JP2004053718A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent paper on a paper supply tray set by a user from being used by others without forcing the user to perform troublesome operation. <P>SOLUTION: Whether or not a designated paper supply tray is the paper supply tray 24 set to be locked so as to restrict the permission of use is judged (S3). When the designated paper supply tray is the tray 24 set to be locked (YES in S3), password information previously added to the paper supply tray set to be locked is compared with password information added to a tray designating command in transmitted printing data (S5). When the passwords coincide with each other (YES in S5), the paper is supplied even though the designated paper supply tray is the tray 24 set to be locked (S4). <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The present invention is applied to a network printer or the like that can be connected to a plurality of computers, has a plurality of paper trays, and uses paper stored in a specified paper tray in response to an instruction signal from the computer. And an image forming apparatus capable of outputting an image.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-128374 discloses that when a print request is made by specifying automatic paper feed selection, a specific paper feed tray is set in order to prevent paper unintended by the user from being automatically fed. The configuration of an image forming apparatus provided with a tray lock function for excluding the tray from being subjected to automatic tray selection is described.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
By the way, when a user sets special paper in the paper feed tray of the image forming apparatus, the user originally wants to use the paper feed tray only when he / she wants to print. Network printers that are connected and commonly used by multiple users can be mistakenly used by other users because there is no way to prevent other users from using a particular paper tray. There's a problem.
[0004]
The image forming apparatus described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-128374 cannot solve the problem in the network printer.
[0005]
For this reason, at present, the user issues a print instruction such as confidential printing or stored printing so that data is temporarily stored in the image forming apparatus, and then issues a print instruction from another user on the image forming apparatus. In order to prevent this, a complicated operation such as selecting the printed document stored as described above and printing it after replacing the paper in the paper feed tray to be used in the offline state is required. .
[0006]
The present invention provides an image forming apparatus that solves the above-described conventional problem and makes it possible to prevent another user from using a sheet in a sheet feed tray set by a user without forcing the user to perform a complicated operation. The purpose is to do.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 1 is connectable to a plurality of computers, has a plurality of paper feed trays, and receives the instruction signal from the computer to specify the paper feed. In an image forming apparatus for outputting an image by feeding paper from a tray, a tray identification password given to a paper feeding tray in advance is stored, and tray identification password information in an instruction signal from the computer is read. And a control unit for performing paper feeding from a specified paper feeding tray when the password is matched. With this configuration, it is possible to set a tray lock for limiting use permission. A password is assigned to the tray in advance, and the password in the instruction signal transmitted at the time of image formation matches the password assigned in advance. The paper can be fed from the paper feed tray only when the paper is matched, so in a device commonly used by multiple users, the paper in the paper feed tray for which the user has set a password can be used without being used by others. It becomes possible.
[0008]
According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the first aspect, an input unit is provided for inputting a password to enable use of a paper tray to be used when a password does not match. According to this configuration, the user can go to the apparatus to perform various confirmations, and then re-enter the password to output an image.
[0009]
According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus of the first aspect, an input unit is provided for inputting a change of a paper tray to be used when the password does not match. Thus, the image output can be easily performed by changing the paper feed tray to be used without performing a complicated menu operation.
[0010]
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus of the first aspect, when the passwords do not match, a display signal indicating that the passwords do not match is output to the signal transmission destination computer, and the computer re-enters the password. It is characterized by including a control unit that enables input, and with this configuration, a computer can remotely input a password and output an image remotely without going to the device.
[0011]
According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus of the first aspect, when the password does not match, a display signal indicating that the password does not match is output to the computer to which the signal is sent, and the power supply used on the computer side is output. It is characterized in that a change input of a paper tray is made possible. With this configuration, it is possible to easily output an image by remotely changing a paper tray to be used on the computer side without going to the apparatus. Become like
[0012]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[0013]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of an image forming apparatus for explaining an embodiment of the present invention, wherein 1 is an image forming apparatus having a function as a network printer, 2 is a LAN (Local Area Network), Are a plurality of personal computers (PCs) connected to the image forming apparatus 1.
[0014]
In the image forming apparatus 1, reference numeral 4 denotes an interface (I / F) unit with the PC 3, reference numeral 5 denotes a data bus, reference numeral 6 denotes a compression / expansion unit for performing compression / expansion processing on image data, and reference numeral 7 denotes data storage for storing various setting data. Unit 8, an image forming unit for forming image data for image formation, 9 a printer engine unit, 10 a ROM (Read Only Memory), 11 a memory unit, 12 a display unit for various setting modes and an input / output unit, etc. The operation board unit 12 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) as a control unit that sends and receives signals to and from each unit.
[0015]
The image forming operation of the image forming apparatus having the above-described configuration is well-known and will not be described in detail. However, when print instruction data is received from each PC 3 via the I / F unit 4, the image forming unit 8 outputs the print instruction data. , Image data is analyzed, and an instruction signal such as a tray designation command and additional information are extracted to form image data for image formation. The CPU 13 receives the various signals and controls the image forming unit 8, the printer engine unit 9, and the like, thereby driving a paper feed mechanism of a paper feed tray, which will be described later, and feeding paper from the designated paper feed tray. The sheet is conveyed to the image forming unit, and further, each unit related to the image forming is driven to execute the image forming.
[0016]
FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram mainly showing a paper feeding mechanism in the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment. Reference numerals 20a and 20b denote an optical system portion and an electrophotographic forming device portion constituting the printer engine unit 9, and 21 denotes an electrophotographic forming device. A fixing unit that performs an image fixing process on the sheet that has undergone the image forming process in the device portion 20b, a discharge roller 22 that discharges the sheet from the fixing unit 21, and a discharge roller 23 that receives the discharged sheet The tray unit 24 is provided with a plurality of (four in the drawing) paper feed trays for storing papers having different sizes or paper qualities, respectively, and 25 is fed from the selected paper feed tray 24. The paper feed mechanism is composed of a plurality of rollers and a guide plate for transporting the sheet to the image forming unit of the printer engine unit 9.
[0017]
The tray lock function in the present embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. The image forming apparatus 1 according to the present exemplary embodiment is configured such that, for example, a special paper is stored in a plurality of paper feed trays 24 and the use permission is restricted (tray lock) to others. In order to set a lock, password information can be stored in the data storage unit 7 so that an arbitrary password is given to the paper feed tray.
[0018]
FIG. 3 shows a processing flow by the CPU 13 when the image processing unit 8 receives a tray designation command extracted from the print designation data. In FIG. 3, when the paper feed tray to be used is not specified in the tray specification command (NO in S1), printing by automatic tray selection (S2) is performed. A known configuration can be adopted for the automatic tray selection method, and the paper is supplied by selectively using the paper supply tray 24 storing the paper of the designated size.
[0019]
If there is a tray designation (YES in S1), it is determined whether or not the designated paper feed tray is the locked paper feed tray 24 (S3), and the designated paper feed tray is locked. If it is not set (NO in S3), paper is fed by the paper feed tray 24 (S4).
[0020]
If the designated paper tray is the paper tray 24 to which the lock is set (YES in S3), the CPU 13 sets the password information corresponding to the paper tray 24 stored in the data storage unit 7 and The print data is compared with the password information added to the tray designation command (S5). If the passwords match (YES in S5), paper feeding is performed even if the designated paper feeding tray is the locked paper feeding tray 24 (S4).
[0021]
If the passwords do not match in step (S5), a password mismatch alert message or the like is displayed on the operation board 12 (S6), and the password re-input or tray change instruction can be performed on the operation board 12 (S7).
[0022]
By transmitting the information displayed in step (S6) to the transmission source PC 3, even if the user does not come to the image forming apparatus, the same operation function (password) as the operation performed on the operation panel 12 on the PC 3 side is performed. Re-input, input change of the paper feed tray, etc.).
[0023]
The method of inputting the password stored in the data storage unit 7 can be set from a menu displayed on the operation board unit 12 or set from the PC 3 connected to the LAN 2 via the I / F unit 4. I can do it. When the password is re-entered, the process returns from step (S7) to step (S5), and the comparison and determination are performed using the newly designated password for setting the lock of the sheet feeding tray.
[0024]
If the password is not input and the instruction to change the paper tray to be used is issued (S8), the process returns from step (S8) to (S1), and the step (S1) is performed based on the newly designated paper tray. )).
[0025]
It is not directly related to the input on this flow, but when a password mismatch alert message is displayed, a menu operation is performed (for example, setting by pressing a menu key on the operation board unit 12, or via the LAN 2). By performing the setting remotely from the PC 3), it is also possible to release the lock setting for the sheet feed tray 24 which is an error target (S9). When the lock setting is released (YES in S9), the flow returns to step (S1), and the sheet feeding is performed in the flow (NO in S3) to (S4) when using the sheet feeding tray 24 to which the lock is not set. Is
[0026]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, a password is previously given to a paper feed tray for which a tray lock is to be set so that another person cannot use it, and the password in the instruction signal transmitted at the time of image formation is Paper can be fed from the paper feed tray only when the password matches the assigned password.Therefore, in a device commonly used by multiple users, the paper in the paper feed tray for which the user has set a password can be used by others. Thus, an image forming apparatus that can be used without any need is realized.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of an image forming apparatus for describing an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram mainly illustrating a sheet feeding mechanism in the image forming apparatus of the present embodiment; Flowchart for explaining a tray lock function in the present embodiment
1 image forming apparatus 2 LAN
3 PC (personal computer)
4 I / F unit 7 Data storage unit 8 Image forming unit 9 Printer engine unit 12 Operation board unit 13 CPU
24 paper feed tray 25 paper feed mechanism

Claims (5)

An image forming apparatus which is connectable to a plurality of computers, has a plurality of paper feed trays, and receives an instruction signal from the computer to feed paper from the designated paper feed tray and output an image. A tray identification password previously assigned to the paper feed tray is stored, and the tray identification password information in the instruction signal from the computer is read and compared. An image forming apparatus, comprising: a control unit for feeding a sheet from a tray. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an input unit for inputting a password to enable use of a paper feed tray to be used when the passwords do not match. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: an input unit for inputting a change of a paper tray to be used when the passwords do not match. If the password does not match, a control unit is provided that outputs a password mismatch display signal to the computer to which the signal is sent, and enables the computer to re-enter the password. 2. The image forming apparatus according to 1. 2. The computer according to claim 1, wherein when the passwords do not match, a display signal indicating that the password does not match is output to a computer to which the signal is to be transmitted, so that the input of changing the paper tray to be used on the computer side is enabled. The image forming apparatus as described in the above.

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