JP2016212455A - Print sheet sorting system and image formation apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a print sheet sorting system and image formation apparatus which can facilitate assortment of print sheets by preventing a print sheet of a different user added with the same mark from being output within the determined time.SOLUTION: A used mark data request transmission processing unit 101c of a PC 100 transmits a request of used mark data to an image formation apparatus 200. When a used mark data request reception processing unit 201a of an image formation apparatus 200 receives the request, a used mark data transmission processing unit 201b transmits the used mark data in a used mark data storage area 202a to the PC 100. A printer driver processing unit 101a of the PC 100 determines whether the mark selected by the user is already used or not on the basis of the used mark data received by the used mark data reception processing unit 101d, displays a message requesting re-setting of a mark on a control panel 103 when the mark is already used, and allows the user to re-set the mark.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a printing paper sorting system that sorts a sheet on which image data is printed (hereinafter referred to as “printing sheet”) for each user who requests printing, and an image forming apparatus.

  An image forming apparatus which is an MFP (Multifunction Peripheral) such as a printer, a multifunction printer, a multifunction peripheral device, or a multifunction peripheral prints image data from a terminal device such as a user's PC (personal computer) or an operation panel of the image forming apparatus. Can accept jobs. For this reason, when a plurality of users execute a print job from the terminal device or the operation panel of the image forming apparatus almost simultaneously, the print sheets of the plurality of users are placed in the discharge space of the image forming apparatus in an overlapping state. In such a state, when the user removes the print paper output by the print job he / she executed from the print paper discharged by the user, the user may accidentally take the print paper of another user. If confidential information or personal information is printed on the print paper taken by mistake, there is a risk that such information will be leaked, so sort the print paper for each user and take it by mistake. No measures are taken. For example, in a printing system described in Patent Document 1, in an inkjet recording apparatus that performs marginless recording, a mark color is set for each user, and linear marks are slid to the side of the recording medium at different positions for each job. As a result, the print documents are sorted for each user.

JP 2003-274133 A

  In the printing system of Patent Document 1, when setting a mark color for each user, it is impossible to set a mark color that has already been set by another user. When sharing, there is a possibility that the mark color is insufficient. In addition, when it is desired to set the same mark color as that of the image forming apparatus that is always used in the image forming apparatus that is not frequently used instead of the image forming apparatus that is always used by the user, when the same mark color is already set, You must set the placemark color. For this reason, the user must remember the mark color set for each image forming apparatus. When the user forgets the set mark color, the user checks the mark color set for the image forming apparatus each time. There was a problem that had to be.

  SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is that it provides a printing paper sorting system and an image forming apparatus that can solve the above-described problems.

The printing paper sorting system of the present invention includes an image forming apparatus, and a terminal device that transmits the identification mark selected by a user from a plurality of identification marks to the image forming apparatus together with print data. A printing paper sorting system that prints the identification mark on the paper together with the print data by an apparatus, wherein the image forming apparatus stores a used mark data storage unit that stores the printed identification mark as used mark data; A used mark data deleting unit that deletes the identification mark from the used mark data when a predetermined condition is satisfied later, and the used mark data is transferred to the terminal device based on a used mark transmission request from the terminal device. A used mark data transmitting unit for transmitting, the terminal device prior to transmission of the print data A used mark request transmission unit that transmits the used mark transmission request, and an identification mark selection that receives selection of the identification mark other than the used mark data based on the used mark data received from the image forming apparatus It is characterized by providing a part.
Further, when the predetermined condition of the printing paper sorting system of the present invention is satisfied, the identification mark is the identification mark that has passed a predetermined time after being used.
Further, the image forming apparatus of the printing paper sorting system of the present invention prints the identification mark stamp on the back side of the printing paper in the case of single-sided printing, and the identification mark marker in the case of double-sided printing. It is characterized by comprising a mark printing execution unit for printing on the margin part of the surface of the printing paper.
Further, the terminal device of the printing paper sorting system of the present invention displays a mark setting screen for selecting whether or not to add the identification mark and selecting the identification mark, and whether or not to add the identification mark set from the mark setting screen And a mark setting screen section for inputting the identification mark data selected when the identification mark is added.
An image forming apparatus of the present invention is an image forming apparatus that receives the identification mark selected by a user from a plurality of identification marks from a terminal device together with print data, and prints the identification mark together with the print data on a sheet. A used mark data storage unit that stores the printed identification mark as used mark data; and a used mark data deletion unit that deletes the identification mark from the used mark data when a predetermined condition is satisfied after printing; And a used mark data transmission unit for transmitting the used mark data to the terminal device based on a used mark transmission request from the terminal device.

  The printing paper sorting system and the image forming apparatus of the present invention prevent output of printing papers of different users to which the same mark (hereinafter referred to as “mark”) is added within a predetermined time. The printing paper can be easily sorted.

It is a figure which shows the function structure of the printing paper sorting system which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the mark setting screen which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the printing paper to which the mark which concerns on embodiment of this invention was added. 6 is a flowchart showing a procedure from mark setting to printing paper output according to the embodiment of the present invention.

  Hereinafter, modes for carrying out the present invention (hereinafter referred to as “embodiments”) will be described with reference to the drawings. In the embodiment, when a user transmits a print job from the PC to the image forming apparatus, the image forming apparatus selects whether or not to add a mark, and when a mark is added, the mark is selected. When the same mark is used for the printing paper, another mark is used so that the printing paper with the same mark added is not placed in a state of being overlaid in the discharge space. Note that the mark of the embodiment is determined by a stamp such as a character or a symbol and a stamp color or a line color, and is printed on a blank portion of the printing paper. Further, the margin portion of the printing paper is a blank portion of the paper on which the image data designated by the page setting function or stored in the image forming apparatus is not printed.

  A functional configuration of the printing paper sorting system 10 according to the embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. A printing paper sorting system 10 shown in FIG. 1 includes a PC 100, an image forming apparatus 200, and a network 300. The PC 100 and the image forming apparatus 200 are connected by a network 300.

  The PC 100 is a terminal device that is equipped with the printer driver of the image forming apparatus 200, and that prints a print job that stores image data of a document read by a scanner or image data of a document created by document creation software. 200.

  The image forming apparatus 200 is a printer, a multifunction printer, a multifunction peripheral device, or a multi-function peripheral. When the image forming apparatus 200 receives a print job from the PC 100, the image forming apparatus 200 extracts image data from the print job and prints the image data. .

  The network 300 is a network (such as an intranet) such as a LAN (Local Area Network), to which the PC 100, the image forming apparatus 200, and the access point 400 are connected. In addition, the access point 400 of the network 300 connects the mobile terminal 500 that is a portable terminal device such as a mobile phone, a smartphone, or a tablet terminal that is requesting connection to the access point 400 to the network 300.

  First, the functional configuration of the PC 100 will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 1, the PC 100 includes a control unit 101, a memory unit 102, an operation panel 103, an operation panel processing unit 104, and a network communication unit 105. These units are connected by a bus or the like. The control unit 101 includes a printer driver processing unit 101a, a mark setting screen processing unit 101b, a used mark data request transmission processing unit 101c, a used mark data reception processing unit 101d, and a print job transmission processing unit 101e. The memory unit 102 is provided with an image data storage area 102a and a used mark data temporary storage area 102b.

The control unit 101 includes main storage means such as RAM and ROM, and control means such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit). The control unit 101 also performs comprehensive control of the PC 100 including various I / Os, interfaces such as USB (Universal Serial Bus), a bus controller, and the like.
The printer driver processing unit 101 a performs processing for creating a print job to be transmitted to the image forming apparatus 200.
The mark setting screen processing unit 101b displays a mark setting screen 700 and inputs data set from the mark setting screen 700. Details of the mark setting screen 700 will be described later.
The used mark data request transmission processing unit 101c receives a request for used mark data in order to receive mark data of a used mark (hereinafter referred to as “used mark data”) from the image forming apparatus 200. To device 200.
The used mark data reception processing unit 101d receives used mark data from the image forming apparatus 200.
The print job transmission processing unit 101e transmits the print job to the image forming apparatus 200.
Details of the printer driver processing unit 101a, the mark setting screen processing unit 101b, the used mark data request transmission processing unit 101c, the used mark data reception processing unit 101d, and the print job transmission processing unit 101e will be described later.

The memory unit 102 is an auxiliary storage device including a flash memory and the like, and stores a program and data for processing executed by the control unit 101.
The image data storage area 102a stores image data read by a scanner, image data created by document creation software, and the like.
The used mark data temporary storage area 102b stores used mark data received from the image forming apparatus 200.

  The operation panel 103 is a liquid crystal panel that displays operation items and various types of information and accepts operations by the user.

  The operation panel processing unit 104 performs a process of displaying operation items for functions provided in the PC 100 on the operation panel 103, a process of displaying various information of the PC 100, or a process of inputting a user operation from the operation panel 103.

  The network communication unit 105 includes a detachable LAN interface, connects the PC 100 to the network 300, and transmits / receives data to / from a device connected to the network 300 and a mobile terminal connected to the network 300 from the access point 400.

  Next, the functional configuration of the image forming apparatus 200 will be described with reference to FIG. An image forming apparatus 200 illustrated in FIG. 2 includes a control unit 201, a memory unit 202, a storage unit 203, a network communication unit 204, an operation panel 205, an operation panel processing unit 206, a document reading unit 207, an image processing unit 208, and a printing unit 209. These parts are connected by a bus or the like. The control unit 201 includes a used mark data request reception processing unit 201a, a used mark data transmission processing unit 201b, a print job reception processing unit 201c, a mark addition determination processing unit 201d, an image print execution processing unit 201e, and a mark print execution process. A section 201f and a used mark data deletion processing section 201g are provided. The memory unit 202 is provided with a used mark data storage area 202a. The storage unit 203 is provided with an image data storage area 203a.

The control unit 201 includes main storage means such as RAM and ROM, and control means such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit). The control unit 201 controls the overall image forming apparatus 200 including various I / Os, an interface such as a USB (Universal Serial Bus), a bus controller, and the like.
The used mark data request reception processing unit 201 a receives a request for used mark data from the PC 100.
The used mark data transmission processing unit 201b transmits used mark data stored in the used mark data storage area 202a to the PC 100.
The print job reception processing unit 201 c receives a print job from the PC 100.
The mark addition determination processing unit 201d determines whether or not a mark is added. If a mark is added, the mark and the time when the mark was added are stored as used data in the used mark data storage area 202a. To do.
The image print execution processing unit 201e causes the printing unit 209 to print image data based on print setting data (hereinafter referred to as “print setting data”) such as single-sided printing, double-sided printing, or paper size.
When a mark is added, the mark printing execution processing unit 201f causes the printing unit 209 to generate a mark based on mark data selected from a mark setting screen 700 (to be described later) (hereinafter referred to as “mark setting data”). Print.
The used mark data deletion processing unit 201g deletes from the used mark data storage area 202a the used mark data of a mark that has passed a predetermined time since the mark was used.
Details of the used mark data request reception processing unit 201a, the used mark data transmission processing unit 201b, the print job reception processing unit 201c, the mark addition determination processing unit 201d, the image print execution processing unit 201e, and the mark print execution processing unit 201f Will be described later.

The memory unit 202 is an auxiliary storage device made up of a flash memory or the like, and stores processing programs and data executed by the control unit 201.
The used mark data storage area 202a stores the added used mark data and the time when the mark was used. The used mark data that has passed a predetermined time is deleted from the used mark data storage area 202a by the used mark data deletion processing unit 201g.

The storage unit 203 is a hard disk drive that stores data and programs.
The image data storage area 203 a stores image data read from the document reading unit 207 and processed by the image processing unit 208, and image data received from the PC 100 or the portable terminal 500 via the network communication unit 204.

  The network communication unit 204 includes a detachable LAN interface, connects the image forming apparatus 200 to the network 300, and transmits / receives data to / from the apparatus connected to the network 300 and the mobile terminal 500 connected to the network 300 from the access point 400. .

  The operation panel 205 is a liquid crystal panel that displays operation items and various types of information and accepts operations by the user.

  The operation panel processing unit 206 displays processing items for functions provided in the image forming apparatus 200 on the operation panel 205, displays various information and image data of the image forming apparatus 200, or displays user information from the operation panel 205. Performs processing to input an operation.

  A document reading unit 207 reads a document set on a document table of the image forming apparatus 200 by a reading operation from the operation panel 205 by a user, and outputs the read document data to the image processing unit 208.

  When image data read by the document reading unit 207 is input, the image processing unit 208 performs processing to convert the image data into image data that can be processed by the image forming apparatus 200.

  The printing unit 209 has functions such as single-sided printing, double-sided printing, monochrome printing, and color printing. The printing unit 209 prints image data requested to be printed by a user on paper, and when a mark is added, the image data is printed. The mark is printed on the margin of the printed paper, and the printed paper is output to the discharge space.

  Next, the mark setting screen 700 and the printing paper with the mark added will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 2 shows a format of the mark setting screen 700 displayed on the operation panel 103. FIG. 3A shows an example of a printing paper in which a mark is added on the back side in the case of single-sided printing. FIG. 3B shows an example of printing paper with a mark added on the front surface in the case of duplex printing.

  A mark setting screen 700 shown in FIG. 2 is a screen displayed when the user prints image data. The mark setting screen 700 includes items of a “marking presence / absence” selection area 710, a “single-sided printing stamp” selection area 720, a “single-sided printing mark color” selection area 730, and a “print” button 740.

In the “mark addition / non-addition” setting area 710, the presence / absence of mark addition is set. The user points to the “marked” area 710a when printing the mark on paper, and points to the “no mark” area 710b when not printing the mark on the paper.
A “single-sided printing stamp” selection area 720 selects a stamp of a mark to be printed in the case of single-sided printing. When double-sided printing is set, even if a stamp is selected from the “single-sided printing stamp” selection area 720, it is not used.
A “single-sided double-sided printing mark color” selection area 730 selects a stamp color to be printed in the case of single-sided printing or a marker color to be printed in the case of double-sided printing.
A “print” button 740 outputs setting data of each item set from the mark setting screen 700 to the printer driver.

In such a mark setting screen 700, for example, the user performs setting for single-sided printing, points to the “marked” area 710 a of the “marking presence / absence” setting area 710, and then the “single-sided printing stamp” selection area 720. An operation of pointing “red” in the “♪” and “single-sided double-sided printing mark color” selection area 730 and pressing the “print” button 740 is performed. By this operation, the data in which the stamp “♪” and the stamp color red are set is stored in the print job and transmitted to the image forming apparatus 200. The image forming apparatus 200, as shown in FIG. A stamp of “♪” is printed in red at the lower right of the margin on the back side of the printing paper on which the data is printed.
In the mark setting screen 700, for example, the user sets double-sided printing, points to the “marked” area 710a of the “mark presence / absence” setting area 710, and then selects the “single-sided double-sided printing mark color” selection area 720. The operation of pressing the “print” button 740 is performed by pointing to the blue color of. By this operation, data in which the marker color blue is set is stored in the print job and transmitted to the image forming apparatus 200, and the image forming apparatus 200 prints the image data as shown in FIG. 3B. A blue marker is printed at the lower right of the margin on the surface of the printing paper.

  Next, a procedure from mark setting to printing paper output according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described in the order of steps with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

(Step S101)
First, the user displays the image data stored in the image data storage area 102 a of the PC 100 on the operation panel 103, and performs printing settings such as single-sided printing, double-sided printing, and paper size from the operation panel 103. When the image data and the print setting data are input, the operation panel processing unit 103 outputs the data to the printer driver processing unit 101a.

(Step S102)
Next, when the user performs a display operation of the mark setting screen 700 from the operation panel 103, the mark setting screen processing unit 101 b displays the mark setting screen 700 on the operation panel 103. The user sets the mark setting screen 700 and presses a “print” button 740. For example, when the user performs single-sided printing with a mark added, a “marking presence / absence” selection area 710, a “single-sided printing stamp” selection area 720, and a “single-sided double-sided printing mark color” selection area 730 on the mark setting screen 700 And press the “print” button 740. When the mark setting screen processing unit 101b detects that the “print” button 740 has been pressed, the mark setting screen processing unit 101b outputs mark setting data to the printer driver processing unit 101a.

(Step S103)
Next, when the image data, the print setting data, and the mark setting screen setting data are input, the printer driver processing unit 101a determines whether the mark setting data is “marked”. When it is “mark present” (Yes in step S103), the process proceeds to step S104. Further, when it is not “mark present” but “mark absent” (No in step S103), the process proceeds to step S115.

(Step S104)
In step S103, if the printer driver processing unit 101a requests the used mark data request transmission processing unit 101c for the used mark data, the used mark data request transmission processing unit 101c notifies the used mark data request. Is transmitted to the image forming apparatus 200.

(Step S105)
Next, the used mark data request reception processing unit 201 a of the image forming apparatus 200 receives a used mark data request notification from the PC 100.

(Step S106)
Next, the used mark data request reception processing unit 201a takes out the used mark data from the used mark data storage area 202a of the memory unit 202 and outputs it to the used mark data transmission processing unit 201b.

(Step S107)
Next, when used mark data is input, the used mark data transmission processing unit 201b transmits the used mark data to the PC 100.

(Step S108)
Next, when the used mark data reception processing unit 101d of the PC 100 receives the used mark data from the image forming apparatus 200, the used mark data reception processing unit 101d stores the used mark data in the used mark data temporary storage area 102b.

(Step S109)
Next, when detecting that the used mark data has been received, the printer driver processing unit 101a determines whether “single-sided printing” is set in the print setting data. When “single-sided printing” is set (Yes in step S109), the process proceeds to step S110. If “double-sided printing” is set instead of “single-sided printing” (No in step S109), the process proceeds to step S112.

(Step S110)
In step S109, the printer driver processing unit 101a takes out the used stamp and stamp color data from the used mark data temporary storage area 102b.

(Step S111)
Next, the printer driver processing unit 101a compares the stamp and stamp color of the mark screen setting data with the used stamp and stamp color, and determines whether the stamp and stamp color selected by the user are used. When the stamp and the stamp color are used (Yes in step S111), the process proceeds to step S114. When the stamp and the stamp color are not used (No in step S111), the process proceeds to step S115.

(Step S112)
In step S109 No, the printer driver processing unit 101a extracts the used marker color data from the used mark image data temporary storage area 102b.

(Step S113)
Next, the printer driver processing unit 101a compares the marker color of the mark setting data with the used marker color, and determines whether the marker color selected by the user is used. When the marker color is already used (Yes in step S113), the process proceeds to step S114. When the marker color is not used (No in step S113), the process proceeds to step S115.

(Step S114)
In step S111 or step S113, the printer driver processing unit 101a returns to step S102 when a message for requesting mark resetting is displayed on the operation panel 103. That is, since the same mark is used within a predetermined time, the user is notified to reset the mark from the mark setting screen 700.

(Step S115)
In step S103 No, step S111 No, or step S113 No, the printer driver processing unit 101a transmits a print job storing image data, print setting data, and mark setting data to the image forming apparatus 200.

(Step S116)
Next, when the print job reception processing unit 201c of the image forming apparatus 200 receives a print job from the PC 100, the mark setting data is extracted from the print job and is output to the mark addition determination processing unit 201d.

(Step S117)
Next, the mark addition determination processing unit 201d determines whether or not the mark setting data includes a mark added or not. When it is “mark present” (Yes in step S117), the process proceeds to step S118. If “not marked” and “not marked” (No in step S117), the process proceeds to step S126.

(Step S118)
In Yes of step S117, the mark addition determination processing unit 201d determines whether “single-sided printing” is set in the print setting data. When “single-sided printing” is set in the print setting data (Yes in step S118), the process proceeds to step S119. When “double-sided printing” is set in the print setting data instead of “single-sided printing” (No in step S118), the process proceeds to step S121.

(Step S119)
In Yes of step S118, the mark addition determination processing unit 201d extracts a stamp and a stamp color from the mark setting data.

(Step S120)
Next, the mark addition determination processing unit 201d stores the stamp, stamp color, and current time data in the used mark data storage area 202a.

(Step S121)
In step S118 No, the mark addition determination processing unit 201d extracts the marker color from the mark setting data.

(Step S122)
Next, the mark addition determination processing unit 201d stores the marker color and current time data in the used mark data storage area 202a.

(Step S123)
Following step S120 or step S122, the mark addition determination processing unit 201d outputs the image data and the print setting data to the image print execution processing unit 201e, and outputs the mark setting data and the print setting data to the mark print execution processing unit 201f. .

(Step S124)
Next, when the image print execution processing unit 201e inputs the image data and the print setting data, the print unit 209 prints the image data on a sheet based on the print setting data.

(Step S125)
Next, when the mark print execution processing unit 201f inputs the mark setting data and the print setting data, the print unit 209 causes the mark to be placed on the lower right side of the margin of the image data on the print sheet based on the print setting data and the print setting data. When printing, print paper is output.

(Step S126)
In step S117 No, the mark addition determination processing unit 201d outputs the image data and the print setting data to the image print execution processing unit 201e.

(Step S127)
Next, when the image print execution processing unit 201e inputs the image data and the print setting data, the print unit 209 outputs the print paper when the image data is printed on the paper based on the print setting data.

As described above, when a user performs printing, a mark is selected from a plurality of identifiable marks (identification marks) on the mark setting screen 700, and thus the user needs to remember the mark set for each image forming apparatus 200. Disappears. Further, the used mark data deletion processing unit 201g deletes the used mark data for which a predetermined time has elapsed since the mark was added from the used mark data storage area 202a, so that it is used within the determined time. Only the used mark data is transmitted to the PC 100. Accordingly, the PC 100 determines whether the mark selected by the user has been used by using the used mark data, and outputs print sheets of different users to which the same mark is added within a predetermined time. do not do.
In addition, when the user sets single-sided printing, and there is a mark from the mark setting screen 700 and selects a stamp and a stamp color, the selected stamp of the selected stamp color is automatically printed on the back side of the printing paper. When the user sets double-sided printing and selects the mark presence and marker color from the mark setting screen 700, the marker of the selected marker color is automatically printed on the surface of the printing paper. In this way, by determining whether the printing is single-sided printing or double-sided printing, printing can be performed so that the mark is not as noticeable as possible. In addition, a stamp is used for single-sided printing, a marker is used for double-sided printing, and a plurality of colors can be selected for the stamp and the marker. Therefore, the possibility that the same mark as other users is selected is reduced.

  In the embodiment, after the user selects a mark from the mark setting screen 700 and presses the “print” button 740, the used mark data request is transmitted to the image forming apparatus 200 and the received used mark data is received. Thus, it is determined whether or not the mark has already been used. When the mark has been used, the mark setting screen 700 is displayed again to allow the user to select the mark. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, when the user selects a mark from the mark setting screen 700, a request for used mark data is transmitted to the image forming apparatus 200, and it is determined whether the mark has already been used based on the received used mark data. It is also possible to accept the mark selected by the user when not used.

  In the embodiment, the mark stamp or the marker is printed at the lower right of the margin of the printing paper. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the upper right, the right center, the lower left, the upper left, or the left center of the margin can be used.

  In the embodiment, the mark setting screen 700 is displayed on the operation panel 103 of the PC 100, and the print job storing the mark setting data is transmitted to the image forming apparatus 200. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the portable terminal 500 connected to the network 300 by the access point 400 can be performed similarly. The image forming apparatus 200 can be similarly performed. In the case of the image forming apparatus 200, the mark setting screen 700 is displayed on the operation panel 205, the used mark data in the used mark data storage area 202a is directly taken out, and it is determined whether the mark selected by the user has been used. To do.

  In the embodiment, the mark is a stamp in single-sided printing, and the mark is a marker in double-sided printing. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, both single-sided printing and double-sided printing can be used as a stamp, and the double-sided printing stamp can be printed smaller than the single-sided printing stamp. It is also possible to use both single-sided printing and double-sided printing as a marker, and the double-sided printing marker can be printed with finer lines than the single-sided printing marker.

  In the embodiment, the mark is set using the mark setting screen 700, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the setting can be made from the operation panel 103 of the PC 100 without using the mark setting screen 700.

  In the embodiment, stamps such as characters and symbols are used in the case of single-sided printing, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the stamp can be an image such as a photo or a picture registered in advance.

  In the embodiment, the used mark data for which a predetermined time has elapsed since the mark was added is deleted from the used mark data storage area 202a. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the used mark data is deleted from the used mark data storage area 202a even when a sensor is attached at a position where the discharged printing paper is placed and the sensor does not detect the printing paper. be able to. In other words, when all of the discharged printing paper is taken out, the printing papers of a plurality of users do not overlap. Therefore, the user can select any mark, and the used mark data storage area 202a can be used. Mark data can be deleted.

  Such a printing paper sorting system and image forming apparatus according to the present invention make it easy to sort printing papers by preventing printing papers of different users having the same mark added within a predetermined time from being output. It can be carried out.

  As mentioned above, although this invention was demonstrated by specific embodiment, it cannot be overemphasized that the said embodiment is an illustration of this invention and is not limited to this embodiment.

  The present invention can be applied to a system and an apparatus having a function of outputting paper.

10 .... Printing paper sorting system 100 ... PC
101... Control unit 101 a... Printer driver processing unit 101 b... Mark setting screen processing unit 101 c... Used mark data request transmission processing unit 101 d. Processing unit 101e ... Print job transmission processing unit 102 ... Memory unit 102a ... Image data storage area 102b ... Used mark data temporary storage area 103 ... Operation panel 104 Operation panel processing unit 105 Network communication unit 200 Image forming apparatus 201 Control unit 201a Used mark data request reception processing unit 201b ... Used mark data transmission processing unit 201c ... Print job reception processing unit 201d ... Mark addition determination processing unit 201e ... Image mark Execution processing unit 201f ... Mark printing execution processing unit 201g ... Used mark data deletion processing unit 202 ... Memory unit 202a ... Used mark data storage area 203 ... Storage unit 203a ... Image data storage area 204 ... Network communication unit 205 ... Operation panel 206 ... Operation panel processing unit 207 ... Document reading unit 208 ... ... image processing unit 209 ... printing unit 300 ... network 400 ... access point 500 ... portable terminal 700 ... mark setting screen 710 ... "Mark presence / absence" selection area 710a ... "Mark present" area 710b ... "No mark" area 720 ... "Single-sided printing stamp" selection area 730 ... "single-sided double-sided printing mark color" selection area 740 ..... "print" button

Claims (5)

An image forming apparatus, and a terminal device that transmits the identification mark selected by a user from a plurality of identification marks to the image forming apparatus together with print data, and the identification mark together with the print data by the image forming apparatus. A printing paper sorting system for printing on a paper,
The image forming apparatus includes:
A used mark data storage unit for storing the printed identification mark as used mark data;
A used mark data deleting unit that deletes the identification mark from the used mark data when a predetermined condition is satisfied after printing;
A used mark data transmission unit that transmits the used mark data to the terminal device based on a used mark transmission request from the terminal device;
The terminal device
Prior to transmission of the print data, a used mark request transmission unit that transmits the used mark transmission request;
An identification mark selection unit that receives selection of an identification mark other than the used mark data based on the used mark data received from the image forming apparatus.   2. The printing paper sorting system according to claim 1, wherein when the predetermined condition is satisfied, the identification mark is the identification mark after a predetermined time has elapsed since being used. The image forming apparatus includes:
A mark printing execution unit that prints the stamp of the identification mark on a blank portion on the back surface of the printing paper in the case of single-sided printing, and prints the marker of the identification mark on the blank portion of the surface of the printing paper in the case of double-sided printing; The printing paper sorting system according to claim 1, wherein the printing paper sorting system is provided. The terminal device
A mark setting screen for selecting whether or not to add the identification mark and selecting the identification mark is displayed, and whether or not the identification mark is set set from the mark setting screen, and when the identification mark is added is selected. The printing paper sorting system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising a mark setting screen unit for inputting identification mark data. An image forming apparatus that receives the identification mark selected by a user from a plurality of identification marks from a terminal device together with print data, and prints the identification mark together with the print data on a sheet,
A used mark data storage unit for storing the printed identification mark as used mark data;
A used mark data deleting unit that deletes the identification mark from the used mark data when a predetermined condition is satisfied after printing;
An image forming apparatus comprising: a used mark data transmission unit configured to transmit the used mark data to the terminal device based on a used mark transmission request from the terminal device.

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