JP2002051172A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Problem] To prevent careless replacement of the reservation order of reserved copy for each user code. SOLUTION: After reserving a job (copy) together with a job number, a CPU 68 displays a job list screen on a liquid crystal touch panel when a job list key is pressed, and a key of any job number on the screen is pressed. When the user code input screen is displayed when the user code is input (when the selection of the reserved job is instructed), and when the user code corresponding to the user code input at the time of the reservation is input, the reservation corresponding to the key of the pressed job number is performed. If a job is selected and then the advance of the reservation order of the reservation job is instructed, the advance of the reservation order is reduced by the advancement. If the input user code matches, the reservation order of the selected reservation job is advanced.

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 such as a digital copying machine and a digital multifunction peripheral, and more particularly to an image forming apparatus having a reserved copy function.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in an image forming apparatus having a reserved copy function, a scanner (image reading means) for reading image information of a document, an image memory (image storing means) for storing image information read by the scanner, and A printer (image forming means) for forming image information read by the scanner on a sheet of paper, and by operating the scanner and the printer asynchronously, when the printer is inoperable or during image forming operation (job Running)
It is possible to reserve a copy with an arbitrary function (condition) and make the scanner read the image information of the document.

As such an image forming apparatus, as described in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 8-55228, it is possible to perform a function setting and an execution instruction for a second job even during the operation of the first job. There has been proposed an apparatus capable of executing a recording operation (image forming operation) of a first job and a second reading operation (operation of reading image information of a document) in parallel.

[0004] Further, as shown in, for example, JP-A-8-84216, a plurality of copies can be reserved, and the execution order (reservation order) of the reserved copy is changed (advanced or deferred); There are also proposals in which copying conditions can be changed.

Further, as shown in, for example, JP-A-2-248966, a designation code (user code) is registered in advance for each department before using the image forming apparatus in order to limit users. It has been proposed that the use of the image forming apparatus is permitted only when a user code that matches the user code input when the image forming apparatus is used is registered.

In such an image forming apparatus, the number of image formations (the number of copies) is counted for each user code, and the number of copies can be managed for each user. When a plurality of users make a reserved copy under such a user code management situation, it is necessary to input a user code when reserving the copy.

[0007]

However, in the case where after the reservation of the copy for each user code, the process of changing the reservation order of the reserved copies is performed, if the process can be executed unconditionally, the other users are not allowed to execute the process. The execution order (reservation order) of the reserved copy corresponding to the code may be reduced, resulting in a problem that the time required to complete the copy result is delayed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and by preventing the order of reservation of reserved copies for each user code from being inadvertently changed, each reserved copy under user code management is prevented. It is an object of the present invention to be able to correctly manage the reservation order.

[0009]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a user code registering means for registering a plurality of user codes for identifying each user, an image reading means for reading image information of a document, and an image read by the means. Image storage means for storing information; image forming means for forming image information read by the image reading means on a sheet of paper; copy request means for requesting copying under arbitrary conditions; A normal copy operation executing means for executing a normal copy operation using at least the image reading means and the image forming means, and an instruction to reserve another copy under arbitrary conditions during the execution of the copy operation by the means. Means for notifying information requesting the input of the user code, and, when the user code is input after the notification by the means, Means for user codes registered in the de user code registration means determines whether or not to match, only if it is determined that coincides with said means,
After the reading of the image information by the image reading means has been completed, the copy reservation receiving means for receiving the reservation of another designated copy and the normal copy operation executing means. If the reservation has been accepted, the image reading unit starts reading the image information of the original, stores the image information in the image storage unit, and stores the image information after the copy operation by the normal copy operation execution unit ends. In order to achieve the above object, in an image forming apparatus having a reserved copy operation executing means for executing a reserved copy operation for outputting image information stored in the means to the image forming means to perform image formation, It is characterized by the following.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, when a plurality of copy reservations have been accepted by the copy reservation accepting means, an input of a user code is requested when any one of the reserved copies is instructed. Means for notifying information, and when a user code is input after the notification by the means, it is determined whether or not the user code matches the user code input at the time of accepting the reservation of the reserved copy designated by the selection. Means, a reserved copy selecting means for selecting the reserved copy designated by the selection only when it is determined by the means to match, and an instruction to reduce the reservation order of the reserved copy selected by the means. At this time, when a means for executing the advance and an instruction to advance the reservation order of the reserved copy selected by the reserved copy selecting means are instructed, The first user code entered at the time of accepting the reservation of the reserved copy matches the second user code entered at the time of accepting the reservation of the reserved copy whose reservation order is advanced with the advance of the reserved order of the reserved copy. Means for judging whether or not the reserved copy is selected by the reserved copy selecting means, and means for increasing the reservation order of the reserved copy selected by the reserved copy selecting means.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus of the first aspect, when it is determined that the first user code and the second user code do not match, an input of the user code is requested. Means for notifying information, and means for judging whether or not the user code matches the second user code when a user code is input after notification by the means. Means for performing advancing of the reserved copy selected by the reserved copy selecting means in the reservation order.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus of the first aspect, the user code registering means stores a plurality of user codes for identifying each user in order of priority of the right to use the image forming apparatus by each user. When it is determined that the first user code does not match the second user code, the first user code is registered in the user code registration means together with the user code matching the first user code. Whether the priority of the usage right of the image forming apparatus is higher or lower than the priority of the usage right of the image forming apparatus registered in the user code registration unit together with the user code matching the second user code. Means for judging, and, when judged high by the means, advance the reservation order of the reserved copy selected by the reserved copy selecting means The is provided with a means for executing.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, when a plurality of copy reservations have been accepted by the copy reservation accepting means, the user is requested to input a user code when any one of the reserved copies is instructed. Means for notifying information, and when a user code is input after the notification by the means, it is determined whether or not the user code matches the user code input at the time of accepting the reservation of the reserved copy designated by the selection. Means, a reserved copy selecting means for selecting the reserved copy designated by the selection only when it is determined by the means to match, and an instruction to reduce the reservation order of the reserved copy selected by the means. At this time, when the means for executing the advance and the advance of the reserved order of the reserved copy selected by the reserved copy selecting means are instructed, Means for notifying information requesting the input of the code, and, when the user code is input after the notification by the means, the user code and the reserved copy selected by the reserved copy selecting means are moved up in the reservation order. Means for determining whether or not the user code input at the time of accepting the reservation of the reserved copy whose order is to be reduced, and the reservation selected by the reserved copy selecting means only when the means determines that the user codes match. Means for moving up the order of reservation for copying.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, the user code registering means is a means for registering a plurality of user codes for identifying each user together with the priority of the right to use the image forming apparatus by each user, and accepts a copy reservation. Means for notifying information requesting the input of a user code when selection of any one of the reserved copies is instructed when the reservation of a plurality of copies has been accepted by the means; and Means for judging whether or not the user code is coincident with the user code entered at the time of accepting the reservation of the reserved copy for which the selection has been instructed; and when the means judges that the user code is identical. A reserved copy selecting means for selecting a reserved copy designated by the above selection, and a reserved copy selected by the means. Means for executing the reordering when instructed to advance the order, and user code input when accepting the reservation for the reserved copy when instructed to advance the reserved order of the reserved copy selected by the reserved copy selecting means The priority order of the right to use the image forming apparatus registered in the user code registration unit together with the user code that matches with the user code matches the reservation order of the reserved copy with the advance of the reserved order of the reserved copy. Means for determining whether the priority is higher or lower than the priority of the right to use the image forming apparatus registered in the user code registration means together with the user code coincident with the input user code at the time, Means for executing advance of the reserved copy selected by the reserved copy selecting means in the reserved order. Those were.

[0015]

Embodiments of the present invention will be specifically described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an example of a mechanical section of a digital copying machine embodying the present invention.

In this digital copying machine, a document bundle placed with its image side up on a document table 2 provided in an automatic document feeder (hereinafter referred to as "ADF") 1 is operated by an operation unit 30 shown in FIG. When the upper print key 34 is depressed, the originals are sequentially fed one by one from the bottom original onto the contact glass 6 by the feed rollers 3 and the feed belt 4, and set at a predetermined position. The set document is read out of image information by a scanner (reading unit) 50 as image reading means. After the reading is completed, the document is discharged by the feed belt 4 and the discharge roller 5.

Each time the reading of image information of one document is completed, the document set detection sensor 7 detects whether or not there is a next document on the document table 2, and if so, the document is replaced with the previous document. The document is fed onto the contact glass 6 in the same manner as the original, and thereafter, the same operation as described above is performed. The feed roller 3, the feed belt 4, and the discharge roller 5 are driven by a transport motor (not shown).

The transfer papers stacked on the first paper feed tray 8, the second paper feed tray 9, and the third paper feed tray 10 are the first
The paper is fed by the paper feeding device 11, the second paper feeding device 12, and the third paper feeding device 13, and is transported by the vertical transport unit 14 to a position where it comes into contact with the photosensitive drum 15. However, one of the paper feed trays 8 to 10 is actually selected, and the transfer paper is fed therefrom.

The image information (image data) read by the scanner 50 is stored as it is, or after temporarily stored in the image memory 66 of FIG.
7 and is written by the writing unit 57 as a laser beam on a pre-charged surface of the photoconductor drum 15 (charged by a charger (not shown)), and the portion passes through the developing unit 27. There, a toner image is formed.

The transfer paper fed from the selected paper feed tray is conveyed by a conveyor belt (transfer belt) 16 at the same speed as the rotation of the photosensitive drum 15, and is transferred onto one surface of the photosensitive drum 15. Is transferred, and the fixing unit 17 thermally fixes the toner image.
After that, the transfer paper is conveyed by the paper discharge unit 18 to the finisher 100 as a post-processing device in the one-sided copy mode.

At this time, for example, when it is desired to invert the transfer paper having the toner image formed on one side for face-down discharge (the image side is turned down to align the transfer paper in the page order), the transfer paper is The sheet is conveyed to the double-sided sheet conveyance path 113 by the sheet discharge unit 18, switched back by the reversing unit 112, and then conveyed to the finisher 100 through the reverse sheet discharge conveyance path 114.

In the finisher 100, transfer paper having a toner image (image information) formed on one surface sent from the copying machine main body, that is, transfer paper having been copied on one side, is stacked by a branch deflecting plate 101 to a stacker transport roller 102. Side or the stapler conveyance roller 105 side.

That is, when the branch deflecting plate 101 is switched upward, the transfer paper from the copying machine main body is transferred to the stacker transport roller 102 and the stacker discharge roller 1.
03 can be discharged to the stacker tray 104. The stacker tray 104 is a paper discharge tray that can move back and forth, and moves back and forth for each document or for each copy unit sorted by using the image memory 66 to easily sort the transfer paper (copy paper) to be discharged. Is what you do.

When the branch deflecting plate 101 is switched downward, the single-side copied transfer paper sent from the copying machine main body is transferred to the staple tray 108 via the stapler transport roller 105 and the stapler discharge roller 107. Can be discharged.

On the staple tray 108, each time one sheet of transfer paper is discharged, its end is aligned by a jogger (drop stopper) 109 for alignment, and is stapled by the stapler 106 when one copy is completed. The transfer paper group bound by the stapler 106 is stored in the staple completed discharge tray (fall tray) 110 by its own weight.

On the other hand, in the double-sided copy mode, the transfer paper having a toner image formed on one side (transfer paper on which one side has been copied) is transported by the paper discharge unit 18 to the double-sided paper conveyance path 113.
After being reversed by the reverse unit 112 and then sent to the double-sided transport unit 111.

The transfer paper sent to the two-sided conveyance unit 111 is re-fed from the two-sided conveyance unit 111 to transfer the toner image formed on the photosensitive drum 15 again. Body drum 15
After the toner image is transferred to a position where the toner image is transferred onto the other surface, the toner image is fixed by the fixing unit 17, and the finisher 10 is fixed by the paper discharging unit 18.
0, and the same operation as described above is performed thereafter.

The photosensitive drum 15 and the conveyor belt 1
6, the fixing unit 17, the paper discharging unit 18, and the developing unit 27 are driven by a main motor 25 shown in FIG. 5, and each of the paper feeding devices 11 to 13 is driven by the main motor 25 by a paper feeding clutch 22 to 24 shown in FIG. It is transmitted and driven. The vertical transport unit 14 is driven by the drive of the main motor 25 being transmitted by the intermediate clutch 21 in FIG. Further, each unit for the image forming process including the above-described writing unit 57 constitutes the printer 80 of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a layout diagram showing a configuration example of the operation unit of the digital copying machine. The operation unit 30 includes a liquid crystal touch panel 31, a numeric keypad 32, a clear / stop key 33, a print key 34, a preheat key (mode clear key) 35, a reset key 36, an interrupt key 37, an initial setting key 38, a new reservation key 39, And a job list key 40. The liquid crystal touch panel 31 includes a touch panel on the surface of the liquid crystal display, and can display a function key, the number of copies, a message indicating a machine state, and the like.

In a digital copying machine having the operation unit 30,
When the interrupt key 37 is pressed, the mode shifts to the interrupt mode. The interrupt mode is a mode used when temporarily executing another copy operation while performing or operating the copy operation started by pressing the print key 34 (copy request). For this reason, when the interrupt key 37 is pressed, the copy mode (copy condition) before the press is pressed or, if copying is in progress, the progress information is stored in the nonvolatile RAM, and then the mode is shifted to the interrupt mode. Is initialized.

When the print key 34 is depressed, the interrupt copy operation is started. After the copy operation is completed, the interrupt mode is released by depressing the interrupt key 37, and the copy mode stored in the nonvolatile RAM or the progress of the copy is stored. The information is read, the state is returned to the state before the transition to the interruption mode (setting), and the copy operation can be restarted in the copy mode before the interruption by pressing the print key 34.

When the initial setting key 38 is pressed, the initial state of the machine can be arbitrarily customized.
That is, the initial state set when the size of the transfer paper stored in the machine is set or when the preheating key 35 is pressed (when used as a mode clear key for clearing the copy mode) is arbitrary. Can be set to

If no key operation has been performed for a certain period of time, an application or the like to be selected with priority is selected, a transition time to a low power state according to the International Energy Star plan is set, and an auto-off is set. / The transition time to the sleep mode can be set.

When the preheat key 35 is pressed for about one second or more,
The machine shifts from the standby state to the preheating state, and the fixing unit 1
7, the surface temperature (fixing temperature) of the fixing roller is lowered, and the display of the operation unit 30 is turned off. Here, the preheating state means a low power state referred to in the International Energy Star Program.

To release the preheating state or the off state / sleep state and shift to the standby state, the preheating key 35 is pressed again. The new reservation key 39 is used when a reservation copy is desired. The job list key 40 is used when displaying a list of active copy jobs. The new reservation key 39 and the job list key 40 will be described later in detail.

FIG. 4 is a view showing an example of a copy condition setting screen displayed on the liquid crystal touch panel 31. When the operator (user) touches any one of the function keys in the copy condition setting screen displayed on the liquid crystal touch panel 31, the function displayed in the frame of the function key is selected, and the black and white of the function is selected. The display is reversed.

When it is necessary to specify the details of the function (for example, in the case of variable magnification, a magnification value or the like), touching the function key displays a detailed function setting screen. Since the liquid crystal touch panel 31 uses a dot display, it is possible to graphically perform an optimal display at that time.

In the copy condition setting screen shown in FIG. 4, a message area for displaying a message such as "Copy is possible" or "Please wait" is provided substantially at the upper center, and the image density is automatically set outside the area. Automatic density key to automatically adjust, automatic paper selection key to automatically select transfer paper, tray key to select one of each paper tray,
Each function key such as a 1 × key for designating a 1 × magnification is displayed. Note that the function key indicating the selected function is displayed in black and white inverted (in FIG. 4, shaded).

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a control system of the digital copying machine. Main controller 20
Controls the entire digital copying machine. The main controller 20 includes an operation unit 30 that controls display to the operator and key input by the operator, an image processing unit (IPU) 49 that controls a driving unit of the scanner 50, and controls reading and writing of image data from and to the image memory 66, A distributed control device such as an ADF 1 that performs a document feeding / discharging operation is connected.

Each of the distributed control devices and the main controller 20 exchange information indicating the state of the machine and operation commands as necessary. Further, the main controller 20 includes various clutches 21 to 24 necessary for paper conveyance and the like.
A main motor 25 and a human body detection sensor 29 for detecting whether or not an operator (operator) is in front of the copier;
Is also connected.

Next, with reference to FIG. 2, the operation of reading image information of a document by the scanner 50 and forming an electrostatic latent image corresponding to the image information on the surface of the photosensitive drum 15 will be described. Note that the electrostatic latent image is a potential distribution generated by writing image information on the surface of the photosensitive drum 15 (the surface charged by the charger) with a laser beam.

The 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, and a CC.
It is composed of a D image sensor 54 and the like. The exposure lamp 51 and the first mirror 52 are 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 the image information of the original, 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. The optical scanning system is driven by a drive unit including a scanner drive motor (not shown).

The scanner 50 optically reads image information of a document and converts it into an electric signal. That is, an image surface of a document is illuminated by an exposure lamp 51 of an optical scanning system, and a reflected image from the image surface is reflected by a CCD image sensor via a first mirror 52, a second mirror 55, a third mirror 56, and a lens 53. An image is formed on the light-receiving surface 54 and converted into image information as an electric signal by the CCD image sensor 54.

At this time, the image magnification is changed by moving the lens 53 and the CCD image sensor 54 in the horizontal direction in FIG. That is, the lens 53 and the CCD image sensor 54 correspond to the designated copy magnification.
Is set in the left-right direction.

The writing unit 57 comprises a laser output unit 58, an imaging lens 59, a mirror 60, etc.
Inside the laser output unit 58, there is provided a laser diode as a laser light source and a polygon mirror (rotating polygon mirror) which rotates at a high speed at a constant speed by a motor. A laser beam emitted from a laser output unit 58 is deflected by a polygon mirror that rotates at a constant speed, and is deflected by an imaging lens 59.
, Is turned back by the mirror 60, and is condensed on the charged surface of the photosensitive drum 15 to form an image.

That is, the laser beam deflected by the polygon mirror is exposed and scanned in a direction (main scanning direction) orthogonal to the direction in which the photosensitive drum 15 rotates, and the image information output from the image processing unit 49 in FIG. Write in line units. By repeating the main scanning at a predetermined cycle corresponding to the rotation speed of the photoconductor drum 15 and the scanning density (recording density), an electrostatic latent image is formed on the charged surface of the photoconductor drum 15.

The laser beam immediately before scanning the photosensitive drum 15 is detected by a synchronous detection sensor (not shown). Then, a laser writing control unit (not shown) uses the main scanning synchronization signal output from the synchronization detection sensor to generate a control signal for turning on / off the laser diode and inputting / outputting image information every scanning. .

FIG. 1 shows an image processing unit (IPU) 49.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of FIG. The reflected light image (image) from the document surface is converted into image information (image data) as an electric signal by the CCD image sensor 54, and further converted from an analog value to a digital value by the A / D converter 61. The image information converted to digital values is
After the shading correction is performed by the shading correction unit 62, image processing such as MTF correction and γ correction is performed by the image processing unit 63.

The image information subjected to the image processing by the image processing section 63 is enlarged or reduced in accordance with the copy magnification specified by the magnification processing section 72 and input to the selector 64. The selector 64 switches the destination of the image information. That is, the writing γ correction unit 71 or the memory controller 65 is set as the destination of the image information.

The image information sent from the selector 64 to the writing γ correction section 71 is corrected for the writing γ in accordance with the image forming conditions there, and sent to the writing unit 57 of the printer 80. The memory controller 65 and the selector 64 are configured so that image information can be input and output in both directions.

The CPU 68 is a central processing unit, which writes and reads image information to and from the image memory 66 via the memory controller 65, and controls the scanner 50 and the writing unit 57. RO
M69 is a read-only memory, and stores various fixed data including a control program for operating the CPU 68. The RAM 70 is a readable and writable memory, and temporarily stores various data.

The image processing unit 49 stores a plurality of image data so as to process not only image data input from the scanner 50 but also image data sent from an external device such as a personal computer or a facsimile machine. A circuit (image input means) for inputting is also provided. Further, a circuit (image output means) for outputting the input image data or the image data stored or stored in the image memory 66 to the printer 80 or an external device is provided.

The image information sent to the memory controller 65 is sent to an image memory 66 after being compressed by an image compression unit provided therein. Here, the reason for compressing the image information will be briefly described. Although image information of 256 gradations corresponding to the maximum image size can be directly written in the image memory 66, the image memory 66 is used very frequently for image information of one document.

Therefore, by compressing the image information, the image memory 66 having a limited storage capacity can be effectively used. Further, by performing compression, image information of many originals can be stored (stored) in the image memory 66 at one time. Therefore, as a sorting function, the stored image information (image image data) of the originals is arranged in page order. Can be output.

At this time, the image information read from the image memory 66 is sequentially expanded by the image expansion unit in the memory controller 65. Such a function is generally called an “electronic sort function”. Also, by utilizing this electronic sorting function, image information of a plurality of documents is stored in an image memory 6.
It is also possible to sequentially read an area corresponding to one transfer sheet No. 6 into divided areas.

For example, the image information of the four originals is sequentially written in an area obtained by dividing the area of one transfer paper in the image memory 66 into four equal parts, so that the image information of the four originals is written in one transfer paper. By combining and combining images into a size of one minute, and forming and outputting the combined and combined image information on transfer paper, it is possible to obtain a copy result in which four originals are combined. Such a function is generally called an “aggregation copy function”.

The image information written in the image memory 66 can be accessed from the CPU 68.
For this reason, it is possible to process the contents of the image memory 66, and for example, it is possible to perform processing such as thinning processing and clipping processing of image information. The processing of the image information can be performed by writing the image information into a register in the memory controller 65. The processed image information can be stored in the image memory 66 again.

The image memory 66 is divided into a plurality of areas according to the size of the image information to be processed, and has a configuration capable of simultaneously executing input and output of a plurality of image information. In other words, input of each image information to the divided area,
To enable the outputs to be executed in parallel, the memory controller 65 and the image memory 66 are connected by two sets of address / data lines for reading and writing. Thereby, an operation of outputting (reading) image information from another area while inputting (writing) image information to a certain area becomes possible.

In the image processing unit 49, the CPU 68 reads the contents of the image memory 66,
7 through the operation unit 30 as display information (display data).
Can also be forwarded to That is, since the screen display resolution of the liquid crystal touch panel 31 of the operation unit 30 is low, the original image information in the image memory 66 can be thinned out and transferred to the operation unit 30 as display information.

The image memory 66 may use a hard disk to store a large amount of image information. By using a hard disk, it is possible to permanently retain image information without the need for an external power supply. The image information of a plurality of standard documents (format documents) is
In general, this hard disk is used to read and hold the data.

Here, the image information and control signal for one page in the selector 64 will be described with reference to FIG. / FGATE ("/" indicates low active)
Denotes a frame gate signal, which represents an effective period of one page of image information (image data) in the sub-scanning direction.

/ LSYNC is a main scanning synchronization signal for each line, and the image information becomes valid at a predetermined clock after this signal rises. / LGATE is a line gate signal, and indicates a valid period of image information in the main scanning direction.

These signals correspond to the pixel clock signal VCL
Synchronous with K, data of 8 bits per pixel (256 gradations) is sent for one period. In this digital copying machine, the writing density on the transfer paper is 400 dpi, and the maximum number of pixels is 4,800 pixels in the main scan and 6,800 pixels in the sub-scan. It is assumed that the image information becomes whiter as the gradation is closer to “255”.

Next, a description will be given of an operation procedure by the user when performing a normal copy operation and a reserved copy operation when the user code mode is not set in the digital copying machine with reference to FIGS.

The operation screen shown in FIG. 7 is a normal copy condition setting screen, and arbitrary copy conditions (hereinafter, also referred to as “job conditions”) can be set by key operations on the screen. The normal copy condition setting screen is displayed on the liquid crystal touch panel 31 of the operation unit 30 in FIG.

When an arbitrary copy condition is set by a key operation on the normal copy condition setting screen and the print key 34 is pressed, the display screen of the liquid crystal touch panel 31 switches to the operation screen shown in FIG. When the print key 34 is pressed, copying under the set arbitrary conditions is requested.
A normal copy operation (normal job) is executed using 0.

The operation screen shown in FIG. 8 is a screen during the copy operation, and shows the conditions of the copy currently being executed. In this example, the registration (setting) of the copy to be performed next is not registered (set), and the current execution is performed by pressing the automatic paper selection key, the automatic density key, the equal-size key, the tray 1 (during the paper feeding operation), or the like. The normal copy conditions are set. When the new reservation key 39 is pressed while the screen during the copy operation is being displayed on the liquid crystal touch panel 31, the display screen of the liquid crystal touch panel 31 is switched to a reservation copy condition setting screen shown in FIG.

By pressing each function key on the reserved copy condition setting screen, the copy condition to be performed next is set, and by pressing the print key 34 (other keys may be used), the corresponding copy condition is set. If the reservation of the copy is received (reservation registration), and the reading of the image information of the original by the scanner 50 in the normal job has been completed, the operation of reading the image information of the next original by the scanner 50 is started. .

When the release key 201 is pressed, the reserved copy (reserved copy) is released.
The display screen of the liquid crystal touch panel 31 can be returned to the copy operation screen shown in FIG.

In each of the operation screens shown in FIGS.
A job number is displayed in a message area located substantially at the top of the center. This job number is a number for identifying a job (copy), and is incremented by "1" every time a copy is reserved.

In the reserved copy mode, the operation unit 30 is opened during execution of a normal job (normal copy) to enable an operation input for the next job. After the operation is completed, this is an operation mode in which the scanner 50 and the ADF 1 are opened, and an operation of reading image information of a document of a next job (reserved job) is enabled.

The operation screen shown in FIG. 10 is a job list screen (reservation list screen), and displays a list of information including the currently executed job and the conditions and operation status of the reserved job.
The job list screen is displayed by pressing the job list key 40 of the operation unit 30 while the normal copy condition setting screen of FIG. 7 or the copy operation screen of FIG. 8 is displayed on the liquid crystal touch panel 31 on the liquid crystal touch panel 31. Is displayed on the liquid crystal touch panel 31.

Here, the display and keys on the job list screen will be described. On the job list screen, “operation status”, “job number”, “number of documents”, “number of sets”, and “required time” are displayed for each job. The “required time” is the time required to complete the job (copy operation), and is calculated and displayed based on the number of documents, the number of sets (the number of copies), and the size of the transfer paper.

The job list screen of FIG. 10 shows that three reserved jobs are registered (another job is reserved) in addition to the job being executed (printing). The information area of each job being displayed is a key, and when pressed (touched), it becomes a selected state and is displayed in black and white inverted. In this example, the reserved job 2 is selected.

When the information area in which the black-and-white inverted display is performed is pressed again, the black-and-white inverted display is released to the normal display and returns to the non-selected state. After a certain reserved job is selected on the job list screen of FIG. 10, a “previous” key 211 and a “backward” key 212 for changing (rearranging) the order of the reservation, the contents of the selected reserved job ( conditions)
And a delete key 214 for deleting (cancelling) the selected reserved job.

When the “Previous” key 211 is pressed, the reservation order of the selected job is advanced by one. In this example, the result is as shown in FIG. However, it does not advance before the job being printed. Also, "to the back"
By pressing the key 212, the reservation order of the selected job is moved down by one.

It should be noted that it is also possible to permit only the person who changes the order of reservation of each job to be advanced. In this case, the “Previous” key 211 is not displayed on the job list screen. When the content change key 213 is pressed, the display screen of the liquid crystal touch panel 31 shifts to a reservation waiting screen shown in FIG. 12 for changing the condition of the selected job. Mode) can be changed.

When the "return to list" key 221 on the reservation standby screen of FIG. 12 is pressed, the display screen of the liquid crystal touch panel 31 returns to the job list screen of FIG. When a delete key 214 on the job list screen of FIG. 10 is pressed, the selected reserved job is deleted. In this example, the result is as shown in FIG.

When the “return” key 215 on the job list screen of FIG. 10 is pressed, the display screen of the liquid crystal touch panel 31 returns to the operation screen corresponding to the job before switching to the job list display screen. If there is no job before switching to the job list display screen due to the end of the normal job or the deletion of the reserved job, the operation returns to the operation screen corresponding to the job being printed.

After the reading of the image information of the original by the scanner 50 has been completed in the normal job, if another job has been registered, the reading of the image information of the next original by the scanner 50 is started. The image information is stored in the image memory 66, and after the normal job is completed, the image information stored in the image memory 66 is output to the printer 80 for printing. This series of operations is called a reserved job (reserved copy operation).

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing an example of a user code input screen. This user code input screen is a screen waiting for input of a user code for identifying each user (a screen for notifying information for requesting the input of a user code). When the user code mode is set, this digital copy After the power is turned on to the machine, it is displayed on the liquid crystal touch panel 31 of the operation unit 30 of FIG. When the user code is input using the ten keys 32 while the user code input screen is displayed, the CPU 68 performs the following processing.

That is, the input user code is compared with a pre-registered user code, and only when it is determined that the respective user codes match, use of the digital copying machine is permitted and possible. Then, the display screen of the liquid crystal touch panel 31 switches to the normal job condition setting screen of FIG. 7, and it becomes possible to set an arbitrary job condition. At this time, the entered user code is stored in the RAM 7
It is kept at 0.

Thereafter, even when the new reservation key 39 is pressed, a user code input screen is displayed on the liquid crystal touch panel 31, and when the user code is input by the ten keys 32, the input user code is registered in advance in the same manner as described above. Only when it is determined that the user codes match, the display screen of the liquid crystal touch panel 31 is switched to the reserved job condition setting screen of FIG. It becomes possible to accept a reservation and set the job conditions.

At this time, if the input user code is CP
U68 is associated with an unused job number and RA
M70. For example, the job number “001”
If “002” is used and the next job number “003” is not used, the input user code is held in the RAM 70 in association with the job number “003”.

Even when the user code mode is set, after the digital copying machine is turned on,
The liquid crystal touch panel 31 of the operation unit 30 of FIG.
Alternatively, the normal job condition setting screen of FIG. 7 may be displayed immediately, and the user code input screen may be displayed on the liquid crystal touch panel 31 when the new reservation key 39 is pressed.

The digital copying machine shown in FIG.
The processing directly related to the present invention according to FIG.
This will be specifically described with reference to the following drawings. First, CP
The processing according to the first, second, and fourth aspects of the invention by U68 will be described with reference to FIGS. in this case,
CPU 68, ROM 69, RAM 70 in the main controller 20, the operation unit 30, and the image processing unit 49
Can realize various functions (means) according to the first, second, and fourth aspects of the present invention.

The CPU 68 stores a user code for identifying a user in the RAM 70 by a special key operation on the operation unit 30 by each user (user) and registers it. Here, the RAM 70 is a non-volatile memory that can hold internal data even when the power is turned off.

When the user code mode is set, the job list screen shown in FIG. 15 is displayed on the liquid crystal touch panel 31 of the operation unit 30 shown in FIG. When the area is pressed (selection of the job condition of the job number “003” is instructed), the display screen of the liquid crystal touch panel 31 is switched to the user code input screen shown in FIG.

When the user code is input by the ten keys 32 while the user code input screen is displayed, the input user code and the job number “00” are displayed.
The user code input at the time of reservation registration (reservation acceptance) of the reservation job of "3"
3) to determine whether the respective user codes match, and only when the user codes match, selects the reserved job of job number “003”.

At this time, the information area including the job number “003” is switched to black-and-white inverted display as shown in FIG. 17, and “Previous” for changing the reservation order of the reserved job of the selected job number “003”. A key 211, a “back” key 212, a content change key 213 for changing the condition of the reserved job, and a delete key 214 for deleting the reserved job are valid.

FIGS. 21 and 22 are flowcharts showing an example of the processing by the CPU 68 according to the first and second aspects of the present invention. In each of these drawings, steps are abbreviated as “S”. Also, for the sake of explanation, illustration of processes related to the content change key 213 and the delete key 214 that are not directly related to the present invention is omitted in this flowchart.

When the user code mode is set, the CPU 68 displays the job list screen shown in FIG. 15 on the liquid crystal touch panel 31 of the operation unit 30 and periodically calls a main routine (not shown) in FIG. The process shown in FIG. 22 is started. First, in step 1, the presence or absence of key input (key operation) is checked. If there is no key input, the process returns to the main routine.

If there is a key input, it is checked in step 2 whether the key input is a press of a key in an information area including a job number (hereinafter also referred to as a "job number key"). If so, it is checked in step 3 whether the reserved job corresponding to the pressed job number key is selected (the pressed job number key is displayed in black and white inverted).

If the reserved job corresponding to the pressed job number key has been selected, step 20 is executed.
To cancel the selection and cancel the black-and-white inverted display of the job number key (cancel the selected job), and return to the main routine. If the reserved job corresponding to the job number key has not been selected, For example, in step 4, the display screen of the liquid crystal touch panel 31 is switched to a user code input screen, and the user code input wait state is set.

When the user code is input by the numeric keypad 32 in the user code input waiting state, the user code and the job number of the previously pressed job number key are input at the time of reservation registration of the reserved job in step 5. The user codes are compared with each other to determine whether or not the respective user codes match. If they do not match, the process returns to the main routine.

If the entered user code matches the user code entered during the reservation registration of the reserved job of the job number of the previously pressed job number key, the reserved job of that job number is selected in step 6. Then, a process of switching the job number key to black and white reverse display (reverse display of the selected job) is performed, and the process returns to the main routine.

If the key input is not the pressing of the job number key, it is checked in step 7 whether the key input is the pressing of the "back" key 212. It is checked whether there is a reserved job selected in step 8 and if there is such a reserved job (when an instruction to move down the reservation order of the selected reserved job is given)
In step 9, a move process (after), that is, a process of moving down the reservation order of the selected reserved job by one (moving it backward) is performed, and the process returns to the main routine.

If the key input is not the pressing of the “back” key 212, the key input is performed at step 10
Check whether or not 1 is pressed, and press the “Previous” key 21
If 1 is pressed, it is checked whether or not there is a reserved job selected in step 11, and if there is such a reserved job (if advancement of the reservation order of the selected reserved job is instructed), the next step is performed in step 12. Make a judgment.

That is, the user code (first user code) input at the time of reservation registration of the selected reservation job
And the user code (second user code) input at the time of registering the reservation of the reservation job whose reservation order is moved down (moves backward) with the advance of the reservation order of the reservation job. It is determined whether or not the user codes match (are the same).

Then, the user code input at the time of registering the selected reserved job matches the user code input at the time of registering the reservation of the reserved job whose reservation order is advanced with the advance of the reservation order of the reserved job. In case,
In step 13, the moving process (previous), that is, the process of moving up the reservation order of the selected reserved job by one (moving it forward) is performed, and the process returns to the main routine.

The user code input at the time of reservation registration of the selected reservation job does not match the user code input at the time of reservation registration of the reservation job whose reservation order is advanced with the advance of the reservation order of the reservation job. In this case, in step 14, the display screen of the liquid crystal touch panel 31 is switched to the user code input screen, and the user code is input to the user code which coincides with the user code input at the time of reservation registration of the reservation job whose reservation order is to be advanced.

Thereafter, when a user code is input by the ten keys 32, the user code and the selected reservation job are input at the time of reservation registration of a reservation job whose reservation order is advanced in accordance with the advance of the reservation order of the reservation job in step 15. The user code is compared with the user code to determine whether the user code matches. If the user code matches, the moving process (before) is performed in step 13, that is, the reservation order of the selected reserved job. Is incremented by one (moved forward), and the process returns to the main routine.

If the key input is not the pressing of the "Previous" key 211, that is, if the key input is a key other than the above-mentioned keys, another processing corresponding to the key input is performed in step 21 and the process returns to the main routine. To return.

For example, when the job list screen shown in FIG. 17 is displayed on the liquid crystal touch panel 31 of the operation unit 30 in FIG. 3, that is, the reserved job of the job number “003” is selected (job number “003”). Is displayed in black and white reversed in the information area containing
12 is pressed, the information area including the job number “003” and the information area including the job number “004” are displayed in FIG.
Replace as shown in 8. That is, the job number “00”
The reservation order of the reserved job of “3” and the reserved job of job number “004” are switched.

When the “Previous” key 211 is pressed and the user codes input at the time of registering the reservation of the reservation job of the job numbers “002” and “003” do not match, FIG. LCD touch panel 3 as shown in
1 is switched to a user code input screen, and then a user code that matches the user code input at the time of reservation registration of the reservation job of job number “002” (reservation job whose reservation order goes down) is changed. When input, the information area including the job number “002” and the information area including the job number “003” are exchanged as shown in FIG. That is, the reservation order of the reserved job with the job number “002” and the reserved job with the job number “003” are switched.

As described above, when registering a new reserved job (when accepting a reservation for another copy during execution of a normal job), the user is required to input a user code and to register a reserved job after registration. If a choice is given,
The user inputs a user code, and when the user code matches the user code entered at the time of reservation registration (reservation acceptance) of the reserved job for which selection has been instructed, selects the reserved job, and then selects the reserved job When the advance (change) of the reservation order (printing execution order) of the reservation job is instructed, the reservation order moves down by the advance of the reservation order of the selected reservation job. The user code input at the time of reservation registration of the reservation job is the reservation order. If the user code entered at the time of reservation registration of the reservation job that advances the reservation job, the reservation order of the selected reservation job is advanced, and the reservation order of the reservation job corresponding to the other user code is carelessly repeated. It is possible to prevent such a problem that the time of completion (finish) of the copy result is delayed. That is, it is possible to prevent a delay in the completion of the copy result due to the change of the reservation order by different users.

Also, when registering a new reservation job,
When the user inputs the user code, and the user selects the reserved job after registration, the user is also required to input the user code, and the user code is selected when the reservation of the reserved job is registered. If the entered user code matches, the reservation job is selected, and if the advance of the reservation order of the reservation job is instructed thereafter, the reservation order of the reservation job which is advanced by the advance of the reservation order of the selected reservation job is changed. If the user code entered at the time of the reservation registration does not match the user code entered at the time of the reservation registration of the reservation job that advances the reservation order, the user is required to input the user code again, and the user code is entered. If the user code entered at the time of reservation registration for the reservation job whose reservation By advancing the reserved order of the probe, it is possible to prevent the delay of the copy results finished due to a change of the reserved order by different users more effectively.

Note that the processing shown in FIG.
In the processing according to the present invention), the judgment in step 12 is deleted, and it is checked whether or not there is a reserved job selected in step 11, and if there is such a reserved job (the reservation order of the selected reserved job is changed). Immediately upon the instruction to advance, the processing shifts to the processing of step 14 and the liquid crystal touch panel 3
The display screen of No. 1 is switched to a user code input screen, and the user waits for the input of a user code that matches the user code input at the time of reservation registration of the reservation job whose reservation order is to be advanced. (Processing according to the invention of claim 4).

In this case, when registering a new reserved job, the user is required to input a user code, and also when the user selects a reserved job after registration, the user is required to input a user code. If the user code matches the user code entered at the time of reservation registration of the reserved job for which the selection has been instructed, the user selects the reserved job, and then, if instructed to advance the reservation order of the reserved job, the user immediately To enter the user code, and when the user code matches the user code entered at the time of the reservation registration of the reservation job whose reservation order is advanced, the reservation order of the selected reservation job is advanced. The same effect as described above can be obtained.

Next, the first, third and fifth aspects of the present invention will be described.
15 to 21 and FIG.
3, and will be described with reference to FIG. In this case, the main controller 20, the operation unit 30, and the image processing unit 4
The CPU 68, the ROM 69, the RAM 70, and the like in the ninth aspect can realize various functions (means) according to the first, third, and fifth aspects of the present invention.

The CPU 68 controls the operation unit 30 by each user.
By the above special key operation, for example, as shown in FIG. 24, the user code for identifying each user is stored in the RAM 70 together with information including the priority (priority) of the right to use this digital copying machine by each user. And register. Here, the RAM 70 is also a non-volatile memory that can hold internal data even when the power is turned off.

FIG.
9 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a process according to the present invention. Note that, for convenience of explanation, illustration of processes related to the content change key 213 and the delete key 214 not directly related to the present invention is omitted in this flowchart.

CPU 68 performs the same processing as the processing shown in FIG. 21 and replaces the processing shown in FIG.
The processing shown in FIG. 23 is performed. In the process shown in FIG. 23, when it is determined in step 11 that there is a reserved job selected (instruction to advance the selected reserved job in reservation order), the same determination as in FIG. 22 is performed in step 12.

That is, the user code (first user code) input at the time of reservation registration of the selected reservation job
And the user code (second user code) input at the time of registering the reservation of the reservation job whose reservation order is moved down (moves backward) with the advance of the reservation order of the reservation job. It is determined whether or not the user codes match (are the same).

Then, the user code input at the time of registering the reservation of the selected reserved job matches the user code input at the time of registering the reservation of the reserved job whose reservation order is reduced as the reservation order of the reserved job is advanced. In case,
In step 13, the moving process (before), that is, the reservation order of the selected reserved job is advanced by one (move to the previous position).
Performs processing and returns to the main routine.

The user code input at the time of reservation registration of the selected reserved job does not match the user code input at the time of reservation registration of the reserved job whose reservation order is advanced with the advance of the reservation order of the reserved job. In this case, the RA together with the user code entered at the time of reservation registration of the reservation job selected in step 22 is used.
The priority (priority) of the right of use (hereinafter referred to as “device use right”) of this digital copying machine held (registered) in M70 is changed in accordance with the advance of the reservation order of the selected reserved job. It is determined whether the priority is higher or lower than the priority of the device use right stored in the RAM 70 together with the user code input at the time of reservation registration of the reserved job to be moved down (moved backward). In step 13, the moving process (previous), that is, the process of moving up the reservation order of the selected reserved job by one (moving it forward) is performed, and the process returns to the main routine.

For example, when the job list screen shown in FIG. 17 is displayed on the liquid crystal touch panel 31 of the operation unit 30 in FIG. 3, that is, the reserved job of the job number “003” is selected (job number “003”). Is displayed in black and white reversed in the information area containing
12 is pressed, the information area including the job number “003” and the information area including the job number “004” are displayed in FIG.
Replace as shown in 8. That is, the job number “00”
The reservation order of the reserved job of “3” and the reserved job of job number “004” are switched.

Further, when the "Previous" key 211 is pressed, the device usage held in the RAM 70 together with the user code which coincides with the user code entered when the reservation registration of the reservation job of job number "003" is made. When the priority of the right is higher than the priority of the device use right held in the RAM 70 together with the user code that coincides with the user code input at the time of reservation registration of the reserved job of the job number “002” (or each user code is Match)),
The information area including the job number “002” and the information area including the job number “003” are exchanged as shown in FIG. That is, the reservation order of the reserved job with the job number “002” and the reserved job with the job number “003” are switched.

As described above, when registering a new reserved job (when accepting a reservation for another copy during execution of a normal job), the user is required to input a user code, and to register a reserved job after registration. If a choice is given,
The user inputs a user code. If the user code matches the user code entered at the time of registering the reservation of the reservation job for which selection has been instructed, the user selects the reservation job, and then selects the reservation order of the reservation job. When the advance is instructed, the reservation order is advanced by the advance of the selected reserved job. The user code entered at the time of reservation registration of the reserved job is the user entered at the time of reservation registration of the reserved job that advances the reservation order. When the codes match, the reservation order of the selected reserved job is advanced, so that the reservation order of the reserved job corresponding to another user code is inadvertently reduced, and the time required to complete the copy result is delayed. Failure can be prevented. That is, it is possible to prevent a delay in the completion of the copy result due to the change of the reservation order by different users.

When registering a new reservation job,
When the user inputs the user code, and the user selects the reserved job after registration, the user is also required to input the user code, and the user code is selected when the reservation of the reserved job is registered. If the entered user code matches, the reservation job is selected, and if the advance of the reservation order of the reservation job is instructed thereafter, the advance of the reservation order of the selected reservation job If the user code entered during reservation registration does not match the user code entered during reservation registration for the reservation job that advances the reservation order, it will match the user code entered during reservation registration for the selected reservation job The priority order of the device use right held in the RAM 70 together with the user code to be executed is determined by the reservation If the priority of the device use right held in the RAM 70 together with the user code that coincides with the user code entered at the time of the reservation registration of the job is higher, the reservation order of the selected reserved job is advanced, thereby obtaining the device use right. It is possible to prevent a low priority user from delaying the completion of a copy result by a reserved job of a high user.

The processing shown in FIG.
In the processing according to the present invention), the judgment in step 12 is deleted, and it is checked whether or not there is a reserved job selected in step 11, and if there is such a reserved job (the reservation order of the selected reserved job is changed). The process immediately proceeds to the process of step 22 when the advance is instructed), and the priority order of the device use right held in the RAM 70 together with the user code input at the time of reservation registration of the selected reserved job is The use of the device held in the RAM 70 together with the user code entered at the time of the reservation registration of the reserved job in which the reserved order is moved down (moves backward) with the advance of the reserved order of the selected reserved job. It is also possible to determine whether the priority is higher or lower than the priority of the right, and thereafter to perform the same processing as described above. Processing).

In this case, when registering a new reserved job, the user is required to input a user code, and also when the user instructs to select a reserved job after registration, the user is required to input a user code. If the user code matches the user code entered at the time of reservation registration of the reserved job for which selection has been instructed, the user selects the reserved job, and then, if instructed to advance the reservation order of the reserved job, the user selects the reserved job. RAM along with the user code that matches the user code entered when registering the reservation job
The priority order of the device use right held in the RAM 70 is the same as the user code entered at the time of reservation registration of the reservation job whose reservation order is to be advanced.
In the case where the priority is higher than the priority of the device use right stored in the reserved job, the same effect as described above can be obtained by increasing the reservation order of the selected reserved job.

The embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a digital copying machine has been described above. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and can be applied to various image forming apparatuses such as a digital multifunction peripheral having a reserved copy function. .

[0125]

As described above, according to the image forming apparatus of the first aspect of the present invention, when a reservation for another copy is received during execution of a normal job, information for requesting the input of a user code is notified. In addition, the user is made to input the user code, and when the selection of the copy (reserved copy) for which the reservation has been accepted is instructed, the user is notified of the information requesting the input of the user code and input the user code. If the user code matches the user code entered at the time of reservation of the reserved copy for which the selection has been instructed, the reservation job is selected, and if the reservation order of the reservation copy is instructed thereafter, the selected reservation The reservation order is advanced as the reservation order is advanced. The user code entered at the time of reservation reservation is advanced by the user code entered when the reservation order is advanced. When the user code entered at the time is matched, the reservation order of the selected reserved copy is advanced, so the reserved order of the reserved copy corresponding to other user codes is inadvertently advanced, and the time required for the completion of the copy result is delayed. It is possible to prevent such a problem that the data is not read. That is, it is possible to more effectively prevent a delay in the completion of the copy result due to the change of the reservation order by different users.

According to the image forming apparatus of the second aspect,
In addition to the same processing as in the first aspect of the present invention, when the reservation order of the selected reserved copy is instructed to be advanced, the reservation order of the selected reserved copy is advanced with the advance of the reservation order. If the entered user code does not match the user code entered at the time of booking the reservation copy for which the reservation order is to be advanced, the user code is again notified to the user and the user is requested to enter the user code. If the user code matches the user code entered at the time of reservation of the reserved copy whose reservation order is advanced, the reservation order of the selected reserved copy is advanced, so that the reservation order can be changed by a different user. It is possible to more effectively prevent the delay in the completion of the copy result.

According to the image forming apparatus of the third aspect,
In addition to the same processing as in the first aspect of the present invention, when the reservation order of the selected reserved copy is instructed to be advanced, the reservation order of the selected reserved copy is advanced with the advance of the reservation order. If the entered user code does not match the user code entered at the time of booking the reservation copy to be advanced in the reservation order, register it with the user code that matches the user code entered at the time of booking the selected reserved copy If the priority of the device usage right is higher than the priority of the device usage right registered with the user code that matches the user code entered at the time of reservation of the reserved copy in which the reservation order goes down, Since the reservation order of the selected reserved copy is advanced, in addition to the same effect as the first aspect of the present invention, a user having a lower priority order of the apparatus use right has a higher priority. It is possible to prevent delaying the finished copy results by reservation copy of the user.

According to the image forming apparatus of the fourth aspect,
In addition to the same processing as in the first aspect of the present invention, when the advance of the reservation order of the selected reserved copy is instructed, information for requesting the input of the user code is immediately notified to allow the user to input the user code, When the user code matches the user code entered at the time of reservation of the reserved copy whose reservation order is advanced, the reservation order of the selected reserved copy is advanced, so that the same effect as the invention of claim 2 can be obtained. Can be.

According to the image forming apparatus of the fifth aspect,
In addition to the same processing as in the first aspect of the present invention, in the case where the advance of the reservation order of the selected reserved copy is instructed, the device registered with the user code that matches the user code entered at the time of reservation of the selected reserved copy If the priority of the usage right is higher than the priority of the device usage right registered with the user code that matches the user code entered at the time of reservation of the reserved copy in the reservation order, the reserved copy selected Claim 3 because the reservation order is advanced
The same effect as that of the invention can be obtained.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of an image processing unit (IPU) 49 of FIG.

FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an example of a mechanical section of a digital copying machine embodying the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a layout diagram illustrating a configuration example of an operation unit of the digital copying machine illustrated in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a view showing an example of a normal job condition setting screen displayed on the liquid crystal touch panel 31 of FIG. 3 when the power is turned on.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a control system of the digital copying machine illustrated in FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a timing chart showing an example of image data and control signals for one page in a selector 64 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing another example of a normal job condition setting screen displayed when the power is turned on on the liquid crystal touch panel 31 of FIG. 3;

8 is a diagram showing an example of a copy operation screen displayed when the print key 34 in FIG. 3 is pressed.

9 is a diagram showing an example of a reservation job condition setting screen displayed when the new reservation key 39 in FIG. 3 is pressed.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a job list screen displayed when the job list key 40 in FIG. 3 is pressed.

11 is a diagram illustrating an example of a job list screen displayed when the “Previous” key 211 in FIG. 10 is pressed.

12 is a diagram showing an example of a reservation waiting screen displayed when the content change key 213 in FIG. 10 is pressed.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a job list screen displayed when the delete key 214 in FIG. 10 is pressed.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing an example of a user code input screen displayed when the power is turned on when the user code mode is set.

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing another example of the job list screen displayed when the job list key 40 in FIG. 3 is pressed.

16 is a diagram illustrating an example of a user code input screen displayed when an information area including the job number “003” in FIG. 15 is pressed.

17 shows a job list screen displayed when the user code input at the time of displaying the user code input screen of FIG. 16 matches the user code input at the time of reservation registration of the reserved job of job number “003”. FIG.

18 is a diagram illustrating an example of a job list screen displayed when the “back” key 212 is pressed while the reserved job with the job number “003” in FIG. 17 is selected.

19 is a diagram illustrating an example of a job list screen displayed when a “previous” key 211 is pressed while a reserved job having a job number “003” in FIG. 17 is selected.

20 is a diagram illustrating another example of the job list screen displayed when the “previous” key 211 is pressed while the reserved job with the job number “003” in FIG. 17 is selected.

FIG. 21 is a flowchart showing an example of processing according to the first and second aspects of the present invention performed by the CPU 68 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 22 is a flowchart showing the continuation thereof.

FIG. 23 is a flowchart showing an example of processing according to the first and third aspects of the present invention performed by the CPU 68 of FIG. 1;

24 is a diagram showing a relationship between a user code stored in the RAM 70 of FIG. 1 for identifying each user and information including the priority order of the device use right of each user.

[Explanation of symbols]

 20: Main controller 30: Operation unit 31: LCD touch panel 32: Numeric keypad 34: Print key 39: New reservation key 40: Job list key 49: Image processing unit 50: Scanner 65: Memory controller 66: Image memory 68: CPU 69: ROM 70: RAM 201: Release key 211: “Previous” key 212: “Back” key 213: Content change key 214: Delete key 215: “Return” key

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A user code registration unit for registering a plurality of user codes for identifying each user, an image reading unit for reading image information of a document, and an image storage unit for storing image information read by the unit. An image forming unit for forming an image on a sheet of image information read by the image reading unit, a copy requesting unit for requesting a copy under arbitrary conditions, and a copy request by the unit.
A normal copy operation executing means for executing a normal copy operation using at least the image reading means and the image forming means, and reservation of another copy under arbitrary conditions is instructed during execution of the copy operation by the means. Means for notifying information requesting input of a user code, and when the user code is input after notification by the means, the user code matches the user code registered in the user code registration means. Means for judging whether or not, a copy reservation accepting means for accepting a reservation for another designated copy only when it is judged that they match, and a copy operation by the normal copy operation executing means, After reading of the image information by the image reading means is completed, another copy reservation is accepted by the copy reservation accepting means. The image reading means starts reading the image information of the document, stores the image information in the image storage means, and terminates the image storage after the normal copy operation execution means completes the copy operation. Means for executing a reserved copy operation for outputting the image information stored in the means to the image forming means to perform image formation. Means for notifying information requesting input of a user code when selection of any one of the reserved copies is instructed when a copy reservation has been accepted, and inputting a user code after notification by the means When the user code is matched with the user code input at the time of accepting the reservation of the reserved copy for which the selection has been instructed. Means for determining the reserved copy selected by the means only when the means determines that the reserved copy is selected, and instructing the reserved copy selected by the means to be advanced in the reservation order. Means for executing the deferral, and when advancing the reservation order of the reserved copy selected by the reserved copy selecting means is instructed, the first user code input at the time of accepting the reservation for the reserved copy. Means for judging whether or not the second user code input at the time of accepting the reservation of the reserved copy whose reservation order is advanced with the advance of the reservation order of the reserved copy is determined, Means for moving up the reservation order of the reserved copy selected by the reserved copy selecting means when the An image forming apparatus comprising. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when it is determined that the first user code does not match the second user code, information for requesting input of the user code is notified. Means and, after notification by said means,
Means for judging whether or not the user code matches the second user code when the user code is input, and selecting by the reserved copy selecting means when the user code is judged to match. Means for executing advance of the reserved order of the reserved copy. 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the user code registration unit registers a plurality of user codes for identifying each user together with the priority of the right to use the image forming apparatus by each user. If the first user code and the second user code do not match, it is registered in the user code registration unit together with the user code that matches the first user code. It is determined whether the priority order of the usage right of the image forming apparatus is higher or lower than the priority order of the usage right of the image forming apparatus registered in the user code registration unit together with the user code matching the second user code. Means for judging, and, when judged high by the means, the order of reservation of the reserved copy selected by the reserved copy selecting means. An image forming apparatus characterized in that a means for performing the raising rates. 4. User code registration means for registering a plurality of user codes for identifying each user, image reading means for reading image information of a document, and image storage means for storing image information read by the means. An image forming unit for forming an image on a sheet of image information read by the image reading unit, a copy requesting unit for requesting a copy under arbitrary conditions, and a copy request by the unit.
A normal copy operation executing means for executing a normal copy operation using at least the image reading means and the image forming means, and reservation of another copy under arbitrary conditions is instructed during execution of the copy operation by the means. Means for notifying information requesting input of a user code, and when the user code is input after notification by the means, the user code matches the user code registered in the user code registration means. Means for judging whether or not, a copy reservation accepting means for accepting a reservation for another designated copy only when it is judged that they match, and a copy operation by the normal copy operation executing means, After reading of the image information by the image reading means is completed, another copy reservation is accepted by the copy reservation accepting means. The image reading means starts reading the image information of the document, stores the image information in the image storage means, and terminates the image storage after the normal copy operation execution means completes the copy operation. Means for executing a reserved copy operation for outputting the image information stored in the means to the image forming means to perform image formation. Means for notifying information requesting input of a user code when selection of any one of the reserved copies is instructed when a copy reservation has been accepted, and inputting a user code after notification by the means When the user code is matched with the user code input at the time of accepting the reservation of the reserved copy for which the selection has been instructed. Means for determining the reserved copy selected by the means only when the means determines that the reserved copy is selected, and instructing the reserved copy selected by the means to be advanced in the reservation order. Means for executing the deferral when the instruction is issued, and means for notifying information for requesting the input of a user code when instructing to advance the reserved order of the reserved copy selected by the reserved copy selecting means. When the user code is input after the notification by the user, the user code and the user code are input at the time of accepting the reservation of the reserved copy whose reservation order is advanced with the advance of the reservation order of the reserved copy selected by the reserved copy selecting means. Means for judging whether or not the user codes match, and a method for determining whether the user code matches An image forming apparatus characterized in that a means for performing the advance reservation copy selected by the copy selection means reserved order of. 5. A user code registration unit for registering a plurality of user codes for identifying each user, an image reading unit for reading image information of a document, and an image storage unit for storing image information read by the unit. An image forming unit for forming an image on a sheet of image information read by the image reading unit, a copy requesting unit for requesting a copy under arbitrary conditions, and a copy request by the unit.
A normal copy operation executing means for executing a normal copy operation using at least the image reading means and the image forming means, and reservation of another copy under arbitrary conditions is instructed during execution of the copy operation by the means. Means for notifying information requesting input of a user code, and when the user code is input after notification by the means, the user code matches the user code registered in the user code registration means. Means for judging whether or not, a copy reservation accepting means for accepting a reservation for another designated copy only when it is judged that they match, and a copy operation by the normal copy operation executing means, After reading of the image information by the image reading means is completed, another copy reservation is accepted by the copy reservation accepting means. The image reading means starts reading the image information of the document, stores the image information in the image storage means, and terminates the image storage after the normal copy operation execution means completes the copy operation. A reserved copy operation executing means for executing a reserved copy operation for outputting image information stored in the means to the image forming means and performing image formation, wherein the user code registration means Means for registering a plurality of user codes for identifying each user together with the priority order of the right to use the image forming apparatus by each user, and in a case where a plurality of copy reservations have been received by the copy reservation receiving means, Means for notifying information for requesting input of a user code when selection of any one of the reserved copies is instructed; Means for determining, when the user code is input after the notification by the means, whether or not the user code matches the user code input at the time of accepting the reservation of the reserved copy for which the selection has been instructed; and Reserved copy selecting means for selecting the reserved copy designated by the selection only when it is determined that they coincide with each other, and when the reserved copy selected by the means is decremented in the reservation order, the decrement is executed. Means for registering the reserved copy selected by the reserved copy selecting means in the reservation order together with the user code entered at the time of receiving the reservation for the reserved copy. The priority order of the usage right of the image forming apparatus is changed with the advance of the reservation order of the reserved copy. It is determined whether the priority order of the use right of the image forming apparatus registered in the user code registration unit is higher or lower than the user code registered with the user code input at the time of receiving the reservation copy of the reservation copy in the descending order. An image forming apparatus comprising: a determination unit; and a unit that, when determined to be high, increases the reserved copy selected by the reserved copy selection unit in the reservation order.