JP2006082514A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To notify a user that he/she forgets about taking a sheet ejected onto a paper output tray of an image forming apparatus. <P>SOLUTION: This image forming apparatus 10 receives identification information for uniquely identifying data for use in the formation of an image, and a command including a communication address of a notification destination. Next, the image forming apparatus 10 acquires data corresponding to the identification information, and forms the image on the surface of the sheet on the basis of the data. Then, the image forming apparatus 10 embeds the identification information and the communication address in the sheet whereon the image is formed. After that, the image forming apparatus 10 reads the identification information and the communication address, which are embedded in the sheet ejected onto the paper output tray. After that, the image forming apparatus 10 makes the read identification information and the read communication address stored in the state of corresponding to each other. Subsequently, the image forming apparatus 10 measures time which has elapsed since the identification information and the communication are read. The image forming apparatus 10 transmits a message, saying that the sheet after the formation of the image exists on the paper output tray, to the communication address corresponding to the identification information, when the elapsed time corresponding to one piece of identification information exceeds a predetermined value. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a technique for notifying that image formation has been completed.

It is widely performed that a plurality of users use one printer (shared printer) connected to a network. If a shared printer is used, it is not necessary for the user to install the printer individually, which is advantageous in terms of printer installation cost and space utilization efficiency.
However, when using a shared printer, there are the following problems. For example, if a user forgets to go to the printed paper, the paper will remain in the paper output tray for a long time, and the paper will be sorted when another user prints. Forced.

In order to solve such a problem, for example, in the technique described in Patent Document 1, a plurality of personal computers (PCs) are connected to a printer. The presence / absence of a sheet on each paper discharge tray is detected at a timing such as when the PC power is turned ON / OFF, and if a sheet remains, a notification is given to the PC that has output to the paper discharge tray. . As a result, the user can be notified of forgetting to take a sheet, and the sheet discharge tray can be prevented from being occupied by the forgotten sheet.
JP 2000-86079 A

However, the above prior art has the following problems. Since one paper discharge tray corresponds to one PC, a large number of paper discharge tray portions are required when used by a plurality of people. In addition, there is a restriction when trying to use the sorter function. Also, when a printed product is taken out and confirmed, it may be accidentally placed in another location, and another user may be mixed with the output sheet.
SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is that it provides a technique capable of notifying a user of forgetting to remove a sheet discharged to a paper discharge tray of an image forming apparatus.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, the present invention provides identification information for uniquely identifying data used for image formation, a receiving unit that receives a command including a communication address of a notification destination, and data corresponding to the identification information. An image forming unit that acquires and forms an image on a sheet surface based on the data; an embedding unit that embeds the identification information and the communication address in a sheet on which an image is formed by the image forming unit; and the image forming unit A paper discharge tray that discharges the sheet on which the image is formed, and a reading unit that is provided in the paper discharge tray and reads the identification information and the communication address embedded in the sheet discharged to the paper discharge tray. Storage means for associating and storing the identification information read by the reading means and the communication address; and Time measuring means for measuring an elapsed time after reading the other information and the communication address, and a communication address corresponding to the one identification information when the elapsed time corresponding to the one identification information exceeds a predetermined value There is provided an image forming apparatus having a notifying unit that reads from the storage unit and transmits a message indicating that a sheet on which an image has been formed exists in the sheet discharge tray to the communication address.

  According to the image forming apparatus, first, the receiving unit receives a command including identification information for uniquely identifying data used for image formation and a communication address of a notification destination. Next, the image forming unit acquires data corresponding to the identification information, and forms an image on the sheet surface based on the data. Next, an embedding unit embeds the identification information and the communication address in a sheet on which an image is formed by the image forming unit. Next, the sheet on which the image is formed by the image forming unit is discharged to a discharge tray. Next, the reading unit reads the identification information and the communication address embedded in the sheet discharged to the discharge tray. Next, the storage unit stores the identification information read by the reading unit and the communication address in association with each other. Next, the time measuring means measures the elapsed time after the reading means reads the identification information and the communication address. Then, when the elapsed time corresponding to one piece of identification information exceeds a predetermined value, the notifying unit reads a communication address corresponding to the one piece of identification information from the storage unit, and the image-formed sheet is discharged from the storage unit. A message indicating the presence in the paper tray is transmitted to the communication address.

In the image forming apparatus, the notification unit reads the identification information from all sheets existing on the paper discharge tray when the elapsed time corresponding to the one identification information exceeds a predetermined value. Only when the same identification information as the one identification information is read, the communication address corresponding to the one identification information is read from the storage means, indicating that an image-formed sheet exists in the paper discharge tray. It is preferable that the message is transmitted to the communication address.
In the image forming apparatus, a plurality of the paper discharge trays are provided, and a specifying unit that specifies a paper discharge tray on which the sheet is placed is provided, and the notification unit includes the specifying unit. It is also preferable that the tray identification information for identifying the paper discharge tray specified by the above is transmitted together with the message.

  In the above image forming apparatus, a plurality of the paper discharge trays are provided. The specifying unit for specifying the paper discharge tray on which the sheet is placed, and the reading by the reading unit, Tray storage means for associating and storing the tray identification information for identifying the paper discharge tray specified by the specifying means and the one identification information, and the identification information from all the sheets present on the paper discharge tray for a certain period of time The correspondence between the identification information read at intervals and the correspondence between the read identification information and the paper discharge tray coincides with the correspondence stored in the tray storage means, and the correspondence matches by the judgment means If it is determined not to move, a message indicating that the sheet with the identification information embedded is present on the sheet discharge tray is transmitted to the communication address. It is also preferable to adopt a configuration having an informing means.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to notify the user that the user has forgotten to remove the sheet discharged to the sheet discharge tray of the image forming apparatus.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
<First Embodiment>
<Configuration>
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an overall configuration of the first embodiment of the present invention. Both the terminals 81 and 82 are personal computers having a communication function. The image forming apparatus 10 and the terminals 81 and 82 are connected to the network 90 and can communicate with each other. The terminal 81 is a transmission source of a print instruction, and the terminal 82 is a print notification destination. The image forming apparatus 10 has a function of forming an image on the sheet surface by an electrophotographic method based on image data received via the network 90. The image forming apparatus 10 includes paper discharge trays 31 and 32 for discharging sheets on which images have been formed. In the present embodiment, two discharge trays are shown, but three or more discharge trays may be provided.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of the image forming apparatus 10. A ROM (Read Only Memory) 102 stores a program for controlling the operation of the image forming apparatus 10. A CPU (Central Processing Unit) 101 controls the operation of the image forming apparatus 10 by reading this program from the ROM 102 and executing it. A RAM (Random Access Memory) 103 is used as a work area when the CPU 101 executes a program.
The communication I / F 104 is connected to the network 90 and mediates communication via the network 90.

The image forming unit 105 forms an image on a sheet by a known electrophotographic method. The image forming unit 105 is roughly divided into a charging device that charges the photosensitive drum, an exposure device that forms an electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum based on image data, and a development that visualizes the electrostatic latent image using toner. And a fixing device for fixing the toner image to the sheet.
The timer 106 is for measuring the elapsed time after the image-formed sheet is discharged to the discharge tray.

  The tag attaching unit 107 has a function of attaching an IC tag to a sheet on which an image is formed by the image forming unit 105. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of the tag attachment portion 107. The tag mounting portion 107 includes a tank 1071 that stores an adhesive, a nozzle 1072 that discharges the adhesive, a holder 1073 that stores a plurality of IC tags, and a mounting device 1074 that mounts the IC tags. When the sheet is conveyed to the position of the tag attaching portion 107, the adhesive is discharged to the predetermined position of the sheet by the nozzle 1072, and the adhesive is applied to the sheet. Next, the sheet is moved so that the portion to which the adhesive is applied is positioned directly below the attachment device 1074. Then, one IC tag is taken out from the holder 1073 by the attaching device 1074, and the IC tag is pressure-bonded to a portion where the adhesive is applied.

This IC tag is a so-called wireless IC tag that exchanges data with an external device in a non-contact manner. The IC tag includes a nonvolatile semiconductor memory that holds written data, a coiled antenna, and the like, and can communicate with an external device using a microwave, an induction electromagnetic field, or the like.
The tag readers 21 and 22 are provided in the paper discharge trays 31 and 32, respectively, and read data from the IC tags attached to the sheets discharged to the paper discharge trays 31 and 32.
The tag reader / writer 23 is provided on the downstream side of the tag attaching device in the tag attaching portion, and writes data to the IC tag attached to the sheet. The tag reader / writer 23 may be provided on the upstream side of the tag attachment device.

<Operation>
Next, the operation of the image forming apparatus 10 will be described. When the image forming apparatus is powered on, the CPU reads and executes a program from the ROM and controls each part of the image forming apparatus. FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the image forming apparatus. First, in step A01, the CPU receives a command transmitted from the terminal 81 via the communication I / F. This command includes identification information for uniquely identifying image data (for example, a file name), image data, and a communication address of the transmission source, that is, the terminal 81.
In step A02, the CPU supplies the image data included in the command to the image forming unit, and causes the image forming unit to perform image formation. The image forming unit forms an image based on the image data on a sheet surface supplied from a paper supply unit (not shown). The image-formed sheet is sent to the tag mounting portion.

In step A03, the tag reader / writer emits a microwave or an induction electromagnetic field to the sheet sent from the image forming unit, and determines whether there is a response from the IC tag. If there is no response, the process proceeds to step A04. If there is a response, the IC tag is already attached to the sheet, so the process proceeds to step A05 without attaching the IC tag.
In step A04, the IC tag is attached to the sheet by the tag attaching portion. In step A05, data is written to the IC tag attached to the sheet using a tag reader / writer. The data written here is identification information for identifying the image data and the communication address of the terminal 81.

  In step A06, the image-formed sheet is discharged to the paper discharge tray. In step A07, data is read by the tag reader from the IC tag attached to the sheet discharged to the discharge tray. With this reading time as a trigger, in step A08, the timer starts counting. In step A09, it is determined whether or not the elapsed time counted by the timer has reached a predetermined time. If the predetermined time has been reached (step A09: YES), the process proceeds to step A10, and the sheet on which the image is formed is determined. A message indicating the discharge is transmitted to the communication address of the terminal 81. When the transmitted message is received by the terminal 81, the message is displayed on the display provided in the terminal 81, thereby notifying the user. The user who has received the notification goes to the installation place of the image forming apparatus and takes out the sheet on which the image has been formed from the paper discharge tray.

When the user of the terminal 81 transmits a print instruction command to the image forming apparatus, the user is scheduled to deliver another user, for example, an image-formed sheet, by designating the notification destination to the terminal 82. It is possible to notify the other party that image formation has been completed.
As described above, according to the present invention, the user is notified that the image formation has been completed, so that the user can be notified of forgetting to remove the sheet discharged to the sheet discharge tray of the image forming apparatus.

Second Embodiment
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the present exemplary embodiment, the image forming apparatus identifies to which of a plurality of discharge trays a sheet has been discharged, and further indicates a destination discharge tray when the sheet is moved to a different discharge tray. Information is transmitted to a broadcast destination.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an operation flow of the image forming apparatus according to the present exemplary embodiment. The operations from step B01 to B10 are the same as those in the first embodiment. However, step B07
The sheet discharge tray on which the sheet is placed is identified. Specifically, the data read from the IC tag attached to the discharged sheet is read by any one of the tag readers provided in each of the plurality of paper discharge trays. When the CPU recognizes whether the reading has been performed, the paper discharge tray is specified. Then, the identification information read from the IC tag, the communication address of the notification destination, and the tray identification information for identifying the paper discharge tray are associated with each other and stored in the RAM.

  In step B11, identification information is read from the IC tags of all sheets present on the paper discharge tray at regular time intervals using a tag reader, and the correspondence between the read identification information and the paper discharge tray is stored in the RAM. The CPU determines whether or not it matches the existing correspondence. If it is determined that the correspondence relationship does not match, a message indicating that the sheet with the identification information embedded is present on the paper discharge tray is transmitted to the communication address of the terminal 81 (step B12). Here, the case where the correspondences do not match occurs, for example, when a sheet output by another user is erroneously taken out and then returned to another paper discharge tray. In such a case, even if the true user comes to pick up the sheet, the sheet does not exist in the predetermined paper discharge tray, which makes it inconvenient to search for the location of the sheet. In order to prevent such inconvenience, in the present invention, even when the sheet is moved to a different paper discharge tray, the position can be notified to the user.

<Modification>
The present invention is not limited to the form described above, and can be implemented in various forms. For example, the embodiment described above can be modified as follows.
In the first embodiment, an example is shown in which data is written to the IC tag after the IC tag is attached to the sheet. However, after the data is written to the IC tag, the IC tag may be attached to the sheet.
In the first embodiment, an example in which a message indicating that an image-formed sheet exists on the paper discharge tray is transmitted to the notification destination has been described. However, identification information may be transmitted together with this message. . Thereby, the user can know which image is being output.

In the first embodiment, the message is transmitted when the elapsed time exceeds the predetermined time. However, after the predetermined time has elapsed, the identification information is read from all the sheets existing on the paper discharge tray, and finally, The message may be transmitted to the notification destination only when the same identification information as that output is read. In this way, after the image is output, if the user immediately takes out the sheet, no message is transmitted, and therefore unnecessary communication is not required.
In the second embodiment, when the message is transmitted in step B10, tray identification information for identifying the sheet discharge tray on which the sheet is placed may be transmitted together with the message. In this way, it is possible to notify the user in advance from which paper discharge tray the sheet should be taken out.

It is a figure which shows the whole structure of 1st Embodiment. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an image forming apparatus 10. It is a figure which shows the structure of the tag attaching part. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an operation flow of the image forming apparatus 10. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an operation flow of the image forming apparatus 10.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Image forming apparatus 81, 82 ... Terminal, 90 ... Network, 31, 32 ... Discharge tray, 102 ... ROM, 101 ... CPU, 103 ... RAM, 104 ... Communication I / F, 105 ... Image forming part, 106 ... Timer, 107 ... Tag mounting portion, 21, 22 ... Tag reader, 23 ... Tag reader / writer.

Claims (8)

Receiving means for receiving identification information for uniquely identifying data used for image formation, and a command including a communication address of a notification destination;
Image forming means for obtaining data corresponding to the identification information and forming an image on the sheet surface based on the data;
An embedding unit that embeds the identification information and the communication address in a sheet on which an image is formed by the image forming unit;
A paper discharge tray for discharging a sheet on which an image is formed by the image forming unit;
A reading unit that is provided in the discharge tray and reads the identification information and the communication address embedded in the sheet discharged to the discharge tray;
Storage means for storing the identification information read by the reading means and the communication address in association with each other;
Time measuring means for measuring an elapsed time after the identification information and the communication address are read by the reading means;
When the elapsed time corresponding to one piece of identification information exceeds a predetermined value, the communication address corresponding to the one piece of identification information is read from the storage means, and an image-formed sheet exists in the paper discharge tray. An image forming apparatus comprising: a notification unit that transmits a message representing the address to the communication address. The embedding means includes
Mounting means for attaching an IC tag to the sheet;
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a writing unit that writes the identification information and the communication address on an IC tag attached by the attachment unit. The embedding means includes
Writing means for writing the identification information and the communication address to an IC tag;
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: an attaching unit that attaches the IC tag in which the identification information and the communication address are written by the writing unit to the sheet.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the communication address is a communication address of a transmission source of the command.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the notification unit transmits the one identification information together with the message.   When the elapsed time corresponding to the one identification information exceeds a predetermined value, the notification means reads the identification information from all sheets existing on the paper discharge tray, and the same identification as the one identification information Only when the information is read, the communication address corresponding to the one identification information is read from the storage means, and a message indicating that an image-formed sheet exists in the paper discharge tray is transmitted to the communication address. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1. A plurality of the paper discharge trays are provided,
A specifying unit for specifying a paper discharge tray on which the sheet is placed;
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the notification unit transmits tray identification information for identifying a paper discharge tray specified by the specifying unit together with the message. A plurality of the paper discharge trays are provided,
Specifying means for specifying a paper discharge tray on which the sheet is placed;
Tray storage means for storing tray identification information for identifying the paper discharge tray specified by the specifying means and the one identification information in association with each other following reading by the reading means;
Whether the identification information is read from every sheet existing on the paper discharge tray at regular time intervals, and the correspondence between the read identification information and the paper discharge tray matches the correspondence stored in the tray storage unit. Determining means for determining whether or not;
When the determination unit determines that the correspondence does not match, a destination notification unit that transmits a message to the communication address indicating that the sheet with the identification information embedded is present on the discharge tray. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

Images