JP2009188505A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming apparatus with a copy function and a printer function, which improves the usability in making a plurality of copies of an output object including a mixture of copy output and printer output. <P>SOLUTION: The image forming apparatus has a copy function, a printer function and a filing function for storing and controlling output jobs. The apparatus combines an output job already stored and controlled each time a copy original is read as a copy job to generate a new output job, and outputs the generated job by printing. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus having a filing function that has a copy function and a printer function, and that can store and manage these output jobs and take out reprints.

  Conventionally, when making multiple copies of output products that include both copy output and print output, it is necessary to output the required number of copies and prints, rearrange them one by one, and bind them with staples in some cases. And takes time.

The work of inserting the print output into the copy output can be made with a small number of sheets by utilizing an existing interleaf function or the like, but it is difficult to easily create when the number of insertions and the number of copies are large.
In addition, such manual rearrangement may cause missing pages or double pages.

  As a simple method, a large number of copies can be created by creating a print output once and then inserting it into a copy original and then copying, but the image quality of the print output is often inferior to that of the first generation print output.

  Also, instead of creating a print output once, the user scans a copy document and sends it to the image forming apparatus as a scan job, and the job that has been sent as a scan job and a print job by the image forming apparatus. A print can also be created by combining them into one job. However, in order to obtain an output image quality equivalent to that of a copy at the time of printing, it is necessary to set the resolution setting and image quality setting at the time of scanning to a high image quality. When handling a large amount of image data, the user's computer Depending on the environment, there is a concern that processing may take time or the operation may become unstable.

In Patent Document 1, a job selected from a plurality of already stored jobs is combined and printed. However, the order of a copy job to be read and a print job already stored is rearranged and combined and output. is not.
JP 2007-19964 A

  The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-described circumstances, and in an image forming apparatus having a copy function and a printer function, a user's job when creating a plurality of output products in which copy output and printer output are mixed is created. An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus that improves usability.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, an image forming apparatus according to the present invention is an image forming apparatus having a copy function, a printer function, and a filing function for storing and managing output jobs. By combining output jobs that are stored and managed to generate a new output job and printing the new output job, it is possible to create a printed material in which a copy job and a print job are mixedly mounted.

Here, the same output can be obtained at any time by storing the new output job and reprinting it.
Further, when performing the combining process, the output jobs are displayed in a list and arbitrarily selected from these, and combined with the copy job. In this list display, information indicating that the output job is to be combined is added to the output job in advance, and the output job to which the information is added is preferentially displayed so that the output job can be easily selected. Alternatively, when the output job is selected, a print image of the output job may be roughly displayed to ensure that the selected job can be performed.

In addition, the image forming apparatus stores a copy job and an output job obtained by reading a copy original in an image forming apparatus having a filing function for storing and managing a copy function, a printer function, and an output job, and specifies each job. A document with specific information to which information (file name and page number of each job) is attached is printed, and a document with specific information rearranged based on the specific information is read. By rearranging the copy job and the output job to generate a new output job and printing the output job, it is possible to create a printed matter in which the copy job and the print job are mixed.
Here, the same output can be obtained at any time by storing the new output job and reprinting it.

According to the present invention, it is possible to eliminate the manual rearrangement of a large number of copies in which a plurality of copy jobs and print jobs are mixed as compared with the conventional one, and it is possible to reduce the labor and time of the work.
Moreover, since there is no manual rearrangement, there are no mistakes such as doubling or chipping, and output products with the same contents can be created.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments according to an image forming apparatus of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

<Embodiment 1>
The operation of the first embodiment will be described based on the following example.
When creating a plurality of output products in which a plurality of print outputs and a plurality of copy outputs are mixed, for example, three copies C1, C2, C3 created from three copy originals (multiple copies are possible) and a document application, etc. The three print jobs P1, P2, and P3 outputted from the printer to the image forming apparatus are combined into one job, and 100 copies are printed from the one job.
The output order at this time is C1, P1, P2, C2, P3, and C3.

First, the configuration of the first embodiment will be described.
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram illustrating an outline of an image forming system according to the first embodiment. In FIG. 1, an image forming system 1 includes an image forming apparatus 2 and a plurality of external client computers (referred to as PCs) 3. The image forming apparatus 2 is connected to each PC 3 via a network 4. Image data and signals from the PC 3 can be received.

  FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram illustrating an outline of control of the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment. 2, the image forming apparatus 2 includes a receiving unit 11, an image reading unit 12, an operation unit 13, a job management unit 14, a storage unit 15, an image forming unit 16, a control unit 17, and the like.

The receiving unit 11 sends the received image data from the PC 3 to the job management unit 14 as a print job.
The image reading unit 12 reads an image of a copy document set on the platen and sends it to the job management unit 14 as a copy job.

  The operation unit 13 includes a start button, a stop button used by the user for input operation, an Enter key used for determining registration of a management job, and a numeric keypad. An LCD for displaying a screen for job combination operation and the like is provided.

The job management unit 14 stores the copy job sent from the image reading unit 12 and the print job received from the PC 3 in the storage unit 15 and schedules each job.
The image forming unit 16 executes print processing for the job passed from the job management unit 14.
The control unit 17 performs overall control of the entire apparatus, and executes a combination process of a copy job and a print job.

Next, a procedure for sending a plurality of print jobs to the image forming apparatus 2 by the PC 3 will be described.
In the PC 3, an application program for creating a print is executed, and a print instruction is executed. At that time, in the printer driver setting of the image forming apparatus 2 that is a print output target, a setting for storing the print job in the image forming apparatus 2 is performed (FIG. 3).

This setting is realized by making various settings in the job handling function setting tab 30 of the various setting tabs of the printer driver setting screen in FIG. Among these, the print job is stored in the storage unit 15 of the image forming apparatus 2 by checking the check box 31 of the item “retention”.
Here, when the radio button 32 is on, the print job is merely stored without printing. When the radio button 33 is on, the print job is stored after printing.

Further, the check box 34 is checked to indicate that the print job is a job combination target. By this instruction, when specifying the order in which jobs are combined, it is displayed with priority over other jobs. Furthermore, a file name and a folder name for storing a print job may be designated.
If you do not specify the file name or folder name, the standard file name or folder name is used. However, if you specify the file name and the destination folder name, you can select the job to be combined. Jobs can be easily identified.

  In this way, after performing the printer driver setting and performing three prints by the application program, each print job is sent to the image forming apparatus 2. This print job is composed of various setting values set in printer driver settings and data for printing.

In the image forming apparatus 2, the print job received by the receiving unit 11 is transferred to the job management unit 14. The job management unit 14 checks the set value assigned to the print job, and if “hold without printing” is designated, a file name is given and stored in the folder for the print job. If “hold after printing” is designated, the print job is put on standby for printing and a file name is given and stored in a folder for the print job.
If there is an instruction of “job combination target”, a file name is given and then stored in a priority display folder, not a folder for print jobs.
Further, when a file name or folder name is designated, the designated name is given and stored. Storage areas for these files and folders are secured in the storage unit 15.

  In this example, the three print jobs P1, P2, and P3 received from the PC 3 are not printed but are stored in a file (storage unit 15) named in a preferential display folder.

Next, a process for combining a copy job and a print job will be described.
When the user presses the “job combination” button 36 on the standby screen 35 displayed on the operation unit 13 of the image forming apparatus 2, the control unit 17 enters the job combination mode (FIG. 4).
The control unit 17 executes the job combination mode according to the procedure shown in the flowchart of FIG.

First, a job arrangement list to be edited is selected (step S1).
When the job combination mode is selected, a list selection screen 37 as shown in FIG. 6 is displayed, and a list of job arrangement lists storing the order of combining jobs is displayed.
Here, the user touches a list name to be edited from the list of job arrangement lists and presses a “select” button 38.
If there is no list name to be edited in this list, the “new list” button 39 is pressed. In this case, a newly named empty job list is generated.

Next, the copy original is set on the main body, and the original is read in the same manner as in the normal copy operation (step S2).
When the selection of the job arrangement list is completed, the control unit 17 displays a document input standby screen 41 to be combined. Here, when the user sets a copy document on the main body and presses the Enter key, the image reading unit 12 reads the document. After completing the reading of the copy original, the control unit 17 assigns a file name to the read image data as a copy job and stores it in the storage unit 15, and adds the file name of the copy job to the job arrangement list for confirmation. A screen 45 is displayed (FIG. 8), and when the user presses the “edit list” button 46, a list selection screen 50 is displayed (FIG. 9).

Next, the job arrangement list is edited to specify the job combination order (step S3).
On the left side of the list edit screen 50, a job list list name 51 currently being edited and a list 52 of jobs stored in the list are displayed. In the case of this example, since editing started after the copy job, copy C1 is displayed first in the list 52.
On the right side of the list edit screen 50, a stored job list 53 having tabs for each job type is displayed. Examples of the tab include a priority display job, a copy job, and a print job. Of these, the priority display job tab 54 displays the file name, user name, creation date and the like of the job checked in the job combination target check box 34 in the job handling function setting tab 30. In this example, a list of print jobs P1, P2, and P3 is displayed.
In this manner, if information indicating that the print job is to be combined is added on the print job transmission side (PC 3), priority display is performed when the list is edited, so that the operation can be performed more easily.

The user touches the file name displayed on the priority display job tab 54 of the list edit screen 50 and presses the “add” button 55. Here, if the print image of the print job to be selected can be displayed on the operation unit 13, the print job to be added can be reliably identified.
The control unit 17 adds the selected file name to the job arrangement list 52. Here, the selected print job is added to the end of the job arrangement list, but can be inserted at an arbitrary position in the job arrangement list by selecting an insertion position in advance.
This additional operation is repeated as necessary.

  In this example, by selecting and adding print jobs P1 and P2 in order, the job arrangement list is additionally displayed in the order of copy job C1, print job P1, and print job P2.

Next, when a copy original is added, the user presses a “add copy” button 57 on the list editing screen 50.
In the control unit 17, when the “add copy” button 57 is pressed (step S4 / YES), the process returns to step S2 to read an additional copy document.
As described above, since the operation can be performed while selecting on the operation unit 13, the operation of arranging the jobs to be combined in the order of output can be performed more easily.

In this example, the user sets a copy document on the main body, and reads the document in the same manner as in the normal copy operation. After the original reading is completed, the read copy job C2 is stored in the main body, the copy job C2 is added to the job arrangement list, and the job arrangement list 52 includes copy job C1, print job P1, print job P2, and copy job C2. Are displayed in this order.
Then, the print job P3 is selected from the priority display job tab 54, and an “add” button 55 is pressed to add it to the job arrangement list 52.

As a result, in the job arrangement list 52, the copy job C1, the print job P1, the print job P2, the copy job C2, and the print job P3 are displayed in this order.
In this example, since a copy document is further input, when the “copy addition” button 57 is pressed and the copy document is read in the same procedure as described above, the copy job C1, print job P1, print job are displayed in the job arrangement list 52. Job P2, copy job C2, print job P3, and copy job C3 are displayed in this order.

Next, when the job combination order is specified, the user presses a “job creation” button 56 on the list editing screen 50.
In the control unit 17, when the “job creation” button 56 is pressed (step S 4 / NO, step S 5 / YES), all jobs registered in the job arrangement list are read from the storage unit 15 and combined into one job. (Step S6).
After combining the jobs, the control unit 17 displays the job combination confirmation screen 60 and confirms whether the jobs in the job list and the constituent elements are unnecessary when creating a combined new job (FIG. 10). ).

If there is an error in the combining operation so far, the user presses a “return” button 61 to return to the list editing screen 50.
If there is no problem with the previous combining operation, but the user does not want to delete the created job list and each component job, the “Create new job without deleting” button 63 is pressed. Is not necessary, the “delete and create new job” button 62 is pressed. At this time, the new job is saved with an arbitrary file name (here, M1).

  As described above, when each print job to be combined is left, another copy original is read and combined with the remaining print job, so that the print job is copied in the same manner as in the case of taking a normal copy. Can create mixed jobs.

Next, the number of copies of a new job created in the combined mode is set (step S7), the set number of copies is printed, and the process is terminated (step S8).
The new job M1 combined as described above can be set and printed in the same manner as other copy and print jobs using the output setting screen 64 (FIG. 11).

First, when there is no problem with job rearrangement, the user sets 1 as the number of output copies 65 and presses the “save post-print data” button 67. Then, the control unit 17 causes the image forming unit 16 to execute the job Print one copy of M1.
When the user determines that there is no problem with the output, the remaining 99 copies are set in the output number 65 and the “save post-print data” button 67 is pressed. Then, the control unit 17 causes the image forming unit 16 to execute the job. Print 99 copies of M1. However, when the number of copies is large or the number of copies per copy is large, the output timing may be designated and printing may be performed later.
When the user determines that only printing is necessary, the user can delete the job after printing the set number of copies by pressing the “delete data after printing” button 66.

In this way, once a combined job is created and saved, it is possible to easily print from one copy to multiple copies, eliminating the need to print more than the required number of copies and eliminating wasted paper. .
Furthermore, since sorting has been completed, it is possible to output consistently until finishing of staples, etc., eliminating the need for human work and specifying a time when there is no problem even if it occupies the main unit relatively at night, etc. Output can be created.
In addition, when it is designated to delete a job arrangement list or component job in a batch, the storage capacity can be saved.

If the user wants to finish editing in the middle of list editing, the user presses an “end editing” button 58 on the list editing screen 50.
When the “end editing” button 58 is pressed in the control unit 17 (step S4 / NO, step S5 / NO), the job arrangement list is saved and the process is ended (step S9).
On the editing end screen 68, the “return” button 69, the “save and exit the list” button 70, or the “end without saving the list” button 71 can be selected and pressed.

<Embodiment 2>
The configurations of the image forming system and the image forming apparatus according to the second embodiment are the same as those of the first embodiment shown in FIGS. The operation of the second embodiment will be described using the same example as that of the first embodiment.

First, a procedure for sending a plurality of print jobs to the image forming apparatus 2 by the PC 3 will be described.
In the PC 3, an application program for creating a print is executed, and a print instruction is executed. At that time, in the printer driver setting of the image forming apparatus for print output, a setting is made to store the print job in the image forming apparatus 2 (FIG. 13).

  As shown in FIG. 13, this setting is obtained by adding a “job combination code printing” check box 81 to the job handling function setting tab 30 of the printer driver setting screen of FIG. When this job combination code printing check box 81 is checked, a code (for example, information about the print job name and the page number of the job) is aligned on each page of the printed hard copy (paper). Print.

  In this way, after performing the printer driver setting and performing three prints by the application program, each print job is sent to the image forming apparatus 2. This print job is composed of various setting values set in printer driver settings and data for printing.

In the image forming apparatus 2, the print job received by the receiving unit 11 is transferred to the job management unit 14.
As in the first embodiment, the job management unit 14 performs print job storage processing according to the setting value assigned to the print job and creates a print output for each print job. However, a code (file name of each print job and page number for each job) is assigned to a predetermined position in the print output.

  In this example, the three print jobs P1, P2, and P3 received from the PC 3 are stored in a file (storage unit 15) named in a prescribed method in the priority display folder, and for print output of each print job. The named file name and the page number for each job are assigned to a predetermined position and printed.

Next, a process for combining a copy job and a print job will be described.
First, when the user presses the “job combination” button 36 on the standby screen 35 displayed on the operation unit 13 of the image forming apparatus 2, the control unit 17 enters the job combination mode (FIG. 4).
When entering the job combination mode, the control unit 17 displays a document input standby screen 41 to be combined (FIG. 7).
When the user presses the “code print” button 44, the control unit 17 shifts to the job combination code print copy mode, and executes the job combination code print copy mode according to the procedure shown in the flowchart of FIG.

Next, all the copy originals are set in the main body, the originals are read in the same manner as in the normal copy operation, and a code-added original with a code printed at a predetermined position is printed (step S11).
When entering the job combination code printing copy mode, the control unit 17 displays a document input standby screen 90 to be combined (FIG. 15).
Here, when the user sets all the copy originals together in the main body and presses the Enter key, the image reading unit 12 reads the originals, and the control unit 17 applies codes (default) to all the read copy originals. (The file name and page number) are printed and stored as a copy job in the file with the assigned file name.

Next, the user rearranges the result of printing of the current copy job and the result of printing of the previous print job for each page, and prepares a code-added document that will be the final printing result.
In this example, a code-added document in which output results are rearranged so that the output order is C1, P1, P2, C2, P3, and C3 is prepared.

  After performing the above operation, when the user sets a document with a code on the main body and presses the “code input” button 91, the control unit 17 reads the document with a code by the image reading unit 12 (step S12). ).

  The control unit 17 recognizes the code (file name and page number) printed at a predetermined position of the read document with the code, and refers to the copy job and the print job stored in advance, and the same code (file The page data corresponding to the name and the same page number) is extracted and added to a new job, and rearranged in the order designated by the user (step S13).

  After all originals with codes are read, the control unit 17 assigns a predetermined name to the job and saves it (step S14). In this example, the storage name is M1.

Next, the number of output copies of the job created in the job combination code print copy mode is set, the set number of copies are printed, and the process is terminated (step S15).
The job M1 combined as described above can be set and printed in the same way as other copy and print jobs using the output setting screen 64 (FIG. 11) as in the first embodiment.

  In the above, the hard copy with the code was used to change the page. However, the print image is stored without making the hard copy, and the page is displayed while the print image is displayed on the operation unit or the display device of the PC. After performing the rearrangement work, it reads the rearranged print image and creates a combined job in which the pages of each job are rearranged, making it easier to obtain mixed output without image quality degradation. be able to.

Note that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications and corrections can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.
For example, in the above-described embodiment, the print output and the combining operation are performed while the copy original is read. However, the copy original is read in the image forming apparatus in advance and stored as a copy job, and the jobs are rearranged. Since the print data itself is already stored in the main body by performing the image forming apparatus and the combining operation on the PC via the image forming apparatus main body or the network, the processing is lightened because only the rearrangement order is specified. Further, there is no exchange of large-capacity image data, and the image quality can be exactly the same as the original print and copy.

  In the above-described embodiment, the print job read in advance is combined as it is. However, one print job may be divided into a plurality of jobs with an arbitrary number of pages during the combining process or before the combining process is performed. Any page of the print job may be deleted.

1 is a configuration diagram illustrating an overview of an image forming system according to Embodiment 1. FIG. FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram illustrating an outline of control of the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment. 3 is an example of a driver setting screen according to the first embodiment. 4 is a screen example showing a standby state of the image forming apparatus. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an execution procedure of a job combination mode according to the first embodiment. 6 is an example of a list selection screen in a list editing mode according to the first embodiment. 3 is an example of a document input standby screen according to the first embodiment. 5 is an example of a confirmation screen after document input according to the first embodiment. 6 is an example of a list editing screen according to the first embodiment. 6 is an example of a job combination confirmation screen according to the first embodiment. It is an example of a setting screen at the time of output. 6 is an example of a list editing end screen according to the first embodiment. 10 is an example of a driver setting screen according to the second embodiment. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an execution procedure of a job combination code print copy mode according to the second embodiment. It is an example of a document input standby screen in a job combination code print copy mode.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Image forming system, 2 ... Image forming apparatus, 3 ... PC, 4 ... Network, 11 ... Reception part, 12 ... Image reading part, 13 ... Operation part, 14 ... Job management part, 15 ... Memory | storage part, 16 ... Image Forming unit, 17 ... control unit, 30 ... driver setting screen, 35 ... standby state screen, 37 ... list selection screen, 41,90 ... document input standby screen, 45 ... confirmation screen after document input, 50 ... list edit screen, 60 ... Job combination confirmation screen, 64 ... Output setting screen, 68 ... Edit end screen.

Claims (7)

  Each time a copy original is read as a copy job in an image forming apparatus that has a copy function, printer function, and filing function for storing and managing the output job, a new output job is generated by combining the output jobs that have already been stored and managed An image forming apparatus.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the new output job is stored.   3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the output job is arbitrarily selected to perform a combining process.   4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3, wherein information indicating that the output job is to be combined is added to the output job in advance, the output job to which the information is added is preferentially displayed, and the output job is displayed. An image forming apparatus characterized by being easily selected.   5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3, wherein when the output job is selected, a print image of the output job is roughly displayed.   In an image forming apparatus having a filing function for storing and managing a copy function, a printer function, and an output job, a copy job obtained by reading a copy document and an output job are stored, and a document with specific information in which specific information is given to each job Is printed, and the copy job and the output job are rearranged based on the read specific information while the original with specific information rearranged based on the specific information is read, and a new output job is generated An image forming apparatus.   7. The image forming apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the specific information includes a file name and a page number of each job.

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