JPH04355792A - Information display device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To enable the notification of the functions of a device by providing a a message display part and a display control part which displays the explanations of the respective functions of the device on the message display part. CONSTITUTION:The message display part is added to the device which has plural functions. Further, the device is equipped with a central processing unit(CPU) 20 which controls the operation of a copying machine, a RAM 21 stored with control information, a ROM 22 stored with a program and control data, various key groups 31 of a console panel, an input interface 23 which inputs input signals from the key groups 31 and signals from various sensor groups 32 provided in the copying machine and outputs them to the CPU 20, and an output interface 24 which outputs a signal controlled according to the various inputs. Then the explanation of the respective functions of the device are displayed at the same time or subsequently on the message display part 27 by the CPU 20 as the display control part, RAM 21, and ROM 22.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an information display device attached to a copying machine or the like.

0002

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, many types of equipment have been equipped with a large number of functions in addition to the originally required functions. For example, in a copying machine that is originally required to have the function of making a same-size copy of an original image, various functions such as enlarged copying, reduced copying, frame erasing, punch hole erasing, binding margin cutting, etc. are added.

[0003] In addition, such multi-functional equipment is provided with a message display unit that displays the current usage status of the equipment, and it is possible to determine which function the equipment is currently being operated with from the content displayed on the message display unit. There is something that has been made possible. In addition, the key switches used to select each function are labeled with indications such as frame eraser, punch hole eraser, binding margin filler, etc., to make it easier to select the required function.

0004

[Problem to be Solved by the Invention] However, the contents of the functions, typified by the indications attached to keyswitches, for example, are only described in the instruction manual, and it is difficult to clearly know the contents of the functions from the indications. Can not. Further, for example, a person who does not know the function of erasing a frame cannot know the content of the function from the display of the frame eraser, and may not even know that the function exists. As a result, various functions attached to devices are often not effectively utilized.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide an information display device capable of advertising explanations of functions possessed by equipment.

[0006]

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to achieve the above object, an information display device according to the present invention includes a message display section attached to a device having multiple functions, and a message display section that displays each function of the device. The present invention is characterized by comprising a display control section that causes the message display section to display the explanation simultaneously or sequentially.

[0007] Furthermore, in the present invention, if necessary,
The display control section is configured to display the usage status of the device when the device is in use, and display an explanation of each function of the device simultaneously or sequentially on the message display section when display of the usage status is not necessary. .

[0008]

[Operation] In the information display device of the present invention, the display control section causes the message display section to display explanations of each function of the device simultaneously or sequentially, so that the display advertises the details of the functions that the device has. Users will be clearly informed. In particular, in the present invention, the display control section displays the usage state of the device when the device is in use, and displays an explanation of each function of the device simultaneously or sequentially on the message display section when display of the usage state is not necessary. If the device is configured to display the usage status of the device and an advertisement for its function in one message display area, the function advertisement will be displayed in addition to the message display area that exclusively displays the usage status of the device. There is no need to provide two message display sections;

[0009]

Embodiments Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be explained based on the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a cross section of a copying machine equipped with an information display device according to an embodiment of the present invention. In this copying machine 1, an original placed on an original platen glass 2 is illuminated by a lamp 3a of an optical system 3, and the reflected light is imaged on the outer peripheral surface of a rotationally driven photoreceptor 4, which corresponds to the original image. An electrostatic latent image is formed. This electrostatic latent image is visualized as a toner image by the developing device 5, and is transferred onto the paper sent to the transfer area 8 from the paper feed device 6 or 7. The paper onto which the toner image has been transferred is conveyed to a fixing device 9, where the toner image is heat-fixed onto the paper and then discharged to a sorter 10.

[0010] The copying machine 1 also has a double-sided copy function, and when the double-sided copy mode is selected,
A toner image is formed on one side by switching the conveyance path with the switching guide 11 as described above, and the paper that has passed through the fixing device 9 is sent to the duplex device 12. The paper is
The duplex device 12 reverses the front and back sides, and the toner image is again sent to the transfer area 8 to form a toner image on the back surface, and then transferred to the fixing device 9.
and is discharged to the sorter 10.

[0011] When double-sided copying of a large number of sheets is to be performed continuously, the papers with toner images formed on the surfaces are stacked in the duplex device 12 by turning them upside down, and then one sheet of each paper is transferred from the duplex device 12. The paper is then re-fed to the transfer area 8 and a toner image is formed on the back surface. FIG. 2 is a plan view of an operation panel provided at the top of the copying machine. This operation panel is provided with a group of various keys 31 and a message display section 27.

FIG. 3 is a control block diagram of the control device. This control device includes a central control device (hereinafter referred to as CPU) 20 that controls the operation of the copying machine according to a predetermined program.
, a RAM 21 that stores control information, a ROM 22 that stores the above-mentioned programs and control data, and inputs from various keys 31 on the operation panel and signals from various sensors 32 provided in the copying machine and outputs them to the CPU 20. An input interface 23 that outputs signals controlled based on various inputs, and an output interface 24 that outputs signals controlled based on various inputs. This output interface 24 outputs a drive current to controlled parts 25 such as various motors and lamps of the copying machine, and also outputs a display control signal to a message controller 26. The message controller 26 follows this control signal to a message display part 27. It is designed to drive.

The main routine of the above program is shown in FIG.
As shown in , the process starts when the main switch is pressed and the power is turned on, and various control contents of the copying machine are initialized in an initial setting step (S1). After this, the internal timer starts at the internal timer start step (S2), and the key input, display processing routine (S3), display selection routine (S4), and other processing routines (S5) are executed within the set time of this internal timer. If the internal timer ends in the internal timer end determination step (S10), the process returns to the internal timer start step (S2) to start the internal timer, and the same process is repeated.

In the key input and display processing routine (S3), information input by pressing keys on the operation panel is accepted, and necessary information is displayed on various lamps and message display section 27 on the operation panel. Display selection routine (S4
), as shown in FIG. 5, it is determined whether access to the copying machine has been interrupted for, for example, three minutes or more via a sensor that detects access to the copying machine, such as a key or a front door sensor ( S41) If there is no access to the copying machine within 3 minutes, the process advances to the advertisement display routine (S43), and if there is access to the copying machine within 3 minutes, it is further determined whether or not copying is in progress. It is determined (S42), and if copying is not in progress, paper information is displayed (S44). Even if the copying machine is accessed within three minutes, if copying is in progress, there is no need to display paper information, and the process advances to an advertisement display routine (S43).

[0015] The above paper information display (
In S44), the selected paper cassette, remaining amount of paper, etc. are displayed on the message display section 27, as shown in FIG. 5(a). Further, in the advertisement display routine (S43), three types of advertisements shown in FIGS. 6(b) to 6(d) are sequentially displayed on the message display section 27.

That is, as shown in FIG. 7, in the advertisement display routine (S43), it is determined whether the display time timer that sets the time for displaying one advertisement has ended (S420), and the display time is set. After confirming that the timer has ended, a new display time timer is set and started (S421), and it is determined whether the count number DNO of the display number counter is '0' (S422).

Here, if the count number DNO of the display number counter is '0', the first
The display of the advertisement is started (S423), and the count number DNO of the display number counter is incremented to '1' (S424). Thereafter, the process proceeds to other processing routines (S5) of the main routine. If the display time timer has not ended when the advertisement display routine (S43) is executed next, the process returns to the other processing routines (S5) of the main routine, so the first advertisement continues to be displayed. .

[0018] Such a program is repeated several times, and after the display time timer ends, the advertisement display routine (
When S43) is executed, it is determined whether or not the display time timer has ended (S420), and after confirming that the display time timer has ended, the display time timer is set and started again (S420). S421), it is determined whether the counted number DNO of the display number counter is '0' (S422).

Here, since the count number DNO of the display number counter is already '1', the count number DNO of the display number counter is '0'.
', it is further determined whether the count number DNO of the display number counter is '1' (S425), and if it is confirmed that the count number DNO of the display number counter is '1', the figure 6(c
) starts displaying the second advertisement (S426), and the count number DNO of the display number counter is incremented to '2' (S427). After this, other processing routines of the main routine (S5
).

Similarly, when the advertisement display routine (S43) is executed after the display time timer expires for the second advertisement, it is determined whether the display time timer has expired (S420), and the display time After confirming that the timer has ended, set and start the display time timer (S421), and after confirming that the count number DNO of the display number counter is neither '0' nor '1' (S422). , S425), and starts displaying the third advertisement shown in FIG. 6(d) (S428).
Display number counter count DNO
After resetting to '0' (S429), the process proceeds to other processing routines of the main routine (S5).

As shown in FIGS. 6(b) to 6(d), in the first to third advertisements, for example, a picture is provided on the operation panel and represents the function selected by the function selection key switch. Symbols 41a and 41b or character display 41c and explanatory text indicating the content of the function are displayed. In the information display device of this copying machine, if it is not accessed for more than 3 minutes after the power is turned on, the display selection routine (
An advertisement display routine (S43) is selected in S4), and an advertisement is displayed on the message display section 27. The advertisements start, for example, with the first advertisement, and are switched to the second advertisement and the third advertisement each time the advertisement display timer ends. If there is an access while the advertisement is not displayed, the display selection routine (S
In step 4), the paper information display (S44) is selected, and the selected paper cassette, remaining amount of paper, etc. are displayed on the message display section 27. When copying is started, the advertisement display routine (S43) is selected again in the display selection routine (S4), and the message display section 2
7, the display of the interrupted advertisement is resumed.

In this way, the message display section 27 displays the pictorial symbols 41a and 41b or the character display 41c representing the functions of the copying machine, and the explanatory text indicating the contents of the functions. This allows people who have never used this machine or are unfamiliar with this copier to clearly understand the functions of this copier, and to use those functions more efficiently. Become.

Furthermore, this copying machine displays the usage status when the copying machine is in use, and also displays explanations of each function of the copying machine sequentially on the message display section when display of the usage status is not necessary. It is no longer necessary to provide two message display sections, one for exclusively displaying the usage status of the device and the other for displaying function advertisements, which simplifies the configuration and reduces the number of parts. , the entire copying machine can be made cheaper.

[0024] In the above embodiment, an example was shown in which the information display device is provided in a copying machine, but the information display device is not limited to this, and similar effects can be obtained by providing it in various devices such as a printer or a facsimile machine. .

[0025]

As described above, according to the information display device of the present invention, the display control section causes the message display section to display the explanation of each function of the device simultaneously or sequentially, so that the device can be easily understood by the display. Even a person using the device for the first time or a person who is inexperienced in using the device can clearly know the contents of the functions of the device and can use the device efficiently by utilizing the functions.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a copying machine equipped with an information display device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the configuration of a message display section of the copying machine.

FIG. 3 is a control block diagram of the control device of the copying machine.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of the main routine of the control device.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of a display selection routine of the control device.

FIG. 6 is a plan view showing display contents of a message display section of an information display device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart of an advertisement display routine of the control device.

[Explanation of symbols]

20 Central control unit (CPU) 21 RAM 22 ROM 23 Input interface 24 Output interface 26 Message controller 27 Message display area

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A message display unit attached to a device having multiple functions, and a display control unit that causes the message display unit to display explanations of each function of the device simultaneously or sequentially on the message display unit. Characteristic information display device. 2. The display control section displays the usage status of the device when the device is used, and causes the message display section to simultaneously or sequentially display an explanation of each function of the device when display of the usage status is unnecessary. The information display device according to claim 1, configured as follows.