JPH10143021A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a copying machine convenient for controlling plural jobs by which the bundle of output paper sheets of a job whose output is completed, from a paper ejecting tray. SOLUTION: The copying machine includes a memory unit part capable of storing the plural jobs, a printing processing part for executing one of the jobs stored in the memory unit part to form an image, and a control part for controlling the printing processing part so that the completion of the execution of the job the printing processing part is detected (#223) and the wait operation (#227, #229 and #205-#213) of starting the execution of another job stored in the memory unit part, after the lapse of a specified time is executed.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, and more particularly to an image forming apparatus having a multi-job function capable of managing a plurality of jobs.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An image forming apparatus having a multi-job function is an image forming apparatus having, for example, a memory for storing image information and capable of reading a document, which is another job, while a certain job is being printed.

In a conventional image forming apparatus having a multi-job function, as shown in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 5-75772, a print output of the next job is started after the end of a job being printed. I was

[0004]

For this reason, the discharge paper of the next job is superimposed on the discharge bundle of the previous job after printing, and only the discharge bundle of the previous job is taken out. If you try to do so, it will be very difficult. Furthermore, when the paper size of the previous job and the next job is the same, the job must be identified based on the printed image, and there is a problem that the usability becomes extremely poor.

On the other hand, in order to shorten the entire output time of a plurality of jobs, it is necessary to start outputting the next job as soon as possible after the output of the previous job is completed.

The present invention has been made to solve such a problem, and an object of the present invention is to provide a user-friendly image forming apparatus capable of easily taking out a sheet bundle of a previous job. It is to provide a device.

An object of the invention described in claim 2 is that of claim 1
Another object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus capable of arbitrarily selecting a print end time for all jobs according to an operator's intention.

[0008]

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus comprising: an image forming unit for forming an image; and a storage unit for storing a job, and after completion of image formation for the first job. An image forming apparatus that starts an image forming process for a second job stored in a memory, the delay unit delaying a timing for starting the image forming process for a second job stored in the memory by a predetermined time It is characterized by having.

An image forming apparatus according to a second aspect is the image forming apparatus according to the first aspect, further comprising a setting unit for arbitrarily setting the predetermined time.

According to the image forming apparatus of the first aspect,
The image forming unit is controlled so that the execution of the second job is started after a predetermined time after the completion of the execution of the first job is detected. Therefore, the image forming apparatus is stopped for a predetermined time when the print operation for the job is switched, so that the discharged bundle of the first job can be easily taken out from the discharge tray. Therefore, usability of the image forming apparatus is improved.

According to the image forming apparatus of the present invention,
In addition to the operation of the image forming apparatus according to the first aspect, the predetermined time can be set arbitrarily. Therefore, the necessary minimum stop time can be set according to the contents of the first job, such as the number of documents and the number of copies. For this reason, it is possible to arbitrarily select the print end time for all jobs while improving the ease of taking out the sheet bundle of the first job. As a result, the usability of the image forming apparatus is further improved.

[0012]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a front sectional view showing the entire configuration of the copying machine according to the present embodiment. Copier 1 includes an image reader IR and a page printer PRT.

The image reader IR has a platen glass 18.
A scanning system 10 for reading a document placed on the original by decomposing the original into pixels, and an image for performing quantization of a photoelectric conversion signal output from the scanning system 10 and signal processing according to various image forming modes. It includes a processing unit 20, a memory unit 30 for storing image data corresponding to a document, and a control unit 100 for controlling the entire copying machine 1. An automatic document feeder (hereinafter, referred to as "ADFR") 500, which is an additional device also serving as a document cover, is mounted on the upper portion of the image reader IR so as to be openable and closable with its rear end as a fulcrum.

The scanning system 10 is a line scanning type image reading mechanism. The scanning system 10 includes a scanner 19 having a document irradiation lamp 11 and a mirror 12, and a fixed mirror 13.
a and 13b, a condenser lens 14, and a CCD (Char
ge Coupled Device) Image sensor 1 consisting of an array
6 and a scan motor M for driving the scanner 19
2 is included. The image signal processing section 20 and the memory unit section 30 will be described later.

The ADFR 500 includes a paper feed roller 501, a separating roller 502, a separating pad 503, an intermediate roller 504, and a registration roller 50 for transporting a document set on a document stacker 510 onto the document table glass 18.
5, a conveyance belt 506, a reversing roller 507 for reversing the front and back of the document, a switching claw 508, a discharge roller 509 for discharging the read document onto a discharge tray 511, and a document scale 512. , A document sensor SE50 for detecting the presence or absence of a document, a document size sensor SE51, and a discharge sensor SE52.

The page printer PRT includes a print processing unit 40 for outputting an exposure control signal, a print head 60 using a semiconductor laser 62 as a light source, a photosensitive drum 71 and a charging charger for charging the photosensitive drum 71. 7
2, a developing / transfer system 70 </ b> A including a developing device 73, a timing roller 82, a conveying belt 83, and a fixing roller pair 84
And discharge roller 85, fixing and discharging system 70B having horizontal conveying rollers 86a, 86b, and 86c, circulating paper conveying system 70C including re-feeding unit 600, and can store about several hundred sheets. It includes two paper cassettes 80a and 80b, a paper size detection sensor SE11, and a paper size detection sensor SE12.

The print head 60 includes a polygon mirror 65 for deflecting a laser beam and a polygon mirror 6.
5 includes a main lens 69 for guiding the laser beam deflected to 5 to the photosensitive drum, and various mirrors 67a, 68, and 67c.

The refeed unit 600 includes a switching claw 601.
, A transport roller 602, a forward / reverse roller 603, a paper sensor SE <b> 61, and a paper discharge tray 621.

At the time of copying a plurality of originals, the operator sets the originals on the original stacker 510 such that the originals face up. Each original on the original stacker 510 is pulled out one by one from the lowermost original, and is accurately set at a reading position on the original platen glass 18 with its front surface facing downward. Then, in the case of the single-sided original mode, after the reading by the image reader IR is completed, the original is conveyed to the left in the figure and is discharged onto the discharge tray 511 such that the upper surface becomes the front surface. In the case of the double-sided original mode, the original sent to the left after the front side reading is turned over by the reversing roller 507 and returned to the reading position on the original platen glass 18 again. The sheet is sent to the left again and discharged onto the discharge tray 511.

Based on the image data read by the image reader IR by the page printer PRT and transferred to the print processing unit 40, an image is formed by the following electrophotographic process.

First, a print processing unit 4 based on image data
The laser beam emitted from the semiconductor laser 62 is deflected in the main scanning direction by the polygon mirror 65 in accordance with the signal from 0, and the main lens 69 and various mirrors 67a, 68,
And 67c are guided to the exposure position of the photosensitive drum 71. The surface of the photosensitive drum 71 is charged with a charger 72.
Are uniformly charged. Therefore, the latent image formed by exposure becomes a toner image via the developing device 73.
The toner image is transferred by the transfer charger 75 onto the sheet fed from the sheet cassettes 80a and 80b at the transfer position. Thereafter, the sheet on which the toner image has been transferred is separated from the photosensitive drum 71, sent to the fixing roller pair 84 by the conveyor belt 83, and discharged face-up, that is, discharged to the discharge tray 621 with the sheet surface facing upward.

A re-feed unit 600 is an additional device for automating double-sided copying, and includes a page printer PRT.
It is attached to the side of. The refeed unit 600 is
The sheet discharged from the page printer main body by the discharge roller 85 is temporarily stored, switch-back conveyed, and sent back to the page printer main body.

In the one-sided copy mode, the paper is discharged onto the paper output tray 621 with the image forming surface facing up through the re-feed unit 600. On the other hand, in the duplex copying mode, the switching claw 60 is operated by a solenoid (not shown).
1 moves upward, and the sheet discharged from the discharge roller 85 reaches the forward / reverse roller 603 through the transport roller 602. When the trailing edge of the sheet reaches the sheet sensor SE61, the forward / reverse roller 603 is inverted. by this,
The paper is returned to the page printer. The returned paper is sent to the timing roller 82 through the horizontal transport rollers 86a, 86b, and 86c and waits. Here, when a plurality of sheets are continuously fed, the sheets are conveyed one after another at predetermined sheet intervals so as not to overlap each other, and sent to the re-feeding unit 600. Since the length of the paper transport path is constant, the re-feed unit 60
The number N of sheets (the maximum number of circulated sheets) in the section of 0 and one circulation by the horizontal transport rollers 86a to 86c depends on the sheet size.

FIGS. 2 and 3 are block diagrams showing the configuration of the control unit of the copying machine according to the present embodiment. The same elements as those described in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals. Detailed description of these will not be repeated here. The control unit 100 has seven CPUs (Central Process
ing Unit) 101 to CPU 105, CPU 107, and CPU 108. Each of these CPUs has a ROM (Read Only Memory) 1 storing a program.
11 to 115, ROM 117 and ROM 118, and RAM (Random Access Memory) 121 to 12
5, a RAM 127, and a RAM 128. CPU
106, ROM 116, and RAM 126 are provided in the memory unit 30.

The CPU 101 controls input of signals from various operation keys on an operation panel (not shown) and display on the operation panel. The CPU 102 controls each unit of the image signal processing unit 20, and the CPU 103 controls driving of the scanning system 10. The CPU 104 controls the page printer PRT including the print processing unit 40. CPU 105 performs processing for adjusting the overall timing of control unit 100 and setting the operation mode. Therefore, the CPU 105
Performs serial communication with another CPU to transmit and receive commands and reports necessary for control. CPU106
Controls storage and reading of image information. CPU
Reference numeral 107 controls the document conveyance by the ADFR 500 described above. The CPU 108 controls the re-feeding unit 60 described above.
0 is controlled.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the memory unit 30 according to the present embodiment. Referring to FIG. 4, at the time of reading, image data D <b> 2 read by image reader IR is transferred from image signal processing unit 20 to input page memory 301 in memory unit unit 30. Next, the image transferred to the input page memory 301 is compressed for each page by the compressor 302 and then transferred to the code memory 303. On the other hand, during printing, the compressed image in the code memory 303 is expanded by the expander 304. If image rotation is necessary, rotation processing is performed by a rotator provided in the decompressor 304 in page units at the time of decompression. That is, the rotation processing and the expansion processing are performed simultaneously. The expanded image data is stored in the output page memory 3
05. Next, the image data is transferred from the output page memory 305 to the print processing unit 40. The data transfer in FIG. 4 is performed independently and in parallel with each other to improve the copy speed. Each image data is DMA-transferred by a DMA controller (not shown).

The memory unit 30 is provided in the ROM 11
6 according to the program stored in the CPU 106.
Is controlled by Parameters necessary for operating the program are stored in the RAM 126.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of a management table showing the relationship between jobs and code memories according to the present embodiment. When the document image is temporarily stored, the code memory 303 stores R
It is managed by a management table provided in the AM 126. When reading and compressing a document, it is necessary to manage image information on a job-by-job basis. On the other hand, in each job, the image information is divided and stored for each page. For this reason, the table has a page management information table (T-2) for storing divided page unit information and a job unit information table (T-1) for storing job unit information.

The job unit information table (T-1) stores a job ID, information on the registration state of the job, information on where the page management information is stored, and copy mode information indicating a designated number (number of copies). . The page management information table (T-2) stores the storage location of the compressed image data.

When reading image data from the input page memory 301 and compressing the image data, the CPU 106 creates information in the management table in accordance with an instruction from the CPU 105,
By controlling the compressor 302, the compressed image data is stored in the code memory 303. Further, when outputting image data, the CPU 106 operates in the opposite manner to the above-described operation by
3, the compressed image data is read. The information in the management table is deleted when the information of the corresponding page is normally read and the copy (number of copies) specified by the operator is completed.

Next, the operation sequence of the copying machine 1 for reading and printing the original will be described with reference to each of the CPUs 101 to CP.
The following mainly describes the flow of request commands (Q), reports (A), and data exchanged between U106.
FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a schematic sequence of a document reading operation according to the present embodiment. In the original reading operation, image data is transferred from the image signal processing unit 20 to the memory unit 30.

First, the CP managing the entire sequence
U105 requests the CPU 106 for memory preparation. In response to this, the CPU 106 sets the bus connection state for the internal hardware to transfer the image data D2 from the image signal processing unit 20 to the memory unit 30.

When these settings are completed and the preparation is completed, the CPU 106 notifies the CPU 105 of the completion of the memory preparation. The CPU 105 has the CPU 106 and C
When a reading request is issued to the PU 102, the CPU 102 requests the CPU 103 to perform scanning.

A scan is started by the CPU 103,
Image data is transferred to the image processing unit 20 by the image sensor 16 via the scanner 19. Next, the CPU 10
The read data (image data D2) is transferred from the image signal processing unit 20 to the memory unit unit 30 in accordance with the image processing mode set in Step 2.

When the scan is completed, the CPU 102 and the CPU
When the completion of reading is notified from the CPU 106 to the CPU 105,
The CPU 105 requests the CPU 106 to perform data compression. In response to this, the CPU 106 activates each unit as described above. As a result, the compression process is performed, and the compressed data is stored in the code memory 303. When the compression process is completed, the CPU 106 notifies the CPU 105 of the completion of the compression.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a schematic sequence of a printing operation according to the present embodiment. In the printing operation, image data is read from the code memory 303, and a copy image is printed on a sheet based on the image data.

The CPU 105 requests the CPU 106 to decompress data. The CPU 106 activates each unit as described above. Thus, the decompression process is performed, and the image data is written into the output page memory 305. Next, CP
U106 sends a decompression completion report to CPU105.

When the decompression process is completed, the CPU 105
The PU 106 is requested to prepare a memory for reading image data from the output page memory 305. In response to this, the CPU 106 performs processing on the internal hardware, such as setting of a bus connection state for transferring the image data D3 from the output page memory 305 to the print processing unit 40, and setting for rotation processing. Next, the CPU 106 sends a memory preparation completion report to the CPU 105.

When these processes are completed and preparations are completed and the notification is received, the CPU 105
Request print output from U104. CPU10
4 sends a paper feed report to the CPU 105 to inform the CPU 105 of the paper transport state.
Is output to the print processing unit 40, and printout is performed.

When the print output is completed, the CPU 10
6, and the CPU 104 sends a print completion report and an ejection completion report to the CPU 105.
The CPU 105 receiving these reports gives a memory clear request to the CPU 106 as necessary.

Hereinafter, the operation of the copying machine according to the present embodiment will be described in more detail with reference to a flowchart. FIG.
9 is a main flowchart of the CPU 105 according to the present embodiment. After performing the initial setting (# 51), the CPU 105 sets the internal timer (# 52),
Input data analysis processing (# 53) for checking input data from U, mode setting processing (# 54) for determining an operation mode in response to operation contents, reading processing (# 55), print processing (# 56), command Data set processing (# 57) for making the communication port wait in the communication port, and other processing (# 5
8), and time-up confirmation of internal timer (# 59)
Is repeatedly executed.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart of the reading process according to the present embodiment. In this process, a job registration process by reading a document is performed. First, it is checked whether a document is set (# 101). If a document is set, the current reading state is determined (# 10
3). If not, it is determined whether a read start request has been received from the operation panel (# 105).
If there is no reading start request, the reading process is terminated. On the other hand, if there is a read start request, the read job ID is updated (# 107), and a flag indicating that reading is in progress is set (# 1).
08). When reading is being performed (YES in # 103) or when reading is set (# 108), read sequence control is performed (# 109). In the read sequence control, commands and reports are exchanged with the CPU 106, the CPU 102, and the CPU 103 as described above. A plurality of originals are compressed in page units, and image data is sequentially registered in the management table and the code memory described above.

On the other hand, if the original is not set (NO in # 101), it is determined whether or not the document is being read (# 111). If the document is being read, it is determined that the document reading has been completed because the document has already disappeared. Therefore, the job registration end is set in the management table (# 11
3) The flag indicating that reading is in progress is released (# 115). If the reading is not being performed (NO in # 111), the reading process ends.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart of the output processing according to the present embodiment. In this process, the print output is stored in the memory at the time of print output, and a delay process of a print operation start timing for a job waiting for print, that is, a wait operation process is performed.

First, it is determined whether or not a wait operation is being performed at the time of job switching (# 201). When it is determined that the wait operation is not being performed, it is determined whether or not the printing is being performed (# 221). Here, “printing” means a state until the printing process of the image data of all the documents of the specific job is completed.

If it is determined that printing is in progress (# 221), it is determined whether the job being printed has ended (# 223). If it is determined that the job has not been completed, the print sequence process is continued (# 213). On the other hand, if it is determined that the job being printed has been completed, it is determined whether the permission of the wait operation has been set in advance on the operation panel (# 225). If it is determined that the wait operation is permitted, a wait timer is set to execute the wait operation (# 227). Similarly, since a predetermined time is set in advance on the operation panel for the wait timer, a value obtained by converting the time into a count value of the internal timer of the CPU is set. When the setting of the timer is completed, the wait flag is set (# 229).

On the other hand, if it is determined that a wait operation is being performed at the time of job switching (# 201), it is determined whether or not there is a print start request (# 203). This request is a request by an operation input for forcibly canceling the wait operation during the wait operation at the time of job switching and starting the job.

If there is no print start request, it is determined whether or not the count of the wait timer has ended (# 205). If the count of the wait timer has not ended, the output processing ends.

On the other hand, when it is determined that there is a print start request (YES in # 203), when the count of the wait timer is completed (YES in # 205), it is determined that printing is not being performed (NO in # 221). , And when it is determined that the wait operation is not permitted (# 2
If NO in step 25, the management table is searched to determine whether there is a job to be printed (# 20).
7). If there is a job to be printed, the print job ID is updated (# 209). Next, a status indicating that printing is in progress is set (# 2
11). At this time, if the wait flag is set, the wait flag is released. Next, print sequence control is performed (# 213). On the other hand, if there is no job to be printed, the output processing ends.

Output of a new job is started by the above processing. The print sequence control is C as described above.
By exchanging commands and reports with the PU 106 and the CPU 104, the image data of a plurality of originals are sequentially read from the code memory via the management table in page units, decompressed, and printed.

In the above embodiment, the print operation start timing is delayed, but it goes without saying that the same effect can be achieved by delaying the data read timing from the memory.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front sectional view showing the entire configuration of a copying machine according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a control unit of the copying machine according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a control unit of the copying machine according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a memory unit according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of a management table showing a relationship between a job and a code memory according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a schematic sequence of a document reading operation according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a schematic sequence of a printing operation according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a main flowchart of the CPU 105 according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart of a reading process according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart of an output process according to the embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 30 memory unit section 40 print processing section 100 control section IR image reader PRT page printer

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. An image forming means for forming an image,
A storage unit for storing a job, wherein after completion of image formation for the first job, an image forming apparatus for starting image formation processing for the second job stored in the memory; An image forming apparatus comprising: a delay unit that delays a timing of starting an image forming process for the job by a predetermined time. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a setting unit that arbitrarily sets the predetermined time.