JP2006256015A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming device devised so as to correctly perform the re-formation of images. <P>SOLUTION: The image forming device has a memory to accumulate image data acquired in relation to jobs, an image forming section which forms images based on the image data on a recording medium and forms an additional image showing two pieces of information including job information specifying that an image of what page of which job is to be formed and job information indicating the description of the formation of the image, a reading section which reads the page information and the job information shown by the additional image by holding over the additional image formed by the image forming section, and a control section which instructs the image forming section to re-form an image based on the image data of a page shown by the page information read by the reading section from among image data accumulated in the memory in relation to jobs indicated by the job information read by the reading section. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus that acquires image data and forms an image based on the acquired image data on a recording medium.

  Conventionally, an image forming apparatus such as a printer that forms an image on a recording medium based on image data representing an image for one page sent from an external host or the like is known.

  Among such image forming apparatuses, there is a type in which one or a plurality of image data transmitted in units of jobs instructing the contents of image formation on a recording medium are stored in the apparatus.

  In this type of image forming apparatus, when a printing trouble such as a jam occurs and reprinting is required, it is possible to save the trouble of requesting the image data to be retransmitted to the outside.

  However, in this type of image forming apparatus, even if a print trouble occurs for some pages, reprinting is performed for all pages of the job related to the pages. However, this causes a problem that a recording medium such as paper is wasted.

  Therefore, when printing, in addition to the print image, a job related to the image data that is the basis of the print image and an information image that specifies the page number in the job are printed together, and reprinting is performed. There has been a proposal that can be specified in units of pages instead of all pages of the job (see Patent Document 1).

In the proposed image forming apparatus, the operator visually recognizes the information image printed together with the print image on the recording medium that needs to be reprinted due to the occurrence of the print trouble, and visually recognizes the input image provided in the apparatus. A page is designated by inputting job information and page information.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-180005

  However, in this case, if the operator misrecognizes the page information or makes an input mistake, the recording medium may be wasted.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above circumstances, an object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus that is devised to accurately recreate an image.

In order to achieve the above object, an image forming apparatus of the present invention comprises:
An image forming apparatus that acquires one or more pages of image data representing an image for one page for each job instructing the content of image formation on the recording medium, and forms an image based on the acquired image data on the recording medium In
A memory for storing the acquired image data in association with the job;
A job that forms an image based on image data on a recording medium, specifies job information that specifies which page of which job the image to be formed is, and job that specifies a job that indicates the content of the formation of this image An image forming unit that forms an additional image representing two pieces of information;
A reading unit that reads the page information and the job information represented by the additional image by being held over the additional image formed by the image forming unit,
Of the image data stored in the memory in association with the job indicated by the job information read by the reading unit, the page indicated by the page information read by the reading unit is sent to the image forming unit. And a control unit for instructing the re-formation of the image based on the image data.

  In the image forming apparatus of the present invention, the job information and page information of an image that needs to be re-formed are transmitted to the apparatus side by holding the reading unit over the additional image formed on the same page as the image that needs to be re-formed. Can be done. Therefore, according to the image forming apparatus of the present invention, it is possible to make it difficult for human error to occur when instructing the apparatus to regenerate an image, and to accurately recreate the image.

  Here, the control unit may instruct the image forming unit to regenerate an image based on image data of pages after the page indicated by the page information read by the reading unit, Alternatively, the image data of the page indicated by the page information read by the reading unit out of the image data stored in the memory in association with the job indicated by the job information read by the reading unit by the control unit It is also possible to have an exclusion mode that instructs to recreate an image based on the remaining image data by excluding only the image data. Further, the control unit instructs re-formation of an image based on image data of a plurality of continuous pages between the first page and the second page indicated by the page information read by the reading unit. It may be.

  Here, the image forming apparatus may form an image on continuous paper.

  According to the image forming apparatus of the present invention, it is possible to accurately recreate an image.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the image forming apparatus of the present invention will be described.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a first embodiment of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention.

  The printer 1 shown in FIG. 1 forms a black and white image on a sheet, which includes a sheet feeding device 11, an image forming unit 21, a fixing unit 31, a sheet conveying unit 41, and a control unit 10 that controls them. This is a monochrome printer.

  The control unit 10 receives and processes print data transmitted from the external terminal 2.

  The image forming unit 21 includes a photoconductor roll 216 rotating in the direction of arrow A, a charger 214 rotating in the direction of arrow B for applying a predetermined charge to the photoconductor roll 216, and print data processed by the control unit 10. An exposure unit 213 that forms an electrostatic latent image corresponding to the toner, a developing unit 215 that develops the electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of the photoreceptor roll with toner, and a toner image formed on the surface of the photoreceptor roll 216. A transfer roll 217 that rotates in the direction of arrow D and that is transferred to a sheet that has been conveyed via the conveyance path 42 is configured. The developing device 215 has a developing roll 2151 that develops the electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of the photoreceptor roll and rotates in the direction of arrow C while holding the toner.

  The fixing unit 31 fixes the toner image on the sheet by conveying the sheet on which the toner image has been transferred while nipping between the heating roll 311 and the pressure roll 312.

  The sheet transport unit 41 includes a transport roll 411 and a discharge roll 412 for discharging the fixed sheet to the upper surface of the printer 1.

  The sheet feeding device 51 includes a sheet cassette 52 that stores stacked sheets, and a sheet drawing unit 54 that pulls out the sheets from the sheet cassette 52.

  Further, FIG. 1 shows a barcode reader 3 which will be described later in detail, and data read by this barcode reader is sent to the control unit. The bar code reader 3 corresponds to an example of a reading unit according to the present invention.

  FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of the control unit shown in FIG.

  The control unit 10 shown in FIG. 2 prints one or more pages of print data representing an image for one page transmitted from the external terminal 2 in units of jobs instructing the contents of image formation on a recording medium. A communication control unit 11 that receives job data as a basis of the job, a data analysis unit 12 that analyzes the received print data and job data, a bar code read unit 13 to which data read by the bar code reader 3 is sent, The file management processing unit 14 that processes the storage of the received data on the disk 141, the bar code data that includes the job data to which each received print data for one page belongs and the page data in the job of the print data. Page information / barcode processing unit 15 associated with data, and print data And over the code data are the components of the expansion section 16 to expand the exposure beam.

  The control unit 10 shown in FIG. 2 includes the data development management unit 17 that manages the development unit 15, the print control unit 18 that instructs the exposure unit 213 and the like shown in FIG. 1, and the control unit 10. A state monitoring unit 19 that monitors the state of the element is used as a component. 2 includes an exposure unit 181 that controls the operation of the exposure unit 213 of the image forming unit 21, a developing unit 182 that controls the operation of the developing unit 215 of the image forming unit 21, and the like. Each device for image formation is controlled. 2 shows that a control signal is transmitted from the exposure unit 181 toward the exposure unit 213 shown in FIG. 1, and a control signal is transmitted from the development unit 182 toward the development unit 215 shown in FIG. Shown representatively.

  Here, the flow of image formation in the printer 1 of the present embodiment will be described.

  After the power supply (not shown) of the printer 1 is switched on, when print data and job data that is a basis of a job related to the print data are transmitted from the external terminal 2, the control unit 10 shown in FIG. Transmits the data to the data analysis unit 12 after the communication control unit 11 receives the data. The data analysis unit 12 analyzes what page data of the job represented by the received print data is the job data. Print data, job data, and page data obtained as a result of the analysis are transmitted to the file management processing unit 14 and the data development management unit 17.

  The file management processing unit 14 stores the transmitted job data and print data on the disk 141, and stores the stored job data and print data addresses on the disk, job data and page data related to the stored print data, and Create a directory that associates.

  The data development management unit 17 causes the page information / barcode processing unit 15 to create a barcode based on the job data and page data related to the print data transmitted from the data analysis unit 12 together with the print data. The expansion unit 16 is instructed to perform expansion together with the print data.

  The data developed by the development unit 16 is transmitted to the exposure unit 181 of the print control unit 18.

  The exposure unit 181 generates a drive signal corresponding to the developed signal and transmits it to the exposure unit 213. The print control unit 18 transmits a signal for controlling the operation of the developing device 135 through the developing unit 182.

  An electrostatic latent image is formed on the surface of the photoreceptor roll 216 to which a predetermined charge is applied by the charger 214 by the exposure light irradiated from the exposure device 213 as described above, and toner development by the developing device 215 is performed. Done. Thereafter, the toner image formed on the surface of the photoreceptor roll is transferred onto the sheet conveyed by the transfer unit 217 on the sheet conveyed at the timing along the conveyance path 42, and the sheet is transferred onto the sheet by the fixing unit 31. To be established. Thereafter, the sheet on which the toner image is fixed is discharged onto the upper surface of the printer 1 by a discharge roll 412.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a state where printing is performed based on a predetermined job.

  FIG. 3A shows a state in which a job for instructing printing of 7 pages is executed. Each page has an image “A”, “I”, “E”, and “O”. "Ki" is printed on each.

  FIG. 3A shows a state in which barcodes 101a, 102a, 103a, 104a, 105a, 106a, and 107a based on job data and page data are printed on each page.

  Here, as a result of printing for 7 pages shown in FIG. 3A, wrinkles have occurred on pages 3, 5, and 7, so a case where these are reprinted will be described.

  In this case, in this printer 1, reprinting is performed simply by holding the barcode reader 3 over the barcode printed on the page to be reprinted while pressing a switch (not shown) provided in the barcode reader 3. Can be done.

  In FIG. 3B, the barcodes 103a, 105a, and 107a printed on the third page, the fifth page, and the seventh page are read by the barcode reader 3, and the third page, the fifth page, and the seventh page are reproduced. The printed state is shown.

  The operation of the printer 1 when the barcode reader 3 is held over the barcodes 103a, 105a, and 107a printed on the third, fifth, and seventh pages while the switch is turned on will be described.

  The barcode reader 3 has a built-in CCD for imaging the barcode, and the CCD is activated when the switch is pressed. The barcodes 103a and 105a are activated from the activated CCD. , 107a is output, and an imaging signal generated is read out. The image pickup signal output from the CCD is transmitted to the data development management unit 17 via the barcode read unit 13, and then processed by the page information / barcode processing unit 15, so that these three pages, five pages, And page 7 are analyzed into job data and page data.

  The data development management unit 17 transmits the analyzed job data and page data to the file management processing unit 14 and stores the job data representing the contents of image formation on the recording medium stored in the disk 141 corresponding to these data. , Print data representing the image “c” and “c” are acquired. Further, the data development management unit 17 creates a barcode from the analyzed job data and page data by the page information / barcode processing unit 15 and develops it together with the corresponding print data by the development unit 16 to create exposure light. . Thereafter, reprinting is performed through the above-described process. The printer 1 may reprint all the pages after the bar code read page while pressing this switch.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a routine that is started after the printer of the present embodiment is turned on.

  In step S1 shown in FIG. 4, it is determined whether or not there is data transmission from the barcode reader 3. If it is determined in step S1 that no data is transmitted from the barcode reader 3, the process proceeds to step S2 to determine whether print data or the like has been transmitted from the outside. In step S3, the analysis of print data or the like is instructed, and in step S4, the storage of the print data or the like on the disk 141 is instructed. In step S5, creation of barcode data using job data and page data is instructed. In step S6, an instruction to form an image with print data and barcode data is given, and the process returns to step S1.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S1 that there is no data transmission from the barcode reader 3, the process proceeds to step S7, where job data and page data are analyzed from the read barcode. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S8, and the print data associated with the analysis job data and the analysis page data is read from the disk 141. In step S9, creation of barcode data using job data and page data is instructed. In step S10, an instruction is given to form an image using print data and barcode data. Then, it returns to step S1. If it is determined in step S2 that there is no transmission of print data or the like, the process returns to step S1.

  As described above, in the printer 1 of the present embodiment, the job data and page data of an image that needs to be reprinted are transmitted to the printer side in a bar code that is formed together with the image that needs to be reprinted. This can be done by holding the code reader 3 over it. Therefore, according to the printer 1, it is possible to make it difficult for human error to occur when instructing the printer to reprint the image, and to reprint the image accurately.

  Next, a second embodiment of the image forming apparatus of the present invention will be described.

  The difference between this embodiment and the first embodiment is that, in the first embodiment, the page on which the barcode is read by the barcode reader 3 is reprinted, whereas in this embodiment, the barcode reader 3 This is the only point for reprinting other pages belonging to the same job, excluding the page from which the bar code is read.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a state where printing is performed based on a predetermined job.

  FIG. 5A shows a state in which a job for instructing printing of 7 pages is executed, and each page has an image “service”, “service”, and “image”. "Chi" is printed on each.

  FIG. 5A also shows that barcodes 201a, 202a, 203a, 204a, 205a, 206a, and 207a based on job data and page data are printed.

  Here, as a result of printing for 7 pages shown in FIG. 5A, wrinkles have occurred on page 1, page 2, page 4, and page 6. The case where these are reprinted will be described.

  In this printer, except for a barcode page read by the barcode reader 3 while a switch (not shown) provided in the barcode reader 3 is pressed, other pages belonging to the same job can be reprinted. It is like that.

  FIG. 5B shows the result of reading the barcodes 203a, 205a, and 207a printed on the third page, the fifth page, and the seventh page, one page, two pages other than the third page, the fifth page, and the seventh page. 4 and 6 pages are reprinted.

  The operation of this printer when the barcode reader 3 with a switch (not shown) turned on is held over the barcodes 203a, 205a, and 207a printed on the third, fifth, and seventh pages will be described.

  While pressing the switch of the barcode reader 3, hold the barcode reader 3 over the barcodes 203a, 205a, and 207a printed on pages 3, 5, and 7 where you want to avoid reprinting. The captured image signal is transmitted to the data development management unit 17 via the barcode read unit 13, and then processed by the page information / barcode processing unit 15 to be analyzed into job data and page data. These analyzed data are held in a memory (not shown). When the switch on the barcode reader 3 is released, the data development management unit 17 has the same job data as the analyzed job data in the file management processing unit 14 together with the analyzed and held page data. The file management processing unit 14 is caused to read out print data associated with page data other than the page data being processed. As a result, it is possible to reprint pages other than the page in which the barcode is read by the barcode reader 3 among the print data stored in the disk 141. The subsequent description is the same as that described in the print 1 of the first embodiment, and is therefore omitted.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart of a routine that is started when the printer of the present embodiment is turned on.

  In step S11 shown in FIG. 6, it is determined whether or not a button (not shown) of the barcode reader is turned on. If it is determined in step S11 that the button is not turned on, the process proceeds to step S12. However, the description from step S12 to step S16 is the same as the description from step S2 to step S6 shown in FIG.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S11 that the button is turned on, the process proceeds to step S17, where job data and page data are analyzed and held. In step S18, it is determined whether or not a button (not shown) on the barcode reader 3 is released. If it is determined in step S18 that the job has been canceled, the process proceeds to step S19, where print data having the same job data as the analyzed job data and associated with page data other than analysis page data is read from the disk 141. In step S20, creation of barcode data is instructed with job data and page data.

  In step S21, an image formation is instructed with print data and barcode data. Then, it returns to step S1. If it is determined in step S18 that the button is not released, the process returns to step S17.

  As described above, even with this printer, it is possible to make it difficult for human error to occur when instructing the printer to reprint the image, and to reprint the image accurately.

  Next, a third embodiment of the image forming apparatus of the present invention will be described.

  The difference between this embodiment and the first and second embodiments is that, instead of reprinting individually designated pages, the first page and the last page to be reprinted are designated and a plurality of continuous pages are designated. Since only reprinting is performed efficiently, this point will be described below. The file management processing unit 14 stores the transmitted job data and print data on the disk 141, and stores the stored job data and print data addresses on the disk, job data and page data related to the stored print data, and A directory in which is associated is created in the order of acceptance. When the start page button (not shown) of the bar code reader is turned on, it is analyzed into start job data and start page data for starting reprinting, and when the end page button (not shown) is turned on, the end job is started. Data and end page data are analyzed. These analyzed data are held in a memory (not shown). When the end page button is turned on, the data development management unit 17 causes the file management processing unit 14 to analyze and hold the same start job data as the start job data analyzed together with the start page data to be analyzed and held. The data file management processing unit 14 is made to read the print data of each page from the print data associated with the start page data other than the page data to the end page data of the end job data. In this way, it is possible to easily specify reprinting of continuous pages.

  Further, in the above embodiment, description has been made using a printer that forms an image on cut paper. However, a printer that forms an image on continuous paper can also be configured in the same manner.

1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a first embodiment of an image forming apparatus of the present invention. It is a schematic block diagram of the control part shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows a mode that the printing was made based on the predetermined job. 3 is a flowchart of a routine that is started after the printer of the first embodiment is turned on. It is a figure which shows a mode that the printing was made based on the predetermined job. It is a flowchart of the routine started when the power supply of the printer of 2nd Embodiment is turned on.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Printer 2 External terminal 3 Bar code reader 10 Control part 11 Communication control part 12 Data analysis part 13 Bar code read part 14 File management processing part 141 Disk 15 Page information / bar code processing part 16 Expansion part 17 Data expansion management part 18 Print Control unit 181 Exposure unit 182 Development unit 19 Status monitoring unit

Claims (5)

An image forming apparatus that acquires one or more pages of image data representing an image for one page for each job instructing the content of image formation on the recording medium, and forms an image based on the acquired image data on the recording medium In
A memory for storing the acquired image data in association with the job;
A job for forming an image based on image data on a recording medium, specifying job information for specifying which page of which job the formed image is, and a job for specifying a job for instructing the content of the image formation An image forming unit that forms an additional image representing two pieces of information;
A reading unit that reads the page information and the job information represented by the additional image by being held over the additional image formed by the image forming unit;
Of the image data stored in the memory in association with the job indicated by the job information read by the reading unit, the page indicated by the page information read by the reading unit is sent to the image forming unit. An image forming apparatus comprising: a control unit that instructs re-formation of an image based on image data.   The control unit is configured to instruct the image forming unit to regenerate an image based on image data of pages subsequent to the page indicated by the page information read by the reading unit. The image forming apparatus according to 1.   Of the image data stored in the memory in association with the job indicated by the job information read by the reading unit by the control unit, only the image data of the page indicated by the page information read by the reading unit. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus has an exclusion mode for instructing the re-formation of an image based on the remaining image data.   The control unit instructs re-formation of an image based on image data of a plurality of continuous pages between the first page and the second page indicated by the page information read by the reading unit. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus performs image formation on continuous paper.

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