JPH05197230A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To precisely transmit information required for precisely operating an image forming device to an operator who is distant from the device and to enhance handleability by the user of the image forming device as for the image forming device using an electrophotographic process. CONSTITUTION:By providing a first language voice generation means(incorporated speaker 28) for generating a language voice which can be discriminated by a human being inside the image forming device and connecting a second language voice generation means(external speaker 30) for generating the language voice which can be discriminated by the human being in addition to the image forming device, language information which is identical to the language information generated from the first language voice generation means can be generated from the second language voice generation means.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus including a laser printer, a laser PPC and a laser FAX using an electrophotographic apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, products that inform users of various information such as operational notes in an image forming apparatus using an electrophotographic process by a voice or a buzzer have appeared.

[0003]

In the conventional image forming apparatus, the information about the image forming apparatus is generated from the main body of the image forming apparatus by voice or buzzer. Therefore, the information is stored in the image forming apparatus. There is a problem that it can be transmitted only to people in the vicinity, and in some cases, due to the non-transmission of information, the proper use state of the device cannot be ensured.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to accurately transmit information necessary for proper operation of an image forming apparatus to an operator who is away from the image forming apparatus so that the user of the image forming apparatus can easily use the information. To improve.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention has any one of the following configurations.

(1). The image forming apparatus is provided with a first linguistic voice generating means for generating human identifiable linguistic voice, and a human identifiable linguistic voice is generated separately from the image forming apparatus. By connecting the second language voice generating means for this purpose, the same language information as the language information generated from the first language generating means can be generated from the second language voice generating means.

(2). In (1), a plurality of second language voice generating means can be connected.

(3). In (2), operation error information relating to the image forming apparatus is output from the second language voice generating means,
At least one of the environmental information is generated as at least one of Japanese voice and non-Japanese voice.

(4). In (2), the operation error information regarding the image forming apparatus is generated as a language sound other than Japanese by the second language sound generation means.

(5). In (2), the environment information related to the image forming apparatus is generated as Japanese voice by the second language voice generation means.

(6). In (2), the environment information related to the image forming apparatus is generated as the language voice other than Japanese by the second language voice generation means.

(7). In (3), the mode setting as to whether or not at least one of the operation error information and the environment information regarding the image forming apparatus is generated by the second language voice generating means can be set from the operation panel of the image forming apparatus. ..

(8). In (5) to (6), the setting of the mode as to whether or not to generate the environment information related to the image forming apparatus by the second language voice generating means can be set from the operation panel of the image forming apparatus.

(9). In (3) to (6), the first
The language generated by the language voice generating means and the second language voice generating means can be set for each language voice generating means from the operation panel of the image forming apparatus.

[0015]

The necessary information for operating the apparatus is transmitted by the second language voice generating means provided separately from the image forming apparatus.

[0016]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The details of the present invention will be described based on the embodiments shown in the drawings. Prior to the description of the present invention, first, regarding the image forming apparatus according to the present invention, an outline of the overall configuration and operation of the internal mechanism of a laser printer as an example thereof will be described with reference to FIG.

In FIG. 8, reference numeral 10 indicates the apparatus main body. The apparatus main body 10 is composed of an upper structure 10a and a lower structure 10b, and the photoconductor 12 is located substantially in the center thereof. Around the photoconductor 12, a charging device 13, a developing device 14, and a transfer device 1 are arranged in the order of the rotation directions indicated by arrows.
5, the cleaning means 16 and other electronic process means excluding the optical writing means are arranged.

A paper feed cassette 19 is arranged above the electrophotographic process means, and an optical writing means 18 is arranged below the electrophotographic process means. At the time of image recording, the paper fed from the paper feed cassette 19 is the registration roller pair 21.
Then, it is conveyed to the upper side of the photoconductor 12 at a timed timing.

The photosensitive member 12 is rotationally driven in the counterclockwise direction as shown by the arrow, and at that time, the surface of the photosensitive member 12 is uniformly charged by the charging unit 13 and the laser beam from the optical writing unit 18 is irradiated. As a result, an electrostatic latent image is carried on the photoconductor 12.

This electrostatic latent image is visualized by the developing means 14. This visible image is transferred by the transfer means 15 onto the lower surface of the sheet conveyed to the upper side of the photoconductor 12. The sheet thus transferred is guided by the conveyance guide 23 and conveyed between the fixing roller 17a and the pressure roller 17b of the fixing unit 17, and the visible image is fixed.

The sheet exiting the fixing means 17 is further conveyed by the sheet discharge rollers 24 to the sheet discharge section 25, and the sheet discharge guide 2
6 is guided and stacked on the paper discharge tray 27. The above is the outline of the laser printer.

Next, the specific contents of the present invention will be described. The laser printer according to the present invention has an appearance as shown in FIG. 2 when viewed obliquely from the front. Further, when it is viewed obliquely from the rear, it has an appearance as shown in FIG. Here, FIG. 1 shows a built-in speaker 28, which is a first linguistic sound generating means for generating information about the image forming apparatus as linguistic sound, and from here, to a person near the apparatus main body 10, Information about the main body 10 is transmitted as language sounds.

Further, in the example of FIG. 1, an external speaker 30 functioning as a second language voice generating means is connected to the external output terminal 29 provided in the apparatus body 10 separately from the apparatus body. As a result, from the external speaker 30, various types of information regarding the use of the apparatus body 10 are transmitted as human-identifiable language sounds to a person in a place other than the vicinity of the apparatus body 10.

Referring to FIG. 3, information signals from various sensors provided in various places of the apparatus main body 10 are processed by software in an engine board (CPU etc.), and the information is an operation error related to the apparatus main body 10. It is recognized whether it is information (for example, jam, cover open, abnormal heating of the fixing heater, fan motor non-rotation, etc.) or environmental information (for example, no toner, no paper, etc.). The content of the information to be output is selected based on the instruction from and is transmitted as a language voice from the built-in speaker 28 or the external speaker 30 connected to the external output terminal 29.

Also, whether the language voice is Japanese is determined by the processing by the software on the engine board at this time.
You can also select a language other than Japanese, that is, a foreign language.If you can set it from the operation panel in advance, you can obtain the output according to the selection of environment information, operation error information, and Japanese or foreign language. , The user-friendliness when using can be improved. These selections can also be made from the operation panel.

In FIG. 4, reference numerals 29a, 29b, 29c,
29d, an example in which a plurality of external output terminals are provided in the apparatus main body 10 is shown. As shown in FIG. 5, these external output terminals may be connected in parallel with the built-in speaker according to the structure shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 6, it is also possible to have a configuration in which the engine board outputs each independently.

In the configuration shown in FIG. 5, the information and language sound from the built-in speaker and all external speakers connected to the external output terminals are the same, and in the configuration shown in FIG. 6, processing by software on the engine board is performed. , Information from each speaker can be selected. Therefore, it is possible to instruct the user to select environment information, operation error information, Japanese, foreign language, etc. from the plurality of external speakers as required by the user.

The operation when setting various audio outputs from the operation panel is as shown in the flowchart of FIG. The operation panel is provided with a switch for selecting and outputting information such as environment information and operation error information corresponding to each output terminal, and is connected to the engine board by a line. Further, the operation panel is provided with a switch for selecting whether the output voice is in Japanese or a language other than Japanese, and is similarly connected to the engine board by a line. By the operation of these switches and the operation according to the flowchart shown in FIG. 7,
Any information can be selected and output from any external speaker.

As described above, the information about the image forming apparatus can be transmitted to a plurality of people who are located in a place other than the vicinity of the image forming apparatus. Further, the information regarding the image forming apparatus can be transmitted to a plurality of persons at a plurality of places other than the vicinity of the image refining apparatus. Further, at least one of the operation error information and the environmental information related to the image forming apparatus can be transmitted to a plurality of people in a plurality of places other than the vicinity of the image forming apparatus by using Japanese voice or voice other than Japanese. ..

Further, the operation error information regarding the image forming apparatus can be transmitted in a voice other than the Japanese voice to a plurality of persons in a plurality of places other than the vicinity of the image forming apparatus. Also, environmental information about the image forming apparatus can be transmitted by Japanese voice to a plurality of people in a plurality of places other than the vicinity of the image forming apparatus. Also, environmental information related to the image forming apparatus can be transmitted in a language voice other than Japanese voice to a plurality of persons in a plurality of places other than the vicinity of the image forming apparatus.

Further, it is possible to select at least one transmission place of operation error information and environment information regarding the image forming apparatus. In addition, it is possible to select a place for transmitting environmental information about the image forming apparatus.
In addition, it is possible to select the language that is generated when the information is transmitted for each of the information transmission locations related to the image forming apparatus. The device can be operated well even when it is used in an office where both domestic and foreign people are mixed.

[0032]

According to the present invention, information necessary for proper operation of the image forming apparatus can be accurately transmitted to an operator who is away from the image forming apparatus, thereby improving the usability of the user of the image forming apparatus. can do.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention viewed from the front side.

FIG. 2 is an external perspective view of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention as viewed from the back side.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an external perspective view illustrating another example of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart according to the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an outline of an internal structure of an image forming apparatus suitable for implementing the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

28 Built-in speaker (as first language voice generation means) 30 External speaker (as second language voice generation means)

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁵ Identification code Internal reference number FI Technical display location H04R 1/02 102 Z 8946-5H // H04N 1/00 106 B 7046-5C

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. An image forming apparatus using an electrophotographic process, wherein first language voice generating means for generating human-recognizable language voice is provided inside the image forming apparatus, and
By connecting a second language voice generating means for generating a human-recognizable language voice separately from the image forming apparatus, the same language information as the language information generated from the first language generating means is connected. An image forming apparatus, wherein language information can be generated from the second language voice generating means. 2. An image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of second language voice generating means can be connected. 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein at least one of operation error information and environment information relating to the image forming apparatus,
An image forming apparatus, wherein at least one of Japanese voice and non-Japanese voice is generated by a second language voice generating means. 4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the second language voice generating unit generates operation error information regarding the image forming apparatus as a language voice other than Japanese. 5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the second language voice generating means generates environmental information about the image forming apparatus as Japanese voice. 6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the second language voice generating means generates the environmental information about the image forming apparatus as a language voice other than Japanese. 7. The method according to claim 3, wherein at least one of operation error information and environment information related to the image forming apparatus is second.
The image forming apparatus is characterized in that mode setting as to whether or not the language sound generating means is to be generated can be set from an operation panel of the image forming apparatus. 8. The method according to claim 5, wherein the setting of the mode as to whether or not the environment information regarding the image forming apparatus is generated by the second language voice generating means can be set from the operation panel of the image forming apparatus. An image forming apparatus characterized by the above. 9. The language selection device according to claim 3, wherein the selection of the language generated from the first language voice generation means and the second language voice generation means is performed for each language voice generation means.
An image forming apparatus characterized by being settable from an operation panel of the image forming apparatus.