U.S. patent application number 13/181235 was filed with the patent office on 2012-01-26 for image forming apparatus, control method of image forming apparatus, and storage medium.
This patent application is currently assigned to CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA. Invention is credited to Jun Miyajima.
Application Number | 20120019857 13/181235 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 45493372 |
Filed Date | 2012-01-26 |
United States Patent
Application |
20120019857 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Miyajima; Jun |
January 26, 2012 |
IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS, CONTROL METHOD OF IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS,
AND STORAGE MEDIUM
Abstract
An image forming apparatus may include an executing unit, a
cancelling unit, and a control unit to form an image on a sheet by
executing a job. The executing unit interrupts a first job and
executes a second job in a state that a first job is interrupted.
If the executing unit executes an interrupt job, then the
cancelling unit cancels sheet feed reservation of a sheet for the
first job. The control unit controls to execute the second job
after the cancelling unit cancels the sheet feed reservation of the
sheet.
Inventors: |
Miyajima; Jun;
(Kawasaki-shi, JP) |
Assignee: |
CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
Tokyo
JP
|
Family ID: |
45493372 |
Appl. No.: |
13/181235 |
Filed: |
July 12, 2011 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
358/1.15 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04N 1/00623 20130101;
H04N 2201/0094 20130101; H04N 1/00655 20130101; H04N 1/00596
20130101; H04N 2201/0081 20130101; G03G 15/5012 20130101; G03G
15/6529 20130101; H04N 2201/0082 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
358/1.15 |
International
Class: |
G06F 3/12 20060101
G06F003/12 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jul 23, 2010 |
JP |
2010-165788 |
Claims
1. An image forming apparatus to form an image on a sheet by
executing a job, the image forming apparatus comprising: an
executing unit configured to interrupt a first job and execute a
second job in a state that the first job is interrupted; a
cancelling unit configured to cancel, in a case where the executing
unit executes the second job, sheet feed reservation of a sheet for
the first job; and a control unit configured to control to execute
the second job after the cancelling unit cancels the sheet feed
reservation of the sheet.
2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the
cancelling unit cancels sheet feed reservation generated for the
first job, sequentially from last generated sheet feed
reservation.
3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further
comprising a storing unit configured to store print reservations
cancelled by the cancelling unit, wherein the first job is
restarted after executing the second job, according to sheet feed
reservations stored in the storing unit.
4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the
cancelling unit cancels, in a case where the executing unit
executes the second job, sheet feed reservation of a sheet
generated for the first if the first job is not a job for
performing a binding process, and does not cancel sheet feed
reservation of a sheet generated for the first job if the first job
is a job for performing a binding process.
5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the
cancelling unit cancels, in a case where the first job is a job for
performing stapling, sheet feed reservation of a sheet subsequent
to the last sheet included in a bundle of sheets to be stapled by
performing the binding process.
6. A control method for controlling an image forming apparatus to
form an image on a sheet by executing a job, the control method
comprising: executing a second job while the first job is
interrupted; cancelling, in a case where a second job is executed,
sheet feed reservation of a sheet for the first job; and
controlling to execute the second job after cancelling the sheet
feed reservation of the sheet.
7. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a
program that causes an image forming apparatus to execute a job to
form an image on a sheet by performing a method, the method
comprising: executing a second job while the first job is
interrupted; cancelling, in a case where a second job is executed,
sheet feed reservation of a sheet for the first job; and
controlling to execute the second job after cancelling the sheet
feed reservation of the sheet.
8. An image forming apparatus to form an image on a sheet by
executing a job, the image forming apparatus comprising: an
executing unit configured to interrupt a first job and execute a
second job in a state that the first job is interrupted; and a
control unit configured to control, in a case where the executing
unit executes the second job, to feed a sheet to be printed by
executing the second job, prior to feeding of a sheet that has been
reserved to be fed with respect to the first job.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus,
a control method of an image forming apparatus, and a storage
medium.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] Conventionally, there is an image forming apparatus that
feeds sheets from a sheet storing unit such as a sheet feed
cassette and prints an image on the fed sheet. Further, there is an
image forming apparatus that includes a plurality of sheet storing
units. In such a case, distance from the sheet storing unit to a
transfer unit is different for each sheet storing unit. For
example, if a plurality of sheet feed decks can be attached to the
image forming apparatus as optional devices, the distance from the
sheet feed cassette included in the image forming apparatus main
body to the transfer unit is different from the distance from the
sheet feed cassette in the sheet feed decks to the transfer unit.
If such an image forming apparatus feeds the sheets by feeding a
subsequent sheet on condition that the previous sheet has been fed,
intervals between the sheets become excessively long. For example,
if an instruction is issued to feed the subsequent sheet from the
sheet storing unit disposed far from the transfer unit, after
feeding the sheet from the sheet storing unit disposed near the
transfer unit, the intervals between the sheets become excessively
long. In general, only a minimal predetermined interval for
printing the image on the sheets is necessary as the intervals
between the sheets. However, in the above-described case, the
intervals become longer than such a predetermined necessary
interval, so that productivity in printing is lowered.
[0005] To reduce such lowering of productivity in printing, a
conventional image forming apparatus performs control as described
below. A control apparatus (i.e., a controller unit) in the image
forming apparatus inputs into a reservation cue, print reservation
of a sheet to be fed, before issuing a sheet feed instruction to
actually feed the sheet. The image forming apparatus then sets a
sheet feed schedule of the sheets according to information about
the print reservations input into the reservation cue. The image
forming apparatus thus feeds the sheets according to the sheet feed
schedule and prints the image on the fed sheets. As a result, the
image forming apparatus can previously recognize that the sheet to
be fed subsequent to the sheet fed from the sheet storing unit
disposed near the transfer unit is to be fed from the sheet storing
unit disposed far from the transfer unit. The control unit thus
issues ahead of time, an instruction to feed the sheet from the
sheet storing unit that is far from the transfer unit, so that the
interval between the sheet and the previous sheet can be prevented
from becoming excessively long. Such an operation is referred to as
advance sheet feed (or preliminary sheet feed) (refer to Japanese
Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2005-335929).
[0006] On the other hand, there is an image forming apparatus that
interrupts a job being executed and then executes a different job
(hereinafter referred to as an interrupt job) while interrupting
the original job. Such a function is referred to as an interrupt
function (refer to Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No.
2003-228257). Such an interrupt function allows a different job to
be executed without waiting for completion of the job being
executed, so that a user can quickly acquire a printed product.
[0007] However, if there are print reservations of sheets in the
image forming apparatus, and the user uses the interrupt function
to instruct execution of the interrupt job, the sheet to be printed
by executing the interrupt job is not fed until all the sheets that
have been print-reserved have been fed. In particular, if a large
number of sheets are print-reserved, the time necessary for
discharging the printed product corresponding to the interrupt job
becomes long. It thus becomes necessary for the user to wait for a
long time to receive the printed product.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] According to an aspect of the present invention, an image
forming apparatus may form an image on a sheet by executing a job.
The image forming apparatus includes: an executing unit configured
to interrupt a first job and execute a second job in a state that
the first job is interrupted; a cancelling unit configured to
cancel, in a case where the executing unit executes the second job,
sheet feed reservation of a sheet for the first job; and a control
unit configured to control to execute the second job after the
cancelling unit cancels the sheet feed reservation of the
sheet.
[0009] Further features and aspects of the present invention will
become apparent from the following detailed description of
exemplary embodiments with reference to the attached drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and
constitute a part of the specification, illustrate exemplary
embodiments, features, and aspects of the invention and, together
with the description, serve to explain the principles of the
invention.
[0011] FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an
image forming apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment.
[0012] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a
configuration of the image forming apparatus according to an
exemplary embodiment.
[0013] FIG. 3 illustrates a configuration of an operation unit
according to an exemplary embodiment.
[0014] FIG. 4 is a sequence diagram illustrating a process flow
according to an exemplary embodiment.
[0015] FIG. 5 is a sequence diagram illustrating a process flow
according to an exemplary embodiment.
[0016] FIG. 6 includes FIGS. 6A, 6B, 6C, and 6D as a sequence
diagram illustrating a process flow according to an exemplary
embodiment.
[0017] FIG. 7 illustrates sheet conveyance according to an
exemplary embodiment.
[0018] FIG. 8 includes FIGS. 8A, 8B, 8C, and 8D as a sequence
diagram illustrating a process flow according to an exemplary
embodiment.
[0019] FIG. 9 illustrates sheet conveyance according to an
exemplary embodiment.
[0020] FIG. 10 illustrates a sheet feed reservation state according
to an exemplary embodiment.
[0021] FIGS. 11A, 11B, 11C, 11D, and 11E illustrate sheet feed
reservation states according to an exemplary embodiment.
[0022] FIG. 12 includes FIGS. 12A, 12B, 12C, and 12D as a sequence
diagram illustrating a process flow according to an exemplary
embodiment.
[0023] FIG. 13 is a flowchart illustrating an example of control
performed according to an exemplary embodiment.
[0024] FIGS. 14A and 14B illustrate sheet feed reservation states
according to an exemplary embodiment.
[0025] FIG. 15 is a flowchart illustrating an example of control
performed according to an exemplary embodiment.
DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS
[0026] Various exemplary embodiments, features, and aspects of the
invention will be described in detail below with reference to the
drawings. If an instruction is received from a user to execute an
interrupt job, time from receiving the instruction to executing the
interrupt job is prevented from becoming long due to print
reservation of a sheet in another job. A control method for
controlling an image forming apparatus that forms an image on a
sheet by executing a job includes executing an interrupt job while
interrupting a job being executed, cancelling, if an interrupt job
is executed, sheet feed reservation of a sheet for the job being
executed, and performing control to execute the interrupt job after
cancelling the sheet feed reservation of the sheet.
[0027] FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an
image forming apparatus 100 according to a first exemplary
embodiment.
[0028] Referring to FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus 100
includes a reader apparatus (i.e., a reader unit) 200, a control
apparatus (i.e., a control unit or a controller unit) 110, and a
printer apparatus (i.e., a printer unit) 300.
[0029] The reader apparatus 200 includes a document feed unit 250
and a scanner unit 210. The document feed unit 250 conveys
one-by-one to the scanner unit 210, a plurality of document sheets.
The scanner unit 210 then reads the image of the conveyed document
and generates image data. Further, the scanner unit 210 includes a
document stage (i.e., a platen glass 211 illustrated in FIG. 2),
and is capable of reading the image of the document set on the
document stage and generating the image data. The scanner unit 210
then transmits the generated image data to the control apparatus
110.
[0030] The control apparatus 110 includes a central processing unit
(CPU) 120, an image memory 130, an operation unit 170, a network
interface (I/F) 140, a random access memory (RAM) 150, and a
read-only memory (ROM) 160. The control apparatus 110 is
electrically connected to the reader apparatus 200 and the printer
apparatus 300.
[0031] The CPU 120 comprehensively controls the image forming
apparatus 100. The RAM 150 functions as a work area of the CPU 120.
The ROM 160 stores various programs to be read by the CPU 120. The
CPU 120 performs various processes by reading from the ROM 160 and
executing the programs. The network interface (I/F) 140 is used
when the image forming apparatus 100 communicates with an external
device. For example, the CPU 120 transmits and receives via the
network I/F 140, the image data and commands to and from an
external personal computer (PC). The image forming apparatus 100
connects to the external PC via a network or a universal serial bus
(USB) cable.
[0032] The operation unit 170 includes a liquid crystal display
(LCD) unit and hard keys. The LCD unit displays an operation screen
for operating the image forming apparatus 100, the image data, and
various messages. Further, a touch panel is attached to the LCD
unit, and the operation unit 170 receives user instructions from
the touch panel.
[0033] The printer apparatus 300 includes sheet storing units 510
such as the sheet feed cassettes, a sheet feed unit 310 that feeds
the sheets from the sheet feed cassettes using a sheet feed roller,
a marking unit 320, a sheet discharge unit 330, and a finisher unit
500. The printer apparatus 300 feeds the sheets from the sheet
storing unit 510 using the sheet feed unit 310. The marking unit
320 then forms the image on the fed sheet, and the sheet discharge
unit 330 discharges the sheet on which the image is formed. The
finisher unit 500 performs post processing such as stapling and
punching as necessary on the sheets discharged by the sheet
discharge unit 330.
[0034] The image forming apparatus 100 includes a scanner function,
a print function, a copy function, a box function, and a data
transmission function. The scanner function stores in a hard disk
drive (HDD) 130, the data corresponding to the image of the
document read by the reader apparatus 200. The print function
prints using the printer apparatus 300, the image according to the
image data received by the network I/F 140. The copy function
prints using the printer apparatus 300, the image of the document
read by the reader apparatus 200. The box function prints using the
printer apparatus 300, the image according to the image data stored
in the HDD 130. The data transmission function transmits to the
external device via the network I/F 140, the image data of the
document read by the reader apparatus 200 or the image data stored
in the HDD 130. The CPU 120 in the image forming apparatus 100
manages in the HDD 130, a process using the above-described
function as one job (e.g., a copy job or a print job). The CPU 120
is capable of storing and managing a plurality of jobs in the HDD
130, and sequentially executes each of the jobs stored in the HDD
130.
[0035] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the
configuration of the image forming apparatus 100. Referring to FIG.
2, the image forming apparatus 100 includes an image forming
apparatus main body, and sheet feed decks 400, 410, and 420, and a
finisher unit 500, as optional devices that can be connected to the
image forming apparatus.
[0036] If the user sets the document on the platen glass 211, the
scanner unit 210 turns on a lamp 212, and scan-exposes the document
my moving an optical unit 213. The light reflected on the document
is then guided to a charge-coupled device sensor (CCD) 218 via
mirrors 214, 215, 216, and lens 217. The CCD 218 thus reads the
image of the scanned document.
[0037] Further, the user may set the document on the document feed
unit 250. In such a case, the scanner unit 210 performs control so
that each sheet of the document is sequentially conveyed to the
platen glass 211. The optical unit 214 then scan-exposes the
conveyed document, and the CCD 218 reads the image of the document.
The document is then discharged to a discharge tray 219.
[0038] The image read by the CCD 218 is transferred to the control
apparatus 110 after predetermined processing for the image data has
been performed.
[0039] A laser driver 321 drives a laser emitting unit 322. More
specifically, the laser driver 321 causes the laser emitting unit
322 to emit laser beam according to the image data output from the
control apparatus 110. The laser emitting unit 322 emits the laser
beam to a photosensitive drum 323, so that a latent image
corresponding to the laser beam is formed on the photosensitive
drum 323. A developing unit 324 then attaches a developer (toner)
on the latent image portion of the photosensitive drum 323.
[0040] Further, the image forming apparatus 100 includes as the
sheet storing unit 510, drawer type sheet feed cassettes 311, 312,
313, and 314. Furthermore, the image forming apparatus 100 is
connected to the sheet feed decks 400, 410, and 420. The sheet feed
decks 400, 410, and 420 each include three sheet feed cassettes.
The sheet feed deck 400 includes sheet feed cassettes 401, 402, and
403, the sheet feed deck 410 includes sheet feed cassettes 411,
412, and 413, and the sheet feed deck 420 includes sheet feed
cassettes 421, 422, and 423. The user replenishes the sheets (i.e.,
recording sheets, papers, or recording media) by pulling out each
sheet feed cassette. Each of the sheet feed cassettes can store
sheets of different size or different type. The user sets via the
operation unit 170 the size and type of sheets to be stored in each
sheet feed cassette. The CPU 120 stores in the HDD 130 and manages
the sheet sizes and types set by the user.
[0041] The printer apparatus 300 feeds the sheet from one of the
sheet feed cassettes 311, 312, 313, 314, 401, 402, 403, 411, 412,
413, 421, 422, and 423, and conveys the fed sheet to a transfer
unit 325 via a sheet conveyance path 331. The transfer unit 325
then transfers the developer attached to the photosensitive drum
323 to the sheet. A conveyance belt 326 conveys to a fixing unit
327 the sheet on which the developer is transferred, and the
developer is fixed on the sheet by heat and pressing force applied
by the fixing unit 327. The sheet which passes through the fixing
unit 327 is then conveyed to a conveyance path 335 and a conveyance
path 334. If the sheet is to be discharged by reversing a printed
side of the sheet, the sheet is guided to a conveyance path 336 and
a conveyance path 338. The sheet is then conveyed in an opposite
direction and is conveyed through a conveyance path 337 and the
conveyance path 334.
[0042] Further, if the printer apparatus is set to perform
two-sided printing, the sheet after passing through the fixing unit
327 is guided from the conveyance path 336 to the conveyance path
333 by a flapper 329. The sheet is then conveyed in an opposite
direction and guided to the conveyance path 338 and a re-feed
conveyance path 332 by the flapper 329. The sheet guided to the
re-feed conveyance path 332 passes through the conveyance path 331
at the above-described timing and is conveyed to the transfer unit
325.
[0043] The sheet discharged from the conveyance path 334 is
conveyed to the finisher unit 500, in both one-sided printing and
two-sided printing.
[0044] The sheet conveyed to the finisher unit 500 is conveyed to a
buffer roller 501, and is wrapped around the buffer roller 501 as
necessary and buffered. For example, if time is necessary to
perform stapling by a stapling unit disposed downstream from the
buffer roller 501, sheet conveyance speed of the sheet conveyed
from the image forming apparatus 100 main body can be controlled by
using the buffer roller 501.
[0045] The sheet that has passed through the buffer roller 501 is
discharged to a discharge tray 507 by an upper discharge roller
pair 502 and a lower discharge roller pair 503.
[0046] If the printer apparatus 300 is set to perform stapling, the
sheet is pulled back by a knurled belt 504 and temporarily stacked
on a stacking tray 505, by the time the upper discharge roller pair
502 conveys the sheet and the trailing end of the sheet reaches the
upper discharge roller pair 502. When a predetermined number of
sheets to be stapled is stacked on the stacking tray 505, a
stapling unit 506 staples the sheets, and the lower discharge
roller pair 503 then discharges the sheets to the discharge tray
507. If the printer apparatus 300 is set to perform shift sorting,
the sheets that are temporarily stacked on the stack tray 505 are
discharged to the discharge tray 507 after being offset to the left
and the right by a predetermined amount using a shift mechanism
(not illustrated). By performing shift sorting, an end of a copy of
the discharged printed product or an end of the job becomes easily
recognizable.
[0047] The configuration of the operation unit 170 will be
described below with reference to FIG. 3. Referring to FIG. 3, the
operation unit 170 includes an LCD touch panel 600. The LCD touch
panel 600 displays an operation screen of the copy function, or the
operation screens of the box function and the data transmission
function. The control apparatus 110 displays the operation screen
on the LCD touch panel 600 and receives from the user via the
displayed operation screen, job settings such as one-sided or
two-sided printing, and reduced layout. The control apparatus 110
then stores the received settings in the RAM 150 or the HDD 130.
Further, the control apparatus 110 also receives via the LCD touch
panel 600, the settings of the size and type of sheets stored in
the sheet discharge cassettes, and stores the received settings in
the RAM 150 or the HDD 130.
[0048] Ten keys 601 are used for inputting the numerals 0, 1, 2, 3,
4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9. An identification (ID) key 602 is used for
inputting, when the apparatus is managed by a department, a
department number or a password.
[0049] A reset key 603 is used for resetting a set mode. A guide
key 604 is used for displaying a guide screen for each mode. A user
mode key 605 is used when entering a user mode screen.
[0050] An interrupt key 606 is used when interrupting the job being
executed and executing a different job in preference to the
interrupted job while the job is being interrupted. A start key 607
is used for starting various operations such as copy and data
transmission. A stop key 608 is used for cancelling a job being
executed.
[0051] A soft power switch 609 is used for switching off a back
light of the LCD touch panel 600. A power saving key 610 is used to
shift the image forming apparatus 100 to a power saving state in
which consumed power is lower than in a normal power consumption
state. If the image forming apparatus 100 is in a low power
consumption state and the user re-presses the power saving key 610,
the image forming apparatus 100 is restored from the power saving
state.
[0052] An adjustment key 614 is used for adjusting contrast of the
LCD touch panel. A counter confirmation key 615 is used for
displaying an accumulated number of copies. An "execute/memory"
light-emitting diode (LED) 616 indicates that the job is being
executed, or the image is being stored in the image memory. An
error LED 617 indicates that an error is occurring in the
apparatus, such as a paper jam or a door is open. A power LED 618
indicates that a main power of the image forming apparatus 100 is
switched on.
[0053] FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating a communication
sequence performed between the control apparatus 110 and the
printer apparatus 300 illustrated in FIG. 1. The sequence diagram
of FIG. 4 illustrates a case where an image is printed on one
sheet. The process performed by the control apparatus 110 is
realized by the CPU 120 in the control apparatus 110 executing the
program stored in the ROM 160. Further, the process performed by
the printer apparatus 300 is realized by a CPU 301 in the printer
apparatus 300 executing the program stored in a memory 302.
[0054] Referring to FIG. 4, the control apparatus 110 analyzes the
received job, and upon completing analysis of one sheet to be fed,
the control apparatus 110 issues print reservation 4001 (i.e.,
sheet feed reservation) to the printer apparatus 300. For example,
a copy job may be executed in which the printer apparatus 300 is to
print the image of the document read by the reader apparatus 200.
In such a case, the control apparatus 110 issues the print
reservation 4001 according to the number of pages of the document
read by the reader apparatus 200 and setting values set by the user
using the operation unit 170.
[0055] If the user has set using the operation unit 170, one-sided
printing and 1-in-1 (no reduction layout) printing, one sheet is
printed when one page of the image has been read. The control
apparatus 100 thus issues the print reservation 4001 to the printer
apparatus 300 on condition that the reader apparatus 200 has read
one page (one sheet) of the document.
[0056] Further, if the user has set using the operation unit 170,
one-sided printing and 2-in-1 printing, one sheet is fed and
printed when two pages of the image has been read. The control
apparatus 100 thus issues the print reservation 4001 to the printer
apparatus 300 on condition that the reader apparatus 200 has read
two pages (two sheets) of the document.
[0057] On the other hand, if the control apparatus 110 is to
execute a job using the print function to print the print data
received from the external device via the network I/F 140, the
control apparatus 110 performs raster image processing (RIP) of the
received print data while analyzing the print data. The control
apparatus 110 thus generates the image data. The control apparatus
110 identifies layout information of the print data by analyzing
the print data. The layout information includes designation of
one-sided/two-sided printing and reduction layout (i.e., 1-in-1 or
2-in-1) set using the external PC. Further, the control apparatus
110 rasterizes the print data and specifies the page of the image
data to be printed according to the generated image data.
[0058] The control apparatus 110 then issues to the printer
apparatus 300 the print reservation 4001 according to the
identified layout information and the specified page. If the
control apparatus 110 is to perform one-sided, 1-in-1 printing, the
control apparatus 110 issues the print reservation 4001 to the
printer apparatus 300 when one page of the image data has been
generated. If the control apparatus 110 is to perform one-sided,
2-in-1 printing, the control apparatus 110 issues the print
reservation 4001 to the printer apparatus 300 when two pages of the
image data have been generated.
[0059] In the case where the copy function or the print function is
to be performed, the control apparatus 110 also issues, when it is
determined that one sheet is to be fed, the print reservation 4001
corresponding to the sheet to the printer apparatus 300.
[0060] The print reservation 4001 includes the information on the
sheet feed cassette 311, 312, 313, 314, 401, 402, 403, 411, 412,
413, 421, 422, or 423 from which the sheet is to be fed. Further,
if a shift sort mode is designated, the print reservation 4001
includes the information indicating a shift position. Furthermore,
if a staple sort mode is designated, the print reservation 4001
includes a notification of performing stapling and information
indicating a stapling position (i.e., upper left, lower left, upper
right, or lower right). Moreover, if the sheet to be fed is the
last sheet of the copy or the job, the print reservation 4001
includes information indicating thereof.
[0061] The control apparatus 110 repeats issuing such print
reservations until the control apparatus 110 completes analysis of
all pages in the received job.
[0062] Upon receiving the print reservation 4001, the CPU 301 in
the printer apparatus 300 stores the received print reservation
4001 in a reservation cue included in the memory 302. If there is
another print reservation previously stored in the reservation cue,
the control apparatus 110 stores the print reservation subsequent
to the stored print reservation. The print reservations thus stored
in the reservation cue are managed in a stored order. The printer
apparatus 300 sets a sheet feed schedule of the sheets according to
the print reservations stored in the reservation cue. However, the
actual order in which the sheets are fed is not necessary in the
order of storing the print reservations in the reservation cue. The
printer apparatus 300 determines the actual sheet feed timing
according to the distance from the sheet feed cassette that feeds
each sheet designated in the print reservation, to the transfer
unit 325.
[0063] The RAM 150 in the control apparatus 110 also manages the
reservation cue similar to the above-described reservation cue. The
control apparatus 110 uses the reservation cue to manage the order
of issuing the print reservations to the printer apparatus 300, and
the sheets that have been fed. The control apparatus 110 and the
printer apparatus 300 exchange the commands so that the reservation
cue managed in the control apparatus 110 and the reservation cue
managed in the printer apparatus 300 manage the same contents.
[0064] The printer apparatus 300 notifies the control apparatus 110
of a print reservation status 4002, when there is no error, such as
a jam in the sheet conveyance path or toner run-out, and the print
reservation of the next sheet can be received.
[0065] The printer apparatus 300 determines the sheet storing unit
from which the sheet corresponding to the print reservation 4001 is
to be fed, based on the information included in the print
reservation 4001 stored in the reservation cue. The printer
apparatus 300 then determines the sheet conveyance timing so that
the interval between the sheets to be conveyed becomes shortest,
and performs control to convey the sheets. For example, the printer
apparatus 300 is to feed the sheets from the sheet feed cassette
311 and the sheet feed cassette 423. In such a case, if the printer
apparatus 300 starts feeding the sheet from the sheet feed cassette
423 after actually feeding the sheet from the sheet feed cassette
311, the interval between the sheets becomes long. To solve such a
problem, the printer apparatus 300 performs control so that the
interval between the sheet that is fed from the sheet feed cassette
311 and conveyed to the sheet conveyance path 331, and the next
sheet fed from the sheet feed cassette 423, becomes a predetermined
interval. In other words, the printer apparatus 300 feeds the sheet
from the sheet feed cassette 423 earlier than actually feeding the
sheet from the sheet feed cassette 311. If the predetermined
interval is set to the minimum interval in which the transfer unit
325 can continuously transfer the images to the sheets, the print
speed can be improved.
[0066] Upon feeding the sheet designated by the print reservation
4001, the printer apparatus 300 notifies the control apparatus 110
of a sheet feed notification 4003 corresponding to the print
reservation 4001.
[0067] Upon receiving the sheet feed notification 4003, the control
apparatus 110 issues a print execution request 4004 to the printer
apparatus 300. The print execution request 4004 is issued at the
timing in which the developer (toner) is applied on the
photosensitive drum 323 to transfer the image to the conveyed sheet
corresponding to the print reservation 4001. The control apparatus
110 then transmits the generated image data to the printer
apparatus 300.
[0068] After receiving the print execution request 4004, the
printer apparatus 300 receives the image data and hard signal
synchronization 4005 from the control apparatus 110. The printer
apparatus 300 then applies the developer (toner) to the
photosensitive drum 323 according to the received image data. The
developer (toner) applied to the photosensitive drum 323 is
transferred to the conveyed sheet, and the fixing unit 327 fixes
the developer (toner) transferred to the sheet. The image is thus
formed on the sheet.
[0069] If one-sided printing is to be performed on the sheet on
which the image is formed, the printer apparatus 300 transmits to
the control apparatus 110 a print result status 4006 at the timing
of discharging the sheet to outside of the apparatus. Further, if
two-sided printing is to be performed on the sheet on which the
image is formed, the printer apparatus 300 transmits to the control
apparatus 110 the print result status 4006 at the timing of
conveying the sheet printed on one side to the conveyance path 333.
When the printer apparatus 300 transmits the print result status
4006 to the control apparatus 110, the printer apparatus 300
deletes the print reservation corresponding to the print result
status 4006 from the reservation cue in the memory 302.
[0070] The control apparatus 110 also deletes, when receiving the
print result status 4006, the print reservation 4001 corresponding
to the print result status 4006 from the reservation cue stored in
the RAM 150.
[0071] The sequence for printing the image on one sheet is as
described above.
[0072] The sequence for cancelling the print reservation for
printing on one sheet will be described below with reference to
FIG. 5. FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram illustrating a sequence
performed between the control apparatus 110 and the printer 300.
The process performed by the control apparatus 110 is realized by
the CPU 120 in the control apparatus 110 executing the program
stored in the ROM 160. Further, the process performed by the
printer apparatus 300 is realized by the CPU 301 in the printer
apparatus 300 executing the program stored in the memory 302.
[0073] Since the print reservation 4001 and the print reservation
status 4002 are processes that are similar to those described with
reference to FIG. 4, detailed description will be omitted.
[0074] If it then becomes necessary to cancel printing of the sheet
corresponding to the print reservation 4001, the control apparatus
110 issues a print cancellation 4011 to the printer apparatus
300.
[0075] Upon receiving the print cancellation 4011, the printer
apparatus 300 determines whether the sheet designated in the print
reservation 4001 indicated by the print cancellation 4011 has been
previously fed. If the sheet has been previously fed, the print
reservation 4001 which designates feeding the sheet cannot be
cancelled. The printer apparatus 300 thus notifies the control
apparatus 110 of a print cancellation status 4012 that print
cancellation has failed. Upon receiving the notification that print
cancellation has failed, the control apparatus 110 issues the print
execution request 4004 to the printer apparatus 300 as illustrated
in FIG. 4, and continues performing the print sequence of the
sheet.
[0076] On the other hand, if the sheet designated in the print
reservation has not been fed when the printer apparatus 300
receives the print cancellation 4011, the printer apparatus 300
cancels the print reservation 4001 stored in the memory 302. More
specifically, the printer apparatus 300 performs control so that
the sheet designated in the print reservation 4001 is not fed. The
printer apparatus 300 then notifies the control apparatus 110 of
the print cancellation status 4012 that print cancellation is
successful. Upon receiving the notification that print cancellation
is successful, the control apparatus 110 interrupts the print
sequence of the sheet. In such a case, the sheet designated in the
print reservation 4001 is not fed.
[0077] The sequence performed in a case where the images are to be
printed on seven sheets will be described below with reference to
FIG. 6. The process performed by the control apparatus 110
illustrated in FIG. 6 is realized by the CPU 120 in the control
apparatus 110 executing the program stored in the ROM 160,
similarly as in FIGS. 4 and 5. Further, the process performed by
the printer apparatus 300 is realized by the CPU 301 in the printer
apparatus 300 executing the program stored in the memory 302.
[0078] Sequences for feeding a first sheet 6100, a second sheet
6200, a third sheet 6300, a fourth sheet 6400, a fifth sheet 6500,
a sixth sheet, 6600, and a seventh sheet 6700 are illustrated in
order from the left side of the sequence diagram in FIG. 6. The
first sheet 6100 and a third sheet 6300 are fed from the sheet feed
cassette 311, and the other sheets are fed from the sheet feed
cassette 423.
[0079] The sheet conveyance path from the sheet feed cassette 311
to the transfer unit 325 is the shortest conveyance path among the
conveyance paths from the sheet feed cassettes included in the
image forming apparatus 100. On the other hand, the sheet
conveyance path from the sheet feed cassette 423 to the transfer
unit 325 is the longest conveyance path among the conveyance paths
from the sheet feed cassettes included in the image forming
apparatus 100.
[0080] If printing is to be executed using the sheet feed cassette
whose sheet conveyance path to the transfer unit 325 is short, and
the sheet feed cassette whose sheet conveyance path to the transfer
unit 325 is long as described above, the printer apparatus 300
feeds the sheets as illustrated in FIG. 6.
[0081] The control apparatus 110 and the printer apparatus 300
perform the sequence illustrated in FIG. 4 to feed the first sheet
6100. In other words, the control apparatus 110 and the printer
apparatus 300 exchange the commands for issuing a print reservation
6101, a print reservation status 6102, a sheet feed notification
6103, a print execution request 6104, image data transfer/hard
signal synchronization 6105, and a print result status 6106. Since
the sequences for feeding the second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth,
and seventh sheets are similar to the sequence for feeding the
first sheet, description will be omitted.
[0082] The printer apparatus 300 feeds the first sheet 6100.
[0083] Upon receiving from the printer apparatus 300 the print
reservation status 6102 with respect to the first sheet 6100, the
control apparatus 100 transmits to the printer apparatus 300 print
reservation 6201 of the next second sheet 6200.
[0084] The control apparatus 110 issues to the printer apparatus
300 the print reservation 6201 of the second sheet 6200 after
receiving the print reservation status 6102 of the first sheet
6100, as indicated by a broken line 6901. The control apparatus 110
similarly repeats transmission of the print reservation and
reception of the print reservation status for each of the second,
third, fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh sheets. Each of broken
lines 6902, 6903, 6904, 6905, and 6096 respectively indicates that
the print reservation of the next sheet is transmitted after
receiving the print reservation status of the previous sheet.
[0085] The second sheet 6200 is fed from the sheet feed cassette
423. There is no other sheet existing between the transfer unit 325
and the sheet feed cassette 423, and the sheet conveyance path
between the transfer unit 325 and the sheet feed cassette 423 is
long. The printer apparatus 300 thus immediately feeds the second
sheet 6200, and transmits a sheet feed notification 6203 to the
control apparatus 110.
[0086] The third sheet 6300 is fed from the sheet feed cassette
311. The third sheet 6300 is not immediately fed even when the
image data to be formed on the sheet has been prepared. If the
third sheet 6300 reaches the transfer unit 325 before the sheet fed
from the sheet feed cassette 423, the discharge order of the sheets
becomes the one that is not intended by the user. The third sheet
6300 thus cannot overtake the second sheet 6200. As a result, the
printer apparatus 300 feeds the third sheet 6300 so that the third
sheet 6300 is guided to the transfer unit 325 after a predetermined
interval from when the second sheet 6200 fed from the sheet feed
cassette 423 is guided to the transfer unit 325.
[0087] A fourth sheet 6400 is fed in advance before the third sheet
6300 is fed, instead of being fed after the third sheet 6300 is
actually fed. The interval between the fourth sheet 6400 and the
third sheet 6300 is thus prevented from becoming excessively long.
If the third sheet has passed through a sheet merging portion 355
illustrated in FIG. 2, the fourth sheet 6400 can be guided to the
sheet merging portion 355 after a predetermined interval from the
third sheet 6300. Further, since the conveyance path from the sheet
feed cassette 423 to the transfer unit 325 is long, the printer
apparatus 300 may retain the fourth sheet 6400 between the sheet
feed cassette 423 and the sheet merging portion 355 until the third
sheet 6300 passes through the sheet merging portion 355.
[0088] The fifth sheet and the sixth sheet are fed from the sheet
feed cassette 423 after a predetermined interval from the fourth
sheet 6400. Since the conveyance path from the sheet feed cassette
423 to the transfer unit 325 is long, the printer apparatus 300 can
retain the fifth sheet and the sixth sheet upstream from the fourth
sheet 6400 while retaining the fourth sheet 6400.
[0089] Upon receiving a print reservation 6701 of the seventh sheet
6700, the printer apparatus 300 does not immediately notify the
control apparatus 110 of a print reservation status 6702 as
indicated by the broken line 6908. The printer apparatus 300
notifies the control apparatus 110 of the print reservation status
6702 after notifying the control apparatus 110 of a print result
status 6106 of the first sheet 6100. The printer apparatus 300 is
thus prevented from receiving the print reservations excessively.
In other words, FIG. 6 illustrates an example in which the printer
apparatus 300 can receive the print reservation for six sheets.
[0090] FIG. 7 illustrates a conveyance state of the sheet
corresponding to a broken line 6907 in the sequence diagram
illustrated in FIG. 6. The broken line 6907 indicates the control
apparatus 110 receiving a sheet feed notification 6603 from the
printer apparatus 300 that has fed the sixth sheet 6600. Further,
the sheets 6100, 6200, 6300, 6400, 6500, 6600, and 6700 are
illustrated by thick lines.
[0091] The first sheet 6100 is retained in the conveyance path from
the transfer unit 325 to the sheet feed cassette 311. The second
sheet 6200 is retained in the conveyance path of the sheet feed
deck 400 among the conveyance path from the transfer unit 325 to
the sheet feed cassette 423. The third sheet 6300 is not yet fed
from the sheet feed cassette 311. The fourth sheet 6400 is fed
earlier than the third sheet and is retained in the conveyance path
of the sheet feed deck 410 disposed upstream from the retaining
position of the second sheet, among the conveyance path from the
transfer unit 325 to the cassette 423. The fifth sheet 6500 is
retained in the conveyance path of the sheet feed deck 420 disposed
upstream from the retaining position of the fourth sheet 6400,
among the conveyance path from the transfer unit 325 to the
cassette 423. The sixth sheet 6600 is retained in the conveyance
path of the sheet feed deck 420 disposed upstream from the
retaining position of the fifth sheet 6500, among the conveyance
path from the transfer unit 325 to the cassette 423. The seventh
sheet 6700 is not yet fed from the sheet feed cassette 423 to the
printer apparatus 300.
[0092] If the configuration in which the sheet conveyance path is
short, such as from the transfer unit 325 to the sheet feed
cassette 311, is combined with the configuration in which the sheet
conveyance path is long, such as from the transfer unit 325 to the
sheet feed cassette 423, the above-described control is performed.
The intervals between the conveyed sheets can thus become short.
For example, a sheet (i.e., the third sheet) is fed from the sheet
feed cassette 311, and the next sheet (i.e., the fourth sheet) is
fed from the sheet feed cassette 423. In such a case, if the next
sheet (i.e., the fourth sheet) is fed after the sheet (i.e., the
third sheet) is fed from the sheet feed cassette 311, there is a
long interval between the sheet (i.e., the third sheet) and the
next sheet (i.e., the fourth sheet). However, if the printer
apparatus 300 previously receives a plurality of print reservations
and schedules the sheets to be fed as described above, printing can
be performed by shortening the interval between the sheets. The
printing performance can thus be improved.
[0093] An example of feeding all seven sheets from the sheet feed
cassette 311 in the image forming apparatus 100 will be described
below with reference to FIG. 8. The process performed by the
control apparatus 110 illustrated in FIG. 8 is realized by the CPU
120 in the control apparatus 110 executing the program stored in
the ROM 160, similarly as in FIGS. 4 and 5. Further, the process
performed by the printer apparatus 300 is realized by the CPU 301
in the printer apparatus 300 executing the program stored in the
memory 302.
[0094] Referring to FIG. 8, when a first sheet 8100 is fed, the
first sheet 8100 is retained in the conveyance path from the
transfer unit 325 to the sheet feed cassette 311. Subsequent sheets
8200, 8300, 8400, 8500, 8600, and 8700 thus cannot be immediately
fed.
[0095] In such a case, the printer apparatus 300 notifies the
control apparatus 110 of the print reservation status each time the
printer apparatus 300 receives the print reservation, so that the
printer apparatus 300 can receive the print reservations of the
subsequent sheets. Since the subsequent sheets may be fed from the
sheet feed cassette 423 whose sheet conveyance path from the
transfer unit 325 is long, it is necessary for the printer
apparatus 300 to immediately receive the print reservations of the
subsequent sheets to promptly feed such sheets.
[0096] The printer apparatus 300 thus receives from the control
apparatus 110 the print reservations of the first, second, third,
fourth, fifth, and sixth sheets. As illustrated in FIG. 8, when the
printer apparatus 300 has notified the control apparatus 110 of a
print reservation status 8602 of the sixth sheet 8600, the printer
apparatus 300 has not yet actually fed the second sheet 8200, the
third sheet 8300, the fourth sheet 8400, the fifth sheet 8500, and
the sixth sheet 8600.
[0097] FIG. 9 illustrates the conveyance state of the sheet
corresponding to the timing indicated by a broken line 8905 in the
sequence illustrated in FIG. 8.
[0098] Referring to FIG. 9, the first sheet 8100 is retained in the
conveyance path from the transfer unit 325 to the cassette 311. The
second sheet 8200, the third sheet 8300, the fourth sheet 8400, the
fifth sheet 8500, and the sixth sheet 8600 are sheets to be fed
from the sheet feed cassette 311. However, since the first sheet
8100 exists in the sheet conveyance path from the transfer unit 325
to the sheet feed cassette 311 even when the sheets are to be fed
from the sheet feed cassette 311, the sheets cannot be immediately
fed.
[0099] Further, a print reservation 8701 with respect to the
seventh sheet 8700 is not yet issued from the control apparatus
110, so that the seventh sheet 8700 is not fed from the sheet feed
cassette 311.
[0100] As described above with reference to FIGS. 6, 7, and 8, the
interval between the sheets can be shortened in the image forming
apparatus 100 including the sheet feed cassette 423 whose distance
to the transfer unit 325 is long, and the sheet feed cassette 311
whose distance to the transfer unit 325 is short, by managing the
print reservations.
[0101] More specifically, upon receiving the print reservation
corresponding to the sheet to be fed, the printer apparatus 300
inputs the print reservation to the reservation cue and manages the
print reservation until actually feeding the sheet. The printer
apparatus 300 then sets the schedule for feeding the sheets
according to the information included in the print reservations
input to the reservation cue.
[0102] However, if the image forming apparatus 100 receives a job
in which interrupt is designated (i.e., the interrupt job), the
output of the sheets to be printed may be delayed by execution of
the interrupt job.
[0103] The interrupt designation can be made by the user pressing
the interrupt key 606 illustrated in FIG. 3. If the user presses
the start key 607 to instruct execution of the job while pressing
the interrupt key 606, the control apparatus 110 interrupts
analysis of the job being executed and generation of the image
data. The control apparatus 110 then performs control so that the
job which is interrupt-designated is executed in preference to the
interrupted job. If the interrupt job is input, the control
apparatus 110 stops analysis of the job that has been interrupted
(i.e., interrupted job), so that the print reservation of the
interrupted job is not input to the reservation cue. The
interrupted job may be a print job input from the external PC, or a
copy job in which the reader apparatus 200 has completed reading.
Upon interrupting the job being executed, the control apparatus 110
reads the image of the document of the interrupt job using the
reader apparatus 200, and stores the image data in the HDD 130. The
control apparatus 110 then prints the image using the printer
apparatus 300 according to the image data stored in the HDD 130.
The user can receive the printed product corresponding to the
interrupt-designated job without waiting for completion of the job
being executed, or printing the images of all pages of the
preceding job which is standing by to be executed, by executing the
interrupt job. According to the above-described example, the user
presses the interrupt key 606 disposed in the operation unit 170 in
the image forming apparatus 100. However, a key similar to the
interrupt key 606 may be disposed in a display unit of the external
PC, and the print data transmitted from the external device may be
interrupt-designated and printed.
[0104] Conventionally, when the user instructs executing the
interrupt job, the sheets which have been previously print-reserved
are printed as it is, so that the user cannot receive the printed
product corresponding to the interrupt job until all print-reserved
sheets are printed. In such a case, the time between instructing
the interrupt job and printing the product corresponding to the
interrupt job, becomes longer as the number of print reservations
stored in the reservation cue increases. As a result, even if the
user desires to urgently receive the printed product and thus
designates interruption, a long time becomes necessary to receive
the printed product by executing the interrupt job.
[0105] If the print reservations are stored in the reservation cue
and a large number of sheets have not been actually fed, a long
time becomes necessary for the printer apparatus 300 to print the
product corresponding to the interrupt job after the user instructs
execution of the interrupt job. This is as illustrated in the
examples of FIGS. 8 and 9.
[0106] Such a state will be described below with reference to FIG.
10. FIG. 10 illustrates the state of the reservation cue stored in
the memory 302 in the printer apparatus 300.
[0107] Referring to FIG. 10, the print reservations 8100, 8200,
8300, 8400, 8500, and 8600 respectively of the first, second,
third, fourth, fifth, and sixth sheets are stored in the
reservation cue as the jobs to be interrupted. Further, the first,
second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth sheets have not been
actually fed.
[0108] If the user then instructs execution of the interrupt job in
such a state, the control apparatus 110 recognizes that the
execution of the interrupt job has been instructed. The control
apparatus 110 then issues to the printer apparatus 300 the print
reservation 8700 for executing the interrupt job.
[0109] However, the print reservations 8100, 8200, 8300, 8400,
8500, and 8600 of the interrupted jobs are previously stored in the
reservation cue when the control apparatus 110 issues the print
reservation 8700. The sheet designated in the print reservation
8700 thus cannot be fed until the sheets designated by the
previously stored print reservations have been fed.
[0110] To solve such a problem, according to the present exemplary
embodiment, the method illustrated in FIG. 5 is employed. In other
words, if the control apparatus 110 receives the interrupt job, the
control apparatus 110 cancels the print reservations stored in the
reservation cue in the printer apparatus 300 and performs the print
reservation of the interrupt job.
[0111] An example of such a process will be described below with
reference to FIGS. 11A, 11B, 11C, 11D, and 11E. FIGS. 11A, 11B,
11C, 11D, and 11E illustrate the states of the reservation cue
stored in the memory 302 in the printer apparatus 300 and the print
reservation for printing the sheet of a new interrupt job.
[0112] Referring to FIG. 11A, print reservations 1200, 12200,
12300, 12400, 12500, and 12600 respectively of the first, second,
third, fourth, fifth, and sixth sheets, i.e., the job to be
interrupted, are issued and stored in the reservation cue. In such
a state, the control apparatus 110 receives the instruction to
execute the interrupt job. The control apparatus 110 thus generates
in the RAM 150, print reservation 12700 of a sheet as the new
interrupt job, to be issued to the printer apparatus 300.
[0113] The control apparatus 110 then instructs the printer
apparatus 300 to cancel the print reservation from the last sheet
in the job to be interrupted.
[0114] FIG. 11B illustrates a state in which the print reservation
12600 of the sixth sheet, i.e., the last sheet in the job to be
interrupted, has been cancelled. The print reservation of the last
sheet in the job to be interrupted is cancelled to prevent lacking
of the sheet in the printed product of the interrupted job. If the
sheets are to be fed from both the sheet feed cassette whose
conveyance path from the transfer unit 325 is short and from the
cassette whose conveyance path from the transfer unit 325 is long,
the order of the print reservations and the order of actual feeding
of the sheets become different. The print reservation of the last
sheet in the job to be interrupted is thus cancelled. Referring to
FIG. 6, if the first sheet 6100 and the third sheet 6300 are fed
from the sheet feed cassette 311, and the remaining second,
fourths, fifth, sixth, and seventh sheets are fed from the sheet
feed cassette 423, the third sheet 6300 is not fed at the timing
indicated by the broken line 6907.
[0115] If the print reservations are cancelled from the top of the
reservation cue in such a state, only the print reservation of the
third sheet may be successfully cancelled, and the print
reservations of the fourth, fifth, and sixth sheets may not be
cancelled. As a result, the fourth, fifth, and sixth sheets become
printed after the first and second sheets, and since the sheets are
sequentially discharged, there is a lack in the sheet in the
printed product. To prevent such lacking of the sheet in the
printed product, the print reservations are cancelled from the
print reservation of the trailing sheet.
[0116] When cancelling the print reservations, the printer
apparatus 300 saves the information about the cancelled print
reservations in a region in the memory 302 separately set from the
reservation cue. The saved print reservation information is used
for generating the print reservations of the sheets in the
interrupted job after generating the print reservation of the
interrupt job.
[0117] The printer apparatus 300 cancels the print reservation of
the last sheet in the job to be interrupted. If cancellation is
successful, the printer apparatus 300 cancels the print reservation
of the newly set last sheet after cancelling the previous print
reservation. If the printer apparatus 300 receives the instruction
to cancel the print reservation, the printer apparatus 300 can
cancel the print reservation of the sheet that has not been
actually fed. However, if the sheet has been already fed, the print
reservation of such a sheet cannot be cancelled.
[0118] If the printer apparatus 300 receives from the control
apparatus 110 an instruction to cancel printing after the third
sheet of the job to be interrupted has been actually fed, the
printer apparatus 300 notifies the control apparatus 110 as a print
cancellation status that cancelling is unsuccessful.
[0119] FIG. 11C illustrates a state in which the print reservations
of the sheets in the interrupted job have been cancelled in order
from the rear sheet. Further, FIG. 11C illustrates the state in
which cancelling of the print reservation 12300 of the third sheet
in the job to be interrupted has failed.
[0120] FIG. 11D illustrates a state in which the control apparatus
110 has issued to the printer apparatus 300, the print reservation
12700 of the sheet in the interrupt job when the print reservations
of the sheets in the interrupted job have been cancelled. As a
result, the sheet in the interrupt job is output after the third
sheet in the interrupted job.
[0121] FIG. 11E illustrates a state of the reservation cue in which
print reservations 12400, 12500, and 12600 of the interrupted job
that have been saved are re-input. The print reservations are
re-input to restart printing of the sheets in the interrupted job
after completing execution of the interrupt job. The printer
apparatus 300 inputs the print reservations 12400, 12500, and 12600
of the sheets in the interrupted job that have been previously
cancelled, after issuing the print reservation 12700 of the sheet
in the interrupt job. Further, if there are six or more sheets in
the interrupted job, the control apparatus 110 issues to the
printer apparatus 300 the print reservations of the sheets
subsequent to the above-described sheets.
[0122] A control performed between the control apparatus 110 and
the printer apparatus 300 to cancel the print reservation stored in
the reservation cue will be described below with referent to FIG.
12 when the control apparatus 110 receives an instruction to
execute the interrupt job. The process performed by the control
apparatus 110 is realized by the CPU 120 in the control apparatus
110 executing the program stored in the ROM 160. Further, the
process performed by the printer apparatus 300 is realized by the
CPU 301 in the printer apparatus 300 executing the program stored
in the memory 302.
[0123] Referring to FIG. 12, a broken line 12910 indicates the
timing corresponding to FIG. 11A. In other words, the control
apparatus 110 receives at such timing, the instruction to execute
the interrupt job after receiving from the printer apparatus 300 a
print reservation status 12602 of the sixth sheet 12600.
[0124] Upon receiving the instruction to execute the interrupt job,
the control apparatus 110 issues to the printer apparatus 300,
print cancellation 12611 with respect to the print reservation
12600 of the last sheet in the interrupted job. Since the printer
apparatus 300 has not yet fed the sheet corresponding to the print
reservation 12600, the printer apparatus 300 can cancel the print
reservation. The printer apparatus 300 thus notifies the control
apparatus 110 of successful cancelling of the print reservation by
transmitting "print cancellation status OK" 12612.
[0125] Upon receiving the "print cancellation status OK" 12612 with
respect to the print reservation 12600, the control apparatus 110
issues print cancellation 12511 with respect to the print
reservation 12500 of the next last sheet in the interrupted
job.
[0126] Since the printer apparatus 300 has not yet fed the sheet
corresponding to the print reservation 12500, the printer apparatus
300 notifies the control apparatus 110 of successful cancelling of
the print reservation by transmitting "print cancellation status
OK" 12512.
[0127] The printer apparatus 300 also receives from the control
apparatus 110 print cancellation 12411 with respect to the sheet
designated in the print reservation 12400. The printer apparatus
300 thus notifies the control apparatus 110 by transmitting "print
cancellation status OK" 12412, similarly to the sheet designated by
the print reservation 12500.
[0128] Upon receiving the "print cancellation status OK" 12412, the
control apparatus 110 issues print cancellation 12311 with respect
to the print reservation 12300 of the next last sheet in the
interrupted job. Since the printer apparatus 300 has previously fed
the sheet corresponding to the print reservation 12300, the printer
apparatus 300 cannot cancel the print reservation. The printer
apparatus 300 thus notifies the control apparatus 110 by
transmitting "print cancellation status NG" 12312, indicating that
the print cancellation has failed.
[0129] Upon receiving the "print cancellation status NG" 12312, the
control apparatus 110 determines that the print reservation
cancellation has failed, and thus continues to print the third
sheet. More specifically, the control apparatus 110 issues a print
execution request 12304 with respect to the sheet corresponding to
the print reservation 12300, and continues the normal print
sequence for the third sheet and preceding ones.
[0130] The control apparatus 110 determines at the same time that
the print reservation of the interrupted jobs cannot be further
cancelled. As a result, the control apparatus 110 issues to the
printer apparatus 300, print reservation 12701 of the sheet 12700
in the interrupt job and executes the interrupt job.
[0131] A process procedure performed by the control apparatus 110
according to the present exemplary embodiment will be described
below with reference to FIG. 13. Each of the steps illustrated in
FIG. 13 is realized by the CPU 120 in the control apparatus 110
reading and executing the programs stored in the ROM 160.
[0132] In step S13001, the control apparatus 110 receives a job.
The received job may be a copy job employing the copy function, or
a print job employing the print function.
[0133] In step S13002, the control apparatus 110 determines whether
there is an interrupt designation in the received job. For example,
if the job employs the copy function, the control apparatus 110
determines that the received job includes the interrupt designation
in the case where the user presses the start key 607 while pressing
the interrupt key 606. If the control apparatus 110 determines that
there is the interrupt designation (YES in step S13002), the
process proceeds to step S13003. On the other hand, the control
apparatus 110 determines that the received job includes no
interrupt designation in the case where the user presses the start
key 607 while the interrupt key 606 is not pressed. If there is no
interrupt designation (NO in step S13002), the process proceeds to
step S13010.
[0134] On the other hand, if the job employs the print function,
the control apparatus determines whether there is the interrupt
designation in the print setting of the received print data. In
such a case, if the control apparatus 110 determines that the
received print data includes the interrupt designation setting (YES
in step S13002), the process proceeds to step S13003. If there is
no interrupt designation setting (NO in step S13002), the process
proceeds to step S13010.
[0135] In step S13010, the control apparatus 110 determines whether
there is a preceding job that has been input to the image forming
apparatus 110 previous to the job to be input. More specifically,
the control apparatus 110 determines whether the print reservation
for performing the preceding job is stored in the reservation cue.
If the control apparatus 110 determines that the print reservation
is stored in the reservation cue (YES in step S13010), it is
determined that there is a preceding job, and the process proceeds
to step S13011. In step S13011, the control apparatus 110 instructs
generation of the print reservation at the bottom of the
reservation cue storing the print reservations. On the other hand,
if there is no preceding job (NO in step S13010), the process
proceeds to step S13012. In step S13012, the control apparatus 110
performs control to issue the print reservation. In such a case,
since there is no interrupt designation, the printer apparatus 300
inputs the received print reservation to the reservation cue, feeds
the sheet according to the print reservation input to the
reservation cue, and prints the image.
[0136] In step S13003, the control apparatus 110 determines whether
there is a job to be interrupted that has been input to the image
forming apparatus 100 previous to the interrupt job. If there is
the job to be interrupted (YES in step S13003), the process
proceeds to step S13004. If there is no job to be interrupted (NO
in step S13003), the process proceeds to step S13009.
[0137] In step S13009, the control apparatus 110 issues the print
reservation to the printer apparatus 300. Since there is no print
reservation in the reservation cue, the control apparatus 110
issues to the printer apparatus 300 the print reservation of the
job in which there is interrupt designation. The printer apparatus
300 then inputs the received print reservation to the reservation
cue. The printer apparatus 300 then feeds the sheet according to
the print reservation input to the reservation cue, and prints the
image.
[0138] In step S13004, the control apparatus 110 issues to the
printer apparatus 300, a print cancellation instruction with
respect to the last sheet among the sheets that have been
print-reserved in the job to be interrupted.
[0139] In step S13005, the control apparatus 110 stands by to
receive from the printer apparatus 300 the print cancellation
status with respect to the print cancellation instruction issued in
step S13004. The process then proceeds to step S13006.
[0140] In step S13006, the control apparatus 110 determines the
result of the print cancellation status received from the printer
apparatus 300 in step S13005. If the control apparatus 110
determines that the print cancellation is successful (YES in step
S13006), the process returns to step S13004. If the control
apparatus 110 determines that the print cancellation is
unsuccessful (NO in step S13006), the process proceeds to step
S13007.
[0141] In step S13007, the control apparatus 110 issues to the
printer apparatus 300 the print reservation of the sheet
corresponding to the interrupt job.
[0142] In step 13008, the control apparatus 110 instructs
generation of the print reservation for the interrupted job
following the print reservation for the interrupt-designated job.
The process then ends.
[0143] According to the above-described control method, if the
image forming apparatus which performs print reservation of the
sheets receives from the user the instruction to execute the
interrupt job, the image forming apparatus can promptly execute the
interrupt job. More specifically, if the control apparatus 110
receives the interrupt-designated job, the execution of the
interrupt job can be accelerated by the printer apparatus 300
cancelling the print reservation of the sheets that have not been
actually fed. As a result, the user can quickly receive the printed
product of the interrupt job.
[0144] A second exemplary embodiment will be described below.
According to the first exemplary embodiment, if the image forming
apparatus receives the interrupt-designated job, the image forming
apparatus cancels the print reservation of the job to be
interrupted, and generates the print reservation of the
interrupt-designated job.
[0145] According to the second exemplary embodiment, control
performed when the above-described interrupted job is designated to
perform stapling will be described below.
[0146] If the interrupt job is executed with respect to the staple
job being executed, it is necessary to execute the interrupt job at
appropriate timing. In other words, if the interrupt job is
executed in the middle of a staple bundling, the printed product of
the interrupt job becomes mixed in the printed product of the
interrupted job, so that correct stapling cannot be performed.
[0147] Such a state will be described below with reference to FIGS.
14A and 14B.
[0148] Referring to FIG. 14A, the print instruction of the first
sheet 12100, the second sheet 12200, the third sheet 12300, the
fourth sheet 12400, the fifth sheet 12500, and the sixth sheet
12600 are issued as the job to be interrupted, and are stored in
the reservation cue. The job to be interrupted is a staple job, and
the first sheet 12100, the second sheet 12200, the third sheet
12300, the fourth sheet 12400, the fifth sheet 12500, and the sixth
sheet 12600 are designated to be stapled as one bundle in the
printed product. In such a case, the print reservation of the sixth
sheet 12600 includes the information indicating that the sheet
bundle discharged to the stack tray 505 is to be stapled. The print
reservation of the sixth sheet 12600 also includes a sheet
discharge request for discharging the sheet bundle to the sheet
discharge tray 507 after being stapled.
[0149] The printed product corresponding to the interrupt job
becomes mixed in the printed product corresponding to the
interrupted job by issuing the print reservation of the sheet in
the interrupt job. The print reservation of the sheet in the
interrupt job thus cannot be issued between the first sheet 12100,
the second sheet 12200, the third sheet 12300, the fourth sheet
12400, the fifth sheet 12500, and the sixth sheet 12600.
[0150] FIG. 14B illustrates a case where the print reservation of
the sheet in the interrupt job is issued between the first sheet
12100, the second sheet 12200, the third sheet 12300, the fourth
sheet 12400, the fifth sheet 12500, and the sixth sheet 12600. More
specifically, FIG. 14B illustrates the reservation cue in the case
where the print reservation of the interrupted job is cancelled
when the interrupt job is input, similarly to the first exemplary
embodiment. If the print reservation which is issued with respect
to the interrupted job is cancelled, the print reservation of the
sheet in the interrupt job is issued at an interrupt position that
is not originally intended by the user. The sheets corresponding to
the interrupt job are thus output mixing with the sheets
corresponding to the interrupted job.
[0151] According to the second exemplary embodiment, the time
necessary for outputting the printed product corresponding to the
interrupt job is reduced. Further, the second exemplary embodiment
describes a method for preventing the printed product corresponding
to the interrupt job from being output mixing with the printed
product of the interrupted job.
[0152] The process procedure performed by the control apparatus 110
according to the second exemplary embodiment will be described
below with reference to FIG. 15. Each of the steps illustrated in
FIG. 13 is realized by the CPU 120 in the control apparatus 110
reading and executing the programs stored in the ROM 160.
[0153] Since the processes from step S13003 and thereafter are
different from the process according to the first exemplary
embodiment, the processes from step S13003 will be described
below.
[0154] According to the second exemplary embodiment, the process
starts from the control apparatus 110 determining in step S13003
illustrated in FIG. 13, that the job to be interrupted is input in
the image forming apparatus 100 previous to the interrupt job. The
process then proceeds to step S14001.
[0155] In step S14001, the control apparatus 110 determines whether
the job to be interrupted is designated to perform stapling. If the
interrupted job is not designated to perform stapling (NO in step
S14001), the process proceeds to step S13004. Since the processes
of step S13004 to step S13006 are similar to those described in the
first exemplary embodiment, detailed description will be
omitted.
[0156] On the other hand, if the job to be interrupted is
designated to perform stapling (YES in step S14001), the process
proceeds to step 14002. In step S14002, the control apparatus 110
determines whether the job to be interrupted is being input. If the
job to be interrupted is being input (YES in step S14002), the
process proceeds to step S14003. On the other hand, if the job to
be interrupted is not being input (i.e., has been already input)
(NO in step S14002), the process proceeds to step S14007.
[0157] In step S14007, the control apparatus instructs generation
of the print reservation for the job that has been
interrupt-designated, subsequent to the print reservation of the
job to be interrupted. The process then proceeds to step S13007
illustrated in FIG. 13.
[0158] In step S14003, the control apparatus 110 determines whether
the sheet corresponding to the last print reservation for the
interrupted job is the last sheet in the sheet bundle to be
stapled. If the sheet is not the last sheet in the sheet bundle to
be stapled (NO in step S14003), the process proceeds to step
S14006. In step S14006, the control apparatus 110 continues to
generate the print reservation of the job to be interrupted that is
being input. If the sheet is the last sheet in the sheet bundle to
be stapled (YES in step S14003), the process proceeds to step
S14004.
[0159] In step S14004, the control apparatus 110 issues the print
reservation of the interrupted job to the printer apparatus 300. In
step S14005, the control apparatus 110 stands by for receiving of
the print reservation status from the printer apparatus 300. If the
control apparatus 110 receives the print reservation status, the
process proceeds to step S13007 illustrated in FIG. 13.
[0160] By performing the above-described control, the print
reservation of the sheet that has not been actually fed is
cancelled, and the execution of the interrupt job can be
accelerated. As a result, the user can quickly receive the printed
product of the interrupt job. Further, if the job to be interrupted
is the staple job, the printed product corresponding to the
interrupt job is prevented from mixing with the printed product
corresponding to the interrupted job. An appropriate printed
product can thus be provided to the user.
[0161] According to the above-described exemplary embodiments, the
image forming apparatus separately includes the control apparatus
110 and the printer apparatus 300. However, one controller may
include each of the configurations, and the controller may set the
sheet feed schedule.
Other Embodiments
[0162] Aspects can also be realized by a computer of a system or
apparatus (or devices such as a CPU or MPU) that reads out and
executes a program recorded on a memory device to perform the
functions of the above-described embodiment(s), and by a method,
the steps of which are performed by a computer of a system or
apparatus by, for example, reading out and executing a program
recorded on a memory device to perform the functions of the
above-described embodiment(s). For this purpose, the program is
provided to the computer for example via a network or from a
recording medium of various types serving as the memory device
(e.g., computer-readable medium). In an example, a
computer-readable medium may store a program that causes an image
forming apparatus to perform a method described herein. In another
example, a central processing unit (CPU) may be configured to
control at least one unit utilized in a method or apparatus
described herein.
[0163] While the present invention has been described with
reference to exemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that the
invention is not limited to the disclosed exemplary embodiments.
The scope of the following claims is to be accorded the broadest
interpretation so as to encompass all modifications, equivalent
structures, and functions.
[0164] This application claims priority from Japanese Patent
Application No. 2010-165788 filed Jul. 23, 2010, which is hereby
incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
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