JP5753410B2 - Image forming apparatus and image forming method - Google Patents

Description

  Embodiments described herein relate generally to an image forming apparatus and an image forming method.

  By transmitting a print job from an external device (for example, a personal computer) to the image forming apparatus, an image is formed on a sheet in the image forming apparatus. Image formation in the image forming apparatus is performed every time a print job is transmitted from the external device to the image forming apparatus.

JP 2005-196734 A

  When a plurality of print jobs are transmitted to the image forming apparatus, an image is formed on the paper for each print job. A plurality of images corresponding to a plurality of print jobs cannot be printed on one sheet.

The image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment includes an image forming unit that forms an image on a sheet, information on a print mode in which a plurality of images corresponding to a plurality of print jobs are printed on one sheet, and a plurality of prints An input unit for inputting information for selecting a specific print job among jobs, a memory for receiving and storing a plurality of print jobs, and the image based on the print mode input from the input unit The forming unit is operated to allow printing in the print mode for print jobs having the same paper size, and for the print jobs in the print mode for some print jobs having different paper sizes. A controller that prohibits printing, a display that displays information about a plurality of received print jobs, and that prohibits printing when prohibiting printing in the print mode; and Yes to. The display includes information for selecting a first print mode for printing a plurality of images corresponding to a plurality of print jobs on both sides of a sheet when a plurality of print jobs are selected by the input unit ; Information for selecting a second print mode in which a plurality of images corresponding to a print job are printed together on one side of a sheet, and when one print job is selected by the input unit, the first print job is selected. Information for instructing execution of printing is displayed without displaying information for selecting the second print mode .

1 is a diagram illustrating an outline of an image forming apparatus. 3 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the image forming apparatus. It is a figure which shows the display content of a display. It is a figure which shows the display content of a display. It is a figure which shows the display content of a display.

The image forming apparatus 100 includes a plurality of paper feed cassettes 101, and each paper feed cassette 101 accommodates a plurality of sheets. The image forming unit 102 forms a developer image on a sheet based on the input image data. The image data includes, for example, image data transmitted from an external device (for example, a personal computer) to the image forming apparatus 100 and image data generated by a reading operation of the scanner 103 .
Scanner 103, by scanning an image of an original to generate image data. FIG. 1 shows a part of the scanner 103. Above the scanner 103 is an apparatus (ADF: Auto Document Feeder) 104 that automatically feeds a document to the scanner 103.

  The image forming unit 102 forms an electrostatic latent image corresponding to the image data on the photosensitive surface of the photoreceptor, and then supplies a developer to form a developer image. The image forming unit 102 transfers the developer image formed on the surface of the photoreceptor to a sheet.

  The image forming unit 102 transfers the developer image onto the sheet by bringing the sheet into contact with the surface of the photoreceptor. It is also possible to transfer the developer image from the intermediate transfer belt to the paper after the developer image on the photosensitive member has been transferred to the intermediate transfer belt. The image forming unit 102 fixes the toner image on the sheet by heat treatment using a fixing device.

  At the top of the image forming apparatus 100 is a control panel 105. The control panel 105 is used to input various information to the image forming apparatus 100 and display various information. The control panel 105 includes a display 105a and a button switch 105b.

  The display 105a displays specific information. If a so-called touch panel display is used as the display 105a, specific information can be input or specific information can be displayed.

  The paper discharge tray 106 stacks the sheets conveyed from the image forming unit 102. Above the paper discharge tray 106 is a paper discharge space S for stacking sheets.

  The controller 107 controls the operation of the image forming apparatus 100. The memory 108 stores various information necessary for the operation of the image forming apparatus 100. The memory 108 can be composed of, for example, RAM (Random Access Memory), ROM (Read Only Memory), DRAM (Dynamic Random Access Memory), SRAM (Static Random Access Memory), VRAM (Video RAM), and flash memory. .

  Next, an operation when an image is formed in the image forming apparatus 100 will be described.

  The plurality of sheets stored in the sheet cassette 101 are separated one by one and conveyed to the image forming unit 102. The image forming unit 102 forms a developer image on the paper conveyed from the paper feed cassette 101 and then fixes the developer image on the paper. The sheet on which the developer image is fixed is stacked on the sheet discharge tray 106 while moving on the conveyance path.

  When the image forming apparatus 100 receives a print job from an external device, the image forming apparatus 100 may start the image forming process in response to receiving the print job, or may hold the print job until instructed to start the image forming process. it can. If a plurality of print jobs are transmitted to the image forming apparatus 100, the plurality of print jobs can be stored in the image forming apparatus 100.

  Next, a process for executing an image forming process after storing a plurality of print jobs in the image forming apparatus 100 will be described with reference to a flowchart shown in FIG. The process shown in FIG. 2 is performed by the controller 107. The controller 107 can execute the processing shown in FIG. 2 based on the program stored in the memory 108.

  In the present embodiment, the program is stored in the memory 108, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the program may be downloaded from the network to the image forming apparatus 100, or the program may be stored in a computer-readable recording medium, and the program may be installed from the recording medium to the image forming apparatus 100. The recording medium may be any recording medium that can store a program and can be read by a computer. Note that a part or all of the program may be an execution module that is dynamically generated.

  When a print job is transmitted from the external device to the image forming apparatus 100, the image forming apparatus 100 receives the print job from the external device (ACT101).

  The controller 107 displays information regarding the received print job on the display 105a of the control panel 105 (ACT 102). FIG. 3 shows a display example of the display 105a. In the example illustrated in FIG. 3, the image forming apparatus 100 receives three print jobs (jobs 1 to 3), and the display 105a displays information regarding the three print jobs.

  The print job displayed on the display 105a is displayed separately for each external device. In other words, when a plurality of print jobs are transmitted from the plurality of external devices to the image forming apparatus 100, these print jobs are displayed on the display 105a in a state of being divided for each external device.

  The display 105a displays the document name, print job reception date, print paper, and number of pages. In the present embodiment, the information shown in FIG. 3 is displayed on the display 105a. However, in addition to the information shown in FIG. 3 or in place of the information shown in FIG. 3, other information can be displayed. As other information, for example, there is information indicating whether color printing or monochrome printing is performed.

  The user can select a print job to be actually printed from among a plurality of print jobs displayed on the display 105a. For example, when a touch panel display is used as the display 105a, the user can select a print job by touching the display portion of the print job to be selected. It is also possible to select a print job by operating the button switch 105b.

  The controller 107 receives the input information related to the selection of the print job, and specifies the print job to be printed (ACT 103). FIG. 4 shows a display screen (an example) of the display 105a after a print job is selected. In the example shown in FIG. 4, two print jobs (jobs 1 and 2) are selected from among the three print jobs. The display 105a displays the selected print job in a state of being distinguished from the unselected print job.

  When a user touches the “setting” display area B1 after selecting a print job to be printed on the display screen shown in FIG. 4, the print job to be printed can be confirmed. When the print job is confirmed, the controller 107 displays the information shown in FIG. 5 on the display 105a.

  In the display example shown in FIG. 5, display areas B21, B22, and B3 are displayed on the display 105a. The display area B21 is used to select a duplex printing mode (referred to as a first printing mode). The display area B22 is used to select a mode for printing two images together on one side of one sheet (referred to as a second print mode). The display area B3 is used for instructing printing.

  In the display example shown in FIG. 5, the print mode in which two images are collectively printed on one side of one sheet can be selected in the display area B22. However, the present invention is not limited to this. When printing three or more print jobs, it is possible to select a mode (referred to as a second print mode) in which images corresponding to three or more print jobs can be printed together on one side of one sheet.

  The number of images that can be printed together on one side of one sheet is changed according to the number of print jobs selected in the process of ACT 103. That is, the number of print jobs selected in the process of ACT 103 matches the number of images that can be printed on one side of one sheet.

  When the user selects one of the display areas B21 and B22, the controller 107 specifies a printing method based on the selected input information (ACT 104). Here, even when the user selects only one print job, the display areas B21 and B22 are displayed on the display 105a as shown in FIG. Even when one print job is selected, the print method can be changed in the image forming apparatus 100 by displaying the display areas B21 and 22 on the display 105a.

  On the other hand, when only one print job is selected, only information for instructing execution of printing can be displayed on the display 105a. For example, in the display example shown in FIG. 5, only the display area B3 for instructing printing can be displayed on the display 105a.

  When the user selects the display area B3, the controller 107 starts a process of forming an image on a sheet (ACT 105).

  When the user selects the display area B21 in FIG. 5 and instructs double-sided printing, the controller 107 causes images corresponding to the selected print job to be formed on both sides of the paper.

  In the example shown in FIG. 4, since the print job (jobs 1 and 2) is selected, the image forming unit 102 forms the image corresponding to the print job 1 on one side of the sheet, and then prints it to the print job 2. A corresponding image is formed on the other side of the paper. After the images are formed on both sides of the paper, the paper is stacked on the paper discharge tray 106.

  On the other hand, when the user selects the display area B22, the controller 107 collectively forms images corresponding to the selected print job on one side of the sheet. In the example shown in FIG. 4, since the print job (jobs 1 and 2) is selected, the image forming unit 102 forms an image corresponding to the print jobs 1 and 2 on one side of the sheet. The paper on which the image is formed is stacked on the paper discharge tray 106.

  According to the present embodiment, images corresponding to a plurality of print jobs can be printed on one sheet. For example, when printing a plurality of different files, the image of the file can be printed on one sheet of paper. In particular, when a plurality of files are created using different application software, images of these files can be printed on one sheet of paper. Examples of application software include spreadsheet software, word processors, and electronic document display software.

  In the example shown in FIG. 4, only the print jobs (jobs 1 and 2) having the same paper size are selected. However, when a plurality of print jobs having different paper sizes are selected, the controller 107 In the process of ACT 103, only print jobs having the same paper size can be specified. The controller 107 can form an image on a sheet based only on print jobs having the same sheet size.

  For example, in the example shown in FIG. 4, when the user selects three print jobs (jobs 1 to 3), the controller 107 identifies only print jobs 1 and 2 as print jobs to be printed on paper. However, the print job 3 is excluded from the print target. The controller 107 forms only an image corresponding to the print job 3 on another sheet.

  When a part of the print jobs selected by the user is excluded from the print targets when the print jobs are collectively printed on paper, the controller 107 displays information indicating that the print jobs are excluded from the print targets on the display 105a. Can be displayed. The user can confirm the print job to be excluded from the print target by looking at the display content on the display 105a.

  On the other hand, even when a plurality of print jobs having different paper sizes are selected, images corresponding to the plurality of print jobs can be collectively printed on the paper. For example, when the print jobs 1 and 3 are selected in the display example shown in FIG. 4, the controller 107 forms an image corresponding to the print jobs 1 and 3 on one sheet (for example, A4 size sheet). be able to.

  For the image corresponding to the print job 3, the controller 107 can form an image on a sheet after changing the magnification of the image. The magnification of the image can be determined based on the paper size specified in the print job and the paper size on which the image is actually formed.

  In the present embodiment, either the first print mode or the second print mode can be selected, but the present invention is not limited to this. Specifically, the first print mode and the second print mode can be selected simultaneously. For example, when printing images corresponding to four print jobs, two images can be formed on one side of the paper and the remaining two images can be formed on the other side of the paper.

  When the user selects the display area B21 instructing double-sided printing, the controller 107 can change the setting information of the display area B22. For example, when four print jobs are selected, in the display screen corresponding to FIG. 5, the display area B21 displays information for instructing double-sided printing, and the display area B22 displays four images on one side of the paper. Information for instructing processing to be collectively printed can be displayed. Here, when the user selects the display area B21, the display area B22 can display information for instructing a process of printing two images together on one side of a sheet.

  Information displayed in the display area B22 may be automatically changed when the display area B21 is selected, or may be arbitrarily changed by the user.

  In this embodiment, by operating the display 105a as an input unit, a print job to be printed is selected and a print mode of the selected print job is selected. By operating 105b, a print job or a print mode can be selected.

  Although several embodiments of the present invention have been described, these embodiments are presented by way of example and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These embodiments can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, replacements, and changes can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. These embodiments and their modifications are included in the scope and gist of the invention, and are also included in the invention described in the claims and the equivalents thereof.

100: Image forming apparatus, 101: Paper feed cassette, 102: Image forming unit,
103: Scanner, 104: ADF (Auto Document Feeder),
105: Control panel, 105a: Display, 105b: Button switch,
106: discharge tray, 107: controller, 108: memory

Claims (2)

An image forming unit for forming an image on paper;
An input unit for inputting information related to a print mode for collectively printing a plurality of images corresponding to a plurality of print jobs on one sheet, and information for selecting a specific print job among the plurality of print jobs ; ,
A memory for receiving and storing multiple print jobs;
The image forming unit is operated based on the print mode input from the input unit, and printing in the print mode is permitted for print jobs having the same paper size. A controller that prohibits printing in the print mode for different print jobs;
A display that displays information about a plurality of received print jobs, and displays that prohibits printing when printing in the printing mode is prohibited;
The display is
When a plurality of print jobs are selected by the input unit , information for selecting a first print mode for printing a plurality of images corresponding to the plurality of print jobs on both sides of the paper and a plurality of print jobs are supported. Information for selecting a second print mode for printing a plurality of images to be printed together on one side of the paper,
When one print job is selected by the input unit, information for instructing execution of printing is displayed without displaying information for selecting the first and second print modes.
An image forming apparatus. When one print job is selected from a plurality of print jobs, information for instructing execution of printing is displayed on the display.
When a plurality of print jobs are selected, information for selecting a first print mode for printing a plurality of images corresponding to the plurality of print jobs on both sides of the paper, and a plurality of images corresponding to the plurality of print jobs And information for selecting the second print mode for printing the prints on one side of the paper together on the display,
Obtaining information about the first and second printing modes;
The image forming unit is operated based on the acquired print mode, printing in the print mode is permitted for print jobs having the same paper size, and for some print jobs having different paper sizes. Prohibit printing in the print mode ,
An image forming method.

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