JPH0727312B2 - Image forming device - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus capable of forming an image.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a device capable of forming an image, for example, a device such as a copying machine, as a means for displaying functional information necessary for performing image formation such as magnification and paper size input by key input. The LED corresponding to each key or switch is turned on, or the setting state of the function corresponding to each key is displayed depending on the setting position state of each key or switch. However, in accordance with the diversification of image forming functions, the use of the operation section in which the keys correspond to the functions in a one-to-one manner as described above has a drawback that the operation section becomes complicated and the apparatus becomes large in size. there were. Further, on the other hand, although the functions of the image forming apparatus are diversified, as the image forming apparatus becomes widespread, the chances of performing the above-mentioned advanced image formation are increasing even if not an expert, and the image forming apparatus can be used effectively. It had the drawback of being difficult.

[0003]

[Object] The present invention has been made in view of the above drawbacks, and an object of the present invention is to display a plurality of function information relating to image formation and a plurality of messages instructing transition of display contents. , A plurality of messages instructing the transition of the display content can be displayed, and different input means are provided at the display positions of the plurality of messages instructing the transition of the different display content that need to be displayed at the same time. It is a corresponding one, and it is possible to display the necessary display contents when necessary in the smallest possible space. Furthermore, the display contents can be changed to the standard display contents based on the reset instruction. Another object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus further improving the above.

[0004]

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

The present embodiment is an example of a copying machine.
Note that the function information related to image formation is “negative” described later,
"A3 → B4", "A3 → A4", "A3 → B5",
"B4 → A4", "B4 → B5", "A4 → B5",
"A4 → B4", "A4 → A3", "B4 → A3",
"B5 → A4", "B5 → B4", "B5 → A3",
"Soushin" and "Henshu" correspond.

Further, the message for instructing the transition of the display contents corresponds to "option", "Kakunin", "Setsume", and "ETC" described later.

Further, as a method of changing the display mode, a question mark, exclamation, and blinking display are available.

An embodiment of the present invention in a copying machine will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows an outline of the operating portion in this embodiment. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 100 is an operation unit generally used in a conventional copying machine or the like, and its explanation is omitted. 200 is a soft key, 201 is F1 (Function1) ~
Function keys up to F6 (synonymous with soft keys below), and 202 is a liquid crystal display unit for displaying a label of the function key 201. It should be noted that the label is for indicating the function because the function corresponding to one key is not uniquely determined. Reference numeral 203 is a reset key for resetting the function set by the soft key (function key) 201, and reference numeral 204 is a lamp (LED) indicating a reset state. A detailed view of the function key label display section (liquid crystal display section) 200 is shown in FIG.

In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, the liquid crystal display unit 2
A liquid crystal display of 5 × 7 dot matrix is used for 02 for 32 characters. An enlarged view of one character (within a dotted line) in FIG. 2 is shown in FIG.
Shown in. In FIG. 3, 1 is a liquid crystal display 5 × 7 for displaying characters
A dot portion, and 2 is a 5 × 1 dot portion that displays an underbar.

FIG. 4 shows a block diagram of a liquid crystal display in this embodiment. A liquid crystal display controller 3 determines the key data from the key input unit 5 and sends the display liquid crystal address and the display character data to the liquid crystal driver 4 through the D line. A detailed view of the No. 4 driver is shown in FIG. A peripheral CPU 6 for liquid crystal display is included in the driver 4 in FIG. As can be seen from FIG. 8, the driver drives the liquid crystal display unit 202 in a matrix. In other words, there are four drivers including the peripheral CPU 6, and since there are 40 lines from each driver in the vertical direction, there are 160 lines, and in the horizontal direction, there are 16 lines from COM ₁ to COM ₁₆ of the peripheral CPU 6. Since 8 lines are used, a total of 160 × 8 lines are used, and as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the liquid crystal display unit 5 ×
Drives 32 8 dots (160 x 8 dots),
A character is displayed on the liquid crystal according to the address data from the controller 3. For more details, Hitachi's HD4
See the example connection between the 4780 and HD44100.

An embodiment of the present invention is constructed as described above.

The state of the display will be briefly described below with reference to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3.

The data displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 202 in FIG. 2 is roughly classified into the function keys 2 of F1 to F6.
A key label of 01, a message to the operator, and display of input data from the ten-key pad are displayed. Then, a quotation mark is attached to the message to distinguish the message from the softkey label, an underbar is attached to the softkey label, and the underbar is blinked to request input from the numeric keypad.

As a distinction between the setting and non-setting of soft key label items, a question mark is added to the soft key label which is not set or is not selected, and an exclamation mark is set when it is set or selected. . Therefore, each function has a function setting flag for determining whether or not it has been set, and the controller 3 in FIG. 4 turns on the flag when the function setting is completed.

When setting the copy function using the soft key 200, various soft key labels are displayed on the label display section 202 of the liquid crystal. Among them, the software commonly used for each function is displayed. The key labels are shown in Table 1.

[0017]

[Table 1]

The detailed operation of the display section will be described below.

When the power is turned on or each copy state is canceled, the liquid crystal display section 202 is in the reset mode. That is, the copy ratio is 100% in the normal copy state. The state of display in this state is shown in the transition state 7-1 in FIG. After that, a soft key shown in FIG. 1200 is used to add or change a copy function such as a copy magnification change to enter the option mode.

The state of display after the reset mode will be described below with reference to the state transition diagram of FIG. 7 and the flowchart of FIG. When the soft key F6 labeled "Option" is pressed in the reset mode display state (5.1, 5.2) of the enclosed state 7-1 of FIG. 7 (5.3), the enclosed state 7-2 Is displayed, and items that can be added or changed to the reset state are displayed as soft key labels (5.
4). In the transition state 7-2, the soft key labels that cannot be displayed are displayed as in the transition state 7-3 by pressing the soft key labeled "ETC" (5.
6). Here again, if "ETC" is keyed in and there is no optional softkey label to be displayed, transition state 7
The display returns to the reset mode display state of -1 (5.7).

By inputting the soft key of the option label to be set in the display state of the transition state 7-2, the setting of the corresponding option becomes possible (5.8). The procedure for setting each option will be described in more detail later.

The reset mode display LE of FIG. 1204 is set by setting at least one optional function.
D disappears, indicating that it is not in reset mode. or,
When the setting of each option is completed, the transition state 7-2
Alternatively, it returns to the setting start state of 7-3. As an example,
The case where there is a “negative” soft key input in the transition state 7-3 will be described. By inputting "negative", the operation unit sets a copy function called black and white inverted image creation. After that, the display section becomes like the transition state 7-4, and the question mark after the soft key label is changed to the exclamation mark to display that the negative input is set.
Then, when the "ETC" key is entered in the transition state 7-4, the transition state 7-3 is such that the state transitions to 7-1.
4 to 7-1 '. Hierarchically, the transition state 7-
Although 1'and 7-1 are the same, the reset mode is displayed as an option because the option function is set. This state is called the option mode. However, when changing an optional function that is set with an exclamation mark, it can be changed by entering the softkey of that softkey label (for example,
By inputting the soft key input F1 in the transition state 7-4, the state returns to the transition state 7-3. ), But in some cases it cannot be changed. This is the case where the setting change of the function is not permitted due to the setting contents of other set optional functions. For example, in the transition state 7-2, “Edit” is an abbreviation for edit function setting. However, if the copy magnification is uniquely determined by the setting of this edit function, change the copy magnification setting in 7-2. Meaning soft key input F4
Can not be accepted. Then, the display section blinks the EXCLAMATION MARK “!” Of the soft key label for which the setting change has been input, as a means for displaying that the change is impossible. In the previous example, “!” Of the soft key label “□ → □!” That indicates the same size of the transition state 7-2 is blinked (5.1.
0).

In order to return from the option mode to the reset mode, the reset key 203 shown in FIG. 1 is input. By inputting the reset key 203, all the optional functions that have been set so far are cleared, the reset mode display LED 204 is turned on, and the liquid crystal display (LC
The display of D) 202 also displays the reset mode as shown in FIG. 77-1 (5.1).

The display state of the liquid crystal display unit 202 and the soft key input acceptance state due to the transition between the reset mode and the option mode have been described above. Next, the transition state 7
-2 and 7-3, the procedure for setting the copy function using the soft keys will be described.

The copying function which seems to be effective when set by using the soft keys is setting of the copy magnification, the operation mode of the sorter and the use of the sorter and the use bin, the reading position of the original, and the multi-stage paper feeding unit. There are various possibilities such as specifying the paper feed tray and paper size, setting the image editing procedure, and setting the image transfer destination in a copying machine equipped with a facsimile function. Information to represent these functions set using soft keys. Is called function information. Incidentally, here, the setting of the copy magnification will be described as an example with reference to the state transition diagrams of FIGS. 7 and 9 and the flowcharts of FIGS. Reset mode Transition state 7 in Figure 7
-1 is a softkey label (1) to indicate 1: 1 copy
Is displayed, but this is because it is intended to make it easier to change the magnification and improve the operability in consideration of the fact that there are many usage states in which only the magnification is changed to the reset mode (FIG. 5).
5.11). To change the magnification, press the softkey of the magnification display softkey label with an underbar. This makes it possible to change the magnification (Fig. 5-5.
8).

There are two methods for designating the magnification: a method of designating the magnification as an original ratio in% with a ten key, and a method of selecting from fixed magnifications. Figure 7 7-1
When the soft key of F4 is pressed to change the magnification at, the display becomes as shown in Fig. 99-1 and the setting of the magnification is started (6.1). Labels corresponding to F1 to F6 of 9-1 are, in order, reduction between fixed sizes (F1), enlargement between fixed sizes (F2), equal size designation (F3), designation of arbitrary magnification (F4), and vertical alignment. Independent designation of magnification in the direction-horizontal direction (F
5) The confirmation of the setting state before the magnification change is made (F6).

Here, when the function key F1 labeled with reduction between fixed sizes (□ → □) is pressed, the display changes to the transition state 9-2, and all or some of the combinations of reduction between fixed sizes are soft keys. Display as a label (6.
2). By entering the relevant softkey here, 9-
The magnification is determined as shown in 6, the function setting flag is turned on (6.3), and the exclamation mark is displayed. The state changes to 7-2 in FIG. If the desired combination is not displayed in 9-2, by pressing the Sotov key F6 labeled with ETC, another combination is displayed as in 9-3. Here, by pressing the soft key of the corresponding reduction ratio label, it moves to 9-6. If there is a further ETC input here, if there is another combination, it is displayed in the format of 9-3 (6.4), but if there is no other combination, the magnification of 9-1 is set. Return to the type selection state (6.5). That is, by holding down the ETC function key, it is possible to exit the current setting mode and select another setting mode.

When there is an input from the soft key F2 for expanding between fixed sizes in the transition state 9-1 (6.6), it is 9-4.
Thereafter, the same processing as 9-2 is performed. When there is an equal magnification input from the soft key F3 in 9-1 (6.7), the magnification is set to 100%, and an option input acceptance state other than the magnification of the transition state 7-2 in FIG. 7 is entered. This is also the case when there is a Kakunin input F6 of F6 at 9-1.

When there is a magnification designation input from the soft key F4 at 9-1 (6.8), the display section displays "Varicity" with quotation marks as in 9-7, and the operation section is in a magnification input waiting state. Is displayed, the upper part of the F4 key is blinked with an underline, and input from the numeric keypad is requested (6.8). Here, M is an abbreviation that means magnification (magnification). Now, here, the magnification is determined by the input from the ten-key 102 (6.9) in FIG. 1 (6.9) and the input from the enter-key 101 (for example, 123%), and the transition state 9-8 in FIG. 9 is displayed ( 6.10). If there is an error in the set magnification, an error message is displayed and the input of magnification is awaited (6.
11). If you want to change the set value with 9-8, press the soft key (F4 in the example) where the set value is displayed to enter the state of 9-7, and you can set it again (6.1). . Also, by pressing the soft key labeled with the OK soft key label in the transition state 9-8,
When the magnification of 9-14 is confirmed, the state transits to the transition state of 7-2 (6.13). Further, it is also possible to confirm the set value by the enter key input after the ten key input at 9-7 and shift to the state of 9-14 as shown by the dotted line (6.
14).

At 9-1, the vertical direction from the soft key F5-
When there is an independent designation of the lateral magnification, a display like 9-9 is displayed (6.15). At 9-9, "Vertical Horizontal Criterion (Numeric keypad)", the current state and the input means are displayed, and after a lapse of a certain time by the timer, the state becomes 9-10 horizontal (X direction) input waiting state (6.16). ). Also, in addition to the time-up by the timer, the clear key shown in FIG.
Operator inputs such as 4 are also conceivable. Well, 9-10
Is waiting for input, but after the abbreviation MX (Magnification X) in the sense of the magnification in the X direction (horizontal direction), the previously set X direction magnification of 9-9 and below Blink the underscore and request the change value.

Now, when the magnification in the X direction is entered by the combination of the ten key and the enter key, the state of 9-11 is entered, and the Y
Waiting for input of the magnification in the direction (horizontal direction) (6.18).
In the case of inputting only the enter key without inputting ten keys, the value initially displayed at 9-10 is set as it is. Thus, in the case of changing the magnification only in the Y direction, it is not necessary to duplicately input the X direction that does not need to be changed, which leads to improvement in operability (the same applies to the case of changing only the X direction).

The previous set value on the underbar is cleared by the ten key input, and the newly input ten key input is displayed (6.19). The underbar during blinking becomes a soft key label for change instruction when the enter key is input, and blinking is stopped.

When the magnification in the Y direction (horizontal direction) is input by the same procedure, the state of 9-12 is set (6.20). Here, each set magnification can be changed by inputting a soft key corresponding to the underbar of each set magnification display portion of Mx and My (6.21). The magnification display on the blinking underbars of 9-10 and 9-9 by the change instruction may be that before entering 9-9, or may be the value changed by the enter key input. 9-
The same applies to the display of magnification in 7.

When the soft key input labeled "OK" is entered in the transition state 9-12 in FIG. 9, the display is as in 9-13, and the process proceeds to 7-2 in FIG. 7 (6.22).

Further, in FIG. 9, when there is a request for confirmation of the setting state before the magnification change in 9-1, the magnification display is 9-1 even if the magnification is changed by enter after 9-1.
The previously set settings are displayed and the current settings are canceled (6.23).

In transition state 9-10, softkey F
As the soft key label of 5, there is a display of "Setsume". This solves the inconvenience that an unfamiliar operator cannot continue the subsequent input because the state of 9-9 and the message display of the input means disappear in 9-10 for displaying the operator input data. It is a key label for doing. By inputting this soft key label, the display is returned to the state 9-9, and the operator has a function of notifying the present input state and the input method (6.17). Although not shown, the input means having this function may be a fixed function key used in the past.

In the above operation, a series of operations is stored in the memory, and a preset key which can perform the series of operations on behalf of one key input is used as a preset key.
You may make it provide in an operation part.

When an error occurs and the key input cannot be accepted, the key label display section may display the error status and corresponding means for canceling the error in detail in addition to the above.

Further, the key for selecting a desired mode or data may be a key different from the soft key.

The control in this embodiment is performed by the controller 3 or the peripheral CPU 6, and the control program shown in the illustrated control flowchart is stored in a memory such as a ROM (not shown). Needless to say.

From the above, by displaying the message to the operator and the operator input data in the unused portion of the key label display portion of the soft key,
The effect that the use efficiency of the key label display section is improved can be obtained, and the operation section can be simplified because it is not necessary to have another display section for displaying the message.

Further, since the key label and the operation guidance can be displayed on the same display portion, the operator can set the function without being warned of others and the operability can be improved.

Further, by providing a means for distinguishing the message and the soft key label, the operator's operation mistake can be reduced, the operation becomes easy and the operation time can be shortened.

Therefore, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a simple operation device in which the function setting is surely performed and the operability is improved, and the display for confirming the set function is performed on the soft key display portion.

[0045]

As described above in detail, according to the present invention, it is possible to display a plurality of function information relating to image formation and a plurality of messages for instructing the transition of the display content, and to display the transition of the display content. It is possible to display a plurality of messages to be instructed, and yet different input means correspond to the display positions of the plurality of messages instructing the transition of different display contents that need to be displayed simultaneously. , It is possible to display the necessary display contents in the smallest possible space when necessary, and it is possible to change the display contents to the standard display contents based on the reset instruction. It has become possible to provide a forming apparatus.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an operation unit of a copying machine that is an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of a function key 201 and a liquid crystal display unit 202 in the soft key unit 200 of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a detailed view of a liquid crystal display unit 202.

FIG. 4 is a simple block diagram for driving the liquid crystal display unit 202 from the key input unit 5.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart for setting various functions and a state transition diagram thereof.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart for specifying a magnification and its state transition diagram.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart for setting various functions and a state transition diagram thereof.

FIG. 8 is a detailed view disclosing the driver 4 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 9 is a flowchart for specifying a magnification and its state transition diagram.

[Explanation of symbols]

 3 controller 4 driver 6 peripheral CPU 201 function key 202 liquid crystal display unit 203 reset key

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A display means having a plurality of display positions, a plurality of input means provided at positions corresponding to the plurality of display positions on the display means, a reset instruction means for instructing reset, and the display means, respectively. The display contents can be transited, a plurality of function information related to image formation, and a plurality of messages instructing the transition of the display contents can be displayed. Different input means correspond to the display positions of a plurality of messages to be instructed,
When a plurality of pieces of functional information related to the formation of the image are displayed on the display means, the input means is operated to display the display position corresponding to the operated position of the input means. When the display content is the function information related to the formation of the image, the function information corresponding to the display content is input, and the same display content is displayed in a different display manner, so that the input can be identified. When the input means is operated while the message is displayed and the display means displays a message for instructing the transition of the display content, it is displayed at a display position corresponding to the operated position of the input means. When the displayed content is a message instructing the transition of the displayed content, a control means for transitioning the displayed content to the display content corresponding to the displayed content is provided. And, based on an instruction from the reset instruction means, in order to shift the display content displayed on the display means to the standard display contents, an image forming apparatus and controls the display unit. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the function information related to the image formation includes magnification information necessary for performing the image formation. 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the message instructing the transition of the display content includes a message instructing to notify a method of inputting functional information related to the image formation. .