JP2004228951A - Digital compound machine - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a digital compound machine where setting conditions can be inputted easily and automatically altogether by using a scanner function provided on the compound machine by incorporating setting contents into a marginal part of an objective original. <P>SOLUTION: An operator performs a key operation, from an operation panel 12, for specifying a part where the setting contents are entered, and the original is inserted without a normal setting operation from the operation panel 12. In this case, the original in which setting information is entered beforehand in a specified area such as the marginal part at an upper, lower, left or right part as indicated in the figure is used. The setting information entered beforehand in the specified area such as the marginal part at the upper, lower, left or right part is automatically recognized by an identification part (OCR/OMR) 20 through a scanner 14, and setting is performed by a control part 26. Processing is executed according to the setting contents. Even when there are a plurality of setting contents, they are set altogether and then the set contents are performed. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a digital multifunction peripheral having a copy, a scanner, a printer, a facsimile function, and the like.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, digital multifunction peripherals having copy, scanner, printer, and facsimile functions with a single device have become widespread. When it is desired to use a plurality of functions simultaneously with such an apparatus, for example, to copy a document and perform facsimile transmission at the same time, the user must input a processing operation from the operation unit each time. In addition, when using the copy function, if it is desired to make an enlarged copy and a reduced copy for the same document, the process must be repeated each time.
[Patent Document 1]
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. HEI 6-139401 discloses a technique that makes it easy to load various programs and commands into an information processing apparatus, and that a command to a distant information processing apparatus can be given by a simple operation. It has been disclosed.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
By the way, it is troublesome to perform a key operation a plurality of times on the same document, and at the same time, a useless process may be performed due to an operation error. On the other hand, it is very convenient if processing patterns are accumulated and can be used many times.
Accordingly, a first object of the present invention is to easily and automatically collectively set a set condition by using a scanner function of a multifunction peripheral by including a set content by using a margin portion of a target document. An object of the present invention is to provide a digital multifunction peripheral that allows input.
A second object of the present invention is to provide a digital multifunction peripheral capable of outputting an original document as it is by erasing a setting content entered in a margin portion of the original document.
A third object of the present invention is to provide a digital multi-function peripheral capable of confirming whether setting contents read by a scanner function are correctly recognized.
A fourth object of the present invention is to provide a digital multi-function peripheral in which contents set by key operations on an operation panel can be reused for a scanner without a user inputting a key.
[0004]
A fifth object of the present invention is to provide a digital multi-function peripheral capable of automatically detecting and notifying an operator's entry error when a combination setting that does not allow a key operation on the operation panel is read. It is to be.
A sixth object of the present invention is to automatically detect an entry error by an operator and automatically correct the entry when a combination setting that does not allow key operation itself is read from the operation panel. It is to provide a digital multifunction device that has been developed.
A seventh object of the present invention is to use the ADF function to automatically and continuously execute a plurality of processing flows with different setting conditions without performing a new operation by the operator. Is to provide a digital multi-function peripheral that can complete the operations at once.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
According to the first aspect of the present invention, in a digital multi-function peripheral having a plurality of functions such as copying and facsimile, a sheet in which various setting items are entered in a predetermined area such as upper, lower, left, or right margin, and a document to be processed are stored. Reading means for reading a sheet on which the image is synthesized, a recognizing means for recognizing the contents of various setting items written in a predetermined area read by the reading means, and a digital composite according to the contents recognized by the recognizing means. The first object is achieved by providing control means for controlling the machine.
[0006]
According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, when the digital multi-function peripheral outputs, there is provided an erasing means for erasing and outputting various setting items entered in a predetermined area. The second object is achieved.
According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, a notifying means for notifying an operator by displaying or outputting various setting items which are read by the reading means and entered in a predetermined area is further provided. With the provision, the third object is achieved.
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the reading unit reuses a sheet in which various setting items are written in a predetermined area, and combines the sheet with a document to be processed. The fourth object is achieved by reading the sheet.
[0007]
According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the invention, when various setting items written in the predetermined area read by the reading unit are combinations that cannot be set, an operation panel display or a sound is displayed. Thus, the fifth object is achieved by providing an unacceptable setting notifying means for notifying the operator of a setting error.
According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, when the various setting items written in the predetermined area read by the reading means are combinations that cannot be set, the control means sets the automatic setting. The sixth object is achieved by performing a process after correcting the setting to a most optimal setting combination.
[0008]
According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, an automatic document feeder (ADF) is further provided, and the automatic document feeder includes a sheet in which various setting items are written in a predetermined area, The seventh object is achieved by the reading unit reading a plurality of sheets of paper on which a document to be processed is combined continuously.
[0009]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a digital multifunction peripheral according to the present embodiment, and FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a document used in the present embodiment.
As shown in FIG. 1, the multifunction peripheral 10 has various functions such as a copy 22, a scanner 14, a printer 16, a facsimile 18, and the like, and an operation panel 12 on which a user performs various operations is read by the scanner 14. An identification unit (OCR (optical character reader) / OMR (optical mark reader)) 20 for identifying contents, a database 24 for storing various data, and a control unit 26 for controlling the entire apparatus are provided.
[0010]
Next, a processing procedure of the first embodiment will be described. (A) The following alphabets indicate the operation order.
(A) The operator performs a key operation from the operation panel 12 to specify a portion in which the setting content is entered.
(B) The operator inserts a document without performing a normal setting operation from the operation panel 12. Here, as shown in FIG. 2, a document to be used is one in which setting information is previously written in a designated area such as a blank area at one of the upper, lower, left and right sides.
(C) The setting information pre-filled in a designated area such as one of the upper, lower, left and right margins is automatically recognized by the identification unit (OCR / OMR) 20 via the scanner 14, and the control unit 26 The settings are made.
(D) Then, the processing is executed according to the set contents. Even if a plurality of setting contents are set, they are executed after being set collectively.
According to this embodiment, the content identified by the identification unit 20 is set in the multifunction peripheral by the control unit 26 in the same manner as when the content is set by a key operation from the operation panel 12, and the subsequent processing is performed based on the setting. Can be performed. By doing so, the setting can be performed with less time and effort than the setting from the operation panel 12, and an operation error in key operation can be prevented. In addition, the setting operation can be omitted in a normal processing operation, and even when a plurality of setting conditions are switched, the setting operation can be performed in a single operation.
Further, if a number of setting patterns that cannot be stored in the memory are stored and used repeatedly, the operation can be further simplified.
Since the margins of the document are used, the function can be realized without preparing a new sheet.
[0011]
Next, a second embodiment will be described.
This embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that a set portion previously written on a document is deleted and then output.
(A) The operator performs a key operation from the operation panel 12 to specify a portion in which the setting content is entered.
(B) The operator inserts a document without performing a normal setting operation from the operation panel 12.
(C) The setting content of the inserted document is automatically recognized by the identification unit (OCR / OMR) 20, and the setting is performed by the control unit 26 in accordance with the setting.
(D) Then, the processing is executed according to the set contents. Even if a plurality of setting contents are set, they are executed after being set collectively.
(E) Thereafter, at the time of input or output to the memory, the setting entry portion is erased by a memory operation.
[0012]
Next, a third embodiment will be described.
In this embodiment, in the first embodiment, the setting contents read by the scanner 14 and identified by the identification unit (OCR / MCR) 20 are displayed on the operation panel 12 or printed out as necessary. This allows the operator to confirm the settings.
(A) The identified setting content is displayed on the operation panel 12 to display the content to the operator.
(B) Alternatively, when the operator performs a key operation from the operation panel 12, the setting contents are printed out.
[0013]
Next, a fourth embodiment will be described.
In this embodiment, in the first embodiment, the setting contents set by the operator from the operation panel 12 are printed out and read by the scanner 14. By allowing the identification unit (OCR / MCR) 20 to identify the content, the operator can repeatedly use the same setting content without manually entering it.
(A) First, the operator combines a sheet in which the setting contents are previously written and a target document.
(B) Then, the operator performs a key operation from the operation panel 12 to specify a portion in which the setting content is entered.
(C) The operator causes the scanner 14 to read the pre-combined sheet.
(D) The settings entered on the sheet are automatically made, and the operator can perform the subsequent processing.
[0014]
Next, a fifth embodiment will be described.
In this embodiment, in the first embodiment, a sheet or a document in which setting contents are written is read by the scanner 14 and identified by the identification unit (OCR / MCR) 20. As a result, if the combination cannot be set, the correct combination is presented and an error is notified to the operator. Here, the combination that is not possible is, for example, a case where the instruction for the rotation sort is given but the corresponding sheet is not prepared.
(A) The combination error is automatically detected and displayed on the operation panel 12 to notify the operator.
(B) Thereafter, the processing is interrupted.
At this time, a method of combining the correct settings, a settable range, and the like may be presented to the operator.
[0015]
Next, a sixth embodiment will be described.
In this embodiment, in the first embodiment, a sheet or a document in which setting contents are written is read by the scanner 14 and identified by the identification unit (OCR / MCR) 20. As a result, if the combination cannot be set, the setting is automatically corrected so as to be a correct combination, and the processing is continued.
(A) Correct the combination error automatically. At the same time, the error and the correction are notified.
(B) Next, processing is performed based on the corrected settings.
[0016]
Finally, a seventh embodiment will be described.
This embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that an ADF (automatic document feeder) is used in combination so that a plurality of processes having different settings can be automatically and continuously switched to be executed and completed. I have to.
(A) First, a plurality of originals are set on the ADF.
(B) When the document is a document in which the setting contents are entered, the setting is automatically performed by identifying the document by the identification unit (OCR / MCR) 20.
(C) Perform the subsequent processing based on this setting. (D) Repeat the above (B) to (C).
[0017]
【The invention's effect】
According to the first aspect of the present invention, since a plurality of setting contents are read and automatically recognized by the scanner, setting can be performed collectively without performing complicated key operations or repeating similar key operations. Can be. Further, since various settings can be made without depending on key operations from the operation panel, complicated settings can be easily made even when the operation panel is simple and there are few keys.
According to the second aspect of the present invention, since the contents of the blank are deleted, the original document can be output as it is, as in the case where the setting is made by the conventional operation panel.
According to the third aspect of the present invention, since the operator can confirm the contents read and recognized by the scanner, the operation can be executed without error.
According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, since the setting contents can be printed out, once the setting is performed from the operation panel, the same setting can be performed by reading the scanner without repeating the complicated key operation again.
[0018]
According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, when an unsettable combination is read, the combination is automatically detected and notified to the operator, so that the operator can use the combination without hesitation.
According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, when an unsettable combination is read, it is automatically detected and corrected and executed, so that even if it is incorrect, the processing can be used without interruption. it can.
According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, since the automatic document feeder is used in combination, even in a plurality of processes having different setting conditions, the entire processes can be completed continuously and automatically and collectively.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a digital multifunction peripheral according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a document used in the embodiment.
[Explanation of symbols]
10 MFP 12 Operation panel 14 Scanner 16 Printer 18 Facsimile 20 Identification unit (OCR / OMR)
22 copy 24 database 26 control unit

Claims (7)

In a digital multifunction device with multiple functions such as copying and facsimile,
A reading unit that reads a sheet in which various setting items are written in a predetermined area such as a top, bottom, left, or right margin, and a document on which a document to be processed is combined;
Recognition means for recognizing the contents of various setting items written in a predetermined area read by the reading means,
Control means for controlling the digital multifunction peripheral in accordance with the content recognized by the recognition means. 2. The digital multifunction peripheral according to claim 1, further comprising an erasing means for erasing and outputting various setting items entered in a predetermined area when the digital multifunction peripheral outputs. 2. The digital multi-function peripheral according to claim 1, further comprising a notifying unit for notifying an operator by displaying or outputting various setting items written in a predetermined area read by the reading unit. 2. The digital multi-function peripheral according to claim 1, wherein the reading unit reuses a sheet in which various setting items are written in a predetermined area, and reads a sheet in which the sheet is combined with a document to be processed. . When various setting items written in a predetermined area read by the reading unit are combinations that cannot be set,
2. The digital multi-function peripheral according to claim 1, further comprising: a non-setting notification unit that notifies an operator of a setting error by an operation panel display or a sound. When various setting items written in a predetermined area read by the reading unit are combinations that cannot be set,
2. The digital multi-function peripheral according to claim 1, wherein the control unit automatically corrects the setting to an optimum combination before performing the processing. An automatic document feeder (ADF) is further provided,
2. The automatic document feeder according to claim 1, wherein the reading unit reads a plurality of sheets in which a sheet in which various setting items are entered in a predetermined area and a document to be processed are continuously combined. Digital multifunction peripheral as described.

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