Image forming apparatus

Abstract

To enable a user to operate even a failed hard key while minimizing screen switching operation by the user.SOLUTION: The image forming apparatus includes a display-and-input panel (11) including a display unit (21) and a touch panel (22), an operation panel unit (6) including a plurality of hard keys such as a start key, a stop key, and a numeric keypad, a key detection unit (23) that detects a failure of a hard key, and a control unit (7) that, when the key detection unit (23) detects a failure of a hard key, reduces a normal display screen G10 of the display-and-input panel (11) and displays the reduced normal display screen A21 in a reduction area A22, and displays a button imitating a hard key of an input-key unit (12) in an expansion area LA that is an empty area after the reduction.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus that allows operation while minimizing screen switching as much as possible when a hard key malfunctions. [Background technology]

[0002] Printers equipped with an operation panel consisting of a touch panel display and buttons (hard keys) are well known.

[0003] Patent Document 1, particularly claim 1, discloses a technology relating to an image forming apparatus equipped with a touch panel and multiple hard keys as input means, the image forming apparatus including key failure detection means for detecting a failure in any of the multiple hard keys, and display switching means for displaying an error message on the touch panel screen for each function of the hard key indicating that the hard key detected by the key failure detection means cannot be used. Furthermore, claim 2 of Patent Document 1 discloses that the display switching means displays the hard keys detected by the key failure detection means on the touch panel screen by function. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2010-111044 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] However, in the technology described in Patent Document 1, the display switching means displays the hard keys detected by the key failure detection means on the touch panel screen by function, but if multiple hard keys fail or if it is necessary to operate both the soft keys and hard keys displayed on the touch panel, it is necessary to switch the displayed screen and operate them, which is very inconvenient for the user.

[0006] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned problems, and its purpose is to provide an image forming apparatus that can be operated while minimizing screen switching as much as possible when a hard key fails. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] In order to achieve the above object, the image forming apparatus according to the present invention is characterized by: an operation panel unit having a panel unit and a plurality of hard keys; a key detection unit that detects a malfunction of the hard key; a control unit that reduces the screen of the panel unit and displays buttons that resemble the hard keys in the remaining free space when the key detection unit detects a malfunction of the hard keys; The reason is that it is equipped with the following. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to the features of the image forming apparatus of the present invention, even if a hard key fails, operation can be performed while minimizing screen switching as much as possible. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a printing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 2] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a normal display screen displayed on a display / input panel provided in the printing device according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] 10 is a diagram showing an example of an extended display screen displayed on a display / input panel provided in the printing device according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. [Figure 4] 10 is a flowchart showing the processing content of the printing device according to the embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The same or equivalent parts and components are designated by the same or equivalent reference numerals throughout the drawings. However, it should be noted that the drawings are schematic and may differ from the actual product. Furthermore, the drawings may include parts with different dimensional relationships and ratios.

[0011] Furthermore, the embodiments shown below are merely examples of devices that embody the technical concept of the present invention, and the technical concept of the present invention does not limit the arrangement of each component to that shown below. Various modifications can be made to the technical concept of the present invention within the scope of the claims.

[0012] 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a printing device according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the printing device 1 according to the present embodiment includes an image reading unit 2, a paper feed unit 3, a printing unit 4, a paper discharge unit 5, an operation panel unit 6, and a control unit 7.

[0013] The image reading unit 2 optically reads an image of a document and generates image data.

[0014] The paper feed unit 3 feeds the paper sheets stacked on a paper feed tray to the printing unit 4.

[0015] The printing unit 4 prints on paper fed by the paper feed unit 3 based on image data generated by the image reading unit 2 or image data input to the printing device 1 from an external terminal. The printing unit 4 has a printing mechanism such as an inkjet system.

[0016] The paper discharge unit 5 discharges the paper printed by the printing unit 4 onto a paper discharge tray.

[0017] The operation panel unit 6 receives various input operations from the user and includes a display / input panel 11 and an input key unit 12.

[0018] The display / input panel 11 displays an input screen and accepts input operations by a user. The display / input panel 11 includes a display unit 21 and a touch panel 22.

[0019] The display unit 21 displays various input screens, etc. The display unit 21 is made up of a liquid crystal display panel, etc.

[0020] The touch panel 22 is disposed on top of the display unit 21. The touch panel 22 detects a touch operation by an operator. Specifically, the touch panel 22 detects the contact position on the touch panel 22 with the operator's finger, a touch pen, or the like, and outputs the coordinate data to the control unit 7.

[0021] The input key unit 12 includes various hard keys such as a start key, a stop key, a numeric keypad (none of which are shown), etc. The input key unit 12 also includes a key detection unit 23 that detects failures of the various hard keys such as the start key, the stop key, the numeric keypad (none of which are shown).

[0022] The control unit 7 controls the overall operation of the printing device 1. The control unit 7 is configured with a CPU, RAM, ROM, a hard disk, and the like.

[0023] When the key detection unit 23 detects a malfunction of a hard key, the control unit 7 reduces the screen of the display / input panel 11 and displays buttons that resemble hard keys in the empty space left after the reduction.

[0024] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a normal display screen displayed on the display / input panel 11, and FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of an extended display screen displayed on the display / input panel 11.

[0025] As shown in FIG. 2, when the key detection unit 23 detects a hardware key failure, the control unit 7 displays a panel error display screen G11 superimposed on the normal display screen G10 displayed on the display / input panel 11.

[0026] The panel error display screen G11 displays text notifying the occurrence of a problem, such as "A problem has occurred with the keys on the operation panel." The panel error display screen G11 also displays a button B11 for expanding the touch panel display, along with the message "You can display the keys in expanded display mode until the problem is resolved."

[0027] When the user presses the button B11 displayed on the display / input panel 11, the control unit 7 causes the display / input panel 11 to display the extended display screen G20 shown in FIG.

[0028] As shown in FIG. 3, the expanded display screen G20 has a reduced area A21, which is an area where the normal display screen G10 is displayed in a reduced size, and an expanded area A22 where buttons resembling hard keys are displayed.

[0029] The reduced area A21 displays the normal display screen G10 shown in Fig. 2 in a reduced size to the extent that the characters of the soft keys such as "copy" and "scan" are recognizable. At this time, the reduced normal display screen G10 displayed in the reduced area A21 is reduced as a whole, so the arrangement of the soft keys such as "copy" and "scan" maintains the same positional relationship as on the normal display screen G10 before reduction.

[0030] The extended area A22 is displayed in the available space remaining after the normal display screen G10 is reduced from the entire displayable area of ​​the display / input panel 11. Within this extended area A22, buttons that are software-simulated versions of the hard keys of the input key unit 12, such as the start key, stop key, and numeric keypad, are displayed. At this time, the various software-simulated buttons are displayed so as to maintain the positional relationship of the hard keys arranged in the input key unit 12, such as the arrangement of the numeric keypad.

[0031] In this way, if a hard key of the input key unit 12 fails, the normal display screen G10 of the display / input panel 11 is reduced and displayed in the reduced area A21, and buttons simulating the hard keys of the input key unit 12 are displayed in the expanded area A22, which is the empty area after the reduction, so that the user can operate the failed hard key while minimizing the screen switching operation by the user. Furthermore, by maintaining the relative positional relationship between the hard keys of the display / input panel 11 and the input key unit 12 during the expanded display, it is possible to reduce the user's confusion in operating the buttons.

[0032] FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the processing contents of the printing device 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[0033] As shown in FIG. 4, in step S101, the key detection unit 23 performs a hard key check to check whether or not a failure has occurred in the hard keys of the input key unit 12.

[0034] As a result of the hard key inspection, if the key detection unit 23 detects a failure of the hard key in step S103 (YES), the control unit 7 causes the display / input panel 11 to display a panel error in step S105.

[0035] If an expanded display is instructed in step S107, that is, if the user presses button B11 displayed on display / input panel 11 shown in Fig. 2 (YES), then in step S109, control unit 7 executes touch panel expanded display on display / input panel 11. Specifically, control unit 7 reduces normal display screen G10 of display / input panel 11 and displays it in reduced area A21, and also displays buttons simulating hard keys of input key unit 12 in expanded area A22, which is an empty area after the reduction.

[0036] (Addendum) The present application discloses the following inventions.

[0037] (Appendix 1) an operation panel unit having a panel unit and a plurality of hard keys; a key detection unit that detects a malfunction of the hard key; a display control unit that reduces the screen of the panel unit and displays buttons that resemble the hard keys in the free space left after the reduction when the key detection unit detects a malfunction of the hard keys; An image forming apparatus comprising:

[0038] This allows the user to operate the broken hard key while minimizing the need for a user to switch screens, thereby reducing the downtime required to replace the operation panel or repair the broken hard key. [Explanation of symbols]

[0039] 1 Printing device 2 Image reading unit 3 Paper feed section 4 Printing Department 5 Paper output section 6 Operation panel 7 Control Unit 11 Display / input panel (panel section) 12 Input key section 21 Display section 22 Touch Panel 23 Key detection unit

Claims

[Claim 1] an operation panel unit having a panel unit and a plurality of hard keys; a key detection unit that detects a malfunction of the hard key; a control unit that reduces the screen of the panel unit and displays buttons that resemble the hard keys in the remaining free space when the key detection unit detects a malfunction of the hard keys; An image forming apparatus comprising:

Images