JP2006043896A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable the easy confirmation of set contents and test printing following the confirmation in an image forming apparatus which can combine and set a plurality of functions and can also carry out test printing. <P>SOLUTION: The image forming apparatus 1 is an apparatus which can combine and set the plurality of functions to be executed along with printing, and can carry out test printing according to the set contents. The image forming apparatus is equipped with an operation panel 3 and a processing part. The operation panel 3 has a display part 15 capable of displaying a setting confirmation screen 23 which lists and shows the set contents. At the same time, the operation panel 3 can indicate test printing by the set contents shown on the setting confirmation screen 23 in the case where the setting confirmation screen 23 is displayed at the display part 15. The processing part carries out test printing according to the set contents in the case where test printing is indicated. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, and more particularly, to an image forming apparatus that can be set by combining a plurality of functions that are executed along with printing and that can perform test printing according to the setting contents.

  Many image forming apparatuses in recent years have many functions such as image quality adjustment, reduction or enlargement, double-sided printing, color printing, sorting, stapling, and punching, and can perform printing by appropriately combining these functions. .

  In this type of image forming apparatus, when printing multiple copies by combining a plurality of functions, if there is an error in the settings, a large amount of printed matter that is not intended by the user is generated, and paper is consumed wastefully. For this reason, there is already known one having a trial copy function for printing only one copy as a trial.

  If this trial copy function is used, only one copy is printed first, so the user can check whether there are any errors in the set contents, and if there are no errors, the user instructs to print the remaining number of copies. Accordingly, it is possible to avoid wasteful consumption of paper as described above. In addition, as a related prior art, what was shown by patent document 1, for example has already been proposed.

  By the way, in recent image forming apparatuses, those equipped with an operation panel having a display unit constituted by a touch panel type liquid crystal display are widely used, and a user operates an operation screen appropriately displayed on the display unit. Thus, various settings can be made.

In a conventional device of this type, when a plurality of functions are set in combination, the setting screen prepared for each function is usually set step by step. In some cases, you may have forgotten what you have done and want to check the settings before making a trial copy.
JP-A-8-95436

  However, in order to confirm the previously set contents, it is necessary to go back one by one to the setting screen, which is troublesome. In particular, there are various layout screens on the setting screen. When there are various selection items such as buttons, illustrations, and messages on each setting screen, or when there are many setting items or parameters, key operation is required. May be complicated, and there is a risk of incorrect settings due to careless key operations.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to make it possible to easily check set contents and to perform test printing following the setting in an image forming apparatus that can be set by combining a plurality of functions and can perform test printing. .

  Another object of the present invention is to enable the user to easily select the next operation after confirming the set contents.

  An image forming apparatus according to a first aspect of the present invention is an apparatus that can be set by combining a plurality of functions that are executed along with printing, and that can perform trial printing according to the setting contents, and includes a setting operation unit and a processing unit. ing. The setting operation unit has a display unit that can display a setting confirmation screen that lists and displays the setting contents, and when the setting confirmation screen is displayed on the display unit, trial printing with the setting contents displayed on the setting confirmation screen Can be indicated. When the test printing is instructed, the processing unit performs the test printing according to the setting contents.

  In this apparatus, when trying to perform test printing, all the setting contents are listed on the setting confirmation screen, so that it is convenient to perform test printing after confirming a plurality of set functions at once.

  In the present invention, the number of copies for trial printing may be one or two or more. The instruction for trial printing may be given by a key on the operation screen when the display unit is a touch panel type, or may be given by a hard key.

  As the processing unit, for example, a control unit that performs image processing such as image quality adjustment, enlargement, or reduction for image data, an image forming unit that performs duplex printing, color printing, or the like on paper, or performs sorting, stapling, punching, or the like. A post-processing part is mentioned.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the apparatus of the first aspect, the setting operation unit prints the remaining number of copies after the trial printing is performed when the multi-copy printing is instructed. It is possible to instruct the number of copies to be printed.

  In this apparatus, since the remaining number of copies is printed by instructing the remaining number of copies after performing the trial printing, it is not necessary to waste the paper used for the trial printing.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the apparatus according to the first or second aspect, the setting operation unit can reset the setting contents when the setting confirmation screen is displayed on the display unit.

  In this apparatus, when an error is found in the setting contents shown on the setting confirmation screen, it is possible to instruct resetting and reset the setting.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the apparatus of the third aspect, the setting confirmation screen includes a test print instruction key for instructing a test print and a remaining number of copies that can be operated by touching the display unit. A remaining number printing instruction key to be instructed and a reset key that enables resetting of the setting contents are displayed together with the setting contents.

  In the conventional image forming apparatus, since these instruction keys are displayed separately, it is necessary to perform many key operations to search for a desired key. However, in this apparatus, a test print is displayed on the setting confirmation screen. Since the keys for instructing the remaining number of copies to be printed and resetting are displayed, the contents to be instructed next can be selected while confirming the setting contents, which improves usability.

  According to the present invention, when trying to perform test printing, all the setting contents are listed on the setting confirmation screen, so that it is possible to perform test printing after confirming a plurality of set functions at once. is there.

[Configuration of Image Forming Apparatus]
1 and 2 show an image forming apparatus 1 in which an embodiment of the present invention is adopted.

  The image forming apparatus 1 is a multifunction machine having functions as a copying machine, a printer, a facsimile machine, and a scanner, and includes an operation panel (setting operation unit) 3, a control unit 5, an image forming unit 7, and post-processing. Part 9 and another input / output part 11.

  The operation panel 3 includes a plurality of operation keys 13 and a display unit 15 configured by a touch panel type liquid crystal display. The plurality of operation keys 13 include a start key 13a for instructing printing, a key for various settings (not shown), and a numeric keypad for setting the number of copies to be printed.

  The display unit 15 can display various operation screens that accept external input operations. Examples of such operation screens include a setting screen 21 as shown in FIG. 3 and a setting confirmation as shown in FIG. A screen 23 is exemplified.

  The setting screen 21 of FIG. 3 has a plurality of function setting buttons 21a and setting confirmation buttons 21b, and is displayed when a function key on the operation panel or a function key on the liquid crystal screen is pressed. Each function setting button 21a is a button for selecting and setting a function to be executed along with printing, and can select a paper size, a post-process, and the like. The setting confirmation button 21b is a button for displaying the setting confirmation screen 23 of FIG.

  The setting confirmation screen 23 includes a setting content display area 23a where setting contents are listed on one screen, a test copy (trial print) instruction key 23b, a remaining number copy (print remaining number) instruction key 23c, It has a setting instruction key 23d. Here, when the trial copy instruction key 23b is pressed, only one copy is printed according to the set contents, and when the remaining number copy instruction key 23c is pressed, one copy printed by trial copy is set when multi-copy printing is set. Printing is performed for the remaining number of copies excluding. When the reset instruction key 23d is pressed, the setting screen 21 shown in FIG.

  The control unit 5 includes a microcomputer including a CPU and the like, and controls input / output units such as the operation panel 3 and the image forming unit 7, as well as image data read by an image reading unit (described later) and externally. Various image processing can be performed on image data sent from a connected personal computer or the like. Examples of such image processing include image quality adjustment, enlargement or reduction of image data.

  The image forming unit 7 includes a photosensitive drum, a charging device, an exposure device, a developing device, a transfer device, and the like arranged around the photosensitive drum, and a fixing device (all not shown) arranged on the downstream side thereof. According to the setting contents, it is possible to perform a test copy and a remaining number of copies in addition to normal printing.

  The post-processing unit 9 is for performing predetermined post-processing on the paper on which the image is formed by the image forming unit 7, and includes a sort processing unit 9a, a staple processing unit 9b, a punching processing unit 9c, and the like. is doing.

  Further, the image forming apparatus 1 includes, as another input / output unit 11, an image reading unit that reads image information of a document placed on a document table, a paper feeding unit, a paper discharge unit (none of which are shown), and the like. It has more.

[Operation of Image Forming Apparatus]
Next, an example of the operation of the image forming apparatus 1 will be described with reference to FIG.

  In the image forming apparatus 1, when printing multiple copies by combining a plurality of functions, first, the setting button on the function key (on the operation panel or on the liquid crystal screen) is pressed (S 1) to display the setting screen 21 ( S2). Then, the desired function is set on the setting screen 21, and when the setting work is completed, the setting confirmation button 21b is pressed (S3). Then, a setting confirmation screen 23 is displayed. Here, the setting contents can be confirmed. If an error is found in the setting contents and it is desired to reset, the resetting instruction key 23d is pressed to display the setting screen 21 again ( S2), the setting can be reset.

  On the other hand, if the user confirms the setting confirmation screen 23 and wants to make a trial copy for the time being, although the setting contents are correct, the trial copy instruction key 23b is pressed (S6), and only one copy according to the setting contents is printed. (S7). If there is no error in the setting contents and it is desired to print all of them at once, the start key 13a of the operation panel 3 can be pressed (S11) to print all of them at once (S12).

  Then, in step S7, when a test copy is made and it is desired to change the setting contents by looking at the printed matter, the resetting instruction key 23d is pressed (S8), and the setting screen 21 is displayed again (S2). You can reset the settings. On the other hand, if a trial copy is made and it is determined that the set contents can be kept by looking at the printed matter, the remaining number of copies instruction key 23c is pressed to print the remaining number of copies (S9), and the remaining number of copies is determined. Only printing can be performed (S10).

  According to the image forming apparatus 1 described above, when a trial copy is to be made, all the setting contents are listed on the setting confirmation screen, so that a plurality of set functions can be confirmed at a time before performing a trial printing. This eliminates the troublesome work of returning a plurality of setting screens one by one.

  In addition, in the conventional image forming apparatus, keys for trial copy, copy of remaining number of copies, and instructions for resetting are separately displayed. Therefore, it is necessary to perform complicated key operations to search for a desired key. However, in this apparatus 1, since keys for instructing trial printing, remaining number of copies printing, and resetting are simultaneously displayed on one screen, contents to be instructed next while confirming the setting contents Can be selected, improving usability.

[Other Embodiments]
(A) In the above embodiment, when the trial copy instruction key is pressed, two or more copies are printed, and when the remaining number copy instruction key is pressed, only the remaining number of copies excluding the trial copy number is displayed. It may be printed.

  (B) In the above embodiment, a print instruction button for a print instruction may be displayed on the display unit separately from the start key. Then, for example, this print instruction button may be displayed on the setting confirmation screen so that all the numbers can be printed at once without performing a test copy.

  (C) In the above embodiment, when trial copying is performed a plurality of times, for example, when a desired printed matter can be obtained by appropriately combining a part of the printed matter resulting from a plurality of trial printings, It may be configured such that the remaining number of copies can be printed by removing only the number of copies of the printed matter obtained as a result of such a combination.

1 is a perspective view showing a part of an image forming apparatus in which an embodiment of the present invention is adopted. FIG. 2 is a block diagram schematically showing a configuration of the image forming apparatus. The top view which shows the setting screen. The top view which shows the setting confirmation screen. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an operation of the image forming apparatus.

Explanation of symbols

1 Image forming apparatus 3 Operation panel (setting operation unit)
5 Control unit 7 Image processing unit 9 Post-processing unit 15 Display unit 23 Setting confirmation screen

Claims (4)

An image forming apparatus that can be set in combination with a plurality of functions that are executed along with printing and that can perform test printing according to the setting contents,
The test print according to the setting contents displayed on the setting confirmation screen when the setting confirmation screen is displayed on the display section and has a display section capable of displaying a setting confirmation screen listing and showing the setting contents A setting operation unit capable of instructing
A processing unit that performs the test printing according to the setting content when the test printing is instructed;
An image forming apparatus.   2. The image according to claim 1, wherein the setting operation unit can instruct the remaining number of copies to be printed by performing the remaining number of copies after the test printing is performed when the multiple copies are instructed. Forming equipment.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the setting operation unit can reset the setting contents when the setting confirmation screen is displayed on the display unit.   Each of the setting confirmation screens can be operated by touching the display unit. The test print instruction key for instructing the trial print, the remaining number of copies print instruction key for instructing the remaining number of copies, and the setting contents. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3, wherein a reset key that enables resetting is displayed together with the setting content.

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