Patent Publication Number: US-9417583-B2

Title: Image forming apparatus having setting change section to select manual feed tray and image forming method

Description:
INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE 
     The present application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 to Japanese Patent Application No. 2014-175361 filed on Aug. 29, 2014. The contents of this application are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. 
     BACKGROUND 
     The present disclosure relates to image forming apparatuses and image forming methods. 
     In a conventional practice among business organizations and offices, image forming apparatuses (for example, printers, copiers, and multifunction peripherals) are shared among a plurality of users. For such image forming apparatuses, various techniques relevant to paper settings are available. 
     In one example, an image forming apparatus is provided with a paper feed source and information about the paper feed source. The paper feed source is loaded with specific type of paper. Permission information is appended to the information about the paper feed source. When a user designates the use of the paper feed source, the image forming apparatus permits printing from the paper feed source on condition that header information set by the user matches the permission information. 
     In an image forming apparatus of another example, when a print job is suspended upon occurrence of a paper-related error, an operation section of the image forming apparatus accepts selection of a paper feed source to be used as a substitute paper source for forcefully continuing the print job. The image forming apparatus stays standby without resuming the print operation even if paper is loaded or the paper size selection is changed. Upon final approval by the user, the image forming apparatus resumes the print operation on paper fed from the paper feed source selected for the forced printing. 
     SUMMARY 
     An image forming apparatus according to one aspect of the present disclosure includes a setting change determination section, a forced execution receiving section, a setting change section, a forced execution determination section, and a permission information updating section. The setting change determination section determines, in absence of a paper feed source matching paper information specified in settings that are input by a user for a job to be executed, whether or not permission information associated with the user permits use of a manual feed tray as a substitute paper feed source. When the permission information does not permit use of the manual feed tray as the substitute paper feed source, the forced execution receiving section informs the user about absence of a paper feed source matching the paper information specified in the settings and receives selection of a forced execution key by the user. The forced execution key is for causing forced execution of the job using the manual feed tray as the substitute paper feed source. The setting change section changes the settings for the job so as to use the manual feed tray as the substitute paper feed source in response to selection of the forced execution key. The forced execution determination section determines whether or not an execution number exceeds a predetermined threshold upon completion of the job. The execution number indicates how many times a job has been executed in response to selection of the forced execution key. When the execution number exceeds the threshold, the permission information updating section updates the permission information associated with the user so as to permit use of the manual feed tray as the substitute paper feed source. 
     An image forming method according to one aspect of the present disclosure includes: determining, in absence of a paper feed source matching paper information specified in settings that are input by a user for a job to be executed, whether or not permission information associated with the user permits use of a manual feed tray as a substitute paper feed source; informing the user, when the permission information does not permit use of the manual feed tray as the substitute paper feed source, about absence of a paper feed source matching the paper information specified in the settings and receiving selection of a forced execution key by the user, the forced execution key being for causing forced execution of the job using the manual feed tray as the substitute paper feed source; changing the settings for the job so as to use the manual feed tray as the substitute paper feed source in response to selection of the forced execution key; determining whether or not an execution number exceeds a predetermined threshold upon completion of the job, the execution number indicating how many times a job has been executed in response to selection of the forced execution key; and updating, when the execution number exceeds the threshold, the permission information associated with the user so as to permit use of the manual feed tray as the substitute paper feed source. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram showing the internal structure of an overall multifunction peripheral according to the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 2  is a functional block diagram of the multifunction peripheral according to the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 3  is a flowchart of an execution procedure according to the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 4A  shows an example of an authentication screen according to the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 4B  shows an example of a user authentication table according to the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 5A  shows an example of an error screen according to the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 5B  shows an example of an update to the user authentication table according to the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     With reference to the accompanying drawings, the following describes an image forming apparatus and an image forming method according to the present disclosure. Note that the embodiment described below is one implementation example of the present disclosure and should not be construed as limiting the technical scope of the present disclosure. In addition, the letter S preceding each numeral that appears in the flowcharts stands for “step”. 
     The following describes an image forming apparatus as an exemplary embodiment according to the present disclosure. The image forming apparatus according to the present disclosure is for example a multifunction peripheral (MFP) combining a plurality of functions (of, for example, a facsimile machine, a copier, a scanner, and a printer). 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , the MFP  100  includes an operation section  101 , an image reading section  102 , an image forming section  103 , a conveyance section  104 , a fixing section  105 , and a communication section  106 . The operation section  101  includes a touch panel. The MFP  100  receives settings for execution of a print job from a user on the operation section  101 . Upon receipt of the settings, the MFP  100  drives the relevant sections (namely, the image reading section  102 , the image forming section  103 , the conveyance section  104 , and the fixing section  105 ) to execute the print job. 
     The conveyance section  104  includes a plurality of paper feed sources and a manual feed tray  104   a.  The manual feed tray  104   a  is provided on a side surface of the MFP  100 . On the manual feed tray  104   a,  any size of paper can be loaded as desired by a user. The conveyance section  104  conveys paper from the manual feed tray  104   a  when the settings received on the operation section  101  includes a feed source setting designating the manual feed tray  104   a  as the paper feed source. 
     The communication section  106  is communicatively connected to a server  108  (terminal device) over a network  107 . The server  108  stores data for user authentication. 
     The MFP  100  further includes a control circuit. Although not illustrated, the control circuit includes a central processing unit (CPU), a read only memory (ROM), a random access memory (RAM), a hard disk drive (HDD), a plurality of drivers, and an internal bus. The drivers control the driving sections of the respective sections described above, and the internal bus connects the ROM, RAM, HDD, and the drivers. 
     The CPU of the MFP  100  uses the RAM as a work area and executes programs stored on the ROM, HDD, and other storage locations. The CPU exchanges signals (for example, data, instructions, or directives) with the drivers based on execution results of the programs and controls operation of the driving sections relevant to execution of a print job. The later described sections (shown in  FIG. 2 ) other than driving sections are implemented by the CPU executing an appropriate program. Programs and data for implementing the respective sections described below are stored on the ROM, RAM, HDD, and other storage location. 
     Next, with reference to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the following describes the structure and the execution procedure according to the embodiment of the present disclosure. 
     The MFP  100  further includes a displaying and receiving section  201 , a user authentication section  202 , a function control section  203 , a paper feed source selecting section  204 , a permission information acquiring section  205 , a setting change determination section  206 , a forced execution receiving section  207 , a setting change section  208 , a forced execution determination section  209 , and a permission information updating section  210 . 
     First, when a user activates the MFP  100 , the displaying and receiving section  201  displays an authentication screen on the touch panel of the operation section  101 . The displaying and receiving section  201  then receives a user ID and a password input by the user. 
     As shown in  FIG. 4A , the authentication screen denoted by a reference sign  400  displays a message  401 , entry fields  402 , keypads  403 , and a log-in key  404 . The message  401  prompts the user to input a user ID and a password. The ID and the password are input into the entry fields  402 . 
     On the authentication screen  400 , the user inputs the ID “AAA” and the password “aaa” into the respective entry fields  402  using the keypads  403  and the like and then selects the log-in key  404 . Through the above operation, the user logs in to the MFP  100  on the authentication screen  400 . The displaying and receiving section  201  notifies the user authentication section  202  about the log-in of the user. In response to the notification from the displaying and receiving section  201 , the user authentication section  202  performs authentication of the user based on the ID and the password of the user ( FIG. 3 : S 101 ). 
     No particular limitations are placed on the method used for user authentication by the user authentication section  202 . For example, the MFP  100  may store a user authentication table in a predetermined memory in advance. In such a case, the user authentication section  202  refers to the user authentication table. As shown in  FIG. 4B , the user authentication table denoted by a reference sign  405  includes, for each user, a user ID  406 , a password  407 , a piece of permission information  408  in association with one another. More specifically, each password  407  is associated with a corresponding ID  406 , and each piece of permission information  408  is associated with the corresponding ID  406 . The user authentication section  202  determines whether a combination of the user ID and the password as input is found in the combinations of an ID  406  and a password  407  included in the authentication table  405 . Hereinafter, this determination may be referred to as the first determination. Through this determination, the user authentication is performed. 
     Alternatively, the user authentication table  405  may be stored on the server  108  in advance. In such a case, the user authentication section  202  accesses the server  108  to make the first determination with reference to the user authentication table  405 . The server  108  is communicatively connected to the MFP  100  via the network  107 . 
     When no matching combination is found through the first determination performed in S 101 , the user authentication section  202  again prompts the user to input a correct ID and a correct password, using the displaying and receiving section  201 . In contrast, when a matching combination is found through the first determination, the user authentication section  202  permits the user to use the MFP  100 . The user authentication section  202  therefore causes the relevant sections of the MFP  100  to activate and causes the displaying and receiving section  201  to display an operation screen ( FIG. 3 : S 102 ). The operation screen receives input of settings relevant to a predetermined function. 
     After granted a permission to use the MFP  100 , the user inputs settings on the operation screen that is displayed by the displaying and receiving section  201 . The settings include paper information specifying for example the paper size “A5” and the paper type “premium paper”. The user then places a document on a placement table of the image reading section  102  and selects a start key. In response to input of the settings, the displaying and receiving section  201  notifies the function control section  203  about the settings. Upon receipt of the notification from the displaying and receiving section  201 , the function control section  203  starts executing the job according to the settings received by the displaying and receiving section  201  (hereinafter, simply the “settings”) ( FIG. 3 : S 103 ). 
     More specifically, for example, the function control section  203  causes the operation of the image reading section  102  to acquire image data of the document. In addition, the function control section  203  issues to the paper feed source selecting section  204  an instruction to select a paper feed source that feeds paper. In response to the instruction from the function control section  203 , the paper feed source selecting section  204  selects a paper feed source to be used in the job. More specifically, the paper feed source selecting section  204  searches the plurality of paper feed sources (paper feed cassettes) for a paper feed source matching the paper size and the paper type specified in the settings ( FIG. 3 : S 104 ). 
     No particular limitations are placed on the method used by the user authentication section  202  to search for a paper feed source. For example, the MFP  100  may store, in a predetermined memory in advance, information indicating each paper feed source in association with the size and the type of paper loaded in the paper feed source. In such a case, the paper feed source selecting section  204  checks the size and the type of paper specified in the settings against the sizes and the types of paper stored in the predetermined memory to find a paper feed source matching the size and the type of the paper specified in the settings. 
     Alternatively to the predetermined memory, the MFP  100  may be provided with detection sensors for the respective paper feed sources, and each detection sensor detects the size and the type of paper loaded in the corresponding paper feed source. In such a case, the paper feed source selecting section  204  searches for a paper feed source that matches the size and the type of paper specified in the settings based on the detection results by the respective sensors. 
     When the search performed in S 104  finds a paper feed source that matches the size and the type of paper specified in the settings ( FIG. 3 : S 104 , YES), the paper feed source selecting section  204  selects the matching paper feed source and notifies the function control section  203  about the selection. In response to the notification from the paper feed source selecting section  204 , the function control section  203  causes the conveyance section  104  to convey a sheet of paper from the selected paper feed source. In addition, the function control section  203  controls the image forming section  103  in a timed relation with the conveyance of paper to cause a toner image conforming to image data to be formed on the sheet of paper. The function control section  203  then causes the operation of the fixing section  105  to fix the toner image. As a result, the job is executed according to the settings completes ( FIG. 3 : S 105 ). 
     In contrast, when the search performed in S 104  finds no paper feed source that matches the size and the type of paper specified in the settings ( FIG. 3 : S 104 , NO), the paper feed source selecting section  204  notifies the permission information acquiring section  205  about the search result. In response to the notification from the paper feed source selecting section  204 , the permission information acquiring section  205  acquires the permission information associated with the user having input the settings ( FIG. 3 : S 106 ) for the purpose of changing the settings as to the paper feed source. 
     No particular limitations are placed on the method used by the permission information acquiring section  205  for acquiring the permission information associated with the user. For example, the MFP  100  may store the user authentication table  405  in a predetermined memory. In such a case, the permission information acquiring section  205  acquires the ID of the user that is currently permitted to use the MFP  100  from the user authentication table  405 . The permission information acquiring section  205  then acquires a piece of permission information  408  associated with the acquired user ID from the user authentication table  405  (the piece permission information  408  includes manual feed setting information indicating “NO”). 
     Alternatively, the authentication table  405  may be stored on the server  108 . In such a case, the permission information acquiring section  205  accesses the server  108  to acquire the permission information  408  associated with the ID of the user currently permitted to use the MFP  100  from the user authentication table  405 . 
     Upon completing acquisition of the permission information associated with the user, the permission information acquiring section  205  notifies the setting change determination section  206  about the acquisition. In response to the notification from the permission information acquiring section  205 , the setting change determination section  206  determines whether or not the acquired permission information is set to permit use of the manual feed tray  104   a  as a substitute paper feed source ( FIG. 3 : S 107 ). Hereinafter, this determination may be referred to as the second determination. 
     No particular limitations are placed on the method used by the setting change determination section  206  for determining whether or not use of the manual feed tray  104   a  as the substitute paper feed source is permitted. For example, each piece of permission information includes manual feed setting information indicating either “YES” or “NO”. The manual feed setting information indicating “NO” represents the setting that does not permit use of the manual feed tray  104   a  as the substitute paper feed source, and “YES” represents the setting that permits use of the manual feed tray  104   a  as the substitute paper feed source. The setting change determination section  206  determines whether or not the permission information indicates “YES” or “NO”. 
     When the second determination in S 107  results in that the permission information indicates “NO”, that is, when the acquired permission information does not permit use of the manual feed tray  104   a  as the substitute paper feed source (FIG.: S 107 , NO), the setting change determination section  206  notifies the forced execution receiving section  207  about the determination result. In response to the notification from the setting change determination section  206 , the forced execution receiving section  207  displays an error screen on the touch panel using the displaying and receiving section  201  ( FIG. 3 : S 108 ). The error screen informs the user that no paper feed source matches the size and the type of paper specified in the settings (no paper that matches the currently set size and the type is available). 
     As shown in  FIG. 5A , the error screen  500  displays a message  501 , a forced execution key  502 , a setting change key  503 , and a cancel key  504 . The message  501  informs the user that no paper as desired by the user is available. The forced execution key  502  is for causing forced execution of the job using the manual feed tray  104   a  as the substitute paper feed source. The setting change key  503  is for changing the settings as to the specification of the paper size and the paper type. 
     The user selects the forced execution key  502  on the error screen  500 . The forced execution receiving section  207  receives selection of the forced execution key  502  ( FIG. 3 : S 109 , YES) and notifies the setting change section  208  about the selection. In response to the notification from the forced execution receiving section  207 , the setting change section  208  changes the settings for the job so as to use the manual feed tray  104   a  as the substitute paper feed source ( FIG. 3 : S 110 ). As a result, in the case where no paper feed source corresponds to (matches) the paper size and the paper type specified in the settings, the user is permitted to set the manual feed tray  104   a  as the substitute paper feed source at a push of the forced execution key  502 . Therefore, by subsequently placing paper of the desired size and the desired type on the manual feed tray  104   a , the user can cause the job to be executed according to the settings on the desired paper. 
     Upon changing the settings to so as to use the manual feed tray  104   a  as the substitute paper feed source, the setting change section  208  notifies the function control section  203  about the setting change. In response to the notification from the setting change section  208 , the function control section  203  executes the job according to the settings ( FIG. 3 : S 105 ). 
     In one example, upon changing the settings so as to use the manual feed tray  104   a  as the substitute paper feed source, the setting change section  208  displays a notification screen using the displaying and receiving section  201 . The notification screen is to inform the user about the setting change. With the display of the notification screen, the MFP  100  prompts the user to place paper of the desired size and the type on the manual feed tray  104   a.    
     In another example, the manual feed tray  104   a  is provided with a detection sensor for detecting the size and the type of paper placed on the manual feed tray  104   a . In such a case, upon changing the settings so as to use of the manual feed tray  104   a  as the substitute paper feed source, the setting change section  208  notifies the paper feed source selecting section  204  about the setting change. In response to the notification from the setting change section  208 , the paper feed source selecting section  204  re-determines whether or not the size and the type of the paper placed on the manual feed tray  104   a  match the size and the type of the paper specified in the settings. 
     On determining that the size and the type of the paper placed on the manual feed tray  104   a  match the size and the type of the paper specified in the settings, the paper feed source selecting section  204  notifies the function control section  203  about the determination result. In response, the function control section  203  executes the job according to the settings ( FIG. 3 : S 105 ). 
     On determining that the size and the type of the paper placed on the manual feed tray  104   a  do not match the size and the type of the paper specified in the settings, the paper feed source selecting section  204  displays a notification screen using the displaying and receiving section  201 . The notification screen informs the user that the size and the type of the paper placed on the manual feed tray  104   a  do not match the size and the type of the paper specified in the setting. With the display of the notification screen, the MFP  100  prompts the user as to whether or not to continue the forced execution of the job. 
     With reference back to S 109 , the user selects the setting change key  503  on the error screen  500 . The forced execution receiving section  207  receives the selection of the setting change key  503  by the user ( FIG. 3 : S 109 , NO) and notifies the displaying and receiving section  201  about the selection. In response to the notification from the forced execution receiving section  207 , the displaying and receiving section  201  displays a setting change screen on the touch panel. The setting change screen displays a listing of the plurality of paper feed sources each in association with the size and the type of paper currently loaded in the paper feed source, along with a change key for changing the size and the type of paper specified for the job. Then, the displaying and receiving section  201  receives from the user an input instructing to change the settings as to the specification of the paper size and the paper type ( FIG. 3 : S 111 ). Through the above, the user can cause the execution of the job according to the settings on paper of the desired size and type. 
     In one example, the displaying and receiving section  201  notifies the function control section  203  about the new specification of the paper size and the paper type as received. The function control section  203  executes the job on paper of the newly designated paper size and type according to the settings ( FIG. 3 : S 105 ). 
     When the second determination in S 107  results in that the permission information indicates “YES”, that is, when the acquired permission information permits use of the manual feed tray  104   a  as the substitute paper feed source (FIG.: S 107 , YES), the setting change determination section  206  notifies the setting change section  208  that use of the manual feed tray  104   a  as the substitute paper feed source is permitted. In response to the notification from the setting change determination section  206 , the setting change section  208  automatically changes the settings for the job so as to use the manual feed tray  104   a  as the substitute paper feed source ( FIG. 3 : S 110 ) in a manner similar to that described above. In other words, temporality changing the paper feed source to be used for the jog to the manual feed tray  104   a  is permitted according to the permission information associated with the ID of the user. Consequently, when no paper feed source matches the size and the type of paper specified in the settings, the settings are automatically changed so as to use the manual feed tray  104   a  as the substitute paper feed source. This saves the user trouble of having to operate keys. 
     Upon completion of the job in S 105 , the function control section  203  notifies the forced execution determination section  209  about the job completion. In response to the notification from the function control section  203 , the forced execution determination section  209  determines whether or not an execution number has exceeded a predetermined threshold (2 times) ( FIG. 3 : S 112 ). Hereinafter, this determination may be referred to as the third determination. The execution number indicates how many times a job is executed in response to selection of the forced execution key  502 . 
     No particular limitations are placed on the method used by the forced execution determination section  209  for determining whether or not the execution number has exceeded the threshold. In one example, upon completion of a job, the forced execution determination section  209  checks using the forced execution receiving section  207  whether or not the job was executed in response to selection of the forced execution key  502 . On determining that the job was executed in response to selection of the forced execution key  502 , the forced execution determination section  209  increments a predetermined counter by one and determines whether or not the number held in the counter after the increment has exceeded the threshold. 
     When the third determination in S 112  results in that the execution number has not exceeded the threshold ( FIG. 3 : S 112 , NO), the forced execution determination section  209  ends the processing without any specific operation. This example applies to the case where a specific user causes forced execution of a job by selecting the forced execution key  502  only infrequently. 
     When the third determination in S 112  results in that the execution number (three times, for example) has exceeded the threshold ( FIG. 3 : S 112 , YES), the forced execution determination section  209  notifies the permission information updating section  210  about the determination result. In response to the notification from the forced execution determination section  209 , the permission information updating section  210  updates the permission information associated with the user so as to permit use of the manual feed tray  104   a  as the substitute paper feed source ( FIG. 3 : S 113 ). 
     No particular limitations are placed on the method used by the permission information updating section  210  for updating the permission information. For example, the MFP  100  may store the user authentication table  405  in a predetermined memory. In such a case, the permission information updating section  210  updates the user authentication table  405  with respect to a piece of permission information  408  associated with the user having the ID  406  currently permitted to use the MFP  100 , so as to change the manual feed setting information indicating “NO” to “YES”. 
     Alternatively, the user authentication table  405  may be stored on the server  108 . In such a case, the permission information updating section  210  access the server  108  and updates the user authentication table  405  with respect to a piece of permission information  408  associated with the user having the ID  406  currently permitted to use the MFP  100 , so as to change the manual feed setting information indicating “NO” to “YES”. In the manner described above, when a user frequently executes a job by selecting the forced execution key  502 , the permission information  408  is automatically updated. That is, the permission information  408  is rewritten while the user is unaware of the rewriting. This saves the user trouble of having to select the forced execution key  502 . 
     In the above description, the permission information updating section  210  automatically updates the permission information associated with the user, which however should not be construed as limiting. For example, despite that the user needs to repeatedly select the forced execution key  502 , the user may possibly prefer not to update the permission information for some reason relevant to ease of use. In view of the possibility, the MFP  100  allows the user to make a setting to prohibit automatic update of permission information. When update of the permission information is prohibited, the permission information updating section  210  does not update the permission information of the user even if the process of updating the permission information of the user is performed. As a result, the permission information is prevented from automatically changed in response to key operations having been made by the user. Update of the permission information is prohibited by appending prohibition information prohibiting update to the permission information. Consequently, the permission information updating section  210  automatically updates the permission information of the user on condition that the prohibition information is not appended. When prohibition information is not appended to the permission information associated with the user, the permission information updating section  210  does not update the permission information of the user. 
     Although the embodiment of the present disclosure provides the MFP  100  that includes the sections described above, this should not be construed as limiting. For example, the present disclosure may provide a recording medium storing one or more programs implementing the sections described above. In this case, the programs are read by the MFP  100 , and the MFP  100  functions as the sections described above. In such a case, the program per se stored on the recording medium produces the advantageous effects of the present disclosure. Furthermore, the steps executed by the sections of the MFP  100  may be provided as a method stored on a hard disk. 
     As has been described above, an image forming apparatus and an image forming method according to the present disclosure find use in the field of image forming apparatuses (for example, MFPs and copiers) and are effective in implementation as an image forming apparatus and an image forming method in which a paper feed source is automatically switched upon occurrence of paper selection error.