JP3897782B2 - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a digital copying machine, a facsimile machine, and a composite apparatus having a copy function, and more particularly to an image forming apparatus having an interrupt mode for interrupting a normal mode and performing an interrupt job.

  In an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, another user may need to make another urgent copy during continuous copying. In this case, some have an interrupt mode that enables an interrupt for emergency copying. In a copier having an interrupt mode, the interrupt mode can be entered by pressing an interrupt key. In a copier having such an interrupt mode, if the interrupt key is operated during normal job execution, the normal job is terminated, and the interrupted normal job setting conditions, the number of copies, etc. are saved (for example, , See Patent Documents 1 and 2).

However, in a copying machine or the like having such an interrupt mode, the interrupted job is delayed in the end of the job by the time when there was an interrupt job. Therefore, priority is given to each job so that a job with a higher priority is not interrupted by a job with a lower priority (see, for example, Patent Document 3), or a mode is set so as not to accept an interrupt job. Some can be done (see, for example, Patent Document 4).
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2-235076 JP-A-5-127446 JP 2003-177877 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-218616

  However, there are several problems with the above-described conventional technology. First, as a first problem, the setting for disabling interrupts must be performed in advance before the job is executed. If a job is started without setting for disabling interrupts, If you realized that you didn't want to be interrupted, you had to suspend the job and set it again.

  On the other hand, the second problem is that it is impossible to interrupt even when another user brings a very urgent job while the job is being executed in a mode in which interruption is not permitted. There was a case where the job was stopped and interrupted. In this case, the interrupt mode has not been executed, and the job in the interrupt disapproval mode has been cancelled, and it has been very troublesome to resume the job before the interrupt. You may regret that you shouldn't have been in interrupt disabling mode. As described above, in the conventional technique, once the job is started, it is impossible to change the setting of the normal mode to the interrupt non-permission or change the setting of the interrupt non-permission mode to the normal mode.

In order to solve the above problems, the first invention is set an interrupt mode setting means for interrupting the job in the normal mode for performing normal job, the interrupt prohibition mode that does not allow interruption of the job in the normal mode Interrupt non-permission mode setting means for performing, and interrupt non-permission mode release setting means for returning to the normal mode in the interrupt non-permission mode ,
If the interrupt disapproval mode setting means is set during job execution, the normal mode is changed to interrupt disapproval mode even during job execution,
An image forming apparatus characterized in that when the interrupt non-permission mode release setting means is set during job execution, the interrupt non-permission mode is changed to the normal mode even during job execution .
Is used.

  The second invention of the present application uses the image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the interrupt disapproval mode setting means is a soft key in a display screen.

The third aspect of the invention, the interrupt prohibition mode release setting means, using the image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the Ru softkey der in the display screen.

A fourth aspect of the present invention uses the image forming apparatus according to the second or third aspect, wherein the soft key according to the second or third aspect is popped up on a display screen when a job is executed.

  By using the first and second inventions of the present application, the mode can be changed even while the job is being executed in the normal mode. Therefore, when the user does not want to be interrupted after executing the job, the mode can be changed to the interrupt non-permission mode.

  If the first and third inventions of the present application are used, even if a job that is being executed in the interrupt non-permission mode is inevitably interrupted, the interrupt mode can be executed after changing to the normal mode. So normal interrupts are possible. As a result, the interrupted job is not canceled, so it is easy to resume the interrupted job.

  If the second and third aspects of the present invention are used, it is possible to cope with software without increasing the number of parts. In addition, if the fourth invention is used, when a job is executed, a pop-up is displayed on the display unit, so that necessary items are displayed when necessary, so that it is easy to confirm the mode change.

  A composite apparatus employing the present invention will be described with reference to the schematic diagram of FIG. In this figure, this multifunction device 1 is a multifunction device having functions of copying, printer, facsimile, and scanner. CPU 2, ROM 3, RAM 4, mail creating means 5, printer controller 6, printer unit 7, post-processing device I / F 8, From the post-processing device 9, the operation panel 10, the scanner I / F 11, the scanner unit 12, the DF 13, the buffer memory 14, the bitmap memory 15, the CODEC 16, the modem 17, the NCU 18, the public line 19, the network I / F 20, the bus 21, and the like It is configured. The composite apparatus 1 is connected to a PC (24, 25) or a printer 23 via a network cable 22.

  Specifically, the CPU 2 controls each component of the image forming apparatus 1 and is connected to the ROM 3 storing various programs, the RAM 4 storing user choice data, setting information, total count data, various font data, and the like. Has been. Setting conditions set in the normal mode, setting conditions set in the interrupt mode, and the like are held in each area of the RAM 4. In particular, the first storage area 41 is an area for storing setting conditions set in the normal mode, and the second storage area is for storing the normal mode setting conditions and the number of copies in the interrupt mode. The storage area 42 is assumed.

  The mail creating means 5 is a means for creating a mail when the image data read by the scanner unit 12 is attached to a pre-registered partner and transmitted.

  The printer controller 6 analyzes the print command and job information transmitted from the connected personal computer and stored in the reception area of the buffer memory 14, and generates intermediate language information. This intermediate language information is stored in an intermediate language information storage area of the buffer memory 14.

  The printer unit 7 sequentially sends the image data developed in the bitmap memory 15 to a device for writing a latent image such as LSU or LPH of the image forming unit of the printer unit 7, and forms a toner image in the image forming unit. Then, this is sequentially transferred from the paper feed cassette to the paper that is fed and transported, and is fixed and discharged.

  The post-processing apparatus I / F 8 and the post-processing apparatus 9 perform post-processing such as stapling and punching, sorting, grouping, and the like on the printed matter printed and discharged from the composite apparatus 1. And an interface and a cable for connecting this to the main body of the composite apparatus 1.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the operation panel 10 includes a plurality of operation keys, an LCD display unit 101 which is a large LCD device, and the like. Since this image forming apparatus is a composite apparatus, the operation display unit can switch a copy function screen, a printer function screen, a facsimile function screen, and a scanner function screen by a selection key on the left of the operation panel 10. The interrupt key 102 corresponding to the interrupt mode setting means of the first to third inventions of the present application is a key having both an interrupt key and an interrupt LED, and the LED built in the interrupt key 102 blinks and lights as necessary. .

  The scanner I / F 11 is an interface for controlling the scanner unit 12 and the DF 13 by connecting to the scanner unit 12 placed on the multifunction apparatus 1 via a cable.

  The scanner unit 12 feeds one sheet at a time with the DF 13 or applies light with a halogen lamp to a document placed on the contact glass, reads the reflected light with a CCD sensor, and converts this analog signal to A / D conversion. Then, the signal is converted into a digital signal, subjected to image processing by the image processing unit, and developed in the subsequent bit map memory 15. The bit map memory 15 includes intermediate language information generated by analyzing the print command transferred from the personal computer connected via the network other than the image data from the scanner unit 12 by the printer controller 7, and the other party's facsimile. 26 is a means for decompressing the image data sent from the network 26 via the public line 19, the NCU 18, and the modem 17 by the CODEC 16 as necessary, and developing and holding the image data as a full bitmap image data. The CODEC 16 is also used for decoding the encoded image data included in the print data.

  The buffer memory 14 encodes and stores the image data read by the scanner unit 12 using the CODEC 16 when performing normal memory copy, facsimile memory transmission, and reserved transmission in addition to the above-described received image area and intermediate language area. . When the scanner function is used, the image data read by the scanner unit 12 can be read from an external personal computer encoded by the CODEC 16, and similarly, the facsimile polling function can be read from the other party's facsimile. Is also possible. In recent years, an image memory is often used as an image memory by using a relatively large capacity hard disk for storing image data.

  The modem 17 converts an analog signal transmitted from the public line 19 into a digital signal, and conversely converts the digital signal into an analog signal and transmits it through the public line. The NCU 18 performs connection to a public line, switching between facsimile and telephone, transmission of an on-hook signal to the line, ring detection, and the like.

  The network I / F 20 is an interface that connects the composite apparatus 1 to the network. Here, it is connected via a network cable 22 to a personal computer (24, 25), a printer 23, and other connection devices not shown.

  The bus 21 is a bus for exchanging data and signals of each configuration described above. Although there are buses for image data and buses for control signals, they are represented by one for short here.

  A processing flow when the interrupt key is operated in the normal mode of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. First, it is determined whether or not the interrupt key has been operated (S101). If it has not been operated, a return is made. (S102). Subsequently, it is determined whether or not copying is currently in progress (S103). If copying is not in progress, the process proceeds to S106. If copying is in progress, copying is performed on the already fed paper and discharge processing is performed (S104). . At this time, the blinking of the interrupt LED continues. Subsequently, it is determined whether or not the discharge process has been completed (S105), and if completed, the process proceeds to S106. In step S106, information such as the job conditions set in the interrupted normal job and where the job was interrupted is saved so that the normal job can be resumed after the interrupt mode is canceled. Here, the data in the first storage area 41 of the RAM 4 is moved to the second storage area 42. Subsequently, the display on the LCD display unit 101 is switched to a screen for setting an interrupt job (S108), the interrupt LED is lit, and the setting of the interrupt job is awaited.

  The interrupt disapproval mode setting means of the present invention has a pop-up display on the right side of the screen as shown in FIG. 4, and when the OK is operated here, this job is executed in the interrupt disapproval mode.

  The procedure for changing the setting to the interrupt disapproval mode while executing a job in the normal mode of the present invention and the procedure for changing the setting to the normal mode while executing a job in the interrupt disapproval mode will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. First, it is determined whether or not the normal mode is set (S201), and if it is the normal mode, then it is determined whether or not the interrupt disabled mode is set by the pop-up display of the interrupt disabled mode setting means (S202). If not, when the start key is operated (S203), the job starts in the normal mode, and a soft key for changing the setting to the interrupt disapproval mode is popped up as shown in FIG. 6 (S204). Subsequently, when the “OK” key of the soft key is operated (S205), the setting of this job is changed to the interrupt non-permission mode (S206), and the process proceeds to 1). If the “OK” key has not been operated in S205, it is determined whether or not the job has ended (S207). If completed, the process ends. If not completed, the process returns to S204.

  If the normal mode is not set in S201, or if the interrupt non-permission mode is set in S202, when the start key is operated (S208), the job starts in the interrupt non-permission mode and the interrupt is performed as shown in FIG. A soft key for changing the setting to cancel the non-permission mode is displayed in a pop-up (S209). Subsequently, when the “OK” key of the soft key is operated (S210), the setting of the job is changed to the normal mode (S211), and the process proceeds to 2). If the “OK” key is not operated in S210, it is determined whether or not the job has ended (S212). If the job has ended, the process ends. If not, the process returns to S209.

1 is a block diagram of a composite apparatus and peripheral devices that employ the present invention. 3 is an operation panel of a composite apparatus that employs the present invention. It is a processing flow when an interrupt key is operated in a composite apparatus employing the present invention. In the composite device adopting the present invention, a pop-up display of interrupt disapproval means displayed on the display unit. This is processing when the mode is changed from the normal mode to the interrupt non-permission mode during the job execution and the mode change from the interrupt non-permission mode to the normal mode during the job execution in the composite apparatus employing the present invention. In the composite apparatus employing the present invention, a pop-up display of a first mode changing means displayed on the display unit. In the composite apparatus adopting the present invention, a pop-up display of a second mode changing means displayed on the display unit.

Explanation of symbols

1; Compound device 2; CPU
3; ROM
4; RAM
5; Mail creation means 6; Printer controller 7; Printer unit 8; I / F for post-processing device
9; Post-processing device 10; Operation panel 11; Scanner interface 12; Scanner unit 13; Automatic document feeder (DF)
14; buffer memory 15; bitmap memory 16; CODEC
17; modem 18; NCU
19; Public line 20; Network I / F
21; bus 22; network cable 23; printers 24 and 25; PC
26;

Claims (4)

Interrupt mode setting means for interrupting a job in a normal mode for performing a normal job , interrupt non-permission mode setting means for setting an interrupt non-permission mode that does not permit job interruption in the normal mode, and the interrupt non-permission An interrupt non-permission mode release setting means for returning to the normal mode in the mode ,
If the interrupt disapproval mode setting means is set during job execution, the normal mode is changed to interrupt disapproval mode even during job execution,
An image forming apparatus characterized in that when the interrupt non-permission mode release setting means is set during job execution, the interrupt non-permission mode is changed to the normal mode even during job execution .   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the interrupt non-permission mode setting unit is a soft key in a display screen. It said interrupt prohibition mode release setting means, the image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the Ru softkey der in the display screen. Softkey according to claim 2 or 3, the image forming apparatus according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that pops up in the display screen when the job execution.