JP2000174947A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To execute a job which a user desires when an electronic sorting processing is executed by transferring an image which is read to the storage medium of an outer device when the amount of image data stored in the storage medium of a device reaches a prescribed value and executing an image forming processing based on the image from the storage medium. SOLUTION: For executing an electronic sorting processing in an image forming device, image data which is read is transferred to another image forming device when the hard disk of an image storage part is filled with image data and a memory becomes full. The image forming device receives image data from the image forming device of a transfer destination by using a prescribed protocol and executes an image forming processing against image data by a printer part 2. The image forming device receives image data from the image forming device in a network interface part 7. The printer part 2 executes the image forming processing on image data via a core part 10 and a reader part 1.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a digital copying machine having an electronic sorting function.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, images of all originals to be copied are read, the image data is temporarily stored in a memory such as a hard disk, and image data of an arbitrary original is repeatedly read out from the memory and printed out. A digital copying machine having an electronic sorting function is known. Thus, it is possible to discharge copy sheets in a sorted state without having a sorter device having a plurality of bins.

[0003]

However, the capacity of a memory such as a hard disk for storing image data is limited, and the number of documents that can be stored is limited in advance, so that a job desired by the user cannot be executed. there is a possibility. For example, if the amount of data that can be stored in the memory is A
If 100 sheets of 4-size originals are used and the user wants to copy 102 sheets of A4, the data of 100 originals can be stored in the memory, but the remaining two sheets become full. I can't remember it. When the memory becomes full in this way, the user can cancel the copy job or instruct the copying apparatus to perform the electronic sort processing only on the image of the original document stored in the memory. Was. Therefore, it is desired to be able to execute a job desired by the user.

[0004]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Therefore, the present invention is to achieve the above object by providing an image forming apparatus described in any of the following items (1) to (4). .

(1) There is a reading means for reading an image of a document, an image read by the reading means is stored in a storage medium, an image stored in the storage medium is read, and an image is read based on the read image. In the image forming apparatus performing the forming process, when the data amount of the image stored in the storage medium of the image forming apparatus reaches a predetermined value, the image read by the reading unit is transmitted to the image forming apparatus via a network. The image is transferred to the external device so as to be stored in the storage medium of the external device connected to the external device, and the image is stored in the storage medium of the external device in response to storing the image in the storage medium of the external device. An image forming apparatus comprising: a control unit that controls reading and an image forming process based on the read image from the external device.

(2) When one or more images read by the reading means are stored in the storage medium and a plurality of images are read from the storage medium, the plurality of images are read in a different order from the order in which the images were read. The image forming apparatus according to the above (1), wherein:

(3) When a plurality of external devices are connected to the image forming apparatus via a network, the control unit reads the image read by the reading unit to any one of the plurality of external devices. The image forming apparatus according to (1), wherein the image is transferred to a storage medium of the external device that has transferred the image.

(4) The control means acquires each status information of the plurality of external devices, and selects any one of the plurality of external devices based on the acquired status information. The image forming apparatus according to (3), wherein the image read by the reading unit is transferred to the selected external device, and the image is stored in a storage medium of the external device that has transferred the image.

[0009]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of the present invention will be described below.
A detailed description will be given based on a plurality of embodiments with reference to the drawings.

[0010]

(Embodiment 1) FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an image forming apparatus 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The reader unit 1 reads an image of a document, and outputs image data corresponding to the document image to the printer unit 2 and the image input / output control unit 3. The printer unit 2 records an image corresponding to image data from the reader unit 1 and the image input / output control unit 3 on recording paper. The image input / output control unit 3 is connected to the reader unit 1, and includes a facsimile unit 4, a file unit 5, a network interface unit 7, a LIPS formatter unit 8, a postscript formatter unit 9, a core unit 10, and the like.

The facsimile unit 4 expands the compressed image data received via the telephone line, transfers the expanded image data to the core unit 10, and compresses the image data transferred from the core unit 10. Then, the compressed image data is transmitted via a telephone line. A magneto-optical disk drive unit 6 is connected to the file unit 5. The file unit 5 compresses the image data transferred from the core unit 10 and, together with a keyword for searching for the image data, includes a magneto-optical disk drive unit 6. 6 is stored in the magneto-optical disk.

The file section 5 searches compressed image data stored on the magneto-optical disk based on the keyword transferred via the core section 10, reads out the searched compressed image data, and decompresses it. Then, the decompressed image data is transferred to the core unit 10. The network interface unit 7 is an interface between the personal computer or workstation (PC / WS) 11 and the core unit 10. Similarly, the interface also serves as an interface between the core unit 10 and another image forming apparatus 13 as an external device connected to the network.

In this embodiment, as described above, another image forming apparatus is connected to the image forming apparatus 100 via a network. The internal configuration of the other image forming apparatuses connected to the image forming apparatus 100 is the same as that of the image forming apparatus 100.

In this embodiment, an image of a document read by the image forming apparatus 100 is converted to another image forming apparatus (for example,
The image can be transferred to the image forming apparatus 13) and the image can be stored in a hard disk in the transfer destination image forming apparatus.
The image forming apparatus 100 can read the image from the hard disk in the transfer destination image forming apparatus and receive the image via the network. Thus, when exchanging data with other devices via a network,
The image forming apparatus 100 performs the processing via the network interface unit 7 described above.

A plurality of image forming apparatuses such as the image forming apparatus 13 may be connected to the image forming apparatus 100 via a network. In this case, the image forming apparatus 100 selects any one of the plurality of connected apparatuses, and transmits the selected image forming apparatus to the image forming apparatus 100.
To transfer the image data of the read original. And
The image data is read from the transfer destination image forming apparatus and received via a network.

Reference numeral 12 denotes a network server, which is the center of network control. Formatters 8 and 9 are PC
The PDL data transferred from the / WS 11 is developed into image data that can be recorded by the printer unit 2. Although the core unit 10 will be described later, the core unit 10 controls the flow of data among the reader unit 1, facsimile unit 4, file unit 5, network interface unit 7, and formatter units 8 and 9. It is.

FIG. 2 is a schematic sectional view of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, in which 100 is a copying machine main body, 189 is a circulating automatic document feeder (RDF), and 5 is shown in FIG.
Reference numeral 00 denotes an operation unit. The reader unit 1 in FIG.
101 to 109, and the printer unit 2 correspond to 110 to 1 in FIG.
63 corresponds.

In FIG. 2, reference numeral 101 denotes a platen glass as a document placing table, and reference numeral 102 denotes a scanner, which includes a document illumination lamp 103, a scanning mirror 104, and the like.
The scanner is reciprocally scanned in a predetermined direction by a motor (not shown), and the reflected light of the original is transmitted through the lens 108 via the scanning mirrors 104 to 106 to form an image on the CCD sensor 109.

Reference numeral 120 denotes an exposure control unit composed of a laser, a polygon scanner, etc., which is converted into an electric signal by the image sensor unit 109 and modulated based on an image signal subjected to predetermined image processing described later. The light 129 is irradiated on the photosensitive drum 110.

Around the photosensitive (body) drum 110, a primary charger 112, a developing device 121, a transfer charger 118, a cleaning device 116, and a pre-exposure lamp 114 are provided. In the image forming section 126, the photosensitive drum 110
Is rotated by a motor (not shown) in the direction of the arrow shown in the figure. After being charged to a desired potential by the primary charger 112, the laser beam 129 from the exposure control unit 120 is irradiated, and the electrostatic latent image is formed. It is formed. The electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 110 is developed by the developing device 121,
It is visualized as a toner image.

On the other hand, the pickup rollers 133 and 134 are supplied from the upper cassette 131 or the lower cassette 132.
The transfer paper fed by the paper feed rollers 135, 13
6, the toner image is fed to the transfer belt by the registration roller 137, and the visualized toner image is transferred to the transfer paper by the transfer charger 118. After the transfer, the photosensitive drum 110 is cleaned of residual toner by the cleaner device 116, and residual charge is erased by the pre-exposure lamp 114.

The transfer paper after the transfer is separated from the transfer belt 130, the toner image is recharged by the pre-fixing chargers 139 and 140, sent to the fixing device 141, fixed by pressurizing and heating, and discharged by the discharge roller 142. Is discharged out of the main body 100.

Reference numeral 118 denotes an attraction charger for attracting the transfer paper sent from the registration roller 137 to the transfer belt 130. Reference numeral 119 denotes a suction roller which is used to rotate the transfer belt 130 and is paired with the attraction charger 118. And a transfer belt roller for attracting and charging the transfer paper to the transfer belt 130.

The main body 100 is equipped with a deck 150 capable of storing, for example, 4000 transfer papers. The lifter 151 of the deck 150 rises according to the amount of transfer paper so that the transfer paper always contacts the paper feed roller 152. Also, a multi-bypass tray 15 capable of accommodating 100 sheets of transfer paper.
3 are equipped.

Further, in FIG. 2, reference numeral 154 denotes a paper discharge flapper, which switches the path between the double-side recording side or the multiple recording side and the paper discharge side. The transfer paper fed from the paper discharge roller 142 is switched by the paper discharge flapper 154 to a double-sided recording side or a multiple recording side. Reference numeral 157 denotes a multiplex flapper for switching the path between double-sided recording and multiplexed recording.
By tilting the transfer paper to the left, the transfer paper
5 and directly to the lower transport path 158. 159 is
The paper feed roller feeds the transfer paper to the photosensitive drum 126 through the path 160.

A discharge roller 161 is disposed near the discharge flapper 154 and discharges the transfer paper switched to the discharge side by the discharge flapper 154 to the outside of the apparatus.

At the time of double-sided recording (double-sided copying), the discharge flapper 154 is raised upward, the multiple flapper 157 is tilted to the right. Then, the sheet is stored in the re-feed tray 156 in a reversed state via the transport path 158. At the time of multiplex recording (multiple copying), the discharge flapper 154 is raised upward, the multiplex flapper 157 is tilted to the left, and the copied transfer sheet is stored in the refeed tray 156 after passing through the transport path 158. The transfer paper stored in the re-feed tray 156 is guided to the registration roller 137 of the main body via the path 160 by the feed roller 159 one by one from below.

When the transfer paper is inverted from the main body and discharged (backside discharge), the discharge flapper 154 is raised upward, the flapper 157 is tilted rightward, and the copied transfer paper is transported to the transport path 155 side. After the rear end of the transfer sheet passes through the first feed roller 162, the transfer sheet is conveyed by the reversing roller 163 to the second feed roller 162a,
As a result, the transfer paper is turned over and discharged outside the machine.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the reader unit 1 (FIG. 1). The image data output from the CCD 209 is subjected to analog / digital conversion by the A / D / SH unit 210 and is subjected to shading correction. A / D
The image data processed by the SH unit 210 is transferred to the printer unit 2 via the image processing unit 211,
Image input / output control unit 3 via interface unit 213
To the core unit 10 (FIG. 1). The CPU 214
The image processing unit 211 and the interface unit 213 are controlled according to the setting contents set by the operation unit 500.

For example, when a copy mode in which a copy is performed by performing a trimming process on the operation unit 500 is set,
The image processing unit 211 performs a trimming process, and transfers the image data to the printer unit 2. When the facsimile transmission mode is set on the operation unit 500, the interface unit 213 transfers image data and a control command corresponding to the set mode to the core unit 10. Such a C
The control program of the PU 214 is stored in the memory 216, and the CPU 214 performs control while referring to the memory 216. The memory 216 is also used as a work area of the CPU 214.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the core unit 10 (FIG. 1). The image data from the reader unit 1 is transferred to the data processing unit 321, and the control command from the reader unit 1 is transferred to the CPU 323. Data processing unit 3
Reference numeral 21 denotes an image processing unit that performs image processing such as image rotation processing and scaling processing. The image data transferred from the reader unit 1 to the data processing unit 321 is controlled according to a control command transferred from the reader unit 1. The data is transferred to any one of the facsimile unit 4, the file unit 5, and the network interface unit 7 via the interface unit 320.

The code data representing the image input via the network interface unit 7 is transferred to the data processing unit 321 to determine whether the PDL is LIPS or PostScript,
The data is transferred to an appropriate formatter unit 8 or 9 and developed into image data.
1 and then to the facsimile unit 4 and the printer unit 2.

The image data from the facsimile unit 4 is transferred to the data processing unit 321 and then to the printer unit 2, the file unit 5, and the network interface unit 7. The image data from the file unit 5 is transferred to the data processing unit 121 and then to the printer unit 2, facsimile unit 4, and network interface unit 7.

The CPU 323 performs control for performing the above-described processing according to a control program stored in the memory 324 and a control command transferred from the reader unit 1. The memory 324 is also used as a work area of the CPU 323. In the network interface unit 7, a database called MIB (Management Information Base) is constructed, which communicates with a computer on a network via an SNMP protocol, and can manage a printer.

When the electronic sorting process is performed in the image forming apparatus 100, the image data of all the read originals is temporarily stored in the hard disk 257 of the image storage unit 255 in the image processing unit 211 (see FIG. 5). The read original image is read out in page order, and the printer unit 2 performs an image forming process on the image data of the original. The image data used for the electronic sorting process is deleted from the hard disk after the job is completed.

As described above, the image forming apparatus 10
Reference numeral 0 indicates that another image forming apparatus is connected via a network, and image data of a document read by the image forming apparatus 100 can be transferred to the other image forming apparatus.
The internal configuration of the other image forming apparatuses connected to the image forming apparatus 100 is the same as that of the image forming apparatus 100.

In this embodiment, the image forming apparatus 100
If the hard disk 257 of the image storage unit is full of image data and the memory is full, the image data of the read document is transferred to another image forming apparatus (for example, the image forming apparatus). Transfer to 13).

In this case, the image forming apparatus 100
Communication with a network interface unit of an image forming apparatus to which the image data is to be transferred, using a protocol such as / IP, and transferring the image data via a core unit of the image forming apparatus. This image data is temporarily stored on a hard disk in the apparatus.

Thereafter, the image forming apparatus 100
The image data is received from the transfer destination image forming apparatus by using a protocol such as TCP / IP, and the printer unit 2 performs an image forming process on the image data. At this time, the image data is read from the hard disk of the image forming apparatus to which the image data is transferred, and the image data is received via the core unit and the network interface unit of the apparatus.

When receiving image data from another image forming apparatus, the image forming apparatus 100 receives the image data from the other image forming apparatus through the network interface unit 7. Then, the core unit 10 and the reader unit 1
, The printer unit 2 performs an image forming process on the image data.

As described above, by performing the electronic sort processing on the image of the original read by the image forming apparatus 100 using the hard disk of another image forming apparatus connected to the image forming apparatus 100 via the network, the image forming apparatus 100 Even if the 100 hard disks 257 cannot be used because the memory is full, a job desired by the user can be executed.

As described above, the processing combining the functions of reading the original image, printing the image, transmitting and receiving the image, storing the image, inputting and outputting data from the computer, and the like can be performed mainly on the core unit 10. It is possible.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a detailed configuration of the image processing section 211 (FIG. 3).

A / D / SH unit 210 (FIG. 3)
The image subjected to the / D conversion and the shading correction is input as black luminance data, and is input to the log conversion unit 250.
Sent to The log conversion unit 250 stores an LUT for converting the input luminance data into density data, and converts the luminance data into density data by outputting a table value corresponding to the input data.

Thereafter, the density data is sent to the binarizing section 251. The binarization unit 251 binarizes the multi-valued density data, and the density value becomes “0” or “255”. 2
The converted 8-bit image data is converted into 1-bit image data of “0” or “1”, and the amount of image data stored in the memory is reduced.

However, when an image is binarized, the number of tones of the image is changed from 256 to two. Therefore, when image data having a large number of halftones such as a photographic image is binarized, image data is generally degraded. Is remarkable. Therefore, it is necessary to perform pseudo halftone expression using binary data.

For example, here, an error diffusion method is used as a method for pseudo-halftone expression using binary data. According to this method, when the density of a certain image is larger than a certain threshold value, it is determined that the density data is “255”. When the density is less than a certain threshold value, it is determined that the density data is “0”. In this method, a difference between the data and the binarized data is distributed to surrounding pixels as an error signal.

The distribution of the error is performed by multiplying the weighting coefficient on the matrix prepared in advance by the error generated by the binarization and adding it to the surrounding pixels.
As a result, the density average value of the entire image is stored, and the halftone can be represented in a pseudo binary manner.

The binarized image data is supplied to the control unit 252
Sent to The bitmap image data obtained by expanding the PDL from the computer is input from the core unit 10 and has already been input to the LIPS formatter unit 8 of the core unit 10.
Alternatively, since the data is developed as binary image data by the PS formatter 9, the data is sent to the controller 252 as it is.

In accordance with a command from the main body, the control section 252 reads an image read from the RDF and the platen glass 101 (FIG. 2) through the A / D / SH 210 (FIG. 3), or receives an image from the I / F 213. The image of the bitmap in which the PDL is expanded is stored in the image storage unit 255, and the image data is sequentially read from the image storage unit 255 and output.

The image storage unit 255 has a SCSI controller 256 and a hard disk 257 (memory).
The image data is written to the hard disk 257 according to a command from the CSI controller. For example, a plurality of image data stored in the hard disk 257 are printed in an order corresponding to the editing mode specified by the operation unit 500 (FIG. 3) of the copying machine. For example, when the PDL images sent from the first page are printed in reverse order and electronically sorted, the PDL bitmap images of all the pages sent from the host are temporarily stored on the hard disk, and then the last page is copied to the first page. Reads and prints images from the hard disk in order to the page. This is repeated for the number of copies requested by the host, thereby implementing electronic sorting.

The image storage unit 2 according to the embodiment of the present invention
The processing when the 55 hard disk 257 becomes “full” will be described later.

The image data called from the image storage unit 255 and the image data not stored in the image storage unit 255 are sent to the smoothing unit 253. In the smoothing unit 253,
First, 1-bit data is converted into 8-bit data, and the signal of the image data is set to “0” or “255”.

The converted image data is replaced with a weighted average value obtained by summing the values obtained by multiplying the coefficients on the predetermined matrix by the density values of the neighboring pixels. As a result, the binary data is converted into multi-valued data in accordance with the density value of the neighboring pixels, and an image quality closer to the read image can be reproduced. The smoothed image data is input to the gamma correction unit 254. When outputting the density data, the γ correction unit 254 performs conversion using an LUT in consideration of the characteristics of the printer, and adjusts the output according to the density value set by the operation unit. As a result, the processed image is transferred to the printer unit 2 and printed out.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing a basic screen displayed on the liquid crystal display panel 530 of the operation unit 500 (FIG. 3).

This screen is a touch panel, and the functions are executed by touching the insides of the displayed functions.

By pressing this key, the extended function key 501 is used to continuously copy pages, double-sided copy, multiple copy, move,
The setting mode for setting a binding margin and erasing a frame is entered. An image mode key 502 enters a setting mode for shading, shadowing, trimming, and masking a copied image.
The user mode key 503 can be used to set user use environment, for example, buzzer on / off, cassette auto selection on / off, automatic density adjustment method, and the like.

The advanced zoom key 504 is used to move the original in the X direction,
A mode for independently changing the magnification in the Y direction and a mode for a zoom program for calculating the magnification from the document size and the copy size are entered.

The M1 key 505, the M2 key 506, and the M3 key 507 are keys to be pressed when calling the registered mode memories. A registration key 508 is a key pressed to register the current copy mode in each mode memory.

An option key 509 is a key for setting optional functions such as a film projector for directly copying from a film. Further, it is also pressed when setting a favorite key.

A sorter key 510 is a key for setting whether to use a mechanical sorter or an electronic sorter, sorting the sorter, and setting modes such as groups. The mixed original key 511 is a key to be pressed when an A4 size and an A3 size, or a B5 size and a B4 size original are set together on the original feeder.

The same-size key 512 is a key to be pressed when setting the copy magnification to 100%. Reduction key 514, enlargement key 5
Reference numeral 15 denotes a key to be pressed when performing a standard reduction or enlargement.
The zoom key 516 is a key for setting a magnification, for example, between 25% and 800%. Paper selection key 513
Is a key to be pressed when selecting a copy sheet. The density keys 518 and 520 are copied darker every time the key 518 is pressed, and lightly copied each time the key 520 is pressed. When the density key is pressed, the display of the density display key 517 changes right and left.
An AE key 519 is a key which is pressed when an original having a dark background such as a newspaper is subjected to automatic density adjustment copying.

The HiFi key 521 is a key to be pressed when copying a document having a high halftone density, such as a photo document. The character emphasis key 522 is a key to be pressed when characters are to be emphasized in copying a character document.

The guide key 523 is a key to be pressed when the function of a certain key is not known, and a description of the key is displayed. The copy key 524 is a key to be pressed when performing a copying operation. When this key is pressed, a basic screen shown in FIG. 6 is displayed.

The fax key 525 is a key pressed when a fax is performed, and the file key 526 is a key pressed when the user wants to output file data.
A key 27 is pressed to change the print density or refer to the print output result of the PDL image from the remote host.

The form registration key 540 corresponds to the RDF189
The original set in (Fig. 2) is used as a form image.
The key to be pressed when storing in the form area of the hard disk 257 (FIG. 5).
This key is used to select a plurality of form images stored in the form area of the hard disk 257, perform OR-combination with a document set on the RDF 189, and print.

The screen shown in FIG. 7 is an electronic sort process for image data of a document read by image forming apparatus 100 using a hard disk of another image forming apparatus connected to image forming apparatus 100 via a network. Image forming apparatus to which the image data read by the image forming apparatus 100 is to be transferred (the image forming apparatus of the transfer destination)
This is a screen for specifying the name. The screen is displayed on display unit 500 of image forming apparatus 100.

When the image forming apparatus 100 is installed and used for the first time, the user makes settings on the screen for other image forming apparatuses capable of storing and reading the original image read by the image forming apparatus 100. .

The screen shown in FIG. 7 is obtained when the user presses the administrator key (not shown) on the screen (not shown) displayed on the operation unit 500 and inputs the administrator password using the numeric keypad. FIG. The image forming apparatus 100 collates the administrator password registered in advance in the memory 216 of the reader unit 1 with the password input by the user, and displays an administrator screen (not shown) when they match, When the user presses the group device acquisition key on the screen, the screen shown in FIG. 7 is displayed.

Reference numeral 640 denotes an address designation key. The user presses the key to invert the key, and then inputs the IP address of a network device of another image forming apparatus for transmitting / receiving a document image using a ten-key (not shown). For example, if the IP address of another image forming apparatus on the network is 1
In the case of 50.61.65.9, the user inputs the numerical value and presses the OK button 645. In response, the image forming apparatus 100 starts communication with another image forming apparatus using the TCP / IP protocol. At that time, first, a command for asking whether or not the other party (the apparatus connected to the image forming apparatus 100 via the network) is an image forming apparatus is
The image is transmitted to the IP address, and if the other party is an image forming apparatus, the other party's image forming apparatus has its own name, model name, remaining capacity (free space) of the hard disk of this apparatus, and whether copying is in progress. Is returned as a response, the image forming apparatus 100 receives the information.

Reference numeral 641 denotes a search range designation key. The user presses the key to invert the key, and then uses a ten-key (not shown) to search for another image forming apparatus on the network for transmitting / receiving a document image. Specify a range of IP addresses. This is because, when the IP address of another image forming apparatus is not directly known, or when there are a plurality of image forming apparatuses within the range of the IP address, the user transmits and receives the original image from among them. This is effective when it is desired to select another image forming apparatus to perform.

Reference numeral 643 denotes a search range start point address, which designates a start point of an IP address at which another image forming apparatus starts to be searched on the network. Reference numeral 644 denotes a search range end point address, and the start point I designated by the address 643
Starting from the P address, another image forming apparatus on the network is searched up to the destination IP address designated by the address 644.

For example, the start point of the search for the IP address of another image forming apparatus on the network which wants to transmit and receive the original image is 150.6.65.000, and the end point is 15
In the case of 0.61.65.255, the user inputs those numerical values with ten keys and presses the OK button 645. Accordingly, the image forming apparatus 100 first sets 150.61.6.
Communication is performed with a command for asking whether or not the other party is an image forming apparatus using the TCP / IP protocol with an IP address of 5.000.

If there is no response from the other party or if there is no response for a certain period of time, 150.6
The process proceeds to 1.65.001 and 150.6.65.002, and a search is performed up to the end point of 150.61.65.255. For each of these IP addresses, if the other party is an image forming apparatus, the other party's image forming apparatus has its own name, model name, remaining capacity (free space) of the hard disk of this apparatus, whether copying is in progress, and the like. Is returned as a response, the image forming apparatus 100 receives the information.

Reference numeral 646 denotes a cancel key which is depressed when a search for another image forming apparatus which can be connected to the network is stopped.

FIG. 8 shows an operation unit 50 showing a list of connection destinations.
7 is a screen displayed when the user presses the OK key 645 in the screen of FIG. The image forming apparatus 100 is operated by an OK key 64 by the user.
When 5 is pressed, communication with the other party is performed according to the TCP / IP protocol, a response result is received from the other apparatus,
A list of information on the received response results is displayed on the screen.

When the communication partner is an image forming apparatus,
On this screen, information such as the name and model name of the image forming apparatus of the other party and the remaining capacity (free space) of the hard disk of the other apparatus is displayed.

Reference numeral 650 denotes a name display field, which is registered by the user in the RAM of the partner image forming apparatus obtained by specifying the address in FIG. 7 to perform TCP / IP communication or specifying the address search range. Is displayed. For example, in the case of FIG. 8, as a result of specifying a search range and performing a search, it is possible to communicate with two image forming apparatuses named “sales 1 section GP” and “sales section 2 GP”.

Reference numeral 651 denotes a model name display column, which displays the product name of the model registered in the ROM of each partner image forming apparatus. In the case of FIG.
An image forming apparatus named “P” is a model of GP215, and an image forming apparatus named “Sales 2 section GP” is G
P30 indicates the model name of the image forming apparatus.

Reference numeral 656 denotes a hard disk information column.
The remaining capacity (free space) of the hard disk of each partner image forming apparatus is displayed. For example, the remaining capacity of the hard disk of the image forming apparatus named “Sales Section 1 GP” is 80 MB, and the remaining capacity of the hard disk of the image forming apparatus named “Sales Section 2 GP” is 80 MB. In addition, these image forming apparatuses are:
Since the original image read by the image forming apparatus 100 can be received and written through the network,
Is displayed.

Reference numeral 654 denotes a down scroll key, which is pressed to display a screen next to a list of names and model names. 655
Is an up scroll key, which is pressed to display a screen before the list of names and models.

Reference numeral 653 denotes a delete key, which is pressed to select a device that the user does not want to transmit / receive the original image from among the connected devices and delete the selected device. For example, if the user does not want to send / receive a document image to the image forming apparatus of the sales department 1 GP due to a small remaining capacity of the hard disk or the like, touch the line displaying the device to invert it and delete it. When the key 653 is pressed, the display is removed from the connection destination list, and at the same time, the document image is excluded from the devices that perform transmission and reception.

Reference numeral 652 denotes an OK key. When the user presses the OK key 652, an image forming apparatus displayed on the screen of the connection destination list, for example, in FIG. It is determined that two image forming apparatuses named “Sales Section 2 GP” are allowed to transmit and receive image data of a document read by the image forming apparatus 100.

As a result, if the hard disk 257 of the image forming apparatus 100 becomes full when the electronic sort processing (electronic sort job) is being performed, and the electronic sort processing cannot be performed using the hard disk 257, That is, if the image data of all the originals to be stored cannot be stored in the hard disk 257, the image data of the remaining originals that cannot be stored in the hard disk 257 is stored in the image named “Sales First Section GP” or “Sales Second Section GP”. The image data can be transferred to any one of the image forming apparatuses and stored in the hard disk of the image forming apparatus at the transfer destination. When the image data of all the originals is completely stored, the image of the original is sequentially read out from the hard disk 257 of the image forming apparatus 100 and the hard disk of the transfer destination image forming apparatus so as to arrange the page order, and the image forming process for the read image is performed. Can be performed by the printer unit 2 of the image forming apparatus 100.

Therefore, for example, if the data amount that can be stored in the hard disk 257 of the image forming apparatus 100 is 100 sheets of A4 size originals and the user wants to copy 102 sheets of A4 originals, 100 sheets of originals The image data is stored in the hard disk 257 of the image forming apparatus 100, and the remaining two pieces of image data are stored in the image forming apparatus 1.
00, the image data can be stored in the hard disk of another image forming apparatus connected to the hard disk drive, and the electronic sort processing can be performed on the image data of all the originals by using these hard disks. Also, the electronic sort processing is not performed only on the image data of the original document stored in the hard disk 257 (that is, the data of 100 original documents), and the job desired by the user can be executed.

FIG. 9 is a sequence flowchart showing a control procedure of electronic sorting according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

Note that this processing is performed by the CPU 214 and is performed when the image forming apparatus 100 performs the electronic sort processing (electronic sort job).

In step S201, the RDF 189
It is determined whether or not there is a document to be read (FIG. 2).
If there is no original, the process proceeds to step S207. If there is an original, the process proceeds to step S202. Step S202
Now, the image storage unit 255 of the image processing unit 211 (FIG. 3)
The remaining capacity (free space) of the hard disk 257 in (FIG. 5) is checked.
05, and the hard disk 25 of the image forming apparatus 100
7, an original image is stored. The manuscript image is RDF189
From the document drawn on the platen glass 101
A / D / SH21 read by D209 (FIG. 3)
0, and are stored in the hard disk 257 of the image storage unit 255 via the Log conversion unit 250 (FIG. 5), the binarization unit 251 and the control unit 252.

If it is determined in step S202 that the hard disk is full, it is checked in step S203 whether the hard disk of the image forming apparatus has a capacity. In this case, in FIG. 8, an inquiry is made via the network interface unit 7 (FIG. 1) to the image forming apparatus, for example, which has become communicable by the TCP / IP protocol, and is named, for example, "Sales Division 1 GP". . If there is a remaining capacity, the document image is transferred to another device, for example, an image forming apparatus named “Sales Section 1 GP” in step S206.

In this case, the image forming apparatus 100 includes the CCD 2
09 is processed by the control unit 252, and then sent to the I / F 213 (FIG. 4) and the network interface unit 7 of the core unit 10 (FIG. 1).
/ IP protocol via the network, "Sales 1
Transfer to the image forming apparatus named “section GP”.
This image is received by the network interface unit of the image forming apparatus named “Sales Division 1 GP”
Similarly, the data is transferred to the I / F, the data processing unit, and the image processing unit, and is stored in the hard disk of the image storage unit via the control unit therein.

In step S203, the hard disk of another device, for example, in this case, the connected image forming apparatus
If there is only the image forming apparatus named “Sales Section 1 GP”, and if there is no remaining space on the hard disk of this image forming apparatus, it is determined in step S204 that the memory is full, and this processing ends.

In step S201, a document image to be read is stored on the hard disk of the image forming apparatus 100 or another image forming apparatus until there is no more document to be read.
Proceed to.

In step S207, it is determined whether or not a document image is read from the hard disk 257 (FIG. 5) of the image forming apparatus 100. If so, step S209
To read a document image from the hard disk 257 of the image forming apparatus 100, and read the control unit 252, the smoothing unit 253,
Via the correction unit 254, in step S210,
The document image is printed by the printer unit 2 (FIG. 1).

In step S207, if the image forming apparatus storing the original image is another apparatus, for example, in this case, the image forming apparatus having the name "sales section 1 GP" (FIG. 8), the "sales section 1 GP" The image is read out from the hard disk of the image forming apparatus having the name "", received via the network, and printed. Specifically, through the network interface unit 7 of the image forming apparatus 100,
Via the network, an image of a document to be read stored in the image forming apparatus named “Sales Section 1 GP” is commanded, and the image forming apparatus “Sales Section 1 GP” receives it from the network interface unit. After that, the original image stored in the corresponding hard disk is read, and the requested device, that is, the image is transmitted through the control unit, the I / F, the data processing unit, the I / F, and the network I / F (FIG. 1). The document image is transferred to forming apparatus 100.

The document image swept out by the image forming apparatus named “Sales Division 1 GP” is received by the network interface unit 7 of the image forming apparatus 100, and similarly,
F320, data processing unit 321, I / F322, I / F
213, control unit 252 of image processing unit 211, smoothing unit 2
53, transferred to the printer unit 2 via the γ correction unit 254, and printed in step S210.

In step S211, it is determined whether the number of copies specified by the user through the operation unit has been printed or not. If the number of copies has not been printed yet, the process proceeds to step S211.
Returning to step 207, the processing is continued. If the number of copies has been printed, the process ends.

According to the above-described processing, the processing desired by the user can be executed when the electronic sorting processing is performed.

For example, during the execution of the electronic sort processing (electronic sort job), the hard disk 257 of the image forming apparatus 100 becomes full, and the image data of all the originals to be stored cannot be stored in the hard disk 257. In this case, the image data of the remaining originals that cannot be stored in the hard disk 257 is stored in the hard disk of another image forming apparatus connected via a network, and when the image data of all the originals is completely stored, the image forming apparatus 1
The image data of the document can be sequentially read out from the hard disk 257 of 00 and the hard disk of the transfer destination image forming apparatus so as to arrange the page order, and the image forming apparatus 100 can perform image forming processing on the read image data.

Therefore, unlike the related art, it is not necessary to cancel the copy job or to perform the electronic sort processing only on the image data of the document stored in the hard disk 257 of the image forming apparatus 100.

(Embodiment 2) Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a control procedure sequence for electronic sorting according to the second embodiment.

This process is performed by the CPU 214, and is performed when the image forming apparatus 100 performs an electronic sort process (electronic sort job).

In step S301, the RDF189
It is determined whether or not there is a document to be read (FIG. 2).
If there is no original, the process proceeds to step S309. If there is an original, the process proceeds to step S302. Step S302
Now, the image storage unit 255 of the image processing unit 211 (FIG. 3)
The remaining capacity of the hard disk 257 in FIG. 5 is checked, and if there is remaining capacity, the process proceeds to step S308,
The original image is stored in the hard disk 257 of the image forming apparatus 100. The original image is read from the RDF 189 onto the platen glass 101 by the CCD 209, and read from the A / D / SH 210 and the Log conversion unit 25.
0, and are stored in the hard disk 257 of the image storage unit 255 via the binarization unit 251 and the control unit 252.

If it is determined in step S302 that the hard disk 257 is full, it is checked in step S303 whether the hard disk of another image forming apparatus has the capacity. In this case, in FIG. 8, for example, an image forming apparatus named “Sales Section 1 GP” that has become communicable according to the TCP / IP protocol first via the network interface unit 7 (FIG. 1). Contact us.

If there is remaining capacity, step S307
Then, the document image is transferred to another device, for example, an image forming apparatus named “Sales Division 1 GP”. In this case, after the image forming apparatus 100 processes the original image read by the CCD 209 to the control unit 252 in the same manner,
/ F 213 to the network interface unit 7 of the core unit 10 and transfer it to the image forming apparatus named “Sales Division 1 GP” via the network using the TCP / IP protocol. This image is received by the network interface unit in the image forming apparatus named “Sales Division 1 GP”, and is similarly transferred to the I / F, the data processing unit, the I / F, and the image processing unit, and the control therein is performed. The data is stored in the hard disk of the image storage unit via the storage unit.

In step S303, when the remaining capacity is inquired of the image forming apparatus named "Sales 1 GP", if it is determined that the memory is full, the process proceeds to step S304.

In step S304, in FIG.
The other image forming apparatus, which has become communicable according to the IP protocol, inquires of the remaining capacity of the hard disk via the network interface unit 7 with respect to the image forming apparatus named “Sales 2 GP”. If there is remaining capacity, the document image is transferred to another device, an image forming apparatus named “sales 2 section GP”, in step S306.

In this case, the image forming apparatus 100 includes the CCD 2
09 is read by the control unit 252 in the same manner.
After the processing, the data is sent to the I / F 213 and the network interface unit 7 of the core unit 10, and is transferred to the image forming apparatus named “Sales Section 2 GP” via the network using the TCP / IP protocol. This image is
In an image forming apparatus named “Sales 2 Section GP”,
The data is received by the network interface unit, similarly passed to the I / F, the data processing unit, the I / F, and the image processing unit, and stored in the hard disk of the image storage unit via the control unit therein.

In step S304, image forming apparatus 100
In the case where all the hard disks of the image forming apparatuses that can be connected to the memory are full, in this case, the hard disks of the image forming apparatuses having the names of “Sales Section 1 GP” and “Sales Section 2 GP” are determined to be memory full. If so, step S30
At 5, it is determined that the memory is full, and the electronic sorting process ends.

In step S301, the document image is stored in the image forming apparatus 100 or the hard disk of another image forming apparatus until there are no more documents to be read.
Go to 9.

In step S309, it is determined whether or not the original image is read from the hard disk of the image forming apparatus 100. If so, in step S313, the original image is read from the hard disk 275 of the image forming apparatus 100, Via the conversion unit 253 and the γ correction unit 254, in step S314, the printer unit 2
To print the original image.

In step S309, if the image forming apparatus storing the document image is not image forming apparatus 100,
If it is determined in step S310 that the image forming apparatus is the “sales section 1 GP”, the image is read from the hard disk of the image forming apparatus named “sales section 1 GP” in step S312, received via the network, and printed. I do.

More specifically, a document image to be read, which is stored in the image forming apparatus named “Sales 1 Section GP”, is commanded via the network interface unit 7 of the image forming apparatus 100 via the network. The image forming apparatus named “Sales Division 1 GP” receives it from the network interface unit and then responds to it.
Reads the original image stored on the hard disk,
The requested device, that is, the image forming device 1 via the control unit, the I / F, the data processing unit, the I / F, and the network I / F
00, the original image is transferred.

The document image swept out by the image forming apparatus named “Sales 1 Section GP” is received by the network interface unit 7 of the image forming apparatus 100, and similarly,
F320, data processing unit 321, I / F322, I / F
213, control unit 252 of image processing unit 211, smoothing unit 2
53, transferred to the printer unit 2 through the γ correction unit 254, and printed in step S314.

In step S310, if the image forming apparatus that has stored the original image is not the image forming apparatus named “Sales Section 1 GP”, in this case, “Sales Section 2 G
If the image forming apparatus is named "P", in step S311, the image is read from the hard disk of the image forming apparatus named "Sales Section 2 GP", received via the network, and printed. Specifically, the user instructs a document image to be read, which is stored in the image forming apparatus named “Sales Section 2 GP” via the network via the network interface unit of the image forming apparatus 100 and wants to read “Sales Section 2”. After receiving the image from the network interface unit, the image forming apparatus named “GP” reads the corresponding document image stored in the hard disk, and reads the corresponding document image from the hard disk, and the control unit, I / F, data processing unit, I / F The document image is transferred to the requested image forming apparatus via the network I / F.

The document image swept out by the image forming apparatus named “Sales 2 GP” is received by the network interface unit 7 of the image forming apparatus 100, and similarly,
F320, data processing unit 321, I / F322, I / F
213, control unit 252 of image processing unit 211, smoothing unit 2
53, transferred to the printer unit 2 through the γ correction unit 254, and printed in step S314.

In step S315, the user operates the operation unit 5
It is determined whether the specified number of copies have been printed according to 00 (FIG. 3). If the number of copies has not been printed yet, the process returns to step S309 to continue the process. If the number of copies has been printed, the process ends.

According to the above-described processing, the processing desired by the user can be executed when the electronic sorting processing is performed.

For example, when a plurality of image forming apparatuses are connected to the image forming apparatus 100 via a network,
By using the hard disk of any one of the image forming apparatuses connected to the image forming apparatus 100, it is possible to perform the electronic sort processing on the image data of the original read by the image forming apparatus 100, so that the processing desired by the user can be reliably performed. I can do it. Further, when an image of a document read by the image forming apparatus 100 is stored in a hard disk of an image forming apparatus (for example, an image forming apparatus named “Sales Section 1 GP”) connected to the image forming apparatus 100, Even if the hard disk of this apparatus becomes full of memory and the electronic sort processing cannot be executed using the hard disk of this apparatus, other image forming apparatuses connected to the image forming apparatus 100 (for example, “Sales Section 2 GP”) Image forming apparatus 100), the image of the original read by the image forming apparatus 100 is transferred, the original image is stored on the hard disk of the apparatus, and the electronic sorting process can be executed.
The processing desired by the user can be reliably executed.

(Embodiment 3) Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing a control procedure sequence for electronic sorting according to the third embodiment.

This processing is performed by the CPU 214, and is performed when the image forming apparatus 100 performs the electronic sort processing (electronic sort job).

In step S401, the RDF189
It is determined whether or not there is a document to be read (FIG. 2).
If there is no original, the flow shifts to step S207 shown in the flowchart of FIG. If there is a document, the process proceeds to step S402. In step S402, the remaining capacity of the hard disk 257 in the image storage unit 255 (FIG. 5) of the image processing unit 211 (FIG. 3) is checked.
If there is remaining capacity, the process advances to step S403 to store the document image in the hard disk 257 of the digital copying machine. The original image is read from the RDF 189 onto the platen glass 101 by the CCD 209, and the A / D SH 210, the Log conversion unit 250,
Image storage unit 2 via binarization unit 251 and control unit 252
55 are stored in the hard disk 257.

If it is determined in step S402 that the hard disk 257 is full, in step S403, the remaining capacity of the hard disk of another image forming apparatus and the status of the copying machine, for example, whether copying is in progress or not are checked. In this case, in FIG. 8, for example, the image forming apparatuses having the names “Sales First Section GP” and “Sales Second Section GP” that can communicate with each other using the TCP / IP protocol are transmitted via the network interface unit 7. Inquire. If it is determined in step S405 that there are not a plurality of devices having the remaining capacity, it is determined in step S406 whether or not there is a remaining capacity. If there is no remaining capacity, it is determined in step S407 that the memory is full, and this process ends. I do.

If it is determined in step S406 that there is a remaining capacity, the process proceeds to step S408, where the remaining capacity of another device, for example, a hard disk is found to be “Sales Section 1 G
The document image is transferred to the image forming apparatus named “P”. In this case, the image forming apparatus 100 includes the CCD 20
After processing the document image read by the control unit 9 to the control unit 252 in the same manner, the document image is sent to the I / F 213 and the network interface unit 7 of the core unit 10, and is called “Sales Section 1 GP” via the network using the TCP / IP protocol. The name is transferred to the image forming apparatus. This image is received by the network interface unit of the image forming apparatus named “Sales Section 1 GP”, and similarly,
F, the data processing unit, the I / F, and the image processing unit, and are stored in the hard disk of the image storage unit via the control unit therein.

In step S405, if there are a plurality of other devices having remaining capacity, for example,
If both the image forming apparatuses having the names “P” and “Sales 2 GP” have the remaining capacity, in step S409, the state of each device is checked. For example, if there is an idle device that is not being copied, in step S411, the idle device is selected, and the document image is stored in the hard disk of the selected image forming apparatus.

For example, if the image forming apparatus named “Sales Section 1 GP” is being copied and the image forming apparatus named “Sales Section 2 GP” is in the idle state, the image forming apparatus named “Sales Section 2 GP” Select an image forming apparatus. If there is no other device in the idle state in step S409, in step S410, another device having a large remaining capacity of the hard disk is selected. For example, in this case,
According to FIG. 8, the remaining capacity of the image forming apparatus named “Sales First Section GP” is 80 MB, and the remaining capacity of the image forming apparatus named “Sales Second Section GP” is 100 MB. The image forming apparatus is selected, and the original image is stored in the hard disk of the selected image forming apparatus, that is, the image forming apparatus named “Sales 2 GP”.

According to the above-described processing, when performing the electronic sorting processing, the processing desired by the user can be reliably executed, and the productivity can be improved.

For example, when a plurality of image forming apparatuses are connected to the image forming apparatus 100 via a network,
By using the hard disk of any one of the image forming apparatuses connected to the image forming apparatus 100, it is possible to perform the electronic sort processing on the image data of the original read by the image forming apparatus 100, so that the processing desired by the user can be reliably performed. I can do it. Further, status information of the image forming apparatus connected to the image forming apparatus 100 (whether or not copying is in progress,
Information about the free space on the hard disk of this device)
Is acquired from each device, and based on the acquired status information, the most suitable image forming device (for example, not during copying and free space on the hard disk) is selected from among a plurality of image forming devices connected to the image forming device 100. (The image forming apparatus having sufficient capacity) is selected, the original image is stored in the hard disk of the selected image forming apparatus, and the electronic sorting process can be performed on the images of all the originals.
Productivity is improved.

[0130]

As described above, according to the present invention,
When the data amount of the image stored in the storage medium of the image forming apparatus reaches a predetermined value, the image read by the reading unit is stored in a storage medium of an external device connected to the image forming apparatus via a network. Transfer the image to the external device, read the image from the storage device of the external device in response to storing the image in the storage medium of the external device, and perform the image forming process based on the read image from the external device. With such control, a job desired by the user can be executed when performing the electronic sort processing. For example, if the storage medium of the image forming apparatus becomes full when the electronic sort processing is being performed and the images of all the originals to be stored cannot be stored in the storage medium of the image forming apparatus, the remaining originals that cannot be stored cannot be stored. The images are stored in a storage medium of an external device connected via a network, and when the storage of the images of all the originals is completed, the images of the originals are sequentially stored in the storage medium of the image forming apparatus and the storage medium of the external device of the transfer destination. Can be read, so that it is not necessary to cancel a copy job or to perform an electronic sort process only on an image of a document stored in a storage medium of an image forming apparatus as in the related art.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration block diagram of an image forming apparatus.

FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an image forming apparatus.

FIG. 3 is a configuration block diagram of a reader unit 1;

FIG. 4 is a configuration block diagram of a core unit 10;

FIG. 5 is a configuration block diagram of an image processing unit 211.

FIG. 6 is a liquid crystal panel screen of the operation unit 500.

FIG. 7 is a screen example of an operation unit for selecting another image forming apparatus.

FIG. 8 is an example of a screen of the operation unit showing a connection destination list display

FIG. 9 is a flowchart of a control procedure sequence for electronic sorting according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart of an electronic sorting control procedure sequence according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart of a control procedure sequence for electronic sorting according to the third embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Reader part 2 Printer part 3 Image input / output control part 5 File part 7 Network interface part 10 Core part 12 Network server 13 Other image forming apparatus 100 Image forming apparatus 101 Platen glass 109,209 CCD sensor 110 Photosensitive (body) drum 189 Recirculating automatic document feeder (RDF) 211 Image processing unit 252 Control unit 255 Image storage unit 257 Hard disk 321 Data processing unit 500 Operation unit 530 Liquid crystal panel

──────────────────────────────────────────────────の Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) 9A001 F term (Reference) 2C061 AP01 BB10 HJ06 HK11 HN02 HN15 HQ12 HQ17 HV06 HV19 HV26 2H027 DA32 DA50 ED21 EE08 EF09 EJ13 EJ15 FA ZA07 5B050 BA10 BA16 CA05 CA08 DA06 FA03 5C062 AA05 AB02 AC22 5C073 AB17 BB01 BB07 BC02 CC02 CE08 9A001 BB03 CC08 EE02 FF02 HH27 HZ34 JJ27 JJ35

Claims (4)

[Claims] A reading means for reading an image of a document;
An image forming apparatus that stores an image read by the reading unit in a storage medium, reads an image stored in the storage medium, and performs an image forming process based on the read image. When the data amount of the stored image reaches a predetermined value, the external device is configured to store the image read by the reading unit in a storage medium of an external device connected to the image forming apparatus via a network. In response to transferring the image and storing the image in a storage medium of the external device, the image is read from the storage medium of the external device, and an image forming process is performed based on the read image from the external device. An image forming apparatus, comprising: a control unit configured to perform a control. 2. When one or a plurality of images read by the reading means are stored in the storage medium and a plurality of images are read from the storage medium, the plurality of images are read in a different order from the order in which the images were read. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: 3. When a plurality of external devices are connected to the image forming apparatus via a network, the control unit transmits an image read by the reading unit to any one of the plurality of external devices. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image is stored in a storage medium of the external device that has transferred and transferred the image. 4. The control unit acquires status information of the plurality of external devices, selects one of the plurality of external devices based on the acquired status information, and selects one of the external devices. 4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the image read by the reading unit is transferred to the external device, and the image is stored in a storage medium of the external device that transferred the image.