JP4671821B2 - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a printer, or a multifunction machine, and more particularly to a print job management technique thereof.

  In a conventional image forming apparatus, when a print job including a plurality of pages of image data is received from a personal computer, the print job is collectively sent to an engine control unit that controls an engine unit that performs print processing from the control unit. Then, under the control of the engine control unit, the engine unit performs print processing on the paper of the print job. In addition, when changing the number of output pages for a print job that is being printed, the print job is cleared once, and a new print job with the changed number of pages is received again. Changes have been made.

For reference, the following image forming apparatus is disclosed and proposed. Display means for displaying an operation guide, operation means for receiving an operation instruction, operation guidance is displayed on the display means, and copying is excluded from a plurality of pages through the operation means. A page designating unit for accepting a page designation instruction for designating a page; and when the page designation instruction is accepted by the page designation accepting unit, an image obtained from a document other than the page designated by the page designation instruction is copied. An image forming apparatus including a copying unit is disclosed and proposed (for example, see Patent Document 1).
JP 2004-186784 A

  Certainly, in the conventional image forming apparatus, when the number of output pages of a print job is changed for a print job that is being printed, the print job is once cleared, and a new print with the number of pages changed again. By receiving a job, the number of output pages of the print job can be changed.

  Further, with the image forming apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 1, it is possible to copy an image acquired from a document other than the designated page when copying a plurality of pages.

  However, in the conventional image forming apparatus, since the print job is collectively sent from the control unit to the engine control unit and printed by the engine unit, the print job is not cleared with respect to the print job being printed. The number of output pages could not be changed and edited. For this reason, if the user wants to change the number of output pages of a print job in the middle of a print job being printed, the user performs a clear operation for the print job, and a new print with the page number changed again. Since it is necessary to perform an operation of transmitting a job to a conventional image forming apparatus, there is a problem that it takes time to clear the print job and transmit the print job again.

  Note that the image forming apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 1 is an invention relating to a change of a document copy page at the time of copying, and specifies a page that does not need to be copied in advance before starting a copy process of an image acquired from a document. There must be.

  SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is that it provides an image forming apparatus capable of changing the number of output pages of a print job being printed without clearing the print job. .

  To achieve the above object, an image forming apparatus according to the present invention includes an information receiving unit that receives input of information, an interface unit for establishing a connection with an external device, and a print job received by the interface unit. And printing means for printing the image data included in the paper on a sheet. When the interface unit receives the print job, one page from the print job is stored. Extracting the image data for each image, associating the number of pages corresponding to each extracted image data and storing it in the storage means; and after starting the printing of the image data by the printing means, the information receiving means When the output change up to the change page before the last page of the image data is accepted, the change page of the image data stored in the storage means is received. Is a page changing means for instructing the printing means to output to the image data corresponding to a have been made constituting the. With this configuration, when the user wants to change the number of output pages after printing of image data included in the print job is started, the number of output pages is changed without clearing the print job. It becomes possible.

  In the image forming apparatus having the above-described configuration, the information receiving unit is an operating unit that receives an input of information by an operation. With this configuration, the user can easily change the number of output pages only by operating an operation means such as a display with a touch function or a numeric keypad.

  Further, the image forming apparatus configured as described above is configured such that the information receiving unit is a unit that receives input of information via the interface unit. With such a configuration, it is not necessary for the user to go to the image forming apparatus and change the setting of the number of output pages, thereby further improving convenience for the user.

  As described above, with the image forming apparatus according to the present invention, it is possible to change the number of output pages without clearing the print job after printing of image data included in the print job is started.

  Hereinafter, the case where the present invention is applied to a multifunction machine having a printer function and a copying function will be described as an example. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a main part configuration of a multifunction peripheral according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view schematically showing a main part structure of the multifunction peripheral according to the present invention. As shown in both figures, the multifunction device 1 of the present embodiment takes in a control unit 10 that controls the operation of the entire apparatus, a document transport unit 11 that automatically transports a document, and a document transported from the document transport unit 11. Stores a document take-in unit 12 for generating image data, an operation display unit 13 including operation means (such as a numeric keypad or a touch panel) and a display means (such as a liquid crystal display) for receiving input of information by operation, and various control programs. The memory unit 14 that is also used as a work area, the engine unit 16 that prints an image based on image data on a sheet and post-processes the printed sheet under the control of an engine control unit 15 described later, and the control unit 10. In order to establish a communication connection between the engine control unit 15 that controls the engine unit 16 based on a command input from an external device and an external device. Comprising a an interface unit 17 connected to the click 30. The multifunction device 1 can transmit and receive data and the like via the personal computer 31 (described later) and the network 30.

  In addition to controlling the operation of the entire apparatus, the control unit 10 inputs various commands to the engine control unit 15 to cause the engine control unit 15 to control the engine unit 16. In addition, when the interface unit 17 receives a print job, the control unit 10 extracts image data for each page from the print job, and associates the number of pages corresponding to the extracted image data in the storage unit. After starting the printing of the image data included in the print job and the extracting means to be stored in the RAM 142, the information receiving means (in this embodiment, the liquid crystal display 131 with a touch function of the operation display unit 13, which will be described later) is the final image data. Printing means (in this embodiment, engine control is used to output up to the image data corresponding to the changed page out of the image data stored in the RAM 142 when the output change up to the changed page before the page is received. As a page changing means for instructing the image forming unit 15, the paper feeding unit 161, the image forming unit 162, and the fixing unit 163) Responsible.

  The engine unit 16 includes an image forming unit 162 (including a printing unit 162a including a developing device, a photosensitive drum, and an exposure unit) that forms a toner image on a sheet based on image data. A fixing unit 163 that fixes the toner image formed on the sheet to a sheet, a sheet feeding unit 161 that feeds the image to the image forming unit 162, and a finisher 164 that performs post-processing of the sheet that has passed through the fixing unit 163. It consists of

  The finisher 164 includes a plurality of trays, a sorter unit that performs a bundle discharge process for bundling a plurality of sheets and discharging them to the tray, and a stapling process for bundling a plurality of sheets and then discharging the sheets toward the tray. It has a stapling section to perform.

  The paper feeding unit 161 includes a plurality of (three in this embodiment) paper storage units 161 a to 161 c that are paper sources to the image forming unit 162, and the paper storage units 161 a to 161 c to the image forming unit 162. And a sheet conveying unit 161d serving as a common sheet conveying path.

  The memory unit 14 includes a ROM [Read Only Memory] 141 that stores various control programs and the like, and a RAM [Random Access Memory] 142 that is used as a work area.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of the operation display unit 13 in the multifunction machine 1. The operation display unit 13 is specified by being pressed by the user, and a liquid crystal display 131 with a touch panel function that receives input of information by touch operation and displays an image, a numeric keypad 132 that receives input of information such as numerical values, and the like. A clear key 133 for accepting clearing of the information, a stop key 134 for accepting cancellation of copy processing or print processing when pressed by the user, a start key 135 for accepting start of copy processing when pressed by the user, It has.

  In addition, the liquid crystal display 131 is provided with a status display part 131a for displaying the status of the apparatus and a main display part 131b for displaying various processing information.

Although not shown, the personal computer 31 connected to the network 30 stores various programs, data, and the like, a storage unit that is also used as a work area, a display that displays images, and an input operation that is performed. The apparatus includes a control unit that controls the entire apparatus, the personal computer 31, an interface for establishing a connection with an external apparatus, and the like. The personal computer 31 can exchange data, print data, and the like with an external device such as the multifunction machine 1.

  Here, a document copying operation in the multi-function device 1 having the above-described configuration will be described. In the document copying operation in the multifunction device 1, first, a document is transported from the document transport unit 11 to the document capture unit 12, and the document capture unit 12 captures the document (generates image data). The generated image data is temporarily stored in the RAM 142 by the control unit 10, read again, and sent to the engine control unit 15 together with the print command. Subsequently, image data is sent from the engine control unit 15 to the image forming unit 162, and a toner image is formed on the surface of a photosensitive drum (not shown) based on the image data. Then, the image forming unit 162 performs a toner image forming process on a sheet conveyed from the paper feeding unit 161 to the image forming unit 162. Further, the fixing unit 163 performs a fixing process of the toner image onto the sheet, and then the sheet is discharged to the finisher 164. In addition, when the operation display unit 13 is operated by the user and the bundle discharging process or the stapling process is set in advance before starting the document copying, the copied paper is processed by the finisher 164 in the bundle discharging process or Staple processing is performed and the sheet is discharged to the tray of the finisher 164.

Note that the multifunction device 1 of the present embodiment continues printing by changing the number of output pages without clearing the print job after printing of the image data included in the print job received by the interface unit 17 is started. It is characterized by the control performed.

  Therefore, the above features will be described in detail below with reference to the flowchart of FIG. In FIG. 4, the last page M is the last page of the image data included in the print job, and the current page N is currently the target of printing on paper, the page of image data included in the print job, and the changed page Q. Means a changed page in which the last page of image data included in the print job is changed during printing of the print job. The relationship between the last page M and the changed page Q is changed page Q <last page M.

  In the MFP 1 of this embodiment, when a print job transmitted from the personal computer 31 is received by the interface unit 17 in step S4-1, the control unit 10 temporarily stores the print job in the RAM 142.

  Subsequently, in step S4-2, in addition to the print request command for requesting printing of the print job by the control unit 10, the bundle discharge command or finisher 164 for requesting the bundle discharge processing of the printed paper by the finisher 164 to the print job. Then, a command such as a stapling command for requesting stapling processing of printed paper is extracted. If a bundle discharge command or staple command is included in the print job in addition to the print request command, the bundle discharge command or staple command will be used later as the final page print command. The command is flagged.

  Subsequently, in step S4-3, the control unit 10 extracts image data for each page from the print job, and a corresponding page ID (ie, corresponding to the number of pages) is associated with each extracted image data. Stored in the RAM 142.

  In step S4-4, the control unit 10 starts processing related to printing of the print job. At this time, as shown in FIG. 5, the status display portion 131a displays that printing is in progress. The completed page display portion 131c of the main display portion 131b displays the number of completed pages that have been printed. The last page M of the image data included in the print job is displayed on the last page display portion 131d of the main display portion 131b. The main display unit 131b displays an edit button 131e that is pressed when the last page M is changed after printing of the print job is started. When a bundle discharge command or a staple command is extracted in step S4-2, a pattern, a character, or a symbol indicating that these processes are performed may be displayed on the liquid crystal display 131.

  Subsequently, in step S4-5, the control unit 10 counts the current page N of the image data to be printed on the current sheet, and further determines that the current page N is not equal to the final page M. (NO in S4-5), in step S4-6, the control unit 10 reads the image data of the current page N from the RAM 142, and the control unit 10 adds a print command to the image data of the current page N. To the engine control unit 15.

  In step S4-7, the image data of the current page N is sent to the image forming unit 162 by the engine control unit 15 according to the print command, and a toner image is formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum (not shown) based on the image data. Is done. Then, the image forming unit 162 performs a toner image forming process on a sheet conveyed from the paper feeding unit 161 to the image forming unit 162. Further, the fixing unit 163 performs the fixing process of the toner image onto the paper, and then the printed paper is sent to the finisher 164.

  Subsequently, in step S4-8, the control unit 10 counts up the current page N to N + 1.

  Subsequently, when the user presses the edit button 131e shown in FIG. 5 in step S4-9, a signal by the press is input to the control unit 10. Then, as shown in FIG. 6, the control unit 10 displays a screen for changing and setting the last page M on the liquid crystal display 131. The user presses the end button 131g after the change page Q is input using the numeric keypad 132 to the change page input unit 131f, and the change of the last page M to the change page Q is displayed on the liquid crystal display 131 in accordance with the press. If accepted (YES in S4-9), a signal indicating the changed page Q is input to the control unit 10 in step S4-10, and the control unit 10 changes the last page M to the changed page Q. Be recognized.

  In step S4-9, if the change setting of the last page M is not performed by the user and the change of the last page M to the change page Q is not accepted by the liquid crystal display 131 (NO in S4-9), the last page Since the change of the page M to the change page Q is not performed, the process returns to step S4-5.

  Subsequently, when the control unit 10 determines in step S4-11 that the current page N is smaller than the changed page Q (S4-11 YES), the control unit 10 stores the RAM 142 in the RAM 142 in step S4-12. Of the image data stored in association with the page ID for each page, the image data after the [change page Q + 1] page is deleted.

  Subsequently, in step 4-13, the control unit 10 recognizes the value of the last page M changed to the changed page Q, and also displays the value of the changed page Q in the last page display unit 131d as shown in FIG. Is displayed, and the process returns to step S4-5. Note that, as described above, when the last page M is changed to the changed page Q, the image data corresponding to the changed page Q (page ID = Q) is changed unless the last page M is changed again. Will be printed on paper.

  In step S4-5, the control unit 10 counts the current page N of the image data to be printed on the current paper, and further determines that the current page N is equal to the last page M. (S4-5 YES), in step S4-14, the control unit 10 reads the image data of the current page N from among the image data stored in the RAM 142 in association with the page ID for each page. Then, the print command for the final page is added to the image data of the current page N and sent to the engine control unit 15. The last page print command is a command representing the last page M (for example, command_n = command_final) when the bundle discharge command and the staple command flag are not set by the control unit 10 in step S4-2. If the bundle discharge command is flagged by the control unit 10 in step S4-2, the bundle discharge command is flagged by the control unit 10 in step S4-2. Is a staple command.

  Subsequently, in step S4-15, the engine control unit 15 sends the image data of the final page M to the image forming unit 162 according to the final page print command, and the photosensitive drum (not shown) is based on the image data. A toner image is formed on the surface. Then, the image forming unit 162 performs a toner image forming process on a sheet conveyed from the paper feeding unit 161 to the image forming unit 162. Further, the fixing unit 163 performs the fixing process of the toner image onto the paper, and then the printed paper is sent to the finisher 164. The finisher 164 performs post-processing according to the final page print command, and the printed paper is discharged to the tray. In the finisher 164, when the final page print command is a command representing the final page M, the printed sheet is discharged without performing post-processing, and the final page print command is a bundle discharge command. In this case, the printed sheets from the first page to the last page M are bundled in the sorting unit and then discharged to the tray. When the last page print command is a stapling command, the stapling unit starts from the first page. The printed sheets up to the final page M are bundled and further stapled before being discharged to the tray.

  If a print job requesting printing of a plurality of copies has been received in step 4-1, the control unit 10 controls until the set number of copies is completed after step S4-15 is completed. Steps S4-4 to S4-17 are repeated.

  If the control unit 10 determines in step S4-11 that the current page N is not smaller (that is, larger) than the changed page Q (S4-11 NO), in step 4-16, the control unit 10, the image data of the next page N + 1 of the current page N among the image data stored in the RAM 142 in association with the page ID for each page is read, and the control unit 10 reads the image data of the next page N + 1 of the current page N. A print command for the final page is added to the image data and sent to the engine control unit 15.

  Subsequently, in step S4-17, the image data of the next page N + 1 of the current page N is sent to the image forming unit 162 by the engine control unit 15 according to the last page print command, and the photosensitive drum ( A toner image is formed on the surface (not shown). Then, the image forming unit 162 performs a toner image forming process on a sheet conveyed from the paper feeding unit 161 to the image forming unit 162. Further, the fixing unit 163 performs the fixing process of the toner image onto the paper, and then the printed paper is sent to the finisher 164. The finisher 164 performs post-processing according to the final page print command, and the printed paper is discharged to the tray. In the finisher 164, when the final page print command is a command representing the final page M, the printed sheet is discharged without performing post-processing, and the final page print command is a bundle discharge command. In this case, the printed sheets from the first page to the last page M are bundled in the sorting unit and then discharged to the tray. When the last page print command is a stapling command, the stapling unit starts from the first page. The printed sheets up to the final page M are bundled and further stapled before being discharged to the tray.

  If a print job requesting printing of a plurality of copies has been received in step 4-1, in addition to step S4-17, the control unit 10 further stores the page ID and the page ID for each page in the RAM 142. Of the image data stored in association with each other, the image data after the [change page Q + 1] page are deleted. Under the control of the control unit 10, the image data is printed from the first page (page ID = 1) to the changed page Q (page ID = Q) stored in the RAM 142 in association with the page ID for each page. Steps S4-4 to S4-17 are repeated until the set number of copies is completed.

  As described above, in the MFP 1 of this embodiment, when the interface unit 17 receives a print job, the control unit 10 extracts image data for each page from the print job, and the extracted image. A page ID (that is, the number of pages) corresponding to each data is associated and stored in the RAM 142 serving as a storage unit, and after the printing of the image data included in the print job is started, the liquid crystal display 131 starts from the last page M of the image data. In this configuration, when the output change up to the previous change page Q is accepted, the image data corresponding to the change page Q out of the image data stored in the RAM 142 is output. On the other hand, when the user wants to change the number of output pages, the number of output pages is changed without clearing the print job. Theft is possible. Further, the multi-function device 1 according to the present embodiment can change to the change page Q of the last page M by only one-step operation of inputting the value of the change page Q by operating the touch function display 131 or the numeric keypad 132 serving as operation means. Since the change setting (that is, the change of the number of output pages) can be easily performed, the convenience for the user is excellent.

  In the above embodiment, the change setting for the last page M is accepted in step 4-9 using the liquid crystal display 131 with touch function and the numeric keypad 132. However, the present invention is limited to this. Instead of the numeric keypad 132, numerical values may be input only by a liquid crystal display. This makes it possible to easily change and set the last page M using only the liquid crystal display. Further, instead of the liquid crystal display 131 with a touch function, a liquid crystal display without a touch function is provided, and a change setting of the final page M can be accepted by performing operation input with an input key such as a numeric keypad according to the display content. Good.

  Further, in the multifunction device 1 of the present embodiment, the control unit 10 receives the change setting to the changed page Q of the last page M transmitted from the personal computer 31 to the multifunction device 1 via the interface unit 17. The change setting may be received by the control unit 10 and the last page M may be changed to the change page Q as described above. Accordingly, in addition to the above effect, the user does not have to go to the multifunction machine 1 and make the change setting to the change page Q of the last page M, so the convenience for the user is further improved. In this case, the control unit 10 plays a role as an information receiving unit that receives an input of information such as a change setting to the change page Q of the last page M via the interface unit 17.

  Further, although the multifunction device 1 of the above embodiment has the configuration including the finisher 164, the present invention can naturally be applied to a multifunction device that does not include the finisher.

  In the above embodiment, the description has been made by taking a multifunction peripheral having a printer function and a copying function as an example. However, the configuration of the present invention is not limited to this, and a printer, a facsimile, a copying machine, etc. The present invention can be widely applied to other image forming apparatuses.

  The configuration of the present invention can be variously modified in addition to the above-described embodiment without departing from the spirit of the invention.

  The present invention can be widely applied to all image forming apparatuses such as printers, facsimiles, and copiers in addition to multifunction machines, and is a technique useful for changing the number of output pages of a print job.

These are the block diagrams which show the principal part structure of the multifunctional device which concerns on this invention. These are the longitudinal cross-sectional views which show typically the principal part structure of the multifunctional device which concerns on this invention. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of an operation display unit 13 in the multifunction machine 1. These are flowcharts for explaining the control for continuously printing by changing the number of output pages in the multi-function peripheral according to the present invention. These are diagrams showing an example of a display image at the start of printing displayed on the liquid crystal display 131 of the operation display unit 13. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a change setting image of the last page M displayed on the liquid crystal display 131 of the operation display unit 13. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a display image after changing the last page M displayed on the liquid crystal display 131.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Multifunction device 10 Control part 11 Document conveyance part 12 Document taking part 13 Operation display part 131 Liquid crystal display 131a Status display part 131b Main display part 131c Completion page display part 131d Last page display part 131e Edit button 131g End button 132 Numeric keypad 133 Clear Key 134 Stop key 135 Start key 14 Memory part 141 ROM
142 RAM
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 15 Engine control part 16 Engine part 161 Paper supply part 161a-161c Paper storage part 161d Paper conveyance part 162 Image formation part 162a Print part 163 Fixing part 164 Finisher 17 Interface part 30 Network 31 Personal computer

Claims (3)

Information receiving means for receiving input of information;
An interface unit for establishing a connection with an external device;
Storage means for storing the image data included in the print job received by the interface unit,
Printing means for printing the image data on paper ;
A control unit;
With
The controller is
The image data extracted from the print job for each page, are stored in the storage means in association with the number of pages corresponding to each the extracted image data,
After the printing of the image data by the printing unit , based on the number of pages, it is determined whether the page corresponding to the current image data to be printed is the last page. when the reception unit receives the output changes in the change page Jimma before the last page of the image data, among the image data stored in said storage means, a settings for printing from the first page to the last page The image is changed so that it is set to print from the first page to the changed page , the image data after the next page of the changed page is deleted, and the changed page is made the last page. Forming equipment. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the information reception unit is an operation unit that receives an input of information by an operation or a unit that receives an input of information via the interface unit . The controller is
When the information accepting unit accepts the output change, if the changed page is after the printed page, the image data stored in the storage unit is printed from the first page to the last page. The setting is changed so that the setting is printed from the first page to the changed page, the image data after the next page of the changed page is deleted, and the changed page is made the last page. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 or 2.

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