JP2012108827A - Image forming apparatus and printing system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming apparatus that prevents print errors that occur in follow-up printing, and forms a correct image on a follow-up printing sheet, and a printing system.SOLUTION: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming part that forms an image on a follow-up printing sheet, a reading part that reads the image on the follow-up printing sheet, a storage part that stores read image data obtained by reading of the reading part, and a communication part that transmits the read image data.

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus that forms an image on a sheet and a printing system that includes the image forming apparatus and performs overprint printing.

  Overprint printing that creates a finished print by additionally printing an image on a sheet on which an image has been printed in advance is used when writing information in a format, writing an e-mail address, or adding a color to a color image. Printing method.

  In Patent Document 1, in order to improve the consistency between images that are overprinted in follow-up printing, a second print for forming an image on a sheet on which images of the first print data and the first print data are printed. There has been proposed a preview apparatus that creates third print data including print data and displays an image of the third print data.

  In Patent Document 2, third image data obtained by superimposing first image data of a first image previously formed on a sheet and second image data of a second image formed on the sheet is disclosed. It has been proposed to detect misprints by comparing the first image with the fourth image data obtained by reading the image formed by superimposing the second image on the first image.

JP 2002-166616 A JP 2008-252647 A

  In Cited Document 1, third image data obtained by combining image data of two images superimposed on a sheet is displayed on the preview device. As described above, a printing error cannot be prevented by the method using the third image data created by combining the image data.

  In follow-up printing, a completed printed matter is created by forming a second image on a sheet carrying the first image. As in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-133867, when the confirmation is performed using the image data instead of the image formed on the paper, even if the image data is correct, the first image actually formed on the paper is displayed. On the other hand, the second image to be overprinted may not be printed correctly and a printing error may occur.

Examples of such printing mistakes are as follows.
(1) When a follow-up paper carrying an image with a different pattern is set in the image forming apparatus, the intended printing is not performed.
(2) When the additional printing paper is set in the image forming apparatus in the reverse state, the intended printing is not performed.
(3) Since the reprint paper is not set in the correct orientation, the intended printing is not performed. That is, the case where the reprint sheet is set upside down and left and right.

  In Patent Document 2, a print error is detected by performing reprint printing in which a second image is superimposed on a first image. For this reason, there is a problem that it takes time to detect a print mistake and also takes time to correct it. Further, the method of Patent Document 2 has a problem that paper is consumed for detecting a printing error.

  An object of the present invention is to solve this problem and provide an image forming apparatus and a printing system that form a correct image on a reprint sheet without causing a printing error.

  The object is achieved by the following invention.

1. A paper storage section;
An image forming unit that forms an image on the paper supplied from the paper storage unit;
A reading unit for reading an image on the paper stored in the paper storage unit;
A storage unit for storing read image data obtained by reading by the reading unit;
A communication unit that communicates with the outside;
A control unit,
The image forming apparatus, wherein the control unit controls the communication unit to transmit the read image data to the outside in response to an external print instruction received by the communication unit.

  2. The paper storage unit includes a plurality of paper feed trays, the storage unit stores the read image data in association with a tray ID that identifies the paper feed tray, and the communication unit stores the read image data. 2. The image forming apparatus according to 1, wherein the image is transmitted in association with the tray ID.

  3. The control unit controls the reading unit to read an image on a sheet when the communication unit receives a print instruction from the outside, and the storage unit stores the read image data acquired by the reading. 3. The image forming apparatus as described in 1 or 2 above.

  4). A display unit and an operation unit, and when the communication unit receives a print instruction from the outside, the control unit causes the display unit to display that the image reading on the sheet should be designated, and The reading unit according to the first or second aspect, wherein the reading unit reads an image on a sheet when reading is specified in the operation unit, and the storage unit stores the read image data acquired by the reading. The image forming apparatus described in 1.

  5). An operation unit, and the control unit reads an image on the sheet when the sheet is set in the sheet storage unit in a state in which a reprint sheet is designated in the operation unit, 3. The image forming apparatus according to 1 or 2, wherein the storage unit stores the acquired read image data.

  6). The control unit includes a display unit and an operation unit, and when the paper is set in the paper storage unit in a state in which the overprinting paper is designated in the operation unit, the control unit displays an image on the paper on the display unit. Display that reading should be specified, and when reading is specified in the operation unit, the reading unit reads an image on a sheet, and the storage unit stores the read image data acquired by reading 3. The image forming apparatus according to 1 or 2, which is controlled as described above.

  7). The control unit has an operation unit, and when the overprinting paper is designated by the operation unit in a state where the sheet is set in the sheet storage unit, the reading unit reads and reads an image on the sheet. 3. The image forming apparatus according to 1 or 2, wherein the storage unit stores the read image data acquired by the storage unit.

  8). The control unit includes a display unit and an operation unit, and the control unit is configured to display an image on the sheet on the display unit when a reprint sheet is designated by the operation unit in a state where the sheet is set in the sheet storage unit. Is displayed, the reading unit reads an image on a sheet when reading is specified in the operation unit, and the storage unit stores the read image data acquired by the reading. 3. The image forming apparatus as described in 1 or 2 above, wherein the image forming apparatus is controlled so as to perform.

9. The image forming apparatus according to any one of 1 to 8,
A terminal connected to the image forming apparatus via a network, issuing a print instruction to the image forming apparatus, and receiving the read image data from the image forming apparatus;
A printing system comprising:

  10. 10. The printing system according to 9, wherein the terminal includes a display unit that displays an image of the read image data.

  In the present invention, the reading unit reads the image on the reprint paper, and uses the read image data obtained by the reading, thereby performing collation between the image on the reprint paper and the image to be reprinted. It is possible. As a result, printing errors can be prevented as in the case where image data before image formation is used, and printing errors are prevented without forming an image, so detection and correction of mistakes can be performed in a short time. It is possible to prevent printing errors without wasting paper.

1 is a diagram illustrating a printing system according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which shows the procedure of reprint printing. 1 is a diagram illustrating a mechanical configuration of a printer as an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which shows the structure of the control system of a printer. It is a ladder diagram showing a sequence of a first operation example of the printing system. It is a ladder diagram showing a sequence of a second operation example of the printing system. It is a ladder diagram showing a sequence of a third operation example of the printing system.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a printing system according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an outline of reprint printing.

  A printer PR such as an electrophotographic image forming apparatus is connected to clients CA1, CA2, and CAn as terminals of a personal computer or the like, and performs printing in response to a print instruction from the clients CA1, CA2, and CAn.

  The reprint printing is performed according to the procedure shown in FIG.

  The reprint sheet S1 is as shown in FIG. 2B, and an image is formed in advance on the reprint sheet S1. The reprint sheet S1 shown in FIG. 2B is stored in the paper storage portion of the printer PR.

  The printer PR that has received a follow-up printing instruction from the client CA1 or the like creates an image of the second image data D2 shown in FIG. The image formed on the reprint sheet S1 is formed by the first image data D1 shown in FIG.

  Reprinting is performed by printing information on the reprint sheet S1 on which the format is printed, or by adding an image of a color other than four colors to a color image formed with four colors of yellow, magenta, cyan, and black YMCK. Used for printing to form a color image.

  FIG. 3 shows a mechanical configuration of a printer as an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. The printer PR includes a control unit 1, an operation display unit 2, a reading unit (scanner) 3, paper feed trays 4 </ b> A, 4 </ b> B, and 4 </ b> C constituting a paper storage unit, a switching gate 5, an image forming unit 6, and a post-processing unit 7.

  The operation display unit 2 which is a display unit and is an operation unit includes a display and a keyboard or a touch panel.

  The control unit 1 performs control in image formation for forming an image on a sheet, image reading for reading an image on a reprint sheet, and control of the post-processing unit 7.

  The reading unit 3 reads images on the paper S stored in the paper feed trays 4A, 4B, and 4C. That is, the reading unit 3 reads an image on the paper S and generates read image data D3. The sheets S stored in the sheet feed trays 4A, 4B, and 4C are sent out as indicated by arrows, and are sent to the image forming unit 6 or the reading unit 3 by the switching gate 5. The reading unit 3 can perform double-sided reading.

  The paper feed trays 4A, 4B, and 4C can store various sizes and types of paper S. The paper feed trays 4A, 4B, and 4C are assigned tray IDs that identify individual paper feed trays. It is possible to specify one of the paper feed trays 4A, 4B, and 4C by outputting a signal that specifies one of the paper feed trays 4A, 4B, and 4C and specifying the tray ID. is there. In the case of reprint printing, the reprint paper S is stored in the paper feed trays 4A, 4B, and 4C, and a paper feed tray that stores the reprint paper S is designated by an operation on the operation display unit 2.

  Reference numeral 5 denotes a switching gate that guides paper from the paper feed trays 4A, 4B, and 4C to the reading unit 3 or the image forming unit 6. The image forming unit 6 forms an image on the paper S by an electrophotographic process. The post-processing unit 7 performs processing such as punching, binding processing, and folding processing on the paper S on which the image is formed.

  FIG. 4 shows the configuration of the control system of the printer PR. 4, 5A is a gate driving unit that switches the switching gate 5 in FIG. 3, 6A is a print control unit that controls the image forming unit 6 in FIG. 3 to perform printing, and 8 is image data from the reading unit 3. Reference numeral 9 denotes a network interface as a communication unit that communicates with the outside. In FIG. 4, the paper feed trays 4A, 4B, and 4C in FIG.

  FIG. 5 is a ladder diagram showing a sequence of a first operation example of the printing system. In FIG. 5, any one of the clients CA1, CA2, and CAn in FIG. 1 is indicated by CA.

  In step ST1, a print instruction signal for instructing printing to the printer PR is transmitted from the client CA. The print instruction includes information on the tray ID or the paper size that specifies one of the paper feed trays 4A, 4B, and 4C in FIG.

  In step ST2, the paper in the paper feed tray designated by the tray ID or the paper of the designated size is conveyed to the reading unit 3 and an image on the paper is read.

  Further, in step ST3, the printer PR stores the read image data D3 obtained by image reading in the storage unit 8 in association with the tray ID. In step ST4, the printer PR transmits the tray ID and the read image data D3 to the client CA. . The read image data D3 corresponds to the first image data D1 shown in FIG. The first image data D1 is data used for image formation when creating a reprint sheet, whereas the read image data D3 is obtained by reading an image on the reprint sheet.

  The client CA has a display unit that displays an image based on the image data, and displays an image of the received read image data D3 in step ST5. The operator on the client CA side checks whether the image of the read image data D3 created by the printer PR is an intended image based on the display image. The intended image is an image on the reprint sheet S1 formed by the first image data in FIG. If the image of the first image data and the image of the read image data D3 match, reprint printing is performed as described below. However, if they do not match, the process immediately shifts to reprint printing. Absent. In the case where they do not match, when the reprint paper stored in the paper feed tray 4 carries an image with a completely different pattern, the orientation of the image on the reprint paper is rotated by 90 °, 180 ° or 270 °. In some cases, the front and back sides of the reprint paper are reversed.

  By displaying in step ST5, it is possible to confirm whether the first image data D1 and the read image data D3 match or do not match.

  If the display screen is correct (when the first image data D1 and the read image data D3 match), the print start button is pressed in step ST6, and in step ST7, a print start instruction is sent from the client CA to the printer PR. Sent.

  In step ST8, the printer PR executes printing for forming the second image data D2 shown in FIG.

  As described above, since the client CA confirms that the image on the reprint sheet is correct and performs printing using the second image data, a printing error is avoided.

  FIG. 6 is a ladder diagram showing a sequence of a second operation example of the printing system. In this operation example, the printer PR reads an image on a reprint sheet in advance, prepares read image data D3, and transmits the read image data D3 to the client CA when a print instruction is received from the client CA. It is.

  In the operation display unit 2, the type of paper on which an image is formed, that is, the paper type can be set. Then, a reprint paper can be set as the paper type.

  In step ST10, a reprint sheet is set. In step ST <b> 11, it is detected that a reprint sheet has been set in the paper feed tray 4.

  In step ST12, the paper is conveyed from the detected paper feed tray 4 to the reading unit 3, and an image on the paper is read.

  In step ST13, the read image data D3 obtained by the reading is stored in the storage unit 8. The storage is performed in association with the tray ID of the paper feed tray 4 that stores the reprint paper.

  In step ST14, a print instruction is transmitted from the client CA to the printer PR. This print instruction includes a tray ID or paper size information.

  In step ST15, the read image data D3 associated with the tray ID is transmitted from the printer PR to the client CA.

  In step ST16, the image of the read image data D3 transmitted to the client is displayed.

  If the displayed image is correct in relation to the paper, the operator presses the print start button (ST17), and a print start instruction is transmitted to the printer PR (ST18).

  In response to the print start instruction, the printer PR executes printing in step ST19.

  FIG. 7 is a ladder diagram showing a sequence of a third operation example of the printing system. The example of FIG. 7 is an example of performing additional printing and image formation other than the additional printing in the printer PR.

  In step ST20, it is detected that a sheet is set in the sheet feed tray. ST20 is performed, for example, by detecting attachment / detachment of the paper feed tray 4.

  In step ST <b> 21, a paper feed tray on which paper is set is displayed on the operation display unit 2. The operator uses the operation display unit 2 to specify the type of paper stored in the paper feed tray 4, for example, additional printing paper.

  In step ST22, the type of paper designated by the operator is determined. If it is not a reprint paper (No in ST22), a printing instruction is received from the client CA (ST25), and printing is performed (ST29).

  If it is determined in ST22 that the paper is a reprint paper (Yes in ST22), the paper is conveyed from the designated paper feed tray 4 to the reading unit 3 and an image on the reprint paper is read (ST23).

  In ST24, the read image data D3 obtained by reading is stored in the storage unit 8 associated with the tray ID.

  Upon receiving a print instruction from the client CA (ST25), the read image data D3 is transmitted to the client CA (ST26).

  In the client CA, the image of the received read image data D3 is displayed in step ST27, and if the display image is correct, the printer PR performs printing in ST29 by depressing the print button in ST28.

  In the example shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, when it is detected that the reprint paper is set in the paper feed tray 4, the image on the reprint paper is automatically read. However, it is also possible to execute image reading through interaction with the operator as follows.

  When the setting of the sheet is detected in step ST11 in FIG. 6, an indication that the image reading on the sheet should be specified is displayed on the operation display unit 2 which is the display unit and the operation unit in FIG. According to the displayed message, the operator presses the reading button, and the reading unit 3 reads the paper image.

  Further, when it is determined in step ST22 in FIG. 7 that the paper is for additional printing, a message prompting the user to read the image on the paper is displayed on the operation display unit 2, and the operator reads the above-described reading by pressing the reading button. Is done.

CA, CA1, CA2, CAn Client PR Printer 1 Control unit 2 Operation display unit 3 Reading unit 4, 4A, 4B, 4C Paper feed tray 5 Switching gate 6 Image forming unit 8 Storage unit 9 Communication unit

Claims (10)

A paper storage section;
An image forming unit that forms an image on the paper supplied from the paper storage unit;
A reading unit for reading an image on the paper stored in the paper storage unit;
A storage unit for storing read image data obtained by reading by the reading unit;
A communication unit that communicates with the outside;
A control unit,
The image forming apparatus, wherein the control unit controls the communication unit to transmit the read image data to the outside in response to an external print instruction received by the communication unit.   The paper storage unit includes a plurality of paper feed trays, the storage unit stores the read image data in association with a tray ID that identifies the paper feed tray, and the communication unit stores the read image data. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus transmits the image in association with the tray ID.   The control unit controls the reading unit to read an image on a sheet when the communication unit receives a print instruction from the outside, and the storage unit stores the read image data acquired by the reading. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus is an image forming apparatus.   A display unit and an operation unit, and when the communication unit receives a print instruction from the outside, the control unit causes the display unit to display that the image reading on the sheet should be designated, and 2. The control unit according to claim 1, wherein the reading unit reads an image on a sheet when reading is designated in the operation unit, and the storage unit stores the read image data acquired by the reading. The image forming apparatus according to 2.   An operation unit, and the control unit reads an image on the sheet when the sheet is set in the sheet storage unit in a state in which a reprint sheet is designated in the operation unit, The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the storage unit stores the acquired read image data.   The control unit includes a display unit and an operation unit, and when the paper is set in the paper storage unit in a state in which the overprinting paper is designated in the operation unit, the control unit displays an image on the paper on the display unit. Display that reading should be specified, and when reading is specified in the operation unit, the reading unit reads an image on a sheet, and the storage unit stores the read image data acquired by reading The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus is controlled as follows.   The control unit has an operation unit, and when the overprinting paper is designated by the operation unit in a state where the sheet is set in the sheet storage unit, the reading unit reads and reads an image on the sheet. 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the storage unit stores the read image data acquired by the storage unit.   The control unit includes a display unit and an operation unit, and the control unit is configured to display an image on the sheet on the display unit when a reprint sheet is designated by the operation unit in a state where the sheet is set in the sheet storage unit. Is displayed, the reading unit reads an image on a sheet when reading is specified in the operation unit, and the storage unit stores the read image data acquired by the reading. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus is controlled so as to perform the control. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1,
A terminal connected to the image forming apparatus via a network, issuing a print instruction to the image forming apparatus, and receiving the read image data from the image forming apparatus;
A printing system comprising:   The printing system according to claim 9, wherein the terminal includes a display unit that displays an image of the read image data.

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