JPH0714750U - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Abstract] [Purpose] An image forming apparatus capable of easily editing an image and forming and outputting the image without the need for a monitor display or an editor. [Structure] Key switches 3, which are arranged on the operation panel 1.
By operating 4, 5 and touch keys 11 to 16 in the touch panel type liquid crystal display unit 2, an image displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 2 can be enlarged or reduced, or a plurality of images can be displayed at the same time. An image can be displayed and confirmed, and the key switches 3, 4, arranged on the operation panel
5 or moving, erasing, inserting, enlarging / reducing an image displayed on the touch panel type liquid crystal display section 2 provided in the operation panel 1 and displaying a plurality of images at the same time by the touch keys displayed on the touch panel type liquid crystal display section 2. An image forming apparatus for forming and outputting an edited image on a recording material by performing selection operations such as.

Description

[Detailed description of the device]

[0001]

[Industrial applications]

 The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a printer, a facsimile (hereinafter referred to as FAX), an optical filing, and the like, and is particularly characterized by an operation / display unit.

[0002]

[Prior art]

 As shown in the block diagram of FIG. 7, a conventional image forming apparatus normally includes an image reading device 31 that reads an original image and an image forming device that prints out an image on a recording sheet or the like based on the read image information. An output device 32, an operation unit 33 for operating the device, and a display unit 34 for displaying the number of outputs input from the operation unit 33, the image forming mode such as image / paper size, density, and other predetermined information. A storage device 35 that stores image information and the like, and a control device 36 that controls the operation of each of the above devices and each unit. Further, an image forming apparatus equipped with an image information input / output device 37 for inputting / outputting image information to / from an external device is becoming popular.

Conventionally, in a multifunctional image processing apparatus having functions such as copying, printer, FAX, and filing, a touch panel type liquid crystal display unit is incorporated in a panel of the operation unit from the viewpoint of operability.

In addition, when the read image is edited on the monitor, a large monitor display is required in addition to the liquid crystal display unit of the operation unit. Alternatively, an image is edited using an editing device for inputting with a pen (hereinafter referred to as an editor).

[0005]

[Problems to be solved by the device]

 However, having a large monitor screen in addition to the liquid crystal display unit provided on the operation panel has problems such as an increase in cost due to an increase in system components and an increase in size of the system.

The present invention was made in order to solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art. An image can be easily edited without providing a monitor display or an editor, which is separate from the image forming apparatus. It is an object of the present invention to provide an image forming apparatus capable of image forming output.

[0007]

[Means for Solving the Problems]

 Therefore, the image forming apparatus according to the present invention comprises an image reading means for reading a document image, an image forming output means, a storage means for storing image information, an operating means, and a display means for displaying an image to be formed. An image forming device for forming and outputting an image on a recording medium, the control device having a function of editing image information based on an input from the operating device, wherein the operating device and the display device are key switches and a touch panel. And a liquid crystal display device of a touch panel type are formed on an operation panel, and the operation means arranged on the operation panel moves and erases an image displayed on a touch panel type liquid crystal display device provided on the operation panel. It is intended to achieve the above-mentioned object by a configuration characterized by performing selection operations such as insertion, enlargement / reduction, and simultaneous display of a plurality of images.

[0008]

[Action]

 With the above configuration, the key switch and the touch panel type liquid crystal display device arranged on the operation panel can be operated to perform image forming output and display the formed image for confirmation. Further, the operation of the operation means provided on the operation panel, that is, the movement of the image displayed on the touch panel type liquid crystal display device provided on the operation panel by the key switch or the touch key displayed on the touch panel type liquid crystal display device, By performing selection operations such as erasing, inserting, enlarging / reducing, and displaying a plurality of images at the same time, the image editing operation can be easily performed and the image formation output can be performed.

[0009]

【Example】

 An image forming apparatus according to the present invention will be described below with reference to embodiments.

The configuration of the main blocks of the embodiment conforms to the configuration of the conventional image forming apparatus described with reference to FIG. 7, so redundant description will be omitted, and the operation means and the display, which are the features of the embodiment, will be omitted below. The means will be described. The control means has a function of editing the image information based on the operations and inputs described below and displaying and outputting the information on the display means, and is configured to form and output the edited image on the recording material. There is.

First Embodiment FIG. 1 is an external view of an operation panel according to the first embodiment. 1 is an operation panel, 2 is a touch panel type liquid crystal display, 3 is a copy start key, 4 is a numeric keypad, and 5 is a function expansion one-touch key.

Reference numerals 11 to 16 denote touch keys in a touch panel type liquid crystal display unit (hereinafter, referred to as a liquid crystal display unit) 2. 11 is a copy function, 12 is a fax function, 13 is a printer function, and 14 is a filing function function. This is a function selection key, and the display screen becomes a screen corresponding to each function by touch operation. Reference numeral 15 is an edit, and 16 is a touch key for selecting a layout, which will be described in detail later.

The copy start key 3 is a key switch for instructing copy start in the copy function, transmission start in the FAX function, and accumulation start in the filing function.

The numeric keypad 4 is a key used for setting the number of sheets in the copy function and operating a telephone number in the FAX function. The function expansion one-touch key 5 is a key for one-touch connection with a telephone number registered in the FAX function, for example.

FIG. 2 is a display explanatory view of the liquid crystal display unit 2 provided on the operation panel, and the operation and display of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

In FIG. 2, a document 1 and a document 2 are images read from an image reading unit (hereinafter referred to as a reader unit) or images stored in a storage device (hereinafter referred to as an image storage unit).

The original image read by the reader unit can be monitored on the liquid crystal display unit 2 in real time, or can be sequentially stored in the image storage unit.

In this embodiment, for the sake of simplicity, the operation and display of two originals will be described. The display 1 shown in FIG. 2 shows a state in which a file of an image read by the reader section or an image stored in the image storage section is displayed on the liquid crystal display section 2 of the operation panel 1.

The display 1 is configured to be displayed by touching either the edit touch key 15 or the layout touch key 16 in the liquid crystal display unit 2 shown in FIG. 1 with a finger, and the edit touch key 15 is selected. In this case, the mode is such that copying, moving, erasing, inserting, etc. of the image on the liquid crystal display unit 2 is performed, and when the layout touch key 16 is selected, the image information is only monitored on the liquid crystal display unit 2. It becomes a mode.

Display 1 is a state in which all the images read by the reader unit or the images stored in the image information storage unit are displayed, and if there are too many image files stored, they will not fit on the screen. If there is no page, the pages are displayed one by one by flipping the screen pages.

When selecting one of the several images listed on the display 1, the image to be selected on the liquid crystal display unit 2 is selected by touching it with a finger.

When the manuscript 1 is selected on the display 1, one image selected as on the display 2 is displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 2.

In the display 2, a cursor 17 for scrolling the selected image up, down, left and right is displayed, and when scrolling is desired, the cursor 17 in the scroll direction is touched with a finger.

When the layout touch key 16 shown in FIG. 1 is selected and touched, the functions of enlarging, reducing, and moving (scrolling) for displaying the layout of the image are provided.

When the edit touch key 15 shown in FIG. 1 is selectively touched, the image can be processed and edited on the liquid crystal display unit 2. Image processing and editing operations will be described with reference to the explanatory diagram shown in FIG.

In the display 3 shown in FIG. 3, when the copy display touch key 22 in the liquid crystal display unit 2 is touched, a message (not shown) “Please specify range” is displayed. Alternatively, the range can be designated by touching the range designation display touch key 21 in advance.

The designated range is determined by touching the X mark portions at the upper left corner and the lower right corner shown in the display 3 of FIG. 3 with a finger. If you want to move and copy within the same image after specifying the range, touch the cursors 27, 28, 29, 30 with your finger to scroll the image in the liquid crystal display unit 2, and touch the OK display touch key 31 at the desired position. Push.

When it is desired to combine the image with the specified range with another image, the file display touch key 26 in the liquid crystal display unit 2 is touched. When the file display touch key 26 is touched, the display 1 screen shown in FIG. 2 is displayed, and it is possible to select which image is to be combined.

In the explanatory view of the present embodiment, the original 2 shown in FIG. 2 is selected here and a desired image is combined, and a state in which the image of the original 1 shown in FIG. It is shown as display 4 in FIG.

In the display 3 of FIG. 3, the image in the liquid crystal display unit 2 is reduced / enlarged by touching the reduction / enlargement touch keys 32, 33, 34, 35.

The menu next page touch key 25 in the liquid crystal display unit 2 is a touch key used when using functions such as partial enlargement and partial reduction other than copying, moving, and erasing.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing the flow of operations and displays in the first embodiment described above.

In step S2, it is selected whether to output the standard screen display as it is in step S1, or to edit / lay out, and in step S4, select whether to edit or lay out. When the layout operation is selected, the process proceeds to step S5, step S6, and step S7, and the image selection, enlargement, reduction, and scroll operations described above are performed.

When the editing operation is selected in step S4, an image is selected in steps S8, S9, and S10, and operations such as enlargement, reduction, and partial processing are performed. When the combination is selected in step S11, the images to be combined are selected and combined in steps S12 and S13.

Then, the process proceeds to step S14, and when the image is stored, the process proceeds to step S16 to store and store the image in the image information storage unit. If it is not saved, "copyable" is displayed in step S15, and when the display on the display unit is completed, the process proceeds to step S18 to return to the state of displaying the next original image on the standard screen.

As described above, in this embodiment, the image forming output is operated by the key switches 3, 4 and 5 arranged on the operation panel 1 and the touch panel type liquid crystal display unit 2 to display an image to be formed. It can be displayed and confirmed, and further, by touching the touch key on the display surface of the liquid crystal display unit 2 to operate it, the image displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 2 can be edited to enlarge or reduce the size. Since an edited image can be displayed, it is possible to easily edit the image and output the edited image by operating the key switches 3, 4, 5 arranged on the operation panel 1 and the touch panel type liquid crystal display unit 2. You can

Second Embodiment Since the main structural blocks of the second embodiment are the same as those of the first embodiment, duplicate explanations are omitted, and the operation and display of the key switches and the liquid crystal display unit provided on the operation panel are omitted. explain.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of a key switch group provided on the operation panel of the second embodiment, and will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2 of the first embodiment.

In the second embodiment, the screen in the touch panel type liquid crystal display unit 2 described in the first embodiment is edited by a key switch.

Similar to the first embodiment, when the edit touch key 15 or the layout touch key 16 is selected in FIG. 1, the screen of display 1 shown in FIG. 2 is displayed.

Here, in the first embodiment, the image to be displayed is selected and edited by the touch operation on the liquid crystal display unit 2. In the second embodiment, the image is selected and edited by the key switch. As an example of the operation using the key switch, the case of using the numeric keypad 4 will be described below, but the operation function may be provided to another key switch.

Each of the ten-keys 4 has an extended function for image editing, and the function is silk-screen printed near the key. In the present embodiment ,,, and serve as keys for scrolling up, down, left, and right, respectively, are contraction, expansion, move, copy, * delete, and # insert. Is for marking the start and end points when specifying the area.

When the touch key 16 of the layout function is selected, screen scrolling and enlargement / reduction operations are possible, and when the touch key 15 of the editing function is selected, other key switches for the editing function are valid. Become.

For example, to obtain the same result as the display 4 shown in FIG. 3 of the first embodiment, first, the edit touch key 15 of the touch panel type liquid crystal display unit 2 is selected. Then, when the screen becomes display 1, select the number of the image you want to select by using the numeric keypad or moving the cursor.

In this case, the display 2 can be obtained by pressing “0”. Next, move the cursor and use the marking keys 5 to mark the locations shown in display 2 in Fig. 3 and then call again standard image → edit →, "0" and image 2 and place it on the image you want to combine. 1 area image is synthesized.

FIG. 6 is a flow chart showing the flow of operations and displays in the second embodiment described above.

When an editing operation is selected, an image is selected in steps S22 and S23, copying, movement, partial enlargement, partial deletion, etc. are performed by a function selecting operation in step S24, and a range is designated in steps S25 and S26. If the confirmation is completed, the process proceeds to step S27. If only the image processed by the flow up to step S26 is required, the process proceeds to step S30. If only the same document process is sufficient, the process proceeds to step S28 and step S29. Is selected and processed, and the process proceeds to step S30. In step S30, necessary processing such as image storage and output is selected and implemented, and the flow advances to steps S31 and S32 to return to the standard screen display state.

As described above, in this embodiment, the image forming output is operated by the key switches 3, 4 and 5 arranged on the operation panel 1 and the liquid crystal display unit 2 of the touch panel type to display an image to be formed. It can be displayed and confirmed, and further, the ten-key switch 4 on the operation panel 1 can be used to perform edit operations such as enlargement / reduction, copying, moving, partial enlargement, partial deletion, etc. on the image displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 2 Since an image can be displayed, it is possible to easily edit the image and output the edited image by operating the key switches 3, 4, 5 arranged on the operation panel 1 and the touch panel type liquid crystal display unit 2. You can

[0049]

[Effect of device]

 As described above, according to the present invention, the image forming output can be operated and the image to be formed can be displayed and confirmed by the key switch arranged on the operation panel and the touch panel type liquid crystal display device. In addition, by using the key switch on the operation panel or the touch keys displayed on the touch panel liquid crystal display device, you can move, delete, insert, and enlarge / reduce the image displayed on the touch panel liquid crystal display device equipped with the operation panel. By performing a selection operation such as simultaneous display of a plurality of images and displaying them, the image editing operation can be easily performed and the image formation output can be performed.

Further, it is not necessary to provide a monitor display or an editor separate from the image forming apparatus, and cost and space can be saved.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external view of an operation panel according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a display explanatory diagram of the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of an editing operation according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of a key switch group according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of a second embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram of a conventional image forming apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Operation panel 2 Touch panel type liquid crystal display section 3 Copy start key 4 Numerical key 5 Function expansion one-touch key 11-16 Touch keys displayed on touch panel type liquid crystal display section

Claims (4)

[Scope of utility model registration request] 1. An image reading unit for reading an original image,
Image forming and outputting means, storage means for storing image information,
An image forming apparatus comprising: an operation unit, a display unit for displaying an image to be formed, and a control unit having a function of editing image information based on an input from the operation unit, the image forming apparatus outputting an image on a recording medium. The operation means and the display means are formed by arranging a key switch and a touch panel type liquid crystal display device on an operation panel, and the touch panel type liquid crystal display device provided on the operation panel by the operation means arranged on the operation panel. An image forming apparatus characterized by performing selection operations such as moving, erasing, inserting, enlarging / reducing, and displaying a plurality of images at the same time. 2. An image displayed on the touch panel type liquid crystal display device is moved, erased, inserted, enlarged / reduced, and a plurality of images are simultaneously displayed by touching the touch panel of the touch panel type liquid crystal display device provided on the operation panel. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus edits the output image by performing the above operation. 3. An image displayed on a touch panel type liquid crystal display device provided on an operation panel is moved, erased, inserted, enlarged, reduced in the liquid crystal display device in response to an operation on an operation means.
2. The simultaneous display of a plurality of images, etc.
Alternatively, the image forming apparatus described in 2. 4. The operation panel is provided with an enlargement key switch, an enlargement key switch, and a zoom key switch for enlarging / reducing an image displayed on a touch panel type liquid crystal display device. An image forming apparatus according to claim 2.