JP2006211474A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent deterioration caused by uselessly operating a scanner unit and to perform printing more approximated to a document by reading information from a contactless IC and starting printing from electronic data. <P>SOLUTION: An image generating apparatus reads a document using a scanner means and is capable of printing image data read by a reading means onto a recording medium such as paper, and a feeder unit is provided for sequentially and automatically reading a plurality of documents. If a document added with the contactless IC storing information about the document and a document added with no contactless IC are mixed on the feeder unit in the image forming apparatus, the document added with the contactless IC is not optically read by the scanner means, but only the information of the contactless IC is read and the document added with no contactless IC is optically read by the scanner means. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus that reads information from a document with a non-contact IC and forms data corresponding to the read information as an image on a recording medium such as paper.

  In a conventional copying machine, all documents are optically read by a scanner unit. Image reading is performed by turning on a light source of a scanner unit, moving the light source using a motor or the like, and sequentially capturing images of a document to capture the image into a copying machine.

As another conventional example, for example, Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2 can be cited.
JP 2004-142420 A JP 2002-190911 A

  In a conventional copying machine, all documents are optically read by a scanner unit. However, a light source such as a fluorescent lamp for illuminating an original provided in a scanner unit for optical reading is deteriorated by lighting every time it is used, and a light source or an original for scanning an original is used. Since the mirror and the like are also operated by the motor to reflect the image, the motor and the belt used for the motor may be deteriorated every time the document is read.

  An image reading unit for reading an image of a document is provided, and when reading a document, a feeder unit for automatically feeding a plurality of documents to the document table of the image reading unit sequentially is provided. Non-contact information reading means for reading the information of the added non-contact IC, and further detecting means for detecting whether or not the non-contact IC is added, the non-contact to the document by the detection means If it is known that an IC is added, the network means reads electronic data stored in a host computer or server on the network, prints it on the image forming means, and a non-contact IC is not added. When the determination is made, the scanner unit is operated to read the image optically to form an image, so that the document with the non-contact IC is added. When Komu seen, lighting and unwanted scanner portion of the light source, it is not necessary to operate the motor source, by further incorporating an electronic data to the copier, and provides a means for image forming what closer to the original.

  It is necessary to operate the optical reading means of the copying machine when the non-contact IC is added to the original by making it possible to receive the electronic data in the server on the network by the non-contact IC added to the original. This eliminates unnecessary lighting of the light source and the operation of the motor for moving the light source, thereby reducing the deterioration of the optical reading unit and extending the component life. Also, electronic data is received from a server on the network by a non-contact IC attached to the document, and an image is formed on a recording medium such as hair using this data, so that the document is optically read. An image closer to the original data of the original can be formed.

  Even if a serial number that can uniquely identify the image data is stored instead of the URL indicating the location where the electronic data of the image is stored in the non-contact IC attached to the document, the network The upper server associates the serial number with the image data, and the electronic data of the image can be automatically received from the associated image storage location. In the present embodiment, the case where the serial number is written by the printer has been described. However, even when the invariant ID is stored in advance in the non-contact IC added to the paper, the same processing can be performed.

Example 1
Hereinafter, a first embodiment of an image processing system of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of the system. A document 101 is read into a copying machine and copied. Reference numeral 102 denotes a non-contact IC called an IC tag, which has a wireless function and a memory unit inside, and can store information in the memory. Reference numeral 103 denotes a server, which stores electronic data serving as an original of the 101 document. Reference numeral 104 denotes an Internet line network, to which the server 103 is connected. When the server 103 is requested for electronic image data from the outside via the Internet line network 104, an image stored in the network is stored. The electronic data can be transmitted via the 104 Internet line network. A copying machine 200 can read a document and store image data on a recording medium such as paper.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing in detail the inside of the multifunction device 200.

  2 in FIG. 2 is roughly divided into an image reader unit 201 that reads an original image and a printer unit 202 that reproduces image data read by the image reader unit 201. The image reader unit 201 is a part that reads a document with a resolution of 400 dpi (dots / inch) and performs digital signal processing. The printer unit 202 is a part that outputs an image corresponding to the original image read by the image reader unit 201 to a specified sheet at a resolution of 1200 dpi on a full color. In the image reader unit 201, a document 204 on a platen glass (hereinafter referred to as a platen) 203 is irradiated with a lamp 205, guided to mirrors 206, 207, and 208, and light collected by a lens 209 is converted into an electrical signal. An image is formed on a three-line sensor (hereinafter referred to as CCD) 210 to be converted, and sent to the signal processing unit 211 as a full color information red (R), green (G), and blue (B) component. The carriages 205 and 206 are fixed at a speed of v, and 207 and 208 are at a speed of 1/2 v by mechanically moving in the direction perpendicular to the electric scanning (main scanning) direction of the line sensor. The entire surface is scanned (sub-scanning). The read image is stored in a memory (not shown). Next, the image data is read again from the inside of the memory, and the signal processing unit 211 electrically processes the read image signal to obtain magenta (M), cyan (C), yellow (Y), black (Bk). ) And sent to the printer unit 202. In addition, one component of M, C, Y, and Bk is sent to the printer unit 202 for one document scan in the image reader unit 201, and one printout is completed by a total of four document scans. . M, C, Y, and Bk image signals sent from the image reader unit 201 are sent to the laser driver 212. The laser driver 212 modulates and drives the semiconductor laser 213 in accordance with the transmitted image signal. The laser beam scans on the photosensitive drum 217 via the polygon mirror 214, the f-θ lens 215, and the mirror 216. Reference numeral 218 denotes a rotary developing unit, which includes a magenta developing unit 219, a cyan developing unit 220, a yellow developing unit 221, and a black developing unit 222. The four developing units are alternately in contact with the photosensitive drum 217 and formed on the photosensitive drum. The latent image development is developed with toner. A transfer drum 223 winds a sheet supplied from the sheet cassette 224 or 225 around the transfer drum 223, and transfers an image developed on the photosensitive drum onto the sheet. In this way, after the four colors M, C, Y, and Bk are sequentially transferred, the sheet passes through the fixing unit 226 and is discharged after the toner is fixed on the sheet.

  FIG. 3 shows in detail the configuration of the part of the MFP that processes the electrical signal of the printer unit that prints on a recording medium such as paper. Reference numeral 310 denotes a CPU for controlling each part of the printer. A RAM 302 temporarily stores the results calculated by the CPU and image data handled by the printer. A ROM 303 stores a program for operating the CPU, font data for generating image data, and the like. Reference numeral 304 denotes a local bus to which the CPU, RAM, and ROM are connected. Reference numeral 305 denotes an I / O bus, which is an internal bus for function expansion. Reference numeral 306 denotes a bridge circuit for connecting the local bus and the I / O bus. A printer unit 307 is a part for forming an image on a recording medium such as paper. There are various types of printer units such as an electrophotographic system and an inkjet system. A printer interface unit 308 is used to connect the printer unit to the I / O bus, and can transfer image data stored in the RAM 302 to the printer unit 307 in accordance with instructions from the CPU. It is. Reference numeral 309 denotes a hard disk drive for spooling image data and storing programs for the CPU 301 to perform various processes. Reference numeral 311 denotes a network interface controller, which is used to connect to the local area network shown at 14 in FIG. An image processing unit (hereinafter referred to as IPU) 312 is for performing image processing such as resolution conversion. Reference numeral 313 denotes a raster image processor. The image data in the page description language transferred from the outside via the network interface circuit 311 is developed into a bitmap image according to the instruction of the CPU 301, and the bit developed in the RAM 302 Used to store map data. Reference numeral 314 denotes a video RAM into which display data displayed on an external CRT or LCD panel by the CPU is written. A video interface 315 serves as an interface for displaying display data stored in the VRAM on an external CRT or LCD panel. Reference numeral 316 denotes an extended I / O interface, which is an interface circuit for allowing the CPU of 301 to communicate with a portable device, for example. Communication forms include forms such as serial communication, wireless communication such as Bicentro interface or Bluetooth. Reference numeral 500 denotes an RFID reader / writer unit for reading / writing data from / to an RFID described later by wireless communication.

  FIG. 4 shows in detail the configuration of the portion of the MFP that processes the electrical signal of the scanner unit. Reference numeral 401 denotes a CPU for controlling each part of the scanner. A RAM 402 temporarily stores the results calculated by the CPU and image data read by the scanner. A ROM 403 stores a program for operating the CPU. Reference numeral 404 denotes a local bus to which the CPU, RAM, and ROM are connected. Reference numeral 405 denotes an I / O bus, which is an internal bus for function expansion. Reference numeral 406 denotes a bridge circuit for connecting the local bus and the I / O bus. A scanner unit 407 converts an optical signal read from a document placed on a document table (not shown) into electronic data using a CCD or the like, and transfers the electronic data. Reference numeral 408 denotes a scanner interface unit for connecting the scanner unit to the I / O bus. In accordance with an instruction from the CPU, electronic data obtained by reading a document transferred from the scanner is transferred to a RAM 402. It is possible. A network interface controller 410 is used to connect to the local area network indicated by 14 in FIG. Reference numeral 409 denotes an image processing unit (hereinafter referred to as IPU) for performing image processing such as resolution conversion. Reference numeral 411 denotes an extended I / O interface, which is an interface circuit for allowing the CPU of 401 to communicate with a portable device, for example. Communication forms include forms such as serial communication, wireless communication such as Bicentro interface or Bluetooth.

  FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing in detail the inside of the non-contact IC reader / writer.

  Reference numeral 500 denotes an RFID reader / writer unit for reading / writing data from / to an RFID described later by wireless communication.

  The reader / writer unit 500 for reading or writing the non-contact IC attached to the document reading unit will be described in detail. The reader / writer unit 500 includes a transmission antenna unit 501 for transmitting radio waves to the 600 non-contact IC unit, a modulation circuit 502 for modulating radio waves transmitted from the transmission antenna, and a non-contact IC unit of 600. Receiving antenna units 503 and 503 for receiving radio waves transmitted from the demodulating circuit 504 for demodulating signals received from the receiving antenna units, a transmitting antenna unit 501, a modulating circuit 502, and receiving signals 503 The antenna unit 504 is connected to the control unit 505 for controlling the demodulation circuit of the 504, the I / F unit 506 that communicates with the host device, and the transmission antenna unit 501, and supplies power to the 600 contactless IC. The power source 507 is configured.

  The control unit 505 modulates a radio wave for supplying power and data to be transmitted using a modulation circuit 502 according to an instruction from the outside, and transmits the radio wave from the transmission antenna unit 501 to the outside. In addition, a radio signal received from the outside can be received by the receiving antenna unit 503, demodulated by the demodulation circuit 504, and then converted to be handled as a data signal.

  6, the non-contact IC unit 600 will be described in detail. The non-contact IC unit 600 includes a non-volatile memory 601, an antenna unit for transmitting and receiving 602 radio waves, a resonant capacitor unit 603, a power forming unit rectifying and smoothing a power source 604, and a 605 radio wave. Are composed of a post-modulation unit for performing modulation and demodulation, and a control unit 606.

  The antenna portion 602 is combined with a resonance capacitor 603 so that a resonance circuit can be configured. When a radio signal for supplying electric power is sent from the outside, it is received by a resonance circuit and supplied to the electric power generation unit shown in 604. The electric power generation unit of 604 generates 600 non-contact ICs. It is possible to supply power for operation. The power is supplied to a non-volatile memory 601 and a post-modulation circuit 605. A control unit 606 is used to control 600 non-contact IC units.

  Data to be read or written from the non-contact IC unit is also transmitted and received together with the radio wave for supplying power from the outside, and the signal sent to the 600 non-contact IC unit is re-modulated 605 The signal is demodulated by the circuit and stored in the nonvolatile memory 601 through the control unit 606. The data read from the non-volatile memory 601 by the control unit 606 is modulated by the post-modulation circuit 605 and can be transmitted as a radio signal from the antenna unit 602.

  Next, the operation when reading a plurality of documents will be described in detail with reference to the flowchart of FIG. The flowchart in FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the CPU of the scanner unit 401. First, as shown in S <b> 701, the CPU 401 stands by until the user presses a copy operation start button of a copying machine (not shown) and instructs a document reading operation. Next, when the user presses the copy operation start button and instructs a document reading operation, the CPU 401 sends an instruction to the scanner 407 via the scanner interface 408 in FIG. One placed document is pulled out, and conveyance of the document is started to the document table indicated by 203 in FIG. In step S <b> 703, the CPU 401 determines whether the reader / writer 500 for reading the non-contact IC connected to the extended I / O I / F 411 has a non-contact IC that is supposed to be added to the document. A read request is made to access the internal memory. If a non-contact IC is not attached to the document even though a read request is made, no response is returned from the document in S704. Therefore, the CPU 401 returns a response even after a predetermined time has elapsed. If not, it is determined that a non-contact IC is not added to the document. If it is determined in S704 that a non-contact IC has not been added to the document, then the CPU 401 turns on the lamp 205 in FIG. 2 in S705, scans the document in S706, and stores the memory 402 in FIG. It is stored in sequence as electronic data. In step S <b> 707, the CPU 401 determines whether all originals placed in the feeder have been read, and repeats the above operation until it is detected that all originals have been read by the sensor in the feeder. The image data stored in 402 is sent to the printer unit shown in FIG. 3, and the printer unit 307 forms an image on a recording medium such as paper and outputs it.

  If a response is returned from the non-contact IC added to the document in S704, the CPU 401 determines that a non-contact IC is added to the document, and the process proceeds to S708. In step S <b> 708, the CPU 401 accesses 600, which is a non-contact IC attached to the document, via the reader / writer unit illustrated in FIG. 5, and reads information stored in the nonvolatile memory illustrated in 601. . The information stored in the non-volatile memory is a serial number assigned to each original in order to specify the original, or when the original has been previously created by a printer, it can In some cases, the URL is on the Internet line network storing the electronic data that is the source of the formation. In this embodiment, it is assumed that a URL indicating electronic data in the server indicated by 103 in FIG. 1 is stored in the non-volatile memory 601 of the non-contact IC attached to the document. In step S708, when the CPU 401 reads URL information in which electronic data is stored from the non-contact IC, the CPU 401 then connects to the Internet line network indicated by 104 in FIG. 1 via the network interface controller indicated by 410 in step S709. An attempt is made to access and acquire electronic data of a manuscript from the server indicated by 103. In S710, if the server cannot return the original electronic data for some reason, or if there is no response from the server because the server is not turned on, the CPU 401 sends a display unit (not shown) from the server to S711. An error message notifying that the electronic data could not be received is displayed, and the process proceeds to S707.

  Next, when the electronic data of the original is correctly returned from the server 103 in S710, the data received from the network interface controller 410 is transferred to the RAM 402 in S712. In S713, the electronic data receiving operation is repeated until all the information for one page of the document is received. When all the data has been received, the process proceeds to S707. When electronic data is received from the server 103, the operation of turning on the lamp 205 in FIG. 2 is not executed, and the document is not optically read from the document table. The image data stored in 402 is sent to the printer unit shown in FIG. 3, and the image is formed on a recording medium such as paper by the printer unit 307 and output.

  As described above, the electronic data in the server on the network can be received by the non-contact IC attached to the original, so that when the non-contact IC is added to the original, the optical reading of the copying machine is performed. It is not necessary to operate the means, and unnecessary lighting of the light source and operation of the motor for moving the light source are eliminated, so that deterioration of the optical reading unit can be reduced and the life of the component can be extended. Also, electronic data is received from a server on the network by a non-contact IC attached to the document, and an image is formed on a recording medium such as hair using this data, so that the document is optically read. An image closer to the original data of the original can be formed.

(Example 2)
Hereinafter, a second embodiment of the image processing system of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The second embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that a host computer 801 and a printer 802 having a write function capable of writing information to a non-contact IC are added in FIG. Data is stored in the host computer 801, and further, a serial number for storing in the non-contact IC in the server 103 is generated, and the serial number for the non-contact IC in the server 103 is stored in the host computer 801. The stored electronic data can be associated with each other, and the serial number generated by the server 103 can be written to the non-contact IC 102 by the printer 802.
Next, detailed description when information is written to the non-contact IC 102 will be described in detail with reference to the flowchart of FIG. The flowchart of FIG. 9 shows the operation of a CPU (not shown) inside the host computer 801.

  First, in step S901, the CPU is on standby until the user gives an instruction to print data. In step S901, when the user gives an instruction to print electronic data in the host computer 801, the CPU converts the electronic data into page description language (hereinafter PDL) data for transmission to the printer in step S902. In step S903, the CPU transmits a request to the server 103 on the network to issue a serial number unique to the data to be printed. If the server cannot respond for any reason in S904, the host computer 801 indicates that the serial number could not be acquired in S905 because the server 103 did not respond even after a predetermined time passed. Display to the user. Next, in step S <b> 906, the CPU starts transmitting PDL data to the printer 802 via the Internet network 104 in FIG. 1. When the host computer finishes transferring all the PDL data to the printer in S907, the CPU ends the operation. The printer 802 that has received the PDL data expands the PDL data into image data inside the printer and prints the data on a recording medium such as paper. At this time, since the printer has not received the unique serial number assigned to the image data from the host computer, even if a non-contact IC is added to a recording medium such as paper, there is nothing to the non-contact IC. No action is taken.

  Next, when the server 103 responds and returns the unique serial number assigned to the image data in S904, the CPU once holds the received serial number in S908, and the printer receives the serial number in S909. Transmission is performed under the control of the printer driver, and the process proceeds to S906. When the printer receives the serial number uniquely assigned to the image data under the control of the printer driver of the host computer prior to receiving the PDL, the printer receives the PDL data, expands the PDL data into image data, and stores it on a recording medium such as paper. At the same time as printing, the serial number is written to the non-contact IC attached to the paper.

  Next, referring to the flowchart shown in FIG. 10, the operation when the original whose serial number is written on the non-contact IC attached on the paper by the printer 802 is read by the copying machine 200 shown in FIG. Will be described in detail. The flowchart of FIG. 10 shows the operation of the CPU 401 of the scanner controller of FIG. 4, and the description of the same parts as those in the first embodiment of FIG. 7 is omitted.

  In the flowchart of FIG. 10, after the user presses a copy operation start button (not shown) and the document reading operation is started, the operation until the information in the non-contact IC attached to the document is read is shown in FIG. This is the same as the flowchart of FIG. When data is received from the non-contact IC, as described in the flowchart of FIG. 9, the serial number is stored in the non-contact IC, and the CPU 401 reads the serial number. Next, the CPU 401 inquires the serial number to the server 103 in FIG. In this embodiment, it is assumed that server URL information is set in advance in the copying machine 200 by the user, and the copying machine 200 can automatically access the server 103. If there is no response from the server 103, the processing from S710 described above is performed. If there is a response from the server, in S1002, the location where the image data corresponding to the serial number read from the non-contact IC is stored from the server 103 is received. In the present embodiment, the location where the image data is stored is the host computer 801 in FIG. In step S <b> 1003, the CPU 401 makes a request for electronic image data to the host computer 801 where the electronic data is stored. Next, in S1004, when there is no response from the host computer 801, the process proceeds to S711, and the process is continued as described above. If there is a response from the host computer 801 in S1004, electronic data is received from the host computer 801, the process proceeds to S712, and an image from the received electronic data is recorded on a recording medium such as paper as described above. Form.

  As described above, this is a case where a serial number that can uniquely identify image data is stored instead of the URL indicating the location where the electronic data of the image is stored in the non-contact IC attached to the document. However, the server on the network associates the serial number with the image data and can automatically receive the electronic data of the image from the storage location of the associated image. In the present embodiment, the case where the serial number is written by the printer has been described. However, even when the invariant ID is stored in advance in the non-contact IC added to the paper, the same processing can be performed.

(Other embodiments)
Note that the present invention can be applied to a system including a plurality of devices (for example, a host computer, an interface device, a reader, a printer, etc.), or a device (for example, a copying machine, a facsimile device, etc.) including a single device. You may apply to.

  Another object of the present invention is to supply a recording medium recording a program code of software that implements the functions of the above-described embodiments to a system or apparatus, and the computer (or CPU or MPU) of the system or apparatus records the recording medium. Needless to say, this can also be achieved by reading and executing the program code stored in. In this case, the program code itself read from the recording medium realizes the novel function of the present invention, and the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention. As a storage medium for supplying the program code, for example, a floppy (registered trademark) disk, hard disk, optical disk, magneto-optical disk, CD-ROM, CD-R, magnetic tape, nonvolatile memory card, ROM, or the like is used. be able to.

  Further, by executing the program code read by the computer, not only the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized, but also the OS running on the computer based on the instruction of the program code performs the actual processing. Needless to say, a case where the function of the above-described embodiment is realized by performing part or all of the processing is also included.

  Further, after the program code read from the recording medium is written in the memory provided in the extension function board inserted in the computer or the function extension unit connected to the computer, the function extension is performed based on the instruction in the program code. It goes without saying that the CPU or the like provided in the board or the function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing, and the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the processing.

1 is a block diagram schematically showing the configuration of an image processing system of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the details of the inside of the multifunction device. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing in detail the inside of the printer controller. The block diagram showing the inside of a scanner controller in detail. The block diagram showing the inside of a non-contact IC reader / writer in detail. The block diagram showing the inside of non-contact IC in detail. The flowchart which shows the procedure of the image reading using non-contact IC. The block diagram which showed roughly the structure of the image processing system of the 2nd Example of this invention. 6 is a flowchart for explaining image forming and data writing operation to a non-contact IC by a printer. 9 is a flowchart showing a procedure for reading an image using a non-contact IC in the second embodiment.

Claims (3)

  An image reading unit for reading an image of a document, a feeder unit for automatically reading a plurality of pieces of image data by the image reading unit, and a non-contact IC information attached to the document; A non-contact information reading unit, a detection unit for detecting whether or not a non-contact IC is added to the document by the non-contact information reading unit, and a non-contact IC is added to the document by the detection unit. A network means for reading data from information inside the non-contact IC via a network, an image forming means for forming an image on a recording medium such as paper, and the detection If a non-contact IC is added to the document by the means, the reading means is stopped, and the image data read by the network means When the image forming unit performs printing, and the detection unit determines that a non-contact IC is not added to the document, the image reading unit optically reads the document, and the read data is the image forming unit. An image forming apparatus that performs printing according to the above.   Furthermore, when the detection unit determines that a non-contact IC is added to the document, the detection unit includes an inquiry unit that inquires whether the user optically scans, and specifies that the user optically scans. 2. The image formation according to claim 1, wherein the image forming means prints an image by the image forming means using the optically read image data without reading the image data by the network means. apparatus.   In addition, it has server means for managing the document on the network. When the detection means determines that a non-contact IC is added to the document, and the information is read from the non-contact IC, the read information is converted into the document. 2. The electronic data is received by inquiring of the server means on the network if the serial number is for identification, receiving the location where the electronic data of the document exists, and receiving the electronic data. Image forming apparatus.

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