Data transfer apparatus, image forming apparatus, and image reading apparatus

A data transfer apparatus includes a display unit, a touch panel, a storage unit, a data transfer unit, a display controller, and a controller. The display controller causes the display unit to display a list showing names of data transfer destinations stored in the storage unit, when causing the display unit to display a screen urging a user to select a data transfer destination. The controller causes the data transfer unit, when the touch panel receives from the user, in a case where a plurality of the destinations are selected out of the list, a predetermined determination instruction applicable to a data transfer method, with respect to one transfer method selected for one selected destination, to transfer the data to the selected destinations, using the one transfer method as the method of the data transfer to other destinations than the one destination.

INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

This application claims priority to Japanese Patent Application No. 2017-138530 filed on Jul. 14, 2017, the entire contents of which are incorporated by reference herein.

BACKGROUND

The present disclosure relates to a data transfer apparatus configured to present an operation screen to a user and receive an instruction from the user, to thereby transfer data to a designated destination, an image forming apparatus including the data transfer apparatus, and an image reading apparatus including the data transfer apparatus.

The data transfer apparatus incorporated in the image forming apparatus normally has a touch panel function, and an operation status of the apparatus, soft buttons for receiving instructions from the user, and various messages are displayed on the touch panel.

In addition, a data transfer apparatus has been proposed that transfers image data of a source document, for example acquired through a reading operation performed by a document reading unit provided in the image forming apparatus, to a destination designated by the user. For such a data transfer apparatus, a technique to facilitate the use thereof has been proposed, for example by displaying, on the display unit, a list showing a plurality of items of transmission data including names of the destination of the image data and the destination address, and changing the number of pages of the list to be displayed on the display unit, according to the instruction made by the user regarding the destination data, thereby allowing the user to easily and intuitively designate the desired destination.

SUMMARY

The disclosure proposes further improvement of the foregoing technique.

In an aspect, the disclosure provides a data transfer apparatus configured to receive an input of a data transfer destination from a user. The data transfer apparatus includes a display unit, a touch panel, a storage unit, a data transfer unit, a display controller, and a controller. The touch panel is located on a display screen of the display unit, and configured to receive an instruction of the user. The storage unit contains, beforehand, a name of the data transfer destination in association with each transfer destination address of each type of methods of the data transfer. The data transfer unit transfers the data to the data transfer destination. The display controller controls an operation of the display unit, and causes the display unit, when the touch panel receives a data transfer instruction from the user, to display a screen urging the user to select the data transfer destination and the method of the data transfer to the destination. The controller causes the data transfer unit, when the touch panel receives the instruction from the user to select the data transfer destination and the method of the data transfer to the destination, to transfer the data to the selected destination, by the selected transfer method. The display controller causes the display unit to display a list showing a plurality of the names of a plurality of the destinations stored in the storage unit, when causing the display unit to display the screen urging the user to select the data transfer destination. The controller causes the data transfer unit, when the touch panel receives from the user, in a case where the plurality of the destinations are selected out of the list, a predetermined determination instruction applicable to the data transfer method, with respect to one transfer method selected for one selected destination, to transfer the data to the selected destinations, using the one transfer method as the method of the data transfer to other destinations than the one destination.

In another aspect, the disclosure provides an image forming apparatus including the foregoing data transfer apparatus, and an image forming unit that forms an image on a recording medium.

In still another aspect, the disclosure provides an image reading apparatus including the foregoing data transfer apparatus, and a document reading unit that reads a source document. The data transfer apparatus is configured to transfer image data of the source document acquired through a reading operation of the document reading unit.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Hereafter, a data transfer apparatus according to an embodiment of the disclosure, an image forming apparatus including the data transfer apparatus, and an image reading apparatus including the image forming apparatus will be described, with reference to the drawings.FIG. 1is a perspective view showing the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the disclosure.

The image forming apparatus1according to the embodiment may be, for example, an electrophotographic image forming apparatus that utilizes a toner as developing agent, or an ink jet printer that utilizes ink. The image forming apparatus1includes a display unit21and a touch panel22, formed as an integral component, located on the front face of the main body. The image forming apparatus1is a multifunction peripheral configured to execute a plurality of functions including, for example, a copying function, a printing function, a scanning function, and a facsimile function.

The display unit21includes a display screen, for example constituted of a liquid crystal display (LCD), to display operation procedures, messages, and operation buttons (soft buttons) under control of a display controller to be subsequently described.

The touch panel22is located on the display screen of the display unit21, and unified with the display unit21. The touch panel22is utilized to receive an instruction from the user. The touch panel22, for example including a resistive film, detects the position (coordinate) where the user has contacted, and outputs the coordinate to a control unit10to be subsequently described. The control unit10identifies the position where the user has made the contact, on the basis of the position information outputted from the touch panel22, and performs the operation accordingly.

In addition, operation buttons including hard buttons such as a start button23, an on/off button, a stop/clear button, and a numeric keypad are provided in the vicinity of the display unit21and the touch panel22. These operation buttons are used to input the instruction from the user, by being pressed by the user. For example, the start button23is used to input, upon being pressed by the user, the instruction to start the operation of various functions such as copying and scanning (reading).

FIG. 2is a functional block diagram showing an essential configuration of the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the disclosure. The image forming apparatus1includes a control unit10, the display unit21, the touch panel22, a document reading unit31, an image forming unit32, a storage unit41, a communication interface51, and a facsimile communicator52. A data transfer apparatus60includes the display unit21, the touch panel22, the control unit10, the storage unit41, the communication interface51, and the facsimile communicator52. An image reading apparatus70includes the data transfer apparatus60and the document reading unit31.

In a document reading operation of the image forming apparatus1, the document reading unit31optically reads the image of a source document delivered from a non-illustrated document feeding unit, and generates image data of the source document through the reading operation.

In an image forming (printing) operation of the image forming apparatus1, a controller of the control unit10, to be subsequently described, causes the image forming unit32to perform a printing operation on a recording sheet, exemplifying the recording medium, supplied from a non-illustrated paper cassette, according to the image data generated through the document reading operation, thereby forming the image on the recording sheet.

The document reading unit31includes a non-illustrated reading mechanism having a light emitter and a CCD sensor. The document reading unit31is configured to read an image from the source document by irradiating the source document with the light emitter and receiving the reflected light with the CCD sensor, and to generate image data, under the control of the control unit10.

The image forming unit32forms the image based on, for example, the image data read by the document reading unit32. To be more detailed, when the image forming unit32performs color printing for example, an image forming subunit for magenta, an image forming subunit for cyan, an image forming subunit for yellow, and an image forming subunit for black in the image forming unit32each form a toner image on a photoconductor drum on the basis of the image formed of the corresponding color component, through charging, exposing, and developing processes, and such toner image is transferred onto an intermediate transfer belt (not shown) via a primary transfer roller (not shown).

The toner images of the respective colors are superposed at an adjusted timing when transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt, so as to form a colored toner image. A secondary transfer roller transfers the colored toner image formed on the surface of the intermediate transfer belt onto the recording sheet transported along a transport route from the non-illustrated paper cassette, at a nip region of a drive roller engaged with the intermediate transfer belt. Then a fixing unit fixes the toner image on the recording sheet by thermal compression. The recording sheet having the colored image formed and fixed thereon is discharged to an output tray.

The storage unit41is a large-capacity storage device such as a hard disk drive (HDD) and a solid state drive (SSD). The storage unit41contains, beforehand, names of the image data transfer destination and the addresses of the destination, in association with each other, with respect to each type of the image data transfer method. The storage unit41also includes a storage region41D where the image data is to be written.

The communication interface51includes a communication module such as a LAN board, and performs data communication with information processing devices or the like under the control of the controller, through a network to which the communication interface51is connected. Here, the communication interface51is an example of a data transfer unit50that transfers the image data to the image data transfer destination, and configured to transfer the image data, for example, by communication through the mentioned network, to an external device such as the information processing device, to which an IP address, stored in advance in the storage unit41as destination address, is allocated.

The facsimile communicator52executes the functions necessary for the facsimile communication, to transmit and receive the image data to and from an external device such as a facsimile machine, through a public telephone line. The facsimile communicator52is also an example of the data transfer unit50, and transfers the image data by facsimile communication, for example to the external device such as the facsimile machine, to which a facsimile number, stored in advance in the storage unit41as the destination address, is allocated.

The control unit10includes a controller11, a display controller12, a mail communicator13, and a data writer14.

The control unit10includes a processor, a random-access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), and so forth. The processor is, for example, a central processing unit (CPU), a MPU, an ASIC, or the like. The control unit10acts as the controller11, the display controller12, the mail communicator13, and the data writer14, when the processor executes a program stored in the storage unit55. Here, the controller11, the display controller12, the mail communicator13, and the data writer14may each be constituted in the form of a hardware circuit, instead of being performed according to the program. This also applies to other embodiments, unless otherwise specifically noted.

The controller11, which serves to control the overall operation of the image forming apparatus1, is connected to the display unit21, the touch panel22, the document reading unit31, the image forming unit32, the storage unit41, the communication interface51, and the facsimile communicator52, and controls the operation of the mentioned components.

The display controller12is configured to control the displaying operation performed by the display unit51.

The mail communicator13is also an example of the data transfer unit50, and transfers the image data by mail communication, for example to the external device such as the information processing device, to which a mail address, stored in advance in the storage unit41as the destination address, is allocated.

The data writer14is also an example of the data transfer unit50, and transfers the image data, for example by writing the data in the storage region41D of the storage unit41, indicated by position information stored in advance in the storage unit41as the destination address.

The display controller12causes the display unit21, when the touch panel22receives the instruction from the user to transfer the image data, to display a screen urging the user to select the image data transfer destination, and the method of image data transfer to the destination.

The display controller12also causes the display unit21, when causing the display unit21to display the screen urging the user to select the image data transfer destination, to display a list, for example an address book, including the names of the destination stored in the storage unit41.

The controller11causes the data transfer unit50, when the touch panel22receives the instruction from the user to select the image data transfer destination, and the method of image data transfer to the destination, to transfer the image data to the selected destination, by the selected transfer method.

For example, when the touch panel22receives the instruction from the user to select the image data transfer destination, and the mail communication as the image data transfer method, the controller11acquires the mail address of the selected destination from the storage unit41, and causes the mail communicator13to transfer the mail accompanied by the image data, to the external device to which the acquired mail address is allocated.

In addition, when the touch panel22receives the instruction from the user to select the image data transfer destination, and the network communication as the image data transfer method, the controller11acquires the IP address of the selected destination from the storage unit41, and causes the communication interface51to transfer the image data to the external device, to which the acquired IP address is allocated.

Further, when the touch panel22receives the instruction from the user to select the image data transfer destination, and the facsimile communication as the image data transfer method, the controller11acquires the facsimile number of the selected destination from the storage unit41, and causes the facsimile communicator52to transfer the image data to the external device, to which the acquired facsimile number is allocated.

Further, when the touch panel22receives the instruction from the user to select the image data transfer destination, and the data writing as the image data transfer method, the controller11acquires the position information of the selected destination from the storage unit41, and causes the data writer14to write the image data in the storage region41D, indicated by the acquired position information.

Still further, in the case where a plurality of destinations are selected out of the address book (list), the controller11causes, when the touch panel22receives from the user a predetermined determination instruction applicable to the image data transfer method, with respect to one transfer method selected for one selected destination, the data transfer unit50(one of mail communicator13, communication interface51, facsimile communicator52, and data writer14) to transfer the image data to the plurality of destinations, by the one transfer method, without the process through which the user selects the image data transfer method for other destinations than the one destination, on the touch panel22.

The display controller12causes the display unit21to display icons representing the respective transfer methods of the image data, when causing the display unit21to display the screen urging the user to select the method of image data transfer to the destination. For example, the display controller12causes the display unit21to display, as illustrated inFIG. 6to be subsequently referred to, an icon M representing the mail communication, an icon N representing the network communication, an icon F representing the facsimile communication, and an icon S representing the data writing.

When the user presses one of the mentioned icons on the touch panel22, it is decided that the instruction to select the image data transfer method corresponding to the pressed icon has been made. Further, when the user holds down the icon on the touch panel22equal to or longer than a predetermined time (e.g., 10 seconds), it is decided that the predetermined determination instruction has been received, with respect to the image data transfer method corresponding to the icon that has been held down.

When the touch panel22receives the determination instruction with respect to one transfer method of the image data, the display controller12causes the display unit21to display a predetermined lock icon L indicating that the image data transfer method is fixed to the one transfer method, as illustrated inFIG. 7to be subsequently referred to.

In addition, upon causing the display unit21to display the lock icon, the display controller12causes the display unit21to display only the icon corresponding to the one data transfer method fixed by the lock icon.

Further, when the touch panel22receives the determination instruction with respect to one transfer method of the image data, the display controller12causes the display unit21to display, in the address book, only the destinations, the address of which corresponding to the one image data transfer method is stored in the storage unit41.

Referring now toFIG. 3, an operation of the image forming apparatus1according to the embodiment will be described in detail.FIG. 3is a flowchart showing an operation performed by the image forming apparatus. The following description will primarily focus on the case of transferring the image data of a source document, acquired through the reading operation of the document reading unit31in the image forming apparatus1, to a destination selected by the user.

As shown inFIG. 3, the controller11decides whether the touch panel22has received an instruction from the user to transfer the image data (S1). For example, the controller11decides whether the instruction to transfer the image data has been made, by detecting whether a data transfer key22A has been pressed by the user, after the display controller12causes the display unit21to display the screen urging the user to input the instruction, as shown inFIG. 4. Unless a press of the data transfer key22A is detected through the touch panel22(NO at S1), the controller11sets the image forming apparatus1to a standby mode, instead of proceeding to step S2.

In contrast, upon detecting through the touch panel22that the data transfer key22A has been pressed by the user (YES at S1), the controller11decides that the instruction to transfer the image data has been made. Then the display controller12causes the display unit21to display an address book AD, for example as illustrated inFIG. 5(S2). As illustrated inFIG. 5, the address book AD presents a list of the destinations stored in the storage unit41including, for example, “Kyocea”, “KDPD”, “KDA”, and “facsimile machine (home)”.

The address book AD also includes a selection field22B1, for allowing the user to select “Kyocea” as the destination. Likewise, the address book AD includes a selection field22B2corresponding to “KDPD”, a selection field22B3corresponding to “KDA”, and a selection field22B4corresponding to “facsimile machine (home)”. Then when the pressing of the user, for example on the selection field22B1, is detected through the touch panel22, the display controller12causes the display unit21to display the icons each representing the transfer method capable of transferring the image data, on the basis of the address of “Kyocea” stored in the storage unit41, with respect to each type of the transfer method, as will be subsequently described in further detail. Thus, the display controller12causes the display unit21to display the screen urging the user to select the image data transfer destination, and the method of image data transfer to the destination, by presenting the address book AD to the user. Here, the address book AD also includes the name of the image data to be transferred, for example “Document 1.pdf”, as illustrated in the display screen ofFIG. 5.

The controller11then decides whether the touch panel22has received an instruction from the user to select the image data transfer destination (S3). For example, unless a press of any of the selection fields22B1to22B4shown in the display screen ofFIG. 5is detected through the touch panel22(NO at S3), the controller11sets the image forming apparatus1to the standby mode, instead of proceeding to step S4.

In contrast, upon detecting through the touch panel22that one of the selection fields22B1to22B4has been pressed by the user (YES at S3), the controller11decides that the image data transfer destination has been selected by the user. The display controller12also looks up the storage unit41, to thereby cause the display unit21to display the method of image data transfer to the selected destination (S4). For example, the display controller12recognizes, when the selection of the selection field22B1by the user is detected through the touch panel22, as indicated by hatching in the display screen ofFIG. 6, that the addresses, such as the mail address, the IP address, the facsimile number, and the position information of the destination “Kyocea” corresponding to the selection field22B1, are stored in the storage unit41. Then the display controller12causes the display unit21to display the selection field22D including the icon M representing the mail communication, the icon N representing the network communication, the icon F representing the facsimile communication, and the icon S representing the data writing, as illustrated in the display screen ofFIG. 6, to allow the user to select the image data transfer method, through the selection field22D.

The controller11then decides whether the touch panel22has received the instruction from the user to select the image data transfer method (S5). For example, in the case where the selection of any of the icon M, the icon N, the icon F, and the icon S in the selection field22D has not been detected through the touch panel22(NO at S5), the controller11sets the image forming apparatus1to the standby mode, instead of proceeding to step S6.

In contrast, upon detecting through the touch panel22that one of the icon M, the icon N, the icon F, and the icon S has been pressed by the user (YES at S5), the controller11decides that the image data transfer method has been selected by the user. Further, the controller11detects whether the user has held down, on the touch panel22, one of the icon M, the icon N, the icon F, and the icon S equal to or longer than the predetermined time, thereby deciding whether the touch panel22has received the determination instruction with respect to the image data transfer method (S6).

Unless the controller11detects through the touch panel22that the user has held down any of the icon M, the icon N, the icon F, and the icon S equal to or longer than the predetermined time (NO at S6), the controller11decides that the user has not inputted the determination instruction. The controller11then decides whether the user has instructed to transfer the image data (S7). For example, the controller11detects whether the user has pressed the start key22C on the touch panel22, in the display screen illustrated inFIG. 6, thereby deciding whether the user has instructed to transfer the image data.

Unless the press of the start key22C by the user is detected through the touch panel22(NO at S7), the controller11returns to step S3and repeats the same operation. In contrast, upon detecting through the touch panel22that the user has pressed the start key22C (YES at S7), the controller11proceeds to step S13, which will be subsequently described.

Further, in the case where the controller11detects through the touch panel22that the user has held down one of the icon M, the icon N, the icon F, and the icon S equal to or longer than the predetermined time (YES at S6), the controller11decides that the user has inputted the determination instruction. For example, when the controller11detects through the touch panel22that the user has held down the icon M equal to or longer than the predetermined time, the controller11decides that the user has instructed to transfer the image data by mail communication, to the destination “Kyocea” selected at step S3and, further, that the user has instructed to fix the transfer method of the image data to the destination to be thereafter selected by the user, to the mail communication. Then the display controller12causes the display unit21to display the predetermined lock icon L, indicating that the image data transfer method is fixed to the mail communication according to the determination instruction made at step S6, in the vicinity of the selection field22D, for example as shown inFIG. 7(S8). Further, upon causing the display unit21to display the lock icon L as illustrated in the display screen ofFIG. 7, the display controller12also causes the display unit21to display only the icon M, representing the mail communication which is the fixed method indicated by the lock icon L, in the selection field22D in the display screen.

Thereafter, the display controller12causes the display unit21to update the display of the address book AD (S9). For example, the display controller12looks up the storage unit41, and displays only the destinations, the mail address of which, corresponding to the mail communication designated by the determination instruction at step S6, is stored in the storage unit41, out of the destinations stored in the storage unit41(i.e., destinations included in the address book AD). In other words, the display controller12erases “facsimile machine (home)”, the mail address of which is not stored in the storage unit41, from selection field22B4in the address book AD, for example as shown in the display screen ofFIG. 7, and restricts the destination “facsimile machine (home)” from being displayed, in the address book AD that has been updated.

Then the controller11decides whether the user has selected an additional image data transfer destination (S10). For example, the controller11detects whether the selection field22B2or the selection field22B3has been selected by the user, thereby deciding whether the image data transfer destination has been added. Upon detecting through the touch panel22that, for example, the selection field22B2has been selected by the user, as hatched in the display screen shown inFIG. 8(YES at S10), the controller11decides that the destination “KDPD” pressed in the selection field22B2has been selected as the image data transfer destination. Then the controller11determines that the mail communication, designated by the determination instruction at step S6, is adopted as the method of image data transfer to the destination “KDPD”, without the process through which the user selects the image data transfer method, on the touch panel22(S11). The display controller12causes the display unit21to display the icon M and the lock icon L, and the process returns to step S10and the same operation is repeated.

In the case where the user has not selected either of the selection field22B2and the selection field22B3on the touch panel22(NO at S10), the controller11detects whether the user has pressed the start key22C on the touch panel22, thereby deciding whether the user has instructed to transfer the image data (S12).

In the case where the user has not pressed the start key22C on the touch panel22(NO at S12), the controller11sets the image forming apparatus1to the standby mode, instead of proceeding to step S13.

In contrast, in the case where the user has pressed the start key22C on the touch panel22(YES at S12), the controller11executes the transfer of the image data, to the destination selected at step S3by the transfer method selected at step S5, or to the destinations selected at steps S3and S10by the transfer method designated by the determination instruction at step S6(S13). Thus, in the case where the plurality of destinations are selected out of the address book AD, the controller11causes, when the touch panel22receives from the user the predetermined determination instruction applicable to the image data transfer method, with respect to one transfer method selected for one selected destination, the data transfer unit50to transfer the image data to the plurality of destinations, using the one transfer method as the method of image data transfer to other destinations than the one destination.

According to the embodiment, as described thus far, the storage unit41contains, beforehand, the names of the image data transfer destination and the destination addresses in association with each other, with respect to each type of a method of image data transfer. The display controller12causes the display unit21to display the address book AD including the names of the image data transfer destination stored in the storage unit, when causing the display unit21to display the screen urging the user to select the image data transfer destination. In the case where a plurality of destinations are selected out of the address book AD, the controller11causes, when the touch panel22receives from the user the predetermined determination instruction applicable to the image data transfer method, with respect to one transfer method selected for one selected destination, the data transfer unit50to transfer the image data to the plurality of destinations, using the one transfer method as the method of image data transfer to other destinations than the one destination. The mentioned arrangement according to the embodiment alleviates the burden on the user in the process of transferring the image data to a plurality of destinations, unlike the existing techniques according to the related art.

The existing image forming apparatuses generally possess a mail communication function, a network communication function, and a facsimile communication function, and are configured to transfer the image data to an external device using one of the mentioned communication functions, or transfer the image data to the storage region provided in the storage unit, for example a HDD, in the image forming apparatus, by writing the image data in the storage region.

However, with the mentioned technique of the related art, the user has to input the transfer method in the data transfer apparatus for each of the destinations, when the image data is to be transferred to the plurality of destinations. Therefore, it is difficult to alleviate the burden on the user, with the technique according to the related art.

In contrast, the arrangement according to the embodiment alleviates the burden on the user in the process of transferring the image data to a plurality of destinations.

In addition, data transfer unit50according to the embodiment includes the mail communicator13, the communication interface51, the facsimile communicator52, and the data writer14. Accordingly, in the case where, for example, the mail address, the IP address, the facsimile number, and the position information of the storage region41D are stored in the storage unit41as the address of the destination, the user can select any of the mail communication, the network communication, the facsimile communication, and the data writing, as the transfer method of the image data. Therefore, improved user-friendliness can be provided to the user.

According to the embodiment, the display controller12causes the display unit21to display the icon M, the icon N, the icon F, or the icon S representing the type of the transfer method of the image data, when causing the display unit21to display the screen urging the user to select the method of image data transfer to the destination. In addition, when it is detected through the touch panel22that the user has pressed one of the icon M, the icon N, the icon F, and the icon S, it is decided that the instruction to select the image data transfer method, corresponding to the icon pressed by the user, has been inputted. Further, when it is detected through the touch panel22that the user has held down one of the icon M, the icon N, the icon F, and the icon S equal to or longer than the predetermined time, it is decided that the determination instruction has been inputted, for the image data transfer method corresponding to the icon that has been held down. Since different icons are thus displayed on the display unit21in accordance with the type of the image data transfer method, the user can easily select and input the image data transfer method.

According to the embodiment, in addition, when the touch panel22receives the determination instruction with respect to one of the transfer methods of the image data, the display controller12causes the display unit21to display the lock icon L indicating that the image data transfer method is fixed to the one designated by the determination instruction. Such an arrangement facilitates the user to visually recognize that the image data transfer method is fixed.

Further, according to the embodiment, upon causing the display unit21to display the lock icon L, the display controller12causes the display unit21to display only the icon representing the transfer method of the image data, which is the fixed method indicated by the lock icon L. Such an arrangement facilitates the user to visually recognize the type of the image data transfer method that has been fixed.

According to the embodiment, still further, when the touch panel22receives the determination instruction with respect to one transfer method of the image data, the display controller12causes the display unit21to display, in the address book AD, only the destinations, the address of which corresponding to the one image data transfer method is stored in the storage unit41. Such an arrangement allows the user to easily and properly input the selection of the destination.

The configurations and processings described with reference toFIG. 1toFIG. 8are merely exemplary, and in no way intended to limit the disclosure to those configurations and processings.