JP2011194665A - Image forming apparatus, image forming system, and image forming method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming apparatus, an image forming system and an image forming method which can manage a printed matter even in the case of the failure to take the printed matter.SOLUTION: The image forming method includes a printing step for making a print on a paper based on a print job including the processing information on the failure to take the printed matter received from a client terminal, a detection step for detecting whether the printed matter printed in the printing step exists on a paper discharge tray, a reading step for reading the processing information printed in the printed matter, a control step for managing the processing information read in the reading step, a determination step for determining whether the processing for the failure to take the printed matter is to be executed based on the processing information, and a post processing step for attaining the post processing established when it is determined in the determination step that the processing for the failure to take the printed matter is to be executed.

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, an image forming system, and an image forming method.

  In many cases, the user of the client terminal forgets to leave the printed matter output on the discharge tray of the image forming apparatus connected to the plurality of client terminals and leaves it on the discharge tray. In that case, it is in a state where multiple people's printed materials are mixed and overflowing on the paper discharge tray, and it takes time to find just your own, or if confidential information is written on the printed materials, an unspecified number of others There is a concern that confidential information can be seen.

  In view of this, a technique has been developed and is already known (for example, patents) for notifying the user's client terminal display instructing printing when there is forgetting to remove printed matter on the paper output tray of the image forming apparatus. Reference 1).

  The image forming apparatus described in Patent Document 1 includes “authentication information input means for inputting user authentication information, and inputs user authentication information to the authentication information input means for a user who removes a printed matter on a paper discharge tray. An operation is requested and management processing of unacquired printed matter management information is executed based on an input operation of user authentication information ”.

  According to the image forming apparatus described in Patent Document 1, the printed material discharged onto the paper discharge tray is managed in association with the user information of the user who requested printing of the printed material, and the printed material is appropriately transferred from the paper discharge tray. It is possible to manage whether it has been acquired, and it is possible to prevent the printed matter from being left on the paper discharge tray or the like forever.

  However, in an image forming apparatus that notifies the user that he / she has forgotten to remove the printed matter, even if the user is notified that he / she has forgotten to remove the printed matter, if the user misses the notification, the printed matter is not removed from the tray and is left as it is. It was. For this reason, there is a problem that it takes time to find one's printed matter and leaks confidential information because paper overflows on the tray even if you forget to take it later.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus, an image forming system, and an image forming method capable of managing a printed matter even when the printed matter is forgotten.

  In order to solve the above problem, the invention described in claim 1 is a printing unit that prints on a sheet based on a print job received from a client terminal and includes processing information relating to forgetting to remove printed matter, and the printing on a paper discharge tray. Managing detection means for detecting whether or not there is a printed matter printed by the means, reading means for reading the processing information printed on the printed matter, and processing information relating to forgetting to remove the printed matter read by the reading means Management means, determination means for determining whether or not to perform processing related to forgetting to be performed on the printed material based on processing information related to forgetting to remove the printed material, and execution of the processing related to forgetting to be performed by the determination means And a post-processing means for realizing the set post-processing when it is determined.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, when the printed matter managed by the managing means is not detected on the paper discharge tray by the detecting means, the user who gives an instruction to print the printed matter. And a take-out notification means for notifying the client terminal that the printed matter has been taken away from the paper discharge tray.

  The invention according to claim 3 is the invention according to claim 1, wherein the post-processing means sets a plurality of forgetting when the processing information on forgetting to remove the printed matter from the client terminal includes a plurality of times until the post-processing. It is characterized in that the processing relating to is realized step by step along the passage of time.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the invention, when the client terminal displays processing information and processing status related to the forgetting managed by the management means, the user who set the processing information is displayed. It further comprises limiting means for limiting only the client terminal to display.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming system comprising: a client terminal; and an image forming apparatus that prints on a sheet based on a print job received from the client terminal and including processing information relating to forgetting to remove a printed matter. The client terminal has setting means for setting processing information related to forgetting to remove a printed matter printed by the image forming apparatus, and the image forming apparatus uses a print job including processing information relating to forgetting to remove the printed matter. Printing means for printing on the paper, detection means for detecting whether or not the printed matter is present on a paper discharge tray, reading means for reading processing information relating to forgetting to remove the printed matter printed on the printed matter, and the reading means Management means for managing processing information relating to forgetting to remove the printed matter read by the method, and relating to forgetting to remove the printed matter Based on the physical information, a determination unit that determines whether or not to perform the process related to forgetting to be performed on the printed matter, and the set after the determination unit determines to execute the process related to forgetting to remove And post-processing means for realizing the processing.

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a printing process for printing on a sheet based on a print job including processing information relating to forgetting to remove a printed matter received from a client terminal, and a printed matter printed on the discharge tray by the printing step. Management for managing detection process for detecting whether or not it exists, reading process for reading processing information on forgetting to remove printed matter printed on the printed matter, and management information for forgetting to remove the printed matter read in the reading step Based on the process and processing information on forgetting to remove the printed matter, a determination step for determining whether or not to execute the processing on forgetting to print is determined, and the determination step determines that the processing for forgetting to perform is performed. And a post-processing step for realizing the set post-processing.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an image forming apparatus, an image forming system, and an image forming method capable of managing a printed matter even if the printed matter is forgotten.

(A) is a side conceptual diagram showing an embodiment of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention, (b) is a conceptual plan view of (a), and (c) is shown in (b). FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of a temporary storage tray. (A) is a block diagram which shows an example of the printing apparatus of the image forming apparatus which concerns on this invention, (b) is an arrow line view of the arrow IIa direction of the stopper shown to (a), (c) [FIG. 4B] A diagram showing a state where the gate of (b) is raised. FIG. 2 is a perspective conceptual view of a post-processing device used in the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 1. It is a conceptual diagram which shows an example of the image forming system containing the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. (A) is an example of a block diagram of the client terminal shown in FIG. 4, and (b) is an example of a block diagram of the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. FIG. 5A is an example of a functional block diagram of the client terminal illustrated in FIG. 5A, and FIG. 5B is an example of a functional block diagram of the image forming apparatus illustrated in FIG. FIG. 3 is an example of a sequence diagram illustrating an operation of the image forming system according to the present invention. 6 is an example of a flowchart showing a post-processing operation of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention. (A), (b) is explanatory drawing of the post-forgetting process information printed by the image forming apparatus shown to Fig.1 (a)-(c). It is explanatory drawing about the post-forgetting process information set to each printed matter.

<Features>
An embodiment of the present invention will be described.
The image forming apparatus according to the present invention has the following characteristics in post-processing when a printed matter is left unattended.
In short, the image forming apparatus automatically stores only its own printed matter separately from the paper discharge tray when the printed matter is left unattended, and sets the time until post-processing freely. It is characterized by automatically discarding it with a shredder if it is left as above.

[Constitution]
1A is a side conceptual view showing an embodiment of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention, FIG. 1B is a plan conceptual view of FIG. 1A, and FIG. ) Is an explanatory diagram of the temporary storage tray shown in FIG. 2A is an example of a structural diagram of the main body of the printing apparatus used in the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 2B is a view of the vicinity of the paper discharge tray shown in FIG. FIG. 2C is a diagram illustrating a state in which the stopper gate of the paper discharge tray illustrated in FIG. 2B is raised. 3 is a perspective conceptual view of a post-processing apparatus used in the image forming apparatus shown in FIG.

<Image forming apparatus>
An image forming apparatus 50 illustrated in FIGS. 1A to 1C includes a printing apparatus 1 and a post-processing apparatus 51.
The printing apparatus 1 includes a printer engine 2 that is an image forming unit, a paper discharge tray 3, a paper sensor 4, a post-processing information reading unit 6, a conveyance guide 8, and a roller 9.

<Printing device>
The printing apparatus will be described with reference to FIGS.
FIG. 2A is a configuration diagram showing an example of a printing apparatus of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention, and FIG. 2B is a view as viewed in the direction of arrow IIa of the stopper shown in FIG. FIG. 2C is a diagram showing a state in which the gate of FIG. 2B is raised.

An image reading apparatus 100 shown in FIG. 2A includes a contact glass 101 on which a document 105 is mounted, a sheet-through reading window 102, a reference white plate 103 for white level adjustment and shading correction data generation, and a light source 107 that irradiates the document 105. And a first carriage 109 on which the first mirror 108 is mounted, a second mirror 110, a second carriage 112 on which the third mirror 111 is mounted, and a home position sensor (hereinafter referred to as HPS) provided for detecting the carriage position. 117), a lens unit 113 for reducing and forming an image on a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) image sensor (hereinafter referred to as CCD) 114, an image reading circuit 115 equipped with a CCD 114 as a photoelectric conversion element, an image processing circuit 116, Scanner drive for driving the first carriage 109 and the second carriage 112 Motor, and a document sensor.
Reference numeral 12 denotes a post-processing device control device that controls the post-processing device 51.

  In the above configuration, when the document 105 is mounted on the contact glass 101, the light source 107 is turned on, and the first carriage 109 and the second carriage 112 are rotated by a control signal from a control unit (not shown). By moving the light source 107, the light source 107 is turned on while the first carriage 109 and the second carriage 112 are stopped. A method of reading the document image information by irradiating the other document 106 conveyed by the document conveying device 104 via 102 can be selected.

  When scanning the first carriage 109 and reading the document 105, the data of the reference white plate 103 is acquired and the shading correction data is generated and stored in the memory before reading the document 105, and the shading correction data is stored. Thus, by normalizing the image data of the document 105, the light distribution unevenness and the CCD sensitivity unevenness in the image reading device are corrected, and the image information of the document 105 is read with high quality.

The image data subjected to the shading correction process is output to an image processing unit (not shown).
In the case of sheet-through reading where the original 106 is conveyed and the original image data is read while the first carriage 109 is stopped, the first carriage 109 is first placed under the reference white plate 103 prior to reading the original 106. It is moved to generate shading correction data, and after returning to the sheet-through reading position, the conveyance of the document is started and the document reading operation is started.

Hereinafter, the printer engine 2 having a mechanical structure that substantially performs printing will be described.
A neutralizing device L, a cleaning device 202, a charging device 203, and a developing device 205 are arranged on the outer periphery of the photosensitive member 201 that is rotatably supported and rotates in the directions of arrows a to d in FIG. It is installed.

Between the charging device 203 and the developing device 205 on the outer periphery of the photoconductor 201, a space for allowing light information emitted from the exposure device 204 to enter is secured.
In the configuration shown in FIG. 2A, there are four photosensitive members 201 (201a, 201b, 201c, and 201d), but only the color of the color material (toner) handled by the developing device 205 is different. The above-described component configuration for image formation is the same.

  The photoconductor 201 is configured by providing an organic semiconductor layer, which is a photoconductive substance, on the surface of an aluminum cylinder having a diameter of about 30 mm to 100 mm, and a part of the photoconductor 201 is in contact with the intermediate transfer belt 210.

  The intermediate transfer belt 210 is supported by rotating rollers 211, 212, 213, and 214, and is stretched so as to be movable in the direction of arrow e in FIG. On the back side of the intermediate transfer belt 210 (inside the loop), a roller 212 as a first transfer unit is provided in the vicinity of the photoconductor 201 to transfer a visible image on the photoconductor 201 to the intermediate transfer belt 210.

  An intermediate transfer belt cleaning device 250 is disposed outside the belt loop of the intermediate transfer belt 210 and downstream of the position where the visible image is transferred from the intermediate transfer belt 210 to the intermediate transfer belt 200 for paper or back surface. The brush of the cleaning device 250 wipes off unnecessary toner remaining on the surface of the belt after another visible image is transferred from the intermediate transfer belt 210.

The brush roller 250a shown in FIG. 2A is in a state separated from the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 200 for the back surface. The brush roller 250a is provided so as to be swingable about a fulcrum 250A, and has a structure capable of contacting and separating from the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 200 for the back surface.
Before the toner image transferred from the intermediate transfer belt 210 is transferred to the paper 5, that is, when the intermediate transfer belt 200 for the back surface carries the toner image, the toner image is separated and transferred to the paper 5 for cleaning. When it becomes necessary, the brush roller is swung in the counterclockwise direction in FIG.
The removed unnecessary toner is collected in the toner storage unit 250B.

  The exposure device 204 uses a known laser system, and irradiates light information corresponding to full-color image formation onto the surface of the uniformly charged photoconductor 201 as a latent image. As the exposure device 204, an exposure device including an LED array and an image forming unit may be used.

  As described above, the photosensitive member 201, the cleaning device 202, the charging device 203, the exposure device 204, the developing device 205, the charge eliminating device L, and the first transfer unit 212 are added to the intermediate transfer belt 210. It functions as image forming means for generating a visible image (image with toner) to be transferred.

The intermediate transfer belt 210 is a belt based on a resin film or rubber having a base thickness of 50 μm to 600 μm, and has a resistance value that enables transfer of toner from the photoreceptor 211.
A belt-like back surface intermediate transfer belt 200 is disposed on the right side of FIG. 2A with respect to the intermediate transfer belt 210. The back surface intermediate transfer belt 200 is supported by rotating rollers 216, 217, and 219, and is stretched so as to be movable in the direction of the arrow f in FIG. 2A. The transfer means 2 18 is provided. Outside the belt loop formed by the back surface intermediate transfer belt 200, the back surface intermediate transfer belt cleaning device 250, the charger CH, and the like are disposed.

  The intermediate transfer belt 210 and the back surface intermediate transfer belt 200 are brought into contact with each other by the second transfer means 218, rollers 216, 217, and 219, and the roller 214 that supports the intermediate transfer belt 210. Form a transfer nip.

  The intermediate transfer belt for back surface 200 is a belt having a base of a resin film or rubber having a base thickness of 50 μm to 600 μm, and has a resistance value that enables transfer of toner from the intermediate transfer belt 210.

The sheet 5 is stored in sheet feeding devices (sheet feeding cassettes) 226-1 and 226-2 in the lower part of FIG. 2A, and the uppermost sheet is fed by the sheet feeding roller 227 one by one and a plurality of guides 229. Then, it is conveyed to the registration roller pair 228.
On the downstream side of the sheet 5, a fixing heating unit 230, a sheet discharge guide pair 231, a sheet discharge roller pair 232, a conveyance guide 8, and a discharge port side sheet discharge roller pair 9 are disposed.

Further, a paper discharge tray 3 for discharging the paper 5 is provided downstream of the discharge port side paper discharge roller pair 9, and a paper sensor 4 is provided. The paper sensor 4 is a sensor for detecting whether or not the paper 5 is present on the paper tray 3, and for example, a reflection type photo interrupter is used.
A vertical stopper 7 is provided at the lower end of the paper discharge tray 3. A slit 7 c through which one sheet 5 can pass is formed at the lower end of the stopper 7. A gate 7b that can be moved up and down by an actuator 7a is provided on the main body side (left side in the figure) of the stopper 7. Although the gate 7b is shown at a position higher than the slit 7c in the figure, it is actually set so as to rise only to a height at which only 51 sheets can pass (see FIGS. 2B and 2C).
Post-processing information reading means 6 is provided at the lower end of the gate 7b. The post-processing information reading means 6 is for reading the post-processing information printed on the end portion of the paper 5, and for example, a linear sensor (or area sensor) as shown in the figure is used.
Reference numeral 3a denotes a support rod (a triangular plate may be used) for supporting the discharge tray 3. However, the discharge tray 3 may not have sufficient strength.

  A storage portion TS that can store replenishment toner is provided above the intermediate transfer belt 210 in FIG. There are four toner colors, magenta, cyan, yellow, and black, which are in the form of a cartridge TC. From the cartridge TC, the corresponding color developing device is appropriately supplied by a powder pump or the like.

  The frame 251 that is a part of the apparatus main body has a structure that can be rotated and opened around the opening / closing support shaft 251A. For this reason, the user can open the conveyance path of the sheet 5 by opening the frame 251 to facilitate the processing of the sheet 5 when a jam occurs.

  In addition, an image reading device is connected to the upper portion of the apparatus main body that performs image formation on the paper 5 described above, and the image data read by the image reading apparatus is printed on the paper 5 by the above-described apparatus main body so that a copy can be made. It is configured to allow operation.

An operation / display unit (display means and input means) is provided on the outer periphery of the image reading apparatus. This operation / display unit includes various buttons such as a touch panel and numeric keys for notifying the user of various types of operation information by display and receiving operation inputs.
The user performs various operations such as one-side / double-side switching of a copy, start of a copy operation, setting of the number of copies, and switching between a copy function and a printer function by using the operation / input unit.

<Post-processing device>
The post-processing apparatus will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 (a) to 1 (c) and FIG.
The post-processing device 51 includes belt conveyors 11a, 11b, 11e, and 11f, swivel belt conveyors 11c and 11d, a shredder 20, and an envelope sealing device 21.

Under the stopper 7 of the paper discharge tray 3 of the printing apparatus 1, a swiveling belt conveyor 11c capable of turning 90 degrees as shown by a broken line with respect to the discharge direction of the printing apparatus 1 is disposed.
Assume that the home position is a state in which the conveying direction of the swivel belt conveyor 11c is the same as the discharge direction of the printing apparatus 1, and the discharge side at the home position is 90 as shown by the broken line with respect to the discharge direction of the printing apparatus 1. A swivel belt conveyor 11d capable of swiveling is arranged.
In the case where the conveying position of the swivel belt conveyor 11d is in the same direction as the discharging direction of the printing apparatus 1 is the home position, and when it is turned 90 degrees as shown by the broken line, it is conveyed as it is in the upward direction of FIG. In addition to being able to do this, the conveyance direction can be reversed so as to be downward in FIG.
A belt conveyor 11f is disposed on the discharge side of the swivel belt conveyor 11d at the home position. On the discharge side of the belt conveyor 11f, a known envelope enclosing device 21 that encloses the conveyed paper 5 in an envelope 22 is disposed (for example, JP-A-7-223604, JP-A-10-77153). JP 2005-205761 A). It is assumed that the name of the owner of the paper 5 is written on the envelope 22.

On one discharge side (lower side in FIG. 1B) of the swivel belt conveyor 11d when turning 90 degrees, the belt conveyor 11e is arranged in a direction orthogonal to the transport direction of the printing apparatus 1, and the belt conveyor 11e is discharged. A shredder 20 for cutting and crushing the paper 5 is disposed on the side (the lower side in FIG. 1B).
On the other discharge side (upper side in FIG. 1A) of the swivel belt conveyor 11 d when turning 90 degrees, the belt conveyor 11 b is arranged in a direction orthogonal to the transport direction of the printing apparatus 1.
On the discharge side (upper side in FIG. 1A) of the swivel belt conveyor 11c when turning 90 degrees, the belt conveyor 11a is arranged in a direction orthogonal to the conveying direction of the printing apparatus 1.

On the discharge side of the belt conveyor 11b, a self-propelled temporary saving tray 10 is waiting. For example, as shown in FIG. 1C, the temporary saving tray 10 includes a tray portion 10a, a housing 10b that supports the tray portion 10a, a motor 10c provided in the housing 10b, and an output of the motor 10c. The shaft includes a worm gear 10d provided on the shaft, flat gears 10e to 10g screwed so as to be orthogonal to the worm gear 10d, drive wheels 10h directly connected to the flat gear 10g, and rolling wheels 10i. The temporary storage tray 10 can travel on a pair of rails 10j arranged in parallel with the discharge direction of the printing apparatus 1.
The paper 5 discharged from the belt conveyor 11b when placed on the discharge side (home position) of the belt conveyor 11b is placed, or placed when moved to the carry-in side (broken line) of the belt conveyor 11a. The sheet 5 is sucked by a suction means (not shown) and placed on the belt conveyor 11a.

  The post-processing control device 12 shown in FIG. 3 is for controlling the post-processing of the paper 5 that is a printed material placed on the paper discharge tray 3, and has a management table related to post-processing information of the paper 5. In addition, based on the information in the management table, an instruction is given to move only the conveyor to be transported to the corresponding post-processing in the belt conveyor group 11. Further, when it is determined that there is no printed material to be post-processed on the paper discharge tray 3 based on the information in the management table, the evacuated printed material is returned to the paper discharge tray 3 with respect to the temporary retreat tray 10. Give instructions.

  The belt conveyor group 11 can transport the printed material sent from the paper discharge tray 3 to a post-processing device (a shredder 20 or a sealing device 21 for sealing in an envelope) or a temporary retreat tray 10.

  The temporary evacuation tray 10 is for temporarily evacuating the printed material in the paper discharge tray 3, and can temporarily hold the printed material conveyed from the belt conveyor group 11. . Further, the temporary evacuation tray 10 is movable, and upon receiving an instruction from the post-processing control device 12, the temporarily evacuated printed matter can be returned to the paper discharge tray 3.

<Image forming system>
FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram illustrating an example of an image forming system including the image forming apparatus illustrated in FIG.
4 includes an image forming apparatus 50 and a plurality of client terminals 31-1, 31-2,..., 31-n connected to the image forming apparatus 50 via a network 30. .

FIG. 5A is an example of a block diagram of the client terminal shown in FIG. 4, and FIG. 5B is an example of a block diagram of the image forming apparatus shown in FIG.
The client terminals 31-1 to 31-n (n is a natural number of 2 or more) are a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 41, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 42, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 43, an I / O (Input / Output). ) 44, display unit 45, operation unit 46, and bus line 47.
The CPU 41 has a function of performing overall control of the client terminal, and for example, a microprocessor is used.
The ROM 42 stores a control program permanently, and for example, a mask ROM is used.
The RAM 43 temporarily stores post-processing information, and for example, a flash memory is used.
The I / O 44 is for exchanging information with an external circuit. For example, a USB (Universal Serial Bus line) terminal is used.

The image forming apparatus 50 includes a printing apparatus 1 and a post-processing apparatus 51.
The printing apparatus 1 includes a printer engine 2, a post-processing device control circuit 12, a post-processing device 51, an image processing circuit 116, and an image reading circuit 401.

  The image reading apparatus 401 includes a light source 107, a CCD 114, a CCD driver 402, a drive timing signal generation unit 403, and an analog signal processing circuit 404.

  The image processing circuit 116 includes a shading correction unit 406, an image processing unit 407, a memory 408, and a CPU 409.

  The document image is irradiated by the light source 405, and the reflected light is read by the CCD 114 mounted on the image reading circuit. In the figure, only one output from the CCD 114 is shown, but some high-speed CCDs have two or four outputs. Even in such a CCD, by applying the circuit shown in this embodiment to each output, it can be implemented regardless of the number of systems.

  When the document is read, a CCD output signal is output from the CCD 114 to the analog signal processing circuit 404 in synchronization with the CCD drive clock output from the drive timing signal generation unit 403. The CCD output signal is input to the shading correction circuit 406 as digital data after undergoing signal processing such as sample hold, signal amplification by a variable gain amplifier, and AD conversion in the analog signal processing circuit 404. Reference numeral 402 denotes a CCD driver for driving the CCD 114.

The shading correction circuit 406 corrects the unevenness of the light amount distribution and the sensitivity of the CCD in the apparatus by normalizing the image data of the document with the shading correction data stored in advance.
The document image data corrected by the shading correction circuit 406 is normally input to the subsequent image processing unit 407. However, a part of the document image data can be stored in the memory 408. A reference value obtained from the reference white plate reading data is stored in the memory 408. The CPU 409 reads out the second reference whiteboard reading data stored in the memory 408, performs comparison and calculation processing, and simultaneously controls the drive timing signal generation unit 403.

<Functional block>
6A is an example of a functional block diagram of the client terminal shown in FIG. 5A, and FIG. 6B is an example of a functional block diagram of the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 5B. It is.
The client terminals 31-1 to 31-n have a screen display function 31a, an input reception function 31b, a print setting function 31c, a post-processing setting function 31d, and a print data transmission function.
The screen display function 31a is a function for displaying a screen to the user.
The input receiving function 31b is a function that receives an input from the user. Examples of input contents include printed matter IDs and user names as shown in Table 1.

The print setting function 31c is a function for performing print settings in response to input from the user. The contents of the print settings include the number of prints, print size, print density, and the like.
The post-processing setting function 31d is a function for performing post-processing in response to an input from the user. The contents of the post-processing include, for example, as shown in Table 1, whether the sealing device 21 encloses the envelope 22 or discards it with the shredder 20, or whether post-processing is executed.
The print data transmission function 31e is a function for transmitting print data to the image forming apparatus.

<Relationship between paper and post-forgetting processing information>
FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram of post-forgetting processing information printed by the image forming apparatus shown in FIGS. FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of post-forgetting processing information set for each printed matter.
In the post-forgetting processing information, the processing content after forgetting, the time until the forgetting processing, and the discharge time of the printed matter set by the user are printed (see FIG. 10).
The post-forgetting post-processing information is printed at the front end of the paper 5 in the paper discharge direction so that the post-processing information reading means 6 can read it. In addition, printing is performed on both the front surface and the back surface of the paper 5 so that the paper 5 can be read regardless of whether the paper 5 is discharged by Face Up or Face Down.
For example, the forgotten processing information may be printed by a method such as a barcode or a digital watermark so that the post-processing information reading means 6 that is a line sensor or an area sensor can read.

[Operation of image forming system]
Next, the operation of the image forming system shown in FIG. 4 will be described with reference to FIG.
FIG. 7 is an example of a sequence diagram showing the operation of the image forming system according to the present invention.
First, when a print instruction is input from a user to a certain client terminal (step S1), settings for print data, print settings, and post-processing settings are accepted (step S2), and the received print data, print settings, and post-process settings are changed. Then, it is transmitted to the image forming apparatus (step S3).
Upon receiving print data, print setting data, and post-processing setting data from the client terminal (step S4), the image forming apparatus prints based on the print setting (step S5), and transmits a print completion report to the client terminal (step S5). Step S6).
Upon receiving a print completion report from the image forming apparatus, the client terminal transmits a print completion acknowledgment (step S7) and displays a print completion screen (step S8).
Upon receiving the print completion approval from the client terminal, the image forming apparatus executes post-processing control after the set time has elapsed (step S9), notifies the client terminal of completion of post-processing control execution, and ends. (Step S11).

[Operation of Image Forming Apparatus]
Next, a post-processing operation of the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 1 will be described with reference to FIG.
FIG. 8 is an example of a flowchart showing the post-processing operation of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention.
The subject of the operation is the post-processing control device 12.
The post-processing control device 12 determines whether or not there is a sheet 5 as printed matter on the paper discharge tray 3 (step S20), and waits if it determines that there is no sheet 5 (step S20 / NO).
When the post-processing control device 12 determines that there is the paper 5 on the paper discharge tray 3 (step S20 / YES), the post-processing control device 12 determines whether there is any printed matter that has passed the forgetting to set time (step S20 / YES). Step S21).
If the post-processing control device 12 determines that there is no printed material that has passed the forgetting to set time, it waits (step S21 / NO).
If the post-processing control device 12 determines that there is a printed matter that has passed the forgetting to set time (step S21 / YES), the paper 5 as the bottom printed matter on the paper discharge tray 3 is It is determined whether or not the forgetting setting time has elapsed (step S22).

If the post-processing control device 12 determines that the sheet 5 as the bottom printed matter on the paper discharge tray 3 has not passed the forgetting to set time (step S22 / NO), the post-processing control device 12 uses the bottom printed matter as the bottom printed matter. Sheet 5 is conveyed to the temporary storage tray 10 (step S25).
When the post-processing control device 12 determines that the sheet 5 as the bottom printed matter on the paper discharge tray 3 has passed the forgetting to set time (step S22 / YES), the post-processing control device 12 uses the bottom printed matter as the bottom printed matter. The sheet 5 is conveyed to the apparatus that executes the set post-processing (step S23).
The post-processing control device 12 determines whether or not the paper 5 as the printed material is present on the paper discharge tray 3 (step S24).
If the post-processing control device 12 determines that there is no paper 5 as printed matter on the paper discharge tray 3 (step S24 / NO), the paper 5 as a printing unit on the temporary storage tray 10 is discharged. Return to the tray 3 (step S26), and return to step S20.
When the post-processing control device 12 determines that the paper 5 as the printed material is present on the paper discharge tray 3 (step S24 / YES), the processing returns to step S21.

  According to the present embodiment, when the user of the client terminal who has instructed printing forgets to remove the printed matter, the determination unit determines whether or not to execute the process related to forgetting, and the determination unit performs processing related to the forgetting to remove If it is determined to execute, the post-processing that has been set is realized, so that it is possible to easily acquire a printed matter later or to suppress leakage of confidential information.

[program]
The image forming apparatus according to the present invention described above is realized by a program that causes a computer to execute processing. Examples of the computer include general-purpose computers such as personal computers and workstations, but the present invention is not limited to this. Therefore, as an example, a case where the present invention is realized by a program will be described below.

  For example, a procedure for printing on a sheet based on a print job that includes processing information related to forgetting to remove a printed matter received from a client terminal by a printing unit on a computer, and a detection unit are printed on a discharge tray by the printing unit. A procedure for detecting whether or not a printed material is present, a procedure for reading processing information relating to forgetting to remove printed matter printed on the printed matter, and a management means managing processing information relating to forgetting to remove the printed matter read by the reading means The procedure and determination means determine whether or not to execute the process related to forgetting the printed matter based on the processing information. And a program for executing a set post-processing procedure.

  Thus, the image forming apparatus according to the present invention can be realized anywhere as long as there is a computer environment capable of executing the program.

[Storage medium]
Such a program may be stored in a computer-readable storage medium.

  Here, examples of the storage medium include computer-readable storage media such as a CD-ROM (Compact Disc Read Only Memory), a flexible disk (FD), a CD-R (CD Recordable), and a DVD (Digital Versatile Disk). , Flash memory, RAM (Random Access Memory), ROM (Read Only Memory), semiconductor memory such as FeRAM (ferroelectric memory), and HDD (Hard Disc Drive).

  The above-described embodiment shows an example of a preferred embodiment of the present invention, and the present invention is not limited thereto, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. is there.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Printing apparatus 2 Printer engine 3 Paper discharge tray 4 Paper sensor 5 Paper 6 Post-processing information reading means 7 Stopper 8 Transport guide 9 Roller 10 Temporary retract tray 11 Belt conveyor group 12 Post-processing control device 20 Shredder 21 Enclosing device 22 Envelope 30 Network 31, 31-1 to 31-n Client terminal 50 Image forming apparatus 51 Post-processing apparatus 52 Image forming system

JP 2008-134379 A

Claims (6)

Printing means for printing on paper based on a print job received from the client terminal and including processing information relating to forgetting to remove printed matter;
Detecting means for detecting whether or not a printed matter printed by the printing means is present on a discharge tray;
Reading means for reading the processing information printed on the printed matter;
Management means for managing processing information relating to forgetting to remove the printed matter read by the reading means;
Determination means for determining whether or not to execute a process for forgetting to remove the printed material based on processing information for forgetting to remove the printed material;
A post-processing unit that implements a set post-process when it is determined by the determination unit that the process related to the forgetting to be performed is performed;
An image forming apparatus comprising:   If the printed matter managed by the management means is not detected on the paper discharge tray by the detecting means, the printed matter is removed from the paper discharge tray to the client terminal of the user who has instructed printing of the printed matter. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a take-away notification unit that notifies   The post-processing means, when the processing information related to forgetting to remove the printed matter from the client terminal includes a plurality of times until the post-processing, a plurality of set processing relating to forgetting are realized stepwise over time. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:   When the client terminal displays the processing information and the processing status regarding the forgotten management managed by the management unit, the client terminal further includes a restricting unit that restricts so that only a client terminal of a user who sets the processing information can display. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: In an image forming system having a client terminal and an image forming apparatus that prints on a sheet based on a print job that includes processing information relating to forgetting to remove a printed matter received from the client terminal,
The client terminal is
Setting means for setting processing information regarding forgetting to remove printed matter printed by the image forming apparatus;
The image forming apparatus includes:
Printing means for printing on paper based on a print job including processing information relating to forgetting to remove the printed matter;
Detecting means for detecting whether or not the printed matter is present on a discharge tray;
Reading means for reading processing information on forgetting to remove the printed matter printed on the printed matter;
Management means for managing processing information relating to forgetting to remove the printed matter read by the reading means;
Determination means for determining whether or not to execute a process for forgetting to remove the printed material based on processing information for forgetting to remove the printed material;
An image forming system, comprising: a post-processing unit that realizes a set post-process when the determination unit determines to execute the process related to the forgetting to remove. A printing process for printing on paper based on a Print Job received from the client terminal and including processing information relating to forgetting to remove the printed matter;
A detection step of detecting whether or not a printed matter printed by the printing step is present on a discharge tray;
A reading step of reading processing information related to forgetting to remove the printed matter printed on the printed matter;
A management process for managing processing information related to forgetting to remove the printed material read in the reading process;
A determination step for determining whether or not to execute a process for forgetting to remove the printed matter based on processing information for forgetting to remove the printed matter;
A post-processing step that realizes a set post-process when it is determined by the determination step that the process related to the forgetting to be performed is performed;
An image forming method comprising:

Images