JP2008023878A - Image forming apparatus, and method and program for mixed state warning - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To efficiently form an image, and to prevent a sheet having a formed image from being taken by others. <P>SOLUTION: An MFP as an image forming apparatus is provided with: a print job reception 10 for receiving a print job; an image forming section for forming an image on a sheet; a sheet discharge tray for accumulating sheets; a sheet discharge sensor for detecting whether the sheets are accumulated in the sheet discharge tray; a job manager 40 for creating and storing execution-standby job data including user identification information included in the print job, according to the formation of the image by the image forming apparatus, and for erasing the execution-standby job data when it is detected that the sheets are not accumulated in the sheet discharge tray; a mixed state judging means 50 for judging whether the sheets are in a mixed state of the sheet discharge tray accumulating sheets having images formed based on print jobs requested by a plurality of users from the execution-standby job data; and a warning section 60 for outputting a warning when it is judged to be in the mixed state. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, a mixed loading state warning method, and a mixed loading state warning program, and more particularly to an image forming apparatus that accumulates sheets on which an image is formed in one tray, Regarding warning programs.

  In recent years, communication technology using a network has been developed, and a plurality of users can share an image forming apparatus connected to the network. For this reason, there are cases where a plurality of users cause the image forming apparatus to print simultaneously or continuously. In this case, the image forming apparatus executes print jobs in the order received. When the print job is executed, the image forming apparatus discharges the sheet on which the image has been formed to the discharge tray. Therefore, a plurality of sheets corresponding to the plurality of preprint jobs are discharged on the discharge tray. For this reason, since a plurality of sheets of paper are bundled and accumulated in the paper discharge tray, if there are a plurality of users who have instructed execution of a print job, another person may mistakenly hold the sheets. There is a problem. This is a problem especially when confidential information is printed.

  Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2004-279487 discloses an image bundle accumulation function for accumulating an image bundle, a user identification function for identifying a specific user, and printing only for a specific user identified for each image bundle. An image forming apparatus having a print permission function and a paper presence / absence detection function for detecting the presence / absence of paper on a paper discharge tray, and executing the print permission function to output paper on an output destination paper discharge tray An image forming apparatus is described in which execution of a user identification function is prohibited when no absence state is detected.

However, since the conventional image forming apparatus can print only after the paper is removed from the paper discharge tray, there is a problem that it takes time to form an image and the efficiency is lowered.
JP 2004-279487 A

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and one of the objects of the present invention is that an image can be formed efficiently and the paper on which the image is formed reaches the hands of others. It is an object of the present invention to provide an image forming apparatus that prevents the above.

  Another object of the present invention is to provide a mixed loading state warning method capable of efficiently forming an image and preventing the sheet on which the image is formed from reaching another person's hand.

  Still another object of the present invention is to provide a mixed loading state warning program capable of efficiently forming an image and preventing the sheet on which the image is formed from reaching another person's hand.

  In order to achieve the above-described object, according to one aspect of the present invention, an image forming apparatus includes a print job receiving unit that receives a print job including print data and user identification information, and an image on a sheet based on the print job. An image forming unit for forming, a storage unit for storing the paper on which the image is formed, a paper presence / absence detecting unit for detecting whether or not the paper is stored in the storage unit, and the image forming unit based on the print job Generating history information including user identification information included in the print job in response to forming an image on the print job, and storing the generated history information in the history information storage unit; and a sheet presence / absence detecting unit Accordingly, the stored history information is erased from the history information storage means when it is detected that the sheet is not accumulated in the accumulation means. A paper on which an image is formed based on a print job including the first user identification information based on the history information stored in the history information erasure unit and the history information storage unit, and a print job including the second user identification information And a determination unit that determines whether or not the sheet on which the image is formed is in a mixed loading state in which the storage unit accumulates, and a warning unit that outputs a warning when the determination unit determines that the paper is in the mixed loading state.

  According to this aspect, history information including user identification information included in the print job is generated and stored in response to forming an image on a sheet based on the print job. On the other hand, the history information is erased in response to detecting that no paper is stored in the storage means. Based on the history information, a sheet on which an image is formed based on a print job including the first user identification information and a sheet on which an image is formed based on a print job including the second user identification information. It is determined whether or not the accumulated loading state is stored. If it is determined that the loading state is mixed, a warning is output. For this reason, since the paper on which the image is formed according to instructions from a plurality of users is mixedly loaded, it is not necessary to interrupt the formation of the image. In addition, since the user is notified in the mixed loading state, the user who acquires the paper on which the image is formed has the paper on which the image is formed by the user's instruction and the paper on which the image is formed by the instruction of another person. It can inform you that it is mixed. As a result, it is possible to provide an image forming apparatus capable of efficiently forming an image and preventing the sheet on which the image is formed from reaching another person's hand.

  Preferably, the judging means stores a plurality of history information in the history information storage means, and compares the user identification information included in at least one of the plurality of history information with the user identification information included in the other history information. including.

  Preferably, the determination unit includes a comparison unit that compares the user identification information included in the print job for which the image forming unit forms an image with the user identification information included in the history information stored in the history information storage unit. .

  Preferably, the determination unit determines whether or not the print job reception unit is in the mixed loading state in response to reception of the print job.

  Preferably, the determining unit determines whether or not the image forming unit is in the mixed loading state when the image forming unit finishes the image formation based on the print job.

  Preferably, the warning means outputs a warning to the operation panel.

  Preferably, the print job receiving unit includes a print job receiving unit that receives a print job from computers connected to be communicable with each other, and the warning unit includes a warning transmission unit that transmits a warning to a computer that has transmitted the print job. Including.

  According to another aspect of the present invention, the mixed loading state warning method is a mixed loading state warning method that is executed in an image forming apparatus including a storage unit that stores sheets on which an image is formed and a storage unit that stores data. A step of receiving a print job including print data and user identification information, a step of forming an image on a sheet based on the print job, a step of detecting whether or not the sheet is accumulated in the accumulation unit, In response to forming an image on a sheet based on the print job, generating history information including user identification information included in the print job, storing the generated history information in a storage unit, and a storage unit A step of erasing the stored history information from the storage means in response to the detection that the sheet is not accumulated, and the storage means stores Storage means for storing a sheet on which an image is formed based on a print job including first user identification information and a sheet on which an image is formed based on a print job including second user identification information based on history information And a step of determining whether or not the mixed loading state is accumulated and a step of outputting a warning when the mixed loading state is detected.

  According to this aspect, it is possible to provide a mixed loading state warning method capable of efficiently forming an image and preventing the sheet on which the image is formed from reaching another person's hand.

  According to another aspect of the present invention, the mixed loading state warning program is a mixed loading state warning program that is executed by an image forming apparatus including a storage unit that stores sheets on which an image is formed and a storage unit that stores data. A step of receiving a print job including print data and user identification information, a step of forming an image on a sheet based on the print job, a step of detecting whether or not the sheet is accumulated in the accumulation unit, In response to forming an image on a sheet based on the print job, generating history information including user identification information included in the print job, storing the generated history information in a storage unit, and a storage unit A step of erasing the stored history information from the storage means in response to detecting that no sheets are accumulated; A sheet on which an image is formed based on a print job including first user identification information, and a sheet on which an image is formed based on a print job including second user identification information. The image forming apparatus executes a step of determining whether the storage unit stores the mixed loading state and a step of outputting a warning when the mixed loading state is detected.

  According to this aspect, it is possible to provide a mixed loading state warning program that can efficiently form an image and that prevents the sheet on which the image is formed from reaching another person's hand.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following description, the same parts are denoted by the same reference numerals. Their names and functions are also the same. Therefore, detailed description thereof will not be repeated.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an overall outline of an image forming system according to one embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 1, an image forming system 1 includes an MFP (Multi Function Peripheral) 100 as an image forming apparatus connected to a network 2 and a personal computer (hereinafter referred to as “PC”) 105. In the figure, an example in which one MFP 100 and one PC 105 are connected to the network 2 is shown, but the number of them is not limited. Further, in place of MFP 100, any apparatus having a function of forming an image may be a printer, a facsimile machine, or the like.

  The network 2 is a local area network (LAN), and the connection form may be wired or wireless. The network 2 is not limited to a LAN, and may be a network using a public switched telephone network (PSTN). Furthermore, the network 2 is connected to a wide area network (WAN) such as the Internet.

  Since the PC 105 is a general computer and its hardware configuration and functions are well known, the description thereof will not be repeated here. The PC 105 is installed with a printer driver program for controlling the MFP 100, and transmits a print job from the PC 105 to the MFP 100. When MFP 100 receives a print job from PC 105, MFP 100 executes the print job and forms an image on a sheet.

  FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the appearance of the MFP. FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram showing an outline of the functions of the MFP. 2 and 3, MFP 100 includes a main circuit 110, a document reading unit 130 for reading a document, an automatic document feeder (ADF) 120 for conveying a document to document reading unit 130, An image forming unit 140 for forming an image on a sheet or the like based on image data output by the document reading unit 130 reading the document, a sheet feeding unit 150 for supplying the image to the image forming unit 140, and image formation The unit 140 includes a paper discharge tray 160 for storing sheets on which images are formed, and an operation panel 170 as a user interface.

  The main circuit 110 includes a CPU 111, a communication interface (I / F) unit 112, a ROM 113, a RAM 114, an EEPROM (Electronically Erasable and Programmable ROM) 115, a hard disk drive (HDD) 116 as a mass storage device, A facsimile unit 117, a card interface (I / F) 118 to which the flash memory 118A is mounted, and a paper discharge sensor 119 are included. CPU 111 is connected to ADF 120, document reading unit 130, image forming unit 140, paper feeding unit 150, and operation panel 170, and controls the entire MFP 100.

  The ROM 113 stores a program executed by the CPU 111 or data necessary for executing the program. The RAM 114 is used as a work area when the CPU 111 executes a program. The RAM 114 temporarily stores read data (image data) continuously sent from the document reading unit 130.

Operation panel 170 is provided on the upper surface of MFP 100 and includes a display unit 170A, an operation unit 170B, and a lamp 170C. The display unit 170A includes a liquid crystal display (LCD), an organic ELD (Electro Luminescence).
Display) or the like, and displays an instruction menu for the user, information about the acquired image data, and the like. The operation unit 170B includes a plurality of keys, and accepts input of various instructions, data such as characters and numbers by user operations corresponding to the keys. Operation unit 170B further includes a touch panel provided on display unit 170A. The lamp 170C is a light emitting element such as a light emitting diode, and emits light when the paper discharged to the paper discharge tray 160 is in a mixed state, as will be described later.

  Communication I / F unit 112 is an interface for connecting MFP 100 to network 2. The CPU 111 communicates with the MFPs 101 to 109 or the PC 200 via the communication I / F unit 112 to transmit / receive data.

  The facsimile unit 117 is connected to a public switched telephone network (PSTN) and transmits facsimile data to the PSTN or receives facsimile data from the PSTN. The facsimile unit 117 stores the received facsimile data in the HDD 116 or outputs it to the image forming unit 140. The image forming unit 140 prints the facsimile data received by the facsimile unit 117 on a sheet. Further, the facsimile unit 117 converts the data stored in the HDD 116 into facsimile data, and transmits the facsimile data to a facsimile apparatus connected to the PSTN.

  The card I / F 118 is mounted with a flash memory 118A. The CPU 111 can access the flash memory 118A via the card I / F 118. The CPU 111 loads the mixed loading state warning program recorded in the flash memory 118A attached to the card I / F 118 into the RAM 114 and executes it. Note that the program executed by the CPU 111 is not limited to the mixed loading status warning program recorded in the flash memory 118A, and the mixed loading status warning program stored in the HDD 116 may be loaded into the RAM 114 and executed. In this case, another computer connected to the network 2 may rewrite the mixed loading status warning program stored in the HDD 116 of the MFP 100 or may add and write a new mixed loading status warning program. Further, MFP 100 may download a mixed loading status warning program from another computer connected to network 2 and store the mixed loading status warning program in HDD 116. The program here includes not only a program directly executable by the CPU 111 but also a source program, a compressed program, an encrypted program, and the like.

The ADF 120 handles a plurality of documents mounted on the document table, and sequentially conveys them one by one to the document reading unit 130. The ADF 120 conveys the original to the original reading unit 130 to read the both sides of the original, reads the front side, and then turns the original to the original reading unit 130 to read the back side. . The document reading unit 130 optically reads image information such as photographs, characters, pictures and the like from the document and acquires image data. When the image data is input, the image forming unit 140 prints an image on a sheet such as a sheet based on the image data, and discharges the sheet on which the image is formed to the sheet discharge tray 160.

  The paper discharge tray 160 can accumulate a plurality of sheets, and accumulates the sheets discharged by the image forming unit 140 in an overlapping manner. That is, the sheet discharged later is accumulated on the previously discharged sheet. The paper discharge tray 160 includes a paper discharge sensor 119. The paper discharge sensor 119 detects whether paper is present in the paper discharge tray 160. The paper discharge sensor 119 includes, for example, a light emitting unit and a light receiving unit, and is disposed so as to face each other with a space for storing paper in the paper discharge tray 160 interposed therebetween. The paper discharge sensor 119 detects the change in the amount of received light when the light emitted from the light emitting unit is blocked by the paper discharged to the paper discharge tray 160, and detects the presence or absence of the paper.

  The paper feed unit 150 has a plurality of paper feed trays, and supplies the sheets stored in the designated paper feed tray to the image forming unit 140 one by one. Each of the plurality of paper feed trays stores a paper sheet of a size selected from a plurality of paper sheets in a direction selected from a plurality of directions. Here, the paper feed unit 150 has three first to third paper feed trays, the first paper feed tray stores A4 size paper in the vertical direction, and the second paper feed tray is A4 size paper. The paper is stored in the horizontal direction, and the third paper feed tray stores A3 size paper in the vertical direction. In addition, when duplex printing is specified, the paper feeding unit 150 reverses the paper conveyed to the image forming unit 140 and conveys it again to the image forming unit 140 in order to form images on both sides of the paper.

  FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram showing an outline of the functions of the CPU 111 provided in the MFP. Referring to FIG. 4, CPU 111 manages a print job reception unit 10 that receives a print job, a job execution unit 30 that executes the print job, a standby job buffer 20 that temporarily stores the print job, and a print job. A job management unit 40 for determining whether or not a sheet is mixed in the paper discharge tray 160 or a mixed state, and a warning unit 60 for outputting a warning in the mixed state. ,including.

  The print job acceptance unit 10 accepts a print job and temporarily stores the accepted print job in a standby job buffer. The print job reception unit 10 receives a print job from the communication I / F unit 112 or the operation unit 170B. When the print job receiving unit 10 receives a print job from the communication I / F unit 112, when the communication I / F 112 receives a print job from any of the PCs 200, 201, and 202, the print job is received. In this case, the print job received from the PC 200, 201, 202 includes user identification information for identifying the user who instructed the PC 200, 201, 202 to transmit the print job. If the users who operate the PCs 200, 201, and 202 are determined in advance, the device identification information for identifying each of the PCs 200, 201, and 202 is associated with the user identification information in advance. , 202, the user identification information may be specified by determining the PC that sent the print job. In this case, it is not necessary to include user identification information in the print job.

  When the print job accepting unit 10 accepts a print job from the operation unit 170B, the print job accepting unit 10 accepts user identification information, a print condition, and print data designation input by the user to the operation unit 170B. A print job is generated from the identification information, print conditions, and print data. The designation of print data that the user inputs to the operation unit 170B is, for example, image data that the document reading unit 130 reads and outputs a document or data that is stored in the HDD 116. When the print job reception unit 10 receives a print job from the operation unit 170B, the print job reception unit 10 may receive the print job after the user who operates the MFP 100 has been successfully authenticated.

  The standby job buffer 20 is a buffer memory that temporarily stores print jobs. The standby job buffer 20 can store a plurality of print jobs.

  The job execution unit 30 sequentially reads and executes the print jobs stored in the standby job buffer 20. The job execution unit 30 controls the image forming unit 140 to form an image on a sheet based on print data according to the print conditions included in the print job. The paper on which the image is formed by the image forming unit 140 is discharged to the paper discharge tray 160.

  The job management unit 40 manages print jobs stored in the standby job buffer, print jobs being executed by the job execution unit 30, and print jobs that have been executed by the job execution unit 30. Hereinafter, a print job that is not executed by the job execution unit 30 among print jobs stored in the standby job buffer is referred to as a standby job, and a print job that is being executed by the job execution unit 30 among print jobs stored in the standby job buffer. A job is referred to as an executing job, and a print job that has been executed by the job execution unit 30 is referred to as a paper discharge job. The job management unit 40 gives job identification information for identifying a print job to the print job when the print job reception unit 10 receives the print job. The job management unit 40 stores an execution / standby job table including execution / standby job data including job identification information for identifying each of the standby job and the execution job in the HDD 116 in order to manage the standby job and the execution job. Remember. Further, the job management unit 40 stores a discharge job table including discharge job data including job identification information of a discharge job in the HDD 116 in order to manage a discharge job that has been executed by the job execution unit 30. .

  FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a format of execution / standby job data. Referring to FIG. 5, the execution / standby job data includes a number, job identification information of each of the execution job and the standby job, and instruction user identification information. The numbers are assigned to the execution / standby job data and are the order in which the jobs are executed. The instruction user identification information is user identification information included in each of the execution job and the standby job, and is user identification information for identifying a user who has instructed execution of the execution job or the standby job.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of the format of the paper discharge job data. Referring to FIG. 6, the paper discharge job data includes a number, job identification information of the paper discharge job, and instruction user identification information. The number is given to the paper discharge job data and is the order in which the paper discharge job is executed. The instruction user identification information is user identification information included in the paper discharge job, and is user identification information for identifying a user who has instructed execution of the paper discharge job.

  Each time a print job is stored in the standby job buffer 20, the job management unit 40 generates standby / execution job data including a set of job identification information and instructing user identification information, and ends the execution / standby job table. to add. Further, when the job execution unit 30 completes execution of the job being executed, the job management unit 40 deletes the execution / standby job data of the first number in the execution / standby job table. At this stage, the remaining execution / standby job data numbers are decremented by one. Further, when the job execution unit 30 completes execution of the job being executed, the job management unit 40 abolished job data consisting of a set of job identification information and instruction user identification information of standby / execution job data corresponding to the job being executed Is added to the end of the paper discharge job table. Further, when the paper discharge sensor 119 detects that no paper is present on the paper discharge tray 160, the job management unit 40 deletes all the paper discharge job data in the paper discharge job table.

  The mixed loading state determination unit 50 refers to the paper discharge job table to determine whether the paper accumulated in the paper discharge tray 160 is an image formed based on a print job instructed by a plurality of users. To do. Specifically, it is determined whether or not there are a plurality of types of designated user identification information of the discharge job data stored in the discharge job table. The mixed loading state determination unit 50 outputs a warning instruction to the warning unit 60 if there are a plurality of types of user identification information for the discharge job data stored in the discharge job table. The time when the mixed state determination unit 50 makes the above determination is the time when the print job reception unit 10 receives a print job and the time when the job execution unit 30 completes the execution of the job being executed.

  The warning unit 60 outputs a warning when a warning instruction is input from the mixed loading state determination unit 50. The warning output includes (1) lighting the lamp 170C, (2) displaying a warning message on the display unit 170A, or (3) transmitting a warning message to the PC that has transmitted the print job. (1) When the lamp 170C is turned on, the warning unit 60 turns on the lamp 170C after the warning instruction is input until the paper discharge sensor 119 detects that no paper is present on the paper discharge tray 160.

  Also, the warning unit 60 changes the type of warning depending on the mixed loading state. In the warning unit 60, two job data of the job data stored in the paper discharge job table are the same instruction user identification information, and job data having different instruction user identification information exists between the two job data. If you have a higher level of warning than otherwise. The warning unit 60 (1) turns on the lamp 170C if it is a high level warning, turns on the lamp 170C in red, and if it is not a high level warning, turns on the lamp 170C in yellow. (2) When a warning message is displayed on the display unit 170A, or (3) when a warning message is transmitted to the PC that has transmitted the print job, the warning unit 60 performs a high-level warning and other warnings. Depending on the level, the content of the message or the color to be displayed is different. Note that both the content and color of the message may be different.

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an example of the mixed state warning process executed by the MFP. The mixed loading state warning process is a process executed by the CPU 111 when the CPU 111 provided in the MFP 100 executes the mixed loading state warning program. Referring to FIG. 7, CPU 111 determines whether a print job has been accepted (step S01). If a print job is accepted, the process proceeds to step S02; otherwise, the process proceeds to step S07. The CPU 111 receives a print job from the communication I / F 112 or the operation unit 170B, and adds the received print job to the standby job buffer 20 and stores it.

  In step S02, the execution / standby job table is updated, and the process proceeds to step S03. Specifically, the process waits from job identification information for identifying the print job received in step S01 and user identification information included in the print job. Generates execution job data and adds it to the end of the execution / standby job table. Thereby, the accepted print job is managed as a standby job.

  In step S03, it is determined whether there is a job being executed. If the image forming unit 140 is being driven, it is determined that there is a job being executed, and the process proceeds to step S05. Otherwise, it is determined that there is no job being executed, and the process proceeds to step S04. In step S04, execution of the print job is started, and the process proceeds to step S06. Specifically, the image forming unit 140 is controlled to form an image on a sheet based on the print job. In this case, the execution / standby job table includes one execution / standby job data added in step S02, and the execution / standby job data is managed as an executing job.

  In step S05, a mixed loading state determination process is executed. The mixed loading state determination process will be described later. In the next step S06, it is determined whether or not the running job is finished. If the running job is finished, the process proceeds to step S07. Otherwise, the process proceeds to step S12. In step S07, the execution / standby job table is updated. Specifically, the first job data in the execution / standby job table is deleted. Then, the paper discharge job table is updated (step S08). Specifically, the job data deleted in the execution / standby job table in step S07 is added to the end of the paper discharge job table.

  In the next step S09, it is determined whether or not there is a standby job. If there is a standby job, the process proceeds to step S10, and if not, the process proceeds to step S12. If job data is stored in the execution / standby job table, it is determined that there is a standby job. If no job data is stored, it is determined that there is no standby job. In step S10, the execution of the print job is started as in step S04. In this case, standby / execution job data included at the beginning of the standby / execution job table is managed as an executing job. Then, similarly to step S06, the mixed loading state determination process is executed (step S11), and the process proceeds to step S12.

  In step S12, it is determined whether or not there is a sheet on the sheet discharge tray 160. If there is no sheet in discharge tray 160, the process proceeds to step S13, and if there is a sheet, the process returns to step S01. In step S13, the paper discharge job table is reset, and the process returns to step S01. Specifically, all the paper discharge job data stored in the paper discharge job table is erased. Note that when the mixed loading state warning process described later is executed and the lamp 170C is turned on, the lamp 170C is turned off. This is because the mixed loading state is canceled when there is no paper in the paper discharge tray 160.

  FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the flow of the mixed state determination process. The mixed loading state determination process is a process executed in steps S06 and S12 in FIG. Referring to FIG. 8, CPU 111 refers to the paper discharge job table to determine whether there are a plurality of paper discharge jobs (step S21). If a plurality of paper discharge job data is stored in the paper discharge job table, the process proceeds to step S22; otherwise, the process proceeds to step S23. This is because if there are not a plurality of paper discharge jobs, sheets on which images based on a plurality of print jobs according to instructions from different users are not accumulated in the paper discharge tray 160.

  In step S <b> 22, it is determined whether or not all users instructing the paper discharge job are the same. If all the instruction user identification information of the discharge job data stored in the discharge job table is the same, the process proceeds to step S23. If all the instruction user identification information is not the same, the process proceeds to step S25. In step S25, a warning is output. As a warning method, (1) the lamp 170C is turned on, (2) a warning message is displayed on the display unit 170A, or (3) a warning message is transmitted to the PC that has transmitted the print job. You may warn by any one method of (1)-(3), and you may warn combining two or more methods. It is preferable to warn by the method (2) when a print job is input from the operation unit 170B and to warn by the method (3) when the print job is received by the communication I / F unit 112. When the warning message is transmitted by the method (3), when the mixed document determination process is executed in step S05 of FIG. 7, the PC that has transmitted the print job accepted in step S01 of FIG. A warning message is preferably transmitted. When the mixed original determination process is executed in step S11 of FIG. 7, the warning message is transmitted to the PC that has transmitted the print job that has been executed in step S06 of FIG. Is preferred.

  In step S23, it is determined whether there is a job being executed. If there is a job being executed, the process proceeds to step S24, and if there is no job being executed, the process is returned to the mixed state warning process. In step S24, it is determined whether the instructing user of the job being executed is the same as the instructing user of the paper discharge job. Specifically, the instruction user identification information of the first execution / standby job data in the execution / standby job table (execution / standby job data of the job being executed), the instruction user data of all the job data in the discharge job table, Are all the same. If all the instructing user identification information are the same, the process returns to the mixed loading state warning process, and if even one is different, the process proceeds to step S25.

  In step S06 of the mixed loading state warning process shown in FIG. 7, the mixed loading state determination process is executed when a print job is accepted. At this time, the print job designated by the user is managed as a standby job or an ongoing job. When the print job designated by the user is managed as a standby job when the user designates the print job (YES in step S03 in FIG. 7), the print job is stored in the paper discharge tray 160 by executing step S22. It can be detected that the sheet is already mixed. Further, when the user instructs a print job, even if the paper accumulated in the paper discharge tray 160 is not already mixed, the print job designated by the user is managed as an ongoing job (step in FIG. 7). In step S04, by executing step S24, it is possible to detect that the print job instructed by the user is executed and the sheet is output to the paper discharge tray to be in the mixed loading state. In other words, when a user instructs a print job, it can be detected that sheets on which images are formed are accumulated in the paper discharge tray 160 based on a print job instructed by another user. Therefore, the user can know that it is in the mixed loading state when the print job is instructed.

  In step S11 of the mixed loading state warning process shown in FIG. 7, the mixed loading state determination process is executed when the execution of the print job is completed. When the user instructs a print job, the print job instructed by the user is managed as a standby job, and if there are a plurality of standby jobs before the print job, the paper accumulated in the paper discharge tray 160 is already mixed. Otherwise, no warning is output when the user instructs a print job. After that, the standby job that existed before the print job instructed by the user is executed, and when the execution of the print job instructed by the user is completed, the user instructed the print job by executing step S22. As a result of the execution of the standby job that existed before the print job instructed by the user at that time, it is possible to detect that the sheets accumulated in the paper discharge tray 160 are mixed.

  In addition, as a result of executing the standby job that existed before the print job instructed by the user when the user instructed the print job, the sheets accumulated in the paper discharge tray 160 are not mixedly loaded. Even when the execution of the print job instructed by the user is completed, step S24 is executed, so that a standby job after the print job designated by the user is executed and the paper is output to the paper discharge tray. , It can be detected that the mixed loading state occurs. Since whether or not the sheets accumulated in the paper discharge tray 160 are mixedly loaded changes with time, it is possible to cope with the change. Therefore, the user can know that it is in the mixed loading state when the execution of the instructed print job is completed.

  In the present embodiment, the determination process in steps S21 and S22 and the determination process in steps S23 and S24 are shown in one flowchart, but these may be executed separately, and only one of them may be executed. This determination process may be executed.

  FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of a warning message displayed on the display unit. This warning message is displayed on display portion 170A of MFP 100. The warning message is “Treyunini Taninno Shuriyokugaarimus”. Therefore, a user who wants to obtain paper from the paper discharge tray 160 of the MFP 100 can know that the paper stored in the paper discharge tray 160 is in a mixed state.

  FIG. 10 is a first diagram illustrating an example of a warning message displayed on the PC. The MFP 100 transmits a warning message to the PC 200 at either the job reception time or the job completion time. Here, an example of a warning message that the MFP 100 transmits to the PC 200 at the time of job reception is shown. PC 200 receives and displays a warning message transmitted from MFP 100. In this case, the warning message is received by PC 200 together with the print reception notification transmitted from MFP 100 to PC 200 and is displayed together with the print reception notification. Referring to FIG. 10, the screen displayed as the print reception notification includes a warning message “There is a job output of another person on the paper discharge tray”. Therefore, the user of the PC 200 can know that the sheets stored in the paper discharge tray 160 of the MFP 100 are in the mixed loading state when an instruction for causing the MFP 100 to execute the print job is input to the PC 200.

  FIG. 11 is a second diagram illustrating an example of a warning message displayed on the PC that has transmitted the print job. Here, an example of a warning message transmitted from the MFP 100 to the PC 200 when the job is completed is shown. PC 200 receives and displays a warning message transmitted from MFP 100. In this case, the warning message is received by PC 200 together with the print completion notification transmitted from MFP 100 to PC 200 and displayed together with the print completion notification. Referring to FIG. 11, the screen displayed as the print reception notification includes a warning message “Output: Output from another user exists between Word 001 and Output Word 002”. Here, the warning message is displayed in red. For this reason, after the user of the PC 200 has input an instruction to the MFP 100 to execute a print job to the PC 200 and the execution of the print job is completed, the sheets accumulated in the paper discharge tray 160 of the MFP 100 are in a mixed state. I can know that.

  As described above, MFP 100 according to the present embodiment generates and stores history information including user identification information included in a print job in response to forming an image on a sheet based on the print job. On the other hand, the history information is erased when the paper discharge sensor 119 detects that no paper is accumulated in the paper discharge tray 160. Then, based on the history information, based on a print job instructed by a plurality of users, it is determined whether or not the paper on which the image is formed is in the mixed loading state accumulated in the paper discharge tray 160. , Output a warning. For this reason, a warning is output when sheets on which images are formed according to instructions from a plurality of users are accumulated in the paper discharge tray 160, so that images can be formed without interrupting image formation. it can. Further, the user who has received the warning knows that sheets on which images are formed based on the print job instructed by the other person are stored in the paper discharge tray 160, so that the user erroneously acquires the other person's sheet. Can be prevented.

  In addition, since the user identification information of the job being executed is compared with the user identification information of the paper discharge job, even if the paper accumulated in the paper discharge tray 160 is not mixed, the job being executed is executed and the paper is loaded. When the paper is discharged, it can be determined that the state is mixed.

  Further, since it is determined whether or not the print job is in the mixed loading state at the time when the print job is received, the sheet accumulated in the paper discharge tray 160 is in the mixed loading state when the user gives a print instruction, or the user When the instructed print job is executed, it can be determined that a mixed state is set.

  Further, when execution of the print job instructed by the user is completed, it is determined whether or not the print job is in a mixed state. Therefore, when execution of the print job instructed by the user is completed, the sheets accumulated in the paper discharge tray 160 are stored. It can be determined that the state is mixed loading, or that the mixed loading state is entered when the waiting upper part after the print job is executed.

  In addition, since a warning message is displayed on the operation panel, it is possible to warn a user who wants to obtain paper from the paper discharge tray 160.

  Further, since the warning message is transmitted to the computer that has transmitted the print job, the user who operates MFP 100 remotely can be warned.

  In the above-described embodiment, the MFP 100 has been described as the image forming apparatus. However, the invention can be understood as a mixed loading state warning method or a mixed loading state warning program for causing the MFP 100 to execute the processes illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8. Needless to say, you can.

  The embodiment disclosed this time should be considered as illustrative in all points and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is defined by the terms of the claims, rather than the description above, and is intended to include any modifications within the scope and meaning equivalent to the terms of the claims.

<Appendix>
(1) The image forming apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the warning unit includes a lighting unit that turns on a warning lamp included in the operation panel.
(2) The warning unit includes a display unit that displays a warning message on a display unit included in the operation panel.

1 is a diagram showing an overall outline of an image forming system in one embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a perspective view showing an appearance of an MFP. 2 is a functional block diagram showing an outline of functions of an MFP. FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram illustrating an outline of functions of a CPU 111 provided in the MFP. FIG. It is a figure which shows an example of a format of an execution and standby job table. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a format of a paper discharge job table. FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a flow of mixed loading state warning processing executed in the MFP. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the flow of a mixed loading state judgment process. It is a figure which shows an example of the warning message displayed on a display part. FIG. 10 is a first diagram illustrating an example of a warning message displayed on a PC that has transmitted a print job. FIG. 10 is a second diagram illustrating an example of a warning message displayed on a PC that has transmitted a print job.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image forming system, 2 networks, 10 Print job reception part, 20 Standby job buffer, 30 Job execution part, 40 Job management part, 50 Mixed loading state judgment part, 60 Warning part, 100 MFP, 110 Main circuit, 111 CPU, 112 Communication I / F unit, 113 ROM, 114 RAM, 115 EEPROM, 116 HDD, 117 facsimile unit, 118 card I / F, 118A flash memory, 119 paper discharge sensor, 120 ADF, 130 document reading unit, 140 image forming unit, 150 paper feed unit, 160 paper discharge tray, 170 operation panel, 170A display unit, 170B operation unit, 170C lamp.

Claims (9)

Print job accepting means for accepting a print job including print data and user identification information;
Image forming means for forming an image on a sheet based on the print job;
Storage means for storing paper on which the image is formed;
Paper presence / absence detecting means for detecting whether or not paper is stored in the storage means;
In response to the image forming unit forming an image on a sheet based on the print job, history information including user identification information included in the print job is generated, and the generated history information is stored in the history information storage unit. History information generating means for storing;
History information erasing means for erasing the stored history information from the history information storage means in response to the fact that the paper presence / absence detecting means detects that no paper is accumulated in the accumulation means;
Based on the history information stored in the history information storage means, a sheet on which an image is formed based on a print job including first user identification information and an image based on a print job including second user identification information Determining means for determining whether or not the sheet is formed in a mixed loading state in which the storage means stores;
An image forming apparatus comprising: a warning unit that outputs a warning when the determination unit determines that the state is mixed loading.   The determination means is a comparison means for comparing the user identification information included in at least one of the plurality of history information and the user identification information included in other history information, wherein the history information storage means stores a plurality of history information. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, comprising:   The determining means includes comparing means for comparing user identification information included in a print job to be formed by the image forming means and user identification information included in the history information stored in the history information storage means. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the determining unit determines whether or not the print job receiving unit is in a mixed loading state in response to receiving the print job.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the determining unit determines whether or not the image forming unit is in a mixed loading state when the image forming unit finishes image formation based on the print job.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the warning unit outputs a warning to an operation panel. The print job receiving means includes a print job receiving means for receiving a print job from computers connected to be communicable with each other,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the warning unit includes a warning transmission unit that transmits a warning to a computer that has transmitted the print job. A mixed state warning method executed in an image forming apparatus including an accumulation unit that accumulates sheets on which an image is formed and a storage unit that stores data,
Receiving a print job including print data and user identification information;
Forming an image on paper based on the print job;
Detecting whether or not paper is stored in the storage means;
Generating history information including user identification information included in the print job in response to forming an image on a sheet based on the print job, and storing the generated history information in the storage unit;
Erasing the stored history information from the storage means in response to detecting that no paper is stored in the storage means;
Based on the history information stored in the storage unit, a sheet on which an image is formed based on a print job including first user identification information and an image is formed based on a print job including second user identification information. Determining whether the storage means is in a mixed loading state in which the storage means stores;
And a step of outputting a warning when it is determined that the state is a mixed loading state. A mixed loading state warning program that is executed by an image forming apparatus that includes a storage unit that stores paper on which an image is formed and a storage unit that stores data.
Receiving a print job including print data and user identification information;
Forming an image on paper based on the print job;
Detecting whether or not paper is stored in the storage means;
Generating history information including user identification information included in the print job in response to forming an image on a sheet based on the print job, and storing the generated history information in the storage unit;
Erasing the stored history information from the storage means in response to detecting that no paper is stored in the storage means;
Based on the history information stored in the storage unit, a sheet on which an image is formed based on a print job including first user identification information and an image is formed based on a print job including second user identification information. Determining whether the storage means is in a mixed loading state in which the storage means stores;
A mixed state warning program for causing the image forming apparatus to execute a step of outputting a warning when it is determined that the state is a mixed state.

Images