JP2006012011A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming device capable of outputting a banner page which is easy to be visually confirmed in the image forming device having a shift processing means. <P>SOLUTION: When a paper ejection processing means changes a paper ejecting position of recording paper, a banner image is formed at a predetermined position on the recording paper preliminarily associated with the paper ejecting position. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus.

  2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, network printers that connect a printer, which is a form of an image forming apparatus, to a network and are shared by a plurality of users have become widespread. Conventionally, since a network printer is used by a plurality of users, recording papers (also referred to as printouts) related to a number of print jobs are mixed in one discharge tray, and each user is related to a print job designated by the user. There was a problem that working efficiency was lowered due to the difficulty in finding the recording paper. On the other hand, a network printer has a banner page (a separator page, for example, a user name is printed on a cover sheet before a print job). A banner page can be output for each execution (see, for example, Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2).

On the other hand, it has shift processing means, which is a paper discharge processing means that can change the paper discharge position on the same tray and stack the image-formed recording paper, and the paper discharge position for each print job on the same paper discharge tray Or change the paper output position of the first page of a print job from another page, the network printer can easily inform the user of the break for each print job execution and prevent printouts from being mixed between print jobs It has also been proposed that this can be done (see, for example, Patent Document 3).
JP 2000-326567 A JP 2003-29945 A JP 2000-16683 A

  The banner page is printed with the user name, etc., so that it can be determined at a glance who the executed print job is based on the instruction from the print job. If it is stacked on the tray, the printed portion of the user name on the banner page is covered by another printout, which is not enough to easily find the printout for the print job that you have ordered. It was.

  Even when a banner page is output on a network printer having a shift processing unit, the printed portion of the user name is covered by another printout, and the print related to the print job designated by the user can be easily performed. It was not enough to find out.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus that can output a banner page that can be easily viewed in an image forming apparatus having a shift processing unit, and that can easily find a printout related to a desired print job. And

  The object of the present invention can be achieved by the following constitution.

The invention according to claim 1 is a receiving unit that receives a print job transmitted from an information processing apparatus via a communication medium, an image forming unit that forms an image based on the print job on a recording sheet, and an image-formed recording In an image forming apparatus having a paper discharge processing unit capable of stacking paper by changing a paper discharge position on the same tray,
When the paper discharge processing unit changes the paper discharge position of the recording paper, a banner image based on the identification information given in advance to the print job received by the receiving unit is displayed at a predetermined position on the recording paper. An image forming apparatus having a banner image forming position control unit to be formed.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a discharge position detecting means for detecting a discharge position of the recording paper changed by the discharge processing means,
The said banner image formation position control means forms the said banner image in the position on the recording paper previously matched with the paper discharge position detected by the said paper discharge position detection means. An image forming apparatus.

The invention according to claim 3 is a storage unit that stores the print job received by the receiving unit;
Print job rearranging means for rearranging the execution order of the print jobs based on identification information previously given to the print jobs stored in the storage means;
And a banner image formation prohibiting unit for prohibiting the formation of a banner image when a print job having the same identification information as the identification information given to the print job executed immediately before is executed. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, when the paper discharge processing means changes the paper discharge position of the recording paper, a banner image is formed at a predetermined position on the recording paper that is previously associated with the paper discharge position. A banner page on which a banner image is formed can be output at a position where the paper position is changed and is not covered by the recording paper related to another print job, and printouts related to a plurality of print jobs accumulated in the paper discharge tray From the above, it is possible to easily find out a printout related to a desired print job.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, since the banner image is formed at a position on the recording paper that is previously associated with the paper discharge position detected by the paper discharge position detecting means, it is ensured that a print related to another print job is printed. A banner page in which a banner image is formed at a position not covered by the out can be output.

  According to the third aspect of the present invention, when a print job to which the same identification information as that assigned to the print job executed immediately before is executed, the banner image is prohibited from being formed, that is, a banner page. Therefore, for example, banner pages are not output in print jobs instructed continuously by the same user, and wasteful consumption of recording paper can be reduced.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a print system to which an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied. In FIG. 1, the print system includes a computer 1 as an information processing apparatus and a printer 2 as an image forming apparatus. As long as the function of the present invention is executed, it may be a single device, a system composed of a plurality of devices, or a system connected via a network such as a LAN or WAN. The present invention can be applied.

  The computer 1 includes a control unit 10, a storage unit 11, an operation unit 12, a display unit 13, and a printer communication unit 14, and each unit is connected by a system bus 15.

  The control unit 10 includes a CPU (central processing unit), a work memory, and the like (not shown). Based on a document processing program stored in the storage unit 11, figures, images, characters, tables (including spreadsheets), etc. Is executed, and the components connected to the system bus 15 are controlled in a comprehensive manner.

  The control unit 10 opens various windows registered in advance based on commands instructed by the operation unit 14 using a mouse cursor or the like displayed on the display unit 13 and executes various data processing. When executing printing, the user can open a window related to the settings of the printer 2 and set the print processing method in the printer 2.

  The storage unit 11 includes a nonvolatile semiconductor memory such as an EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory), a hard disk drive, and the like, and stores an operating system program (hereinafter referred to as OS) that is a control program of the control unit 10. Stores font data and various data used in the document processing.

  The operation unit 12 includes a keyboard and a pointing device (not shown), and controls key input from the user. The display unit 13 displays various guidance displays and status displays to the user using a display device such as a display (not shown).

  The printer communication unit 14 is connected to the printer 2 via a bidirectional communication medium 3 typified by a network such as LAN or WAN, and executes communication control processing with the printer 2.

  The control unit 10 also has functions as a print job generation unit 101 and a banner data generation unit 102.

  The print job generation unit 101 prints drawing data output from an application executed by the control unit 10 as a series of print data groups from the start to the end of printing composed of drawing data and control codes that can be recognized by the printer 2. A job, for example, a PDL (Page Description Language) is converted and output.

  The banner data generation unit 102 generates drawing data necessary for outputting a banner page that is a recording sheet on which a user name for distinguishing print jobs is printed and banner data that is a control code, and generates a print job. This is added to the print job generated by the means 101.

  The printer 2 includes a control unit 20, a storage unit 21, a communication unit 22, a printing unit 23, a paper discharge processing unit 24, and an operation unit 25, and each unit is connected by a system bus 26.

  The control unit 20 comprehensively controls each unit of the printer 2 on the basis of a control program stored in the storage unit 21 and a control code included in a print job output from the computer, and controls the printing unit (printer engine) 23. Output image signal.

  The storage unit 21 includes a control program of the control unit 20, font data used when the control unit 20 generates an image signal, printer setting information input from the operation unit 25 and the computer 1, a print job, and the most recent print job. The recording paper discharge position information and the like in execution are stored. Note that the print jobs stored in the storage unit 21 are stored for each print job, and are normally processed in the order in which the print jobs are sent. It is also possible to specify a specific print job, interrupt the execution of the print job, and rearrange the execution order. That is, it has a function as a storage unit of the present invention.

  The communication unit 22 functions as a receiving unit of the present invention, can perform communication processing with the computer 1 via the bidirectional communication medium 3, and receives a print job or the like transmitted from the computer 1. At the same time, information in the printer 2 is notified to the computer 1.

  The printing unit 23 functions as an image forming unit of the present invention, and forms an image based on an image signal output from the control unit 20 on a recording sheet by an electrophotographic method or an inkjet method.

  The paper discharge processing unit 24 functions as a paper discharge processing unit of the present invention, and changes the paper discharge position for each print job on the same paper discharge tray or discharges the first page of the print job. Clarify print job boundaries by changing position from other pages. Details of the paper discharge processing unit 24 will be described later.

  The operation unit 25 is provided with a switch for operation, an LED display, and the like, and can input printer mode setting information.

  The control unit 20 functions as a banner image formation control unit 201, a paper discharge position detection unit 202, and a print job rearrangement unit 203.

  When outputting a banner page, the banner image formation control unit 201 controls the position of the banner image printed on the banner page in the printing unit 23 or prohibits the formation of the banner image when a certain condition is satisfied. . In other words, the banner image formation control unit 201 has a function as a banner image formation position control unit and a banner image formation prohibition unit.

  The paper discharge position detection unit 202 analyzes a control command output from the paper discharge processing unit 24 or discharges it onto a paper discharge tray described later based on the paper discharge position information stored in the storage unit 21. The position of the recording paper to be detected is detected.

  The print job rearranging unit 203 rearranges the execution order of the print jobs stored in the storage unit 21.

  1 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration and operation of the paper discharge processing unit 24. FIG. 2A shows a state in which the recording paper is discharged to the first paper discharge position, and FIG. A state in which the recording paper is discharged to the second paper discharge position is shown.

  The paper discharge processing unit 24 includes a paper discharge tray 241, an alignment plate 242a, an alignment plate 242b, and a paper discharge roller 243, and changes the paper discharge position for each print job on the same paper discharge tray. Alternatively, a so-called shift process is performed in which the discharge position of the first page of the print job is changed from another page.

  A recording sheet on which an image is formed by the printing unit 23 of FIG. 1 is placed on the discharge tray 241.

  The alignment plate 242a is moved by the carriage (not shown) from the first alignment position shown in FIG. 2A and the first alignment position shown in FIG. The alignment plate 242b can be moved to the second alignment position shifted to the left side toward the left, and the alignment plate 242b is in a direction orthogonal to the recording paper P conveyance direction on the plane on which the recording paper P is conveyed by a carriage (not shown). It is possible to move to (arrow B).

  The paper discharge roller 243 is driven by a drive source (not shown), conveys the recording paper P moved to a predetermined position by the alignment plates 242a and 242b, and discharges it onto the paper discharge tray 241.

  When the recording sheet is discharged to the first discharge position, as shown in FIG. 2A, the alignment plates 242a and 242b are center lines R in the conveyance direction of the recording sheet P conveyed in the direction indicated by the arrow A. To the first alignment position, which is equidistant and slightly wider than the width of the recording paper, and stops. When the recording paper P is conveyed, the alignment plate 242b moves in the direction of arrow B from the first alignment position and strikes the side edge of the recording paper P to perform width alignment. In 241, the recording paper P is discharged to the first discharge position.

  When the recording paper is discharged to the second paper discharge position, as shown in FIG. 2B, the alignment plate 242a is located on the left side of the recording paper P in the conveyance direction arrow A from the first alignment position. The alignment plate 242b moves to the first alignment position and stops. That is, the alignment plates 242a and 242b move to positions at unequal distances with respect to the center line R in the conveyance direction of the recording paper P conveyed in the direction indicated by the arrow A and stop. When the recording paper P is conveyed, the alignment plate 242b moves from the first alignment position in the direction indicated by the arrow B, strikes the side edge of the recording paper P, performs width alignment, and moves the recording paper P in the paper conveyance direction. The recording paper P is discharged to the second discharge position by the discharge roller 243 to the discharge tray 241.

  Next, an example of the operation of the print system to which the image forming apparatus according to the present invention is applied will be described with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the flow of printing processing executed by the computer 1 and the printer 2 in FIG. Steps S11 to S16 represent processing in the computer 1, and steps S21 to S33 represent processing in the printer 2.

  First, processing executed by the computer 1 will be described.

  In step S11, a print command is instructed from an application executed on the computer 1. At this time, the printer setting window 40 shown in FIG. 4 is displayed on the display unit 13, and the user can set the printer 2 in the print command.

  In FIG. 4, whether or not a banner page is output can be set to output a banner page by checking a check box 431 of the banner page setting unit 43. In FIG. It has become. Further, the operation of the paper discharge processing unit 24, that is, the presence or absence of shift processing, can be set to perform shift processing by checking the check box 441 of the shift processing setting unit 44. In FIG. It has become.

  In addition to the banner page setting unit 43 and the shift processing setting unit 44, the printer setting window 40 includes a preview display unit 41, a Nin1 setting unit 42, a print number setting unit 45, a printing method setting unit 46, color printing. A setting unit 47, a post-processing setting unit 48, a double-sided printing setting unit 49, and the like are displayed and can be set. The setting for the printer 2 is confirmed by the print command button 50 and stored in the storage unit 11 as a printer setting. Is done.

  Returning to FIG. 3, in step S <b> 12, among the settings for the printer 2 set in step S <b> 11, the setting item regarding the presence / absence of banner page output, that is, the setting input in the banner page setting unit 43 in FIG. Is acquired by the banner data generation unit 101.

  In step S <b> 13, the banner data generation unit 101 determines whether or not banner page output is set in the setting item regarding presence / absence of banner page output acquired in step S <b> 12. If it is determined that the banner page output is set (step S13; YES), the process of step S14 is executed, and if it is determined that the banner page output is not set (step S13; NO). The process of step S15 is executed.

  In step S14, the banner data generation unit 101 generates banner data including drawing data and a control code necessary for outputting a banner page. The banner data includes, for example, a banner image start command, a user name that has instructed a print command, a document file name that is a target of the print command, a date and time at which the print command has been instructed, a job banner image end command, and the like.

  In step S15, the drawing data output from the application executed by the control unit 10 by the print job generation unit 101 is converted into a series of print data from the start to the end of the printing consisting of drawing data and control codes that can be recognized by the printer 2. A print job that is a group, for example, PDL (Page Description Language) is converted and output. The print job includes a control code as shown in FIG.

  5, the print job 60 includes a job start instruction 61 that is a control code for starting a print job, a printer setting 62 that is a control code based on information set in the printer setting window 40 of FIG. 4, and is generated in step S14. The generated banner data 63 includes a drawing instruction 64 for the first page, a drawing instruction 65 for the second page, and a job end instruction 66 that is a control code for ending the print job. The printer setting 62 includes a shift processing setting 621. In FIG. 5, "YES", that is, a setting for performing the shift processing. The banner data 63 includes the banner image start command 631, the user name 632 that instructs the print command, the document file name 633 that is the target of the print command, the date and time 634 that the print command is specified, and the job banner image end 635. It is. The command drawing command 64 and the drawing command 65 are composed of drawing data and a control code. Although two pages are generated in FIG. 5, drawing commands for the number of pages to be printed are generated. .

  Returning to FIG. 3, in step S16, the print job generated in step S15 is transmitted from the printer communication unit 14 to the printer 2, and the processing in the computer 1 is terminated.

  Next, processing executed by the printer 2 will be described.

  In step S <b> 21, the print job transmitted from the computer 1 in step S <b> 16 is received by the communication unit 22.

  In step S22, the print job received in step S21 is stored in the storage unit 21.

  In step S23, the print job stored in the storage unit 21 in step S22 is read. At this time, it is possible to rearrange the execution order of the print jobs by rearranging the order in which the print jobs are read by the print job rearranging unit 203. For example, when the same user name is included in the banner data of the print job, the order in which the print jobs are read can be rearranged so that these print jobs are continuously executed. Note that the processing from step S21 to step S23 can be executed in parallel with the processing from step S24 to step S33 described below.

  In step S24, an image signal based on the drawing command included in the print job of FIG. 5 is output from the control unit 20 to the printing unit 23, and the printing unit 23 forms an image on the recording paper. In the image formation in step S24, an image based on the final page drawing command (second page drawing command 65 in FIG. 5) is formed first, and thereafter, an image is formed based on the first page drawing command 64. Until the number of drawing commands included in the print job is repeated.

  In step S25, the control unit 20 determines whether the printer setting of the print job read in step S23 includes a setting for performing the shift process, that is, whether to perform the shift process in the execution of the print job. Is judged. If it is determined that the setting for performing the shift process is included (step S25; YES), the process of step S26 is executed, and if it is determined that the setting for performing the shift process is not included (step S25; NO) ), The process of step S27 is executed.

  In step S26, the paper discharge processing unit 24 shifts the recording paper on which the image is formed in step S25.

  In step S27, the control unit 20 determines whether or not an image has been formed based on the first page drawing command 64 included in the print job in step S24, that is, whether or not printing of all pages has been completed. . If it is determined that an image is formed based on the first page drawing command 64 (step S27; YES), the process of step S28 is executed, and no image is formed based on the first page drawing command 64. Is determined (step S27; NO), the process returns to step S24.

  In step S28, it is determined whether or not banner data is included in the print job read in step S23. If it is determined that the banner data is included (step S28; YES), the process of step S29 is executed. If it is determined that the banner data is not included (step S28; NO), the process of step S33 is performed. Is executed.

  In step S29, the name of the user instructing the print command, that is, identification information included in the banner data of the print job read in step S23 is stored in a predetermined area of the storage unit 21, and is executed next. It is determined whether the user name included in the job is the same. That is, it is determined whether print jobs by the same user are continuously executed. If it is determined that the user names are the same, that is, print jobs by the same user are continuously executed (step S29; YES), the process of step S33 is executed to prohibit the output of the banner page, and the user name Are determined to be different (step S29; NO), the process of step S30 is executed.

  In step S <b> 30, the banner image is formed on the recording paper by the printing unit 23 so that the surface on which the banner image is formed faces upward on the paper discharge tray 241.

  In step S31, it is determined whether or not the print job includes a setting for performing a shift process. If it is determined that the setting for performing the shift process is included (step S31; YES), the process of step S32 is executed, and if it is determined that the setting for performing the shift process is not included (step S31; NO) ), The process of step S33 is executed.

  In step S32, the paper discharge processing unit 24 performs a shift process for the recording paper on which the banner image is formed in step S30.

  In step S33, the discharge position information of the recording paper stored in the predetermined area of the storage unit 21 is the discharge position information of the recording paper on the discharge tray 241 in the execution of the print job, that is, on the discharge tray 241. The information representing the first paper discharge position or the information representing the second paper discharge position is replaced, and the processing in the printer 2 is terminated. When the printer 2 is activated for the first time, information indicating the second paper discharge position is stored in the predetermined area.

  The banner page printing process in step S30 in FIG. 3 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the banner page printing process in step S30 of FIG.

  In step S301, the banner image control unit 101 in FIG. 1 determines whether or not the printer setting of the print job read in step S23 in FIG. 3 includes a setting for performing the shift process, that is, the execution of the print job. It is determined whether or not the shift process is to be performed. If it is determined that the setting for performing the shift process is included (step S301; YES), the process of step S302 is executed, and if it is determined that the setting for performing the shift process is not included (step S301; NO) ), The process of step S306 is executed.

  In step S302, the paper discharge position detection unit 202 in FIG. 1 detects a paper discharge position on which the recording paper on which the banner image of the print job is formed is discharged on the paper discharge tray 241. .

  In step S303, it is determined whether or not the paper discharge position detected in step S302 is the first paper discharge position shown in FIG. If it is determined that the position is the first paper discharge position (step S303; YES), the process of step S304 is executed, and if it is determined that the position is not the first paper discharge position, that is, the second paper discharge position. (Step S303; NO), the process of Step S305 is executed.

  In step S304, after the printing unit 23 prints a banner image on the right side in the transport direction on the upper surface of the recording paper, the process ends. Since the banner image printed in step S304 is formed on the right side (the lower side in FIG. 7) in the recording paper transport direction A as shown in FIG. 7A, a banner image 70 is formed. The banner image 70 is not covered even when another recording sheet P ′ is accumulated at the second ejection position following the banner page P, and printouts relating to a plurality of print jobs accumulated on the ejection tray are not covered. The banner page P added to the desired printout can be easily found from the inside.

  In step S305, the printing unit 23 prints a banner image on the left side in the transport direction on the upper surface of the recording paper, and then the process ends. Since the banner image printed in step S305 is formed on the left side (upper side of the paper surface in FIG. 7) in the recording paper transport direction A as shown in FIG. 7B, another recording paper P ′ is formed. Even if the banner image 70 is deposited at the first discharge position, the banner image 70 is not covered.

  In step S306, after the banner image is printed on the central portion of the recording paper by the printing unit 23, the processing is ended. In step S306, as shown in FIG. 7C, since the banner image 70 is printed in the center of the banner page P in the character direction parallel to the transport direction A, the banner page P is an aesthetic appearance as a cover of the printout. It will have.

  In this embodiment, the printer 2 has been described as an example of the image forming apparatus. However, in addition to the printer function, a multifunction machine having a facsimile function, a copying function, a scanner function, etc., and an information processing apparatus having a printer function (for example, The present invention can also be applied to an image forming apparatus such as a kiosk terminal.

  Further, the object of the present invention is to supply a storage medium storing a software program for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments to a system or apparatus, and the computer (CPU or MPU) of the system or apparatus is stored in the storage medium. Needless to say, this can also be achieved by reading and executing the program.

  In addition, the detailed configuration and detailed operation of each component constituting the image forming apparatus can be changed as appropriate without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a printing system to which a printer as an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied. FIG. 2A is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration of the paper discharge processing unit in a state in which the recording paper is discharged to the first paper discharge position, and FIG. 2B is a diagram illustrating the recording paper to the second paper discharge position. It is the schematic which shows the structure of the paper discharge process part of the state discharged. 2 is a flowchart showing a flow of a printing process executed by the computer and printer of FIG. 1. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a printer setting window displayed on the display unit of FIG. 1. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a print job generated by a print job generation unit in FIG. 1. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the banner page printing process in FIG. It is a figure which shows an example of the banner page printed by the printing part of FIG.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Computer 10 Control part 11 Storage part 12 Operation part 13 Display part 14 Printer communication part 2 Printer 20 Control part 21 Storage part 22 Communication part 23 Printing part 24 Paper discharge process part 241 Paper discharge tray 242a, 242b Alignment board 243 Paper discharge roller 25 Operation unit 3 Bidirectional communication medium 40 Printer setting window 60 Print job

Claims (3)

A receiving unit that receives a print job transmitted from the information processing apparatus via a communication medium, an image forming unit that forms an image based on the print job on a recording sheet, and a sheet on which the image is formed is discharged onto the same tray. In an image forming apparatus having a discharge processing unit that can be stacked by changing the position,
When the paper discharge processing unit changes the paper discharge position of the recording paper, a banner image based on the identification information given in advance to the print job received by the receiving unit is displayed at a predetermined position on the recording paper. An image forming apparatus comprising a banner image forming position control means for forming the image forming apparatus. A paper discharge position detecting means for detecting a paper discharge position of the recording paper changed by the paper discharge processing means;
The said banner image formation position control means forms the said banner image in the position on the recording paper previously matched with the paper discharge position detected by the said paper discharge position detection means. Image forming apparatus. Storage means for storing a print job received by the receiving means;
Print job rearranging means for rearranging the execution order of the print jobs based on identification information previously given to the print jobs stored in the storage means;
And a banner image formation prohibiting unit for prohibiting the formation of a banner image when a print job having the same identification information as the identification information given to the print job executed immediately before is executed. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1.

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