JP3970871B2 - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus having a function of preventing a malfunction in an operation when a document is put in and out of an image reading unit.

Conventionally, in an image forming apparatus having a copy or fax function, when reading a document, the platen cover is opened and the document is set on the document table, then the platen cover is closed, and the number of scanned images, density, etc. are displayed on the operation panel. Is set, and the start button is pressed to read the original (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
JP 2001-05120 A

  However, with the conventional technology, when the platen cover is opened and a document is set or a set document is taken out, if the operator touches a button on the operation panel or touch panel by mistake, the operation is erroneously performed regardless of the user's intention. Move to key operation. For this reason, there is a problem that work efficiency is low and resources are wasted due to malfunction.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus capable of preventing malfunction when a platen cover is opened and a document is taken in and out.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, the present invention provides an image forming apparatus including an image reading unit that reads a document and an operation unit provided in the vicinity of the image reading unit. It is characterized in that there is provided a detecting means for detecting an operation at the time of putting in and out, and a control means for invalidating at least a part of the operation on the operation unit when the detecting means detects the operation of putting in and out the document.

  The present invention is characterized in that, in the above invention, the control means invalidates the operation on the operation unit for a predetermined time from the detection of the withdrawal.

  The present invention is characterized in that, in the above invention, further provided is an informing means for notifying an operator that an operation on the operation unit is invalid.

  According to this aspect of the invention, when the detection unit detects the document loading / unloading operation, the control unit limits the predetermined operation of the operation unit. Therefore, there is an advantage that it is possible to prevent an erroneous operation when the platen cover is opened and a document is taken in and out, and an operation associated with the erroneous operation.

  Also, according to the present invention, when the control unit detects the document loading / unloading operation by the detection unit, the operation on the operation unit is invalidated. Therefore, there is an advantage that it is possible to prevent an erroneous operation when the platen cover is opened and a document is taken in and out, and an operation associated with the erroneous operation.

  According to the present invention, the control means invalidates the operation on the operation unit for a predetermined time. Therefore, there is an advantage that it is possible to prevent an erroneous operation when the platen cover is opened and a document is taken in and out, and an operation associated with the erroneous operation.

  Hereinafter, an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

A. Configuration of Embodiment FIG. 1A is an external view illustrating an external configuration of an image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment, and FIG. 1B is a diagram illustrating a document placed on an image reading unit in the image forming apparatus. It is a conceptual diagram which shows the state at the time.
The image forming apparatus 1 includes an image reading unit 2 that optically reads an original 7 as image data. The image reading unit 2 includes a platen cover 3 that opens and closes with the back side as a fulcrum as viewed in the drawing. The platen cover 3 is provided to suppress and fix the document 7 and shield external light when the document 7 is optically read. Further, the platen cover 3 is provided with an auto sheet feeder 4 for automatically and continuously reading a plurality of documents.

  An operation panel 6 is provided in the vicinity of the platen cover 3 and in front of the main body. The operation panel 6 includes a display unit and various keys. The operation panel 6 may be a touch panel type. As shown in FIG. 1B, the user opens the platen cover 3 to place the document 7 to be read on the document table (glass table) 8 of the image reading unit 2 or on the document table 8. The placed original 7 is taken out.

  Further, a sensor 9 for detecting the opening and closing of the platen cover 3 is disposed in the main body of the image forming apparatus 1. In this embodiment, when the sensor 9 detects that the platen cover 3 is opened, the key operation of the operation panel 6 is disabled for a predetermined time, so that the document 7 is placed on the document table 8 or An erroneous operation when taking out the original document 7 from the original table 8 and a malfunction caused by the erroneous operation are prevented.

Next, FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of the image forming apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment.
In the figure, the operation unit panel 6 includes an operation unit 6-1 and a display unit 6-2. The operation unit 6-1 includes various keys, and the display unit 6-2 includes, for example, a liquid crystal display. The sensor 9 uses a mechanical type, optics, magnetism, ultrasonic waves, radio waves, and the like, and is provided on the lower part of the rotating part of the platen cover 3 and on the main body side. Although it is provided on the main body side in FIG. 1B, the present invention is not limited to this, and may be provided on the platen cover 3 side as long as it can be detected that the platen cover 3 is opened and closed. Further, the shape and number of the sensors 9 are only examples, and are not limited thereto.

  The control unit 10 controls each unit of the image forming apparatus 1 according to a predetermined program, and realizes functions such as reading of the document 7, printing, and FAX. In particular, in the present embodiment, when the sensor 9 detects that the platen cover 3 is opened, a key lock operation is performed to invalidate the key operation of the operation unit 6-1 for a predetermined time. When the platen cover 3 is closed by the sensor 9 during the key lock operation, the key lock operation is forcibly released and the key operation of the operation unit 6-1 is made valid.

  The memory 11 stores the predetermined program, various parameters required for various functions of the image forming apparatus 1, image data read by the image reading unit 2, and the like. In particular, in the present embodiment, the memory 11 stores the key lock time relating to the key lock operation and the state of the key invalid flag indicating whether or not the key lock operation is performed.

B. Operation of Embodiment Next, the operation of the above-described embodiment will be described. Here, FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 are flowcharts for explaining the operation of the present embodiment.

B-1. Key invalid setting process First, the control unit 10 determines whether or not the sensor 9 detects the opening of the platen cover 3 (step S10). As shown in FIG. 1B, when the user opens the platen cover 3 to read the document 7 or take out the document 7 from the document table 8, the sensor 9 indicates that the platen cover 3 has been opened. Since it is detected, the key lock time (for example, 3 seconds) is read from the setting table of the memory 11 (step S12).

  Next, the control unit 10 starts measuring the key lock time (step S14), and determines whether the sensor 9 detects the closing of the platen cover 3 (step S16). This determines whether the platen cover 3 is closed after the user places the document 7 on the document table 8 or removes the document 7 from the document table 8. If the platen cover 3 is not closed, it is determined whether or not the key lock time has elapsed (step S18).

  If the key lock time has not elapsed, the key invalid flag is turned ON (step S20), and the process returns to step S14. Thereafter, the above processing is performed until the platen cover 3 is closed or the key lock time elapses. continue. That is, when the platen cover 3 is not closed and the key lock time has not elapsed, the key invalid flag remains ON.

  On the other hand, if the platen cover 3 is closed even within the key lock time, it is determined that the document 7 is placed on the document table 8 and ready for reading, and the key invalid flag is turned OFF. (Step S22), the process ends. If the platen cover 3 is not closed and the key lock time has elapsed, the key invalid flag is turned off (step S22), and the process ends.

B-2. Key Scan Process The control unit 10 executes the flowchart shown in FIG. 4 in order to monitor the key operation of the operation unit 6-1 at a predetermined time interval using an interrupt process or the like. First, the control unit 10 determines whether or not the key of the operation unit 6-1 has been pressed (step S30). When any key is pressed, it is determined whether or not the key invalid flag is ON (step S32). Since the key invalid flag is OFF except when the user opens the platen cover 3, processing corresponding to the pressed key is executed (step S36).

  On the other hand, when the user opens the platen cover 3, since the key invalid flag is ON, the key operation is ignored, and the display unit 6-2 displays that the key operation is invalid (step S34). Returning to S30, the above-described processing is repeatedly executed. Therefore, when the user opens the platen cover 3 to place the document 7 on the document table 8 or to remove the document 7 from the document table 8, the key invalid flag is turned ON during the key lock time. Therefore, all key operations of the operation unit 6-1 are invalid. Therefore, it is possible to prevent an erroneous operation when the document 7 is placed or taken out, and to prevent a malfunction caused by the erroneous operation.

  When the platen cover 3 is closed within the key lock time, the key invalid flag is immediately turned OFF, so that the key operation of the operation unit 6-1 is automatically enabled and the key lock time elapses. It is possible to operate immediately without waiting.

  Even when the platen cover 3 cannot be closed, after the key lock time has elapsed, the key operation of the operation unit 6-1 is automatically enabled, so that the platen cover 3 is operated with the platen cover 3 open. Can also respond appropriately. Furthermore, it may be configured not only to display that the key is locked on the display unit but also to notify the operator by voice or the like.

  The above-described processing of the control unit 10 is stored in a computer-readable recording medium in the form of a program, and the above-described processing is performed by the computer reading and executing this program. Here, the computer-readable recording medium means a magnetic disk, a magneto-optical disk, a CD-ROM, a DVD-ROM, a semiconductor memory, or the like. Alternatively, the computer program may be distributed to the computer via a communication line, and the computer that has received the distribution may execute the program.

FIG. 2 is an external view showing an external configuration of the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment and a conceptual diagram showing a state when a document is placed on an image reading unit. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of an image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment in the same embodiment. 6 is a flowchart for explaining an operation (key invalid setting process) of the image forming apparatus in the embodiment. 6 is a flowchart for explaining the operation (key scan processing) of the image forming apparatus in the embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Image forming apparatus 2 ... Image reading part 3 ... Platen cover 4 ... Auto sheet feeder 6 ... Operation panel 6-1 ... Operation part 6-2 ... Display part 7 ... Document 8 ... Document base 9 ... Sensor 10 ... Control part 11 …memory

Claims (3)

An image forming apparatus including an image reading unit for reading a document and an operation unit provided in the vicinity of the image reading unit,
Detecting means for detecting an open / closed state of the platen cover of the image reading unit;
An image forming apparatus comprising: a control unit that invalidates at least a part of the operation on the operation unit when the detection unit detects that the platen cover is in an open state . The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit invalidates an operation on the operation unit for a preset time after detecting a change from an open state to a closed state of the platen cover. apparatus.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a notification unit that notifies an operator that an operation on the operation unit is invalid.

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