JP2016184895A - Visible image forming apparatus and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To form a visible image showing a job management screen in the air to enable a user to accurately grasp the situation of managed jobs.SOLUTION: A visible image forming apparatus comprises: a visible image forming part 50 that forms a visible image in the air; a job management part 101 that performs management of jobs; a screen image creation part 103 that creates a screen image; and a control part 100 that causes the visible image forming part 50 to form a visible image of the screen image created by the screen image creation part 103. The screen image creation part 103 creates a job list image showing the situation of jobs managed by the job management part 101. The control part 100 causes the visible image forming part 50 to form a visible image of the created job list image.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

  The present invention relates to a visible image forming apparatus and an image forming apparatus, and more particularly to a technique for forming a job management screen as a visible image in the air.

  Nowadays, a display device has been proposed that forms a visible image in the air and displays necessary information. For example, in the following Patent Documents 1 and 2, invisible laser light is intermittently emitted, and the laser light is collected by a lens, a mirror, or the like to generate plasma, and the visible light emitted from the plasma is used as a letter, A visible image forming apparatus that forms a visible image such as an image in the air is shown.

  Patent Document 3 below proposes a vehicle interior aerial display device that displays necessary information by forming a visible image in a space in an automobile. In this vehicle interior aerial display device, information necessary for a vehicle occupant can be displayed at a position that is easily visible to the occupant in a space in the vehicle interior instead of a display panel attached to the vehicle interior.

  Further, the optical imaging device disclosed in Patent Document 4 below receives and reflects light emitted from an object or a display device, and is positioned symmetrically with the object or display device with the optical imaging device interposed therebetween. An object image is formed in the air by converging the reflected light.

JP 2003-233339 A JP 2007-206588 A JP 2010-78623 A JP 2013-127625 A

  On the other hand, there is known an image forming apparatus as a multifunction machine having multiple functions such as a copy, a printer, a scanner, and a fax machine. Can be displayed in the air.

  However, even if the operation screen of the image forming apparatus is displayed in the air by the techniques disclosed in Patent Documents 1 to 4, it is not possible for the user to accurately understand the job status managed in the image forming apparatus. Have difficulty.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and enables a user to accurately grasp the status of a managed job by forming a visible image showing a job management screen in the air. Objective.

A visible image forming apparatus according to one aspect of the present invention includes a visible image forming unit that forms a visible image in the air,
A job management unit for managing jobs;
A screen image creation unit for creating a job list image indicating the status of jobs managed by the job management unit;
A control unit that causes the visible image forming unit to form a visible image of the screen image created by the screen image creating unit,
The control unit causes the visible image forming unit to form a visible image of the job list image created by the screen image creating unit.

An image forming apparatus according to one aspect of the present invention includes the visible image forming apparatus,
And an image forming unit that forms an image on a recording medium.

  According to the present invention, by forming a visible image showing the job management screen in the air, even if the user is away from the display portion showing the job management contents, the job status can be accurately determined from that position. I can grasp it.

1 is a perspective view illustrating an appearance of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. 2 is a functional block diagram illustrating a main internal configuration of the image forming apparatus. FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the process which forms the visible image of an operation screen by a visible image formation part. It is a figure which shows the state in which the visible image as an operation screen is formed in the air. It is a figure which shows the state in which the visible image as an operation screen is formed in the air. (A), (B) is a figure which shows the state in which the visible image as an operation screen is formed in the air. (A), (B) is a figure which shows the state in which the visible image as an operation screen is formed in the air. (A)-(C) are figures which show the state in which the visible image as an operation screen is formed in the air. It is a flowchart which shows the process which forms the visible image of an operation screen by a visible image formation part. It is a flowchart which shows the process which forms the visible image of an operation screen by a visible image formation part. It is a flowchart which shows the process which forms the visible image of an operation screen by a visible image formation part.

  Hereinafter, an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an appearance of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  An image forming apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention is a multifunction machine having a plurality of functions such as a facsimile communication function, a copy function, a printer function, and a scanner function. As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus 1 includes an apparatus main body 2, an image reading unit 5 disposed above the apparatus main body 2, and a connecting unit provided between the image reading unit 5 and the apparatus main body 2. 3.

  A housing 7 that forms the outline of the image forming apparatus 1 accommodates a plurality of constituent devices for realizing various functions of the image forming apparatus 1. For example, the housing 7 accommodates the image reading unit 5, the image forming unit 12 (FIG. 2), the fixing unit, the paper feeding unit 30, and the visible image forming unit 50 according to an embodiment of the present invention. Yes.

  The image reading unit 5 is an ADF (Auto Document Feeder) having a document conveyance unit 6 and a scanner that optically reads a document conveyed by the document conveyance unit 6 or a document placed on a contact glass (not shown). is there. The image reading unit 5 acquires image data that is an image forming target by reading one document at a time for facsimile transmission.

  The image forming unit 12 includes a photosensitive drum, a charging device, an exposure device, a developing device, and a transfer device. The image read by the image reading unit 5 and print target data sent from a network-connected personal computer. Is used to form (print) an image on the recording paper supplied from the paper supply unit 30. The recording paper on which the image has been formed is discharged to the discharge tray 4 after undergoing fixing processing by the fixing unit.

  The visible image forming unit 50 forms a visible image in the air. (1) The visible image forming unit 50 intermittently emits invisible laser light, condenses the laser light with a lens, a mirror, or the like to generate plasma, and the visible light emitted from the plasma produces characters, A visible image such as an image is formed in the air (the visible image forming method is disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Nos. 2003-233339 and 2007-206588). Alternatively, (2) the visible image forming unit 50 includes an optical imaging device, receives and reflects light emitted from the display device, and is symmetrical with the display device with the optical imaging device interposed therebetween. An object image is formed in the air by converging the reflected light at a position (a visible image forming method is disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2013-127625). Hereinafter, in the present embodiment, description will be made assuming that the visible image forming unit 50 has the configuration (1).

  The operation unit 47 is, for example, a setting that is input by operating a start key for instructing execution of a function that can be performed by the image forming apparatus 1 and an operation screen indicated by a visible image formed by the visible image forming unit 50. A determination key (enter key) for confirming the value, a numerical value input key for inputting a numerical value, and the like are provided.

  Further, an operation detection unit 60 is provided on the side portion on the front side of the image forming apparatus 1. When the visible image forming unit 50 forms the visible image, the operation detecting unit 60 is a pseudo-image for the visible image in which the operator has placed his hand at the visible image forming position. Detect touch operations. When detecting the operation, the operation detection unit 60 outputs position information on the operation being detected to the instruction receiving unit 102 (FIG. 2).

  Further, an operator detection sensor 80 that detects an operator existing within a certain range in front of the image forming apparatus 1 is provided on a side portion on the front side of the image forming apparatus 1. The operator detection sensor 80 is, for example, an optical sensor, and has a light emitting and light receiving unit, and when the light receiving unit can receive the reflected light from the operator of the light emitted from the light emitting unit, the image forming apparatus 1. A detection signal indicating that the operator is present within a certain range in front of is output to the control unit 100 described later.

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

  The image reading unit 5 includes a reading mechanism having a light irradiation unit, a CCD sensor, and the like under the control of the control unit 10. The image reading unit 5 irradiates the document with the light irradiating unit and receives the reflected light with the CCD sensor, thereby reading the image from the document.

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

  The image memory 32 is an area for temporarily storing data of a document image obtained by reading by the image reading unit 5 and temporarily storing data to be subjected to image formation by the image forming unit 12. .

  The image forming unit 12 performs image formation such as print data read by the image reading unit 5 and print data received from the computer 200 connected to the network.

  The operation unit 47 receives instructions from the operator regarding various operations and processes that can be executed by the image forming apparatus 1.

  The HDD 92 is a large-capacity storage device that stores document images and the like read by the image reading unit 5. The image forming apparatus 1 can execute a plurality of predetermined functions, such as a copy function, a scanner function, a facsimile communication function, and a printer function, and each function needs to be set for function execution. An operation screen (screen image) used for receiving setting values of various items is defined. In addition, a basic screen of each operation screen (screen image) and information attached to the screen information are stored in a part of the storage area of the HDD 92.

  The visible image forming unit 50 forms a visible image in the air under the control of the control unit 100. In the present embodiment, the visible image forming unit 50 intermittently emits invisible laser light, collects the laser light with a lens, a mirror, or the like to generate plasma, and uses visible light emitted from the plasma. Visible images such as letters and images are formed in the air. The visible image forming unit 50 includes at least a laser light source unit 51, a formation position calculation unit 52, and a laser light source control unit 53.

  The laser light source unit 51 emits the invisible laser beam under the control of the laser light source control unit 53. The laser light source unit 51 includes a laser light source that emits a laser beam, a lens or mirror that collects laser light from the laser light source to generate plasma, and a scan that scans the laser light source and the lens or mirror. Mechanism.

  The formation position calculation unit 52 is configured so that a visible image indicating a screen image received from the control unit 100 is formed at a predetermined visible image formation position (position coordinates on a predetermined three-dimensional space coordinate system). Then, the laser light emission direction and emission position by the laser light source unit 51 are calculated. That is, the formation position calculation unit 52 calculates the visible image formation position at which the laser light source unit 51 generates plasma.

  The laser light source control unit 53 controls the laser light source unit 51 in order to cause the gas existing in the laser light emission direction and emission position calculated by the formation position calculation unit 52 to emit plasma. Since the visible image is generated by the bright spot generated at the intersection of the two laser beams, the laser light source control unit 53 sets the position of the bright spot to a position corresponding to each pixel constituting the screen image, for example. The laser light source 51 is driven and controlled while adjusting the timing of emitting the two laser beams.

  When forming a three-dimensional visible image, the formation position calculation unit 52 repeatedly calculates and updates the laser beam emission direction and emission position in the XYZ directions in the space by the laser light source unit 51. The laser light source control unit 53 controls the laser light source unit 51 so that the gas existing in the laser light emission direction and the emission position emits plasma whenever the laser light emission direction and the emission position are updated. The laser light source control unit 53 controls the scanning mechanism of the laser light source unit 51 to move the lens in the laser irradiation direction (for example, the Z direction as the depth when the XY direction is a two-dimensional direction), The plasma emission position in the laser irradiation direction (Z direction) is changed.

  The control unit 10 includes a control unit 100, a job management unit 101, an instruction reception unit 102, and a screen image creation unit 103 that creates a screen image.

  The control unit 10 functions as a control unit 100, a job management unit 101, an instruction reception unit 102, and a screen image creation unit 103 by an operation according to a control program installed in the HDD 92. However, the control unit 100, the job management unit 101, the instruction reception unit 102, and the screen image creation unit 103 can each be configured by a hardware circuit without depending on the operation according to the control program by the control unit 10.

  The control unit 100 includes an image reading unit 5, a document conveying unit 6, an image processing unit 31, an image memory 32, an image forming unit 12, an operation unit 47, a facsimile communication unit 71, a network interface unit 91, an HDD (hard disk drive) 92, Connected to the visible image forming unit 50, the operation detection unit 60, the operator detection sensor 80, and the like, and performs drive control of these units.

  The job management unit 101 manages jobs. In other words, the job management unit 101 controls the execution, execution order, and cancellation of each received job, and monitors the status of the job (for example, processing, printing, waiting, or paused).

  The instruction receiving unit 102 receives each instruction associated with the pseudo touch operation detected by the operation detection unit 60. The instruction receiving unit 102 stores in advance instruction contents associated with a combination of the type of operation screen and the position information of the pseudo touch operation. When receiving the detection of the pseudo touch operation on a certain operation screen and the position information of the pseudo touch operation from the operation detection unit 60, the instruction receiving unit 102 receives the type of the operation screen and the position information of the pseudo touch operation. Thus, the instruction contents associated with these are determined, and the determination instruction contents are accepted as instructions from the operator.

  The screen image creation unit 103 creates a screen image indicating these in accordance with the instruction content received by the instruction reception unit 102, the status of the job managed by the job management unit 101, and the like. The screen image creation unit 103 creates a screen image using a basic screen of each operation screen (screen image) stored in the HDD 92. For example, when creating the job list image indicating the job status, the screen image creation unit 103 uses the basic screen of the job list stored in the HDD 92 and the job information managed by the job management unit 101. Create a job list image.

  When the visible image is formed in the predetermined spatial position by the visible image forming unit 50, the operation detecting unit 60 is placed at the display position of the operation screen formed as the visible image by the operator's hand. A pseudo touch operation in a state where is positioned is detected. The operation detection unit 60 outputs the fact that the pseudo touch operation has been detected and the position information of the pseudo touch operation to the instruction receiving unit 102.

  For example, the operation detection unit 60 includes an imaging unit 61. The imaging unit 61 captures an image within a certain range of the three-dimensional space from the predetermined formation position where the visible image is formed by the visible image forming unit 50. The operation detection unit 60 specifies an image of the operator's hand and the like and the spatial position of the image based on the image captured by the imaging unit 61, and the spatial position of the image is visible at the predetermined formation position. When the position is within a certain range from the operation screen formed as an image (for example, within 10 mm in at least one of the xyz directions), it is detected as a pseudo touch operation on the operation screen as the visible image, Position information indicating the position where the pseudo touch operation is performed is acquired.

  For example, the operation detection unit 60 performs image processing such as binarization processing and pattern matching based on grayscale information based on the image captured by the imaging unit 61 to determine the image of the operator. Here, the operation detection unit 60 uses the pattern matching between the image of the operator's hand extracted from the captured image and the basic image stored in advance by the operation detection unit 60, so that the captured image is the image of the operator's hand. It is determined whether or not. Then, when the image of the hand is determined, the operation detection unit 60 detects the position of the image of the hand as position coordinates in predetermined three-dimensional space coordinates. Then, the operation detection unit 60 determines whether or not there is a portion where the position of the image of the hand overlaps the predetermined spatial position where the operation screen as a visible image is formed. When there is an overlapping portion, the operation detection unit 60 detects that there is a pseudo touch operation on the operation screen. The operation detection unit 60 outputs to the instruction receiving unit 102 information indicating that the pseudo touch operation has been detected and position information indicating the operation position of the pseudo touch operation.

  Further, when the operation detection unit 60 detects the pseudo touch operation by the operator approaching a hand or the like within the predetermined range with respect to the print image formed as a visible image by the visible image forming unit 50 When the operator slides in the XY direction while keeping the position of the pseudo touch operation in a predetermined range in the Z direction, the operation is detected as a drag operation on the visible image.

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

  The network interface unit 91 includes a communication module such as a LAN board, and transmits / receives various data to / from the computer 200 in the local area via a LAN connected to the network interface unit 91. A plurality of computers 200 can be connected to the image forming apparatus 1.

  The driving motor 70 is a driving source that applies a rotational driving force to each rotating member and the conveyance roller pair of the image forming unit 12.

  As described above, the operator detection sensor 80 is a sensor that detects an operator existing within a certain range in front of the image forming apparatus 1.

  The visible image forming unit 50, the operation detecting unit 60, the control unit 100, the job managing unit 101, the instruction receiving unit 102, and the screen image creating unit 103 are an embodiment of the visible image forming apparatus according to the present invention. obtain.

  Next, processing for forming a visible image of the job list image by the visible image forming unit 50 will be described. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing processing for forming a visible image of the job list image by the visible image forming unit 50. Note that this processing is performed when an operator instructs the formation of a visible image indicating a job list image from the operation unit 47 or the like.

  The control unit 100 reads the basic screen of the job list from the HDD 92 (S1), and reads each job information (for example, job number, user name, job status) regarding the job managed by the job management unit 101 (S2). The screen image creation unit 103 creates a job list image indicating the job status using the read basic screen and job information (S3). The job number is a job reception number, the user name is the name of the user who executed the job, and the job status is processing, printing, waiting, paused, or the like.

  Then, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the control unit 100 displays the visible image D1 of the job list image generated as described above in the visible image forming unit 50 in a predetermined space. It is formed at the position (S4). Here, the predetermined spatial position for forming the visible image D1 is the same position as the front side surface portion of the image forming apparatus 1 in the forward direction of the image forming apparatus 1, as shown in FIGS. Is the height position of the line of sight of the operator P1 who has a standard height.

  When the visible image D1 is formed in this way, the visible image D1 of the job list image is positioned in a space in front of the operator standing in front of the image forming apparatus 1 as shown in FIG. Therefore, for the operator P1, for example, the visibility of the job list image is improved as compared with the case where the job list image displayed on a display unit such as an LCD provided in the image forming apparatus 1 is viewed. In addition, since the visible image D1 of the job list image is formed in the air, it can be viewed not only by the operator P1 near the image forming apparatus 1 but also by a person at a distant place. For example, the visible image D1 is formed within a size range of 400 mm long × 600 mm wide. Further, the control unit 100 may designate the size of the visible image D1 to the visible image forming unit 50 according to the number of jobs included in the job list image. By varying the size, it is possible to easily grasp the degree of job congestion even from a remote location.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the visible image forming unit 50 forms the visible image D1 so that each pixel constituting the visible image D1 rotates slowly about the virtual vertical axis J. The visible image D1 can be artificially rotated about the axis by controlling the emission direction of the laser beam to be performed.

  For example, the formation position calculation unit 52 rotates 360 degrees about the virtual vertical axis J (FIG. 4) every fixed period (fixed period), and the visible image D1 rotates around the virtual vertical axis by a fixed angle. In other words, the laser light source unit 51 is formed so that the visible image D1 having an angle rotated by the certain angle is sequentially formed at each aerial position rotated by the certain angle with a time difference. 4 repeatedly calculates and updates the laser beam emission direction and emission position in the XYZ directions of FIG. The laser light source control unit 53 controls the laser light source unit 51 so that the gas existing in the laser light emission direction and the emission position emits plasma whenever the laser light emission direction and the emission position are updated. The laser light source control unit 53 controls the scanning mechanism of the laser light source unit 51 to move the lens in the laser irradiation direction (Z direction in FIG. 4), thereby emitting plasma in the laser irradiation direction (Z direction). Change the position.

  Accordingly, the visible image forming unit 50 rotates the visible image D1 by a predetermined angle around the virtual vertical axis J. The visible image D1 is rotated by a fixed angle by the visible image forming unit 50 and reciprocally rotated within a specified angle range α. Alternatively, the visible image D1 may be continuously rotated in one direction by a certain angle.

  For example, depending on the laser light source unit 51 of the visible image forming unit 50 arranged at the position shown in FIG. 4, when the visible image is rotated around the virtual vertical axis J, the visible image is formed. If there is an angle where it is difficult to do so, the formation position calculation unit 52 does not calculate each spatial position for rotating the visible image 360 degrees around the virtual vertical axis J, but instead of calculating the laser of the visible image formation unit 50. The spatial position at which a visible image is formed is calculated only at an angle at which the light source 51 can form a visible image.

  Next, when the operation detection unit 60 detects a pseudo touch operation on the job list image and its position (YES in S5), the instruction reception unit 102 displays the position information indicating this position and the screen information indicated by the job list image. An instruction of contents associated with the operation is received based on (S6).

  For example, when one of the jobs displayed in the job list image indicated by the visible image D1 is displayed, for example, when the job image JOB1 is tapped (pressing the image with a pop) by a pseudo touch operation (FIG. 6 ( A)), the instruction receiving unit 102 determines that the operation is instructed to display detailed information about the job indicated by the job image JOB1, based on the detection content of the operation detecting unit 60.

  Further, the job image JOB1 displayed in the job list image indicated by the visible image D1 is dragged up and down (sliding a finger while touching the image), and a drag operation is performed on the other job image JOB2 portion. When the operation detecting unit 60 detects that the job has been stopped (FIG. 7A), the instruction receiving unit 102 indicates the execution order of the job indicated by the job image JOB1 and the job indicated by the job image JOB2. It is determined that an instruction to change the execution order is given, and the instruction is accepted. Further, when the operation detection unit 60 detects that the job image JOB1 has been dragged to an area outside the job list image, for example (FIG. 8A), the instruction reception unit 102 performs the operation as described above. It is determined to be an instruction to delete the job indicated by the job image JOB1, and is accepted. The instruction content received by the instruction receiving unit 102 based on these pseudo touch operations is an example of the instruction content in the claims. In addition, illustration of the visible image formation part 50 is abbreviate | omitted in FIG. 8 (A)-(C).

  As described above, when an instruction of content associated with the pseudo touch operation performed by the operator is received by the instruction receiving unit 102 (S6), the control unit 100 performs processing based on the content of the instruction, In the above example, the job execution order is changed or the job is deleted (S7), and then the process returns to S5. The processing based on the instruction content performed by the control unit 100 will be described in detail later.

  On the other hand, when the operation detection unit 60 has not detected a pseudo touch operation on the job list image in S5 (NO in S5), the control unit 100 stores information on the job managed by the job management unit 101. It is determined whether or not the job information has been updated (S8). If it is determined that the job information has been updated (YES in S8), the process returns to S1 and if it is determined that the job information has not been updated (NO in S8). ), The process returns to S5.

  Next, the process performed by the control unit 100 in S7 will be described. This will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 to 8 and FIGS. 9 to 11 in addition thereto. 9 to 11 are flowcharts showing processing performed by the control unit 100.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 6A, the job image JOB1 (indicating a job with the job number “00109”) displayed in the job list image indicated by the visible image D1 is tapped and accepted by the instruction accepting unit 102. When the instruction content is a display of detailed information of the job with the job number “00109” selected by the operator, the control unit 100 reads a basic screen for displaying the detailed information of the job from the HDD 92 (FIG. 9). S11), the detailed information (for example, job number, job type, user name, job name, job status, reception time) of the job number “00109” managed by the job management unit 101 is read (S12). . Examples of job types include copy printing, printer printing, and fax.

  The screen image creation unit 103 creates a detailed information image indicating the detailed information of the job using the read basic screen and the detailed job information (S13), and causes the visible image forming unit 50 to create the detailed information image. Using the detailed information image thus created and the already created job list image, a visible image D2 having the job list image and the detailed information image is predetermined as shown in an example in FIG. 6B. A space is formed (S14). As for the detailed information image, it is sufficient that the operator P1 in the vicinity of the image forming apparatus 1 can visually recognize the image, and therefore the size may be smaller than the job list image.

  Further, for example, as shown in FIG. 7A, a job image JOB1 (indicating a job with the job number “00109”) displayed in the job list image indicated by the visible image D1 is positioned at the upper stage thereof. The operation detecting unit 60 detects that the drag operation has been performed up to JOB2 (indicating the job with the job number “00108”), and the instruction content received by the instruction receiving unit 102 based on the drag operation is the job number “00109”. When the job execution order is replaced with the job execution order of the job number “00108”, the control unit 100 causes the job management unit 101 to change the job order (S21 in FIG. 10).

  Then, the control unit 100 reads the basic screen of the job list from the HDD 92 (S22), and the execution order changed job information managed by the job management unit 101 (for example, job execution order, job number, user name, (Job status etc.) is read (S23). The screen image creation unit 103 creates a job list image indicating the job status using the read basic screen and job information (S24). The control unit 100 uses the job list image created by the visible image forming unit 50 as described above to create the visible image D3 in a predetermined space as shown in FIG. 7B. It is formed at the position (S25).

  Further, for example, as shown in FIG. 8A, a job image displayed in the job list image indicated by the visible image D1, for example, a job image JOB1 (indicating a job with the job number “00109”) is a job. When the operation detection unit 60 detects that the drag operation has been stopped in a position outside the area where the job list image is formed and dragged in a direction away from the list image frame, the instruction receiving unit 102 As an instruction content indicated by the operation, a message that prompts the operator to input an instruction to delete the job indicated by the job image JOB1 subjected to the drag operation or to move the job to another image forming apparatus. The operation screen image shown is received as a visible image.

  At this time, the control unit 100 reads from the HDD 92 a basic screen having an image indicating a message prompting the operator to select either an instruction to delete a job or transfer it to another image forming apparatus (FIG. 11). S31), detailed information (for example, job number, job type, for example, the job indicated by the job image JOB1 that is the target of the drag operation, that is, the job with the job number “00109”, managed by the job management unit 101. , User name, job name, job status, reception time) are read (S32).

  The screen image creation unit 103 has a delete button B1, a transfer button B2, and an OK button B3 using the read basic screen and job detailed information, and creates a detailed information image indicating the detailed information of the job ( S33). In addition to the job list image, the control unit 100 adds the detailed information image created as described above to the visible image forming unit 50 as a job list image and an example as shown in FIG. A visible image D4 having a detailed information image is formed at the predetermined spatial position (S34).

  In this state, when the pseudo detection operation and the position of the detailed information image having the delete button or the like are detected by the operation detection unit 60 (YES in S35), the instruction receiving unit 102 displays the position information indicating the position, Based on the screen information indicated by the detailed information image, an instruction of the contents associated with the operation is received (S36).

  For example, when the delete button B1 displayed in the detailed information image indicated by the visible image D4 is tapped and this operation is detected by the operation detection unit 60, the instruction receiving unit 102 displays the instruction content indicated by the operation as follows: This is accepted as indicating the deletion of the job (the job indicated by the job image JOB1 that is the target of the drag operation). In this case, the job management unit 101 deletes the job with the job number “00109” (S37). The screen image creation unit 103 creates a job list image that reflects the job deletion.

  When the transfer button B2 displayed in the detailed information image indicated by the visible image D4 is tapped and this operation is detected by the operation detection unit 60, the instruction receiving unit 102 displays the instruction content indicated by the operation as follows. The job indicated by the job image JOB1 subjected to the drag operation is accepted as being transferred to another image forming apparatus. The control unit 100 transfers the job indicated by the job image JOB1 subjected to the drag operation to another image forming apparatus via the network interface unit 91. After the transfer is completed, the job management unit 101 transfers the job. delete. Thereafter, the screen image creation unit 103 creates a job list image from which the job indicated by the job image JOB1 subjected to the drag operation, in this case, the job with the job number “00109” is deleted. The control unit 100 causes the visible image forming unit 50 to form a visible image D5 as shown in FIG. 8C, using the created job list image.

  In another embodiment, the control unit 100 acquires job information of another image forming apparatus as a transfer destination, and the screen image creation unit 103 creates and creates a job list image of the other image forming apparatus. Using the job list image, the control unit 100 may cause the visible image forming unit 50 to form a visible image showing the job list image in a spatial position. Thereby, it is possible to easily grasp the degree of job congestion of other image forming apparatuses.

  In still another embodiment, the control unit 100 may cause the visible image forming unit 50 to change the size of the job list image according to the number of jobs in another image forming apparatus. In this case, since the size changes according to the number of jobs accepted by other image forming apparatuses, it is possible to more easily grasp the degree of job congestion in other image forming apparatuses. Therefore, the operator can determine whether to input an instruction to delete the job or transfer it to another image forming apparatus by looking at the size of the job list image. .

  In addition, the tapping of the OK button B3 displayed in the detailed information image indicated by the visible image D4 shown in FIG. 8B is detected by the operation detecting unit 60, and the instruction receiving unit 102 performs the operation. 8, the control unit 100 causes the visible image forming unit 50 to delete the detailed information image of the job, as shown in FIG. 8A. A visible image D1 consisting only of a simple job list image is formed.

  As described above, according to each of the embodiments described above, by forming a visible image showing the job management screen in the air, even if the user is away from the display portion showing the job management contents, The job status can be accurately grasped.

  In addition, since the display space is small, there is little restriction on the display space and it is not difficult to always display it. Therefore, it is always easy to check the job status without going to the image forming apparatus 1 and performing complicated operations. can do. In addition, since operations until the job list is displayed can be omitted, operations such as job order change, deletion, and transfer can be simplified. Furthermore, since the visibility is improved, it is possible to reduce operation errors.

  Moreover, in the said embodiment, the structure and process which were shown by the said embodiment using FIG. 1 thru | or FIG. 11 are only one Embodiment of this invention, and are not the meaning which limits this invention to the said structure and process.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image forming apparatus 10 Control unit 12 Image forming part 50 Visible image forming part 60 Operation detection part 100 Control part 101 Job management part 102 Instruction reception part 103 Screen image creation part

Claims (8)

A visible image forming unit that forms a visible image in the air;
A job management unit for managing jobs;
A screen image creation unit for creating a job list image indicating the status of jobs managed by the job management unit;
A control unit that causes the visible image forming unit to form a visible image of the screen image created by the screen image creating unit,
The visible image forming apparatus in which the control unit forms a visible image of the job list image created by the screen image creating unit by the visible image forming unit. An operation detection unit that detects an operation by the operator on the screen image shown as a visible image by the visible image forming unit;
An instruction receiving unit that receives an instruction of content associated with the operation detected by the operation detecting unit;
When an instruction for the job list image indicated by the visible image is received by the instruction receiving unit, the screen image creating unit creates a screen image based on the received instruction content, and the control unit includes: The visible image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a visible image of the created screen image is formed by the visible image forming unit.   When the instruction content received by the instruction receiving unit is a display of detailed information of the job selected by the operator, the screen image creation unit displays detailed information detailed information about each job managed by the job management The visible image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the control unit forms a visible image of the created screen image by the visible image forming unit.   When the instruction content received by the instruction receiving unit is a job order change, the job management unit changes the job execution order based on the instruction, and the screen image creation unit is operated by the job management unit. The job list image indicating the execution order of the jobs after the replacement is created, and the control unit causes the visible image forming unit to form a visible image of the created job list image. Visible image forming device.   When the instruction content received by the instruction receiving unit is deletion of the job selected by the operator, the job management unit deletes the job indicated by the instruction content, and the screen image creation unit performs the job management 3. A job list image indicating a job status after the job is deleted by the copying unit is created, and the control unit causes the visible image forming unit to form a visible image of the created job list image. The visible image forming apparatus described. A visible image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
An image forming apparatus comprising: an image forming unit that forms an image on a recording medium.   In a case where the instruction received by the instruction receiving unit indicates that the job selected by the operator is to be transferred to another image forming apparatus, the control unit displays information on the job to be transferred. Transferred to the image forming apparatus, the job management unit deletes the job, the screen image creation unit creates a job list image indicating the job status after the deletion managed by the job management unit, The image forming apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the control unit causes the visible image forming unit to form a visible image of the created job list image. The operation detection unit detects an operator's drag operation on the job list image formed as the visible image, and the drag operation is outside the job list image from an image portion indicating a job in the job list image. When it is detected that
The screen image creating unit creates an operation screen image indicating a message prompting an operator to input an instruction to delete the job indicated by the image portion or move to another image forming apparatus;
The image forming apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the control unit causes the visible image forming unit to form a visible image of the created operation screen image.

Images