JP2001239723A - Image recording device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To change the order of print waiting jobs. SOLUTION: This device comprises a means for storing images of a plurality of jobs in an image memory 4, a means 7 for displaying a list of image print waiting jobs stored in the image memory 4, and a means 8 for changing the order of the print waiting jobs displayed in the list.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to an image recording apparatus capable of storing images of a plurality of print jobs.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Recently, digital multifunction peripherals have been developed which have a high-speed facsimile function and a high-speed copy function, and further function as a printer by connecting a personal computer or the like via a network.

In such an image recording apparatus, images of a plurality of print jobs can be stored in an image memory, and an image received by facsimile, an image to be copied, and an image to be received and printed from a personal computer are received. The images are sequentially stored in the image memory, and are sequentially read out and recorded.

[0004]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional image recording apparatus, when a plurality of jobs are already in a print waiting state, even if an attempt is made to print an image of a new job, the image is accumulated. It is necessary to wait until the images of all the jobs are printed out, and in order to print immediately, all the jobs waiting to be printed have to be canceled.

The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and has as its object to provide an image recording apparatus capable of changing the order of jobs waiting for printing.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, an image recording apparatus of the present invention is configured to temporarily store an image in an image memory, read the image from the image memory, and print and record the image. Claim 1 means for enabling storage of images of a plurality of jobs in the image memory, means for displaying a list of print waiting jobs for images stored in the image memory, and order of the print waiting jobs displayed in the list Means that can be changed.

This image recording apparatus includes a digital multifunction machine having facsimile, copy, and printer functions, a facsimile machine, a copier, and a printer having only each function, and a combination of these two functions. , Such as a facsimile machine with a high-performance copy function.

The storage of the image in the image memory can be performed in parallel even if the image of the first print waiting job is being printed. The list of jobs waiting to be printed is displayed in order of printing so that each job can be identified.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, when the order of the print waiting jobs displayed in the list is changed, a job with a small number of unrecorded sheets is prioritized over a job with a large number of unrecorded sheets. That is, a job in which printing is completed in a short time is given priority over a job in which a long time is required.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, when the order of the first job among the print waiting jobs displayed in the list is changed, the printing of the job is interrupted. The job whose print recording has been interrupted is restarted in the changed order after the print recording of the prioritized job is completed.

[0011]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of the image recording apparatus. Here, a case will be described in which a facsimile apparatus F that functions as a printer of a personal computer PC and also functions as a copy machine is applied as an image recording apparatus. However, the present invention is not limited to this. An apparatus, a copier, a printer, or the like may be used.

A facsimile machine F and a personal computer PC
Indicates a case where the personal computer is directly connected via a cable such as RS-232C, but is not limited to this.
C, the facsimile machine F may be shared as a printer.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a main control unit which comprises a CPU and the like, and controls the following units. 2 denotes an NCU which sends a dial signal to the telephone line L and controls connection to the telephone line L. 3 denotes a facsimile. A modem for modulating and demodulating signals for communication, 4 is an image memory for temporarily storing encoded image data, 5 is a RAM for storing various data, and 6 is an RO which stores control programs and the like in advance.
M and 7 are a display unit composed of a liquid crystal display (LCD) or LED, 8 is an operation unit composed of various operation keys and the like, 9 is a reading unit that reads image data from a set document, and 10 is a facsimile reception. The read image and the image read from the reading unit 9 are recorded on a predetermined recording paper (print output).
A recording unit 11 is a PC interface unit for connecting a personal computer PC and controlling communication according to a predetermined protocol.

In the facsimile apparatus F, an image received by facsimile is recorded by the recording unit 10 as a facsimile function, an image read from the reading unit 9 is recorded as a copy function, and transmitted from the personal computer PC as a printer function. A case in which the recorded image is recorded will be described.

In the facsimile apparatus F, when performing the above-described recording, the image is temporarily stored in the image memory 4, and the image is read out from the image memory 4 and printed. Further, the facsimile apparatus F includes means for storing images of a plurality of jobs in the image memory 4, means for displaying a list of jobs waiting to be printed of the images stored in the image memory 4, Means for changing the order of waiting jobs.

That is, the main control unit 1 constitutes means for enabling the storage of images of a plurality of jobs in the image memory 4, and the display unit 7 displays a list of jobs waiting to be printed of the images stored in the image memory 4. The operation unit 8 is capable of changing the order of the print waiting jobs displayed in the list.

The image storage in the image memory 4 can be performed in parallel even if the image of the first print waiting job is being printed. The list of print waiting jobs displayed on the display unit 7 may be displayed in the printing order so that each job can be identified.

If the order of the print waiting jobs can be changed in this way, the print job can be recorded with priority given to the urgent job. Therefore, unlike the related art, there is no need to cancel another print waiting job and erase an image in order to immediately start printing.

In the present invention, the facsimile apparatus F
When the order of the print waiting jobs displayed in the list is changed, a job with a small number of unrecorded sheets can be given priority over a job with a large number of unrecorded sheets. That is, priority is given to a job in which printing is completed in a short period of time, and it is permitted to change the order earlier. On the other hand, a job whose print recording time is long is prohibited from being changed in order. As a result, despite the small number of recordings,
There is no waiting for printing for a long time.

Here, the number of unrecorded sheets indicates the number of remaining sheets obtained by subtracting the number of already recorded sheets from the total number of recorded sheets in a print recording job. In the case of copying, the total number of recorded sheets is the number of pages of the document multiplied by the number of copies.

When the facsimile machine F changes the order of the first job among the jobs waiting to be printed displayed on the display unit 7, the printing of the job is interrupted. This interruption includes interruption during printing of an intermediate page and interruption immediately before starting printing of the first page.

When recording an image in the middle of a page,
When the order of the job is changed, the print recording is interrupted when the printing of the page (recording paper) is completed. Then, the job whose print recording has been interrupted, after the print recording of the prioritized job has been completed, according to the changed order.
Resumes printing from the next page (recording paper) that was interrupted. When a plurality of copies are recorded in the copy function, the same page may be recorded for the designated number of copies and then the copying may be stopped.

By operating as described above, even while printing a large number of sheets, printing can be interrupted, and printing can be started with priority given to other jobs. Can be.

FIG. 2 shows a print wait job table 5 provided in the RAM 5 for managing print wait jobs.
3 shows a configuration example of a (management table). The images of each job stored in the image memory 4 are arranged in the order of the queue.
The recording is sequentially performed by the recording unit 10. Here, the type of each job, the remaining number, the total number, and the recording requester are managed as data.

The job types include "reception" for recording an image received by facsimile, "copy" for recording a specified number of copies of a read image, and "PC print" for recording an image received from a personal computer PC. There is. In the case of facsimile reception, the telephone number and name of the destination are set in the requester, and in the case of copying, the user code and the department code input from the operation unit 8 when the image recording is instructed. (Department code) etc. are set,
In the case of the C print, a user code transmitted from the personal computer PC is set.

The display unit 7 displays a list of jobs waiting to be printed in a configuration similar to that shown. The operator changes the order of the print waiting jobs by operating the shift key (cursor key) or the like of the operation unit 8 with reference to each data of the print waiting job list. For example, if it is determined that printing of an image received by facsimile may be delayed slightly, other jobs are prioritized. The recording unit 10
Is directly switched to the personal computer PC side, to increase the processing speed, etc.
Continue the C print job.

The change of the print waiting job may be performed by designating the job to be made the first, or by designating the job whose order is to be changed and the order after the change. You may specify two jobs to be changed. Alternatively, a designation may be made such that the order of jobs is rearranged in ascending order of the number of unrecorded sheets for all jobs.

Next, the operation of the facsimile machine F will be described with reference to flowcharts shown in FIGS. FIG. 3 shows an operation of storing an image in the image memory 4 (100 to 1).
05). If data is received from a PC, the PC
The data received via the interface 11 is stored in the image memory 4, and the number of pages is stored in the management table 5a (100, 101). If the document is a copy document, the data read from the document by the reading unit 9 is stored in the image memory 4, the number of prints is calculated from the number of documents, and the number of prints is stored in the management table 5a (102, 103). If it is a received original, the data received via the telephone line L is stored in the image memory 4, and the number of pages is stored in the management table 5a (104, 105).

FIG. 4 shows the operation at the time of replacing a print waiting job (200 to 219). When the list key of the operation unit 8 is operated (200), a list of jobs arranged in the order of reception is displayed on the display unit 7 (201). At this time, the job being printed is shaded on the top row (2
02) Each time printing on recording paper is completed one by one,
The unrecorded number (remaining number) is displayed as a countdown.

Next, the job to be prioritized by changing the order (order) is designated by the shift key (20).
3) If the next input key is the enter key, the next key input is used to specify the changed order, and the jobs are switched (204, 205). If the down shift key is input, the order of the designated job is lowered by one line (one step) (206, 207).

When the upper shift key is input, if the number of unrecorded jobs of the job to be designated by the cursor is larger (more) than the number of unrecorded jobs of the job to be prioritized, the order of the job to be prioritized is set. Is placed one line above the cursor position, and if the number of unrecorded jobs of the job to be prioritized is larger, a NACK buzzer is output, the cursor position is returned to the original position, and the order change is prohibited (2).
08-212).

On the other hand, when the key input (205) is the decision key (213), the print job is executed with the changed priority (218). However, if the job to be prioritized is given priority over the currently running job, the print job is interrupted after the printing of the currently printing page is completed, the job to be prioritized is executed, and the job is further interrupted. After restarting the job that has been performed, the job is executed in accordance with the changed order (214 to 218).

Here, the job can be deleted by designating the job from the print waiting job list and inputting the delete key (219).
This makes it possible to delete, for each job, a job whose print record has become unnecessary.

In order to prevent the rank of the print waiting job from being unduly lowered by another person, when executing the print job replacement processing, input of a user code or a password is required. May be replaced (lowered). Further, the administrator may be able to replace all jobs.

[0035]

As can be understood from the above description, in the image recording apparatus according to each of the first to third aspects of the present invention, images of a plurality of jobs can be stored in the image memory. A list of print waiting jobs for the images stored in the list is displayed, and the order of the print waiting jobs displayed in the list can be changed. Therefore, it is possible to easily perform print recording with priority given to a rush job. Therefore, it is not necessary to erase the images of the other jobs waiting to be printed in order to immediately start printing as in the related art.

In particular, according to the second aspect, a job with a small number of unrecorded sheets is prioritized over a job with a large number of unrecorded sheets. Absent.

According to the third aspect, when the order of the first job is changed, the printing of the job is interrupted. Can be given priority.
Therefore, it is possible to start print recording of a job to be prioritized without waiting for a long time.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of an image recording apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of a print waiting job table.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the operation of the image recording apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating another example of the operation of the image recording apparatus of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 F Facsimile machine 1 Main control unit 4 Image memory 5a Job table waiting for printing 7 Display unit 8 Operation unit 10 Recording unit

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page F term (reference) 2C061 AP03 AP04 AP07 AS02 CQ24 CQ34 HN04 HN15 HN22 5B021 AA01 DD05 PP05 5C062 AA02 AA05 AA14 AB17 AB20 AB22 AB25 AB38 AB42 AC06 AC21 AC60 AE15 AF01 AF03 AF07 BA00 5CC03 A CE09

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. An image recording apparatus configured to temporarily store an image in an image memory, read out the image from the image memory, and print and record the image. An image recording apparatus comprising: means for displaying a list of print waiting jobs for images stored in a memory; and means for changing the order of the print waiting jobs displayed in the list. 2. The image according to claim 1, wherein when changing the order of the print waiting jobs displayed in the list, a job with a small number of unrecorded sheets is given priority over a job with a large number of unrecorded sheets. Recording device. 3. The image according to claim 1, wherein when changing the order of the first job among the print waiting jobs displayed in the list, the printing of the job is interrupted. Recording device.