JPH0261035B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a display device that selectively displays a plurality of pieces of information on one display section.

Conventionally, for example, in a copying machine, paper jam,
As a display device for displaying various abnormalities such as paper end and toner near end, there is a device that has individual indicators for each type of abnormality.

However, such a display device has the disadvantage that a large planar space is required when laying out indicators for various abnormalities on the operation section.

Therefore, there is a display device that attempts to reduce the planar space by controlling one dot-type display to selectively display a plurality of pieces of information as dots.

However, in such a display device, when displaying multiple pieces of information competes with each other, for example, when the last sheet of paper in a paper cassette is fed,
When a paper jam occurs, two pieces of information, paper end and paper jam, are displayed, making it impossible to recognize the information.

Therefore, in a display device that selectively displays multiple pieces of information on one display unit, when multiple pieces of information conflict, the display can be improved by displaying the information that has priority in terms of time, depending on the order of time. It is conceivable to display one piece of information in each section.

In addition, in a similar display device, when multiple pieces of information conflict, it is proposed that one piece of information be displayed on the display unit by displaying the information starting from the highest priority according to a predetermined priority order. (See patent application No. 54-155619).

By the way, as mentioned above, if a paper jam occurs after reaching the paper end, the jam repair work involves turning off the power, moving the mechanism, removing the jammed paper, restoring the mechanism, etc., and then turning the power back on. Normally, it is more efficient to remove the jam paper and then replenish the paper during warm-up. If the jam cannot be repaired, it is more efficient to replenish paper first.

Therefore, when multiple pieces of information are displayed in conflict, displaying one piece of information uniformly before or after the time or according to a predetermined priority order will not be enough to repair various abnormalities. There is a problem in that work may become inefficient.

This invention has been made in view of the above points, and it is possible to display information that is not displayed because it is later in time or has lower priority in the display device as described above. At the same time, by displaying the amount of information that should be displayed, it is possible to carry out repair work in accordance with the specific situation, and furthermore, the operator can know in advance how much repair work needs to be performed. The purpose is to improve the efficiency of repair work.

That is, the present invention provides, as a display device for achieving such an object, a display device having a single display section on which a plurality of pieces of information are selectively displayed, and a numerical information display section on which numerical information is displayed; means for displaying information with a high priority according to a predetermined display priority among a plurality of pieces of information to be displayed on a single display section; means for switching the information to be displayed on the display section in accordance with a predetermined display priority following the displayed information; and a counting means for counting the number of information to be displayed on the single display section. and means for displaying the number of information counted by the counting means on the numerical information display section.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 and 2 are a block circuit diagram and a schematic diagram of an operating section, respectively, showing an embodiment in which a display device according to the present invention is applied to a copying machine.

In both figures, the control circuit 1 is constituted by a microcomputer, etc., and receives key signals S K and K from a keyboard 3 for setting the number of copies, which consists of a numeric keypad, a stop key, and a clear key provided on the operating section 2 shown in _FIG . A print start signal S _R etc. from the print start switch 4 is inputted to perform sequence control of the copying machine.

The control circuit 1 also commands a paper jam signal S _J from the paper jam detection circuit 5, a paper end signal S _P from the paper end detection circuit 6, a toner air end signal S _T from the toner near end detection circuit 7, and display switching. Operation section 2 to
Display switching signal from display switching switch 8 provided in
S _C is input, and the display 9 is controlled based on these signals to display various abnormalities and to switch between displays.
Note that the details will be described later.

The display device 9 is a dot matrix type display device using a light emitting diode, liquid crystal, fluorescent display tube, etc.
Each character is displayed in a 5×7 matrix as shown in FIG. 3A, for example, as shown in FIG. 3B and C.

As shown in FIG. 2, this display 9 constitutes one display section by an abnormality display section 9a that displays the content of the error and an error number display section 9b that displays the number of conflicting information. ing.

The display 9 also displays abnormalities such as paper jam, paper end, and toner near end as shown in FIG. 4A, B, and C, respectively.

Next, the abnormality display control executed by the microcomputer of the control circuit 1 will be explained with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. In this example, the priorities are set in advance in the order of paper jam, paper end, and toner near end.

In Figure 5, STEP1 The power switch of the copying machine is turned on.

STEP 2, 3 Check the paper jam signal _SJ from the paper jam detection circuit 5 to determine whether or not there is a paper jam.

If it is a paper jam, "PAPER JAM" is displayed on the abnormality display section 9a of the display 9 as shown in Fig. 4A, and after the error has been memorized, or immediately if it is not a paper jam.
Proceed to STEP 4. Furthermore, "error memory" refers to 1.
memory of one type of abnormality occurring.

STEP4 Check the paper end signal S _P from the paper end detection circuit 6 to determine whether the paper is at the end or not.
Proceed to STEP 5, and if the paper is not finished, proceed to STEP 8.

STEP5~7 Determine whether an error is displayed on the abnormality display section 9a of the display 9. If an error is displayed, the error will be stored, and if no error is displayed, the error display section 9a will be displayed as shown in Figure 4. After displaying "PAPER END" and memorizing the error, proceed to STEP 8.
Note that "error display" refers to a state in which some kind of abnormality is displayed on the abnormality display section 9a.

STEP8 Check the toner near-end signal from the toner near-end detection circuit 7 to determine whether or not the toner near-end is reached. If the toner is near-end, proceed to STEP9; if not, proceed to STEP12.

STEP 9 to 11 Similarly to STEP 5 to 7, if an error is displayed on the error display section 9a of the display 9, the error will be memorized, and if no error is displayed, the error display section 9a will be displayed as shown in Fig. 4C. After displaying “TONER END”, each
Proceed to STEP12.

STEP 12 Check the paper jam signal S _J , paper end signal _SP , and toner near end signal _ST respectively to check whether an abnormality (error) has occurred. If an error has occurred, return to STEP 2 and confirm that an error has occurred. If not, repeat the judgment in STEP 12.

In this way, when each abnormality such as paper jam, paper jam, paper end, or toner near end occurs, it is checked and displayed according to the predetermined priority order, so even if multiple abnormalities are displayed in conflict, First, information with a high priority (abnormality details) is displayed.

Although not shown, each STEP 3, 6, 7,
The numbers of information stored as errors are added in steps 10 and 11, and the added number of abnormalities that have occurred is displayed on the error number display section 9b of the display 9. Note that the number of abnormalities excluding the displayed abnormality may be displayed.

Next, the display switching control executed by the microcomputer of the control circuit 1 will be explained with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. 6 and 7. Note that the priority settings are the same as in the example shown in FIG.

In Fig. 6, STEP13 Check the display switching signal _S
It is checked whether or not the display changeover switch 8 shown in FIGS.

STEP 14 Check whether or not a paper jam is displayed on the abnormality display section 9a of the display 9. If it is displayed, check STEP 15, and if it is not displayed, check whether the paper jam is displayed or not.
Proceed to STEP19.

STEP 15, 16 Determine whether or not the paper is at the end. If the paper is at the end, change the display on the error display section 9a from "PAPER JAM" to "PAPER END"
After switching to the display, return to STEP 13, and if the paper is not at the end, proceed to STEP 17.

STEP17, 18 Determine whether or not the toner is near end. If the toner is near end, the abnormality display section 9a
After switching the display from "PAPER JAM" to "TONER END", immediately return to STEP 13 if it is not the toner near end.

STEP 19 Check whether or not the paper end is displayed on the abnormality display section 9a of the display 9. If it is displayed, proceed to STEP 20, and if not, proceed to STEP 24 in FIG. 7.

STEP 20, 21 Determine whether or not the toner is near end. If the toner is near end, the abnormality display section 9a
After switching the display from “PAPER END” to “TONER END”,
Return to STEP13 and if it is not the toner near end
Proceed to STEP 22.

STEP22, 23 Determine whether or not it is a paper jam. If it is a paper jam, change the display on the error display section 9a from "PAPER END" to "PAPER JAM".
After switching to the display, immediately return to STEP 13 if there is no paper jam.

Referring to FIG. 7, STEP 24 Check whether or not toner near end is displayed on the abnormality display section 9a of the display 9. If it is displayed, proceed to STEP 25, and if it is not displayed, proceed to step 25. Return to STEP13.

STEP25, 26 Determine whether or not it is a paper jam. If it is a paper jam, change the display on the error display section 9a from "TONER END" to "PAPER JAM".
After switching to display, return to STEP 13, and if it is not a paper jam, proceed to STEP 27.

STEP 27, 28 Determine whether or not the paper is at the end. If the paper is at the end, the display on the error display section 9a changes from "TONER END" to "PAPER END".
After switching to the display, if the paper is not at the end again, the process immediately returns to STEP 13 in FIG.

In this way, each time the display switching switch 8 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, which commands display switching, is operated, the display on the abnormality display section 9a will change depending on which of the competing information (abnormal contents) is displayed. The information is switched to the next highest priority information.

The above-mentioned STEPs 1 to 12 and STEPs 13 to 28 will be specifically explained using an example in which a jam occurs when the last paper in a paper cassette is fed.

As in this case, when a paper jam and a paper jam occur and the display conflicts, by executing STEP 2 to 12 shown in FIG. "PAPER JAM" is displayed on the abnormality display section 9a, and "2" is displayed on the error number display 9b of the display 9 where two errors have been stored in STEP 3 and 6.

At this time, if the operator is able to repair the jam, by removing the jam paper, "PAPER END" will be displayed in place of "PAPER JAM" on the error display section 9a of the display 9, and the error will be displayed. Since "1" is displayed on the number display section 9b, the repair time can be shortened by replenishing paper during warm-up after repairing the jam.

However, when the operator is unable to repair the jam, steps 14 to 16 shown in FIG. 6 are executed by operating the display changeover switch 8, and the abnormality display section 9a of the display 9 displays "PAPER JAM". The operator can recognize that the paper has run out by switching from ``PAPER END'' to ``PAPER END'', and can replenish the paper while calling someone who can repair the jam.
Repair time can be shortened.

In this way, even information that is not displayed because it has a lower priority among a plurality of competing pieces of information can be displayed and recognized, so that it is possible to take measures that suit the specific situation.

Note that, as in the above-described embodiment, by displaying the number of abnormalities occurring, that is, the number of conflicting information, it is possible to take countermeasures even more efficiently.

Next, another example of the priority setting method when multiple pieces of information conflict will be described.

This is an example of classifying information into a plurality of groups, setting priorities among each group, and further setting priorities among a plurality of pieces of information within each group.

For example, when repairing a copying machine, it is classified into three groups: a front cover group that requires opening the front cover, an upper cover group that requires opening the top cover, and a cassette group that requires removing the paper cassette. Priorities are set in this order, and priorities are set between the paper jams belonging to the front cover group and the toner near end, and between the paper jams belonging to the cassette group and the paper end.

In this way, for example, the work performed by opening the front cover can be done all at once, making the repair work even more efficient.

An example of the flow of abnormality display control executed by the microcomputer of the control circuit 1 in FIG. 1 when the priorities are set in this way is shown in FIG.
9 and 9.

To briefly explain this, first, referring to FIG. 8, STEP 30: The power switch of the copying machine is turned on.

STEP31-35 Determine whether or not an error has occurred in the previous cover group, and if an error has occurred, check the paper jam and then the toner near end, and display the paper jam preferentially.

STEP36-38 Determine whether or not an error has occurred in the upper cover group, and if an error has occurred, check and display the paper jam.

Referring to FIG. 9, STEP 39-43 It is determined whether or not an error has occurred in the cassette group. If an error has occurred, the paper jam is checked in that order, and then the paper end is checked, and the paper jam is displayed preferentially.

STEP44 It is determined whether an error has occurred in each of the front cover, top cover, and cassette groups, and if an error has occurred, the groups are displayed in the order of priority by returning to STEP31 in FIG. 8.

In this example as well, displaying the number of errors that have occurred or the number of errors excluding the displayed error, or switching the display is the same as described above.

In addition, in the above embodiment, an example of a display device that displays information from a higher priority according to a predetermined priority when multiple pieces of information conflict is described. Of course, the present invention can be similarly applied to a display device that displays information based on (early generated) information.

Furthermore, in the above embodiment, an example was described in which one display section was composed of a dot matrix display, but
It may be configured with a display such as a CRT, mechanical cylinder type, or mechanical disk type, or a display that displays information in patterns instead of letters may be used.

Further, the setting of the priority order is not limited to the one in the embodiment, and may be determined depending on the function and configuration of the device that uses the display device according to the present invention, such as a copying machine and a facsimile machine.

Further, the display may be switched automatically at specific time intervals using a timer, and in this way, the troublesome manual operation is eliminated.

Furthermore, when displaying information, the number of pieces of information may not be displayed in one section as in the above-mentioned embodiments, but the number of pieces of information may simply be displayed to indicate whether the information is singular or plural. A container may be provided.

As explained above, according to the present invention, in a display device that displays information on a single display section temporally or according to a predetermined priority order, information is displayed later in time or in a lower priority order. In addition to displaying information that is not displayed, the number of information that should be displayed is also displayed, allowing you to carry out the most appropriate repair work according to the specific situation, and to improve the operation. The person can know in advance how much repair work needs to be done, and can perform the repair work etc. efficiently.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block circuit diagram showing an embodiment in which a display device according to the present invention is applied to a copying machine, FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of the operation section of the copying machine, and FIGS. 4A to 4C are explanatory diagrams showing display examples of the display unit, and FIG. FIG. 6 and FIG. 7 are flowcharts showing an example of display switching control, and FIGS. 8 and 9 are flowcharts showing other examples of abnormality display control. It is. 1...Control circuit, 2...Operation unit, 3...
...Keyboard, 4...Print start switch, 5...Paper jam detection circuit, 6...Paper end detection circuit, 7...Toner near end detection circuit, 8...Display changeover switch, 9...Display device.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A display having a single display section on which a plurality of pieces of information are selectively displayed and a numerical information display section on which numerical information is displayed, and information to be displayed on the single display section. means for displaying information with a high priority among the plurality of information according to a predetermined display priority; means for switching information to be displayed on the display section according to a determined display priority; a counting means for counting the number of information to be displayed on the single display section; and a number of information counted by the counting means. and means for displaying on the numerical information display section.