JP3404256B2 - Image forming device - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus that prints image data input from the outside.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional image forming apparatus, a printer,
When receiving image data from an external device such as a personal computer or a host, a print image is formed based on the image data and the number of copies instructed by the external device is printed.

FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a conventional image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus 31 has an I / F section 32 for receiving image data from the outside and image data received by the I / F section 32. A data conversion unit 33 for converting the data into data for printing, a storage unit 34 for storing a program necessary for controlling the image forming apparatus 31, fonts necessary for the data conversion unit 33, and a data conversion unit 33. A print processing unit 35 that prints data from the printer and a control unit 36 that controls these units.

[0004]

However, in the conventional image forming apparatus, after the print processing is performed, all the data related thereto is erased. Therefore, in order to obtain the same image, a print command is again issued from an external device. There was a problem that it had to be taken out and it took time. In addition, when data is not stored in a floppy disk or hard disk, it is necessary to copy the printed paper with a copying machine, and in order to take advantage of the high resolution, it is necessary to recreate the data with an external device. was there.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and in an image forming apparatus for printing image data from the outside, the image forming apparatus includes a main body device and an external operating device. The main body device includes an identification code assigning unit that assigns an identification code for each page of the print image, a print processing unit that prints the print image and the corresponding identification code on the recording medium, the print image and the corresponding identification code. And a first transmission / reception unit capable of wirelessly transmitting and receiving the identification code, and the external operation device is the first
A second transmitting / receiving section capable of wirelessly transmitting / receiving an identification code to / from the transmitting / receiving section, a second storage section for storing the identification code received by the second transmitting / receiving section, and an identification code received by the second transmitting / receiving section. A display unit for displaying the identification code stored in the second storage unit and an input unit capable of inputting the identification code are provided, and the identification code input by the input unit or the identification code displayed on the display unit is displayed. From the second transceiver to the first transceiver,
The image forming apparatus takes out the print image corresponding to the identification code from the first storage unit, and prints the print image or the print image and the identification code on the recording medium by the print processing unit.

With such a configuration, when the input unit of the external operation device inputs or the identification code is read from the second storage unit and displayed on the display unit to issue a print command, the print processing unit of the main unit prints in the past. The printed image can be printed.

[0007]

[0008]

Further, the identification code and the related information of the print image corresponding to the identification code are transmitted and received between the first transmission / reception unit and the second transmission / reception unit, and stored in the second storage unit. The image forming apparatus displays the identification code and related information on the display unit.

With this configuration, the print image associated with the identification code can be known on the display unit.

Further, the image forming apparatus is such that the control command for the main body apparatus can be issued by the input section.

With such a configuration, the main body device can be controlled even when it is separated from the main body device.

[0013]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an image forming apparatus according to a first invention of the present invention. The image forming apparatus comprises a main body device 1 and an external operation device 10, and the main body device 1 includes an I / F unit 2 , Data conversion unit 3, first storage unit 4, print processing unit 5, control unit 6, identification code assigning unit 7, first
The external operation device 10 includes a second transceiver unit 11, a second storage unit 12, a display unit 13, an input unit 14,
A control unit 15 is provided.

The I / F unit 2 is a unit which is connected to a computer or the like via a cable and receives image data desired to be printed from the computer or the like. Data converter 3
Displays the image data received by the I / F unit 2 in the print processing unit 5
This is the part that converts to data that can be printed with.

The identification code giving section 7 is a section for giving an identification code corresponding to a print image for each page unit. The information included in this identification code may be a printer serial number, a document serial number, a password, etc.
These pieces of information may be given by letters or numbers.

The first storage unit 4 is a program necessary for controlling the entire main body apparatus 1, fonts required by the data conversion unit 3, print images to be printed by the print processing unit 5, and an identification code assigning unit. This is a part for storing the identification code given by 7 and corresponding to the print image. Print processing unit 5
Is a portion for printing the data formed by the data conversion unit 3 on a recording medium and at the same time printing the identification code given by the identification code giving unit 7 on the recording medium. The control unit 6
This is a part that controls the entire main body device 1.

The first transmission / reception unit 8 and the second transmission / reception unit 11 are portions that can mutually transmit / receive data such as an identification code by a wireless communication method such as infrared rays or radio waves. The second storage unit 12 is a unit that stores a program necessary for controlling the entire external operation device 10 and data such as an identification code received by the second transmission / reception unit 11. Display unit 13
Is a part that displays letters and numbers, and can display an identification code. The input unit 14 is a unit for inputting an identification code, and may be composed of a numeric keypad as shown in FIG. 2A, a key capable of inputting characters, an input button, and the like.

According to the present invention, the print image and the identification code are printed on the recording medium, and at the same time, the print image and the identification code are stored in the first storage unit 4, so that when the printing becomes necessary again, the print image and the identification code are recorded. After the identification code printed on the medium is input by the input unit 8 or the identification code stored in the second storage unit 12 is displayed on the display unit 13, the input command (FIG. 2A in this embodiment) is performed. By simply pressing the input button shown in, the print image can be taken out from the first storage unit 4 via the second transmission / reception unit 11 and the first transmission / reception unit 8, and printing can be performed any number of times. You can do it.

FIG. 2A is a schematic perspective view of the main body apparatus 1. The main body apparatus 1 has an external appearance including an operation panel 21, a display section 22, a tray 23 serving as a cassette sheet feeding section, and a cassette 2.
4. The recording medium discharge unit 25 is provided, and the first transmission / reception unit 8 is provided on the front surface.

The identification code may be printed specifically as follows, and which printing method is to be used is set in advance, or either the main body device or the external operation device is provided with a selection means. May be selected or combined. (1) Print on all pages of the recording medium to be printed. As a result, it is possible to immediately issue a print command for only the page to be printed. (2) Print only on the first page of the recording medium to be printed.
As a result, the identification code is not printed on the second and subsequent pages. (3) Print as the next page of the last page of the recording medium to be printed. That is, in the case of printing two pages, the identification code is printed on the third page. As a result, the identification code is not printed at all on the recording medium on which the print image is printed. (4) Print on the back surface of the recording medium to be printed. As a result, the identification code is not printed on the surface of what is printed. (5) When printing is performed according to the print command from the external operation device 10, only the print image is printed on the recording medium. From this, it can be understood that the one with the identification code is the original. (6) Even when printing is performed according to the print command from the external operation device 10, the print image and the identification code are printed on the recording medium.
As a result, it is possible to issue a print command on all recording media that have been printed.

The image forming apparatus of the present invention is provided with a network-compatible control means capable of accessing other external equipment, and with a read output means capable of reading and outputting a print image of the other apparatus. Then, since the serial number of the image forming apparatus is entered as the identification code, the document of another image forming apparatus can be retrieved and the print image can be shared. In addition, if it is possible to know which image forming apparatus the character or number corresponding to the serial number corresponds to, the image forming apparatus that has printed the document can be known, and the external operation of the image forming apparatus can be performed. Immediate printing is possible by inputting the identification code on the device. Further, the image forming apparatus is connected to a host or the like,
If a means capable of responding to a search, read, or output instruction from the host or the like is provided, file management can be performed on the host side and stored print image contents can be viewed. Further, by providing a means capable of responding to the copy protection setting from the host or the like, the confidentiality of the printed image can be maintained.

As a further embodiment, the first transceiver 8
And the second transmission / reception unit 11 transmit and receive the identification code together with the related information of the print image corresponding to the identification code, for example, the title and the document number, and store the information in the second storage unit 12 and display it. The identification code and its related information may be displayed at 13. By doing so, it is possible to know the rough information of the print image corresponding to the identification code without looking at the recording medium, and it is possible to greatly reduce the time until printing.

As a further embodiment, the configuration as shown in FIG. 2 (b) is adopted, and the same command as the operation panel 21 provided in the main body device 1 is enabled by the input unit 14 of the external operation device 10, The operation of the main body device 1 can be commanded in a remote state.

[0024]

[0025]

As described in detail above, according to the image forming apparatus of the present invention, an identification code is added to a print image, the print image and the identification code corresponding thereto are stored, and printing is performed by the identification code. Since the command can be issued, it is possible to obtain printing at the same resolution any number of times and in a short time, and it is possible to provide an image forming apparatus which is particularly effective when adopted in a color printer.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an image forming apparatus of the present invention.

2A is a schematic perspective view showing an image forming apparatus of the present invention, and FIG. 2B is a schematic perspective view showing another embodiment of an external operating device.

FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a conventional image forming apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

1: Main unit 2, 32: I / F section 3, 33: Data converter 4: First storage unit 5, 35: Print processing unit 6,15,36: Control unit 7: Identification code assigning section 8: First transmitter / receiver 10: External operation device 11: Second transceiver 12: Second storage unit 13: Display 14: Input section 21: Operation panel 22: Display 23: Tray 24: cassette 25: Recording medium discharge section 31: Image forming apparatus 34: storage unit

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. An image forming apparatus for printing image data from the outside, wherein the image forming apparatus comprises a main body device and an external operation device, and the main body device gives an identification code to each page unit of a print image. An identification code assigning section, a print processing section that prints the print image and the corresponding identification code on a recording medium, a first storage section that stores the print image and the corresponding identification code, and an identification code. The external operation device has a first transmitting / receiving unit capable of wirelessly transmitting / receiving, and the external operation device receives a second transmitting / receiving unit capable of wirelessly transmitting / receiving an identification code with the first transmitting / receiving unit and the second transmitting / receiving unit. A second storage unit that stores an identification code, a display unit that displays the identification code received by the second transmission / reception unit or the identification code stored in the second storage unit, and the identification code can be input Input section The identification code input by the input unit or the identification code displayed on the display unit is transmitted from the second transmission / reception unit to the first transmission / reception unit, and a print image corresponding to the identification code is transmitted to the first image transmission unit. An image forming apparatus, wherein the image is taken out of the first storage unit, and the print processing unit prints the print image or the print image and the identification code on a recording medium. 2. The identification code and the related information of the print image corresponding to the identification code are transmitted and received between the first transmission / reception unit and the second transmission / reception unit, and stored in the second storage unit. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the display unit displays the identification code and the related information. Wherein the input unit according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that it is input to a control command of the main unit
The image forming apparatus according to item 1.