JP2004220470A - Image output apparatus, image output method, and storage medium - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a print prioritizing method for enhancing the outputting efficiency of a printer shared by plural persons. <P>SOLUTION: The image outputting apparatus which has plural paper delivery openings or the image outputting apparatus which can be connected to an optional device having plural paper delivery openings, has a designating means for designating a paper delivery opening for each of plural users, a detecting means for detecting whether or not output papers delivered to the paper delivery openings have been recovered, a recording means for recording an output paper recovery state for each of the users, a determining means for determining an output priority for each of the users, and a storing means for storing the output paper recovery state and output priority for each of the users. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an image output device such as a digital copying machine and a printer having an image storage unit, an image output method, and a storage medium.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, image data obtained by expanding PDL data sent from a host computer via a network into a bitmap or image data read by a scanner is temporarily stored in a memory such as a hard disk, and arbitrary image data is repeatedly read from the memory. A digital copying machine having a function of reading out and printing out is known.
[0003]
In addition, the image data is temporarily stored in a memory together with data for personal identification, or the image data is temporarily stored in a user-specific storage area prepared in the memory, and is set in advance for each user at the time of printout. A function has been proposed to output the data to a sorting tray.
[0004]
By having such a function, a plurality of users can efficiently share an image output device such as a copier and a printer.
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, when the image output apparatus as described above is used by a large number of people, if the scheduling of the output order is not performed properly, there is a problem that the overall output efficiency is significantly impaired. In particular, in the case where a plurality of users having different usage frequencies and usage forms share the same, if the output order is not appropriate, there is a problem that not only the work efficiency is reduced but also the user may be mentally stressed.
[0006]
SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is to provide an image output device, an image output method, and a storage medium that can be efficiently used by many people.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In the present invention, in view of the above problems, in order to share the image output device by many people, to use efficiently,
In an image output apparatus to which an image output apparatus having a plurality of paper ejection ports or an optional apparatus having a plurality of paper ejection ports can be connected, a designation means for designating a paper ejection port for each of a plurality of users; Detecting means for detecting whether or not the discharged output paper has been collected, recording means for recording the output paper collection status for each user, and determination means for determining the output priority for each user; Storage means for storing output paper collection status and output priority for each user.
[0008]
As described above, the present invention is summarized as follows.
[0009]
(1) In an image output device that can be connected to an image output device having a plurality of paper outlets or an optional device having a plurality of paper outlets,
Specifying means for specifying a paper discharge port for each of a plurality of users;
Detecting means for detecting whether or not the output paper discharged to the paper discharge port is collected;
Recording means for recording the output paper collection status for each user;
Determining means for determining an output priority for each user;
Storage means for storing output paper collection status and output priority for each user;
An image output device comprising:
[0010]
(2) The output sheet collection status recording means judges the collection status of output sheets at a paper discharge port at regular time intervals and records the number of times that output sheets are not continuously collected. 2. The image output device according to 1.
[0011]
(3) The user-specific output priority order determining means sets the priority in order from the user with the smallest number of consecutive uncollected times, which is recorded by the recording means according to claim 2. The image output device according to (1).
[0012]
(4) The image output apparatus according to (1), wherein the paper collection status and output priority for each user are reset at specified time intervals.
[0013]
(5) The image output apparatus according to (1), wherein the user individually resets the paper collection status and the output priority.
[0014]
(6) In a control method of an image output device that can be connected to an image output device having a plurality of paper outlets or an optional device having a plurality of paper outlets,
A designation step for designating a paper ejection port for each of a plurality of users;
A detection step for detecting whether or not the output paper discharged to the paper discharge port is collected;
A recording process for recording the output paper collection status for each user;
A determination step for determining an output priority for each user;
A storage step for storing output paper collection status and output priority for each user;
An image output method comprising:
[0015]
(7) An image output device having a plurality of paper outlets or an image output device connectable to an optional device having a plurality of paper outlets,
A designation step for designating a paper exit for each of a plurality of users;
A detection step for detecting whether or not the output paper discharged to the paper discharge port is collected;
A recording step for recording the output paper collection status for each user;
A determining step for determining an output priority for each user;
A storage step for storing output paper collection status and output priority for each user;
A computer-readable storage medium storing a program for executing the program.
[0016]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a system configuration of the present invention.
[0017]
The controller 100 is a controller for inputting and outputting image information and device information by connecting to the scanner 300 as an image input device and the printer 200 as an image output device, while connecting to the LAN 500 and the telephone line 600. .
[0018]
The CPU 103 is a controller that controls the entire system. The RAM 107 is a system work memory for the operation of the CPU 103, and is also an image memory for temporarily storing image data. The ROM 108 is a boot ROM, and stores a system boot program. An HDD 109 is a hard disk drive that stores system software, image data, and function information of an image output device. The operation unit I / F 104 is an interface unit with the operation unit 400. The network I / F 105 is connected to the LAN 500 and inputs and outputs information. The MODEM 106 is connected to the telephone line 600 and inputs and outputs information.
[0019]
The above devices are arranged on the system bus 101. An ImageBus I / F 110 is a bus bridge that connects a system bus 101 and an image bus 102 that transfers image data at high speed, and converts a data structure.
[0020]
The image bus 102 includes a high-speed bus such as a PCI bus. The following devices are arranged on the image bus 102. A raster image processor (RIP) 111 develops a PDL code into a bitmap image. The device I / F unit 112 connects the controller 100 to the scanner 300 or the printer 200, which is an image input / output device, and performs synchronous / asynchronous conversion of image data. The scanner image processing unit 113 corrects, processes, and edits input image data. The printer image processing unit 114 performs printer correction, resolution conversion, and the like on print output image data. In the HDD 109, device information and registered user information on nodes connected to the network (LAN 500) are stored.
[0021]
FIG. 2 is an example of an overview of an image input / output device according to the present invention.
[0022]
The scanner unit 300 illuminates an image on a paper serving as a document and scans a CCD line sensor (not shown), thereby converting the image into raster image data to an electric signal. The manuscript paper is set on the tray 302 of the manuscript feeder 301, and when the user issues a reading start instruction from the operation unit 400, the controller CPU 103 gives an instruction to the scanner 300, and the feeder 301 feeds the manuscript paper one by one and reads the manuscript image. Perform the operation.
[0023]
The printer unit 200 is a unit that converts raster image data into an image on a sheet. The method is an electrophotographic method using a photosensitive drum or a photosensitive belt, and an image is directly formed on a sheet by discharging ink from a micro nozzle array. And the like, but any method may be used. Activation of the printing operation is started by an instruction from the controller CPU 103. The printer unit 200 has a plurality of paper feed stages so that different paper sizes or different paper orientations can be selected, and includes a paper cassette 202 corresponding thereto. The sorter 201 receives printed paper and is constituted by a plurality of trays. Each tray is provided with a sensor (not shown) for detecting the presence or absence of a sheet on the tray.
[0024]
(First embodiment)
As a function that has been conventionally realized, there is a method in which a user is registered for each tray of the sorter, and output from each user is automatically distributed and output. Based on this function, the present invention proposes a method of determining the print priority for each user.
[0025]
The system of the present invention has a normal mode and a user-specific print priority setting mode with respect to the user-specific print priority.
[0026]
FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a mode start processing procedure after the user-specific print priority setting mode is selected.
[0027]
In step S31, it is determined whether this mode has been selected. If it is determined that the user-specific print priority setting mode has been selected, the process proceeds to step S32. In step S32, it is determined whether or not a time period (count-up period) for checking the time during which the user has left the output sheet has been reset. When resetting is performed here, the setting is performed in step S33. This setting method may be a method in which the user who has selected the user-specific print priority setting mode (usually, an administrator of this system) makes a setting directly from the operation unit 400 provided in the image input / output system, The setting contents may be transmitted from the computer to the image input / output system via a line.
[0028]
Next, at step 34, it is determined whether or not the user's print priority is reset when the user-specific print priority setting mode is started. If NO is determined here, the priorities are set according to the user's registration order only when the priorities are set or when this mode is selected for the first time in the system. If the determination is YES, the process proceeds to step S35, and the print priority for each user is set. This setting method may be a method of directly setting from the operation unit 400 provided in the image input / output system, similarly to step 33, or a method of transmitting setting contents to the image input / output system via a line from a computer on a network. It doesn't matter.
[0029]
After the process at the start of the user-specific print priority setting mode shown in FIG. 3 ends, the process of FIG. 4 starts.
[0030]
In step S41, it is monitored whether or not the time corresponding to the count-up cycle has elapsed. If NO is determined here, that is, if one cycle time has not elapsed, it is checked in step S42 whether the output sheets on the tray have been collected. At this time, if there is no paper on the tray, the determination is NO, and the process returns to step S41 without doing anything. If there is any output sheet on the tray, it is checked in step S42 whether the sheet has been removed. If YES is determined, that is, if the user has collected the output sheet, the flag is set to 0. . If not collected, NO is determined and the flag does not change.
[0031]
When YES is determined in the step S41, the process proceeds to a step S44. Here, it is determined whether the flag is 1 or not. If the determination is NO, that is, if the sheet on the tray is not left, the process proceeds to step S47. In the case of YES, the output sheet on the tray is left undisturbed for one cycle, so that the counter of the corresponding user is added in step S45. Thereafter, the print priority is updated in step S46.
[0032]
In step S47, it is determined whether or not there is an output sheet on the tray when the processing for each cycle is completed, and a flag is set in steps S48 and S49 according to the result.
[0033]
Although the description has been given with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. 4 for the sake of simplicity, steps S42 to S45 and steps S47 to S49 are actually performed in parallel by executing similar processes corresponding to a plurality of trays assigned to each user. It has been done.
[0034]
FIG. 5 shows an example of an update status of the print priority when the above processing is performed. The horizontal axis represents the passage of time, and indicates that when the users B and C leave the output paper for a long time, the counter is added, and the priority is reduced accordingly.
[0035]
(Second embodiment)
In the first embodiment, the method of simply adding the counter which is an element for determining the print priority has been described. In addition, a function may be provided that automatically resets this counter every predetermined period. Alternatively, a function of manually resetting the counter by an administrator or the like may be provided.
[0036]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, the paper collection status on the output tray designated for each of a plurality of users is detected and recorded, and based on the result, a user with a good recovery status is ranked higher in the print priority. By setting, there is an effect of preventing a decrease in overall work efficiency by a user who is not cooperative in sharing use of the device.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram. FIG. 2 is an overview of an image input / output device. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a user-specific print priority setting mode start process. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a user-specific print priority setting process. 5 is a diagram showing an example of the update status of the print priority.
100 controller 101 system bus 102 image bus 103 CPU
104 Operation unit I / F
105 Network I / F
106 MODEM
107 RAM
108 ROM
109 HDD
110 ImageBus I / F
111 Raster Image Processor (RIP)
112 Device I / F unit 113 Scanner image processing unit 114 Printer image processing unit 200 Printer 201 Sorter 202 Paper cassette 300 Scanner 301 Document feeder 302 Document feeder tray 400 Operation unit 500 LAN
600 telephone lines

Claims (7)

In an image output device that can be connected to an image output device having a plurality of paper outlets or an optional device having a plurality of paper outlets,
Specifying means for specifying a paper discharge port for each of a plurality of users;
Detecting means for detecting whether or not the output paper discharged to the paper discharge port is collected;
Recording means for recording the output paper collection status for each user;
Determining means for determining an output priority for each user;
Storage means for storing output paper collection status and output priority for each user;
An image output device comprising: 2. The image according to claim 1, wherein the output paper collection status recording unit determines the collection status of the output paper at the paper discharge port at regular time intervals and records the number of times the output paper is not continuously collected. Output device. 2. The output priority determining unit according to claim 1, wherein the user-specific output priority determining unit ranks the user with the highest priority in ascending order of the number of consecutive uncollected times recorded by the recording unit according to claim 2. Image output device. 2. The image output apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the paper collection status and the output priority for each user are reset every designated time. 2. The image output apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the paper collection status and output priority for each user are manually reset. In a control method of an image output device capable of connecting an image output device having a plurality of paper outlets or an optional device having a plurality of paper outlets,
A designation step for designating a paper ejection port for each of a plurality of users;
A detection step for detecting whether or not the output paper discharged to the paper discharge port is collected;
A recording process for recording the output paper collection status for each user;
A determination step for determining an output priority for each user;
A storage step for storing output paper collection status and output priority for each user;
An image output method comprising: An image output device that can be connected to an image output device having a plurality of paper exits or an optional device having a plurality of paper exits,
A designation step for designating a paper exit for each of a plurality of users;
A detection step for detecting whether or not the output paper discharged to the paper discharge port is collected;
A recording step for recording the output paper collection status for each user;
A determining step for determining an output priority for each user;
A storage step for storing output paper collection status and output priority for each user;
A computer-readable storage medium storing a program for executing the program.

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