JP2001111743A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming device that can easily recognize that a user making a job reservation understands a revision applied to the reserved job. SOLUTION: The image forming device is provided with a condition entry means that can make a setting operation of a setting condition in an image forming job, a user registration means that can register a user ID and a password to identify a user permitted for the setting operation, a job reservation means that can reserve image forming jobs for each registered user, a setting revision means that can make a revision operation of the setting condition of the reserved image forming job, and a user identification means that requests entry of a password, identifies the user based on the password entered on request, validates the revision operation when the user is identified to be the user having made the revision operation and invalidates the revision operation when identified to be the different user.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus having an image forming section for forming an image based on image data.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a so-called digital copying machine (hereinafter simply referred to as a copying machine) having an image reading section and an image forming section and transmitting image data between the two, copying work is performed for each work unit. A device having a job reservation function for reserving a so-called image forming job (hereinafter, also simply referred to as a job) that can be reserved for a job is used. The job reservation function reserves a job in the digital copying machine, and the digital copying machine automatically advances the copying operation of the next job as soon as the previous reserved job is completed.
When using the job reservation function, the user operating the digital copying machine sets the original on the image reading unit, the number of output copies,
The reservation setting items including the presence / absence of double-sided copying are input, and the registration work is completed. The registered reservation job is automatically executed after the previous reservation job is completed, so that the user can leave the digital copying machine after the completion of the registration work. Therefore, the copier having the job reservation function does not restrict the user, and is particularly useful in the case of mass copying of a high-speed machine, such as when a plurality of work units for performing mass copying are continuously executed. is there.

When the job reservation function is used, image data read from a document set in the image reading section is stored in an image memory. In the image reading operation, the image data of the document set by the user is immediately read regardless of the job being executed, so that the user can leave the copying machine with the document after completing the job registration.

[0004]

A copier having a job reservation function, further comprising a setting change function for changing the content of a reserved job once reserved, for example, the number of copies and paper size, and the job execution itself are unnecessary. If
Deletion function to delete a registered reserved job. Change the priority of executing any job before other jobs by raising the priority of any job, where jobs are normally executed in the reserved order Some with functions are known.

[0005] If the copier is used by a single user,
It is sufficient for the user to manage the change, deletion, change of priority, etc. of the reserved job, but in a copying machine used by multiple users, one user can Therefore, there is a possibility that some setting change, deletion, change of the priority order, etc. may be added without understanding.
In this case, there is a problem in that the user notices an abnormality only after looking at the output of the job, or notices that the job has been deleted because the job is not output.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to make it easy for an image forming apparatus to recognize that a change made to a reserved job has been acknowledged by a user who has reserved the job.

[0007]

The first object of the present invention can be achieved by an image forming apparatus according to the present invention. That is, the image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a condition input unit capable of setting operation of a setting condition in the image forming job, and a user ID for identifying a user who is permitted the setting operation
User registration means for registering an image forming job, a job reserving means for identifying and reserving an image forming job for each registered user, and setting for changing the setting conditions of the reserved image forming job Changing means, requesting the input of a password, identifying the user by the password input in response to the request, and validating the changing operation if the user is identified as the user who performed the setting operation; And a user identification means for invalidating the change operation if identified.

According to this image forming apparatus, the image forming apparatus can easily recognize that the change made to the reserved job has been acknowledged by the user who has reserved the job.

[0009]

FIG. 1 is a front view schematically showing a copying apparatus as an example of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 10 denotes an image forming unit for forming an image on a recording paper by an electrophotographic method, 20 denotes an image reading unit for reading an image of a document and outputs image data, 30
Reference numeral denotes a post-processing unit that performs post-processing such as sorting, stapling, and punching on the recording paper discharged from the image forming unit 10.

The image forming section 10 has a photoconductor 11, forms a toner image on the photoconductor 11 by charging, exposing, and developing, and transfers the toner image formed on the photoconductor 11 to recording paper. The image forming unit 12 includes paper feed units 13a, 13b, 13c, and 13d for storing recording paper on which an image is formed, a recording paper reversing unit 14 for double-sided image formation, and a fixing unit 15 for fixing a toner image on the recording paper. .

The image reading section 20 includes a document feeder table 21 on which a document is placed, a platen roller 22 for conveying the document and forming a reading position, a document discharge table 23 on which a read document is placed, and an image light. And an image sensor 24 that receives the light and converts it into an image signal.

FIG. 2 shows the electrical configuration of the copying apparatus shown in FIG. 1. In FIG. 2, the copying apparatus can be divided into a main unit and an operation unit, each of which is provided with a CPU as control means.

In the main body section, 50 is a main body CPU for controlling each section of the copying machine, 51 is a ROM for storing a processing program to be executed, and 52 is an RA as a work area used when the main body CPU 50 executes the processing program.
M and 53 are non-volatile RAs storing various setting parameters.
M and 54 are input / output ports used for input / output of various data, 55 is a serial communication control unit for controlling communication between the main unit and the operation unit, and 58 is various input / output ports for image data obtained by the image reading unit 20. Is an image processing unit that performs the image processing described above and outputs the processed image to the image forming unit 10.

In the operation unit, reference numeral 60 denotes an operation unit CPU for performing various operations and control for various displays; 61, a ROM for storing various programs executed by the operation unit CPU 60; RAM 63 as a work area used when executing the processing program
Is an input / output port used for input / output of various data, 64
Is a serial communication control unit for controlling communication between the main body and the operation unit, 65 is a touch panel as input means for receiving operations, and 66 is for controlling display of patterns and characters in response to instructions from the operation unit CPU 60. An LCD controller 67 is an LCD for displaying patterns and characters. The image reading unit 56 and the image forming unit 57 are respectively shown in FIG.
2 is an electrical configuration of the image reading unit 20 and the image forming unit 10 in FIG.

The touch panel 65 and the LCD 67 are electrically separated from each other as shown in the figure, but are mechanically arranged to form an operation panel. At the position displayed on the LCD 67, an operation of pressing and operating the touch panel 65 is performed.

The main body CPU 50 performs control for executing an image forming job (hereinafter also referred to as a job), which will be described later.
It mainly controls screen display on the operation panel.

FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram of the image processing section 58 shown in FIG. In the image reading section 56, the original image is read by the CCD 1 and converted into a digital image signal by the A / D conversion circuit 2, and this digital image signal is converted into an image processing section 58.
Output to The image processing unit 58 performs preprocessing and the like by the enlargement / reduction circuit 3 and the density correction circuit 4 if necessary, compresses the image by the compression / decompression circuit 5, and stores the image in the image memory 6 composed of a DRAM. Then, the image is read out from the image memory 6, the compressed image is expanded by the compression / expansion circuit 5, the compressed image is restored, and the expanded digital image signal is output to the image forming section 57 to form the image. You. The processing system of the digital image signal from the enlargement / reduction circuit 3 to the compression / expansion circuit 5 is controlled by the main body CPU 50 as a control means.

FIG. 4 is a control block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention.

The condition input means 510 is a means for inputting conditions such as the number of copies, the copy density, the magnification, etc., and is constituted as a part of the function of the operation panel. It is configured to input setting conditions. The user can operate the condition input unit 510 to register the job memories one by one, or can reserve a plurality of job memories continuously.

The copying apparatus according to the present embodiment performs input of setting conditions for the next copy and new scanning of a document during output of an image forming job, and as soon as the image forming job being output is completed. Subsequently, a job reservation function for executing an image forming job by a new scan is provided, so that the user is not restricted as much as possible. In the present embodiment, an image forming job reserved using the job reservation function is called a reserved job.

The user information input means 509 includes a user ID
And a password input means, which is provided with character keys for displaying numbers and alphabets on the operation panel, and an enter button, and is used for both registering a user ID and a password and performing user authentication. First, when registering a set of a user ID and a password, the user operates the character keys displayed on the operation panel to input an arbitrary character, and then operates the confirm button to obtain the user ID and the password. Is determined, and the determined set of the user ID and the password is stored in the user registration memory 505.

The user registration memory 505 is an example of the user registration means of the present invention, and a capacity for registering a plurality of sets of user IDs and passwords is allocated to a part of the recording area of the nonvolatile RAM 53 (see FIG. 2). Thus, even if the power of the copying apparatus is shut down, the set of the registered user ID and password is not lost.

The job reserving means 507 is a condition input means 5
This is a means for reserving an image forming job based on the setting conditions input from the MFP 10. In the copying apparatus of the present embodiment, when a copy button (not shown) is operated, the document of the image reading section 56 is read and set. The configuration is such that the job is automatically reserved as a reserved job along with the conditions.

The job information display means 508 is a means for displaying information about a reserved job, is configured as a part of the function of the operation panel, and displays the information as a job information display screen. In the present embodiment, a list of all reserved jobs is displayed on the job information display screen.

The user identification means 506, in response to the input of the user ID and password (which may be either one) requested by the copier, sets the set of the user ID and password input from the user information input means 509. It is a means to authenticate. In the copying apparatus according to the present embodiment, the operations of displaying the information of the reserved job, changing the setting contents, deleting (clearing) the reserved job, and changing the priority of the reserved job are performed by the user who has performed each reserved job. Authenticate to allow only for Of course, a privileged user who performs all operations may be registered.

The priority management unit 511 manages the jobs so that the jobs are executed in order from the reserved job reserved first. The priority management unit 511 automatically assigns a number specifying the priority of each reserved job according to the order in which the reservation was executed. In the present embodiment, the priority of the job being executed is set to the first, next, The priority order is assigned to the second job to be executed, and to the third and fourth every time the priority is lowered. The copying apparatus according to the present embodiment assigns and stores priorities to all reserved jobs, and outputs each reserved job according to the assigned priorities.

The setting change means 516 includes a priority change means 516a and a job deletion means 516b. The priority change means 516a changes the priority of the reserved job, and the job deletion means 516b changes the priority of the reserved job. This is a means for clearing (deleting).

The change of the priority order is a process of replacing the automatically assigned number with a number corresponding to the order specified by the user. After selecting an arbitrary job, the user operates the priority changing unit 516a to give a desired priority to the job.

Clearing a reserved job is a process for deleting a reserved job specified by the user from the memory. The user selects an arbitrary job, and then deletes the job.
6b to delete the job.

FIG. 5 shows a basic screen of the operation panel of the embodiment shown in FIGS. The basic screen is used for standard operation of the copying apparatus, and is a screen for displaying various operation items in standard use and receiving input of the items. The basic screen is provided with operation keys for entering various special modes and special screens. The basic screen is
Dialogue message area 10 for displaying instructions to the user, such as "Can copy" and "Please set original", and an explanation of the machine status such as "Display reservation list"
0, job display area 20 displaying the name of the job being executed
0, a print number / set number display area 300, a reservation list button 400 for calling a screen for displaying a list of reserved jobs, and a screen setting area 500.

A setting confirmation screen call button 536 for calling a setting confirmation screen (described later) and a job memory button 401 for calling a registration screen of a job memory (described later) are provided.

In a screen setting area 500, a mode selection area 501 for selecting a one-sided / two-sided mode, a density setting for setting an image density, a display area 502, a magnification setting area 503 for setting a magnification, and a recording paper size are selected. There is a size selection area 504 to be used.

In a magnification setting area 503, a numerical value display section 537a for displaying a magnification numerically, an independent magnification button 537b for setting a magnification that continuously changes vertically and horizontally independently, and a zoom button for continuously setting the magnification at the same vertical and horizontal magnification are set. 537c, there are a fixed magnification button 534 and an equal magnification button 535 for setting the conversion magnification between the standard recording paper sizes of the A series and the B series.

When copy conditions such as the number of copies, copy density, and magnification are set from the basic screen shown in FIG. 5, the set conditions are displayed on the screen and the conditions are set. In the job setting screen display, a display for changing the display of the designated button in the basic screen of FIG. 5, for example, a negative / positive inversion display (in FIG. 5, “one side → one side” is negative / positive inversion) is used. Can be

When the user inputs the conditions such as the number of copies, the copy density, and the magnification mainly from the basic screen shown in FIG. 5, sets the copy conditions, and presses the copy button, the user switches to the basic screen and enters the user ID. Screen (to be described later) is displayed,
The user is prompted to enter a user ID to identify the user who has reserved the job. When the user inputs the user ID, the screen returns to the basic screen of FIG. 5 and the document reading is started.

When the reading of the original is completed, the reservation of the job is completed. When the reservation of the job is completed, the screen is switched to a reservation content display screen shown in FIG. 6, and various setting conditions of the reserved job are displayed in a list. Jobs reserved through these steps are stored in the reservation list in association with the input user ID. The present embodiment is configured so that up to five job reservations can be made. However, the number of job reservations is not limited to five, and any number of job reservations can be made.
Focusing on one job, only one user ID is associated, but if one user makes a plurality of job reservations, one user ID may be associated with a plurality of jobs.

In the present embodiment, the timing of requesting the input of the user ID has been described with reference to an example immediately after the copy condition is set and the copy button is pressed, but before the job is registered as a reserved job. Any timing can be used as long as it can be confirmed.
A configuration may be such that a basic screen is displayed when an input of D is requested and a user ID is input, or a configuration in which a user ID is requested when any operation is performed to set copy conditions. .

FIG. 7 shows a user registration screen displayed when registering a set of a user ID and a password.

The user addition button 514 on the basic screen shown in FIG.
When the user presses the button, the user registration screen shown in FIG. 7 is displayed, a password input of the privileged user is requested (not shown), and a user ID and a password to be newly registered are subsequently requested. The user ID to be newly registered by the privileged user using the character keys 604 and the user ID input to the user ID display unit 601 are displayed, and the password is displayed on the password display unit 602.

If there is no deficiency in the user ID and the password, the privileged user operates the OK button 603, whereby a new set of the user ID and the password is added to the user registration memory 505. The user ID that can be input at the time of job reservation is limited to the user ID added to the user registration memory 505. Further, the user ID that can be input when changing the priority of a job or clearing a job is also limited to the user ID additionally written in the user registration memory 505.

The privileged user can set a limit number of sheets corresponding to each user ID. Here, the limit number is the upper limit value of the cumulative number of output recording sheets. The limit number of the user A is set to 10,000, the limit number of the user B is set to 5,000, and the like. Can be set, for example, to prohibit the image forming job by the user ID that has reached. Further, it is preferable that the count value of the accumulated number of sheets already executed for each user ID is confirmed so that the remaining number of sheets up to the limit number of sheets can be grasped.

If the user ID and password are incomplete,
The privileged user operates the delete button 605 to re-enter the set of the user ID and the password. It is more preferable that the user ID can be deleted and the password corresponding to the user ID can be changed by the same operation.

FIG. 8 shows a reservation user confirmation screen displayed at the time of job reservation.

After inputting conditions such as the number of copies, copy density, and magnification from the basic screen shown in FIG. 5 and setting the copy conditions, pressing the copy button will display the reservation user confirmation screen shown in FIG. , The user ID is required. When the user inputs a user ID using the character keys 604a, the user ID input to the user ID display unit 601a
Is displayed.

If there is no defect in the user ID, the user
By operating the K button 603a, authentication by the user identification means 506 is performed, and reading of the document is started. When the document reading is completed, the reservation of the job is completed. When the reservation of the job is completed, the screen is switched to a reservation content display screen (see FIG. 5), and various setting conditions of the reserved job are displayed in a list. Jobs reserved through these steps are stored in association with a user ID, so that it is possible to identify which user has reserved the job.

FIG. 9 shows a reservation list screen.

As shown in FIG. 9, the reservation list screen includes
A reservation list of five reservation job buttons 527 to 531 is displayed, and the user ID, the status of the reservation (outputting, waiting, or no reservation), the number of copies, the remaining number of copies (only those that are being output) are displayed. , The remaining time (displayed only for those being output) and the like. FIG. 9 shows a state in which job numbers 1 to 3 (job buttons 527 to 529) are used by respective users, and job numbers 4 and 5 (job buttons 527 to 529) are not used. The job number indicates a priority.

When the user tries to select an arbitrary reserved job, a specific job (for example, 52
When the user touches the (job 9) display portion, the touched job is specified, highlighted as shown in the figure, and is brought into a selected state.

When one of the reserved jobs is specified by the touch panel operation for designating the reserved job and the reserved job button 529 is touched again, the job priority button 53
When the user presses 2 or the job clear button 533, the authentication screen shown in FIG. 10 is displayed.

The order advance key 538 is a button for increasing the priority of the selected reserved job by one each time the user touches it once. For example, once to change the reserved job of the fifth priority to the fourth, one time Touch twice to change to No. 3. Similarly, the rank lowering key 539 reverses the priority of the selected reserved job by the number of touches.

In the authentication screen shown in FIG.
Since the FUJIWARA character string similar to the user ID displayed on the reserved job button 529 has already been displayed on the D display unit 601b, the user inputs the password corresponding to this user ID using the character key 604b.
The input password is displayed in the password input section 602b. When the display is confirmed and there is no defect in the password, the user operates the OK button 603b, and the password is registered in the user registration memory 505 as a set of user IDs by the user identification means 506 in response to the operation of the OK button. Is identified. If it is determined that they match, the user who has input the password can be trusted to be the user who made the reservation, so that the priority can be changed and the reservation job can be cleared, and each operates as follows.

That is, when the user wants to change the priority,
When the user operates the job priority button 532 and it is determined that they match as described above, the priority can be changed, and the user can move the selected reserved job up or down the order key 538 or 539 (both in FIG. 9). The user can assign a desired priority by the operation of (see).

When the job clear button 533 is operated and it is determined that the job matches as described above, a confirmation display (not shown) of job clear is displayed, and if the user acknowledges this, the selected reserved job is displayed. Cleared (deleted).

If it is determined that they do not match, the authentication screen is displayed again, and the user again performs a series of operations from the input of the password to the operation of the OK button, or operates the cancel button 605b. Return to the basic screen.

As described above, the copying apparatus according to the present embodiment starts an operation for changing the priority of a job or a change made to a reserved job such as a job deletion, and the change is executed by the operation. You are required to enter your password before it is sent. Therefore, from the identification result based on the input password, the copying apparatus can easily recognize whether or not the user performing the change operation has performed the operation with the consent of the user who made the reservation.

In this embodiment, the timing for requesting the input of the password has been described in the example immediately after the change operation is selected. However, any timing may be used as long as it can be confirmed before the change is executed. The copier may request the input of a password in a standby state, and a basic screen may be displayed when the password is input, or when a job is selected on the reservation list screen, the input of the password is requested,
The configuration may be such that a change operation can be performed by inputting a password.

[0058]

According to the image forming apparatus of the first aspect, the image forming apparatus can easily recognize that the change made to the reserved job has been acknowledged by the user who made the reservation of the job. It becomes possible.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view schematically showing a copying apparatus as an example of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an electrical configuration of the copying apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram of an image processing unit 58 shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a control block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a basic screen of an operation panel according to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing a reservation content display screen.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing a user registration screen.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing a reservation user confirmation screen.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing a reservation list screen.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing an authentication screen.

[Explanation of symbols]

 50 body CPU 505 user registration memory 506 user identification means 507 job reservation means 509 user information input means 510 condition input means 511 priority management means 514 user addition button 516 setting change means 516a priority change means 516b job deletion means

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page F term (reference) 2C061 AP04 AQ06 HN04 HN15 HR01 2H027 DA36 EC20 EE07 EE08 EF06 EJ03 EJ04 FA35 FA40 GA32 GA37 5B021 AA02 BB01 LD11 5C062 AA05 AB20 AB23 AB42 AC21 AC23 AC58 AE15 AF

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A condition input unit capable of setting operation of a setting condition in an image forming job; a user registering unit capable of registering a user ID and a password for identifying a user who is permitted to perform the setting operation; A job reserving unit capable of identifying and reserving a job for each registered user, a setting changing unit capable of performing an operation of changing the setting condition of the reserved image forming job, and requesting input of a password. A user identification that identifies a user by a password input in response to the setting operation, validates the change operation if the user is the user who performed the setting operation, and invalidates the change operation if the user is identified as a different user. And an image forming apparatus. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the change operation is a delete operation of the reserved image forming job. 3. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a priority management unit configured to manage priority of the image forming jobs in a reserved order, wherein the changing operation is a changing operation of the priority. The image forming apparatus as described in the above.