JP2005193394A - Image forming apparatus, computer program and recording medium - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To positively inform the client PC side of an unprintable state by equipping the image forming apparatus side connected to a network with the function like a server in relation to feeding and discharging of a recording medium. <P>SOLUTION: In the image forming apparatus which forms a visible image to the recording medium based on data transferred via the network, the data includes a printing parameter and printing data. A main controller of the image forming apparatus judges from a remaining amount of the recording medium and the printing parameter before a printing start whether or not printing of the transferred data is possible (S34). If printing is judged as impossible, the situation that it is short of the recording medium is reported to a transferer from which the data is transferred, and at the same time an instruction to display the situation is transmitted (S36). <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus connected to an image data input apparatus such as a personal computer via a network, a program used in the image forming apparatus, and a recording medium on which the program is recorded.

In an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine or a printer, the presence or absence of printing paper set in a paper feeding device is detected by a detection sensor or the like, and a paper out indication is displayed on the image forming apparatus. . In addition, when printing image data from a PC or the like in a system in which a personal computer (hereinafter referred to as a PC) or a scanner as a data input device is connected to the image forming apparatus, the image forming apparatus has no paper. Is configured to display such information on a PC or the like. However, it cannot be predicted until the paper runs out during printing. Therefore, for example, Patent Documents 1 and 2 propose that when there is a possibility that the paper will run out during printing, a message to that effect is displayed. Patent Document 3 discloses that a plurality of image forming apparatuses are connected and control is performed so as not to run out of paper by cooperation.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-181163 JP-A-10-305642 JP 2001-298565 A

  However, in the invention described in Patent Document 1, it is necessary to input the number of sheets in order to determine whether or not the sheets are out. For example, when a bundle of 500 sheets of one book is set in a sheet feeding stage. There is no problem, but when the operator replenishes properly, it is necessary to check the number of sheets, which is very troublesome and is not efficient for applying to normal work.

  In the invention described in Patent Document 2, when a print instruction is given from the operation unit of the terminal device, the terminal device transmits a print command to the printer via the LAN. The presence / absence is determined and the paper presence / absence information is transmitted to the terminal device. When there is no paper, the terminal device displays the fact on the display device. Whether or not to display the paper presence / absence state depends on the software processing of the terminal device. In other words, the printer simply determines the presence / absence and remaining amount of paper, and if the paper runs out, or if there is a possibility that paper will run out before completing one job, the terminal device side will judge that fact. Was composed.

  Furthermore, in the invention described in Patent Document 3, a plurality of image forming apparatuses are connected via a network and controlled so as not to run out of paper by cooperation, but the relationship with the terminal apparatus is not mentioned.

  The present invention has been made in view of the actual situation of the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to make the image forming apparatus connected to the network function like a server with respect to supply and discharge of a recording medium so that the user can It is to be able to increase work efficiency.

  In order to achieve the above object, in the image forming apparatus for forming a visible image on a recording medium based on data transferred via a network, the first means includes a print parameter and print data. Before starting printing, it is determined from the remaining amount of the recording medium and the printing parameters whether the transferred data can be printed. If it is determined that printing is impossible, the recording medium is transferred to the data transfer source. It is characterized by comprising control means for notifying that there is a shortage and transmitting an instruction to display the fact.

  According to a second means, in the first means, the print parameter includes a size of the recording medium and the number of prints, and the control means includes the size of the recording medium and the size of the recording medium included in the print parameter. Whether printing is possible is determined based on the above, and then whether printing is possible is determined based on the number of recording media included in the printing parameter for the size and the remaining amount of the recording medium.

  The third means is the first means, in which the control means notifies other printable image forming apparatuses connected to the network, in addition to the notification, and other printable images on the transfer source display. An instruction to display the image forming apparatus is transmitted.

  According to a fourth means, in the first to third means, the control means checks whether or not the recording medium is removed after completion of printing at every preset time, and the recording medium that has completed printing is checked. If it has not been removed, an instruction to display the fact on the transfer source display is transmitted to the transfer source.

  The fifth means is characterized in that, in the fourth means, after the recording medium that has completed the printing is removed, the display that the recording medium that has completed the printing is not removed at the transfer source is canceled. And

  The sixth means is characterized in that the computer program includes a procedure for executing the function of the control means of the image forming apparatus according to the first to fifth means by a computer.

  The seventh means is characterized in that the computer program according to the sixth means is read by a computer and recorded on a recording medium so as to be executable.

  In the following embodiments, the network corresponds to reference numeral 203, the control means corresponds to the main controller 20, the transfer source and terminal device correspond to the client PC 203, and the display corresponds to reference numeral 204. ,

  According to the present invention, the image forming apparatus connected to the network is provided with a server-like function for supplying and discharging recording media, and printing cannot be performed from the data transfer source side, in other words, from the image forming apparatus side to the client PC side. Therefore, the user's work efficiency can be improved.

  The best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically illustrating the overall configuration of an image forming apparatus including a digital multi-function peripheral (MFP) according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the schematic configuration of an operation unit in the image forming apparatus of FIG. It is.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment is roughly divided into an automatic document feeder (hereinafter referred to as ADF) 1 that automatically feeds a document to a reading unit 50 positioned below the document. A reading unit 50 for reading image information of a document sent from the ADF 1, a writing unit 57 for writing image information from the reading unit 50 or from the outside to an image carrier, a drum-like photoconductor 15 as an image carrier, and development An image forming system composed of units 27 and the like, a paper feeding system that feeds transfer paper as a transfer material to the image forming system, and double-sided paper feeding that inverts the transfer paper to form images on both sides of the transfer paper It consists of unit 111 and the like.

  The ADF 1 includes a document table 2 on which documents are placed, a sheet feed roller 3 that pulls out documents one by one from the document table 2, a sheet feed belt 4 that conveys the drawn document to a predetermined position, a discharge roller 5, and a document set detection sensor. 7 etc. Then, a document bundle (not shown) placed on the document table 2 with the image surface of the document facing up is fed from the bottom document when the print key 34 on the operation unit 30 shown in FIG. 2 is pressed. The paper is fed to a predetermined position on the contact glass 6 of the reading unit 50 by the feeding roller 3 and the feeding belt 4, and the image data of the original is read by the reading unit 50. The document that has been read is discharged by the feeding belt 4 and the discharge roller 5. Further, when the document set detection sensor 7 detects that the next document is present on the document table 2, it is fed onto the contact glass 6 in the same manner as the previous document. The paper feed roller 3, the paper feed belt 4, and the discharge roller 5 are driven by a transport motor 26 shown in FIG.

  The reading unit 50 includes a contact glass 6 on which an original is placed and an optical scanning system. The optical scanning system condenses light from the exposure lamp 51 that illuminates the original, the first, second, and third mirrors 52, 55, and 56, and the third mirror 56 that receive and reflect the reflected light from the original. A lens 53 for forming an image on the image forming surface of the CCD image sensor 54, a CCD image sensor 54 for picking up an image formed on the image forming surface by the lens 53, and the like. The exposure lamp 51 and the first mirror 52 are fixed on a first carriage (not shown), and the second mirror 55 and the third mirror 56 are also fixed on a second carriage (not shown). When reading a document image, the first carriage and the second carriage are mechanically scanned at a relative speed of 2: 1 so that the optical path length does not change.

  This optical scanning system is driven by a scanner drive motor (not shown). The document image is read by the CCD image sensor 54, converted into an electrical signal, and processed. The image magnification is changed by moving the lens 53 and the CCD image sensor 54 in the left-right direction in FIG. That is, the positions of the lens 53 and the CCD image sensor 54 are set in the left-right direction corresponding to the designated magnification.

  After the original is read by the reading unit 50, the original that has been read is discharged by the feeding belt 4 and the discharge roller 5. Further, when the document set detection sensor 7 detects that the next document is on the document table 2, it is fed onto the contact glass 6 in the same manner as the previous document.

  The paper feeding system includes first, second, and third trays 8, 9, and 10 on which transfer papers are stacked, respectively, and a first paper for feeding the transfer paper from these trays 8, 9, and 10 to the image forming system. 1, second and third paper feed units 11, 12, 13, a vertical transport unit 14, and the like. The transfer sheets loaded on the first tray 8, the second tray 9, and the third tray 10 are fed by the first sheet feeding unit 11, the second sheet feeding unit 12, and the third sheet feeding unit 13, respectively. It is conveyed to a position where it abuts on the photoreceptor 15 by the conveyance unit 14.

  The image data read by the reading unit 50 is written by the writing unit 57 on the photoconductor 15 of the image forming system. The writing unit 57 emits a laser beam modulated based on the image data, and converts the laser beam emitted from the laser output unit 58 and deflected at a constant angular velocity into a constant linear velocity deflection, thereby converting the photoconductor 15. An image forming lens 59 for forming an image on the top, a mirror 60 for passing the image forming lens 59 and returning the laser light to the photoconductor 15 side, and the like. Inside the laser output unit 58, a laser diode that is a laser light source and a rotating polygon mirror that is rotated at a constant high speed by a motor are provided. The laser light emitted from the laser output unit 58 is deflected by the polygon mirror rotating at a constant speed as described above, passes through the imaging lens 59, is folded back by the mirror 60, and is focused on the surface of the photoreceptor 15. To do.

  The deflected laser light is exposed and scanned in the direction (main scanning direction) perpendicular to the direction in which the photosensitive member 15 rotates, and the line-by-line recording of the image signal output from the selector 64 of the image processing unit described later is performed. An image (electrostatic latent image) is formed on the surface of the photoconductor 15 by repeating main scanning at a predetermined cycle corresponding to the rotational speed and recording density of the photoconductor 15.

  The image forming system includes a photosensitive member 15 that forms a latent image by laser light from a laser output unit 58, a developing unit 27 that develops the latent image on the photosensitive member 15, and a conveying belt 16 that conveys transfer paper from a paper feeding system. The image forming apparatus includes a fixing unit 17 that fixes an image transferred onto the transfer paper, a paper discharge unit 18 that discharges the fixed transfer paper, and the like. The photoreceptor 15 on which the latent image is formed by the laser light passes through the developing unit 27 to form a toner image. Then, the toner image on the photoconductor 15 is transferred while the transfer paper is conveyed by the conveyance belt 16 at the same speed as the rotation of the photoconductor 15. Thereafter, the image is fixed by the fixing unit 17 and discharged to the paper discharge tray 19 by the paper discharge unit 18.

  The double-sided paper feeding unit 111 is used when an image is formed on both sides of the transfer paper. The double-sided paper feed transport path 113 for transporting the transfer paper drawn from the middle of the paper discharge unit 18 and the transfer paper transport. A reversing unit 112 for reversing the direction, a reversing paper discharge conveyance path 114 for sending the reversed transfer paper to the paper discharge unit 18 again, and the like are configured. With this configuration, by setting the branching claw (not shown) provided in the paper discharge unit 18 for switching the transport path upward, the paper is fed from each of the paper feed trays 8 to 10 and the image is transferred. The transfer paper is temporarily stored in the reversing unit 112 of the duplex feeding unit 111 without being guided to the paper discharge tray 19 side. After that, the transfer paper stocked on the duplex feeding unit 111 is transported again in the middle of the vertical transport unit 14 with the top and bottom reversed, and an image is formed on the back surface of the transfer paper by the photoconductor 15 and discharged. By setting the branching claw in the unit 18 downward, it is guided to the paper discharge tray 19.

  Note that the photoconductor 15, the conveyance belt 16, the fixing unit 17, the paper discharge unit 18, and the development unit 27 are driven by the main motor 25 in FIG. 4, and each of the paper feed units 11 to 13 has a driving force of the main motor 25. It is transmitted and driven by the paper feed clutches 22-24. The vertical conveyance unit 14 is driven by the driving force of the main motor 25 being transmitted by the intermediate clutch 21.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the operation unit 30 includes a liquid crystal touch panel 31, a numeric keypad 32, a clear / stop key 33, a print key 34, a mode clear key 35, and the like. The liquid crystal touch panel 31 is provided with function keys 37 for setting various functions, and displays a message indicating the number of copies and the state of the image forming apparatus.

  An example of the display on the liquid crystal touch panel 31 of the operation unit 30 is shown in detail in FIG. In the liquid crystal touch panel 31, when the operator touches the displayed key, the key portion indicating the selected function is inverted in black. In addition, when it is necessary to specify the details of the function (for example, when the magnification is changed, the variable value is displayed), the detailed function setting screen is displayed by touching the key. Since the liquid crystal touch panel 31 uses a dot display, it is possible to graphically perform an optimal display at that time.

  The message area in the upper left displays whether copying is possible. The message “Ready to copy” displays a message “Please wait” until you can copy after turning on the power. . On the right side of this message area, a copy number display section for displaying the set number of copies is displayed. Under these message area and copy number display area, an automatic density key that automatically adjusts the image density, an automatic paper selection key that automatically selects the transfer paper, a magnification key that sets the enlargement / reduction ratio, Format document key for selecting whether the document is a standard document (format document), a manual density adjustment key for manually adjusting the image density, and a paper feed unit 11 to 11 for manually selecting the size of the transfer paper A paper display key for displaying the size and setting direction of the transfer paper set in 13, a sort key for designating a process for arranging copies in order of pages, a staple key for designating a process for binding the sorted papers in part, A duplex key for setting a duplex mode and an aggregation key for setting an aggregation mode for printing a plurality of document images on one transfer sheet are displayed. The sort key and the staple key are displayed when a post-processing device (not shown) having a built-in stapler or sorter is provided.

  FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a control unit in the image forming apparatus of FIG. 1, and each unit is connected with a main controller as a center. The main controller 20 controls the entire image forming apparatus. The main controller 20 includes a main motor 25, an intermediate clutch 21 and first to third paper feeding clutches 22, 23, 24 necessary for transporting transfer paper. The operation unit 30, the image processing unit 49, and the ADF 1 are connected to each other. The operation unit 30 performs display for an operator and function setting input control from the operator, and an image processing unit (hereinafter also referred to as IPU) 49 executes control of each unit related to image output from image input. These units 30, 49, the motor 25, the first to fourth paper feed clutches 21 to 24, and the main controller 20 exchange machine status and operation commands as necessary. Each of these units functions as a distributed control device for the main controller 20.

  A connection I / F 48 is further connected to the main controller 20, and information on the image forming apparatus connected via the connection I / F 48 is acquired, and the operation is controlled by setting the operation. Alternatively, a request from another connected image forming apparatus is acquired and the operation of the own apparatus is controlled. A document set detection sensor 7 and a conveyance motor 26 for conveying the document are connected to the ADF 1, and a liquid crystal display 31 and various input keys 32 to 35 are connected to the operation unit 30.

  FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing details of the IPU 49 of FIG. In this embodiment, the IPU 49 includes an image data input / output system, an image processing system, and an output system. The input system optically reads an image such as a document image, a CCD image sensor 54, an A / D converter 61 that converts an image signal from the CCD image sensor 54 into a digital signal, and an image signal from the A / D converter 61. A shading correction circuit 62 that performs shading correction, an MTF correction / γ correction circuit 63 that further performs MTF correction, γ correction, and the like on the image signal, and enlarges / reduces the image signal from the MTF correction / γ correction circuit 63 in accordance with the magnification. The zoom processing circuit 72 includes a selector 64 that sets the image data from the zoom processing circuit 72 to be sent to the image memory controller 65 or the writing γ correction unit 71. On the output side, writing γ correction unit 71 that performs γ correction on the writing side for the image selector selected by selector 64 and writing that performs image writing (printing) based on correction data from writing γ correction unit 71 A unit 57 is included.

  When such an input / output system is configured, the reflected light irradiated from the exposure lamp 51 and reflected by the document surface is photoelectrically converted by the CCD image sensor 54 and converted into a digital signal by the A / D converter 61. The image signal converted into the digital signal is subjected to shading correction by the shading correction circuit 62, and then subjected to MTF correction and γ correction in the MTF correction / γ correction circuit 63, and the magnification processing circuit 72 converts the image signal into an image signal. After enlarging or reducing in accordance with the magnification, the selector 64 selects the destination of the image signal to the writing γ correction unit 71 or the image memory controller 65, and if the writing γ correction unit 71 side is selected, the magnification is changed. The processed image signal is input to the writing γ correction unit 71 as it is, and after the γ correction is performed, the writing unit 57 performs writing on the photoconductor 15.

  The image processing system includes an image memory controller 65, an image memory 66, a CPU 68, a ROM 69, a RAM 70, an I / O port 67, a connected I / F 48, and a color conversion processing unit 100. Between the image memory controller 65 and the selector 64, an image signal can be input and output bidirectionally. The CPU 68 controls the setting to the image memory controller 65 and the control of the reading unit 50 and the writing unit 57, the ROM 69 stores a program processed by the CPU 68, the RAM 70 stores data processed by the CPU 68, and a work area of the CPU 68 Also works. ROM 69, RAM 70, image memory 66, color conversion processing circuit 100, and the like for storing data and data, and writing / reading data in / from image memory 66 via image memory controller 65.

  The connection I / F 48 is connected to the data bus of the image memory controller 65 for transmitting and receiving image information, and is configured to be able to input and output data. The image information is transferred via the image memory 66 according to the data transfer speed between the image forming apparatuses. That is, when outputting an image, image data is stored in the image memory 66 from the image memory controller 65, and then sequentially read out from the image memory 66 according to the data transfer speed between the image forming apparatuses, and transferred to the connected I / F 48. To do. When outputting an image, the image data transferred from the connection I / F 48 is stored in the image memory 66, and then the image data is processed from the image memory 66 through the image memory controller 65 inside the apparatus. With the above-described configuration, it is possible to realize the connecting operation without being restricted by the function of the image forming apparatus.

  The image sent to the image memory controller 65 as a document image is sent to the image memory 66 after the image data is compressed by an image compression device in the image memory controller. The reason for image compression is that data of 256 gradations corresponding to the maximum image size can be written in the image memory 66 as it is, but the image memory is used so much for one original image. This is because the image memory having a limited capacity is used effectively. In addition, since a large amount of original image data can be stored at one time, the stored original image data can be output in page order as a sorting function. In this case, when the image is output, the data in the image memory 66 is output while being sequentially expanded by the expansion device in the image memory controller 65. Such a function is generally called “electronic sort”.

  Further, by using the function of the image memory, it is possible to sequentially read a plurality of document images into an area obtained by dividing the area of one transfer sheet in the image memory 66. For example, four original images are sequentially written in a four-divided area of one transfer paper in the image memory 66, so that the four originals are combined into a single transfer paper image, and the combined copy output is obtained. Can be obtained. Such a function is generally called “aggregate copy”.

  The image stored in the image memory 66 can be accessed from the CPU 68. Therefore, the contents of the image memory can be processed, and for example, image thinning processing, image clipping processing, and the like can be performed. For processing, the processing in the image memory 66 can be performed by writing data into the register of the memory controller 65. The processed image is held in the image memory 66 again. Further, the content of the image memory 66 can be read by the CPU 68 and transferred to the operation unit 30 as the image data 73 via the I / O port 67.

  Generally, since the screen display resolution of the operation unit 30 is low, the original image in the image memory 66 is thinned out and sent to the operation unit 30. The image memory 66 may use a hard disk to store a large amount of image data. By using a hard disk, there is a feature that an external power source is unnecessary and an image can be retained permanently. In order to read and hold a plurality of standard documents (format documents) with a scanner, this hard disk is generally used.

  The color conversion circuit 100 converts, for example, the color system of image data from the client PC transferred from the I / O port 67 from the RGB color system to the YMCK color system.

  FIG. 6 is a timing chart for explaining an image signal for one page in the selector 64. In FIG. 6, / FGATE, which is a frame gate signal, represents a valid period in the sub-scanning direction of one page of image data. / LSYNC is a main scanning synchronization signal for each line, and the image signal becomes valid at a predetermined clock after this signal rises. A signal indicating that the image signal in the main scanning direction is valid is a line gate signal / LGATE. These signals are synchronized with a pixel clock VCLK which is a vertical synchronizing signal, and data of 8 bits per pixel (256 gradations) is transmitted for one cycle of VCLK. In this embodiment, it is assumed that the closer the image data is to 255, the more white the image is.

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the main operation of the image forming apparatus described above. When the power is turned on, an initialization process is first performed (step S701). The main contents of initialization are resetting various flags, clearing various counters, clearing the image memory, resetting the image formation mode (magnification, division, etc.), etc. (the processing contents of the initialization subroutine are omitted). . After completion of initialization, the process waits for an event (any change factor) from the key input or the image forming engine (step S702). When the user performs any key operation, the operation unit 30 notifies the user of a key input event. Similarly, when an image forming engine changes, for example, when a document is set on the ADF 1, a signal change of the document setting detection sensor 7 is notified as an engine event. When one of the key and engine events occurs, it is determined whether the generated event is a key input or an engine (step S703). In the case of an engine, engine event processing is called (step S704). In the case of key input, key input event processing is called (step S705). After these processings are performed, the process waits for an event in step S702 again. .

  FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the processing content of the key input event processing subroutine of step S705 of FIG. In the key input event process, first, a key press event of the print start key 34 is checked (step S801). If it is the print start key 34, copy processing is executed (step S808). If the print start key 34 has not been pressed, it is checked whether or not the numeric key 32 has been entered (step S802). If the key event is the numeric keypad 34, numeric keypad processing is performed (step S809). If the key event is not the numeric keypad 34, it is checked whether or not the clear stop key 33 is pressed (step S803). If the event is the clear stop key 33, the clear stop process is executed (step S810). If it is not an event of the clear stop key 33, it is checked whether or not it is a press event of a print setting key displayed in the liquid crystal touch panel 31 (step S804). When a setting key for various printing functions represented by an automatic density key or a manual density adjustment key in FIG. 3 is pressed, a print setting process is executed (step S811).

  If the print setting key has not been pressed, a determination is made of a duplex setting key event displayed on the liquid crystal touch panel 31 (step S805). When the duplex function shown in FIG. 3 is selected or released from the selected state, duplex setting processing is executed (step S812). If the duplex function is not selected, it is determined whether or not the format document setting key event is displayed on the liquid crystal touch panel 31 (step S806). When the format document function shown in FIG. 3 is selected or released from the selected state, the format document setting process is executed (step S813). If it is not the format original function, it is determined whether there has been a key event other than steps S801 to S806 (step 807). If it is another key event, other key processing is executed (step S814). If each key event process is executed, the process ends.

  When a plurality of image forming apparatuses having the above-described configuration are prepared and can be set to perform transmission / reception between the image forming apparatuses, the display on the liquid crystal touch panel 31 of the operation unit 30 is, for example, as illustrated in FIG. . That is, in addition to the display items on the liquid crystal touch panel 31 of the operation unit 30 shown in FIG. 3, a connection key 91 for setting whether or not to transmit / receive information to / from the connected image forming apparatus is displayed. By touching the connection key 91, the setting of the connection operation using the plurality of connected image forming apparatuses is selected, and the own machine is set as the master machine for the connection operation and other than the own machine connected by the following setting. An operation request is made to the image forming apparatus (slave machine).

  The above-described image forming apparatus can write image information on the photoconductor 15 as an image carrier by inputting image information from the outside to the writing unit 57, so that, for example, a personal computer (hereinafter referred to as a PC) can be used. It can also be used as a printer. A configuration in the case of using as a printer in this way is shown in FIG. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a network in which a client PC and an image forming apparatus are connected by a LAN cable. The image forming apparatus 201 and the client PC 202 are connected by a LAN cable 203, and the client PC 202 requests the image forming apparatus 201 to execute printing. This print execution request includes two data: print parameters (information such as paper size, print method, number of prints, color / monochrome) and print data. When the client PC 202 requests print execution, the image forming apparatus 201 that has received the print execution request first analyzes the print parameters. By this analysis, it is possible to know how to print the data to be printed, that is, information such as the paper size, the printing method, the number of prints, and color / monochrome.

  On the other hand, on the image forming apparatus 201 side, the size of the transfer paper stored in the first to third paper supply units 11 to 13 and the amount stored (remaining amount) are managed. The remaining amount of the transfer paper can be obtained from the detection output obtained by arranging the optical sensors so that the optical paths are arranged at predetermined intervals (predetermined remaining intervals of the transfer paper), for example. The optical sensor may be transmissive or reflective. In addition, for example, the remaining amount can be detected step by step using a filler. In addition, since the first to third paper feeding units 11 to 13 are assigned to a specific size of transfer paper, the size of the transfer paper can be easily detected.

  A flowchart of FIG. 11 shows a processing procedure when the client PC having the network connection configuration and the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 10 execute printing. In this process, when there is a print execution request from the client PC 202 (step S31), the image forming apparatus 201 analyzes a print parameter among the print parameters and print data included in the print execution request (step S32). By this analysis, the size and the required number of transfer sheets for printing the print data are obtained. Then, whether there is a size of the transfer paper to be printed is checked from the size of the transfer paper stored in the paper feeding units 11 to 13 (step S33). If there is a size, the transfer paper of that size is stored. It is checked whether or not the number of sheets necessary for the printing remains in the sheet feeding unit (step S34). If it remains, printing starts (step S35), the printing ends (step S41), and the process ends when the printed paper discharged to the discharge tray 19 is taken out (step S42-Y).

  If there is no transfer paper necessary for printing in step S34, the client PC 202 instructed to print is instructed to display a remaining amount warning on the display 204 (step S36). In this embodiment, the warning display 205 is “Start printing. Prepare paper for replenishment because it runs out of paper.” Confirm this warning display (message) 205 and click the Yes button 206. When the client 205 confirms that the message 205 has been confirmed, the message 205 is confirmed (step S37) and printing is started (step S35). During this time, if the transfer paper is supplied based on the message in step S36, printing is executed up to the final paper, printing is finished (step S41), and the printing paper is taken out from the paper discharge tray (step S42-). The process ends at Y).

  However, if the transfer paper is not replenished, it is determined in step S34 that printing up to the final paper is impossible, and printing cannot be executed up to the final paper. Therefore, if printing to the last sheet is not completed in step S41, an instruction is given to display on the display 204 of the client PC 202 an image forming apparatus such as another printer that is connected to the network and can be printed (step S39). . Then, if another image forming apparatus such as a printer is selected from the client PC 202 side (step S40-Y), printing is continued (step S35), printing is completed up to the final sheet (step S41), and the printing sheet is printed. The processing is finished when is taken out.

  If there is no transfer paper of the designated transfer size in step S33, the display 204 of the client PC 202 is instructed to display that printing is impossible (step S38), and an image of another printer or the like that can be printed together is displayed. An instruction is given to display the forming apparatus (step S39). If it is confirmed in step S40 that an image forming apparatus such as a printer to be printed has been selected or instructed from the display screen of another image forming apparatus such as a printer, printing is executed (step S35), and printing is completed up to the final sheet. (Step S41), and the process ends when the printing paper is taken out (Step S42-Y). A display screen 207 and a selection screen 208 at this time are shown in FIG. When the process proceeds from step S41 to step S39, for example, the display shown in FIG. 13 is “print paper has been exhausted. Please select another printer”.

  If the printing paper is not taken out in step S42, an instruction is given to display that the left paper remains in the paper discharge tray 19 (step S43), and the time when the left paper is removed (step S44-). The process ends at Y). The display 209 in step S43 is performed as shown in FIG. 14, and the display confirmation is performed by clicking the “Yes button” 210. Note that whether or not the left paper is actually removed is determined by a paper presence sensor (not shown) installed on the paper discharge tray 19.

  Further, in the procedure of FIG. 11, when there is no transfer sheet remaining in step S34, the process proceeds to step S36, but the process may be configured to proceed to step S39.

  In the procedure of FIG. 11, printing is executed when the display is confirmed in step S37. However, the transfer paper may be supplied during this time, or the printing is not completed until the final paper in step S41. If the transfer sheet runs out at the time, the transfer sheet can be replenished and the execution of printing can be resumed in step S35 without shifting to step S39.

  In the procedure of FIG. 11, the transfer paper size and the remaining amount of transfer paper are observed, but the state of the developer (toner) is also monitored, and when the toner remaining amount is low, it is determined whether printing is possible. Thus, it is possible to instruct to replenish toner, or to display to prompt selection of an image forming apparatus such as another printer.

  The image forming apparatus 201 is controlled by a CPU (not shown) of the main controller 20, and this CPU includes the control according to a program stored in a ROM (not shown) while using the RAM (not shown) as a work area. Controls the entire image forming apparatus 201. In this embodiment, the program is stored in the ROM. In addition to this, for example, a recording medium driving device (not shown) from a server connected to a network or from a recording medium such as a CD-ROM or an SD card. It can also be used by downloading to a storage means such as a hard disk (not shown) via the, or upgraded.

  As described above, the image forming apparatus 201 according to the present embodiment grasps the supply / discharge state of the recording medium of another image forming apparatus via the network, and notifies the client PC 202 of the supply / discharge state of the recording medium, Since an instruction corresponding to the situation is output to the client PC 202, the recording medium supply and paper discharge have the same functions as the server.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, among the print parameters and print data transferred by the client PC 202 according to the print instruction, the image forming apparatus obtains the number of printed sheets and the size of the transfer paper from the print parameters, and The size of the transfer paper stored in the paper feed tray is compared with the remaining amount. If there is no transfer paper size or there is no remaining transfer paper, the client PC 202 is notified to that effect and the display 204 is notified accordingly. Since it is displayed, it is possible to notify the user of the paper feed state by making a judgment on the image forming apparatus 201 side without making a judgment on the client PC 202 side. Therefore, it is easy to prepare transfer paper before the transfer paper runs out and replenish and continue printing when the transfer paper runs out.

  Further, when there is no paper size to be printed and no remaining amount of paper, if another image forming apparatus 201 can print, the image forming apparatus (for example, printer) 201 is displayed on the display 204 of the client PC 202, and The user selects the image forming apparatus 201 to be printed. Thereby, work efficiency can be improved.

1 is a diagram schematically showing an overall configuration of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of an operation unit in the image forming apparatus of FIG. 1. It is a figure which shows an example of the display of the liquid crystal touch panel in an operation part. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a control unit in the image forming apparatus of FIG. 1. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of IPU of FIG. 6 is a timing chart for explaining an image signal for one page in the selector of FIG. 5. 3 is a flowchart showing a main operation of the image forming apparatus in the present embodiment. It is the flowchart which showed the key input event process of FIG. 7 in detail. It is a figure which shows an example of a display of a liquid crystal touch panel at the time of enabling it to set whether information transmission / reception is performed with the connected image forming apparatus. 1 is a diagram illustrating a network in which a client PC and an image forming apparatus are connected by a LAN cable. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a client PC when the remaining amount of paper in the connected image forming apparatus is low. 2 is a diagram illustrating a client PC when a sheet of a connected image forming apparatus runs out. FIG. It is a figure which shows client PC when printing is complete | finished. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a client PC when left paper is left in a paper discharge tray.

Explanation of symbols

1 ADF (Automatic Document Feeder)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 1st paper feed unit 12 2nd paper feed unit 13 3rd paper feed unit 15 Photoconductor 19 Discharge tray 20 Main controller 30 Operation part 31 Liquid crystal touch panel 34 Start key 37 Function key 49 IPU
50 reading unit 57 writing unit 65 image memory controller 66 image memory 201 image forming apparatus 202 client PC
203 LAN cable 204 Display

Claims (7)

In an image forming apparatus that forms a visible image on a recording medium based on data transferred via a network,
The data includes print parameters and print data;
Before starting printing, it is determined from the remaining amount of the recording medium and the printing parameters whether the transferred data can be printed. If it is determined that printing is impossible, the recording medium is transferred to the data transfer source. An image forming apparatus characterized by comprising control means for informing that there is a shortage and giving an instruction to display the fact.   The printing parameters include the size of the recording medium and the number of printed sheets, and the control unit determines whether printing is possible based on the size of the recording medium and the size of the recording medium included in the printing parameter, The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein whether or not printing is possible is determined based on a number of recording media included in the printing parameter for the size and a remaining amount of the recording media.   In addition to the notification, the control means notifies other printable image forming apparatuses connected to the network, and transmits an instruction to display the other printable image forming apparatuses on the transfer source display. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:   After completion of printing, the control means checks whether or not the recording medium has been removed at every preset time. If the recording medium that has completed printing has not been removed, the control unit displays the fact on the transfer source display. 4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an instruction to display is transmitted to the transfer source.   5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 4, wherein after the recording medium that has completed printing is removed, the display that the recording medium that has completed printing at the transfer source is not removed is cancelled.   6. A computer program comprising a procedure for executing the function of the control means of the image forming apparatus according to claim 1 by a computer. A recording medium in which the computer program according to claim 6 is read by a computer and recorded so as to be executable.

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