JP2002031990A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming device which, even in the case where a trial output is temporarily stopped when other job such as an ordinary output is set and stands-by after the job of trial output, can perform the other stand-by output job during the temporary stop. SOLUTION: The device has a suspending means 62. The suspending means 62 manually or automatically suspends a trial output operation stopped temporarily by a temporary stop means 61. The suspending means 62 allows other output operation following the trial output operation to be performed first.

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 capable of outputting an image typified by a copying machine, a printer and the like, and more particularly, to a normal output and a test output as its image output operation. In addition, the present invention relates to an image forming apparatus of a type capable of executing an output operation in which the normal output and the test output are mixed.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, copiers and printers which form and output images on recording media such as recording paper and OHP sheets based on image data input from an image reading device (scanner) or a personal computer (personal computer). In the case of adding an image forming apparatus, a function capable of selecting a normal output for performing a normal image output and a test output for performing a test image output for confirming an output result is provided as an image output operation. There is. When such a function is added, especially when the output result is regarded as important, for example, after confirming the output result obtained by the test output, a formal output (for example, a normal output of a necessary number of copies) is provided. It is convenient because it can be performed. From a different point of view, this means that a useless output operation with a bad output result (failure) can be avoided, and thus waste of time and waste of consumables can be avoided.

[0005] The image forming apparatus having such a function usually has a configuration in which a normal mode in which a normal output is performed as an output operation and a test mode in which a test output is performed are separated. However, with such a configuration,
For example, when performing normal output after trial output,
First, after selecting the test mode and confirming the result of the test output, it is necessary to specify the normal mode and perform the normal output again. It has been pointed out that there are disadvantages such as extra time and labor required for resending image data and instructing output again.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. Hei 10-291356 discloses an image forming apparatus which eliminates the above-mentioned weak points. The test mode is not divided into a normal mode and a test mode. A copy mode is provided, and it is determined whether or not the copy mode is designated at the time of printing, and if it is determined that the copy mode is not the normal mode, the normal print is performed. In this case, for example, there is shown means for temporarily stopping the printing operation after test printing one copy and selecting whether to resume or cancel the remaining test printing.

According to this image forming apparatus, a copy mode is provided as a print mode, and a copy mode is provided from a host computer.
By performing the second print instruction, the test print and the normal print can be performed. Thus, when the normal print is performed after the test print, the print instruction need not be performed twice, and the time required for the second print instruction is eliminated. Consumption of the product will be eliminated.

[0006]

However, the above-described image forming apparatus has the following problems. That is, when the means for providing the copy mode in the image forming apparatus is applied to, for example, an image forming apparatus capable of managing and executing each printing operation in response to a plurality of print instructions, There may be a case where a normal print job is set and waiting later. At this time, the result obtained by the test print is checked, and the remaining (for example, the number of copies) job set in the test print is restarted. Unless the user selects to cancel or cancel, the next print job (especially a normal print job) that is waiting cannot be executed during that time, which causes a problem that productivity is reduced.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve such a problem, and an object of the present invention is to mainly set a test output job (execution operation) followed by another output job. Provided is an image forming apparatus capable of executing another output job in a standby state during the temporary stop even if the test output is temporarily stopped during the standby. With the goal.

[0008]

According to the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus which forms an image on a recording medium based on input image data, and outputs the image.
An operation setting unit that can select and set a normal output or a test output as an output operation by the image output unit; a job management control unit that manages an execution order of a plurality of output operations set and requested by the operation setting unit; A temporary output means for temporarily stopping the output operation when a test output operation is executed based on the management information of the job management control means; and manually outputting the test output operation temporarily stopped by the temporary output means. The present invention is characterized in that it comprises a holding means for selectively or automatically putting on hold, and for executing another output operation which is a subsequent operation of the test output operation in advance.

According to the present invention, when the test output is temporarily stopped by the temporary stop means, the operation of the test output is suspended by the holding means, and the operation subsequent to the test output operation is performed. Is output first. The operation of such a holding means is performed by manual selection or automatically. As a result, even when the test output is temporarily stopped, another output operation in the standby state (mainly a normal output, but may be a test output) is executed during the pause. become. The timing for temporarily stopping the test output is usually the first one when the test output is set to output a plurality of copies.
It is preferable to set the time when the output of the unit is completed, but it is not limited to this.

In the present invention, the post-processing relating to the test output which has been put into the holding state by the holding means is executed after the operation of the normal output previously executed by the holding means is completed. It is desirable to provide means. In this case, examples of post-processing of the test output include a process of releasing the held state, a process of canceling the held test output operation, and the like. Then, the post-holding processing means may be configured, for example, to indicate to the user the selection content of the post-processing and to be able to select any of the post-processing.

When the post-hold processing means is provided, the processing after the test output held by the holding means is surely supported. If a plurality of options are presented as the subsequent processing, the held test output is processed with more appropriate contents.

In the present invention, the job management control means manages a plurality of output operations and, if the execution order of the test output is the second or later, sets the execution order of the test output to the first. Alternatively, it is desirable to have a change function of changing the order in the order on the near side. in this case,
To change the order to the near side means that, for example, when there are two or more normal outputs before the test output, the execution order of the test output is not changed to the top (first), but at least one is set to the front. It means to change to a desired order on the side. The change of the execution order may be configured to be performed by a manual selection operation, or may be automatically performed only when the change is made to the first order.

When the change function is provided, the operation of the test output is executed with priority over the normal output. Thereby, the output result obtained when the test output is temporarily stopped can be checked with a margin during another output operation (particularly, normal output) which is executed in advance by the holding unit.

Further, in the present invention, when the holding processing of the holding means is executed by manual selection, when the manual selection is not performed within a predetermined elapsed time, the holding operation is automatically performed. It is preferable to provide a timer means for executing the above.

When the timer means is provided, even if the manual selection of the hold operation is delayed, the hold operation is automatically executed. Thus, it is possible to prevent the execution of another output operation from being delayed due to the selection delay.

[0016]

[First Embodiment] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a main configuration of an image forming apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

The image forming apparatus includes an image input unit 1 for inputting image data, an image processing unit 2 for appropriately processing image data, an image storage unit 3 for storing image data, and an image storage unit 3 for storing images based on the image data. An image output unit 4 for forming and outputting on a recording medium such as a recording sheet, and an operation unit 5 as an operation setting unit for performing settings relating to a predetermined operation and the like of the image forming apparatus
The image input unit 1, the image processing unit 2, the image storage unit 3,
The main part of the system control unit 6 that controls each operation of the image output unit 4 and the operation unit 5 is configured. In the figure, thick arrows indicate the flow of image data, solid arrows indicate the flow of other data, and dotted arrows indicate the flow of control signals.

The image input unit 1 is constituted by an image reading device (scanner) or the like, and reads an original and inputs the image data. The image processing unit 2 performs a process of sending image data sent from the image input unit 1 to the image storage unit 3 after performing predetermined image processing and the like, and then writing the image data to the image storage unit 3. After reading out the image data and performing predetermined processing, the image data is sent to the image output unit 4. The image storage unit 3 is configured by a large-capacity storage unit such as a hard disk, and stores and accumulates image data sent from the image input unit 1 via the image processing unit 2. Image output unit 4
Based on the image data read from the image storage unit 3 and sent through the image processing unit 2, a toner image is formed by, for example, electrophotography, and is directly or via an intermediate transfer member on a predetermined recording medium such as recording paper. The printing system is configured to form a black-and-white image or a color image by transferring and then fixing.

The operation unit 5 includes an operation button 50 and a display panel (such as a liquid crystal screen) 51 and the like. By operating the operation buttons 50 and operation keys displayed on the display panel 51, each part is operated. The operation and its conditions are selectively set or necessary information is displayed. In addition, the image forming apparatus is provided with a "test mode" for performing a test (test) print in addition to a "normal mode" for performing a normal print as a print (output) operation by the print system of the image output unit 4. For example, the “normal mode” and the “test mode” can be selectively set on the operation unit 5. Also,
In this image forming apparatus, the number of print copies can be set to a plurality of copies not only when the normal mode is set but also when the test mode is set. The system control unit 6 is configured by a microcomputer or the like, and performs predetermined control over the entire image forming apparatus according to a control program stored in a ROM (read-only memory) or the like. Further, the image forming apparatus can perform an image reading (input) operation and an image output (print) operation at the same time.

In the image forming apparatus, as a part of each control unit in the system control unit 6, a plurality of print operations (image reading of the image input (Including an image input operation by the device) and a job management control unit 60 for managing each setting content, and a print operation when a test print operation is executed based on the management information of the job management control unit 60. Means for temporarily suspending the operation of the test print, and manually suspending the operation of the test print temporarily suspended by the suspension means 61, and performing another print operation which is a subsequent operation of the operation of the test print. (Mainly normal printing) is executed in advance. Further, in the system control unit 6, post-processing relating to the test print that has been put on hold by the holding unit 62 (post-processing for canceling hold or canceling print in this embodiment).
Is also incorporated after the completion of the normal printing operation previously executed by the holding means 62 by manual selection.

Incidentally, these job management control means 6
0, the temporary stopping means 61, the holding means 62 and the post-holding processing means 63 are held as control programs in the ROM, the nonvolatile memory or the like in the system control section 6, and are determined based on other necessary control signals and the like. It starts at the timing of and functions.

Next, the operation of the image forming apparatus will be described.

First, a basic image forming (normal printing) operation in the normal mode will be described. First, the operation buttons 50 and the operation panel 51 on the operation unit 5
When a job start command is issued by setting an instruction related to document reading or printing, a document to be output is read by the image reading device as the image input unit 1, and the image data is adjusted by the image processing unit 2. Later, the data is written and stored on a hard disk as the image storage unit 3. When there are a plurality of types of originals, the operations of reading all the originals and storing the image data are repeatedly performed.

Subsequently, the image data which is the object of the output request is read from the image storage unit 3 and subjected to necessary adjustment processing by the image processing unit 2 and then sent to the print system as the image output unit 4. Thus, the printing operation is performed in the printing system based on the image data. As a result, a recording sheet (printed matter) on which an image is formed by normal printing based on the image data is output.

Next, for example, a reading operation (job) and a printing operation (job) for each document set by a different user are performed based on the job management information, and the "test mode" is included in the plurality of print jobs. The operation when a job set to "" is included will be described with reference to FIGS.

First, as shown in FIG. 2, instructions are set for each job of reading and printing a plurality of types of documents on the operation unit 5 (step 10: ST10). For the print job, the selection setting of the “test mode” is performed together with the instruction setting such as the number of print copies. Incidentally, for a print job for which the test mode is not selected, the normal mode is automatically selected. When the instruction setting is made on the operation unit 5 and a job start instruction is issued, the image data of the original is taken in by the image reading device of the image input unit 2 (ST11), and the image data of the original is stored in the hard disk of the image storage unit 3. Is stored (ST1).
2).

On the other hand, in parallel with this document reading operation, the job management
At 0, each reading operation (job) and each setting content are managed and registered (recorded) in the job management list (ST13). The job management information at this time can be confirmed by displaying it on the display panel 51 of the display unit 5 as shown in FIG. 4, for example.

FIG. 4 shows a part of the display screen of "job status" in the job management list. Also, “No.” in this figure indicates the order of each reading operation and “Job I
“D” indicates identification information for the reading operation of each document, and “Job state” indicates the operation state of each job at the present time (for example, 1
"Printing" is displayed for a job that has entered the print operation, such as the second job).
Indicates the number of prints set by the operation unit 5, and “number of pages” indicates the number of prints currently being performed. further,
Reference numeral 53 denotes a selection / designation key button on a touch panel type liquid crystal screen, and a predetermined job can be arbitrarily selected / designated. For the five jobs shown in FIG. 4, the third job indicated by the job ID “CCC” is set to the “test mode” for convenience of description hereinafter, and all other jobs are set to “test mode”. It is assumed that "normal mode" is set. It is also assumed that the third job is set to print a plurality of copies.

Subsequently, the job management control means 6
The print operation for the five jobs managed by 0 is executed. Here, the operation after the time when the print operation of the job set in the “test mode” is executed among the above-described print operations will be described in particular (for the job set in the “normal mode”). In this case, the normal printing operation as described above is performed).

That is, first, as shown in FIG. 3, it is determined whether or not the job which starts and enters the next print operation is a test print job set in the test mode based on the job management information. (ST2
0), if it is determined that the job is a test print job,
A test copy of the first copy of the job is executed (ST
21) When the printing operation of one copy is completed, the printing operation is temporarily stopped by the temporary stop means 61 (ST22). Thereafter, for example, a selection screen as illustrated in FIG. 5 is displayed on the display panel 52 of the operation unit 5 (ST23). The selection screen shown in FIG. 5 includes a predetermined message 54 for prompting the user to select a continuation of the paused test print and a selection button 5 related to the selected content.
5a, 55b and 55c are mainly displayed.

At this time, as shown on the selection screen, the user is given three options of continuing, canceling, or suspending the operation for the remaining set number of test prints (ST24). ). Further, when making this selection, the 1 obtained by the test print operation is used.
This can be done while checking the printed matter of the set.

Here, when the user desires a test print of the second copy or later from the result of checking the printed matter and selects "continue (selection button 55b)" on the selection screen shown in FIG. The test print of the set and subsequent copies is executed (ST25), and when all the set number of test prints are completed (ST26), the image data related to the test print is deleted from the image storage unit 3 (ST27). As a result, the test print job ends. If the user selects “cancel (selection button 55c)” on the selection screen shown in FIG. 5 assuming that the test print of the second copy is unnecessary, the image data relating to the test print is stored in the image storage unit 3. The job is deleted and terminated (ST27).

On the other hand, the user can select "Hold (selection button 55a)" on the selection screen shown in FIG. When this suspension is selected, the suspension means 62
As a result, the hold processing of the test print for the second copy and thereafter is performed (ST30). In other words, the operation of the second and subsequent test prints is put on hold, and another job (here, normal print) subsequent to the test print job is executed in advance.

When such hold processing is performed, it is determined based on the job management information whether or not there is a normal print job subsequent to the held test print job (ST31). If it is determined that there is such a job, the subsequent normal printing operation is performed first (ST32). In this embodiment,
Since the fourth and fifth jobs shown in FIG.
Normal printing is executed for the two jobs.

Therefore, in this image forming apparatus, when the test print operation is temporarily stopped after one copy is printed, another normal print job may be waiting after the test print job. Since the operation of the test print is suspended and the internal resources for job processing are released, the subsequent normal print job can be executed. As a result, it is possible to improve the productivity of the image forming apparatus when the test print is performed. In addition, while the subsequent normal printing is being performed, the printed matter obtained by the test printing can be checked with a margin, and it is necessary to sufficiently and appropriately determine whether or not to continue the test printing. Can be.

Subsequently, when all the normal printing operations previously executed by the hold processing are completed, the hold post-processing means 63 displays, for example, a selection screen as shown in FIG. Is displayed (ST3
4). This selection screen is also displayed when it is determined in step ST31 that there is no subsequent normal print job. The selection screen shown in FIG. 6 mainly displays a predetermined message 56 for urging the user to continue the selection of the held test print, and selection buttons 57a and 57b related to the selected content.

At this time, as shown in the above selection screen, the user has two options of releasing the hold as post-processing of the held test print or canceling the print operation. Given (ST3
5).

Here, if the user selects "Release Hold (selection button 57a)" on the selection screen shown in FIG. Test prints for the second copy and thereafter are executed (ST25), and when all the set number of test prints have been completed (ST26), image data relating to the test prints is deleted from the image storage unit 3 (ST27). . As a result, the test print job ends. On the other hand, if the user selects “cancel (selection button 57b)” on the selection screen shown in FIG. The job is deleted and terminated (ST27).

FIG. 7 shows the transition status of each job (shown by the job ID in FIG. 4) in a case where the user selects the hold after the above-described test print is executed. is there. "Printing", "Waiting for execution", "Stop (pause)"
The displays of “medium” and “on hold” indicate the display contents of “job status” on the display screen related to the job management list illustrated in FIG. Further, the display of "delete" indicates that the image data is deleted from the storage means 3 after the print job is completed and is not displayed on the display screen shown in FIG. In other words, as is apparent from FIG. 7, when the hold mode selection instruction is given when the test print of the test mode setting job (CCC) is temporarily stopped, the subsequent normal mode setting job (DDD, EE
E) is normally printed first. Further, if the release of the hold is instructed after the subsequent job is completed, the test print job (CCC) in the hold state is restarted and executed. Incidentally, a job (XXX) in the drawing indicates a job of a document that is in a reading operation (scanning) during a print hold or a printing operation.

[Second Embodiment] FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a second embodiment of the present invention. The image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment is different from the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment in that the holding operation by the holding unit 62 in the first embodiment is automatically executed. It has the same configuration.

That is, in the image forming apparatus according to the second embodiment, as shown in FIG. 8, after the test print of the first copy for the test mode setting job (CCC) is executed and temporarily stopped (ST40). To ST42, which correspond to ST20 to ST23 in FIG. 3), and the hold processing of the test copy for the second copy and thereafter is automatically performed (ST43). The contents of the suspension processing are the same as those in the first embodiment.

If there is a normal print job following the test print job by the automatic hold processing, the normal print job is executed in advance (ST44 to ST45). As a result, immediately after the first copy of the test print is completed and temporarily stopped (without waiting for the user to select a hold), the process immediately shifts to the hold process, so that the image formation at the time of the test print is performed. It is possible to further improve the productivity of the device.

Further, the operation after the preceding execution of the normal printing by the automatic hold processing is completed (ST16 to ST16).
ST52) corresponds to the case of the first embodiment (ST33 to ST33 in FIG. 3).
ST36 and ST25 to ST27).

[Third Embodiment] FIG. 9 shows a third embodiment of the present invention and is an explanatory view showing a display screen by a change function of the job management means. The image forming apparatus according to this embodiment differs from the image forming apparatus according to the first or second embodiment in that a change function for changing the execution order of jobs is added to the job management unit 60. It has the same configuration as each of the image forming apparatuses according to the first and second embodiments.

That is, in the image forming apparatus according to the third embodiment, as shown in FIG. 9A, the job management status by the job management means 60 manages a plurality of print jobs and sets a test print job (job If the execution order of the test print job (ID: CCC) is the second or later, a change function for changing the execution order of the test print job to the first order is added to the job management means 60 as shown in FIG. It was done. In the illustrated example, the test print job (job ID: CCC) registered third in the initial job management situation is moved and changed first.

The change function is configured so that the change operation is automatically executed when the job management status is set, or that the user can manually execute the change operation. The illustrated example is an example in which the change operation by the change function is manually executed, and the user includes the job management information display screen on the display panel 51 of the operation unit 5 as a part before starting the print operation. The user can select and display the “Change job output order” setting screen, and by selecting the test print job to be changed with the selection designation button 53 on the setting screen, the test print job is automatically started. Are configured to be changed in order. The job (CCC), which is partially shaded in FIG.
3 indicates that the job is selected and designated. In the case of the configuration in which the manual change operation is executed, the execution order of the test print job can be changed by selecting an arbitrary order (for example, the second order in the illustrated example) instead of the first order. It may be configured. In this case, when the manual change operation is performed, it is possible to change the execution order to a more appropriate execution order while considering the output priority situation of another normal print job.

With such a change function, the operation of the test print job (job ID: CCC) is executed with higher priority than the normal print (job ID: AAA, BBB in the illustrated example). As a result, the holding operation by the holding means 62 can be selected when the test print job is temporarily stopped as described above, and the confirmation of the test print result (printed matter) obtained at the time of the temporary stop is preceded by the holding operation. Print job (Job ID: AAA, BBB, DD)
(D, EEE) printing operation. Further, based on the confirmation result of the printed matter, it is possible to quickly and accurately select the post-processing for the hold test print job by the hold post-processing means 63 executed at the time when the normal printing is completed.

[Fourth Embodiment] FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a fourth embodiment of the present invention. The image forming apparatus according to this embodiment is configured by adding a timer means for monitoring the presence or absence of the selection operation when the holding operation by the holding means 62 in the first or third embodiment is executed by manual selection. In other respects, the configuration is the same as that of each of the image forming apparatuses according to the first and third embodiments.

That is, in the image forming apparatus according to the fourth embodiment, at the stage where the selection screen is displayed after the test print job is executed and temporarily stopped (steps ST20 to ST23 in FIG. 3), the selection is made by the user. When a selection on the screen is not made within a predetermined elapsed time,
A timer unit having a timer execution function for automatically executing the holding operation by the holding unit 62 is provided.
This timer means is incorporated as an additional function of the holding means 62, for example.

According to the timer means,
As shown in FIG. 0, when the selection screen (FIG. 5) is displayed on the display panel 51 of the operation unit 5 (step ST23 in FIG. 3), a timer is set (ST60), during which the user manually operates the selection screen. A determination is made as to whether or not a selection is made (ST61), and a determination is made as to whether or not the time is up (ST). If the time is up without making the selection, the process automatically shifts to the holding process of the holding means 62 (that is, step ST30 in FIG. 3), and the timer function is released (ST6).
4). On the other hand, if the selection on the selection screen is executed before the time is up, the operation shifts to the selected operation (that is, step ST23 or ST23 in FIG. 3).
27), the timer function is released (ST64).

Accordingly, when such a timer is provided, even if the manual selection of the hold operation after the selection screen for the test print job is delayed, the hold operation is automatically performed. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the execution of the normal print job subsequent to the test print from being delayed due to the delay in the selection. As a result, it is possible to improve the productivity of the image forming apparatus when executing the test print job.

[Other Embodiments] In the first to fourth embodiments, an example has been described in which an image reading device (scanner) is used as the image input unit 1. Instead of the image reading device, for example, FIG. As an example, an external image generation device 7 such as a personal computer capable of creating image data may be applied. In this case, the image input unit 1 can be configured to function as a communication port when connecting to one or more external image generation devices 7 via a network or the like. In this case, the setting of the normal mode or the test mode, the selection setting of each job, and the like can be performed on the external image generation device 7 side, but the operation unit 5 may also be configured.

[0053]

As described above, according to the image forming apparatus of the present invention, the provision of the holding means and the like makes it possible to set another job for output after the job of test output and wait for the job. In this case, even if the test output is temporarily interrupted, if a hold process by the holding unit is selected, another output job in a standby state is executed while the test output is temporarily stopped. be able to. Therefore, it is possible to improve the productivity of the image forming apparatus when performing the test output.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a main configuration of an image forming apparatus according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an operation content when reading a document.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an operation content at the time of performing printing including a test print job.

FIG. 4 is a schematic explanatory view showing an example of a display screen relating to a job status in a job management list.

FIG. 5 is a schematic explanatory diagram showing an example of a selection screen displayed when test printing is temporarily stopped.

FIG. 6 is a schematic explanatory view showing an example of a selection screen for post-processing of a held test print.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing the progress of the operation of each job when a hold selection is made in test print execution.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the operation of the image forming apparatus according to the second embodiment when a print including a test print job is executed.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing a change function of a job management unit in the image forming apparatus according to the third embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of a timer unit in the image forming apparatus according to the fourth embodiment;

[Explanation of symbols]

4 print system (image output unit), 5 operation unit (operation setting unit), 60 job management unit, 61 suspending unit, 62 suspension unit, 63 post-processing unit.

──────────────────────────────────────────────────の Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification code FI theme coat ゛ (reference) H04N 1/00 H04N 1/00 EF term (reference) 2C061 AP01 AP04 AR01 AS13 HK19 HR01 HR04 2H027 DA33 DA40 EJ11 FA08 FA10 FA37 FC02 HA07 ZA07 5B021 AA01 AA19 NN23 5C062 AA05 AB11 AB17 AB22 AB25 AB41 AB44 AC02 AC04 AC22 AC55 AE04 AE15 AF07

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. An image output means for forming an image on a recording medium based on input image data and outputting the image, and an operation setting unit capable of selectively setting a normal output or a test output as an output operation of the image output means. A job management control unit that manages the execution order of a plurality of output operations set and requested by the operation setting unit; and a control unit that executes a test output operation based on management information of the job management control unit. A suspending means for temporarily suspending the output operation, and a method of manually selecting or automatically suspending the operation of the test output temporarily stopped by the suspending means, and a subsequent operation of the operation of the test output. And a suspending unit for executing the output operation in advance. 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the post-processing relating to the test output held in the holding state by the holding unit is executed after the operation of the normal output previously executed by the holding unit ends. An image forming apparatus comprising: 3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the job management control means manages a plurality of output operations and the execution order of the test output is the second or later. An image forming apparatus having a changing function of changing the execution order of the test output to the order of the head or the front side. 4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the holding process of the holding unit is performed by manual selection, and the manual selection is performed within a predetermined elapsed time. An image forming apparatus comprising a timer means for automatically executing the suspension operation when there is no such operation.