JP6145704B2 - Image forming system - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming system, and more particularly to an image forming system including an image forming apparatus such as a printer or a copying machine.

  Noise generated during operation of image forming apparatuses such as printers and copiers has been reduced year by year, and has been greatly improved in recent years from the viewpoint of sound pressure level. However, although the sound pressure level has decreased, the “harmful feeling” and “discomfort” associated with the operation of the device remain, and some countermeasure is required.

  In recent years, in image forming systems, not only the reduction of noise, but also the emphasis of development has been on the provision of added value through the sound of improving the sound environment of the office. As one of them, a sound masking technique is attracting attention as a technique for reducing noise discomfort. Sound masking is a noise countermeasure technique that utilizes the phenomenon that when a sound of a certain volume can be heard, it is difficult to hear other sounds, and has been proposed in Patent Documents 1, 2, 3, and the like.

  In Patent Document 3, the masking sound is adjusted with respect to the surrounding noise sound to make it difficult for the user to recognize the surrounding noise. However, since the masking sound is often music mainly composed of melodies, the music that suits the user's preference varies depending on the personal preference. Since the music for masking is uniformly reproduced by the image forming apparatus, it is difficult to substantially select music that all users in the range where the sound spreads agree with each other.

JP 2005-059422 A JP 2004-205434 A JP 2009-175420 A

  An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming system in which a sound masking effect can be obtained in consideration of user preferences and the like.

An image forming system according to an aspect of the present invention includes:
In an image forming system configured to reproduce music having a masking effect against noise sound caused by operation of the apparatus,
A masking sound source management unit that holds a plurality of masking sound source data and their attributes;
A user information management unit that holds user information management data in which a specific type of masking sound source data is associated with each of a plurality of users;
A masking sound source selection / playback instruction unit for selecting masking sound source data to be played with reference to the user information management data and instructing the playback during operation of the apparatus;
A masking sound source reproduction unit for reproducing the masking sound source data selected by the masking sound source selection reproduction instruction unit;
It is provided with.

  In the image forming system, since masking sound source data to be reproduced is selected and reproduced with reference to the user information management data, a masking sound that is preferable for each user is played.

In the image forming system,
In addition, a time information management unit that holds the time zone attribute of the current time,
The masking sound source management unit also holds time zone attributes of a plurality of masking sound source data,
The masking sound source selection / playback instruction unit may select the masking sound source data associated with the time zone attribute based on the current time and instruct the playback thereof.

  According to this, since masking sound source data to be played back is selected and played back according to the time zone attribute (for example, whether the current time is a basic business time zone or an overtime business time zone) A favorable masking sound is played.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to obtain a sound masking effect in consideration of user preferences and the like.

1 is an external perspective view showing an image forming system. It is a perspective view which shows the attachment state of a speaker apparatus. It is a block diagram which shows a control part. It is explanatory drawing which shows the layout of the periphery in which the image forming system is installed. It is a table figure which shows the 1st example of masking sound source data. It is a table figure which shows user information management data. It is a flowchart figure which shows the 1st example of a masking sound source selection process. It is a flowchart figure which shows the 2nd example of a masking sound source selection process. It is explanatory drawing which shows the masking sound source setting screen by each user.

  Embodiments of an image forming system according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

(Image forming system, see FIGS. 1 and 2)
An image forming system S shown in FIG. 1 includes an electrophotographic image forming apparatus 1, an image reading apparatus 2 installed on the upper part of the image forming apparatus 1, and punching processing on paper discharged from the image forming apparatus 1. And a post-processing device 3 that performs binding processing and the like.

  The image forming apparatus 1 forms a color toner image by a conventionally known tandem method. The sheet on which the image is formed is sent from the intermediate conveyance unit 4 to the post-processing device 3. In addition, the image forming apparatus 1 includes a circulation conveyance unit 35 for performing double-sided printing, and a manual paper feed unit 36 for feeding postcards and the like.

  The post-processing device 3 has a conveyance path for discharging the paper straight to the tray 51, a conveyance path for stapling a plurality of sheets at the end and discharging them to the tray 52, and stapling a plurality of sheets at the center. A conveyance path for folding and discharging to the tray 53 is provided.

  The image reading apparatus 2 reads the image with a reading optical system (not shown) while curving and conveying the document from the tray 41 and discharges the image onto the tray 42. The document reading device 2 moves the reading optical system in one direction and reads an image of a document placed on a platen glass (not shown).

  In the present specification, a job using the image forming apparatus 1, the intermediate transport unit 4 and the post-processing apparatus 3 is referred to as “print”, and a job for reading an original image using the image reading apparatus 2 is referred to as “scan”. Called.

  The speaker device 10 plays BGM or the like having a masking effect with respect to the noise sound accompanying the operation of the image forming system S, or plays voice guidance regarding the operation and operation of the system S. The speaker device 10 may be installed at any location in the image forming system S. Preferably, the speaker device 10 is installed directly under the operation panel 11 and inside the exterior cover 15 as shown in FIG. Is preferred. In consideration of the case where voice guidance for supporting the operation of the image forming apparatus 1 is played from the speaker device 10, it is desirable to arrange the voice guidance directly below the operation panel 11 or on the front surface of the image forming apparatus 1.

(Control unit, see FIG. 3)
As shown in FIG. 3, the control unit of the image forming apparatus 1 includes a network management unit 61, an execution job management unit 62, a print control management unit 63, a masking sound source management unit 64, a user information management unit 65, A masking sound source selection / playback instruction unit 66, a masking sound source playback unit 67, and a time information management unit 68 are included.

  In addition to the image print function, the image forming apparatus 1 has a communication function with other computers and the like, and a facsimile transmission / reception function, and the network management unit 61 manages this type of communication. The execution job management unit 62 manages the execution of various jobs of the image forming system S. The print control management unit 63 manages the printing operation by the image forming apparatus 1.

  The masking sound source management unit 64 holds a plurality of masking sound source data and their attributes. The user information management unit 65 holds user information management data in which specific types of masking sound source data are associated with a plurality of users. The masking sound source selection / playback instruction unit 66 selects the masking sound source data to be played back with reference to the user information management data and instructs the playback thereof when the image forming system S operates. The masking sound source playback unit 67 plays back the masking sound source data selected by the masking sound source selection / playback instruction unit 66. The time information management unit 68 holds a time zone attribute of the current time. The time zone attribute indicates, for example, an attribute that the current time is a basic business time zone and an attribute that it is an overtime business time zone.

  Here, as shown in FIG. 4, in the layout of the office where the image forming apparatus system S is installed, the users are members who sit on the individual desks M1 to M18 and managers who sit on the manager seat D1. . In addition, a meeting space P is installed in this office. In FIG. 4, diameter distances of 3 m, 5 m, and 7 m centering on the system S are indicated by thin line circles.

  FIG. 5 shows a table 1 of masking sound source data held in the masking sound source management unit 64. Here, regarding a plurality of song names (masking sound source data) such as slow A and high tempo A, whether or not the sound source data conforms to the jobs “print” and “scan” of the system S (jobs marked with “○”). Linguistic information of those sound sources is recorded. Further, the table 1 includes time zone attribute data of the current time. For example, it is recorded that the sound source data “Nigiri A” is compatible with the basic business hours, and the sound source data “settled A” is compatible with the overtime business hours. .

  FIG. 6 shows a table 2 of user information management data held in the user information management unit 65. Here, the user IDs corresponding to the users M1 to M18 and D1 and the attribute information thereof, that is, the distance from the system S in the office, the seating status, the priority when selecting a song title, the language used, and the preferred sound type are as follows. It is recorded. The attribute information is registered in the user information management data when each user M1 to M18, D1 transmits to the control unit 60 using the printer driver of his / her personal computer. The distance from the system S may be measured by measuring the distance from each personal computer wirelessly, that is, based on the received radio wave intensity at the control unit 60. A user with a high priority is, for example, a superior in a job title or a person sensitive to sound.

  Based on the masking sound source data and the user information management data, the masking sound source selection / playback instruction unit 66 performs various processes described below.

  For example, the masking sound source selection / playback instruction unit 66 selects the sound type masking sound source data associated with the most users and instructs the playback thereof. Alternatively, the masking sound source selection / playback instruction section 66 selects the sound type masking sound source data associated with the largest number of users who are present and instructs the playback thereof.

  Also, the masking sound source selection / playback instruction unit 66 selects the sound type masking sound source data associated with the user with the shortest distance information and instructs the playback thereof. The sound type masking sound source data associated with the user having the long distance information may be excluded from the reproduction selection.

Also, the masking sound source selection / playback instruction unit 66 selects the masking sound source data of the sound type associated with the user who is present and has the highest priority and instructs the playback thereof.

  In addition, the user information management data may include job information instructed to the system S by each user. In this case, the masking sound source selection / playback instruction unit 66 may exclude the masking sound source data of the sound type associated with the user having the job information from the playback selection. The user who has instructed the job to the system S does not care much even if the system S generates an operation sound. Rather, there is a request for confirming that the system S is operating with the operation sound. Therefore, the masking sound source data to be reproduced may be excluded from those associated with the user.

  Further, the masking sound source selection / playback instruction unit 66 selects masking sound source data to be played back with reference to the language information and instructs the playback thereof. For example, if the language used by the user who is a seated user and is closest to the system S is French, the reproduction of the French song (“settled A” based on table 1 in FIG. 5 is instructed).

(Sound source selection processing procedure, see FIGS. 7 and 8)
Here, a procedure of sound source selection processing by the selective reproduction instruction unit 66 will be described. FIG. 7 shows a first example of the sound source selection process. First, in step S1, processing initialization is executed. “Initialization” means “Selected sound source data” with sound type “Any”, search target user ID: “0” set, and “distance” as search condition set “10m or more” To do.

  Next, in step S2, attribute information (see FIG. 6) of the user ID: n is acquired, and in step S3, it is determined whether the user ID: n is present. If it is present, it is determined in step S4 whether or not the distance from the system S of the user ID: n is smaller than 10 m. If the distance is less than 10 m, in step S5, the sound source data associated with the user ID: n is set to “selected sound source data”, and in step S6, the distance of the user ID: n is set in “distance”. Set.

  Next, in step S7, it is determined whether or not the above processing has been performed up to the final user. If not, the user ID: n is incremented and the above steps S2 to S6 are repeated. When the processing up to the last user is completed, in step S8, “masking sound source data” is instructed to be reproduced to the masking sound source generation unit 67.

  FIG. 8 shows a second example of the sound source selection process corresponding to the job type by the selective reproduction instruction unit 66. When only “print” is being executed, the selection / playback instruction unit 66 instructs the sound source playback unit 67 to play back the sound source data (see FIG. 5) associated with only “print” in step S11. When only “scan” is being executed, the selective reproduction instruction unit 66 instructs the sound source reproduction unit 67 to reproduce sound source data (see FIG. 5) associated with only “scan” in step S12. When “print” and “scan” are being executed at the same time, the selective reproduction instructing unit 66, in step S13, the sound source data associated in common with “print” and “scan” that match the user's language information. It is determined whether or not there is. If there is common sound source data that matches the language information, the sound source data reproduction unit 67 is instructed to reproduce the sound source data in step S14. If there is no common sound source data that matches the language information, the sound source playback unit 67 is instructed to play back the sound source data associated with both “print” and “scan” without specifying the language information in step S15.

(See the masking sound source setting screen, Fig. 9)
As described above, each user can set favorite masking sound source data in the table 1 shown in FIG. 5 via the printer driver from the screen of his / her personal computer. In this screen, as shown in FIG. 9, “1. Slow”, “2. High tempo”, “3. Lively”, “4.

(Playback of masking sound source based on time zone attribute)
The masking sound source selection / playback instruction unit 66 selects masking sound source data associated with a time zone attribute (basic business time zone, overtime business time zone) based on the current time and instructs the playback thereof. Also good. For example, if the current time is the basic business time zone, the playback instruction is given for the song “lively A” with reference to the table 1 in FIG. Alternatively, if the current time is an overtime work time zone, a reproduction instruction is given for the song “Settlement A”. Thereby, a preferable sound masking effect can be obtained according to the time zone.

(Other examples)
The image forming system according to the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the gist thereof.

  In particular, the table 1 shown in FIG. 5 and the table 2 shown in FIG. 6 are merely examples. Further, the configuration of the image forming system is arbitrary.

  As described above, the present invention is useful for an image forming system, and is particularly excellent in that a sound masking effect in consideration of user preferences and the like can be obtained.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS S ... Image forming system 1 ... Image forming apparatus 60 ... Control part 64 ... Masking sound source management part 65 ... User information management part 66 ... Masking sound source selection reproduction instruction part 67 ... Masking sound source reproduction part 68 ... Time information management part

Claims (8)

In an image forming system configured to reproduce music having a masking effect against noise sound caused by operation of the apparatus,
A masking sound source management unit that holds a plurality of masking sound source data and their attributes;
A user information management unit that holds user information management data in which a specific type of masking sound source data is associated with each of a plurality of users;
A masking sound source selection / playback instruction unit for selecting masking sound source data to be played with reference to the user information management data and instructing the playback during operation of the apparatus;
A masking sound source reproduction unit for reproducing the masking sound source data selected by the masking sound source selection reproduction instruction unit;
With
The masking sound source selection / playback instruction unit selects the masking sound source data associated with the most users and instructs the playback thereof;
Images formed system that characterized. In an image forming system configured to reproduce music having a masking effect against noise sound caused by operation of the apparatus,
A masking sound source management unit that holds a plurality of masking sound source data and their attributes;
A user information management unit that holds user information management data in which a specific type of masking sound source data is associated with each of a plurality of users;
A masking sound source selection / playback instruction unit for selecting masking sound source data to be played with reference to the user information management data and instructing the playback during operation of the apparatus;
A masking sound source reproduction unit for reproducing the masking sound source data selected by the masking sound source selection reproduction instruction unit;
With
The user information management data also includes presence information of each user,
The masking sound source selection / playback instruction unit selects masking sound source data associated with the largest number of users who are present and instructs the playback thereof;
Images formed system that characterized. In an image forming system configured to reproduce music having a masking effect against noise sound caused by operation of the apparatus,
A masking sound source management unit that holds a plurality of masking sound source data and their attributes;
A user information management unit that holds user information management data in which a specific type of masking sound source data is associated with each of a plurality of users;
A masking sound source selection / playback instruction unit for selecting masking sound source data to be played with reference to the user information management data and instructing the playback during operation of the apparatus;
A masking sound source reproduction unit for reproducing the masking sound source data selected by the masking sound source selection reproduction instruction unit;
With
The user information management data also includes distance information between each user and the image forming apparatus main body,
The masking sound source selection / playback instruction unit selects the masking sound source data associated with the user with the shortest distance information and instructs the playback thereof;
Images formed system that characterized. In an image forming system configured to reproduce music having a masking effect against noise sound caused by operation of the apparatus,
A masking sound source management unit that holds a plurality of masking sound source data and their attributes;
A user information management unit that holds user information management data in which a specific type of masking sound source data is associated with each of a plurality of users;
A masking sound source selection / playback instruction unit for selecting masking sound source data to be played with reference to the user information management data and instructing the playback during operation of the apparatus;
A masking sound source reproduction unit for reproducing the masking sound source data selected by the masking sound source selection reproduction instruction unit;
With
The user information management data also includes distance information between each user and the image forming apparatus main body,
The masking sound source selection / playback instruction unit excludes masking sound source data associated with a user having a long distance information from the playback selection;
Images formed system that characterized. In an image forming system configured to reproduce music having a masking effect against noise sound caused by operation of the apparatus,
A masking sound source management unit that holds a plurality of masking sound source data and their attributes;
A user information management unit that holds user information management data in which a specific type of masking sound source data is associated with each of a plurality of users;
A masking sound source selection / playback instruction unit for selecting masking sound source data to be played with reference to the user information management data and instructing the playback during operation of the apparatus;
A masking sound source reproduction unit for reproducing the masking sound source data selected by the masking sound source selection reproduction instruction unit;
With
The user information management data includes presence information of each user and priority for each user,
The masking sound source selection reproduction instruction section may presence and to instruct the playback by selecting a masking sound source data associated with the highest priority users,
Images formed system that characterized. In an image forming system configured to reproduce music having a masking effect against noise sound caused by operation of the apparatus,
A masking sound source management unit that holds a plurality of masking sound source data and their attributes;
A user information management unit that holds user information management data in which a specific type of masking sound source data is associated with each of a plurality of users;
A masking sound source selection / playback instruction unit for selecting masking sound source data to be played with reference to the user information management data and instructing the playback during operation of the apparatus;
A masking sound source reproduction unit for reproducing the masking sound source data selected by the masking sound source selection reproduction instruction unit;
With
The user information management data includes job information instructed to the device by each user,
The masking sound source selection / playback instruction unit excludes masking sound source data associated with the user having the job information from playback selection;
Images formed system that characterized. In an image forming system configured to reproduce music having a masking effect against noise sound caused by operation of the apparatus,
A masking sound source management unit that holds a plurality of masking sound source data and their attributes;
A user information management unit that holds user information management data in which a specific type of masking sound source data is associated with each of a plurality of users;
A masking sound source selection / playback instruction unit for selecting masking sound source data to be played with reference to the user information management data and instructing the playback during operation of the apparatus;
A masking sound source reproduction unit for reproducing the masking sound source data selected by the masking sound source selection reproduction instruction unit;
With
The user information management data includes language information for each user,
The masking sound source selection / playback instruction unit selects masking sound source data to be played back with reference to the language information and instructs the playback thereof;
Images formed system that characterized. In an image forming system configured to reproduce music having a masking effect against noise sound caused by operation of the apparatus,
A masking sound source management unit that holds a plurality of masking sound source data and their attributes;
A user information management unit that holds user information management data in which a specific type of masking sound source data is associated with each of a plurality of users;
A masking sound source selection / playback instruction unit for selecting masking sound source data to be played with reference to the user information management data and instructing the playback during operation of the apparatus;
A masking sound source reproduction unit for reproducing the masking sound source data selected by the masking sound source selection reproduction instruction unit;
A time information management unit that holds a time zone attribute of the current time ;
With
The masking sound source management unit also holds time zone attributes of a plurality of masking sound source data, and the masking sound source selection / playback instruction unit selects masking sound source data associated with the time zone attribute based on a current time. Instructing that playback,
Images formed system that characterized.

Images