JPH0435975A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent control information related to a printing action from being easily changed to optimize the action by a method wherein only when predetermined specific information is inputted form an input means, assigning information stored in a storage means is changed. CONSTITUTION:By operating an online key 55, a device is set to an offline. By operating a menu key 51, required information is selected out of various menu information. If the device is not set to a default information rewriting mode, specific information (ID) is selected by operating a value key 53, and the specific information is inputted by operating a set key 57. Default information corresponding to the specific information is red from a storage part 7b and stored in a storage part 7a as current information. If the device is set to a default information rewriting mode, the default information and the current information are updated. If specific information inputted from an operation panel 5 does not coincide with the predetermined specific information, only the current information in the storage part 7a is updated. Therefore, the default information stored in the storage part 7b is positively maintained.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Object of the Invention] (Industrial Application Field) The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus applied to a laser printer or the like.

(Prior Art) A conventional image forming apparatus has a nonvolatile storage section that stores control information related to printing operations such as printing method and operation mode, and controls the printing operation according to information read from this storage section. Such control processing can be performed. Furthermore, the operation panel has a plurality of operation keys such as keys for menu selection, and by operating these plurality of operation keys, the control information related to the printing operation stored in the storage section can be easily rewritten. It is possible to perform control processing related to printing operations in accordance with this newly rewritten information.

(Problem to be Solved by the Invention) However, when multiple operators use an image forming apparatus, control information related to printing operations set by a previous user can be easily transferred by a subsequent user. If the changes have been made and the previous user wants to use the device in the same state as the previous use, it is necessary to operate the operation keys to rewrite the contents of the memory unit to the original state, which is a hassle. It cost.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and it is possible to improve the suitability of operations by preventing control information related to printing operations set by one user from being changed to the contents by another user (1). It is an object of the present invention to provide an image forming apparatus which is configured as follows.

[Configuration of the Invention (Means for Solving the Problems) The means provided by the present invention to achieve the above object include a memory that stores specification information for specifying control information that specifies the operation mode of the device main body. means, a changing means for changing the designated information stored in the storage means, an input means for inputting predetermined specific information, and only when the predetermined specific information is input from the input means, the changing means and control means that enable execution of the process.

(Function) The present invention stores designation information for designating control information that defines the operation mode of the apparatus main body, such as printing operation, in the storage means, and only when predetermined specific information is input from the input means. The designation information stored in the storage means can be changed.

Therefore, first, control processing related to the operation mode of the apparatus main body can be performed in accordance with the control information read from the storage means. Further, only when predetermined specific information is input, the changing means can perform processing, for example, change the specified information stored in the storage means. In addition, when specific information is not input, for example, the specification information related to the operation mode stored in the storage means cannot be changed, so that it is possible to optimize the operation.

(Example) Hereinafter, an example according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

First, the configuration will be explained with reference to FIG. A printer 1, which is an image forming apparatus, is connected to a host computer 3. The host computer 3 sends control information related to the printing operation, such as the printing method and operation mode, to the printer 1.

The printer 1 includes an operation panel 5, a controller control section 7, and an engine control section 9. This operation panel 5
An ID card input section (not shown) is an input means for inputting control information related to printing operations such as printing method and operation mode, and specific information to be described later.

The controller control section 7 has storage sections 7a and 7b. The storage unit 7a is composed of a volatile memory or the like, and stores control information that defines the current operation mode, that is, current information. The storage unit 7b is composed of a non-volatile memory, etc., and is used to store control information that defines an operating mode that should be reliably maintained even after the power is turned off, that is, default information as shown in FIG. 4(B). It is a storage means.

To explain specifically, the storage unit 7b stores, for example, the data shown in FIG.
), two types of information are stored: default information corresponding to the specification information r123J indicated by <ID, and default information corresponding to the specification information r215J. Each default information includes various information such as orientation information, font information, character pitch information, etc., interface information, and a selected number is set for each piece of information. The content is specified. The orientation information is information for selecting whether to form an image in the longitudinal direction of the paper or in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. That is, font information, which is information for selecting portrail or landscape, is information for selecting character shape. Character pitch information is information related to the spacing between characters. The interface information is information for selecting whether the data to be exchanged between the printer 1 and the host computer 3 is serial data or parallel data. The controller control section 7 also includes a setting means for setting specification information for specifying control information that defines an operation mode, and a setting means for comparing specific information input from the operation panel 5 with preset specific information. It has a comparing means, and a changing means for changing the specifying information related to the printing operation stored in the storage section 7b when both pieces of specific information match according to the comparison result of the comparing means.

The engine control section 9 has an image forming section for forming images, and controls this image forming section in accordance with various control information from the controller control section 7.

As a result, an image is formed and printing on paper is executed.

Next, the operation panel 5 will be explained in detail with reference to FIG.

The operation panel 5 includes a liquid crystal display section 10, an LED display section 30, and a switch section 50.

The online display 31 displays whether or not it is connected to an external device. That is, when the online display 31 is lit, it indicates that the online mode is on, and when it is off, it indicates that the online mode is on.

The ready indicator 32 indicates that the main body of the image forming apparatus is ready for operation. The data display 33 displays that image information is being transferred. The operator display 34 displays a request to call an operator. The service display 35 displays a request to call a service person. The mode display 36 displays manual paper feeding mode or automatic paper feeding mode.

The menu key 51 is a next page key 51a and a previous page key 51.
It is composed of b. Each time the next page key 51a is operated, a plurality of pieces of menu information displayed on the left half of the liquid crystal display section 10 are incremented. Also, previous page key 5
Each time 1b is operated, the aforementioned plurality of menu information is decremented. Value key 53 is next page key 53g
and a previous page key 53b. Each time the next page key 53g is operated, a plurality of pieces of value information corresponding to the menu information described above are sequentially incremented.

Further, each time the previous page key 53b is operated, the plurality of value information described above are sequentially decremented and displayed. The operator selects or instructs a desired operation by operating the menu key 51 and value key 53. online key 55
is a key for setting the main body of the image forming apparatus and the host computer 3, which is an external device, in a connected state. The set key 57 is a key for setting the operation selected by operating the menu key 51 and value key 53.

Next, the operation will be explained with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4.

In step S1, it is determined whether or not the offline mode has been set. If the online key 55 has been operated and the offline mode has been set, the process advances to step S3.

In steps S3 and S5, the menu key 51 is operated to select desired information from various menu information. Next, in step S7, it is determined whether or not the value key 53 has been operated. If the value key 53 has been operated, the process advances to step S9. In step S9, it is determined whether or not the default information rewriting mode is in effect, and if it is not in the default information rewriting mode, step Sll is executed.
Proceed to. That is, in steps S7, S9, and Sll, the value key 53 is operated to select specific information (ID), for example, r1.
Select 23J. Thereafter, by operating the set key 57, the specific information r123J is input.

Next, in step 813, it is determined whether the specific information r123J input in step Sll matches any of the preset specific information r123J to r215J as shown in FIG. 4(B). If both pieces of specific information match, the process advances to step S15 and default information rewriting mode is set. Next, in step S17, as shown in FIG.
The storage unit 7 stores the default information corresponding to the matching specific information r123J from among the plurality of types of default information shown in
b and stores it as current information in the storage unit 7a.
Store it in As a result, in the liquid crystal display section 10, the storage section 7a
Displays the current information stored in . In other words, as shown in FIG. 4(A), rld-
123J and rO as orientation information.
RIENT-PORTJ is displayed, rFONT-5ETIJ is displayed as font information, rPI TCH-10J is displayed as character pitch information, and rl/F-PARALLELJ is displayed as interface information.

When the default information rewriting mode is set by the operation shown above, steps S9 to S
The process proceeds to step 19 where the default information can be updated, and at step 521 the current information can be updated in accordance with the updated default information.

If the specific information input from the operation panel 5 and the preset specific information do not match in step S13, the process returns to step S1 again, proceeds to step S21 via steps 83 to Sll, and proceeds to step S21. 7
Only the current information of a can be updated.

Therefore, if the specific information input from the operation panel 5 does not match the preset specific information, updating of the default information is prohibited, and the default information stored in the storage section 7b is reliably retained.

In addition, since the storage section 7b is constituted by a non-volatile memory, the default information can be reliably retained even after the power is turned off.

Also, by operating the online key 55 in the offline mode shown in FIG. 3, the online mode is set.

Although FIG. 4B shows two types of default information corresponding to "specific information r123J r215" as the default information stored in the storage unit 7b, the present invention is not limited to this, and any appropriate type can be used. By storing the default information, the operability can be further improved.

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, according to the present invention, the specific information input from the input means and the preset specific information are compared, and when both pieces of specific information match, the specific information is stored in the storage device. Since the configuration is configured to allow rewriting of default information that rewrites control information related to printing operations, it is possible to reliably prevent default information set by one user from being changed by another user. It is possible to optimize the operation.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an embodiment according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of the operation panel shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation in offline mode, and FIG. 4 is a storage unit. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a comparison between default information stored in the computer and an example of current information displayed on a liquid crystal display. 5...Operation panel 7...Controller control section 7a, 7b...Storage sectionftPatent attorney Hidekazu MiyoshiFig. 1ζFig. 2

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] Storage means for storing specification information for specifying control information that defines the operation mode of the device body; changing means for changing the specification information stored in the storage means; and a predetermined specification. An input means for inputting information, and only when predetermined specific information is input from this input means,
An image forming apparatus comprising: a control means that enables the change means to perform processing.