JP4947074B2 - Information processing apparatus and tray selection program - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus and a tray selection program.

  There is known an information processing apparatus that switches to another tray based on a predetermined priority when a selected tray runs out of paper during execution of a print job.

  For example, the information processing apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 1 includes a plurality of trays in which different sheets are placed, a print job processing circuit that processes a print job, and a tray of sheets specified for a print job processed by the print job processing circuit. A tray attribute control circuit for selecting a print job, and a print control circuit for executing a print job processed by the print job processing circuit. The tray attribute control circuit selects a sheet placed in a paper tray designated for the print job. When it is used up, it switches to another tray based on a predetermined priority, so that printing can be executed without stopping the operation of the print control circuit in a print waiting state against the user's will.

JP 2001-199577 A

  An object of the present invention is to provide an information processing apparatus and a tray selection program that can switch trays at a timing desired by a user without stopping a print job at an unexpected timing.

[1] Storage means for storing tray attribute information indicating attributes of sheets respectively accommodated in a plurality of trays provided in an image forming apparatus that executes print processing, and during execution of one print process in the image forming apparatus When switching from a tray in use to another tray is requested, referring to the tray attribute information, presenting a plurality of trays containing paper having the same paper attributes as the tray in use, An information processing apparatus comprising: a tray operation control unit configured to switch the plurality of presented trays to a tray selected by an operation input after the presentation and to continue the one printing process in the image forming apparatus.

[ 2 ] When there is no tray having the same paper attribute as the currently used tray, the tray operation control means sets the same paper attribute as that of the currently used tray to a tray other than the currently used tray. The information processing apparatus according to [1], wherein the information is presented to be replenished.

[ 3 ] During execution of one print process in the image forming apparatus, the computer can refer to tray attribute information indicating the attributes of the sheets respectively accommodated in a plurality of trays provided in the image forming apparatus executing the print process. When switching from a tray in use to another tray is requested, referring to the tray attribute information, presenting a plurality of trays containing paper having the same paper attributes as the tray in use, A tray selection program for realizing a tray operation control function for switching from a plurality of presented trays to a tray selected by an operation input after presentation and continuing the one printing process in the image forming apparatus.

  According to the first and fourth aspects of the invention, the tray can be switched at a timing desired by the user without stopping the print job at an unexpected timing.

  According to the invention which concerns on Claim 2, a tray can be switched, without requiring a user's selection.

  According to the invention of claim 3, it is possible to cope with a case where the tray cannot be switched.

1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration example of an image forming system according to a first embodiment of the present invention. It is the schematic which shows the structural example of the information processing apparatus which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is the schematic which shows the structural example of the tray status information which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is the schematic which shows the structural example of the job status information which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. (A)-(c) is the schematic which shows the example of a display of the printing status display screen which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. (A) And (b) is the schematic which shows the example of a display of the printing status display screen which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the operation example of the information processing apparatus which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention, and each tray. It is the schematic which shows the example of a display of the printing status display screen which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention.

[First Embodiment]
(Configuration of image forming system)
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration example of an image forming system according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

  The image forming system 100 is configured by connecting, via a network 3, an information processing apparatus 1 that controls an image forming apparatus 2 to be described later and an image forming apparatus 2 that executes printing on paper.

  The information processing apparatus 1 includes a main body 1A that is configured by electronic components such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) and an HDD (Hard Disc Drive) and processes information, and an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) panel that displays an image. Display unit 1B, and an operation unit 1C having a keyboard 100C and a mouse 101C for operating the main body 1A.

  The image forming apparatus 2 includes a plurality of trays 20 </ b> A to 20 </ b> D that supply different sheets into the apparatus, and uses a printing mechanism in the apparatus to process a print job received from the outside, execute printing, and print 200 is output.

  The information processing apparatus 1 may be configured to be built in the image forming apparatus 2.

  FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration example of the information processing apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

  The information processing apparatus 1 includes a control unit 10 configured by a CPU and the like to control each unit and executing various programs, a storage unit 11 configured by a storage device such as an HDD and a flash memory, and a network 3. And a communication unit 12 that communicates with the outside. The information processing apparatus 1 is connected to the display unit 1B to display an image, and is connected to the operation unit 1C to receive an operation signal.

  The control unit 10 operates a tray operation control unit 10A, a tray state monitoring unit 10B, and a job state monitoring unit 10C by executing a tray selection program 11A described later.

  The tray operation control unit 10A performs operations such as selection and switching of the trays 20A to 20D used by the image forming apparatus 2 based on an operation signal input from the operation unit 1C. The tray status monitoring unit 10B monitors the statuses such as the content and the remaining amount of sheets put in each of the trays 20A to 20D. The job status monitoring unit 10 </ b> C monitors the progress of processing of a print job requested to be executed by the image forming apparatus 2.

  The storage unit 11 includes a tray selection program 11A that causes the control unit 10 to operate as each unit described above, and tray attribute information that indicates the attributes of the sheets placed in each of the trays 20A to 20D. The tray status information 11B indicating the status and the job status information 11C indicating the progress status of the print job being executed in the image forming apparatus 2 are stored.

  The communication unit 12 communicates with the image forming apparatus 2 and also communicates with an information processing apparatus (not shown) and receives a print job.

  FIG. 3A is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration example of tray state information according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

  The tray status information 11B includes a tray indicating each tray provided in the image forming apparatus 2, a status indicating whether paper is prepared in each tray (Ready) or not (Empty), and a paper loaded in each tray. Paper attributes indicating details such as size, basis weight, paper quality, and the like.

  FIG. 3B is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration example of job status information according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

  The job status information 11C includes a job name indicating the name of a print job executed in the image forming apparatus 2, a page number indicating the number of pages per copy of the print job, a number indicating the number of copies of the print job, and a print job. Has a state indicating whether it is before, during or after execution, and a progress indicating the progress of the current print job.

  4A to 4C are schematic diagrams illustrating display examples of a print status display screen according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

  The print status display screen 50 is a screen displayed on the display unit 1B when a print job is being executed in the image forming apparatus 2, and as shown in FIG. 4A, a job status indicating the progress status of the print job. 500, a print cancel button 501 for canceling the print job being executed, a tray selection button 502 for changing the tray used in the image forming apparatus 2, and paper attributes 503a to 503 for displaying attributes of the paper stored in each tray. 503d and a used tray display 504 indicating a tray used for printing.

  The tray selection display 51 is a screen displayed by pressing the tray selection button 502. As shown in FIG. 4B, for example, a tray determination for selecting the tray C as a usable tray in addition to the tray A is determined. A button 510a and a tray determination button 510b for selecting the tray D.

  As shown in FIG. 4C, the print status display screen 50 displays a used tray display 504 in a paper attribute 503c corresponding to the tray C, for example, according to the tray selected in the tray selection display 51. In addition, a tray selection button 502 is displayed for the tray C being used.

  FIGS. 5A and 5B are schematic diagrams illustrating a display example of a print status display screen according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

  The print status display screen 50 is a screen displayed on the display unit 1B when a print job is executed in the image forming apparatus 2, and as shown in FIG. 5A, a job status indicating the progress status of the print job. 500, a print cancel button 501 for canceling the print job being executed, a tray selection button 502 for changing the tray used in the image forming apparatus 2, and paper attributes 503a to 503 for displaying attributes of the paper stored in each tray. 503d and a used tray display 504 indicating a tray used for printing.

  The paper replenishment display 52 is a screen displayed by pressing the tray selection button 502. As shown in FIG. 5B, for example, when there is no usable tray other than the tray A, another tray is displayed. A content prompting to replenish paper having the same paper attribute is displayed in any one of B, C, and D, and has an OK button 520 for confirming the content.

(Operation)
Hereinafter, the operation of the image forming system according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  First, a user prints a document desired to be printed from an external personal computer (not shown) connected to the information processing apparatus 1. As a result of the printing process, a print job is input to the information processing apparatus 1, and the print job is processed in the image forming apparatus 2.

  In addition, the user performs an operation related to tray selection in the information processing apparatus 1 while referring to the print status display screen 50 illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5. The information processing apparatus 1 operates the tray operation control unit 10A based on the setting input by the user, and causes the image forming apparatus 2 to switch the tray.

  The trays 20A to 20D used in the image forming apparatus 2 are selected by a tray selection program 11A of the information processing apparatus 1 as will be described below.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an operation example of the information processing apparatus and each tray according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

  First, when a print job is input, the information processing apparatus 1 starts processing of the print job in the image forming apparatus 2 (S1), and at the same time, the print status display screen 50 shown in FIG. 4A or 5A. Is displayed on the display unit 1B, and the currently used tray is displayed by the used tray display 504 and the tray selection button 502 (S2).

  Next, the tray operation control unit 10A does not detect an operation input for pressing the tray selection button 502 on the print status display screen 50 from the operation unit 1C (S3; No), and the job status monitoring unit 10C causes the image forming apparatus 2 to When it is detected that the print job to be processed is completed (S4), the operation is terminated.

  When the tray operation control unit 10A detects that the tray selection button 502 is pressed on the print status display screen 50 by an operation input from the user to the operation unit 1C (S3; Yes), the tray operation control unit 10A refers to the tray status information 11B. When it is determined that there is a tray containing sheets having the same sheet attribute (S5; Yes), and when there are a plurality of trays (S6; Yes), the tray selection display 51 shown in FIG. Is displayed (S7). Next, when a tray is selected by an operation input from the user to the operation unit 1C (S8), the tray operation control unit 10A requests the image forming apparatus 2 to change the tray to be used (S9).

  In step S6, when there is one tray (S6; No), a tray change destination confirmation screen (not shown) for confirming that the tray is changed is displayed (S10). When an OK button indicating that the tray change destination has been confirmed is pressed by an operation input to 1C (S11), the process proceeds to step S9 to change the tray to the tray change destination.

  In step S5, when it is determined that there is no tray in which sheets having the same sheet attribute are stored with reference to the tray state information 11B (S5; No), a sheet replenishment display 52 shown in FIG. 5B is displayed. When the user presses an OK button indicating that the content has been confirmed by an operation input from the user to the operation unit 1C (S13), the process returns to step S2. If the user who has confirmed the display in step S12 replenishes other trays with the same paper attributes as those stored in the tray being used, the user can press the tray selection button again in step S3. The tray to be used can be changed to a tray supplemented with paper.

[Second Embodiment]
FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing a display example of an automatic tray selection setting screen according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

  The print status display screen 53 executes a print job using two trays in the image forming apparatus 2 when, for example, the cover sheet and the body sheet are printed using sheets having different sheet attributes. Is a screen that is displayed on the display unit 1B, and changes the job status 500 indicating the progress status of the print job, the print cancel button 501 for canceling the print job being executed, and the tray used in the image forming apparatus 2. Tray selection buttons 502a and 502b, sheet attributes 503a to 503d for displaying the attributes of sheets stored in each tray, and used tray displays 504a and 504b indicating trays used for printing are provided.

  By pressing the tray selection button 502a or 502b, a tray selection display 51, a tray change destination confirmation screen (not shown) or a paper replenishment display 52 is displayed according to the tray status information 11B, as in the first embodiment. Displayed, and a tray changing operation or the like is executed. The operations of the tray selection buttons 502a and 502b are performed independently, and the user can execute a desired tray switching operation at a desired timing. The number of trays that can be used at the same time is not limited to two, and a plurality of trays may be used.

[Other embodiments]
The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention. For example, the tray change operation may be executed at the same time when the tray determination button 510a or 510b is pressed to change the tray, or the tray change operation may be performed after printing a preset number of sheets or after printing the number of copies. It may be configured to execute.

  Further, the tray operation control unit 10A, the tray state monitoring unit 10B, and the job state monitoring unit 10C used in the above embodiment may be read from a storage medium such as a CD-ROM into a storage unit in the apparatus. You may download to the memory | storage part in an apparatus from the server apparatus etc. which are connected to networks, such as the internet. Moreover, you may implement | achieve part or all of the means used by the said embodiment by hardware, such as ASIC.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Information processing apparatus, 1A ... Main body, 1B ... Display part, 1C ... Operation part, 2 ... Image forming apparatus, 3 ... Network, 10 ... Control part, 10A ... Tray operation control means, 10B ... Tray state monitoring means, 10C ... job status monitoring means, 11 ... storage unit, 11A ... tray selection program, 11B ... tray status information, 11C ... job status information, 12 ... communication unit, 20A-20D ... tray, 50 ... print status display screen, 51 ... tray Selection display 52 ... Paper replenishment display 53 ... Print status display screen 100 ... Image forming system 100C ... Keyboard 101C ... Mouse 200 ... Printed matter 500 ... Job status 501 ... Print stop button 502 ... Tray selection button 502a, 502b ... tray selection buttons, 503a-503d, paper attributes, 504 ... used tray display, 504a, 5 4b ... use tray display, 510a ... tray decision button, 510b ... tray decision button, 520 ... OK button

Claims (3)

Storage means for storing tray attribute information indicating attributes of sheets respectively accommodated in a plurality of trays provided in an image forming apparatus that executes print processing;
When the image forming apparatus is requested to switch from the currently used tray to another tray during execution of one printing process, the same attribute of the sheet as that of the currently used tray is set by referring to the tray attribute information. a plurality of trays to the presentation tray operation control means for continuing the single printing process in the image forming apparatus is switched to the selected tray by the presentation after the operation input from a plurality of trays and the presentation for accommodating sheets having An information processing apparatus.   When there is no tray having the same paper attribute as that of the tray in use, the tray operation control unit causes a paper other than the tray in use to have paper having the same paper attribute as that of the tray in use. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the information processing apparatus is presented to be supplemented. To a computer that can refer to tray attribute information indicating the attributes of sheets respectively accommodated in a plurality of trays provided in an image forming apparatus that executes print processing,
When the image forming apparatus is requested to switch from the currently used tray to another tray during execution of one printing process, the same attribute of the sheet as that of the currently used tray is set by referring to the tray attribute information. Tray operation control function for presenting a plurality of trays for storing sheets of paper, and switching the displayed plurality of trays to a tray selected by an operation input after the presentation to continue the one printing process in the image forming apparatus Tray selection program for realizing.

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