Facsimile and static presentation processing – Static presentation processing – Attribute control
Reexamination Certificate
1998-11-06
2001-12-18
Grant, II, Jerome (Department: 2722)
Facsimile and static presentation processing
Static presentation processing
Attribute control
C358S001120
Reexamination Certificate
active
06331900
ABSTRACT:
This application is based on application No. HEI 09-312138 filed in Japan, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention pertains to an image forming apparatus and its controller, and more particularly, to (i) an image forming apparatus that forms one or more sets of images while saving data for one set of images in memory and that forms one or more sets of images using the stored image data, and (ii) a controller that is used in said image forming apparatus.
2. Description of the Related Art
Various technologies have conventionally been added to image forming apparatuses to enable the user to efficiently print or make copies of images and make it easy for the user to manage the printed images.
Using the technology disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application HEI 5-122477, the image data for which printing has been completed is saved in an image memory, and this image data is read and printing is performed once again through a prescribed operation. This technology pertains to a function to (i) record and save image data for an image for which printing has been completed and (ii) perform printing once again by reading this image data. (In the present specification, this function and a mode using this function are hereinafter termed the memory recall function and the memory recall mode, respectively).
Separate from the technology introduced above, an image forming apparatus having a function to allocate a management number to each set of copies when a set of images is printed in one print job is also known. (In the present specification, this function and a mode using this function are hereinafter termed the serial number printing function and the serial number printing mode, respectively.) Using this serial number printing function, the user can easily determine the number of sets of images printed.
However, there are situations in which the user wishes to allocate, while using the memory recall function, a number to a set of copies that is sequential to the last number that was allocated to the prior set of printed images previously printed. An image forming apparatus having the memory recall function and the serial number printing function is already known. However, in the conventional image forming apparatus having these functions, the user must manually input a management number that is sequential to the last management number of the previous job so that the input management number will be the starting control number for the current job, after confirming the number of sets of images that were previously printed with control numbers.
This type of manual operation is inconvenient for the user, and moreover, when manual inputting is performed, there is a possibility that an image having the same management number may be printed due to mistaken operation by the user, and accurate management may not be achieved.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention has been made to resolve these problems. Its object is to provide an image forming apparatus and a controller for an image forming apparatus that (i) eliminate the need for an operation that is inconvenient for the user and (ii) can accurately manage the number of images formed.
For example, the present invention pertains to a controller for an image forming apparatus, which comprises a processor which automatically determines a starting serial number which is to be given to the first set of prints of a first print job in a case where a memory recall function and a serial number printing function are set, the starting serial number being sequential to the last serial number given to a second print job previously executed.
Image forming apparatus to which the controller having the above mentioned construction is applied may be a printer which makes printed materials based on image data inputted from external host computer, or may be a copier which reads document images, generates image data of the document images, and makes printed materials based on image data of documents.
In the image forming apparatus in which the controller having the above mentioned construction is applied, the user need not manually input the starting serial number when performing serial number printing for a job using the memory recall function. In addition, since the starting serial number is automatically determined, the number of sets of printed images can be accurately managed.
In the image forming apparatus in which the controller having this construction is applied, the serial numbers used in the serial number printing mode may be printed on the first page only of each set of printed images.
These and other objects, advantages and features of the invention will become apparent from the following description thereof taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings which illustrate a specific embodiment of the invention.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3822876 (1974-07-01), Frain
patent: 5699494 (1997-12-01), Colbert et al.
patent: 5704722 (1998-01-01), Kanou
patent: 5727135 (1998-03-01), Webb
patent: 5812536 (1998-09-01), Manduely
patent: 5970228 (1999-10-01), Nezu
patent: 5-122477 (1993-05-01), None
Burns Doane , Swecker, Mathis LLP
Grant II Jerome
Minolta Co. , Ltd.
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