JP2002057828A - Image formation apparatus with composite function, its control method and storage medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image formation apparatus with a composite function wherein, even when a facsimile key and a copying key are not operated, a copying initial screen as an inital screen for performing a copying operation and an image communication initial screen as an initial screen for performing an image communication operation are selected automatically and properly, to provide its control method and to provide a storage medium. SOLUTION: In a copying mode, three or more digits are input by a ten key, or 0 is input at the beginning. Accordingly, a screen is changed over automatically to the image communication initial screen.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus having an image communication function for transmitting and receiving an image via a communication line and a copying function, and more particularly to improvement of operability in an operation unit.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an operation panel OP2 in a conventional multifunction image forming apparatus 200.

A copy key 31 for switching the display on the touch panel operation unit 19 to a copy initial screen is provided on an operation panel OP2 of the conventional multifunction image forming apparatus 200.
And facsimile key 3 to switch to the image communication initial screen
When the user operates the copy key 31, the copy initial screen is displayed, and when the facsimile key 32 is operated, the image communication initial screen is displayed.

[0004]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional example, it is necessary to operate the facsimile key 32 in order to switch to the image communication initial screen (facsimile function) during the copy mode. To switch to the copy initial screen (copy function) during the image communication mode,
Since the copy key 31 needs to be operated, a user who is not accustomed to the operation or a user who is in a hurry is currently in the facsimile mode (image communication function for transmitting / receiving images via a communication line) or copying. The operation is performed without considering whether the mode is in the mode (copying function) or the like. Therefore, there is a problem that an erroneous operation occurs, a confusion at the time of operation occurs, and an error due to the erroneous operation occurs.

According to the present invention, a copy initial screen which is an initial screen for performing copying without operating a facsimile key and a copy key, and an image communication initial screen which is an initial screen for performing image communication, It is an object of the present invention to provide a multifunction image forming apparatus that can be automatically and appropriately selected, a control method thereof, and a storage medium.

[0006]

According to the present invention, in the copy mode, an initial screen for image communication is automatically switched to by inputting three or more digits with a numeric keypad or by first inputting 0.

[0007]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS (First Embodiment) FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a multifunction image forming apparatus 100 according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

The image forming apparatus 100 includes an operation panel OP1
And a control unit C1.

The operation panel OP1 includes a clear key 1, a stop key 2, a start key 3, a numeric keypad 4, an interrupt key 5, a user mode key 6, a guide key 7, a reset key 8, and a touch panel operation. It has a unit 9 and one-touch keys (such as abbreviated keys) 10.

The touch panel operation section 9 is an example of a display means for displaying a copy initial screen, which is an initial screen for performing copying, and an image communication initial screen, which is an initial screen for performing image communication.

The ten keys 4 and the one-touch keys (abbreviated keys) 10 are examples of numerical value input means.

The control section C1 is an example of an input numerical value detecting means for detecting a numerical value input through the numerical value inputting means. In addition, the control section C1 displays on the display means in accordance with the numerical value detected by the input numerical value detecting means. It is an example of a screen switching control unit for switching to the copy initial screen or the image communication initial screen.

In the image forming apparatus 100, when the user uses the facsimile function while operating in the copy mode, first, the user operates the numeric keypad 4 to set the FA key.
When the number “0” at the beginning of the area code of the X number is input, or when three or more digits are input (normally three digits cannot be input in a copying machine), the touch panel operation unit 9 is used. However, the image communication initial screen is displayed, and the facsimile function can be used.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the processing operation in the above embodiment.

First, the variable of the first number in the FAX number input is set to J, and the first number "0" of the area code of the FAX number is input using the ten keys 4 (S1).
It becomes 0, and the touch panel operation section 9 displays the image communication initial screen (S2), and can use the facsimile function (transition to the facsimile mode).

On the other hand, if a plurality of digits are input by the ten keys 4 and the variable F indicating the number of input digits is 3 or more, (S
3) The touch panel operation unit 9 displays the image communication initial screen (S2), and can use the facsimile function (transition to the facsimile mode).

Also, when the input is made with the one-touch key 10 (S4), the touch panel operation section 9 displays the image communication initial screen (S2) and can use the facsimile function (transition to the facsimile mode).

Further, the variable J of the first numeral in the FAX number input is other than 0 (S1), and the variable F indicating the number of digits input by the ten keys 4 is less than 3 (S1).
3) If there is no input from the one touch key 10 (S4),
The copy function can be used (shift to copy mode) (S5).

The mode has shifted to the facsimile mode (S
2) Later, it is not possible to recognize anything other than the common key and each dedicated key (S11). Also. Moved to copy mode (S
5) Later, it is not possible to recognize anything other than the common key and each dedicated key (S12).

After one job is completed, the facsimile mode is reset, and a copy initial screen is displayed.

According to the first embodiment, the facsimile mode is automatically switched to the facsimile mode without pressing the dedicated conversion key for switching to the facsimile mode, and the exclusive mode for switching to the copy mode is not required. Even without pressing the conversion key, the mode is automatically shifted to the copy mode, and errors due to erroneous recognition and malfunction are reduced.

(Second Embodiment) The second embodiment of the present invention is different from the first embodiment in that, when the ten-key 4 is pressed, the mode automatically shifts to the facsimile mode. In this example, when the user presses (), an image communication initial screen is displayed and the mode automatically shifts to the facsimile mode.

(Third Embodiment) According to a third embodiment of the present invention, when the mode is shifted to the facsimile mode, inputs other than the common key and the facsimile-only key are not recognized.
Similarly, even in the copy mode, it becomes impossible to recognize the keys other than the common key and the key dedicated to the copy function.

In the first and second embodiments, the mode is shifted to the facsimile mode, and after one job is completed, the facsimile mode is reset.
The display contents of the touch panel operation unit 9 are reset, and the mode returns to the copy mode.

That is, in the above-described embodiment, an image forming apparatus having an image communication function of transmitting and receiving an image via a communication line and a copy function has a copy initial screen which is an initial screen for performing copying, and an image communication apparatus. Display means for displaying an image communication initial screen, which is an initial screen when performing, an input numerical value detecting means for detecting a numerical value input through the numerical value input means, and a numerical value detected by the input numerical value detecting means. This is an example of a multifunction image forming apparatus having a screen switching control means for switching a display on the display means to the copy initial screen or the image communication initial screen.

In this case, the input numerical value detecting means is means for detecting a numerical value input via the numerical value input means arranged on the operation unit.
This is a means for detecting a numerical value input through a shortened numerical value input means disposed on the operation unit. The screen switching control means is a means for switching to the copy initial screen or the image communication initial screen after one job is completed.

Further, the above embodiment can be understood as an invention of a storage medium.

That is, the above-described embodiment is a computer-readable storage medium storing a program for causing a computer to execute a control procedure in an image forming apparatus having an image communication function of transmitting / receiving an image via a communication line and a copying function. A display procedure for displaying a copy initial screen, which is an initial screen for performing copying, and an image communication initial screen, which is an initial screen for performing image communication, and detecting a numerical value input through numerical value input means. In accordance with the input numerical value detection procedure to be performed and the numerical value detected in the above input numerical value detection procedure,
It is an example of a computer-readable storage medium storing a program for causing a computer to execute a screen switching control procedure for switching the display in the display procedure to the copy initial screen or the image communication initial screen.

In this case, the input numerical value detecting procedure is a procedure for detecting a numerical value input through the numerical value input means arranged on the operation unit. Is a procedure for detecting a numerical value input via the PC.
This is the procedure for switching to the copy initial screen or the image communication initial screen after the job is completed.

The storage media include FD, CD,
DVD, HD, semiconductor memory and the like are conceivable.

[0031]

According to the present invention, when it is necessary to switch to the image communication mode during the copy mode, the image communication initial screen is automatically displayed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a multifunction image forming apparatus 100 according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a processing operation in the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an operation panel OP2 in a conventional multifunction image forming apparatus 200.

[Explanation of symbols]

 100: image forming apparatus, OP1: operation panel, C1: control unit, 4: numeric keypad, 10: one-touch key.

Claims (12)

[Claims] 1. An image forming apparatus having an image communication function for transmitting and receiving an image via a communication line and a copying function, a copy initial screen which is an initial screen for performing copying, and an initial screen for performing image communication. Display means for displaying an image communication initial screen, which is a screen; input numerical value detecting means for detecting a numerical value input via numerical value input means; and display means according to the numerical value detected by the input numerical value detecting means And a screen switching control means for switching the display of the image forming apparatus to the copy initial screen or the image communication initial screen. 2. The multifunction image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said input numerical value detecting means is means for detecting a numerical value input through a numerical value input means disposed on an operation unit. apparatus. 3. The multifunction image according to claim 1, wherein said input numerical value detecting means is means for detecting a numerical value input through a shortened numerical value input means disposed on an operation unit. Forming equipment. 4. The multifunction image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the screen switching control means is means for switching to the copy initial screen or the image communication initial screen after one job is completed. . 5. A control method in an image forming apparatus having an image communication function of transmitting and receiving an image via a communication line and a copy function, wherein image communication is performed with a copy initial screen which is an initial screen for performing a copy. A display step of displaying an image communication initial screen which is an initial screen in the case; an input numerical value detecting step of detecting a numerical value input through the numerical value input means; and a value detected in the input numerical value detecting step. A screen switching control step of switching the display in the display step to the copy initial screen or the image communication initial screen. 6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the input numerical value detecting step is a step of detecting a numerical value input through numerical value input means disposed on an operation unit. Control method in the device. 7. The composite function image according to claim 5, wherein the input numerical value detecting step is a step of detecting a numerical value input through a shortened numerical value input means arranged on an operation unit. A control method in the forming apparatus. 8. The multifunction image forming apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the screen switching control step is a step of switching to the copy initial screen or the image communication initial screen after one job is completed. Control method. 9. Copying is performed on a computer-readable storage medium storing a program for causing a computer to execute a control procedure in an image forming apparatus having an image communication function of transmitting and receiving an image via a communication line and a copying function. A display procedure for displaying a copy initial screen, which is an initial screen in the case, and an image communication initial screen, which is an initial screen for performing image communication; and an input numerical value detecting procedure for detecting a numerical value inputted through the numerical value input means. And a screen switching control procedure for switching the display in the display procedure to the copy initial screen or the image communication initial screen in accordance with the numerical value detected in the input numerical value detection procedure. Computer readable storage medium. 10. The storage medium according to claim 9, wherein the input numerical value detecting step is a step of detecting a numerical value input through numerical input means arranged on an operation unit. 11. The storage medium according to claim 9, wherein the input numerical value detecting step is a step of detecting a numerical value input through a shortened numerical value input means arranged on an operation unit. 12. The storage medium according to claim 9, wherein the screen switching control procedure is a procedure of switching to the copy initial screen or the image communication initial screen after one job is completed.