JP6122745B2 - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus that continuously reads a plurality of originals and forms an image of a plurality of read original images.

  2. Description of the Related Art An image forming apparatus having a continuous reading function for continuously reading a plurality of originals and forming an image of a plurality of read original images has appeared. In this image forming apparatus, it is not necessary for the user to set a document many times, and a large amount of documents can be copied at one time.

  Patent Document 1 discloses an image forming apparatus that detects a predetermined document such as a blank document as a break, stops the operation when the break is detected, and accepts a change in settings related to image formation from the user. ing. According to this image forming apparatus, it is possible to continuously read a plurality of originals and form an image of the read plurality of originals with different settings.

JP 2005-142862 A

  However, the image forming apparatus disclosed in the above-mentioned Patent Document 1 only stops the operation when a document separation is detected, and restarts the operation again after accepting a user setting change. For this reason, there is a trouble in the operation surface that the user manually changes the setting, and user convenience is lacking.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and in an image forming apparatus having a continuous reading function, it is not necessary for the user to manually change the setting after the start of reading of the document, and the setting is different. An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus capable of forming an image of a plurality of read originals.

An image forming apparatus according to one aspect of the present invention includes a document reading unit that continuously reads a plurality of documents, an image forming unit that forms an image of a document read by the document reading unit, a display unit, and the document reading Before the original is read by the scanner, a setting screen for receiving settings from a plurality of setting items related to image formation is displayed on the display unit for each group constituting the plurality of originals to be read continuously. A setting accepting unit that accepts the setting in advance on the setting screen, and causing the original reading unit to read the original, and after reading the original, the original based on the setting for each group accepted by the setting accepting unit a control unit for the image formation of a plurality of document image read by the reading unit performed in the image forming unit for each said group, said image type Each time a section finishes image formation of a document image of a document constituting one group, (i) the setting for the one group is compared with the setting for a group in which image formation is performed next, and the setting is different. It is determined whether or not the setting item that has been set exists, and (ii) if the setting item that has been set differently exists, the image forming unit forms a group in which image formation is performed next. Before starting image formation of a document image of a document, the user is notified that the setting item has been changed, and the setting item is changed to perform image formation, or the setting item can be changed. A notification screen for accepting an instruction to perform image formation from the user is displayed on the display unit, and (iii) when the setting item with different settings does not exist, the notification screen is displayed on the display unit. Comprising a setting change notification unit which does not appear, and the control unit, the image formation based on the setting change notification unit accepts in the notification screen the indication to perform the image forming unit, an image forming apparatus.

  According to the present invention, prior to reading a document, settings relating to image formation are received in advance from the user for each group constituting a plurality of documents that are continuously read, and a document image is formed based on the received settings. . As a result, it is not necessary for the user to stop the operation after starting the reading of the document and manually change the setting, and a plurality of scanned documents can be image-formed with different settings.

1 is a front sectional view showing a structure of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a perspective view illustrating an appearance of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a functional block diagram schematically showing a main internal configuration of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. 6 is a flowchart showing a flow of setting reception processing in the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present disclosure. It is a figure which shows an example of the setting screen for receiving the setting regarding image formation. It is a figure which shows an example of the setting screen for receiving the page range of each group. It is a figure which shows an example of the setting screen for receiving the setting in a 1st group. It is a figure which shows an example of the setting screen for receiving the setting in a 2nd group. 6 is a flowchart showing a flow of processing of a continuous reading operation in the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the notification screen which notifies that the setting change is made. 10 is a flowchart showing a flow of processing of a continuous reading operation in an image forming apparatus according to a modification.

  Hereinafter, an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a front sectional view showing the structure of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an appearance of the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

  As shown in FIG. 1, an image forming apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention is a multi-function machine having a plurality of functions such as a copy function, a printer function, a scanner function, and a facsimile function. The image forming apparatus 1 includes an apparatus main body 11 that includes an operation unit 47, an image forming unit 12, a fixing unit 13, a paper feeding unit 14, a document feeding unit 6, a document reading unit 5, and the like.

  The operation unit 47 receives an instruction such as an image forming operation execution instruction, a document reading operation execution instruction, and settings related to image formation from the user for various operations and processes that can be executed by the image forming apparatus 1. As shown in FIG. 2, the operation unit 47 includes a display unit 473 and a plurality of instruction keys 471.

  The display unit 473 is configured by an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) having a touch panel function. The display unit 473 provides a user with an interactive operating environment by displaying a menu or the like on the LCD.

  The instruction key 471 includes, for example, a menu key for calling a menu, an arrow key for moving the focus of the GUI constituting the menu, a decision key for performing a confirmation operation on the GUI constituting the menu, a numerical key, and the like, and a display unit 473. An operation for the menu displayed on the screen is accepted from the user.

  When the image forming apparatus 1 performs a document reading operation, the document reading unit 5 optically reads a document fed by the document feeding unit 6 or a document placed on the document placing glass 161, Generate image data. Image data generated by the document reading unit 5 is stored in a built-in HDD or a network-connected computer.

  When the image forming apparatus 1 performs an image forming operation, it is based on image data generated by the document reading operation, image data received from a computer connected to a network, image data stored in a built-in HDD, or the like. Then, the image forming unit 12 forms a toner image on the recording paper P as a recording medium fed from the paper feeding unit 14. When performing color printing, the magenta image forming unit 12M, the cyan image forming unit 12C, the yellow image forming unit 12Y, and the black image forming unit 12Bk of the image forming unit 12 respectively A toner image is formed on the photosensitive drum 121 by charging, exposure, and development processes based on an image composed of each color component constituting data, and the toner image is formed on the intermediate transfer belt 125 by the primary transfer roller 126. Let them transcribe.

  The toner images of the respective colors transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 125 are superimposed on the intermediate transfer belt 125 with the transfer timing adjusted to form a color toner image. The secondary transfer roller 210 passes the toner image of the color formed on the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 125 from the paper supply unit 14 through the conveyance path 190 at a nip N between the intermediate transfer belt 125 and the driving roller 125a. It is transferred to the recording paper P that has been conveyed. Thereafter, the fixing unit 13 fixes the toner image on the recording paper P to the recording paper P by thermocompression bonding. The recording paper P on which the color image has been formed after completion of the fixing process is discharged to a discharge tray 151.

  In the case of performing double-sided printing in the image forming apparatus 1, the recording paper P having an image formed on one side by the image forming unit 12 is nipped by the discharge roller pair 159, and then the recording paper P is switched back by the discharge roller pair 159 and sent to the reverse conveyance path 195, and the conveyance roller pair 19 conveys the recording paper P again upstream in the conveyance direction of the recording paper P with respect to the nip portion N and the fixing unit 13. As a result, an image is formed on the other surface of the recording paper by the image forming unit 12.

  Next, the electrical configuration of the image forming apparatus 1 will be described. FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram schematically showing the main internal configuration of the image forming apparatus 1.

  The image forming apparatus 1 includes a control unit 10. The control unit 10 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a RAM, a ROM, a dedicated hardware circuit, and the like, and controls overall operation of the image forming apparatus 1.

  The document reading unit 5 includes the reading mechanism 163 having a light irradiation unit, a CCD sensor, and the like under the control of the control unit 10. The document reading unit 5 reads an image from the document by irradiating the document with the light irradiating unit and receiving the reflected light with a CCD sensor.

  The image processing unit 31 performs image processing on the image data of the image read by the document reading unit 5 as necessary. For example, the image processing unit 31 performs predetermined image processing such as shading correction in order to improve the quality after the image read by the document reading unit 5 is formed by the image forming unit 12.

  The image memory 32 is an area for temporarily storing document image data obtained by reading by the document reading unit 5 and temporarily storing data to be printed by the image forming unit 12.

  The image forming unit 12 forms an image of the original image read by the original reading unit 5 and the original image received from the computer 200 connected to the network.

  The network interface unit 91 includes a communication module such as a LAN board, and transmits / receives various data to / from the computer 200 in the local area via a LAN connected to the network interface unit 91.

  The HDD (hard disk drive) 92 is a large-capacity storage device that stores document images and the like read by the document reading unit 5.

  The control unit 10 includes a control unit 100 and a setting unit 101.

  The control unit 100 is connected to the document reading unit 5, the document feeding unit 6, the image processing unit 31, the image memory 32, the image forming unit 12, the operation unit 47, the network interface unit 91, the HDD 92, and the like. I do. In particular, the control unit 100 controls the document reading unit 5 to continuously read a plurality of documents and controls the image forming unit 12 to control the document based on the setting set by the setting unit 101 described later. Image formation of a plurality of document images read by the reading unit 5 is executed.

  The setting unit 101 includes a setting receiving unit 102, a setting change notification unit 103, and a separation position specifying unit 104. The setting receiving unit 102 has a function of displaying a menu on the LCD of the display unit 473 and receiving a setting instruction regarding image formation input based on an operation of the input unit 47 by the user.

  Specifically, the setting receiving unit 102 receives the page ranges of each group constituting a plurality of documents read by the document reading unit 5 based on the operation of the input unit 47 by the user. Then, the setting receiving unit 102 receives an instruction to set setting items such as paper size, color, and enlargement / reduction rate for each of the groups based on the operation of the input unit 47 by the user. The setting receiving unit 102 stores the above-described contents received from the user as settings relating to image formation.

  The setting change notification unit 103 has a function of notifying a user that a setting item has been changed before image formation is performed on setting items that have been set differently between groups. Further, the setting notification confirmation unit 103 notifies the user that the setting item has been changed, and changes the setting input based on the operation of the input unit 47 by the user to perform image formation. A function of accepting an instruction as to whether or not to form an image without changing the image.

  Note that the separation position specifying unit 104 only needs to be provided as long as it is necessary in an embodiment or modification described later.

  Next, the operation of the image forming apparatus 1 having the above configuration will be described. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the flow of setting acceptance processing in the image forming apparatus 1.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the setting receiving unit 102 of the image forming apparatus 1 displays a setting screen for receiving settings relating to image formation on the LCD of the display unit 473 (step S10). For example, the setting reception unit 102 displays a setting screen D1 illustrated in FIG. A “setting registration” button d12 is provided on the setting screen D1, and when the user selects the button d12 with the instruction key 471 or uses the touch panel function of the display unit 473, the setting reception unit 102 , Accepting instructions for setting registration.

  After the setting screen is displayed, the setting receiving unit 102 monitors whether or not a setting registration instruction has been received based on the operation of the input unit 47 by the user (step S11). When a setting registration instruction is received (YES in step S11), the setting receiving unit 102 sets the page range of each group including a plurality of documents to be read continuously based on the operation of the input unit 47 by the user. Is received (step S12).

  In step S12 described above, the setting reception unit 102 displays, for example, the setting screen D2 illustrated in FIG. 6 on the LCD of the display unit 473. As shown in FIG. 6, the setting screen D <b> 2 is provided with numerical value input fields d <b> 21 to d <b> 28. The unit 102 receives the page range of each group.

  When the user selects the “add group” button d33 installed on the setting screen D2, the setting reception unit 102 performs processing such as changing the setting screen D2, and increases the number of groups that can be set by the user. .

  After accepting the input of the page range of each group, the setting accepting unit 102 accepts settings relating to image formation of each group based on the operation of the input unit 47 by the user (step S13). When the “setting” buttons d29 to d32 provided on the setting screen D2 illustrated in FIG. 6 are selected based on the operation of the input unit 47 by the user, the setting reception unit 102 displays the setting items that can be set. Is displayed on the LCD of the display unit 473. The setting reception unit 102 displays a setting screen D3 illustrated in FIG. 7 as a setting screen in the first group including the first page to the tenth page.

  As shown in FIG. 7, in the first group, for example, “page aggregation”, “reduction / enlargement”, “density”, “paper selection”, “color selection”, “both sides / division”, “original image quality”, Eight setting items “staple” are provided. When each of the buttons d41 to d48 is selected based on the operation of the input unit 47 by the user, the setting receiving unit 102 receives settings for setting items corresponding to the buttons.

  FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a setting screen D4 in the second group. As shown in FIG. 8, in the second group, for example, “page aggregation”, “reduction / enlargement”, “density”, “paper selection”, “color selection”, “both sides / division”, “original image quality” Setting items are provided. When each of the buttons d41 to d48 is selected based on the operation of the input unit 47 by the user, the setting receiving unit 102 receives settings for setting items corresponding to the buttons.

  In addition, the setting reception unit 102 determines whether to notify the setting item that has been changed from the first group that the setting item has been changed before the setting is switched during the image forming operation. An instruction is accepted based on the operation of the input unit 47 by the user. At the time of setting the second group, if a setting different from the first group is received based on the operation of the input unit 47 by the user, the setting receiving unit 102 displays the buttons d51 to d54 displayed on the setting screen D4. The image is displayed on the LCD of the unit 473. When each of the buttons d51 to d54 is selected based on the operation of the input unit 47 by the user, the setting receiving unit 102 sets the setting item before the setting is switched during the image forming operation for each setting item. An instruction for determining whether or not to notify the change is received.

  In the setting for the second group, some of the setting items that can be set in the first group are limited. This is because when a plurality of originals are read continuously and the read original image is formed as an image, it may not be possible to change the setting partway through and perform different processes. In the example shown in FIG. 8, the setting item “staple” is limited.

  In steps S10 to S13 described above, after receiving a setting instruction based on the operation of the input unit 47 by the user, the setting receiving unit 102 stores the received setting (step S14).

  This completes the description of the setting acceptance process in the image forming apparatus 1. Next, a continuous reading operation in the image forming apparatus will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a flow of processing of the continuous reading operation in the image forming apparatus 1. As shown in FIG. 9, the control unit 100 of the image forming apparatus 1 monitors whether or not an instruction to start continuous reading with registered settings is received based on an operation of the input unit 47 by the user (Step S100). S20).

  When the control unit 100 receives an instruction to start continuous reading with the registered settings based on the operation of the input unit 47 by the user (YES in step S20), the control unit 100 controls and registers the document reading unit 5. Continuous reading of the number of documents specified by the setting is executed (step S21). Document image data obtained by this reading is stored in the image memory 32.

  After the continuous reading of the document, the control unit 100 forms an image of the document image stored in the image memory 32 (steps S22 to S29).

  First, the control unit 100 sets a count value N indicating a group to which an original image to be imaged belongs to 1 (step S22).

  Then, the control unit 100 compares the count value N with the threshold value M indicating the last group indicated in the registered setting (step S23). When count value N is equal to or less than threshold value M (YES in step S23), control unit 100 proceeds to the process in step S24.

  The control unit 100 refers to the registered setting, compares the setting in the Nth group with the setting in the N−1th group, and the setting in the Nth group is changed from the setting in the N−1th group. It is determined whether or not it has been done (step S24). When the setting in the Nth group has not been changed from the setting in the N−1th group (NO in step S24), the control unit 100 controls the image forming unit 12 to convert the document image in the Nth group to the Nth group. An image is formed by group setting (step S25). When the count value N is 1, the control unit 100 sets the determination in step S23 to YES, controls the image forming unit 12, and displays all document images belonging to the first group in the registered settings. Make an image with group settings.

  After forming all the original images belonging to the first group, the control unit 100 increments the count value N indicating the group to which the original image to be imaged belongs by 1, and forms the original image belonging to the next group. The process proceeds to (S26).

  After step S26, the process returns to step S23. If the count value N is greater than the threshold value M (NO in step S23), the control unit 100 ends the document image continuous reading operation.

  When the setting in the Nth group has been changed from the setting in the N-1th group (YES in step S25), the setting change notifying unit 103 of the setting unit 101 changes the setting with reference to the registered setting. It is determined whether there is information indicating that it has been notified (step S27).

  If there is no information indicating that the setting has been changed in the registered settings (NO in step S27), the process proceeds to step S25 already described.

  When there is information indicating that the setting has been changed in the registered setting (YES in step S27), the setting change notifying unit 103 notifies that the setting has been changed. The screen is displayed on the LCD of the display unit 473 (step S28).

  Then, based on the operation of the input unit 47 by the user, the setting receiving unit 102 receives an instruction to perform image formation with the changed setting or with the setting before the changing (step S29).

  When the setting change notification unit 103 receives an instruction to perform image formation with the changed setting based on the operation of the input unit 47 by the user (YES in step S29), the process proceeds to the process of step S25 already described. .

  When the setting change notification unit 103 receives an instruction to perform image formation with the setting before the change based on the operation of the input unit 47 by the user (NO in step S29), the control unit 100 displays the image forming unit 12 To form an image of the original image in the Nth group with the setting of the (N-1) th group (step S30).

  FIG. 10 shows an example of the notification screen displayed in the above step S28. As shown in FIG. 10, when the button d61 installed on the notification screen D5 is selected based on the operation of the input unit 47 by the user, the control unit 100 controls the image forming unit 12 to change The original image is formed by setting. Further, when the button d62 installed on the notification screen D5 is selected based on the operation of the input unit 47 by the user, the control unit 100 controls the image forming unit 12 to display the original image with the settings before the change. Form an image.

  As described above, in the image forming apparatus 1 according to the present exemplary embodiment, the setting reception unit 102 sets each of a plurality of originals that are continuously read before the original reading unit 5 reads the originals. , Settings relating to image formation are received from the user in advance. The control unit 101 causes the image forming unit 12 to form an image of a plurality of document images read by the document reading unit 5 based on the setting for each group received by the setting receiving unit 102. As a result, it is not necessary for the user to stop the operation after starting the reading of the document and manually change the setting, and it is possible to form an image of a plurality of read documents with different settings by a continuous reading operation.

  Further, in the image forming apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment, the setting change notification unit 103 sets the setting items that are set differently between groups before the image forming unit 12 switches the setting to perform image formation. Is notified that the setting item has been changed, and receives an instruction from the user as to whether to change the setting to perform image formation or to perform image formation without changing the setting. For this reason, it is possible to avoid a situation in which an original image is formed with an undesired setting due to the user changing the setting by mistake.

  Further, in the image forming apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment, some of the setting items that can be set in the first group including the document read first by the document reading unit 5 are set in the groups other than the first group. Limited by.

  The setting of the processing such as stapling cannot be changed in the middle of the structure of the image forming apparatus. For this reason, simply setting the settings that the user wants to execute in order may cause a situation in which the settings cannot be changed from the middle to form an image. On the other hand, in the image forming apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment, the setting items that cannot be executed in the settings other than the first group are excluded in advance. The situation that cannot be done does not occur. In addition, the user can make settings without being aware that there are setting items that cannot be executed.

  The present invention is not limited to the configuration of the above embodiment, and various modifications can be made.

  In the above-described embodiment, the setting receiving unit 102 receives in advance information related to the separation between groups based on the operation of the input unit 47 by the user before the document reading unit 5 reads the document. A case has been described in which image formation is performed by switching the setting set for each group based on the information regarding the separation. However, the present invention is not necessarily limited to this case.

  FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing a flow of processing of the continuous reading operation according to the modification. Note that the description of the same processing as the processing shown in the flowchart of FIG. 9 is omitted.

  The image forming apparatus according to the modified example includes a separation position specifying unit 104 (see FIG. 3). The delimiter position specifying unit 104 detects a predetermined document among a plurality of documents read by the document reading unit 5, and specifies the position of the predetermined document as a delimiter between the groups (step S42). . Here, the predetermined original is, for example, a blank original. The delimiter position specifying unit 104 calculates the ratio of non-white pixels per page, and detects that the ratio is equal to or less than a predetermined ratio as a blank original.

  The control unit 100 switches the setting based on the number of pages of each group specified in step S42, and causes the image forming unit 12 to form a document image (steps S43 to S51).

  The user can change the setting for forming an image at a desired position by inserting a blank document when setting the document on the document feeder 6 or the document placement glass 161.

  Note that the document serving as a separator between the groups may be a document on which a predetermined dot pattern is printed.

  Further, the above method is realized by storing a program describing the procedure of the method described in the above embodiment in a memory, a CPU or the like reading the program from the memory, and executing the read program. You may do it. Furthermore, a program describing the procedure of the method may be stored in a recording medium and distributed.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image forming apparatus 5 Document reading part 6 Document feeding part 10 Control unit 11 Main body 12 Image forming part 13 Fixing part 14 Paper feed part 31 Image processing part 32 Image memory 47 Operation part 91 Network interface part 100 Control part 101 Setting part 102 Setting Accepting Unit 103 Setting Change Notifying Unit 104 Separation Position Specifying Unit 161 Document Placement Glass 163 Reading Mechanism 471 Instruction Key 473 Display Unit

Claims (6)

A document reading unit that continuously reads a plurality of documents;
An image forming unit that forms an image of a document image read by the document reading unit;
A display unit;
Before the original is read by the original reading unit, a setting screen for accepting a setting made up of a plurality of setting items related to image formation from the user for each group constituting the plurality of originals to be read continuously is displayed on the display unit A setting accepting unit that accepts the setting in advance on the setting screen ;
The document reading unit is configured to read the document, and after reading the document, image formation of a plurality of document images read by the document reading unit is performed based on the setting for each group received by the setting reception unit. A control unit that causes the image forming unit to perform each time;
Each time the image forming unit finishes image formation of a document image of a document constituting one group, (i) the setting for the one group is compared with the setting for a group in which image formation is performed next. And (ii) if the setting item with a different setting exists, the image forming unit performs the next image formation. Before starting the image formation of the document image of the document constituting the document, the user is notified that the setting item has been changed, and the setting item is changed to perform image formation, or the setting item Display a notification screen for accepting an instruction to perform image formation from the user on the display unit, and (iii) when the setting item having a different setting does not exist, the notification screen is displayed. A setting change notification unit that is not displayed on the display unit ,
The control unit causes the image forming unit to perform image formation based on the instruction received on the notification screen by the setting change notification unit .   2. The image formation according to claim 1, wherein the control unit acquires information indicating a break between the groups, and causes the image forming unit to perform image formation performed by switching the setting for each group based on the information. apparatus.   The apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising: a delimiter position specifying unit that detects a predetermined document among a plurality of documents read by the document reading unit and specifies a position of the predetermined document as a delimiter between the groups. The image forming apparatus described.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the setting reception unit further receives, in advance, the information indicating the separation between the groups from a user before the document reading unit reads the document. The setting consists of a plurality of setting items,
2. The image according to claim 1, wherein some of the setting items that can be set in a first group including a document that is read first by the document reading unit are limited by settings in a group other than the first group. Forming equipment. The setting screen is provided with a button for receiving an instruction as to whether or not to notify that the setting item has been changed for each setting item.
The setting accepting unit accepts an instruction as to whether or not to notify that the setting item has been changed in response to a user operation on the button;
The setting change notifying unit receives an instruction to notify that the setting accepting unit has changed the setting item for the setting item having the different setting when the setting item having the different setting exists. The notification screen is displayed on the display unit to notify the user that the setting item has been changed, and the setting receiving unit changes the setting item for the setting item having the different setting. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the notification screen is not displayed on the display unit when an instruction not to notify is received.