JP5636802B2 - Image forming system and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an image forming system and an image forming apparatus having a function of printing by causing a support portion that supports a recording medium to protrude from a housing.

Conventionally, for example, an image forming apparatus capable of printing on a label surface of an optical disc medium such as a CD-R or a DVD-R is known (for example, Patent Document 1).

In such an apparatus, when the CD-R is mounted on the disk tray by the user and the disk tray is inserted from the manual feed opening provided on the front surface of the image forming apparatus, the disk tray is monitored while monitoring the reference mark on the disk tray. Is transported. Then, the printing reference position for the CD-R is corrected based on the position of the reference mark, and printing is performed on the label surface while the disc tray is conveyed to the manual feed port side.

In recent years, the size of image forming apparatuses has been reduced, and considering the realization of downsizing in the image forming apparatus as described above, the amount of disk tray required for printing on the label surface of the CD-R is larger than the transport amount. It is conceivable that the length in the depth direction of the casing of the image forming apparatus is shortened, and the disc tray protrudes from the back of the casing when printing on the label surface. If so, CD-
In order to normally print on the label surface of R, it is necessary to secure a predetermined space on the back surface of the housing.

In this way, when printing is performed by projecting the support portion that supports the recording medium from the housing of the image forming apparatus, it may occur in addition to printing on the label surface of the optical disk medium. For example, a sheet-like recording medium that uses a substantially straight conveyance path (hereinafter referred to as a “straight path”) provided in parallel to the depth direction of the image forming apparatus, is thick, such as thick paper, and has high bending rigidity. It is conceivable that printing is performed on the printer. In such a case, when a recording medium is inserted from the manual paper feed port of the image forming apparatus, the straight path to the straight path paper discharge port provided on the side facing the manual paper feed port in the depth direction of the housing. The printing is performed while being conveyed along. And
The printed recording medium is discharged out of the housing through a straight path discharge port. In general, an image forming apparatus having a straight path is configured such that a discharge port of a straight path is covered with a cover or the like, and the cover serves as a discharge tray when the cover is opened. There are many. When printing using a straight path, the user needs to perform an operation of securing a predetermined space around the paper discharge opening, opening the cover covering the paper discharge opening, and projecting the cover out of the housing. is there.

By the way, Patent Document 2 discloses a printing apparatus capable of printing on a recording sheet loaded in a sheet feeding cassette or a recording sheet inserted from a manual feed slot and an information processing apparatus capable of controlling the printing apparatus. ing. In this printing apparatus, when a print output instruction from the information processing apparatus is received and the paper feed method by the manual feed slot is specified by the print output instruction, the “manual feed slot” is displayed on the display unit of the information processing apparatus. Set the recording paper in and press [Paper].
Is displayed. When the user presses the Paper key, the printing apparatus notifies the information processing apparatus that the Paper key has been pressed. When the information processing apparatus receives the notification, one page of compressed image data is processed. Transferred from the device to the printing device.

JP 2010-17995 A JP 2007-18502 A

However, when the printing apparatus described in Patent Document 2 is applied to the above-described image forming apparatus, when a print output instruction is received from the information processing apparatus, the user does not secure a predetermined space on the back surface of the casing of the image forming apparatus. Alternatively, a predetermined space is secured around the discharge port, but a predetermined request is made to request transfer of print data to an information processing apparatus such as a Paper key without performing an operation of opening a cover that covers the straight-pass discharge port. When the operation button is pressed, since the recording medium is not normally conveyed, there is a problem in that the recording medium is wasted because a printing position shift or a paper jam occurs.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and has a function of printing a support portion that supports a recording medium protruding from the housing, and the support portion protrudes from the housing. An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming system and an image forming apparatus capable of reducing waste of a recording medium due to a printing failure based on a function when performing printing based on the function of printing.

In order to achieve the above object, the image forming system according to claim 1 includes a printing function for printing by causing a support portion supporting a recording medium to protrude from a housing, and printing based on the printing function is possible. An image forming system having an operating state and a non-operating state in which printing based on the printing function is impossible, a print data storage unit storing print data, and a printing operation based on the printing function according to a user operation A print instruction unit for instructing execution, and an execution permission receiving unit for receiving permission to execute a preparatory operation for preparing printing based on the print function when the execution of a print operation is instructed by the print instruction unit according to a user operation. , On the basis of the execution permission of the preparation operation received by the execution permission reception unit, an execution unit for executing the preparation operation, and a step executed by the execution unit A determination unit that determines whether or not the operation state is based on an operation; a print permission output unit that outputs a print permission that permits printing when the determination unit determines that the operation state is present; and Printing means for executing printing in accordance with the print data stored in the print data storage unit based on the print permission output by the print permission output means.

Here, the user operation is an operation performed by the user in order to instruct printing based on the printing function, and corresponds to, for example, pressing of an input button on a hard key or a touch panel, mounting of a support unit, or the like.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the image forming system according to the first aspect, the printing function is a function of printing on the label surface of the optical disc medium having a printable label surface, and the support portion is In the printing based on the printing function, supporting the optical disk medium,
The support unit is disposed between a transport path in which a support unit supporting the optical disc medium is transported, a transport start position defined on the transport path, and a predetermined position at which the support unit protrudes from the housing. Transport means for transporting along the transport path, wherein the execution means controls the transport means so that the support portion is transported from the transport start position to the predetermined position.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the image forming system according to the second aspect, when the support unit is transported from the transport start position toward the predetermined position, the support unit or the support unit supports the support unit. Detecting means for detecting a detected portion of the optical disk medium that has been detected, wherein the determining means determines whether the support portion is located at the predetermined position based on detection of the detected portion by the detecting means. The position determination means includes a position determination means, and the position determination means determines that the support portion is in the operating state when the position determination means determines that the support portion is located at the predetermined position.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming system according to any one of the first to third aspects, a preparation operation by a user including a display unit that displays various information and a user operation in the print instruction unit is guided. Display means for displaying guidance information to be displayed on the display unit.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming system according to the fourth aspect, the image forming system includes an information processing apparatus and an image forming apparatus capable of communicating with the information processing apparatus. The apparatus includes: the print data storage unit; a print instruction transmission unit that transmits a print instruction based on the print function to the image forming apparatus; and a display instruction for causing the display unit to display the guidance information. A display instruction transmitting unit for transmitting, a print permission receiving unit for receiving the print permission from the image forming apparatus, and a print stored in the print data storage unit when the print permission is received by the print permission receiving unit. Print data transmitting means for transmitting data to the image forming apparatus, the image forming apparatus based on the display unit, the print instruction unit, and the printing function Printing instruction receiving means for receiving a printing instruction from the information processing apparatus, display instruction receiving means for receiving the display instruction from the information processing apparatus, the display means, the execution permission receiving means, and the execution means, The determination means; the print permission output means; the print data reception means for receiving the print data from the information processing apparatus; and the print means. The display means is received by the display instruction reception means. The guide information is displayed on the display unit based on the display instruction, and the print permission output means transmits the print permission to the information processing apparatus when the determination means determines that the operation state is established. The printing unit executes printing according to the print data received by the print data receiving unit.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming system according to the fifth aspect, the information processing apparatus issues a state request for requesting state information indicating whether the image forming apparatus is in the operating state. A status request transmitting means for transmitting to the image forming apparatus, a status receiving means for receiving the status information from the image processing apparatus, and a current status of the image forming apparatus are recognized according to the status information received by the status receiving means. A state recognition unit, wherein the image forming apparatus generates the state information according to a determination result of whether or not the operation state is performed by the determination unit, and the state information generated by the generation unit A state storage unit that stores the state request, a state request receiving unit that receives the state request from the information processing device, and the state request received by the state request receiving unit And a status transmission unit that transmits the status information stored in the status storage unit to the information processing device, wherein the display instruction transmission unit determines whether the current status of the image forming apparatus is the operation by the status recognition unit. When it is recognized that the image forming apparatus is not in a state, the display instruction is transmitted to the image forming apparatus, and the print data transmitting unit recognizes that the current state of the image forming apparatus is the operating state by the state recognizing unit. In this case, the print data stored in the print data storage unit is transmitted to the image forming apparatus.

The image forming apparatus according to claim 7 includes a printing function for printing by causing a support portion that supports a recording medium to protrude from a housing, and an operation state in which printing based on the printing function is possible, and the printing function. An inoperative state incapable of printing based on, and an image forming apparatus capable of communicating with the information processing apparatus, wherein a print instruction receiving unit that receives a print instruction based on the print function from the information processing apparatus; A printing instruction unit that instructs execution of a printing operation based on the printing function according to a user's operation, and when execution of the printing operation is instructed by the printing instruction unit according to a user's operation,
Execution permission accepting means for accepting execution permission of a preparation operation for preparing printing based on the printing function, execution means for executing the preparation operation based on execution permission of the preparation operation accepted by the execution permission accepting means, Based on the preparatory operation performed by the execution unit, a determination unit that determines whether or not the image forming apparatus is in the operating state; and when the determination unit determines that the image forming apparatus is in the operating state, printing is performed. A print permission output unit that transmits a print permission to be permitted to the information processing device, a print data reception unit that receives print data from the information processing device based on the print permission transmitted by the print permission output unit, and the print Printing means for executing printing according to the print data received by the data receiving means.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, permission to execute a preparatory operation for preparing printing based on a printing function for printing by causing the support portion supporting the recording medium to protrude from the housing is accepted. When it is determined by the prepared operation that the operation based on the printing function is possible, printing permission for printing is output, and printing according to the printing data stored in the printing data storage unit is performed. Executed. As a result, since printing is executed when it is determined to be in an operating state by the preparation operation, waste of a recording medium due to a printing failure based on a printing function for printing with the support portion protruding from the housing is reduced. be able to.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, in printing based on the printing function, the predetermined position at which the support portion protrudes from the housing from the conveyance start position determined on the conveyance path on which the support portion that supports the optical disk medium is conveyed. It is determined whether the operation based on the print function is in an operable state by the operation of transporting the support unit up to. Thereby, the waste of the recording medium due to the printing failure based on the printing function can be surely reduced.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, it is determined whether or not the support portion is located at a predetermined position based on detection of the detected portion of the support portion or the optical disk medium, and it is determined that the support portion is located at the predetermined position. If it is, it is determined that it is in an operating state. Accordingly, since it is possible to easily and reliably determine whether the operation state is capable of printing based on the printing function, it is possible to more reliably reduce the waste of the recording medium due to the printing failure based on the printing function.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the guide information for guiding the preparation work by the user including the user operation in the print instruction unit is displayed, and the preparation is performed when the user operation in the print instruction unit is performed according to the guide information. The operation execution permission is accepted. Accordingly, since the user confirms the preparatory work displayed on the display unit and issues a print instruction based on the print function by a user operation in the print instruction unit, the waste of the recording medium due to the print failure based on the print function is further increased. It can be surely reduced.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, when it is determined that the printing operation based on the printing function is possible by the preparation operation executed based on the execution permission, the print permission is transmitted to the information processing apparatus. . When the information processing apparatus receives a print permission, the print data stored in the print data storage unit is transmitted to the image forming apparatus, and the image forming apparatus performs printing according to the print data received from the information processing apparatus. As a result, when it is determined by the execution of the preparation operation that the printing apparatus is in the operating state, the print data from the information processing apparatus is received by the image forming apparatus. Can be reduced.

According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, when a state request for requesting state information indicating whether or not the image forming apparatus is in an operating state is transmitted from the information processing apparatus to the image forming apparatus, the image forming apparatus The state information stored in the state storage unit is transmitted to the information processing apparatus. When the information processing apparatus determines that the image forming apparatus is not in an operating state based on the received state information,
A display instruction is transmitted to the image forming apparatus. On the other hand, when it is determined that the image forming apparatus is in an operating state, print data is transmitted to the image forming apparatus. Accordingly, for example, when it is determined in advance that the image forming apparatus is in an operating state, such as printing for the second and subsequent copies when a plurality of prints based on the print function are set, the preparatory operation is performed and the operation is performed. Printing can be executed without executing processing for checking whether or not the current state is in the state. Therefore, it is possible to efficiently execute printing based on the printing function while reducing waste of the recording medium due to printing failure based on the printing function.

According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, permission to execute a preparatory operation for preparing printing based on a printing function for printing by causing a support portion that supports a recording medium to protrude from the housing is accepted. Then, when it is determined by the prepared operation that the operation based on the printing function is possible, a print permission for permitting printing is transmitted to the information processing apparatus, and the print data received from the information processing apparatus is followed. Printing is executed. As a result, printing is executed when it is determined to be in an activated state by the preparation operation executed based on the execution permission of the preparation operation. Therefore, based on the printing function for printing with the support portion protruding from the housing. When executing printing, it is possible to reduce the waste of the recording medium due to the printing failure based on the printing function.

1 is a perspective view showing an external configuration of an MFP according to an embodiment. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an external configuration of an MFP when a label printing function is executed. 2 is a cross-sectional view of an MFP schematically showing a positional relationship between a disc tray and the back of the apparatus. FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an electrical configuration of an image forming system according to an exemplary embodiment. 6 is a flowchart illustrating label printing processing in the MFP according to the embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the label printing process in PC of this embodiment. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a label copy process in the MFP according to the embodiment.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the present embodiment, as an image forming system according to the present invention, a multifunction peripheral device (hereinafter referred to as “MFP (Multi)
Function Peripheral) ”(corresponding to the image forming apparatus of the present invention) and a personal computer (hereinafter referred to as“ PC ”) 9 that can communicate with the MFP 10.
An image forming system 1 constituted by 0 (corresponding to the information processing apparatus of the present invention) will be described as an example. The MFP 10 has various functions such as a printer function, a scanner function, and a copy function.

<Appearance configuration>
An external configuration of the MFP 10 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. In the following description, the front side of the MFP 10 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is the front side, the direction indicated by the left and right arrows is the left and right direction (main scanning direction), and the direction indicated by the front and rear arrows is the front and rear direction (sub scanning direction).
And the direction indicated by the up and down arrows is the up and down direction.

In addition to the recording paper P, the MFP 10 according to the present embodiment may be, for example, a Compact Disk (
Hereinafter referred to as “CD”), Digital Versatile Disk (hereinafter referred to as “D”).
A label printing function (corresponding to the printing function of the present invention) for printing an image on the label surface of the optical disc medium D such as a Blu-ray Disk (hereinafter referred to as “BD”). Yes. The label printing function will be described later.

As shown in FIG. 1, the MFP 10 mainly includes a printer unit 20 provided at a lower part, a scanner part 30 provided at an upper part, an operation part 40 provided at an upper front part (corresponding to a print instruction part of the present invention), and And a display unit 50.

The printer unit 20 includes an ink jet printer that prints an image on the recording paper P. The printer unit 20 includes a casing 26 (corresponding to a casing of the present invention) having an opening 21 formed on the front surface. In the opening 21, a paper feed tray 22 and a paper discharge tray 23 are vertically arranged.
It is provided on the stage. The paper feed tray 22 is configured to be able to stack recording paper P cut to A4 size or the like. The paper discharge tray 23 is configured to discharge the recording paper P that has been fed from the paper feed tray 22 into the printer 20 and recorded. The internal configuration of the printer unit 20 will be described later.

The scanner unit 30 reads a document when executing a scanner function and a copy function, and can read a plurality of types of documents such as A4 size and A3 size. The document cover 31 is provided as a top plate of the MFP 10. A glass plate (not shown) for placing a document is provided below the document cover 31. A document reading sensor (not shown) for reading an image of a document placed on the placement glass plate is provided below the placement glass plate.

The operation unit 40 includes various buttons such as a function button including a numeric button, a start button, a label copy function button, and a media print function button. The operation unit 40 includes
An OK button 41 is provided. The OK button 41 is a button pressed by the user in order to notify the MFP 10 of confirmation of various messages or completion of a predetermined operation. The OK button 41 is pressed by the user, for example, when the user confirms various messages displayed on the display unit 50 or when a predetermined operation is performed according to the various messages.

The display unit 50 is configured by an LCD or the like. The display unit 50 displays a function selection screen for instructing a function to be executed by the user, an operation procedure, a state of a process being executed, and the like. In addition, the display part in this invention is not limited to this, For example, a liquid crystal display with a touch panel etc. may be sufficient. In such a case, the operation unit 4 such as the OK button 41 or the like.
Various buttons provided in 0 may be displayed on a liquid crystal display with a touch panel.

Next, the internal configuration of the printer unit 20 will be described in detail with reference to FIG. The conveyance path 24 is
The upper end of the paper feed tray 22 (backward direction in FIG. 3) is bent upward and forward of the MFP 10, and extends from the back side (rear) to the front side (front) of the MFP 10. The conveying path 24 passes through a nipping position by a conveying roller pair constituted by a driving roller 73 and a pinch roller 74 and a nipping position by a discharging roller pair constituted by a driving roller 75 and a spur roller 76. To the paper discharge tray 23. The recording paper P fed from the paper feed tray 22 is guided to make a U-turn from the lower side to the upper side by the transport path 24 and reaches an image recording unit 25 described later. The recording sheet P is image-recorded by the image recording unit 25, and is then transported along the transport path 24 to the front side (front) of the MFP 10 and is discharged to the paper discharge tray 23. Drive roller 7
3 and the driving roller 75 are driven by a motor (not shown). By driving the motor, the recording paper P or a disc tray 71 (to be described later) is transported along the transport path 24 (corresponding to the transport means of the present invention).

Hereinafter, a recording medium such as the recording paper P or the optical disk medium D passes from the front side (front) of the apparatus through the nipping position by the discharge roller pair and the nipping position by the conveyance roller pair to the back side of the apparatus (
The direction transported backward) is defined as the first transport direction, and the direction opposite to the first transport direction is defined as the second transport direction.

The image recording unit 25 includes a recording head 60 and is in the main scanning direction (direction perpendicular to the paper surface of FIG. 3).
A carriage 61 that moves back and forth is provided. A plurality of nozzles (not shown) corresponding to cyan, magenta, yellow, and black inks are formed in a line along the transport direction (front-rear direction) on the lower surface of the recording head 60. Each column is arranged in the main scanning direction. The recording head 60 ejects each ink from the nozzles as fine ink droplets. As the carriage 61 reciprocates in the main scanning direction, the recording head 60 scans the recording paper P, and an image is recorded on the recording paper P conveyed on the platen 63 along the conveyance path 24.

The platen 63 is disposed below the conveyance path 24 so as to face the recording head 60. The platen 63 is disposed over a central portion of the reciprocating range of the carriage 61 through which a recording medium such as the recording paper P passes. The width of the platen 63 in the direction perpendicular to the paper surface of FIG. 3 is sufficiently larger than the width of the transportable recording paper P and the disk tray 71 described later, and both side edges of the recording paper P and the disk tray 71 are always on the platen. Pass over 63.

A media sensor 65 (corresponding to the detection means of the present invention) is provided in the vicinity of the rearmost end on the lower surface side of the carriage 61 and detects a recording medium conveyed to the conveyance path 24. The media sensor 65 includes a light emitting unit (not shown) made of a light emitting diode and the like, and a light receiving unit (not shown) made of an optical sensor or the like. The light emitting part of the media sensor 65 emits light downward,
The reflected light reflected by the disk tray 71, the optical disk medium D, or the platen 63 is received by the light receiving unit.

The media sensor 65 is slid together with the carriage 61. When the carriage 61 is slid in a state where the recording medium is supported on the platen 63, the media sensor 65 in the sliding process causes the upper surface of the platen 63, the upper surface of the disk tray 71, or the upper surface of the recording medium. The reflected light from is received.

By setting the color of the upper surface of the platen 63 to a color having a low reflectance such as black, the detection value of the light receiving unit by the reflected light from the recording medium and the detection value of the light receiving unit by the reflected light from the platen 63 are obtained. Different values. Therefore, it is possible to identify whether the detected position is the upper surface of the recording medium or the upper surface of the platen 63 based on the detection value of the light receiving unit. The detection value in the light receiving unit is transmitted to the CPU 11 described later.

The conveying roller pair is provided on the back side (rear side) of the apparatus from the image recording unit 25, and the driving roller 73 and a pinch roller 74 provided so as to be in contact with the driving roller 73 below the driving roller 73 are integrally formed. It is unitized. The recording paper P fed from the paper feed tray 22 is sandwiched between the driving roller 73 and the pinch roller 74 and is conveyed onto the platen 63 by the forward driving of the driving roller 73.

The discharge roller pair is provided on the front side (front) of the apparatus from the image recording unit 25, and the drive roller 75 and a spur roller 76 provided so as to be in contact with the drive roller 75 above the drive roller 75 are integrally formed. It is unitized. The recorded recording paper P is driven by a driving roller 75.
And the spur roller 76, and the drive roller 75 is driven in the normal direction to be conveyed in the second conveyance direction. In addition, the disc tray 71 described later is conveyed in the first conveyance direction by driving the drive roller 75 in the reverse direction.

As described above, the MFP 10 has a label printing function. In the present embodiment, when an image is printed on the label surface of the optical disk medium D, the optical disk medium D is placed on the disk tray 71 (corresponding to the support unit of the present invention), and the disk tray 71 is the MFP 1.
Inserted in the first transport direction from the zero opening 21. A sensor 67 is provided on the downstream side of the discharge roller pair in the first transport direction, and this sensor 67 detects the insertion of the disc tray 71. The position of the sensor 67 is not limited to the downstream side of the discharge roller pair in the first conveyance direction, and various modes can be adopted as long as the insertion of the disk tray 71 can be detected.

The disc tray 71 is made of a highly rigid material such as resin. On the upper surface of the disc tray 71, there is a disc mounting portion (circular recess) on which the optical disc medium D is placed (
(Not shown) is provided.

When the disc tray 71 is inserted in the first transport direction, that is, toward the straight portion of the transport path 24 from the opening 21 (a portion parallel to the front-rear direction shown in FIG. 3), the drive roller 75 is driven in reverse. The disk tray 71 is transported to the predetermined position S2 in the first transport direction.

The predetermined position S2 is a position where the front end of the disc tray 71 in the first transport direction protrudes from the casing 26, that is, the apparatus back surface 28 by a distance L1. Therefore, when the disc tray 71 is conveyed and an image is printed on the label surface of the optical disc medium D, the MFP 10 needs to be set apart from the wall W of the room where the MFP 10 is set by at least a distance L1.

When the disc tray 71 is transported to the predetermined position S2, the driving of the driving roller 75 is temporarily stopped and then switched to the forward rotation driving. Thereby, the disc tray 71 is conveyed in the second conveying direction, and the optical disc medium D placed on the disc tray 71 passes over the platen 63 while being conveyed in the second conveying direction. Ink droplets are ejected from the nozzles of the recording head 60 to the optical disk medium D conveyed on the platen 63, and an image is printed on the label surface of the optical disk medium D. Thereafter, the disc tray 71 is discharged from the discharge tray 23 side.

<Electrical configuration>
The electrical configuration of the image forming system 1 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. The MFP 10 and the PC 90 are connected via a LAN (Local Area Network) 4 so that data can be transmitted and received. The connection method between the MFP 10 and the PC 90 is a LAN.
It is not limited to 4, but may be USB connection or parallel connection.

Hereinafter, the configuration of each apparatus will be described. First, the MFP 10 will be described. As shown in FIG. 4, the MFP 10 mainly includes a CPU 11, a ROM 12, a RAM 13, a flash memory 14, a printer unit 20, a scanner unit 30, an operation unit 40, a display unit 50, a network interface ( (Hereinafter referred to as “network I / F”) 80.
Each component is connected to each other via a bus line.

The CPU 11 controls each function of the MFP 10 according to fixed values and programs stored in the ROM 12, the RAM 13, or the flash memory 14, and controls each unit connected to the bus line. The CPU 11 receives a detection value at the light receiving portion of the media sensor 65, and obtains data about the position of the end portion of the recording medium based on the detection value.

The ROM 12 is a non-rewritable memory that stores a control program 120 executed in the MFP 10. The CPU 11 executes label printing processing according to the flowchart shown in FIG. Based on the prescribed size (for example, 120 mm or 80 mm in diameter) of the optical disk medium D, the amount of conveyance necessary for conveying the optical disk medium D from the downstream end in the first conveying direction to the upstream end corresponds to the prescribed size. In addition, it is stored in the ROM 12.

The RAM 13 is a rewritable volatile memory, and is a memory for temporarily storing various data. The RAM 13 stores various data received from the PC 90 such as a label print instruction, a message display instruction, and print data. Label printing instructions,
Details of the message display instruction and the print data will be described later.

The flash memory 14 is a rewritable nonvolatile memory. Parameters relating to various functions such as a copy function, a scan function, and a printer function are stored in the flash memory 14. For example, “Please secure the back space”
Data to be displayed on the display unit 50 such as a message or image (corresponding to the guidance information of the present invention) that guides the operation by the user is stored in the flash memory 14.

The flash memory 14 has a status flag memory 140 (corresponding to the status storage unit of the present invention) 140. The status flag memory 140 is a memory area in which status flags (corresponding to status information of the present invention) are stored. The status flag is flag information indicating whether the MFP 10 is in an operating state. The operating state is a state in which printing based on the label printing function is possible. Specifically, the MFP 10 is installed at a distance L1 (see FIG. 3) from the wall W of the room in which the MFP 10 is installed. It is. That is, the operating state is a state in which a space of distance L1 or more (hereinafter referred to as “rear space”) is secured from the rear side of the apparatus 28. When the state flag is on, it indicates that the MFP 10 is in an operating state, and when the state flag is off, it indicates that the MFP 10 is not in an operating state, that is, in an inoperative state.

A network I / F 80 connects the MFP 10 to the LAN 4 and executes transmission / reception of various data to / from the PC 90, for example.

Next, the PC 90 will be described. As shown in FIG. 4, the PC 90 mainly includes a CPU 91.
ROM 92, RAM 93, and hard disk drive (hereinafter referred to as “HDD”)
94, an operation unit 95, a display unit 97, and a network I / F 99. Each component is connected to each other via a bus line.

The CPU 91 controls each unit connected to the bus line in accordance with fixed values and programs stored in the ROM 92, RAM 93, or HDD 94. The ROM 92 is a non-rewritable memory that stores a program for controlling the operation of the PC 90.

The RAM 93 is a rewritable volatile memory for temporarily storing various data. In the RAM 93, for example, an MFP 1 such as a status flag, printing permission, and printing completion notification is displayed.
Various data received from 0 is stored. The number of print completion notifications received from the MFP 10 is stored in the RAM 93 in association with the print instruction. Each time the CPU 91 receives a print completion notification associated with the print instruction, the CPU 91 increases the number of print completion notifications stored in the RAM 93 in association with the print instruction by one. In the present embodiment, the print completion notification count is
When a label printing instruction, which will be described later, is created by the PC 90 (see FIG. 6), the number of print completion notifications is stored as 0 in the RAM 93 in association with the label printing instruction.

The HDD 94 includes a printer driver 940 and a print data memory 942 (corresponding to a print data storage unit of the present invention) 942. The printer driver 940 is a program for controlling the printer unit 20 of the MFP 10. The CPU 91 executes label printing processing according to the flowchart shown in FIG. 6 according to this program. The print data memory 942 stores C
Print data to be printed by the print instruction received by the PU 91 is a memory area that is stored in association with the print instruction.

The operation unit 95 includes, for example, a keyboard and a mouse and functions as an input interface for various commands. For example, the display unit 97 displays various data such as an operation procedure, a print setting screen, and print data. The network I / F 99 connects the PC 90 to the LAN 4 and executes various data transmission / reception with the MFP 10, for example.

<Operation of Embodiment>
Operations of the MFP 10 and the PC 90 according to the present embodiment will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. The MFP 10 in the present embodiment has a normal printing function for printing an image on the recording paper P stacked on the paper feed tray 22 and a label printing function for printing an image on the label surface of the optical disk medium D.

(Normal printing process)
A normal printing process related to printing based on the normal printing function will be described. CPU9 of PC90
1, when an execution instruction for a normal print function is received in accordance with an operation by the operation unit 95 of the user, a normal print instruction created based on the execution instruction for the normal print function is transmitted to the MFP 10. The normal printing instruction is an execution command for printing based on the normal printing function, that is, printing on the recording paper P. In the present embodiment, when the user instructs execution of the normal printing function from the operation unit 95, printing input by the user, such as image data desired to be printed on the recording paper P, the size and resolution of the recording paper P, and the like. Setting information is stored in the RAM 93. The normal print instruction includes print setting information stored in the RAM 93 such as the size of the recording paper P.

When the CPU 91 receives an instruction to execute the normal print function, the CPU 91 creates print data from image data that the user desires to print based on print setting information such as resolution, and stores the print data in the print data memory 942. When transmitting the normal print instruction to the MFP 10, the CPU 91 reads the print data from the print data memory 942 and reads the print data together with the normal print instruction M
Send to FP10.

When the CPU 11 of the MFP 10 receives a normal print instruction and print data from the PC 90,
The normal print instruction and print data are stored in the RAM 13. The CPU 11 guides the recording paper P fed from the paper feed tray 22 so as to make a U-turn from the bottom to the top through the transport path 24, and transports it to the image recording unit 25. The CPU 11 prints an image on the recording paper P transported to the image recording unit 25 based on the print data stored in the RAM 13 while transporting along the transport path 24 in the second transport direction. Then, the CPU 11 transports the printed recording paper P in the second transport direction along the transport path 24, discharges it to the paper discharge tray 23, and ends the normal printing process. In this normal printing process, the recording paper P does not protrude backward from the apparatus back surface 28 and is not conveyed.

(Label printing process)
A label printing process executed by the CPU 11 of the MFP 10 will be described with reference to FIG. This label printing process is a process related to printing based on the label printing function.
The label printing process is a process executed when the CPU 11 determines that a label printing instruction has been received from the PC 90 (corresponding to a printing instruction receiving unit of the present invention). The label printing instruction is an execution command for printing based on the label printing function, that is, printing on the label surface of the optical disc medium D. In the present embodiment, the label printing instruction is, for example, an optical disc medium D.
The print setting information set by the user on the PC 90, such as the size of the image, is included.

The CPU 11 sends a PC 90 (hereinafter referred to as “transmission source PC 90”) as a transmission source of the label printing instruction.
It is determined whether a status request has been received (step 502; hereinafter, step is denoted as S). The status request is a request for transmitting a status flag to the PC 90.
When it is determined that the status request has not been received (S502: NO), the CPU 11 repeats the step process until it is determined that the status request has been received.

When it is determined that the status request has been received (S502: YES), the CPU 11 acquires a status flag (S504). Specifically, the CPU 11 reads a status flag stored in the status flag memory 140. Then, the CPU 11 transmits the status flag acquired in S504 to the transmission source PC 90 (S506).

The CPU 11 determines whether or not a message display instruction has been received from the transmission source PC 90 (
S508). The message display instruction is, for example, a message or an image that guides the user about preparation work for securing a space of a distance L1 or more behind the apparatus back surface 28 of the MFP 10 such as “Please secure a back space”. The display is instructed.
When it is determined that the message display instruction has not been received (S508: NO), the CPU 11
Shifts the step process to S524.

If it is determined that a message display instruction has been received (S508: YES), the CPU 11 displays a message such as “Please reserve a back space” on the display unit 50 of the MFP 10 (S510). Then, the CPU 11 determines whether or not the OK button 41 has been pressed (S512). In the present embodiment, when a message “please secure the back space” is displayed, an operation such as moving the MFP 10 is performed by the user, and the user determines that the back space has been secured by visual observation or the like. The user presses the OK button 41. That is, in this embodiment, the CPU 11 performs S5.
12, when it is detected that the OK button 41 is pressed, it is determined that the notification of completion of the preparation work by the user for securing the back space has been received. When it is determined that the OK button 41 is not pressed (S512: NO), the CPU 11 repeats the step process until it is determined that the OK button 41 is pressed.

When it is determined that the OK button 41 has been pressed (S512: YES), the CPU 11
It is determined that permission to execute a preparatory operation, which will be described later, has been received, and it is determined whether the disc tray 71 has been inserted from the opening 21 in the first transport direction (S514). Specifically, the CPU 11 determines whether or not the insertion of the disc tray 71 is detected by the sensor 67. In the present embodiment, after the OK button 41 is pressed by the user, the disc tray 71 on which the optical disc medium D desired to be printed on the label surface is placed on the disc placement portion is moved from the opening 21 to the first transport direction. Inserted into.

When it is determined that the disc tray 71 has been inserted (S514: YES), the CPU 11
Performs a preparatory operation (S516). The preparatory operation is an operation in which the driving roller 75 is driven in the reverse direction, and the leading end in the first transport direction of the inserted disc tray 71 is transported from the transport start position S1 to the predetermined position S2 in the first transport direction. In the present embodiment, the conveyance start position S <b> 1 is a position sandwiched between the drive roller 75 and the spur roller 76.

The CPU 11 determines whether the MFP 10 is in an activated state based on the preparation operation (S
518). In the present embodiment, the predetermined position S2 (see FIG. 3) is a position where the front end of the disc tray 71 in the first transport direction protrudes from the apparatus back surface 28 by a distance L1, and the upstream end of the optical disc medium D in the first transport direction. The DP (see FIG. 3) (corresponding to the detected portion of the present invention) is a position detected by the media sensor 65. That is, in S518, the CPU 11 determines whether or not the disc tray 71 conveyed by the preparation operation is at the predetermined position S2. Specifically, the CPU 11 performs the first operation on the optical disk medium D placed on the disk tray 71.
It is determined whether or not the upstream end DP in the transport direction is detected by the media sensor 65. Note that the predetermined position S2 in the present invention is not limited to this, and the front end in the first transport direction of the disc tray 71 is the back side 2 of the apparatus from the start to the end of the label printing process (see FIG. 5).
If it is the position most protruded from 8, various aspects can be taken. In FIG. 3, the mark M adjacent to the optical disc medium D in the first transport direction DP will be described in detail in a later-described modification.

In the label printing process, there may be a case where the MFP 10 is not installed at a distance L1 or more from the wall W of the room in which the MFP 10 is installed. For example, when the user confirms the message displayed in S510 but presses the OK button 41 without securing the back space, or S5
The MFP 10 is moved to confirm the message displayed at 10 to secure the back space, but the distance from the device back 28 to the wall W is shorter than the distance L1 (see FIG. 3). In such a case, the first end in the first transport direction of the disc tray 71 contacts the wall W before being transported to the predetermined position S2 after the media sensor 65 detects the downstream end in the first transport direction of the optical disc medium D. The upstream end DP in the first transport direction in the optical disc medium D is not detected.

Considering such a case, in the present embodiment, first, the CPU 11 determines whether or not the current value of the motor that is the driving source of the driving roller 73 and the driving roller 75 has an abnormal value. When the current value of the motor shows an abnormal value, the motor is idling. That is, this is a case where the motor is idling because the downstream end of the disc tray 71 in the first conveying direction has contacted an obstacle such as the wall W before being conveyed to the predetermined position S2. Therefore, when it is detected that the current value of the motor indicates an abnormal value, the CPU 11 determines that the MFP 10 is in an inoperative state (S518: NO).

Also, when the media sensor 65 does not detect the upstream end DP in the first transport direction in the optical disc medium D after the downstream end in the first transport direction in the optical disc medium D is detected and transported by a predetermined transport amount. The CPU 11 determines that the MFP 10 is in an inoperative state (S518: NO). The predetermined transport amount is a transport necessary for transporting the optical disk medium D from the downstream end in the first transport direction to the upstream end DP based on a prescribed size (for example, a diameter of 120 mm or 80 mm) of the optical disk medium D. The amount is stored in the ROM 12 in association with each specified size.

For example, if there is an obstacle between the apparatus back surface 28 and the wall W,
The disk tray 71 is transported while pushing the obstacle at the front end of the disk tray 71 in the first transport direction. In this case, if the driving roller 73 and the driving roller 75 rotate without the motor idling, the current value of the motor does not show an abnormal value. However, since the load on the motor changes when the obstacle is pushed, even if the motor is driven to carry a predetermined conveyance amount, it is actually conveyed to the upstream end DP in the first conveyance direction. There can be no situation. Even in such a case, in the present embodiment, the media sensor 65 causes the upstream end D of the first transport direction to end.
When P is not detected, it is determined as an inoperative state, so it can be more reliably determined whether or not it is in an operating state.

Further, in the present embodiment, the transport amount necessary for transporting the optical disk medium D from the downstream end portion in the first transport direction to the upstream end portion DP differs depending on the specified size of the optical disk medium D. The amount of protrusion is different. Therefore, since the sheet is transported by a predetermined transport amount based on each specified size, it is possible to determine whether the minimum necessary back space is secured in each specified size. Prior to the detection of the media sensor 65, the motor also determines whether or not the current value shows an abnormal value, thereby shortening the motor idling time as much as possible and preventing an excessive load from being applied to the motor. Can do.

In other words, in this embodiment, in S516 and S518, the CPU 11 determines that the transmission source P
A predetermined conveyance amount corresponding to the size of the optical disk medium D included in the label printing instruction received from C90 is read from the ROM 12, and the drive roller 75 is driven in the reverse direction to convey the inserted disc tray 71 by the predetermined conveyance amount. (S516). And the CPU 11
If it is detected that the current value of the motor shows an abnormal value while transporting the specified transport amount,
Alternatively, the upstream end D of the optical disk medium D placed on the disk tray 71 in the first transport direction
If P is not detected, it is determined that the MFP 10 is in an inoperative state (S518: NO)
). On the other hand, if the media sensor 65 detects the upstream end DP in the first transport direction of the optical disc medium D, it is determined that the MFP 10 is in an operating state (S518: YES). In addition,
The predetermined transport amount may be a transport amount necessary from the downstream end portion of the optical disc medium D in the first transport direction until at least the upstream end portion is positioned downstream of the media sensor 65 in the first transport direction. . As the predetermined transport amount, a transport amount necessary from the downstream end portion in the first transport direction of the disk medium D to the upstream end portion being positioned slightly downstream from the media sensor 65 in the first transport direction is adopted. In this case, it is preferable because the upstream end can be detected more reliably while the amount of protrusion of the disc tray 71 from the rear surface 28 to the rear is made as small as possible.

When it is determined by the determination of S518 that it is in the operating state (S518: YES), the CPU
11 rewrites the status flag stored in the status flag memory 140 to ON (S5).
20). Then, the CPU 11 transmits a print permission indicating a print permission based on the label printing instruction received from the transmission source PC 90 to the transmission source PC 90 in association with the label printing instruction received at the start of the label printing process (S522).

The CPU 11 determines whether print data is received from the transmission source PC 90 (S524).
). When it is determined that the print data has not been received (S524: NO), the CPU 11
The step process proceeds to S508. In the present embodiment, the print data received in S524 is associated with the label print instruction received from the transmission source PC 90 when the label print process is started.

When it is determined that the print data has been received (S524: YES), the CPU 11 executes printing based on the received print data (S526). Specifically, the CPU 11 forwardly drives the drive roller 75 to convey the disc tray 71 located at the predetermined position S2 in the second conveyance direction, and receives the print setting information received at the start of the label printing process and received in S524. Based on the print data, an image is printed on the label surface of the optical disk medium D placed on the disk tray 71. Then, the CPU 11 discharges the disc tray 71 to the discharge tray 23 side. Further, the CPU 11 does not receive a job end notification and a message display instruction (to be described later) (
(S530: NO, S508: NO) When the print data is received (S524: YES) and the step process proceeds to S526, the CPU 11 determines in S526 the disc tray 7
It is determined whether or not 1 is inserted, and printing is executed when it is determined that 1 is inserted. In such a case, it may be displayed on the display unit 50 that the disc tray on which the optical disc medium D is set is inserted before determining whether or not the disc tray 71 has been inserted.

The CPU 11 transmits a print completion notification indicating that printing based on the print data received in S524 is completed to the transmission source PC 90 (S528). In S528, the CPU 11 transmits a print completion notification in association with the label printing instruction received at the start of the label printing process.

The CPU 11 determines whether or not a job end notification has been received from the transmission source PC 90 (S5).
30). The job end notification is information for notifying that the printing based on the label printing instruction received at the start of the label printing process has ended. If it is determined that the job end notification has not been received (S530: NO), the CPU 11 proceeds to step S508. If it is determined that a job end notification has been received (S530: YES), the CPU 11 rewrites the status flag stored in the status flag memory 140 to OFF (S532), and ends the label printing process.

If it is determined in S514 that the disc tray 71 is not inserted (S5)
14: NO), or when it is determined that the vehicle is in an inoperative state based on the determination in S518 (S5)
18: NO),
The CPU 11 displays an error (S534). Specifically, in S534, the CPU 1
1 displays on the display unit 50 a message or image for guiding the user to the effect that the disc tray 71 is not inserted or that the disc tray 71 is in an inoperative state such as “no back space is secured”. Then, the CPU 11 transmits error information indicating the displayed error content to the transmission source PC 90 (S536), and ends the label printing process.

A label printing process executed by the CPU 91 of the PC 90 will be described with reference to FIG. This label printing process is started when the CPU 91 receives an instruction to execute the label printing function in accordance with the operation by the operation unit 95 of the user.

The CPU 91 transmits a label printing instruction to the MFP 10 based on the label printing function execution instruction received in accordance with the operation by the user operation unit 95 (S600). In the present embodiment, when the user instructs the execution of the label printing function from the operation unit 95, the image data desired to be printed on the label surface of the optical disk medium D, the printing position, the size of the optical disk medium D, etc. Print setting information input by the user is stored in the RAM 93. In S600, the CPU 91 reads the print setting information stored in the RAM 93,
A label print instruction including the print setting information is created and transmitted to the MFP 10.

In S600, the CPU 91 creates print data from image data that the user desires to print on the label surface of the optical disk medium D based on print setting information input by the user, such as the print position and the size of the optical disk medium D. . The CPU 91 associates the generated print data with the print data memory 9 in association with the label print instruction transmitted to the MFP 10.
42.

The CPU 91 transmits a status request to the MFP 10 (S602). Then, the CPU 91 determines whether or not a status flag has been received from the MFP 10 that transmitted the label printing instruction in S600 (hereinafter referred to as “destination MFP 10”) (S604). When it is determined that the status flag has not been received (S604: NO), the CPU 91 repeats the step process until the status flag is received.

When it is determined that the status flag has been received (S604: YES), the CPU 91 determines whether or not the received status flag is on (S606). If the status flag is on (S606: YES), the CPU 91 proceeds to step S612. When the status flag is off (S606: NO), the CPU 91 sends a message display instruction to the destination MFP1.
It transmits to 0 (S608).

The CPU 91 determines whether or not the print permission associated with the label print instruction transmitted in S600 has been received (S610). When it is determined that the print permission has not been received (S6)
10: NO), the CPU 91 determines whether or not error information has been received (S611). If it is determined that no error information has been received (S611: NO), the CPU 91 proceeds to step S610. When it is determined that error information has been received (S611: YE
S), the CPU 91 ends the label printing process.

When it is determined that the print permission has been received (S610: YES), the CPU 91 performs S600.
The print data stored in the print data memory 942 in association with the label print instruction transmitted to the MFP 10 is read out, and the print data is transmitted to the destination MFP 10 (S61).
2). In S612, the CPU 91 transmits the print data read from the print data memory 942 in association with the label print instruction transmitted to the MFP 10 in S600.

The CPU 91 determines whether or not a print completion notification indicating that printing based on the print data transmitted in S612 is completed is received (S614). In the present embodiment, the print completion notification received in S614 is associated with the label print instruction transmitted in S600. When it is determined that the print completion notification is not received (S614: NO), the CPU 91 repeats the step process until it is determined that the print completion notification is received.

When it is determined that a print completion notification has been received (S614: YES), the CPU 91 prints a plurality of copies of the print data when the user inputs an execution instruction for the label printing function corresponding to the print completion notification. It is determined whether or not an instruction has been given (S616). Specifically, CP
The U91 determines whether or not the print setting information included in the label print instruction associated with the received print completion notification includes multiple copy print setting information that instructs to print multiple copies of the print data (S616). . In step S <b> 616, the CPU 91 increases the number of print completion notifications stored in the RAM 93 by 1 in association with the label print instruction associated with the received print completion notification. In the present embodiment, the multiple copy print setting information includes an instruction to print multiple copies of print data and the set number of print copies. If it is determined that the multi-part print setting information is not included (S616: NO), the CPU 91 proceeds to step S620.

When it is determined that the multi-print setting information is included (S616: YES), the CPU 9
1 determines whether printing of the set number of copies has been completed (S618). Specifically, CP
U91 obtains the number of print copies included in the multiple copy print setting information and the number of print completion notifications stored in the RAM 93 in association with the label print instruction including the multiple copy print setting information,
It is determined whether or not the acquired number of print copies matches the print completion notification count. If the acquired number of copies does not match the number of print completion notifications, it is determined that printing of the set number of copies has not been completed (S618: NO), and the CPU 91 proceeds to step S606.

If the acquired number of copies matches the number of print completion notifications, it is determined that printing of the set number of copies has been completed (S618: YES), and the CPU 91 sends a job end notification to the destination MFP1.
0 (S620), and the label printing process is terminated.

The job end notification is information for notifying that the printing based on the label printing instruction transmitted in S600 has ended. In the present embodiment, when the MFP 10 executes the printing process for the number of copies set by the user (see S526 shown in FIG. 5), it is considered that the printing based on the label printing instruction is completed. That is, when the CPU 91 receives the print completion notification as many times as the set number of copies (S618: YES), it is considered that the printing based on the label print instruction transmitted in S600 has ended, and the job end notification is sent to the destination MFP 10. Send (S
620).

As described above, according to the present embodiment, when it is determined that the back space is secured by the preparation operation performed based on the execution permission received by pressing the OK button 41, The print permission is transmitted from the MFP 10 to the PC 90 (S shown in FIG. 5).
512-522). The print data stored in the print data memory 942 of the PC 90 is transmitted to the MFP 10 (see S612 shown in FIG. 6).
Printing according to the print data received from 0 is executed (see S526 shown in FIG. 5).

As a result, printing is executed when it is determined to be in an activated state by executing the preparatory operation. Therefore, a label printing function for printing the disc tray 71 by projecting it from the casing 26, that is, the apparatus back surface 28 (FIG. 3). Print errors can be reduced when printing is performed on the basis of (see (1)). Here, the printing error is an error that occurs when an image is recorded on the label surface. For example, when the back space is not sufficiently secured, printing is executed without the disc tray 71 protruding to the predetermined position S2 (see FIG. 3), so that the printing position with respect to the label surface is shifted, and the printing result desired by the user is obtained. Is not available. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the waste of the optical disk medium D due to a printing failure based on the label printing function.

As a preparatory operation, an operation is performed in which the disc tray 71 that supports the optical disc medium D is transported from the transport start position S1 defined on the transport path 24 to the predetermined position S2 (see S516 shown in FIG. 5). That is, whether the label printing process (see FIG. 5) is in an operating state by transporting to the predetermined position S2 where the front end of the disc tray 71 in the first transport direction protrudes most from the apparatus back surface 28 from the start to the end. Since it is determined whether or not, the waste of the optical disk medium D due to the printing failure based on the label printing function can be surely reduced.

In S518 shown in FIG. 5, the disc tray 71 is moved to the predetermined position S2 based on whether or not the media sensor 65 detects the upstream end DP in the first transport direction of the optical disc medium D placed on the disc tray 71. It is determined whether or not it is located. And disc tray 7
When 1 is located at the predetermined position S2, it is determined to be in an operating state. Accordingly, it is possible to easily and reliably determine whether or not the operation state in which printing based on the label printing function is possible.

In S510 illustrated in FIG. 5, for example, a message or an image that guides the user about preparation work for securing a space of a distance L1 or more rearward from the apparatus back surface 28 of the MFP 10 such as “Please secure a back space”. Are displayed on the display unit 50. Then, according to the displayed message or the like, for example, when a preparatory work such as moving the MFP 10 is performed and the OK button 41 is pressed, permission to execute the preparatory operation is accepted (FIG. 5).
S512 shown in FIG. Thereby, since the user performs the print instruction based on the label printing function after confirming the preparatory work displayed on the display unit 50, the waste of the optical disc medium D due to the printing failure based on the label printing function is further reliably reduced. be able to.

When a status request for requesting a status flag indicating whether the MFP 10 is in an operating state is transmitted from the PC 90 to the MFP 10 (see S502 and S602 shown in FIGS. 5 and 6), the MFP1
The status flag stored in the status flag memory 140 of 0 is transmitted to the PC 90 (see S506 shown in FIG. 5). In the PC 90, the received status flag is off, that is,
When it is determined that the MFP 10 is in an inoperative state (S606: NO shown in FIG. 6), a message display instruction for instructing display of a message or the like for guiding the preparation work to the user is transmitted from the PC 90 to the MFP 10 (FIG. 6). S608 shown in FIG. On the other hand, if it is determined that the received status flag is on, that is, the MFP 10 is in an operating state (S606: Y shown in FIG. 6).
ES), the print data stored in the print data memory 942 is transferred from the PC 90 to the MFP 10.
(See S612 shown in FIG. 6).

Thereby, for example, when a plurality of prints based on the label printing function are set,
When it is determined in advance that the MFP 10 is in an operating state, such as printing after the second copy, that is, when the state flag is on, a process of checking whether or not the MFP 10 is in an operating state by executing a preparatory operation ( Printing can be performed without executing S508 to 522 shown in FIG.
Therefore, it is possible to efficiently execute printing based on the label printing function while reducing waste of the optical disc medium D due to printing failure based on the label printing function.

<Modification>
As mentioned above, although one Embodiment of this invention was described, this invention is not limited to the said embodiment, A various aspect can be taken in the range which does not deviate from the summary of this invention.

In the present embodiment, as a printing function of the present invention, printing on the label surface of the optical disk medium D is performed by projecting the front end of the disk tray 71 in the first conveyance direction to a predetermined position S2 that protrudes backward from the apparatus back surface 28 by a distance L1. The completed label printing function has been described as an example. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and various modes can be adopted. For example, MFP
A function for printing on a recording medium such as cardboard (hereinafter referred to as “straight path printing function”) using a straight path which is a conveyance path provided in parallel in the longitudinal direction of 10 or
Also applicable to the MFP 10 having the function of printing on the recording paper P (hereinafter referred to as “plain paper printing function”) in a state where the cover that covers the opening 21 is opened in the MFP 10 in which the opening 21 is covered with a cover or the like. can do. In the present embodiment, the normal printing function is a printing function that does not require a distance of L1 from the rear side of the apparatus back 28, but instead of this normal printing function, a plain paper printing function described later may be adopted. . In such a case, both the label printing function and the plain paper printing function require a protruding operation of a distance L1 from the back side 28 of the apparatus.

(Straight pass printing function)
In printing based on the straight-pass printing function, when a recording medium is inserted from the opening 21,
Printing is performed while being conveyed along the straight path to a straight path discharge port provided on the apparatus back surface 28. That is, when the MFP 10 is in contact with the wall W of the room, it is difficult to take out the printed recording medium from the paper discharge port. Generally, the discharge port of the straight path is covered with a cover or the like, and when the cover is open,
In many cases, it is configured to play a role equivalent to the support portion of the present invention. Note that the MFP 10 having the straight-pass printing function described below includes a cover that covers the paper discharge port, and the cover can function as a paper discharge tray, that is, the cover is fully opened to the rear of the MFP 10. It is assumed that a sensor for detecting whether or not is provided at the paper discharge port.

When the present invention is applied to the MFP 10 having the straight pass printing function, the execution permission receiving means, execution means, and determination means of the present invention are executed according to the following procedure. First, CPU
11 determines whether or not the operation unit 40 has been operated by the user, and accepts permission to execute a preparatory operation for preparing printing based on the straight-pass printing function when it is determined that the operation has been performed (execution of the present invention). Equivalent to permission acceptance means). Then, as a preparatory operation, the CPU 11 automatically opens a cover that covers the paper discharge outlet (corresponding to the execution means of the present invention). When the preparatory operation is executed, the CPU 11 determines whether the MFP 10 is in an operating state, that is, whether the cover is fully opened to the rear of the MFP 10 based on detection of a sensor provided at the paper discharge port. (Corresponding to the determination means of the present invention). Then, when it is determined that the cover is fully opened to the rear of the MFP 10, the CPU 11 transmits a print permission to the PC 90.

Since printing is executed when the cover is fully opened to the rear of the MFP 10, that is, when the cover can function as a paper discharge tray, printing is performed with the cover protruding from the rear surface 28 of the apparatus. It is possible to reduce the waste of the recording medium due to the printing failure based on the pass printing function.

(Plain paper printing function)
Printing based on the plain paper printing function is performed with the cover that functions as the paper discharge tray 23 (corresponding to the support portion of the present invention) protruding forward from the front of the apparatus by opening the cover that covers the opening 21. Is called. Other than the position of the paper discharge tray 23, printing of the recording paper P of this embodiment (FIG. 3).
Specifically, the recording paper P fed from the paper feed tray 22 is guided to make a U-turn from the lower side to the upper side by the transport path 24, and the image recording unit 25 records the image. After being performed, it is transported along the transport path 24 to the front side (front) of the apparatus, and is discharged to the paper discharge tray 23. That is, when printing based on the plain paper printing function is performed with the cover covering the opening 21 closed, the printed recording medium may not be discharged, and printing based on the plain paper printing function is executed normally. In order to do so, it is essential that the cover is open. In addition,
The MFP 10 having the plain paper printing function described below has a cover that covers the opening 21 as the MFP.
Suppose that the opening 21 is provided with a sensor for detecting whether or not it is fully open to the front of 10.

When the present invention is applied to the MFP 10 having the plain paper printing function, the execution permission receiving means, execution means, and determination means of the present invention are executed according to the following procedure. First, the CPU 11
It is determined whether or not the operation unit 40 has been operated by the user, and when it is determined that the operation has been performed, an execution permission of a preparation operation for preparing printing based on the plain paper printing function is received (execution permission receiving unit of the present invention) Equivalent). And CPU11 opens a cover which covers the opening part 21 automatically as preparation operation | movement (equivalent to the execution means of this invention). When the preparation operation is executed, the CPU 1
1 determines based on the detection of the sensor provided in the opening 21 whether the MFP 10 is in an operating state, that is, whether the cover is fully opened to the front of the MFP 10 (in the determination means of the present invention). Equivalent). Then, when it is determined that the cover is fully opened in front of the MFP 10, the CPU 11 transmits a print permission to the PC 90.

Since printing is executed when the cover is fully opened to the front of the MFP 10, the recording medium is wasted due to a printing failure based on the plain paper printing function in which the cover is projected forward from the front of the apparatus. Can be reduced.

(Modification of image forming system)
In this embodiment, the image forming system 1 including the MFP 10 and the PC 90 has been described as an example of the image forming system of the present invention. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, a single image forming apparatus such as the MFP 10 may be configured to have the functions of the entire image forming system of the present invention.

In such a case, for example, the present invention can be applied when executing a label copy function and a label printing function based on image data stored in a media card (hereinafter referred to as “media printing function”). The label copy function is a function for printing the print data created based on the image data read by the scanner unit 30 on the label surface of the optical disc medium D. The media printing function prints print data created on the label surface based on image data stored in a media card that can be attached to and detached from the MFP 10, such as CompactFlash (registered trademark) or SD memory card (registered trademark). It is a function to do.

(Label copy function)
A label copy process executed by the CPU 11 of the MFP 10 will be described with reference to FIG. This label copy process is a process related to printing based on the label copy function. The label copy process is started when an instruction to execute the label copy function is received in accordance with an operation by the operation unit 40 of the user. In this embodiment, when the user instructs execution of the label copy function, the copy setting information input by the user, such as the size of the optical disk medium D and the reading resolution of the document, is associated with the execution instruction of the label copy function. Stored in the RAM 13. In this embodiment, when receiving an instruction to execute the label copy function, the CPU 11 sets the number of times of copying to 0, and associates the RA 11 with the execution instruction.
Store in M13. Detailed description of the same processing as that in the flowchart of FIG. 5 is omitted.

In S700, the CPU 11 acquires the status flag in the same manner as in S504 illustrated in FIG. Then, the CPU 11 determines whether or not the status flag acquired in S700 is on, similarly to S606 shown in FIG. 6 (S702). When it is determined that the status flag is off (S700: NO), the CPU 11 shifts the step process to S720. If it is determined that the status flag is on (S702: YES), the CPU 11 proceeds to step S704. S704 to S714 shown in FIG. 7 are the same as S510 to S52 shown in FIG.
Since this is the same processing as 0, the description is omitted.

In step S <b> 716, the CPU 11 displays a document placement message for guiding the placement of the document such as “Please place a document” on the display unit 50 of the MFP 10. In this embodiment, when a document placement message is displayed in S716, the status flag is on, that is, the MFP 10 is in an operating state. That is, the display of the document placement message is
In addition to guiding the placement of the document, it also guides permission for printing based on the label copy function. Then, the CPU 11 determines whether or not the OK button 41 is pressed (S71).
8). In the present embodiment, when a document placement message is displayed, the user scans the scanner unit 3.
A document is placed on a zero placement glass plate (not shown), and the user presses the OK button 41. In other words, in the present embodiment, the CPU 11 determines that the document is placed on the placement glass plate when the depression of the OK button 41 is detected in S718. When it is determined that the OK button 41 is not pressed (S718: NO), the CPU 11 determines that the OK button 41 is not pressed.
Step processing is repeated until it is determined that is pressed.

When it is determined that the OK button 41 has been pressed (S718: YES), the CPU 11
A document is read by a document reading sensor (not shown) of the scanner unit 30 to generate image data (S720). Then, the CPU 11 creates print data based on the print setting information set by the user and the image data generated in S720, and executes printing based on the print data, as in S526 shown in FIG. (S722). The print setting information is setting information necessary for execution of printing in the label copy process, such as a printing position on the optical disc medium D, for example. In the present embodiment, for example, at the start of label copy processing or S
The print setting information is set from the operation unit 40 by the user, for example, after generation of image data by 720.

If it is determined that the set number of copies to be described later has not been completed (S726).
: NO), since the status flag is on (S702: YES), the CPU 11 shifts the step process to S720, and executes the processes of S720 and S722 again. If so, CP
In step S722, U11 determines whether or not the disc tray 71 has been inserted. If it is determined that the disc tray 71 has been inserted, U11 performs printing. Before determining whether or not the disc tray 71 is inserted, the display unit 50 indicates that the disc tray on which the optical disc medium D is set is to be inserted.
May be displayed.

In step S724, the CPU 11 determines whether or not an instruction to copy a plurality of copies of the document is instructed when the user inputs an instruction to execute the label copy function. Specifically, the CPU 11
Determines whether or not the copy setting information stored in association with the instruction to execute the label copy function includes multiple copy setting information for instructing multiple copy. In S724, the CPU 11 increases the number of copies stored in the RAM 13 by 1 in association with the label copy function execution instruction. In this embodiment, the multiple copy setting information is
It has a multi-copy instruction and a set number of copies. If it is determined that the multiple copy setting information is not included (S724: NO), the CPU 11 ends the label copy process.

If it is determined that multiple copy setting information is included (S724: YES), the CPU
11 determines whether or not the set number of copies has been completed (S726). Specifically,
The CPU 11 determines whether or not the number of copies included in the multiple copy setting information matches the number of copies stored in the RAM 13 in association with the label copy function execution instruction including the multiple copy setting information. To do. If the number of copies does not match the number of copies, it is determined that the set number of copies has not been completed (S726: NO), and the CPU 11 proceeds to step S702. When the number of copies matches the number of copies, it is determined that the set number of copies has been completed (S726: YES), and the CPU 11 performs S shown in FIG.
Similarly to 532, the status flag stored in the status flag memory 140 is rewritten to OFF (S728), and the label copy process is terminated.

If it is determined in S708 that the disc tray 71 is not inserted (S7)
08: NO), or when it is determined that the vehicle is in an inoperative state based on the determination in S712 (S7)
12: NO),
The CPU 11 displays an error in the same manner as S534 shown in FIG. 5 (S730), and ends the label copy process.

Therefore, even when printing based on the label copy function is executed, waste of the recording medium due to printing failure can be reduced.

(Media printing function)
The media printing process related to printing based on the media printing function may be executed by the CPU 11 of the MFP 10 as follows based on the flowchart showing the label copy process of FIG. The CPU 11 starts the media printing process when receiving an instruction to execute the media printing function in accordance with the operation by the operation unit 40 of the user. In this embodiment, when the execution instruction for the media printing function is received, the CPU 11 sets the number of printing times to 0 and stores it in the RAM 13 in association with the execution instruction. The description of the same process as the label copy process is omitted.

First, the CPU 11 executes the processes of S700 to S714 shown in FIG. 7, and displays a mounting message for guiding the mounting of the media card on the display unit 50 in S715. In the present embodiment, as in the case of the label copy function, the display of the mounting message guides the mounting of the media card and guides the permission of printing based on the media printing function.

When the process of S718 is executed and it is determined that the OK button 41 is pressed (S718:
YES), the CPU 11 reads out the image data stored in the loaded media card in S720. As in the case of the label copy process, the CPU 11 creates print data based on the print setting information set by the user and the image data generated in S720, and executes printing based on the print data. (S722). The print setting information in the media printing function is, for example, image data desired to be printed on the optical disc medium D,
This is setting information necessary for printing based on the media printing function, such as the printing position, and includes multiple copies printing setting information. In the present embodiment, after the image data stored in the media card is read in S720, the print setting information is set by the user and stored in the RAM 13.

In S724, as in the case of the label copy process, the CPU 11 determines whether or not the print setting information includes a plurality of print setting information, and stores them in the RAM 13 in association with the execution instruction of the media printing function. Increase the number of prints that are present by one. If it is determined that the multiple-print setting information is included (S724: YES), the CPU 11 prints the set number of copies based on the number of copies and the number of times of printing as in the case of the label copy process. It is determined whether or not it is completed (S726). When the number of copies matches the number of prints (S726: YE)
S), the CPU 11 shifts the step process to S728 and ends the media printing process.

Therefore, even when printing based on the media printing function is executed, waste of the recording medium due to printing failure can be reduced.

(Other variations)
In this embodiment, the MFP 10 has been described as an example of the image forming apparatus of the present invention. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, printing in which a support portion that supports a recording medium is projected from a housing such as a label printing function, a straight-pass printing function, or a plain paper printing function. As long as the device has a function, various modes can be adopted. Further, the information processing apparatus of the present invention is not limited to the PC 90, and various modes can be adopted as long as the apparatus can transmit a print instruction to the MFP 10.

In the present embodiment, the media sensor 65 is disposed in the vicinity of the rearmost end on the lower surface side of the carriage 61. However, the present invention is not limited to this, for example, the center in the front-rear direction on the lower surface side of the carriage 61. Or the vicinity of the foremost end on the lower surface side of the carriage 61 or the like.

In this embodiment, in S516 and S518 shown in FIG. 5, the CPU 11 is necessary for transporting the inserted disc tray 71 from the downstream end portion in the first transport direction to the upstream end portion DP in the optical disc medium D. Whether or not the optical disk medium D is in an operating state is determined based on whether or not the upstream end DP in the first transport direction of the optical disk medium D is detected by the media sensor 65. However, the present invention is not limited to this,
Various aspects can be taken. For example, as shown in FIG. 3, the disc tray 7 facing the media sensor 65 in a state where the disc tray 71 is transported to the predetermined position S2.
1 is a mark M that can be detected by the media sensor 65 (corresponding to the detected portion of the present invention)
A disc tray 71 having the following may be adopted. In such a case, it may be determined whether or not the mark M is in an operating state based on whether or not the mark M is detected by the media sensor 65. The position of the mark M is not limited to the position shown in FIG. 3, and various forms are possible as long as the position is on the disc tray 71 that can be detected by the media sensor 65 in a state where the disc tray 71 is transported to the predetermined position S2. Can be adopted.

In the present embodiment, the preparatory operation is such that the inserted disk tray 71 moves to the transport start position S1.
To the predetermined position S2 in the first transport direction. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, as a preparatory operation, the front end of the inserted disc tray 71 in the first transport direction is transported from the transport start position S1 to the predetermined position S2 in the first transport direction. Thereafter, an operation of transporting from the predetermined position S2 to the transport start position S1 in the second transport direction may be performed. For example, in the case of the disc tray 71 having the mark M as described above, the optical disc medium D can be mounted after it is determined that the disc tray 71 is in an activated state by taking such a preparatory operation. . Therefore, the user only needs to perform the placement operation of the optical disk medium D only in a state where printing based on the label printing function is possible.
It is possible to prevent an increase in the user's work load, such as an operation of taking out the optical disk medium D placed in advance when it is determined as an inoperative state.

In this embodiment, when a message such as “Please secure a back space” displayed on the display unit 50 is confirmed and the OK button 41 is pressed, the execution permission of the preparation operation is accepted (FIG. 5). S510 and S512 shown in FIG. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and various modes can be adopted. For example, in addition to a message indicating that the back space is to be secured, a message indicating that the OK button is pressed after the back space is secured may be displayed on the display unit 50 together. Further, the OK button 41 may be blinked or lit when a message is displayed. Also, without displaying a message,
Pressing an operation button such as an OK button 41 or a start button for instructing execution of a preparatory operation may be accepted as permission for execution of the preparatory operation. Further, when the disc tray 71 is inserted by the user instead of pressing the OK button, that is, when the sensor 67 detects that the disc tray 71 has been inserted, the execution permission of the preparation operation may be accepted. . In such a case, the sensor 67 that detects the insertion of the disc tray 71 corresponds to the print instruction unit of the present invention.

In the present embodiment, a message such as “Please reserve a back space” is displayed in the MFP 10.
(Refer to S510 shown in FIG. 5). However, the present invention is not limited to this, and various messages such as “please secure back space” are displayed on the PC 90.
May be displayed on the display unit 97. In such a case, data such as a message to be displayed on the display unit 97 is preferably stored in the HDD 94 of the PC 90. In such a case, in S608 shown in FIG. 6, the CPU 91 of the PC 90 reads display target data from the HDD 94 and displays it on the display unit 97. Further, the CPU 11 of the MFP 10 skips the processing of S508 and S510 shown in FIG.

In the present embodiment, a message “Please reserve the back space” is displayed on the display unit 50.
When the user determines that the rear space has been secured, the user
The K button 41 was pressed. That is, when the CPU 11 detects that the OK button 41 is pressed in S512 shown in FIG. 5, the CPU 11 has determined that a notification of completion of preparation work by the user for securing the back space has been received. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and various forms can be adopted. For example, when the message “Please secure the back space” is displayed on the display unit 97 of the PC 90, an icon having the same significance as the OK button 41 may be displayed together with the message. When the message is displayed on the display unit 97 and it is determined by the user that the rear space has been secured, the user may perform an input operation of the icon. In such a case, in S608 shown in FIG.
After displaying the message on the display unit 97, U91 determines whether or not input of an icon has been detected. The CPU 91 repeats the process until the input of the icon is detected. When the input of the icon is detected, the CPU 91 determines that the notification of completion of the preparation work by the user for securing the back space has been received. Then, the CPU 91 sends a preparation completion notification indicating completion of the preparation work to the MF.
Send to P10. Further, the CPU 11 of the MFP 10 performs S508 and S510 shown in FIG.
In step S512, it is determined whether a preparation completion notification is received from the PC 90. Then, the CPU 11 proceeds to step S514 when determining that it has been received, and proceeds to step S524 when determining that it has not been received.

In the present embodiment, the state flag is on in S612 of FIG. 6 (S606: YE).
S) or when print permission is received (S610: YES), print data is transferred to the MFP 1
It was sending to 0. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, in S600, the label print instruction and the print data may be transmitted to the MFP 10 together. If so, M
The CPU 11 of the FP 10 stores the print data received together with the label print instruction in the RAM 13. Then, the CPU 91 of the PC 90 transmits a print execution instruction instructing execution of printing in S612 shown in FIG. The CPU 11 of the MFP 10 determines whether or not a print execution instruction is received in S524 illustrated in FIG. 5. If it is determined that the print execution instruction is received, the CPU 11 proceeds to step S526 to execute printing. . With this configuration, the CPU 11 receives a print execution instruction when it is determined that the MFP 10 is in an operating state, so that waste of the optical disk medium D due to a printing failure based on the label printing function can be reduced.

In the present embodiment, as the state information of the present invention, the state flag that indicates whether it is in an operating state is indicated by using an on or off state as an example, but if it is information indicating whether it is in an operating state, Various aspects can be employed.

Further, the MFP 10 may not store the status flag. In such a case, S508 to S526 shown in FIG. 5 are repeated regardless of whether or not a plurality of copies based on the label printing function are set, and it is determined whether or not the printing is in operation every time one copy is completed. Therefore, the waste of the optical disk medium D due to the printing failure based on the label printing function can be surely reduced.

In the present embodiment, in S600 and S602 shown in FIG. 6, the CPU 91 of the PC 90 transmits a status request after transmitting a label printing instruction to the MFP 10. However, the label printing instruction and the status request are transmitted to the MFP 10 together. May be.

In the present embodiment, the print completion notification count is stored in the RAM 92 of the PC 90, and S shown in FIG.
In 616 and S618, it is determined whether or not a plurality of copies are set, and whether or not printing of the set number of copies is completed. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the number of times of printing is stored in the RAM 13 of the MFP 10, and S5 shown in FIG.
After the printing is executed at 26, the number of printings stored in the RAM 13 is updated. Based on the print setting information included in the label print instruction received from the transmission source PC 90 at the start of the label print process and the number of prints stored in the RAM 13, whether or not multiple copies are set and the number of copies set It may be determined whether or not printing has been completed.

In the flowcharts of FIGS. 5 and 7, S502 is the status request receiving means of the present invention, S5
04 is a status transmission unit of the present invention, S508 is a display instruction receiving unit of the present invention, and S510 and S7.
04 corresponds to the display means of the present invention, and S512, S514, S706, and S708 correspond to the execution permission receiving means of the present invention. S516 and S710 are the execution means of the present invention, S518.
And S712 are judgment means and position judgment means of the present invention, S520 and S714 are generation means of the present invention, S522 and S716 are print permission output means of the present invention, S524 is print data reception means of the present invention, and S526 and S722 are present. It corresponds to the printing means of the invention.

In the flowcharts shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, S600 is a print instruction transmission unit of the present invention.
S602 is a status request transmission unit of the present invention, S604 is a status reception unit of the present invention, S606 and S702 are status recognition units of the present invention, S608 is a display instruction transmission unit of the present invention, and S610 is a print permission reception unit of the present invention. S612 corresponds to the print data transmission means of the present invention.

1 Image forming system 10 MFP
11, 91 CPU
12, 92 ROM
13, 93 RAM
14 Flash memory 20 Printer unit 21 Opening unit 22 Paper feed tray 23 Paper discharge tray 24 Transport path 26 Casing 40, 95 Operation unit 41 OK button 50, 97 Display unit 60 Recording head 61 Carriage 63 Platen 65 Media sensor 71 Disc tray 73, 75 Driving roller 76 Spur roller 80, 99 Network I / F
90 PC
94 HDD
140 Status flag memory 940 Printer driver 942 Print data memory D Optical disk medium S1 Transport start position S2 Predetermined position

Claims (7)

Provided with a printing function for printing by projecting a support part for supporting the recording medium from the housing,
An image forming system having an operating state in which printing based on the printing function is possible and a non-operating state in which printing based on the printing function is impossible,
A print data storage unit for storing print data;
A print instruction unit for instructing execution of a print operation based on the print function according to a user operation;
Execution permission receiving means for receiving permission to execute a preparatory operation for preparing printing based on the print function when execution of a printing operation is instructed by the print instruction unit in accordance with a user operation;
Execution means for executing the preparation operation based on the execution permission of the preparation operation received by the execution permission reception means;
Determining means for determining whether or not the operating state is based on a preparatory action executed by the executing means;
An acquisition unit for the condition that it is determined that the operating state, acquires the print data stored before Symbol print data storage unit by the determining means,
Printing means for executing printing according to the print data acquired by the acquisition means ;
An image forming system comprising: The printing function is a function of printing on the label surface of an optical disc medium having a printable label surface,
The support unit supports the optical disc medium,
In printing based on the printing function, a conveyance path through which a support unit that supports the optical disk medium is conveyed;
A transport means for transporting the support section along the transport path between a transport start position defined on the transport path and a predetermined position at which the support section protrudes from the housing;
With
The image forming system according to claim 1, wherein the execution unit controls the transport unit so that the support unit is transported from the transport start position to the predetermined position. When the support unit is transported from the transport start position toward the predetermined position, the support unit or a detection unit that detects a detected portion of the optical disc medium supported by the support unit,
The determination means includes position determination means for determining whether the support portion is positioned at the predetermined position based on detection of the detected portion by the detection means,
The image forming system according to claim 2, wherein the determination unit determines that the operation unit is in the operating state when the position determination unit determines that the support portion is located at the predetermined position. A display unit for displaying various information;
Display means for displaying guidance information for guiding preparatory work by a user including user operations in the print instruction unit on the display unit;
The image forming system according to claim 1, further comprising: The image forming system includes an information processing apparatus and an image forming apparatus capable of communicating with the information processing apparatus.
The information processing apparatus includes:
The print data storage unit;
A print instruction transmission unit that transmits a print instruction based on the print function to the image forming apparatus;
And a display instruction transmitting means for transmitting a display instruction to display the guidance information on the display unit in the image forming apparatus,
The image forming apparatus includes:
The display unit;
The print instruction unit;
Print instruction receiving means for receiving a print instruction based on the print function from the information processing apparatus;
Display instruction receiving means for receiving the display instruction from the information processing apparatus;
The display means;
The execution permission receiving means;
The execution means;
The determination means;
A print permission output means for transmitting a print permission for permitting printing to the information processing apparatus when it is determined by the determination means to be in the operating state ;
The acquisition means;
The printing means;
With
The information processing apparatus includes:
Print permission receiving means for receiving the print permission from the image forming apparatus;
A print data transmitting unit that transmits the print data stored in the print data storage unit to the image forming apparatus when the print permission is received by the print permission receiving unit;
The display means displays the guidance information on the display unit based on the display instruction received by the display instruction receiving means,
The acquisition unit acquires the print data transmitted by the print data transmission unit,
The image forming system according to claim 4, wherein the printing unit executes printing according to the print data acquired by the acquiring unit . The information processing apparatus includes:
State request transmission means for transmitting to the image forming apparatus a state request for requesting state information indicating whether or not the image forming apparatus is in the operating state;
Status receiving means for receiving the status information from the image processing device;
State recognition means for recognizing the current state of the image forming apparatus according to the state information received by the state reception means;
With
The image forming apparatus includes:
Generating means for generating the state information according to a determination result of whether or not the operation state is performed by the determination means;
A state storage unit for storing state information generated by the generation unit;
Status request receiving means for receiving the status request from the information processing apparatus;
State transmitting means for transmitting the state information stored in the state storage unit to the information processing apparatus when the state request is received by the state request receiving means;
With
The display instruction transmitting unit transmits the display instruction to the image forming apparatus when the state recognizing unit recognizes that the current state of the image forming apparatus is not the operating state.
The print data transmission unit transmits the print data stored in the print data storage unit to the image forming apparatus when the state recognition unit recognizes that the current state of the image forming apparatus is the operating state. The image forming system according to claim 5. Provided with a printing function for printing by projecting a support part for supporting the recording medium from the housing,
An image forming apparatus having an operating state in which printing based on the printing function is possible and an inoperative state incapable of printing based on the printing function, and capable of communicating with an information processing apparatus,
Print instruction receiving means for receiving a print instruction based on the print function from the information processing apparatus;
A print instruction unit for instructing execution of a print operation based on the print function according to a user operation;
Execution permission receiving means for receiving permission to execute a preparatory operation for preparing printing based on the print function when execution of a printing operation is instructed by the print instruction unit in accordance with a user operation;
Execution means for executing the preparation operation based on the execution permission of the preparation operation received by the execution permission reception means;
Determining means for determining whether the image forming apparatus is in the operating state based on a preparatory operation executed by the executing means;
A print permission output means for transmitting a print permission for permitting printing to the information processing apparatus when it is determined by the determination means that the operation state;
Obtaining means for obtaining print data stored in a print data storage unit of the information processing device based on the print permission transmitted by the print permission output means;
An image forming apparatus comprising: a, and a print unit that executes printing in accordance with print data acquired by the acquisition unit.

Images