JP2002091247A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming apparatus where an interruption mode can be selected and the processing of a job is completed without leaving a remaining job as it is when the cause of the stop of a function is removed after the function is stopped by power failure or the like in the middle of the interrupt mode. SOLUTION: When power supply is restarted after power supply is cut off in the middle of the interrupt mode, the interrupt mode is canceled (step S29) in the case an interrupting job has been continued just before the power supply is cut off (Yes in step S11). After finishing the processing of the interrupting job (Yes in step S31), the processing of a job to be interrupted is continued (step S32) even when an interrupt key is not depressed. In the case the interrupting job is not continued just before the power supply is cut off (No in step S11), the interrupt mode is canceled (step S15) and the job to be interrupted is restarted (step S16) even when the interrupt key is not depressed.

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 such as a copying machine, and more particularly, to an image forming apparatus capable of selecting an interrupt mode.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For example, in a copying machine, an interrupt mode is selected when it is necessary to suddenly make another copy during continuous copying. Normally, when an interrupt key provided on the operation panel is pressed, an interrupt mode is entered, processing of a copy job (interrupted copy) being executed at that time is stopped, and a new copy job (interrupted copy) is started. Processing becomes possible. And again, during the interrupt mode,
When the interrupt key is pressed, the interrupt mode is released,
The state before the interruption is restored, and the interrupted copy can be resumed.

By the way, there is a case where the function of the copying machine is stopped due to a power failure or the like and the copy job being executed is interrupted. However, when the power supply is resumed, the conventional copying machine is restored to the state immediately before the power failure. are doing. The case of a power failure during the interrupt mode is no exception, and when the power supply is resumed, the power supply is restored to the interrupt mode immediately before the power failure.

[0004]

However, when a power failure occurs for a long time, the user of the copying machine sometimes forgets that the interrupt mode has been selected. Since the interrupt mode is not released unless the interrupt key is pressed, the interrupted copy is left unprocessed forever.

[0005] In view of the above problems, the present invention completes processing without abandoning a remaining job when the cause of the function suspension is eliminated after the function suspension due to a power failure or the like during the interrupt mode. It is an object of the present invention to provide an image forming apparatus capable of causing the image forming apparatus to perform the operation.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, an image forming apparatus according to the present invention, when an interrupt mode selection is accepted during execution of a certain job, replaces the interrupted job with another interrupt job. An image forming apparatus comprising an interrupt mode setting means for interrupting a job, and configured to stop a function for a predetermined cause, wherein the start of the function stop and the interrupt job performed when the interrupt mode is selected The determination means for determining whether the execution of the job has started immediately before and after the cause of the function stop performed when the interrupt mode is selected is resolved, and when the execution of the interrupt job has already been started before the function stop, After the interrupted job is continued, the interrupted job is resumed, and if the function is stopped before the execution of the interrupted job, the interrupted job is resumed. Characterized by comprising a job returning means for.

[0007] Further, the present invention is characterized in that there is provided a canceling means for canceling the selection of the interrupt mode when the cause of the function stop made when the interrupt mode is selected is eliminated. Furthermore, if the execution condition receiving means for receiving the execution condition of the job and the cause of the function stop performed when the interrupt mode is selected are resolved, the function is stopped before the start of the execution of the interrupt job. A resuming instruction receiving means for receiving a resuming instruction of a job execution condition received during the interrupt mode, and when a resuming instruction is received by the resuming instruction receiving means, execution of the resumed interrupted job is stopped. Restore job execution conditions,
Interrupt job resuming means for enabling execution of an interrupt job.

[0008] Further, the cause of the function stop is power interruption, and a volatile memory for storing at least a part of information necessary for job execution, a secondary storage device, and a power interruption. A storage unit for storing the information in the volatile memory in the secondary storage device, and when power supply is resumed, using the information stored in the storage unit to change a storage state of the volatile memory. Restoring means for restoring the state immediately before the function stoppage.

[0009]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of an entire digital color copying machine (hereinafter, simply referred to as a “copying machine”) 1 according to an embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the copying machine 1 is mainly composed of an image reader unit 100 for reading a document image and a printer unit 200 for printing the read image on a recording sheet and reproducing it.

The image reader unit 100 has an automatic document feeder 101, and the documents set on a document tray 102 of the automatic document feeder 101 are conveyed one by one to a document glass table 103. The document conveyed to the document glass table 103 is irradiated by a lamp 105 provided in a scanner 104 that travels in a sub-scanning direction indicated by an arrow A in the figure. The reflected light from the original surface is transmitted to the scanner 104.
The optical path is changed as shown by a mirror 108 and a mirror 109 provided inside a mirror box 107 which moves at half speed in the same direction as the scanner 104 in the same direction as the scanner 104, and a three-line full-color CCD is shown by a lens 110. An image is formed on a sensor (hereinafter, simply referred to as a “CCD sensor”) 111. CCD sensor 11
Numeral 1 converts reflected light from the document surface into electric signals for each of R (red), G (green), and B (blue) color components. , Yellow, and black color components, and the digital data (hereinafter, referred to as “image data”) is stored in the image memory 440 (FIG. 3).

The image data in the image memory 440 is read out by the CPU 410 of the main control unit 400, which will be described later, and is read by the laser control unit 20 provided in the printer unit 200.
1 is input. The laser control unit 201 generates a laser diode drive signal based on the image data, and causes the laser diode 202 to emit light. Laser diode 20
2 is deflected by the polygon mirror 203 and passes through the fθ lens 204, and the optical path is changed by the return mirrors 205 and 206, and the laser light is changed on the surface (photosensitive surface) of the photosensitive drum 207 rotating in the direction of arrow B. Exposure is scanned.

Around the photosensitive drum 207, an eraser lamp 208, a charging charger 209, and toner developing units 210 for each of cyan, magenta, yellow, and black are provided.
213 and a transfer charger 214,
Before receiving the exposure scan, the photosensitive drum 207 is irradiated with an eraser lamp 208 to be neutralized, and then uniformly charged by a charging charger 209. When the uniformly charged photosensitive surface is exposed, an electrostatic latent image is formed, and the electrostatic latent image is visualized as a toner image by any of the toner developing devices.

On the other hand, a recording sheet of a desired size is fed from one of the paper feeding cassettes 215 to 217, and the fed recording sheet is subjected to the action of the electrostatic attraction charger 218, and moves in the direction of arrow C. The transfer drum 214 is conveyed to a transfer position facing the transfer charger 214 by being wound around (attached to) the rotating transfer drum 219, and the toner image on the photosensitive drum 207 is transferred to a recording sheet by the action of the transfer charger 214.

The above-described exposure-transfer process is performed for cyan,
The process is repeated for a single recording sheet for each color of magenta, yellow, and black, and a toner image of each color is superimposed to reproduce a color image. The recording sheet on which the toner images for four colors have been transferred is released from the transfer drum 219 by the separation / discharge charger 220 and released from the transfer drum 219, and the fixing device 221 fixes the toner image. After that, the sheet is discharged to the tray 222.

When a black-and-white image is reproduced (monochrome copy), the above-described exposure-transfer process is performed only for black. The image reader unit 100
Each of the printer unit 200 and the printer unit 200 has its own CPU (FIG. 3), and the above-described series of copying operations is realized by the CPU.

Furthermore, the copying machine 1 is provided with an operation panel 300 as shown in FIG. The operation panel 300 has a liquid crystal touch panel 310 and various other keys as shown in FIG. On the liquid crystal touch panel 310, a copy condition and a copy mode being set, keys for selecting the copy condition and the copy mode, and messages such as out of paper and paper jam are displayed.

A ten key 320 is a key for setting the number of copies, and a clear key 330 is a key for resetting the number of copies to "1". The start key 340 is a key for starting a copy operation (document reading operation and print operation), and the stop key 350 is a key for stopping the copy operation.
The panel reset key 360 is a key for returning all copy conditions and setting modes such as copy density and copy magnification to a standard value or an initial mode. Power key 370
Is a key for turning on / off the power of the copying machine main body.

The interrupt key 380 is a key used to interrupt another job during a series of jobs. For example, it is used when it is desired to suddenly make another copy during continuous copying. When the interrupt key 380 is depressed, an interrupt mode is set (selected), and the job in progress is cut (for example, when one print is completed), that is, when another job is executed. The job is stopped without any trouble and a new job can be performed. When the interrupt key 380 is pressed again, the interrupt mode is released, and the job before the interruption can be restarted. Here, the interrupted job is referred to as an “interrupted job”, and the interrupted job, that is, the job executed immediately before the interrupt, is referred to as an “interrupted job”. Normally, the interrupted job after the interruption mode is released is the start key 3
The process is resumed after the user presses the button 40.

The operation panel also has its own CPU (FIG. 3), and the CPU controls the display of the liquid crystal touch panel 310 and detects a pressed key. FIG. 3 is a diagram schematically showing the main control unit 400 of the copying machine. As shown in FIG.
00 is the CPU 410 and the CPU 410
ROM 420, RAM 430, image memory 440,
The secondary storage device 450 and the timer 460 are connected to each other, and are driven by a power supply unit 500 that converts commercial power to a predetermined DC power. The power supply unit 500 has a built-in backup battery (not shown). Further, the CPU 410 includes the image reader unit 100, the printer unit 200, and the operation panel 3 described above.
00 is connected to each CPU.

The ROM 420 stores a control program executed by each CPU. The RAM 430 stores copy conditions such as the number of copies and copy density and a copy mode (hereinafter, the “copy conditions” and the copy mode are collectively referred to as “job conditions”) set via the operation panel 300. The RAM 430 has a job continuation flag (isjob) and an interrupt mode flag (isIntMode). Each of these flags is set when the power is turned off. The job continuation flag is turned on when the job is continued (isjob = 1), and is turned off when the job is not continued (isjob = 0). Here, that the job is continued means a period from when the start key 340 is pressed to when the job is completed. Normally, before the start key 340 is pressed, job conditions are set from the operation panel (if the copy is performed with the initial settings, the operation panel is not operated at all).
The interrupt mode flag is turned on (isIntMode = 1) in the interrupt mode, and turned off (isIntMode = 0) in the non-interrupt mode. CPU is ON / OFF for both flags
Performed by 410.

The image memory 440 temporarily stores the image data output from the image reader unit 100 as described above. The secondary storage device 450 is composed of a hard disk device, and temporarily stores hibernation information described later. Note that a magnetic tape device may be used as the secondary storage device 450. In short, any storage device that does not require power to store and hold information may be used.

The timer 460 has an automatic power-off function for automatically turning off the power when the copying machine is not used for a predetermined time (including when the operation of the copying machine is stopped for a predetermined time due to a trouble such as a paper jam). Is used to time the predetermined time, for example. CPU
Reference numeral 410 denotes the operation panel 300, the image reader unit 100
In addition, the printer unit 200 is generally controlled to realize a smooth copying operation. Further, the CPU 410 performs a series of recovery processing described below after the power is turned off and the power supply is restarted.

FIG. 4 shows a flowchart when the power is turned off. The power is cut off when the power key 370 is pressed (when the switch is turned off), when the power plug is accidentally pulled out from the outlet, or when a power failure occurs. This processing is performed using the power from the backup power supply. When the power is turned off, it is determined whether or not the job is continuing (step S1). If the job is continuing (Yes in step S1), the job continuation flag is turned on (step S2), and the job is continued. If not (No in step S1), the job continuation flag is turned off (step S3).

Next, it is determined whether or not the current mode is the interrupt mode (step S4). If the current mode is the interrupt mode (Yes at step S4), the interrupt mode flag is turned on (step S5). If not (step S4
No), the interrupt mode flag is turned off (step S)
6). Subsequently, the job conditions, job continuation flag, interrupt mode flag and other information stored in the RAM, the image data stored in the image memory and the display contents of the operation panel, the work contents in the image reader unit and the printer unit When the power is turned on again (when the power supply is restarted), the information necessary to return the status of each part inside the copying machine to the original state before the power was cut off (immediately before) was hibernated. The information is stored in the secondary storage device (step S7).

FIG. 5 shows a flowchart when power supply is resumed. The power supply is started when the power key 370 is pressed (when the switch is turned on), when the power plug is inserted into the outlet, or when the power failure is restored. When the power supply is started, using the hibernation information other than the job continuation flag and the interrupt mode flag among the hibernation information stored in the secondary storage device, the respective units in the copying machine are used immediately before the power is cut off. Return to the state (step S10). Thereafter, the order of job execution and the like are determined according to the state of the job continuation flag and the interrupt mode flag stored in the secondary storage device.

When both the job continuation flag and the interruption mode flag are off (steps S11 and S12)
No), that is, if the job is not continuing and is not in the interrupt mode immediately before the power is turned off, all the copy conditions and the copy mode are reset to the standard values or the initial mode (step S14). If the job continuation flag is off and the interrupt mode flag is on (No in step S11, Yes in step S12),
In other words, if the interrupt mode was in effect immediately before the power was turned off, but the job was not continued (the power was turned off before the execution of the interrupt job was started), for example, after the interrupt key was pressed If the job condition of the interrupt job is set but the power is shut off before the start key is pressed, the interrupt mode is released (step S15), and the interrupted job is restarted (step S16). ). Even in this case, considering that there is a case where it is desired to restore the interrupt mode state for the purpose of making use of the job condition of the interrupt job that has been set, for example, as shown in FIG.
1 is displayed on the liquid crystal touch panel (step S17),
Processing of the interrupted job ends (Y in step S18).
es) If the mode return key is pressed before (Yes in step S19), the mode return key is erased (step S20), the interrupted job is stopped (step S21), and the mode is set until the power is turned off. If there is a job condition that has been set, the job condition is restored (step S2).
2). When the start key 340 is pressed (Yes in step S23), an interrupt job is started (step S24). Although not shown in this flowchart, if the job condition of the interrupt job has not been set until the power is turned off, a process of accepting the job condition may be performed before step S23.

When the interrupt job is completed (step S2)
(Yes in 5), the interrupted job is restarted (step S26). On the other hand, if the interrupted job ends (Yes in step S18) before the mode return key is pressed (Yes in step S19), the mode return key is deleted (step S27). The job continuation flag is on,
When the interrupt mode flag is off (Y in step S11)
es, No in step S13), that is, if the job in the non-interrupt mode has been continued when the power is turned off, the processing of the job is restarted (step S28). In other words, the state is restored to the state immediately before the power is cut off.

When both the job continuation flag and the interruption mode flag are ON (Yes in step S, step S
13 (Yes at 13), that is, when the interrupt job has been continued in the interrupt mode immediately before the power is turned off (when the execution of the interrupt job has already been started before the power is turned off), the interrupt mode is released ( At the same time as step S29), the interrupt job is restarted (step S30). When the interrupt job is completed (Y in step S31)
es), restart the interrupted job (step S3)
2).

As described above, according to the copying machine of the present embodiment, when the power supply is restarted after the power supply is cut off during the interruption mode, the interruption job is continued immediately before the power supply is cut off. In this case (FIG. 5, Ye in step S11)
s) and the interrupt mode is released (same in step S2).
9) After the process of the interrupted job is completed (Yes in step S31), the interrupted job is processed (step S32) without pressing the interrupt key 380. Jobs will not be abandoned.

When the power supply is restarted after the power is cut off during the interrupt mode, if the interrupt job has not been continued immediately before the power cut off (FIG. 5, step S11).
No in step S1), the interrupt mode is released (step S1).
5) Even if the interrupt key 380 is not pressed, the interrupted job is restarted, so that the interrupted job is not left. Further, in this case, the mode return key 31
1 is displayed on the liquid crystal touch panel 310 (Step S17 in the same), and when the mode return key is pressed (Yes in Step S19), the interrupted job is stopped (Step S21 in the same) and the power is turned off. If there is a job condition set during the interrupt mode, the job condition is restored (step S22 in the same manner), and the execution of the interrupt job is enabled, so that it is not necessary to reset the job condition of the interrupt job. Can be.

Although the present invention has been described based on the embodiments, it is needless to say that the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments. For example, the following embodiments can be adopted. (1) In the above embodiment, the case where the function of the copier (image forming apparatus) is stopped due to the interruption of the power supply and the function is restored by restarting the power supply is used as an example. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the present invention can be applied to a case where the function is stopped due to a trouble such as a paper jam. That is, even if a paper jam has been left unresolved for a long time, the interrupt mode is set (selected).
This is because there is a risk that the interrupted copy (job) is left unprocessed without being processed. (2) An auto power-off function is provided to shut off the power when the function is stopped due to a paper jam or the like and the copier remains idle for a predetermined period of time. The present invention may be applied to a case where the power is cut off. The auto power-off function performs hibernation processing, saves information necessary for recovery to the hard disk, and then stops power supply to each unit. Unlike the so-called power save function, the auto power-off function The power consumption is reduced to almost 0 watts. (3) In the above embodiment, an example in which the present invention is applied to a digital copying machine has been described. However, it goes without saying that the present invention can be applied to a printer or a facsimile. In addition, with copy function, print function, facsimile function,
It is also applicable to so-called multifunction devices. In this case, the interruption may be interrupted by a copy job to perform a facsimile job, or may be interrupted by a print job to execute a copy job. Can be (4) In the above embodiment, when the power supply is restarted after the power is cut off during the interrupt mode, if the interrupt job is not continued immediately before the power cut off (No in FIG. 5, step S11). ), The interrupt mode is released (same in step S15), the interrupted job is restarted, and the mode return key 311 is displayed on the liquid crystal touch panel 310 (same in step S17). When the mode return key is pressed, (Yes in step S19), the interrupted job is stopped (step S21), and if there is a job condition set in the interrupt mode before the power is turned off, the job condition is restored (step S22). )
I decided that.

However, the method of restoring the job conditions set in the interrupt mode until the power is turned off is not limited to the above-described method. For example, the job condition may be restored by pressing an interrupt key. When the interrupt key is pressed, the interrupt mode is set. In this case, since the interrupt processing is the same as the normal interrupt processing, it is considered that there is little possibility that the interrupted job is left. (5) In the above embodiment, the mode return key is displayed until the interrupted job is completed (FIG. 5, Yes in step S18). However, the display period of the mode return key (return acceptance period) The present invention is not limited to this. For example, after the interrupted job is restarted (step S16), the display may be performed for a predetermined time.

[0033]

As described above, according to the image forming apparatus of the present invention, when the cause of the function stop performed when the interrupt mode is selected is eliminated, the interrupt job is already performed before the function stop. If the execution of the interrupted job has been started, the interrupted job is resumed after the interrupted job is continued, and if the function has been stopped before the execution of the interrupted job, the interrupted job is restarted. Therefore, the processing is performed without leaving the job remaining immediately before the function stop.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of an entire digital color copying machine.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of an operation panel of the copying machine.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a control unit of the copying machine.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a flowchart of a process when power is cut off.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a flowchart of a process at the time of restarting power supply.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the operation panel in a state where a mode return key is displayed.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Copier 311 Mode return key 380 Interrupt key 400 Main control unit 410 CPU 420 ROM 430 RAM 440 Image memory 450 Secondary storage device 500 Power supply unit

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Jiro Goto 2-3-13 Azuchicho, Chuo-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka Inside Osaka International Building Minolta Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Eiichiro Kawasaki Azuchi, Chuo-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka 2-13, Machi-cho, Osaka International Building Minolta Co., Ltd. F-term (reference) 2H027 EK04 EK05 EK09 FA10 FA35 FB06 FB19 FC02 ZA07 5C062 AA05 AB22 AB40 AB42 AC03 AC04 AC13 AC22 AE15

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. An interrupt mode setting means for interrupting another interrupt job to the interrupted job when an interrupt mode selection is received during execution of a certain job, and stopping the function due to a predetermined cause. A determination unit configured to determine the start of a function stop performed when the interrupt mode is selected and a timing immediately after the start of execution of the interrupt job, and a determination unit configured to determine whether the interrupt mode is selected when the interrupt mode is selected. When the cause of the function stoppage is resolved, if the execution of the interrupt job has already been started before the function stoppage, the interrupted job is continued, and then the interrupted job is restarted, and the interrupted job is restarted. If the function was stopped before the job execution started,
An image forming apparatus comprising: a job returning unit that restarts an interrupted job. 2. The image according to claim 1, further comprising a canceling unit for canceling the selection of the interrupt mode when the cause of the function stop performed when the interrupt mode is selected is eliminated. Forming equipment. 3. An execution condition receiving means for receiving an execution condition of a job, and when the cause of the function stop performed when the interrupt mode is selected is eliminated, the function is stopped before the execution of the interrupt job is started. In this case, the resuming instruction receiving means for receiving the resuming instruction of the job execution condition received during the interrupt mode, and when the resuming instruction is received by the resuming instruction receiving means, execution of the resumed interrupted job is stopped. 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising: an interruption job restoration unit that restores the job execution condition and enables execution of an interruption job. 4. The function stoppage is caused by power cutoff, a volatile memory for storing at least a part of information necessary for job execution, a secondary storage device, and when power is cut off, Storage means for storing the information in the volatile memory in the secondary storage device; and when power supply is restarted, the storage state of the volatile memory is stopped by using the information stored in the storage means. The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising: a recovery unit configured to recover to a state immediately before.