Abstract:
A printing system includes a local user interface arranged to be attached to the printing system, a plurality of functional modules, and a control system. The local user interface has a display device connected to the control system, and the display device displays information on a display screen. The orientation of the display device may be detected via a determining device. The control system receives the orientation of the display device, upon a change of the orientation of the display device, and automatically determines a functional module of the plurality of modules, which is in an operator&#39;s perception view. The display device receives the information regarding the determined functional module and displays this information on an information window. A method for displaying information of a printing system is also disclosed.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(a) to Application No. 15190684.9, filed in Europe on Oct. 21, 2015, the entire contents of which is hereby incorporated by reference into the present application. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The present invention relates to a printing system comprising a local user interface arranged to be attached to the printing system, a plurality of functional modules, and a control system, the local user interface comprising a display device connected to the control system, the display device arranged to display information on a display screen and to have an orientation of the display screen which is changeable, and the printing system comprising a determining device for determining the orientation of the display device. 
         [0004]    The term “printing system” is defined herein as a system that has a print function, for example a printer, a copier, a multi-functional, a roll-to-roll printer, a roll-to-sheet printer, a cut sheet printer, a flatbed printer, a wide-format printer, a relief printer or a  3 D printer. 
         [0005]    The term “functional module” is defined herein as a module that provides a function of the printing system. A functional module of the printing system is for example a media input module, a media output module, a finishing module, a inserter module, a sorting module, a control system of the printing system, a local user interface, a paper path module, a duplex loop of the paper path, a print head unit, an direct image processing drum unit, a flatbed unit for holding media on a flatbed surface, a gantry unit movable over the flat bed surface, a media supply holder, a recording material supply holder, a finishing material supply holder, etc. 
         [0006]    The printing system may be an inkjet printing system, an electro-graphical printing system, a nano-particle printing system, etc. The printing system may be suitable for printing on sheets of print media material, on rolls of print media material, or printing  3 D objects. 
         [0007]    The term “user” and “operator” are both used to indicate a person working with and/or near the printing system according to the invention. 
         [0008]    The local user interface is arranged to be attached to the printing system. The local user interface is wired and/or attached to the printing system. The display screen is nevertheless moveable, i.e. has a changeable orientation with respect to the printing system, for example rotatable. 
         [0009]    The present invention further relates to a method which is applicable in a printing system according to the invention. 
         [0010]    2. Description of the Background Art 
         [0011]    Nowadays, printing systems are known which have a display device with a display screen, whose orientation is changeable with respect to the printing system. The display screen is configured to display information about the printing system, for example, a printing schedule, a printing system status, messages for an operator, etc. When an operator wants to have information about a functional module, the information has to be navigated about a functional module, for example via a menu structure, a button activation, a touch of the display screen, a swipe on the display screen, etc. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0012]    An object of the present invention is to provide a printing system that provides more focused information of the printing system to the operator. 
         [0013]    The object is achieved in a printing system of the above-mentioned kind, wherein the control system is configured to receive the orientation of the display device determined by the determining device upon a change of the orientation of the display device and to automatically determine a functional module of the plurality such that at a position for a user near the printing system, a direct perception reach of the user includes the determined functional module as well as the display screen of the display device, and to send information of the determined functional module to the display device, and the display device is configured to receive the information of the determined functional module and to display an information window on the display screen, the content of the information window being focused on the information of the determined functional module. 
         [0014]    A change of the orientation of the display device may be initiated by the operator by means of a manual action on the display device or an electrically performed automatic displacement of the display device. 
         [0015]    The determining device for determining a change of the orientation of the display device may comprise an accelerometer, a magnetometer, and/or simple electric contacts at or near the display device. 
         [0016]    When an operator is located close to a functional module of the printing system, which can be perceived by the operator, the operator may perform actions on the functional module. To get information about the functional module, for example the status of the functional module or a required action on the functional module, the orientation of the display device may be changed by the operator, so that the functional module can be perceived, as well as the content of the display screen of the display device. When the orientation of the display device is changed, the displayed information on the display screen is automatically changed, and is focused on information about the perceived functional module. 
         [0017]    This is advantageous since the operator immediately has an overview of the status of and required operator actions for the perceived functional module, at which the operator wants to take action. Since the information on the display screen is focused on the perceived functional module, information of non-perceived functional modules may be hidden or shrunk in size on the display screen. The information for the perceived functional module may be displayed in a dedicated window on the display screen. The dedicated window may occupy a larger part of the display screen or the whole display screen. 
         [0018]    According to an embodiment, the orientation of the display device is changeable in a direction of a normal to that of the display screen. This can be achieved by a rotation of the display screen in other direction than a direction perpendicular to the display screen. 
         [0019]    According to an embodiment, the display device is rotatable around an axis outside the display screen. For example, if a rotatable arm is part of the display device, the arm may be moved to let the complete display device rotate over an angle towards another orientation of the display screen in relation to the printing system. 
         [0020]    According to an embodiment, the display device is rotatable around an axis in the plane of the display screen. The display screen itself may be rotatable along a vertical axis in the plane of the display screen or along a horizontal axis in the plane of the display screen. 
         [0021]    According to an embodiment, a change of the orientation of the display device is caused by a manual action on the display device by the user. 
         [0022]    According to an embodiment, a change of the orientation of the display device is automatically caused by a change of a position of the user relative to the printing system. The user may be equipped with a position determination device like a mobile phone, a card with RFID, a NFC card, etc., which is wireless connected to the printing system. 
         [0023]    According to an embodiment, a change of the orientation of the display device is automatically caused by a user action operated upon a functional module of the plurality of functional modules. It is assumed that a user wants to have information about a functional module when he performs a user action on the functional module. 
         [0024]    The invention further relates to a method for displaying information of a printing system, comprising a plurality of functional modules and a local user interface, the local user interface comprising a display device connected to a control system of the printing system. The display device is arranged to display information on a display screen, and to have an orientation, which is changeable. Upon a change of the orientation of the display screen, the present orientation of the display screen is determined, which is received by the control system. A functional module of the plurality of functional modules is automatically determined, such that at a position for a user near the printing system, a direct perception reach of the user includes the determined functional module, as well as the display screen of the display device. Information of the determined functional module is sent to the display device for visualization in the information window on the display screen, the display device receives the information of the determined functional module and displays an information window on the display screen. The content of the information window is focused on the information of the determined functional module. 
         [0025]    The invention further relates to a computer-program product embodied on a non-transitory computer readable medium and configured to execute a method according to the invention when executed on a processor. 
         [0026]    The invention further relates to a non-transitory data carrier having stored thereon the computer-program product according to the invention. 
         [0027]    Further scope of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description given hereinafter. However, it should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the present invention, are given by way of illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0028]    The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description given herein below, and the accompanying drawings, which are given by way of illustration only, and thus are not limitative of the present invention, and wherein: 
           [0029]      FIG. 1  includes schematic top views of a printing system according to the present invention; 
           [0030]      FIG. 2  is showing content on the display screen of the user interface of the printing system according to the present invention; 
           [0031]      FIG. 3  illustrates the display device rotatable in another direction than the direction in  FIG. 1 ; and 
           [0032]      FIG. 4  is a flow diagram of an embodiment of the method according to the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0033]    The present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein the same reference numerals have been used to identify the same or similar elements throughout the several views. 
         [0034]    As an illustrative example,  FIG. 1  shows schematically a top view of the printing system  100  according to the invention, for printing print jobs in a first situation A, and in a second situation B after an event C. The printing system  100  comprises a front side  16 , a display screen  14  of a display device of the printing system  100 , according to the invention, a supply reservoir  17  for colored inks, a left side L comprising a paper input module  11 , and a right side R comprising a paper output module  12  outputting a printed medium  13 . 
         [0035]    In the first situation A, an operator is at a first position  161  on the left side L of the printing system  100 , and at the side of the front side  16 . The operator has the intention to do some operator actions at the paper input module  11 . Therefore, display screen  14  has been turned, which is rotatable along an axis, as indicated by the dashed circle  15 . The orientation of the display screen  14  is such that the operator is able to see the paper input module  11  in a first perception reach  1612 , limited by dashed lines, and the display screen  14  in a second perception reach  1611 , also limited by dashed lines. 
         [0036]    According to the invention, the orientation of the display screen  14  is received by the control system (not shown) of the printing system. The control system determines that the paper input module  11  is the functional module of the printing system, which is in the perception reach of the operator. The control system sends information concerning the paper input module  11  to the display device. The display device shows the sent information on the display screen  14  so that the operator can have a look at it. 
         [0037]      FIG. 2  shows an example of the content of the display screen  14  in the first situation A. 
         [0038]    The display screen  14  shows a large window A  1  with information dedicated for the paper input module  11 . The information of the paper input module  11  may comprise an information block  21 ,  22  per paper input holder, and a dedicated operator message block  23  containing one or more requests for operator actions at the paper input module  11 . 
         [0039]    A second situation B is created after the event C of a position change of the operator. 
         [0040]    When the operator wants to go at work at the paper output module  13 , for example for unloading printed media  12 , he changes his position into a second position  162  on the right side R of the printing system  100  and at the side of the front side  16 . He also turns the display screen  14  in his new perception view  1621  as indicated by dashed lines. Also, the paper output module  12  is now in his perception view  1622  as indicated by dashed lines. The determining unit determines a change in the orientation of the display screen  14 , and determines the paper output module  12  to be the functional module of the printing system  100 , which is in the operator&#39;s perception view. The control system sends information concerning the paper output module  12  to the display device. The display device shows the sent information on the display screen  14 , so that the operator can have a look at it. 
         [0041]      FIG. 2  shows an example of the content of the display screen  14  in the second situation B. 
         [0042]    The display screen  14  shows a large window B 1  with information dedicated for the paper output module  12 . The information of the paper output module  12  may comprise an information block  24 ,  25  per paper output unit, and a dedicated operator message block  26  containing one or more requests for operator actions at the paper output module  12 . 
         [0043]    Another embodiment of the invention is shown in  FIG. 3 .  FIG. 3  shows a side-view of the printing system  100 . Front side  16  is shown, and a rack  34  is positioned on top of the printing system  100 . A display screen  31 ,  32 ,  33  is attached to the rack  34 . The display screen  31 ,  32 ,  33  is rotatable at the top of the rack  34  from a first position  31  at the left side L of the printing system  100  via an intermediate position  32 , to a second position  33  at the right R of the printing system  100 . A rotation axis is a middle axis of the display screen in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the page of  FIG. 3 . 
         [0044]    An event C 1  may be the reason for changing the orientation of the display screen from the first position  31  to the intermediate position  32 . An event C 2  may be the reason for changing the orientation of the display screen from the intermediate position  32  to the second position  33 . The events C 1 , C 2  may require a movement of the operator due to the operator&#39;s intention to perform an operator action on one of the functional modules of the printing system  100 . 
         [0045]    When the display screen is in the first position  31 , information about functional modules at the left side L of the printing system  100  is displayed on the display screen. When the display screen is in the second position  33 , information about functional modules at the right side R of the printing system  100  is displayed on the display screen. When the display screen is in the intermediate position  32 , information about the functional module at the top side of the printing system  100  may be displayed on the display screen, for example information about the supply reservoir  17  (shown in  FIG. 1 ) for colored inks. 
         [0046]    The content on the display screen changes when the orientation of the display screen goes from the first position  31  to the intermediate position  32 . The content on the display screen also changes when the orientation of the display screen goes from the intermediate position  32  to the second position  33 . 
         [0047]    In another case, the orientation of the display screen may change directly from the first position  31  into the second position  33  without showing content belonging to the intermediate position  32 , depending on the speed of the orientation change. 
         [0048]    According to an alternative embodiment, the display screen may show a short summary of the complete printing system  100 , for example, input media, output media, status, incoming operator actions to perform, etc., when the display screen is in the intermediate position  32 . 
         [0049]    A change of the orientation of the display device may be initiated by the operator by means of a manual action on the display device, or an electrically performed automatic displacement of the display device. In the embodiments described here-above, a manual action of the operator is executed. However, in an alternative embodiment an electrically performed automatic displacement, rotation, translation, or any other movement of the display screen is executed. 
         [0050]    According to an embodiment, the operator&#39;s position is detected and received by the control system of the printing system. The control system also has stored the position of the display screen on the printing system. Based on the position of the operator and the position of the display screen, the orientation of the display screen may be adjusted in the direction of the position of the operator such that the display screen arrives in the perception reach of the operator. The determined functional module, which information is to be displayed on the display screen, is dependent on the orientation of the display screen, i.e. coupled to the position of the operator. 
         [0051]    The position of the operator may be detected by means of a connection of a mobile device carried by the operator, for example a GPS position track system, or a Bluetooth connection on the mobile device of the operator, an RFID card, a NFC connection, etc. 
         [0052]    The position of the operator may be detected by means of an operator event at one of the functional modules of the printing system. For example, the operator opens a media input holder, the operator empties an output holder, the operator removes an empty ink cartridge, the operator places a full ink cartridge, the operator places a staples holder, etc. Since the functional module at which the operator action is carried out is known to the control system of the printing system, the orientation of the display device may be automatically changed into the direction of the operator, and the relevant information dedicated for said functional module is displayed on the display screen of the display device. 
         [0053]    According to an embodiment, the operator&#39;s position is detected and received by the control system of the printing system. The control system also has stored the position of the display screen on the printing system. Based on the position of the operator and the position of the display screen, the orientation of the display screen may be adjusted in the direction of the position of the operator such that the display screen arrives in the perception reach of the operator. The determined functional module, which information is to be displayed on the display screen is dependent on the orientation of the display screen, i.e. coupled to the position of the operator. The position of the operator may be detected by means of a connection of a mobile device belonging to the operator, for example a GPS position track system on the mobile device. 
         [0054]    An embodiment of the method according to the invention is explained in  FIG. 4 . A starting point A in  FIG. 4  leads to a first step S 1 . 
         [0055]    In the first step S 1 , a change in the orientation of the display screen is detected by the determining device of the printing system according to the invention. 
         [0056]    In a second step S 2 , the present orientation of the display screen is determined by the determining device. The present orientation of the display screen is received by the control system of the printing system. 
         [0057]    In a third step S 3 , a functional module of the plurality of functional modules is automatically determined, such that at a position for a user near the printing system, a direct perception reach of the user includes the determined functional module, as well as the display screen of the display device. The functional module is in the perception view of the operator together with the display screen. 
         [0058]    In a fourth step S 4 , information dedicated to the determined functional module is sent to the display device for visualization in the information window on the display screen. The information dedicated to the determined functional module is received by the display device. 
         [0059]    In a fifth step S 5 , an information window is displayed on the display screen. The content of the information window is focused on the information dedicated to the determined functional module. 
         [0060]    The method ends in the end point B. 
         [0061]    The present invention being thus described, it will be obvious that the same may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the present invention, and all such modifications as would be obvious to one skilled in the art are intended to be included within the scope of the following claims.