JP5114085B2 - Image forming apparatus and image forming method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus and an image forming method.

  Image forming apparatuses such as copiers, printers, or multifunction devices that combine the functions of these devices with the functions of scanners and facsimile machines are becoming increasingly multifunctional in order to improve user convenience. For example, in Patent Document 1 below, an image that enables selective printing in which different types of advertisements and the like can be freely inserted at the time of bookbinding and enables various bookbinding methods such as bag binding, saddle stitching, and flat binding. A forming apparatus is disclosed.

In recent years, it has become common to construct an image forming system by connecting a network or the like to which a user's computer is connected and an image forming apparatus. In such an image forming system, original image data to be printed is directly transmitted from the computer to the image forming apparatus for printing, or original image data read by the image forming apparatus is transferred to the computer. As a result, the image forming apparatus can be efficiently used by a plurality of users.
JP 2005-216242 A

  By the way, in the above-described image forming apparatus, if “bag binding” bound in a magazine or weekly magazine is created from one document, the page to be printed inside the bag binding and the outside of the bag binding are printed. It often happens that the pages that are desired to be printed do not print as expected. For this reason, in an image forming apparatus capable of bag binding, such as the image forming apparatus disclosed in the above-mentioned Patent Document 1, pages for bag binding and pages not to be printed are manually sorted and printed separately. Or, it may be necessary to take measures such as changing the order of the pages of the bag binding in advance, and it cannot be said that the convenience is high.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and manually sorts and prints pages that are to be bound and pages that are not to be printed, or performs desired printing from a single document without changing the pages. An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus and method capable of performing the above and an image apparatus.

In order to solve the above problems, an image forming apparatus according to the present invention is an image forming apparatus having an aggregate printing function for printing a plurality of document images on both sides of a sheet of paper. A setting unit for setting a spread direction and a bag binding image range for performing bag binding among the plurality of document images; and the first two document images and the last in the bag binding image range set by the setting unit. Two document images are set in a spread direction opposite to the spread direction set by the setting unit and printed by the collective printing function, and the remaining document images are set in the spread direction set by the setting unit. And control means for printing with the aggregate printing function.
The image forming apparatus according to the present invention further includes an operation unit operated by a user, and the setting unit determines the spread direction of the sheet and the bag binding image range according to the operation content of the operation unit of the user. It is characterized by setting.
The image forming apparatus of the present invention further includes a document image reading device that reads the plurality of document images, and the control unit causes the aggregate printing function to print the plurality of document images read by the document image reading device. It is characterized by that.
Alternatively, the image forming apparatus of the present invention includes a communication unit that performs communication with a terminal device connected to a network, and the setting unit is configured to detect the spread direction of the sheet based on an instruction from the terminal device. The bag binding image range is set, and the control means causes the aggregate printing function to print a document image transmitted from the terminal device.
The image forming method of the present invention is an image forming method for printing a plurality of document images on a sheet using a consolidated print function for printing a plurality of document images on both sides of a sheet of paper. A first step for setting a paper spread direction and a bag binding image range for bag binding among the plurality of document images; and the first two in the bag binding image range set in the first step The document image and the last two document images are set in a spread direction opposite to the spread direction set in the first step and printed by the collective printing function, and the remaining document images are printed in the first step. And the second step of printing with the aggregate printing function set in the spread direction set in step (1).

  According to the present invention, the spread direction of the paper printed by the aggregate printing function and the bag binding image range for performing bag binding among the plurality of document images are set, and the first two in the set bag binding image range. One original image and the last two original images are set in a spread direction opposite to the set spread direction and printed by the collective print function, and the remaining original images are set in the specified spread direction and consolidated. Since printing is performed using the print function, pages that are to be bound and pages that are not to be manually sorted are printed, or desired printing can be performed from a single document without page replacement. effective.

  Hereinafter, an image forming apparatus and an image forming method according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an appearance of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the present embodiment, a case where the image forming apparatus is a multifunction machine having functions of a facsimile, a copier, and a printer will be described as an example. As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus 1 of the present embodiment includes an apparatus main body unit 2, a display operation unit 3, and an image reading unit 4. The apparatus main body unit 2 includes an image memory, an image processing unit, a printing unit, a control unit, and the like (see FIG. 2).

  The display operation unit 3 includes an operation unit 3 a operated by a user and a display unit 3 b on which a touch panel made of a transparent electrode is arranged on the entire surface, and is provided on the upper front side of the apparatus main body unit 2. The image reading unit 4 includes an automatic document feeder (ADF) 4a for automatically feeding a document, a table 4b made of transparent glass on which the document is placed, and a scanner for reading the document. 4c (see FIG. 2), which is provided on the upper portion of the apparatus main body 2 at a portion other than the display operation unit 3.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a main configuration of the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 2, the image forming apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment includes a control unit 11 (control unit), the number of documents in addition to the operation unit 3a, the display unit 3b, and the scanner unit 4c (document image reading device). A counter 12, an image memory 13, an image processing unit 14, a print processing unit 15, a printing unit 16, and a communication unit 17 (communication means) are provided.

  The operation unit 3a is a function key for selecting each function of a facsimile, a copier, and a printer, a cursor key for selecting various printing modes including an aggregate printing mode, or for bag binding instruction and spread direction instruction, Various keys such as a numeric keypad for inputting numerical data for designating the number of copies to be printed, the number of copies, etc., and a power key for turning on / off the power are provided. Here, the aggregate print mode refers to a mode in which a function for printing a plurality of document images on a single sheet (aggregate print function) is operated.

  In this collective print mode, a mode in which two original images are reduced and collectively printed on one sheet (2 in 1 mode), a mode in which four original images are reduced and collectively printed on one sheet (4 in 1 mode), etc. Can be selected. Note that duplex printing is also possible in the aggregate printing mode. Further, in the collective printing mode, it is possible to select a spread direction (right spread or left spread, or top spread or bottom spread) of the document after printing. The display unit 3b displays messages such as various screens, guidance, and various instructions according to key operations of the operation unit 3a. The scanner unit 4c reads a document placed on the table 4b shown in FIG. 1 or a document sent out by the automatic document feeder 4a, converts the image information into digital data (document image data), and outputs the digital data.

  The control unit 11 controls each block provided in the image forming apparatus 1 such as the scanner unit 4c and the print processing unit 15 to control the operation of the image forming apparatus 1 in an integrated manner. Specifically, when the user operates the operation unit 3a to give a document reading instruction, the scanner unit 4c is controlled to be sent out by the document placed on the table 4b or by the automatic document feeder 4a. Control is performed to read the original and store the read original image data in the image memory 13. When document image data is transmitted from a terminal device (not shown) connected to a network (not shown), the document image data transmitted by controlling the communication unit 17 is stored in the image memory 13. Take control.

  In addition, the control unit 11 performs reading control of the document image data stored in the image memory 13 and performs control to print the document image data by outputting the read document image data to the print processing unit 15. . When the aggregate print mode is selected in accordance with a user instruction, the control unit 11 controls the image processing unit 14 to reduce, for example, two original image data and arrange them side by side on one side of the paper (2 in 1 Mode).

  Here, the control unit 11 includes a bag binding range setting unit 11a (setting unit) and a spread direction setting unit 11b (setting unit). The bag binding range setting unit 11a transmits a control signal for instructing a range of originals for bag binding when the user operates the operation unit 3a to instruct the range of originals for bag binding or from a terminal device (not shown). In this case, the range of the document image data to be bound is set according to the contents of the instruction. When the spread direction setting unit 11b is instructed to open the document by the user's operation of the operation unit 3a, or when the spread direction of the document is instructed by a control signal from a terminal device (not shown), Set the facing direction according to.

  When the aggregate print mode is selected, the control unit 11 performs print control according to the setting contents of the bag binding range setting unit 11a and the spread direction setting unit 11b. Specifically, among the document image data to be printed, the first two document image data and the last two document image data in the range set by the bag binding range setting unit 11a are displayed in the spread direction setting unit 11b. The spread direction is set in the opposite direction to the set spread direction, and consolidated printing is performed. On the other hand, when the remaining original image data of the original image data to be printed is consolidated and printed, it is set to the spread direction set in the spread direction setting unit 11b and is collectively printed. The details of the operation when performing bag binding will be described later.

  The document number counter 12 counts the number of documents to be read when reading the document using the automatic document feeder 4 a and outputs the count result to the control unit 11. The image memory 13 stores document image data output from the scanner unit 4c or document image data transmitted from a terminal device connected to a network (not shown). The image memory 13 is realized by a semiconductor storage device such as a RAM (Random Access Memory) or a magnetic storage device such as a hard disk.

  The image processing unit 14 performs predetermined image processing on the document image data under the control of the control unit 11. Specifically, when the document image data is compressed, a decompression process is performed. When the aggregate print mode is selected, image processing is performed in which the two original image data are reduced and arranged side by side on one side of the paper (in the case of 2 in 1 mode). The print processing unit 15 controls the printing unit 16 based on the control signal output from the control unit 11 and the document image data output from the image processing unit 14 to print the document image data on a sheet. The printing unit 16 prints document image data on a sheet under the control of the print control unit 15.

  The communication unit 17 communicates with a terminal device (not shown) connected to a network (not shown). Here, the image forming apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment transmits a control signal for instructing printing from a terminal device connected to the network and original image data to be printed. The original image data can be printed. The communication unit 17 outputs a control signal from the terminal device to the control unit 11 and outputs document image data to the image memory 13. The control signal from the terminal device includes various control signals such as a control signal for instructing the number of copies, a control signal for instructing collective printing, a control signal for instructing the range of bag binding, and a control signal for instructing the spread direction. Is included. In the following description, various control signals transmitted from the terminal device and document image data are collectively referred to as “print data”.

  Next, the operation of the image forming apparatus 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an image forming method according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the following description, a case where the image forming apparatus 1 performs printing based on print data transmitted from a terminal device connected to a network (not shown) will be described as an example. In FIG. 3, the processing that is not directly related to the present invention is not shown, and the processing that is directly related to the present invention will be mainly described in the following description.

  First, the control unit 11 determines whether or not print data transmitted from a terminal device (not shown) has been received by the communication unit 17 (step S11). If the communication unit 17 has not received print data from the terminal device, the determination result is “NO”, and the process of step S11 is repeated. Here, it is assumed that the user who operates the terminal apparatus gives an instruction to print the document image data shown in FIG. 4 to the image forming apparatus 1.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of document image data instructed to be printed by the user. In the example shown in FIG. 4, the original image data for 16 pages including the original image data D1 to the original image data D16 is included, and the original image data for 8 pages from the original image data D5 to the original image data D12 is bound and printed. The print data set to do is shown in figure. This print data is set so that the original image data is consolidated and printed (2 in 1) on both sides of the paper, and the spread direction is set to “left spread”.

  When the print data shown in FIG. 4 is transmitted from the terminal device, the communication unit 17 outputs a control signal included in the print data from the terminal device to the control unit 11. As a result, the determination result in step S11 is “YES”, and the control unit 11 controls the communication unit 17 to accumulate the print image data D1 to D16 included in the print data in the image memory 13 (step S12). When the accumulation of the print image data D1 to D16 is completed, the control unit 11 determines whether or not the aggregate print mode is selected and there is a bag binding instruction based on a control signal included in the print data from the terminal device. (Step S13).

  Here, in the print data, since it is considered that the original image data is set to be consolidated (2 in 1) on both sides of the paper and set to be bound and printed, the determination result in step S13 is “YES”. If the determination result in step S13 is “NO”, the series of processing shown in FIG. 3 is terminated, and processing according to the instructed printing method is performed.

  When the determination result in step S13 is “YES”, the bag binding range setting unit 11a of the control unit 11 sets the range of document image data to be bound based on the control signal included in the print data (step S14: First step). Specifically, the document image data D5 to D12 are set in the range of document image data to be bound. Next, the spread direction setting unit 11b of the control unit 11 sets the spread direction based on a control signal included in the print data (step S15: first step). Specifically, the spread direction is set to “left spread”.

  When the above processing is completed, the control unit 11 performs reading control of the document image data D1 to D16 stored in the image memory 13, and controls the image processing unit 14 to read two documents of the document image data. Image processing is performed in which the image data is reduced and arranged on one side of the paper. Then, the original image data subjected to the image processing is output to the print processing unit 15 and is collectively printed on both sides of the paper.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining collective printing performed in the image forming method according to the embodiment of the present invention. In the collective printing, the control unit 11 first leaves the original image data except the first two original image data D5 and D6 and the last two original image data D11 and D12 in the range of the original image data to be bound. Collective printing is performed with spread (step S16: second step).

  That is, as shown in FIG. 5A, for the original image data D1 to D4 and D13 to D16 that are not included in the bound range, the original image data D1 and D16 are collectively printed on one side of the paper P1, and the paper is printed. The original image data D2 and D15 are collectively printed on the other side of P1, the original image data D3 and D14 are centrally printed on one side of the paper P2, and the original image data D4 and D13 are centrally printed on the other side of the paper P2.

  At this time, the original image data D1 and D2 are overlapped and the original image data D16 and D15 are overlapped when viewed from the direction intersecting the paper surface of the paper P1. The same applies to the paper P2, and the original image data D3 and D4 are overlapped and the original image data D14 and D13 are overlapped when viewed from the direction intersecting the paper surface of the paper P2.

  In addition, the document image data D7 to D11 other than the first two document image data D5 and D6 and the last two document image data D11 and D12 in the range, although the document image data is included in the bag binding range. The same printing is performed for. That is, the original image data D7 and D8 are collectively printed on one side of the paper P3, and the original image data D10 and D9 are collectively printed on the other side of the paper P3. At this time, when viewed from the direction intersecting the paper surface of the paper P3, the original image data D7 and D8 are printed so that the original image data D10 and D9 overlap.

  Next, the control unit 11 sets the spread direction of the document to be opposite to the spread direction set in the spread direction setting unit 11b (step S17). That is, in step S15, since the spread direction of the document is set to “left spread”, it is set to “right spread” here. Next, the control unit 11 causes the first two document image data D5 and D6 and the last two document image data D11 and D12 in the range of the document image data to be subjected to bag binding to be integrated and printed with a right spread (step S18: No. 1). 2 steps).

  That is, as shown in FIG. 5B, the original image data D6 and D11 are collectively printed on one side of the paper P4 and the original image data D5 and D12 are centrally printed on the other side of the paper P4. At this time, when viewed from the direction intersecting the paper surface of the paper P4, the original image data D6 and D5 are overlaid and the original image data D11 and D12 are overlaid. With the above processing, the series of processing shown in FIG.

  6 and 7 are diagrams illustrating a procedure for creating a booklet with bag binding. If the sheets P1 and P2 that are collectively printed are overlapped in the state shown in FIG. 5A and are folded along a folding line L (a line parallel to the short side through the centers of the sheets P1 and P2), As shown in FIG. 6A, a booklet K1 is obtained in which the original image data D1 to D4 and the original image data D13 to D16 are arranged in order with left spread.

  Further, if the aggregated paper P3 is valley-folded along a folding line L (a line parallel to the short side through the center of the paper P3) in the state shown in FIG. 5B, FIG. As shown in the figure, a booklet K2 in which the document image data D7 to D10 are arranged in order with left spread is obtained. Further, if the aggregated paper P4 is folded in a fold along the folding line L (a line parallel to the short side through the center of the paper P4) in the state shown in FIG. A booklet K3 is obtained in which the data D5 and D6 are arranged in numerical order and the document image data D11 and D12 are arranged in numerical order.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 7, the booklet K4 is created by combining the booklet K2 and the booklet K3. At this time, the booklet K2 and the booklet K3 are combined so that the spread portion of the booklet K2 fits inside the spread portion of the booklet K3. Next, if the booklet K4 created from the booklets K2 and K3 is incorporated into the booklet K1 so that the booklet K4 fits inside the spread part of the booklet K1, the booklet B with bag binding is created.

  As described above, the image forming apparatus and the image forming method according to the embodiment of the present invention spread the first two document image data D5 and D6 and the last two document image data D11 and D12 in the bag binding range. A spread direction opposite to the spread direction set by the direction setting unit 11b is set and consolidated printing, and the remaining document image data is set by the spread direction set by the spread direction setting unit 11b and printed collectively. ing. For this reason, the pages to be bound and the pages not to be printed can be manually sorted and printed, or desired printing can be performed from one document without changing the pages.

  The image forming apparatus and the image forming method according to the embodiment of the present invention have been described above. However, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and can be freely changed within the scope of the present invention. For example, in the above-described embodiment, the operation when print data is transmitted from a computer connected to a network has been described as an example. However, when the printed document is read by the scanner unit 4c, Similar desired printing can be performed. In the above embodiment, the case where the image forming apparatus is a multifunction peripheral has been described as an example. However, the present invention can be applied to devices such as a copying machine and a printer in addition to the multifunction peripheral.

  Further, in the above-described embodiment, for the sake of simplicity, the case where the number of document image data to be bound is eight that is a multiple of “4” has been described as an example. The present invention can be applied even in cases other than multiples. For example, when the number of document image data to be bound is a multiple of “4” +2 (for example, 6), a sheet half the size of the sheet P3 is used instead of the sheet P3, and both sides of the sheet are used. It is possible to cope with this by reducing the size of the original image data for two pages. Further, when the number of document image data to be bound is a multiple of “4” +1 (for example, 7), by including the document image data for one page outside the bound range in the bound range, Generation of blank pages can be prevented.

1 is a perspective view illustrating an appearance of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a main configuration of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an image forming method according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the original image data instruct | indicated printing by the user. It is a figure for demonstrating the integrated printing performed with the image forming method by one Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the procedure which produces the booklet with a bag binding. It is a figure which shows the procedure which produces the booklet with a bag binding.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image forming apparatus 3a Operation part 4c Scanner part 11 Control part 11a Bag binding range setting part 11b Spread direction setting part 17 Communication part

Claims (5)

In an image forming apparatus having an aggregate printing function for printing a plurality of document images on both sides of a sheet of paper,
A setting unit for setting a spread direction of a sheet to be printed by the aggregate printing function and a bag binding image range for performing bag binding among the plurality of document images;
The first two document images and the last two document images in the bag binding image range set by the setting unit are set in a spread direction opposite to the spread direction set by the setting unit. The number of document images set by the aggregate print function, the remaining document images set in the spread direction set by the setting unit and printed by the aggregate print function , and set in the bag binding image range is “4”. Is a half size paper, and two pages of original images are printed on both sides of the paper by the aggregate printing function, and a blank for one page is generated on the paper. The image forming apparatus includes: a control unit that includes the original image data for one page outside the bag binding range in the bag binding range and causes the aggregate printing function to print . An operation unit operated by a user is provided.
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the setting unit sets the spread direction of the sheet and the bag binding image range according to the operation content of the operation unit of the user. A document image reading device for reading the plurality of document images;
The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the control unit causes the aggregate printing function to print a plurality of document images read by the document image reading device. Comprising a communication means for communicating with a terminal device connected to a network;
The setting means sets the spread direction of the paper and the bag binding image range based on an instruction from the terminal device,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit causes the aggregate printing function to print a document image transmitted from the terminal device. In an image forming method for printing a plurality of document images on a sheet using an aggregate printing function for printing a plurality of document images on both sides of a sheet of paper,
A first step of setting a spread direction of a sheet to be printed by the aggregate printing function and a bag binding image range for performing bag binding among the plurality of document images;
The first two document images and the last two document images in the bag binding image range set in the first step are set in a spread direction opposite to the spread direction set in the first step. The number of document images printed by the aggregate print function, the remaining document images set in the spread direction set in the first step, printed by the aggregate print function , and set in the bag-bound image range. Is “4” +2, a half-size paper is used, and a process of printing the original image of two pages on both sides of the paper by the collective printing function is performed. And a second step of executing a process of printing by the aggregate printing function by including the original image data for one page outside the bag binding range into the bag binding range when a blank is generated. Method.

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