JP3603015B2 - Image forming device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art An image forming apparatus represented by a copying machine or the like includes an operation unit. Various conditions of the image forming apparatus can be set via the operation unit. The conditions here are, for example, setting values for functions and setting items such as paper size setting, enlargement / reduction, double-sided copying, and continuous page copying.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
Conventionally, an operation unit provided in an image forming apparatus is for displaying a list of functions and setting items, even if it is for setting a single condition or for setting a plurality of conditions. And then input the set value.
For this reason, unless a person who is familiar with the functions of the model to be used does not know whether there are functions to be set or setting items, or where they are on the function selection screen, the usability is poor. In an image forming apparatus equipped with a large number of functions, this problem is particularly significant.
[0004]
Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus in which image forming conditions can be easily set.
[0005]
Means for Solving the Problems and Effects of the Invention
According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus including an operation unit having a display unit capable of displaying a condition setting screen for setting various conditions for image formation. department also can display a single condition setting screen is capable of displaying any one of a plurality of condition setting screen that are associated with the condition setting screen at the same time, the one condition setting screen on the display unit condition only when is displayed is a picture display or text description corresponding to the condition setting of that still appears together, that are associated with the condition setting screen in addition to the above one condition setting screen on the display unit The image forming apparatus is characterized in that when the setting screen is displayed, the picture display or the character description is omitted.
The operation unit of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention has a display unit such as a liquid crystal display, and this display unit can display a condition setting screen for setting various conditions. A plurality of related condition setting screens can be simultaneously displayed on the operation unit (display unit) to set conditions. In the conventional image forming apparatus, after setting conditions relating to a certain function, the display returns to the list of functions, searches for another function related to the function, and calls a condition setting screen for the other function to set the condition. It was necessary to perform such a troublesome operation. On the other hand, in the image forming apparatus of the present invention, the condition setting for a certain function and the condition setting for a related function can be performed on one screen. Therefore, it is easy to set image forming conditions.
[0006]
Against Ah Ru condition setting screen, when the condition setting screen that are associated there are many, among a limited viewable area, not all of the condition setting screen can be displayed simultaneously. In such a case, for example, only one condition setting screen related to a certain condition setting screen is selected and displayed. Such cases, can be displayed by arbitrarily selecting the conditions setting screen that are relevant. In this way, the contents of the condition setting screen to be displayed simultaneously can be flexibly changed.
In addition, when the number of condition setting screens to be displayed simultaneously is increased, information and setting items that one condition setting screen originally has may have to be reduced and displayed. In such a case, it is possible to reduce the number of condition setting screens displayed simultaneously. That is, according to the present invention, it is possible to change the number of condition setting screens displayed simultaneously according to the purpose.
With the above configuration, it is easy to set image forming conditions even when there are many related condition setting screens.
[0008]
For a condition setting screen related to one condition setting screen, only a related screen jump button for jumping the display to the condition setting screen can be displayed. Since the related screen jump button has a smaller display area than the condition setting screen, it can be displayed in a large number in a limited display area. Thus, instead of selecting and displaying a specific one from among a plurality of related functions, all items of the related functions can be simultaneously displayed. Therefore, since all the items to be set can be grasped in advance, it is less likely to forget to set the condition of a certain function. By pressing the related screen jump button, it is possible to jump to each condition setting screen and set individual conditions.
[0009]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
FIG. 1 is an illustrative sectional view showing the structure of a copying machine 1 which is an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
The copying machine 1 includes a paper storage unit 2, a transport mechanism for transporting the paper in the paper storage unit 2, a photosensitive drum 3 for forming a toner image corresponding to an image of a document, and fixing the toner image transferred to the paper. And a fixing roller 4 for discharging paper. An operation unit 5 is provided above the copying machine 1. The operation unit 5 is arranged so as to be operated by looking down from above. The copying machine 1 has various functions. For example, paper size setting, enlargement / reduction, double-sided copying, continuous page copying, and the like. Whether or not to enable these functions, the conditions of each function when enabling these functions, and the like can be set via the operation unit 5.
[0010]
FIG. 2 is an illustrative view showing a configuration of the operation unit 5 of the copying machine 1 of FIG. The operation unit 5 includes a display unit 7 arranged substantially at the center and a plurality of keys 8 arranged on both sides of the display unit 7. The display unit 7 includes a liquid crystal display, and is capable of switching and displaying information such as a condition setting screen, a list of functions for which conditions can be set, and current setting values. The display unit 7 can input information by directly touching keys and buttons displayed on the screen with hands. Hereinafter, touching these keys and buttons displayed on the screen is referred to as pressing a key (button) for convenience. The keys 8 include numeric keys for inputting the number of copies, a copy start button, and the like, and a specific function is assigned to each of them.
[0011]
The operation unit 5 is connected to the control unit 6. The information input to the operation unit 5 is transmitted to the control unit 6. The content displayed on the display unit 7 of the operation unit 5 is controlled by the control unit 6.
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a screen display example when two condition setting screens are simultaneously displayed on the display unit 7 of FIG.
An upper one-fifth area of this screen is a status display area 11, and a lower four-fifth area is a condition display / setting area 12. The status display area 11 displays whether or not the copying machine 1 is in a state where copying is currently possible, a set number of copies, and the like. In the condition display / setting area 12, about 1/5 of the upper part is the function display area 13, and about 4/5 of the lower part is the condition setting screen display area 14. In the condition setting screen display area 14, an area about two-thirds to the left is a main display area 15, and an area about one-third to the right is a sub-display area 16.
[0012]
In the main display area 15, a condition setting screen relating to the function selected by the operator is displayed. In the sub display area 16, a condition setting screen for a function related to the selected function is displayed. A function related to a certain function can be selected from predetermined ones. Here, a condition setting screen for density is displayed in the main display area 15, and a condition setting screen for image quality of the document is displayed in the sub-display area 16. The setting of the density and the setting of the image quality of the document are related functions. This is because the density value (shade) to be set changes depending on whether the original is mainly composed of characters or photographs. By setting both of them correctly, it is possible to copy a desired image quality for the first time.
[0013]
On a density condition setting screen (main display area 15), a set value display section 17 for displaying a current density set value, an automatic / manual switching key 18 for switching between automatic and manual density setting, A set value change key 19 for changing the set value when manually setting the density is displayed. The set value display section 17 shows the currently set density among the seven selectable densities. The automatic / manual switching key 18 is composed of two keys, automatic and manual, and can be switched between automatic and manual by pressing one of them. As for the automatic / manual switching key 18, the character of the key corresponding to the current setting is displayed in reverse video (in the figure, the normal display is shown with diagonal lines for convenience, the same applies hereinafter), so whichever is selected. You can check if it is. The set value change key 19 includes a key for decreasing the density and a key for increasing the density. By pressing these keys, the set value of the density can be changed.
[0014]
On the document image quality condition setting screen (sub-display area 16), an indication that the image quality of the document is selected as a function, and a selection key 20 for selecting the image quality of the document are displayed. The selection key 20 is composed of three keys, and by pressing any one of them, the image quality of the document can be selected from three candidates of character + photo, photograph, and character. Also, the character of the key corresponding to the current setting is highlighted, so that the current setting can be confirmed.
[0015]
The copying machine 1 provided with the operation unit 5 for performing such display can set conditions relating to two mutually related functions such as density setting and document image quality setting on one screen. In other words, there is no need to separately call the condition setting screen for the density setting and the condition setting screen for the image quality of the document and make the respective settings. Therefore, such a copying machine 1 can easily set conditions.
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing another screen display example when two condition setting screens are simultaneously displayed on the display unit 7 of FIG.
[0016]
In this screen, the condition setting screen display area 14 is divided into a main display area 15 and a sub display area 16 as in FIG. The main display area 15 displays a condition setting screen related to density setting similarly to FIG. 3, while the sub display area 16 displays a condition setting screen related to ECO setting. The ECO setting is a function for copying while saving toner, and is a function related to the density setting.
At the center of the condition setting screen (sub-display area 16) relating to the ECO setting, a selection key 22 for determining whether or not to perform the ECO setting and a pictorial display 23 representing an image of an image corresponding to the presence or absence of the ECO setting are displayed. . In the upper and lower spaces, a display indicating that the ECO setting is selected as a function, a brief explanation of the ECO setting, and a caution are displayed. As for the selection key 22, the character of the key corresponding to the current setting is highlighted and the current setting can be confirmed.
[0017]
Even on such a screen, it is possible to perform the condition setting relating to two related functions of density setting and ECO setting on one screen. As described above, the operator can freely select whether to display the original image quality condition setting screen or the ECO setting condition setting screen as the condition setting screen related to the density setting condition setting screen. You can choose. That is, the copying machine 1 having such an operation unit 5 can flexibly change the display content according to the request of the operator.
[0018]
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a screen display example when only one condition setting screen is displayed on the display unit 7 of FIG.
On this screen, the image quality of the document is selected as one function. In this case, the condition setting screen display area 14 is not divided, and a condition setting screen relating to one function (image quality of the document) is displayed over the entire area. The selected function is displayed in the function display area 13. On this condition setting screen, in addition to the selection key 20, a picture display 21 that visually indicates the type of image quality of the currently set document, and a character explanation 22 that describes the contents of functions and options are displayed.
[0019]
As described above, when the condition setting screen of the image quality of the document is displayed in the sub-display area 16 (see FIG. 3), the picture display 21 and the character explanation 22 are omitted because the display area is narrowed. Is done. For a beginner, it is preferable that the pictorial display 21 and the character description 22 be displayed in order to properly use the image quality function of the document. In such a case, as shown in FIG. 4, the number of condition setting screens displayed in the condition setting screen display area 14 is reduced to one, and the information to be displayed can be increased.
[0020]
In addition, when the condition setting screen includes a large number of setting items, when the condition setting screen is displayed in the sub display area 16, not all of the setting items may be displayed at the same time. In order to display all setting items, a single condition setting screen can be displayed simultaneously. In this way, the number of condition setting screens to be simultaneously displayed in the condition setting screen display area 14 can be changed according to the operator's request.
FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a screen display example when the condition setting screen and the related screen jump button are simultaneously displayed on the display unit 7 of FIG.
[0021]
In this screen, the condition setting screen display area 14 is divided into a main display area 15 and a sub-display area 16 as in FIGS. In the main display area 15, a condition setting screen relating to density setting is displayed as in FIGS. In the sub display area 16, related screen jump buttons 24a and 24b for jumping the display to a related condition setting screen instead of the condition setting screen are displayed.
The related screen jump button 24a is used to jump to a document quality condition setting screen. When this button is pressed, a condition setting screen for the image quality of the document is displayed in the sub display area 16, and the screen displayed on the display unit 7 is the same as that in FIG. The related screen jump button 24b is used to jump to a condition setting screen for ECO setting. When this button is pressed, an ECO setting condition setting screen is displayed in the sub display area 16, and the screen displayed on the display unit 7 is the same as that in FIG.
[0022]
When displaying the condition setting screen in the sub-display area 16, the function related to the density setting is either the image quality of the document or the ECO setting. For this reason, even when both conditions are to be set, there is a possibility that only one of the displayed settings is set and the other setting is forgotten. On the other hand, since the related screen jump buttons 24a and 24b have a small display area, both can be simultaneously displayed in the sub display area 16 as shown in FIG. Thus, the operator can grasp all the items to be set in advance, and it is less likely to forget to set any of the conditions.
[0023]
The above is one example of the embodiment of the present invention, and the present invention is not limited to this. Various combinations of a certain function and a function related thereto can be considered. Although the function of the copier has been described as an example, the function of another image forming apparatus, for example, a function of a printer or a facsimile, may have the same configuration. In addition, various design changes can be made within a range of technical matters described in the claims.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an illustrative sectional view showing the structure of a copying machine which is an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is an illustrative view showing a configuration of an operation unit of the copying machine shown in FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a screen display example when two condition setting screens are simultaneously displayed on the display unit of FIG. 2;
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing another example of screen display when two condition setting screens are simultaneously displayed on the display unit of FIG. 2;
FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a screen display example when only one condition setting screen is displayed on the display unit 7 of FIG. 2;
FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a screen display example when a condition setting screen and a related screen jump button are simultaneously displayed on the display unit 7 of FIG. 2;
[Explanation of symbols]
1 Copying machine 5 Operation unit 7 Display unit 14 Condition setting screen display area 15 Main display area 16 Sub display areas 24a, 24b Related screen jump button 0

Claims (1)

In an image forming apparatus having an operation unit including a display unit capable of displaying a condition setting screen for setting various conditions for image formation,
The display unit, together with possible display one condition setting screen is capable of displaying any one of a plurality of condition setting screen that are associated with the condition setting screen at the same time, the one condition on the display unit when only setting screen is displayed, but the picture display or text description corresponding to the condition setting of that still appears together, associated with the condition setting screen in addition to the above one condition setting screen on the display unit An image forming apparatus characterized in that when a certain condition setting screen is displayed, the picture display or the description of characters is omitted.

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