JP2007261109A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To easily and quickly print a data file stored in a removable storage. <P>SOLUTION: Responding to detection by a USB memory connection detecting part 21D, a detecting part 120 finds a setting file for printing file selection SELFL. TXT from a route folder of a USB memory 21 reads contents, and gives a pass ¥FLD1 of the folder and a pass ¥PTYFL. TXT of a printing attribute setting file to a printing file determining part 122 and a file detecting part 121, respectively. The determining part 122 finds PDF files in a folder FLD1 and gives contents of each file one by one to a bit map expansion part 123. On the other hand, the detecting part 121 reads out contents of a file PTYFL. TXT, gives a printing attribute value related to the direction and size of an image to the bit map expansion part 123, and gives a printing attribute value related to printing control to the printer 18. The bit map expansion part 123 converts the contents of the PDF file to what is described by a page description language, further performs bit map expansion and supplies the file to the printer 18. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus that forms an image on a sheet based on data, and more particularly to an image forming apparatus that forms an image on a sheet based on file data stored in a removable storage device such as a USB flash memory.

  In the following Patent Document 1, when it is detected that a memory card is inserted in a slot, if a convertible data file is recorded, a list is displayed and the user's selection is accepted and selected. A configuration is disclosed in which a data file is converted into print data to form an image on a sheet.

According to this configuration, the contents of a file can be printed by an image forming apparatus that is not connected to the network, and information leaks due to wiretapping from a communication medium or image output from an image forming apparatus that is incorrectly addressed. Can be prevented.
JP 2005-349664 A

  Here, by attaching the title of the file content, the case number, the date of document creation, etc. to the file name, it is convenient because the outline of the content can be understood just by looking at the file name.

  However, in a small image forming apparatus, the number of display characters per line on the operation panel is as small as 19 characters, for example. For this reason, if the file name is long, only a part of it can be displayed. When only a common part is displayed for a plurality of file names, it is unknown which file should be selected for printing. Although it is possible to move the display character with the direction key to display the missing part from the screen, it is complicated when it is necessary to repeat this for a plurality of files.

  In view of such problems, the object of the present invention is to easily select a file to be printed even when the number of characters per line that can be displayed on the operation panel is small and a part of the file name is missing. An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus that can perform the above-described process.

In the first aspect of the present invention,
A processor;
Storage means coupled to the processor for storing a program;
A coupling means to which the removable storage device is coupled;
An interface for a removable storage device coupled between the coupling means and the processor;
An operation unit coupled to the processor and including an instruction input unit and a display unit;
Image forming means for forming an image on a sheet based on the supplied print data;
In the image forming apparatus having:
(A) If a removable storage device is connected to the combining means, the name of a predetermined type of file stored in the removable storage device is added to the head of the name in response to an instruction input from the instruction input means. With the identification code added to the side, the display means displays within a predetermined number of characters that can be displayed in one line
(B) In response to an instruction input from the instruction input unit, supply data for printing the name of the predetermined type of file stored in the removable storage device together with its identification code to the image forming unit. Print the file list on paper,
(C) Among the predetermined types of files stored in the removable storage device, the contents of the file selected by the instruction input from the instruction input means are read out and converted into print data to form the image To supply means,
The display width of the display means is shorter than the printable width in the main scanning direction.

In a second aspect of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention, in the first aspect,
The number of characters is substantially obtained for each display target file name in step (a), the number of files whose number exceeds the first threshold value is counted, and the display value is displayed when the count value exceeds the second threshold value. Data for printing the target file name together with its identification code is supplied to the image forming means, and the file list is printed on paper.

  In the third aspect of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention, in the second aspect, the first threshold value and the second threshold value are variable.

  According to the configuration of the first aspect, in accordance with an instruction input from the instruction input unit, together with an identification code in which the name of a predetermined type of file stored in the removable storage device is added to the head of the name. Data that is displayed on the display means within a predetermined number of characters that can be displayed in a line, and that prints the name of a predetermined type of file stored in the removable storage device together with its identification code in response to an instruction input from the instruction input means Since the image list is supplied to the image forming unit and the file list is printed on the sheet, the number of display characters in one line on the display unit is small and a part of the file name is missing from the display screen. Even if it is not displayed on the display means, it is possible to easily select the file to be printed by observing the file list and determining the identification code of the print object. Rukoto an effect that is possible.

  According to the configuration of the second aspect, the number of characters is substantially obtained for each display target file name, the number of files whose number exceeds the first threshold value is counted, and the count value exceeds the second threshold value. Since the data for printing the file name to be displayed together with its identification code is supplied to the image forming means and the file list is printed on paper, the user can save time and more easily print the file to be printed. There is an effect that it becomes possible to select.

  According to the configuration of the third aspect, since the first threshold value and the second threshold value are variable, there is an effect that the automatic print condition of the file list can be determined according to the user.

  Other objects, configurations, and effects of the present invention will become apparent from the embodiments of the present invention described below with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 4 is a schematic block diagram of the image forming apparatus 10 according to the first embodiment of the invention.

  In this image forming apparatus 10, the MPU 11, ROM 12R, DRAM 12D, NVRAM 13, NIC 15, modem 20 and interfaces 14I, 16I to 19I, and USB memory interface 21I are coupled by a bus 23, and the hard disk 14 is connected to the interfaces 14I and 16I to 19I, respectively. The auto sheet feeder 16, the scanner 17, the printer 18, and the operation panel 19 are combined.

  The ROM 12R stores a bootstrap, an operating system (OS), an application that operates on the upper layer of the OS, and various device drivers that operate on the lower layer of the OS (including a driver that accesses the USB memory 21 via the interface 21I). Yes. This application is for causing the image forming apparatus 10 to function as a multifunction peripheral. The functions include copying, scanning, printing, and faxing.

  The DRAM 12D is used as a main memory. The NVRAM (nonvolatile memory) 13 is a flash memory, for example, and is electrically rewritable and stores various setting values.

  The NIC 15 is connected to a personal computer on the network and used for a print job. The scanner 17 inputs an image in conjunction with the auto sheet feeder 16 and is used for copying and fax transmission jobs. The printer 18 includes a print engine, a fixing device, a paper feed unit, a conveyance unit, and a paper discharge unit, and forms an electrostatic latent image on a photosensitive drum of the print engine based on bitmap data supplied as print data. Then, this is developed with toner, transferred onto paper, fixed, and discharged.

  As shown in FIG. 3A, the operation panel 19 is provided with direction keys including an up key 19U, a down key 19D, a right key 19R, and a left key 19L on the right side of the liquid crystal display panel 190. An enter key 19E, a cancel key 19C, and an execute key 19G are arranged on the left side. In this embodiment, the number of characters that can be displayed on the liquid crystal display panel 190 is 16 characters per line and 2 lines.

  The modem 20 is for fax transmission / reception. The USB memory interface 21I includes a port 21P into which the USB memory 21 is detachably inserted. The USB memory 21 includes an electrically rewritable NVRAM such as a flash memory chip.

  Next, processing by the USB memory file printing program that is a part of the application will be described.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic functional block diagram showing portions related to the program of the image forming apparatus 10.

  First, the user inserts the USB memory 21 into the port 31 of the personal computer 30 and stores the PDF file to be printed in the USB memory 21.

  The USB memory 21 is removed from the port 31 and is inserted into the port 21P of the image forming apparatus 10. This insertion is detected by the USB memory connection detection unit 21D. The detection can be performed by comparing the voltage of the signal terminal of the port 21P with a threshold value. The detection signal is recognized by interrupt processing or periodic polling. The USB memory connection detection unit 21D is a part of the USB memory interface 21I in FIG.

  Blocks 40 to 45 are configured by software, and each of blocks 41 to 44 starts processing in response to a key input event in another block connected by an arrow, and blocks 40 and 45 detect USB memory connection. Processing is started in response to connection detection by the unit 21D.

  In response to the connection detection by the USB memory connection detection unit 21D, the file selection reception unit 40 acquires all the PDF file names stored in a predetermined folder in the USB memory 21, in this embodiment, the root folder, The first file name is displayed with an identification code and ':' as a delimiter. In FIG. 1, '00: ABC.pdf 'is shown. This identification code is a serial number temporarily given to these PDF files, and is added to the head of the file name so that it can be displayed even if the file name is long.

  When the write key 19R is pressed in this state, the acquired PDF file names are sequentially displayed on the liquid crystal display panel 190 one by one, and an identification code that is sequentially incremented is added and displayed. Each time the left key 19L is pressed, the previous PDF file name is displayed together with its identification code. FIG. 3C shows a specific example of the correspondence between the identification code and the PDF file name.

  If the enter key 19E is pressed while the name of the file to be printed is displayed, the process of the file print accepting unit 41 is started, indicating that this file has been selected before the identification code. 'Is displayed. When the execution key 19G is pressed in this state, the contents of the selected file are read from the USB memory 21 and given to the bitmap developing unit 42.

  The bitmap development unit 42 includes a program for converting the contents of a PDF file into a description written in a page description language and RIP, and describes the contents of the PDF file given from the bitmap development unit 42 in a page description language. This is converted into a bit map, further bitmap-developed by RIP, and supplied to the printer 18. In response to the bitmap data supply, the printer 18 forms an image corresponding to the data on the paper.

  When the down key 19D is pressed in the file selection receiving unit 40, the processing of the memory removal receiving unit 43 is started. When the enter key 19E is pressed in this state, the USB memory 21 is electrically disconnected from the interface body, and can be safely removed from the port 21P.

  Here, as is apparent from FIG. 3C, when any one of the identification codes 01 to 05 is displayed on the liquid crystal display panel 190, a part thereof is displayed missing. FIG. 3B shows a state where a part of the file name of the identification code 01 is displayed. As is clear from FIG. 3C, since the common part of the file name is displayed in the identification codes 01 and 02, it is unclear which should be the print target.

  In such a case, the process of the partition list manual print receiving unit 44 is started by pressing the down key 19D while the processing has moved to the memory removal receiving unit 43. When the execution key 19G is pressed in this state, all character data of the acquired file name is supplied to the bitmap developing unit 42. The bitmap development unit 42 develops this character data into a bitmap and supplies it to the printer 18. As a result, a partition (file) list as shown in FIG. 3C is printed.

  The user can determine which of the identification codes 01 and 02 should be selected by viewing this list. For example, when the identification code 02 is to be printed, the write key 19R is pressed once from the state of FIG. 3B to display the file name of the identification code 02, and in this state, the enter key 19E is displayed as described above. To select a file, and then press the execute key 19G to cause the printer 18 to print the contents of the file.

  FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing processing in the partition list automatic printing unit 45 of FIG. This process is started in response to connection detection by the USB memory connection detection unit 21D. Hereinafter, the parenthesized characters are step identification codes in FIG.

  (S0) With reference to the FAT in the USB memory 21, all file names in the root folder are acquired. Thereafter, the process between step S1 and step S5 is repeated for all PDF files.

  (S2) Count the number of characters N in one PDF file.

  (S3, S4) If N> N0, the file number M is incremented by one. The character count threshold value N0 is stored in the NVRAM 13, and its default value is 15, for example.

  (S6, S7) If M> M0, the partition list as shown in FIG. The file number threshold M0 is stored in the NVRAM 13, and its default value is 3, for example.

  The threshold values N0 and M0 can be set by operating the operation panel 19.

  According to this embodiment, in response to an instruction input from the operation panel 19, the name of the PDF file stored in the USB memory 21 can be displayed in one line together with the identification code added to the head of the name. Data which is displayed on the operation panel 19 within a predetermined number of characters and prints the name of the PDF file stored in the USB memory 21 together with its identification code in response to an instruction input from the operation panel 19 Since the file list is printed on paper by this, the number of characters displayed on one line of the liquid crystal display panel 190 is small and part of the file name is missing from the display screen. Even if only the common part is displayed on the liquid crystal display panel 190, the file list is visually checked to determine the identification code to be printed. It brings about an effect that it becomes possible to easily select a file to be printed.

  In addition, the number of characters N is obtained for each display target file name, the number M of files exceeding the threshold N0 is counted, and if this exceeds the threshold M0, all display target file names are printed together with their identification codes. There is an effect that it is possible to select the file to be printed more easily without the trouble of the operation by.

  Further, since the threshold values N0 and M0 are variable, there is an effect that automatic print conditions for the file list can be determined according to the user.

  Note that the present invention includes various other modifications.

  For example, the case where only a PDF file can be printed has been described in the above embodiment, but any file of a type that can be printed by the image forming apparatus 10 may be used.

  Further, the partition list automatic printing unit 45 only needs to substantially obtain the number of characters of the display target file name, and includes, for example, obtaining the number of missing characters from the liquid crystal display panel 190.

  Furthermore, instead of the USB memory, another removable storage device such as a hard disk card or an SD card may be used.

FIG. 2 is a schematic functional block diagram showing portions related to the present invention of hardware and software of the image forming apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. 2 is a flowchart showing details of a block partition list automatic printing unit 45 in FIG. 1. It is explanatory drawing of the process in FIG. It is a hardware schematic block diagram of this image forming apparatus.

Explanation of symbols

10 Image forming apparatus 11 MPU
12R ROM
12D DRAM
13 NVRAM
14 Hard disk 14I, 15I, 16I, 17I, 18I, 19I, 20I Interface 15 NIC
16 Auto Sheet Feeder 17 Scanner 18 Printer 19 Operation Panel 190 Liquid Crystal Display Panel 19U Up Key 19D Down Key 19L Left Key 19R Right Key 19E Enter Key 19C Cancel Key 19G Execution Key 20 Modem 21I USB Memory Interface 21 USB Memory 21P, 31 Port 21D USB Memory connection detection unit 23 Bus 30 Personal computer 40 File selection reception unit 41 File print reception unit 42 Bitmap development unit 43 Memory removal reception unit 44 Partition list manual print reception unit 45 Partition list automatic print unit

Claims (7)

A processor;
Storage means coupled to the processor for storing a program;
A coupling means to which the removable storage device is coupled;
An interface for a removable storage device coupled between the coupling means and the processor;
Detecting means for detecting whether a removable storage device is coupled to the coupling means;
Image forming means for forming an image on paper based on the supplied bitmap data;
In the image forming apparatus having:
(A) In response to the detection of the coupling by the detection means, it is determined whether or not a predetermined file is stored in the removable storage device;
(B) If an affirmative determination is made, the content of the predetermined file is read, the content is converted into bitmap data, and supplied to the image forming means.
An image forming apparatus. The program provides the processor with the step (a):
(A1) In response to the detection of the combination by the detection means, it is determined whether or not a print file selection setting file is stored in the removable storage device,
(A2) If an affirmative determination is made, the content of the print file selection setting file is read, the predetermined file is determined based on the content,
(A3) Determine whether the predetermined file is stored in the removable storage device,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1. The program provides the processor with the step (a):
(A1) In response to the detection of the combination by the detection unit, it is determined whether a print file selection setting file is stored in the storage unit,
(A2) If an affirmative determination is made, the content of the print file selection setting file is read, the predetermined file is determined based on the content,
(A3) Determine whether the predetermined file is stored in the removable storage device,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1. The print file selection setting file includes a description of the path of the folder containing the file to be printed,
In the step (a2), a file included in the folder and having a predetermined extension in the name is determined as the predetermined file.
The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the image forming apparatus is an image forming apparatus. In the step (a1), it is further determined whether or not the print attribute setting file is stored in the removable storage device.
In the step (b), the contents of the print attribute setting file are further read, the contents of the predetermined file are converted into bitmap data according to the contents, and the image forming means forms an image.
The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the image forming apparatus is an image forming apparatus. In the step (a1), it is further determined whether or not the print attribute setting file is stored in the storage means,
In the step (b), the contents of the print attribute setting file are further read, the contents of the predetermined file are converted into bitmap data according to the contents, and the image forming means forms an image.
The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the image forming apparatus is an image forming apparatus.   A plurality of the print attribute setting files are provided, and one of the plurality of print attribute setting files is specified in the print file selection setting file, thereby specifying a print attribute setting file to be used. The image forming apparatus according to claim 5 or 6.

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