JP2013146898A - Image forming apparatus, and method of controlling the same - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To easily confirm a paper ejection position of an image-formed object based on an image forming job, and to prevent the image-formed object from being left behind.SOLUTION: An image forming apparatus includes: a color printer 80 for forming an image based on an image forming job on a paper sheet, and ejecting an image-formed object for each image forming job; stackers 102, 103 for stacking the image-formed object ejected from the color printer 80 for each image forming job; an operation display panel 48 for displaying ejection destinations of the image-formed objects ejected to the stackers 102, 103, and inputting a request for confirming the ejection destination of each image-formed object; and a control portion for managing the image-formed object ejected to each of the stackers 102, 103 from the color printer 80 for each image forming job, and controlling a display portion to display the ejection destination of the image-formed object based on the confirmation request input by an operation portion for each image forming job.

Description

  The present invention is applied to color, black and white printers, copiers, and multi-function peripherals having a function of discharging an image formed object on which an image based on an image forming job is formed on a sheet. The present invention relates to a suitable image forming apparatus.

  In recent years, there have been color printers that form color images based on color image information, color copiers that have a scan function that reads an image of an original and outputs an image signal for color image reproduction, and multifunction devices. It has been increasingly used. For example, digital color image forming apparatuses that acquire red (R), green (G), and blue (B) image data and form a color image based on the image data are widely used.

  In this type of tandem color image forming apparatus, an electrophotographic image forming unit is provided. In the image forming unit, RGB image data is color-converted into YMCK image data, and yellow ( A color toner image is formed based on image data for Y, magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (BK) colors. The image forming unit includes image forming units that share Y, M, C, and BK image forming output functions, and image data is applied to a photosensitive drum that is uniformly charged by the charging unit for each image forming color. An electrostatic latent image is formed by an optical writing unit (PH: Printer Head) using a polygon mirror or the like.

  The electrostatic latent image is developed by the developing device for each image forming color. The color toner image formed on the photosensitive drum by performing such charging, exposure and development is superimposed on the intermediate transfer belt, and the superimposed color toner image is transferred onto the sheet by the transfer unit. The sheet is transported from the sheet feeding tray to the transfer section by the sheet feeding section. The toner image transferred onto a predetermined sheet is fixed by a fixing device. Thereby, a color image based on the image data can be formed on a predetermined sheet.

  By the way, according to the color image forming apparatus, an image forming system is constructed by connecting post-processing apparatuses such as a stacker, and an image-formed sheet discharged from the color image forming apparatus is stored for each image forming job. Is being used.

  With regard to an image forming apparatus having this type of stacker function, according to the printing apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 1, a paper feeding unit, a printing mechanism unit, a plurality of stackers, and a first or second printing control logic unit Any one of the above is configured. The paper feeding unit supplies the paper to the printing mechanism unit. The printing mechanism unit prints desired information on the paper fed from the paper feeding unit. In the stacker, printed sheets discharged from the printing mechanism unit are accumulated. Based on these assumptions, for each of a plurality of mutually identifiable jobs, the first print control logic unit discharges the sheet discharged from the print mechanism unit by the job across the plurality of stackers. The first operation to be reported to the operator and the printing operation are stopped when the paper discharged from the printing mechanism unit by each job is discharged across a plurality of stackers. At least one of the two operations is executed.

  In addition, the second print control logic unit includes, in each stacker, a first sensor that detects whether or not the stacker is full of paper, and whether or not an arbitrary amount of paper is accumulated in the stacker. A second sensor for detecting the amount of paper accumulated in one of the arbitrary stackers when execution of the arbitrary job is completed is between the first sensor and the second sensor. Then, an operation for switching and accumulating sheets discharged from the printing mechanism unit by executing the next job to another stacker is performed. If the printing apparatus is configured in this way, it is possible to easily and accurately carry out sorting and management of sheets such as cut sheets discharged to a plurality of stackers, and to prevent loss of sheets in advance.

  Further, in relation to an image forming apparatus including a plurality of paper discharge units, according to the printing apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 2, a full detection unit, a discharge unit switching unit, a paper discharge destination information printing unit, and a paper discharge An original information printing unit is provided. The full detection means detects in which part of the print data the paper discharge unit is full during printing. The discharge unit switching unit automatically switches the paper discharge destination when the paper discharge unit is full. When the paper discharge destination information printing part is detected to be full by the full detection means, the print data that continues after the full paper is discharged to which paper discharge part is discharged to the paper discharge part that becomes full at the end. Print information indicating what will be done. Based on these assumptions, in Patent Document 2, the discharge source information printing unit determines which discharge is to be performed on the first print sheet of the discharge unit after the paper discharge destination is automatically switched when the discharge unit is full. Information indicating whether or not the paper portion is full is printed.

  By configuring the printing apparatus in this way, when collecting sheets discharged to different discharge sections, it is possible to combine the sheets by simply checking the contents of the separator pages. The work efficiency can be improved.

  Further, in connection with the image forming apparatus having a plurality of paper discharge trays, according to the image forming system disclosed in Patent Document 3, the host device and the print paper output device are connected via a network, and the host device When the printing paper output device that receives the printing output request signal from the printer performs printing output, the printing paper output device includes a transmission unit and a plurality of paper discharge trays. The paper printed by the printing paper output device is discharged to each paper discharge tray. The transmission means performs communication processing between the host device and the printing paper output device.

  Based on this assumption, when the transmission means transmits a print output request signal from the host device to the print paper output device, the number of prints is the number of papers that cannot be accommodated in one discharge tray. Paper is discharged also to other paper discharge trays, and a display signal is transmitted to the host device so that the paper discharge tray can be recognized by the host device. By configuring the image forming system in this way, it is possible to discharge all the printing papers satisfactorily and to easily grasp the discharge destination, thereby improving the convenience of the system.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 08-212030 JP 2007-039236 A JP 2002-215343 A

Incidentally, the image forming apparatus having a plurality of paper discharge functions according to the conventional example has the following problems.
i. According to the printing apparatus provided with a plurality of stackers found in Patent Document 1, it is monitored whether or not a sheet (output material) discharged from the printing mechanism unit by an image forming job is discharged across the plurality of stackers. When a sheet discharged from the printing mechanism unit by each image forming job is discharged across a plurality of stackers, a report is made to the operator and the printing operation is stopped.

  However, according to Patent Document 1, it is not possible to confirm on the display screen the output destination of which image forming job output is being discharged to which stacker during the output output collection operation. Moreover, according to Patent Literature 1, there is a problem that it is difficult to grasp the output position of the output object related to the image forming job to be output when a plurality of image forming jobs are operating in parallel. is there.

  ii. According to the printing apparatus found in Patent Document 2, the paper discharge source information printing unit determines which paper to be printed at the beginning of the paper discharge unit after automatically switching the paper discharge destination when the paper discharge unit is full. Information indicating whether the paper is full after being printed on the paper discharge unit is printed.

  However, according to Patent Document 1, it is impossible to confirm to which paper discharge destination the entire image forming job is output. Moreover, according to Patent Document 2, when other image forming jobs exist at the same paper discharge destination, it is impossible to determine how far the output is based on the image forming job to be output. There is.

  iii. According to the print paper output device disclosed in Patent Document 3, when a print output request signal is transmitted from the host device, if the number of prints is the number of papers that cannot be accommodated in one paper discharge tray, Paper is also discharged to the tray, and a display signal is transmitted to the host device so that the discharge tray can be recognized by the host device.

  Therefore, before starting the image forming job, it can be confirmed in the host device that the paper is discharged to the other paper discharge trays. However, after the image forming job is started, the paper discharge tray is changed. If it is done, there is a problem that it cannot respond.

  Accordingly, the present invention solves the above-described problems, and makes it possible to easily confirm the discharge position of the image formation based on the image formation job and to prevent the image formation from being forgotten. An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus and a control method thereof.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, an image forming apparatus according to claim 1, an image forming unit that forms an image based on an image forming job on a sheet and discharges an image formed product for each image forming job, and the image A plurality of paper discharge units for stacking image formed products discharged from the forming unit for each image forming job; a display unit for displaying a discharge destination of the image formed products discharged to the paper discharge unit; and the display unit An operation unit for inputting a request for confirming a discharge destination of the image formation displayed on the screen, and managing the image formation discharged from the image formation unit to each discharge unit for each image forming job And a control unit that controls the display unit so as to display the discharge destination of the image formation based on the confirmation request input by the operation unit for each image forming job. .

  According to the image forming apparatus of the first aspect, the image forming unit forms an image based on the image forming job on the sheet, and discharges the image formed material to each paper discharging unit for each image forming job. The plurality of paper discharge units stack the image formations discharged from the image forming unit for each image forming job. The display unit displays a discharge destination of the image formed material discharged to the paper discharge unit. The operation unit inputs a request for confirming the discharge destination of the image formation displayed on the display unit. Based on these assumptions, the control unit manages the image formed products discharged from the image forming unit to the respective paper discharge units for each image forming job, and the image forming product based on the confirmation request input by the operation unit. The display unit is controlled to display the discharge destination for each image forming job. By this display control, the discharge destination of the image formed material based on the confirmation request input by the operation unit can be displayed on the display unit for each image forming job.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the first aspect, the display unit displays at least one of the output page and the number of output units of the image forming material discharged to each of the paper discharge units. It is characterized by doing.

  The image forming apparatus according to a third aspect is the image forming apparatus according to the second aspect, wherein the display unit is at least one of presence / absence of another image forming job loaded on each of the paper discharge units and information on another image forming job. One of them is displayed together.

  An image forming apparatus according to a fourth aspect of the present invention is the image forming apparatus according to the third aspect, wherein the information of the other image forming job includes a number of sheets and a sheet type.

  The image forming apparatus according to claim 5 is the image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit has changed in a state of another image forming job while displaying the discharge destination of the image formed material on the display unit. The display unit changes the display of the discharge destination of the image formed product on the display unit when there is a change in the state of the other image forming job.

  The image forming apparatus according to a sixth aspect is the image forming apparatus according to the first aspect, wherein the control unit monitors whether or not the image formation product has been removed from each of the paper discharge units, and the image formation from the paper discharge unit. When the object is removed, the display unit is controlled to display the time when the image formed product is removed from the paper discharge unit in addition to the display of the discharge destination of the image formed product on the display unit. It is characterized by.

  The image forming apparatus according to claim 7 is the image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit removes the image formed material from the paper discharge unit while displaying the discharge destination of the image formed material on the display unit. In this case, the display of the discharge destination of the image formed product on the display unit is changed.

  The image forming apparatus control method according to claim 8 is an image forming apparatus control method including an image forming unit, a plurality of paper discharge units, a display unit, and a control unit, wherein the control unit includes an image forming job. Controlling the image forming unit to form an image based on the image on a sheet and discharging the image formed product, and to stack the image formed product discharged from the image forming unit for each image forming job. A step of controlling a paper discharge unit, a step of managing an image formed product discharged from the image forming unit to each of the paper discharge units, and a destination for confirming a discharge destination of the image formed product to be discharged A step of receiving a request and a step of controlling the display unit so as to display the received discharge destination of the image forming object for each of the image forming jobs are performed.

  According to the image forming apparatus according to claim 1 and the control method for the image forming apparatus according to claim 8, the image forming apparatus includes a control unit that controls a display unit for displaying a discharge destination of the image formed product, and the control unit includes In addition to managing the image formation discharged from the image forming unit to each paper discharge unit for each image forming job, the discharge destination of the image formed product based on the confirmation request input by the operation unit is displayed for each image forming job I tried to control it.

  With this configuration, it is possible to display all the discharge destinations of the image formation based on the confirmation request input by the operation unit on the display unit for each image forming job. As a result, the user can easily confirm the discharge position of the image formation based on the image formation job, and the forgetting to remove the image formation can be prevented.

  According to the image forming apparatus according to claim 2, the display unit displays at least one of the output page and the number of output units of the image formed material discharged to each paper discharge unit. Can be easily confirmed.

  According to the image forming apparatus of the third aspect, since the display unit displays at least one of the presence / absence of other image forming jobs and information on other image forming jobs stacked on each paper discharge unit, When collecting an image formation based on an image formation job, it is possible to confirm the existence of another image formation job and prevent the image formation related to the other image formation job from being erroneously collected. become able to.

  According to the image forming apparatus of the fourth aspect, since the information of the other image forming job includes the number of sheets and the paper type, the image forming job that the user has submitted and the image formation that the other person has submitted. The separation from the job can be easily confirmed, and it is possible to prevent erroneous collection of the image formed product based on the image forming job of another person.

  According to the image forming apparatus of the fifth aspect, when there is a change in the state of another image forming job, the control unit changes the display of the discharge destination of the image formation on the display unit. It is possible to always grasp the state of the discharge destination, and during the collection operation of the image formation, other image formations are discharged, and the image formation is caused by the change of the discharge destination without the user's intention. It becomes possible to prevent mistakes.

  According to the image forming apparatus of the sixth aspect, when the image formation is removed from the paper discharge unit, the image formation is removed from the paper discharge unit in addition to the display of the discharge destination of the image formation on the display unit. Since the displayed time is displayed, it is possible to confirm the time at which the image forming object related to the image forming job is removed from the paper discharge unit based on the display time information. Accordingly, it becomes easy to identify an image forming job in which an image formed product based on the image forming job may be erroneously collected, and a recovery operation is facilitated.

  According to the image forming apparatus of the seventh aspect, when the image formation is removed from the paper discharge unit, the control unit changes the display of the discharge destination of the image formation on the display unit. During the collection operation of the image formation based on the above, it is possible to easily recognize the collected image formation and the uncollected image formation.

1 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration example of a color copying machine 100 as an embodiment according to the present invention. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a control system of the color copying machine 100. FIG. It is explanatory drawing which shows the data structure example of a job management table and an output destination information element. 6 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a data structure of a paper discharge destination management table and a paper discharge paper information element. FIG. It is explanatory drawing which shows the example of a display of the job history screen G1. It is explanatory drawing which shows the example of a display of the discharge destination display screen G21. It is explanatory drawing which shows the example of a display of the discharge destination display screen G22. It is explanatory drawing which shows the example of a display of the discharge destination display screen G23. It is explanatory drawing which shows the example of a display of the discharge destination display screen G24. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an example of processing of job output information and paper discharge destination history information during normal print processing in the color copier 100. It is a flowchart (main routine) which shows the example of a display process of the job history screen G1. It is a flowchart (subroutine) which shows the display control example (the 1) of a discharge destination display screen. It is a flowchart (subroutine) which shows the display control example (the 2) of a discharge destination display screen. 10 is a flowchart (subroutine) illustrating an example of acquiring paper discharge destination state information when an image forming job is discharged. It is a flowchart which shows the process example of the paper discharge destination log | history information D54 at the time of output collection | recovery.

  Hereinafter, an image forming apparatus and a control method thereof according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The descriptions in this section do not limit the technical scope described in the claims or the meaning of terms.

  A color copying machine 100 shown in FIG. 1 constitutes an example of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention, and includes a copying machine main body 101 and two stackers 102 and 103 as post-processing functions. The color copying machine 100 includes, for example, a control unit 15, an image processing unit 16, and a scanner 105 as shown in FIG. 2 in addition to the paper supply unit 20, the operation display panel 48 and the color printer 80.

The paper supply unit 20 includes, for example, three paper supply trays 21, 22 and 23 in order to supply the paper P to the color printer 80. The paper feed tray 21 accommodates plain paper of A3 size and a paper amount of 64 g / m ² (hereinafter simply referred to as 64 g). The paper feed tray 22 stores high-quality paper of A3 size and a weight of 80 g. The paper feed tray 23 stores paper P having other sizes and other amounts.

  A color printer 80 constituting an example of an image forming unit is connected to the paper supply unit 20. The color printer 80 forms a color image based on the image forming job on the paper P and discharges an image formed product (hereinafter referred to as an output product Pout) for each image forming job. For the color printer 80, for example, a tandem type electrophotographic printer engine is used. According to the color printer 80, RGB image data is color-converted into YMCK image data, and the yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (BK) colors after color conversion. A color toner image is formed based on the image data for use.

  The color printer 80 includes image forming units that share image forming output functions of Y, M, C, and BK colors, and image data is applied to a photosensitive drum that is uniformly charged by a charging unit for each image forming color. An electrostatic latent image is formed by an optical writing unit (PH: Printer Head) using a polygon mirror or the like.

  The electrostatic latent image is developed by the developing device for each image forming color. The color toner image formed on the photosensitive drum by performing such charging, exposure and development is superimposed on the intermediate transfer belt, and the superimposed color toner image is transferred onto the sheet by the transfer unit. The paper P is conveyed from the paper feed tray 21 and the like to the transfer unit by the paper supply unit 20. The toner image transferred onto the predetermined paper P is fixed by a fixing device. Thereby, a color image based on the image data can be formed on the predetermined paper P.

  The stackers 102 and 103 constitute an example of a plurality of paper discharge units, and stack output products Pout discharged from the color printer 80 for each image forming job. The stacker 102 is displayed as “stacker 1” in the discharge destination display screen shown in FIGS. 6 to 9, and the stacker 103 is displayed as “stacker 2” in the same screen.

  Next, a configuration example of the control system of the color copying machine 100 will be described with reference to FIG. A color copying machine 100 shown in FIG. 2 includes a control unit 15, an image processing unit 16, a paper supply unit 20, an operation display panel 48, a color printer 80, and a scanner 105.

  The operation display panel 48 constitutes an example of a display unit and an operation unit, and includes, for example, the display unit 18 and the operation control unit 14 illustrated in FIG. The display unit 18 displays a discharge destination of the output product Pout discharged to the stackers 102 and 103. For example, a basic setting screen for an image forming job (target job) and a discharge destination display screen for all output products Pout are displayed on the display unit 18. For example, the display unit 18 displays a job history screen G1 as shown in FIG. 5, discharge destination display screens G21 to G24 as shown in FIGS.

  The operation control unit 14 is operated so as to set image forming conditions and the like in the normal operation mode. The normal operation mode refers to an operation for forming an image on a sheet of a predetermined paper size based on image forming conditions set by the user. The image forming conditions include basic settings, output settings, application settings, paper settings, printing surface, post-processing settings, image quality adjustment, and the like. In the output setting, the output destination of the output Pout can be specified.

  The operation display panel 48 includes a touch panel and a liquid crystal display (LCD). The operation display panel 48 uses GUI (Graphic User Interface) input means. For example, when paper is set, an operation for selecting the paper feed trays 21 to 23 in which the paper P is stored is performed.

  Of course, when selecting the type of paper P (paper type), the paper size, or the like, or when selecting the paper feed trays 21 to 23, “Automatic” is touched, and the image forming conditions are set. The image forming conditions and paper feed tray selection information set on the operation display panel 48 are output to the image control CPU 55 as operation data D14. The image forming conditions and the like are displayed on the display unit 18 based on the display data D18. The display data D18 is output from the image control CPU 55 to the operation display panel 48.

  The operation control unit 14 inputs a request for confirming the discharge destination of the output product Pout displayed on the display unit 18. As a result, the discharge position of the output product Pout related to the image forming job previously thrown by the user can be confirmed on the discharge destination display screens G21 to G24, and forgetting to remove can be prevented.

  The control unit 15 is connected to the operation display panel 48. The control unit 15 includes, for example, a read processing unit 51, a compression IC 52, an image memory 53, a job management memory unit 54, an image control CPU 55, a DRAM control IC 56, a data bus 58, and a write processing unit 59. .

  The image control CPU 55 manages the output product Pout discharged from the color printer 80 to each of the stackers 102 and 103 for each image forming job, and discharge destination of the output product Pout based on the confirmation request input by the operation control unit 14. Is displayed for each image forming job.

  First, the image control CPU 55 controls the color printer 80 to form an image based on the image forming job on the paper P and discharge the output Pout, and outputs the output Pout discharged from the color printer 80 for each image forming job. The stackers 102 and 103 are controlled so as to be loaded on the vehicle. For example, the image control CPU 55 has a page counter, and after initializing the output sheet value N to 0, the image control CPU 55 counts up each time one output product Pout related to the image forming job is output.

  Further, the image control CPU 55 manages the output product Pout discharged from the color printer 80 to each of the stackers 102 and 103, and displays an operation display request for confirming the discharge destination of the output product Pout to be managed here. Reception is performed via the panel 48. Thereafter, the image control CPU 55 controls the display unit 18 so that the operation display panel 48 displays the received discharge destination of the output product Pout for each image forming job.

  The image control CPU 55 is connected to a memory unit 54 for job management and an image memory 53 for image data. In this example, job output information D53 is stored in the image memory 53 in addition to the image data DIN. The job output information D53 includes output destination information elements such as a copy number, a page number, a discharge destination, and a pointer to the head element related to the image forming job (see FIG. 3).

  The memory unit 54 stores discharge destination history information D54, discharge destination status information D55, and the like. The paper discharge destination history information D54 includes a job number. , Size, paper type, mode, number of pages, number of copies, print mode, output completion time, paper discharge position, status, etc. are included (see FIG. 4). The paper discharge destination state information D55 is information indicating the state of the paper discharge destination when the image forming job to be output is discharged, and is generated based on the job output information D53 and the acquired paper discharge destination history information D54.

  The paper discharge destination state information D55 includes uncollected information indicating whether or not the output product Pout based on the image forming job is collected, collected information, and the like (see FIG. 14). The job output information D53, the paper discharge destination history information D54, and the paper discharge destination state information D55 are converted into a displayable format and output to the display unit 18 as display data D18.

  A color printer 80 is connected to the image control CPU 55 described above. The color printer 80 is configured to include a laser diode (hereinafter collectively referred to as an LD 81) constituting an image writing unit (not shown), a printer control unit 82, and the like. The image control CPU 55 of the control unit 15 is connected to the printer control unit 82 of the color printer 80. The paper supply unit 20 is connected to the printer control unit 82. The paper supply unit 20 selects the paper feed tray 21 and the like based on an instruction operation from the operation display panel 48 and conveys the paper P having a predetermined paper size to the color printer 80. The color printer 80 forms an image on a predetermined paper P fed from the paper supply unit 20 and outputs an output product Pout.

  In this example, two stackers 102 and 103 are connected to the color copying machine 100. The stacker 102 is provided with a stacker control unit 104, for example. The stacker control unit 104 is connected to the printer control unit 82 described above. For example, the printer control unit 82 outputs a discharge control signal S14 to the stacker control unit 104, and discharges the output Pout discharged from the color printer 80 for each image forming job to each of the stackers 102 and 103. The conveyance path route is switched and controlled.

  For example, the stacker control unit 104 switches and controls a branch unit (not shown) for branching the paper transport path to the stacker 102 or 103 based on the paper discharge control signal S14. In addition, the stacker 102 or the like also performs switching control of a branching portion (not shown) for branching a paper discharge path to a plurality of discharge trays inside.

  In addition to the operation display panel 48 and the color printer 80, the scanner 105 is connected to the image control CPU 55. The scanner 105 includes a line image sensor (hereinafter referred to as CCD 11) that constitutes a document image scanning exposure apparatus (not shown), a scanner control unit 12, and the like. The CCD 11 reads a document based on a reading instruction operation from the operation display panel 48 and control of the scanner control unit 12 and outputs image data DIN obtained by reading to the image control CPU 55.

  The CCD 11 of the scanner 105 is connected to the reading processing unit 51 of the image control CPU 55. The reading processing unit 51 reads and processes image data DIN obtained from the CCD 11. A compression IC 52 is connected to the reading processing unit 51. The compression IC 52 compresses the image data DIN processed by the reading processing unit 51. The compressed image data DIN is transferred to the image memory 53 under the control of the DRAM control IC 56.

  A DRAM control IC 56 is connected to the compression IC 52. The DRAM control IC 56 executes memory control so that the image data DIN compressed by the compression IC 52 is written into the image memory 53. An image memory 53 is connected to the DRAM control IC 56. The image memory 53 includes a compression memory 31 and a page memory 32. The compressed memory 31 stores compressed image data DIN. The page memory 32 stores image data DIN for one page.

  In addition to the compression IC 52, the decompression IC 57 is connected to the DRAM control IC 56 described above. The decompression IC 57 decompresses the image data DIN read from the image memory 53. A write processing unit 59 is connected to the decompression IC 57. The write processing unit 59 processes the image data DIN decompressed by the decompression IC 57 and outputs it to the color printer 80.

  The DRAM control IC 56 is connected to the data bus 58. The image processing means 16 is connected to the data bus 58. The image processing unit 16 includes a controller control IC 61, a DRAM control IC 62, an image memory 63, and a LANIF unit 64. One end of the LANIF unit 64 is connected to an external device such as a personal computer (hereinafter referred to as a personal computer 200). The other end of the LANIF unit 64 is connected to one end of the DRAM control IC 62.

  The other end of the LANIF unit 64 is connected to one end of the DRAM control IC 62. The other end of the DRAM control IC 62 is connected to the data bus 58. The DRAM control IC 62 is further connected to the controller control IC 61 and the image memory 63. The image processing unit 16 transfers the image data DIN received from the personal computer 200 via the LANIF unit 64 to the DRAM control IC 62.

  The DRAM control IC 62 is temporarily stored in the image memory 63 under the control of the controller control IC 61. Thereby, the image data DIN acquired from the personal computer 200 can be formed and printed out without being limited to the image data DIN obtained from the scanner 105.

  Here, an example of the data structure of the job management table and the output destination information element will be described with reference to FIG. The job management table shown in FIG. 3 is constructed in the image memory 53, for example. In the job management table, the output destination information element of the job output information D53 is described. Here, the job output information D53 refers to list data for managing the output destination for each page of each job.

  According to the job output information D53, data elements corresponding to the number of output sheets are created when an image forming job is generated, and data is set in the output destination information element corresponding to each page at the timing when the image forming output is performed. The Parameters included in each element of the list data include an output destination information element such as a copy number / page number / discharge destination / discharge position (the number of sheets at the discharge destination) / a pointer to the first element. .

  In this example, the image control CPU 55 checks whether the output product Pout related to the image forming job to be output is output to the output destinations of all stackers 102 and 103, and the output is executed. Only discharge destinations such as the stackers 102 and 103 are displayed.

  Further, the image control CPU 55 displays all output job information on the display unit 18 for each discharge destination such as the stackers 102 and 103 to be displayed. Only the job output information D53 of the image forming job to be output is grayed out so that the user can easily distinguish it from the job output information D53 of the image forming job to be output.

  In this example, a pointer to a job management table as shown in FIG. 3A is set in a register (not shown) of the image control CPU 55. The pointer by the register of the image control CPU 55 points to the job management table. In the job management table, description areas of JOB1 to JOBn are provided as image forming jobs to be output.

  The pointer to the head element of JOB1 designates output destination information element 1 (corresponding to stacker 102), the pointer of output destination information element 1 designates output destination information element 2 (corresponding to stacker 103), and output destination information The pointer of the element 2 designates the next output destination information element, and similarly, the pointer of the output destination information element N−1 designates the output destination information element N.

  Also, the pointer to the head element of JOB2 specifies the output destination information element 1, the pointer of the output destination information element 1 specifies the output destination information element 2, and the pointer of the output destination information element 2 is the next output destination. Similarly, the information element is designated, and similarly, the pointer of the output destination information element of N-1 designates the output destination information element N.

  Similarly, the pointer to the head element of JOBn specifies output destination information element 1, the pointer of output destination information element 1 specifies output destination information element 2, and the pointer of output destination information element 2 The output destination information element is designated, and similarly, the pointer of the output destination information element of N−1 designates the output destination information element N.

  According to the data structure of the output destination information element, as shown in FIG. 3B, a copy number in the image forming job, a page number, a discharge destination, a discharge position, a pointer to the next element, and the like are described. According to the above-described example, the configuration having the data element for each output sheet has been described in order to facilitate the realization method of searching for the discharge destination. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the present invention can be realized even when a data structure is employed in which a group of pages with the same output destination is managed as one output destination information element.

  Next, an example of the data structure of the paper discharge destination management table and the paper discharge paper information element will be described with reference to FIG. The paper discharge destination management table shown in FIG. 4 is constructed in the memory unit 54 shown in FIG. 2, for example. The paper discharge destination management table stores paper discharge destination history information D54. The paper discharge destination history information D54 is list data for managing the paper P output for each paper discharge destination.

  In this example, the image control CPU 55 creates a new data element and adds it to the list every time the output Pout is output to each discharge destination such as the stackers 102 and 103. The parameters of each element of the paper discharge destination history information D54 include job No. / Size / paper type / output completion time / removal information / discharge position / discharged paper information element such as a pointer to the next element.

  In this example, a pointer to a discharge destination management table as shown in FIG. 4A is set in a register (not shown) of the image control CPU 55. The pointer by the register of the image control CPU 55 points to the discharge destination management table. The discharge destination management table is provided with description areas for paper discharge destinations 1 to n as image forming jobs to be output.

  The pointer to the first element of the paper discharge destination 1 specifies the paper discharge paper information element 1, the pointer of the paper discharge paper information element 1 specifies the paper discharge paper information element 2, and the pointer of the paper discharge paper information element 2 is Next, the next paper discharge paper information element is designated, and similarly, the pointer of the N-1 paper discharge paper information element designates the paper discharge paper information element N.

  Further, the pointer to the first element of the paper discharge destination 2 specifies the paper discharge paper information element 1, the pointer of the paper discharge paper information element 1 specifies the paper discharge paper information element 2, and the paper discharge paper information element 2 The pointer designates the next paper discharge paper information element, and similarly, the pointer of the N-1 paper discharge paper information element designates the paper discharge paper information element N.

  Similarly, the pointer to the first element of the paper discharge destination n specifies the paper discharge paper information element 1, the pointer of the paper discharge paper information element 1 specifies the paper discharge paper information element 2, and the paper discharge paper information element The pointer of 2 designates the next paper discharge paper information element, and similarly, the pointer of the paper discharge paper information element of N−1 designates the paper discharge paper information element N.

  According to the data structure of the discharged paper information element, the job number. / Size / paper type / output completion time / removal information / discharge position / pointer to the next element, etc. are described. According to the above-described example, the configuration for individually managing the paper discharge destination history information D54 has been described in order to facilitate the realization method of searching for the discharge destination. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the present invention can be realized even when all the paper discharge destination history information D54 is managed by the data structure of the job output information D53 and the paper discharge destination history information D54 is constructed from the job output information D53. .

  Next, a display example of the job history screen G1 according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. The job history screen G1 shown in FIG. 5 is a screen in which the display transitions from the basic setting screen when the icon switch of the “output history list” is selected and pressed on a basic setting screen or the like for setting image forming conditions (not shown). is there. The job history screen G1 is displayed on the display unit 18 based on the display data D18.

  The display data D18 is obtained by converting the paper discharge destination history information D54 into a displayable format. The job history screen G1 displays the character information of “output history list”. Below the text information of the output history list, a column of job history items such as “job number, mode, number of pages, number of copies, print mode, output completion time, status” is described. Note that the default is the last output image forming job. In this example, the job No. 5.

  This job No. "5" is described (displayed) in the mode column, "10" is described in the number of pages column, "300" is described in the number of copies column, and the printing mode column is displayed. “Double-sided → single-sided” is described, “15:36” is described in the output completion time column, and “normal end” is described in the status column.

  Job No. “Printer” is described in the mode column 4, “100” is described in the column for the number of pages, “100” is described in the column for the number of copies, and “Single side → “One side” is described, “15:20” is described in the output completion time column, and “Normal end” is described in the status column.

  Job No. “Copier” is described in the mode column 3, “50” is described in the page number column, “50” is described in the number of copies column, and “duplex → “One side” is described, “14:54” is described in the output completion time column, and “Normal end” is described in the status column.

  Job No. “Copier” is described in the mode column 2, “60” is described in the column of the page number, “30” is described in the column of the number of copies, and “one side → "Both sides" is described, "13:36" is described in the output completion time column, and "normal end" is described in the status column.

  Job No. “Printer” is described in the mode column of “1”, “100” is described in the column of the number of pages, “100” is described in the column of the number of copies, and “single side → “One side” is described, “11:15” is described in the output completion time column, and “Cancel” is described in the status column.

  Below the job history item column, keys K1 to K5 for push buttons such as “next page”, “previous page”, “detail confirmation”, “discharge destination confirmation”, and “end” are displayed in order from the left side. . The next page key K1 is pressed to indicate the next page in the output history list of the page. The previous page key K2 is pressed to indicate the previous page in the output history list of the page. The detail confirmation key K3 is pressed when confirming the details of the job history item column in the output history list of the page.

  The discharge destination confirmation key K4 is newly added to the existing output history screen. In the output history list of the page, the output material Pout related to the image forming job described in the job history item column is discharged. Pressed when confirming the destination. When the discharge destination confirmation key K4 is pressed, the display changes from the job history screen G1 to the discharge destination display screen G21. The end key K5 is pressed when the output history list of the page is closed and the process ends.

  Job No. related to these image forming jobs. Output history lists 1 to 5 are displayed on the job history screen G1. Note that the currently selected image forming job is notified to the user by performing a grade-out display. In addition, by pressing a display area of an arbitrary image forming job, the selected image forming job can be switched.

  Subsequently, a display example of the discharge destination display screen G21 according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. Also in this example, the character information of “output history list” is displayed on the discharge destination display screen G21. The discharge destination display screen G21 shown in FIG. 6 is the job history screen G1 shown in FIG. The job history item field 5 is graded out, and the display is switched from the job history screen G1 to the discharge destination display screen G21 by pressing the discharge destination confirmation key K4.

  The display unit 18 shown in FIG. 2 displays at least one of the output page and the number of output units of the output product Pout discharged to each stacker 102, 103 or the like. Of course, the number of copies and pages discharged for each discharge destination may be displayed together. As the discharge destination, only the discharge destination to which the image forming job has been output is displayed. Unused discharge destinations are not displayed.

  In addition, the display unit 18 displays at least one of the presence / absence of other image forming jobs and information on other image forming jobs loaded on the stackers 102 and 103. Of course, the presence / absence of other image forming jobs and information on other image forming jobs may be displayed together. For example, when another image forming job exists at the target discharge destination, the discharge position of the other image forming job is also displayed. Note that the image forming job designated by the user can be easily distinguished by displaying it as a grade-out.

  The information on the other image forming jobs includes the number of sheets P and the sheet type. For example, the size, paper type, number of copies, and number of pages are displayed together for each image forming job to be output. In this example, the job No. "5" is described (displayed) in the mode column, "10" is described in the number of pages column, "300" is described in the number of copies column, and the printing mode column is displayed. “Double-sided → single-sided” is described, “15:36” is described in the output completion time column, and “normal end” is described in the status column.

  When the output product Pout related to the image forming job has not been collected, only other image forming jobs that have not been collected are displayed. However, it is limited to models that can detect collection of the output Pout. This is because the output Pout that has not been recovered has already been removed from the discharge destination.

  The job number shown in FIG. Below the job history item column of 5, a discharge information description area for “stacker 1” and “stacker 2” is provided to describe the discharge contents of the output product Pout. For example, in the paper discharge information description area of the stacker 1, the job No. 5. Job No. 4. Job No. 3 is described, and the job No. In “5”, “1st page 1st page to 80th page 5th page A3 / 64 g / quality paper recovered: not recovered” is displayed in gray. Job No. 4 displays “1st page, 1st page to 10th page, 100th page, A3 / 64 g / plain paper recovered: not recovered”. Job No. 3 displays “1st page 1st page to 50th page 50th page A3 / 80 g / quality paper recovered: not recovered”.

  In the discharge information description area of the stacker 2, the job No. 5 is described, and the job No. 5 is grayed out “80th 6th page to 300th 10th page A3 / 64 g / quality paper recovered: not recovered”. An icon switch of the end key K5 is displayed on the discharge destination display screen G21.

  Subsequently, a display example of the discharge destination display screen G22 according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. This example is a case where the state of the discharge destination changes during the screen display, and the display is updated in real time. The display state of the discharge destination display screen G21 shown in FIG. 6 is shown in FIG. This is a case where another image forming job (No. 6) is output to the stacker 2 on the discharge destination display screen G22. In the figure, job No. 6 is added and updated.

  The image control CPU 55 shown in FIG. 2 monitors whether there is a change in the state of another image forming job while displaying the output destination of the output Pout on the display unit 18, and determines whether another image forming job has been changed. When there is a change in the state, the display of the discharge destination of the output Pout on the display unit 18 is changed. In the above example, the image forming job No. As a result of the output of No. 6, the discharge destination information is updated in real time.

  In this example, the job No. "5" is described (displayed) in the mode column, "10" is described in the number of pages column, "300" is described in the number of copies column, and the printing mode column is displayed. “Double-sided → single-sided” is described, “15:36” is described in the output completion time column, and “normal end” is described in the status column.

  This job No. 5, the discharge information description area for “stacker 1” and “stacker 2” is provided below the job history item column, and the discharge contents of the output product Pout are described. In the description area, the same job number as the discharge destination display screen G21. 5. Job No. 4. Job No. 3 is described.

  However, in the paper discharge information description area of the stacker 2, the job No. In addition to the description content of No. 5, the image forming job No. 6 and the job No. 6 displays “1st page 1st page to 100th page 10th page A3 / 80 g / quality paper recovered: not recovered”. The image forming job No. In “5”, “80th copy, 6th page to 300th copy, 10th page A3 / 64 g / quality paper recovered: not recovered” remains grayed out.

  In addition, an icon switch of the end key K5 is also displayed on the discharge destination display screen G22. When the end key K5 is pressed, the display is switched to the job history screen G1 shown in FIG.

  Next, a display example of the discharge destination display screen G23 according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. In this example, the output contents are updated from the discharge destination display screen G21 shown in FIG. 6, and the display transitions to the discharge destination display screen G23 shown in FIG. The discharge destination display screen G23 shows a display example when the output product Pout of the stacker 1 is collected.

  When the output product Pout is removed from the stackers 102 and 103 during display of the output destination of the output product Pout on the display unit 18, the image control CPU 55 shown in FIG. Change the display. In the example described above, the output product Pout of the stacker 1 is removed, so that the display state of the output product Pout loaded on the stacker 1 is switched from “unrecovered” to “recovered”.

  In this example, the job No. "5" is described (displayed) in the mode column, "10" is described in the number of pages column, "300" is described in the number of copies column, and the printing mode column is displayed. “Double-sided → single-sided” is described, “15:36” is described in the output completion time column, and “normal end” is described in the status column.

In the paper discharge information description area of the stacker 1, the job No. 5. Job No. 4. Job No. 3 is described, but the job No. 5. Job No. 4 and job no. 3 are collected, the job No. 3 is collected. In “5”, “1st page 1st page to 80th page 5th page A3 / 64 g / quality paper recovered: recovered” is displayed in gray.
Further, the job No. 4 displays “1st page 1st page to 10th page 100th page A3 / 64 g / plain paper recovered: recovered”. Job No. 3 displays “1st page 1st page to 50th page 50th page A3 / 80 g / quality paper recovered: recovered”.

  For stacker 2, job no. Since the remainder of No. 5 has not been collected, the job No. No. 5, “80th copy, 6th page to 300th copy, 10th page A3 / 64g / quality paper recovered: not recovered” is still displayed as a great-out display. Note that an icon switch of the end key K5 is also displayed on the discharge destination display screen G23. When the end key K5 is pressed, the display is switched to the job history screen G1 shown in FIG.

  As a result, when the output product Pout is unintentionally collected by the user, it is possible to refer to the timing at which the output product Pout related to the image forming job has been collected. It becomes possible. For example, in the state of FIG. FIG. 9 shows an example of a screen when the output product Pout of 4 is to be collected.

  Here, a display example of the discharge destination display screen G24 according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. In this example, the image forming job No. is displayed on the job history screen G1 shown in FIG. This is the case where the user selects 4 and presses the discharge destination confirmation key K4, and the display is switched from the job history screen G1 to the discharge destination display screen G24. In the example shown in FIG. This is a case where the output product Pout according to 4 is collected.

  The image control CPU 55 shown in FIG. 2 monitors whether or not the output product Pout is removed from each of the stackers 102 and 103, and when the output product Pout is removed from the stackers 102 and 103, the display unit 18 In addition to displaying the output destination of the output product Pout, the display unit 18 is controlled to display the time when the output product Pout is removed from the stackers 102, 103, and the like. For example, the image forming job No. If the output product Pout has already been collected when attempting to collect the output product Pout of No. 4, the job No. 4 is displayed on the discharge destination display screen G24 as shown in FIG. In the discharge destination display screen G24, an image forming job No. At the same time as the collection of the output product Pout according to No. 4, information on the output product Pout for which the collection has been performed is displayed.

  In this example, the job No. “Printer” is described (displayed) in the mode column 4, “100” is described in the page number column, “10” is described in the number of copies column, and the print mode column is displayed. “One side → single side” is described, “15:20” is described in the output completion time column, and “normal end” is described in the status column.

  When the output product Pout related to the image forming job has been collected, only other image forming jobs having the same collection time are displayed. However, it is limited to models that can detect collection of the output Pout. This is to display the output product Pout existing at the same discharge destination when the output product Pout related to the image forming job is collected.

  In the paper discharge information description area of the stacker 1, the job No. 5. Job No. 4. Job No. 3 is described, and the job No. 5 displays “1st page 1st page to 80th page 5th page A3 / 64 g / quality paper recovered: 15:46 recovered”. Job No. In “4”, “1st page, 1st page to 10th page, 100 pages A3 / 64 g / plain paper recovered: 15:46 recovered” is displayed in gray. Job No. 3 displays “1st page 1st page to 50th page 50th page A3 / 80 g / quality paper recovered: 15:46 recovered”.

  The stacker 2 has a job number. Since there is no output product Pout related to No. 4, the job number in the discharge information description area of the stacker 2 as shown in FIG. The display content of the output product Pout according to 5 is not described. An icon switch of the end key K5 is also displayed on the discharge destination display screen G24. When the end key K5 is pressed, the display is switched to the job history screen G1 shown in FIG. Thus, a control system of the color copying machine 100 is configured.

  Subsequently, regarding the control method of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention, first, referring to FIG. 10, the job output information D53 and the paper discharge destination history information D54 at the time of normal print processing in the color copying machine 100 as the embodiment. An example of acquisition processing will be described. In this example, the job output information D53 and the paper discharge destination history information D54 in the normal print processing are created according to the settings for the image forming job. The job output information D53 and the paper discharge destination history information D54 are set when the output operation is actually performed and the discharge destination of each discharge paper is determined.

  When a full discharge destination is detected during output of an image forming job, the discharge destination is automatically switched. When the discharge destination is switched, each data is created with the discharge destination information element after switching. Under these generation processing conditions, in step ST1 shown in FIG. 10, the image control CPU 55 initializes the value N of the number of output pages of the page counter (hereinafter referred to as page counter N) to zero. Next, in step ST2, the image control CPU 55 branches the control depending on whether or not the number of output sheets by executing the image forming job exceeds the number of output sheets of the page counter (page counter N <number of JOB output sheets).

  If the relation of page counter N <JOB output number is satisfied, the process proceeds to step ST3, and the control branches depending on whether or not the discharge destination is full. If the discharge destination is full, the image control CPU 55 automatically switches the discharge destination in step ST4. For example, the printer control unit 82 outputs a paper discharge control signal S14 to the stacker control unit 104, and switches the paper discharge destination from the stacker 102 to the stacker 103. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step ST5.

  If the discharge destination is not full, step ST4 is passed and the process proceeds to step ST5. In step ST5, the image control CPU 55 performs an output operation of the Nth output product Pout based on the image forming job. Thereafter, in step ST6, the image control CPU 55 sets the copy number / page number / discharge destination data in the output number N = N + 1th element in the job output information D53 of the output Pout related to the image forming job to be output. .

  Thereafter, in step ST7, the image control CPU 55 adds a new element to the end of the list of the discharge destination history information D54 of the discharge destination on which the output product Pout related to the image forming job has been output, and outputs size / paper type / output. Set the paper discharge paper information element for the completion time. In step ST8, the image control CPU 55 increments the value N of the number of output sheets related to the image forming job (N = N + 1). Thereafter, the process returns to step ST2. In step ST2, the image control CPU 55 leaves the relationship of page count N <job output number, that is, if page count N ≧ job output number, obtains job output information D53 and paper discharge destination history information D54, The control ends.

  Next, a display processing example of the job history screen G1 and the discharge destination display screen G21 in the color copying machine 100 will be described with reference to FIG. In this example, when an icon switch of “output history list” is selected on a basic setting screen (not shown) and the like is pressed, the display is switched from the basic setting screen to the job history screen G1. By pressing the discharge destination confirmation key K4 on the job history screen G1, the discharge destination display screen G21 of the currently selected image forming job is displayed.

  Based on these assumptions, first, in step ST11 shown in FIG. 11, the image control CPU 55 obtains a list of output jobs stored in the job management memory unit 54. At this time, the image control CPU 55 reads the paper discharge destination history information D54 from the memory unit 54. The paper discharge destination history information D54 includes a job No. that forms a list of output jobs. , Information such as mode, number of pages, number of copies, print mode, output completion time, and status.

  In step ST12, the image control CPU 55 displays the job history screen G1 on the display unit 18 (see FIG. 5). The display unit 18 displays the job history screen G1 based on the display data D18 after the image processing unit 16 or the like has converted the paper discharge destination history information D54 into a displayable format.

  Thereafter, in step ST13, the image control CPU 55 initializes the image forming job with the latest output completion time as being selected. According to the job history screen G1 shown in FIG. 5 is the default.

  In step ST14, the image control CPU 55 notifies the display area of the currently selected image forming job with a great out. In the example shown in FIG. The column 5 of job history items is displayed in a great-out manner (indicated by satin in the figure).

  Further, in step ST15, the image control CPU 55 performs a key input process by the user. The user performs a key input operation using the operation display panel 48. Thereafter, in step ST16, the image control CPU 55 branches the control in response to the user's key input.

  For example, when an arbitrary image forming job is selected, the image control CPU 55 updates the currently selected image forming job in step ST17. The display unit 18 switches the currently selected image forming job when the display area of an arbitrary image forming job is pressed.

  If the discharge destination confirmation key K4 is pressed, the process proceeds to step ST18, and the image control CPU 55 executes display processing of the discharge destination display screen G21. The discharge destination display screen G21 displays at least one of the output page and the number of output copies of the output product Pout discharged to each stacker 102, 103 or the like. For example, a subroutine shown in FIG. 12 is called, and in step ST21, the image control CPU 55 acquires job output information D53 of the image forming job to be output.

  Next, in step ST22, the image control CPU 55 initializes a counter value N indicating the discharge destination of the stackers 102, 103, etc. to zero. Thereafter, in step ST23, the image control CPU 55 branches the control depending on whether or not a counter value indicating the discharge destination (hereinafter referred to as discharge destination N) exists. When the discharge destination N exists, the process proceeds to step ST24, and the image control CPU 55 branches control depending on whether or not an output page exists at the discharge destination N of the image forming job to be output.

  If there is an output page at the output destination of the output image forming job, the image control CPU 55 acquires the output destination history information D54 of the output destination in step ST25. Thereafter, in step ST26, the image control CPU 55 adds the stacker 1 and the like to the display target job list indicating the discharge destination based on the discharge destination history information D54.

  In step ST27, the image control CPU 55 increments the discharge destination N (N = N + 1). Thereafter, the process returns to step ST23. If the discharge destination N does not exist in step ST23 described above, the image control CPU 55 proceeds to step ST28 shown in FIG. 13 and displays the job history screen G1 (see FIG. 5).

  In step ST29, the image control CPU 55 creates discharge destination state information D55 at the time of discharging the image forming job to be output based on the job output information D53 and the acquired discharge destination history information D54. For example, a subroutine shown in FIG. 14 is called. In this example, a case where the paper discharge destination state information at the time of discharging the image forming job is acquired from the job output information D53 and the paper discharge destination history information D54 is taken as an example. Whether or not the image forming job is another image forming job stacked at the same timing as the output image forming job is determined based on the “condition that the removal information is the same”.

  If the removal information matches with “uncollected”, it indicates that it is currently loaded on the discharge destination, and if the removal information is the same time, it indicates that it has been removed from the discharge destination at the same time. . Using these as conditions for obtaining the paper discharge destination state information D55, first, the image control CPU 55 initializes the value N of the page counter to 0 in step ST41 shown in FIG.

  Thereafter, in step ST42, the image control CPU 55 acquires the removal information of the image forming job to be output. Then, in step ST43, the image control CPU 55 branches the control depending on whether or not the Nth discharge sheet information element exists.

  If there is an Nth discharge sheet information element, the process proceeds to step ST44, and control is performed based on whether or not the removal information of the Nth discharge sheet information element matches the removal information of the image forming job to be output. Fork.

  If the removal information of the Nth discharge sheet information element matches the removal information of the image forming job to be output, the image control CPU 55 adds the Nth discharge sheet information element to the display target in step ST45.

  In step ST46, the image control CPU 55 increments the value N of the page counter (N = N + 1). Then, it returns to step ST43. In step ST43, if there is no Nth sheet discharge paper information element, the process proceeds to step ST47, where the discharge sheet information elements to be displayed are sorted in order of output time. Thereafter, the process returns to step ST29 of the main routine shown in FIG.

  In step ST30, the image control CPU 55 displays the discharge destination state of the image forming job to be output on the operation display panel 48 based on the discharge destination state information D55. In step ST31, the image control CPU 55 grays out the job output information D53 of the image forming job to be output.

  Thereafter, in step ST32, the image control CPU 55 accepts key input processing by the user. In this key input process, when the discharge destination confirmation key K4 is pressed, the process proceeds to step ST34. In step ST34, when the end key K5 is not pressed, the image control CPU 55 reacquires the paper discharge destination history information D54 of the paper discharge destination of the image forming job to be displayed (see FIG. 13). At this time, the image control CPU 55 refers to the latest paper discharge destination history information D54, and updates the screen display based on the paper discharge destination history information D54. As a result, the latest discharge destination state can always be displayed.

  Thereafter, returning to step ST29, the image control CPU 55 repeats the above-described processing. If the end key K5 is pressed in step ST33, the image control CPU 55 closes the display screen and returns to step ST18.

  When the end key K5 is pressed in step ST16 shown in FIG. 11, the image control CPU 55 closes the discharge destination display screen G21 and starts again from the discharge destination display screen G21 to the job history screen G1 shown in FIG. The display is switched to (display transitions; return).

  Next, a processing example of the paper discharge destination history information D54 at the time of output output collection will be described with reference to FIG. In this example, the paper discharge destination history information D54 is processed at the collection timing of the output Pout based on the image forming job. Examples of the method for detecting the collection of the output product Pout include detection of a collection paper detection sensor at the discharge destination, a collection notification from the operation display panel 48 by the user, detection of unset information of a carriage for output product conveyance, and the like. .

  If collection of the output Pout is detected and the removal information is “uncollected” in the list of sheets P discharged to the target discharge destination at that time, the data Take the case where the current time is set in the element as an example. Using these as the processing conditions for collecting the output Pout related to the image forming job, first, in step ST51 shown in FIG. 15, the image control CPU 55 discharges the discharge destination that has detected the collection of the output Pout related to the image forming job. The paper tip history information D54 is acquired.

  Thereafter, in step ST52, the image control CPU 55 initializes the value N of the counter indicating the discharge destination of the stackers 102, 103, etc. to zero. In step ST <b> 53, the image control CPU 55 branches the control depending on whether or not the Nth discharge sheet information element relating to the discharge destination exists in the discharge destination history information D <b> 54. If there is an Nth discharge sheet information element in the discharge destination history information D54, the process proceeds to step ST54, and control is performed based on whether or not the removal information of the Nth discharge sheet information element is in an “uncollected” status. Fork.

  If the removal information of the Nth discharge paper information element is in the “uncollected” status, the status of the current time is set in the removal information in step ST55. As a result, when the collection of the output product Pout is detected, the data element whose removal information is “uncollected” in the list of the sheets P discharged to the target discharge destination at that time is currently displayed. The time can be set (see FIG. 9).

  Thereafter, in step ST56, the image control CPU 55 increments the value N of the counter indicating the discharge destination such as the stackers 102 and 103 (N = N + 1). Thereafter, the process returns to step ST53, and when the N-th sheet discharge sheet information element indicating the discharge destination such as the stackers 102 and 103 does not exist in the discharge destination history information D54, the display control is ended.

  As described above, according to the color copying machine 100 as the embodiment, the color printer 80 forms an image based on the image forming job on the sheet and discharges the output Pout to each stacker 102, 103 or the like for each image forming job. To do. The plurality of stackers 102 and 103 and the like stack the output product Pout discharged from the color printer 80 for each image forming job.

  The display unit 18 displays a discharge destination of the output product Pout discharged to the stackers 102 and 103. The operation control unit 14 inputs a request for confirming the discharge destination of the output product Pout displayed on the display unit 18. Based on these assumptions, the image control CPU 55 manages the output Pout discharged from the color printer 80 to each of the stackers 102 and 103 for each image forming job, and based on the confirmation request input by the operation control unit 14. The display unit 18 is controlled to display the discharge destination of the output product Pout for each image forming job.

  With this display control, the discharge destination of the output product Pout based on the confirmation request input by the operation control unit 14 can be displayed on the display unit 18 for each image forming job. As a result, the user can easily confirm the discharge position of the output product Pout based on the image forming job, and the forgetting to remove the output product Pout can be prevented.

  Further, according to the color copying machine 100, the display control of the display unit 18 is performed so that the image control CPU 55 displays at least one of the output page and the number of output copies of the output product Pout discharged to each of the stackers 102 and 103. Therefore, the discharge position of the image forming job submitted by the user can be easily confirmed.

  Further, according to the color copying machine 100, the image control CPU 55 displays at least one of the presence / absence of other image forming jobs and information on other image forming jobs stacked on each stacker 102, 103 or the like. Since the display unit 18 is controlled to display, when the user collects the output product Pout based on the image forming job, it becomes possible to confirm the existence of another image forming job, and erroneously output related to the other image forming job. It becomes possible to prevent the collection of the object Pout.

  Further, according to the color copying machine 100, the information on the other image forming job includes the number of sheets and the paper type, so that the image forming job that the user has submitted and the image forming job that the other person has submitted This makes it possible to easily check the separation of the output, and to prevent the output material Pout based on the image forming job of another person from being erroneously collected.

  Furthermore, according to the color copying machine 100, as shown in FIG. 7, when there is a change in the state of another image forming job, the image control CPU 55 displays the discharge destination of the output product Pout on the display unit 18. Therefore, it is possible for the user to always know the state of the discharge destination, and during the collection operation of the output Pout, the other output Pout is discharged, and the state of the discharge destination is not intended by the user. It is possible to prevent the output product Pout from being mixed due to the change to.

  Further, according to the color copying machine 100, when the output product Pout is removed from the stackers 102 and 103 shown in FIG. 1, the image control CPU 55 changes the display of the output destination of the output product Pout on the display unit 18. While the user is collecting the output product Pout based on the image forming job, the recovered output product Pout and the uncollected output product Pout can be easily recognized.

  According to the color copying machine 100, as shown in FIG. 4 is removed, in addition to the display of the output destination of the output Pout on the display unit 18, the image forming job No. 4 is displayed, the time when the output product Pout is removed is displayed from the stacker 1 on the basis of the display time information. The time when the output product Pout according to 4 is removed can be confirmed. As a result, the image forming job No. Therefore, it is easy to identify an image forming job in which the output product Pout based on 4 may have been collected by mistake, and the recovery work is facilitated.

  The present invention is applied to color, black and white printers, copiers, and multi-function peripherals having a function of discharging an image formed object on which an image based on an image forming job is formed on a sheet. Is very suitable.

11 CCD
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 12 Scanner control part 14 Operation control part 15 Control part 16 Image processing means 18 Display part 20 Paper supply part 31 Compression memory 32 Page memory 45 Timing generation part 48 Operation display panel 51 Reading process part 52 Compression IC
53, 63 Image memory 54 Memory unit 55 Image control CPU
56,62 DRAM control IC
57 Extension IC
59 Write processing unit 61 Controller control IC
64 LANIF section
80 Color printer (image forming unit)
81 LD (image forming unit)
82 Printer control unit
100 color copier (image forming device)
101 Copier body 102, 103 Stacker 104 Stacker control unit

Claims (8)

An image forming unit that forms an image based on an image forming job on a sheet and discharges an image formed object for each image forming job;
A plurality of paper discharge units for stacking the image formation discharged from the image forming unit for each image forming job;
A display unit for displaying a discharge destination of the image formed product discharged to the paper discharge unit;
An operation unit for inputting a request for confirming a discharge destination of the image formation displayed on the display unit;
The image forming product discharged from the image forming unit to each of the paper discharge units is managed for each image forming job, and the discharge destination of the image formed product based on the confirmation request input by the operation unit is formed as the image forming job. An image forming apparatus comprising: a control unit that controls the display unit so as to display each job. The display unit
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least one of an output page and the number of output copies of the image forming material discharged to each of the paper discharge portions is displayed together. The display unit
The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein at least one of presence / absence of another image forming job and information on another image forming job loaded on each of the paper discharge units is displayed together.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the information of the other image forming job includes a number of sheets and a sheet type. The controller is
Monitoring whether or not there has been a change in the state of another image forming job while displaying the discharge destination of the image formed product on the display unit;
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when there is a change in the state of the other image forming job, the display of the discharge destination of the image formed material on the display unit is changed. The controller is
Monitoring whether or not the image formation is removed from each of the paper discharge units;
When the image formed product is removed from the paper discharge unit, the time when the image formed product is removed from the paper discharge unit is displayed in addition to the display of the discharge destination of the image formed product on the display unit. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the display unit is controlled. The controller is
When the image formation is removed from the paper discharge unit while the discharge destination of the image formation is displayed on the display unit,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the display of the discharge destination of the image formed material on the display unit is changed. A method for controlling an image forming apparatus including an image forming unit, a plurality of paper discharge units, a display unit, and a control unit,
The control unit is
Controlling the image forming unit to form an image based on an image forming job on a sheet and discharge the image formed product;
Controlling the paper discharge unit to stack the image formation discharged from the image forming unit for each image forming job;
Managing the image formation discharged from the image forming unit to each of the paper discharge units;
Receiving a request for confirming a discharge destination of the image formation to be discharged;
And a step of controlling the display unit so as to display the accepted discharge destination of the image forming material for each image forming job.

Images