JPH05284264A - Picture processing unit - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To reduce the operation time of the operator and to easily grasp the operating state of the unit by providing a means reading a user identification code or the like described on a control sheet when a read picture is the control sheet for job command to the processing unit and controlling the unit according to relevant job information. CONSTITUTION:When a job is set, an operation terminal equipment 1 implements all job setting and the data are sent to a copying equipment 2 via a communication line 3 and stored in the copying machine 2. In this case the operation terminal equipment 1 publicates a job command control sheet on which a user name, a department name, a user identification code and a job code are described. When the copying machine 2 starts reading an original, the user identification code and the job code on the job control sheet are recognized, A job setting is read from a storage device in the copying machine 2 according to the job information corresponding to the recognized user identification code and job code and the bundle of originals are processed according to the content.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus for reading a document, copying it, or performing image communication via a network.

[0002]

High speed electronic copiers and printers convert an original image into an image signal or pixel representation and process the image signal to provide the desired output, usually in the form of a copy or print. This type of copier or printer is expected to be highly automated to inherently improve job productivity and reduce operator operating time to a minimum. This is not a problem for simple jobs,
When instructing editing work or setting different modes for each page, it takes a considerable amount of time for one setting. During this time, other users cannot wait for copying because they cannot perform copying although the machine is not operating.

On the other hand, it is known that an image processing apparatus such as a copying machine or a facsimile machine inputs a job from an operation terminal and controls it by a job ticket. In Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2-178678, a user selects a program on the screen of a terminal device (CRT), the program information is stored in a job bank memory provided in the printing facility, and a bar corresponding to the selection result is stored. It is disclosed that a code is printed and used as a job ticket. However, this device does not print out the user code and user name when creating a job ticket offline. Therefore, after the job is completed, it is not easy to determine which user the copy in the stack belongs to, which is a drawback that it is very difficult to handle.

In addition, a company or the like may want to manage the usage status of equipment such as the amount of copy paper used in a copying machine for each department. In order to meet these demands, a card and a key counter have been conventionally used as disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 61-189375. However, when the job is instructed from the terminal and the originals are pre-stacked in the device as disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2-178678, it is not known when the reading of the originals will start. Therefore, it is difficult to manage with a card or key counter.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention solves the above-mentioned drawbacks of the prior art, improves the productivity of jobs when using the apparatus, reduces the operation time of the operator to the minimum, and reduces the card and the card. An object of the present invention is to provide an image processing apparatus that can automatically record the usage state of the apparatus for each department without using a card reader for reading, and that can be easily grasped.

[0006]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides a means for receiving processing contents designated by another operation terminal by wire or wireless or a memory card, and a user name and a department in the operation terminal. Name, user identification code (including department code) and job code are issued to the control sheet, job information including the user identification code is stored, and the image read by the reading device is a control for job instruction. If the read image is a control sheet for job instructions, it is equipped with a means for reading the user identification code, department code, and job code described there, and the device is operated according to the corresponding job information. To control.

[0007]

When the user sets a job that the user wants the image processing apparatus to perform, all the job settings are made on the operation terminal 1, and the data is sent to the copying apparatus 2 via the communication line 3 and stored in the apparatus. To be done. At this time, the operation terminal 1 issues a job instruction control sheet (hereinafter referred to as a job control sheet) in which the user name, department name, user identification code (including department code) and job code are described. Next, the user puts the job control sheet 5 shown in FIG.
To the automatic document reader 2.1. Copying device 2
Starts reading the document and recognizes the user identification code and job code 5.1 on the job control sheet 5 shown in FIG. According to the job information corresponding to the recognized user identification code and job code, the job setting is read from the storage device in the apparatus, and the processing of the document stack 4.1 is performed according to the content. Even during this job processing, the next document stack 4.2 can be set next to the automatic document reader 2.1.

When the job instructed by the operation terminal is completed, the copying machine 2 sends a completion message to the operation terminal 1 through the communication line 3. On the other hand, since the job control sheet 5 also includes the department code together with the user identification code, it becomes easy to grasp the usage status of the apparatus for each department (if necessary, for each individual) using these codes.

[0009]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram according to the present invention, which comprises an operation terminal 1 and a copying apparatus 2 equipped with an automatic document reading apparatus 2.1, both of which are connected by a communication line 3. The communication line 3 is conveniently a serial communication RS232C generally used in personal computers, but if the distance becomes long, it is preferable to use another communication system such as RS422.

When a user wants to perform a copy job, the user normally instructs the number of copies, magnification, etc. from the control panel 2.2 of the copying apparatus 2 and sets and starts the original. In the present invention, in addition to this, all the job settings are made in the operation terminal 1, and the data is sent to the copying apparatus 2 via the communication line 3 and stored in the apparatus. At this time, the user identification data (including the department) is also stored together with the job data. Further, the operation terminal 1 issues a job control sheet in which the user name, department name, user identification code (including department code) and job code are described. This prevents one user from making a mistake even when commanding multiple jobs. Further, even if a plurality of operation terminals are connected, it is possible to make no mistake.
During this time, the copying machine 2 can accept a job and copy it as usual.

Next, the user sets the document bundle 4.1 holding the job control sheet 5 issued by the operation terminal shown in FIG. 2 on the first page in the automatic document reading device 2.1. The copying apparatus 2 starts reading the original and recognizes the user identification code and the job code 5.1 on the job control sheet 5 shown in FIG. The job setting corresponding to the recognized user identification code and job code is read from the storage device in the apparatus, and the processing of document stack 4.1 is performed according to the contents. Even during this job processing, the next original 4.2 can be set in succession on the automatic original reader 2.1.

When the job instructed by the operation terminal 1 is completed, the copying machine 2 sends a completion message to the operation terminal 1 through the communication line 3. (1) Operation terminal The operation terminal 1 has a control panel on a conventional copying machine.
Perform the work instructed in 2.2. At this time, the operation terminal 1 issues the job control sheet 5 in which the user name, department name, user identification code (including department code) and job code are described. The requirements for this operation terminal are a graphic user interface and an interface such as RS232C for communicating data with key input or mouse input and a general personal computer. (2) Control Unit of Copying Apparatus FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram of the copying apparatus 2. In the figure, the solid line portion shows the flow of the image signal, and the broken line portion shows the flow of the control signal.

The document reading device 2.1 is a device for automatically separating and feeding the set document bundle one by one, and is the same as a device generally used in a copying machine. The image reading block 2.3 has a function of reading a two-dimensional image. As is generally known, an original document placed on a platen is imaged on a CCD color sensor by an optical system, and a video signal is generated every scanning. can get.

The read image signal read by the image reading block 2.3 is identified by the sheet identification block 2.4 as a general document or a job control sheet.
Further, in the case of the job control sheet 5, the user identification code and the job code (bar code etc.) stored in the apparatus are recognized at the same time. The user identification code and the job code (bar code) 5.1 of the embodiment detect the one-dimensional black and white bit width and obtain the code information, which can be realized by a simple software process.

The image processing block 2.5 performs pseudo halftone processing such as dither, MTF correction for smoothing image quality, and smoothing. The image recording block 2.6 is where the read image is finally printed on the recording paper, and laser xerography or inkjet technology is used. The communication interface 2.9 is an interface for receiving data from the operating terminal, and it is necessary to use a standard that matches the operating terminal.

The job table 2.7 is a memory for temporarily storing data for job processing received from the communication interface 2.9. (3) Control Procedure A flow chart of FIG. 5 shows a flow of a series of processing relating to the system configuration of FIG. When the device starts operating (S
1) Enter the standby state (S2) that accepts the mode and start from the control panel 2.2. At the same time, it also receives data from the communication interface 2.9 (S3).

The operation from the control panel 2.2 is S
The operation of S5, S6, S7, S8 and S2 is repeated, which is the same as the operation of a general copying machine. On the other hand, the operation of the present invention is such that when data is received from the communication interface 2.9, (S
3) start, and the received data is the job table 2.
It is stored in 7 (S4). After that, it waits for the end of the already started job (S8), and when the job is completed, the next document reading is started without waiting for the start from the control panel 2.2 (S10).

When it is determined by the identification block 2.4 that the first page of the original is a general original, a warning is issued (S13) and the job instruction from the control panel 2.2 is waited (S5). If it is determined that the first page of the original is the job control sheet, the job information is determined by referring to the job table 2.7 based on the user identification code and the job code (bar code, etc.) described therein (S12). ), The job is started (S7). After the job is completed, the user name is also written on the job control sheet together with the user identification code, so that it is possible to easily identify who has instructed the copy, which makes it easy to handle the subsequent copy.

Next, when managing the usage status of the apparatus for each department (if necessary, for each individual), the user identification code and department code written on the job control sheet are read, and the job is executed. It is possible to easily grasp the usage status of each department by recording the number of sheets used and the like and outputting them as needed. Therefore, since the job control sheet also has the role of a conventional card, the conventionally used card or card reader becomes unnecessary. If the department code is stored at the same time when the job information is input from the operation terminal 1 to the storage device in the apparatus, the department code does not necessarily have to be written on the control sheet. (4) Other Embodiments In this embodiment, job information is input by communication.
Needless to say, the same effect can be obtained by inputting data via a memory card or the like offline.

[0020]

The present invention has the following effects. (1) Since the user name is written together with the user identification code on the job control sheet, it is easy to sort the copies and the usability of the apparatus is further improved. (2) Since the user identification code and department code are written on the job control sheet, it is easy to manage the copy department. (3) Since the image processing apparatus and the instruction terminal are connected online, a message can be sent to the terminal when the job ends. (4) Even if there is an operation error in the job designation, the machine immediately makes a judgment and issues a message, so work efficiency is good.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram of the present invention.

[Fig. 2] Document stack for job stacking

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing a control sheet for job instruction.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram.

[Fig. 5] Operation flow

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Operation Terminal 2 Copying Device 2.1 Original Reading Device 2.2 Control Panel 2.3 Image Reading Block 2.4 Sheet Identification Block 2.5 Image Processing Block 2.6 Image Recording Block 2.7 Job Table 2.8 System Control Block 2.9 Communication Interface 3 Communication Line 4.1 First Manuscript 4.2 Next Manuscript 5 Control sheet for job instruction 5.1 User identification code and job code

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An image processing apparatus for performing predetermined processing, transmission and recording on a document image read by a reading apparatus, comprising: (a) receiving processing content designated by an operating terminal by wire or wireless or by a memory card. Means, (b) a means for issuing a control sheet for a job instruction in which a user name, a user identification code (including a department code) and a job code are issued on the operation terminal, (c) received job information including the user identification code (D) means for determining whether the image read by the reading device is a control sheet for job instruction or a document; and (e) if the read image is a control sheet for job instruction, it is written there. Read the user identification code and job code, and install them according to the corresponding job information. The image processing apparatus characterized by controlling the.