JPH07303163A - Image processor - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To relieve the operation load of the operator by implementing all operations in the unit of jobs in the image processor so as to eliminate the need for changeover of the operation mode thereby confirming the setting content of each job and revising it. CONSTITUTION:An original is set to an automatic draft feeder B1 or an image reader B2, and after a job is set by a job operation designation device 7, the operation of the image processor is started. The reader B2 reads image information on the original by photoelectric conversion and converts the image into digital image data and the data are stored in a page buffer B86 via an interface B81 while implementing image processing. When an output is enable, the image information is directly from the buffer B86 to an output device B6 via an output interface 84 and a print paper processor B5 implements post processing and write to a disk B88 is started simultaneously. The image data from the reader B2 are directly outputted for a 1st copy and data read from the disk B88 are outputted for 2nd and succeeding copies.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus including a copier, a printer, and a facsimile, and particularly, it designates or operates a plurality of operating jobs which are independently processed, and executes each job. The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus including an operation unit for controlling the.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, digital copying machines, printers,
2. Description of the Related Art So-called multi-function peripherals that integrate image processing devices such as facsimile machines that handle digital image data are becoming popular. Such a multi-function machine has major advantages such as space saving of the device and cost reduction, as compared with the case where each of them is individually owned.

On the other hand, in a multi-functional machine, a plurality of different operations are required, and therefore, new operations such as complicated operations and mixed output results are occurring.

In order to solve this problem, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 63-
In the 279269 publication, the operation / operation is performed for each combined mode.
An image processing apparatus has been proposed which has improved operability by switching the display unit.

Further, in a multifunction machine capable of processing a plurality of jobs in parallel with the compounding, as proposed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 60-81958, the behavior of the entire apparatus is different from the conventional one. Has a complicated behavior rather than a simple behavior, which causes a problem that it is difficult for the operator to understand the behavior of the device. Therefore, as disclosed in JP-A-1-196959, an operator is informed of the behavior of the apparatus by providing an input / output display section separately from the job setting section.

By the way, in the image processing apparatus capable of processing a plurality of jobs in parallel as described above, the image information is read by the input operation of the scanner, the facsimile and the net during the output operation of the image, the facsimile and the net. By accumulating in the image information storage unit, a queue for each output operation is generated. The accumulated image information is stored as a file together with the job information which is the processing content set for each image information, and at the time of output, the processing operation is performed according to the job information. When performing a job change operation of setting change / process change for an arbitrary job in the queue or in process, the operation / display unit changes the job change operation to a desired operation mode and performs the job change operation.

[0007]

However, when the setting change / process change operation is performed on an arbitrary job or the job confirmation operation is performed as described above, the operation / display unit is set to a desired operation mode. Since the operation cannot be performed without switching, the operation mode must always be taken into consideration, the operation mode must be changed, and the jobs registered in each operation mode must be confirmed. Furthermore, if one file is subjected to a plurality of processes, such as print output and facsimile, and process changes occur, it is necessary to switch to each operation mode and operate on the job information of the same file. Therefore, there is a drawback that the operation is very complicated and the efficiency is poor.

In view of the above problems, the present invention makes it possible to perform operations on a job-by-job basis regardless of the operation mode, and by displaying all the job contents collectively, it is possible to easily confirm and change job contents. It is an object of the present invention to provide an image processing apparatus including a display and input device that operates.

[0009]

Therefore, according to the present invention, at least one or more input means for inputting image data, a storage means for storing the input image data, and an output of the image data. An image processing apparatus having at least one output means for controlling the plurality of jobs while independently processing the above means, and a job being executed or waiting for execution. Job display means for displaying, job selection means for selecting an arbitrary job from the jobs displayed on the job display means, and job processing change for changing processing conditions for the job selected by the job selection means Means and
(EN) An image processing apparatus provided with a job management means for managing the execution status of each job and controlling setting changes and processing changes for arbitrary jobs in units of jobs.

[0010]

The operation of the device having the above construction will be described below.

When operating a composite device in which a plurality of types of devices capable of controlling a plurality of jobs in parallel are integrated,
All jobs currently being executed and received in the execution queue are displayed as a job list on the operation / display unit of the composite display and input device used in this composite device. The operator can confirm the jobs accepted by this job list. Further, when detailed information about each job is required or an operation such as setting change / process change is necessary, it is possible to confirm and operate by selecting a desired job from the job list.

As described above, since the operation for changing the operation mode is not necessary by operating in units of jobs, it is effective when confirming and operating a job in execution or in a waiting state.

[0013]

Embodiments will be described below with reference to the drawings. In the present embodiment, a multifunction peripheral will be described as an example of the image forming apparatus.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the system configuration of a multi-function peripheral to which the present invention is applied. The image data read by the multifunction device 11 is internally image-processed, and then the LAN
14 is sent to the terminal device. On the contrary, the image data sent from the terminal device is formed into an image in the multifunction machine 11 and is output. Further, the system configuration is such that facsimile transmission / reception can be performed through a telephone line by the compression / expansion processing in the multifunction peripheral 11.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a schematic structure of a multifunction machine to which the present invention is applied. The multifunction device is roughly divided into a multifunction device main body M1 that forms a copy by forming a toner image corresponding to a document image on a recording paper, and a document is automatically sent to a document placement surface of the multifunction device main body M1. The automatic document feeder M2, the post-processing device M3 that performs post-processing such as sorting and stapling for the copies discharged from the multifunction peripheral M1, and the transmission and reception of image data with a network line such as a LAN or a telephone line. An external communication device M38 for performing,
The operation instruction device M39 is used by the operator to instruct the device about the operation content.

In the inside of the main body M1 of the multifunction machine, an image reading device M5 for reading an original image by scanning an original placed on a platen glass M4 which is an original placing surface from the upper side.
Corresponding to the original image on the recording paper based on the image information obtained by the image reading device M5, the image information transmitted by the LAN # 1 from the terminal device on the network, or the image information transmitted by the telephone line # 2. An image forming apparatus M6 that forms the toner image and a sheet feeding apparatus M7 that supplies the recording sheet to the image forming apparatus M6 are provided.

The automatic document feeder M2 is provided so as to cover the platen glass M4 provided on the upper part of the main body of the multifunction machine 1 so as to be openable and closable, and the document loaded on the document placing tray M8 is fed by a feed roller ( (Not shown) and conveyor belt M
The document is sequentially sent one by one onto the platen glass M4 by the scanner 9 to read the document image, and then the document is discharged to the document discharge tray M10 by the conveyor belt M9 and discharge rollers (not shown).

The image reading device M5 has, as an optical system,
Exposure lamp M11, a plurality of reflection mirrors M12, lens M
13, an image sensor M14, etc. are provided, and the exposure lamp M11 and the reflection mirror M12 are moved along the platen glass M4, so that the reflected light from the document is transferred to the image sensor M1.
4, and the density of the original image is converted into an electrical image signal. This image signal is converted into digital image data by an AD conversion circuit or the like provided as an electric system inside the image reading device M5. This image data is supplied to a processing unit described later, and after being subjected to predetermined signal processing, is supplied to a communication device or the like by the image forming device M6, a terminal device on the network, or a telephone line # 2.

The image forming apparatus M6 forms a toner image on a recording sheet by a well-known electrophotographic method according to the digital image data from the processing section, and the charging apparatus M15.
The surface of the photoconductor drum M16 uniformly charged by
An electrostatic latent image is formed by exposure with laser light from the laser exposure device M17.

The laser exposure device M17 is a laser element (not shown) such as a semiconductor laser whose drive current is modulated based on the image data from the image reading device M5, and a laser beam from the laser element of the photosensitive drum M16. It is composed of a rotary polygon mirror M18, a reflecting mirror M19, etc., which periodically deflects in a direction orthogonal to the moving direction of the surface.

The electrostatic latent image on the photoconductor drum M16 is developed by the developing device M20 or M21 to form a toner image of a desired color on the photoconductor drum M16. This toner image is fed by the transfer device M22. It is transferred onto the recording paper sent along the path A from any one of the plurality of trays M7a to 7e of the apparatus M7. The trays M7a to 7c are paper feed trays for storing papers of different sizes,
The tray M7d is an intermediate tray for temporarily storing recording paper for double-sided copying, and the M7e is a large-capacity tray for storing several hundred recording papers. The residual toner remaining on the surface of the photoconductor drum M16 after the transfer is removed by the cleaning device M23.

The recording paper after the transfer is peeled from the photoconductor drum M16 by the peeling device M24, is conveyed to the fixing device M26 by the conveyor M25, and undergoes the fixing process. The route of the sheet after fixing is the route B to the post-processing device M3 by the switching gate M27 and the reversing device M2 for double-sided copying.
The route C is switched to any one of the routes C which goes to the intermediate tray M7d. In the case of double-sided copying, the obverse and reverse sides of the recording paper are reversed by the reversing device M28 and are supplied again to the image forming device M6 along the path A through the intermediate tray M7d, and a toner image is formed on the back surface of the recording paper this time. After processing, aftertreatment device M
Sent to 3.

The recording sheet discharged from the image forming apparatus M6 to the post-processing apparatus M3 is switched to either the route D or the route E by the switching gate M29. The recording paper that has advanced to the route D is sent to the route F with the image side facing up,
The recording paper that has proceeded to the route E is turned upside down by the reversing device M30 and sent to the route F.

The recording paper traveling along the path F is a switching gate M.
By means of 31, the route G is directed to the top tray M32, and the route H is subjected to various types of post-processing. The recording paper that has advanced to the path H is conveyed downward along the path I by the vertical conveyance belt M33, and is sorted by the switching gate M34 into the path J that is subjected to the stapling process and the path K that directly goes to the sorter bin M35. . The recording paper that has advanced to the path J is discharged into the holding tray M36,
When the required number of recording sheets are collected, the stapler M37 staples them. In the case of signature output, the central portion of the recording paper, which is a fold, is stapled. The stapled recording paper is again conveyed downward by the vertical conveyance belt M33, and the sorter bin M33 is conveyed.
It is discharged to a predetermined position in 35.

FIG. 3 is a hardware block diagram showing an embodiment of the image processing apparatus according to the present invention.

In FIG. 3, an image processing unit (ESS: El)
electronic Sub. System) B8 is a user interface (UI) such as an operation panel.
Job operation designation device B7, automatic document feeder (A
DF: Automatic Document Feed
er) B1, image reading device (IIT / IPS) B
2, an output device (IOT) B6, and a print sheet post-processing device (FINISHER) B5 are connected to each other, and a system control unit (SYS.CON) for controlling according to a job operation.
T: System Controller) B85,
An input interface (IIT-I / F) B81 that controls a command / status signal and an image input signal, an output interface (IOT-I / F) B84 that controls a command / status signal and an image output signal, and a facsimile (FAX) B3. Fax / facsimile interface (FAX-
I / F) B82, network interface (NET-IF) B83 for controlling command / status signals and image signals with external devices connected to the network, page buffer B for temporarily storing input image data
86, and disk controller B87 and disk B8
It is composed of a disk controller unit 8 as a large-capacity data storage memory.

First, input from the image reading device B2,
The case of output to the output device B6 will be described. When a document is set on the platen of the automatic document feeder B1 or the image reading device B2, the job operation is designated by the job operation designating device B7, and the start button is pressed, the image reading device B2 photoelectrically converts the image information of the document. Is read, and converted into digital image data and subjected to image processing, and sequentially stored in the page buffer B86 via the input interface B81. At that time, if the output is possible, the page buffer B86 transfers the data directly to the output device B6 through the output interface B84, and the post-processing is performed by the print paper post-processing device B5, and at the same time, the writing to the disk B88 is started. To do. If direct output is impossible, only writing to the disk B88 is started. Output is performed only from the page buffer B86, but image data is stored in the page buffer B86 in two ways: input from the image reading device B2 and read from the disk B88. The basic operation is such that the first copy directly outputs the input image data from the image reading device B2, and the second and subsequent copies output the image data read from the disk B88. For the image data output to the output interface B84, the halftone image is reproduced by halftone dots by controlling the on / off of the laser light for each pixel based on the binary data generated from the image data in the output device B6. To form an image.

Instead of inputting the image information from the image reading device B2, the same operation is performed when inputting the image information from a facsimile or an external device connected to the network. In the case of image information input by reception of the facsimile B3, it is stored in the page buffer B86 via the facsimile interface B82, and in the case of image input from an external device connected to the network, it is stored in the page buffer B83 via the network interface B83. B86
Stored in and works in the same way.

In addition, in the case of output, in the case of a facsimile or an external device connected to the network instead of the output device B6, the page buffer B86 also outputs to the facsimile interface B82 or the network interface B83.

The page buffer B86 and each processing block are simultaneously accessed by bus arbitration of the image bus. Further, the page buffer B86 and each processing block perform processing in a time division manner, and the input processing and the output processing are processed in parallel.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of the job operation designating apparatus B7 according to the present invention.

In FIG. 4, the job operation designation device B7
Is a control panel unit having an integrated structure of a transparent touch panel B7a which is an input unit and a display B7b which is a display unit having a shape facing the transparent touch panel,
The control unit B7c is configured to control display and input of the control panel unit.

The transparent touch panel B7a is constituted by any one of various detection methods such as an optical method, a transparent electric film (resistive film) method, an electrostatic capacity method, a pressure sensor method, etc., and is detected by an operator's finger or the like. The pressing force is sent to the control unit B7c as a key input signal.

The display B7b is composed of a liquid crystal display (LCD), a plasma display (PDP), a light emitting diode display (ELD), an electrostatic recording projection display (ECD), a CRT display and the like.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a job operation designating apparatus B7 to which the present invention is applied.

In FIG. 5, reference numeral a denotes a job display means for displaying all jobs currently being executed and accepted and enabling operations for all the jobs. Reference numeral g is a job input means for selecting a job displayed on the job display means a and for inputting operation contents.

Reference numeral B7ab is a control panel section having an integrated structure of the transparent touch panel B7a and the display B7b shown in FIG. 4, and displays and operates all of the multifunction peripherals in addition to the job display means a and the job input means g. All jobs are stored in the second storage unit e and managed by the job management unit f. Further, the job management means f monitors the execution status of each job, and displays the current execution status of each job on the job display means a. The job selected by the job input means g is read by the job selection means c from the second storage portion e to the first storage portion d, and the job processing is performed in the first storage portion d by the operator's instruction from the input means g. The process changing operation is performed by the changing unit b, and the determined contents are stored again in the second storage unit e.

A command / status signal B7c1 is sent to the image processing section B8 to control the above-mentioned means of the job operation designating apparatus B7 according to a predetermined operation and to carry out a desired processing set by the operator on the control panel section B7ab. Or a controller for controlling a command / status signal from the image processing unit B8, a memory storing a program for performing a predetermined operation, a CPU (Ce
general processing unit).

FIG. 6 shows the job console unit U1 of the control panel unit of the embodiment to which the present invention is applied. The job console unit U1 is a job list display unit U11.
And a job operation unit U12. On the job list display portion U11, as shown in FIG. 6, all jobs currently being processed and waiting to be processed are displayed. Job1 indicated by L1 in the drawing is shown to be a "printing" operation, and "IIT (Image Input)" is displayed.
Terminal) → IOT (Image Output)
“T Terminal)” indicates that the job is a copy job, and “2/5” indicates that the output of up to two of the five originals has been completed. Further, which job in the job list is currently operating is notified to the operator by blinking a display such as "IOT" of the displayed Job. U11
In the example of the job list shown in, Job2 shown in L2 is
Similar to L1, it can be seen that one copy original is in an output waiting state. The jobs L3 and L4 are L-type originals that are output to both copy and facsimile.
It can be seen that it is in the output waiting state as in 2. in this way,
The jobs that are currently accepted can be seen at a glance, and the statuses of jobs with multiple functions can be confirmed without the need to switch operation modes. If you want to change the processing of the job,
By selecting a job in the job list of U11, the selected job list is highlighted, and the operator is informed that the job has been selected. Stop ”U12
Operations such as c, "resume" U12d, and "discard" U12e can be performed. Further, when operating for all jobs, all jobs can be selected by one operation of "select all jobs" U12a.

When it is desired to confirm and change the detailed settings of each job, the job selected and highlighted in the above manner is selected again or the "change" U12b of the job operation unit U12 is selected, and the result shown in FIG. Shows the job setting display section U
Can be done in 2. After the change operation, by selecting "end setting" U21, the change of the setting content of the job is completed.

8 and 9 are flowcharts of the control according to the present invention. Hereinafter, each flow will be described. The input process in the following description is a process of storing image data from the image reading device B2, the facsimile B3 or an external device connected to the network in the page buffer B86, and the output process is the page buffer B86. Is a process of transferring the image data stored in the output device B6, the facsimile B3, or an external device connected to the network.

The input flow shown in FIG. 8 will be described below.

Input step 1: Check whether it is possible to secure an area for storing input image data in the page buffer,
If possible, proceed to input step 2 to secure the area. If the area cannot be secured, it is because the image data in the page buffer is being output or the transfer to the hard disk is incomplete, and the processing is waited until the processing ends (shifts to the standby state). (SI1) Input step 2: An area is secured in the page buffer to store the input image data. (SI2) Input Step 3: Start the input process. (SI3) Input step 4: Check whether output is possible at the same time as input, and if possible, proceed to input step 5 to perform output processing. If not possible, proceed to input step 6. (SI4) Input Step 5: Start output processing. (SI5) Input step 6: After the input process is completed, a process of writing the input image data to the hard disk is started. After the writing process, if there is a job in a waiting state, it is started and the process is restarted from the input step 1. (SI6) Input step 7: It is checked whether or not this input image data is the final one, and if it is not the final one, the input step 1 is repeated from the next input image data. Even if it is the final input image data, the process proceeds to the output flow. (SI
7) Next, the output flow shown in FIG. 9 will be described.

Output step 1: First, it is checked whether the output device can output. If the output is not possible, the output processing of another job is being performed, or there is an error state, and the standby state is entered. (SOI) Output Step 2: Predetermined image data is sequentially read from the hard disk to the page buffer. (SO2) Output step 3: Start output processing. (SO3) Output step 4: The processing of output steps 2 and 3 is repeated, and if completed, the processing of the job in the standby state is restarted. (SO4) Output step 5: Erase the image data in the page buffer and the disc. (SO5) Output step 6: Job end processing is performed and the processing ends. (S
O6) FIG. 10 shows the operation of the control panel section when confirming / changing the detailed setting of the job according to the embodiment of the present invention,
It is a flowchart explaining a display. First, the operator can know the jobs currently being processed and the jobs in the processing waiting state from the job list U11. When changing the processing of Job2L2, changing the settings, and checking, the job list U1
Touch the place where Job2L2 of 1 is displayed,
Job2L2 is set to the reverse display state (SU11). As a result, it becomes possible to perform an operation for processing and setting related to Job2. When changing the process, in this state, "stop" U12c (SU1
2), "Resume" U12d (SU13), "Discard" U12
It can be operated by selecting either e (SU14). However, select "Stop" U12c and "Resume" U
The processing performed up to 12d is omitted (SU1
3). When confirming or changing the setting contents, the job setting display unit U2 is displayed by selecting “change” in the job operating unit U12 or by reselecting Job2L2 in the highlighted job list U11 (SU15). Then, the setting can be changed (SU16). When the confirmation of the setting contents and the setting change are completed, the setting contents U21 in the job setting display unit U2 is selected to finish the setting contents of the job (SU17).

It should be noted that here, only the description of the process change of the job in the execution waiting state is made, but according to the operation / display mode of the present invention, the selected job is stopped / restarted and the same operation is performed. This makes it possible to change job processing even during execution.

[0046]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, all the operations are performed in units of jobs, so that it is possible to confirm and change the setting contents of the status of all jobs without switching the operation mode. Therefore, there is an effect that the operation load on the operator can be reduced.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a system configuration of a multifunction peripheral to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a schematic configuration of a multifunction machine to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 3 relates to the present invention. It is a hardware block diagram which shows one Example of an image processing apparatus.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of a job operation designating apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a job operation designating apparatus of a multi-functional peripheral to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 6 is a job console unit of a control panel of the embodiment of the image processing apparatus to which the present invention is applied.

7 is a diagram showing details of a job console section of the control panel shown in FIG.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing control of an input unit of the image processing apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing control of an output unit of the image processing apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an operation and display of a control panel unit when confirming / changing a detailed job setting according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

M1: Copying device, M2: Automatic document feeding device, M3: Post-processing device, M4: Platen glass, M5: Image reading device, M6: Image forming device, M7: Paper feeding device, M7a-7
e: Tray, M8: Document Placement Tray, M9: Conveyor Belt, M10: Document Ejection Tray, M11: Exposure Lamp, M
12: reflection mirror, M13: lens, M14: image sensor, M15: charging device, M16; photoconductor drum, M
17: Laser exposure device, M18: rotating polygon mirror, M1
9: reflective mirror, M20, M21; developing device, M22: transfer device, M23: cleaning device, M24: peeling device, M25: conveyor, M26: fixing device, M27: switching gate, M28: reversing device, M29: switching gate , M30: Inversion device, M31: Switching gate, M
32: Top tray, M33: Vertical transport belt, M34:
Switching gate, M35: sorter bin, M36: holding tray, M37: stapler, M38: external input / output device,
M39: operation instruction device, M40: image compressor / decompressor, S
I1 to SI7: Input unit processing steps, SOI to SO
6: Process step of output unit, SU10 to SU19: Input operation step of job operation designating device

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. At least one or more input means for inputting image data, a storage means for storing the input image data, and at least one or more output means for outputting the image data. An image processing apparatus comprising a control means for controlling a plurality of jobs while independently processing the above means, a) a job display means for displaying jobs in execution and waiting for execution; ) Job selecting means for selecting an arbitrary job from the jobs displayed on the job displaying means, c) Job processing changing means for changing processing conditions for the job selected by the job selecting means, d ) An image processing system that has a job management unit that manages the execution status of each job, and that controls the setting changes and processing changes for each job to be done on a job-by-job basis. Apparatus.