JP3662679B2 - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus and an image forming method such as a digital copying machine which has an image memory and has an electronic sort function to form images.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In a digital copying machine equipped with an image memory and having an electronic sorting function, images read by optical means are temporarily stored in the image memory, and then successively from the image memory in synchronization with the operation timing of the laser print engine. It is configured to read and print out.
[0003]
Because of such a configuration, the digital copying machine has a significant advantage over the conventional analog copying machine in the following situation, for example.
First, the user operates the operation panel to perform electronic sort / copy. For example, if you want to copy a 10-page original with 20 electronic sorts, a digital copier with a copy speed of 20 copies per minute will immediately scan 10 originals and store them in the image memory. It takes about 10 minutes to complete copying (printout). However, since the document has been scanned, the scanner portion is ready for use.
[0004]
In the case of an analog copier, the user who wants to make the next copy must wait until all of the currently active copies (the previous user's copy job) have been completed. Even in the middle, if any setting means is provided, the next new copy job can be reserved.
[0005]
In the analog copying machine, the user has to make a copy of the desired number of copies per document, and also has a function (mechanism) for physically sorting it using a sorter bin.
[0006]
On the other hand, the digital copying machine has the following advantages.
1. Since all the originals are read first, the originals can be opened quickly. In other words, since the conventional analog copying machine always needs to scan the document when printing, it is physically impossible to open the document during the printing operation.
2. Since there is no need to physically sort, multiple sorter bins are not required. Therefore, there is no loud noise generated when the sorter bin is driven, and the finishing option mechanism is simple.
3. Each copy set is completed, so the finish can be checked each time, and it is easy to stop or change during the process. (With conventional analog copying machines, the finish cannot be confirmed until the last sheet has been printed. Therefore, it is virtually impossible to stop or change halfway.)
4). Since the original is read first, the scanner can be opened. That is, the reading operation for the next copy is possible.
[0007]
However, in the conventional digital copying machine, the reading of the original is completed and the scanner system is opened. Therefore, although the great advantage of being able to reserve the next copy job can be expected, the “preceding” Could not have "input" function.
[0008]
The main reason is as follows.
When the original reading is completed and printing starts, when the operation system is opened to the next user, there is no means for confirming the contents of the job currently being printed (hereinafter referred to as the first job). In the conventional digital copying machine, since the setting contents are continuously displayed on the operation panel until the job is completed, the user can check the setting contents of the job at any time.
[0009]
In addition, when the original reading is completed and printing starts, there is no means for stopping, interrupting, or canceling the first job when the operation system is opened to the next user. On the other hand, in the conventional digital copying machine, the user can interrupt and cancel the job at any time on the operation panel.
[0010]
Furthermore, if the scanner is released while the first job is in progress, the next job (hereinafter referred to as the second job) can be started. However, when a paper jam or other fault occurs, Guide display must be done, but there is no way.
[0011]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
As described above, a digital copying machine as an image forming apparatus is expected to have a great advantage that a next copy job can be reserved when reading of the original of the scanner is completed during the copying operation and the scanner is opened and ready for use. In spite of being able to do so, there is no means for checking the setting contents of the previous copy job, stopping or interrupting it, displaying a jam clearing guide when a failure occurs, etc., and there is a problem that the next original cannot be read by the scanner.
[0012]
Therefore, the present invention provides an image forming apparatus and an image forming method capable of reading the next original when the original reading of the scanner is completed and ready for use even during the copying operation. Objective.
[0013]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The image forming apparatus of the present invention reads a series of original images to form an image. First operation means for setting operation of the first job, and operation by the first operation means Set First job Reading means for reading a series of images of the original based on the above, storage means for storing a series of image information read by the reading means, and a series of image information stored in the storage means. The first job An image forming means for forming an image based on A second operation unit configured to operate and set a second job for forming an image by reading the next series of original images when the reading unit reads a series of original images; When a paper jam occurs in the image forming unit that forms an image based on the first job during the operation setting for the second job, the operation setting for the second job is continued and the start from the second operation unit is started. The first control unit that performs control to invalidate the key press and the image forming unit that forms an image based on the first job after the execution of the second job set by the second operation unit is started. A second control unit that performs control to continue image reading of the next series of documents based on the second job when a jam occurs; It is composed of
[0026]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 schematically shows the entire configuration of a digital copying machine as an image forming apparatus according to the present invention. The digital copying machine 1 includes a scanner 2 as a reading unit and a printer 3 as an image forming unit, and an automatic document feeder (ADF) 4 is mounted on the top.
[0027]
The automatic document feeder 4 has a rear end edge portion of a cover main body 21 as a casing attached to an upper rear end edge portion of the apparatus main body via a hinge device (not shown) so that it can be opened and closed automatically. The entire document feeder 4 can be rotationally displaced to open the document table 5. A document feed table 22 that can hold a plurality of documents at once is provided on the upper surface of the cover body 21 and slightly to the right. On one end side of the apparatus, there is provided a feeding means 23 for taking out originals one by one sequentially and supplying them to one end side (left end side in the figure) of the original table 5. The feeding means 23 includes a pickup roller 27 for taking out the document, a weight plate 28 for pressing the document against the pickup roller 27, an empty sensor 29 as a document detection sensor for detecting the set state of the document on the document feeding table 22, and the like. Is arranged. Further, a paper feed roller 32 is arranged in the document take-out direction of the pickup roller 27 so as to reliably feed the documents one by one. A document conveying belt 37 is stretched over the upper surface of the document table 5 to cover it. The document transport belt 37 is a wide endless belt whose outer surface is stretched between a pair of belt rollers 40 and 40, and is configured to be able to run in both forward and reverse directions by a belt drive mechanism (not shown). Further, on the back side of the inner peripheral portion of the document conveying belt 37, a plurality of belt pressing rollers 41 for pressing the belt surface onto the document table 5 and a set switch for detecting the open / closed state of the automatic document feeder (FIG. Not shown). Then, the document fed by the feeding means 23 is conveyed from one end side (left end side) of the document table 5 to the other end side (right end side). A paper discharge unit 38 is provided on the right side of the apparatus. The paper discharge unit 38 detects a conveyance roller 44, a pinch roller 45 that presses the document against the conveyance roller 44, and a trailing edge of the document that is sent in the sheet discharge direction. A paper discharge sensor 46 or the like is provided as a document detecting means for performing the above operation. A paper discharge roller 48 is disposed downstream of the document discharge path. The document discharge path is provided with a gate 82 for guiding the document upside down to the document table 5 so that the document can be copied on both sides.
[0028]
The scanner 2 includes an exposure lamp 6 as a light source, a first carriage 7 provided with a mirror 15, a second carriage 9 provided with mirrors 8a and 8b for bending an optical path, a lens 10, and a CCD sensor 11 for receiving reflected light. Are constituted by a drive system (not shown) for changing the position of each part and an A / D conversion part (not shown) for converting the output of the CCD sensor 11, that is, image data (information) from analog data to digital data. . The first and second carriages 7 and 9 are connected to each other by a timing belt (not shown), and the second carriage 9 moves in the same direction at half the speed of the first carriage 7. ing. Thus, scanning can be performed so that the optical path length to the lens 10 is constant. The lens 10 has a fixed focal length and is moved in the optical axis direction during zooming. In the CCD sensor 11, one pixel of the document corresponds to one element of the CCD sensor. The output of the CCD sensor 11 is output to the A / D converter. The first and second carriages 7 and 9 and the mirrors 12a and 12b are moved by a stepping motor (not shown). The first and second carriages 7 and 9 are operated by a timing belt (not shown) spanned between a drive pulley (not shown) and an idle pulley (not shown) connected to the rotation shaft of the stepping motor. It will be moved accordingly. A spiral shaft (not shown) is rotated by the corresponding stepping motor (not shown), and the lens 10 is moved in the optical axis direction by the movement of the spiral.
[0029]
Reference numeral 60 denotes a laser diode. A collimating lens 62, a polygon mirror (polyhedral reflecting mirror) 64, a lens 66, reflecting mirrors 68 and 70, and a lens 72 are arranged corresponding to the laser diode 60. The body drum 50 is irradiated.
[0030]
The printer 3 combines, for example, a laser optical system and an electrophotographic system capable of forming an image on transfer paper. That is, the printer 3 has a photosensitive drum 50 as an image carrier that is rotatably supported at a substantially central portion in the apparatus, and an exposure device 52 and a developing device 54 are provided around the photosensitive drum 50. A transfer charger 55, a peeling charger 56, a PCC charger 57, a static elimination lamp 58, and a charging charger 59 are arranged in this order. The photosensitive drum 50 is uniformly charged by a charging charger 59, and a laser beam is output from the scanner 2 to form an image of an original on the photosensitive drum 50, and an electrostatic latent image is formed. An image is formed.
[0031]
Then, the electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 50 is developed by the developing device 54, and is sent from a paper feeding cassette 30 as a paper feeding means described later through a paper feeding roller 20 and an aligning roller 25. The developed image is transferred onto the copy paper P to be printed by the transfer charger 55. The copy paper P after being transferred by the transfer charger 55 is peeled off by a peeling charger 56 by AC corona discharge and conveyed to a fixing device 71 via a conveying belt, and the developed image is melted and fixed by the fixing device 71. The copy paper P is discharged to a unit 74 having a paper discharge tray 74 a by a paper discharge roller pair 73. The unit 74 has a roller pair 74b that faces down the copy paper P discharged from the paper discharge roller pair 73, and further has a stapler 74c that staples one copy at the top of the unit 74 in the staple sort mode. Yes.
[0032]
On the other hand, the developer remaining on the photosensitive drum 50 after the transfer and peeling of the developed image onto the copy paper P is cleaned by the PCC charger 57, and the potential on the photosensitive drum 50 is kept constant by the static elimination charger 58. Below the level, the next copy operation is enabled.
[0033]
In the case of double-sided copying for printing on both sides of the copy paper P, the copy paper P on which the developed image has been fused and fixed by the fixing device 71 described above is transported via the transport path 75a and then the tray 75b. Accumulated in. The single-side printed paper P accumulated in the tray 75b is conveyed to the transfer charger 55 described above via the conveyance path 75c, and the developed image is transferred to the other non-printed surface. Further, a light reflection type paper sensor 75d is provided below the tray 75b, and detects the presence or absence of paper stacked on the tray 75b.
[0034]
Further, an automatic double-sided device (ADD) 75 as an automatic double-side reversing mechanism is constituted by the conveyance path 75a, the tray 75b, the conveyance path 75c, and the paper sensor 75d.
In the figure, reference numeral 30 denotes a paper feed cassette as a paper feed means which is detachably mounted in a plurality of stages from the front side of the apparatus body 1. The paper feed cassette 30 is composed of a cassette case 31 which is a casing in which copy paper P is stored, and the take-out end portion of the cassette case 31 is inclined toward the paper take-out direction. The copy paper P stored in the cassette case 31 of the paper feed cassette 30 is picked up from the uppermost layer by the pickup roller 81 and taken out. The copy paper P taken out by the pickup roller 81 and fed to the take-out end portion of the cassette case 31 is fed with a paper feed roller 84 and a separation roller (inside and above the take-out end portion of the cassette case 31). Alternatively, the sheets are separated one by one by a sheet separation unit including a separation pad) 85 and conveyed toward the printer 3.
[0035]
Next, the control system of the digital copying machine 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 shows the overall configuration of the control system of the digital copying machine 1, FIG. 3 shows the scanner unit, FIG. 4 shows the control means (SMCPU), FIG. 5 shows the printer unit, and FIG.
[0036]
The control system of the digital copying machine 1 is generally composed of two blocks, and is connected to the scanner unit 313 and the printer unit 315 by an image processing unit 314 and has a facsimile (FAX) unit 312 as a facsimile function. A basic unit 301 constituting the copier 1 and a page memory as storage means for receiving and storing image data from the basic unit 301 and transferring the stored image data to the basic unit 301 again to realize memory copy Part 302.
[0037]
The basic unit 301 and the page memory unit 302 are connected by a basic unit system interface 316 that exchanges control data and a basic unit image interface 317 that exchanges image data.
[0038]
Next, the basic unit 301 includes an input unit (scanner) 313, an output unit (printer) 315, an image processing unit (image processing unit) 314, a facsimile unit 312, and a control unit (SMCPU) 311 for controlling them. .
[0039]
As shown in FIG. 4, a ROM 102, a RAM 104, an image memory 106, a timer memory 108, a password code memory 110, a timer 112, an internal interface 122, and an external interface 124 are connected to the main CPU 100 of the control means (basic CPU) 311. ing. An operation panel 114 is connected to the internal interface 122, and an LCD display 93, a numeric keypad 105, an LED display 88, a start key 101, and the like are arranged on the operation panel 114. The external interface 124 is connected to the unit 74 and the external device 138.
[0040]
Here, storage / calling of image information and the like are performed by the main CPU 100.
For example, when storing the code code and image information, the image information read by the scanner 2 under the control of the scanner CPU 160 is stored in the image memory 106 as a storage means in accordance with an instruction from the main CPU 100. The instruction of the main CPU 100 is performed by determining the mode by input (key input) from the operation panel 114.
[0041]
Next, a detailed configuration of the scanner unit 313 will be described with reference to FIG. The scanner CPU 160 of the scanner unit 313 includes a lamp control unit 164 that controls the exposure lamp 6, a motor driver 168 that controls the scanning motor 166, a sensor including a document size detection sensor 169, a switch, and a drive unit that drives and controls the solenoids 170. The A / D conversion circuit 176, the resolution conversion circuit 178, the shading correction circuit 179, and the image quality improvement circuit 180 for controlling these by connecting to the 172 and controlling the image information from the CCD sensor 11 as a photoelectric element. They are connected to the binarization circuit 182 to control them.
[0042]
Next, the printer unit 315 will be described in detail with reference to FIG. In the printer unit 315, the printer CPU 190 includes a main motor driver 194 that drives the main motor 192, sensors including a paper size detection sensor 195, a switch 198 that drives and controls solenoids 196, and a fixing lamp 200 of the fixing device 71. A fixing lamp control unit 202 for controlling the charging, a charging charger 59, a transfer charger 55, a peeling charger 56, a high voltage output control unit 212 for controlling the PCC charger 57, a discharging lamp control unit 216 for controlling the discharging lamp 58, and a paper feed roller 20, a paper feed controller 224 for controlling the paper feed motor 222 for the pickup roller 81, a laser diode 60, and a modulation circuit 232 for controlling the laser drive circuit 230 for the polygon motor 228 are connected. The printer CPU 190 controls each unit connected thereto. High voltage transformers 59a, 55a, 56a, and 57a are provided between the high voltage output control unit 212 and the charging charger 59, the transfer charger 55, the peeling charger 56, and the PCC charger 57, respectively.
[0043]
Next, the page memory unit 302 will be described with reference to FIG. The page memory unit 302 controls access to the page memory 323 from the basic unit 301 and the system control unit 304 incorporating the communication memory 305, and storage unit (PM: page memory) for temporarily storing image data 323, an address control unit 306 that generates an address of the page memory 323, an image bus 320 that performs data transfer between each device in the page memory unit 302, and between each device in the page memory unit 302 and the system control unit 304 A control bus 321 for transferring the control signal, a data control means 307 for controlling data transfer when transferring data between the page memory 323 and another device via the image bus 320, and a basic image interface 317. Interface image data when transferring image data with basic unit 301 Image data I / F unit 308, which converts image data to the resolution of other devices when transmitting image data to devices with different resolutions, or receives image data received from devices with different resolutions as a printer unit of the basic unit 301 315 resolution, resolution conversion / binary rotation means 325 for performing 90 degree rotation processing of binary image data, image data compressed and transmitted, such as facsimile transmission and optical disk storage, and storage Connected to compression / expansion means 324 and image data I / F means 308 for compressing the input image data for the device to be compressed or for compressing the image data in the compressed form for visual printing, and from the printer unit 315 Multi-value rotation memory 30 used when rotating image data by 90 degrees or -90 degrees when outputting data In constructed.
[0044]
Next, the facsimile unit 312 will be described with reference to FIG. The facsimile unit 312 is connected to a public line, a modem 242 as a modem for connecting to an analog line, CODECs 244 and 246 as binary image data encoding / decoding devices, an EPROM 248 for a communication control program, image data A pseudo-SRAM 252 backed up by the battery 250, a work RAM 254 used when performing various types of image data processing, an additional memory 256, and an ASIC 258 for an interface that outputs facsimile reception data to the image processing unit 314; It is composed of
[0045]
FIG. 7 shows the configuration of the operation panel 114. That is, the operation panel 114 includes a finisher key 82, a display panel 83, a cassette selection key 86 as a selection unit for the paper feed cassette 30, a guide key 87, an LED display 88, a zoom / 100% key 90, a document size key 91, It comprises a paper size key 92, an LCD display 93, an automatic density key 94, a manual density key 95, a preheat key 96, an interrupt key 97, an all clear key 98, a clear / stop key 99, a start key 101, and a numeric keypad 105. ing.
[0046]
The finisher key 82 is used when selecting a sort mode, a group mode, or a staple mode.
The display panel 83 blinks and displays various pictograms to indicate the state of the copying machine.
[0047]
The cassette selection key 86 can be pressed to select another cassette when the selected cassette is not the desired size.
When the guidance (INFO) key 87 is pressed as an operation guide key, a message indicating an operation procedure is displayed. When the guide (INFO) key 87 is pressed after setting a function, the set contents can be confirmed.
[0048]
The LED display 88 displays various guides such as magnification, number of sheets, copy operation, and the like by a light emitting diode (LED).
When the “25% <” key is pressed with the zoom / 100% key 90, the copy magnification decreases to 25% in increments of 1%. When the “> 400%” key is pressed, the copy magnification increases to 400% in 1% increments. Press the “100%” key to return to the same size (100%).
[0049]
The document size key 91 is used when setting the document size. When the paper size is selected and the document size is specified, the copy magnification is automatically set.
A paper size key 92 is used to select a paper size.
[0050]
The LCD display 93 as display setting means is composed of a graphic liquid crystal and a touch panel, and displays the state of the digital copying machine 1, the operation procedure, and various instructions to the user with characters and pictures. The LCD display 93 as a display means has a built-in touch panel and can also set functions.
[0051]
When the automatic density key 94 selects the automatic density, the digital copying machine 1 automatically detects the density of the original and selects the optimum copy density.
The manual density key 95 can select a desired copy density in the manual density. Press the “Light” key to reduce the density in 5 levels, and press the “Koku” key to increase the density in 5 levels.
[0052]
When this key is pressed, the preheating key 96 enters a preheating (power saving) state and all the display lamps are turned off. To copy again, press this button again.
The interrupt key 97 is used when an interrupt copy is desired in the middle of continuous copying.
[0053]
When the all clear key 98 is pressed, all selected modes are cleared and the standard state is restored.
The clear / stop key 99 is used to correct the number of copies or to stop the copy operation.
[0054]
A start key 101 is pressed to start copying.
The numeric keypad 105 is used when setting the number of copies to be copied. You can set 1 to 999 copies.
[0055]
The present invention makes it possible to read the next original when the original reading of the scanner 2 is completed and ready for use even during the copying operation, and realizes such a "preceding input" function of the scanner 2. Is. Therefore, the setting and operation of the first job, which is the job currently being copied, and the second job, which is the job that is performed when the scanner 2 becomes usable after the use of the first job is completed, are set. Are provided separately on the operation panel 114.
[0056]
Specifically, two operation systems are prepared on the operation panel 114 to indicate that the operation systems of the first job and the second job are completely different. That is, the operation panel 114 includes a first operation system using a hard panel 89 including a numeric keypad 105 and a start key 101, which are traditionally used in a conventional analog copying machine, and an LED display 88, a graphic liquid crystal, and the like. It comprises a second operation system by an LCD display 93 using a touch panel.
[0057]
The hardware control panel 89 as setting means is a group of hard keys excluding the LCD display 93 of the operation panel 114, that is, finisher key 82, cassette selection key 86, guide key 87, LED display 88, zoom / 100% key 90, A document size key 91, a paper size key 92, an automatic density key 94, a manual density key 95, a preheat key 96, an interrupt key 97, an all clear key 98, a clear / stop key 99, a start key 101, and a numeric keypad 105. .
[0058]
Conventionally, there has been an operation panel itself in which a hard key + LED display and an LCD display are mixed, but in this case, the operation of the copying machine is performed by the hard key + LED display, and the facsimile and other extended functions are LCDs. It was common to use a display.
[0059]
The point of the present invention is that the LCD display 93 is used for a copy job to be multiplexed. The hard panel 89 on the operation panel 114 after the start of the first job, that is, after the start of the copy operation of the first job. And the LCD display 93 is characteristic.
[0060]
FIG. 8 shows the operation after the start of the copy operation.
The main CPU 100 is configured so that the first user, that is, the first job is operated from the LCD display 93, and the second user, that is, the second job is operated from the hard panel 89 as a basic operation policy after the start of the copy operation. The following control is performed.
[0061]
The operation environment of the first job during reading of the original is that the operation of the hardware panel 89 is enabled, and only the interrupt key 97 and the clear / stop (C / S) key 99 are accepted, and the reading is performed by pressing the clear / stop key 99. It will be stopped.
[0062]
The operation environment after the start of printing of the first job is that any key is accepted for 30 seconds, printing is stopped by the clear / stop key 99, and after 30 seconds, the LED display 88 is displayed as “Reserved copy available”. “Extended reservation” is turned on, and the hardware panel 89 enables the operation for the second user. For the first user, the operating environment is transferred from the hardware panel 89 to the LCD display 93.
[0063]
The operating environment when the first user wants to change his job (first job) during the printing operation is operated and changed by the LCD display 93.
When the second user wants to set and input his own job (second job) during the printing operation, the hardware panel 89 is enabled as it is.
[0064]
In the operating environment after the second job is started, the hard panel 89 is released to the second user and the LCD display 93 is released to the first user.
After the second user inputs his job (second job) and makes a start reservation, the operation environment when the user wants to change the setting contents is performed on the hardware panel 89 as it is, and when the clear / stop key 99 is pressed, the second operation is performed. The job is stopped, and the first job is stopped by pressing the print stop icon displayed on the LCD display 93.
[0065]
If a paper jam occurs in the first job during the operation of the second job, the paper jam is displayed on the LED display 88, and the operation is not affected, but is invalidated even if the start key 101 is pressed and a warning is issued. Is displayed.
[0066]
If a paper jam occurs in the first job after the start of the second job execution, the paper jam is displayed on the LED display 88, but this does not affect the reading of the second job.
If a paper jam occurs in the automatic document feeder (ADF) 4 after the second job execution is started (that is, the second job), the paper jam is displayed on the LED display 88, but the first job is not affected.
[0067]
If there is no paper in the first job after the start of execution of the second job, no paper is displayed on the LED display 88, and if the second job and the paper feed source are different, the second job is not affected. That is, the second job is preferentially printed even when the first job is stopped. However, if the first job is a job with stapling, printing of the second job does not start unless the paper is replenished.
[0068]
If paper runs out during the operation of the second job, paper running is displayed on the LED display 88, but the operation is not affected. However, even if the paper size is selected and the start key 101 is pressed, it becomes invalid and a warning is displayed. Reservations can be made when printing is started by selecting paper of a size other than the size.
[0069]
In the operating environment after the first job is completed (waiting for the next third job), the LED display 88 for “extended reservation” is turned on, the display becomes “can be reserved”, and the hard panel 89 is released. (The operation for the second job is transferred to the LCD display 93).
[0070]
Next, the operation of the preceding input function of the digital copying machine 1 in such a configuration will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.
First, the main CPU 100 validates the operation from the hardware panel 89 (ST1).
When various settings such as the number of copies as the first job are input from the hard panel 89 and the start key 101 is pressed (ST2), the main CPU 100 presses the necessary keys (interrupt key 97, clear / stop) of the hard panel 89. The scanner unit 313 starts reading an original from the scanner 2 as invalid / prohibited except for the key 99), and stores the read image information in the image memory 106 (ST3).
[0071]
When the document reading operation of the scanner 2 is finished (ST4), the main CPU 100 displays the contents of the first job such as the number of copies set and input from the hardware panel 89 on the LCD display 93 and sets the first job. For the input user, the LCD display 93 is used to enable operations such as stopping, interrupting, canceling the first job, and displaying a guide for clearing a jam when a failure occurs (ST5). It is effective for job-oriented operations (ST6).
[0072]
FIG. 10 shows a display example of the LCD display 93 on which the first job is displayed. In the upper part, setting operation states such as a copy magnification of “100%” and “copying” are displayed, and in the middle part. As the set contents, the number of originals “5” and the number of copies “3/7” are displayed, and the “interrupt” key and “cancel” key for the first job are displayed in the lower row.
[0073]
Subsequently, the main CPU 100 starts a printing operation, reads out image information of the first job stored in the image memory 106, and prints out the printer 3 from the printer 3 in accordance with the setting contents of the first job (ST7). ).
[0074]
During the printing operation, when various settings as the second job are set and input from the hard panel 89 and the start key 101 is pressed (ST8), the main CPU 100 causes the interrupt key 97, which is a necessary key of the hard panel 89, The scanner unit 313 starts reading an original from the scanner 2 as invalid / prohibited except for the clear / stop key 99, and stores the read image information in the image memory 106 (ST9).
[0075]
When the document reading operation of the scanner 2 is completed (ST10), the main CPU 100 confirms whether or not printing of the image information of the first job stored in the image memory 106 from the printer 3 by the printer unit 315 is completed. (ST11).
[0076]
When the print output of the first job is completed, the main CPU 100 displays the content of the second job set and input from the hard panel 89 on the LCD display 93 and displays the LCD for the user who has set and input the second job. The display unit 93 enables operations such as guide display for stopping, interrupting, canceling the first job, and releasing the jam for the occurrence of a failure (ST12). Here, the hard panel 89 is enabled for the operation for the next job. (ST13).
[0077]
As described above, according to the embodiment of the present invention, the "preceding input" function capable of reading the next original when the original is read by the scanner and ready for use even during the copying operation is realized. can do.
[0078]
【The invention's effect】
As described above in detail, according to the present invention, an image forming apparatus and an image forming apparatus capable of reading the next original when the original reading of the scanner is completed and ready for use even during the copying operation. A method can be provided.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a digital copying machine according to an image forming apparatus of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a system configuration diagram of the image forming apparatus.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a scanner unit.
FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an SMCPU.
FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a printer unit.
FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a facsimile unit.
FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a configuration of an operation panel.
FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an operation after the start of a copy operation.
FIG. 9 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of a preceding input function of the digital copying machine.
FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a display example of an LCD display on the operation panel.
[Explanation of symbols]
2 ... Scanner
3. Printer
88 ... LED display
89 ... Hard control panel
93 ... LCD display
98 ... All clear key
99 ... Clear / Stop key
100: Main CPU
101 ... Start key
114 ... Operation panel
312: Facsimile part
313: Scanner unit
314: Image processing unit
315: Printer unit

Claims (4)

A first operating means for operating and setting a first job for reading a series of original images and forming an image;
Reading means for reading the series of images of the original document based on the first job set by the first operation means;
Storage means for storing a series of image information read by the reading means;
Image forming means for forming an image based on the first job from a series of image information stored in the storage means;
A second operation means for operating and setting a second job for forming an image by reading a next series of original images when the reading means reads a series of original images;
When a paper jam occurs in the image forming unit that forms an image based on the first job during the operation setting of the second job by the second operation unit, the operation setting of the second job is continued and First control means for performing control to invalidate pressing of the start key from the second operation means;
If a paper jam occurs in the image forming unit that forms an image based on the first job after the start of execution of the second job set by the second operating unit, the next job based on the second job is performed. A second control means for performing continuous control of image reading of a series of documents;
An image forming apparatus comprising: The second control unit performs control to continue the image forming operation based on the first job when a paper jam of the original occurs in the next series of image reading based on the second job. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1. First operating means for operating and setting a first job for reading a series of original images and forming an image;
  Reading means for reading the image of the series of documents based on the first job set by the first operation means;
  Storage means for storing a series of image information read by the reading means;
  An image forming unit that forms an image based on the first job with a series of image information stored in the storage unit;
A second operation means for operating and setting a second job for forming an image by reading a next series of original images when the reading means reads a series of original images;
When there is no paper in the image forming means for forming an image based on the first job during the operation setting of the second job by the second operation means, the paper size in which the paper has occurred is selected. In this case, the operation setting of the second job is continued and the start key pressing is disabled, and the operation setting of the second job is continued when a paper other than the paper size without the paper is selected. Control means to perform;
An image forming apparatus comprising: The control means controls an image forming operation based on the second job in the case of a second job using a paper feed source different from the paper feed source in which the paper on which an image is to be formed by the image forming means is generated. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3.

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