JP2000335048A - Imaging apparatus, method for informing data, data communication apparatus, data communication method, and memory medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To eliminate troublesomeness of a user caused by a print data of other person discharged to a sheet discharge bin of the user when a user using the sheet discharge bin can be set. SOLUTION: An LBP 1000 connected with host computers 101, 102, 103 through a network is provided with a sheet discharge option 250 having a plurality of sheet discharge bins. The CPU 108 of the LBP informs the end of imaging operation to the sender of data and the host computer set with a destination in response to completion of sheet discharge to the sheet discharge bin.

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 for forming an image on a sheet and discharging the sheet on which the image is formed.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, the spread of personal computers in offices has been remarkable, and network technology for connecting them has been developed. Conventionally, an image forming apparatus such as a printer is used by connecting one printer to one personal computer. Recently, however, the printer is connected to a network, and the printer is shared by a plurality of personal computers connected to the network. Cases are increasing.

This type of printer sequentially receives print data from a host computer via a network,
When the print processing of the received data is completed, a print completion notification is sent to a print request source of the data (that is, a transmission source of the data). Thus, each user sharing the printer can confirm on the host computer side without going to the printer side to confirm whether or not the print data has been output.

Recently, a printer provided with a plurality of bins (hereinafter, discharge bins) for storing sheets on which images are formed, a printer connected to a sheet processing apparatus such as a finisher having a plurality of discharge bins, and the like. In this image forming apparatus, it has been proposed to assign a user to be used for each discharge bin.

[0005] In this way, the bin owner can output the data created in the host computer to the discharge bin owned by the bin, so that the bin owner can easily determine where his / her data has been output. As described above, it is possible to save the trouble of searching for print data desired by the user among print data of various persons output on the discharge bin.

Further, when an owner can be set for each paper discharge bin as described above, print data from a user different from the owner of the bin is discharged onto the paper discharge bin. It has been proposed to do so.

[0007]

However, considering the case where print data is ejected from a user different from the owner of the bin onto the ejection bin, the source of the data (print requester) is considered. Only a print end notification is issued to a user different from the owner of the bin, and the owner of the bin is not a print requester in this case.
It is impossible to know that print data from another person has been discharged to the discharge bin owned by the user. So, for example,
In order to reliably send print data from a user different from the bin owner to the bin owner, a user (in this case, a print requester) different from the bin owner is installed with a printer. To get the print data
The only way is to hand it directly to the bin owner or contact the bin owner to get the print data. Furthermore, if a user different from the bin owner instructs the host computer to eject print data to any of the owner's bins, an error may occur due to lack of toner, paper, etc. on the printer side. In such a case, since the owner of the bin cannot know to that effect, a problem occurs when discharging his / her data.

[0008] It is desired to eliminate such a problem when the user who uses the paper discharge bin can be set or troublesome for the user.

[0009]

In order to solve the above problems,
According to the present invention, in an image forming apparatus that forms an image on a sheet based on received data and discharges the image-formed sheet to a storage unit that stores the sheet, a notification destination that notifies an end of the image forming process is provided. Setting means for setting, and notifying means for notifying the source of the data and the notification destination set by the setting means of the end of the image forming process in response to the completion of sheet ejection to the storage means. An image forming apparatus is provided.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus for forming an image on a sheet based on received data, and discharging the image-formed sheet to any one of a plurality of storage sections for storing the sheet. And transmitting means for transmitting first data including an instruction to start an image forming process, and specifying means for specifying any of the plurality of storage sections, regardless of the transmission of the first data. Transmitting the second data including a notification destination setting instruction to cause the image forming apparatus to perform a notification of the end of the image forming process in response to the sheet being discharged to the storage unit specified by the specifying unit. It is intended to provide a characteristic data communication device.

[0011]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing an internal structure of a laser beam printer (hereinafter, LBP) according to an embodiment of the present invention. The LBP 1000 can register a character pattern and a fixed format (form data) from a host computer serving as a data source. Also, it receives information such as character information (character code), form information, and macro instructions from the host computer, and creates character patterns and form patterns based on the received information.
An image is formed on a sheet.

Referring to FIG. 1, sheet cassette 230 has a mechanism for holding sheets S for forming an image and electrically detecting the size of sheets S by a partition plate (not shown). The cassette paper feed clutch 231 is
A cam for separating the uppermost sheet of the group of sheets placed on the sheet cassette 230 and conveying the separated sheet to the sheet feeding roller 204 by a drive motor (not shown). It rotates intermittently and feeds one sheet corresponding to one rotation. The sheet detection sensor 232 is
This is a sensor for detecting the remaining amount of sheets held in the paper cassette 230.

The registration shutter 227 presses the conveyed sheet to stop the conveyance of the sheet. The paper feed roller 204 is for conveying the sheet until the leading end of the sheet supplied from the paper cassette 230 or the paper feed option 240 reaches the registration shutter 227. The tray 202 is a manual tray on which sheets such as OHP sheets are placed. The manual paper feed clutch 203 is for conveying the sheet placed on the manual tray 202 to the registration shutter 227. Optional paper feed roller (paper feed relay roller) 2
Reference numeral 33 denotes a sheet for supplying the sheet conveyed from the detachable sheet feeding option 240 to the printer unit main body.

A pair of registration rollers 205 for synchronously transporting a sheet is provided upstream of the manual paper feed roller 203, the cassette paper feed clutch 231 and the optional paper feed roller 233 in the sheet transport direction. Is provided with an image recording unit 207 that forms a toner image on a sheet using laser light emitted from the laser scanner unit 206.

In the laser scanner section 206, a laser unit 215 is operated based on an image signal (VDO signal).
Emit laser light. The laser light from the laser unit 215 is scanned by the polygon mirror 216 and passes through the image forming lens group 218 and the folding mirror 219 to form the photosensitive drum 2.
The electrostatic latent image is formed on the photosensitive drum 220. The beam detector 217 is connected to the laser unit 2
The main scanning synchronizing signal is output by detecting the laser beam from the laser beam 15. The light amount sensor 270 is a sensor for detecting the light amount of the laser light from the laser unit 215.

In the image recording unit 207, a primary charger 222 charges the photosensitive drum 220 uniformly. Charged by the primary charger 222, the laser scanner unit 20
6 and the photosensitive drum 220
The electrostatic latent image formed thereon is developed by the developing device 223 and is visualized as a toner image. A transfer charger 224 transfers the toner image developed on the photosensitive drum 220 by the developing device 223 onto the sheet conveyed via the registration roller pair 205. The photosensitive drum 220 after the transfer is
The residual toner is removed by the cleaner 225, and the residual charge is erased by the pre-exposure lamp 221.

The toner image formed on the sheet by the image recording unit 207 is heat-fixed by a fixing unit 208. The image-formed sheet conveyed through the fixing device 208 is
The sheet is discharged out of the apparatus by the conveying roller 210. A paper discharge sensor 209 provided near the conveyance roller 210 is for detecting a sheet discharge state. Further, by the switching operation of the flapper 211, the discharge path of the sheet on which the image is formed is changed to the discharge tray 213 or the discharge option 250.
It can be either. When the flapper 211 is switched to the discharge tray 213, the sheet on which the image is formed is discharged onto the discharge tray 213 by the conveyance rollers 214 and 212. Discharge stacking amount detection sensor 213
Reference numeral 0 denotes a sensor that detects the amount of stacked sheets discharged onto the sheet discharge tray 213.

In this embodiment, the LBP 1000 is connected to a detachable paper feed option 240 such as a paper deck option unit. In the paper feed option 240, the paper deck 241 loads a large amount of sheets on a deck that is driven up and down. Paper deck paper feed roller 24
2 separates and feeds the sheets stacked on the paper deck 241 one by one. The transport roller 244 feeds the sheet fed from the paper deck feed roller 242 to the feed roller 2.
It is transported in 33 directions.

A new detachable paper feed option is connected to the lower part of the paper feed option 240, so that a large number of sheets of different sizes or the same size such as the paper feed option 240 can be stored and fed. Multiple deck options can be used. In this case, a sheet supplied from a paper feed option connected to a lower part of the paper feed option 240 is taken into the printer via the paper feed relay conveyance roller 243. The sheet storage amount detection sensor 2410 is a sensor for detecting the amount of sheets placed on the paper deck 241 (the remaining amount of sheets).

In this embodiment, the LBP 1000 is connected to a detachable paper ejection option 250 such as a finisher option unit. The paper discharge option 250 includes a first paper discharge bin 251, a second paper discharge bin 252, a third paper discharge bin 253, and the like. It is for sorting and loading. The bins 251, 252, and 253 are moved up and down by driving the bin elevating motor 260, and sheets are stored in the bins and sorted. The flapper 254 is for switching the sheet conveyance path when switching the face (image forming surface) of the sheet conveyed to the sheet ejection option 250 side by the flapper 211 of the printer unit main body.

The discharged paper stacking amount detection sensor 261 is a height sensor, and includes a first discharged bin 251, a second discharged bin 252,
This is a sensor for detecting the stacked amount of sheets stored in the third discharge bin 253. Further, the discharged paper stacking amount detection sensor 261 detects, for example, that the height of the sheets stacked in the first discharged bin 251, the second discharged bin 252, and the third discharged bin 253 is 88 mm (about 700 sheets). Equivalent),
The main body is notified that sheets are fully loaded on the output bin.

Next, a method of conveying a sheet when a face-up designation or a face-down designation is performed from the host computer or the operation unit 104 of the apparatus main body will be described. In the case of the face-up designation, the flapper 254 is switched so that the sheet fed from the main body is guided to the transport path on the roller 255 side. The sheet conveyed to the roller 255 side is conveyed to the discharge port of the discharge option 250 as it is. In this case, the sheet is discharged with the surface on which the image is formed facing upward (face-up state).

On the other hand, in the case of the face-down designation, the flapper 254 is switched so that the sheet fed from the main body is guided to the conveying path on the roller 256 side, and the sheet is conveyed toward the roller 256. The roller 2 is moved until the rear end of the sheet conveyed to the roller 256 side exceeds the roller 256.
Once the sheet is conveyed by 56, 257, roller 2
The sheet is conveyed in the direction of the roller 258 with the rear end of the sheet 57 rotated in the reverse direction. And the roller 25
The paper is conveyed to a paper discharge port through the paper discharge port 8. In this case, the sheet is discharged with the surface on which the image is formed facing downward (face-down state).

The stapler 259 stores 1 stapled in a staple tray (not shown) when the stapling is designated.
This is used when performing alignment processing on a plurality of sheets to be processed as one bundle and performing staple processing on the sheets. The staple-processed sheet bundle is supplied to the first discharge bin 251, the second discharge bin 252, and the third discharge bin 25.
No. 3 is discharged.

When the shift is designated, similarly to the case where the staple is designated, the sheets are temporarily stored in a staple tray (not shown), the sheet is aligned, and the sheet ejection tray is sequentially shifted to shift the sheet. To the output tray. That is, the placement area of the discharged sheet is changed (the tray is shifted), and the sheet is discharged to any one of the first discharge bin 251, the second discharge bin 252, and the third discharge bin 253. I do. Staple Needle Remaining Sensor 25
Reference numeral 9 is for detecting the remaining amount of the staples stored in the stapler 259.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a block diagram of the LBP 1000 described above. The LBP 1000 is connected to host computers 101, 102, and 103 serving as data sources via a network, and forms an image on a sheet based on data (image data, control data, and the like) from the host computer. A panel interface (operation unit) 104 is used for displaying the status of the printer and setting menus. Network I / F 105
Is for interpreting network protocols. 106 is an input buffer for each data source, 107
Reference numeral denotes an output buffer for transmitting data to the host computer. The ROM 109 stores programs, font patterns, and the like. The RAM 110 is used as a work area and stores various analysis information and output information. The page buffer 111 stores an analyzed image (image data) and can store a plurality of pages. I do. The printer I / F 112 analyzes an interface with the printer unit 113. Note that the printer unit 113 includes an image recording unit 207 and the like for actually performing image forming processing. And
The CPU 108 controls these overall. Also, CP
U <b> 108 also controls the paper discharge option 250 connected to the LBP 1000.

In this embodiment, an image is formed by the printer unit 113 based on the data received from the host computer, and the sheets on which the image has been formed are sequentially discharged to a discharge bin.
In response to the completion of the discharge of the sheet to the discharge bin, the data transmission source is notified of the print end.

On the host computer side, one of a plurality of discharge bins (for example, a first discharge bin 251, a second discharge bin 252, and a third discharge bin 253) is designated. When a command is issued to make a setting for the specified paper discharge bin, the setting registration is performed so that the host computer that sent the setting command and the specified paper discharge bin can be managed in association with each other. When a sheet is discharged to the set paper discharge bin, a print completion notification is sent to both the source of the data and the host computer that has issued a setting command for the paper discharge bin from which the sheet has been discharged. .

For example, from the host computer 102,
It is assumed that the second discharge bin 252 among the first discharge bin 251, the second discharge bin 252, and the third discharge bin 253 has been designated, and an instruction has been issued to make settings for the second discharge bin 252. In this case, the LBP 1000 performs setting registration regarding the discharge bin so that the host computer 102 and the second discharge bin 252 are managed in association with each other. Thereafter, it is assumed that print data is received from the host computer 101. Then, it is assumed that an image is formed on a sheet by the printer unit 113 based on the received data, and the sheet on which the image is formed is discharged to the second discharge bin 252.

In such a case, the LBP 1000
In response to the completion of sheet discharge to the discharge bin 252, the data transmission source, that is, the host computer 1
01 and the host computer 102 that has sent the setting instruction for the second discharge bin 252, to both end notification.

As described above, the printing completion notification is also sent to the host computer that has set the paper discharge bin in addition to the data transmission source. Hereinafter, in the present embodiment, the host computer that has sent a setting command (command) relating to the discharge bin to the LBP 1000, that is, the host computer to which the LBP 1000 is to send a print end notification to a source other than the source of the print data is referred to as a notification destination, and the setting is notified. This is called the first setting. The setting command is referred to as a notification destination setting command.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a notification destination setting command 300 input to the LBP 1000 from the host computers 101, 102, and 103 serving as data sources. In this embodiment, each discharge bin (the first discharge bin 25
1, a notification destination can be set for each of the second discharge bin 252 and the third discharge bin 253). Thus, the user who uses the discharge bin can be set for each discharge bin. Note that, as described above, the notification destination should notify that print data has been output to the output bin in response to the completion of discharge of sheets to the output bin, except for the source of the print data. Host computer.

The notification destination setting command 300 includes an ESC code 30 indicating a control command (control command).
1, a character string 302 indicating that the command (command) is a notification destination setting command, bin number information 303 of a discharge bin to be set as a notification destination, and network address information 304 of a host computer to be notified. Have been.

It should be noted that the bin number information 303 is generated based on the paper discharge bin specified by the operation unit of the host computer, and the host computer creates the notification destination setting command 300 including the information and transmits it to the LBP 1000. . In response, the LBP 1000 performs notification destination setting.

Thus, the LBP1 is transmitted from the computer.
The sheet is discharged to the designated storage unit without transmitting data (such as a command including an image formation start command or image data shown in FIG. 6 described later) for causing the 000 to perform the image forming process. Then, the end notification of the image forming process is L
It comes from BP1000. That is, LBP100
If a termination notification is sent to the computer from 0,
There are two cases: the case where the print data is transmitted by the user, and the case where the sheet is discharged to the discharge bin designated by the user.

Therefore, the user of the computer has the LBP
If any one of the 1000 output bins is owned and print data from another person is output to the output bin owned by the user, an end notification is received. Side.

It should be noted that the notification destination setting command 300 and a control command such as a command 600 shown in FIG. 6 to be described later, a transmission process of the command to the LBP 1000, a reception process of data indicating an end notification, a process of receiving the data, A program for causing a computer to execute a process such as a display process is stored in the form of a code in a memory of a host computer, and the above-described processes are executed when the CPU of the host computer reads the code.

FIG. 4 shows an example of the notification destination management table 400 created based on the notification destination setting command 300 input from the host computer. The table 400 is stored in the RAM 110 of FIG. It is stored in the form of a code and can be rewritten at any time. The table 400 includes bin number information of the discharge bin for which the notification destination has been set (see the bin number column 401).
Also, network address information of the host computer to be notified is stored (see the destination column 402).
When these pieces of information (bin number information and notification destination network address information) are written in the table 400, they are stored in association with each other. Further, the notification destination setting can be performed for each discharge bin.

In this embodiment, referring to FIG. 4, the discharge bin corresponding to bin number "1" is the first discharge bin 251 in FIG. 1, and the discharge bin corresponding to bin number "2". Is
The bin number “3” is the second discharge bin 252 in FIG.
The output bin corresponding to the third output bin 25 in FIG.
3 is assumed. That is, in the example shown in FIG.
The first, second paper discharge bin 252, and third paper discharge bin 253 mean that notification destinations are set, respectively.

Therefore, for example, when the sheet is discharged to the first discharge bin 251, the print job is transmitted to the host computer of the print job transmission source and the host computer having the network address of “111.22.33.45”. When the end notification is performed and the sheet is discharged to the second discharge bin 252, the host computer and the network address of the print job transmission source are set to “11”.
When the host computer of “1.22.33.46” is notified of the end of the print processing and the sheet discharge processing to the third discharge bin 253 is performed, the host computer and the network address of the print job transmission source are set to “111.2
2.33.47 "to the host computer. That is, a print end notification is sent to the sender and receiver (binner) of the data.

FIG. 5 shows that LBP1 is sent from the host computer.
2 shows an example of the state management table 500 when a plurality of print jobs are input to the RAM 000. The table 500 is stored in the RAM 110 in FIG. Is possible. The table contains a job identification number (job I
D information column 501), information indicating the status of the job (for example, stored in the job status information column 502 such as printing, printing wait, paper ejection waiting, analyzing, etc.), and the transmission source of the job The network address information of the host computer (the information is stored in the transmission source I / F information column 503) and the specification of a discharge tray to be used for discharging sheets from the plurality of discharge trays on the host computer side are specified. When this operation is performed, bin number information (stored in the output bin information column 504) of a discharge bin to be used so that it is possible to confirm which one of the specified discharge trays is used, and the specified discharge tray Bin number information of the paper discharge bin for which the sheet discharge processing has been completed (this information is stored in the end bin information column 505) so that it is possible to confirm which of the bins the sheet discharge processing is completed for. There are stored. These pieces of information are stored in association with each job.

In the example shown in FIG. 5, three print jobs are currently registered in the LBP 1000, and these jobs are
Referring to the job ID information column 501, job IDs “1”, “2”, and “3” are assigned in order from the top.

The job whose job ID is "1" is currently being output with reference to the job status information column 502, and the network address of the host computer which is the transmission source of the job is indicated in the transmission source I / F information column. 503.
22.33.44 ", and the bin number of the discharge bin to be used in the job specified by the host computer is" 1, 2, 3 "with reference to the output bin information column 504. The discharge bins used in the job are a first discharge bin 251 corresponding to bin number 1 and a second discharge bin 251 corresponding to bin number 2.
This means the third discharge bin 253 corresponding to the discharge bin 252 and the bin number 3. In addition, the bin number of the discharge bin for which the sheet discharge process is completed in the job is “1, 2” with reference to the end bin information column 505, and the bin number of the discharge bin specified in the job is “1, 2”. One output bin 25
1. The first discharge bin 251 and the second discharge bin 252, out of the second discharge bin 252 and the third discharge bin 253, on which the sheet discharge processing has actually been completed. Means In this embodiment, if the sheet discharge process is not completed for any of the designated discharge bins, the discharge bin information in the end bin information column 505 is set to “0”. Become.

The job whose job ID is “2” is currently waiting for output with reference to the job status information column 502, and the network address information of the job is referred to in the source I / F information column 503 as “ Local ", and the bin number of the discharge bin to be used in the job is set in the output bin information column 50.
4 is “1”, and the output bin actually used in the job is the first output bin 251 corresponding to bin number 1.
Means that Then, the end bin information column 505
, The end bin information of the job is “0”,
This means that the sheet discharge processing has not been completed for the first discharge bin specified in the job (in this case, the sheet discharge processing has not been performed).

The job whose job ID is “3” is currently being analyzed with reference to the job status information column 502, and the network address information of the job is referred to by referring to the transmission source I / F information column 503. 111.22.33.44 ", and the bin number of the discharge bin to be used in the job is set in the output bin information column 50.
4 is “2”, and the output bin actually used in the job is the first output bin 252 corresponding to bin number 2
Means that Then, the end bin information column 505
, The end bin information of the job is “0”,
This indicates that the sheet discharge processing has not been completed for the second discharge bin specified in the job (in this case, the sheet discharge processing has not been performed).

In this embodiment, when there are a plurality of discharge bins used in one job, and when the sheet discharge processing is completed for any one of the discharge bins, it corresponds to the completed discharge bin. The bin number to be written is written in the end bin column 505 (for example, refer to the end bin information for the job whose job ID is “1” in the end bin information column 505). When the sheet discharging process is completed, the end bin information column 505 is set to “1”.
Otherwise, that is, if the sheet discharge processing has not been completed for all the specified discharge bins, “0” is set.
It is good. For example, the end bin information of the job whose job ID is “1” is not “1, 2” but “0” in this case.
And the first discharge bin 251 and the second discharge bin 25
It may be set to “1” when the sheet discharge processing is completed for all the third and third discharge bins 253.

FIG. 6 shows an example of a job input command 600 input from the host computer to the LBP 1000 when a print job is input. The command 600 includes an ESC code 601 indicating that the command is a control command (control command), and the command (command) is a command for starting an image forming process, that is, a job input command (corresponding to a job start command). A character string 602 indicating
When a discharge bin to be used in the job is specified, a character string 603 (STA in FIG.
CK, which means a stacking mode), and when a discharge bin is designated, bin number information 604 corresponding to the discharge bin used in the job is included. I have.

For example, in the example shown in FIG. 6, the bin numbers corresponding to the discharge bins used in the job are "1;2;3:".
The output bin actually used in the job is
The first discharge bin 251 and the second discharge bin 2 in FIG.
52, a third discharge bin 253, which means that sheet discharge processing is performed on these discharge bins.

The status management table 500 shown in FIG. 5 is created based on the job input command 600. The command 600 may also include the network address information of the host computer that sent the command.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an example of a first data processing procedure in the LBP 1000 of the present embodiment. A program for executing the processing is stored in the form of code in the ROM 109 of FIG.
08, the code is read and executed. This process is started when the power is turned on.

First, a host computer connected via a network (for example, host computer 101)
And 102, 103) to ports (input buffer 106)
It is checked whether data (image data or data as shown in FIGS. 3 and 6) has arrived (step S70).
1). If data has not arrived, check again for data and wait for data to arrive.

When the data arrives, it is checked whether the received data is a control command (control command) (step S702). Whether or not the received data is a control command can be confirmed by, for example, checking whether or not the received data includes the ESC codes 301 and 601 shown in FIGS. And step S
If it is determined in step 702 that the data is a control command, it is determined whether or not the data is a job start command (start command for image forming processing) (step S703). Whether the data is a job start command is determined by, for example, adding the character string 60 in FIG.
It can be confirmed by checking whether or not 2 is included.

If it is determined in step S703 that the command is a job start command, the job is registered in the state management table 500 shown in FIG. 5 based on the data (step S704). In step S704, a job ID is assigned to the data with reference to the status management table 500 in FIG. 5, and the job ID is registered in the job ID information column 501. Further, the network address of the host computer which is the source of the data is entered in the source I / F information column 5.
03, and the bin number information of the discharge bin to be used in the job is written in the output bin information column 504.
When writing these information to the table 500,
These are stored in association with each other.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S703 that the data is not a job start command, it is checked whether the data is a notification destination setting command (notification destination setting command) (step S705). Whether or not the instruction is a notification destination setting instruction can be confirmed by, for example, checking whether or not the character string 302 in FIG. 3 is included in the data. Step S
If it is confirmed at 705 that the instruction is a notification destination setting instruction,
The notification destination management table 400 shown in FIG.
Is registered and a notification destination is set (step S706). In step S706, referring to the notification destination management table 400 in FIG. 4, based on the received data, the bin number information of the discharge bin to be set as the notification destination is written in the bin number column 401. Is written in the destination column 402. When these pieces of information are written in the table 400, they are stored in association with each other. Further, the notification destination setting can be performed for each discharge bin.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S705 that the command is not a notification destination setting command, command analysis is performed on the data (step S707). Step S
In 707, a predetermined process is performed for each instruction. If necessary, a process of writing data to the page buffer 111 is performed, and the process returns to the data analysis process.

If it is determined in step S702 that the data is not a control command, the input data is analyzed, the data is converted into an internal code (step S708), and the data is written to the page buffer 111. Processing is performed (step 709). Repeat this one by one,
A page buffer for one page is created in the page buffer memory 111. When a plurality of jobs are submitted as in the example shown in FIG. 5, parameters are sequentially set in the state management table 500.

Then, it is checked whether or not one or more pages of data have been stored in the page buffer 111 (step S710). If the data has been stored, the printer I / F 112
The data is sequentially output to the printer unit 113 via the printer unit 113, and the printer unit 113 starts a printing process based on the input data (step S711). On the printer unit 113 side, based on the input data,
An image is formed on the sheet, and the sheet on which the image has been formed is discharged to a discharge bin designated by the host computer of the transmission source. The output bin column 504 of the status management table 500
By confirming the information inside, the sheet on which the image has been formed can be discharged to the discharge bin designated by the transmission source host computer. The above process corresponds to a process of forming an image on a sheet based on the received data and outputting the image-formed sheet to a predetermined discharge bin.

When the printing process is started, the status of the job in the status management table 500 in FIG. Further, the information in the end bin column 505 is rewritten in response to the completion of the discharge to one of the discharge bins in which the sheets on which the images are formed are to be stored.
In addition, when a plurality of jobs are registered, a job in a state where a page buffer has been created is “waiting for output”,
The job stored in the input buffer 106 is in the “waiting for analysis” state. On the other hand, in step S710, 1
If the page buffer for the page has not been created,
Read the data again.

Following the processing in step S711, it is detected whether or not an error has occurred during data output (step S712). If an error is detected in step S712, referring to the state management table 500 of FIG.
On the basis of the information in the output bin column 504 and the end bin column 505, the currently output paper discharge bin is specified (that is, to find out which paper discharge bin is being accessed when an error occurs). Then, by referring to the notification destination management table 400, bin number information that matches the bin number information of the specified output bin is searched for in the bin number column 401, and network address information corresponding to the matching bin number information is found. A search is made from the destination field 402. Then, an error notification is made to the host computer of the corresponding network address (that is, the host computer of the owner of the discharge bin in this case) (step S713). In addition, in step S713, along with the above-described processing, an error notification is made to the host computer that is the transmission source of the data with reference to the state management table 500. On each host computer, a message to that effect is displayed on the display.

Thus, the user who is the owner of the paper discharge bin, for example, while the data of himself or another person is being output to the paper discharge bin owned by him (for the paper discharge bin). If an error occurs (before the data output is completed), the host computer can confirm that the error has occurred. Also,
Further, by displaying the cause of the error on the display so that it can be clearly understood (for example, running out of toner, paper jam, running out of paper, or the host computer of the transmission source and LBP1).
000 is displayed, and the appearance of the LBP 1000 is graphically displayed so that the error location can be visually recognized. Can take action. For example, when the transmission source is in a remote place (different floor or different building) and an error occurs due to no paper, out of toner, paper jam, etc., the user who owns the output bin is With LBP1000
The cause of the error may be removed by going to the point of, or in the case of a communication error, the transmission source may be notified to have the data transmitted again.

In step S713, an error notification is sent to both the host computer as the notification destination as the owner of the paper discharge bin and the host computer as the data transmission source, but the error notification is sent to only one of them. May be set to be performed, or a host computer to be notified of an error may be automatically selected according to the content of the error, and the selected host computer may be notified of the error (for example, in the case of a communication error, Error notification is sent only to the sender, and in the case of an error due to running out of toner, out of paper, etc., an error notification is sent to the bin owner). This makes it possible to provide an optimal system according to the situation.

If no error is detected in step S 712, referring to the state management table 500,
It is checked whether data output (discharge) to at least one of the designated discharge bins has been completed (step S714). If the discharge to at least one of the designated discharge bins has not been completed, the process returns to step S711.

If it is determined in step S714 that the discharge of at least one discharge bin has been completed, referring to the information in the end bin column 505 of the state management table 500 in FIG. The bin number information that matches the bin number information of the specified bin is specified by referring to the notification destination management table 400. Find out,
Network address information corresponding to the matching bin number information is searched from the destination column 402. Then, a print end notification is sent to the host computer of the corresponding network address (that is, the host computer as the notification destination) (step S715).

After the processing in step S715, data output to all of the specified discharge bins is performed by referring to the information in the output bin column 504 and the end bin column 505 of the state management table 500. It is confirmed whether (discharge) is completed (step S716). If data output has not been completed for all the discharge bins, the process returns to step S711. In step S716, if data output has been completed for all of the specified output bins, a print end notification is sent to the source of the data with reference to the state management table 500. Perform (Step S
717). As described above, in this embodiment, the notification to the notification destination is performed each time the discharge of the sheet to one output bin is completed, and the notification to the data transmission source is the discharge of the sheet to all the specified discharge bins. Perform according to completion.

After performing the processing in step S717, it is confirmed whether or not there is data to be processed (step S71).
8) If there is data to be processed, step S702
When there is no data to be processed, the process ends.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing an example of the second data processing procedure in the LBP 1000 of the present embodiment. A program for executing the processing is stored in the form of code in the ROM 109 of FIG.
08, the code is read and executed. This process is a process performed subsequent to step S713 in FIG.

The process shown in FIG. 8 is performed by the panel 104 of the LBP 1000 when an error occurs during output.
FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining a process in a case where an operation is performed by a user, and in a case where a reset is performed by an operator, a notification destination of a discharge bin for which data is not output and a discharge bin in the middle of output; This is a process for notifying that the data output has been reset (canceled).

For example, the discharge bin 251 is owned by the user A, the discharge bin 252 is owned by the user B, and the discharge bin 25
3 is owned by the user C, the user D designates a paper output bin from his / her host computer so that print data is output to the paper output bins owned by these users, and the print data is transmitted to the LBP 1000. And On the other hand, LB
P1000 starts the job based on the data from the user D, but before the discharge of the sheets to the discharge bin 251 is completed, there are no more sheets for forming an image. D and output bin 25
It is assumed that an error notification has been sent to the host computer of the user A who is the owner of the server 1 (step S71 described above).
3). Each host computer may display, for example, a message for notifying that there is no paper or a request for replacing the paper size.

It is assumed that the user A or the user D who has received the error notification goes to the LBP 1000 but resets it on the operation panel 104 because there is no corresponding paper. In such a case, the LBP 1000 notifies the user A, the user B, and the user C of the fact that the reset processing has been performed to notify the user A, the user B, and the user C of the cancellation of the job.

As described above, the process shown in FIG. 8 is a process performed when the user performs an intervention operation when an error occurs. The details will be described below.

First, it is confirmed whether or not the user has performed an intervention operation on the operation panel 104 (step S90).
1). If there is no intervention operation by the user even after waiting for a certain time, the process ends.

If an intervention operation by the user is performed in step S901, it is confirmed whether or not the operation is a reset operation (step S902). If not, a process corresponding to the operation by the user is executed. (Step S903). If it is determined in step S902 that the operation is a reset operation, referring to the information in the output bin column 504 and the end bin column 505 of the state management table 500,
The discharge bins for which sheet discharge has been completed are confirmed (step S904), and it is confirmed whether data output (discharge) has been completed for all of the designated discharge bins. (Step S905).

If it is determined in step S905 that data output (discharge) has been completed for all of the designated discharge bins, this process ends. On the other hand, if it is determined in step S905 that data output (discharge) has not been completed for all of the designated discharge bins, the output bin column 504 of the state management table 500 By referring to the information in the end bin column 505, a paper discharge bin in the middle of paper discharge and a paper discharge bin for which data output is specified but data output has not been performed are specified, and the notification destination management table 400 is displayed. With reference, the host computer at the network address corresponding to the specified output bin is notified (cancel notification) that the reset process has been performed (step S9).
06). Then, this process ends. Upon completion of the processing, the flow shifts to step S714 in the processing in FIG. 7 described above.

As described above, in this embodiment, a print end notification is sent to both the transmission source and the notification destination of the print data in response to the completion of the discharge of the sheet to the discharge bin. If an error occurs during data output, an error notification is issued, and if a reset operation is performed by the user, a cancellation notification is sent to both the transmission source and the notification destination of the print data in the same manner as described above.

As a result, it is possible to eliminate problems when the user who owns the discharge bin can be set and troublesomeness for the user. For example, if the notification destination setting is made for the discharge bin owned by the user, even if print data from a user different from the owner of the bin is discharged to the discharge bin, Since the print completion notification is received, it is possible to know that the print data from another person has been discharged to the discharge bin owned by the user. Therefore, for example, in order to reliably send print data from a user different from the bin owner to the bin owner, a user different from the bin owner (in this case, a print requester) is This eliminates the need to go to the location where the print data is fetched and hand it directly to the bin owner or contact the bin owner to get the print data. Furthermore, if a user different from the bin owner instructs the host computer to eject print data to any of the owner's bins, an error may occur due to lack of toner, paper, etc. on the printer side. In this case, an error notification is sent to the user, so that the owner of the bin can know the error, and can remove the error before he / she actually uses the printer. Data to be output.

In the above-described embodiment, one notification destination is set for one discharge bin (that is, one bin owner is set for one discharge bin). A plurality of notification destinations may be specified for one discharge bin. FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of a case where the notification destination setting command illustrated in FIG. 3 is extended. FIG. 9 shows a notification destination setting command 700 when a plurality of notification destinations are specified for one discharge bin.

The notification destination setting command 700 in FIG. 9 includes an ESC code 70 indicating that the command is a control command.
1, a character string 702 indicating that the command (command) is a notification destination setting command, the number information 703 of a discharge bin to be set as a notification destination, and the network address information 704 of a plurality of host computers to be notified. include.

In this case, the notification destination management table 400 shown in FIG. 4 is created so as to register a plurality of network addresses of the host computers as notification destinations for each discharge bin. In steps S713 and S715 of the flowchart of FIG. 7 and step S906 of FIG. 8, an error notification, a print end notification, and a cancellation notification are sent to a plurality of notification destinations that are the owners of the bin. Will be Thus, a plurality of notification destinations can be set for one discharge bin, so that one discharge bin can be shared by a plurality of users.

The above-described processing (for example, regarding processing on the host computer side, the notification destination setting command 300
Or, regarding the processing on the LBP 1000 side, such as the processing of creating the command 700 and the command 600, the processing of transmitting the command, the processing of receiving the notification data, and the processing of displaying the data, the reception analysis processing of the command and the notification destination management table 40
0 and a program code necessary for causing a computer to execute the process of creating the state management table 500 and the processes shown in the flowcharts of FIGS. 7 and 8) on a storage medium such as a floppy disk (FD). When the computer reads and executes the program code from the floppy disk, the functions of the above-described processing can be realized by using the computer.

In this case, there is no need for the computer to store the program code for performing each of the above-described processes, and the capacity can be saved, so that the cost can be reduced. Also, F
CD-RO as a storage medium other than D and hard disk
M, an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, a CD-R, a magnetic tape, a nonvolatile memory card, or the like may be used.

[0081]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, an image is formed on a sheet based on received data, and the image-formed sheet is stored in a storage unit for storing the sheet. In the discharging image forming apparatus, a notification destination for notifying the end of the image forming process is set, and in response to the completion of the sheet discharging to the storage unit, the image forming process is transmitted to the data transmission source and the set notification destination. Since the end is notified, it is possible to eliminate a trouble when the user who owns the storage means can be set and a troublesome user.

According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, an image is formed on a sheet based on received data, and the image is formed in one of a plurality of storage sections for storing the sheet. The first data including the image forming process start instruction is transmitted to the image forming apparatus that discharges the sheet, and any one of the plurality of storage units is specified. Regardless of the transmission of the first data, the first data is transmitted to the specified storage unit. Since the second data including a notification destination setting instruction is transmitted to the image forming apparatus to notify the end of the image forming process in response to the ejection of the sheet, the same as the first aspect of the present invention. The effect is obtained.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of an LBP.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an LBP.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing commands input from a host computer.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a notification destination management table.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a state management table.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing commands input from a host computer.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a flowchart of a first data processing procedure.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a flowchart of a second data processing procedure.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing commands input from a host computer.

[Explanation of symbols]

 101 Host Computer 102 Host Computer 103 Host Computer 104 Operation Panel 108 CPU 109 ROM 110 RAM 111 Page Buffer 113 Printer Unit 250 Discharge Option 251 First Discharge Bin 252 Second Discharge Bin 253 Third Discharge Bin 1000 LBP

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page F term (reference) 2C061 AP01 AQ06 AS02 HJ04 HJ10 HK02 HK05 HK07 HK11 HK19 HN04 HN05 HN15 HN18 HN21 HP04 HQ06 HV05 HV09 HV13 HV14 HV33 HV34 HV35 3F050 CA08 CB05 CB07 CE07

Claims (12)

[Claims] An image forming apparatus that forms an image on a sheet based on received data and discharges the sheet on which the image has been formed to a storage unit that stores the sheet. And a notifying unit that notifies the end of the image forming process to the transmission source of the data and the notification destination set by the setting unit in response to the completion of the ejection of the sheet to the storage unit. An image forming apparatus comprising: 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the storing unit includes a plurality of storing units configured to store sheets, and the image forming apparatus selects a predetermined storing unit of the storing unit based on received data. Discharging a sheet to a storage unit, the setting unit includes a notification destination storage unit that sets a notification destination for each storage unit of the plurality of storage units and stores the notification destination in association with the storage unit, The notifying unit notifies the end of the image forming process to the transmission source of the data and the notification destination corresponding to the storage unit where the discharge of the sheet is completed, in response to the completion of the sheet discharge to the storage unit. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1. 3. When a sheet is discharged to a plurality of storage units, the notifying unit notifies the notification destination each time the discharge of the sheet to one storage unit is completed. 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the operation is performed in response to completion of discharge of sheets to all of the plurality of storage units. 4. A detecting means for detecting an error, wherein in response to detecting the error by the detecting means, the notifying means sends an error to a data transmission source and a notification destination set by the setting means. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the notification is performed. 5. The setting unit sets a plurality of notification destinations for each storage unit, the notification destination storage unit stores the plurality of notification destinations in association with the storage units, and the storage unit stores And a notifying unit that notifies the end of the image forming process to the transmission source of the data and the plurality of notification destinations corresponding to the storage unit in which the sheet has been discharged in response to the completion of the sheet discharge to the copy unit. Item 3. The image forming apparatus according to Item 2. 6. A first step of forming an image on a sheet based on the received data, and discharging the sheet on which the image has been formed to a storage unit for storing the sheet, and a notification notifying the end of the image forming process. A second step of setting a destination, and ending the image forming process to the transmission source of the data and the notification destination set in the second step in response to the completion of sheet ejection to the storage unit. Third to notify
A data notification method comprising the steps of: 7. An image forming apparatus for forming an image on a sheet based on received data and discharging the sheet on which the image has been formed to any one of a plurality of storage units for storing the sheet. Transmission means for transmitting the first data including the start command of the above, and designation means for designating any one of the plurality of storage sections, wherein the designation means is designated by the designation means irrespective of the transmission of the first data. Transmitting second data including a notification destination setting instruction to cause the image forming apparatus to perform a notification of the end of the image forming process in response to the discharge of the sheet to the storage unit. Communication device. 8. The data communication device according to claim 7, wherein the second data includes data for specifying a storage unit specified by the specifying unit. 9. An image forming apparatus that forms an image on a sheet based on received data and discharges the sheet on which the image is formed to any one of a plurality of storage units that store the sheet. A first step of transmitting first data including a start command of the first step, a second step of specifying any of the plurality of storage units, and irrespective of transmission of the first data, Transmitting the second data including a notification destination setting instruction to cause the image forming apparatus to perform a notification of the end of the image forming process in response to the sheet being discharged to the storage unit designated in the step. And a data communication method. 10. The data communication method according to claim 9, wherein said second data includes data for specifying a storage unit specified in said specifying step. 11. A first step of forming an image on a sheet based on received data and discharging the image-formed sheet to storage means for storing the sheet, and a notification notifying the end of the image forming process. A second step of setting a destination, and ending the image forming process to the transmission source of the data and the notification destination set in the second step in response to the completion of sheet ejection to the storage unit. Third to notify
A computer-readable storage medium storing a program for causing a computer to execute the steps of the above. 12. An image forming apparatus which forms an image on a sheet based on received data and discharges the sheet on which the image is formed to any one of a plurality of storage units for storing the sheet. A first step of transmitting first data including a start command of the second step; a second step of designating any of the plurality of storage units; and irrespective of transmission of the first data, Transmitting the second data including a notification destination setting instruction to cause the image forming apparatus to perform a notification of the end of the image forming process in response to the sheet being discharged to the storage unit designated in the step; A computer-readable storage medium storing a program for causing a computer to execute the steps of the above.