JP2004226802A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming apparatus capable of preventing set contents from being partially changed or canceled even when a part of the body such as an arm touches a control panel by mistake in the case of performing original reading processing for every page in the copying of a plurality of pages. <P>SOLUTION: The image forming apparatus equipped with the control panel 6 by which various kinds of set contents can be inputted and changed has a lock function to make the change in the set contents temporarily impossible so that the various kinds of set contents can not be changed until recognizing that copying processing is finished in the case of copying. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus (such as a copying machine, a laser printer, an ink jet printer, and a facsimile), and more particularly, to an input control technique from an operation panel.
[0002]
[Prior art]
When copying is performed by a copying machine, various settings such as the number of prints, a paper feed tray, and a magnification are usually input or changed from an operation panel in advance. Depending on the function of the manuscript or the copying machine, copying may not be performed by one operation. For example, when there is a plurality of documents and the copier does not have an auto feeder (a device capable of sequentially reading a plurality of documents), the document is read (copied) for each page.
Similarly, copying a book or the like must be performed for each page. Also in this case, before copying the first page, the setting content is changed from the operation panel in advance so that the intended content is copied. There are techniques disclosed in Patent Documents 1, 2, and 3 in connection with setting input from an operation panel.
[Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 09-068896 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 10-105001 [Patent Document 3] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 10-143003 [0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
When the user is reading a document for each page, a part of the body such as an arm or clothing may accidentally touch the operation panel and a part of the settings may be changed or canceled. there were.
In this case, the setting contents must be changed again during the copying, and much trouble and time are required depending on the frequency. Further, when the copy is completed without noticing that the change has been made by mistake, the print result of the intended content cannot be obtained. Therefore, it was necessary to copy again. In this case, too much work and time are required, and the paper is wasted.
In the present invention, even when a part of a body such as an arm touches the operation panel by mistake while reading a document for each page in copying a plurality of pages, a part of the setting content is changed, or It is an object of the present invention to provide an image forming apparatus that can prevent the image forming apparatus from being released.
[0004]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, according to the first aspect of the present invention, in an image forming apparatus provided with an operation panel capable of inputting and changing various setting contents, when copying, it is recognized that the copying process has been completed. Until then, a lock function for temporarily disabling the change so that the various setting contents cannot be changed is provided.
A second aspect of the present invention is characterized in that, in the first aspect, an image forming apparatus capable of designating a lock function from an operation panel.
According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, when it is determined that the copy processing has been completed after a certain period of time, the lock function is released.
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, the lock function is released when it is determined that the copy processing has been completed by the designation from the operation panel.
A fifth aspect of the present invention is characterized in that, in the second aspect, when the lock function is designated from the operation panel, the locked state is displayed as a message on the operation panel.
According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the third and fourth aspects, when the lock function is released, the image forming apparatus displays a message to that effect on the operation panel as a main feature.
According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, the main feature of the third aspect is an image forming apparatus in which a certain time can be set by a user.
[0005]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram of the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. The image forming apparatus includes a CPU 1, firmware (ROM) 2, work memory (RAM) 3, NVRAM 4, printing unit 5, operation panel 6, scanner unit 7, and hard disk 8.
The CPU 1 of the image forming apparatus has a lock function of temporarily disabling the change so that various setting contents cannot be changed from the operation panel 6 until the CPU 1 recognizes that the copy processing has been completed. Example corresponding to)
When the user copies a plurality of originals, the setting contents are changed in advance using the operation panel 6 so as to obtain an intended print result. An example changed at this time is shown in FIG. When the image forming apparatus does not have an auto feeder (a device that can sequentially read a plurality of originals), the original must be read (copied) for each page.
At this time, when the setting contents are changed as described above and the copy of each page is sequentially specified, when the document is set on the scanner unit 7 or the document is removed from the scanner unit 7, the arm, clothing, etc. are operated by mistake. When the panel 6 is touched, the operation panel 6 normally responds, and an input screen for changing the set contents is displayed, or the set contents are canceled.
However, as shown in FIG. 3, in a state where the setting change from the operation panel 6 is not possible (locked state), the operation panel 6 does not respond in the above-described case. Therefore, the various setting contents are not changed, and the setting contents of FIG. 2 are maintained, so that an intended print result can be obtained for all pages. The operation flow is shown in FIG. The above processing is performed in S1 to S6.
[0006]
(Example corresponding to the invention of claim 2)
According to claim 1, it is possible to change the setting change from a possible state (FIG. 5) to a disabled state (FIG. 3) from the operation panel 6 so that the preset content is not changed. As an example of an operation that can be set to the same state, a case where a key for designating the start of copying is pressed will be described.
After the user changes the setting contents, when copying is performed by setting a document on the scanner unit 7 and pressing a key for designating the start of copying, it can be determined that the change processing of the setting contents has been completed. Therefore, when the key is pressed, the setting contents of the operation panel 6 cannot be changed (FIG. 3).
Further, as a similar example, a case where a dedicated key for disabling the change of the setting content is pressed will be described. In this case, similarly, after the user changes the setting contents, if the user sets a document on the scanner unit 7 and designates the start of copying (before pressing the key for designating the start of copying), the setting contents cannot be changed. Press the dedicated key. As a result, it is determined that the change processing of the setting content has been completed, and the setting content of the operation panel 6 cannot be changed (FIG. 3). The operation flow is shown in FIG. The above processing is performed in S11 to S18.
(Example corresponding to the invention of claim 3)
In claim 1, after a certain period of time elapses after the setting from the operation panel 6 is disabled (FIG. 3), the setting is changed back to the enabled state (FIG. 5). FIG. 7 shows the operation flow. The above processing is performed in S21 to S29 of (1) and S29-1 to S29-3 of FIG. 8B.
[0007]
(Embodiment corresponding to the invention of claim 4)
In claim 1, the setting contents can be changed after the setting from the operation panel 6 becomes impossible (FIG. 3), after the printing process is completed, or when another user newly copies. As described above, the user presses a dedicated key that allows the user to specify that the setting can be changed from the operation panel 6. As a result, the state is changed back to a state where the setting can be changed (FIG. 5). The operation flow is shown in FIGS. The above-described processing is performed in S31 to S39 of (1) and S38-1 and S38-2 of FIG.
(Example corresponding to the invention of claim 5)
3. The display unit of the operation panel 6 according to claim 2, wherein when it is determined that the change processing of the setting contents is completed, and the setting contents of the operation panel 6 are set to a state where the setting contents cannot be changed (FIG. 3), the user can recognize it. Is displayed as shown in FIG. FIG. 12 shows the operation flow. The above processing is performed in S41 to S49.
(Example corresponding to the invention of claim 6)
5. The display unit of the operation panel 6 according to claim 3, wherein it is determined that the change processing of the setting contents is completed, and when the setting contents of the operation panel 6 can be changed (FIG. 5). As an example, a message as shown in FIG. 13 is displayed. The operation flow is shown in FIG. The above processing is performed in S29-1 to S29-4 of (1) and S38-1 to S38-3 of (2).
[0008]
(Example corresponding to the invention of claim 7)
According to the third aspect, the "predetermined time" can be set by the user from the operation panel 6 in advance. The time required until the copy is completed is designated according to the number of originals to be copied. FIG. 16 shows an example of the setting contents.
When the user specifies that the setting content cannot be changed (FIG. 3), the preset "certain time", in this case, "5 minutes"("n + 1" of item n + 1 in FIG. 16). When the setting change disable release time ”has elapsed, the state is returned to a state in which the setting can be changed again (FIG. 5). FIG. 17 shows the operation flow. The above-described processing is performed in S51 to S61 of (1) and S61-1 to S61-3 of FIG.
[0009]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the first aspect, in an image forming apparatus including an operation panel capable of inputting and changing various setting contents, when copying, it is necessary to recognize that the copying process has been completed. With a lock function that temporarily disables changes so that various settings cannot be changed, such as when reading a document for each page when copying multiple pages, the operation panel Even when a part of the body is touched, it is possible to eliminate a problem that a part of the setting content is changed or the setting content is canceled.
According to the second aspect, the lock function can be easily set from the operation panel.
According to the third aspect, it is possible to recognize that the copy processing has been completed, and it is possible for the user to change the setting contents at the time of the next copy processing.
According to the fourth aspect, the lock function can be easily released by designation from the operation panel.
According to the fifth aspect, the display on the operation panel allows the user to easily recognize that the lock function is set.
According to the sixth aspect, by displaying the operation panel, the user can easily recognize that the lock function is released and the setting can be changed.
According to the seventh aspect, by allowing the user to preset a certain time for judging the end of the copy, the user can designate in advance a sufficient time considered necessary until the copy is completed. The lock function can be prevented from being released halfway.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a first example of setting content information.
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a first example of information on whether or not the operation panel can be set;
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a first operation flow example;
FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a first example of information on whether or not the operation panel can be set;
FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a second operation flow example.
FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a third operation flow example (1).
FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a third operation flow example (2).
FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a fourth operation flow example (1).
FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a fourth operation flow example (2).
FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a first example of display contents of an operation panel.
FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating a fifth operation flow example;
FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating a second example of the display content of the operation panel.
FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a sixth operation flow example (1).
FIG. 15 is a diagram showing a sixth operation flow example (2).
FIG. 16 is a diagram showing a first example of setting content information.
FIG. 17 is a diagram showing a seventh operation flow example (1).
FIG. 18 is a diagram showing a seventh operation flow example (2).
[Explanation of symbols]
1 CPU
6 Operation panel

Claims (7)

In an image forming apparatus having an operation panel capable of inputting and changing various setting contents, when copying, temporarily changing the various setting contents so as not to be changed until it is recognized that the copy processing is completed. An image forming apparatus comprising a lock function for disabling the image forming apparatus. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the lock function can be specified from the operation panel. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the lock function is released when it is determined that the copy processing has been completed after a certain period of time has elapsed. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a lock function is released when it is determined that the copy process has been completed by a designation from the operation panel. 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein when the lock function is designated from an operation panel, a lock state is displayed as a message on the operation panel. 5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3, wherein when the lock function is released, a message to that effect is displayed on the operation panel. 4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3, wherein a certain time can be set by a user.

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