JP2009031669A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming apparatus achieving image-forming in accordance with respective settings in order just as intended by a user when forming an image of the same original on paper on the basis of a plurality of settings. <P>SOLUTION: The image forming apparatus includes: an image forming part 4 for forming the image on the paper; a control panel part 47 for accepting the plurality of settings for allowing the image forming part 4 to form the image; implementing order buttons 709 and 710 accepting the setting of implementing order of image-forming based on the plurality of settings accepted by the control panel part 47; and an implementing order control part 101 for allowing the image forming part 4 to form the image in accordance with the plurality of settings accepted by the control panel part 47 in the implementing order accepted by the implementing order buttons 709 and 710 on the basis of the image of the same original. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus capable of various settings.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, image forming apparatuses such as copiers and printers can set various printing conditions such as setting of paper type and switching setting of single-sided / double-sided printing. When such an image forming apparatus is used, for example, when the same original is copied under a plurality of types of printing conditions, each time the printing conditions are changed, the original image is read again or the original image data is retransmitted. It is inconvenient to do. In view of this, a copying machine has been proposed in which a plurality of types of printing conditions can be set for the same document image. For example, a single scanned document image is copied to 10 sheets of plain paper or 10 sheets of OHP paper. (For example, refer to Patent Documents 1, 2, and 3.)
JP-A-6-282140 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-319790 JP 2002-268468 A

  Incidentally, as described above, the plurality of types of printing conditions set for the same document image may differ in the importance and urgency of print output. For example, when printing 3 copies of high-quality paper for submission to business partners and printing 10 copies of recycled paper for internal distribution, printed materials using quality paper for supplier submission are more important. However, in the above-described copying machine, when high-quality paper is set or recycled paper is set for the same document, it cannot be determined which is printed first. Therefore, if copying with recycled paper is started first, if a problem such as running out of paper, toner out, or paper jam occurs during copying with recycled paper, the copier will stop and copy output with high quality paper will occur. There was an inconvenience that could not be obtained.

  Even if such troubles do not occur, if the number of originals or the number of copies is large, or if settings such as double-sided printing, punching, and stapling have been set to take a long time, execution was started first. It takes time to complete copying with recycled paper. For example, if you try to output 100 originals with 10 copies of recycled paper, punch and stapling with double-sided printing, and if the printing speed is 50 ppm, it will take 20 minutes to start copying on high-quality paper It can also happen. For this reason, for example, when copying on high-quality paper is urgently, such as when waiting for a business partner, if copying on recycled paper is executed first, the output of the urgent copy is awaited. There was an inconvenience.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and when forming an image of the same document on a sheet based on a plurality of settings, each setting is set in the order as intended by the user. It is an object of the present invention to provide an image forming apparatus capable of performing corresponding image formation.

  An image forming apparatus according to the present invention is received by an image forming unit that forms an image on a sheet, a setting receiving unit that receives a plurality of settings for causing the image forming unit to form an image, and the setting receiving unit. Image forming on a plurality of sheets according to each of a plurality of settings received by the setting receiving unit based on an image of the same document and an execution order receiving unit that receives setting of an image forming execution order based on each setting Are executed by the image forming unit in the execution order received by the execution order receiving unit.

  According to this configuration, the execution order control unit performs image formation corresponding to each of the plurality of settings received by the setting reception unit based on the same document image in the execution order received by the execution order reception unit. This is executed by the image forming unit. Thus, when an image of the same document is formed on a sheet based on a plurality of settings, it is possible to perform image formation according to each setting in the order intended by the user.

  Preferably, the image forming unit further includes a post-processing unit that performs post-processing on the paper on which the image is formed, and the plurality of settings include settings of the post-processing unit.

  According to this configuration, it is possible to perform image formation corresponding to each setting in the order intended by the user, including the setting of the post-processing unit received by the setting receiving unit.

  The plurality of settings include a paper setting for setting a type of paper on which the image is formed, a paper surface setting for setting whether the image formation is performed on one side or both sides of the paper, and an image formed by the image forming unit. It includes at least one of a staple setting for setting whether or not to staple the formed paper and a punch setting for setting whether or not to punch the paper image-formed by the image forming unit. preferable.

  The paper setting, paper surface setting, staple setting, and punch setting are likely to have different settings depending on the importance of the result of image formation, so that it is possible to set the execution order of image formation based on such settings. This improves convenience.

  Moreover, it is preferable to further include a display unit that displays a list of a plurality of settings received by the setting receiving unit.

  According to this configuration, since the plurality of settings received by the setting receiving unit are displayed in a list on the display unit, the user can check the plurality of settings at a glance, thereby improving convenience.

  The display unit is a touch panel that receives a selection instruction to select one of the plurality of settings displayed in the list by operating a display screen, and the setting reception unit is received by the display unit. It is preferable to accept the execution order of the setting selected by the selection instruction.

  According to this configuration, the user selects the setting by directly touching the setting for which the execution order is to be set while looking at the plurality of settings displayed in a list on the display screen of the touch panel. Since the execution order of the settings can be set, convenience is improved.

  Moreover, it is preferable that each of the plurality of settings is a combination of a plurality of function settings.

  According to this configuration, since the execution order of image formation according to a plurality of settings obtained by combining a plurality of function settings can be set in the order intended by the user, an image based on a more complicated setting can be set. As a result of the order of the forming processes being performed as intended by the user, convenience is improved.

  In the image forming apparatus configured as described above, the execution order control unit receives image formations corresponding to a plurality of settings received by the setting reception unit based on the same document image. Are executed by the image forming unit in the order of execution. Thus, when an image of the same document is formed on a sheet based on a plurality of settings, it is possible to perform image formation according to each setting in the order intended by the user.

  Embodiments according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In addition, the structure which attached | subjected the same code | symbol in each figure shows that it is the same structure, The description is abbreviate | omitted. FIG. 1 is a side view schematically showing an internal configuration of a copying machine as an example of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of the electrical configuration of the copying machine 1 shown in FIG. Note that the image forming apparatus is not limited to a copying machine, and may be, for example, a printer, a facsimile, or a complex machine that combines these.

  The copying machine 1 includes a main body unit 2, a post-processing unit 3 disposed on the paper carry-out side of the main body unit 2, for example, the left side, a document reading unit 5 disposed on the top of the main body unit 2, and a document reading unit. 5 includes a document feeding unit 6 disposed above 5, and a control unit 100 disposed inside the main body unit 2. In addition, a substantially rectangular operation panel unit 47 (setting reception unit) is provided on the front unit of the copying machine 1.

  The operation panel unit 47 includes a display unit 473 formed of an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) or the like, and an operation key unit 476 for inputting an operation instruction from the operator. The operation key unit 476 includes a start button 471, a numeric keypad 472, and the like.

  The start button 471 receives an instruction to start each operation such as a copy operation and a scan operation from the operator. The numeric keypad 472 is a key for receiving an instruction for designating the number of copies from the operator.

  The display unit 473 includes a touch panel unit that combines a touch panel and an LCD. The display unit 473 displays various operation screens, and the operator can input execution commands for various settings and functions by pressing the display screen (displayed operation keys). .

  The document reading unit 5 includes a scanner 51 including a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) 512, an exposure lamp 511, and the like, and a document table 52 and a document reading slit 53 made of a transparent member such as glass. The scanner 51 is configured to be movable by a drive unit (not shown). When reading a document placed on the document table 52, the scanner 51 is moved along the document surface at a position facing the document table 52 to scan the document image. The acquired image data is output to the control unit 100. Further, when reading a document fed by the document feeding unit 6, the document is moved to a position facing the document reading slit 53 and synchronized with the document feeding operation by the document feeding unit 6 via the document reading slit 53. The image of the original is acquired and the image data is output to the control unit 100.

  The document feeding unit 6 includes a document placement unit 601, a paper feed roller 602, a document transport unit 603, and a document discharge unit 604. The paper feed roller 602 feeds the required number of documents set on the document placement unit 601 one by one, and the document transport unit 603 sequentially transports the fed document to the reading position of the scanner 51. The scanner 51 sequentially reads images of the conveyed document, and the read document is discharged to the document discharge unit 604. The document conveyance unit 603 further includes a sheet reversing mechanism that reverses the document and reversely conveys the document to a position facing the document reading slit 53, so that images on both sides of the document can be read from the scanner 51 via the document reading slit 53. ing.

  The document feeding unit 6 is provided so as to be rotatable with respect to the main body unit 2 so that the front side thereof can move upward. By moving the front side of the document feeder 6 upward to open the upper surface of the document table 52, the user can place a read document, such as a book in a spread state, on the upper surface of the document table 52. ing.

  The main body 2 includes a manual feed tray 460, paper feed cassettes 461-1, 461-2, and 461-3, a plurality of paper feed rollers 462, an image forming unit 4, a discharge port 209, a discharge tray 48, the control unit 100, and the like. Is provided. The image forming unit 4 includes a sheet conveying unit 46 including an image forming unit 40, a fixing unit 45, and various conveying rollers provided in a sheet conveying path in the image forming unit 4. The image forming unit 40 includes a transfer roller 41, an exposure device 42, a photosensitive drum 43, and a developing device 44. Hereinafter, the paper feed cassettes 461-1, 461-2, and 461-3 are collectively referred to as a paper feed cassette 461, and when an individual paper feed cassette is indicated, it is referred to with a suffix.

  The photosensitive drum 43 is uniformly charged by a charging device (not shown) while rotating in the direction of the arrow. The exposure device 42 scans the photosensitive drum 43 with a laser beam modulated according to the image of the document read by the document reading unit 5 to form an electrostatic latent image on the drum surface. The developing device 44 supplies a black developer to the photosensitive drum 43 to form a toner image.

  On the other hand, the paper feed roller 462 pulls out the print paper from the manual feed tray 460 storing the print paper (paper) or the paper feed cassette 461 and feeds it to the transfer roller 41. The transfer roller 41 transfers the toner image on the photosensitive drum 43 to the conveyed printing paper, and the fixing unit 45 heats and transfers the transferred toner image to the printing paper. Thereafter, the printing paper is carried into the post-processing unit 3 from the discharge port 209 of the main body unit 2. The printing paper is also discharged to the discharge tray 48 as necessary.

  When forming images on both sides of the printing paper, the image forming unit 4 forms an image on one side of the paper, and then the printing paper is nipped by the conveyance roller 463 on the discharge tray 48 side. . In this state, the conveyance roller 463 is reversed to switch back the printing paper, and the printing paper is sent to the paper conveyance path L to be conveyed again to the upstream area of the image forming unit 4. After the formation, it is discharged to the discharge port 209 or the discharge tray 48.

  The post-processing unit 3 includes a carry-in port 301, a printing paper transport unit 302, a sorting unit 303, a paper processing unit 304, a carry-out port 305, a stack tray 306, and the like. In the post-processing unit 3, printing paper that requires post-processing such as stapling and punching after printing is carried into the carry-in port 301 from the discharge port 209 of the main body unit 2, and is sorted from the print paper carrying unit 302 to the sorting unit. Then, the paper processing unit 304 performs processing such as stapling and punching, and the paper is discharged from the carry-out port 305 to the stack tray 306. The stack tray 306 is configured to move up and down in the direction of the arrow in accordance with the number of print sheets stacked from the carry-out port 305.

  In addition, the control unit 100 includes an image memory 140 in which document data read by the scanner 51 is temporarily stored, and an HDD (high-capacity storage device having a storage capacity capable of storing a large amount of document data). Hard Disk Drive) 74 is connected. The HDD 74 stores image data of a document read by the document reading unit 5 in accordance with a control signal from the control unit 100 when an image formation execution instruction from the user is received by the operation panel unit 47. It has come to be. The image data is not limited to the data read by the scanner 51. For example, the image data transmitted from a terminal device such as a personal computer connected to the outside via a communication line is acquired by a communication interface circuit (not shown). You may do it.

  When the original is read by the scanner 51, the image processing unit 160 converts an analog image signal output from the scanner 51 into a digital image, performs image processing for improving image quality, and then converts the image into a compressed image. This compressed image is written into the image memory 140. The control unit 100 stores the compressed image written in the image memory 140 in the HDD 74 as data constituting a file to be document managed. At the time of printout, the data read by the document reading unit 5 and the data (compressed image) read from the HDD 74 are written to the image memory 140, and the image processing unit 160 decompresses the compressed data. Then, image processing according to the output state (separation such as laser exposure or LED exposure) is performed. For example, in the case of laser exposure, a laser signal (a signal for controlling the laser beam emitted from the exposure apparatus) is used. Perform analog modulation. The image forming unit 4 prints out the signal based on the analog modulated signal.

  The control unit 100 controls operation of the entire apparatus. For example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit) that executes predetermined arithmetic processing, a ROM (Read Only Memory) that stores a predetermined control program, and data temporarily. RAM (Random Access Memory) which memorize | stores and these peripheral circuits etc. are comprised. The control unit 100 functions as an image formation control unit 101 and an execution order control unit 102 by executing a control program stored in the ROM.

  The image forming control unit 101 controls the operation of each unit of the copying machine 1 such as the image forming unit 4 and the post-processing unit 3 in accordance with various settings and operation instructions received by the operation panel unit 47, so that the manual tray An image of the original is formed on the printing paper accommodated in 460 or paper feed cassette 461.

  The execution order control unit 102 performs image formation and post-processing corresponding to a plurality of settings received by the operation panel unit 47 based on the image of the same document read by the document reading unit 5. Are executed by the image forming control unit 101 in the order of execution accepted by.

  Next, the operation of the copying machine 1 configured as described above will be described. FIG. 3 is a screen diagram showing an example of a display screen displayed on the display unit 473 shown in FIG. The display screen G1 shown in FIG. 3 includes, in order from the left side of the screen, an output setting unit 701 that accepts output settings of the post-processing unit 3, a double-sided selection setting unit 702 that accepts double-sided or single-sided printing selection settings, and print density settings. A density setting unit 703 that accepts print magnification, a magnification setting unit 704 that accepts setting of a print magnification (enlargement / reduction ratio), and a paper selection unit 705 that accepts print paper selection settings are displayed.

  For example, a staple button 731 for instructing execution of staple processing by the paper processing unit 304, a punch button 732 for instructing execution of punch processing by the paper processing unit 304, and an execution of sort processing by the sorting unit 303 are instructed to the output setting unit 701 A sort button 734 to be displayed is displayed.

  In the double-sided selection setting unit 702, for example, a single-sided button 735 for instructing single-sided printing by the image forming unit 4 and a double-sided button 736 for instructing double-sided printing by the image forming unit 4 are displayed. The paper selection unit 705 displays a paper selection button 737 for selecting the manual feed tray 460 and paper selection buttons 738, 739, and 740 for selecting the paper feed cassettes 461-1, 461-2, and 461-3, respectively. Yes. In addition, the paper selection buttons 737, 738, 739, and 740 display paper sizes detected by a paper size detection sensor (not shown) that detects the paper size. Further, for example, the paper feed cassette 461-1 contains A4 quality paper, and the paper feed cassette 461-3 contains A4 recycled paper.

  A display screen G1 shown in FIG. 3 displays a plurality of setting buttons 706 for performing a plurality of types of settings for the same document image.

  Hereinafter, as an example of a plurality of settings, the user prints a copy of the same document, for example, 10 copies of recycled paper for internal distribution, punch processing and stapling processing on both sides, and high quality paper for supplier submission The case where it is desired to print by performing the stapling process with three copies and single-sided printing will be described. First, the user places a document on the document placement unit 601. Then, on the display screen G1 shown in FIG. 3, the user selects the staple button 731, the punch button 732, the sort button 734, the duplex button 736, and the paper selection button 740 (the paper feed cassette 461-3 containing the recycled paper). By pressing (Select) and entering the number of copies 10 using the numeric keypad 472, each function setting such as “paper cassette 461-3, 10 copies, duplex printing, punching, stapling” for in-house distribution is combined. The setting is acquired by the image formation control unit 101 and stored in, for example, the HDD 74.

  Next, when the user presses the multiple setting button 706, the operation panel unit 47 can accept a new setting for the same document image. Then, the user presses the staple button 731, sort button 734, single-sided button 735, and paper selection button 738 (selects the paper feed cassette 461-1 containing high-quality paper), and further the number of copies 3 by the ten key 472. As a result of the input, the image forming control unit 101 acquires a combination of the function settings such as “paper cassettes 461-1, 3 copies, single-sided printing, stapling” for supplier submission, and stores it in the HDD 74, for example. Is done.

  When the user performs an operation indicating that the setting input is completed, for example, by pressing the multiple setting button 706 twice, the display unit 473 displays a plurality of settings received as settings for the same document image. Listed.

  FIG. 4 is a screen diagram showing an example of a list display screen G2 for displaying a list of a plurality of settings. The list display screen G2 shown in FIG. 4 includes a setting 707 of “10 copies: paper feed cassette 461-3: double side :: staple: punch” for in-house distribution and “3 copies: paper feed cassette” for supplier submission. A setting 708 of “461-1: one side: staple” is displayed in a list. To the left of the settings 707 and 708, execution order buttons 709 and 710 (execution order reception unit) for receiving the execution order are displayed, respectively.

  The user wants to execute the highly important setting 708 first. Therefore, when the execution order button 710 is pressed, the execution order control unit 102 receives a selection instruction for selecting the setting 708. For example, when the user presses “1” of the numeric keypad 472, the execution order control unit 102 displays “1” on the execution order button 710 as shown in FIG. Accepted.

  Similarly, when the user presses the execution order button 709, the execution order control unit 102 receives a selection instruction for selecting the setting 707. When the user presses “2” of the numeric keypad 472, for example, the execution order control unit 102 displays “2” on the execution order button 709 as shown in FIG. Accepted.

  When the user presses the start button 471, the execution order control unit 102 outputs an instruction to the image formation control unit 101 to execute image formation in the order of setting 708 and setting 707.

  Then, in response to a control signal from the image formation control unit 101, the image of the document placed on the document placement unit 601 is read by the document reading unit 5, and image data representing the image is stored in the HDD 74. .

  First, in order to perform image formation in accordance with the setting 708, the high-quality paper stored in the paper feed cassette 461-1 is conveyed to the image forming unit 4 by the paper feed roller 462 in accordance with a control signal from the image formation control unit 101. Is done. Further, in response to a control signal from the image formation control unit 101, the image forming unit 4 forms an image on one side of the high-quality paper based on the image data stored in the HDD 74, and the image is formed on this one side. High quality paper is conveyed from the discharge port 209 to the post-processing unit 3. In this way, the paper carried into the post-processing unit 3 is sorted by the sorting unit 303 in accordance with a control signal from the image forming control unit 101, stapled by the paper processing unit 304, and the carry-out port 305. To the stack tray 306.

  Then, after such processing is repeated three times and the printed material based on the setting “708: Paper feeding cassette 461-1: Single side: Staple” 708 for supplier submission is discharged to the stack tray 306, the image is output. In response to a control signal from the formation control unit 101, the recycled paper stored in the paper feed cassette 461-3 is fed in accordance with a control signal from the image formation control unit 101 to form an image according to the setting 707. It is conveyed to the image forming unit 4 by a roller 462. Further, in response to a control signal from the image formation control unit 101, the image formation unit 4 forms an image on both sides of the recycled paper based on the image data stored in the HDD 74, and the image is formed on both sides. The recycled paper is conveyed from the discharge port 209 to the post-processing unit 3.

  In this case, images of the same document can be formed according to the settings 707 and 708 in the order set by the user using the execution order buttons 709 and 710, that is, in the order intended by the user.

  As a result, image formation based on settings with low priority or settings that do not rush printing is executed before image formation with settings that have high priority or settings that urgently print, and image formation with settings with high priority is performed. There is a reduced possibility that a trouble will occur before the image is formed and image formation with a high priority setting cannot be performed, or that image formation with a setting for urgent printing is awaited.

1 is a side view schematically showing an internal configuration of a copying machine that is an example of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an example of an electrical configuration of the copier illustrated in FIG. 1. It is a screen figure which shows an example of the display screen displayed on the display part shown in FIG. It is a screen figure which shows an example of the list display screen which displays a list of several settings. It is a screen figure which shows an example of the list display screen of the state by which the execution order was set to the some setting.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Copier 2 Main body part 3 Post-processing part 4 Image formation part 5 Original reading part 6 Original feeding part 40 Image formation part 46 Paper conveyance part 47 Operation panel part 52 Original stand 53 Original reading slit 100 Control part 101 Image formation control part 102 Execution order control unit 140 Image memory 160 Image processing unit 302 Printing paper transport unit 303 Sorting unit 304 Paper processing unit 460 Manual feed tray 461 Paper feed cassette 471 Start button 472 Numeric keypad 473 Display unit 474 Multiple setting key 475 Setting list display key 476 Operation key portion 601 Document placement portion 701 Output setting portion 702 Double side selection setting portion 703 Density setting portion 704 Magnification setting portion 705 Paper selection portion 706 Multiple setting buttons 707, 708 Setting 709, 710 Execution order buttons 731 732 Punch buttons 734 Sort Button 7 35 Single-sided button 736 Double-sided button 737-740 Paper selection button G1 display screen G2 list display screen

Claims (6)

An image forming unit for forming an image on paper;
A setting receiving unit that receives a plurality of settings for causing the image forming unit to perform image formation;
An execution order receiving unit for receiving setting of an execution order of image formation based on each setting received by the setting receiving unit;
Based on the image of the same document, the image forming unit performs image formation on a plurality of sheets corresponding to the plurality of settings received by the setting receiving unit in the execution order received by the execution order receiving unit. An image forming apparatus comprising: an execution order control unit that executes the image forming apparatus. A post-processing unit that performs post-processing on the paper on which the image is formed by the image forming unit;
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of settings include settings of the post-processing unit. The plurality of settings are a paper setting for setting a type of paper on which the image is formed, a paper surface setting for setting whether the image formation is performed on one side or both sides of the paper, and image formation by the image forming unit. Including at least one of a staple setting for setting whether or not to staple stapled paper and a punch setting for setting whether or not to punch a paper image formed by the image forming unit. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a display unit that displays a list of a plurality of settings received by the setting reception unit. The display unit is a touch panel, and accepts a selection instruction to select one of a plurality of settings displayed in the list by operating a display screen;
The image forming apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the setting receiving unit receives an execution order of settings selected by a selection instruction received by the display unit. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of settings is a combination of a plurality of function settings.

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