JP2002044337A - Compound machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a compound machine that can properly inform a machine user about contents of an error used at automatic power OFF due to a weekly timer function at a next start time, and to more effectively utilize user information having been used by a password for the use of a compound machine heretofore. SOLUTION: An error state storage means stores an error state occurrence state at a power OFF point of time by a weekly timer function in the compound machine. At application of power again, it is displayed to properly deliver a state of the machine to the machine user. Furthermore, the compound machine prints out user information that makes the use of the machine available on copied transfer paper or a FAX transmission report that records faxing. Thus, who used the machine can easily be confirmed.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a multifunction peripheral having a copying function, a facsimile function, a printer function, and the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art There has been proposed a conventional multifunction peripheral having a weekly timer function capable of setting a start time, a stop time, and the like for each day of the week.
According to the weekly timer function, it becomes possible to control the apparatus to automatically start up when the start time comes, and to automatically turn off the power (usually, the sub power supply) when the stop time comes, Useless power consumption can be avoided.

[0003] In addition, a conventional multifunction device is generally installed, for example, in one working group (such as "department" or "section") and used by a plurality of device users in that group. However, as a proof that the plurality of apparatus users can use the multifunction peripheral, a type that requires input of user information has been proposed. In this case, if there is no input of user information, it is possible to perform control such that the multifunction peripheral does not operate.

[0004]

However, the power off control using the weekly timer function has the following problems. That is, when the power of the apparatus is turned off at the designated end time, an error such as "paper out" or "paper jam during operation (operation jam)" has occurred immediately before that time, Conventionally, when an error that cannot be recovered by the user's hand (service man call error, hereinafter referred to as “SC error”) has occurred, the power has not been turned off. Therefore, in this case, the activation state of the apparatus is continued, and wasteful power is consumed.

In some cases, the power is forcibly turned off in such a case. In such a case, the power is turned off without saving the contents of the various errors.
Because of the FF, there is a problem that the next time the power is turned on, the content of the error is not accurately transmitted to the user of the apparatus.

For example, if the “operation jam” error has occurred immediately before the end time, the “stationary jam” error will occur when the power is turned on next time.
If an error message with an incorrect content is displayed or the "paper out" error has occurred, the "paper out" message disappears the next time the power is turned on.
The device user could not know the fact that the job was suspended. If an “SC error” has occurred, after the power is turned on, the job in which the error has occurred
, There is a case where the same SC error cannot be displayed unless the process is executed again.

In such a case, for example, when a facsimile reception or the like occurs, the apparatus is actually in an error state, so that the reception cannot be performed properly (for example,
If it is a jam, the received image data cannot be printed out).

[0008] The multifunction peripheral that issues the user information input request has the following problems. That is, the input of the user information in the related art is merely a "fire point" for executing the copying or the facsimile function. In other words, information such as who is using or who has used the multifunction peripheral during or after use is not stored.

[0009] However, in such a state, for example, when a certain device user performs facsimile transmission, information on the device user who has performed the transmission is as follows.
Nothing is described on the “FAX transmission report”, and it is inconvenient for the user of the apparatus to check whether or not the transmission has been performed later.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and has as its object to reduce the contents of an error that has occurred at the time of automatic power-off by a weekly timer function to use the device at the next startup. It is an object of the present invention to provide a multifunction device capable of accurately transmitting information to a user.

[0011] Another object of the present invention is to provide a multifunction peripheral capable of more effectively using user information conventionally used as a simple "fire point".

[0012]

The present invention employs the following means in order to solve the above problems.

That is, the multifunction peripheral according to the present invention has a copy function, a facsimile function, and a printer function, and also has a weekly timer for automatically turning on and off the power at a set start time and stop time. A multifunction device having a function, wherein when there is no paper or a paper jam at the stop time, and other errors such as a paper jam, storage means for storing the content of the error; Display means for displaying the contents of the error stored in the storage means when the power is turned on by a user of the apparatus.

Further, the multifunction peripheral according to the second aspect is the first aspect of the invention.
In the same machine as described above, when the received image data is received in the facsimile function or the document image data is received in the printer function, the error is related to image formation based on the received image data or the document image data. In the case of a part that does not have a relation, the part having no relation is separated and an image is formed based on the received image data or the document image data.

On the other hand, the multifunction peripheral according to the third aspect is a multifunction peripheral having a copying function, a facsimile function, and a printer function. In order to make the multifunction peripheral usable, the multifunction peripheral is uniquely assigned to a plurality of apparatus users. A multifunction device that needs to input the user information obtained by the user, the image forming means for printing the user information on the recording material while forming an image on the recording material based on the document image data by the copying function. It is characterized by the following.

The multifunction device according to the present invention is a multifunction device having a copying function, a facsimile function, and a printer function. In order to use the multifunction device, the multifunction device is uniquely allocated to a plurality of apparatus users. Wherein the user information is input to the MFP, and the MFP further comprises an image forming means for printing the user information on the recording material together with the image formation of the FAX transmission report on the recording material. It is.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the multifunction peripheral according to the third or fourth aspect, the printing of the user information is performed by a specific one of a plurality of apparatus users who use the apparatus. It is characterized in that it is executed only for each.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a multifunction peripheral according to the third aspect.
In the above-described apparatus, the user information is allocated in units of a plurality of groups of device users who use the apparatus when the apparatus users are divided into groups.

Further, the multifunction peripheral according to the seventh aspect is the third aspect of the present invention.
7. The apparatus according to any one of Items 6 to 6, wherein when the image is formed over a plurality of recording materials, the printing of the user information is performed only on a first recording material among the plurality of recording materials.

In addition, the multifunction peripheral according to the present invention is a multifunction peripheral having a copy function, a facsimile function, and a printer function, wherein the storage means capable of registering data relating to a transmission partner in the facsimile function is provided. A multifunction peripheral having image forming means for forming an image on a recording material based on the received image data received by the facsimile function and printing data relating to the other party that transmitted the received image data. Is what you do.

The ninth, tenth and eleventh aspects of the present invention
This is an invention in which “user information” in claim 5, claim 6, or claim 7 is replaced with “data about the other party” and is grasped.

[0022]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, first and second embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Hereinafter, first, a description will be given of parts common to the embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a mechanical configuration of a multifunction peripheral 1 according to each embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, the multifunction peripheral 1 includes an image reading unit 10 and an image writing unit 2.
0, an image forming section 30, a transfer sheet transport section 40, a transfer sheet discharge section 50, and the like.

These units operate as follows. The image reading unit 10 is a document surface of a document (a surface on which an image is formed).
Is placed so as to face the surface of a platen glass (original glass) 11, and light is projected by a scanning light source 12 such as a halogen lamp. This light is reflected by the document surface, reflected by the mirror 13 and the mirrors 14 ₁ and 14 ₂ , reaches the CCD imaging device 17 via the imaging optical system 16, and is converted into an electric signal (document image data). Is done.

The image writing section 20 includes a semiconductor laser (not shown). The image writing section 20 receives an electric signal sent from the CCD image pickup device 17 or an electric signal (received image data) on a document surface received by a facsimile function. The laser oscillation mode is controlled based on document image data relating to a word processing document or the like sent from a personal computer connected to the multifunction device 1. The controlled laser beam forms an electrostatic latent image on a document image on the photosensitive drum 31 constituting the image forming unit 30. Then, the image forming unit 30 visualizes the electrostatic latent image by attaching toner particles to the electrostatic latent image by the developing unit 33,
Thereafter, the toner particles are transferred onto the transfer paper fed from the transfer paper transport unit 40, and a toner image is formed on the surface of the transfer paper P. Thereafter, the transfer paper passes through a fixing unit 38 to fix the transferred toner particles, and the transfer paper discharge unit 5
The paper is discharged to the outside of the multifunction peripheral 1 via a plurality of rollers constituting the multifunction machine 0.

The multifunction device 1 according to each embodiment of the present invention includes an automatic double-sided document feeder (hereinafter abbreviated as “RADF”) 100 as an automatic document feeder in the image reading unit 10. . As shown in FIG. 1, the RADF 100 separates a bundle of a plurality of originals S stacked on the original placing table 101, sends out the separated bundles by feed rollers 100a and 100b, and sends this through a roller 100c to a platen glass. 11A. The information on the document surface of these supplied documents is read in substantially the same manner as described above. This RADF100
Is conveniently used when copying the contents of a plurality of originals by the copying function, or when transmitting a plurality of originals by the facsimile function.

Hereinafter, an example of an electrical configuration of the multifunction peripheral 1 as the above-described configuration will be described. Image reading unit 1 described above
0, image writing section 20, image forming section 30, transfer paper transport section 4
2 and other various mechanisms are controlled by a control unit C via a data bus B as shown in FIG.

In FIG. 2, the image reading unit 10
A memory M for storing original image data based on the contents of the original read by the data bus B is connected to the data bus B. In the memory M, the document image data is managed in units of pages (both sides) of the read document. That is, a file number or the like is assigned to each page, and a read / write operation is performed based on the file number.

The memory M of the MFP 1 in each embodiment of the present invention generally includes original image data for implementing a facsimile function and original image data for implementing a copying function and a printer function. , The area is stored separately. Here, especially, the document image data for realizing the facsimile function refers to document image data read for facsimile transmission, received image data, or the like. As a specific form of the memory M, for example, a DRAM or the like may be adopted.

A communication unit T for performing data communication according to a predetermined communication control procedure is connected to the data bus B. The communication unit T is provided with a network control unit, and performs a call from the multifunction device 1 or a call from an unspecified number of other parties to a public network by laying NTT or the like, processing for recovery, and disconnection. And so on. For example, by the operation of this unit, a so-called “ring detection” is performed, and a transmission request called by the other party is received.

The communication unit T is also provided with a communication modem (not shown). This communication modem converts original image data into a modulated signal matched to the frequency band of the public network when transmitting, and demodulates a modulated signal transmitted by the public network into digital received image data when receiving. Convert. Further, the communication section T is connected to a decoding section T1 and an encoding section T2, and compresses (encodes) the original image data or decompresses (decodes) the received image data at the time of transmission or reception.

Further, an input section H is connected to the data bus B as shown in FIG. This input section H
As a specific configuration, a configuration including a well-known LCD touch panel 90 as shown in FIG. 3, for example, may be adopted.
The apparatus user changes the copy density, magnification, output setting of the transfer paper P, etc. by pressing / instructing various windows shown on the LCD touch panel 90 with a finger, or the telephone number of the facsimile transmission destination. Input, execution of facsimile transmission, and the like. In addition, such LC
When using the D touch panel, the input unit H
It also serves as display means for transmitting the setting status of the device to the operator. FIG. 3 particularly shows a basic screen (basic screen for facsimile function) when using the facsimile function.

Hereinafter, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described for a multifunction peripheral 1 having the above configuration example.

First, in the first embodiment, in addition to the configuration described above, an error state storage device EM is provided as shown in FIG. This error state storage device EM
If a paper-out error, an operation jam error, an SC error, or any other error occurs at the time when the power is automatically turned off by a weekly timer function described later, the fact is stored even after the power is turned off. . Then, when the power is turned on again, a display corresponding to the stored error is made on the LCD touch panel 90 in the input section H.

In the first embodiment, a "weekly timer function" is provided. The weekly timer function is used to set a time for using the machine (= the multifunction device 1) for each day of the week, and to set a day for using the machine in accordance with the actual calendar in addition to the day of the week. It is a function that can be. For example, a setting such as “Weekday (Monday to Friday) automatically starts up the MFP 1 at 9 am” or “(New Year holidays)
From the date of December 30 to the date of January 5, the MFP 1 does not start up (the device is not used), and the like.

Incidentally, such a setting is made on the LCD touch panel 90 of the input section H by “day, month, fire,
.., And an input screen for a start time and a stop time are displayed, and the like, and the display can be used. If the calendar itself is displayed, it is possible to set the above-mentioned “day” of use and “day” of non-use.

With such a configuration, the multifunction peripheral of the first embodiment has the following functions and effects. In the following description, for convenience, the operation time of the MFP 1 is set to “9 am
From time (start time) to 8:30 pm (stop time) "
It is assumed that the setting is made. Further, “power” in the first embodiment means “sub power”, and thus “power off” means “sub power is off” but “main power is on”. , That is, a so-called “power save state”.

In such a case, step S in FIG.
For example, when the “paper out error” occurs at 8:25 pm as shown in FIG. 1, the stop time comes five minutes later, and the power is turned off at that time. States that the "paper out error" has occurred when the power supply is turned off.
(Steps S2 and S2 in FIG. 4)
3). However, as shown in FIG. 4, the timing of executing the storage operation in the error state storage device EM is “power supply OF
It is not necessary to be at the same time as “F”. For example, FIG. 4 step S
If the above-mentioned storage operation is executed when the error 1 occurs and the power is turned off as it is, it is a matter of course that the stored contents are retained.

At 9:00 am the next day, FIG.
As in step S4, the multifunction peripheral 1 is automatically started. At this time, a display relating to the "paper out error" stored in the error state storage device EM is displayed on the LCD touch panel 90. (Step S in FIG. 4)
5). Therefore, at the time of this start-up, the device user can accurately grasp what kind of error has occurred when the power supply was turned off the previous day.

The above is not limited to the above "paper out error", but also includes "operation jam error" and "SC error".
And so on. When a jam error or SC error or the like is generated and displayed to that effect, it is preferable to display the "cause" of the jam error or SC error at the same time as the display. Also,
Instead of turning on the power by the weekly timer function,
Even when the device user manually turns on the power, it is naturally possible to operate as described above.

As described above, according to the first embodiment, when an error occurs when the power is turned on again and the power is turned off immediately before the power is turned on, the content of the error is applied to the apparatus user. It is possible to transmit it reliably. Therefore,
As before, despite being originally in an error state,
A situation in which facsimile reception is not performed, for example, is avoided as soon as it is not transmitted to the user of the apparatus.

Hereinafter, a modification of the first embodiment will be described.

First, an error occurring when the power is turned off relates to a portion which is not related to execution of printout based on received image data in the facsimile function or printout based on original image data in the printer function. , The next power supply O
At the time of N, or at the time of receiving the received image data or the like in the power save state, for example, the error part is temporarily separated in the operation of the multifunction device 1 so that only the printout is reliably executed. It is possible.

Incidentally, the portion which is not related to the execution of the printout corresponds to, for example, the image reading section 10 described in the above-mentioned mechanical configuration example. Further, for example, the error that occurs in the image reading unit 10 specifically corresponds to, for example, a “paper jam” in the RADF 100. In such a case, it is irrelevant to execute printout based on the received image data or the document image data by the printer function, in other words, an error that does not affect the printout at all.

As another modified example, when the error state storage device EM is constituted by a non-volatile memory, the main power supply is turned off instead of the “power supply” (= sub power supply) described above. In addition, it is possible to provide a configuration in which error contents are stored and held.

Hereinafter, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. The MFP 1 according to the second embodiment stores user information in the memory M. Here, the user information means, for example, when the multifunction peripheral 1 is scheduled to be used by a plurality of device users, a sequence number and a password given to each of the plurality of device users, And so on. Such user information
It is stored and registered in advance by the input unit H.

Since the above-mentioned original image data and received image data are stored in the memory M, the user information is stored in an area different from the area where the image data is stored. To Further, a memory for storing user information may be provided separately from the memory M.

In the second embodiment, when one of a plurality of device users A uses the multifunction device 1, first, as shown in step T1 in FIG. The user inputs his / her own user information through the input unit H or through a personal computer or the like used by A connected to the multifunction peripheral 1. The multifunction device 1 refers to the input user information, and if there is a match among a plurality of pre-registered user information, a copy function or a facsimile function is performed for A. Allow execution of Thus, A can execute the copy function or the facsimile function. Otherwise, the execution of the copying function and the like for A is not permitted (see step T2 in FIG. 5).

Then, for example, as shown in step T3 in FIG. 5, when the above-mentioned A issues a command to the control unit C according to a well-known operation procedure to execute the copying function, the copying is executed. In the second embodiment, the input user information is printed together with the image formation (normal copying) based on the document image data on the transfer paper printed out at this time (step T4 in FIG. 5).

As a result, looking at the transfer paper to be printed out, the copy being performed (or performed) is
A can be confirmed. Incidentally, the printing of the user information is intended to have such a purpose of the “confirmation”. Therefore, when the printout is performed continuously on a plurality of transfer papers, the printing is performed in the first manner.
It may be performed only on the transfer paper of the page. However, the present invention does not exclude a form in which the user information is printed on all the transfer sheets.

It should be noted that whether or not to print the user information as described above can be related to the setting. That is, for example, “user information print mode”
And the state of “user information non-printing mode” can be selected and set by the input unit H. In the former, the user information is printed as described above, and in the latter, the user information is not printed. Also, the “user information print mode” as just described
The "user information non-printing mode" may be set such that each of a plurality of apparatus users can set "every time" using the multifunction peripheral 1.

Further, it is also possible to adopt a configuration in which the setting that the printing of the user information is performed only with respect to a specific person among a plurality of apparatus users can be performed.

In addition, the above-mentioned user information can be used to divide a plurality of apparatus users who use the multifunction device 1 into several groups and to uniquely assign the divided groups as a unit.

Hereinafter, a modified example of the second embodiment will be described.

First, the user information printing as described above is performed as follows.
It is possible to apply to “FAX transmission report”. Here, the facsimile transmission report is, for example, a transmission record result in which information such as “what time and how long the facsimile transmission was performed to a certain party during a certain period of time” is described. This refers to a transmission record result output by a command or automatically after the elapse of the certain period or every facsimile transmission.

In the present modification, it is possible to print user information on such a “FAX transmission report” in the same manner as described above. In this way, it is possible to easily confirm, for example, that the user who performed facsimile transmission to the other party B at 13:50 is the apparatus user “C”.

Further, as a further modified example, in the second embodiment, at the time of "reception" of facsimile, it is possible to form an image on transfer paper based on the received image data and to print user information on the transfer paper. It is. However, what is slightly different from the above example is that the "user information" here is information representing the other party who has performed facsimile transmission (data about the other party).

In this case, the identification of who the other party is is determined by the correspondence between the data on the other party registered and stored as a speed dial or group dial data in the memory M and the transmitted facsimile data. What is necessary is just to implement by comparing with the data part to be performed. For example, when a facsimile is received, the "FAX"
The "number" is compared with the "FAX number" stored in the speed dial, and when they match, the name or the like of the transmission destination is confirmed and printed on transfer paper.

Also in these modified examples, setting of the above-mentioned "user information non-printing mode" and the like, and printing of only user information related to a specific person among a plurality of apparatus users, etc., are performed. A configuration that can be set can be adopted.

[0060]

As described above, according to the multifunction peripheral of the present invention, when an error occurs when the power is turned off by the weekly timer function, the content of the error is stored and when the power is turned on again. Since the contents of the error are displayed, the user of the apparatus can know the state of the apparatus accurately.

Further, according to the multifunction peripheral of the present invention, the user information is based on the image formation based on the original image data in copying, the printing of the transmission report in facsimile transmission, or based on the received image data in facsimile reception. By printing on the same transfer paper together with the image formation, it is possible to easily confirm who is using or who has used the multifunction peripheral.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a mechanical configuration example of a multifunction peripheral according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing an example of an electrical configuration of the multifunction peripheral shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating a specific configuration example of an input unit illustrated in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an example of a processing flow for storing an error state at the time of power OFF and displaying the error state when the power is ON according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a processing flow for printing user information together with image formation according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 10 image reading section 100 automatic double-sided original transport section (RADF) 20 image writing section 30 image forming section 40 transfer paper transport section 50 transfer paper discharge section B data bus C control section M memory T communication section T1 decoding section T2 code Conversion unit H input unit J original image determination unit S original

Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat II (reference) G03G 21/04 G03G 21/00 398 21/00 398 H04N 1/32 Z H04N 1/32 J 1/387 1/387 G03G 21/00 390 F-term (reference) 2C061 AP03 AP04 AP07 HH01 HJ07 HK04 HK11 HK19 HN02 HN15 HV09 HV13 HV34 2H027 DA50 EJ03 EJ04 EJ18 FD10 GB08 ZA07 5C062 AA02 AB20 AB23 AB38 AB42 AB49 AC69 AF01 AF07 CE03 CE14 CF04 CF09 FF90 5C076 AA16 BA02

Claims (11)

[Claims] An MFP having a copy function, a facsimile function, and a printer function, and a weekly timer function for automatically turning on and off the power at a set start time and stop time. A storage means for storing the contents of the error when there is no paper or a paper jam at the stop time, and when the power is turned on at the start time or when the power of the apparatus is turned on by the apparatus user. A multi-function device comprising a display unit for displaying the error content stored in the storage unit when the multifunction peripheral is turned on. 2. When the received image data is received by the facsimile function or the document image data is received by the printer function, the error is related to image formation based on the received image data or the document image data. The multifunction peripheral according to claim 1, wherein, when the image is related to an unrelated part, the unrelated part is separated to form an image based on the received image data or the document image data. 3. A multifunction device having a copying function, a facsimile function, and a printer function. In order to use the multifunction device, it is necessary to input user information uniquely allocated to a plurality of device users. A multifunction peripheral, comprising: an image forming means for printing the user information on a recording material based on the image data of the original by the copying function and printing the user information on the recording material. 4. A multifunction device having a copying function, a facsimile function, and a printer function. In order to use the multifunction device, it is necessary to input user information uniquely allocated to a plurality of device users. A multifunction peripheral, comprising: an image forming unit that prints the user information on the recording material together with the image formation of the facsimile transmission report on the recording material. 5. A printing method according to claim 3, wherein the printing of the user information is executed only for each of specific users among all of a plurality of apparatus users who use the apparatus.
The multifunction device described. 6. The multi-function apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the user information is assigned in units of a plurality of groups of the apparatus users who use the apparatus when the apparatus is divided into several groups. Machine. 7. The printing method according to claim 3, wherein, when the image formation is performed over a plurality of recording materials, the printing of the user information is performed only on a first recording material among the plurality of recording materials. The multifunction peripheral according to any one of the above. 8. A multifunction device having a copying function, a facsimile function, and a printer function, wherein the multifunction device includes a storage unit capable of registering data relating to a transmission destination in the facsimile function. A multifunction peripheral comprising: an image forming unit that forms an image on a recording material based on the received image data and prints data on the other party that transmitted the received image data. 9. The method according to claim 8, wherein the printing of the data relating to the other party is executed only for each specific person among all of the plurality of other parties using the apparatus.
The multifunction device described. 10. The multifunction peripheral according to claim 8, wherein the data on the other party is allocated in units of a plurality of groups that use the apparatus when the other party is divided into several groups. 11. When the image formation is performed over a plurality of recording materials, the printing of the data on the other party is performed only on the first recording material among the plurality of recording materials. 10. The multifunction peripheral according to any one of 10 above.