JP2004106486A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To perform printing, which uses various functions possessed by an image forming apparatus, with respect to image data inputted from the outside from an external device. <P>SOLUTION: A CPU 1 performs printing setting operation. The setting of printing can be performed on a control panel 4. The setting of printing is appplied to the image data inputted from the outside and, when the inputted setting of printing and the setting of printing of the control panel 4 are different, either one of the settings of printing is performed preferentially to carry out printing. For example, when there is no function concerned in the apparatus, printing, wherein the setting of printing of the control panel 4 is performed preferentially, is carried out. Further, when there is contradiction in the inputted setting of printing, printing using the setting of printing of the control panel 4 is performed. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a printer or a digital multifunction peripheral that performs printing, receives the print setting together with image data from the outside, and executes printing in accordance with the print setting.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, various functions have come to be realized by improving performance and function of image forming apparatuses such as printers. Specifically, there is an image forming apparatus that is realized by providing an optional device for feeding and discharging paper in an image forming apparatus (for example, see Patent Document 1). Also, the image forming apparatus is connected to a network so as to be able to execute printing from a host apparatus, or the image forming apparatus can use a function such as data storage to enable printing of a large number of copies. There is a printer which causes a printer to perform up to video development in a printer language and performs actual printing by a digital copying machine (for example, see Patent Document 3).
[0003]
[Patent Document 1]
JP 2000-86013 A [Patent Document 2]
JP 2001-175448 A [Patent Document 3]
JP-A-2001-26164
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the present situation where the image forming apparatus is sophisticated as described above, not only printing using a printer driver provided as a standard feature of a network-connected host device, but also use from another host device and other systems. At the same time, a demand has arisen to use multifunctional functions.
[0005]
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide an image forming apparatus capable of executing, from an external apparatus, printing of image data input from the outside using various functions of the apparatus, in order to solve the above-mentioned problems caused by the conventional technique. I do.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above-mentioned problems and achieve the object, an image forming apparatus according to the first aspect of the present invention includes a control panel provided on the image forming apparatus, the number of which is a function of the apparatus, sort, staple, and punch. In an image forming apparatus capable of setting and printing print settings such as image input means for receiving the print settings together with image data for printing, and executing printing of the received image data in accordance with the print settings, or Print setting means for executing printing in accordance with the print settings set on the panel.
[0007]
According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the first aspect, the print setting unit is configured to set a print setting of the control panel when inconsistency occurs in printing based on the received print setting. Is performed with priority given to.
[0008]
According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the first or second aspect, the print setting unit is capable of printing when printing using the print settings of the control panel is not possible. It is characterized in that the setting is changed to a function.
[0009]
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the first aspect, the print setting unit is configured so that the received print setting content is inconsistent with a print setting function of the control panel. If so, printing using the print settings of the control panel is executed.
[0010]
In the image forming apparatus according to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the second aspect, the print setting unit gives priority to a specific function indicated by the print setting over a print setting of the control panel. It is characterized by the following.
[0011]
According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to any one of the first to fifth aspects, the set value of the print setting for the control panel can be set and changed from an external device. It is characterized by.
[0012]
According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to any one of the first to sixth aspects, the function that can be selected as a setting item on the control panel is an item that can be selectively operated. It is characterized by only being displayed.
[0013]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of the image forming apparatus of the present invention.
[0014]
The CPU 1 executes a print setting operation of the image forming apparatus described later using the RAM 3 based on the program in the ROM 2. The control panel 4 displays the settings related to the printing function of the apparatus. The printer unit 5 forms and outputs print data on paper. The I / F unit 6 receives image data via the LAN 10. The image data includes information on print settings set by an external host device (not shown) or the like.
[0015]
FIG. 2 is a table showing setting contents of a function (control) panel of the image forming apparatus. The control panel 4 has items as shown in the figure as menu setting items related to functions. (A) Quantity of print settings, (b) paper alignment setting (Collate Type), (c) staple setting (Staple Type), and (d) punch setting (PunchType). Each item has options as shown in the figure, and the options for staple setting and punch setting are changed to the content of options corresponding to the presence or absence of an optional device (finisher) attached to the image forming apparatus or the type of finisher. Is done.
[0016]
FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure for setting printing conditions. Upon receiving the print data (step S1), the image forming apparatus checks whether the print data contains at least one copy designation / sort designation / staple designation / punch designation command (step S2). If there is no command (step S2: No), the control panel 4 checks whether there is staple designation / punch designation (step S3). If there is designation (step S3: Yes), the page The designation of the number of sheets for each is ignored (step S4).
[0017]
The printer driver of the host device via the network may have a function of designating the number of prints for each page, but if the staple designation / punch designation is performed on the control panel 4, the printing is performed. It is determined that the print number designation for each page indicated by the data should be ignored and output should be performed, and a print request for each page is set using the control panel setting as a print condition (step S10), and printing is executed (step S10). S11).
[0018]
On the other hand, if there is at least one command in the check in step S2 (step S2: Yes), it is checked whether the sort designation is stack printing and the number of copies is one (step S5). If this condition is satisfied (Step S5: Yes), it is checked whether there is a command for specifying staple designation / punch designation (Step S6). If there is no command for specifying whether to specify staple / punch in the print data (step S6: Yes), the staple / punch is specified according to the control panel setting (step S7), and the control panel is set in step S10. The setting is set as a printing condition (step S10), and printing is executed (step S11).
[0019]
Also, if it is determined that the sort designation is not the case by checking whether or not the number of copies is one by stack printing (step S5: No), or is there a command to designate staple designation / punch designation in step S6? Is determined (step S6: No), the control panel setting is invalidated according to the print data designation (step S8). Thereafter, printing conditions are set according to the print data (step S9), and printing is performed (step S11).
[0020]
In the process of setting the control panel settings as the printing conditions in step S10, if there is a contradiction in the setting values on the control panel, the conditions are reset by setting the control panel 4 and setting the print data. Perform the repair process. For example, if the paper alignment setting shown in FIG. 2 is Off and the staple setting is other than Off, it is usually necessary to specify “Collate” in the paper alignment setting for stapling or punching. is there. In such a case, in step S10, a setting for setting the control panel settings as printing conditions is performed.
[0021]
When the control panel setting is set as the printing condition in step S10, for example, even if the staple designation or the punch designation is set on the control panel 4, the paper size of the print data is small, and the printing unit (engine ) Is a size that cannot physically execute stapling or punching, resetting is performed in the setting process of step S10, and functions that cannot be set are changed to other possible settings.
[0022]
The settings of the control panel 4 described above can be changed from a host device connected via a network. For functions (items) that cannot be set on the image forming apparatus side, the options of the items are not displayed on the control panel 4.
[0023]
As described above, according to the image forming apparatus of the present embodiment, the function can be realized by designating settings on the control panel. Further, depending on the settings on the control panel, inconsistencies may occur in the setting items for realizing the function. In that case, the function is prioritized, and the setting can be automatically changed internally and executed. As a result, the user can easily make settings without being aware of complicated and troublesome settings.
[0024]
If the print settings of the image data received from the external device cannot be realized by the settings on the control panel, the print settings should be automatically changed using the settings on the control panel without user selection. Therefore, printing using an external device can be easily performed. If the input print settings conflict with the settings on the control panel, the functions on the control panel can be given priority. Conversely, for a certain print function, it is possible to execute printing using the print setting side rather than the setting on the control panel side.
[0025]
Further, the setting values on the control panel can be set / changed by remote control from a host such as a PC, for example, thereby facilitating the setting. In addition, by hiding the setting options that do not function on the control panel, it is possible to prevent the user from inadvertently selecting an unusable function.
[0026]
The print setting method described in the present embodiment can be realized by executing a prepared program on a computer such as a personal computer or a workstation. This program is recorded on a computer-readable recording medium such as a hard disk, a flexible disk, a CD-ROM, an MO, and a DVD, and is executed by being read from the recording medium by the computer. The program may be a transmission medium that can be distributed via a network such as the Internet.
[0027]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, print settings can be made on the control panel, and image data input externally can be printed using the print settings. As a result, the image forming apparatus can perform not only printing using a printer driver provided as a standard feature of an external device connected to a network but also printing using conventional print data or a conventional system without using a dedicated printer driver. There is an effect that printing can be performed using the multifunctional printing function.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an electrical configuration of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a table showing setting contents of a function (control) panel of the image forming apparatus.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure for setting printing conditions.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 CPU
2 ROM
3 RAM
4 control panel 5 printer unit 6 I / F unit 10 LAN
a Setting the number of copies b Setting paper alignment c Staple setting d Punch setting

Claims (7)

In an image forming apparatus capable of printing by setting print settings such as the number of copies, sorting, stapling, and punching, which are functions of the apparatus on a control panel provided on the image forming apparatus,
Image input means for receiving the print settings together with image data for printing,
Print setting means for executing the printing of the received image data in accordance with the print settings, or executing the print in accordance with the print settings set on the control panel,
An image forming apparatus comprising: The print setting unit includes:
2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when inconsistency occurs in printing based on the received print settings, printing is performed with priority given to print settings on the control panel. 3. The print setting unit includes:
3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the setting is changed to a printable function when printing using the print settings of the control panel is not possible. The print setting unit includes:
2. A printing method using the print settings of the control panel when the received print setting contents are inconsistent with the print setting functions of the control panel. An image forming apparatus according to claim 1. The print setting unit includes:
The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein a specific function indicated by the print setting is prioritized over a print setting of the control panel. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a set value of the print setting for the control panel can be set and changed from an external device. The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the function selectable as a setting item on the control panel displays only an item that can be selectively operated.

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