JP2007203701A - Image forming apparatus and image forming system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent an image forming apparatus which prevents a hitch in a host apparatus by enabling the transmission of print data from the host apparatus without putting the print data out of order, and an image forming system. <P>SOLUTION: Characteristically, this image forming apparatus comprises: a paper proper-identification-information reading part which reads first proper identification information recorded on a recording medium; a reception part which receives image forming information and second proper identification information from a host terminal; a data determination part which compares the first and second identification information with each other so as to determine whether or not they correspond to each other; and an image forming part which forms image data, based on the image forming information of the host terminal, on the recording medium, when the first and second identification information correspond to each other. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus and an image forming system having a malfunction prevention function.

  Conventionally, a conventional example of an image forming apparatus and an image forming system having this type of malfunction prevention function is disclosed in JP-A-6-198216 (Patent Document 1). In the case of this conventional example, there is one that reads a barcode recorded on a recording medium and prints the corresponding contents.

JP-A-6-198216

  However, in the conventional image forming apparatus and image forming system as described above, print data cannot be transmitted in order when the host apparatus prints. For this reason, there is a drawback that the printing function of the host device is congested.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and provides an image forming apparatus and an image forming system capable of transmitting print data from a host device without disturbing the order and preventing the host device from being delayed. With the goal.

  To achieve the above object, the present invention provides a sheet unique identification information reading unit for reading first unique identification information added to a recording medium, and a receiving unit for receiving image formation information and second unique identification information from a host terminal. And a data discriminating unit that compares the first identification information and the second identification information to determine whether or not they match, and the first identification information and the second identification information match, And an image forming unit that forms image data based on image forming information of a host terminal.

  According to such an invention, when the first and second unique identification information match, image data based on the image formation information from the upper terminal is preferentially subjected to image formation processing.

  The present invention may also be an image forming system including the image forming apparatus and the upper terminal.

  According to such an invention, in the image forming system, the second unique identification information acts so as to represent the upper terminal.

  As described above, the present invention has an effect that it is possible to provide an image forming apparatus and an image forming system that can transmit print data from a host device without disturbing the order and prevent the host device from stagnation.

(First embodiment)
Hereinafter, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. 1, 2, and 3 are explanatory diagrams illustrating the configuration of an image forming system including an image forming apparatus 1 such as an image scanner and a host terminal (host terminal) 2 according to the present invention.

  An RFID chip 301 indicated by a dotted line in which identification information unique to the sheet is recorded is embedded in the printing sheet 3 of the image forming apparatus 1 in FIG. 4, and a frame line and common items are printed in advance.

  The communication unit 101 communicates with the host terminal 2, receives data from the host terminal 2, and sends it to the data determination unit 102. In addition, the data determination unit 102 transmits the paper identification information sent from the RFID reading unit 108 to the host terminal 2.

  The data discriminating unit 102 analyzes the data sent from the communication unit 101, and if it is print data that does not require authentication, sends it to the print processing unit 104 of the image forming unit 104A. If authentication is required, the print data and authentication information are sent. Are stored in the data storage unit 103, and the determination unit 105 is notified that data requiring authentication has been received.

  The data storage unit 103 stores print data and authentication information from the data determination unit 102.

  The print processing unit 104 performs a series of print processing such as image processing, paper conveyance, and printing based on the print data sent from the data determination unit 102. In addition, the print processing unit 104 performs a series of print processing based on the print data stored in the data storage unit 103 in accordance with the authentication print processing request from the determination unit 105.

  Further, when the determination unit 105 is notified from the data determination unit 102 that the data that requires authentication has been received, the determination unit 105 displays on the display unit 106 that the data that requires authentication has been received, and starts the authentication from the input unit 107. Wait until you are notified of the order. When the authentication start command is notified from the input unit 107, the RFID reading unit 108 is instructed to read the paper identification information, and the paper identification information from the RFID reading unit 108 is compared with the authentication information stored in the storage unit 103. If they match, the print processing unit 104 is requested to execute printing of the print data stored in the storage unit 103.

  The display unit 106 displays that data requiring authentication has been received in accordance with an instruction from the determination unit 105.

  The input unit 107 is a button for the user to instruct the start of reading the unique identification information of the printing paper 3 and the start of authentication.

  The RFID reading unit 108 reads unique identification information from the RFID chip 301 of the printing paper 3 in response to a request from the determination unit 105, and sends the unique identification information to the determination unit 105. Further, in response to a request from the input unit 107, the unique identification information is read from the RFID chip 301 of the printing paper 3 and transmitted to the host terminal 2 via the communication unit 101.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the host terminal 2.

  The communication unit 201 communicates with the printing apparatus 1, receives the unique identification information of the printing paper 3 from the printing apparatus 1, stores it in the paper unique identification information storage unit 202, and receives the unique identification information of the printing paper 3 Is notified to the determination unit 203. The print data generated by the print data generation unit 208 is transmitted to the printing apparatus 2.

  The sheet unique identification information storage unit 202 stores unique identification information of the print sheet 3 sent from the communication unit 201.

  When the determination unit 203 is notified that the unique identification information of the printing paper 3 has been received from the communication unit 201, the determination unit 203 reads the unique identification information from the sheet unique identification information storage unit 202 and stores it in the data storage unit 204. It is determined whether there is matching unique identification information from the unique identification information database. If there is, the corresponding description information is read from the data storage unit 204, the description information is displayed on the display device 205, and the description information is edited by the input of the input device 206. When a print instruction is issued by input from the input device 206, the description information is stored in the data storage unit 204, the image data generation unit 208 is instructed to generate image data, and the print data generation unit 209 is instructed to print data. Instruct the generation of. When an instruction to store the description information is given by input from the input device 206, the description information is stored in the data storage unit 204.

  The data storage unit 204 has a unique identification information database and a description information database. FIG. 5 shows the configuration of the unique identification information database. It is a table that refers to unique identification information of printing paper and description information database numbers managed on the host terminal side. FIG. 6 is an example of a table of the description information database. In addition to each description item, it has an item indicating whether or not the item has been printed. FIG. 12 is an example of the printing paper 3 on which the information of FIG. 6 is printed. Information that printing is not initially performed is recorded in a newly created or appended portion.

  The display device 205 is a display. The input device 206 is a keyboard or a mouse.

  When the image data generation unit 207 receives a print instruction from the determination unit 203, the image data generation unit 207 refers to the description information in the data storage unit 204, generates image data only for a portion that has not yet been printed, and sends the image data to the print data generation unit 208. Then, the print item in the data storage unit 204 is updated. FIG. 13 is image data generated from the data of FIG.

  When the print data generation unit 208 receives the print data generation instruction from the determination unit 203, the print data generation unit 208 reads out the unique identification information from the sheet unique identification information storage unit 204, combines it with the image data transmitted from the image data generation unit 207, and print data To the printing apparatus 1 via the communication unit 201. FIG. 8 shows the configuration of print data, which consists of a command code for causing the printer to perform authentication printing, authentication information as unique identification information, and image data.

  The operation of the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 3 shows a configuration of the host terminal 2 according to the first embodiment.

  When the user requests reading of the unique identification information using the input device 206, the determination unit 203 enters a standby mode for waiting for the communication unit 201 to receive the unique identification information (step S1).

  Next, the image forming apparatus 1 repeats step S2 until the communication unit 201 receives the unique identification information (step S2).

  When the unique identification information is received in step S2, the communication unit 201 stores the unique identification information in the sheet unique identification information storage unit 202, and notifies the determination unit 203 that the unique identification information has been received (step S4).

  The determination unit 203 reads the unique identification information stored in the sheet unique identification information storage unit 202 and searches for the unique identification information from the unique identification information database stored in the data storage unit 204 (step S4).

  The determination unit 203 determines whether there is a table as a result of the search in step S4 (step S5).

  If there is a table as a result of the search in step S5, the determination unit 203 reads the table of the description information database with the corresponding number with reference to the table (step S6).

  If there is no description data in step S5, entry is made on the description information database as new data (step S7).

  The user edits the data read in step S6 or the new data created in step S7 (step S8).

  Step S8 is repeated until the user finishes editing (step S9).

  When the user finishes editing, the user selects whether to perform printing using the input device 206 (step S10).

  If printing is performed in step S10, the determination unit 203 stores the edited description information in the data storage unit 204 (step S11).

  The determination unit 203 instructs the image data generation unit 207 to generate image data and the print data generation unit 208 to generate print data. The received image data generation unit 207 stores the instruction from the data storage unit 204 in step S11. With reference to the description information, image data of only a portion not printed is generated and transmitted to the print data generation unit 208. The print data generation unit 208 synthesizes the image data transmitted from the image data generation unit 207 and transmits it to the communication unit 201 as print data. The communication unit 201 transmits print data to the printing apparatus 1. (Step S12).

  If printing is not performed in step S10, the user uses the input device 206 to select whether to save editing information (step S13).

  If saving is performed in step S13, the determination unit 203 stores the determined description information in the data storage unit 204 (step S14).

  If no storage is performed in step S14, the process ends.

  FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining an operation of reading the unique identification information of the printing paper 3 of the printing apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment.

  The user sets the printing paper 3 on the RFID reading unit 108 (step S15).

  The printing apparatus 1 waits until the user gives an instruction to start reading the unique identification information of the printing paper 3 using the input unit 107 (step S16).

  In step S16, when the user issues a reading start instruction, the RFID reading unit 108 starts reading the unique identification information of the printing paper 301 from the RFID chip 301 of the printing paper 301 (step S17).

  The RFID reading unit 108 determines whether or not the unique identification information of the printing paper 301 has been successfully read (step S18).

  If the unique identification information on the printing paper 301 has been successfully read in step S18, the RFID reading unit 108 transmits the unique identification information to the host terminal 2 via the communication unit 101 (step S19).

  If the reading of the unique identification information fails in step S18, the operation of step S19 is not performed.

  FIG. 5 illustrates the operation of the printing apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment.

  The communication unit 101 receives data from the host terminal 2 and sends the data to the data determination unit 102 (step S31).

  The data discriminating unit 102 discriminates what kind of data the transmission data is (step S32).

  In step S32, when the transmission data includes the unique identification information part and the print data part, the data determination unit 102 stores the transmission data in the storage unit 103 and notifies the determination unit 105 that the authentication print data has been received. (Step S33).

  The determination unit 105 instructs the display unit 106 to display an authentication waiting display, and the display unit 106 displays an authentication waiting display (step S34).

  The determination unit 105 waits until the user uses the input unit 107 to request authentication start (step S35).

  The RFID reading unit 108 determines whether or not the unique identification information has been successfully read (step S37).

  If the reading of the unique identification information is successful in step S37, the RFID reading unit 108 sends the unique identification information to the determination unit 105, and the determination unit 105 refers to the storage unit 103 and reads the received unique identification information and the unique identification information. Compare with identification information.

  If reading of the unique identification information fails in step S37, the process returns to step S35.

  In step S38, if the compared unique identification information matches, the determination unit 105 instructs the print repair unit 104 to start printing processing of the print data stored in the storage unit 103. If the print data does not require authentication in step S32, the print processing unit 104 prints the transmission data from the data determination unit 102 (step S39).

  If the compared unique identification information does not match in step S38, the process returns to step S35.

  FIG. 14 shows an output result of printing the print data of FIG. 13 on the paper of FIG.

  As described above, according to the first embodiment, since the paper is identified using the unique identification number of the paper, the original printing is performed even when printing on the paper that may be additionally written as necessary. It is possible to reliably print on the power sheet.

  Here, RFID is used as the unique identification number of the paper, but the same effect can be obtained by using other means such as a barcode.

(Second Embodiment)
In the first embodiment, the user has to bring the printing paper to the printing device twice by causing the printing device to read the unique identification information.

  FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of the second embodiment. Only parts different from the first embodiment will be described.

  The RFID reader 4 is connected to the host terminal 6, reads the unique identification information of the printing paper 3 from the RFID chip 301 of the printing paper 3, and transmits it to the host terminal 6.

  The host terminal 6 is connected to the printing device 5 and the RFID reader 4.

  FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of the printing apparatus 5. Only parts different from the first embodiment will be described.

  The communication unit 501 communicates with the host terminal 2, receives print data from the host terminal 2, and sends the print data to the data determination unit 102 of the image forming unit 104B.

  The input unit 507 is a button for the user to instruct the start of authentication.

  The RFID reading unit 508 reads unique identification information from the RFID chip 301 of the printing paper 3 in response to a request from the determination unit 505, and sends the unique identification information to the determination unit 505.

  FIG. 17 is a diagram showing the configuration of the host terminal 6. Only parts different from the first embodiment will be described.

  The communication unit 601 communicates with the printing apparatus 1, receives the sheet unique identification information from the printing apparatus, stores it in the sheet unique identification information storage unit 202, and notifies the determination unit 203 that the sheet unique identification information has been received. To do. Also, the print data generated by the print data generation unit 208 is transmitted to the printing apparatus 5.

  FIG. 18 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the host terminal 6 in the second embodiment. Only portions different from the first embodiment will be described.

  When the user requests reading of the unique identification information using the input device 206, the determination unit 203 enters a standby mode that waits for the communication unit 601 to receive the unique identification information from the RFID reader (step S21). .

  Step S2 is repeated until the communication unit 601 receives the unique identification information from the RFID reader 4 (step S22).

  When the unique identification information is received in step S2, the communication unit 601 stores the unique identification information in the sheet unique identification information storage unit 202 and notifies the determination unit 203 that the unique identification information has been received (step S23).

  Hereinafter, the communication unit 201 in the first embodiment is read as the communication unit 601.

  The operation of the printing apparatus 5 in the second embodiment is different from the operation of the first embodiment in that the communication unit 101 is the communication unit 501, the host terminal 2 is the host terminal 6, the input unit 107 is the input unit 507, and RFID reading The unit 108 may be replaced with the RFID reader 508, respectively.

  As described above, according to the second embodiment, since the unique identification information reading device is provided on the host terminal side, it is not necessary to take the printing paper to the printing device in order to refer to the data. In addition to the same effects as the embodiment, the convenience of the user is higher than that of the first embodiment.

(Third embodiment)
FIG. 19 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of the third embodiment. Only the parts different from the second embodiment will be described.

  FIG. 20 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of the printing apparatus 7. Only the parts different from the second embodiment will be described.

  The storage unit 703 stores transmission data from the data determination unit 102. At the same time, a plurality of data can be stored.

  The print processing unit 704 performs a series of print processing such as image processing, paper conveyance, and printing based on the print data transmitted from the data determination unit 102 of the image forming unit 104C. Also, in accordance with a request from the determination unit 705, arbitrary print data instructed by the determination unit 705 is read out from a plurality of print data stored in the paper conveyance or data storage unit 703, and a series of data is read based on the data. Print process.

  When the determination unit 705 is notified from the data determination unit 102 that the data requiring authentication has been received, the determination unit 705 displays on the display unit 106 that the data requiring authentication has been received, and issues an authentication start command from the input unit 507. Wait until notified.

  When an authentication start command is notified from the input unit 507, the print processing unit 704 is started to convey the paper, and the RFID reading unit 508 is instructed to read the paper identification information.

  The paper identification information transmitted from the RFID reading unit 508 is compared with the authentication information stored in the storage unit 503, and if there is a match, printing is performed so that the corresponding print data is read from the storage unit 703 and printed. Request to the processing unit 704. If they do not match, the print processing unit 704 is instructed to discharge the sheet without performing printing as it is.

  The RFID reading unit 708 is in the middle of the paper conveyance path of the print processing unit 704.

  FIG. 24 is an example of data stored in the storage unit 703. Print data including authentication codes and image data transmitted from the host terminal 6 is stored.

  FIG. 25 shows the paper set by the user in the paper tray of the printing apparatus 7. Here, the order of the sheets is not the order of the data transmitted from the host terminal 6, and sheets that are not printed are also mixed.

  FIG. 26 shows the printing result. Image data associated with the authentication code is printed on a sheet having the same authentication code, and printing is not performed on a sheet on which print data is not stored in the storage unit 703.

  FIG. 22 explains the operation of the printing apparatus 7 in the third embodiment. Only portions different from the first embodiment will be described.

  In step S32, when the data includes the unique identification information portion and the print data portion, the data determination portion 102 stores the data in the storage portion 703 and notifies the determination portion 705 that the authentication print data has been received. At this time, if the data is already stored in the storage unit 703, the data is sequentially added (step S41).

  The user uses the input unit 707 to make a request for authentication start or waits until print data is received from the host terminal 6. When print data is received from the host terminal 6, the operations of steps S32, S41, S34 and S49 are performed (step S43).

  When the user makes a request to start authentication in step S42, the determination unit 705 causes the print processing unit 704 to start transporting the paper, and causes the RFID reading unit 708 to perform an operation of reading the unique identification number of the print paper ( Step S44).

  If the reading of the unique identification information is successful in step S44, the RFID reading unit 708 transmits the unique identification information to the determination unit 705. The determination unit 705 refers to the storage unit 703, and receives the received unique identification information. The read unique identification information is compared (step S45).

  In step S38, if the compared unique identification information matches, the determination unit 105 instructs the print processing unit 104 to start print processing of the print data stored in the storage unit 103 (step S46).

  If the reading of the unique identification information has failed in step S44, and if the compared unique identification information does not match in step S45, printing is not performed on the paper that is being transported (step S47). .

  The determination unit 705 refers to the storage unit 703 to check whether authentication print data remains. When remaining, the operation | movement after step S42 is performed (step S48).

  If the print data does not require authentication in step S32, the print processing unit 704 prints the transmission data from the data determination unit 102 (step S48).

  As described above, according to the third embodiment, by providing the unique identification information device in the paper conveyance path of the printing apparatus 1, the same effects as those of the second embodiment can be obtained, and a plurality of print data can be obtained. It becomes possible to perform printing with a single operation.

  In the above-described embodiment of the present invention, the printer apparatus has been described. However, it can be used in the image forming apparatus of the present invention for a copying machine, a facsimile machine, and an MFP apparatus.

1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an image forming system according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the image forming apparatus (printing apparatus) 1 in FIG. 1. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the host terminal 2 of FIG. FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a configuration of a printing paper 3 in FIG. 1. 4 is a table showing a unique identification information database stored in a data storage unit 204 in FIG. 3. It is a table | surface which shows the 1st description information data stored in the data storage part 204 of FIG. It is a table | surface which shows the 2nd description information data stored in the data storage part 204 of FIG. It is a figure which shows the structure of print data. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing an operation of the host terminal 2. 2 is a flowchart of an operation of reading sheet unique identification information in the image forming apparatus (printing apparatus) 1 of FIG. 1. 2 is a flowchart of an operation during printing of the image forming apparatus (printing apparatus) 1 of FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a printed sheet 3 that has been printed. 4 is a diagram illustrating print data transmitted from a host terminal 2. FIG. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a printing result of an image forming apparatus (printing apparatus) 1. It is a figure which shows the structure of the image forming system in the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. FIG. 16 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an image forming apparatus (printing apparatus) 5 in FIG. 15. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the host terminal 6 of FIG. It is a flowchart of operation | movement of the host terminal 6 of FIG. It is a figure which shows the structure of the image forming system in the 3rd Embodiment of this invention. FIG. 20 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an image forming apparatus (printing apparatus) 7 in FIG. 19. FIG. 20 is a flowchart of the image forming apparatus (printing apparatus) 7 in FIG. 19. FIG. 22 is a flowchart subsequent to FIG. 21. It is a flowchart following FIG. It is a figure which shows the print data stored in the memory | storage part 703 of FIG. It is a figure which shows the printing paper 3 set to the tray of the image forming apparatus (printing apparatus) 7 of FIG. It is a figure which shows the output result of FIG.

Explanation of symbols

1 Image forming device (printing device)
2 Host terminal 3 Printing paper 4 RFID reader 5 Image forming device (printing device)
6 Host terminal 7 Image forming device (printing device)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 101 Communication part 102 Data discrimination | determination part 103 Storage part 104 Print processing part 104A, 104B, 104C Image formation part 105 Judgment part 106 Display part 107 Input part 108 RFID reading part 201 Communication part 202 Paper unique identification information storage part 203 Judgment part 204 Data Storage unit 205 Display unit 206 Input device 207 Image data generation unit 208 Print data generation unit 301 RFID chip 501 Communication unit 507 Input unit 508 RFID reading unit 703 Storage unit 704 Print processing unit 705 Determination unit 708 RFID reading unit

Claims (4)

A sheet unique identification information reading unit for reading the first unique identification information attached to the recording medium;
A receiving unit for receiving the image formation information and the second unique identification information from the upper terminal;
A data determination unit that compares the first identification information and the second identification information to determine whether they match,
An image forming unit that forms image data based on image forming information of the host terminal on the recording medium when the first identification information and the second identification information match;
An image forming apparatus comprising: The image forming apparatus according to claim 1.
The image forming unit includes:
An input unit for inputting input print data when reading the first identification information;
A determination unit that determines that the input print data needs to be authenticated if the first identification information and the second identification information do not match in the data determination unit, and generates an authentication print processing request;
A storage unit for storing the input image data and authentication information thereof;
A print processing unit that generates the input image data in response to the authentication print processing request;
An image forming apparatus comprising: In the host terminal connected to the image forming apparatus according to claim 1,
A sheet unique identification information storage unit for storing the second unique identification information;
A transmission unit that transmits the second unique identification information to the reception unit;
An upper terminal characterized by comprising:   An image forming system comprising: the image forming apparatus according to claim 1; and the upper terminal according to claim 3.