U.S. patent application number 09/820880 was filed with the patent office on 2001-10-04 for image forming apparatus, job controlling apparatus, and job controlling method.
Invention is credited to Fujita, Munetaka, Hirakawa, Tatsuji, Morikawa, Takeshi, Nakata, Hironobu, Sumiyama, Hiroshi.
Application Number | 20010026700 09/820880 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 18611525 |
Filed Date | 2001-10-04 |
United States Patent
Application |
20010026700 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Sumiyama, Hiroshi ; et
al. |
October 4, 2001 |
Image forming apparatus, job controlling apparatus, and job
controlling method
Abstract
An image forming apparatus includes a memory for storing a first
job and a second job, an output unit for sequentially outputting
the first and second jobs stored in the memory, a setter for
setting a recall function effective to the first job and a job
controller. The recall function is a function enabling a re-output
of the first job in accordance with a request of an operator after
a completion of the first job. The job controller controls the
output unit so as to output the second job a predetermined time
later after a completion of the first job where the recall function
is set effective to the first job, or output the second job
immediately after a completion of the first job where the recall
function is set ineffective to the first job.
Inventors: |
Sumiyama, Hiroshi;
(Aichi-Ken, JP) ; Nakata, Hironobu; (Toyokawa-Shi,
JP) ; Fujita, Munetaka; (Toyokawa-Shi, JP) ;
Hirakawa, Tatsuji; (Aichi-Ken, JP) ; Morikawa,
Takeshi; (Okazaki-Shi, JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Platon N. Mandros
BURNS, DOANE, SWECKER & MATHIS, L.L.P.
P.O. Box 1404
Alexandria
VA
22313-1404
US
|
Family ID: |
18611525 |
Appl. No.: |
09/820880 |
Filed: |
March 30, 2001 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
399/82 ; 399/81;
399/83; 399/85; 399/87 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G03G 2215/00126
20130101; H04N 1/00954 20130101; G06K 2215/0082 20130101; H04N
2201/3288 20130101; H04N 1/32486 20130101; G03G 15/50 20130101;
G06K 15/00 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
399/82 ; 399/83;
399/85; 399/87; 399/81 |
International
Class: |
G03G 015/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Mar 31, 2000 |
JP |
2000-96810 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. An image forming apparatus, comprising: a memory for storing a
first job and a second job; an output unit for sequentially
outputting said first and second jobs stored in said memory; a
setter for setting a recall function effective to said first job,
said recall function being a function enabling a re-output of said
first job in accordance with a request of an operator after a
completion of said first job; and a job controller for controlling
said output unit so as to output said second job a predetermined
time later after a completion of said first job where said recall
function is set effective to said first job, or output said second
job immediately after a completion of said first job where said
recall function is set ineffective to said first job.
2. The image forming apparatus as recited in claim 1, further
comprising a display for showing that said recall function is set
effective where said recall function is set effective to said first
job.
3. The image forming apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said
output unit is a printer for outputting an image on a sheet.
4. The image forming apparatus as recited in claim 1, further
comprising an image reader for reading an image of an original,
wherein said first job is a job for outputting an image based on
image data read by said image reader.
5. The image forming apparatus as recited in claim 4, wherein said
second job is a job for outputting an image based on image data
sent from an external data processing apparatus.
6. A job controlling apparatus for outputting a job to an
outputting apparatus, said job controlling apparatus, comprising: a
memory for storing a first job and a second job; a setter for
setting a recall function effective to said first job, wherein said
recall function is a function enabling a re-output of said first
job in accordance with a request of an operator after a completion
of said first job; and a job controller for outputting said second
job a predetermined time later after a completion of said first job
where said recall function is set effective to said first job, or
outputting said second job immediately after a completion of said
first job where said recall function is set ineffective to said
first job.
7. The job controlling apparatus as recited in claim 6, further
comprising a display for showing that said recall function is set
effective where said recall function is set effective to said first
job.
8. The job controlling apparatus as recited in claim 6, wherein
said first job is a job for outputting an image based on image data
read by an image reader.
9. The job controlling apparatus as recited in claim 8, wherein
said second job is a job for outputting an image based on image
data sent from an external data processing apparatus.
10. A job controlling method for controlling a reading of a first
job and a second job and an outputting thereof, said job
controlling method, comprising the steps of: setting a recall
function effective or ineffective to said first job, wherein said
recall function is a function enabling a re-output of said first
job in accordance with a request of an operator after a completion
of said first job; and outputting said second job a predetermined
time later after a completion of said first job where said recall
function is set effective to said first job, or outputting said
second job immediately after a completion of said first job where
said recall function is set ineffective to said first job.
11. The job controlling method as recited in claim 10, wherein said
first job is a job for outputting an image based on image data read
by an image reader.
12. The job controlling method as recited in claim 11, wherein said
second job is a job for outputting an image based on image data
sent from an external data processing apparatus.
13. An image forming apparatus, comprising: image outputting means
for outputting an image formed based on image data; storing means
for storing a plurality of jobs; memory recall selection means for
selectively setting a memory recall effective or ineffective to
each job, wherein said memory recall makes it possible to re-output
image data of said each job after an output thereof; operation
means for re-outputting image data of a job to which said memory
recall is selectively set effective; and output timing control
means for outputting a following waiting job stored in said storing
means a predetermined time later after a completion of an output of
a job to which said memory recall is selectively set effective in
order to secure a chance of a re-output operation of said job to
which said memory recall is selectively set effective by said
operation means, or outputting a following waiting job stored in
said storing means immediately after a completion of an output of a
job to which said memory recall is selectively set ineffective.
Description
[0001] This application claims priority to Japanese Patent
Application No. 2000-96810 filed on Mar. 31, 2000, the disclosure
of which is incorporated by reference in its entirety.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] This invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as
a digital copying machine, a job controlling apparatus and the job
controlling methods.
[0004] 2. Description of Related Art
[0005] As a copying machine, for example, a copying machine
equipped with a memory recall mode is known. The aforementioned
memory recall mode is a mode for re-outputting image data after a
completion of an output of the image data. To activate the memory
recall mode, it is required for an operator to manipulate an
operation panel or the like so as to set the memory recall mode
effective before a reading of an original by an image reader and
also request a re-output of the job in accordance with the memory
recall (hereinafter referred to as "memory recall job") after a
completion of the output of the job.
[0006] Furthermore, a copying machine which allows an input of a
job during an output operation of another job is also known.
[0007] However, in the aforementioned copying machine, in cases
where a plurality of jobs are registered, the copying machine
cannot output an image according to the memory recall job until a
completion of the aforementioned plurality of registered jobs.
Thus, a user has to wait the output of the image according to the
memory recall job until the completion of the aforementioned
plurality of registered jobs.
[0008] In a copying machine with a printing function which outputs
the data inputted into the copying machine from an external
apparatus such as a personal computer, if printing jobs from a
personal computer (hereinafter referred to as "PC jobs") are input
continuously, the copying machine cannot execute the re-output of
the image according to the memory recall job until the completion
of the PC jobs.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] It is an object of the present invention to provide an image
forming apparatus with enhanced operability which can secure a time
for operating a re-output of an image of a job to which a recall
function is set effective after an output of the image of the job
and also can output an image of a job followed by a previous job
immediately after an output of an image of the previous job where a
recall function is not set effective to the previous job, to
thereby avoid the necessity of waiting the output of the image of
the job followed by the previous job.
[0010] It is another object of the present invention to provide a
job controller by which a time for operating a re-output of an
image of a job can be secured after an output of the image of the
job to which a recall function is set effective, and an image of a
job followed by a previous job can be output immediately after an
output of an image of the previous job to which a recall function
is not set effective.
[0011] It is still another object of the present invention to
provide a job controlling method by which a time for operating a
re-output of an image of a job can be secured after an output of
the image of the job to which a recall function is set effective,
and an image of a job followed by a previous job can be output
immediately after an output of an image of the previous job to
which a recall function is not set effective.
[0012] According to a first aspect of the present invention, an
image forming apparatus includes a memory for storing a first job
and a second job, an output unit for sequentially outputting the
image of the first and second jobs stored in the memory, a setter
for setting a recall function effective to the first job, the
recall function being a function enabling a re-output of the first
job in accordance with a request of an operator after a completion
of the first job, and a job controller controlling the output unit
so as to output the second job a predetermined time later after a
completion of the first job where the recall function is set
effective to the first job, or output the second job immediately
after a completion of the first job where the recall function is
set ineffective to the first job.
[0013] With this image forming apparatus, where the recall function
is set effective to the first job by the setter, the job controller
controls the output unit so as to output the second job a
predetermined time later after the completion of the first job, and
where the recall function is not set effective to the first job,
the job controller controls the output unit so as to output the
second job immediately after the completion of the first job.
[0014] As a result, the time for operating a re-output of a job to
which the recall function is set effective can be secured. On the
other hand, a job followed by a previous job to which the recall
function is not set effective is output immediately, which enhances
the operability.
[0015] According to a second aspect of the present invention, a job
controlling apparatus for outputting a job to an outputting
apparatus includes a memory for storing a first job and a second
job, a setter for setting a recall function effective to the first
job, wherein the recall function is a function enabling a re-output
of the first job in accordance with a request of an operator after
a completion of the first job, and a job controller outputting the
second job a predetermined time later after a completion of the
first job where the recall function is set effective to the first
job, or outputting the second job immediately after a completion of
the first job where the recall function is not set effective to the
first job.
[0016] With this job controlling apparatus, where the recall
function is set effective to the first job, the second job is
output a predetermined time later after the completion of the first
job, and where the recall function is not set effective to the
first job, the second job is output immediately after the
completion of the first job.
[0017] According to a third aspect of the present invention, a job
controlling method for controlling a reading of a first job and a
second job and an outputting thereof includes the steps of setting
a recall function effective or ineffective to the first job,
wherein the recall function is a function enabling a re-output of
the first job in accordance with a request of an operator after a
completion of the first job, and outputting the second job a
predetermined time later after a completion of the first job where
the recall function is set effective to the first job, or
outputting the second job immediately after a completion of the
first job where the recall function is not set effective to the
first job.
[0018] With this job controlling method, where the recall function
is set effective to the first job, the second job is output a
predetermined time later after the completion of the first job, and
where the recall function is not set effective to the first job,
the second job is output immediately after the completion of the
first job.
[0019] According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, an
image forming apparatus includes image outputting means for
outputting an image formed based on image data, storing means for
storing a plurality of jobs, memory recall selection means for
selectively setting a memory recall effective or ineffective to
each job, wherein the memory recall makes it possible to re-output
image data of each job after an output thereof, operation means for
re-outputting image data of a job to which the memory recall is
selectively set effective, and output timing control means for
outputting a following waiting job stored in the storing means a
predetermined time later after a completion of an output of a job
to which the memory recall is selectively set effective in order to
secure a chance of a re-output operation of the job to which the
memory recall is selectively set effective by the operation means,
or outputting a following waiting job stored in the storing means
immediately after a completion of an output of a job to which the
memory recall is selectively set ineffective.
[0020] In this application, the aforementioned "memory recall"
function is defined as a function that outputs data read by a job
and stores the read data in a memory even after the output of the
data and re-outputs the data stored in the memory in accordance
with the re-output instruction by a user.
[0021] In the aforementioned image forming apparatus, since the
following waiting job stored in the memory means is output a
predetermined time later after the completion of an output of a job
to which the memory recall is set effective so as to secure a
chance of the re-output operation of the job by the operation
means. This makes it possible to execute the memory recall function
by conducting the re-output operation based on the memory recall
within a predetermined time by a user. On the other hand, when the
output of the job to which the memory recall is set ineffective is
completed, the following waiting job is output immediately.
Therefore, a user waiting for the following waiting job can save a
time.
[0022] Other objects and the features will be apparent from the
following detailed description of the invention with reference to
the attached drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0023] The present invention will be more fully described and
better understood from the following description, taken with the
appended drawings, in which:
[0024] FIG. 1 shows a whole structure of a network which connects
copying machines 1, 2 and 3 according to an embodiment of the
present invention with personal computers;
[0025] FIG. 2 is a schematic sectional view showing a schematic
structure of the copying machine 1;
[0026] FIG. 3 is a front view of an operation panel of the copying
machine shown in FIG. 2;
[0027] FIG. 4 shows an explanatory block diagram showing a
structure of a control portion 100 of the copying machine 1
together with FIG. 5;
[0028] FIG. 5 shows an explanatory block diagram showing the
structure of the control part 100 of the copying machine 1 together
with FIG. 4;
[0029] FIG. 6 shows a flow chart showing a control procedure of a
user interface and a machine operation performed by a CPU 101;
[0030] FIG. 7 is an explanatory view showing the outline of a
multi-print job operation;
[0031] FIG. 8 shows a flow chart showing the contents of the
following job change processing in S36 shown in FIG. 6;
[0032] FIG. 9 shows the changes of the operation panel screen in a
state that the memory recall is set effective; and
[0033] FIG. 10 shows the changes of the operation panel screen in a
state that the memory recall is set ineffective.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0034] A plurality of copying machines shown in FIG. 1 can be used
as a stand-alone machine, respectively. These copying machines are
connected to a network and can print an image in accordance with a
printing instruction from a personal computer or the like.
[0035] FIG. 1 shows the whole structure of the network which
connects the copying machines 1, 2 and 3 according to an embodiment
of the present invention to the personal computers 5 and 6.
[0036] The copying machines 1, 2 and 3 are connected to the
personal computers 5 and 6 via a communication circuit 4 in a bus
type. From personal computers 5 and 6, image data are transmitted
to the copying machines 1, 2 and 3, and images are printed by the
copying machines. Furthermore, each of the copying machine 1, 2 and
3 is equipped with an image reader IR, and can print image data
read by the image reader IR.
[0037] Although the following explanation will be directed to the
copying machine 1, the explanation can also be applied to the
copying machines 2 and 3, i.e, the structure and functions of the
copying machines 2 and 3 are the same as that of the copying
machine 1.
[0038] FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing the schematic structure
of the copying machine 1.
[0039] The copying machine 1 includes an image reader IR, a memory
unit portion 30, a printing apparatus PRT, an operation panel 300,
an original transferring portion 500, a large capacity paper
feeding apparatus 600 and a sorter 700. The image reader IR reads
the image of an original to generate image data. The memory unit
portion 30 temporarily stores the image data obtained by the image
reader IR. The printing apparatus PRT prints an image on a paper
based on the image data stored in the memory unit portion 30. The
operation panel 300 is used for an input operation. The original
transferring portion 500 transfers and reverses the original if
necessary. The large capacity paper feeding apparatus 600 can
accommodate a large number of paper and feed the paper accommodated
therein one by one. The sorter 700 receives and sorts the sheets of
paper on which an image is printed. These operation is controlled
by the below-mentioned control portion.
[0040] In the original transferring portion 500, the original set
on the original paper tray 501 will be automatically set to the
reading position on the platen glass 15 from the lower-most
original in respond to a print command. After the image reader IR
reads the original, the original is discharged to the ejection tray
502.
[0041] The image reader IR includes a scanning system 10 and an
image signal processing portion 20.
[0042] In the scanning system 10, the original placed at the
reading position is exposed to the exposure lamp 11 fixed to the
scanner 16 which moves below the original. The reflected light from
the original is guided into the photoelectric converter 14
including a CCD array and the like via the reflecting mirrors and
the collective lens 12.
[0043] Subsequently, the signals generated by this scanning system
10 is transferred to the image signal processing portion 20. In the
image signal processing portion 20, the input signals are subjected
to image processing, such as binarization, image correction,
enlargement or reduction, and image editing. The processed image
data are stored in the memory unit portion 30.
[0044] The printing apparatus PRT includes a print processing
portion 40, an optical system 60, an image forming system 70 and a
paper conveyance system 80.
[0045] The print processing portion 40 drives the optical system 60
based on the image data from the memory unit portion 30. In the
optical system 60, semiconductor lasers 61 and 62 emit a laser beam
based on the signal controlled by the print processing portion 40,
respectively. These laser beams are combined into a single beam by
the dichroic mirror 63, reflected by a polygon mirror 65 rotated by
a motor 64, and irradiated towards the photosensitive drum 71 of
the image forming system 70 via a main lens 66.
[0046] In the image forming system 70, the photosensitive drum 71
is electrically charged by an electrification charger 72 in
advance. Then, the laser beam guided by the optical system 60
irradiates the charged drum 71, whereby an electrostatic latent
image is formed on the photosensitive drum 71. Subsequently, the
developer 73 forms a toner image on the electrostatic latent image.
The toner image on the photosensitive drum 71 is transferred onto a
paper which was supplied from the paper-supply tray 80a, 80b, 80c
and 80d of the paper conveyance system 80, the large capacity paper
feeding apparatus 600 or a manual paper-supply tray 80e. Then, the
paper bearing the toner image is carried to fixing rollers 82 by
which the toner image is fixed to the paper with heat and pressure.
Finally, the paper is ejected to the sorter 700.
[0047] The aforementioned paper-supply trays 80a, 80b and 80c and
the large capacity paper feeding apparatus 600 are fixed
paper-supply trays on which regulation plate-members for regulating
four sides of a paper are fixed at the position corresponding to
the paper size so that each of the trays can accommodate
predetermined standard-side papers, respectively.
[0048] The paper-supply tray 80d is a universal paper-supply tray
provided with regulation plate-members movable depending on the
paper size so that papers of various sizes can be fed.
[0049] The manual paper-supply tray 80e is provided to the copying
machine so as to project outwardly therefrom and provided with
adjustable regulation plate-members for regulating the side edges
of a paper so that any standard-size and non-standard size paper
can be placed. By using this manual paper-supply tray 80e, it
becomes possible to easily feed a special paper with comparatively
low frequency of use, such as OHP papers, pasteboards, color
papers, other than papers set in paper-supply trays 80a, 80b, and
80c and 80d.
[0050] Moreover, the copying machine 1 has a communication
interface 35. With this communication interface 35, when necessary,
the copying machine 1 can exchange image data or the like with
external apparatuses including the personal computers 5 and 6 and
the other copying machines 2 and 3 via the communication circuit 4
of the network as shown in FIG. 1.
[0051] FIG. 3 shows the front view of the operation panel 300 of
the image forming apparatus.
[0052] In FIG. 3, the reference numeral 201 denotes a start key for
instructing a start of the operation. The reference numeral 202
denotes a ten key for inputting numerical values such as the number
of sheets to be copied. The reference numeral 203 is a clear key
for clearing the input numerical value. The reference numeral 204
denotes a stop key for stopping the operation. The reference
numeral 205 denotes a panel reset key for canceling the set mode
and print job. The reference numeral 206 denotes an LCD display for
displaying various modes. The operation panel 300 has a touch panel
on the surface thereof so that various key inputs can be performed
by touching the key displayed on the LCD display 206.
[0053] Next, the control portion 100 will be explained. FIGS. 4 and
5 show a block diagram for explaining the structure of the control
portion 100 of the copying machine 1.
[0054] The control portion 100 is constituted mainly by eight CPUs
101-108 equipped with ROMs 111-118 storing programs and RAMs
121-128 as a work area for executing programs. The CPU 106 and the
ROM 116 are provided in the memory unit portion 30.
[0055] The CPU 101 controls input signals from various operation
keys and the display. The CPUs 102 and 103 control each part of the
image signal processing portion 20 and the driving of the scanning
system 10, respectively. Moreover, the CPU 104 controls the print
processing portion 40, the optical system 60 and the image forming
system 70. The CPU 105 performs processing for overall timing
adjustments and/or operation mode setups of the control portion
100.
[0056] The CPU 106 once stores the image data read by the image
reader IR and the image data sent from the personal computers 5 and
6 in a memory by controlling the memory unit portion 30, and then
reads and outputs them to the print processing portion 40. Thereby,
the image reader IR and the printing apparatus PRT are controlled
independently to improve the copying speed. The CPU 106 is
connected to a communication interface portion 35 for exchanging
the data with external apparatus in a network as shown in FIG.
1.
[0057] The CPU 107 controls the original transferring portion 500,
and the CPU 108 controls the large capacity paper feeding apparatus
600. Among these CPUs 101-108, a serial communication by an
interrupt is performed to exchange data.
[0058] FIG. 6 is a flow chart showing a control procedure of the
user interface and the machine operation performed by the CPU 105.
In the following explanation and drawings, a step is abbreviated as
"S."
[0059] When the CPU 105 is reset and the program starts, in S30, an
initialization of the CPU 101, such as a clearance of the RAM and a
setup of various registers, is performed. Then, in S31, an
initialization processing of the copying machine mode is
performed.
[0060] Next, in S32, the internal timer, which is built in the CPU
105 and has a previously set initial value, starts.
[0061] Subsequently performed one by one are a print job control
processing (S33) for determining the status of the present print
job, a display processing (S34) of the LCD display 206 of the
operation panel 300, a key input processing (S35) of a hard key and
a touch panel, a following job change processing (S36) for
controlling the following job change and other processing (S37)
After the completion of all of the processing, the routine waits
for the termination of the initially set internal timer (S38) to
conclude one routine, and returns to S32. Calculation of various
timers which appear in a subroutine is performed by using the
length of the time of this one routine.
[0062] In other words, the termination of the timer is judged by
how many times the value of various timers repeated this one
routine.
[0063] FIG. 7 shows schematic explanatory drawings of a multi-print
job operation.
[0064] According to the multi-print job, in the digital copying
machine with an image memory (RAM 126 of the memory unit portion
30), during the output operation of a set of original images by the
print apparatus PRT, a set of original images is read by the image
reader IR in accordance with a reservation via an operation panel
300 or new image data are received from a network to be stored in
an image memory.
[0065] In other words, in the multi-print job, during the output
operation of the first print job by the print apparatus PRT, a
second job or a third print job of a set of image data unrelated to
the first print job is read by the image reader IR or received from
a network to be stored. Thus, a plurality of print jobs are carried
out simultaneously.
[0066] In this embodiment, image data of each of a plurality of
waiting print jobs are stored in the RAM 126 corresponding to the
information on the selected paper-supply tray for supplying a paper
on which the aforementioned image data is printed among the
paper-supply trays 80a, 80b, 80c and 80d, the large capacity paper
feeding apparatus 600 and the manual paper-supply tray 80e.
[0067] FIG. 8 is a flow chart showing the contents of the job
change processing of S36 in FIG. 6.
[0068] First, in S101, it is judged whether or not the print
operation of a certain job is completed. If completed (NO in S101),
the routine proceeds to S102. If not completed (YES in S101), the
routine returns. In S102, it is judged whether or not the memory
recall call key is turned on. If turned on (YES in S102), the
routine proceeds to S110 in which a memory recall is started. When
the memory recall call key is not turned on (NO in S102), in order
to count a predetermined time, the routine proceeds to S103, S104,
S105, and S111. In S103, it is judged whether a flag showing
whether a counter timer TIME for counting a predetermined time is
already completed is ON or OFF. If the timer is terminated, i.e.,
the flag is ON (YES in S103), the routine proceeds to S108.
[0069] When the counter termination flag is not ON (NO in S103),
the routine proceeds to S104 and it is judged whether or not the
timer TIME is 0. If the timer TIME is not 0 (YES in S104), the
routine proceeds to S105 to perform the decrement of the timer
TIME. Then, the routine proceeds to S106.
[0070] If the timer TIME is 0 (NO in S104), the routine proceeds to
S111 to set the time (10 seconds in this embodiment) of the timer
TIME 2. Thereafter, the routine proceeds to S112.
[0071] In S106, it is judged whether or not the result of carrying
out the decrement of the timer TIME is 0. If it is 0 (YES in S106),
the routine proceeds to S107, and a count termination flag is
turned on. If it is not 0 (NO in S106), the routine will proceed to
S112.
[0072] In S112, it is judged whether or not there is any waiting
job. If there is a waiting job (YES in S112), the routine will
proceed to S113. If there is no waiting job (NO in S112), the
routine will proceed to S115.
[0073] In S113, it is judged whether or not the memory recall which
can be set to each job is set to effective. If the memory recall is
selected (Selected in S113), the routine returns, and the timer
TIME starts to count. If the memory recall is not selected (NOT
selected in S113), the routine proceeds to S114, and the output
processing of the waiting job is performed. After the print output
processing, the routine proceeds to S115 to turn off the count
termination flag to set the timer TIME to 0. Then, the routine
returns.
[0074] On the other hand, in S108, it is judged whether or not
there is any waiting job. If there is any waiting job (YES in
S108), the routine proceeds to S114 and then to S115. If there is
no waiting job (NO in S108), the routine will proceed to S109 to
delete the display of the memory recall call key.
[0075] As mentioned above, when the memory recall is effective, the
chance for performing the memory recall can be secured by not
outputting the waiting job for a predetermined time after the
termination of the printing process of the job. On the other hand,
when the memory recall is ineffective, the waiting job is output
immediately.
[0076] FIGS. 9 and 10 show the screen changes of the LCD display
206 of the operation panel (see FIG. 3). Although these figures
show the flow in cases where the job (PC job) is received from
personal computers 5 and 6 during the copy job print, it is also
applied to the case where a copy job is reserved during a copy job
print and/or the receiving of the PC job is completed during the PC
job print. However, setting the memory recall of the PC job
effective or ineffective can be performed from the personal
computers 5 and 6.
[0077] In FIG. 9, G10 shows the setting screen for setting a memory
recall effective or ineffective to each job. G10 shows the state
that the memory recall is set effective by pressing the memory
recall setting key 220. When the start key 201 (see FIG. 3) is
pressed, the screen changes to G11.
[0078] G11 shows a screen when a print job is being processed. In
the screen, if there is no waiting job, "Print waiting job" is not
displayed. During the print processing, when it is completed to
receive the PC job, the screen changes to G14, and "Print waiting
job {circle over (1)}" is displayed. After the completion of the
copy job, the screen changes to G12.
[0079] After the completion of the copy job, since the memory
recall is set effective, the memory recall call key 230 is
displayed in G12.
[0080] By pressing the memory recall call key 230, a screen for
starting the recall job is displayed as shown in G13. In this case,
it is possible to change the output number of copies. When the
memory recall call key 230 is not pressed, the PC job {circle over
(1)} which is a waiting job is output after the predetermined time
later. G15 shows the screen during the print process of the job
{circle over (1)}.
[0081] In FIG. 10, G16 shows the basic screen in cases where the
memory recall is not set effective. When the start key 201 is
turned on, the screen will change to G17 which is the same screen
as G11. In G17, in cases where there is no waiting job, "Print
waiting job" is not displayed. After the completion of the copy
job, the screen changes to G18. In G18, since the memory recall is
not set effective, the memory recall call key 230 is not
displayed.
[0082] G19 shows the same screen as G14 during a print process in
the state that it is completed to receive the PC job. Since the
memory recall is not set effective, the screen changes to G20
immediately after the termination of the copy job.
[0083] G20 shows the same screen as G15 during the printing process
of the job {circle over (1)}.
[0084] The terms and expressions which have been employed herein
are used as terms of description and not of limitation, and there
is no intent, in the use of such terms and expressions, of
excluding any of the equivalents of the features shown and
described or portions thereof, but it is recognized that various
modifications are possible within the scope of the invention
claimed.
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