JPH11282314A - Image forming device with numeric value inputting function - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming device provided with a numeric value inputting function capable of inputting a plurality of numeric data simply and without confusion. SOLUTION: An image forming device provided with a numeric value inputting function for executing a prescribed image forming treatment in accordance with the numeric data being input through manual operation comprises a permanent ten-key 12a always provided to an operation panel 12, a display part 10 for displaying a touch-panel type virtual ten-key 11a, a magnification control part 171 for controlling the copying magnification on the basis of the numeric data being input through the virtual ten-key 11a, and a copying number control means 173 for controlling the number of sheets to be copied on the basis of the numeric data being input through the permanent ten-key 12a.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a method for controlling the number of prints,
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus having a numerical value input function for manually inputting a reduction ratio and the like, and in particular, a display screen for selectively displaying a second numerical value input key separately from a permanently provided first numerical value input key. And an image forming apparatus having a numerical value input function.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a copying machine of a variable magnification which has an enlargement / reduction function, it is necessary to input a numerical value of the enlargement / reduction ratio together with the number of copies. Is also used as a permanent numeric input key (for example, numeric keypad). However,
Although it is advantageous in terms of space to use one numeric keypad as each setting key, there is a problem in that it is not clear which numeric keypad is currently functioning as a setting key, and confusion arises.

To solve such a problem, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 62-161164 or Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 161165 discloses a technique in which an operation mode switching key for designating an operation mode of a numeric keypad is separately provided, and when the operation mode switching key is operated, the numeric keypad functions as a magnification setting key.

[0004]

In the above-mentioned prior art, when a numerical value is input from a numeric keypad, a key operation for designating an operation mode must be additionally performed, which complicates the operation. There was a problem.

[0005] In recent years, touch panel type liquid crystal display devices have become widespread in order to reduce the number of mechanical key switches, and an operator operates a virtual key switch displayed on a screen to set the density and paper size. specify. However, even in this case, since numerical data such as the number of copies has to be input from a numeric keypad provided outside the display device, there has been a problem that the operation part may be confused at a plurality of locations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art and to provide an image forming apparatus having a numerical value input function capable of inputting a plurality of numerical data easily and without confusion. is there.

[0007]

According to the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus having a numerical value input function for executing a predetermined image forming process in accordance with numerical data input manually. , A permanently installed first numerical input key, a display unit for selectively displaying the second numerical input key, and a first data processing based on the numerical data input from the first numerical input key And a second data processing means for executing a second data processing based on the numerical data input from the second numerical input key.
And data processing means.

[0010] According to the above configuration, the numeric keypad for inputting numeric data to the first data processing means is different from the numeric keypad for inputting numeric data to the second data processing means. It is possible to input a plurality of types of numerical data easily and without confusion as compared with a case where both are shared. In addition, since the second numerical input key is a virtual numeric keypad selectively displayed on the screen, there is no need to separately secure a space, and the miniaturization and cost reduction of the apparatus are not hindered.

[0009]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a main part of a copying apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a plan view of a liquid crystal display unit 10 thereof, and FIG.
FIG. Here, only the components necessary for the description of the present invention are shown, and the other components are not shown.

A touch panel 1 is provided on the surface of the liquid crystal display section 10.
1 is provided. Part of the touch panel 11 selectively functions as a virtual numeric keypad 11a. The operation panel 12 is provided with other keys 12b such as an "all clear" key and a "stop" key, in addition to a ten-key numeric key 12a for permanent input of numerical values. Document reading unit 13
Reads the content of the copy original optically and stores it in the page memory 14. The image processing unit 15 performs an appropriate process such as a trimming process, a mirror image process, an enlargement process, or a reduction process on the image data stored in the page memory 14 in accordance with an instruction from a main control unit 17 described in detail later. Perform image processing. The image forming unit 16 prints image data on which predetermined image processing has been performed on recording paper.

In the main controller 17, the magnification controller 1
Reference numeral 71 controls the enlargement / reduction magnification based on numerical data input from the virtual numeric keypad 11a of the touch panel 11. The date control unit 172 controls the recording of the copy date based on the numerical data input from the virtual numeric keypad 11a. The number-of-copies control unit 173 controls the number of copies based on numerical data input from the permanent numeric keypad 12a on the operation panel 12.

The other control unit 174 includes the touch panel 11, the permanent numeric keypad 12a, and the other keys 12b.
It controls the display contents of the liquid crystal display unit 10 and the function switching units 175, 176, etc., based on the data and the like input from. The function switching unit 175 converts the numerical data input from the numeric keypad displayed on the touch panel 11 into the magnification control unit 171, date control unit 172, and other control units 17.
4 selectively. Function switching unit 176
Outputs the numerical data input from the permanent numeric keypad 12a on the operation panel 12 to one of the copy number control unit 173 and the other control unit 174.

In such a configuration, a menu screen as shown in FIG. 4 is displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 10 in a standby state.
Displayed by the other control unit 174. On the menu screen, any one of a basic copy page, an image quality adjustment page, an application copy page, and a copy finishing page can be selectively displayed. In the basic copy page, as shown in FIG.
A "copy density" key 42, a "document type" key 43 and a "copy color" key 44 are displayed.

At this time, the function switching units 175 and 176
The control is switched to the other control unit 174 side and the copy number control unit 173 side, respectively. When the operator touches any key on the display screen, this is detected by the other control unit 174 and notified to the image processing unit 15.
The image processing unit 15 determines image processing content according to the notification content.

Here, when the operator wants to change the number of copies, he operates the permanent numeric keypad 12a of the operation panel 12 to input the desired number of copies. Permanent numeric keypad 12a
Numerical data input from is detected by the number-of-copies control unit 173 and notified to the image processing unit 15. The image processing unit 15 determines the number of copies according to the contents of the notification. At this time, on the display screen, as shown in FIG. 5, the number of copies is changed from the initial value “01” to the input value (in the present embodiment,
"15").

When the operator touches the "magnification / paper" key 41 on the menu screen, the "magnification / paper selection" screen shown in FIG. 6 appears on the display screen. here,
When the operator touches the “magnification selection” key 51, the “magnification selection” screen shown in FIG. 7 is displayed on the display screen by the other control unit 174.

On the "magnification selection" screen, a plurality of "fixed magnification selection" keys 71, a "magnification change" key 72 and a virtual numeric keypad 11a for inputting an arbitrary magnification are displayed. At this time, the function switching unit 175 is switched to the magnification control unit 171 by the other control unit 174. Therefore, when the operator inputs a desired magnification from the virtual numeric keypad 11a, the numerical data is detected by the magnification control unit 171 and the magnification according to the numerical data is notified to the image processing unit 15. The image processing unit 15 determines the content of the image processing according to the notified magnification.

Even when the "magnification selection" screen is displayed, if the operator operates the permanent numeric keypad 12a of the operation panel 12, this is detected by the copy number control unit 173 and the copy number control unit 173 is detected. Instructs the image processing unit 15 to copy the specified number of copies.

Further, when the operator touches the "vertical and horizontal independent scaling" key 52 on the "magnification / paper selection" screen of FIG. 6, the "vertical and horizontal independent scaling" screen shown in FIG. 8 is displayed on the screen. Is done. A virtual numeric keypad 11x for inputting an arbitrary magnification in the horizontal direction is displayed on the “vertical and horizontal independent magnification” screen.
And a virtual numeric keypad 11y for inputting an arbitrary magnification in the vertical direction are displayed. Here, when the operator operates the numeric keys 11x and 11y to input the horizontal magnification and the vertical magnification, the magnification according to the numerical data is notified to the image processing unit 15. The image processing unit 15 determines the content of the image processing according to the notified magnification.

Incidentally, even when the "vertical and horizontal independent scaling" screen is displayed, the operator can operate the operation panel 12.
By operating the permanent ten key 12a, the number of copies can be set and changed in the same manner as described above.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the magnification can be specified from the virtual ten-keys 11a, 11x, and 11y, and the number of copies can be specified from the permanent ten-key 12a provided on the operation panel 12. This makes it possible to input a plurality of types of numerical data such as a magnification and the number of copies easily and without confusion as compared with a case where one numeric keypad is also used as one numeric keypad. In addition, since the magnification numeric keys 11a, 11x, and 11y are virtual numeric keys that are selectively displayed on the screen, there is no need to separately secure a space, and the miniaturization and cost reduction of the apparatus are prevented. Absent.

Further, in this embodiment, it is not necessary to operate a virtual key other than the virtual key displayed on the screen when specifying the magnification.
In other words, since the operation range is limited to the virtual keys (numeric keys and other keys) on the screen, the operation part does not reach a plurality of places (the touch panel and the operation panel) and confusion is caused.

In the above embodiment, the virtual numeric keypad is used for designating the magnification. However, the present invention can be similarly applied to other uses that require numerical input.

For example, when a copy date is desired to be recorded in a copy, a "date" screen shown in FIG. 9 is displayed. In the present embodiment, the virtual numeric keypad 11a is also displayed on the “date” screen. Here, when inputting the year, the user touches the year display key 92 to specify the input target, and then inputs the desired year from the virtual numeric keypad 11a. To input a month, the user touches the month display key 93 to specify an input target, and then inputs a desired year numerically from the virtual numeric keypad 11a. Similarly, when entering a date, the date display key 94
After specifying the input target by touching, a desired year is numerically input from the virtual numeric keypad 11a. Then, even when such a "date" screen is displayed, the number of copies can be set freely by operating the permanent numeric keypad 12a on the operation panel 12.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the date can be specified from the virtual numeric keypad 11a, and the number of copies can be specified by the permanent numeric keypad 12a provided on the operation panel 12.
, The same effect as described above is achieved.

[0026]

As described above, according to the present invention, the following effects are achieved. (1) In addition to the permanent numeric keypad, a virtual numeric keypad is displayed on the display screen, and different types of numeric data can be input separately from each numeric keypad, so that multiple numeric data can be easily and confused. You will be able to enter without typing. (2) Since the operation range at the time of specifying the magnification or the date is limited to the virtual keys on the screen, the operation part does not reach a plurality of places to cause confusion.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a main part of a copying apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of a liquid crystal display unit of the copying apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of an operation panel of the copying apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a menu screen.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a menu screen after the number of copies has been changed.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a magnification / paper selection screen.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of a magnification selection screen.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of a vertical and horizontal independent scaling screen.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of a date screen.

[Explanation of symbols]

10: liquid crystal display unit, 11: touch panel, 11a, 11
x, 11y, 11a: virtual numeric keypad, 12: operation panel, 12a: permanent numeric keypad

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. An image forming apparatus having a numerical input function for executing a predetermined image forming process in accordance with numerical data input manually, comprising: a first permanent numerical input key; A display unit for selectively displaying input keys; a first data processing unit for executing first data processing based on numerical data input from the first numerical input keys; and a second numerical input An image forming apparatus having a numerical value input function, comprising: second data processing means for executing second data processing based on numerical data input from a key. 2. On the screen on which the second numerical input key is displayed, other operation keys are virtually displayed, and data input from the second numerical input key and other operation keys are: The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus is used for the same image processing. 3. The first data processing means according to claim 1, wherein
And processing the numerical data input from the numerical input key of (1) as the number of prints, and the second data processing means processes the numerical data input from the second numerical input key as the enlargement / reduction magnification. An image forming apparatus having the numerical value input function according to claim 1. 4. The first data processing means according to claim 1, wherein:
And processing the numerical data input from the numerical input key of (i) as the number of printed sheets, and the second data processing means processes the numerical data input from the second numerical input key as a date. Item 3. An image forming apparatus provided with the numerical value input function according to item 1 or 2.