JP2009119722A - Image forming apparatus and program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To easily search a location where paper printed with an image based on a print job is delivered when the paper printed with the image based on the print job is delivered to a delivery apparatus. <P>SOLUTION: A sorting sheet 61 for the print result 71 of a certain print job, and a sorting sheet 62 for the print result 72 of another print job are stacked in order. Since part of the sorting sheets 61, 62 is inserted offset in a print sheaf so as not to overlap with the print results 71, 72 of the print jobs, a person who is trying to search for the print result of a specific print job can easily find the print result of the desired print job based on information stated on the sorting sheets 61, 62. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus and a program.

  Patent Document 1 discloses an image forming system in which a discharge device is displayed on a display unit or a host side device in a case where the discharge device is shielded and the inside cannot be seen.

  Patent Document 2 discloses a technique that facilitates the operation of combining dividedly printed documents in a plurality of printing apparatuses by printing predetermined numbers on different sizes of paper and inserting them as slip sheets.

  Patent Document 3 discloses a system in which image additional information (customer, title, shooting date) is displayed in association with a discharge destination.

JP-A-6-316137 JP 2000-94808 A JP 2002-37520 A

  An object of the present invention is to make it possible to easily find a place where a sheet printed with an image based on a print request is discharged when a sheet printed with an image based on a print request is discharged to a discharge device. A forming apparatus and a program are provided.

[Image forming apparatus]
An image forming apparatus according to the present invention includes an acquisition unit that acquires print information that is information related to print contents from an input print request;
Generating means for generating an image of a sorting sheet for specifying a boundary of a printing result based on the printing information acquired by the acquiring means;
An image output means for outputting an image of the sorting sheet generated by the generating means and an image based on the inputted print request to a printing paper;
Control means for controlling the discharge device so that at least a part of the sorting sheet output by the image output means does not overlap the paper on which the image based on the print request is printed.

  Preferably, the control unit controls the discharge device so that the sorting sheet output by the image output unit is discharged with an offset from a sheet on which an image based on the print request is printed.

  Preferably, the control unit controls the discharging device to discharge the sorting sheet output by the image output unit so that the discharging direction is different from the discharging direction of the paper on which the image based on the print request is printed. .

  Preferably, the generation unit sets an arrangement of print information in the sorting sheet according to a range of an area where the sheet on which an image based on a print request is printed and the sorting sheet is ejected by the ejecting apparatus.

  Preferably, the image forming apparatus of the present invention further includes a setting unit for setting the contents of print information included in the image of the sorting sheet.

  Preferably, the generation unit generates an image of the sorting sheet by combining print information acquired by the acquisition unit with a preset format sheet image.

  Preferably, the image output unit outputs an image of the sorting sheet generated by the generation unit with respect to a preset format sheet.

  Preferably, the print information includes at least user information instructing a print request and information for specifying the print request.

[program]
The program of the present invention acquires print information that is information relating to print contents from an input print request;
Generating an image of a sorting sheet for specifying a boundary of a print result based on the acquired print information;
Outputting the image of the generated sorting sheet and the image based on the input print request to a printing paper;
Causing the computer to execute a step of controlling the discharge device so that at least a part of the output sorting sheet does not overlap the paper on which the image based on the print request is printed.

  As described above, according to the present invention, when the paper on which the image based on the print request is printed is discharged to the discharge device, the place where the paper on which the image based on the print request is printed is easily searched. The effect that it becomes possible can be acquired.

Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a system diagram showing a configuration of an image forming system according to an embodiment of the present invention.
As shown in FIG. 1, the image processing system according to the present embodiment accommodates an image forming apparatus 10 and a terminal apparatus 20 connected via a network 40 and a sheet on which an image is formed by the image forming apparatus 10. It consists of HCS (High Capacity Stacker) 31-34 which are discharge devices.

  The terminal device 20 generates print data such as a print job and transmits it to the image forming apparatus 10. The image forming apparatus 10 receives the print data transmitted from the terminal device 20 and outputs an image corresponding to the print data on a sheet.

  The HCSs 31 to 34 and the image forming apparatus 10 are connected in cascade. For this reason, the sheets discharged by the image forming apparatus 10 are first transported in the HCS 31 and then sequentially transported to the HCSs 32 to 34.

  Next, FIG. 2 shows a hardware configuration of the image forming apparatus 10 in the image forming system of the present embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the image forming apparatus 10 transmits and receives data to and from an external device or the like via a CPU 11, a memory 12, a storage device 13 such as a hard disk drive (HDD), and a network 30. A communication interface (IF) 14, a touch panel or liquid crystal display, and a user interface (UI) device 15 including a keyboard, a scanner 16, and a print engine 17 are included. These components are connected to each other via a control bus 18.

  The CPU 11 executes predetermined processing based on a control program stored in the memory 12 or the storage device 13 and controls the operation of the image forming apparatus 10.

  In the present embodiment, the CPU 11 has been described as reading and executing a control program stored in the memory 12 or the storage device 13, but the program is stored in a storage medium such as a CD-ROM and stored in the CPU 11. It is also possible to provide.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of the image forming apparatus 10 realized by executing the control program.

As shown in FIG. 3, the image forming apparatus 10 of the present embodiment includes an image output unit 41, a print information acquisition unit 42, a print content setting unit 43, a sorting sheet image generation unit 44, and a post-processing device control. Part 45.
Each of the HCSs 31 to 34 includes a storage unit 51 and an offset processing unit 52.

  The print information acquisition unit 42 acquires print information that is information regarding print contents from a print job (print request) input from the terminal device 20 via the network 40.

  The sorting sheet image generation unit 44 generates a sorting sheet image for specifying the boundary of the printing result based on the printing information acquired by the printing information acquisition unit 42.

  An example of such a sorting sheet is shown in FIG. The sorting sheet 61 shown in FIG. 4 includes the name of the user who instructed the print job, the job content, the discharge destination, the job number. Is printed as print information.

  In the present embodiment, description will be made using such a case where various pieces of information are included in the print information. However, the print information includes at least user information instructing a print job and information for specifying a print request. If so, the user can easily search for the print result.

  The sorting sheet image generating unit 44 arranges the print information in the sorting sheet according to the range of the area where the sheet on which the image based on the print job is printed and the sorting sheet is discharged in the HCS 3 to 34. Set. Specifically, the sorting sheet image generation unit 44 determines the character size, orientation, and the like when printing the print information according to the degree of overlap.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 5, when the sorting sheet 61 and the paper on which the print job is printed overlap, a job number for specifying at least the print job in the non-overlapping area. If the printed paper is stacked, the job No. is also arranged. Can be visually recognized from the outside.

  The image output unit 41 outputs an image of the sorting sheet generated by the sorting sheet image generation unit 44 and an image based on the print job input from the terminal device 20 to the printing paper.

  The post-processing device control unit 45 controls the HCSs 31 to 34 that are the discharge devices so that at least a part of the sorting sheet on which the image is output by the image output unit 41 does not overlap the paper on which the image based on the print job is printed. To do.

  Specifically, the post-processing device control unit 45 controls the HCSs 31 to 34 so that the sorting sheets output by the image output unit 41 are discharged with an offset from the paper on which the image based on the print job is printed. .

  Here, offset refers to relative shifting with printing paper.For example, when the printing paper stacking position is shifted at the boundary between jobs, or when multiple copies are printed, the stacking position is set for each copy. There is something to shift.

  Further, the post-processing device control unit 45 causes the HCSs 31 to 34 to discharge the sorting sheet output by the image output unit 41 in a direction different from the discharging direction of the sheet on which the image based on the print job is printed. You may make it control.

  The print content setting unit 43 sets the content of print information included in the image of the sorting sheet in the sorting sheet image generation unit 44 based on an instruction from the UI device 15 or the like.

  The accommodation unit 51 sequentially accommodates a sheet on which an image based on a sorting sheet or a print job output from the image output unit 41 is printed.

  When the sorting sheet output by the image output unit 41 is stored in the storage unit 51, the offset processing unit 52 is configured to store the sheet on which the image based on the print job is printed based on the control by the post-processing device control unit 45. Processing is performed so that the discharge position becomes an offset position.

  FIG. 6 shows an example of a print result stored in the storage unit 51 of the HCS 31 to 34 as a result of such processing.

  In the example shown in FIG. 6, a sort sheet 61 for a print result 71 of a print job and a sort sheet 62 for a print result 72 of another print job are sequentially stacked.

  A part of the sorting sheets 61 and 62 is offset so as not to overlap with the print results 71 and 71 of the print job, and is inserted into the bundle of prints, thereby printing a specific print job. A person who wants to find the result can easily find the print result of the desired print job based on the information described in the sorting sheets 61 and 62.

  An example of how such print results are accommodated in the HCS 31 is shown in FIG.

  In the example shown in FIG. 7, it is possible to visually check the description content of the sorting sheet from the confirmation window 80 of the HCS 31, and a person who wants to find the print result of a specific print job is HCS 31 to 34. By simply looking through the confirmation window, it is possible to easily grasp where the desired printing result is discharged.

  In addition, when the image forming system of the present embodiment is used for a business in which a delivery result is attached to a print result and delivered to a customer, the sorting sheet may be used as it is as a delivery note. A format that can be used may be used.

  In such a case, the sorting sheet image generation unit 44 generates a sorting sheet image by synthesizing print information acquired by the print information acquisition unit 42 with a preset format sheet image.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 8, the sorting sheet image generation unit 44 prepares an image 90 of a dedicated format sheet in advance, and print information acquired from the print job by the print information acquisition unit 42 is stored on the dedicated format sheet. By combining with the image 90, an image 91 of the sorting sheet is generated.

  By doing in this way, it becomes possible to use a sorting sheet as a delivery note etc. as it is, and it can save the trouble of creating a delivery note etc. later.

  The dedicated format paper image 90 may be prepared in advance as data, or may be generated by reading the dedicated format paper with a scanner.

  Further, instead of preparing the image 90 of the dedicated format paper, it is possible to generate the sorting sheet by using the dedicated format paper as the print paper and outputting the print information to the dedicated format paper. .

  In this embodiment, at least a part of the sorting sheet is not overlapped with the printing result of the print job depending on the discharging position and discharging direction of the sorting sheet. However, the sorting sheet image and the print job image are printed. It is also possible to prevent at least a part of the sorting sheet from overlapping the print result of the print job by changing the paper size to be used.

  For example, when the printing paper is A4 size, it is possible to make a part of the sorting sheet visible from the outside without offsetting the printing position by setting the sorting sheet to B4 size.

1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an image forming system according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of an image forming apparatus 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of an image forming apparatus 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the image of the sorting sheet produced | generated by the sorting sheet image generation part. FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining a state in which a sorting sheet 61 and a sheet on which a print job is printed overlap. It is a figure which shows an example of the printing result accommodated in the accommodating part 51 of HCS31-34. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a state where a printing result with a sorting sheet inserted is accommodated in an HCS 31. It is a figure which shows a mode that the image of a sorting sheet | seat is produced | generated by synthesize | combining printing information with the image of the preset format paper.

Explanation of symbols

10 Image forming apparatus 11 CPU
12 Memory 13 Storage Device 14 Communication Interface (IF)
15 User Interface (UI) Device 16 Scanner 17 Print Engine 18 Control Bus 20 Terminal Device 31-34 HCS
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 40 Network 41 Image output part 42 Print information acquisition part 43 Print content setting part 44 Sorting sheet image generation part 45 Post-processing apparatus control part 51 Storage part 52 Offset processing part 61, 62 Sorting sheet 71, 72 The image based on a print job prints Paper 80 Confirmation window 90 Special format image 91 Sort sheet image

Claims (9)

Acquisition means for acquiring print information, which is information relating to print contents, from an input print request;
Generating means for generating an image of a sorting sheet for specifying a boundary of a printing result based on the printing information acquired by the acquiring means;
An image output means for outputting an image of the sorting sheet generated by the generating means and an image based on the inputted print request to a printing paper;
Control means for controlling the discharge device so that at least a part of the sorting sheet on which the image is output by the image output means does not overlap the paper on which the image based on the print request is printed;
An image forming apparatus.   2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit controls the discharge device so that the sorting sheet output by the image output unit is offset and discharged with respect to a sheet on which an image based on the print request is printed. .   The control unit controls the discharge device to control the discharge device so that the discharge direction of the sorting sheet output by the image output unit is different from the discharge direction of the paper on which the image based on the print request is printed. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus is controlled.   The generation unit sets an arrangement of print information in the sorting sheet according to a range of an area where the sheet on which an image based on a print request is printed and the sorting sheet is ejected by the ejecting apparatus. 4. The image forming apparatus according to any one of items 3.   5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a setting unit configured to set contents of print information to be included in an image on a sorting sheet.   The said generation | production means produces | generates the image of a sorting sheet | seat by combining the printing information acquired by the said acquisition means with the image of the format paper set beforehand. Image forming apparatus.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image output unit outputs an image of the sorting sheet generated by the generation unit with respect to a preset format sheet.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the print information includes at least user information instructing a print request and information for specifying the print request. Obtaining print information, which is information related to print contents, from the input print request;
Generating an image of a sorting sheet for specifying a boundary of a print result based on the acquired print information;
Outputting the image of the generated sorting sheet and the image based on the input print request to a printing paper;
A program for causing a computer to execute a step of controlling a discharge device so that at least a part of an output sorting sheet does not overlap a sheet on which an image based on the print request is printed.

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