JP2006150809A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming device which effectively prevents outputs from getting long left alone or long forgotten in an ejected paper tray or the like and left alone by managing situations where the outputs are delivered to a user. <P>SOLUTION: The image forming device 1 comprises an image forming means to form and output an image on a paper and a job management means 101 to manage the execution of an image forming job requested on a user basis. The job management means 101 is provided with a delivery condition management means 102 to manage the delivery condition of outputs from the image forming job, and a job permission judgment means 104 to judge whether a new request from the user is permitted or not on the basis of the delivery condition management data managed by the delivery condition management means 102. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention includes an image forming unit that forms and outputs an image on a sheet, and an image management unit that manages, for each user, an image forming job executed by the image forming unit based on a job request from a user. The present invention relates to a forming apparatus.

  In recent offices, image forming apparatuses such as copiers and printers are connected to a network, and an environment is shared by many users. However, a plurality of images formed in response to job requests from each user have been prepared. In view of the difficulty of accumulating the output products in the paper discharge unit in a mixed state, a plurality of techniques capable of managing the output products for each user have been proposed.

  For example, in an image forming apparatus that includes a plurality of discharge bins and sorts and outputs an output product for each user for each bin, the display unit is provided in the discharge bin and information for specifying the user of the output product is displayed. It has been proposed to make it possible to easily specify the output requested by the user and to erase the display when a predetermined time has elapsed.

Also, identification information that can identify a print job is formed and output on a sheet, the identification information is read by the identification information detection unit, and the information transmission destination of the PC that has transmitted the print job is searched. An image forming apparatus has also been proposed in which information indicating forgetting to remove a sheet is transmitted to a user who has instructed printing to transmit information indicating forgetting to remove a sheet left in the discharge tray.
JP 2002-226132 A JP 2004-195845 A

  However, in the image forming apparatus described in Patent Document 1 described above, it is easy to determine the current user of the tray based on the name of the job requester displayed on the display unit provided in the discharge bin. If all bins are in use, other users can no longer use them, and when the display is deleted as the predetermined time elapses, the output product and the job requester can be easily identified. There was a problem that it was impossible.

  Further, in the image forming apparatus described in Patent Document 2, information indicating forgetting is transmitted to the user who has instructed the print job based on the identification information attached to the output matter left on the discharge tray. Depending on the identification information, it may not be possible for a third party to easily identify who the paper is left on the discharge tray, and even if information indicating that the output is forgotten is sent, In such a case, there is a possibility that inconveniences such as paper jams occur due to a large number of output products accumulated in the paper discharge tray.

  In view of the above-described conventional drawbacks, the present invention manages the delivery status of the output product to the user (here, “delivery” means that the output product is taken out from the paper output tray of the image forming apparatus). Another object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus that can effectively prevent an output product from being left on a paper discharge tray or the like for a long time or forgetting to remove it.

  In order to achieve the above-described object, the first characteristic configuration of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention includes an image forming means for forming and outputting an image on a sheet, and a request as described in claim 1 of the document of the claims. An image forming apparatus comprising job management means for managing the execution of an image forming job for each user, wherein the job management means is provided with a delivery state management means for managing a delivery state of an output product by the image forming job The job permission / rejection determination means for determining permission / rejection of the new request of the user based on the delivery state management data managed by the delivery state management means.

  According to the above-described configuration, user job information can be individually managed, and it is possible to prevent a user from forgetting to remove an output by adopting a configuration that does not execute a job request for a user who has forgotten to output. .

  In addition to the first feature configuration described above, the second feature configuration includes delivery state detection means for detecting a delivery status of an output product in response to a previous job request from the user. The delivery status management means is configured to update the delivery status management data based on the detection result by the delivery status detection means.

  According to the above-described configuration, it is possible to individually manage the delivery state of the output product to the user and interrupt the execution of the job request for the user who has not completed the delivery of the output product.

  In the third feature configuration, as described in claim 3, in addition to the first or second feature configuration described above, the delivery state detection means outputs the output on the discharge tray from which the output product is discharged. The delivery state management unit is configured to update the delivery state management data based on the load amount of the output detected by the load amount detection unit. .

  According to the above-described configuration, a job is accepted when the output load amount on the paper discharge tray does not satisfy the predetermined value, and when the output amount reaches the predetermined value or more, the new job is restricted to exceed the predetermined value. By setting so that the output is not stacked, troubles such as paper jams can be prevented in advance.

  In the fourth feature configuration, as described in claim 4, in addition to any of the first to third feature configurations described above, the delivery state detection unit is configured to eject the output product. It is composed of output matter detection means for detecting the presence or absence of an output matter on the tray, and the delivery state management means updates the delivery state management data based on the presence or absence of the output matter detected by the output matter detection means. It is in.

  According to the above-described configuration, it is possible to easily manage the delivery state of the output product by determining the presence or absence of the output product on the paper discharge tray.

  In the fifth feature configuration, as described in claim 5, in addition to any of the first to fourth feature configurations described above, the delivery status management means identifies the job requester for each output product. Output product information display means for displaying output product information including information and job execution time, and the delivery state detection means comprises a reset means for erasing individual output product information displayed on the output product information display means The delivery state management means updates the delivery state management data based on a reset input by the reset means.

  According to the above-described configuration, when the job requester obtains the output, if the reset input is performed by the reset unit, the next job request of the user is executed, and if the reset input is not performed, the user is requested. Settings that do not execute processing for the next job request can be managed individually for each user.

  In the sixth feature configuration, in addition to any one of the first to fifth feature configurations described above, the delivery state management unit is configured to determine whether the image forming job has been completed. A time measuring means for measuring time is provided, and after the predetermined time is measured by the time measuring means, the delivery state management data is updated based on the detection result by the delivery state detecting means.

  According to the above configuration, if it is determined whether or not to execute the job based on the detection result of the delivery state for each job, it becomes complicated for the user to move to perform reset input for each job. By accepting job requests for a certain period of time and determining whether the output has been delivered to the user after a lapse of a predetermined time after outputting the job, and managing each user individually, the user can collect multiple jobs. It becomes possible to output.

  In the seventh feature configuration, as described in claim 7, in addition to any of the first to sixth feature configurations described above, the job permission / rejection determination unit is configured to execute the job permission / rejection determination unit based on the delivery state management data. When it is determined that the delivery of the output has not been completed, a new job request from the user is rejected.

  According to the above-described configuration, a configuration in which the user does not execute a new job request for the user who has not completed the delivery of the output product so that the user can retrieve the output product in order to perform a reset input. Thus, it is possible to avoid the output product from being stacked on the paper discharge tray.

  According to the eighth feature configuration, in addition to any one of the first to seventh feature configurations described above, the job permission / rejection determination unit is configured to execute the job permission / rejection determination unit based on the delivery state management data. Even when it is determined that the delivery of the output has not been completed, a new job request from the user is accepted, and the job management means completes the delivery of the output based on the delivery status management data The job request is executed after it is determined that the job has been made.

  According to the configuration described above, a user who has not completed delivery of an output product requests a new job, and then outputs a new job by performing a reset input when the previous output product is retrieved. Since the process is executed, it becomes possible to collect the output of the past job and the new job at the same time.

  As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to determine who is the output product by displaying the job content of the output product that has not been delivered to the user remaining in the paper discharge tray, By adopting a configuration in which the next job request is not executed until a past output product is delivered, it is possible to provide an image forming apparatus that can prevent the output product from being forgotten.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention will be described by taking a digital copying machine as an example. As shown in FIG. 1, a copying machine 1 according to the present invention includes an operation unit 2 for performing a copy mode setting operation, an image reading unit 4 for reading image information of a document set on a document placing unit 3, and An image forming unit 5 that is provided below the image reading unit 4 and that forms and outputs a toner image on paper based on the image data converted into electronic data by the image reading unit 4, each of a different size or type The paper cassette 6 includes upper and lower five-stage paper feed cassettes 6 (6a to 6e) in which paper is stored, and a paper discharge tray 7 (7a = 7e) from which paper is output.

  A system configuration of the copying machine 1 is shown in FIG. The copier 1 is connected to a network 11 as a communication line, and a personal computer (hereinafter referred to as “PC”) that transmits a request for a print job is connected to the network 11 so that both can communicate via the network. It has become. The copying machine 1 includes the operation unit 2, the image forming unit 5, the discharge tray 7, a storage unit 8, a communication unit 10, a control unit 100, and a job management unit 101. The operation of each unit is performed by the control unit. 100.

  The job management unit 101 includes a delivery state management unit 102 that manages a delivery state of an output product by an image forming job, a delivery state detection unit 103 that detects a delivery state of an output product in response to a previous job request from a user, The job permission / rejection determination unit 104 that determines whether a new job request is permitted by the user, and job information such as the identification information of the job requester managed by the job management unit 101, the request contents, and the delivery status of the output product are as follows. And individually stored in the storage unit 8 as delivery state management data. The communication unit 10 is a communication interface that transmits and receives data and job commands to and from the PC 12 via the network 11.

  The delivery state management unit 102 counts the output information of the job requester for each output product and the output product information display unit that displays the output product information including the job execution time, and the elapsed time after the completion of the image forming job. It consists of timekeeping means. The output product information display means is configured to display the output product information on a display unit (not shown) provided in the operation unit 2 to determine who the output product is from. . A predetermined time after the end of the image forming job is measured by the time measuring means, and the delivery state of the output is detected after the lapse of the predetermined time. Based on the result, the job permission / rejection determining means 104 determines the new job request of the user. Judgment is made.

  The delivery state detection unit 103 detects a load amount detection unit that detects a load amount of an output product on a paper discharge tray from which an output product from an image forming job is discharged, and detects the presence or absence of the output product on the paper discharge tray. The output object detecting means and the reset means for erasing the individual output object information displayed on the output object information display means. When it is detected that the output load on the paper discharge tray is larger than a predetermined amount, the job permission determination unit does not execute job processing. In addition, when the output amount on the paper discharge tray specified by the user exceeds a predetermined value, it is possible to perform setting so that the job is output to another paper discharge tray that does not satisfy the predetermined value.

  The output product detection means is provided with a sensor for sensing the output product on the paper discharge tray, detects the delivery state of the output product based on the presence or absence of the output product on the paper discharge tray, and when the output product is not detected, When it is determined that the delivery of the output product to the user has been completed, and the output product is detected, it is determined that the user has forgotten to take the output product, and the job permission / rejection determination unit 104 causes the user to request a new job request. It is the structure which does not perform the process with respect to.

  When the output product information displayed on the display unit is erased by the reset means, it is determined that the delivery of the output product to the job requester is completed, and while the output product information is displayed on the display unit Since it is determined that the user has forgotten to take the output, the job permission / rejection determination unit 104 does not execute processing for the user's new job request.

  The display unit configured in the first-stage operation unit 2 will be described with reference to FIG. The output product information display means displays information for identifying each job requester and the job execution time for each job number, and as shown in FIG. Is displayed. In FIG. 5B, it is displayed that the User4 job has been executed. Since the job information 1 to 3 is also displayed, it is determined that the delivery of the output is not completed. Next, as shown in FIG. 5C, when the user 2 comes to pick up the output material, the output material information displayed on the display unit is reset at the same time. The job information of No. 2 is deleted, the delivery of the output product to User2 is completed, and a new job by User2 can be executed. As shown in FIG. 4D, since the output product information of User2 has already been deleted, the job is executed when the next job request of User2 is received. However, no. When it is determined that a predetermined time has elapsed since the job No. 1 is output, the output information No. 1 of User1 is output. If 1 is not deleted, it is determined that the delivery of the output has not been completed, and the output process for the next job request is restricted.

  The flow of job management processing of the copying machine 1 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. When a job request from the PC 12 is received (S1), information such as from which PC the job request is obtained is acquired, and the job management unit 101 outputs a job number, information identifying the job requester, and job execution time. It is managed as product information (S2), and the presence or absence of information related to the previous job of the user is searched from the output product information stored in the storage unit 8, and whether or not the delivery of the output product of the previous job has been completed. Is determined (S2).

  When the delivery of the output product of the previous job is completed (S4), the image output process is executed. When the delivery is not completed, it is determined that the output product still remains on the discharge tray 7. Therefore, the output process is interrupted (S10). When the image output process is completed, the display unit displays output information including job number, information identifying the job requester, and job execution time (S5). When a predetermined time has elapsed (S6), the delivery is performed. The state management unit 101 determines whether the output product information has been deleted (S7). When the user picks up the output product, it is determined that the output product information of the user is deleted by the reset input by the reset means, and the delivery of the output product is completed (S8). When the output product information remains on the display unit, it is determined that the delivery of the output product to the user is not completed, and the output process for the next job request of the user is limited.

  It has been described that when the user requests a new job, the output process is interrupted if the output information displayed on the output information display means is not deleted. A configuration is also possible in which the output processing is interrupted when the output product becomes a predetermined height or more. When a single paper discharge tray is used by a plurality of users, when the output detection object having a predetermined height or more is detected on the paper discharge tray by the load amount detection means, all the users are transferred to the paper discharge tray. The output process can be interrupted. Further, when the output product on the paper discharge tray reaches a predetermined height or more, a new job request is issued to a user whose output product information displayed on the output product information display means has not been deleted. The output process may be interrupted.

  When the discharge tray that the user always uses is equal to or higher than a predetermined height, it is possible to request output from the discharge tray if the other discharge trays are empty. Further, as described above, when the output matter is detected on the paper discharge tray by the output matter detection means, it is possible to determine that the user has forgotten to take the output matter and interrupt the user's output processing. It is.

  When the delivery of the output product to the user is completed, the next job request is received (S9), and the process returns to step S2. The job request from the user who does not pick up the output is received but the output process is interrupted, so the user can execute the output of the previous job in order to execute a new job request by deleting the output information. I will go to pick it up.

  In the above-described embodiment, the copying machine having a plurality of paper discharge trays has been described as an example, but a single paper discharge tray may be used. Further, the configuration in which the display unit 20 as the job restriction releasing unit 21 is provided in the operation unit 2 has been described, but a configuration in which a display unit is provided for each paper discharge tray may be employed.

  In the above-described embodiment, examples such as User1 and User2 are used as information for identifying the job requester of the output product information. However, any information that can identify the job requester, such as a user ID or name, is used. There may be.

  In the above-described embodiment, the configuration has been described in which the restriction on the next job is released by pressing and deleting the job information displayed on the display unit as the reset unit, but the configuration is limited to the configuration of operating the display unit. Instead, any system configuration may be used as long as it is possible to determine that the user has come to pick up the output. For example, the configuration may be such that each user holds an authentication card or the like, automatically detects the authentication card when he / she picks up the output, and releases the restriction on the next job.

  In the above-described embodiment, the job permission / refusal determination unit rejects a new job request from the user when it is determined that the delivery of the output is not completed based on the delivery state management data. As described above, the job permission / rejection determination unit receives a new job request from the user even when it is determined that the delivery of the output is not completed based on the delivery state management data, The job management means may be configured to execute the job request after it is determined that the delivery of the output is completed based on the delivery state management data. In other words, if the user has forgotten to take the output for the past job request, the output processing for the new job request is not executed, but the user goes to pick up the output for the past job and is displayed on the display unit. When the output information is reset, the output process for the new job request is executed, and the user can take the output for the new job request together with the past output product.

Schematic diagram showing the appearance of the image forming apparatus (copier) Block diagram showing configuration of image forming apparatus Explanatory drawing of the display unit that displays job information flowchart

Explanation of symbols

1: Image forming device (copier)
101: Job management means 102: Delivery state management means 103: Delivery state detection means 104: Job permission / rejection judgment means

Claims (8)

An image forming apparatus comprising: an image forming unit that forms and outputs an image on a sheet; and a job management unit that manages, for each user, an image forming job executed by the image forming unit based on a job request from a user. And
The job management means is provided with a delivery status management means for managing the delivery status of the output product by the image forming job, and based on the delivery status management data managed by the delivery status management means, a new job request for the user An image forming apparatus comprising job permission / rejection determination means for determining permission / rejection of a job.   A delivery state detection unit for detecting a delivery state of an output in response to a previous job request from the user, wherein the delivery state management unit updates the delivery state management data based on a detection result by the delivery state detection unit; The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, configured as described above.   The delivery state detection unit is configured by a load amount detection unit that detects a load amount of an output product on a paper discharge tray from which the output product is discharged, and the delivery state management unit is detected by the load amount detection unit. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the delivery state management data is updated based on a load amount of the output product.   The delivery state detection means includes output matter detection means for detecting the presence or absence of an output matter on a paper discharge tray from which the output matter is discharged, and the delivery state management means is detected by the output matter detection means. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the delivery state management data is updated based on the presence or absence of an output product.   The delivery status management means includes output matter information display means for displaying output matter information including job requester identification information and job execution time for each output matter, and the delivery status detection means includes the output matter information display means. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a reset unit that erases individual output product information displayed on the transfer unit, wherein the transfer state management unit updates the transfer state management data based on a reset input by the reset unit. .   The delivery state management unit includes a timing unit that counts an elapsed time after the completion of the image forming job, and after the predetermined time is counted by the timing unit, the delivery state management unit is based on a detection result by the delivery state detection unit. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein data is updated.   The job approval / disapproval determination unit rejects a new job request from the user when it is determined that the delivery of the output is not completed based on the delivery state management data. The image forming apparatus described in 1.   The job approval / disapproval judging means accepts a new job request from the user even when it is judged that delivery of the output is not completed based on the delivery status management data, and the job management means The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the job request is executed after it is determined that the delivery of the output is completed based on the delivery state management data.

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