JPH0524513B2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

[Technical Field] The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus capable of forming an image. [Prior Art] In a device capable of forming an image, such as a copying machine, each device is used as a means for displaying functional information necessary for performing image formation, such as magnification and paper size input by key input. LEDs corresponding to keys and switches were lit, and the setting status of functions corresponding to keys on a one-to-one basis was displayed depending on the setting position of each key or switch. However, with the diversification of image forming functions, as mentioned above,
The use of an operating section with one-to-one correspondence between keys and functions has the drawback of complicating the operating section and increasing the size of the device. Therefore, in the case of miniaturization, it is considered that there is still room for improvement, such as the fact that it takes too much time and effort to perform operations until one image forming process is executed. On the other hand, as the functions of image forming apparatuses have diversified, as image forming apparatuses have become more widespread, there are increasing opportunities for even non-experts to perform the above-mentioned advanced image formation. The downside is that it is difficult. [Objective] The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned drawbacks, and an object of the present invention is to be able to display necessary display contents when necessary in as little space as possible, and to display a plurality of types input by an input means. It is an object of the present invention to provide an image forming apparatus which is space-saving and has high operating efficiency, by which function information of 1000 images can be registered as a group of functional information necessary to perform one image formation. The present invention has been made in view of the above drawbacks, and an object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus. [Example] An example of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. Note that this embodiment is an embodiment of a copying machine. still,
Functional information related to image formation includes "negative", "A3→B4", "A3→A4", "A3→B5",
"B4→A4", "B4→B5", "A4→B5", "A4→B4",
"A4→A3", "B4→A3", "B5→A4", "B5→B4",
"B5→A3", "Soushin", and "Hensyuu" correspond. Furthermore, the message instructing the transition of display contents corresponds to "ETC" in the embodiment described later. Furthermore, methods for changing the display mode include adding a question mark or an exclamation mark, and blinking display in the embodiments described below. FIG. 1 shows the appearance of a copying machine that is an embodiment of the present invention. This device basically consists of two units. They are reader A and printer B. The reader and printer are mechanically and functionally separated so that they can be used independently. Connections are made using cables, etc. The reader A is also provided with an operating device A-1. FIG. 2 is a detailed view of the operating device A-1 of FIG. 1. This operation section is roughly divided into three blocks. 100 is a general-purpose key part of a conventional copying machine;
It is. Reference numeral 200 denotes a soft key section for the user to arbitrarily create a copy transmission function. The center block 300 is a preset key section of a function key for registering, reading, and resetting a copy/transmission function arbitrarily created by the user using the soft key section 200. The 100 general-purpose key parts are
This is used in conventional copying machines. 101 is the copy button. 102 is a warning display conventionally used in copying machines and the like. Reference numeral 103 is a display device for displaying the desired number of copies to be set and the number of copies to be made. 104 is a copy density switching lever and a display therefor. Reference numeral 105 is a selection display device for selecting whether the original image is only text, only photos, a mixture of text and photos, or section paper. These are provided to perform various image processing so that the above-mentioned original image can be copied in an optimized form. A display 106 indicates whether the selected cassette tier is the upper tier or the lower tier. Reference numeral 107 is a display device for displaying the paper size stored in the cassette of the selected cassette stage. Reference numeral 108 is a group of numeric keys 0 to 9 and C, which is used to set the number of sheets on the sheet number display and to enter numerical values in the program creation process using the soft key section 200 (for example, the magnification of zooming, specifying the destination address, etc.)
) is used for 109 entry keys are provided as the latter key entry confirmation keys. 110 is an interrupt key, 111 is a copy cancel key, 112 is a cassette stage switching key, and 113 is an original image switching key. In order to label the preset key section 300 with the name of a function created by the user, it is structurally possible to write a label. 302 is a preset key, and since there are six preset keys, the user can register six functions. Further, 303 is a preset key display for displaying the preset location, and 301 is a standard mode return key. Also, the soft key section 200 has F1~
There are 201 function keys up to F6, 2
02 is a display device for displaying messages, function key labels, and other modes and data. This embodiment is a liquid crystal display. Figure 3 shows the display 202 and function key 2.
01 (Press the 6 function keys F1, F2...
F6). The display 202 is a liquid crystal, and uses a 5×7 dot matrix liquid crystal display for 32 characters. An enlarged view of one character (within the dotted line) in FIG. 3 is shown in FIG. In Figure 4, 1 is a liquid crystal display 5 that displays characters.
2 is a 5×1 dot portion that displays an underbar. FIG. 5 shows a block diagram of the liquid crystal display in this embodiment. 3 is a liquid crystal display controller which judges key data from the key input section 5 and sends a display liquid crystal address and display character data to the liquid crystal driver 4 through the D line.
A detailed diagram of the driver No. 4 is shown in FIG. Note 6
is a peripheral CPU for liquid crystal display, and is included in driver 4 in Figure 5. As can be seen from FIG. 6, the driver drives the liquid crystal display 202 in a matrix manner. In other words, there are 4 drivers including peripheral CPU 6, and there are 40 lines from each driver in the vertical direction, so there are 160 lines from COM ₁ to COM ₁₆ of peripheral CPU 6 in the horizontal direction.
I use 8 lines out of 16, so there are 8 lines. Using a total of 160 x 8 lines, as shown in Figures 3 and 4, a liquid crystal display with 32 5 x 8 dots (160 x
8 dots), and characters are displayed on the liquid crystal using address data from the controller 3. Note that 7 is a main CPU that performs various controls of the main body of the copying machine, and a description of the main CPU itself will be omitted here because the liquid crystal display will be explained. One embodiment of the present invention is configured as described above. Below, the display is briefly shown in Figures 2 and 3.
The explanation will be centered on FIG. 4. In FIG. 3, the data displayed on the liquid crystal display 202 can be broadly divided into key labels of the function keys 201 F1 to F6, messages to the operator, and display of input data from the numeric keypad.
To distinguish between the soft key label and the message, a cross is attached to the message, an underbar is attached to the soft key label, and the under bar blinks to request input from the numeric keypad. To distinguish between set and unset soft key label items, unset and unselected soft key labels are
A question mark is attached after the label, and if it has been set or selected, an explanation mark is attached. For this purpose, each function has a function setting flag that determines whether the setting has been completed or not, and the controller 3 in FIG. 5 turns on the above flag when the function setting is completed.
do. A detailed explanation of the operating device, including the display mode, will be given below. FIG. 7 shows the display state of the soft key section 200 when the power-on or equal-size reset key is pressed. By pressing the ETC key, the function to be selected is repeatedly displayed in the display state 3-1, 3-2, 3-3, 3-1, . . . . In display state 3-1 in FIG. 7, "100%" is displayed as a standard mode with an exclamation mark attached, and as a setting mode. Therefore, when the copy key is turned on in this state, the reader is set to make a same size copy. When a soft key corresponding to a desired display mode is pressed in each display state of FIG. 7, the display state of that mode is switched.For example, in display state 3-2, soft key 201 corresponding to "Negative?" In other words, F
When 1 is pressed, the display state 3-4 in FIG. 7 is entered, "Negative?" becomes "Negative!!!" and the mode is set (7-a). Therefore, when the copy key is turned on in this state, the reader is set to make a negative copy of the original document with the black and white reversed. but,
If you want to change this mode, press F1 again.
The display returns to state 3-2 and “Negative?” is displayed.
The mode becomes unset (7-b). In display state 3-1 of FIG. 7, “100
%! ! ! ”, the normal size copy mode is canceled and the variable size mode is displayed (display state 5-1 in Figure 8). This makes it possible to perform variable magnification, etc. Standard variable magnification is often used in conventional copying machines, so its explanation is omitted here. The transition of the display state when the key F5 corresponding to is pressed is shown below in display state 5-1 in Fig. 8. If the magnifications in the X direction and Y direction are not equal in the previous time, change from 8-a, and if they are equal, change to 8-a. The setting procedure for arbitrary scaling starts from the display state 8-b. When the "CANC" key F6 is pressed, the mode for arbitrary scaling is canceled and the display returns to display state 5-1. In display state 5-2, "NO" is selected. ! ! ! Pressing the key F5 corresponding to `` transitions to display state 5-3. At this point, press the numeric keypad group of 108 in FIG. is set.Then, the display state becomes 5-4.Also, in the display state 5-5, “NO? ” Press key F5 to change the display state to 5-4. If you wish to change it, press the key corresponding to the part you have set (8-4).
c) Return to display state 5-3. You can then specify a new one. In the display state 5-2, when the key F4 corresponding to "YES?" is pressed, the display state 7-2 shown in FIG. 9 is entered. Also, if you press the key corresponding to "YES!!!" in 5-5, the display state 7 in FIG.
Transition to -1. FIG. 9 will be explained below.
In the display state 7-1 of FIG. 9, since the magnification in the X direction and the Y direction is specified, the underbar of the magnification display section in the X direction first blinks. When a magnification is input using the numeric keypad and entry key described above, the display state changes to 7-3 and the underbar of the Y-direction magnification display section blinks to specify the Y-direction magnification. Similarly, when a magnification (for example, 78%) is input, the display state changes to display state 7-2. Further, the display state 5-2 in FIG. 8 directly transitions to the display state 7-2 in FIG. 9. If you want to change the magnification here, press the corresponding keys like 9-a and 9-b (in this case, 1 to 2 correspondence) and press the display state 7-
Return to 4 or 7-3. Further, when the key F5 corresponding to "OK" is pressed in the display state 7-2, the display state 7-5 is entered, and the designation of the magnification is completed. When the change mode is entered by key input in the display state 3-1 of FIG. 7, it is shown in the display state 9-1 of FIG. 10. See Table 1 for details. Display state 9-3 in FIG. 10 shows the setting display state when the trimming is white and the trimming point set and moving point set are set to the same magnification.

【table】

[Table] Next, the case where the transmission mode is entered by pressing the F2 key in the display state 3-2 of FIG. 7 will be explained. FIG. 11 shows a flowchart of the transmission mode. By pressing the F2 function key in the display state 3-2 of FIG. 7, the transmitting mode is entered, and the state changes to the display state 39-1 of FIG. 12. This display state changes to display state 39-2 after a certain period of time has elapsed due to a timer. Here, the destination is specified (FIG. 11-11-a). “#1?”
“#2?”, “#3?”, etc. indicate the number address of the terminal. What is displayed between parentheses indicates a message to the operator. Therefore, in display state 39-2, no input is made even if the F1 function key is pressed. Furthermore, when the function key corresponding to the desired destination terminal is pressed, the question mark changes to an exclamation mark, indicating that an input has been made. Although three terminals are shown in the embodiment, there may be more than three terminals. If all terminals (including the own terminal) are set as destinations by key input now, the display state changes to display state 39-3 in FIG. 12. However, display state 39-2, 29-3
When the cancel key F6 is pressed, the display returns to the display state 3-2 in FIG. 7. And display state 39-
2 or 39-3, press the OK key F5 to enter the transmission size specification mode, and the display state changes to Fig. 12 40-1 (Fig. 11 11-1).
b). After that, specify the size as described above. The procedure for setting the mode has been explained above, but
The preset keys for registering the set modes will be explained below. Magnification, edit mode,
Four types of registration are possible: positive/negative, destination, and transmission size. If “Touroku” is displayed,
For example, when the soft key is pressed in the display states 3-2 and 3-4 of FIG. 7, the copy mode at the time the soft key was pressed is registered in its original state. It is also possible to combine items registered in the preset keys and register them newly. However, if there are modes that conflict with each other, their priorities must be considered. The procedure is shown in FIG.
Also, when the registration soft key is pressed, the preset key display 303 in the preset key section 300 in FIG.
The display state of No. 2 is shown in FIG. Then, when the preset key is selected, the display stops blinking and registration is completed. The registration flowcharts shown in FIGS. 13 and 14 will be explained below. PSi (i=1-6) represents a preset key. Also, in Fig. 14, state 1
is the standard mode (reset mode) state. State 2 is a state in which some preset keys have already been pressed and the main mode is constituted by these preset modes. state 3
In state 2, the mode set in state 2 is changed, deleted, or added using soft keys to configure a new mode, and the display 303 corresponding to the preset key that has already been selected flashes. It is in a state of being Steps 14-i and 14- in Figure 14
j, 14-k, 14-l are preset key indicators,
This is a control step for the liquid crystal display 202. When the power is turned on or when the standard mode return key (301 in FIG. 1) is input, the mode is the standard mode (same size reset), and the standard mode is memorized in the main mode area and basic mode area. Comparison of the priorities of the preset key modes is performed between the main mode and the preset key modes (14-a to 14-f in FIG. 14). now,
Assume that a certain mode is registered in the mode memory of PS ₁ , PS ₂ , and PS ₃ . For example, if "Trimming, Magnification, 100%" is registered in PS ₁ , when you press the PS ₁ key, the steps shown in Figure 14 will be displayed.
YES in step 14-a, NO in step 14-b since PS ₁ is the first input, and NO in step 14-c.
Well, since this is the first input, the answer is NO. In step 14-e, since the main mode is the standard mode (status 1), the answer is YES, and the PS ₁ mode "Trimming", Magnification, 100%" is permitted to be called.
In FIG. 13, the mode of PS ₁ is stored in the main mode and basic mode areas (14-g, state 2). Also, in step 14-i, PS ₁ is lit.
Even if I try to enter PS ₁ again here,
YES in step 14-b of Figure 14,
PS ₁ input is not allowed. Also, if the mode in the mode memory of the PS ₄ , etc. is not registered, NO will be returned in step 14-a in Fig. 14, and the PS ₄ will
etc. are not permitted. Assume that the PS ₂ 's mode memory stores a mode with "200% magnification". Press the PS ₂ key, YES at step 14-a, YES at step 14-b
Then the answer is NO. In step 14-c, the main mode is the PS ₁ editing mode stored in memory, so
YES. In step 14-d, the answer is NO because the PS ₂ mode is only a magnification mode. In step 14-e, the main mode is the PS ₁ editing mode, and the magnification is 1x, so select YES.
Therefore, PS ₂ mode "200% magnification" is allowed,
This PS ₂ mode is newly added to the main mode and basic mode areas and is stored in memory. Furthermore, if you press a key on the PS ₃ that has a magnification of 150% registered, YES at step 14-a, NO at step 14-b, YES at step 14-c,
The answer to step 14-d is NO. Step 14-e
In step 14-f, the answer is NO, and since the magnification of the PS ₃ mode is 150%, the answer is NO, and calling up the PS ₃ mode is not permitted. Through the process detailed above, the main mode area stores a composite mode "trimming magnification 200%" consisting of non-conflicting modes, which can be newly registered using the preset key. [Effects] As detailed above, according to the present invention, necessary display contents can be displayed when necessary in as little space as possible, and multiple types of functional information input by input means can be combined into one image. This makes it possible to register as a group of functional information necessary for performing the above operations, and it has become possible to provide an image forming apparatus that is space-saving and yet highly efficient in operation.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the appearance of a copying machine which is a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an operating device of the copying machine shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 3 shows the display 202 and function key 201 in the operating device shown in FIG.
FIG. Figure 4 shows the display 202 of Figure 3.
It is an enlarged view of. FIG. 5 is a block diagram of the liquid crystal display in this embodiment. FIG. 6 is a detailed diagram of the driver 4 of FIG. 5. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the transition of the display state on the display 202 from the standard mode. FIG. 8 is a state transition diagram when setting copy magnification on the display 202. FIG. 9 is a state transition diagram when setting copy magnification on the display 202. FIG. 10 is a state transition diagram when image editing is performed on the display 202. FIG. 11 is a flowchart of the transmission mode. FIG. 12 is a state transition diagram when setting the transmission mode on the display 202. This is a registration flowchart when registering the desired mode shown in FIGS. 13 and 14. FIG. 15 is a diagram showing the display state of the display 202 when the registration soft key is pressed. In the figure, 101 is a copy button, A-1 is an operating device, 200 is a soft key section, 300 is a preset key section, 201 is a function key, 202 is a display, and 301 is a standard mode return key.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A display means having a plurality of display positions; a plurality of input means provided at positions corresponding to the plurality of display positions on the display means; and the display means transitions display content. It is capable of displaying multiple functional information related to image formation and multiple messages instructing the transition of display contents, and multiple messages instructing the transition of mutually different display contents that are displayed at the same time. Different input means correspond to the display positions of the messages, and when the input means is operated in a state where a plurality of functional information related to the formation of the image is displayed on the display means, If the display content displayed at the display position corresponding to the operated position of the input means is functional information related to the formation of the image, the function information corresponding to the display content is input, and the same display content is displayed. The input means is displayed in an identifiable manner by changing the display mode, and the input means is operated while a message instructing the transition of the display contents is displayed on the display means. By doing so, if the display content displayed at the display position corresponding to the position of the operated input means is a message instructing the transition of the display content, the display content is changed to the display content corresponding to the display content. An image forming apparatus comprising: a control means for causing a transition; and a registration means for registering a plurality of types of functional information inputted by the input means as a group of functional information necessary to perform one image formation. Device. 2. Claim 1, wherein the functional information group necessary to form the one image registered by the registration means includes magnification information.
The image forming apparatus described in .