Image forming apparatus and method of displaying information about image forming apparatus

• US 20020176719A1
• Filed: 06/12/2001
• Published: 11/28/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/12/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Minolta Co., Ltd. (Konica Minolta Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Minolta Co., Ltd. (Konica Minolta Inc.)
• Inventors: Matsuura, Masahiko, Mizuno, Hiroshi, Miyamoto, Hidetoshi, Yogome, Keyaki, Kurita, Takaji
• Granted Patent: US 6,873,803 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 399/81
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/04045 for exposing image information provided otherwise than by directly projecting the original image onto the photoconductive recording material, e.g. digital copiers G03G15/041, G03G15/043 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/221 Machines other than electrographic copiers, e.g. electrophotographic cameras, electrostatic typewriters

Abstract

A method of displaying information about an image forming apparatus comprising a first image forming portion for forming an image on a normal image display medium and a second image forming portion for forming an image on a reversible image display medium and capable of forming an image on the normal image display medium through the first image forming portion and of forming an image on the reversible image display medium through the second image forming portion, wherein the information about the image forming apparatus (information about the state of a predetermined item in the image forming apparatus) and (or) information about a setting state for image formation in the image forming apparatus) is displayed on a display device in the image forming apparatus and (or) a display device in an image information input apparatus transmitting image data to the image forming apparatus depending on the information, and an image forming apparatus capable of executing the method.

Claims

1. A method of displaying information about an image forming apparatus comprising a first image forming portion for forming an image on a normal image display medium and a second image forming portion for forming an image on a reversible image display medium and capable of forming an image on the normal image display medium by the first image forming portion and of forming an image on the reversible image display medium by the second image forming portion,

wherein the information about the image forming apparatus is displayed on a display device in the image forming apparatus and (or) a display device in an image information input apparatus transmitting image data to the image forming apparatus depending on the information.

2. The method of displaying information about an image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the information about the image forming apparatus is related to a state of a predetermined item in the image forming apparatus.

3. The method of displaying information about an image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the information about the image forming apparatus is related to a setting state for image formation in the image forming apparatus.

4. The method of displaying information about an image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the information about the image forming apparatus is related to a state of a predetermined item in the image forming apparatus and a setting state for image formation in the image forming apparatus.

5. The method of displaying information about an image forming apparatus according to claim 4, wherein a message based on the state of the predetermined item in the image forming apparatus and (or) the setting state for image formation in the image forming apparatus is displayed on at least one of the display devices.

6. An image forming apparatus comprising:

a first image forming portion for forming an image on a normal image display medium;

a second image forming portion for forming an image on a reversible image display medium;

a detecting device for detecting a state of the image forming apparatus;

a device for outputting information about the state of the image forming apparatus in order to display at least part of the information about the state of the image forming apparatus which is detected by the detecting device; and

a display device for displaying a predetermined part of the information which is generated from the device for outputting the information about the state of the image forming apparatus,

wherein the device for outputting the information about the state of the image forming apparatus can output, to an image information input apparatus transmitting image data to the image forming apparatus, a predetermined part of the information about the state of the image forming apparatus which is generated from the outputting device in order to display the same on a display device in the image information input apparatus.

7. The image forming apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the state of the image forming apparatus is related to a predetermined item in the image forming apparatus.

8. An image forming apparatus comprising:

a first image forming portion for forming an image on a normal image display medium;

a second image forming portion for forming an image on a reversible image display medium;

a device for outputting information about a setting state of the image forming apparatus in order to display at least part of the information about the setting state of the image forming apparatus for image information; and

a display device for displaying a predetermined part of the information which is generated from the device for outputting the information about the setting state of the image forming apparatus,

wherein the device for outputting the information about the setting state of the image forming apparatus can output, to an image information input apparatus transmitting image data to the image information apparatus, a predetermined part of the information about the setting state of the image forming apparatus which is generated from the outputting device in order to display the same on a display device in the image information input apparatus.

9. An image forming apparatus comprising:

a first image forming portion for forming an image on a normal image display medium;

a second image forming portion for forming an image on a reversible image display medium;

a detecting device for detecting a state of a predetermined item in the image forming apparatus;

a device for outputting information about a state of the image forming apparatus in order to display at least part of the information about the state of the predetermined item in the image forming apparatus which is detected by the detecting device;

a device for outputting information about a setting state of the image forming apparatus in order to display at least part of the information about the setting state of the image forming apparatus for image information; and

a display device for displaying a predetermined part of the informations generated from the device for outputting the information about the state of the image forming apparatus and the device for outputting the information about the setting state of the image forming apparatus,

wherein the device for outputting the information about the state of the image forming apparatus and the device for outputting the information about the setting state of the image forming apparatus can output, to an image information input apparatus transmitting image data to the image forming apparatus, a predetermined part of the informations which are generated from the outputting devices in order to display the same on a display device in the image information input apparatus.

10. The image forming apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising a message output device for displaying a message based on the state of the predetermined item in the image forming apparatus and (or) the setting state for image formation in the image forming apparatus on at least one of the display devices.