JPH0535638Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] [Industrial application field] The present invention has a copying function that optically reads a preset original document in response to a copy request and copies it onto a predetermined sheet of paper, and a The present invention relates to a multifunctional image forming apparatus having a printer function that visualizes image data.

[Prior Art] Multifunctional image forming apparatuses having a copying function and a printer function are increasingly being used as terminal devices within a predetermined network. In this type of usage, assuming that the printer function of the multifunctional image forming apparatus is shared among workstations within the network, access to the printer function (print request) can be made at any timing within the network. From what is done,
Selection control between the printer function and the copy function is required.

Conventionally, the following method for selecting and controlling each function has been adopted in this type of multifunction image forming apparatus (see Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 55-28007).
(See the publication of the same publication.) This function gives priority to the printer function, and when a print request is made via the line during a copy operation based on the copy function selected by the operator's copy request operation, the unit copy operation (copy operation for one page) at that time is automatically started.
When the print operation is completed, the copy function is disabled, and the print operation based on the print request is immediately started. After the print operation is completed, the copy function is released from the disabled state, and the machine waits for a copy request from the operator.

Furthermore, selection control that gives priority to the copying function is also conceivable. That is, during the operation based on the copy function, function selection in response to a print request is placed in a waiting state. This is based on the fact that in this type of multifunctional image forming apparatus, the unit operation time based on the copy function (copy time for one page) is generally shorter than that based on the print function (print time for one page). This is what I did.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] Incidentally, in the multifunctional image forming apparatus in which the print function is given priority, the copy function is not easy to use.

This is because, if a print request interrupts the operator at any timing while the operator is copying, the operator's work is interrupted each time the interruption occurs until the operation based on the printer function is completed.

On the other hand, if priority is given to the copying function, there is a risk that the usage efficiency of the multifunctional image forming apparatus will decrease.

This is because the selection of copying functions is entirely dependent on the operator's operations. In other words, the time required to change originals when copying multiple originals, the time required to turn pages when copying a book, etc. depends on the operator's work, and there is no need to select functions in response to print requests made during that time. This is because there is a possibility that the waiting state will continue.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to eliminate the operator's waiting time for work and also to eliminate the unnecessary waiting time for function selection in response to a print request.

[Means for Solving the Problems] As shown in FIG. 1, the present invention includes a copy function A that optically reads a document set in advance in response to a copy request and copies it onto a predetermined sheet of paper, and A multi-function image forming apparatus is assumed to have a printer function B that visualizes predetermined image data. In the multifunctional image forming apparatus, the technical means for solving the above problem is to preferentially select the copying function with a relatively short unit operation time, and to respond to the copying request by the printer function. Print prohibition means 1 that prohibits operations based on
and a prohibition canceling means 2 for canceling the prohibited state of the operation based on the printer function after a predetermined period of time has elapsed from the end of the copying operation based on the copying function.

[Operation] During the copying operation based on the copying function A selected by the copying request operation from the operator, the print inhibiting means 1 prohibits the operation based on the printer function B in response to the copying request. Therefore, if a print request is made during this time, the function selection for the request will be in a waiting state. Here, if the operator interrupts the copying operation more than necessary and a predetermined period of time has elapsed since the end of the copying operation, the prohibition release means 2
forcefully cancels the prohibited state of operation based on printer function B. Then, for example, printer function B, which has been in a waiting state, is selected, and a predetermined print operation is performed based on the selection. Further, printer function selection is also performed in response to a new print request.

[Example] Hereinafter, an example of the present invention will be described based on the drawings.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of a multifunctional image forming apparatus according to the present invention.

This example assumes that the multifunctional image forming apparatus is installed at a predetermined workstation within a network.

In Fig. 2, 11 performs overall control.
The CPU is a common one such as a general-purpose 8-bit CPU. 12 is for system description
ROM, 13 is work RAM, 14 is timer IC,
Reference numeral 15 denotes parallel input/output ports, each of which is connected to the CPU 11 via a system bus 16.

Reference numeral 20 denotes an image forming apparatus main body having a structure as described below, and this image forming apparatus main body 20 includes a mechanism for optically reading a document and copying it onto a predetermined sheet of paper;
It has a mechanism for printing out predetermined image data. 22 provides operational control of the image forming apparatus main body 20 and status information of the image forming apparatus main body 20.
This is a control circuit that transmits information to the CPU 11 side. Specifically, this control circuit 22 controls the state of the printer port selection signal S (H level: printer function selection, L level: copy function selection), the print operation signal P (H level), and the copy operation signal C (L level). While controlling the image forming apparatus main body 20 based on the state of the image forming apparatus main body 20, a copy request signal CD (H level) and a copy end signal CE based on the state of the image forming apparatus main body 20 are output to the parallel input/output port 15. There is.

Further, the print request signal PD transmitted via the line 10 is input to the CPU 11 via the parallel input/output port 15 and the system bus 16, and the CPU 11 normally receives the copy request signal CD and the print request signal. It is in PD monitoring status.

Here, the specific structure of the image forming apparatus main body 20 is as shown in FIG. 3, for example. This image forming apparatus main body 20 forms images by electrophotography.

In FIG. 3, 30 is a photosensitive drum, 31 is a uniform charger, and the surface of the rotating photoreceptor 31 is uniformly positively charged by the discharging action of the uniform charger 31. 32 is a document irradiation light source that illuminates the document on the document table, and 33 is an imaging optical system, which forms an optical image corresponding to the image drawn on the document on the surface of the photosensitive drum 30 (copying). function). 34 is an optical writing device that controls light irradiation based on a printer input signal corresponding to image information or character information (corresponds to printer function), and this optical writing device 34 has a one-line LED array serving as a light source. and an imaging optical system formed of an optical fiber bundle.

Furthermore, a developing device 3 is provided around the photosensitive drum 30.
5. A transfer device 36, a cleaning device 38, and a static eliminator 39 are provided. With the above configuration, basic electrophotographic processes, i.e., uniform charging, exposure (copy function; original irradiation light source 32, printer function) are provided. ;
(by the optical writing device 34), development, transfer, cleaning, and charge removal steps are performed. Then, the toner image is transferred to the paper 50 sent out from the stocker 40 by the feeding mechanism 41 (in a transfer process),
Furthermore, the transferred paper 50 sent out by the ejection mechanism 42 is accommodated in the toner 44 via the fixing device 43. In addition, 37 in Figure 3
is the transferred paper 50 adsorbed to the photosensitive drum 30
This is a detack for peeling off.

Next, the operation of the CPU 11 will be explained according to the processing flow shown in FIG.

Wait state The printer port selection means S is set to H level (printer function selection) and the copy request signal CD from the image forming apparatus main body 20 side and the print request signal PD from the line 10 are monitored (ST1, ST2,
ST12).

Copy function selection In the above waiting state, a copy request signal is sent from the image forming apparatus main body 20 by operator operation.
When CD is started, the printer port selection signal S is lowered to L level (copy function selection) (ST2, ST3). In this state, even if a print request is made via the line 10, function selection in response to the request is in a waiting state.

Start of copying After the copying function selection described above is made, when the copying operation signal C is activated from the CPU 11 side, a copy permission display is displayed on the image forming apparatus main body 20, and from then on, the operation of the image forming apparatus main body 20 is controlled by the operator. It is left to the. Then, copying is started by, for example, a "start operation" by the operator (ST4).

Copy monitoring state When copying is started and a unit copying operation (a series of copying operations, for example, copying a specified number of sheets for one document) is completed, a copying end signal CE from the image forming apparatus main body 20 side is confirmed and the timer is activated. 14 is activated (ST5, ST6). Then, the copy request signal CD is started again (“start operation” again)
While checking whether or not the timer 14 has reached the predetermined value _T0 , a state is entered in which it is checked whether T≧ _T0 (ST7, ST8).

The predetermined value (time) T ₀ is determined by taking into consideration the work time required for a standard operator to change the document and an appropriate safety factor.

Here, if the "start operation" is performed again before the value of the timer 14 reaches _T0 , the copying operation shifts again after resetting the timer 14, and from then on, the "start operation" (copy request signal CD Processing similar to the above is performed each time the start-up state is continued (ST4 to ST9). During this time, the copying operation is repeated in the image forming apparatus main body 20, and the copied sheets are sequentially stored in the tray 44.

End of copying In the above-mentioned copy monitoring state, when the operator performs a predetermined "termination operation", the image forming apparatus main body 2
The copy end signal CE is raised from the 0 side. Then, the printer port selection signal S is raised to H level to cancel the copy function selection state (ST5,
ST11), and returns to the waiting state (ST2, ST12).

On the other hand, in the above-mentioned copy monitoring state, if a predetermined period of time T ₀ elapses after a unit copying operation (a series of copying operations) is completed, for example, because the operator temporarily performs another operation during the copying operation,
After resetting the timer, the CPU 11 raises the printer port selection means S to H level and forcibly cancels the copy function selection state (ST7,
ST8, ST10, ST11).

Print Function Selection In the above-mentioned waiting state, when a print request signal PD is input via the line 10 (including the case where it is in a waiting state), a print activation signal P is raised from the CPU 11 side.

Print Start The image forming apparatus main body 20 that recognizes the rise of the print operation signal P displays, for example, a print mode. Then, in the image forming apparatus main body 20, the optical writing device 34 shown in FIG. 3 becomes effective and prints the image information or character information transmitted via the line 10 (ST12,
ST13).

Print Monitoring State When the printing operation is started, the image forming apparatus enters a waiting state for a completion response signal from the main body 20 (ST14).

For example, when printing for one page is completed and a completion response signal is input from the image forming apparatus main body 20 side, each state of the rise of the copy request signal CD and the rise of the print request signal PD is checked (ST14, ST15). , ST16).

Here, for example, when printing for one page is finished and printing is started for the next page (the print request signal PD remains in the rising state), the printing operation starts again, and the printing operation is confirmed from then on. The same process as above is performed each time the process is performed (ST14 to ST16). During this time, the image forming apparatus main body 2
0, each time printing is activated, image information or character information provided at that time is printed, and printed sheets are sequentially stored in the tray 44.

In the process of the above processing, when the copy request signal CD is raised from the image forming apparatus main body 20 side by operator operation, the printer port selection signal S is set to L level (copy function selection ) and force the printer function to go into standby mode. Thereafter, the process moves to the above-mentioned copy start ().

Then, after the copying work by the operator is completed, or when the copying operation is interrupted for a predetermined time _T0 or more, the waiting state of the printer function is released, and the printing process immediately returns to re-execution of the printing process after passing through the waiting state ( ).

As described above, according to this embodiment, the copying function is always given priority, and when the copying function is selected, the predetermined time T ₀
When the copying operation is interrupted as described above, the state is forcibly shifted to the printer function selection state.

In the above embodiment, the image forming apparatus main body 20 adopts an electrophotographic method as shown in FIG. 3, but is not limited to this, and may be a thermal transfer method or another method. It is possible to realize this device.

Further, the functions of the CPU 11 shown in FIG. 2 can be realized by, for example, a programmable element 22, latch circuits 23, 24, etc. that operate in synchronization with a clock signal from an oscillation circuit 25, as shown in FIG. It is possible.

In FIG. 5, PD, CD, and CE represent a print request signal, a copy request signal, and a copy end signal, respectively, as in the case of the previous embodiment, and P, S, and C
similarly represents a print activation signal, a printer port selection signal, and a copy activation signal.

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, according to the present invention, the operator's work waiting time is eliminated, and the wasted function selection waiting time in response to a print request is also eliminated. Therefore, it is possible to realize a multi-function image forming apparatus that is easy to use and has good usage efficiency.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Figure 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the present invention;
The figure is a block diagram showing an example of a multifunctional image forming apparatus according to the present invention, FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of the main body of the image forming apparatus, and FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing by the CPU in FIG. , FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing another embodiment. 1...Print prohibition means, 2...Prohibition release means, 10...Line, 11...CPU, 12...System description ROM, 13...Work RAM,
14...Timer, 15...Parallel input/output port, 20...Image forming apparatus main body, 22...Control circuit.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] A multi-functional image forming apparatus that has a copy function that optically reads a preset original document in response to a copy request and copies it onto a predetermined sheet of paper, and a printer function that visualizes predetermined image data in response to a print request. a print prohibiting means for prohibiting an operation based on the printer function in response to a copy request; and a prohibition canceling means for canceling the prohibited state of the operation based on the printer function after a predetermined period of time has elapsed from the end of the copy operation based on the copy function. A multifunctional image forming apparatus characterized by comprising: