JP2006218732A - Printing system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To propose a public printer which prevents generation of a waiting queue in front of a printing machine, prevents printed results from being seen by other people, and notifies that one's turn comes even if one does not keep monitoring the printing machine when waiting for printing. <P>SOLUTION: The public printer comprises a function of conveying a printing JOBID, a password and a required time to a client; a means which displays, calls or transmits by mail the JOBID under RIP processing to the client; a function of printing only a JOB under JOBID display whose password is inputted; a function of rearranging a JOB schedule by inserting a JOB brought behind into a suitable place of the waiting queue; and a function whereby a JOB retreated into an HDD can be deleted at a suitable time. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a printing system that is installed in an airport waiting room, a hotel lobby, a convention hall, and the like and is shared by many users.

  Currently, with the advent of lightweight mobile PCs, high-performance PDAs, and high-performance mobile phones with shooting functions, the environment for users to easily carry digital contents is being prepared. In particular, it is considered that the number of users who need an environment capable of printing on the go increases due to the spread of high-definition photo data by digital cameras, and electronic document formats such as HTML and PDF.

  In fact, there is an integrated network OA printing specification (actually a print driver and network utility) called BMLinKS that allows printing without choosing a combination of client PC and printer, but printing devices that support this specification are installed at airports, hotels, etc. The purpose is to provide printing services to travelers and conference / conference participants.

Considering the characteristics of how public printers are used compared to printers installed in ordinary offices,
1 Since the number of installed devices is small relative to the number of users, a print queue is likely to occur.
2. There are cases of printing confidential documents, and I am particularly worried about the eyes of others.
3 It is not enough to be distracted by the printing device, and it is only necessary to be able to predict the printing end time.

As for related prior application examples, regarding the reservation of printing time, in Patent Document 1,
“The client can specify the receipt time and enter the receipt number from the printing device panel to perform advance printing”
The invention has been proposed.

Regarding the function of avoiding another person's line of sight, a secure print function that cannot be printed unless a password is set from the client and the password is input to the printing apparatus is a publicly known function.
JP 2002-240401 A

  However, in the conventional examples as described above, the user and client PC take the lead in specifying the print end time and executing the printing. In a public printing apparatus that is used in a centralized manner by a plurality of users belonging to different organizations in a completely open environment, if it is led by the user and the client, a queue will eventually occur, and a third party is always present to the user. There is a problem that raises the concern that you may see your print job.

In the present invention,
Issues such as not creating a queue in front of the printer, not being able to see the results of printing by others, and being informed of their turn without having to monitor the printer when waiting for printing It is an object of the present invention to provide a public printing apparatus that can be used comfortably by users.

In order to achieve the above object, in the printing system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, when a print job is received from a client inside the printing apparatus, a job reception ID, an estimated print end time, and a print end time are received for the client. A function to return the password required for the client to the client,
Display means for displaying a JOB reception ID in the middle of the current RIP to surrounding users;
A calling means for calling or a function for notifying;
A function that executes printing only when a password corresponding to the JOB_ID is input from the panel when the JOB_ID is displayed in the RIP;
Regardless of the time required for JOB RIP, the display time of JOB_ID is always displayed only for a predetermined time, and if the corresponding password is not input during that time, the function to display the next JOB_ID,
A function in which the corresponding password is not input while the JOB_ID is displayed, and the JOB that has been temporarily saved also displays the ID on the JOB_ID display again after a predetermined time has elapsed, and allows the password to be input,
If the password is not entered even after a predetermined time has elapsed, the job has a function of deleting the JOB from the HDD.

  In other words, a public printing apparatus that has received a print job from a mobile PC, PDA, or mobile phone can perform a print job waiting time until printing estimated from the received job_ID (a number of about 3 digits), the number of pages, and the number of received jobs. Send the required password back to the client device. As a result, the user recognizes with his or her JOB_ID how many minutes later it should go.

  On the other hand, a JOB_ID display installed on a pole is mounted on the public printing apparatus so that the visibility is good even from a distance. By displaying the JOB_ID in the current RIP (RIP is a process of creating pixel unit information [bitmap data] necessary for printing) on this JOB_ID display, a situation in which only the corresponding user is allowed to approach the public printing apparatus is created. It becomes possible. In addition, by having a function of calling JOB_ID, it is possible to notify JOB_ID even if the user does not monitor the printer. When the user displaying the corresponding JOB_ID goes to the public printing apparatus and enters a password, printing is started.

  When the corresponding user of the displayed JOB does not come, the public printing apparatus temporarily stores the RIP-completed JOB in the HDD, displays the ID of the next JOB, and starts RIP. Printing is not performed unless the passwords entered simultaneously with the ID displayed on the ID display match. JOBs for which no password has been input are displayed again after a certain period of time, and a delayed user may input the password at this time. The remaining JOB in the HDD is erased after a certain period of time. Alternatively, the user can specify a function for erasing the remaining JOB, which prevents the queue from being generated in front of the printing press, that the printing result cannot be seen by others, and the printing press is monitored when waiting for printing. Even if it does not continue, there is an effect that it is notified that it is one's turn.

Furthermore, in the printing system according to claims 4 to 5, a function for registering the mail address of the client;
A function for notifying the client that the JOB is in RIP by mail;
A function for notifying that the corresponding password is not input while the JOB_ID is being displayed and the JOB that has been temporarily saved is notified by mail that the RIP of the JOB has been skipped and the expected time until the next turn.
It is what has.

  That is, there is an effect that even when the user is away from the installation location of the public printing apparatus, the user can know the time to go to the printing apparatus to collect the print result.

In the present invention, the printing apparatus includes:
A function to inform the client of the print job reception ID, password, and time required for printing;
Means for displaying the ID of the print job being RIP processed, sending it to the client by calling or mail;
Print only the JOB with the password entered in the JOB_ID display, and
A function in which the main body of the printing apparatus manages the job processing order so that the postponed job is inserted into an appropriate place in the queue and the job schedule is rearranged;
A function that allows you to delete a JOB at an appropriate time after it has been saved in the HDD,
By having
It is possible to be notified that the queue is not generated in front of the printing press, that the printing result cannot be seen by others, and that it is their order without continuing to monitor the printing press when waiting for printing. effective.

  Hereinafter, the best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described in detail with reference to examples.

  Before describing the configuration of the present embodiment, the general configuration of a color copying machine as a printing apparatus for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

  Needless to say, the printer unit to which the present embodiment is applied is not limited to the color laser system, and other printing systems such as a monochrome laser system, an LED printing system, and an inkjet printing system may be used.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a printing apparatus to which the present invention can be applied, and shows the case of a color laser MFP.

  In the figure, reference numeral 1600 denotes an MFP main body, which is roughly divided into a reader unit 1300, an image generation unit 1400, and a printer unit 1500. Although the MFP is roughly divided into a reader unit and a print unit in terms of mechanical structure, the image generation unit 1400 may be incorporated into the reader unit or built in the print unit depending on the product.

The copying process is briefly described below.
In the reader unit 1300, when a document placed on the document table is irradiated with light from the document illumination lamp 1311, the reflected light is input to the CCD (charge coupled device) 1351 through the lens 1313 by the mirror 1312. In the CCD 1351, RGB original image information separated into three primary colors of light is detected by a filter, converted into a digital signal by an A / D converter, and then transmitted to the image processing means 1411 in the image generation unit 1400. The image processing unit 1411 performs color conversion from the RGB color space to the YMCK color space in addition to various image processing such as shading correction, background removal, character determination, scaling, image processing, density processing, black detection, and anti-counterfeit tracking processing. , The YMCK print video data is transferred to the video I / F control means 1540 of the printer unit 1500.

  A printer function control unit 1412 converts print data from a personal computer, FAX, or Email into YMCK print data. By this means, the copying machine realizes a printer function.

  Reference numeral 1413 denotes communication control means for controlling transmission / reception of a network, a telephone line, and image data. By this means, the copying machine has a FAX function. When the printing apparatus is in FAX or Email Send mode, the image information from the reader unit 1300 is compressed and output to the external line by the communication control means 1413.

  On the other hand, when the printing apparatus is in the Copy or Printer mode, YMCK video data stored in the buffer memory in the video I / F control means 1540 is a video representing a laser spot system by a PWM (pulse width modulation) circuit (not shown). After being converted to data, the laser driver 1502 is driven to irradiate the photosensitive drum 1506 with laser light to form an electrostatic latent image.

  Next, the operation of the printer unit 1500 will be described in more detail with reference to FIGS.

  A printer unit 1500 of the color laser MFP forms a latent image by scanning the photosensitive drum with a laser beam modulated in accordance with input multi-value image data from the reader unit 1300, and transfers the latent image onto a recording sheet. Recording is performed by a series of electrophotographic processes in which post-fixing is performed.

  The image generation unit 1400 and the printer unit 1500 are connected by an interface signal line 1200. The main interface signals include / RDY, / PRNT, / TOP, / LSYNC, VDO7 to VDO0, and VCLK, which will be briefly described below.

  The / RDY signal is a signal sent from the engine to the controller, and indicates that the engine can start a printing operation at any time if it receives a / PRNT signal described later, or can continue the printing operation. It is.

  The / PRNT signal is a signal sent from the controller to the engine, and is a signal instructing the start of the printing operation or the continuation of the printing operation.

  The / TOP signal is a synchronizing signal in the sub-scanning (vertical scanning) direction, and is sent from the engine to the controller.

  The / LSYNC signal is a synchronization signal in the main scanning (horizontal scanning) direction, and is sent from the engine to the controller. The VDO7 to VDO0 signals are image signals sent from the controller to the engine and indicate image density information to be printed by the engine. VDO7 is represented by the most significant 8 bits and VDO0 is represented by the least significant 8 bits. In the engine, the VDO7 to VDO0 signals are printed at the maximum density of the developing toner color with FFH, and are not printed with 00H. These are sent in synchronization with the transfer synchronization signal VCLK.

  When the printer unit 1500 receives the / PRNT signal, the photosensitive drum 1506 and the transfer drum 1508 are rotated in the direction of the arrow by a driving unit (not shown). Subsequently, charging of the roller charger 1509 is started, and the potential on the photosensitive drum 1506 is uniformly charged to a predetermined value. Next, the transfer paper 1528 is supplied from the transfer paper cassette 1510 to the transfer drum 1508 by the paper supply roller 1511. The transfer drum 1508 is obtained by stretching a dielectric sheet on a hollow support, and rotates in the direction of the arrow at the same speed as the photosensitive drum 1506. When the transfer paper 1528 is supplied to the transfer drum 1508, the transfer paper 1528 is held by the gripper 1512 provided on the transfer drum support, and the transfer paper 1528 is transferred to the transfer drum 1514 by the suction roller 1513 and the suction charger 1514. 1508. At the same time, by rotating the support 1515 of the developing device, among the four developing devices 1516M, 1516C, 1516Y, 1516BK supported by the support 1515, the developing device 1516M containing magenta toner as the first toner is changed. Opposing to the photosensitive drum 1506. Reference numeral 1516C denotes a developing device containing cyan toner, 1516Y denotes a developing device containing yellow toner, and 1516Bk denotes a developing device containing black toner.

  On the other hand, the printer unit 1500 detects the leading edge of the transfer paper 1528 adsorbed to the transfer drum 1506 by the detector 1517, generates a vertical synchronization signal / TOP at a predetermined timing, and sends it to the reader unit 1300. Upon receiving the first / TOP signal for the print page, the reader unit 1300 reads magenta data, which is the first print color, from the image data stored in the buffer memory at a predetermined timing. The read 8-bit image data D7 to D0 are sent to the printer unit as image signals VDO7 to VDO0 in synchronization with the VCLK signal.

  The VDO7 to VDO0 signals output from the reader unit 1300 are input to the pulse width modulation circuit 1501, as shown in FIG. 4, and become a laser drive signal VDO having a pulse width (256 levels) corresponding to the level, and are sent to the laser driver. . At the time of development, which will be described later, the toner adhesion amount can be adjusted according to the pulse width of the laser drive signal VDO, whereby 256 shades of each color are reproduced. Next, in FIG. 4, a laser beam 1527 from a laser diode 1503 driven in accordance with the laser drive signal VDO is deflected by a rotary polygon mirror 1504 that is driven to rotate in the direction of an arrow by a motor (not shown), and is arranged on the optical path. Through the image forming lens 1505, the photosensitive drum 1506 is scanned in the main scanning direction to form a latent image on the photosensitive drum 1506. At this time, the beam detector 1507 detects the scanning start point of the laser beam, and a / LSYNC signal, which is a horizontal synchronization signal for determining the image writing timing of the main scanning, is generated from the detection signal.

  The main scanning operation described above is repeated, and a magenta latent image for one page is formed on the photosensitive drum 1506.

  Returning to FIG. 3, the latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 1506 is developed by the developing device 1516M containing the magenta toner, and becomes a magenta toner image. The magenta toner image is transferred by the transfer charger 1519 to the transfer paper 1508 adsorbed by the rotating transfer roller 1508. At this time, the toner remaining on the photosensitive drum 1506 without being transferred is removed by the cleaning device 1525. Through the above operation, a magenta toner image for one page is formed on the transfer paper 1528.

  Next, the developing device support 1515 is rotated so that the developing device 1515C containing cyan toner as the second toner faces the photosensitive drum 1506. Subsequently, as in the case of magenta, the leading edge of the transfer paper 1528 that rotates while being attracted to the transfer roller 1508 is detected by the detector 1517, and a vertical synchronization signal / TOP is generated and sent to the reader unit 1300. In response to this, the reader unit 1300 reads cyan data from the buffer memory. Thereafter, by the same operation, a cyan toner image is transferred onto the transfer paper 1528 so as to be superimposed on the magenta toner image.

  Further, similarly, a yellow toner image as a third toner and a black toner image as a fourth toner are transferred onto the transfer paper 1528 so as to form a full-color toner image.

  The transfer paper 1528 onto which all the four color toner images have been transferred passes through the separation charger 1520, is peeled off from the transfer drum 1508 by the separation claw 1521, and is supplied to the fixing device 1523 by the transport unit 1522. At this time, the surface of the transfer drum is cleaned by the transfer drum cleaner 1526.

  The toner image on the transfer paper is melted and fixed by being heated and pressed by a fixing device 1523 to form a final color output image. Then, the transfer sheet on which recording has been completed is discharged to a discharge tray 1524.

  The color patch inspection sensor 1531 is a density sensor used in color density correction processing called calibration. A color patch pattern of various densities determined on the transfer drum is developed, the density is measured, and if the density does not match the specified value, the density correction amount is adjusted to obtain an appropriate density reproducibility.

  The present invention proposes to improve the function of the user interface related to the security of a public printing apparatus installed in an airport, convention hall or the like based on the color MFP described above.

  Details of each embodiment will be described below.

[First embodiment]
FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of a public printing apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. Reference numeral 1 denotes a printing apparatus main body which basically follows the configuration of the conventional color laser copier 1600 described in the embodiment of the invention. Except for the components necessary to explain this function, the display of detailed components is omitted. Reference numeral 2 denotes a printing apparatus main control unit that controls all of the printing apparatus. The main control unit 2 includes a CPU 11 that is an arithmetic device, a ROM 12 that stores programs, a RAM 13 that is a work area, a communication control unit 14 that controls input of print data from the network 22 or the direct data input unit 7, and is necessary for printing. It has a drawing unit 15 that generates bitmap data that is pixel unit data, and an operation unit control unit 16 that controls the operation unit 4. Reference numeral 3 denotes a printing unit corresponding to the printer unit 1500. An operation unit 4 includes an LCD and input keys. Reference numeral 5 denotes a JOB_ID display which is an LED display mounted on a long pole so that visibility from the periphery of the printing apparatus is good. Reference numeral 6 denotes a speaker attached to the JOB_ID display 5. The display contents of the JOB_ID display 5 and the audio information output from the speaker 6 are controlled by the JOB_ID display / calling control unit 8. The ID of a print job in the middle (RIP is an operation for creating pixel unit information [bitmap data] necessary for printing) can be displayed, and can be notified by voice such as “No. 72” from the speaker 6. A direct data input unit 7 is connected to the high-functional portable device 23 such as a PDA or a mobile phone through a local interface (meaning an interface that is not a network) and receives print data. The direct data input unit 7 can not only receive print data but also communicate information from the printing apparatus 1 to the high-performance portable device 23. Also, there may be an IC card slot into which a portable memory such as SmartMedia (registered trademark) or SDCard can be directly inserted. An HDD (Hard Disk Drive) 9 is a large-capacity memory that temporarily stores copy data and print data. Reference numeral 10 denotes a paper discharge bin that is a paper output tray.

  Reference numeral 21 denotes a client PC, and 22 denotes a wired or wireless network infrastructure.

  Next, the flowchart of the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

  As a precondition, in the public printing apparatus of the first embodiment, the display time per 1_JOB of the JOB_ID display machine is 30 seconds, and the JOB for which the user has not entered the password indicating the print instruction is delayed by up to 3_JOB. The default setting is to forcibly delete JOB when printing is not performed for more than one hour.

  First, a print job is transmitted to the public printing apparatus 1 from a client device such as the mobile PC 21 or a high-functional portable device 23 such as a PDA or a mobile phone using a local interface or a wireless or wired network interface.

  Then, the public printing apparatus 1 uses the JOB_ID (three-digit number in this example) to prove acceptance of the job, the estimated print end time (estimated from the number of pages and the number of jobs currently accepted), and the password (the data after RIP is actually used). When the JOB_ID is displayed on the JOB_ID display 5 of the printing apparatus, when the password is input from the operation unit 4, information indicating that printing can be executed is returned to the client device. To do.

  If an image is printed directly from a memory card such as SmartMedia (registered trademark) or SD card instead of the client device, information is exchanged using the printing apparatus operation unit 4 as shown in FIG. Even in this case, the information provided to the user is the same as that in the case of the client device described above.

  The public printing apparatus 1 additionally registers a new job in the job scheduling table that manages the job processing order, which is formed on the RAM 13 in the printing apparatus main control unit 2. The JOB_ID display / call control unit 8 controls the JOB_ID display 5 and the speaker 6 according to the contents of the JOB scheduling table.

  The public printing apparatus 1 displays the ID of the job currently being RIPed on the JOB_ID display 5 installed on the pole so that the visibility is good even from a distance, and calls the ID through the speaker 6. Thereby, it is possible to notify a person who has looked away from the printing apparatus that the display has been switched.

  JOB_ID is displayed for a certain time (here, 30 seconds), and the printing apparatus 1 waits for input of a password. If a correct password corresponding to the JOB_ID being displayed is input from the operation unit 4, printing of the print job is executed.

  If the password is not input or an incorrect value is input for 30 seconds while displaying JOB_ID, the RIP-completed JOB is saved in the HDD 9. The save job that could not be printed is corrected in the JOB scheduling table so that the print order will come again after 3_JOB minutes.

  Here, FIG. 6 shows details of the modification of the JOB scheduling table. In the figure, in the table (1), JOB_069 is being printed because a password has been input, and JOB_070 is the RIP number, indicating that the ID is being displayed on the JOB_ID display 5. However, since the password “5555” of JOB — 070 has not been input during the password acceptance time of 30 seconds, JOB — 070 is treated as a saved JOB and re-registered as the 10002nd JOB after 3 JOBs. If a user who was sitting near the public printing apparatus 1 admitted that a JOB_ID having a number larger than his / her JOB_ID is displayed, he / she recognizes that printing of his / her JOB has been postponed. When the user's JOB_ID is displayed again on the JOB_ID display device 6, the password is input and printing is executed.

  Returning to FIG. 5 again, no matter how many times JOB_ID is displayed, a JOB for which a password has not been input will be forcibly deleted from the HDD 9 after one hour has passed since registration. Thereby, for convenience, it is possible to keep confidentiality of the print information of the user who could not collect the printed matter, to improve the efficiency of JOB scheduling of the public printing apparatus 1, and to prevent wasteful consumption of resources of the HDD 9.

[Second Example]
FIG. 7 shows a block diagram of a public printing apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention. The same reference numerals are used for the components described above in the figure, and descriptions regarding functions are omitted. A printing apparatus main body 31 basically follows the configuration of the conventional color laser copier 1600 described in the embodiment of the invention. Except for the components necessary to explain this function, detailed component display is omitted. Reference numeral 32 denotes a printing apparatus main control unit that controls all of the printing apparatus. Reference numeral 41 denotes a mail server on the network 22, which transmits a mail from the printing apparatus main control unit 32 to a client whose mail address has been registered, and can transmit various information to the client device. The client device is a collective term for the client PC 21 and the high-functional portable device 23 connected to a wireless or wired network. A client mail address storage unit 33 is created in a memory area that can be used by the printing apparatus main control unit 32. When the public printing apparatus 31 receives a print job from the client devices 21 & 23, it also receives mail address information at the same time and registers it in the client mail address storage unit.

  Next, the flowchart of the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

  As a precondition, in the public printing apparatus of the second embodiment, the display time per JOB of the JOB_ID display is 30 seconds. A JOB for which the user has not entered a password indicating a print instruction is routed to the end of all registered print jobs and is given a new JOB_ID. However, in the case of a user client that cannot register a mail address, it will be postponed by 3_JOB. The default setting is to forcibly delete JOB if it is not printed for more than one hour after registration.

  First, a print job and a mail address are transmitted from a client device such as a mobile PC 21 or a PDA or a mobile phone 23 such as a mobile phone to the public printing apparatus 31 using a local interface or a wireless or wired network interface.

  Then, the public printing apparatus 31 uses JOB_ID (three-digit number in this example) to prove acceptance of JOB, estimated print end time (estimated from the number of pages and the number of currently accepted JOBs), and password (data after RIP is actually used). Information necessary for printing), and when the user's JOB_ID is displayed on the JOB_ID display 5 of the public printing apparatus 31, information indicating that printing can be executed by inputting the password from the operation unit 4 is displayed on the client device. Reply to

  The public printing apparatus 31 adds a new job to the job scheduling table that manages the job processing order, which is formed on the RAM 13 in the printing apparatus main control unit 32. The JOB_ID display / call control unit 8 controls the JOB_ID display 5 and the speaker 6 according to the contents of the JOB scheduling table.

  The public printing device 31 displays the ID of the job currently being RIPed on the JOB_ID display 5 installed on the pole so that the visibility is good even from a distance, and calls the ID through the speaker 6. This notifies the person who has looked away from the printing device 31 that the display has been switched. Furthermore, the client that has already registered the mail address is notified by mail that the RIP of the registered job will start.

  JOB_ID is displayed for a fixed time (here, 30 seconds), and the printing apparatus 31 waits for input of a password. If the correct password corresponding to the JOB_ID being displayed is input from the panel, the printing of the print job is executed.

  If the password is not input or an incorrect value is input for 30 seconds while displaying JOB_ID, the RIP-completed JOB is saved in the HDD 9. The saved JOB that could not be printed is sent to the end of the registered JOB, a new JOB_ID is issued, and the JOB scheduling table is corrected so that the printing order starts again.

  Here, FIG. 9 shows details of the modification of the JOB scheduling table. In the upper table, in the upper table, JOB_069 indicates that the password is input, and JOB_070 becomes the RIP number during printing, and the JOB_ID display 5 indicates that the ID is being displayed. However, since the password “5555” of JOB — 070 was not input during the password acceptance time of 30 seconds, JOB — 070 is treated as a saved JOB, re-registered as the last 10003 JOB, and JOB_ID is newly issued as JOB — 075. . The new JOB_ID is transmitted to the user client by mail.

  A user who is sitting in the vicinity of the printing device 31 knows that his or her JOB has been removed by mail from the printing device 31. If the user does not have a mail address in the client, the JOB scheduling table is corrected with the JOB_ID as it is after the number of specific JOBs as in the first embodiment.

  Returning to FIG. 8 again, no matter how many times JOB_ID is displayed, a JOB for which a password has not been input will be forcibly deleted from the HDD 9 after one hour has passed since registration.

  In the second embodiment, by failing to input the password and issuing a new JOB_ID to the postponed JOB, the display information of the JOB_ID display unit regularly increases by one, and the effect of preventing confusion of the user is achieved. Yes (however, this does not apply to clients without remote contact means from the printing device).

[Third embodiment]
FIG. 10 is a block diagram of a public printing apparatus according to the third embodiment of the present invention. The same reference numerals are used for the components described above in the figure, and descriptions regarding functions are omitted.

  A printing apparatus main body 51 basically follows the configuration of the conventional color laser copier 1600 described in the embodiment. Except for the components necessary to explain this function, detailed component display is omitted. A printing apparatus main control unit 52 controls all of the printing apparatus.

  The present embodiment is characterized in that as one of the information input from the client devices 21 and 23 to the printing apparatus 51, time designation information related to erasing the print job saved in the HDD 9 is used. Reference numeral 53 denotes an unprinted JOB erasure management unit managed by the printing apparatus main control unit 52, which erases the saved JOB in the HDD 9 in accordance with the aforementioned JOB erasure time designation information. Other points are the same as the first embodiment.

  FIG. 11 shows a user interface (UI) of a printer driver for the public printing apparatus 51 on the client devices 21 & 23.

The above figure is for print data transmission. In addition to print conditions such as the number of pages, the number of copies, and finishing, there is a selection button for JOB erasing time. Here, as parameters that can be selected: After printing is completed: Immediately after printing, specify the time after deletion registration: If it is within the specified time, the data is saved and can be reprinted by entering the JOB_ID and password from the operation unit Not printed Execution count designation: N times If there is no password input when JOB_ID is displayed, there is an immediate deletion.

  The following figure shows a print job registration acceptance completion notification from the printing apparatus main body 51. JOB_ID (3 digits in this example), estimated print end time (estimated from the number of pages and the number of jobs currently accepted), password (necessary to actually print the data after RIP), When the user's JOB_ID is displayed on the JOB_ID display 5 of the printing apparatus, if the password is input from the operation unit 4, information indicating that printing can be executed is shown.

  Next, a flowchart of the third embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

  First, print JOB and JOB erasure time designation information is transmitted from the client device such as the mobile PC 21 or the PDA or the mobile phone 23 such as a mobile phone to the public printing device 51 using the local interface or the wireless or wired network interface. Is done.

  Then, the public printing apparatus 51 returns a JOB_ID for certifying acceptance of the JOB, an estimated printing end time, a password, a JOB erasing time, and a printing method to the client device.

  The public printing apparatus 51 adds a new job to the job scheduling table that manages the job processing order, which is formed on the RAM 13 in the printing apparatus main control unit 52. The JOB_ID display / call control unit 8 controls the JOB_ID display 5 and the speaker 6 according to the contents of the JOB scheduling table.

  The printing device 51 displays the ID of the job currently being RIPed on the JOB_ID display 5 installed on the pole so that the visibility is good even from a distance, and makes an ID call through the speaker 6. This notifies the person who has turned away from the printing apparatus that the display has been switched.

  The JOB_ID is displayed for a certain period of time, and the printing apparatus 51 waits for input of a password. If the correct password corresponding to the displayed JOB_ID is entered from the panel, the print job is printed. If the password is not entered within the specified time or an incorrect value is entered, the RIP has been completed. Are evacuated to the HDD 9.

  Here, if the job erasure time condition set for each print job is met, the saved job is erased from the HDD.

  The JOB scheduling table is modified so that the JOB for which the backup job that does not yet meet the erasure condition is printed again after 3 JOBs.

  Of course, the evacuation print job cannot be stored longer than the data storage time set by the printing apparatus main body 51.

  In airports and the like, there is no need to register a JOB more than the waiting time for the flight, and there are many users who desire a reliable deletion in terms of security, and this embodiment has an effect of meeting such a demand.

Block diagram of printing apparatus of first embodiment Block diagram of color MFP of embodiment Block diagram of the color MFP print engine unit of the embodiment Block diagram of color MFP print engine optical system of embodiment Flow chart of the first embodiment Outline of transition of JOB scheduling table in the first embodiment Block diagram of printing apparatus of second embodiment Flow chart of the second embodiment Outline of transition of JOB scheduling table of the second embodiment Block diagram of printing apparatus of third embodiment Client device driver UI of the third embodiment Flow chart of the third embodiment First embodiment Example of operation unit display during memory card direct printing

Explanation of symbols

1, 31, 51 Public printing apparatus main body 2, 32, 52 Printing apparatus main control unit 3 Printing unit 4 Operation unit 5 JOB_ID display 6 Speaker 7 Direct data input unit 8 JOB_ID display / calling control unit 9 HDD
10 Paper discharge bin 11 CPU
12 ROM
13 RAM
14 Communication control unit 15 Drawing unit 16 Operation unit control unit 21 Mobile client PC
22 Network (wireless / wired)
23 High-function mobile device 33 Client mail address storage unit 41 Mail server 53 Unprinted job deletion management unit 1200 Engine interface 1300 Reader unit 1311 Document illumination lamp 1312 Mirror 1313 Lens 1351 CCD
1400 Image generation unit 1411 Image processing unit 1412 Printer function control unit 1413 Image communication control unit 1500 Color printer unit 1501 Pulse width modulation circuit 1502 Laser driver 1503 Laser diode 1504 Rotating polygon mirror 1505 Imaging lens 1506 Photosensitive drum 1507 Beam detector 1508 Transfer drum 1509 Roller charger 1510 Paper cassette 1511 Paper feed roller 1512 Gripper 1513 Adsorption roller 1514 Adsorption roller 1515 Development device support 1516 Each color development device 1517 Recording paper leading edge detector 1518 Optical unit 1519 Transfer charger 1520 Separation charger 1521 Separation claw 1522 Conveying means 1523 Fixing device 1524 Discharge tray 1525 Cleaning device 1526 Transfer drum cleaner 1527 Laser Over arm 1528 transfer sheet 1531 color patches test sensor 1540 video I / F control unit 1550 printer engine control unit 1600 color MFP

Claims (5)

A function of returning a JOB reception ID, a predicted print end time, and a password necessary for printing to the client device upon receiving a print JOB from the client device;
A display for displaying a JOB reception ID of a print job in the middle of drawing processing to surrounding users, a caller for calling or a function for notifying;
A function of executing printing only when a password corresponding to the JOB reception ID is input from the operation unit when the display unit displays the JOB reception ID during the drawing process;
Regardless of the time required for the JOB drawing process, the display time of the JOB reception ID is always displayed only for a predetermined time, and when a corresponding password is not input during that time, a function for displaying the next JOB reception ID,
A function in which a corresponding password is not input while the JOB reception ID is displayed, and a print job that has been temporarily saved also displays the JOB reception ID again on the JOB reception ID display after a predetermined time has elapsed, and allows the input of the password.
A printing system comprising:   The printing system according to claim 1, further comprising a function of deleting the print job from the HDD when the printing process cannot be executed without inputting a password even after a predetermined time has passed. And printing system.   3. The printing system according to claim 1, wherein the printing system has a function capable of designating from a client device to a printing apparatus when a print job that cannot be printed and temporarily saved in the HDD should be deleted from the HDD. system.   4. The printing system according to claim 1, wherein when the mail address of the client device is registered in advance at the same time as displaying the JOB reception ID on the display device, the job is drawn on the client device by mail. A printing system having a function of notifying that there is a medium.   4. The printing system according to claim 1, wherein a corresponding password is not input while the JOB reception ID is displayed, and the primary evacuated print job has a mail address of the client device registered in advance. The printing system has a function of notifying the client device that the drawing process of the JOB has been skipped and an estimated time until the next turn.

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