JP2009130815A - Image processing device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image processing device of which a desired function can be easily selected among a plurality of functions displayed on an operation screen. <P>SOLUTION: A plurality of icons 65 related to a special function in a selected mode are arranged and displayed in a display section of an operation panel as an operation screen 63. The icon 65 is a graphical symbol representing a finished form obtained by performing the special function. A user looks for the icon 65 of the desired special function among the icons 65 which are displayed as pictures and operates the icon 65. The instructed special function is performed. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus that executes various functions such as copying, printing, and facsimile communication.

  In an image processing apparatus such as a digital multi-function peripheral, a function selected from a plurality of functions such as copying, printing, and facsimile communication is executed by a user operation. The image processing apparatus includes an operation panel so that a user can perform an input operation. The operation panel is provided with a display unit including a touch panel display. On this display section, icons representing each function in characters are displayed. When the user touches the icon, the function is executed.

By executing detailed settings when executing the selected function, the special function is executed, and an image can be output in a form desired by the user. Here, Patent Document 1 describes an input display method for improving user operability. In setting the processing conditions, the user operates the processing condition keys indicated by the characters displayed on the screen of the display unit to display the lower processing conditions as icons on the screen. Then, the user drags a predetermined icon and moves it onto the copy finished form icon. As a result, the processing conditions are set and the set contents are displayed as a picture.
JP 2002-84389 A

  On the screen of the display unit, icons for individual processing conditions are displayed as pictures. For example, in the staple processing, a picture of a staple needle is displayed. However, the binding margin picture and the frame eraser picture are very similar. When a plurality of such icons are displayed, it is difficult for the user to find an icon having a desired function at a glance.

  In view of the above, an object of the present invention is to provide an image processing apparatus in which a user can easily select a desired function from a plurality of functions.

  The present invention is an image processing apparatus that processes and outputs an image according to a function selected from a plurality of functions, and includes a display unit that displays an operation screen for selecting a function. Is to display an icon representing the finished form when the function is executed on the operation screen.

  On the operation screen, the user sees an icon with a picture of the finished form. If the user looks at the icon, the icon for the desired function is immediately known.

  The function displayed by the icon is a special function that is used less frequently than the main function. The special function is a function related to copying or a function related to post-processing. Since special functions are not frequently used, it is difficult to understand what they are even if the name of the function is displayed on the operation screen. Therefore, if the finished form of special functions is displayed as a picture, the contents can be understood at a glance.

  The display unit displays a plurality of icons side by side on one operation screen, and displays other icons by switching the operation screen. That is, a limited number of icons are displayed on one operation screen. Therefore, the icon is displayed in a large size so that the user can easily see it. When there are many special functions, a desired function can be found by sequentially switching the operation screen. When the user finds an icon for a desired function and operates the icon, the display unit displays a detailed setting screen for the selected function.

  A control unit that controls the display unit, the control unit controls the display unit to display a function selection button for calling the operation screen on the initial screen, and when the function selection button is operated, the control unit, Display the operation screen.

  On the initial screen, icons of main functions are usually displayed. When the user wants to execute a desired function, he / she operates a function selection button displayed on the initial screen. Then, a display part displays the operation screen of the icon displayed as a picture. The user can select a desired function from this operation screen.

  According to the present invention, when a user wants to execute a desired function, the desired function can be easily selected from the operation screen by searching for an icon whose finished form is displayed as a picture. Therefore, the operability from the operation screen is improved, and a user-friendly display unit can be provided.

  1 and 2 show a digital multi-function peripheral which is an embodiment of an image processing apparatus of the present invention. In this digital multi-function peripheral, a copy mode in which an image of a document is read and printed on a recording sheet, a facsimile mode in which an image of a document is read and transmitted, or an image is received from a telephone line and printed on a recording sheet, and an information terminal device A printer mode for printing an image received from a network via a network on a recording sheet is selectively performed. The multi-function peripheral includes a document conveyance reading unit 2, an image forming unit 3, a paper feeding unit 4, and a post-processing device 5. The multi-function device is connected to a network and a telephone line, and can communicate with an information terminal device such as a personal computer, a facsimile device, and other image processing devices. The multifunction machine includes a USB interface 7 through which data is transmitted to and received from an external storage medium.

  Next, taking the copy mode as an example, the operation of the multifunction peripheral will be described. First, when the user sets a document on the document set tray 11 of the document conveyance reading unit 2, the document detection sensor 12 detects that the document is set. Then, the user operates the operation panel 13 of the document conveying / reading unit 2 to input and set the print paper size, magnification, and the like. Thereafter, the start key operation on the operation panel 13 is instructed to start copying.

  In response to these operations, in the document conveyance reading unit 2, the pickup roller 13 pulls out each document on the document set tray 11 one by one. The document is sent out to the platen glass 16 through the gap plate 14 and the conveying roller 15. The document is conveyed in the sub-scanning direction on the platen glass 16 and discharged to the document discharge tray 17.

  At this time, the first reading unit 21 reads the surface (lower side) of the document. The first scanning unit 23 of the first reading unit 21 is moved and positioned at the reading position, and the second scanning unit 24 is positioned at a predetermined position. The exposure lamp of the first scanning unit 23 irradiates the surface of the document through the platen glass 16. The reflected light of the document is guided to the imaging lens 26 by the reflecting mirrors of the first and second traveling units 23 and 24. Then, the reflected light is condensed on a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) 27 by the imaging lens 26, and an image on the surface of the document is formed on the CCD 27. Thereby, the image on the surface of the document is read.

  The second reading unit 22 reads the back surface (upper side surface) of the conveyed document. The second reading unit 22 is disposed above the platen glass 16, and includes an LED array that irradiates the back surface of the document, an exposure lamp such as a fluorescent lamp, a selfoc lens array that collects reflected light of the document for each pixel, And a contact image sensor (CIS) that photoelectrically converts the reflected light of the document received through the SELFOC lens array and outputs an analog image signal.

  When the user opens the upper housing of the document conveyance reading unit 2 and places the document on the platen glass 16, the first reading unit 21 reads the surface of the document. At this time, the first and second scanning units 23 and 24 move in the sub-scanning direction while maintaining a predetermined speed relationship with each other. The original on the platen glass 16 is exposed by the first scanning unit 23, reflected light from the original is guided to the imaging lens 26 by the first and second scanning units 23, 24, and the image of the original is converted by the imaging lens 26. An image is formed on the CCD 27.

  When one or both sides of the document are read in this way, the image data from the document conveyance reading unit 2 is input to a control unit such as a microcomputer. The control unit performs various types of image processing on the image data and outputs the image data to the image forming unit 3.

  The image forming unit 3 prints an image of a document indicated by image data on a recording sheet. The image forming unit 3 is a photosensitive drum 31, a charging device 32, a laser scanning unit (hereinafter referred to as LSU) 33, a developing device 34, a transfer device. A device 35, a cleaning device 36, a static eliminator (not shown), a fixing device 37, and the like are provided.

  The image forming unit 3 is provided with a main conveyance path 38 and a reverse conveyance path 39, and the recording sheet fed from the sheet feeding unit 4 is conveyed along the main conveyance path 38. The paper feeding unit 4 pulls out the recording paper stored in the paper cassette 41 or the recording paper placed on the manual feed tray 42 one by one, and sends the recording paper to the main conveyance path 38 of the image forming unit 3. .

  While the recording paper is being conveyed along the main conveyance path 38 of the image forming unit 3, the recording paper passes between the photosensitive drum 31 and the transfer device 35 and further passes through the fixing device 37. Printing on the recording paper is performed.

  The photosensitive drum 31 rotates in one direction. The surface of the photosensitive drum 31 is uniformly charged by the charging device 32 after being cleaned by the cleaning device 36 and the static eliminator. The laser scanning unit 33 modulates the laser beam based on the image data from the document conveying / reading unit 2 and repeatedly scans the surface of the photosensitive drum 31 in the main scanning direction with the laser beam. An electrostatic latent image is formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 31. The developing device 34 supplies toner to the surface of the photosensitive drum 31 to develop the electrostatic latent image. A toner image is formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 31. The transfer device 35 transfers the toner image on the surface of the photosensitive drum 31 onto a recording sheet passing between the photosensitive drum 31 and the transfer device 35. The fixing device 37 heats and pressurizes the recording paper to fix the toner image on the recording paper.

  A branch claw 43 is rotatably provided at a connection position between the main conveyance path 38 and the reverse conveyance path 39. The conveyance direction of the recording paper is switched depending on the posture of the branching claw 43. When printing is performed only on one side of the recording paper, the branching claw 43 assumes the posture shown in FIG. 2, and the recording paper from the fixing device 37 is guided to the paper discharge tray 44 or the post-processing device 5.

  When printing is performed on both sides of the recording paper, the branching claw 43 rotates and the recording paper is guided to the reverse conveyance path 39. The recording sheet passes through the reverse conveyance path 39, is turned upside down, and is conveyed again to the main conveyance path 38. During the conveyance of the main conveyance path 38, printing on the back surface of the recording paper is performed, and the recording paper is guided to the paper discharge tray 44 or the post-processing device 5.

  Then, the printed recording paper is discharged to the paper discharge tray 44 or is discharged to any one of the paper discharge trays 5a of the post-processing device 5.

  The post-processing device 5 performs post-processing on the recording paper such as sorting and discharging a plurality of recording papers to the respective paper discharge trays 5a, punching each recording paper, and stapling each recording paper. For example, when creating a plurality of printed materials, each recording sheet is sorted and discharged to each paper discharge tray 5a so that a part of the printed material is allocated to each paper discharge tray 5a. For each paper discharge tray 5a, each recording sheet on the paper discharge tray 5a is subjected to punching processing and stapling processing to create a printed matter.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the image processing apparatus includes a control unit 50 that controls the document conveyance reading unit 2, the image forming unit 3, the paper feeding unit 4, and the post-processing device 5. The control unit 50 also controls a communication unit 51 for performing communication through a network or a telephone line. When the control unit 50 controls each unit, a copy mode, a facsimile mode, a printer mode, and a document filing mode for storing an input image are executed.

  The image processing apparatus is provided with an operation panel 13 so that a user can perform an input operation. The operation panel 13 includes a display unit 52 that displays an operation screen, and an input unit 53 on which a user performs an input operation.

  The input unit 53 includes a fixed key. The display unit 52 is a touch panel display, and an input operation on the screen is possible. Therefore, this touch panel is one of the input units 53.

  When the user operates the input unit 53, the control unit 50 receives an operation signal output from the input unit 53 and controls the display unit 52 to display an operation screen. And the control part 50 performs the mode which the user instruct | indicated according to the operation signal.

  The display unit 52 displays an operation screen for performing an input operation when executing each mode. The operation screen has a hierarchical structure, and the control unit 50 controls the display unit 52 to switch the operation screen in accordance with a user operation. When the power is turned on or reset, the display unit 52 displays an initial screen. The initial screen is a preset screen and is an operation screen for one mode. For example, an initial screen 60 for the copy mode as shown in FIG. 4 is displayed.

  The initial screen 60 displays a plurality of icons 61 of main functions that are frequently used, such as duplex printing, magnification, and paper. On the icon 61, characters for explaining the function are drawn. When the user performs an operation for selecting a main function on the initial screen 60, an operation screen for performing detailed settings for the selected function is displayed. The user can set conditions for this function.

  Here, in addition to the main functions, there are special functions that are less frequently used. The submenu operation screen 63 for selecting such a special function is a separate screen. On the initial screen 60, an icon of a “special function” button 62 for calling the submenu operation screen 63 is displayed. When the user operates this button 62, a submenu operation screen 63 is displayed.

  Conventionally, a submenu operation screen 63 as shown in FIG. 5 is displayed. A plurality of icons 64 are displayed side by side on the operation screen 63. The name of the special function is displayed on the icon 64 by characters. A model-specific name is used as the name of the special function. Therefore, it is difficult for a general user to select a desired special function from a plurality of displayed names.

  Therefore, in this image processing apparatus, the icon 65 on the submenu operation screen 63 is displayed as a picture. Correspondingly, an icon of a “function selection” button 66 is added to the initial screen 60 as shown in FIG. When the “function selection” button 66 is operated, the control unit 50 displays a sub-menu operation screen 63 for picture display as shown in FIG. The picture of the icon 65 represents the finished form after each special function is executed and the image is processed and output.

  A picture of the icon 65 is created for a special function related to the copy mode and a special function related to post-processing. For example, in the case of the staple function icon 65, the printed recording sheet is a picture bound with staples. In the case of the saddle stitching function icon 65, the recording paper is folded in half, and the center is a picture bound with staples. In this way, a picture that shows the finished state at a glance by executing each special function is displayed. Therefore, the user can recognize a desired special function at a glance and can easily select the special function.

  The initial screen 60 includes a “special function” button 67. The button 67 is used to switch to a submenu operation screen for selecting a function that cannot display a picture. On this operation screen, a character icon similar to the conventional one is displayed.

  A plurality of icons 65 are displayed in a line on the submenu operation screen 63 for picture display. Since not all functions may be displayed on one submenu operation screen 63, a plurality of submenu operation screens 63 are prepared. On the operation screen 63, a feed button 68 for switching to the next screen or the previous screen is displayed. When the user operates the feed button 68, the control unit 50 controls the display unit 52 to switch the operation screen 63. When the display unit 52 switches the operation screen 63, the operation screen 63 in FIG. 6 is switched to the operation screen 63 in FIG.

  Then, when the user operates the icon 65 of a desired function on the sub-menu operation screen 63, the display of the selected icon 65 is changed from the display of the other icons 65 as shown in FIG. When the “OK” button 69 is operated, a detailed function setting screen 70 is displayed as shown in FIG. For example, when the binding margin function is selected, a screen for setting the binding margin position and size is displayed on the detail setting screen 70. By the operation of the “OK” button 71, the setting is completed, and the designated mode including the special function is executed.

  As described above, the user can sensibly recognize a desired function without reading fine characters on the operation screen 63. Therefore, even a user unfamiliar with the operation can easily operate. Thereby, a user interface excellent in operability and visibility can be realized.

  In addition, this invention is not limited to the said embodiment, Of course, many corrections and changes can be added to the said embodiment within the scope of the present invention. In the above-described embodiment, the special function related to the copy mode has been exemplified. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the special function related to other modes of the printer mode and the facsimile mode may be displayed as a picture. The image processing apparatus may be a single machine such as a copying machine or a facsimile machine. The display unit may output screen data of the operation screen to the information terminal device through the network. An icon operation screen represented by a picture is displayed on the screen of the information terminal device. The user selects a special function through the screen of the information terminal device when executing the printer mode.

  The icon picture may be a moving image instead of a still image. A special function will be displayed.

The perspective view of the image processing apparatus of this invention The figure which shows schematic structure of an image processing apparatus Control block diagram of image processing apparatus Figure showing a conventional initial screen Figure showing a conventional operation screen The figure which shows the initial screen of this invention The figure which shows the operation screen of the icon which is displayed picture Figure showing the next screen of the operation screen The figure which shows the operation screen when the icon is selected The figure which shows the detailed setting screen of the special function

Explanation of symbols

50 Control unit 52 Display unit 53 Input unit 60 Initial screen 63 Submenu operation screen 65 Icon 66 Function selection button 68 Feed button 70 Detailed setting screen

Claims (7)

An image processing apparatus that processes and outputs an image according to a function selected from a plurality of functions, and includes a display unit that displays an operation screen for selecting the function. An image processing apparatus that displays an icon representing a finished form when the function is executed. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the function displayed by the icon is a special function that is used less frequently than a main function. The image processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the display unit displays a plurality of icons side by side on one operation screen, and displays other icons by switching the operation screen. The image processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the display unit displays a detailed setting screen when one icon is selected. The image processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the special function is a function related to copying. The image processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the special function is a function related to post-processing. A control unit that controls the display unit, the control unit controls the display unit to display a function selection button for calling the operation screen on the initial screen, and when the function selection button is operated, the control unit, The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an operation screen is displayed.

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