JP2515828B2 - Image forming device operating device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an operating device used for setting copying conditions in a copying machine, a laser beam printer, and other image forming apparatuses.

[Prior art]

Conventionally, in an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, an operation unit such as keys corresponding to various functions such as the number of copies, copy magnification, and image density, and a display unit such as an LED and a liquid crystal for displaying setting conditions are It is installed on two or more operation panels to make it easy for the operator to operate. Among the above-mentioned multiple functions, there are frequently used functions such as the number of sheets to be processed and magnification, and whether to use double-sided copying or single-sided copying or to instruct editing functions. Infrequent features are included. If such frequently used and infrequently used ones are provided on one operation panel, the number of operation parts and display parts will significantly increase, and it is very troublesome to handle all operation parts and displays in the same row. Will be things.

In order to eliminate such an inconvenience, an operating unit that is used less frequently is placed inside a lid that can be opened and closed, and is separated from other operating units that are used frequently. A key input device that solves the inconvenience is known (see Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 61-218014).

[Problems to be solved by the invention]

However, in the key input device described in the above-mentioned Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 61-218014, since the infrequently used operating unit is provided inside the opening / closing lid, the erroneous operation of such infrequently used operating unit is eliminated. On the other hand, on the other hand, since the display part was displayed without distinguishing the frequently used ones and the frequently used ones, we do not care about special operating parts that are rarely used. Even in the setting operation of the above, since a large number of infrequently used displays and a frequently used display were simultaneously displayed on the display section, there is a problem that the operator is confused by these many displays and causes an erroneous operation. there were.

Therefore, the object of the present invention is to display all the display units corresponding to the infrequently used operating unit only when the operator performs the setting operation for the infrequently used operating unit, and otherwise, the minimum required This is to display only the limit so that the operator does not make an erroneous setting.

[Means for solving problems]

The main means adopted by the present invention to achieve the above object is to have a gist thereof, which has an operation unit and a display unit corresponding to a plurality of functions of the image forming apparatus, and the operation unit is In the operation device of the image forming apparatus, which is divided into a high-frequency operation unit having a high frequency and a low-frequency operation unit having a low frequency of use, and the low-frequency operation unit is disposed inside the opening / closing lid,
When the lid open / closed detection switch for detecting the open / closed state of the open / closed lid and the lid open / closed state are determined by the signal from the lid open / closed detection switch, all the displays corresponding to the low-frequency operation unit are turned on, The operation device of the image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a lighting control means for turning on only the set display and turning off the rest when it is determined that the lid is closed. Further, in the above, when it is determined that the lid is open, the display unit corresponding to the low-frequency operation unit is provided with a brightness control unit that lights only the set display and dimly lights the unset display. And an operating device of the image forming apparatus.

[Action]

The operator opens the opening / closing lid when he / she wants to operate the operating unit which is not frequently used. As a result, the output state of the lid opening / closing detection switch is switched, and all the displays corresponding to the infrequently operated operation parts are lit. Further, when the opening / closing lid is closed, only the display that has already been set is turned on, and the operator need only pay attention to a small number of displays, so erroneous settings are eliminated.
Further, when it is determined that the lid is open, by providing the brightness control means for turning on only the set display among the display units corresponding to the low-frequency operation unit and turning on the display not set dimly, Since the function currently in use and the function that is not in use but can be selected are displayed separately, the operation becomes easy and accurate.

〔Example〕

Next, with reference to the attached drawings, an embodiment of the present invention will be described to provide an understanding of the present invention. 1 and 2 are plan views of an operation panel that can be used in an operation device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a state in which an opening / closing lid is open, and FIG. 2 is an opening / closing state. The state which closed the lid is shown. Further, FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of the operating device according to the above embodiment.

The following examples are merely examples embodying the present invention and are not of the nature to limit the technical scope of the present invention. For example, the following embodiments relate to a copying machine, but the present invention is equally applicable to, for example, a laser beam printer and other image forming apparatuses other than the copying machine.

In the operation panel A shown in the tails of FIGS. 1 and 2, the low-frequency operation unit is provided inside the opening / closing lid 1 shown by hatching. Edit setting key 2, double-sided setting key 3, program setting key 4, close margin setting key 5, automatic magnification setting key 6, original size setting key 7, down key 8 _a for magnification setting, up key 8 _b are infrequent operations It corresponds to the department.

The special mode display corresponding to each of the low-frequency operation units is contained in the frame 9.

For example, if you press the edit setting key 2, the mask display 2 _a
There or light, the trim display 2 _b is lit, or both can be displayed either state or not light up.

Press the duplex setting key 3, "duplex → duplex" display 3 _a ,
It is possible to select whether to light any one of the “single-sided → double-sided” display 3 _b and the “book → double-sided” display 3 _c , or to not light any of the displays.

When you press the program setting key 4, "1",
It is possible to turn on the display of any one of "2", "3", and "4" or turn off all of them.

The same applies to the closing margin setting key 5, the automatic magnification setting key 6 and the document size setting key 7.

Also, the set value of the magnification display 8 can be changed by pressing the down key _8a or the up key _8b .

Further, by pressing the sorter selection key 10, a group mode key 10 _a, a sort mode key 10 _b, can be turned either the non-sort mode key 10 _c. Said sorter selection key 10, since the relatively frequently used, but not provided on the inner side of the lid 1, in order to prevent erroneous input by the operator, each display 10 _a, 10 _b, 10 _c is It is contained in the frame 9.

When the opening / closing lid 1 is opened or closed, a limit switch (not shown), which is an example of a lid opening / closing detection switch, is turned on or off. A signal from the limit switch is introduced into a microcomputer (not shown), and when the microcomputer determines that the opening / closing lid 1 is open, all the displays in the frame are turned on. However, in order to make it easier to understand which display state is currently set, only the display corresponding to the set state is displayed brightly, and the other display is displayed in a lightly bright state. The brightness control means achieves this function. FIG. 1 shows such a state, in which the outer frame of each display is surrounded by a thick line shows the setting state display. For example, for the sorter function, non-sorting mode display 10 _c, displays "single-sided → two-sided" for duplexing 3 _b, the left display regarding closed margin 5 _a, for the automatic magnification setting function, automatic cassette Selection mode display 6 _c
However, for the document size setting function, the A3 display is brightly displayed, and all others are in a dimly lit state.

Further, all the frequently used operating parts are provided outside the opening / closing lid 1. For example, a cassette selection key 11, the image density up key for selecting 12 _a and the down key 12 _b, a sorter selecting key 10, further ten keys 13 for setting the number corresponds to this.

As the cassette selection key 11 is pushed, the displays such as A3, B4, A4, B5 are sequentially turned on. Further, when the up key _12a or the down key _12b is pressed, the lighting position of the level display 14 constituted by the LED corresponding to the image density level changes. It may further display the set number to the number display unit 13 _a by the ten-key 13.

Next, the processing procedure of the operating device will be described with reference to FIG. Note that the following description will be made only for the double-sided setting mode, but the same applies to the other modes.
The description is omitted.

Further, in this embodiment, when the edit setting key 2, the double-sided setting key 3, and the like in the low-frequency operation section are pressed, the lower display section sequentially lights up, and the uppermost display lights up. Then, it is assumed that, when the operation key is pressed, all the displays are set to change to a dimly lit state. Hereinafter, the dimly lit state will be referred to as a half-lit state, and the bright state will be referred to as a lit state.

In the following description, S1, S2, ... Are processing procedures (steps)
Indicates the number.

First, when the power is turned on, although not shown, a predetermined initial setting is performed. Such setting can also be achieved by pressing the all clear key 15 on the operation panel A. In the initial setting, for example, the sorter function is in a non-sorted state, and the double-sided function is set to the “single-sided → double-sided” mode. Also, the closing margin is left, and the automatic magnification setting is in the automatic cassette selection mode. Therefore, other functions are canceled. For example, no settings are made for the edit, program, and original size selection functions, and the magnification is
100%, the set number of sheets is 1, and the selection of the cassette is, for example, A4.

When the initial settings are completed in this way, the lid 1
It is determined whether or not is open, and if it is open, the currently set display is lit and the other half lit (S2, S
3) After that, it is determined whether or not any of the low frequency special keys 2 to 7 is pressed (S2).

When any one of the special keys 2 to 7 is pressed, its type is judged (S3), and the subroutine corresponding to each type is selected, and the function setting flag corresponding to each type is temporarily turned off. The state (S6).

Considering, for example, the case where the double-sided setting key 3 is pressed, the subroutine for double-sided setting of S5 to S11 is processed. In S7, it is determined whether or not the display in the state where the special key is turned on (S4) is the state in which the uppermost display (“double-sided → double-sided” display _3a ) is lit.
In this double-sided setting mode, three-stage display is provided, so if, for example, the bottom or middle display is lit, or if all the displays are half lit, the process proceeds to S8. Move on to. In S8, it is determined whether or not all the displays are in the half-lit state. If the bottom or middle display is lit here, the display one level above the current display is lit (S10) and the other displays are lit half (S11), and lit in S10 above. A flag for setting a function (function setting flag) corresponding to the displayed display is turned on so that the copying machine can achieve the displayed function. In S8, if it is determined that all the displays are currently half-lit, the bottom display (in this case, "Book →
The "double-sided" display _3c ) is turned on (S9), and the process proceeds to S11.

If it is determined in S7 that the topmost display is currently lit, the process proceeds to S13, all displays are left in a semi-lit state, and the process returns to S1.

In this way, each time the double-sided setting key 3 is pressed, the display can be moved up one by one, and when the double-sided setting key is pressed while the topmost display is lit, all the displays are displayed. Becomes a half-lit state.

Further, in S1, when it is determined that the opening / closing lid 1 is closed, the currently set display is lit, and the other display is displayed (a display that is half lit when the opening / closing lid 1 is opened). Is turned off (S14, S15). In this way, the lighting control means achieves the function of turning on only the display set when the lid is closed and turning on all the displays (including half lighting) when the lid is opened. Accordingly, it is possible to change the display state of the infrequently used display unit in accordance with the open / closed state of the opening / closing lid 1, that is, in the case of operating the infrequently used operation unit and in other cases.

As shown in Fig. 1, only the non-sorted state, the "single-sided → double-sided" copying state, the left closing margin state, the automatic magnification clearing state, and the document size set to A3 are displayed. By closing the opening / closing lid 1, the other lights are turned off.

The same applies to the edit function, the program selection function, and the other processing procedures for setting conditions that are used less frequently, and a description thereof will be omitted here.

〔The invention's effect〕

As described above, the present invention has an operation unit and a display unit corresponding to a plurality of functions of the image forming apparatus, and the operation unit has a high-frequency operation unit that is frequently used and a low-frequency operation unit that is rarely used. In the operating device of the image forming apparatus, which is divided into a frequency operating part and the low frequency operating part is disposed inside the opening / closing lid,
When the lid open / closed detection switch for detecting the open / closed state of the open / closed lid and the lid open / closed state are determined by the signal from the lid open / closed detection switch, all display sections corresponding to the frequency operation section are turned on, When it is determined that the lid is closed, the operating device of the image forming apparatus is characterized by comprising a lighting control means for turning on only the set display and extinguishing the rest of the display. Only when performing the setting process, all the displays corresponding to the infrequently used operation unit are lit, and at other times, only the set display is lit, so even when performing a high-frequency normal operation,
The inconvenience that the operator is confused and causes an erroneous setting due to the large number of displays that can be seen is eliminated. In addition, regarding the lighting when the lid is opened, the function currently in use and the function that can be selected from this are distinguished by providing a brightness control means that displays what is currently set is bright and displays what is not set is dimmed. It is displayed and the operation is easy and accurate.

[Brief description of drawings]

1 and 2 are plan views of an operation panel that can be used in an operation device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
The figure shows a state in which the opening / closing lid is opened, and FIG. 2 shows a state in which the opening / closing lid is closed. Further, FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of the operating device according to the above embodiment. [Explanation of symbols] 1 ... Open / close lid, 2 ... Edit setting key 3 ... Double-sided setting key, 4 ... Program setting key 5 ... Close margin setting key 6 ... Automatic magnification setting key 7 ... Original size setting Keys (2 to 7 ... Infrequently used operation parts) 10 …… Sort selection key 11 …… Cassette selection key 12 …… Image density selection key 13 …… Numeric keypad (10 to 13 …… Operation parts used frequently) .

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. An image forming apparatus having an operation unit corresponding to a plurality of functions and a display unit, wherein the operation unit includes a high-frequency operation unit that is frequently used and a low-frequency operation unit that is rarely used. In the operation device of the image forming apparatus in which the low-frequency operation unit is provided inside the opening / closing lid, the low-frequency operation unit detects the open / close state of the opening / closing lid and the lid opening / closing detection switch. When it is determined by the signal that the lid is open, all the displays corresponding to the low-frequency operation unit are turned on, and when it is determined that the lid is closed, only the set display is turned on and the others are turned off. An operating device for an image forming apparatus, comprising: 2. When it is determined that the lid is open, only the set display in the display section corresponding to the low-frequency operation section is brightened,
The operating device for an image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a brightness control unit for lighting a display that has not been set dimly.