JP3530874B2 - Image forming device - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, and more particularly to an image forming apparatus having a multi-job function capable of managing a plurality of jobs.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An image forming apparatus having a multi-job function is, for example, an apparatus having a memory for storing image information and capable of reading a document which is another job while printing out one job.

In an image forming apparatus having a conventional multi-job function, as shown in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-75772, following the end of a job being printed, the print output of the next job is started. Was there.

[0004]

Therefore, the discharged sheets of the next job are superposed on the discharged bundle of the previous job after printing is completed, and only the discharged bundle of the previous job is taken out. If you do, it will be very difficult to get. Furthermore, if the previous job and the next job have the same paper size, the job must be identified by the printed image, which is very inconvenient.

On the other hand, in order to reduce the overall output time of a plurality of jobs, it is necessary to start the output of the next job as soon as possible after the output of the previous job is completed.

The present application has been devised to solve such a problem, and an object of the present invention is to provide an easy-to-use image formation capable of easily taking out a discharged sheet bundle of a previous job. To provide a device.

The object of the invention as defined in claim 2 is to claim 1.
In addition to the object of the invention described above, it is an object of the present invention to provide an image forming apparatus capable of arbitrarily selecting the print end time for all jobs according to the intention of the operator.

[0008]

An image forming apparatus according to claim 1 is provided with an image forming means for forming an image on a sheet, a storage means for storing a job, and a sheet discharge tray. After the image formation for the first job is completed, the image formation processing for the second job stored in the memory is started, and the discharged bundle for the first job and the discharged bundle for the second job are formed. In the image forming apparatus for discharging to the paper discharge tray, a delay unit delays a timing for starting the image forming process for the second job stored in the memory by a predetermined time, and the delay unit delays the start timing. The image forming process for the second job is started before the predetermined time elapses.

An image forming apparatus according to a second aspect of the present invention is the image forming apparatus according to the first aspect, further comprising a setting means for arbitrarily setting the predetermined time.

According to the image forming apparatus of the first aspect,
The image forming unit is controlled so as to start the image forming process for the second job stored in the memory after the completion of the image forming for the first job is detected and a predetermined time has elapsed. Therefore, after the image forming process for the previous job is completed, the image forming process for the second job is stopped for a predetermined time, and thus the discharged bundle of the first job is easily taken out from the discharge tray. be able to. Further, since the image forming process for the second job whose start timing is delayed can be started before the predetermined time has elapsed, the usability of the image forming apparatus is improved.

According to the image forming apparatus of the second aspect,
In addition to the operation of the image forming apparatus according to the first aspect, the predetermined time can be set arbitrarily. Therefore, the minimum required stop time can be set according to the contents of the first job such as the number of documents and the number of copies. Therefore, it is possible to arbitrarily select the print end time for all jobs while improving the ease of taking out the discharged bundle of the first job. As a result, the usability of the image forming apparatus is further improved.

[0012]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a front sectional view showing the overall configuration of a copying machine according to this embodiment. The copying machine 1 includes an image reader IR and a page printer PRT.

The image reader IR is a platen glass 18
A scanning system 10 for reading an original placed on it by dividing it into pixels, and an image for performing quantization of photoelectric conversion signals output from the scanning system 10 and signal processing according to various image forming modes. It includes a processing unit 20, a memory unit unit 30 for storing image data corresponding to a document, and a control unit 100 for controlling the entire copying machine 1. An automatic document feeder (hereinafter referred to as "ADFR") 500, which is an additional device that also serves as a document cover, is assembled above the image reader IR so as to be openable and closable with its rear end as a fulcrum.

The scanning system 10 is a line scanning type image reading mechanism. The scanning system 10 includes a scanner 19 having a document irradiation lamp 11 and a mirror 12, and a fixed mirror 13.
a and 13b, the condenser lens 14, the CCD (Char
Image sensor 1 consisting of ge coupled device array
6 and a scan motor M for driving the scanner 19
Including 2 and. The image signal processing section 20 and the memory unit section 30 will be described later.

The ADFR 500 includes a paper feed roller 501, a separation roller 502, a separation pad 503, an intermediate roller 504, and a registration roller 50 for conveying the original set on the original stacker 510 onto the original table glass 18.
5, a conveyance belt 506, a reversing roller 507 for reversing the front and back of a document, a switching claw 508, a paper discharge roller 509 for discharging the read document onto a discharge tray 511, and a document scale 512. A document sensor SE50 for detecting the presence / absence of a document, a document size sensor SE51, and a discharge sensor SE52 are included.

The page printer PRT has a print processing unit 40 for outputting an exposure control signal, a print head 60 using a semiconductor laser 62 as a light source, a photosensitive drum 71, and a charger for charging the photosensitive drum 71. 7
2 and a developing device 73, a developing / transferring system 70A, a timing roller 82, a conveyor belt 83, and a fixing roller pair 84.
A fixing / discharging system 70B having a discharging roller 85, horizontal conveying rollers 86a, 86b, and 86c, a circulation type sheet conveying system 70C including a re-feeding unit 600, and a capacity of several hundreds of sheets. It includes two paper cassettes 80a and 80b, a paper size detection sensor SE11, and a paper size detection sensor SE12.

The print head 60 includes a polygon mirror 65 for deflecting a laser beam and a polygon mirror 6.
A main lens 69 for guiding the laser beam deflected by 5 to the photosensitive drum, and various mirrors 67a, 68, and 67c are included.

The refeed unit 600 includes a switching claw 601.
A transport roller 602, a forward / reverse roller 603, a sheet sensor SE61, and a sheet discharge tray 621.

When copying a plurality of originals, the operator sets the originals on the original stacker 510 with the front side facing upward. Each original on the original stacker 510 is pulled out one by one from the lowermost original, and is accurately set at the reading position on the original glass 18 with the front side facing down. Then, in the case of the single-sided original mode, after the reading by the image reader IR is completed, the original is conveyed in the left direction in the drawing and is ejected onto the ejection tray 511 so that the upper surface is the front surface. In the case of the double-sided original mode, the original fed to the left after the front side reading is turned over by the reversing roller 507 and returned to the reading position on the original platen glass 18 again. The sheet is sent to the left again and discharged onto the discharge tray 511.

The page printer PRT forms an image by the following electrophotographic process based on the image data read by the image reader IR and transferred to the print processing section 40.

First, the print processing unit 4 based on image data
In response to a signal from 0, the laser beam emitted from the semiconductor laser 62 is deflected in the main scanning direction by the polygon mirror 65, and the main lens 69 and various mirrors 67a, 68,
And 67c, and is guided to the exposure position of the photosensitive drum 71. The surface of the photosensitive drum 71 is a charger 72.
Are uniformly charged by. Therefore, the latent image formed by exposure becomes a toner image through the developing device 73.
The toner image is transferred by the transfer charger 75 onto the paper fed from the paper cassettes 80a and 80b at the transfer position. After that, the paper on which the toner image is transferred is separated from the photoconductor drum 71, is sent to the fixing roller pair 84 by the carrying belt 83, and is discharged face-up, that is, with the paper surface facing upward, to the discharge tray 621.

The paper re-feeding unit 600 is an additional device for automating double-sided copying, and is a page printer PRT.
Is attached to the side of. The refeed unit 600 is
The paper discharged from the page printer main body by the discharge rollers 85 is once stored, switchback-conveyed, and sent back to the page printer main body.

In the single-sided copy mode, the sheet passes through the sheet re-feeding unit 600 and is discharged onto the sheet discharge tray 621 with the image forming surface facing upward. On the other hand, in the double-sided copy mode, the switching claw 60 is controlled by a solenoid (not shown).
The left end of the sheet 1 moves upward, and the sheet discharged from the discharge roller 85 reaches the forward / reverse roller 603 through the conveyance roller 602. When the trailing edge of the sheet reaches the sheet sensor SE61, the forward / reverse roller 603 reverses. by this,
The paper is returned to the page printer body. The returned sheet is sent to the timing roller 82 through the horizontal conveyance rollers 86a, 86b, and 86c and stands by. Here, when a plurality of sheets of paper are continuously fed, the sheets of paper are conveyed one after another with a predetermined paper interval so that they do not overlap each other, and are fed to the re-feeding unit 600. Since the paper conveyance path length is constant, the re-feed unit 60
The number of sheets N (the maximum number of sheets to be circulated) N in the section of 0 and one circulation by the horizontal conveying rollers 86a to 86c depends on the sheet size.

2 and 3 are block diagrams showing the configuration of the control unit of the copying machine according to the present embodiment. The same elements as those described above with reference to FIG. 1 are designated by the same reference numerals. Detailed description thereof will not be repeated here. The control unit 100 has seven CPUs (Central Process).
ing unit) 101 to CPU 105, CPU 107, and CPU 108. Each of these CPUs has a ROM (Read Only Memory) 1 that stores a program.
11-115, ROM 117, ROM 118, and RAM (Random Access Memory) 121-12
5, RAM 127, and RAM 128. CPU
106, ROM 116, and RAM 126 are provided in the memory unit section 30.

The CPU 101 inputs signals from various operation keys on an operation panel (not shown) and controls display on the operation panel. The CPU 102 controls each part of the image signal processing unit 20, and the CPU 103 controls driving of the scanning system 10. The CPU 104 controls the page printer PRT including the print processing unit 40. The CPU 105 performs processing for adjusting the overall timing of the control unit 100 and setting operation modes. Therefore, the CPU 105
Performs serial communication with other CPUs to send and receive commands and reports necessary for control. CPU 106
Controls the storage and reading of image information. CPU
Reference numeral 107 controls the document transportation by the ADFR 500 described above. The CPU 108 is the re-feeding unit 60 described above.
0 is controlled.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the memory unit section 30 according to the present embodiment. Referring to FIG. 4, in the memory unit section 30, at the time of reading, the image data D2 read by the image reader IR is transferred from the image signal processing section 20 to the input page memory 301. Next, the image transferred to the input page memory 301 is compressed in page units by the compressor 302, and then transferred to the code memory 303. On the other hand, at the time of printing, the decompressor 304 decompresses the compressed image in the code memory 303. When the image needs to be rotated, the rotation process is performed by the rotator provided in the decompressor 304 in page units at the time of decompression. That is, the rotation process and the expansion process are performed simultaneously. The decompressed image data is output to the page memory 3
It is transferred to 05. Next, the image data is transferred from the output page memory 305 to the print processing unit 40. The data transfer in FIG. 4 is performed independently of each other and in parallel in order to improve the copy speed. Each image data is DMA-transferred by a DMA controller (not shown).

The memory unit section 30 includes a ROM 11
CPU 106 according to the program stored in
Controlled by. Parameters necessary for operating the program are stored in the RAM 126.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of a management table showing the relationship between the job and the code memory according to this embodiment. When the original image is temporarily stored, the code memory 303 stores R
It is managed by a management table provided in the AM 126. When reading and compressing a document, it is necessary to manage image information on a job-by-job basis. On the other hand, in each job, the image information is divided into pages and stored. For this reason, the table has a page management information table (T-2) for storing information on a divided page basis and a job unit information table (T-1) for storing information on a job basis.

The job unit information table (T-1) stores information such as a job ID, a job registration state, where the page management information is stored, and copy mode information indicating a designated number of sheets (copies). . The page management information table (T-2) stores the storage location of the compressed image data.

In response to an instruction from the CPU 105, the CPU 106 reads out image data from the input page memory 301 and compresses it while creating information in the management table.
The compressed image data is stored in the code memory 303 by controlling the compressor 302. When the CPU 106 outputs the image data, the CPU 106 performs the reverse operation to the code memory 30.
The compressed image data is read from 3. The information in the management table is erased when the information of the corresponding page is normally read and the copying of the number of sheets (copies) designated by the operator is completed.

Next, regarding the operation sequence of the copying machine 1 relating to the reading of originals and the printing, the CPUs 101 to CP
The flow of request command (Q), report (A), and data exchanged between U106 will be mainly described.
FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a schematic sequence of the document reading operation according to the present embodiment. In the document reading operation, the image data is transferred from the image signal processing section 20 to the memory unit section 30.

First, the CP that manages the entire sequence
U 105 requests the CPU 106 to prepare memory. In response to this, the CPU 106 sets the bus connection state for causing the internal hardware to transfer the image data D2 from the image signal processing unit 20 to the memory unit 30.

When these settings are completed and the preparation is completed, the CPU 106 notifies the CPU 105 of the completion of the memory preparation. CPU 105 is CPU 106 and C
When the PU 102 is requested to read, the CPU 102 requests the CPU 103 to scan.

The scan is started by the CPU 103,
Image data is transferred to the image processing unit 20 by the image sensor 16 via the scanner 19. Next, the CPU 10
The read data (image data D2) is transferred from the image signal processing section 20 to the memory unit section 30 according to the image processing mode set by 2.

After the scan is completed, the CPU 102, the CPU
When the CPU 106 notifies the CPU 105 of the completion of reading,
The CPU 105 requests the CPU 106 for data compression. In response to this, the CPU 106 activates each unit as described above. As a result, compression processing is performed and the compressed data is stored in the code memory 303. When the compression process is completed, the CPU 106 notifies the CPU 105 of the completion of compression.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a schematic sequence of a printing operation according to this embodiment. In the printing operation, the image data is read from the code memory 303, and the copied image is printed on the paper based on the image data.

The CPU 105 requests the CPU 106 to expand the data. The CPU 106 activates each unit as described above. As a result, decompression processing is performed and the image data is written in the output page memory 305. Next CP
U 106 sends the decompression completion report to CPU 105.

When the expansion processing is completed, the CPU 105 executes C
It requests the PU 106 to prepare memory for reading image data from the output page memory 305. In response to this, the CPU 106 performs processing such as setting of a bus connection state for transferring the image data D3 from the output page memory 305 to the print processing unit 40 and setting for rotation processing on the internal hardware. Next, the CPU 106 sends a memory ready report to the CPU 105.

Upon completion of these processes and preparation, and upon receipt of the notification, the CPU 105 causes the CPU 106, CP
Request print output to U104. CPU10
4 sends a paper feed report to the CPU 105 to inform the paper conveyance state, and then the input page memory 305
The image data D3 read from is output to the print processing unit 40, and is printed out.

When the print output is completed, the CPU 10
6, and the CPU 104 sends a print completion report and an eject completion report to the CPU 105.
Upon receiving these reports, the CPU 105 gives a memory clear request to the CPU 106 as needed.

The operation of the copying machine according to the present embodiment will be described in more detail with reference to the flow chart below. Figure 8
Is a main flowchart of the CPU 105 according to the present embodiment. The CPU 105 performs the initial setting (# 51), then sets the internal timer (# 52), and sets another CP.
Input data analysis process (# 53) for checking input data from U, mode setting process (# 54) for determining an operation mode in response to operation contents, read process (# 55), print process (# 56), command Output data set processing (# 57) that causes the communication port to wait on the communication port, and other processing (# 5)
8), and confirmation of time-up of internal timer (# 59)
Is repeatedly executed.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart of the read processing according to this embodiment. In this process, a job registration process is performed by reading a document. First, it is checked whether or not a document is set (# 101). If the original is set, the current reading state is judged (# 10).
3). If it is not being read, it is determined whether or not a read start request is received from the operation panel (# 105).
If there is no read start request, the read process ends. On the other hand, if there is a read start request, the read job ID is updated (# 107), and a flag indicating that reading is in progress is set (# 1).
08). When reading is in progress (YES in # 103) or when reading is set (# 108), read sequence control is performed (# 109). In the reading sequence control, commands and reports are exchanged with the CPU 106, the CPU 102, and the CPU 103 as described above. A plurality of documents are compressed page by page, and the image data is sequentially registered in the management table and the code memory described above.

On the other hand, when the original is not set (NO in # 101), it is determined whether or not it is being read (# 111). If the document is being read, it is determined that the document has been read because the document has already disappeared. Therefore, the job registration completion is set in the management table (# 11
3) The flag indicating that reading is in progress is canceled (# 115). If it is not being read (NO in # 111), the reading process ends.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart of the output processing according to this embodiment. In this process, when the print output is performed, the process is stored in the memory, and the process of delaying the print operation start timing with respect to the job waiting for printing, that is, the wait operation is performed.

First, it is determined whether or not the wait operation at the time of switching jobs is being performed (# 201). If it is determined that the wait operation is not being performed, it is determined whether or not printing is being performed (# 221). Here, “printing” refers to a state until the printing process of the image data of all the documents of the specific job is completed.

When it is determined that printing is in progress (# 221), it is determined whether or not the job being printed is completed (# 223). If it is determined that the job has not ended, the print sequence process continues (# 213). On the other hand, if it is determined that the job being printed has ended, then it is determined whether permission for the wait operation has been set in advance on the operation panel (# 225). If it is determined that the wait operation is permitted, the wait timer is set to execute the wait operation (# 227). Similarly for the wait timer, a predetermined time is set in advance on the operation panel, so a value obtained by converting the time into the count value of the internal timer of the CPU is set. When the timer setting is completed, the flag in the wait state is further set (# 229).

On the other hand, when it is determined that the wait operation at the time of job switching is being performed (# 201), it is determined whether or not there is a print start request (# 203). This request is a request by an operation input for forcibly canceling the wait operation and starting the job during the wait operation during job switching.

If there is no print start request, it is determined whether or not the counting of the wait timer has ended (# 205). If the wait timer has not finished counting, the output process ends.

On the other hand, when it is determined that there is a print start request (YES in # 203), when the wait timer has finished counting (YES in # 205), it is determined that printing is not in progress (NO in # 221). , And when it is determined that the wait operation is not permitted (# 2
If NO in 25, the management table is searched to determine whether or not there is a job to be printed (# 20).
7). If there is a job to be printed, the print job ID is updated (# 209). Next, the status indicating that printing is in progress is set (# 2
11). At this time, if the wait flag is set, the wait flag is canceled. Next, print sequence control is performed (# 213). On the other hand, if there is no job to be printed, the output process ends.

Output of a new job is started by the above processing. As described above, the print sequence control is C
By exchanging commands and reports with the PU 106 and the CPU 104, the image data of a plurality of originals are sequentially read from the code memory via the aforementioned management table in page units, and decompression processing is performed to perform printing processing.

Although the print operation start timing is delayed in the above embodiment, it is needless to say that the same effect can be achieved by delaying the data read timing from the memory.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front sectional view showing an overall configuration of a copying machine according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a control unit of the copying machine according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a control unit of the copying machine according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a memory unit section according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of a management table showing a relationship between a job and a code memory according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a schematic sequence of a document reading operation according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a schematic sequence of a print operation according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a main flowchart of CPU 105 according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart of read processing according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart of output processing according to the present embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

30 memory unit 40 Print processing unit 100 control unit IR image reader PRT page printer

Continuation of the front page (56) References JP 59-30553 (JP, A) JP 62-43657 (JP, A) JP 8-84216 (JP, A) JP 62-183474 (JP , A) JP 60-238857 (JP, A) JP 62-27247 (JP, A) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G03G 21/00 370-512 G03G 15 / 00 510 G03G 21/14 H04N 1/04 107

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. An image forming unit for forming an image on a sheet, a storing unit for storing a job, and a sheet discharge tray, which are stored in a memory after the image forming for the first job is completed. In the image forming apparatus, which starts the image forming process for the second job, and discharges the discharged sheet bundle for the first job and the discharged sheet bundle for the second job to the sheet discharge tray in the memory. A delay unit that delays the stored image forming process start timing for the second job by a predetermined time; and an image forming process for the second job whose start timing is delayed by the delay unit An image forming apparatus, comprising: a unit for starting the process before the passage of time. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising setting means for arbitrarily setting the predetermined time.