JP2001030588A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Problem] To enable an image forming apparatus connected to a plurality of information processing apparatuses to know, with a very simple configuration, whether or not a printed matter launched by the user is completed. . When a print instruction is issued from an information processing apparatus to an image forming apparatus, the information is notified by a display segment of a display device associated with each domain of a plurality of computers in conjunction with an image forming operation of the image forming apparatus.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus connected to a plurality of information processing apparatuses.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent medium-sized offices, due to restrictions on space, cost, and power consumption, one printer is used as an image forming apparatus or a multifunction machine having a printer function, for every few personal computers. Is installed and often used jointly.

[0003] In some cases, A issues a document from A's personal computer and prints it out to a single printer, or B sends an instruction from B's personal computer. Sometimes I print out to the same printer. Mr. C issues an instruction from Mr. C's personal computer,
The printout may be made to the same printer.

For such a user, a document issued by Mr. A is sent to a mailbox prepared by Mr. A separately for one printer, and a document issued by Mr. B is
There has been proposed a sorter having a mailbox function which is configured to a mailbox prepared for Mr. B of the same printer and has a problem that the price is high although it is convenient.

Further, after issuing a printout instruction from a personal computer, the printer receives the data,
The time when the image forming process is started, the printout is completely completed, and the image appears on the paper discharge tray is not always constant due to the complexity of the image forming process performed by the printer.

For example, in many recent printers,
To save energy, I went into the so-called eco mode or sleep mode, and when I went to the printer thinking that the startup time was different and that the printout had already been done The other person instructed the printer from another computer and printed it out, and the printed matter that he instructed from his own computer had not yet begun image processing and printing work, and was awkward. Often, they will be waiting for a while.

[0007] In a medium-sized office, this distance is not so large, but it is difficult to confirm whether or not the user has printed out from his / her desk location. A current image forming apparatus, which has many times, cannot be said to be a user-friendly machine.

A technique for informing whether or not a copying apparatus can be used has been proposed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 8-297440. Here, whether the copying apparatus is operating normally or is in an abnormal state is indicated by two different colors.
There is disclosed a technique for displaying using a kind of lamp. However, the technical philosophy of such a copying apparatus merely refers to displaying an abnormal state and a normal state.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. Hei 10-319793 is a technology which is considered to be an advanced system of the technology, and is designed so that the user can confirm the status of use or availability from a distant place with poor visibility. We will only disclose the device.

[0010]

As described above, in the conventional image forming apparatus, it is determined which personal computer the image forming apparatus is connected to, and which personal computer is performing image forming processing. There was a problem that you had to go to the place where you could not find it.

[0011]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and has been made in consideration of the above-described problem, and is directed to an image forming apparatus which is connected to a plurality of information processing apparatuses and performs image processing of image data transmitted from the information processing apparatuses. In the apparatus, a display unit having a plurality of display segments is provided, the display segment is associated with each of the information processing apparatuses, and when data is transmitted and received between the image forming apparatus and any of the information processing apparatuses, This is an image forming apparatus that displays only display segments.

Here, the display segment may be associated with individual domains of a plurality of computers, and may be composed of numbers, symbols, characters, alphabets, colors, or a combination thereof.

Further, the display device is connected to the image forming apparatus by wire or wirelessly so that the display apparatus can be grasped from a distance, that is, from a place where the information processing apparatus is located, and is disposed at a position higher than the height of the image forming apparatus. Is preferable. In addition, the display device may be configured so that it can be installed separately from the image forming apparatus. Further, the display device may adopt a format in which the display segment is projected on a wall or the like by a projector or the like.

Further, when an abnormal situation such as a jam or a shortage of toner occurs in the image forming apparatus, at least one of the display segments may blink, and at least one of the display segments may blink. The color may be configured to be different from the colors of the other segments, or may be arbitrarily set to change the rhythm or time signature of the blinking manner of the display segment.

[0015]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an outline of an embodiment of the present invention. 1, 1-2 to 1-n are computers connected via a network, and 2 is a printer. The printer 2 may be a copier or a multifunction peripheral having a facsimile function.

As shown in FIG. 2, the printer 2 is provided with a control panel 3 for instructing the operation of the printer 2, and a display panel 4 for monitoring the operation state of the instruction. ing.

Normally, the control panel 3 is provided with a plurality of mode setting switches 5 as shown in FIG. 2, and the display panel 4 is provided with these modes in order to save the area of the display panel. By the switching operation of the switch, a display corresponding to the display mode setting instruction is displayed.

Reference numeral 6 denotes a display device attached to the printer 2 in a pole shape. The display device 6 is provided with a plurality of display segments 7 corresponding to at least the total number n of the plurality of connected personal computers 1. Have been.

For example, the display segment 7 is assigned the number 1 corresponding to the domain of the computer 1-1, and displays “1”, and the display segment 7 is assigned the number 2 corresponding to the domain of the computer 1-2. Is displayed as “2”
Thus, numbers corresponding to the domains of the computers 1-n are gradually assigned. In addition, the display segment 7
Is not particularly limited to numbers as long as it corresponds to the domain of the computer 1. Other characters, pictures or unique colors may be assigned.

Further, if the display device 6 is formed in a pole shape, it can be easily recognized from any position centering on the printer, so that the display device 6 has a desirable form. , It is made easier. Further, the display device 6 may be separated from the printer 2 and may be a wall-mounted type, or a projector mechanism may be provided inside or outside the printer 2 so as to project the image onto a wall or a ceiling.

Further, when an abnormal situation such as a paper jam occurs in the printer 2, the display segment 7 is caused to blink, for example, in conjunction with a message displayed on the display panel 4 to notify the occurrence of the abnormal situation. With this configuration, the situation can be immediately grasped.

Next, a case will be described in which a user creates a sentence on his / her personal computer, for example, and tries to print it out with a printer when the writing is completed. At this time, it is assumed that the printer to be used and the environment in which the printer is used have been set to an optimal state in advance.

The user, for example, from the personal computer 1-1,
A printout instruction is issued to the printer 2, and the printer 2 receives the instruction and starts an image forming process. At this time, an ID unique to the computer, a so-called domain signal, is output from the unique computer 1-1.

The printer 2 receiving the unique signal performs the image forming process in response to the signal, and completes the image forming process, and the printed matter comes out on the paper discharge tray. At this time, the control unit in the printer 2 monitors whether or not the discharge is completed within a predetermined time corresponding to the length of the paper being used by turning on and off the discharge sensor. If the paper is ejected within a predetermined time, control is performed that printing is completed. During the process, the display segment 7 corresponding to the display device 6 is turned on or off.

When a "blink" type is used for the display segment 7, the user or the manufacturer determines whether the display segment 7 indicates the completion of the printout or the occurrence of a trouble. By changing the rhythm and time signature of the method, it is even more preferable to be able to set as desired.

When there are a plurality of printers, for example, the printer closest to one's personal computer is determined as the primary printer, and the weighting listed in the weighting list in the print manager function is performed. When a configuration that can specify the limit value of the total number of pages is adopted and the number of pages exceeds a specified number of pages, that is, when the personal computer or the computer in the printer determines that the primary printer is congested Alternatively, the work efficiency may be improved and the total operation rate may be increased by allocating the work to the second, third,...

[0027]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the image forming apparatus of the present invention, it is possible to know with a very simple structure whether or not the printed matter embossed by the user is completed. Thus, it is possible to provide an image forming apparatus with significantly improved work efficiency.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a state where a plurality of information processing apparatuses and an image forming apparatus according to the present invention are connected.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an image forming apparatus of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1, 1-2 to 1-n: Computer 2: Printer 3: Control panel 4: Display panel 5: Mode setting switch 6: Display device 7: Display segment

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An image forming apparatus connected to a plurality of information processing apparatuses for performing image processing on image data transmitted from the information processing apparatuses, comprising: a display unit having a plurality of display segments; An image forming apparatus, wherein, when data is transmitted and received between the image forming apparatus and any of the information processing apparatuses, only the corresponding display segment is displayed.