JP2000168209A - Image forming apparatus, controlling method therefor and storage medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To sharply improve the convenience of a user while ensuring a billing control. SOLUTION: It is discriminated whether or not a card controlling device is put again in a state of controlling an image forming apparatus after completion of an image forming operation (S408). When the card controlling device is in the state of controlling the image forming apparatus, it is determined whether a demand for printing is an output of image data read by a scanner or an output of image data stored in a mailbox (S410). When the demand is the output of the image data stored in the mailbox, it is discriminated that the output of the image data from the mailbox is controlled by the card controlling device or not (S411). In the case when the output is controlled by the card controlling device, a control signal is transmitted to a switching part so that a card controlling part may conduct counting (S412).

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a digital copying machine having a copy function and a print function. The present invention also relates to a control method for an image forming apparatus such as a digital copying machine having a copy function and a print function. Further, the present invention relates to a storage medium in which a program for performing image formation, which is executed by a CPU in the image forming apparatus, is stored.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, with the digitalization of copiers, not only images obtained by scanning originals have been transferred to sheets, but also digital images sent from personal computers (personal computers) have been transferred to sheets. This makes it possible to transfer a facsimile image to a sheet.

[0003] As one of the multifunctional functions of such a digital copying machine, a digital image sent from a personal computer or the like is temporarily stored in a memory inside the copying machine, and a user performs a predetermined operation by going to the front of the copying machine. There is known a mailbox function in which a printout is executed by performing the operation.

When the mailbox function is used, the printout is executed in the presence of the user, so that the user does not forget to take it out and is convenient for printing out materials or the like that the user does not want to see.

[0005] The copier uses a counter for counting the number of sheets to be output, a card, or the like. When the card is not set, use of the copier is prohibited.
A management device that performs charging for each user is provided. Such functions of the counter and the management device have been indispensable functions in the conventional copying machines.

[0006]

However, a single-function printer that can only print out from a personal computer or the like does not have a function corresponding to a counter or a management device, and charges for printing out from a personal computer in the first place. There is no concept.

For this reason, when trying to obtain an image output using the mailbox function, if the management device is operated, the usability of a user who has been using a single-function printer is significantly reduced. Will be.

On the other hand, in the copying machine side, even when an image output is to be obtained using the mailbox function, the image output is possible without charging for the purpose of charging unless the management device is operated. There is a problem in that there is a loophole, and it becomes useless.

Accordingly, the present invention provides an image forming apparatus, which can provide a user management function in an optimal form for each user, and can significantly improve the convenience of the user while securing charging management, and a control method and an image forming apparatus. It is intended to provide a storage medium.

[0010]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus for forming an image of image data from a plurality of information sources. Management means for managing the image forming operation for each user; and setting means for enabling or disabling the operation of the management means with respect to image formation of image data from a specific information source. Features.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the first aspect, the image forming apparatus further includes an identification unit for identifying the user, and when the operation of the management unit is set to be valid, the management is performed. The means counts the number of sheets on which the image has been formed for each of the identified users.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the first aspect, the setting means can set the operation of the management means to valid or invalid for each user. And

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus of the first aspect, the image forming apparatus further includes a receiving unit that receives the image data transmitted from the specific information source and stores the image data in an image memory. The setting unit may set the operation of the management unit to valid or invalid in advance when performing image formation of the received image data.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the first aspect, the image forming apparatus further includes image reading means for reading an image of a document and converting the image into image data, and wherein the setting means includes the setting means. When performing image formation of image data, the operation of the management means is always set to be valid.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the second aspect, the management means inhibits or permits the image forming operation according to the counted number of sheets. It is characterized by.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the fourth aspect, the image memory comprises:
The received image data is stored in an area divided for each user.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the first aspect, the setting means can be set on an operation screen of the image forming apparatus.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in the control method of the image forming apparatus for forming an image of image data from a plurality of information sources, the operation of the image forming is managed for each user. And a step of enabling or disabling a step of managing the image forming operation with respect to image formation of image data from a specific information source.

A storage medium according to a tenth aspect of the present invention is a storage medium which is executed by a CPU in an image forming apparatus and stores a program for forming an image of image data from a plurality of information sources. A procedure for managing the image forming operation for each user, and a step of setting the procedure for managing the image forming operation to be valid or invalid with respect to image formation of image data from a specific information source. It is characterized by.

[0020]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of an image forming apparatus, a control method thereof, and a storage medium according to the present invention will be described. FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a configuration of the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 100 denotes an image forming apparatus main body;
Reference numeral 280 denotes an automatic document feeder (ADF). Reference numeral 201 denotes a platen glass as a document table. Reference numeral 202 denotes a scanner, which includes a document illumination lamp 203 and a scanning mirror 20.
4 and the like. The scanner 202 performs reciprocating scanning in the left and right directions in the figure by a motor (not shown),
The reflected light of the original transmitted through the lens 207 after being reflected at 4, 205, 206 is transmitted to the CC in the image sensor unit 208.
An image is formed on the D sensor.

An exposure control unit 209 includes a laser, a polygon scanner, and the like.
The laser beam 219 is converted into an electric signal at 8 and modulated based on the image signal subjected to the image processing.
Irradiate 11.

Around the photosensitive drum 211, a primary charger 212, a developing device 213, a transfer charger 216, a pre-exposure lamp 214, and a cleaning device 215 are provided. In the image processing unit 210, the photosensitive drum 211 rotates in the direction of arrow a by a motor (not shown), and is charged to a desired potential by the primary charger 212, and then the laser light 219 from the exposure control unit 209. Is irradiated on the photosensitive drum 211 to form an electrostatic latent image. Photoconductor drum 211
After the electrostatic latent image formed in is developed by the developing device 213,
It is visualized as a toner image.

On the other hand, pickup rollers 225 and 2 are provided from the right cassette deck 221, the left cassette deck 222, the upper cassette 223 or the lower cassette 224, respectively.
The transfer paper fed by 26, 227 or 228 is sent to the main body by feed rollers 229, 230, 231 and 232, and when the transfer paper is fed to the transfer belt by registration rollers 233, the visualized toner image is transferred. Charger 2
The image is transferred to the transfer paper by the reference numeral 16.

After the transfer, the photosensitive drum 211 is cleaned of residual toner by the cleaning device 215, and the residual charge is erased by the pre-exposure lamp 214. The transfer paper after the transfer is separated from the photosensitive drum 211 by the separation charger 217 and sent to the fixing device 235 by the transfer belt 234. When the transfer paper is fixed by pressure and heat in the fixing device 235, the transfer paper is discharged outside the main body 100 by the discharge roller 236. The main body 100 is equipped with a deck 250 capable of storing, for example, 4000 transfer papers. The lifter 251 of the deck 250 includes a pickup roller 252
The transfer paper is raised according to the amount of the transfer paper so that the transfer paper always contacts the transfer paper, and the transfer paper is fed into the main body 100 by the paper feed roller 253. Further, a multi-bypass tray 254 capable of storing 100 sheets of transfer paper is provided.

Reference numeral 237 denotes a paper discharge flapper,
The path on the 38 side and the path on the discharge path 243 side are switched. Reference numeral 240 denotes a lower transport path, which passes the transfer paper sent from the paper discharge roller 236 through a reversing path 239 to turn the transfer paper upside down and guide it to a re-feeding path 241.

From the left cassette deck 222 to the paper feed roller 2
The transfer paper fed by 30 is also guided to the refeed path 241. Reference numeral 242 denotes a re-feed roller for re-feeding the transfer sheet to the image forming unit 210. A discharge roller 244 is disposed near the discharge flapper 237 and discharges the transfer paper switched to the discharge path 243 by the discharge flapper 237 to the outside of the apparatus.

In the case of double-sided recording (double-sided copying), the discharge flapper 237 is raised, and the copied transfer paper is transferred to the transport path 238,
The sheet is guided to the re-feeding path 241 via the reversing path 239 and the lower conveyance path 240. At this time, the entire rear end of the transfer sheet is pulled out of the transport path 238 by the reversing roller 245, and the transfer sheet is drawn into the reversing path 239 by the reversing roller 245 to a position where the transfer sheet is bitten. It is sent to the transport path 240.

When the transfer paper is inverted and discharged from the main body, the discharge flapper 237 is raised, and the transfer paper is pulled into the reversing path 239 by the reversing roller 245 to a position where the rear end of the transfer paper remains in the conveyance path 238. By reversing the reversing roller 245, the transfer paper is turned over and sent out to the discharge roller 244 side.

Reference numeral 290 denotes a paper discharge processing device which closes the transfer paper discharged from the image forming apparatus main body 100 in a aligned manner, and stacks the transfer paper discharged one by one on the processing tray 294 and aligns the same. When the discharge of a part of the image formation is completed, the transfer paper bundle is stapled and discharged to the discharge trays 292 and 293 as a bundle. The discharge tray 293 is driven up and down by a motor (not shown) and moves so as to coincide with the position of the processing tray 294 before the image processing operation starts.

Reference numeral 291 denotes a paper tray for stacking separators inserted between the discharged transfer papers, and 295 denotes a Z-folding machine for Z-folding the discharged transfer papers. Reference numeral 296 denotes a bookbinding machine that performs bookbinding by folding a part of the discharged transfer papers together at the center and stapling them.
The bound sheet bundle is discharged to a discharge tray 297.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of the image forming apparatus main body 100 and the card management device 111. In the figure, reference numeral 110 denotes a controller, which specifically includes a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, an I / O interface, and the like, and controls the image forming apparatus main body 100.

The scanner 202 reads a document according to a control signal from the controller 110. The read image data of the document is transmitted to the printer unit 102 to form an image on a sheet as a visible image. The printer unit 102 includes the exposure control unit 209 and the image forming unit 210 described above.
Etc. The printer unit 102 operates the count output unit 103 according to the image formation of the sheet.

The count output unit 103 transmits count information to the card management device 111. An operation unit 104 performs various settings of an image forming operation and changes a management method of the card management device 111. Specifically, the operation unit 10
4 is a liquid crystal display, touch panel, switch, LE
D and the like.

Reference numeral 112 denotes an external device such as a personal computer (personal computer). The image data transmitted from the external device 112 is transmitted to an interface (I / F) 106
Received at. Image data received by the interface 106 is stored in the image memory 105. The image memory 105 includes a large-capacity memory such as a DRAM and a hard disk.

When the operation section 104 is operated to designate image data to be output and to give an instruction for printing, the controller 110 transfers arbitrary image data stored in the image memory 105 to the printer section 102 in accordance with the instruction. Then, an image is formed.

As described above, the external device 112 such as a personal computer
Image data sent from the
Is stored in the image memory 105, and the function of enabling printing of arbitrary image data by operating the operation unit 104 is called a mailbox function.

Reference numeral 111 denotes a card management device. The card management device 111 recognizes a card for identifying a user and manages billing information, and the number of times the image forming apparatus body 100 has performed image formation, the type of sheet, and the number of sheets read from the scanner 202. The counter 108 stores the number of times the image data has been output, the number of times the image data has been output by the mailbox function, and the like. Switching unit 107 for switching to 108 or card management unit 109
It is composed of In the card management device 111, the card management function can be enabled or disabled.
When disabled, only the counter 108 is enabled. When enabled, the counter 108 and the card management unit 10
9 are both valid.

FIG. 3 is a view showing the appearance of the operation unit 104. In the figure, 601, 604 and 607 are keys for selecting each function. This key is a translucent key button, and a display lamp (not shown) such as an LED is provided inside the key. When an operation screen is selected by pressing these keys, a display lamp inside the key is turned on. Only the display lamps inside the keys of the selected operation screen are turned on, and the display lamps inside the other keys are turned off.

On the right side of each key, a green LE
D603, 606, and 609 are arranged, and these LEDs indicate the operation status of each function by lighting. For example, the LED 606 of the copy B is turned off when the copy B is in the standby state, and blinks when the copy B is in the output operation.

To the left of each key is a red LED 60
2, 605, 608 are arranged and these LEDs
Indicates that an abnormal condition of each function has occurred by lighting. For example, the LED 605 of the copy B blinks when an abnormality such as a paper-out interruption or a jam (JAM) occurs in the copy B. At this time, by pressing the copy B function key 604 and switching the display screen of the operation unit 104 to copy B, the status of copy B is displayed on the display panel 620, and the details of the abnormal status can be confirmed.

These function switching keys can be pressed at any time irrespective of the operation status of each function, thereby enabling a switching operation. Thus, the copy A function and the copy B
If the function is switchable, the stop key 615,
Keys other than the keys on the display panel, such as the start key 614 and the reset key, are operated for the function selected by the function switching keys 601 and 604.

For example, when the copy A operation screen is displayed, even if the stop key 615 is pressed, the copy operation cannot be stopped for the copy B output operation. When the copy operation of copy B is stopped, the output of copy B is stopped by pressing the stop key 615 after pressing the copy B function key 604.

On the screen where the copy A and copy B operation sections are selected, data can be set independently by the user setting key.

Reference numeral 620 denotes an operation panel made up of an LCD. Since a touch panel (not shown) is attached on the screen, various settings of the apparatus can be made by touching the screen. For example, reference numeral 627 denotes a paper selection button for changing the paper feed stage. A button 625 switches the sort mode. A double-sided button 624 is used to form an image on both sides of the sheet. A button 630 is used to set a magnification for enlarging and reading a scanner image. A button 628 is used to set a magnification for reading the scanner image by reducing it. A button 629 is used to read the scanner image at the same magnification.

Reference numerals 622, 615, and 614 are switch buttons, respectively, and 622 is a numeric keypad for setting the number of sheets to be output. A stop key 615 stops the output. A start key 614 starts reading an image from the scanner 202.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the internal configuration of the image memory 105 used for the mailbox function. In the figure, the inside of the image memory (hard disk) 105 is divided into a temporary area 900 and a mail (personal) box area 901.

The temporary area 900 is an area for temporarily storing image data and deleting the image data after the job is completed. The mailbox area 901 is an area for storing image data received from the external device (personal computer) 112 in an area designated by the personal computer. The mailbox area 901 includes a plurality of areas 902 to 9
The area is divided into areas 05, each of which is assigned an area number. In accordance with the designation of the area number from the personal computer 112, the image data is stored in the area of the designated number. In the case of FIG. 4, for example, when an instruction is received from the personal computer 112 to store the image data in the area number 0, the controller 110 stores the image data in the area (for Suzuki) 902.

The temporary area 900 and the mailbox area 901 store a print mode associated with image data at the time of printing. In the case of FIG. 4, the hard disk has a capacity of 1 GB, of which 300 MB
Is used in a temporary area 900 and 700 MB is used in a mailbox area 901. The user can arbitrarily change the distribution of the storage capacity to each area. Furthermore, the number of divisions of the mailbox area can be arbitrarily changed.

FIG. 5 is a view showing a screen displayed on the display panel 620 of the operation unit 104 when the image data sent from the personal computer 112 is printed out. In the figure, reference numerals 802, 803, 804, and 805 denote icons indicating the divided areas of the mailbox area 901.
The icon 803 indicates a selected situation. 8
Reference numerals 06 and 807 denote page break buttons. Each time the button is pressed, four divided areas of the mailbox are displayed. Pressing the button of the area number you want to output starts printing.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a setting screen 301 displayed on the display panel 620 when setting whether to request a control card when outputting image data stored in the mailbox area 901. In the figure, the “Yes” button 302 has been selected, indicating that a control card is also required when outputting image data stored in the mailbox area.

On the setting screen 301, a "No" button 3
When the user selects “03” and presses the “Enter” button 305, the control card becomes unnecessary. When the “cancel” button 304 is pressed on this screen, the setting screen ends without changing the situation.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an image forming processing procedure using the image forming apparatus main body 100 and the card management device 111. This processing program is stored in the ROM in the controller 110, and its execution is started by the CPU in the controller 110 at the time of startup.

When the image forming apparatus is started, first, it waits for a print request to arrive (step S401). Here, the print request is generated when a copy key is pressed or an operation for printing image data stored in a mailbox is performed. When a print request is issued, it is determined whether or not the card management device 111 is in a management state for managing the image forming apparatus main body 100 (step S40).
2).

If the card management apparatus 111 is not managing the image forming apparatus (the management function is disabled), the image forming operation (print operation) is started as it is (step S406). On the other hand, the card management device 11
If the printer 1 is in a state of managing the image forming apparatus, it is determined whether the print request is output of image data read by the scanner 202 or output of image data stored in a mailbox (step S403). . If the output is image data read by the scanner 202, the process proceeds to step S405 described below.

On the other hand, when the image data stored in the mailbox is output, it is determined whether or not the output of the image data from the mailbox is managed by the card management device 111 (step S404). Step S
Proceed to the process of 405, and if not managed, step S40
The process proceeds to step 6 to start the image forming operation.

This determination is made based on the data set on the setting screen 301 in FIG. That is, when outputting the image data stored in the mailbox under the condition that the card management device 111 manages the image forming apparatus,
It is determined whether to request a card.

Then, it is determined whether or not copying is possible with the inserted card (step S405). Specifically, it is determined whether or not the cumulative number of copies of the inserted card has not reached the upper limit, and whether or not the inserted card is a correct card. If copying is not possible, the print request is rejected (step S407), and the process returns to step S401.

On the other hand, if copying is possible, an image forming operation (printing operation) is started (step S406).
After the image forming operation is completed, it is again determined whether or not the card management device 111 is in a state of managing the image forming device, similarly to the process of step S402 (step S40).
8). If the print request is not managed, it is determined whether the print request is output of image data read by the scanner 202 or output of image data stored in the mailbox (step S409). If so, the counter for scanner image data provided in the counter 108 is counted up (step S414). Thereafter, the process returns to step S401.

On the other hand, when the image data stored in the mailbox is output in step S409, a control signal is transmitted to the switching unit 107 so as to count up the mailbox counter (step S41).
3). Thereafter, the process returns to step S401.

On the other hand, if the card management apparatus 111 is in a state of managing the image forming apparatus in step S408,
As in step S403, the print request is sent to the scanner 2
It is determined whether 02 is the output of the read image data or the output of the image data stored in the mailbox (step S410). If the output is image data read by the scanner 202, the card management unit 1
A control signal is transmitted to the switching unit 107 so that the counter 09 counts (step S412). Thereafter, the process returns to step S401.

On the other hand, if the image data is stored in the mailbox in step S410, the process proceeds to step S404.
Similarly to the above, it is determined whether or not the output of the image data from the mailbox is managed by the card management device 111 (step S411). When managing with the card management device 111,
Switching unit 1 so that card management unit 109 counts
07 is transmitted (step S41).
2). Thereafter, the process returns to step S401. on the other hand,
If not managed by the card management device 111, the counter 10
The control unit 107 transmits a control signal to the switching unit 107 so as to count up the counter for the mailbox provided in 8 (step S413). After this, step S
It returns to the process of 401.

As described above, in the image forming apparatus of the present embodiment, the user management function can be provided in an optimal form for each user, and the user convenience can be remarkably improved while charging management is ensured.

It should be noted that the setting as to whether or not to request a control card on the setting screen 301 shown in FIG. 6 may be performed only by a specific administrator instead of individual users. More appropriate management can be secured. Also,
Whether or not the management by the control card is performed may be settable for each user of the individual mailbox, that is, the setting screen of FIG. 6 may be settable for each user, and detailed management may be performed. It can be carried out.

The present invention can be applied to card management of prints of images received by facsimile, in addition to card management of mailboxes. That is, the present invention can be individually applied to various image sources other than the scanner.

Further, the present invention may be applied to a system constituted by a plurality of devices, or may be applied to an apparatus constituted by one device. Needless to say, the present invention can be applied to a case where the present invention is achieved by supplying a program to a system or an apparatus. In this case, by reading out a storage medium storing a program represented by software for achieving the present invention into a system or an apparatus, the system or the apparatus can enjoy the effects of the present invention.

FIG. 8 shows a controller 11 as a storage medium.
It is a figure showing a memory map of ROM in 0. The ROM stores an image forming processing program module shown in the flowchart of FIG. The storage medium for supplying such a program module is not limited to the ROM, and may be, for example, a floppy disk, hard disk, optical disk, magneto-optical disk, CD-ROM, CD-R,
A VD, a magnetic tape, a nonvolatile memory card, or the like can be used.

Further, after the program code read from the storage medium is written into a memory provided in a function expansion board inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer, based on the instructions of the program code, The case where the CPU of the function expansion board or the function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing, and the function of the above-described embodiment is realized by the processing.

[0069]

According to the image forming apparatus of the first aspect of the present invention, when image formation of image data from a plurality of information sources is performed, the image data from a specific information source is set by the setting means. With respect to image formation, when the operation of the management unit is enabled, the management unit manages the image formation operation for each user, so that a user management function can be provided in an optimal form for each user. And the convenience of the user can be significantly improved. The control method of the image forming apparatus according to the ninth aspect and the tenth aspect
The same effect can be obtained also in the storage medium described in (1).

According to the image forming apparatus of the second aspect,
When the operation of the management unit is set to be valid, the management unit counts the number of sheets on which the image has been formed for each of the identified users. Therefore, the number of output sheets can be accurately grasped for each user.

According to the image forming apparatus of the third aspect,
The setting means can enable or disable the operation of the management means for each user, so that detailed management can be performed.

According to the image forming apparatus of the fourth aspect,
Receiving means for receiving image data transmitted from the specific information source and storing the received image data in an image memory, wherein the setting means performs an operation of the management means in advance when performing image formation of the received image data. Since the setting is enabled or disabled, the billing management can be performed without significantly reducing the usability of the user even when the mailbox function is used during the printing operation.

According to the image forming apparatus of the fifth aspect,
An image reading unit that reads an image of a document and converts the converted image data into image data, wherein the setting unit always sets the operation of the management unit to be valid when forming an image of the converted image data. Sometimes, as usual, charge management can be performed reliably.

According to the image forming apparatus of the sixth aspect,
Since the management unit prohibits or permits the image forming operation according to the counted number of sheets, it is possible to appropriately manage the image forming operation for each user.

According to the image forming apparatus of the seventh aspect,
The image memory stores the received image data in an area divided for each user, so that an image memory such as a hard disk can be effectively used.

According to the image forming apparatus of the present invention,
Since the setting unit can be set on the operation screen of the image forming apparatus, the setting can be easily performed.

According to the storage medium of the present invention, there is provided a storage medium storing a program executed by a CPU in an image forming apparatus and forming an image of image data from a plurality of information sources. A procedure for managing the image forming operation for each user, and a procedure for setting the procedure for managing the image forming operation to be enabled or disabled with respect to image formation of image data from a specific information source. Because of this, versatility and expandability of the image forming apparatus can be improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a configuration of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an electrical configuration of an image forming apparatus main body 100 and a card management device 111.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an appearance of an operation unit 104.

FIG. 4 is an image memory 1 used for a mailbox function.
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an internal configuration of a computer system 05.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a screen displayed on the display panel 620 of the operation unit 104 when printing out image data sent from the personal computer 112.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a setting screen 301 displayed on the display panel 620 when setting whether to request a control card when outputting image data stored in the mailbox area 901.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating an image forming processing procedure using the image forming apparatus main body 100 and the card management device 111.

FIG. 8: ROM in the controller 110 as a storage medium
3 is a diagram showing a memory map of FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 100 Image forming apparatus main body 104 Operation unit 105 Image memory 107 Switching unit 108 Counter 109 Card management unit 110 Controller 111 Card management device 112 External device (PC) 301 Setting screen 620 Display panel

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page F term (reference) 2C061 AP03 AP04 AP07 AQ06 HK15 HQ06 HV09 HV13 HV32 2H027 DA46 EJ06 ZA07 5B021 AA05 AA19 AA23 BB00 CC05 KK00 QQ04 5C062 AA05 AB17 AB20 AB22 AB38 AB42AC58 AC60

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. An image forming apparatus for forming an image of image data from a plurality of information sources, comprising: a management unit for managing the image forming operation for each user; An image forming apparatus comprising: a setting unit that sets the operation of the management unit to valid or invalid for image formation. 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: an identification unit for identifying the user, wherein when the operation of the management unit is set to be valid, the management unit includes a sheet on which the image is formed for each of the identified users. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the number of sheets is counted. 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the setting unit can set the operation of the management unit to valid or invalid for each user. 4. A receiving means for receiving image data transmitted from the specific information source and storing the received image data in an image memory, wherein the setting means, when performing image formation of the received image data, 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the operation of the management unit is set to be valid or invalid. 5. An image reading unit for reading an image of a document and converting the image into image data, wherein the setting unit always sets the operation of the management unit to be valid when forming the image of the converted image data. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: 6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the management unit prohibits or permits the image forming operation according to the counted number of sheets. 7. The image forming apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the image memory stores the received image data in an area divided for each user. 8. An image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said setting means can be set on an operation screen of said image forming apparatus. 9. A method for controlling an image forming apparatus for forming an image of image data from a plurality of information sources, comprising: a step of managing the image forming operation for each user; Setting the step of managing the image forming operation to valid or invalid with respect to the image forming of data. 10. A storage medium which is executed by a CPU in an image forming apparatus and stores a program for forming an image of image data from a plurality of information sources, wherein the program is provided for each user. A storage medium comprising: a procedure for managing an operation; and a procedure for enabling or disabling a procedure for managing the image forming operation with respect to image formation of image data from a specific information source.