JP2004287411A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To realize an image forming device which allows postprocessing including different kinds of postprocessing to be set for a group of documents at once. <P>SOLUTION: Image forming conditions are caused to include information of postprocessing to be executed in a punch unit and a postprocessor and selection information of a main tray or a sub-tray, and image forming conditions are linked to image information and are stored as individual image forming conditions for respective image information when image information is written in an image memory 106 by using a page write means 201. When image information is read out by a page read means 202, individual image forming conditions are read out together with image information, and postprocessing is executed for every image information, namely, every document, so that postprocessing including different kinds of postprocessing can be set at once and be executed for a group of documents. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus that prints image information on recording paper, and further relates to an image forming apparatus that performs post-processing on printed recording paper.

  2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, with the advancement of print processing performed by an image forming apparatus, setting and management of image forming conditions are being performed for each page of input recording paper (for example, see Patent Document 1). In these image forming apparatuses, image quality is set for each page, and printing is performed with an optimum image quality for each page, thereby realizing a high-quality print image.

Further, in image forming apparatuses, post-processing, for example, stapling and punching, is often performed on printed recording paper, and these post-processing are also becoming more sophisticated as image forming apparatuses become more sophisticated. Is progressing. In addition to post-processing, image forming conditions include, for example, addition of page information, for example, addition of page numbers, and layout processing, for example, high-performance processing such as recording a plurality of images on one sheet of recording paper. Has been done.
JP-A-2002-99179, (page 4, FIG. 5-6)

However, according to the background art, when reading a plurality of document images, it is not possible to set the above-described image forming conditions in an arbitrary unit.
In addition, image forming conditions other than image quality are not considered. Therefore, when a group of recording papers is collectively post-processed, different post-processing cannot be performed on a part of the recording papers. That is, it was necessary to perform the same post-processing on all the recording papers in a group.

  In particular, when performing stapling or punching in post-processing, it is often necessary to perform stapling or punching on some of the recording papers in a group of recording papers. In these situations, the operator himself sorts and sorts the image information on which the group of recording paper to be printed is based on the same post-processing, and then inputs the image forming conditions in units of jobs or multiple pages. In addition, it is necessary to perform printing on recording paper and post-processing.

From these facts, it is important how to realize an image forming apparatus that can perform post-processing settings for a group of documents at once, including different post-processing.
The present invention has been made in order to solve the problems of the background art described above, and efficiently sets image forming conditions in units of pages for a group of documents, and performs image formation based on the image forming conditions. It is an object of the present invention to provide an image forming apparatus capable of performing such operations.

  In order to solve the above-described problems and achieve the object, an image forming apparatus according to the first aspect of the present invention includes: a setting unit that sets image forming conditions for forming a copy image from a document image; Reading means for reading an image in page units, a reading start button for starting reading of a document image by the reading means, storage means for storing a plurality of pages of the document image read by the reading means, and the storage means An image forming means for forming a copy image in accordance with the image forming conditions set by the setting means based on the document image stored in the image forming means; and an image formation start button for instructing a start of formation of the copy image by the image forming means. When forming a copy image from a document consisting of a plurality of pages, the document consisting of a plurality of pages is divided into a plurality of groups, and the image forming conditions are set for each group by the setting means. Set, read the image of the document for each group by the reading means by pressing the read start button, store the document image in the storage means, and set by the image forming means for each group by pressing the image formation start button Control means for controlling the formation of a copy image for each group according to the set image forming conditions for all groups, and setting the image forming conditions for each arbitrary group of document images It is possible to manage and execute the printing process based on the set image forming conditions, and, when forming an image based on a group of image information, easily execute a partially different image formation.

An image forming apparatus according to a second aspect of the invention is characterized in that the image forming condition includes the number of image formations of the image information.
According to the second aspect of the present invention, since the image forming conditions include the number of image formations of the image information, the number of prints for each image information can be easily managed.

The image forming apparatus according to a third aspect of the present invention is characterized in that the image forming condition includes discharge position information when discharging the recording sheet.
According to the third aspect of the present invention, since the image forming conditions include the discharge position information when the recording paper is discharged, the discharge tray is selected for each image information.

An image forming apparatus according to a fourth aspect of the present invention is characterized in that the image forming condition includes delimiter information indicating that the same image forming condition is completed.
According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, since the image forming condition further includes processing delimitation information, when performing a common process on a group of image information or recording paper on which this image information is recorded, , Put a break.

An image forming apparatus according to a fifth aspect of the invention is characterized in that the control means performs the processing in booklet units in the post-processing unit based on the delimiter information.
According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, since the control unit performs the processing in booklet units in the post-processing unit based on the separation information, the control unit easily performs the separation when performing the processing in booklet units.

  7. The image forming apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the delimiter information indicates the last page of one reading operation when reading a plurality of pages of image information by repeating a plurality of reading operations. I do.

  According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, since the image forming conditions further include processing delimiter information, when performing common processing on a group of image information or recording paper on which this image information is recorded, , Put a break.

An image forming apparatus according to a seventh aspect is characterized in that the reading start button and the image forming start button are the same button.
According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, reading of a document image and subsequent image formation can be instructed with one button, and continuous processing is performed.

An image forming apparatus according to an eighth aspect of the present invention is characterized in that the setting unit includes a selection unit that selects whether to perform control based on the delimiter information.
In the invention described in claim 8, since the setting means selects whether or not to perform control based on the delimiter information, more various controls are performed depending on whether or not to perform the delimiter information.

  10. The image forming apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the control unit performs the image forming without stopping a print sequence in page units when the image forming conditions are input in page units. It is characterized by.

  According to the ninth aspect of the present invention, when the image forming condition for each purge is set, the control unit performs the printing and post-processing image forming steps without stopping the print sequence in page units. Therefore, printing and post-processing of a plurality of pages are performed at the same time even when image forming conditions are input in page units.

  According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus for forming an image from a set of manuscript images including a plurality of pages in accordance with a set first image forming condition to form a copy image including a plurality of pages. And performing at least one of layout, information addition, and post-processing of the first image forming condition on a predetermined page of the plurality of pages in a second image forming condition different from the first image forming condition. Setting means for setting a condition; and forming an image from the document image of the predetermined page when forming a copy image composed of a plurality of pages from the set of document images, the second image forming set by the setting means. And control means for controlling image formation in accordance with the conditions.

  According to the tenth aspect, at least one of layout, information addition, and post-processing of the first image forming conditions is performed on a predetermined page of the plurality of pages under a condition different from the first image forming condition. When forming a copy image composed of a plurality of pages from a set of original images under a certain second image forming condition, when forming an image from an original image of a predetermined page, the second image set by the setting means Since image formation is performed in accordance with the formation conditions, the image formation conditions can be arbitrarily changed for a specific page in one set of originals, and desired image formation is performed.

An image forming apparatus according to an eleventh aspect of the invention is characterized in that the layout includes a process of outputting a plurality of the document images in one page.
According to the eleventh aspect, the process of outputting the plurality of document images in one page is performed on a specific page of a set of documents.

An image forming apparatus according to a twelfth aspect is characterized in that the information addition includes addition of page number information.
In the twelfth aspect, the addition of the number information is set for each page.

An image forming apparatus according to a thirteenth aspect is characterized in that the post-processing includes at least one of stapling, punching, and folding.
According to the thirteenth aspect of the present invention, in the post-processing, at least one of stapling, punching, and folding can be set for each page, and processing is performed on a specific page of a set of originals. I do.

An image forming apparatus according to a fourteenth aspect is characterized in that the setting of the second image forming condition is performed for each of a plurality of pages.
According to the fourteenth aspect, the image forming conditions can be set for each of a plurality of pages, so that the setting operation is performed more efficiently.

  16. The image forming apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the setting unit has a display unit, and the first image forming condition is displayed on the display unit for each page of the document image. The setting of the second image forming condition is performed based on the setting.

According to the fifteenth aspect of the present invention, the first image forming condition is displayed, so that the setting of the second image forming condition is reliably performed while checking the first image forming condition.
An image forming apparatus according to a sixteenth aspect of the invention is characterized in that the image forming condition includes the number of output pages for each page.

According to the sixteenth aspect of the present invention, since the image forming condition includes the number of output pages for each page, the number of print pages for each image information can be easily managed.
An image forming apparatus according to a seventeenth aspect of the invention is characterized in that the display unit displays the image information of the page as a thumbnail.

  According to the seventeenth aspect of the present invention, the display unit displays the image information of one page as a thumbnail, so that the image of one page is compared with the image forming condition, and the image forming condition without error is determined. And

An image forming apparatus according to an eighteenth aspect of the present invention is characterized in that the display unit includes a bird's-eye display unit that bird-views the plurality of pages.
According to the eighteenth aspect of the present invention, the display section birds-eye view the plurality of pages by the bird's-eye view display means, so that it is easy to recognize a difference in image forming conditions among the plurality of pages.

An image forming apparatus according to a nineteenth aspect is characterized in that the bird's-eye display means has a different display mode for each page having different image forming conditions.
According to the nineteenth aspect of the present invention, the bird's-eye display means has a different display mode for each page having different image forming conditions, so that it is possible to easily determine a difference in image forming conditions among a plurality of pages.

An image forming apparatus according to a twentieth aspect is characterized in that the display mode is a display color symbolizing the page.
According to the twentieth aspect of the present invention, since the display mode is a display color symbolizing a page, differences in various image forming conditions among a plurality of pages can be recognized at a glance.

  22. The image forming apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the display unit includes a numeric keypad for designating a page to be displayed, and a shift key for sequentially designating a previous page or a subsequent page of the displayed page. It is characterized by having.

  According to the twenty-first aspect of the present invention, the display unit specifies the page number to be displayed using the numeric keypad, and sequentially specifies the previous page or the next page of the displayed page using the shift key. Select the page to be displayed.

  23. The image forming apparatus according to claim 22, wherein the storage unit stores a set of document image data including a plurality of pages, a setting unit that sets image forming conditions when forming a copy image, and the storage unit. Means for reading the document image data stored in the means, forming an image in accordance with the image forming conditions set by the setting means, forming a copy image, and discharging the sheet; The setting of the image forming condition by the means is that at least one of layout, information addition, and post-processing can be set for each page when a copy image including a plurality of pages is formed from a set of manuscript images including a plurality of pages. Features.

According to the twenty-second aspect, at least one of layout, information addition, and post-processing can be set for each page. Therefore, when a copy image is obtained from one set of document image data,
These image forming conditions can be freely set for an arbitrary page.

An image forming apparatus according to a twenty-third aspect is characterized in that the setting of the image forming conditions can be set in units of a plurality of pages.
According to the twenty-third aspect, the image forming conditions for each page can be set collectively in units of a plurality of pages, so that the setting is efficiently performed.

  The image forming apparatus according to claim 24, wherein the setting unit has a display unit, the image forming condition is displayed on the display unit for each page of the original image, and the setting is performed based on the display. It is characterized in that two image forming conditions are set.

According to the twenty-fourth aspect of the present invention, the image forming conditions are displayed for each page.
An image forming apparatus according to a twenty-fifth aspect of the present invention is characterized in that the image forming condition includes the number of output pages for each page.

According to the twenty-fifth aspect of the present invention, since the image forming condition includes the number of output pages for each page, the number of print pages for each image information can be easily managed.
An image forming apparatus according to a twenty-sixth aspect is characterized in that the display unit displays thumbnail image information of the page.

  According to the twenty-sixth aspect of the present invention, the display section displays the image information of one page as a thumbnail. And

An image forming apparatus according to a twenty-seventh aspect is characterized in that the display unit includes a bird's-eye display unit that bird-views the plurality of pages.
According to the twenty-seventh aspect, the display unit provides a bird's-eye view of the plurality of pages by the bird's-eye display means, so that it is easy to recognize a difference in image forming conditions among the plurality of pages.

An image forming apparatus according to a twenty-eighth aspect is characterized in that the bird's-eye display means has a different display mode for each page having different image forming conditions.
In the invention according to claim 28, since the bird's-eye display means has a different display form for each page having different image forming conditions, it is possible to easily determine a difference in image forming conditions among a plurality of pages.

An image forming apparatus according to a twenty-ninth aspect is characterized in that the display form is a display color indicating the page.
In the invention according to claim 29, since the display mode is a display color indicating a page, differences in various image forming conditions between a plurality of pages can be recognized at a glance.

  31. The image forming apparatus according to claim 30, wherein the display unit includes a numeric keypad for designating a page to be displayed, and a shift key for sequentially designating a previous page or a subsequent page of the displayed page. It is characterized by having.

  In the invention according to claim 30, the display unit specifies the page number to be displayed using the numeric keypad and sequentially specifies the previous page or the next page of the displayed page using the shift key. Select the page to be displayed.

  As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, image forming conditions can be set for each arbitrary group of document images, and print processing can be managed and executed based on the set image forming conditions. Therefore, when an image is formed by a group of image information, it is possible to easily execute partially different image formation.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, since the image forming condition includes the number of image formations of the image information, the number of prints for each image information can be easily managed.
According to the third aspect of the present invention, since the image forming conditions include the discharge position information when the recording paper is discharged, the discharge tray can be selected for each image information.

  According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, since the image forming condition further includes processing delimiter information, a common process is performed for a group of image information or a recording sheet on which this image information is recorded. Can be delimited.

  According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the control unit performs the processing in booklet units in the post-processing unit based on the separation information. Can be.

  According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, since the image forming condition further includes processing delimiter information, a common process is performed on a group of image information or a recording sheet on which this image information is recorded. Can be delimited.

According to the seventh aspect of the invention, reading of a document image and subsequent image formation can be instructed with one button, and continuous processing can be performed.
According to the eighth aspect of the present invention, whether or not to perform control based on delimiter information is selected by the setting means, so that more various controls can be performed depending on whether or not to perform delimiter information. .

  According to the ninth aspect of the present invention, when the image forming conditions for each purge are set, the control unit performs the printing and post-processing image forming steps without stopping the print sequence in page units. Therefore, printing and post-processing of a plurality of pages can be performed at the same time even when image forming conditions are input in page units.

  According to the tenth aspect, at least one of layout, information addition, and post-processing of the first image forming conditions is different from the first image forming conditions for a predetermined page of the plurality of pages. When forming a copy image composed of a plurality of pages from a set of document images by setting the second image formation condition as a condition, when forming an image from a document image of a predetermined page, the second image setting condition set by the setting unit is used. Since image formation is performed in accordance with the two image formation conditions, the image formation conditions can be arbitrarily changed for a specific page in one set of originals, and desired image formation is possible.

According to the eleventh aspect, the process of outputting the plurality of document images in one page can be performed on a specific page of a set of documents.
According to the twelfth aspect, the addition of the number information can be set for each page.

  According to the thirteenth aspect of the present invention, in the post-processing, at least one of stapling, punching, and folding can be set for each page, and a specific page of a set of originals can be set. Process can be performed.

According to the fourteenth aspect, the image forming conditions can be set for each of a plurality of pages, so that the setting operation can be performed more efficiently.
According to the fifteenth aspect, since the first image forming condition is displayed, it is possible to reliably set the second image forming condition while checking the first image forming condition.

According to the sixteenth aspect, since the image forming condition includes the number of output pages for each page, the number of print pages for each image information can be easily managed.
According to the seventeenth aspect of the present invention, the display section displays the image information of one page as a thumbnail. It can be a condition.

  According to the eighteenth aspect of the present invention, the display unit provides a bird's-eye view of the plurality of pages by the bird's-eye view display means, so that it is possible to easily recognize a difference in image forming conditions among the plurality of pages. .

  According to the nineteenth aspect of the present invention, the bird's-eye display means has a different display mode for each page having different image forming conditions, so that it is possible to easily determine the difference in the image forming conditions among a plurality of pages. .

  According to the twentieth aspect, the display mode is a display color symbolizing a page, so that it is possible to recognize at a glance differences in various image forming conditions between a plurality of pages.

  According to the twenty-first aspect of the present invention, the display unit specifies the page number to be displayed using the numeric keypad, and sequentially specifies the previous or next page of the displayed page using the shift key. The displayed page can be freely selected.

According to the invention described in claim 22, at least one of layout, information addition, and post-processing can be set for each page. Therefore, when a copy image is obtained from one set of document image data,
These image forming conditions can be freely set for an arbitrary page.

According to the twenty-third aspect, the image forming conditions for each page can be set collectively in units of a plurality of pages, so that the settings can be made efficiently.
According to the twenty-fourth aspect, since the image forming conditions are displayed for each page, it is possible to surely set the image forming conditions while checking the image forming conditions.

According to the twenty-fifth aspect, since the image forming condition includes the number of output pages for each page, the number of print pages for each image information can be easily managed.
According to the twenty-sixth aspect, the display unit displays the image information of one page as a thumbnail, so that the image of one page is compared with the image forming conditions to form an image without error. It can be a condition.

  According to the twenty-seventh aspect, the display unit provides a bird's-eye view of the plurality of pages by the bird's-eye view display means, so that it is possible to easily recognize a difference in image forming conditions among the plurality of pages. .

  According to the invention described in claim 28, since the bird's-eye display means has a different display mode for each page having different image forming conditions, it is possible to easily determine a difference in image forming conditions among a plurality of pages. .

  According to the invention described in claim 29, since the display mode is a display color indicating a page, it is possible to recognize at a glance the differences in various image forming conditions among a plurality of pages.

  According to the invention described in claim 30, the display unit specifies the page number to be displayed using the numeric keypad, and sequentially specifies the previous page or the subsequent page of the displayed page using the shift key. The displayed page can be freely selected.

Hereinafter, the best mode for carrying out an image forming apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Note that the present invention is not limited by this.
First, the overall configuration of the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment will be described. FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating the overall configuration of the image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus includes a digital multifunction peripheral 100, a punch unit 110, and a post-processing device 120. The digital multifunction peripheral 100 includes a main body and a paper feed tray 101. The main body includes a scanner unit 102 as an example of a reading unit, a printer unit 103 forming a part of an image forming unit, a paper feed tray 107, and transport paths 109 and 111. , A CPU 105 and an image memory 106 forming the control unit 161. Further, the punch unit 110 that performs the punching process includes a punch unit 117 and a control unit 116 that controls the punch unit 117. Further, the post-processing device 120 includes transport paths 121 to 124, a gate 170, a shift unit 151, a stack unit 140, a staple unit 141, a main tray 142 and a sub-tray 144 serving as a sheet discharge tray, and a control unit 160. The punch unit 110 and the post-processing device 120 form an image forming unit together with the above-described printer unit 103 and the like.

The operation unit 108 has a setting unit including a touch panel such as an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) and ten keys for setting image forming conditions.
Although not shown, the operation unit 108 has a reading start button for instructing the scanner unit 102 to start reading a document, an image forming start button for instructing the start of image formation, and settings for setting image forming conditions. Means are provided.

  Note that the image forming condition in the present invention is a condition for outputting when a copy image is formed from a document image, and includes post-processing, information addition, layout, double-sided / single-sided copy, selection of a discharge destination tray, and the like. In a specific example, post-processing is staple, punch, and discharge tray selection, information addition is page number addition on each document page, and layout is output one page layout. There is a so-called N in 1 process such as a process of outputting a plurality of pages of a document image on one sheet.

  The scanner unit 102 reads an image of a document placed on the scanner unit 102 in page units. The printer unit 103 inputs the recording paper supplied from the transport path 109 of the paper feed tray 101 or the paper feed tray 107 based on the image forming conditions, and prints the image read by the scanner unit 102 on the recording paper. Is transferred to form an image. Further, the recording paper on which an image is formed by the printer unit 103 is fed from the printer unit 103 to the punch unit 110 via the transport path 111.

  The punch unit 110 punches a punch hole in the recording sheet from the digital multi-function peripheral 100 based on the control information. Thereafter, the post-processing device 120 takes in the recording paper discharged from the punch unit 110 into the transport path 121, and discharges the recording paper to the main tray 142 or the sub-tray 144 by the gate 170. When discharging the paper, the transport paths 122 to 124 are selected depending on whether the shift processing is performed by the shift unit 151 or the stapling processing is performed by the stapling unit 141 in the post-processing process.

  Here, the stack unit 140 of the post-processing unit accumulates a plurality of recording sheets when performing the stapling process in the post-processing step. Then, the staple unit 141 of the post-processing unit drives the staples into the recording paper stored in the stack unit 140 in accordance with an instruction from the control unit 160 to perform binding.

  The recording paper conveyed from the conveyance path 124 to the upper portion of the stack unit 140 slides down to the flat stapling stopper due to its own weight and stops. Thereby, the plurality of recording papers in the stack section 140 are aligned in the transport direction, and are aligned in the transport direction. The width of the recording paper orthogonal to the transport direction is aligned by lightly striking the recording paper by a light striking mechanism (not shown) orthogonal to the paper of FIG. The plurality of recording sheets on which stapling has been performed are pushed upward by the discharge belt in the stacking section 140 while the rear end is held by the discharge claw, and discharged to the main tray 142.

  The shift unit 151 discharges the straight-discharged recording paper input from the transport path 121 to the transport path 123 via the gate 170 onto the main tray 142 with the position shifted in a direction perpendicular to the recording paper transport direction. As a result, the recording paper on which different contents are copied can be separated on the main tray 142.

  The sub-tray 144 serves as a tray after the recording paper input to the transport path 122 is discharged. The sub-tray 144 is located at the upper stage of the post-processing device 120, and can easily take out the discharged recording paper from the upper portion of the post-processing device 120.

  Next, a system block diagram showing the flow of image information and control information centered on the control unit 161 of the digital multifunction peripheral 100 is shown in FIG. When image information is read from the scanner unit 102, the image information of the document is read by a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) of the scanner unit 102, and then read by the reading processing unit 221 of the control unit 161, and then the image is read by the compression IC 222. The data is compressed and stored in the image memory 106. The image forming conditions of each image information can be input in a job unit, a plurality of pages, or a page unit from the operation unit 108 having the setting unit, and are similarly stored in the image memory 106.

  When image information is read from the terminal 130 via a LAN (Local Area Network), the image information is read into the image memory 113 of the image processing unit 112, and thereafter, the image memory of the control unit 161 is read via the bus 240. Read into 106. Thereafter, the image information in the image memory 106 is transferred to the compression IC 222 via the DRAM control IC 225, where it is compressed and stored again in the image memory 106.

  The image memories 106 and 113 are configured using a DRAM (Dynamic Random Access Memory), and are controlled by DRAM control ICs 225 and 226 that refresh stored information.

  The compressed data of the image information stored in the image memory 106 is transferred to the decompression IC 224 via the DRAM control IC 225 to decompress the image information, and then read from the read processing unit 223 to the LD (Laser Diode) of the printer unit 103. And the image is formed. The information on the image forming conditions in the image memory 106 is transferred to the printer control unit 116 of the printer unit 103 via the CPU 105. The printer control unit 116 controls the printer and further controls the subsequent punch unit 110 and post-processing device 120 based on the control information.

Hereinafter, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described.
In the present embodiment, when a copy image is formed from a document consisting of a plurality of pages, the document consisting of a plurality of pages is divided into a plurality of groups, and the image forming conditions are set by the setting means for each group. By pressing the reading start button, the image of the document is read for each group by the scanner 102 as the reading means, and the document image is stored in the image memory 106 as the storage means. Subsequently, by pressing an image formation start button, the printer unit 103 as an image forming unit forms a copy image for each group in accordance with the image formation conditions set for each group for all groups.

  FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram illustrating writing and reading of image information and image forming conditions to and from the image memory 106 in the control unit 161. The hardware constituting the reading unit 200 and the reading unit 203 is the CPU 105, the nonvolatile memory 220, the DRAM control IC 225, the reading processing unit 221, the compression IC 222, the decompression IC 224, and the reading processing unit 223.

  The operation unit 108 sets image forming conditions by an operator when reading a group of image information, that is, the originals 1 to 5 in the example of FIG. The image forming conditions are set for each job or for a plurality of pages, that is, for each group or each page. The control unit 161 reads the image forming conditions and the image information of the originals 1 to 5. Is read into the image memory 106. Then, the image information of the originals 1 to 5 is compressed by the compression IC 222, and then the page writing unit 201 determines the page of the compressed image information based on the input image forming conditions in units of jobs, a plurality of pages, or pages. Each time, an individual image forming condition is generated. The individual image forming conditions and the compressed data are stored in the image memory 106 in such a manner that the individual image forming conditions are linked to the compressed data of the corresponding page by linking or the like. The page writing unit 201 repeats this operation and stores a group of image information in the image memory 106. In FIG. 2, the image forming conditions and the image information are read from the operation unit 108 and the scanner unit 102. However, when the image forming conditions and the image information are input from the terminal 130, as shown in FIG. The data is read from 130 via a LAN (Local Area Network). The image information and the image forming conditions are read into the image memory 113 of the image processing unit 112, and then read into the image memory 106 of the control unit 161 via the bus 240. Note that the image forming conditions read by the image processing unit 112 are input in units of a job, a plurality of pages, or a page.

  The individual image forming conditions and the compressed data stored in the image memory 106 are read by the reading unit 203. In the page reading means 202 of the reading means 203, the compressed data and the individual image forming conditions associated with the compressed data are sequentially read as a pair. The compressed data is decompressed by the decompression IC 224 and then transmitted as image information to the printer unit 103 together with the corresponding individual image forming conditions.

  Next, the operation of the digital multifunction peripheral 100 according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. First, the operator selects an image forming condition input method, that is, a job unit, a plurality of pages, or a page unit from the operation unit 108 having the setting unit, and then sets the image forming conditions of the document (step S301). In this setting, post-processing information such as a punching process or a stapling process is simultaneously set as image forming conditions in addition to printer information such as a document size, the number of prints, and shading from a touch panel or a numeric keypad of the operation unit 108. In this setting, since post-processing can be set for each group and each page, image forming conditions may be complicated and various.

  Thereafter, the operator checks the input image forming conditions (step S302). This confirmation is necessary for performing error-free output especially when image forming conditions are complicated and various. FIG. 4 shows an example of a display change unit for this confirmation.

  The display screens and the numeric keypad 410 shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B are setting means for confirming and changing image forming conditions for each page. This display screen includes a bird's-eye view display unit 400 for bird's-eye view of a plurality of documents for each input image forming condition, an individual display unit 401 for displaying image forming conditions for each document in page units, and a shift key 411. In the bird's-eye display unit 400, the image display (floor layout) that symbolizes one document is arranged in a horizontal row with a positional shift corresponding to all the number of documents to be set. Here, one document is displayed as one rectangle. Also, in the individual display unit 401, image forming conditions for each page of the document corresponding to the selected floor plan of the bird's-eye display unit 400 are listed. Note that selection of a layout that symbolizes one document is performed by page designation using the numeric keypad 410 or shifting by the shift key 411 at the upper right of the display screen. The layout that symbolizes one document on the bird's-eye display unit 400 is displayed differently for each layout corresponding to a document having different image forming conditions, for example, color-coded or shaded.

  The display screen serving as the setting means can be used for checking and changing the image forming conditions after reading the image information from the scanner unit 102. In this case, a reduced image of the output document is displayed as a thumbnail on the left side of the individual display unit 401 so that the operator can easily check the output document.

  FIG. 4A is an example in which the individual display of the second page is performed when 12 originals are read and printed. In this example, since the stapling process is performed on pages 3 to 7, the corresponding floor plan is displayed in a shaded state. FIG. 4B is an example similar to FIG. 4A, in which individual display of the third page is performed when 12 originals are read and printed. In this example, since the stapling process is performed on pages 3 to 7, a diagram schematically showing the stapling process is added to the image for which the thumbnail display 404 is performed.

  Returning to FIG. 3, the operator uses the setting unit shown in FIG. 4 to determine whether the image forming conditions are correct (Step S303). If the image forming conditions are not correct (No at Step S303), the process proceeds to Step S301, and the image forming conditions are set again. It should be noted that the display screen shown in FIG. 4 can be used for the change accompanying the resetting. The image forming condition portion indicated in the image forming condition for each page included in the individual display unit 401 in FIG. 4 is used as a touch panel, for example, when the operator touches the stapling process portion, the stapling process is performed. The screen shifts to the setting screen, and the setting of the stapling process can be easily changed.

  If the image forming conditions are correct (Yes at Step S303), the operator arranges the document on the scanner unit 102, reads the image information, and writes the image information into the image memory 106 (Step S304). In this writing, by using the page writing unit 201 shown in FIG. 2, image forming conditions input in units of jobs, plural pages or pages are used as individual image forming conditions for each image information, and the image information is compressed. After linking with the data, it is stored in the image memory 106.

  Thereafter, the CPU 105 determines whether or not the number of readings has been completed (step S306). If the number of readings has not been completed (No at step S306), the process proceeds to step S301, and the image forming condition of step S301 is determined. Make settings.

  If the number of readings has been completed (Yes at Step S306), the CPU 105 reads out the image information by reading out the compressed data and the individual image forming conditions from the image memory 106 (Step S307). In the reading of the image information, the compressed data and the individual image forming conditions linked to the compressed data are sequentially read by using the page reading means 202 shown in FIG. After being decompressed, the compressed data is transmitted as image information to the printer unit 103 together with the individual image forming conditions.

  Thereafter, the printer control unit 116 of the printer unit 103 performs a print process of the image information (step S308) based on the individual image forming conditions, and furthermore, the individual image forming conditions include post-processing information. The post-processing device 110 and the post-processing device 120 perform post-processing based on the post-processing information from the printer control unit 116 (step S309), and discharge the recording paper to a paper discharge tray (step S310).

  Here, an example of the individual image forming conditions transmitted from the image memory 106 to the printer unit 103 and the post-processing of the punch unit 110 and the post-processing device 120 performed in step S309 based on the individual image forming conditions, and the main tray An example of paper discharge to the sub tray 142 or 142 will be described.

  FIG. 5A is a table showing examples of individual image forming conditions when image forming conditions are input in page units. The column in which the upward arrow is entered indicates that the image forming conditions are the same as those in the upper column. The individual image forming conditions correspond to the example shown in FIG. 2 and relate to the individual image forming conditions linked to the originals on pages 1 to 5 for which the image forming conditions are set. The vertical axis of the table indicates the page number, and the horizontal axis indicates the image forming conditions for each item. Here, for each page, post-processing items, selection of a paper discharge tray, the number of copies, and delimiter information indicating a delimiter of processing are displayed as individual image forming conditions. This delimiter information is used, for example, as delimiter information when performing booklet unit processing. FIG. 5B illustrates a recording sheet that is output when a sheet is discharged based on the individual image forming conditions of FIG. 5A. In FIG. 5B, the number of recording sheets shown in each page of FIG. 5A is output to the designated main tray 142 or sub-tray 144, and the punch unit 110 punches the designated page. Processing has been applied.

  FIG. 6A is a table showing examples of individual image forming conditions when image forming conditions are input in units of a plurality of pages. The individual image forming conditions are the same as those shown in FIG. 2 except that pages 1 to 3 and pages 4 and 5 of the document are set to different image forming conditions. This is an example of a case where image information is read. In this example, the presence / absence of punching and the selection of a different discharge tray are performed on pages 1 to 3 and pages 4 and 5. The delimiter information added to page 3 is ignored because it does not include post-processing in booklet units.

  FIG. 6B is a table showing examples of individual image forming conditions when image forming conditions are input in units of a plurality of pages. As shown in FIG. This is an example of a case in which different image forming conditions are set for pages 3 and 4 and image information is read for each bundle of pages 1 to 3 and pages 4 and 5. In this example, one stapling process is performed at the upper left position for each of pages 1 to 3 and pages 4 and 5. Here, the delimiter information is used as a delimiter for stapling processing, which is processing in booklet units.

  FIG. 6C is a table showing an example of individual image forming conditions when image forming conditions are input in units of a plurality of pages. As shown in FIG. This is an example of a case in which different image forming conditions are set for pages 3 and 4 and image information is read for each bundle of pages 1 to 3 and pages 4 and 5. This example has a configuration in which it is possible to easily make use of a case where it is not desired to use an image condition once set at the time of image output. As an example, the setting of validity or invalidity (whether or not to use) of the delimiter information is performed based on the setting information in the operation unit 108 or the nonvolatile memory 220. This example is the same as FIG. 6B, except that the delimiter information is ignored based on the setting information, that is, not used. As a result, pages 1 to 5 are output as a bundle of booklets that have been stapled at one location on the upper left. With this configuration, when it is not desired to temporarily use the set image forming conditions, an efficient operation can be performed without having to change the image forming conditions themselves.

  FIG. 7A is a table showing an example of individual image forming conditions when image forming conditions are input for each job. The individual image forming conditions are the same as in the example shown in FIG. 2, and are examples in which image forming conditions for pages 1 to 5 of a document are set for each job and image information is read. In this example, stapling is performed according to the delimitation information of the last page, and output is made as a bundle of booklets on which stapling has been performed at one upper left position of pages 1 to 5.

  FIG. 7B is the same as FIG. 7A, except that the last page delimiter information is ignored. As in FIG. 7A, the output is output as a bundle of booklets in which stapling has been performed at one location on the upper left of pages 1 to 5, but the delimiter information is ignored, and stapling is performed as final processing of pages 1 to 5. Be executed.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, the image forming conditions include the post-processing information performed by the punch unit 110 and the post-processing device 120, and the selection information of the main tray 142 or the sub-tray 144. When writing using the writing unit 201, the image forming conditions are set as individual image forming conditions for each piece of image information, stored in link with the image information, and when read out by the page reading unit 202, the individual Since the image forming conditions are read out, and post-processing is performed for each image information and, consequently, for each document, post-processing settings including different post-processing can be performed and executed at once for a group of documents. .

  Further, in the present embodiment, the set image forming conditions are selected and displayed in page units from the bird's-eye display unit 400 on the display screen serving as a setting unit, and the thumbnail display of the image information ensures the page units without confusion. Can be confirmed and changed.

Subsequently, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described.
In the present embodiment, from a set of manuscript images composed of a plurality of pages, an image is formed in accordance with a set first image forming condition, and a copy image composed of a plurality of pages is formed. For a predetermined page, at least one of layout, information addition, and post-processing among the first image forming conditions is set to a second image forming condition that is different from the first image forming condition, and one set of In forming a copy image including a plurality of pages from a document image, when forming an image from a document image of a predetermined page, image formation is performed in accordance with the second image forming condition set by the setting unit. The details will be described below.

The basic configuration of the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment is the same as that of FIG.
One set of document image data including a plurality of pages is input to the control unit 161 from the scanner 102, another terminal 130, or the like. At this time, the first image forming condition is set in the document image data. Specific examples of the first image forming conditions include stapling processing as a post-processing, punching processing, addition of a page number as information addition, processing for outputting a plurality of pages of a document image as a layout on one sheet, and both sides. / One-sided copying, selection of discharge destination tray, etc.

  Document image data to which the first image forming conditions are added is stored in the storage unit 106. As the first image forming condition, a condition that is usually used may be set as an initial value. For example, staple processing and punch processing are not performed, and the discharge tray is set to be a main tray.

  In the present embodiment, regarding the original image data, the post-processing, information addition, and layout are changed among the first image forming conditions set for the predetermined page, and a second image forming condition different from the first image forming condition is changed. Image forming conditions can be used.

  Hereinafter, an example of a procedure for changing the setting of the image forming condition will be described. First, the first image forming condition is displayed on the display unit of the operation unit 108 for one set of document image data including a plurality of pages. FIG. 9 shows a display example of the image forming conditions on the operation unit 108. The portions indicated by the same numbers as those in FIG. 4 have the same functions. The display unit displays at least image forming conditions for post-processing, page number addition as an example of additional information, and 2 in 1 (two originals are recorded on one recording sheet) as an example of a layout for confirmation. I do. Note that the image forming conditions may be displayed for one set of all pages, or may be configured to select a page to be changed and display only the image forming conditions corresponding to the selected page.

  The operator changes the image forming conditions based on the display, that is, sets the second image forming conditions from the first image forming conditions. FIG. 10 shows a modification example. FIG. 10A shows the first image forming condition before the change, and FIG. 10B shows the changed second image forming condition. Image formation is performed based on image formation conditions. In the example shown in FIG. 10B, there is no setting of 2in1 which is an example of layout, and there is a setting of page number addition which is an example of information addition. As a result, a page number adding function is added to the image forming conditions described with reference to FIG. Therefore, an image is formed basically in the same manner as in FIG. 7 except that a page number is added.

In this example, image forming conditions other than post-processing, additional information, and layout can be changed, so that the degree of freedom of output is increased.
As described above, in the present embodiment, the image forming conditions include the post-processing information performed by the punch unit 110 and the post-processing device 120, the layout performed by the image processing unit 112, the information addition, and the main tray as the discharge destination. , Sub-train selection, etc., when reading by the page reading means 202, the first image forming conditions are read together with the image information, and post-processing, layout, and information addition can be changed for each page. Since post-processing is performed for each document, post-processing settings can be performed and executed for a group of documents at once, including different post-processing.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the set image forming conditions are selected and displayed in page units from the bird's-eye display unit 400 on the display screen serving as a setting unit, and the thumbnail display of the image information ensures the page units without confusion. Can be confirmed and changed.

Subsequently, a third embodiment will be described.
In the present embodiment, at the time of forming a copy image based on a set of document image data consisting of a plurality of pages, at least one of layout, information addition, and post-processing is performed by a setting unit that sets image forming conditions. It is set for each page.

The details will be described below.
The basic configuration of the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment is the same as that of FIG.
One set of document image data including a plurality of pages is input to the control unit 161 from the scanner 102, another terminal 130, or the like. With respect to such document image data, at least one of post-processing, information addition, and layout can be set as image forming conditions for a predetermined page of a plurality of pages in page units.

  Hereinafter, an example of a procedure for setting image forming conditions will be described. First, display based on one set of document image data including a plurality of pages is performed on the display unit of the operation unit 108. FIG. 11A illustrates a display example on the operation unit 108 and the display unit. 420 is a key for setting conditions. This key may be displayed on the display unit and operated by touching the screen.

  The operator presses the function setting key 420 to set new image forming conditions on this page. As a result, staple, punch as an example of post-processing, page number addition as an example of information addition, and 2in1 as an example of layout are displayed as image formation conditions, and desired image formation conditions are set. As a result of the image forming condition setting, for example, the result is as shown in FIG. In this way, at least one of post-processing, information addition, and layout can be set for each page. The page to which the image forming condition is to be added is selected using the bird's-eye display unit 400. Through the above operations, for example, settings as shown in FIG.

  The image forming means forms an image based on the set image forming conditions. In the example shown in FIG. 10B, there is no setting of 2in1 which is an example of layout, and there is a setting of page number addition which is an example of information addition. As a result, a page number adding function is added to the image forming conditions described with reference to FIG. Therefore, an image is formed basically in the same manner as in FIG. 7 except that a page number is added.

In this example, the degree of freedom of output is further increased by allowing image forming conditions other than post-processing, additional information, and layout to be set for each page.
Further, by making it possible to change the image forming condition once set in the same manner as in the example of setting the second image forming condition in the second embodiment, the convenience is further improved.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, the image forming conditions include the post-processing performed by the punch unit 110 and the post-processing device 120, the layout performed by the image processing unit 112, and the addition of information. Since the image forming conditions can be set and the process based on the image forming conditions set for each document is executed, post-processing settings including different post-processing are performed at once for a group of documents. , Can be run.

  Further, in the present embodiment, at the time of setting, the image forming conditions are selected and displayed in page units from the bird's-eye display unit 400 on a display screen serving as a setting unit, and the thumbnails of the image information are displayed without confusion. The unit image forming conditions can be confirmed and changed.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an image forming apparatus centered on a control unit of the digital multifunction peripheral. FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of a control unit of the digital multifunction peripheral. 5 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the control unit according to the first embodiment. FIG. 4 is a diagram of a display screen displaying image forming conditions in page units according to the first embodiment. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of an individual image forming condition of page unit input according to the first embodiment. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of an individual image forming condition in units of a plurality of pages according to the first embodiment. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of an individual image forming condition for each job according to the first embodiment. FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an overall configuration of a digital multifunction peripheral. FIG. 14 is a diagram of a display screen displaying image forming conditions in page units according to the second embodiment. FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating an example of changing individual image forming conditions in a job unit according to the second embodiment. FIG. 15 is a diagram of a display screen for setting and displaying image forming conditions in page units according to the third embodiment.

Explanation of reference numerals

100 Digital multifunction peripheral 101 Paper feed tray 102 Scanner unit 103 Printer unit 105 CPU
106, 113 Image memory 107 Paper feed tray 108 Operation unit 109, 111, 117, 121-124 Transport path 110 Punch unit 112 Image processing unit 116 Printer control unit 117 Punch unit 120 Post-processing device 130 Terminal 140 Stack unit 141 Staple unit 142 Main tray 144 Sub tray 151 Shift unit 160, 161 Control unit 170 Gate 200 Reading unit 201 Page writing unit 202 Page reading unit 203 Reading unit 220 Non-volatile memory 221 Read processing unit 223 Read processing unit 240 Bus 400 Bird's-eye display unit 401 Individual display unit 404 Thumbnail display 410 Numeric keypad 411 Shift key 420 Condition setting key 105 Image control CPU
222, 224 Extension IC
225,226 DRAM control IC

Claims (30)

Setting means for setting image forming conditions when forming a copy image from a document image;
Reading means for reading an image of a document in page units;
A reading start button for starting reading of a document image by the reading means,
Storage means for storing a plurality of pages of the document image read by the reading means,
An image forming unit that forms a copy image in accordance with the image forming conditions set by the setting unit based on the document image stored in the storage unit;
An image formation start button for instructing the start of formation of a copied image by the image forming means,
When forming a copy image from a document consisting of a plurality of pages, the document consisting of the plurality of pages is divided into a plurality of groups, image forming conditions are set by the setting unit for each group, and the reading unit is pressed by pressing the reading start button. An image of a document is read for each group by the user, and a document image is stored in the storage unit. When the image formation start button is pressed, a copy image for each group according to the image forming conditions set for each group by the image forming unit. Control means for controlling the formation of all the groups,
An image forming apparatus comprising:   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming condition includes a number of image formations of the image information.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming condition includes discharge position information when the recording sheet is discharged.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming condition includes delimiter information indicating that the same image forming condition ends.   5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the control unit performs the booklet-based processing in the post-processing unit based on the separation information. 6.   5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 4, wherein, when reading a plurality of pages of image information by repeating a plurality of reading operations, the delimiter information indicates a last page of a single reading operation. 6.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the reading start button and the image forming start button are the same button.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the setting unit includes a selection unit that selects whether to perform control based on the delimiter information.   2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit performs the image forming without stopping a print sequence in page units when the image forming conditions are input in page units. An image forming apparatus that forms an image according to a set first image forming condition from a set of document images including a plurality of pages to form a copy image including a plurality of pages,
A second image forming condition, which is a condition different from the first image forming condition, wherein at least one of layout, information addition, and post-processing of the first image forming condition is applied to a predetermined page of the plurality of pages. Setting means for setting the
When forming a copy image composed of a plurality of pages from the set of document images, when forming an image from the document image of the predetermined page, image formation is performed in accordance with the second image forming condition set by the setting unit. Control means for controlling
An image forming apparatus comprising:   The image forming apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the layout includes a process of outputting a plurality of the document images in one page.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the information addition includes addition of page number information.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the post-processing includes at least one of stapling, punching, and folding.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the setting of the second image forming condition is performed for each of a plurality of pages.   The setting unit has a display unit, and displays the first image forming condition for each page of the document image on the display unit, and sets the second image forming condition based on the display. The image forming apparatus according to claim 10, wherein   The image forming apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the image forming condition includes an output number for each page.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the display unit displays image information of the page as a thumbnail.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the display unit includes a bird's-eye display unit that bird-views the plurality of pages.   19. The image forming apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the bird's-eye display unit has a different display mode for each page having different image forming conditions.   20. The image forming apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the display mode is a display color symbolizing the page.   The image according to claim 15, wherein the display unit includes a numeric keypad for designating a page to be displayed and a shift key for sequentially designating a previous page or a subsequent page of the displayed page. Forming equipment. Storage means for storing a set of document image data comprising a plurality of pages,
Setting means for setting image forming conditions when forming a copy image;
Image forming means for reading the document image data stored in the storage means, forming an image in accordance with the image forming conditions set by the setting means, forming a copy image, and discharging the paper;
The setting of the image forming conditions by the setting means is such that at least one of layout, information addition, and post-processing is set for each page when a copy image including a plurality of pages is formed from a set of document images including a plurality of pages. An image forming apparatus characterized by being able to.   23. The image forming apparatus according to claim 22, wherein the setting of the image forming condition can be set in units of a plurality of pages.   The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the setting unit has a display unit, and displays the image forming condition on each page of the document image on the display unit, and sets the second image forming condition based on the display. Item 23. An image forming apparatus according to Item 22.   23. The image forming apparatus according to claim 22, wherein the image forming condition includes an output number for each page.   25. The image forming apparatus according to claim 24, wherein the display unit displays thumbnail image information of the page.   26. The image forming apparatus according to claim 24, wherein the display unit includes a bird's-eye display unit that bird-views the plurality of pages.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 27, wherein the bird's-eye display unit has a different display mode for each page having different image forming conditions.   29. The image forming apparatus according to claim 28, wherein the display form is a display color symbolizing the page.   The image according to claim 24, wherein the display unit includes a numeric keypad for specifying a page to be displayed and a shift key for sequentially specifying a previous page or a subsequent page of the displayed page. Forming equipment.

Images