JP5660518B2 - Image forming apparatus and program - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus and a program.

According to Patent Document 1, a main controller controls a scanner, an image memory, an I / O port, and a plotter as image input means or image output means in accordance with a combination of an input image and an output format designated by a key operation on an operation screen. Among them, the necessary image input means and image output means are selected and an image transfer path is determined, and the selected image input means and image output means are used based on the determined image transfer path, thereby obtaining a desired processed image. Discloses a digital multi-function peripheral.
When a document image is designated as an input image, the document reading unit is selected as the image input unit, and the document reading unit reads the document image and stores it in the image storage unit.

  Patent Document 2 discloses a first output mode in which scanned image data is printed out by itself, a second output mode in which image data is stored in a box, and image data is automatically output by another digital copying machine. Disclosed is a digital copier that executes any one or more of a third output mode for print output and a fourth output mode for storing image data in a box of another digital copier.

JP 2007-49250 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2004-23240

  An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus capable of freely combining input and output of image data.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an input selection unit that selects one from a plurality of image data input sources, an output selection unit that selects one from a plurality of image data output destinations, and the input selection unit. The image forming apparatus includes control means for inputting image data input from a selected input source and controlling the image data to be output to an output destination selected by the output selection means.

  The present invention according to claim 2 further includes editing means for editing image data input from an input source selected by the input selection means, and the control means relates to image data edited by the editing means. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image data is controlled to be output to an output unit selected by the output selection unit based on the information.

  3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising display means for displaying at least one of a state before being edited by the editing means and a state after being edited by the editing means. It is.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the third aspect, the display unit displays a state before and after editing by the editing unit as a moving image.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an input selection step of selecting one from a plurality of image data input sources, an output selection step of selecting one from a plurality of image data output destinations, and the input selection means. This is a program for causing a computer to execute control steps for inputting image data input from a selected input source and controlling the image data to be output to an output destination selected by the output selection means.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, the input source and output destination of image data can be freely combined.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, in addition to the effect obtained by the first aspect of the present invention, the input image data can be freely edited as compared with the case where the present configuration is not provided.

  According to the third aspect of the present invention, in addition to the effect obtained by the second aspect of the present invention, editing can be facilitated as compared with the case where the present configuration is not provided.

  According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the effect obtained by the third aspect of the present invention, the state before and after editing can be displayed more clearly than in the case where the present configuration is not provided.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, the input source and output destination of image data can be freely combined.

1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an image forming system according to the present invention. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an image forming apparatus and a data transmission / reception apparatus according to the present invention. It is a figure which illustrates the hardware constitutions of the image forming apparatus, data transmission / reception apparatus, server, and terminal device which were shown in FIG. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an image forming program executed by the image forming apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1. The operation screen display unit shown in FIG. 4 is an operation screen displayed on the input display unit. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a preview displayed on the display area by the moving image display unit when the scan button on the operation screen illustrated in FIG. 5 is pressed. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a preview displayed on the display area by the moving image display unit when the page edit button on the operation screen shown in FIG. 5 is pressed. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a preview displayed on the display area by the moving image display unit when a double-sided edit button on the operation screen illustrated in FIG. 5 is pressed. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a preview displayed on the display area by the moving image display unit when the staple edit button on the operation screen shown in FIG. 5 is pressed. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a preview displayed on the display area by the moving image display unit when the paper bound with the fastener illustrated in FIG. 9 is operated by the touch panel.

[Image forming system 1]
Hereinafter, an image forming system 1 according to the present invention will be described.
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of an image forming system 1 according to the present invention.
As shown in FIG. 1, the image transmission / reception system 1 includes an image forming apparatus 10, a data transmission / reception apparatus 11, a server 12, and a terminal apparatus 13 connected to each other via a communication line network 100 such as a public line network or the Internet network. Composed.
In the following drawings, substantially the same components and processes are denoted by the same reference numerals.

The image forming apparatus 10 has a printing function, a copying function, a facsimile transmission / reception function, an e-mail transmission / reception function, an image reading function, and the like.
The data transmission / reception device 11 has a printing function, a facsimile transmission / reception function, and the like, receives image data transmitted by facsimile from the image transmission device 10 via the communication line network 100, prints it on a sheet, and outputs it.
The server 12 stores image data received from the image forming apparatus 10 via the communication network 100.
The terminal device 13 has an electronic mail transmission / reception function, and receives the electronic mail transmitted from the image forming apparatus 10 via the communication line network 100.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the configuration of the image forming apparatus 10 and the data transmitting / receiving apparatus 11 according to the present invention.
As shown in FIG. 2, the image forming apparatus 10 and the data transmitting / receiving apparatus 11 include an image forming apparatus main body 14, an image reading apparatus 15, and a post-processing apparatus 16.

The image forming apparatus main body 14 includes a plurality (for example, three stages) of paper supply units 20, and a supply head 22 is provided in each of the paper supply units 20.
The plurality of sheet supply units 20 respectively supply sheets having the same size and orientation, or different ones or all different ones.
For example, the three-stage sheet supply unit 20 supplies sheets of sizes A3, A4, and B5, respectively.
Accordingly, the paper is supplied from the paper supply unit 20 selected by the operation of the supply head 22 to the image forming unit 26 via the paper conveyance path 24.
In this way, the paper supply unit 20 constitutes a recording medium supply unit.

The image forming unit 26 is made of xerography, for example, and forms an image on a sheet conveyed through the sheet conveyance path 24.
More specifically, the image forming unit 26 includes an image carrier 28, a charging roll 30 that uniformly charges the surface of the image carrier 28, and a laser writing device 32 that writes a latent image on the image carrier 28. A developing device 34 that develops the written latent image, a transfer roll 36 that transfers the developed toner image onto the paper, a cleaner 38 that removes residual toner, and a fixing device 40 that fixes the toner image on the paper. .
Therefore, the surface of the image carrier 28 is uniformly charged by the charging roll 30, a latent image is formed by the laser writing device 32, this latent image is developed by the developing device 34, and transferred to the paper by the transfer roll 36, The paper is fixed by the fixing device 40, and the paper is output from the paper discharge path 42 to the post-processing device 16.
In this way, the image forming unit 26 constitutes an image forming unit.

  When duplex printing is set, the sheet on which one side is fixed by the fixing device 40 is sent from the paper discharge path 42 to the reversing device 46, reversed by the reversing device 46, sent to the paper reversing path 48, and again. The sheet is returned to the sheet conveyance path 24 and sent to the image forming unit 26 to print the other side.

The image reading device 15 includes an automatic document feeder 50 such as an ADF (Auto Document Feeder), and a scanner 52 that reads and scans a document fed by the automatic document feeder 50.
The document is fed to the platen 54 by the automatic document feeder 50, and the image of the document is read on the platen 54 by the scanner 52.
When copying is set by the image forming apparatus 10, the image read by the image reading apparatus 15 is printed and copied by the image forming apparatus main body 14.

The post-processing device 16 includes, for example, a sorter 72, a stapler 58, and a puncher 60.
The sorter 72 guides the printed paper output from the image forming apparatus main body 14 to the distribution path 62 and distributes it to the plurality of bins 64.
The stapler 58 guides the printed sheets output from the image forming apparatus main body 14 one after another to the compiler tray 68 through the conveyance path 66, and fixes the sheets to the predetermined position of the bundle of sheets stacked on the compiler tray 68 with a needle. Then, it is discharged to the stacker 70.
In this manner, the stapler 58 constitutes a binding unit that binds the sheets.
The puncher 60 opens a punch hole at a predetermined position of the bundle of sheets stacked on the compiler tray 68 and discharges it to the stacker 70.

The input display unit 56 is composed of, for example, a touch panel, and is provided on, for example, the upper portion of the image forming apparatus main body 14.
The input display unit 56 receives input from the user, selects and displays the processing contents of the image forming apparatus main body 14, the image reading apparatus 15, and the post-processing apparatus 16.

[Hardware configuration]
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of the image forming apparatus 10, the data transmitting / receiving apparatus 11, the server 12, and the terminal apparatus 13 illustrated in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 3, the image forming apparatus 10 and the data transmitting / receiving apparatus 11 include an image forming apparatus main body 14, an image reading apparatus 15, a post-processing apparatus 16, an input display unit 56, a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 102, a memory 104, A storage device 106 such as a hard disk drive (HDD) and a communication device 108 that transmits and receives data to and from an external computer are included.
These components are connected to each other via a bus 110.
The server 12 and the terminal device 13 include a CPU 102, a memory 104, a storage device 106, a communication device 108, and an input display unit 56.

[Image formation program 2]
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the configuration of the image forming program 2 executed by the image forming apparatus 10 shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 4, the image forming program 2 includes an operation screen display unit 200, an image data capturing unit 202, an image data storage unit 204, an editing unit 206, an output unit 208, a moving image display unit 210, a printing unit 220, a facsimile. The transmission unit 222 includes an email transmission unit 224, a server storage unit 226, and a box storage unit 228.
For example, the image forming program 2 is stored in the memory 104 and supplied to the image forming apparatus 10, and specifically uses hardware resources of the image forming apparatus 10 on an OS (not shown) of the image forming apparatus 10. (The same applies to the following programs).
With these configurations, the image forming program 2 displays an operation screen for executing functions and an image preview screen on the input display unit 56 of the image forming apparatus 10.

FIG. 5 shows the operation screen 3 displayed on the input display unit 56 by the operation screen display unit 200 shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 5, the operation screen 3 includes an input operation button group 300, an edit operation button group 320, an output operation button group 340, and a display area 360.
The input operation button group 300 includes a scan button 302, a fax button 304, a server read button 306, and a box read button 308.
The edit operation button group 320 includes a page edit button 322, a duplex edit button 324, and a staple edit button 326.
The output operation button group 340 includes a print button 342, a send button 344, a server save button 346 and a box save button 348.

The scan button 302 is a button for reading image data from the image reading device 15.
A fax button 304 is a button for reading image data received by facsimile.
The server read button 306 is a button for reading image data stored in the storage device 106 of the server 12.
A box read button 308 is a button for reading image data stored in the storage device 106 of the image forming apparatus 10.

The page edit button 322 is a button for performing a setting for arranging a plurality of images on one page.
The double-sided edit button 324 is a button for performing setting for arranging images on both sides of the paper.
The staple edit button 326 is a button for performing a setting for binding a sheet with a fastener.

The print button 342 is a button for printing image data on paper.
The send button 344 is a button for sending image data by facsimile or e-mail.
The server save button 346 is a button for storing the image data in the storage device 106 of the server 12 or the like.
The box save button 348 is a button for storing image data in the storage device 106 of the image forming apparatus 10 or the like.
The display area 360 displays the image data read when each button of the input button group 30 is pressed.

The operation screen display unit 200 (FIG. 3) displays the operation screen 3 shown in FIG. 5 on the input display unit 56.
Further, when the button of the input button group 300 is pressed, the operation screen display unit 200 outputs information on the pressed button to the image data capturing unit 202.
Further, when the button of the editing operation button group 320 is pressed, the operation screen display unit 200 outputs information on the pressed button to the editing unit 206.
Further, when the button of the output operation button group 340 is pressed, the operation screen display unit 200 outputs information on the pressed button to the output unit 208.
When the operation screen display unit 200 is operated on the display area 360 with a touch panel or the like, the operation screen display unit 200 outputs the operation information to the editing unit 206 and the moving image display unit 210.

The image data capturing unit 202 reads image data in accordance with the button information input from the operation screen display unit 200 and outputs the image data to the image data storage unit 204.
Specifically, the image data capturing unit 202 reads image data from the image reading device 15 when information on the scan button 302 is input.
Further, when the information of the fax button 304 is input, the image data capturing unit 202 reads the image data received by facsimile.
In the above case, the image data received by facsimile is stored in, for example, the storage device 106 of the image forming apparatus 10.
In addition, when the information of the server reading button 306 is input, the image data capturing unit 202 reads image data stored in the storage device 106 of the server 12 or the like.
In addition, when the information of the box reading button 308 is input, the image data capturing unit 202 reads image data stored in the storage device 106 of the image forming apparatus 10.

The image data storage unit 204 stores the image data input from the image data capturing unit 202.
In addition, the image data storage unit 204 outputs the stored image data to the editing unit 206.
The editing unit 206 edits the image data input from the image data storage unit 204 according to the button information and operation information input from the operation screen display unit 200.

Specifically, when the information of the page edit button 322 is input from the operation screen display unit 200, the editing unit 206 edits the image data and arranges a plurality of images on one page.
In addition, when the information of the double-sided edit button 324 is input from the operation screen display unit 200, the editing unit 206 edits the image data and arranges the images on both sides of the paper.
In addition, when the information of the staple edit button 326 is input from the operation screen display unit 200, the editing unit 206 edits the image data and sets the paper on which the image is printed to be bound with a fastener. To do.

In addition, when operation information indicating a portion to be bound with a fastener is input from the operation screen display unit 200, the editing unit 206 edits the image data and sets the portion to be bound with the fastener. .
The editing unit 206 outputs the edited image data to the output unit 208.
The editing unit 206 outputs information (preview information) for displaying the state (preview) of the edited image data to the moving image display unit 210.

The output unit 208 outputs the image data input from the editing unit 206 according to the button information of the output operation button group 340 input from the operation screen display unit 200, the printing unit 220, the facsimile transmission unit 222, and the e-mail transmission. The data is output to any one of the unit 224, the server storage unit 226, and the box storage unit 228.
Specifically, the output unit 208 outputs the image data input from the editing unit 206 to the printing unit 220 when the information of the print button 342 is input.

Further, when the information of the transmission button 344 is input, the output unit 208 outputs the image data input from the editing unit 206 to the facsimile transmission unit 222 or the email transmission unit 224.
Further, when the information of the server save button 346 is input, the output unit 208 outputs the image data input from the editing unit 206 to the server storage unit 226.
In addition, when the information of the box save button 348 is input, the output unit 208 outputs the image data input from the editing unit 206 to the box storage unit 228.

The printing unit 220 outputs the image data input from the output unit 208 to the image forming apparatus main body 14 and causes the image forming apparatus main body 14 to print the image data.
The facsimile transmission unit 222 performs facsimile transmission of the image data input from the output unit 208 to the data transmission / reception device 11 via the communication device 108.

The e-mail transmission unit 224 attaches the image data input from the output unit 208 to the e-mail and transmits the image data to the terminal device 13 via the communication device 108.
The server storage unit 226 outputs the image data input from the output unit 208 to the storage device 106 of the server 12 via the communication device 108 and stores it.
The box storage unit 228 outputs the image data input from the output unit 208 to the storage device 106 of the image forming apparatus 10 for storage.

The moving image display unit 210 displays a moving image preview in the display area 360 of the operation screen 3 based on the preview information input from the editing unit 206.
Specifically, the moving image display unit 210 displays a preview in the display area 360 in response to an operation on the operation screen 3 (FIG. 5).
That is, the preview displayed by the moving image display unit 210 is displayed on the input display unit 56 of the image forming apparatus 10.
Hereinafter, the preview displayed by the moving image display unit 210 will be described with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a preview displayed on the display area 360 by the moving image display unit 210 when the scan button 302 on the operation screen 3 shown in FIG. 5 is pressed.
As shown in FIG. 6, when the scan button 302 on the operation screen 3 is pressed, the moving image display unit 210 displays a moving image preview on the display area 360 based on the preview information input from the editing unit 206. indicate.
Specifically, FIG. 6 shows a preview by moving images when 20 image data “A” to “T” are read.
The moving image display unit 212 also displays the display area 360 based on the preview information input from the editing unit 206 even when the fax button 304, the server read button 306, and the box read button 308 on the operation screen 3 are pressed. , Display a video preview.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a preview displayed on the display area 360 by the moving image display unit 210 when the page edit button 322 of the operation screen 3 shown in FIG. 5 is pressed.
As shown in FIG. 7, when the page editing button 322 on the operation screen 3 is pressed, the moving image display unit 210 displays a moving image preview in the display area 360 based on the preview information input from the editing unit 206. Is displayed.
FIG. 7 shows a preview of a moving image in which two images are arranged on one page for 20 pieces of image data “A” to “T”.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a preview displayed on the display area 360 by the moving image display unit 210 when the double-sided edit button 324 of the operation screen 3 shown in FIG. 5 is pressed.
As illustrated in FIG. 8, when the double-sided edit button 324 on the operation screen 3 is pressed, the moving image display unit 210 displays a moving image preview in the display area 360 based on the preview information input from the editing unit 206. Is displayed.
FIG. 8 shows a preview of a moving image in a state where four images are arranged on both sides of one page for 20 pieces of image data “A” to “T”.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a preview displayed on the display area 360 by the moving image display unit 210 when the staple edit button 326 on the operation screen 3 shown in FIG. 5 is pressed.
As illustrated in FIG. 9, when the staple edit button 326 on the operation screen 3 is pressed, the moving image display unit 212 displays a moving image preview in the display area 360 based on the preview information input from the editing unit 206. Is displayed, and a screen for allowing the user to select a portion to be bound with the fastener is displayed.
Further, as shown in FIG. 9, the moving image display unit 212 displays a preview of a moving image in a state where a portion operated by the touch panel is bound with a fastener.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a preview displayed on the display area 360 by the moving image display unit 212 when the paper bound with the fastener shown in FIG. 9 is operated by the touch panel.
As illustrated in FIG. 10, the moving image display unit 212 displays a preview of a moving image in which a page is turned according to the operation of the touch panel when the paper bound with the fastener is operated by the touch panel.

[Overall Operation of Image Forming System 1]
1. The user gives an instruction to read image data using the buttons of the input button group 300 on the operation screen 3 (FIG. 5) displayed on the input display unit 56 (FIG. 2) of the image forming apparatus 10.
2. The image forming program 2 displays a preview of a moving image on the input display unit 56 of the image forming apparatus 10.
3. The user sets the editing state of the image data using the buttons of the editing operation button group 320 on the operation screen 3.
4). The image forming program 2 displays a moving image preview on the input display unit 56 of the image forming apparatus 10 in accordance with the button pressed by the user.
5. The user confirms the preview displayed on the input display unit 56 of the image forming apparatus 10, and prints image data, sends a facsimile, sends an e-mail, and sends it to a server by using the output operation button group 340 on the operation screen 3. Are stored in the image forming apparatus 10.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Image forming system 10 ... Image forming apparatus 11 ... Data transmission / reception apparatus 12 ... Server 13 ... Terminal device 14 ... Image forming apparatus main body 15 ... Image reading device 16 ... -Post-processing device 20: Paper supply unit 22 ... Supply head 24 ... Paper transport path 26 ... Image forming unit 28 ... Image carrier 30 ... Charging roll 32 ... Laser writing Device 34 ... Developing device 36 ... Transfer roll 38 ... Cleaner 40 ... Fixing device 42 ... Paper discharge path 46 ... Reversing device 48 ... Paper reversing path 50 ... Automatic document Feeder 52 ... Scanner 54 ... Platen 56 ... Input display 58 ... Stapler 60 ... Puncher 62 ... Distribution path 64 ... Bin 66 ... Conveyance path 68 ... Compiler tray 70 ... stacker 72 ... sorter 100 ... communication line network 102 ··· CPU
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 104 ... Memory 106 ... Memory | storage device 108 ... Communication apparatus 2 ... Image formation program 200 ... Operation screen display part 202 ... Image data taking-in part 204 ... Image data memory | storage part 206 ... Editing unit 208 ... Output unit 210 ... Movie display unit 220 ... Printing unit 222 ... Facsimile transmission unit 224 ... E-mail transmission unit 226 ... Server storage unit 228 ... Box storage unit 3 ... operation screen 300 ... input button group 302 ... scan button 304 ... fax button 306 ... server read button 308 ... box read button 320 ... edit operation button group 322 ... Page edit button 324 ... Double-sided edit button 326 ... Staple edit button 340 ·· Output operation button group 342 · And print button 344 ... send button 346 ... server save button 348 ... box save button

Claims (3)

An input selection means for selecting one from a plurality of image data input sources;
Editing means for editing image data input from the input source selected by the input selection means;
Output selection means for selecting one of the output destinations of a plurality of image data;
The image data input from the input source selected by the input selection unit is input, and the image data is output to the output destination selected by the output selection unit based on information about the image data edited by the editing unit. Control means for controlling
When the edited image data is output on both sides of the image forming member at the selected output destination, the moving image in a state where all the input image data is arranged on each page and the image forming member an image forming apparatus having a display means for displaying the two-sided image data of the moving of the image forming member in blind condition. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the display unit further displays a state of the image data before and after being edited by the editing unit as a moving image. An input selection step of selecting one from a plurality of image data input sources;
An editing step of editing image data input from the input source selected by the input selection means;
An output selection step of selecting one from a plurality of image data output destinations;
The image data input from the input source selected by the input selection unit is input, and the image data is output to the output destination selected by the output selection unit based on information about the image data edited by the editing unit. Control steps to control,
When the edited image data is output on both sides of the image forming member at the selected output destination, the moving image in a state where the input image data is arranged on each page and the image forming member are turned over. program for executing a display step in the computer for displaying the video of both sides of the image data of said image forming member in a state.

Images