JPH03154089A - Image processor provided with copy function and print function - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To execute the copy work in a state that there is no waiting time by providing a work switching means for switching preferentially to the copy work, when an output signal is inputted from a copy work commanding means. CONSTITUTION:When a copy document is placed on platen glass of a base machine, an output signal from a copy document placing sensor is inputted to a filter circuit 56 of a main CPU of the base machine. By its input signal, in accordance with a program stored in a ROM 50 in advance, even in the course of print work, the print work is discontinued, and the copy work is executed preferentially. Also, in that case, a command for displaying a fact that the print work is being discontinued at present on a display part is outputted, and its fact is displayed on a display part of a printer interface. In this regard, a program is prepared in advance so that a mechanism required for the copy work can be set automatically, when the operation is shifted to a copy work priority operation.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus using xerography, and particularly to an image processing apparatus having a copy function and a print function.

[Prior Art] An image processing device has been developed in which a fluorescent display tube is attached to an image processing device using xerography, which is used exclusively as a copy machine, to provide a printing function. This may be referred to as a base machine hereinafter because information signals input as print or images from a computer or a word processor are processed into the main body of the image processing apparatus. ) is sent to the fluorescent display tube,
The information signal is written on a photosensitive drum using a fluorescent display tube, and after a series of operations are completed, it is transferred to paper. The structure of the peripheral portion of the photosensitive drum using this fluorescent display tube will be explained with reference to FIG.

A photosensitive drum 2 is arranged within a base machine (not shown). The photoreceptor 3 is formed in a layered manner on the outer peripheral surface of the photoreceptor drum 2 . This photosensitive drum 2 is connected to a drive device (not shown) so as to rotate in the direction of the arrow. A charge corotron 5 and a fluorescent display tube 6 are mounted on the outer periphery of the photosensitive drum 2.
, a condensing lens 7, a developing device 9 and a transfer corotron 10,
A cleaning device 11 is arranged.

In this image processing apparatus, as the photosensitive drum 2 rotates in the direction of the arrow, the photosensitive member 3 is moved to the charge corotron 5.
After being uniformly charged, an electrostatic latent image is formed upon irradiation with light from the fluorescent display tube 6. The condenser lens 7 is an arrangement of a large number of converging rod lenses in order to condense the light emitted by the large number of light emitting elements constituting the fluorescent display tube 6 onto the photoreceptor 3.

The photoreceptor 3 on which the electrostatic latent image has been formed is then developed by a developing device 9. The toner image formed on the photoreceptor 3 is transferred onto a sheet of paper by a transfer corotron 10, fixed by a fixing device (not shown), and then transported out. On the other hand, photoreceptor 3
is cleaned by the cleaning device 11 and provided for reuse.

Further, when this image processing apparatus is used as a copying machine, the photoreceptor 3 on the charged surface of the photoreceptor drum 2 is exposed at the exposure point 13 . Here, a light image of a document (not shown) placed on a platen glass 12 placed on the top surface of the base machine 1 is incident on the exposure location 13 .

For this purpose, an exposure lamp 15 and a plurality of mirrors 16 and optical lenses 17 that transmit reflected light from the surface of the original illuminated by the exposure lamp 15 are arranged, and a predetermined one of these is used for scanning in order to read the original. It is now possible to do so.

Now, an electrostatic latent image corresponding to the original is formed on the photosensitive drum 2 by the image information exposed in a slit shape at the exposure portion 13. This electrostatic latent image is developed by a developing device 9 to create a toner image.

The toner image moves as the photosensitive drum 2 rotates and passes near the transfer corotron 10. On the other hand, a toner image is transferred onto a sheet of paper passing between the photosensitive drum 2 and the transfer corotron 10 and is fixed by a fixing device (not shown).

Further, a schematic diagram of the image processing apparatus of the present invention including the structure of the peripheral part of the photosensitive drum shown in FIG. 2 is shown in FIG. connected via.

Information inputted by the computer or word processor 21 is sent via the printer interface 20 to the base machine 1 to instruct the base machine 1 to start printing, the output tray to be used,
A command is given to select which bin to output to the output tray, the paper size, etc., and if the base machine 1 is in a printable state, a printing operation is performed.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] In the base machine 1 having both the copy function and the print function, print work commands are normally sent to the printer interface 2 located at a distance from the main body of the base machine 1.
While the operation command is issued from the operation panel 31 of 0,
During the copy work, the operator operates the console panel 18 placed on the base machine 1.

Therefore, an operator who goes to the installation location of the base machine 1, and if the base machine 1 is in the printing operation, directly interrupts the operator who is operating the print work command at a location away from the installation location of the base machine 1. I couldn't even ask for permission and had to wait until the printing process was finished.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an image processing apparatus having a copying and printing function that can interrupt the printing operation and perform the copying operation even during the printing operation if a copying operation is requested. be.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an image processing apparatus having a function of notifying an operator who is operating a print command when a printing operation is interrupted.

Furthermore, it is an object of the present invention to provide an image processing apparatus having a function of inhibiting these copy priority interrupts in some cases.

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention employs the following configuration. That is, in an image processing apparatus having a copy function and a print function using xerography, which outputs print data from a data input device to the image processing apparatus main body via a printer control device, when an output signal from a copy work command means is inputted, An image processing device having a copying function and a print function, which is equipped with a work switching means for preferentially switching to a copying work, or the above-mentioned image processing device, which is equipped with a copying work preferential switching prohibition means that prohibits an operation of preferentially switching to a copying work. The device is .

Here, the copy work command means can use a copy work key on the operation section of the image processing apparatus main body or a copy original placement detection means for detecting that a copy original is placed on the image processing apparatus main body.

Further, print interruption display means may be provided to display that the print work is being interrupted on the display section of the image processing apparatus main body and/or the display section of the printer control device when an output signal is input from the copy work command means. can.

[For rIr-] For example, an output signal from a copy work key on the operation section of the image processing apparatus main body or a copy document placement detection means in the image processing apparatus main body is input to a work switching means that switches preferentially to copy work. Even if a print job is in progress, the print job operation is interrupted and the copy job is given priority.

Furthermore, when an output signal is input from the copy work command means, a message indicating that the print work is currently being interrupted is displayed on the display section of the image processing apparatus main body and/or the display section of the printer control device.

Further, the copy work preferential switching prohibition means can prohibit such a preferential interruption of copy work as necessary.

[Example] Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

The structure of the peripheral part of the photosensitive drum in this embodiment is as shown in FIG.
A schematic diagram of the image processing apparatus of this embodiment including the ll structure is shown in FIG.

The base machine 1 of this embodiment shown in FIG. 1 is connected to a computer or word processor 21 via a printer interface 20. The base machine 1 shown in FIG.

Information inputted by the computer or word processor 21 is sent via the printer interface 20 to the base machine 1 to instruct the base machine 1 to start printing, the output tray to be used,
Instructions are given as to which bin of the output tray to output or which size of paper to select, and if the base machine 1 is in a printable state, a printing operation is performed.

First, the circuit configuration of the printer interface 20 of the present invention is shown in FIG.

Printer interface 20 is controlled by CPU 68000. computer or word processor2
The information input from 1 is temporarily stored in the RAM 23A of the memory 23 in the printer interface 20 via the interface 22 such as the Centro system, and is stored in the RAM 23A of the memory 23 in the memory 23.
The data is developed into a bitmap in the page memory 25 from the AM 23A.

The information in the page memory 25 is transmitted to the video interface 26.
Video data 27 is sent to the base machine 1 via. When printing of the data in the page memory 25 is completed, the next input data from the computer or word processor 21 is transferred from the RAM 23A of the memory 23 to the page memory 25. Also, based on input information from the computer or word processor 21, the printer interface 20 issues a print operation start command to the base machine l, the output tray to be used, which bin of the output tray to output, or It instructs the selection of paper size, etc., and also receives information from the base machine 1, such as whether the base machine 1 is currently in the copying state or printing state, or the number of bins used in the printing paper output tray.

Therefore, for example, if the base machine 1 is in a copying state, the printer interface 20 outputs an output standby signal for the printer to the computer or word processor 21 via an interface 22 such as a Centro system, and if it is in a printable state, the printer interface 20 outputs an output standby signal for the printer to the computer or word processor 21. RAM23A
Data is transferred from the computer or word processor 21 and developed into a bitmap in the page memory 25. After completion of the development, the data in the page memory 25 is transferred to the base machine 1 according to the command 30, and a printing operation is performed.

Note that the ROM 23B of the memory 23 stores a program for operating the printer interface 20 and printer font information.

A non-volatile memory (NVM) 23C is also connected, so that necessary data can be saved even when the power to the printer interface 20 is turned off.

Here, the necessary data stored in the non-volatile memory (NVM) 23C includes, for example, (a) paper print direction, number of copies, paper size selection, presence or absence of a sheet feeder, font, font size, print magnification, fixed magnification,
Print 1-control values such as arbitrary magnification, horizontal magnification, vertical magnification, etc., (b
) Vertical/horizontal registration adjustment values, (c) Whether or not printed data remains in the page memory when a paper jam occurs, (d) Density adjustment values for external characters or image data, (e) Host Automatic ejection time when data transmission from the computer stops, (f) Selection of whether to start up in emulation mode or with a printer-specific command when the power is turned on, (g> Switching national characters.

(h) CR (carriage return) function (carriage return only or return and line feed), (i) Two options for print commands (CR or all of CR, LF, VT, FF, USESCa, ESCb), ( k > Number of graphic dots (native or copy), (1) Selection of data and dot size, (
rn) Can list the number of digits in one line.

Thus, the computer or wordbrosé sosa 21
The operation of the base machine 1 can be controlled based on commands from the operation panel.

This printer interface 20 also includes an operation panel 31 similar to the console panel 18 of this base machine 1.
is provided. That is, in addition to keys for setting the number of prints and magnification, the printer interface 20 is also provided with keys for setting the print I'iff level, etc.

Next, Fig. 4 shows the main C of the base machine 1 of this embodiment.
The circuit configuration centered around the PU is shown.

The main CPU 41 is connected to the following parts via a pass line 43 and a reset circuit 42 which is reset during layer running or initialization.

(i) Keyboard/display LSI (Large Scale Integrated Circuit) 45; This is a circuit that mediates data between the console panel (not shown) of the base machine 1.

(ii>Timer/counter LSI 46: This is a timer that provides a speed target value to which the main motor 47 for driving the photosensitive drum 2 should be synchronized, and the carriage (not shown) in which the optical lens 17, mirror 16, etc. Since it is designed to be reciprocated by four carriage motors, this circuit also controls the drive of the carriage motors 49.

(iii>ROM50; This is a read-only memory having a capacity of 128 bytes and storing various control programs for the base machine 1.

(iv) RAM 5: Random access memory for storing data with a capacity of 1:8 bytes.

A battery 52 for data backup is connected to this RAM 51, and the VNM
has been made into

Here, the necessary data stored in the nonvolatile memory (NVM) 51 includes, for example, (ao) a setup value for adjusting the registration of copy paper, and (b'
) The fine adjustment values for the vertical and horizontal magnification when the copy magnification is set to the same size, (C゛) The amount of binding margin when copying with a blank space for binding, etc. Understand the usage status of the copy machine, such as the adjusted values of each parameter, (do) actual usage values of feed counters for each supply tray, etc., and the number of jams occurring at each preset location of the transport section. Examples include data for this purpose.

Note that the data stored in the NVM 51 (do) is the actual usage value of the feed counter of each supply tray, etc., (e゛) is the number of occurrences of jams at each preset location of the transport section, etc. of the base machine l. The data used to understand the usage status includes not only copy work data but also print work data.

(V) Slave CPU 53: A slave CPU 53 for interfacing between the base machine 1 and the computer or word processor 21 is connected. This C
The PU contains 4 bytes of ROM for control programs and 196 bytes of dual port RAM for control and communication with the main CPU and a UART circuit for communication with a computer or word processor 21.

(vi) First I10 controller 55; This is an input/output controller that inputs various data via the filter circuit 56 and drives various parts via the driver circuit 57. Here, various switches and sensors are connected to the filter circuit 56, for example. Also, the driver circuit 57
A clutch or the like for controlling on/off the drive of each feed roll in the supply tray is connected to.

(vii) Second ■/○ controller 59: This is an input/output controller that inputs various data via the filter circuit 60 and drives various parts via the driver circuit 61. Here, various switches and sensors are connected to the filter circuit 60, for example. Also, driver circuit 6
1 is equipped with a well-known D/A (analog-digital) converter and a PWM (pulse width converter), and is connected to a high-voltage power supply (HVPS) (not shown) to set the developing bias of the developing device 9. In addition, the amount of light emitted by the exposure lamp 15 is set, the voltage value of the charge corotron 5, etc. is set.

Although not shown, the main CPU 41 also controls a tray control section, a sorter, a paper size sensor, a temperature sensor, a light amount sensor, a liquid crystal display section of the console panel 18, and the like.

For example, various switches and sensors on the console panel 18 of the base machine 1 are connected to the filter circuit 56, so that when a copy document is placed on the platen glass 12 of the base machine 1, the underside of the platen glass 12 is An output signal from the copy document placement detection sensor 19 (FIG. 2) is input to the filter circuit 56. According to the program stored in advance in the ROM 50 in response to the input signal, the printing operation is interrupted even if the printing operation is in progress, and the copying operation is given priority. Moreover, at that time, a display command is issued to the printer interface 20 to display on the display unit on the console panel 18 of the base machine and/or the display unit 32 (FIG. 1) of the printer interface 20 that the printing operation is currently being suspended. , display section 32 of printer interface 2o
For example, a message such as ``Print job will be interrupted. Please wait for a while'' is displayed.

Also, when this key is pressed using the interrupt button on the console panel 18 of the base machine 1, which is used when it is necessary to take an emergency copy of the pond during continuous copying, for example, the ROM 50 A print priority work command is issued according to the program in the printer, and even if a print job is in progress, the print job is interrupted, the copy job is started, and it is also possible to display that the print job is being interrupted.

In addition, when moving to the copy work priority operation, a program is created so that the settings of the mechanisms necessary for the copy work, such as setting the magnification of the optical lens 17 and selecting the output tray for copying, can be performed automatically.

A flowchart of this program is shown in FIG.

Furthermore, if necessary, it is also possible to prohibit the copy work priority operation. To do this, either provide a dedicated switch (not shown) to prohibit copy priority operation, or check the history of the past operating status of each component of the base machine or the current operating status of each component. In a so-called self-diagnosis mode, the data in the NVM may be rewritten to prohibit the copy work priority operation.

[Effects of the Invention] For example, an output signal from a copy work setting key on the operation unit of the image processing apparatus main body or a copy document placement detection means on the platen glass of the image processing apparatus main body is input to the copy priority work control means. and.

Even if a print job is in progress, the print job operation can be interrupted and the copy job can be performed with priority, so the operator who has gone to the base machine can interrupt the print job and start copying without waiting time. Can be done.

Moreover, when an output signal is input from the copy work command means, the printer interface accepts the copy job command from the base machine and displays on the display of the printer control device that printing is currently being interrupted. , another operator currently working on a print job can confirm that the print job is currently interrupted.

Furthermore, it is also possible to prohibit the copy work priority operation if necessary. ' For details of the copy operation control mechanism of the base machine 1, etc., please refer to Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 63-283274.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a conceptual block diagram of an image processing apparatus of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a structural diagram of the peripheral portion of a photosensitive drum of the present invention, FIG. 3 is a circuit block diagram of a printer interface of the image processing apparatus of the present invention, and FIG. FIG. 4 shows a circuit configuration diagram of the main CPU of the base machine of the present invention, and FIG. 5 shows a flowchart of copy work priority operation. 1...Base machine, 2...Photosensitive drum 20...
Printer interface, 31...Operation panel, 41...Main CPU Fig. 2

Claims (4)

[Claims] (1) In an image processing device that has a copy function and a print function using xerography, which outputs print data from a data input device to the image processing device main body via a printer control device, an output signal from a copy work command means is input. An image processing apparatus having a copy function and a print function, characterized in that the image processing apparatus includes a work switching means that switches to a copy work preferentially. (2) Claim 1 characterized in that the copy work commanding means is a copy work key of an operation section of the image processing apparatus main body or a copy original placement detection means for detecting that a copy original is placed on the image processing apparatus main body. An image processing device having the copying and printing functions described above. (3) Printing interruption display means is provided for displaying on the display section of the image processing apparatus main body and/or the display section of the printer control device that the printing operation is being interrupted when an output signal is input from the copying operation commanding means. An image processing apparatus having a copy function and a print function according to claim 1 or 2. (4) The image processing apparatus having a copying function and a printing function according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a copying operation preferential switching prohibiting means for prohibiting an operation of preferentially switching to a copying operation.