JPH1086486A - Image information processing apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable sorting of output recording papers by a relatively simple method by preparing an output information sheet where the output information is recorded together with a paper where the image information is recorded at the time of outputting the image information received via a communication interface means. SOLUTION: An output information sheet is inserted at the end of each job. Users 1, 2 are connected to an apparatus via a network interface 23. When the user 1 initiates printing and all the pages are printed, the output information of the user 1 is placed as the uppermost sheet on the paper discharge tray. When the user 2 starts printing and all the pages are printed, the output information of the user 2 is placed as the uppermost sheet on the paper discharge tray. When printing results outputted from a base engine 1 need to be sorted, the outputted sheets can be used. Since the outputted sheets bear the ID of each user so that even a third person can separate the sheets easily.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image information processing apparatus, and more particularly to an improvement of a composite image information processing apparatus having image reading means, image forming means, image data storage means, communication interface means and the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Printers, scanners,
A so-called multifunction peripheral equipped with functions such as a facsimile and a network interface has been born.
Furthermore, a plurality of these multifunction devices are connected via a network, and each of them is connected to a network printer,
A system used as a scanner has also been constructed. As described above, when the multifunction peripheral is incorporated in a network environment and used as a copier or image information processing, and when a plurality of users commonly use one multifunction peripheral, sorting of output recording paper is problematic. become. When there are a plurality of paper output trays, they can be used separately as a paper output tray used for a copying machine and a paper output tray used for a printer.However, the number of paper output trays is also limited. It is difficult for a user to secure each output tray. When a plurality of users use the output trays, various types of output recording papers are mixed in one output tray, and it takes time and effort to sort the output recording sheets for each user. It often took time. Further, there is a problem that the output recording paper in such a paper discharge tray cannot be easily classified by a third party.

In order to easily perform the sorting operation, for example, a method called job separation is conventionally performed for a function as a copying machine. In this method, sheets are inserted for each set copy as a sorting operation within a job.However, a method of inserting sheets between different jobs is not adopted, and sheets to be inserted are simply blank sheets. Was only inserted.

Although this job separation simplifies the sorting operation, it is used only for the function as a copying machine. In the sorting operation when used as a network printer, a large number of users especially use the same machine. If you are using, there are still many problems left.

[0005]

As described above, in a conventional image information processing apparatus, especially when used by a plurality of users as a network printer, sorting of output recording paper is not easy, and the parties themselves need to sort the output recording paper. There was a problem that it took time and effort because there was no way other than classification.

An object of the present invention is to solve the above-described problem and to realize an image information processing apparatus which can sort output recording paper more easily than in the past when a printer system is configured via a network. .

[0007]

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image document reading means for reading image information of an image document, an image information storage means for storing image information, An image information processing apparatus comprising: an image forming unit that outputs information as an image to a recording medium such as a recording paper; and a communication interface unit that is connected to another communication terminal via a network and transmits and receives image information. The means comprises output information creation means for creating and outputting an output information recording medium on which the output information is recorded together with the image information recording medium when outputting the image information received via the communication interface means. .

The invention according to claim 2 is characterized in that the output information creating means writes the identification code of an output source on the output information recording medium and outputs the output information recording medium.

The invention according to claim 3 is characterized in that the output information creating means writes the total number of output of the recording medium on the output information recording medium and outputs it.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the output information generating means outputs the output information recording medium in a direction different from that of another image information recording medium.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, the output information generating means outputs the output information recording medium with a size different from that of another image information recording medium.

[0012]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, an image information processing apparatus according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the image information processing apparatus of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, this apparatus comprises a base engine 1, which is a multifunction copier, which is already sold as a product, a printer controller 2, and an optional workstation terminal (not shown). -It is connected to the controller 2 by an arbitrary interface. On the other hand, it is assumed that the printer controller 2 and the workstation terminal are connected by a network via a server.

Since the base engine 1 is nothing but the configuration of an existing copying machine, it will be briefly described here. Scanner
The plotter control unit 13 is
And a scanner control unit 12 for executing image processing on video data. The base engine control unit 14 checks optional components attached to the base engine main body and manages the status of paper feed and output trays. And controls the driving of the base engine 1 such as controlling the double-sided control (sheet reversal) unit and causing the print scanner to execute the operation. Also, the system control unit 1
Reference numeral 6 denotes a portion that controls the operation panel 15, controls a sequence for operating the base engine control unit 14, and controls an operation sequence of the entire device system.

The printer controller 2 has a CPU
21, a video control interface 22, a network interface 23, various control ROMs 24, a hard disk drive 25, a DRAM 26, an ASIC (Applicatio
n Specific Integrated Circuit: IC for specific applications) 2
7, a command / status interface 28.

Here, the CPU 21 has a 32-bit configuration, and the ASIC 27 is a DRAM controller, RO
It includes functions such as an M controller, an I / O controller, a parallel serial interface, and control of video data. The hard disk drive 25 is a part for temporarily storing print data from the workstation terminal, and the network interface 23 is connected to the workstation terminal via a network.

The base engine 1 and the printer controller 2 are connected by a video control interface 22 and a command / status interface 28. The video control interface 22 transfers the data sent from the workstation terminal from the printer controller 2 to the base engine 1, and the command / status interface 28 exchanges an operation sequence between the base engine 1 and the printer controller 2. Do.

Next, the operation of the apparatus will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 are flowcharts related to the power-on sequence between the base engine 1 and the printer controller 2. First, when the power of the base engine 1 is turned on (step 101), the base engine 1 inquires of the printer controller 2 about the initialization result (step 102). As a result, if there is an error state in the printer controller 2 (step 103), the printer controller 2
Notifies the base engine 1 of the error content (step 104).

The base engine 1 determines whether or not the content of the error interferes with the printer function (step 1).
05) If it causes any trouble, it is disabled as a printer (step 106). If there is no error state in step 103, and if the error does not affect the printer function in step 105, the process proceeds to step 107.

At step 107, the base engine 1 notifies the printer controller 2 that the initialization of the base engine 1 itself has been completed and waits for a response. The printer controller 2 returns an OK response (step 108) and inquires about the configuration and status of the base engine 1 (step 109).

The inquiry at step 109 (FIG. 2)
(A)) describes the optional configuration of the base engine 1 and the state of the base engine 1 (Warm Up, Busy, SC Erro
r, etc.), detection of the paper size in the paper feed tray, and confirmation of the paper feed tray status (tray vacancy and failure status).

The base engine 1
Is in an error state (step 11).
0) If an error has occurred, an error is displayed on the operation panel 15 (step 111). Thereafter, if the error is cleared, the error display is turned off and the process proceeds to step 113. If there is no error in step 110, the process also proceeds to step 113.

In step 113, the printer controller 2 requests the base engine 1 to be online.
In response, the base engine 1 returns an OK response to the printer controller 2 (step 114). By proceeding to FIG. 3B, the base engine 1 and the workstation terminal are brought into a state where online communication is possible.

FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate a print sequence in a case where the base engine 1 and the workstation terminal are already in a state where online communication is possible. It is assumed that the base engine 1 and the workstation terminal (host) are already in a state where online communication is possible (step 201). In this state, when a print request is received from the workstation terminal (host), the print server notifies the printer controller 2 of information (ID, output number, etc.) of the print request source,
The printer controller 2 simultaneously stores this information and data in the hard disk drive 25. Further, a print request from the workstation terminal (host) is notified to the printer controller 2 (Step 202).
The printer controller 2 inquires of the base engine 1 about the configuration and status of the base engine 1 via the command / status interface 28 (step 203). (This is the same as the operation in step 109 of FIG. 2.)

Thus, it is determined whether or not the base engine 1 is in an error state as in step 110 of FIG. 4 (step 204). If the error is in an error state, an error is displayed on the operation panel 15 (step 20).
5). Thereafter, if the error is cleared, the error display is turned off and the process proceeds to step 207. If there is no error in step 204, the process also proceeds to step 207.

In step 207, the printer controller 2 notifies the base engine 1 of the output condition sent from the workstation terminal (host). The contents of this output condition (FIG. 4C) include, for example, the number of output sheets and the designation of a paper feed / discharge tray.

Here, it is again determined whether or not the base engine 1 is in an error state (step 208). If the base engine 1 is in an error state, an error is displayed on the operation panel 15 (step 209). Thereafter, if the error is cleared in step 210, the error display is turned off and step 21 is performed.
Proceed to 1. If there is no error in step 208, the process also proceeds to step 211.

If the base engine 1 has no error, the printer controller 2 requests the base engine 1 to start printing by interruption (step 21).
1). The base engine 1 returns an OK response (step 212), and feeds the sheet to a predetermined position (f)
ed) (step 213).

FIG. 4D in which the printer controller 2 requests the base engine 1 to start printing.
At this point, data is transferred from the printer controller 2 to the base engine 1 (step 214). The base engine 1 prints this data and outputs the printout recording paper to the paper output tray (step 215).

The print output recording paper is the base engine 1
At the point of time (E) in FIG. 4 output from the printer, the base engine 1 notifies the printer controller 2 that the output recording paper has been output. Printer controller 2
Counts the number of notifications that the output recording paper has been output, and checks whether the specified number of sheets has been reached and the last number has been printed (step 216). When the specified number of sheets have been printed, the data is first recorded in the hard disk drive 25 The ID information or the total number of printed sheets is output to the base engine 1 as information sheet data. The base engine 1 prints and outputs the ID information or the total number of prints as an information sheet (step 217).

When the ID information or the total number of prints in the hard disk drive 25 is printed out as an information sheet, the output recording paper direction (Long edge, Short edge) specified by the workstation terminal with respect to the base engine 1. It is also possible to print on paper from a paper feed tray with a different paper orientation and output it to the same paper discharge tray. For example, if the direction of the output recording sheet output by the base engine 1 in accordance with an instruction from the workstation terminal is Long edge, the direction of the output information sheet is Short edge.

Further, it is also possible to print on a sheet larger than the sheet size of the output recording sheet designated by the workstation terminal to the base engine 1 and output it to the same discharge tray. For example, when the size of the output recording paper output by the base engine 1 in response to an instruction from the workstation terminal is B5, the output information sheet is set to A4. With these methods, the output information sheet in the output recording paper can be easily found.

Such an output information sheet is inserted at each break between jobs. For example, in the system configuration of FIG.
User 1 and User 2 which are separate users are connected to this device via the network interface 23,
First, User 1 starts printing, and when all the sheets have been printed according to the flowcharts of FIGS. 4 and 5, the output information sheet of User 1 is placed on the top of the paper discharge tray. Subsequently, User 2 starts printing, and when all the sheets have been printed, User 2's output information sheet is placed at the top of the output tray. This output sheet may be used to classify print results output from the base engine 1,
Since the user ID is written on each of the output sheets, a third party can easily perform classification.

[0033]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image document reading means for reading image information of an image document, an image information storage means for storing image information, and a recording paper for storing image information. An image information processing apparatus comprising: an image forming unit that outputs an image to a recording medium as an image; and a communication interface unit that is connected to another communication terminal via a network and transmits and receives image information. Output information recording means (output information sheet) for producing and outputting the output information together with the image information recording medium (recording paper) when outputting the image information received via the terminal. And Thus, when a multi-function device is used as a network printer by a plurality of users, an output information sheet can be attached and output at the beginning or end of an output recording sheet, and sorting can be performed based on this output information sheet. The output recording paper can be sorted by a simple method.

Further, according to the invention of claim 2 of the present invention, the output information creating means is an output information recording medium (output information sheet)
And output the identification code (ID) of the output source. Thus, the user of the output source can be easily identified from the identification code (ID) described on the output information recording medium (output information sheet), and the third party can easily sort the output recording paper. .

[0035] The invention of claim 3 of the present invention is characterized in that the output information creating means describes the output total number of recording media (recording paper) on the output information recording medium and outputs the information. This makes it possible to easily sort output recording papers based on the total number of output recording media (recording papers) described on the output information recording medium (output information sheet).

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the output information generating means outputs the output information recording medium (output information sheet) with the orientation different from that of another image information recording medium (recording paper). Features. As described above, since the orientation of the output information recording medium (output information sheet) is different from that of the other output recording sheets, the output recording sheets can be easily sorted using the output information recording medium as a clue.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, the output information creating means outputs the output information recording medium (output information sheet) with a size different from that of another image information recording medium (recording paper). It is characterized by. As described above, since the size of the output information recording medium (output information sheet) is different from that of the other output recording sheets, the output recording sheets can be easily sorted using the output information recording medium as a clue.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an image information processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart of a power-on sequence of the image information processing apparatus shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart (continued) of a power-on sequence of the image information processing apparatus shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a print sequence in an online communication state of the image information processing apparatus shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart (continued) of a print sequence in the online communication state of the image information processing apparatus shown in FIG. 1;

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Base Engine 2 Printer Controller 11 Plotter Control Unit 12 Scanner Control Unit 13 Scanner / Plotter Control Unit 14 Base Engine Control Unit 15 Operation Panel 16 System Control Unit 21 CPU 22 Video Control Interface 23 Network Interface 24 Various Control ROM 25 Hard Disk Drive 26 DRAM 27 ASIC 28 Command / Status interface

Claims (5)

[Claims] An image document reading means for reading image information of an image document, an image information storage means for storing the image information, an image forming means for outputting the image information as an image to a recording medium such as a recording paper, and a network. An image information processing apparatus having communication interface means connected to another communication terminal via the communication interface means for transmitting and receiving image information, wherein the image forming means outputs the image information when outputting the image information received via the communication interface means. An image information processing apparatus, comprising: an output information creating unit that creates and outputs an output information recording medium on which output information is recorded together with the recording medium. 2. The image information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said output information creating means writes an output source identification code on said output information recording medium and outputs the output information recording medium. 3. The image information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the output information creation unit writes the total number of output of the recording medium on the output information recording medium and outputs the information. 4. The output information creating means according to claim 1, wherein the output information recording medium is output with the orientation of the output information recording medium being different from that of another image information recording medium. Image information processing device. 5. The output information creating means according to claim 1, wherein the size of the output information recording medium is different from that of another image information recording medium and the output information recording medium is outputted. The image information processing apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims.