JP2014026401A - Instruction input device, image forming apparatus, and instruction input program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve operability when an operator inputs instructions for a plurality of items more than before, in terms of both the number of operations and contents of operations.SOLUTION: An instruction input device 200 includes: a display unit 473 that has a touch panel part 4731; a display control unit 101 that causes the display unit 473 to display an image for instruction reception; and an instruction receiving unit 102 that receives an input start instruction and paper feed cassette designation via the touch panel part 4731 on the basis of a contact operation by an operator to a display position of an image of a paper feed cassette on the display unit 473, subsequently receives input of a job content designation instruction on the basis of a slide operation while a contact state from a contact position to a display position of a job content reception image is maintained, and further receives an input completion instruction and an ejection tray designation on the basis of a slide operation while a contact state from a contact position of the job content reception image to a display position of an image of the ejection tray is continuously maintained.

Description

  The present invention relates to an instruction input device, an image forming apparatus, and an instruction input program, and more particularly to a technique for receiving an instruction input from an operator.

  Conventionally, in an image forming apparatus or the like, a technique for improving operability when an operator inputs an instruction has been adopted. For example, in Patent Document 1 below, each icon indicating an input source device, an output destination device, and a document is displayed on the display unit, and the operator moves the document icon by dragging and dropping with a finger, By performing two operations: an operation for moving the icon on the input source device first and an operation for moving the document icon on the icon of the output destination device after releasing the finger from the display screen. A digital multi-function peripheral in which a device and an output destination device are designated is shown. In Patent Document 1, the first panel touch is performed on the icon of the desired input source device, the input source device is selected, and the second panel touch is performed on the icon of the desired output destination device. An instruction input method for selecting an output destination device is also shown.

JP 2005-184444 A

  However, in the digital multi-functional peripheral disclosed in Patent Document 1, when outputting a document, an operation of moving the document icon onto the icon of the input source device by a drag operation, and a movement of the document icon onto the icon of the output destination device Therefore, further improvement is desired for the operability at the time of inputting an instruction. Further, Patent Document 1 does not show a setting instruction input method for devices other than the input source device and the output source device, and improvement in operability when inputting instructions for further setting items is also desired. .

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problem, and an object of the present invention is to improve the operability when an operator inputs an instruction for a plurality of items, both in terms of the number of operations and the content of the operation. And

The invention according to claim 1 of the present invention includes a display unit having a touch panel function,
On the display unit, a start acceptance image for accepting an input start instruction indicating the start of an instruction input from the operator, an end acceptance image for accepting an input end instruction indicating the end of the instruction input from the operator, and a job content A display control unit for displaying a job content reception image for receiving an input of a job content specification instruction to be specified;
Displaying the job content acceptance image from the contact position of the start acceptance image after accepting the input start instruction based on a contact operation by an operator to the display location of the start acceptance image on the display unit by the touch panel function The input of the job content designation instruction is received based on the slide operation that maintains the contact state by the operator up to the position, and further, the contact state continuously from the contact position of the job content reception image to the display position of the end reception image An instruction input device including an instruction receiving unit that receives the input end instruction based on a sliding operation in which the input is maintained.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, the display unit accepts from the operator a start acceptance image for accepting an input start instruction indicating the start of an instruction input from the operator and an input end instruction indicating the end of the instruction input. A display control unit for displaying an end acceptance image for receiving a job content designation image for accepting an input of a job content designation instruction for designating job content;
After receiving the input start instruction based on a touch operation by an operator to the display position of the start reception image on the display section by the touch panel function of the display section, the job content is determined from the contact position of the start reception image. The input of the job content designation instruction is received based on the slide operation that maintains the contact state by the operator up to the display position of the received image, and further from the contact position of the job content received image to the display position of the end received image. An instruction input program that causes a computer to function as an instruction receiving unit that receives the input end instruction based on a sliding operation in which the contact state is maintained.

  In these inventions, the operator performs a touch operation on the display position of the start reception image displayed on the display unit, and then performs a slide operation continuous from the contact operation with respect to the display position of the job content reception image. An input start instruction, a job content designation instruction, and an input end instruction can be input by performing a contact operation and further performing a contact operation to the display position of the end acceptance image by a slide operation following the contact operation. The person touches the display position of the start reception image with his / her finger and slides the finger through the display position of the job content reception image to the display position of the end reception image without releasing the finger from the display screen of the display unit. For example, the input start instruction, the job content designation instruction, and the input end instruction can be input at a time.

  For this reason, the operator can input a plurality of instructions without performing the operation of releasing the contact state on the display screen many times (removing the finger many times). Can be reduced. In addition, since the operation is comfortable for the operator, the comfort of the operation experienced by the operator is improved.

  Thereby, this invention can improve the operativity at the time of an operator inputting the instruction | indication about a several item compared with the past in both the frequency | count of operation and operation content.

  The invention according to claim 2 is the instruction input device according to claim 1, wherein the instruction receiving unit releases the contact state after receiving the input start instruction or the job content specifying instruction. In such a case, the instruction already accepted is canceled.

  In this invention, the operator releases the contact state after starting the contact operation from the display position of the start acceptance image and before reaching the contact operation to the display position of the end acceptance image in order to input an instruction. For example, if an instruction that has already been accepted is canceled, it is easy to interrupt the instruction input work, and if an instruction is entered incorrectly due to an operational error, etc., there is no need to correct the erroneously entered instruction. become.

The invention according to claim 3 is the instruction input device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the display control unit is configured to receive the job content reception image corresponding to an essential job item that requires input. Is displayed on the display unit,
The instruction accepting unit has essential item information indicating a mandatory job item that must be input, and does not accept a job content designation instruction based on the job content acceptance image corresponding to the essential job item. When an input end instruction is accepted, a predetermined default setting is accepted as the contents of the essential job item for which the job content designation instruction is not accepted.

  According to the present invention, when an instruction for a job item that must be input is not input by the above-described contact operation and slide operation by the operator, a predetermined default content is not displayed in the instruction receiving unit. Since it is set as the contents of the input job item, even if the operator performs the touch operation for the display position of the end acceptance image without performing the input operation for the required job item, all items are processed as jobs. The job items can be executed, and the job items can be executed even if the operator omits the contact operation required for instruction input for job items that the operator does not particularly care about the contents. It can be.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, an image forming unit that forms an image on a recording medium;
A plurality of paper feed cassettes for feeding the recording medium to the image forming unit;
A plurality of discharge trays from which the recording medium after image formation by the image forming unit is discharged;
An instruction input device according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The display control unit displays each paper cassette image corresponding to the plurality of paper cassettes as the start acceptance image, and displays each discharge tray image corresponding to the plurality of discharge trays as the end acceptance image. And displaying an image indicating an item for specifying job content for image formation as the job content acceptance image,
The instruction receiving unit, based on a contact operation on the paper cassette image by an operator, together with the input start instruction, a paper cassette corresponding to a paper cassette image displayed at a position where the contact operation is performed Is input to the discharge tray image displayed at the position where the contact operation is performed together with the input end instruction based on the contact operation on the discharge tray image by the operator. The image forming apparatus receives an instruction to set a corresponding discharge tray as a discharge destination of a recording medium.

  According to the present invention, the operator performs the slide operation following the contact operation with respect to the display position of the start reception image corresponding to the paper feed cassette used in the image forming apparatus, and the job content reception image corresponding to the image formation content. By performing the contact operation through the display position to the display position of the end acceptance image corresponding to the discharge tray used for discharging the recording medium, each instruction can be input with an operation procedure that matches the flow of the recording medium during image formation. The operator can intuitively grasp the contact procedure for the start reception image, each job content reception image, and the end reception image, and can further improve the comfort of operation experienced by the operator. .

  According to the present invention, it is possible to improve the operability when an operator inputs instructions for a plurality of items, both in terms of the number of operations and the content of operations, as compared to the conventional case.

1 is a front sectional view showing a structure of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. 2 is a functional block diagram schematically showing a main internal configuration of the image forming apparatus. FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a first embodiment of setting item reception processing when a job is input by the image forming apparatus. It is a figure which shows an example of the display screen of a display part. It is a figure which shows the example of the contact operation procedure by the operator on the display screen of a display part. 12 is a flowchart illustrating a second embodiment of setting item reception processing when a job is input by the image forming apparatus. It is a figure which shows the example of the contact operation procedure by the operator on the display screen of a display part.

  Hereinafter, an instruction input device, an image forming apparatus, and an instruction input program according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a front sectional view showing the structure of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  The image forming apparatus 1 is a multifunction machine having a plurality of functions such as a copy function, a printer function, a scanner function, and a facsimile function. The image forming apparatus 1 includes an apparatus main body 11 including an image forming unit 12, a fixing device 13, a paper feeding unit 14, a paper discharging unit 15, a document feeding unit 6, a document reading unit 5, and the like. The image forming apparatus 1 includes an instruction input device (described later) according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  The apparatus main body 11 includes a lower main body 111, an upper main body 112 disposed so as to face the lower main body 111, and a connecting portion 113 provided between the upper main body 112 and the lower main body 111.

  The document reading unit 5 includes a contact glass (document table) 161 mounted on the upper surface opening of the upper main body 112 and an openable / closable document presser for pressing the document placed on the contact glass 161. A cover 162 and a reading mechanism 163 that reads an image of a document placed on the contact glass 161 are provided. The reading mechanism 163 optically reads an image of a document using an image sensor such as a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) and generates image data.

  The document feeding unit 6 includes a document placing table 61 on which a document is placed, a document discharge unit 66 from which an image-read document is discharged, and a document transport mechanism 65. The document transport mechanism 65 includes a paper feed roller, a transport roller, and a paper reversing mechanism (not shown). The document transport mechanism 65 drives the paper feed roller and the transport roller to feed the document placed on the document placing table 61 one by one to a position facing the document reading slit 53, and passes the document reading slit 53 through the document reading slit 53. Then, after reading by the reading mechanism 163 is possible, the document is discharged to the document discharge unit 66. Further, the document transport mechanism 65 causes the paper reversing mechanism to reverse the document and to transport it again to a position facing the document reading slit 53, so that images on both sides of the document are read through the document reading slit 53. 163 enables reading.

  Further, the document feeding unit 6 is provided so as to be rotatable with respect to the upper body 112 so that the front side thereof can move upward. By moving the front side of the document feeder 6 upward to open the upper surface of the contact glass 161 as a document table, the user places a read document, for example, a book in a spread state, on the upper surface of the contact glass 161. It can be done.

  The lower main body 111 includes an image forming unit 12, a fixing device 13, and a paper feeding unit 14. The upper body 112 is provided with a document reading unit 5. The paper feed unit 14 includes, for example, three paper feed cassettes 142, 143, and 144 that can be inserted into and removed from the apparatus main body 11. Each of the paper feed cassettes 142, 143, and 144 contains a sheet bundle in which recording sheets (an example of a recording medium) are stacked. For example, A4 size recording paper is stored in the paper feed cassette 142, A3 size recording paper is stored in the paper feed cassette 143, and B5 size recording paper is stored in the paper feed cassette 144.

  The image forming unit 12 performs an image forming operation for forming a toner image on the recording paper fed from the paper feeding unit 14. The image forming unit 12 is arranged in order from the upstream side to the downstream side in the traveling direction of the intermediate transfer belt 125, the magenta image forming unit 12M using magenta toner, and the cyan toner using cyan toner. The image forming unit 12C of yellow, the image forming unit 12Y for yellow using yellow toner, and the image forming unit 12Bk for black using black toner (hereinafter, when each image forming unit is described without distinction, Each of which is referred to as an “image forming unit 120”, and an intermediate transfer belt 125 stretched between a plurality of rollers such as a driving roller 125a (secondary transfer opposing roller) so as to be capable of endless running in the sub-scanning direction in image formation. The intermediate transfer belt 125 is a portion where the intermediate transfer belt 125 is stretched around the driving roller 125a. And a contact with the secondary transfer roller 210 to the outer peripheral surface 125.

  Each image forming unit 120 includes a developing unit 128 and a primary transfer roller 126 disposed at a position facing the developing unit 128 with the intermediate transfer belt 125 interposed therebetween. The developing unit 128 includes a photosensitive drum 121, a developing device 122 that supplies toner to the photosensitive drum 121, a toner cartridge (not shown) that contains toner, a charging device 123, an exposure device 124, and a drum cleaning device. 127.

  The intermediate transfer belt 125 is disposed above the photosensitive drums 121. The intermediate transfer belt 125 is driven by a driving roller 125 a in a state where an image carrying surface on which a toner image is transferred is set on the outer peripheral surface thereof and in contact with the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 121. The intermediate transfer belt 125 travels endlessly between the driving roller 125a and the driven roller 125b while being synchronized with each photosensitive drum 121.

  A primary transfer roller 126 is provided at a position facing each photosensitive drum 121 with the intermediate transfer belt 125 interposed therebetween. The primary transfer roller 126 transfers the toner image formed on the outer peripheral surface of each photosensitive drum 121 onto the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 125.

  The control unit 100 (FIG. 2) of the image forming apparatus 1 drives and controls the primary transfer roller 126 and the image forming unit 120 for each color unit, and is formed on the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 125 by the magenta image forming unit 12M. The magenta toner image transferred, the cyan toner image formed by the cyan image forming unit 12C at the same position on the intermediate transfer belt 125, and the yellow toner image at the same position on the intermediate transfer belt 125 are then transferred. The transfer of the yellow toner image formed by the image forming unit 12Y and the transfer of the black toner image formed by the last black image forming unit 12Bk are performed so that the toner images of the respective colors overlap each other. To form a color toner image on the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 125 (intermediate transfer). Primary transfer)).

  A transfer bias is applied to the secondary transfer roller 210 by a transfer bias applying mechanism (not shown). The secondary transfer roller 210 conveys the color toner image formed on the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 125 from the paper supply unit 14 at a nip N between the intermediate transfer belt 125 and the driven roller 125b. The path 190 is transferred to the conveyed recording paper.

  A sheet conveyance path 190 extending in the vertical direction is formed at the left position in FIG. 1 with respect to the image forming unit 12. A pair of conveying rollers 192 is provided at an appropriate position on the sheet conveying path 190. The conveyance roller pair 192 conveys the recording paper fed from the paper supply unit 14 toward the nip N and the fixing device 13.

  The paper feed unit 14 includes a manual feed tray 141 provided on the right side wall in FIG. 1 of the apparatus main body 11 so as to be openable and closable, and paper feed cassettes 142, 143, and 144. A pickup roller 145 provided above the paper feed cassettes 142, 143, and 144 feeds the uppermost recording paper in the paper bundle stored in the paper feed cassettes 142, 143, and 144 toward the paper transport path 190.

  The fixing device 13 applies heat from the heating roller 132 to the toner image on the recording paper transferred by the image forming unit 12 while the recording paper passes through the fixing nip portion between the heating roller 132 and the pressure roller 134. To give a fixing process. The recording sheet on which the color image has been formed after the fixing process is completed is discharged toward the discharge tray 151 or the post-processing apparatus 60 through the discharge conveyance path 194 extended from the upper part of the fixing apparatus 13.

  The paper discharge unit 15 includes a discharge tray 151. The recording paper on which the toner image is formed by the image forming unit 12 is discharged to the discharge tray 151 after the fixing device 13 performs the fixing process.

  The image forming apparatus 1 further includes a post-processing device 60. The post-processing device 60 is transported by a punch unit 601 that performs a punching process as post-processing on the paper that has been carried in from the discharge roller pair 110 of the main body 2, and a conveyance roller 602 that carries the carried-in paper. A paper receiving base 603 that temporarily stocks the received paper as a paper bundle, an image-formed paper transported by the transport roller 602, and a transport roller 620 that transports the original paper, and a paper base 603. A pair of discharge rollers 607 for discharging the sheet to the main discharge tray 623, a retracting drum 621 for retracting the sheet conveyed when the post-processing for the sheet is not in time, and a sheet receiving base 603 that can be moved up and down by a lifting mechanism (not shown). Paper that has been transported from the paper and paper that has been transported directly from the transport roller 602 can be discharged. A plurality of bins including a mail box 622, a main discharge tray 623, and a conveyance direction of a sheet from the conveyance roller 620 are set to a sheet receiving base 603 side, and a discharge roller pair 607 side is configured to discharge the sheet to the mail box 622 and the main discharge tray 623. A conveyance branch guide 624 is provided for switching between the two.

  Further, the post-processing device 60 includes a stapling device 625 for performing stapling processing as post-processing on the paper carried into the paper receiving tray 603, and a receiving member that receives and holds the lower end of the paper carried into the paper receiving tray 603. 626, a conveyance roller 627 that conveys the sheet from the sheet receiving table 603 in the lower direction, a book binding unit 628 that folds the sheet conveyed from the conveyance roller 627 at the center and binds the book, and book binding at the book binding unit 628 A discharge tray 629 for discharging the discharged paper is provided.

  The paper receiving tray 603 includes a drive unit (not shown) that moves the receiving member 626 in the paper carry-out direction. Then, when the drive unit is driven in accordance with a control signal from the control unit 100, the paper held by the receiving member 626 is conveyed to the discharge roller pair 607 and discharged to the main discharge tray 623 by the discharge roller pair 607. Is done.

  The lifting mechanism 605 is positioned so that the upper surface of the sheet bundle discharged onto the main discharge tray 623 in response to a control signal from the control unit 100 is positioned at a reference position suitable for discharging the sheet bundle from the discharge roller pair 607. The position of the main discharge tray 623 is raised and lowered.

  Next, the electrical configuration of the image forming apparatus 1 will be described. FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram schematically showing the main internal configuration of the image forming apparatus 1.

  The image forming apparatus 1 includes a control unit 10. The control unit 10 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a RAM, a ROM, a dedicated hardware circuit, and the like, and controls overall operation of the image forming apparatus 1.

  The control unit 10 includes a document reading unit 5, an image processing unit 31, an image memory 32, a paper transport unit 411, an image forming unit 12, an operation unit 47, a facsimile communication unit 71, a network interface unit 91, an HDD (hard disk drive) 81, and the like. Connected with. The control unit 10 performs operation control of each of the connected mechanisms and transmits / receives a signal or data to / from each mechanism.

  The control unit 10 includes a control unit 100 that controls overall operation of the image forming apparatus 1 described above. The control unit 100 executes operation control for each function of the scanner function, the printer function, the copy function, and the facsimile function in accordance with a job execution instruction input from the user through the operation unit 47 or a personal computer connected via a network. It controls the drive and processing of each mechanism necessary for the operation.

  The document reading unit 5 includes a scanner unit 51 including the reading mechanism 163 having an image irradiation lamp 511 and a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) sensor 512. The document reading unit 5 irradiates the document with the image irradiation lamp 511 and receives the reflected light with the CCD sensor 512 to read the image from the document.

  The image processing unit 31 performs image processing on the image data of the image read by the document reading unit 5 as necessary. For example, the image processing unit 31 performs predetermined image processing in order to improve the quality after the image read by the document reading unit 5 is formed by the image forming unit 12.

  The image memory 32 stores image data read by the document reading unit 5.

  The paper transport unit 411 includes the pickup roller 145 and the transport roller pair 192 shown in FIG. 1, and records the recording paper stored in the manual feed tray 141 and the paper feed cassettes 142 to 144 to the image forming unit 12 and the discharge tray 151. Transport to.

  As described above, the image forming unit 12 includes the image forming units 12M, 12C, 12Y, and 12Bk, the intermediate transfer belt 125 stretched around the driving roller 125a, the secondary transfer roller 210, and the fixing device 13. ing. Image data to be output by the image forming unit 12 is transmitted from image data read by the document reading unit 5, image data transmitted from a client computer or the like in the local area via the network interface unit 91, and the like. Image data.

  As shown in FIG. 1 in addition to FIG. 2, the operation unit 47 includes a touch panel unit and operation key units that receive instructions from the user regarding various operations and processes that can be executed by the image forming apparatus 1. The display unit 473 includes an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) provided with a touch panel unit 4731. When a touch operation (touch operation) is performed on the display screen of the display unit 473 by the operator, the touch panel unit 4731 detects a coordinate position where the touch operation is performed.

  The facsimile communication unit 71 includes an unillustrated encoding / decoding unit, modulation / demodulation unit, and NCU (Network Control Unit), and performs facsimile transmission / reception using a public telephone line network.

  The HDD 81 stores image data read by the document reading unit 5 and the like. The image data stored in the HDD 81 is used for image formation by the image forming unit 12 and can be transmitted to a client computer connected to the image forming apparatus 1 via a network.

  The network interface unit 91 includes a communication module such as a LAN board, and transmits / receives various data to / from a device (such as a personal computer) in the local area via the LAN connected to the network interface unit 91.

  The control unit 10 further includes a display control unit 101 and an instruction receiving unit 102. The CPU operates in accordance with an instruction input program according to an embodiment of the present invention stored in the memory or ROM in the control unit 10 or the HDD 81 or the like, and functions as these units. Alternatively, the control unit 10 may function as the display control unit 101 and the instruction receiving unit 102 by including a dedicated hardware circuit corresponding to each unit.

  The display control unit 101 causes the display unit 473 to display an instruction reception image. This instruction reception image is, for example, an icon. The instruction receiving image is an instruction receiving image displayed at a position touched by the operator via the touch panel unit 4731 of the display unit 473 based on a contact operation on the display screen of the display unit 473 by the operator. Used to input associated instructions.

  In the present embodiment, the display control unit 101 causes the display unit 473 to display a start reception image, an end reception image, and a job content reception image. The start reception image is an image that the display control unit 101 displays on the display unit 473 in order to receive an input start instruction for starting input of an instruction from the operator via the touch panel unit 4731. In the present embodiment, the display control unit 101 displays the images indicating the paper feed cassettes 142, 143, and 144 of the paper feed unit 14 of the image forming apparatus 1 as start acceptance images.

  The end acceptance image is an image that the display control unit 101 displays on the display unit 473 in order to accept an input end instruction for ending the instruction input from the operator via the touch panel unit 4731. In the present embodiment, the display control unit 101 displays images indicating the mail boxes 622 and the main discharge tray 623 provided in the post-processing device 60 of the image forming apparatus 1 as end acceptance images.

  The job content reception image is an image that the display control unit 101 displays on the display unit 473 in order to receive an input of a job content specification instruction for specifying a setting item associated in advance via the touch panel unit 4731. . In the present embodiment, as an example in which the display control unit 101 causes the display unit 473 to display an image indicating each setting item (hereinafter referred to as a job item) for specifying job contents during a copy operation (image formation operation). Show. For example, as a job content acceptance image, a print color acceptance image for accepting designation of a color or monochrome print color used for printing, a layout acceptance image for accepting designation of a print layout, or a designation of the number of copies to be printed The print copy acceptance image and a post-processing acceptance image for accepting post-processing designation are displayed on the display unit 473 by the display control unit 101.

  The instruction receiving unit 102 receives an instruction associated with each of the instruction receiving images displayed on the display unit 473 based on the operator's contact operation detected by the touch panel unit 4731. The touch panel unit 4731 outputs the coordinate position information on the display screen of the display unit 473 on which the touch operation is performed by the operator to the instruction receiving unit 102, and the instruction receiving unit 102 receives the coordinate position information obtained from the touch panel unit 4731. And the display control unit 101 detects the instruction reception image displayed at the coordinate position based on the information indicating the display position at which the instruction reception image is displayed, and the detected instruction reception image The input of the associated instruction is accepted.

  The instruction acceptance unit 102 accepts an input start instruction, a job content designation instruction, and an input end instruction as follows. Based on the coordinate position information obtained from the touch panel unit 4731, the instruction receiving unit 102 detects a contact operation by the operator to the display position of the start reception image on the display screen of the display unit 473, and based on the contact operation. To accept an input start instruction. Subsequently, the instruction receiving unit 102 receives an input of a job content designation instruction when detecting a slide operation in which the operator maintains a contact state from the contact position of the start reception image to the display position of the job content reception image. . Further, the instruction accepting unit 102 accepts an input end instruction when it detects a slide operation by an operator who is continuously in contact from the contact position of the job content acceptance image to the display position of the end acceptance image. . The instruction receiving unit 102 detects that the slide operation while maintaining the contact state has been performed by the operator based on the coordinate position information obtained from the touch panel unit 4731.

  Note that the instruction input device 200 according to an embodiment of the present invention refers to a part of the image forming apparatus 1 including at least the display unit 473, the display control unit 101, and the instruction receiving unit 102.

  In the above description, the control unit 100 and the display control unit 101 are separate, but the control unit 100 may also serve as the display control unit 101, for example.

  Next, a description will be given of a first embodiment of setting item reception processing when a job is input by the image forming apparatus 1. FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a first embodiment of setting item reception processing when a job is input by the image forming apparatus 1. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of the display screen of the display unit 473. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a contact operation procedure by the operator on the display screen of the display unit 473.

  When the main power supply of the image forming apparatus 1 is turned on, the display control unit 101 displays the initial screen D1 illustrated in FIG. 4 on the display unit 473 (S1). In the present embodiment, the initial screen D1 is a screen that accepts an input of an instruction for designating each job item for a copy operation job. In the initial screen D1, the display control unit 101 displays an apparatus image im1 that shows the entire image forming apparatus 1. Then, the display control unit 101 displays a portion for displaying each sheet cassette included in the apparatus image im1 as a sheet cassette receiving image ct1, ct2, ct3 which is a start receiving image.

  Further, the display control unit 101 displays a display portion indicating each discharge tray in the apparatus image im1, that is, a portion for displaying the bins 6221, 6222, and 6223 that are the mail boxes 622, the main discharge tray 623, and the discharge tray 629. The display unit 473 displays the output tray images op11, op12, op13, op2, and op3 as end acceptance images.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the display control unit 101 displays, on the initial screen D1, a color print acceptance image co1 and a monochrome print acceptance image co2, which are job content acceptance images for accepting print colors as job content acceptance images, a layout designation. 2in1 received images p1 and 4in1 received images p2 that are job content received images for receiving images, 1 received image s1 and 2 received images s2 that are job content received images for receiving the number of copies, and the contents of post processing A punch image reception image ph1 and a staple reception image sp1 which are job content reception images for the purpose are displayed on the display unit 473. Further, the display control unit 101 causes the display unit 473 to display a paper size display image ps1 indicating the paper size determined by the designation of the paper feed cassette. The display control unit 101 displays the paper size associated with the designated paper feed cassette in the paper size display image ps1 according to the paper feed cassette designated by the operator.

  After the initial screen D1 is displayed, the instruction receiving unit 102 detects, by the touch panel unit 4731, an operation of touching the display screen of the display unit 473 by the operator, for example, an operation of touching the display screen with a finger or the like. (NO in S2 and S2).

  Here, when the touch operation by the operator is detected by the touch panel unit 4731 and the coordinate position information of the touch position is acquired from the touch panel unit 4731 (YES in S2), the instruction receiving unit 102 feeds the sheet by the display control unit 101. Based on the position information on the display screen of the display unit 473 displaying the cassette reception images ct1, ct2, and ct3, the contact position in the contact operation by the operator is the sheet cassette reception images ct1, ct2, and ct3. It is determined whether any display position is set (S3).

  If the instruction receiving unit 102 determines that the contact position by the operator is not any of the display positions of the paper cassette received images ct1, ct2, and ct3 (NO in S3), the process returns to S1 and the instruction is received. The reception unit 102 waits until the operator touches any display position of the paper cassette reception images ct1, ct2, and ct3.

  On the other hand, when the instruction receiving unit 102 determines that the contact portion by the operator is one of the paper cassette reception images ct1, ct2, and ct3 (YES in S3), the instruction receiving unit 102 receives the paper cassette reception Among the images ct1, ct2, and ct3, the paper cassette associated with the paper cassette acceptance image displayed at the contact portion (in this embodiment, one of the paper cassettes 142 to 144 in FIG. 1). , That is, an instruction for designating a paper cassette used for paper feeding in the current copying operation (S4). At this time, the instruction receiving unit 102 also receives an input start instruction at the same time based on a contact operation to the paper cassette received image by the operator. By receiving the input start instruction, the instruction receiving unit 102 receives each instruction for specifying the job contents input thereafter. That is, in the present embodiment, the paper feed cassette received images ct1, ct2, and ct3 are used as both the start received image and the job content received image. When the paper feed cassette is designated, the display control unit 101 displays the paper size associated with the designated paper feed cassette in the paper size display image ps1.

  The instruction receiving unit 102 determines whether or not the touch operation on the display screen of the display unit 473 is continued as it is based on the coordinate position information acquired from the touch panel unit 4731 (S5). For example, the instruction receiving unit 102 stops the contact operation by the operator when the coordinate position information is not acquired from the touch panel unit 4731 (the operator lifts his / her finger from the display screen) and moves to the display screen. If it is determined that the contact state has been released (NO in S5), the instruction already accepted at this point, in this embodiment, the input start instruction and the sheet cassette as the job content designation instruction are designated. The instruction is canceled (S21), and the process is terminated.

  In addition, the instruction receiving unit 102 is in a state where the contact state on the display screen following the contact operation on the paper cassette received image by the operator continues (YES in S5), the display control unit 101. Based on the display position information of the color print acceptance image co1 and the monochrome print acceptance image co2 by the operator, it is determined whether the contact position by the operator has moved to the display position of either the color print acceptance image co1 or the monochrome print acceptance image co2. (S6). The instruction receiving unit 102 continues the determination after receiving the instruction to specify the paper feed cassette while the operator continues to touch the display screen (YES in S5, NO in S6).

  When the instruction reception unit 102 determines that the contact position of the operator has moved to the display position of either the color print reception image co1 or the monochrome print reception image co2 (YES in S6), the color reception image co1 or monochrome printing is performed. In the received image co2, an instruction for specifying the print color associated with the image displayed at the contact position as the color (color or monochrome) used for image formation in the current copy operation is received (S7). .

  For example, the operator performs a contact operation on the paper cassette reception image ct1 or the like, and slides the finger on the display screen of the display unit 473 while maintaining this contact state, so that the color printing reception image co1 or monochrome printing is performed. When moved to one of the display positions of the received image co2, the instruction receiving unit 102 performs printing associated with the color print received image co1 or the monochrome print received image co2 displayed at the contact position after the movement. Accepts an instruction to specify a color.

  From the touch panel unit 4731, the instruction receiving unit 102 determines whether the contact state of the display unit 473 with the display screen continues following the contact with the color print reception image co1 or the monochrome print reception image co2 by the operator. Determination is made based on the acquired coordinate position information (S8). If the instruction receiving unit 102 determines that the contact state has been released (NO in S8), the instruction receiving unit 102 receives the already received instruction, in this embodiment, the input start instruction and the sheet cassette that is the job content specifying instruction. The instruction to specify and the instruction to specify the print color are canceled (S21), and the process ends.

  When the contact state on the display screen following the contact operation on the print color reception image by the operator continues, the instruction reception unit 102 receives the coordinate position information and the 2in1 reception images p1 and 4in1 by the display control unit 101. Based on the display position information of the received image p2, it is determined whether the contact position by the operator has moved to the display position of either the 2in1 received image p1 or the 4in1 received image p2 (S9). The instruction receiving unit 102 continues the determination after receiving the instruction to specify the print color while the operator is in contact with the display screen (YES in S8, NO in S9).

  When the instruction receiving unit 102 determines that the contact position of the operator has moved to the display position of either the 2in1 received image p1 or the 4in1 received image p2 (YES in S9), the instruction receiving unit 102 sets the 2in1 received image p1 or the 4in1 received image p2 Of these, the layout associated with the image displayed at the contact position is the layout used for image formation in this copy operation (4in1 = 4 pages printed on 1 sheet, 2in1 = 1 sheet) An instruction designated as “two-page printing” is received (S10).

  Further, the instruction receiving unit 102 determines whether the contact state on the display screen of the display unit 473 continues as it is after the operator touches the 2in1 received image p1 or the 4in1 received image p2 that is the layout received image. The determination is made based on the coordinate position information acquired from the touch panel unit 4731 (S11). If the instruction receiving unit 102 determines that the contact state has been released (NO in S11), the instruction that has already been received, in this embodiment, the input start instruction, and the paper cassette designation that is a job content designation instruction are used. The instruction, the print color designation instruction, and the layout designation instruction are canceled (S21), and the process ends.

  When the contact state on the display screen following the contact operation on the layout reception image by the operator continues, the instruction reception unit 102 uses the coordinate position information acquired from the touch panel unit 4731 and the display control unit 101. Based on the display position information of the one-part received image s1 and the two-part received image s2, it is determined whether the contact position by the operator has moved to the display position of the one-part received image s1 or the two-part received image s2. (S12). The instruction receiving unit 102 continues the determination as long as the operator is in contact with the display screen after receiving the instruction for designating the layout (YES in S11, NO in S12).

  When the instruction reception unit 102 determines that the contact position by the operator has moved to the display position of either the one-part reception image s1 or the two-part reception image s2 (YES in S12), the one-part reception image s1 or two copies An instruction to designate the number of copies associated with the image displayed at the contact position in the received image s2 as the number of copies (one or two in this embodiment) used for image formation in the current copy operation Is received (S13).

  Thereafter, the instruction receiving unit 102 further determines whether the touch state on the display screen of the display unit 473 continues following the contact with the first copy received image s1 or the second copy received image s2. Judgment is made based on the coordinate position information acquired from (S14). If the instruction receiving unit 102 determines that the contact state has been released (NO in S14), the instruction that has already been received, in this embodiment, the input start instruction, and the paper cassette designation that is a job content designation instruction are used. The instruction, the print color designation instruction, the layout designation instruction, and the print copy number designation instruction are canceled (S21), and the process ends.

  The instruction receiving unit 102 receives the coordinate position information acquired from the touch panel unit 4731 and the display control unit 101 when the contact state on the display screen following the contact operation on the copy reception image by the operator continues. Based on the display position information of the punch image reception image ph1 and the staple reception image sp1, it is determined whether the contact position by the operator has moved to the display position of either the punch image reception image ph1 or the staple reception image sp1 ( S15). The instruction receiving unit 102 continues the determination after receiving the instruction for designating the layout while the operator is in contact with the display screen (YES in S14, NO in S15).

  If the instruction reception unit 102 determines that the contact position by the operator has moved to the display position of either the punch image reception image ph1 or the staple reception image sp1 (YES in S15), the punch image reception image ph1 or the staple reception image An instruction to specify post-processing associated with the image displayed at the contact position in sp1 as post-processing (punch or stapling in the present embodiment) used for image formation in the current copy operation is accepted. (S16).

  Thereafter, the instruction receiving unit 102 further maintains the contact state on the display screen from the contact operation on the post-processed image by the operator (YES in S17), and the contact position by the operator is determined. Then, it is determined whether or not the discharge tray images op11, op12, op13, op14, op2, and op3 have been performed (S18), and the instruction receiving unit 102 determines that the contact position by the operator is the discharge tray images op11, op12, and op13. , op2, op3, when it is determined that it has moved to one of the display positions (YES in S18), it is associated with the image displayed at the contact position among the discharge tray images op11, op12, op13, op2, op3 An instruction to designate the discharged tray as a discharge tray to be used for image formation in the current copying operation is received (S19). At this time, the instruction receiving unit 102 also receives an input end instruction at the same time. After receiving the input end instruction, the instruction receiving unit 102 ends receiving the instructions specifying the job contents. That is, in the present embodiment, the discharge tray images op11, op12, op13, op2, and op3 function as both an end reception image and a job content reception image.

  Note that the instruction receiving unit 102 continues the determination in S18 after receiving the instruction to specify post-processing while the operator is in contact with the display screen (YES in S17, NO in S18). If the instruction accepting unit 102 determines that the contact state has been released (NO in S17), the instruction already accepted, in this embodiment, the input start instruction and the paper cassette designation that is a job content designation instruction are used. The instruction, print color designation instruction, layout designation instruction, number of copies designation instruction, and post-processing designation instruction are canceled (S21), and the process ends.

  With the contents of the setting items indicated by the job content designation instructions received in this way, the control unit 100 feeds the recording paper fed from the designated paper feed cassette to the image forming unit 12 by the paper transport unit 411. After the recording paper is conveyed, the image forming unit 12 forms an image with the specified printing color, layout, and number of copies, and the post-processing device 60 performs the specified post-processing. A series of image forming operations of discharging the recording paper after the image formation to the designated discharge tray by the paper transport unit 411 is performed (S20). Thereafter, the process ends.

  The above-described reception of each job content designation instruction (S6, S7, S9, S10, S12, S13, S15, S16) is not limited to the above-described order, and any of the receptions is accepted. It may be done first.

  According to the first embodiment, for example, as shown in FIG. 5, the operator performs a touch operation on the display position of the paper cassette reception image ct1 as the start reception image displayed on the display unit 473. ((1) in FIG. 5), a paper feed cassette 142 corresponding to the paper feed cassette acceptance image ct1 is designated, and as shown by a solid line ln in FIG. A contact operation is performed on the monochrome print reception image co2 of the print color reception image ((2) in FIG. 5). Subsequently, the 4in1 reception image p2 of the layout reception image, the one reception image s1, the copy reception image, Then, a contact operation is performed on each display position of the punch image reception image ph1 of the post-processing reception image ((3) to (5) in FIG. 5), and a slide operation subsequent to the contact operation is performed as an end reception image. Touch the display position of the output tray image op2 By specifying the main discharge tray 623 ((6) in FIG. 5), it is possible to input an input start instruction, a desired job content specification instruction, and an input end instruction. As a result, as indicated by a solid line ln in FIG. 5, the operator touches one of the display positions of the paper cassette reception images ct1, ct2, and ct3 with a finger, and removes the finger from the display screen of the display unit 473. Without slipping through the display position of the job content reception image such as the color printing reception image co1 or the monochrome printing reception image co2, the finger slides to the display position of any of the discharge tray images op11, op12, op13, op2, and op3. If this is the case, the operator can input an instruction to specify a desired paper feed tray, print color, layout, number of copies, post-processing, and discharge tray.

  For this reason, the operator can input a plurality of instructions with a single operation of tracing the display screen without performing the operation of releasing the contact state on the display screen many times (removing the finger many times). The number of operations when inputting multiple instructions can be reduced. In addition, since the operation is comfortable for the operator, the comfort of the operation experienced by the operator is improved.

  Thereby, according to this embodiment, the operativity at the time of an operator inputting the instruction | indication about several items can be improved compared with the past in both the frequency | count of operation and operation content.

  Next, a second embodiment of setting item reception processing at the time of job input by the image forming apparatus 1 will be described. FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a second embodiment of setting item reception processing when a job is input by the image forming apparatus 1. FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of a contact operation procedure by the operator on the display screen of the display unit 473. Note that the description of the same processing as in the first embodiment is omitted.

  In the first embodiment, the instruction receiving unit 102 receives an instruction to specify the corresponding job content for the job content receiving images of all items displayed on the initial screen D1 by the display control unit 101, and the control unit 100 In the second embodiment, the job contents are specified for the displayed job content reception images of all the items. In the second embodiment, each mechanism such as the image forming unit 12 performs the image forming operation with the content indicated by the instruction. It is not mandatory to input the instruction. In the second embodiment, when the input end instruction is received, it is sufficient that the instruction receiving unit 102 receives an input of job details related to an essential job item that is determined to be input in advance. Of the job items indicating the job contents, the required item information indicating the required job items is held by the instruction receiving unit 102.

  Referring to FIG. 6, in the second embodiment, in the designation receiving process for each job item shown in S36, S37, S39, S40, S42, S43, S45, and S46, as in the first embodiment. The operator waits for contact with each job content acceptance image, and when there is a contact, designation of designation content associated with the contacted job content acceptance image is accepted. At this time, in the second embodiment, illustration is omitted in FIG. 6 in order to avoid complication of description, but when the operator waits for contact with each job content reception image by the operator, the operator receives the end reception image and the job. When a contact operation is performed on the discharge tray images op11, op12, op13, op2, and op3 as the content reception images, the process proceeds to S49.

  Then, when the input end instruction is received based on the contact operation by the operator (S49), the instruction receiving unit 102 determines whether or not there is an indispensable job item that has not been input at the time of reception. The determination is made according to the essential item information (S50).

  Here, when the instruction receiving unit 102 determines that there are no unrequired mandatory job items (NO in S50), that is, when all the input of the designation instruction of the essential job items is accepted, Using the job content designation instruction that has already been received, the image forming section 12 or the like is caused to perform the image forming operation (S52).

  On the other hand, if the instruction receiving unit 102 determines that there is a non-input mandatory job item (YES in S50), the instruction receiving unit 102 holds the non-input essential job item in advance. The default setting is accepted as an instruction to specify the uninput job item (S51). The control unit 100 performs the image forming operation with the job content received in this way (S52).

  For example, as in the first embodiment, when the initial screen D1 shown in FIG. 4 is displayed on the display unit 473 by the display control unit 101, the instruction receiving unit 102 displays the paper feed cassette, print color, layout, Among the job items for the number of copies, post-processing, and discharge tray, for example, the printer has essential item information indicating that the paper cassette, print color, layout, number of copies, and discharge tray are required job items. Each of these essential job items has a predetermined default setting. For example, for the paper cassette that is an essential job item, the paper cassette 142 is set as the default setting, monochrome printing is set as the default setting for the print color, and one page is printed on the recording paper without scaling. Is set as a default setting, with regard to the number of copies, information indicating that one copy is set as a default setting, and the discharge tray has information indicating that the main discharge tray 623 is set as a default setting.

  The instruction receiving unit 102 determines that any one of the paper feed cassette, print color, layout, number of copies, and discharge tray, which are essential job items, is not input when the input end instruction is received. In this case, a default setting for a job item that has not been input is set to be used for the current copy operation.

  On the other hand, when a job item that is not an essential job item is not input at the time when the input end instruction is received, for example, the instruction receiving unit 102 does not set the job item, that is, sets the job item to Do not execute. For example, in the above example, post-processing is not an indispensable job item, but if an instruction for specifying job details is not input for this post-processing, post-processing is set not to be performed.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 7, the operator performs a touch operation on the display position of the paper cassette reception image ct1 as the start reception image displayed on the display unit 473 ((1) in FIG. 7). ) Designates the paper feed cassette 142 corresponding to the paper feed cassette acceptance image ct1, and, as indicated by the solid line ln, the monochrome print acceptance image co2 of the print color acceptance image as the job content acceptance image by the slide operation continuous from the contact operation (2) in FIG. 7 and thereafter, the display operation is accepted by the above slide operation without performing any contact operation on the display positions of the layout acceptance image, the copy acceptance image, and the post-processing acceptance image. When the main discharge tray 623 is designated by performing a contact operation on the display position of the discharge tray image op2 as an image ((3) in FIG. 7), the instruction receiving unit 102 sets the paper feed cassette 142, monochrome printing, and the discharge tray 623. finger As for the layout and the number of copies, which are mandatory job items that are not touched, are the default settings, each instruction specifying printing one page on one sheet of recording paper and printing one copy without scaling. Accept. On the other hand, the instruction accepting unit 102 is set to perform no post-processing for post-processing that is neither a contact operation nor an essential job item.

  According to the second embodiment, when the instruction for specifying the job content is not input in the above-described contact operation and slide operation by the operator, that is, the operator is indispensable. Even when the contact operation for the display position of the end acceptance image is performed without performing the input operation for the job item, the job of the copy operation (image formation) can be executed by setting all the job items. State. Further, for job items that the operator is not particularly concerned with, the operator can make the job executable even if the contact operation necessary for instruction input is omitted. Thereby, the operation comfort for the operator is further improved.

  Further, according to the first and second embodiments, the operator can move to any one of the display positions of the paper cassette received images ct1, ct2, and ct3 of the device image im1 on the initial screen D1 displayed on the display unit 473. In the slide operation that keeps the contact state as it is with the contact operation, the display of the output tray image op11, op12, op13, op2, op3 through the display position of the job content acceptance image such as print color image By performing the contact operation up to the position, each instruction can be input according to the procedure according to the flow of the recording paper at the time of the copy operation (image formation), so the operator can receive the start reception image, each job content reception image, and the end The procedure for performing the contact operation on the received image can be intuitively grasped, and the comfort for the operation experienced by the operator can be further improved.

  The present invention is not limited to the configuration of the above embodiment, and various modifications can be made. For example, in each of the above embodiments, the image forming apparatus according to the present invention has been described using a multifunction peripheral. However, this is merely an example, and other than the multifunction peripheral, a copier, a scanner device, a facsimile apparatus, and the like are available. The image forming apparatus may be used.

  1 to 7 are only one embodiment of the present invention and are not intended to limit the present invention to the configuration and processing.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image forming apparatus 10 Control unit 12 Image forming part 47 Operation part 200 Instruction input device 100 Control part 101 Display control part 102 Instruction reception part 142,143,144 Paper feed cassette 473 Display part 622 Mailbox 6221,6222,6223 Bin 623 Main discharge tray 629 Discharge tray

Claims (5)

A display unit having a touch panel function;
On the display unit, a start acceptance image for accepting an input start instruction indicating the start of an instruction input from the operator, an end acceptance image for accepting an input end instruction indicating the end of the instruction input from the operator, and a job content A display control unit for displaying a job content reception image for receiving an input of a job content specification instruction to be specified;
Displaying the job content acceptance image from the contact position of the start acceptance image after accepting the input start instruction based on a contact operation by an operator to the display location of the start acceptance image on the display unit by the touch panel function The input of the job content designation instruction is received based on the slide operation that maintains the contact state by the operator up to the position, and further, the contact state continuously from the contact position of the job content reception image to the display position of the end reception image An instruction input device comprising: an instruction receiving unit that receives the input end instruction based on a sliding motion in which the movement is maintained.   The instruction input device according to claim 1, wherein the instruction receiving unit cancels the already received instruction when the contact state is released after receiving the input start instruction or the job content specifying instruction. The display control unit causes the display unit to display the job content reception image corresponding to an essential job item that requires input,
The instruction accepting unit has essential item information indicating a mandatory job item that must be input, and does not accept a job content designation instruction based on the job content acceptance image corresponding to the essential job item. The instruction input device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein when an input end instruction is received, a predetermined default setting is received as the content of the essential job item for which the job content designation instruction is not received. An image forming unit for forming an image on a recording medium;
A plurality of paper feed cassettes for feeding the recording medium to the image forming unit;
A plurality of discharge trays from which the recording medium after image formation by the image forming unit is discharged;
An instruction input device according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The display control unit displays each paper cassette image corresponding to the plurality of paper cassettes as the start acceptance image, and displays each discharge tray image corresponding to the plurality of discharge trays as the end acceptance image. And displaying an image indicating an item for specifying job content for image formation as the job content acceptance image,
The instruction receiving unit, based on a contact operation on the paper cassette image by an operator, together with the input start instruction, a paper cassette corresponding to a paper cassette image displayed at a position where the contact operation is performed Is input to the discharge tray image displayed at the position where the contact operation is performed together with the input end instruction based on the contact operation on the discharge tray image by the operator. An image forming apparatus that receives an instruction to use a corresponding discharge tray as a discharge destination of a recording medium. On the display unit, specify a start acceptance image for accepting an input start instruction indicating the start of instruction input from the operator, an end acceptance image for accepting an input end instruction indicating the end of instruction input from the operator, and the job contents A display control unit for displaying a job content reception image for receiving an input of a job content specification instruction to be performed;
After receiving the input start instruction based on a touch operation by an operator to the display position of the start reception image on the display section by the touch panel function of the display section, the job content is determined from the contact position of the start reception image. The input of the job content designation instruction is received based on the slide operation that maintains the contact state by the operator up to the display position of the received image, and further from the contact position of the job content received image to the display position of the end received image. An instruction input program that causes a computer to function as an instruction receiving unit that receives the input end instruction based on a sliding operation in which the contact state is maintained.

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