JP2001166907A - Printing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a printing device in which a printing condition or the like can be easily set. SOLUTION: An HTML 92a for a system having a set item such as a printing condition as hyper-text type display information and a browser 92c for a panel capable of reading the hyper-text type display information are stored in an EEPROM 92 in a controlling part 90 of a printer. When the programs are executed by a CPU 91, the set item such as the printing condition is displayed at a display part 98a. Moreover, a part of file is readable in the HTML 92a for the system so that a user can change the related destination of link of the hyper-text type display information by a host computer or the like, and set the items to be frequently referred to by the user in the upper rank hierarchy. The changed display information is stored in an HTML area 93c for the user of an RAM 93, and the changed set item such as the printing condition is displayed at the display part 98a.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention belongs to the technical field of a printing apparatus in which setting items such as printing conditions can be confirmed or changed on display means.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a printing apparatus such as a printer is configured so that it is possible to change an emulation mode, set a priority of a recording paper tray, or set a type of recording paper on an LCD panel. Have been.

[0003] The user operates the key switches provided near the LCD panel in accordance with the state of use, and performs the above setting / change while checking the characters / symbols etc. displayed on the LCD panel.

For example, in a case where printing is performed on a special recording paper instead of a recording paper accommodated in a paper cassette, the above-described operation is performed to set the manual feed tray to be usable and to perform recording. Appropriate printing can be performed according to paper.

[0005] Such a configuration is similarly employed in facsimile machines, copiers and the like in addition to printers, and is an indispensable function in any printing apparatus.

[0006]

However, in the conventional printing apparatus, the setting items on the LCD panel and the display order of the setting items are predetermined and cannot be changed by the user.

[0007] Therefore, if an item that is frequently set according to the usage status unique to the user exists below the display hierarchy, the desired item cannot be reached unless the key switch is pressed many times. There was a problem that quick print processing could not be performed.

An object of the present invention is to provide a printing apparatus which solves the above-mentioned problems and enables a user in any use situation to easily perform the setting.

[0009]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a printing apparatus, comprising: an information providing unit capable of providing setting items or setting values of various functions or printing conditions in the printing apparatus as hypertext type display information; Browsing display means capable of browsing the display information provided by the information providing means, key input means capable of designating or inputting the information browsed by the browsing display means, various functions as the browsed information or And a control unit for reflecting a change in a set value such as a printing condition in control of various functions or a printing condition.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, setting items or values such as various functions or printing conditions in the printing apparatus are provided as hypertext type display information by the information providing means. Then, the display information provided in this manner can be browsed by the browsing display means. Here, the designation or input of the information browsed by the browse display means is performed by the key input means, and when the set values of the functions or the print conditions as the browsed information are changed, the control means makes the change in various ways. It is reflected in the control of functions or printing conditions. As described above, since the setting items or setting values of various functions or printing conditions in the printing apparatus can be browsed as hypertext type display information, the change can be made very easily as compared with the case where a conventional liquid crystal screen is used. Will be done.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in order to solve the above-mentioned problem, in the printing apparatus according to the first aspect, the information providing means includes a plurality of pieces of display information associated with each other, Among display information indicating setting items or setting values such as printing conditions, predetermined display information set in advance is provided so that the association between display information can be changed.

According to the printing apparatus of the present invention, the information providing means includes a plurality of pieces of display information in association with each other, and the display information can be browsed by the browse display means. The display information that can be browsed includes information indicating setting items or setting values such as the various functions or printing conditions, and selection or input for the information is performed by the key input unit. For example, when a predetermined setting item is selected, the browsing display unit searches for display information related to the next setting item or setting value associated with the setting item as display information, and updates the display state. .

Here, of the display information, predetermined display information set in advance is provided so that the association of the display information with each other can be changed. Therefore, if the user changes the association with respect to the display information required according to the usage status and displays frequently set items and the like at the highest hierarchical level as much as possible, the necessary display can be achieved. The information can be displayed quickly, and the operation of changing the set values of the setting items such as the various functions or the printing conditions becomes easy.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in order to solve the above problem, in the printing apparatus according to the second aspect, the association of the predetermined display information is changed in accordance with an input from the key input means. Further, the apparatus further comprises a change unit for replacing the display information before the change with the display information after the change.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, the changing unit changes the association of the predetermined display information in accordance with an input from the key input unit. Further, the changing means includes:
The display information before the change is replaced with the display information after the change. As a result, the browsing display unit allows browsing of the display information after the change. As described above, the user can easily change the association of the display information required according to the use situation, can quickly display the required display information, and can execute the various functions or printing conditions. The operation of changing the set values of the setting items such as is further facilitated.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a printing apparatus according to the second aspect, wherein the browsing display means capable of browsing hypertext type display information, and An information terminal device having at least two means of changing means capable of changing the association,
There is provided communication means for performing communication between the two apparatuses with the printing apparatus, and the communication means replaces the predetermined display information related to the change by the change means with the display information before the change.

According to the printing apparatus of the fourth aspect, the user browses the predetermined display information of the hypertext type by the browsing display unit of the information terminal device, and the user uses the changing unit of the information terminal device to browse the predetermined display information. Of the association in the display information of. And the display information after the change is
The information is transmitted from the information terminal device to the printing device via the communication unit, and is replaced with the display information before the change by the communication unit. Therefore, the user can easily change the association of the display information required according to the use situation, can quickly display the required display information, and can check the various functions or the printing conditions. The operation of changing the set value of the setting item is further facilitated.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the printing apparatus further comprises reset means for resetting the association of display information to an initial state in response to an input from the key input means. .

According to the printing apparatus of the fifth aspect, when a predetermined input is performed by the key input unit, the reset unit returns the state of the association of the display information to the initial state. Therefore, even when the change of the association becomes unnecessary, or when a user different from the user who has performed the change process uses the printing apparatus, the use environment according to the request of the user can be quickly changed. Can be provided.

[0020]

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. The following description is an embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a laser beam printer as an example of an image forming apparatus. First, an overview of the entire laser beam printer according to the present embodiment will be described.

(Overview of Overall Image Forming Apparatus) FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing a schematic configuration of a laser beam printer 1 as an image forming apparatus to which the present invention is applied. In FIG. 1, the laser beam printer 1 includes a feeder unit for feeding paper (not shown) at the bottom of a main body case 2.
The feeder unit includes a paper pressing plate 10 that is pressed by a spring (not shown), a paper feeding roller 11, and a friction separating member 14. The uppermost sheet is separated between the feed roller 11 and the friction separating member 14 by the rotation of the roller, and the sheet is supplied at a predetermined timing.

A pair of registration rollers 12 and 13 are rotatably supported on the downstream side in the sheet conveyance direction by the rotation of the sheet supply roller 11 rotating in the direction of the arrow in FIG. The sheet is conveyed to a transfer position formed by the transfer roller 21 at a predetermined timing.

The photosensitive drum 20 is made of a positively chargeable material, for example, an organic photoreceptor mainly composed of positively chargeable polycarbonate. More specifically, the photosensitive drum 20 has, for example, a cylindrical aluminum sleeve as a main body, and has a predetermined thickness (for example, about 20 μm) in which a photoconductive resin is dispersed in polycarbonate on an outer peripheral portion thereof. It is composed of a hollow drum on which a conductive layer is formed, and is rotatably supported by the main body case 2 with the cylindrical sleeve grounded. Further, the photosensitive drum 20 is driven to rotate in a direction indicated by an arrow by driving means (not shown).

The charger 30 is, for example, a scorotron type charger for positive charging that generates corona discharge from a charging wire made of tungsten or the like.

The laser scanner unit 40 includes a laser generator (not shown) for generating a laser beam L for forming an electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 20, and a polygon mirror (pentahedral mirror) 41 that is driven to rotate. , A pair of lenses 42 and 4
5 and reflection mirrors 43, 44 and 46.

In the developing device cartridge 50, a toner accommodating chamber 52 is formed in a case 51. In the toner accommodating chamber 52, an agitator 53, a cleaning member 54, and a light shielding member 80 provided therebetween are rotated. It is rotatably provided around a shaft 55. The toner accommodating chamber 52 accommodates a positively chargeable nonmagnetic one-component developer having electrical insulation. Further, the toner storage chamber 52
Light transmitting windows 56 are provided on the side walls located at both ends of the rotating shaft 55. Further, the toner storage chamber 52 is provided on the photosensitive drum 20 side of the toner storage chamber 52 with an opening A.
And a developing chamber 57 for performing development is formed, and the supply roller 58 and the developing roller 59 are rotatably pivotally supported. The toner on the developing roller 59 is regulated to a predetermined layer thickness by a thin plate-like elastic layer thickness regulating blade 64 and is used for development.

The transfer roller 21 is pivotally supported rotatably,
It is made of a conductive foamed elastic body made of silicone rubber or urethane rubber. The transfer roller 21 is configured to reliably transfer the toner image on the photosensitive drum 20 to the paper by the applied voltage.

The fixing unit 70 includes the registration roller 12
The heating roller 71 and the pressing roller 72 are provided on the further downstream side in the sheet conveyance direction from the sheet feeding roller 13 to the pressure contact portion between the photosensitive drum 20 and the transfer roller 21. The toner image transferred to the sheet is heated and pressed while being conveyed by the heating roller 71 and the pressing roller 72 and is fixed on the sheet.

A pair of paper transport rollers 73 and a paper discharge roller 74 for paper transport are provided on the downstream side in the transport direction of the fixing unit 70, respectively, and a paper discharge tray 75 is provided on the downstream side of the paper discharge roller 74. Have been.

The above-described photosensitive drum 20, transfer roller 21, charger 30, and developing device cartridge 50 are
It is housed in a process cartridge 2a, and the process cartridge 2a is provided detachably with respect to the laser beam printer 1. Further, the developing device cartridge 50 is provided detachably with respect to the process cartridge 2a.

In the laser beam printer 1 of the present embodiment as described above, the surface of the photosensitive drum 20 is
When the laser beam L modulated according to image information is emitted from the laser scanner unit 40, an electrostatic latent image is formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 20.
This electrostatic latent image is visualized with toner by the developing device cartridge 50, and the visible image formed on the photosensitive drum 20 is conveyed to the transfer position by the photosensitive drum 20.
At the transfer position, the paper is supplied via the paper feed roller 11 and the registration rollers 12 and 13, and the visible image is transferred to the paper by a transfer bias applied by the transfer roller 21. After the transfer, the photosensitive drum 20
The toner remaining on the developing chamber 5
Collected in 7.

Next, the sheet is conveyed to the fixing unit 70, and is nipped and conveyed by the heating roller 71 and the pressing roller 72 of the fixing unit 70, and the visible image on the sheet is pressed and heated to be fixed on the sheet. You. Then, the sheet is discharged to the discharge tray 75 above the laser beam printer 1 by the pair of transport rollers 73 and the discharge rollers 74, and the image forming operation is completed.

(Configuration of Control Unit) Next, the configuration of the control unit 90 in the laser beam printer 1 will be described with reference to FIG.

The control unit 90 includes a CPU 91 and an EEPROM.
An M92, a RAM 93, a bus 94, an output interface (output I / F) 95, an input interface (input I / F) 96, a printing unit 97, and a panel unit 98 are provided.

The CPU 91 is a means for controlling the overall operation of the printer 1 such as printing, display, and communication by executing a program stored in the EEPROM 92.

The EEPROM 92 is a means for storing a control program as control means and a communication program as communication means. These programs are stored in the CPU 9
The CPU 1 causes the CPU 91 to function as communication means or control means.

The EEPROM 92 includes a system HTML 92a as information providing means and a printer CGI.
92b, and a panel browser 9 as a browsing display means
2c is stored.

The system HTML 92a is a program called hypertext, and is an HTML (Hy
per Text Markup Language). In the present embodiment, when the system HTML 92 a as the information providing means is executed by the CPU 91, the setting items such as various functions or printing conditions in the printer 1 and the setting values thereof are transmitted to the panel browser 92.
The information is provided as display information of a hypertext type that can be browsed by c. HTML 92a for system is also CG for printer
EEPR as well as I92b and panel browser 92c
Since it is stored in the OM 92, it can be rewritten by the user.

CGI (Common Gateway Inter for Printer)
face) 92b constitutes HTML corresponding to the designation by designation from a host computer (not shown),
This is a program for interpreting information generally called a form sent from the host computer. For example, when the user of the host computer sets the number of prints in the printer 1 to “5”, “COP
The form "IES = 5" is transmitted from the host computer to the printer 1, and the CPU 91
By executing the GI 92a, the number of prints is interpreted as "5".

Panel browser 9 as browsing display means
2c is a program for browsing and displaying the information described in the HTML. When the CPU 91 executes the panel browser 92c, the setting items and the like described in the HTML are displayed on the display unit 98a of the panel unit 98. Is displayed. That is, when the panel browser 92c as the browsing display unit is executed by the CPU 91,
The CPU 91 and the display section 98a function as browsing display means.

Next, the RAM 93 stores the output buffer 93.
a, an input buffer 93b, and a user HTML area 93c. The RAM 93 is provided with a backup battery 93d that can maintain the contents even when the power is turned off.

The output buffer 93a is an area for temporarily storing transmission data from the printer 1 to the host computer. The input buffer 93b is an area for temporarily storing data received from the host computer.

The user HTML area 93c
Is the same as the HTML 92a for the system described above.
This is an area where hypertext written in L language can be stored. Setting items such as printing conditions displayed by the panel browser 92c on the display section 98a of the panel section 98 are predetermined by the system HTML 92a. However, in the present embodiment, the user browses the hypertext for displaying the setting items by a browser program as a browsing display unit installed and executed on the host computer, and further changes the installed unit on the host computer and executes the hypertext. The setting items such as printing conditions displayed by the panel browser 92c and the display order of the setting items are changed by rewriting the association of the hypertext link destination and the like using an editor program or the like. Can be. Specifically, the user rewrites the content of the hypertext in the host computer as described above, and transmits it to the printer 1 via a network described later. The EEPROM 92 of the printer 1 receives the hypertext transmitted in this manner,
A communication program as communication means to be stored in a predetermined area is stored. This communication program is executed by the CPU 91
, The hypertext after the change is received and stored in the user HTML area 93c of the RAM 93. As described above, the communication program stored as the communication means in the EEPROM 92 is executed by the CPU 91 to function as the communication means. On the other hand, when the hypertext thus changed is stored in the user HTML area 93c,
The user HTML area 93c also constitutes an information providing means together with the system HTML 92a described above.

Next, the panel section 98 has a display section 98a and a key section 98b.

As shown in FIG. 3, the display section 98a
It is composed of a D panel, and setting items such as printing conditions are displayed by the panel browser 92c described above. The display area is wider than that of the conventional printer, and the setting items and the like can be displayed in a plurality of types.

As shown in FIG. 3, the key section 98b includes four cursor keys 98b1 to 98b4 and a select key 98b5. The cursor keys 98b1 to 98b4 are used to indicate an item for which the user wants to change the setting among the setting items displayed on the display unit 98a, or to change a setting value.
The select keys 98b5 are the cursor keys 98b1 to 98b.
It is used to determine the content changed or instructed by b4. A key input program as key input means for controlling these key inputs is provided in an EEPROM 9.
2 and the key input program is
When executed at 91, the CPU 91 and the key section 98b function as key input means.

The output I / F 95 is an interface for outputting print data, control signals, and the like to the printing unit 97 including the laser scanner 40, the photosensitive drum 20, the developing unit cartridge 50, and the like.

On the other hand, the input I / F 96 is an interface for enabling connection with a host computer (not shown) via a telephone line or a network such as a LAN, or a parallel interface or a serial interface. In addition to the use in a host computer, it can be used in a many-to-one relationship with many host computers. In the present embodiment, as an example, WWW (World
Wide Web: A description will be given of an example in which a host computer and a printer 1 are connected via a network managed using a hypertext on a network and a wide area information system that can access all information.

Here, an outline of the WWW will be described. The WWW is an information system for centrally managing network management information of a terminal device such as a printer in this embodiment by another computer. is there. In this information system, a WWW browser is installed on the other computer in order to sequentially browse the setting state and the like of the terminal device for each terminal device. The state of the device can be browsed and grasped, and the network can be managed accordingly.

With such a network, as described above, the host computer can rewrite the hypertext relating to the display of the setting items such as the printing conditions and store the hypertext in the printer 1.

In the present embodiment, the protocol used for communication between the host computer and the printer 1 is a so-called HTTP (Hyper Text Transfer Protocol).
otocol) is used.

Further, identification and designation of a printer from a computer are performed by using a URL (Universal Personal Telecommunication).
This is performed based on identification information referred to as “action”. Unique URLs are set in the computer and the printer, and the printer can be specified by specifying the URL of each printer. In the present embodiment, it is assumed that different IP addresses are assigned to the respective printers, and the user has recognized the IP addresses of the respective printers. Therefore, in the present embodiment, U
The IP address is used for specifying the RL.

Further, the hypertexts relating to the display of the setting items such as the printing conditions described above are managed by file names, and when rewriting the hypertexts, a predetermined file name is designated and a host computer and a printer are designated. 1 is performed.

(Browsing Display Processing and Display Customizing Processing) Next, the browsing display processing for setting items such as printing conditions and the customizing processing for displaying the setting items in the present embodiment will be described in detail.

First, when the printer 1 is powered on, C
The PU 91 executes the panel browser 92c stored in the EEPROM 92, reads the file for the initial screen from the system HTML 92a of the EEPROM 92, and displays the initial screen on the display unit 98a of the panel unit 98.

Next, when the key section 97b is operated to select a place for instructing the transition to the setting display such as the printing condition from the initial screen, the CPU 91 executing the panel browser 92c causes the EEPROM 92 to execute the operation. HT for systems
A file related to the setting display is read from the ML 92a, and an initial screen in the setting display as shown in FIG.

The file related to the setting display in the system HTML 92a has the following contents. File name: Default.html Contents of description: <A HREF="mode.html"> Mode </A><AHREF="font.html"> Font </A><AHREF="emulation.html"> Emulation </A><AHREF="economy.html"> Economy </A><AHREF="copy.html"> Copy </A><AHREF="network.html"> Network </A>< A HREF = "feeder.html"> Feeder </A><AHREF="formfeed.html"> Form Feed </A> Thus, the file contains tags called <A HREF = ""
>, </A> and so on. Tag <A HREF="">
And </A> display a character string enclosed by <A HREF=""> and </A> on the screen. When this character string is selected, ""
Means to refer to the file enclosed by.

Therefore, when the file named Default.html is read, a display as shown in FIG. 4A is performed on the screen. FIG. 4 (A)
If any of the character strings shown in is selected, ****. Htm
Refers to the file named l. That is, each character string displayed in FIG. 4A is used as an index for selecting a screen to be displayed next. Further, since the respective character strings are used in this manner, the character strings are named so as to indicate what setting items are to be displayed next on the screen.

For example, "Mode" shown in FIG. 4A indicates that the next screen is a screen relating to setting of various operation modes such as an interface or resolution. Further, "Font" indicates that the next screen is a screen relating to setting of a font to be used for printing. Next, on the screen shown in FIG.
By operating b1 or 98b3, the cursor displayed on the same screen is moved to any character string,
When the select key 98b5 of the key section 98b is pressed, the file specified by the above HREF = "****. Html" is referred to from the system HTML 92a. For example, when "Mode" shown in FIG. 4A is selected, the file name: De
As shown in the description of fault.html, "mode.html"
Is referenced. This file has the following content: File name: mode.html Description: <A HREF="interface.html"> Interface Mod
e </A><AHREF="format.html"> Format Mode </A><AHREF="resolution.html"> Resolution Mode </A><AHREF="pageprotect.html"> Page Protection < / A><AHREF="cardoperation.html"> Card Operation </A><AHREF="advancedmode.html"> Advanced Mode </A><AHREF="pagecounter.html"> Page Counter </ A ><AHREF="default.html"> Default Page </A> In this file, the meaning of the tag is the same as described above. Therefore, the screen of the display unit 98b is
The screen is switched to the one shown in FIG. The character string shown in FIG. 4B is used as an index for selecting the next screen, as in the case of FIG. 4A, and each character string is a screen related to what setting item the next screen is. It is named to suggest that there is.

For example, "Interface Mode" indicates that the next screen is a screen related to interface mode setting, and "Format" indicates that the next screen is a screen related to print format setting. .

Next, on the screen shown in FIG.
The user moves the cursor 98b1 or 98b of the key 98b.
3 by operating “Interfac” shown in FIG.
If "e Mode" is selected, the file name: mod
As shown in the description of e.html, "Interface.htm
l "is referenced. This file has the following content: File name: interface.html Description: <A HREF="set#parallel.cgi"> Parallel </ A
><AHREF="set#rs232c.cgi"> RS-232C </A><AHREF="set#expandio.cgi"> Expand </A><AHREF="set#auto.cgi"> Auto </A><AHREF="default.html"> Default Page </A> The meaning of the tags in this file is the same as described above. Therefore, the screen of the display unit 98b is
The screen is switched to the one shown in FIG. The character string shown in FIG. 5A is used as an index for selecting the next screen as in the case of FIGS. 4A and 4B, except for "default.html" in this file. Is referred to as "*
***. cgi ". In this case,
The file of the printer CGI 92b of the EEPROM 92 is referred to, and not only the screen is switched but also a program for changing the setting contents is executed.

For example, on the screen shown in FIG. 5A, the user operates the cursor 98b1 or 9 of the key 98b.
By operating 8b3, "Paral" shown in FIG.
lel ", the file name: interface.
"set # parallel.cgi" as shown in the description of html
Is referred to, and the setting items for the parallel interface are displayed on the screen. When the user inputs or selects a set value in accordance with this display, a program is executed to change the setting contents of the parallel interface to the set value, and the change of the setting is completed.

As described above, when trying to set items related to the interface, the user needs to perform three selection operations from the initial screen after the power is turned on. Therefore, for a user who needs to frequently set items related to the interface, it is convenient that the number of operations required to display the screen shown in FIG. 5A is as small as possible.

Therefore, in this embodiment, FIG.
The contents displayed on the initial screen relating to the setting display of the printing conditions and the like shown in (A) can be changed as required by the user.

To change the initial screen, first, a file for displaying the initial screen stored in the EEPROM 92 is read by the host computer, and application software such as an editor installed in the host computer is used. To rewrite the contents. Alternatively, a file for displaying the initial screen is newly created using the editor or the like in the host computer. Then, the changed or newly created file is transferred to the printer 1 using the FTP protocol.

On the other hand, the printer 1 stores the new file transferred from the host computer in the user's HTML area 93c of the RAM 93. After this storage processing, a new file stored in the user HTML area 93c is used to display an initial screen for setting display of printing conditions and the like.

For example, the file can be rewritten as follows. File name: Default.html Description: interface <A HREF="set#parallel.cgi"> Parallel </A><AHREF="set#rs232c.cgi"> RS-232C </A><A HREF = "set # expandio.cgi"> Expand I / O </A><AHREF="set#auto.cgi"> Auto </A><AHREF="othermenu.html"> Other Menu </A> When this file is read,
The screen shown in FIG. 5B is displayed instead of the screen shown in FIG.

As a result, the user can display the screen shown in FIG. 5 (B) with only one operation from the initial screen after the power is turned on, and further, on the screen shown in FIG. 5 (B). The interface can be set with a single operation.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the screen display for setting various functions of the printer or the printing conditions can be changed according to the user's request. Can be achieved.

(Other Embodiments) In the above embodiment, an example has been described in which an EEPROM and a RAM are used as storage means. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and other storage means such as a hard disk may be used. Can also be used.

Further, in the above embodiment, an example in which the file is changed on the host computer side has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the change processing may be performed on the printer side. It is possible. In this case, the changing program as the changing means is EEP
What is necessary is just to store it in a ROM or a hard disk or the like so as to be executable. When this change program is executed by the CPU 91, the CPU 91 and the display section 98a function as changing means.

Further, when it is desired to return the association to the initial state after changing the association of the display information as described above, that is, when performing the reset process, for example, when the key portion 98b is kept pressed for a predetermined time or more. Has a CPU 9
1 reads the system HTML 92a of the EEPROM 92 and displays it on the display unit 98a. The reset program as the reset means is stored in the EEPROM 92. When the CPU 91 executes the reset program, the CPU 91 and the key unit 9 are reset.
8a will function as reset means.

By adopting such a configuration, even if the change of the association becomes unnecessary, or even if another user different from the user who has performed the change process uses the printer 1, the user can be used. It is possible to quickly provide a use environment according to the requirements of the above.

In the above-described embodiment, the case where the present invention is applied to a laser beam printer as an example of an image forming apparatus has been described. However, the present invention is also applicable to an image forming apparatus such as an ink jet printer, a facsimile, and a copy. Applicable.

As described above, the present invention has been described based on the embodiments. However, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various improvements and modifications can be made without departing from the gist of the present invention. Can easily be inferred.

[0076]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an information providing means capable of providing setting items or setting values such as various functions or printing conditions in the printing apparatus as hypertext type display information, and the information providing means. Browsing display means capable of browsing the display information provided by the means, key input means capable of designating or inputting information browsed by the browsing display means, and various functions or printing conditions as the browsed information And control means for reflecting changes in set values such as in the control of various functions or printing conditions, etc., so that setting items or setting values of various functions or printing conditions in the printing apparatus are displayed in hypertext type display information. The change can be made very easily as compared with the conventional case of using a liquid crystal screen of about 2 lines and 16 characters. That.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, the information providing means includes a plurality of display information items associated with each other, and the display information indicating the setting items or setting values such as the various functions or printing conditions. As for the predetermined display information set in advance, the association of the display information with each other is provided so as to be changeable, so that the user changes the association of the display information necessary according to the use situation, and frequently sets the items. For example, if the information is displayed at the highest hierarchical level, the necessary display information can be quickly displayed, and the operation for changing the setting values of the various functions or the setting items such as printing conditions can be easily performed. Can be done.

According to the printing apparatus of the third aspect, the association of the predetermined display information is changed in accordance with an input from the key input means, and the display information before the change is replaced with the display information after the change. Since it further comprises means,
It is possible to easily change the association of the display information required according to the use status, to quickly display the required display information, and to set values of the various functions or setting items of printing conditions and the like. Can be further easily changed.

According to the printing apparatus of the fourth aspect, at least two units of a browsing display unit capable of browsing hypertext type display information and a changing unit capable of changing the association of the display information are provided. An information terminal device comprising:
A communication unit that performs communication between the two devices with the printing device, and the communication unit replaces the predetermined display information related to the change by the change unit with the display information before the change, so that the user can use It is possible to easily change the association with respect to the display information required according to the situation, to quickly display the required display information, and to set the setting values of the setting items such as the various functions or printing conditions. The change operation can be performed more easily.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the printing apparatus further includes a reset unit for returning the association of the display information to the initial state in response to the input from the key input unit, so that the change in the association is not required. In this case, or even when a user different from the user who has performed the change process uses the printing apparatus, it is possible to quickly provide a use environment according to the request of the user.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a schematic configuration of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a control unit in the image forming apparatus of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an appearance of a panel unit 98 in the control unit in FIG. 2;

4A is a diagram showing an initial screen for changing settings such as printing conditions displayed on a display unit 98a of a panel unit 98 in FIG. 3, and FIG. 4B is a diagram in which Mode is selected from the screen in FIG. FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a screen switched in a case.

FIG. 5 (A) shows the interface mode from the screen of FIG. 4 (B).
FIG. 7B is a diagram illustrating a screen that is switched when is selected. FIG. 7B is a diagram illustrating the initial screen changed by the user.

[Description of Signs] 1 Laser beam printer 90 Control unit 92 EEPROM 92a HTML 92c for system Browser 92 for panel 93 RAM 93c HTML area for user 98 Panel 98a Display 98b Key

Claims (5)

[Claims] An information providing means capable of providing setting items or setting values such as various functions or printing conditions in a printing apparatus as hypertext type display information, and the display information provided from the information providing means being viewable. A key input unit capable of designating or inputting information browsed by the browse display unit, various functions as the browsed information or changing various set values such as printing conditions or the like. And a control unit that reflects the control on printing conditions and the like. 2. The information providing means includes a plurality of display information items associated with each other, and displays information items indicating setting items or setting values such as the various functions or printing conditions. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the printer is configured to change the association of the display information. 3. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a change unit that changes the association of the predetermined display information in response to an input from the key input unit, and replaces the display information before the change with the display information after the change. The printing device according to claim 2. 4. An information terminal device comprising at least two means: a browsing display means capable of browsing hypertext type display information, and a change means capable of changing the association of the display information, and a printing apparatus. 3. A communication device for performing communication between the two devices, wherein the communication device replaces the predetermined display information related to the change by the change device with the display information before the change. Printing equipment. 5. The printing apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a reset unit that returns the association of the display information to an initial state in response to an input from the key input unit.