JP2007003937A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming apparatus in which a specified copy mode can easily be set. <P>SOLUTION: A control section judges whether a document is set at an image read section and a start key is pressed (S11). When it is judged that the start key is pressed, it is judged whether the depression time is longer than a certain time (e.g. two seconds) (S12). When it is judged that the depression time is longer than the certain time (YES at S12), copy operation is carried out in a special setting mode (S13). <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, and more particularly to an easy-to-use image forming apparatus.

  Conventionally, in an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a mode for copying is set, and copying is performed in that mode by pressing a start key. However, if it takes time to set a document such as a book document, the auto-clear function is activated and it is necessary to set the mode again. A copying machine that can easily perform this resetting is disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-45032 (Patent Document 1).

According to the publication, the setting contents of the image forming operation conditions are stored in the RAM, and when canceling the auto clear is instructed, the image forming conditions before the execution of the auto clear function are read from the RAM, and are set as new image forming conditions. Will be reset.
JP-A-11-45032 (paragraph number 0010, etc.)

  The conventional copying machine is configured as described above. Even if a desired copy mode is set, depending on the mode, it takes time to prepare for using the mode, and it is necessary to set the mode again by operating the auto-clear function. In addition, a copying machine that can easily set the mode again has been proposed, but it is necessary to remember the procedure for that purpose.

  The present invention has been made paying attention to the above-described problems, and an object thereof is to provide an image forming apparatus in which a predetermined copy mode can be easily set.

  An image forming apparatus that operates in a plurality of operation modes according to the present invention includes a start key for instructing start of an image forming operation, and a pressing time determination unit that determines whether or not the pressing time of the start key is longer than a predetermined time. And a control means for controlling the image forming apparatus to copy in a predetermined copying mode when the pressing time determining means determines that the pressing time is longer than the predetermined time.

  Preferably, setting means for presetting a predetermined copy mode is included.

  More preferably, it has a program key, and the control means associates a predetermined copy mode with the program key.

  In another aspect of the present invention, an image forming apparatus that operates in a plurality of operation modes includes a start key for instructing start of an image forming operation, a pressing time determining unit that determines a pressing time of the start key, and a pressing time determination. Control means for controlling the operation mode of the image forming apparatus to change according to the pressing time determined by the means.

  According to the present invention, the image forming apparatus operates in the predetermined copying mode if the start key is pressed longer than the predetermined time. That is, a predetermined copy mode can be set by simply pressing the start key.

  As a result, an image forming apparatus capable of easily setting a predetermined copy mode can be provided.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 1, an image forming apparatus 10 includes a control unit 11 that controls the entire image forming apparatus 10, a DRAM 12, a printing unit 15, an HD (hard disk) 16 that stores data, and an image reading unit 17. And the operation unit 18.

  The image reading unit 17 includes a CCD (not shown) as an example of a photoelectric conversion element, and can read image data of a document.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the operation unit 18. As shown in FIG. 2, the operation unit 18 includes an input unit 19 and a display unit 20. The input unit 19 includes a start key 191 for instructing a copy start and a stop for completely canceling the process being executed. It includes a key 192, an interrupt key 193 for instructing execution / cancellation of an interrupt, a numeric key 194 for instructing the number of copies, a setting key 195 for setting various information, and the like.

  The display unit 20 includes a liquid crystal panel, and can display information from the image forming apparatus 10 to the user. This liquid crystal panel is a touch panel and also functions as a part of the input unit 19. Program key P1-P4 may be provided in the display part 20 so that setting is possible (refer FIG. 2).

  The control unit 11 compresses and writes the data supplied from the image reading unit 17 to the DRAM 12, reads the data written to the DRAM 12, decompresses and decodes and outputs the data. The control unit 11 also performs control for printing by the printing unit 15, control for image reading by the image reading unit 17, control for inputting data from the input unit 19 of the operation unit 18, and operation Control for displaying data on the display unit 20 of the unit 18 is performed.

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

  FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an operation performed by the control unit (control unit) 11 of the image forming apparatus 10. Referring to FIG. 3, it is determined whether or not a document is set in image reading unit 17 and start key 191 is pressed (step S11, and the following steps are omitted). When it is determined that the start key 191 has been pressed, it is determined whether or not the pressing time is longer than a certain time (for example, 2 seconds) (S12). Here, the control unit 11 operates as a pressing time determination unit. If it is determined that the time is longer than the predetermined time (YES in S12), the copy operation is performed in the special setting mode (S13).

  When it is determined in S12 that the time is shorter than the predetermined time (NO in S12), copying is started in the copy mode set at that time when the start key 191 is depressed (S14, S15).

  Here, it is assumed that the special setting mode is predetermined in the image forming apparatus. The special setting mode may be a simple fixed mode in which, for example, one sheet is simply copied at the same size with a document size. In this way, even if someone else makes a different setting before this copying operation, the user can simply set the copy mode by simply pressing and holding the start key 191. There is no problem that the settings remain and unexpected copy operations are performed.

  As the special setting mode, it is preferable to set a frequently used function. Then, a frequently used function can be called with a simple operation.

  The special setting mode may be set by the control unit 11 via the operation unit 18 and stored in the hard disk 16. In this way, the special setting mode can be arbitrarily set. At this time, the control unit 11 operates as setting means.

  Also, in an image forming apparatus having an auto-clear function, even if the auto-clear function is activated during setting of the copy mode, etc., as long as the copy mode is set to the special setting mode, the auto-clear function is activated. No need to set again.

  Further, in an image forming apparatus having a program key, it may be associated with this program key. That is, when the start key 191 is pressed and held, for example, the content set in the program key P1 is automatically set as the special setting mode.

  Furthermore, a fixed time for determining the pressing time may be set by the control unit 11 via the operation unit 18.

  In the above embodiment, it is determined whether or not the start key 191 is pressed for longer than a certain time. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the set mode is changed depending on the press time of the start key 191. Also good. That is, if the start key 191 is 3 seconds, a mode for simply copying an original at the original size is set. If 4 seconds, the reduced copy mode is set. If it is 5 seconds, the enlarged copy mode is set. It may be set.

  Similarly, the corresponding number of the program key may be changed according to the length of time the start key 191 is pressed. That is, if the start key 191 is pressed for 3 seconds, the mode set to the program key 1 is set, and if it is 4 seconds, the mode set to the program key 2 is set and the mode is set to 5 seconds. If there is, the mode set in the program key No. 3 may be set.

  Further, when the special setting mode is set, the content may be displayed on the display unit 20 so that the user can check. Further, a beep sound or the like may be notified that the special setting mode is set.

  Further, in order to inform the user of how long the start key 191 is pressed to set the special setting mode, the setting method of the special setting mode and the time until it is set (start key) The remaining time from the first press may be displayed). This is not limited to the time display, and an LED may be provided so that the blinking is gradually accelerated, and if set, the LED may be turned on.

  In the above embodiment, an example has been described in which a copy operation is performed in one or more preset special setting modes by long-pressing the start key. However, the present invention is not limited to this. By pressing with a pattern, the copying operation may be performed in a single or plural special setting modes set in advance.

  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. It is a figure which shows the detail of an operation part. 4 is a flowchart showing an operation of the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Image forming apparatus, 11 Control part, 12 DRAM, 15 Printing part, 16 Hard disk, 17 Image reading part, 18 Operation part, 20 Display part.

Claims (4)

An image forming apparatus that operates in a plurality of operation modes,
A start key for instructing the start of an image forming operation;
Pressing time determination means for determining whether or not the pressing time of the start key is longer than a predetermined time;
An image forming apparatus comprising: control means for controlling the image forming apparatus to copy in a predetermined copying mode when the pressing time determining means determines that the pressing time is longer than a predetermined time. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a setting unit that presets the predetermined copy mode. It also has a program key
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit associates the predetermined copy mode with the program key. An image forming apparatus that operates in a plurality of operation modes,
A start key for instructing the start of an image forming operation;
Pressing time determination means for determining the pressing time of the start key;
And an image forming apparatus including: a control unit configured to control the operation mode of the image forming apparatus to change according to the pressing time determined by the pressing time determination unit.

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