JP3760170B2 - Image forming apparatus and initial mode setting method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a digital copying machine, a facsimile machine, a multifunction machine, etc., which can input an all clear command, and an initial mode setting method of the apparatus.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, among image forming apparatuses in which all clear is executed, an image forming mode (initial setting mode) after an all clear command can be freely registered on the user side is known (non-patent). Reference 1).
Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 62-60945

  In the above device, since anyone using this device can freely register the initial setting mode, when this device is shared by many people, even if a user registers the initial setting mode convenient for himself, The initial setting mode which is different by a third party is registered without the user's knowledge, which may cause confusion.

  In view of such circumstances, an object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus capable of realizing smooth use without confusion by specifying a user who can register an initial setting mode.

  As means for solving the above-mentioned problems, the invention of claim 1 stores password input means for inputting a password from the outside and a preset password, and this password is stored before registration in the initial setting mode. In an image forming apparatus provided with a password determination unit that allows subsequent registration only when input, the password class is determined, and the higher the password class to be input, the higher the initial setting mode for more image forming functions. Is provided with the above-mentioned password determination means that permits registration.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the first aspect, the password determining means increases the number of digits of the password as the class of the input password is higher. It is characterized by.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus of the first or second aspect, an input unit for inputting an initial setting mode, an initial setting registration unit for registering the input initial setting mode, And an initial setting reproduction means for reproducing the registered initial setting mode when an all clear command is input.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to any one of the first to third aspects, the password determination unit requires an input of a password to register the image forming function included in the initial setting mode. The functions that do not require password input are classified into those that do not require passwords, and registration of the initial setting mode is permitted without entering a password.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, the password determination unit allows registration of an initial mode for an image forming function that differs for each password. Features.

  The initial mode registration method according to claim 6 stores a password input step for inputting a password from the outside and a preset password, and the password is input before registration in the initial setting mode. A password determination step that only allows subsequent registration, and the password determination step determines the password class, and the higher the password class that is input, the more the functions can be registered in the initial setting mode. In addition, it is characterized in that registration is permitted by continuously performing a plurality of functions permitted for the inputted password class and a function permitted for a lower class.

  According to the apparatus and the initial mode setting method, registration of the initial setting mode is allowed only when a preset password is input. Therefore, a user who can register the initial setting mode is substantially informed of the password. It will be limited to a specific person. Therefore, another initial setting mode is prevented from being registered by another user without the knowledge of the specific person.

  In the image forming apparatus according to claim 1, registration of more image forming functions is allowed as a password having a higher class (class) is input. Therefore, an image forming function that can be registered for each user. The number of types can be different.

  Furthermore, in the image forming apparatus according to the second aspect, since the number of digits of the password is changed depending on the class (class), there is an effect that the operability can be improved.

  According to another aspect of the present invention, an input unit for inputting an initial setting mode, an initial setting registration unit for registering the input initial setting mode, and an all clear command are registered. The present invention can be applied to an image forming apparatus including an initial setting reproduction unit that reproduces the initial setting mode.

  In the image forming apparatus according to the fourth aspect of the invention, the function requiring password input is such that the initial setting mode is updated and registered only when the password is input. Therefore, it is possible to prevent other users from renewing and registering the initial setting mode, so that smooth use of the image forming apparatus without any confusion can be realized. Further, it is possible to improve operability by permitting registration immediately for functions that do not hinder even if frequently updated and registered, regardless of password input.

  In the image forming apparatus according to the fifth aspect, registration of a different image forming function is permitted for each password in response to the input of each password. Therefore, by providing a different password depending on the user, this is performed for each image forming function. Users who can register can be made different.

  A first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In this embodiment, a digital copying machine 10 as shown in FIG. 2 will be described. However, the present invention can be applied to other apparatuses such as other copying machines, facsimile machines, and multifunction machines.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the digital copying machine 10 includes a document retainer 12 that covers a contact glass (not shown), a plurality of paper feed cassettes 13 and 14, a paper discharge tray 16, and the like. The operation unit (input means) 20 is provided on the upper surface. The copying machine main body 11 is provided with various known functions such as a paper processing function for punching and bookbinding, a magnification setting function, and an image density setting function.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the operation unit 20 is provided with a numeric keypad (password input means) 21, an enter key 22, a display unit 24, a start key 26, an all clear key 27, an initial setting registration key 28, and the like. . The display unit 24 and various keys are connected to a control device 40 built in the copying machine via an input / output device 30. The control device 40 includes a CPU 32, a RAM 34, a ROM 36, and a table 38 relating to a password to be described later, and is connected to predetermined components in the copying machine main body 11 via the input / output device 30.

  The control device 40 has an input reading means 41, a function as shown in FIG. 1 as a function for controlling the initial setting mode after the all clear key 27 is operated (that is, the all clear command is input). A determination unit 42, a display control unit 43, a password determination unit 44, an initial setting registration unit 45, and an initial setting reproduction unit 46 are provided.

  The input reading unit 41 reads the operation contents of various keys other than the initial setting registration key 28. When the initial setting registration key 28 is operated, the function determination unit 42 registers the function related to the key operated immediately before it (for example, the copy magnification when the copy magnification setting key is operated). Is output to the password determination means 44.

  The password determination unit 44 is configured to perform the following operation. A variety of copying functions (functions that require passwords) as shown in Table 1 below are stored in combination with setting classes set according to these functions, and a plurality of (here, five) passwords as shown in Table 2 are stored. Is stored in combination with the corresponding class.

If the function determined by the function determining means 42 is a function that does not require password input (a function that is not stored as a function that requires password input), a registration permission signal is output to the initial setting registration means 45 as it is.
If the determination function requires a password input, a signal is output to the display control means 43 to request a password input as described later. At this time, it is determined whether or not the password entered with the numeric keypad 21 is valid (whether or not it corresponds to one of the passwords shown in Table 2), and this password is valid and this password. The registration permission signal is output to the initial setting registration means 45 only when the class corresponding to is higher than the setting class corresponding to the discrimination function (the class number corresponding to the password is less than the setting class number).

  The initial setting registration means 45 registers a preset initial setting mode (copying mode after all clear is designated) when the copying machine 10 is not in use, and a registration permission signal from the password determination means 44. The value (for example, the copy magnification of 85%) designated by the user for the discrimination function (copy magnification in the above example) among the functions included in the initial setting mode is updated and registered only when is there. The initial setting reproduction means 46 sets the initial setting mode registered in the initial setting registration means 45 when the all clear key 27 is operated or when the operation unit 20 is left unoperated for a certain time. It is something to regenerate.

  Next, a specific control operation performed by this apparatus will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  First, when the initial setting registration key 28 is turned on (YES in step S1), the copier mode is switched from the normal copying mode to the initial setting registration mode, and is operated immediately before the initial setting registration key 28 is operated. The copy function that the user wishes to register for update is determined from the key (step S2). For example, if an unillustrated binding margin setting key is operated immediately before the initial setting registration key 28 is operated, it is determined that the user desires to set or update the binding margin dimension.

  Next, it is determined whether or not the determined registration target function requires a password input (step S3). If a password input is required (YES in step S3), FIG. 5A shows. Such a password input request screen is displayed on the display unit 24 (step S4).

  After the password is input according to this display (YES in step S5), it is determined whether or not this password is valid (step S6). If it is determined that it is not valid (NO in step S6), a setting impossible display as shown in FIG. 5B is performed (step S7). If it is determined that it is valid (YES in step S6), it is stored. Based on the table (Table 2), the class corresponding to the input password is determined (step S8).

  The class number corresponding to the password (for example, 3 when the password “3976” is input) and the class number set for the registration target function (for example, 2 for the “binding dimension”; 1) (step S9), and when the former exceeds the latter (NO in step S9), a setting impossible display as shown in FIG. 5C is performed (step S7). On the other hand, when the former is equal to or less than the latter (YES in step S9), the initial setting mode is updated and registered for the registration target function in the initial setting mode (step S10), and a display indicating the end of registration is displayed. For example, when the binding margin dimension of 5 mm is registered in the initial setting mode before update registration, and the binding margin dimension of 10 mm is set by the operation of the binding margin dimension setting key immediately before the operation of the initial setting registration key 28. Updates and registers the binding margin size from 5 mm to 10 mm.

  If the function to be registered is a function that is not stored as a function requiring password input in the password determination means 44, that is, a function that does not require password input (NO in step S3), a request for password input is required. The update registration is performed immediately (step S10).

  After completion of registration, every time the all clear key 27 is operated, the initial setting mode updated and registered as described above is reproduced.

  As described above, this device updates and registers the initial setting mode only when a password is entered for functions that require password entry. Therefore, it is possible to prevent other users from renewing and registering the initial setting mode, so that smooth use of the copying machine 10 without any confusion can be realized. Further, it is possible to improve operability by permitting registration immediately for functions that do not hinder even if frequently updated and registered, regardless of password input.

  Furthermore, in this device, a plurality of passwords are set and their classes are defined, and the higher the password class to be entered (the smaller the class number), the more the functions can be registered in the initial setting mode. Therefore, it is possible to permit initialization registration suitable for each user's position by notifying a person who is frequently used of the copying machine 10 or an office administrator with a high password.

  When setting a plurality of passwords as in this embodiment, it is not always necessary to assign a class to each password. For example, a certain function is allowed when a first password is input, and a function different from the above function is input when a second password is input. It is also possible to perform parallel handling such as permitting and notify different passwords depending on the department or the like.

  Next, a second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. In the first embodiment, the initial setting mode can be updated and registered for only one function per operation of the initial setting registration key 28, but in this embodiment, the initial setting mode is set for a plurality of functions at a time. Update registration is possible.

  First, when the initial setting registration key 28 as in the first embodiment is turned on (step S21), a password input request display is immediately displayed (step S22), and after the password is input (YES in step S23). ) If this input password is not valid (NO in step S24), a setting impossible display is performed (step S25). If it is valid (YES in step S24), the class of the input password is determined and stored. Along with (Step S26), a guidance display for operating a key (a key other than the initial setting registration key 28) corresponding to the function desired to be registered is displayed.

  In response to this, after a predetermined key is operated by the user (YES in step S27), the function corresponding to the operated key and its setting class are determined (step S28), and the input password class is determined. If it exceeds the setting class of the function (NO in step S29), a setting impossible display is performed (step S25). If the password class is equal to or lower than the setting class of the function (YES in step S29), the function is displayed. The initial setting mode is updated and registered for (Step S30). Regardless of whether the registration is permitted or rejected, the next key operation is waited (step S31). If any key other than the initial setting registration key is operated (NO in step S32), the password determination in step S28 and subsequent steps. And registration operation. If the initial setting registration key is operated (YES in step S32), the initial setting registration mode is terminated and the normal copy mode is restored.

  Therefore, in this embodiment, the initial setting mode update registration is continued until the second initial setting registration key operation is performed by inputting the own password immediately after the first initial setting registration key operation. Can be done multiple times.

In this embodiment, an initial setting registration start key and an initial setting registration end key are arranged in parallel instead of the initial setting registration key, and an initial setting registration mode is started by operating the initial setting registration start key. The initial setting registration mode may be ended by operating the end key.
In addition, the password set in the present invention is not limited to the numbers as described above, but may be composed of alphabetic characters or other characters.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of a control device built in the digital copying machine according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is an overall perspective view of the digital copying machine. FIG. 2 is a plan view of an operation unit provided in the digital copying machine and a block diagram showing a hardware configuration of the control device. It is a flowchart which shows the control action by the said control apparatus. (A) (b) (c) is the figure which showed the screen displayed in the said operation part. It is a flowchart which shows the control action performed in 2nd Example of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

10 Digital copier (image forming device)
20 Operation part (input means)
21 Numeric keypad (password input means)
27 All clear key 28 Initial setting registration key 40 Control device 44 Password determination means 45 Initial setting registration means 46 Initial setting reproduction means

Claims (6)

Password input means for inputting a password from the outside, and password determination means for storing a preset password and allowing subsequent registration only when this password is input before registration in the initial setting mode. In the provided image forming apparatus,
The password determination unit determines the password class, and the higher the password class to be input, the more the image forming functions are allowed to register the initial setting mode, and the password class to be input is allowed. An image forming apparatus characterized in that the image forming function and an image forming function allowed for a class lower than the image forming function are continuously registered a plurality of times. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the password determination unit increases the number of digits of the password as the class of the input password is higher. Input means for inputting the initial setting mode, initial setting registration means for registering the input initial setting mode, initial setting reproducing means for reproducing the registered initial setting mode when the all clear command is input, The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: The password determination means divides the image forming function included in the initial setting mode into those that require password input for registration and those that do not require password input in the initial setting mode without entering a password. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein registration is permitted. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the password determination unit permits registration of an initial mode for an image forming function that is different for each password. A password input step for inputting a password from the outside, and a password determination step for storing a preset password and allowing subsequent registration only when this password is input before registration in the initial setting mode. Have
The password determination step determines the password class, and the higher the password class to be input, the more the functions are allowed to be registered in the initial setting mode, and An initial mode registration method characterized in that registration is permitted a plurality of times with a function allowed for a lower class.