JP2017017489A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming device capable of promoting use of color print.SOLUTION: An image forming device includes an image data analyzer 81 for analyzing image data of a document and determining whether the document is a monochrome document or not when a copy type is set to color, a coupon amount calculator 82 for calculating a total discount amount on the basis of the total number of printed sheets obtained by multiplying the number of pages of the document by the number of copies after all the pages of the document have been read out, multiplying the number of the pages of the monochromatic document by the amount of all or a part of the balance between color print and monochromatic print to calculate a total return amount, and calculating the total amount of the total number of printed sheets and the total return amount as a coupon amount, a coupon image generator 83 for generating a coupon image representing the coupon amount, a margin area detector 84 for detecting a margin area from the image data of the document read by the document reading unit 2 to specify a composite area, and a coupon image composer 85 for combining the coupon image with the composite area.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a printer, a multi-function printer, a copying machine, a multi-function peripheral (Multifunction Peripheral), etc., that prints print data on a recording paper and outputs it.

  Image forming apparatuses such as printers installed at convenience stores, multifunction printers, copiers, multifunction peripherals (multifunction peripherals), and the like can be used by users paying a fee. Generally, the fee is set for each printing. A discount coupon that can be used in a store or the like is issued as a service to the user for each preset number of printed sheets.

  The discount coupon is generally issued on a separate sheet. However, if the technique disclosed in Patent Document 1 is used, the discount coupon can be printed using the margin area of the output recording paper. In the image forming apparatus of Patent Document 1, a blank area of image data to be printed is specified, and advertisement image data is combined with the specified blank area.

JP 2011-114359 A

  The fee varies depending on the copy type (monochrome or color), and color printing is set higher than monochrome printing. When a monochrome document and a color document are mixed, the copy type is set to either monochrome or color. However, if the copy type is set to color, the monochrome document is also counted as color printing. This pays a useless fee. Therefore, the user endures that the print quality deteriorates, and the user often selects printing with the copy type set to monochrome. Even if the image forming apparatus has a color printing function, There was a problem that printing was not used.

  In FIG. 5, a discount coupon is printed in the margin area of the output recording paper when a mixed original (30 pages) in which a monochrome original (24 pages) and a color original (6 pages) are mixed is printed. An example to be issued is shown. The monochrome printing fee is 5 yen and a discount coupon of 10 yen is issued for every 30 printed sheets. The color printing fee is 30 yen and the discount coupon of 10 yen is discounted for every 5 printed sheets. Is done. FIG. 5A shows an example of printing when the copy type is set to monochrome. In this case, the total fee is 150 yen, and a discount coupon for 10 yen is printed in the blank area on the 30th page. FIG. 5B shows a print example when the copy type is set to color. In this case, the total fee is 900 yen, and 600 yen (24 pages of a monochrome manuscript x 25 difference between color printing and monochrome printing) is wasted for 6 pages of color printing. Discount coupons for 10 yen (60 yen in total) are printed in the blank areas on pages 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, and 30, respectively, and handling of discount coupons becomes complicated.

  The present invention has been made in view of such a situation, and an object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus capable of solving the above-described problems and promoting the use of color printing.

The image forming apparatus of the present invention is an image forming apparatus in which the charge for color printing is set higher than the charge for monochrome printing, and a discount amount is set for each preset number of printed sheets. An operation unit that accepts copy type setting input, a document feeding unit that sequentially feeds placed documents one by one, a document reading unit that reads a document fed by the document feeding unit, and the copy When the type is set to color, the image data of the document read by the document reading unit is analyzed to determine whether the document is a monochrome document, and all pages of the document are scanned by the document reading unit. After reading, the total discount amount is calculated based on the total number of printed sheets obtained by multiplying the number of original pages by the number of printed copies received by the operation unit, and is determined by the determination of the image data analyzing unit. The total return amount is calculated by multiplying the number of pages of the monochrome document to be multiplied by all or a part of the difference between the charge for color printing and the charge for monochrome printing, and the sum of the total number of printed sheets and the total return amount A coupon amount calculation unit that calculates the coupon amount, a coupon image generation unit that generates a coupon image representing the coupon amount, and image data of the document read by the document reading unit, which is larger than the coupon image A blank area detection unit that detects a blank area and identifies the detected blank area as a synthesis area; and a coupon image synthesis unit that synthesizes the coupon image in the synthesis area. A discount coupon is issued by printing image data.
Furthermore, in the image forming apparatus according to the present invention, the image data of the document combined with the coupon image may be printed on the final number of print copies received by the operation unit.
Further, in the image forming apparatus of the present invention, the margin area detection unit detects a margin area from the first page to the last page of the document, and specifies the first detected margin area as the synthesis area. Also good.

  According to the present invention, since a part of the difference between color printing and monochrome printing is reduced, the user can easily select a color as a copy type, and the use of color printing can be promoted. .

1 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing an internal configuration of an embodiment of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of the image forming apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a discount coupon printing operation in the embodiment of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention. It is a figure which shows the example of printing of the discount coupon by embodiment of the image forming apparatus which concerns on this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of printing of the conventional discount coupon.

Next, embodiments of the present invention will be specifically described with reference to the drawings.
An image forming apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment is an MFP (Multifunction Peripheral) or a copying machine. Referring to FIG. 1, a document reading unit 2, a document feeding unit 3, a main body unit 4, and an operation unit 5. It has. The document reading unit 2 is disposed on the top of the main body unit 4, and the document feeding unit 3 is disposed on the top of the document reading unit 2. An operation unit 5 including a start key, a numeric keypad, an LCD, and the like is disposed on the front side of the image forming apparatus 1.

  The operation unit 5 is provided with a liquid crystal display unit 51 and operation keys 52. The user operates the operation unit 5 to input the number of print copies, thereby causing the image forming apparatus 1 to execute a print operation. The liquid crystal display unit 51 can perform various operations such as displaying the state of the image forming apparatus, displaying the image forming status and the number of copies to be printed, and inputting a setting of a copy type (monochrome or color) as a touch panel. . In addition, the operation unit 5 includes, as operation keys 52, a start key for instructing the user to start image formation, a stop / clear button used for stopping image formation, and the like.

  The document reading unit 2 includes a scanner 21, a platen glass 22, and a document reading slit 23. The scanner 21 includes an LED, a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) sensor, and the like, and is configured to be movable in the document transport direction by the document feeder 3. The platen glass 22 is an original table made of a transparent member such as glass. The document reading slit 23 has a gap formed in a direction orthogonal to the document transport direction by the document feeder 3.

  When reading a document placed on the platen glass 22, the scanner 21 is moved to a position facing the platen glass 22, and reads the document while scanning the document placed on the platen glass 22. Data is acquired, and the image data of the document is output to the main unit 4 as print data to be printed on the recording paper P. When reading the document conveyed by the document feeding unit 3, the scanner 21 is moved to a position facing the document reading slit 23, and the document is conveyed by the document feeding unit 3 through the document reading slit 23. The document is read in synchronization with the operation to acquire the image data of the document, and the image data of the document is output to the main body 4 as print data to be printed on the recording paper P. When the copy type is set to monochrome, the document reading unit 2 reads the document as monochrome (binary or grayscale) image data. When the copy type is set to color, the document reading unit 2 reads the document as color (RGB, etc.) image data.

  The document feeding unit 3 includes a document placement unit 31, a document discharge unit 32, and a document transport mechanism 33. The originals placed on the original placement unit 31 are sequentially fed out one by one by the original conveyance mechanism 33, conveyed to a position facing the original reading slit 23, and then discharged to the original discharge unit 32. The document feeding unit 3 is configured to be retractable, and the upper surface of the platen glass 22 can be opened by lifting the document feeding unit 3 upward.

  The main body 4 includes a recording unit 7 that prints on the recording paper P, and also includes a recording paper feed unit 41 and a recording paper transport unit 42. The recording paper feeding unit 41 includes a plurality of paper feeding cassettes 411 that store the recording paper P, and a paper feeding roller 412 that feeds the recording paper P from the paper feeding cassette 411 to the recording paper transporting unit 42 one by one. . The recording paper transport unit 42 includes a transport roller 421 that supplies the recording paper P fed from the recording paper feed unit 41 to the recording unit 7, and a registration roller 422 that controls the supply timing of the recording paper P to the recording unit 7. , A discharge roller 423 that discharges the recording paper P on which recording has been performed by the recording unit 7 to the in-body tray 6, and a paper reverse conveyance path 424 for performing double-sided printing. When double-sided printing is performed, first, the recording unit 7 performs printing on one side of the recording paper P fed from the recording paper feeding unit 41. Next, the recording paper P is transported to the position of the discharge roller 423, and before the recording paper P is discharged to the in-body tray 6, the discharge roller 423 is reversely rotated to transport the recording paper P to the paper reverse transport path 424. To do. The recording paper P conveyed to the paper reversal conveyance path 424 is conveyed again to the recording unit 7 with its front and back reversed, and printing is performed on the surface opposite to the previously printed surface. The recording paper P that has been printed on both sides in this way is discharged to the in-body tray 6.

  The recording unit 7 is provided with four image forming units 70a, 70b, 70c, and 70d corresponding to images of four different colors (yellow, cyan, magenta, and black). Further, an intermediate transfer belt 71 is provided adjacent to the four image forming units 70a, 70b, 70c and 70d. The four image forming units 70a, 70b, 70c, and 70d are respectively provided with photosensitive drums 72a, 72b, 72c, and 72d that carry visible images (toner images) of the respective colors. The toner images formed on the photosensitive drums 72a, 72b, 72c, and 72d are sequentially transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 71 that moves while contacting the photosensitive drums 72a, 72b, 72c, and 72d. The toner images sequentially transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 71 are transferred at once onto the recording paper P supplied from the recording paper feeding unit 41 by the secondary transfer roller 73. The toner image transferred onto the recording paper P is fixed on the recording paper P by the fixing device 74.

  The photosensitive drums 72a, 72b, 72c, and 72d are charged around the photosensitive drums 72a, 72b, 72c, and 72d that are rotatably disposed in the four image forming units 70a, 70b, 70c, and 70d, respectively. Charging devices 75a, 75b, 75c and 75d, an exposure unit 76 for exposing the photosensitive drums 72a, 72b, 72c and 72d to form electrostatic latent images, and the photosensitive drums 72a, 72b, 72c and 72d. Developing devices 77a, 77b, 77c and 77d for forming toner images, respectively, and primary transfer rollers 78a, 78b, 78c and 78d for transferring the toner images on the photosensitive drums 72a, 72b, 72c and 72d to the intermediate transfer belt 71, respectively. And the developer remaining on the photosensitive drums 72a, 72b, 72c and 72d A cleaning device 79a for removing toner), 79b, and the 79c and 79d are provided.

  In the image forming operation, first, the surfaces of the photosensitive drums 72a, 72b, 72c, and 72d are uniformly charged by the charging devices 75a, 75b, 75c, and 75d, and then the exposure unit 76 emits light according to the print data. As a result, electrostatic latent images corresponding to print data are formed on the photosensitive drums 72a, 72b, 72c and 72d. The developing devices 77a, 77b, 77c, and 77d each include a developing roller that is disposed to face the photosensitive drums 72a, 72b, 72c, and 72d, and each color toner of yellow, cyan, magenta, and black is supplied to the photosensitive drum by the developing roller. A toner image corresponding to the electrostatic latent image is formed by supplying the toner onto 72a, 72b, 72c, and 72d and electrostatically attaching it. Next, by applying a predetermined transfer voltage to the primary transfer rollers 78a, 78b, 78c and 78d, yellow, cyan, magenta and black toner images on the photosensitive drums 72a, 72b, 72c and 72d are intermediately transferred. Primary transfer is performed on the belt 71 at a predetermined timing, and a full-color toner image is formed on the intermediate transfer belt 71. Thereafter, the toner remaining on the surfaces of the photosensitive drums 72a, 72b, 72c, and 72d is removed by the cleaning devices 79a, 79b, 79c, and 79d in preparation for the subsequent formation of a new electrostatic latent image.

  As the intermediate transfer belt 71, a sheet made of dielectric resin is used, and a belt in which both ends thereof are overlapped and joined to form an endless shape, or a belt without a seam (seamless) is used. The intermediate transfer belt 71 causes the formed toner image to reach the nip portion between the secondary transfer roller 73 and the recording paper P at the timing when the recording paper P is conveyed to the nip portion between the secondary transfer roller 73 and the intermediate transfer belt 71 to perform recording. The full color image is secondarily transferred onto the paper P. The intermediate transfer belt 71 and the secondary transfer roller 73 are rotationally driven at the same linear speed as the photosensitive drums 72a, 72b, 72c, and 72d. Further, a cleaning device 79 for removing toner remaining on the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 71 is disposed on the upstream side in the moving direction of the intermediate transfer belt 71 when viewed from the image forming units 70a, 70b, 70c, and 70d.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of the image forming apparatus 1. The document reading unit 2, the document feeding unit 3, the operation unit 5, the recording unit 7, the recording paper feeding unit 41, and the recording paper transporting unit 42 are connected to the control unit 8 and controlled in operation by the control unit 8. . In addition, a storage unit 9 and an image processing unit 10 are connected to the control unit 8.

  The storage unit 9 is a storage unit such as a semiconductor memory or an HDD (Hard Disk Drive), and stores image data of a document obtained by reading the document by the document reading unit 2 as print data. Further, the storage unit 9 stores coupon information 91 in which respective discount amounts generated according to the number of printed sheets for monochrome printing and color printing are set, and monochrome return information 92. In the coupon information 91 of this embodiment, for monochrome printing with a charge of 5 yen / sheet, a discount amount of 10 yen is set for every 30 printed sheets, and the charge is 30 yen / color. For printing, a discount amount of 10 yen is set for every five printed sheets. The monochrome return information 92 is used to return all or a part of the difference between the color printing and the monochrome printing to the user when the copy type is color and the monochrome original is copied and printed. In the present embodiment, monochrome reduction is set to 200 yen, which is a part of the difference of 250 yen between color printing and monochrome printing.

  The image processing unit 10 is a unit that performs predetermined image processing on image data of a document obtained by reading the document by the document reading unit 2, and includes, for example, enlargement / reduction processing, density adjustment, gradation adjustment, and the like. The image improvement process is performed.

  The control unit 8 is an information processing unit such as a microcomputer including a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory), and the like. The ROM stores a control program for controlling the operation of the image forming apparatus 1. The control unit 8 reads the control program stored in the ROM and develops the control program in the RAM, thereby controlling the entire apparatus according to predetermined instruction information input from the operation unit 5. Further, the control unit 8 functions as an image data analysis unit 81, a coupon amount calculation unit 82, a coupon image generation unit 83, a blank area detection unit 84, and a coupon image composition unit 85.

  The image data analysis unit 81 analyzes the color image data of all the pages of the document read by the document reading unit 2 with the copy type set to color, and determines whether the read document is a monochrome document or a color document. Determination is made, and the coupon amount calculation unit 82 is notified of the number of pages of the monochrome document. Then, the image data analysis unit 81 causes the image processing unit 10 to convert the color image data determined to be a monochrome document into monochrome (binary or gray scale) image data.

  When the copy type is set to monochrome, the coupon amount calculation unit 82 calculates the total number of printed sheets by multiplying the number of original pages by the number of copies input from the operation unit 5, and the calculated total number of printed sheets The total discount amount is calculated based on the coupon information 91, and the calculated total discount amount is output to the coupon image generation unit 83 as the coupon amount. Further, when the copy type is set to color, the coupon amount calculation unit 82 calculates the total discount amount based on the total number of printed sheets and the coupon information 91, and the monochrome document notified from the image data analysis unit 81. The total return amount is calculated based on the number of pages and the monochrome return information 92, and the sum of the total discount amount and the total return amount is output as a coupon amount to the coupon image generation unit 83.

  The coupon image generation unit 83 generates a coupon image that describes the coupon amount calculated by the coupon amount calculation unit 82.

  The blank area detection unit 84 detects a blank area larger than the coupon image generated by the coupon image generation unit 83 from the image data of the document read by the document reading unit 2, and detects the detected blank area as a coupon image. Is specified as a synthesis region to be synthesized. The margin area detection unit 84 detects the margin areas in order of the front side and the back side from the first page to the last page of the document, and specifies the first detected margin area as a synthesis area.

  The coupon image synthesis unit 85 synthesizes the coupon image generated by the coupon image generation unit 83 with the synthesis area specified by the blank area detection unit 84.

Next, a discount coupon printing operation by the image forming apparatus 1 of the present embodiment will be described in detail with reference to FIGS.
The user places a document on the document placing unit 31 of the document feeding unit 3 and then inputs the number of copies N from the liquid crystal display unit 51 of the operation unit 5 and sets whether or not a discount coupon can be printed. The operation key 52 (start key) of the unit 5 is operated to instruct the start of copy printing (image formation).

  When receiving the copy printing start instruction, the control unit 8 of the image forming apparatus 1 controls the document feeding unit 3 and the document reading unit 2 to start reading the document (step A1), and whether or not the discount coupon can be printed. Is determined (step A2). When the copy type is set to monochrome in step A1, the document reading unit 2 reads the document as monochrome (binary or gray scale) image data. When the copy type is set to color in step A1, the document reading unit 2 reads the document as color (RGB or the like) image data. If the discount coupon is not printed in step A2, the control unit 8 performs a normal printing process without printing the discount coupon (step A3), and ends the discount coupon printing operation.

  When it is determined in step A2 that the discount coupon is not printed, the control unit 8 determines whether or not the set number of print copies N is two or more (step A4). When the number of copies N is two or more in step A4, the control unit 8 starts normal printing processing up to (number of copies N-1) (step A5) and waits for completion of reading all pages of the document (step A5). Step A6). When the number of copies N is less than 2, that is, 1 in step A4, the control unit 8 directly reaches step A6.

  When reading of all pages of the document is completed in step A6, the control unit 8 determines whether or not the copy type is set to monochrome, that is, whether or not monochrome printing is performed (step A7). In the case of monochrome printing in step A7, the control unit 8 functions as a coupon amount calculation unit 82. The coupon amount calculation unit 82 calculates the total number of printed sheets by multiplying the number of original pages of the read document by the number of copies N, and calculates the total discount amount based on the calculated total number of printed sheets and the coupon information 91 as the coupon amount. (Step A8). In this embodiment, a discount amount of 10 yen is set for every 30 printed sheets as the coupon information 91 for monochrome printing. Therefore, when the total number of printed sheets is 60, the calculated total discount amount is 20 Yen.

  Next, the control unit 8 functions as a coupon image generation unit 83. The coupon image generation unit 83 generates a coupon image that describes the coupon amount calculated by the coupon amount calculation unit 82 (step A9).

  Next, the control unit 8 functions as a blank area detection unit 84. The blank area detection unit 84 detects a blank area larger than the coupon image generated by the coupon image generation unit 83 from the image data of the document read by the document reading unit 2, and detects the detected blank area as a coupon image. Is specified as a synthesis region to be synthesized. (Step A10)

  Next, the control unit 8 functions as a coupon image synthesis unit 85. The coupon image synthesis unit 85 synthesizes the coupon image generated by the coupon image generation unit 83 with the synthesis area specified by the blank area detection unit 84. (Step A11). Note that the processing from step A6 to step A11 can be performed in parallel with the normal printing processing up to the (number of copies N-1) copies of step A5. Therefore, when the number of copies N is plural, the printing operation is started without waiting for reading of all pages of the document.

  Next, the control unit 8 uses the image data obtained by synthesizing the coupon image by the coupon image synthesizing unit 85 to perform the final N-th printing process (step A12), and ends the discount coupon printing operation.

  FIG. 4A shows an example of discount coupon printing in the case of monochrome printing when the document is 60 pages, the number of copies N = 1, and the margin area on the surface of one page is specified as a composite area. In this case, the discount coupons are aggregated, and a discount coupon 100 in which the total discount amount of 20 yen is described as the coupon amount is printed on the surface of one page. Therefore, the user can easily grasp the existence of the discount coupon 100 without searching for the printed recording paper, and the convenience for the user is improved.

  FIG. 4B shows a discount coupon printing example when the original is 30 pages, the number of copies N = 2, and the margin area on the surface of one page is specified as a composite area in monochrome printing. In this case, the discount amount is collected and the discount coupon 100 in which the total discount amount of 20 yen is described as the coupon amount is printed on the first page of the second copy. Therefore, when printing a plurality of copies, the user can receive a privilege corresponding to the number of printed copies even if there is a portion that does not want to print a discount coupon.

  If the printing is not monochrome printing but color printing in step A7, the control unit 8 functions as the image data analysis unit 81. The image data analysis unit 81 analyzes the color image data of all pages of the document read by the document reading unit 2 with the copy type set to color (step A13). Then, the image data analysis unit 81 determines whether the read document is a monochrome document or a color document, and notifies the coupon amount calculation unit 82 of the number of pages of the monochrome document. Further, the image data analysis unit 81 causes the image processing unit 10 to convert the color image data determined to be a monochrome document into monochrome (binary or grayscale) image data (step A14).

  Next, the control unit 8 functions as a coupon amount calculation unit 82. The coupon amount calculation unit 82 calculates a total discount amount based on the total number of printed sheets and the coupon information 91, and also calculates the total amount based on the number of monochrome original pages notified from the image data analysis unit 81 and the monochrome return information 92. The return amount is calculated, and the sum of the total discount amount and the total return amount is calculated as the coupon amount (step A15), and the process also reaches step A9.

  FIG. 4 (c) shows a case where, in color printing, the original is a mixed original 30 pages of 24 pages of monochrome originals and 6 originals of color originals, the number of copies N = 1, and the margin area on the surface of one page is specified as a composite area. An example of printing a discount coupon is shown. In this case, the total discount amount is calculated to be 60 yen, the total return amount is calculated to be 480 yen of 24 pages / monochrome manuscript (20 pages) (monochrome return information 92), and the coupon amount is 540 yen. And the discount coupon 100 in which 540 yen which is a coupon amount is described is printed on the surface of one page. Thereby, a part of the difference between the color printing and the monochrome printing is reduced, so that the user can easily select the color as the copy type, and the use of the color printing can be promoted. Further, the presence of the discount coupon 100 can be easily grasped without searching for a printed recording sheet, and the convenience for the user is improved.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the image forming apparatus 1 in which the color printing fee is set higher than the monochrome printing fee and the discount amount is set for each preset number of printed sheets. An operation unit 2 that accepts an input for setting a copy type of monochrome or color, a document feeding unit 3 that sequentially feeds placed documents one by one, and a document fed by the document feeding unit 3 An image data analysis unit 81 that analyzes the image data of the document read by the document reading unit 2 and determines whether or not the document is a monochrome document when the copy type is set to color. After reading all pages of the document by the document reading unit 2, the total discount amount is calculated based on the total number of prints obtained by multiplying the number of document pages by the number of copies received by the operation unit 5, and the image data analysis unit 81. The total return amount is calculated by multiplying the number of pages of the monochrome manuscript grasped by the judgment with all or a part of the difference between the charge for color printing and the charge for monochrome printing. From the coupon image, the coupon amount calculation unit 82 that calculates the total amount as the coupon amount, the coupon image generation unit 83 that generates the coupon image indicating the coupon amount, and the image data of the document read by the document reading unit 2 A blank area detection unit 84 that detects a larger blank area and identifies the detected blank area as a synthesis area, and a coupon image synthesis unit 85 that synthesizes a coupon image in the synthesis area. A discount coupon is issued by printing the image data.
With this configuration, a part of the difference between the color printing and the monochrome printing is reduced, so that the user can easily select the color as the copy type and can promote the use of the color printing. Further, the presence of the discount coupon 100 can be easily grasped without searching for a printed recording sheet, and the convenience for the user is improved.

Further, according to the present embodiment, the image data of the original with which the coupon image is synthesized is printed on the final number of print copies accepted by the operation unit 5.
With this configuration, when there are a plurality of printing copies N, the printing operation can be started without waiting for reading of all pages of the document.

Further, according to the present embodiment, the margin area detection unit 84 detects the margin area from the first page to the last page of the document, and specifies the first detected margin area as the synthesis area.
With this configuration, the margin area of one page of the document is specified preferentially as a synthesis area. Therefore, the user can easily find the discount coupon 100.

  Note that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and it is obvious that the embodiments can be appropriately changed within the scope of the technical idea of the present invention. In addition, the number, position, shape, and the like of the constituent members are not limited to the above-described embodiment, and can be set to a suitable number, position, shape, and the like in practicing the present invention. In each figure, the same numerals are given to the same component.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image forming apparatus 2 Original reading part 3 Original feeding part 4 Main body part 5 Operation part 6 In-body tray 7 Recording part 8 Control part 9 Memory | storage part 10 Image processing part 21 Scanner 22 Platen glass 23 Original reading slit 31 Original mounting part 32 Document discharge section 33 Document transport mechanism 41 Recording paper feed section 42 Recording paper transport section 51 Liquid crystal display section 52 Operation keys 70a, 70b, 70c, 70d Image forming section 71 Intermediate transfer belts 72a, 72b, 72c, 72d Photosensitive drum 73 Secondary transfer roller 74 Fixing device 75a, 75b, 75c, 75d Charging device 76 Exposure unit 77a, 77b, 77c, 77d Developing device 78a, 78b, 78c, 78d Primary transfer roller 79, 79a, 79b, 79c, 79d Cleaning device 81 Image data analysis unit 82 Coupon amount calculation unit 8 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 3 Coupon image generation part 84 Margin area detection part 85 Coupon image composition part 91 Coupon information 92 Monochrome reduction information 100 Discount coupon 411 Paper feed cassette 412 Paper feed roller 421 Transport roller 422 Registration roller 423 Discharge roller 424 Paper reverse transport path

Claims (3)

An image forming apparatus in which a charge for color printing is set higher than a charge for monochrome printing, and a discount amount is set for each preset number of prints,
An operation unit that accepts a setting input of a copy type of monochrome or color,
A document feeding section for feeding the placed documents one by one in order,
A document reading unit that reads a document fed by the document feeding unit;
When the copy type is set to color, an image data analysis unit that analyzes image data of a document read by the document reading unit and determines whether the document is a monochrome document;
After reading all pages of the original by the original reading unit, the total discount amount is calculated based on the total number of prints obtained by multiplying the number of original pages by the number of prints received by the operation unit, and the determination of the image data analysis unit The total number of prints and the total amount of return are calculated by multiplying the number of pages of a monochrome manuscript obtained by the above by multiplying all or a part of the difference between the charge for color printing and the charge for monochrome printing. A coupon amount calculation unit that calculates the total amount of
A coupon image generation unit for generating a coupon image representing the coupon amount;
A blank area detection unit that detects a blank area larger than the coupon image from image data of the document read by the document reading unit and identifies the detected blank area as a composite area;
A coupon image composition unit for synthesizing the coupon image in the composition region;
An image forming apparatus, wherein a discount coupon is issued by printing image data of a document on which the coupon image is synthesized.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image data of the original combined with the coupon image is printed on the final number of copies received by the operation unit.   3. The margin area detection unit detects a margin area from the first page to the last page of the document, and specifies the first detected margin area as the synthesis area. Image forming apparatus.

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