JPH1142817A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To utilize a memory effectively by erasing information accumulated in an accumulating means automatically upon elapsing a set time after printing of image information is ended. SOLUTION: An image read out by means of a scanner and an image data from hosts 300a-300c are accumulated in an image forming apparatus 200 and printed out depending on the operation at an operating section. At the moment of time when print operation is ended, a schedule time for erasing a file is determined and stored by inputting it from the operating section. When schedule time is set at about 4 min, for example, the image is erased automatically upon elapsing about 180 min after ending print operation. The time may be set by other method. According to the arrangement, a memory can be utilized effectively for accumulating the data.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus capable of storing image information in a storage device and printing the image information later, and more particularly to control of discarding the image information stored in the storage device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there is an image forming apparatus which can be connected to a host computer (hereinafter simply referred to as a host) for outputting image information via a network. For example, Japanese Patent No. 2545217 (JP-A-63-187)
766) proposes such a terminal device. After storing the image information transmitted from the host in a storage device such as a hard disk drive, they are printed in accordance with the manual instruction of the operator. In addition, a memory remaining amount detecting means of the storage device is provided, and when it detects below a set value, in response to this, it prints out in the order of writing and automatically erases from the storage device.

[0003]

However, in some applications, it is preferable to store image information in a storage device and print out the image information as many times as necessary. For example, in the generation of a copy, an image of the same original or the same document is often duplicated at a later time. In this case, if the image information is erased along with the printout, it is necessary to write the print data into the storage device every time, which requires a long time for the printout, and the data between the host and the printer. The number of transfers increases. On the other hand, if the image information is not deleted from the storage device, the storage cannot be performed or the stored information is destroyed or lost due to overwriting when the storage amount exceeds the storage capacity of the storage device.

A first object of the present invention is to effectively utilize a storage device for storing image information, and a second object to enhance the convenience of utilizing the stored image information. A third object is to facilitate the organization of the image information, and a fourth object is to prevent unintended loss of required image information.

[0005]

[Means for Solving the Problems]

(1) The image forming apparatus of the present invention has input means (300a to 300c, 75: parallel IF, LAN control) for inputting image information.
Storage means (66) for storing the image information input from the input means, printing means (57, 15) for printing the image information stored in the storage means on a recording medium, and printing for instructing the start of printing An image forming apparatus having a start instructing means (30), and printing the image information stored in the storage means by the printing start instruction by the printing start instructing means. Means for automatically deleting the image information from the storage means when the elapsed time exceeds a set value. In addition, in order to facilitate understanding, in the parentheses, reference numerals or corresponding items of the corresponding elements of the embodiment shown in the drawings and described later are added for reference.

According to this, unnecessary image information for which printing has been completed does not remain in the storage means forever, and the storage means can be used efficiently. In a case where new image information is to be stored, it is possible to prevent the storage area from being occupied by unnecessary image information already stored and hindering the storage of new image information. It is easy to organize the image information on the storage device.

Since the storage of the printed image information continues during the set time after printing, the image information can be printed again within the set time. Since the measurement of the elapsed time starts each time printing is performed, the image information used for printing frequently in a cycle shorter than the set time cycle is continuously stored in the storage unit, and the image information having high usage is continuously stored. I do. The convenience of utilizing the accumulated image information is high, and the user's convenience is unlikely to be impaired.

[0008]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

(2) Input means (300a to 300c, 75: parallel IF, LAN control) for inputting image information, storage means (66) for storing image information input from the input means, and storage means for storing the image information Printing means for printing image information on a recording medium (57, 15)
And a print start instructing means (30) for instructing the start of printing, wherein the image forming apparatus prints the image information stored in the storage means by the print start instruction by the print start instructing means. An image forming apparatus comprising: means for automatically deleting the image information from the storage means when the elapsed time after storing the image information in the means exceeds a set value. According to this, unnecessary image information does not remain in the storage unit forever, and the storage unit can be used efficiently. In a case where new image information is to be stored, it is possible to prevent the storage area from being occupied by unnecessary image information already stored and hindering the storage of new image information.

Since the image information that has not been printed is also automatically deleted, unnecessary storage in which the image information is kept forever without unnecessary printing is automatically eliminated, and the use efficiency of the storage means is high. Become. It is easy to organize the image information on the storage device.

(3) There is further provided a means for setting whether or not each of the image information stored in the storage means is to be automatically deleted.
The erasing means automatically erases only the image information to be automatically erased from the storage means. As a result, the convenience of use and management of the image information by the user is improved, and the arrangement of the image information on the storage device is easy.

(4) Means for extending the set value is provided. As a result, the convenience of utilizing the stored image information is high, and the unintended loss of required image information can be prevented, and the image information on the storage device can be easily arranged.

(5) A warning is displayed a fixed time before the elapsed time exceeds the set value. As a result, unintended loss of required image information can be prevented, and convenience of use and management of image information by a user is improved.

Other objects and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of embodiments with reference to the drawings.

[0014]

FIG. 1 shows an image forming apparatus 2 according to an embodiment of the present invention.
00 is shown. The image forming apparatus 200 includes a host 300a to a personal computer (hereinafter, referred to as PC).
This is a system configuration in which print data can be printed out (image output) when print data is given from LAN 300c via LAN or parallel I / F. The image forming apparatus 200 shown in FIG. 1 is a digital copying machine, and can itself generate a copy of a document.

FIG. 2 shows an outline of an internal mechanism of the image forming apparatus 200. Automatic Document Feeder (hereinafter ADF) 1
When the start key 34 on the operation unit 30 is pressed, the document bundle 2 placed on the document table 2 at 4
Is fed to a predetermined position on the contact glass 6. Contact glass 6 by reading unit 50
After reading the image data of the upper document, the read document is discharged by the feed belt 4 and the discharge roller 5. Further, when the document set detection 7 detects that the next document is present on the document table 2, the document is fed onto the contact glass 6 in the same manner as the previous document. The feed roller 3, the feed belt 4, and the discharge roller 5 are driven by a motor.

The first tray 8, the second tray 9, or the third tray
The transfer papers stacked on the tray 10 are each transferred to the first paper feeder 1.
First, the paper is fed by the second paper feeder 12 or the third paper feeder 13, and is transported by the vertical transport unit 14 to a position where it comes into contact with the photoconductor 15. The image data read by the reading unit 50 is written on the photoconductor 15 by the laser from the writing unit 57, and passes through the developing unit 27 to form a toner image. Then, the toner image on the photoconductor 15 is transferred while the transfer paper is being conveyed by the conveyance belt 16 at the same speed as the rotation of the photoconductor 15. Thereafter, the image is fixed by the fixing unit 17, and the image is discharged to the finisher 100 of the post-processing device by the sheet discharging unit 18.

The finisher 100 of the post-processing apparatus can guide the transfer paper conveyed by the paper discharge roller 19 of the main body toward the normal paper discharge roller 102 and the stapling section. By switching the switching plate 101 upward,
Paper can be discharged to the normal paper discharge tray 104 via the transport roller 103. Further, by switching the switching plate 101 downward, the sheet can be transported to the staple table 108 via the transport rollers 105 and 107.

The transfer paper stacked on the staple table 108 is aligned by a paper alignment jogger 109 every time one sheet is discharged, and is stapled by the stapler 106 when a part of the copy is completed. Stapler 106
The transfer paper group bound by is stored in the stapling completion paper discharge tray 110 by its own weight.

On the other hand, a normal paper discharge tray 104 is a paper discharge tray that can move back and forth. The paper discharge tray unit 104 that can be moved back and forth moves back and forth and sorts the discharged copy paper easily for each document or for each copy unit sorted by the image memory.

When images are formed on both sides of the transfer paper, the transfer paper fed and imaged from each of the paper feed trays 8 to 10 is not guided to the discharge tray 104, but is branched for path switching. By setting the claws 112 on the upper side, the stock is temporarily stored in the double-sided paper feeding unit 111. Thereafter, the transfer paper stocked in the duplex paper supply unit 111 is re-fed from the duplex paper supply unit 111 in order to transfer the toner image formed on the photoconductor 15 again, and the branch claws 11 for switching the path.
2 is set on the lower side, and guided to the paper discharge tray 104. In this way, the double-sided paper feeding unit 111 is used when forming images on both sides of the transfer paper.

The photoconductor 15, the conveyor belt 16, the fixing unit 17, the paper discharging unit 18 and the developing unit 27
Driven by the main motor 25, each of the paper feeders 11 to
Reference numeral 13 designates a drive of the main motor 25 and a feed clutch
-24. The vertical transport unit 14 is driven to transmit the drive of the main motor 25 by the intermediate clutch 21.

FIG. 3 shows an operation unit 30 of the image forming apparatus 200.
The upper surface of FIG. The operation unit 30 includes a liquid crystal touch panel 3
1, a numeric keypad 32, a clear / stop key 33, a start key 34, a mode clear key 35, and a test print key 40.
7 and a message indicating the number of copies and the state of the image forming apparatus are displayed. The test print key 40 is a key for printing only one copy regardless of the set number of prints and confirming a print result. In addition, "copy function",
There is a key 39 for switching between the “printer function” and the “storage copy function”. The “copy function” is a function of copying an image read by the document reading unit (scanner) 50 on the transfer paper by the writing unit 57 and the photoconductor image forming system (printer including both) by the operation specified.

The "printer function" means that the data provided by the hosts 300a to 300c connected by a LAN and a parallel I / F or the like is converted into an image by the writing unit 57 and the photosensitive member image forming system in accordance with the instruction of the host. Output (print output)
Function.

The “storage copy function” is a function of storing an image read by a scanner and image data from the hosts 300 a to 300 c in the image forming apparatus 200 and printing out the image in accordance with an operation of the operation unit 30.

FIGS. 4 to 6 show several examples of the display on the liquid crystal touch panel 31 of the operation unit 30. FIG. When an operator touches a key displayed on the liquid crystal touch panel 31, a key is pressed.
The block display changes to shaded display. If the details of the function need to be specified (for example, if the magnification is a variable magnification), touching a key displays a detailed function setting screen (submenu).

FIG. 4A shows a screen for selecting and setting the "copy function". The upper left position on the screen is a message area for displaying a message such as "You can copy" or "Please wait". On the right is a copy number display area for displaying the number of sheets set, below it is an automatic density key for specifying automatic adjustment of image density, and for specifying automatic selection of transfer paper. Automatic paper selection key, a sort key to specify the process of arranging copies one by one in the page order, a stack key to specify a process of sorting copies by page, and a process of binding the sorted items one by one Staple key to specify, same-size key to specify the same magnification, scaling key to specify enlargement / reduction magnification, double-sided key to specify double-sided mode, binding margin Erase / move key for specifying the over de, etc., and is a print key for specifying the printing such as stamp, date and page. The selected mode is indicated by the shaded display of the key block.

FIG. 4B shows an operation screen for the "printer function". An online / offline key for setting permission of a print request, a forced ejection key for designating forced ejection of an image that has not been ejected in a data-in state, a data-in display indicating a data input state of image data, and There is a display for notifying the setting status of the transfer paper.

FIG. 5 shows an operation screen for the "storage copy function". FIG. 5A shows a file list screen of the stored image data. The user name, file name, number of pages, and registration time of the transferred image are displayed. The shaded display indicates the file specified for output,
The order item indicates the order of printing. A plurality of output designations can be set individually, and output is performed in the order of setting. The print key is a screen for printing the set file [(b) of FIG. 5]
This is the key to move to. The read key is a key for shifting to a screen for storing images from the scanner. The cancel key is a key for canceling file selection set for image output. Arrow keys
This key is used to scroll the screen when the number of files exceeds the number of files that can be displayed at one time. The delete key is a key for deleting the selected file.

FIG. 5B shows an output setting screen for stored copy. Output conditions can be set, and the copy operation can be started with the start key 34 (FIG. 3). When a plurality of files are set, they are processed as a group of images connected in the setting order. Therefore, when the staple mode is set, the entire image group is stapled as one group, not for each file.

FIG. 6A shows image data from a scanner.
6 is an operator input screen for accumulating data. The operator sets each mode, and the reading operation is started by the start key 34. The user name and file name of this file are automatically set as shown in the figure. If there are multiple files, they are named so that the file names can be distinguished. The reading operation is terminated with the reading end key, and the file is closed.

FIG. 6B shows a screen displaying a file to be deleted when the file is automatically deleted.

Referring again to FIG. The reading unit (scanner) 50 includes a contact glass 6 on which a document is placed and an optical scanning system. The optical scanning system includes an exposure lamp 51, a first mirror 52, a lens 53, a CCD image sensor 54, and the like. Have been. Exposure lamp 51
The first mirror 52 is fixed on a first carriage (not shown), and the second mirror 55 and the third mirror 56 are fixed on a second carriage (not shown). When reading a document image, the first carriage and the second carriage are mechanically scanned at a relative speed of 2: 1 so that the optical path length does not change. This optical scanning system is driven by a scanner drive motor (not shown). The original image is read by the CCD image sensor 54, converted into an electric signal (analog image signal), and converted into digital data (image data). The image data is further subjected to several types of image processing. Lens 53 and CCD image sensor 5
4 is moved in the left-right direction in FIG. 1 to change the image magnification. That is, the positions of the lens 53 and the CCD image sensor 54 in the left-right direction are set corresponding to the designated magnification.

The writing unit 57 includes a laser output unit 58, an imaging lens 59, and a mirror 60. Inside the laser output unit 58, a rotating polygonal surface that rotates at a high speed at a constant speed by a laser diode as a laser light source and a motor. A mirror (polygon mirror) is provided.
The laser light emitted from the laser output unit 58 is polarized by a polygon mirror that rotates at a constant speed, and is formed by an imaging lens 59.
And is turned back by the mirror 60 to form a focused image on the surface of the photoconductor.

The polarized laser light is exposed and scanned in a direction (main scanning direction) orthogonal to the direction in which the photosensitive member rotates, and records the image signal output from a selector 64 of an image processing unit described later in units of lines. Do. An image (electrostatic latent image) is formed on the photoconductor surface by repeating main scanning at a predetermined cycle corresponding to the rotation speed and the recording density of the photoconductor. As described above, the laser light output from the writing unit 57 is applied to the photoconductor 15 of the image forming system. Although not shown, a beam sensor for generating a main scanning synchronization signal is disposed at a position near one end of the photoconductor 15 where a laser beam is irradiated. Based on the main scanning synchronization signal, control of image recording start timing in the main scanning direction and generation of a control signal for inputting and outputting an image signal described later are performed.

FIG. 7 shows an outline of an electric system of the image forming apparatus 200, and FIG. 8 shows a part of the electric system in some detail. FIG. 7 illustrates a control device of the image forming apparatus 200 centering on the main controller 20. First, FIG.
Referring to FIG. 2, the main controller 20 controls the entire image forming apparatus 200. The main controller 20 includes an operation unit 30 for performing display to the operator and inputting function settings from the operator, control of the scanner, control of writing a document image in the image memory, control of forming an image from the image memory, and the like. Image processing unit (IP
U) 49, and an automatic document feeder (ADF) 1,
Are connected. Each decentralized control device and the main controller 20 change the state of the machine as required,
Exchanging operation commands. Further, a main motor 25 and various clutches 21 to 24 necessary for paper conveyance and the like are also connected to a driver (not shown) in the main controller 20.

The printer controller analyzes an external image and a command for instructing printing, develops a bitmap into a printable state as image data, analyzes the print mode from the command, and determines an operation. In order to receive and operate the image and the command through the LAN and the parallel I / F, the LAN control unit and the parallel I / F are operated.
/ F section.

Regarding the configuration of the scanner and the printer (image reading unit and image writing unit) in this embodiment,
This will be described with reference to FIG. The light emitted from the exposure lamp 51 is reflected on the document surface and forms an image on a CCD (image sensor) 54 through an imaging lens (not shown). The analog image signal generated by the CCD 5 is converted by the A / D converter 61 into a digital signal, that is, image data. After shading correction 62 is performed on the image data, the image processing unit 63 performs MTF correction, γ correction, and the like. The selector 64 sends the image data to the scaling unit 71 or the image memory controller 65. The image data passed through the scaling unit 71 is enlarged / reduced in accordance with the scaling factor.
It is sent to the writing unit 57. Between the image memory controller 65 and the selector 64, image data can be bidirectionally input / output. Although not particularly shown in FIG. 10, the image processing unit (IPU) includes a reading unit 50.
Has a function of selecting input / output of a plurality of data so as to be able to process image data supplied from outside (for example, data output from a data processing device such as a personal computer) in addition to image data input from the PC. ing.

The main controller 20 includes a CPU 68 for setting the image memory controller 65 and controlling the reading unit 50 and the writing unit 57, and a ROM 69 and a RAM 70 for storing the programs and data. Further, the CPU 68 writes and reads data in the image memory 66 via the memory controller 65.

Here, the image data for one page in the selector 64 will be described with reference to FIG. / F
GATE (slash / means FGATE overline) indicates the effective period of one page of image data in the sub-scanning direction. / LSYNC is a main scanning synchronization signal for each line, and image data becomes valid at a predetermined clock after this signal rises. A signal indicating that the image data in the main scanning direction is valid is / LGATE.
It is. These signals are synchronized with the pixel clock VCLK, and data of one pixel is sent for one cycle of VCLK. The image processing unit (IPU) 49 includes an image input unit,
Separate / FGATE, / LSYN for each output
C, / LGATE, VCLK generation mechanism,
Various combinations of image input / output can be realized.

FIG. 9 shows the configuration of the memory controller 65 and the image memory 66 shown in FIG. The memory controller 65 includes an input data selector 101, an image synthesis 1
02, primary compression / expansion 103, output data selector 10
4, and blocks of secondary compression / decompression 105. The setting of control data in each block is performed by the CPU 68
Do. The data in FIG. 11 indicates image data (bus), and address data (bus) connected to the CPU 68 is not shown.

The image memory 66 comprises primary and secondary storage devices 106 and 107. Primary storage device 106
For example, a DRAM is used so that data can be written to a memory substantially in synchronization with the transfer speed of input image data, or data can be read from a memory at the time of image output at a high speed.
Use a memory that can be accessed at high speed. Also,
The primary storage device 106 has a configuration (an interface unit with a memory controller) that can be divided into a plurality of areas according to the size of image data to be processed and can simultaneously execute input and output of image data. In order to enable the input and output of image data to be executed in parallel in each of the divided areas, an interface with the memory controller 65 is connected by two sets of address and data lines for reading and writing. Thus, an operation of outputting (reading) an image from the area 2 while inputting (writing) the image to the area 1 becomes possible.

The secondary storage device 107 is a large-capacity memory for storing data for synthesizing and sorting input images. For both the primary and secondary storage devices, if elements that can be accessed at high speed are used, data processing can be performed without distinction between primary and secondary storage, and control is relatively simple.
Since an element such as a DRAM is expensive, the access speed to the secondary storage device 107 is not so high, but an inexpensive, large-capacity recording medium is used, and input / output data processing is performed via the primary storage device 106. It has a configuration.

The above-described image memory 66 enables input / output, storage, processing, and the like of a large amount of image data. Further, the image memory 66 can be realized at a low cost and with a relatively simple configuration.

Next, an outline of the operation of the memory controller 65 will be described: <1> Image input (writing to the image memory 66) The input data selector 101 selects the image memory 66 (primary storage device 106) from a plurality of data. ) Is selected. Input data selector 10
The image data selected by 1 is supplied to the image composition 102, and the image composition 102 performs composition with data already stored in the image memory. The image data processed by the image synthesis 102 is data-compressed by the primary compression / decompression 103 and written to the primary storage device 106.

The data written in the primary storage device 106 is further compressed by the secondary compression / decompression 105 as necessary, and then stored in the secondary storage device 107.

<2> Image Output (Read from Image Memory 66) At the time of image output, image data stored in the primary storage device 106 is read. If the image to be output is stored in the primary storage device 106, the primary compression /
The image data in the primary storage device 106 is expanded by the expansion 103, and the data after expansion or the data after the image synthesis of the expanded data and the input data is selected by the output data selector 104 and output. . Image composition 102
Combining the data in the primary storage device 106 with the input data (having a function of adjusting the phase of the image data), selecting the output destination of the combined data (image output, writing back to the primary storage device 106, both) (Simultaneous output to output destination is also possible).

The image to be output is the primary storage device 106
If the image data to be output stored in the secondary storage device 107 is not stored in the secondary storage /
5, and the expanded data is stored in the primary storage device 106.
After that, the above-described image output operation is performed.

Next, some of the processing functions of the CPU 68 will be specifically described. FIG. 11 shows processing (command processing) of the CPU 68 responding to a command such as a print request from the host. The CPU 68 receives the command, and if it is a printer file registration command, secures (sets) a file for storage copy in the file management data. File management data is registered in order for each file block. The number of the management file to be registered is stored as a printer registration management number. At this time, the state shifts to the printer file registration state. The printer file registration state is a state for storing images from the printer I / F. The number of pages of the corresponding file management data is initialized (cleared by O). When a user registration command is received, it is checked whether the printer file is currently registered.
If it is in the state, it is stored as the corresponding user name data of the file management data. If the printer file is not registered, it is ignored as an invalid command. When a file name registration command is received, the file name is stored, and when a time registration command is received, the time is stored. When the printer file registration end command is received, the printer file registration state is released. With this release command, registration of this file is completed.

FIG. 12 shows the process of storing image data in the printer file registration state. When the image data is received and the image development is completed so that the image can be printed and stored in the memory, it is determined whether or not the printer file is registered, and the memory is stored in the registered state. At this time, the page number information is incremented. If it is not registered, a normal print operation is executed. In this embodiment, the same bitmap data as the image data at the time of printing is compressed and stored even when storing. When a printing operation is performed from a memory, the printing operation can be performed without requiring an image development time. Productivity during printing can be improved. If these are not taken into account, external image data can be stored as it is.

FIG. 13 shows the operation of storing image data from the scanner. If there is a reading instruction and a document is set and the scanner file is registered, the reading operation is started. The scanner operates and stores the read image in the memory. At this time, when the accumulation is completed, the number of pages is incremented. Execute until there are no more documents.

FIG. 14 shows a process for shifting to the accumulation operation from the scanner. File list screen ((b) of FIG. 5)
When the reading key is depressed, a file for reading the scanner image is registered. The state shifts to the scanner file registration state, and the registered management number is stored in the scanner registration management file number. Then, the display is switched to a reading screen (FIG. 6B). Pressing the end key on this screen cancels the scanner file registration state. before that,
Press the password setting key on the read screen and enter it to set the password. If you want to release the password, you can release it with the clear key.

FIG. 15 shows the operation processing of the accumulation print. The image is read from the corresponding memory, and the printing operation is started according to the operation setting set in the print mode. When the printing operation is completed, the operation stops. When the printing operation is completed, the scheduled time for erasing the file is determined and this information is recorded. In this example, the image is deleted 180 minutes after printing is completed. Of course, another time may be used, and the time may be set by other means.

FIG. 16 shows an image erasure determination process. This processing is executed at regular intervals such as every second or every minute. If there are stored files, each file is searched in turn, and the scheduled deletion times recorded for each stored file are compared. If the current time has passed the deletion time, the image information of the file and its Delete file management data.

FIGS. 17 and 19 show another example of the command processing and the scanner registration mode transition processing shown in FIGS. 11 and 14. FIG. In FIG. 17, when the registration of the printer file is completed, the scheduled image deletion time is recorded. In FIG. 19, the scheduled image deletion time is recorded when the registration of the scanner file is completed.
The image deletion determination process is performed by the same process as the process shown in FIG.

FIG. 18 shows another example of the command processing shown in FIG. Hosts 300a-3
00c or a command from the operation unit 30, and when a printer file registration command is received, a file for storage copy is secured in the file management data. File management data is registered in order for each file block.
The number of the management file to be registered is stored as a printer registration management number. At this time, the state shifts to the printer file registration state. The printer file registration status refers to the printer I
/ F is a state for storing the image from / F. The number of pages of the corresponding file management data is initialized (cleared to 0). When the user registration command is received, it is checked whether the printer file is currently registered, and if it is, the corresponding file is stored as user name data corresponding to the file management data. If the printer file is not registered, it is ignored as an invalid command.

When the file name registration command is received, the file name is stored, and when the time registration command is received, the time is stored.

When the automatic deletion registration command is received, information on whether or not the file is to be automatically deleted is stored.
If the command is an automatic deletion target, the current time plus 180 minutes is further stored in the deletion time.

When the printer file registration end command is received, the printer file registration state is released. With this release command, registration of this file is completed.

FIG. 20 shows a process for extending the automatic erasing time of a file by using the erasing key. The deletion postponement key is provided on the print file selection screen. When the delete postponement key is pressed, the scheduled deletion time of the selected file among the stored files is rewritten to a value postponed by 180 minutes. The postponement time may be different, or another setting means may be provided.

FIG. 21 shows a process for displaying a warning a fixed time before the scheduled deletion time. This processing is executed at regular intervals such as every second or every minute. If there are stored files, each file is searched in order, and the time 30 minutes before the scheduled deletion time recorded for each stored file is compared with the current time. If a warning has not yet been issued for the file, a warning screen shown in FIG. 6B is displayed.

FIG. 22 shows the processing when the confirmation key on the warning screen is pressed. The warning screen is deleted, and a warning flag before deletion is set so that the warning is not displayed for the same file more than once.

FIG. 23 shows the processing when the delete postponement key is pressed. The warning screen is deleted, and the scheduled deletion time of the file is rewritten to a value extended by 180 minutes. In this case, the warning is displayed again so that the warning flag before erasure is not set. The postponement time may be a different time, or another setting means may be provided.

FIGS. 24 and 25 show the structure of management data for file storage registration and management. As file management data, file name data, user name data, accumulation time data, scheduled erasure time data, data on the number of pages, and warning data before erasure flag are managed for each file. These data blocks are arranged as an array. For the erasing time data, a valid value is set only for a file in a state where automatic erasing is performed, and an invalid value is set as time data for a file that is not targeted for automatic erasing, meaning that the file is not targeted for automatic erasing. The warning flag before erasure is reset at the point where the file is stored. A new file is registered beside these blocks and the number of registered files is incremented. The data part of the deleted file is packed and the number of registered files is decremented. The number of registered files indicates the number of registered files.

As a file number during printer registration, there is a printer registration management file number. This is data indicating which file of the management file is the file being registered. Also, the scanner registration management file number is the number at the time of file registration in the scanner.

There is an array as the printing order management data. In this array, management file numbers are arranged in printing order. When the management file number is not written, -1 (FFH as byte width data) is written. When printing, a series of files to be printed is from the top to the 11th management number. In addition, settings can be made here as a printer image or a scanner image.

As a method of designating a memory image, an image number is managed by 2-byte data in which a file number is an upper byte and a page number (from page O to the number of pages) is a lower byte. Access to the memory unit is controlled by this image number. Therefore, the image number when the management file number is 2 and the number of pages is 5 is 51
2 (20H), 513 (21H), 514 (22H),
515 (23H) and 516 (24H).

When a plurality of files are to be copied simultaneously, a memory number is determined from the management file number and the number of pages in the order of print management data, and the number of pages managed by the print order management data is determined. A copy operation is performed as one image group.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating an appearance of an image forming apparatus 200 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an internal mechanism of the image forming apparatus 200 shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 shows an operation unit 30 of the image forming apparatus 200 shown in FIG.
FIG. 4 is a plan view showing the upper surface of the device.

FIG. 4 (a) is a view of the liquid crystal panel 31 shown in FIG.
FIG. 7 is a plan view showing a display screen when “copy function” is selected, and FIG. 7B is a plan view showing a display screen when “printer function” is selected.

FIG. 5 (a) is a view of the liquid crystal panel 31 shown in FIG.
FIG. 9 is a plan view showing a file list display screen when “accumulation copy function” is selected, and FIG. 10B is a plan view showing an output setting screen.

6A is a plan view showing a display screen for storing scanner image data when the “storage copy function” is selected on the liquid crystal panel 31 shown in FIG. 3, and FIG. )
It is a top view which shows the file deletion warning screen relevant to file deletion.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing an outline of an electric system of the image forming apparatus 200 shown in FIG.

8 is a block diagram showing some details of a portion of the electrical system shown in FIG. 7;

9 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a memory controller 65 shown in FIG.

10 is a time chart showing a correlation between image data (main scanning effective image) extracted by a selector 64 shown in FIG. 8 and a timing signal.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing one of processing functions of a CPU 68 shown in FIG. 8;

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing one of processing functions of a CPU 68 shown in FIG. 8;

FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing one of processing functions of a CPU 68 shown in FIG. 8;

FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing one of processing functions of a CPU 68 shown in FIG. 8;

FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing one of processing functions of a CPU 68 shown in FIG. 8;

FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing one of processing functions of a CPU 68 shown in FIG. 8;

FIG. 17 is a flowchart showing a modified example of the command processing shown in FIG. 11;

FIG. 18 is a flowchart showing another modification of the command processing shown in FIG. 11;

FIG. 19 is a flowchart showing a modified example of the scanner registration mode shift processing shown in FIG.

20 is a flowchart showing one of the processing functions of the CPU 68 shown in FIG.

FIG. 21 is a flowchart showing one of processing functions of a CPU 68 shown in FIG. 8;

FIG. 22 is a flowchart showing one of processing functions of a CPU 68 shown in FIG. 8;

FIG. 23 is a flowchart showing one of processing functions of a CPU 68 shown in FIG. 8;

24 is a block diagram showing, by block division, items of file management data in management data generated by the data processing of the CPU 68 shown in FIG.

25 is a block diagram showing items of storage management data in management data generated by the data processing of the CPU 68 shown in FIG. 8 by block division.

[Explanation of symbols]

 30: operation unit 31: liquid crystal touch panel 32-40: key

Claims (5)

[Claims] An input unit for inputting image information; a storage unit for storing the image information input from the input unit; a printing unit for printing the image information stored in the storage unit on a recording medium; And a print start instructing means for instructing the image forming apparatus to print the image information stored in the storage means in response to the print start instruction by the print start instructing means. An image forming apparatus comprising: means for automatically deleting the image information from the storage means when the elapsed time from the time exceeds a set value. 2. An input device for inputting image information, a storage device for storing image information input from the input device, a printing device for printing the image information stored in the storage device on a recording medium, and a start of printing. And a print start instructing means for instructing the image forming apparatus to print the image information stored in the storage means in response to the print start instruction by the print start instructing means. An image forming apparatus comprising: means for automatically deleting the image information from the storage means when the elapsed time from the time exceeds a set value. 3. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising means for setting whether or not each of the image information stored in the storage means is to be automatically deleted, wherein the deletion means automatically stores only the image information to be automatically deleted from the storage means. 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image is erased. 4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising means for extending said set value. 5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a warning is displayed a predetermined time before the time when the elapsed time exceeds a set value.