JPH10257232A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a device which can be changed to an economical copy mode and which has satisfactory operability by reading image data, storing it, generating an image based on stored data and automatically selecting paper size at the time of setting an economy mode for forming the image on one piece of paper based on image data on the prescribed number of originals. SOLUTION: At the time of reading the original, CPU 106 of a memory unit part 30 generates information of a management table while picture data is read from an input page memory 301, controls a compressor 302 and stores compressed image data in a code memory 303. At the time of printing, CPU 106 starts the code memory 303, an expander 304, a rotation unit 306 and an output page memory 305 and writes image data which is expansion-processed into the output page memory 305. Picture data is transferred to a printing processing part. When an economically copy desingation key is depressed and the saving copy mode different from information of the management table is set, paper size is calculated.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus having an image memory, and more particularly, to an image forming apparatus capable of changing to a saving copy mode during image forming (printing) standby.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a digital copying machine, image data of a document can be read, temporarily stored in an image memory, and then printed. As such a conventional digital copying machine, there is a digital copying machine disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 5-122577. In a conventional digital copying machine, it is possible to set a saving copy mode such as 2in1 for printing image data of two documents on one sheet and 4in1 for printing image data of four documents on one sheet. is there. If the paper (paper feed port) is selected when the saving copy mode is set before reading the document, the lens magnification (hereinafter, referred to as “reading magnification”) at the time of reading the document is automatically set. , A saving copy is performed.
When a mode for automatically selecting a sheet (hereinafter referred to as an “APS mode”) is set instead of selecting a sheet, reading of image data of a document is performed according to a preset reading magnification. Then, a saving copy is executed.

On the other hand, when the mode is changed to the saving copy mode during the print standby, the size of the sheet selected by the operator and the size of the image data newly created from the image data stored in the image memory are changed. Even if they are different, the saving copy is executed, and there is a high possibility of causing a mistake copy. Therefore, the change to the saving copy mode at this point is prohibited.

[0004]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional digital copying machine, the AP is read before the original is read.
When the S mode is set and the paper can be automatically selected, even if the change to the saving copy mode is permitted while waiting for printing, it does not lead to erroneous copying,
On the other hand, if paper is selected, there is a possibility that erroneous copying will occur, so that changing to the saving copy mode while waiting for printing has been prohibited. Therefore, the operability was poor.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide an image forming apparatus with good operability that can be changed to a saving copy mode during a print standby.

[0006]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus, comprising: an image reading unit configured to read image data of a plurality of originals; and an image data read by the image reading unit. Means for forming an image on a sheet based on the image data stored in the image storage means, a sheet supply means for supplying a sheet to the image forming means, and a predetermined number of sheets. Saving copy mode setting means for setting a saving copy mode, which is a mode for forming an image on one sheet of paper based on image data for one minute original, and a size of image data when the saving copy mode is set. And a saving copy paper selecting means for automatically selecting the size of the paper supplied from the paper supplying means based on the

According to the first aspect of the present invention, when the saving copy mode is selected, the paper size is calculated based on the image data stored in the storage means, and the paper is automatically selected. For this reason, the mode can be changed to the saving copy mode during the print standby, and the operability can be improved.

[0008]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, a digital copying machine 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

Referring to FIG. 1, copying machine 1 includes an image reader IR, a page printer PRT, and an operation panel OP (not shown) mounted on an upper portion of the main body.

The image reader IR is provided with a platen glass 18.
A scanning system 10 for decomposing a document placed on the upper surface into pixels and reading and outputting photoelectric conversion signals, and performs quantization of the photoelectric conversion signals output by the scanning system 10 and signal processing according to various modes. Signal processing section 20, a memory unit section 30 for storing image data of an original, and an image reader IR mounted on the main body of the image reader IR so as to be openable and closable with its rear end as a fulcrum. The automatic document feeder (A) also serves as a document cover for discharging the document after the document is read by the scanner 19 after the document is read by the scanner 19.
DFR) 500.

The scanning system 10 is a line scanning type image reading mechanism, and includes a scanner 19, a fixed mirror 13a,
It includes a fixed mirror 13b, a condenser lens 14, an image sensor 16 composed of a CCD array, and a scan motor M2 for driving a scanner 19.

The scanner 19 includes a lamp 11 for illuminating the original.
And a mirror 12. The image signal processing section 20 and the memory unit section 30 will be described later in detail.

The ADFR 500 includes a paper feed roller 501,
Separating roller 502, separating pad 503, intermediate roller 504, registration roller 505, transport belt 506
, A reversing roller 507, a switching claw 508, a paper feed roller 509, a document stacker 510, a document discharge tray 511, a document scale 512, a document sensor SE50 for detecting the presence or absence of a document, and a document size. Sensor SE
51 and a discharge sensor SE52.

The page printer PRT includes a print processing unit 40 for outputting an exposure control signal and a print head 60.
, A development / transfer system 70A, a fixing / discharge system 70B, and a paper transport system 70C.

The print head 60 includes a semiconductor laser 62
, Polygon mirror 65, main lens 69, mirror 6
7a, 68, and 67c.

The development / transfer system 70A includes a photosensitive drum 71
, A charger 72, a developing device 73, a transfer charger 74, a separation charger 75, and a cleaning unit 7.
6 and a scan motor M1 for driving the photosensitive drum 71.

The fixing / discharging system 70B includes a transport belt 83
And a fixing roller 84 and a discharge roller 85.

The circulating paper transport system 70C includes paper cassettes 80a and 80b for storing several hundred sheets of paper.
, Paper size detection sensors SE11 and SE12, timing roller 82, horizontal transport rollers 86a and 86b,
86c and a post-processing device 600.

The post-processing device 600 includes switching pawls 601, 60
4, 605, transport rollers 602, 603, discharge rollers 606, straight discharge trays 621, 651,
A discharge tray 631, a stapling tray 641 for temporarily storing sheets to be stapled, and a staple unit 642 for stapling the sheets.
, A sheet bundle discharge roller 643, and a sheet sensor SE61.

The ADFR 500 conveys the original set on the original stacker 510 onto the platen glass 18 by a feed roller 501, a separating roller 502, a separating pad 503, an intermediate roller 504, a registration roller 505, and a transfer belt 506. And transports the read document to the transport belt 5.
06 and the paper discharge roller 509, the document discharge tray 5
Discharge on 11.

For example, when copying a plurality of originals,
The operator operates the document stacker 5 with the surface of the document facing upward.
Set it on top of 10. Each original on the original stacker 510 is pulled out one by one from the uppermost original, and is accurately set at a reading position on the original platen glass 18 with its front surface facing downward. In the case of the one-sided original mode in which only the front side of the original is read, the original is read after the reading by the image reader IR is completed.
And is discharged onto the document discharge tray 511 such that the upper surface thereof becomes the front surface. In the case of the double-sided original mode, the original conveyed to the left after the front side reading is completed by the image reader IR is turned upside down by the reversing roller 507 and returned to the reading position on the platen glass 18.
After the reading of the back side is completed, the sheet is again conveyed leftward and discharged onto the document discharge tray 511.

The page printer PRT prints a copied image by an electrophotographic process based on the image data transferred from the image reader IR.

The laser beam emitted from the semiconductor laser 62 based on the image data is deflected by the polygon mirror 65 in the main scanning direction, passes through the main lens 69 and various mirrors 67a, 68, 67c to expose the photosensitive drum 71. Guided to position. Here, the main scanning direction refers to a direction in which the one-dimensional image sensors 16 are arranged, and the sub-scanning direction refers to a direction orthogonal to the main scanning direction.

The surface of the photosensitive drum 71 is uniformly charged by the charger 72. The latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 71 by the exposure of the laser beam is
3, the toner image is transferred from the photosensitive drum 71 to the sheet by the transfer charger 74 at the transfer position, and then the sheet on which the toner image has been transferred is separated from the photosensitive drum 71 by the separation charger 75. Then, the toner image is sent to the fixing roller pair 84 by the transport belt 83, and the toner image is fixed on the sheet, and then discharged out of the apparatus.

The operation of the copying machine 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. Referring to FIG. 2, operation panel OP
A liquid crystal touch panel 91 for inputting a state display and various mode designations; a numeric keypad 92 for inputting numerical conditions such as a copy magnification and the number of copies; a clear key 93 for returning numerical values to standard values; A panel reset key 94 for initializing the mode, a stop key 95 for instructing to stop copying, a start key 96 for instructing to start copying, a 2 in 1 or 4 in 1
And a copy mode key 9 for selecting one of the two-sided copy mode and the one-sided copy mode.
8, a finishing key 99 for designating a staple copy mode for stapling the sheet after copying is completed, and a mixed original key 99a for designating whether to set the mixed original mode.

The mixed original mode refers to a mode in which the size of an original forming a certain job is different by at least one sheet. The non-mixed original mode is a mode in which the sizes of the originals forming a certain job are all equal. A mode. Here, specific examples of the mixed original mode include a one-sided copy mode, and specific examples of the non-mixed original mode include a staple copy mode, a saving copy mode, and a double-sided copy mode. 2in1 which is one of the types of the saving copy mode is a copy mode in which two image data are printed on one sheet of paper, and 4in1 is 4in1.
This is a copy mode in which one image data is printed on one sheet.

Referring to FIGS. 2 to 4, an operation when setting a multi-job mode in which a plurality of jobs can be registered, and a memory for reading out image data stored in memory unit 30 and performing printing again The operation when the recall mode is set will be described. In the copying machine 1, one of the multi-job mode and the memory recall mode can be selected by a selection means (not shown) (hereinafter referred to as "user choice"). (1) Operation of the multi-job mode When the reading of the previous job is completed and the printing screen Q10 indicating that the job is being printed is displayed on the liquid crystal touch panel 91, the operator touches the liquid crystal touch panel. When the user presses the "confirmation" key on the window 91, a job confirmation screen as shown in FIG. 3A is displayed. On the job confirmation screen, the numbers of currently registered jobs are displayed in the order of registration. At this time, when the “reservation” key on the liquid crystal touch panel 91 is pressed, FIG.
A reservation screen as shown in FIG. 7C is displayed, and even when the previous job is being output, a mode setting for the next document reading and the start of reading can be instructed, and a job can be added.

To change the mode of an already registered job, the user designates a job number on the screen shown in FIG. 3A and presses the "change" key. Thus, a mode change screen as shown in FIG. 3B is displayed, and the mode can be changed. On the mode change screen, according to the size of the image data included in the specified job,
A list of modes that can be changed is displayed. In the example of FIG. 3B, “double-sided”, “saving”, and “staple” are displayed, indicating that the mode can be changed to the double-sided copy mode, the saving copy mode, and the staple copy mode, respectively. . The method of determining the mode that can be changed will be described later. Further, when “saving” indicating that the mode can be changed to the saving copy mode is displayed on the mode change screen, by pressing the saving copy specifying key 97 to set the saving copy mode, Automatically set to A even if the paper designation mode for reading is not APS
Set to PS. The APS is a mode in which paper is automatically selected. In the example described above, the size of image data included in a job stored in the memory unit 30 and the type of the saving copy mode (2 in 1 or 4 i
n1), the paper size is selected. To end the mode change, select "O" on the mode change screen.
Press the "K" key.
Returns to 0. To change the mode for other jobs, the same operation as described above is performed. (2) Operation of Memory Recall Mode When the memory recall mode is selected by the user's choice, the following operations can be performed.

When printing of the previous job is completed, FIG.
A copy waiting screen is displayed as shown in FIG. Here, when the operator presses a “Recall” key on the liquid crystal touch panel 91, a memory recall mode change screen as shown in FIG. 4B is displayed. The operation on this screen is the same as that on the above-described mode change screen. The difference is that when the "clear" key which is not on the mode change screen is pressed, the data is stored in the memory unit 30. The point is that the existing image data is erased and a new document can be read. In this case, when the screen returns to the copy standby screen, the "recall" key is not displayed. By pressing the start key 96 on the memory recall mode change screen, the image data stored in the memory unit 30 is read again and printing is started.

If it is desired to start reading a new document immediately after printing of the previous job is completed, the mode setting for the next job is performed without pressing the "Recall" key on the copy standby screen. , Start key 9
Pressing 6 starts reading the original.

Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, control unit 100 for performing various controls of copying machine 1 will be described. The control unit 100 includes eight CPUs 101 to 108,
ROMs 111 to 118 for storing programs executed by 101 to 108, respectively, and RAMs 121 to 128 for storing parameters and the like.
The CPU 106 is provided in the memory unit 30.

The CPU 101 controls signal input and display from various operation keys on the operation panel OP. CPU1
02 controls each unit of the image signal processing unit 20. C
The PU 103 controls the driving of the scanning system 10. CPU
104, a page printer PRT including a print processing unit 40
Is controlled. CPU 105 performs processing for adjusting the overall timing of control unit 100 and setting the operation mode. Therefore, the CPU 105 is
It performs serial communication with the server to send and receive commands and reports required for control. CPU 106 controls storage and reading of image data. CPU 107
Controls the document conveyance by the ADFR 500. C
The PU 108 controls the post-processing device 600.

Referring to FIG. 7, memory unit 30
Are input page memory 301, compressor 302, code memory 303, decompressor 304, output page memory 3
05, rotator 306, CPU 106, ROM 11
6 and a RAM 126.

At the time of reading a document, image data D 2 read by the image reader IR is transferred to the input page memory 301. The image data D2 transferred to the input page memory 301 is compressed in page units by the compressor 302 and transferred to the code memory 303.

At the time of printing, the compressed image data stored in the code memory 303 is expanded by the expander 304. If image rotation is required, rotation processing is performed in the rotator 306 on a page basis at the time of decompression.

The decompressed image data is transferred to the output page memory 305. The image data D3 is transferred from the output page memory 305 to the print processing unit 40. The image data transfer indicated by the arrow in the figure is configured to be independent of each other and to be able to operate in parallel to improve the copy speed, and the image data is DMA-transferred by a DMA controller (not shown).

The CPU 106 controls the memory unit 30 according to a program stored in the ROM 116. Parameters required for operating the program are stored in the RAM 126.

The code memory 303 for temporarily storing the image data of the document is managed by a management table provided in the RAM 126.

The management table will be described with reference to FIG. The image data compressed after reading the original is
It is managed on a job-by-job basis. Also, a plurality of pages are divided and stored in one job. Therefore, the management table includes page management information (T-2) which is a table for storing the information of the divided page units and job unit information (T) which is a table for storing the information of the job units.
-1).

The job unit information (T-1) is a job ID
And the registration status of the job, the storage location of the page management information corresponding to the job, the specified number of copies, the specified number of copies, the copy mode indicating the type of saving copy, and the like. The page management information (T-2) stores the length of the read original image data in the main scanning direction, the length in the sub-scanning direction, and the storage location of the compressed image data. The job registration state indicates the reading state of the job, that is, whether or not the reading of the document has been completed.

When reading an original according to an instruction from the CPU 105, the CPU 106 creates information of a management table while reading image data from the input page memory 301, controls the compressor 302, and stores the compressed image data in the code memory 303.
Data is stored.

When printing the image data, the compressed image data is read from the code memory 303 with reference to the information in the management table. Regarding the erasure of information in the management table, the following is different between the multi-job mode and the memory recall mode. (1) In the case of the multi-job mode The compressed image data is read based on the information of the corresponding page, and when the copy of the number and the number of copies specified by the operator is completed, the information of the corresponding management table is deleted. (2) In the case of the memory recall mode When the memory recall mode change screen as shown in FIG. 4B is displayed on the liquid crystal touch panel 91, the operator presses the “clear” key to clear the job. It is erased when instructed or when instructed to read a new document.

Referring to FIGS. 9 and 10, a request command (Q), a report (A), or a data, which is exchanged between CPUs 101 to 106, regarding the operation sequence of copying machine 1 relating to reading and printing of a document. The following describes mainly the flow.

Referring to FIG. 9, in the original reading operation, image data is transferred from image signal processing unit 20 to memory unit unit 30.

First, a CPU for managing the entire sequence
105 requests the memory preparation Q from the CPU 106. 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 unit 30. Once these settings are complete and ready,
The CPU 106 notifies the CPU 105 of memory preparation completion A.

The CPU 105 includes the CPU 106 and the CPU 1
When a request is made to read (read Q) to the CPU 10, the CPU 10
2 requests a scan Q to the CPU 103.

The scan is started by the CPU 103,
When the scanner 19 reaches the image area, the read data (image data D2) is transferred from the image signal processing unit 20 to the memory unit 30 according to the image processing mode set by the CPU 102.

When the scan is completed, CPU 102 and C
When the reading completion Q is notified from the PU 106, the CPU 10
5 requests data compression to the CPU 106 (compression Q). In response to this, the CPU 106 activates each unit such as the input page memory 301, the compressor 302, and the code memory 303. Thereby, the compression process is performed, and the code data (compressed image data) is stored in the code memory 303. When the compression process is completed, the CPU 106
105 is notified of the completion of compression (compression completion A).

Referring to FIG. 10, in the printing operation, image data is read from code memory 303, and a copy image is printed on a sheet based on the image data.

First, the CPU 105 requests the CPU 106 to decompress data (decompression Q). The CPU 106
The respective units such as the code memory 303, the decompressor 304, the rotator 306, and the output page memory 305 are activated. Thus, the decompression process is performed, and the image data is written into the output page memory 305.

When the decompression process is completed, the completion of decompression is notified from the CPU 106 to the CPU 105 (decompression completion A).

CPU 105 requests CPU 106 for memory preparation Q for reading image data from output page memory 305. The CPU 106 sends the print processing unit 40 from the output page memory 305 to the internal hardware.
The setting of the bus connection state for outputting the image data D3 to the printer, the setting of the rotation process, and the like are performed.

When the above setting is completed and the notification that the preparation is completed (memory preparation completion A) is received, the CPU 105
A print Q is requested from the PU 106 and the CPU 104. A paper feed report (paper feed A) for notifying the paper transport state is sent from the CPU 104 to the CPU 105. Thereafter, the image data D3 read from the input page memory 305 is output to the print processing unit 40, and printing is performed.

When printing is completed, the CPU 106
Send print completion A report to PU 105
The PU 104 sends a print completion A report and an ejection completion A report to the CPU 105. CPU1
After receiving these reports, 05 gives a memory clear request to the CPU 106 as necessary.

With reference to the flowcharts shown in FIGS. 11 to 16, the operation of the copying machine 1 will be described in more detail focusing on the characteristic control of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 11, the flow of processing of CPU 101 which controls operation panel OP will be described. When power is turned on, CPU 101 first performs initialization of RAM 121, registers, and the like (# 11). Thereafter, a set of internal timers defining the length of one routine (# 1
2) Key input processing for accepting key operation (# 13), panel display processing for displaying according to the operation (# 14), other processing (# 15), and determination of termination of internal timer (# 16) Execute repeatedly. In addition, it performs interrupt processing as needed to communicate with another CPU.

Referring to FIG. 12, after performing initial setting (# 51), CPU 105 controlling the control of copying machine 1 sets an internal timer (# 52) and checks input data from another CPU. Input data analysis processing (# 53), mode setting processing (# 54) for determining an operation mode according to the operation content, and document reading processing (# 5).
5), print processing (# 57), output data set (# 58) for making the command wait on the communication port, other processing (# 59), and determination of termination of the internal timer (# 60) are repeatedly executed. .

Referring to FIG. 13, the original reading process (# 55) shown in FIG. 12 will be described in more detail. In this routine, a job registration process relating to document reading is performed. First, it is checked whether or not a document exists (# 101).
If a document exists (YES in # 101), the current reading state is determined (# 103). If the document is not being read (NO in # 103), the CPU 101 determines whether a new document reading start request has been received from the operation panel OP.
(問 合 せ 105), and if there is a reading start request (♯
YES at 105), the job ID is updated (# 107),
A reading flag indicating that reading is being performed is set (# 1
08), reading sequence control is performed (# 109). The reading sequence control is performed by the CPU 106, the CPU 102, the C
By exchanging the commands and reports with the PU 103, the image data of a plurality of originals is compressed on a page basis, and the management table and the code memory 3 are compressed.
03 are sequentially registered.

The CPU 1 detects the size of the original when reading the original.
It is executed by exchanging commands and reports with the 07. In the mixed original mode such as the one-sided copy mode, the original size is detected for all the originals, and the detected original length in the main scanning direction and the detected original length in the sub scanning direction are registered in the management table described above. Go. In the non-mixed document mode such as the staple copy mode, the duplex copy mode, and the saving copy mode, the size detection is performed only for the first document, and the size detection is not performed for the second and subsequent documents. Document reading is sequentially performed based on the document size.

If there is no new document reading start request from the operation panel OP (NO in # 105), the process returns.

If the current reading operation is reading (the reading flag is set) (YES in # 103), the print queue is
It is determined whether or not the job currently being read is registered (# 121), and if it is not registered (YES in # 121).
It is determined whether the print start condition is satisfied (# 1
23) If the condition is satisfied (YES in # 123), a print job registration process is performed (# 125), and reading sequence control is performed (# 109). If the print queue is already registered in the print queue (NO in # 121) or the print start condition is not satisfied (NO in # 123), the print job is not registered (# 125), and the reading sequence is controlled (# 109). ). The print start condition is a condition as to whether or not printing can be started. For example, in the case of the two-sided copy mode, printing can be started if the information of two originals has been determined or reading of all originals has been completed.

If there is no original (N in # 101
O) Since the document reading process has been completed, the current reading state is determined (# 111).
S), the reading flag is released (# 113), and the registration judgment processing for the print queue is performed (# 121, # 1).
23) A print job registration process is performed as necessary (# 125).

If there is no original (NO in # 101) and the document is not currently being read (NO in # 111), the processing after # 121 is performed as necessary.

Referring to FIG. 14, the print job registration (# 125) shown in FIG. 13 will be described in more detail. The page management information (T-2) of the management table is read, and it is determined whether or not the image data lengths of all the originals are equal in the main scanning direction (# 201). If the lengths in the main scanning direction are all equal (YES in # 201), printing in the staple copy mode is possible even if image data having different lengths in the sub-scanning direction are mixed. The staple change permission flag for permitting the change to the staple copy mode in the mode change is set (# 203). Similarly, it is determined whether or not the lengths of the image data of all the originals in the sub-scanning direction are equal (# 205). If the lengths in the sub-scanning direction are all the same (YES in # 205), the image data sizes of all the originals are equal, so that the mode can be changed to the saving copy mode or the duplex copy mode. Therefore, the saving copy change permission flag and the duplex copy change permission flag are set (# 207, # 209). Further, the job ID is registered in the print queue (# 211). When image data having different lengths in the main scanning direction are mixed (N in # 201
O), or when image data having different lengths in the sub-scanning direction is mixed (NO in # 205), the intermediate processing is omitted, and the job ID is registered in the print queue (# 2).
11). The set mode change permission information and the print queue job registration information are transmitted to the CPU 10 by serial communication.
1 is notified.

Referring to FIG. 15, the print processing (# 57) shown in FIG. 12 will be described in more detail. In this routine, reading of a job relating to printing and print sequence control are performed. Judge whether printing is in progress (♯
301), if printing is in progress (YES in # 301),
It is determined whether or not the print job currently being processed (hereinafter, referred to as “current print job”) has completed printing of all copies (# 303).
S), it is determined whether or not an unprocessed print job exists (# 305). If there is an unprocessed print job (YES in # 305), the current print job is updated (# 307), and printing is performed. An in-printing flag indicating that the printing is in progress is set (# 309). If there is no unprocessed job (NO in # 305), the in-print flag is released (# 321). By exchanging the above-mentioned commands and reports between the CPU 106 and the CPU 104 for the registered current print job, the image data corresponding to the current print job is page-by-page while referring to the above-mentioned management table. The data is sequentially read out from the code memory 303 and decompressed,
Print processing is performed (# 311). If printing of the current print job has not been completed (N in # 303
O), print sequence control is immediately performed (# 311), and if printing is not being performed (NO in # 301),
The processing after 305 is performed.

Referring to FIG. 16, the key input process (# 13) shown in FIG. 11, which is the main feature of the present invention, will be described in further detail. Here, the control of the operation panel relating to the mode change during the print standby is performed. First, it is determined whether or not the mode is the multi-job mode (# 401). If it is the multi-job mode (YES in # 401), it is determined whether or not printing is in progress (# 403). If printing is in progress (Y at $ 403
ES), it is determined whether or not reading is being performed (# 405). If the reading is not being performed, Q10 in FIG. 2, FIG. 3 (A), FIG.
Alternatively, it can be determined that one of the screens in FIG. Hereinafter, description will be given for each screen display. (1) In case of screen display during printing (YES in # 420,
(Q10 in FIG. 2) It is determined whether or not the “confirm” key on the liquid crystal touch panel 91 has been pressed (# 422).
(YES in 422), in order to switch to the job confirmation screen of FIG. 3A, sets the registered job ID in the reference table (# 424), and issues a job confirmation screen switching request (# 426). The determination of the registered job ID is performed by the print job registration process (FIG. 14) of the CPU 105 described above.
When registering a job ID in the print queue (# 211)
Then, it is performed based on the communication data sent to the CPU 101. If a job confirmation screen switching request has been made, the request is read out in the panel display process (# 14) of FIG.
Rewritten to (A). If the "confirm" key is not pressed, nothing is done. (2) In the case of displaying the job confirmation screen (NO in # 420, ♯
(YES in 430, FIG. 3 (A)) It is determined whether or not the "reservation" key on liquid crystal touch panel 91 is pressed (# 432), and if pressed, a request to switch to the reservation screen is made (# 434). ). If the request has been made, the request is read out in the panel display process (# 14) of FIG. 11 and the display screen of the liquid crystal touch panel 91 is rewritten to the reservation screen of FIG. Can be If the "change" key is pressed (# 432
NO at # 436, YES at # 436), data of a changeable mode is set (# 438), and a request for switching to a mode change screen is made (# 440), and panel display processing of FIG. At (# 14), the request is read, and the display screen of the liquid crystal touch panel 91 is rewritten to the mode change screen of FIG. If neither the "reservation" key nor the "change" key has been pressed (NO in # 436), nothing is done. (3) In case of mode change screen display (NO in # 430, #
It is determined whether the saving copy designation key 97 has been pressed (# 452) or not (# 452).
S) The paper selection mode is set to APS (# 454).
Since the reading of the original has already been completed and the magnification cannot be changed thereafter, the image data size is determined.
Therefore, depending on the type of saving copy mode and the reading magnification,
This is to prevent erroneous copying by calculating a new paper size and automatically selecting a paper feed port. further,
It is determined whether the "OK" key has been pressed (# 45
6) If pressed, a request to switch to the printing screen is made to return to the printing screen Q10 (# 4).
58). If the "OK" key has not been pressed (# 43
No at # 6), $ 458 is not executed. If it is not the mode change screen (NO in # 450), nothing is executed.
If the “saving” key is not pressed on the mode change screen (YES in # 450, NO in # 452), $ 456
The following processing is performed. The above is the control of the operation panel on the mode change screen during the print standby in the multi-job mode. Is done.

When one of the processes (1) to (3) is completed, another input process is performed using a numeric keypad or the like (# 410), and a process for switching to another screen is performed (# 412).

With the copying machine 1 as described above, the mode can be changed to the saving copy mode during the printing standby, and the operability can be improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an overall configuration of a copying machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view of an operation panel of the copying machine according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a display example of a liquid crystal touch panel.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a display example of a liquid crystal touch panel.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a control unit of the copying machine.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a control unit of the copying machine.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a memory unit.

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of a management table showing a relationship between a job and a code memory.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a schematic sequence of a document reading operation.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a schematic sequence of a printing operation.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart of a main routine of a CPU 101;

FIG. 12 is a flowchart of a main routine of a CPU 105.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart of a document reading process subroutine.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart of a print job registration subroutine.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart of a print processing subroutine.

FIG. 16 is a flowchart of a key input processing subroutine.

[Explanation of symbols]

 OP operation panel 91 LCD touch panel 97 Saving copy designation key 98 Copy mode key 99 Finishing key 99a Original mixed key 105 CPU 303 Code memory

Claims (1)

[Claims] An image reading unit configured to read image data of a document including a plurality of sheets; a storage unit capable of storing image data read by the image reading unit; and image data stored in the image storage unit. Image forming means for forming an image on a sheet based on image data; sheet feeding means for supplying a sheet to the image forming means; and forming an image on one sheet of paper based on image data for a predetermined number of documents. Saving copy mode setting means for setting a saving copy mode which is a mode, and when the saving copy mode is set, automatically sets a size of a sheet supplied from the sheet supply means based on a size of image data. And a saving copy sheet selecting means for selecting the image forming apparatus.