JP4640000B2 - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus that combines and outputs a plurality of jobs.

  In general, an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine or a printer includes a storage unit such as a hard disk, and can register image data read by a scanner or image data received from an external device as a job. . By storing a job for which image formation has been performed once, the stored job can be read and executed later, so that it is not necessary to read the original again and transmit / receive data.

In addition, there has been proposed an image forming apparatus that determines whether or not jobs can be combined according to an output condition set for each job when the jobs are combined and output as one job (for example, (See Patent Document 1). Also, when combining multiple print jobs into one job, the jobs are combined so that pages contained in different jobs can be printed on both sides of one sheet of paper, or on one sheet of paper There has also been proposed an image processing control apparatus that performs merging so that Nin1 printing in which N pages of images are arranged and printed (see, for example, Patent Document 2).
JP 2003-174529 A JP-A-9-134261

  However, when, for example, sending the same text to different destinations and creating a printed material with a different cover for each copy, the required number of copies of the text should be printed, and the cover printed separately It was necessary to issue an instruction to combine a cover job and a body job for each copy to be placed or output.

  SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is that it improves operability when a job is output by adding a different page to each copy.

In order to solve the above-described problem, an image forming apparatus according to claim 1 includes a storage unit that stores image data in units of jobs, a basic job that includes a plurality of pages among jobs stored in the storage unit, A selection means for selecting another job, and a predetermined page of the basic job and all pages of the other job are combined and output , and the number of pages per copy is output. A total page counter indicating, a cover job page counter indicating what page of the basic job is output, and a combined job page counter indicating what page of the other job being output is output, and an output control means for controlling the output, the output control unit, when the unit total page counter indicates the first page, before the basic job Control for incrementing the set total page counter and the cover page job page counter by outputting a page indicated by the cover page job page counter, and when the set total page counter indicates a page other than the first page, Control for incrementing the copy total page counter and the combined job page counter by outputting the page indicated by the combined job page counter, and output of the combined job page counter when all pages of the other job are output. A control for setting the number of output pages per copy to 1 and a control for setting the total page counter to 1 when the number of output pages per copy is output. Determine whether there is a page indicated by the cover page , And carrying out repeated until it is determined that there is no page indicated by the cover job page counter of the basic job.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the first aspect, the other job is a plurality of jobs.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the first or second aspect, the image forming apparatus includes an image reading unit that reads image data from an image, and the image data of the job stored in the storage unit is the image reading unit. It is image data read by the means.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the first or second aspect, the image forming apparatus includes a receiving unit that receives image data from an external device, and the image data of the job stored in the storage unit is the reception unit. The image data received by the means.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, it is possible to improve operability when a different page is added for each copy and all pages of other jobs are output.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, it is possible to combine a predetermined page of a basic job and all pages of a plurality of jobs.

  According to the third aspect of the present invention, the image data read by the image reading means can be combined.

  According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the image data from the external device received by the receiving means can be combined.

Hereinafter, the image forming apparatus 1 in the embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail.
FIG. 1 shows a cross-sectional configuration of the image forming apparatus 1.
As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus 1 includes an image reading unit 20, an operation unit 30, a printer unit 40, a paper feeding unit 50, a post-processing unit 60, and a hard disk (Hard Disk Drive) 80.

  The image reading unit 20 includes an ADF (Auto Document Feeder) unit 21 and a scanner unit 22 which are automatic paper feeding mechanisms. The ADF unit 21 conveys the document placed on the document table and sends it to the scanner unit 22, and the scanner unit 22 optically scans the conveyed document and photoelectrically converts it by the line image sensor CCD to read the document image. .

  The document image data read by the image reading unit 20 is subjected to various types of image processing and output to the printer unit 40 as print image data.

  The operation unit 30 includes a display unit 31, a touch panel provided so as to cover the display unit 31, numeric buttons, and various function buttons such as a start button for instructing start of printing. The display unit 31 includes an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) and displays various operation screens and various processing results.

  The printer unit 40 performs electrophotographic image formation, and includes a transport mechanism 41 that transports the printing paper fed from the paper feeding unit 50, an image forming unit 42 that forms an image on the printing paper, and a printing paper. And a fixing unit 43 for fixing the toner image formed thereon. The image forming unit 42 includes a photosensitive drum that is an image carrier, a charging unit that charges the photosensitive drum, an exposure unit that exposes and scans the surface of the photosensitive drum based on image data, a developing unit that attaches toner to the photosensitive drum, The image forming apparatus includes a transfer unit that transfers a toner image formed on the photosensitive drum to printing paper, and a cleaning unit that removes residual toner on the photosensitive drum.

  The paper feed unit 50 includes four paper feed trays 51 to 54. In the present embodiment, four paper feed trays are provided, but the number is not particularly limited. Each of the paper feed trays 51 to 54 can store printing papers having different paper types and sizes, such as plain paper, backing paper, recycled paper, and high-quality paper.

  The post-processing unit 60 can perform various post-processing such as sorting processing, punching (punching) processing, and stapling processing on the image-formed printing paper to create a booklet and bookbinding.

  The hard disk 80 stores image data output (or scheduled to be output) from the image forming apparatus 1 in units of jobs including output conditions. The storage structure of the hard disk 80 has a hierarchical structure, for example, a three-layer structure of a user layer, a BOX layer, and a file layer. A folder classified for each user is created as a user layer immediately below the root directory at the top of the hierarchy. In the lower hierarchy of the user layer, one or a plurality of folders are created for each user as a BOX layer. In the lower layer of the BOX layer, an image data file is stored as a file layer. Here, each image data file corresponds to a job.

Next, the internal configuration of the image forming apparatus 1 will be described with reference to FIG.
As shown in FIG. 2, the image forming apparatus 1 includes a control unit 10, an image reading unit 20, an operation unit 30, a printer unit 40, a paper feeding unit 50, a post-processing unit 60, a print controller unit 70, and a hard disk 80. The Note that the same components as those described in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted.

  The control unit 10 includes an image control unit 11, a program memory 12, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 13, a storage unit 14, a reading processing unit 15, a DRAM control IC 16, an image memory 17, a writing processing unit 18, and a hard disk processing unit 19. Composed.

  The image control unit 11 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) and the like, reads various processing programs stored in the program memory 12, and controls the processing operations of the respective units of the image forming apparatus 1 in cooperation with the programs. Control.

  The program memory 12 stores various processing programs related to printing of the image forming apparatus 1.

  The RAM 13 forms a work area for temporarily storing various programs executed by the image control unit 11 and data related to these programs.

  The storage unit 14 includes a nonvolatile memory and stores various data.

  The reading processing unit 15 performs shading correction processing and A / D conversion processing on the analog image signal input from the scanner unit 22 of the image reading unit 20 to generate digital image data. The generated image data is output to the DRAM control IC 16.

  The DRAM control IC 16 performs compression / decompression processing on the image data in accordance with an instruction from the image control unit 11 and performs input / output control of the image data to the image memory 17. For example, when the reading of image data is instructed, the DRAM control IC 16 performs a compression process on the image data input from the reading processing unit 15 and stores it in the compression memory 17 a of the image memory 17. When the DRAM control IC 16 is instructed to print out the image data, the DRAM control IC 16 reads the compressed image data from the compression memory 17 a, performs decompression processing, and outputs it to the writing processing unit 18.

  The image memory 17 is composed of a DRAM (Dynamic RAM) and includes a compression memory 17a. The compression memory 17a is a memory for storing compressed image data.

  The writing processing unit 18 generates print data for image formation based on the image data input from the DRAM control IC 16 and outputs the print data to the printer unit 40.

  The hard disk processing unit 19 controls a prescribed sequence (IDE: Integrated Drive Electronics, etc.) for accessing the hard disk 80, such as reading / saving image data and creating a folder. When instructed to store the image data in the hard disk 80, the hard disk processing unit 19 causes the DRAM control IC 16 to read out the compressed image data stored in the compression memory 17a of the image memory 17, and the compressed image data thus read out. Are stored in the hard disk 80. When the hard disk processing unit 19 is instructed to read image data from the hard disk 80, the hard disk processing unit 19 reads the compressed image data stored in the hard disk 80 and stores the read compressed image data in the compression memory 17 a of the image memory 17. Store.

  The image reading unit 20 includes an ADF unit 21, a scanner unit 22, and a reading control unit 23. The reading control unit 23 controls the ADF unit 21 and the scanner unit 22 in accordance with instructions from the image control unit 11 to execute optical scanning of the document surface, and the read analog image signal is read by the reading processing unit 15 of the control unit 10. Output to.

  The operation unit 30 includes a touch panel configured integrally with the display unit 31, various function buttons, and an operation unit control unit 32. The operation unit control unit 32 outputs operation signals operated by various function buttons or a touch panel to the image control unit 11. In addition, the operation unit control unit 32 displays various operation screens and various processing results on the display unit 31 in accordance with an instruction from the image control unit 11. The operation unit 30 is a selection unit used when selection is performed on the operation screen displayed on the display unit 31.

  The printer unit 40 includes various units related to printing such as the image forming unit 42 and a printer control unit 44. The printer control unit 44 controls the operation of each unit of the printer unit 40 in accordance with an instruction from the image control unit 11 and causes an image to be formed on the printing paper based on the image data input from the writing processing unit 18.

  The paper feed unit 50 includes the paper feed trays 51 to 54 shown in FIG. Further, the post-processing unit 60 performs various post-processings on the image-formed printing paper output from the printer unit 40.

  The print controller unit 70 converts image data received from an external PC (Personal Computer) via a communication line such as a LAN (Local Area Network) into data that can be formed and outputs the data to the DRAM control IC 16.

Here, the basic principle of the present invention will be described.
FIG. 3A is an image diagram of a job before combining, and FIG. 3B is an image diagram of a job after combining. As shown in FIG. 3A, the cover job is a basic job composed of three pages A, B, and C. The basic job is a job composed of a plurality of pages, and is combined with all pages of other jobs every predetermined page. For example, different addresses and addresses are described on pages A, B, and C of the cover job. The combined job 1 and the combined job 2, which are other jobs (hereinafter referred to as combined jobs) for combining with a predetermined page of the cover page job, are each composed of three pages.

  As shown in FIG. 3B, first, the first page (A) of the cover job, pages 1 to 3 of the combined job 1, and pages 1 to 3 of the combined job 2 are combined and output as one copy. To do. Next, the second page (B) of the cover job, pages 1 to 3 of the combined job 1, and pages 1 to 3 of the combined job 2 are combined and output as one copy. Next, the third page (C) of the cover job, pages 1 to 3 of the combined job 1, and pages 1 to 3 of the combined job 2 are combined and output as one copy. In this way, the cover job is divided into predetermined pages, and the predetermined pages of the divided cover job and all pages of the combined job 1 and all pages of the combined job 2 are combined and output in order. In this example, the basic job is composed of three pages and the predetermined page is one page. However, the predetermined page may be one page or a plurality of pages.

Next, the operation in the present embodiment will be described.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing job combination processing executed by the image forming apparatus 1. The job combination process is a process of reading out a job stored in the hard disk 80 and combining and outputting the job, and is performed based on a program stored in the program memory 12.

  As shown in FIG. 4, first, a menu screen is displayed on the display unit 31 of the operation unit 30 (step S1). FIG. 5 shows a display example of the menu screen. When the user presses the application function button 301 on the menu screen, an application function is selected (step S2).

  Next, an application function setting screen is displayed on the display unit 31 (step S3). FIG. 6 shows a display example of the application function setting screen. When the user presses the cover mode button 302 on the application function setting screen, the cover mode is selected (step S4).

  Next, a job selection screen is displayed on the display unit 31 (step S5). FIG. 7 shows a display example of the job selection screen. On the job selection screen, for example, when the user presses the FILE0 button 303 and then presses the arrow button 306, the FILE0 button 303 is moved to the combination area 307 and selected as a cover job (step S6).

  Next, when the user presses the FILE1 button 304 and then presses the arrow button 306, the FILE1 button 304 is moved to the combining area 307 and selected as the combined job 1 (step S7). Next, when the user presses the FILE2 button 305 and then presses the arrow button 306, the FILE2 button 305 is moved to the combined area 307 and selected as the combined job 2 (step S7). Further, when selecting a combined job, the same processing is repeated.

  FIG. 8 shows a state in which FILE0 is selected as the cover job, and FILE1 and FILE2 are selected as the combined jobs. Here, the first selected job is a cover job, and the second and subsequent jobs are combined jobs.

  Next, output processing of the selected cover job and combined job is performed (step S8).

With reference to FIG. 9, the cover job and combined job output processing will be described.
First, it is determined whether or not the job to be output is a new job (step S11). If the job to be output is a new job (step S11; Yes), the copy total page counter j, the cover page job page counter k, the combined job counter m, and the combined job page counter n are set to 1 (step S11). S12).

  Here, the copy total page counter j indicates how many pages per copy are printed. The cover job page counter k indicates what page of the cover job is to be printed. The combined job counter m indicates what number of combined jobs are being printed. The combined job page counter n indicates what page of the combined job being printed is to be printed.

  After step S12 or when the job to be output is not a new job in step S11 (step S11; No), it is determined whether or not the copy total page counter j is 1 (step S13).

  When the total page counter j is 1 (step S13; Yes). It is determined whether or not the cover page has the k-th page (step S14).

  If the cover job has the k-th page (step S14; Yes), the k-th page of the cover job is output (step S15). Then, the cover job page counter k is incremented by 1 (step S16).

  On the other hand, if the copy total page counter j is not 1 in step S13 (step S13; No), the nth page of the mth combined job is output (step S17). Then, the combined job page counter n is incremented by 1 (step S18). If the combined job page counter n is equal to or smaller than the number of pages of the mth combined job (step S19; Yes), the process proceeds to step S21. When the combined job page counter n is larger than the number of pages of the m-th combined job (step S19; No), the combined job page counter n is set to 1 and the combined job counter m is incremented by 1 (step S20). ).

  After step S16 or step S20, or when the combined job page counter n is equal to or less than the number of pages of the mth combined job in step S19 (step S19; Yes), the total page counter j is incremented by 1 ( In step S21, it is determined whether or not the total page counter j is equal to or less than the number of pages per copy (step S22).

  When the copy total page counter j is equal to or less than the number of pages per copy (step S22; Yes), the process returns to step S11 and the same processing is repeated. If the copy total page counter j is larger than the number of pages per copy in step S22 (step S22; No), the copy total page counter j and the combined job counter m are set to 1 (step S23). Return to S11.

  If there is no k-th page in the cover job in step S14 (step S14; No), this process ends.

  As described above, according to the image forming apparatus 1, the cover job is divided into pages, and each page of the divided cover job and the combined job are combined and output in order. It is possible to improve the operability when a job is output with different pages added.

  The description in the above embodiment is an example of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention, and the present invention is not limited to this. The detailed configuration and detailed operation of each part of the image forming apparatus can be changed as appropriate without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

  For example, in the above embodiment, the cover job and the combined job are selected from the jobs stored in the hard disk 80. However, the image reading unit 20 stored in the compression memory 17a of the image memory 17 reads the cover job and the combined job. It is also possible to select the received image data or the image data received from the external PC by the print controller unit 70 as a cover job or a combined job. The storage means for storing the job is not limited to the hard disk 80, and may be a storage medium such as a DVD (Digital Versatile Disk).

  In the above embodiment, each page of the cover job is added to the beginning of the combined job. However, each page of the basic job may be added to the end of the combined job, or between a plurality of combined jobs. It is good also as inserting in.

1 is a cross-sectional configuration diagram of an image forming apparatus 1 in an embodiment of the present invention. 2 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of the image forming apparatus 1. FIG. (A) is an image diagram of a job before combination. FIG. 6B is an image diagram of a job after combination. 4 is a flowchart showing job combination processing executed by the image forming apparatus 1. It is a display example of a menu screen. It is an example of a display of an application function setting screen. It is a display example of a job selection screen. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a state in which FILE0 is selected as a cover job and FILE1 and FILE2 are selected as combined jobs. 10 is a flowchart illustrating output processing of a cover job and a combined job.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image forming apparatus 10 Control part 11 Image control part 12 Program memory 13 RAM
14 Storage Unit 15 Reading Processing Unit 16 DRAM Control IC
17 Image memory 18 Write processing unit 19 Hard disk processing unit 20 Image reading unit 21 ADF unit 22 Scanner unit 23 Reading control unit 30 Operation unit 31 Display unit 32 Operation unit control unit 40 Printer unit 41 Transport mechanism 42 Image forming unit 43 Fixing unit 44 Printer Control Unit 50 Paper Feed Units 51, 52, 53, 54 Paper Feed Tray 60 Post-Processing Unit 70 Print Controller 80 Hard Disk

Claims (4)

Storage means for storing image data in units of jobs;
A selection means for selecting a basic job composed of a plurality of pages from among the jobs stored in the storage means, and another job;
A combined total page counter indicating the number of pages to be output per set, and a predetermined page of the basic job, and all pages of the other job, respectively , and how many pages of the basic job Output control means for controlling output by a cover page job page counter indicating whether to output eyes, and a combined job page counter indicating what page of the other jobs being output ;
Equipped with a,
When the set total page counter indicates the first page, the output control means outputs the page indicated by the cover job page counter of the basic job and outputs the set total page counter and the cover job page counter. When the control for incrementing and the set total page counter indicates a page other than the first page, the page indicated by the combined job page counter of the other job is output to output the set total page counter, the combined job page counter, Control to increment all the pages of the other job, control to set the combined job page counter to 1 when output of all pages of the other job, and output of the number of output pages per copy is performed. The control of setting the page counter to 1 and the page of the basic job. Determines whether there is a page showing in performing force of the cover job page counter of the basic job, and wherein the repeat be performed until it is determined that there is no page indicated by the cover job page counter of the basic job Image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1.
The other job is a plurality of jobs. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein
Comprising image reading means for reading image data from an image;
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image data of the job stored in the storage unit is image data read by the image reading unit. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein
A receiving means for receiving image data from an external device;
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image data of the job stored in the storage unit is image data received by the receiving unit.

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