JPH10151828A - Image-forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image-forming apparatus which can obtain prints with the same resolution repeatedly in a short time. SOLUTION: In the apparatus, an identification code-applying part 7 applies identification codes corresponding to printing images of every page unit or printing job unit and a memory part 4 of an image-forming device 1 stores the codes. The identification code selected by a selecting part 14 is sent from a transmitting part 19 to a receiving part 9, and the printing image corresponding to the identification code is taken out from the memory part 4 and processed to be printed.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus for receiving image data from an external device such as a printer, converting the image data into a print image, and performing print processing.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional image forming apparatus, a printer,
When image data is received from an external device such as a personal computer or a host, a print image is formed based on the image data, and the number of copies specified by the external device is printed.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of a conventional image forming apparatus. An image forming apparatus 21 includes an I / F section 22 for receiving image data from the outside, and an image data received by the I / F section 22. A data conversion unit 23 for converting the image data into data for printing; a storage unit 24 for storing a program required for controlling the image forming apparatus 21 and a font required for the data conversion unit 23; And a control unit 26 that controls these units.

[0004]

However, in the conventional image forming apparatus, after performing the printing process, in order to erase all the data related thereto, in order to obtain the same image, a print command is again issued from the external device. If image data is not stored on a floppy disk or hard disk, the only option is to copy the printed paper with a copier.To take advantage of the high resolution, re-create the data with an external device. There was a problem that had to be.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and is directed to an image forming apparatus which converts external image data into a print image and performs print processing. An external operating device, the main unit includes an identification code providing unit for providing an identification code for each page or print job of the print image, a storage unit for storing the print image and an identification code corresponding thereto, and an identification code. Has a wireless receiving unit that can wirelessly receive the card, and a card insertion unit that serves as an insertion slot for a readable / writable card, and allows an identification code to be written in the card inserted in the card insertion unit. A transmitting unit that wirelessly transmits an identification code to a receiving unit, a card inserting unit serving as a card inserting port,
A display unit for displaying an identification code written on the card inserted into the card insertion unit, and a selection unit for selecting one of the identification codes displayed on the display unit, wherein the identification code selected by the selection unit Is transmitted from the transmission unit to the reception unit, a print image corresponding to the identification code is taken out from the storage unit, and the image forming apparatus performs a printing process. Alternatively, the external operation device is configured to be integrated with the card.

With such a configuration, the same image data can be printed many times by simply selecting one of the identification codes displayed on the display unit of the external operation device by the selection unit.

Further, the main unit can write the identification code and the related information of the identification code on the card, and the display unit of the external operation device is an image forming apparatus for displaying the identification code and the related information of the identification code. .

With such a configuration, it is possible to know general information of a print image corresponding to the identification code without looking at the printed transfer material.

[0009]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention.
The main unit 1 includes an I / F unit 2, a data conversion unit 3, a storage unit 4, a print processing unit 5, a control unit 6, an identification code providing unit 7, a card insertion unit 8, and a reception unit. 9, and the external operation device 11 includes a display unit 13, a selection unit 14, a control unit 16, a card insertion unit 18, and a transmission unit 19.

The I / F unit 2 is connected to an external device (not shown) such as a personal computer via a cable or wirelessly, and receives image data desired to be printed from the external device. The data conversion unit 3 is a unit that converts the image data received by the I / F unit 2 into data that can be printed by the print processing unit 5.

The identification code assigning section 7 assigns an identification code to a print image for each page or for each print job (that is, for each file). The information included in the identification code may be a printer serial number, a document serial number, a password, or the like.
These pieces of information may be provided by letters, numbers, symbols, or a combination thereof.

The storage unit 4 includes a program necessary for controlling the entire image forming apparatus 1, a font image required by the data conversion unit 3, a print image to be printed by the print processing unit 5, and an identification code providing unit 7. This is a part for storing an identification code corresponding to the given print image. Print processing unit 5
Is a part for printing the data formed by the data conversion unit 3 on a transfer material. The control unit 6 is a part that controls the entire image forming apparatus 1. The card insertion section 8 is an insertion slot into which a readable / writable card can be inserted. When the card is inserted, the identification code given by the identification code giving section 7 is written on the card as data. The written identification code may be stored until the capacity is full. The receiving unit 9 is a unit that wirelessly receives transmission data such as an identification code from the transmitting unit 19 of the external operation device 11.

The transmitting section 19 is a section for transmitting data such as an identification code to the receiving section 9 by radio. The display unit 13
An identification code can be displayed in a portion for displaying characters, numbers, symbols or a combination thereof. The selection unit 14 is configured by a numeric keypad or the like, and is a unit that can select one of the identification codes displayed on the display unit 13. The card insertion part 18
This is an insertion slot into which a card can be inserted. When a card with an identification code written by inserting it into the card insertion section 8 is inserted, the identification code written on the card is read out and displayed on the display section 13.

According to the present invention, the print image and the identification code corresponding to the print image are stored in the storage unit 4 and, at the same time, the printing is necessary again to write the identification code on the card inserted into the card insertion unit 8. In this case, the user inserts the card into the card insertion unit 18 to display the identification code on the display unit 13 and selects the identification code desired to be printed by the selection unit 14. The print image corresponding to the identification code can be extracted from the storage unit 4 via
Printing can be done many times.

In this embodiment, the case where the identification code is not printed on the transfer material but is written on the card has been described. However, when the print processing unit 5 prints a print image, the identification code is also printed. It may be. By doing so, it is possible to determine which image data the identification code corresponds to by looking at the transfer material, and it is possible to greatly reduce the selection time when the selection unit 14 selects the identification code.

As a further embodiment, at the same time as the writing of the identification code on the card inserted into the card insertion section 8, the relevant information of the print image corresponding to the identification code, for example, the title,
A document number, a document name, a data creation date, a creator (user name), or a file name of an external device such as a personal computer or the like is written. It is good also as composition which displays related information together. By doing so, it is possible to know the rough information of the print image corresponding to the identification code without looking at the transfer material, and it is possible to greatly reduce the time when the selection unit 14 selects the identification code.

Further, the second invention of the present invention is characterized in that the external operation device 11 is configured integrally with a card. That is, as shown in FIG. 2, the external operation device 11 is integrated with the card C without providing a card insertion portion. Thereby, after inserting the card C into the main device 1,
The labor for inserting the card C into the external operation device 11 can be saved.

[0018]

As described above in detail, according to the image forming apparatus of the present invention, an identification code is given to a print image, the print image and the identification code corresponding thereto are stored, and the print image is printed by the identification code. Since the command can be issued, printing at the same resolution can be obtained many times and in a short time, and an image forming apparatus that is particularly effective when employed in a color printer can be provided.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating an image forming apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating an image forming apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating a conventional image forming apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1: Main unit 2, 22: I / F section 3, 23: Data conversion section 4, 24: Storage section 5, 25: Print processing section 6, 16, 26: Control section 7: Identification code adding section 8, 18: Card insertion section 9: Receiving section 11: External operation device 13: Display section 14: Selection section 19: Transmission section 21: Image forming apparatus C: Card

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. An image forming apparatus for converting external image data into a print image and performing a printing process, wherein the image forming apparatus comprises a main body device and an external operation device, wherein the main body device is a page unit of the print image or An identification code assigning unit that assigns an identification code for each print job unit, a storage unit that stores the print image and the identification code corresponding thereto, a wireless reception unit that can wirelessly receive the identification code, and a readable / writable unit A card insertion portion serving as a card insertion slot for the card, the identification code can be written on the card inserted into the card insertion portion, and the external operation device transmits the identification code wirelessly to the reception portion. Unit, a card insertion unit serving as a card insertion slot, a display unit displaying an identification code written on the card inserted into the card insertion unit, and a display unit displayed on the display unit. A selection unit for selecting one of the identification codes, transmitting the identification code selected by the selection unit from the transmission unit to the reception unit, extracting a print image corresponding to the identification code from the storage unit, and performing print processing An image forming apparatus. 2. An image forming apparatus for converting image data from outside into a print image and performing print processing, wherein said image forming apparatus comprises a main unit and an external operating device, wherein said main unit is a page unit of a print image or An identification code assigning unit that assigns an identification code for each print job unit, a storage unit that stores the print image and the identification code corresponding thereto, a wireless reception unit that can wirelessly receive the identification code, and a readable / writable unit A card insertion portion serving as a card insertion slot, and the identification code can be written on the card inserted into the card insertion portion. The external operation device has an integrated structure with the card, and A transmitting unit that wirelessly transmits an identification code to the unit, a display unit that displays the identification code written on the card, and one of the identification codes displayed on the display unit. Image forming apparatus, comprising: a selecting unit, transmitting the identification code selected by the selecting unit from the transmitting unit to the receiving unit, extracting a print image corresponding to the identification code from the storage unit, and performing print processing. apparatus. 3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the main unit is capable of writing an identification code and information related to the identification code on a card, and a display unit of the external operation device displays the identification code and information related to the identification code. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1.