JP2011059253A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To save the trouble of copy work and distribution work as much as possible in the case where the number of copies to be distributed differs from department to department when a material to be distributed to a plurality of departments is copied. <P>SOLUTION: A CPU executes a program including a step (S1040) for reading out an object code management table (S1030) and displaying an object code selection screen when an object code selection is requested in a copy mode (YES in S1020), a step (S1060) for adding the number of copies to be distributed corresponding to the selected object code to the number of copies when the object code is selected (YES in S1050), a step (S1120) for forming images of the added number of copies, and a step (S1140) for outputting a report in which information on the distribution destination is printed. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus for forming (typically copying) an image on a recording medium (typically recording paper) based on image data using an electrophotographic method or the like, and more particularly to a plurality of departments. The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus capable of easily setting the total number of copies or distributing easily and reliably when a user copies materials to be distributed to the user.

  In many cases, an image forming apparatus having a printer function or a copy function is connected to a network and shared by a plurality of users. In addition, there are a plurality of functions such as a copy function, a facsimile function (hereinafter, facsimile is sometimes referred to as FAX or fax), a network compatible printer function, and a scanner function, such as a multifunction peripheral (MFP (Multifunction Peripheral)). Many have a basic function (mode).

  In such a multifunction machine (not necessarily connected to a network), a user may copy materials to be distributed to a plurality of groups (for example, departments). When image forming devices are shared by multiple departments, it is necessary to eliminate the use of unrelated persons and manage the number of copies for each department from the relationship with budget management for each department. . Note that a “group” is a unit of a human group that shares a multifunction device, and is, for example, a department, section, or person in charge in an organization such as a company (the above is collectively referred to as “department”). And

  In this way, as a management method when sharing a multifunction machine between multiple departments with different budget management, at the start of the copy operation, the operator must enter the PIN assigned to the department to which the operator belongs before copying. Allowing the operation is done. The number of copies executed for each department to which the operator belongs is cumulatively counted, and the copy cost is periodically calculated according to the count value and charged to the department to which the operator belongs.

  However, when managed in this way, when the department to which the operator belongs is permitted to use the MFP, the number of copies is stored in association with only the department to which the input operator belongs. For this reason, inconvenience arises when the operator makes copies for distribution to other departments. In other words, an operator who distributes a copy to another department inputs the identifier of the department to which the operator who belongs to the department belongs to the MFP and is permitted to use it. To do. In this case, as described above, since the number of times of copying is stored in relation to the department to which the operator belongs, the cost for the copying is not charged to the distributing department that actually receives the profit of copying, and copying is performed. As a result, the department to which the operator who performed the operation belongs is charged. Thus, it is not preferable in terms of copy cost management that the beneficiary (distribution destination department) and the demandee (operator department) do not match.

  Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 11-95621 (Patent Document 1) discloses an image formation management apparatus in view of such problems. The image formation management apparatus can manage the number of image formations for each group, and stores a storage unit that stores the number of image formations for each group, an input unit that inputs an identifier for each group, and an identifier in advance. A holding unit that holds information about other registered groups, and a display control unit that controls to display a list of information about other groups registered in advance in association with the input identifier when an identifier is input A selection unit that allows the operator to select at least one or more information from among the information related to the other groups displayed in the list, and when information related to the other groups is selected, the number of image formations to be processed after that is selected. And a storage control unit that controls to store the number of image formations of the other group in the storage unit.

  According to this image forming management apparatus, the complexity of storing the identifier of the delivery destination department and the complexity of inputting the identifier of the delivery destination department are eliminated, and it is unnecessary for the delivery destination department that cannot be originally distributed. The risk of counting is reduced. For this reason, even if the operator makes a copy for distribution to other departments, the cost for image formation can be charged to the beneficiary accurately.

  Furthermore, an image forming apparatus capable of optimizing the cost bill when performing image forming processing for other departments is disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-39703 (Patent Document 2). This is disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2004-282273 (Patent Document 3).

JP-A-11-95621 JP 10-39703 A JP 2004-282273 A

  However, the techniques disclosed in Patent Documents 1 to 3 described above are merely those that easily and accurately count image forming processes. For this reason, when copying multiple copies in order to distribute materials (for example, minutes of a meeting in which a person belonging to multiple departments participates) to multiple departments, the copy operator must know where the distribution department is. The copy processing must be executed by calculating the total number of copies based on whether there are any copies or how many copies must be distributed for each division. After the copy process, it is necessary to distribute a copy of the minutes composed of a plurality of copies, for each division to be distributed, for each determined number of copies. In this case, one copy is not necessarily distributed to one department.

  In order to perform such processing, the copy operator himself must count the number of distributions and set the total number of copies in the multi-function peripheral. For this reason, the copy operator has to calculate the total number of copies by checking different distribution numbers for each distribution department (although the same number of distribution copies can be calculated for each distribution department, the total number of copies can be calculated by multiplication). The calculation may be mistaken. In addition, when calculating the total number of copies, there is a trouble that it is necessary to confirm the number of distributions for each department. Furthermore, it is necessary to sort according to the number of distribution copies for each division with different distribution copies, and distribute a predetermined number of copies of the minutes for each distribution division.

  Such work is very time-consuming work. Even if the number of distributions is determined for each department (for example, it can be assumed that the number of distributions is determined for each department unless there is a personnel change), a request to copy materials to be distributed to multiple departments It is very time consuming to do such work every time. In particular, if the total number of copies is small and wrong, an additional copy is required, which is inefficient.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to set the image forming apparatus without making a mistake in the total number of copies when copying materials to be distributed to a plurality of departments, even if the number of distributions is different for each department. An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus that can save labor and distribution work as much as possible.

  An image forming apparatus according to the present invention includes storage means for storing a plurality of department information indicating departments to which copies are distributed, the number of distributions associated with each department information, and department information stored in the storage means. Based on the number of distributions for the selected department, the display means for displaying the user, the selection means for the user to select one or more departments to distribute the copy from the displayed plurality of department information The total number setting means for setting the total number of copies calculated as the number of copies, and image formation for forming an image on the recording sheet by the set total number of copies based on the original data read in advance Means.

  According to this image forming apparatus, when copying material to be distributed to a plurality of departments, the user selects a department to distribute a copy from a plurality of displayed department information. Since the number of distributions is stored in association with the department, the total number of copies is calculated by adding the number of distributions for the department selected by the user. The total number of copies is set as the number of copies of the image forming apparatus, and an image based on the document data is formed on the recording paper for the set number of copies. For this reason, even if the number of distribution is different for each department, the image forming apparatus copies the copy without making a mistake in the total number of copies. As a result, the user does not need to check the number of distribution copies that differ for each distribution department and calculate the total number of copies, so that the calculation is not mistaken and the labor of copying can be saved as much as possible.

  The storage means includes means for storing the number of additional copies associated with each department information in addition to the department information and the distribution number, and the display means selects the request for adding the number of copies in addition to the department information. It can be configured to include means for possible display. In this case, when the addition of the number of copies is selected by the user, the total number of copies setting means sets the number of copies by adding the number of additional copies of all the divisions selected to be distributed to the total number of copies. These means can be included.

  In this way, without changing the stored information, the number of copies for all the departments selected to be distributed is reflected and images based on the original data are formed on the recording paper for the required number of copies. can do.

  The storage means includes means for storing the number of additional copies associated with each department information in addition to the department information and the number of distribution copies, and the display means includes a request for adding the number of copies for each department in addition to the department information. Means for allowing the user to selectably display. In this case, when the addition of the number of copies is selected by the user, the total number of copies setting means is a means for setting the total number of copies plus the number of additional copies for the section selected to be added as the number of copies. It can comprise so that it may contain.

  In this way, without changing the stored information, the number of copies for the department selected to be added is reflected, and an image based on the original data is formed on the recording paper for the required number of copies. Can do.

  The image forming means can be configured to include means for forming information on the recording paper on the recording paper while forming an image on the recording paper for the total number of copies. The information about the distribution destination can be configured to be information about a plurality of departments selected by the user and information about the number of distribution copies associated with the department.

  In this way, the information based on the distribution destination is formed on the recording paper (report) separately from the recording paper on the image based on the document data. In this report, information about multiple departments selected by the user and information about the number of distributions associated with the department are printed, so while looking at this report, Copies can be easily sorted according to the number of distributions. As a result, it is possible to save the user's labor for distribution work as much as possible.

  The image forming means can be configured to include means for forming information about the distribution destination on each recording sheet in addition to the image based on the document data. The information about the distribution destination can be configured to be information formed on each recording sheet for the department indicating the distribution destination selected by the user.

  In this way, information about the distribution destination is formed on each recording sheet on which an image based on the document data is formed. While looking at the information on each recording sheet, it is possible to easily sort the copies according to the number of distributions for each department having a different number of distributions. As a result, it is possible to save the user's labor for distribution work as much as possible.

  According to the image forming apparatus of the present invention, when copying materials to be distributed to a plurality of departments, even if the number of distributions is different for each department, the total number of copies is set in the image forming apparatus without making a mistake, and copying is performed. It is possible to save labor and distribution work as much as possible.

1 is a perspective view illustrating an appearance of an image forming apparatus 150 according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a simplified internal configuration of an image forming apparatus 150 illustrated in FIG. 1. FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of the image forming apparatus 150 illustrated in FIG. 1. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an object code management table stored in the image forming apparatus 150 illustrated in FIG. 1. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a control structure of a program executed by the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which shows the example of a screen (the 1) displayed on the display panel 172 shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows the example of a screen (the 2) displayed on the display panel 172 shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows the example of a screen (the 3) displayed on the display panel 172 shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows the example of a screen (the 4) displayed on the display panel 172 shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows the example of a screen (the 5) displayed on the display panel 172 shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows the example of a screen (the 6) displayed on the display panel 172 shown in FIG. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a screen example (part 7) displayed on the display panel 172 shown in FIG. 3. It is a figure which shows the example of a screen (the 8) displayed on the display panel 172 shown in FIG. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a recording sheet (meeting minutes copy) output from the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a copy result report output from the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

  In the following description, the same parts are denoted by the same reference numerals. Their functions and names are also the same. Therefore, detailed description thereof will not be repeated. In the following description, it is assumed that the image forming apparatus according to the present invention is an MFP. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and when copying materials to be distributed to a plurality of departments, even if the number of distributions differs for each department, the total number of copies can be set in the image forming apparatus without making a mistake. Any device can be used as long as it can reduce the labor of the copy work or the work of distributing the copied distribution, and is not limited to the MFP. In other words, the image forming apparatus may be an image forming apparatus having a copy function, even if it is not a multifunction peripheral. In the following description, “facsimile”, “fax”, and “FAX” are used without particular distinction.

  In the following, an image forming apparatus (MFP, multifunction peripheral) according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described.

[Image forming apparatus (hardware)]
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an external configuration of the image forming apparatus 150. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a simplified internal configuration of the image forming apparatus 150. FIG. 3 is a functional block (control block) diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of the image forming apparatus 150.

  1 and 2, the image forming apparatus 150 includes a document reading unit 152, an image forming unit 154, a paper feeding unit 156, and a paper discharge processing device 158. Here, the operation in the copy mode, which is a basic function of the image forming apparatus (MFP) 150, will be described to explain the internal configuration of the image forming apparatus 150. The image forming apparatus 150 includes a copy function (copy mode), a facsimile function (fax / image transmission mode), and a scanner function (document filing mode).

  In this copy mode, a copy function is realized mainly by the operation of a document reading unit (hereinafter, sometimes referred to as a scanner unit) 152 and an image forming unit 154.

  In the image forming apparatus 150, a document placed on a document table is read as image data by the document reading unit 152, and the read image data is input to a CPU 300 including a microcomputer shown in FIG. Thus, various image processing is performed on the image data by the function designated by the user who has logged into the image forming apparatus 150, and the image data is output to the image forming unit 154.

  The image forming unit 154 prints an image of a document indicated by image data on a recording medium (in many cases, a recording sheet). The image forming unit 154 includes a photosensitive drum 222, a charging device 224, a laser scan unit (hereinafter referred to as “LSU”). 226, a developing device 228, a transfer device 230, a cleaning device 232, a fixing device 234, a static eliminator (not shown), and the like.

  The image forming unit 154 is provided with a main transport path 236 and a reverse transport path 238, and the recording paper fed from the paper feed unit 156 is transported along the main transport path 236. The paper feeding unit 156 pulls out the recording paper stored in the paper cassette 240 or the recording paper placed on the manual feed tray 242 one by one, and sends the recording paper to the main conveyance path 236 of the image forming unit 154.

  While the recording paper is being conveyed along the main conveyance path 236 of the image forming unit 154, the recording paper passes between the photosensitive drum 222 and the transfer device 230, and further passes through the fixing device 234 to be recorded. Printing on paper is performed.

  The photosensitive drum 222 rotates in one direction, and its surface is cleaned by the cleaning device 232 and the static eliminator and then uniformly charged by the charging device 224.

  The LSU 226 modulates a laser beam based on the image data to be printed, and repeatedly scans the surface of the photosensitive drum 222 in the main scanning direction with the laser beam to form an electrostatic latent image on the surface of the photosensitive drum 222. To do.

  The developing device 228 develops the electrostatic latent image by supplying toner to the surface of the photosensitive drum 222, and forms a toner image on the surface of the photosensitive drum 222.

  The transfer device 230 transfers the toner image on the surface of the photosensitive drum 222 onto a recording sheet that passes between the transfer device 230 and the photosensitive drum 222.

  The fixing device 234 includes a heating roller 248 for heating the recording paper and a pressure roller 250 for pressing the recording paper. The recording sheet is heated by the heating roller 248 and pressed by the pressure roller 250, whereby the toner image transferred onto the recording sheet is fixed on the recording sheet. The heater is heated by the electric power supplied to the fixing device 234 so that the temperature of the heating roller 248 becomes a temperature suitable for fixing.

  A branching claw 244 is disposed at a connection position between the main conveyance path 236 and the reverse conveyance path 238. When printing is performed only on one side of the recording paper, the branch claw 244 is positioned, and the recording paper from the fixing device 234 is guided to the paper discharge tray 246 or the paper discharge processing device 158 by the branch claw 244.

  When printing is performed on both sides of the recording paper, the branching claw 244 is rotated in a predetermined direction, and the recording paper is guided toward the reverse conveyance path 238. The recording sheet passes through the reverse conveyance path 238, is reversed on the front and back, and is conveyed again to the main conveyance path 236. During the re-conveyance of the main conveyance path 236, printing on the back surface is performed and the recording paper is discharged. The paper is guided toward the paper tray 246 or the paper discharge processing device 158.

  The recording paper printed as described above is guided toward the paper discharge tray 246 or the paper discharge processing device 158 and discharged to the paper discharge tray 246, or the recording paper on each paper discharge tray 168 of the paper discharge processing device 158. Discharged to either.

  In the paper discharge processing device 158, a finishing process is executed by designating a finishing function, a process of sorting a plurality of recording sheets into each discharge tray 168, a process of punching each recording sheet, and a recording process Processing for stapling on the paper is performed. For example, when a printed material having a total number of copies of 2 or more is created, each recording sheet is sorted and discharged to each paper discharge tray 168 so that a part of the printed material is allocated to each paper discharge tray 168 (sort function). For each paper discharge tray 168, each recording sheet on the paper discharge tray 168 is subjected to punching processing (punch function is specified) or staple processing (staple function is specified) to produce a printed matter.

  The image forming apparatus 150 according to the present embodiment is set in the image forming apparatus 150 without making a mistake in the total number of copies even when the number of distributions differs for each department when copying materials to be distributed to a plurality of departments. Thus, it is possible to reduce the labor of the copying work and the labor of distributing the copied distribution. As described above, the image forming apparatus 150 according to the present embodiment is based on the number of distribution copies for each department so that the copy operator (user) can easily copy the material to be distributed to a plurality of departments. The total number of copies is calculated and set in the image forming apparatus 150, and the user can output a report for easily and accurately distributing the material and output information about the distribution destination on the recording sheet. Is provided.

  Such a feature is realized by a hardware configuration in the image forming apparatus 150 and hardware and software for controlling the image forming apparatus 150. Hereinafter, after describing the hardware configuration (control block) included in the image forming apparatus 150 for executing this control, the software configuration (program) will be described.

[Image forming apparatus (control block)]
Referring to FIG. 3, image forming apparatus 150 is a case where operation device 166 capable of setting relating to a copy function, a facsimile function, and a scanner function, ROM 306 for storing a program and the like, and a case where power is cut off. Also includes a hard disk 302, which is a non-volatile storage area capable of storing programs, data, and the like, and a RAM (Random Access Memory) 308 for providing a storage area when executing the program. When the image forming apparatus 150 is turned on, data stored in the hard disk 302 may be transferred to the RAM 308, and an object code management table to be described later is stored in the hard disk 302 or the RAM 308. .

  The image forming apparatus 150 further includes a document reading unit 152, an image forming unit 154, a FAX communication unit 155, an operation device 166, a ROM 306, a hard disk 302, and a bus 310 connected to the RAM 308, and an image formation connected to the bus 310. CPU300 for implement | achieving the general function as an apparatus is included.

  The ROM 306 stores programs and data necessary for controlling the operation of the image forming apparatus 150. The CPU 300 controls the image forming apparatus 150 according to the program and data stored in the ROM 306 and executes control related to each function of the image forming apparatus 150.

  As shown in FIG. 3, a public line is connected to the FAX communication unit 155 of the image forming apparatus 150 for transmission / reception of image data, and a network line is connected to the network IF 304. A computer or the like that uses the image forming apparatus 150 as a network compatible printer is connected to the network line, or a computer or the like that can send and receive mail via the Internet is connected.

  The RAM 308 provides a function as a working memory that temporarily stores the results of calculation and processing by the CPU 300 and a function as a frame memory that stores image data.

  Control of document reading unit 152, image forming unit 154, plate-like operation panel 170 and display panel 172 of operation device 166, ROM 306, hard disk 302, and RAM 308 is performed by CPU 300 executing predetermined programs.

  The operation device 166 includes a plate-like operation panel 170 provided with a hardware key that is a numeric keypad and other various operation buttons arranged in a region on the right side of the surface of the operation device 166, and the operation device 166. And a display panel 172 configured from a small touch panel integrated liquid crystal display device disposed in the left region from the center. The operation panel 170 and the display panel 172 are held in one housing, and the operation device 166 is configured to be integrated as a whole.

  In this operation device 166, the display panel 172 displays the operating state of the image forming apparatus 150, a menu and a submenu (menus in a lower hierarchy of the menu) in which a plurality of functions are displayed for the user to select a desired function. ) Etc. are displayed. A selection button is displayed on the display area of the liquid crystal display device of the display panel 172. When the area where the selection button is displayed is pressed with a finger, the touch panel detects the pressed position. By collating the display position of the selection button with the position where the touch panel is pressed on the program, function setting, operation instruction, and the like of the image forming apparatus 150 are performed. Hereinafter, the display panel 172 may be referred to as a touch panel display 172.

  The image forming apparatus 150 according to the present embodiment has a function of automatically setting the total number of copies when copying materials to be distributed to a plurality of departments using the copy function provided in the image forming apparatus 150. Therefore, the hard disk 302 or the RAM 308 stores an object code management table having fields shown in FIG.

  Referring to FIG. 4, this object code management table includes at least a field for storing an object code name and a document for each registration ID (for example, a 3-digit continuous natural number) that can uniquely identify the object code. Field for storing the number of distributions, a field for storing the number of persons in charge in the department, and a field for storing the number of managers in the department. This purpose code management table includes a plurality of department information (purpose code names) indicating the departments to which the copied meeting minutes are distributed, the number of distributions (number of distributions) associated with each department information, and the information associated with each department information. The number of added copies (number of persons in charge, number of managers) is stored.

  As the purpose code name in the purpose code management table, the name of a department (for example, general affairs department, accounting department, material department,...) Sharing the image forming apparatus 150 is stored. For example, when the general affairs department and the accounting department are selected from these objective codes by the user who performs the copy process, one copy that is the distribution number of the general affairs department and one copy that is the distribution number of the accounting department are added. Thus, the total number of copies is two. In addition, when the general affairs department and the accounting department are selected, if distribution to the person in charge is selected, three people who are in charge of the general affairs department and five people who are in charge of the accounting department Is added to 2 which is the total number of copies, and the total number of copies is 10. In addition, when the general affairs department and the accounting department are selected, and distribution to the person in charge is selected, one person who is the number of managers in the general affairs department is selected. And 2 persons who are the number of managers in the accounting department are added to 10 copies, which is the total number of copies, and the total number of copies is 13. The calculated total number of copies is set in the image forming apparatus 150 as the number of copies.

  The object code management table shown in FIG. 4 is maintained by the system administrator. For example, when there is an organizational change and a department is reorganized, or when there is a personnel change and the number of managerial positions is changed, the system administrator maintains the object code management table.

  The image forming apparatus 150 according to the present embodiment includes a total number setting unit that sets the total number of copies corresponding to the target code selected by the user performing the copy process in the image forming apparatus 150 using the target code management table. . Such a total copy number setting unit may be configured as hardware, but in the present embodiment, it is realized by software shown below.

Software configuration
FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a control structure of a program executed by CPU 300 of image forming apparatus 150. Based on this flowchart, a process for setting the total number of copies to the image forming apparatus 150 and a process for outputting information about the distribution destination corresponding to the object code selected by the user who performs the copy process will be described. The CPU 300 of the image forming apparatus 150 executes a program that realizes a general function as a computer or an image forming apparatus in parallel with such a program. However, the program is not directly related to the essential part of the present invention, and details thereof will not be described here.

  Referring to FIG. 5, in step (hereinafter referred to as “S”) 1000, CPU 300 of image forming apparatus 150 (hereinafter simply referred to as CPU 300) is a user who uses this image forming apparatus 150. Determines whether the user has selected the copy mode. As described above, the image forming apparatus 150 includes three modes, ie, a copy mode, a fax / image transmission mode, and a document filing mode (and may further include a printer mode). For example, when the copy button of the software button (tag button) corresponding to the three modes displayed on the top of the touch panel display 172 is pressed, it is determined that the copy mode is selected by the user. When CPU 300 selects the copy mode in this way (YES in S1000), the process proceeds to S1010. Otherwise (NO in S1000), this process ends.

  In S1010, CPU 300 displays an initial copy screen on touch panel display 172. At this time, the initial value “0” is displayed on the touch panel display 172 as the number of copies.

  In S1020, CPU 300 determines whether or not the user has requested to select a target code. For example, when the copy mode main menu screen (function selection screen) of the image forming apparatus 150 is displayed, when a software button corresponding to “select target code” displayed on the touch panel display 172 is pressed, It is determined that the user has requested to select a target code. If it is determined that the user has requested to select a target code (YES in S1020), the process proceeds to S1030. If not (NO in S1020), the process proceeds to S1150.

  In S1030, CPU 300 reads the object code management table (FIG. 4). In S1040, CPU 300 displays a target code selection screen on touch panel display 172 based on the read target code management table. At this time, nine software buttons corresponding to the target code names in FIG. 4 are displayed on the touch panel display 172. When the software button is pressed in a non-selected state, the software button is switched to a selected state, and when pressed in the selected state, the software button is switched to a non-selected state.

  In S1050, CPU 300 determines whether or not a target code has been selected by the user. For example, when a software button corresponding to nine “object code names” displayed on the touch panel display 172 of the image forming apparatus 150 is pressed, it is determined that the object code is selected by the user. If it is determined that the purpose code has been selected by the user (YES in S1050), the process proceeds to S1060. If not (NO in S1050), the process proceeds to S1070.

  In S1060, CPU 300 allocates the distribution number of the target code selected by the user from the target code management table and adds it to the number of copies. Thereafter, the process returns to S1050. The added number of copies is stored in the hard disk 302 or the RAM 308.

  In S1070, CPU 300 determines whether or not the user inputs a check in the additional distributor check box (whether or not the additional distributor check box is pressed). For example, when a check is input to a check box corresponding to “Distribute to person in charge” or a check box corresponding to “Distribute to manager” displayed on touch panel display 172 of image forming apparatus 150 (the check box is pressed) ), It is determined that the user inputs a check in the additional distributor check box. If it is determined that the user inputs a check in the additional distributor check box (YES in S1070), the process proceeds to S1080. If not (NO in S1070), the process proceeds to S1090.

  In S1080, CPU 300 adds the number of persons in charge and / or the number of managers to the number of copies for all selected purpose codes. At this time, the CPU 300 allocates the number of persons in charge or / and the number of managers of the target code selected by the user from the target code management table, and adds it to the number of copies. Thereafter, the process proceeds to S1110.

  In S1090, CPU 300 determines whether or not a check is input to the output check box by the user (whether or not the output check box is pressed). For example, a check is input to a check box corresponding to “report output”, a check box corresponding to “header print output”, or a check box corresponding to “footer print output” displayed on the touch panel display 172 of the image forming apparatus 150. When the check box is pressed (when the check box is pressed), it is determined that the user inputs a check in the output check box. If it is determined that the user has input a check in the output check box (YES in S1090), the process proceeds to S1100. If not (NO in S1090), the process proceeds to S1110.

  In S1100, CPU 300 stores print items (recording paper header / footer presence / absence) and output items (report presence / absence). Thereafter, the process proceeds to S1110.

  In S1110, CPU 300 determines whether or not the user has input that the selection of the target code has been completed. For example, when a software button corresponding to “OK” displayed together with nine object code names (such as “General Affairs Department” button) displayed on the touch panel display 172 of the image forming apparatus 150 is pressed, the user selects the object. It is determined that the code selection has been completed. If it is determined by the user that selection of the target code has been completed (YES in S1110), the process proceeds to S1120. If not (NO in S1110), the process proceeds to S1050.

  In S1120, CPU 300 forms an image on recording paper based on the image data of the document read by document reading unit 152 for the added number of copies. At this time, if “header print output” is stored as a print item, the target code name is printed as a distribution destination above the recording paper for the number of copies corresponding to the selected target code. When “footer printout” is stored as a print item, the target code name is printed as a distribution destination below the recording sheets for the number of copies corresponding to the selected target code. At this time, for example, “distribution destination: general affairs department” is printed on four of the ten copies, and “distribution destination: accounting department” is printed on six.

  In S1130, CPU 300 determines whether or not an output item is stored. If it is determined that the output item is stored (YES in S1130), the process proceeds to S1140. Otherwise (NO at S1130), the process ends.

  In S1140, CPU 300 forms an image of the copy result report. At this time, each item of “copy date / time”, “total number of copies”, and distribution destination list is printed in the copy result report.

  In S1150, CPU 300 executes a normal image forming process. The image forming process in S1150 is a case of copying a material that is not a material distributed to a plurality of departments.

  In addition, it is preferable that at least one object code is selected before the processes of S1070 and S1080 are executed. This is because the processing in S1070 and the processing in S1080 are meaningful only after it is determined that the material to be distributed to a plurality of departments is copied. For this reason, the flowchart may be appropriately changed so as to be processed in this way.

[Operation]
The operation of image forming apparatus 150 according to the present embodiment based on the above-described structure and flowchart will be described with reference to FIGS.

  When a user who copies materials distributed to a plurality of departments using image forming apparatus 150 selects a copy mode (YES in S1000), a copy initial screen as shown in FIG. Is displayed at 172 (S1010). In addition, in the figures described below including this FIG. 6, the state in which the button is selected is indicated by a double frame. For example, in FIG. 6, a state in which the “copy” button of the mode selection button is selected is indicated by a double frame line.

  When the user presses the software button corresponding to “select target code” on the screen shown in FIG. 6 (YES in S1020), it is determined that the user is requested to select the target code, and the target code management table (FIG. 4) is displayed. ) Is read (S1030), and a target code selection screen as shown in FIG. 7 is displayed (S1040). Note that both the screen shown in FIG. 6 and the screen shown in FIG. 7 display “0” as an initial value as the number of copies.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the touch panel display 172 has nine software buttons (“General Affairs Department” button, “Accounting Department” button, “Materials Department” button, “Planning Department” corresponding to the purpose code name of FIG. Button, “Sales Department” button, “Technology Department” button, “Development Department” button, “Quality Department” button, “Production Department” button), two additional distributor check boxes (“Distribute to person in charge” box, "Distribute to manager" box) and three output check boxes ("report output" box, "header print output" box, "footer print output" box) are displayed. These software buttons are switched to a selected state when pressed in a non-selected state, and are switched to a non-selected state when pressed in a selected state. Also, when these check boxes are pressed in a blank (non-selected) state, they are switched to a selected state and a check mark is displayed, and when pressed in a selected state where a check mark is displayed, they are switched to a blank (non-selected state). .

  When the user presses the software button corresponding to “General Affairs Department” on the screen shown in FIG. 7 (YES in S1050), the number of distributions of the target code selected by the user (here, “1” which is the distribution number of the General Affairs Department) ) Is added to the number of copies (S1060), and the number of copies is changed from “0” to “1” as shown in FIG. In FIG. 8, the “General Affairs Department” button is selected.

  Further, in this state, when the user presses the software button corresponding to the “accounting department” on the screen shown in FIG. 8 (YES in S1050), the number of distributions of the target code selected by the user (here, the distribution of the accounting department) The number “1”) is added to the number of copies (S1060), and the number of copies is changed from “1” to “2” as shown in FIG. In FIG. 9, the “General Affairs Department” button and the “Accounting Department” button are selected.

  Further, in this state, when the user presses the check box corresponding to “Distribute to person in charge” on the screen shown in FIG. 9 (YES in S1070), the number of persons in charge for all the target codes selected by the user. (Here, “3” which is the number of persons in charge of the general affairs department and “5” which is the number of persons in charge of the accounting department) are added to the number of copies (S1080), and as shown in FIG. To "10". In FIG. 10, the “General Affairs Department” button and the “Accounting Department” button are selected, and a check is entered in the “Distribute to Person in charge” check box. Also, when the user presses the check box corresponding to “Distribute to managers” on the screen shown in FIG. 9 (YES in S1070), the number of managers for all the objective codes selected by the user (here, the general affairs) 11 is added to the number of copies (S1080), and as shown in FIG. 11, the number of copies is changed from “2” to “5”. To "". In FIG. 11, the “General Affairs Department” button and the “Accounting Department” button are selected, and a check is entered in the “Distribute to Management” check box.

  When the user presses the check box corresponding to “Distribute to person in charge” and the check box corresponding to “Distribute to manager” on the screen shown in FIG. 9 (YES in S1070), all the items selected by the user are selected. The number of persons in charge and the number of managers for the purpose code (here, “3”, the number of persons in charge of the general affairs department, “1”, the number of managers, and “5”, the number of persons in charge of the accounting department) The number of jobs “2”) is added to the number of copies (S1080), and the number of copies is changed from “2” to “13” as shown in FIG. In FIG. 10, the “general affairs department” button and the “accounting department” button are selected, and a check is entered in the “Distribute to person in charge” check box and the “Distribute to manager” check box.

  When the user depresses the check box corresponding to “Report output” and the check box corresponding to “Footer print output” on the screen shown in FIG. 10 (YES in S1090), “Footer” is stored as the print item, and the output item "Report" is stored as (S1100). At this time, as shown in FIG. 13, while the “General Affairs Department” button and the “Accounting Department” button are selected, the “Distribute to Person” check box, the “Report Output” check box, and the “Footer Print Output” check box are checked. A check is entered in the box.

  Such an operation is repeated until the user presses the “OK” button displayed on the touch panel display 172 (until YES in S1110). As described above, the software button and the check box corresponding to the “target code name” can be arbitrarily switched between the selected state and the non-selected state. Therefore, when the software button corresponding to the “target code name” in the non-selected state is pressed (if selected), the number of copies is added to correspond to the “target code name” in the selected state. When the software button is pressed (when the selected state is released), the number of copies is subtracted.

  When the user presses the “OK” button displayed on touch panel display 172 (YES in S1110), the added number of copies is printed together with the stored print items (S1120).

  As described above, since the number of distribution copies, the number of persons in charge, and the number of managers are preset for each purpose code, a user who copies materials to be distributed to a plurality of departments selects a purpose code corresponding to the department to be distributed. Thus, the total number of required copies is calculated in consideration of the number of additional distributions, set in the image forming apparatus, and copying is executed.

  When set as shown in FIG. 13, 10 copies of the meeting minutes (4 general affairs departments and 6 accounting departments) are output from the image forming apparatus 150 as shown in FIG. 14. In this case, since the footer print output is selected, as shown in FIG. 14, there are four copies of the recording sheet printed with “distribution destination: general affairs department” in the lower blank part of the recording paper, and “distribution destination: accounting department” The number of recording sheets printed as “is 6”.

  Further, since the report output is selected when the setting is made as shown in FIG. 13, the copy result report shown in FIG. 15 is outputted from the image forming apparatus 150 (YES in S1130, S1140). In this case, information about the copy date, the total number of copies, and the distribution destination is printed. The information on the distribution destination is “General Affairs Department 4 copies (distributed including the person in charge)” and “Accounting Department 6 copies (distributed including the person in charge)”. The copy result report shown in FIG. 15 is preferably output from the image forming apparatus 150 as a cover of 10 copies shown in FIG.

  By using this copy result report, the total number of copies can be easily confirmed, and the distribution destination can be easily confirmed and distributed reliably.

  As described above, according to the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment, (1) a user who copies materials to be distributed to a plurality of departments selects a target code, and the total number of copies is calculated to form an image. (2) In addition to the default number of distributions, “Distribute to person in charge” and “Distribute to managers” can be selected, so the distribution range can be easily changed (the target code management table is changed) (3) Since a copy output report is attached to the cover of multiple copies, the distribution destination and the number of each distribution can be known easily and reliably during actual distribution work. (4) Since the distribution destination is printed on the header or footer of the recording paper at the time of copying (when forming an image on the recording paper), it is easily and reliably sorted at the time of actual distribution work. It is possible.

<Modification>
In the above-described embodiment, “distribute to person in charge” and “distribute to manager” are common to all departments (common to all selected purpose codes). However, a check box is provided next to each purpose code, and a selection screen is displayed as to whether or not to distribute to the person in charge (and / or manager) when selecting the purpose code. It is also possible to select them.

  The embodiment disclosed herein is merely an example, and the present invention is not limited to the embodiment described above. The scope of the present invention is indicated by each of the claims after taking into account the description of the detailed description of the invention, and all modifications within the meaning and scope equivalent to the wording described therein are intended. Including.

150 Image forming device 166 Operation device 170 Operation panel 172 Display panel (touch panel display)
300 CPU
302 Hard disk 306 ROM
308 RAM
310 bus

Claims (7)

Storage means for storing a plurality of department information indicating departments to which copies are distributed, and the number of distributions associated with each of the department information;
Display means for displaying department information stored in the storage means;
A selection means for the user to select one or more departments to distribute the copy from among the plurality of department information displayed;
A total number setting means for setting the total number of copies calculated based on the number of distributions for the selected department as the number of copies;
An image forming apparatus comprising: image forming means for forming an image on a recording sheet for the set total number of copies based on document data read in advance. The storage means includes means for storing, in addition to the department information and the distribution number, an additional number associated with each department information,
The display means includes means for displaying a request for adding the number of copies in addition to the department information so that the user can select,
The total copy number setting means is a means for setting, as the number of copies, the total number of copies plus the number of additional copies for all the sections selected to be distributed when the addition of the number of copies is selected by the user. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, comprising: The storage means includes means for storing, in addition to the department information and the distribution number, an additional number associated with each department information,
The display means includes means for displaying a request for adding the number of copies in addition to the department information so that a user can select for each department,
The total number of copies setting means includes means for setting, as the number of copies, the total number of copies plus the number of additional copies for the section selected to be added to the total number of copies. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1.   The image forming means includes means for forming an image on the recording paper for the total number of copies and forming information on the information on the distribution destination on the recording paper. The image forming apparatus according to any one of the above.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the information about the distribution destination includes information about a plurality of departments selected by a user and information about the number of distribution copies associated with the department.   The image according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the image forming unit includes a unit for forming information on the distribution destination on each recording sheet in addition to an image based on document data. Forming equipment. The image forming apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the information about the distribution destination is information formed on each of the recording sheets for a department indicating a distribution destination selected by a user.

Images