JP6435757B2 - Image recording apparatus, information processing apparatus, and program. - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image recording apparatus that records an image on a recording medium, an information processing apparatus that controls the image recording apparatus via wireless communication, and a program for the information processing apparatus.

  When printing is interrupted due to a paper shortage or paper jam during printing, search for other printers that can perform printing, and let the detected printer perform the remaining printing. A printer is known (for example, see Patent Document 1). Thereby, even if printing is interrupted, printing can be resumed quickly.

JP 2001-75764 A

  The user moves to the printer that first started printing and collects the printed material, and then moves to the printer that performed proxy printing and collects the remaining printed material. At this time, if the user forgets to collect the printed material in the printer that has first performed printing, the time that the printed material received in the tray of the printer is exposed to eyes other than the user becomes longer, and security is increased. descend.

  An object of the present invention is to provide an image recording apparatus, an information processing apparatus, and a program capable of suppressing a decrease in security while quickly restarting image recording when the recording process is interrupted.

  An information processing terminal according to the present invention includes a recording unit that records an image on a recording medium, a first tray from which the recording medium on which an image is recorded by the recording unit is ejected, and a recording medium on the first tray A first sensor that outputs a signal indicating the presence / absence of the image, a communication unit that communicates with another image recording apparatus, and a control unit, wherein the control unit applies to a plurality of recording media based on image data. When an image recording instruction is received, it is determined whether or not an image can be recorded by the recording unit. When it is determined that an image can be recorded, the recording unit starts image recording, and the recording unit If it is determined that the recording of the image by the recording means cannot be continued after the start of the image recording by the recording means, the recording of the image by the recording means is interrupted, and after the interruption of the image recording by the recording means, the first sensor When the output signal indicates that there is no recording medium on the first tray, an image recording instruction for causing another image recording apparatus to execute a remaining recording process for resuming recording of the interrupted image is given to the communication unit. Send it.

  According to the present invention, when it is determined that an image cannot be recorded by the recording means, the recording medium on which the image has been recorded is removed from the first tray, and then the remaining image is recorded by another image recording apparatus. Therefore, even if the recording process is interrupted, the image recording can be resumed quickly, and the chance that the recorded medium on which the image has been recorded can be touched by eyes other than the user can be reduced, thereby preventing the security from being lowered.

1 is a schematic diagram of a network to which multifunction peripherals according to a first embodiment of the present invention are connected. FIG. 2 is a schematic side view showing the inside of the multifunction machine shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the multifunction machine shown in FIG. 1. It is a flowchart which shows the process sequence at the time of the printing execution which the control apparatus shown in FIG. 2 performs. It is a flowchart which shows the process sequence at the time of proxy printing execution which the control apparatus shown in FIG. 2 performs. It is a block diagram of the mobile device which concerns on 2nd Embodiment of this invention. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure when printing is executed by the mobile device shown in FIG. 6. It is a flowchart which shows the process sequence of the paper collection confirmation process which concerns on 3rd Embodiment of this invention.

<First Embodiment>
Hereinafter, an information processing apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the present embodiment, the present invention is applied to a multi function peripheral (MFP) having a scanner function and a printing function. As shown in FIG. 1, the MFP 1a can perform data communication with another MFP 1b, a PC 70, and a mobile device 80 connected to the same network. Since the MFP 1a and the MFP 1b have the same structure and function, the MFP 1a will be mainly described below.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the MFP 1 a includes a rectangular parallelepiped upper housing 11 and a lower housing 12. In addition, the left side surface in FIG. In addition, the right side surface in FIG. The upper housing 11 has an open bottom surface, and the lower housing 12 has an open top surface. The upper housing 11 is connected to the lower housing 12 so as to be rotatable about a rotation shaft 13. A paper discharge tray (first tray) 15 is provided on the upper surface of the upper housing 11. On the paper discharge tray 15, the paper P discharged after completion of printing is placed in order. A paper sensor (first sensor) 18 is disposed at the upstream end of the paper discharge tray 15. The paper discharge sensor 18 detects whether or not a paper is placed on the paper discharge tray 15. If a sheet is placed on the sheet discharge tray 15, the sheet discharge sensor 18 outputs ON, and if no sheet is loaded on the sheet discharge tray 15, the sheet discharge sensor 18 outputs OFF. The paper discharge sensor 18 may be a reflective optical sensor, a transmissive optical sensor, or another sensor.

  Further, a printing apparatus 30, a paper tray 20, and a platen 9 are arranged in the internal space of the MFP 1a. The printing apparatus 30 includes the inkjet head 2 and a transport mechanism 35.

  The inkjet head 2 has a discharge surface on which a plurality of nozzles for discharging ink droplets are formed. The sheet tray 20 can hold a plurality of stacked sheets P and is detachably disposed on the bottom surface of the lower housing 12. The platen 9 is a plate member for supporting paper, and is fixed to the lower housing 12 so as to face the ejection surface of the inkjet head 2 when the upper housing 11 is in the closed position.

  The transport mechanism 35 constitutes a transport path for the paper P that passes from the paper tray 20 between the inkjet head 2 and the platen 9 to the paper discharge tray 15. The transport mechanism 35 includes a pickup roller 31, nip rollers 32a to 32e, guides 33a to 33d, and a motor 35a (see FIG. 3) that drives the pickup roller 31 and the nip roller 32 via a gear (not shown). When the paper P transported by the transport mechanism 35 passes through a printing region between the ink jet head 2 and the platen 9, an image is printed by ink droplets ejected from the nozzles of the ink jet head 2. The paper P on which the image is printed is placed on the paper discharge tray 15.

  A scanner unit 40 is installed on the upper surface of the upper housing 11 so as to cover a part of the paper discharge tray 15. The scanner unit 40 includes an image sensor 41 (not shown) and a feeder 42. Examples of image sensors include CIS (Contact Image Sensor), CCD (Charge Coupled Device), and the like. A paper feed tray 43 is formed on the upper surface of the feeder 42. The document (paper) set in the paper feed tray 43 is moved rightward in FIG. 1 by the feeder 42 and reversed at the right end by changing the traveling direction by 180 ° with the upper surface as the outer peripheral surface. After passing through (not shown), the paper is discharged from the left side of FIG. 1 and placed on a paper discharge tray (second tray) 44. When the sheet passes through the upper surface of the image sensor 41, the image sensor 41 reads an image formed on one or both sides of the sheet and generates image data. In this way, by setting a plurality of documents on the sheet feed tray 43 in a stacked state, the plurality of documents can be read continuously.

  A document sensor (second sensor) 46 for detecting whether or not a document is placed on the sheet discharge tray 44 is attached to the upstream side of the sheet discharge tray 44. The document sensor 46 detects whether or not a document is placed on the paper discharge tray 44. If a document is placed on the discharge tray 44, the document sensor 46 outputs ON. If no document is placed on the discharge tray 44, the document sensor 46 outputs OFF.

  By rotating the feeder 42 upward about the shaft 45, a transparent reading table (flat bed: FB) made of glass or the like is exposed. An image sensor 41 is provided below the reading table so as to be able to reciprocate. By directly setting the original on the exposed FB, the scanner main body 41 can read the original one by one.

  The MFP 1a has a control device 1p. As illustrated in FIG. 3, the control device 1 p includes a CPU 51, a ROM 52, and a RAM 53. The control device 1p also includes the head 2, the motor 35a included in the transport mechanism 35, the paper discharge sensor 18, the image sensor 41, the motor 42a included in the feeder, the document sensor 46, the touch panel 17, and the flash memory 54. Are electrically connected to a LAN (Local Area Network) interface 55, a USB (Universal Serial Bus) host interface 56, and an NFC interface 57.

  The touch panel 17 is a user interface having an input function (operation means) and a display function (display means), and displays an operation status and accepts an input operation by a user. Specifically, the touch panel 17 displays an image corresponding to the input signal on the screen and outputs a signal corresponding to the user operation.

  The LAN interface 55 performs data communication with various information processing apparatuses such as the MFP 1b, the PC 70, and the mobile device 80 connected to the same LAN as the MFP 1a. Data transmission / reception may be wired communication or wireless communication (for example, Wi-Fi: IEEE 802.11).

  The ROM 52 stores firmware, which is a control program 52a for controlling the MFP 1a, various settings, initial values, and the like. The RAM 53 and the flash memory 54 are used as a work area from which various control programs are read or as a storage area for temporarily storing data. Further, the flash memory 54 stores unique information related to communication. The unique information includes a MAC (Media Access Control) Address, an IP (Internet Protocol) Address of the LAN interface 55, and other communication parameters.

  The NFC interface 57 is an interface that enables NFC short-range wireless communication based on the international standard of ISO / IEC21481 or ISO / IEC18092. The MFP 1a is in a state of detecting a device capable of performing NFC wireless communication by an inquiry signal issued from the NFC interface 57 while the power is on. Therefore, for example, when the user holds the mobile device 80 over the NFC interface 57, the MFP 1a detects the mobile device 80, and wireless communication using the NFC method is possible between the mobile device 80 and the MFP 1a. Note that “holding” the mobile device 80 over the NFC interface 57 is an operation of placing the mobile device 80 within the communication range of the NFC interface 57, and the mobile device 80 and the NFC interface 57 may not be in contact with each other. Also good.

  A USB memory 102 can be attached to the USB host interface 56. As a result, the image data stored in the USB memory 102 can be directly printed on the MFP 1a.

  The CPU 51 controls each component of the MFP 1 a while storing the processing result in the RAM 53 or the flash memory 54 according to the control program 52 a read from the ROM 52 and signals sent from various sensors.

  When the control program 52a is executed, the MFP 1a performs a printing process by the printing apparatus 30 or a scanner according to a command received from the other MFP 1b, the PC 70, or the mobile device 80 via the touch panel 17 or the LAN (LAN interface 55). Various processes including a scan process by the unit 40 can be executed. When the printing process is executed, the printing apparatus 30 prints an image related to the print data received together with the command on a sheet. When the scanning process is executed, the scanner unit 40 scans the image printed on the paper. Furthermore, after executing the scanning process, a copying process can be performed in which the printing process is performed so that the image data obtained by the scanning process is printed on a sheet. Further, the MFP 1a has a tray sensor 61 for determining whether or not there is paper in the paper feed tray 43 provided in the paper feed tray 43, and for determining whether or not a paper jam provided in the transport path has occurred. And a cartridge sensor 63 for detecting whether ink remains in an ink cartridge (not shown) that supplies ink to the inkjet head 2. The control device 1p can determine whether printing by the printing device 30 is possible based on signals from various devices in the MPF 1a including these sensors.

  An operation procedure of the MFP 1a when the MFP 1a receives a print command will be described with reference to FIG. The print command is received from the PC 70 or the mobile device 80 via the network, or is input from the touch panel 17 in accordance with a user operation. The print command includes image data to be printed (or image data storage location: for example, USB 102) and printing conditions such as the paper size and the number of printed sheets. As shown in FIG. 4, the CPU 51 controls the printing apparatus 30 so that a printing process for printing an image related to image data included in the received print command in accordance with the printing conditions is started (S101). After starting the printing process, the CPU 51 has at least one or more printed sheets discharged to the discharge tray 15 and cannot continue printing by the printing apparatus 30 due to out of paper, paper jam or out of ink. It is determined whether or not the printing process is interrupted (S102). When the CPU 51 determines that the printing process has not been interrupted (S102: NO), it determines whether the printing process has been completed (S115). If it is determined that the printing process has been completed (S115: YES), the flowchart of FIG. finish. On the other hand, if it is determined that the printing process has not been completed (S115: NO), the determination in S102 is repeated.

  If the CPU 51 determines that the printing process has been interrupted (S102: YES), it searches for other printers that can perform proxy printing via the network, and causes the touch panel 17 to display a list of printers that are the search results (see FIG. S103). The proxy printing is to cause another printer to execute a remaining printing process, which is a printing process subsequent to a printing process interrupted in a certain printer. The CPU 51 waits until one printer is selected from the printer list displayed on the touch panel 17 by a user operation (S104: NO). If the CPU 51 determines that one printer has been selected (S104: YES), the CPU 51 determines the selected printer as a proxy printing printer (device that executes the remaining recording process), and sends a proxy printing request notification to the determined proxy printing printer. Transmit (S105). The proxy print request notification includes image data and print conditions necessary for executing the remaining print processing, but does not include a print execution command. That is, the printer that has received the proxy print request notification transmitted in S105, that is, the proxy print printer, has not yet started the remaining print processing at this point.

  The CPU 51 displays a message “Please collect printed paper” on the touch panel 17 to prompt the user to collect the printed paper discharged to the paper discharge tray 15 (S106). The CPU 51 waits until the output of the paper discharge sensor 18 is turned off, in other words, until the user collects printed paper (S107: NO). When the output of the paper discharge sensor 18 is turned off (S107: YES), the CPU 51 starts printing immediately for the printing start timing in the proxy printing (immediate printing), or starts printing after the authentication information is input. A screen for selecting whether to perform (secure printing) is displayed on the touch panel 17 (S108). If the selection of the print start timing by the user is completed (S109: YES), the CPU 51 determines whether the selection result is secure printing (S110).

  If the CPU 51 determines that the user has selected secure printing (S110: YES), the CPU 51 transmits a secure printing command to the proxy printing printer (another MFP 1b in the present embodiment) (S111). The secure printing command is a command for instructing the proxy printing printer to start the proxy printing requested in the proxy printing request notification after receiving the authentication information, and includes authentication information to be received by the proxy printing printer. . Then, the CPU 51 displays the authentication information included in the secure print command transmitted in S111 on the touch panel 17 (S112), and ends the flowchart of FIG. The user moves to the proxy printing printer with a copy of the authentication information displayed on the touch panel 17. If the CPU 51 determines that the user has not selected secure printing (S110: NO), the CPU 51 transmits an immediate printing command to the proxy printing printer (S113), and ends the flowchart of FIG. The immediate printing command is a command for instructing the proxy printing printer that has received the proxy printing request notification to start the remaining printing process immediately after receiving the immediate printing command.

  On the other hand, if the selection of the print start timing by the user has not been completed (S109: NO), the CPU 51 determines whether or not a predetermined time has elapsed since the selection screen was displayed (S114). If a predetermined time has not elapsed since the selection screen was displayed (S114: NO), the CPU 51 repeats the determination of whether or not the user has selected the print start timing (S109). If a certain period of time has elapsed after the selection screen is displayed (S114: YES), the CPU 51 determines that immediate printing has been forcibly selected, and sends an immediate printing command to the proxy printing printer (S113). The flowchart of 4 is finished.

  Next, the operation procedure of the MFP 1b determined as the proxy printing printer will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 5, the CPU 51 waits until it receives the proxy print request notification transmitted by the MFP 1a in S105 (S201: NO). When receiving the proxy print request notification (S201: YES), the CPU 51 develops the image data included in the proxy print request notification into drive data based on the print parameters (S202). The CPU 51 causes the touch panel 17 to display a message “Please collect printed paper from the printer requesting proxy printing”, and is discharged to the paper discharge tray 15 associated with the MFP 1a that executed the original printing. The user is prompted to collect printed paper (S203).

  The CPU 51 determines whether an immediate print command has been received (S204). If the CPU 51 determines that an immediate print command has been received (S204: YES), it controls the printing apparatus 30 so that the remaining printing process is executed in accordance with the proxy print request notification received in S201 (S205). Then, the flowchart of FIG. 5 ends.

  If it is determined that the immediate print command has not been received (S204: NO), the CPU 51 determines whether a secure print command has been received (S206). If the CPU 51 determines that the secure print command has not been received (S206: NO), the CPU 51 repeats the determination of whether the immediate print command has been received (S204). If the CPU 51 determines that the secure printing instruction has been received (S206: YES), the CPU 51 displays the authentication information input screen on the touch panel 17 and waits until the authentication information is input on the input screen (S207: NO). If the CPU 51 determines that the authentication information has been input on the input screen (S207: YES), the CPU 51 controls the printing apparatus 30 so that the remaining printing process is executed according to the proxy print request notification received in S201 (S205). Then, the flowchart of FIG. 5 ends.

  As described above in detail, according to the MFP 1a of the present embodiment, when the MFP 1a determines that the printing process cannot be continued by the MFP 1a, after the printed paper is removed from the paper discharge tray 15, the proxy printing printer (In this embodiment, the MFP 1b) performs the remaining printing process, so even if the printing process in the MFP 1a is interrupted, the printing process is quickly resumed in the substitute printing printer, and the printed paper is not in the eyes of the user. It is possible to suppress a decrease in security by reducing the chance of touching.

  In addition, since the user can select immediate printing or secure printing when performing proxy printing, the user's selection can reduce the chance that the printed paper is exposed to eyes other than the user in the proxy printing printer. it can.

  In addition, more secure printing can be performed by executing secure printing that requires input of authentication information in proxy printing.

  Furthermore, when a selection screen for selecting immediate printing or secure printing is displayed and a predetermined time has elapsed, immediate printing is forcibly executed, so that the user moves to the substitute printing printer without checking the touch panel 17. Even so, printed paper can be collected.

  In addition to searching for other printers that can perform proxy printing, the printer list that is the search result is displayed on the touch panel 17, and the printer selected by the user is determined as the proxy printing printer, so that convenience is improved.

Second Embodiment
Next, a mobile device 80 according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In addition, description is abbreviate | omitted about the member, function, and process sequence substantially equivalent to 1st Embodiment. First, a schematic configuration of the mobile device 80 will be described. As shown in FIG. 6, the mobile device 80 includes a control unit 80 a having a CPU 81, a ROM 82, a RAM 83, and a flash memory 84. The mobile device 80 also includes a touch panel 85 having both a display function and an input function, an NFC interface 87 and a wireless LAN interface 88 as communication interfaces enabling communication with an external device, and data via a wireless public telephone line. And a telephone line communication unit 89 that can transmit and receive these, and these are controlled by the control unit 80a.

  Similar to the NFC interface 57 of the MFP 1a, the NFC interface 87 is an interface that enables NFC wireless communication. The wireless LAN interface 88 is an interface that enables Wi-Fi or WFD (Wi-Fi Direct) wireless communication.

  The flash memory 84 incorporates an OS (operation system), a browser for browsing files on the Internet, device drivers for controlling various devices, and the like. Further, the flash memory 84 stores unique information including an IP address related to the mobile device 80 and personal information of the user, and various applications (hereinafter referred to as applications) that cause the mobile device 80 to function. The stored application includes an NFC communication program 84a for performing NFC data communication using the NFC interface 87, and a wireless LAN for performing Wi-Fi or WFD communication using the wireless LAN interface 88. A communication program 84b, an MFP control program 84c for causing the MFP 1a or MPF 1b to print image data stored in the mobile device 80, and a data communication via a public telephone line using the telephone line communication unit 89. A telephone line communication program 84d is included.

  The CPU 81 performs various processes while storing the calculation results in the RAM 83 or the flash memory 84 in accordance with the control program read from the ROM 82 or the program read from the flash memory 84. The operation of the above-described application is also processed by the CPU 81.

  In the present embodiment, the MFP 1a can output an unprintable signal to the outside when the control device 1p determines that printing is not possible based on signals from various devices in the MPF 1a including the above-described sensor. Yes. Furthermore, the MFP 1a can output a progress signal including the progress information of the printing process, that is, the information indicating how many sheets have been printed, after the start of the printing process.

  An operation procedure of the mobile device 80 will be described. As shown in FIG. 7, the CPU 81 generates a print command (first recording command) desired by the user, and transmits the generated print command to the MFP 1a via the network (S301). The MFP 1a starts print processing for printing an image relating to image data included in the received print command in accordance with the print conditions. When the printing process is started, the MFP 1a periodically transmits a progress signal indicating the progress of the printing process to the mobile device 80. In addition, the MFP 1a performs printing indicating that the printing process is interrupted when it is determined that printing by the printing apparatus 30 cannot be continued due to running out of paper, paper jam, or running out of ink after the printing process is started. The disabled signal and the output result of the paper discharge sensor 18 are transmitted to the mobile device 80. The CPU 81 determines whether or not a print disable signal has been received from the MFP 1a (S302). If it is determined that it has not been received (S302: NO), the CPU 81 proceeds to S314 and has received a progress signal indicating that the print process has been completed. Is determined (S314). If it is determined that a progress signal indicating that the printing process has been completed is received (S314: YES), the flowchart of FIG. 7 ends. On the other hand, if it is determined that a progress signal indicating that the printing process has been completed has not been received (S314: NO), the determination in S302 is repeated.

  When the CPU 81 receives the print disabling signal when the progress signal indicates that the printing process has started (S302: YES), the CPU 81 searches for other printers that can perform proxy printing via the network and the search result. Is displayed on the touch panel 85 (S303). The CPU 81 stands by until one printer is selected from the printer list displayed on the touch panel 85 by a user operation (S304: NO). When determining that one printer has been selected (S304: YES), the CPU 81 determines the selected printer as a proxy printing printer, and transmits a proxy printing request notification to the determined proxy printing printer (S305). The proxy print request notification includes the image data related to the remaining print processing for restarting the print processing that could not be executed by the MFP 1a in the first recording command and the printing conditions necessary for executing the remaining print processing. Execution commands are not included. The image data related to the remaining printing process and the printing conditions necessary for executing the remaining printing process are derived based on the progress signal. Therefore, the image data relating to only the already executed print process and the print conditions necessary for executing only the already executed print process are not included in the proxy print request notification.

  The CPU 81 displays a message “Please collect printed paper” on the touch panel 85 to prompt the user to collect the printed paper discharged to the paper discharge tray 15 of the MFP 1a (S306). The CPU 81 waits until the received output result of the paper discharge sensor 18 is turned off (S307: NO). If the output result of the received paper discharge sensor 18 is turned off (S307: YES), the CPU 81 immediately starts printing (immediate printing) at the print start timing in proxy printing, or after authentication information is input. A screen for selecting whether to start printing (secure printing) is displayed on the touch panel 85 (S308). If the selection of the print start timing by the user is completed (S309: YES), the CPU 81 determines whether the selection result is secure printing (S310).

  If the CPU 81 determines that the user has selected secure printing (S310: YES), the CPU 81 transmits a secure printing command (second recording command) to the proxy printing printer (another MFP 1b in the present embodiment) (S311). Then, the CPU 81 displays the generated authentication information on the touch panel 85 (S312), and ends the flowchart of FIG. The user only has to input the proxy printing printer while confirming the authentication information displayed on the touch panel 85, so that convenience is improved. If it is determined that the user has not selected secure printing (S310: NO), the CPU 81 transmits an immediate printing command (second recording command) to the proxy printing printer (S313), and the flowchart of FIG.

  On the other hand, if the selection of the print start timing by the user has not been completed (S309: NO), the CPU 81 determines whether or not a predetermined time has elapsed since the selection screen was displayed (S314). If a predetermined time has not elapsed since the selection screen was displayed (S314: NO), the CPU 81 repeats the determination of whether or not the user has selected the print start timing (S309). If a certain period of time has elapsed since the selection screen was displayed (S314: YES), the CPU 81 determines that immediate printing has been forcibly selected, and sends an immediate printing command to the substitute printing printer (S313). 7 is finished. Note that the operation procedure of the MFP 1b determined as the substitute printing printer is the same as that described with reference to FIG.

  As described above in detail, according to the mobile device 80 of the present embodiment, when the MFP 1a determines that the printing process cannot be continued by the MFP 1a, after the printed paper is removed from the paper discharge tray 15, the substitution is performed. Since the remaining printing process is executed by the print printer (MFP 1b in this embodiment), even if the printing process in the MFP 1a is interrupted, the printing process is quickly resumed in the substitute printing printer, and the printed paper is not a user. It is possible to suppress a decrease in security by reducing the chance of touching the eyes.

<Modification>
In the two embodiments described above, in the secure printing, the user refers to the authentication information displayed on the touch panel 85 and the user himself inputs the authentication information to the proxy print printer. To the proxy printing printer by wireless communication. For example, in the present embodiment, authentication information may be transmitted via the NFC interface (near field communication means) 87 by the user holding the mobile device 80 over the NFC interface 57 of the proxy printing printer (FIG. 5). : Refer to S207). According to this, the trouble of inputting authentication information can be omitted.

<Third Embodiment>
Next, an MFP according to a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. The present embodiment relates to a copy process in the MFP 1a. The main difference of the present embodiment from the first embodiment is the paper collection confirmation process (S106 to S107) in the flowchart of FIG. 4 in the first embodiment. Therefore, the paper collection confirmation process of this embodiment will be mainly described below. Explained. Note that this embodiment may be applied to the second embodiment.

  When the CPU 51 receives the copy command, it performs a printing process so that the image data obtained by the scanning process is printed on a sheet after executing the scanning process. When the printing process is interrupted, the CPU 51 searches for other printers that can perform proxy printing, and causes the touch panel 17 to display a printer list as a search result. The CPU 51 transmits a proxy print request notification to the proxy printer selected by the user (see S101 to S105), and then performs a paper collection confirmation process.

  As shown in FIG. 8, when the paper collection confirmation process is started, the CPU 51 displays a message “Please collect printed paper” on the touch panel 17, and is discharged to the paper discharge tray 15. The user is prompted to collect printed paper (S106). The CPU 51 stands by until the output of the paper discharge sensor 18 is turned off (S107: NO). When the output of the paper discharge sensor 18 is turned off (S107: YES), the CPU 51 displays a message “Please collect the original” on the touch panel 17 and discharges it to the paper discharge tray 44 of the scanner unit 40. The user is prompted to collect the original document (S408). The CPU 51 stands by until the output of the document sensor 46 is turned off (S409: NO). If the output of the document sensor 46 is turned off (S409: YES), the CPU 51 returns to S108 in FIG. 4 to display a print timing selection screen.

  As described above in detail, according to the MFP 1a of the present embodiment, when it is determined that the printing process relating to the copying process cannot be continued, the printed sheet is removed from the discharge tray 15 and the original is discharged to the discharge tray 44. Since the remaining printing process is executed by the proxy printing printer after the removal from the printer, even if the printing process is interrupted, the printing process can be resumed quickly and the printed paper or original can be exposed to the eyes other than the user. It is possible to suppress the security from being lowered.

  In addition, this embodiment is only a mere illustration and does not limit this invention at all. Therefore, the present invention can be variously improved and modified without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, in the above-described embodiment, the user can select immediate printing or secure printing when performing proxy printing, but only one of immediate printing or secure printing is performed. Also good.

  In addition, in the above-described embodiment, the selection screen for selecting immediate printing or secure printing is displayed, and when a predetermined time elapses, immediate printing is forcibly executed. Also good.

  In the above-described embodiment, another printer capable of proxy printing is searched, and a list of printers as a result of the search is displayed on the touch panel 17. However, a predetermined specific printer is used as the proxy printing printer. You may decide.

  Further, the proxy print printer search is performed by the MFP 1a in the first embodiment described above and the mobile device 80 in the second embodiment described above, but a separately provided server searches for the proxy print printer. It may be. Alternatively, the proxy print request notification and the print command may be transmitted to the proxy print printer via the server.

  In addition, in the above-described embodiment, after a proxy print request notification including image data and printing conditions is transmitted in advance, it is confirmed that the output of the paper discharge sensor 18 has been turned off, and then a substantial execution command is issued. Although a certain secure printing instruction or immediate printing instruction is transmitted, the timing for transmitting image data and printing conditions may be arbitrary. For example, image data and printing conditions may be transmitted together with a secure print command or an immediate print command.

  The MFPs 1a and 1b have a scanner function. However, the MFPs 1a and 1b may have only a print function and may not have a scanner function. Further, the printing apparatus 30 is not limited to the inkjet method, and may be a laser method, a thermal method, or the like, for example.

  In the embodiment described above, the authentication information is output (displayed or transmitted by short-range wireless communication) to the MFP 1a or the mobile device 80, but separately from this, the authentication information is stored in advance in a portable IC card. May be. In this case, after the secure printing command is transmitted (S111; S311), the user brings the IC card close to the proxy printing printer, so that proxy printing is performed.

  In the present embodiment, examples in which the present invention is applied to MFPs and mobile devices have been described, but the present invention is not limited to these. The present invention is applicable to any apparatus having a printing function and an information processing apparatus capable of data communication with an apparatus having a printing function.

1a, 1b ... MFP
1p ... Control device 17 ... Touch panel 18 ... Discharge sensor 30 ... Print device 40 ... Scanner unit 44 ... Discharge sensor 46 ... Original sensor 70 ... PC
80 ... Mobile devices

Claims (14)

A recording means for recording an image on a recording medium;
A first tray on which a recording medium on which an image is recorded by the recording means is discharged;
A first sensor that outputs a signal indicating the presence or absence of a recording medium on the first tray;
Communication means for communicating with other image recording devices;
Control means,
The control means includes
When receiving an image recording instruction to a plurality of recording media based on image data, it is determined whether or not an image can be recorded by the recording unit. When it is determined that an image can be recorded, the recording unit To start recording images,
If it is determined that the recording of the image by the recording means cannot be continued after the recording of the image by the recording means, the recording of the image by the recording means is interrupted,
After the recording of the image by the recording unit is interrupted, if the signal output from the first sensor indicates that there is no recording medium on the first tray, a remaining recording process for restarting the recording of the interrupted image is performed. An image recording apparatus which causes the communication means to transmit an image recording instruction to be executed by another image recording apparatus. Display means;
And an operation means for outputting a signal corresponding to a user operation,
The control means includes
After at least one recording medium on which an image has been recorded by the recording means has been ejected to the first tray, it is determined that the recording of the image by the recording means cannot be continued, and is output from the first sensor. When the signal indicates that there is a recording medium on the first tray, the remaining recording process is immediately started by the other image recording apparatus, or the remaining recording start from the user is started by the other image recording apparatus. A screen for prompting selection of whether to start the remaining recording process after receiving an instruction is displayed on the display unit before the image recording instruction is transmitted,
When the signal output from the operation means indicates that the remaining recording process is immediately started in the other image recording apparatus, the signal output from the first sensor has no recording medium in the first tray. The image recording instruction for starting the remaining recording process immediately on the other image recording apparatus is transmitted to the communication means.
When the signal output from the operation means indicates that the remaining recording process starts after the remaining image recording apparatus receives the remaining recording start instruction, the signal output from the first sensor is After indicating that there is no recording medium in one tray, the image recording instruction for starting the remaining recording process after the remaining image recording apparatus accepts the remaining recording start instruction is transmitted to the communication means. The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:   The control means displays the screen prompting the selection on the display means, and when a predetermined time elapses without the operation means outputting a signal related to the selection, the signal output from the first sensor is After the first tray indicates that there is no recording medium, the image recording instruction for starting the remaining recording process immediately on the other image recording apparatus is transmitted to the communication unit. The image recording apparatus according to claim 2.   The control means displays authentication information on the display means when the signal output from the operation means indicates that the remaining recording start instruction is received after the other image recording apparatus accepts the remaining recording start instruction. And after the signal output from the first sensor indicates that there is no recording medium in the first tray, the authentication information is input in the other image recording apparatus under the condition The image recording apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the image recording instruction for starting a remaining recording process is transmitted to the communication unit.   The image recording instruction is received from the information processing terminal together with the image data through the communication unit, or is output from the operation unit based on a user operation relating to image data stored in a removable external memory. The image recording apparatus according to claim 2, wherein:   The control unit causes the display unit to display a list of the other image recording devices that can communicate via the communication unit, and the operation unit of the list of the other image recording devices displayed on the display unit. 6. The image recording apparatus according to claim 2, wherein one of the other image recording apparatuses indicated by the signal output from the means is determined as an apparatus that executes the remaining recording process. . Reading means for reading an image recorded on a recording medium;
A second tray from which the recording medium whose image has been read by the reading means is discharged;
A second sensor that outputs a signal indicating the presence or absence of a recording medium on the second tray;
The control means includes
When receiving image recording instructions to a plurality of recording media based on the image data obtained by the reading means,
Determining whether the image recording by the recording means according to the image recording instruction is possible;
If it is determined that the image can be recorded by the recording means, the recording means is configured to execute image recording while discharging the recording medium on which the image has been read by the reading means to the second tray. Control
If it is determined that the recording of the image by the recording means cannot be continued after the recording of the image by the recording means, the recording of the image by the recording means is interrupted,
If at least one of the signals output from the first and second sensors indicates that there is a recording medium on the first and second trays, the signal indicates that there is no recording medium. 7. The image according to claim 1, further comprising: causing the communication unit to transmit the image recording instruction for causing the other image recording apparatus to execute the remaining recording process after the image is recorded. Recording device. Recording means for recording an image on a recording medium, a first tray from which the recording medium on which an image has been recorded by the recording means is discharged, and a first signal for outputting presence / absence of a recording medium on the first tray A plurality of image recording apparatuses and communication means, each comprising a sensor and a communication means for performing data communication, and outputting a recording progress signal indicating the progress of image recording by the recording means and a recording disable signal indicating that the recording cannot be performed Is executed by a computer of an information processing apparatus that includes an operation unit that outputs a signal according to a user operation.
When the signal output from the operation unit indicates image recording on a plurality of recording media based on image data, a recording process for sequentially recording images on the plurality of recording media with respect to one image recording apparatus is started. A first recording command for transmitting the first recording command via the communication means,
From the one image recording apparatus, the recording progress signal, the recording impossible signal, and the output result of the first sensor are received via the communication means,
When the recording failure signal and the output result of the first sensor are received from the one image recording apparatus, and the recording progress signal indicates that the recording process has started, the received first sensor When the output result indicates that there is a recording medium on the first tray, the recording is performed after receiving the output result of the first sensor indicating that there is no recording medium on the first tray. In the processing, the information is recorded so that a second recording command for causing the other image recording apparatus to execute a remaining recording process for recording an unrecorded image on the recording medium is transmitted to the other image recording apparatus via the communication unit. A program for causing a processing device to function. The information processing apparatus further includes display means,
At least one recording medium that has received the recording disabled signal and the output result of the first sensor from the one image recording apparatus, and on which the recording progress signal has been recorded by the recording means, is the first recording medium. When the second recording command is transmitted, the remaining recording process is immediately started by the other image recording apparatus before the second recording command is transmitted, or the other image recording apparatus A screen prompting the user to select whether to start the remaining recording process after receiving a remaining recording start instruction from the user;
When the signal output from the operation unit indicates that the remaining recording process is immediately started in the other image recording apparatus, the output of the first sensor indicating that there is no recording medium on the first tray. After receiving the result, send the second recording command to immediately start the remaining recording process in the other image recording device,
When the signal output from the operation unit indicates that the remaining recording process is to be started after the other image recording apparatus receives the remaining recording start instruction, it indicates that there is no recording medium on the first tray. After receiving the signal output from the first sensor, the second image recording device transmits the second recording command to start the remaining recording process after receiving the remaining recording start instruction in the other image recording device. 9. The program according to claim 8, which causes an information processing apparatus to function. When the signal output by the operation unit indicates that the remaining recording process is started after the remaining recording start instruction is received by the other image recording device,
Output authentication information,
After the signal output from the first sensor indicates that there is no recording medium on the first tray, the remaining information is provided on the condition that the authentication information is input in the other image recording apparatus. The program according to claim 9, wherein the information processing apparatus is caused to function so as to transmit the second recording command for starting a recording process.   The program according to claim 10, wherein the information processing apparatus is caused to function so as to display the authentication information on the display unit. The information processing apparatus further includes short-range wireless communication means for transmitting stored authentication information by short-range wireless communication,
When the signal output from the operation unit indicates that the remaining recording process starts after the remaining recording start instruction is received by the other image recording apparatus, it indicates that there is no recording medium on the first tray. After receiving the output result of the first sensor, the second recording starts the remaining recording process on condition that the authentication information is transmitted to the other image recording device via the short-range wireless communication unit. The program according to claim 10, wherein the information processing apparatus is caused to function so as to transmit a command. The information processing apparatus further includes a display unit, displays a list of the other image recording devices communicable via the communication unit, and displays the list of the other image recording devices displayed. The information processing apparatus is caused to function so that one of the other image recording apparatuses indicated by the signal output from the operation unit is determined as an apparatus that executes the remaining recording process. The program of any one of -12. Recording means for recording an image on a recording medium, a first tray from which the recording medium on which an image has been recorded by the recording means is discharged, and a first signal for outputting presence / absence of a recording medium on the first tray A plurality of image recording apparatuses and communication means, each comprising a sensor and a communication means for performing data communication, and outputting a recording progress signal indicating the progress of image recording by the recording means and a recording disable signal indicating that the recording cannot be performed And an information processing apparatus including an operation unit that outputs a signal according to a user operation,
When the signal output from the operation unit indicates image recording on a plurality of recording media based on image data, a recording process for sequentially recording images on the plurality of recording media with respect to one image recording apparatus is started. A first recording command for transmitting the first recording command via the communication means,
From the one image recording apparatus, the recording progress signal, the recording impossible signal, and the output result of the first sensor are received via the communication means,
When the recording failure signal and the output result of the first sensor are received from the one image recording apparatus, and the recording progress signal indicates that the recording process has started, the received first sensor When the output result indicates that there is a recording medium on the first tray, the recording is performed after receiving the output result of the first sensor indicating that there is no recording medium on the first tray. A second recording command for causing another image recording apparatus to execute a remaining recording process for recording an unrecorded image on a recording medium in the process is transmitted to the other image recording apparatus via the communication unit. Information processing device.

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