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US 7,072,593 B2Granted
Method and apparatus for processing image, image forming apparatus, method for controlling image forming apparatus, computer program, and computer readable storage medium
AssigneeCanon Kabushiki Kaisha
InventorAkira Negishi
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An image forming apparatus and a method for controlling the same. The image forming apparatus has a keyed sheet storage unit that has a key status of locked and unlocked states. The image forming apparatus can switch operational sequences of the keyed sheet storage unit in response to the key status of the keyed sheet storage unit to achieve ease of use and the enhancement of security level.
Claims31
An apparatus for forming an image, the apparatus comprising:
- a key-lockable sheet storage unit configured to feed sheets, the key-lockable sheet storage unit having a lock status including first and second states;
- a determining unit adapted to determine the lock status of the key-lockable sheet storage unit;
- a controller selectively performing at least one of a first action and a second action on the key-lockable sheet storage unit based on the lock status,
- wherein the controller performs the first action responsive to the key-lockable sheet storage unit being in the first state, and performs the second action responsive to the key-lockable sheet storage unit being in the second state;
- and
- a keyless sheet storage unit,
- wherein the first action includes permitting a first print process to be performed on a sheet fed from the key-lockable sheet storage unit and inhibiting a second print process from being performed on a sheet fed from the keyless sheet storage unit,
- wherein the second action includes permitting the first and second print processes to be performed, and
- wherein the controller performs the first action responsive to the lock status being the first state and performs the second action responsive to the lock status being the second state.
6 more elements
A method for controlling an image forming apparatus having a key-lockable sheet storage unit and a keyless sheet storage unit, the method comprising:
- a step of causing the image forming apparatus to perform a first action using the key-lockable sheet storage unit if a lock status of the key-lockable sheet storage unit is in a first state;
- a step of causing the image forming apparatus to perform a second action using the key-lockable sheet storage unit if the lock status of the key-lockable sheet storage unit is in a second state,
- wherein the first action includes permitting a first print process to be performed on a sheet from the key-lockable sheet storage unit in a series of print steps while inhibiting a second print process from being performed on a sheet from the keyless sheet storage unit in the series of print steps,
- wherein the second action includes permitting the first print process to be performed in the series of print steps and permitting the second print process to be performed in the series of print steps,
- a step of causing the image forming apparatus to perform the first action in the first state;
- and
- a step of causing the image forming apparatus to perform the second action in the second state.
4 more elements
The method according to 15, wherein the first image forming mode includes a print mode for printing data containing personal information, and
- wherein the second image forming mode includes a print mode for printing data containing no personal information.
An apparatus for forming an image, the apparatus comprising:
- a key-lockable sheet storage unit configured to feed sheets, the key-lockable sheet storage unit having a lock status including first and second states;
- a determining unit adapted to determine the lock status of the key-lockable sheet storage unit;
- a controller selectively performing at least one of a first action and a second action on the key-lockable sheet storage unit based on the lock status,
- wherein the controller performs the first action responsive to the key-lockable sheet storage unit being in the first state, and performs the second action responsive to the key-lockable sheet storage unit being in the second state;
- and
- a keyless sheet storage unit,
- wherein the first action includes inhibiting performance of a print process on a sheet fed from the keyless sheet storage unit after start of a print process on a sheet fed from the key-lockable sheet storage unit,
- wherein the second action includes performing the print process on the sheet fed from the keyless sheet storage unit after the start of the print process on the sheet fed from the key-lockable sheet storage unit, and
- wherein the controller performs the first action responsive to the lock status being the first state and performs the second action responsive to the lock status being the second state.
6 more elements
An apparatus for forming an image, the apparatus comprising:
- a key-lockable sheet storage unit configured to feed sheets, the key-lockable sheet storage unit having a lock status including first and second states;
- a determining unit adapted to determine the lock status of the key-lockable sheet storage unit;
- a controller selectively performing at least one of a first action and a second action on the key-lockable sheet storage unit based on the lock status,
- wherein the controller performs the first action responsive to the key-lockable sheet storage unit being in the first state, and performs the second action responsive to the key-lockable sheet storage unit being in the second state;
- and
- a keyless sheet storage unit,
- wherein the first action includes inhibiting performance of a print process on a sheet fed from the key-lockable sheet storage unit after start of a print process on a sheet fed from the keyless sheet storage unit,
- wherein the second action includes performing the print process on the sheet fed from the key-lockable sheet storage unit after the start of the print process on the sheet fed from the keyless sheet storage unit, and
- wherein the controller performs the first action responsive to the lock status being the first state and performs the second action responsive to the lock status being the second state.
6 more elements
A method for controlling an image forming apparatus having a key-lockable sheet storage unit and a keyless sheet storage unit, the method comprising:
- a step of causing the image forming apparatus to perform a first action using the key-lockable sheet storage unit if a lock status of the key-lockable sheet storage unit is in a first state;
- a step of causing the image forming apparatus to perform a second action using the key-lockable sheet storage unit if the lock status of the key-lockable sheet storage unit is in a second state,
- wherein the first action includes inhibiting the image forming apparatus from performing a print process on a sheet from the keyless sheet storage unit in succession to start of a print process on a sheet from the key-lockable sheet storage unit,
- wherein the second action includes permitting the image forming apparatus to perform a print process on the sheet from the keyless sheet storage unit in succession to the start of the print process on the sheet from the key-lockable sheet storage unit,
- a step of causing the image forming apparatus to perform the first action in the first state;
- and
- a step of causing the image forming apparatus to perform the second action in the second state.
4 more elements
A method for controlling an image forming apparatus having a key-lockable sheet storage unit and a keyless sheet storage unit, the method comprising:
- a step of causing the image forming apparatus to perform a first action using the key-lockable sheet storage unit if a lock status of the key-lockable sheet storage unit is in a first state;
- a step of causing the image forming apparatus to perform a second action using the key-lockable sheet storage unit if the lock status of the key-lockable sheet storage unit is in a second state,
- wherein the first action includes inhibiting the image forming apparatus from performing a print process on a sheet from the key-lockable sheet storage unit in succession to start of a print process on a sheet from the keyless sheet storage unit,
- wherein the second action includes permitting the image forming apparatus to perform a print process on the sheet from the key-lockable sheet storage unit in succession to the start of the print process on the sheet from the keyless sheet storage unit,
- a step of causing the image forming apparatus to perform the first action in the first state;
- and
- a step of causing the image forming apparatus to perform the second action in the second state.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.