JPH11119600A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To inform the state of a job which a user desires at an image forming device having a function to execute information by an informing device. SOLUTION: The job that is an information object to execute the information by using the informing device 4 is selected and set by the user at an information object job setting means 1. The state of the job selected and set is detected by a job state detecting means 2. In the case that the state of the job of the information object is set in the state to execute the information, the information is executed by the informing device 4 in an information executing means 3. The state of the information to execute the information by using the informing device 4, namely, the color and flickering and turning-on of a light 4a, the kind of the sound of a speaker 4b or the like is set by the user for unit-job through an informing state setting means 5. Also, a condition to execute the information when an abnormality is caused or the job is completed is set for the unit-job by the user through an informing condition setting means 6.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus having a function of notifying by an annunciation apparatus, and more particularly to an image forming apparatus such as a copy or facsimile.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a notification device is provided in an image forming apparatus such as a printer, or in a multifunction machine that combines them. When an abnormality such as a document jam or running out of paper for printing occurs, a light provided in the notification device is turned on or a sound is made to notify the user of the abnormality (for example, Japanese Patent Publication No. 6-26407). ). Also, when a specific job is completed, the same notification is given.

[0003] In addition, when a user who notices an abnormality clears the abnormality, the abnormality notification is automatically stopped and the operation of the function can be resumed.

[0004]

However, in the conventional image forming apparatus, only a notification of a specific abnormality or the end of a job is given to an unspecified user. Therefore, the status of the job that the user wants to know is notified. I couldn't do that.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the foregoing, and has as its object to provide an image forming apparatus capable of notifying a user of a desired job state.

[0006]

According to the present invention, in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, in an image forming apparatus having a function of notifying by a notifying device, a notification target job for selectively setting a job for notifying by the notifying device is provided. Setting means;
An image, comprising: a job status detection unit that detects a status of the selected and set job; and a notification execution unit that executes the notification when the status of the job becomes a status to be notified. A forming device is provided.

In such an image forming apparatus, the job status detecting means detects the status of the job by selecting and setting the job to be notified by the notification device in the notification target job setting means, and the job status is notified. When it becomes necessary to perform the notification, the notification executing means executes the notification.

[0008] Thus, a job desired by the user can be notified.

[0009]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram of functions of the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment. In the notification target job setting unit 1, a job to be notified using the notification device 4 is selected and set by the user. The job status detecting means 2 detects the status of the selected and set job. The notification executing means 3 executes the notification by the notification device 4 when the state of the target job becomes a state to be notified. The form of the notification for performing the notification using the notification device 4, that is, the color of the light 4 a, blinking / lighting, the type of the sound of the speaker 4 b, etc., are notified by the user on a job basis through the notification mode setting unit 5. Is set. In addition, the conditions for performing notification such as when an abnormality occurs or when the job is completed are set by the user via the notification condition setting unit 6 for each job.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an external configuration of a multifunction peripheral as an image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment. The multifunction peripheral 10 can copy,
It integrates the functions of a fax, a printer and a scanner.
1, an image output unit 12, an operation unit 13, and an attention unit 14. The image input unit 11 raises the platen cover 11a, places the original on the plantain glass, and closes the platen cover 11a again. By driving a reading device (not shown), the characters and graphics on the original surface are converted into image data. Can be read as The read image data is
Temporarily stored in memory, later the facsimile signal,
It is converted into an image signal for print output.

The image output unit 12 has an upper part 12a
Image data read by the image input unit 11;
It has a built-in printer engine that prints facsimile data sent from other facsimile devices, character data and image data sent from user terminal devices and the like. Further, a paper tray for storing paper of various sizes is provided in the lower portion 12b.

The operation unit 13 is provided integrally with the image input unit 11. The operation unit 13 includes a liquid crystal display unit and various buttons, as described later. By operating the operation unit 13, functions such as copying, facsimile, printer, and scanner can be used.

Attention unit 1 as a notification device
Reference numeral 4 includes a light 14a and a speaker (not shown), and notifies the user of an abnormality, a job end, and the like by light and sound. The light 14a is, for example, 2
Light of a color can be emitted, and it can be displayed in a blinking manner by being colored according to the content of the abnormality. Examples of the abnormality notification include a document jam or misfeed in the document feeder, a paper jam or misfeed in a tray, and hardware down of a machine or system. Also, as an example of the job end notification,
End of fax reception print, end of all automatic reports, etc. The job to be notified of the job end can be selected and set by the user via the operation unit 13 as described later. Further, the form of the abnormality notification and the job end notification by the attention unit 14, that is, the light 14a
Can be selected and set by the user via the operation unit 13 as well.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of the operation unit 13. As shown in FIG. The operation unit 13 is provided with a liquid crystal display unit 131 and a button unit 132. The liquid crystal display unit 131 has a touch panel, and a setting guide screen for performing various settings is displayed on the screen. In addition, when an abnormality occurs, a display indicating the content of the abnormality is displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 131 along with illustrations and characters. Various operations are performed by operating the touch panel according to the instructions on the screen.

The button section 132 includes a function switching button 20, a numeric keypad 21, an audio guide / interrupt button 2
2, an all clear button 23, a start button 24, a stop button 25, a one-touch dial button 26, and a manual reception button 27 are provided.

The function switching button 20 is a button for switching between using the multifunction peripheral 10 as a copy, a facsimile, and a scanner. Each time the function switching button 20 is pressed, the display screen of the liquid crystal display unit 131 switches to an initial menu screen, a copy menu screen, a facsimile menu screen, and the like. When used as a printer, instructions can be given by the user's terminal device.

The ten keys 21 are used for setting the number of copies and the number of copies, inputting a facsimile transmission destination telephone number, registering a telephone number to the one-touch dial button 26, and the like. The voice guide / interrupt button 22 is used when interrupting a job or when using an operation guide as a voice guide. The all clear button 23 is
3 is used to return various settings made to the initial settings.

The start button 24 is a button for starting copy, facsimile, and scanner functions with the settings after the settings are completed. The stop button 25 is a button for stopping the started function halfway. One-touch dial button 26 is used when calling a telephone number registered in advance with one button. Manual receive button 2
Reference numeral 7 is used when the automatic reception mode of the facsimile is switched to the manual reception mode.

Next, the configuration of the control unit of the multifunction machine 10 will be described. FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a control unit of the multifunction peripheral 10. The main control unit 31 includes a CPU, a ROM,
It is composed of a RAM and the like, and the CPU operates according to a system program stored in the ROM. Image data and the like are stored in the RAM. Alternatively, a large-capacity storage device such as a hard disk can be connected so that a large amount of data can be handled. Also, the main control unit 31
Is connected to a speaker 32.
Voice guidance for operation is performed via 2.

The main control unit 31 is connected via a bus 30 to an operation unit 13, an NCU (network control unit) 33, an interface (I / F) 35, a machine drive unit 36, an attention unit 14, and the like. ing. The operation unit 13 receives image data for operation guide display and abnormal display from the main control unit 31 and displays the image data on the liquid crystal display unit 131, receives input of various buttons of the button unit 132, and transmits the information to the main control unit. Send to section 31.

The NCU 33 connects the telephone line to the main control unit 31 when using the MFP 10 as a facsimile, and connects the telephone line to the handset 34 when the handset 34 is off-hook. Also, NCU3
3, an abnormal notification, a job end notification, and the like can be sent to a portable terminal device such as a pager or a mobile phone using a telephone line.

The interface 35 is connected to a terminal device on the user side, receives a print command and image data from the terminal device, and sends them to the main control unit 31. Also,
Via this interface 35, an abnormal notice, a job end notice, etc. can be sent to each terminal device on the user side.

The main control unit 31 controls various machine driving units 37 to execute a function instructed by the operation unit 13 or the terminal device. Examples of the mechanical drive unit 37 include devices necessary for driving mechanical units required for the multifunction machine, such as a scanner mechanism, a drum rotation mechanism, and a paper feed mechanism. The machine drive unit 37 is provided with various sensors, and the main control unit 31 detects an abnormality or job completion based on a signal from the sensor. When the abnormality or the job end is detected, the main control unit 31 uses the light 14a and the speaker 14b of the attention unit 14 to
Perform an error notification.

Next, a specific example of the abnormality notification processing and the job end notification processing in the MFP 10 having the above configuration will be described. First, when executing a job in the multifunction peripheral 10, after selecting a job, the user operates the operation unit 1 shown in FIG.
A function selection menu is displayed on the screen of the liquid crystal display unit 131 of No. 3.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a function selection menu screen. Here, it is assumed that facsimile transmission is selected as the job type. On the function selection menu screen 40, a menu of functions related to facsimile transmission such as “transmission image quality” and “document type” is displayed. When any of these functions is selected, a setting screen relating to that function is switched and displayed. In addition, on the function selection menu screen 40, as one of the functions, an “attention notification” menu 41 for notifying the job by the attention unit 14 is provided.
When the user selects the “attention notification” menu 41, it is selected to execute a notification regarding the job to be executed this time, and the screen of the liquid crystal display unit 131 displays a notification mode setting screen for performing setting regarding the mode of the notification. The display switches.

FIG. 6 is a view showing an example of the notification mode setting screen. The notification form setting screen 50 can be displayed and set for each destination. As shown in the figure, the notification mode setting screen 50 includes a light setting field 51, a buzzer setting field 52, and an external terminal setting field 53 as items to be set. In the light setting section 51, one of the “lit” menu 51a and the “do not turn on” menu 51b is displayed. In the terminal setting column 53, either a "notify terminal" menu 53a or a "not notify" menu 53b can be selected.

Here, when the "notify to terminal" menu 53a is selected in the external terminal setting column 53, a setting is made to send a notification to a terminal device on the unit side or a portable terminal device such as a pager.

When the setting of each setting column is completed and the "condition setting" menu 54 is selected, the conditions for executing the notification of each item,
That is, the notification condition setting screen for setting the state of the job when the notification is performed is switched and displayed. When the “Detailed settings” menu 55 is selected,
Detailed settings for each item can be made. Specifically, there are a time interval of blinking of the light, a color of the light, a type and a time of the buzzer sound, and the like.

When the "cancel" menu 56 is selected,
The above settings are canceled. "Close" menu 5
When 7 is selected, the setting state on the screen is determined, and the notification mode setting screen 50 is closed.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of the notification condition setting screen. Here, an example of a screen for setting the lighting condition of the light is shown. At the left end of the notification condition setting screen 60, a light lighting condition column 61 is provided. Here, an “abnormality” menu 61a, a “normal termination” menu 61b,
Any one of the "always" menu 61c can be selected. When the "always" menu 61c is selected, a notification is issued both when an abnormality occurs and when the operation ends normally.

On the notification condition setting screen 60, a lighting method column 62 and a light color column 63 are provided, and a lighting method of the light can be set for each condition. Lighting method column 62
Now, the "flashing" menu 62a and the "lighting" menu 62a
In the light color column 63, any one of "b" and "b" can select either the "amber" menu 63a or the "green" menu 63b. Then, for example, a menu “when an abnormality occurs” 6
If the lighting method column 62 and the light color column 63 are set in a state where 1a is selected, the light is lit according to the settings when an actual abnormality occurs. Similarly, even when the "normal termination" menu 61a is selected, settings different from those of the "abnormal occurrence" menu 61a can be performed. Further, if the lighting method column 62 and the light color column 63 are set in a state where the "always" menu 61c is selected, the light is turned on in the same manner both when an abnormality occurs and when the operation ends normally.

After the setting of the light conditions is completed,
When the “next page” menu 64 is selected, the screen switches to a notification condition setting screen relating to sound, and the condition setting relating to sound can be performed in the same procedure.

In FIG. 7, when the "cancel" menu 65 is selected, the above settings are canceled. Also,
When the “close” menu 66 is selected, the setting state on the screen is determined, and the notification condition setting screen 60 is closed.

When the condition setting is not performed using the notification condition setting screen 60, the display is made by selecting the “detailed setting” menu 55 on the notification form setting screen 50 at the time of occurrence of abnormality and normal termination. The notification is performed according to the form set on the detailed setting screen.

By the way, the setting of the notification execution for each job can be set not only before the execution of the job but also during the execution of the job or in the waiting state. This setting can be made on the polling screen.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of the polling screen. On the polling screen 70, data of various jobs such as waiting for transmission and receiving data is displayed in the data display columns 71 to 74.
Is displayed in. In the polling screen 70,
An “attention notification” menu 75 is also displayed.
When one of the jobs in the data display columns 71 to 74 is selected with the cursor and the “Attention notification” menu 75 is selected, it is set that the notification is performed for the specified job. At the same time, the display is switched to the notification mode setting screen 50 shown in FIG.
As described above, the notification mode can be set, and the notification condition can be set by switching to the notification condition setting screen 60 shown in FIG.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a procedure of a notification process in the multifunction peripheral 10 having such a configuration. This flowchart is executed from the time when the execution of the job is started. [S1] It is determined whether or not an error has occurred with respect to the job being executed. If an error has occurred, the process proceeds to step S2, and if not, the process proceeds to step S5. [S2] It is determined whether or not the notification of the occurrence of an abnormality has been set for the job being executed. If the notification has been made, the process proceeds to step S3. If not, the flow chart ends. [S3] The notification mode set for the time of occurrence of an abnormality is read. [S4] An abnormality notification is performed according to the read notification format. [S5] It is determined whether or not the execution of the job has been completed. If the execution has been completed, the process proceeds to step S6. If not, the process proceeds to step S6.
Return to 1. [S6] It is determined whether notification of normal termination has been set for the job being executed. If the notification has been made, the process proceeds to step S7. If not, the flow chart ends. [S7] The notification mode set for normal termination is read. [S8] Notification of normal termination is made in accordance with the read notification format.

As described above, in the present embodiment, whether or not to execute the notification can be set for each job, so that the status of the job that the user wants to know can be notified. Further, in this embodiment, the notification mode such as the flashing interval and color of the light and the tone and length of the buzzer sound can be set by the user for each job, so that the notification set by the user can be set by the user. Can be identified. Furthermore, since conditions for executing the notification, such as when an error occurs and when the process ends normally, can be specifically set, the intention of the user is more reflected.

Further, in the present embodiment, the setting of the notification execution for each job is performed not only before the execution of the job but also during the execution of the job.
Alternatively, since the setting can be made even in the execution waiting state, the degree of freedom of operation is high.

In the present embodiment, whether or not to execute the notification is set for each job. However, it can be set for each job type such as facsimile reception, facsimile transmission, automatic report, and printout. Good. As a result, in the case of jobs of the same type, detailed settings can be omitted for the user who always sets the same notification conditions, and work efficiency is improved.

Further, regarding the setting of the notification mode, a notification mode of light or sound corresponding to the obstacle is registered in advance for a disabled person in consideration of barrier-free, and the disabled person selects one with one touch. It can be possible. For example, if you are deaf, you do not need to be notified by sound,
It can be a notification only of light. At this time, it is more effective to use a blinking pattern or color that is more conspicuous than usual. Alternatively, even a hearing-impaired person can be set to emit a sound in a frequency range that can be heard by the person.

By the way, if the notification mode can be set by the user as in the present embodiment, when a plurality of users make the setting, various job notifications are mixed, and the job specified by the user is specified. May not be able to be identified. To prevent this, notification settings for a plurality of jobs may be prohibited. Alternatively, when notification settings are made for a plurality of jobs, these settings can be automatically changed and set for each job so that the notification forms of the light and the buzzer sound do not become the same. For example, if the same form of notification that has already been registered is input, an alarm will sound and input will be disabled, or a different pattern will be provided to the user on the device side, and the user will select it. And so on.

In the description of FIG. 2 to FIG. 9, the example of the MFP 10 is shown as an image forming apparatus. However, the present invention can be applied to a single-function apparatus such as a copying machine and a facsimile machine. .

[0044]

As described above, according to the present invention, a notification is made when the status of a job becomes a status to be notified so that the notification target job setting means can select and set a job to be notified by the notification device. Is executed, the status of the job that the user wants to know can be notified.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram illustrating functions of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an external configuration of a multifunction peripheral as an image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of an operation unit.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a control unit of the multifunction peripheral.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a function selection menu screen.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a notification mode setting screen.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of a notification condition setting screen.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of a polling screen.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of a notification process in the multifunction peripheral.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 notification target job setting means 2 job state detection means 3 notification execution means 4 notification device 4 a light 4 b speaker 5 notification mode setting means 6 notification condition setting means 10 multifunction device 11 image input unit 12 image output unit 13 operation unit 14 attention unit 14 a Light 14b Speaker 31 Main control unit 40 Function selection menu screen 50 Notification form setting screen 60 Notification condition setting screen

 ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Kimi Hasuike 134F Kobecho, Hodogaya-ku, Yokohama-shi, Yokohama, 13F Yokohama Business Park East Tower 13F Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. An image forming apparatus having a function of notifying by a notifying device, a notification target job setting means for selecting and setting a job to be notified by the notifying device by a user, and a state of the selected and set job. An image forming apparatus comprising: a job state detecting unit that detects a job; and a notification executing unit that executes the notification when the status of the job becomes a state in which the notification is to be performed. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a notification mode setting unit that enables a user to set the notification mode. 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the notification mode setting unit can set the notification mode for each job. 4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the notification target job setting unit is configured to be able to select and set a notification of a job that is being executed or is waiting to be executed as a notification target. 5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a notification condition setting unit that enables a user to select and set a condition for executing the notification. 6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the notification execution unit is configured to execute the notification to a portable terminal device.