JP6446965B2 - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there are image forming apparatuses that perform image formation (printing) according to image formation conditions. The image forming conditions include, for example, designation of single-sided printing or double-sided printing, designation of layout such as margins, designation of aggregate printing such as 4-in-1, paper size, paper type such as plain paper, cardboard, designation of paper feed tray, There are monochrome printing or color printing designation, resolution designation, and the like.

  For example, Patent Document 1 describes a print system including an information processing apparatus, an image forming apparatus, and a print server that communicates with the information processing apparatus and the image forming apparatus. The print server receives an instruction to change print setting information (image forming conditions) for the print job from the image forming apparatus, and updates the print setting information.

JP 2012-94113 A

  The image forming apparatus is used by a plurality of users, and image formation is performed on a sheet based on various print setting information. Therefore, when an image forming apparatus is preferentially used under certain print setting information, the print setting information of the image forming apparatus happens to be changed by another user. Then, when a user uses the image forming apparatus again, the user may not be aware that the print setting information has been changed, and image formation may be performed under image forming conditions unexpected by the user.

  An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus capable of suppressing image formation under unexpected image forming conditions.

  In order to achieve the above object, an image forming apparatus according to one aspect of the present invention includes an image forming unit that forms an image on a recording medium, and image forming conditions that are used when the image is formed by the image forming unit. A storage unit, a display unit, and a control unit are stored. The control unit receives a print instruction reception process for receiving an image print instruction related to image data by the image forming unit, and the image data before the print instruction reception process. Presence check processing for confirming whether or not a first condition, which is an image formation condition when the image is formed by the image forming unit, is stored in the storage unit or the external storage unit, and the first condition is determined by the presence check processing by the storage unit or When it is confirmed that it is stored in the external storage unit, the second condition, which is the image forming condition stored in the storage unit as a setting of the image forming apparatus during the print instruction receiving process, is compared with the first condition And If it is determined that the first condition and the second condition are not the same, and if the determination process determines that the first condition and the second condition are not the same, the image before the print instruction reception process Display processing for displaying on the display section that the image forming conditions used at the time of printing data and the image forming conditions at the time of printing by the print instruction receiving process are different.

  According to this configuration, a print instruction is accepted by the print instruction acceptance process. In addition, the existence confirmation process confirms whether the image forming condition (first condition) when the image data is printed by the image forming unit before the print instruction receiving process is stored in the storage unit or the external storage unit. Is done. When the first condition is stored in the storage unit or an external storage unit, the first condition and the image forming condition (second condition) stored in the storage unit as the setting of the image forming apparatus at the time of print instruction reception processing ) Are not the same, the fact that the first condition and the second condition are different is displayed on the display unit.

  As a result, since the user can recognize the image forming conditions used for image formation, it is possible to suppress image formation under unexpected image forming conditions.

  The control unit further includes a case where it is confirmed by the presence confirmation process that the first condition is not stored in the storage unit or the external storage unit, and an image related to the image data is formed by the image forming unit. In this case, a first condition storage process may be performed in which the second condition relating to the formation is stored as a first condition in the storage unit or an external storage unit.

  When an image related to image data for which the first condition is not yet stored is formed, the second condition when the image related to the image data is formed is the first condition for the image data. Stored in the department.

  Therefore, in the subsequent image formation related to the image data, the first condition of the image data is stored in the storage unit or the external storage unit.

  As a result, it is not necessary to perform a complicated operation of inputting the first condition one by one in order to store the first condition. Further, it is possible to use the image formation again without having to remember the image formation conditions when the image related to the image data is formed.

  The image forming apparatus is connected to a server via a network, the image data and the first condition are stored in a storage unit included in the server, and the control unit further stores the image data and the first condition in the server. A server data reading process for reading from a storage unit included in the server may be provided.

  According to this configuration, the image data and the first condition can be stored in the storage unit of a server on the network such as a cloud server. Then, the image data and the first condition are read from the server into the image forming apparatus, and determination processing and display processing are executed.

  Thereby, even if the first condition and the second condition are different for the image data stored in the server, it is possible to suppress image formation under unexpected image formation conditions.

  In the display process, when it is determined by the determination process that the first condition and the second condition are not the same, the control unit does not match the first condition and the second condition, and the first condition in the mismatch item And the condition set in the second condition may be displayed on the display unit.

  According to this configuration, when the first condition and the second condition are not the same, the mismatch condition item between the first condition and the second condition is set to the condition set as the first condition and the second condition. The conditions can be easily compared. Accordingly, it is possible to easily select whether to form an image under the first condition or to form an image under the second condition.

  In addition, an operation unit is provided, and the control unit further accepts selection of whether the image forming unit forms an image related to image data using the first condition or the second condition via the operation unit. A selection reception process, a print instruction is received by the print instruction reception process, and a selection for forming an image related to the image data in the image forming unit is received by the condition selection reception process using the first condition. In this case, the first condition is used to form an image related to the image data in the image forming unit, the print instruction is received by the print instruction receiving process, and the second condition is used by the condition selection receiving process. When the selection for forming the image related to the image data in the image forming unit is accepted, the image related to the image data may be formed in the image forming unit using the second condition.

  According to this configuration, when the first condition and the second condition are not the same, it is possible to select one of the first condition and the second condition to form an image.

  Therefore, an image can be formed under desired image forming conditions.

  The control unit further includes a storage process to be stored in the storage unit using the first condition as the second condition, and a selection process for receiving a selection as to whether or not to execute the storage process, and using the first condition When the image forming unit forms an image related to the image data, if the selection process accepts a selection to execute the storage process, the storage process is executed, and the image related to the image data is displayed using the first condition. When forming the image forming unit, if the selection process accepts a selection not to execute the storage process, the storage process may not be executed.

  According to this configuration, when an image is formed using the first condition, the user can select whether or not to store the first condition as the second condition. Therefore, when it is desired to store the first condition as the second condition, it is possible to suppress a complicated operation of inputting the image forming condition using the operation unit of the image forming apparatus. Further, when it is not desired to store the first condition as the second condition, it is possible to suppress the first condition from being stored as the second condition.

  In addition, when an image related to the image data is formed by the image forming unit, the control unit stores the date and time information in the storage unit or an external storage unit as a final print date and time, and a determination process. When it is determined that the first condition and the second condition are not the same, a date and time display process for displaying the last print date and time stored in the storage unit or the external storage unit on the display unit may be included.

  If a long time has passed since the first condition stored in the storage unit or the external storage unit was used to form an image, the contents of the first condition may be inappropriate. . Therefore, it is possible to avoid forming an image using an inappropriate first condition by the user viewing the date and time displayed on the display unit.

  One or more first conditions for the image data may be stored in the storage unit or the external storage unit.

  According to this configuration, it is possible to store one or more first conditions for one image data. Therefore, the same user can set different first conditions for one image data, and a plurality of users can set their own image forming conditions as the first conditions.

  Therefore, the same user can store a plurality of first conditions and form an image using different first conditions depending on the situation when forming an image. In addition, even when a user forms an image with different first conditions for image data in which a first condition is stored, the user stores the image data without being affected by this. An image can be formed under the first condition.

  If the control unit further determines that one or more items of the second condition are not set in the first condition as a result of the comparison between the first condition and the second condition in the determination process, , An item setting receiving process for receiving an input of image forming conditions for the item may be included.

  According to this configuration, when one or more items of the second condition are not set in the first condition, an image can be formed by setting the image forming condition of the item not set in the first condition. it can.

  In addition, when the control unit determines that one or more items of the first condition are not set in the second condition as a result of the comparison between the first condition and the second condition in the determination process, It is determined whether or not the second condition can be set. If the second condition cannot be set, the display unit displays that the image forming condition of the item is not applied to the image forming by the image forming unit. , An execution selection receiving process for receiving a selection as to whether or not to execute the image formation may be included.

  According to this configuration, in forming an image to be executed, the user can recognize that there are items that are not applied to printing in the image forming apparatus among the items of the first condition. In that case, it is possible to select not to form an image.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to suppress image formation under unexpected image formation conditions.

1 is a conceptual diagram illustrating an image forming system according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a main configuration of an image forming apparatus. 6 is a flowchart (part 1) illustrating a flow of print setting processing. 10 is a flowchart (part 2) illustrating a flow of print setting processing. 10 is a flowchart (part 1) illustrating a flow of print setting processing according to the second embodiment. 12 is a flowchart (part 2) illustrating a flow of print setting processing according to the second embodiment. 12 is a flowchart (part 3) illustrating a flow of a print setting process according to the second embodiment.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

<Overall configuration>

  As shown in FIG. 1, a printer 1, a PC (personal computer) 2, and a cloud server 3 as an example of an image forming apparatus are connected to each other via a network such as a LAN (Local Area Network) 4. ing.

  The cloud server 3 includes an HDD 5 as an example of a storage unit.

  The HDD 5 stores a file including image data.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the printer 1 includes an image forming unit 10, a display unit 20, an operation unit 30, and a network interface (I / F) 40.

  The image forming unit 10 performs printing (color printing or monochrome printing) based on image data, and forms an image on a sheet. The image forming method may be an electrophotographic method or an inkjet method.

  The display unit 20 includes a liquid crystal display, for example. The display unit 20 displays various information such as various setting screens and operation states of the apparatus.

  The operation unit 30 includes a plurality of operation buttons such as a start key, a numeric keypad, and a cursor key. Various instructions can be input by the user operating the operation unit 30.

  The network interface 40 is an interface for communication with the PC 2 and the cloud server 3 connected to the LAN. The communication method may be a wireless communication method or a wired communication method.

  The printer 1 includes an ASIC 50 as an example of a control unit, a ROM 51, a RAM 52, and an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) 53 as an example of a storage unit.

  The ASIC 50 incorporates a CPU 54. Image data transmitted / received to / from the PC 2 or the cloud server 3 is input / output to / from the ASIC 50 via the network interface 40. The CPU 54 controls the image forming unit 10 by executing programs for various processes based on information input to the ASIC 50, and controls communication through the network interface 40.

  The ROM 51 stores a program executed by the CPU 54 and various data.

  The RAM 52 is used as a work area when the CPU 54 executes a program.

  The HDD 53 stores image data on which an image is formed by the image forming unit 10.

<Print setting process>

  It is assumed that a job including image data and a print instruction is transmitted from the PC 2 connected to the printer 1 via the LAN to the printer 1 by, for example, secure printing, and the stored job is stored in the HDD 53 of the printer 1. The saved job includes image data and print settings.

  While the printer 1 is powered on, the CPU 54 of the ASIC 50 repeatedly executes the print setting process shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B.

  In the print setting process, the CPU 54 determines whether or not a print instruction has been received for a stored job stored in the HDD 53 until a print instruction input by the user using the operation unit 30 is received (S1: NO). (S1).

  When the print instruction is received (S1: YES), the CPU 54 determines whether the print setting associated with the saved job is saved in the HDD 53 (S2).

  If the print settings associated with the saved job are not saved in the HDD 53 (S2: NO), the CPU 54 prints the saved job to be printed with the print settings saved in the HDD 53 as the print settings of the printer 1. The image forming unit 10 performs the process (S3).

  Then, the CPU 54 stores the print settings of the printer 1 stored in the HDD 53 in association with the printed storage job in the HDD 53 (S4).

  Thereafter, the CPU 54 stores the print date and time as the final print date and time in the HDD 53 in association with the printed save job (S5), and ends the print setting process.

  On the other hand, if the print settings associated with the stored job are stored in the HDD 53 (S2: YES), the CPU 54 determines whether or not a plurality of print settings are stored in the HDD 53 in association with the stored job to be printed. Is determined (S6).

  When there is one print setting saved in association with the print job to be printed (S6: NO), the CPU 54 compares the print setting with the print setting saved in the HDD 53 as the print setting of the printer 1. (S7).

  Then, the CPU 54 determines whether or not the two print settings match (S8).

  On the other hand, when there are a plurality of print settings saved in association with the print job to be saved (S6: YES), the CPU 54 selects one of the print settings saved in association with the print job to be saved. A selection screen for selecting one is displayed on the display unit 20 (S9).

  And the input which selects one of several printing settings using the operation part 30 is received (S10).

  Next, the CPU 54 compares the selected print setting with the print setting stored in the HDD 53 as the print setting of the printer 1 (S11).

  Then, the CPU 54 determines whether or not the two print settings match (S8).

  If the two compared print settings match (S8: YES), the CPU 54 causes the image forming unit 10 to print the storage job to be printed with the print settings stored in the HDD 53 as the print settings of the printer 1. (S3).

  Then, the CPU 54 updates the print settings stored in the HDD 53 in association with the printed stored job with the print settings of the printer 1 stored in the HDD 53 (S4).

  Thereafter, the CPU 54 updates the last print date and time saved in the HDD 53 in association with the printed save job with the date and time at the time of printing (S5), and ends the print setting process.

  On the other hand, if the two compared print settings do not match (S8: NO), the last print date and time stored in the HDD 53 in association with the print job to be printed and the mismatch items in the two compared print settings Are displayed on the display unit 20, and “print using the print setting of the saved job”, “print using the print setting of the printer” or “print setting of the saved job” is set in the printer, A selection screen for selecting one of “print using print settings of printer” is displayed on the display unit 20 (S12), and an input of selection is received from the operation unit 30.

  Then, the CPU 54 determines whether or not the selection of “Set print setting of saved job to printer and print using print setting of printer” is accepted (S13).

  When the selection “Set print setting of saved job to printer and print using printer print setting” is accepted (S13: YES), CPU 54 sets the print setting of printer 1 stored in HDD 53. Then, it is updated with the print settings stored in the HDD 53 in association with the stored job to be printed (S14).

  Then, the CPU 54 causes the image forming unit 10 to print the storage job to be printed with the print settings stored in the HDD 53 as the print settings of the printer 1 (S3).

  Then, the CPU 54 updates the print settings stored in the HDD 53 in association with the printed stored job with the print settings of the printer 1 stored in the HDD 53 (S4).

  Thereafter, the CPU 54 updates the last print date and time saved in the HDD 53 in association with the printed save job with the date and time at the time of printing (S5), and ends the print setting process.

  In a case where the selection of “print setting of saved job in printer and print using printer print setting” is not accepted (S13: NO), CPU 54 prints using “print setting of saved job. It is determined whether or not the selection of “” has been accepted (S15).

  When the selection of “print using the print setting of the saved job” is not received (S15: NO), that is, when the selection of “print using the print setting of the printer” is received, the CPU 54 selects the printer. The image forming unit 10 is made to print the storage job to be printed with the print settings stored in the HDD 53 as the print setting 1 (S3).

  Then, the CPU 54 updates the print settings stored in the HDD 53 in association with the printed stored job with the print settings of the printer 1 stored in the HDD 53 (S4).

  Thereafter, the CPU 54 updates the last print date and time saved in the HDD 53 in association with the printed save job with the date and time at the time of printing (S5), and ends the print setting process.

  When the selection of “print using the print setting of the saved job” is accepted (S15: YES), the CPU 54 saves the print target with the print setting saved in the HDD 53 in association with the save job to be printed. The job is printed by the image forming unit 10 (S16).

  Then, the CPU 54 updates the last print date and time saved in the HDD 53 in association with the printed save job with the date and time at the time of printing (S5), and ends the print setting process.

<Effect>

  As described above, it is confirmed whether or not the print setting (first condition) when the stored job is printed by the image forming unit 10 is stored in the HDD 53 before the print instruction is received. If the print setting (print setting of the save job) when the save job is printed before accepting the print instruction is saved in the HDD 53, the HDD 53 is set as the printer 1 setting when accepting the print setting of the save job and the print instruction. When the print settings (second condition) of the printer 1 stored in the above are not the same, the display unit 20 displays that the print settings of the stored job and the print settings of the printer 1 are different.

  As a result, since the user can recognize the print setting used for printing, it is possible to suppress printing with an unexpected print setting.

  When it is confirmed that the print setting of the saved job is not saved in the HDD 53 and the saved job is printed by the image forming unit 10, the CPU 54 sets the print setting of the printer 1 used in this printing. It is stored in the HDD 53 as print settings for the stored job.

  When printing a saved job whose print settings are not yet saved, the print settings of the printer 1 when the saved job is printed are saved in the HDD 53 as the print settings of the saved job.

  Therefore, in the subsequent printing of the saved job, the saved job print settings are saved in the HDD 53.

  As a result, it is not necessary to perform a complicated operation of inputting the print settings one by one in order to save the print settings of the saved job. In addition, it is possible to use it for reprinting without having to remember the print settings when the stored job is printed.

  If the CPU 54 determines that the print setting of the saved job and the print setting of the printer 1 are not the same, the CPU 50 prints the mismatched item between the print setting of the saved job and the printer 1 and prints the saved job in the mismatched item. The setting contents and the printing setting contents of the printer 1 are displayed on the display unit 20.

  As a result, when the print setting of the saved job and the print setting of the printer 1 are not the same, the print setting content of the saved job and the print setting content of the printer 1 for the mismatch items between the print setting of the saved job and the print setting of the printer 1 Can be easily compared. Accordingly, it is possible to easily select whether to print with the print setting of the stored job or to print with the print setting of the printer 1.

  The printer 1 includes an operation unit 30. The CPU 54 accepts selection of whether to store the stored job on the image forming unit 10 using the print setting of the stored job or the print setting of the printer 1 via the operation unit 30. When a print instruction is accepted and a selection for printing the saved job on the image forming unit 10 using the saved job print settings is accepted, the saved job is set on the image forming unit 10 using the saved job print settings. To print. When a print instruction is received and a selection for printing the stored job on the image forming unit 10 using the print setting of the printer 1 is received, the stored job is transferred to the image forming unit 10 using the print setting of the printer 1. To print.

  Thereby, when the print setting of the saved job and the print setting of the printer 1 are not the same, either the print setting of the saved job or the print setting of the printer 1 can be selected and printed. Therefore, an image can be printed with a desired print setting.

  When the CPU 54 prints the saved job on the image forming unit 10 using the print setting of the saved job, when the selection to save the saved job print setting as the print setting of the printer 1 in the HDD 53 is received, The print setting of the saved job is saved in the HDD 53 as the print setting of the printer 1. When printing the saved job on the image forming unit 10 using the print setting of the saved job, if the selection that the saved setting is not saved in the HDD 53 is accepted as the print setting of the printer 1, The print setting is not stored in the HDD 53 as the print setting of the printer 1.

  Accordingly, when printing a saved job using the print setting of the saved job, the user can select whether or not to save the print setting of the saved job as the print setting of the printer 1. Therefore, when it is desired to save the print setting of the saved job as the print setting of the printer 1, it is possible to suppress a complicated operation of inputting the print setting using the operation unit 30 of the printer 1. In addition, when it is not desired to save the print setting of the saved job as the print setting of the printer 1, it is possible to suppress saving the print setting of the saved job as the print setting of the printer 1.

  When the save job is printed by the image forming unit 10, the CPU 54 stores the date and time information in the HDD 53 as the final print date and time. If it is determined that the print setting of the saved job and the print setting of the printer 1 are not the same, the last print date and time saved in the HDD 53 is displayed on the display unit 20.

  If it has been a long time since the saved job print settings were used and the saved job was printed, the contents of the saved job print settings may be inappropriate. Therefore, when the user views the date and time displayed on the display unit 20, it is possible to avoid printing the saved job using an inappropriate saved job print setting.

  The HDD 53 can store one or more print settings for one stored job. Therefore, the same user can set different print settings for one saved job, or a plurality of users can set their own print settings.

  Therefore, the same user can store a plurality of print settings and print the stored job using different print settings depending on the situation when the stored job is printed. In addition, even if another user prints an image with a different print setting for a saved job in which a user saved the print settings, the user saved it without being affected by this. You can print with print settings.

Second Embodiment

  Instead of the print setting process shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, the print setting process shown in FIGS. 4A, 4B, and 4C may be executed.

  A print file from the PC 2 is stored in the HDD 5 of the cloud server 3 connected to the PC 2 and the printer 1 via the LAN.

  While the printer 1 is powered on, the CPU 54 of the ASIC 50 repeatedly executes the print setting process shown in FIGS. 4A, 4B, and 4C.

  In the print setting process, the CPU 54 attempts to log in to the cloud server 3 using the user ID and password received from the operation unit 30, and determines whether or not the login is successful until the login is successful (S21: NO). (S21).

  When the login to the cloud server 3 is successful (S21: YES), the CPU 54 reads a list of files stored in the HDD 5 of the cloud server 3 from the cloud server 3 and stores it in the HDD 53 (S22). If the print settings are stored in the cloud server 3, the print settings are read from the cloud server 3 and stored in the HDD 53 (S22).

  Thereafter, the CPU 54 displays a list of read files on the display unit 20 (S23).

  Then, the CPU 54 receives a file selection from the displayed file list from the operation unit 30 (S24).

  Next, the CPU 54 receives an input of a print instruction from the operation unit 30 until a print instruction for the selected file is input (S25: NO) (S25).

  When the input of the print instruction is accepted (S25: YES), the CPU 54 determines whether or not the print setting is stored in the cloud server 3 (S26).

  When the print settings are not stored in the cloud server 3 (S26: NO), the CPU 54 prints the print target file to the image forming unit 10 with the print settings stored in the HDD 53 as the print settings of the printer 1. (S27).

  Then, the CPU 54 stores the print settings of the printer 1 stored in the HDD 53 in the cloud server 3 (S28), and ends the print setting process.

  On the other hand, when the print settings are stored in the cloud server 3 (S26: YES). The CPU 54 compares the print setting stored in the cloud server 3 with the print setting stored in the HDD 53 as the print setting of the printer 1 (S29).

  Then, the CPU 54 determines whether or not the two print settings match (S30).

  When the two print settings match (S30: YES), the CPU 54 causes the image forming unit 10 to print the file to be printed with the print settings stored in the HDD 53 as the print settings of the printer 1 (S27). .

  Then, the CPU 54 stores the print settings of the printer 1 stored in the HDD 53 in the cloud server 3 (S28), and ends the print setting process.

  On the other hand, if the two print settings do not match (S30: NO), the CPU 54 does not store the print setting items stored in the HDD 53 as the print settings of the printer 1 in the print settings of the cloud server 3. It is determined whether there is an item (S31).

  If there is no item that is not stored in the print settings of the cloud server 3 (S31: NO), the CPU 54 determines whether there is an item that cannot be set by the printer 1 among the items of the print setting stored in the cloud server 3. Is determined (S32).

  When there is an item that is not stored in the print setting of the cloud server 3 (S31: YES), the CPU 54 causes the display unit 20 to display a setting screen for an item that is not stored in the print setting of the cloud server 3 (S33). .

  And the setting with respect to the item which is not preserve | saved at the print setting of the cloud server 3 is received from the operation part 30 (S34).

  Thereafter, the CPU 54 determines whether or not there is an item that cannot be set by the printer 1 among the print setting items stored in the cloud server 3 (S32).

  If there is no item that cannot be set in the printer 1 (S32: NO), the CPU 54 displays the setting contents of the mismatched items in the two compared print settings on the display unit 20 and “uses the print setting of the cloud server”. A selection screen for selecting one of “Print using print settings of printer”, “Print using print settings of printer” or “Set print settings of cloud server to printer and print using print settings of printer” 20 (S35), and an input for selection is received from the operation unit 30.

  When there is an item that cannot be set by the printer 1 (S32: YES), the CPU 54 displays the setting contents of the item that cannot be set by the printer 1 on the display unit 20, and also selects whether to continue printing or cancel printing. Is displayed on the display unit 20 (S36), and a selection input is received from the operation unit 30.

  Then, the CPU 54 determines whether to continue printing or cancel (S37).

  If cancellation of printing is selected (S37: NO), the CPU 54 ends the print setting process.

  When it is selected to continue printing (S37: YES), the CPU 54 causes the display unit 20 to display the setting contents of the mismatched items in the two compared print settings, and “uses the print setting of the cloud server”. Display unit 20 displays a selection screen for selecting one of “Print”, “Print using printer print settings”, or “Set cloud server print settings to printer and print using printer print settings”. (S35), and an input of selection is received from the operation unit 30.

  Then, the CPU 54 determines whether or not a selection of “print using cloud server print settings and print using printer print settings” has been received (S38).

  When the selection of “Set cloud server print settings to printer and print using printer print settings” is accepted (S38: YES), CPU 54 sets the print settings of printer 1 stored in HDD 53. The print settings stored in the cloud server 3 are updated (S39).

  Then, the CPU 54 causes the image forming unit 10 to print the file to be printed with the print settings stored in the HDD 53 as the print settings of the printer 1 (S27).

  Then, the CPU 54 stores the print settings of the printer 1 stored in the HDD 53 in the cloud server 3 (S28), and ends the print setting process.

  When the selection of “print using cloud server print settings and print using printer print settings” is not accepted (S38: NO), CPU 54 prints using the cloud server print settings. Is selected (S40).

  When the selection of “print using the print setting of the cloud server” is not accepted (S40: NO), that is, when the selection of “print using the print setting of the printer” is accepted, the CPU 54 The image forming unit 10 is caused to print the file to be printed with the print settings stored in the HDD 53 as the print setting 1 (S27).

  Then, the CPU 54 stores the print settings of the printer 1 stored in the HDD 53 in the cloud server 3 (S28), and ends the print setting process.

  On the other hand, when the selection of “print using the print settings of the cloud server” is received (S40: YES), the CPU 54 prints the file to be printed to the image forming unit 10 with the print settings of the cloud server 3. In step S41, the printing process is terminated.

<Effect>

  As described above, it is confirmed whether the print setting (first condition) when the file is printed by the image forming unit 10 is stored in the HDD 5 of the cloud server 3 before the print instruction is received. When the print settings are stored in the HDD 5 of the cloud server 3, the print settings of the printer 1 stored in the HDD 53 as the settings of the printer 1 when the print settings of the cloud server 3 and the print instruction are received (second condition) Are not the same, the display unit 20 displays that the print settings of the cloud server 3 and the print settings of the printer 1 are different.

  As a result, since the user can recognize the print setting used for printing, it is possible to suppress printing with an unexpected print setting.

  When it is confirmed that the print setting of the cloud server 3 is not stored in the HDD 5 and the file stored in the cloud server 3 is printed by the image forming unit 10, the CPU 54 uses this printing. The print setting of the printer 1 to be performed is stored in the HDD 5 as the print setting of the cloud server 3.

  When printing a file of the cloud server 3 whose print settings are not yet saved, the print setting of the printer 1 when the file is printed is saved in the HDD 5 as the print setting of the cloud server 3 related to the file.

  Therefore, the print settings of the cloud server 3 are stored in the HDD 5 in the subsequent printing of the file of the cloud server 3.

  As a result, it is not necessary to perform a complicated operation of inputting the print settings one by one in order to save the print settings of the cloud server 3. Further, it is possible to use it for reprinting without having to remember the print settings when the file of the cloud server 3 is printed.

  The printer 1 is connected to the cloud server 3 via a LAN. The file and the print settings of the cloud server 3 are stored in the HDD 5 provided in the cloud server 3. The CPU 54 reads the file and the print setting of the cloud server 3 from the HDD 5.

  Thereby, the file and the print setting can be stored in the HDD 5 of the cloud server 3. Then, the file and the print settings of the cloud server 3 are read from the HDD 5 to the printer 1 to compare the print settings and display the mismatch items.

  Therefore, even if the print setting of the cloud server 3 and the print setting of the printer 1 are different for the file stored in the cloud server 3, it is possible to suppress printing with an unexpected print setting.

  When the CPU 54 determines that the print settings of the cloud server 3 and the print settings of the printer 1 are not the same, the CPU 54 determines whether the print settings of the cloud server 3 and the print settings of the printer 1 are inconsistent, and the cloud server 3 and the print setting contents of the printer 1 are displayed on the display unit 20.

  As a result, when the print settings of the cloud server 3 and the printer 1 are not the same, the contents of the print settings of the cloud server 3 and the printer 1 are inconsistent between the print settings of the cloud server 3 and the printer 1. The print setting contents can be easily compared. Thereby, it is possible to easily select whether to print using the print settings of the cloud server 3 or to print using the print settings of the printer 1.

  The printer 1 includes an operation unit 30. The CPU 54 accepts selection of whether the image forming unit 10 prints the file of the cloud server 3 using the print setting of the cloud server 3 or the print setting of the printer 1 via the operation unit 30. When a print instruction is accepted and a selection to print the file of the cloud server 3 on the image forming unit 10 is accepted using the print settings of the cloud server 3, the cloud server is used using the print settings of the cloud server 3. The third file is printed on the image forming unit 10. When a print instruction is accepted and a selection for printing the file of the cloud server 3 on the image forming unit 10 using the print settings of the printer 1 is accepted, the print settings of the printer 1 are used to The file is printed on the image forming unit 10.

  Thereby, when the print setting of the cloud server 3 and the print setting of the printer 1 are not the same, either the print setting of the cloud server 3 or the print setting of the printer 1 can be selected and printed. Therefore, the file of the cloud server 3 can be printed with desired print settings.

  When the CPU 54 causes the image forming unit 10 to print the file of the cloud server 3 using the print setting of the cloud server 3, the CPU 54 accepts the selection of saving the print setting of the cloud server 3 as the print setting of the printer 1 in the HDD 53. If so, the print settings of the cloud server 3 are stored in the HDD 53 as the print settings of the printer 1. When printing the file of the cloud server 3 on the image forming unit 10 using the print setting of the cloud server 3, when the selection not to save the print setting of the cloud server 3 as the print setting of the printer 1 in the HDD 53 is accepted Does not store the print settings of the cloud server 3 in the HDD 53 as the print settings of the printer 1.

  Thus, when printing a file using the print settings of the cloud server 3, the user can select whether to save the print settings of the cloud server 3 as the print settings of the printer 1. Therefore, when it is desired to save the print settings of the cloud server 3 as the print settings of the printer 1, it is possible to suppress a complicated operation for inputting the print settings using the operation unit 30 of the printer 1. Further, when it is not desired to save the print settings of the cloud server 3 as the print settings of the printer 1, it is possible to prevent the print settings of the cloud server 3 from being saved as the print settings of the printer 1.

  When the CPU 54 determines that one or more items of the print settings of the printer 1 are not set in the print settings of the cloud server 3 as a result of the comparison between the print settings of the cloud server 3 and the print settings of the printer 1 The operation unit 30 receives print setting input for the item.

  Accordingly, when one or more items of the print settings of the printer 1 are not set in the print settings of the cloud server 3, the print settings of the items not set in the print settings of the cloud server 3 are set, and the file is saved. Can be printed.

  When the CPU 54 determines that one or more items of the print settings of the cloud server 3 are not set in the print settings of the printer 1 as a result of the comparison between the print settings of the cloud server 3 and the print settings of the printer 1. It is determined whether or not the item can be set by the print setting of the printer 1. If the item cannot be set, the display unit 20 indicates that the print setting of the item is not applied to printing by the image forming unit 10. The operation unit 30 accepts selection of whether or not to execute the printing.

  Accordingly, the user can recognize that there is an item that is not applied to printing by the printer 1 among the print setting items of the cloud server 3 in the printing to be executed. In that case, it is possible to select not to perform the printing.

<Modification>

  As mentioned above, although embodiment of this invention was described, this invention can also be implemented with another form.

  For example, in the first embodiment described above, the save job is saved in the HDD 53 of the printer 1. However, the stored job may be stored in an external storage unit for the printer 1 such as an HDD (not shown) provided in the PC 2.

  Further, instead of the printer 1, an MFP (Multi-Function Peripheral) may be used.

  In addition, various design changes can be made to the above-described configuration within the scope of the matters described in the claims.

1 Printer 3 Cloud server 4 LAN
5 HDD
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Image formation part 20 Display part 30 Operation part 50 ASIC
51 CPU
53 HDD

Claims (10)

An image forming unit for forming an image on a recording medium;
A storage unit for storing image forming conditions used when an image is formed by the image forming unit;
A display unit;
A control unit;
An image forming apparatus Ru provided with,
The controller is
A print instruction reception process for receiving an image print instruction for image data by the image forming unit;
A presence check process for checking whether or not a first condition, which is an image forming condition when the image data is printed by the image forming unit, is stored in the storage unit or an external storage unit before the print instruction receiving process; ,
When it is confirmed by the presence confirmation process that the first condition is stored in the storage unit or the external storage unit, it is stored in the storage unit as a setting of the image forming apparatus during the print instruction reception process. A determination process for comparing the second condition, which is the image forming condition, with the first condition, and determining whether the first condition and the second condition are the same;
If it is determined by the determination process that the first condition and the second condition are not the same, the image forming condition used when printing the image data before the print instruction reception process and the print instruction reception process Display processing for displaying on the display section that the image forming conditions at the time of printing are different;
Having
Image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1,
The controller is
Furthermore,
The presence confirmation processing confirms that the first condition is not stored in the storage unit or the external storage unit, and an image related to the image data is formed by the image forming unit. A first condition storage process for storing the second condition relating to the formation in the storage unit or the external storage unit as the first condition;
Having
Image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein
The image forming apparatus is connected to a server via a network,
The image data and the first condition are stored in a storage unit provided in the server,
The controller is
Furthermore,
A server data reading process for reading the image data and the first condition from a storage unit included in the server;
Comprising
Image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The controller is
In the display process,
If it is determined by the determination process that the first condition and the second condition are not the same, the mismatch condition item between the first condition and the second condition, and the first condition is set in the mismatch condition item The condition set in the second condition is displayed on the display unit,
Image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
Furthermore,
It has an operation unit,
The controller is
Furthermore,
A condition selection accepting process for accepting selection of whether the image forming unit forms an image related to the image data using the first condition or the second condition via the operation unit;
The print instruction is accepted by the print instruction acceptance process, and the condition selection acceptance process accepts a selection for causing the image forming unit to form an image related to the image data using the first condition. In the case, using the first condition, the image forming unit forms an image related to the image data,
The print instruction is accepted by the print instruction acceptance process, and the condition selection acceptance process accepts a selection for causing the image forming unit to form an image related to the image data using the second condition. In this case, the image forming unit is caused to form an image related to the image data using the second condition.
Image forming apparatus.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 5, wherein
  The controller is
  Furthermore,
  As a result of the comparison between the first condition and the second condition in the determination process, if it is determined that one or more items of the second condition are not set in the first condition, the operation unit , Item setting reception processing for receiving input of image forming conditions for the item,
  Having
  Image forming apparatus.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 5, wherein:
  The controller is
  Furthermore,
  As a result of the comparison between the first condition and the second condition in the determination process, when it is determined that one or more items of the first condition are not set in the second condition, the item is It is determined whether or not setting is possible under the second condition. If setting is impossible, the display unit displays that the image forming condition of the item is not applied to image formation by the image forming unit, and An execution selection receiving process for receiving selection of whether or not to execute the image formation by the operation unit;
  Having
  Image forming apparatus. An image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7 ,
The controller is
Furthermore,
A storage process for storing the first condition in the storage unit as the second condition;
A selection process for accepting a selection as to whether or not to execute the storage process;
Have
In the case where an image related to the image data is formed on the image forming unit using the first condition, when the selection process receives a selection to execute the storage process, the storage process is executed,
When the image forming unit is to form an image related to the image data using the first condition, if the selection process accepts a selection not to perform the storage process, the storage process is not performed.
Image forming apparatus. An image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 8 ,
The controller is
Furthermore,
When the image related to the image data is formed by the image forming unit, the date and time storage process of storing the date and time information in the storage unit or the external storage unit as the final printing date and time,
The date and time at which the last print date and time stored in the storage unit or the external storage unit is displayed on the display unit when the determination process determines that the first condition and the second condition are not the same. Display processing,
Having
Image forming apparatus. An image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 9 ,
One or more first conditions for the image data are stored in the storage unit or the external storage unit.
Image forming apparatus.

Images