JP2003196061A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] The present invention provides an image forming apparatus that performs a reservation process only by making a use status of each image forming apparatus and an operation reservation from an information processing apparatus side. Provided is an image forming apparatus capable of reducing the load and having good usability. A digital copy device (DC1 to DCn) receives an input of a personal identification code for identifying a user from a computer (PC1 to PCn), specifies an application, and reserves an operation of the application.
In addition to prohibiting the operation operation of the application for which the operation is reserved, the screen transition of the screen display of the liquid crystal touch panel to the initial setting screen of the application for which the operation is reserved is prohibited. When the user codes input by the sections match, the operation of the application reserved for operation is permitted, and the screen transition to the initial setting screen of the application is permitted.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, and more specifically, when an operation reservation designating an application is made from an information processing apparatus via a network, only a user who made the operation reservation is permitted to perform an operation operation. In addition, the present invention relates to an image forming apparatus in which initial setting is permitted only to the user to improve usability.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art With the spread of networking in recent years,
BACKGROUND ART Image forming apparatuses such as printers and digital copying machines are connected to a network, and the image forming apparatus is commonly used as one of network resources.

In order to effectively use an image forming apparatus connected to such a network, conventionally, for example, an operation unit and a display unit of the image forming apparatus are used to remotely operate another image forming apparatus. An image forming system has been proposed which is used as an image forming apparatus to improve work efficiency (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 8-30758).
No. 8).

Further, the present applicant has previously accommodated a plurality of multi-function telephones in a storage program controlled private branch exchange, and through the private branch exchange, the multi-function telephones are mutually connected and connected to an outside line. In a private branch exchange system for connection, an image information transmitting unit connected to a first multi-function telephone and transmitting image information input by scanning an original through the first multi-function telephone; Image information private exchange system, which is connected to a second multi-function telephone other than the second multi-function telephone and is provided with image information print output means for printing out image information input through the second multi-function telephone. Has been proposed (see Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 6-291905).

That is, this technique aims at constructing a network that satisfies the facsimile function, the printer function, and the copy function at a low cost and with high expandability, unifies the operation procedure, and efficiently uses the copying machine.

Further, the applicant has defined an image forming apparatus having a signal transmitting / receiving means, a control means for the signal transmitting / receiving means, and a storage means, a signal transmitting / receiving means, an operation input means, a control means for these means, and a storage means. In the network method of the image forming apparatus capable of transmitting / receiving operation information to / from the external terminal apparatus, the external terminal apparatus makes a reservation to secure the use of the image forming apparatus and a copy mode during use. A network system for an image forming apparatus has been proposed that enables information to be transmitted to the image forming apparatus (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 4-42).
22260 publication).

That is, this technique improves the efficiency of use by a plurality of users in a network system of an image forming apparatus capable of transmitting and receiving operation information of the image forming apparatus from a remote location, We are trying to use it efficiently by preventing the occurrence of waiting time.

[0008]

However, in such a conventional technique, it is possible to set a mode for reservation of an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine by a personal computer or the like connected to a network. In the current situation where the operation mode of the copying machine is becoming complicated, in order to display a screen equivalent to the operation screen of the copying machine on the personal computer or the like to enable the operation, each personal computer or the like must be operated. In addition to the need to install dedicated software, the amount of data notified from a personal computer or the like increases, which may rather reduce the work efficiency of the personal computer or the like.

Therefore, according to the present invention, the processing at the time of reservation is performed on the image forming apparatus side by simply making a reservation of the use status and operation reservation of each image forming apparatus from the information processing apparatus side such as a personal computer. It is an object of the present invention to reduce the load on the network and to provide an image forming apparatus with good usability.

Specifically, according to the first aspect of the invention, the image forming apparatus connected to the network to which the information processing apparatus is connected performs various application processing such as print processing and copy processing using resources. , When a personal identification code for identifying a user is input from the information processing device to specify an application and reserve an operation reservation for the application, when accepting and processing an operation reservation, the operation means prohibits the operation operation of the operation reserved application. In addition, the screen transition of the screen display of the display means to the initial setting screen of the operation reserved application is prohibited, and the recitation code input at the time of operation reservation in the information processing device and the user code input by the operation means are If they match, the operation of the operation reserved application by the operation means By allowing the user to make an operation reservation and allowing the user to make a screen transition to the initial setting screen of the operation-reserved application, the user who made the operation reservation on the information processing device can surely use the operation-reserved application. In addition, it is an object of the present invention to provide an image forming apparatus with good usability so as not to interfere with the use of other users of other applications.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, the image forming apparatus connected to the network to which the information processing apparatus is connected performs various application processing such as print processing and copy processing using resources, and When a personal identification code that identifies a user is input to specify an application and reserve an operation reservation for the application, when accepting and processing an operation reservation, the operation operation of the reserved application is prohibited by the operation means, and the application is also prohibited. When the setting change operation of the initial setting is prohibited and the recitation code input at the time of operation reservation on the information processing device matches the user code input by the operation means, the operation operation of the operation reserved application by the operation means is permitted. And the application for which the operation was reserved. By allowing the setting change operation of the default settings of the application, the user who made the operation reservation on the information processing device can surely use the application for which the operation reservation is made, and the initial setting value of the application for which the operation reservation is made. It is an object of the present invention to provide an image forming apparatus having a further improved usability by preventing the change from being changed by another user, omitting the operation procedure at the time of operation reservation.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in accordance with an instruction from the information processing apparatus that has made the operation reservation, the operation means prohibits and permits the operation operation of the operation-reserved application and displays the initial setting screen of the application. By controlling the prohibition and permission of the screen transition of the application or the setting change operation of the initial setting of the application, the prohibition and permission of the operation operation of the reserved application and the screen transition to the initial setting screen of the application or the application An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus with higher usability by prohibiting and permitting the setting change operation of the initial setting from the information processing apparatus, omitting the operation procedure at the time of operation reservation.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in response to an instruction from the information processing apparatus that has made an operation reservation, the prohibition and permission of the setting change operation of the system initial setting of the image forming apparatus is controlled to make a reservation. It is an object of the present invention to provide an image forming apparatus with higher usability by allowing the information processing apparatus to prohibit and permit the change of the setting initial value of 1., omitting an unnecessary operation procedure at the time of reservation.

[0014]

An image forming apparatus according to a first aspect of the present invention is connected to a network to which an information processing apparatus is connected and displays operation means for inputting various operations and various operation screens. Various resources such as a display means, a reading means for reading an image of an original, a recording means for recording and outputting data on a sheet, and a network communication means, and various application processing such as print processing and copy processing using the resources are performed. An image forming apparatus capable of operation reservation in which a password for identifying a user is input from an information processing apparatus to specify the application and reserve an operation of the application, wherein the application specifies the application by the information processing apparatus. When the operation reservation is made, the operation of the operation reserved application by the operation means Operation is prohibited, and screen transition of the screen display of the display means to the initial setting screen of the operation-reserved application is prohibited, and the recitation code and the operation means input at the time of the operation reservation in the information processing device. When the user code entered in step 1 is matched, the operation means allows the operation operation of the operation-reserved application and the screen transition to the initial setting screen of the operation-reserved application. Has been achieved.

According to the above configuration, the image forming apparatus connected to the network to which the information processing apparatus is connected performs various application processing such as print processing and copy processing using resources, and at the same time, the information processing apparatus detects a user. When the security code is input to specify the application and reserve the operation of the application, when accepting and processing the operation reservation, the operation of the operation-reserved application is prohibited by the operation means, and the screen of the display means is displayed. In the display, the screen transition to the initial setting screen of the operation-reserved application is prohibited, and when the recitation code input at the time of operation reservation on the information processing device and the user code input by the operation means are matched, Operation Allows operation of reserved applications In addition, since the screen transition to the initial setting screen of the operation-reserved application is permitted, it is possible to ensure that the user who has reserved the operation on the information processing apparatus can use the operation-reserved application. At the same time, it is possible to prevent the use of other applications by other users and improve the usability of the image forming apparatus.

An image forming apparatus according to a second aspect of the present invention is connected to a network to which an information processing apparatus is connected, operating means for inputting various operations, display means for displaying various operation screens, and original image. Various resources such as a reading unit for reading the data, a recording unit for recording and outputting data on a sheet, a network communication unit, and various application processes such as print processing and copy processing using the resources are performed, and at the same time, the information processing apparatus can identify a user. An image forming apparatus capable of performing an operation reservation for inputting a specific security code to specify the application to reserve the operation of the application, and when the operation reservation specifying the application is performed in the information processing device, Prohibiting the operation operation of the operation reserved application by the operation means When the setting change operation of the initial setting of the application is prohibited and the recitation code input at the time of the operation reservation at the information processing device and the user code input at the operation means match, the operation means is reserved for the operation. The above-described object is achieved by permitting the operation operation of the application and the setting change operation of the initial setting of the operation-reserved application.

According to the above configuration, the image forming apparatus connected to the network to which the information processing apparatus is connected performs various application processing such as print processing and copy processing using resources, and at the same time, the information processing apparatus detects a user. When a personal identification code is input to specify an application and reserve the operation of the application, when accepting and processing the operation reservation, the operation of the operation-reserved application is prohibited by the operation means, and the initial operation of the application is performed. When the setting change operation of the setting is prohibited, and when the recitation code input at the time of operation reservation in the information processing device and the user code input by the operation means match, the operation means allows the operation operation of the operation reserved application. , The application reserved for the operation Since the setting change operation of the initial setting of is permitted, it is possible to ensure that the user who has made an operation reservation with the information processing device can use the application for which the operation reservation is made, and also the setting default value of the operation reserved application. Can be prevented from being changed by another user, the operation procedure at the time of operation reservation can be omitted, and the usability of the image forming apparatus can be further improved.

In each of the above cases, for example, as described in claim 3, the image forming apparatus is reserved for the operation by the operation means in accordance with an instruction from the information processing apparatus that has made the operation reservation. It may also control the prohibition and permission of the operation operation of the application, the screen transition to the initial setting screen of the application, and the prohibition and permission of the setting change operation of the initial setting of the application.

According to the above configuration, in response to an instruction from the information processing apparatus that has made the operation reservation, the operation means prohibits and permits the operation operation of the operation-reserved application, and a screen for the initial setting screen of the application. Since it controls the prohibition and permission of the transition or the setting change operation of the initial setting of the application, it prohibits and permits the operation operation of the reserved application and the screen transition to the initial setting screen of the application or the initial setting of the application. It is possible to prohibit and allow the setting change operation from the information processing apparatus, omit the operation procedure at the time of operation reservation, and further improve the usability of the image forming apparatus.

Further, for example, as described in claim 4, the image forming apparatus changes the system initial setting of the image forming apparatus in response to an instruction from the information processing apparatus that has made the operation reservation. It may control the prohibition and permission of the operation.

According to the above configuration, the prohibition and the permission of the setting change operation of the system initial setting of the image forming apparatus are controlled according to the instruction from the information processing apparatus that has made the operation reservation. It is possible to prohibit and allow the value change from the information processing apparatus, and it is possible to further improve the usability of the image forming apparatus by omitting an extra operation procedure at the time of reservation.

[0022]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. The embodiments described below are preferred embodiments of the present invention, and therefore have various technically preferable limitations. However, the scope of the present invention refers to the present invention particularly in the following description. Unless otherwise stated, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments.

1 to 21 are views showing a first embodiment of an image forming apparatus of the present invention, and this embodiment corresponds to claim 1.

FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram of a network system 1 to which an image forming apparatus to which the first embodiment of the image forming apparatus of the present invention is applied is applied.

In FIG. 1, a network system 1
Is a network N such as a LAN (Local Area Network)
W has a computer P as a plurality of client devices
C1 to PCn are connected to a plurality of digital copy devices DC1 to DCn as image forming apparatuses. As the network NW, for example, Ethernet (registered trademark) is used as a physical means, and OSI (Open Syste) is used for data communication.
m Interface) Reference model TCP / IP communication is used, but the present invention is not limited to this.

The network system 1 includes digital copy devices DC1 to DCn existing on the network NW.
Of the in-flight status, accounting management of the digital copying apparatuses DC1 to DCn, transfer of control commands such as remote output commands, and setting commands.

The above digital copying devices DC1 to DCn
2, as shown in FIG.
An (automatic document feeder) 20 is provided, and inside the main body housing 10, a reading unit 30, a writing unit 40, an image forming unit 50, and a paper feeding unit 6 are arranged from the top.
0, a paper feed unit 70, a reverse paper feed unit 80, and the like are stored. In addition, the digital copy devices DC1 to DC
A finisher 90 is attached to the side surface of the main body casing 10.

The ADF 20 includes a document table 21 and a feeding roller 2.
2, a feeding belt 23, a discharge roller 24, a document set detection sensor 25, and the like, and below the feeding belt 23, the upper surface of the main body casing 10 has a contact of a reading unit 30 described later. A glass 31 is arranged.

When the start key on the operation unit 110 is pressed, the ADF 20 feeds the document stack set on the document table 21 with the image surface of the document up, from the document at the lowermost stage to the feeding roller 22 and the feeding unit. Contact glass 31 by belt 23
When the image is read on the contact glass 31 by the reading unit 30 after being fed to the predetermined reading position, the read belt is discharged by the feeding belt 23 and the discharging roller 24.

The ADF 20 is a document set detection sensor 25.
When it detects that the next document is on the document table 21, the document is fed onto the contact glass 31 in the same manner as the previous document, and when the reading by the reading unit 30 is completed, in the same manner as above, the document that has been read is completed. Are discharged by the feeding belt 23 and the discharging roller 24. The ADF 20 drives the feeding roller 22, the feeding belt 23, and the discharging roller 24 with a motor (not shown).

The reading unit 30 is composed of a contact glass 31 on which the original is placed and an optical scanning system.
The optical scanning system includes an exposure lamp 32, a first mirror 33, a second mirror 34, a third mirror 35, a lens 36, a CCD image sensor 37 and the like. Exposure lamp 32
The first mirror 33 and the first mirror 33 are fixed on a first carriage (not shown), and the second mirror 34 and the third mirror 35 are fixed on a second carriage (not shown). When reading a document, the reading unit 30 drives the first carriage and the second carriage with a scanner driving motor (not shown). However, the first carriage and the second carriage are moved at a relative speed of 2: 1 so that the optical path length does not change. Then, the original on the contact glass 31 is scanned, the image of the original is read by the CCD image sensor 37, and converted into an electric signal. The reading unit 30 can change the image magnification by moving the lens 36 and the CCD image sensor 37 in the left-right direction in FIG. 2, and the lens 36 and the CCD image sensor 37 can be changed according to the designated magnification. Set the horizontal position of. ADF20 above
The reading unit 30 functions as a reading unit as a whole.

The writing unit 40 includes a laser output section 41,
Although not shown, the laser output unit 41 includes an imaging lens 42, a mirror 43, and the like, and a laser polygonal mirror (polygon mirror) or the like that rotates at a constant speed at a high speed by a laser diode that is a laser light source and a motor (not shown). It is stored.

The writing unit 40 includes a laser output section 41.
Then, the laser light emitted from the laser diode is polarized by a polygon mirror that rotates at a constant speed and is applied to the imaging lens 42, and this laser light is passed through the imaging lens 42 to the mirror 4
Irradiate 3. The mirror 43 reflects the incident laser light,
The light is reflected in the direction of the photoconductor 51 of the image forming unit 50, which will be described later, and is focused and imaged on the surface of the photoconductor 51.

The polarized laser beam applied to the photoconductor 51 is exposed and scanned in a direction (main scanning direction) orthogonal to the direction in which the photoconductor 51 rotates, and the image processing unit 1 described later is executed.
The image signal output from the selector 145 of 40 (see FIG. 7) is recorded in line units.

The writing unit 40 forms an image (electrostatic latent image) on the surface of the photoconductor 51 by repeating main scanning at a predetermined cycle corresponding to the rotation speed and recording density of the photoconductor 51. This electrostatic latent image is a potential distribution generated by converting the image into optical information and irradiating it on the surface of the photoconductor 51.

Although not shown, a beam sensor for generating a main scanning synchronization signal is arranged at a position near the one end of the photosensitive member 51 where the laser beam is irradiated. Control of the image recording start timing in the scanning direction and generation of a control signal for inputting / outputting an image signal described later are performed.

The image forming unit 50 includes a photoconductor 51, a developing section 52, a conveyor belt 53, a fixing section 54, and a paper discharge section 55.
And the like, and the developing unit 52 and the transport belt 53 are in contact with the photoconductor 51. The photoconductor 51 and the conveyor belt 53
Between the paper transport unit 60 and the paper feed unit 70.
The transfer paper 71 stored in is conveyed.

The image forming unit 50 includes the reading unit 3
The laser light modulated based on the image data of the original read by 0 or the received image data is written from the writing unit 40 to the photoconductor 51 to form an electrostatic latent image, and the electrostatic latent image is formed. Toner is supplied from the developing unit 52 to the surface of the photoreceptor 51 thus formed, and a toner image is formed. Then, the image forming unit 50 transfers the transfer paper 71 to the photoconductor 5
The toner image on the photoconductor 51 is transferred onto the transfer paper 71 while being conveyed by the conveyor belt 53 at the same speed as one rotation, and the transfer paper 71 on which the toner image is transferred is conveyed by the conveyor belt 53 to the fixing unit 54. .

The fixing section 54 heats and pressurizes the transfer paper 71 on which the toner image has been transferred, while fixing the toner image on the transfer paper 71 to the transfer paper 71. The paper 71 is sent to the paper output unit 55. The writing unit 40 and the image forming unit 50 function as a recording unit as a whole.

A reversing paper feeding unit 80 is connected to the paper discharging section 55. The reversing paper feeding unit 80 has a double-sided paper feed conveyance path 81, a reversing section 82, a double-sided conveyance path 83, and a reversal paper ejection conveyance path 84. And so on. The reverse sheet feeding unit 80 is configured to transfer the transfer sheet 71 having an image formed on one side in the double-sided recording mode.
Is introduced into the reversing unit 82 through the double-sided paper feeding conveyance path 81 and is conveyed from the reversing unit 82 to the double-sided conveyance path 83 to reverse the transfer paper 71, and the reversed transfer paper 71 is again conveyed to the double-sided conveyance path 83. From between the photoconductor 51 and the conveyor belt 53,
An image is formed again on the inverted transfer paper 71.

Further, the reversing paper feeding unit 80 reverses the recorded transfer paper 71 on its front and back surfaces to finish the finisher 90.
At the time of sending out to the sheet, the recorded transfer sheet 71 is introduced from the double-sided sheet feeding / conveying path 81 to the reversing section 82, from the reversing section 82 through the reversing sheet discharging and conveying section 84, and from the sheet discharging section 55 to the finisher.
By sending the transfer paper 71 to 90, the front and back surfaces of the transfer paper 71 are reversed and discharged to the finisher 90.

The finisher 90 includes a branch deflector plate 91,
Paper discharge transport roller 92, feed roller 93, paper discharge tray 94, stapler transport roller 95, stapler 96, stapler feed roller 97, staple tray 98,
A jogger 99, a stapling-completed sheet discharge tray 100, and the like are provided. The finisher 90 is a transfer sheet 71 discharged from the sheet discharge section 55 in the main body casing 10 to the outside of the main body casing 10.
Is switched to the direction of the delivery roller 93 and the direction of the stapler transport roller 95, which is a staple processing unit, by switching the branch deflector plate 91, and the branch deflector plate 91 is switched to the upper direction, so that the transfer sheet 71 is discharged and transported. The sheet is discharged from the feed roller 93 onto the sheet discharge tray 94 via the roller 92. In addition, the finisher 90 includes a branch deflector plate 91.
Is switched to the downward direction to transfer the transfer paper 71 to the paper discharge transport roller 92, the transport roller 105, the stapler transport roller 9
The transfer paper stacked on the staple tray 98 is conveyed and placed on the staple tray 98 by way of the jogger 99 for paper alignment every time one sheet is discharged. , The end faces of the sheets are aligned, and the stapler 96 binds the sheets when the copy is completed. The finisher 90 stores the group of transfer sheets bound by the stapler 96 in the staple-completed sheet discharge tray 100 by its own weight.

On the other hand, the normal paper ejection tray 94 is a paper ejection tray that can be moved forward and backward, and can be moved forward and backward for each document or for each copy section sorted by the image memory, and simply ejected. The transferred transfer paper 71 is sorted.

The paper feed unit 70 is equipped with three paper feed trays 72, 73, 74, and each of the paper feed trays 72 to
A plurality of transfer papers 71 are stored in each 74. Each of the paper feed trays 72 to 74 has a sending section 75.
To 77 are provided, each of the sending units 75 to 77 sets one of the transfer papers 71 stored in each of the paper feed trays 72 to 74.
The sheets are separated one by one and sent to the paper transport unit 60.

The paper carrying unit 60 includes sending parts 75-7.
The transfer paper 71 sent from each of the paper feed trays 72 to 74 by 7 is conveyed between the photoconductor 51 of the image forming unit 50 and the conveyance belt 53.

The image forming unit 50 transfers the toner image formed on the photoconductor 51 to the transferred transfer paper 71, and fixes the toner image on the transfer paper 71 by the fixing unit 54.

The photosensitive member 51, the conveyor belt 53,
The fixing unit 54, the paper discharging unit 55, and the developing unit 52 are driven by a main motor (not shown), and the driving of the main motor is transmitted to each of the sending units 75 to 77 of the paper feeding unit 70 by a paper feeding clutch (not shown). Driven. Further, the paper transport unit 60 is driven by the drive of the main motor being transmitted by an intermediate clutch (not shown).

The digital copying apparatuses DC1 to DCn are provided with an operation section (operation means) 110 shown in FIG. 3, and the operation section 110 includes a liquid crystal touch panel 111 and a ten-key pad 11.
2, clear / stop key 113, print key 11
4, mode clear key 115, initial setting key 116, interrupt key 117 and copy, fax, printer,
An application switching key 118 for switching applications such as a scanner is provided. On the liquid crystal touch panel (display means, operation means) 111, function keys 119 and the number of copies and messages indicating the states of the digital copying apparatuses DC1 to DCn are displayed. The application switching key 118 is used to load installed applications (copy, fax,
There are keys for each application (printer, scanner, etc.), and the application can be switched by pressing the key. Further, the application switching key 118 has a built-in LED (Light Emitting Diode), and displays the status of the currently selected application, the application in operation, and the application in which a failure (operation interruption) has occurred.

The liquid crystal touch panel 111 is, for example,
As shown in FIG. 4, for example, a message area for displaying a message such as “Ready to copy” and “Please wait” is displayed on the upper left part of the display area of the liquid crystal touch panel 111, and a set area is set on the right side. The copy number display area, which displays the number of copies,
A function key area, which is a display area of 9, is provided.
As the function keys 119 displayed in the function key area, for example, an automatic density key for automatically adjusting image density, an automatic paper selection key for automatically selecting transfer paper, and a process for aligning copies partially in page order The sort key, the stack key that specifies the process of sorting the copies for each page, the staple key that specifies the process of binding the sorted products part by part, the same size key that sets the magnification to the same size, and the enlargement / reduction ratio. Variable key to set, double-sided key to set double-sided mode, erase mode to set binding margin mode, etc.
A move key, a print key for setting printing of a stamp, a date, a page, etc. The selected mode is displayed in a shaded key.

In the liquid crystal touch panel 111, when the operator touches the function key 119 displayed on the liquid crystal touch panel 111, the function key 119 showing the selected function is inverted in black. Further, when designating the details of the function (for example, in the case of scaling, a scaling value, etc.), the detailed function setting screen is displayed by touching the function key 119. As described above, since the liquid crystal touch panel 111 uses the dot display, the optimum display at that time can be graphically displayed.

This digital copying apparatus DC1 to DCn
The hardware block configuration can be shown as in FIG. 5, and the image reading unit 1 corresponding to the reading unit 30 is
21, the image writing unit 12 corresponding to the writing unit 40
2, system controller 123, user restricted device 12
4, human body detection sensor 125, operation unit 110, clock unit 12
6. Remote diagnosis unit (CSS) 127 and memory unit 1
28 and so on. Image reading unit 121, image writing unit 1
22 and the memory unit 128 are connected by a data bus 129 and a system bus 130, and the system bus 130 further includes a system controller 123, a remote diagnosis unit 127, and a clock unit 126.
It is connected to the.

The image reading section 121 includes the reading unit 3 described above.
This corresponds to 0, and the paper is irradiated with light from the exposure lamp 32, and the reflected light is converted into an electric signal by the CCD image sensor 37, and then necessary image processing is performed. This necessary image processing includes quantization processing for converting an analog electric signal output from the CCD image sensor 37 into binary or multivalued image data, uneven irradiation of the exposure lamp 32 for illuminating an original, and CCD image sensor 37. Shading correction to correct sensitivity variations, MT to correct blurring due to optical system
These are various processes such as F correction and a scaling process in which data is interpolated using image data read by changing the image reading density.

The image writing unit 122 is the writing unit 4 described above.
The image image (image data), which corresponds to 0, is sent by an electric signal and is image-formed on the transfer paper 71 by the electrophotographic method as described above.

The system controller 123 is a CPU
(Central Processing Unit) 123a is provided to control each unit of the digital copy apparatuses DC1 to DCn to execute the basic processing as the digital copy apparatuses DC1 to DCn. For example, when the system controller 123 executes the copy mode, in order for the image writing unit 122 to form an image, a paper conveyance process, an electrophotographic process process, an abnormal state, a paper feed cassette state (paper presence or absence, etc.), etc. The scanner operation and ON / OFF of the light source are controlled in order to read images by the in-machine monitoring and image reading unit 121. In particular, the system controller 123 is a resource that is a unit of a functional unit shared by a plurality of applications when executing a plurality of applications installed in the digital copying apparatuses DC1 to DCn, for example, applications such as copy, fax, printer, and scanner. And allocate resources and control their behavior.

The memory unit 128 includes a compression block 1
28a, a DRAM (Dynamic Random Access Memory) block 128b, and a DMA (Direct Memory Access) block 128c are provided, but it is necessary only when realizing a memory function, and particularly necessary when realizing a normal copy function. is not.

The clock unit 126 is used to realize a weekly timer function of booting or shutting down the machine at a specific time. This weekly timer is ON set for each day of the week.
This is a function of turning on / off the power supply in accordance with the ON / OFF time. For this function, an operation for adjusting the time of the clock unit 126 and an operation for setting the ON / OFF time for each day of the week are required.

The human body detecting sensor 125 controls the fixing unit by lowering the fixing temperature by a constant temperature (for example, 10 ° C.), and the operating unit 110.
In order to realize the function of automatically canceling the preheating mode when the user approaches before the digital copying apparatuses DC1 to DCn in the preheating mode for saving power consumption, the digital copying apparatus DC1 ~ DC
It is used to detect whether there is a user near n. It should be noted that the setting of the preheating mode is automatically set after a certain time has passed since the operation and the operation are lost depending on the key input on the operation unit 110 and the machine setting, and the preheating mode is released.
The digital copy devices DC1 to DCn are operated by the human body detection sensor 125 according to key input on the operation unit 110 or machine setting.
It is canceled when it is detected that a person stands before.

The remote diagnosis section 127 performs remote diagnosis, that is, the digital copy devices DC1 to DCn automatically when an error occurs in the digital copy devices DC1 to DCn.
Or call the service center of
The execution status and usage status of C1 to DCn are monitored from a remote location.

The user restriction device 124 is a device for specifying, limiting, and managing the users of the digital copying apparatuses DC1 to DCn, for example, a coin rack, a key counter, a key card, a prepaid card, etc. You can also use it to limit users.

The DRAM block 128b of the memory unit 128 stores the image signal (image data) of the original read by the image reading unit 121 and the image data received from the computers PC1 to PCn, and the system controller 1
In response to the request from 23, the image data stored in the DRAM 128b is transferred to the image writing unit 122. Also,
The compression block 128a is an MH (Modified Huffman),
MR (Modufied Relative element address designate
), A compression function such as an MMR (Modified MR) method, and the like, in order to improve the use efficiency of the memory (DRAM block 128b) and the transfer efficiency on the line, the image reading unit 1
The image data of the read image of 21 is compressed, and when the image writing unit 122 writes the image, the read address and the direction thereof are changed to rotate the image. Further, the memory unit 128 is connected to the network N
It is also used as a buffer for transferring image data to / from the computers PC1 to PCn on the W or transferring image data between the digital copying apparatuses DC1 to DCn.

In FIG. 5, the image reading section 121, the image writing section 122, the memory unit 128, and the remote diagnosis section 12 are shown.
7 is controlled by the CPU 124 of the system controller 124.
However, the present invention is not limited to this, and, for example, as shown in FIG. 6, the image reading unit 121, the image writing unit 122, and the memory unit 128 are provided with the CPU 121, respectively.
It is also possible to provide a, 122a, and 128d, and to transmit a command from the system controller 123 to each of the CPUs 121a, 122a, and 128d by a control signal line.

Then, the digital copying devices DC1 to DC
The image reading unit 121, which is the reading unit 30, and the image writing unit 122, which is the writing unit 40, are configured as an image processing unit 140 as shown in FIG. Image sensor 37, A / D
Converter 141, shading correction unit 142, MT
F / γ correction unit 143, print synthesis unit 144, selector 14
5, a print synthesis unit 146, a scaling unit 147, a print image data generation unit 148, a memory controller 149, an image memory 150, a SCSI (Small Computer System Interf).
ace) driver 151, I / O port 152, CPU1
53, ROM (Read Only Memory) 154 and RAM
(Random Access Memory) 155 and the like. Figure 7
In the figure, the address and data indicate image data, and the data and address connected to the CPU 153 are not shown.

On the CCD image sensor 37, the reflected light emitted from the exposure lamp 32 and reflected on the original surface is imaged through the lens 36, and the CCD image sensor 37
Receives the imaged light, photoelectrically converts it, and
Output to the converter 141. A / D converter 141
Converts an analog electric signal input from the CCD image sensor 37 into a digital signal, and the shading correction unit 142 performs shading correction on the image signal converted into the digital signal. The MTF / γ correction unit 143
MT for image data that has undergone shading correction
The image synthesizing unit 1 performs image correction processing such as F correction and γ correction.
Reference numeral 44 synthesizes the image data on which the image correction processing has been performed with the print image data from the print image data generation unit 148, and outputs the synthesized image data to the selector 145.

The print image data generator 148 receives an address and data from the CPU 123a of the system controller 123, generates print image data based on the address and data, and outputs the print image data to the print synthesizer 144 or print synthesizer 146. To do.

The selector 145 sets the destination of the image signal (image data) to the scaling unit 71 and the memory controller 14.
In the case of switching to 9 and sending the image to form an image, the selector 149 sends the image signal to the print synthesizing unit 146, and the print synthesizing unit 146 causes the print image data generating unit 1 to output.
It is combined with the print image data input from 48 and sent to the scaling unit 147. The scaling unit 147 enlarges / reduces the image signal according to the designated or required scaling ratio and sends the image signal to the writing unit 40, and the writing unit 40 based on the input image data (image signal). Laser output unit 41
The laser light emitted from the laser diode is modulated to write an electrostatic latent image on the photoconductor 51.

Memory controller 149 and selector 14
Image signals can be input and output bi-directionally to and from 5, and although not clearly shown in FIG. 7, other than image data input from the reading unit (image reading unit 121) 30, that is, the CCD 37. Also, it has a function of selecting input / output of a plurality of data so that image data supplied from the outside of the computers PC1 to PCn connected to the network NW can be processed.

The ROM 154 is a digital copy device DC.
1-DCn basic programs, various programs such as a remote control processing program described later, and various data necessary for executing these programs are stored.
The RAM 155 temporarily stores various data necessary for executing the processing of the CPU 153. The CPU 153 is the ROM 15
Digital copy device DC1 based on the program in 4
To control each unit of DCn to control the digital copy device DC1 to DC1.
The basic processing as DCn is executed, and the remote operation control processing described later is executed, and, for example, setting to the memory controller 149 and the like, the image reading unit 121, and the image writing unit 1 are performed.
22 etc. are controlled. The CPU 153 also writes data to the image memory 150 and reads data from the image memory 150 via the memory controller 149.

The image signal for one page in the selector 145 is, as shown in FIG. 8, a frame gate signal (/ FGATE) representing the effective period of the image data of one page in the sub-scanning direction, and a main signal for each line. Scan sync signal (/ L
SYNC) and a line gate signal (/ LGATE) indicating that the image signal in the main scanning direction is valid, and the image signal becomes valid at a predetermined clock after the rise of the main scanning synchronization signal (/ LSYNC). Each of these signals is synchronized with the pixel clock VCLK, and the pixel clock VCL
The data of one pixel corresponds to one cycle of K by the selector 145.
Will be sent to. The image processing unit 140 uses separate frame gate signals (/
FGATE), main scanning synchronization signal (/ LSYNC), line gate signal (/ LGATE), pixel clock (VCL)
It has a generation mechanism of K), and various image input / output combinations can be realized.

The memory controller 149 and the image memory 150 can be shown as shown in FIG. 9. The memory controller 149 includes an input data selector 161, an image synthesizing section 162, a primary compression / expansion section 163, and an output data selector 164. Also, each block such as the secondary compression / decompression unit 165 is provided, and the control data setting to each block is C.
It is performed from the PU 153.

The image memory 150 is a primary storage section 150a.
And a secondary storage unit 150b.
As a, a memory that can be accessed at high speed such as a DRAM is used so that data writing and data reading at the time of image output can be performed at high speed substantially in synchronization with the transfer speed of input image data. In addition, the primary storage unit 150a
Is configured so that it can be divided into a plurality of areas according to the size of the image data to be processed and input / output of the image data can be executed simultaneously (interface unit with the memory controller 149). For example, in order to enable input and output of image data in parallel in each divided area of the primary storage unit 150a, the interface with the memory controller 149 has two sets of address data for read and write. They are connected by a line, and for example, while inputting (writing) an image to the memory area 1, the memory area 2
The image data can be output (read) from.

The secondary storage unit 150b is a large-capacity memory that stores data for combining and sorting input image data. If both the primary storage unit 150a and the secondary storage unit 105b use high-speed accessible elements, data processing can be performed without distinction between the primary storage unit 150a and the secondary storage unit 105b. Although simple, since an element such as a DRAM is expensive, as the secondary storage unit 150b, although the access speed is not so fast, an inexpensive and large-capacity recording medium is used, and the input / output data processing is performed by the primary storage. The configuration may be performed via the storage unit 150a. When the image memory 150 has such a memory configuration, the digital copying devices DC1 to DCn capable of inputting / outputting, storing, and processing a large amount of image data can be realized with a low cost and a relatively simple configuration.

In the memory controller 149, when an image is input (image data is stored in the image memory 150), the input data selector 161 writes data to the image memory 150 (primary storage section 150a) from among a plurality of data. Image data to be selected is selected and supplied to the image synthesizing unit 162,
The image synthesizing unit 162 synthesizes the image data already stored in the image memory 150 and outputs the result to the primary compression / decompression unit 163 or the output data selector 164.

The primary compression / decompression unit 163 is the image synthesis unit 1.
The processed image data of 62 is compressed, and the compressed data is written to the primary storage unit 150 a of the image memory 150.

The image memory 150 is a primary storage unit 150a.
The data written in (1) is further compressed by the secondary compression / expansion unit 165 as necessary, and then stored in the secondary storage unit 150b.

The memory controller 149 uses the primary storage unit 1 when outputting an image (reading from the image memory 150).
When the image data stored in 50a is read and the image to be output is stored in the primary storage unit 150a, the primary compression / decompression unit 163 causes the primary storage unit 150a.
The image data of a is decompressed, and the decompressed image data,
The output data selector 164 selects and outputs the image data obtained by performing image combination of the expanded image data and the input image data in the image combining unit 162.

The image synthesizing section 162 has a primary storage section 150a.
Image data and input image data (having a phase adjusting function of image data), selection of output destination of combined image data (image output, write back to primary storage unit 150a, both output destinations) It is also possible to output simultaneously to).

When the image to be output at the time of image output is not stored in the primary storage unit 150a, the memory controller 149 secondary-compresses the image data to be output stored in the secondary storage unit 150b. / The decompression unit 165 decompresses and the decompressed image data is written in the primary storage unit 150a, and then the same image output operation as described above is performed.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described. The digital copying apparatuses DC1 to DCn of the present embodiment are computers PC1 to PC connected to the network NW.
n, the operation reservation of the application of the digital copy apparatuses DC1 to DCn can be made, and when the operation reservation of the application is made, the digital copy apparatus DC1 by another user of the operation reserved application.
The feature is that the operation input in DCn is prohibited and the screen transition to the application initial setting is prohibited.

That is, the digital copying apparatuses DC1 to D
Cn is a computer PC1 to PC1 connected to a network to which the digital copying apparatuses DC1 to DCn are connected.
An operation reservation for an application can be made from PCn. This operation reservation means, for example, the digital copying apparatus D.
The copying operation cannot be started during heating of the fixing in C1 to DCn, but when the copying operation becomes possible after the fixing heating is completed by ending the mode setting and the setting of the document and making an operation reservation. Then, it refers to the function of automatically starting the copy operation. Note that the operation target for which operation reservation is possible is not limited to the operation reservation during fixing heating, and the operation that can be operated with the passage of time can be an operation reservation target. It is possible to make an operation reservation at the time, the polygon motor rotation stabilization time, the toner replenishing operation, and the like.

First, when the operation reservation of the application of the digital copy devices DC1 to DCn is made from the computers PC1 to PCn, the digital copy devices DC1 to DCn are made.
n on the liquid crystal touch panel 111 of the operation unit 30.
As shown in FIG. 1, an operation reservation window 1 indicating that an operation reservation for an application (for example, copy) is made.
11a is displayed in the foreground, and the operation reservation window 111a
Displays the user IDs (USER001 in FIG. 10) of the computers PC1 to PCn that have made the operation reservation, so that it is possible to determine who made the reservation.

Then, the digital copying apparatuses DC1 to DC
n is the digital copy apparatus D while the operation reservation window 111a indicating that the operation is reserved is displayed.
The operation setting input operation of C1 to DCn is prohibited.

When the operation reservation of the application is made on the computers PC1 to PCn, first, for example, on the display 200 of the computers PC1 to PCn,
As shown in FIG. 11, the types of image forming apparatuses such as the digital copying apparatuses DC1 to DCn connected to the network NW are displayed. In this case, as the image forming apparatus, a plurality of digital copy apparatuses DC1 to DCn and other apparatuses, for example, a printer apparatus may be connected to the network NW, so that the names can be individually given and the names can be given individually. Even in the copy devices DC1 to DCn, a name can be given to each function (application).

In FIG. 11, computers PC1 to PC
When the user of Cn selects the usage status button, the network usage status screen shown in FIG. 12 is displayed on the display 200. In this network usage status screen, the image forming apparatuses currently in operation and reserved that are connected to the network NW are displayed. Can be displayed and the image forming apparatus can be reserved. In the network usage status screen of FIG. 12, the device names of usage statuses are displayed with the names shown in FIG. 11, and the statuses of usage statuses are the status of the image forming apparatus, busy (BUSY), and reserved (RESERVED). ), Operating (OP
ERATE) etc. are displayed. Further, in the owner field of the network usage status screen of FIG.
If the operation is from C1 to PCn, the computer PC
When the user IDs 1 to PCn are displayed and the user operates the image forming apparatus by directly operating the image forming apparatus such as the digital copying apparatuses DC1 to DCn (for example, MF02) and the facsimile apparatus (FAX1), Different from the user, it is displayed like OPERATER.

Further, as shown in FIG. 12, the network usage status screen displays a field for selecting an image forming apparatus to be a target of operation reservation, a field for inputting a reservation button and a personal identification number.

Then, in order for the user to make an operation reservation for the image forming apparatus such as the digital copying apparatuses DC1 to DCn from the computers PC1 to PCn, it is necessary to perform the user registration, and to perform the user registration, it is shown in FIG. Such a user registration list screen is displayed on the display 200 of the computers PC1 to PCn. On this user registration list screen, registered user names (USER008 etc.) and user codes (444 etc.) are displayed in a list in descending order of priority, and keys necessary for registration, change and deletion are displayed. When the new registration key is pressed, the user registration screen shown in FIG. 14 is displayed. On the user registration screen, user I
D (user name in screen display of FIG. 14), usable functions (copy, printer, FAX transmission, scanner in FIG. 14), and secret code (user code in screen display of FIG. 14) can be registered. It should be noted that the same user ID (user name) can be registered on this user registration screen, but with regard to the personal identification code, be careful not to duplicate it.
If they overlap, a warning or the like is displayed. Further, when changing the user registration contents, by pressing the key of the registered user name / user code on the user registration list screen of FIG. 13, the user registration screen of FIG. 14 displays the user name / user code. It is displayed with the registered content of.

The computers PC1 to PCn close the user registration screen when the user is newly registered or the contents are changed and the setting key is pressed on the user registration screen of FIG. 14, and the user registration list screen of FIG. Then, the user registration list screen is displayed with the contents changed according to the setting contents.

Then, an image forming apparatus connected to the network NW, for example, digital copying apparatuses DC1 to DC
In n, when the application is switched, as shown in FIG. 15, the transition of application switching is displayed on the liquid crystal touch panel 111 of the operation unit 30. That is, for example, if a copy application is reserved, the screen of the reserved application is displayed (see FIG. 15).
On the left side of the screen), an operation reservation window 11 indicating that the operation is reserved from the computer PC1 to PCn side.
1a is displayed on the foreground, and the operation setting input of the copy application is suppressed so that the operation setting of the copy application cannot be performed. However, when the application switching key 118 of the operation unit 30 is pressed to switch the application to the fax on this screen display, the fax application judges that the application is not the target of the copy reservation and displays the reservation display. The operation reservation window 111a is closed, and an initial setting screen of the fax application is displayed as shown on the right side of FIG. 15. Operation setting input is possible on the initial setting screen of the fax application.

When the switching operation to the copy application reserved for operation is performed by the application switching key 118 of the software platform 30 on the initial setting screen of the fax application, the initial setting screen of the copy application is changed and As shown on the left side in FIG. 15, the operation reservation window 111a for reservation display is displayed, and the operation setting input of the copy application is suppressed.

Further, the digital copy devices DC1 to DCn
When the initial setting key 116 of the operation unit 30 is pressed,
The initial setting menu screen shown in FIG. 16 is displayed on the liquid crystal touch panel 111. In this initial setting menu screen, a transition key (counter key) to a counter screen (not shown) showing the usage status of each application and a language switching key (in FIG. 16, Englis showing switching to an arrow and English)
key indicated by h), digital copying apparatus DC1 to D
Transition key to the screen to confirm / change the initial settings related to the entire Cn (system initialization key), Transition key to the screen to confirm / change the initial settings of each application (copy initialization key, fax initial setting Key etc.) is displayed.

When the copy initial setting key is pressed on the initial setting menu screen, the digital copying apparatuses DC1 to DCn display the copy initial setting screen shown in FIG. 17 on the liquid crystal touch panel 111, and the copy initial setting screen is displayed. , There is a tab key (basic copy, scaling, etc.) for each classification. Within each category, there is a key for each setting item (automatic paper selection priority, limitless paper feeding, etc.) and a feedback display of the setting contents (Yes, rotatable and operation, etc.), which are displayed on the screen for each category. If there are items that cannot be filled, the page number display and the page switching key are displayed.

Further, the digital copying apparatuses DC1 to DCn
When the setting item key is pressed on the initial setting menu screen of FIG. 16, a pop-up window (not shown) is opened on the liquid crystal touch panel 111, and the setting can be changed.

Furthermore, the digital copying devices DC1 to DC
n is the initial setting menu screen of FIG. 16, and when the system initial setting key is pressed, the liquid crystal touch panel 111 displays
The system initial setting screen shown in FIG. 18 is displayed.

In this embodiment, the computers PC1 to PCn are connected to the digital copying devices DC1 to DCn.
When the application is designated to perform the operation reservation, the digital copying apparatuses DC1 to DCn prohibit the operation input by other users of the operation-reserved application and prohibit the screen transition to the application initial setting.

That is, the digital copying apparatuses DC1 to DC
Even if the operation reservation is made from the computers PC1 to PCn, Cn is effective for checking the counter and switching the language, so that when the initial setting key 116 of the operation unit 30 is pressed, the initial setting shown in FIG. Although the setting screen is displayed, when the initial setting key of the operation-reserved application (for example, copy application) is pressed on the initial setting screen, as shown in FIG.
The operation reservation window 111a indicating that the operation is reserved is displayed on the front side from the Cn side, the screen transition to the initial setting screen of the operation reserved application is suppressed, and the operation reserved application is reserved. Prohibit initial settings by users other than the user.

In the digital copying apparatuses DC1 to DCn, when the operation reservation password is input in the operation reservation window 111a and the # key is pressed, the operation reservation window 111a for reservation display is closed and the operation reservation is made. A screen transition is made to the initial setting screen of the application, for example, the copy initial setting screen shown in FIG.

Further, the digital copying devices DC1 to DCn
When the cancel key is pressed in the operation reservation window 111a of FIG. 19, the operation reservation window 111 for reservation display is displayed.
a is closed, and the screen returns to the initial setting menu screen shown in FIG.

Further, the operation reservation window 11 shown in FIG.
When the initial setting key 116 of the operation unit 30 is pressed again during the display of 1a, the screen display of the application screen before opening the initial setting menu screen shown in FIG. 16 is restored.

That is, the digital copying machines DC1 to DC
Cn is the initial setting screen shown in FIG. 16, for example, the case where the initial setting key of the copy application is pressed. As shown in FIG. 20, when the initial setting key 116 of the operation unit 30 is pressed. The initial setting screen shown in FIG. 16 is displayed on the liquid crystal touch panel 111. On this initial setting screen, for example, it is checked whether the initial setting key of the copy application is pressed (step S10).
1) If the copy application is not pressed, the process ends.

When the initialization key of the copy application is pressed in step S101, the digital copying apparatuses DC1 to DCn check whether the copy application is an operation reserved application (step S102), and the operation is not reserved. At this time, the display of the liquid crystal touch panel 111 is switched to the copy initial setting screen shown in FIG. 17 (step S103), the process returns to step S101, and the same processing as described above is performed.

In step S102, when the copy application is reserved for operation, the digital copying apparatuses DC1 to DCn display the operation reservation window 111a shown in FIG. 19 on the liquid crystal touch panel 111 (step S104), and the operation is reserved. The screen transition to the initial setting screen of the copy application is suppressed, and the initial setting of the copy application reserved for the operation by a user other than the user who reserved the operation is prohibited (key input is suppressed) (step S105). The process returns and the same process as above is performed (steps S101 to S105).

Then, the digital copying devices DC1 to DC
n is the operation reservation window 111 as shown in FIG.
It is checked whether or not the # key is pressed during the display of a (step S111), and when it is pressed, the operation reservation window 1
It is checked whether the recitation code input in 11a and the recitation code (PC personal identification code) input in the operation-reserved computers PC1 to PCn match (step S1).
12).

If they match in step S112, the digital copying apparatuses DC1 to DCn close (delete) the operation reservation window 111a (step S11).
3), the key input suppression is released (step S11).
4) Switch the screen display to the initial setting screen of the copy application (step S115), and then step S11.
Returning to 1 and processing similar to the above.

In step S111, when the # key of the operation unit 30 is not pressed, the digital copy devices DC1 to DC1
The DCn checks whether or not the clear / stop key 113 of the operation unit 30 has been pressed (step S116), and when pressed, erases the display field of the operation reservation window 111a (step S117) and inputs the personal identification code. If so, the input personal identification code is initialized (step S118), the process returns to step S111, and the same process as above is performed.

In step S112, when the recitation code input in the operation reservation window 111a and the recitation code input in the operation-reserved computers PC1 to PCn do not match, the digital copy devices DC1 to DC1 are used.
The DCn proceeds to step S117, erases the display field of the operation reservation window 111a (step S117), initializes the input personal identification code (step S118), returns to step S111, and repeats the same as above. To process.

When the clear / stop key 113 of the operation unit 30 is not pressed in step S116, the digital copying apparatuses DC1 to DCn check whether the ten key 112 of the operation unit 30 has been input (step S11).
9) If the ten-key pad 112 is not pressed, the process directly returns to step S111 to perform the same process as above.

When the numeric keypad 112 is input in step S119, the digital copying apparatuses DC1 to DCn display * symbols for the number of input digits for inputting the personal identification code of the operation reservation window 111a (step S12).
0), the personal identification code (input personal identification code) is calculated from the input ten-key pad 112 and saved (step S12).
1) and returns to step S111 to perform the same processing as above (steps S111 to S121).

In the above description, the case where the operation reservation is made for the copy application has been explained, but the same processing can be performed for other applications, and the operation reservation can be made for one application. The present invention is not limited to this, and the same processing can be performed even if operation reservations are made for a plurality of applications.

As described above, the digital copying apparatuses DC1 to DCn of this embodiment are the computers PC1 to PCn.
Is connected to the network NW connected to each other and performs various application processing such as print processing and copy processing using resources, and the personal identification code for identifying the user is input from the computers PC1 to PCn to identify the application and identify the application. When accepting and processing the operation reservation, the operation operation of the application for which the operation is reserved is prohibited, and the screen transition of the screen display of the liquid crystal touch panel 111 to the initial setting screen of the operation reserved application is performed. If the recitation code input at the time of operation reservation on the computers PC1 to PCn and the user code input at the operation unit 110 match, the operation operation of the operation-reserved application is permitted and the operation reservation is made. Application It has allowed the screen transition to the ® down the initial setting screen.

Therefore, the computers PC1 to PCn
It is possible to ensure that the user who has made the operation reservation in step 6 can use the application for which the operation has been reserved, and it is possible not to hinder the use of other applications by other users.
The usability of C1 to DCn can be improved.

22 to 24 are views showing a second embodiment of the image forming apparatus of the present invention, and this embodiment corresponds to claim 2.

The present embodiment is applied to a network system and a digital copying apparatus similar to the network system 1 and the digital copying apparatuses DC1 to DCn of the first embodiment. In the description, the reference numerals used in the description of the first embodiment will be used as they are, as necessary.

Network system 1 of the present embodiment
Is a computer PC1 connected to the network NW
From PCn to digital copy device D which is an image forming device
The operation reservations of the applications C1 to DCn can be made, and when the operation reservations of the applications are made, the digital copy apparatuses DC1 to DCn can use the digital copy apparatuses DC1 to DCn by other users of the operation reserved application. In addition to prohibiting operation input,
The operation to change the initial settings of the reserved application is prohibited.

That is, in the case of the present embodiment, since the digital copying apparatuses DC1 to DCn can effectively check the counter and switch the language even when the operation reservation is made, the initial setting key 116 of the operation unit 30 is used. When pressed, the initial setting menu screen shown in FIG. 16 is displayed on the liquid crystal touch panel 111. In this state, when the initial setting key (for example, the copy initial setting key) of the application reserved for operation is pressed from the computers PC1 to PCn, the digital copying apparatuses DC1 to DCn display the copy initial setting screen shown in FIG. Displayed on the liquid crystal touch panel 111, on this copy initial setting screen, there are tab keys (basic copy, magnification, etc.) for each classification. Within each category, there is a key for each setting item (automatic paper selection priority, limitless paper feeding, etc.) and a feedback display of the setting contents (Yes, rotatable and operation, etc.), which are displayed on the screen for each category. If there are items that cannot be filled, the page number display and the page switching key are displayed. On the copy initial setting screen, the digital copying apparatuses DC1 to DCn can press the taboo key and the page switching key for each classification, and can confirm the feedback display of the initial setting.

However, when the setting item key (for example, the priority document type key) is pressed on the copy initial setting screen,
As shown in FIG. 22, each of the digital copying apparatuses DC1 to DCn displays an operation reservation window 111a indicating that an operation is reserved from the computer PC1 to PCn side on the forefront, and suppresses setting change input of copy initialization. .

When the operation reservation password is entered in the operation reservation window 111a, the digital copying apparatus D
C1 to DCn close the operation reservation window 111a,
Opens the setting item popup window. When the cancel key is pressed on the operation reservation window 111a, the digital copying apparatuses DC1 to DCn close the operation reservation window 111a and return to the copy initial setting screen before pressing the setting item key shown in FIG. Further, if the initial setting key 116 of the operation unit 30 is pressed again while the reservation operation reservation window 111a is displayed, the digital copying apparatus D
C1 to DCn return to the screen of the application before opening the initial setting menu screen.

That is, now, the computers PC1 to P
When a copy application operation reservation is made from Cn and the copy application initialization key is pressed on the initialization screen shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 3, when the initial setting key 116 of the operating unit 30 is pressed, the initial setting screen shown in FIG. 16 is displayed on the liquid crystal touch panel 111. When the key is pressed, the copy initial setting screen shown in FIG. 17 is displayed on the liquid crystal touch panel 111, and on this copy initial setting screen, it is checked whether the initial setting item key (for example, the priority document type key) is pressed ( If the initial setting item key is not pressed in step S201), the process ends.

When the initial setting item key is pressed on the copy initial setting screen in step S201, the digital copying apparatuses DC1 to DCn check whether the copy application is an operation reserved application (step S202), and reserve the operation. If not, the popup window of the selected initial setting item is displayed on the liquid crystal touch panel 111, and the process ends (step S203).

When the copy application is reserved for operation in step S202, the digital copying apparatuses DC1 to DCn display the operation reservation window 111a on the liquid crystal touch panel 111 as shown in FIG. 22 (step S204), and operate. Suppress the screen transition to the setting item screen selected in the initial setting screen of the reserved copy application, and prohibit the user other than the user who reserved the operation of the reserved operation of the operation from changing the setting of the setting item (key The input is suppressed) (step S205), the process returns to step S201, and the same processing as described above is performed (steps S201 to S205).

Then, the digital copying apparatuses DC1 to DC
n is the operation reservation window 111 as shown in FIG.
It is checked whether or not the # key has been pressed during the display of a (step S211), and when it has been pressed, the operation reservation window 1
It is checked whether the recitation code input in 11a and the recitation code (PC personal identification code) input in the operation-reserved computers PC1 to PCn match (step S2).
12).

If they match in step S212, the digital copying apparatuses DC1 to DCn close (delete) the operation reservation window 111a (step S21).
3) The key input suppression is released (step S21).
4) Then, the pop-up window of the setting item selected on the initial setting screen of the copy application is displayed on the screen (step S215), the process returns to step S211, and the same process as above is performed.

In step S211, when the # key of the operation unit 30 is not pressed, the digital copying apparatuses DC1 to DC1
DCn checks whether or not the clear / stop key 113 of the operation unit 30 has been pressed (step S216), and when pressed, erases the display field of the operation reservation window 111a (step S217) and inputs the personal identification code. If so, the input personal identification code is initialized (step S218), the process returns to step S211, and the same process as above is performed.

If it is determined in step S212 that the recitation code input in the operation reservation window 111a and the recitation code input in the operation-reserved computers PC1 to PCn do not match, the digital copy devices DC1 to DC1.
The DCn proceeds to step S217, erases the display field of the operation reservation window 111a (step S217), initializes the input personal identification code (step S218), and returns to step S211 to perform the same as above. To process.

When the clear / stop key 113 of the operation unit 30 is not pressed in step S216, the digital copying apparatuses DC1 to DCn check whether the ten key 112 of the operation unit 30 has been input (step S21).
9) If the ten-key pad 112 is not pressed, the process directly returns to step S211 to perform the same process as above.

When the numeric keypad 112 is input in step S219, the digital copying apparatuses DC1 to DCn display * symbols for the number of input digits for inputting the personal identification code of the operation reservation window 111a (step S22).
0), the personal identification code (input personal identification code) is calculated from the input ten keys 112 and saved (step S22).
1) and returns to step S211, and performs the same process as above (steps S211 to S221).

In the above description, the operation reservation is made for the copy application, but the same processing can be performed for other applications, and the operation reservation can be made for one application. The present invention is not limited to this, and the same processing can be performed even if operation reservations are made for a plurality of applications.

As described above, the digital copying apparatuses DC1 to DCn of this embodiment are the computers PC1 to PCn.
Is connected to the network NW connected to each other and performs various application processing such as print processing and copy processing using resources, and the personal identification code for identifying the user is input from the computers PC1 to PCn to identify the application and identify the application. When accepting and processing the operation reservation, the operation operation of the application reserved for the operation is prohibited, the setting change operation of the initial setting of the application is prohibited, and the operation is input to the computers PC1 to PCn when the operation is reserved. When the performed recitation code and the user code input on the operation unit 110 match, the operation operation of the operation-reserved application is permitted, and the setting change operation of the initial setting of the operation-reserved application is permitted. .

Therefore, the computers PC1 to PCn
It is possible to ensure that a user who has made an operation reservation for use can use the application for which the operation is reserved, and to prevent other users from changing the default settings of the operation-reserved application. The operation procedure at the time of reservation can be omitted, and the digital copier DC
The usability of 1 to DCn can be further improved.

25 and 26 are views showing the third embodiment of the image forming apparatus of the invention, and this embodiment corresponds to claim 3.

The present embodiment is applied to a network system and a digital copying apparatus similar to the network system 1 and the digital copying apparatuses DC1 to DCn of the first embodiment. In the description, the reference numerals used in the description of the first embodiment will be used as they are, as necessary.

Network system 1 of the present embodiment
Is a computer PC1 connected to the network NW
From PCn to digital copy device D which is an image forming device
It is possible to make an operation reservation for the applications C1 to DCn, and when the operation reservation for the applications is made, the digital copying apparatuses DC1 to DCn are connected to the computer PC.
1 to PCn, the operation input of other users of the operation-reserved application to the digital copy apparatuses DC1 to DCn is prohibited, and the setting change screen of the initial setting of the operation-reserved application is displayed. Prohibit screen transition and change operation of initial setting item.

That is, in the network system 1 of the present embodiment, the operation reservation is made by specifying the applications of the digital copying apparatuses DC1 to DCn from the computers PC1 to PCn.
For the operation reservation for n, the reservation screen as shown in FIG. 25 is displayed on the display 200 of the computers PC1 to PCn, and the operation reservation of the application and the change of the setting item of the initial setting of the operation reserved application are prohibited on this reservation screen. Perform the instruction operation of.

Therefore, this reservation screen is provided with an application initialization lock ON key 201. When the application initialization lock ON key 201 is pressed, the application initialization lock ON key 201 is highlighted and inverted. Toggle operation display of release display. App initial setting lock ON
When the key 201 is highlighted, it is prohibited to change the application initial setting, and when the application initial setting lock ON key 201 is highlighted, the application initial setting can be changed.

Now, the application initial setting lock ON key 20
When the operation reservation is made in the state where 1 is highlighted, the digital copying apparatuses DC1 to DCn press the setting item key, for example, the priority document type key on the copy initial setting screen shown in FIG. Then, the operation reservation window 111a indicating that the operation is reserved from the computer PC1 to PCn side as shown in FIG. 22 is displayed on the foreground, and the setting change input of the copy initial setting is suppressed.

When an operation reservation password is entered in the operation reservation window 111a, the digital copying apparatuses DC1 to DCn close the operation reservation window 111a and open a popup window of the selected setting item. When the cancel key is pressed on the operation reservation window 111a, the digital copying apparatuses DC1 to DCn close the operation reservation window 111a and return to the copy initial setting screen before pressing the setting item key shown in FIG. further,
Reservation operation When the reservation window 111a is displayed, the operation unit 3
When the initial setting key 116 of 0 is pressed again, the digital copying apparatuses DC1 to DCn return to the screen of the application before opening the initial setting menu screen.

Further, in the computers PC1 to PCn, the application initial setting lock ON key 20 is displayed on the reservation screen.
When the operation reservation is made in the state in which 1 is displayed in the reverse cancellation display, the digital copying apparatuses DC1 to DCn are
Setting item key on the copy initial setting screen shown in FIG.
For example, when the priority document type key is pressed, a pop-up window of the selected initial setting item is displayed on the liquid crystal touch panel 111 so that the setting can be changed.

That is, now, the computers PC1 to P
A case where a copy application operation reservation has been made from Cn and the initialization key of the copy application is pressed on the initialization screen shown in FIG. 16, for example, will be described. As shown in FIG. 16 is displayed on the liquid crystal touch panel 111, the initial setting screen shown in FIG. 16 is displayed. For example, when the initial setting key of the copy application is pressed on the initial setting screen, the initial setting screen shown in FIG. The copy initial setting screen shown in is displayed on the liquid crystal touch panel 111, and it is checked whether the initial setting item key (for example, the priority document type key) is pressed on the copy initial setting screen (step S30).
1) If the initial setting item key is not pressed, the process ends.

When the initial setting item key is pressed on the copy initial setting screen in step S301, the digital copying devices DC1 to DCn check whether the copy application is an operation reserved application (step S302), and reserve the operation. If not, the popup window of the selected initial setting item is displayed on the liquid crystal touch panel 111, and the process ends (step S303).

In step S302, when the copy application is reserved for operation, the digital copying apparatuses DC1 to DCn check whether a copy initialization lock instruction has been issued (step S304), and the copy initialization lock instruction is issued. If not, the popup window of the selected initial setting item is displayed on the liquid crystal touch panel 111, and the process ends (step S303).

In step S304, when the copy initialization lock is instructed, as shown in FIG.
The operation reservation window 111a is displayed on the liquid crystal touch panel 111.
(Step S305), the screen transition to the setting item screen selected on the initial setting screen of the operation-reserved copy application is suppressed, and the operation-reserved copy application is operated by a user other than the user who reserved the operation. The setting change of the setting item is prohibited (key input is suppressed) (step S306), the process returns to step S301, and the same processing as described above is performed (steps S301 to S306).

As described above, the digital copying apparatuses DC1 to DCn of the present embodiment, in accordance with the instruction from the computers PC1 to PCn that have made the operation reservation, prohibit and permit the operation of the operation-reserved application. It controls the screen transition to the initial setting screen of the application or prohibition and permission of the setting change operation of the initial setting of the application.

Therefore, it is possible to prohibit and permit the operation operation of the operation-reserved application, the screen transition to the initial setting screen of the application, and the prohibition and permission of the setting change operation of the initial setting of the application from the computers PC1 to PCn. It is possible to omit the operation procedure at the time of operation reservation,
The usability of 1 to DCn can be further improved.

27 to 30 are views showing a fourth embodiment of the image forming apparatus of the present invention, and this embodiment corresponds to claim 4.

The present embodiment is applied to a network system and a digital copying apparatus similar to the network system 1 and the digital copying apparatuses DC1 to DCn of the first embodiment. In the description, the reference numerals used in the description of the first embodiment will be used as they are, as necessary.

Network system 1 of the present embodiment
Is a computer PC1 connected to the network NW
From PCn to digital copy device D which is an image forming device
The operation reservation of the applications of C1 to DCn can be made, and when the operation reservation of the application is made, the digital copy apparatuses DC1 to DCn are operated by the other users of the operation reserved application in the digital copy apparatuses DC1 to DCn. In addition to prohibiting operation input,
The computers PC1 to PCn can instruct to prohibit the operation of changing the system initial settings of the digital copying apparatuses DC1 to DCn.

That is, in the network system 1 of the present embodiment, the operation reservation is made from the computers PC1 to PCn designating the applications of the digital copying apparatuses DC1 to DCn.
27, a reservation screen as shown in FIG. 27 is displayed on the display 200 of each of the computers PC1 to PCn, and an operation reservation of an application, prohibition of initial setting of the operation reserved application, and the digital copying apparatus are displayed on the reservation screen. The system initial setting of DC1 to DCn is prohibited.

Therefore, on this reservation screen, the application initialization lock ON key 201 and the system initialization lock O
An N key 202 is provided, and when the application initialization lock ON key 201 is pressed, a toggle operation display of reverse display and reverse release display of the application initialization lock ON key 201 is performed. Application default lock ON key 20
When 1 is highlighted, changing the application default settings is prohibited and the application initialization lock ON key 201
When is displayed in reverse video, application default settings can be changed. When the system initialization lock ON key 202 is pressed, a toggle operation display of the system initialization lock ON key 202 is displayed in reverse video and reverse cancellation display. System initialization lock ON key 202
When is highlighted, the system initial setting change is prohibited, and when the system initial setting lock ON key 202 is highlighted, the system initial setting can be changed.

Now, the application initial setting lock ON key 20
With 1 being highlighted, an operation reservation was made,
Digital copy apparatuses DC1 to DCn are shown in FIG.
When a setting item key on the copy initial setting screen shown in FIG. 22, for example, a priority document type key is pressed, an operation reservation window 111a indicating that operation is reserved from the computer PC1 to PCn side as shown in FIG. Is displayed on the foreground, and the setting change input of copy initialization is suppressed.

When an operation reservation password is entered in the operation reservation window 111a, the digital copying apparatuses DC1 to DCn close the operation reservation window 111a and open the popup window of the selected setting item. When the cancel key is pressed on the operation reservation window 111a, the digital copying apparatuses DC1 to DCn close the operation reservation window 111a and return to the copy initial setting screen before pressing the setting item key shown in FIG. further,
Reservation operation When the reservation window 111a is displayed, the operation unit 3
When the initial setting key 116 of 0 is pressed again, the digital copying apparatuses DC1 to DCn return to the screen of the application before opening the initial setting menu screen.

On the reservation screens of the computers PC1 to PCn, the application initial setting lock ON key 20 is displayed.
When the operation reservation is made in the state in which 1 is displayed in the reverse cancellation display, the digital copying apparatuses DC1 to DCn are
Setting item key on the copy initial setting screen shown in FIG.
For example, when the priority document type key is pressed, a pop-up window of the selected initial setting item is displayed on the liquid crystal touch panel 111 so that the setting can be changed.

Further, in the computers PC1 to PCn, with the system initial setting lock ON key 202 being highlighted, an operation reservation is made and a setting item key for system initial setting of the digital copying apparatuses DC1 to DCn, for example, When the priority setting key is pressed, the operation reservation window 111a indicating that the operation is reserved from the computer PC1 to PCn side as shown in FIG. 28 is displayed in the foreground, and the setting change input of the system initial setting is suppressed. To do.

When an operation reservation password is entered in the operation reservation window 111a, the digital copying apparatuses DC1 to DCn close the operation reservation window 111a and open a pop-up window of setting items.

Further, in the computers PC1 to PCn, when the operation reservation is made in a state where the system initial setting lock ON key 202 is reversely released and displayed, the setting item key of the digital copying apparatuses DC1 to DCn is pressed. Then, a pop-up window is displayed to allow you to change the settings.

Further, the digital copying devices DC1 to DCn
When the cancel key is pressed in the operation reservation window 111a, the digital copying apparatuses DC1 to DCn close the operation reservation window 111a and return to the application screen before opening the initial setting menu screen.

That is, the digital copying devices DC1 to D
As shown in FIG. 29, Cn checks whether a setting item key for system initialization (for example, a priority setting key) has been pressed on the system initialization screen shown in FIG. 18 (step S401), and the initialization item key If is not pressed,
The process ends.

When the setting item key is pressed on the system initial setting screen in step S401, the digital copying apparatuses DC1 to DCn check whether there is an operation reservation application (application) (step S402).
If there is no operation reservation application, a popup window of the selected setting item is displayed on the liquid crystal touch panel 111, and the process ends (step S40).
3).

At step S402, if there is an application reserved for operation, the digital copying apparatuses DC1 to DC1.
Cn checks whether the system initialization lock instruction has been issued (step S404), and when the system initialization lock instruction has not been issued, displays a popup window of the setting item selected in step S401 on the liquid crystal touch panel 111. Display and end the process (step S403).

When the system initial setting lock is instructed in step S404, the digital copying apparatuses DC1 to DCn display the operation reservation window 111a on the liquid crystal touch panel 111 as shown in FIG. 28 (step S405). ), Suppressing the screen transition to the setting item screen selected on the initial setting screen of the operation-reserved copy application, and setting the system initial setting items by the user other than the user who reserved the operation of the operation-reserved copy application The change is prohibited (key input is suppressed) (step S406), the process returns to step S401, and the same process as above is performed (steps S401 to S40).
6).

Then, the digital copying devices DC1 to DC
As shown in FIG. 30, while n is displaying the operation reservation window 111a of FIG. 28, n checks whether the # key is pressed (step S411), and when pressed, the recitation code input in the operation reservation window 111a. And it is checked whether or not the password code (PC password code) input by the operation-reserved computers PC1 to PCn matches (step S412).

If they match in step S412, the digital copying apparatuses DC1 to DCn close (delete) the operation reservation window 111a (step S41).
3) The key input suppression is released (step S41).
4) Display a pop-up window of system initialization setting items selected on the system initialization screen (step S415), and return to step S411.
The same process as above is performed.

In step S411, when the # key of the operation unit 30 is not pressed, the digital copy devices DC1 to DC1
DCn checks whether or not the clear / stop key 113 of the operation unit 30 has been pressed (step S416), and when pressed, erases the display field of the operation reservation window 111a (step S417) and inputs the personal identification code. If so, the input personal identification code is initialized (step S418), the process returns to step S411, and the same processing as described above is performed.

If it is determined in step S412 that the recitation code input in the operation reservation window 111a and the recitation code input in the operation-reserved computers PC1 to PCn do not match, the digital copy devices DC1 to DC1 are used.
The DCn proceeds to step S417, erases the display field of the operation reservation window 111a (step S417), initializes the input personal identification code (step S418), returns to step S411, and repeats the same as above. To process.

When the clear / stop key 113 of the operation unit 30 is not pressed in step S416, the digital copying apparatuses DC1 to DCn check whether the ten key 112 of the operation unit 30 has been input (step S41).
9) If the ten-key pad 112 is not pressed, the process directly returns to step S411 to perform the same process as above.

When the numeric keypad 112 is input in step S419, the digital copying apparatuses DC1 to DCn display * symbols for the number of input digits for inputting the personal identification code of the operation reservation window 111a (step S42).
0), the personal identification code (input personal identification code) is calculated from the input ten keys 112 and stored (step S42).
1) and returns to step S411 to perform the same processing as above (steps S411 to S421).

As described above, the digital copy apparatuses DC1 to DCn according to the present embodiment change the system initial setting of the digital copy apparatuses DC1 to DCn according to the instruction from the computer PC1 to PCn that has made the operation reservation. Controls bans and permits.

Therefore, it is possible to prohibit and permit the change of the setting initial value during the reservation from the computers PC1 to PCn, omit the extra operation procedure at the time of reservation, and use the digital copying apparatuses DC1 to DCn. The property can be further improved.

Although the invention made by the present inventor has been specifically described based on the preferred embodiments, the present invention is not limited to the above, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. It goes without saying that it is possible.

[0167]

According to the image forming apparatus of the first aspect of the present invention, the image forming apparatus connected to the network to which the information processing apparatus is connected allows the application processing such as print processing and copy processing using resources. The operation of the reserved application by the operation means when accepting and processing the operation reservation for inputting the personal identification code for identifying the user from the information processing device to specify the application and reserving the operation of the application In addition to prohibiting the operation, prohibiting the screen transition of the screen display of the display means to the initial setting screen of the operation reserved application, the recitation code input at the time of the operation reservation on the information processing device and the input by the operation means If the user code matches, the application reserved for the operation by the operating means. The user who made the operation reservation on the information processing device can reliably use the operation-reserved application because the operation operation of the operation reservation is permitted and the screen transition to the initial setting screen of the operation-reserved application is permitted. In addition to the above, it is possible to prevent the use of other applications by other users and improve the usability of the image forming apparatus.

According to the image forming apparatus of the second aspect, the image forming apparatus connected to the network to which the information processing apparatus is connected performs various application processing such as print processing and copy processing using resources. With
When a personal identification code for identifying a user is input from the information processing device to identify an application and reserve an operation reservation for the application, when accepting and processing an operation reservation, the operation means prohibits the operation operation of the reserved application. At the same time, the setting change operation of the initial setting of the application is prohibited, and when the recitation code input at the time of operation reservation on the information processing device and the user code input by the operation unit match, the operation reservation of the application reserved by the operation unit is performed. Since the operation operation is permitted and the setting change operation of the initial setting of the operation-reserved application is permitted, the user who made the operation reservation in the information processing device can surely use the operation-reserved application. You can do the operation reservation It is possible to prevent the setting initial value of the application is changed to another user, it is possible to omit the procedure of operation when operating book, the use of the image forming apparatus can be further improved.

According to the image forming apparatus of the third aspect of the present invention, in response to an instruction from the information processing apparatus that has made the operation reservation, the operation unit prohibits and permits the operation of the operation-reserved application and the operation. Since the screen transition to the application's initial setting screen or the prohibition and permission of the setting change operation of the initial setting of the application is controlled, the prohibition and permission of the operation operation of the reserved application and the screen to the initial setting screen of the application It is possible to prohibit and permit the setting change operation of the initial setting of the application from the information processing apparatus, omitting the operation procedure at the time of operation reservation, and further improving the usability of the image forming apparatus. You can

According to the image forming apparatus of the present invention, the prohibition and the permission of the setting change operation of the system initial setting of the image forming apparatus are controlled according to the instruction from the information processing apparatus which has made the operation reservation. Therefore, it is possible to prohibit and permit the change of the setting initial value during the reservation from the information processing apparatus, omit the extra operation procedure at the time of reservation, and further improve the usability of the image forming apparatus. be able to.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram of a network system to which a digital copying apparatus according to a first embodiment of an image forming apparatus of the present invention is applied.

2 is a schematic front view of the digital copying apparatus of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of an operation unit of the digital copying apparatus shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a display on a liquid crystal touch panel of the operation unit of FIG.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of the essential circuit of the digital copying apparatus of FIG.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing another example of a circuit block of the digital copying apparatus of FIG.

7 is a circuit block configuration diagram of an image processing unit of the digital copying apparatus of FIG.

8 is a timing chart of image signals for one page in the selector of FIG.

9 is a detailed circuit block configuration diagram of the memory controller and the image memory of FIG.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a display state of an operation reservation window when an operation reservation is made on the liquid crystal touch panel of the operation unit of the digital copying apparatus.

11 is a diagram showing an example of a connection configuration of a network connection displayed on the display of the computer shown in FIG.

12 is a diagram showing an example of a network usage status screen displayed on the display of the computer shown in FIG.

13 is a diagram showing an example of a user registration list screen displayed on the display of the computer shown in FIG.

14 is a diagram showing an example of a user registration screen displayed on the display of the computer shown in FIG.

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing a transition of an application screen between an application registered as a user and an application not registered as a user on the liquid crystal touch panel of the operation unit of the digital copying apparatus.

FIG. 16 is a diagram showing an example of an initial setting screen on the liquid crystal touch panel of the operation unit of the digital copying apparatus.

FIG. 17 is a diagram showing an example of a copy initial setting screen on the liquid crystal touch panel of the operation unit of the digital copying apparatus.

FIG. 18 is a diagram showing an example of a system initial setting screen on the liquid crystal touch panel of the operation unit of the digital copying apparatus.

19 is a diagram showing an example of a display of an operation reservation window on the liquid crystal touch panel when an initial setting key of an application reserved for operation on the initial setting screen of FIG. 16 is operated.

FIG. 20 is a flowchart showing an operation control process when the initial setting key of the application is operated on the initial setting screen of the digital copying apparatus.

21 is a flowchart showing an operation control process while the operation reservation window of FIG. 20 is displayed.

FIG. 22 is a liquid crystal touch panel of an operation unit when a setting item key of an application reserved for operation is operated on a copy initial setting screen of a digital copying apparatus to which the second embodiment of the image forming apparatus of the present invention is applied. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a display of an operation reservation window for the.

23 is a flowchart showing an operation control process when a setting item key of an application is operated on the copy initial setting screen of FIG.

24 is a flowchart showing an operation control process while the operation reservation window of FIG. 23 is displayed.

FIG. 25 is a diagram showing an example of a reservation screen displayed on the display of a computer connected to a network to which a digital copying apparatus to which the third embodiment of the image forming apparatus of the present invention is applied is connected.

FIG. 26 is a diagram showing an operation control process when a setting item key of an application operation-reserved in the initial setting by the digital copying apparatus to which the third embodiment of the image forming apparatus of the present invention is applied is operated.

FIG. 27 is a diagram showing an example of a reservation screen displayed on a display of a computer connected to a network to which a digital copying apparatus to which the fourth embodiment of the image forming apparatus of the invention is applied is connected.

FIG. 28 is a diagram illustrating an operation reservation window displayed on the liquid crystal touch panel of the operation unit when the setting item key is operated on the system initial setting screen of the digital copying apparatus to which the fourth embodiment of the image forming apparatus of the present invention is applied. The figure which shows an example.

FIG. 29 is a flowchart showing an operation control process when a setting item key is operated on the system initial setting screen by the digital copying apparatus to which the fourth embodiment of the image forming apparatus of the present invention is applied.

FIG. 30 is a flowchart showing an operation control process while the operation reservation window of FIG. 29 is displayed.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 network system NW network PC1-PCn computers DC1 to DCn digital copy device 10 Main body case 20 ADF 21 Platen 22 Feeding roller 23 feeding belt 24 delivery roller 25 Original set detection sensor 30 reading unit 31 contact glass 32 exposure lamp 33 First mirror 34 Second mirror 35 Third Mirror 36 lenses 37 CCD image sensor 40 writing unit 41 Laser output section 42 Imaging lens 43 mirror 50 image forming unit 51 photoconductor 52 Development Department 53 Conveyor belt 54 fixing unit 55 Paper output section 60 Paper transport unit 70 paper feed unit 71 Transfer paper 72-74 paper feed tray 75-77 sending unit 80 Reverse Paper Feed Unit 81 Double-sided paper feed transport path 82 Inversion section 83 double-sided transport path 84 Reversed paper output transport path 90 finisher 91 Branch deflector 92 Paper discharge transport roller 93 Sending roller 94 output tray 95 stapler transport roller 96 stapler 97 stapler delivery roller 98 staple tray 99 Jogger 100 Staple-completed output tray 110 Operation part 111 LCD touch panel 111a Operation reservation window 112 numeric keypad 113 clear / stop key 114 print key 115 Mode clear key 116 Initialization key 117 Interrupt key 118 App switching key 119 Function key 121 Image reading unit 121a CPU 122 Image Writing Section 122a CPU 123 system controller 124 User restricted equipment 124a CPU 125 human body detection sensor 126 Clock Department 127 Remote diagnosis department 128 memory units 128a compressed block 128b DRAM block 128c DMA block 128d CPU 129 data bus 130 system bus 140 Image processing unit 141 A / D converter 142 Shading correction unit 143 MTF / γ correction unit 144 Print synthesis unit 145 selector 146 Print synthesis unit 147 Variable magnification section 148 Print image data generator 149 memory controller 150 image memory 150a Primary storage unit 150b Secondary storage unit 151 SCSI driver 152 I / O port 153 CPU 154 ROM 155 RAM 161 Input data selector 162 image synthesis section 163 Primary compression / expansion section 164 Output data selector 165 Secondary compression / expansion section 200 display 201 App initialization lock ON key 202 System initial setting lock ON key

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. An operation means connected to a network to which an information processing apparatus is connected, for performing various operation inputs, a display means for displaying various operation screens, a reading means for reading an image of an original, and recording data on a sheet. Various resources such as recording means and network communication means for outputting, and various application processing such as print processing and copy processing using the resources are performed, and a secret code for identifying a user is input from the information processing apparatus to input the application. An image forming apparatus capable of reserving the operation of the application by specifying the operation reservation, and when the operation reservation specifying the application is performed by the information processing apparatus, the operation reservation is performed by the operation unit. In addition to prohibiting the operation of applications, When the screen transition to the initial setting screen of the operation-reserved application is prohibited and the recitation code input at the time of the operation reservation in the information processing device and the user code input by the operation means match, the operation means is operated. An image forming apparatus, which permits an operation operation of an operation-reserved application and permits a screen transition to an initial setting screen of the operation-reserved application. 2. An operation means connected to a network to which an information processing apparatus is connected, for performing various operation inputs, a display means for displaying various operation screens, a reading means for reading an image of an original, and recording data on a sheet. Various resources such as recording means and network communication means for outputting, and various application processing such as print processing and copy processing using the resources are performed, and the personal identification code for identifying the user is input from the information processing device to input the application. Is an image forming apparatus capable of reserving the operation of the application by specifying the application, and when the operation reservation designating the application is performed by the information processing apparatus, the operation reserved application by the operation unit Operation of the application is prohibited, and When the fixed change operation is prohibited and the recitation code input at the time of the operation reservation at the information processing device and the user code input at the operation means match, the operation operation of the operation reserved application by the operation means is permitted. In addition, the image forming apparatus allows the setting change operation of the initial setting of the operation-reserved application. 3. The image forming apparatus, according to an instruction from the information processing apparatus that has made the operation reservation, prohibits and permits the operation of the operation-reserved application by the operation means and initializes the application. 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the screen transition to a setting screen or the prohibition and permission of the setting change operation of the initial setting of the application is controlled. 4. The image forming apparatus controls prohibition and permission of a setting change operation of system initial setting of the image forming apparatus according to an instruction from the information processing apparatus that made the operation reservation. The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3.