Abstract:
A technique for copying a plurality of pages requiring different numbers of copies by displaying a message asking a user to designate the desired number of copies for each page upon feeding a plurality of pages; storing the desired number of copies inputted by the user in response to the message for each page; and scanning and storing the fed pages, and sequentially copying the pages to provide a number of copies equal to the desired number of copies.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 08/679,439, filed on the of Jul. 12, 1996, now abandoned. 
    
    
     CLAIM OF PRIORITY 
     This application make reference to, incorporates the same herein, and claims all benefits accruing under 35 U.S.C. §119 and 35 U.S.C. §120 from an application entitled METHOD FOR COPYING A PLURALITY OF DOCUMENTS IN FACSIMILE SYSTEM earlier filed in the Korean Industrial Property Office on Jul. 12, 1995 and assigned Ser. No. 20505/1995. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, and, in particular, to a technique for copying a plurality of pages on an image forming apparatus, such as a facsimile machine. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Generally, a facsimile machine has a transmitting mode and a receiving mode as well as a copying mode, so that a user of the facsimile machine can copy a page. That is, once the user feeds the page for copying and then, designates the number of copies needed when the machine is in the copying mode, the facsimile machine is able to copy the fed page to produce the designated number of copies. Although a plurality of pages are fed to the facsimile system, the pages can be always copied as long as the same number of copies of each are produced. 
     Therefore, even if the user feeds a plurality of pages for copying requiring different numbers of copies, the facsimile machine copies those pages while producing the same number of copies of each page. For this reason, it is inconvenient to feed each page for each copying amount separately and to designate each copying amount of the fed pages individually, for the sake of copying a multiplicity of pages requiring different numbers of copies of each page. In addition, the facsimile machine has many problems in that much time can be taken in feeding and ejecting page by page upon separately copying each page and in performing additional preheating caused by the delay time for reinserting each page, as well as prolonging usage time of the facsimile machine accordingly, thereby consequently increasing power consumption. 
     Hube, U.S. Pat. No. 5,517,31 6, entitled Apparatus Anid Method For Saving/Storing Job Run Information Generated By Processing A Job On A Printing Machine, discloses an arrangement in a printing machine which stores the parameters for each job (consisting of a plurality of pages to be printed) rather than storing the parameters on a page by page basis. 
     Murakami et al., Yoda, and Mathur et al., U.S. Pat. Nos., 5,129,016, 5,185,821 and 5,499,109, respectively entitled System For Registration Of Documents, Image Filing Apparatus For Serially Storing Input Information, and System For Transferring Messages Between Input And Output Devices In A Communication Device, all disclose imaging apparatus in which information from pages are received and stored in a memory for later usage, such as being printed. 
     Nakayama, U.S. Pat. No. 5,084,770, entitled Image Communication Apparatus, among others, discloses a facsimile machine in which pages and data regarding these pages are stored. However, Nakayama does not teach or suggest the storage of pages and corresponding information with regard to producing copies thereof as in the present invention. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a technique for copying a plurality of pages requiring different numbers of copies of each after feeding those pages in the image forming apparatus at one time. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a technique for copying a plurality of pages requiring different numbers of copies of each page, thereby reducing the time consumed upon copying those pages. 
     It is further another object of the present invention to provide a technique for copying a plurality of pages requiring different numbers of copies of each page, thereby reducing the power consumption needed for copying those pages. 
     Those and other objects can be achieved according to the present invention with an apparatus and method for copying a plurality of pages requiring different numbers of copies of each page,on an image forming apparatus, such as facsimile machine, including: (a) displaying a message after a user to designate the number of copies of each page upon feeding a plurality of pages; (b) storing the number of copies inputted by the user in response to the message for each page; and (c) scanning and storing each page, and sequentially copying the pages to produce the number of copies stored in step (b). 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     A more complete appreciation of this invention, and many of the attendant advantages thereof, will be readily apparent as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference symbols indicate the same or similar elements components, wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating the construction of a facsimile machine to which the present invention is adapted; 
     FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating the steps for copying a plurality of pages on a facsimile machine according to a first embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIGS. 3A and 3B are flowcharts illustrating the steps for copying a plurality of pages on a facsimile machine according to a second embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating the steps for copying a plurality of pages on a facsimile machine according to a third embodiment of the present invention; and 
     FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating the steps for copying a plurality of pages on a facsimile machine according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Throughout the drawings, it is noted that the same reference numerals and letters will be used to designate like or equivalent elements having the same function. Further, in the following description, numerous specific details are set forth to provide a more thorough understanding of the present invention. It will be apparent, however, to one skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced without these specific details. 
     FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating the construction of a facsimile machine to which the present invention is adapted, comprising: a controller  111 , an operating panel equipment (hereinafter, referred to as an OPE)  112 , a sensor  113 , a scanner  114 , an image processor  115 , a printer  116 , a modem  117  and a network control unit  118  (hereinafter, referred to as an NCU). 
     In the facsimile machine adapting a plural page copying mode in FIG. 1, the controller  111  controls the overall operations of a transmitting mode, a receiving mode, a general copying mode, and the plural page copying mode of the facsimile machine, depending on a set program. Further, the controller  111  can include a program memory and a data memory or can be connected to an external program memory and data memory. A program according to the present invention is stored in the program memory and data generated during performance of the above program is temporarily stored in the data memory. 
     With regard to FIG. 1, the OPE  112  is constructed with a key input unit and a display. The key input unit of the OPE  112  generates data of a key which is pressed by the user for performing the designation of each mode and operation of the designated mode, and outputs the generated data to the controller  111 . Also, as above, the display of the OPE  112  performs input and display of display data which displays the operation state of the system upon performing each mode in the controller  111 . Furthermore, the sensor  113  senses the presence/absence of the input of the pages and the printing paper, i.e., whether or not a page has been inputted and whether or not there is printing paper, and outputs the sensed state signal to the controller  111 . 
     The scanner  114  moves the inputted page, scans the image of the moved page, and converts the scanned image into digital data, and outputs the converted digital data. In the transmitting mode, the general copying mode and the plural page copying mode, the image processor  115 , under the control of the controller  111 , processes an image signal output by the scanner  114  and encodes the processed image signal to be in conformity with the standard size of the facsimile machine. In the receiving mode, the image processor  115  processes the encoded image signal inputted through a transmission line and decodes the processed image signal into the original image data. In the receiving mode, the general copying mode and the plural page copying mode, the printer  116 , under the control of the controller  111 , prints the image data inputted from the image processor  115  on the printing paper. 
     In the transmitting mode, the modem  117 , under the control of the controller  111 , modulates the image data outputted from the image processor  115  into an image signal of a transmitting format, and transmits the modulated image signal. Likewise, in the receiving mode, the modem  117  demodulates the transmitted image signal to be processed by the image processor  115 . The NCU  118  connects a telephone line (tip and ring) and a transmitting/receiving path of the modem  117  under the control of the controller  111 . 
     The facsimile machine constructed as described above performs the operation in the plural page copying mode according the present invention as shown in FIGS. 2 to  5 . Referring to the construction of FIG. 1, the steps for copying a plurality of pages requiring different numbers of copies according to first to fourth embodiments of the present invention is explained below. 
     FIRST EMBODIMENT OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
     Once a user designates the desired number of copies a page by using a plural page copying key and numeric keys which are part of the OPE  112 , and then presses the start key indicative of the start of the copying, the copying operation of the page is started. The controller  111  stores each desired number of copies for each page in the memory. When a corresponding page is scanned, the controller  111  stores the content of the scanned page in the memory. Thereafter, the controller  111  performs the copying operation of the stored content thereof, providing the number of copies of the page designated by the user. 
     More concretely explaining the operation of the first embodiment of the present invention, when the user feeds a plurality of pages for copying, the controller  111  checks, in step  202  of FIG. 2, whether or not a page has been fed. Then, when it has been determined that a page was fed, the controller  111  proceeds to step  204  of FIG.  2 . Herein, the controller  111  requests the input of the desired number of copies per page on the display of the OPE  112 . In this case, in response the request, the user designates the desired number of copies of the page by using the numeric keys of the OPE  112 . After that, the controller  111  checks, in step  206  of FIG. 2, whether or not the start key has been pressed. When it has determined that the start key has been pressed, the controller  111  stores the designated number of copies of the page, so that the copying operation of the page can be started. 
     When the copying operation is started, the controller  111 , in step  208 , reads the desired number of copies of a first page stored in the memory, and proceeds to step  210 . The controller  111  controls the scanner  114  to scan the first page, and proceeds to step  212 . The controller  111 , in step  212 , stores the scanned first page in the memory and, in step  214 , copies the stored first page using the printer  116 . When the copying operation of the first page has been completed, the controller  111  proceeds to step  218 , so that the controller  111  reduces the number of copies stored in the memory by one. Then, the controller  111  proceeds to step  220 , and checks whether or not the copying operation of the above page is completed, that is, has the designated number of copies of the page been made. When the number of copies has not reached the designated number of copies, the controller  111  repeats steps  214  to  220 , thereby enabling the page to be copied for the designated number of copies. 
     When it has been determined in step  220  that the copying operation has been completed, the controller  111  checks, in step  222 , whether or not a final page has been completely copied. When it has been determined that the final page has been completely copied, the controller  111  completes the copying operation of the plural pages. However, when there are pages due to be copied, i.e., when the final page has not been completely copied, the controller  111  returns to step  208 . Therefore, by repeating steps  208  to  222 , the controller  111  completes the copying operation of the fed plurality of pages. In most cases, since a plurality of pages are copied, the controller  111  repeatedly performs the operations steps  208  to  222  several times. 
     SECOND EMBODIMENT OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
     Once a user designates the desired number of copies of the page by using the plural page copying key and the numeric key which are part of the OPE  112 , and then presses the start key indicative of the start of the copying, the copying operation begins. The controller  111  first stores the desired number of copies of the first page in the memory. As the first page is scanned, the controller  111  stores the content of the scanned first page in the memory. Thereafter, the controller  111  performs the copying operation of the stored content thereof, providing the number of copies previously designated by the user. At this point, while the first page is being copied, if the user inputs the desired number of copies of a next page according to a message “Please input the desired number of copies of the next page”, displayed on the OPE  112 , the controller  111  stores the desired number of copies of the next page. After the first page has been completely copied, the controller  111  scans the next page and stores the scanned next page in the memory, and then performs the copying operation of the stored next page, providing the number of copies previously designated by the user. 
     The user feeds a plurality of pages for copying, and the controller  111  checks, in step  302  of FIG. 3A, whether or not a page has been fed. Then, when it has been determined that the page was fed, the controller  111  proceeds to step  304  of FIG.  3 A. Herein, the controller  111  displays a message “Please designate the number of copies of the first page.” on the display of the OPE  112 . After checking the message, the user designates the number of copies of the first page by using the numeric keys of the OPE  112 . The controller  111  then checks, in step  306  of FIG. 3A, whether or not the start key has been pressed. When it has been determined that the start key was pressed, the controller  111  stores the designated number of copies of the first page, and then starts the copying operation of the first page. 
     Once the copying operation has been started, the controller  111 , in step  308 , reads the desired number of copies of the first page stored in the memory, and then proceeds to step  310 . The controller  111  controls the scanner  114  to scan the first page. Subsequently, the controller  111 , in step  312 , stores the scanned first page corresponding to one page, in the memory. 
     In step  318 , after scanning, the controller  111  copies the page stored in the memory, using the printer  116 . Then, the controller  111  proceeds to step  322 . The controller  111  then reduces the number of copies stored in the memory, by one. Thereafter, the controller  111  proceeds to step  324 , and checks whether or not the copying operation of the above page has been completed. When the number of copies of above page has not reached the designated number of copies, the controller  111  repeats steps  318  to  324 , thereby enabling the page to be copied the designated number of times. 
     When it has been determined, in step  324 , that the copying operation thereof has been completed, the controller  111  checks, in step  326 , whether or not a final page has been copied. When it has been determined that the final page has been copied, the controller  111  completes the copying operation of the plural pages. However, when it has been determined that pages due to be copied are left, i.e., when it has been determined that the final page was not copied, the controller  111  proceeds to step  328 . The controller  111  then again checks whether or not the desired number of copies of the next page has been newly inputted. Thus, when it has been determined that the desired number of copies of the next page has been newly inputted, i.e., when it has been determined that pages due to be copied are left, the controller  111  proceeds to step  330 . Here, the controller  111  reads the newly inputted number of copies stored in the memory. To the contrary, when it has been determined that the desired number of copies of the next page has not been newly inputted, the controller  111  reads the desired number of copies of the previous page, at step  332  and then returns to step  310 . As a result, by repeating steps  310  to  332 , the controller  111  completes the copying operation of the fed plurality of pages. Since a plurality of pages are usually copied, the controller  111  repeatedly performs the operations of steps  310  and  332  many times. 
     THIRD EMBODIMENT OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
     When a user designates the desired number of copies of a page by using the plural page copying keys and the numeric keys which are part of at the OPE  112 , and then presses the start key indicative of the start of the copying, the copying operation of the page is started. The controller  111  stores the desired number of copies of the page in the memory. When the corresponding page is scanned, the controller  111  stores the content of the scanned page in the memory. Thereafter, the controller  111  performs the copying operation of the stored content thereof so as to produce the number of copies designated by the user. While the copying operation for each page is performed according to the designated number of copies, if the user changes the desired number of copies of the page by the OPE  112  and inputs the changed desired number of copies, then the controller  111  copies the next page so as to produce the inputted and changed number of copies. After performing the copying operation of the above page by changing the desired number of copies of the next page, the controller  111  further copies the next page so as to produce the number of copies which was initially set by the user. 
     When the user feeds a plurality of pages for copying, the controller  111  checks, in step  402  of FIG. 4, whether or not a page has been fed. Then, when it has been determined that a page was fed, the controller  111  proceeds to step  404  of FIG.  4 . Herein, the controller  111  then requests the input of the desired number of copies per page on the display of the OPE  112 . After receiving the request, the user designates the desired number of copies of the first page by using the numeric keys of the OPE  112 . The controller  111  checks, in step  406  of FIG. 4, whether or not the start key has been pressed. When it has been determined that the start keys was pressed, the controller  111  stores the designated desired number of copies of the first page, thereby starting the copying operation of the first page. 
     When the copying operation has been started, the controller  111 , in step  408 , reads the desired number of copies of the first page stored in the memory, and then proceeds to step  410 . The controller  111  then controls the scanner  114  to scan the first page. The controller  111 , in step  412 , stores the scanned first page, in the memory. While the first page is being scanned and stored, the controller  111 , in step  414 , enables a message “Is the desired number of copies of the next page changed ?” to be displayed on the display of the OPE  112 . If the desired number of copies of the next page is changed responsive to the above message, the controller  111  displays a message “Please designate the new desired number of copies of the next page for changing”. From this, when the desired number of copies of the next page was changed by the user, the controller  111 , in step  416 , stores the changed desired number of copies of the next page, in the memory, and then proceeds to step  418 . However, when the desired number of copies of the next page was not changed, the controller  111  directly proceeds to step  418 . 
     After scanning, the controller  111  copies the page stored in the memory using the printer  116  at step  418  and then proceeds to step  422 . The controller  111  then reduces the desired number of copies stored in the memory, by one. Thereafter, the controller  111  proceeds to step  424 , and checks whether or not the copying operation of the above page has been completed, that is, has the designated number of copies been provided. In the event that the above page was not copied the designated desired number of times, the controller  111  repeats steps  414  to  424 , enabling the page to be copied the designated desired number of times. 
     If it has been determined in step  424  that the copying operation has been completed, the controller  111  checks, in step  426 , whether or not a final page has been completely copied. When it has been determined that the final page has been completely copied, the controller  111  completes the copying operation of the plurality of pages. However, when it has been determined that pages due to be copied are left, i.e., when it has been determined that the final page has not been completely copied, the controller  111  returns to step  408 . By repeating steps  408  to  426 , the controller  111  completes the copying operation of the fed plural pages. In most cases, since plural pages are copied, the controller  111  repeatedly performs the operations of step  408  to  426 . At this point, upon copying a plurality of the pages, if the desired number of copies of the page is changed, only the desired number of copies of the corresponding page is changed and the remaining pages following the above corresponding page are copied a number of times equal to the original desired number of copies. 
     FOURTH EMBODIMENT OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
     Upon a user designating the desired number of copies of a page using the plural page copying keys and the numeric key which are part of the OPE  112 , and pressing the start key indicative of the start of the copying, the copying operation of the page is started. The controller  111  stores the desired number of copies of the page in the memory. When the corresponding page is scanned, the controller  111  stores the content of the scanned page in the memory. Thereafter, the controller  111  performs the copying operation of the stored content to produce the number of copies designated by the user. While the copying operation by each page is performed according to the designated number of copies, if the user changes the desired number of copies of the page with the OPE  112  and inputs the changed desired number of copies, the controller  111  copies the next page to produce a number of copies equal to the inputted and changed desired number of copies. After performing the copying operation of the above page by changing the copying volume of the next page, the controller  111  further copies the next pages to produce the changed number of copies set by the user. 
     In particular, when the user feeds a plurality of pages for copying, the controller  111  checks, in step  502  of FIG. 5, whether or not a page has been fed. Then, when it has been determined that a page was fed, the controller  111  proceeds to step  504  of FIG.  5 . The controller  111  then displays a message requesting the input of the desired number of copies per page on the display of the OPE  112 . After checking the message, the user designates the desired number of copies of the first page using the numeric keys of the OPE  112 . The controller  111  then checks, in step  506  of FIG. 5, whether or not the start key has been pressed. When it has determined that the start key was pressed, the controller  111  stores the designated number of copies of the first page, thereby starting the copying operation of the first page. 
     When the copying operation is started, the controller  111 , in step  508 , reads the desired number of copies of the first page that is stored in the memory, and then proceeds to step  510 . The controller  111  controls the scanner  114  to scan the first page. The controller  111 , in step  512 , stores the scanned first page, in the memory. While the first page is scanned and stored, the controller  111 , in step  514 , enables a message “Is the desired number of copies Df the next page to be changed ?”to be displayed on the display of the OPE  112 . If the desired number of copies of the next page is to be changed in response to the above message, the controller  111  displays a message “Please designate the new desired number of copies of the next page for changing”. From this, when the desired number of copies of the next page was changed by the user, the controller  111 , in step  516 , stores the changed desired number of copies of the next page in the memory. Simultaneously, the controller  111  replaces the desired number of copies of all pages following the above copied page with the changed desired number of copies and stores the changed desired number of copies in the memory, and then proceeds to step  518 . On the other hand, when the desired number of copies of the next page was not changed, the controller  111  directly proceeds to step  518 . 
     In step  518 , after scanning, the controller  111  copies the pace stored in the memory using the printer  116 , and then proceeds to step  522 . The controller  111  then reduces the number of copies stored in the memory, by one. Thereafter, the controller  111  proceeds to step  524 , and checks whether or not the copying operation of the above page has been completed. In the event that the above page was not copied the designated number of times, the controller  111  repeats steps  514  to  524 , thereby eventually enabling the page to be copied the designated number of times. 
     When it has been determined, in step  524 , that the copying operation thereof has been completed, the controller  111  checks, in step  526 , whether or not a page remains to be copied. Here, when checked that no page remains to be copied, the controller  111  completes the copying operation ofthe plurality of pages. However, when it has been determined that pages due to be copied are left, i.e., when it has been determined that the final page has not been copied, the controller  111  returns to step  508 . By repeating steps  508  to  526 , the controller  111  completes the copying operation of t 0  the fed plurality of pages. In most cases, since a plurality of pages are copied, the controller  111  repeatedly performs the operations of steps  508  to  526 . At this point, upon copying a plurality of the pages, if the desired number of copies of the page is changed, both the desired number of copies of the corresponding page and the remaining pages following the above corresponding page are changed. 
     As apparent from the foregoing, to the present invention can achieve copying a plurality of pages requiring different numbers of copies has a facsimile machine which performs the operation of the plural page copying mode, so that, although a plurality of pages are fed in one time, those pages can be copied different numbers of times. Consequently, upon copying a plurality of pages different numbers of times, it is advantages in that the time required for copying a multiplicity of pages can be reduced and the power consumption can be reduced positively. 
     While there have been illustrated and described what are considered to be preferred embodiments of the present invention, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made, and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the true scope of the present invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation to the teaching of the present invention without departing from the central scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the present invention not be limited to the particular embodiments disclosed as the best modes contemplated for carrying out the present invention, but that the present invention includes all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.