occurs in the image forming apparatus 3. (6) Warning canceling means for canceling the display of the warning information when a function operable without using the image forming apparatus 3 is selected.

Here, during fax transmission, a jam does not occur because the image forming apparatus 3 is not normally used as described above. However, due to interleaving, a jam occurs during an image forming operation by another application, or a jam state occurs. If the application is switched as it is, the above situation may occur.

In such a case, in this embodiment, the display of the LCD message display unit 31 is not switched to the warning screen shown in FIG. 9, but the fax transmission screen shown in FIG. And enable sending fax documents. The application switching key 32 can also be used in the warning screen display state, but the transition (switching) to an application (for example, a copy application) that uses the image forming apparatus 3 is prohibited.

FIG. 13 is a flow chart showing an example of application switching processing by the system control layer 5 in this embodiment. This routine is started by being called by a main routine (not shown). First, at step 11, it is judged whether or not any one of the application switching keys 32 is pressed, and if not pressed, the routine directly returns to the main routine. To do.

The application switching key 32
If any of these are pressed, step 12
Then, it is determined whether or not a jam has occurred in the image forming apparatus 3. If no jam has occurred, the process proceeds to step 15.
If a jam has occurred, an inquiry is made as to whether or not the image forming apparatus 3 is to be used for the application designated by pressing the application switching key 32 in step 13, and in response to that answer, switching to the application is performed in step 14 ( If it is possible, the process proceeds to step 15. If it is not possible, the process returns to the main routine.

By making the inquiry as described above, even if a new application is connected to the system controller 10 of FIG. 2, it can be operated properly. Further, by summarizing the processes and determinations of steps 13 and 14, it is determined whether or not the application designated by pressing the application switching key 32 can operate without using the image forming apparatus 3. In this case, if the application is operable without using the image forming apparatus 3, the process proceeds to step 15, but if the application is not operable, the process returns to the main routine (the selection of the application is prohibited).

In step 15, the application is switched to the designated application by pressing the application switching key 32. At this time, all resources except the image forming apparatus 3, that is, the operation unit 1, the image reading apparatus 2, and the memory unit 4 are passed to the foreground application after switching. After that, in step 16, it is determined whether or not the warning screen shown in FIG. 9 is displayed on the LCD message display section 31. If it is not displayed, it is left as it is, and if it is displayed, the display is canceled in step 17 to operate. After enabling the mode setting and operation from the section 1, the process returns to the main routine.

As described above, in the digital copying machine of this embodiment, when the image forming apparatus 3 has a jam in which an image cannot be formed, the warning information indicating that fact is displayed, but when the jam occurs, the image forming apparatus 3 is displayed. Allows selection of apps that can operate without using. Then, since the display of the warning information is canceled when the application is selected, the image reading device 2 does not operate even when a jam occurs in the image forming device 3.
Can be used, and operability and productivity are improved. In the digital copying machine of each of the above-described embodiments, an error in which an image cannot be formed by the image forming apparatus 3 is a jam, but other types of errors may be used.

[0061]

As described above, according to the present invention, the image reading means can be used even when an error occurs in which the image forming means cannot form an image.
The operability and productivity of the digital copying machine can be improved.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a conceptual example of a control system of a digital copying machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a specific example of a control unit of the digital copying machine shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a system unit 6 and a copy application 7 in FIG.
3 is a block diagram showing an example of a connection relationship with a printer application 8 and a fax application 9. FIG.

FIG. 4 is a layout diagram showing a configuration example of the operation unit 1 in the same manner.

FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining an image reading operation and an image forming operation by the copy application 7 in the same manner.

FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining an electronic sort output operation by the copy application 7 in the same manner.

7 is a diagram for explaining an image reading operation by the fax application 9 and an electronic sort output operation by the copy application 7. FIG.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of a mode setting screen for the copy application 7 as well.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of a warning screen for the copy application 7 as well.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a mode setting screen for the fax application 9 as well.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of a warning screen for the fax application 9 as well.

FIG. 12 is a flow chart showing an example of a warning display process by the system control layer 5 when a jam occurs.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing an example of application switching processing according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1: Operation unit 2: Image reading device 3: Image forming device 4: Memory unit 5: System control layer 6: System unit 7: Copy application 8: Printer application 9: Fax application 10: System controller 11: Operation unit controller 12: Peripheral device controller 13: Image forming apparatus controller 14: Image reading device controller 15: Memory controller 16: Input / output controller 21: Control signal line 22: Control bus for operation unit 23: Video signal bus 31: LCD message display section 32: Application switching key 33: Function key

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (58) Fields surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G03G 21/00 370-512 H04N 1/00

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. An electronic image is obtained by optically reading an image of a document.
Image reading means for converting into a signal, and sent by electric signal
Image forming hand that forms the image on the paper
A step of the image reading unit and the image forming unit.
Various functions by using both or eitherTo
MovementIn the digital copier that made it possible, An error occurred that the image forming means could not form an image.
Warning display means for displaying warning information indicating that
When, The display of the warning information is canceled by an instruction from the outside.
Warning release means, Select a function specified from outside of each of the above functions
Function selection means, Selected by the meansMeans to pass the display right to the function The display right was passed by the means Function is the image forming hand
Operation availability that determines whether operation is possible without using steps
Discriminating means, When the error occurs in the image forming unit, the warning is displayed.
When the warning information is displayed by means,
By the operation availability determination means,Display right passedFunction
When it is determined that the operation is possible, the warning canceling means is used.
Warning cancellation permission means for permitting cancellation of the warning information When the error occurs in the image forming unit, the warning is displayed.
When the warning information is displayed by means,
By the operation availability determination means,Display right passedFunction
When it is determined that the operation is impossible, the warning canceling means is used.
Warning cancellation prohibition means for prohibiting cancellation of the warning information
Establishment, The means for transferring the display right is the same as the function selecting means.
If more than one function is selected for the column,
It is a means to pass the display right to only one of the functions. Special
A digital copier to collect. 2. The digital copying machine according to claim 1, wherein a function different from the function having the display right until now is displayed after the display of the warning information is canceled by the warning canceling unit.
When the display permission is passed to a digital copying machine, characterized in that a re-display instruction unit for displaying the warning information on the warning display unit again. 3. An image of an original is optically read to obtain an electric signal.
Image reading means for converting into a signal, and sent by electric signal
Image forming hand that forms the image on the paper
A step of the image reading unit and the image forming unit.
Various functions by using both or eitherTo
MovementIn the digital copier that made it possible, An error occurred that the image forming means could not form an image.
Warning display means for displaying warning information indicating that
When, Select a function specified from outside of each of the above functions
Function selection means,Means for passing the display right to the function selected by the means, The function specified from the outside uses the image forming means.
Operation possibility determination means for determining whether or not operation is possible without
When, When the error occurs in the image forming unit, the
Of the functions that are determined to be inoperable by the operation availability determination means
Selection prohibition means that prohibits only selection, A machine determined to be operable by the operation possibility determining means
If the display right is passed to Noh, the warning display means
Warning canceling means for canceling the display of the warning information And set
Ke, The means for transferring the display right is the same as the function selecting means.
If more than one function is selected for the column,
It is a means to pass the display right to only one of the functions. Special
A digital copier to collect.