JP2011046116A - Image forming apparatus and image forming method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming apparatus which can stop a job without outputting useless printed matter when a desired output is not obtained. <P>SOLUTION: The image forming apparatus which holds accumulated image data and constraint-condition information at outputting the image data includes a reception means which receives a processing request of image formation for the accumulated image data, a determination means for determining whether the output after applying the processing request to the accumulated image data is in agreement with the constraint-condition information, and a stopping means for stopping the execution of the processing request when the agreement is confirmed. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a technique for outputting a plurality of image data including accumulated data in an image forming apparatus.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there is an image forming apparatus (hereinafter referred to as “multifunction machine”) in which functions of each apparatus such as a printer, a copy machine, a facsimile machine, and a scanner are housed in a single casing. There is already known a technique for storing the image data once and using the image data stored according to the user's request to re-output. For example, the copy accumulation function accumulates a print image, so that when the accumulated document is reprinted, it can be printed with the same finish.

  However, in the technology for reprinting a stored document so far, there is no mention of a case where desired printing cannot be performed depending on the image size, color mode, and user operation conditions of the stored document. For example, if an A4 or B4 size image is included in an accumulated document and stapling at different widths is not possible due to device restrictions, it is necessary to detect a different width document and stop the printing operation. There has been a problem that wasteful printed matter is output without being detected in advance (Patent Document 1, etc.).

  In view of the above problems, the present invention adds page information such as size and color mode to each page included in the stored document, and can be processed using the setting conditions and page information after executing the job and before starting the printing operation. An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus that, when checked, determines that output cannot be performed, immediately cancels the job, and cancels the job without outputting useless printed matter when a desired output cannot be obtained. .

  In one form of the disclosed image forming apparatus, when the input image group is printed or transmitted outside the apparatus according to the operation setting, or stored in the internal storage device, the input image group is edited according to the image editing setting in the operation setting. Page information storage means for storing the image information as page information for each stored page, and the storage selected when the stored image is output again. When page information reading means for expanding the page information of a document and setting operation means for setting output conditions for each document or page are provided, and the settings set by the user are reflected on the page for the output target image Before starting the output operation, it is determined whether appropriate image processing is possible for each page from the information read by the page information reading means. Characterized in that it stops the action.

  The image forming apparatus adds page information such as size and color mode to each page included in the stored document, checks whether processing is possible using the setting conditions and page information after executing the job and before starting the printing operation, and outputs it. If the determination is impossible, the job is immediately stopped. Therefore, if a desired output cannot be obtained, the job can be canceled without outputting useless printed matter.

  Further, according to an embodiment of the disclosed image forming apparatus, an output condition storage unit that stores an output condition set by a user with respect to page information included in an accumulated document, and an output condition storage unit that stores the output condition when the output operation starts. Output condition reading means for reading out information, and when the setting read from the output condition reading means is reflected in the setting for the page, it is determined whether or not image processing can be appropriately performed and Is characterized in that the output operation is stopped.

  The image forming apparatus develops the output conditions for each page, further determines whether the output can be performed taking into account user settings, and if the output is determined not to be performed, the job is immediately stopped, and thus the desired output cannot be obtained. It is possible to cancel a job without outputting useless prints.

  Further, in one form of the disclosed image forming apparatus, when outputting the stored image and the image read by the image input unit as one document, page information and output condition information are created from the image, and based on the information. It is determined whether or not image processing can be appropriately performed. When it is determined that image processing is not possible, the output operation is stopped.

  In the case of multiple inputs, the image forming apparatus described above creates page information and output condition information of the read image for the read document, and determines whether or not image processing can be appropriately performed based on the information. When the determination is made and the output is determined to be impossible, the output operation is stopped. Therefore, when a desired output cannot be obtained even in the output of the original and the accumulated document, the job can be canceled without outputting a wasteful printed matter.

  Further, in one form of the disclosed image forming apparatus, when it is determined that image processing is impossible, the output operation is interrupted, the output is interrupted or continued, or the user waits for an instruction to continue. When is selected, the condition can be changed.

  The image forming apparatus needs to reset the conditions from the beginning after canceling the job, but waits for an instruction whether to continue printing, and after the selection is continued, the setting item can be changed. If only the setting that becomes an impossibility factor is changed, output can be continued and operability can be improved.

  According to another aspect of the disclosed image forming apparatus, when the print output continuation selection unit determines that the print output is to be continued, the setting that is the reason why the print is impossible is canceled and the output operation is continued.

  When the print output continuation selection unit determines that the print output is to be continued, the image forming apparatus described above cancels the setting that is the reason why printing cannot be performed. Can do.

  The disclosed image forming apparatus can cancel a job without outputting useless printed matter when a desired output cannot be obtained.

It is a control component block diagram of the image forming apparatus used in the embodiment. It is a sequence diagram for demonstrating condition setting. It is an example of a screen after setting conditions. FIG. 11 is a sequence diagram for explaining job generation and connection processing of the generated jobs. It is a sequence diagram for demonstrating the process when execution is performed to each filter. It is a sequence diagram for demonstrating the process of re-output condition storage. It is a figure which shows an example of the permanent data. It is a sequence diagram for demonstrating a document list. It is a display example of a stored document list. It is a sequence diagram for demonstrating re-output condition expansion | deployment processing. FIG. 11 is a sequence diagram for explaining accumulated document printing processing. It is a figure (pattern A) for demonstrating all the image checks. It is a figure (pattern B) for demonstrating all the image checks. It is a sequence diagram for demonstrating all the image checks. 6 is a flowchart of processing for determining whether or not output is possible depending on a different width in a print filter. It is a sequence diagram for demonstrating the basic operation of multiple inputs. It is a sequence diagram for demonstrating re-output condition expansion | deployment processing. It is an example of a screen which selects cancellation or continuation of processing.

The best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
<Component configuration>
The control component configuration of the image forming apparatus used in the embodiment is shown in FIG. The main responsibilities of the components in FIG. 1 are as follows.

  The multi-document 110 is an activity and is an application that mainly realizes a document operation system service by combining a plurality of components (particularly, filters). The reading filter 50 provides an image input function for reading an original by controlling a scanner device of the image forming apparatus and generating image data that can be handled in the apparatus. The editing filter 70 provides an image editing processing function by controlling an image processing unit (IPU) (not shown) in the image forming apparatus. The print filter 90 controls the plotter device of the image forming apparatus, thereby providing an image output function for outputting the image data processed in the device to a medium such as paper and outputting it to the outside of the device.

  Information (bibliographic information) 190 is an application that provides a user with a CRUD (Create, Read, Update, Delete) function for bibliographic information of the repository service 200 as a service. The archived document read-out 150 is a component that provides a function of retrieving permanent image data (stored document) by controlling the storage device of the image forming apparatus. The stored document registration 170 is a component that provides a function of making image data permanent (stored document) by controlling a storage device of the image forming apparatus.

  Each of the above components includes a “UI (User Interface)” module and a “logic” module. The behavior for the screen display and key press is “UI” module, and the operation setting enable / disable judgment and job control are “logic”. Implemented in modules.

  The repository service 200 is a component that provides a function (CRUD) for managing information (bibliographic information) for allowing a user to recognize image data persisted in a storage device of an image forming apparatus as a stored document. The data management 210 is a component that manages information that is permanently stored in the HDD, NV-RAM, or the like in the apparatus to control the apparatus.

Next, a case where data is stored while performing copy processing will be taken up.
<Condition setting process flow>
Next, condition setting will be described with reference to the sequence diagram shown in FIG. In this example, “page printing” and “combining” are set.

  Since a button is displayed on the editing UI 60 for setting “page printing”, “condition setting” is performed on the editing filter logic 70 via the editing UI 60 when the key is pressed. Since a button is displayed on the print UI 60 for the “aggregate” setting, “condition setting” is performed on the print filter logic 90 via the print UI 80 when a key is pressed.

  Next, settings for document storage will be described. Here, the document name of the stored document is set. As in the case of other settings, “condition setting” is performed on the stored document registration logic 170 from the operation unit device 10 via the stored document registration UI 160. FIG. 3 shows the screen after setting the conditions.

<Copy accumulation operation flow>
When the user finishes setting the conditions, the user presses the start key to execute it. A process in which copy accumulation is executed after the start key is pressed will be described. Here, job generation and connection processing of the generated jobs will be described using the sequence diagram shown in FIG.

  “Execute” is executed from the operation unit device 10 to the multi-document activity 110. In response to the execution, the multi-document activity 110 determines a job to be generated according to execution conditions, and generates a necessary job. Since the copy is stored, the filters to be used perform “job generation” for the reading filter 50, the editing filter 70, the printing filter 90, and the stored document registration filter 170, respectively.

  When a necessary filter job is generated, an image request source and a request destination are associated with each other so that an input is connected to an output. The filter receives an image from the image request destination (filter) associated here and performs processing in its own component. When the connection processing between the filters is completed, the multi-document activity 110 executes “execute” for each filter. The storage of re-output conditions will be described later separately.

  Next, processing when execution is performed on each filter will be described using the sequence diagram shown in FIG. The filter that has received the execution instruction makes an image acquisition request to the associated request filter through the pipe, and sequentially processes the acquired images. The processed image is sequentially sent to the request source filter via the pipe. When all the images obtained from the request destination filter are acquired and flowed to the request source filter, the job ends.

<Flow for saving the re-output conditions during copy accumulation>
Next, re-output condition storage processing will be described with reference to the sequence diagram shown in FIG. There are two types of re-output conditions, one that accompanies the job (job re-output condition) and one that accompanies the page (page re-output condition). The operation mode applied to all the images in the document It is called a job re-output condition, and the operation mode for each image to be output is called a page re-output condition. For example, the information on what paper size is printed out for each image page corresponds to the page re-output condition, and the operation mode “automatic paper selection” for printing out according to the page re-output condition is the job re-output condition. Applicable.

  The job re-output condition is stored after the start key is pressed and the connection between the pipe and the filter for realizing copy accumulation is completed. First, the multi-document activity 110 performs “add job re-output condition” to the stored document registration in order to associate the stored document with the output condition. Further, since the job re-output condition is used when printing the stored document that has been accumulated, the setting contents related to the input are not to be stored.

  When "Add job re-output condition" is performed, the condition set ID is returned. By specifying this ID in the multi-document activity 110 and storing the conditions of each filter, the job and page re-output conditions of each filter are grouped by one ID. Here, job re-output conditions relating to editing and printing are stored under the same condition set ID. In order to do this, the multi-document activity 110 performs “save conditions” to make the conditions for editing 70 and printing 90 permanent.

  When the editing 70 receives “store the condition”, the editing 70 instructs the data management 210 to make each setting parameter held in the condition permanent. When the data management 210 completes the data persistence, the storage ID for the persisted data can be acquired. When the conditions of the edit 70 have been made permanent, at least the condition set ID, the storage ID, and the name of the component to be saved are designated in order to store the storage ID and the condition set ID acquired when the conditions are made permanent. Perform "Set re-output condition". The same applies to the printing 90. When the printing is finished, the job re-output condition is stored.

  The page re-output condition is stored whenever a condition change is made by a user operation in the copy accumulation operation. Unlike the job re-output condition, the page re-output condition is associated with an image before the condition change.

  When the above processing is performed, the permanent data shown in FIG. 7 is generated. Permanent data is composed of bibliographic information, images, and re-output conditions, and the data to be stored differs depending on each activity and filter. The activity is the storage ID of each filter, and the filter is its own operating condition.

<Flow for printing a document>
Next, a process when outputting a document stored in advance in the device will be described. First, the document list will be described with reference to the sequence diagram shown in FIG. First, “document list key press” is performed on the multi-document activity 110 from the operation unit device 10. In response to this, the multi-document activity UI 100 performs a “document list request” to the stored document read UI 140, and the stored document read UI 140 performs a “document list request” to the stored document read filter 150.

  When receiving the “document list request”, the archived document read filter 150 performs a search for the bibliographic information repository service 200 for document search. The bibliographic information repository service 200 performs “search” on the data management 210 based on the set search condition. As a result of the search, when storage data matching the conditions can be acquired, they are returned to the storage document read filter 150.

  When the bibliographic information group is obtained, the archived document reading filter 150 notifies the archived document reading UI 140, and the archived document reading UI 140 notifies the multi-document activity UI 100. Thus, a stored document list as shown in FIG. 9 is displayed.

<Flow for selecting a document and expanding re-output conditions>
Next, the re-output condition expansion process will be described with reference to the sequence diagram shown in FIG. When a document to be output is selected in the stored document list, the operation unit device 10 notifies the stored document read UI 140 that the document has been selected. Similarly, the stored document read UI 140 performs “document selection” to inform the stored document read 150 that a document has been selected.

  The archived document reading 150 reads the detailed information of the selected document by performing “document reference” on the bibliographic information repository service 200. The bibliographic information repository service 200 performs “reference” to the data management 210. The archived document read-out 150 acquires the bibliographic information (not shown in the sequence diagram) based on the archive ID obtained from the bibliographic information repository service 200.

  The storage ID received at this time is temporarily held for the purpose of developing the re-output condition to be performed later. At that time, it is checked whether there is a re-output condition associated with the stored document. When the re-output condition is stored, the stored document reading UI 140 prompts the user by displaying on the screen whether or not to expand the re-output condition.

  When the user instructs to expand the re-output condition, “re-output condition expansion” is performed on the stored document read UI 140 from the operation unit device 10. Upon receiving this, similarly, the stored document reading UI 140 performs “job re-output condition expansion” for the stored document reading filter 150. The stored document read filter 150 extracts the storage ID of the condition to be expanded from the bibliographic information managed by the stored storage ID (1) (storage ID (edit: 65), storage ID (print: 52)). ).

  The stored document read filter 150 notifies that the necessity of developing the job re-output condition has occurred by the notification of “job re-output condition expansion”. Upon receiving the notification, the multi-document activity 110 uses the storage ID (storage ID (edit: 65), storage ID (print: 52)) passed from the stored document read filter 150 to set the re-output condition of each job. expand.

  The multi-document activity 110 designates a storage ID (65) for the editing filter 70 and performs “condition restoration”. The editing filter 70 performs “reference” on the data management and reads the condition made permanent with the storage ID (65). The page re-output is notified to the subsequent filter when the target image data is notified from the archived document read filter 150 to the edit filter 70.

Here, the entire image check performed in the present invention will be described.
<Overview of all image check>
When copying, when the first page is A4SEF and the second page is A3SEF, the first page is edited with a zoom ratio of 100% and the second page is specified with a zoom ratio of 71%. In the image, A4 of the first page of the read image and A3 of the second page are made permanent, and the following are stored as output conditions.
-Scaling setting: "1st page = 100%, 2nd page = 71%"
-Staple setting: "None"
(1) When the condition is not expanded When the above-mentioned stored document is output without expanding the output condition, if it is output without additional setting with respect to the stored document, the first page A4SEF and the second page A3SEF are output. However, when a staple is additionally set by a user instruction as in pattern A shown in FIG. 12, the accumulated image cannot be stapled because it has a different width image (when there is a device restriction that prevents stapling for a different width size).

  In this case, if the different width is checked at the timing when the transfer paper is actually output, the first page A4SEF transfer paper is output to the post-stapling machine, and the second width is detected only when the A3SEF transfer paper is output. Then, the job is interrupted. In such a process, the output of A4SEF on the first page is wasted, so that it is possible to prevent useless output by determining whether output is possible for all images before outputting the first transfer sheet. It becomes possible.

Further, according to a user instruction as in pattern B shown in FIG.
-Scaling setting: "1st page = 141%, 2nd page = 100%"
-Staple setting: "Yes"
Is set, all output images are A3SEF, so that they can be stapled with the same width. In the pattern A shown in FIG. 12, it is sufficient to determine whether or not stapling is possible with respect to the image size of the accumulated image. Cannot judge.

(2) Conditional expansion When outputting the above-mentioned accumulated document, when outputting with the output condition expanded, if output without additional setting for the accumulated document, the first page A4SEF, as with the output finish when the copy is accumulated, On the second page, A3SEF is scaled 71% and output as A4SEF. However, when a staple is additionally set according to a user instruction as in pattern A shown in FIG. 12, it can be output because it has the same width.

Further, according to a user instruction as in pattern B shown in FIG.
-Scaling setting: “1st page = 141%, 2nd page = 100%”
* The scaling factor here is based on the image size after adapting the output conditions. As for the editing setting method for each page by the user after developing the conditions, it is possible to invalidate the output condition of the designated page and set the accumulated image as 100%, but this is not important in the present invention.
-Staple setting: "Yes"
Is set, the output image is the first page A3SEF and the second page A4SEF, so stapling is impossible at different widths.

<First embodiment>
Immediately before the execution process shown in FIG. 14, the activity makes an all-image check request to each filter. Each filter receives this all-image check request, and when page information is notified from the preceding filter, it is set to a mode for checking whether output is possible.

  Further, the archived document read filter 150 receives the request for all image check and notifies the post-stage filter of the page information of the output accumulated document. The editing filter 70, which is the latter stage of the stored document read filter 150, receives the page information notified from the stored document read filter 150, and how the setting condition set in the edit filter 70 is processed according to the page condition. A process result is processed to generate a page result of the processing result editing filter, and the subsequent filter of the editing filter 70 is notified.

  The print filter 90, which is the subsequent stage of the edit filter 70, receives the page information notified from the edit filter 70 and determines the image information to be output by adapting the print settings, as before. The edit filter 70 and the output filter 90 respectively determine whether or not output is possible as a result of applying the set conditions to the page information received by itself during this all-image check process. NG is notified in response to the all image check for the activity.

  When the activity receives even one NG in the all-image check response event, the activity cancels the job. If OK is returned from all the filters in the all image check response event, the job execution process shown in FIG. 5 is performed. These output propriety determinations differ for each type of setting. Here, FIG. 15 shows a flowchart of the output impossibility determination by the print filter 90 with the different width & sort setting.

<Second embodiment>
When "Output condition expansion" is set, the stored document read filter 150 notifies the page condition to the activity for each page, expands the page condition from the activity to each filter, and then the activity completes the condition expansion to each filter. When the archived document reading 150 receives a condition expansion completion notification from the activity, it notifies the post filter of page information. Thereafter, as in the first embodiment, each subsequent filter checks whether or not output is possible based on the page conditions and user settings developed for the received page information.

<Third embodiment>
A function of outputting a scanned original image as an input image in addition to a selected stored document at the time of re-outputting the stored document is known as an existing technique. For these multiple input images, an original document image and output conditions are generated when reading a paper document to prevent invalid output, and the images generated by reading the paper document, output conditions, and stored documents are permanent. Check all images including the stored images and output conditions, and the all image check determination processing of the edit and print filters is the same as in the first embodiment and the second embodiment. The image can be checked.

  FIG. 16 shows an execution sequence diagram of a multi-input job. As shown in the sequence diagram of FIG. 16, the original read and the image read by the archived document are merged and printed. In the third embodiment, a multi-input all-image check is performed by the same control as that of accumulated document printing by performing a read image and an output condition on an image read from an original like an accumulated document image at the time of copying accumulation. . As an example, a case where a stored document image is merged and output after paper original reading is given.

  As in the case shown in FIG. 6, the original is first read, and the output conditions are stored for the read image. In this case, it is not necessary to save in the permanent area as in copy accumulation. The activity holds the storage ID stored in the memory, and all images are checked as shown in FIG. In these flows, only a reading filter 50 is added as an input filter to FIG. 14, all image check requests are made to all filters, and each filter is checked to be able to output the notified page information. It is possible to determine whether output is possible.

<Fourth embodiment>
When NG is notified from the filter to the activity in the all-image check process, the state of the activity is suspended, and a “stop” and “continue” selection screen as shown in FIG. 18 is displayed on the UI. When the user selects “Cancel”, job cancel processing is executed as shown in FIG. When “Continue” is selected, the screen transitions to a screen in which conditions can be changed, and the user can continue the job by changing the conditions that cause output failure and starting again.

<Fifth embodiment>
In the fourth embodiment, when “Continue” is selected, the filter automatically cancels the condition that is an impossible factor, and the job execution is continued. In the case of continuation, the processing is performed again from the all image check processing.

  Although the embodiment of the present invention has been described in detail above, the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiment, and various modifications are possible within the scope of the gist of the present invention described in the claims.・ Change is possible.

10 Operation device 20 Plug-in management UI
30 Plug-in management 40 Reading UI (input 1)
50 Reading filter (input 1)
60 Editing UI (Processing 1)
70 Editing filter (Processing 1)
80 Print UI (Output 1)
90 Print filter (Output 1)
100 Multi-document activity UI
110 Multi-document activity 120 Editing UI (Processing 2)
130 Editing filter (Processing 2)
140 Storage read UI (input 2)
150 Storage readout filter (input 2)
160 Storage Registration UI (Output 2)
170 Storage registration filter (Output 2)
180 Bibliographic Information UI
190 Bibliographic Information 200 Bibliographic Information Repository Service 210 Data Management

JP 2007-104639 A

Claims (5)

An image forming apparatus that holds accumulated image data and constraint condition information when outputting the image data,
Accepting means for accepting an image formation processing request for the accumulated image data;
Determining means for determining whether an output after the processing request is made to the stored image data matches the constraint condition information;
An image forming apparatus, comprising: a stop unit that stops execution of the processing request when the determination unit determines that they match. When the accumulated image data is output from the image forming apparatus, the output condition information applied to the accumulated image data is retained,
The determination unit includes a determination unit that applies the output condition information to the accumulated image data and determines whether an output after the processing request is matched with the constraint condition information. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1. Input receiving means for receiving input image data;
The accepting means accepts an image formation processing request for the accumulated image data and the input image data;
3. The determination unit according to claim 1, wherein the determination unit determines whether an output after the processing request is applied to the accumulated image data and the input image data matches the constraint condition information. 4. The image forming apparatus described.   4. The image formation according to claim 1, further comprising: a condition change accepting unit that accepts a condition change of the process request from a user when the execution of the process request is stopped by the stop unit. 5. apparatus. An image forming method in an image forming apparatus that holds accumulated image data and constraint condition information when outputting image data,
A step of receiving an image formation processing request for the stored image data;
A step of determining whether or not an output after making the processing request on the accumulated image data matches the constraint condition information;
And a step of stopping the execution of the processing request when the determination unit determines that the stop unit matches.

Images