JP2000351259A - Imaging apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain an imaging apparatus being set with a plurality of jobs concerning to imaging in which input operation of an operator can be facilitated while grasping the number of reserved jobs, the processing order thereof, the name of reserved person, and the set content of the jobs at a glance. SOLUTION: The imaging apparatus is set with a plurality of jobs concerning to imaging which are executed sequentially. The imaging apparatus comprises a display control means for displaying a plurality display frames 308 having same area size each representing the set content of one job on a display screen 306 while shifting partially from each other and overlapping according to the execution order of the jobs.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus. More specifically, the present invention relates to an image forming apparatus in which a plurality of jobs related to image formation are set and those jobs are sequentially executed.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As an image forming apparatus of this type, for the convenience of an operator, as shown in FIG. 9, a job (eg, a job currently being input by an operator) is displayed on a display screen 307 on an operation panel. It is known that a large area for displaying information about a current job) and a small area for displaying information about a job (sub job) other than the current job are displayed side by side (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H10-190896).

[0003]

However, in the above-described conventional image forming apparatus, the display screen 307 on the operation panel is not provided.
At a glance, it is not possible to easily understand at a glance the processing order of multiple reserved jobs displayed in, who is instructed by each job, and what processing settings have been made. is there. Further, since the display screen 307 on the operation panel has a plurality of areas (large area and small area), the operator may rather be confused about how to perform the input operation.

An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus in which a plurality of jobs related to image formation are set,
The operator can easily grasp the number of reserved jobs, the processing order, the instructor, and the job settings at a glance, and the operator can easily perform input operations (including inputting new jobs and changing job settings). It is to provide what can be done.

[0005]

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of jobs related to image formation are set, and the image forming apparatus sequentially executes the jobs. On the screen, a plurality of display frames having the same area size and each representing the setting contents of one job are sequentially shifted in accordance with the execution order of the jobs and partially overlap each other, and an area of each display frame that is not hidden And display control means for displaying job-specific information corresponding to the display frame.

In the image forming apparatus according to the first aspect of the invention, the display control means causes a plurality of display frames having the same area size on the display screen, each representing the setting contents of one job, to be displayed in accordance with the job execution order. The images are displayed in such a manner that they are sequentially shifted and partially overlapped with each other. Therefore, the operator can easily grasp the number of reserved jobs and the processing order at a glance. Moreover, in the area of each display frame that is not hidden,
Information unique to the job corresponding to the display frame is displayed.
Therefore, the operator can identify the job corresponding to the display frame by viewing the information displayed in the non-hidden area of each display frame. Therefore, for example, when it is necessary to confirm or change the setting contents of a specific job, the operator can easily select the display frame corresponding to the job.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus of the first aspect, the display control means is configured to execute a job to be executed later on a display frame corresponding to the job to be executed first. Are superimposed on a display frame corresponding to.

In the image forming apparatus of the present invention, the display control means superimposes a display frame corresponding to a job to be executed first on a display frame corresponding to a job to be executed first. The display frame corresponding to the newly set job is displayed in a state of being superimposed on the top. Therefore, when setting a new job, the operator looks at the display frame corresponding to the job displayed at the top,
Job content can be entered and set reliably.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the first aspect, the job-specific information includes a name of a designator who has set the job.

In the image forming apparatus according to the third aspect, since the job-specific information includes the name of the instructor who set the job, the operator can easily know the instructor who set the job. Therefore, for example, when it is necessary to confirm or change the setting contents of the job set by the operator, the operator can easily select the display frame corresponding to the job.

An image forming apparatus according to a fourth aspect of the present invention is the image forming apparatus according to any one of the first to third aspects, wherein a certain display frame among a plurality of display frames displayed on the display screen. And displaying the display frame selected by the selection unit in the state of being superimposed on the top of the remaining display frames while holding the position of each display frame in the display screen. A display changing means is provided.

In the image forming apparatus according to the fourth aspect, the operator selects a certain display frame from the plurality of display frames displayed on the display screen by the selection means. Then, the display change unit displays the display frame selected by the selection unit in a state of being superimposed on the remaining display frame at the highest level while maintaining the position of each display frame in the display screen. Therefore, the operator can easily see the display frame corresponding to the job when the operator needs to confirm the setting contents of the job set by himself.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the fourth aspect, a setting content changing means for changing a setting content of a job corresponding to the display frame selected by the selecting means. It is characterized by having.

In the image forming apparatus according to the fifth aspect, the setting contents of the job corresponding to the display frame selected by the selecting means are changed by the setting contents changing means. Therefore, for example, when it is necessary to change the settings of the job set by the operator, the operator can easily change the settings of the job.

[0015]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the illustrated embodiments.

FIG. 1 shows a schematic configuration of a copying machine 1 having a multi-job function according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The copying machine 1 includes a reading device IR for reading an image of a document and generating image data.
An image storage unit 30 for temporarily storing image data obtained by the reading device IR, and a printer PR for printing on copy paper based on the image data stored in the image storage unit 30
T, an operation panel 300 for inputting an operation (installed on the upper surface of the copier 1 (in a direction perpendicular to the paper surface)), an original transport unit 500 for transporting the original and turning over the original as necessary. And a re-feed unit 600 for reversing the front and back of the copy sheet once copied as needed and re-feeding the copy sheet to the printer PRT. These operations are controlled by a control unit (not shown). The control unit includes a ROM for storing a program for operating the copying machine 1, a CPU for executing the program, a RAM for storing information necessary for executing the program, and the like.

In the document feeder 500, when a print command is issued, the documents set on the document feed tray 501 are automatically set one by one from the lowermost document to the reading position on the document glass 15. When the reading by the reading device IR is completed, the documents are sequentially discharged onto the discharge tray 502.

The reading device IR comprises a scanning system 10 and an image signal processing section 20. In the scanning system 10, first, an image of a document set at a reading position is exposed by an exposure lamp 11 attached to a scanner 16 moving below the document. Light reflected from the document passes through a reflection mirror and a condenser lens 12 and is input to photoelectric conversion elements 13 and 14 using a CCD array or the like. Subsequently, these scanning systems 1
The signal obtained at 0 is sent to the image signal processing unit 20.
The image signal processing unit 20 performs image processing such as binarization processing, image quality correction, scaling, and image editing on the input signal.

The image data subjected to the image processing is stored in the image storage unit 30.

The printer device PRT includes a print processing unit 40,
It comprises an optical system 60, an image forming system 70, and a paper transport system 80. The print processing unit 40 drives the optical system 60 based on the image data from the image storage unit 30. In the optical system 60, the semiconductor lasers 61 and 62 each emit a laser beam based on a signal controlled by the print processing unit 40. These are combined by a dichroic mirror 63, reflected by a polygon mirror 65 rotated by a motor 64, and radiated through a main lens 66 to a photoconductor 71 of an image forming system 70.

In the image forming system 70, first, after the surface of the photoconductor 71 is charged by the charger 72, the surface of the photoconductor is irradiated with a laser beam from the optical system 60.
Thus, an electrostatic latent image is formed on the surface of the photoconductor 71. Subsequently, the developing device 73 places toner on the electrostatic latent image. The toner image on the photoreceptor 71 is transferred onto copy paper fed from a paper feed cassette 80a or 80b of the paper transport system 80. Thereafter, the sheet is conveyed to the fixing device 82 by the sheet conveying belt 81, and the toner is fixed on the sheet by heat and pressure. Thereafter, the sheet is discharged onto the sheet discharge tray 601 of the sheet re-feeding unit 600.

In the copying machine 1, during these operations, an error such as a paper jam can be detected in the document conveying section 500 and the printing apparatus PRT. Further, it is possible to detect an error such as running out of paper in the paper feed cassette in the printing apparatus PRT, and an error such as a document not being properly set at the reading position in the document feeding unit 500. Further, when the copying machine 1 stops operating due to a failure or the like, it can be detected.

FIG. 3 schematically shows a multi-job operation in the copying machine 1. By the time the copy is obtained from the original set by the copying machine 1,
Three processes are performed: a process of reading a document image to generate image data; a process of correcting and storing image data; and a process of printing based on the stored image data.
By performing a series of these three processes on a certain document group in the order described above, a copy of the document group is obtained. Each of these three processes (each of these “processes” is also referred to as a “job”) is performed by the reading device I
R, the image storage unit 30, and the printer device PRT. Here, the multi-job executed by the copying machine 1 is
For example, while a copy of the document group A is being output by the printer device PRT, a document group B different from the document group A is stored in the image storage unit 30 and a document group C different from these document groups is further stored. That is, reading by the reading device IR. That is, the printing operation, the reading operation, and the image writing operation to the image storage unit are performed independently and in parallel by the multi-job function.

Since the print operation and the read operation operate independently of each other, when the two operations are performed simultaneously, a trouble occurs and one of the print operation and the read operation is stopped. However, the other operation can be continued without stopping.

FIG. 4 shows a C controlling the operation of the copying machine 1.
3 shows a flow of a main routine executed by a PU.

When the power of the copying machine 1 is turned on and the CPU is reset, the program starts. First, in step 40 (hereinafter, step is abbreviated as S), CPU initialization such as clearing of a RAM and setting of various registers is performed, and in S41, mode initialization of the copying machine 1 is performed.

Next, in S42, an internal timer built in the CPU is started. The value of this internal timer defines the length of one routine, and is set in advance by default.

Subsequently, in S43, a job determination process for determining the current job status, in S44, a key input control process for controlling key input by a hard key and a touch panel, and in S45, display on an LCD and an LED is controlled. The following display control processing is performed.

At S46, a system control process for controlling the normal operation of the copying machine 1, and at S47, other processes are sequentially performed.

After the processing in S42 to S47 is performed, the processing in S4
At 8, it is determined whether the internal timer set in S42 has expired. When it is determined that the internal timer has expired (YES in S48), one routine ends, and the process returns to S42. If it is determined that the internal timer has not expired (S
At 48, NO), the process stays at S48.

FIG. 2 shows an operation panel 300 of the copying machine 1.
Is shown. A start key 301 is used to start a copy operation, and a ten key 302 is used to input a numerical value such as the number of copies. A clear key 303 is used to clear an input numerical value and discard image data in the image storage unit 30, a stop key 304 is used to stop a copying operation, and a panel reset key 305 is set. Used to discard the current mode and job.

Further, a liquid crystal display LCD 306 is provided, and a touch panel is attached to the surface of the LCD 306. By pressing this touch panel with a finger, the operator can make various settings according to the display contents in the LCD 306. For example, the LCD 30
In the case where the reservation setting key 306a is displayed in 6,
The operator can set a reservation job by pressing the displayed reservation setting key 306a.

FIG. 5 shows a display screen of the LCD 306 when a plurality of reserved jobs are sequentially executed. On the display screen of the LCD 306, a plurality of rectangular display frames 308 (NO.1, NO.2, NO.3,
…) Is displayed. In this example, a display frame (NO.1, NO.2) corresponding to two copy jobs, a display frame (NO.3) corresponding to a network print job,
A total of five display frames 308 are displayed, including a display frame (NO. 4) corresponding to the FAX reception job and a “new reception” display frame for receiving a new job reservation. These display frames 308 are in a state where they are sequentially shifted according to the job execution order and partially overlap each other. More specifically, the display frame 308 corresponding to the job to be executed later overlaps the display frame 308 corresponding to the job to be executed first, and the position of each display frame 308 is sequentially shifted to the upper left according to the job execution order. To the lower right.

As a result, the "new reception" display frame corresponding to the job to be newly set is displayed in the state of being superimposed on the top, that is, in the top layer. Therefore, when setting a new job, the operator can reliably input and set the contents of the job while looking at the “new reception” display frame displayed on the top layer.

Similarly to the display contents of the “new reception” display frame, the display contents (hidden in FIG. 5) in each display frame 308 include an “application” mode selection key and a “density / photograph” setting. Mode selection key, "Original → Copy" mode selection key, "Basic" mode selection key, messages such as "Copy reserved", and the status of the sorter currently selected for the job ("Non-sort"sort"
, Etc.), the currently selected copy magnification (“× 1.000”, “× 0.707”, etc.) for the job, and the currently selected copy paper size (“A4 □”, “B5 □”) for the job. And the like). Also,
The display format such as the key arrangement in each display frame 308 is the same as the display format of the “new reception” display frame.

Further, the left side and the upper side of each display frame 308 are not hidden even if they are not displayed on the uppermost layer. The job-specific information corresponding to the display frame is displayed in the upper portion of each display frame 308 that is not hidden. In this example, the job-specific information includes numbers “NO. 1” and “N” indicating the execution order of the job.
O. 2 "," NO. 3 ",... Therefore, the operator can easily grasp the number of reserved jobs and the processing order at a glance.

In addition, in the upper part of the display frame 308 (No. 1 and No. 2 in this example) corresponding to the copy job, a name corresponding to the user ID code registered in advance (the copy machine 1). (A user name registered in a management function (not shown) provided in). Therefore, the operator can easily know the instructor who set the job. Further, for example, when it is necessary to confirm or change the setting contents of a certain job that the user has already set, the operator can easily select the display frame corresponding to the job.

In the upper part of the display frame 308 (No. 3 in this example) corresponding to the network print job, the user name on the network can be displayed as the job instructor. In the example, "network print job" is displayed. Further, a display frame 308 corresponding to a FAX reception job (assuming that the copying machine 1 has a FAX function)
In the upper part (in this example, No. 4), it is possible to display the name of the transmission source if it is a transmission source registered in advance, but in the present embodiment, "FAX reception job" is displayed. ing.

When it is necessary to confirm or change the settings of a reserved job, the operator operates the LCD 3
The display frame 308 is selected by using the touch key on 06 as a selection unit, specifically, by pressing a peripheral portion of the display frame 308 corresponding to the job with a finger. For example, the NO. It is assumed that the second display frame 308 is selected. Then, as shown in FIG. 6, the job display frame 308 of N0.2 is displayed on the uppermost layer while the position of each display frame 308 in the display screen is maintained. Therefore, the operator can easily see the job display frame 308 selected by the operator. Moreover, since the display contents and the format of each display frame 308 are common, the operator can easily confirm the setting contents of the job without being confused. In this example, the sorter is currently set to “sort staple” (a mode in which the sorted copy sheets are automatically stapled), the magnification is set to “× 0.707”, and the copy sheet size is set to “A4 □”. You can see that it is.

In the middle of the job display frame 308 of N0.2 displayed on the uppermost layer, a message "Reserved job. Can be changed" is displayed. Therefore, the operator can easily recognize that the setting contents of the selected job can be changed. Here, when changing the setting content of the selected job, for example, “sort staple” to “grouping” (a mode in which the same page is divided into groups), the operator uses the touch keys on the LCD 306 as setting content changing means. Used. Specifically, the user presses the key displaying “sort staples” with his / her finger to open the “sorter” screen, and selects “grouping” displayed as an option. In this way, the operator can easily change the settings of the job.

Next, using the flowcharts of FIGS. 7 and 8,
When the display control processing of the copying machine 1 is performed, particularly when a plurality of jobs are reserved, a plurality of display frames 308 and 30 indicating the setting contents of those jobs are displayed on the display screen of the LCD 306.
The process of displaying 8,... Will be described.

First, a normal initial state display (basic input screen display) is performed in S61 of FIG. In the initial state, FIG.
A single job display as shown in is performed. Next, S62
The reservation setting key 306a on the display screen of the LCD 306
Judge whether or not is input. Here, if the reservation setting key 306a has not been input, the processing ends. On the other hand, if the reservation setting key 306a has been input, the process proceeds to S63 in FIG. 7, and it is determined whether there is a job whose reservation has been accepted or a job whose print is being executed. If there are no jobs for which reservations have been accepted or jobs for which printing is being performed, the process ends. On the other hand, if there is a job for which a reservation has been accepted or a print job is being executed, there are multiple jobs.
Proceeding to S64, the display frame 30 corresponding to the new reception job
8 is superimposed on the display frame 308 corresponding to the set job in the uppermost layer. And S
In step 65, a job display frame overlapping display process (described later) is executed, and in step S66, it is determined whether or not the status of a plurality of jobs has ended, that is, whether or not only a single job has been reached. When there is only a single job, the job display frame display processing ends.

The job display frame overlapping display processing (S65) is executed by a subroutine shown in FIG.
First, in S71, as shown in FIG. 5, a plurality of display frames 308 each representing the setting contents of one job are displayed on the display screen of the LCD 306 with respect to the display frame 308 corresponding to the job to be executed first. A display frame 308 corresponding to a job to be executed later overlaps and is displayed in a state shifted sequentially from upper left to lower right in accordance with the job execution order. Next, in S72 of FIG. 8, it is determined whether any display frame is selected from the multiple job display frames 308. If no job display frame is selected, the process ends. On the other hand, if any one of the job display frames is selected, the process proceeds to S7.
Proceeding to 3, the value of the uppermost layer display timer that defines the time for displaying the selected job display frame on the uppermost layer is set. Subsequently, in S74, as shown in FIG. 6, the selected job display frame 308 (NO.2 in this example) is displayed on the uppermost layer while the position of each display frame 308 in the display screen is maintained. Thus, it is possible to accept the change of the setting content of the job. Next, in S75, a process of changing the setting contents of the job is performed according to the input by the operator. This job setting change processing is executed until the job setting change processing is completed (S76) or the counting of the top layer display timer is completed (S77). Finally, in S78, the display on the LCD 306 is returned to the original state as shown in FIG. 5 (the state in which the job display frames are superimposed according to the processing order of the jobs), and the superimposition display processing ends.

In this embodiment, the superimposed display of the plurality of job display frames 308 is sequentially shifted little by little from the upper left to the lower right in accordance with the job execution order. Is not limited to this. For example, it may be shifted little by little from upper right to lower left, or may be shifted right to left from right to left. Also,
As job-specific information to be displayed in the non-hidden peripheral portion of each display frame 308, not only the job number and user name, but also the end time of the reserved job processing and the execution status in the multi-job are displayed. Is also good.

[0046]

As is apparent from the above description, in the image forming apparatus according to the first aspect, the display control means displays a plurality of displays having the same area size on the display screen, each representing the setting contents of one job. Since the frames are displayed in such a manner that they are sequentially shifted according to the job execution order and partially overlap each other, the operator can easily grasp the number of reserved jobs and the processing order at a glance. In addition, since the job-specific information corresponding to the display frame is displayed in the non-hidden area of each display frame, the operator looks at the information displayed in the non-hidden area of each display frame. , The job corresponding to the display frame can be identified. Therefore, for example, when it is necessary to confirm or change the setting contents of a specific job, the operator can easily select the display frame corresponding to the job.

In the image forming apparatus according to the second aspect, the display control means superimposes a display frame corresponding to a job to be executed later on a display frame corresponding to a job to be executed first. The display frame corresponding to the newly set job is displayed in an uppermost state. Therefore, when setting a new job, the operator can reliably input and set the contents of the job while viewing the display frame corresponding to the job displayed at the top.

In the image forming apparatus according to the third aspect, since the job-specific information includes the name of the instructor who has set the job, the operator can easily know the instructor who has set the job. . Therefore, for example, when it is necessary to confirm or change the setting contents of the job set by the operator, the operator can easily select the display frame corresponding to the job.

In the image forming apparatus according to the fourth aspect, when the operator selects a certain display frame from the plurality of display frames displayed on the display screen by the selection unit, the display change unit sets the display change unit. While maintaining the position of each display frame in the screen, the display frame selected by the selection means is displayed in a state of being superimposed on the top of the remaining display frames. Therefore, the operator can easily see the display frame corresponding to the job when the operator needs to confirm the setting contents of the job set by himself.

In the image forming apparatus according to the fifth aspect, the setting contents of the job corresponding to the display frame selected by the selecting means are changed by the setting contents changing means. When it is necessary to change the setting contents of the job, the setting contents of the job can be easily changed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view showing a schematic configuration of a copying machine having a multi-job function according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a configuration of an operation panel of the copying machine.

FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining a multi-job operation in the copying machine.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a main routine executed by a CPU that controls the operation of the copying machine.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example in which a plurality of display frames each representing setting contents of one job are displayed on a display screen on an operation panel in such a manner that the display frames are sequentially shifted according to the job execution order and partially overlap each other; It is.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example in which a selected display frame is displayed on the uppermost layer with respect to the remaining display frames while holding the position of each display frame in FIG.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a flow of a process of displaying a plurality of job display frames in the copying machine 1;

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a flow of a superimposition process in the display process of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a conventional display example of information on a job when a plurality of jobs are set.

[Explanation of symbols]

 300 Operation panel 306 LCD 308 Display frame

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) G06F 3/00 655 G06F 3/00 655A (72) Inventor Shigeyuki Tanaka 2-chome Azuchicho, Chuo-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka No. 3-13 Osaka International Building Minolta Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Katsuyoshi Kobayashi 2-13-13 Azuchicho, Chuo-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka F-term in Osaka International Building Minolta Co., Ltd. 2C061 AP01 AP04 AQ06 CQ27 CQ34 2H027 EJ08 EJ11 GA43 GA45 GB05 GB13 ZA07 5E501 AC32 BA04 CA03 EA32 FA06 FA13 FA46 FB02 FB34

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. An image forming apparatus in which a plurality of jobs related to image formation are set and the jobs are sequentially executed. A plurality of jobs each having the same area size on a display screen and representing the setting contents of one job. The display frames are sequentially shifted according to the job execution order and partially overlap each other,
An image forming apparatus, comprising: display control means for displaying, in a non-hidden area of each display frame, job-specific information corresponding to the display frame. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the display control unit superimposes a display frame corresponding to a job to be executed later on a display frame corresponding to a job to be executed first. An image forming apparatus comprising: 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the job-specific information includes a name of an instructor who has set the job. 4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: a selection unit for selecting a certain display frame from a plurality of display frames displayed on the display screen; Display change means for displaying the display frame selected by the selection means in a state of being superimposed on the top of the remaining display frames while maintaining the position of each display frame in the display screen. Image forming apparatus. 5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising a setting content changing unit for changing a setting content of a job corresponding to the display frame selected by said selecting unit. Forming equipment.