JP2006323757A - Image processing device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image processing device that can prevent setting input errors by simplifying setting input into a copier, printer, fax or multifunction image forming apparatus to be operated. <P>SOLUTION: The image processing device has a display means, a control means for displaying operation setting input keys or an operating state, and a switch means for switching a first screen that is a normal screen and a second screen that is a simplified screen simplifying the operation setting input keys more than the first screen. Upon switching from the normal screen to the simplified screen or from the simplified screen to the normal screen, the control means can hold settings about common operation setting input keys to prevent setting input errors. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus such as a digital copying machine, and more particularly to an image processing apparatus equipped with a setting instruction input device for an operator to input setting of the device.

  Conventional image processing apparatuses such as copiers, facsimile apparatuses, printer apparatuses, scanner apparatuses, or composite apparatuses thereof select an output paper size and set the number of sheets, as well as enlargement / reduction (magnification), color / monochrome, stapler. Various settings such as function, single-sided output / double-sided output, sorter function, copy or facsimile, etc. are set from the setting instruction input device such as an LCD screen (liquid crystal display screen) on which the operator is mounted. You are typing.

  However, a multifunction device having multiple functions requires many items to be set, requires downsizing of the device, and the size of the setting instruction input device such as an LCD screen is limited. The number of setting keys is large, and the setting keys are complicated, such as having a plurality of functions in one setting key, resulting in poor operability for the operator.

In order to solve such a problem, a “display input operation device” described in Patent Document 1 has been proposed.
The proposed device is equipped with a display device comprising an LCD on which an external view of the operation target device is displayed. The display device includes an external view of the operation target device and a plurality of operation inputs for setting the operation mode of the device. Part is displayed. The external view displayed on the display device displays only the relevant part of the various operation displays displayed on the operation input section that the operator touches (operates), and is set around the remaining external view. A plurality of operation input sections related to the operated mode are displayed, and an icon corresponding to the operated operation input section is displayed on the external view, and the operator visually recognizes which part is operated and how. Therefore, the operation content can be grasped instantaneously and the operation work can be performed efficiently.

Further, a “display input device” described in Patent Document 2 has been proposed.
Similar to the “display input device” described in Patent Document 1, the “display input device” according to this proposal is equipped with a display device that displays an external view of the operation target device, and the operation state of the device. When a device abnormality is detected, a display is displayed on the display screen when the device needs to be dealt with, and the operator can deal with it by touching the display. Guidance is displayed, and unnecessary guidance information is not presented, so that even an unfamiliar operator can take appropriate measures.

Further, “apparatus operation device and image forming apparatus” described in Patent Document 3 has been proposed.
The `` device operating device and image forming device '' according to this proposal is a `` non-visual mode '' in which an operator operates the device without using sight when setting and selecting an operation item of the device by the device operating device, It has a “visual mode” for performing operations using vision, and when switching between “non-visual mode” and “visual mode”, the transitioned operation mode is notified by voice, and the switching keys, various Since various other setting keys such as a press key and numeric keypad that can determine the presence of a key by tactile sensation are arranged at physically different positions, it is easy and reliable to change the device mode and other various settings without using visual sense. It can be recognized.
Japanese Patent No. 3566048 Japanese Patent No. 3527633 JP 2004-215181 A

  However, according to the above-described technique, the operation workability of the operator is improved by a combination of the external view of the operation target device and the icon. In terms of complexity, there is a problem that the operator who is unfamiliar with device operation is still confused by the operation, and the operator is different from what the operator desires during various settings. The setting has been made, so-called mis-copying has occurred, and there has been a problem that operations such as setting and re-copying have to be performed again.

  Although improvements have been made from the viewpoints of “non-visual mode” and “visual mode”, they have not been solved in terms of the complexity of various settings due to the multi-functions of the device as described above. Due to the mistake, there has been a problem that the operation efficiency is deteriorated such that the operator makes a miscopy different from the desired one.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an image processing apparatus that can simplify setting input and prevent setting input mistakes in a copying machine, printer, facsimile, or composite image forming apparatus that is an operation target in view of conventional drawbacks. The purpose is to provide.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided at least one of the display means for displaying the operation setting input key and the operation state, the control means for displaying the operation setting input key or the operation state on the display means, and the operation setting input key. And switching means for switching between a first screen composed of a screen and a second screen composed of at least one screen in which operation setting input keys are simplified from the first screen, and the control means includes the first screen When a signal for switching between the second screen and the second screen is input from the switching means, the operation setting input keys common to the first screen and the second screen hold the contents set on the screen before switching.

  In the invention of claim 2, when the signal for switching from the first screen to the second screen is input from the switching means, the control means is configured to use the operation setting input keys that are not common to the first screen and the second screen. A warning that the content set by the operation setting input key on the first screen is canceled is displayed on the second screen.

  In the invention of claim 3, when the signal for switching from the first screen to the second screen is input from the switching unit, the control unit is configured to operate the operation setting input keys that are not common to the first screen and the second screen. A warning that the content set by the operation setting input key on the first screen is canceled is displayed on the second screen to prompt the user to determine whether or not to continue the operation.

  In the invention of claim 4, the control means displays on the second screen that the content set by the operation setting input key on the first screen is released, and does not move to the second screen. Is input, the screen returns to the first screen while retaining the contents set in the first screen.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, the second screen is displayed with the various operation setting input keys with the minimum necessary contents of the various operation setting input keys displayed on the first screen, and the various operation setting inputs are displayed. Key and character size are increased.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, the number of setting keys and setting functions is reduced from that of the normal screen, and the key size and the character size are reduced from the first screen which is a normal operation screen provided with a plurality of setting keys. The operation setting input common to the normal screen and the simple screen even when the screen is switched to the second screen, which is the enlarged screen (hereinafter referred to as the simple screen), or when the screen is switched from the second screen to the first screen. The key retains the contents set on the normal screen.For example, when setting the copy number and the selected paper size while setting the copy mode, if you switch to another screen such as the simple screen, the button you want to set will be displayed on the current screen. Even when you notice that there is no screen and switch screens, the mode you have set up to that point is inherited, so you can avoid the trouble of resetting or forgetting to set it.

  According to the invention described in claim 2, the mode that cannot be displayed by switching to another screen such as a simple screen must be canceled in order to avoid a contradiction in the screen setting state. Even if some modes are canceled when switching to the simple screen, a warning to clear some modes is explicitly displayed on the LCD screen as a display means, so the user can It is possible to prevent miscopying without knowing.

  According to the invention described in claim 3, in addition to the invention described in claim 2, in order to allow the operator to determine whether to continue the transition to the next screen or to return to the original screen, If it is not appropriate for the operator to cancel the set mode by switching, it is possible to cancel the switching and return to the original screen.

  According to the invention described in claim 4, in addition to the invention described in claim 3, when returning to the previous screen by the operator's judgment, the original screen is retained while the contents set in the previous screen are retained. Therefore, the trouble of resetting can be prevented.

  According to the invention described in claim 5, since the simple screen as the second screen is a screen in which the number of setting keys and setting functions is smaller than that of the normal screen and the key size and the character size are increased, Simplified and easy setting is possible even for an operator unfamiliar with the operation.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram of a digital copying machine which is an embodiment of an image processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. The reading unit 50 is a unit for scanning a document placed on the pressure plate. This is composed of a contact glass 6 on which an original is placed and an optical scanning system. The optical scanning system mainly includes an exposure lamp 51, a first mirror 52, a lens 53, and a CCD image sensor 54.

  The exposure lamp 51 and the first mirror 52 are fixed on a first carriage (not shown), and the second mirror 55 and the third mirror 56 are fixed on a first carriage (not shown). When reading a document image, the first carriage and the second carriage are mechanically scanned at a relative speed of 2: 1 so that the optical path length does not change. This optical scanning system is driven by a scanner drive motor (not shown). The document image is read by the CCD image sensor 54, converted into an electrical signal, and processed.

  A is an apparatus for automatically reading a sheet document. The document placed on the B document table is fed to the position of the document reading sensor F by the C feeding roller. The document passes over the document reading sensor F at a constant speed, and the image of the document is read by the sensor F at this time. The read image data is sequentially stored in an image memory after image processing such as MMF correction, filter processing, and compression. In this embodiment, the image reading sensor F is assumed to be a close contact type equal magnification CCD device or the like.

  The writing unit 57 is composed of a laser output unit 58, an imaging lens 59, and a mirror 60. Inside the laser output unit 58, a polygon mirror (polygon) that rotates at a constant high speed by a laser diode and a motor as a laser light source. Mirror) is provided. The laser beam output from the writing unit 57 is applied to the image forming photoconductor 15.

Here, a main procedure for printing an image formed on the photoconductor 15 will be described.
The transfer sheets stored in the first tray 8, the second tray 9, and the third tray 10 are fed by the first paper feeding device 11, the second paper feeding device 12, and the third paper feeding device 13, respectively, and are conveyed vertically. The unit 14 is transported to a position where it abuts on the photoreceptor 15. The image data on the memory is written on the photoconductor 15 by the laser from the writing unit 57 and passes through the developing unit 27 to form a toner image. Then, the toner image on the photoconductor 15 is transferred while the transfer paper is conveyed by the conveyance belt 16 at the same speed as the rotation of the photoconductor 15. Thereafter, the image is fixed by the fixing unit 17 and discharged to the paper discharge tray 19 by the paper discharge unit 18. The fixing unit is configured to be fixed in a few seconds with a thin roller and a high-power heater.

Next, a case where images are formed on both sides of a transfer sheet, that is, a double-sided copy operation will be described. FIG. 2 shows an enlarged view of the reversing unit 112 for explaining the duplex copying operation. The transfer paper fed and imaged from each of the paper feed trays 8 to 10 is not guided to the discharge tray 19 side by switching the reverse path switching claw 115 but is transported to the double-sided paper feed transport path 113 to be reversed. The unit 112 is switched back and reversed, and both sides are aligned by the sheet aligning jogger 117, and then sent to the duplex conveying unit 111 driven by the duplex conveying motor 118. The sheet sent to the duplex conveyance unit 111 is sent again to the vertical conveyance unit 14 and printed after an image is printed on the back side, and then discharged.
Further, when the transfer paper is reversed and discharged, the paper switchback reversed by the reversing unit 112 is sent to the reverse paper discharge conveyance path 114 without being sent to the duplex unit and discharged.

  The transfer sheet discharged from the apparatus main body is discharged to the finisher 200. When stapling the transfer paper discharged to the finisher 200, the paper is once stacked on the stack tray 201. After all the transfer sheets are collected on the stack tray, the sheet bundle is bound by the stapler unit 202 and discharged to the upper discharge tray 203 or the lower discharge tray 204.

  When the stapling operation is not performed, the transfer sheet passes through the straight discharge conveyance path 207 and is discharged to the discharge trays 203 and 204 in the same manner. By moving the paper discharge trays 203 and 204 up and down, the transfer paper from the staple tray or the straight paper discharge conveyance path can be selectively discharged to either one. Each paper discharge tray is provided with paper detection means 205 and 206 for detecting whether or not printed transfer paper remains.

  FIG. 3 shows a configuration example of a control unit as control means according to the embodiment of the present invention. The control unit mainly includes a main CPU 20. The CPU 20 includes an operation unit 30, an automatic document feeder (ADF) A, a finisher 200, a main motor 25, a paper discharge destination switching claw 116, a reverse path switching claw 115, and double-sided conveyance. The motor 118, the alignment jogger drive motor 119, and the image processing unit are connected.

  The CPU 20 receives display information from the key inputs 32, 33, 34, and 35 via the operation unit 30, and outputs display to the liquid crystal display 31 as display means, control of the automatic document feeder (ADF) A, Control of various loads such as the main motor 25 and communication control with the finisher unit 200 are performed.

  FIG. 4 shows a block diagram of a configuration example of the image processing unit according to the embodiment of the present invention. The main signal processing of the image processing apparatus will be described with reference to FIG. First, an image signal read by the CCD image sensor F in the automatic document feeder (ADF) A is converted into a digital signal by the A / D converter 61. Next, the image signal converted into the digital signal is subjected to shading correction 62 and then subjected to MTF correction, γ correction 63 and the like in the image processing unit. The image signal that has passed through the scaling process 72 is enlarged or reduced in accordance with the scaling ratio and flows to the image memory controller 65. The image that has entered the memory controller is subjected to a primary compression process and then written into the image page memory 66. The operations up to this point are processed without stopping until all the pages are written in the memory when the document reading is started.

  The image image written in the image page memory 66 is secondarily compressed and then written in the HDD 68. This operation is configured to be performed without being synchronized with the operation of writing an image from the scanner to the image page memory 66. That is, after the image image enters the image page memory 66, it can be transferred to the HDD 68 at an arbitrary timing if the HDD 68 is in a drive ready state. At this time, the image data written in the image page memory 66 is created in a general-purpose image format such as jpeg or tiff for each page, and is also stored in the HDD 68.

The stored image can be distributed to a folder on the PC by an operation from the operation unit.
The above operation relates to the operation of reading an original from the scanner. When a printer print request is made via a network, the operation is as follows. The content of the page description language (PDL) transmitted via the network is analyzed by the CPU 20 and converted into bitmap image data. The image data is written on the image page memory 66 and simultaneously stored in the HDD 68 after the secondary compression. As in the case of copying, the image in the image page memory 66 is thumbnailed in a format such as tiff and then saved in the HDD 68.

  When printing the image written in the image memory 66, the image data is sent from the image memory 66 to the memory controller 65, and then sent to the writing unit 57 via the writing γ correction unit 71. The image data sent to the writing unit 57 creates a latent image on the photoconductor 15 and develops it to obtain a copy image (not shown). If the image is not printed (if it is simply stored), the above printing operation is not performed.

  FIGS. 5 to 7 show image diagrams of examples of screens displayed on the liquid crystal operation panel according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 shows an example of a screen provided with normal operation setting input keys as the first screen. The operation of the main operation setting input keys arranged on the screen will be described. Reference numerals 501 and 502 denote application switching keys for selecting a copy function and a FAX function screen, respectively. Reference numeral 503 denotes a normal copy setting screen, reference numeral 504 denotes a numeric keypad used for inputting the number of copies, and reference numeral 505 denotes a start key for starting job execution.

  Reference numeral 506 denotes a hard key as switching means for switching between a normal screen as the first screen and a simple screen as the second screen. Reference numeral 507 denotes a button for selecting a copy color mode, reference numeral 508 denotes a button for selecting a tray to be fed, and reference numeral 509 denotes a button for setting for punching the copied paper. Although there are many setting buttons in the same screen other than the above, the description is omitted because they are not used for the operation description.

  FIG. 6 is an image diagram showing a display example of a simple screen as the second screen according to the embodiment of the present invention. This figure shows a state where the screen is switched to the simple screen by pressing the operation setting input key 506 of FIG. In this embodiment, since the original is a copy screen display, the switched screen is also a simple copy screen. The operation setting input keys 601, 602, 604, 605, and 606 correspond to the operation setting input keys 501, 502, 504, 505, and 506 shown in FIG. An operation setting input key 608 is a button for selecting a color mode for copying, and functionally corresponds to the operation setting input key 507 in FIG. 5, and the operation setting input key 609 is a button for selecting a tray to be fed. Thus, the function corresponds to the operation setting input key 508 in FIG.

FIG. 8 shows a flow of an operation example of the control means according to the embodiment of the present invention. The operation will be described with reference to the screen examples of FIGS. In the present embodiment, an operation example is shown when the operator sets with the operation setting input key on the simple screen and makes other settings with the operation setting input key on the normal screen that is not on the simple screen.
First, the operator inputs the number of copies using the operation setting input key 604 on the simple screen in FIG. 6, that is, the numeric keypad, and further inputs the setting for paper feed tray selection, that is, paper selection by the operation setting input key 609 ( Step S801).

Thereafter, the operator notices that the function input such as the aggregate copy is not displayed because the setting input screen is a simple screen, and the operation setting input key 606 is pressed. When the operation setting input key 606 is pressed, the control means switches the display screen display from the simple screen (FIG. 6) to the normal screen (FIG. 5) (step S802).

  When the screen is switched from the simple screen to the normal screen in step S802, the control means has a common operation setting input key for the simple screen and the normal screen, and holds the setting data for the number of copies and the paper tray selection input in step S801. Then, the set copy number and paper feed tray selection setting data are displayed on the switched normal screen (step S803).

  FIG. 9 shows a flow of an operation example of the control means according to the embodiment of the present invention. The operation will be described with reference to the screen examples of FIGS. The present embodiment is an operation example in the case where the operator sets with the operation setting input key on the normal screen and switches to the simple screen in the middle. First, the operator inputs the number of copies using the operation setting input key 504 on the simple screen of FIG. 5, that is, the numeric keypad, and further inputs the setting of the color mode “two colors” using the operation setting input key 507 (step S901). .

  When the operation setting input key 506 is pressed, the control means switches the display screen display from the simple screen (FIG. 6) to the normal screen (FIG. 5) (step S902).

  When the screen is switched from the simple screen to the normal screen in step S902, the control means determines whether or not a mode that cannot be displayed on the simple screen is set (selected) (step S903), and the mode that cannot be displayed on the simple screen is set. If it is determined that it has not been (selected) (step S903 / NO), the set data is held and the set data is displayed on the corresponding display portion of the simple screen (step S908).

  On the other hand, when it is determined that a setting input that cannot be displayed on the simple screen is selected (step S903 / YES), that is, in this example, since there is a color mode “two colors”, it cannot be displayed as shown in FIG. Mode, color mode: A warning inquiry screen as to whether or not to cancel two colors is displayed on the display unit (step S904).

  When an inquiry screen as to whether or not to cancel a mode that cannot be displayed is displayed in step S904, it is determined whether or not the switching key is pressed on the inquiry screen (step S905).

  If it is determined in step S905 that the switching key has been pressed (step S905 / YES), the color mode “two colors” is canceled in this example only in the mode that cannot be displayed on the simple screen, and the default automatic selection color is set. Is displayed, and in this example, a simple screen is displayed while maintaining the number of copies (step S906).

  If it is determined in step S905 that the switch key has not been pressed (NO in step S906) and the cancel key has been pressed, the normal screen is displayed while maintaining the original setting state (step S907). In this operation example, by displaying a setting cancellation warning inquiry, it is possible to prevent miscopying after screen switching.

1 is a cross-sectional view showing an example of the overall configuration of a digital copying machine according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is an enlarged configuration diagram of a reversing unit of the digital copying machine shown in FIG. 1. It is a figure which shows the structural example of the control unit which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the image processing example which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a top view which shows the example of a display of the 1st screen which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a top view which shows the example of a display of the 2nd screen which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a top view which shows the example of a display of the warning screen which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the display operation of the screen which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the display operation of the screen which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

20 Main CPU (control unit)
30 Operation section 31 Liquid crystal display (display section)
32 Key input 200 Finisher

Claims (5)

Display means for displaying operation setting input keys and operation states;
Control means for displaying the operation setting input key or the operation state on the display means;
Switching for switching between a first screen having at least one screen provided with the operation setting input key and a second screen having at least one screen in which the operation setting input key is simplified from the first screen. Means,
When a signal for switching between the first screen and the second screen is input from the switching means, the control means is configured to input the operation setting input key common to the first screen and the second screen. An image processing apparatus that retains the contents set on the screen before switching.   When the signal for switching from the first screen to the second screen is input from the switching unit, the control unit is configured to input the operation setting input key that is not common to the first screen and the second screen. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a warning that the content set by the operation setting input key of the first screen is canceled is displayed on the second screen.   When the signal for switching from the first screen to the second screen is input from the switching unit, the control unit is configured to input the operation setting input key that is not common to the first screen and the second screen. A warning that the content set by the operation setting input key of the first screen is canceled is displayed on the second screen to prompt the user to determine whether or not to continue the operation. 2. The image processing apparatus according to 2.   The control means displays on the second screen that the content set by the operation setting input key on the first screen is cancelled, and a signal indicating that the transition to the second screen is not performed. 4. The image processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein upon input, the image processing apparatus returns to the first screen while retaining the contents set on the first screen.   The second screen is displayed with the various operation setting input keys with minimum necessary contents of the various operation setting input keys displayed on the first screen, and the various operation setting input keys and the character size are displayed. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image processing apparatus is enlarged.

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