JP2002162867A - Image forming method and device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a sure image forming method by which a setting changeable item is easily known after performing copying for confirmation on an image recording condition and for which operation is made easy. SOLUTION: In this image forming method, the items of the image recording condition are set and a confirmation copying mode in which a confirmation copy to confirm a copy set according to the already set items is obtained is performed. After performing the confirmation copying mode, at least the setting changeable item out of the already set items is displayed on a check screen and the copy of a normal image is obtained by changing the contents of the items out of the setting changeable items if necessary.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image forming method and apparatus for a copying machine, a printer, and the like, and more particularly, to a method for setting an image recording condition item and obtaining a confirmation copy for confirmation by the set item. The present invention relates to an improvement in an image forming method for obtaining a copy of a main image by executing a copy mode and changing the contents of items if necessary, and an improvement in the apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In an image forming apparatus for forming a visible image from image data, the function of the image forming apparatus itself has been increased and various functions have been added to the image forming apparatus. There is a tendency.

In a multifunctional image forming apparatus,
Apart from basic image recording conditions such as the number of recorded images, image density, magnification, etc., one setting screen is displayed from setting to display of set conditions for image recording conditions including use of applied functions of image recording conditions. Since it is impossible to complete the operation, the operation screen is configured such that a check screen for confirming the set conditions and the like is displayed separately from the setting screen for setting the conditions and functions.

As an example of the prior art, a check copy mode is provided for obtaining a check copy for checking with the set items of the image recording conditions, and after the check copy mode is executed, the set items are displayed on a check screen. For example, there has been known an apparatus that obtains a copy of a main image by changing the content of the item. It should be noted that, by designating the change item, the screen directly shifts to the setting screen, and after the setting is completed, the screen shifts directly to the check screen (see JP-A-2000-94789).

[0005]

However, as the problem of the former prior art, there is a possibility that it is difficult to understand which setting can be changed after the confirmation copy, and that the setting of an item whose setting cannot be changed may be changed. is there.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in consideration of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an image forming method capable of easily and reliably recognizing items that can be changed in settings after confirming copying of image recording conditions. And to provide the device. Another object of the present invention is to provide an image forming method and an image forming method capable of designating an item whose setting can be changed and easily returning to a check screen after changing the content of the item.

[0007]

The above object can be achieved by any of the following means.

(1) An item of image recording conditions is set, a check copy mode for obtaining a check copy for checking with the set set items is executed, and after the check copy mode is executed, An image forming method characterized by displaying at least items whose setting can be changed on a check screen, and obtaining a copy of the main image by changing the contents of the items whose setting can be changed if necessary.

(2) A check copy mode for obtaining a check copy for checking by the set items of the image recording conditions, and a check screen for at least items whose setting can be changed among the set items after the check copy mode is executed. And a means for displaying a copy of the main image from the item whose setting can be changed, if necessary, by changing the content of the item.

[0010]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An image forming method and an apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment. More specifically, FIG. 1A is a cross-sectional view of a schematic configuration of the image forming apparatus, and FIG. 1B is a plan view of an operation panel.

In FIG. 1A, reference numeral 10 denotes an image forming unit for forming an image on a recording sheet, 20 denotes an image reading unit for reading an image of a document and outputs image data, and 30 denotes a sheet discharged from the image forming unit 10. Post-processing unit that performs post-processing such as sorting, stapling, and punching on the recording paper,
Reference numeral 68 denotes an operation panel including a touch panel and hard keys.

The image forming section 10 charges the photoreceptor 11,
An image forming unit 12 that forms a toner image by exposure and development, and transfers the toner image to recording paper, a recording paper reversing unit 14 for double-sided image formation, and a fixing device 1 that fixes the toner image on the recording paper.
5, and a paper feeding unit 1 for storing recording paper on which an image is formed
3a, 13b, 13c, 13d and the like.

The image reading section 20 includes a document feeder table 21 on which a document is placed, a platen roller 22 for conveying the document and forming a reading position, and a document discharge table 23 on which a read document is placed. And an image sensor 24 that receives image light and converts it into an image signal.

Next, as shown in FIG. 1B, the operation panel 68 comprises a touch panel 65 and hard keys 69. The display required for the operation is displayed on the touch panel 65, and input can be performed by directly pressing the display. The hard key 69 includes a copy start key 69a for copying the main image, and numerals 0 and 1 for inputting the number of copies.
To 9 are provided, a confirmation copy key 69c for setting a confirmation copy mode, and a check key CH for displaying a check screen. The details will be described later.

FIG. 2 shows an electrical configuration of the image forming apparatus.
The image forming apparatus can be divided into a main body section and an operation panel section, each of which is provided with a CPU as control means.

In the main body, 50 is a main body CPU for controlling each part of the image forming apparatus, 51 is a ROM for storing a processing program to be executed, and 52 is a working area used when the main body CPU 50 executes the processing program. R
AM and 53 are nonvolatile RAs for storing various setting parameters.
M and 54 are input / output ports used for input / output of various data, and 55 is a serial communication control unit for controlling communication between the main unit and the operation panel. Reference numerals 56 and 57 denote electrical configurations of the image reading unit 20 and the image forming unit 10 in FIG. 1, respectively.

In the operation panel section, reference numeral 60 denotes an operation panel section C for controlling various operations and various displays.
PU, 61 is a ROM for storing various programs executed by the operation panel unit CPU 60, and 62 is an operation panel unit CP.
RAM as a work area used when the U60 executes the processing program, 63 is an input / output port used for input / output of various data, 64 is a serial communication control for controlling communication between the main unit and the operation panel unit. Unit, 65 is a touch panel as input means for receiving operations, 69 is hard keys as input means, 66 is an operation panel unit CP
An LCD controller 67 that controls the display of patterns and characters in response to instructions from U60, and an LCD 67 that displays patterns and characters.

The touch panel 65 and the LCD 67 are electrically separated from each other as shown in the figure, but are mechanically arranged to be overlapped, and an operation of pressing the touch panel 65 at a position displayed on the LCD 67 is performed.

The main body CPU 50 performs control for executing a job to be described later, and the operation panel section CPU 60 mainly controls a touch panel, an LCD, and the like under the control of the main body CPU.

FIG. 3 shows a basic screen displayed on the operation panel, more specifically, a basic screen displayed on a touch panel formed on the operation panel of the image forming apparatus. The basic screen 67A is a screen that is used during a standard operation of the image forming apparatus and that displays various operation items in standard use and receives input of the items. Basic screen 6
7A is provided with operation keys for entering various special modes and special screens. Using the basic screen 67A, not only image recording conditions such as a copy magnification, the number of copies, and density but also image recording conditions such as an output type and use of an applied function can be set. As will be described later, image recording conditions such as detailed settings of applied functions are set using a lower screen of the hierarchical screen.

Further, the basic screen 67A includes a message area 100, an image quality / rotation display area 200,
It has a print number / set number display area 300, a folder key 400 for displaying a list of reserved jobs, a screen setting area 500, an output area 600, an application setting area 700, and the like.

In the message area 100, instructions to the user, such as "Copy settings can be made" and "Please wait for original setting", are displayed.

In the image quality / rotation display area 200, display of image quality such as normal, fine, super fine and the rotation of the image are displayed by icons.

The status of five reserved jobs, that is, output (output job 10), reserved job (reserved job 11), and job for which reservation is set (reserved J
OB12), a job being read (read job 13), a vacant job (setting job 14), and a “reservation list” are displayed.

The screen setting area 500 includes a double-side selection area 501 for displaying and selecting one side or both sides, a copy density area 502 for displaying and setting the image density, a magnification area 503 for displaying and setting the copy magnification, and recording. There is a size selection area 504 for displaying and selecting the paper size.

Reference numeral 600 denotes an output area for displaying and selecting an output type. A staple selection key 601 for displaying and selecting a staple position, a staple / sort key 603 for an output mode for sorting and stapling,
Sort key 604 for selecting sorting and application output key 6
02. By pressing the application output key 602,
The screen is switched to an application output screen, and functions such as punching, center folding, Z folding, and grouping can be selected.

An application setting area 700 includes an application function key 701, a rotation key 702, an original setting key 703, and an original reading key 704. Each of these keys is a key for performing a hierarchical display, and when these keys are pressed, a setting screen relating to a specified item is called. To explain more schematically, FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram relating to a method of changing the content of the setting item. For example, first,
When the application function A is selected on the basic screen 67A, the setting screen 90 is displayed.
Move to 1. When application function A-1 is selected, setting screen 9
02, and when the application function A-1-1 is selected, the screen shifts to a setting screen 903. Similarly, setting screen 9
When the application function A-1-1-1 is selected in 03, the screen shifts to a target setting screen 904. Next, in changing the contents of the setting items, for example, when making a change to the application function A-1-1-1, the user directly moves from the check screen 67B to the setting screen 904 and presses an end key (not shown) to display the check screen 67B. I'm going back.

Here, returning to FIG. 3, when the above-mentioned applied function key 701 is pressed, a setting screen 67C shown in FIG. 5 described later is displayed. When the rotation key 702 is pressed, the screen is switched to a screen in which an automatic rotation for automatically rotating the image in accordance with the direction of the recording paper and a forced rotation for rotating in the designated direction can be selected. When the document setting key 703 is pressed, the screen is switched to a screen in which an automatic mode, a pencil mode, a photograph mode, and a character mode, in which the image quality of the document is determined and the image quality is automatically set to the image quality of the document, can be selected. Further, when the document reading key 704 is pressed, the screen is switched to a screen of a mode for exclusively reading a document without forming an image.

FIG. 5 shows a setting screen of an applied function displayed on the operation panel. The setting screen 67C has the following various functions, and a desired applied function can be selected by touching a key. By pressing the OK key 7026, the selected application function is set.

Reference numeral 7011 denotes an inter-sheet in which colored paper or blank paper on which no image is recorded is inserted for each designated number of sheets.
Reference numeral 7012 denotes a chapter division, in which the designated page is set as the front side in double-sided recording. Reference numeral 7013 denotes a combination, which records a plurality of images on one page. Reference numeral 7014 denotes a booklet that records two images on one recording sheet and forms images in a page order that matches the binding order. 701
Reference numeral 5 denotes an OHP interleaf, which forms the same image on the OHP and plain paper. Reference numeral 7016 denotes an insertion page for inserting a specified image into a specified page with respect to image data read by using the automatic document feeder. Reference numeral 7017 denotes a continuous page copy, which records an image of one page of a document on two pages of recording paper. Reference numeral 7018 denotes an overlay for superimposing and recording images. Reference numeral 7019 denotes automatic erasing outside the original, which detects the outline of the original and erases the image outside the outline.
7020 is black and white reversal. A repeat 7021 repeatedly records a designated image. Reference numeral 7022 denotes a frame / fold eraser for erasing unnecessary images around the image. Reference numeral 7023 denotes a document position correction, which detects the position of the document and forms an image at the center. Reference numeral 7024 denotes thick paper or thin paper, which changes an image recording condition in accordance with the thickness of the paper and forms a good image irrespective of a change in the thickness of the recording paper. A binding margin 7025 sets the binding margin of the recording paper.

Next, the image forming apparatus is provided with a confirmation copy mode. In the confirmation copy mode, a test copy is mainly made for an item which is difficult to set, and if necessary, the copy can be changed to make a more correct setting. It has become. For example, it is difficult to correctly set the margin at once, and a trial copy is set with the margin temporarily set, and a more correct margin is set if necessary while checking the confirmation copy.

After the confirmation copy, the items whose settings can be changed are restricted. This is provided to prevent the setting change from affecting the other setting items and changing the contents once set, or preventing the contents of the check copy from changing significantly from the purpose of the check copy. I have. Note that the items that can be changed in settings differ depending on how restrictions are provided.

Confirmation copy key 6 to enter the confirmation copy mode
9c is provided on the operation panel 68 shown in FIG. After selecting the check copy mode and performing the check copy, using the check screen (FIG. 6) described later,
The content of the item of the image recording condition can be changed. In the changing procedure, as described above, the key of the item to be changed is designated, the setting screen of the changed item is called, and the content of the item is changed.

Here, the check screen will be described. FIG. 6 shows a check screen displayed on the operation panel, and the check screen 67B displays the contents for each setting item relating to the image recording conditions.

A setting changeable item mark M is displayed for an item whose setting can be changed. For example, a copy item setting item key 801, a copy mode setting item key 802, a copy density setting item key 803, a magnification setting item key 8
04, the setting item key 806 for the binding margin, and the setting item key 807 for the insertion page. The items whose settings cannot be changed include, for example, a paper size setting item key 805 and a frame erasing setting item key 808.

The items whose settings can be changed include, for example, inter-sheet (insert page, insert tray), chaptering (insert page), booklet (binding direction), insertion page (insert page), margin (shift amount). ), A stamp (position, size) and the like are preferable. In addition, as the items whose settings cannot be changed, for example, one sheet aggregation, OHT interleaving, programming JOB, automatic erasure outside the original, black and white inversion, repeat, frame erasure, fold erasure, original position correction, full image, overlay, etc. are preferable. .

The content of each item is changed by touching and selecting a key on which a setting changeable item mark M is displayed. The specified item switches to the setting screen and can be changed. For example, when changing the magnification, touching the magnification setting item key 804 switches to the basic screen 67A shown in FIG. 3 and changes the setting. Further, when changing the shift amount of the margin, when the margin setting item key 806 is touched, the screen is switched to a setting screen 67D shown in FIG.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a setting screen relating to the margin shift. On the setting screen 67D, two items, ie, the shift SH1 and the reduced shift SH4, can be set on one setting screen. However, after executing the confirmation copy mode, only the shift SH1 whose setting can be changed is displayed, and the reduced shift SH4 is indicated by oblique lines. The setting cannot be set. There is a display section SH5 for displaying the shift amount on the front side of the recording paper, and a display section SH2 for displaying the shift amount on the back side. Pressing the OK key SH8 for inputting the end of the change of the content of the item returns to the check screen 67B shown in FIG.

Although not shown, when a setting screen related to a specified item extends over a plurality of setting screens having a hierarchy, the screen first shifts to a higher hierarchy setting screen.

If the item whose setting is to be changed is an item displayed on the basic screen shown in FIG. 3, the screen is changed to the basic screen by the designation operation on the check screen shown in FIG. To return to the check screen of FIG. 6 after the setting of the conditions on the screen is completed, the check key CH shown in FIG. 1 is used.

Here, the main operation will be described.
The items of the image recording conditions are input on the basic screen 67A (FIG. 3), the setting screen 67C of the applied function (FIG. 5), and the like. A confirmation copy key 69c is selected to create a confirmation copy. After the confirmation copy key 69c is operated, the check screen 67B is automatically displayed.
(FIG. 6) is displayed. When an item whose setting can be changed on the check screen 67B, for example, the setting of the shift of the binding margin is changed, the screen directly shifts to the changeable setting screen 67D (FIG. 7). The content of the item is changed on the setting screen 67D. When the setting change is completed and the OK key SH8 is input,
The screen directly goes to the check screen 67B (FIG. 6). The same operation is performed for the items of the insertion page of another setting change.
In this way, all desired setting changes are completed. To confirm again, press the confirmation copy key 69c (FIG. 1),
If there is no change after the check, finally, the copy start key 69a (FIG. 1) is pressed to perform the actual copy.

[0042]

According to the structure described above, the following effects can be obtained.

According to the image forming method and the apparatus of the image forming apparatus according to the first and second aspects of the present invention, the confirmation copy mode for making a copy for confirmation based on the set items is executed, and after the confirmation copy mode is executed, the setting copy is completed. The setting changeable items in the items are displayed on the check screen, and if necessary, the contents of the setting changeable items are changed to obtain a copy of this image.
The items that can be changed after the confirmation copy of the image recording conditions are easily understood, and the operation is easy and reliable.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, by specifying an item whose setting can be changed, the screen directly shifts to the setting screen relating to the specified item, and the setting screen is displayed.
The number of operations is reduced, and the operation becomes easier.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, when a plurality of items can be set on one setting screen, only the items whose settings can be changed are displayed so that the operation is easy to understand and erroneous operations can be prevented.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, when an item extends over a plurality of setting screens, the screen shifts from the first setting screen, so that the operation is easy to understand and erroneous operation can be prevented.

According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, by operating the change end key for inputting the end of the setting change, the screen returns to the check screen, so that the number of operations is reduced as compared with the related art, and erroneous operation can be prevented.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an electrical configuration of the image forming apparatus.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a basic screen displayed on an operation panel.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram regarding a method of changing the content of a setting item.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an application function setting screen displayed on an operation panel.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a check screen displayed on the operation panel.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a setting screen regarding a margin shift;

[Explanation of symbols]

 68 Operation panel 69c Confirmation copy key 67A Basic screen 67B Check screen 67D Setting screen M Setting changeable item mark SH8 OK key (end key)

Continued on front page F-term (reference) 2C061 AP04 CQ05 CQ29 CQ33 CQ34 CQ38 CQ47 2H027 FA02 FA05 FA06 FA07 FA21 FA23 FA25 FA27 FA30 FA35 FA37 FB02 FC03 FD03 FD04 GA08 GA14 GA15 GA20 GA21 GA23 GA28 GA34 GA47 GA05 GA20 GA56 GB AB41 AB43 AB46 AC05 BA00 5E501 AA06 AC37 BA03 BA05 CA04 CB02 CB05 EA05 EA10 EB05 FA03 FA04 FA42

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. An image recording condition item is set, a check copy mode for obtaining a check copy for checking with the set set item is executed, and after execution of the check copy mode, at least one of the set items is set. An image forming method characterized by displaying items whose setting can be changed on a check screen and, if necessary, changing the contents of the item from the item whose setting can be changed to obtain a copy of the main image. 2. A check copy mode for obtaining a check copy for checking by a set item of image recording conditions, and at least a setting changeable item among the set items is displayed on a check screen after executing the check copy mode. Means for displaying, and if necessary, from the item whose setting can be changed, the content of the item can be changed and a copy of the main image can be obtained. 3. The method according to claim 2, wherein, by designating the item whose setting can be changed, the setting screen is directly shifted to a setting screen relating to the designated item, and the content of the item can be changed. 3. The image forming apparatus according to 2. 4. When a plurality of items can be set on one setting screen, only the items whose settings can be changed are displayed after execution of the confirmation copy mode.
An image forming apparatus according to claim 1. 5. The method according to claim 4, wherein when the setting screen relating to the item whose setting can be changed extends over a plurality of setting screens having a hierarchy, the screen first shifts to a setting screen of a higher hierarchy.
An image forming apparatus according to claim 1. 6. An end key for notifying the end of the change of the content of the item on the setting screen is provided, and it is possible to directly return to the check screen by operating the end key. 6. The image forming apparatus according to any one of 2 to 5.