JP2004107087A - Image forming system and output bin managing method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming device for managing the output of paper sheets to an output bin and take-out of the paper sheets therefrom, and a managing method thereof. <P>SOLUTION: When a job is loaded on a computer 11, a user identifier of a user to load the job and an output bin identifier of an output bin to output the job are acquired, and the acquired user identifier and output bin identifier are written in the loaded job together with locking information. On the other hand, when the locked output bin is unlocked in an MFP 120, the unlocking date is acquired, and the user identifier and the output bin identifier are taken out of the job. The taken-out user identifier and output bin identifier are stored as history information corresponding to the acquired unlocking date. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an image forming system having a computer and an image forming apparatus communicably connected to the computer, and relates to an output bin management method for managing output bins of the image forming apparatus.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an image forming apparatus connected to a host computer via a communication medium such as a network to form an image has a plurality of output bins, and each output bin is temporarily or permanently assigned to a specific user or group. Patent Documents 1 and 2 disclose an image forming apparatus that occupies the output bin, locks the output bin on which the image forming result is output, and unlocks the output bin by operating the operation unit.
[0003]
[Patent Document 1]
JP-A-4-48323
[0004]
[Patent Document 2]
JP-A-7-144822
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the image forming systems of Patent Literatures 1 and 2, in an environment where it is difficult to know who is actually operating, such as when an image forming apparatus is installed in a dedicated room, A case where an image formed matter in a locked output bin is taken out is assumed, and a function for more strict security is required.
[0006]
Further, there is no function for detecting when the image is unlocked and the image formed matter is actually removed.
[0007]
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide an image forming apparatus capable of managing the output of a sheet to an output bin and the removal of the sheet from the output bin, and a method of managing the same. is there.
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The invention according to claim 1 includes a computer, and an image forming apparatus communicably connected to the computer and having a plurality of output bins and lock control means for locking and unlocking the plurality of output bins. In the image forming system, the computer writes a user identifier of a user who has instructed the job submission and an output bin identifier for outputting a printout of a print result, together with information for locking, in a job to be submitted. The image forming apparatus, when a job is submitted, an acquisition unit that acquires a user identifier of a user who submitted the job from the job, and outputs the user identifier acquired by the acquisition unit and the job Output bin management means for managing the output bin identifier and a locked output bin which is unlocked by the lock control means. Date and time obtaining means for obtaining the unlocking date and time, and when the locked output bin is unlocked by the lock control means, extracting means for extracting the user identifier and the output bin identifier from the output bin managing means, First storing means for storing the user identifier and the output bin identifier extracted by the extracting means as history information in association with the unlocking date and time obtained by the date and time obtaining means. I do.
[0009]
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus determines whether or not the output matter output to the plurality of output bins has been removed, and when the determination means determines that the output matter has been removed, Second storage means for storing the output bin identifier and the user identifier of the output bin related to the removal of the output object as history information in association with the date and time when the output object was removed.
[0010]
In the first or second aspect, the history information can be configured for each user identifier that has input a job.
[0011]
In claim 1 or 2, the history information can be configured for each output bin.
[0012]
In any one of claims 1 to 4, a display control means for displaying the history information may be provided.
[0013]
In any one of the first to fifth aspects, the image forming apparatus may include a printing unit that prints the history information in response to a print instruction of the history information from the computer.
[0014]
In any one of the first to sixth aspects, the image forming apparatus may include a transfer unit that transfers history information to the computer in response to history information transfer instruction information from the computer.
[0015]
According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an output bin management method for an image forming apparatus, comprising: a plurality of output bins; and an output bin management unit for managing a user identifier and an output bin identifier set for each output bin. A date and time obtaining step for obtaining the unlocking date and time when the output bin is unlocked; and the user identifier and the output from the output bin managing unit when the locked output bin is unlocked by the lock control step. A removing step of extracting a bin identifier, and a first storing step of storing the user identifier and the output bin identifier extracted in the extracting step as history information in association with the unlocking date and time obtained in the date and time obtaining step. And characterized in that:
[0016]
9. The method according to claim 8, wherein the step of determining whether or not the output material output to the plurality of output bins has been removed, and the step of removing the output material when the determination step determines that the job has been removed. A second storing step of storing the output bin identifier and the user identifier of the output bin as history information in association with the date and time when the output object is removed may be included.
[0017]
In claim 8 or 9, the history information can be configured for each user identifier that has submitted a job.
[0018]
In claim 8 or claim 9, the history information can be configured for each output bin.
[0019]
A display control step of displaying the history information according to any one of claims 8 to 11 can be provided.
[0020]
In any one of claims 8 to 12, a printing step of printing history information in response to a print instruction of history information from a computer may be provided.
[0021]
In any one of claims 8 to 13, a transfer step of transferring the history information to the transfer instruction side in response to the transfer instruction information of the history information may be provided.
[0022]
The invention according to claim 15, wherein in order to manage a plurality of bins of the image forming apparatus, when a job is submitted, an acquisition procedure for acquiring a user identifier of a user who submitted the job from the job, An output bin management procedure for managing the user identifier obtained by the procedure and the output bin identifier output by the job, and an unlock date and time when the locked output bin is unlocked by the lock control procedure. Date and time acquisition procedure, when the locked output bin is unlocked by the lock control procedure, the extraction procedure for extracting the user identifier and the output bin identifier from the output bin management procedure, and the extraction procedure is performed. A process for storing the user identifier and the output bin identifier as history information in association with the unlocking date and time acquired by the date and time acquiring procedure. To perform the A procedure on the computer.
[0023]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
<Overall Configuration of Network System 100>
As shown in FIG. 1, in a network system 100, PCs 111 and 112 as personal computers and an MFP (Multi Function Peripheral) 120 as an image forming apparatus are mutually connected via a network 130, and a PC 113 is connected to the MFP 120. Connected.
[0024]
When the application is started in the PCs 111, 112, and 113, the print is output to the MFP 120. For example, the PC 111 on which the application has been started instructs the MFP 120 to perform printing and the MFP 120 can execute the specified printing. It is.
[0025]
In the PCs 111 to 113, an application for instructing the MFP 120 to perform printing can be started, and the PCs 111 to 113 can request the MFP 120 via the network 130 or the like to perform a printing process.
[0026]
Note that as a device or a system connected to the MFP 120 via the network 130, for example, a workstation, another peripheral device, or any other device can be applied.
[0027]
<Configuration of MFP 120>
FIG. 2 shows a configuration of the MFP 120. CPU 201, RAM (Random Access Memory) 202, LCD 203, keyboard 204, ROM (Read Only Memory) 205, DISK (hard disk etc.) 206, communication interface 207, scanner engine 208, printer engine 209, finisher device 210, and facsimile (FAX) ) Boards 211 are interconnected via a system bus 220.
[0028]
The CPU 201 controls the entire operation of the MFP 120. The control program executed by the CPU 201 is stored in the ROM 205 or the DISK 206. Accordingly, the CPU 201 controls the overall operation of the MFP 120 by reading out a corresponding control program from the ROM 205 or the DISK 206 as necessary onto the RAM 202 and executing the program.
[0029]
In the ROM 205 and the DISK 206, in addition to the above-described control programs, information on the MFP 120 and jobs processed by the MFP 120, job data to be output, information on a user who uses each output bin, use history of the output bin, and the like. Is stored.
[0030]
The LCD 203 and the keyboard 204 each function as a user interface, and are controlled by the CPU 201. The LCD 203 displays various data under the control of the CPU 201. An instruction operation from a user is performed on the keyboard 204, and the CPU 201 recognizes and accepts the instruction, and also performs an operation control based on the instruction.
[0031]
The communication interface 207 communicates with the outside under the control of the CPU 201. As the communication interface 207, for example, an Ethernet (registered trademark) interface, an IEEE1284 interface, or another communication interface can be applied.
[0032]
The scanner engine 208 operates under the control of the CPU 201. Similarly, the printer engine 209 operates under the control of the CPU 201. As the printer engine 209, for example, a laser beam printer, an ink jet printer, or another engine using a printing format can be applied.
[0033]
The finisher device 210 that executes alignment, stapling, sorting, folding, and the like of printed sheets also operates under the control of the CPU 201. Each output bin of the finisher device is provided with a locking / unlocking unit. The CPU 201 has a function of locking / unlocking by the CPU 201 and a function of notifying the CPU 201 of the result, and a sheet detecting unit for notifying the CPU 201 when a sheet is placed or the sheet is removed. . Note that the finisher device 210 is also applicable to a configuration in which control is performed via the printer engine 209. The type of the lock controlled by the locking / unlocking means is not particularly limited as long as it operates electrically. Further, the paper detecting means may be an optical means or a mechanical means, and does not particularly define the means itself.
[0034]
The FAX board 211 realizes a FAX function such as communication of image data and operates under the control of the CPU 201.
[0035]
The MFP 120 having the above configuration can receive a print job issued from the PCs 111 to 113 and operate.
[0036]
In the present embodiment, unless otherwise specified, in MFP 120 shown in FIG. 2, CPU 201 receives user input from keyboard 204 via system bus 220, and stores RAM 202, LCD 203, ROM 205, communication interface 207 By controlling the scanner engine 208, the printer engine 209, the finisher 210, the FAX board 211, and the DISK 206, the functions of the MFP 120 are executed.
[0037]
<Configuration of PCs 111 to 113>
Since the PCs 111 to 113 as personal computers have the same configuration, the configuration of the PC 111 is shown in FIG. A CPU 301, a RAM 302, a CRT 303, a keyboard 304, a pointing device 305, a ROM 306, a DISK (such as a hard disk) 307, and a communication interface 308 are interconnected via a system bus 320.
[0038]
The CPU 301 controls the operation of the PC 111 as a whole. Specifically, a control program executed by the CPU 301 is stored in the ROM 306 or the DISK 307. Therefore, the CPU 301 controls the entire operation of the PC 111 by reading out a corresponding control program from the ROM 306 or the DISK 307 as needed and loading it into the RAM 302.
[0039]
The CRT 303 displays various data under the control of the CPU 301. A user operation is input to the keyboard 304 and the pointing device 305. The CPU 301 recognizes and accepts the operation, and performs operation control based on the operation. The communication interface 308 communicates with the outside under the control of the CPU 301.
[0040]
In the present embodiment, unless otherwise specified, in the PC 111 shown in FIG. 3, the CPU 301 receives the user's operation input from the keyboard 304 or the pointing device 305 via the system bus 320, and outputs the RAM 302, the CRT 303, The function of the PC 111 is realized by controlling the ROM 306, the communication interface 308, and the disk 307.
[0041]
Further, the user's instruction to the MFP 120 and the information presentation to the user may be performed by the local user interface 207 (see FIG. 2) of the MFP 120 or the PCs 111 to 113 as the client side.
[0042]
<Management of Output Bin of MFP 120>
FIG. 4 shows output bin management data 400 regarding output bins held by the MFP 120 as an image forming apparatus. This management data is stored in the RAM 202 of the MFP 120 or the DISK 206.
[0043]
The output bin management data 400 holds user information and the like corresponding to the output bin as shown in FIG. The output bin number 401 is a number associated with a physical output bin on a one-to-one basis, and management data is configured based on this number. The user identification information 402 indicates the current user of the output bin indicated by the output bin number 401, and stores information on the print job output to the output bin. The bin unlock information 403 is information necessary for unlocking the output bin, and stores information of the print job output to the output bin.
[0044]
Note that the output bin management data 400 is not limited to the structure and information content of the present embodiment, and data corresponding to bin unlock information can be applied by using user identification information.
[0045]
<History information of MFP 120>
FIG. 5 shows history information 500 held in MFP 120. This history information is stored in the RAM 202 of the MFP 120 or the DISK 206. The date 501 indicates the date and time when the event occurred. The bin number 502 stores the same data as the output bin number 401 in which the event has occurred. The user information 503 stores the user identification information 402 that is the user of the output bin when the event occurred. The content 504 indicates the content of the event, and is assumed to store two types of output bin unlocking and paper removal.
[0046]
Note that the contents of the history information 500 can also be applied to the case where unlocking of the output bin and paper removal are stored in separate history information. Further, the data may be held in a compressed format as a holding format, and the holding format is not particularly limited.
[0047]
<Processing by MFP 120>
FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an example of a control program stored (recorded) in the ROM 205 of FIG. 2, which is an example of a control program for processing information notified from the finisher device 210. It is assumed that the information notified from the finisher device 210 stores information on the type of notification and the output bin in which the event has occurred.
[0048]
The contents of the history information can be applied to the case where the unlocking of the output bin and the paper removal are stored in different pieces of history information. Further, the data may be held in a compressed format as a holding format, and the holding format is not particularly limited.
[0049]
In step S601, it is determined whether or not the information notified from the finisher device 210 indicates unlocking. If it is determined that unlocking is notified, the process proceeds to step S602. In step S602, the time notified from the finisher device 210 is set to the date and time 501 of the new record of the history information 500, the notified output bin number is set to the bin number 502, and the user information corresponding to the bin number 502 is set to the output bin management. A search is made from the data 400 and the contents of the user identification information 402 are stored in the user information 503, respectively. Since the output bin has been unlocked in step S601, information indicating unlocking is stored in the content 504 in step S602. After recording the history of the unlocking, the process is terminated.
[0050]
On the other hand, if it is determined in step S601 that the notification does not indicate unlocking, the process proceeds to step S603. In step S603, it is determined whether the information notified from the finisher device 210 indicates notification of paper removal. . If it is determined that the paper removal is to be notified, the process proceeds to step S604. In step S604, the time notified from the finisher device 210 is added to the date and time 501 of the new record of the history information 500 and the notified output bin number. And the user information corresponding to the bin number 502 is searched from the output bin management data 400, and the contents of the user identification information 402 are stored in the user information 503. Since the paper removal of the output bin has been executed in step S603, information indicating the paper removal is stored in the content 504 in step S604. After recording the history of the paper removal, the process ends.
[0051]
On the other hand, if it is determined in step S603 that notification of paper removal is not to be made, the process proceeds to step S605, in which a notification other than the above is processed, and then this processing ends.
[0052]
FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an example of a control program stored in the ROM 205 of FIG. 2, and which performs processing when a transfer instruction of the history information 500 is received. For example, when a transfer instruction of the history information 500 is received from the PC 111, this processing is started, and in step S701, it is determined whether an output bin is specified in the transfer instruction command. If it is determined that the output bin is specified, the process proceeds to step S702, and in step S702, the history corresponding to the output bin specified by the transfer instruction command is collected from the history information 500.
[0053]
If the number of histories to be transferred or the date and time range is specified in the transfer instruction command, it is assumed that the processing is appropriately performed in step S702. Then, in step S703, the history information collected in step S702 is transferred, and then this processing ends.
[0054]
On the other hand, if it is determined in step S701 that the user information is not specified, the process proceeds to step S704, and in step S704, it is determined whether user information is specified in the transfer instruction command.
[0055]
If it is determined that the user information is specified in the transfer instruction command, the process proceeds to step S705, and in step S705, a history corresponding to the user information specified by the transfer instruction command is collected from the history information 500. . If the number of histories to be transferred or the date and time range is specified in the transfer instruction command, the processing is appropriately performed in step S705. Then, in step S706, the history information collected in step S705 is transferred, and then this processing ends.
[0056]
On the other hand, if it is determined in step S704 that the history information 500 has not been specified, the process proceeds to step S707, and in step S707, the entire history information 500 itself is transferred, and then this process ends.
[0057]
Steps S702 and S703 and steps S705 and S706 may be individual steps as in the present embodiment, or may be performed each time a corresponding record is collected from the history information 500. You may comprise so that it may be.
Further, a configuration may be adopted in which the designation of the output bin and the designation of the user are performed simultaneously.
[0058]
<Operation screen>
FIG. 8 shows an operation screen displayed on CRT 303 of PC 111 for instructing transfer of history information 500 of MFP 120. Radio button 801 is an item for transferring all history information 500 of MFP 120.
[0059]
Radio button 802 is an item for transferring only a history related to a specific output bin from history information 500 of MFP 120. The drop-down list 803 is selectable only when the radio button 802 is selected, and lists information for specifying the output bin of the MFP 120.
[0060]
Radio button 804 is an item for transferring only a history related to a specific user from history information 500 of MFP 120. The edit control 805 can be input only when the radio button 804 is selected, and inputs information for specifying the user.
[0061]
The button 806 is a button for displaying an operation screen for further specifying a transfer range under the conditions of 801 to 805, and the screen of FIG. 9 is displayed.
[0062]
The button 807 is a button for generating and issuing a transfer instruction command to the MFP 120 according to the conditions of 801 to 805 and the contents of FIG. A button 808 is a button for interrupting the processing of the operation screen and deleting the screen.
[0063]
In the present embodiment, the radio buttons 801, 802, 804 can be exclusively selected.
[0064]
Further, the present invention can be applied to a case where the radio buttons 802 and 804 can be selected at the same time. In addition to the above-described items, a range of a certain date and time, the number of transfer histories, and the like can be designated.
[0065]
FIG. 9 shows an operation screen when the button 806 in FIG. 8 is selected. The radio button 901 is an item to be selected when all histories are specified without particularly specifying a range for the number of histories. Radio buttons 902 are items to be selected when specifying the number of histories. Note that the radio button 902 functions exclusively with the radio button 901. An edit control 903 is an item for inputting the number of histories, and is valid only when the radio button 902 is selected.
[0066]
The radio button 904 is an item to be selected when all the histories are specified without specifying the range of information such as the date and time recorded in the histories. A radio button 905 is an item selected when specifying a range. Note that the radio button 905 functions exclusively with the radio button 904.
[0067]
The start period 906 is an item for specifying a start date and time in the range of the history to be acquired. Note that the present invention can be applied to a case where time information is added as information that can be specified as a range. The end period 907 is an item for specifying the end date and time in the range of the history to be acquired. Note that the present invention can be applied to a case where time information is added as information that can be specified as a range.
[0068]
A button 908 is a button that is selected when the information of 901 to 907 is determined. When this button 908 is selected, the screen returns to the screen of FIG. 8, but it is assumed that the set contents are held by software. A button 909 is a button for stopping the input of 901 to 907 and returning to the screen of FIG.
[0069]
FIG. 10 is a flow chart showing an example of a control program stored in the ROM 205 of FIG. 2, and which performs processing when the button 807 of FIG. 8 is selected. When the operation screens of FIGS. 8 and 9 are operated and set, a corresponding transfer command is generated in step S1001 according to the set contents, and the generated command is transmitted via the communication interface 308 in step S1002. Send to MFP 120.
[0070]
Then, in step S1003, it is determined whether or not data corresponding to the generated command has been received. If it is determined that the data has been received, the process proceeds to step S1004. In step S1004, the received history information is stored in the RAM 302 or DISK 307. And the like. When the received data is stored in the storage device, the data may be stored as received or may be compressed, and the storage format is not particularly limited. After that, this processing ends.
[0071]
On the other hand, if it is determined not to receive, the process proceeds to step S1005, and in step S1005, it is determined whether a predetermined time has elapsed. If it is determined that the predetermined time has not elapsed, the process returns to step S1003, and if it is determined that the predetermined time has elapsed, this process ends.
[0072]
FIG. 11 shows an example in which the history information transferred from the MFP 120 is displayed on the CRT 303 of the PC 111. In FIG. 11, reference numeral 1101 denotes an item for easily displaying the contents set from the operation screens of FIGS.
[0073]
1102 displays the content of the data received in step S1004 (FIG. 10). 1103 is a line number indicating that this is one piece of history information. A column 1104 stores information relating to the date and time of the transferred history information, and the date and time 501 of the history information 500 is displayed. Reference numeral 1105 denotes a column for storing information relating to the output bin of the transferred history information, in which a more easily identifiable content corresponding to the content of the output bin number 502 of the history information 500 on a one-to-one basis is displayed. Reference numeral 1106 denotes a column for storing information for identifying a user who has used the output bin indicated by 1105 at that time, and the content of the user information 503 of the history information 500 is displayed. If the actual name or the like can be specified from the contents of the user information 503, the present invention can be applied to the case of displaying the name. Reference numeral 1107 denotes a column for storing the event that has occurred at that time in the output bin indicated by 1105, and the information of the contents 504 of the history information 500 is displayed.
[0074]
Reference numeral 1108 denotes a scroll bar. When the number of transferred histories exceeds the number of histories that can be displayed at one time, the scroll bar scrolls the display to display all information. Reference numeral 1109 denotes a button for instructing deletion of the display screen.
[0075]
Note that the transferred history information may be rearranged by software such as the PCs 111 to 112 according to elements such as date order, output bin order, user order, and content order. For example, the display format after transfer is not particularly limited.
[0076]
As described above, in an environment where it is difficult to know who is actually operating, such as when the image forming apparatus is installed in a dedicated room, an operator other than the user may take out the printed material from the locked output bin. In such a case, since the information is stored on the device and can be confirmed on the host computer via the network, more strict confidentiality can be maintained.
[0077]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, with the configuration described above, it is possible to manage the output of the paper to the output bin and the removal of the paper therefrom.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of MFP 120 of FIG.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a PC 111 in FIG.
FIG. 4 is a table showing output bin management data 400 on output bins held by the MFP 120;
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing history information 500 held in MFP 120 in a table.
FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an example of a control program stored in the ROM 205 of FIG. 2, which processes information notified from the finisher device 210.
7 is a flowchart showing an example of a control program stored in a ROM 205 of FIG. 2, which performs processing when a transfer instruction of history information 500 is received.
FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an operation screen displayed on the CRT 303 of the PC 111 for instructing transfer of the history information 500 of the MFP 120.
FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of a screen displayed when a button 806 is operated.
FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing an example of a control program stored in a ROM 205 of FIG. 2, which performs processing when a button 807 of FIG. 8 is selected.
FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example in which history information transferred from an MFP 120 is displayed on a CRT 303 of a PC 111.
[Explanation of symbols]
100 network system
111-113 PC
120 MFP (image forming apparatus)
130 Network
201, 301 CPU
202, 302 RAM
203 LCD
204, 304 keyboard
205, 306 ROM
206,307 DISK
207, 308 Communication interface
208 Scanner Engine
209 Printer Engine
210 Finisher device
211 FAX board
220, 320 system bus
303 CRT
305 pointing device

Claims (15)

Computer and
An image forming system communicably connected to the computer, the image forming system having a plurality of output bins, and an image forming apparatus having lock control means for locking and unlocking the plurality of output bins.
The computer is
Writing means for writing the user identifier of the user who instructed the job submission and the output bin identifier for outputting the printed matter of the print result, together with information for locking, in the job to be submitted,
The image forming apparatus includes:
An acquisition unit that, when a job is submitted, acquires a user identifier of a user who has submitted the job from the job;
Output bin management means for managing the user identifier obtained by the obtaining means and the output bin identifier output by the job,
Date and time obtaining means for obtaining an unlocked date and time when the locked output bin is unlocked by the lock control means,
When the locked output bin is unlocked by the lock control unit, the extraction unit extracts the user identifier and the output bin identifier from the output bin management unit, and the user identifier extracted by the extraction unit and An image forming system comprising: a first storage unit that stores an output bin identifier as history information in association with the unlock date and time obtained by the date and time obtaining unit. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1,
Determining means for determining whether or not the output matter output to the plurality of output bins has been removed;
When it is determined by the determining means that the output object has been removed, the output bin identifier and the user identifier of the output bin related to the removal of the output object are associated with the date and time when the output object was removed as history information. An image forming system comprising: a second storing unit for storing. 3. The image forming system according to claim 1, wherein the history information is configured for each user identifier that has input a job. 3. The image forming system according to claim 1, wherein the history information is configured for each output bin. The image forming system according to claim 1, further comprising a display control unit configured to display the history information. The image forming system according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus includes a printing unit that prints the history information in response to a print instruction of the history information from the computer. 7. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus includes a transfer unit that transfers the history information to the computer in response to history information transfer instruction information from the computer. Forming system. A plurality of output bins, and an output bin management method of an image forming apparatus having an output bin management unit that manages a user identifier and an output bin identifier set for each output bin,
A date and time obtaining step for obtaining an unlocking date and time when a locked output bin is unlocked,
When the locked output bin is unlocked by the lock control step, an extraction step of extracting the user identifier and the output bin identifier from the output bin management unit,
A first storing step of storing the user identifier and the output bin identifier extracted in the extracting step as history information in association with the unlocking date and time acquired in the date and time acquiring step. Output bin management method. 9. The determining step according to claim 8, wherein it is determined whether or not the output matter output to the plurality of output bins has been removed.
If it is determined in the determining step that the job has been removed, the output bin identifier and the user identifier of the output bin related to the removal of the output material are stored as history information in association with the date and time when the output material was removed. And a second storing step. 10. The output bin management method according to claim 8, wherein the history information is configured for each user identifier that has input a job. 10. The output bin management method according to claim 8, wherein the history information is configured for each output bin. The output bin management method according to claim 8, further comprising a display control step of displaying the history information. 13. The output bin management method according to claim 8, further comprising a printing step of printing the history information in response to a history information printing instruction from the computer. 14. The output bin management method according to claim 8, further comprising a transfer step of transferring the history information to a transfer instruction side in response to the transfer instruction information of the history information. In order to manage a plurality of bins of the image forming apparatus,
When a job is submitted, an acquisition procedure for acquiring the user identifier of the user who submitted the job from the job;
An output bin management procedure for managing the user identifier acquired by the acquisition procedure and the output bin identifier outputted by the job,
A date and time obtaining procedure for obtaining an unlocked date and time when the locked output bin is unlocked by the lock control procedure,
When the locked output bin is unlocked by the lock control procedure, an extraction procedure for extracting the user identifier and the output bin identifier from the output bin management procedure, and the user identifier extracted by the extraction procedure and An output bin management program for causing a computer to execute a storage procedure for storing output bin identifiers as history information in association with the unlocking date and time obtained by the date and time obtaining procedure.

Images