JP6922607B2 - Image forming device, job processing method and job processing control program - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, a job processing method, and a job processing control program, and more particularly to an image forming apparatus having a FAX reception printing function, a job processing method for processing a print job including a FAX reception printing job, and a job processing control program. ..

In an image forming apparatus such as an MFP (Multi-Functional Peripherals), a control for executing registered print jobs in the order of registration is widely known. It is also known to control the execution order of print jobs when an abnormality occurs.

Regarding such job processing, for example, in Patent Document 1 below, there is an abnormality in an image forming apparatus that stores image data corresponding to an image forming job and executes image forming using the image data for each job. Anomaly detection means for detecting that the job that was being executed at that time has become an abnormal state that cannot be continued due to the occurrence, and whether the abnormal state is a state in which all other jobs cannot be executed, etc. A state in which an abnormality level determining means for determining whether an executable job can exist among the jobs of the above and a state in which an executable job can exist among other jobs by the abnormality level determining means. A configuration including a job control means for controlling the execution of another executable job based on the execution permission timing information indicating the timing for permitting the execution of another executable job when it is determined to be. Is disclosed.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2001-096864

In a user environment that makes heavy use of mass printing jobs, in an MFP equipped with a FAX reception printing function, if FAX reception is completed during execution of a mass printing job, FAX reception printing is started after printing of the mass printing job is completed. The time lag from the completion of reception to the completion of FAX reception printing becomes large, and there may be cases where print jobs including FAX reception print jobs cannot be processed appropriately.

In particular, many users print a large number of pages on a PP (Production Print) machine, and if the PP machine is equipped with a fax reception printing function, fax reception printing cannot be performed while printing a large number of pages. You have to wait for a long time until you can confirm it, and the above problem appears prominently.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and a main object thereof is to appropriately process a print job including a fax reception print job and shorten the output waiting time of the fax reception print job. An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus, a job processing method, and a job processing control program.

One aspect of the present invention is an image forming apparatus having a FAX reception printing function, which includes an image forming unit that executes image forming according to a print job and a job management unit that manages the print job. When the image quality adjustment is executed in the image forming unit, the job management unit interrupts the running print job and determines whether or not the FAX reception print job exists among the print jobs waiting to be executed. When the FAX reception print job exists, the FAX reception print job is executed before the interrupted print job is restarted , and then the image quality adjustment is executed .
Further, one aspect of the present invention is an image forming apparatus having a FAX reception printing function, which includes an image forming unit that executes image forming according to a print job and a job management unit that manages the print job. When the print job being executed is interrupted, the job management unit determines whether or not the fax reception print job exists among the print jobs waiting to be executed, and when the fax reception print job exists. Is to execute the FAX reception print job before resuming the interrupted print job, the interrupted print job can be restarted, and the next FAX reception is included in the pending print job. When a print job exists, it is further provided with a selection unit that allows the user to select whether to execute the next FAX reception print job or restart the interrupted print job.

One aspect of the present invention is a job processing method in an image forming apparatus including an image forming unit that has a FAX reception printing function and executes image forming according to a print job, and image quality adjustment is executed in the image forming unit. If this is the case, the first step of interrupting the running print job and determining whether or not the FAX reception print job exists in the print job waiting to be executed, and the print job waiting to be executed are included in the print job. When the FAX reception print job exists, the FAX reception print job is executed before the interrupted print job is restarted , and then the image quality adjustment is executed, and the second step is executed. It is a feature.
Further, one aspect of the present invention is a job processing method in an image forming apparatus including an image forming unit that has a FAX reception printing function and executes image forming according to a print job, and interrupts a printing job being executed. When this is done, the first step of determining whether or not the FAX reception print job exists in the print job waiting to be executed, and the interruption if the FAX reception print job exists in the print job waiting to be executed. Before resuming the started print job, the second step of executing the FAX reception print job and the second step are executed. In the second step, the interrupted print job can be restarted and the execution waits. When the next FAX reception print job exists in the print job, the user is allowed to select whether to execute the next FAX reception print job or restart the interrupted print job. To do .

One aspect of the present invention is a job processing control program that has a FAX reception printing function and operates in an image forming apparatus including an image forming unit that executes image forming according to a print job or a control device that controls the image forming apparatus. When the image forming device or the control device executes the image quality adjustment in the image forming unit, the printing job being executed is interrupted, and the fax reception print job is included in the print job waiting to be executed. If the FAX reception print job exists in the print job waiting to be executed in the first step of determining whether or not is present, the FAX reception print job is executed before the interrupted print job is restarted. After that, the image quality adjustment is executed, and the second step is executed.
Further, one aspect of the present invention is a job process that is operated by an image forming apparatus having a FAX reception printing function and having an image forming unit that executes image forming according to a print job or a control device that controls the image forming apparatus. In the control program, when the printing job being executed is interrupted by the image forming device or the control device, the first method of determining whether or not a fax reception print job exists among the print jobs waiting to be executed. When the FAX reception print job exists in the print job waiting to be executed, the second step of executing the FAX reception print job is executed before restarting the interrupted print job, and the first step is performed. In the second step, when the interrupted print job can be restarted and the next FAX reception print job exists in the pending print job, the next FAX reception print job is executed or the process is executed. The feature is that the user is allowed to select whether to restart the interrupted print job.

According to the image forming apparatus, the job processing method, and the job processing control program of the present invention, the print job including the fax reception print job can be appropriately processed, and the output waiting time of the fax reception print job can be shortened.

The reason is that the image forming apparatus having the FAX reception printing function includes an image forming unit that executes image formation according to a print job and a job management unit that manages the print job, and the job management unit executes the image forming unit. When the print job in the middle is interrupted, it is determined whether or not the fax reception print job exists in the print job waiting to be executed, and if the fax reception print job exists, the interrupted print job is restarted. This is because the control for executing the FAX reception print job is performed before.

It is a schematic diagram which shows the structure of the image forming apparatus which concerns on one Example of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the image forming apparatus which concerns on one Example of this invention. It is a schematic diagram explaining the job processing method (when the reason for interruption occurs during execution of a print job) of the image forming apparatus which concerns on one Example of this invention. It is a schematic diagram explaining the job processing method (when the image quality adjustment is performed during execution of a print job) of the image forming apparatus which concerns on one Example of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the operation of the image forming apparatus which concerns on one Example of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the operation of the image forming apparatus which concerns on one Example of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the operation of the image forming apparatus which concerns on one Example of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the operation of the image forming apparatus which concerns on one Example of this invention. It is a schematic diagram explaining the conventional job processing method (case of a small amount of PC print job). It is a schematic diagram explaining the conventional job processing method (case of a large amount of PC print jobs).

As shown in the background art, in an image forming apparatus such as an MFP, control of executing registered print jobs in the order of registration is widely known. For example, in an MFP having a FAX reception printing function, a PC print job (a print job that executes printing based on print data transmitted from a client device) and a FAX reception print job (FAX reception) as shown in FIG. 9A. When the print job that executes printing based on the data is executed in the order of registration, the processing time of the MFP is as shown in Fig. 9 (b) below, and after the printing of the PC print job is completed, FAX reception printing is performed. Is executed. In this case, since it is a small amount of PC print jobs, the fax reception print job is output with almost no waiting time.

However, in a user environment in which a large number of print jobs are frequently used, there are many cases where a print job is input so that printing is not completed for half a day or a full day depending on the user. For example, when the PC print job and the fax reception print job as shown in FIG. 10A are executed in the order of registration, the fax reception is completed in the first copy of the PC print job as shown in FIG. 10B. However, the fax reception printing is started after the printing of the 500th copy of the PC print job is completed.

In such a case, although the fax reception is completed, the fax reception printing is executed with a significant delay (for example, half a day or more), which may significantly reduce usability. Furthermore, in the case of a printing company that manages the fax reception history and the fax received printed matter on a daily basis, there are cases where the fax received printed matter cannot be confirmed even though it is recorded in the fax reception history. There is a risk of becoming a fax machine or leading to loss of orders.

Therefore, in one embodiment of the present invention, in an image forming apparatus having a FAX reception printing function, when a reason for interruption (out of paper, out of toner, periodic image quality adjustment) occurs in the printing job being executed, the printing job is being executed. The print job of is interrupted, and the FAX reception print job is preferentially executed.

Specifically, a job management unit that manages print jobs is provided in the image forming apparatus, and when the running print job is interrupted, the FAX reception print job is included in the print jobs waiting to be executed. It is determined whether or not it exists, and if a FAX reception print job exists, it is controlled to execute the FAX reception print job before restarting the interrupted print job.

By performing such control, it is possible to improve the usability by shortening the time from the completion of the fax reception to the completion of the fax reception printing while improving the utilization efficiency of the image forming apparatus.

In order to explain one embodiment of the present invention in more detail, the image forming apparatus, the job processing method, and the job processing control program according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 8. .. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of the image forming apparatus of this embodiment, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the image forming apparatus of this embodiment. 3 and 4 are schematic views illustrating a job processing method of the image forming apparatus of the present embodiment, and FIGS. 5 to 8 are flowcharts showing the operation of the image forming apparatus of the present embodiment. .. In the following description, the print job includes a PC print job that executes printing based on the print data transmitted from the client device, a copy job that executes printing based on the image data read by the image reading unit, and a FAX. It is assumed that a FAX reception print job that executes printing based on the reception data is included.

The image forming apparatus 10 of this embodiment is an MFP or the like provided with a fax reception / printing function, and as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2A, the control unit 11, the storage unit 15, the display operation unit 16, and the image processing unit It is composed of 17, a network I / F unit 18, a fax transmission / reception unit 19, an image reading unit 20, a paper feeding unit 21, an image forming unit 22, a post-processing unit 23, and the like.

The control unit 11 is composed of a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 12 and a memory such as a ROM (Read Only Memory) 13 and a RAM (Random Access Memory) 14, and the CPU 12 is a control program stored in the ROM 13 and the storage unit 15 ( The operation of the entire image forming apparatus 10 is controlled by expanding and executing the job processing control program described later in the RAM 14.

The storage unit 15 is composed of an HDD (Hard Disk Drive), an SSD (Solid State Drive), or the like, and stores a program for the CPU 12 to control each unit, information on the processing function of the own device, a print job, and the like. Further, the storage unit 15 includes a print management queue, a print execution queue, and a print hold queue, and job processing can be controlled by registering or deleting print jobs in these queues. ..

The display operation unit 16 is a pressure-sensitive or capacitive operation unit (touch sensor) in which transparent electrodes are arranged in a grid pattern on a display unit such as an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) or an organic EL (Electro Luminescence) display. A provided touch panel or the like displays various screens related to the processing of a PC print job, a copy job, and a FAX reception print job, and enables various operations. Further, when the interrupted PC print job can be restarted and the next FAX reception print job exists in the print jobs waiting to be executed, the display operation unit 16 receives the next FAX. Displays a user selection screen that allows the user to select whether to execute the print job or restart the interrupted PC print job.

The image processing unit 17 is a PDL (Page Description Language) described in a page description language such as a PC print job (PJL (Printer Job Language), PS (PostScript), PCL (Printer Control Language)) received from a client device (not shown). ) Data or PDF (Portable Document Format) data, etc.) is analyzed, each page of the manuscript included in the PC print job is rasterized to generate image data, and image processing (color adjustment, density adjustment) is performed as necessary. , Processing such as size adjustment) and screening.

The network I / F unit 18 is composed of a NIC (Network Interface Card), a modem, or the like, and is a LAN (Local Area Network) defined by standards such as Ethernet (registered trademark), Token Ring, and FDDI (Fiber-Distributed Data Interface). A print job can be received from a client device (not shown) via a communication network such as WAN (Wide Area Network) or WAN (Wide Area Network).

The FAX transmission / reception unit 19 uses an ITU-T (International Telecommunication Union-Telecommunication) recommendation T.I. According to the fax communication control sequence of the five phases of Phases A to E defined in 30, the fax communication with the other party's fax communication device is performed via the public switched telephone network (PSNT).

The image scanning unit (scanner) 20 is a portion that optically reads image data from a document placed on a document table, and is a light source that scans the document and a CCD that converts light reflected by the document into an electric signal. It is composed of an image sensor such as (Charge Coupled Devices) and an A / D converter or the like that converts an electric signal into A / D.

The paper feeding unit 21 stores the paper and sends the stored paper to the image forming unit 22. The paper feed unit 21 is provided with a detection unit that detects the remaining number of sheets to be stored and the paper out, and when the paper out of the paper specified in the PC print job or the copy job is detected, the job management described later is performed. Notify unit 11a of the out of paper.

The image forming unit 22 is composed of components necessary for image forming using an image forming process such as an electrophotographic method or an electrostatic recording method. For example, it is composed of a photoconductor drum, a transfer roller, a fuser, various transport belts, etc., and is conveyed from the paper feed unit 21 based on the image data generated by the image processing unit 17 and the fax reception data received by the fax transmission / reception unit 19. An image is formed on the paper and sent to the post-processing unit 23. The image forming unit 22 is provided with a detection unit for detecting the remaining amount of toner and the out of toner, and when the out of toner of the toner (particularly the color toner) used for processing the PC print job or the copy job is detected. , Notifies the job management unit 11a of the out of toner.

The post-processing unit 23 performs the finishing processing desired by the user, such as punching, stapling, folding, cutting, bookbinding, and pasting with glue, on the paper conveyed from the image forming unit 22 according to the instruction from the control unit 11. In addition, output.

Further, as shown in FIG. 2B, the control unit 11 also functions as a job management unit 11a, a selection unit 11b, and the like.

The job management unit 11a manages the print job executed by the image forming apparatus 10, registers the print job in the print management queue, registers the print job in the print execution queue when starting the process of the print job, and prints. When the process of a job is put on hold, the print job is registered in the print hold queue. Then, the print jobs registered in the print management queue are taken out in order, moved to the print execution queue, and the print job is executed.

At that time, the job management unit 11a is in the process of executing the print job (PC print job or copy job), and the reason for the interruption (insufficient consumables such as out of paper used in the print job or out of color toner, image formation). It is determined whether (execution of image quality adjustment in unit 22) has occurred, and if a reason for interruption occurs, the print job being executed is interrupted, and is there a fax reception print job among the print jobs waiting to be executed? If it is determined whether or not the fax reception print job exists, the fax reception print job is executed before the interrupted print job is restarted. At that time, if the reason for interruption is image quality adjustment, the image quality adjustment is executed after the fax reception print job is executed. Further, when the job management unit 11a executes the FAX reception print job, the FAX reception print job may be executed in succession to the FAX reception history print job, or a plurality of FAX reception print jobs may be executed in the print job waiting to be executed. If it exists, a plurality of FAX reception print jobs are executed, and then the interrupted print job is restarted.

The selection unit 11b executes the next FAX reception print job when the reason for the interruption of the interrupted print job is resolved and the print job can be restarted, and the next FAX reception print job exists in the print jobs waiting to be executed. The display operation unit 16 displays a user selection screen that allows the user to select whether to restart the interrupted print job.

The job management unit 11a and the selection unit 11b may be configured as hardware, or the control unit 11 is configured as a job processing control program that functions as the job management unit 11a and the selection unit 11b, and the job processing control program is configured as the CPU 12 May be executed.

Note that FIGS. 1 and 2 are examples of the image forming apparatus 10 of this embodiment, and the configuration and control thereof can be appropriately changed as long as the job processing control of this embodiment can be executed.

For example, in this embodiment, the image forming apparatus 10 is provided with the image reading unit 20 and the post-processing unit 23, but these can be omitted. Further, in this embodiment, the image processing unit 17 rasterizes each page of the document included in the print job to generate image data, but a RIP (Raster Image Processor) controller is provided separately from the image forming apparatus 10 to generate RIP. The controller may perform rasterization to generate image data, and the image forming apparatus 10 may receive the image data from the RIP controller.

Further, in this embodiment, the control unit 11 is configured to function as the job management unit 11a and the selection unit 11b, but a control device (controller) for controlling the image forming device 10 is provided, and the control unit of the control device (controller) is provided. May function as a job management unit and a selection unit (the CPU constituting the control unit of the control device (controller) executes the job processing control program).

Next, the job processing method in the image forming apparatus 10 of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4.

FIG. 3 shows a job processing method when a reason for interruption (out of paper used in PC print job 1 or out of color toner when PC print job 1 is color printing) occurs during execution of the PC print job. Is shown. As shown in the table before the execution job is interrupted in FIG. 3A, print jobs are submitted in the order of PC print job 1, PC print job 2, copy job, FAX reception print job 1, and FAX reception print job 2. In this case, as shown in FIG. 3B, the image forming apparatus 10 executes the printing of the first copy of the PC print job 1 submitted first. When the above-mentioned reason for interruption occurs during printing of the second copy of the PC print job 1, and the fax reception of the fax reception print job 1 and the fax reception print job 2 is completed before the reason for interruption occurs. think of.

In this case, conventionally, since the print jobs are executed according to the execution job order shown in the table before the execution job is interrupted in FIG. 3A, the processing of all the print jobs is interrupted until the reason for the interruption is resolved. Then, after the reason for interruption is resolved, the processing is restarted from the PC print job 1, so that the FAX reception of the FAX reception print job 1 and the FAX reception print job 2 is completed, and the paper specified by the FAX reception print job or Even if there is toner, FAX reception printing cannot be performed.

Therefore, in this embodiment, when a reason for interruption occurs during printing of the PC print job 1, the order of the execution jobs is as shown in the table after the execution job is interrupted in FIG. 3A. Change the order of FAX reception print job 2, PC print job 1, PC print job 2, and copy job. Then, the printing of the second copy of the PC print job 2 is interrupted, the FAX reception printing job 1 and the FAX reception printing job 2 are performed, and if the reason for the interruption is resolved after the FAX reception printing, the PC Printing is resumed from the middle of the second copy of the print job 1, and then the print job is executed in the order of the PC print job 2 and the copy job.

In this way, when a reason for interruption occurs during the processing of the PC print job, by preferentially executing the fax reception print job, the time from the completion of the fax reception to the completion of the fax reception printing is shortened. can do. Although the case where the reason for interruption occurs during printing of the PC print job 1 is illustrated here, the job processing is similarly controlled when the reason for interruption occurs during printing of the PC print job 2 or the copy job. be able to.

FIG. 4 shows a job processing method when a reason for interruption occurs (the timing of image quality adjustment has arrived) during execution of a PC print job. As shown in the table before the image quality adjustment timing in FIG. 4 (a), when the print jobs are submitted in the order of the PC print job and the fax reception print job, they are submitted first as shown in FIG. 4 (b). Print the first copy of the completed PC print job.

When the image quality adjustment command is output every 1000 sheets, the image quality adjustment is conventionally performed after the printing of 1000 sheets of the first copy of the PC print job is completed, and the second copy of the PC print job is performed after the image quality adjustment. Since the printing of 1000 sheets is executed, even if the fax reception of the fax reception print job is completed, the fax reception printing cannot be performed until the printing of the PC print job is completed.

Therefore, in this embodiment, when the printing of the first copy of the PC print job is completed and the PC print job is interrupted by the image quality adjustment, the image quality adjustment is performed after printing the FAX reception print job. Specifically, the PC print job is printed up to the specified number of image adjustment operations (see 1 in FIG. 4B). Next, the printing of the PC print job is interrupted, and the fax reception print job is printed (see 2 in FIG. 4B). Next, an image adjustment operation is performed (see 3 in FIG. 4 (b)), and printing of the PC print job is restarted (see 4 in FIG. 4 (b)).

In this way, when adjusting the image quality during the processing of the PC print job, by executing the FAX reception print job before the image quality adjustment, the time from the completion of the FAX reception to the completion of the FAX reception printing can be set. Can be shortened. Here, after printing 1000 sheets of the first copy of the PC print job, printing of 3 sheets of the FAX reception print job is performed, and then the image quality is adjusted (that is, the fax reception printing exceeds the specified number of image quality adjustments). However, since the fax reception print is printed in monochrome and high-definition image quality is not required, there is no problem even if the fax reception print job is printed in excess of the specified number of image quality adjustments. Does not occur. Further, here, the case where the image quality adjustment is performed after printing the first copy of the PC print job is illustrated, but when the image quality adjustment command is output every 2000 sheets, FAX is performed after printing the second copy of the PC print job. All you have to do is execute the receive print job. Further, although the case where the image quality adjustment is performed by dividing the parts is illustrated here, the job processing can be similarly controlled when the image quality adjustment is performed in the middle of the parts.

Hereinafter, the operation of the image forming apparatus 10 of this embodiment will be described. The CPU 12 executes the processing of each step shown in the flowcharts of FIGS. 5 to 8 by expanding and executing the job processing control program in the RAM 14. It should be noted that FIGS. 5 to 8 show a series of processes, which are divided for convenience of drawing.

First, as shown in FIG. 5, the control unit 11 (job management unit 11a) monitors the print job registration request (S101), and if there is a print job registration request (Yes in S101), the print job is executed. Register at the end of the print management queue (S102).

Next, the control unit 11 (job management unit 11a) determines whether the state of the image forming apparatus 10 is interrupted (S103), and if it is not interrupted (No of S103), the state of the image forming apparatus 10 Is being printed (S104). When the state of the image forming apparatus 10 is suspended (Yes in S103), the transition to (A) in FIG. 6 is performed.

If the state of the image forming apparatus 10 is printing (Yes in S104), the transition to S107 is performed, and if the state of the image forming apparatus 10 is not printing (No in S104), the state of the image forming apparatus 10 is waiting. Therefore, the control unit 11 (job management unit 11a) registers the print job in the print execution queue (S105) and prints the print job in the print execution queue page by page (S106).

Next, the control unit 11 (job management unit 11a) determines whether printing of all pages is completed (S107), and if printing of all pages is not completed (No in S107), printing is interrupted. (S108). If printing is not interrupted (No in S108), the screen returns to S106 to print the next page, and if printing is interrupted (Yes in S108), the state of the image forming apparatus is suspended (S109). , Transition to (A) of FIG.

On the other hand, when printing of all pages is completed (Yes in S107), the control unit 11 (job management unit 11a) deletes the print job from the print execution queue (S110), and the print job registered in the print management queue. It is determined whether or not there is (S111). If there is a print job registered in the print management queue (Yes in S111), return to S105, register the print job in the print execution queue, repeat the same process, and repeat the same process, and the print job registered in the print management queue. If there is no (No in S111), a series of job processing is terminated.

When the state of the image forming apparatus is interrupted in S103, or after the state of the image forming apparatus is interrupted in S109, as shown in FIG. 6, the control unit 11 (job management unit 11a) has a reason for interruption. It is determined whether the image quality is adjusted (S112), and if the reason for interruption is the image quality adjustment (Yes in S112), the image quality adjustment state is enabled (S113). Next, the control unit 11 (job management unit 11a) determines whether the job registered in the print execution queue is a fax reception print job (S114), and in the case of a fax reception print job (Yes in S114). , Transition to (B) of FIG. 7, and execute the FAX reception print job.

On the other hand, if it is not a fax reception print job (No in S114), the control unit 11 (job management unit 11a) determines whether there is a fax reception print job in the print management queue (S115). If there is a FAX reception print job in the print management queue (Yes in S115), the control unit 11 (job management unit 11a) moves the print execution queue registration job (interrupted print job) to the print hold queue (S117). ), After moving the FAX reception print job of the print management queue to the print execution queue (S118), the transition to (B) of FIG. 7 is performed to execute the FAX reception print job. At that time, if there are a plurality of fax reception print jobs in the print management queue, in S118, the plurality of fax reception print jobs may be moved to the print execution queue.

If there is no fax reception print job in the print management queue (No in S115), the control unit 11 (job management unit 11a) determines whether the image quality adjustment state is valid (S116), and the image quality adjustment state is changed. If it is valid (Yes in S116), the transition to (C) in FIG. 8 is performed to perform image quality adjustment, and if the image quality adjustment state is not valid (No in S116), the transition to (E) in FIG. 5 is performed. Then, the processing after S106 is performed.

In FIG. 7B, the control unit 11 (job management unit 11a) prints the fax reception print job of the print execution queue page by page (S119), and determines whether the printing of all pages is completed (S120). ). If printing of all pages is not completed (No in S120), return to S119 to print the next page, and if printing of all pages is completed (Yes in S120), control unit 11 (job management unit). 11a) executes a FAX reception history print job (prints a FAX reception history report) as necessary (S121).

Next, the control unit 11 (job management unit 11a) determines whether a print job exists in the print hold queue (S122), and if a print job exists in the print hold queue (Yes in S122), print hold. It is determined whether the print job of the queue can be printed (that is, whether the reason for interruption has been resolved) (S123).

If there is no print job in the print hold queue (No in S122), or if the print job in the print hold queue is not printable (No in S123), the control unit 11 (job management unit 11a) is in the image quality adjustment state. Is valid (S128), if the image quality adjustment state is valid (Yes in S128), transitions to (C) in FIG. 8, the image quality adjustment is executed, and if the image quality adjustment state is not valid (S128). Transition to (No) of S128 and (D) of FIG. 5, and the print job is deleted from the print execution queue (S110).

If the print job in the print hold queue is printable (Yes in S123), the control unit 11 (job management unit 11a) determines whether there is a FAX reception print job in the print management queue (S124), and the print management queue. If there is no FAX reception print job (No in S124), the print hold queue registration job (interrupted print job) is moved to the print execution queue (S129), and the transition to S128 is performed, and the image quality adjustment state is valid. Determine if there is.

On the other hand, when there is a FAX reception print job in the print management queue (Yes in S124), the control unit 11 (selection unit 11b) causes the display operation unit 16 to display the user selection screen as necessary (S125). Let the user choose whether to execute the next FAX receive print job or the print job of the print hold queue.

When the user selects a print job in the print hold queue (Yes in S126), the control unit 11 (job management unit 11a) moves the print hold queue registration job (interrupted print job) to the print execution queue (Yes). After transitioning to S129) and S128, it is determined whether the image quality adjustment state is valid.

If the user does not select a print job in the print hold queue (No in S126), the control unit 11 (job management unit 11a) moves the FAX reception print job in the print management queue to the print execution queue (S127). , Return to S119 and print the FAX reception print job.

When the image quality adjustment state is valid (Yes in S116 or Yes in S128), as shown in FIG. 8, the control unit 11 (job management unit 11a) executes the image quality adjustment (S130), and the image quality adjustment is completed. Then, the image quality adjustment state is invalidated (S131), the transition to S110 in FIG. 5 is performed, and the print job is deleted from the print execution queue.

In this way, when a reason for interruption occurs in a running print job, the running print job is interrupted, it is determined whether or not there is a FAX reception print job among the print jobs waiting to be executed, and the FAX reception is received. If a print job exists, the printed job including the FAX received print job is appropriately processed by executing the FAX received print job before restarting the interrupted print job, and the FAX received print job is output. The waiting time can be shortened.

If there are a plurality of FAX reception print jobs in the print job, the interrupted print job may be restarted after executing the plurality of FAX reception print jobs, or the FAX reception history printing may be performed following the FAX reception print job. FAX by letting the user select whether to execute the next FAX reception print job or restart the interrupted print job when the job is executed or the interrupted print job can be resumed. Print jobs including received print jobs can be processed appropriately.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and its configuration and control can be appropriately changed as long as it does not deviate from the gist of the present invention.

For example, in the above embodiment, the case where the reason for interruption occurs during the execution of the PC print job has been described, but in the case where the reason for interruption occurs during the execution of an arbitrary job other than the fax reception print job, the present invention The job processing method can be applied in the same way.

Further, in the above embodiment, the reasons for interruption include running out of paper used in the print job, running out of color toner used in the print job, and image quality adjustment. However, it is necessary to suspend the print job, and the print job needs to be interrupted. , The job processing method of the present invention can be similarly applied to any reason that the FAX reception print job can be executed.

The present invention can be used for an image forming apparatus having a fax reception printing function, a job processing method for processing a print job including a fax reception printing job, a job processing control program, and a recording medium on which the job processing control program is recorded.

10 Image forming device 11 Control unit 11a Job management unit 11b Selection unit 12 CPU
13 ROM
14 RAM
15 Storage unit 16 Display operation unit 17 Image processing unit 18 Network I / F unit 19 FAX transmission / reception unit 20 Image reading unit 21 Paper feeding unit 22 Image forming unit 23 Post-processing unit

Claims (12)

An image forming apparatus having a fax reception / printing function.
An image forming unit that executes image forming according to a print job,
A job management unit that manages the print job is provided.
When the image quality adjustment is executed in the image forming unit, the job management unit interrupts the running print job and determines whether or not the FAX reception print job exists among the print jobs waiting to be executed. If the FAX reception print job exists, the FAX reception print job is executed before the interrupted print job is restarted , and then the image quality adjustment is executed.
An image forming apparatus characterized in that. An image forming apparatus having a fax reception / printing function.
An image forming unit that executes image forming according to a print job,
A job management unit that manages the print job is provided.
When the printing job being executed is interrupted, the job management unit determines whether or not the fax reception print job exists among the print jobs waiting to be executed, and if the fax reception print job exists, the job management unit determines whether or not the fax reception print job exists. Before restarting the interrupted print job, the FAX reception print job is executed .
When the interrupted print job can be restarted and the next FAX reception print job exists in the print job waiting to be executed, the next FAX reception print job is executed or the interruption is performed. Further provided with a selection section that allows the user to select whether to restart the print job.
An image forming apparatus characterized in that. The job management unit interrupts the running print job when the consumables used for the running print job are insufficient.
The image forming apparatus according to claim 2. When a plurality of the fax reception print jobs exist in the print jobs waiting to be executed, the job management unit executes the plurality of fax reception print jobs and then restarts the interrupted print job.
The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3. It is a job processing method in an image forming apparatus having a FAX reception printing function and having an image forming unit that executes image forming according to a print job.
When the image quality adjustment is executed in the image forming unit, the first step of interrupting the running print job and determining whether or not the FAX reception print job exists among the print jobs waiting to be executed, and the first step.
When the fax reception print job exists in the print jobs waiting to be executed, the fax reception print job is executed before the interrupted print job is restarted , and then the image quality adjustment is executed . Step and perform,
A job processing method characterized by that. It is a job processing method in an image forming apparatus having a FAX reception printing function and having an image forming unit that executes image forming according to a print job.
When the running print job is interrupted, the first step of determining whether or not there is a fax reception print job among the print jobs waiting to be executed, and
When the fax reception print job exists in the print jobs waiting to be executed, the second step of executing the fax reception print job is executed before restarting the interrupted print job .
In the second step, when the interrupted print job can be restarted and the next FAX reception print job exists among the print jobs waiting to be executed, the next FAX reception print job is executed. Let the user choose whether to restart the interrupted print job.
A job processing method characterized by that. In the first step, when the consumables used for the printing job being executed are insufficient, the printing job being executed is interrupted.
The job processing method according to claim 6 , wherein the job processing method is characterized in that. In the second step, when a plurality of the fax reception print jobs exist in the print jobs waiting to be executed, the interrupted print jobs are restarted after the plurality of fax reception print jobs are executed.
The job processing method according to any one of claims 5 to 7 , wherein the job processing method is characterized by the above. A job processing control program that operates in an image forming apparatus having a FAX reception printing function and having an image forming unit that executes image forming according to a print job, or a control device that controls the image forming apparatus.
To the image forming device or the control device
When the image quality adjustment is executed in the image forming unit, the first step of interrupting the running print job and determining whether or not the FAX reception print job exists among the print jobs waiting to be executed.
When the fax reception print job exists in the print jobs waiting to be executed, the fax reception print job is executed before the interrupted print job is restarted , and then the image quality adjustment is executed . To execute the step,
A job processing control program characterized by this. A job processing control program that operates in an image forming apparatus having a FAX reception printing function and having an image forming unit that executes image forming according to a print job, or a control device that controls the image forming apparatus.
To the image forming device or the control device
When the running print job is interrupted, the first step of determining whether or not there is a fax reception print job among the print jobs waiting to be executed,
When the fax reception print job exists in the print jobs waiting to be executed, the second step of executing the fax reception print job is executed before restarting the interrupted print job .
In the second step, when the interrupted print job can be restarted and the next FAX reception print job exists among the print jobs waiting to be executed, the next FAX reception print job is executed. Let the user choose whether to restart the interrupted print job.
A job processing control program characterized by this. In the first step, when the consumables used for the printing job being executed are insufficient, the printing job being executed is interrupted.
The job processing control program according to claim 10. In the second step, when a plurality of the fax reception print jobs exist in the print jobs waiting to be executed, the interrupted print jobs are restarted after the plurality of fax reception print jobs are executed.
The job processing control program according to any one of claims 9 to 11.

Images