JP2000238383A - Image-forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To temporarily interrupt a sequence of processes in the middle of the processes and enable an image formation condition to be changed or the like by outputting a part of images not output yet among images to be output during a temporary stop of an image output process and setting so that an image formation condition in the image output process can be changed. SOLUTION: After a temporary stop to a copying process is selected, the fact that papers remain in a path in a copying machine 1 where the papers pass during an image formation process is displayed to a display means 4. On the other hand, when a paper-detecting means 6 detects that no paper remains in the path in the copying machine 1 where the papers pass, the copying process is temporarily stopped and the fact is displayed to the display means 4. During the temporary stop, a copying condition in the present copying process can be set by manipulating an operation panel of an operation input means 2. In the case where papers, toner, ink or the like as materials used in the copying process by the copying machine 1 are running out in the middle of the copying, the materials can be replenished.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Heretofore, there have been provided image forming apparatuses such as printers, facsimile machines, copiers, etc., which form and output images on paper or film, and multifunction machines having the functions of these devices.

Hereinafter, a copy machine will be described as an example of a conventional image forming apparatus.

[0004] As is well known, a copier is an apparatus for reading an image formed on a document and copying and forming the read image on another sheet or film based on predetermined image forming conditions.

[0005] Among such copy machines, models having an "interrupt" function have been conventionally provided. The "interrupt" function is to interrupt the series of processing by operating the "interrupt" button in the course of a series of processing, for example, copying a set of originals. This function interrupts and executes the process of copying a set, and then restarts the interrupted process.

[0006]

When an image is formed by an image forming apparatus, various image forming conditions such as the density, size, and number of copies of the image to be formed are set. In some cases, the user may want to change the image forming conditions during the processing. For example, there is a case where it is desired to change the number of copies after the copying process is started once in the copying machine.

However, in the conventional image forming apparatus as described above, it is impossible to change image forming conditions during a series of processing. This is not possible even with the "interrupt" function described above.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and has as its object to provide an image forming apparatus capable of temporarily interrupting processing during a series of processing and changing image forming conditions. I do.

[0009]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides an image forming apparatus capable of temporarily stopping the image output processing during the image output processing. During the pause, the image forming conditions in the paused image output processing can be changed.

[0010]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention.

In this embodiment, a case where the image forming apparatus is a copying machine will be described.

As shown in FIG. 1, a copying machine 1 according to the present embodiment includes an operation input unit 2, an image input unit 3, a display unit 4, an image forming unit 5, a sheet detection unit 6, and a control unit 7. ing.

The operation input means 2 has an operation panel which can be operated by a user of the copying machine 1, and on this operation panel, various buttons for setting copy conditions, ie, image forming conditions, and a copy button are provided. A copy button or the like for instructing the start of the operation is provided. In the present embodiment, a pause button for instructing a temporary stop of the copying process is provided on the operation panel of the operation input unit 2.

The user of the copy machine 1 sets the original to be copied on the image input means 3 of the copy machine 1 and operates the operation input means 2.
Is operated to set copy conditions in the current copy process, and instruct the start of copy.

By this operation, the copy machine 1 reads the image set in the image input means 3 and copies the read image by the image forming means 5 based on the set copy conditions.

In FIG. 1, the display means 4 displays the copy conditions set by the operation input means, and also displays the current state of the copy machine 1 and the like. The paper detecting means 6 detects whether or not any paper remains on the path in the copying machine 1 through which the paper passes during the image forming process. The control means 7 controls each block in the copying machine 1 and controls the overall operation.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the operation of the embodiment shown in FIG.

First, the copying machine 1 waits for the copy button of the operation input means 2 to be pressed (F-1). If the copy button is pressed, the copy machine 1 executes the copy processing based on the currently set copy conditions. Execute (F-2).

During the execution of the copying process in step (F-2), the original set in the image input means 3 runs out, and if the copying process is completed (F-3), the copying machine 1
Is completed, the flow returns to step (F-1), and waits for the next press of the copy button.

In step (F-3), if the copying process has not been completed, it is checked whether the pause button provided on the operation input means 2 has been pressed (F-).
4). If the pause button has not been pressed, the flow returns to step (F-2) to continue the copying process.

In step (F-4), if the pause button is pressed, a confirmation is displayed on the display means 4 in order to confirm again whether or not the copying process can be temporarily stopped (F-4). -5), prompting the user of the copier 1 for input.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of the contents displayed on the display means 4 in step (F-5) of FIG.

In the example shown in FIG. 3, whether or not to temporarily stop is selected by YES or NO. As the display means 4, for example, a touch panel can be adopted. In this case, the user of the copying machine 1 can select the reconfirmation result of the suspension by touching the displayed YES or NO.

Returning to the description of FIG. 2, if NO is selected as a result of the reconfirmation in step (F-5), the process returns to step (F-2) and continues the copying process.

In step (F-5), if YES is selected as a result of the reconfirmation, the copying process is temporarily stopped (F-6). At this time, the paper detection means 6 detects whether or not paper remains in a path in the copying machine 1 through which the paper passes during the image forming process, and temporarily stops the copying process in a state where no paper remains in this path. I do.

FIGS. 4 and 5 show the steps (F-
FIG. 6C is a diagram illustrating an example of the content displayed on the display unit 4 in (6).

As described above, after the temporary stop of the copying process is selected, if a sheet remains in the path in the copying machine 1 through which the sheet passes in the course of the image forming process, a display as shown in FIG. It is displayed on means 4. If it is detected by the paper detecting means 6 that no paper remains on the path in the copying machine 1 through which the paper passes in the course of the image forming process, the copying process is suspended, and as shown in FIG. It is displayed on the display means 4.

During the suspension, the operation panel of the operation input means 2 can be operated to set the copy conditions in the current copy processing. If the toner, ink or ink is likely to be lost during copying, the material can be replenished.

During this pause, another copy process, that is, a copy process different from the paused copy process may not be accepted.

Returning to the description of FIG. 2, step (F-
During the pause of 6), it is detected whether or not the copy button of the operation input means 2 is pressed (F-7). If the copy button is pressed, the process proceeds to step (F-2). Return copy processing is restarted.

If it is determined in step (F-7) that the copy button has not been pressed, it is determined whether a predetermined time has elapsed since the copying process was temporarily stopped (F-8). That is, in the present embodiment, the time is started by the timer when the temporary stop process of step (F-6) is started,
The time during which the copying process is suspended is measured.

In step (F-8), if the time during which the copying process is paused is less than the predetermined time, the process returns to step (F-6), and the copying process is continued. If the time during which the copying process is paused reaches a predetermined time, the suspension is released, and the process returns to step (F-2) to resume the copying process.

In the present embodiment, an automatic restart function for restarting the copying process when a predetermined time has elapsed while the copying process is temporarily stopped in step (F-8) shown in FIG. Although the present invention is not limited to this,
It may be possible to select whether to enable or disable the automatic restart function.

[0035]

As described above, according to the present invention,
For example, it is possible to provide an image forming apparatus capable of temporarily interrupting processing during a series of processing such as copying processing in a copying machine and changing image forming conditions.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an embodiment of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the operation of the embodiment shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of contents displayed on a display means 4 in step (F-5) of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of contents displayed on a display means 4 in step (F-6) of FIG.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of contents displayed on the display means 4 in step (F-6) of FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Copier 2 Operation input means 3 Image input means 4 Display means 5 Image formation means 6 Paper detection means 7 Control means

Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Mitsuhiko Ota 2970 Ishikawacho, Hachioji-shi, Tokyo Konica Corporation (72) Inventor Yasuhisa Nishimura 2970 Ishikawacho, Hachioji-shi, Tokyo Konica Corporation F-term (reference) 2C061 AP03 AP04 AP07 HH03 HJ07 HK14 HK19 HN04 HN22 2H027 EE09 EG02 5C062 AA05 AB20 AB22 AC04 AC10 AC11 BA00 9A001 DD11 HH34 JJ35 KZ31 KZ32 KZ42

Claims (6)

[Claims] An image forming apparatus capable of stopping the image output processing during the image output processing, wherein when the image output processing is stopped during the image output processing, the stopped image output processing is performed by a predetermined operation. An image forming apparatus for outputting a non-output portion of an image to be output by the image forming apparatus. 2. An image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said image output processing is temporarily stopped during said image output processing. An image forming apparatus wherein conditions can be changed. 3. An image forming apparatus capable of temporarily stopping the image output processing during the image output processing, wherein replenishment and replacement of materials used in the image output processing are performed while the image output processing is temporarily stopped. An image forming apparatus comprising: 4. An image forming apparatus capable of temporarily suspending an image output process during an image output process, wherein an image other than the image output process during the pause is suspended during the image output process. An image forming apparatus that does not accept output processing. 5. An image forming apparatus capable of temporarily suspending the image output processing during the image output processing, wherein the suspended time is set to a predetermined time while the image output processing is suspended. An image forming apparatus, comprising: an automatic restart function for automatically restarting the image output process when the time has reached. 6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the user can select whether to enable or disable the automatic restart function.