JP2003063113A - Image recorder and its operational screen displaying method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image recorder and its operational image displaying method in which the content of image data transferred into an image output unit and scheduled to be outputted can be confirmed and when a plurality of users are requesting, image data requested by oneself can be confirmed and the outputting time can be expected. SOLUTION: The image recorder comprising an operating panel 14 including an image display section 14a and a key operating section 14b, and an image memory 12 for storing image data to be processed inputted externally is further provided with means for displaying the image information of stored image data on the operating panel 14.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image recording apparatus for receiving digital image data and recording an image on an image recording material, and an operation screen display method for the image recording apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art There is an image recording apparatus which receives a large amount of image data composed of images, figures, texts, etc. in a raster format and records the image on, for example, A2 recording paper.

In this type of apparatus, an apparatus state display section showing the state of image recording is displayed on the operation panel so that the progress state of image recording can be confirmed. In this case, only the progress status of the image recording device is displayed. Alternatively, the job name, the data name, and the number of prints of the image data currently being printed are displayed only during printing.

[0004]

In the conventional image recording apparatus, since the image data recorded in the image memory cannot be confirmed, which image is to be output next, how many sheets are to be printed, and size. I couldn't find out how much information I had.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and when the contents of image data to be output transferred to the image output machine can be confirmed and a plurality of users make output requests. It is an object of the present invention to provide an image recording apparatus and an operation screen display method for the image recording apparatus, in which the user can check the image data requested by himself and have an idea of how long it will be output.

[0006]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there are provided operation means including an operation screen display section and an operation section for performing key operation, and image data before image processing input from the outside. An image recording device having an image memory for storing is characterized by comprising image information display means for displaying image information of image data stored in or stored in the image memory on the operation panel.

According to this structure, by displaying the image information of the image data stored in or being stored in the image memory on the operation panel, the information of the image data scheduled to be output soon before the output device receives the information. You can figure it out.

(2) In the invention described in claim 2, the image information is image file name, job name, job number, creation application name, terminal name, creation date, reception time, creator, ID word, image size. , The number of prints, and the color plate configuration.

According to this structure, the image information includes image file name, job name, job number, creation application name, terminal name, creation date and time, reception time, creator, ID word, image size, number of prints, and color plate. By including any one of the configurations, it is possible to distinguish the image data such as who requested the output image data or which job the image data is.

(3) The invention according to claim 3 is provided with an operation panel comprising an operation screen display section and an operation section for performing key operation, and an image memory for storing image data before image processing inputted from outside. A method of displaying an operation screen on the display unit of the image recording apparatus, wherein the display of the color plate configuration is such that when image data is transferred from the outside one by one, at the start of storage in the image memory, or completion of storage. It is characterized in that the corresponding color plates are displayed one by one at the point of time.

According to this structure, by displaying the reception version name for each version, it is possible to confirm the progress of the reception of the completion of the reception of all the image data versions. (4) In the invention according to claim 4, when the image recording device has an image memory and two or more images can be stored, the image display is displayed in a queue format in which the images are displayed in the order in which they are recorded. It is characterized by doing.

According to this structure, the output order of the image data stored in the image memory can be easily grasped. (5) In the invention according to claim 5, the screen area of the display unit 1 of the operation screen is divided into at least two areas, the device status is displayed in one area, and the other area is stored in the image memory. , Or image information of image data being stored is displayed.

According to this structure, the contents and state of the image data in the image memory and the device state of the output device can be confirmed on one screen without switching the screen. (6) The invention according to claim 6 is characterized by comprising image data deleting means for selectively deleting the image data while confirming the contents of the image data in the image memory by the image information display means.

According to this structure, the contents of the image data waiting to be output are confirmed on the image memory on the operation screen, and when the user determines that the image data does not need to be output, the operation screen is selectively operated. Image data can be deleted.

(7) According to the invention of claim 7, while confirming the contents of the image data in the image memory on the image information display screen, the image recording process of the selected image data is suspended in the state of being stored in the image memory. It is characterized by having a holding means.

According to this structure, the contents of the image data waiting to be output on the image memory can be confirmed on the operation screen, and the image data selected by the user can be output later or other image data can be output first. When it is determined that the image data is desired to be output, the output of the corresponding image data can be selectively suspended from the operation screen.

[0017]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, 10 is P
An RI for receiving an S (Postscript) file (vector format data or data composed of raster data that does not depend on the resolution of the output device) and outputting the image data as raster data corresponding to the connected output device.
P (raster image processor: raster data conversion device), 20 is an exposure device for exposing and recording the image data output from the RIP 10. The exposure apparatus 20 corresponds to an output machine that records output data. In this embodiment, the case of exposing and recording as an image recording method is shown, but an inkjet printer, a thermal transfer printer, a thermal sublimation printer, or the like can be used. Also,
Although the RIP is used as an image input device connected to the exposure device 20 in the drawing, any device that outputs image information as raster data may be used.

In the RIP 10, 1 is an interpreter that interprets a PS file, 2 is a data conversion unit that converts image data into raster data based on the interpretation of the interpreter 1, and 3 is a control unit that controls the overall operation of the apparatus. is there. From the RIP 10, image data in raster format,
A control signal for data transmission / reception is output.

In the exposure apparatus 20, 11 is a RIP 10.
It is a control unit for controlling the overall operation of the exposure apparatus 20 in response to a control signal from. As the control unit 11, for example, CP
U is used. An image memory 12 stores image data output from the RIP 10. The image memory 12
For example, a semiconductor memory, a high-speed mass storage means such as a hard disk device (HD) is used.

An exposure unit 13 exposes the image data stored in the image memory 12 to record an image. Reference numeral 14 denotes an operation panel for operating the exposure apparatus 20, which includes an image display unit 14a and an operation unit 14b. Operation part 1
For example, a touch panel is used as 4b. The operation panel 14 is connected to the control unit 11. The operation of the apparatus thus configured will be described below.

When a PS file is input from the outside, the interpreter 1 interprets the contents and causes the data conversion unit 2 to convert it into raster data. In this way, the image data converted into raster data by the data conversion unit 2 is given to the exposure device 20. On the other hand, the control unit 3 gives a control signal to the exposure apparatus 20.

In the exposure apparatus 20, the controller 11 controls the RI
The image data is stored in the image memory 12 based on the control signal given from P10. When recording an image, the control unit 1
Reference numeral 1 reads the corresponding image data from the image memory 12 and supplies it to the exposure unit 13. The exposure unit 13 exposes an image on a recording sheet (mounting sheet). As a result, image recording as shown in FIG. 2 is performed. The operator observes the state of the recording paper 15 and confirms whether or not there is a problem in printing. If there is a problem, the problem is removed and the image is recorded again. If there is no problem, the original image recording is directly performed.

The sizes of the recording paper 15 are A1 size, A2 size,
It is a large recording paper such as A3 size and can record a large amount of information. In the image recording state shown in FIG.
0, figure 31, text 32, etc. are recorded. On the other hand, the control unit 11 grasps the storage state (stored or being stored) of the image in the image memory, and displays the image information and the device state on the image display unit 14a of the operation panel 14.
By looking at this display, the operator (user) can grasp the state of his image. For example, by displaying the image information of the image data stored in or being stored in the image memory 12 on the operation panel 14, the information of the image data to be output can be grasped in advance shortly after it is received by the output device.

In this case, the image information includes image file name, job name, job number, creation application name, terminal name, creation date and time, reception time, creator, ID word, image size, number of prints, and color plate configuration. It includes any of the following. According to this, any of image file name, job name, job number, creation application name, terminal name, creation date, reception time, creator, ID word, image size, number of prints, and color plate configuration is included in the image information. By including it, it is possible to distinguish the image data such as who requested the output or which job the image data is.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a display example of the image display section 14a. Here, the image data is displayed by the file name. As shown in the figure, the screen is divided into two, and the image information A is displayed on one side and the device state B is displayed on the other side.
First, the device state B will be described. In the device status B, the print file name (here, Sample1.ps) is displayed, and the status is printing. Therefore, S
sample1. Indicates that the image file ps is being printed. An outline of the exposure section is displayed below the display section of the apparatus state B, and each component of the exposure section is lit up, so that it is possible to visually check which state it is in now. . In this way, the contents and state of the image data in the image memory and the device state of the output device can be confirmed on one screen without switching the screen.

In the figure, 40 is an exposure drum, 41 is an exposure head, 42 is a paper feed state, 43 is a pre-recording paper supply section, and 44 is a paper ejection state. Therefore, first, the paper 43 lights up, then the paper feeding state 42 lights up,
Notify that the drum 40 has been wound. Next, the exposure head 41 is turned on and the recording paper 15 is irradiated with image data. A semiconductor laser, for example, is used as the exposure head 41, and the recording paper 15 is irradiated with R, G, and B light.
The recording paper 15 is composed of, for example, Y, M, and C layers, and the exposure head 41 irradiates and exposes these layers. As a result, a color image is formed on the recording paper 15.

The recording paper on which the color image is formed is separated from the drum 40 and enters the developing section 45 to be developed. The developing unit 45 is composed of the steps of developing->fixing->stability-> drying. Therefore, while passing through each process, the arrow indicating the corresponding process is turned on to notify the operator of the state of development. After the drying process, the tray 46 is entered.

Next, the image information A will be described. At the top of it, the file being received (Sample7.ps)
Is displayed, and the color plate is displayed as CMYKS1S2. Here, C indicates cyan, M indicates magenta, Y indicates yellow, K indicates black, and S1 and S2 indicate spot colors.

A wait queue 50 is displayed below the image information A. The waiting queue is composed of a file name, a color plate, and a hold. When there are output requests from a plurality of users, the requested image files (image data) are displayed side by side in the order of request. The first line is a file called ImageA, and the color plate is CM.
It's YK. The second line is a file called ImageB, and the color plates are CMYK. The third line is a file called ImageC, and the color plate is CM. The ImageA files arranged in the first line are output next when the output of the file Sample1.ps is completed. On the other hand, the file Sample.ps being received is arranged after the ImageC file. In this way, by displaying the image files side by side in the output order, the output order of the image data stored in the image memory 12 can be easily grasped.

Here, the state of the reception file Sample7 will be described. When the image data is transferred from the outside one by one when the file named Sample7 is received, the control unit 11 selects the corresponding color plate one by one at the time of starting the storage in the image memory 12 or at the time when the storage is completed. To be displayed. For example, when the C version comes first,
When the letter “C” is turned on and the M version comes next, “M”
The letters are turned on. The same applies hereinafter. In this way, by lighting the letters corresponding to the plates sent, it is possible to confirm the progress of reception of how far the reception of all the image data plates has been completed.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing another display example of the image display portion, which can be displayed by touching the screen switching button 56 of FIG. In this display example, the image information A is displayed in more detail. On top of that,
The received file, status and color plate are now displayed. Among these, in the received file, in addition to the received file, its image information (job name, job number, created application name, terminal name, created date and time, received time, creator, ID word, image size, number of prints) If it is displayed, the contents of the image file can be confirmed, which is convenient. In reality, not all of this information can be displayed, and therefore, of these image information, only the information that is considered necessary for confirming the image may be displayed.

At the bottom of the screen, queue 5 waiting for output
1 is displayed. In this display, the image file is displayed in more detail than that shown in FIG. That is, in addition to the file name, the color plate, size, number of prints, and status are displayed. Various operation buttons are lined up at the bottom of the screen. That is, the hold button 52, the delete button 53, the up button 54, the down button 55, and the screen switching button 56.

Next, the deleting operation of the present invention will be described. The operator touches the up button 54 or the down button 55 to specify the file determined not necessary for image output. The specified file is highlighted. Therefore, the delete button 53 is touched in the highlighted state. The control unit 11 recognizes which file is to be deleted and deletes the image file stored in the image memory 12. Thus, when the user (operator) determines that the image data does not need to be output, the image data can be selectively deleted from the operation screen. In this case, when the delete button 53 is touched, the image file in the image memory 12 is completely erased and cannot be restored. Therefore, it is necessary to be careful when deleting image files. Therefore, when the delete button 53 is touched, "Image file ○
You are about to delete ○. Are you sure you want to delete this file? Message is displayed,
It is preferable to let the user answer YES or NO.

Next, the holding operation of the present invention will be described. There is a case where the user wants to output the image file input by the user later or to output other image data (image file) first. Therefore, the user touches the up button 54 or the down button 55 to specify the desired image file, and touches the hold button 52. When confirming that the hold button 52 is touched, the control unit 11 puts the output waiting for the image file on hold. When specifying the image data in the hold state, the hold button 52 is switched to the hold release button. In the queue 51,
"Hold" in the "Status" part of the held image file
Is displayed. According to this, it is possible to suspend the output of the corresponding image data (image file) selectively from the operation screen.

In the above-described embodiment, the case where the exposure device is used as the image recording device is taken as an example, but the present invention is not limited to this, and other types of image recording devices such as an ink jet printer or a thermal transfer device are used. It may be a printer or the like. Also, the image conversion device does not have to be the RIP, and may be of any type as long as it has a function of converting input image data into raster data.

[0036]

As described above, according to the present invention, the following effects can be obtained. (1) According to the invention of claim 1, by displaying the image information of the image data stored in or stored in the image memory on the operation panel, the image data scheduled to be output soon after being received by the output device. Information can be grasped in advance.

(2) According to the second aspect of the invention, the image information includes the image file name, job name, job number, created application name, terminal name, created date and time, received time, creator, ID word, and image size. By including any one of the number of prints and the color plate configuration, it is possible to distinguish the image data such as who requested the output or which job the image data is.

(3) According to the third aspect of the present invention, by displaying the reception version name for each version, it is possible to confirm the progress of the reception of how far the reception of all the image data versions has been completed. .

(4) According to the invention described in claim 4, the output order of the image data stored in the image memory can be easily grasped. (5) According to the invention described in claim 5, the contents and state of the image data in the image memory and the device state of the output device can be confirmed on one screen without switching the screen.

(6) According to the invention of claim 6, when the user confirms the content of the image data waiting to be output on the image memory on the operation screen and the user judges that the image data does not need to be output, the operation is performed. Image data can be selectively deleted from the screen.

(7) According to the invention described in claim 7, it is desired to confirm the contents of the image data waiting to be output on the image memory on the operation screen and output the image data selected by the user later, or another When it is determined that the image data is to be output first, the output of the corresponding image data can be selectively suspended from the operation screen.

As described above, according to the present invention, the contents of the image data to be output transferred to the image output machine can be confirmed, and when a plurality of users make an output request, the image data requested by themselves can be obtained. It is possible to provide an image recording apparatus and an operation screen display method of the image recording apparatus, which can confirm the above and have an idea of how long it will be output.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an appearance of recording paper.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a display example of an image display unit.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing another display example of the image display unit.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 interpreter 2 Data converter 3 control unit 10 RIP (raster data converter) 11 Control unit 12 image memory 13 Exposure unit 14 Operation panel 14a Image display section 14b Operation part 20 Exposure equipment

Continued front page    F-term (reference) 2C061 AQ04 AQ05 AQ06 AR01 CQ24                       CQ34 CQ36 CQ38                 2C087 AB01 BA03 BB03 CB17 CB20                 5B021 AA01 PP05                 5C062 AA05 AB20 AB23 AB42 AC05                       AF06 AF07 AF12 AF13 AF14

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. An image recording apparatus comprising: an operation unit including an operation screen display unit and an operation unit for performing a key operation; and an image memory for storing image data before external image recording processing. An image recording device comprising image information display means for displaying image information of image data stored in or being stored on the operation panel. 2. The image information includes image file name, job name, job number, created application name, terminal name, created date and time, received time, creator, and I.
The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image recording apparatus includes any one of D word, image size, number of prints, and color plate configuration. 3. An operation screen on the display unit of an image recording apparatus comprising an operation unit including an operation screen display unit and an operation unit for performing key operation, and an image memory for storing image data before external image processing, which is input from the outside. In the method of displaying the color plate configuration, when the image data is transferred from the outside one by one, the color corresponding to each plate is stored at the start of storage in the image memory or when the storage is completed. A method for displaying an operation screen of an image recording apparatus, characterized by displaying a plate. 4. The image recording apparatus comprises an image memory, and when two or more images can be stored, the image display is performed in a queue format in which images are displayed in the order in which they are recorded. The operation screen display method of the image recording apparatus according to claim 3. 5. An area of one screen of a display unit of the operation screen is divided into at least two areas, one area displays a device state, and the other area stores an image stored in or being stored in an image memory. The operation screen display method of the image recording apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the image information of the data is displayed. 6. The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising image data deleting means for selectively deleting the image data while confirming the content of the image data in the image memory by the image information display means. . 7. A holding means for holding the image recording process of the selected image data stored in the image memory while confirming the contents of the image data in the image memory on the image information display screen. The image recording apparatus according to claim 1.