JP4265801B2 - Image forming apparatus and image forming system - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus that gives an error notification when processing of image data of a read document is not normally performed, and an image forming system including the image forming apparatus.

  Conventionally, image forming apparatuses such as printers and copiers are known. In this image forming apparatus, when the system is reset due to a malfunction of the system at the time of print output, the data currently being processed is discarded. At this time, if the image forming apparatus is receiving data from the terminal device, reception of data is temporarily stopped. Then, after the system is restored, data is received from the middle of the job in the image forming apparatus, so that the print data of the image forming apparatus is garbled.

  On the other hand, there has been proposed an image forming system capable of avoiding garbled print data generated when the image forming apparatus is reset (see Patent Document 1). In this image forming system, when the printing apparatus receives data sent from the host computer, the job flag in the temporary storage memory is set to 1. When the printing process of the received data is completed in the printing apparatus, the job flag in the temporary storage memory is set to 0.

On the other hand, if the system is reset while the received data is being printed in the printing apparatus, the job flag in the temporary storage memory remains set to 1 because the printing process has not ended. . For this reason, after the system reset of the printing apparatus, if the job flag in the temporary storage memory is 1 by looking at the status of the job flag in the temporary storage memory, the remaining data in the printing apparatus and the host computer The remaining data sent to the printing apparatus is discarded. Then, when the printing apparatus requests the host computer to retransmit the data, the printing apparatus performs printing processing of data that could not be printed due to the system reset. Thereby, it is possible to avoid garbled print data after the system reset of the printing apparatus.
JP 2001-175436 A

  As described above, in the image forming system, when the printing apparatus is reset, the printing apparatus requests the host computer to resend data. Therefore, it is possible to send an error notification from the printing apparatus to the host computer. Here, when the image forming apparatus is equipped with a copy function or a scanner function, when the copy function or the scanner function is used, the image data of the document is read.

  When the copy function or the scanner function is used and the number of documents to be processed is large, the user sets the document on the automatic document feeder and presses the start button. It takes time to read the image data and complete the processing of the read image data. For this reason, while the image forming apparatus reads the image data of the original and processes the read image data, the user may leave the place where the image forming apparatus is installed to perform other work. Many.

  In this way, when the image forming apparatus reads the image data of the document and the processing of the read image data is performed, if the control unit of the image forming apparatus is reset, the display screen of the image forming apparatus is displayed. Processing error is displayed. However, if a plurality of people continue to use the copy function or the scanner function while the user is away from the place where the image forming apparatus is installed, the control unit of the image forming apparatus is reset and the display of the image forming apparatus is displayed. Even if a processing error is displayed on the screen, it is difficult to determine who has a processing error when using the image forming apparatus.

  The present invention has been made in view of such points, and the object of the present invention is to reset the control unit during processing of any data even if the control unit is reset when processing of a plurality of data is performed. It is an object of the present invention to provide an image forming apparatus that can easily determine whether or not it has been performed and an image forming system including the image forming apparatus.

In order to achieve the above object, an image forming apparatus according to the present invention includes a scanner unit that reads image data of a document, a display unit that displays an operation state of the apparatus, a control unit that controls the operation of the entire apparatus, and various data. An image forming apparatus comprising: a memory for storing the memory until the control unit finishes processing the image data read by the scanner unit after the scanner unit starts reading the image data of the document. with a flag within, when the read image data of the document is performed by the scanner unit, an image data read by the scanner unit by storing in the memory, the controller is reset The flag is set in the memory by referring to the memory after resetting the control unit. When the control unit confirms, the image data is taken out from the memory and displayed on the display unit.

In such an image forming apparatus thus configured, when the control unit is reset, that flag is set in the memory by referring to the memory after resetting of the control unit the control unit check result If no image data is stored in the memory, an error is displayed on the display unit. Examples of the error display include a display indicating that the image data of the read original cannot be processed normally, and a display indicating the time when an error occurs based on the time of a clock built in the image forming apparatus. It is done.

An image forming apparatus comprising: a scanner unit that reads image data of a document; a display unit that displays an operation state of the apparatus; a control unit that controls operation of the entire apparatus; and a memory that stores various data. The control unit sets a flag in the memory from the start of reading of the image data of the document by the scanner unit to the end of the processing of the image data read by the scanner unit, and the image of the document by the scanner unit. when reading of data is performed, and stores the image data of the first page of a document read by the scanner unit in the memory, when the control unit is reset, see the memory after resetting of the control unit When the control unit confirms that a flag is set in the memory, the original is stored in the memory. If the first page image data is stored, the image data is taken out from the memory and displayed on the display unit. If the first page image data of the document is not stored in the memory, the display Error display.

In order to achieve the above object, an image forming system according to the present invention includes any one of the image forming apparatuses described above and a terminal device connected to the image forming apparatus through a communication network. The image forming apparatus is equipped with a scanner function for transferring image data read by the scanner unit to the terminal device. When the scanner function is used, an image of a document read by the scanner unit is mounted. Data is transferred from the image forming apparatus to the terminal device through the communication network, and the processing of the image data ends when the transfer ends .

  According to the present invention, when the control unit is reset, when the control unit confirms that a flag is set in the memory by referring to the memory after the control unit is reset, the image data of the document is read from the memory. Since it is taken out and displayed on the display unit, when multiple people continue to use the image forming apparatus, a processing error occurs when anyone uses the image forming apparatus even if the control unit is reset It is possible to easily determine whether it has been done. Further, an image forming system including such an image forming apparatus and capable of transferring image data of a document read by the scanner unit when using the scanner function from the image forming apparatus to a terminal device through a communication network is provided. Can do.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the following embodiments, the image forming apparatus of the present invention is applied to the image forming system of the present invention.

<< Embodiment of the Invention >>
As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming system according to the present embodiment includes a plurality of terminal devices 10 such as a plurality of personal computers and one image forming device 20, and each of the plurality of terminal devices 10 forms an image. The device 20 is connected to a LAN 30 (Local Area Network).

  In this image forming system, as shown in FIG. 1, two terminal devices 10 are installed. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and one or three or more terminal devices 10 may be installed. In this image forming system, as shown in FIG. 1, one image forming apparatus 20 is installed. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a plurality of image forming apparatuses 20 may be installed.

  In the image forming system configured as described above, the image forming apparatus 20 includes a copy function for copying a document, a printer function for printing out data transferred from each terminal device 10 via the LAN 30, and an image of the document. A scanner function for reading the data and transferring the read image data to a folder of the terminal device 10 designated in advance via the LAN 30; and a facsimile machine of the other party via the telephone line (reading the image data of the original and reading the read image data) Facsimile function for transmitting to (not shown).

  As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus 20 includes a scanner unit 21 that reads image data of a document when a copy function, a scanner function, or a facsimile function is used, and image data read by the scanner unit 21. Is printed on recording paper and output, an engine control unit 23 that controls the operations of the scanner unit 21 and the engine unit 22, and a data processing unit 26 that is installed in the engine control unit 23 and resets the data processing unit 26. An ASIC 24 (Application Specific Integrated Circuit), a display unit 25 having a display screen (not shown) for setting image forming conditions according to each function and displaying an operation state of the image forming apparatus 20, and a scanner unit 21 A control unit that processes the read image data and controls the operations of the engine control unit 23 and the display unit 25. Data processing unit 26, a non-volatile first memory 27 for storing image data of a document read by the scanner unit 21, and a first image for storing reduced image data of the first page of the document read by the scanner unit 21. And a RAM 29 (Random Access Memory) that provides a work area required when the data processing unit 26 executes each process.

  The image forming apparatus 20 is provided with an automatic document feeder (not shown) that automatically conveys a document when a copy function, a scanner function, or a facsimile function is used. It is assumed that a feeding device is included in the scanner unit 21.

  In the image forming apparatus 20, when reading of the image data of the document by the scanner unit 21 is started when the copy function or the scanner function is used, the data processing unit 26 sets a flag in the register in the RAM 29. Can be stood. That is, the flag of the register in the RAM 29 is set to 1. In the image forming apparatus 20, when the copy function is used, the data processing unit 26 confirms that the printing of the image data of the document read by the scanner unit 21 is completed, or when the scanner function is used. When the data processing unit 26 confirms that the transfer of the image data of the document read by the scanner unit 21 to the terminal device 10 is completed, the flag of the register in the RAM 29 is set to 0 by the data processing unit 26. .

  As described above, when the flag of the register in the RAM 29 is set to 0 or 1, in the image forming apparatus 20, when the data processing unit 26 is reset due to malfunction of the data processing unit 26, the data By referring to the flag of the register in the RAM 29 after resetting the processing unit 26, whether or not the image data of the original read by the scanner unit 21 has been normally output when using the copy function, or the scanner function It is possible to confirm whether or not the image data of the document read by the scanner unit 21 has been normally transferred to the terminal device 10 via the LAN 30 during use.

  In the image forming system configured as described above, an operation of the data processing unit 26 when reading image data of a document using a copy function or a scanner function installed in the image forming apparatus 20 is a flowchart shown in FIG. Will be described with reference to FIG.

  First, the user sets a document on the automatic document feeder. Then, in order to transfer the image data of the document to the folder of the terminal device 10 using the scanner function, the user designates the folder of the terminal device 10 to which the image data is transferred through the display screen of the display unit 25 or copies In order to copy a document using the function, a start button (not shown) displayed on the display unit 25 is pressed.

  Subsequently, when the data processing unit 26 confirms that the start button has been pressed (Yes in step S11), the document image data scanning operation is started (step S12), and the flag of the register in the RAM 29 is set to 1. Set (step S13). Then, a control signal is transmitted from the data processing unit 26 to the scanner unit 21 via the engine control unit 23, whereby the scanner unit 21 reads the image data of the document conveyed from the automatic document feeder.

  Thereafter, in the data processing unit 26, it is determined whether or not the image data of the first page of the document has been normally read by the scanner unit 21 (step S14). At this time, when the data processing unit 26 confirms that the image data of the first page of the document is not normally read by the scanner unit 21 (No in step S14), that is, the data is read by the scanner unit 21. When it is confirmed that the image data of the first page of the document is not stored in the first memory 27, a control signal is transmitted from the data processing unit 26 to the display unit 25. Then, on the display screen of the display unit 25, an error display, that is, a display indicating that the image data of the document cannot be normally read is displayed (step S15).

  Here, it is expected that the user stands at least in front of the image forming apparatus 20 until reading of the image data of the first page of the document by the scanner unit 21 is completed. For this reason, when the image data of the first page of the document is not normally read by the scanner unit 21, the user can know that by the error display on the display screen of the display unit 25.

  The data processing unit 26 confirms that the image data of the first page of the document is not normally read by the scanner unit 21 because the data processing unit 26 has some sort of malfunction. This is when the processing unit 26 is reset. When the data processing unit 26 malfunctions, the engine control unit 23 confirms that there is no response from the data processing unit 26 even if a control signal is transmitted from the engine control unit 23 to the data processing unit 26. The data processing unit 26 is reset by the ASIC 24 of the engine control unit 23.

  When the data processing unit 26 is reset, the engine control unit 23 operates based on the control signal transmitted from the data processing unit 26 before the resetting. Therefore, the scanner unit 21 reads the image data of the document. Will continue. However, since the data processing unit 26 is reset, the image data of the document read by the scanner unit 21 is not recognized by the data processing unit 26.

  Further, when the copy function is used, the image data of the document stored in the first memory 27 is read by the data processing unit 26, and after predetermined processing is performed in the data processing unit 26, the engine unit 22. Forwarded to The image data transferred from the data processing unit 26 to the engine unit 22 is printed on recording paper and output by the engine unit 22. Alternatively, when the scanner function is used, the image data of the document stored in the first memory 27 is read by the data processing unit 26 and subjected to predetermined processing in the data processing unit 26, and then via the LAN 30. To the folder of the terminal device 10 designated in advance by the user. Therefore, when the data processing unit 26 is reset, the image data stored in the first memory 27 is not processed in the data processing unit 26, so that print output of the image data in the engine unit 22 and image data to the terminal device 10 are performed. Transfer is canceled.

  On the other hand, in step S14, when the data processing unit 26 confirms that the scanner unit 21 has read the image data of the first page of the document normally (Yes in step S14), that is, the scanner unit 21 reads the image data. When it is confirmed that the image data of the first page of the original document is stored in the first memory 27, the image data is taken out from the first memory 27. Then, the data processing unit 26 performs a process for reducing the size of the image for the image data of the first page of the document read by the scanner unit 21. Subsequently, the image data processed in the data processing unit 26 is stored in the second memory 28 in accordance with an instruction from the data processing unit 26 (step S16).

  The data processing unit 26 performs the process for reducing the image size on the image data of the first page of the document read by the scanner unit 21 after the second page of the document by the scanner unit 21. This is because when the image data is not read normally, the reduced image of the first page of the document is displayed on the display screen of the display unit 25.

  In step S16, whether the data processing unit 26 has finished processing the image data of the document read by the scanner unit 21 after the reduced image data of the first page of the document is stored in the second memory 28. A determination of whether or not is made (step S17). The processing of the image data of the document read by the scanner unit 21 means that the image data of the document read by the scanner unit 21 is printed out by the engine unit 22 when the copy function is used, or the function of the scanner function. In use, this means that image data of a document read by the scanner unit 21 is transferred to the terminal device 10 via the LAN 30.

  At this time, when the data processing unit 26 confirms that the processing of the document image data read by the scanner unit 21 has not been completed (No in step S17), the data processing unit 26 reads the image data by the scanner unit 21. Processing of the image data of the document is continued.

  On the other hand, when the data processing unit 26 confirms that the processing of the image data of the document read by the scanner unit 21 has ended (Yes in step S17), the data processing unit 26 stores the data in the second memory 28. The stored image data is erased (step S18). Thereafter, the data processing unit 26 sets the flag of the register in the RAM 29 to 0 (step S19), and the process ends.

  When the data processing unit 26 of the image forming apparatus 20 performs such an operation, the flowchart of FIG. 3 shows the operation of the data processing unit 26 after the data processing unit 26 is reset due to some malfunction. The description will be given with reference.

  First, when the data processing unit 26 is reset due to some malfunction or the like (step S21), after the data processing unit 26 returns from the reset, the data processing unit 26 refers to the RAM 29 and registers in the RAM 29. It is determined whether or not the flag is set to 1 (step S22). Here, as described above, when reading of the image data of the document by the scanner unit 21 is started, until the printout of the image data of the document read by the scanner unit 21 is completed when the copy function is used, or When the scanner function is used, the flag of the register in the RAM 29 is set to 1 by the data processing unit 26 until the transfer of the image data of the document read by the scanner unit 21 to the terminal device 10 is completed.

  In step S22, when the data processing unit 26 confirms that the flag of the register in the RAM 29 is set to 0, that is, when the data processing unit 26 is reset, the scanner unit 21 reads the image data of the document. At the same time, when it is confirmed by the data processing unit 26 that the image data of the document read by the scanner unit 21 has not been processed (No in step S22), the process ends.

  On the other hand, in step S22, when the data processing unit 26 confirms that the flag of the register in the RAM 29 is set to 1, that is, when the data processing unit 26 is reset, the scanner unit 21 reads the image data of the document. At the same time, when it is confirmed that the data processing unit 26 has processed the image data of the document read by the scanner unit 21 (Yes in step S22), the data processing unit 26 then causes the scanner unit 21 to scan the document. It is determined whether or not the data processing unit 26 has been reset when reading the image data of the first page (step S23).

  At this time, when the data processing unit 26 confirms that the image data is stored in the second memory 28, that is, when the scanner unit 21 reads the image data of the second and subsequent pages, the data processing unit 26. When it is confirmed that the reset is performed (No in step S23), the data processing unit 26 extracts the image data stored in the second memory 28. Then, the image data is transmitted from the second memory 28 to the display unit 25 by the data processing unit 26, and the reduced image of the first page of the document is displayed on the display screen of the display unit 25 (step S24). Alternatively, when the scanner function is used, the image data is transmitted from the second memory 28 to the terminal device 10 designated in advance by the user via the LAN 30 by the data processing unit 26, and a display screen (not shown) of the terminal device 10 is displayed. ) May display a reduced image of the first page of the document (step S24).

  On the other hand, at this time, when the data processing unit 26 confirms that no image data is stored in the second memory 28, that is, when the scanner unit 21 reads the image data of the first page of the document, the data processing unit When it is confirmed that the resetting of 26 is performed (Yes in step S23), a control signal is transmitted from the data processing unit 26 to the display unit 25. Then, on the display screen of the display unit 25, an error display, that is, a display that the image data of the document cannot be read normally is displayed (step S25).

  Accordingly, when a plurality of people continuously use the copy function or the scanner function of the image forming apparatus 20, every time the data processing unit 26 is reset, in step S24, the data processing unit 26 uses the second memory. This image data is transmitted from the display unit 25 to the display unit 25, and a reduced image of the first page of the document is displayed on the display screen of the display unit 25. Alternatively, when a plurality of people continuously use the copy function or the scanner function of the image forming apparatus 20, an error is displayed on the display screen of the display unit 25 every time the data processing unit 26 is reset in step S25. The

  Therefore, when a plurality of people continuously use the copy function or the scanner function of the image forming apparatus 20, if the data processing unit 26 is reset while the data processing unit 26 is processing image data, In contrast to the processing performed at the time of resetting the data processing unit 26, the reduced image of the first page of the document or the reading of the image data of the document cannot be normally performed on the display screen of the display unit 25. An error message is displayed. The display screen of the display unit 25 displays a reduced image of the first page of the document or an error display until the user performs a predetermined operation on the image forming apparatus 20.

  In this embodiment, when the data processing unit 26 is reset, when the data processing unit 26 confirms that the flag of the register in the RAM 29 is set by referring to the RAM 29 after the data processing unit 26 is reset, The reduced image data of the first page of the document is retrieved from the second memory 28 and the reduced image of the first page of the document is displayed on the display screen of the display unit 25. Therefore, according to the present embodiment, when a plurality of people continuously use the copy function or the scanner function, when the data processing unit 26 of the image forming apparatus 20 is reset, the document is displayed on the display screen of the display unit 25. Therefore, it is possible to easily determine who has caused a processing error when using the image forming apparatus 20.

  Further, as described above, it is expected that the user stands at least in front of the image forming apparatus 20 until reading of the image data of the first page of the document by the scanner unit 21 is completed. For this reason, when the data processing unit 26 confirms that the image data of the first page of the document is not normally read by the scanner unit 21, an error is displayed on the display screen of the display unit 25. The user can immediately know that a processing error has occurred through the display screen of the display unit 25.

  In the image forming system, each of the plurality of terminal apparatuses 10 and the image forming apparatus 20 are connected via the LAN 30. However, the present invention is not limited to this. That is, each of the plurality of terminal apparatuses 10 and the image forming apparatus 20 need only be connected via a communication network. For example, instead of the LAN 30, each of the plurality of terminal apparatuses 10 and the image forming apparatus 20 are connected via the Internet. May be.

  In the image forming system, the ASIC 24 is installed in the engine control unit 23. However, the present invention is not limited to this. That is, the ASIC 24 may be installed on the display unit 25. When the data processing unit 26 malfunctions, the display unit 25 confirms that there is no response from the data processing unit 26 even if a control signal is transmitted from the display unit 25 to the data processing unit 26. The data processing unit 26 is reset by the ASIC 24 of the unit 25.

  In the image forming system, when the data processing unit 26 of the image forming apparatus 20 is reset, the first page of the document is displayed on the display screen of the display unit 25 or the terminal device 10 in step S24 of the flowchart shown in FIG. However, in addition to the reduced image, a display indicating that the image data of the original cannot be read normally may be displayed on these display screens. Accordingly, the user can easily know that a processing error has occurred when reading the image data of the document through the display unit 25 or the display screen of the terminal device 10.

  Further, in the image forming system, only the error is displayed on the display screen of the display unit 25 by the data processing unit 26 in step S15 of the flowchart shown in FIG. For this reason, when an error is displayed on the display screen of the display unit 25, the user has already moved away from the front of the image forming apparatus 20, and thereafter, a plurality of people continue to use the image forming apparatus 20. This makes it difficult to determine who has a processing error when using the image forming apparatus 20.

  In contrast, in step S15 of the flowchart shown in FIG. 2, in addition to an error display indicating that the image data of the document cannot be normally read on the display screen of the display unit 25, it is built in the image forming apparatus 20. The time when the processing error occurs may be displayed based on the time of the clock. As a result, each user can accurately know who has caused the processing error when using the image forming apparatus 20 through the display screen of the display unit 25.

  As described above, the present invention is useful for an image forming apparatus that issues an error notification when image data processing of a read original is not normally performed, and an image forming system including the image forming apparatus.

1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an image forming system according to an embodiment. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of a data processing unit when reading image data of a document using a copy function or a scanner function installed in the image forming apparatus. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the data processing unit after the data processing unit of the image forming apparatus is reset.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Terminal device 20 Image forming apparatus 21 Scanner part 22 Engine part 23 Engine control part 24 ASIC
25 Display unit 26 Data processing unit 27 First memory 28 Second memory 29 RAM
30 LAN

Claims (4)

An image forming apparatus comprising: a scanner unit that reads image data of a document; a display unit that displays an operation state of the apparatus; a control unit that controls operation of the entire apparatus; and a memory that stores various data.
The control unit sets a flag in the memory until the processing of the image data read by the scanner unit is completed after reading of the image data of the document by the scanner unit is started,
By storing the image data read by the scanner unit in the memory when reading the image data of the document by the scanner unit,
When the control unit is reset, when the control unit confirms that a flag is set in the memory by referring to the memory after resetting the control unit,
An image forming apparatus, wherein image data is extracted from the memory and displayed on the display unit. When the control unit is reset, when the control unit confirms that a flag is set in the memory by referring to the memory after resetting the control unit,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein if no image data is stored in the memory, an error is displayed on the display unit. An image forming apparatus comprising: a scanner unit that reads image data of a document; a display unit that displays an operation state of the apparatus; a control unit that controls operation of the entire apparatus; and a memory that stores various data.
The control unit sets a flag in the memory until the processing of the image data read by the scanner unit is completed after reading of the image data of the document by the scanner unit is started,
When the reading of the image data of the document is performed by the scanner unit, and stores the image data of the first page of a document read by the scanner unit to the memory,
When the control unit is reset, when the control unit confirms that a flag is set in the memory by referring to the memory after resetting the control unit,
If image data of the first page of the document is stored in the memory, the image data is taken out of the memory and displayed on the display unit,
If the image data of the first page of the document is not stored in the memory, an error display is performed on the display unit. An image forming system comprising: the image forming apparatus according to claim 1; and a terminal device connected to the image forming apparatus through a communication network.
The image forming apparatus is equipped with a scanner function for transferring image data read by the scanner unit to the terminal device,
When the scanner function is used, the image data of the document read by the scanner unit is transferred from the image forming apparatus to the terminal device through the communication network, and the processing of the image data ends when the transfer ends. A featured image forming system.

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