JP2009021734A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method that prevents a wheelchair user from having to assume a dangerous posture for paper sheet replacement by eliminating the problem of taking such a dangerous posture, when replacing paper sheets, in an image forming apparatus. <P>SOLUTION: The problem wherein the paper sheets run out halfway in the job of the wheelchair user and the paper sheets have to be replaced to complete a job in the image forming apparatus 101, and such a situation cannot be prevented, can be solved by stopping the other jobs which are currently printed, and on standby and executing the job of the wheelchair user 201 preferentially, when the job for the user 201 is received. Furthermore, when a wheelchair 211 approaches the image forming apparatus, other jobs that are currently being printed and on standby are likewise stopped, and the job performed by the wheelchair user in the image forming apparatus body is executed preferentially. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  In the image forming apparatus, the possibility of a wheelchair user performing a dangerous work such as replacing paper is suppressed by preferentially executing a job of a person who has difficulty in paper replacement such as a wheelchair user. The present invention relates to a technology that can prevent work accidents.

  When a wheelchair user runs out of paper that is needed while working in front of the image forming device, the wheelchair itself becomes a stopper when the paper is refilled. It is difficult. In addition, when trying to replenish, the user has to move sideways from the front of the image forming apparatus and replenish it, or tilt the body and replenish the work. In addition, there is a risk of falling out of the wheelchair during work.

  As a conventional technique, a method of providing a kick-in part that allows the lower part of the wheelchair to enter the lower part of the image forming apparatus main body, and a sensor that can determine whether the user is a normal user or a wheelchair user are provided. In addition, there is a method of executing a normal mode when the user is a normal user, and another mode when the user is a wheelchair user (see Patent Document 1).

  However, this method is intended to make it easier for wheelchair users to use the image forming apparatus, particularly the operation display panel, and prevents the wheelchair users from falling into paper replacement work. could not.

JP 2004-348528 A

  The problem to be solved is that when a person who has difficulty in paper exchange such as a wheelchair user uses the image forming apparatus, the paper runs out in the middle of the job, and the paper is replenished to complete the job. It was a point that could not be prevented from having to do.

  The image forming apparatus according to the present invention includes a job information analysis unit that analyzes job information of a job to determine whether the sender of the job is a person who has difficulty in paper replacement, and performs printing based on the job information. And when the job information analysis unit determines that the sender of the job is a person who has difficulty in paper replacement, stops execution of at least one of the jobs waiting for printing or printing, And a printing control unit that controls the printing unit so as to preferentially execute a job of a person who has difficulty in paper replacement.

  The image forming apparatus of the present invention analyzes job information of a job to determine whether the sender of the job is a person who has difficulty in paper replacement, and information on how many sheets the job is printed A job information analysis unit that acquires the print information, a printing unit that performs printing based on the job information, a paper remaining amount detection unit that detects a remaining amount of paper, and a remaining amount of paper detected by the remaining paper amount detection unit. A print control unit that controls the printing unit not to perform printing when the job information analysis unit determines that the job sender is less than the number of prints of the job determined to be a person who has difficulty in paper replacement; It has the main feature.

  An image forming apparatus according to the present invention detects a proximity of a person who has difficulty in replacing a sheet and detects a proximity of a person who has difficulty in replacing a sheet, and the proximity detection section of the person who has difficulty in replacing a sheet detects the proximity of a person who has difficulty in replacing the sheet. And a print control unit that stops execution of at least one of the jobs waiting for printing or printing.

  The image forming apparatus according to the present invention includes a job information analysis unit that analyzes job information of a job to determine whether the sender of the job is a person who has difficulty in paper replacement, and performs printing based on the job information. And when the job information analysis unit determines that the sender of the job is a person who has difficulty in paper replacement, stops execution of at least one of the jobs waiting for printing or printing, And a printing control unit that controls the printing unit so as to preferentially execute a job of a person who has difficulty in replacing the sheet, so that it is difficult for a wheelchair user or the like to replace the sheet. When the accompanying person uses the image forming apparatus, it is possible to prevent the sheet from being lost in the middle of the job and the sheet from being replenished to complete the job.

  The image forming apparatus of the present invention analyzes job information of a job to determine whether the sender of the job is a person who has difficulty in paper replacement, and information on how many sheets the job is printed A job information analysis unit that acquires the print information, a printing unit that performs printing based on the job information, a paper remaining amount detection unit that detects a remaining amount of paper, and a remaining amount of paper detected by the remaining paper amount detection unit. A print control unit that controls the printing unit not to perform printing when the job information analysis unit determines that the job sender is less than the number of prints of the job determined to be a person who has difficulty in paper replacement; The main feature is that when a person who has difficulty in replacing paper such as a wheelchair user uses the image forming apparatus, the paper is lost in the middle of the job. I have to replenish It will not become it has become possible to suppress.

  An image forming apparatus according to the present invention detects a proximity of a person who has difficulty in replacing a sheet and detects a proximity of a person who has difficulty in replacing a sheet, and the proximity detection section of the person who has difficulty in replacing a sheet detects the proximity of a person who has difficulty in replacing the sheet. When printing, a person who has difficulty in paper replacement such as a wheelchair user forms an image. When using the display panel in front of the main unit, the remaining paper count information is displayed in advance, so the paper runs out in the middle of the job, and the paper must be replenished to complete the job. It has become possible to suppress the fact that it must be done.

  In the image forming apparatus, it is possible to prevent paper from being lost in the middle of a job of a person who has difficulty in replacing paper such as a wheelchair user and having to replenish the paper in order to complete the job. When a job of a person who has difficulty in changing paper such as a wheelchair user is received, the other jobs during printing and waiting are stopped and the wheelchair user job is given priority. It was solved by letting it execute.

[Constitution]
FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  Each functional block will be described with reference to FIG. 1, FIG. 2, which is a perspective view of a wheelchair user who rides on a wheelchair with difficulty in image forming apparatus and paper replacement, and FIG. 3, which shows variable display panel angles. explain.

  The image forming apparatus 101 includes a wheelchair proximity detection unit 111 (paper replacement difficult proximity detection unit), a display panel 113, a panel angle detection unit 115, a display control unit 117, a print control unit 119, a remaining paper amount detection unit 121, and a printing unit. 123, a communication unit 125, and a job information analysis unit 127.

  Other functional blocks such as a scanner unit and a FAX transmission / reception unit provided in a normal image forming apparatus are omitted because they are not related to the essence of the present invention.

  The wheelchair proximity detecting unit 111 (proximity detection unit proximity detecting unit) includes an RFID receiver and can receive the RFID tag 213 attached to the wheelchair 211 (FIG. 2) by the proximity of the wheelchair 211. It is detected that 211 is approaching the image forming apparatus 101.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the display panel 113 includes a display surface 113a and operation buttons 113b, and the display angle can be varied with the lower side of the display panel as an axis. As shown in FIG. 3, from the viewpoint S of the standing position, when the angle with the horizontal of the display panel as shown in the display panel 113 (S) of FIG. 3 is about 15 degrees, the display is easy to see and operate. From the viewpoint W of the wheelchair user, the angle of the panel is gradually raised from the position of the display panel 113 (S) described above, and the angle with the horizontal as shown in 113 (W) is passed through 113 (M). In the case of about 75 degrees, the display is easy to see and operate. The angle of the display panel is manually variable, and a panel angle detector 115 described later detects the angle.

  The panel angle detection unit 115 detects whether the display panel 113 has been changed in angle and determines whether the display panel 113 is being used by a wheelchair user. As described above in the section of the display panel 113, in the case of a wheelchair user, the horizontal display angle becomes large (113 (W) in FIG. 3).

  If the panel angle detector 115 detects the angle of the display panel and determines that it is being used by a wheelchair user, the display controller 117 first determines the paper size currently mounted on the image forming apparatus on the initial screen. By displaying the remaining amount of paper and allowing the wheelchair user to check whether the paper size he or she wants to use is sufficient, it is possible to prevent the wheelchair user from having to change paper.

  The print control unit 119 controls the operation of the printing unit 123, and when receiving a wheelchair user's job, the print control unit 119 temporarily interrupts the job that is currently printing and the job waiting for printing, and Prioritize user jobs. The interrupted job may be resumed automatically after the wheelchair user's job is completed, or the wheelchair user or another user explicitly confirms the interruption from the image forming apparatus main body or the terminal device. Resume may be activated.

  In addition, if the number of prints of a wheelchair user (person who has difficulty in paper exchange) is compared with the number of remaining sheets of the corresponding paper size, Hold the job without printing and notify the wheelchair user. As a result, the wheelchair user can prevent the job from being stopped due to running out of paper in the middle of his / her job and falling into a paper exchange.

  Further, when the wheelchair proximity detection unit 111 detects the proximity of the wheelchair, the job that is currently being printed and the job that is waiting for printing are temporarily suspended, and the job that the wheelchair user performs on the image forming apparatus main body (for example, Priority is given to copying). By doing in this way, it becomes possible to suppress that paper becomes insufficient during the operation of the device body by the wheelchair user. Regarding the interrupted job, the wheelchair user 201 confirms that the wheelchair proximity detector 111 cannot read the RFID tag 213 of the wheelchair 211 when the job in front of the image forming apparatus main body of the wheelchair user 201 is completed. It may be automatically resumed by determining that it is away (separated) from 101, or a wheelchair user or another user confirms the interruption from the image forming apparatus main body or the terminal device and explicitly activates the resume. May be.

  The remaining paper amount detection unit 121 detects which paper size and how many sheets remain for each paper feed tray held by the image forming apparatus 101, notifies the print control unit 119, and operates the print control unit 119. Judgment conditions are as follows. Further, the display control unit 117 displays the remaining number of sheets.

  The printing unit 123 performs printing in accordance with an instruction from the print control unit 119.

  The communication unit 125 receives a job from the terminal device.

  The job information analysis unit 127 analyzes the job information transmitted from the terminal device, determines whether or not the job sender is a wheelchair user, and determines the number of prints of the job. To the print control unit 119.

  FIG. 2 shows a wheelchair user 201 (a person who has difficulty in paper replacement) riding on the image forming apparatus 101 and the wheelchair 211.

  A wheelchair 211 on which a wheelchair user 201 (a person who has difficulty in paper replacement) rides has an RFID tag 213 mounted on the side rail of the wheelchair 211, and between the RFID receiver of the wheelchair proximity detection unit 111 of the image forming apparatus 101. Communication is performed to detect that a wheelchair is approaching from the wheelchair information written in the RFID tag 213.

  The attachment position of the RFID tag 213 is not limited to the side railing and may be another place on the wheelchair. Further, the wheelchair user 201 may wear it.

  FIG. 3 is as described in the section of the display panel 113.

[Operation example]
The operation of the image forming apparatus is controlled as exemplified below.

Example operation 1:
When the job information analysis unit 127 determines that the sender of the job transmitted from the terminal device is a wheelchair user, the print control unit 119 determines whether the job is currently waiting for printing, is currently printing, or both. Execution is stopped, and the printing unit is controlled so as to preferentially execute the wheelchair user's job.

Example operation 2:
When the job information analysis unit 127 determines that the sender of the job transmitted from the terminal device is a wheelchair user, the number of printed sheets of the job is compared with the remaining amount of paper detected by the remaining paper amount detection unit 121. When the remaining paper amount detected by the remaining paper amount detection unit 121 is less than the number of printed sheets of the job, the print control unit 119 controls the printing unit 123 not to perform printing. Notify wheelchair users.

Example action 3:
When the wheelchair proximity detection unit 111 detects the proximity of the wheelchair, the print control unit 119 stops executing a job that is currently waiting for printing, a job that is currently printing, or both.

Example Operation 4:
The print control unit 119 stops when the wheelchair proximity detection unit 111 detects that the wheelchair is separated (separated) from the image forming apparatus due to the wheelchair proximity detection unit 111 being unable to read the RFID tag of the wheelchair for the job stopped in the example operation 3. Cancel the stopped status of the job that was being executed.

Example action 5:
The print control unit 119 may input a stop state release instruction (input by a wheelchair user or an input by a sender of these jobs) for the job stopped in the exemplary operation 3. In this case, the stop state of the stopped job is canceled.

Example action 6:
When the panel angle detection unit 115 detects that the panel angle has been changed by the wheelchair user, the display control unit 117 displays the display content on the display panel corresponding to the wheelchair user (more specifically, A screen that prompts the wheelchair user to select the paper size to be used is displayed with priority, indicating the remaining amount of paper for each paper size currently installed in the image forming apparatus.

[Effect of Example]
The wheelchair user's job is preferentially processed by the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention, so that the remaining amount of paper is eliminated by another user's job so that the wheelchair user can print his job. It has become possible to suppress the necessity of paper replacement.

  In addition, when the number of sheets required for a wheelchair user's job is not available, the wheelchair user requests other users to replace the paper in advance in order to hold the job and notify the wheelchair user to that effect. This makes it possible to prevent the wheelchair user from having to change the paper in order to print his job.

  Since the image forming apparatus detects that the wheelchair user has approached the image forming apparatus and stops jobs that are printing or waiting to be printed, the wheelchair user must replace the paper to print his or her job. It has become possible to suppress the fact that it must be done.

  When the display panel of the image forming device is changed from a low position, which is the viewpoint of a wheelchair user, to an easy-to-see angle, the display panel display presents the currently loaded paper size and its remaining amount, and selects the paper size to the user Therefore, it is possible to prevent the wheelchair user from having to change the sheet in order to print his job.

[Others]
In this example, wheelchair users were explained as an example of those who have difficulty in paper replacement. However, not only wheelchair users but who are not using wheelchairs due to physical disabilities, etc. including.

  In this embodiment, the method of attaching the RFID tag 213 for detecting the proximity of the wheelchair to the wheelchair is illustrated, but even a wheelchair user or a person who is not a wheelchair user and who has difficulty in paper replacement can use it. In order to be able to do so, information that the user of the tag has difficulty in paper replacement is written in an RFID tag attached to a personal ID (for example, an employee ID card worn from the neck), and the image forming apparatus reads the tag. It may be detected by a method.

  In this embodiment, a method of detecting the proximity of a wheelchair using an RFID tag is used. However, another method, for example, a method of detecting that a wheelchair is approaching by an imaging camera and image processing may be used.

1 is a functional block diagram of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention (Embodiment 1). FIG. (Example 1) which is a perspective view of the wheelchair user who got on the image forming apparatus and the wheelchair. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating variable angle of the display panel of the image forming apparatus (Example 1).

Explanation of symbols

101 Image forming apparatus 111 Wheelchair proximity detector (paper replacement difficulty proximity detector)
113 Display Panel 115 Panel Angle Detection Unit 117 Display Control Unit 119 Print Control Unit 121 Paper Remaining Detection Unit 123 Printing Unit 125 Communication Unit 127 Job Information Analysis Unit 201 Wheelchair User (Person with Difficulty in Paper Replacement)
211 Wheelchair 213 RFID tag

Claims (10)

A job information analysis unit that analyzes job information of the job and determines whether the sender of the job is a person who has difficulty in paper replacement;
A printing unit that performs printing based on the job information;
When the job information analysis unit determines that the sender of the job is a person who has difficulty in paper replacement, it is difficult to replace the paper by stopping execution of at least one of the jobs waiting for printing or printing. An image forming apparatus comprising: a printing control unit that controls the printing unit so as to preferentially execute a job of a person accompanied by a job. A job information analysis unit that analyzes job information of the job, determines whether the sender of the job is a person who has difficulty in paper replacement, and acquires information on how many prints of the job are; ,
A printing unit that performs printing based on the job information;
A remaining paper amount detection unit for detecting the remaining amount of paper,
Printing is performed when the remaining amount of paper detected by the remaining paper amount detection unit is less than the number of prints of the job that the job information analysis unit has determined that the job sender has difficulty in paper replacement. An image forming apparatus comprising: a printing control unit that controls the printing unit so that the printing unit does not exist. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2,
When the printing control unit controls the printing unit not to perform the printing, the printing control unit notifies the sender of the job to that effect. A paper replacement difficult person proximity detector for detecting the proximity of a person who has difficulty in paper replacement;
A print control unit that stops execution of at least one of the jobs waiting for printing or printing when the proximity detection unit of the person who has difficulty in paper replacement detects the proximity of a person who has difficulty in paper replacement. An image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus according to claim 4,
The print control unit releases the suspended state of the job waiting for printing and the job being printed when the proximity detection unit of the person with difficulty in paper replacement detects a separation of a person who has difficulty in paper replacement. Image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:
The print control unit releases the stop state of the job waiting for printing and the job being printed when an instruction to cancel the stop state of the job waiting for printing and the job being printed is input. . The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:
The image forming apparatus, wherein the person who has difficulty in paper replacement is a wheelchair user. The image forming apparatus according to claim 7, wherein
A display panel that displays information, and a display panel in which an angle of the display surface is variable;
A panel angle detector capable of detecting an angle of the panel of the display panel;
A display controller that performs control to change the display content of the display panel to a display corresponding to the wheelchair user when the panel angle detector detects that the wheelchair user has changed the panel angle. An image forming apparatus comprising the image forming apparatus. 9. The image forming apparatus according to claim 8, wherein
The display control unit displays the display content of the display panel based on the proximity and separation of the wheelchair user detected by the paper replacement difficult person proximity detection unit and the angle of the panel detected by the panel angle detection unit. An image forming apparatus characterized by changing to a display corresponding to a wheelchair user. The image forming apparatus according to claim 8 or 9, wherein
When the display control unit changes the display content of the display panel to a display corresponding to a wheelchair user, the display control unit displays a loaded paper size and selects the used paper size for the wheelchair user. An image forming apparatus characterized by preferentially displaying a prompting screen.

Images