JP2005216300A - Operating unit for image forming apparatus having pop-up screen - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an operating unit for an image forming apparatus that, while adopting pop-up screens, makes it easy to recognize the relationship between mutually related operating functions and allows performing different functions in parallel. <P>SOLUTION: The operating unit for the image forming apparatus, which can display certain functions using pop-up screens by performing hierarchically at least some of the various functions about image formation while switching screens from one to another, has at least an area for reading image information and an area for setting requirements for image formation, separately on a screen, with the pop-up display of each function provided in either of the areas in a limited fashion. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an operation unit applied to an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a printer, or a facsimile, and can provide an operation screen with excellent operability even in a multi-functional image forming apparatus.

  For example, an electronic copying machine is provided with an input device for setting various copying conditions. The input device includes various switches such as a print start key for starting a copying operation, a stop key for stopping the copying operation, a numeric key for setting the number of copies, and a magnification setting key for setting a copying magnification. ing.

  In recent copying machines, with the spread of microcomputers and the expansion of their functions, there are a large number of machines equipped with a microcomputer and performing various controls. In these microcomputer-controlled copying machines, complicated copying processes can be easily controlled by a control program, and it is easy to use a microcomputer to make a piece of paper, paper jam, etc. for the convenience of the operator. Many functions such as a trouble check display and a count display of the number of copies have been added. In the advanced model, the type that can make double-sided copying, the type that can use the sorter function to distribute the copied recording paper one by one, or another copying work while doing a certain copying work Various types that improve the convenience and efficiency of the operator have been proposed and put to practical use, such as a type that allows you to set an interrupt copy mode that allows you to continue the previous copy operation continuously after the interrupt copy is completed. It is provided.

  Each of the various functions as described above is provided with a key for operation, and a display regarding the function operation is also displayed on the display screen of the operation unit. The operation keys and items to be displayed increase in a correlated manner. The operation unit of the image forming apparatus is generally provided in the upper surface area of the apparatus housing. However, it is difficult to arrange all the increased operation keys and the display screen in a planar manner on the upper surface area of the housing. If the keys and the display screen are made small so as to be within the limited range, the operability is deteriorated, and the arrangement of a large number of keys may give an impression that the operation is extremely complicated. In recent image forming apparatuses, copiers and facsimiles, copiers and printers, and multi-function machines having a plurality of functions such as copiers, facsimiles, and printers have been proposed. Yes.

  Therefore, only basic keys such as the start key and numeric keypad are used as mechanical keys, and the setting and operation keys for various functions are displayed by switching the key part with a touch panel using liquid crystal. Things are in practical use. The function display is displayed for each branched function step, and the operation display section is refreshed by switching the screen. In other words, the function keys are arranged hierarchically. In addition, the adoption of icons and pop-up screens, and innovations in screen layout have been made to reduce the complexity of operations.

  However, in the touch panel type operation that uses the pop-up screen to perform the operation functions sequentially by switching the screen, when the pop-up screen is called, the pop-up screen occupies the entire display screen, and other operation functions are related. Unless the display is omitted and the pop-up screen is canceled, other operation functions cannot be called.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide an operation unit for an image forming apparatus that employs a pop-up screen, can easily recognize the relationship with mutually related operation functions, and can perform concurrent function operations. To do.

  An object of the present invention is to provide an operation unit for an image forming apparatus capable of hierarchically performing at least a part of various functional operations related to image formation by screen switching and displaying arbitrary functional operations in a pop-up according to the present invention. In addition, at least an area for reading image information and an area for setting conditions relating to image formation are separately provided on the screen so that the pop-up display of the function operation is limited to one of these areas. Solve by configuring. It is preferable that the pop-up screens displayed separately in each area can be operated at the same time.

  In this specification, “pop-up” and “pop-up screen” refer to “pop-up” when a plurality of operation keys are indicated on the touch panel screen, and the operation function is pressed by pressing any of the operation keys. It should be understood that it refers to the state in which details are displayed.

  According to the present invention, at least an area for reading image information and an area for setting conditions relating to image formation are separately provided on the screen, and the pop-up display of the functional operation is limited to any of these areas. In the past, once the pop-up screen was displayed, it was not possible to display another screen until the screen was closed. However, two or more screens are displayed. In the present invention, simultaneous operation is possible. If the pop-up screens displayed separately in each area can be operated at the same time, the above concurrency is also guaranteed between the pop-up screens.

The details of the present invention will be described based on the example shown in the drawings.
FIG. 1 shows the configuration of an overall control system for an image forming apparatus including an operation display unit 8 as an operation unit according to the present invention. Reference numeral 1 is a microprocessor for executing the program of the image forming apparatus, reference numeral 2 is an address, data and control bus of the microprocessor 1, and reference numerals 3, 4 and 5 are read-only connected to the microprocessor 1 through the bus 2, respectively. Memory (ROM), read / write memory (RAM), and nonvolatile memory (NVRAM). Reference numeral 6 denotes an input / output port connected to the microprocessor 1 through the bus 2, to which an output load such as a motor and a solenoid in the image forming apparatus and an input signal such as a sensor are connected. Reference numeral 7 denotes a serial communication control unit, which exchanges signals with the operation display unit 8.

  FIG. 2 shows a schematic external plane of the operation display unit 8. There is a touch panel screen 80 that displays an operation status and a message in the center. The screen 80 is composed of a touch panel key that allows key input by touching the panel surface and a display LCD. The touch panel key detection circuit and coordinate detection method are well known and will not be described. A numeric keypad / # key (enter key) 81 is arranged at the right side of the screen 80, and a disk-shaped start key 82 which is much larger than these numeric keys is further arranged on the left side. A clear / stop key 83 is located between the numeric keypad / # key 81 and the start key 82 in order to cancel the input numerical value and to interrupt or stop copying. A program key 84, a reset / preheat key 85, and an interrupt key 86 are located above the numeric keypad / # key 81, and a test copy key 87 is disposed below the interrupt key 86. The trial copy is for confirming the finish with the first copy when copying a plurality of copies. On the upper left side of the touch panel screen 80, an initial setting / counter key 88 for changing initial setting values and operating conditions in accordance with the use conditions is located. Since the mechanical configuration and operation of the image forming apparatus provided with the operation display unit are well known, the entire illustration and description of the image forming apparatus are omitted. The operation display unit may be an operation unit of a device having each function such as a copying machine, a facsimile machine, or a printer, or may be an operation unit of a multi-function machine having each function. Here, the operation unit of the copying machine will be described.

  FIG. 3 shows an example of a basic display (initial screen) of the touch panel screen (reference numeral 80 in FIG. 2). The first area 80a displays contents for selecting the document type, copy density, and special document feed. The second area 80b displays an operation status and a message such as “Can copy” (message area). The third area 80c is a place where the remaining capacity of the memory is to be displayed in%, and displays a linked copy key when a linked unit is set as shown in the figure. The fourth area 80d displays the number of originals read by the memory, the number of sheets set (number of copies), and the number of copies (number of copies). The fifth area 80e displays contents for selecting sort, stack, staple, and punch. The sixth area 80f displays the contents of the registration function. You can register frequently used functions. This is done by pressing the program key 84 outside the touch panel and calling the screen of FIG. In the example shown in the figure, up to 10 items can be registered as program registrations that are desired to be used repeatedly. The seventh area 80g displays function items. When one of the function items (tabs), for example, the “magnification” key is pressed, the magnification screen is displayed from below. The “manual feed” may be displayed by opening the manual feed tray. If the touch panel screen 80 is classified from the viewpoint of copier operation, the second display unit (first area 80a) relating to the manuscript operation and the second operation relating to what kind of copying is performed, such as paper size / magnification. It is classified into a display section and a third display section (fifth display area 80e) related to post-processing. This classification is merely a convenience classification, and the screen 80 can be displayed across the display units.

  FIG. 5 shows a second abbreviated basic display that is selective to the basic display of FIG. 3 for a user who desires a limited display, and the screen display is further improved. In the initial setting, priority is given to the automatic paper selection function, and only the “automatic paper selection” key is displayed by hiding the paper feed tray type. If nothing is set on the basic screen magnification key setting screen, only the “same size” key and the “paper specified scaling” key are displayed. If the registration function key is not set, the registration function key is not displayed. In FIG. 5, since no connected unit is set, “remaining memory” is displayed instead of displaying the connected copy key. Even when the display is limited in this way, the reading conditions, copy conditions, and presence of the post-processing device are classified and divided, and the operation is performed while recognizing the setting states of the other partition portions during the operation. It can be performed.

  For the basic display state shown in FIG. 3, for example, the functions “A3 → A4 / B4 → B5” are reduced, one-sided original is copied from both sides to the left and right sides, sort is discharged, and the staple is obliquely applied to the upper left corner of the paper. Then, the state shown in FIG. 6 is obtained. The “content confirmation” key may be displayed for the first time in this state. When the start key 82 (FIG. 2) is pressed, the second area 80b is displayed as “copying” as shown in FIG. 7, and the contents of scaling are displayed over the sixth area 80f and the seventh area 80g. . “Reservation” appearing in FIG. 7 indicates that the next copy content can be set during this copy, and the “reservation” key is pressed while this “reservation” is displayed. When the copy content to be reserved is set, the document is set on the automatic document feeder (hereinafter referred to as “ADF”), and the start key is pressed, the automatically reserved copy is started following the copying operation. .

  When the document type is set in the first area 80a, when the “document type” key is pressed on the display screen of FIG. 3, the screen is switched to the screen of FIG. That is, only the first area 80a pops up and the screen changes. The `` Text '' key is for scanning with settings suitable for text-based originals, and the `` Text / Photo '' key is for scanning with settings suitable for photographs and drawings mixed with text. The `` key '' is for scanning with settings suitable for photographs and painting documents, and the `` light document '' key is for scanning with settings suitable for low-density documents such as pencil-written documents and copy slips. You can copy fine lines that are easy to break. The “copy original” key is used for reading with a setting suitable for an original that has been repeatedly copied, and can be copied neatly while suppressing thickening and crushing of characters. For example, when copying a photo original, the screen shown in FIG. 9 is displayed when the “photo” key is pressed, and the screen returns to the basic screen shown in FIG. 3 when the “OK” key is pressed. If “original type omission display” is set to none in the initial setting, the original type can be displayed on the basic screen as shown in FIG.

  For copy density adjustment, in addition to “automatic density” that reads the density of the original and automatically adjusts it to an appropriate density, “density adjustment” that adjusts the density in multiple steps, the density of the image when the original is dark There is a “combination density adjustment” that only adjusts. When this “combination density adjustment” is performed, density adjustment is performed by pressing the “light” or “koku” key in the state of the basic screen of FIG. 3 in which “automatic density” is set. FIG. 11 shows a combined density adjustment state adjusted to dark eyes. In this case as well, only the limited screen portion of the first area 80a changes, and the reading conditions can be set under recognition of other copy conditions and the like.

  When an original is set on the ADF, there is a limit to the number of sheets that can be set on the ADF at one time, and automatic feeding is performed on the premise of a standard thickness. It is possible to deal with. When the “special document feed” key is pressed, the screen pops up to switch to the screen shown in FIG. The "Large Documents" function allows you to automatically send documents without having to press the start key every time you place a document on the ADF when there are more than a specified number of documents and you cannot load them all at once. It is. The ADF can be used in a state where various document sizes are mixedly loaded by the “size mixed loading” function.

  When copying thick paper such as postcards, OHP film, and peeled paper as well as paper of a size that cannot be set in the paper feed tray, open the manual feed tray, press the “manual feed” key, and use the numeric keypad (reference numeral 81 in FIG. 2). ) “#” Key, the screen pops up to switch to the screen shown in FIG. At this stage, the screen of the first area portion is basically displayed, but the pop-up related to “hand pointing” can be performed at the same time while keeping the pop-up state as shown in FIG. When an OHP film or cardboard is used at a standard size, the “OHP” or “cardboard” key is pressed as a special paper setting. If you use special size paper, pressing the “Irregular size” key will pop up and switch to a screen that allows you to enter the vertical and horizontal sizes (not shown). And press the “#” key to set, and then press the “OK” key. Then, the screen is switched to the basic screen shown in FIG. 3 (however, the “irregular” key is lit instead of the “automatic paper selection” key).

  Various enlargement / reduction can be performed as a scaling function. For example, it is possible to automatically perform enlargement / reduction copying in accordance with the designated paper size. For this purpose, the paper is supplied after pressing “paper designated scaling” shown in the sixth area 80f (FIG. 3). Select from the paper tray. When the “slightly smaller” key is pressed, for example, 93% reduction + center position reference reduction can be achieved. By pressing the “magnification” key, “−”, “+”, “ten-key zoom”, “reduction”, “enlargement”, and “application magnification” as shown in FIG. 14 can be displayed. FIG. 14 shows a screen for displaying the designated paper size setting after setting the collective copy (described later). By pressing the “Reduce” or “Enlarge” key, the fixed magnification (35%, 50%, 61%, 71%, 82%, 87%, 115%, 122%, 141%, 200%, 400%, (Also referred to as “fixed magnification”), and by pressing “ten-key zoom”, the reduction / enlargement can be set in increments of 1% from 32% to 400%. It is also possible to press “Reduce” or “Enlarge” to select a standard magnification in advance and then adjust with “−” and “+”. When the “application scaling” key is pressed, the screen pops up to switch to the screen shown in FIG. Applied scaling functions include "Dimension scaling", "Independent scaling%", and "Independent scaling mm". “Dimension scaling” is to enlarge / reduce the copy by calculating the magnification by specifying the length of one side corresponding to the original and copy respectively. “Independent scaling%”, “Independent scaling mm” Each can be copied at different magnifications. Vertical and horizontal are specified in% for "Independent scaling%", and vertical and horizontal dimensions of the original and copy are specified in mm for "Independent scaling mm". To do.

  In addition to “magnification”, the copy status includes “edit”, “cover / interleaf”, and “double-side / combine / divide”. These will be described below. FIG. 16 shows the “edit screen” displayed by pressing the “edit” key. This is also a kind of pop-up screen. “Double copy” is a method of copying one original to the top and bottom or left and right of one sheet, and “Repeat” is one sheet according to the paper size of the copy destination and the set magnification. A plurality of copies are made on the same paper. “Binding margin” is a copy with a margin on the left or right side of the paper, and the dimensions are adjusted by pressing “←”, “→”, “↓”, and “↑”. “Center erase” erases a shadow that can be created in the center when copying a book or magazine. These can set erase widths. In particular, in “frame erase”, the width to be erased can be set to the same width in the vertical and horizontal directions as shown in FIG. it can. “Centering” is a function for copying an image by moving it to the center of the copy sheet.

  “Cover / Interleaf” is used to copy onto cover paper or insert paper (interleaf) at the end of a chapter and copy the first page of the document onto cover paper. “Front cover”, “Both cover”, which copies the first and last pages of the original to the cover paper, “Chapter break”, which copies the paper (insert paper) at the change of chapter, There is a “slip sheet” that inserts a slip sheet every time the page changes. FIG. 18 shows a pop-up display of this function by pressing the “Cover / Interleaf” key. Note that when selecting single-sided → double-sided, the specified original can always be copied to the same front side as the original of the first page, especially in “Chapter break”.

  Duplex copying, consolidated copying, and division copying can be performed by combining the settings of the document surface and the copy surface. When the “duplex / combine / divide” key is pressed, the screen is switched to the pop-up screen of FIG. In double-sided copying, a single-sided original is converted to a double-sided copy, or a double-sided original is double-sided copied. A plurality of originals can be copied together on a single sheet. FIG. 20 shows an example in which one side is aggregated for every two pages of originals, and FIG. 21 shows an example in which both sides are aggregated for every four pages of originals. Is shown in a pop-up. Further, as shown in FIG. 22, “left / right open” / “up / down open” can be selected in the direction of opening a document or a copy. Divided copying includes “page spread → single side” for copying the left and right pages of a two-page original one by one on one side of the paper, and “double side → single side” for copying the back and front of a double-sided original one by one on one side of the paper. In the case of “spreading → single-sided” copying, the “division / book” key is pressed on the screen of FIG. 19 to switch to the pop-up screen of FIG. 23, and the “OK” key is pressed. In the case of “double-sided → single-sided” copying, “double-sided” on the original surface and “single-sided” and “OK” on the copy surface are set in the screen of FIG. It is also possible to obtain a copy of this state in which multiple originals are in page order, such as double-sided page copying, which copies a double-page spread on both sides of the paper, Copy “front / back page double-sided”, copy 4 single-sided originals in page order, “mini-book”, copy multiple originals in page order (when folded and stacked) “Weekly Magazine There is. In FIG. 23, “double-sided page duplex” is set in “double-sided page priority setting” in the initial setting, and the initial setting is changed when “front and back page duplex” is used. Without being limited to the illustrated example, “both left and right page both sides” and “front and back page both sides” may be displayed simultaneously.

FIG. 2 is a control block diagram of an image forming apparatus including an operation display unit according to the present invention. It is a schematic plan view of the operation display part which concerns on this invention. It is a figure which shows the initial screen of a touchscreen screen at the time of copy operation. It is a figure of the touchscreen screen at the time of program registration or program call. It is a figure which shows the initial screen of the aspect different from FIG. It is a figure which shows an example of the state which set the function. It is a figure which shows an example of the touchscreen screen in copying. FIG. 6 is a screen diagram in a case where details of a document type are shown in a pop-up. FIG. 11 is a diagram when the document type is set to “photo”. FIG. 6 is a screen diagram when details of a document type are displayed on a basic screen. It is a figure which shows the state of darker combination density adjustment. FIG. 10 is a screen diagram in a case where details of special document feeding are shown in a pop-up. FIG. 10 is a screen diagram when setting is performed when manually feeding paper. FIG. 9 shows details of the scaling function, and is a screen diagram in a case where a paper designation scaling setting display is made after the aggregate copy function is set. It is a screen figure which shows the dimensional scaling of application scaling. It is a screen figure in the case of setting an edit function. It is a screen figure at the time of frame deletion. It is a screen figure in the case of setting a cover / interleaf function. It is a screen figure in the case of setting a duplex / aggregation / division function. FIG. 11 is a screen diagram when collecting two pages of originals by single-sided aggregation. FIG. 10 is a screen diagram in the case of collecting every 4 pages of originals by duplexing. It is a screen figure at the time of selecting a left-right opening / up-down opening function. It is a screen figure in the case of setting division / this function.

Explanation of symbols

80a First area (for selecting and setting a document to be read) 80b Second area (message area)
80c Third area 80d (for representing the remaining memory capacity) Fourth area 80e Fifth area (for representing the post-processing function) 80f Sixth area 80g (for representing the contents of the registered function) 80g (representing the function item) 7th area)

Claims (2)

  In an operation unit for an image forming apparatus that can perform at least a part of various functional operations related to image formation in a hierarchical manner by switching screens and display an arbitrary functional operation in a pop-up, at least for reading image information An operation unit characterized in that an area and an area for setting conditions relating to image formation are separately provided on a screen, and the pop-up display of the functional operation is limited to one of these areas.   The operation unit according to claim 1, wherein pop-up screens displayed separately in each area can be operated at the same time.

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