JP2006101412A - Complex device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a complex device whose configuration is thought to be higher in cost performance than an existing complex device by a general user (person who desires to buy a complex device). <P>SOLUTION: A complex device 10 is composed of an operation panel 20 which can be removed from a body of the complex device 10, and an operation panel 20 (operation panel 20 functions as a kind of PDA) which can perform the processing or the like of an image data file. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a multifunction machine.

  As is well known, a commercially available multifunction peripheral includes at least a scanner unit for converting an original into image data, a printing unit for performing printing, and a control unit that controls the scanner unit and the printing unit in an integrated manner. It is a device equipped with.

  In addition, a CPU or the like capable of configuring a PDA class computer is used as a control unit of a relatively high-function multifunction peripheral. For this reason, high-functional multifunction peripherals are relatively expensive, and therefore there are people who are refraining from purchasing multifunction peripherals.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a multifunction device having a configuration in which a general user (a person who wants to purchase a multifunction device) thinks that the cost performance is higher than that of an existing multifunction device.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, according to the present invention, an operation panel unit includes a scanner unit that converts a document into image data, a printing unit that performs printing, and an operation panel unit. It is configured as a device that can be removed from the main body. Also, a function that allows the printing unit to print a copy of the document set in the scanner unit, which is effective even when the multifunction device is removed from the main unit of the multifunction device as an operation panel unit or attached to the main unit of the multifunction device. A function for storing image data files related to documents set in the scanner unit and files sent from other devices, and processing the contents of files stored in the scanner according to user instructions In the state where it has a function and a file transmission function for transmitting a file stored inside or a file whose contents have been processed to another device, and removed from the main body of the multifunction device, A unit that wirelessly exchanges information between the printing unit and the printing unit is employed.

  In the MFP of the present invention having such a configuration, the operation panel unit that is a component functions as a small-sized computer (such as a PDA) that can perform file processing and the like. The multifunction device of the present invention can be manufactured at the same cost as a multifunction device having a configuration in which the operation panel unit cannot be removed. Therefore, the multifunction device according to the present invention can be used as a small-sized computer by the operation panel unit, so that the cost performance is higher for the user than the existing multifunction device (the price is higher than that of the existing multifunction device). It can be said that it is a device with a small number of people who think that there is.

  Note that, as long as each function of the operation panel unit of the multifunction peripheral according to the present invention is capable of executing a defined process, the specific process content is not particularly limited. The multifunction peripheral of the present invention can be configured so that the function is a function capable of sending an e-mail with a file attached and storing the file in another computer.

  Hereinafter, the best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  First, an outline of a multifunction machine 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.

  As schematically shown in FIG. 1, the multifunction machine 10 according to the present embodiment is an apparatus including a FAX transmission / reception unit 11, a scanner unit 12, a printing unit 13, a communication processing unit 14, and an operation panel unit 20. is there.

  A FAX transmission / reception unit 11 provided in the multifunction machine 10 is a unit for transmitting / receiving FAX data. The scanner unit 12 is a unit for converting a document into image data, and the printing unit 13 is a unit for performing printing.

  The operation panel unit 20 is a unit that integrally controls the FAX transmission / reception unit 11, the scanner unit 12, and the printing unit 13, and the communication processing unit 14 communicates (information exchange) between the operation panel unit 20 and other units. ) Is a unit for making possible.

  The multifunction machine 10 uses a unit capable of both wireless communication and wired communication as the operation panel unit 20 and the communication processing unit 14, so that the operation panel unit 20 is schematically shown in FIG. Is configured to be removable from the main body of the multifunction machine 10.

  Based on the above, the configuration and operation of the multifunction machine 10 according to the present embodiment will be specifically described below.

  FIG. 3 shows a configuration of the operation panel unit 20 provided in the multifunction machine 10.

  As shown in the figure, the operation panel unit 20 includes a CPU 21, ROM, RAM, HDD 22, LCD control circuit, LCD 23, input I / F circuit, SW unit (unit composed of various push button switches, trackballs, etc.), communication control circuit. 24, a wireless communication control circuit 25 and the like are combined.

  The HDD 22 used in the operation panel unit 20 is a device that stores (installs) various programs for causing the CPU 21 to execute various processes (details will be described later). The HDD 22 is also used for storing a file generated by the CPU 21 and a file transmitted from another computer (details will be described later). The LCD 23 is a color liquid crystal display having a relatively large number of pixels (800 × 600 in this embodiment).

  When the operation panel unit 20 is set in the main body of the multifunction machine 10 (when the connector 26 and the communication processing unit 14 are electrically connected), the communication control circuit 24 is configured so that the CPU 21 performs the FAX transmission / reception unit 11. , A circuit used for communicating with the scanner unit 12 or the printing unit 13. The wireless communication control circuit 25 is a circuit that is used by the CPU 21 to communicate with the FAX transmitting / receiving unit 11, the scanner unit 12, or the printing unit 13 when the operation panel unit 20 is not set in the main body of the multifunction device 10. In the present embodiment, it is a so-called wireless LAN interface circuit. Note that the multifunction device 10 communicates between the multifunction device 10 (operation panel unit 20 / CPU 21) and the computer (print data) regardless of whether the operation panel unit 20 is set in the main body of the multifunction device 10. (Reception / file transfer) is performed using the wireless communication control circuit 25.

  Various programs stored in the HDD 22 of the operation panel unit 20 according to the present embodiment always display the operation panel unit 20 (regardless of whether the operation panel unit 20 is set in the main body of the multifunction device 10 or not). ), Printing data printing processing, copy control processing, FAX related processing, scanning processing, image processing processing, mail transmission processing, file transfer processing, file printing processing, etc. .

  Here, the print data printing process is a process for causing the printing unit 13 to perform printing based on print data transmitted from the computer (print data received by the wireless communication control circuit 25).

  The copy control process is a process for causing the printing unit 13 to generate a copy of an original set on the scanner unit 12. The FAX-related processing is processing for storing (temporarily storing / saving) a file of FAX data received by the FAX transmitting / receiving unit 11 in the HDD 22, and processing for causing the printing unit 13 to print FAX data stored in the HDD 22. , Processing for causing the FAX transmission / reception unit 11 to perform FAX transmission of a document set on the scanner unit 12, processing for causing the FAX transmission / reception unit 11 to perform FAX transmission of an image data file stored in the HDD 22, and the like. is there.

  The scan process is a process for generating an image data file relating to a document set in the scanner unit 12 and storing it in the HDD 22. In addition, the image processing process is an instruction given by the user to an image data file stored in the HDD 22 (a file stored in the HDD 22 by a scanning process, a file stored in the HDD 22 by a FAX related process, or the like). This is a process for processing the processed contents. In this image processing process, a screen as shown in FIG. 4 is displayed on the LCD 23.

  The mail transmission process is a process of transmitting an e-mail with an image data file stored in the HDD 22 as an attached file. The file transfer process is a process of transferring an image data file stored in the HDD 22 to a specified computer connected to the network (storing it in a specified folder in the specified computer). For example, a process of saving a file transmitted from another computer in the HDD 22. In the file printing process, a program for interpreting the contents of a specific format file (BMP file, TIFF file, PDF file, text file, etc.) stored in the HDD 22 is prepared in the operation panel unit 20. This is a process for causing the printing unit 13 to print the file).

  As described above, the operation panel unit 20 according to the present embodiment is transmitted from a computer as schematically shown in FIG. 5 in addition to the function for operating the multifunction machine 10 as a copier or the like. A function for internally storing the received electronic file, the image data file generated from the document set on the scanner unit 12, the file of the FAX data received by the FAX transmitting / receiving unit 11 (file saving function in the figure) And a function for processing files stored inside (file processing function in the figure), a function for performing printing, FAX transmission, e-mail transmission, etc. based on various files stored inside (files in the figure) It is a device having a processing function.

  Moreover, since the operation panel unit 20 operates even when detached from the multifunction device 10 (functions as a small-sized computer such as a PDA), the multifunction device 10 according to this embodiment is installed. In an office or the like, the contents can be corrected while a meeting is performed using the printed matter generated by the multifunction machine 10.

  In addition, the multifunction device 10 can be manufactured at a cost comparable to that of a multifunction device (having a FAX function) in which a portion corresponding to the operation panel unit 20 cannot be removed. Therefore, it can be said that the multifunction device 10 is a device having higher cost performance for the user than the existing multifunction device because the operation panel unit 20 can be used as a small-sized computer.

<Deformation>
The above-described multifunction device 10 can be variously modified. For example, the multifunction device 10 can be modified so that communication between the operation panel unit 20 and other units is always performed wirelessly. In addition, it is natural that the multifunction machine 10 may be modified to have no FAX function or do not have a mail transmission function.

1 is a diagram for explaining a configuration of a multifunction peripheral according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining the configuration of the multifunction peripheral according to the embodiment. FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of an operation panel unit included in the multifunction peripheral according to the embodiment. The figure which showed the example of a screen displayed on LCD of an operation panel part at the time of an image process. The figure for demonstrating the function of an operation panel part.

Explanation of symbols

10 MFP, 11 FAX transmission / reception unit, 12 Scanner unit,
13 printing section, 14 communication processing section, 20 operation panel section,
21 CPU, 22 HDD, 23 LCD,
24 communication control circuit, 25 wireless communication control circuit

Claims (2)

A multi-function machine comprising a scanner unit for converting a document into image data, a printing unit for printing, and an operation panel unit,
The operation panel unit is
It is a unit that can be removed from the main body of the MFP,
Effective even when detached from the MFP main unit or attached to the MFP main unit.
A function for causing the printing unit to print a copy of a document set in the scanner unit;
A function for internally storing an image data file relating to a document set in the scanner unit and a file transmitted from another device;
A function for processing the contents of files stored in the machine according to user instructions, and
Has a file transmission function to send files stored inside and files whose contents have been processed to other devices,
In a state where it is removed from the main body of the multifunction device, it is a unit that wirelessly exchanges information between the scanner unit and the printing unit.
A multi-function machine characterized by this. The multifunction device according to claim 1, wherein the file transmission function is a function capable of transmitting an e-mail attached with a file and storing the file in another computer.