JP2017009681A - Image forming apparatus, image forming method, program, and image forming system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make it possible to reduce time and effort for a user even when a document of a non-standard size is placed.SOLUTION: An image forming apparatus comprises: storage means that monitors use of the image forming apparatus and stores a history of the use monitored; determination means that detects a document placed on the image forming apparatus and determines whether the detected document is of a non-standard size; and settlement means that, when the determination means determines that the document is of a non-standard size, settles a sheet size in which the document is output on the basis of the history of the use stored in the storage means.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 8

Description

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

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, when a standard size document such as A4 or B4 is set, an image forming apparatus that easily sets the paper size by a single operation by displaying a combination of the document size and the paper size based on the usage history. is there. (Patent Document 1)

Japanese Patent No. 3532474

However, in Patent Document 1, only the paper size is set for a standard-size document. For this reason, when a non-standard-size document having a different size from the standard size is placed, the paper size cannot be set. That is, every time a document is placed, the paper size must be set using the operation panel, which takes time for the user.
Therefore, the present invention provides a mechanism for reducing the user's effort even when an atypical document is placed.

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention has the following configuration. That is,
An image forming apparatus,
Storage means for monitoring the use of the image forming apparatus and storing the monitored use history;
Determining means for detecting a document placed on the image forming apparatus and determining whether the detected document is an atypical size;
A determination unit that determines a paper size for outputting the document based on a use history stored in the storage unit when the determination unit determines that the size is an atypical size;
Have

  According to the present invention, even when a non-standard-size document is placed, the user's trouble can be reduced.

1 is a diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of an image processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which shows the hardware constitutions of the controller in FIG. It is a figure which shows the external appearance structure of the image processing apparatus of FIG. It is a figure which shows the structure of the operation part in FIG. It is a figure which shows the structure of the scanner in FIG. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a printer in FIG. 3. It is a figure which shows an example of a usage history. It is a figure which shows an example of the usage history of a corresponding user. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of paper size setting processing. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of the paper size setting process for every time. It is a figure which shows an example of the usage frequency in every time. It is a sequence diagram about the image processing system which concerns on embodiment of this invention. 1 is a diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of an image processing system according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the size detection sensor of original glass. It is a figure which shows an example of the detection result of document size.

  Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the constituent elements described in this embodiment are merely examples, and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention only to them. Moreover, not all the combinations of features described in the embodiments are essential for the solving means of the invention.

<First Embodiment>
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of an image processing apparatus 100 (printing apparatus) which is an example of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
In FIG. 1, the image processing apparatus 100 includes a controller 101, a scanner 102, a printer 103, a finisher 104, a network interface 105, and an operation unit 106.

  The controller 101 controls the image processing apparatus 100. Details of the controller 101 will be described later. The scanner 102 is controlled by a controller 101 connected by a bus. In addition, the scanner 102 illuminates an image on paper as a document and scans the CCD line sensor, thereby reading the image of the document and generating image data. Based on the generated image data, color determination and size determination of the document are performed.

  The printer 103 is controlled by a controller 101 connected by a bus, and prints an image on paper (recording medium, sheet).

  The finisher 104 can staple a plurality of sheets printed by the printer 103 together. For the sake of simplicity, the finisher 104 is connected only to the printer 103 in the figure, but is also connected to the controller 101 via the bus and controlled by the controller 101.

  The network interface 105 is an interface to a network such as Ethernet (registered trademark), and provides bidirectional communication via the network to the controller 101 and can be connected to the personal computer 107 via the network. The personal computer 107 can also instruct image processing such as printing.

  The reader / writer 108 is controlled by a controller 101 connected by a bus, and can read identification information such as an IC card (authentication device) and write data. The controller 101 also executes an authentication process for determining whether or not the identification information is registered in advance based on the identification information read by the reader / writer.

  The operation unit 106 is a user interface, and includes a display 203 and a keyboard 204 that have a touch panel function and display information. The operation unit 106 displays information from the controller 101 and transmits an instruction from the user to the controller 101. Specifically, the processing to be displayed on the display 203 is executed by the CPU 201 described later reading a program corresponding to the screen to be displayed from the DISK 211 described later. The CPU 201 refers to data or the like in the memory 202 described later, reads screen drawing data from the DISK 211, and configures a display screen on the VRAM that stores data to be displayed on the display 203. In this way, the data stored in the VRAM is displayed on the display 203.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a hardware configuration of the controller 101 in FIG.
In FIG. 2, the controller 101 includes a CPU 201, a memory 202, a ROM 210, and a DISK 211, which are connected by a bus 209.

  The CPU 201 controls the entire image processing apparatus 100. The CPU 201 monitors the use of the image processing apparatus and records it as a use history. The memory 202 (storage means) is used as a work area for the CPU 201. For example, it is used to develop a program for executing image processing. In addition, a usage history is recorded in the memory 202. The ROM 210 stores various information including a program for operating the image processing apparatus 100.

  The DISK 211 is a hard disk, a flexible disk, a semiconductor disk, or the like. Various control programs are stored in the DISK 211, and these various control programs are sequentially read into the memory 202 and executed by the CPU 201 as necessary.

  The DISK 211 may be detachable from the image processing apparatus 100 or may be built in. The various programs may be downloaded via a network and stored in the DISK 211.

  The DISK 211 and the memory 202 can store data acquired by the scanner 102 or the network interface 105. It is also possible for the controller 101 to capture data from the memory 202 by storing the data in the removable memory 202 in advance and attaching the memory 202 to the controller 101.

  Further, the image data stored in the DISK 211 can be moved or copied to the memory 202. Then, various additional images such as a numeric part of the page can be combined with the image data stored in the memory 202 according to the content instructed from the operation unit 106.

  In this configuration, the CPU 201 causes the display 203 to display, and the CPU 201 reads data input from the keyboard 204 or the display 203, thereby receiving an instruction from the user. Information indicating the received instruction is transferred to and stored in either the memory 202 or the DISK 211 and used for various processes.

  Further, the CPU 201 performs communication using the network by reading data from the network interface 105 or transmitting data to the network interface 105.

  Further, the CPU 201 exchanges data with the scanner 102, the printer 103, and the finisher 104 to execute operations such as scanning, printing, and post-processing, and acquire various statuses thereof.

  Note that the printer 103, the finisher 104, and the scanner 102 may exist as individual peripheral devices on the network instead of inside the image processing apparatus 100, and the controller 101 may control them via the network.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an external configuration of the image processing apparatus 100 of FIG.
In FIG. 3, the scanner 102 described above is positioned above the image processing apparatus 100, and the printer 103 is positioned above a plurality of cassettes that hold sheets. The operation unit 106 is integrated with the scanner 102. Further, the manual feed tray 304 is located in the vicinity of the printer 103.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the configuration of the operation unit 106 in FIG.
In FIG. 4, a touch panel sheet is pasted on the display 203 to display an operation screen and soft keys, and when the displayed soft keys are pressed, the position information is transmitted to the CPU 201 of the controller 101.

  Next, the keyboard 204 will be described. A start key 402 is used when starting a document reading operation. There is a green and red two-color LED 403 at the center of the start key 402, and whether or not the start key 402 is in a usable state is indicated by its color. A stop key 404 functions to stop an operation in operation.

  The numeric keypad 405 is composed of groups of numbers and letters, and instructs setting of the number of copies and switching of the screen of the display 203. A user mode key 406 is pressed when setting the device.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the configuration of the scanner 102 in FIG.
First, a document image reading operation using an automatic document feeder unit (hereinafter referred to as ADF) will be described.

  The scanner 102 reads the image of the document 503 while moving the document 503 relative to the exposure unit 513 of the document reading device 519. The document 503 is set on the document tray 502. The document feed roller 504 is paired with a separation pad 505 and conveys the document 503 one by one.

  The conveyed document 503 is conveyed by an intermediate roller 506, a large roller 508 and a first driven roller 509, and a large roller 508 and a second driven roller 510. The original 503 conveyed by the large roller 508 and the second driven roller 510 passes between the flow-read original glass 512 and the original guide plate 517, passes through the jump table 518, and the large roller 508 and the third driven roller. 511 is conveyed.

  A document 503 conveyed by the large roller 508 and the third driven roller 511 is discharged out of the apparatus by a document discharge roller pair 507. The original 503 is conveyed between the flow-read original glass 512 and the original guide plate 517 so as to be in contact with the flow-read original glass 512 by the original guide plate 517.

  When the original 503 passes over the flow reading original glass 512, the surface in contact with the flow reading original glass 512 is exposed by the exposure unit 513. The reflected light from the original 503 obtained as a result is transmitted to the mirror unit 514. The transmitted reflected light passes through the lens 515 and is collected, converted into an electrical signal by the CCD sensor unit 516, and transmitted to the controller 101.

  A document image reading operation that does not use the ADF will be described. When performing a document image reading operation that does not use the ADF, the user places the document on the document glass 512. When a reading start instruction is input by the user, the CPU 201 moves the exposure unit 513 and performs shading. After the shading is completed, the exposure unit 513 is moved to a position on the left side in FIG. 5 from directly below the original glass 512, and is stopped when the approach start position is reached.

  After the exposure unit 513 is stopped at the starting start position, the image on the document on the document glass 512 can be read by moving the exposure unit 513 in the right direction in FIG. After reading the image of the document while moving the exposure unit 513 by the scanning length based on the document size designated by the controller 101, the exposure unit 513 is moved to the original position. Thus, the document fixed reading sequence is completed.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the configuration of the printer 103 in FIG.
The configuration of the printer 103 in FIG. 6 shows an example of a configuration in the case of printing with four full colors.

  The photosensitive drum 601 is charged to a specific polarity potential by the primary charger 611, and the position indicated by the arrow 612 is exposed according to an instruction from the controller 101 by an exposure unit (not shown). In this way, an electrostatic latent image corresponding to the first color component is formed.

  Thereafter, development is performed using one of the developing machines 602. The intermediate transfer belt 603 is driven in the direction of the arrow, and the first color component image formed on the photosensitive drum 601 is formed by the primary transfer roller 610 in the process of passing through the joint portion between the photosensitive drum 601 and the intermediate transfer belt 603. The image is transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 603 by the applied electric field.

  The surface of the photosensitive drum 601 that has been transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 603 is cleaned by a cleaning device 604. This process is sequentially repeated, and four color images are superimposed on the intermediate transfer belt 603 to form a color image.

  When a monochrome image is formed, the transfer process is performed only once. The image transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 603 is printed on a sheet fed from the cassette 605 by the secondary transfer roller 609 portion. The paper on which the image is printed is heated and fixed by the fixing device 606. After fixing, the paper passes through 607 and is conveyed to a paper discharge outlet 613 and discharged outside the apparatus. When performing duplex printing, the paper is circulated through the reverse path 608 and the printing process is repeated.

<Paper size setting process>
FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the procedure of the paper size setting process executed by the CPU 201 in FIG. In the following description, the paper size setting process at the time of original image reading operation without using the ADF will be described, but it may be used at the time of original image reading operation using the ADF.

  When the start key 402 is pressed, the CPU 201 detects the document size of the document placed on the document glass 512 and determines whether the document is a standard size or a non-standard size (S801). The determination as to the fixed size or the non-standard size will be described with reference to FIGS. 13A and 13B.

  FIG. 13A is a diagram illustrating an example of a size detection sensor for document glass 512. As shown in FIG. 13, the document size is determined based on the detection results of the four size detection sensors 1301, 1302, 1303, and 1304. The number of detection sensors is only an example, and more detection sensors may be provided to perform more detailed document detection.

  FIG. 13B is a diagram illustrating an example of a document size detection result. A white circle (◯) shown in FIG. 13B indicates that each of the sensors 1301 to 1304 has detected that there is a document, and a black circle (●) indicates that it has been detected that there is no document. As shown in FIG. 13B, the size of the document is determined from the combination of the detection results of the sensors 1301 to 1304. Therefore, a combination of detection results not described in FIG. 13B is determined as a non-existing document size, that is, an atypical size.

  In addition to the above description, the standard size / non-standard size is determined by determining the paper size held in the cassette or the paper size placed on the manual feed tray 304 as a standard size and determining the other as the non-standard size. May be.

  In the document size detection, the document placed on the document glass 512 is irradiated with light, the brightness distribution of the reflected light from the document is read, and the document area and the non-document area of the document are determined from the read brightness distribution information. The document size may be detected by detection.

When it is determined in S801 that the size is an atypical size, the CPU 201 reads the usage history from the memory 202 (S802).
Here, the use history will be described with reference to FIG. 7A. FIG. 7A is a diagram illustrating an example of a usage history. Note that the usage history 700 is recorded in chronological order in the order in which operations occur, in units of one record per operation.

  In the reception number column 701, an arbitrary number received by the image processing apparatus is recorded. In the result column 702, the result of the job is recorded. The date / time column 703 records the use date / time. A job name (for example, copy, scanner) is recorded in the job name column 704. The department name column 705 records the department name, and the user name column 706 records the user name. When the image processing apparatus 100 is used, authentication may be performed with an ID card or the like using the reader / writer 108 and the department name / user name may be recorded, or the department input using the operation unit 106 may be recorded. The name / user name may be recorded, or the department name corresponding to the user name may be stored in advance, and the department name corresponding to the authenticated / input user name may be recorded.

  The number of copies × number of copies column 707 records the number of copies and the number of copies. In the document size column 708, the size of the placed document is recorded. In the paper size column 709, the output paper size is recorded.

  The CPU 201 determines the paper size based on the read usage history 700 (S803). Specifically, the paper size 709 corresponding to the usage history 700 having the document size 709 of “non-standard” is totaled for each paper size, and the paper size 709 having a large total number is determined as the paper size. For example, in the case of FIG. 7A, since the paper size for the document size 709 of “non-standard” is two for “A4” and one for “A3”, the “A4” size with a large number of totals is determined. The When the total counts are the same, for example, a predetermined priority order (for example, A3> A4> A5) that applies the paper size 709 of the most recent usage history 700 may be applied.

  If it is determined in S801 that the standard size is used, the CPU 201 uses a default paper size (S804). The default paper size is used. If the user has previously set the paper size as “A4”, the “A4” size is used. If the user has previously set the paper size as “automatic detection”, it is not illustrated. A paper size (“A5” size) equivalent to the standard size (for example, “A5”) detected by the original size detection sensor is used.

  The CPU 201 performs a printing process based on the paper size determined in S802 or the default paper size (S805).

  As described above, in the present embodiment, when an atypical document is placed, the paper size is determined based on the use history, so that the user's labor can be reduced.

  Since the usage history 700 is recorded for each user / department, the paper size may be determined based on the usage history of the corresponding user / department. Specifically, in S <b> 802 of FIG. 8, the CPU 201 extracts the usage history of the user / department that uses the image processing apparatus from the memory 202. FIG. 7B is a diagram showing an example of the usage history of the corresponding user. For example, when the user who uses the image processing apparatus is “User1”, the CPU 201 extracts the usage history 700 for “User1” from the memory 202 and reads it.

  In step S <b> 803, the CPU 201 determines the paper size based on the read usage history 700. For example, in the case of FIG. 7B, since the paper size for the document size 709 of “non-standard” is two “A4” sizes, the “A4” size having a large total number is determined.

  By determining the paper size for each user / department, it is possible to determine the paper size more in line with user needs.

<Second Embodiment>
Hereinafter, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 9 and 10. In the present embodiment, a process for determining the paper size according to the time to start using the image processing apparatus will be described. Since most of the operation of the present embodiment is common to the operation of the first embodiment, only the operation different from the first embodiment will be described here, and the description of the common operation will be omitted.

  FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of paper size setting processing for each time. If the CPU 201 determines that the document placed on the document glass 512 is an atypical size in S801, the CPU 201 reads the usage history 700 from the memory 202 (S802).

  The CPU 201 reads the current time (time to start using the image processing apparatus) from an unillustrated built-in clock built in the image processing apparatus 100 (S901).

  The CPU 201 determines the paper size based on the usage history 700 read in S802 and the time read in S901 (S902). Specifically, the paper size 709 corresponding to the usage history 700 having the document size 709 of “non-standard” is totaled for each paper size / time, and the paper size with a large number of totals in the time zone corresponding to the time read in S901. 709 is determined as the paper size.

  FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of the usage frequency for each hour calculated based on the usage history 700. For example, in the case of FIG. 10, if the time to start using the image processing apparatus is “8:15”, the most frequently used paper size in the 8 o'clock range is “A4”. Accordingly, the “A4” size is determined as the paper size.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, the paper size is determined based on the usage history corresponding to the start time of use of the image processing apparatus. For example, it is desired to print in A4 size in the morning, but A3 in the evening. It is possible to meet the needs of users such as wanting to print in size.

<Third Embodiment>
In the first embodiment, the process of recording the use history and determining the paper size in the image processing apparatus has been described. In the present embodiment, an authentication apparatus (for example, an IC card) for using the image processing apparatus is described. The process of recording the usage history of the image processing apparatus and determining the paper size will be described. Since most of the operation of the present embodiment is common to the operation of the first embodiment, only the operation different from the first embodiment will be described here, and the description of the common operation will be omitted.

FIG. 11 is a sequence diagram for the image processing system according to the embodiment of the present invention.
In order for the user to operate the image processing apparatus 100, the user logs in with an IC card possessed by the user (S1101). The image processing apparatus 100 performs processing such as printing (S1102), and the CPU 201 records the usage history on the IC card (S1103).

  When the user logs in with an IC card possessed by the user (S1104) and it is determined that the document placed on the image processing apparatus 100 is an atypical size (S1105), the CPU 201 issues a usage history read request to the IC card. This is performed (S1106). When the usage history is received from the IC card (S1107), the CPU 201 performs a paper size determination process (S1108).

  As described above, in this embodiment, by constructing the above-described image processing system, the capacity of the image processing apparatus 100 can be reduced, and the specifications and conditions required for the hardware resources of the image processing apparatus 100 are reduced. be able to.

  In addition, since only the usage history of the user who possesses the IC card is recorded on the IC card, it is possible to determine the paper size that better meets the user's needs.

<Fourth Embodiment>
In the first embodiment, the processing for recording the use history in the image processing apparatus and determining the paper size has been described. However, in the present embodiment, the use of the image processing apparatus in the server apparatus connected via the network is described. Processing for recording a history and determining the paper size will be described. Since most of the operation of the present embodiment is common to the operation of the first embodiment, only the operation different from the first embodiment will be described here, and the description of the common operation will be omitted.

  FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating an example of an image processing system. The server device 1201 is a kind of computer and is an information processing device. The server apparatus 1201 is connected to a plurality of image processing apparatuses 100 via a network.

  In the server apparatus 1201, the CPU 1202 functions as various means according to software stored in the hard disk drive (HDD 1204). The memory 1203 includes RAM, ROM, and the like. The network interface 1205 is a communication circuit for communicating with other computers via a network. The HDD 1204 stores a usage history 700 in addition to the operating system.

  Note that the CPU 201 of the image processing apparatus 100 writes the user name and identification information of the image processing apparatus 100 in each record of the usage history 700.

  The image processing apparatus 100 transmits the usage history 700 to the server apparatus 1201 periodically (for example, every time a record is recorded, every time) or when requested from the server apparatus 1201. The server device 1201 stores the received usage history 700 in the HDD 1204.

  S802 and S803 of the flowchart shown in FIG. 8 are executed by the CPU 1202 of the server apparatus 1201 instead of the CPU 201 of the image processing apparatus 100. Note that the image processing apparatus 100 may perform the paper size setting process in step S803 of the flowchart illustrated in FIG.

  As described above, in this embodiment, by constructing the above-described image processing system, the capacity of the image processing apparatus 100 can be reduced, and the specifications and conditions required for the hardware resources of the image processing apparatus 100 are reduced. be able to.

<Other embodiments>
The present invention is also realized by executing the following processing. That is, software (program) that realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments is supplied to a system or apparatus via a network or various storage media, and a computer (or CPU, MPU, etc.) of the system or apparatus reads the program code. To be executed. In this case, the program and the storage medium storing the program constitute the present invention.

Claims (6)

An image forming apparatus,
Storage means for monitoring the use of the image forming apparatus and storing the monitored use history;
Determining means for detecting a document placed on the image forming apparatus and determining whether the detected document is an atypical size;
A determination unit that determines a paper size for outputting the document based on a use history stored in the storage unit when the determination unit determines that the size is an atypical size;
An image forming apparatus comprising: The usage history is stored for each user,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the determining unit determines a paper size for outputting the document based on a use history of the user. The usage history is stored every hour,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the determining unit determines a paper size on which the document is output based on the use history corresponding to a start time of use of the image forming apparatus. apparatus. A storage process for monitoring the use of the image forming apparatus and storing the monitored use history;
A determination step of detecting a document placed on the image forming apparatus and determining whether the detected document is an atypical size;
A determination step of determining a paper size for outputting the document based on the use history stored in the storage step when the determination step determines that the size is a non-standard size;
An image forming method comprising:   A program for causing a computer to function as each unit of the image forming apparatus according to claim 1. An image forming system,
Storage means for monitoring the use of the image forming apparatus and storing the monitored use history;
Determining means for detecting a document placed on the image forming apparatus and determining whether the detected document is an atypical size;
A determination unit that determines a paper size for outputting the document based on a use history stored in the storage unit when the determination unit determines that the size is an atypical size;
An image forming system comprising:

Images