JP5456758B2 - Image forming method having rewritable print and permanent print functions, and image forming apparatus having the same - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus and an image forming method for forming an image using a decolorizable colorant and a non-decolorable colorant.

  There is a decolorizable colorant capable of causing a chemical reaction by heat or the like and erasing the color. 2. Description of the Related Art An image forming apparatus having an image forming unit that uses the decolorizable colorant and an image forming unit that forms an image using a non-decolorable normal colorant is known.

JP 2010-253951 A

  An object to be solved by an embodiment of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus that realizes image formation with a decolorizable colorant and image formation with a non-decolorable colorant in one job or one page, and An image forming method is provided.

  In order to achieve such an object, an image forming apparatus according to an aspect of the present invention includes an image to be printed, a print setting screen start reception unit that receives an instruction to start a print setting screen for the image, and a print setting screen start reception. When the unit receives a start instruction, a setting screen display unit that displays a setting screen having a setting unit for specifying rewritable print or permanent print for each page, and an operation on the setting screen displayed by the setting screen display unit An image forming job creating unit including an image forming job storage unit that stores a setting content and an image in which rewritable printing or permanent printing is set for each page, and an image forming job from the image forming job creating unit. An image forming unit that receives and forms an image based on the set content. To.

1 is a system configuration diagram illustrating a configuration of an image forming apparatus according to a first embodiment and a system including the image forming apparatus. 2 is a configuration diagram illustrating a configuration of an MFP 1 according to the embodiment. FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram illustrating functions of the MFP 1 according to the embodiment. FIG. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating a printer driver 30 according to the embodiment. Schematic which shows the rewritable setting screen 48 which concerns on the embodiment. Schematic which shows the rewritable setting screen 69 which concerns on the embodiment. Schematic which shows the rewritable setting screen 69 which concerns on the embodiment. Schematic which shows the partial rewritable setting screen 79 concerning the embodiment. Schematic which shows the partial rewritable setting screen 79 concerning the embodiment. The functional block diagram explaining the function of the client terminal 160 concerning the embodiment. 6 is a flowchart for explaining a flow of creating an image forming job in the client terminal 160 according to the embodiment. FIG. 6 is a configuration diagram illustrating a configuration of an MFP 1 ′ according to a modification of the embodiment. FIG. 10 is a configuration diagram illustrating a configuration of an MFP 1b according to a second embodiment. Schematic which shows the rewritable setting screen 26 which concerns on the embodiment.

(First embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram showing a configuration of an MFP (Multi Function Peripheral) 1 as an image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment and a system including the MFP 1. FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram illustrating the configuration of the MFP 1 according to the present embodiment. The system of the present embodiment is configured by connecting the MFP 1 and other devices such as the client terminal 160 via the network 150. The client terminal 160 is not limited to a desktop computer connected via the network 150, and may be a mobile computer, a tablet computer, or a portable terminal such as a smartphone, and is connected to the MFP 1 by wireless communication or the like. It may be. Hereafter, each apparatus which comprises this system is demonstrated in detail.

  The MFP 1 of the present embodiment uses an image forming process using a decolorizable colorant that loses color due to a chemical reaction when heated to a predetermined temperature, and a non-decolorable colorant that does not lose color even when heated to the predetermined temperature. This MFP is capable of performing two types of image forming processes. Hereinafter, forming an image with a color erasable colorant is referred to as “rewritable print” (the image forming process using the color erasable colorant is not limited to the purpose of sheet reuse). ). Forming an image with a non-erasable colorant is called “permanent print”.

  The MFP 1 performs the image formation with the processor 2, the memory 4, the HDD (Hard Disc Drive) 6, the first image forming unit 8 that performs the image forming process with the non-decolorable colorant, and the decolorizable colorant. A second image forming unit 10, an image reading unit 12, a display panel 14, an operation input unit 16, a sheet supply unit 18, a FAX unit 20, a finisher device 22 described later, and the like are provided.

The processor 2 executes various processes in the MFP 1 such as an image forming process and an image reading process based on an image forming job, an operation input, and the like transmitted from the client terminal 160 and the like. Then, the processor 2 of the present embodiment, in one job (or in one page), a page (or a part) on which an image is formed with a decolorable colorant and a page (or a part) on which an image is formed with a non-decolorable colorant When a part) is mixed, the first image forming unit 8 forms an image with a non-decolorable colorant and the second image forming unit 10 forms an image with a decolorizable colorant on the sheet. To control. The processor 2 executes the program stored in the memory 4 to realize these functions and execute processing.

  The details of the function for executing each of the above processes will be described in detail in the description of the functional block diagram of FIG. Further, as the processor 2, a CPU (Central Processing Unit), an MPU (Micro Processing Unit) capable of executing arithmetic processing equivalent to the CPU, or the like can be used. Further, an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit) as a processor may be realized for some or all of the functions of the MFP 1.

  The memory 4 stores a program for executing an image forming process and each process by the MFP 1 of the present embodiment described above. The memory 4 temporarily stores image data generated by the RIP process in the image forming process, and is used as a work area for various applications. Further, the memory 4 has a function of temporarily storing a signal such as an image forming job acquired via the network 150 and an operation input signal from the operation input unit 16. The main memory 4 includes, for example, a RAM (Random Access Memory), a ROM (Read Only Memory), a DRAM (Dynamic Random Access Memory), an SRAM (Static Random Access Memory), a VRAM (Video RAM), a flash memory, and the like. be able to.

  The HDD 6 is an auxiliary storage device that stores various information in the MFP 1. In the present embodiment, the HDD is exemplified as the auxiliary storage device of the MFP 1. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a flash memory, an SSD (Solid State Drive), a magnetic disk other than the HDD, or the like can be used.

  The first image forming unit 8 is an apparatus that forms an image by a normal electrophotographic method. The first image forming unit 8 of the present embodiment forms an image of a page or a designated portion where image formation is designated with a non-decolorable colorant. As shown in FIG. 2, the first image forming unit 8 includes photosensitive drums 8K, 8C, 8M, and 8Y, an intermediate transfer belt 8B, a fixing device 8F, and the like.

  The photoconductor drums 8K to 8Y generate electrostatic latent images corresponding to the respective color data of black (K), cyan (C), magenta (M), and yellow (Y) that constitute image data for image formation. A developer image is formed on the photoreceptor surface of each of the photoreceptor drums 8K to 8Y, and a developer image in which an electrostatic latent image is made visible by a developer (toner) supplied from a developing roller (not shown). The developer images formed on the photosensitive drums 8K to 8Y are transferred (so-called primary transfer) to the intermediate transfer belt 8B.

  The intermediate transfer belt 8B transfers the transferred developer image to the image formation target sheet at the transfer position T (so-called secondary transfer).

  The fixing device 8F thermally fixes the developer image transferred to the sheet at the transfer position T to the sheet. At this time, thermal fixing is performed at about 150 ° C., for example.

  The second image forming unit 10 is an apparatus that forms an image by an inkjet method using a decoloring ink that is a decoloring colorant. In the present embodiment, the second image forming unit 10 performs an image forming process for image data acquired as an rewritable print image forming job. The second image forming unit 10 includes print heads 10K, 10C, 10M, and 10Y corresponding to the decoloring inks of black (K), cyan (C), magenta (M), and yellow (Y), respectively. Then, the corresponding ink is ejected from each print head to form an image with the decoloring ink on the sheet.

  Here, a dye such as a leuco dye can be used as the decoloring ink which is a decoloring colorant. And this decoloring ink will be decolored at about 80-100 degreeC, if it heats. The sheet heat-fixed at 150 ° C. by the fixing device 8F is lowered to about 60 ° C. by conveyance during conveyance to the second image forming unit 10. A cooling device such as a cooling fan may be newly provided in the conveyance path between the fixing device 8F and the second image forming unit 10.

  The image reading unit 12 is a general image reading device provided in a copier, an image scanner, or the like. This is used when copying a document or scanning a document using the MFP 1.

  The display panel 14 displays various information such as setting information and operation status of the MFP 1. The display panel 14 can be composed of, for example, electronic paper, LCD (Liquid crystal display), EL (Electronic Luminescence), PDP (Plasma Display Panel), CRT (Cathode Ray Tube), and the like. In addition, by configuring the display panel 14 with a touch panel display, the display panel 14 can realize part or all of the functions of the operation input unit 16.

  The operation input unit 16 performs an operation of designating copy and scan conditions and inputting a FAX number. The operation input unit 16 includes, for example, input keys such as numbers, a keyboard, a mouse, a touch panel, a touch pad, a pen tablet, a dedicated button, and the like. be able to.

  The sheet supply unit 18 mounts a sheet such as a sheet on which an image is formed and supplies the mounted sheet to the image forming unit when forming an image. The sheet supply unit 18 of the present embodiment has been formed with a sheet supply unit 18a on which new paper that has not been imaged yet is placed, and an image formed with a decolorizable colorant. A reusable sheet supply unit 18b on which a reusable sheet on which an image has disappeared after being erased is placed, and a manual sheet supply unit 18m are provided.

  The FAX unit 20 is a device that transmits and receives facsimile signals in the MFP 1.

  The finisher device 22 is a device for sorting each copy when printing a plurality of copies. Further, even when a plurality of copies are not printed, it can also serve as a discharge unit for placing discharged sheets.

  The above is the configuration of the MFP 1 of the present embodiment.

  Next, as a system configuration other than the MFP 1 having the system configuration illustrated in FIG. 1, the network 150 is a communication network including, for example, the Internet, a LAN (Local Area Network), and a WAN (Wide Area Network).

  A client terminal 160 connected to the network 150 outputs an image forming job such as a PDL file to the MFP 1 via the network 150. The client terminal 160 is a terminal device such as a computer. The client terminal 160 includes a processor 160a, a storage unit 160b, and the like, and can implement various functions by executing programs stored in the storage unit 160b. The client terminal 160 further includes a display 160c, displays a GUI (graphical user interface) and the like, and creates an image forming job and makes various settings by operating a mouse and a keyboard.

  Next, the image forming processing function of the MFP 1 of the present embodiment will be described.

  First, an image forming process based on an image forming job among the image forming processes of the MFP 1 of the present embodiment will be described. FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram illustrating functions of the MFP 1. The following functional blocks are realized by the processor 2 reading and executing an image forming processing program stored in the memory 4 or the HDD 6.

  The MFP 1 of the present embodiment includes an image forming job acquisition unit 102, a RIP unit 104, a setting information determination unit 106, a sheet supply control unit 108, an image reading sensor control unit 110, and a first image forming unit control unit 112. A second image forming unit control unit 114 and an image data storage control unit 116.

  The image forming job acquisition unit 102 acquires an image forming job instructing image formation transmitted from the client terminal 160 or the like via the network 150. The image forming job includes a PDL (Page Description Language) file for image formation, setting information including settings for specifying permanent prints and settings for specifying rewritable prints, and sheets from any of the supply units of the sheet supply unit 18. It includes setting information on whether to supply and setting information for designating image forming colors such as full color and monochrome (black and white).

  The RIP unit 104 is a RIP (Raster Image Processor) that executes a process of analyzing a PDL file constituting an image forming job and converting it into raster image data. The RIP unit 104 outputs the raster image of the image data set for permanent printing to the first image forming unit 112, and the raster image data of the image data set for rewritable printing is output to the second image forming unit control unit 110. Output to.

  When the MFP 1 acquires an image forming job, the setting information determination unit 106 determines whether image data set to form an image by rewritable printing is included. Specifically, the setting information determination unit 106 determines that there is image data for image formation by rewritable printing when the image formation job includes information for designating image formation by rewritable printing. The RIP unit 104 causes the second image forming unit control unit 114 to output a raster image of the image data of the portion for which image formation is designated by rewritable printing.

  Image data for which it is determined that the setting information determining unit 106 does not include information specifying that an image is formed by rewritable printing is made to cause the RIP unit 104 to output the raster image to the first image forming unit control unit 112. . Further, even when it is set in advance to form an image by rewritable printing by an operation input from the operation input unit 16 or the like, it is determined that image data to be imaged by rewritable printing is included, and a raster image is included. May be output to the second image forming unit controller 114.

  Further, the setting information determination unit 106 determines whether the image forming job is a sheet supply unit 18a, a reuse sheet supply unit 18b, a manual sheet supply unit 18m, or any supply unit as a sheet supply source. Determine whether it is set.

  The sheet supply control unit 108 executes processing for supplying a sheet from a designated sheet supply unit based on the setting information about the sheet supply unit 18 included in the image forming job. If any supply unit is set as the sheet supply source, for example, when image data for one page is all set to full color and permanent print, image formation for that one page is performed. The sheet supplied from the sheet supply unit 18a is used. In the case of other settings, the sheet supplied from the reuse sheet supply unit 18b is used.

  When the rewritable print is designated, the second image forming unit control unit 114 erases the raster image data of the image data designated by the RIP unit 104 and designated by the rewritable print to the second image forming unit 10. A process of forming an image with a decoloring ink which is a chromatic colorant is executed.

  With the functions of the MFP 1 described above, the MFP 1 can form an image in which image data designated for rewritable printing and image data designated for permanent print are mixed in one job.

  4 to 8 are image forming job creation screens displayed on the display 160c of the client terminal 160. FIG. FIG. 9 is a flowchart for explaining the flow of image forming processing of the MFP. Hereinafter, creation of an image forming job in which rewritable printing and permanent printing are mixed will be described with reference to FIGS.

    FIG. 4 shows the print driver 30 activated to create an image forming job for an image created by an application. When receiving a print instruction from the user, the client terminal 160 displays the printer driver 30 on the display 160c. The printer driver 30 acquires various settings of an image forming job by a user's operation with a mouse or a keyboard.

  When the printer driver 30 selects a button 34 for setting a job type, original paper size, printing paper size, enlargement / reduction ratio, paper supply source, paper type, number of copies, printing direction, printing color, and the like, and various setting items. The setting tab has a basic tab 32 including a window 35 on which a preview is displayed. The finishing tab has setting buttons for duplex printing and stapling and punching. The paper discharge / insertion tab has setting buttons related to selection of a paper discharge destination and insertion paper. The image quality setting tab has setting buttons related to image quality. By selecting each tab by operating the mouse or keyboard, setting buttons and the like related to the tab are displayed.

  The basic tab 32 of the printer driver 30 has a color setting unit 36 for setting the color for forming an image. The color setting unit 36 has a color setting button 38 that is selected by the user's operation of the mouse or keyboard. For example, when the user moves the mouse cursor 39 over the color setting button 38 and moves the selection display of the setting button by clicking the mouse or pressing an arrow on the keyboard, and the color setting button 38 is selected. There are operations such as pressing the enter on the keyboard.

  When the color setting button 38 is selected, the color setting unit 36 displays a drop-down list 40. The drop-down list 40 displays items that can be set for auto, full color, black and white (monochrome), two colors, and rewritable as in the image forming job created by the application. The printer driver 30 receives the color selected by the user by operating the mouse or keyboard as a color designation for image formation. FIG. 4 shows a situation where the user selects rewritable, that is, rewritable print, as the image forming color. When the color setting button 38 is operated again while this rewritable print is selected, the display of the drop-down list 40 is terminated, and the display of the color setting unit 36 becomes the display of the selected rewritable.

  The printer driver 30 further includes an OK button 42, a cancel button 44, and a help button 46. When the user presses the OK button 42, the client terminal 160 stores the print setting in the storage unit 160b, ends the printer driver 30, and shifts to the print start standby mode. Thereafter, the client terminal 160 sends the image forming job to the MFP 1 in response to the user's print instruction. When the user presses the cancel button 44, the client terminal 160 terminates the printer driver 30 without saving the print settings. When the help button 46 is pressed, the client terminal 160 displays detailed information and explanations of various settings on the display 160c in a pop-up window.

  In FIG. 4, when rewritable is displayed by the color setting unit 36, the client terminal 160 stores the contents set by the printer driver 30 in the storage unit 160b, ends the printer driver 30, and rewrites the setting screen 48 of FIG. Is displayed.

  FIG. 5 shows a rewritable setting screen 48 on which settings such as permanent printing and rewritable printing can be performed for each page within one job. The rewritable setting screen 48 displays a thumbnail of each page of the image forming job as a preview of the print result. In this embodiment, for example, the image forming job has 10 pages, and the rewritable setting screen 48 displays the first four pages for the page number display unit 50 and the thumbnail images 52 corresponding to the respective pages. In the present embodiment, an image forming job of 10 pages will be described as an example, but an image forming job of 1 page may be used.

  The user can display thumbnail images on and after the fifth page on the rewritable setting screen 48 by operating the page feed section 54 with a mouse or a keyboard. In the present embodiment, the thumbnail image 52 is realized by using the thumbnail image of the image of the actual image forming job. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the rewritable setting screen 48 stores in advance. You may use the image.

  The rewritable setting screen 48 has a rewritable / permanent setting unit 56 that can set whether to perform rewritable printing or permanent printing for each page. The user operates the rewritable / permanent setting unit 56 with a mouse or a keyboard and selects page rewritable or page permanent, thereby setting whether to perform rewritable printing or permanent printing independently for each page. Can do. Accordingly, it is possible to set a job in which rewritable printing and permanent printing are mixed in one image forming job.

  The rewritable setting screen 48 has a page-by-page color setting unit 58 that can select an image forming color for each page. The page-by-page color setting unit 58 displays, for example, full color, black and white (monochrome), mono color, or the like as a drop-down list and can be selected.

  The rewritable setting screen 48 further includes a page-by-page sheet supply setting unit 60 that can select a supply source of media to be printed for each page. The sheet supply setting unit 60 for each page displays a drop-down list having, for example, auto, new, reuse, and manual supply paper items, and allows the user to select.

  Reuse is a designation to reuse a sheet that has been rewritable printed once or more and has been erased, and in this embodiment is a command for supplying a sheet from the reuse sheet supply unit 18b. “New” is a designation for using a new sheet. In this embodiment, “New” is a command for supplying a sheet from the sheet supply unit 18a.

  For example, when the image data for one page is set to full color and permanent print, the image for one page is formed using the sheet supplied from the sheet supply unit 18a. Is a command that uses a sheet supplied from the reused sheet supply unit 18b. The manual is a command for supplying sheets from the manual sheet supply unit 18m.

  The rewritable setting screen 48 further includes an all-page rewritable button 62, a partial rewritable button 64, an OK button 66, and a cancel button 68. The user can set the setting for rewritable printing of all pages at once by operating the all page rewritable button 62. By operating the partial rewritable print button 64, the user can transition to a partial rewritable setting screen in which a rewritable print can be partially set for a specific page.

  When the user operates the OK button 66, the client terminal 160 stores the setting content set on the rewritable setting screen 48 in the storage unit 160 b and ends the rewritable setting screen 48. When the user operates the cancel button 68, the client terminal 160 ends the rewritable setting screen 48 without storing the setting contents. When the rewritable setting screen ends, the printer driver 30 is displayed.

  FIG. 6 shows a rewritable setting screen 69 showing a setting screen after the user changes various settings from the rewritable setting screen 48 in FIG. When the user operates the all-page rewritable 62, all the pages are set to the rewritable print setting as in the rewritable / permanent setting unit 72. At this time, the rewritable print setting is also made for the fifth and subsequent pages that can be displayed by the page feed section 54.

  In the rewritable / permanent setting unit 72, the thumbnail display of the page for which rewritable printing is set is changed to indicate the setting of rewritable printing. For example, the first page for which rewritable printing is set is displayed as a thumbnail as a thumbnail image 70a in which a portion that was displayed as a solid line at the time of permanent setting is displayed as a dotted line. When the rewritable print is set, the thumbnail image 70b is surrounded by a frame and the characters “Rewriteable” are displayed at the bottom.

  The thumbnail image 70c is displayed as a thin image by setting rewritable print. When the rewritable print is set, the thumbnail image 70d is displayed so that the image appears to blink by repeatedly hiding and displaying the thumbnail display. In the present embodiment, the example of changing the display of the thumbnail image with the rewritable print setting changed so that it is easy to understand that it has been set is realized by the above method, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the permanent print setting is performed. It is considered that any indication different from is included.

  FIG. 7 shows a rewritable setting screen 69 that is further changed by the user. As the rewritable / permanent 74 indicates, the user has changed the setting of the first page from “Page Rewritable” to “Page Permanent”. Thereby, the thumbnail display is also changed from the thumbnail image 70a at the time of rewritable print setting to the thumbnail image 52a at the time of permanent setting.

  Further, as indicated by the page-by-page color setting unit 76, the user changes the setting of the third page and the fourth page from “Full Color” to “Black & White”. Accordingly, the third and fourth pages are set to be rewritable printing in black and white (monochrome). Note that the full-color thumbnail images 52a and 70e are displayed in full color. The black and white thumbnail images 70c and 70d are displayed in black and white (monochrome).

  Further, as indicated by the page-by-page sheet supply setting unit 78, the user changes the setting of the first page from “Auto” to “Reused Paper”. As a result, when the auto setting is set, a full-color permanent print forms an image by using a new sheet from the sheet supply unit 18a as described above. However, by manually setting the Reused Paper setting, the reuse sheet is used. The reuse sheet from the supply unit 18b can be used.

  When the user selects a thumbnail image of a specific page with the mouse cursor 39, the display is changed to indicate that the image has been selected. For example, when the user selects the second page by operating the mouse, the display of the thumbnail image 70b is changed to a thumbnail image 70e in which the thumbnail image is displayed with a border. This indicates that the second page has been selected.

  When the user further operates the partial rewritable button 64 with the mouse while the second page is selected, the client terminal 160 stores the content set on the rewritable setting screen 69 in the storage unit 160b and ends the rewritable setting screen 69. Then, the partial rewritable setting screen 79 of FIG. 8 is displayed. This operation can also be performed by an operation such as double-clicking the thumbnail image 70e of the second page with the mouse.

  FIG. 8 shows a partial rewritable setting screen 79 on which rewritable printing and permanent printing can be set for each part in one page. The partial rewritable setting screen 79 shows the thumbnail image 80 of the page 2 selected on the rewritable setting screen 69 of FIG. As set on the rewritable setting screen 69, the thumbnail image 80 has a setting display 81 indicating settings for rewritable printing in full color. The user can change the display to the previous or next page by operating the page feed unit 82 with a mouse or the like.

  The partial rewritable setting screen 79 further includes a partial rewritable setting unit 83 and a partial permanent setting unit 84. The partial rewritable setting unit 83 includes a partial rewritable button 85, a partial color setting unit 86, and a partial rewritable set partial display unit 87. The partial rewritable setting partial display section 87 displays a list of the parts for which partial rewritable setting has been made. In FIG. 8, the same content is displayed in the partial rewritable setting partial display portion 87 corresponding to the setting display 81 indicating the setting for rewritable printing of the entire page 2 in full color.

  The partial permanent setting unit 84 includes a partial permanent button 88, a partial color setting unit 89, and a partial display unit 90 with a partial permanent set. The partial permanent setting partial display section 90 displays a list of the parts for which partial permanent settings have been made. In FIG. 8, there is no display on the partial permanent setting partial display section 90 because there is no part with the partial permanent setting.

  The partial rewritable setting screen 79 further includes a sheet supply setting unit 91 that can set the sheet supply source for each page, an OK button 92, and a cancel button 93. When the user operates the OK button 92, the client terminal 160 stores the content set on the partial rewritable setting screen 79 in the storage unit 160b, and ends the partial rewritable setting screen 79. When the user operates the cancel button 93, the client terminal 160 ends the partial rewritable setting screen 79 without storing the setting contents. When the partial rewritable setting screen 79 is finished, a rewritable setting screen 69 is displayed.

  FIG. 8 further shows that the user has selected the upper left image of page 2 by mouse operation. For example, the user designates an area 96 including the upper left image with the mouse cursor 39.

  FIG. 9 shows a partial rewritable setting screen 79 whose setting has been changed by the user. After the region 96 is selected by the user's mouse operation, the user operates the partial permanent setting button 88 and the partial color setting unit 89 with the mouse, so that the region 96 is set to be permanently printed in full color. A setting display 97 is displayed. Further, as indicated by the partial permanent setting partial display section 95, the setting set in the area 96 is displayed.

  The set partial display sections 94 and 95 can be reset by the user selecting with a mouse operation. For example, the user can select the item “Rewriteable 1” displayed on the partial rewritable set partial display unit 94 by operating the mouse, and change the partial color setting unit 86 from full color to black and white (monochrome). At that time, as indicated by the setting display 97, the display is changed in accordance with the setting change. In this case, it is preferable to display the portion set to black and white (monochrome) and the portion set to full color within one page even in the thumbnail image 80 according to the color setting.

  FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an exemplary view showing the configuration of the client terminal 160 and the flow of processing. The client terminal 160 includes a print setting screen display unit 120, a print instruction acquisition unit 121, a primary PDL data generation unit 122, a preview display unit 123, a print change instruction acquisition unit 124, a PDL data generation unit 125, and a PDL data output unit 126. I have. The HDD 127 stores a print data file 128, a reference data file 129, and a conversion table 130.

  The print setting screen display unit 120 is activated from the document creation application and displays the printer driver 30, the rewritable setting screen 48, and the partial rewritable setting screen 79 on the display 160 c of the client terminal 160. The print instruction acquisition unit 121 acquires the print setting content input by the user. This print setting content is set for the entire image forming job as described above. The primary PDL data generation unit 122 generates primary PDL (Page Description Language) data according to the print setting contents.

  The preview display unit 123 displays a preview screen with thumbnail images shown in FIGS. The print change instruction acquisition unit 124 acquires print setting data for each page input from the preview screen 123 and feeds back the data to the preview display unit 123 to update the preview screen. When changing the color on the update screen, the preview display unit 123 refers to the conversion table 130 provided in the HDD 127 and converts the displayed color.

  Also, the print change instruction acquisition unit 124 activates the PDL data generation unit 125 when the print instruction button is pressed. The PDL data generation unit 125 generates PDL data based on the primary PDL data and the print setting data changed by the user. The PDL data output unit 126 outputs the generated PDL data to the MFP 1.

  FIG. 11 shows a processing flow when an image forming job formed by the client terminal 160 of the present embodiment is formed by the MFP 1. First, when creating an image forming job for an image created by an application or the like at the client terminal 160, in Act 202, a print setting instruction from the user is received.

  In Act 204, the client terminal 160 receives the print setting instruction and activates the printer driver to display the setting screen. In Act 206, the client terminal 160 receives the print setting from the user through the setting screen.

  In Act 208, after the print setting, the client terminal 160 determines whether or not a rewritable print instruction has been received. If the rewritable print instruction is not received, an instruction to permanently print all pages in the image forming job is issued to the MFP 1 based on the stored setting contents.

  In Act 208, when a rewritable print instruction is received, a rewritable setting screen is displayed. In Act 214, the client terminal 160 receives a print setting for each page from the user through the setting screen.

  In Act 216, after the rewritable print setting, the client terminal 160 determines whether or not a partial rewritable print instruction has been received. If a partial rewritable print instruction has not been received, an instruction to permanently print or rewritable print all pages of the image forming job is issued to the MFP 1 based on the stored setting contents.

  If a partial rewritable print instruction is accepted in Act 216, a partial rewritable setting screen is displayed. In Act 220, the client terminal 160 receives print settings for each part from the user through the setting screen. In Act 222, the MFP 1 is instructed to permanently or rewritably print all parts of the image forming job based on the stored setting contents.

  In the present embodiment, when an image forming job designated to form an image in a mixture of rewritable print and permanent print is acquired, the image is formed by rewritable print and permanent print according to the setting. Similarly, when an image is formed by receiving a fax or when an image is formed for copying, the image can be formed by rewritable printing and permanent printing. In this case, it may be set that an image is formed by rewritable printing or permanent printing when an image is formed by FAX or copy by an operation input of the operation input unit 16 or the like.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the decolorizable colorant has been described as decolorable by heat, but the present invention is not limited to this, and a colorant that is decolorized by light energy may be used. It may be a colorant that is decolored by reaction.

  In the present embodiment, the MFP 1 has been described as having all of the image forming processing function in the rewritable print mode and the image forming processing function in the reproduction mode. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and some of the functions are provided. For example, an external device such as the terminal 160 may be provided. In this case, a function corresponding to the function realized by the terminal 160 is stored in the storage unit 160b or the like, and the processor 160a executes the program, thereby realizing the function of the terminal 160.

  Furthermore, as another configuration, as shown in FIG. 12, the MFP 1 ′ displays an image of a sheet including an image formed with an erasable colorant arranged at a position adjacent to the reuse sheet supply unit 18b. An image forming apparatus provided with a decoloring device 26 for decoloring and a sheet under which an image is formed with a decolorable colorant, which is provided below the finisher device 22 and has a function of sequentially supplying the sheet to the decoloring device 26 And a finished sheet supply unit 28.

  The decoloring device 26 is a device that erases the color of the image formed on the sheet by the decoloring colorant by heating the sheet to a temperature equal to or higher than the temperature at which the color of the decoloring colorant disappears.

(Second Embodiment)
Next, a second embodiment will be described. The MFP 1b according to the present embodiment performs both image formation using a non-decolorable colorant and image formation using a decolorizable colorant by electrophotographic image formation processing. Hereinafter, the MFP 1b of the present embodiment will be described, but the same components as those of the previously described embodiments are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted.

  FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of the MFP 1b according to the present embodiment. The MFP 1b of the present embodiment is adjacent to each of the photosensitive drums 8K to 8Y of the non-erasable colorant constituting the first image forming unit 8 in the first embodiment, and the respective photosensitive drums 8K to 8Y. An image forming unit 8 ′ is provided that includes photosensitive drums 8K ′, 8C ′, 8M ′, and 8Y ′ that form developer images with a decolorizable colorant. In the image forming unit 8 ′, the photosensitive drum 8K ′ is a black decoloring colorant, the photosensitive drum 8C ′ is a cyan decoloring colorant, and the photosensitive drum 8M ′ is a magenta decoloring colorant. The drum 8Y ′ forms a developer image with a yellow decolorizable colorant.

  Therefore, in the case of image formation by rewritable printing and permanent printing, the MFP 1b according to the present embodiment performs image forming processing of image data acquired as an image forming job by using photosensitive drums 8K ′ to 8Y of decolorizable colorants. The identification information image is formed by the developer images formed by the non-decolorable color photosensitive drums 8K to 8Y. That is, based on the image data acquired as an image forming job, a developer image with a decolorizable colorant is formed on the photosensitive drums 8K ′ to 8Y ′, and based on the identification information image, the photosensitive drums 8K to 8Y. A developer image with a non-decolorable colorant is formed thereon.

  Then, the developer image by the non-decolorable colorant and the developer image by the decolorizable colorant are transferred (primary transfer) from the respective photosensitive drums 8K to 8Y and 8K ′ to 8Y ′ to the intermediate transfer belt 8B. As a result, a developer image composed of an image with a decolorizable colorant and an identification information image with a non-decolorable colorant obtained as an image forming job is formed on the intermediate transfer belt 8B. This developer image is transferred (secondary transfer) onto the sheet at the transfer position T, and the developer image on the sheet is thermally fixed to the sheet by the fixing device 8F. As described above, the MFP 1b according to the present exemplary embodiment simultaneously performs an image with a decolorizable colorant and an identification information image with a non-decolorable colorant by performing a single developer image transfer process and thermal fixing process on a sheet. Can be formed.

  When the color erasing temperature of the color erasable colorant is higher than the image fixing temperature, the color erasable colorant and the non-color erasable colorant can be transferred at a time as described above. That is, for example, even if the fixing temperature is about 150 ° C., if the decoloring temperature is about 180 ° C. or more, the developer image secondarily transferred onto the sheet at the transfer position T is about 150 in the fixing device 8F. Even when the image is fixed at 0 ° C., the developer image by the color erasable colorant is not erased.

  On the other hand, the case where the decoloring temperature is lower than the fixing temperature will be described. For example, it is assumed that the decoloring temperature is about 100 ° C. or higher while the fixing temperature is about 150 ° C. In this case, it is necessary to separate the transfer with the decolorizable colorant and the transfer with the non-decolorable colorant.

  First, the reuse sheet pulled from the sheet supply unit 18b is conveyed in the conveyance path 24a. Meanwhile, a developer image of a non-decolorable colorant is primarily transferred from the photosensitive drums 8K to 8Y to the intermediate transfer belt 8B. At the transfer position T, the developer image on the intermediate transfer belt 8B is secondarily transferred onto the conveyed sheet. Thereafter, the developer image on the sheet is thermally fixed to the sheet at about 150 ° C. by the fixing device 8F. Then, the sheet is guided to the conveyance path 24b by the conveyance path converter 21, and the sheet is conveyed on the conveyance path 24c. At this time, the conveyed sheet is cooled by the conveyance, but a cooling device 25 may be further provided to ensure that the temperature of the sheet is lower than the decoloring temperature of about 100 ° C.

  While the sheet is being conveyed in the conveying path 24c, the developer image by the decolorizable colorant is primarily transferred from the photosensitive drums 8K 'to 8Y' to the intermediate transfer belt 8B. At the transfer position T, the developer image on the intermediate transfer belt 8B is secondarily transferred onto the conveyed sheet. Thereafter, the developer on the sheet is thermally fixed to the sheet at about 80 ° C. by the fixing device 8F. The sheet on which image formation has been completed is guided to the conveyance path 24d by the conveyance path converter 21, and is discharged to the discharge tray of the finisher unit.

  Hereinafter, the case of duplex printing will be described. As described above, when an image is formed on one of the printing surfaces and there is an instruction to form an image on the other surface, the sheet coming out of the fixing device 8F is conveyed by the conveyance path changer 21. It is led to the path 24e and switched back. As a result, the sheet conveyed on the conveyance path 24c can transfer the developer image to the other surface at the transfer position T. Thereby, double-sided printing becomes possible.

  The duplex printing setting can be performed on the finishing tab of the printer driver 30. In the finishing tab, the user can set Nin1 setting, stapling and punching in addition to duplex printing setting. FIG. 14 shows a rewritable setting screen 26 after duplex printing is set by the printer driver 30.

  The rewritable setting screen 26 has a duplex printing sheet display 27 including pages to be printed on the same sheet and a duplex printing sheet number display 28 based on the setting of duplex printing. Since the first page 52a and the second page 70e are printed on the sheet 1 by the double-sided printing setting, the two-sided printing sheet display 27a is used.

  Here, since the permanent print setting and the rewritable print setting are made for the first page 52a and the second page 70e, the warning window 29 is displayed. Thus, when the user intends to reuse the sheet, one side is a rewritable print, but the other side is a permanent print, thereby preventing the sheet from being reused. be able to.

  A configuration may be possible in which the user can cancel the duplex printing setting for only the first and second pages by operating the duplex printing sheet display 27a with a mouse. In the present embodiment, the case where permanent and rewritable are mixed in one sheet in the duplex printing setting has been described as an example. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, permanent printing and rewritable printing are mixed in the Nin1 setting. In this case, a configuration in which a warning is displayed may be used.

  The functional blocks of the MFP 1b of the present embodiment are the same as the functional blocks of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 3, but the first image forming unit control unit 112 is a photosensitive unit corresponding to the first image forming unit 8. The body drums 8 </ b> K to 8 </ b> Y are controlled to execute an image forming process using a non-decolorable colorant, and the second image forming unit controller 114 corresponds to the photosensitive drum 8 </ b> K ′ corresponding to the second image forming unit 10. ˜8Y ′ is controlled to execute the image forming process using the decolorizable colorant. Further, the control of the other intermediate transfer belt 8B and the fixing device 8F may be performed by either the first image forming unit control unit 112 or the second image forming unit control unit 114.

Furthermore, it is possible to provide a program that causes a computer constituting the image forming apparatus to execute each operation described above as an image forming program. In the present embodiment, the case where the program for realizing the function for carrying out the invention is recorded in advance in a storage area provided in the apparatus is exemplified. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a similar program can be downloaded from the network. The program may be downloaded to the apparatus, or a similar program stored in a computer-readable recording medium may be installed in the apparatus. The recording medium may be in any form as long as it can store a program and can be read by a computer. Specifically, as a recording medium, for example, an internal storage device such as a ROM or a RAM, a portable storage medium such as a CD-ROM, a flexible disk, a DVD disk, a magneto-optical disk, or an IC card, a computer Examples include a database holding a program, another computer, its database, and a transmission medium on a line. Further, the function obtained by installing or downloading in advance may be realized in cooperation with an OS (operating system) or the like inside the apparatus.
Note that a part or all of the program may be an execution module that is dynamically generated.

  The present invention can be implemented in various other forms without departing from the spirit or main features thereof. Therefore, the above-described embodiment is merely an example in all respects and should not be interpreted in a limited manner. The scope of the present invention is indicated by the scope of claims, and is not restricted by the text of the specification. Moreover, all modifications, various improvements, substitutions and modifications belonging to the equivalent scope of the claims are all within the scope of the present invention.

1 MFP
8 First image forming unit 10 Second image forming unit 48 Rewritable setting screen 56 Rewritable / permanent setting unit 102 Image forming job acquisition unit 160 Client terminal

Claims (8)

The image to be printed,
A print setting screen start receiving unit for receiving an instruction to start a print setting screen for the image;
A setting screen display unit for displaying a setting screen having a setting unit for designating a rewritable print or a permanent print for each page when the print setting screen start receiving unit receives a start instruction;
An image forming job storage unit that stores setting contents in which rewritable print or permanent print is set for each page by the operation on the setting screen displayed by the setting screen display unit and the image as an image forming job; An image forming job creation unit;
An image forming apparatus comprising: an image forming unit that receives the image forming job from the image forming job creating unit and forms an image of the image based on the setting content.
The setting screen further includes a setting unit for designating color or black and white for each page, and the image forming job storage unit further stores setting contents for setting color or black and white for each page. The image forming apparatus according to 1.
A reuse sheet holding unit for holding a reuse sheet from which an image formed by rewritable printing has been erased;
A sheet holding unit for holding a sheet that is not reused,
The setting screen further includes a setting unit for designating a reuse sheet supplied from the reuse sheet holding unit or a sheet supplied from the sheet holding unit for each page, and the image forming job storage unit uses the reuse 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a setting content in which a reuse sheet supplied from the sheet holding unit or a sheet supplied from the sheet holding unit is set for each page.
The setting screen further includes a setting unit for designating a rewritable print or a permanent print for each part in the page, and the image forming job storage unit has setting contents for setting the rewritable print or the permanent print for each part in the page. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further storing the image.
The setting screen further includes a setting unit for designating color or black and white for each part in the page, and the image forming job storage unit further stores setting contents in which color or black and white is set for each part in the page. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus is an image forming apparatus.
The said setting screen further has a thumbnail image of the said image, and further comprises a thumbnail image display change part which changes the display of the said thumbnail image according to the said setting content. The image forming apparatus described in the item.
The image to be printed consists of a plurality of pages,
The setting screen further includes a setting unit for designating double-sided printing settings for the image, and the image forming job storage unit further stores setting contents of double-sided printing, and one side of the same sheet is rewritable print The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the setting screen display unit displays a detection result when it is detected that the other surface is a permanent print setting.
Receives an instruction to start the print setting screen for the image to be printed,
By receiving the activation instruction, a setting screen having a setting unit for designating rewritable print or permanent print for each page is displayed.
By setting the rewritable print or permanent print for each page by the operation on the setting screen, the setting content and the image are stored as an image forming job,
An image forming method, wherein the image forming job is received, and the image is formed based on the set content.

Images