JP2003008825A - Image input/output device, input/output control method for the image input/output device, and image input/output system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image input/output device, etc., which improves operation efficiency, since other image input/output devices can output images, even during APS errors and can surely output images on the optimal output sheets. SOLUTION: Even when a copying machine 101 (local printer) does not have an optimum form selected by APS(automatic form selection) in double-device mode and a copying machine 102 (remote printer) has optimum form, the copying machine 101 is controlled so as to read an original.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

The present invention relates to an image input / output device for outputting an input image, an input / output control method for the image input / output device, and an image input / output system.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Digital multi-function peripherals having a plurality of functions such as a copying function, a printing function, an image scanning function and a FAX function have been widely used. One of the operation modes in this type of digital multi-function peripheral is Auto Paper.
There is an operation mode called r Select (hereinafter APS) for selecting an optimum paper size for copying. A
The operation of the digital multi-function peripheral by PS will be briefly described. First, in the scanner device included in the digital multi-function peripheral, the document size detection sensor installed in the auto feeder or the scanner unit detects the document size. Then, the image size is determined from the detected document size and copy magnification. Furthermore, the optimum paper size is selected by selecting the copy paper size most suitable for the image size from the copy paper sizes of the digital multi-function peripheral. By selecting the optimum paper size using the APS, the user can easily set the paper size.

In recent years, a plurality of digital multi-function peripherals are connected to a network to read originals from a digital multi-function peripheral (hereinafter referred to as a local printer) to a digital multi-function peripheral other than the local printer itself and a local printer via the network (hereinafter referred to as a remote printer). An image forming system that realizes an operation mode called "double-run" that prints on both of the above is proposed. By performing the double connection, the productivity of the image forming system can be improved.

In this type of image forming system, it is considered that the load on the local printer side and the remote printer side by the user can be reduced by performing the multiplex mode together with the above-mentioned APS mode.

[0005]

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, in the past,
When instructing to input a print job to both a local printer and a remote printer, such as the above-mentioned series, if the optimum paper for printing the image data to be read from the image reading device does not exist in the local printer, the image is read. Reading from the device was suspended. Then, regardless of whether or not the optimum paper is stored in the remote printer, the reading of the image data is not restarted until the user inserts the optimum paper into the local printer or selects another paper.

As described above, if the reading of the image data is interrupted, the processing on the remote printer side is delayed and the work efficiency is lowered. Further, if the user selects a different paper, there is a problem that the remote printer will print on a paper different from the paper size desired by the user, although the optimum paper is available.

The present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems, and the output sheet selected according to the size of the image to be input is not included in the device itself but is included in another image input / output device. Even in such a case, by controlling to input an image, other image input / output devices can output the image, so that the work efficiency is improved and the image can be surely output on the optimum output sheet. An image input / output device, an input / output control method for the image input / output device, and an image input / output system are provided.

[0008]

In order to achieve the above object, an image input / output device of the present invention has an input means for inputting an image and an output means for outputting an image, and is provided via a communication medium. An image input / output device connected to another image input / output device, the first selection device selecting an output sheet according to the size of an image to be input by the input device, the output device, and the other device. Determining means for determining whether or not the image input / output device has the output sheet selected by the first selecting means, and the image input by the input means, the output means and the other image input / output. A control means for performing control for outputting by the device, the judging means does not have the output sheet selected by the output means, and the other image input / output device has the output sheet selected by the other image input / output device. Then it is judged Even if, the control means, and controlling said input means to enter the image.

Further, the input / output control method of the image input / output apparatus of the present invention is an input / output control method of an image input / output apparatus which is connected to another image input / output apparatus via a communication medium and outputs an input image. There is a first selection step of selecting an output sheet according to the size of an image to be input by the image input / output device, and the image input / output device and the other image input / output device perform the first selection. A determination step of determining whether or not the output sheet selected in the step is included, and a control for outputting an image input by the image input / output device by the image input / output device and the other image input / output device And a step of controlling the image input / output device which does not have the selected output sheet, and the other image input / output device has the selected output sheet. To It can have the control process, and controls the image input and output apparatus to enter the image.

The image input / output device input / output control method of the present invention is an input / output control method for an image input / output device which is connected to another image input / output device through a communication medium and outputs an input image. In the image input / output device and the other image input / output device, there is a selection step of selecting an output sheet for outputting the input image according to the size of the image input by the image input / output device. An image input / output step of outputting an image input by the image input / output device by using the output sheet selected in the selection step, even if the image input / output device does not have the selected sheet. If the other image input / output device has the selected output sheet, the image input / output in the image input / output step is not interrupted.

The image input / output system of the present invention is connected to an image input / output device having an input unit for inputting an image and an output unit for outputting the image, and the image input / output unit via a communication medium. An image input / output system including another image input / output device according to claim 1, wherein the image input / output device includes a first selection unit that selects an output sheet according to a size of an image to be input by the input unit. Determining means for determining whether the output means and the other image input / output device have the output sheet selected by the first selecting means, and the image input by the input means, the output means And a control unit that performs control for outputting by the other image input / output device, and the determination unit does not have the output sheet selected by the output unit, and the other image input / output device is When it is determined to have the serial selected output sheet also, the control means, and controlling said input means to enter the image.

[0012]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration of an image forming system constructed on a computer network according to the present embodiment.

The copying apparatus 101 is a digital multi-function peripheral having functions such as a copying function, a printing function, an image scanning function and a FAX function. The copying machine 102 is the copying machine 1.
This is a digital multi-function peripheral with the same functions as 01. If the copying machine has a function capable of realizing the operation of the image forming system in the present embodiment, the copying machine 10
2 may be different digital multi-function peripherals.

The computer network 103 connects the copying apparatus 101 and the copying apparatus 102, and device information and copy jobs are transmitted and received via the computer network 103. In the present embodiment, the copying apparatus 1
01 is a local printer for reading a document, a copying machine 10
2 is used as a remote printer that outputs an image read by the copying apparatus 101 via the computer network 103.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the hardware configuration of the copying apparatus 101.

The copying apparatus 101 includes a central processing unit 201,
A main storage device 202, a display device 203, an input device 204,
External storage device 205, printing device 206, image reading device 207, network device 208, electronic mail device 2
09 and the fax machine 210 constitute a main part thereof.

The central processing unit 201 controls each of the devices 202 to 210 constituting the copying apparatus 101, and also takes charge of four arithmetic operations and logical operations. Further, when the image forming system performs the multiplex operation, the processing of the copying apparatus 101 as a local printer is controlled. Main memory 20
2 is configured using a storage medium such as RAM or ROM,
The image forming system stores information necessary for performing the image forming process, and the information is retrieved as necessary.

The display device 203 displays information regarding the processing operation of the image forming system, is equipped with a CRT, a liquid crystal, a touch panel, etc. (not shown), and the touch panel also functions as the input device 204. Input device 2
Reference numeral 04 is for inputting various operation information to the central processing unit 201, such as a keyboard, a mouse, a card reader,
There is a touch panel (not shown) and the like. In addition, the display device 2
The touch panel that also functions as 03 is the copying apparatus 101.
It also has the function of the operation part of. For the double action command and the paper selection by the user, selection information is input by the operator operating a button or the like displayed on the touch panel, and the central processing unit 20 is selected according to the input selection information.
One can make the selection.

The external storage device 205 stores various kinds of information, and includes a magnetic storage device and a magneto-optical storage device. The external storage device 205 has a database or the like that holds notification destination information for each failure and the occurrence frequency of the failure.

The printing device 206 is a printer unit that prints image data on a print sheet such as paper. As a printing method, there are an electrophotographic method using a photosensitive drum or a photosensitive belt, an inkjet method in which ink is ejected from a minute nozzle array to directly print an image on a sheet, but any method may be used. Further, although the print sheet used by the printing apparatus 206 will be described below as a print sheet, it goes without saying that the present invention can be applied to the case where another print sheet such as an OHP sheet is used.

The printing device 206 has a plurality of paper feed stages so that paper of different sizes such as A3, A4 and B4 can be selected, and a paper cassette (not shown) corresponding to each of them is provided. Each paper cassette is provided with a sensor that detects whether or not there is a paper to be set, and the detection result of each sensor is sent to the central processing unit 201 and is used as paper size information when performing overlap and APS. Used. Further, the paper size information can be transmitted and received between the copying apparatus 101 and the copying apparatus 102 using each network device. Information is transmitted and received under the control of the central processing unit, information is acquired when the power of the device is turned on, and communication is regularly performed after the power is turned on to update information, or remote copying or duplication. There is a method of transmitting and receiving information when a copy job is input. In the present embodiment, it is assumed that the latter method is used to send and receive the paper size information.

The image reading device 207 comprises a scanner unit for reading a document and an auto feeder (not shown) for automatically reading a plurality of documents. The scanner unit illuminates an image on a paper serving as a document and operates the CCD line sensor to obtain electronic information about the document. Further, the image reading device 207 includes a document size detection sensor, and has an automatic document size detection function for performing APS.

The network device 208 includes the computer network 103 and the copy device 1 which is the present hardware.
01 is connected to input / output information. The electronic mail device 209 is in charge of sending and receiving mail with the outside via the computer network 103. The fax machine 210 is responsible for sending and receiving faxes with the outside.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the hardware configuration of the copying apparatus 102.

The copying apparatus 102 includes a central processing unit 301,
A main storage device 302, a display device 303, an input device 304,
External storage device 305, printing device 306, image reading device 307, network device 308, electronic mail device 3
09 and the fax device 310, and the main parts thereof are configured. The central processing unit 201, the main storage device 202, the display device 203, the input device 204, the external storage device 205, the printing device 206 of the copying apparatus 101, respectively. It is assumed that the image reading apparatus 207, the network apparatus 208, the electronic mail apparatus 209, and the fax apparatus 210 have the same functions. However, the central processing unit 301
When performing the continuous operation in the image forming system, the copying apparatus 1
02 to control processing as a remote printer.

The double operation of the image forming system according to the present embodiment will be briefly described. As described above, the copying apparatus 101 is selected from the plurality of copying apparatuses existing on the computer network 103 as a local printer,
The copying machine 102 is used as a remote printer to perform a double connection. Therefore, the original is read by the image reading apparatus 207 of the copying apparatus 101 which is a local printer, and the obtained image data is the printing apparatus 206 of the copying machine 101 itself which is a local printer and the printing apparatus of the printing apparatus 102 which is a remote printer. It will be output at 306.

The setting relating to the cascade is performed on a touch panel (not shown) provided in the copying apparatus 101 which is a local printer. On the touch panel screen, the same settings as the normal copy operation such as the number of output copies and magnification are also made.
Regarding the output paper setting screen, normal paper (A3, A4,
In addition to output selection in B5 etc., "Automatic paper selection" (AP
It is displayed so that S mode) can be selected. By selecting this "automatic paper selection" from the display screen
It is assumed that it is possible to perform the multiple continuous operation using PS.

When the printing apparatus 101 issues a start command after completing the settings related to these cascades, the image reading apparatus 20
After the document set in 7 is read and APS is performed, the read image is transferred to the printing device 206 and the network device 208 via the central processing unit 201. The network apparatus 208 transmits the transferred image to the copying apparatus 102, and on the copying apparatus 102 side, the network apparatus 308 receives the transmitted image. Then, the printing devices 206 of the copying apparatus 101 and the copying apparatus 102,
At 306, the number of copies is output automatically or by the number set by the user. When APS is normally performed in the image forming system, the output is performed with the optimum paper size in both the copying apparatus 101 and the copying apparatus 102.

Next, the APS (Aut) used in this embodiment is
o Paper Select, automatic document size selection)
Will be briefly described. APS is one of the operation modes in the digital multi-function peripheral (copying device 101, copying device 102) for selecting the optimum paper size for copying. By selecting the optimum paper size using the APS, the user can easily set the paper size.

In this image forming system, first, the document size of the document set by the document size detection sensor installed on the auto feeder of the image reading device 207 of the copying apparatus 101 or in the scanner section is detected. The detected size information is sent to the central processing unit 201, and the image size is determined from the detected document size and copy magnification. It should be noted that in the present embodiment, the copy magnification is the same size (× 1.00).
Suppose Further, the optimum paper size is selected by selecting the paper feed tray containing the paper of the most suitable size for the image size from the paper feed tray of the copying apparatus 101. Regarding the copying apparatus 102, the information of the document size determined by the central processing unit 201 of the copying apparatus 101 is sent via the computer network 103, and the copying apparatus 102
It is assumed that the optimum paper size is selected by selecting the paper feed tray containing the paper most suitable for the image size from the paper feed tray of the copying apparatus 102 on the side. As a result, the copying machine 101 (local printer) and the copying machine 102 (remote printer) can perform a multiple operation using APS.

The above is the overlap and the APS in this embodiment.
However, conventionally, when APS and overlapped printing are performed at the same time, if the optimum paper for printing the image data to be read from the image reading device does not exist in the local printer, the reading from the image reading device is temporarily suspended. . Then, regardless of whether or not the optimum paper is contained in the remote printer, the reading of the image data is not restarted until the user inserts the optimum paper into the local printer or selects another paper.

As described above, if the reading of the image data is interrupted, the processing on the remote printer side is delayed and the work efficiency is lowered. Further, if the user selects a different paper, the remote printer may print on a paper different from the paper size desired by the user, although the optimum paper is available. In the present embodiment, such a problem is solved by the operation control at the time of multiple continuous operation described below.

In the present embodiment, the operation of the image forming system at the time of performing the multi-row connection using the APS will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. In this embodiment, the copying apparatus 101 is used as a local printer, a plurality of originals or a plurality of pages are read from the copying apparatus 101, and the obtained image data is input to the copying apparatus 101 and the copying apparatus 102 serving as a remote printer. Do a ream. Note that the numbers in the figure represent each step, and in the processing shown in the flowchart of FIG. 4, the central processing unit 201 controls the processing of steps S101 to S110.

First, the user gives an instruction from the input device 204 of the copying apparatus 101 to start copying using the copying apparatus 101 and the copying apparatus 102 as printers (S101). In the present embodiment, the copying apparatus 101 is used as a local printer and M
And the copying apparatus 102 is used as a remote printer to instruct output of N copies.

Next, the image reading device 207 of the copying apparatus 101 pulls in one original to be copied from the feeder and detects the original size (S102). In the present embodiment, it is assumed that originals of different sizes are continuously drawn from the feeder of the image reading apparatus and the sizes of the originals are detected.

After the document size is detected from the feeder in step S102, the optimum print paper size is calculated (S103). In the present embodiment, the original size is A4 and the copy is made at the same size, and the optimum paper size is calculated as A4.

Next, it is determined whether or not the optimum paper sheet calculated in step S103 is contained in the copying apparatus 101 (S10).
4). When it is determined in step S104 that the optimum paper is loaded, the document is read from the image reading device 207 as image data (S105), and the image data is transmitted to the copying device 101 and the copying device 102 (S106).

Then, it is determined whether the original is the last original (S107). When it is determined in step S107 that the document is the last document, the reading of the document from the image reading device 207 is completed. On the other hand, if it is determined in step S107 that the document is not the last document, step S102.
Then, the next original is pulled in from the feeder and the size of the original is detected.

If it is determined in step S104 that the optimum paper is not in the copying machine 101, the copying machine 10
It is determined whether or not the optimum paper is included in 2 (S10).
8).

If it is determined in step S108 that the optimum paper is in the copying apparatus 102, the original is read as image data from the image reading apparatus 207 (S1).
05), the image data is copied into the copying apparatus 101 and the copying apparatus 10.
2 (S106).

On the other hand, in step S108, the copying machine 102
If it is determined that the optimum paper is not included in the above, the user is notified by displaying on the display device 202 that there is no optimum paper (S109), and a screen for selecting another paper is displayed to the user. A button for instructing whether to select or cancel copying is also displayed on the touch panel (S11).
0).

In step S110, the user inputs the input device 2
When another sheet is selected by 04, the original is read as image data according to the sheet size (S105),
The data is transmitted to the copying apparatus 101 and the copying apparatus 102 (S10).
6).

On the other hand, when the user gives an instruction to stop copying by the input device 204 in step S110, the reading of the original is stopped.

The image data transmitted in step S106 is sequentially printed on the printing paper selected in step S103 or step S110 by the printing device 206 or printing device 306. Then, step S10
When the output of each printing device is completed after the last document is detected in 7, the series operation using the APS is completed.

In this embodiment, the APS and the multiplex operation in the image forming system including the copying apparatus 101 as the local printer and the copying apparatus 102 as the remote printer have been described above.

In the continuous operation, the optimum paper size is selected by APS, and it is determined whether the local printer and the remote printer have the optimum paper. Then, even when it is determined that the local printer does not have the optimum paper and the remote printer has the optimum paper, the central processing unit 201 causes the reading device to read the document and copy the read image data to the copying device 102.
I sent it to.

As a result, even if the local printer is in an error state, printing can be performed by the remote printer, so that work efficiency can be improved.
Further, even if the operator selects another sheet in the error state, the remote printer can surely print with the optimum sheet.

Further, when it is determined that neither the local printer nor the remote printer has the optimum paper, the display 203 displays the fact and the paper selection screen is displayed. As a result, it is possible to promptly recover from the APS error.

Further, here, in addition to the selection information, a button as to whether or not to stop the duo is displayed on the touch panel, and when the operator inputs the stop, the duo is stopped. As a result, the operability in the double operation is improved.

Further, since the determination processing regarding the presence / absence of the optimum paper is performed for each page, it is possible to flexibly perform the processing according to the size of the original image for each sheet.

In the present embodiment, the copying apparatus (digital multi-function peripheral) is used for description, but the present invention is not limited to this, and it goes without saying that the present invention can also be applied to a facsimile apparatus or a printer apparatus.

Further, in the present embodiment, the central processing unit of the copying apparatus controls the processing procedure shown in FIG. 4, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a server is provided on the network, The server may perform the multiplex operation, APS control, and optimum paper determination processing via the network.

[0054]

As described above, according to the present invention, in the case where the output sheet selected according to the size of the image to be input is not included in the own device but is included in another image input / output device. Also, by controlling to input an image, other image input / output devices can output an image, so that the working efficiency is improved and the image can be surely output on an optimum output sheet. There is.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration of an image forming system constructed on a computer network according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration of a copying apparatus 101 according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration of a copying apparatus 102 according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the image forming system when performing multiple copy using APS in the present embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

101 Copier (local printer) 102 Copier (remote printer) 103 computer network 201 Central processing unit 202 main memory 203 display device 204 input device 205 external storage device 206 printer 207 Image reading device 208 network equipment 209 E-mail device 210 fax machine

Claims (18)

[Claims] 1. An image input / output device having an input device for inputting an image and an output device for outputting an image, the image input / output device being connected to another image input / output device via a communication medium, said input device. Depending on the size of the image to be input by
First selecting means for selecting an output sheet; determining means for determining whether the output means and the other image input / output device have the output sheet selected by the first selecting means; Control means for controlling the output of the image input by the input means by the output means and the other image input / output device, and the output means selects the output sheet by the determining means. Alternatively, even when it is determined that the other image input / output device has the selected output sheet, the control unit controls the input unit to input the image. I / O device. 2. The control unit controls the image input by the input unit to be transmitted to the output unit and the other image input / output device.
The image input / output device described in 1. 3. When the determination unit determines that both the output unit and the other image input / output device do not have the output sheet, the determination unit further includes a notification unit for notifying the fact. The image input / output device according to claim 1. 4. In response to the selection information input by the operator,
The output unit and the other image input / output device both include the output sheet by the selection unit for selecting the output sheet, and the display unit for displaying the information regarding the output sheet selection. The image according to claim 3, wherein, when it is determined that the second sheet does not have the sheet, the notifying section displays that fact on the display section and also displays the output sheet selection information by the second selecting section. I / O device. 5. The output sheet selection information displayed by the display means is information for allowing the operator to select whether or not to perform the output sheet selection by the second selection means, and the operator The image input / output apparatus according to claim 4, wherein when the information indicating that the output sheet selection is not performed is input by the control unit, the control unit stops the input of the image by the input unit. 6. When the operator inputs information to the effect that the output sheet is to be selected and further input selection information, the second selection means selects an output sheet based on the selection information, The image input / output device according to claim 4, wherein the control unit inputs an image by the input unit. 7. The image input / output device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit performs control for outputting an image input by the input unit on a page-by-page basis. 8. The input means is a reading device for inputting an image by reading an original image, and the first selecting means selects an output sheet based on a size of the original image. The image input / output device according to any one of claims 1 to 7. 9. An input / output control method for an image input / output device, which is connected to another image input / output device via a communication medium and outputs an input image, comprising: A first selection step of selecting an output sheet according to the size, and whether or not the image input / output device and the other image input / output device have the output sheet selected in the first selection step A determination step of determining, and an image input by the image input / output device, a control step of performing control for outputting by the image input / output device and the other image input / output device, and by the determination step, Even when it is determined that the image input / output device does not have the selected output sheet and the other image input / output device has the selected output sheet, the control step inputs the image. Output control method characterized by controlling the urchin the image input and output apparatus. 10. The control process according to claim 9, wherein the image input by the image input / output device is controlled to be transmitted to the image input / output device and the other image input / output device. Input / output control method described. 11. When the determination step determines that both the image input / output device and the other image input / output device do not have the output sheet, the determination step further includes a notification step of notifying the fact. The input / output control method according to claim 9. 12. The image input / output device and the other image input / output device further include a second selection step of selecting an output sheet in accordance with an input of selection information by an operator. 12. If both of them are determined not to have the output sheet, the notification step displays that fact on the display and also displays the output sheet selection information by the second selection step. The input / output control method described in. 13. The output sheet selection information displayed on the display is information for allowing the operator to select whether or not to perform the output sheet selection in the second selecting step, and 13. The input / output control method according to claim 12, wherein when the information indicating that the output sheet is not selected is input, the control step stops inputting an image by the image input / output device. 14. When the operator inputs information to the effect that the output sheet is selected and further input selection information, the second selection step selects an output sheet based on the selection information, 14. The control step of inputting an image by the image input / output device.
The input / output control method described in. 15. The input / output control according to claim 9, wherein in the control step, control for outputting an image input by the image input / output device is performed in page units. Method. 16. The image input / output device includes a reading device for inputting an image by reading an original image, and the first selecting step selects an output sheet based on a size of the original image. 10. The method according to claim 9, wherein
16. The input / output control method according to any one of 15 to 15. 17. An input / output control method in an image input / output device, which is connected to another image input / output device through a communication medium and outputs an input image, the size of an image input by the image input / output device. According to the selection step of selecting an output sheet for outputting the input image, in the image input / output device and the other image input / output device, using the output sheet selected in the selection step,
An image input / output step of outputting an image input by the image input / output device, wherein the other image input / output device selects the output even if the image input / output device does not have the selected sheet. An input / output control method wherein the image input / output in the image input / output step is not interrupted if a sheet is included. 18. An image input / output device having an input device for inputting an image and an output device for outputting an image, and another image input / output device connected to the image input / output device via a communication medium. An image input / output system including, wherein the image input / output device, according to a size of an image to be input by the input unit,
First selecting means for selecting an output sheet; determining means for determining whether the output means and the other image input / output device have the output sheet selected by the first selecting means; Control means for controlling the output of the image input by the input means by the output means and the other image input / output device, and the output means selects the output sheet by the determining means. Alternatively, even when it is determined that the other image input / output device has the selected output sheet, the control unit controls the input unit to input the image. I / O system.