JP2008042591A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming apparatus which minimizes inconvenience of a user due to a running job and executes a standby job as early as possible when a job is running while the other is waiting. <P>SOLUTION: The image forming apparatus has: a storage means for storing jobs regarding image formation; a division means for diving the running job having completed some pages, which is stored in the storage means into a first division job including the completed pages and a second division job comprised of the uncompleted pages; a changing means for inserting the subsequent job following the running job between the first division job and the second division job to change an order of executing the jobs when the running job is divided by the division means, and a control means for executing the jobs in the storage means in the order changed by the changing means. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, and more particularly to an image forming apparatus that executes a plurality of jobs.

  A so-called digital multifunction machine having various functions such as a copy function, a printer function, and a facsimile function is known. When such a multi-function peripheral is used as, for example, a copier, first, all image images are read at once by the image reading unit, and the read image data is temporarily stored in an image memory. A plurality of copy jobs can be simultaneously stored in the image memory. That is, the copy job stored in the image memory is in a waiting state until its execution order comes around. The order in which the jobs are executed is normally a so-called FIFO (First-In First-Out) system in which the copy jobs are output in the order in which they were input to the image memory, that is, in the order in which they were stored.

  When using a multifunction peripheral as a printer, a plurality of print jobs may be transmitted simultaneously from a plurality of personal computers connected via a network, for example. Also in this case, as described above, print jobs are registered in the order in which they are input to the image memory, and are temporarily saved. The stored printer jobs are sequentially sent to the printer for execution according to the registration order.

  However, for example, if the job being executed is composed of a large number of pages, the job is finally executed after waiting for all the pages to be output. Even when the number of printed sheets is small or when it is desired to execute printing urgently, it is necessary to wait until the preceding job is executed to the end. This is not only inconvenient for the user, but also cannot be said to efficiently operate the multi-function peripheral as a whole system, and has been one of the factors that reduce the productivity of printing processing.

Therefore, as described in Patent Document 1, for example, when a job to be executed in a hurry is waiting for a turn, a job with a high degree of urgency is preferentially interrupted before another job, The method of moving up the order is taken. According to this, even when the size of the preceding job is large, execution can be accelerated by interrupting before the job. This method is particularly effective when the size of the succeeding job on the interrupting side is small. This is because if the size is small, the execution time of the succeeding job is short, so that there is less trouble for the user of the preceding job on the interrupted side.
JP 2000-305421 A

  However, in Patent Document 1, it is possible to interrupt before a waiting job, but it is not possible to interrupt before an already executed job. In such a case, if the user urgently wanted to print, the job being executed had to be temporarily stopped. Then, a job that requires urgent printing must be executed first, and then the job that has been temporarily stopped must be resumed.

  Stopping a job in progress not only increases the time required for printing for the user of the job being executed, but also requires annoying action that requires confirmation of which page to resume printing from. It was. In addition, the job being executed must be stopped once, which is an inefficient operation for the entire printing system.

  Moreover, when the size of the job on the interrupting side is relatively large, there is a problem that the user of the job being executed on the interrupting side is inconvenienced.

  On the other hand, for example, even if the preceding job executes a number of pages, some of those pages are urgent, so it is annoying when interrupted, but the remaining pages are urgent. Therefore, even if interrupted, it may not cause much trouble. In such a case, if the preceding running job is divided into a page that requires urgent and a page that does not require urgent, and the waiting succeeding job can be interrupted during the split, the user's Convenience increases.

  The present invention is proposed in order to solve the above-described conventional problem, and when the job being executed is composed of a plurality of pages, the inconvenience to the user of the job being executed is minimized, and is on standby It is an object of the present invention to provide an image forming apparatus capable of executing a subsequent job as soon as possible.

  The image forming apparatus of the present invention is premised on executing jobs relating to image formation in a predetermined order. A storage unit that stores the job, a dividing unit that divides the job being executed, a changing unit that changes the order in which the jobs are executed, and a control unit that reads the job from the storage unit and executes the job.

  The dividing means includes a first divided job that includes pages that have already been executed in some of the plurality of pages stored in the storage means, and a second divided job that includes the number of unexecuted pages. Divide into page units. By this dividing means, a job being executed can be divided into, for example, pages with a high degree of urgency and pages with a low degree of urgency.

  When the dividing unit divides the job being executed by the dividing unit, the changing unit causes a subsequent job subsequent to the job being executed to be interrupted between the first divided job and the second divided job, and the job in the storage unit Change the order of execution. By this changing means, the job execution order is changed to the order of the first divided job, the succeeding job, and the second divided job. In other words, the first divided job with a high degree of urgency is executed as it is, and the second divided job with a low degree of urgency is executed after the subsequent job.

The control means executes the jobs in the storage means in the order changed by the changing means. As described above, since the subsequent job is executed by interrupting the second divided job, the total number of pages of the job being executed is executed. There is no need to wait for it. Also, for the user of the job being executed, since a page with a high degree of urgency is printed first, trouble caused by being interrupted can be minimized.

  Furthermore, according to this configuration, since the execution of the job being executed is not stopped, the printing process can be efficiently operated as the entire system.

  By adopting the configuration as described above, in the present invention, even if there is a job being executed that executes a plurality of pages, the trouble for the user of the job being executed is minimized, and a subsequent job that is waiting is displayed. It can be executed quickly.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings for understanding of the present invention. In this embodiment, the present invention is embodied as a so-called digital multifunction machine having a copy function, a printer function, a facsimile function, and the like.

  FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram showing the overall configuration of the multifunction peripheral 100 according to the present embodiment.

  When the user uses the multifunction device 100 to copy a document, the user places the document on, for example, the document table 103 and instructs the operation unit to print. When the instruction is given, printing is performed by operating the following units (drive units).

  In the image reading unit 101, the light emitted from the light source 104 is reflected by the document placed on the document table 103 and guided to the image sensor 108 by the mirror 105. The image sensor 108 photoelectrically converts the received light to generate document image data.

  The image forming unit 102 forms an image on the paper fed from the paper feed cassette 122. The image forming unit 102 includes a photosensitive drum 109, a charger 110, an exposure unit 111, a developing unit 112, a transfer unit 113, and the like disposed around the photosensitive drum 109, and a fixing device 118 disposed on the downstream side thereof. Have. The surface of the photosensitive drum 109 is charged by the charger 110, and then light is irradiated by the exposure device 111 according to the image data. By doing so, an electrostatic latent image is formed on the photosensitive drum 109. Then, a toner image is formed on the photosensitive drum 109 by attaching toner to the electrostatic latent image on the developing device 112. Thereafter, the toner image is transferred onto a sheet by the transfer unit 113. In this way, the image forming process in the multifunction peripheral 100 is performed.

  Further, the image forming unit 102 feeds one sheet from any one sheet feeding cassette 122 by using a pickup roller 115 when performing printing. The paper drawn from the paper feed cassette 122 is drawn out to the paper transport path 125 by the transport roller 124. Thereafter, the sheet is fed between the photosensitive drum 109 and the transfer unit 113 by the registration roller 117.

  When the sheet passes between the heating roller 119 and the pressure roller 120 in the fixing device 118, the visible image is fixed to the sheet by heat and a pressing force to the sheet. The image forming unit 102 discharges the sheet that has passed through the fixing device 118 to the discharge tray 121.

  FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram relating to control of the multifunction peripheral according to the present embodiment.

  The multi-function device 100 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 201, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 202, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 203, an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) 204, and a driver 205 corresponding to each driving unit in printing. 206 is connected. The CPU 201 uses, for example, the RAM 202 as a work area, and executes a program stored in the ROM 203, the HDD 204, or the like. The operation of each driving unit shown in FIG. 1 is controlled by exchanging data and commands with the driver 205 based on the execution result.

  Next, each unit other than the drive unit used in the multifunction machine 100 of the present embodiment will be described. Each means to be described later other than the drive unit also operates as each means when the CPU 201 executes a program.

  FIG. 3 is a functional configuration diagram of the multifunction peripheral according to the present embodiment. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the contents of the job management table of the present embodiment. 5 and 6 are diagrams showing examples of display on the display / operation unit of the present embodiment.

  The image memory 301 includes, for example, a RAM, and functions as a job storage unit that temporarily stores image data read by the image reading unit 101 as a copy job. The image memory 301 also stores a job ID assigned to identify the image data together with the image data. By retrieving the job ID, the image data corresponding to the job ID can be read out.

  The image control unit 302 includes a job management control unit 303 that manages jobs in the image memory 301, and an image formation control unit 304 that executes jobs in the image memory 301 in a predetermined order.

  The job management control unit 303 includes a job management table 305 that registers and manages job data. When jobs are input to the image memory 301, they are arranged in the bottom column of the job management table 305. The bottom column of the job management table 305 means the end of the job execution order. On the other hand, the uppermost column of the job management table 305 means the head of the order of job execution. That is, the jobs are executed in order from the job arranged in the upper column of the job management table 305. Therefore, jobs in the job management table are of a so-called FIFO (First-In First-Out) system in which jobs are executed in the order in which they are input to the image memory, that is, in the order in which they are stored in the image memory for the longest time.

  When the job arranged in the top column is executed, the job is deleted from the job management table 305. As described above, the job management table 305 is sequentially updated by the job management control unit 303 according to the execution state.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of the job management table 305. The job management table 305 shows output conditions such as job ID 401, job status 402, paper size 403, number of executed pages 404, number of executed pages 405, and the like.

  The job ID 401 is a job-specific number that is automatically assigned in the order in which jobs are input. The job status 402 indicates the execution state of the job, and represents one of a “PRINTING” state being executed, a “NEXT” state scheduled to be executed next, and a “WAIT” state waiting. Since the jobs are executed in the order from the upper column to the lower column of the job management table 305, the “PRINTING” state is arranged in the uppermost column, followed by “NEXT” and “WAIT”.

  The display / operation unit 306 includes a touch-type liquid crystal panel in which a display unit and an operation unit are integrated. As shown in FIG. 5, a “function setting” key 501 for setting a copy function, a printer function, a facsimile function, and the like is displayed on the liquid crystal panel in a selectable manner. When any “function setting” key 501 is selected, an “operation” key 502 for performing further detailed setting of the function is displayed. For example, when the “function setting” key 501 of the copy function is pressed, an “operation” key 502 for setting the paper size, the number of copies, etc. is displayed. Further, a “job division” key 503 is displayed on the copy function setting screen.

  When the “job division” key 503 is pressed, the display screen is switched, and the job data of the job management table 305 and the “page number input” key 601 are displayed as shown in FIG.

  The user sees the job data in the job management table 305 and determines whether to divide the job being executed. For example, if a job is executing a “100” page, the first “30” page may be needed immediately, but the remaining “70” pages may be needed tomorrow. In such a case, the job being executed is divided into a first divided job that executes a page with a high degree of urgency (a “30” page that is required immediately) and a page with a low degree of urgency (“70” that is required tomorrow). Page) is divided into second divided jobs to be executed, and it is convenient if the execution order of subsequent jobs can be interrupted between the first divided job and the second divided job.

  If the user determines to divide the job being executed, the number of pages to be divided is input to the “page number input” key 601. An “input page number” key 601 is an input key for setting how many pages and how many pages a job being executed is to be divided. In the above example, the “70” page required for tomorrow is input to the “page number input” key 601 as a page with low urgency.

  The number of pages may be input not only by the user of the subsequent job that is waiting, but also by the user of the job being executed. For example, if a large number of pages are to be output, but it is known in advance that the first required page is the first page, the user of the job being executed needs that in advance. You can also enter the number of pages.

  The division determination unit 307 determines whether the job being executed can be divided. For example, when the number of pages input with the “input page number” key is larger than the number of unexecuted pages, it cannot be divided. That is, when the number of unexecuted pages is “50” pages but “70” pages are to be divided. Furthermore, even when the last page of the job has already been executed, it cannot be divided.

  When it is determined by the division determination unit 307 that the job division unit 308 can divide the job being executed, the job division unit 308 is divided into the first division job including the number of pages already executed and the number of pages that have not been executed. And divided into the second divided job. The number of pages to be divided depends on the number of pages input to the “page number input” key. In the above example, the “70” page input as the number of pages with low urgency is divided as the second divided job.

  The execution order changing unit 309 changes the arrangement order of job data in the job management table 305. Specifically, a subsequent job subsequent to the job being executed is interrupted between the first divided job and the second divided job. With this change, the job execution order becomes the order of the first divided job, the subsequent job, and the second divided job.

  The image formation control unit 304 reads a job from the image memory 301 and executes it based on the job data in the job management table 305. First, with reference to the job management table 305, the job IDs of the jobs arranged in the top column (first job) are read. Then, the image memory 301 is searched for a job ID that matches the read job ID. If there is a matching job ID, the image data corresponding to the job ID is read from the image memory 301 and output. The output conditions at this time are output based on job data such as the number of output pages and paper size in the job management table 305.

  As described above, the image formation control unit 304 always executes the job (first job) arranged in the uppermost column of the job management table 305. Therefore, even when the job data array is changed by the execution order changing unit 309, the jobs are sequentially executed from the top column according to the changed arrangement order.

  Next, a printing processing procedure in the multifunction machine according to the present embodiment will be described. FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a printing processing procedure in the multifunction peripheral according to the present embodiment. The job management table for managing the job execution order will also be described with reference to FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 4A, the job A being executed (job ID “0001”) is a job that outputs 100 pages, and the waiting subsequent job B (job ID “0002”) is output 5 pages. Suppose that it is a scheduled job.

  First, the user of the succeeding job B presses the “job division” key to determine whether to divide the job A being executed (S1). When the “job division” key is pressed, a job management table and an “input page number” key are displayed on the display panel. The user who sees the information in the job management table determines whether the job A being executed is divided into, for example, a page with a high degree of urgency and a page with a low degree of urgency.

  When the user of the succeeding job B knows a page with low urgency of the job A being executed, the user inputs the number of pages into the “page number input” key (S2). However, if the user of the succeeding job B does not know the page with the low urgency level of the job A being executed, for example, the user of the job being executed directly asks the user of the job being executed, and inputs the number of divided pages. It will be.

  When the number of divided pages is input, the division determination unit determines whether or not the job A being executed can be divided (S3).

  When the division determination unit determines that the job A being executed cannot be divided (when the determination in S3 is NO), the execution of the job A being executed is continued as usual, and the subsequent job B is executed after the execution of the execution job A Execute.

  On the other hand, when it is determined that the job A being executed can be divided (when the determination in S3 is YES), the job dividing unit sets the job A being executed to the first divided job A1 and the second divided job A1. The job is divided into divided jobs A2 (S4).

  FIG. 4B shows a state where the job A being executed is divided into a first divided job A1 and a second divided job A2. The division by the job dividing unit is performed by dividing the number of executed pages 405 of the job management table 305. Therefore, the number of executed pages of the first divided job A1 is rewritten to “30” pages including the number of executed pages “19”, and the number of executed pages of the second divided job is input to the “page number input” key. It is rewritten to “70” page.

  Since the divided first divided job A1 and second divided job A2 are independent jobs, different job IDs 401 are assigned. The job ID “0001” of the job A being executed is assigned as it is as the job ID of the first divided job A1. On the other hand, the job ID of the second divided job A2 is regarded as a new job, and a new job ID “0003” is given.

  When the job A being executed is divided into the divided jobs A1 and A2, the execution order changing unit changes the order in which the jobs are executed. In the changed order, the succeeding job B is interrupted after the first divided job A1 currently being executed (S5).

  FIG. 4C shows a state in which the execution order changing unit interrupts the subsequent job B between the first divided job A1 and the second divided job A2. The change by the execution order changing unit is performed by changing the upper and lower arrangement order of the job data in the job management table. Therefore, the job execution order is the first divided job A1, the succeeding job B, and the second divided job A2 from the upper column.

  FIG. 4D shows a state in which the first divided job A1 has been executed. When the first divided job A1 is executed, the job management control unit deletes the job data of the executed first divided job A1 from the job management table 305. As a result, the succeeding job B which has been in the “NEXT” state is moved up to the uppermost column and becomes the “PRINTING” state. As described above, the job management table 305 deletes executed job data and sequentially updates the job data.

  As described above, the user of the subsequent job B can execute the subsequent job B after the execution of the first divided job A1. On the other hand, the user of the job A being executed can postpone execution of the second divided job A2 with low urgency, but can execute it without postponing the first divided job A1 with high urgency. Therefore, the trouble for the user of the job A being executed can be minimized. In particular, when the size of the succeeding job B is small, even if interrupted, it does not cause great trouble.

  The above-described embodiments do not limit the technical scope of the present invention, and various modifications and applications can be made within the scope of the present invention other than those already described.

  Next, a multifunction machine according to another embodiment will be described. Description of points common to the above-described embodiment will be omitted, and different points will be mainly described.

  The multi function device of this embodiment is provided with a division button for executing division. When the user presses the split button, the job being executed is split into a first split job consisting of pages that have been executed at that time and a second split job consisting of pages that have not been executed at that time.

  Therefore, in the present embodiment, when it is necessary to divide, it is only necessary to press the division button. Therefore, it is not always necessary to input the number of divided pages to the “page number input” key. For example, there are cases where all the pages of the job being executed are pages with low urgency and need not be executed quickly. In this case, the user of the job being executed does not need to enter the number of pages to be divided into the “page number input” key because it does not cause much trouble even if interrupted.

  Therefore, although the division button is provided together with the “page number input” key in this embodiment, only the division button may be provided without providing the page number input key.

  Next, a printing processing procedure in the MFP according to this embodiment will be described. FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating a printing processing procedure in the multifunction peripheral according to the present embodiment.

  First, the user of the succeeding job presses a “job division” key in order to confirm the output state of the job A being executed (S81). When the “Job division” key is pressed, a job management table, an “input page number” key, and a division button are displayed on the display panel. User Y looks at the management table and determines whether to split job A being executed.

  If the user Y determines to divide the job A being executed, it confirms whether the number of divided pages has already been set (S82).

  When the number of divided pages has already been set (when the determination in S82 is YES), for example, the user of the job A being executed inputs the number of divided pages in advance in the “page number input” key. Cases. In this case, it is divided according to the number of pages already input.

  On the other hand, the case where the number of divided pages is not set (when the determination in S82 is NO) includes, for example, the case where the job A being executed includes only pages with low urgency, as described above. .

  If the number of divided pages is not set, the user of the subsequent job presses a division button to divide the job A being executed (S83). When the division button is pressed, it is determined whether or not division is possible (S84).

  When it is determined that the job cannot be divided (when the determination in S84 is NO), the execution of the job A being executed is continued. For example, a case where the last page has already been executed when the division button is pressed can be cited.

  When it is determined that the job can be divided (when the determination in S84 is YES), the job dividing unit determines that the job A being executed is the first divided job A1 including executed pages and the number of pages that have not been executed. Is divided into second divided jobs A2 consisting of (85). Subsequently, the execution order changing unit causes the subsequent job B to be interrupted between the first divided job A1 and the second divided job A2 (S86).

  As described above, since the user of the subsequent job B can interrupt before the second divided job A2 by pressing the division button, the execution of the subsequent job B can be accelerated. On the other hand, if the job A being executed includes a highly urgent page, the user who is executing the job A can input in advance the page to be divided into the “page number input” key (in S72). If the determination is YES). Thus, printing can be continued for at least a highly urgent page.

  In the above-described embodiment, the case where the multifunction peripheral is used as a copier has been described, but the same applies to the case where the multifunction peripheral is used as a printer. That is, even when the multifunction peripheral and a plurality of personal computers (PCs) are connected via a network, the multifunction peripheral performs the same processing as described above.

  For example, it is assumed that a print job including a plurality of pages transmitted from a certain PC is being executed, and a print job transmitted from another PC is waiting. In such a case, the job being executed can be divided by the job dividing unit, and the subsequent job can be interrupted by the output order changing unit. Then, the image formation control unit executes the job according to the output order changed by the output order change unit. The configurations of the job dividing unit, the output order changing unit, the image formation control unit, and the like are the same as described above.

  The image forming apparatus according to the present invention can receive a plurality of jobs at the same time, and is useful for various devices such as a copying machine, a printer, and a multifunction peripheral.

1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a multifunction machine according to an embodiment. FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram relating to control of the multifunction peripheral according to the present embodiment. FIG. 2 is a functional configuration diagram of a multifunction machine according to the present embodiment. The figure which shows the content of the job management table of this embodiment. The figure which shows an example of the display of the display / operation part of this embodiment. The figure which shows an example of the display of the display / operation part of this embodiment. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a printing processing procedure in the multifunction peripheral according to the embodiment. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a printing processing procedure in a multifunction machine according to another embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 MFP 101 Image reading part 102 Image forming part 301 Image memory 302 Image control part 303 Job management control part 304 Image formation control part 305 Job management table 306 Display / operation part 307 Division determination part 308 Job division part 309 Execution order change part

Claims (3)

An image forming apparatus that executes jobs related to image formation in a predetermined order,
Storage means for storing jobs relating to image formation;
A running job that has already been executed for some number of pages stored in the storage means is divided into a first divided job that includes the number of pages that have been executed and a second division that includes the number of pages that have not been executed. Dividing means for dividing into jobs,
When a job being executed is divided by the dividing unit, a subsequent job following the job being executed is interrupted between the first divided job and the second divided job, and the order of job execution is changed. Change means,
Control means for executing jobs in the storage means in the order changed by the changing means;
An image forming apparatus comprising: It has a setting means to set the number of pages to divide the running job,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the dividing unit divides the job in execution according to the number of pages set by the setting unit. It has an operation means to divide running jobs,
The dividing means divides into a first divided job consisting of the number of pages executed when the operating means is operated and a second divided job consisting of the number of unexecuted pages based on the operation of the operating means by the user. Item 2. The image forming apparatus according to Item 1.

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