JP2010050522A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming apparatus capable of automatically displaying the pre-view display of an original document to be printed prior to printing, if a user instructs that a mark indicative that a printed matter is confidential such as "Top Secret" or "Important" should be printed on the printed matter. <P>SOLUTION: If the user operates a start key of the image forming apparatus after setting up a printing condition, the image forming apparatus scans an original document set at an ADF (Auto Document Feeder), and generates image data. Then, a preview screen 55 of Fig.5 is automatically displayed on a display panel. Wherein, 55a indicates the scanned document image. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus having a preview function, and more particularly to an image forming apparatus that automatically displays a print document before a confidential document is printed.

  As the function and performance of image forming apparatuses increase, the user can set printing conditions such as print image quality, hue, and editing processing in a complicated manner. In addition, in order to confirm whether the printing conditions set by the user are properly reflected, a so-called preview function is provided in which a print image (data) is displayed and confirmed on a display panel or the like instead of printing on paper. An image forming apparatus has been proposed (see Patent Document 1).

In order to prevent leakage of confidential documents due to the recent increase in information management awareness, for example, when a confidential document is copied by a user instruction, the printed matter such as “Top Secret” or “Important” must be a confidential document. There has been proposed an image forming apparatus capable of automatically printing a mark indicating に in a blank area of a printed material (see Patent Document 2).
JP 2007-36809 A JP 2003-274133 A

  By the way, when executing the above-described preview function, the user searches for an operation screen for executing the preview function displayed on the display panel, and operates a preview execution button on the operation screen. However, in the current image forming apparatus, since there are a large number of operation screens for setting complicated printing conditions, the operation of searching for the operation screen for executing the preview function is complicated. Even if the preview execution button is displayed on the top screen, the display area of the display panel is not so large, so it takes time to find the execution button.

For this reason, in order to check whether the set printing conditions are properly reflected, the user often prints a print image on paper without using the preview function. If you actually print a print image to check whether the set printing conditions are properly reflected, if the set printing conditions are not properly reflected (printing failure), the print paper is securely discarded. There is a need.
However, if the user forgets to discard the confidential document, there is a risk that the confidential document will leak.

  If a confidential document is leaked in this way, even if a mark indicating that the printed material is a confidential document, such as “Top Secret” or “Important”, is automatically printed in the margin area of the printed material, it has no meaning in terms of information management. Absent.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and includes a preview function and a function of printing a mark indicating that a printed matter is a confidential document, such as “top secret” and “important”, on a printed matter. An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus capable of automatically displaying a preview of a printed document before printing when the mark is printed on a printed matter.

  The first technical means includes an image adding unit for adding a predetermined specific image to the image data to be printed, and adding the specific image to the image data to be printed in the image forming apparatus capable of displaying the preview of the image data. When instructed, the image data to be printed is automatically preview-displayed before printing, and then the image data in which the specific image is added to the image data to be printed is printed by a print instruction operation. The image forming apparatus.

  The second technical means adds the specific image attached to the image data to be printed or a user operation instructing to add the specific image to the image data to be printed in the first technical means. In the image forming apparatus, the specific image is added to the image data to be printed based on the additional information instructed to the user.

  According to a third technical means, in the first or second technical means, the preview display displays image data to which the specific image is added.

  According to a fourth technical means, in any one of the first to third technical means, the specific image is a character image such as “top secret”, “confidential”, or “important”.

  According to the present invention, when a mark indicating that a printed material is a confidential document is printed on the printed material by the image forming apparatus, the printed document can be automatically previewed before printing. External leakage can be prevented.

Example 1
The outline of the present invention will be described with reference to operation screens displayed on the display panel of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention shown in FIGS.
In the image forming apparatus according to the present invention, when printing is performed by adding a stamp such as “top secret” or “important” to the image data according to a user instruction, a preview of the original image is automatically displayed before printing. .
Here, a case where a document is copied will be described. The case of printing image data received from a facsimile machine or PC will be described later.

(Setting printing conditions)
First, an operation for setting various printing conditions by the user will be described.
A user sets a copy original on an automatic document feeder (ADF) of the image forming apparatus. Then, the operation screen 51 of FIG. 1 is displayed on the display panel.
It is assumed that the document is a document that needs to be kept confidential.

  In order to add a stamp such as “top secret” or “important” indicating that the original document needs to be kept confidential to the copy of the original document, the user operates the special function button 51a on the operation screen 51 of FIG. Then, the special function screen 52 of FIG. 2 is displayed on the display panel.

  Further, when the user operates the print menu button 52a of the special function screen 52 of FIG. 2, the print menu screen 53 of FIG. 3 is displayed, and when the stamp button 53a of the print menu screen 53 of FIG. 4 for selecting a stamp such as “Important” is displayed.

When the user operates the “top secret” button 54a on the stamp selection screen 54, “top secret” characters are printed in a predetermined area of the printed matter, for example, a blank area in the upper right corner of the paper.
In addition, the user sets print conditions such as print density, enlargement magnification, and number of copies via an operation screen, operation keys, and the like.

(Preview screen display)
Next, a process for displaying the preview screen after the setting of the printing conditions is completed will be described.
When the user operates the start key of the image forming apparatus after setting the printing conditions, the image forming apparatus scans (reads) a document set in the ADF and generates image data.
Then, the preview screen 55 of FIG. 5 is automatically displayed on the display panel. Reference numeral 55a denotes a scanned document image.

Further, when the user operates the finish display button 55b on the preview screen 55, as shown in FIG. 6, the image data 55c in a state where the “top secret” stamp is added is displayed.
55d indicates an area to which the “top secret” stamp is added, and 55e is an icon indicating the shape of the stamp added to the area.

  When the user operates the copy start button 55f on the preview screen 55, the printed matter with the “confidential” stamp added to the area 55e is printed.

  In this way, when a mark indicating that the printed material is a confidential document is printed on the printed material, the printed document can be automatically previewed before printing, so that the confidential document can be confirmed before printing. There is no need to perform an operation for preview display.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a state in which the image forming apparatus 1 according to the present invention is connected to an external device via a network.
For example, the image forming apparatus 1 is connected to the facsimile apparatus 2a via the public telephone line PN, the PC 3a via the local network LN, and the facsimile apparatus 2b and PC 3b via the Internet IN.

The image forming apparatus 1 can record and print image data transmitted from the facsimile machines (2a, 2b) and the PCs (3a, 3b).
In this case, the user selects image data from the facsimile machines (2a, 2b) and PCs (3a, 3b) recorded in the image forming apparatus 1 via the operation screen. Then, after operating the “top secret” button 54a on the stamp selection screen 54 described above, for example, if the start key is operated, the document image preview screen 55 is automatically displayed.
After confirmation, when the user operates the copy start button 55f on the preview screen 55, a printed matter to which the “confidential” stamp is added is printed.

FIG. 8 is a functional block diagram of the image forming apparatus 1 according to the present invention.
Reference numeral 11 denotes a network I / F that provides an interface function with respect to the network N such as the local network LN, and executes data transmission / reception with the facsimile apparatus 2 and the PC 3 connected to the network N.

An operation panel 12 for operating the image forming apparatus 1 includes a display panel, a numeric keypad, and the like. FIG. 9 is a diagram showing the appearance of the operation panel 12.
Reference numeral 12a denotes a display panel on which the preview screen 55 and the like of FIG. 5 are displayed, and 12b denotes a start key for starting scanning / copying.
Reference numeral 13 in FIG. 8 denotes a scanner unit equipped with an ADF or the like, which scans a document and generates image data.
An image forming unit 14 having an image forming function (printing function) includes a photosensitive drum, a developing device, a cleaning unit, and the like.

Reference numeral 15 denotes a memory for storing OSD data such as an operation screen displayed on the display panel 12a and various control information. Reference numeral 16 denotes image data generated by the scanner unit 13, image data transmitted from the facsimile apparatus 2, the PC 3, and the like. This is an HDD for recording.
Reference numeral 17 denotes a control unit that controls each functional block, and also executes display control of the operation screen and the like.

A specific image adding unit 21 adds a predetermined specific image to the image data to be printed. The specific image is, for example, a character image such as “top secret”, “confidential”, or “important”.
Note that various methods that have been conventionally proposed, such as the method disclosed in Patent Document 2, can be used for the above-described addition processing.

  The addition is executed based on a user operation instructed via the operation panel 12 or the like so as to add a predetermined specific image to the image data to be printed, and an image installed on the PC 3 as will be described later. This process is executed by the printer driver of the forming apparatus 1 based on additional information instructing to add the specific image attached to the image data to be printed.

  Reference numeral 22 denotes a preview display control unit. For example, a document image (image data generated by the scanner unit 13) read by the scanner unit 13 is displayed on the display panel 12a of the operation panel 12 as shown in FIG. indicate.

  That is, when instructed to add a specific image to image data, the preview display control unit 22 automatically displays the image data on the display panel 12a before printing. Thereafter, the image forming unit 14 prints the image data to which the specific image is added by a user's print instruction operation, for example, an operation of the copy start button 55f. Note that the preview display control unit 22 can also preview the image data to which the specific image is added as described above.

The preview display of the present invention will be described in detail.
Here, as described above, when a document is copied, in order to print characters such as “confidential” in a predetermined area of the printed material, the user selects the “confidential” button on the stamp selection screen 54 shown in FIG. It is assumed that 54a is operated. Note that the user sets printing conditions such as the number of copies via the operation screen, operation buttons, and the like after the operation.

Upon receiving an instruction from the user to add a specific image to the image data via the stamp selection screen 54 in FIG. 4, the specific image adding unit 21 that has received the instruction sets the preview execution flag to ON.
Subsequently, when the user operates the start key 12b of the operation panel 12, the document set on the ADF is read by the scanner unit 13, and image data corresponding to the document is generated. The generated image data is subjected to various image processing and recorded in the HDD 16.

Next, when the preview display control unit 22 confirms that the preview execution flag is ON, the image data generated by the scanner unit 13 is displayed on the display panel 12a of the operation panel 12 as shown in FIG. To do.
Further, when the user operates the finish display button 55b on the preview screen 55, as shown in FIG. 6, the image data with the “top secret” stamp added is displayed.

When the user operates the copy start button 55f on the preview screen 55 after confirming the preview screen 55 displayed on the display panel 12a, the specific image adding unit 21 sets “top secret” or the like on the image data recorded on the HDD 16. A character image is added, and the image data with the character image added is output to the image forming unit 14.
The image forming unit 14 that has received the image data prints a print image of the image data on a sheet. If the user who has confirmed the preview screen determines that printing is not performed as desired, the set printing conditions can be canceled and the printing conditions can be reset.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart for explaining the preview display.
For example, when the user sets a copy document in the ADF of the image forming apparatus 1 (step S1) and sets the printing conditions, the stamp selection screen 54 displayed on the operation panel 12a shown in FIG. The “top secret” button 54a is operated (step S2).

  When the user operates the start key 12b of the operation panel 12 (step S3), the original set on the ADF is read by the scanner unit 13, and image data corresponding to the original is generated (step S4).

  Next, the image forming apparatus 1 determines whether or not an instruction to add a stamp such as “confidential” to the image data is given (step S5). The determination is performed by confirming that the review execution flag is on as described above.

  When instructed (step S5 / YES), as shown in FIG. 5, the image data generated by the scanner unit 13 is preview-displayed on the display panel 12a of the operation panel 12 (step S6).

  When the user confirms the preview screen 55 displayed on the display panel 12a and then instructs the resetting of the printing conditions via the operation screen or the like (step S7 / YES), the instruction is received. The image forming apparatus 1 resets the printing conditions (step S8).

When the copy start button 55f on the preview screen 55 is operated (step S9), image data is printed by the image forming unit 14 based on the set printing conditions (step S10).
In the printing process in step S10, if there is an instruction to add a stamp in step S5, a stamp such as “confidential” is added to the image data generated by the scanner unit 13 by the specific image adding unit 21, and the stamp is added. The added image data is printed by the image forming unit 14.
If there is no instruction to add a stamp in step S5, the image data generated by the scanner unit 13 is printed based on the set printing conditions.

When the user instructs the preview display, the preview display is executed even when the user has not received an instruction to add a stamp such as “top secret”.
In step S6, the user who viewed the displayed image data operates the finish display button 55b of the preview screen 55 to display the image data 55c with the “confidential” stamp added. You may instruct.
If the printing conditions are not reset at step S7 (step S7 / NO), the resetting process at step S8 is not performed, and the processes after step S9 are performed.

  As described above, not only the image data generated by the scanner but also the image data from the facsimile apparatus 2 and the PC 3 can be added with a stamp such as “top secret” to be displayed as a preview. In this case, the received image data is selected in step S1 of the flowchart of FIG. Thereafter, the processing after step S2 excluding step S4 is executed.

(Example 2)
Next, a preview display process executed based on a print instruction from the PC 3 connected to the image forming apparatus 1 via the network N will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.
Here, it is assumed that the printer driver of the image forming apparatus 1 is already installed in the PC 3.

The user activates the printer driver of the image forming apparatus 1 installed in the PC 3, and displays a stamp selection screen (watermark setting screen) 56 shown in FIG. 12 on the display device of the PC 3 (step S11).
In order to add the “top secret” stamp to the image data, the user selects “top secret” from the drop-down list 56a (step S12), that is, sets the printing conditions.

When the OK button 56b is operated after setting (step S13), the printer driver of the PC 3 generates image data to be printed and transmits it to the image forming apparatus 1 (step S14).
In step S12, when “top secret” is selected from the drop-down list 56a and the OK button 56b is operated, additional information (flag) instructing to add a specific image (such as “top secret”) is displayed on the printer. It is attached to the image data generated by the driver.

  When the preview display control unit 22 of the image forming apparatus 1 that has received the image data confirms that the additional information is attached to the image data (step S15 / YES), as shown in FIG. The received image data is displayed on the display panel 12a of the operation panel 12 (step S16).

  If the user confirms the preview screen 55 displayed on the display panel 12a and then instructs the resetting of the printing conditions via the operation screen or the like (step S17 / YES), the image formation that has received the instruction The apparatus 1 resets the printing conditions (step S18).

  Next, when the user operates the start key 12b of the operation panel 12 (step S19), the image data is printed by the image forming unit 14 based on the set printing conditions (step S20).

  In this way, preview display is also possible by a print instruction from the PC, so that convenience for the user is improved.

An operation screen is shown. The special function screen is shown. The print menu screen is shown. The stamp selection screen is shown. A preview screen is shown. It shows another preview screen. 1 is a diagram illustrating a state in which an image forming apparatus according to the present invention is connected to an external apparatus via a network. 1 is a functional block diagram of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention. It is the figure which showed the external appearance of the operation panel. It is a flowchart for demonstrating a preview display. It is a flowchart for demonstrating the preview display performed based on the printing instruction | indication from PC. The stamp selection screen is shown.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Image forming apparatus, 2 ... Facsimile apparatus, 3 ... PC, 11 ... Network I / F, 12 ... Operation panel, 12a ... Display panel, 12b ... Start key, 13 ... Scanner part, 14 ... Image forming part, 15 ... Memory, 16... HDD, 17... Control section, 21... Specific image addition section, 22... Preview display control section, 51... Operation screen, 51 a. Print menu screen, 53a ... Stamp button, 54 ... Stamp selection screen, 54a ... "Top secret" button, 55 ... Preview screen, 55a, 55c ... Image data, 55b ... Finish display button, 55d ... Area, 55f ... Copy start button, 56 ... Stamp selection screen, 56a ... Drop-down list, 56b ... OK button.

Claims (4)

In an image forming apparatus capable of previewing image data,
An image adding unit for adding a predetermined specific image to image data to be printed;
When instructed to add the specific image to the image data to be printed, the image data to be printed is automatically previewed before printing, and then the image data to be printed is displayed on the image data to be printed by a print instruction operation. An image forming apparatus for printing image data to which a specific image is added.   Based on the user's operation instructing to add the specific image to the image data to be printed or the additional information instructing to add the specific image attached to the image data to be printed, the image data to be printed The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the specific image is added.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the preview display displays image data to which the specific image is added.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the specific image is a character image such as “top secret”, “confidential”, or “important”.

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