JP2005045426A - Composite machine - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve problems of the conventional composite machine that an operator cannot recognize, until a scanner mode is selected, whether or not a network scanner function can be usable at the selection of e.g., a copy mode and cannot distinguish a temporary unusable state of the scanner function from an unstable state of the scanner function without repair. <P>SOLUTION: The problems above can be solved by using a display section of the composite machine disclosed herein. The display section selects a menu of a second mode and displays a fact of it thereon when the second mode is temporarily unusable in the case of switching a first mode into the second mode and the display section displays a fact of it on a menu of the first mode when the second mode is not usable without repair without switching the menu of the first mode into the menu of the second mode. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a composite apparatus as an image forming apparatus such as a digital copying machine, a facsimile, and a printer having a scanner function, and more particularly to a composite apparatus that can selectively switch each function by key operation of an operation panel.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In recent years, office devices such as copiers, scanners, facsimiles, and printers have become multifunctional, high-speed, and low-priced as stand-alone dedicated machines, but complex devices that combine these functions into one are common It's becoming a reality. In particular, as a network scanner function, an image can be sent to a designated personal computer via a network line. In such a multifunction device, the mode that is entered immediately after the power is turned on is often set to the copy mode or the printer mode, and compared with this, the network scanner mode is used less frequently. There are few cases where the mode to enter later is the network scanner mode. In other words, when the network scanner function is used in a composite apparatus, it is almost always switched from another copy mode or printer mode to the network scanner mode.
[0003]
On the other hand, this network scanner function cannot be temporarily used while the scanner unit is in use for another job until the job is completed. Also, if the scanner unit is out of order, the multifunction device itself can receive and print out facsimiles even if it cannot use the network scanner function, copy function, or facsimile transmission function. It wasn't. Similarly, while the network I / F is out of order, the multifunction device cannot perform a network scanner function or printout, but many other functions can be used, so that the multifunction device itself is not completely broken. As described above, even though the composite device itself can be used, the network scanner function may be temporarily or cannot be used until it is repaired.
[0004]
[Patent Document 1]
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-335355
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in order to check whether the user can use the network scanner function, the scanner mode that is displayed by first operating the key to switch to the scanner mode on the operation panel of the multifunction device that has entered the copy mode or printer mode. You can see from the screen that the scanner cannot be used for the first time. Or, it was possible to know after selecting the image transmission method from the scanner mode screen. If possible, it would be desirable to know in advance that the network scanner function cannot be used even in the copy mode or printer mode screens without the hassle of switching to the scanner mode. Moreover, even if it cannot be used, it is desired to know in advance whether it is temporary or cannot be used without repairing the failure. The present invention aims to solve such problems.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above problems, a first composite apparatus of the present invention has at least one of a facsimile mode, a copy mode, and a printer mode, and a scanner mode, and has a screen for each mode. In order to select each mode, a plurality of mode selection keys provided for each mode, a display unit for displaying a screen corresponding to each mode, and the first mode being selected If the second mode cannot be used when the mode selection key corresponding to the second mode is operated in order to select the second mode, an indication that the second mode cannot be used is displayed. In the state where the first display control means and the first mode are selected, the mode selection key corresponding to the second mode is operated to select the second mode. Occasionally, the second mode if the temporarily unavailable, and having a second display control means for displaying that the second mode is temporarily unavailable.
[0007]
According to a second composite apparatus of the present invention, in the first composite apparatus, the first display control means is configured to select the second mode in a state where the first mode is selected. If the second mode cannot be used when the mode selection key corresponding to the second mode is operated, a message indicating that the second mode cannot be used is displayed on the screen corresponding to the first mode. , Without switching to the screen corresponding to the second mode, the second display control means corresponds to the second mode in order to select the second mode in a state where the first mode is selected. If the second mode cannot be temporarily used when the mode selection key is operated, the screen corresponding to the first mode is switched to the screen corresponding to the second mode, and Second model The third composite device of the present invention is characterized in that the second mode is displayed on the screen corresponding to the second mode in the first or second composite device. The indication that is temporarily unavailable and / or the indication that the second mode cannot be used is a character.
[0008]
In the third composite apparatus of the present invention, in any of the first to third composite apparatuses, the indication that the second mode cannot be used is a pop-up display, and the mode corresponding to the second mode It is characterized by being displayed only during operation of the selection key.
[0009]
[Action]
For example, if the network scanner function cannot be used when switching from a mode other than the network scanner mode to the network scanner mode when the network scanner function cannot be used, the first multifunction device keeps the original screen on the LCD display unit of the operation panel. Since the function is not displayed, the user can confirm it quickly. In addition, if the network scanner function cannot be used temporarily, the LCD display screen on the operation panel switches to the network scanner mode and displays that this function cannot be used temporarily. I can know.
[0010]
For example, the second composite device pops up on the original screen to indicate that the network scanner function cannot be used, so that the state of the original screen can be confirmed as it is.
[0011]
【Example】
A composite apparatus employing the present invention will be described with reference to the schematic diagram of FIG. In the figure, the composite apparatus 1 is a composite apparatus having functions of a copy, a printer, a facsimile, and a scanner. The CPU 2, the ROM 3, the RAM 4, the mail creating means 5, the printer controller 6, the printer unit 7, the post-processing apparatus I / F 8, From the post-processing device 9, the operation panel 10, the scanner I / F 11, the scanner unit 12, the DF 13, the buffer memory 14, the bitmap memory 15, the CODEC 16, the modem 17, the NCU 18, the public line 19, the network I / F 20, the bus 21, and the like It is configured. The composite apparatus 1 is connected to a PC (24, 25) or a printer 23 via a network cable 22.
[0012]
Specifically, the CPU 2 controls each component of the image forming apparatus 1 and is connected to the ROM 3 storing various programs, the RAM 4 storing user choice data, setting information, total count data, various font data, and the like. Has been.
[0013]
The mail creating means 5 is a means for creating an e-mail when the image data read by the scanner unit 12 is attached to an e-mail and transmitted to a destination registered in advance.
[0014]
The printer controller 6 analyzes the print command (PDL) and job information transmitted from the connected personal computer and stored in the reception area of the buffer memory 14, and generates intermediate language information. This intermediate language information is stored in an intermediate language information storage area of the buffer memory 14.
[0015]
The printer unit 7 sequentially sends the image data developed in the bitmap memory 15 to an optical device for writing a latent image such as LSU or LPH of the image forming unit of the printer unit 7, and the toner image is generated by this image forming unit. Are sequentially transferred from the paper feed cassette to the paper that is fed and transported, and is fixed and ejected.
[0016]
The post-processing device I / F 8 and the post-processing device 9 perform post-processing such as stapling and punching, sorting, grouping, and the like on the printed matter printed and discharged from the composite device 1. 9 and an interface and a cable for connecting this to the main body of the composite apparatus 1.
[0017]
Since the operation panel 10 is a characteristic part of the present invention, it will be described in detail later.
[0018]
The scanner I / F 11 is an interface for controlling the scanner unit 12 and the DF 13 by connecting to the scanner unit 12 placed on the multifunction apparatus 1 via a cable.
[0019]
The scanner unit 12 feeds one sheet at a time by the DF 13 or applies light to a document placed on the contact glass with a halogen lamp or a fluorescent lamp and reads the reflected light with a CCD sensor. The digital signal is converted by / D conversion, the image processing unit performs image processing, and the resultant data is developed in the subsequent bit map memory 15. The bit map memory 15 includes intermediate language information generated by analyzing the print command transferred from a personal computer connected via a network in addition to the image data from the scanner unit 12 by the printer controller 7, and the other party. The image data sent from the facsimile 26 via the public line 19, the NCU 18, and the modem 17 is decompressed by the CODEC 16 as needed, and is expanded and held as full bit map image data. The CODEC 16 is also used for decoding the encoded image data included in the print data.
[0020]
The buffer memory 14 encodes and stores the image data read by the scanner unit 12 with the CODEC 16 when performing normal memory copy, facsimile memory transmission, and reserved transmission in addition to the above-described received image area and intermediate language area. . When the scanner function is used, the image data read by the scanner unit 12 can be read from an external personal computer encoded by the CODEC 16, and similarly, the facsimile polling function can be read from the other party's facsimile. Is also possible. In recent years, an image memory is often used as an image memory using a relatively large capacity hard disk for storing image data.
[0021]
The modem 17 converts an analog signal transmitted from the public line 19 into a digital signal, and conversely converts the digital signal into an analog signal and transmits it through the public line, and performs modulation and demodulation. Or receiving only HDLC frames. The NCU 18 performs connection to a public line, switching between facsimile and telephone, transmission of an on-hook signal to the line, ring detection, and the like.
[0022]
The network I / F 20 is an interface that connects the composite apparatus 1 to the network. Here, it is connected via a network cable 22 to a personal computer (24, 25), a printer 23, and other connection devices not shown.
[0023]
The bus 21 is a bus for exchanging data and signals of each configuration described above. Although there are buses for image data and buses for control signals, they are represented by one for short here.
The features of the present invention will be described. As shown in FIG. 2, the operation panel 10 includes an LCD display unit 101 which is a large LCD device, a mode selection key 102 corresponding to the mode selection key of the present invention, and a mode display lamp 103 corresponding to the mode display unit of the present invention. And a job display lamp 104 and other operation keys such as a start key, a stop / clear key, a reset key, an initial setting key, a numeric keypad, an interrupt key, a power saving key, and a department management key. Of the above keys, the key that is mainly used is a key for starting copying, starting scanning, and starting fax transmission. The stop / clear key is a key for canceling the previous setting or interrupting the job. The reset key is a key for clearing all settings and returning the screen and the screen being displayed on the LCD display unit 101 to the basic screen from any screen. The initial setting key is a key for switching to a screen for performing each initial setting of the composite apparatus.
[0024]
The mode selection keys 102 and the mode display lamp 103 will be described with reference to FIG. A copy mode selection key 1021, a printer mode selection key 1022, and a scanner mode selection key 1023 are provided as mode selection keys 102 in the figure, and a copy mode display lamp 1031, a printer mode display lamp 1032 There is a scanner mode display lamp 1033. A green LED is built in each mode display lamp, and this green LED is turned on when the corresponding mode is selected, and is otherwise turned off. When the copy mode selection key 1021 is operated, the copy mode display lamp 1031 is lit in green, and an initial screen of the copy mode as shown in FIG. Similarly, when the printer mode selection key 1022 is operated, the printer mode display lamp 1032 is lit in green, and the printer mode screen as shown in FIG. 5 is displayed on the LCD display unit 101, and the scanner mode selection key 1023 is displayed. Is operated, the scanner mode display lamp 1033 is lit in green and the LCD display unit 101 displays a network scanner mode screen as shown in FIG. Since each of these modes is alternatively switched, one of the mode display lamps 103 is lit in green, so that the selected mode state can be known, and the one that is turned off is not selected.
[0025]
The job display lamp displays the job status in each mode, and includes a copy job display lamp 1041, a printer job display lamp 1042, and a scanner job display lamp 1043. A display example is as follows. Lights green when a job in the corresponding mode is being processed. If the job in the corresponding mode is waiting, that is, if there is a job that is already being processed in another mode, or if the job cannot be processed immediately due to warming up of the device, it flashes in red. If there is no job in the corresponding mode, the light is turned off.
[0026]
A flow relating to the screen displayed on the LCD display unit 101 will be described with reference to FIG. First, during the selection of the first mode (S101), the display screen of the first mode is displayed (S102). When the selection key of the second mode is operated on this screen (S103), the second mode can be used. (S104), if it can be used, the screen is switched to the second mode screen (S105), and the process is terminated. If the second mode is not usable in S104, it is determined whether or not the second mode is temporarily unavailable (S106). If the second mode is temporarily unavailable, the screen of the second mode is displayed. In addition to switching (S107), the second mode screen displays that the second mode cannot be used temporarily (S108), and the process ends. If it is not temporarily unusable in S106, it is determined whether or not the second mode is unusable that requires repair (S109). If unusable that requires repair, the first mode screen is displayed. A pop-up message indicating that the second mode cannot be used is displayed (S110), and the process ends.
[0027]
As an example of the present invention, for example, when the network scanner function cannot be used in the copy mode and the scanner mode selection key 1023 in FIG. 3 is selected, the “scanner function is displayed on the copy mode screen as shown in FIG. A pop-up message is displayed. Further, for example, in the copy mode, when the network scanner function cannot be temporarily used and the scanner mode selection key 1023 in FIG. 3 is selected, the screen switches to the network scanner mode screen as shown in FIG. Please wait "is displayed.
[0028]
In this example, the display of “scanner function cannot be used” does not have to be a pop-up display. For example, the display may be performed instead of “copy is possible” in FIG. Further, the fact that the network scanner function cannot be used temporarily may be displayed without switching the copy mode screen. In this case, in order to distinguish from the copy mode state, a message such as “Please wait for a while until the scanner function can be used” may be displayed.
[0029]
Further, the fact that the selected second mode is temporarily unavailable and / or unavailable may be displayed as a graphic or image such as an icon instead of the character information. Further, the mode display lamp 103 may incorporate a red LED in addition to the green LED, and the display of S108 and / or S110 in FIG. 7 may be performed using this red LED. For example, the mode display lamp of the selected mode can be blinked in red in S108, and red can be lit in S110 to display the state of this mode.
[0030]
【The invention's effect】
With the first composite device of the present invention, as soon as any mode is selected, it is possible to see at a glance whether the function of that mode can be used, whether it can be used temporarily, or if it cannot be used without repair. Because it is displayed as you can see, it saves the user confirmation.
[0031]
If the second composite apparatus of the present invention is used, the screen is switched depending on the state in which the selected second mode cannot be used, so that the respective states of the first mode and the second mode can be grasped without changing each other. .
[0032]
If the third composite apparatus of the present invention is used, the state of the second mode is displayed by the character information, so that even a user who is not familiar with the composite apparatus can properly understand the state of the selected mode.
[0033]
If the fourth composite apparatus of the present invention is used, the display indicating that the second mode cannot be used is highlighted in a pop-up display, so that the state of the mode selected by the user can be grasped without making a mistake.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a composite apparatus and peripheral devices that employ the present invention.
FIG. 2 is an operation panel of a composite apparatus employing the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a basic screen of a copy mode displayed on the LCD display unit of the operation panel of the composite apparatus employing the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a screen of a printer mode displayed on the LCD display unit of the operation panel of the composite apparatus employing the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a basic screen of a network scanner mode displayed on the LCD display unit of the operation panel of the composite apparatus employing the present invention.
FIG. 6 shows each mode selection key and each mode display lamp of the operation panel of the composite apparatus employing the present invention.
FIG. 7 is a flow of display control of each mode display lamp of the operation panel of the composite apparatus employing the present invention.
FIG. 8 is a display example when the scanner mode selection key is operated when the network scanner of the composite apparatus employing the present invention cannot be used.
FIG. 9 is a network scanner screen when the network scanner of the composite apparatus employing the present invention cannot be used temporarily.
1; compound device 2; CPU
3; ROM
4; RAM
5; mail creation means 6; printer controller 7; printer unit 8; I / F for post-processing apparatus
9; Post-processing device 10; Operation panel 11; Scanner interface 12; Scanner unit 13; Automatic document feeder (DF)
14; buffer memory 15; bitmap memory 16; CODEC
17; modem 18; NCU
19; Public line 20; Network I / F
21; bus 22; network cable 23; printers 24 and 25; PC
26;

Claims (4)

In a composite apparatus having at least one of a facsimile mode, a copy mode, and a printer mode, and a scanner mode, and having a screen for each mode.
In order to select each mode, a plurality of mode selection keys provided for each mode;
A display unit for displaying a screen corresponding to each mode;
When the second mode cannot be used when the mode selection key corresponding to the second mode is operated in order to select the second mode in a state where the first mode is selected, First display control means for displaying that the second mode cannot be used;
When the first mode is selected and the second mode cannot be temporarily used when the mode selection key corresponding to the second mode is operated to select the second mode. And a second display control means for displaying that the second mode cannot be temporarily used. When the first display control means operates the mode selection key corresponding to the second mode in order to select the second mode while the first mode is selected, When the second mode cannot be used, a message indicating that the second mode cannot be used is displayed on the screen corresponding to the first mode, and the screen corresponding to the second mode is not switched.
When the second display control means operates the mode selection key corresponding to the second mode in order to select the second mode while the first mode is selected, the second display control means When the mode is temporarily unavailable, the screen corresponding to the first mode is switched from the screen corresponding to the first mode to the screen corresponding to the second mode, and the second mode is displayed on the screen corresponding to the second mode. The composite apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a display indicating that the apparatus cannot be used temporarily is displayed. 3. The composite apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the indication that the second mode cannot be used temporarily and / or the indication that the second mode cannot be used are displayed in characters. The display indicating that the second mode cannot be used is a pop-up display, and is displayed only during operation of the mode selection key corresponding to the second mode. The composite device described in 1.

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