JP3385924B2 - Image forming device - Google Patents

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, and more particularly to an image forming apparatus used as a copying machine, a facsimile machine or a combination machine thereof.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a digital copying machine (a type of image forming apparatus) having a memory function has been known. The memory function is a function of storing read image data and work contents (the number of copies, copy magnification, etc.).

With the memory function, the input of image data and work contents and the output of an image (copy operation) can be performed separately and independently. One job is referred to as one job, and a plurality of jobs are registered and sequentially executed. Therefore, such a copying machine may be referred to as a multi-job copying machine.

When a multi-job copying machine is shared and used by a plurality of people, a person who wants to register a new job is a job to be newly registered based on the amount of unprocessed job data remaining in the memory. You can know the time until is executed.

[0005]

In a multi-job copying machine, the work contents (number of copies, copying magnification, etc.) of a job registered in the memory and not yet processed may be corrected or changed. For example, when the number of copies increases due to the correction, the time required to execute the job increases as compared to before the correction. In such a case, the start and end times of the scheduled job after that will also be delayed. At this time, if the start and end times of the job input by another person are delayed, other persons will be inconvenienced.

The present invention has been made to solve such a problem, and provides an image forming apparatus in which no inconvenience occurs even when information for correcting registered work contents is input. Is intended.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, according to one aspect of the present invention, an image forming apparatus sequentially executes a plurality of work contents and a registration unit capable of registering a plurality of work contents. An execution unit, an input unit for inputting information for correcting the registered work content, and a determination unit for determining whether or not the time for executing the work content increases due to the correction by the input information. And a prohibition unit that prohibits correction based on the input information based on the determination result of the determination unit.

More preferably, the registration unit performs registration using the ID code, and the input unit performs input using the ID code.

More preferably, the prohibition unit prohibits the correction when the determination unit determines that the time will increase.

According to the present invention, it is determined whether or not the time for executing the work content is increased by the correction based on the input information, and the correction is prohibited based on the determination result. As a result, it is possible to provide an image forming apparatus that does not cause inconvenience due to correction.

[0011]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[First Embodiment] FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing the overall structure of a digital copying machine according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, the digital copying machine includes a scanning system 10 for reading a document and converting it into an image signal, and a scanning system 1.
Image signal processing unit 20 for processing the image signal sent from 0, a memory unit 30 for storing the image data input from the image signal processing unit 20 and outputting it to the print processing unit, and an image output from the memory unit 30. A print processing unit 40 that drives a semiconductor laser 61 based on data, and a laser optical system 60 that guides laser light from the semiconductor laser 61 to an exposure position on a photosensitive drum 71.
An image forming system 70 that develops a latent image by exposure, transfers it onto recording paper, and fixes it to form an image; an operation panel (not shown in FIG. 1) provided on the upper surface of the copying machine body; A document transport unit 500 that transports a sheet and inverts the front and back as necessary.
It consists of and.

The scanning system 10, the image signal processing unit 20 and the like constitute a reading section IR, and the print processing unit 40, the laser optical system 60, an image forming system 70 and the like constitute a printer section P, respectively.

The reading unit IR reads the image of the original placed on the original glass 19 and generates image data corresponding to each pixel of the image of the original. A first scanner 11 having an exposure lamp 12 and a first mirror 13a;
Second scanner 14 having third mirrors 13b and 13c
Moves in the directions of arrows b and b '(sub-scanning direction) by driving the scan motor M2.

The light from the exposure lamp 12 is reflected by the document on the document glass 19 and is reflected by the mirrors 13a, 13b, 13.
Line sensor (CCD) via c and lens 15
Irradiated to 17. The line sensor 17 has a large number of photoelectric conversion elements arranged in a direction (main scanning direction) orthogonal to the paper surface of FIG. 1, and reads an image at 400 DPI, for example, and outputs image data corresponding to each pixel.

Further, as described above, the first scanner 11 moves in the directions of the arrows b and b ', so that the line sensor 1
A document image 7 can be sub-scanned. Sensor SE3
Is a sensor for detecting that the first scanner 11 is at the home position.

The image data output from the line sensor 17 is processed by the image signal processing unit 20 and then transmitted to the memory unit 30. The memory unit 30 compresses the image data received from the image signal processing unit 20, temporarily stores it, performs decompression processing, and transmits it to the printer unit P. At that time, if necessary, rotation edit processing or the like is performed.

The memory unit 30 has an external device interface section, which will be described later, and is connected to an external device through an external device connecting connector 90 and an external cable 91. The image signal processing unit 20 and the memory unit 30 will be described in detail later.

Next, the printer section P will be described. The print processing unit 40 controls the laser optical system 60 based on the image data received from the memory unit 30. The laser optical system 60 includes the print processing unit 40.
A semiconductor laser 61 that emits a laser beam that is modulated (on / off) controlled by a laser, a polygon mirror 62 that scans the laser beam emitted from the semiconductor laser 61 onto the photosensitive drum 71, an fθ lens 63, and It has mirrors 64a and 64b.

Around the photosensitive drum 71 which is rotationally driven, along the rotation direction thereof, a charging charger 72, a developing device 73, a transfer charger 74, and a separation charger 7 are provided.
5, a cleaner 76, and an eraser lamp 77 are arranged. The photoconductor drum 71 forms a toner image by a well-known electrophotographic process and transfers it onto a sheet. Paper is fed from the paper feed cassettes 81a and 81b to the paper feed roller 82.
a, 82b, and is sent to the position of the transfer charger 74 by the sheet conveying path 83 and the timing roller 84. The paper on which the toner image is transferred at the position of the transfer charger 74 is conveyed by the conveyor belt 85 and the fixing device 86.
And the discharge roller 87, the re-feed unit 600
Is discharged to.

Various rollers of the image forming system 70 and the photosensitive drum 7
1 is driven by the main motor M1. Further, near the paper feed cassettes 81a and 81b, paper size detection sensors SE1 and SE2 for detecting the size of the paper stored in each cassette are provided.

The document feeder 500 includes a document feed tray 51.
The original set on 0 is automatically conveyed onto the original glass, and the original read by the scanning system 10 is discharged to the original discharge section 511.

In the normal mode, the user sets one or a plurality of originals on the original feeding tray 510 with the side to be read facing up and adjusts the side regulating plate to the width of the originals. When the operation is started, the set originals are sequentially conveyed from the lowermost part by the paper feed roller 501, separated by the separation roller 502 and the separation pad 503, and fed one by one. The conveyed document passes through the intermediate roller 504, and is registered by the registration sensor SE51 and the width size sensor S.
After the size and the like are detected by E53, the skew feeding is corrected by the registration roller 505. Immediately after the trailing edge of the document passes the left end of the document scale 512, the document transport belt 506 reverses slightly and stops.

As a result, the right end of the original is placed on the original scale 5.
The original is set at an accurate position on the original glass 19 by abutting on the edge of the original 12. At this time, the leading edge of the next original has reached the registration roller 505, and the transport time of the next original is shortened.

When the document is set at the correct reading position on the document glass 19, the scanning system 10 scans the document for reading. When the reading of the original is completed, the original is conveyed to the left by the original conveying belt 506, and the reverse roller 507
The conveyance direction is changed by, and the sheet is passed above the switching claw 508 and discharged onto the sheet discharge tray 511.

In the case of a double-sided original, when the reading of the first side is completed, the original is conveyed to the left by the original conveying belt 506, and the conveying direction is changed by the reversing roller 507. The original is sent onto the original glass 19 and the second surface of the original is set to the reading position.

The original whose second surface has been read is conveyed leftward by the original conveying belt 506, and the reversing roller 50 is used.
7, the switching claw 508 and the discharge roller 509, and the sheet is discharged onto the sheet discharge tray 511.

The re-feeding unit 600 is attached to the side surface of the printer as an additional device for automating double-sided copying, and temporarily stores the paper discharged from the main body by the discharge roller 87 and carries out the switchback conveyance. It has the function of sending it back to the printer body.

In the single-sided copy mode, the sheet passes through the sheet re-feeding unit 600 and is discharged onto the sheet discharge tray 621. On the other hand, in the duplex copy mode,
The left end of the switching claw 601 is moved upward by a solenoid (not shown), and the sheet discharged from the discharge roller 87 reaches the forward / reverse roller 603 through the transport roller 602.

When the trailing edge of the sheet reaches the sheet sensor SE61, the forward / reverse roller 603 reverses. As a result, the paper is returned to the printer body. The returned sheet is sent to the timing roller 84 through the horizontal conveyance rollers 88a, 88b, 88c and stands by.

Here, when a plurality of sheets are continuously fed, the respective sheets are successively conveyed at a predetermined interval so as not to overlap each other, and fed to the re-feeding unit 600. Since the paper transport path length is constant, the number of sheets of paper in one circulation (the maximum number of circulating sheets) by the re-feeding unit 600 and the horizontal transport rollers 88a to 88c depends on the sheet size.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the operation panel of the digital copying machine shown in FIG. On the operation panel, a liquid crystal touch panel 201 for displaying status and setting various modes, a numeric keypad 202 for inputting numerical conditions for copying (number of sheets, magnification, etc.), and a clear key 203 for returning numerical conditions to standard values. A panel reset key 204 for initializing the copy mode, a stop key 205 for instructing to stop copying, a start key 206 for instructing to start copying, and whether it is a single-sided original or a double-sided original. An original designating key 209 for designating a copy mode, a copy mode key 210 for switching between double-sided copy and single-sided copy
An interrupt key 208 for inputting interrupt activation and return is arranged.

Further, the operation panel has an ID card 212.
An ID card insertion port 211 for inserting a card is provided.

3 and 4 show a control unit 100 of the copying machine.
3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of FIG. With reference to FIGS. 3 and 4, the control unit 100 is mainly configured of seven CPUs 1 to 7, and each of the CPUs 1 to 7 has a ROM 111 to 117 storing a program and a work area for executing the program. RAMs 121 to 127 are provided. The CPU 3 is provided in the memory unit 30.

The CPU 1 controls the input of signals from various operation keys on the operation panel and the display of the liquid crystal touch panel 201. The CPU 2 controls each part of the image signal processing unit 20 and controls the driving of the scanning system 10. The CPU 4 controls the print processing unit 40, the laser optical system 60, and the image forming system 70. Main motor M
It is also the CPU 4 that controls 1. The CPU 5 performs processing for adjusting the timing of the entire control unit 100 and setting operation modes.

The CPU 3 temporarily stores the image data read by controlling the memory unit 30 in the memory (image memory 304 in FIG. 6), reads it and outputs it to the print processing unit 40. Memory unit 30
Has a function of interfacing with an external device. The exchange of image data and control data is executed via the memory unit 30.

The paper size detection sensors SE1, SE
The signal from 2 is input to the I / O managed by the CPU 4, and the size of the copy paper is managed by the CPU 4.

The CPU 6 controls the document transportation by the document transportation unit 500. The CPU 7 is the refeed unit 60.
0 is controlled.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of the reading section IR and the image signal processing unit 20. In this figure, C
The PU 2, the ROM 112, the RAM 122, and the line sensor (CCD) 17 correspond to those in FIG. 3, respectively.

Referring to the figure, the timing control unit 21 supplies an image reading synchronizing signal to each block. CCD
The (line sensor) 17 photoelectrically converts document information to generate an electric signal. The signal is amplified by the amplifier unit (AMP) 23 and converted into an 8-bit digital signal by the A / D converter 25. The signal is processed by the shading correction unit 26 to remove distortion caused by the optical system and CCD. Next, the density conversion unit 27 converts the reflection data into density data and performs gamma correction.

The signal output from the density conversion section 27 is input to the electrical scaling section 28, and electrical scaling processing is executed in the main scanning direction from the set scaling information. After that, the image data edited by the editing unit 29 is
It is supplied to the printer unit P and the memory unit 30.

The image monitor memory 24 stores one line of image data according to an instruction from the CPU 2. Also,
The CPU 2 performs overall control of the reading unit IR such as setting parameters for the image processing units 26 to 29, scan control by driving the scanner motor M2, and communication with the CPU 5 (host CPU) of the timing control unit.

Next, the document size and the method of detecting whether the document is portrait or landscape will be described.

The determination of which part of the read image is the original is made, for example, by using the original cover as a mirror surface and scanning the original to determine the portion where the amount of reflected light is large as the original. If it is a mirror surface, the judgment is easy because there is almost no reflected light amount. Therefore, the position of the document can be known even when scanning is performed with the document cover opened.

When the CPU 2 receives an instruction of the document size detecting operation from the CPU 5, it performs a preliminary scan. CPU
Reference numeral 2 controls the scanner motor M2 based on the scanner position information from the scanner position sensor SE-IR, and causes the first scanner 11 to scan in the sub-scanning direction. At the timing corresponding to the sub-scanning direction, the document size and whether the document is placed vertically or horizontally are detected from the content of the image data and the scanner position information, and the detection result is transmitted to the host CPU 5.

An accurate position where the document is placed, for example, a displacement amount and an inclination angle with respect to a reference position are detected in the same manner. The detection result is transmitted to the CPU 5.

Based on the magnification information transmitted from the CPU 5, the CPU 2 controls the speed of the scanner motor M2 at the time of image reading at a scan speed matching the magnification information.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of the memory unit 30. Referring to the drawing, the memory unit 30 includes an image signal processing unit, a print processing unit, and an external IF unit 3.
Bus switching unit 30 for switching the route of image data to 10
1, an area discrimination unit 303 that discriminates a simple binary area and a halftone area of input image data, a binarization processing unit 302 that generates binary data based on parameter setting from the CPU 3, and Image memory 304 having a page capacity
And a code processing unit 305 having a compressor 311 and an expander 312 that can operate independently, a multi-port code memory 306, an edit processing unit 307 that performs rotation, scaling, movement, etc., and a CPU 3 It is composed of a multilevel halftoning processing unit 308 that performs multilevel halftoning processing based on parameter settings, a smoothing processing unit 309 that performs smoothing processing, and a CPU 3 that controls all of these.

The switching unit 301 can exchange image data with an external device via the external IF unit 310. The image transfer between the code memory 306 and the external IF unit 310 can be performed in parallel with the copy processing of the main body. At that time, the image data is compressed / decompressed in the code processing unit 305 if necessary.

In the memory mode copy in which an image read by scanning a document or an image input from an external device through the external IF section 310 is temporarily stored, the binarization processing section 302 of the memory unit 30 includes: 8-bit multi-valued image data is input from the image signal processing unit 20 via the bus switching unit 301 and the area discrimination unit 303. The binarization processing unit 302 performs a process of converting multi-valued image data into binary image data within a recoverable range by error diffusion, a dither method, or the like. The binarized image data is once written in the image memory 304.

When the image data is written in the image memory 304, the code processor 305 reads and compresses the data to generate code data (compressed data), and writes the code data in the code memory 306. Further, the code processing unit 305 reads the code data to be printed from the code memory 306 and decompresses it, and the obtained image data is used as the image memory 30.
Write to 4. The compressor 311 and the decompressor 312 are configured to be operable independently of each other and in parallel in order to improve the copy speed. Between these and the code memory 306, the data is DMA by a DMA controller (not shown). It is supposed to be transferred.

The image data after decompression is stored in the image memory 304.
When the data is transferred to, the edit processing unit 307 performs edit processing such as rotation and scaling as necessary.

When the image data for one page is reproduced by the decompression and editing processing, the data is read from the image memory 304. The read data is restored to multi-valued data depending on the mode by the multi-valued smoothing processing units 308 and 309, and is subjected to smoothing processing as necessary. Then, the multi-valued image data is transferred to the print processing unit 40 or an external device via the external IF unit 310.

When temporarily storing such a document image, the code memory 306 is managed by the management table MT1 provided in the RAM 123.

7 and 8 are diagrams showing the relationship between the management table MT1 and the code memory 306. As shown in FIG.

The code memory 306 is divided into 32 Kbyte units of memory area, and in consideration of enabling simultaneous control of writing (when reading an image) and reading (when printing), each of them is divided. Code data is stored in the area for each page.

The management table MT1 includes a code memory 30.
The number indicating the area 6 and the page number (original image number) PN of the image data added in the writing order (original scanning order) PN
And the number of connected areas and various additional information necessary for compression / expansion processing such as the compression method and data length are stored. Based on these pieces of information, the code memory 306
Is managed dynamically.

The "previous connection" in FIG. 7 indicates the connection of the areas of every 32 Kbytes in each page in the forward direction. When this is "00", it indicates that it is the first storage area of data for one page. Similarly, "post-connection" indicates the last area when it is "FF", and when it is other than "FF",
Indicates the number of the area that will be connected later.

When the image data is read from the image memory 304 and compressed, the CPU 3 controls the compression unit 311 and stores the image data in the code memory 306 while referring to the information in the management table MT1. Also, when outputting image data, the code memory 3
Code data is read from 06. Management table MT1
The information inside is erased when the information on the corresponding page is normally read and the copying of the number M (copies) designated by the user is completed.

Next, the operation sequence of this digital copying machine will be described focusing on the request command (Q), report (A), or data flow exchanged between the CPUs.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a schematic sequence of a memory write operation. In the writing operation, the image data is transferred from the image signal processing unit 20 to the image memory 304.

Referring to the figure, first, CPU 5 controlling the entire sequence requests CPU 3 to prepare a memory. In response to this, the CPU 3 sets the bus connection state for causing the internal hardware to transfer the image data from the image signal processing unit 20 to the image memory 304, the mode setting for the binarization process, and the image memory. Three
The start address of the writing area to 04 and the XY length information are set.

When these settings are completed and the preparation is completed, the CPU 3 notifies the CPU 5 of the completion of the memory preparation.

When the CPU 5 requests the CPU 3 and the CPU 2 for reading, the CPU 2 requests the internal document scanning section for scanning.

When the document scanning unit starts scanning and the first scanner 11 reaches the image area, the read data (image data) is transferred from the image signal processing unit 20 to the memory unit according to the image processing mode set by the CPU 2. 30 is transferred.

When the scanning is completed and the CPUs 2 and 3 notify the completion of reading to the CPU 5, the CPU 5 sends the CP
U3 is requested to compress the data. In response to this, the CPU 3 reads the read address from the image memory 304, X
Y length information, write address to code memory 306,
Then, the mode (for example, arithmetic coding method, MH method) of the compression unit 311 is set, and each unit is activated. As a result, the compression process is performed and the code data is stored in the code memory 306.

When the compression process is completed, the CPU 3 sends a CP
U5 is notified of the completion of compression. At this time, if the code memory 306 is full, a compression completion report with a parameter indicating that compression is impossible is sent to the CPU 5. This allows the CPU 5 to know that the code memory 306 has reached the memory full state.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a schematic sequence of a memory read operation. In the memory read operation, the image memory 3
Image data is read from 04, and a copy image is printed on a sheet based on the image data.

Referring to the figure, CPU 5 requests CPU 3 to expand the data. The CPU 3 is the code memory 3
06 read address, data amount, image memory 304
Write address, XY length information, and decompressor 3
12 modes (eg arithmetic coding, MH),
Each mode is started by setting the mode of edit processing such as rotation. As a result, decompression processing is performed and the image data is written in the image memory 304.

When the expansion processing is completed, the completion report is sent from the CPU 3 to the CPU 5. After that, the CPU 5
A memory preparation request for reading image data from the image memory 304 is output to PU3. In response to this,
The CPU 3 uses the image memory 304 for the internal hardware.
To output the image data to the print processing unit 40, the bus connection state is set, the start address of the read area of the image memory 304, and the XY length information are set.

When the setting is completed and the preparation is completed, and the CPU 5 receives the notification, the CPU 5 requests the CPU 3 and the print processing unit 40 to print. A paper feed report is sent from the print processing unit 40 to the CPU 5 to inform the paper conveyance state, and then the image data read from the image memory 304 is used as the print processing unit 4.
It is output to 0 and printing is performed.

When the printing is completed, the CPU 3 and the print processing unit 40 send a print completion report and an eject completion report to the CPU 5. CPU5 which received these reports, CPU5 as needed
A memory clear request is given to 3.

FIG. 11 is a CP for controlling the operation panel.
It is a main flowchart of U1. Referring to the figure, when the power is turned on, CPU 1 first performs initialization for initializing RAM, registers and the like (# 11). afterwards,
Set the internal timer that defines the length of one routine (#
12), key input processing for accepting key operation (# 13),
A panel display process (# 14) for performing display according to the operation,
Other processing (# 15) and waiting for the internal timer to continue (# 16) are repeatedly executed. In addition, it communicates with other CPUs as an interrupt process at appropriate times. The panel display process (# 14) and other processes (# 15) will be described in detail later.

FIG. 12 is a main flowchart of the CPU 3 which controls the memory unit 30.

After performing the initial setting process (# 31), the CPU 3 receives the command receiving process (# 32), the status transmitting process (# 33), the image memory writing process (# 34), and the compression control process (# 35). ), Expansion control processing (# 36), image memory reading processing (# 37), and other processing (# 3).
Repeat 8).

FIG. 13 shows C for controlling the printer section P.
It is a main flowchart of PU4.

After the initial setting (# 41), the CPU 4 sets the internal timer (# 42), controls the development and transfer system (# 43), controls the transport system (# 44), and controls the fixing system. (# 45), control of the print processing unit (# 46), other processing (# 47), and processing for waiting for the measurement of the internal timer (# 48) are repeatedly executed.

FIG. 14 is a CPU that controls the control of the copying machine.
5 is a main flowchart of No. 5. After the initial setting (# 51), the CPU 5 sets the internal timer (# 5
2), an input data analysis process (# 53) for checking input data from another CPU, a mode setting process (# 54) for determining an operation mode according to the operation content, an interrupt switching process (# 55), and a mode. Command setting processing according to (# 5
6), the output data set (# 57) for holding the command in the communication port, the other processing (# 58), and the internal timer waiting processing (# 59) are repeatedly executed.

FIG. 15 shows the panel display process (# 1 in FIG.
It is a flowchart in 4). Referring to the drawing, in step # 101, it is determined what the screen to be displayed on liquid crystal touch panel 201 is. If the screen to be displayed is the basic screen, the basic screen is displayed in step # 102.

If the screen to be displayed in step # 101 is the job management screen, it is determined in step # 103 which screen should be displayed in the job management screen. If the screen to be displayed is the job management basic screen, the job management basic screen is displayed in step # 104.

If it is determined in step # 103 that the screen to be displayed is the job number display screen, the job number display screen is displayed in step # 105. Then, if it is determined in step # 106 that the input of the ID code is performed by the ten-key pad 202 or the ID card 212, the I input in step # 107.
The registered job corresponding to the D code is displayed. Then, in step # 108, the liquid crystal touch panel 201
Display the correction key on.

By pressing this correction key, the user can correct the work content of the job corresponding to the ID code.

If it is determined in step # 103 that the screen to be displayed is the list display screen, step # 1
A list display screen for displaying a list of jobs registered in 09 is displayed on the liquid crystal touch panel 201. Step # 1
It is determined whether or not the ID code is input in 10, and YES
If so, a mark is displayed on the displayed job corresponding to the ID code in step # 111. Then, in step # 112, the correction key is displayed.

If it is determined in step # 101 that the screen to be displayed is another screen, step # 1
At 13, the corresponding screens are displayed.

FIG. 16 is a view showing the basic screen displayed in step # 102 of FIG. Referring to the figure, the basic screen shows a job management key TP1 and a filing key TP.
2, finishing key TP3, original → copy key TP4
A basic key TP5, a message display section TP6, a copy number display section TP7, and a job registration key TP8 are displayed.

When the user presses the job management key TP1, the liquid crystal touch panel 201 displays a job management basic screen described later. By pressing the job registration key TP8, new image data is read, and the user inputs work contents (the number of copies, copy magnification, etc.) to register a new job. The processing corresponding to these key inputs is performed in step # of FIG.
Performed at 13.

FIG. 17 is a diagram showing the job management basic screen displayed in # 104 of FIG.

Referring to the figure, on the basic job management screen, a job number display key TP9 and a list display key TP10 are displayed. By pressing each key, the registered jobs can be displayed. By pressing the basic key TP5,
The screen of FIG. 16 is displayed on the liquid crystal touch panel 201.

FIG. 18 is a view showing the job number display screen displayed in step # 105 of FIG.

Referring to the figure, on the job number display screen, a display prompting the input of the ID code is displayed. Further, the EXIT key TP11 is displayed, and by pressing this key, the display returns to the job management basic screen.

FIG. 19 is a diagram showing a state after the ID code is input from the state of FIG.

In this case, the input ID code is displayed, the job number (JOB-No.) Registered in association with the ID code, the end time of the job, and the job are executed. The remaining amount of memory when it is displayed is displayed. Also, a job content correction key TP12 is displayed. By pressing the job content modification key TP12, the user can modify the work content (number of copies, paper size, magnification, other modes) of the currently displayed job.

FIG. 20 is a diagram showing the structure of a job management table for managing registered jobs.

Referring to the figure, in the job management table, the registration number (registration No.) of the job, the image data capacity CAPA (n) of the job, the time TIME (n) required to execute the job, The remaining time REST (n) until the end of the job being executed, the time TSUM (n) from the current time until the end of each job, and the amount CSUM (n) of the image data recorded in the memory , The free space SPACE (n) of the memory and the ID code ID (n) of the person who registered the job are registered for each job.

On the screen of FIG. 19, the entered ID
The registration number of the job corresponding to the code and the variable TSUM
The value of (n) and the value of the variable SPACE (n) are displayed.

FIG. 21 shows the list display screen displayed in step # 109 of FIG.

Referring to the drawing, a list display TP15 of registered jobs is displayed on the screen. Also, an up key TP for scrolling the job list display TP15
13 and the down key TP14 are displayed.

In this screen, the registration numbers of all the jobs registered in the job management table of FIG. 20, the value of the variable TSUM (n), and the variable SPACE (n).
And the value of are displayed in the job list display TP15. However, since the value of ID (n) is not displayed, in this state, the user cannot specifically know which job the user has registered.

In the state of FIG. 21, when the ID is input, the screen shown in FIG. 22 is displayed.

Referring to FIG. 22, liquid crystal touch panel 20
In 1, the ID code input at the position of the job corresponding to the input ID code in the job list display TP15 is displayed. This allows the user to easily know the end time of the job registered by the user.

Further, when the ID code is input, the job content modification key TP12 is displayed on the liquid crystal touch panel 201, and the user can modify the content of the job registered for execution.

FIG. 23 shows other processes (# 1
It is a flowchart which shows the process in 5).

Referring to the figure, in step # 201, a process corresponding to the input of the ID code is performed. Next, in step # 202, a process of inputting a new job is performed. A process of correcting the content of the job registered in step # 203 is performed. At step # 204, when there is an inconvenience in modifying the registered job, a process of displaying the warning is performed.

FIG. 24 shows the ID input process (# 20
It is a flowchart which shows the process in 1).

Referring to the drawing, in step # 210, ID
It is determined whether the ID code is input by the card or the ten-key pad 202. If YES, step # 211
The ID code entered in is checked. Step # 21
In step 2, it is determined whether or not the ID code is a code of a person who is permitted to use the copying machine registered in the copying machine.

If YES at step # 212, the flag JOB indicating the job acceptance state is set to "1" at step # 213.

If NO at either step # 210 or # 212, the process directly returns.

FIG. 25 shows the job input process (# 2 of FIG.
It is a flowchart which shows the process in 02).

Referring to the figure, it is determined in step # 221 whether the flag JOB indicating the job acceptance state is "1". If YES, it is determined in step # 222 whether a new job has been input. The input of a new job is specifically the registration of a new job by pressing the job registration key TP8 in FIG.

If YES at step # 222, a new job is input at step # 223. Specifically, the image data of the new job and its processing contents (number of copies, copy magnification, paper size, other modes, etc.)
And the ID code of the person who registers the new job.

Next, in step # 224, it is determined whether or not the input of a new job is completed. If YES, the value of the flag JOB indicating the job acceptance state is set to "0" in step # 225, To return.

If NO at any of steps # 221, # 222 or # 224, the process directly returns.

FIG. 26 is a flow chart showing the processing in the job correction input processing (# 203) of FIG.

Referring to the drawing, in step # 230, it is determined whether the value of flag JOB indicating the job acceptance state is "1". If YES at step # 230,
In step # 231, it is determined whether or not the job has been corrected by the job content correction key TP12. Step # 231
If YES is determined, in step # 232, a process of inputting the correction content of the registered job corresponding to the ID code is performed. Specifically, a process for inputting the number of copies, copy magnification, paper size, other modes, etc. is performed.

In step # 233, it is determined whether the input of the correction of the job is completed, and if YES, step # 2
At 34, a process of transferring the content of the correction to CPU 3 is performed.

Thereafter, in step # 235, the value of the flag JOB indicating the job acceptance state is set to "0", and the process returns.

If NO at any of steps # 230, # 231 or # 233, the process directly returns.

The CPU 3 confirms the content of the correction of the job transferred in step # 234 of FIG. 26, and determines whether the content of the correction is appropriate. If it is determined that the content of the correction is inappropriate, a warning is output to the CPU 1. The operation of the CPU 3 will be described later.

FIG. 27 is a flowchart showing the processing in the job correction warning display processing (# 204) of FIG.

Referring to the drawing, it is determined in step # 240 whether the contents of the job have been modified. If YES, it is determined in step # 241 whether or not a warning is output from the CPU 3 regarding the modification of the job content. YE
If it is S, a warning is displayed on the liquid crystal touch panel 201 in step # 242, and the process returns.

If NO at step # 241, the fact that the correction of the job is completed is displayed on the liquid crystal touch panel 201, and the process returns.

If NO at step # 240, the process directly returns. FIG. 28 is a diagram showing a message displayed on the liquid crystal touch panel 201 in the job correction warning display (# 242) of FIG.

In this embodiment, when the contents of the job are modified, it is determined whether the time required for executing the modified job is increased as compared with that before the modification. It is characterized in that when the judgment is made and the number of jobs is increased, the processing of the corrected job is terminated. This prevents the end time of a job registered by another person from being behind schedule.

That is, with reference to FIG. 28, the liquid crystal touch panel 201 displays a message indicating that the processing of the corrected job has been completed.

FIG. 29 is a flow chart showing the processing in the other processing (# 38) of the CPU 3 in FIG. Referring to the figure, in step # 300, a new job registration process is performed. In step # 301, a process for correcting the registered job is performed. Step #
At 302, a process of monitoring a job being executed is performed. In step # 303, processing for calculating the required time and the end time of the registered job is performed. Step # 3
At 04, a process of calculating the free space of the memory is performed.

FIG. 30 shows the job registration process (# 3 in FIG.
[Fig. Referring to the figure, in step # 310, it is determined whether or not a new job is registered. If YES, step # 311
The variable n indicating the last value of the registration number of the job registered in step 1 is incremented by 1. In step # 312, the process of registering a new job is performed. Step # 31
The capacity of the image data of the new job in 3 is the variable CAPA
Recorded in (n). In step # 314, the time required to execute the job is registered in the variable TIME (n).

If NO at step # 310,
It returns as it is. FIG. 31 is a flowchart showing the processing in the job correction registration processing (# 301) of FIG.

Referring to the figure, it is determined whether the job registered in step # 320 has been modified. If YES, the registration number r of the job to be corrected is acquired from the ID code or the like in step # 321. Step # 322
Then, the required time of the corrected job is calculated. In step # 323, it is determined whether the job required time has increased after the correction. If YES, the job whose processing time has increased is determined as the last job in step # 324. At step # 325, a warning is output to CPU1.

If NO at step # 323, a process of correcting the contents of the job is performed at step # 326.
The variable CAPA (r) and the variable TIME (r) are newly registered again.

If NO at step # 320, the process directly returns. FIG. 32 is a flowchart showing the processing in the job monitor processing (# 302) of FIG.

Referring to the figure, it is determined in step # 330 whether the job is being executed. If YES, the registration number of the job being executed is registered in variable N in step # 331.

Then, in step # 332, the value of the variable N is transmitted to the CPU1. If NO at step # 330, the process directly returns.

FIG. 33 is a flow chart showing the processing in the job required time calculation processing (# 303) of FIG.

Referring to the figure, in step 341, the job number N being executed is substituted for the variable t. Step # 34
2, the value of the variable TSUM (t) is changed to the variable REST (t).
Is substituted (see FIG. 20).

Next, at step # 343, the variable TSUM is set.
The value of (t-1) is set to 0. Next, in step # 344, the value of the variable t is incremented by 1. Step # 345
Determines whether the value of the variable t exceeds the value of the variable n.
If S, in step # 346, the value of TSUM (t-1) + TIME (t) is substituted for the value of the variable TSUM (t), and the process from step # 344 is repeated.

If NO at step # 345, the process returns. By this processing, TSU in each of the jobs
The value of M (n) is obtained, and the end time of each job can be known.

FIG. 34 is a flow chart showing the processing in the memory free space calculation processing (# 304) of FIG.

Referring to the figure, in step # 350, variable c
The value of the variable n indicating the registration number of the last registered job is assigned to. In step # 351, the variable CSU
The value of M (c) is set to 0. Variable CS in step # 352
The value of UM (c + 1) is set to 0.

At step # 353, the variable CSUM (c) is changed.
The value of CSUM (c + 1) + CAPA (c) is substituted for the value of (see FIG. 20). Next, in step # 354, the value of the variable SPACE (c) is changed from the total amount of memory to CSUM.
Substitute the value obtained by subtracting the value of (c). Step # 355
Then, the value of the variable c is decremented by 1. Step # 35
At 6, it is determined whether c <N, and if YES, the process returns.

If NO at step # 356, the processes from step # 353 are performed. [Second Embodiment]
The hardware configuration of the copying machine according to the second embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment. In the second embodiment, the process shown in the flowchart of FIG. 35 is performed instead of the job correction registration process shown in FIG.

Referring to FIG. 35, steps # 401 to # 401
The processing in 404 and # 406 is performed from # 320 in FIG.
Corresponding to # 323 and # 326, respectively.

In the flowchart of FIG. 35, when it is determined in step # 404 that the processing time of the corrected job will increase, a warning is output to CPU 1 in # 405. At this time, only a warning is output and the contents of the job are not actually modified. In response to this, the CPU 1 executes the job correction warning display process (# 242 in FIG. 27).
The screen shown in FIG. 36 is displayed. That is, the user is warned that the correction that increases the processing time of the job cannot be performed. As a result, it is possible to prevent the end time of the job registered by another person from being delayed due to the increase in the processing time of the registered job.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing an overall configuration of a copying machine according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of an operation panel of the copying machine shown in FIG.

3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a control unit of the copying machine of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram following FIG.

5 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an image signal processing unit 20 of FIG.

6 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a memory unit 30 of FIG.

7 is a diagram showing a management table of a code memory 306. FIG.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a configuration of a code memory 306.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an operation sequence in a memory write operation.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an operation sequence during memory reading.

FIG. 11 is a main flowchart of the CPU 1.

FIG. 12 is a main flowchart of the CPU 3.

FIG. 13 is a main flowchart of the CPU 4.

FIG. 14 is a main flowchart of the CPU 5.

15 is a flowchart of a panel display process (# 14) of FIG.

FIG. 16 is a diagram showing a basic screen.

FIG. 17 is a diagram showing a job management basic screen.

FIG. 18 is a diagram showing a job number display screen.

19 is a diagram showing a state in which an ID code has been input from the state shown in FIG.

FIG. 20 is a diagram showing a specific example of a job management table.

FIG. 21 is a diagram showing a list display screen of registered jobs.

FIG. 22 is a diagram showing a state in which an ID code has been input from the state of FIG. 21.

FIG. 23 is a flowchart of another process (# 15) of FIG. 11.

24 is a flowchart of the ID input process (# 201) of FIG.

25 is a flowchart of the job input process (# 202) of FIG.

FIG. 26 is a flowchart of the job correction input process (# 203) of FIG. 23.

FIG. 27 is a job correction warning display process (# 20 in FIG.
It is a flowchart in 4).

FIG. 28 is a diagram illustrating a screen that displays a warning about job modification.

29 is a flowchart of another process (# 38) of FIG.

30 is a flowchart of the job registration process (# 300) of FIG.

31 is a flowchart of the job correction registration process (# 301) of FIG. 29. FIG.

32 is a flowchart of the job monitor process (# 302) of FIG. 29. FIG.

FIG. 33 is a diagram showing the required job time calculation process (# 30 in FIG.
It is a flowchart in 3).

FIG. 34 is a diagram showing a memory free space calculation process (# 30 in FIG.
It is a flowchart in 4).

FIG. 35 is a flowchart of a job correction registration processing routine according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 36 is a diagram showing a warning display when the job required time is increased due to the correction in the second embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

30 memory units 211 ID card slot 212 ID card

Continuation of the front page (56) Reference JP-A-8-307583 (JP, A) JP-A-8-84216 (JP, A) JP-A-8-125832 (JP, A) JP-A-7-76155 (JP , A) JP 5-134511 (JP, A) JP 9-163067 (JP, A) JP 9-186803 (JP, A) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB Name) G03G 15/00 G03G 15/36 G03G 21/00 G03G 21/14 B41J 29/00 H04N 1/00 H04N 1/21-1/31

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. A registration unit capable of registering a plurality of work contents, an executing unit for sequentially executing the plurality of work contents, and an input unit for inputting information for correcting the registered work contents. A determination unit that determines whether or not the time for performing the work content increases due to the correction by the input information, and a correction by the input information is performed based on the determination result of the determination unit. An image forming apparatus, which is provided with a prohibition unit that prohibits the access. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the registration unit performs registration using an ID code, and the input unit performs input using an ID code. 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the prohibiting unit prohibits the correction when the determining unit determines that the time increases.