JP5710669B2 - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a printer, and a facsimile, and more particularly to an image forming apparatus capable of displaying a preview image of a plurality of pages of a document.

  In recent years, there has been known an image forming apparatus capable of displaying a preview image of a plurality of pages of a document. According to such an image forming apparatus, it is possible to confirm the read original document before outputting it by displaying the processing result obtained by scanning the document in advance (pre-scan) before executing the job on the display screen. it can.

  As a conventional technique, for example, an image forming apparatus that reads an image of a document, performs image processing, and then outputs it as a printed matter is disclosed (see Patent Document 1).

  According to the above-described image forming apparatus, in the image processing unit, the finished information generating unit generates finished predicted information based on the image data read by the scanner, and the input screen information generating unit creates the input screen and displays it on the display unit. indicate. If the operator inputs a setting from the input screen by looking at the predicted finish screen displayed, the setting unit accepts the finish information generation unit based on the accepted setting and generates a finish information screen. The information generation unit generates input screen information, and the display unit displays a finish prediction and an input screen.

  The operation display unit includes a microphone, an input unit, a display unit, and a speaker. The setting content can be input by voice from the microphone, the setting content can be input using an input unit such as a keyboard or a touch panel, and the setting content menu. Items can be displayed on the display. In addition to visual display, the display unit outputs sound through a speaker.

  In this way, by reading the document and displaying the predicted finished state prior to the setting operation of various functions by the user, it is possible to provide an image forming apparatus with high efficiency and convenience of the setting operation.

JP 2006-3568 A

  However, in an image forming apparatus having a function of previewing and confirming an output image as in the technique described in Patent Document 1, output processing is performed only after confirmation of a finished image before output. However, there is a problem in that processing according to the intention of the user who wants to start output immediately without the confirmation work before output (user who emphasizes speed) cannot be executed, and the user needs cannot be satisfied.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described conventional problems, and has an excellent user interface that can improve the convenience by enabling an image output process to be executed according to the user's intention in the image forming apparatus. An object is to provide an image forming apparatus.

The present invention includes input means for inputting image data, output means for outputting an image formed based on the image data, and storage means for storing image data input from the input means. Display image generating means for generating a display image based on image data stored in the means; display means for displaying a display image generated by the display image generating means; and based on image data input from the input means. In an image forming apparatus including a display control unit having a function of displaying a preview of a display image and an output processing function of executing an output process by the output unit, the input unit as the output processing function constituting the display control unit When image data is input in accordance with the above, all continuously output images are displayed as previews on the display means. A first output process for outputting images of all input image data after the display image in a state where the input of the data has been completed is displayed, and after the image data is input by the input means, it is output And a second output process for continuously executing the process of outputting the images of all the input image data without displaying the preview on the display means, and the display means is provided with an execution button. The operation area includes a first execution button for instructing execution of the first output process and a second instruction for instructing execution of the second output process as the execution button. An execution button is displayed, a first output process is started by operating the first execution button, a second output process is started by operating the second execution button, and the first Operate the execute button After, the first execution button, is characterized in that to modify and display the read operation to suspend execution button.

  Further, the present invention includes an operation area provided with an execution button as a configuration of the display unit, and the first execution button and the second execution button are displayed as the execution button in the operation area. It is preferable.

According to the present invention, the apparatus includes an input unit that inputs image data, an output unit that outputs an image formed based on the image data, and a storage unit that stores image data input from the input unit. Display image generation means for generating a display image based on the image data stored in the storage means, display means for displaying the display image generated by the display image generation means, and image data input from the input means In an image forming apparatus comprising a display control unit having a function for previewing a display image based on the output and an output processing function for executing an output process by the output unit, the output processing function constituting the display control unit includes the When the image data is input by the input means, the continuously output images are preview-displayed on the display means, and all After displaying a display image in a state where input of image data is completed, a first output process for outputting images of all input image data, and after the image data is input by the input means, the image data is output. And a second output process for continuously executing the process of outputting the images of all the input image data without displaying the preview on the display means, and the display means is provided with an execution button. The operation area includes a first execution button for instructing execution of the first output process and a second instruction for instructing execution of the second output process as the execution button. An execution button is displayed, a first output process is started by operating the first execution button, a second output process is started by operating the second execution button, and the first Run button After work, the first execution button, displaying by changing the reading operation aborts the execution button, just on the first execution button is executed sequentially from the scan start to preview Since the output can be executed continuously without previewing after the start of scanning only by turning on the second execution button, the operability for performing the output process can be greatly improved. . For example, in the case where emphasis is placed on the finish of the image, the output processing can be performed after confirming the output contents in advance by simply turning on the first execution button, and the output processing is emphasized. In this case, it is possible to immediately output the input image data simply by turning on the second execution button.

1 is an explanatory diagram showing an overall configuration of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a simplified internal configuration of the image forming apparatus. FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of the image forming apparatus. It is explanatory drawing which shows the display area of the touchscreen display of the said image forming apparatus. It is explanatory drawing which shows the example of a screen displayed on the said touch panel display. It is explanatory drawing which shows the state which changed the preview area | region displayed on the said touch panel display. It is explanatory drawing which shows the display mode of the display panel which comprises the said touchscreen display. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of the display mode of the preview display area of the said touch panel display. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an electrical configuration of an operation unit in the image forming apparatus. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the touchscreen display which comprises the said operation unit. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a first output processing step by an image output unit in the image forming apparatus. It is a flowchart which shows the process of the 2nd output process by the said image output means. It is explanatory drawing which shows the display mode at the time of the original reading of the said touchscreen display. It is explanatory drawing which shows the display state at the time of the document reading start in the said touch panel display. It is explanatory drawing which shows the state which displayed the image of the 1st original in the 1st display area of the said touchscreen display. It is explanatory drawing which shows the state which the 1st image moves to the 2nd display area from the 1st display area of the said touch panel display. It is explanatory drawing which shows the state which displayed the 2nd image in the 1st display area after the 1st image moved to the 2nd display area from the 1st display area of the said touch panel display. It is explanatory drawing which shows the state which the 2nd image moves to the 2nd display area from the 1st display area of the said touch panel display. It is explanatory drawing which shows the state which the 2nd image moved behind the 1st image of the 2nd display area of the said touchscreen display. It is explanatory drawing which shows the state which the 3rd image moved behind the 2nd image which moved to the 2nd display area of the said touch panel display. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a display state of the touch panel display immediately after completion of pre-reading by scanning in all originals in the image forming apparatus. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a display state of the touch panel display in an instruction waiting state after completion of pre-reading by scanning in all originals in the image forming apparatus. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a display screen for instructing start of image reading by a first output process in an image output unit of the image forming apparatus. It is explanatory drawing which shows the display screen which instruct | indicates the start of the image output by the 1st output process in the said image output means. It is explanatory drawing which shows the display screen which instruct | indicates the start of the image output by the 2nd output process in the said image output means.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is an example of an embodiment for carrying out the invention, and is an explanatory diagram showing an overall configuration of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a simplified internal configuration of the image forming apparatus. 3 is a functional block diagram showing a hardware configuration of the image forming apparatus, FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a preview display area of a touch panel display of the image forming apparatus, and FIG. 5 is an example of a screen displayed on the touch panel display. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which the preview area displayed on the touch panel display is changed.

  In the embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 1, a document reading unit (input unit) 102 for inputting image data, and an image is formed on a recording medium based on the image data input by the document reading unit 102. An image forming unit 104, an image output unit (output unit) 107 (see FIG. 9) that outputs an image formed based on the image data, and a touch panel display (display unit) 130 that displays a preview image based on the image data. And an operation unit side control unit (display control means) 131 (see FIG. 9) having a function of previewing the display image based on the image data input from the document reading unit 102 on the display panel 132 of the touch panel display 130. In the image forming apparatus 100 including the operation unit 120 provided, the operation unit side control unit 131 is configured. As the force processing function 1311 (see FIG. 10), a first output process for outputting an image after previewing the output image on the display panel 132 after image data is input by the document reading unit 102, and document reading And a second output process for outputting an image without displaying the preview image on the display panel 132 after the image data is input by the unit 102. As shown in FIG. In the task trigger area 5000 to be configured, as an execution button, a scan-in key (first execution button) 5102 for giving an instruction to execute the first output process and a monochrome for giving an instruction to execute the second output process. A start key (second execution button) 5106 and a color start key (second execution button) 5108 are provided, A first output process starts by operating the can-in key 5102, and is characterized in that to initiate a second output process by operating the monochrome start key 5106 or color start key 5108.

  The plurality of document images displayed on the display panel 132 displays a preview of the form of the document image captured from the document reading unit or the like of the image forming apparatus 100 and is formed on the recording paper from the image forming unit. The output form of the image is displayed as a finished preview image.

  The image forming apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment is an image forming apparatus that is a kind of image processing apparatus. The configuration according to the present invention may be applied to an image processing apparatus or an electronic apparatus other than such an image forming apparatus.

  In addition, the image forming apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment has a plurality of operation modes, and when the operation mode is switched and the screen of the display device is switched, the user does not have to remember the screen configuration. Any device provided with a display device for displaying information may be used so that the user can easily obtain the information required by the user.

  Note that the image forming apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment includes a touch panel display (operation screen) that can be operated by a gesture operation method and a touch operation method that does not depend on a gesture operation. It may be a device provided with a display, and further may be a device provided with a display panel capable of only display that cannot be operated and buttons for operation.

The image forming apparatus 100 forms an image on a recording sheet by an electrophotographic method.
In addition, the image forming apparatus 100 includes, as operation modes, a copy mode, a facsimile mode (FAX mode), a document filing mode (a mode in which a scanned image is stored in a storage device inside the image forming apparatus), and a mail mode (a scanned image is stored). Mode for sending in a format attached to an e-mail). The image forming apparatus 100 may further include a network printer mode.

  The present invention is not limited to this, and any image forming apparatus can be used as long as the screen is switched for each operation mode. Further, the printing method is not limited to the electrophotographic method.

First, an image forming apparatus 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described.
As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment includes a document reading unit 102, an image forming unit 104, a paper feeding unit 106, a paper discharge processing device 108, and an operation unit 120.
The operation unit 120 includes a touch panel display 130 and a display operation unit 140. The touch panel display 130 includes a display panel 132 configured by a liquid crystal panel and the like, and a touch panel (touch operation recognition unit) 134 that detects a position pressed by a user's finger disposed on the display panel 132. . The display operation unit 140 includes an indicator lamp 142, a power key 144, an energy saving key (hereinafter referred to as “energy saving key”) 146, and a home key for returning the display screen of the touch panel display 130 to a home screen for selecting an operation mode. 148.

  As described above, the image forming apparatus 100 includes the touch panel display 130 as a main operation device and the display operation unit 140 including hardware keys and indicator lights. The keys (the power key 144, the energy saving key 146, and the home key 148) of the display operation unit 140 are characterized in that they are configured as hardware buttons in contrast to the software buttons configured by the touch panel display 130.

  The image forming apparatus 100 is not limited to the display operation unit 140 having such a configuration, and may include only the touch panel display 130. If the user selects the operation mode on the home screen displayed on the touch panel display 130, the screen may be switched to the initial screen in the selected operation mode. An operation mode of such an image forming apparatus 100 will be described.

(Copy mode)
Hereinafter, the operation of the image forming apparatus 100 in the copy mode will be described.
In this copy mode, the document reading unit (hereinafter referred to as “scanner unit”) 102 and the image forming unit 104 mainly operate.

  In the image forming apparatus 100, a document placed on a document placing table is read as image data by the document reading unit 102, and the read image data is input to a CPU 300 including a microcomputer shown in FIG. Thus, various image processing is performed on the image data, and the image data is output to the image forming unit 104.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the image forming unit 104 prints an image of a document indicated by image data on a recording medium (in many cases, recording paper), and includes a photosensitive drum 222, a charging device 224, and a laser. A scanning unit (hereinafter referred to as “LSU”) 226, a developing device 228, a transfer device 230, a cleaning device 232, a fixing device 234, and a static elimination device (not shown) are provided.

  The image forming unit 104 is provided with a main transport path 236 and a reverse transport path 238, and the recording paper fed from the paper feed unit 106 is transported along the main transport path 236. The paper feed unit 106 pulls out the recording paper stored in the paper cassette 240 or the recording paper placed on the manual feed tray 242 one by one, and sends the recording paper to the main conveyance path 236 of the image forming unit 104.

  While the recording paper is being conveyed along the main conveyance path 236 of the image forming unit 104, the recording paper passes between the photosensitive drum 222 and the transfer device 230, and further passes through the fixing device 234 to be recorded. Printing on paper is performed.

  The photosensitive drum 222 rotates in one direction, and its surface is cleaned by the cleaning device 232 and the static eliminator and then uniformly charged by the charging device 224.

  The LSU 226 modulates a laser beam based on the image data to be printed, and repeatedly scans the surface of the photosensitive drum 222 in the main scanning direction with the laser beam to form an electrostatic latent image on the surface of the photosensitive drum 222. To do.

  The developing device 228 develops the electrostatic latent image by supplying toner to the surface of the photosensitive drum 222, and forms a toner image on the surface of the photosensitive drum 222.

  The transfer device 230 transfers the toner image on the surface of the photosensitive drum 222 onto a recording sheet that passes between the transfer device 230 and the photosensitive drum 222.

  The fixing device 234 includes a heating roller 248 for heating the recording paper and a pressure roller 250 for pressing the recording paper. The recording sheet is heated by the heating roller 248 and pressed by the pressure roller 250, whereby the toner image transferred onto the recording sheet is fixed on the recording sheet. The heater is heated by the electric power supplied to the fixing device 234 so that the temperature of the heating roller 248 becomes a temperature suitable for fixing. In addition, when it transfers to energy saving mode, the electric power supplied to this heater will be stopped or reduced, for example.

  A branching claw 244 is disposed at a connection position between the main conveyance path 236 and the reverse conveyance path 238. When printing is performed only on one side of the recording paper, the branch claw 244 is positioned, and the recording paper from the fixing device 234 is guided to the paper discharge tray 246 or the paper discharge processing device 108 by the branch claw 244.

  When printing is performed on both sides of the recording paper, the branching claw 244 is rotated in a predetermined direction so that the recording paper is once guided to the paper discharge tray 246 side, and then is switched back and transported toward the reverse transport path 238. It is guided. The recording sheet passes through the reverse conveyance path 238, is reversed on the front and back, and is conveyed again to the main conveyance path 236. During the re-conveyance of the main conveyance path 236, printing on the back surface is performed and the recording paper is discharged. It is guided toward the paper tray 246 or the paper discharge processing device 108.

  The recording paper printed as described above is guided toward the paper discharge tray 246 or the paper discharge processing device 108 and discharged to the paper discharge tray 246, or the recording paper on each paper discharge tray 110 of the paper discharge processing device 108. Discharged to either.

  In the paper discharge processing device 108, a process for sorting and discharging a plurality of recording papers to each paper discharge tray 110, a process for punching each recording paper, and a process for stapling each recording paper are performed. For example, when a plurality of printed materials are created, each recording sheet is sorted and discharged to each paper discharge tray 110 so that a part of the printed material is allocated to each paper discharge tray 110. In addition, a punching process by the punching unit 111 or a stapling process by the staple unit 112 is performed on each recording sheet on the paper discharge tray 110 to create a printed matter.

(Facsimile mode)
Hereinafter, an operation in the facsimile mode will be described.
In the facsimile mode, as shown in FIG. 3, the document reading unit (scanner unit) 102 and the FAX communication unit 160 operate mainly for the transmission operation, and the reception operation is performed by the FAX communication unit 160 and the image forming unit 104. Operate.

(Transmission operation)
In the image forming apparatus 100, the facsimile mode is designated, the document placed on the document table is read as image data by the document reading unit 102, and the read image data includes the microcomputer shown in FIG. Here, various image processing is performed on the image data, and this image data is output to the FAX communication unit (FAX communication unit 160 in FIG. 3).

  As shown in FIG. 3, the FAX communication unit 160 of the transmission-side image forming apparatus 100 connects the specified transmission-side line to the specified transmission destination, and the image data is communication data that conforms to the facsimile communication standard. And transmitted to a receiving facsimile machine (for example, the image forming apparatus 100 having a facsimile function).

(Communication operation)
When the line is connected, the FAX communication unit 160 of the image forming apparatus 100 on the receiving side detects a communication request signal from the FAX communication unit 160 of the image forming apparatus 100 on the transmitting side, and transmits a response signal. After that, for example, the FAX communication unit 160 transfers the capability information implemented on the transmission side and the reception side, and determines the communication speed and the encoding / code correction method of the image data at the maximum available capacity. To set the modem communication method. Data is transmitted from the FAX communication unit 160 of the image forming apparatus 100 on the transmission side to the FAX communication unit 160 of the image forming apparatus 100 on the reception side using a static image signal method that matches this communication method. When transmission is completed, the line is disconnected.

(Reception operation)
The FAX communication unit 160 of the image forming apparatus 100 on the receiving side converts the received data into image data and sends it to the image forming unit 104. Note that the image forming unit 104 may convert the received data into image data. The image forming unit 104 prints the image of the document indicated by the image data converted from the received data on the recording paper, similarly to the operation in the copy mode described above.

Next, a control block configuration of the image forming apparatus 100 will be described with reference to the drawings.
As shown in FIG. 3, the image forming apparatus 100 is further cut off from energization with the operation unit 120 capable of setting functions installed in the apparatus as a copy mode and a facsimile mode, and a ROM 306 for storing programs and the like. Even if it is a case, the hard disk 302 which is a non-volatile storage area which can memorize | store a program, data, etc. and RAM (Random Access Memory) 308 for providing the storage area at the time of executing a program are included.

  The image forming apparatus 100 further includes a path 310 connected to the document reading unit 102, the image forming unit 104, the FAX communication unit 160, the operation unit 120, the ROM 306, the hard disk 302, and the RAM 308, and an image connected to the path 310. CPU300 for implement | achieving the general function as a forming apparatus.

  The hard disk 302 stores an image data file of a document scanned by the image forming apparatus 100. The hard disk 302 also stores initial screen data for each operation mode. (It is possible to store in the ROM 306 without using the hard disk 302)

  The ROM 306 stores programs and data necessary for controlling the operation of the image forming apparatus 100. As the data stored together with the program in the ROM 306, initial screen data of each operation mode may be stored. The CPU 300 controls the image forming apparatus 100 according to the program and data stored in the ROM 306 and executes control related to each function of the image forming apparatus 100.

  As shown in FIG. 3, a public line is connected to the FAX communication unit 160 of the image forming apparatus 100 for transmission and reception of image data, and a network line is connected to the network interface 304. A computer or the like using the image forming apparatus 100 as a network compatible printer is connected to the network line, or a computer or the like specified by a URL (Uniform Resource Locator) designated via the Internet is connected. . When connected to the Internet in this way, the image forming apparatus 100 can acquire necessary information via the Internet.

  The RAM 308 provides a function as a working memory that temporarily stores the results of calculation and processing by the CPU 300 and a function as a frame memory that stores image data.

  Control of the document reading unit 102, the image forming unit 104, the touch panel display 130 and the display operation unit 140 constituting the operation unit 120, the ROM 306, the hard disk 302, and the RAM 308 is performed by the CPU 300 executing predetermined programs. Note that the operation unit 120 communicates with the CPU 300 via an input / output interface.

  The operation unit 120 is configured by a plate-like panel that is provided so as to be easily viewed by the user. On the surface of the operation unit 120, the touch panel display 130 is in the left area, and the display operation unit 140 (the indicator lamp 142 and the power key 144 that is a hardware button, the energy saving key 146 and the home key 148) is in the right area. Is provided. The touch panel display 130 and the display operation unit 140 are configured so that the operation unit 120 is integrated as a whole.

  As described above, the touch panel display 130 includes the display panel 132 and the touch panel 134 disposed on the display panel 132.

  In the touch panel display 130, a home screen for selecting an operation mode in the image forming apparatus 100, a current state of the image forming apparatus 100, a destination designation state, a job processing state, and the like are displayed on the display panel 132. A selection button, which is a software button, is displayed on the preview display area of the display panel 132. When the area where the selection button is displayed is pressed with a finger, the touch panel 134 detects the pressed position. By collating the display position of the selection button and the position where the touch panel 134 is pressed on the program, the operation mode selection, function setting, operation instruction, and the like of the image forming apparatus 100 are performed. In addition to such a touch operation (command input operation based on a pressed position by a user), the image forming apparatus 100 also supports the above-described gesture operation (command input operation based on an operation locus by a user).

  In addition, the indicator lamp 142 of the display operation unit 140 is configured by, for example, an LED (Light Emitting Diode), and the CPU 300 controls lighting / extinguishing (/ flashing). When the user presses the power key 144 provided separately from the main power switch, the image forming apparatus 100 shifts from the standby mode (for example, only the FAX reception operation is possible with the main power on) to the normal mode. All the operation modes of the image forming apparatus 100 can be used. The indicator lamp 142 lights up in conjunction with this state. Further, when a predetermined period of time that the user does not operate elapses or when the user presses the energy saving key 146, the image forming apparatus 100 shifts from the normal mode to the energy saving mode, and the image forming apparatus 100 Only some of the operation modes can be used. The indicator lamp 142 blinks in conjunction with this state. Further, when the user presses the energy saving key 146 in the energy saving mode, the image forming apparatus 100 shifts from the energy saving mode to the normal mode. The home key 148 is a hardware key for returning the display on the touch panel display 130 to the initial state (home screen). Note that processing when the power key 144, the energy saving key 146, and the home key 148 are pressed is not limited to these.

  Note that a key lamp whose lighting / extinction (/ flashing) is controlled by the CPU 300 may be embedded in the hardware buttons (the power key 144, the energy saving key 146, and the home key 148) of the display operation unit 140. For example, this key lamp shines around the circular key 5 in a ring shape, or shines at the center of the key. This key lamp lights up at a timing when it is permitted to use the hardware button as an operation device (when the hardware button is used, processing is executed).

  The image forming apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment includes the above-described two operation modes (copy mode and fax mode). On touch panel display 130, software buttons for setting functions in the respective operation modes and buttons for setting previews or destinations as image forming images are displayed as necessary.

  When the operation mode is different, the touch panel display 130 displays a different screen. Even in such a case, the touch panel display 130 is divided into a plurality of areas (and the size of the area is variable) so that information requested by the user can be easily found. It comprises the essential part of the invention of displaying information. In particular, in the image forming apparatus 100, when an operation mode is selected on the home screen of the touch panel display 130 provided as a main display operation device, an initial screen of each operation mode is displayed.

In this initial screen, (1) the basic layout is divided into five areas (“system area”, “function selection area”, “preview area”, “action panel area”, “task trigger area”) and arranged appropriately. Therefore, when the user operates from the upper left to the lower right (because the flow line of the user's viewpoint and the flow line of the fingertip are realized in the same manner as a conventional machine that does not include such a large touch panel display 130. (2) Easy to set, (2) Even in different operation modes, the concept displayed in each of the five areas is the same, and even if the operation modes are different, the user can operate without confusion Is possible.
The configuration of such a basic layout will be described below.

First, a basic layout in the touch panel display 130 of the image forming apparatus 100 will be described with reference to the drawings.
As shown in FIG. 4, the basic layout of the touch panel display 130 is a horizontally long touch panel display 130 (for example, horizontal 1024 pixels × vertical 600 pixels), a system area 1000 arranged at the top, and a central part of the screen. Preview area (preview display area) 3000, function setting / confirmation area 2000 (hereinafter referred to as function selection area 2000) arranged on the left side of preview area 3000, and action panel area 4000 arranged in the upper right part of preview area 3000 , And a task trigger area (operation area) 5000 arranged in the lower right part of the preview area 3000.

  Note that the number of areas in the touch panel display 130 is not limited to five, and the left and right arrangement is not limited to this. For example, the arrangement of the left and right areas may be reversed according to the user's dominant hand. . Further, the position of the system area 1000 may be at the bottom. Also, it may not be displayed depending on the state or setting.

  In the system area 1000, the current state of the image forming apparatus 100 is displayed, the title of the operation mode being operated, and the status / state of the image forming apparatus 100 are displayed. For example, the system area 1000 displays an operation mode name, an interrupt key, a login user name, a job status being processed, a built-in memory usage status, a time, and the like.

  In the function selection area 2000, function selection menus (icons, buttons, etc.) operated by the user for setting each function, switching the display, and confirming the settings are displayed in icon mode, regular mode, and express mode. Change and display. In the icon mode, only function setting icons are displayed in the function selection area 2000 so that the preview area 3000 is the largest. In the express mode, even if the preview area 3000 is the narrowest, the function selection area 2000 displays a large screen on which functions can be set at one time. In the regular mode, the size of the preview area 3000 is an intermediate size between the icon mode and the express mode, and the function name is displayed in the function selection area 2000 together with the function setting icon.

  Switching between these icon mode, regular mode and express mode is based on the user's operation. That is, the size of the preview area 3000 is changed and displayed according to the user operation. In this way, since the icon can transmit information to the user in a small area, it is preferable that the preview area 3000 can be displayed in a large size by preparing for all functions.

  The function selection area 2000 is provided with a change button group 2010 for changing the display style of the function selection area 2000 at the lower part thereof. The change button group 2010 includes an icon mode transition button 2012 for displaying a function selection area 2000 in the icon mode, a favorite button 2014 for displaying a function registered as “favorite”, a check button 2016 for displaying a function whose setting has been changed, and a selection. A list button 2018 for displaying a list of all functions that can be set in the operation mode being set, a regular mode transition button 2020 for displaying the function selection area 2000 in the regular mode, and an express for displaying the function selection area 2000 in the express mode. A mode transition button 2022 is arranged.

  If there is a lot of information displayed in the function selection area 2000, the information is displayed in the function selection area 2000 so as to be movable in the vertical direction. In this case, the change button group 2010 is not moved and is always displayed at the bottom of the function selection area 2000.

  In preview area 3000, an output (finished) image of the document is displayed. An image is displayed using dummy data or scan data, and the image displayed in the preview area 3000 is changed every time the user changes the finish. This preview area 3000 has two modes: a finish display with a dummy image in the virtual mode before scanning, and a finish display with a real image in the scan-in mode after scanning. There are two types before and after document setting.

  The preview area 3000 is provided with a preview change button group 3010 for changing the display style of the preview area 3000 below the preview area 3000. The preview change button group 3010 includes a left rotation button 3016 for rotating the preview 90 degrees to the left, a right rotation button 3018 for rotating the preview 90 degrees to the right, and a zoom bar 3020. In addition to these, for example, a color change button 3012 and a preview execution button 3014 are arranged.

  Here, when the left rotation button 3016 is touched once, the preview is rotated 90 degrees to the left, and when touched twice, the preview is rotated 180 degrees to the left (upside down). Also, even if the finished document image displayed in the preview area is operated by a gesture (even if the document image is rotated 180 degrees counterclockwise with the fingertip), the preview is rotated 180 degrees to the left and turned upside down.

  When the right rotation button 3018 is touched once, the preview is rotated 90 degrees to the right, and when touched twice, the preview is rotated 180 degrees to the right (upside down). Also, even if the finished document image displayed in the preview area is operated by a gesture (even if the document image is rotated 180 degrees clockwise by the fingertip), the preview is rotated 180 degrees to the right and turned upside down.

  When the plus button 3020A of the zoom bar 3020 is touched or a gesture operation (drag or slide) is performed on the bar 3020C toward the plus button 3020A, the preview is enlarged and displayed. In addition, even when a gesture operation is performed on the finished document image displayed in the preview area (the document image is pinched out / pinch open with a fingertip), the preview is enlarged and displayed.

  When the minus button 3020B of the zoom bar 3020 is touched or the bar 3020C is gestured (dragged or slid) to the minus button 3020B side, the preview is reduced and displayed. In addition, even if a gesture operation is performed on the finished document image displayed in the preview area (the document image is pinched in / pinch closed with a fingertip), the preview is reduced and displayed.

  When the number of pages of the document image displayed in the preview area 3000 is large, a display page selection button (page number input button, page forward button, page return button, single page display button, multiple page display) that can be touch-operated is displayed. Button, etc.) may be displayed. It should be noted that the page of the document to be previewed and page return can be performed by sliding touching (flicking) the document image. Further, when the document image displayed in the preview area 3000 is large, a scroll bar capable of touch operation or gesture operation may be displayed.

  In the action panel area 4000, information on assistance, advice, and proposals for operations is displayed. In this action panel area 4000, for example, when a certain user selects a specific function, a function related to the function is displayed, or other functions regarding the function are displayed in a purpose-oriented manner. A function selected in combination in the past by a user of a group to which the user belongs is displayed as a “recommended function”.

  In the task trigger area 5000, all the settings in the operation mode are completed, and one trigger item operated by the user in order to actually operate the image forming apparatus 100 is displayed. For example, it is a start button (software button) for starting processing. It should be noted that in the operation mode with printing (other than fax transmission), the information about the out of consumables is also displayed in this “task trigger area” because it is related to the inability to execute the task.

  In this case, it is also preferable to display the start button only when the start button can be pressed. The state in which the start button can be pressed is an operation mode in which all settings are completed and consumables (recording paper and toner) are not exhausted and printing is not performed in an operation mode with printing. In the fax mode (transmission), all transmission parameters including the destination are set.

  Even if the operation mode is changed (in the initial screen of any operation mode), the positions where these five areas are arranged are not changed. In addition, the area is expanded and contracted in the horizontal direction (longitudinal direction) of the screen of the touch panel display 130 as shown in the icon mode / regular mode / express mode switching display in the function selection area 2000 (and the preview area 3000).

  Such an arrangement of the five regions is arranged by paying attention to the user's viewpoint flow line and the operation flow line while also taking into account the user interface in the conventional machine. With this arrangement, on the touch panel display 130, the user's line of sight moves from the upper left to the lower right, and the user's operation (the fingertip of the dominant hand) moves from the upper left to the lower right.

  In order to change from one operation mode to another operation mode, the home key 148 is pressed to select another operation mode on the home screen. In this way, the operation mode is switched via the home screen.

(Copy mode initial screen display operation)
When the copy mode is selected, the initial screen of the copy mode is displayed on the touch panel display 130 using the initial copy screen data read from the hard disk 302 or the like.
At this time, for example, a copy mode initial screen 7100 is displayed on the touch panel display 130 as shown in FIG. The copy mode initial screen 7100 is divided into five areas having the layout configuration described above and displays information.

  In the system area 1000 of the copy mode initial screen 7100, as shown in FIG. 5, an area 1102 indicating the selected operation mode (here, copy mode) and an area for displaying sub-information associated with the selected operation mode. 1104, an area 1106 for displaying a login user name, an area 1108 for displaying a logout button (software button), an area 1110 for displaying the current job status, and a button (software button) related to the job status are displayed. An area 1112, an area 1114 for displaying a communication state, and an area 1116 for displaying the current time are arranged.

In area 1102, a name or / and an icon indicating the operation mode are displayed.
When this area 1102 is touched, tapped or double-tapped, a menu indicating the operation mode is preferably displayed in a pull-down manner so that the operation mode can be switched (the same applies to other operation modes).

  In area 1104, an interrupt key (software button) is displayed as sub information. When this interrupt key is touched, tapped or double-tapped, interrupt processing can be executed in the copy mode.

  In the area 1112, the status of the job currently being executed is displayed as an icon. When this job status is touched, tapped or double-tapped, detailed job status information is displayed. Furthermore, it is preferable to display a button for stopping the selected job in the area 1112.

  In the function selection area 2000 of the copy mode initial screen 7100, a function selection menu 2100 that can be selected by the user in the copy mode and the above-described change button group 2010 are displayed. In the screen shown in FIG. 5, the function selection menu is displayed in the regular mode.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the function selection menu displayed in the regular mode includes an icon group 2100 and a text group 2120. As a function selection menu displayed in this function selection area 2000, an icon 2102 for setting the number of partial copies, a text box 2122 for displaying the set content, an icon 2104 for setting the color mode, and text for displaying the set content 2124, an icon 2106 for setting the copy density and a text 2126 for displaying the set content, an icon 2108 for setting the copy magnification and a text 2128 for displaying the set content, an icon 2110 for setting the document type, and the set Text 2130 for displaying content, icon 2112 for setting paper type and text 2132 for displaying set content, icon 2114 for editing image and text 2134 for displaying set content, editing layout Text 2136 that displays the icon 2116 and set contents are displayed.

  As described above, further items in these function setting menus can be displayed in a vertically scrollable manner with the display position of the change button group 2010 fixed. The display of the function setting menu including items that are hidden and displayed in the vertical direction can be switched by either touch operation (scroll operation) or gesture operation (flick operation in the vertical direction). .

  Here, image editing refers to image editing for a one-page document, and further lower layer menus include frame deletion, print menu, watermark, user stamp, etc., and layout editing refers to a multi-page document. In the image editing, lower level hierarchical menus include page aggregation, binding margin, page movement, centering, and the like. These further lower menus are displayed on the touch panel display 130 when a touch operation, a tap operation, or a double tap operation is performed on the icon 2102 to the icon 2116 or the text 2122 to the text box 2136.

  In the preview area 3000 of the copy mode initial screen 7100, an output (finished) image 3100 of the original and the above-described preview change button group 3010 are arranged. At this time, the image 3100 is displayed using dummy data or scan data, and whenever the user changes the function setting menu of the function selection area 2000, the image 3100 is changed and displayed in the preview area 3000 (display preview). Changed).

  In the action panel area 4000 of the copy mode initial screen 7100, information on assistance / advice / suggestion regarding the copy operation is displayed. Here, as shown in FIG. 5, recommended functions in the copy mode selected by the user are displayed. At this time, the action panel area 4000 is provided with an area 4100 indicating the content of the displayed information, and areas 4102 to 4106 for displaying recommended functions as text buttons themselves as software buttons.

  When the area 4102 is touched, tapped or double-tapped, more detailed information about the energy saving copy is displayed in a pull-down manner. For example, at this time, together with the text “Two-sided printing can save paper” and a software button that transitions to the double-sided copy function setting screen, and “Multiple documents can be printed together to save paper” A software button for transitioning to the function setting screen for page aggregation and a software button for transitioning to the function setting screen for saddle stitching together with the text “Can be printed like a book” are displayed.

  An execution button group 5100 is displayed in the task trigger area 5000 of the copy mode initial screen 7100. As the execution button group 5100, a scan-in key (software button) (first execution button) 5102 for operating the image forming apparatus 100 so as to scan a document and acquire image data, and a clear all key for clearing a set function (Software button) 5104, monochrome start key (software button) (second execution button) 5106 for operating the image forming apparatus 100 to scan the document and execute monochrome copy, and scan the document to execute color copy A color start key (software button) (second execution button) 5108 for operating the image forming apparatus 100 is arranged.

  In this way, when the user inputs a request on the copy mode initial screen 7100 in which information is displayed divided into five areas, the copy process is executed in accordance with the request.

  Next, the preview page changing operation when the function selection area 2000 is displayed in the icon mode and the preview area 3000 is expanded will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 6, when the preview image 3118 is displayed, when the user flicks the preview-displayed screen to the left, the input locus is analyzed. At this time, the gesture operation by the user is analyzed as a request to turn the page, and a preview image including another page not displayed according to the flicked direction is displayed.

  Further, in order to move the page on which the preview image is displayed in this way, the page advance button 3118G, the page fast forward button 3118H, the page reverse button 3118E, and the page fast reverse button 3118D can be touched. Furthermore, the page on which the preview image is displayed can be moved by touching the page direct designation button 3118F and inputting the page to be moved directly.

  As described above, when the function selection area 2000 is displayed in the icon mode, the preview area 3000 is expanded, and the preview image is displayed so that the visibility and the operability for the user are improved as shown in FIG. Can do. In particular, a desired preview can be displayed by moving to a preview image to be displayed by a touch operation or a gesture operation.

  Note that the trash can icon 3118A shown in FIG. 6 can be deleted by dragging the selected page to the trash can icon 3118A.

  Also, by pressing the 1-page display icon 3118B, for example, a preview that has been displayed on 3 pages becomes 1-page display (in this case, one page is displayed larger), and by pressing the multiple-page display icon 3118C, for example The preview that was displayed on one page is now displayed on three pages.

Next, a characteristic configuration of the touch panel display of the image forming apparatus 100 of the present embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing a display mode of a display panel constituting the touch panel display of the image forming apparatus of this embodiment, and FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a display mode of a preview display area of the touch panel display.

  As shown in FIG. 7, in the image forming apparatus 100 of the present embodiment, a preview area 3000 is arranged in the center of the screen on the touch panel display 130, and a function selection area 2000 is arranged on the left side of the preview area 3000. An action panel area 4000 is arranged at the upper right part of the preview area 3000, and a task trigger area 5000 is arranged below the action panel area 4000.

  In the preview area 3000, a virtual numeric keypad 3001 and a mimic display 3002 that images the entire apparatus are displayed on the initial screen.

  As shown in FIG. 8, the touch panel display 130 has a first display area 151 formed at a position corresponding to the action panel area 4000 in a state where the preview area 3000 is enlarged, and is substantially at the center in the preview area 3000. The second display area 152 is formed in a wider range than the first display area 151.

  In the first display area 151, a display image generated based on the input image data is displayed. In the second display area 152, the display image displayed in the first display area 151 is displayed after being displayed in the first display area 151.

The first display area 151 and the second display area 152 are arranged adjacent to each other.
A boundary line 161 indicating the boundary between the first display area 151 and the second display area 152 is displayed.

  The boundary line 161 is a reading line for performing an operation of reading a document image displayed in the first display area 151 when performing “screen display guidance” at the time of reading a document, and a document is read by the document reading unit 102. The situation to be read is simply expressed on the touch panel display 130. In the present embodiment, the boundary line 161 is displayed as a green line linearly in the vertical direction of the touch panel display 130.

  When the preview area 3000 is enlarged and displayed, the task trigger area 5000 is always displayed near the boundary line 161 in the lower right portion of the preview area 3000 without being reduced.

In the task trigger area 5000, an execution button group 5100 is displayed.
As the execution button group 5100, a scan-in key 5102, a clear all key 5104, a monochrome start key 5106, and a color start key 5108 are arranged.

  As shown in FIG. 8, the scan-in key 5102 suspends the operation of the apparatus (stops reading) when the document is scanned in response to a scan-in instruction and image data acquisition is started. It is changed to 5109 and displayed.

Next, an electrical configuration relating to a characteristic screen display of the operation unit 120 in the image forming apparatus 100 of the present embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of the operation unit in the image forming apparatus of the present embodiment, and FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a touch panel display constituting the operation unit.

  As shown in FIG. 9, the operation unit 120 according to the present embodiment includes processing / processing in the operation position detection unit 135, the screen display unit 136, the display image generation unit 137, and the operation unit 120 in addition to the display panel 132 and the touch panel 134. An operation unit side control unit (display control means) 131 for controlling the operation is provided.

  The image forming apparatus 100 includes an original reading unit 102 for inputting image data, an image processing unit 103, an accumulation unit 105 for accumulating image data input from the original reading unit 102, and an image output for outputting an image of a printer, a transmission unit, or the like. Means 107 is provided, and the operation is controlled by the main control unit 101.

The operation position detection unit 135 detects an operation position performed on the touch panel 134.
The screen display unit 136 displays the image formed by the display image generation unit 137 on the display panel 132.

  The display image generating unit 137 forms a predetermined image according to an instruction from the operation unit side control unit 131 based on the image data input to the image forming apparatus 100 main body.

  The operation unit side control unit 131 is connected to the main control unit 101 of the main body of the image forming apparatus 100 and functions as a control unit in the touch panel display 130.

  As shown in FIG. 10, the operation unit side control unit 131 has a preview display function for previewing a plurality of pages of document images on the display panel 132, and a moving display function for moving and displaying the preview displayed plurality of document images ( A scroll display function) and an input status guidance function for displaying and guiding the input status of image data input from the document reading unit 102 on the display panel 132.

  Further, the operation unit side control unit 131 includes an output processing function 1311 for outputting an image by the image output unit 107. As the output processing function 1311, an image output after the image data is input by the document reading unit 102. A first output process for outputting an image after a preview display on the display panel 132; and a first output process for outputting an image without displaying the output image on the display panel 132 after the image data is input by the document reading unit 102. 2 output processing. The first output process and the second output process can be selected by the user.

  In the output process by the image output means 107, the standby screen instructing the start of the output process displayed on the display panel 132 is a scan-in key 5102 and a monochrome start key 5106 in both the first output process and the second output process. The same standby screen on which the color start key 5108 is displayed is displayed.

  In the output process by the image output unit 107, the first output process and the second output process are configured so that the processes after the start of the output process is instructed are different.

Next, characteristic image output processing (first output processing and second output processing) by the image output unit 107 in the image forming apparatus 100 of the present embodiment will be described with reference to a flowchart.
FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing the steps of the first output processing by the image output means in the image forming apparatus of this embodiment, and FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing the steps of the second output processing by the image output means.

  In the image forming apparatus 100 of the present embodiment, the image output by the image output unit 107 can be executed by two methods of the first output process and the second output process, and is selected and executed by the user. Is done.

(First output process)
The first output process in the image forming apparatus 100 is to output an image after a preview display of the output image on the display panel 132 after image data is input by the document reading unit 102.

In the image forming apparatus 100, when the first output process is selected when the image output unit 107 outputs an image, the output process is executed as shown in FIG.
First, a document is set on the document reading unit 102 (step S1), and image reading conditions are set on the touch panel display 130 (step S2). When the image reading condition setting is completed, it is determined whether or not an instruction to start reading the document has been issued (step S3).

If it is determined in step S3 that the scan-in key 5102 has been pressed to instruct the start of document reading, document reading by the document reading unit 102 is started (step S4).
On the other hand, if it is determined in step S3 that an instruction to start document reading has not been given, the process returns to step S2 to set image reading conditions again.

When the original is read in step S4, the image data of the read original is stored in the storage means 105 (step S5).
Based on the stored image data, a display image to be previewed is generated by the display image generating means 137 (step S6), and the display image is previewed on the display panel 132 (step S7).

Then, it is determined whether or not there is a next original (step S8).
If it is determined in step S8 that there is a next original, the process returns to step S4 to read the original. On the other hand, if it is determined in step S8 that there is no next original, a display image in a state where reading has been completed is displayed (step S9).

  Then, it waits for an image output instruction, and it is determined whether or not an instruction to start image output is given (step S10). If it is determined in step S10 that an instruction to start image output has been issued, an image output process is executed (step S11). On the other hand, if it is determined in step S10 that the start of image output has not been instructed, the process returns to step S9 to wait for an image output instruction in a state where a display image in a state where reading has been completed is displayed.

When the image output process is executed in step S11, it is determined whether the image output process is completed (step S12). If it is determined in step S12 that the image output process has been completed, the image output process ends. on the other hand. If it is not determined in step S12 that the image output process has been completed, the process returns to step S11 and the image output process is continued.
In this way, the first output process is executed.

  As described above, according to the first output processing, the image data of the document read by the document reading unit 102 is stored in the storage unit 105, and the display image based on the image data is displayed as a preview and then output. As a result, an error-free image output can be performed.

(Second output process)
The second output process in the image forming apparatus 100 is to output an image without displaying the preview image on the display panel 132 after image data is input by the document reading unit 102.

In the image forming apparatus 100, when the second output process is selected when the image output unit 107 outputs an image, the output process is executed as shown in FIG.
First, a document is set on the document reading unit 102 (step S21), and image output condition setting is performed on the touch panel display 130 (step S22). When the image output condition setting is completed, it is determined whether or not an instruction to start image output has been issued (step S23).

If it is determined in step S23 that the monochrome start key 5106 or the color start key 5108 has been pressed and an instruction to start image output has been issued, reading of the original by the original reading unit 102 is started (step S24).
On the other hand, if it is determined in step S23 that the start of document reading has not been instructed, the process returns to step S22 to set image output conditions again.

  When the original is read in step S24, the image data of the read original is stored in the storage means 105 (step S25). Then, an image output process is executed based on the stored image data (step S26).

Then, it is determined whether or not there is a next original (step S27).
If it is determined in step S27 that there is a next original, the process returns to step S24 to read the original. On the other hand, if it is determined in step S27 that there is no next original, the image output process ends.
In this way, the second output process is executed.

  As described above, according to the second output process, the image data of the document read by the document reading unit 102 is stored in the storage unit 105 and then directly output based on the image data without displaying a preview. Thus, image output can be performed more quickly than in the first output process.

  That is, in the present embodiment, in the first output process, as shown in FIG. 11, image output is executed at the eleventh step in the processing step, but in the second output process, as shown in FIG. Image output is executed at the sixth step in the processing step. Accordingly, when it is desired to execute the output process in a hurry according to the user's request, it is possible to quickly output an image by selecting the second output process that does not perform the preview display.

Here, in the image forming apparatus 100 of this embodiment, a preview display for guiding display on the touch panel display 130 of a document reading state by the document reading unit 102 will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 13 to FIG. 22 are explanatory diagrams showing transition of the preview image displayed on the touch panel display at the time of document reading in the image forming apparatus of the present embodiment.

In the image forming apparatus 100, when reading a copy document, the user selects a copy mode on the home screen displayed on the touch panel display 130, and touches the scan-in key 5102 to read the document as shown in FIG. Start.
For example, the document is set to A4 landscape feed in the document reading unit 102.

  When scanning of the original is instructed by the scan-in key 5102, as shown in FIG. 14, display information in the function selection area 2000 and the action panel area 4000 of the touch panel display 130 is drawn in the left and right sides in the directions of the arrows, respectively, The area 3000 is expanded, and a boundary line 161 indicating the boundary between the first display area 151 and the second display area 152 set in the preview area 3000 is displayed. The boundary line 161 is simply referred to as a “reading line” in the following because the boundary line 161 simply expresses on the touch panel display 130 the state in which the document is read by the document reading unit 102.

  When the original is read by the original reading unit 102, a reduced display image is generated by the display image generation means 137 from the image data of the first original read, and as shown in FIG. The first image P1 is displayed in the first display area 151 on the right side.

  The first image P1 is displayed so that the image gradually becomes clear toward the second display area 152, that is, toward the reading line 161 (from the right side to the left side).

The first image P1 displayed in the first display area 151 moves toward the reading line 161 as shown in FIG. 16, and passes through the reading line 161 as shown in FIG. The display is moved to the second display area 152 on the left side of 161.
At this time, in the first display area 151, the second image P2 generated by the display image generation unit 137 from the image data of the second document read by the document reading unit 102 is displayed in a reduced size. The

  The second image P2 displayed in the first display area 151 gradually becomes clearer toward the second display area 152, that is, toward the reading line 161 (from the right side to the left side). Is displayed.

Then, the second image P2 displayed in the first display area 151 moves toward the reading line 161 as shown in FIG. 18, and passes through the reading line 161 as shown in FIG. The display is moved to the second display area 152 on the left side of the reading line 161 and displayed.
At this time, the second image P2 is arranged so as to overlap behind the first image P1, and a part of the second image P2 is displayed below the first image P1 so that the presence of the second image P2 can be confirmed. Arranged in an exposed state.

  At this time, the third image P3 generated by the display image generation unit 137 from the image data of the third original read by the original reading unit 102 is reduced in the first display area 151. Is displayed.

  The third image P3 displayed in the first display area 151 gradually becomes clearer toward the second display area 152, that is, toward the reading line 161 (from the right side to the left side). Is displayed.

Then, the third image P3 displayed in the first display area 151 moves toward the reading line 161, and passes through the reading line 161 to the left of the reading line 161 as shown in FIG. The second display area 152 is moved and displayed.
At this time, the third image P3 is further overlapped behind the second image P2, and a part thereof is below the second image P2 so that the presence of the third image P3 can be confirmed. It is arranged in an exposed state.

  As described above, the display and movement of the display image of the original read by the original reading unit 102 are repeated, and as shown in FIG. 21, when the pre-reading by scan-in of all the originals is completed, the display shown in FIG. As described above, the display of the function selection area 2000 and the action panel area 4000 is returned to the original state, and the reading line 161 is erased. The display image after the document reading is completed becomes a standby screen for starting the output process.

Next, an operation for executing image output by the touch panel display 130 in the image forming apparatus 100 of the present embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 23 is an explanatory view showing a display screen for instructing start of image reading by the first output processing in the image output means of the image forming apparatus of the present embodiment, and FIG. 24 is an image by the first output processing in the image output means. FIG. 25 is an explanatory diagram showing a display screen for instructing start of image output by the second output processing in the image output means.

  In the image forming apparatus 100 of the present embodiment, when the image output unit 107 outputs an image, the user selects one of the two methods of the first output process and the second output process. Executed.

(First output process)
When the image forming apparatus 100 outputs an image by the first output process, as shown in FIG. 23, the copy mode is selected and the scan-in key 5102 on the display screen is touched to perform the first output process. Output processing is selected, and reading of the document is started.

  When document reading is started in the first output process, a preview image is displayed as shown in FIGS. 14 to 22 based on the image data of the read document. When the reading of the original is completed, as shown in FIG. 24, a standby screen on which the output image is displayed as a preview is displayed, and an instruction waiting state for starting the image output process is entered.

  When image output is started, the start of image output is instructed by touching the color start key 5108 on the standby screen shown in FIG.

  As described above, according to the first output process, after the display image based on the read image data is preview-displayed, the output process is executed in response to an instruction to start image output. In this case, the output processing can be performed after confirming the output contents in advance by the preview image, and the image output without mistakes can be performed.

  Also, the display image displayed on the display panel 132 in the first output process includes the function selection area 2000, the action screen, and the copy mode initial screen shown in FIG. 23 and the standby screen for starting the image output process shown in FIG. A panel area 4000 and a task trigger area 5000 are displayed. Further, in the task trigger area 5000, a scan-in key 5102 and a color start key 5108 are similarly displayed on any display screen. Thus, the user can perform the document reading operation and the image output operation without hesitation when performing the image output by the first output processing.

(Second output process)
In the image forming apparatus 100, when the image is output by the second output process, as shown in FIG. 25, the copy mode is selected and the color start key 5108 on the display screen is touched to perform the output process. The second output process is selected and image output is started.

  When image output is started in the second output processing, the image data of the read original is stored in the storage means 105, and then an image is directly output based on the image data without displaying a preview.

  As described above, according to the second output processing, since there is no processing step for performing preview display, image output can be performed quickly.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 25, the display image displayed on the display panel 132 in the second output process is similar to the display screen in the first output process, as in the function selection area 2000, the action panel area 4000, and A task trigger area 5000 is displayed. Further, in the task trigger area 5000, a color start key 5108 is displayed as in the standby screen for starting the image output process in the first output process shown in FIG. Thus, the user can perform an image output operation without hesitation when performing image output by the second output process.

  With the above configuration, according to the present embodiment, in the image forming apparatus 100, as the output processing function 1311 of the operation unit side control unit 131, image data is input by the document reading unit 102 and then output. First output processing for outputting an image after previewing the image on the display panel 132, and outputting the image without displaying the output image on the display panel 132 after the image data is input by the document reading unit 102 And a scan-in key (first execution button) 5102 for giving an instruction to execute the first output process as an execution button in a task trigger area 5000 constituting the display panel 132. A monochrome start key (second execution button) 5106 for giving an instruction to execute the second output process, and The first output process is started by operating the scan start key 5102, and the second output process by operating the monochrome start key 5106 or the color start key 5108. Therefore, by simply turning on the scan-in key 5102, it is possible to continuously execute from the start of scanning to the preview. After turning on the monochrome start key 5106 or the color start key 5108, the scan is started. Since output can be executed continuously without previewing, it is possible to realize an image forming apparatus excellent in user interface with greatly improved operability for performing output processing.

  For example, when emphasizing the finish of an image, the first output process can be selected simply by turning on the scan-in key 5102, and the output process can be performed after confirming the output contents in advance using a preview image. Therefore, it is possible to perform image output without any mistakes.

  On the other hand, when importance is attached to the speed of the output process, the second output process is selected only by turning on the monochrome start key 5106 or the color start key 5108, and the input image is displayed without displaying a preview. Since immediate output processing can be performed on data, rapid image output can be performed.

  In addition, according to the present embodiment, the configuration of the standby screen for starting the output process displayed on the display panel 132 is the scan-in key regardless of whether the first output process or the second output process is performed. Since the same standby screen displaying the 5102, monochrome start key 5106 and color start key 5108 is used, it is possible to easily select and perform an output process desired by the user without performing mode switching or the like.

  In the present embodiment, the example in which the operation unit 120 according to the present invention is applied to the image forming apparatus 100 as shown in FIG. 1 has been described. However, a preview of a document image can be displayed on a display panel or the like before printing. The image forming apparatus including the operation unit is not limited to the image forming apparatus and the copying machine having the above-described configuration, and can be developed to other image forming apparatuses.

  As described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the claims. It is obvious for those skilled in the art that various changes or modifications can be conceived within the scope of the claims, that is, changes are made as appropriate without departing from the scope of the present invention. Embodiments obtained by combining technical means are also included in the technical scope of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Image forming apparatus 101 Main control part 102 Document reading part (input means)
103 Image Processing Unit 104 Image Forming Unit (Image Forming Unit)
105 Storage means 107 Image output means 120 Operation unit 130 Touch panel display (display means)
131 Operation unit side control section (display control means)
132 Display panel (display means)
134 touch panel 135 operation position detection means 136 screen display means 137 display image generation means 1000 system area 1311 output processing function 2000 function selection area 3000 preview area 4000 action panel area 5000 task trigger area (operation area)
5100 Execution button group 5102 Scan-in key (execution button)
5104 Clear all key (execution button)
5106 Monochrome start key (execution button)
5108 Color start key (execution button)
5109 Stop key (execution button)

Claims (2)

An input unit that inputs image data; an output unit that outputs an image formed based on the image data; and a storage unit that stores image data input from the input unit. Display image generating means for generating a display image based on the image data, display means for displaying the display image generated by the display image generating means, and previewing the display image based on the image data input from the input means In an image forming apparatus comprising a display control unit having a display function and an output processing function for executing an output process by the output unit,
As the output processing function, when the image data is input by the input unit, the display control unit previews continuously output images on the display unit, and the input of all the image data is completed. A first output process for outputting images of all input image data after the display image of the state is displayed, and a preview of the output image after the image data is input by the input means A second output process for continuously executing a process of outputting images of all the image data input without being displayed,
The display means includes an operation area in which an execution button is provided,
In the operation area, a first execution button for giving an instruction to execute the first output process and a second execution button for giving an instruction to execute the second output process are displayed as the execution buttons. ,
The first output process is started by operating the first execution button,
The second output process is started by operating the second execution button ,
After operating the first execution button, the first execution button is changed to an execution button for interrupting the reading operation and displayed . In the output process performed by the output unit, the display control unit displays the standby screen for starting the output process displayed on the display unit in either the first output process or the second output process. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the same standby screen on which the execution button and the second execution button are displayed is displayed.

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