Display device

Abstract: A display device for use in an image forming apparatus includes, a detection system (541) for detecting the condition of the image forming apparatus, a display section (515) for normally displaying a condition message representing the conditions of the image forming apparatus on the basis of the resulting detection by the detection system, and first, second and third input keys (508, 509, 510) for causing respective first, second and third messages to be displayed on the displaying section (515), the message representing a guidance, for oper­ ation procedure of the image forming apparatus.

Description: The present invention relates to a display device for use in an image forming apparatus which is capable of performing an image forming operation and is also capable of performing an image forming operation with one or more of a plurality of different operation procedures, the apparatus also having means for detecting the condition of the apparatus. There has recently been much progress in copying machines, for example, in the variety of operation procedures which are available, but the method of operation of these machines and the procedures to follow if problems occur have become complex. This has meant that until the user becomes used to the apparatus the user must refer to an instruction manual each time he or she carries out an operation and problems result, such as wasted copying, because of mistaken operational procedure. The present invention seeks to provide a display device for use in an image forming apparatus, which permits the user to carry out required operations simply but surely without consulting an instruction manual, etc., each time and which also eliminates waste due to incorrect operations. From GB-A-2077190 a display device similar to that to which the present invention relates is known. The display device comprises input keys grouped in a keyboard. These keys correspond to specific operation procedures in the sense that it is by actuation of said keys that specific operation of the apparatus with a desired operation procedure can be set by a user. There is also a manual guide key (OK) which is operable by the user. However, this key is not optionally operable by the user to obtain guidance in the selection of the input keys. EP-A-0030160 also discloses an image forming apparatus and this apparatus has a user interface device. The apparatus is capable of performing its image forming operation with a plurality of different operation procedures. The user interface device includes an ASSIST button and when this is touched a frame of instructions appear to assist the user in using the system but this ASSIST button does not help the user by introducing messages which the user can answer by either YES or NO to help in the selection of the operation procedure of the apparatus. According to the present invention there is a display device for use in an image forming apparatus which is capable of performing an image forming operation and is also capable of performing an image forming operation with one or more of a plurality of different operation procedures, said apparatus also having means for detecting the condition of the apparatus, the device comprises a plurality of input keys each of which corresponds to a respective one of said operation procedures and which on being operated by a user permits the apparatus to perform an image forming operation with that operation procedure; a start key for causing the apparatus to start an image forming operation; display means which normally displays a message representing the detected condition of the apparatus; a manual guide key which is operable by the user when guidance is required in the selection of the input keys and which on being operated causes the display means to display a first message in the form of a question, and a manual NO key and a manual YES key which are operable to answer the question negatively or positively respectively, said NO key on being operated to answer the first message causes the display means to display a different first message which is also in the form of a question, said first message relating to the selection of the operation procedure of the apparatus, and said YES key on being operated to answer a first message causes the display means to display a second message relating to a subsequent step in the selection of the operation procedure of the apparatus. A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example, and with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure 1 is a plan view of a control panel; Figure 2 is a block diagram showing a control circuit; Figure 3 through Figure 6 are flowcharts for explaining the operations; Figures 7A and 7B are flowcharts for more detail explaining the operations: Figure 8 is an external perspective view of a copying machine; Figure 9 si a schematic front view, in longitudinal section, of the copying machine; Figure 10 is a schematic front view, in longitudinal section, of the copying machine main body: An embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the attached drawings. Figure 8 and Figure 9 show a copying machine by way of an example of an image formation apparatus in which a display device according to the invention may be employed. 1 is a copying machine main body and 2 is a direction-change unit by which, depending on requirements, copy paper P fed out from a feed-out section of copying machine main body 1 can be received and can be retuned again to copying machine main body either as it is or after it has been turned upside down, so as to permit multiple image formation thereon or formation of images on both sides thereof and which also serves as a stand on which copying machine main body 1 is stood, 3 is an automatic original document feed unit which effects automatic supply of original documents 0 onto the upper surface of copying machine main body 1. Copying machine main body 1 has a construction as shown in Figure 10. 4 is a housing on whose upper surface there is provided an original document support 5 able to carry an original document 0 supplied by automatic original document feed unit 3 and at the upper-surface front edge portion of which there is provided a control panel 6, which will be described below with reference to Figure 1. Paper supply cassettes 7, 8 and 9 are fitted on a right-hand surface portion of housing 4. The cassette cover 10 of upper-stage paper supply cassette 7 defines a manually inserted paper supply block 11 for supply of copy paper P by appropriate manual insertion. A photosensitive drum 12 is disposed in a generally central portion of housing 4, and a charging unit 13, optical exposure apparatus 14, a two-colour development apparatus 15 that is described later, a transfer unit 16, a peel-off unit 17, a cleaning unit 18 and a residual image removal unit 19 are successively disposed around the periphery of photosensitive drum 12. In a lower portion inside housing 4, there is defined a copy paper P transport path 23 via which copy paper P supplied from an automatic paper supply unit 20 in which paper supply cassettes 7, 8 and 9 are mounted, copy paper P supplied by manual insertion from manually inserted paper supply block 11 and copy paper P introduced from direction-change unit 2 is led between transfer unit 16 and an image transfer section 21 to a feed-out section 22 provided on a left-hand surface portion of housing 4. Registration rollers 24 are provided on the side of copy paper P path 23 that is upstream of image transfer section 21 and a fixing unit 25 and paper feed-out rollers 26 are provided on the downstream side. Control panel 6 has a construction as shown in Figure 1. 501 is a print key for causing execution of photocopying operation, 502 is an energy saver key for setting the copying machine in a preheat state, 503 is an interrupt key for setting an interrupt mode in order to effect interrupt copying. 504 is a total counter key which is depressed when it is required to check the total number of copies, 505 are number keys for setting the number of copies, etc., 506 are color selection keys for selecting the colour of copies, 507 are operation guide keys which are depressed when operational procedure is not known, 511 are magnification-change keys for setting the degree of magnification of copies and 515 is a 1st display section which gives a message displaying of a guidance for operation procedure or of the copying machine condition and displays the set number of copies and magnification. Operation guide keys 507 consist of a HELP key 508, a YES key 509 and NO key 510, the arrangement being that when HELP key 508 is pressed, a question appears in 1st display section 515 and the user proceeds to a subsequent stop by using YES key 509 or NO key 510 to reply to the question. Magnification-change keys 511 consist of an equal magnification (100%) key 512 which is pressed when it is required to set same-size copy magnification, an enlargement (154%) key 513 which is pressed when it is required to increase the copy magnification and a reduction (65%) key 514 which is pressed. When it is required to make the copy magnification smaller. Enlargement key 513 and reduction key 514 permit the copy magnification to be set in 1% steps in the range 65% - 154%. 1st display section 515 normally gives a message displaying of the condition of the copying machine. For example, it displays the message "WAIT WARMING UP", "READY", "COPYING" or "REPLENISH PAPERS" in correspondence to the status at that particular time. If, for example, "READY", is displayed, a set photocopying operation can be effected by specifying the number of copies by means of number keys 505, specifying the copy magnification by means of magnification-change keys 511, specifying the copying mode by means of a mode setting key 524 that is described later, and then pressing copy key 501. 516 is an original document size key for specifying the original document size, 517 is a copy paper size key for selecting the copy paper size, 518 is a cassette selection key for selecting the lower cassette, 519 is a 2nd display section for indicating a copying machine malfunction, etc., 520 are manual exposure keys for setting the copy density manually, 521 is an automatic exposure key for automatic setting of the copy density, 522 is a margin shift key which is pressed when a binding rnargin is needed and 523 is an edge eraser key which is pressed when a blank space is required in a copied image. 524 is a mode setting key for setting the copying mode. Depression of mode setting key 524 causes mode display lamps 525 - 528 to light up in succession and changes the copying mode. Mode display lamp 525 is a display lamp for a double copy mode in which 1st and 2nd copies are superimposed on the surface of a single sheet of copy paper. Mode display lamp 526 is a display lamp for a single original document, both-side copying mode in which a 1st copying operation is effected on the top side of a sheet of copy paper and a 2nd copying operation is effected on the rear side of the same sheet. Mode display lamp 527 is a display lamp for a two original documents, both-side copying mode in which two original documents are set on original document support 5, the 1st original document is copied on the top side of a sheet of copy paper and the 2nd original document is copied on the rear side of the same sheet of copy paper. Mode display lamp 528 is a display lamp for a two-side book copying mode in which the 1st page of a book is copied on the top surface of a 1st sheet of copy paper, the 2nd page is copied on the top side of a 2nd sheet of copy paper and the 3rd page is copied on the rear side of the 2nd sheet of copy paper. There is also a book copying mode key 529 and a book copying mode display lamp 530. In this mode, the 1st page of a book is copied on the top surface of a 1st sheet of copy paper and the 2nd page is copied on the top surface of a 2nd sheet of copy paper. Figure 2 shows a control circuit. 541 is an input device for detecting statuses in the copying machine, e.g., of various sensors, switches or key switches on the control panel, etc. and 542 is its input port. 543 is an output device for the exposure lamp, the fixing unit's heater, the high voltage sources of the various chargers and various motors, etc. and 544 is its output port. 545 is a main processor which effects overall control of the copying machine and is connected to input port 542 and output port 544 by a data bus 546. 547 is a subprocessor which is responsible for textual displays. In more detail, a ROM (Read-Only Memory) 548 stores execution subprograms together with character patterns and text data and is connected to subprocessor 547 by a data bus 549. Texts that are to be displayed are supplied in code from main processor 545 to subprocessor 547 via data bus 549 and subprocessor 547 displays a text in accordance with this input. When a text code is to be sent, main processor 545 uses an interrupt signal 550 to notify subprocessor 547 that is it about to send data. On receipt of this, subprocessor 547 informs main processor 545 by means of a response signal 551 that it is able to receive data and reads in data that has been set in data bus 549. 1st display section uses fluorescent display tubes for, e.g., 40 places one place being constituted by 5 x 7, or a total of 35 dots. The fluorescent display tubes are electronic triodes in which a cathode, grid and anode are sealed in a high vacuum glass container and thermoelectrons emitted from the cathode are accelerated by positive voltages imposed on the grid and anode and excite and cause emission of light by a phosphor coated on the anode, it thus being possible to display required numeral, letters or symbols by selective imposition of voltage on anodes and grids. On the grid side, there is provided a shift register 533 that is connected to subprocessor 547 by a data bus 552, and a grid driver 554 scans successive grids, one place at a time. On the anode side, there is provided a latch circuit 555 that is connected to subprocessor 547 by data bus 552. Data for 40 places of 35 dots per place is latched in latch circuit 555, and an anode driver 556 acts on all the places to effect display of this data for 40 places. Next, the operation in a configuration as described above will be described with reference to the flowcharts shown in Figures 3 through 6. Figure 3 is the flowchart for the case where HELP key 508 has been depressed while the copying machine status is displayed in 1st display section 515. Depression of HELP key 508 when "READY" is displayed results in display of the question "USING COPIER CONTROL KEYS?". If, now, the user presses NO key 510, the question "MAKING COLOUR COPYING?" is displayed. Subsequently, the content of the question changes each time NO key 510 is pressed, until finally there is a return to the textual display "READY". Pressing YES key 509 in response to any of the questions results in display of more detailed questions or of the operational procedure relating to the item concerned. 1 ○ - 2 ○ in Figure 3 correspond to this situation. A description of case 1 ○ will be given here by way of example. If, for example, NO key 510 is depressed in response to written display of the question "ENLARGE REDUCE-SIZE COPIES?", a written display of the question "MAKING DUPLEX (2 SIDE) COPIES?" appears, and subsequently the content of the question changes each time NO key 510 is depressed, until finally there is a return to the textual display "READY". Pressing YES key 509 in response to any of the questions results in display of more detailed questions or of the operational procedure relating to the item concerned. 4 ○ - 7 ○ in Figure 4 correspond to this situation. A description of cases 4 ○ and 5 ○ will be given here by way of example. First, to describe case 4 ○, if, for example, the magnification is set by pressing reduction key 514 or enlargement key 513 in response to the display "PRESS 65% OR 154% KEY" as shown in Figure 5, the text "PRESS PRINT TO COPY" is displayed, whereupon copying operation is started by pressing copy key 501. Next, to describe case 5 ○ , if, for example NO key 510 is pressed in response to display of the question "PUTTING TWO ORIGINALS ON GLASS?" as shown in Figure 6, the text "PUT ORIGINAL ON GLASS" is displayed, and when this happens mode display key 526 lights up and there is an automatic changeover to single original document, both-side copying mode. In this embodiment, about 4 seconds after this display, the text "PRESS PRINT TO COPY" is displayed. If YES key 510 is pressed in response to display of the question "PUTTING TWO ORIGINALS ON GLASS?", the text "PUT TWO ORIGINALS ON GLASS" is displayed, and when this happens mode display lamp 527 lights up and there is an automatic changeover to two original documents, both-side copying mode. This is similarly followed by an automatic display of the text "PRESS PRINT TO COPY" after about 4 seconds. Although description has been given above in relation to the method of effecting enlarged or reduced copying and the method of effecting bothside copying, if the user is used to the machine, it is possible to dispense with use of HELP key 508 and to effect copying by proceeding directly to actuation of magnification change key 511 or mode setting key 524 when "READY" is displayed. YES key 509 or NO key 510 are used to reply to displayed questions in exactly the same way for copying of books or overlaid copying (double copying). Next, the operation for displaying any messages in 1st display section 515 will be described in more detail in relation to input device 541 (shown in Figure 2) for detecting condition in the copying machine, e.g., of various sensors, switches or key switches on the control panel, etc.. with reference to the flowcharts shown in Figures 7A and 7B. By turning on the electric power switch provided on copying machine main body I (ST1), the healer lamp incorporated into fixing unit 25 lights (ST2): at the same time, a message "WAIT" is diplayed in 1st display section 515 (ST3). The temperature of the heater lamp lighted on in step ST2 is detected by a heat sensor of input device 541 so as to be judged by main processor 545 whether the temperature is enough to fixation or not enough (ST4). It the temperature of the heater lamp is enough to fixation, sensors 300 and 301 of input device 541 detect whether copy papers P exist or not in cassettes 7, 8 and 9 (ST5). On the result of step ST5, if no copy papers P exist in cassettes 7, 8 and 9, a message "ADD PAPERS" is displayed in 1st display section 515 (ST19). While, on the result of step ST5, if copy papers P exist in cassettes 7, 8 and 9, a message "READY" is displayed in 1st display section 515 (ST6). Then, main processor 508 judges whether HELP key 508 provided on control panel 6, is depressed by a user (ST7). As a result, if HELP key 508 is depressed, a question message "USING COPIER CONTROL KEYS?" is displayed in 1st display section 515 (ST8). Main processor 545 judges whether YES key 509 or NO key 510 is depressed towards the question message "USING COPIER CONTROL KEYS?" by the user (ST7). As a result, if NO key 510 is depressed, a question message "MAKING COLOUR COPYING?" is displayed in 1st display section 515 (ST20). While, if YES key 509 is depressed, a question message "ENLARGE REDUCE-SIZE COPIES?" is displayed in 1st display section 515 (ST10). Main processor 545 judges whether YES key 509 or NO key 510 is depressed towards the question message of step ST10 (ST11). As a result, if NO key 510 is depressed, a question message "MAKING DUPLEX(2-SIDE) COPIES?" is displayed in 1st display section 515 (ST21). While, YES key 509 is depressed, a message "PRESS ↓65% OR ↑154% KEY" is displayed in 1st display section 515 [ST12). Main processor 545 judges whether reduction key 513 (65%) or enlargement key 513 (154%) depressed towards the message of step ST12 (ST13). As a result, a numeral message "65%" or "154%", i.e.. an enlargement reduction rate is displayed in left side of 1sr display section 515 in response to depressed key (ST14). Main processor 545 calculates the step number corresponding to the distance at which a lens unit and an optical unit (not shown) of optical exposure apparatus 14 should be moved according to the enlargement reduction rate (ST15). Then, stepping motors (not shown) receive pulse voltages corresponding to the step number above mentioned, as a result, these stepping motors drive the lens unit and the optical unit (ST16). Main processor 545 counts the step number corresponding to pulse voltage supplied to the steppinhg motors whether the counted number is equal to the step number calculated by main processor 545 above mentioned. That is, main processor 545 judges whether the lens unit and the optical unit are moved by given distance (ST17). As a result of step ST17 prosecuted, alter that lens unit and the optical unit are moved by given distance, a message "PRESS PRINT TO COPY" is displayed in 1st display section 515 (ST18). At this time, if the user depress print key 501, copying operation is performed according to designated enlargement reduction rate. Thus, textual displays of operational procedure on a control panel make it possible, even for a user who is not used to the machine, to effect required operations properly without becoming confused and without having to consult an instruction manual etc. each time and permit elimination of waste due to incorrect operation. Although, in the embodiment above, description was given with reference to use in the display device of a copying machine, the invention is not limited to this but may be employed in any image formation apparatus in which required images are formed by operations by a user, is in an electronic printer or facsimile device, etc. As described above, the invention provides a display device which permits a user to effect required operations simply but surely without having to consult an instruction manual, etc. each time and which makes it possible to eliminate waste due to incorrect operation.

Claims: A display device for use in an image forming apparatus which is capable of performing an image forming operation and is also capable of performing an image forming operation with one or more of a plurality of different operation procedures; said apparatus also having means (541) for detecting the condition of the apparatus, said device comprising a plurality of input keys (506, 513, 514, 517, 520, 522, 523), each of which corresponds to a respective one of said operation procedures and which on being operated by the user permits the apparatus to perform an image forming operation with that operation procedure; a start key (501) for causing the apparatus to start an image forming operation; display means (515) which normally displays a message representing the detected condition of the apparatus; a manual guide key (508) which is operable by the user when guidance is required in the selection of the input keys and which on being operated causes the display means to display a first message in the form of a question, and a manual NO key (510) and a manual YES key (509) which are operable to answer the question negatively or positively respectively, said NO key on being operated to answer the first message causes the display means to display a different first message which is also in the form of a question, said first messages relating to the selection of the operation procedure of the apparatus, and said YES key on being operated to answer a first message causes the display means to display a second message relating to a subsequent step in the selection of the operation procedure of the apparatus. Image forming apparatus including a display device according to Claim 1 .

Inventors: OGURA MASAHIKO, OGURA, MASAHIKO
Applicants: TOSHIBA KK, KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
Application year: 1986
Main classification: G03G15
IPC codes: G03G15, G03G21