JPH0797258B2 - Image forming apparatus having job memory function - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (a) Field of Industrial Application The present invention is capable of registering image forming conditions such as magnification and density and easily calling the registered image forming conditions by key operation. And an image forming apparatus having the following.

(B) Conventional Technology Image forming apparatuses of recent years have various functions. For example, in a copying machine, selection of copy magnification, copy density,
Various copying conditions such as selection of a paper feed cassette for storing sheets of desired size and the presence or absence of a sorting system can be selected, and excellent copying can be performed according to the user's wishes. However, on the other hand, there is also a disadvantage that these conditions must be selected for each copy. Therefore, conventionally, the copy condition at that time is registered in the memory by operating the job registration key, and the registered copy condition is called by operating the job call key, so that the copy condition can be easily set. It was

(C) Problems to be Solved by the Invention However, in the conventional job memory function, the same copying condition may be registered redundantly because the copying condition to be registered is not managed at all. The number of copy conditions that can be registered in the memory is limited, and it is wasteful to duplicately register the same copy condition in the limited number.

In view of the above-mentioned drawbacks, the present invention provides image forming conditions (copying conditions)
When the job registration key is registered, the current copy condition to be registered is compared with the already registered copy condition, and if it is already registered, the key operation is invalidated. By doing so, it is an object of the present invention to provide an image forming apparatus having a job memory function, which prevents waste of the area for storing a limited number of copying conditions.

(D) Means for Solving Problems The image forming apparatus having the job memory function of the present invention is
An image forming apparatus having a job memory function, comprising: a memory for registering image forming conditions; a job registration key for registering image forming conditions in the memory; and a job call key for calling image forming conditions in the memory, A means for comparing the image forming condition to be registered when the job registering key is operated with the image forming condition registered in the memory; It is characterized in that means for invalidating the operation and means for displaying where the image forming condition is registered are provided.

(E) Operation In the image forming apparatus having the job memory function of the present invention, even if an attempt is made to register the same conditions as the already registered image forming conditions, the image forming conditions are compared with the already registered copying conditions. It will be judged as the same and will not be registered. However, if the image forming condition to be registered is different from the registered one, the registration is performed so that the job calling key can be easily called. In addition, since where the unregistered image forming condition is registered is displayed, it is possible to eliminate the user's anxiety that the image forming condition is not registered.

(F) Embodiment FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a copying machine which is an embodiment of the present invention.

The overall control is performed by the CPU 1, and its control program is stored in the ROM 2 in advance. RAM3 is used as a working area when the program is executed.

A photoconductor 41 is provided substantially at the center of the copying machine main body 4, and constitutes an image forming process section together with the peripheral charging device, developing device, and the like. Further, an optical system 42 including a light source, a mirror and the like is provided on the upper part of the main body 4, and the reflected light of the document is imaged on the photoconductor 41. Further, on the right side of the main body 4, there are paper feed trays 43, 43,
43 is provided, and the paper in one of the paper feed trays is fed to the photoconductor 41, and the toner image is transferred. Optical system 43,
The image forming process unit and the paper feed trays 43, 43, 43 are controlled by respective control units of the optical system control unit 61, the process control unit 62, and the paper feed control unit 63 based on the control data output from the CPU 1. .

The CPU 1 inputs / outputs data from / to the operation panel 5 on the main body of the copying machine via the I / O 7. The operation section 5a is provided on the operation panel 5.
And a display unit 5b are provided. The operation unit 5a includes a density setting key 52, a magnification setting key 53, a paper feed tray setting key 54, and other keys for setting copying conditions, a clear key (a key for calling standard image forming conditions) 55, job registration keys J1 to J3, Job call keys J4 to J6, interrupt key 51 and the like are provided. Interrupt key
The interrupt mode and the normal mode are repeatedly set for each operation of 51. Input data from these keys and error messages such as jam detection are displayed on the display unit 5b. Also, the interrupt key 51 lights up in the interrupt mode.

The RAM 3 is provided with memories M1 to M8 for storing copy conditions. Standard copying conditions (most common copying conditions such as density: automatic density setting mode and magnification: 100%) are registered in advance in M1, and the standard copying conditions are called by operating the clear key 55. M2 to M7 register the copy conditions when the job registration keys J1 to J3 are operated, and the job recall keys J4 to J6
Is a memory for calling the copy condition when M is operated, and M8 is a memory for storing and calling the copy condition by operating the interrupt key 51. M2 to M7 are divided into normal memories M2 to M4 and interrupt memories M5 to M7 as described later.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the correspondence between the operation keys in the interrupt mode or the normal mode and the memories used. The copy condition of M1 is called by operating the clear key 55 in both normal and interrupt modes. M2 to M4 are normal memories, and when the job registration key or the job call key is operated while the normal mode is set by the interrupt key 51, the copy condition is registered or called. Further, M5 to M7 are interrupt memories, and if the job registration key or the job call key is operated when the interrupt mode is set by the interrupt key 51, the copy condition is registered or called.

FIGS. 1A and 1B are flow charts showing the operation at the time of registration and calling of copy conditions of the copying machine.

When the power of the copying machine is turned on, the memory is initialized and the fixing device is warmed up at n1. In addition, M1 ~ M7
Memory is not initialized, and the stored contents are not erased by the backup battery even when the power of the copying machine is turned off. When the warm-up ends, reading of keys, sensors, etc. starts at n2, and if any input is discriminated at n3, the process corresponding to that input is performed below.

If the operation of the interrupt key 51 is determined in n4, it is determined in n5 whether the current mode is the interrupt mode or the normal mode. If it is the normal mode, the interrupt mode is set in n6. At n7, the current copy conditions are stored in M8. When the interrupt key 51 is operated, if the copying process is in progress, the interrupt mode is set after the copying process at that time is completed. If the current mode is the interrupt mode in n5, the normal mode is set in n8, and the copy condition stored in M8 is restored in n9. In this way, the normal mode or the interrupt mode is set.

Although not shown in the step, when the density setting key 52, the magnification setting key, etc. are operated, copy conditions such as density and magnification are input.

If it is determined at n10 that the job registration key (any of J1 to J3) is operated, then at n11 whether the current copy condition pattern is not registered in any of the memories M1 to M7. If it is the same as the condition registered in any of the memories, n12 will say, “It has already been registered. , Etc. are displayed. At this time, it may be displayed where the same as the registered one. For example, if the current copy condition is the same as the standard copy condition registered in M1, "It has already been registered. You can call it with the clear key. ] May be displayed, or if it is the same as the copy condition registered in M5, for example, “It has already been registered. In interrupt mode,
It can be called with the J5 key. May be displayed. By this display, it is possible to eliminate the user's anxiety that the image forming condition to be registered is not registered, and inform how the image forming condition can be called.
Therefore, the user can easily call up the image forming condition to be registered without checking where the image forming condition is registered.

If the pattern of the current copying condition is different from the one already registered, it is judged at n13 whether it is the interrupt mode or the normal mode, and the copying condition is registered in the corresponding memory as shown in FIG. That is, if it is the interrupt mode, at n14,
Register the current copy condition in the interrupt memory (any of M5 to M7) corresponding to the operated key (any of J1 to J3),
In normal mode, press the key (J1
Register any of the current copy conditions in the normal memory (any of M2 to M4) corresponding to any of (~ J3).

It should be noted that if an LED is provided on the job registration key and the LED of the key corresponding to the memory for which the copy condition is already registered is turned on, it is possible to see at a glance which memory is empty. In the normal mode, the memory statuses of M2 to M4 are displayed, and in the interrupt mode, the memory statuses of M3 to M7 are displayed.

If it is determined that the key operated in n5 is the job call key (any one of J4 to J6), it is determined in n17 whether it is the interrupt mode or the normal mode, and in n18 or n19, FIG. Call the corresponding memory copy condition as shown in.

In this way, the copying conditions can be registered or called, and when called, the control data is output to the optical system controller 61, the process controller 62, the paper feed controller 63, etc. according to the copying conditions. Copy processing is performed.

In this embodiment, if the copy condition to be registered is the same as the already registered copy condition, that fact is displayed, but an alarm may be issued, for example.

(G) Effect of the Invention According to the image forming apparatus having the job memory function of the present invention, even if an image forming condition that is the same as the already registered image forming condition is attempted to be registered, the operation is invalid and is not registered. Therefore, it is possible to prevent duplicate copying conditions from being registered, and it is possible to prevent waste of memory. Further, since the place where the unregistered image forming condition is registered is displayed, the user is not anxious that the image forming condition is not registered. Further, the display allows the user to know where the image forming condition to be registered is registered, so that the user can easily call the image forming condition.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a flow chart showing an operation of registering and calling copy conditions in a copying machine which is an embodiment of an image forming apparatus having a job memory function of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a relationship between a memory for storing copy conditions and operation keys. 3 is a block diagram of the copying machine. 55 …… Clear key, J1, J2, J3 …… Job registration key, J4, J
5, J6 …… Job call key.

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. An image having a job memory function, comprising a memory for registering image forming conditions, a job registration key for registering image forming conditions in the memory, and a job call key for calling image forming conditions of the memory. In the forming apparatus, a means for comparing the image forming condition to be registered when the job registration key is operated with the image forming condition registered in the memory, and when the image forming conditions of both are the same, A means to invalidate the operation of the job registration key,
An image forming apparatus having a job memory function, which is provided with a unit for displaying where the image forming condition is registered. 2. The memory according to claim 1, wherein the memory is a memory in which standard image forming conditions are registered, and the job calling key includes a key for calling the standard image forming conditions.
An image forming apparatus having a job memory function according to the item.