JPH1055123A - Image recorder - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve the input operability of arbitrary copying magnification by inputting numbers of each digit for copying magnification and judging whether the inputted copying magnification is within a copying magnification range previously set or not, when all the digits for the copying magnification are inputted. SOLUTION: The digits for the copying magnification are inputted one by one by the ten keys of a key operation part, 4. A signal processing part 1 judges whether the inputted magnification is within a fixed range or not, when a first or second digit is inputted and then, a starting key is operated or a third digit is inputted. When the inputted copying magnification is out of the copying magnification range, the display of a display part, 5 is changed to inform an operator that the input of the copying magnification is invalid. When it is judged that the input of the copying magnification is valid, an automatic copying operation is started for the input of two digits and the starting key is operated and then, a copying operation is started, for the input of three digits.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to an improvement in an image recording apparatus having a copy magnification conversion function.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, copiers, which are one type of image recording apparatuses, have been widely used in offices and homes, and recently, communication terminals such as facsimile machines having a high-performance copy function have been used. It is becoming popular as an image recording device.
Many of these types of image recording apparatuses have a function of converting the copy magnification (copy magnification). If the copy magnification is set by the following three methods, the image of the set document can be converted.
The image can be copied by enlarging or reducing the set magnification.

A first method of setting a copy magnification is to select a magnification conversion between fixed sizes, and among a plurality of methods in which the paper sizes before and after copying are set in correspondence with each other, for example, " If "A3 → A4" is selected by a switch or the like, a reduced copy with a copy magnification of 70% is automatically performed. After the original to be copied is set, the size of the original is automatically detected, and if the paper size to be output is selected, the enlarged or reduced copy is automatically performed.

A second method is to select a desired magnification from a plurality of preset copy magnifications. For example, if the set original is B4 size and the copy magnification is “81”.
When "%" is selected, the copy is reduced to A4 size. Third
Is to input an arbitrary copy magnification by operating a numeric keypad or the like. According to this method, the magnification can be set freely within a preset range, and fine units can be set. It was possible to set the magnification in.

[0005]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional image recording apparatus, the third method of setting the copy magnification is as follows.
There were the following problems. Generally, the copy magnification is set by operating the numeric keypad and inputting a numerical value one digit at a time. It is checked whether the input is within the preset copy magnification range every time one digit is input. Therefore, the operator must be aware of the digit currently being input, and must perform the input operation while checking the display unit or the like.

For example, if the effective range of the input copy magnification is 5
If it is 0% to 200%, when the input numerical value and each digit of the magnification correspond one-to-one, when the numerical value other than "1" or "2" such as "3" is input in hundreds digit If you enter a magnification outside the range, such as “2” in the hundreds place and “1” in the tens place, an input error will occur, invalidating the digit entered immediately before and re-entering this digit. Was.

In addition, for example, when it is desired to input 141% as the copy magnification, an error is made from the first input, as in the case of inputting "2" in the hundreds place and "1" in the tens place in order. Nevertheless, if the next input is determined to be incorrect, only the next input value can be re-entered, and it is necessary to operate the clear key or the like to re-enter the value from the beginning. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and has as its object to provide an image recording apparatus in which input operability of an arbitrary copy magnification is improved.

[0008]

In order to achieve the above object, an image recording apparatus having a copy magnification conversion function according to the present invention comprises the following means. According to the first aspect, an operation means for inputting a numerical value of each digit of the copy magnification, and when the input means inputs all digits of the copy magnification, the input copy magnification is set to a predetermined copy magnification range. And a copy magnification determining means for determining whether the value is within the range.

Here, the operation means is optimally a numeric keypad, and the numerical value of each digit of the copy magnification is input in order. Normally, the copy magnification is entered as a two-digit or three-digit numerical value of the enlargement / reduction conversion rate for the original image by percentage display. The two-digit input is performed when an input confirmation key such as a start key is operated. If the input of three digits is determined by the copy magnification determining means when the third digit (ones digit) is input,
Input operation becomes smooth.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, a notifying means is further provided, and when the copying magnification determining means determines that the input copying magnification is out of a predetermined copying magnification range by the notifying means. Is notified that the input of the copy magnification is invalid. Here, the notification means includes notification to the visual sense using a display screen, a lamp, and the like, and notification to the auditory sense using a buzzer sound, a voice message, and the like.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, the notification means of the second aspect blinks the invalidated copy magnification. By displaying the blinking without clearing the invalid magnification, it is possible to surely recognize that an incorrect input has been made, and there is no case where an incorrect input is made again.

[0012]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a main configuration of the image recording apparatus. Here, a configuration of a facsimile apparatus (copy / facsimile multifunction peripheral) having a copy function is shown, but the present invention is not limited to this, and an image recording apparatus having a data communication function other than image data, etc. Alternatively, an image recording apparatus having only a copy function (copy magnification conversion function) may be used.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a signal processing unit which is constituted by a CPU or the like and is also a copy magnification determining means described later. 2 denotes a reading unit for reading image data from a document. A recording unit for recording the image on a sheet set in advance, a key operation unit 4 comprising operation means such as numeric keys and various switches, a display unit 5 comprising a liquid crystal screen or an LED lamp, and a telephone 6 A communication control unit connected to the line L and including a modem and an NCU for performing facsimile communication, a ROM 7 in which a control program and the like are stored in advance, and a RAM 8 for temporarily storing various data.

The reading section 2 includes a reading sensor 21 such as a CCD.
And an image processing unit 22 that performs necessary image processing such as black and white binarization processing and correction processing. Also, the recording unit 3
It is composed of a printer of a laser recording system, a printer control unit 31 for controlling the whole printer, an image memory 32 for storing image data to be recorded, a laser output unit 33 for outputting a laser beam in accordance with an image, and a rotating unit. It is composed of a polygon mirror and includes a scanning unit 34 for irradiating a laser beam onto the photoreceptor and a paper feeding unit 35 for conveying a recording paper in order to apply toner, so that high-quality images can be recorded at high speed. It has become.

In the facsimile apparatus having such a configuration, when the facsimile mode is selected by the key operation unit 4, the image of the original read by the reading unit 2 is transmitted to the communication control unit 6.
When the copy (copy) mode is selected, the image of the document read by the reading unit 2 is recorded (printed out) on a sheet by the recording unit 3. The facsimile reception can be performed in any mode. In the facsimile mode, the received image data is sequentially recorded by the recording unit 3, and in the copy mode, the received image data is received in the memory. Then, after the copy is completed, the image data stored in the memory is read out and recorded by the recording unit 3.

This apparatus has a copy magnification conversion function capable of recording an image of an original in an enlarged or reduced size in a copy mode, and the present invention is characterized by the procedure for inputting the copy magnification. . FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining a copy magnification input operation procedure together with a transition of a copy magnification display portion in the display unit 5. Here, the input magnification is
It is effective when it is in the range of 50% to 200%,
Further, the input numerical value is displayed right-justified, and each time the numerical value is input, the numerical value is sequentially shifted left by one digit. That is, at the time of input, each numerical value does not correspond to each position of the copy magnification, and the input copy magnification is determined by the input confirmation instruction.

When three digits are input to (a) of FIG.
% Or more), and the case where two digits are input in (b) (99% or less). In (a), numerical values are sequentially input by the key operation unit 4 (hundreds digit → tens digit → ones digit), and when the third digit is input, the copy magnification to be input is determined. The signal processing unit 1, which is a copy magnification determining means, compares the input copy magnification (210%) with a predetermined copy magnification range (50% to 200%). In this example, the input magnification is out of the predetermined range, so that the input is invalidated by blinking display to urge the operator to input again.

In (b), a two-digit numerical value is sequentially input by the key operation unit 4 (from the tens place to the ones place), and a time when the start key included in the key operation unit 4 is operated is inputted. At this point, the signal processing unit 1 compares the input copy magnification (45%) with a predetermined copy magnification range (50% to 200%). As a result, the input magnification is out of the predetermined range. Therefore, in order to invalidate the input, the magnification display is cleared, and the operator is prompted to input again.

As described above, according to the present invention, when the input copy magnification is out of the copy magnification range, the display of the display unit 5 is changed, so that the input of the copy magnification is invalid for the operator. In addition to this notification means, a lamp may be turned on or blinking, or a warning sound or the like may be output from an audio output unit (not shown). Next, FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the basic operation.

Here, when the input copy magnification is not within the predetermined magnification range, the invalid input magnification is blink-displayed (s9, s12). An original to be copied (copied) is set on an original platen (s1), a copy mode is set by the key operation unit 4 (s2), and a magnification setting key is operated (s3). .

The copy magnification can be entered one digit at a time using the numeric keypad of the key operation unit 4 (s4). Similarly to the case described above, when the start key is operated after the first or second digit is input, Alternatively, when the third digit is input, it is determined whether the input magnification is within a predetermined range (s5 to s12). Thereafter, if it is determined that the input of the copy magnification is valid, the copy operation is automatically started in the case of two-digit input, and the copy operation is started after operating the start key in the case of three-digit input (s13, s14). ).

Even in the case of three-digit input, the validity / invalidity of the input copy magnification may be determined when the start key is operated. Instead of using the start key to confirm the two-digit input, another key may be used instead of the start key. The operation procedure is performed after the input of the copy magnification is determined to be valid. You may make it.

Further, this facsimile machine has the same function as a conventional copying machine. For example, if the number of copies is input before setting the magnification (between s2 and s3), copying of a plurality of copies can be performed. It is possible.

[0024]

As can be understood from the above description, the image recording apparatus according to the present invention has the following effects. According to the first aspect, the operator determines whether or not the input of the copy magnification is within the predetermined effective range, not when inputting each digit of the copy magnification, but when all digits are input. It is possible to operate continuously and smoothly without being conscious of the digit currently being input. Therefore, the operability for inputting an arbitrary copy magnification is improved. Further, since the input error does not occur during the input of the copy magnification and only the digit input immediately before becomes invalid, it is not necessary to operate the clear key or the like in order to input again from the first digit.

According to the second aspect, since there is provided a notifying means for notifying that the input of the copy magnification is invalid, it is possible to immediately recognize that the input is erroneous. Since the invalid copy magnification is blink-displayed, it is possible to recognize at a glance that an erroneous input has been made, and prevent erroneous input again.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a main configuration of an image recording apparatus (a facsimile apparatus having a copy function) of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a basic operation of the image recording apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a basic operation of the image recording apparatus according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Signal processing part (copy magnification determination means) 2 ... Reading part 3 ... Recording part 4 ... Key operation part (operation means) 5 ... Display part (notification means)

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. An image recording apparatus having a copy magnification conversion function, an operation means for inputting a numerical value of each digit of the copy magnification, and an input means when all the digits of the copy magnification are input by the operation means. An image recording apparatus comprising: a copy magnification determining unit configured to determine whether the set copy magnification is within a predetermined copy magnification range. 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the copy magnification determining means determines that the input copy magnification is out of a predetermined copy magnification range, the input of the copy magnification is invalid. An image recording apparatus further comprising a notifying unit for notifying. 3. An image recording apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said notifying means blinks the invalid copy magnification.