JP3037378B2 - Copier control method - Google Patents

Description

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method of controlling a copying apparatus, and more particularly to a method of controlling a copying apparatus that can be operated for copying from a plurality of operation units.

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional function of a color copying apparatus includes a use mode in which a desired paper size is scaled with color reproduction faithful to a document and a required number of copies are made. In this mode, three copy original setting variables set from the operation unit (paper selection, magnification selection,
Color selection) and press the copy button to end. However, today, with the development of the above functions, it is not limited to simply copying an original, but the shape and color of the original, and furthermore, the original image itself is deformed, or a plurality of originals are combined to create a new sheet. Extended copy functions, such as creating simple manuscripts, are now possible.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, in the above-described conventional example, the number of copy original setting variables is extremely large, and the setting time of the variables is longer than the actual copy operation time. This indicates that the use efficiency of the copying apparatus has been reduced. This phenomenon becomes more serious as the copying speed of the copying apparatus increases, and the length of the user waiting time also hinders the expansion of users.

As described above, as the extended functions of the color copying apparatus have been expanded, one user has occupied the color copying apparatus for a long time, and the actual copying efficiency has deteriorated. In particular, the higher the copying speed of the color copying apparatus itself, the more the operation rate of the apparatus has worsened.

The present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problem,
It is an object of the present invention to provide a control method of a copying apparatus which can prevent the occupation of the copying apparatus by one user and increase the use efficiency of the copying apparatus when a plurality of operators use one copying apparatus. I do.

[Means for Solving the Problems] The present invention has the following configuration as one means for achieving the above object.

A method of controlling a copying apparatus according to the present invention is a method of controlling a copying apparatus capable of performing an operation for copying from a plurality of operation units capable of setting copy variables different from other operation units. Receiving a copy element from each of the plurality of operation units and a copy variable set in each of the plurality of operation units, determining a processing order of each received copy request, and A copy start waiting time corresponding to each of the copy requests is determined based on the variables for use and the determined processing order, and the determined copy start wait time is notified to a corresponding operation unit.

Examples Hereinafter, preferred examples of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a color copying apparatus according to the present invention. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a main body of a color copying apparatus (hereinafter, referred to as an "apparatus main body"); 2, a main body control mechanism for controlling a copying operation of the apparatus; A driving unit, 4 is an image signal processing unit which is another part of the main body control mechanism, and 5 is a main body driving unit.
3, a main body control CPU for controlling the image signal processing section 4 to form a copy image, and 6 a main body drive section 3, an image signal processing section.
4, bus signal lines connecting the main unit control CPU5. Reference numeral 7 denotes a main body permanent operation unit permanently provided in the apparatus main body 1;
Is a LE provided as a display on the permanent operation unit 7 of the main body.
D display unit, 9 is a key matrix unit that controls key input, 10
Is a digitizer for indicating the coordinates of a specific portion of the document from the permanent operation unit 7 of the main body, and 11 is an external extension unit via an LED display unit 8, a key matrix unit 9, a digitizer unit 10, and an operation unit extension cable 15. Operation controls 16 to 18 for operation control CPU1
This is an I / O input / output unit for connecting to 3. 12 is the main unit 1
LCD I / O display that controls the extended multi-function I / O display of the 13
Is an operation control CPU that is permanently installed in the main body, and creates a copy image desired by the user of the apparatus based on input data from the LED display section 8, the key matrix section 9, the digitizer section 10, and the LCD input / output display section 12. In order to image, a copy setting variable necessary for the operation of the main body driving section 3 and the image signal processing section 4 is created, and the copy setting variable is transmitted to the main body control CPU 5. It is added via the operation control CPU 5 or operation unit extension cable 15 that is permanently installed in the main unit.
The actual copy priority order of each additional external operation unit is set according to the actual copy request from the additional external operation units 16, 17, and 18. In this embodiment, three additional external operation units indicated by 16, 17, and 18 will be described as examples. 14 is a setting variable memory for storing a plurality of setting variables created or received by the operation control CPU 13, 15 is an operation unit expansion cable for connecting the external expansion operation unit and the main body permanent operation unit 7, 16, and Reference numerals 17 and 18 denote externally added operation units capable of operating the color copying apparatus main body outside the permanent operation unit.

 Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described.

3 (a) and 3 (b) are flow charts for explaining the operation of the external extension operation unit according to this embodiment, and FIG. 4 is a flow chart for explaining the operation of the main body permanent operation unit 7 according to this embodiment. is there.

In the above configuration shown in FIG. 1, the apparatus main body 1 includes the main body permanent operation section 7 and the external expansion operation sections 16, 17, and 18, and four operation sections are connected. A copy setting variable (copy mode setting) from a copy unit can be set. The four operation units are operation control CPUs 13, 13-1, 13-2, respectively.
(Not shown), 13-3 (not shown), and even if the main body control mechanism 2 is in the image forming operation, the mode setting, the multiple setting, and the paper necessary for copying are performed irrespective of the main body operation. Copy setting variables such as size designation, number of copies designation, image trimming, image composition setting, character decoration, etc. are operated independently according to the instructions of LED display unit 8, key matrix unit 9, digitizer 10, LCD input / output display unit 12. it can. Of course, in this operation, the copy setting variable is determined (step S31), and the determined variable is stored as data in the setting variable memory of each input operation unit. When the setting of the copy setting variable is completed or the end key end key (not shown) is pressed in the additional external operation units (16, 17, 18) (step S32),
The added external operation unit having been set sends an actual copy request to the operation control CPU 13 in the permanent operation unit 7 (step S).
33). In addition, the actual copy request by inputting the copy setting variable and terminating the entry in the permanent operation unit 7 is similarly sent to the operation control CPU 13 (step S51, step S52, step S53).

Upon receiving the actual copy request (step S59), the permanent operation control CPU 13 of the main body identifies the operation unit of the transmission source (step S57), and receives the request from each operation unit, or receives the operation request of the main body permanent operation unit 7.
In response to its own actual copy request, the actual copy order of each operation unit is determined according to the order of each actual copy request, and after confirming the image forming state of the main unit control CPU 5, each operation unit is After calculating the required time until the document can be set on the document table (not shown) of the apparatus main body 1 with respect to the copy setting from (step S54), the actual copy order is stored (restored) (step S54). S55), the necessary time is sent to the operation unit of the actual copy request source (step S56, step S57). Permanent operation control C
When the external extension operation units 16, 17, 18 receive the actual copy waiting time issued earlier from the PU 13 (step S34), the waiting time is displayed on each operation unit (step S35), and the user follows this waiting time. , Work allocation. Further, in the main body permanent operation section 7, after the actual copying order of step S55 is stored, the process proceeds to step S58, where the processing of steps S35 and S36 is performed. Then, the end of the count is determined in step S67, and in response to the end of the count, a message of the operation request is displayed on the LED display 8 of the permanent operation unit 7 of the main body, and the counting for a certain time is further performed (step S68). If there is a copy instruction, the copy setting variables stored in the setting variable memory 14 are read for copying, and the copying operation by the main body control CPU 5 is started (step S71). After the count is started in step S68, when a non-operation input state for copying elapses for a certain period of time (step S70), the process proceeds to step S62 to change the actual copy waiting time of each operation unit. Is recalculated (step S62), the entire actual copying order is stored again (step S63), and a waiting time is sent to each operation unit (step S64).

Note that the actual copy waiting time is corrected and transmitted again from the operation control CPU 3 which is permanently installed in the apparatus main body to each operation section when a trouble such as a jam or running out of toner occurs in the apparatus main body 1. The description of this abnormal processing is omitted.

In each operation section, after the display is corrected by the display or the abnormality, the time count of the waiting time is started (step S36).
When the time count is corrected in a certain operation unit (step S37), the operation control CPU in the operation unit displays an actual copy operation request on the LED display unit 8 or the LCD input / output unit 12 (step S38). The user waits for actual copying.
Here, counting is also performed (step S39), and if there is a copy instruction to the operation unit within a predetermined time, the copy setting variables stored in the setting variable memory are read out and sent to the operation control CPU 13 permanently installed in the main body. (Step S42). Then, the main body permanent operation section 7 sends a copy corresponding to the received variable to the main body control section 5 to start the copy (steps S65 and S66). Alternatively, if the actual copy operation has not been performed for a certain period of time, the operation control CPU of the approximate operation unit determines that the user of the corresponding operation unit is absent and shifts the actual copy priority order to the next operation unit. (Step S43), the operation control CPU 13 of the main body permanent operation unit 7 that has received this signal identifies the source operation unit (Step S61), and changes the priority order. An update of the actual copy waiting time is issued to the external additional operation units 16, 17, 18 and the main unit permanent operation unit 7, and the priority order waiting time table is updated (steps S62 to S64).

The user recognizing the actual copy request by the display of the operating unit in use sets the target copy original on a platen glass (not shown) of the apparatus main body 1 and executes the actual copy from the approximate operating unit. By pressing a key (not shown) on the key matrix unit 9, the setting variable memory 14 in the approximate operation unit has already been pressed.
The copy setting variables stored in the main unit are sent from the operation unit via the operation unit extension cable 15 to the operation control CPU 13
Is transmitted as a variable setting request, and is subsequently set from the operation control CPU 13 permanently installed in the main body to the main body driving section 3 and the image signal processing 4, and the apparatus main body 1 immediately enters an actual copying operation in accordance with an instruction from the operating section. In the actual copying operation in this case, needless to say, there is no need to input a copy setting variable. Simply, on the key matrix unit 9 of the approximate operating unit, the actual copying execution key is required in accordance with the order of the operating unit. After setting the document on the original glass of the apparatus main body 1, it is sufficient to perform the procedure of pressing the actual copy execution key.

FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining how to use the external extension operation unit of the present embodiment.

Therefore, for example, when two originals (a) and (b) are combined as shown in FIG.
Is read from the platen of the apparatus main body 1 and stored, and then the desired number of copies are continued while combining the images while reading the original (b). If the original must be changed in this way, There is no need to make detailed settings. The manuscript (a) is placed on the manuscript table according to the instruction displayed on the operation unit, and then the actual copy execution key is pressed. Then, after waiting for the next instruction, placing the original (b) in accordance with the instruction and pressing the actual copy execution key again, a desired number of copy results (c) can be obtained.

When the desired number of copies have been completed, the main body control CPU 5 issues an actual copy end signal to the operation control CPU 13, the operation control CPU 13 issues a series of actual copy operation end signals to the approximate operation unit, and the approximate operation unit display unit It will be in the input waiting state. Next, the operation control CP
U13 issues an actual copy operation request to the next operation unit waiting for the actual copy order, and waits for the actual copy operation.

As described above, a single user does not require a large amount of time for operation, and the operation rate can be improved, which can greatly contribute to the spread of color copying such as a reduction in the cost of color copying.

 Next, another embodiment will be described.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing another embodiment of the color copying apparatus according to the present invention.

In the above-described embodiment, the operation control CPU 13 and the setting variable memory 14 are provided in each of the main body permanent operation unit 7 and the external expansion operation units 16, 17, and 18, and the operation units are completely connected via the I / O port 11. Although an independent connection form is adopted to increase the operation responsiveness, as shown in FIG. 5, the operation control CPU 13 and the setting variable memory 14 are provided only in the main body permanent operation unit 7, and the external expansion operation units 16 to 18 are provided. Is the I / O via the operation control CPU bus line 15.
Of course, a configuration is possible as the control method. In this case, although the display response speed of the LCD input / output unit 12 and the coordinate input response of the digitizer unit 10 in each operation unit tend to be pureer than those of the above-described embodiment, the external expansion operation units 16 to 18
Considering the cost increase, the embodiment shown in FIG. 5 can reduce the cost.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the copy setting of a plurality of users can be performed at the same time, and the control of the actual copying order and the display of the waiting time are appropriately performed according to the operation condition of the added operation unit, thereby achieving one-time operation. The use efficiency of the copying apparatus, which tends to be hindered by the exclusive use of the copying apparatus by the user, can be greatly improved. The operating method according to the present embodiment can greatly contribute to a multi-person operating method in the market of a high-speed multifunctional color copying apparatus that increases the copying speed and increases the number of copies.

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, according to the present invention, when a single copying apparatus is used by a plurality of operators, the use efficiency of the copying apparatus is prevented by preventing one user from monopolizing the copying apparatus. Can be provided.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a color copying apparatus according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining a method of using an external extension operation unit of this embodiment, and FIGS. 3 (a) and 3 (b). FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the external extension operation unit according to this embodiment. FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the main body permanent operation unit according to this embodiment. FIG. 5 is another color copying apparatus according to the present invention. FIG. 14 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention. In the drawing, 1... Device body, 2... Body control mechanism, 3... Body drive unit, 4... Image signal processing unit, 5.
U, 6: Bus signal line, 7: Permanent operation unit, 8, 8-1
…… LED display section, 9,9-1 …… Key matrix section, 10,10
-1 ... Digitizer section, 11,11-1 ... I / O input / output section,
12,12-1 ... LCD I / O display, 13,13-1 ... Operation control CPU, 14,14-1 ... Set variable memory, 15 ... Extension cable for operation unit, 16-18 ... External extension An operation unit.

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. A method of controlling a copying apparatus, wherein a plurality of operation units capable of setting copy variables different from each other from a plurality of operation units can perform an operation for copying. Receiving the copy request from each of the copying units and the variables for copying set in each of the plurality of operation units, determining the processing order of each of the received copying requests, and determining the received copying variable and the determined copying variable. A copy start wait time corresponding to each of the copy requests is determined based on the processing order, and the determined copy start wait time is notified to a corresponding operation unit. 2. If the next copying is not executed after a lapse of a predetermined time after the copying apparatus is enabled to copy, the copying order of the copying requests and the copying start corresponding to each of the copying requests are started. The control method according to claim 1, wherein the waiting time is determined again. 3. The control method according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of operation units are capable of setting the copy variables in a state where they are arranged apart from the copying apparatus.