JP2006208712A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming apparatus, wherein desired operating conditions corresponding to user's purpose can be set easily without omission and without being liable to err. <P>SOLUTION: In the image forming apparatus, it is decided whether a support function key 142 has been depressed (step SP1), when the key is depressed; and it is decided whether the original is a one-side original or a both-side original (step SP2 to step SP4). After end of the decision, the original is read, then operating conditions that are operable are selected, based on the read original and the use information inputted by the user (step SP5), and the selected operating conditions are successively displayed on an operation part for each operating condition (step SP6). <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, and more particularly to an image forming apparatus that is easy to operate.

  An image forming apparatus in which the operation unit has a plurality of display screens with different display items and can select a desired display screen according to the user's preference is disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-194669 (Patent Document 1). Is disclosed.

According to Patent Literature 1, the user can select either a display screen with few display items or a display screen with many display items, and operate the display screen to improve visibility and operability of the operation unit. I am letting.
JP-A-11-194669 (paragraph numbers 0020 to 0036, FIG. 4)

  According to Patent Document 1, even when a display screen with a small number of display items is selected, setting by selection of operation conditions is impossible, and display items that do not need to be displayed may be displayed.

  In this case, although the number of display items is small, the user may make a mistake in setting the operation condition, and it may be difficult to set a desired operation condition.

  Furthermore, since the user should have a purpose of use when performing image formation such as copying, even if the optimum display screen is selected from among a plurality of display screens, the operation conditions according to the purpose of use are selected. Setting is not always easy.

  Further, even though the image forming apparatus has an operation condition according to the purpose of use, there is a possibility that the user forgets to set the operation condition.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus in which desired operation conditions according to the purpose of use of a user can be set easily and without omission.

  An image forming apparatus according to the present invention includes a reading unit that reads a document, an image forming unit that forms an image based on the document read by the reading unit, and an operation unit that sets operation conditions when the image is formed by the image forming unit. And an input means for allowing the user to input information on the purpose of use in image formation, and an operation at the time of image formation based on the result of reading the original by the reading means and the input information on the purpose of use to the input means in response to a user request Display means for sequentially displaying possible operation conditions on the operation unit for each operation condition.

  Preferably, the display unit sequentially displays operable operation conditions for each operation condition on the operation unit on the basis of the number of documents read by the reading unit and input information for the purpose of use of the input unit.

  In another aspect of the present invention, an image forming apparatus includes a reading unit that reads a document, an image forming unit that forms an image based on the document read by the reading unit, and an operation condition when the image is formed by the image forming unit. An operation unit for setting the operation condition, an input unit that allows the user to input information about the purpose of use in image formation, and an operation condition that can be operated at the time of image formation based on the reading result of the original by the reading unit and the input information to the input unit. Selection means for selecting, and display means for sequentially displaying the operation conditions selected by the selection means on the operation unit for each operation condition in response to a user request.

  Preferably, the operation condition displayed by the display means can be determined by the user.

  More preferably, the user can set operation conditions for each of the operation conditions displayed on the operation unit, and the display means displays the operable operation conditions in the first area of the operation unit, Of the operable operating conditions, the operating conditions set by the user are displayed in a second area different from the first area of the operating unit.

  According to the present invention, in response to a user request, operable operation conditions are sequentially displayed on the operation unit for each operation condition based on a document read by the reading unit and information on a purpose of use input by the user. The

  As a result, it is possible to provide an image forming apparatus capable of easily setting a desired operation condition according to the purpose of use of the user without omission and error.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a digital multifunction machine 10 when an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied to a digital multifunction machine. Referring to FIG. 1, a digital multifunction machine 10 includes a control unit 11 that controls the entire digital multifunction machine 10, a DRAM 12, a hard disk 13, an operation unit 14, an image reading unit 15 that operates as a reading unit, and an image. A printing unit 16 that operates as a forming unit, a FAX communication unit 18 connected to the public line 30, and a network IF (interface) unit 19 for connecting to the network 40 are provided.

  The control unit 11 compresses and writes the original data supplied from the image reading unit 15 in the DRAM 12, reads the data written in the DRAM 12, decompresses and encodes the data, and outputs it by the printing unit 16. The control unit 11 controls the DRAM 12 for writing and reading document data, the image reading unit 15, and the hard disk 13.

  The digital multifunction device 10 functions as a copying machine by forming an image in the printing unit 16 via the DRAM 12 using the document read by the image reading unit 15. The digital multi-function peripheral 10 functions as a facsimile machine by forming an image in the printing unit 16 via the DRAM 12 using image data transmitted from the public line 30 through the FAX communication unit 18. Further, the digital multifunction peripheral 10 functions as a printer by forming an image in the printing unit 16 via the DRAM 12 using image data transmitted from the personal computer 41 connected to the network 40 through the network IF unit 19. To do.

  In FIG. 1, thick arrows indicate the flow of image data, and thin arrows indicate the flow of control signals or control data.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a basic setting screen on which normal operation conditions of the operation unit 14 illustrated in FIG. 1 are displayed. The operation unit 14 is composed of a liquid crystal panel, and displays information from the digital multi-function peripheral 10 to the user, and allows the user to make desired settings. This liquid crystal panel is a touch panel, and when setting conditions for image formation such as various modes according to a document, it can be set by selecting a condition setting key 141 displayed on the touch panel. The operation unit 14 is provided with a support function key 142, and the user can use a support function described later by pressing the support function key 142.

  Next, an operation example when the operation condition that can be operated by the control unit 11 is selected will be described. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the control unit 11 when the digital multifunction machine 10 is used as a copying machine. With reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, the operation of the control unit 11 when copying using the support function will be described.

  First, the user selects whether to use the support function. The support function refers to a function that causes the operation unit 14 to sequentially display operation conditions that can be operated on the basis of the reading result of the document and information on the purpose of use input by the user in response to a user request. When using, the support function key 142 displayed on the operation unit 14 is pressed.

  In step (abbreviated as SP in the drawing) SP1, the control unit 11 determines whether or not the support function key 142 has been pressed. When the support function key 142 is pressed, the display screen shown in FIG. 4 is displayed on the operation unit 14. On the screen, the message “Please set the document” prompting the user to set the document on the image reading unit 15, and whether or not the document is read as a single-sided document when the document is set on the automatic document feeder. The message “Please select either single-sided document or double-sided document” prompts the user to set information to be set. In response to this, the user sets the document on the image reading unit 15. The image reading unit 15 includes an automatic document feeder. When the automatic document feeder performs image reading, in step SP2, the user sets whether the document is a single-sided document or a double-sided document. When the automatic document feeder does not read a document, it is scanned on the document table.

  When the automatic document feeder is used, the control unit 11 determines whether the document is a single-sided document or a double-sided document based on information set by the user. If it is determined that the original is a single-sided original, in step SP3, the image reading unit 15 reads the original as a single-sided original. If it is determined that the document is a double-sided original, the image reading unit 15 reads the original as a double-sided original in step SP4.

  After the original is read, in step SP5, an operation condition that can be operated is selected from the read original and the intended purpose information. FIG. 5 is a display example of the operation unit 14 for inputting the purpose of use information in this case.

  Referring to FIG. 5, after reading the document, control unit 11 operates as an input unit together with operation unit 14 to allow the user to input information on the purpose of use at the time of image formation. Here, the number of read documents, an inquiry of “What is the purpose of use” prompting the user to input information of the purpose of use, and “resource saving”, “for conference”, “image processing” as the purpose of use are displayed. "Other" is displayed. After the user inputs the purpose of use, the control unit 11 operates as a selection unit, and selects an operation condition that can be operated according to the purpose of use from the document and the information of the purpose of use input by the user.

  Returning to FIG. 3, after selecting an operable operating condition, the control unit 11 operates as a display unit, and in step SP6, the operable operating condition is displayed on the operating unit 14. FIG. 6 is a flowchart in the case where the operable operation conditions are displayed in order on the operation unit 14 for each operation condition shown in step SP6. Here, for example, a case where “resource saving” is input is shown. When “resource saving” is input as the purpose of use, operation conditions that enable “resource saving” copying are displayed on the operation unit 14 in order. Here, a case where “resource saving” is intended will be described, but the same applies to “for conference”, “image processing”, and “others”.

  Referring to FIG. 6, among the operation conditions that can be operated when “resource saving” is input, first, in order to set whether or not to perform double-sided printing, the operation unit 14 displays the display screen shown in FIG. 7. Is displayed (SP61). In this example, an inquiry message “Do you want to print on both sides?” And “Yes” will print on the front and back of the paper. ”, A description of double-sided printing, operation condition determination keys 144 a and 144 b for determining“ Yes ”or“ No ”, and a selection state display area 145 are displayed. The selection state display area is an area for displaying the setting contents of the operation condition that has been set by the user.

  Here, when the user presses the “Yes” operation condition determination key 144a, duplex printing is set. After the setting, a display screen for setting whether or not to perform sort printing shown in FIG. 8 is displayed on the operation unit 14 as the next operation condition (step SP62). In this example, an inquiry message “Do you want to sort print?” And “If you select“ Yes ”, it will be printed in the order 1, 2, 3, 4,. If you select "No", the printout will be in the order 1, 1, 2, 2, .... "Sort print description", operation condition determination keys 146a and 146b for determining "Yes" or "No", and a selection state display area 145 are displayed. Here, in the selection state display area 145, “duplex printing”, which is the setting content of the operation condition set by the user on the previous display screen, is displayed.

  In FIG. 8, when the user presses the “Yes” operation condition determination key 146a, sort printing is set, and the operation unit 14 selects an operation condition as to whether or not to perform consolidated printing as the next operation condition. And a display screen for selecting an operation condition for determining whether or not to perform stapling are sequentially displayed (steps SP63 and SP64). After the user sequentially sets the operation conditions displayed on each display screen, copying is started.

  If the user does not press the support function key 142 (NO in step SP1), the normal operation condition shown in FIG. 2 is displayed on the operation unit 14 in step SP7.

  As described above, in this embodiment, the operation unit 14 sets the operation conditions operable at the time of image formation for each operation condition based on the reading result of the document read by the image reading unit 15 and information on the purpose of use. Therefore, the desired operation conditions according to the purpose of use of the user can be easily set without omission and without error.

  In addition, since the operation conditions that have been set are displayed in the selection state display area 145, the user can set each operation condition while confirming the setting contents of the operation conditions that have been set on the previous screen. .

  In step SP6, when the selected operation conditions that can be operated are displayed on the operation unit 14, each operation condition may be set in advance by the user. For example, when “for conference” is input as the purpose of use, a display screen for setting an operation condition such as “form composition” as an operation condition uniquely determined by the user is displayed regardless of the selection by the control unit 11. I will do it. By doing so, the user can set the operation condition selected under the desired operation condition.

  Further, the display order of the selected operation conditions that can be operated may be set in advance by the user.

  In the above embodiment, as an example of selecting an operation condition that can be operated from the document and the purpose of use information, a case where the operation condition is selected and displayed based on the number of read documents and the purpose of use information is displayed. Although described above, the present invention is not limited to this, and operation conditions may be selected and displayed based on image data of a read original and information on the purpose of use. For example, when copying a black and white document, it is assumed that a condition setting key related to full color is not displayed on the operation unit 14. This makes it easier for the user to select operation conditions during image formation.

  In the above embodiment, the case where the digital multifunction peripheral 10 is used as a copier has been described. However, when the digital multifunction peripheral 10 is used as a printer, when used as a facsimile machine, and when used as a scanner. Alternatively, it is possible to display operation conditions that can be operated according to the purpose of use based on the read original or received data.

  As mentioned above, although embodiment of this invention was described with reference to drawings, this invention is not limited to the thing of embodiment shown in figure. Various modifications and variations can be made to the illustrated embodiment within the same range or equivalent range as the present invention.

1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. 4 is a display example of a basic setting screen on which normal operating conditions of the operation unit 14 of the image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention are displayed. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the control unit 11 when the image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention is used as a copying machine. 6 is a display example of the operation unit 14 when a support function key 142 is pressed in the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. 4 is a display example of an operation unit 14 for inputting a purpose of use of the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 10 is an example of a flowchart for sequentially displaying operable operation conditions on the operation unit for each operation condition based on information on a document and intended use. It is a figure which shows an example of the display screen for setting whether double-sided printing is performed among the selected operation conditions which can be operated. It is a figure which shows an example of the display screen for setting whether to perform sort printing among the selected operation conditions which can be operated.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Digital multifunction device, 11 Control part, 12 DRAM, 13 Hard disk, 14 Operation part, 15 Image reading part, 16 Printing part, 18 FAX communication part, 19 Network IF part, 30 Public line, 40 Network, 41 PC, 141 143 Condition setting key, 142 Support function key, 144, 146 Operation condition determination key, 145 Selection status display area.

Claims (5)

Reading means for reading a document;
Image forming means for forming an image based on a document read by the reading means;
An operation unit for setting operation conditions during image formation by the image forming unit;
An input means for allowing a user to input information of a purpose of use in image formation;
In response to a user's request, operation conditions that can be operated during image formation are sequentially displayed on the operation unit for each operation condition based on the result of reading the original by the reading unit and input information for the purpose of use of the input unit. And an image forming apparatus. The display unit sequentially displays operable operation conditions on the operation unit for each operation condition based on the number of originals read by the reading unit and input information on the purpose of use of the input unit. The image forming apparatus according to 1. Reading means for reading a document;
Image forming means for forming an image based on a document read by the reading means;
An operation unit for setting operation conditions during image formation by the image forming unit;
An input means for allowing a user to input information of a purpose of use in image formation;
A selection unit that selects an operation condition operable at the time of image formation based on a reading result of the original by the reading unit and input information to the input unit;
An image forming apparatus comprising: a display unit that sequentially displays the operation condition selected by the selection unit on the operation unit for each operation condition in response to a user request. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an operation condition displayed by the display unit can be determined by a user. The user can set operation conditions for each of the operation conditions displayed on the operation unit,
The display means displays the operable operation condition in a first area of the operation unit, and among the operable operation conditions, an operation condition that has been set by a user is displayed in the first area of the operation unit. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus displays in a second area different from the first area.

Images