JP5097957B2 - Image forming apparatus and control program therefor - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a printer, a copier, a facsimile machine, or a multi-function machine for inputting and printing image data, and a control program therefor.

  In recent years, computer networks have become widespread, and many offices have constructed LANs connecting a plurality of information devices such as computers and printers. Peripheral devices such as computers and printers, scanners, and digital cameras are prevalent, and networks such as LANs are also prevalent. By sharing printing devices, modems, and image reading devices on the network, all devices on the network can be used. The environment has become usable.

  Also, a print function for forming an image according to image information received from an external device such as a personal computer, a facsimile function for forming an image according to image information received from a remote terminal, a scanner function for reading a printed matter, etc. with a contact image sensor, etc. An image forming apparatus in which both are integrated is becoming widespread.

  For example, each image forming apparatus such as a copying machine has a function as an image reading apparatus and an image printing apparatus. Therefore, the image forming apparatus is connected to a general computer device via an external interface, and the copying machine is input with an image. It can be used as a printer, connected to the image printing device, and provided as a printer with a central control unit that controls them. Furthermore, a plurality of these copiers can be connected and a plurality of printers can be connected in the same manner as described above. It is used as a device.

  In an image printing system using a plurality of copiers connected in this way, when a plurality of printer parts are operating at the same time, when performing the next printing, the currently operating print job is completed. It was necessary to set the printing operation after waiting. Further, in such a system, there are many print jobs that require a lot of time, and thus there is a problem that even if the user wants to print directly, the system waits until the other printing is completed.

  Therefore, an image printing system has been proposed in which registration of image data print jobs and priority order thereof can be set so that desired printing can be performed quickly (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

JP-A-8-335147

  By the way, in the image printing system which can set the reservation of the print job of the image data and the priority order proposed heretofore, the image data input from the image data input unit is stored in the storage unit, and the storage unit The image data stored in the image is reserved for printing by the reservation setting unit, and the priority order of the print job of the image data reserved for printing is set or changed by the priority setting unit based on data input from the operation panel. Thus, the image print job is executed in accordance with the set priority order. However, until the priority order changing process by the priority order setting unit is completed, the image print job is reserved in accordance with the original priority order set in advance. The job being executed is terminated and the next job is executed while the priority is being changed. DOO There are, there is to disrupt the priority changing operation.

  Each job is given a status of waiting and executing, and the job for which the paper supply / discharge destination determination processing has been completed is moved from waiting to executing. It is only possible to raise the priority of the waiting job to one higher than the panel operation, and the operation specification that the displayed job disappears from the display when the normal printing order is reached is also given priority to the panel operation. If it is only supported to increase the job speed, there is no problem even if the waiting job is switched during execution of priority switching, but the job priority cannot be lowered directly, so the job priority is lowered. It takes time and effort.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus and a control program for the image forming apparatus that can freely switch job priorities with good operability in view of the conventional problems as described above.

  Other objects of the present invention and specific advantages obtained by the present invention will become more apparent from the description of embodiments described below.

  In the present invention, it is possible to freely switch the priority of a job that is waiting, and when the panel screen is switched to the priority change display, the job that is waiting is switched during printing without permission. Do not.

That is, an image forming apparatus according to the present invention displays an image processing unit that performs image processing on an input job image , a printing unit that prints an image processed by the image processing unit, and an operation input screen. An operation display unit for receiving an operation input; and a control unit that receives an operation input from the operation display unit and controls these operations. The control unit sets the job in a standby state, and the operation display unit Functions as a priority changing unit for changing the priority of jobs in a standby state on the displayed priority changing screen. Is prohibited from being newly executed, and after the display of the priority order change screen is finished, the job in the standby state according to the priority order is displayed by the printing unit. And performing control to print the image by running.

The image forming apparatus according to the present invention includes, for example, an interface unit for connecting to an external device, and the control unit controls a job input from the external device connected via the interface unit to be in a standby state. I do.

In the image forming apparatus according to the present invention, the control unit further receives an operation input from an external device connected via the interface unit, and performs print registration of the standby job, and the external device. The operation input is received, and the priority order changing unit performs control to change the priority order of the print-registered standby job.

The present invention provides an image processing unit that performs image processing on an input job image , a printing unit that prints an image processed by the image processing unit, and an operation for displaying an operation input screen and receiving an operation input A control program that is executed by a computer mounted on an image forming apparatus that includes a display unit and a control unit that receives an operation input from the operation display unit and controls these operations. Priority change that puts a job in a standby state, receives an operation input from the operation display unit, displays a priority order change screen on the operation display unit, and changes the priority order of jobs in the standby state on the displayed priority order change screen The job is prohibited from being newly executed while the priority order change screen is displayed, and the priority order is displayed after the priority order change screen is displayed. The job of the stand-by state processing to be performed by the above control unit which prints an image by performed by the printing unit, characterized in that is executed by the computer in accordance with.

  In the present invention, it is possible to freely switch the priority of a job that is waiting, and when the panel screen is switched to the priority change display, the job that is waiting is switched during printing without permission. Since this is done, the priority order of jobs can be freely switched with good operability.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Needless to say, the present invention is not limited to the following examples, and can be arbitrarily changed without departing from the gist of the present invention.

  In the present invention, as shown in FIG. 1, for example, an image forming system in which a host device 10 and a plurality of image forming apparatuses 20A, 20B, 20C... Are connected to each other via a network 30 such as a LAN. 100.

  In the image forming system 100, the host device 10 manages the image forming devices 20A, 20B, 20C,... By sending and receiving control data via the network 30, and sends print data via the network 30. For example, it is a so-called personal computer.

  The image forming apparatuses 20A, 20B, 20C,... Are so-called multifunction machines having copy, print, scan, facsimile transmission, and facsimile reception functions, for example, like the image forming apparatus 20 shown in FIG. A control unit 21 centered on a CPU that controls the operation of the entire apparatus is provided, and is connected to a document reading unit 23, an image processing unit 24, an operation display unit 25, a job storage unit 26, a job information storage unit 27, and the network 30. A communication unit 28 including a network interface such as a LAN card is connected to the control unit 21.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the control unit 21 includes a ROM 211 that stores the control program of the image forming apparatus 20, a RAM 212 that temporarily stores data, and an EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable ROM that stores various setting data that can be updated. ) 213 and a microcomputer 214 that reads out and executes a control program from the ROM 211 and executes predetermined instruction information input from the operation display unit 25 and the like, and detection signals from various sensors provided in various places of the apparatus. The entire apparatus is controlled according to the above.

  The printing unit 22 performs image forming processing for printing a job on output paper, and includes a printer controller, a laser scanning unit, a fixing roller, and the like (not shown).

  The original reading unit 23 reads an original and generates image data corresponding to the original, and a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) sensor that generates image data from an optically acquired original image and an exposure. The image data obtained by scanning a manuscript placed on the contact glass is output to the control unit 21.

  The image processing unit 24 forms an image of a given job and performs various image processing on the print data. For example, the image processing unit 24 converts the print data into RGB data or CMYK data, and converts a plurality of document images into one. Image processing to be consolidated on one sheet, that is, enlargement / reduction processing for enlarging or reducing the image size of the document image, layout processing for arranging a plurality of document images on one sheet, and the like are performed.

  The operation display unit 25 inputs a predetermined instruction in response to a user's operation. As shown in FIG. 4, as shown in FIG. 4, a print enable / cancel key 251 for performing an instruction to switch the apparatus online / offline, execution Cancel key 252 for instructing cancellation of printing in the middle, menu key 253 for instructing to change the initial setting of the apparatus or finishing the setting, arrow key 254 for instructing selection of a target menu or item, mode selection A liquid crystal display unit 256 for displaying the operation state of the apparatus is provided along with an execution key 255 and the like for instructing confirmation of the content selected from the menu.

  The job storage unit 25 stores a job that the user has requested to store in the image forming apparatus 20.

  The job information management unit 26 manages jobs stored in the image forming apparatus 20. Job storage host information (IP address, etc.) associated with the job is also managed here.

  The communication unit 28 transmits and receives jobs to and from the host device 10 and other devices via the network 30.

  Then, the control unit 21 of the image forming apparatus 20 controls the printing process according to the procedure shown in the flowchart of FIG. 5, for example, according to the control program written in the ROM 211.

  That is, for example, when the user operates the operation display unit 25 to instruct copying of a document, the control unit 21 scans the document with the input job image, that is, the document reading unit 23 and reads the document image. Data is acquired (step S1), the acquired image data is subjected to image processing by the image processing unit 24 (step S2), and the formed image is stored in the job storage unit 25 to place the job in a standby state ( In step S3), an operation input screen 250A as shown in FIG. 6 is displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 256 of the operation display unit 25 (step S4).

  On the operation input screen 250A, as shown in FIG. 6, copy setting information 51 such as copy magnification, paper size, number of copies, job registration button 52A, job cancel button 52B, job priority setting button 52C, etc. In addition to the various operation buttons, registration information 53A such as the name of the currently registered job and its priority order is displayed.

  When receiving the operation input by the button operation on the operation input screen 250A of the liquid crystal display unit 256 (Step S5), the control unit 21 determines the type of the operation button that has received the operation input (Step S6).

  When the control unit 21 accepts an operation input of the registration button 52 on the operation input screen 250A of the liquid crystal display unit 251, the control unit 21 accepts a job registration setting and sets the job registration setting to the job information. Registration setting processing to be registered in the management unit 27 is performed (step S7).

  When the control unit 21 receives an operation input of the cancel button 53 on the operation input screen 250B of the liquid crystal display unit 251, the control unit 21 deletes the registration setting of the job registered in the job information management unit 27. Cancel processing is performed (step S8).

  Further, when the control unit 21 receives an operation input of the priority change button 54 on the operation input screen 250B of the liquid crystal display unit 251, the registration setting of the job registered in the job information management unit 27 is performed. The priority order changing process for changing the priority order is performed (step S9).

  In the registration setting process in step S7, the control unit 21 displays a registration setting screen 250B as shown in FIG. 8 on the liquid crystal display unit 256 as shown in the flowchart of FIG.

  Here, on the registration setting screen 250B, as shown in FIG. 8, registration setting information 53B such as a job to be registered, copy magnification, paper size, number of copies, OK button 52D, registration message 53B for prompting registration setting, A cancel button 55E is displayed.

  Next, when the operation input by the button operation on the registration setting screen 250B is received (step S12), the control unit 21 determines the type of the operation button that has received the operation input (step S13).

  When the control unit 21 receives an operation input of the OK button 52D on the registration setting screen 250B, the control unit 21 receives the registration setting of the job and sets the registration setting of the currently set job to the job information management unit. 27, a registration setting process (step S14) to be registered is performed, an operation input screen 250A of display contents reflecting the registration setting is displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 256 (step S15), and the registration setting process is terminated. Continue the printing process. When the control unit 21 receives an operation input of the cancel button 52E on the registration setting screen 250B, the control unit 21 cancels the registration of the currently set job, and the operation display unit 25 The operation input screen 250A of the original display content is displayed (step S15), and the registration setting process is terminated without registering and setting the job.

  Further, in the cancel process of step S8, the control unit 21 displays a cancel screen 250C as shown in FIG. 10 on the liquid crystal display unit 256 as shown in the flowchart of FIG. 9 (step S21).

  Here, as shown in FIG. 10, the cancel screen 250C displays a message 54C prompting the user to select a job, a currently registered job name 53C, an OK button 52D, a cancel button 55E, and the like.

  Next, when receiving the operation input by the button operation on the cancel screen 250C (Step S22), the control unit 21 determines the type of the operation button that has received the operation input (Step S23).

  When the selection of one of the job names 53C displayed on the cancel screen 250C is selected, the control unit 21 accepts the selection input (step S24) and returns to step S22. Accept new operation input. That is, the control unit 21 accepts a selection input for selecting a job to be canceled among jobs whose names are displayed on the cancel screen 250C.

  Here, the selected job name is displayed so as to be identifiable by shading or other methods.

  When the control unit 21 receives an operation input of the OK key 52D in this state, the control unit 21 performs a cancel process for deleting the registration setting of the job registered in the job information management unit 27 indicated by the received selection input (Step S21). In S25), the operation input screen 250A of the display contents reflecting the result of the cancel process is displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 256 (Step S26), and the cancel process is terminated. Further, when the control unit 21 receives an operation input of the cancel button 52E on the cancel screen 250C, the control unit 21 displays the operation input screen 250A of the original display content on the operation display unit 25 (step S26). The cancel process is terminated without canceling the registration setting of the selected job.

  Further, in the priority order changing process of step S9, the control unit 21 causes the control unit 21 to display the priority order of display contents as shown in FIG. 12 on the liquid crystal display unit 256 as shown in the flowchart of FIG. The change screen 250D is displayed (step S31), and control is performed to prohibit execution of a new job next to the job currently being executed until the priority order change processing is completed (step S32).

  Here, on the priority order change screen 250D, as shown in FIG. 12, a message 54D for prompting the user to select a job and set the priority order, the priority order 53D of the currently registered job, and the OK button 52D. A cancel button 55E, an interrupt button 55F, and the like are displayed.

  Next, when receiving an operation input by a button operation on the priority order changing screen 250D (step S33), the control unit 21 determines the type of the operation button that has received the operation input (step S34).

  When the selection of one of the jobs displaying the priority order 52D is selected on the priority order change screen 250D, the control unit 21 accepts the job selection input (step S35), and the above step Returning to S33, an operation input by the operation of the arrow key 254 for selecting and changing the priority order of the job selected in this state is accepted (Step S35), and the process returns to Step S33 to accept a new operation input.

  Further, the control unit 21 selects a job whose priority is to be changed from the jobs whose priority 53C is displayed on the priority change screen 250D in this way, and the priority is designated. The type of the operation button that has received the operation input is determined (step S37).

  When the control unit 21 receives an operation input of the OK key 52D on the priority order change screen 250D, the control unit 21 changes the priority order of the registration setting of the job registered in the job information management unit 27. Processing is performed (step S38), and an operation input screen 250A having display contents as shown in FIG. 13, for example, in which the result of the priority order change processing is reflected in the registration information 53A is displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 256 (step S40). ), The priority order changing process is terminated. Further, when the control unit 21 receives an operation input of the interrupt button 52F in a state where the job is selected from the jobs whose priority order 53C is displayed on the priority order change screen 250D, the control part 21 is selected. An interrupt process for setting an interrupt to the job is performed, and an operation input screen 250A of display contents reflecting the result of the interrupt process in the registration information 53A is displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 256 (step S40). End the change process. When the control unit 21 receives an operation input of the cancel button 53E on the priority order change screen 250D, the control unit 21 displays the operation input screen 250A of the original display content on the liquid crystal display unit 256 (step S40). The priority change process is terminated.

  As described above, the control unit 21 of the image forming apparatus 20 processes the input job image by the image processing unit 24 and stores it in the job storage unit 25 to place the job in a standby state. The operation input from the display unit 25 is received, the registration setting screen 250B is displayed, and the registration display unit 250A functions as the registration setting unit 21A for performing print registration of the standby job on the displayed registration setting screen 250B. As a priority order changing unit 21B that receives an operation input, displays a priority order changing screen 250D on the operation display unit 25, and changes the priority order of the print-registered standby job on the displayed priority order changing screen 250D. Functions and prohibits newly executing a registered job while the priority order change screen 250D is displayed. The priority change screen pending job that is the print recorded above priority when the display end of the 250D controls to print the image by performed by the printing unit 22.

  That is, the image forming apparatus 20 in the image forming system 100 displays an image processing unit 24 that forms an image of an input job, a printing unit 22 that executes the job and prints an image, and an operation input screen. An operation display unit 25 for receiving operation inputs, and a control unit 21 for receiving operation inputs from the operation display unit 25 and controlling these operations. The control unit 21 sets the job in a standby state. , Receiving an operation input from the operation display unit 25, displaying a priority order change screen on the operation display unit 25, and functioning as a priority order change unit for changing the priority order of jobs in standby on the displayed priority order change screen While the priority order change screen is displayed, new jobs are prohibited from being executed, and the priority order is set after the priority order change screen is displayed. The job of the stand-by state controls to print the image by performed by the printing unit 22 Te.

  The image forming apparatus 20 includes a communication unit 27 as an interface unit for connecting to an external device such as the host device 10, and the control unit 21 is connected to the host device 10 via the communication unit 27. Control that puts a job input from an external device or the like into a standby state is performed.

  In the image forming apparatus 20 having such a configuration, the input job is set in a standby state, an operation input from the operation display unit 25 is received, a priority change screen 250D is displayed on the operation display unit 25, and the displayed priority order is displayed. It functions as a priority changing unit 21B that changes the priority of a standby job on the change screen 250D, prohibits new execution of a job while the priority change screen 250D is displayed, and changes the priority change screen 250D. Since the control unit 21 that controls the printing unit 22 to execute the standby job according to the above-described priority order and print an image after the display is completed, the job priority order can be freely switched with good operability.

1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an image forming system to which the present invention is applied. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an image forming apparatus in the image forming system. FIG. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a main configuration of a control unit of the image forming apparatus. It is a top view which shows the structure of the operation display part of the said image forming apparatus. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a control procedure of a printing process executed by a control unit of the image forming apparatus. It is a figure which shows typically the content of the operation input screen displayed on the operation display part of the said image forming apparatus. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a control procedure of registration setting processing executed by a control unit of the image forming apparatus. It is a figure which shows typically the content of the registration setting screen displayed on the said operation display part. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a control procedure of cancel processing executed by a control unit of the image forming apparatus. It is a figure which shows typically the content of the cancellation screen displayed on the said operation display part. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a control procedure of priority order change processing executed by a control unit of the image forming apparatus. It is a figure which shows typically the example of the content of the operation input screen displayed on the operation display part of the said image forming apparatus in the said priority change process. It is a figure which shows typically the example of the content of the operation input screen displayed on the operation display part of the said image forming apparatus after the said priority change process.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Host device, 20, 20A, 20B, 20C ... Image forming apparatus, 21 Control unit, 22 Printing unit, 23 Document reading unit, 24 Image processing unit, 25 Operation display unit, 26 Job storage unit, 27 Job information management Part, 28 communication part, 30 network, 51 copy setting information, 52A registration button, 52B cancel button, 52C priority order setting button, 52D OK button, 52E cancel button, 52F interrupt button, 53A registration information, 53B registration setting information, 53C job name, 53D job priority, 54B, 54C, 54D message, 100 image forming system, 211 ROM, 212 RAM, 213 EEPROM, 214 microcomputer, 250A operation input screen, 250B registration setting screen, 250C cancel Surface, 250D priority change screen 251 PRINT / release key, 252 cancel key, 253 menu key 253 Arrow 255 execution key, 256 liquid crystal display unit

Claims (4)

An image processing unit that performs image processing on the input job image;
A printing unit for printing the image processed by the image processing unit ;
An operation display for displaying the operation input screen and accepting operation input;
A control unit that receives an operation input from the operation display unit and controls these operations;
The control unit sets the job in a standby state, receives an operation input from the operation display unit, displays a priority order change screen on the operation display unit, and displays the priority order of jobs in the standby state on the displayed priority order change screen. A job that is in a standby state according to the priority level after the priority level change screen is displayed. Is performed by the printing unit to control printing of an image. It has an interface part for connecting with external devices,
And the control unit, the image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the performing control to wait for job input from an external device connected through the interface unit. The control unit further receives an operation input from an external device connected via the interface unit, performs print registration of the standby job, receives an operation input from the external device, and receives the priority order. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the changing unit performs control to change the priority of the standby job registered for printing. An image processing unit that performs image processing on an input job image , a printing unit that prints an image processed by the image processing unit, an operation display unit that displays an operation input screen and accepts an operation input, A control program executed by a computer mounted on an image forming apparatus including a control unit that receives an operation input from the operation display unit and controls these operations;
The control unit sets the job in a standby state, receives an operation input from the operation display unit, displays a priority order change screen on the operation display unit, and the priority order of jobs in the standby state on the displayed priority order change screen The job is changed to a priority change unit for changing the priority, prohibits new jobs from being executed while the priority change screen is displayed, and after the display of the priority change screen, the job in the standby state according to the priority. A control program for an image forming apparatus, which causes the computer to execute processing that is executed by the printing unit to cause the control unit to print an image.

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