JPH0895439A - Operator operating panel of copying apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To cope with a case where all function-selective option can not be displayed within the optimal area on the display of a copying device. SOLUTION: In the copying device having plural selective functions for carrying out copy, an operator operation panel (OCP) 100 for giving the operator interface for controlling the copying device is provided. The OCP 100 includes a touch screen user input 104 having plural method for selecting or adjusting the functional option, and it can select one functional option with both of a scrolling method and a direct selecting method.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates generally to a copying machine, and more particularly to an electrophotographic copying machine having a plurality of means for selecting or adjusting functions.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An electrophotographic copying machine is provided with an operator operation panel (hereinafter referred to as "OCP") with which the operator can program the machine when making a copy. In its simplest form, this OCP has some dedicated (or hard) buttons and switches for selecting functions when making a copy, and a visual indicator to tell the operator which function was selected. Including. The OCP may also include a display for displaying messages. The OCP also includes buttons for changing the display showing the selected option (see, eg, US Pat. No. 5,113,222).
The display may also be overlaid with a touch screen having "soft buttons" for providing operator input to the copier (eg, US Pat.
045,880, 5,061,958, 5,105,220, 5,04
See 9931, and 5,010,551).

[0003]

A problem arises when all of the selections or adjustments for a particular function cannot be displayed as a touch area within the optimal area. In such a case, there is not enough room to display all selections (or adjustments) as touch buttons on the screen. However, it is necessary to maintain an interface with the copier at all times to allow the user to select a function by touching the soft button of the function. The latter latter patent group, which discloses a touch screen user interface, includes both soft button input and scrolling function by selection button input, but to change the selection of the same function. One type of user
It does not disclose combining interfaces.

[0004]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the present invention, a solution to the problems of the prior art is provided by providing a copier with a plurality of means for selecting one function by user input via a touch screen. To be done.

According to a feature of the invention, an OCP is provided for providing a copying machine having a plurality of selectable functions for performing copying, with an operator interface for controlling the copying machine. . This OCP includes:

(1) A display for displaying at least one selectable function for performing copying with a plurality of expanded options for the at least one selectable function.

(2) Providing operator input to the copier by having an operator activatable touch area that covers the at least one selectable functional area and covers the plurality of expanded option areas. Touch screen to select one of the function options.

(3) A scrolling touch button on the touch screen for scrolling a visual indicator to highlight one of the functional options of the at least one selectable function.

[0009] Here, the function option of the at least one selectable function is selected by selecting the function option by either touching the touch area associated with it or activating the scroll button. You can choose.

According to another feature of the present invention, there is provided a copying machine having a plurality of selectable functions for performing copying.
An OCP is provided to provide an operator interface to control the copier. This OCP includes:

(1) A display for displaying at least two selectable functions for making a copy with a plurality of expanded options for each of the at least two selectable functions.

(2) covering the at least two selectable functional areas and covering the plurality of displayed option areas for each of the at least two selectable functions.
A touch screen for providing operator input to the copier to select one or more function options by having an operator activatable touch area. The touch area is substantially larger for one of the selectable functions than for the other of the selectable functions.

(3) A scroll button on the touch screen for scrolling the indicator to identify one feature option for the other selectable feature.

Here, the function option of the one selectable function is selected only by touching the touch area associated with it. Also, feature options for the other selectable features may be selected by either touching the touch area associated with it or activating the scroll button.

[0015]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Since electrophotographic copying machines 1 are well known, the following description will be directed in particular to the elements forming the invention or cooperating more directly with the invention. Devices not specifically shown or described herein can be selected from known prior art. See in particular US Pat. Nos. 4,740,818 and 5,113,222, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

First, FIG. 1 shows a recirculation document feeder 50.
1 shows a photo transmission copying apparatus 1 having the following. The recirculation document feeder 50 includes a tray unit for accommodating a plurality of document originals to be copied. Device 1 includes OCP. This O
The CP includes buttons and input waiting displays to facilitate job setup. The buttons and the input waiting display will be described later. Job setting is a set of commands to the LCU to output a desired copy, which is a copy of a document original, by allowing the logic and control unit of the device (hereinafter referred to as “LCU”) to control a series of operations. Is to enter. Copy trays 23a and 23b
Can be duplicated on receiving paper stored in either or both of the drawers containing the. The copies output from the device are either stored in an output tray (ET) or in a finisher / sorter (F / S) with a series of sorter shelves as is well known.

Referring now to FIG. 2, the electrophotographic copying machine 1 of FIG. 1 incorporating the present invention will be described in detail. As shown, the copying machine 1 includes a photoconductive web 5, which comprises six transport rollers 10, 11, 12, 13 ,.
14 and 15 to form an endless or continuous web. The roller 10 is a drive motor M in a conventional manner.
Is combined with The switch SW of the motor M is LCU31.
When closed by, it is connected to a source of potential V.
When the switch SW is closed, the roller 10 is driven by the motor M and moves the web 5 clockwise in the direction indicated by the arrow A. This action causes successive image areas of the web 5 to successively pass through a series of workstations of the apparatus 1. Included in the workstation are:
(1) Charging station 17, 17a. Here, the photoconductive surface 9 of the web 5 is sensitized by supplying it with a uniform electrostatic charge of a given voltage. (2) Exposure station 18. The light image of the document sheet S supported on the transparent platen 2 is now projected by the mirrors 6, 8 and the lens 7 onto the photoconductive surface 9 of the web 5 to create an electrostatic latent image of this document sheet. (3) Magnetic brush development station 19. The latent image is then developed with a developer to form a toner image on the web 5. The developer can be composed of iron carrier particles of opposite charge to the electrostatic charge of the latent image and electroscopic toner particles. (4) A transfer station including the charging charger 21. The toner image on the web 5 is transferred to the copy sheet S ′, and the copy sheet S ′ is sent to the heat pressure roller fuser 27, where the toner image is fixed on the copy sheet. The sheet S ′ containing the fixed toner image is sent to the finisher / sorter or the upper sheet ejection tray. (5) Cleaning station 25. Web 5
Provided to remove toner particles remaining after the toner image is transferred from the photoconductive surface 9 of FIG.

The copy paper S'is fed from either the paper supply unit 23a or 23b to continuously drive the roller 20, and the roller 20 transfers the paper S'to the rotation registration finger 29 of the copy paper registration mechanism 22. The copy sheet registration mechanism 22 urges the copy sheet S ′ to the transfer station 21.

The apparatus 1 further comprises a color developing station 19
a, a double-sided tray DT, and a digitizer including a digitizer table 52, a wand 54 and a circuit 56 for providing digital signals to the LCU 31.

Referring now to FIG. 3, an OCP is shown that includes a dedicated "hard" button or key set 100 and a touch screen display 104 for operator input and operation on the device 1. It has become. Touch screen display 104 includes: (1) A publicly-known programmable type display. LCU 31 includes a computer program and a bit map memory for controlling the display appearing on the display. (2) A touch screen that covers the display area. The touch screen is an operator input device that has "soft buttons" that can be activated by the operator and a region for providing operator input to the copier. Touch screens are well known and include resistive, acoustic, and infrared type input technologies.

The operator selectable set of hard buttons on the left side of the figure includes "start", "interrupt", and "stop" buttons. At the center, there are numerical buttons 0-9 for setting the number of copies or the number of sets. A "*" button and a "CE (clear entry: input cancellation)" button are also provided. The hard buttons on the right are: That is, "job level", "page level", "memory", "proof", "language", "summary", "information", and "reset" buttons. The "Information (i)" button is an information system (stored in the memory of the LCU 31) that provides detailed information about the copier 1, including operator-selectable functions and messages displayed on the touch screen display 104. Access).

The screen shown on a touch screen display as shown in FIG. 3 is referred to as the "basic function" screen. This is because a user who rarely uses the device 1 displays various functions which may be necessary when the user first contacts the device in order to make an average copy. This screen includes a message display area 106, a copy request number or copy request set number display area 105,
Display area 1 for the number of copies completed or the number of copies completed
07, and a "soft" button area 108.
The "soft" button area displays selectable functions with multiple options for each function. The functions shown include original copy, collation, paper, copy quality, reduction / enlargement, paper ejection and stapling. The plurality of options selected for each function are provided with operator activatable soft buttons that cover the displayed function option area.

The copy quality and reduce / enlarge functions are provided with scroll buttons 110 and 112, respectively, for scrolling between function options. These function options are sequentially highlighted as you scroll. In addition, scroll button 1
A magnification setting option 114 at 16 is included.

Some of the functional options are visible but fixed so that the operator cannot change them. Such feature options (eg, FIG.
(For example, "Finisher release" under the "Discharge" function shown in)
Are highlighted differently than the feature options that are highlighted.

Ideally, with touch screen technology, any area on the screen is "active" or "touched".
It can be defined as an area. However, in the best mode, the "touch" area used for user / operator input is 13 mm for easy adaptation to the fingertips.
It has been found that it should not be smaller than × 13 mm. A problem arises when not all selections or feature options can be displayed as a "touch" area within the optimal size range. In such a case, there is not enough room on the touch screen to display all selections as "touch buttons". However, it is necessary to maintain an interface with the device that allows the user to select a function by touching the function button at all times.

In accordance with the present invention, two methods are provided that allow the user to select a function when not all selections can be displayed by a touch button that meets the optimum touch area size requirements. . One method (see FIGS. 4 and 5) uses a scroll operation, and the other method (see FIGS. 6 and 7) uses a direct selection operation.

The first method for function selection is to step through the function options one by one. Scroll buttons are provided as a means of stepping through the options. As shown in FIG. 4, touch screen 200 displays several selectable features for making copies on a copier. Each function has one or more options selectable by the operator. As for the functions such as “copying original”, “collating”, and “paper”, since the number of options is small, it is possible to provide option touch buttons (buttons 202, 204, 206, etc.) having an optimum area size. However, for functions such as "copy quality" and "reduction / enlargement", the number of options is too large to use the touch button of the optimum size. Instead, each option to be displayed is provided with a smaller touch area (areas 208, 210, etc.), and each such function is provided with a scrolling touch button (buttons 212, 214, etc.) to provide a functional option through a visual indicator. Scroll through to highlight the option you should select. In FIG. 4, the option labeled "5" below the "Copy Quality" function is highlighted. The operator touches the scroll button 212 to perform a scroll operation, and highlights the selected option, that is, the option immediately below the “5” in this case. The sequence of this operation is indicated by circled numbers 1-3.

FIG. 5 illustrates another method of scrolling, where the features / options options are arranged in a matrix 220 of matrices. Each function shown therein is a job (that is, execution of copying) using a preselected copying apparatus function. The matrix shows the job numbers stored in the internal memory. Scrolling is performed by the scroll touch buttons 222 from left to right in the matrix, row by row or column by column. Circled numbers 1-3 are "previous job" to "current job"
Indicates the step to scroll to.

The method of selecting functions by scrolling allows the operator to access all the function options, but to reach the desired option, one must follow each preceding option in the list or matrix. There must be. Therefore, the second method for selecting a function provides a way to directly select a desired option. That is, instead of using the scroll buttons to step through the options,
The operator only has to touch the function option from the option group. This method is shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, and these figures correspond to FIGS. 4 and 5. This method eliminates the need to scroll through feature options one by one. That is, a shortcut can be provided for more skilled operators.

[0030]

When all the function selection options cannot be displayed on the display by combining the method of scrolling and selecting the function option desired to be selected in the operator operation panel of the copying machine and the method of directly selecting it. I can deal with it.

[Brief description of drawings]

1 is a front perspective view of an electrophotographic copying machine incorporating the present invention. FIG.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of the electrophotographic copying apparatus of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of an OCP including a display with a touch screen.

FIG. 4 is a diagram of a screen useful in explaining the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram of a screen useful in explaining the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram of a screen useful in explaining the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a diagram of a screen useful in explaining the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

100 hard button area, 104 touch screen, 106 message display area, 108 soft button area.

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification code Internal reference number FI Technical indication location G06F 3/033 360 B 7208-5E (72) Inventor Frederick E Alltrees The Third Scottsville, NY, USA Weldon Street 14 (72) Inventor Valerie Jay Snyder Boca Layton North Federal Highway, Florida, USA 7491

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A copying machine (1) having a plurality of selectable functions for executing copying, which is an operator operation panel (OCP) providing an operator interface for controlling the copying machine, At least one selectable function for making a copy,
A display (104) for displaying with a plurality of expanded options of the at least one selectable function, covering the at least one selectable functional area and covering the plurality of expanded option areas A touch screen (104) for providing operator input to the copier (1) to select one of the functional options by having a touch area (108) activatable by an operator, scrolling a visible indicator, At least 1
Scroll touch buttons (110), (1 to highlight one of the function options of the two selectable functions.
12), wherein the at least one selectable feature has a feature option touching the touch area (108) associated therewith or the scroll button (110),
An operator operating panel from which the function option can be selected by either activating (112). 2. An operator operation panel (OCP) for providing an operator interface for controlling a copying machine in a copying machine (1) having a plurality of selectable functions for executing copying. And at least two selectable functions for making copies,
A display (104) for displaying with a plurality of expanded options for each of said at least two selectable functions, covering said at least two selectable function areas and of said at least two selectable functions. A touch screen for providing operator input to the copier to select one or more functional options by having an operator activatable touch area (108), each covering a plurality of expanded option areas. 1
04) and the touch area is substantially larger for one of the selectable functions than for the other selectable functions and the indicator is scrolled to Feature option 1
Scrolling on the touch screen to identify
Buttons (110), (112), wherein the function option of the one selectable function is selected only by touching the touch area associated with it, and the function option of the other selectable function is An operator operating panel that can be selected either by touching the relevant touch area or by activating a scroll button to select the function option.