JP2011095308A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make acknowledgement that an operation is proceeding according to a proper procedure following a guidance. <P>SOLUTION: An image forming apparatus includes: a display means; a sound production section; and a control means for having a detailed screens of guidance indicating the details for one operation in a series of operation procedures displayed in order to the display means and having the sound production section produce a correctness notification sound when the correct operation following the contents of the present detailed screen of guidance is carried out. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus.

In an image forming apparatus such as a multifunction peripheral or a copying machine, a guidance screen is displayed in order to allow a user to deal with a paper jam when an error such as a paper jam occurs. The user was able to resolve a paper jam that occurred in the multifunction device by taking action according to the content of the guidance screen.
For example, as an invention relating to such guidance, Patent Document 1 below discloses an image forming apparatus that provides guidance for a mounting procedure by display and sound when a type of an optional device to be mounted is selected when the optional device is mounted. Has been. The image forming apparatus includes a voice key and a touch panel. When the voice key is touched, an option device installation menu is displayed on the touch panel, and when the type of the option device is selected from the menu, the selected option is selected. Guidance on the device installation procedure is provided by voice and a screen displayed on the touch panel.

JP 2006-35632 A

  By the way, the said prior art notifies a user of the procedure of operation with an audio | voice or a screen. However, since the operation procedure is only notified to the user by voice and screen, even if the user performs a correct operation, the user cannot recognize whether the operation is really correct.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described circumstances, and it is an object of the present invention to recognize that an operation is proceeding in a correct procedure according to guidance.

  In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, as the first solution means for the image forming apparatus, the display means, the sound generation unit, and the guidance details showing details of one operation in a series of operation procedures are shown. A screen is displayed on the display unit in order, and a control unit that causes the sound generation unit to generate a correct answer notification sound when a correct operation according to the content of the current guidance detail screen is performed is adopted.

  In the present invention, as a second solving means related to the image forming apparatus, in the first solving means, the control means displays a guidance outline screen showing an outline of a series of operation procedures, and displays the guidance detail screen. A means of displaying on the display means before the start is adopted.

  In the present invention, as a third solving means relating to the image forming apparatus, in the second solving means, the control means performs the correct answer when a correct first operation is performed according to the content of the guidance summary screen. A means is adopted in which the sound generation unit is caused to generate a notification sound and then the guidance detail screen is displayed on the display means.

  In the present invention, as a fourth solving means related to the image forming apparatus, in any one of the first to third solving means, the control means displays an animation indicating an operation content on the guidance detail screen, When the animation returns to the top, means for causing the sound generation unit to generate a head notification sound is adopted.

  In the present invention, as a fifth solving means relating to the image forming apparatus, in any one of the first to fourth solving means, the control means performs a correct operation in accordance with the content of the last guidance detail screen. In this case, a means for causing the sound generation unit to generate a completion notification sound is employed.

  According to the present invention, when a correct operation is performed along the guidance detail screen, the correct answer notification sound is generated by the sound generation unit 10. Thus, the present invention generates a correct notification sound, so that the user can recognize that a correct operation is being performed in accordance with the guidance. In addition, according to the present invention, when the user performs a correct operation, a correct notification sound is generated in response to the user's operation. Therefore, the user does not need to actively check a manual or the like to check whether the operation is correct. Furthermore, since the present invention sounds a correct answer notification sound every time a part of the operation procedure is completed, the user can save time and effort to confirm the guidance screen every time the operation is completed.

FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of a multifunction peripheral A according to an embodiment of the present 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 an example of the guidance outline | summary screen of the multifunctional machine A which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the guidance detailed screen of the multifunctional machine A which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
The multifunction peripheral (image forming apparatus) A according to the present embodiment has a copy function, a print function, a scan function, and a facsimile transmission / reception function. As shown in FIG. 1, the multi-function device A includes a central processing unit (CPU) 1, a read only memory (ROM) 2, a random access memory (RAM) 3, various sensor groups 4, an image reading unit 5, and an image data storage unit. 6, a paper conveyance / image forming unit 7, a communication I / F unit 8, an operation display unit 9, a sound generation unit 10, and a finisher 11.
The CPU 1, the ROM 2, and the RAM 3 are control means in the present embodiment. The operation display unit 9 is display means in the present embodiment.

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 6, and a communication I / F unit. The overall operation of the multi-function peripheral A is controlled based on various instructions input from the outside (client computer, public network, etc.) via 8 and operation instructions input from the operation display unit 9. The details of the control process of the CPU 1 will be described later 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 necessary for image forming operations such as a document set detection sensor, a paper out detection sensor, a paper jam detection sensor, a paper position detection sensor, a temperature sensor, and a cover open / close detection sensor of a housing (not shown). It is various sensors, and outputs various information detected by each sensor to the CPU 1 as detection signals.

The image reading unit 5 includes an ADF (automatic document feeder) and a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) sensor, and causes the CCD sensor to read images of documents sequentially fed by the ADF under the control command of the CPU 1. Document image data based on the image is output to the CPU 1. On the other hand, the CPU 1 stores the document image data in the image data storage unit 6.
The image data storage unit 6 is, for example, a flash memory or a hard disk, and stores document image data, print image data and facsimile image data received from the outside by the communication I / F unit 8 under the control command of the CPU 1.

The paper transport / image forming unit 7 includes a print engine (photosensitive drum, charger, developing device, fixing roller, and the like), a paper feed roller, a paper discharge roller, and the like. The paper transport / image forming unit 7 transports printing paper from a paper feed tray (not shown) by a paper feed roller under a control command of the CPU 1, and an image based on image data in the image data storage unit 6 (consisting of toner The image is transferred onto the printing paper, and the printing paper is conveyed to a paper discharge tray (not shown) by a paper discharge roller.
The communication I / F unit 8 is connected to an external client computer and a public network, and transmits / receives various signals to / from the client computer and the public network.

The operation display unit 9 includes hardware keys such as a copy function key, a print function key, a scan function key, a facsimile function key, a start key, a stop / clear key, a power key, and a numeric keypad (numeric input key), and a touch panel 9a. The operation instruction of each key is output to CPU1, and various screens are displayed on touch panel 9a under the control command of CPU1.
The copy function key, print function key, scan function key, and facsimile function key are keys for activating each function.

The sound generation unit 10 is a speaker, for example, and generates sound under the control command of the CPU 1.
The finisher 11 is an optional device that can be mounted / removed to discharge a printing sheet on which an image is formed by the sheet transport / image forming unit 7. The finisher 11 includes a plurality of paper discharge trays, mechanically performs reverse paper discharge of the print paper under the control command of the CPU 1, and sorts the print paper using the sort function and discharges it to each paper discharge tray. .

Next, the operation of the MFP A according to the present embodiment having the above configuration will be described with reference to FIG.
First, a user who wants to copy a document using the multifunction device A sets the document on the ADF of the image reading unit 5. Then, the user presses the start key of the operation display unit 9 to cause the multifunction peripheral A to execute a copy process.

 When the image reading unit 5 finishes reading the document in the copy process, the CPU 1 starts the conveyance of the printing paper on the paper feed tray to the paper conveyance / image forming unit 7 and is input from the paper jam detection sensor of the various sensor groups 4. Whether or not a paper jam (JAM) has occurred in the paper transport path is determined based on the paper jam detection signal (step S1).

 If the CPU 1 determines “NO” in step S1, that is, if no paper jam has occurred in the paper transport path, the CPU 1 stands by in step S1. If the CPU 1 determines “YES” in step S1, that is, if a paper jam has occurred in the paper transport path, the CPU 1 displays a guidance summary screen on the touch panel 9a (step S2).

The guidance summary screen will be described with reference to FIG.
As shown in FIG. 3, the guidance summary screen is a screen on which a summary of all operation procedures for dealing with a paper jam is displayed in a list. The user can grasp the outline of the entire operation procedure for dealing with a paper jam by checking the guidance outline screen.

 Returning to FIG. 2, after step S <b> 2, the CPU 1 determines whether or not a correct first operation has been performed according to the content of the guidance summary screen (step S <b> 3). If the CPU 1 determines “NO” in step S3, that is, if the correct first operation is not performed, the CPU 1 stands by in step S3.

 If the CPU 1 determines “YES” in step S3, that is, if the correct first operation is being performed, the CPU 1 causes the sound generation unit 10 to generate a correct answer notification sound (step S4). Specifically, when the finisher 11 is separated as the correct first operation along the content of the guidance overview screen (see FIG. 3), the CPU 1 causes the sound generation unit 10 to generate a correct answer notification sound. The correct answer notification sound is a notification sound for notifying the user that a correct operation has been performed. The user can recognize that the correct operation has been performed by the correct answer notification sound.

After step S4, the CPU 1 displays a first guidance detail screen on the touch panel 9a (step S5).
The first guidance detail screen will be described with reference to FIG.
In the first guidance detail screen, as shown in FIG. 4A, the content “Open the left cover ...”, which is the second operation in the series of operation procedures, is shown. . On the first guidance detail screen, detailed operations that are not shown on the guidance summary screen are shown as follows: “Open left cover ...”. Further, an animation AM1 visually showing the operation is displayed on the first guidance detail screen. The animation AM1 is repeatedly reproduced.

 After step S5, the CPU 1 determines whether or not the animation AM1 on the first guidance detail screen has returned to the top (step S6). If the CPU 1 determines “YES” in step S6, that is, if the animation AM1 returns to the top, the CPU 1 causes the sound generation unit 10 to generate a head notification sound (step S7). The correct answer notification sound is a notification sound that notifies the user that the animation AM1 has returned to the top. The user can accurately grasp the operation indicated by the animation AM1 by accurately recognizing the head of the animation AM1.

 If it is determined “NO” in step S6, that is, if the animation AM1 has not returned to the top, the CPU 1 determines whether or not a correct operation has been performed in accordance with the content of the guidance detail screen (step S8). ). If the CPU 1 determines “NO” in step S8, that is, if the correct operation is not performed, the CPU 1 proceeds to step S6.

 If the determination is “YES” in step S8, that is, if the correct operation is performed, the CPU 1 causes the sound generation unit 10 to generate a correct answer notification sound (step S9). Specifically, when the left cover is opened as an operation along the first guidance detail screen (see FIG. 4A), the CPU 1 causes the sound generation unit 10 to generate a correct answer notification sound.

 The CPU 1 displays the second guidance detail screen on the touch panel 9a after step S9, displays the guidance detail screen in order on the touch panel 9a thereafter, and executes steps S6 to S9 for each display of the guidance detail screen ( Step S10). The second guidance detail screen, as shown in FIG. 4B, shows the third operation “pull lever [B1]...” And the operation. The animation AM2 is displayed.

 After step S10, the CPU 1 determines whether or not the correct operation along the last guidance detail screen has been performed (step S11). If it is determined “NO” in step S11, that is, the last guidance detail screen. If the correct operation is not performed, the process waits in step S11.

 If the CPU 1 determines “YES” in step S11, that is, if a correct operation is performed along the last guidance detail screen, the CPU 1 causes the sound generation unit 10 to generate a completion notification sound (step S12). The completion notification sound is a notification sound that notifies the user that all operations have been completed. The user can recognize from the completion notification sound that all operations for handling a paper jam have been completed.

 As described above, in the multi-function device A according to the present embodiment, when a correct operation is performed along the guidance overview screen and the guidance detail screen, the sound generation unit 10 is caused to pronounce the correct answer notification sound. In this way, when the multifunction device A generates a correct notification sound, the user can recognize that the correct operation is being performed in accordance with the guidance. In addition, when the user is at a loss in handling the paper jam, the user can easily check the detailed operation by checking the corresponding guidance detail screen. In addition, the user can correctly recognize the operation indicated by the animation by accurately recognizing the beginning of the animation on the guidance detail screen from the head notification sound. Furthermore, the user can perform an operation for handling a paper jam without checking all the guidance details screens by checking all the operation procedures on the guidance overview screen.

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 embodiment, when the guidance outline screen is displayed and a correct operation is performed, the first guidance detail screen (see FIG. 4A) is displayed. However, the present invention is not limited to this. .
For example, when the CPU 1 displays a guidance overview screen with a start button on the touch panel 9a and this start button is pressed, the message "Please separate the finisher" is displayed before the first guidance detail screen is displayed. A guidance detail screen having an operation content and an animation corresponding to the operation content is displayed on the touch panel 9a. Then, when the finisher 11 is disconnected as a correct operation along the content of the guidance detail screen, the CPU 1 makes a transition to the first guidance detail screen.

(2) In the above embodiment, the guidance summary screen and the guidance detail screen are displayed to allow the user to deal with a paper jam, and the correct notification sound, the head notification sound, and the completion notification sound are displayed while the paper jam is being dealt with. However, the present invention is not limited to this.
For example, the same operation as described above may be performed with guidance such as replacement of toner other than a paper jam or supply of printing paper.

A ... MFP, 1 ... CPU, 2 ... ROM, 3 ... RAM, 4 ... various sensor groups, 5 ... image reading unit, 6 ... image data storage unit, 7 ... paper transport / image forming unit, 8 ... communication I / F part, 9 ... Operation display part, 9a ... Touch panel, 10 ... Sound generation part, 11 ... Finisher

Claims (5)

Display means;
The pronunciation part;
A guidance detail screen showing details of one operation in a series of operation procedures is displayed on the display means in order, and when a correct operation is performed in accordance with the contents of the current guidance detail screen, a correct notification sound is generated. An image forming apparatus comprising: a control unit that causes the sound generation unit to generate sound.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit causes the display unit to display a guidance outline screen on which an outline of a series of operation procedures is displayed before the display of the guidance detail screen.   When the correct first operation is performed in accordance with the content of the guidance overview screen, the control means causes the sounding unit to pronounce the correct answer notification sound, and then causes the display to display the guidance detail screen. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2.   The said control means displays the animation which shows operation content on the said guidance detail screen, and when the said animation returns to the head, it makes the sound generation part sound the head notification sound. The image forming apparatus according to any one of the above. 5. The control unit according to claim 1, wherein when the correct operation is performed according to the content of the last guidance detail screen, the control unit causes the sound generation unit to generate a completion notification sound. Image forming apparatus.

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