Patent Publication Number: US-2011075199-A1

Title: Image forming apparatus and multi-job method thereof

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2009-0092073, filed on Sep. 28, 2009, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     BACKGROUND 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present general inventive concept relates to an image forming apparatus and a method of performing a multi-job operation of the image forming apparatus, and more particularly, to an image forming apparatus that performs separate operations for each job of a multi-job operation. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     An image forming apparatus forms an image on a print paper. The image forming apparatus may include a printer, a photocopier, a facsimile, a multi-function device which has at least two functions, etc. 
     Recently, demand for an image forming apparatus as an office automation device performing not only a document print function but also a scanning function and faxing function has increased. Accordingly, the image forming apparatus has extended its original functions to perform various functions. 
     In this regard, a user may desire to complete multiple jobs corresponding to a plurality of functions of the image forming apparatus. 
     For example, if a user desires to copy a five-page document and fax five sheets of paper, the user will load a total of ten sheets of paper on an automatic document feeder (ADF), and the image forming apparatus needs to separate the pages corresponding to the copying job and the faxing job. 
     In a conventional image forming apparatus, a pre-designated separation page may be inserted between pages to separate jobs. 
     However, the foregoing method requires a user to preset the separation page to be recognized by the image forming apparatus. This may cause inconvenience for a user. 
     Further, upon occurrence of errors during the reading or identifying the separation page, the image forming apparatus may have malfunction with respect to the entire multi-job operation. 
     SUMMARY 
     Accordingly, it is a feature of the present general inventive concept to provide an image forming apparatuses and a method to perform a multi-job operation of the image-forming apparatus to perform separate operations corresponding to the separate jobs by using an orientation of a document loaded on a document feeder. 
     Also, it is another feature of the present general inventive concept to provide an image forming apparatus and a multi job performing method thereof which uses an orientation of a document in separating jobs and has less error than using a separate page. 
     Additional aspects and/or advantages of the present general inventive concept will be set forth in part in the description which follows and, in part, will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the present general inventive concept. 
     Additional aspects and utilities of the present general inventive concept will be set forth in part in the description which follows and, in part, will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the general inventive concept. 
     The foregoing and/or other features and utilities of the present general inventive concept may be achieved by a multi-job operation method of an image forming apparatus which includes a document feeder which loads and feeds a plurality of documents and an operation panel which is used to set a job option, the method including loading the documents on the document feeder to separate the documents according to an orientation of the documents, setting multi-job options corresponding to the documents from the operation panel, scanning the loaded documents, separating the documents into multiple jobs according to the orientation of the scanned documents, and performing multiple operations corresponding to the multiple jobs. 
     Separating the documents into multiple jobs may include separating the documents into jobs by using a width and a height of the scanned documents. 
     Separating the documents into multiple jobs may include recognizing a job as the same as a previous job if the orientation of a scanned document is not different from that of the previous document. 
     Separating the documents into multiple jobs may include recognizing an orientation of a text by using an optical character recognition (OCR) for the scanned document, and separating the documents into jobs according to the recognized orientation of the text. 
     Setting the multi-job operation options may include setting a different operation for each different orientation of the documents. 
     The method may further include displaying the multi-job operation result on the operation panel. 
     Performing the multi-job operation may include comparing the number of separated jobs and the number of set job options and notifying a user of a difference between the number of separated jobs and the number of set job options if there is a difference therebetween. 
     Performing the multi-job operation may further include revising one of the number of jobs and the number of set job options if there is a difference therebetween. 
     Performing the multi-job operation may include revising the set job option if the job having the job option set is yet to be performed. 
     The job may include performing at least one of copy, fax, scan-to-email, scan-to-host, scan-to-server, scan-to-HDD, and scan-to-USB operations. 
     Features and/or utilities of the present general inventive concept may also be achieved by an image forming apparatus connected with an external device, the image forming apparatus including a document feeder which separately loads a plurality of documents according to an orientation of the documents, an image scanner which scans the loaded documents, an operation panel which includes a display panel including a touch panel to select a multi-job operation mode and a user input unit to set multi-job operation options in the multi-job operation mode by using the touch panel of the display unit, and a controller which controls the image scanner to scan the loaded documents, separates jobs of the multi-job operation according to the orientation of the scanned documents, and performs the operations of the multiple jobs according to the multi-job operation options corresponding to the separated jobs. 
     The controller may separate the jobs by using a width and a height of the scanned documents. 
     The controller may recognize a job as the same as that of a previous document if the orientation of a scanned document is not different from that of a previous document. 
     The controller may recognize an orientation of a text by using an optical character recognition (OCR) with respect to the scanned documents and may separates the job by using the recognized orientation of the text. 
     The operation panel may be used to set each job option for each orientation of the document. 
     The operation panel may display results of the multi-job operation. 
     The controller may compare the number of the separated jobs of the multi-job operation and the number of jobs set in the multi-job operation options and may control the operation panel to notify a user of a difference between the number of the separated jobs and the number of the set job options if there is a difference therebetween. 
     If there is difference between the number of the separated jobs and the number of the set job options, one of the number of the jobs and the number of the job options may be revised according to a user&#39;s selection. 
     If the job having the job option set is yet to be performed, the set job option may be revisable. 
     The image forming apparatus may further include a communication unit which includes at least one of a fax communication module to transmit the scanned document by fax, a network communication module communicating with an external device or an interface which is compatible with a hard disk drive (HDD) or a universal serial bus (USB), wherein the job includes at least one of copy, fax, scan-to-email, scan-to-host, scan-to-server, scan-to-HDD and scan-to-USB jobs. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The above and/or other aspects of the present general inventive concept will become apparent and more readily appreciated from the following description of the embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings of which: 
         FIG. 1A  is a block diagram of an image forming apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the present general inventive concept; 
         FIG. 1B  is a block diagram of an image forming apparatus according to another exemplary embodiment of the present general inventive concept; 
         FIGS. 2A-2C  illustrate a job performance in a multi-job operation mode of the image forming apparatus according to the present general inventive concept; 
         FIGS. 3 to 14  illustrate user interface (UI) screens in the multi-job operation mode according to an exemplary embodiment of the present general inventive concept; and 
         FIGS. 15A and 15B  are flowcharts which illustrate a multi-job operation method of the image forming apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the present general inventive concept 
         FIG. 16  illustrates a document rotating method according to an embodiment of the present general inventive concept; and 
         FIG. 17  illustrates an image-forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present general inventive concept. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
     Reference will now be made in detail to the embodiments of the present general inventive concept, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to the like elements throughout. The embodiments are described below in order to explain the present general inventive concept by referring to the figures. 
       FIG. 1A  is a block diagram of an image forming apparatus  100  according to an exemplary embodiment of the present general inventive concept. The image forming apparatus  100  according to the present general inventive concept may include a printer, a photocopier, a scanner, a facsimile, a multi-function device which has at least two functions, etc. 
     The image forming apparatus  100  according to the present general inventive concept may scan and generate an image from a target document, and perform imaging operations such as copying, faxing, scan-to-server operations, and scan-to-email operations by using the generated image. 
     In this specification and claims, a generated image is an image that is converted into a form to be stored electronically, displayed electronically, or displayed on a recording medium such as paper. A scanner may scan a document to generate an image of the document, and the generated image may then be printed, transmitted to memory, transmitted to an external device, etc. 
     In this specification and claims, a “job” is the execution of one or more functions of an image-forming apparatus on a document. A “function” is a specific operation such as scanning, copying, faxing, or sending-to-email, etc. The term “operation,” on the other hand, is described broadly to include an execution of one or more functions and/or one or more jobs. For example, if an image-forming apparatus performs imaging functions x, y, and z, a single job may include performing function x on document A, or performing functions x and y on document A. The combination of one or more functions performed on the document determines the “job.” The image-forming apparatus may perform multiple jobs by performing function x on document A and function x (or y or z) on document B. A multi-job operation may include an operation to automatically perform at least one function on at least two separate documents, for example. 
     A “document,” for the purposes of the present specification, is a group of one or more recording media that receive the same function or functions in a single operation of the image-forming apparatus. A “document” may refer to paper or other physical media to receive a printed image. A “document” may also refer to electronic data corresponding to a fax, transmitted image, or transmitted file capable of being formed into an image by the image-forming apparatus. For example, if the document is a paper document, it may include multiple pages from multiple sources, and it may have multiple imaging functions performed on it. A user may control the image-forming apparatus to perform one or more functions on a first document. A (which would constitute a first “job”). Once the function or functions are entered or completed, the user may control the image-forming apparatus to perform one or more functions on a second document B (which would constitute a second “job”). 
     The image forming apparatus  100  according to an exemplary embodiment of the present general inventive concept has a multi-job operation mode to perform multiple jobs by executing a single operation command. If a user selects the multi-job operation mode, the image forming apparatus  100  performs the separate functions associated with the separate jobs according to an orientation of a document loaded on a paper feeding tray. 
     The image forming apparatus  100  illustrated in  FIG. 1A  includes a document feeder  110 , an image scanner  120 , an image forming unit  130 , a communication unit  140 , a storage unit  150 , a user input unit  160 , a display unit  170 , and a controller  180 . 
     The document feeder  110  includes at least one paper feeding tray to receive a document, such as a recording medium or paper, to print an image. The paper feeding tray may include an automatic document feeder (ADF), a duplex automatic document feeder (DADF), a paper feeding cassette, a manual paper feeding tray, an optional tray, etc. depending on the document supplying method. 
     The document feeder  110  may further include a pickup roller (not shown) to pick up a recording medium from the paper feeding tray. 
       FIG. 2A  illustrates operation of the image forming apparatus  100  in a multi-job operation according to the present general inventive concept. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 2A , if the multi-job operation mode is selected, the image forming apparatus  100  according to the present general inventive concept may load documents  11 ,  12 , and  13  from the paper feeder  110  after a user changes a direction or orientation of the documents  11 ,  12  and  13  to perform multiple jobs (job  1 , job  2  and job  3 ). The image-forming apparatus  100  separates the papers that comprise the multiple jobs into separate groups corresponding to the respective jobs (job  1 , job  2  and job  3 ) by recognizing the orientation of the loaded documents  11 ,  12  and  13 , and then the image-forming apparatus  100  performs the respective imaging functions corresponding the separate documents  11 ,  12  and  13 . 
     The image forming apparatus  100  according to the present general inventive concept may load the documents  11 ,  12 , and  13  on the ADF or the DADF after rotating the orientation of the documents  11 ,  12  and  13  by 90 degrees corresponding to the multi jobs (job  1 , job  2  and job  3 ), or a user may rotate the documents  11 ,  12 ,  13  manually. As illustrated in  FIG. 1B , the image-forming apparatus  100  may include a document rotating unit  190  to receive pages and to rotate the pages when the user indicates that a completed job has been placed on or in the document rotating unit  190 . The user may then place a new set of pages repeat the process. Once the user has placed all the desired pages onto the document rotating unit  190 , the user may select a multi-job operation, and the image-forming apparatus  100  may perform imaging functions on the respective jobs according to the rotated orientation of the respective jobs. 
       FIG. 1B  further illustrates that the input feed direction of the image-forming apparatus and method corresponds to a direction in which a page may be fed into the image-forming apparatus. Although the input feed direction is illustrated with respect to a side of the image-forming apparatus  100 , the input feed direction may be any direction, depending on the particular configuration of the image-forming apparatus  100 . In other words, the input feed direction refers to a direction in which a document is fed into an image-forming apparatus  100  and may be different for each image-forming apparatus  100 . 
       FIG. 2B  illustrates an expanded view of the orientation of the jobs  1 ,  2 , and  3  corresponding to the documents  11 ,  12 , and  13 . A user may rotate a document by ninety degrees with respect to a subsequent document to indicate that the documents correspond to separate jobs. The user may place the documents  11 ,  12 , and  13  having different orientations onto the feeder tray  302 . When a user indicates a multi-job operation, the image-forming apparatus  100  may intake a page of the document  11  to determine an orientation of the page. The image-forming apparatus may intake a second page and compare the orientation of the second page with the first page. If the orientation of the second page is the same as that of the first page, the image-forming apparatus  100  may determine that the pages belong to the same job. If the orientation of the second page is different than that of the first page, the image-forming apparatus  100  may determine that the second page belongs to a new job and may begin a new imaging function on the second page that may be different than the imaging function performed on the first page. When the image-forming apparatus  100  detects a job based on an orientation of the respective document,  11 ,  12 , or  13 , the image-forming apparatus  100  may not determine an orientation of a type on the respective document  11 ,  12 , or  13 . 
     The image forming apparatus  100  may also load the documents  11 ,  12 , and  13  by rotating the orientation of the documents  11 ,  12 , and  13  by 180 degrees corresponding to the respective jobs (job  1 , job  2  and job  3 ). If the orientation of the documents  11 ,  12 , and  13  is rotated by 180 degrees, the image forming apparatus  100  recognizes the orientation of the documents by using a character read by an optical character recognition (OCR). If the orientation of the recording medium is rotated by 90 degrees, the OCR may be used to read the character as the case may be. The optical character recognition may be a device included in the image forming apparatus  100  or it may include a computer program stored in the storage unit  150  or other memory of the image forming apparatus  100  to analyze the image scanned by the image scanner  120  or received from the communication unit  140 . If the OCR device is a stand-alone device, it may include one or more inputs such as an optical input or an electrical connection to receive an electronic image signal. 
       FIG. 2C  illustrates an expanded view of the orientation of the jobs  1 ,  2 ,  3 , and  4 , corresponding to documents  11 ,  12 ,  13 , and  14 , respectively. A user or a document rotating unit  190  may rotate a document so that a text direction is rotated by 90 or 180 degrees with respect to a subsequent document. For example, in  FIG. 2C , document  12  is rotated 180 degrees with respect to document  11 , because the text of document  12  is rotated 180 degrees with respect to document  11 . In addition, document  14  is rotated 90 degrees with respect to document  11 , because the text direction of document  14  is rotated 90 degrees with respect to the text direction of document  11 . 
     The image-forming apparatus may intake a page of a document and the optical character recognition unit may determine an orientation of the text of the page. If the orientation of the text is the same as that of the previous page, the image-forming apparatus may determine that the page is part of a same job as the previous page. If the orientation of the text is rotated 90 or 180 degrees with respect to the text of the previous page, the image-forming apparatus  100  may determine that the page is part of a new job, and may execute an imaging function on the new page that may be different than the function executed on the previous page. 
     When the image-forming apparatus  100  determines an orientation of the text of a page, multiple pages having different physical orientations may be included in the same job, as long as the orientation of the text of each page is the same. The image-forming apparatus  100  may be programmed to detect only a line of text at a top of each page to determine page orientation, or the image-forming apparatus  100  may determine a text orientation of any portion of the page. 
     The documents  11 ,  12 , and  13  which are loaded on the document feeder  110  may be different in size. For example, three types of documents, e.g., A4, letter size and A3 may be rotated by 90 or 180 degrees depending on the type of jobs to be loaded on the ADF. 
     The image scanner  120  scans a target document to generate an image. The image may be printed onto a recording medium, such as paper or a transparency, or it may be saved as an electronic file. The target document may include a text document, a photo, a film, etc. The image scanner  120  may include a scan unit to generate an image, one or more processors, memory, logic circuits, power supplies, or other hardware to support the scanning function. 
     The image which is scanned by the image scanner  120  may be converted into an electronic file to be transmitted via a fax signal to an external device via the communication unit  140  (to be described later). 
     Upon reception of a print command, the image forming unit  130  forms an image to be printed on at least one recording medium, such as paper, based on print data. In the present specification and claims, a “print command” and “print operation” refer to any operation to transmit an image to a recording medium, including printing received fax data, copying or printing a scanned document, and printing data received from a host apparatus  201  including a server  202  external to the image forming apparatus  100 , from a data storage device such as the USB memory stick  152  external to the image forming apparatus  100 , or from a data storage device such as the hard disk drive  151  located inside the image forming apparatus  100 . 
     The communication unit  140  performs data communication with external devices including the host apparatus  201  and the server  202  connected in a wired/wireless network and receives print data in a predetermined print language from external devices. 
     The communication unit  140  may include a wired or wireless communication module connected to an external device such as the host apparatus  201  either directly via a dedicated communication line, via a network utilizing a predetermined protocol, or via an interface (e.g., USB port) which is compatible with an interface connectable to a portable storage medium such as a USB memory stick or an interface which is connected with the HDD  151 . 
     The communication unit  140  may include a fax communication module (e.g., modem) which converts image data generated by the image scanner  120  into a fax signal and transmits the fax signal to an external fax machine  203  (including a multi-function device to perform a fax function) or receives a fax signal from the outside. 
     The communication unit  140  may perform a scan-to-host operation or a scan-to-server operation to transmit a scan image to an external device such as the host apparatus  201  or the server  202  by a predetermined protocol or may transmit the scan image to an external device via a scan to email operation. 
     Data (including fax data) which are received from external devices via the communication unit  140  are stored in the storage unit  150 . 
     The storage unit  150  stores therein various print data for a print job, fax data for a fax transmission job, image data scanned by the image scanner  120 , data received from external devices connected through the communication unit  140 , various setting information of the image forming apparatus  100  through the user input unit  160 , job history information for multi-job operations of the image forming apparatus  100 , user registration information set for each user account, user certification information, and usage authorization information. 
     The storage unit  150  includes an internal storage medium such as the HDD  151 , or an external or portable storage medium such as the USB memory stick  152 , a memory card (memory stick, CF card and MMC), and a memory card slot. 
     The user input unit  160  receives a user&#39;s command. The user input unit  160  may include an input button (“hard key”) provided in the image forming apparatus  100 , or a graphic user interface (GUI) which is generated by an execution of a program such as an application and displayed on the display unit  170  to receive a user&#39;s input by a touch. 
     A user may perform a login process in which an ID and a password assigned to each user account are input through the user input unit  160 . The login may include a login to an administrator mode in which the entire environment of the image forming apparatus  100  may be set or changed without an additional access limit. If the login to a user mode or an administrator mode is performed, the image forming apparatus  100  performs identification and permission processes. A user according to the present general inventive concept may include an administrator. 
     A user&#39;s command may be received from the host apparatus  201  which is connected to the image forming apparatus  100  through the communication unit  140 . 
     The display unit  170  may display thereon setup and operation statuses of the image forming apparatus  100  and a UI screen to receive various commands from a user. The display unit  170  may include a thin film transistor-liquid crystal display (TFT-LCD), a driver (not shown) to drive the TFT-LCD, and a touch panel (“touch screen” or “touch pad”) to recognize a user&#39;s touch. 
     The user input unit  160  of the image forming apparatus  100  according to the present general inventive concept may include an icon to be selected by a user through a touch panel of the display unit  170 . That is, the user input unit  160  and the display unit  170  may be a single device, instead of being provided separately. 
     The single configuration of the user input unit  160  and the display unit  170  of the image forming apparatus  100  according to the present general inventive concept is also called an operation panel. 
     The display unit  170  may include a first display unit located in the image forming apparatus  100 , and a second display unit which is located in the host apparatus  201  connected to the image forming apparatus  100  via the communication unit  140 . If the display unit  170  includes the second display unit, a UI which is displayed as the user input unit  160  on the second display unit may include a remote user interface (RUI). 
     The controller  180  controls the image forming apparatus  100  as a whole. More specifically, upon reception of multi-job commands from the user input unit  160 , the controller  180  may recognize the direction, i.e., the orientation of the documents  11 ,  12  and  13  (refer to  FIG. 2 ) loaded on the document feeder  110  corresponding to multiple jobs and may control the separate operations performed on the documents  11 ,  12 , and  13  corresponding to the separate jobs. 
     When a multi-job operation includes a scanning operation, the multi-job operation may include at least one of copying, faxing, scanning to a server, scanning to a host, scanning to email, scanning to an HDD, and scanning to a USB device or port. 
     The user input unit  160  may include an icon which is displayed as a UI on the display unit  170  to select the multi-job operation mode in which the multiple jobs are performed by a single operation command. 
       FIGS. 3 to 14  illustrate UI screens in the multi-job operation mode according to the exemplary embodiment of the present general inventive concept. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 3 to 14 , an exemplary embodiment to set four jobs to be sequentially performed corresponding to copy, fax, scan-to-server, and scan-to-email operations in the multi-job operation mode will be described. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the display unit  170  may display thereon a selection screen  30  including an icon corresponding to various menus that a user may select to perform various functions of the multi-function imaging device. Here, a user may select (e.g., touch) a selection icon  31  to perform a multi-job operation by a single job command in the multi-job operation mode. 
     If the multi-job operation mode is selected, the display unit  170  displays a UI screen  40  to allow a user to select a method to separate the multiple jobs, as illustrated in  FIG. 4 . The UI screen  40  in  FIG. 4  may include at least one radio button  41  to select either one of the methods to separate the jobs. 
     A user may select a width and height ratio of the document to use as the reference to separate multiple jobs, or the user may select a text orientation as determined by an optical character recognition (OCR) to use as the reference to separate the multiple jobs. 
     Depending on the user selection or upon predetermined configuration settings, the controller  180  may recognize the orientation of the document by using the width and height ratio of an image of a document scanned by the image scanner  120  or by using the orientation of the text read by the OCR to separate the multiple jobs. 
     If the recognized orientation of a page is the same as that of a previous page, the controller  180  may recognize the pages as being part of the same job. However, if the orientation of a page changes with respect to the orientation of the previous page, the controller  180  may recognize a new job. 
     If the width and height ratio of the document is used to separate different jobs, the controller  180  recognizes the job as a new job and performs the operation that corresponds to the new job when the controller determines that the orientation of the page is rotated by 90 degrees with respect to the orientation of the previous page. 
     On the other hand, if the OCR is used to separate different jobs, the controller  180  recognizes the new job and performs the operation corresponding to the new job when the controller  180  determines that the orientation of the text of the page is rotated by 90 or 180 degrees. 
     Upon selecting a respective radio button  41  in  FIG. 4  to select a method of separating jobs, the display unit  170  displays an option setting screen  50  corresponding to multiple jobs as illustrated in  FIGS. 5 to 13 . 
     A user sets job options or settings, or configures respective jobs of the multiple jobs of the multi-job operation as illustrated in  FIGS. 5 to 13 . A user may set job options by using an operational panel, for example. 
     A user may set job options for a first job as shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 . The option setting UI screen  50  may include an icon  51  which displays the number of the job presently being configured (being the first job in  FIG. 5 ) and at least one of icons  52 ,  53 ,  54 , and  55  to select the type of operation to be performed. In  FIG. 5 , the icons include icons  52 ,  53 ,  54 , and  55  representing a copy operation, a fax operation, a scan-to-server operation, and a scan-to email operation, respectively. The icon may vary including a text, a graphic and a button or may be enabled as a GUI provided as the user input unit  160  to be selected by a user. 
     Additional operational icons may further include various job icons including scan-to-host, scan-to-HDD, and scan-to-USB operations or any other operation that may be performed by the image-forming apparatus  100 . 
     The option setting screen  50  may include an “End Multi-Job” icon  57  to terminate the multi-job operation mode. If no job options have been set, the controller  180  may control the display unit  170  to display the UI screen  30  of  FIG. 3 . 
     If a user selects the copy icon  52  to perform a copying operation in the first job, the controller  180  may cause the display unit  170  to display the UI screen  50  that is illustrated in  FIG. 6 . 
     A user may select various options corresponding to the copy job, such as a copy ratio, mono/color, and a contrast, and may select a “1st job set done” icon  56  to complete the setting of the first job. The “1st job set done” icon  56  is illustrated as an example, and any appropriate icon may be used to indicate that a user is finished changing settings of a first job of a multi-job operation. When the user selects the “1st job set done” icon  56 , the display unit  170  may display the option setting UI screen  50  as illustrated in  FIG. 7 . 
     The option setting screen  50 , as illustrated in  FIG. 6 , may also include an “add imaging operation” icon  58  to allow a user to perform multiple imaging operations in the same job. For example, a single document may be copied and emailed to a predetermined email address in the same job without requiring a user to provide separate documents to the image-forming apparatus  100  to perform the separate operations. In such a case, the controller  180  may cause the display unit  170  to again display the option setting screen  50  illustrated in  FIG. 5  to allow the user to select another operation to perform in the same job. 
     The UI screen  50  illustrated in  FIG. 7  may include an icon  51  to display the number of the job being presently configured and at least one of icons  52 ,  53 ,  54  and  55  to select the type of operation to correspond to the job. In other words, the UI screen  50  of  FIG. 7  may be similar to that of  FIG. 5 , except that the icon  51  changes to reflect that a new job is presently being configured. As illustrated in  FIGS. 5 ,  7 ,  9 , and  11 , the user may repeatedly configure a new job to be performed, and the user may configure the settings of each of operations corresponding to the respective jobs, as illustrated in  FIGS. 5 ,  8 ,  10 , and  12 , respectively. In addition, as illustrated in  FIGS. 5 ,  7 ,  9 , and  11 , the user may finish configuring new jobs by selecting the “no more jobs” icon  57 , although any similar icon may be used to indicate that a user is finished configuring jobs. 
     Still referring to  FIG. 7 , if the user selects the fax icon  53  as the type of the second job, the controller  180  may display on the display unit  170  the UI screen  50  illustrated in  FIG. 8 . 
     A user may set various options corresponding to the fax job, such as a recipient, an error correction mode, and the number of retransmission, and the user may select the “2nd job set done” icon  56  to complete the configuration of the settings of the second job. A user may input the recipient by using an address book stored in the storage unit  150 , in a recent transmission and reception list, or from any other source. 
     The option setting screen  50 , as illustrated in  FIG. 8 , may also include an “add imaging operation” icon  58  to allow a user to perform multiple imaging operations in the same job. For example, a single document may be copied and emailed to a predetermined email address in the same job without requiring a user to provide separate documents to the image-forming apparatus  100  to perform the separate operations. In such a case, the controller  180  may cause the display unit  170  to again display the option setting screen  50  illustrated in  FIG. 7  to allow the user to select another operation to perform in the same job. 
     Upon selecting the “2nd job set done” icon  56 , the option setting UI screen  50  may again be displayed on the display unit  170 , as illustrated  FIG. 9 . The UI screen  50  in  FIG. 9  may be similar to that of  FIGS. 5 and 7 , except that the icon  51  may indicate that the job presently being configured is the third job. If a user is finished configuring multiple jobs, the user may select the “no more job” icon  57 . Alternatively, the user may select another operation icon  52 ,  53 ,  54 , or  55  to configure the third job. 
     If the user selects the “scan-to-server” icon  54 , the controller  180  may cause the display unit  170  to display the UI screen  50  illustrated in  FIG. 10 . The user may set various options corresponding to the scan-to-server job, such as a location of a server (address), an error correction mode, and the number of desired re-transmission attempts. The user may input the location of the server by using a list of addresses stored in the storage unit  150 , by using a “recent usage” list, or by using any other means to retrieve or enter a server location. The user may select a “3rd job set done” icon  56  to finish configuring the third job. 
     The option setting screen  50 , as illustrated in  FIG. 10 , may also include an “add imaging operation” icon  58  to allow a user to perform multiple imaging operations in the same job. For example, a single document may be copied and emailed to a predetermined email address in the same job without requiring a user to provide separate documents to the image-forming apparatus  100  to perform the separate operations. In such a case, the controller  180  may cause the display unit  170  to again display the option setting screen  50  illustrated in  FIG. 9  to allow the user to select another operation to perform in the same job. 
     Upon selecting the “3rd job set done” icon  56 , the option setting UI screen  50  may again be displayed on the display unit  170 , as illustrated in  FIG. 11 . 
     The UI screen  50  in  FIG. 11  may be similar to that of  FIGS. 5 ,  7 , and  9 , except that the present job number icon  51  may indicate that the job presently being configured is the fourth job. If a user is finished configuring multiple jobs, the user may select the “no more job” icon  57 . Alternatively, the user may select another operation icon  52 ,  53 ,  54 , or  55  to configure the fourth job. 
     If the user selects the “scan-to-email” icon  55  in  FIG. 11 , the controller  180  may control the display unit  170  to display the UI screen  50 , as illustrated in  FIG. 12 . 
     A user may select various options corresponding to the scan-to-email operation, such as information of a sender, information of a recipient, a title, and a message. The user may input the information of the sender and the information of the receiver by using an address book stored in the storage unit  150 , information stored in a recent usage list, or information from any other source. The storage unit  150  may store a default value for the information of the sender, the title, and/or the message. When finished configuring the scan-to-email operation, the user may select the “4th job set done” icon  56 . 
     The option setting screen  50 , as illustrated in  FIG. 12 , may also include an “add imaging operation to job” icon  58  to allow a user to perform multiple imaging operations in the same job. For example, a single document may be copied and emailed to a predetermined email address in the same job without requiring a user to provide separate documents to the image-forming apparatus  100  to perform the separate operations. In such a case, the controller  180  may cause the display unit  170  to again display the option setting screen  50  illustrated in  FIG. 11  to allow the user to select another operation to perform in the same job. 
     Upon selecting the “4th job set done” icon  56 , the option setting UI screen  50  may again be displayed on the display unit  170 , as illustrated in  FIG. 13 . 
     The UI screen  50  in  FIG. 13  may be similar to that of  FIGS. 5 ,  7 ,  9 , and  11 , except that the present job number icon  51  may indicate that the job presently being configured is the fifth job. If a user is finished configuring multiple jobs, the user may select the “no more job” icon  57 . Alternatively, the user may select another operation icon  52 ,  53 ,  54 , or  55  to configure the fourth job. 
     If a user selects the “no more job” icon  57  to complete configuration of the fourth job, the display unit  170  displays a setting result UI screen  60  as illustrated in  FIG. 14 . The setting result UI screen  60  may include an icon  61  indicating the displayed operations relate to a “current multi-job operation.” The setting result UI screen  60  may also include a list  62  of the individual jobs of the multi-job operation, an edit icon  63 , a delete icon  64 , an add icon  65 , a start icon  66  to begin the multi-job operation, and any other appropriate icons. 
     A user may review the data illustrated in the setting result UI screen  60  and confirm the number and type of multiple jobs. A user may select the edit icon  63  to edit the job configurations, or the user may select the delete icon  64  to delete the corresponding job from the multiple jobs. A user may select the add icon  65  to add a new job. 
     If a user selects the add icon  65  in  FIG. 14 , the display unit  170  may again display the option setting UI screen  50  as illustrated in  FIG. 13 . 
     When the user determines that the configuration of the jobs is complete, the user may select the “start” icon  66  to begin the multi-job operation 
     Accordingly, the image forming apparatus  100  according to the present general inventive concept may perform multiple jobs by a single job command in the multi-job operation mode. 
     According to the job command received in  FIG. 14 , the controller  180  may change or rotate the orientation of the documents by 90 or 180 degrees corresponding to the respective separated jobs and may scan and generate an image through the image scanner  120  with respect to the document loaded on the document feeder  110 . 
     The controller  180  may recognize the orientation of the document through the generated image and may separately perform the multiple jobs according to the recognized orientation of the document. The controller  180  may determine the orientation of the document by using the width and height ratio of the scan image or by using the orientation of the document which is recognized by the OCR performed to the scan image. 
     If the recognized orientation of a page is the same as that of a previous page, the controller  180  may recognize that the pages correspond to the same document and the same job. However, if the controller  180  determines that the orientation of the present page is different than the orientation of the previous page, the controller  180  may determine that the present page is the first page of a new job. The controller  180  may then sequentially perform the respective jobs according to the configurations of the jobs set by the user in  FIGS. 3 to 14 . 
     More specifically, the controller  180  controls the image forming unit  130  to perform the copy job for the document corresponding to the first job, controls the communication unit  140  to transmit a fax by changing the scanned image into a fax signal for the document corresponding to the second job rotated 90 or 180 degrees relative to the document for the first job, controls the communication unit  140  to transmit the scanned image to a server corresponding to the third job, and controls the communication unit  140  to transmit an email attached with the scanned image corresponding to the fourth job. Then, the operation panel may display the results of the multi-job operation. 
     To normally perform multiple jobs in a multi-job operation mode, the number of documents separated by orientation of page dimensions or text should be consistent with the number of configured jobs. However, if the number of documents separated by page or text orientation does not correspond to the number of configured jobs, due to user mistake for example, the controller  180  may control the display unit  170  to notify a user of the discrepancy. 
     If the number of documents separated by the orientation of the document exceeds the number of configured jobs, the controller  180  may perform a default operation on the extra document, such as scanning the document and saving the document in electronic format onto the hard disk drivel  51 . The user may set any operation of the image-forming apparatus  100  to be the default operation. Alternatively, the controller  180  may perform no imaging operation on the extra separated document. 
     On the other hand, if the number of configured jobs exceeds the number of documents separated by page orientation, the controller  180  may wait to receive an additional document and perform the job corresponding to the additional document, or the controller  180  may cancel the job. For example, if a user configures three jobs in the multi-job operation mode and loads only two separate documents on the document feeder  110 , the controller  180  may control the display unit  170  to notify a user of the discrepancy. The display unit  170  may display at least one icon to be selected by a user as an icon to select to load the document or to cancel the third configured job. 
     If a user selects of the icon to load an additional document, the controller  180  controls the display unit  170  to display a message requesting the loading of the additional document. When the user loads the document on the document feeder  110 , the controller  180  performs the third job according to the previously-configured settings of the third job. 
     On the other hand, if the user selects the icon to cancel the third job, the controller  180  cancels the third job and indicates via the display unit  170  that the multi-job operation is complete. 
     An exemplary embodiment of the present general inventive concept recognizes the orientation of the document by using the width and height ratio of the document or the orientation of a text recognized by OCR. In addition, any embodiment may be included in the present general inventive concept as long as it can recognize a change in the orientation of the document. 
     Not only the orientation of the document, but also other separating means using the arrangement of the document, e.g., the case when the documents in different size are loaded, the case when the document is loaded upside down for each job in a duplex automatic document feeder (DADF) or when the document is loaded on different trays may be possible. 
     Hereinafter, the job performing process of the image forming apparatus  100  having the foregoing configuration will be described with reference to  FIGS. 15A and 15B . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 15A , a user may load the documents on the document feeder  110  by changing the orientation of the documents for each of the multi jobs (S 10 ). A user may load the documents on the automatic document feeder (ADF) or duplex automatic document feeder (DADF) by rotating the orientation of the documents by 90 or 180 degrees. 
     A user sets the job option for the multi-job operation (S 11 ). A user may select the multi-job operation mode  31  as in  FIG. 3 , select the job separating reference  41  in  FIG. 4  and set the job option for the multiple jobs as illustrated in  FIGS. 5 to 13 . 
     If the document is loaded after the orientation thereof is rotated by 180 degrees at operation S 10 , a user may select the OCR as the job separating reference  41  in  FIG. 4 . 
     If the setting of the job option is completed at operation S 11 , the image forming apparatus  100  receives a user&#39;s job command (S 12 ). A user may select the icon  66  corresponding to the job command from the setting result UI screen  60  in  FIG. 14 . 
     In operation S 13 , if the job command is received at operation S 12 , the controller  180  scans the first page of the documents loaded on the document feeder  110 , and generates the image. 
     In operation S 14 , the controller  180  recognizes the orientation of the document by using the image generated at operation S 13 . 
     In operation S 15 , the controller  180  determines whether the document scanned at operation S 13  is the first page of the documents loaded at operation S 10 . 
     In operation S 17 , if it is determined that the scanned document is the first page at operation S 14 , the controller  180  recognizes the job corresponding to the scanned page as a new job, i.e., a job corresponding to the first job set at operation S 11 . 
     In operation S 19 , the controller  180  determines whether the document scanned at operation S 13  is the last page of the documents loaded at operation S 10 . 
     If it is determined that the scanned page is not the last page at operation S 19 , the controller  180  scans the second page of the documents loaded on the document feeder  110  and generates the image in operation S 13 . 
     In operation S 14 , the controller  180  recognizes the orientation of the document by using the image generated at operation S 13 . 
     In operation S 15 , the controller  180  determines whether the document scanned at operation S 13  is the first page of the documents loaded at operation S 10 . 
     If it is determined at operation S 15  that the scanned document is not the first page, the controller  180  determines in operation S 16  whether the orientation recognized at operation S 14  with respect to the scanned second page is the same as that of the previous document, i.e. the first page. 
     If it is determined at operation S 16  that the orientation is the same, the controller  180  determines in operation S 18  the job corresponding to the second page as the consecutive job, i.e., job corresponding to the first job set at operation S 11 . 
     In operation S 19 , the controller  180  determines whether the document scanned at operation S 13  is the last page of the documents loaded at operation S 10 . 
     If it is determined at operation S 19  that the scanned document is not the last page, the controller  180  scans the third page of the documents loaded on the document feeder  110  and generates the image in operation S 13 . 
     In operation S 14 , controller  180  recognizes the orientation of the document by using the image generated at operation S 13 . 
     In operation S 15 , the controller  180  determines whether the document scanned at operation S 13  is the first page of the documents loaded at operation S 10 . 
     If it is determined at operation S 15  that the scanned document is not the third page, i.e., not the first page, the controller  180  determines in operation S 16  whether the orientation recognized at operation S 14  with respect to the scanned third page is the same as that of the previous document, i.e., the second page. 
     If it is determined at operation S 16  that the orientation is changed, the controller  180  recognizes in operation S 18  the job corresponding to the third page as a new job, i.e., the job corresponding to the second job set at operation S 11 . 
     In operation S 19 , the controller  180  determines whether the document scanned at operation S 13  is the last page of the documents loaded at operation S 10 . 
     As above, the controller  180  sequentially performs the operations S 14  to S 17  or S 13  to S 18  for all of the documents loaded at operation S 10 . 
     The controller  180  determines whether the job corresponding to the last page of the documents loaded at operation S 10  is a new job or a consecutive job. If it is determined at operation S 19  that the concerned page is the last page, the controller  180  in operation S 20  separately performs the multiple jobs corresponding to each page according to the determination made at operation S 17  or S 18 . 
     The operation S 20  may be performed at a time when the multiple jobs are separated, or may be performed sequentially starting from the first job upon completion of the separation. 
       FIGS. 16 and 17  illustrate a method and apparatus to automatically rotate documents corresponding to separate jobs according to an embodiment of the present general inventive concept. A user may wish to submit a plurality of documents having the same orientation to the image forming apparatus  100 , and to have the document rotation unit  190  of the image-forming apparatus  100  rotate the documents to the correct orientation. 
     In such a case, an image-forming apparatus  100  may include an input tray  302  including one or more guides  304   a  and  304   b  to align a document. In operation S 22 , a user may indicate to the image-forming apparatus  100  that a multi-job operation will be performed. The indication of the multi-job operation may be made via the user input unit  160  of the image-forming apparatus, as illustrated in  FIG. 1A , or via the communication unit  140  connected to an external device. In operation S 24 , a user or device may place a document  11 ,  12 , or  13  on the tray  302 , and indicate to the image-forming apparatus  100 . The image-forming apparatus  100  may determine in operation S 26  whether the document is the first document of the multi-job operation. If so, the document rotation unit  190  may transmit the document to the feeder  110  in operation S 32  without changing an orientation of the document. 
     However, if it is determined in operation S 26  that the document on the tray  302  is not the first document, the image-forming apparatus  100  may determine in operation S 28  whether the orientation of a present page is the same as an orientation of a page of the previous document, and the document rotation unit  190  may rotate the document in operation S 30  to have the correct page or text orientation. For example, a user may input a first document  11  onto the tray  302 , and the image-forming apparatus may transmit the first document  11  to the feeder  110  without rotating the document. The user may then place a second document  12  onto the feeder  12 . If the orientation of a predetermined page, e.g. the top page, of the second document  12  is the same as that of the previous document, the document rotation unit  190  may rotate the document to the correct orientation to be separated into multiple jobs in a multi-job operation. Alternatively, if the second document has been rotated with respect to the first document  11 , but the second document  12  has been rotated incorrectly (such as over-rotated or under-rotated), the document rotation unit  190  may correctly rotate the second document  12 . 
     Once the image-forming apparatus  100  has determined in operation S 34  that all the documents of a multi-job operation have been received and correctly rotated, the controller  180  of the image-forming apparatus  100  may transmit the documents  11 ,  12 , and  13  corresponding to the respective jobs  1 ,  2 , and  3  to the imaging unit  310  to be imaged and to perform the jobs  1 ,  2 , and  3 . The imaging unit  310  may include the image scanner  120 , the image-forming unit  130 , the storage unit  150 , the communication unit  140 , and the controller  180  of  FIG. 1A , for example. 
     Upon completion of the multi-job operation, the image-forming apparatus  100  may output the documents  11 ,  12 , and  13  to the output tray  303 . The documents may be rotated to have a same orientation or a different orientation, depending on a user preference. By utilizing a document rotating unit  190  as illustrated in  FIGS. 1B and 17 , user errors of incorrect document rotations may be prevented, for example. 
     Accordingly, the image forming apparatus  100  according to the present general inventive concept may separately perform multiple jobs in a multi-job operation mode according to the recognized orientation of the document. 
     Accordingly, the image forming apparatus  100  according to the present general inventive concept may easily separate multiple jobs without an additional prior operation and has less error by using an orientation of a document. 
     As described above, an image forming apparatus and a multi-job performing method thereof according to the present general inventive concept separately performs multiple jobs by using an orientation of a document loaded to a paper without an additional prior operation. 
     Also, the image forming apparatus and the multi-job performing method thereof according to the present general inventive concept uses an orientation of a document in separating jobs and has less error than using a separate page. 
     Although a few exemplary embodiments of the present general inventive concept, have been shown and described, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes may be made in these exemplary embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the general inventive concept, the scope of which is defined in the appended claims and their equivalents.