JP6406291B2 - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus.

  A general image forming apparatus has a setting function that allows a user to set conditions that an image forming operation follows. For example, the user sets conditions such as the material of the sheet on which the image is formed and the quality of the image in the image forming apparatus using the setting function. Moreover, the printing system described in Patent Document 1 has a registration function for registering print settings (conditions) in a printing apparatus. When the user calls a registered print setting, the printing apparatus executes image reading and a subsequent job (specifically, printing) according to the print setting. Registration allows the user to cause the printing device to execute a job without re-entering print settings.

  In addition, the printing system described in Patent Document 1 displays a message prompting the user to register the print setting input by the user on the printing apparatus in order to use the registration function. By displaying the message, the user can be informed that the printing system has a registration function, and the registration function can be utilized.

JP 2012-194622 A

  However, depending on the timing of displaying a message, the user may feel annoying the display of the message. For example, in the printing system described in Patent Document 1, a message is displayed, and after the user responds whether or not to register print settings (conditions), reading and a job are executed. As a result, the time from when the user inputs the condition until the printing is completed becomes longer. Therefore, the message display is troublesome for the user who knows the existence of the registration function.

  SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is that it allows a user to effectively use a registration function of conditions that an image forming apparatus follows when executing a job without causing the user to feel bothered. An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus capable of performing the above.

  The image forming apparatus according to the present invention forms an image on a sheet. The image forming apparatus includes a reading unit, an execution unit, a display unit, and a control unit. The reading unit reads an image of a document. The execution unit executes a job according to a condition based on the read image. The control unit controls the display unit. The control unit calculates a first time required for reading the image of the document. The control unit causes the display unit to display a dialog for the second time in parallel with the reading when the first time is longer than a predetermined second time. The dialog includes a message urging registration of the condition in the image forming apparatus.

  According to the image forming apparatus of the present invention, it is possible to allow the user to effectively use the condition registration function that the image forming apparatus follows when executing a job without causing the user to feel bothered.

1 is a diagram illustrating an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is an enlarged view showing a document conveying unit shown in FIG. 1. It is a figure which shows an example of the 1st screen displayed on the display part shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows an example of the screen during reading displayed on a display part. It is a figure which shows an example of the 1st dialog displayed on a display part. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of the control part shown in FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the control unit 5. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the control unit 5. It is a figure which shows the state by which the 1st dialog was displayed on the screen during reading. It is a figure which shows the state by which the 2nd dialog was displayed on the screen during reading. It is a figure which shows the state by which the 1st dialog was displayed on the 1st screen.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings (FIGS. 1 to 11). In the drawings, the same or corresponding parts are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is not repeated.

  An image forming apparatus 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus 100 is, for example, a multifunction machine. Specifically, the image forming apparatus 100 includes an image forming unit 1 (execution unit), an image reading unit 2 (reading unit), a document conveying unit 3, an operation panel 4 (input unit), a feeding unit 11, and a conveying unit 13. , A discharge unit 15, a control unit 5, a storage unit 6, and a transmission unit 7. The image forming apparatus 100 has a copy function, a print function, a scan function, and a facsimile function. Further, the image forming apparatus 100 has a registration function. The registration function is a function for registering, in the image forming apparatus 100, conditions that are met when the image forming unit 1 executes a job. The registration function will be described with reference to FIGS.

  The image forming unit 1 forms an image on a sheet P (sheet). The image reading unit 2 reads an image formed on the document U. The transmission unit 7 transmits the image to the outside. In this specification, “job” indicates an image forming operation by the image forming unit 1 or a transmitting operation by the transmission unit 7 and does not include an operation in which the image reading unit 2 reads an image. The document transport unit 3 transports the document U to the image reading unit 2. The document transport unit 3 is, for example, an ADF (Auto Document Feeder). The operation panel 4 receives an operation from the user for the image forming apparatus 100. The operation panel 4 includes a display unit 41. The display unit 41 displays the first screen DP1 and the second screen DP2. The first screen DP1 will be described later with reference to FIG. The second screen DP2 will be described later with reference to FIG. The display unit 41 is a touch panel, and receives an operation from the user by touching the screen.

  The feeding unit 11 loads the paper P and feeds the paper P to the transport unit 13. The transport unit 13 transports the paper P to the image forming unit 1. Further, the transport unit 13 transports the paper P on which an image is formed to the discharge unit 15. The discharge unit 15 discharges the paper P on which an image is formed.

  The control unit 5 controls the image forming unit 1, the image reading unit 2, the transmission unit 7, the document conveyance unit 3, the operation panel 4, the feeding unit 11, the conveyance unit 13, and the discharge unit 15. The control unit 5 includes, for example, a processor. The processor includes, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit). The storage unit 6 stores data and computer programs. The storage unit 6 includes, for example, a semiconductor memory, and may further include an HDD (Hard Disk Drive).

  Next, the document transport unit 3 will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 2, the document transport unit 3 includes a document transport path 21, a document tray 22, a pickup roller 24, and a document discharge tray 26. A plurality of transport rollers are provided along the document transport path 21. The document U is set on the document tray 22. The document U is transported from the document tray 22 along the document transport path 21 to the reading position RP of the image reading unit 2. When the document U passes the reading position RP, the image reading unit 2 reads the document U. The document U that has been read is continuously conveyed along the document conveyance path 21 and finally discharged to the document discharge tray 26.

  The pickup roller 24 rotates in contact with the document U set on the document tray 22 and pulls out the document U from the document tray 22.

  The document tray 22 includes a lift plate 27 that can be raised and lowered. The lift plate 27 is a downstream portion of the document tray 22 in the document conveyance direction. The lift plate 27 faces the pickup roller 24 in the vertical direction. The lift plate 27 rotates about the rotation shaft 27a. The rotation shaft 27a is provided at the upstream end of the lift plate 27 in the document conveyance direction. The lift plate 27 rotates so that the downstream end of the lift plate 27 in the document transport direction swings up and down. That is, the downstream end of the lift plate 27 in the document transport direction moves up and down. When the end of the lift plate 27 on the downstream side in the document transport direction rises, the lift plate 27 approaches the pickup roller 24. When the downstream end of the lift plate 27 in the document transport direction is lowered, the lift plate 27 is separated from the pickup roller 24.

  When the image forming apparatus 100 receives a job execution instruction, the lift plate 27 starts to rise, and lifts the document bundle placed on the lift plate 27. As a result, the document bundle reaches a position where the document U can be fed to the document conveyance path 21 (hereinafter referred to as a feeding position). Further, when the document bundle is lifted, the document bundle comes into contact with the pickup roller 24, and the pickup roller 24 is pushed and lifted by the document bundle. The lift plate 27 stops rising when the document bundle reaches the feeding position. Thereafter, the feeding operation to the document conveying path 21 is performed in a state where the document bundle is in contact with the pickup roller 24, that is, in a state where the document bundle is lifted up to the feeding position.

  The document transport unit 3 further includes an upper limit detection sensor 23 and a detection piece 28. The upper limit detection sensor 23 detects whether or not the bundle of documents placed on the lift plate 27 has reached the feeding position. The upper limit detection sensor 23 is disposed above the pickup roller 24. For example, the upper limit detection sensor 23 is a transmissive optical sensor having a light emitting unit and a light receiving unit. The detection piece 28 is lifted together with the pickup roller 24 as a detection target of the upper limit detection sensor 23. The detection piece 28 deviates from the optical path between the light emitting unit and the light receiving unit, which is the detection region of the upper limit detection sensor 23, when the document bundle is not at the feeding position. On the other hand, the detection piece 28 shields the detection area of the upper limit detection sensor 23 when the document bundle reaches the feeding position. Therefore, the upper limit detection sensor 23 changes the output value depending on whether the document bundle has reached the feeding position or not.

  The controller 5 calculates the thickness of the original bundle based on the moving distance from when the lift plate 27 starts to rise to when it stops. Then, the number of documents U placed on the document tray 22 is calculated from the thickness of the document bundle. If the paper type of the document U is input, the number of documents U can be calculated more accurately.

  FIG. 3 shows an example of the first screen DP1. The first screen DP1 is a basic screen corresponding to the copy function, and is displayed on the display unit 41 in order to input conditions that the job of the copy function follows. The user selects one item from the plurality of items on the first screen DP1, and inputs a condition regarding the selected item. For example, the user selects one of the item “paper tray”, the item “zoom”, the item “stapler / punch”, the item “density”, the item “single side / double side”, and the item “split”. Enter the conditions for the selected item.

  FIG. 4 shows an example of the second screen DP2. The second screen DP2 is a screen displayed on the display unit 41 while the image reading unit 2 is reading an image from the document U. The conditions set on the first screen DP1 are displayed on the second screen DP2. The second screen DP2 shown in FIG. 4 displays the reading conditions in the display field HR11 and the printing conditions in the display field HR12. Further, the second screen DP2 displays the number of documents U that have been read in the display field HR13.

  While the second screen DP2 is displayed on the display unit 41, the operation panel 4 is in a state where it does not accept input of conditions. Therefore, a waiting time occurs for the user while the second screen DP2 is displayed on the display unit 41.

  FIG. 5 shows an example of the first dialog DR1 (dialog). The first dialog DR1 includes a message MS1 that prompts the image forming apparatus 100 to register conditions.

  The first dialog DR1 includes a receiving unit 411 that receives an instruction as to whether or not to register a condition. The reception unit 411 includes, as an example, a “Yes” button and a “No” button. When the user presses the display portion of the “Yes” button on the display unit 41, an instruction to register the condition is accepted. When the user presses the display part of the “No” button on the display unit 41, an instruction not to register the condition is accepted.

  Next, the operation of the control unit will be described with reference to FIGS. 6 to 8 are flowcharts showing the operation of the control unit 5.

  The control unit 5 displays the first screen DP1 on the display unit 41 (S101). When conditions are input on the first screen DP1 (S102) and the start button 42 on the operation panel 4 is pressed, reading of an image from the document is started (S103). The control unit 5 displays the second screen DP2 on the display unit 41 (S104).

  In step S102, if the registered condition is specified via the first screen DP1 when the condition is already registered in the image forming apparatus 100, the condition is read out. When causing the image forming unit 1 or the transmission unit 7 to execute a job according to the read conditions, it is prohibited to display the first dialog DR1 in steps S107 and S117 described later. In addition, when the condition input in step S102 has the same content as the registration information SB stored in the storage unit 6, the processing after step S103 is executed. By executing the processing after step S103, the user can recognize that the image forming apparatus 100 has a registration function.

  The control unit 5 calculates a first time TP1 required for reading images of all the documents U set on the document tray 22 (S105). The control unit 5 calculates the first time TP1 based on the number of documents U. The control unit 5 can also calculate the first time TP1 based on the number of documents U and the size of the document U.

  Next, the control unit 5 compares the first time TP1 and the second time TP2 (S106), and when the first time TP1 is equal to or greater than the second time TP2 (“Yes” in S106), the second screen The first dialog DR1 is displayed so as to overlap with DP2 (S107, see FIG. 9).

  The second time TP2 is a time for displaying the first dialog DR1. The second time TP2 is set to a time sufficient for the user to read the message and give an instruction by the reception unit 411. For example, the second time TP2 is preferably 1 second or more and 5 seconds or less, and more preferably 2 seconds or more and 3 seconds or less.

  Next, the control unit 5 determines whether or not the second time TP2 has elapsed since the display of the first dialog DR1 was started (S108), and when the second time TP2 has elapsed (“Yes” in S108) )), The first dialog DR1 is hidden (S109), and the process ends. When the second time TP2 has not elapsed since the display of the first dialog DR1 was started (“No” in S108), the process proceeds to step S110.

  The control unit 5 determines whether or not an instruction not to register the condition is received in the receiving unit 411 of the first dialog DR1 (S110). When the instruction is accepted (“Yes” in S110), the process proceeds to step S109. When the instruction is not accepted (“No” in S110), the process proceeds to step S111.

  The control unit 5 determines whether or not an instruction to register a condition has been received in the receiving unit 411 of the first dialog DR1 (S111). When the instruction is accepted (“Yes” in S111), the process proceeds to step S112 shown in FIG. When the instruction is not accepted (“No” in S111), the process returns to step S107 in FIG. That is, the display of the first dialog DR1 is performed while the second time TP2 has not elapsed since the display of the first dialog DR1 has started and the instruction to register the condition or the instruction to not register is not given. Will continue.

  Next, the control unit 5 displays the second dialog DR2 on the display unit 41 so as to overlap the second screen DP2 (see S112 in FIG. 7 and FIG. 10), and determines whether the reading has been completed. (S113).

  The second dialog DR2 includes, for example, a message for notifying that the registration screen is displayed on the display unit 41 after the job is completed, and an “OK” button. By displaying the message, the user can confirm that the instruction to register the condition has been accepted. Further, when the user presses the area of the display unit 41 on which the “OK” button is displayed, the second dialog DR2 is hidden.

  If the reading has not been completed (“No” in S113), the process returns to step S112. If completed (“Yes” in S113), the second dialog DR2 is hidden (S114), a registration screen is displayed (S115), and the process ends.

Next, with reference to FIG. 6 and FIG. 8, the processing after step S106 will be described.
In step S106, when the first time TP1 is shorter than the second time TP2 (“No” in S106), the process proceeds to step S116 in FIG.

  The control unit 5 determines whether or not all the images of the document U have been read (S116). If the reading is not completed (“No” in S116), the process waits until the reading is completed.

  When the reading is completed (“Yes” in S116), the first dialog DR1 is displayed so as to be superimposed on the first screen DP1 (S117, see FIG. 11).

  Next, the control unit 5 determines whether or not the second time TP2 has elapsed since the display of the first dialog DR1 was started (S118), and when the second time TP2 has elapsed (" Yes "), the first dialog DR1 is hidden (S119), and the process ends. When the second time TP2 has not elapsed since the display of the first dialog DR1 was started (“No” in S118), the process proceeds to step S120.

  The control unit 5 determines whether or not an instruction not to register the condition is received in the receiving unit 411 of the first dialog DR1 (S120). When the instruction is accepted (“Yes” in S120), the process proceeds to step S119. When the instruction is not accepted (“No” in S120), the process proceeds to step S121.

  The control unit 5 determines whether or not an instruction to register a condition has been received in the receiving unit 411 of the first dialog DR1 (S121). When the instruction is accepted (“Yes” in S121), the process proceeds to step S122. The control unit 5 displays a registration screen (S122), and the process ends.

  When the instruction is not accepted (“No” in S121), the process returns to step S117. That is, the first dialog DR1 is displayed while the second time TP2 has not elapsed since the start of the display of the first dialog DR1 and the instruction to register the condition or the instruction to not register is not given. Will continue.

  Next, registration of conditions will be described. The control unit 5 stores the condition in the storage unit 6 as registration information SB, and registers the condition in the image forming apparatus.

  Table 1 shows an example of the registration information SB. The registration information SB includes a registration name and other setting items (conditions). In the registration information SB shown in Table 1, “for conference” is set as “registration name”. In the setting item “paper type”, the condition “plain paper” is set, and in the setting item “print quality”, the condition “standard” is set.

  As described above with reference to FIGS. 1 to 11, according to the present embodiment, the first time TP1 required for reading the image of the document U is calculated, and the first time TP1 is determined in advance. When the time is TP2 or more, the first dialog DR1 is displayed on the display unit 41 during the second time TP2 in parallel with the reading. When the reading time is long, a message prompting registration of the condition is displayed in parallel with the reading, so that the user can effectively use the condition registration function without making the user feel bothered.

  Further, according to the present embodiment, when the first time TP1 is shorter than the second time TP2, the first dialog DR1 is displayed on the display unit 41 after the reading is completed. In the image forming apparatus 100, when the reading is completed, the display of the display unit 41 is switched from the second screen DP2 to the first screen DP1. By displaying the first dialog DR1 after the reading is completed, the user can clearly recognize the screen change.

  Furthermore, according to the present embodiment, the control unit 5 prohibits the display of the first dialog DR1 and the second dialog DR2 when the user specifies a registered condition by an operation on the operation panel 4. Therefore, the user can effectively use the condition registration function without causing the user to feel bothered.

  Furthermore, according to the present embodiment, the first dialog DR1 includes a reception unit 411 that receives whether or not a condition is registered, and the control unit 5 receives an instruction whether or not the reception unit 411 registers a condition. The first dialog DR1 is not displayed regardless of whether or not the second time TP2 has elapsed. Therefore, the first dialog DR1 is not displayed unnecessarily, and the user's troublesomeness can be reduced.

  Further, according to the present embodiment, the control unit 5 calculates the first time TP1 based on the number of documents U. Therefore, the time required for reading the image of the document U can be reasonably calculated.

  The embodiments of the present invention have been described above with reference to the drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and can be implemented in various modes without departing from the gist thereof (for example, the following (1)). In addition, various inventions can be formed by appropriately combining a plurality of components disclosed in the above embodiments. For example, some components may be deleted from all the components shown in the embodiment. Furthermore, constituent elements over different embodiments may be appropriately combined. In order to facilitate understanding, the drawings schematically show each component as a main component, and the thickness, length, number, interval, etc. of each component shown in the drawings are actual for convenience of drawing. May be different. In addition, the material, shape, dimensions, and the like of each component shown in the above embodiment are merely examples, and are not particularly limited, and various changes can be made without departing from the effects of the present invention. is there.

  (1) The image forming apparatus 100 is configured to be able to register a condition that the transmission unit 7 follows when executing a job. Then, a dialog for prompting registration of conditions is displayed on the display unit 41 as in the first dialog DR1. As a result, the user can effectively use the condition registration function.

  The present invention can be used in the field of image forming apparatuses.

1: Image forming unit 2: Image reading unit 4: Operation panel 5: Control unit 6: Storage unit 41: Display unit 100: Image forming apparatus 411: Reception unit DR1: First dialog MS1: Message SB: Registration information TP1: First 1 hour TP2: 2nd hour

Claims (5)

An image forming apparatus for forming an image on a sheet,
A reading unit for reading an image of a document;
An execution unit that executes a job according to conditions based on the read image;
A display unit;
A control unit for controlling the display unit,
The controller is
Calculating a first time required to read the image of the original;
When the first time is longer than a predetermined second time, in parallel with the reading, a dialog is displayed on the display unit during the second time,
The image forming apparatus, wherein the dialog includes a message prompting to register the condition.   2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the first time is shorter than the second time, the dialog is displayed on the display unit after the reading is completed. An input unit;
The controller is
When the registered condition is specified via the input unit, the condition is read out,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein displaying the dialog is prohibited when the job is to be executed by the execution unit in accordance with the read condition. The dialog includes a reception unit that receives an instruction as to whether or not to register the condition,
2. When the receiving unit receives an instruction as to whether or not to register the condition, the control unit hides the dialog regardless of whether or not the second time has elapsed. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3.   5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit calculates the first time based on the number of documents read by the reading unit. 6.

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