JP2010105179A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming apparatus which can find a desired action condition more easily than conventionally by calling narrowing action hysteresis information. <P>SOLUTION: The image forming apparatus stores the action hysteresis information of every apparatus action by a storage part and displays the action hysteresis information by a display part. The image forming apparatus reflects an apparatus action condition included in the action hysteresis information selected from among the action hysteresis information displayed by the display part on the basis of an operation indication received by an operation part on an apparatus action condition of an apparatus action to be executed hence. The image forming apparatus includes a control part which searches for the action hysteresis information in which predetermined action setting is not a default value from all of the action hysteresis information stored in the storage part when a search indication of the predetermined action setting included in the apparatus action condition is received by the operation part, and which makes the display part display the action hysteresis information on the basis of the search result in which the predetermined action setting is not a default value. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine and a multifunction machine.

  Currently, in image forming apparatuses such as copiers and multifunction machines, operation conditions in copy processing or facsimile processing are stored as operation history information, and the display unit displays a list of stored operation history information. There is what causes operation history information having a desired operation condition to be selected from the operation history information. With such an image forming apparatus, the user can perform desired operation history information from a plurality of operation history information displayed on the display unit when performing copy processing, facsimile processing, or the like under the same operation conditions as before. By selecting, various processes can be executed under the same operating conditions as before without resetting the operating conditions.

The following Patent Document 1 discloses an image forming apparatus that displays a list of the operation history information stored in this manner, and displays desired operation history information from the operation history information displayed by the display unit. There has been disclosed a configuration in which setting information can be accumulated without a user instruction, and current apparatus settings can be easily and quickly set using the accumulated setting information. This image forming apparatus is an image forming apparatus including a display unit that displays various function items related to printing, and an input unit that inputs setting information related to the function item, and a storage unit that stores the setting information as history data; A data writing unit that reads the setting information input by the input unit and automatically and sequentially writes the setting information in the storage unit, and the display unit stores the history data stored in the storage unit. List as setting history.
JP 2005-212137 A

  By the way, in the above prior art, a list of operation history information is displayed on the display unit, and by selecting a desired operation condition from the operation history information, each process such as copy processing or facsimile processing can be performed easily and quickly. It was possible to execute under the same operating conditions as before. However, in the above prior art, since all the operation history information is listed and displayed, the desired operation condition is selected from all the operation history information while checking each of the operation history information listed. The user had to look for. As described above, since the desired operation condition must be searched from the operation history information that has not been narrowed down, when the number of operation history information is large, the desired operation condition is searched from the list of operation history information. However, setting various settings manually may eventually become faster.

  SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is that it provides an image forming apparatus capable of finding a desired operation condition more easily than in the past by narrowing down and calling operation history information. To do.

  In order to achieve the above object, in the present invention, as a first solving means related to an image forming apparatus, operation history information for each apparatus operation is stored in a storage unit, the operation history information is displayed on a display unit, An image forming apparatus that reflects the apparatus operation condition included in the operation history information selected from the operation history information displayed on the display section based on the operation instruction received by the section to the apparatus operation condition of the apparatus operation to be executed from now on When the operation unit accepts a search instruction for a predetermined operation setting included in the apparatus operation condition, all the operation history information stored in the storage unit is operation history information in which the predetermined operation setting is not a default value. And a control unit that causes the display unit to display operation history information in which the predetermined operation setting is not a default value based on a search result.

  In the present invention, as a second solving means related to the image forming apparatus, in the first solving means, the control unit receives the setting selection screen display instruction for a predetermined operation setting when the operation unit receives the predetermined operation setting display instruction. The operation history information whose operation setting is not the default value is searched from all the operation history information stored in the storage unit, and the setting selection screen of the operation setting is displayed on the display unit based on the setting selection screen display instruction. At the same time, means for causing the display unit to display operation history information in which the predetermined operation setting is not a default value based on the search result is adopted.

  In the present invention, as a third solving means relating to the image forming apparatus, in the first or second solving means, the control unit causes the display unit to display operation history information one by one based on a search result. The display unit is switched to the previous or next operation history information in accordance with a page switching instruction received by the operation unit.

  In the present invention, as a fourth solving means relating to the electronic device, in any one of the first to third solving means, the control unit searches the display unit when the operation unit receives a search screen display instruction. Display a screen, search for all operation history information stored in the storage unit for operation history information in which a predetermined operation setting input as a search keyword in the keyword input field of the search screen is not a default value, and search Based on the result, a means is adopted in which operation history information whose predetermined operation setting is not a default value is displayed on the display unit.

  In the present invention, as a fifth solving means relating to the electronic device, in any one of the first to third solving means, the control unit stores operation history information whose first operation setting is not a default value in the storage unit. After searching from all the operation history information stored in the display unit, when the search screen is displayed on the display unit based on the search screen display accepted by the operation unit, it is input as a search keyword in the keyword input field of the search screen The operation history information for which the second operation setting is not the default value is searched from the operation history information already searched by the first operation setting, and has already been searched by the first operation setting based on the search result. A means is adopted in which operation history information in which the second operation setting is not a default value is displayed on the display unit from the operation history information.

  According to the present invention, the image forming apparatus stores the operation history information for each image forming operation, the storage unit displays the operation history information, and the display unit displays the operation history information based on the operation instruction received by the operation unit. An image forming apparatus that reflects the image forming conditions included in the operation history information selected from the operation history information to be performed on the image forming conditions of the image forming operation to be executed, and includes predetermined operations included in the image forming conditions When the operation unit receives a setting search instruction, the operation unit searches for all operation history information stored in the storage unit for operation history information for which the predetermined operation setting is not a default value, and performs predetermined operation setting based on the search result. Includes a control unit that displays operation history information that is not a default value on the display unit.

  As described above, the image forming apparatus according to the present invention narrows down the operation history information by searching and displays the narrowed operation history information on the display unit. You can find it from inside.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The present embodiment relates to a multifunction machine having both a copy function, a print function, a scan function, and a facsimile transmission / reception function, which is one of the image forming apparatuses of the present invention.
First, the functional configuration of the multifunction peripheral A will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram of a multifunction peripheral A according to the present embodiment. The multi-function device A includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 1, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 2, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 3, various sensor groups 4, a paper transport unit 5, an image reading unit 6, an image data storage unit 7, An image forming unit 8, a communication I / F unit 9, an operation display unit 10, and an operation history information storage unit 11 are provided.

The CPU 1 includes a control program stored in the ROM 2, various detection signals received from the various sensor groups 4, document image data, print image data and facsimile image data stored in the image data storage unit 7, and a communication I / F unit. 9 controls the overall operation of the multifunction peripheral A based on various instructions input from a client computer (not shown) and a public network (not shown) via 9 and operation instructions input from the operation display unit 10. The details of the control process of the CPU 1 will be described below as the operation of the multifunction device A. The details of the control process of the CPU 1 will be described below as the operation of the multifunction device A.
The ROM 2 is a non-volatile memory that stores a control program executed by the CPU 1 and other data.

The RAM 3 is a volatile memory used as a working area as a temporary storage destination of data when the CPU 1 executes a control program and performs various operations.
The various sensor groups 4 are various sensors necessary for image forming operations such as a paper out detection sensor, a paper jam detection sensor, a paper position detection sensor, a temperature sensor, and the like. To the CPU 1.

  The paper transport unit 5 includes a transport roller for transporting the print paper stored in the paper tray to the image forming unit 8, a motor for driving the transport roller, and a print paper after the image forming process to a discharge tray (not shown). It is composed of a conveying roller for conveying, a motor for driving the conveying roller, and the like.

The image reading unit 6 includes an ADF (automatic document feeder), a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) sensor, and the like, and causes the CCD sensor to read images of documents sequentially fed by the ADF so that document image data based on the document image is obtained. Output. The image reading unit 6 outputs the document image data to the CPU 1, while the CPU 1 stores the document image data in the image data storage unit 7.
The image data storage unit 7 is, for example, a flash memory. Under the instruction of the CPU 1, the document image data, the print image data received by the communication I / F unit 9 from a client computer (not shown), and the communication I / F unit 9 Stores facsimile image data received from a public network (not shown).

The image forming unit 8 controls the printing paper conveyed from the paper conveying unit 5 with toner based on the original image data, print image data, or facsimile image data stored in the image data storage unit 7 under the control of the CPU 1. An image forming image to be formed is transferred, and fixing processing of the image forming image is performed by a fixing roller.
The communication I / F unit 9 is connected to a client computer (not shown) and a public network (not shown), and transmits and receives various signals between the client computer and the public network.

  The operation display unit 10 includes a copy function switching key, a print function switching key, a scan function switching key, a facsimile function switching key, a start key, a stop / clear key, a power key, a numeric keypad (numeric input key), a touch panel 10a, and various other types. Operation keys are provided, and instructions for operating the keys are output to the CPU 1 and various screens are displayed on the touch panel 10a under the control of the CPU 1. The copy function switching key, the print function switching key, the scan function switching key, and the facsimile function switching key are keys for switching the MFP A to the operation mode of each function when the user uses each function. .

The operation history information storage unit 11 is, for example, a flash memory or an HDD (Hard Disk Drive), and stores an operation history information table in which operation history information of various functions such as a copy function or a facsimile function is registered under the control of the CPU. To do.
FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing the operation history information table. As shown in FIG. 2, the operation history information table is a data table in which operation functions, operation history information, and operation end times are registered for each operation history information number. The operation history information number is an identification number assigned when each operation history information is registered in the operation history information table.

  Then, depending on the operation history information number, the operation function such as a copy function or a facsimile transmission function, and the operation history information in the operation function may be copy conditions such as aggregated copy and stapling or the facsimile transmission function if the copy function is used. For example, facsimile destination conditions such as a destination facsimile number and double-side facsimile transmission are registered. Further, an operation end time is registered for each operation history information number in the operation history information table. When the operation of each function ends, the CPU 1 registers the operation history information in the operation history information table.

Next, the operation of the MFP A according to the present embodiment configured as described above will be described in detail with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the multifunction peripheral A according to this embodiment.
First, a user who wants to copy a document using the multifunction peripheral A switches to the copy function operation mode by pressing the copy function switching key of the operation display unit 10 and sets the document on the ADF of the image reading unit 6. In the MFP A, when the operation mode is switched to the copy function, the touch panel 10a displays a copy basic screen under the control of the CPU 1.

 FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a basic copy screen of the multifunction peripheral A according to the present embodiment. The copy basic screen is a top screen in the copy function of the multifunction peripheral A, and includes operation buttons such as a setting selection screen display button for displaying a setting selection screen for allowing the user to select a setting value of each setting of the copy condition. This is the screen to be displayed. On the basic copy screen, as shown in FIG. 4, setting selection screen display buttons such as a “staple / punch” button and a “paper selection” button belonging to the “easy setting” group are displayed, and the currently selected group is displayed. And tabs (function list, program, etc.) as a kind of operation buttons for displaying setting selection screen display buttons of other groups. Further, on the copy basic screen, as shown in FIG. 4, a copy image reflecting the current copy condition is displayed on the left side thereof.

 When the touch panel 10a accepts a staple / punch setting selection screen display instruction by pressing the “staple / punch” button on the copy basic screen, the CPU 1 searches the operation history information table for operation history information in which the staple / punch setting is not a default value. (Step S1). “No setting” registered in the staple / punch setting of the operation history information in the operation history information table of FIG. 2 is the default value in the staple / punch setting. That is, in step S1, the CPU 1 stores the operation history information of operation history information numbers “0001”, “0003”, and “0005” in the operation history information table of FIG. Search as information.

After step S1, the CPU 1 displays a staple / punch setting selection screen on the upper part of the basic copy screen on the touch panel 10a, and the operation history information for each case on the right side of the copy screen based on the search result in step S1. Is displayed on the touch panel 10a (step S2).
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a basic copy screen that displays a staple / punch setting selection screen and a search result screen of the multifunction peripheral A according to the present embodiment. This basic copy screen is a screen that allows the user to select a staple / punch setting on the staple / punch setting selection screen, and further allows the user to select an operation history information having a desired copy condition from the search result screen.

On the staple / punch setting selection screen, as shown in FIG. 5, setting selection buttons for selecting various staple / punch settings are displayed. The user presses these setting selection buttons to set the multifunction device A to a desired staple / punch setting.
The search result screen is a screen on which operation history information is displayed one by one based on the search result in step S1. The search result screen displays a copy image that reflects the setting value of the searched operation history information, various settings that are different from the default values registered in the searched operation history information, A “Reflect” button, the number of search result pages, a page return button, and a page feed button are displayed. The search result screen in the copy basic screen in FIG. 5 is a screen reflecting the operation history information of the operation history information “0001” in the operation history information table in FIG.

  The page return button and page feed button are displayed when there are two or more staple / punch settings that are not default values in the operation history information table as a result of the search in step S1. When the page feed button is pressed, the search result screen displaying the operation history information for each case is switched to the search result screen of the next page. For example, the search result screen displaying the first operation history information (operation history information number “0001”) displays the second operation history information (operation history information number “0003”) by pressing the page feed button. Switch to the search result screen.

Further, the search result screen is switched to the search result screen of the previous page when the page return button is pressed. For example, the search result screen displaying the first operation history information (operation history information number “0001”) displays the third operation history information (operation history information number “0005”) when the page return button is pressed. Switch to the search result screen.
The “reflect contents” button is a button for reflecting various settings of the operation history information displayed on the search result screen to the copy condition. When the user presses the “reflect contents” button, various settings of the operation history information displayed on the search result screen are reflected in the copy conditions of the MFP A.
Furthermore, a “search” button is displayed on the search result screen. The operation when the “Search” button is pressed will be described later.

 After step S2, the CPU 1 determines whether or not the touch panel 10a accepts an operation history information reflection instruction by pressing the “reflect contents” button on the copy basic screen (step S3), and determines “YES” in step S3. In this case, that is, when the operation display unit 10 receives an operation history information reflection instruction, the setting values of various settings of the operation history information displayed on the search result screen are reflected in the copy conditions (step S4), and start When the operation display unit 10 accepts a copy disclosure instruction by pressing the key, each unit such as the image reading unit 6 and the image forming unit 8 executes a copy operation based on the copy condition (step S5).

 If the CPU 1 determines “NO” in step S3, that is, if the operation display unit 10 has not received the operation history information reflection instruction, the CPU 1 presses the page return button or the page feed button to press the page return instruction and the page. It is determined whether or not the operation display unit 10 has received any one of the feed instructions (step S6). If “YES” is determined in step S6, that is, either the page return instruction or the page feed instruction is displayed on the operation display unit. When 10 is accepted, the search result screen of the previous page or the next page is displayed on the touch panel 10a (step S7), and the process proceeds to step S3.

 If the CPU 1 determines “NO” in step S6, that is, if the operation display unit 10 does not accept either the page return instruction or the page feed instruction, the CPU 1 instructs the search screen display by pressing the “search” button. Is determined whether or not the operation display unit 10 has received (step S8), and if “YES” is determined in step S8, that is, if the operation display unit 10 has received a search screen display instruction, the touch panel 10a is displayed. A search screen is displayed (step S9).

 FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a search screen of the multifunction peripheral A according to the present embodiment. The search screen is a screen for allowing a user to input a search keyword when searching for operation history information. On the search screen, as shown in FIG. 6, a keyword input field, an “OK” button, and a “Cancel” button are displayed. The keyword input field is a field in which the user inputs names of various settings as search keywords when searching for operation history information. When the “OK” button is pressed, the CPU 1 searches the operation history information table for operation history information in which the setting input in the keyword input field is not the default value.

 For example, when a search is performed by inputting the word “eco-print” in the keyword input field, the CPU 1 searches for operation history information whose eco-print setting is not a default value. If the default value of the eco print setting is “no setting”, the operation history information of operation history information numbers “0003” and “0004” in the operation history information table of FIG. 2 is searched. When the “Cancel” button is pressed, the search screen is closed and the screen returns to the basic copy screen.

 This search screen is displayed when a user who desires to change a plurality of settings including, for example, stapling / punch setting does not include a search result screen for displaying desired operation history information in step S3. This is used when searching for operation history information whose settings other than the settings (for example, eco print settings) are not default values. Then, the user manually sets the missing setting (for example, staple / punch setting) after reflecting the operation history information close to the desired operation history information in the search to the copy condition. As a result, the user can easily change the copy conditions.

When the touch panel 10a receives a search instruction by pressing the “OK” button after step S9, the CPU 1 searches the operation history information table for operation history information in which the setting input as a keyword in the keyword input field is not the default value. (Step S10), a search result screen is displayed on the touch panel 10a based on the search result in Step S2.
If the CPU 1 determines “NO” in step S8, that is, if the operation display unit 10 has not received a search screen display instruction, the CPU 1 proceeds to step S5, and the operation display unit 10 is activated by pressing the start key. When a copy disclosure instruction is received, each unit such as the image reading unit 6 and the image forming unit 8 is caused to execute a copy operation based on the currently set copy conditions.

  As described above, in the MFP A, when the touch panel 10a receives a setting selection screen display instruction by pressing a setting selection screen display button corresponding to a predetermined setting, the CPU 1 responds to the pressed setting selection screen display button. The operation history information whose predetermined setting is not the default value is searched from the operation history information table, and the search result screen is displayed based on the search result. When the touch panel 10a receives an operation history information reflection instruction by pressing the “reflect contents” button on the search result screen, the CPU 1 reflects the operation history information displayed on the search result screen in the copy condition. Further, the CPU 1 searches the operation history information table for operation history information whose settings input as keywords in the keyword input field of the search screen are not default values, and displays the search result screen based on the search results.

  As described above, in the MFP A, the operation history information is narrowed down by the search, and the narrowed result is displayed as the search result screen. Therefore, a desired copy condition can be found from the operation history information more easily than in the past. . In addition, even when the user has to switch to a different tab on the copy basic screen and press the setting selection screen display button of the switching destination tab, the user does not have to switch the tab of the copy basic screen by utilizing the search screen. However, it is possible to easily search operation history information.

As mentioned above, although one Embodiment of this invention was described, this invention is not limited to the said embodiment, For example, the following modifications can be considered.
(1) In the above-described embodiment, the CPU 1 searches the operation history information of the copy function and displays the operation history information on the touch panel 10a based on the search result. However, the present invention is not limited to this.
For example, the CPU 1 searches the operation history information of functions other than the copy function such as the printer function, the facsimile function, and the scan function in the multifunction peripheral A by the above method, and displays the operation history information on the touch panel 10a based on the search result. It may be. In other words, the present invention can be applied to all functions installed in an image forming apparatus such as the multifunction peripheral A.

(2) In the above embodiment, when the CPU 1 performs a search after “Eco-print” is input in the keyword input field of the search screen, the operation history information whose eco-print setting is not the default value is obtained from the operation history information table. Although searched, the present invention is not limited to this.
In step S1, the CPU 1 searches the operation history information table for operation history information whose spool / punch setting is not the default value, displays the search result on the search screen, displays the search screen, and displays “ When “eco-print” is input and the touch panel 10a receives a search instruction, the operation history information table is searched for operation history information in which the spool / punch setting is not the default value and the eco-print setting is not the default value. The search result may be displayed on the search result screen.

  As described above, by searching the operation history information whose eco-print setting is not the default value from the operation information whose spool / punch setting is not the default value, the spool / punch setting has already been searched. Even if the number of pieces of operation history information whose punch setting is not the default value is large, the operation history information can be narrowed down by other combinations.

(3) In the above embodiment, when the operation display unit 10 receives a staple / punch setting selection screen display instruction by pressing a “staple / punch” button, which is a kind of setting selection screen display button, the staple / punch setting is performed. Although the selection screen is displayed on the touch panel 10a and the search result screen is displayed on the touch panel 10a based on the search result, the present invention is not limited to this.

  For example, the CPU 1 causes the touch panel 10a to display a staple / punch setting search button that accepts only a staple / punch setting search instruction, and when the staple / punch setting search button is pressed, the operation display unit 10 issues a staple / punch setting search instruction. If accepted, the operation history information for which the staple / punch setting is not the default value may be searched from the operation history information table, and only the search result screen may be displayed on the touch panel 10a.

(4) In the above embodiment, the CPU 1 displays the operation history information on the search screen one by one based on the search result, but the present invention is not limited to this.
The CPU 1 may display a list of operation history information searched based on the search result on the touch panel 10a.

FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of a multifunction peripheral A according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a schematic diagram which shows the operation history information table of the multifunction peripheral A which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the multifunction peripheral A according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which shows the copy basic screen which the touchscreen 10a of the multifunctional machine A which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention displays. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a basic copy screen that displays a staple / punch setting selection screen and a search result screen of the multifunction peripheral A according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which shows the search screen of the multifunctional machine A which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

A ... MFP, 1 ... CPU, 2 ... ROM, 3 ... RAM, 4 ... various sensor groups, 5 ... paper transport unit, 6 ... image reading unit, 7 ... image data storage unit, 8 ... image forming unit, 9 ... Communication I / F unit, 10 ... operation display unit, 10a ... touch panel, 11 ... operation history information storage unit

Claims (5)

The operation history information for each device operation is stored in the storage unit, the operation history information is displayed on the display unit, and selected from the operation history information displayed on the display unit based on the operation instruction received by the operation unit An image forming apparatus that reflects the apparatus operating conditions included in the operation history information on the apparatus operating conditions of the apparatus operation to be executed from now on,
When the operation unit accepts a search instruction for a predetermined operation setting included in the apparatus operation condition, the operation unit searches the operation history information stored in the storage unit for operation history information in which the predetermined operation setting is not a default value. And a control unit that causes the display unit to display operation history information in which the predetermined operation setting is not a default value based on a search result.
An image forming apparatus comprising:   When the operation unit receives a setting selection screen display instruction for a predetermined operation setting, the control unit includes operation history information in which the predetermined operation setting is not a default value among all the operation history information stored in the storage unit. The operation selection setting screen is displayed on the display unit based on the setting selection screen display instruction, and the operation history information in which the predetermined operation setting is not a default value is displayed on the display unit based on the search result. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus displays the image.   The control unit causes the display unit to display operation history information one by one based on a search result, and causes the display unit to switch to the previous or next operation history information according to a page switching instruction received by the operation unit. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:   The control unit displays a search screen on the display unit when the operation unit receives a search screen display instruction, and a predetermined operation setting input as a search keyword in the keyword input field of the search screen is not a default value. The operation history information is searched from all the operation history information stored in the storage unit, and the operation history information whose predetermined operation setting is not a default value is displayed on the display unit based on the search result. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1. The control unit searches the operation history information whose first operation setting is not a default value from all the operation history information stored in the storage unit, and then based on the search screen display received by the operation unit When the search screen is displayed on the display unit, the operation history information in which the second operation setting input as the search keyword in the keyword input field of the search screen is not the default value has already been searched by the first operation setting. Searching from the information, and displaying the operation history information whose second operation setting is not a default value from the operation history information already searched by the first operation setting based on the search result on the display unit. The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

Images