JPH11125996A - Image forming device and control method thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To realize a flexible output control environment meeting the intention of a user, by arbitrarily changing the output order of a copying job, so as to preferentially acquire the result of the output. SOLUTION: The image of a sheet material placed on an original platen is read by a reader part, the read image data is stored in an image memory part 3 and a CPU 171 sets the output order in jobs based on the image data stored in the image memory part 3 and registers the jobs in a printer waiting line stored in a RAM 175. Then, the CPU 171 changes the output order of the registered jobs, based on instructions of the user on an output order display screen and the completion state of the job under the output by a printer part is judged so that the CPU 171 controls the start of the output of the image, which is based on the job of the next turn, registered in the printer waiting line.

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 which registers jobs based on a plurality of image data obtained by reading a document image in a queue and sequentially outputs images, and a method of controlling the image forming apparatus. is there.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in an image forming apparatus such as a digital copying machine having a memory such as a hard disk for storing a plurality of image data, an original image of an entire copy job is stored in the memory, and the image of the copy job is stored in the memory. There has been proposed an image forming apparatus having an electronic sorter mode in which data is read out sequentially from the first output image to form an image, and image forming processing for a desired number of copies is performed.

In a digital copying machine without a memory such as a hard disk or an analog copying machine, it is necessary to repeat the image reading process of the original for the number of output copies, whereas an image forming apparatus having the above-mentioned electronic sorter mode is required. In the electronic sorter mode, image reading of a document is performed only once, irrespective of the number of output copies, and is affected by factors that reduce productivity such as a circulation loss of an automatic document feeder (document feeder, DF). The image forming process can be performed without the need.

Further, in the image forming apparatus using the electronic sorter mode, in order to operate the system more efficiently, the processing of reading and storing the original image and the image forming processing are divided, and after the reading of the original image is completed, There has also been proposed an image forming apparatus capable of starting reading processing and storage processing of a document image of a next copy job regardless of whether the image forming processing is being performed.

[0005]

However, the conventional image forming apparatus capable of reading and storing the original document of the next copy job during the image forming process in parallel has been known as a copy job for which the image forming process is to be continuously performed. However, there is a problem that the image forming process cannot be started unless the user issues an instruction such as pressing a start key after the original image reading process of the two copy jobs is completed when two copy jobs exist. .

In order to reduce the user's trouble, which is the above problem, a plurality of copy jobs requested by the user are read after the original image reading process and storage process of the first copy job. While the image forming process of the second copy job is being performed, not only the original image reading process and the storage process of the second copy job are accepted, but also after the image forming process of the first copy job is completed. An image forming apparatus capable of automatically starting an image forming process of a second copy job has been devised.

[0007] Further, the copy job for which the document reading process and the storage process have been completed is registered in a queue in a predetermined output order, and the user cannot change the output order. Is registered, if all other copy jobs have been output or the other copy jobs are not deleted, the output process of the urgent copy job registered at the end of the output order is started. There was a problem that can not be.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and it is an object of the first to sixth inventions according to the present invention to provide an image forming method for a sheet material placed on a document table. From the stored image data, register a job based on the stored image data in a queue, determine the end state of the job being output, and register the job in the next order registered in the queue. In the image forming apparatus which starts outputting,
By making it possible to arbitrarily change the output order of jobs registered in the queue, for example, even if a rush copy job is registered at the end of the output order, it is necessary to wait for the end of another copy job or delete it. An image forming apparatus and an image forming apparatus capable of arbitrarily changing the output order of a rush copy job, obtaining an output result preferentially, and realizing a flexible output management environment according to the user's intention without performing An object of the present invention is to provide a control method of the device.

[0009]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a reading means (reader shown in FIG. 1) for reading an image of a sheet material placed on a document table (platen glass 101 shown in FIG. 1). Unit 1), storage means (image memory unit 3 shown in FIG. 2) for storing image data read by the reading means, and output for outputting an image to a recording medium based on the image data read from the storage means Means (the printer unit 2 shown in FIG. 1) and registration means (a printer queue stored in the RAM 175 shown in FIG. 2) which sets an output order and registers a plurality of jobs based on the image data stored in the storage means. The CPU 171 controls the registration), and a change unit that changes the output order of the jobs registered in the registration unit (the output order display screen 900 illustrated in FIG. 9 displays the RAM 175 illustrated in FIG. 2). The CPU 171 instructs to change the output order of the job registered in the stored printer queue, and controls the change in the output order of the specified job.) Control means for controlling the start of image output based on the job in the next order registered in the means (the CPU 171 shown in FIG.
4 based on a program stored in the program 4).

According to a second aspect of the present invention, the control means (CPU 171 shown in FIG. 2) controls the changing means so as to prohibit a job output start from being changed in job output order. Is controlled.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, the control means (CPU 171 shown in FIG. 2) includes the reading means (FIG. 1).
Is controlled so that the output means (the printer unit 2 shown in FIG. 1) sequentially outputs image data read by the reader unit 1) shown in FIG.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the control means (CPU 171 shown in FIG. 2) includes the reading means (FIG. 1).
After the image reading process by the reader unit 1) is completed, the output unit (the printer unit 2 shown in FIG. 1) performs control so as to output images collectively.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, the control means (CPU 171 shown in FIG. 2) is arranged such that, after all image reading processes of a job are completed, the image reading process of the next job can be started. (The reader unit 1 shown in FIG. 1).

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a reading step for reading an image of a sheet material placed on a document table (FIG. 10).
Steps (6) to (8), Steps (5) to FIG.
(7)), a storing step of storing the read image data in a memory (a step (not shown) after step (6) in FIG. 10, a step not shown after step (5) in FIG. 17), A registration step of registering a job based on the image data stored in the memory in a queue (step (4) in FIG. 10, FIG.
7, step (8)), and a change step (step (4) in FIG. 10 and a step (3) not shown in FIG. 11) before changing the output order of the jobs registered in the queue. After the step (8) and before the step (10) (step 17), the end state of the job being output is determined, and the output of the job in the next order registered in the queue is started. An output process (steps (4) to (10) in FIG. 11 and steps (11) to (16) in FIG. 17) is provided.

[0015]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[First Embodiment] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the configuration of an image forming apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The image forming apparatus main body 100, an automatic document feeder (DF) 180, a paper discharge process This corresponds to the case where the apparatus includes a device (sorter) 190.

In the figure, an automatic document feeder (DF) 1
80 feeds the original placed on the original placing table 181 to the platen glass 101. An original detection sensor 182 detects an original placed on the original mounting table 181 and notifies the CPU 171 shown in FIG.

The image forming apparatus main body 100 is a reader unit 1 for reading an original image. A printer unit 2 forms an image based on image data read by the reader unit 1.

In the leader section 1, the plantain glass 1
Reference numeral 01 denotes a platen glass serving as a platen. 10
Reference numeral 2 denotes a scanner, which includes a document illumination lamp 103 and a scanning mirror 1
The light emitted from the document illumination lamp 103 is reflected by the document placed on the plantain glass 101, and is reflected by the lens 1 through the scanning mirrors 104 to 106.
08 and image sensor unit (CCD sensor, etc.) 1
It reaches 09 and forms an image. The scanner 102 is configured to be able to reciprocate in a predetermined direction by a motor (not shown), and can scan the entire document. A document detection sensor 164 detects a document placed on the platen glass 101 and notifies the CPU 171 shown in FIG.

Also, instead of scanning the original with the scanning mirror 104 after placing the original on the platen glass 101,
It is also possible to fix the scanning mirror 104 and read an image while transporting the document by the DF 180.

In the printer section 2, reference numeral 120 denotes an exposure control section, which comprises a laser generator (not shown), a polygon scanner (including a rotary polygon mirror), and the like.
The laser beam 129 is converted into an electric signal, and is modulated based on an image signal subjected to predetermined image processing by an image processing unit 170 described later, and is emitted to the photosensitive drum 110.

Reference numeral 126 denotes an image forming unit, which is a photosensitive drum 11
0 and a primary charger 112, a developing unit 121, a transfer charger 118, a separation and eliminator 119, a cleaning device 116, a pre-exposure lamp 114, and the like, which are arranged therearound.

In the image forming section 126, the photosensitive drum 110 is rotated by a motor (not shown) in the direction of the arrow shown in the drawing. After being charged to a desired potential by the primary charger 112, the exposure control section Laser light 12 from 120
9 is irradiated to form an electrostatic latent image. The electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 110 is developed by the developing device 121 and is visualized as a toner image.

On the other hand, the transfer paper fed from the upper cassette 131 or the lower cassette 132 by the pickup rollers 133 and 134 is sent to the main body by the feed rollers 135 and 136, and is fed to the image forming unit 126 by the registration rollers 137. Then, the visualized toner image is transferred to transfer paper by the transfer charger 118.

The photosensitive drum 110 after the transfer is cleaned of residual toner by a cleaning device 116 and residual charge is erased by a pre-exposure lamp 114.

The transfer paper after the transfer is separated from the photosensitive drum 110 by removing the charge charged on the back surface of the transfer paper in the transfer step by the separating and removing device 119, and the pre-fixing charger 139 by the transfer belt 130. , 140, the toner image is recharged, sent to the fixing device 141, where the toner is fixed by pressure and heat, and discharged by the discharge roller 142 to the outside of the image forming apparatus main body 100.

The image forming apparatus main body 100 is equipped with a deck 150 capable of storing, for example, 4000 transfer sheets. The lifter 151 of the deck 150 rises according to the amount of transfer paper so that the transfer paper always contacts the paper feed roller 152.

The number of transfer sheets that can be stored in the deck 150 is not limited to 4000, but may be 100, or may be any other number. Further, a multi-bypass tray 153 capable of accommodating 100 transfer sheets is provided.

Reference numeral 154 denotes a discharge flapper which switches the transfer path of the transfer sheet between the double-side recording side or the multiple recording side and the discharge side. Reference numeral 158 denotes a lower transport path, and the paper discharge rollers 14
The transfer paper sent out from 2 is turned upside down and guided to the re-feed tray 156 via the reversing path 155.

Reference numeral 157 denotes a multiplex flapper which switches the path between double-sided recording and multiplexed recording. By inverting this to the left, the transfer paper is directly guided to the lower transport path 158 without passing through the reversing path 155.

Reference numeral 159 denotes a paper feed roller which feeds transfer paper to the image forming unit 126 through a path 160. A discharge roller 161 is disposed near the discharge flapper 154, and discharges the transfer paper switched to the discharge side by the discharge flapper 154 to the outside of the apparatus. During double-sided recording (double-sided copying) or multiple recording (multiple copying), the discharge flapper 154 is raised upward, and the copied transfer paper is transferred to the re-feed tray 156 via the reversing path 155 and the lower transport path 158. Store.

At this time, the multiplex flapper 157 is tilted rightward during double-sided recording, and the multiplex flapper 157 is tilted leftward during multiplex recording. The transfer sheets stored in the re-feed tray 156 are fed one by one from the bottom to the feed rollers 159.
And the registration roller 137 of the main body through the path 160
It is led to.

When the transfer paper is reversed and discharged from the image forming apparatus main body 100, the discharge flapper 154 is raised upward, the multiple flapper 157 is tilted rightward, and the copied transfer paper is moved to the reversing path 155 side. After the rear end of the transfer paper has passed through the first feed roller 162, the discharge flapper 154 is tilted rightward, and is conveyed to the second feed roller 162a side by the reversing roller 163, and is discharged by the discharge roller 161. Then, the transfer paper is turned over and discharged to the sorter 190 side.

The paper discharge processing device (sorter) 190 closes the transfer paper discharged from the main body 100 of the image forming apparatus. That is, the transfer papers discharged one by one are stacked and aligned on the processing tray 193, and when the discharge of one part of the image formation is completed, the stacked transfer paper bundle is stapled and discharged to the discharge tray 191 or 192. Discharge in bundles. The discharge trays 191 and 192 are controlled to move up and down by a motor (not shown), and move so that a desired tray to be stacked is at a processing tray position before the image forming operation is started.

The control configuration of the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 1 will be described below with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 2 shows the image forming apparatus main body 1 shown in FIG.
It is a block diagram explaining the control structure of 00.

In the figure, a CPU 171 performs basic control of the image forming apparatus main body 100, a ROM 174 in which a control program is written, a RAM 175 in which a work area for processing is secured, and an input / output port 173. They are connected by a bus and a data bus. To the input / output port 173, various loads (not shown) such as a motor and a clutch for controlling the image forming apparatus main body 100, and inputs (not shown) such as sensors for detecting the position of the paper are connected. The CPU 171 performs input / output control sequentially through the input / output port 173 based on the contents of the control program written in the ROM 174 to execute an image forming operation.

An operation unit 172 is connected to the CPU 171 to control display means and key input means of the operation unit 172 shown in FIG. The operator operates the operation unit 172
The CPU 171 instructs the CPU 171 to switch the image forming operation mode, display, and the like through key input from the CPU, and displays the state of the image forming apparatus main body 100 and the operation mode setting by key input.

The CPU 171 is connected to an image processing unit 170 for processing a signal converted into an electric signal by the image sensor unit 109 shown in FIG. 1, and an image memory unit 3 for storing the processed image. .

Hereinafter, the configuration of the image processing section 170 shown in FIG. 2 will be described with reference to FIG. 3 along the flow of image data.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of the image processing section 170 shown in FIG. The same components as those in FIG. 2 are denoted by the same reference numerals.

In the figure, image data of a document (in this embodiment, inputted as black luminance data) formed on an image sensor unit (for example, a CCD) 109 via the lens 108 shown in FIG. Are input to an analog signal processing unit (not shown), and sample and hold, dark level correction, and the like are performed.

Thereafter, an A / D converter / shading corrector (A / D / SH unit) 301 performs analog / digital conversion (A / D conversion) and converts the digitized image signal into a shading correction (reading an original). Sensor variation,
And the light distribution characteristics of the document illumination lamp).

Thereafter, the A / D converted image signal is lo
It is sent to the g conversion unit 302. The log conversion unit 302 stores a look-up table (LUT) for converting input luminance data into density data, and outputs a table value corresponding to the input data to convert the luminance data into density. Convert to data.

After that, the image is scaled to a desired magnification by the scaling unit 303 and input to the γ correction unit 304. When outputting density data, the γ correction unit 304 performs conversion using an LUT in consideration of the image output characteristics of the printer, and adjusts output according to the density value set by the operation unit 172.

Thereafter, the data is sent to the binarizing section 305. The binarization unit 305 binarizes the multi-value density data included in the image data, and sets the density value to “0” or “255”. The 8-bit image data is converted into binarized 1-bit image data of “0” or “1”, and the amount of image data stored in the memory is reduced.

However, when an image is binarized, the number of gradations of the image is changed from 256 to two, so that image data with a large number of halftones such as a photographic image generally degrades when binarized. Remarkable. Therefore, it is necessary to perform pseudo halftone expression using binary data. Here, an error diffusion method is used as a method of simulating binary data in a halftone expression.

In this method, when the density of a certain image is larger than a certain threshold value, it is determined that the density data is "255", and when the density is less than a certain threshold value, it is determined that the density data is "0". After that, the difference between the actual density data and the binarized data is distributed to surrounding pixels as an error signal.

The error distribution in this method is performed by multiplying a weight coefficient on a matrix prepared in advance by an error generated by binarization and adding the multiplied error to surrounding pixels. As a result, the average density value of the entire image is stored, and the halftone can be represented by pseudo-binarization.

The binarized image data is stored in the image memory unit 3
And the image data is stored and accumulated. Further, since the image data is processed as binary image data in the external I / F processing unit 4 described later, the image data from the external I / F processing unit 4 is sent to the image memory unit 3 as it is.
The image memory unit 3 has a high-speed page memory and a large-capacity memory (a hard disk 404 shown in FIG. 4 described later in this embodiment) capable of storing a plurality of page image data.

The plurality of image data stored in the hard disk 404 are output in an order according to the editing mode specified by the operation unit 172 shown in FIG. For example, when a sorter is designated, the image data of the document bundle sent from the DF 180 is output in the order of reading. That is, the image data of the document once stored in the hard disk 404 is read out in the order in which it is stored, and this is repeatedly output a plurality of times (for a desired number of copies). Thus, the document is output in the same order as the page order of the document, and thus can play the same role as a sorter having a plurality of bins.

The image data output from the image memory unit 3 is sent to a smoothing unit 306 in the printer unit 2. The smoothing unit 306 performs data interpolation so that the line ends of the binarized image become smooth, and outputs image data to the exposure control unit 120. The exposure controller 120 forms image data on the photosensitive drum 110 by the above-described processing.

The printer section 2 is composed of the image forming section 126 and all the transport paths through which the transfer paper passes, in addition to the smoothing section 306 shown in FIG.

Hereinafter, the image memory unit 3 shown in FIG. 2 will be described in detail with reference to FIG.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of the image memory unit 3 shown in FIG. 2 and 3 are denoted by the same reference numerals.

In the figure, an image memory unit 3 is a DRAM
For the page memory 401 composed of memories such as
The external I / F processing unit 4 writes the binarized image from the image processing unit 170 via the memory controller 402, reads the image to the printer unit 2, and inputs the image to the hard disk 404 which is a large-capacity storage device. Access output.

The memory controller 402 generates a DRAM refresh signal for the page memory 401 and adjusts access to the page memory 401 from the external I / F processing unit 4, the image processing unit 170, and the hard disk 404.

Further, in accordance with an instruction from the CPU 171, the write address to the page memory 401, the page memory 40
It controls the management of the read address from 1 and controls the read direction and the like. Accordingly, the CPU 171 arranges a plurality of document images in the page memory 401 to perform layout, and controls a function of outputting to the printer unit 2, a function of cutting out only a part of the image, and an image rotating function.

An LZ compression unit 403 compresses / decompresses image data when writing / reading to / from the hard disk 404.

FIG. 5 shows the external I / F processing unit 4 shown in FIG.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of FIG. 3 and 4
The same components as those described above are denoted by the same reference numerals.

In the figure, an external I / F processing unit 4 includes a core unit 506, a facsimile unit 501, and a facsimile unit 50.
Hard disk 502 for storing communication image data of
Computer I / F section 503, formatter section 504, image memory section 50 connected to external computer 11
5 is provided.

The external I / F processing unit 4 fetches the binary image data read by the reader unit 1 via the image memory unit 3 into the external I / F processing unit 4 as described above.
Further, the binary image data transmitted to the external I / F processing unit 4 is output to the printer unit 2 via the image memory unit 3 to form an image. The reader unit 1 includes the scanner 102, the document illumination lamp 103, and the scanning mirrors 104 to 104 shown in FIG.
106, a lens 108, an image processing unit 170, and the like.

The facsimile unit 501 is connected to a public line such as a telephone line via a modem (not shown).
It receives facsimile communication data from the public line and transmits facsimile communication data to the public line. Note that the facsimile unit 501 has a facsimile function. That is, facsimile transmission at a specified time,
For example, an image for facsimile is stored in the hard disk 502 for processing, such as transmitting image data in response to an inquiry about a designated password from the other party.

With this facsimile function, the facsimile unit 50 is once transmitted from the reader unit 1 via the image memory unit 3.
1. After the image is transferred to the facsimile hard disk 502, facsimile transmission can be performed without using the reader unit 1 and the image memory unit 3 for the facsimile function.

A computer interface (computer I / F) 503 is connected to an external computer (PC / W).
S) An interface unit for performing data communication with the server 11, and has a local area network (hereinafter, LAN), a serial I / F, an SCS II / F, a centro I / F for data input of a printer, and the like.

The statuses of the printer unit 2 and the reader unit 1 are notified to the external computer 11 via the computer I / F unit 503, and an image read by the reader unit 1 in accordance with an instruction from the external computer 11 is transmitted to the external computer 11
Or to Further, it receives print image data from the external computer 11. The print data notified from the external computer 11 via the computer I / F unit 503 is described in a dedicated printer code.

The formatter unit 504 includes the image memory unit 3
The printer unit 2 converts the printer code of the print data notified from the external computer 11 into raster image data in order to form an image in the printer unit 2 through the printer. The formatter unit 504 develops raster image data in the image memory unit 505.

The image memory unit 505 is used by the formatter unit 504 as a memory in which raster image data is expanded as described above.
When the image read by the reader unit 1 via the unit 503 is sent to the external computer 11 (image scanner function),
It is used as an area for partially expanding image data sent from the image memory unit 3 in order to convert the image data into a data format to be sent to the external computer 11.

The core unit 506 includes a facsimile unit 501,
Computer I / F 503, Formatter 504,
Data transfer between the image memory unit 505 and the image memory unit 3 is controlled and managed. Thus, although the external I / F processing unit 4 has a plurality of image output units (the facsimile unit 501 and the computer I / F unit 503), there is only one image transfer path to the image memory unit 3. Also, under the management of the core unit 506, exclusive control and priority control are performed, and image output is performed.

FIG. 6 is a plan view for explaining the configuration of the operation unit 172 shown in FIG.

In the figure, reference numeral 172 denotes an operation unit which can set a copy operation of the image forming apparatus main body 100 and instruct a copy operation by operating various keys provided.

Reference numeral 621 denotes a power lamp, which indicates that the power is on. The power lamp 621 is turned on and off according to switching of the power by the power switch 613.

Numeral 622 is used when it is necessary to input a numerical value to the image forming apparatus, for example, when setting the number of images to be formed or setting a mode. On the facsimile setting screen, it is used to input a telephone number. Reference numeral 623 denotes a clear key for clearing the settings entered using the numeric keys. 616
A reset key is used to return the set number of images to be formed, the operation mode, the selected paper feed stage, and other modes to default values.

A start key 614 starts an image forming operation when the start key 614 is pressed. In addition,
At the center of the start key 614, there are a red and a green LED (not shown) indicating whether or not the image forming operation can be started. When the start cannot be started, the red LED is turned on. Lights up.

A stop key 615 is used to stop the copying operation. Reference numeral 617 denotes a guide key. When another key is pressed after pressing this key, a description of a function that can be set by the key is displayed on a display panel 620 described later. The guide display can be canceled by pressing the guide key 617 again.

A user setting key 618 is pressed when the user changes various settings of the image forming apparatus main body 100. The settings that can be changed by the user include, for example, the time until the settings are automatically cleared, the setting of the default value of the mode when the reset key is pressed, and the like.

Reference numeral 619 denotes an interrupt key. When this key is depressed during the image forming operation, the current image forming operation and the execution of the reserved image forming are interrupted, and the automatic document feeder 180 is stopped. Unused copies can be made.

The display panel 620 is composed of a liquid crystal display or the like, and the surface is a touch sensor. The display panel 620 displays a screen with different contents according to each setting mode in order to facilitate detailed mode setting. In this figure, a setting screen 650 for copy A, which is one of the copy modes, is displayed as an example. Also, keys 624 to 631 are displayed in the display panel 620,
The mode can be set by the user touching the position where these keys are displayed.

Reference numeral 627 denotes a paper stage selection key. When this key is pressed, a screen for setting which of the cassettes 131, 132 or the deck 150 shown in FIG. 1 to feed paper is displayed on the display panel 620. . 628 to 631 are magnification setting keys, 628 to 630 can select a fixed magnification, and 631 can set a zoom magnification by inputting a numerical value.

Reference numeral 626 denotes an application mode setting key. When this key is pressed, a screen for setting an application function mode such as a multiplex operation, a reduced layout mode, and a cover / insert mode is displayed on the display panel. The application mode selection screen 700 in which the setting keys of each application function mode shown in FIG. 7 are displayed is displayed, and the application mode can be set.

Reference numeral 624 denotes a setting key for double-sided operation. For example, a “single-two-side mode” for performing double-sided output from a single-sided original, a “two-sided mode” for performing double-sided output from a double-sided original,
Three types of two-sided mode, that is, “two-sided mode” for performing one-sided output of sheets are set. A sorter key 625 is used to set the operation mode of the paper discharge processing device 190 and the output paper sorting mode using the image memory unit 3 when the key is pressed.

As described above, various keys are displayed on the display panel 620. When the mode of the displayed key cannot be set, a display different from the normal display is performed. ) Display indicates that the key cannot be operated.

A function setting display area 633 displays the set contents of the copying operation. Function setting display area 6
On the left of 33, there is a display area 633a indicating which screen of this function screen is in each function mode described later. In this figure, a setting screen 650 of "copy A" is displayed on the display panel 620.
Is displayed, so that copy A is displayed. In addition,
In the present embodiment, characters are displayed to identify functions, but symbols (numerical symbols, pictorial symbols, etc.) indicating respective functions of the image forming apparatus main body 100 may be used.

An operation display area 632 displays an operation state of another function mode, which will be described later, or an operation state currently being processed in a range where one line can be displayed. In the example of FIG. 6, it is displayed that copy B is being output to the printer unit. 636 is an output waiting status display key.
By pressing this key, an output order display screen shown in FIG. 9 described later is displayed.

Reference numerals 634 and 635 denote favorite keys. By pressing these keys, desired items (functions that can be set on the application mode setting screen) registered on the favorite key setting screen 800 shown in FIG. Settings can be made. In this figure, since no function is registered, the favorite keys 634 and 635 are shaded.

Reference numerals 601, 604, 607, and 610 are switching keys, which are used to perform a copying operation using the image forming apparatus main body 100,
The operation unit 17 is used to set each function such as system operation.
2 is a key pressed to switch the screen displayed in 2. In this figure, a setting screen 650 for “copy A” is displayed on the display panel 620. For example, when the switching key “printer” 610 is pressed, the display is switched to a setting screen for “printer” (not shown).

Further, the switching keys 601, 604, 60
Reference numerals 7 and 610 are composed of translucent key buttons, and each key has a display lamp (not shown) such as an LED. When the operation screen is selected by pressing these keys, a display lamp inside the key is turned on. The display lamp inside each key is controlled so that only the lamp inside the key corresponding to the selected setting screen is turned on, and the display lamp inside the other keys is controlled so as to be turned off.

The switching keys 601, 60
4, 607, and 610 can be pressed at any time irrespective of the operation status of each function. By pressing these switching keys, each key 614 to 61 on the operation unit 172 is pressed.
9, 622, and 626 are switched. For example,
In the case where the copy A function and the copy B function can be switched as in this embodiment, the start key 61 described above is used.
4, keys other than the keys displayed on the display panel 620, such as the stop key 615 and the reset key 616, are operated for the function selected by the switching keys 601 and 604.

For example, even if the stop key 615 is pressed while the copy A operation screen 650 as shown in FIG. 6 is displayed, the copy operation cannot be stopped for the copy B output operation. To stop the copy B copying operation, the copy B output operation is stopped by pressing the stop key 615 after pressing the “copy B” switch key 604.

Reference numerals 603, 606, 609, and 612 denote green LEDs, which are arranged on the right side of the respective switching keys. The operating status of each function is represented by controlling the lighting of these LEDs.

For example, the LED 606 of the copy B is turned off while the copy B is in the standby state, and is turned on and off when the copy B is in the output operation as shown in FIG. Also, copy B to the hard disk 404 of the image memory unit 3
When the print operation of the copy B is not performed, the lighting control is performed.

Similarly, for example, a facsimile LED 60
9, the blinking control is performed during the communication operation, the printing operation, and the reading operation, and the facsimile unit 501 shown in FIG.
If there is a facsimile image on the hard disk 502 connected to the device, lighting control is performed.

Reference numerals 602, 605, 608, and 611 denote red LEDs, which are arranged on the left side of each switching key.
By controlling the lighting of each LED, it indicates that an abnormal situation of each function has occurred. For example, the LED 605 of the copy B is controlled to blink when an abnormality such as a paper-out interruption or a jam occurs while the image forming apparatus main body 100 is processing the copy B function.

At this time, by pressing the “copy B” function key 604 and switching the display of the operation unit 172 to the “copy B” setting screen, the status of copy B is displayed on the display panel, and details of the abnormal status are displayed. Can be confirmed.

The data set by the user setting key 618 can be set independently on each of the copy A and copy B screens selected by the operation unit 172. Have.

FIG. 7 is a view for explaining an example of the application mode selection screen displayed on the display panel 620 shown in FIG.

In the figure, reference numeral 700 denotes an application mode selection screen, which is displayed when the application mode key 626 shown in FIG. 6 is pressed, and which is a key for setting various functions of the image forming apparatus main body 100. “Page continuous shooting”, “multiple”, “area specification”,..., “Enlarged layout” are displayed. By pressing this key, a screen for setting each item is displayed.

FIG. 8 shows an example of a favorite key setting screen displayed on display panel 620 shown in FIG. 6, and a “copy A” setting displayed on display panel 620 displaying the registered favorite keys. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a screen.

In FIG. 8A, a favorite key setting screen 800 is used to set items of the favorite keys 634 and 635. This screen is displayed by selecting the setting of the favorite key 634 or 635 as a setting item on the user setting screen (not shown) displayed after the user setting key 618 is pressed.

Reference numeral 801 denotes a function selection area. By operating a scroll key 802 to display a desired item in the function selection area 801 and pressing the item, the item can be selected. Note that, in this figure, “page continuous shooting” is selected and highlighted. To register the selected item as a favorite key, the user presses an OK key 803. A cancel key 804 is pressed when canceling registration of a favorite key.

In FIG. 8B, reference numeral 805 denotes a setting range selection screen, 806 denotes an individual setting key, 807 denotes a common setting key, and an individual setting key 806 or the common setting key 80.
7 is exclusively selectable. Reference numeral 808 denotes an OK key. By pressing the OK key 808, the favorite key setting set on the favorite key setting screen 800 is performed.
Based on the selection result of the individual setting key 806 and the common setting key 807, individual setting (registration) for copy A or B or common setting (registration) for copy A and B is made. When the common setting key 807 is selected, the RAM 1
The sharing setting flag in 75 is set to ON.

Reference numeral 809 denotes a cancel key. Pressing the cancel key 809 returns to the favorite key setting screen.

Thus, even if the user does not press the application function key 626 to select from a plurality of setting keys in the application mode selection screen 700 shown in FIG. Since page continuous shooting and OHP insertion are registered in 635, they are displayed not by shading but by ordinary keys. By pressing this key, a setting screen for continuous page copying or OHP insertion is displayed on the display panel 620.

In this way, by making the functions frequently used by the user independent keys as separate keys, desired settings can be made only by pressing one key without complicated operations.

The setting range selection screen 805 shown in FIG. 8B is a mode memory key function for registering, for example, the setting of a frequently used routine business copy on the application mode selection screen shown in FIG. It is also displayed when the setting of the call key function or the like for calling the immediately preceding copy mode is determined. The mode memory key function, the call key function, etc. are individually set (registered) to the copy A or B, or the copy A
And B can be set in common (registered).

A setting range selection may be made by using an environment setting key (not shown), and the setting range selection screen 805 shown in FIG. 8B may not be displayed at each setting. .

As described above, the favorite function key 6 for arranging frequently used copy function setting keys so as to be easily used.
A mode memory key function for registering settings such as 34, 635 and the like, and a setting of a frequently used regular business copy, and a call key function for calling the immediately preceding copy mode can be individually set for each copy mode.

Hereinafter, an operation method for changing the output order of output requests (jobs) registered in the print output queue will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 9 is a view for explaining an example of an output order display screen for displaying a print output waiting state displayed on the display panel 620 shown in FIG. 6, in which an output request job stored in the RAM 175 is registered. The CPU 171 manages and controls based on the queue.

In the figure, an output order display screen 900 displays an output request and a status of waiting for the output. 9
Reference numeral 07 denotes an output waiting display area for displaying the status of the function currently being output and the status of each function waiting for output. In this figure, it is displayed that copy B is being output, and that copy C is to be output next. 110, copy A, printer: reception number. 111
The output is displayed in the order of ....... When the copy B being output is completed, the copy C
Is output.

Further, by pressing a portion of the output order display area 907 where a function name is displayed, the function can be selected. In this figure, the copy A whose output waiting order is the third is selected and highlighted.
In the output order display area 907, control is performed so that the item being output, copy B in this figure, cannot be selected.

A return key 903 is a key for canceling the input on this screen and returning to the original screen. 905,9
Reference numeral 06 denotes a cursor key which is used to scroll the screen when an item waiting for output does not fall within the output status display area 907. When the down cursor key 905 is pressed, the fifth to eighth items waiting for output are displayed. Are displayed instead of 1 to 4.

A delete key 902 is a key for canceling the function of waiting for output. By selecting an item to be deleted with a touch key and pressing the delete key 902, the output can be canceled. However, control is performed such that an item being output when an item is selected on this screen, that is, copy B in the example of FIG. 9 cannot be selected on this screen.

A detailed information key 904 is used to select an item for which detailed information is to be displayed, and to press the detailed information key 904 to output details of the selected item, for example, output of the number of copies, the number of originals, both sides, and the like. Displays detailed information such as mode.

Reference numeral 901 denotes a priority key. By selecting an item whose output is to be prioritized and pressing the priority key 901, the item is moved to the head of the queue and to the number 1 on this screen.
At this time, the items whose numbers are smaller than the selected item are moved down one by one. For example, if the third copy A item is selected, and if the priority key 901 is pressed in this state, the first copy A, the second copy C, and the third printer: reception No. It becomes 110. By repeating the above operation, the output order of the registered output request jobs can be arbitrarily changed.

After the priority is changed, the priority set in the item whose priority has been changed is copied so that the output newly registered in the queue does not become the head of the queue. Each time, the priority is changed to be higher than any of the preset priorities. As a result, even when the output waiting registration of a new function occurs, it is not registered before the item whose priority is changed to the top. When the output order is changed, control is performed so that the item being output (copy B in the example of FIG. 9) cannot be selected.

Hereinafter, a process for setting data in the user setting mode will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing an example of a first control procedure in the image forming apparatus according to the present invention. A subroutine process called when data setting is determined in the user setting mode shown in FIGS. Corresponding to
CPU based on a program stored in ROM 174
171 is executed. Note that (1) to (5) correspond to each step.

First, it is determined whether or not the copy A screen is displayed on the display panel 620 shown in FIG. 6 (1).
If it is determined that the screen of the copy A is displayed, the process proceeds to step (3). If it is determined that the screen of the copy A is not displayed, that is, if the screen of the copy B is displayed, the sharing in the RAM 175 is performed. It is determined whether or not the setting flag is set to ON, that is, whether or not the user data of the copy A and the user data of the copy B are shared (which of the individual setting key 806 and the common setting key 807 is selected). (2) If it is determined that the sharing setting flag is not set to ON, the set user data is written to the user setting data area of copy B (5),
The process ends.

On the other hand, when it is determined in step (1) that the screen of copy A is displayed, and when step (2)
If it is determined that the sharing setting flag is set to ON in (3), the set user data is written to the user setting data area of copy A (3), and the sharing setting flag is set to O again.
It is determined whether N is set to N (4), and if it is determined that the sharing setting flag is not set to ON,
The process ends.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step (4) that the sharing setting flag is set to ON, the setting data of copy A is also written in the setting area of copy B.
The set user data is written in the user setting data area of the copy B (5), and the process ends.

Therefore, the favorite key 634, in which the setting key of the copy function which is frequently used is arranged so as to be easily used.
A mode memory key function for registering settings such as 635 or the like, a setting of a frequently used regular business copy, and a call key function for calling the immediately preceding copy mode can be individually or commonly set for each copy mode. It is possible to flexibly cope with the uses of a plurality of users.

As described above, by providing the switching means for sharing the data of each of the screens of the copy A and the copy B having the same copy function with the user setting data which can be set for each screen, the copy A and the copy B are the same. It is possible to easily provide an operation environment, and further, it is possible to realize setting of a screen according to each unique use of copy A and copy B.

Hereinafter, an example of a control flowchart of the copying operation will be described with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing an example of a second control procedure in the image forming apparatus according to the present invention, which corresponds to a control procedure for controlling image reading in copy A or copy B copy operation. The program is executed by the CPU 171 based on a program stored in the ROM 174. The process shown in FIG. 11 is called at regular time intervals or as needed from the main sequence. Note that (1) to (11) indicate each step.

First, it is determined whether the start key 614 shown in FIG. 6 has been pressed (1). At this time, it is necessary that copy A or copy B is selected by the switching key. If it is determined that the start key 614 has not been pressed, the process returns to step (1) and the start key 61
Wait until 4 is pressed.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step (1) that the start key has been pressed by the user, it is determined whether copy start is possible (2). At this time, it is also determined that the copy start is not possible when the reading operation of the copy B or the copy A is being performed or when the reading operation of the facsimile function is being performed. In addition, when the set copy operation mode cannot be operated except when the copy start cannot be performed during the reading operation of another function, for example, when there is no paper in the set paper feed cassette, or when the paper discharge processing device 190 It is determined that it is not possible to start, for example, when a copy operation is specified with a paper size that cannot be matched with the above.

If it is determined in step (2) that copy start is not possible, the process returns to step (1). At this time, the fact that the start cannot be performed is indicated by the display panel 620 of the operation unit 172.
May be displayed.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step (2) that copying can be started, it is determined whether an abnormality such as Jam has occurred in the printer unit 2 due to a print output operation of another function (3). , Jam, etc., the operation unit 1 of copy A or copy B
The fact that an abnormal state such as Jam has occurred in the printer unit 2 is displayed on the display panel 620 in 72 (10), and the process ends.

It should be noted that the check for an abnormality in the printer unit 2 in step (3) is performed by the start key 6 in step (1).
The determination may be made at the same time as the determination of the pressing of the button 14, and the display may be displayed.

On the other hand, in step (3), J
If it is determined that there is no abnormality such as am, a print output request (job) is registered as copy A or copy B in an output queue stored in the RAM 175 for controlling the order of print output (4). At this time, the information is registered in the queue according to the predetermined priority information for each function. For example, a search is made from the end of the queue to find a registered function with the same or higher priority than the priority of the function to be registered, and register it after that function. By doing so, the queue is registered in the order of processing from the top, and if the function registered this time has a higher priority than the processing of the function waiting for output, the processing is performed first. It is enqueued. The output order of the output requests (jobs) registered in the queue can be changed at any time on the output order display screen 900 shown in FIG. 9 until the output of the job is started.

Next, the fact that the reader unit 1 is reading the original image is displayed in the operation display area 632 of the display panel 620 of the operation unit 172 (5), and the original is conveyed onto the platen glass 101 by the DF 180. Platen glass 1
01 is scanned and read, and the operation unit 172 is read.
The image processing unit 1 shown in FIG.
After processing such as scaling at 70, the image is written into the page memory 401 of the image memory unit 3 (6). At this time, DF
If an error has occurred in the document transport at 180, step (6) ends without performing the reading process.

The image written in the image memory unit 3 is passed through the LZ compression unit 403 to the hard disk 404.
To memorize. After that, the original on the platen glass 101 is discharged. At this time, the images stored in the hard disk 404 are numbered and managed in image reading order, and
One is added to the document number management information in the control.

Next, it is determined whether or not a transport error has occurred in the DF 180 (7). If it is determined that an error has occurred, the DF 180 is displayed on the display panel 620 of the copy A or copy B operation unit 172. Is displayed (11), and the process is terminated. At this time,
If the image is read while the document is being conveyed by the DF180, it cannot be guaranteed that the last document read has been normally conveyed and the image data has been read to the end. Then, the image data in the hard disk 404 is deleted.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step (7) that no abnormality has occurred in the document transport of the DF 180, it is determined whether or not the document that has been read immediately before is the last document (8). If it is determined, the process returns to step (6), and the next document is conveyed, and the process is repeated until all documents are processed.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step (8) that the original is the last one, the display during image reading displayed in the operation display area 632 in the display unit 620 is erased (9), and the process is terminated.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart for explaining an example of the third control procedure in the image forming apparatus according to the present invention. The control procedure for controlling image formation in the copy operation of copy A or copy B is described. Correspondingly, it is executed by the CPU 171 based on a program stored in the ROM 174. The processing shown in FIG. 12 is called at regular time intervals or as needed from the main sequence. In addition,
(1) to (15) show each step.

First, it is determined whether a print output request (job) for copy A or copy B is registered in a print output queue stored in the RAM 175 (1).
If it is determined that it has not been registered, the process returns to step (1) and waits until it is registered.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step (1) that it is registered in the queue, a print output waiting display is displayed on the display panel 620 of the copy A or copy B operation unit 172 (2). This message display is displayed in the operation display area 63 in the setting screen displayed on the display panel 620.
The display control is performed together with the status display of the reader unit 1 described above, for example, the display during the document image reading operation.

Next, a subroutine for output order check based on a flowchart shown in FIG.
In the print output queue stored in the RAM 175, it is determined whether the next job to be output to the printer is copy A or copy B (3), and the next job in the print output queue is copy A or copy B. If it is determined that there is no job, the process returns to step (3). On the other hand, if it is determined that the next job in the print output queue has become copy A or copy B, copy A or copy B
Is displayed on the display panel 620 in the operation unit 172 (4).

Next, it is determined whether or not an abnormality such as a jam or no paper has occurred in the printer unit 2 (5). At this time, it is also determined whether an abnormality has occurred in the printer unit 2 which has occurred before the printing operation of the copy A or the copy B is started. The abnormality occurring before the start of the copy A or copy B print operation is an abnormality due to the print operation of another function.

If it is determined in step (5) that no abnormality has occurred in the printer unit 2, the process proceeds to step (6).
When it is determined that an abnormality has occurred in the printer unit 2, it is determined whether the reading operation of the copy A or the copy B has been completed (11), and it is determined that the reading operation has not been completed. If so, wait until the reading operation is completed.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step (11) that the reading operation has been completed, it is registered in a recovery queue stored in the RAM 175 to restart the output (job) of the printer (12). The recovery queue is a queue that is processed in the order of registration. Thereafter, an abnormality of the printer unit 2 is displayed on the display panel 620 (1.
3), end the process.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step (5) that no abnormality has occurred in the printer unit 2, the hard disk 404 in the image memory unit 3 is arranged in the order of image formation according to the image forming mode set by the operation unit 172. From the page memory 401 and expands the image. In the case of the layout mode or the like, a plurality of document images are read out at this time, and the images are laid out on the page memory 401 and developed.

After that, the image is output to the printer unit 2.
In accordance with the above-described image forming operation, the printer unit 2 forms an image by feeding transfer paper from a cassette, forming an image on the transfer paper in synchronization with the image from the image memory unit 3, and discharging the image outside the apparatus. (6). In step (6), if a document required for the next image formation has not been read and there is no image data of the document in the hard disk 404, the process waits until an image is stored in the hard disk 404 before processing. Is done.

Next, it is determined whether the image formed is the image of the final document, and whether an error has occurred in the DF 180 in the operation of reading the copy A or copy B (7). If it is determined that there is no image of the document and that the DF 180 has not failed in the reading operation of the copy A or the copy B, the process returns to step (5) to determine whether or not a failure has occurred in the printer unit. .

On the other hand, if it is determined in step (7) that the image is the image of the final original, or if it is determined that an error has occurred in the DF It is determined whether an error has occurred in the DF 180 during the reading operation of A or Copy B (8). If it is determined that an error has occurred, the image forming operation is interrupted (14), and the process is terminated. In addition,
At this time, since a part of the output of the first copy of the copy A or the copy B is stacked on the processing tray 193 of the paper discharge processing device 190, the internal management information is used to prevent the print processing of other functions from starting. The same information as during the printing operation is set, and the operation is locked. After that, the process ends.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step (8) that no abnormality has occurred, it is determined whether or not image formation has been completed for all copies set by the operation unit 172 (9). If it is determined, the process returns to step (5). If it is determined that the printing has been completed, a print output completion display is displayed on the display panel 620 of the copy A or copy B operation unit 172 (10).

Then, the process proceeds to a step (15), wherein it is determined whether or not the next job is registered. If it is determined that the next job is registered, the process returns to the step (2). Steps (2) to (15) are repeated until there is no more.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step (15) that the image has not been registered, the copy image forming operation ends.

Hereinafter, a flowchart of a subroutine for checking the output order will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a fourth control procedure in the image forming apparatus according to the present invention, and corresponds to the processing in the subroutine read and processed in step (3) of FIG. , ROM1
The processing is executed by the CPU 171 based on the program stored in the CPU 74. Note that (1) to (4) show each step.

First, it is determined whether a function other than the function requested to be checked (copy A, copy B, ie, copy function in step (3) of FIG. 12) is in the image forming operation (in the multi-function output operation). If it is determined (1) that the multi-function output operation is being performed, the output value is set to NG and the return value is set (4), and the process exits the subroutine.

On the other hand, a function other than the function requested to be checked in step (1) is operating (during multi-function output operation).
If not, it is determined whether the job of the function requested to be checked is at the head of the output queue (2). If it is not the head, the process proceeds to step (4) to output It sets the return value indicating that the order is NG, and returns through the subroutine.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step (2) that the job of the function requested to be checked is at the head of the output queue, the output request (job) of the function requested to be checked is queued. Output order is O
K is set as a return value (3), and the process returns from the subroutine.

The determination of the head of the queue shown in step (2) is made by reflecting the change in the output order of the jobs performed on the output order display screen 900 shown in FIG.

As described above, when a plurality of jobs in the same image processing mode are registered during image processing, successive image processing can be automatically started each time one image processing is completed. The burden on the image start instruction by the user can be greatly reduced.

When an abnormality is detected during image processing of a job registered in one of the copy modes, the other copy mode setting screen can be switched to the copy mode setting screen in which the abnormality is detected. It is possible to clearly indicate to the user the state of the copy mode in which an error has occurred and the other copy modes without confusion.

Further, when an abnormality is detected during image processing of a job registered in one of the copy modes, reading of a document by a succeeding job registered in another copy mode is not interrupted. After scanning all originals, it is possible to switch to the setting screen of the copy mode in which the error was detected, eliminating the need to re-execute the original re-reading process for the subsequent job registered in another copy mode. The time from the release to the start of the next copy mode image output can be shortened, and the job efficiency can be greatly improved.

Further, according to the present invention, when the image forming process of the first copy job is performed after the original image reading and storing process for the plurality of copy jobs, the second In addition to accepting the original image reading and storing process of the first copy job, the image forming process of the second copy job is automatically started after the image forming process of the first copy job is completed. In the case of more than one job, the output order of copy jobs for which original reading and storage processing other than the job being output have been completed can be arbitrarily changed, so that a flexible output form more suited to the user's intention can be realized. It becomes possible.

[Second Embodiment] In the first embodiment,
A plurality of switching keys of the operation unit 172 (the switching key 60
1,604,607,610).
The function may be switched on a screen displayed in the display panel 620. Further, in the user setting process, the case of setting using a program has been described, but the user setting may be stored by managing access to the memory using a data sharing bus controller. Further, the output request (job) is
Although the case where the document is read after being registered in the print output queue stored in the AM 175 has been described, an output request (job) may be registered in the print output queue after all the documents have been read. Hereinafter, the embodiment will be described.

The structure of the image forming apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention is the same as that of the first embodiment, and a description thereof will be omitted.

FIG. 14 is a diagram for explaining the control configuration of the image processing apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention. Note that FIG.
The same reference numerals are given to the same components as in.

In the figure, reference numeral 1500 denotes an operation unit, which is a CPU.
The CPU 171 controls the display unit and the key input unit of the operation unit 1500. The operator is the operation unit 1
The CPU 171 is instructed to switch the image forming operation mode and display through key input from the CPU 500, and the CPU 171 displays the state of the image forming apparatus main body 100 and the operation mode setting by key input.

A data sharing bus controller 1603 controls connection between the CPU 171 and address data buses 1604 to 1606 shown in FIG.

The configurations of the image processing section 170, the image memory section 3, and the external I / F section 4 are shown in FIGS.
Therefore, the description is omitted.

FIG. 15 shows the operation unit 1500 shown in FIG.
It is a top view explaining the structure of. The same components as those in FIG. 6 are denoted by the same reference numerals. Another embodiment of screen switching will be described with reference to FIG.

In the figure, reference numeral 1501 denotes a function switching key which can be pressed during any operation display. When the function switching key 1501 is pressed, the display panel 620 is displayed.
A function selection screen 1550 is displayed.

The function selection screen 1550 is a screen for switching the operation screen of each function. A function selection area 1508 displays a list of functions implemented in the image forming apparatus main body 100 according to the present embodiment. A function name displayed in this function selection area 1508 is pressed, the function is selected on the touch panel, and the function name is highlighted. In this figure, "copy A" is selected.

Reference numerals 1504 and 1505 denote cursor keys for scrolling the screen when the functions of the image forming apparatus main body 100 cannot be displayed on one screen in the function selection area 1508. In the example of this figure, since all the items can be displayed in one screen, the cursor keys are indicated by dotted lines (shaded display), indicating that the keys cannot be pressed.

Reference numeral 1506 denotes an OK key.
When a function is selected at 08 and the OK key 1506 is pressed, the setting screen of the selected function is switched and displayed. Reference numeral 1507 denotes a cancel key, which is pressed when canceling the switching of the setting screen. When the cancel key 1507 is pressed, the function switching key 15 is pressed.
It returns to the setting screen before pressing 01.

An LED 1503 is a function switching key 1
The LED 1503 is a green LED disposed to the right of the LED 5013, and indicates the operation status of a function other than the function displayed on the display panel 620 of the operation unit 1500 by lighting control of the LED 1503. For example, when any of the functions of copy B, copy C, printer, and facsimile is in operation while the setting screen of copy A is displayed, blinking control is performed. If there is an image of a function that is not in operation on the hard disk 404 of the image memory unit 3 and all functions are not in operation, the LED 1503 is controlled to be turned on.

An LED 1502 is a function switching key 1
A red LED arranged to the left of 501
The LED lighting control indicates that an abnormal situation of a function other than the function displayed on the display panel 620 of 00 has occurred. For example, when the copy A setting screen is displayed, if an error such as a paper-out interruption or a jam occurs in any of the functions of copy B, copy C, printer, and facsimile, L is displayed.
The ED 1502 is controlled to blink.

As described above, when the setting screen for each function is switched, the display panel (such as a touch sensor display) 62
By displaying a function selection screen 1550 on the screen 0 and performing a selection operation on the screen, even if the functions realized by the image forming apparatus main body 100 increase, a hard key or the like is not added. It is possible to switch the setting screen to a new one.

FIG. 16 is a block diagram illustrating the management configuration of RAM 175 shown in FIG. 14, and corresponds to the case where memory access is managed by data sharing bus controller 1603. The same components as those in FIG. 2 are denoted by the same reference numerals.

In the figure, reference numeral 1601 denotes a user setting data area of copy A, which is allocated in the RAM 175 shown in FIG. 2 and is mapped in the memory space of the CPU 171. Reference numeral 1602 denotes a user setting data area for copy B, which is an area secured in the RAM 175 shown in FIG. Note that these data areas may be secured on a hard disk.

Reference numerals 1604, 1605, and 1606 denote address data buses, which are a CPU 171, a user setting data area 1601 for copy A, a user setting data area 1602 for copy B, and a data sharing bus controller 1603, respectively.
And are connected.

Copy A user setting data area 1601
And the user setting data area 1602 for copy B are connected to the data sharing bus controller 1603 via address data buses 1605 and 1606, respectively, and are written and read. The CPU 171 has an address data bus 1604
To access the memory space of the CPU 171 via the.

The data sharing bus controller 1603
The connection between the address data bus 1604 of the CPU 171 and the address data buses 1605 and 1606 in the data area is controlled.

The data sharing bus controller 1603 determines whether or not to share the user data of the copy A and the copy B.
When sharing the data by judging the sharing setting flag stored in the AM 175, when the CPU 171 accesses the address of the user setting data area 1602 of the copy B, control is performed so that the address data buses 1604 and 1605 are connected. . As a result, regardless of which of the user setting data areas 1601 and 1602 is accessed from the CPU 171, the area of the user setting data area 1601 is accessed.

As described above, the operation setting screen is provided for each of the copy A and the copy B, and the copy operation is started, stopped, and the status is confirmed for each of the copy A and the copy B by switching with the switching key. Thus, a plurality of copy functions can be operated by the same operation as in the first embodiment.

FIG. 17 is a flowchart showing an example of the fifth control procedure in the image forming apparatus according to the present invention. The control is performed when the image reading and the image forming operation are controlled by the copy operation of copy A or copy B and copy C. The control procedure is executed by the CPU 171 based on a program stored in the ROM 174. The processing shown in FIG. 17 is called at regular time intervals or as needed from the main sequence. In addition, (1) to (20) indicate each step.

First, it is determined whether the start key 614 has been pressed (1). At this time, it is necessary that copy A or copy B or copy C is selected on the function selection screen 1550 displayed by pressing the function switching key 1501 on the operation unit 1500. If it is determined that the start key 614 has not been pressed, the process returns to step (1) and waits until the start key 614 is pressed.

On the other hand, in step (1), the start key 61
If it is determined that 4 has been pressed by the operator, it is determined whether or not copy start is possible (2). At this time, copy B
Alternatively, it is determined that copy start is not possible even when the reading operation of C or copy A is being performed or when the reading operation of the facsimile function is being performed. In addition, when the set copy operation mode cannot be operated except when the copy start cannot be performed during the reading operation of other functions, for example, when there is no paper in the set paper cassette, or when the paper discharge processing device It is determined that it is not possible to start, for example, when a copy operation is specified with a paper size that cannot be matched.

If it is determined in step (2) that copy start is not possible, the process returns to step (1). At this time, the fact that it is not possible to start is displayed on the display panel 62 of the operation unit 1500.
0 may be displayed.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step (2) that the copy can be started, it is determined whether an abnormality such as Jam has occurred in the printer unit 2 due to the print output operation of another function (3). , Jam, etc., the copy A or copy B, copy C
Printer unit 2 on the display panel 620 in the operation unit 1500
(17) to indicate that it is in an abnormal state such as Jam
The process ends.

On the other hand, in step (3), J
If it is determined that there is no abnormality such as am, the fact that the document image reading operation is being performed by the reader unit 1 is displayed on the display panel 620 of the operation unit 1500 (4), and the document is placed on the platen glass 101 by the DF 180. The document is conveyed and scanned by scanning the original on the platen glass 101 (5).
According to the mode set by the operation unit 1500, the image processing unit 170 performs a process such as scaling, and then writes an image in the page memory 401 of the image memory unit 3. At this time,
If an error has occurred in the document transport in the DF 180, the step (5) ends without performing the reading process.

At this time, the image in the image memory unit 3 is stored in the hard disk 404 through the LZ compression unit 403. After that, the original on the platen glass 101 is discharged. At this time, the images stored in the hard disk 404 are numbered and managed in the image reading order, and the number-of-documents management information in the control is incremented by one.

Next, it is determined whether or not a transport error has occurred in the DF 180 (6). If it is determined that an error has occurred, the operation unit 1 for copy A or copy B or copy C is determined.
The fact that the conveyance of the document of the DF 180 is abnormal is displayed on the display panel 620 of the printer 500 (18), and the processing is terminated. At this time, if the image is read while the document is being conveyed by the DF 180, it cannot be guaranteed that the document that was read last is normally conveyed and the image data is read to the end. The management information is returned to “0” and the image data in the hard disk 404 is deleted. Then, the process ends.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step (6) that no abnormality has occurred in the document transport of the DF 180, it is determined whether or not the document that has been read immediately before is the last document (7). If it is determined, the process returns to step (5), and the next document is conveyed, and the process is repeated until all documents are processed.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step (7) that the document is the last document, the RAM for controlling the order of print output is used.
A copy output request (job) is stored in a print output queue stored at 175 in copy A or copy B, copy C
(8). At this time, the information is registered in the queue according to the predetermined priority information for each function. For example, a search is made from the end of the queue to find a registered function with the same or higher priority than the priority of the function to be registered, and register it after that function.

In this way, the queues are registered in the order of processing from the top, and if the function registered this time has a higher priority than the processing of the function waiting for output, the processing is performed first. The output order of the output requests (jobs) registered in the queue can be arbitrarily changed at any time on the output order display screen 900 shown in FIG. 9 until the output of the job is started.

Then, display of print output waiting is performed on the display panel 620 of the operation unit 1500 for copy A or copy B, copy C (9). The display of this message is controlled in the operation display area 632 in the setting screen displayed on the display panel 620.

Next, a subroutine for output order check based on the flowchart shown in FIG.
In the print output queue stored in 175, it is determined whether the next job to be output to the printer is copy A or copy B or copy C (10), and the next job in the print output queue is copy A or copy B. If it is determined that the job has not become copy C, the process returns to step (10), while if it is determined that the next job in the print output queue has become copy A or copy B or copy C, copy A or copy C B, copy C operation unit 150
A display indicating that print output is being performed is performed on the display panel 620 in the area 0 (11).

Next, it is determined whether or not an abnormality such as a jam or no paper has occurred in the printer unit 2 (12). At this time,
It is also determined whether an abnormality has occurred in the printer unit 2 that has occurred before the printing operation of the copy A or the copy B or the copy C is started. The abnormality occurring before the start of the printing operation of copy A or copy B or copy C is a case where the printing operation of another function is abnormal and the printing operation is interrupted due to the abnormality.

In step (12), the printer unit 2
If it is determined that an error has occurred, the job is registered in a recovery queue stored in the RAM 175 in order to restart the printer output (job) (19). The recovery queue is a queue that is processed in the order registered. After that, an abnormality of the printer unit 2 is displayed on the display panel 620 (20), and the process ends.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step (12) that no abnormality has occurred in the printer unit 2, the operation unit 150
Images are read from the hard disk 404 in the image memory unit 3 in the order of image formation in accordance with the image forming mode set at 0, and the images are developed in the page memory 401. In the case of a layout mode or the like, a plurality of document images are read out at this time, and the images are laid out on the page memory 401 and developed.

After that, an image is output to the printer unit 2.
In the printer unit 2, in accordance with the above-described image forming operation, the transfer paper is fed from the cassette, the image is formed on the transfer paper in synchronization with the image from the image memory unit 3, and the image is discharged out of the apparatus. (13).

Thereafter, it is determined whether or not the formed image is the image of the final document (14). If it is determined that the image is not the image of the final document, the process returns to step (12) to determine that the image is the image of the final document. If it is determined, it is determined whether or not the image formation has been completed for all the number of copies set by the operation unit 1500 (1.
5) If it is determined that the processing has not been completed, step (1)
Return to 2).

On the other hand, if it is determined in step (15) that the printing has been completed, a display indicating that printing has been completed is displayed on the display panel 620 in the operation unit 1500 for copy A or copy B or copy C (16), and the image of the copy The forming operation ends.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the image forming operation is started after all the original images have been read, so that the image forming operation is not interrupted by an abnormality such as a jam of the DF 180. Therefore, even if an error such as Jam of the DF 180 occurs when reading the original image,
There is no need to wait for print output of other functions.

As described above, when an abnormality is detected during image processing (during job output) in one of the registered copy mode jobs, the abnormality should interrupt image processing. In this case, the user can promptly switch to the copy mode setting screen set for the job in which the abnormality is detected, and can clearly indicate to the user an instruction to avoid device damage due to the abnormality, and start the next image processing. The waiting time until it becomes possible can be reduced.

Hereinafter, the configuration of a data processing program readable by the image forming apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to a memory map shown in FIG.

FIG. 18 is a view for explaining a memory map of a storage medium for storing various control programs which can be read by the image forming apparatus according to the present invention.

Although not shown, information for managing a group of programs stored in the storage medium, such as version information and a creator, is also stored, and information dependent on the OS or the like on the program reading side, such as a program, is stored. An icon or the like for identification display may also be stored.

Further, data dependent on various programs is also managed in the directory. In addition, a program for installing various programs on a computer or a program for decompressing a program to be installed when the program to be installed is compressed may be stored.

FIGS. 10, 11, and 1 in this embodiment.
2, the functions shown in FIGS. 13 and 17 may be executed by a host computer by a program installed from the outside. And in that case, CD-RO
The present invention is applicable even when a group of information including a program is supplied to an output device from a storage medium such as an M, a flash memory, an FD, or an external storage medium via a network.

As described above, the storage medium storing the program codes of the software for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments is supplied to the system or the device, and the computer (or CPU or MP) of the system or the device is supplied.
It goes without saying that the object of the present invention is also achieved when U) reads and executes the program code stored in the storage medium.

In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium realizes a new function of the present invention, and the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention.

As a storage medium for supplying the program code, for example, a floppy disk, hard disk, optical disk, magneto-optical disk, CD-ROM, C
DR, magnetic tape, nonvolatile memory card, RO
M, EEPROM and the like can be used.

When the computer executes the readout program code, not only the functions of the above-described embodiment are realized, but also the OS (Operating System) running on the computer based on the instructions of the program code. ) And the like perform part or all of the actual processing, and the processing realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments.

Further, after the program code read from the storage medium is written into a memory provided in a function expansion board inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer, based on the instruction of the program code, The CPU provided in the function expansion board or function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing,
It goes without saying that a case where the function of the above-described embodiment is realized by the processing is also included.

[0212]

As described above, according to the first aspect, the reading means reads the image of the sheet material placed on the document table, and the storage means stores the image data read by the reading means. The registration unit sets the output order for the job based on the image data stored in the storage unit and registers a plurality of jobs, and the changing unit arbitrarily changes the output order of the job registered in the registration unit, and outputs the job. The control means controls the start of image output based on the job in the next order registered in the registration means by judging the end state of the job being output by the means, so that the copy job hastily ends at the end of the output order. Is registered, it is possible to preferentially acquire the output of the urgent copy job without waiting for the end of another copy job or deleting it.

According to the second aspect, the control means controls the change means so as to prohibit a change in the job output order for a job whose output has been started. The operation makes it possible to prevent the middle stage of the output job.

According to the third aspect, the control means controls the output means to sequentially output the image data read by the reading means, so that the throughput of image output can be improved.

According to the fourth aspect, the control means controls the output means to output images collectively after all the image reading processes by the reading means are completed. Since the image output operation is started after the completion, it is possible to prevent a middle stage of the image output operation due to an abnormality in image reading or the like.

According to the fifth aspect, the control means controls the reading means so that the image reading of the next job can be started after all the image reading processes of the job are completed. Without waiting for the process to finish.
The image reading process for the next job can be started.

According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, an image of a sheet material placed on a document table is read and read, the read image data is stored in a memory, and a job based on the image data stored in the memory is performed. In the queue, arbitrarily change the output order of the jobs registered in the queue, determine the end state of the job being output, and output the job in the next order registered in the queue. Starts, so even if a rush copy job is registered at the end of the output order,
It is possible to preferentially acquire the output of a rush copy job without waiting for the completion of another copy job or deleting it.

Therefore, even if a rush copy job is registered at the end of the output order, the output order of the copy job can be arbitrarily changed without waiting for the completion of another copy job or deleting it. It is possible to obtain an output result preferentially and to achieve an effect such as realizing a flexible output management environment according to the user's intention.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a configuration of an image forming apparatus according to a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a control configuration of the image forming apparatus according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an image processing unit illustrated in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an image memory unit illustrated in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an external I / F processing unit illustrated in FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a plan view illustrating a configuration of an operation unit illustrated in FIG. 2;

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of an application mode selection screen displayed on the display panel shown in FIG.

8 illustrates an example of a favorite key setting screen displayed on the display panel illustrated in FIG. 6 and an example of a “copy A” setting screen displayed on the display panel on which a registered favorite key is displayed. FIG.

FIG. 9 is a view for explaining an example of an output order display screen for displaying a print output waiting state displayed on the display panel shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a first control procedure in the image forming apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a second control procedure in the image forming apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a third control procedure in the image forming apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a fourth control procedure in the image forming apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating a control configuration of an image processing apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 15 is a plan view illustrating the configuration of the operation unit shown in FIG.

16 is a block diagram illustrating a management configuration of a RAM illustrated in FIG.

FIG. 17 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a fifth control procedure in the image forming apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 18 is a diagram illustrating a memory map of a storage medium that stores various control programs that can be read by the image forming apparatus according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 3 Image memory section 170 Image processing section 171 CPU 172 Operation section 173 Input / output port 174 ROM 175 RAM

Claims (6)

[Claims] A reading unit configured to read an image of a sheet material placed on a platen; a storage unit configured to store image data read by the reading unit; and a storage unit configured to store the image data read from the storage unit. An output unit that outputs an image to a recording medium; a registration unit that sets an output order for a job based on image data stored in the storage unit and registers a plurality of jobs; and changes an output order of the job registered in the registration unit. And a control unit that determines the end state of the job being output and controls the start of image output based on the job in the next order registered in the registration unit. Forming equipment. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit controls the changing unit so as to prohibit a change in a job output order for a job whose output has been started. apparatus. 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit controls the output unit to sequentially output image data read by the reading unit. 4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit controls the output unit to output images collectively after all the image reading processes by the reading unit are completed. 5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit controls the reading unit so that image reading of a next job can be started after all image reading processes of the job are completed. . 6. A reading step of reading an image of a sheet material placed on a platen, a storing step of storing the read image data in a memory, and a job based on the image data stored in the memory. A registration step of registering in the queue; a changing step of changing the output order of the jobs registered in the queue; and determining an end state of the job being output to determine the next order registered in the queue. And an output step of starting output of a job.