JP2011221247A - Image-forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image-forming apparatus capable of reducing time until an end of printing while preventing the image-forming apparatus from starting maintenance operation during execution of image-forming job.SOLUTION: A counting part starts counting when an image-forming apparatus finishes maintenance operation and counts the cumulative number of sheets of paper where an image is formed by an image-forming part. The number of documents to be read by a document reading part and the number of copies thereof are input to a first input screen 11. A maintenance control part causes the image-forming apparatus to initiate the maintenance operation no matter whether an image-forming job is input by a user or not, when a value obtained by adding the cumulative number of sheets to the number of output sheets obtained by multiplying the number of documents by the number of copies which are input to the first input screen 11 exceeds the number of sheets subject to maintenance. A second input screen 31 accepts input of image-forming job from the user during the maintenance.

Description

  The present invention relates to maintenance of an image forming apparatus.

  In the image forming apparatus, maintenance is performed when the number of sheets on which an image is formed by an image forming job such as copying reaches a predetermined number. The contents of maintenance include density adjustment, resist adjustment, and cleaning of the photosensitive drum. There are cases where maintenance is performed by a person (serviceman, user), and that the image forming apparatus performs a maintenance operation and is automatically maintained.

  When maintenance is performed by interrupting the image forming job during execution of the image forming job, the image quality may be different between the image formed on the paper before the maintenance and the image formed on the paper after the maintenance. Therefore, by analyzing the number of sheets on which images are to be formed based on the data of the image forming job and determining that the maintenance timing comes during the execution of the image forming job, the start of the image forming job is prohibited and the maintenance is performed. A technique for executing an image forming job later has been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

JP 2009-139743 (paragraphs 0030, 0050-0057)

  In the technique of Patent Document 1, if it is determined that the maintenance timing comes during the execution of the image forming job, the maintenance is performed before the image forming job is executed in order to prevent this. However, as a result, the start of the image forming job is delayed and the time until the end of printing becomes longer.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus capable of shortening the time until the end of printing while preventing the timing for causing the image forming apparatus to perform a maintenance operation during execution of an image forming job.

  An image forming apparatus according to an aspect of the present invention that achieves the above object is an image forming apparatus that executes an image forming job for forming an image based on image data on a sheet. A document reading unit for outputting, an image forming unit for forming an image based on the image data output from the document reading unit on a sheet, and counting from the end of the maintenance operation of the image forming apparatus, A count unit that counts the accumulated number of sheets on which images are formed by the forming unit and a predetermined maintenance number are stored, and when the accumulated number reaches the maintenance number or a predetermined number is stored. A maintenance control unit that causes the image forming apparatus to perform a maintenance operation, the number of documents read by the document reading unit, and the original An operation unit that receives an input of an image forming job from the user after receiving an input of a value for determining the number of output sheets from the user based on the number of copies of the maintenance copy, wherein the maintenance control unit is determined in advance. As a condition, if the value obtained by adding the integrated number to the output number determined by the value input to the operation unit exceeds the maintenance number, it is determined whether an image forming job is input from the user. Regardless, the image forming apparatus starts a maintenance operation.

  According to the present invention, the input of a value for determining the number of output sheets based on the number of documents read by the document reading unit and the number of copies of the document is prioritized over the input of the image forming job. If the value obtained by adding the cumulative number to the output number exceeds the maintenance number, the image forming apparatus starts the maintenance operation regardless of whether an image forming job is input from the user. As a result, it is possible to prevent the timing of the maintenance operation of the image forming apparatus during the execution of the image forming job, so that the image quality of each sheet can be made uniform in an image forming job for forming an image on a plurality of sheets.

  When the image forming apparatus starts the maintenance operation regardless of whether the image forming job is input from the user, the operation unit accepts the input of the image forming job even during the maintenance. You can set the forming job. Therefore, according to the present invention, the image forming job can be set during the maintenance operation of the image forming apparatus. (1) The number of sheets on which an image is formed is analyzed based on the image forming job data, and the image forming job is analyzed. If it is determined that the maintenance timing comes during execution of the image, the start of the image formation job is prohibited and the image formation job is executed after the maintenance, or (2) the job is interrupted during the execution of the image formation job. Thus, compared with the case where the image forming apparatus performs a maintenance operation, it is possible to shorten the time until the end of printing.

  In the above configuration, in the operation unit, after receiving an input of a value for determining the number of output sheets from a user, a first mode for receiving an input of an image forming job from the user, and for determining the number of output sheets An operation control unit that selects a second mode in which an input of an image forming job is received from a user without determining the number of output sheets without requiring input of a value, and the operation control unit calculates the total from the maintenance number of sheets. When the value obtained by subtracting the number of sheets is smaller than a predetermined reference value, the first mode is selected. When the value obtained by subtracting the accumulated number of sheets from the maintenance number is larger than the reference value, the second mode is selected. Can be selected.

  According to this configuration, a reference value that is compared with a value obtained by subtracting the accumulated number from the number of maintenance sheets is used to determine whether there is a margin in the number of sheets on which an image can be formed before the maintenance timing comes. If the value obtained by subtracting the cumulative number from the maintenance number is smaller than the reference value, it is determined that there is no room for the number of sheets on which images can be formed before the maintenance timing comes. On the other hand, if the value obtained by subtracting the total number of sheets from the number of maintenance sheets is larger than the reference value, it is determined that there is enough time before the maintenance timing comes.

  If there is not enough time for the number of sheets on which images can be formed before the maintenance timing comes, there is a high possibility that the maintenance timing will come during the execution of the image forming job. Therefore, before the image forming job is executed, it is determined whether the value obtained by adding the integrated number to the output number exceeds the maintenance number, and whether the maintenance timing comes during the execution of the image forming job. When the maintenance timing comes during the execution of the image forming job, the image forming apparatus starts the maintenance operation regardless of whether the user has input the image forming job.

  On the other hand, if there is enough time for the number of sheets on which images can be formed before the maintenance timing comes, there is a low possibility that the maintenance timing will come during the execution of the image forming job. Do not judge when the maintenance timing is coming. As a result, the user's input for determining the number of output sheets can be eliminated, and the user's trouble can be saved.

  In the above configuration, when the first mode is selected by the display unit provided in the operation unit and the operation control unit, the number of documents read by the document reading unit and the number of copies of the document are input. A control is performed to display the first input screen on the display unit, and after the number of originals and the number of copies of the originals are input to the first input screen, an image forming job is input. A display control unit that performs control to switch the input screen to the first input screen and display the input screen on the display unit.

  According to this configuration, when the first mode is selected, the first input screen for inputting the number of documents to be read by the document reading unit and the number of copies of the document is displayed. Switch to the second input screen in which the settings are input. Therefore, when the first mode is selected by the operation control unit, the user can move from the input of the number of originals and the number of copies to input of the image forming job setting without hesitation.

  In the above configuration, the operation unit can accept an input for allowing the document reading unit to read a document after receiving an input of a value for determining the number of output sheets from the user.

  In the present invention, the input of an image forming job is an input related to forming an image based on the image data output from the document reading unit on a sheet (copy density setting, etc.), and is for determining the number of output sheets. And the input related to the reading of the document by the document reading unit (reading resolution setting, document reading start command, etc.) are not included. According to this configuration, when the image forming apparatus starts a maintenance operation regardless of whether or not an image forming job is input from the user, an input for causing the document reading unit to read the document is received from the user. As a result, the document can be read during maintenance, and the time until the end of printing can be further shortened.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to reduce the time until the end of printing while preventing the timing for causing the image forming apparatus to perform a maintenance operation during execution of the image forming job.

1 is a diagram illustrating an outline of an internal structure of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an electrical configuration of the image forming apparatus. In this embodiment, it is a figure which shows the 1st input screen displayed on the display part of the operation part. In this embodiment, it is a figure which shows the 2nd input screen displayed on the display part of the operation part. 6 is a flowchart for describing maintenance of an image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment and adjustment of an image forming job.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an outline of the internal structure of an image forming apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The image forming apparatus 1 can be applied to, for example, a digital multifunction machine having functions of a copy, a printer, a scanner, and a facsimile. The image forming apparatus 1 includes a main body unit 100, a document reading unit 200 disposed on the main body unit 100, a document feeding unit 300 disposed on the document reading unit 200, and an operation disposed on the upper front surface of the main body unit 100. Section 400 and a sheet post-processing section 500 disposed on the sheet carry-out side, for example, the left side of the main body section 100.

  The document feeding unit 300 includes a document placement unit 301, a paper feed roller 303, a document transport unit 305, and a document discharge unit 307. A paper feed roller 303 feeds the originals set on the original placement unit 301 one by one. The document transport unit 305 transports the fed document to the document reading unit 200. The document is read by the document reading unit 200 and discharged to the document discharge unit 307. As described above, the document feeding unit 300 functions as an automatic document feeding device, and can continuously send a plurality of documents placed on the document placing unit 301 to the document reading unit 200.

  The document reading unit 200 includes a carriage 201 equipped with a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) sensor and an exposure lamp, a document table 203 made of a transparent member such as glass, and a document reading slit 205. When reading a document placed on the document table 203, the document is read by the CCD sensor while moving the carriage 201 in the longitudinal direction of the document table 203. On the other hand, when reading a document fed from the document feeding unit 300, the carriage 201 is moved to a position facing the document reading slit 205, and the document fed from the document feeding unit 300 is scanned. Reading is performed by the CCD sensor through the reading slit 205. The CCD sensor outputs the read original as image data.

  The main body unit 100 includes a sheet storage unit 101, an image forming unit 103, and a fixing unit 105. The sheet storage unit 101 is disposed at the lowermost part of the main body unit 100 and includes a sheet tray 107 that can store a bundle of sheets. In the stack of sheets stored in the sheet tray 107, the uppermost sheet is fed out toward the sheet conveying unit 111 by driving the pickup roller 109. The sheet is conveyed to the image forming unit 103 through the sheet conveying unit 111.

  The image forming unit 103 forms a toner image on the conveyed paper based on the image data. The image forming unit 103 includes a charge eliminating unit 112, a photosensitive drum 113, a charging unit 114, an exposure unit 115, a transfer drum 116, developing units 117C, 117M, 117Y, and 117Bk, and a transfer unit 119. The neutralization unit 112 is a device that neutralizes residual charges from the surface of the photosensitive drum 113. The charging unit 114 is a device that charges the surface of the photosensitive drum 113 after charge removal. The exposure unit 115 generates light corresponding to image data (image data output from the document reading unit 200, image data transmitted from a personal computer, image data received by facsimile, etc.), and is uniformly charged photoconductor. This is an apparatus that forms an electrostatic latent image on the surface of the photosensitive drum 113 by irradiating the peripheral surface of the drum 113. The developing units 117C, 117M, 117Y, and 117Bk have cyan (C), magenta (M), yellow (Y), and black (Bk) colors on the photosensitive drum 113 on which the electrostatic latent image is formed. An apparatus for forming a toner image. If there is no need to distinguish between the developing portions of the respective colors, they are referred to as developing portions 117. On the transfer drum 116, the toner images of the respective colors formed on the photosensitive drum 113 are transferred and superimposed. The transfer unit 119 is a device that transfers the toner image on the transfer drum 116 to a sheet. The toner for each color of cyan, magenta, yellow, and black is supplied from a toner supply container or a toner cartridge (not shown).

  The sheet on which the toner image is transferred is sent to the fixing unit 105. In the fixing unit 105, heat and pressure are applied to the toner image and the paper to fix the toner image on the paper. Thereby, the printing of the image on the paper is completed. When post-processing is performed on the printed paper, the printed paper is sent from the paper discharge port 121 of the main body 100 to the paper post-processing unit 500. On the other hand, when no post-processing is performed, the printed paper is discharged to the paper discharge tray 123.

  The paper post-processing unit 500 performs post-processing such as sorting, stapling, punching, and saddle stitching on the printed paper. The paper post-processing unit 500 includes a paper carry-in port 501, a paper transport unit 503, a paper carry-out port 505, a stack tray 507, and the like. The paper transport unit 503 sequentially transports the printed paper carried into the paper carry-in port 501 from the paper discharge port 121, and carries out the post-processed printed paper from the paper carry-out port 505 to the stack tray 507. The stack tray 507 has a configuration capable of moving up and down in the direction of the arrow in accordance with the number of sheets stacked from the paper exit 505.

  The operation unit 400 includes an operation key unit 401 and a display unit 403. The display unit 403 has a touch panel function, and displays a screen including soft keys. The user operates the soft keys while viewing the screen to make settings necessary for executing functions such as copying.

  The operation key unit 401 includes operation keys including hard keys. Specifically, the operation key unit 401 includes a help key 405, a start key 407, a numeric key 409, a function switching key 411, and the like. A help key 405 is a key for displaying a help screen on the display unit 403. The help screen is a screen on which operation methods relating to functions such as a scanner, a facsimile, a printer, and a copy are displayed.

  A start key 407 is a key for starting operations such as copying and facsimile transmission. A numeric keypad 409 is a key for inputting numbers such as the number of copies and a facsimile number.

  The function switching key 411 includes a copy key, a transmission key, and the like, and is a key for switching between a copy function, a transmission function, and the like. When the copy key is operated, an initial copy screen is displayed on the display unit 403. When the transmission key is operated, an initial screen for facsimile transmission and mail transmission is displayed on the display unit 403.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of the image forming apparatus 1 shown in FIG. The image forming apparatus 1 has a configuration in which a main body unit 100, a document reading unit 200, a document feeding unit 300, an operation unit 400, a sheet post-processing unit 500, a control unit 600, and a communication unit 700 are connected to each other by a bus. Since the main body unit 100, the document reading unit 200, the document feeding unit 300, and the paper post-processing unit 500 have already been described, description thereof will be omitted.

  The operation unit 400 has (1) a function of accepting an input of a value for determining the output number based on the number of documents read by the document reading unit 200 and the number of copies of the document, and (2) an image forming job. A function of receiving an input from the user; and (3) a function of receiving an input from the user to cause the document reading unit 200 to read the document.

  The function (1) will be described. The output number is a multiplication value obtained by multiplying the number of originals and the number of copies. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of the first input screen 11 displayed on the display unit 403 of the operation unit 400. The first input screen 11 includes a display area 13 for the number of documents to be copied, an up key 15 and a down key 17 corresponding to the display area, a display area 19 for the number of copies, and an up key 21 and a down key 23 corresponding thereto. .

  The up key 15 and the down key 17 are keys for inputting the number of documents to be copied. When the up key 15 is operated, the number is increased by one, and when the down key 17 is operated, the number is decreased by one. The number of sheets input by operating these keys is displayed in the display area 13.

  The up key 21 and the down key 23 are keys for setting the number of copies. When the up key 21 is operated, the number of copies is increased by one, and when the down key 23 is operated, the number of copies is decreased by one. The number of copies input by operating this key is displayed in the display area 19.

  The first input screen 11 has a key 25 next. If the key 25 is operated next after the number of copies and the number of copies are input, the screen is switched to the second input screen 31 shown in FIG.

  Function (2) will be described. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of the second input screen 31 displayed on the display unit 403 of the operation unit 400. The second input screen 31 is a basic function setting screen among copy setting screens. The second input screen 31 includes a paper selection key 33, a density adjustment key 35, a magnification adjustment key 37, and the like. The function (2) is to accept settings by operating these keys. The function (3) is reception of resolution setting input when the document reading unit 200 reads a document, input of start of document reading (operation of the start key 407 provided in the operation unit 400 shown in FIG. 1), and the like. .

  The control unit 600 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory), an image memory, and the like. The CPU executes control necessary for operating the image forming apparatus 1 on the hardware constituting the image forming apparatus 1. The ROM stores software necessary for controlling the operation of the image forming apparatus 1. The RAM is used for temporary storage of data generated during execution of software, storage of application software, and the like. The image memory temporarily stores image data (image data output from the document reading unit 200, image data transmitted from a personal computer, image data received by facsimile, etc.).

  The control unit 600 includes a count unit 601, a maintenance control unit 603, an operation control unit 605, a display control unit 607, and an image data storage unit 609.

  The image forming apparatus 1 performs a maintenance operation. The maintenance operation includes density adjustment, registration adjustment (adjustment for preventing color misregistration when toner images of respective colors are superimposed in color image formation), cleaning of the photosensitive drum 113, and the like. For example, in the density adjustment, the density of the toner image is corrected to the target density by adjusting the developing bias applied to the developing roller of the developing unit 117, the amount of light emitted from the exposure unit 115 to the photosensitive drum 113, and the like.

  The counting unit 601 starts counting from the end of the maintenance operation of the image forming apparatus 1 and counts the accumulated number obtained by integrating the number of sheets on which images are formed by the image forming unit 103. For example, if the cumulative number is 50 and the number of sheets on which images are formed in the current image forming job is 10, the cumulative number is 60 sheets. For example, if the number of sheets on which images are formed in the next image forming job is 5, for example, 65 is the accumulated number. The total number of sheets can be said to be the number of sheets on which images have been formed since the end of the previous maintenance.

  The maintenance control unit 603 stores a predetermined maintenance number. The maintenance number is a number that causes the image forming apparatus 1 to perform a maintenance operation when the cumulative number reaches a predetermined number (for example, 100) since the end of the previous maintenance operation of the image forming apparatus 1. The user can set the maintenance number by operating the operation unit 400.

  The maintenance control unit 603 causes the image forming apparatus 1 to perform a maintenance operation when the cumulative number counted by the counting unit 601 reaches the maintenance number or when a predetermined condition is met. Accordingly, in any of the above cases, the image forming apparatus 1 automatically performs a maintenance operation.

  The predetermined condition is that, for example, before copying, the number of originals to be read by the original reading unit 200 and the number of copies are input to the first input screen 11 shown in FIG. 3, and the number of originals and the number of copies are multiplied. The number of output sheets, the total number of sheets, and the number of maintenance sheets satisfy the following condition (A).

Number of output sheets + total number of sheets> number of maintenance sheets (A)
The maintenance control unit 603 calculates the number of output sheets obtained by multiplying the number of originals input from the first input screen 11 shown in FIG. If the condition (A) is satisfied, the maintenance control unit 603 causes the image forming apparatus 1 to start a maintenance operation regardless of whether an image forming job is input from the user. Accordingly, since the maintenance is completed before the image forming job is executed, the timing of the maintenance operation of the image forming apparatus 1 during the execution of the image forming job is prevented.

  In the operation unit 400, the operation control unit 605 selects the following first mode and second mode. In the first mode, after accepting an input of a value for determining the number of output sheets based on the number of originals read by the original reading unit 200 and the number of copies of the originals, input of an image forming job and original reading In this mode, an input for causing the unit 200 to read a document is received from a user. The second mode is a mode in which an input of an image forming job and an input for causing the original reading unit 200 to read an original are received from the user without determining an output number without requiring an input of a value for determining the number of output sheets. .

  When the first mode is selected, input of copy settings and reading of a document can be performed only after inputting the number of documents and the number of copies. On the other hand, when the second mode is selected, it is possible to input copy settings and read originals without inputting the number of originals and the number of copies.

  The operation control unit 605 stores a predetermined reference value. The reference value is a value that serves as a reference for whether or not a user input is required to determine the number of output sheets obtained by multiplying the number of originals read by the original reading unit 200 and the number of copies. The operation control unit 605 compares a value obtained by subtracting the accumulated number from the maintenance number with a reference value. The operation control unit 605 selects the first mode when the following condition (B) is satisfied, that is, when the value obtained by subtracting the accumulated number from the maintenance number is smaller than the reference value. On the other hand, when the condition (B) is not satisfied, that is, when the value obtained by subtracting the accumulated number from the maintenance number is larger than the reference value, the second mode is selected.

Number of maintenance sheets-Total number of sheets <Reference value (B)
The operation control unit 605 selects the first mode if the number of sheets on which images can be formed before the timing of the maintenance operation of the image forming apparatus 1 is sufficient, and selects the second mode if there is a margin. . The second mode is selected if there is a sufficient number of sheets on which images can be formed before the maintenance timing comes because the possibility of the maintenance timing coming during the execution of the image forming job is low. . Unless an image is formed on a large amount of sheets, the maintenance timing does not come during execution of the image forming job. Therefore, if there is a sufficient number of sheets on which an image can be formed, the second mode is selected, and the input of the number of documents and the number of copies is omitted.

  The display control unit 607 performs the next display control when the first mode is selected by the operation control unit 605. The display control unit 607 controls the display unit 403 to display the first input screen 11. After the number of originals and the number of copies are input to the first input screen 11, the second input screen 31 is displayed on the first input screen 31. Is switched to the input screen 11 and displayed on the display unit 403.

  The image data storage unit 609 stores image data of a document read by the document reading unit 200. When the maintenance operation of the image forming apparatus 1 is performed before the image forming job is executed, if the user inputs a document reading command during the maintenance, the image data of the read document is stored in the image data storage unit. 609 is stored. After the maintenance is completed, the main body 100 forms an image on a sheet based on the image data stored in the image data storage unit 609. An HDD connected to the control unit 600 via a bus may be used instead of the image data storage unit 609.

  The communication unit 700 includes a facsimile communication unit 701 and a network I / F unit 703. The facsimile communication unit 701 includes an NCU (Network Control Unit) that controls connection of a telephone line with a destination facsimile and a modulation / demodulation circuit that modulates / demodulates a signal for facsimile communication. The facsimile communication unit 701 is connected to the telephone line 705.

  A network I / F unit 703 is connected to a LAN (Local Area Network) 707. A network I / F unit 703 is a communication interface circuit for executing communication with a terminal device such as a personal computer connected to the LAN 707.

  Next, automatic maintenance and adjustment of the image forming job of the image forming apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

  When the function switching key 411 arranged in the operation unit 400 shown in FIG. 1 is operated and the copy mode is selected (step S1), the operation control unit 605 determines whether the condition (B) is satisfied (step S1). Step S3). That is, it is determined whether the value obtained by subtracting the accumulated number counted by the counting unit 601 from the maintenance number stored in the maintenance control unit 601 is smaller than the reference value stored in the operation control unit 605. For example, if the maintenance number is “100”, the integrated number is “82”, and the reference value is “20”, the condition (B) is satisfied.

  When the operation control unit 605 determines that the condition (B) is satisfied (Yes in step S3), there is no room for the number of sheets on which an image can be formed before the maintenance operation timing of the image forming apparatus 1 comes. The control unit 605 selects the first mode (step S5). As a result, the display control unit 607 displays the first input screen 11 shown in FIG. 3 on the display unit 403 (step S7).

  When the number of copies and the number of copies to be copied this time are input to the first input screen 11, the maintenance control unit 603 determines whether or not the condition (A) is satisfied (step S9). If the maintenance control unit 603 determines that the condition (A) is satisfied (Yes in step S9), the maintenance timing comes during execution of the image forming job. Therefore, the maintenance control unit 603 causes the image forming apparatus 1 to start a maintenance operation before the execution of the image forming job regardless of whether or not the image forming job is input from the user (step S11).

  During the maintenance in step S11, the operation unit 400 accepts a user operation for setting an image forming job. That is, the display control unit 607 changes the screen displayed on the display unit 403 from the first input screen 11 to the second input screen 31 when the key 25 is operated next provided on the first input screen 11. Switching (step S13). The second input screen 31 is an initial screen in the copy mode. Therefore, copying can be set during the maintenance operation of the image forming apparatus 1.

  As described above, the maintenance control unit 603 adds the cumulative number counted by the count unit 601 to the output number obtained by multiplying the number of originals input on the first input screen 11 and the number of copies, thereby obtaining the maintenance number. Is exceeded, the image forming apparatus 1 starts a maintenance operation before the image forming job is executed in the image forming apparatus 1. Even during the maintenance, the operation unit 400 accepts a user input for setting an image forming job on the second input screen 31.

  When the setting on the second input screen 31 is completed and the start key 407 shown in FIG. 1 is operated (step S15), the original reading unit 200 reads the original to be copied (step S17). The read image data of the document is stored in the image data storage unit 609. The control unit 600 determines whether the maintenance operation of the image forming apparatus 1 has been completed (step S19). If control unit 600 determines that the maintenance operation has not ended (No in step S19), the process of step S19 is repeated. If the control unit 600 determines that the maintenance operation has been completed (Yes in step S19), the image forming apparatus 1 executes an image forming job using the image data stored in the image data storage unit 609 (step S21). ).

  On the other hand, if the operation control unit 605 determines that the condition (B) is not satisfied (No in step S3), the operation control unit 605 has an allowance for the number of sheets on which images can be formed before the maintenance timing comes. Selects the second mode (step S23). As a result, the display control unit 607 displays the second input screen 31 shown in FIG. 4 on the display unit 403 (step S25). When the copy setting is input on the second input screen 31 and the start key 407 shown in FIG. 1 is operated (step S27), the document reading unit 200 reads the document to be copied (step S29). Then, an image forming job is executed by the image forming apparatus 1 (step S21).

  If the maintenance control unit 603 determines that the condition (A) is not satisfied (No in step S9), the maintenance operation timing of the image forming apparatus 1 does not come during the execution of the image forming job. The process is the same as No in step S3 described above.

  The main effects of this embodiment will be described.

  (1) According to the present embodiment, as described in step S7, the input of the number of originals read by the original reading unit 200 and the number of copies of the originals are prioritized over the input of the image forming job. Then, as described in step S9, when it is determined that the sum of the input number of copies and the output number of copies multiplied by the number of copies exceeds the maintenance number, the user inputs an image forming job. Regardless of whether or not, the image forming apparatus 1 starts the maintenance operation before the image forming job. As a result, it is possible to prevent the maintenance timing from occurring during the execution of the image forming job, so that the image quality of each sheet can be made uniform in an image forming job for forming an image on a plurality of sheets.

  When the image forming apparatus 1 starts a maintenance operation regardless of whether the user has input an image forming job, the input from the second input screen 31 is accepted even during maintenance. The image forming job can be set. Therefore, according to the present embodiment, since an image forming job can be set during automatic maintenance by the image forming apparatus 1, the number of sheets on which an image is formed is analyzed based on the image forming job data, and If it is determined that the maintenance timing comes during execution, the start of the image forming job is prohibited and the image forming job is executed after the maintenance, or the job is interrupted during execution of the image forming job and the image forming apparatus Compared with the case where the maintenance operation 1 is performed, the time until the end of printing can be shortened.

  (2) According to the present embodiment, as described in step S3, a sheet of paper on which an image can be formed before the maintenance timing comes using a reference value that is compared with a value obtained by subtracting the total number of sheets from the number of maintenance sheets. Judge whether the number of sheets is enough. If the value obtained by subtracting the cumulative number from the maintenance number is smaller than the reference value, it is determined that there is no room for the number of sheets on which images can be formed before the maintenance timing comes. On the other hand, if the value obtained by subtracting the total number of sheets from the number of maintenance sheets is larger than the reference value, it is determined that there is enough time before the maintenance timing comes.

  If there is not enough time for the number of sheets on which images can be formed before the maintenance timing comes, there is a high possibility that the maintenance timing will come during the execution of the image forming job. Therefore, before the image forming job is executed, the number of originals and the number of copies are input to the first input screen 11 to determine the number of output sheets, and the value obtained by adding the integrated number to the output number exceeds the maintenance number. It is determined whether or not a maintenance timing comes during execution of the image forming job. When the maintenance timing comes during execution of the image forming job, the image forming apparatus 1 is caused to start a maintenance operation regardless of whether or not the user has input the image forming job.

  On the other hand, if there is enough time for the number of sheets on which images can be formed before the maintenance timing comes, there is a low possibility that the maintenance timing will come during the execution of the image forming job. Do not judge when the maintenance timing is coming. This eliminates the operation of inputting the number of originals and the number of copies on the first input screen 11, displays the second input screen 31 and accepts the input of the image forming job as described in steps S23 and S25. . As described above, since it is possible to eliminate the input of the number of originals and the number of copies, it is possible to save the user.

  (3) According to the present embodiment, as described in steps S7 and S13, when the input of the number of copies and the number of copies is preceded by the input of the image forming job setting, the number of copies of the document and the number of copies are set. The first input screen 11 to be input is displayed on the display unit 403, and after the number of documents and the number of copies are input, the screen is switched to the second input screen 31 for setting an image forming job. Therefore, when the first input receiving unit 611 is selected by the second control unit 617, the user can move from setting the number of originals and the number of copies to setting an image forming job without hesitation.

  (4) According to the present embodiment, as described in Steps S7, S15, and S17, the operation unit 400 receives an input of a value for determining the number of output sheets from the user, and then sends the document to the document reading unit 200. From the user. Therefore, regardless of whether or not an image forming job is input from the user, when the image forming apparatus 1 starts the maintenance operation, an input for causing the document reading unit 200 to read the document is received from the user. As a result, the document reading unit 200 can read the document during maintenance, and the time until the end of printing can be further shortened.

  A modification of this embodiment will be described.

  A configuration in which processing by the operation control unit 605 is omitted may be employed. In this modification, the process of step S3 shown in FIG. 5 is not executed. Therefore, even if there is a sufficient number of sheets on which an image can be formed before the timing of the maintenance operation of the image forming apparatus 1, the number of originals and the number of copies must be input first in step S5.

  The first input screen 11 may be configured such that the user inputs the output number obtained by multiplying the number of originals and the number of copies. In this modification, the user must calculate the number of output sheets.

  The number of documents may be automatically obtained by providing a means for counting the number of documents in the document feeding unit 300 and counting the number of documents passing through the document transport unit 305 by the counting unit. The maintenance control unit 603 multiplies the count value and the number of copies input on the first input screen 11 to obtain the number of output sheets. In this modification, an operation for inputting the number of documents on the first input screen 11 is not required.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image forming apparatus 11 1st input screen 31 2nd input screen

Claims (4)

An image forming apparatus for forming an image based on image data on a sheet,
An original reading unit that reads an original and outputs image data;
An image forming unit that forms an image on a sheet based on image data output from the document reading unit;
A count unit that starts counting from the end of the maintenance operation of the image forming apparatus, and counts the total number of sheets obtained by integrating the number of sheets on which images are formed in the image forming unit;
A maintenance control unit that stores a predetermined maintenance number, and causes the image forming apparatus to perform a maintenance operation when the accumulated number reaches the maintenance number or when a predetermined condition is satisfied;
An operation unit that receives an input of an image forming job from a user after receiving an input of a value for determining the number of output sheets based on the number of originals read by the original reading unit and the number of copies of the original; Prepared,
If the value obtained by adding the cumulative number to the output number determined by the value input to the operation unit exceeds the maintenance number as the predetermined condition, the maintenance control unit An image forming apparatus that causes the image forming apparatus to start a maintenance operation regardless of whether an image forming job is input. In the operation unit, after receiving an input of a value for determining the number of output sheets from a user, a first mode for receiving an input of an image forming job from the user, and an input of a value for determining the number of output sheets An operation control unit that selects a second mode in which an input of an image forming job is received from a user without determining the number of output sheets as unnecessary;
The operation control unit selects the first mode when the value obtained by subtracting the accumulated number from the maintenance number is smaller than a predetermined reference value, and the value obtained by subtracting the accumulated number from the maintenance number is The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second mode is selected when the reference value is larger than the reference value. A display unit provided in the operation unit;
When the first mode is selected by the operation control unit, the display unit is controlled to display a first input screen on which the number of documents to be read by the document reading unit and the number of copies of the document are input. After the number of originals and the number of copies of the originals are input to the first input screen, the second input screen on which an image forming job is input is switched to the first input screen and the display unit The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising: a display control unit that performs control of display on the display unit.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the operation unit receives an input for allowing the original reading unit to read a document after receiving an input of a value for determining the number of output sheets from the user. apparatus.