Patent Publication Number: US-2010110487-A1

Title: Image forming apparatus and image forming method

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus and an image forming method. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     In recent years, there has been known an image forming apparatus having a reservation copy function. 
     The reservation copy function is a function to perform function setting for a next print job with an operation section provided in the image forming apparatus, to read a document of the next print job with a scanner, and to execute the next job when a currently running print job ends. 
     For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. 2001-245079 discloses a technique to record data and execution status of an interrupted print job in a hard disk when the print job is interrupted due to power-off or the like, and to invoke the data and execution status of the interrupted print job to restart the print job if it is judged that there is the record of the interrupted print job in the hard disk when the power is turned on again, in an image forming apparatus. 
     The print job in the printing process is stopped at proper time to stop, and the print job which has not been executed is recorded in the hard disk to be reserved to enable a user to restart the reserved job at desired timing to continue the printing. 
     However, according to the above related art, there is a possibility for example that the print job which a user reserved to execute on the next day is invoked by an apparatus which is turned on for performing an operation, such as maintenance in the night time, other than printing. In this case, sometimes the reserved job is lost by being deleted during execution of the maintenance or the like by an operator except the user, and there is a problem that a user needs to reset the input of the print job. 
     SUMMARY 
     An object of the present invention is to enable execution of a print job more surely by selectively invoking the reserved print job. 
     In order to achieve the above-described object, according to a first aspect of the present invention, an image forming apparatus includes: a nonvolatile storage section to store a print job; an input section for instructing to store the print job in the storage section; a condition setting section to allow the storage section to store a predetermined condition for enabling execution of the print job so that the predetermined condition corresponds to the print job; and a control section to execute the print job stored in the storage section, wherein the control section executes the print job when the control section judges that the predetermined condition stored in the storage section is met. 
     Preferably, the control section judges whether or not the predetermined condition stored in the storage section is met in order to execute the print job stored in the storage section when a power of the image forming apparatus is turned on. 
     Preferably, the control section informs that the print job exists if the print job is stored in the storage section when a power of the image forming apparatus is turned on. 
     Preferably, the storage section stores a setting time as the condition, and control section executes the print job when the control section judges that a current time reaches the setting time or that the setting time has been passed. 
     Preferably, the image forming apparatus further includes an authentication input section in which a user inputs authentication information, and the control section executes the print job when the control section judges that authentication information input in the authentication input section agrees with authentication information stored in the storage section as the condition. 
     Preferably, the authentication information is a password. 
     Preferably, the authentication information is fingerprint data. 
     Preferably, the storage section stores a plurality of conditions, the image forming apparatus further includes a selection section in which a user arbitrary selects a condition among the plurality of conditions, and the control section performs judgment for executing the print job stored in the storage section based on the selected condition. 
     According to a second aspect of the present invention, an image forming method using an image forming apparatus provided with a nonvolatile storage section includes the steps of: storing a print job for forming an image and a predetermined condition for enabling execution of the print job in the storage section so that the predetermined condition corresponds to the print job; and executing the print job to form the image when the predetermined condition stored in the storage section is met. 
     Preferably, judging whether or not the predetermined condition stored in the storage section is met is performed when a power of the image forming apparatus is turned on. 
     Preferably, informing that the print job exists is performed if the print job is stored in the storage section when a power of the image forming apparatus is turned on. 
     Preferably, the storage section stores a setting time as the condition, and the print job is executed when the setting time has been passed. 
     Preferably, the image forming apparatus includes an authentication input section in which a user inputs authentication information, and the print job is executed when authentication information input in the authentication input section agrees with authentication information stored in the storage section as the condition. 
     Preferably, the authentication information is a password. 
     Preferably, the authentication information is fingerprint data. 
     Preferably, the storage section stores a plurality of conditions, the image forming apparatus includes a selection section in which a user arbitrary selects a condition among the plurality of conditions, and judgment for executing the print job stored in the storage section is performed based on the condition selected in the selection section. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description given hereinbelow and the appended drawings which given by way of illustration only, and thus are not intended as a definition of the limits of the present invention, and wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic cross-section diagram showing an image forming apparatus; 
         FIG. 2  is a control block diagram of the image forming apparatus; 
         FIG. 3  is a flowchart showing print job storing processing according to a first embodiment; 
         FIG. 4  is a flowchart showing print job invoking processing according to the first embodiment; 
         FIG. 5  is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a display screen in an operating/displaying section; 
         FIG. 6  is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a display screen in an operating/displaying section; 
         FIG. 7  is a flowchart showing a different pattern of the print job invoking processing according to the first embodiment; 
         FIG. 8  is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a display screen in an operating/displaying section; 
         FIG. 9  is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a display screen in an operating/displaying section; 
         FIG. 10  is a flowchart showing print job storing processing according to a second embodiment; 
         FIG. 11  is a flowchart showing print job invoking processing according to the second embodiment; 
         FIG. 12  is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a display screen in an operating/displaying section; 
         FIG. 13  is a flowchart showing print job storing processing according to a third embodiment; 
         FIG. 14  is a flowchart showing print job invoking processing according to the third embodiment; 
         FIG. 15  is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a display screen in an operating/displaying section; 
         FIG. 16  is a flowchart showing print job storing processing according to a fourth embodiment; 
         FIG. 17  is a flowchart showing print job invoking processing according to the fourth embodiment; and 
         FIG. 18  is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a display screen in an operating/displaying section. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Hereinafter the embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to drawings below. 
     First Embodiment 
       FIG. 1  is a schematic cross-section diagram of an image forming apparatus  1  according to the present invention, and  FIG. 2  is a control block diagram of the image forming apparatus  1 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , the image forming apparatus  1  is a multifunction peripheral provided with: a body portion  1   a  which reads an image from an original document to form the read image on a sheet P, obtains a print job which contains page data including an image data, and configuration information such as an image forming condition (both sides mode, single side mode and the like) and finishing processing condition (stapling position, stapling direction and the like) from an external apparatus or the like to form the image on the sheet P based on the obtained print job, and sets the print job to which the image forming condition and the like are added with respect to the image read from the document by a user to form the image on the sheet P based on the set print job; a finishing processing section  50  to perform finishing processing to the sheet on which the image is formed; and so on. 
     The body portion  1   a  is configured to include an image reading section  20 , an operating/displaying section  30 , a printing section  40  and the like. 
     The image reading section  20  is provided with an automatic document feeding section  21  termed Auto Document Feeder (ADF) and a reading section  22 , and realizes a function to read images of a plurality of documents based on the configuration information input from the operating/displaying section  30 . The document d placed on a document tray T 1  of the automatic document feeding section  21  is conveyed onto a contact glass as a reading position, and then the image of single side or both sides of the document d is scanned with optical system to be read by Charge Couple Device (CCD)  22   a.  The image includes not only image data such as a graphic and photograph but also text data such as a character and mark. 
     The image data (analog data) read by the image reading section  20  is output to a reading processing section  140  of an image control board  100  described below, subjected to A/D conversion and various image processing in the reading processing section  140  to be output to the printing section  40 . 
     The operating/displaying section  30  is provided with Liquid Crystal Display (LCD)  31 , a touch panel configured to cover the LCD  31 , a mouse  33 , not-shown operation keys, and so on. The operating/displaying section  30  receives an instruction from a user to output an operation signal to a control section  110 , and displays various setting screens for inputting various operation instructions and configuration information, and various processing results, according to a display signal input from the control section  110 . 
     The LCD  31  functions as a display section to display a plurality of buttons indicating various operation instructions, and various screens. 
     The touch panel  32  functions as an input section which detects a position of the touch instruction according to reading-position principle such as electromagnetic guidance, magnetostrictive and pressure-sensitive method for example, and enables inputting of various pieces of data and inputting of operation instructions depending on the detected position. 
     The operating/displaying section  30  outputs the operation signal indicating the instruction received on the screen via buttons on the various screens and the like to the control section  110  described below. 
     The printing section  40  is configured to perform image forming processing by electrophotographic method based on the input print data, and provided with a feeding section  41 , sheet conveyance section  42 , image forming section  43  and discharge section  44 . 
     The feeding section  41  includes a plurality of feeding trays  41   a,  a feeding member  41   b,  a manual feeding tray T 2 , and so on. The feeding tray  41   a  houses the sheets P which are conveyed one by one from the upper side to the sheet conveyance section  42  with the feeding member  41   b.  Various kinds of sheets P can be loaded on the manual feeding tray T 2  depending on needs of a user, and the loaded sheets P is conveyed one by one from the upper side to the sheet conveyance section  42  with feed rollers. 
     The sheet conveyance section  42  conveys the sheet P conveyed from the feeding tray  41   a  or the manual feeding tray T 2  to a transfer device  43   a  through a plurality of intermediate rollers, resist roller  42   a,  and so on. 
     The sheet conveyance section  42  further conveys the sheet P a single surface of which has been processed to a both-sides conveyance path with a conveyance switching plate, and conveys the sheet P to the transfer device  43   a  through the intermediate roller and the resist roller  42   a  again. 
     The image forming section  43  includes: a photosensitive drum; a charging device; an exposure device provided with a laser output section to output laser light based on the image data, and a polygon mirror to allow the laser light to scan in scanning direction; a development device; the transfer device  43   a;  a cleaning section; and a fixing section  43   b.  The image forming section  43  realizes a function to form the image on the sheet P based on the print job stored in a RAM  130  or nonvolatile memory  120  described below. 
     Specifically, the exposure device irradiates the photosensitive drum charged by the charging device with the laser light so that an electrostatic latent image is formed. Then, the development device allows charged toner to adhere to a surface of the photosensitive drum on which the electrostatic image is formed to develop the electrostatic image. The toner image formed on the photosensitive drum by the development device is transferred on the sheet P in the transfer device  43   a.  After the toner image is transferred to the sheet P, residual toner and the like on the surface of the photosensitive drum is removed by the cleaning section. 
     Incidentally, though illustration is omitted, sections of the image forming section  43  except the fixing section  43   b  are provided for four colors of yellow, magenta, cyan and black. 
     The fixing section  43   b  heat-fixes the transferred toner image on the sheet P conveyed by the sheet conveyance section  42 . The sheet P which was subjected to fixing processing is conveyed from a discharging exit to the finishing section  50  while being put between discharge rollers of the discharge section  44 . 
     The finishing section  50  includes: various finishing units such as a sort section to perform sorting processing of the image-formed sheet, a punch section to perform punching processing, a staple section to perform stapling processing to staple a bundle of the sheet depending on set stapling direction and stapling position, a fold section to perform folding processing, a cutting unit to perform cutting processing, and so on; and a plurality of discharge trays T 3  onto which the various processed or non-processed sheets are discharged to be loaded. 
     The image forming apparatus  1  further includes, as shown in  FIG. 2 , the body portion  1   a  and a printer controller  1   b,  and the finishing section  50  and a fingerprint authenticating section  60  which are connected to the body portion. 
     The image forming apparatus  1  is connected to an external apparatus  2  on a network  3  through a Local Area Network InterFace (LANIF)  14  of the printer controller lb so that the image forming apparatus  1  and the external apparatus  2  can transmits/receives information to/from with each other. 
     The body portion  1   a  is configured to include the image reading section  20 , the operating/displaying section  30 , the printing section  40  and the image control board  100 . An explanation about same configuration as the sections explained with regard to  FIG. 1  is omitted by using same reference numbers. 
     The image control board  100  is configured to include the control section  110 , a nonvolatile memory  120 , the Random Access Memory (RAM)  130 , the reading processing section  140 , a compression IC  150 , a Dynamic Random Access Memory (DRAM) control IC  160 , an image memory  170 , a decompression IC  180 , and a writing processing section  190 . 
     The control section  110  includes a Central Processing Unit (CPU) and the like, and reads system programs and various application programs which are stored in the nonvolatile memory  120 , and a program or data which are specified among various pieces of data to expand them in the RAM  130 , and executes various processing in cooperation with the program expanded in the RAM  130  to perform centralized control of the sections of the image forming apparatus  1 . For example, the control section  110  switches a mode among a copy mode, printer mode and scanner mode to perform the control of copying, printing, reading of the image data, and so on, according to the instruction signal input from the operating/displaying section  30  or the external apparatus  2 . 
     The control section  110  performs processing to allow the nonvolatile memory  120  to store the print job set by a user and the print job obtained from the external apparatus and the like according to the storage instruction of the print job input through the operating/displaying section  30  based on the print job storage program. 
     Moreover, the control section  110  stores and sets a predetermined condition for enabling the execution of the print job to be stored in the nonvolatile memory  120  so that the predetermined condition corresponds to the print job. 
     Furthermore, the control section  110  executes the print job stored in the nonvolatile memory  120  based on the print job executing program. 
     Especially, the control section  110  executes the print job when judging that the predetermined condition stored in the nonvolatile memory  120  is met. 
     The predetermined condition is a setting time for example, and when the control section  110  judges that the setting time stored in the nonvolatile memory  120  has been passed, the print job stored in the nonvolatile memory  120  is executed. 
     When the power of the image forming apparatus  1  is turned on, the control section  110  judges whether or not the predetermined condition stored in the nonvolatile memory  120  is met in order to execute the print job stored in the nonvolatile memory  120 . 
     Moreover, when the power of the image forming apparatus  1  is turned on, if the print job is stored in the nonvolatile memory  120 , the control section  110  executes informing processing to inform that the print job exists. 
     The nonvolatile memory  120  is provided with a ROM as a program memory for example, and stores a print job storing program, a condition setting program, the print job executing program, and so on in addition to various processing programs and data for forming the image. 
     The nonvolatile memory  120  is also provided with a Hard Disk Drive (HDD) for example, and functions as a storage section to store the print job to be reserved and data regarding a predetermined condition and the like corresponding to the print job. 
     The RAM  130  forms a work area in which various programs to be executed by the control section  110 , various pieces of data regarding these programs, the print job and the like are temporarily stored. 
     The reading processing section  140  executes various processing such as analog processing, A/D converting processing, and shading processing with respect to an analog image signal input from the image reading control section  200  of the image reading section  20 , and then produces a digital image data. The produced image data is output to the compression IC  150 . 
     The compression IC  150  executes compressing processing of the input digital image data to output the image data to the DRAM control IC  160 . 
     The DRAM control IC  160  controls compressing processing of the image data by the compression IC  150  and decompressing processing of the compressed image data by the decompression IC  180  according to the instruction from the control section  110 , and controls an input/output of the image data in/from the image memory  170 . 
     For example, when it is instructed to store the image signal read by the image reading section  20 , the DRAM control IC  160  allows the compression IC  150  to execute compressing processing of the image data input from the image reading section  140  to store the compressed image data in the compression memory  171  of the image memory  170 . When it is instructed to print and output the compressed image data stored in the compression memory  171 , the DRAM control IC  160  reads out the compressed image data from the compression memory  171  to allow the decompression IC  180  to execute decompressing processing to store the image data in a page memory  172 . When it is instructed to print and output the image data stored in the page memory  172 , the DRAM control IC  160  reads out the image data from the page memory  172  to output the image data to the writing processing section  190 . 
     The image memory  170  is provided with the compression memory  171  composed of a Dynamic RAM (DRAM) and the page memory  172 . The compression memory  171  is a memory for storing the compressed image data, and the page memory  172  is a memory for temporarily storing the image data (print data) for printing and outputting. 
     The decompression IC  180  applies decompressing processing to the compressed image data. 
     The writing processing section  190  generates the print data for image formation based on the image data input from the DRAM control IC  160  to output the print data to the printing section  40 . 
     The image reading section  20  is composed of a CCD  22   a,  the image reading control section  200 , and in addition, though not illustrated here, the automatic document feeding section  21 , the reading section  22 , and so on which are shown in  FIG. 1 . The image reading control section  200  controls the automatic document feeding section  21 , the reading section  22 , and the like to allow them to execute exposing and scanning of a document surface so that the CCD  22   a  performs photoelectric conversion to the reflected light so as to read the image. The read analog image signal is output to the image processing section  140 . 
     The operating/displaying section  30  is composed of the LCD  31 , the touch panel  32 , an operating/displaying control section  300 , and an operation key group including numeric keypad. 
     The operating/displaying control section  300  allows the LCD  31  to display various screens for inputting various setting conditions and various processing results according to a display signal input from the control section  110 . The operating/displaying control section  300  also outputs an operation signal input from various switches and buttons, numeric keypad, operation key group or touch panel  32  to the control section  110 . 
     For example, the operating/displaying section  30  functions as an input section for instructing to store the print job in the nonvolatile memory  120 . 
     Moreover, the operating/displaying section  30  functions as a condition setting section to store and set a setting time which is the predetermined condition for enabling an execution of the print job so that the predetermined condition corresponds to the print job to be stored in the nonvolatile memory  120 . 
     The operating /displaying section  30  also has a function to execute displaying so as to inform that the print job is stored in the nonvolatile memory  120  to a user. 
     The printing section  40  is configured to include the sections such as the image forming section  43  shown in  FIG. 1  related to printing and outputting, and the print control section  400 . 
     The print control section  400  controls an operation of each section such as the image forming section  43  of the printing section  40  according to the instruction from the control section  110  to perform image formation on the sheet P based on the print data input from the writing processing section  190 , and outputs an instruction signal for allowing each section of the finishing section  50  to operate, to the finishing control section  500 , according to the instruction from the control section  110 . 
     The finishing section  50  is provided with various finishing units, a conveyance member such as a conveyance roller to convey the sheets to various finishing units, and the discharge tray T 3  to which the sheets conveyed from the various finishing units are discharged. The various finishing units are integrally controlled by the finishing control section  500 . 
     The finishing control section  500  conveys the sheet P along a conveyance path to the predetermined finishing unit according to the instruction signal as to finishing input from the control section  110  through the print control section  400 , and drives and controls each of the sections to perform various finishing processing to discharge the sheet P to the discharge tray T 3 . 
     The fingerprint authenticating section  60  functions as a condition setting section and an authentication input section to receive an input of a fingerprint of a user. The fingerprint authenticating section  60  reads fingerprint data which is authentication information of a user depending on a predetermined operation to output the fingerprint data to the control section  110 . 
     Next, each section of the printer controller  1   b  will be described. 
     The printer controller  1   b  performs management and control of the print job input from the external apparatus  2  connected to the network  3  to the image forming apparatus  1  when the image forming apparatus  1  is used as a network printer. The print controller  1   b  receives data to be printed from the external apparatus  2  and transmits the data as the print job to the body portion  1   a.    
     The print controller  1   b  is composed of a controller control section  11 , DRAM control IC  12 , image memory  13 , and LANIF  14 . 
     The controller control section  11  integrally controls an operation of each section of the printer controller  1   b,  and transmits the data input from the external apparatus  2  as the print job to the body portion  1   a  through the LANIF  14 . 
     The DRAM control IC  12  controls storing of the data received by the LANIF  14  to the image memory  13 , and reading out of the data from the image memory  13 . The DRAM control IC  12  is connected to the DRAM control IC  160  of the image control board  100  with a Peripheral Components Interconnect (PCI) bus, and reads out the data to be printed from the image memory  13  to output the data to the DRAM control IC  160  according to the instruction from the controller control section  11 . 
     The image memory  13  is composed of a DRAM, and temporarily stores the input data to be output. 
     The LANIF  14  is a communication interface for connecting to the network  3  such as LAN including Network Interface Card (NIC) and modem, and receives the data from the external apparatus  2 . The received data is output to the DRAM control IC  12 . 
     Next, an operation or processing by the image forming apparatus  1  according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to flowcharts shown in  FIGS. 3 ,  4 . 
     For example, when a user sets the print job like that displayed in the operating/displaying section  30  shown in  FIG. 5  to reserve the print job for executing it on the next day, by depressing a job reservation button  30   a  in the operating/displaying section  30 , a job reservation screen  30   b  is displayed in the operating/displaying section  30  as shown in  FIG. 6 . 
     When “No” key  30   d  in the job reservation screen  30   b  is depressed (Step S 10 : No), the reservation is not performed and the power of the image forming apparatus  1  is turned off and the processing ends. 
     On the other hand, when “Yes” key  30   c  in the job reservation screen  30   b  is depressed to instruct to store the print job (Step S 10 : Yes), the operating/displaying section  30  displays a setting time entry screen (Step S 11 ). 
     When a user inputs the desired time in the setting time entry screen (not shown) in the operating/displaying section  30 , the control section  110  stores the input setting time in the nonvolatile memory  120  so that the setting time corresponds to the print job (Step S 12 ), and the print job to which the setting time is correlated is stored in the nonvolatile memory  120  (Step S 13 ). After storing the print job, the power of the image forming apparatus  1  is turned off and the processing ends. 
     After that, when the power of the image forming apparatus  1  is turned on, the control section  110  judges whether or not the reserved print job stored in the nonvolatile memory  120  exists (Step S 14 ). 
     When the control section  110  judges that the print job is not stored in the nonvolatile memory  120  (Step S 14 : No), the control section  110  normally activates the image forming apparatus  1  and allows the processing to end. 
     On the other hand, when the control section  110  judges that the print job is stored in the nonvolatile memory  120  (Step S 14 : Yes), the control section  110  obtains current time (Step S 15 ) and judges whether or not the setting time has been passed (Step S 16 ). 
     When the control section  110  judges that the current time does not reach to the setting time (Step S 16 : No), the control section  110  normally activates the image forming apparatus  1  and allows the processing to end. 
     On the other hand, when the control section  110  judges that the current time reaches the setting time or the setting time has been already passed so that the predetermined condition is met (Step S 16 : Yes), the control section  110  invokes the print job stored in the nonvolatile memory  120  as shown in  FIG. 5  (Step S 17 ), activates the image forming apparatus  1  so that the print job can be executed, and allows the processing to end. 
     As described above, since the print job reserved by a user remains stored in the nonvolatile memory  120  until the time which a user desires comes even when activating the image forming apparatus  1 , there is no possibility that the print job is lost due to deletion by the third person during absence of a user. 
     Incidentally, the image forming apparatus  1  needs not to be normally activated immediately when the control section  110  judges that the current time does not reach to the setting time. 
     For example, when the control section  110  judges that the current time does not reach to the setting time (Step S 16 : No) as a flowchart shown in  FIG. 7 , the operating/displaying section  30  may display a continuous-job-presence key  30   e  to inform that the print job is stored in the nonvolatile memory  120  as shown in  FIG. 8 . 
     When the continuous-job-presence key  30   e  is depressed, a job-execution-agree/disagree screen  30   f  is displayed in the operating/displaying section  30  as shown in  FIG. 9  (Step S 18 ). 
     When a “No” key  30   h  in the job-execution-agree/disagree screen  30   f  is depressed (Step S 18 : No), the image forming apparatus  1  is normally activated and the processing ends. 
     On the other hand, when a “Yes” key  30   g  in the job-execution-agree/disagree screen  30   f  is depressed (Step S 18 : Yes), the print job stored in the nonvolatile memory  120  is invoked (Step S 17 ), the image forming apparatus  1  is activated so as to be able to execute the print job, and the processing ends. 
     Thus, even when the current time does not reach to the setting time previously set by a user when the image forming apparatus  1  is activated, if a user intends to execute the print job, the print job can be invoked to be executed. 
     As described above, according to the image forming apparatus  1 , the print job reserved by a user remains stored in the nonvolatile memory  120  until the setting time set by a user comes or until a user instructs to execute the print job even when the image forming apparatus  1  is activated, these is no possibility that the print job is lost due to a wrong operation by the third person during absence of a user. 
     In other words, since the reserved print job can be selectively invoked based on the setting time as the predetermined condition, these is no possibility that the print job is lost despite the intension of a user, and it becomes possible to unfailingly execute the print job. 
     Second Embodiment 
     Next, the second embodiment of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention will be described. The same reference numbers as the first embodiment is applied to the same portions, and only different points will be described. 
     The operating/displaying section  30  functions as a condition setting section to store and set a password which is authentication information as the predetermined condition for enabling execution of the print job so that the password corresponds to the print job to be stored in the nonvolatile memory  120 . 
     The operating/displaying section  30  functions also as an authentication input section in which a user input a password as the authentication information. 
     The control section  110  performs processing of storing the print job set by a user or the print job obtained from the external apparatus or the like in the nonvolatile memory  120  according to the instruction to store the print job input through the operating/displaying section  30  based on a print job storing program. 
     The control section  110  further performs processing of storing and setting the password which is the authentication information as the predetermined condition for enabling execution of the print job so that the password corresponds to the print job to be stored in the nonvolatile memory  120 , based on a condition setting program. 
     The control section  110  performs processing of executing the print job stored in the nonvolatile memory  120  when judging that the password stored in the nonvolatile memory  120  and the password input through the operating/displaying section  30  agree with each other. 
     The operation and processing by the image forming apparatus according to the second embodiment will be described with reference to the flowcharts shown in  FIGS. 10 ,  11 . 
     For example, when a user sets the print job like that displayed in the operating/displaying section  30  shown in  FIG. 5  to reserve the print job for executing it on the next day, by depressing the job reservation button  30   a  in the operating/displaying section  30 , the job reservation screen  30   b  is displayed in the operating/displaying section  30  as shown in  FIG. 6 . 
     When “No” key  30   d  in the job reservation screen  30   b  is depressed (Step S 20 : No), the reservation is not performed, the power of the image forming apparatus  1  is turned off and the processing ends. 
     On the other hand, when “Yes” key  30   c  in the job reservation screen  30   b  is depressed to instruct to store the print job (Step S 20 : Yes), the operating/displaying section  30  displays a password setting screen (Step S 21 ). 
     When a user inputs the password in the password setting screen (not shown) in the operating/displaying section  30 , the control section  110  stores the password in the nonvolatile memory  120  correspondingly to the print job (Step S 22 ), and stores the print job to which the password is correlated in the nonvolatile memory  120  (Step S 23 ). After storing the print job, the power of the image forming apparatus  1  is turned off and the processing ends. 
     After that, when the power of the image forming apparatus  1  is turned on, the control section  110  judges whether or not the reserved print job stored in the nonvolatile memory  120  exists (Step S 24 ). 
     When the control section  110  judges that the print job is not stored in the nonvolatile memory  120  (Step S 24 : No), the image forming apparatus  1  is normally activated and the processing ends. 
     On the other hand, when the control section  110  judges that that the print job is stored in the nonvolatile memory  120  (Step S 24 : Yes), the operating/displaying section  30  displays a password entry screen  30   i  as shown in  FIG. 12  (Step S 25 ). 
     When the password is input in the password entry screen  30   i  (Step S 26 ), the control section  110  judges that whether or not the password stored and set in the nonvolatile memory  120  and the password input through the operating/displaying section  30  agree with each other (Step S 27 ). 
     When the control section  110  judges that the passwords do not agree with each other (Step S 27 : No), the processing returns to Step S 25 . When each of the multiple (for example, three) input passwords does not agree with the set password, the image forming apparatus  1  is normally activated and the processing ends. 
     On the other hand, when the control section  110  judges that the passwords agree with each other (Step S 27 : Yes), the print job stored in the nonvolatile memory  120  is invoked as shown in  FIG. 5  (Step S 28 ), the image forming apparatus  1  is activated so as to be able to execute the print job, and the processing ends. 
     As described above, according to the image forming apparatus  1 , since the print job reserved by a user remains stored in the nonvolatile memory  120  until the password set by the user is input so that the print job is selectively invoked based on the authentication of the password even when the image forming apparatus  1  is activated, there is no possibility that the print job is lost despite the intention of the user, and thereby the print job can be surely executed. 
     Third Embodiment 
     Next, the third embodiment of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention will be described. The same reference numbers as the first embodiment is applied to the same portions, and only different points will be described. 
     The fingerprint authenticating section  60  functions as a condition setting section to store and set the fingerprint data which is the authentication information as the predetermined condition for enabling the execution of the print job in the nonvolatile memory  120  so that the fingerprint data corresponds to the print job to be stored in the nonvolatile memory  120 . 
     The fingerprint authenticating section  60  further functions as an authentication input section for inputting the fingerprint data as the authentication information. 
     The control section  110  performs processing of storing the print job set by a user and the print job obtained from the external apparatus and the like in the nonvolatile memory  120  according to the instruction to store the print job input through the operating/displaying section  30  based on the print job storing program. 
     The control section  110  also performs processing of storing and setting the fingerprint data which is the authentication information as the predetermined condition for enabling the execution of the print job in the nonvolatile memory  120  so that the fingerprint data corresponds to the print job to be stored in the nonvolatile memory  120 , based on the condition setting program. 
     Then, when the control section  110  judges that the fingerprint data stored in the nonvolatile memory  120  and the fingerprint data input through the fingerprint authenticating section  60  agree with each other, the control section  110  performs processing of executing the print job stored in the nonvolatile memory  120 . 
     The operation and processing by the image forming apparatus  1  according to the third embodiment will be described with reference to the flowcharts shown in  FIGS. 13 ,  14 . 
     For example, when a user sets the print job like that displayed in the operating/displaying section  30  shown in  FIG. 5  to reserve the print job for executing it on the next day, by depressing the job reservation button  30   a  in the operating/displaying section  30 , the job reservation screen  30   b  is displayed in the operating/displaying section  30  as shown in  FIG. 6 . 
     When the “No” key  30   d  in the job reservation screen  30   b  is depressed (Step S 30 : No), the power of the image forming apparatus  1  is turned off without performing the reservation, and the processing ends. 
     On the other hand, when the “Yes” key  30   c  in the job reservation screen  30   b  is depressed to instruct to store the print job (Step S 30 : Yes), the fingerprint data setting screen is displayed in the operating/displaying section  30  (Step S 31 ). 
     When a user inputs the fingerprint data through the fingerprint authenticating section  60  according to the instruction of the fingerprint data setting screen (not shown) in the operating/displaying section  30 , the control section  110  stores the fingerprint data in the nonvolatile memory  120  so that the fingerprint data corresponds to the print data (Step S 32 ), and stores the print job to which the fingerprint data is correlated in the nonvolatile memory  120  (Step S 33 ). After storing the print job, the power of the image forming apparatus  1  is turned off and the processing ends. 
     After that, when the power of the image forming apparatus  1  is turned on, the control section  110  judges whether or not the reserved print job stored in the nonvolatile memory  120  exists (Step S 34 ). 
     When the control section  110  judges that the print job is not stored in the nonvolatile memory  120  (Step S 34 : No), the image forming apparatus  1  is normally activated and the processing ends. 
     On the other hand, when the control section  110  judges that the print job is stored in the nonvolatile memory  120  (Step S 34 : Yes), the fingerprint data entry screen  30   j  is displayed in the operating/displaying section  30  as shown in  FIG. 15  (Step S 35 ). 
     When a user inputs the fingerprint data through the fingerprint authenticating section  60  according to the instruction in the fingerprint data entry screen  30   j  (Step S 36 ), the control section  110  judges whether or not the fingerprint data stored and set in the nonvolatile memory  120  and the fingerprint data input through the fingerprint authenticating section  60  agree with each other (Step S 37 ). 
     When the control section  110  judges that the couple of pieces of the fingerprint data do not agree with each other (Step S 37 : No), the processing returns to Step S 35 . When each of a plurality (for example, three) of pieces of input fingerprint data does not agree with the set fingerprint data, the image forming apparatus  1  is normally activated and the processing ends. 
     On the other hand, when the control section  110  judges that the couple of pieces of the fingerprint data agree with each other (Step S 37 : Yes), the print job stored in the nonvolatile memory  120  is invoked (Step S 38 ), the image forming apparatus  1  is activated so as to be able to execute the print job, and the processing ends. 
     As described above, according to the image forming apparatus  1 , since the print job reserved by a user remains stored in the nonvolatile memory  120  until the fingerprint data set by the user is input so that the print job is selectively invoked based on the authentication of the fingerprint data even when the image forming apparatus  1  is activated, there is no possibility that the print job is lost despite the intention of the user, and thereby the print job can be surely executed. 
     Fourth Embodiment 
     Next, the fourth embodiment of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention will be described. The same reference numbers as the first embodiment is applied to the same portions, and only different points will be described. 
     The operating/displaying section  30  functions as a selection section for enabling a user to arbitrarily select a condition among a plurality of conditions for enabling the execution of the print job. 
     The control section  110  performs processing of executing the print job when judging that the predetermined condition stored in the nonvolatile memory  120  is met. 
     The predetermined condition is, for example, setting time, password, or fingerprint data. When the control section  110  judges that the current time reaches the setting time stored in the nonvolatile memory  120  or the setting time has been passed, or when the control section  110  judges that the password stored in the nonvolatile memory  120  and the password input through the operating/displaying section  30  agree with each other, or when the control section  110  judges that the fingerprint data stored in the nonvolatile memory  120  and the fingerprint data input through the fingerprint authenticating section  60  agree with each other, the print job stored in the nonvolatile memory  120  is executed. 
     The operation and processing by the image forming apparatus  1  according to the fourth embodiment will be described with reference to flowcharts shown in  FIGS. 16 ,  17 . 
     For example, when a user sets the print job like that displayed in the operating/displaying section  30  shown in  FIG. 5  to reserve the print job for executing it on the next day, by depressing the job reservation button  30   a  in the operating/displaying section  30 , the job reservation screen  30   b  is displayed in the operating/displaying section  30  as shown in  FIG. 6 . 
     When the “No” key  30   d  in the job reservation screen  30   b  is depressed (Step S 40 : No), the power of the image forming apparatus  1  is turned on without performing the reservation, and the processing ends. 
     On the other hand, when the “Yes” key  30   c  is depressed to instruct to store the print job (Step S 40 : Yes), the condition selection screen is displayed in the operating/displaying section  30  as shown in  FIG. 18  (Step S 41  (S 41   a,  S 41   b,  S 41   c,  S 41   d )). 
     When a “no condition” key  30   k  is depressed in the condition selection screen (Step S 41   a : Yes), only the print job is stored in the nonvolatile memory  120  (Step S 43 ). After storing the print job, the power of the image forming apparatus  1  is turned off and the processing ends. 
     When a “setting time” key  30   l  is depressed in the condition selection screen (Step S 41   b : Yes), the processing goes through Steps S 11 , S 12 , and then the print job to which the setting time is correlated is stored in the nonvolatile memory  120  (Step S 43 ). After storing the print job, the power of the image forming apparatus  1  is turned off and the processing ends. 
     When a “password” key  30   m  is depressed in the condition selection screen (Step S 41   c : Yes), the processing goes through Steps S 21 , S 22 , and then the print job to which the password is correlated is stored in the nonvolatile memory  120  (Step S 43 ). After storing the print job, the power of the image forming apparatus  1  is turned off and the processing ends. 
     When a “fingerprint data” key  30   n  is depressed in the condition selection screen (Step S 41   d : Yes), the processing goes through Steps S 31 , S 32 , and then the print job to which the fingerprint data is correlated is stored in the nonvolatile memory  120  (Step S 43 ). After storing the print job, the power of the image forming apparatus  1  is turned off and the processing ends. 
     After that, when the power of the image forming apparatus  1  is turned on, the control section  110  judges that whether or not the reserved print job stored in the nonvolatile memory  120  exits (Step S 44 ). 
     When the control section  110  judges that the print job is not stored in the nonvolatile memory  120  (Step S 44 : No), the image forming apparatus  1  is normally activated and the processing ends. 
     On the other hand, when the control section  110  judges that the print job is stored in the nonvolatile memory  120  (Step S 44 : Yes), the control section  110  judges what the selected predetermined condition is (Step S 45  (S 45   a,  S 45   b,  S 45   c,  S 45   d )). 
     When the control section  110  judges that no condition is selected (Step S 45   a : Yes), the print job stored in the nonvolatile memory  120  is invoked as shown in  FIG. 5  (Step S 48 ), the image forming apparatus  1  is activated so as to be able to execute the print job, and the processing ends. 
     When the control section  110  judges that the predetermined condition is the setting time (Step S 45   b : Yes), the processing goes through Steps S 15 , S 16 . 
     Then, when the control section  110  judges that the current time does not reach to the setting time (Step S 16 : No), the image forming apparatus  1  is normally activated, and the processing ends. On the other hand, when the control section  110  judges that the current time reaches the setting time or the setting time has been passed (Step S 16 : Yes), the print job stored in the nonvolatile memory  120  is invoked as shown in  FIG. 5  (Step S 48 ), the image forming apparatus  1  is activated so as to be able to execute the print job, and the processing ends. 
     When the control section  110  judges that the predetermined condition is the password (Step S 45   c : Yes), the processing goes through Steps S 25 , S 26  and S 27 . 
     Then, when the control section  110  judges that the passwords do not agree with each other (Step S 27 : No), the processing returns to Step S 25 . On the other hand, when the control section  110  judges that the passwords agree with each other (Step S 27 : Yes), the print job stored in the nonvolatile memory  120  is invoked as shown in  FIG. 5  (Step S 48 ), the image forming apparatus  1  is activated so as to be able to execute the print job, and the processing ends. When each of the multiple (for example, three) input passwords does not agree with the set password, the image forming apparatus  1  is normally activated and the processing ends. 
     When the control section  110  judges that the predetermined condition is the fingerprint data (Step S 45   d : Yes), the processing goes through Steps S 35 , S 36  and S 37 . 
     Then, when the control section  110  judges that the couple of pieces of the finger print data do not agree with each other (Step S 37 : No), the processing returns to Step S 35 . On the other hand, when the control section  110  judges that the couple of pieces of the finger print data agree with each other (Step S 37 : Yes), the print job stored in the nonvolatile memory  120  is invoked as shown in  FIG. 5  (Step S 48 ), the image forming apparatus  1  is activated so as to be able to execute the print job, and the processing ends. When each of a plurality (for example, three) of pieces of the fingerprint data does not agree with the set fingerprint data, the image forming apparatus  1  is normally activated and the processing ends. 
     As described above, the image forming apparatus  1  can store a plurality of conditions in the nonvolatile memory  120  so that a user can select desired condition among the plurality of conditions. 
     According to the image forming apparatus  1 , since the print job reserved by a user remains stored in the nonvolatile memory  120  until the predetermined condition set by the user is met even when the image forming apparatus  1  is activated, and since the print job is invoked when it is judged that the condition is met, there is no possibility that the print job is lost despite the intention of the user, and thereby the print job can be surely executed. 
     Incidentally, though the above-mentioned embodiment recites password and fingerprint data as examples of the authentication information, the present invention is not limited to the examples, and arbitrary authentication information such as biometric authentication may be used. 
     In addition, it is a matter of course that specific detailed configuration and the like can be changed arbitrary. 
     All of the disclosures including the claims, the patent specification, the attached drawings and the abstract of Japanese Patent Application No. 2008-281952 filed Oct. 31, 2008 are herein incorporated by reference. 
     Although various typical embodiments have been shown and described, the present invention is not limited to those embodiments. Consequently, the scope of the present invention can be limited only by the following claims.