JP2007312018A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming apparatus capable of easily informing a user of which one of conditions for impossibility to form an image is applicable when the image is formed. <P>SOLUTION: When the input of the condition to form the image is determined (SP2) and the operation of a start key is determined (SP3), it is determined that the condition is applicable to the condition for impossibility to form the image, which is stored in a memory (SP4). When copying is impossible (SP5), the times of generation applicable to a prohibition condition are updated (SP6) so as to check the times of generation. When the times are the prescribed ones (SP7), corresponding informing sound data are read from the memory (SP8) so as to issue the corresponding informing sound from a speaker (SP9). <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus and, for example, to an image forming apparatus that sounds a notification sound when a start of copying is instructed in a digital multi-function peripheral in a state where copying is not possible.

As an example of an image forming apparatus such as a digital multi-function peripheral, a printer, or a facsimile machine, for example, Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2005-324442 (Patent Document 1) has solved an unusable state in which an image cannot be formed by an image forming unit. In order to improve the inconvenience of this notification operation being performed uniformly, it is described that the on / off state of the speaker that sounds the notification sound is switched by an external operation. ing.
Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2005-324442 (summary, FIG. 3)

  On the other hand, when copying with an image forming apparatus, a prohibition condition is set. The forbidden conditions are, for example, the image forming apparatus itself such as a paper jam in the printing part of the image forming apparatus or the orientation of the selected paper being different from the original placed on the reading unit or the like. This is a condition that copying is not possible due to a user setting failure.

  Even if the start of copying is instructed in a state corresponding to the prohibition condition, the copying operation is not performed, and a notification sound such as “Peep” is generated to inform the user of that. The user can make a copy by listening to the notification sound and eliminating a paper jam so that the prohibition condition is not met, or by matching the orientation of the original and the paper.

  The user needs to set a copy condition so that it does not correspond to the prohibition condition at the time of copying, but the same notification sound will be sounded regardless of which prohibition condition at the time of copying. There is a problem that the effect of prompting is weak. The image forming apparatus described in Patent Document 1 merely switches the on / off state of a speaker that emits a notification sound when the unusable state is resolved.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus that is effective for informing the user that the image cannot be formed under any conditions and for prompting attention.

  The present invention stores an image forming means for forming an image, a notifying means for notifying sound, a condition in which an image cannot be formed by the image forming means, the number of occurrences corresponding to the conditions, and the number of occurrences Storage means for storing the notification sound data, determination means for determining whether image formation by the image formation means is possible at the start of image formation, and determination that the image formation cannot be performed by the determination means Accordingly, it is determined whether or not a condition that prevents image formation stored in the storage unit is satisfied, and if there is a corresponding condition, the number of occurrences of the corresponding condition is updated, and the updated number of occurrences is a predetermined number of times. If it corresponds, the corresponding notification sound data is read from the storage means, and the control means for notifying the voice from the notification means.

  Specifically, the storage unit stores conditions caused by the image forming apparatus itself, conditions caused by an operation failure by the user, and conditions caused by a setting failure by the user as conditions where the image cannot be formed.

  More preferably, the storage means stores a numerical value within a predetermined number range as the predetermined number of times.

  More preferably, the storage means stores, as different notification sound data, any one of data having different numbers of sound generations, data having different sound volumes, and data having different timbres.

  More preferably, the storage means stores, as the notification sound data, speech data of words informing the applicable condition and the number of occurrences, and in response to reading of the speech data of words from the storage means, It includes speech synthesizing means for notifying the speech of words that inform the applicable condition and the number of occurrences.

  According to the present invention, at the time of image formation, the number of occurrences of the condition is updated in response to the determination that the condition does not allow image formation, and if the updated number of occurrences is a predetermined number, Since the notification sound to be generated is generated, it is possible to alert the user that the image cannot be formed under any conditions.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, for example, a digital multifunction peripheral is applied to an image forming apparatus 1 and includes a control unit 2 that operates as a determination unit and a control unit. The control unit 2 includes a reading unit 3 that operates as a reading unit, an operation unit 4 that operates as a setting unit, a display unit 5, a printing unit 6 that operates as an image forming unit, and a voice synthesis that operates as a voice synthesis unit. A circuit 7, a speaker 8 that operates as a notification unit, a memory 9 that operates as a storage unit, and a paper cassette 10 that operates as a sheet storage unit are connected, and these are controlled by the control unit 2.

  The reading unit 3 reads a document image, and the operation unit 4 includes a key for setting the number of copies and a copy paper size, a start key for instructing the start of copying, and the like. The display unit 5 displays the number of copies and the selected paper size. The printing unit 6 prints an image read by the reading unit 3 and forms an image on a sheet. The speaker 8 notifies the voice synthesized by the voice synthesis circuit 7 based on the voice signal output from the control unit 2. The memory 9 stores a plurality of prohibition conditions and the number of occurrences corresponding to each prohibition condition, and stores notification sound data corresponding to each of a plurality of predetermined times. A plurality of sizes of paper such as A4, A3, B5, and B4 are stored in the paper cassette 10, and a detection signal is given to the control unit 2 when the paper runs out.

  FIG. 2A shows a prohibition condition, which is a plurality of conditions that prevent image formation stored in the memory 9 shown in FIG. 1, and a storage area 11 for storing the number of occurrences. FIG. It is a figure which shows the memory | storage area | region 12 which memorize | stores the several generation | occurrence | production frequency to determine and the notification sound data corresponding to it.

  In the storage area 11 of the memory 9, as shown in FIG. 2A, for example, a condition caused by the image forming apparatus 1 itself such as “paper jam”, “out of paper”, and “original direction” “The paper direction is different” or the like, and the user's operation condition such as “the paper is selected in A3 even though the same size copy is selected is A4”. A plurality of prohibition conditions such as a condition caused by a setting failure due to the above are stored in advance, and the number of occurrences of the prohibition condition is stored corresponding to each prohibition condition. The prohibition condition described above is an example, and an arbitrary prohibition condition and the corresponding number of occurrences can be stored.

  In the storage area 12 of the memory 9, as shown in FIG. 2B, notification sound data is stored corresponding to the predetermined number of occurrences of the prohibition condition. The number of occurrences stored in the storage area 11 is updated whenever a corresponding prohibition condition occurs, whereas the number of occurrences stored in the storage area 12 is predetermined. That is, the storage area 12 stores, for example, notification sound data A if the number of occurrences is 20, notification sound data B if it is 10, and notification sound data C if it is once.

  For example, if the number of occurrences is in the range of 11 to 20 times, the notification sound data A is 2 to 10 times, and the number of occurrences is in the range of 10 to 10. For the number of occurrences, a numerical value within a predetermined range such as notification sound data C may be stored.

  The notification sound data A, B, and C stored in the storage area 12 of the memory 9 are different from each other. For example, a short sound such as “pea, pea, pea”, “pea, pea”, and “pea” is generated. Any one of data with different numbers of pronunciations, data with different volumes, data with different timbres, etc. is applied. In this way, by increasing the number of pronunciations and increasing the volume of the sound to be generated, the more the number of prohibition conditions occurs, the user can be informed of what kind of prohibition conditions are occurring. it can.

  It should be noted that voice data of words that inform the number of occurrences of the prohibition condition may be stored in the memory 9, synthesized by the voice synthesis circuit 7, and the corresponding voice may be notified from the speaker 8. It is also possible to notify the voice of a word such as “For example, the occurrence of a paper jam is the 10th time”.

  Further, in response to the corresponding prohibition condition, guidance voice data of an operation method that is notified to cancel the prohibition condition and enable image formation by the image forming apparatus 1 is stored in the memory 9, and the guidance voice is used as the guidance voice. Corresponding words may be pronounced from the speaker 8.

  FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. At step SP1 shown in FIG. 3 (abbreviated as SP in the figure), the control unit 2 determines whether or not the copy preparation is completed, and waits until the copy preparation is completed if the copy preparation is not completed. If copy preparation is complete, the display unit 5 is informed that copying is possible. The user views the display and operates the operation unit 4 to set, for example, the paper size, enlargement or reduction, the number of copies, etc. as copy conditions, and then operates the start key.

  In step SP2, the control unit 2 determines whether or not the copy condition is input. When the copy condition is input and it is determined in step SP3 that the start key has been operated, the control unit 2 sets in step SP4. It is determined whether the copy condition corresponds to any of the prohibition conditions stored in the storage area 11 of the memory 9 shown in FIG. In step SP5, it is determined whether the set copy condition does not correspond to the prohibition condition and copying is possible.

  If it is determined that the set copy condition corresponds to any of the prohibition conditions and copying cannot be performed, the number of occurrences corresponding to the corresponding prohibition condition of the storage area 11 of the memory 9 is counted and updated in step SP6. For example, if the direction of the original and the direction of the paper are different, the number of occurrences is incremented by 1, and the number of occurrences of the corresponding prohibition condition updated is checked in step SP7. In this case, it is determined whether or not the updated number of occurrences of the prohibition condition matches any number of occurrences in the storage area 12 of the memory 9.

  In step SP8, if the number of occurrences reaches, for example, 20 times, 10 times, or 1 time, one of the notification sound data A, B, and C corresponding to the number of occurrences is selected from the storage area 12. Read out. In addition, the frequency | count of generation | occurrence | production is not limited like 20 times, 10 times, 1 time, For example, 3 times and 4 times may be sufficient. In step SP9, a notification sound based on the read notification sound data is generated from the speaker 8. By listening to the notification sound, the user can strongly recognize that a prohibition condition with a large number of occurrences has occurred. Then, it is determined that there is an error in the copy condition setting, and the operation unit 4 is operated again to input correct copy conditions.

  When the control unit 2 determines in step SP5 that the set copy condition does not correspond to each prohibition condition and can be copied, the control unit 2 starts copying in step SP9 by the printing unit 6, and in step SP10, the copy is performed. When it is determined that the processing has been completed, the series of processing is ended.

  If the user operates the start key of the operation unit 4 when it is not informed that the copy is possible on the display unit 5 in the state where the copy preparation is not completed in step SP1, the control unit 2 performs image formation. The current state of the device 1 is determined. Then, the storage area 11 of the memory 9 is searched, and if the prohibition condition such as a door is open or a paper jam occurs, the number of occurrences of the corresponding prohibition condition is updated. If the updated number of occurrences corresponds to the number of occurrences stored in the storage area 12, the corresponding notification sound data is read and notified from the speaker 8.

  As described above, if the copy condition corresponds to the prohibition condition at the start of copying, the number of times corresponding to the prohibition condition is updated, and if the number of times reaches a predetermined number, the corresponding notification sound is notified. Since the number of occurrences of prohibition conditions increases, the number of pronunciations is increased and the volume of sounding sounds is increased so that the user is informed of what kinds of prohibition conditions occur. be able to. Further, when many prohibition conditions for paper jams occur, the state can be provided to the service person, which can contribute to maintenance and inspection.

  In the above description, the example in which the present invention is applied to a digital multi-function peripheral has been described. However, the present invention may be applied to other printers, facsimile machines, scanners, and the like.

  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 of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. (A) shows forbidden conditions that are various conditions in which various images cannot be formed in the memory shown in FIG. 1, and a storage area for storing the number of occurrences. (B) corresponds to the number of occurrences and the number of occurrences. It is a figure which shows the storage area which memorize | stores the audio | voice data to perform. 4 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image forming apparatus, 2 Control part, 3 Reading part, 4 Operation part, 5 Display part, 6 Printing part, 7 Speech synthesis circuit, 8 Speaker, 9 Memory, 10 Paper cassette, 11, 12 Storage area.

Claims (5)

An image forming means for forming an image;
An informing means for informing the sound;
A storage means for storing a condition in which an image cannot be formed by the image forming means, a number of occurrences corresponding to the condition, and storing notification sound data corresponding to the number of occurrences;
A discriminating means for discriminating whether or not image formation by the image forming means is possible at the start of image formation;
In response to determining that image formation cannot be performed by the determination unit, it is determined whether or not a condition that prevents image formation stored in the storage unit is satisfied. An image forming apparatus comprising: a control unit that updates the number of occurrences of the condition and reads the corresponding notification sound data from the storage unit and notifies the voice from the notification unit if the updated number of generations is a predetermined number .   The storage unit stores, as conditions for the image formation, a condition caused by the image forming apparatus itself, a condition caused by an operation failure by a user, and a condition caused by a setting failure by a user. 2. The image forming apparatus according to 1.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the storage unit stores a numerical value within a predetermined number range as the predetermined number of times.   4. The image formation according to claim 1, wherein the storage unit stores, as the different notification sound data, any one of data having different numbers of sounds, data having different volumes, and data having different timbres. 5. apparatus. The storage means stores, as the notification sound data, speech data of words that inform the applicable condition and the number of occurrences,
The voice synthesizing unit that causes the notifying unit to notify the voice of the word notifying the corresponding condition and the number of occurrences in response to the reading of the voice data of the word from the storage unit. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3.

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