Information processing apparatus and image forming apparatus

Abstract

To allow a user to recognize the occurrence of a malfunction in a rotation operation of a display section immediately after the occurrence of the malfunction.SOLUTION: An image forming apparatus 1 comprises: a rectangular display section 473 that has long sides and short sides; a rotation mechanism that allows the display section 473 to rotate between a horizontal posture in which the long sides define the top and bottom and a vertical posture in which the short sides define the top and bottom; a detection sensor that detects switching between the horizontal posture and the vertical posture of the display section 473; and a control section that performs display on the display section 473 according to the posture of the display section 473 on the basis of a result of detection performed by the detection sensor. When the control section determines that the posture of the display section 473 is switched at a predetermined frequency or higher on the basis of the result of detection performed by the detection sensor, it displays, on the display section 473, a message M1 or M2 indicating the occurrence of a malfunction related to a rotation operation of the display section 473.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 8

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus and an image forming apparatus. [Background technology]

[0002] Some information processing devices such as image forming devices have a rectangular display unit with long and short sides, and the display screen can be rotated between portrait and landscape orientations. The following Patent Document 1 describes an image forming device that has a rectangular display unit with long and short sides, and a rotation mechanism that rotates the display unit between landscape orientation, where the long side is the top and bottom, and portrait orientation, where the short side is the top and bottom. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2021-100210 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] When the display unit of the image forming apparatus is rotatably supported and can be switched between landscape and portrait orientations, there is a possibility that the display unit may not be stably held in landscape or portrait orientation due to aging deterioration of the switching mechanism, etc., resulting in a malfunction in the rotation operation of the display unit. For example, when the display unit is to switch and display a display screen in an orientation corresponding to each landscape or portrait orientation of the display unit, if the display unit is not stably held in the landscape or portrait orientation, the landscape or portrait orientation of the display unit cannot be accurately detected, and the display screen cannot be accurately switched in accordance with the landscape or portrait orientation of the display unit. In this case, the user will view a display screen in an orientation that does not correspond to the orientation of the display unit.

[0005] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above circumstances, and has an object to allow a user to immediately recognize the occurrence of a problem when a problem occurs in the rotation operation of a display unit. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] An information processing device according to one aspect of the present invention comprises a rectangular display unit having a long side and a short side, a rotation mechanism that enables the display unit to be rotated between a landscape orientation in which the long side is up and a portrait orientation in which the short side is up and down, a detection sensor that detects whether the display unit is in a landscape or portrait orientation, and a control unit that causes the display unit to display an image corresponding to the landscape or portrait orientation of the display unit based on the detection result by the detection sensor, and when the control unit determines based on the detection result by the detection sensor that the orientation of the display unit is switching between the landscape or portrait state more frequently than a predetermined frequency, it causes the display unit to display a message indicating the occurrence of a malfunction related to the rotation operation of the display unit.

[0007] An image forming apparatus according to one aspect of the present invention includes the information processing apparatus according to the one aspect of the present invention and an image forming section that forms an image on a recording medium. Effect of the Invention

[0008] According to the present invention, when the attitude of the display unit changes frequently, which is equal to or greater than a predetermined frequency, a message indicating that a malfunction has occurred with the rotational operation of the display unit is displayed on the display unit. In normal use, the attitude of the display unit is unlikely to change frequently. In other words, when the attitude of the display unit changes frequently, there is a high possibility that a malfunction has occurred with the rotational operation of the display unit. In the present invention, when it is detected that the attitude of the display unit changes frequently, a message indicating that a malfunction has occurred with the rotational operation of the display unit is displayed on the display unit, so that the user can immediately recognize that a malfunction has occurred with the rotational operation of the display unit. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] 1 is a front cross-sectional view showing a structure of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Diagram 2]1 is a functional block diagram illustrating a schematic internal configuration of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Diagram 3] 13A to 13G are diagrams illustrating an example of rotation of a display unit. [Figure 4] 13(A) and (B) are diagrams illustrating changes in a signal output from a detection sensor. [Diagram 5] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of an operation screen displayed on a display unit. [Figure 6] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of an operation screen displayed on a display unit. [Figure 7] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of an operation screen displayed on a display unit. [Figure 8] 10 is a flowchart showing an example of an error display process associated with a change in the attitude of the display unit by the control unit. [Figure 9] 5A and 5B are diagrams showing an example of an operation screen displayed on a display unit. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0010] An information processing device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. The information processing device according to an embodiment of the present invention is, for example, an image forming device. FIG. 1 is a front cross-sectional view showing the structure of an image forming device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram showing a schematic main internal configuration of an image forming device according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the following, left, right, top, and bottom directions may be indicated, but these indicate directions as examples in each drawing unless otherwise specified.

[0011] The image forming apparatus 1 is a multifunction machine having multiple functions such as a copy function, a printer function, a scanner function, and a facsimile function. The image forming apparatus 1 includes a control unit 10, a document feed unit 6, a document reading unit 5, an image forming unit 12, a fixing unit 13, a paper feed unit 14, an operation unit 47, a network interface unit 91, and a storage unit 8.

[0012] The document feed unit 6 is configured to be openable and closable by a hinge or the like (not shown) on the top surface of the document reading unit 5. The document feed unit 6 functions as a document pressing cover when the document reading unit 5 reads a document placed on a platen glass (not shown). The document feed unit 6 is also an ADF (Auto Document Feeder), and includes a document placement tray (not shown), and supplies the document placed on the document placement tray to the document reading unit 5.

[0013] The document reading unit 5 includes a scanner and the like, and reads a document fed from a document feeding unit 6, or reads a document placed on a platen glass.

[0014] A description will be given of a case where a document reading operation is performed by the image forming apparatus 1. The document reading unit 5 optically reads an image of a document supplied to the document reading unit 5 by the document feeding unit 6 or a document placed on the platen glass, and generates image data. The image data generated by the document reading unit 5 is stored in an image memory or the like (not shown).

[0015] A case where an image forming operation is performed by the image forming apparatus 1 will be described. The image forming unit 12 is a mechanism that includes a photoconductor drum, a charging device, an exposure device, a developing device, and a primary transfer device for each color, and forms an image on a recording paper by secondary transfer via an intermediate transfer belt. The image forming unit 12 forms a toner image on a recording paper as a recording medium fed from a paper feed unit 14 based on image data generated by a document reading operation, image data stored in an image memory, etc., image data received from a computer connected to a network, etc., to create a printed matter. The paper feed unit 14 includes a paper feed cassette, and further includes a pickup roller that picks up the recording paper from the paper feed cassette and feeds it to the image forming unit 12, a transport roller, a transport path, and a rotation drive mechanism for each roller.

[0016] The fixing unit 13 is a fixing device equipped with a heat roller, a pressure roller, and a drive mechanism for rotating these, and heats and presses the recording paper on which a toner image has been formed by the image forming unit 12 at the nip between the above-mentioned two rollers, thereby fixing the toner image to the recording paper, and the recording paper that has been subjected to the fixed process is discharged into an output tray (not shown).

[0017] The operation unit 47 includes various hard keys operated by the user, and receives instructions from the user, such as an instruction to execute an image forming operation, for various operations and processes that the image forming apparatus 1 can execute in response to the operation of the hard keys.

[0018] The operation unit 47 includes a display unit 473 that displays operation guidance and the like to the operator, a rotation mechanism 474, a holding mechanism 475, and a detection sensor 476. The operation unit 47 also receives input of instructions from the user based on the user's operation (touch operation) on the screen displayed on the display unit 473 via a touch panel that the display unit 473 has.

[0019] The display unit 473 is a rectangular display having long and short sides, and is made up of an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) or the like. When the operator touches a button or key displayed on the screen, the touch panel receives an instruction associated with the touched position. In this case, the touch panel functions as an operation unit.

[0020] The holding mechanism 475 is an arm-shaped member that attaches the display unit 473 to the device body 120 of the image forming apparatus 1. The holding mechanism 475 rotatably supports the display unit 473 relative to the holding mechanism 475, and temporarily fixes and holds the display unit 473 in each of the horizontal and vertical orientations. The holding mechanism 475 has engagement parts made of recesses provided at positions facing the display unit 473, at positions corresponding to the horizontal and vertical orientation positions of the display unit 473. A protrusion that fits with the engagement part is provided on the side of the display unit 473 facing the holding mechanism 475. When the display unit 473 is in the horizontal orientation (FIGS. 3(A) and (G)) or the vertical orientation (FIG. 3(D)), these recesses and protrusions fit together, and the orientation of the display unit 473 is fixed and held.

[0021] The rotation mechanism 474 is interposed between the holding mechanism 475 and the display unit 473. That is, the holding mechanism 475 rotatably supports the display unit 473 via the rotation mechanism 474. The rotation mechanism 474 includes a rotation shaft, which is rotatably supported by the holding mechanism 475. The rotation shaft is attached to the rectangular center of the side surface of the display unit 473 facing the holding mechanism 475 in a state in which it rotates together with the display unit 473. A cam (described later) that rotates together with the rotation shaft is provided on the circumferential surface of the rotation shaft.

[0022] 3(A) to (G) are diagrams for explaining an example of rotation of the display unit 473. The horizontally oriented display unit 473 shown in FIG. 3(A) rotates counterclockwise in FIG. 3 to become vertically oriented as shown in FIG. 3(B) to (D). The vertically oriented display unit 473 shown in FIG. 3(D) rotates clockwise to become horizontally oriented as shown in FIG. 3(E) to (G).

[0023] That is, the rotation mechanism 474 is configured to switch the display unit 473 from landscape to portrait orientation by rotating the display unit 473 in a counterclockwise direction in Fig. 3 as viewed from the front side of the display unit 473. Note that the range of the rotation angle of the display unit 473 is not limited to 90 degrees, but here, the case where the range of the rotation angle is 90 degrees is taken as an example. However, the rotation direction of the display unit 473 and the configuration for switching the display unit 473 from landscape to portrait orientation are not limited to this, and this embodiment is merely an example.

[0024] The detection sensor 476 is a switch mechanism that detects the landscape orientation and portrait orientation of the display unit 473. The switch mechanism is provided at a position where it is pressed by a cam lobe (convex portion) of the cam attached to the rotation shaft when the display unit 473 is in the portrait orientation. When the switch mechanism is pressed by the cam lobe, it outputs an ON signal (Low signal) to the control unit 10. In other words, the switch mechanism is disposed at a position where it is not pressed by the cam lobe when the display unit 473 is in any orientation other than the portrait orientation.

[0025] The above-mentioned configuration of rotation mechanism 474, which switches display unit 473 from landscape to portrait by rotating display unit 473 in the counterclockwise direction in FIG. 3 when viewed from the surface of display unit 473, employs, for example, a configuration in which the cam lobe can enter the switch mechanism only when display unit 473 is rotated in the counterclockwise direction and is not possible when display unit 473 is rotated in the clockwise direction (such as providing a convex portion on the outer edge of the switch mechanism that engages with the cam lobe on the path of entry of the cam lobe into the switch mechanism from the clockwise direction).

[0026] 4(A) and (B) are diagrams for explaining changes in a signal output from detection sensor 476 provided at a position corresponding to the portrait orientation of display unit 473. As shown in Fig. 4(A) and (B), detection sensor 476 provided at a position corresponding to the portrait orientation of display unit 473 outputs a Low signal to control unit 10 when display unit 473 is in the portrait orientation (when the switch mechanism is pressed by the cam lobe), and outputs a High signal to control unit 10 otherwise (when the switch mechanism is not pressed by the cam lobe).

[0027] Therefore, the detection sensor 476 outputs a Low signal to the control unit 10 when the display unit 473 is in the portrait orientation shown in Fig. 3(D), but outputs a High signal to the control unit 10 when the display unit 473 is in an orientation other than the portrait orientation shown in Fig. 3(D). As a result, the control unit 100, which will be described later, determines whether the display unit 473 is in a portrait orientation or an orientation other than the portrait orientation based on the signal output from the detection sensor 476. Specifically, the control unit 100 determines that the display unit 473 is in the portrait orientation when the display unit 473 is in the portrait orientation shown in Fig. 3(D), and determines that the display unit 473 is in the landscape orientation in all other orientations.

[0028] The network interface unit 91 is a communication interface for transmitting and receiving various data to and from an external device (for example, a personal computer) within a local area or on the Internet.

[0029] The storage unit 8 is a large-capacity storage device such as a hard disk drive (HDD) or a solid state drive (SSD), and stores various control programs and the like.

[0030] The control unit 10 includes a processor, a random access memory (RAM), a read only memory (ROM), and a dedicated hardware circuit. The processor is, for example, a central processing unit (CPU), an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), or a micro processing unit (MPU). The control unit 10 includes a control unit 100.

[0031] The control unit 10 functions as a control unit 100 by the operation of the processor in accordance with a control program stored in the storage unit 8. However, the control unit 100 can also be configured by a hardware circuit, without relying on the operation of the control unit 10 in accordance with a control program. The same applies to each embodiment below unless otherwise specified.

[0032] The control unit 100 is responsible for controlling the overall operation of the image forming apparatus 1. The control unit 100 is connected to the document feeding unit 6, the document reading unit 5, the image forming unit 12, the fixing unit 13, the paper feeding unit 14, the operation unit 47, the network interface unit 91, and the storage unit 8, and performs drive control of these units. For example, the control unit 100 executes various processes necessary for image formation by the image forming apparatus 1.

[0033] The control unit 100 also controls the display of the display unit 473. For example, the control unit 100 causes the display unit 473 to display an operation screen SC1 as shown in FIG. 5 as a "home screen". The operation screen SC1 has operation keys K1 to K7 called "application icons" or the like arranged thereon. For example, the operation key K4 is an icon with the character string "Copy" and a picture of "Copy". The operation screen SC1 also has operation keys K11 to K16 called "task icons" or the like arranged at the top end, and operation keys K21 and K23 arranged at the right end.

[0034] The control unit 100 performs control based on instructions received by the operation unit 47. For example, when the operation unit 47 receives an instruction for the operation key K4 via the touch panel, the control unit 100 performs display control of the display unit 473 in accordance with the instruction, and transitions the operation screen displayed on the display unit 473 from a "home screen" to a "copy screen" as shown in FIG.

[0035] Based on the detection result by the detection sensor 476, the control unit 100 causes the display unit 473 to display a screen corresponding to the attitude of the display unit 473. Specifically, the control unit 100 controls the display unit 473 based on the detection signal output from the detection sensor 476, and causes the display unit 473 to display a screen corresponding to the attitude of the display unit 473. For example, when the operation screen SC2 shown in Fig. 6 is displayed on the display unit 473, if the detection sensor 476 detects that the display unit 473 has switched from the landscape orientation to the portrait orientation, the control unit 100 transitions the screen displayed on the display unit 473 from the operation screen SC2 (Fig. 6) to an operation screen SC3 as shown in Fig. 7.

[0036] Conversely, when the operation screen SC3 shown in FIG. 7 is displayed on the display unit 473 and the detection sensor 476 detects that the display unit 473 has switched from portrait to landscape orientation, the control unit 100 transitions the screen displayed on the display unit 473 from the operation screen SC3 (FIG. 7) to the operation screen SC2 (FIG. 6).

[0037] Furthermore, when the control unit 100 determines, based on the detection result by the detection sensor 476, that the orientation of the display unit 473 is switched between portrait and landscape orientations at a frequency equal to or greater than a predetermined frequency F, the control unit 100 displays, on the display unit 473, a message indicating the occurrence of a malfunction related to the rotation operation of the display unit 473. Specifically, when the control unit 100 detects a switch in orientation a predetermined number of times C1 or more within a predetermined time T1 from when the detection sensor 476 detects a switch in orientation of the display unit 473 from portrait or landscape orientation to the other orientation (for example, when the control unit 100 detects a switch in orientation five or more times per second), the control unit 100 determines that the orientation of the display unit 473 is switched at a frequency equal to or greater than a predetermined frequency F.

[0038] Next, an example of an error display process associated with a change in the attitude of display unit 473 by control unit 100 will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

[0039] The control unit 100 judges whether the detection sensor 476 has detected a change in the attitude of the display unit 473 (S1). That is, the control unit 100 judges whether the signal output from the detection sensor 476 to the control unit 10 has switched from a High signal to a Low signal, or from a Low signal to a High signal.

[0040] If the control unit 100 determines that the detection sensor 476 has detected a change in the position of the display unit 473 (YES in S1), the control unit 100 resets a counter C for counting changes in the position of the display unit 473 to 0 (S2), resets a timer T built into the control unit 10 to 0, and causes the timer T to start measuring time (S3).

[0041] The control unit 100 determines whether or not the detection sensor 476 has detected a new change in the attitude of the display unit 473 based on the detection signal output from the detection sensor 476 (S4). When the control unit 100 determines that the detection sensor 476 has detected a new change in the attitude of the display unit 473 (YES in S4), the control unit 100 adds 1 to the counter C (S6) and determines whether or not the counter C has reached or exceeded the number C1 (S7).

[0042] When the control unit 100 determines that the counter C has reached or exceeded the number C1 (YES in S7), it causes the display unit 473 to display messages M1 and M2 indicating the occurrence of a problem with the rotation operation of the display unit 473, such as "There is a problem with the rotation operation of the operation panel. Please contact a service representative," in a display mode that matches the orientation of the display unit 473 at that time, based on the detection signal output from the detection sensor 476, as shown in Fig. 9(A) and (B) (S8). After this, the process ends.

[0043] On the other hand, if the control unit 100 determines that the counter C is not equal to or greater than the number C1 (NO in S7), the process proceeds to S5.

[0044] If the control unit 100 determines that the counter C has not reached or exceeded the number C1 (NO in S7), or if the control unit 100 determines in S4 that the detection sensor 476 has not detected a new change in the position of the display unit 473 (NO in S4), it determines whether the timer T has reached the time T1 (S5).

[0045] Here, if the control unit 100 determines that the timer T has reached the time T1 (YES in S5), this process ends. On the other hand, if the control unit 100 determines that the timer T has not reached the time T1 (NO in S5), the process returns to S4.

[0046] According to the above embodiment, when the orientation of the display unit 473 is frequently changed, messages M1 and M2 are displayed on the display unit 473 indicating the occurrence of a problem related to the rotational operation of the display unit 473.

[0047] In normal use, the position of the display unit 473 rarely changes frequently. In other words, when the position of the display unit 473 changes frequently, there is a high possibility that a malfunction has occurred in the rotation operation of the display unit 473. For example, a malfunction due to deterioration of the holding mechanism 475 may be the cause. The fit between the recessed and protruding parts described above may become loose, and the position of the display unit 473 may not be stably held in the portrait position. For this reason, when the position of the display unit 473 changes frequently (when there is a high possibility that a malfunction has occurred in the rotation operation of the display unit 473), the above messages M1 and M2 are displayed on the display unit 473 to make the user aware that a malfunction has occurred in the rotation operation of the display unit 473.

[0048] In S8, control unit 100 causes display unit 473 to display message M1 or M2 in a display mode that matches the orientation of display unit 473 based on the detection signal output from detection sensor 476. Alternatively, when displaying message M1 or M2 in S8, control unit 100 may cause display unit 473 to display message M1 or M2 in a display mode that corresponds to one of the predetermined orientations, either landscape or portrait, regardless of the detection result indicated by the detection signal output from detection sensor 476. When a malfunction occurs in the rotation operation of display unit 473, if message M1 or M2 is displayed on display unit 473 in a display mode that matches the orientation of display unit 473, the orientation of the image displayed on display unit 473 will frequently switch between landscape and portrait in response to slight rotations of display unit 473, making it difficult for the user to view the message. Therefore, in order to improve message visibility for the user, message M1 or M2 is displayed on display unit 473 in a display mode fixed to one of the predetermined orientations.

[0049] The information processing device according to an embodiment of the present invention is, for example, a personal computer or the like, and includes at least an operation unit 47, a display unit 473, a rotation mechanism 474, a detection sensor 476, and a control unit 100. The image forming unit 12 is not an essential component of the information processing device according to an embodiment of the present invention. Even when the control unit 100 causes the display unit 473 to display image data stored in, for example, a built-in memory or HDD, the control unit 100 performs display control associated with the change in the attitude of the display unit 473 by the control unit 100 described above. In this case, the process related to image formation described above is not performed as a matter of course.

[0050] In addition, in image forming apparatus 1, memory unit 8 has a document box as its memory area, and when image data to be displayed on display unit 473 is stored in the document box, control unit 100 also performs display control in association with changes in the attitude of display unit 473 by control unit 100 described above when displaying this image data on display unit 473.

[0051] The present invention is not limited to the configuration of the above embodiment, and various modifications are possible. In addition, in the above embodiment, the configuration and processing shown in the above embodiment using Figures 1 to 9 are merely one embodiment of the present invention, and the present invention is not limited to the configuration and processing. [Explanation of symbols]

[0052] 1. Image forming device 100 Control section 473 Display section 474 Rotation Mechanism 476 Detection Sensor

Claims

1. A rectangular display unit having long and short sides; a rotation mechanism that enables the display unit to be rotated between a landscape orientation in which the long side is the top and bottom and a portrait orientation in which the short side is the top and bottom; A detection sensor that detects whether the display unit is in a landscape or portrait orientation; and a control unit that causes the display unit to display a display according to the landscape or portrait orientation of the display unit based on a detection result by the detection sensor, When the control unit determines, based on the detection results by the detection sensor, that the orientation of the display unit is switching between the landscape state or the portrait state at a frequency greater than a predetermined frequency, the information processing device causes the display unit to display a message indicating that a malfunction has occurred with the rotation operation of the display unit.

2. 2. The information processing device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit determines that the attitude of the display unit is changing at a frequency greater than or equal to the predetermined frequency when the control unit detects a change in attitude of the display unit a predetermined number of times or more within a predetermined time after the detection sensor detects a change in attitude of the display unit.

3. 2. The information processing device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit, when displaying the message on the display unit, displays the message on the display unit in a display mode corresponding to one of the predetermined orientations, the landscape orientation or the portrait orientation, regardless of the detection result by the detection sensor.

4. An information processing device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, An image forming apparatus comprising: an image forming unit that forms an image on a recording medium.

Images