JP2016220106A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming device that can reduce a damage caused by forgetting to take out a document when a document is forgotten to be taken out.SOLUTION: An image forming device 1 includes a document take-out forgetting detector 104 for detecting forgetting to take out a document placed in the image forming device, an individual identification unit 106 for identifying an individual who has forgotten to take out a document, an address information achieving unit 107 for achieving address information of the information terminal device 2 used by an individual specified by the individual identification unit 106 from a usage history information storage unit 112 for storing the address information of the information terminal device 2 used by a user of the image forming device, a document take-out forgetting information transmitter 108 for transmitting, to the information terminal device 2, document take-out forgetting information representing that a document is forgotten to be taken out, on the basis of address information achieved by the address information achieving unit 107, a display unit 473, and a controller 100 that causes the display unit 473 to display a guidance corresponding to a selection result for option information transmitted from the information terminal device 2.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, and more particularly to a technique for dealing with forgetting to remove a document.

  For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. 2004-228620 discloses a technique for solving such a problem based on the opening / closing of the document feeder. In some cases, the document placed on the image forming apparatus (for example, a copier) may be forgotten. A technique for detecting forgetting to take a document and displaying a warning on an operation panel is described.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 06-102733

  However, if the user is not aware of the warning, the user will leave the place with the document left. If the remaining manuscript is an important document, it becomes a big problem. Also, not only those who have forgotten to take a manuscript, but also those who find the manuscript that remains, are troubled with how to deal with the manuscript and cause trouble for the discoverer.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to reduce the damage caused by forgetting to remove a document when the document is forgotten to be removed.

An image forming apparatus according to an aspect of the present invention includes a document forgetting detection unit that detects forgetting to remove a document placed on the image forming apparatus,
A personal identification unit for identifying an individual who has forgotten to take the manuscript;
A destination information storage unit for storing destination information of an information terminal device used by a user of the image forming apparatus;
A destination information acquisition unit that acquires destination information of an information terminal device used by an individual specified by the individual specifying unit from the destination information storage unit;
In accordance with the destination information acquired by the destination information acquisition unit, the document terminal forgetting document removal information indicating that the document has been forgotten and option information indicating options for dealing with the document that has been forgotten to the information terminal device. A document forgetting to send information sending section,
A notification unit;
A control unit that informs the notification unit of guidance according to a selection result for the option information transmitted from the information terminal device.

  According to the present invention, when forgetting to take a document occurs, information indicating that fact is transmitted to the information terminal device used by the individual who has forgotten to take the document. Can do. As a result, it is possible to prevent the worst situation of being left unattended without noticing forgetting to take a document, and even if forgetting to take a document occurs, the damage can be reduced.

1 is a schematic diagram of a system including an image forming apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. 2 is a functional block diagram schematically illustrating a main internal configuration of the image forming apparatus. FIG. It is the figure which showed an example of the data structure of a usage history information storage part. (A)-(C) are the figures which showed an example of the message displayed on the display part of an image forming apparatus. It is the figure which showed an example of the message displayed on an information terminal device. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an example of processing operations performed by a control unit in the image forming apparatus. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a message displayed on a display unit of the image forming apparatus. FIG.

  Hereinafter, an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a system including an image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The system 11 includes an image forming apparatus 1 installed in an office or the like and a plurality of information terminal devices 2.

  The image forming apparatus 1 is a multifunction machine having a plurality of functions such as a copy function, a printer function, a scanner function, and a facsimile function. The image forming apparatus 1 has a communication function and can communicate with the information terminal apparatus 2 via a LAN or the like.

The information terminal device 2 is, for example, a personal computer, can communicate with the image forming apparatus 1 via a LAN or the like, and a printer driver corresponding to the image forming apparatus 1 is installed, and an image is printed on the image forming apparatus. And the like, and functions as a print control apparatus for the image forming apparatus 1.

  FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram showing the main internal configuration of the image forming apparatus 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention. The image forming apparatus 1 includes a control unit 10, a document feeding unit 6, a document reading unit 5, an image forming unit 12, an image memory 32, an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) 92, a fixing unit 13, a wireless communication unit 72, and an operation unit 47. A facsimile communication unit 71, and a network interface unit 91.

  The control unit 10 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a RAM (Random Access Memory), a ROM (Read Only Memory), a dedicated hardware circuit, and the like. The control unit 10 includes the control unit 100 and user information. An acquisition unit 101, a user confirmation unit 102, a usage history information update unit 103, a document removal forget detection unit 104, a personal identification unit 106, a destination information acquisition unit 107, and a document removal forget information transmission unit 108 The selection result receiving unit 109 is provided. The memory connected to the control unit 10 functions as a user information storage unit 111 and a usage history information storage unit 112.

  The document feeding unit 6 feeds a document to be read to the document reading unit 5. The document reading unit 5 includes a reading mechanism having a light irradiation unit, a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) sensor, and the like under the control of the control unit 10. The document reading unit 5 reads an image from the document by irradiating the document with the light irradiating unit and receiving the reflected light with a CCD sensor. The image forming unit 12 forms a toner image of an image to be printed on a sheet. The fixing unit 13 fixes the toner image on the paper to the paper by thermocompression bonding.

  The wireless communication unit 72 performs wireless communication with the IC card 4 using a near field communication method such as NFC (Near Field Communication), Bluetooth (registered trademark), or wireless LAN. Here, a case where communication is performed with the IC card 4 using NFC communication will be described.

  The operation unit 47 receives instructions such as an image forming operation execution instruction and a document reading operation execution instruction from the operator regarding various operations and processes that can be executed by the image forming apparatus 1. The operation unit 47 includes a display unit (an example of a notification unit) 473 that displays operation guidance to the operator. The display unit 473 is a touch panel, and the operator can operate the image forming apparatus 1 by touching buttons and keys displayed on the screen.

  The network interface unit 91 is composed of a communication module such as a LAN board, and the external device 20 (for example, the information terminal shown in FIG. 1) in the local area or on the Internet via a LAN or the like connected to the network interface unit 91. Various data are transmitted to and received from the apparatus 2).

  The control unit 10 operates in accordance with a control program installed in the HDD 92 to perform a control unit 100, a user information acquisition unit 101, an available user confirmation unit 102, a usage history information update unit 103, and a forgetting document detection unit 104. Functioning as a personal identification unit 106, a destination information acquisition unit 107, a forgetting document information transmission unit 108, and a selection result reception unit 109, and a memory connected to the control unit 10 as a user information storage unit 111 and a use It functions as the history information storage unit 112. However, the control unit 100 and the like can also be configured by hardware circuits independently of the operation according to the control program by the control unit 10.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a data configuration of the usage history information storage unit 112. As shown in FIG. 3, the use history information storage unit 112 includes a use start date and time, a use end date and time, personal information of the user (ID code, name, department name, IP address of the information terminal device 2 to be used), The function used (copy, facsimile, etc.), the number of printed sheets, etc. are stored.

  A control unit 100 shown in FIG. 2 controls overall operation of the image forming apparatus 1. The document feeding unit 6, the document reading unit 5, the image forming unit 12, the image memory 32, the HDD 92, and the fixing unit 13. The wireless communication unit 72, the operation unit 47, the facsimile communication unit 71, and the network interface unit 91 are connected, and control of these units is performed.

  The user information acquisition unit 101 receives personal information (for example, an ID code, a name) stored in the IC card 4 by NFC communication or RFID communication from the IC card 4 close to the wireless communication unit 72 of the image forming apparatus 1. , Department name, IP address of information terminal device 2 to be used).

  The user confirmation unit 102 collates the ID code acquired by the user information acquisition unit 101 with the ID code of the user stored in the user information storage unit 111, so that the IC card 4 It is confirmed whether or not the owner is a user who can use the image forming apparatus 1.

  The usage history information update unit 103 includes, in addition to the user's personal information acquired by the user information acquisition unit 101, a usage start date / time, usage end date / time, function used, and number of printed pages. Write to.

  The document forgetting detection unit 104 causes the document reading unit 5 to scan after the printing is completed, and detects forgetting to remove the document based on the scan result. For example, the forgetting document detection unit 104 detects that the image data obtained by the scan includes pixels having a pixel value equal to or less than a predetermined threshold (pixels close to black) at a predetermined number of pixels or more. Then, it is determined that the document has been forgotten to be removed, and detection of forgetting to remove the document is detected.

  When the forgetting to remove document detection unit 104 detects forgetting to remove the document, the control unit 100 displays a message M1 as shown in FIG. 4A on the display unit 473, for example. Note that the image forming apparatus 1 may have a sound generation mechanism and a spare speaker, and instead of or in addition to the display by the display unit 473, a warning may be made using sound.

  The personal identification unit 106 identifies an individual who has forgotten to take a document. Specifically, the individual identification unit 106 determines the last user (individual who forgot to take a document) based on the usage history information stored in the usage history information storage unit 112. For example, when the usage history information as shown in FIG. 3 is stored in the usage history information storage unit 112, the individual identification unit 106 identifies “Sato” as the person who forgot to take the document.

  The destination information acquisition unit 107 acquires the IP address information of the information terminal device 2 used by the individual specified by the individual specifying unit 106 from the usage history information storage unit 112. The IP address information and usage history information storage unit 112 is an example of destination information and a destination information storage unit in the claims.

  The forgotten document information transmitting unit 108 uses the IP address information acquired by the destination information acquiring unit 107 to detect forgotten document information indicating that the forgetting document is forgotten by the individual specified by the individual specifying unit 106. It transmits to the information terminal device 2 to be used.

  Further, the forgetting document removal information transmitting unit 108 adds the IP address information of the image forming apparatus 1 together with the document removal forgetting information, and includes options related to a countermeasure (for example, storage) including the necessity determination for the forgotten document. , Discard option information is transmitted. Further, the forgotten document information transmitting unit 108 transmits response request information for requesting an unnecessary response to the forgotten document along with the option information.

  When the information terminal device 2 receives these pieces of information transmitted from the image forming device 1, the printer driver is activated to display a pop-up screen D1 as shown in FIG. 5 on the display.

  Buttons B1 and B2 are formed on the pop-up screen D1, and each of the buttons B1 and B2 is associated with execution of a command for transmitting the selection result to the image forming apparatus 1 using the IP address information of the image forming apparatus 1. For example, when the button B1 is selected, a selection result indicating that the forgotten original is “necessary” is transmitted to the image forming apparatus 1. When the button B2 is selected, the forgotten original is “ A selection result including information indicating “unnecessary” is transmitted to the image forming apparatus 1.

  The selection result receiving unit 109 receives the selection result transmitted from the information terminal device 2.

  The control unit 100 causes the display unit 473 to display a guide according to the selection result transmitted from the information terminal device 2 as a message to the user of the image forming apparatus 1 (the discoverer of the remaining document). When the selection result includes information indicating “necessity” of the document, the control unit 100 causes the display unit 473 to display a message M2 that prompts storage of the document as illustrated in FIG. An empty box for temporary storage may be prepared near the image forming apparatus 1 so that a person who finds the remaining document can store the document. Further, when the selection result includes information indicating “unnecessary” of the document, the control unit 100 causes the display unit 473 to display a message M3 that prompts the user to discard the document as illustrated in FIG.

  The user information storage unit 111 stores a user ID code.

  Next, the processing operation performed by the control unit 10 when the document forgetting detection unit 104 detects forgetting to delete the document will be described. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an example of processing operations performed in the control unit. FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of a message displayed on the display unit 473 of the image forming apparatus 1.

  When the forgetting to remove document detection unit 104 detects that the document has been forgotten to be removed, the control unit 100 displays a message M1 as shown in FIG. 4A on the display unit 473 (S1). For example, the control unit 100 makes a determination based on the detection result indicating the forgetting to remove the document from the document removal forgetting detection unit 104.

  Then, the control unit 100 determines whether or not forgetting to remove the document has been resolved (S2). For example, the control unit 100 determines that the forgetting to remove the document has been resolved when a signal indicating that the document cover is opened is transmitted from the document cover opening / closing sensor (not shown) after the forgetting to remove the document is detected. To do.

  If it is determined that the forgetting to remove the document has been resolved (YES in S2), the control unit 100 causes the display unit 473 to hide the message M1 (S3).

  On the other hand, if the control unit 100 determines that the forgetting of the document has not been resolved even after a certain time has elapsed (NO in S2), the individual specifying unit 106 is stored in the usage history information storage unit 112. Based on the usage history information, an individual who has forgotten to take a document is specified (S4). Then, the destination information acquisition unit 107 acquires the IP address information of the information terminal device 2 used by the individual specified by the individual specifying unit 106 from the usage history information storage unit 112 (S5).

  Next, the forgotten document information transmitting unit 108 sends the forgotten document information and the IP address information (reply) of the image forming apparatus 1 to the user information terminal device 2 indicated by the IP address information acquired by the destination information acquiring unit 107. Destination information), option information indicating how to deal with the current forgetting, and response request information for requesting an unnecessary response to the forgotten original are transmitted (S6).

  The system 11 may include a portable terminal device connected to the image forming device 1 as a wireless LAN or a public data communication line as the information terminal device 2. In this case, in S5, the destination information acquisition unit 107 acquires the e-mail address information of the mobile terminal device used by the individual specified by the individual specifying unit 106 from the usage history information storage unit 112, and in S6, the document The forgetting-to-remember information transmitting unit 108 sends to the user's portable terminal device indicated by the e-mail address information acquired by the destination information acquiring unit 107, the forgotten document information, the e-mail address information of the image forming apparatus 1, the option information, The response request information is transmitted.

  When receiving the information transmitted from the image forming apparatus 1, the information terminal device 2 displays the pop-up screen D1 as shown in FIG. 5 on the display as described above.

  Next, when the selection result receiving unit 109 receives the selection result transmitted from the information terminal device 2, the control unit 100 determines whether or not a forgotten document is necessary based on the selection result. (S7). This selection result includes information indicating whether or not the document is necessary.

  When the control unit 100 determines that the selection result includes information indicating that the document is necessary (YES in S7), a message for prompting storage of the document as shown in FIG. 4B. M2 is displayed (notified) on the display unit 473 (S8). At this point, since the individual specifying unit 106 has already specified an individual in S4, the name and department name are known. Therefore, for example, as shown in FIG. 7, the control unit 100 may cause the display unit 473 to display a message M5 “Please deliver the manuscript to Mr. Sato of the development unit”.

  On the other hand, when the control unit 100 determines that the selection result includes information indicating that the document is not required (NO in S7), the control unit 100 discards the document as shown in FIG. The prompting message M3 is displayed on the display unit 473 (S9).

  According to the above embodiment, when forgetting to take a document occurs, the information indicating that the document has been forgotten is transmitted to the information terminal device 2 used by the individual who has forgotten to take the document. It is possible to shorten the time until the user forgets to remove the manuscript. At least, it is possible to prevent the worst situation of being left unattended without noticing forgetting to take a document.

  In addition, since a countermeasure for the remaining document is displayed on the display unit 473 of the image forming apparatus 1, a person who finds the remaining document may store or discard the remaining document according to the countermeasure. Thus, it is possible to avoid the person who finds the remaining document from having trouble dealing with the document. As a result, even if the document is forgotten to be removed, the damage can be reduced.

  Moreover, in the said embodiment, the structure and process which were shown by the said embodiment using FIG. 1 thru | or FIG. 7 are only one Embodiment of this invention, and are not the meaning which limits this invention to the said structure and process.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image forming apparatus 2 Information terminal device 4 IC card 10 Control unit 100 Control part 104 Forgetting document detection part 106 Individual specification part 107 Destination information acquisition part 108 Forgetting document information transmission part 112 Usage history information storage part

Claims (3)

Forgetting to remove a document detecting unit for detecting forgetting to remove a document placed on the image forming apparatus;
A personal identification unit for identifying an individual who has forgotten to take the manuscript;
A destination information storage unit for storing destination information of an information terminal device used by a user of the image forming apparatus;
A destination information acquisition unit that acquires destination information of an information terminal device used by an individual specified by the individual specifying unit from the destination information storage unit;
In accordance with the destination information acquired by the destination information acquisition unit, the document terminal forgetting document removal information indicating that the document has been forgotten and option information indicating options for dealing with the document that has been forgotten to the information terminal device. A document forgetting to send information sending section,
A notification unit;
An image forming apparatus comprising: a control unit that informs the notification unit of guidance according to a selection result for the option information transmitted from the information terminal device. The document removal forgetting information transmission unit transmits response request information for requesting an unnecessary response to the forgotten document together with the option information,
When the control unit determines that the selection result transmitted from the information terminal device includes information indicating that the document is necessary, the control unit notifies the notification unit of guidance for urging storage of the document. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1. The document removal forgetting information transmission unit transmits response request information for requesting an unnecessary response to the forgotten document together with the option information,
When the control unit determines that the selection result transmitted from the information terminal device includes information indicating that the document is not required, the control unit notifies the notification unit of guidance for discarding the document. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus is an image forming apparatus.