JP2000312270A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enhance calculation accuracy of expense by setting the job contents to be outputted as an image by reading images of a series of documents, inputting by what section an execution job is managed by code by an operator and relating the job set by a job contents setting means to a section management code. SOLUTION: A file of image information of an address specified by a storage part to be decided depending on the order and the number of sheets based on the contents of job setting is read, decoded, developed in a storage part 4 as a bit map image and transmitted to a printer part. Thus, the file is outputted to paper with the size decided based on the contents of job setting. Then, presence/absence of the next page is confirmed, and when the next page does not exist, the number of sheets used is related to the section management code, stored in a specified area of a storage part 2 and other jobs which are not yet outputted is confirmed whether they exist or not. When the jobs which are not yet outputted exist, they are outputted in the order to be decided depending on a priority order by section.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a digital copying machine,
The present invention relates to a laser printer, a facsimile, and the like, and particularly to an image forming apparatus having a memory copy mode.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art The structure of a conventional digital copying machine will be described with reference to FIG. First, the basic movement is as follows. When a document is set on document reading means (DF, scanner unit) and a print key is pressed, the document is read by a CCD sensor via an optical system and becomes an analog signal. D
The digital signal is converted into a digital signal, and then converted into binary data through a hardware process. The binary data is further subjected to image processing and the like, developed into bitmap image data in the storage unit 4, and transmitted to image information output means (printer unit). And form an image on the paper.

[0003] Regardless of whether the copying machine is an analog copying machine or a digital copying machine, each section has its own counter, and the counter is set in the copying machine in order to calculate the cost required for copying for each section. Based on the data of the counter, management was performed such as charging for the used paper and toner later.

Next, a memory copy mode which is a feature of the digital copying machine will be described. In the memory copy mode, image data read by a document reading unit (scanner unit) is temporarily stored in an image memory in page units,
When outputting to paper, image data stored in the image memory is read out.

The advantage of the memory copy mode is as follows. For example, when a post-processing apparatus is a copying machine without a plurality of bins for sorting and prints 100 copies of a series of 20 sheets, a normal processing is performed. In the case of an analog copying machine, it is necessary to scan the number of times of output to paper, so that 20 × 100 =
It is necessary to perform 2,000 scans, but if the memory copy mode of the digital copying machine is used, a series of 20 originals is read once and stored in the image memory, that is, image information for 20 pages is stored in the image memory. However, when outputting to paper, it is sufficient to read out from the image memory and output it. Therefore, after scanning 20 times first, the scanner unit is opened.

[0006] Another advantage of the memory copy mode is that even if a copy image of the first document is being output, the next document can be read and the next job can be reserved if the reading of the document has been completed. is there. The above operation can be realized by adopting a multi-bus capable of making a plurality of accesses to the image memory or by having a plurality of image memories.

The above-described memory copy operation will be described again with reference to the block diagram of FIG. 7 and the flowchart of FIG.
First, a series of originals are set on the original reading means (scanner section), and counters provided for each section are set (S
801) When the user performs settings necessary for the job to be performed, such as inputting the number of copies, selecting the print paper size or setting the automatic paper selection mode, setting the image density or setting the automatic exposure mode, and inputting the enlargement and reduction ratios. (S802), it is checked whether there is a required paper size (S803),
If not, an error is displayed and the job setting is performed again. When the print key is pressed (S804), the document feeder conveys the set documents one by one to a document reading unit and is read by a CCD sensor via an optical system to become an analog signal, which is an A / D signal. The digital signal is converted into a digital signal, and then converted into binary data through hardware processing. Further, in the storage unit 2, image density, magnification, and reduction image processing based on the content of the job setting are performed, and page Storage unit 3 which is compressed and filed in units
(S805). These operations are repeated for the number of originals, and the storage unit 3 stores files for the number of originals (S80).
6).

When the operation of loading the original into the image memory is completed, it is confirmed whether there is a job to be reserved next (S
807). If there is no job to be reserved next, the above S8
It is confirmed whether or not there is a sheet in the sheet stacking means specified in 03 (S809). If there is no sheet, it is displayed that there is no sheet (S813), and it is confirmed that the sheet is set in the sheet stacking means (S813). (S814) Return to S809. If there is a sheet, a file (for one page) of the image information at the designated address in the storage unit 3 which is determined by the order and the number of sheets based on the contents of the job setting is read and decoded, and the bit map It is developed as an image (S810), sent to the printer unit, output on a sheet of a size based on the content of the job setting, and recorded in the counter count that one sheet has been printed (S81).
1). Subsequently, the presence or absence of the next page is confirmed (S812). If there is image information of the next page, the process returns to S809 again, and if there is no image information, the process ends. If there is a job to be reserved next in S7, the A process for reserving the job and the B process for executing the reserved job are performed in parallel.

In the A process for reserving a job, the next series of originals is set in the original reading means (scanner unit) (S815), the number of copies is input, the print paper size is selected, or the automatic paper selection mode is set. When setting necessary for a job to be reserved, such as setting of image density or setting of automatic exposure mode, input of enlargement / reduction magnification, etc., is performed (S8).
16) Check whether there is a required paper size (S
817) If there is no necessary paper size, an error message is displayed and job setting is performed again. When the print key (or a reservation end key may be provided) is pressed (S81).
8) The document feeder conveys the set documents one by one to a document reading unit, and is read by a CCD sensor via an optical system to become an analog signal. The analog signal is A / D converted to a digital signal. Then, the data is converted into binary data through hardware processing, and further stored in the storage unit 2.
Image density and enlargement based on the job setting
The image is subjected to a reduction magnification image process, compressed and filed in page units, and stored in the storage unit 3 at the designated address (S819). These operations are repeated for the number of originals, and the storage unit 3 stores files for the number of originals in a series (S820). When there is a job to be reserved, the process returns to S815, and when there is no job, the process A ends.

Outputting a reserved job to paper B
In the process, it is confirmed whether or not there is a sheet in the sheet stacking means designated in S803 or S816 (S822). If there is a sheet, the storage unit 3 in the storage unit 3 is determined by the order and the number of sheets based on the contents of the job setting. The image information file (for one page) at the designated address is read and decoded, developed as a bitmap image in the storage unit 4 (S823), sent to the printer unit, and converted into a sheet having a size based on the contents of the job setting. Is output, and the fact that one sheet has been printed is recorded in the count of the counter (S82).
4). Subsequently, the presence or absence of the next page is checked (S825). If there is image information of the next page, the process returns to S822 again. If there is no image information, it is checked whether there is another unoutput job (S826).
If there is, in order to output the job in the reservation order, the stored job is searched for a job earlier in the reservation order (S830), and output of the searched job is started (S830).
831), and the procedure goes to S822. If not, the process B ends.

[0011] As described above, the digital copying machine can reserve the job even if the previous job has not been completed by the memory copy mode. In such a case, after a series of originals are set and a job is set, it is possible to leave the copying machine and perform other work.

[0012]

A first problem is that the digital copying machine can set a plurality of jobs, but a plurality of users who execute the plurality of jobs belong to different departments. In addition, since it is not possible to set a plurality of counters, there is a possibility that the calculation of the cost may be ambiguous such as adding to the first counter.

As a second problem, the digital copying machine can set a plurality of jobs, but the job is executed in the order in which the jobs are reserved. I didn't have to.

[0014]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a job content setting unit for setting a job content for reading a series of images of a document and outputting the image, and A department management code input unit for inputting which department management the execution job is under, and a display unit for displaying when the job contents cannot be set or when paper is exhausted, Document reading means for reading an image of the series of documents based on the job content set by the job content setting means; image information storage means for storing a series of image information read by the document reading means; Image information output means for outputting a series of image information stored in the means based on the job content set by the job content setting means, When the reading of the document is completed by the document reading unit, the image output content set by the job content setting unit is stored, and the content of reading the next series of document images and outputting the image is reserved from the job content setting unit. An image forming apparatus comprising: a control unit configured to perform control for enabling setting, wherein the job set by the job content setting unit is associated with a department management code.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the first aspect, the department management code is a code including department information and priority.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided the image forming apparatus according to the first aspect, further comprising a priority registering means for registering the priority of the department management code.

According to a fourth aspect, when the reserved job is output, the job is output in accordance with the priority order of the department management code associated with the job.
An image forming apparatus according to the invention.

[0018]

Since the main body of the image forming apparatus has a counter for each section, the number of reserved output copies can be counted for each section. Furthermore, if the department management code to be registered has a priority, the output of the important department is executed preferentially.

[0019]

FIG. 1 shows the configuration of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention.
It will be described based on. First, the basic movement is as follows. When a document is set on a document reading means (DF, scanner unit) and a print key is pressed, the document is read by a CCD sensor via an optical system and becomes an analog signal.
/ D conversion into a digital signal, followed by binary processing through hardware processing, further subjected to image processing and the like, developed into bitmap image data in the storage unit 4, and converted into image information output means (printer unit) To form an image on paper.

The document reading means will be described with reference to FIG. The document reading means includes: a first document table 11; document feed rollers (12a, 12b); document transport rollers (131a, 131b to 135a, 135b); contact glass 14; The first mirror 152, the second mirror 153, and the third mirror 15
4, an optical system 15 including an optical lens 155 and a CCD sensor 156; at least two rollers (161,
162) and a document transport belt section 16 composed of a belt 163 stretched over the two rollers; and a second document table.

The operation of the original reading means will be described.
Documents set face-up on the first document table 11 are fed one by one from the bottom document by the document feed rollers (12a, 12b), and are transported by the transport rollers (131a, 131b to 133a). , 133b) to a predetermined position on the upper surface of the contact glass 14 and stop. Subsequently, when scanned by the optical system 15,
The document transport belt 16 and the transport rollers (134
a, 134b to 135a, 135b) and stacked on the second document table 17. The above operation is repeated until a series of originals set on the first original platen 11 are all transferred to the second original platen 17.

On the other hand, the scanning movement of the optical system 15 is such that the first mirror 152 scans once while the exposure lamp 151 is lit, and the reflected light of the original is the second light.
The CCD sensor 156 receives light via the mirror 153, the third mirror 154, and the optical lens 155, and the CCD sensor converts the reflected light of the original into an analog electric signal and outputs the signal. The scanning method is generally such that a first carriage (not shown) including the exposure lamp 151 and the first mirror 152 moves and fixes a focal length, so that the first carriage is moved in accordance with the movement of the first carriage. , The second mirror 153 and the third mirror 154
There is a scanning method in which a second carriage (not shown) including the following is moved, or a scanning method in which the optical system 15 is fixed and a document is read while being moved.

The image output means and the post-processing device will be described with reference to FIG. The image forming means includes a paper cassette (21a-21c) and a paper remaining amount detecting means (22a-2).
2c), paper size detecting means (23a to 23c),
Sheet stacking means 2 including paper feed rollers (24a to 24c); vertical transport path 31; registration section 4 including upper registration roller 41 and lower registration roller 42; guide 32 before transfer; 51, a main charging unit 52,
LSU (laser scan unit) 53 and developing unit 5
4, transfer section 55, separation section 56, transfer guide 57
An image forming unit 5 including a cleaning unit 58 and a static elimination lamp 59; a conveying belt unit; a fixing device 6 including a pre-fixing guide 61, a heat roller 62, and a pressure roller 63;
Paper discharge unit 34 including discharge rollers (341, 342)
And;

The paper remaining amount detecting means may calculate from the height of the paper loaded in the paper cassette. However, if further accuracy is required, the height H0 of the paper loaded first may be used.
Is measured, and the height H1 of the sheet after the predetermined number N of the sheets have been consumed is measured, and the height of one sheet is calculated from the difference and the number of sheets. The remaining amount of paper is calculated from the height Hx of the stacked paper at the timing measured by the following equation.・ Remaining amount of paper = {Hx / (H0-H1)} x N (sheets)

The post-processing device 7 includes a stapler 71;
And a second paper discharge tray 73; and a discharge paper moving means (not shown).

The operation of the image output means and the post-processing device will be described. Sheets fed one by one from the sheet feeding cassette (21b in this case) selected by the sheet selecting means by the sheet feeding roller 24b pass through the vertical transport path 31, and the leading end is trimmed by the registration unit 4 to stand by. The toner image formed by the image forming unit 5 is conveyed to the image forming unit 5 via the pre-transfer guide plate 32 at a predetermined timing, and is transferred to the first surface of the sheet by the transfer unit 55. The sheet on which the unfixed toner image has been transferred is transported by the transport belt unit 33. Thereafter, the sheet on which the unfixed toner image has been transferred to the first surface of the sheet is covered with the heat roller 62 controlled to a predetermined temperature by the fixing heater 621 and the surface elastic material via the pre-fixing guide 61. The sheet is conveyed to the nip portion between the pressure rollers 63, and the unfixed toner image is fixed by the heat roller 62 and the pressure roller 63 being nipped and heated, and the post-processing is performed through the sheet discharge unit 34. Delivered to the device 7.

When the special mode is not set, the post-processing device 7 transfers the sheet passed from the sheet discharge unit 34 to the first discharge tray 72 or the second discharge tray. It is loaded on 73. When the mode is set to use stapling, a predetermined number of sheets delivered from the sheet ejection unit 34 are once collected by the first ejection tray 72, bound by the stapler 71, and discharged. The paper is moved onto the second paper discharge tray 73 by the paper moving means and stacked.

The registration of the department management code may be performed on a special screen displayed on the LCD touch panel as shown in FIG. 5A. Then, it is stored in the specified address of the storage unit 2 in association with the department management code. The priorities may be managed by assigning ranks, or the priorities may be determined one by one.

An embodiment in which the present invention is applied to the image forming apparatus having the above configuration will be described with reference to the block diagram of FIG. 1 and the flowchart of FIG. First, a series of originals is set on the original reading means (scanner unit) (S601).
Enter the number of copies, select the print paper size or set the automatic paper selection mode, set the image density or the automatic exposure mode, enter the enlargement / reduction magnification, etc. Enter a code or select a department management code (S60)
2). The display screen of the LCD touch panel at this time is shown in FIG.
(B) is displayed, and a plurality of registered department management codes are displayed, and the user may select one of them, or may directly input a key. Subsequently, it is confirmed whether or not the required paper size is present (S603). If the required paper size is not present, an error message is displayed and the job setting is performed again. When the print key is pressed (S604), the document feeder conveys the set documents one by one to the document reading unit, and is read by a CCD sensor via an optical system to become an analog signal. The digital signal is converted into a digital signal, and then converted into binary data through hardware processing. Further, in the storage unit 2, image density, magnification, and reduction image processing based on the content of the job setting are performed, and page The data is compressed and filed in units and stored at the specified address of the storage unit 3 (S605). These operations are repeated as many times as the number of documents, and the storage unit 3 stores files for the number of documents in a series (S60).
6).

When the operation of loading the original into the image memory is completed, it is confirmed whether there is a job to be reserved next (S
607). If there is no job to be reserved next, the above S6
It is confirmed whether or not there is a sheet in the sheet stacking means specified in 03 (S609). If there is no sheet, it is displayed that there is no sheet (S613), and it is confirmed that the sheet has been set in the sheet stacking means (S613). S614) Return to S609. If there is a sheet, a file (for one page) of the image information at the designated address in the storage unit 3 which is determined by the order and the number of sheets based on the contents of the job setting is read and decoded, and the bit map The image is developed (S610), sent to the printer unit, and output on a sheet of a size based on the contents of the job setting (S611).
Subsequently, the presence or absence of the next page is confirmed (S612). If there is image information of the next page, the process returns to S609 again. If there is no image information, the number of sheets used is associated with the department management code and stored in the storage unit 2.
(S613), and the process ends. If there is a job to be reserved next in S7, the A process for reserving the job and the B process for executing the reserved job are performed in parallel.

In the A process for reserving a job, the next series of originals is set on the original reading means (scanner section) (S616), the number of copies is input, the print paper size is selected, or the automatic paper selection mode is set. , Setting necessary for a job to be reserved, such as setting of image density or setting of automatic exposure mode, input of enlargement / reduction magnification, etc. (S61)
6) At the same time, as in S602, input of the department management code,
Alternatively, a department management code is selected (S617). Subsequently, it is confirmed whether or not there is a necessary paper size (S61).
8) If there is no necessary paper size, an error message is displayed and the job setting is performed again. When a print key (or a reservation end key may be provided) is pressed (S619),
A document feeder conveys the set documents one by one to a document reading unit, and is read by a CCD sensor via an optical system to become an analog signal.
The digital signal is converted into a digital signal. Subsequently, the digital signal is converted into binary data through hardware processing. Further, the image data is subjected to image density, magnification, and magnification image processing based on the content of the job setting in the storage unit 2, The data is compressed and converted into a file in page units and stored in the specified address of the storage unit 3 (S620). These operations are repeated for the number of originals, and the storage unit 3 stores files for the number of originals in a series (S621). If there is a job to be reserved, the process returns to S616, and if not, the process A ends.

Outputting the reserved job to paper B
In the process, it is checked whether or not there is a sheet in the sheet stacking means designated in S603 or S618 (S623). If there is a sheet, the storage unit 3 of the storage unit 3 is determined by the order and the number of sheets based on the contents of the job setting. A file (for one page) of the image information at the designated address is read and decoded, developed as a bitmap image in the storage unit 4 (S624), sent to the printer unit, and printed on a sheet of a size based on the contents of the job setting. (S625).
Subsequently, the presence or absence of the next page is confirmed (S625). If there is image information of the next page, the process returns to S622 again. If there is no image information, the number of sheets used is associated with the department management code and stored in the storage unit 2.
Is stored in a predetermined area (S627), and it is confirmed whether there is another unoutput job (S626). If there is, the job is output in the order determined by the priority order for each department. , A job associated with a department code having a higher priority is searched (S632). If there are a plurality of jobs having the same priority, the job searched in step S632 is searched for a job with the earlier reserved order. Subsequently, the output of the searched job is started (S633), and the process proceeds to S623. If not, the process B ends.

[0033]

According to the present invention, even when a plurality of jobs from a plurality of departments are copied in memory, the image forming apparatus main body counts the number of copies for each department, so that cost management can be accurately performed. it can. In addition, by registering the department management code with a priority order, it is possible to output jobs from important departments with priority.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a simple block diagram of an image forming apparatus employing the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic view of the vicinity of a conveyance path of an image forming apparatus employing the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of an image reading unit (DF, scanner unit) of the image forming apparatus employing the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of an image output unit (printer unit) and a post-processing device of an image forming apparatus employing the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a department management code registration screen and a department management code input screen of an image forming apparatus employing the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart relating to a program for controlling an embodiment of an image forming apparatus employing the present invention.

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

FIG. 8 is a flowchart relating to a program for controlling a memory copy operation and a job reservation of the image forming apparatus according to the related art.

Continued on the front page F term (reference) 2H027 DC18 EJ04 EJ11 FA30 FC02 FD08 GB03 5C062 AA05 AB17 AB20 AB22 AB23 AB42 AE07 AF00 AF15 BA00 5C073 AB12 CC03 5C076 AA40 BA01 BA02 BA03 BA04 BA05 9A001 BB03 EZ05 HH34 HZ24 KK05

Claims (4)

[Claims] A job content setting means for setting a job content for reading an image of a series of documents and outputting the image, and a department management code input means for inputting which department is under execution of an execution job by an operator. A display unit for displaying when the job contents cannot be set or when paper runs out, and a document reading for reading images of the series of documents based on the job contents set by the job content setting means Means, an image information storage means for storing a series of image information read by the document reading means, and a series of image information stored in the image information storage means to a job content set by the job content setting means. Image information output means for outputting an image based on the image data, and when the reading of the document is completed by the document reading means, the job content setting means Control means for storing the set image output content, and performing control to allow the job content setting means to make a reservation setting of the content of reading and outputting the image of the next series of originals, An image forming apparatus associating a job set by the job content setting unit with a department management code. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the department management code is a code including department information and priority. 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a priority registering means for registering the priority of the department management code in advance. 4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the reserved job is output, the job is output in accordance with the priority of a department management code associated with the job.