JP2007007871A - Image forming apparatus and control program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming apparatus which can perform printing by efficiently using a blank region of a printed paper that has an identification mark indicative of the blank region printed to the printing paper when an image is printed. <P>SOLUTION: The image forming apparatus comprises a receiving means which receives data of a character string to be printed, a reading means which reads the identification mark preliminarily recorded on a printing medium, a blank region extracting means which extracts the blank regions on the printing medium on the basis of the identification mark read by an identifying means, a selecting means which selects the blank region where the character string can be printed from the blank regions extracted by the blank region extracting means, and a printing means which prints the character string into the blank region selected by the selecting means. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus and a control program therefor, and more particularly to an image forming apparatus having a function of performing printing on already printed paper and a control program therefor.

  In many offices today, it is a common practice to print a document created by a computer, an email sent by e-mail, and information obtained from the Internet by a printer connected to the computer. There are a large number of printers, fax machines, multifunction machines, and copiers in the world, and the amount of information printed using them is increasing year by year. Accordingly, the amount of paper used to print information using these image forming apparatuses is also enormous. In many cases, the computer user tends to consume more and more paper after trying to print one document and changing the typeface or design to try again. And many people are worried about consuming a large amount of paper by the time a document is completed to make further corrections on paper.

  In order to reduce such a large amount of paper consumption, use recycled paper, print on both sides of the paper, collect paper printed on only one side, and print again on the back side, etc. Has been done. More recently, in order to use paper more effectively, a technique has been developed in which a blank portion of paper that has been printed once is detected and then printed again.

  For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a printer that reads the state of a blank area of a printing paper with a scanner and performs printing on the blank area of the printing paper. In this printer, once printed paper is taken in by a paper feed roller, and sequentially fed to a scanner and a printer head. Then, the blank state of the paper is read by the scanner, the blank data is sent to the CPU of the printer, and the print data is printed on the blank portion by the printer head. This makes it possible to print again on printed paper with blank areas, effectively reusing the printed paper, and using special ink or paper that erases the printed image over time Nor.

Patent Document 2 discloses a printing apparatus having a storage element reader / writer function in a printing mechanism. This printing apparatus stores or reads data indicating where an image is printed on a printing paper in a very thin readable or readable and writable storage element embedded in a printing medium such as printing paper. The printing can be performed again in the blank area of the printing paper. As a result, it is possible to accurately identify the printed area and the unprinted area of the printing paper and effectively utilize the unprinted area.
JP-A-10-175345 JP 2004-58511 A

  However, since the printer of Patent Document 1 reads the blank state of the printing paper with a scanner and sends the read blank data to the CPU of the printer, there is a problem that a scanner for reading the blank state of the paper is necessary. is there.

Further, the printing apparatus of Patent Document 2 stores data indicating where an image is printed on a printing paper in a storage element embedded in the printing paper, and extracts blank data on the printing paper. In addition, there is a problem that special paper and a storage element are required, and a special process for storing data in the storage element is required.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and printing can be performed by efficiently using a blank area of a printed sheet on which an identification symbol indicating a blank area is printed on a printing sheet when printing an image. An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus and a control program.

  The present invention provides a receiving means for receiving data of a character string to be printed, a reading means for reading an identification symbol recorded in advance on the printing medium, and a print on the printing medium based on the identification symbol read by the identification means. A blank area extracting means for extracting a blank area; a selecting means for selecting a blank area in which the character string can be printed from the blank areas extracted by the blank area extracting means; and the selected by the selecting means. Printing means for printing the character string in a blank area.

  The present invention is characterized in that the character string to be printed is divided into lines, a blank area for printing the character string for each line is selected, and the character string for each line is printed in the selected blank area. To do.

  The present invention is characterized in that the character string to be printed is information indicating an internal state of the apparatus or information when an error occurs.

  The present invention is an image comprising receiving means for receiving data of a character string to be printed, reading means for reading an identification symbol recorded in advance on a print medium, and print means for printing an image on the print medium. A control program that operates on the forming apparatus, the blank area extraction process for extracting a blank area on the print medium based on the identification symbol read by the identification unit, and the blank area extracted by the blank area extraction process Causing the computer to perform a selection process for selecting a blank area in which the character string can be printed from within, and a printing process for causing the printing unit to print the character string in the blank area selected by the selection process. It is characterized by.

  The present invention is characterized in that the character string to be printed is divided into lines, a blank area for printing the character string for each line is selected, and the character string for each line is printed in the selected blank area. To do.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to perform printing by efficiently using a blank area of a printed medium on which an identification symbol indicating a blank area is printed on a printing sheet when an image is printed. As a result, it is possible to effectively use the printed print medium.

  Hereinafter, an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the embodiment. Reference numeral 1 denotes a print engine that transfers an image to be printed to a print medium. Reference numerals 2 and 3 are paper feed cassettes for storing print media to be fed. Reference numeral 4 denotes a paper feed conveyance unit that guides the print medium stored in the paper feed cassettes 2 and 3 to the print engine 1. Here, a description will be given assuming that printed paper is stored in the paper feed cassette 3. Reference numeral 5 denotes a paper discharge conveyance unit that guides a print medium on which image transfer has been performed in the print engine 1 to a paper discharge tray. Reference numeral 6 denotes a printed material on which an image has been printed and discharged to the discharge tray by the discharge conveyance unit 5. Reference numeral 7 denotes an input unit including a numeric keypad, function keys, a touch panel, and the like. Reference numeral 8 denotes a display unit composed of a liquid crystal display device or the like. Reference numeral 9 denotes a detection unit that detects an error or the like that has occurred on the image forming apparatus. Reference numeral 10 denotes a barcode reader that reads a barcode printed on a printed sheet fed from the sheet feeding cassette 2 or the sheet feeding cassette 3. Reference numeral 11 denotes a control unit that performs overall control of processing operations of the image forming apparatus. Reference numeral 12 denotes a communication unit that performs information communication with another network connection device via the network N.

  Reference numeral 111 denotes a message for outputting print data in a page description language for selecting a message to be output according to the detected error and outputting a character string of the message when the detection unit 9 detects an error or the like. It is a processing unit. The code | symbol 112 is the message data memory | storage part by which the character string of the message which should be output and the identification information of the produced | generated error were previously linked | related and memorize | stored. Reference numeral 113 denotes an image generation unit that interprets print data in a page description language input from the communication unit 12 or the message processing unit 111, converts the print data into bitmap data, and outputs the bitmap data. Reference numeral 114 denotes a conversion unit that converts the barcode read by the barcode reader 10 into blank area data of printed paper. Reference numeral 115 denotes a blank area for printing the character string of the error message based on the blank area data output from the conversion unit 114, and an error based on the image data generated by the image generation unit in this blank area. An area selection unit that outputs bitmap data so that a message character string is printed. Reference numeral 116 denotes an image memory that stores bitmap data of an image to be transferred to a print medium (paper) in the print engine 1, and the bitmap data is written by the image generation unit 113 or the region selection unit 115.

  In addition, the applicant uses an image forming apparatus having a printing unit that prints an image on a printing medium in order to effectively use a blank portion of the paper that has been printed once without using a paper in which a scanner or a special element is embedded. An area that is blank without being printed on the print medium is obtained, information on the obtained blank area is converted into an identification symbol, and an image to be printed is printed on the print medium by a printing unit, and is determined in advance. An image forming apparatus (Japanese Patent Application No. 2005-104449) capable of printing an identification symbol at a given position is proposed. In the following description, the blank area information is converted into a barcode (identification symbol), and printing is performed using a printed sheet on which the barcode is printed at a predetermined position on the printing sheet by the printing unit. It will be explained as a thing.

  Next, the operation of the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 1 will be described with reference to FIG. First, the detection unit 9 detects the state of each part of the image forming apparatus (step S1) and determines whether or not an error message or the like needs to be printed (step S2) while printing the error message or the like. Continue detection until needed. When detecting a state where an error message or the like needs to be printed, the detection unit 9 sends error identification information that can identify the error that has occurred and a state value at the time of occurrence of the error to the message processing unit 111. Output. In response to this, the message processing unit 111 reads out the message character string data related to the error identification information output from the detection unit 9 from the message data storage unit 112, and embeds a status value in the message data. Thus, a character string of an error message is generated (step S3). In the case of an error that merely notifies the occurrence of an error, there may be no state value at the time of error occurrence. In this case, the read message character string becomes the character string of the error message generated here.

  Next, the message processing unit 111 divides the character string of the generated error message into units based on the position of the line feed code (step S4). FIG. 5 shows an example of the message character string for each line generated here. The example shown in FIG. 5 shows an example in which the error message is divided into character strings M1 to M5 of five lines. Then, the message processing unit 111 outputs, to the image generation unit 113, print data in a page description language for printing the divided error message character string in line units. The print data output at this time does not include coordinate value data indicating the printing position of the character string to be printed, and only the order of the character strings for each line is defined.

  On the other hand, the paper feeding / conveying unit 4 feeds printed paper based on an instruction from the control unit 11. As a result, one sheet of paper is taken out from the paper feed cassette 3 and fed to the print engine 1. At this time, the barcode reader 10 reads the barcode printed on the printed paper when it is conveyed in the paper feed conveyance unit 4 (step S5), and outputs the read code to the conversion unit 114. The converter 11 converts the code output from the barcode reader 10 into blank area data (step S6), and holds the obtained blank area data therein.

  Here, the blank area data will be described with reference to FIGS. As shown in FIG. 3, the barcode BC is printed on the printed paper P at a predetermined position. This bar code BC is obtained by coding the coordinate value data of the seven blank areas K1 to K7 shown in FIG. The coordinate value data indicates, for example, the coordinate values of the upper left and lower right vertices of a rectangular blank area. When a plurality of blank areas exist on the printed paper P, the upper left and lower right vertices of the rectangle are displayed. This is data in which a set of coordinate values is defined by the number of blank areas. The conversion unit 114 converts the code output from the barcode reader 10 into blank area data, so that a set of upper left and lower right vertex coordinate values of a rectangular blank area is defined by the number of blank areas. Region data can be obtained.

  Next, in order to invalidate the barcode BC printed on the printed paper P, the image generation unit 113 converts the bitmap data to be printed at the position where the barcode BC is printed. Write to the memory 116 (step S7). Next, the image forming unit 113 sequentially outputs print data for printing the character string for each line output from the message processing unit 111 to the region selection unit 115. At this time, the image generation unit 113 determines whether or not the print data for printing the error message includes coordinate value data indicating the print position in the print data (print for printing the error message). The data does not include coordinate value data).

  Next, the area selection unit 115 interprets the print data for one line of the message character string sequentially output from the image generation unit 113, and creates a blank area in which the message character string based on the print data can be printed. The blank area data held inside is referred to and selected (step S8). The blank area is selected by selecting the size of the top blank area (corresponding to the blank area K1 in the example shown in FIG. 4) among the blank areas on the printed paper P and the size of the character string M1 to be printed. When the size of the character string M1 to be printed is the same as or smaller than the blank area K1, it is determined that printing is possible. If not, the next blank area (blank area K2 in this example) is determined. ) Is repeatedly performed to select whether or not a character string M1 to be printed can be printed.

  Next, the area selection unit 115 defines the print position of the character string to be printed based on the coordinate value data of the selected blank area, interprets the print data output from the image generation unit 113, and generates a bitmap. Data is generated and written to the image memory 116 (step S9).

  Next, the area selection unit 115 determines whether or not all the message character strings output in order from the image generation unit 113 have been processed. Based on the area data, bitmap data for printing a cancel image (for example, a plurality of oblique lines) in an area other than the blank area (printed area) is written into the image memory 116. Then, the area selection unit 115 instructs the print engine 1 to print the bitmap data written in the image memory 116 on the supplied printed paper. In response to this, the print engine 1 reads the bitmap data written in the image memory 116, transfers the image to the printed paper that has been fed, and sends a message character to the paper discharge tray by the paper discharge transport unit 5. The printed paper on which the columns are printed is discharged (step S13).

  On the other hand, if an unprocessed message character string remains, the area selection unit 115 determines whether or not a blank area remains on the printed paper that has been fed (step S11). If a blank area remains, the process returns to step S8 to repeat the operation of selecting a blank area, generating bitmap data of a character string to be printed, and writing it to the image memory 116.

  If an unprocessed message character string remains and no blank area remains, the area selection unit 115 prints the bitmap data written in the image memory 116 on the supplied printed paper to the print engine 1. Instruct. In response to this, the print engine 1 reads the bitmap data written in the image memory 116, transfers the image to the printed paper that has been fed, and sends a message character to the paper discharge tray by the paper discharge transport unit 5. The printed paper on which the columns are printed is discharged (step S12). Then, the process returns to step S5, the next printed sheet is fed, the barcode is read, a new blank area is obtained, and the remaining unprocessed message character string is printed.

  Note that a rectangular frame may be printed in the blank area where the message character string is printed based on the blank area data. Further, a sequence number indicating the order in which the message character strings are printed may be given so that the order of each line of the message character strings can be grasped.

  Through the printing operation described above, the printed matter shown in FIG. 6 is discharged. FIG. 6 shows message character string M1 in blank area K1, message character string M2 in blank area K2, message character string M3 in blank area K3, message character string M4 in blank area K4, and message character string M5 in blank. This is an example of printing in the area K5. Each message character string is printed with a frame surrounding the character string and a sequence number ((1) to (5)) indicating the order. Further, in order to invalidate the barcode BC, the image BC2 for painting the barcode BC is printed.

  As described above, error information generated in the image forming apparatus and information inside the apparatus can be printed by efficiently using the blank area of the printed medium on which the identification symbol indicating the blank area is printed on the printing paper when the image is printed. It can be carried out. This makes it possible to effectively use the printed print medium.

  A program for realizing the functions of the processing unit in FIG. 1 is recorded on a computer-readable recording medium, and the program recorded on the recording medium is read by a computer system and executed to perform a printing process. May be. The “computer system” here includes an OS and hardware such as peripheral devices. The “computer-readable recording medium” refers to a storage device such as a flexible medium, a magneto-optical disk, a portable medium such as a ROM and a CD-ROM, and a hard disk incorporated in a computer system. Further, the “computer-readable recording medium” refers to a volatile memory (RAM) in a computer system that becomes a server or a client when a program is transmitted via a network such as the Internet or a communication line such as a telephone line. In addition, those holding programs for a certain period of time are also included.

  The program may be transmitted from a computer system storing the program in a storage device or the like to another computer system via a transmission medium or by a transmission wave in the transmission medium. Here, the “transmission medium” for transmitting the program refers to a medium having a function of transmitting information, such as a network (communication network) such as the Internet or a communication line (communication line) such as a telephone line. The program may be for realizing a part of the functions described above. Furthermore, what can implement | achieve the function mentioned above in combination with the program already recorded on the computer system, and what is called a difference file (difference program) may be sufficient.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of one Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of the apparatus shown in FIG. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of the printed paper. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of the extracted blank area | region. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example which divided | segmented the message character string for every line. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example which printed the message character string on the printed paper.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Print engine, 2, 3 ... Paper feed cassette, 4 ... Paper feed conveyance part, 5 ... Paper discharge conveyance part, 6 ... Printed matter, 7 ... Input part, 8. ..Display unit, 9 ... detection unit, 10 ... barcode reader, 11 ... control unit, 111 ... message processing unit, 112 ... message data storage unit, 113 ... image generation 114, conversion unit, 115 ... area selection unit, 116 ... image memory, 12 ... communication unit

Claims (5)

Receiving means for receiving character string data to be printed;
Reading means for reading the identification symbol recorded in advance on the print medium;
Blank area extraction means for extracting a blank area on the print medium based on the identification symbol read by the identification means;
Selecting means for selecting a blank area in which the character string can be printed from among the blank areas extracted by the blank area extracting means;
An image forming apparatus comprising: a printing unit that prints the character string in the blank area selected by the selection unit.   2. The character string to be printed is divided into lines, a blank area for printing a character string for each line is selected, and a character string for each line is printed in the selected blank area. The image forming apparatus described in 1.   3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the character string to be printed is information indicating an internal state of the apparatus or information when an error occurs. On an image forming apparatus comprising a receiving means for receiving character string data to be printed, a reading means for reading an identification symbol recorded in advance on a printing medium, and a printing means for printing an image on the printing medium A control program that operates,
A blank area extraction process for extracting a blank area on the print medium based on the identification symbol read by the identification means;
A selection process for selecting a blank area in which the character string can be printed from the blank areas extracted by the blank area extraction process;
A control program for causing a computer to perform a printing process for causing the printing unit to print the character string in the blank area selected by the selection process. 5. The character string to be printed is divided into lines, a blank area for printing a character string for each line is selected, and a character string for each line is printed in the selected blank area. The control program described in 1.

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