JP4023975B2 - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, and more particularly to an image forming apparatus such as a printer or a copying machine connected to a plurality of computers via a network.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, image forming apparatuses such as network printer apparatuses and copiers that are connected to a plurality of computers, workstations, and the like via a network and can be printed by a print command from the computers on the network are widely used. .
Conventionally, in a network-connected image forming apparatus, when a user on the network needs many identical documents, when the image forming apparatus is a copying machine, the user sets a document and copies the required number of copies. At the same time, post-processing such as sorting and stapling was performed. On the other hand, in the case of a printer device, a user inputs a necessary number of copies on a network-connected computer or word processor print screen and issues a print command, or prints out only a part and outputs it as an original document by a copying machine. It was done by copying multiple copies.
There is also an image forming apparatus in which a floppy disk storing a document is inserted into an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, and a document to be printed can be selected from the floppy disk and printed.
[0003]
In addition, there is a case where a user desires to output data stored in a distributed manner in each computer as a single material in a printer connected to a plurality of computers over a network. In such a case, an output command is issued from the terminal of each computer or word processing device and printed out, and the order of the printed output is changed into one document, or the electronic data is represented by the representative. Printing was done by a method of printing out a single document as a whole.
In addition, data is temporarily stored in the printer apparatus, and after that, printing is performed at a time later, and processing such as sorting and stapling is performed at the same time.
By the way, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-46468 has a password input means for storing image data input from an external computer in a storage means. If the passwords input from the password input means match, the storage means Describes an image processing apparatus capable of storing image data and outputting the image data by output means.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the conventional method of inputting the number of copies in advance and outputting a large number of copies at a time, when dissatisfaction with the finished print, a large number of outputs have already been completed, and a print command is issued again for output. It was a waste of paper.
Even if only a part of the image is output and the image is satisfactory, it is necessary to send an output command again from the computer or the like when further output is desired. It was inconvenient to.
The method of inserting a floppy disk that stores a document to be printed on the image forming apparatus takes time and effort to save the document to a floppy disk, and there are problems such as limited applications that can output the stored data. It was.
[0005]
On the other hand, when it is desired to bookbinding and outputs together documents of a plurality of users, as representative is a plurality of documents one document together user, the bookbinding or the like replace orderly it to print each It became a method of doing, and it was a troublesome work.
In addition, in a method in which data is temporarily stored in the printer device and printed at a later time, and processing such as sorting and stapling is performed at the same time, it is difficult to select similar titles, and there is a high possibility that wrong data will be drawn out. It was. In addition, if anyone could retrieve the stored data, it could not be used for confidential documents.
[0006]
Accordingly, a first object of the present invention is to set a post-processing such as print output of a large number of copies, sorting and stapling by an operation on the operation panel of the printer device, and is stored in the printer device in advance. An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus capable of outputting data.
A second object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus capable of selecting another user's document stored in the printer apparatus and designating the output order of the selected data.
A third object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus capable of attaching a management number to data stored in a printer and printing it on a print that also outputs the management number.
A fourth object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus capable of setting access authority to a storage area of data stored in a printer apparatus.
A fifth object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus capable of setting a password for data stored in a printer apparatus.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In the first aspect of the present invention, a network connected via a line to multiple computers, such as a receiving means for receiving data from the plurality of computers and the like by a plurality of users via the network, received by the receiving means Storing means for accumulating and storing the data in a storage area, printing means for printing / outputting data received by the receiving means or data stored by the storing means on paper, and the storing means for printing by the printing means Printed by the printing means , a designation means for selecting a plurality of data stored by the plurality of users, an output order designating means for designating an output order of the plurality of data selected by the plurality of users, and the printing means. double with sorting, and a post-processing means for post-processing such as stapling and the sheet was selected by the specifying means Of select workup instruction simultaneously with said post-processing means of the multi-copies printed for the user, wherein the output to Rukoto as a plurality of data by a plurality of users selected by the specifying means is one document An image forming apparatus. The first and second objects are achieved.
[0008]
In the invention of claim 2, wherein, in the invention according to the first aspect, when to the registration of the data via the receiving means, by which can specify whether attaching a management number to the data, the third Achieve the goal.
[0009]
According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the second aspect of the present invention, when the printing unit prints and outputs the data stored in the storage unit on a sheet, it can be specified whether or not the management number is to be combined. Thus, the third object is achieved.
[0010]
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the second and third aspects of the invention, the third number is selected by the plurality of users stored in the storage unit by the designation unit according to the management number . To achieve the objectives.
[0011]
According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the invention, a plurality of data selected by a plurality of users stored in the storage unit by the specifying unit are selected by a plurality of users corresponding to the users provided in the storage unit. By performing from the storage area, the first and second objects are achieved.
[0012]
According to a sixth aspect of the invention, in the first aspect of the invention, when registering data via the receiving means, it is possible to specify whether the data is printed / output by the printing means at the same time. To achieve the first and second objectives.
[0013]
According to a seventh aspect of the invention, in the first aspect of the invention, the fourth object is achieved by setting an access right that limits a user who can access the storage area of the storage unit .
[0014]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment.
In this embodiment, a printer apparatus connected to a plurality of computers via a network will be described as an example of an image forming apparatus.
The printer apparatus includes a printer control circuit 11, a printer engine 12, a network interface circuit 13, a hard disk (memory) 14, and an operation panel 15.
[0015]
The printer engine 12 is connected to the printer control circuit 11 and is a printing unit that prints data received by the printer device.
Although not shown, the network interface circuit 13 is connected to a network and is a receiving unit that receives data transmitted via the network.
Although not shown, the printer control circuit 11 has a user ID recognition unit, and holds a list of user IDs and passwords registered in advance. The data requested to be saved by the user is saved by the printer control circuit 11 in each of the user areas 2 to 4 or the shared space 1 in the hard disk 14.
[0016]
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the memory structure of the hard disk 14. The hard disk 14 is a storage unit that stores and accumulates received data, and includes a shared space 1 that can be shared by a plurality of users, a user C area 2, a user B area 3, and a user A area 4. Yes. In this example, the users A to C are used as an example. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a data storage area having an arbitrary number of users can be set.
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the operation panel 15 of the printer apparatus. The operation panel 15 is a designation means for selecting and designating stored data, and includes a numeric / character key 21, a process selection key 22, a display screen 23, and an execution key 24.
[0017]
In this printer apparatus, when the network interface circuit 13 receives data from a host computer on the network, the printer control circuit 11 controls the printer engine 12 to print the data and puts it on a paper discharge tray (not shown). Data is output.
The data stored and stored in the hard disk 14 can be temporarily stored and printed out after being stored by a user instruction from the operation panel 15 of the printer device or an instruction from a computer (including a network computer).
Further, the printer apparatus can perform post-processing after printing such as sorting and stapling by operating the number / character key 21 on the operation panel 15 and the value number key on the computer.
[0018]
FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure when the printer apparatus according to this embodiment receives data.
First, at the same time as the user issues a print request (print execution command) from the computer, data is transmitted to the network interface circuit 13 or the printer control circuit 11 on the printer side (step 100). The user determines whether to save the received data (step 101). Here, the user prints out immediately from the PC (personal computer) screen or the operation panel 15 and does not save the data, prints and saves the data, and saves only the data without printing out. Any of these can be selected.
[0019]
When the received data is not stored (step 101; N), the process is transferred to the printer engine 12, and it is determined whether to print the data that is received but not stored (step 107). When printing is not performed (step 107; N), the processing is ended as it is. When printing (step 107; Y), the data is output and discharged (step 108), and the process ends.
On the other hand, when the received data is stored (step 101; Y), the hard disk 14 (or memory) of the printer device is used for data storage. At the time of this data storage, the user ID recognition unit in the printer control circuit 11 recognizes the user ID (user name, computer name, etc.) registered in advance (step 102) and has already set it in the hard disk 14. Data is accumulated and stored in a certain user's area (step 103). Then, the user determines whether to assign a management number to the stored data from the PC screen or the operation panel 15 (step 104).
[0020]
When the management number is not added (step 104; N), it is determined whether there is new data (step 106). If there is no new data (step 106; N), it is determined whether or not the already stored data is to be printed (step 107). In the case of printing (step 107; Y), output and discharge (step 108), and the process ends. When printing is not performed (step 107; N), the processing ends after the data is stored.
When adding a management number (step 104; Y), a management number is assigned to the stored data (step 105). The printer control circuit 11 determines whether there is new data (step 106). If there is no new data (step 106; N), it is determined whether or not the already stored data is to be printed (step 107). In the case of printing (step 107; Y), output and discharge (step 108), and the process ends. When printing is not performed (step 107; N), the processing ends after the data is stored.
If there is new data (step 106; Y), the processing from step 100 to step 106 is repeated until there is no new data.
[0021]
The management number can be assigned either by the user through the operation panel 15 or the like, or automatically by the hard disk 14 of the printer device.
When the printer apparatus stores data in the hard disk 14 in the processing procedure of FIG. 4, a management number is assigned to the data. The user can also select whether or not to print out this management number by superimposing it on the data when printing.
[0022]
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of the output of the printer apparatus with the management number.
The addition of the management number facilitates management of stored data, and avoids confusion caused by similar titles of stored data and selection of wrong documents.
In addition, when the user selects to print with the management number at the time of printing completion confirmation (at the time of the first print output) or the like, if there is a similar data name or the like when printing again Can be easily distinguished.
Note that it is also possible to select whether or not to store the received data in the printer apparatus according to an instruction from a computer or the like on the network.
[0023]
FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure for printing print (document) data stored in the hard disk 14 by a user operation.
First, in a state where data is stored in the printer apparatus (step 200), the user inputs, for example, a user ID, a password, etc. via a print screen of a PC (personal computer) or the operation panel 15 of the printer apparatus ( Step 201). The user ID recognition unit of the printer control circuit 11 recognizes the input user ID and the like (step 202), searches for stored data in the storage area of the recognized user in the hard disk 14, and displays it on the PC screen or operation. A list of management numbers is displayed on the display screen 23 of the panel 15 together with the stored data name (step 203).
[0024]
The user can select stored data to be printed from the list of stored data names (step 204), select print output (step 205), and print out (step 206). If the data names are similar and difficult to understand, the user inputs the management number of each saved data recorded at the time of saving the data (or at the time of the previous printing) and pulls out the document (step 204). A print mode can be selected (step 205) and printed out (step 206).
After selecting the stored data to be printed, the user inputs a copy set by using the number / character key 21 on the operation panel 15 and a processing request such as sorting or stapling by the processing selection key 22, and print start key (execution key). ) Printing starts at 24.
[0025]
The user can also freely select the print order when selecting a document to be printed from the stored data.
When data of a plurality of users is stored in the shared space 1 of the hard disk 14 or the like, the user can easily bind a required document by specifying the document printing order and setting the post-printing process. After all the settings are completed, the user issues a print instruction from the PC or the operation panel 15, and the printer engine 12 outputs and discharges the paper under the control of the printer control circuit 11.
Further, a part or all of the data search result stored in the hard disk 14 is displayed on the operation panel 15, whereby the user can select a necessary document on the operation panel 15 and issue a print instruction. What is displayed on the operation panel 15 may be a document name of stored data. Also in this case, as described above, multi-copy printing, post-printing processing, and the like can be set on the operation panel.
[0026]
Next, an operation for ensuring security when storing data will be described.
When the user selects to save the transmitted data, the hard disk 14 of the printer apparatus main body is used for saving the data. At this time, the data is stored in the areas 2 to 4 of each user, or the shared space 1 of all users, in the hard disk 14 in advance.
Further, the user can input an access authority in advance to a RAM (random access memory) in the printer control circuit 11 from the PC screen or the operation panel 15. This access authority can be further secured as required by changing the access authority as necessary. As a result, the users who can access the storage area are limited, so that users who do not have access rights cannot retrieve the storage data.
Further, by setting a password for the stored data, the user can ensure the security of the stored data.
[0027]
FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure when a password is set for data stored in the hard disk 14.
When data to be printed is transmitted from the computer (step 300), the data is stored in the hard disk 14 under the control of the printer control circuit 11 (step 301). The user ID recognition unit in the printer control circuit 11 recognizes the user ID of the stored data (step 302).
Then, the printer apparatus allows the user to select whether or not to set a password for the data stored via the PC screen or the operation panel 15 (step 303).
When setting a password (step 303; Y), the user sets a password for the stored data (step 304), stores the data in the hard disk 14 (step 305), and ends the process.
In this process, a password can be set for the stored data, so that only the user who knows the password can retrieve the stored data.
If a password is set for the saved data selected by the user, the user can select and retrieve the data if the input password matches the set password by inputting the password. If not, you cannot select data.
[0028]
FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure for extracting stored data with security.
When extracting data with security, in a state where the data is stored in the hard disk 14 (step 400), the user first inputs a user ID via the print screen of the PC or the operation panel 15 of the printer apparatus main body (step 400). Step 401).
When the printer control circuit 11 recognizes the input ID (step 402) and then selects another user's area in the hard disk 14 (step 403), it is determined whether or not there is an authority to access the other user's area. (Step 404).
At this time, if the user has no access authority (step 404; N), a message indicating no authority is displayed on the PC screen or the display screen of the operation panel 15 (step 409), and the process ends without selecting data. .
If the user has access authority (step 404), a list of stored data in other user areas is displayed (step 405), and the user selects data to be printed from the list of stored data (step 406) and designates printing. (Step 407), the data can be output and discharged (step 408).
By combining the setting of the password for the stored data in FIG. 7 and the processing for selecting the access authority to the user areas 2 to 4 in FIG. 8, the protection of the stored data can be doubled.
[0029]
【The invention's effect】
According to the first aspect of the present invention, the user can print out the data stored in the storage unit by operating the specifying unit. Therefore, when the same document requires a large number of copies, only one copy is output and the image is output. Multiple copies can be printed after confirmation.
In addition, since the user can also specify the output order of the data stored in the storage unit by operating the specifying unit, it is not necessary to rearrange the printed matter and retake a large number of copies, and bookbinding can be easily performed.
As a result, it is possible to reduce waste of paper when the printing result is unsatisfactory. Also, sorting the paper that is printed out by the printing means, since the example Bei post-processing means for post-processing such as stapling, the user by operating the designation means, after printing the output data sorting and post-processing such as stapling This eliminates the need to re-set the original in a copying machine or the like, making it easy to print multiple copies and bookbinding.
[0030]
According to the second aspect of the present invention, the user can select whether or not to give the management number by operating the specifying means, so that the stored document can be easily managed, and there is data of similar titles in the saving means. Data can be easily selected without confusion.
[0031]
According to the third aspect of the present invention, when data is printed , the user can select whether or not to print the management number on the print, so that the management of the stored document is facilitated and similar to the storage means. Data can be easily selected without confusion when there is title data.
[0032]
In the invention according to claim 4, since the user can input the management number of the data from the specifying means, the data stored in the storage means can be pulled out, and there is no need to check the stored data. The data can be retrieved. Further, since the data can be output in an arbitrary order or output together with other data, bookbinding or the like can be easily performed.
[0033]
In the invention according to claim 5 , since the user can also specify the output order of the data stored in the storage means by operating the specifying means, it is not necessary to rearrange the printed matter and retake a large number of copies. It can be performed.
[0034]
In the invention according to the sixth aspect , since the post-processing means for performing post-processing such as sorting and stapling on the paper printed and output by the printing means is provided, the user can perform sorting after printing out the data by operating the specifying means. Post-processing such as stapling can be performed at the same time, and it is not necessary to re-set the original in a copying machine or the like, so that multiple copies and bookbinding can be easily performed.
[0035]
In the invention of claim 7, wherein, it is possible to set the access privileges of the user can access the storage area of the save means, it is possible to ensure the security.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an image forming apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment.
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a memory structure of a hard disk.
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an operation panel of the printer apparatus.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure when the printer according to the exemplary embodiment receives data.
FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of output from a printer apparatus with a management number.
FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure for printing data stored in a hard disk by a user operation.
FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure when a password is set for data stored in the hard disk 14;
FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure for extracting stored data with security.
[Explanation of symbols]
11 Printer Control Circuit 12 Printer Engine 13 Network Interface Circuit 14 Hard Disk 15 Operation Panel 21 Number / Character Key 22 Processing Selection Key 23 Display Screen 24 Execution Key

Claims (7)

A network connected via a line to multiple computers, such as a receiving means for receiving data from the plurality of computers and the like by a plurality of users via the network,
Storage means for storing and storing data received by the receiving means in a storage area;
Printing means for printing / outputting data received by the receiving means or data saved by the saving means on paper;
A designation means for selecting a plurality of data by a plurality of users stored in the storage means to be printed by the printing means;
An output order specifying means for specifying the output order of a plurality of data by a plurality of users selected by the specifying means;
Post-processing means for performing post-processing such as sorting and stapling on the paper printed out by the printing means,
The post-processing by the post-processing means is selected simultaneously with the multiple copy printing instruction for the plurality of users selected by the specifying means so that a plurality of data by the plurality of users selected by the specifying means becomes one document. an image forming apparatus comprising also be output from the. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when registering data via the receiving means, it is possible to designate whether or not to attach a management number to the data. 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the printing unit can designate whether or not to synthesize the management number when printing and outputting data stored in the storage unit on a sheet. 4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein selection of a plurality of data by a plurality of users stored in the storage unit by the specifying unit is performed by the management number. 2. The image formation according to claim 1, wherein selection of a plurality of data by a plurality of users stored in the storage unit by the specifying unit is performed from a plurality of storage areas corresponding to the users provided in the storage unit. apparatus. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when registering data via the receiving unit, it is possible to designate whether or not the printing unit simultaneously prints and outputs the data. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an access right that limits a user who can access a storage area of the storage unit can be set.

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