JP5254703B2 - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus that executes an image forming process requested from, for example, a host apparatus communicably connected via a network.

  In recent years, computer networks have become widespread, and many offices have constructed LANs connecting a plurality of information devices such as computers and printers. Peripheral devices such as computers and printers, scanners, and digital cameras are prevalent, and networks such as LANs are prevalent. By sharing printing devices, modems, and image reading devices on the network, all devices on the network can be used. The environment has become usable.

  For example, in Patent Document 1, when the color mode of the image data input by the image input unit and stored in the image storage unit is color, the image data is output to the image output unit without being converted into monochrome image data. By performing output processing in the first output mode or in the second output mode in which the image data is converted into black and white image data by the black and white conversion means and output to the image output means, the user inputs and stores in color. An invention of an image processing apparatus is described in which a user can freely print a document in color or black and white at the time of output.

  Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-26883 discloses information for directly instructing the behavior in the printing apparatus when the saved data is generated for the box function for saving print data or image data, or the printing apparatus determines the behavior of the saved data. The invention describes that detailed operation control in the printing apparatus can be performed for each storage data by generating document attribute information for the storage data and attaching it to the storage data.

JP 2002-218258 A JP 2007-58429 A

  By the way, in an image forming apparatus such as a printing apparatus, when printing is performed by storing print data in a large-capacity storage device such as a hard disk drive, setting values may be changed from an operation input display panel that accepts user operations. it can. When image forming processing such as printing processing is performed with such setting changes, for example, if priority is given to settings from the display panel at all times, a printing result unintended by the user may be obtained when the user makes a setting mistake. There is sex.

  The present invention has been proposed in view of such a situation, and when image forming processing is performed on image data stored in an image storage unit that stores image data to be image forming processing target. An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus capable of more reliably avoiding a processing result unintended by a user.

As means for solving the above-described problems, an image forming apparatus according to the present invention stores an image forming processing unit that executes image forming processing, and image data that is subjected to image forming processing by the image forming processing unit. An image storage unit and image data stored in the image storage unit are specified, and an execution request for specifying the settings relating to the image formation processing and causing the image formation processing unit to execute the image formation processing is input. The execution request input unit and the setting specified by the execution request input to the execution request input unit, or the setting set in the image data stored in the image storage unit. A determination unit for determining whether to enable, a mode for accepting a setting specified by an execution request input to the execution request input unit according to a determination result by the determination unit, and a mode And selectively switching the not accept the setting mode, and a control unit for executing image forming processing in the image forming process unit, the image forming processing by the image forming process unit is executed, stored in the image storage unit Printing processing for converting the image data into print data and printing, wherein the determination unit converts the image data to the print data among the settings specified by the execution request input to the execution request input unit. For settings related to the conversion process, it is determined to enable the settings set in the image data stored in the image storage unit, and settings not related to the conversion process are specified in the execution request. Judgment is made to enable the specified setting .

According to the present invention, whether the setting specified in the execution request input to the execution request input unit is validated or the setting set in the image data stored in the image storage unit is validated In accordance with the determination result obtained by the determination unit for determining the image, the mode for accepting the setting specified by the execution request input to the execution request input unit and the mode for not accepting this setting are selectively switched to form an image. The processing unit causes the image forming process to be executed, and the determination unit sets the setting related to the conversion process from the image data to the print data among the settings specified by the execution request input to the execution request input unit. It is determined that the settings set in the image data stored in the image storage unit are valid, and the settings not related to the conversion process are set in the settings specified in the execution request. It is determined so as to enable the. In this way, according to the present invention, enable for the specified set in the execution request, whether to validate the setting of the image data stored in the image storage unit, the predetermined condition Based on this, it is possible to perform a determination process for giving priority to either one of the settings. For example, even if an incorrect setting is designated by the user, it is more certain that an image forming process unintended by the user is executed. Can be avoided.

  Hereinafter, the best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 1, the present invention is applied to an image forming system 1 in which a plurality of host apparatuses 10 to which a user instructs printing and an image forming apparatus 20 are connected via a network line 1a such as a LAN. Needless to say, the present invention is not limited to the following examples, and can be arbitrarily changed without departing from the gist of the present invention.

  In the image forming system 1 having such a configuration, the host device 10 includes a so-called personal computer including, for example, an application program 10A, an operating system 10B, and a printer driver 10C. That is, as shown in FIG. 2, the host device 10 includes a control unit 11 composed of a CPU for controlling the entire device and various arithmetic processes, a ROM 12 for storing control programs and data, a temporary program as a work area, RAM 13 for storing data, hard disk 14 as an external storage device for storing various programs and data, display unit 15 such as a display, input unit 16 including a keyboard and a mouse for inputting various instructions, A communication unit 17 including a network interface such as a LAN card for connecting to the network line 1a is connected to each other via a bus 18.

  The image forming apparatus 20 that is communicably connected to the host apparatus 10 is a so-called multi-function machine having, for example, copy, print, scan, facsimile transmission, and facsimile reception functions. The image forming apparatus 20 includes a control unit 21 centering on a CPU that controls the operation of the entire apparatus. The control unit 21 includes a printing unit 22, an image reading unit 23, an operation display unit 24, an image storage unit 25, A communication unit 26 including a network interface such as a LAN card for connecting to the network line 1a, and a priority determination unit that determines whether or not to enable a setting related to execution of an image forming process among execution requests requested by a user 27 etc. are connected.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the control unit 21 includes a ROM 211 that stores a control program of the image forming apparatus 20, a RAM 212 that temporarily stores data, an EEPROM 213 that stores various setting data that can be updated, a control program, and the like. The microcomputer 214 is configured to be read from the ROM 211 and executed. In addition, the control unit 21 performs image forming processing such as printing processing and document reading processing in response to the execution request input in the operation display unit 24 and the like and the execution request received from the host device 10 by the communication unit 26. Control the entire device to do.

  For example, when an execution request for executing a printing process is input from the communication unit 26, the control unit 21 temporarily stores image data included in the execution request in the image storage unit 25 and then stores the stored image. Data is supplied to the printing unit 22 to execute a printing process. Further, when an execution request for executing a printing process is input from the operation display unit 24, the control unit 21 reads out image data associated with the execution request from the image storage unit 25 and supplies the image data to the printing unit 22. Print processing.

  The printing unit 22 performs output processing for converting the image data stored in the image storage unit 25 into image data for printing and printing it on output paper, and includes a printer controller, a laser scanning unit, and a fixing unit (not shown). It consists of rollers. The printing unit 22 can change the resolution of the print image, the print paper size, the page orientation, the paper feed source, the number of print copies, the presence / absence of stapling processing, the presence / absence of punching processing, and the paper discharge destination. Select according to the information and perform print processing.

  The image reading unit 23 performs a reading process of a document to be printed in accordance with a control command from the control unit 21 and generates image data corresponding to the document. Specifically, the document reading unit 23 includes a CCD sensor that generates image data from an optically acquired document image, a scanner including an exposure lamp, a contact glass, and the like, and is placed on the contact glass. The image data captured by scanning the document is supplied to and stored in the image storage unit 25.

  The operation display unit 24 is an operation input unit to which an execution request for executing an image forming process is input by a user operation. In this execution request, image data stored in the image storage unit 25 is specified, and settings relating to image forming processing are specified. Here, the settings relating to the image forming process are, for example, setting information relating to the resolution of the print image, the print paper size, the page orientation, the paper feed source, the number of copies to be printed, the presence / absence of the staple process, the presence / absence of the punching process, and the paper discharge destination. .

  Since such an execution request is input in response to a user operation, the operation display unit 24 includes a start key (not shown) for the user to input a print execution instruction, and a numeric keypad for inputting the number of copies to be printed. A liquid crystal display unit is provided on which various operation buttons and the like for displaying operation guide information for inputting settings of various printing operations and the like are displayed. When the execution request is input, the operation display unit 24 notifies the control unit 21 and the priority determination unit 27 of the input execution request.

  The image storage unit 25 is a mass storage device such as a hard disk drive, and stores the image data read by the image reading unit 23 and the image data from the host device 10 received by the communication unit 26. Specifically, the image storage unit 25 includes a plurality of storage areas, and stores the image data on which the image forming process is executed by assigning each storage area. The image data stored in the image storage unit 25 is read in accordance with a control command from the control unit 21 and supplied to the printing unit 22, for example.

  For example, setting information relating to the printing process is added to the image data stored in the image storage unit 25 when the printing process is performed. In the image storage unit 25, for example, information regarding settings such as image resolution, paper size, page orientation, paper source, number of copies, staple processing, punching processing, paper discharge destination, etc. Stored in association with data. Here, the setting information is set, for example, for each storage area to be stored, or is set based on information at the time of reading read by the document reading unit 23.

  The communication unit 26 transmits / receives execution requests to / from a plurality of host devices 10 via the network line 1a. Specifically, the communication unit 26 has an execution request for specifying the image data stored in the image storage unit 25 as an execution request and specifying the settings related to the image forming process to execute the image forming process. Entered. When the execution request is input, the communication unit 26 notifies the control unit 21 and the priority determination unit 27 of the input execution request.

  The priority determination unit 27 validates the setting specified by the execution request input to the operation display unit 24 and the communication unit 26 or is set to the image data stored in the image storage unit 25. It is determined whether to enable the setting information.

  In the image forming apparatus 20 configured as described above, the priority determination unit 27 validates the setting specified by the execution request or sets the image data stored in the image storage unit 25. Determine whether to enable the setting. In the image forming apparatus 20, the control unit 21 selectively switches between a mode that accepts the setting specified by the execution request and a mode that does not accept this setting according to the determination result, and performs a print process or the like. Each unit is controlled to execute the image forming process. That is, the control unit 21 accepts the setting specified by the execution request when the setting specified by the execution request is valid, and executes when the setting set in the image data stored in the image storage unit 25 is valid. Each part is controlled not to accept the setting specified in the request.

  In this manner, the image forming apparatus 20 determines whether to enable the setting specified by the execution request or to enable the setting of the image data stored in the image storage unit 25 based on a predetermined condition. Based on this, it is possible to perform a determination process for giving priority to either one of the settings. For example, even if an incorrect setting is designated by the user, it is more certain that an image forming process unintended by the user is executed. Can be avoided.

  Specifically, the priority determination unit 27 enables the setting specified in the execution request by using the following conditions, or sets the image data stored in the image storage unit 25. Can be appropriately determined.

  As a first determination process, the priority determination unit 27 prints from image data such as resolution, paper size, and page orientation among the settings specified by the execution request input to the operation display unit 24 and the communication unit 26. With respect to the settings related to the data conversion process, it is determined to enable the settings set in the image data stored in the image storage unit 25. On the other hand, the priority determination unit 27 is designated by an execution request for settings that are not related to the conversion processing from image data to print data, such as a paper source, the number of copies, stapling processing, punching processing, and paper discharge destination. Judgment to enable the setting. In this way, the priority determination unit 27 sets the settings related to the conversion process from image data to print data in advance by setting information included in the image data so that the printing process is optimally executed. By giving priority to the setting information included in the image data over the setting specified by the user, even if an incorrect setting is specified by the user, an image forming process unintended by the user is executed. This can be avoided more reliably.

  As the second determination process, the priority determination unit 27 authenticates whether the input person who has input the execution request is a user who has stored the image data specified in the execution request in the image storage unit 25. Then, when the authentication is successful, the priority determination unit 27 determines to enable the setting specified by the execution request input by the input person, and when the authentication fails, the priority determination unit 27 stores the setting in the image storage unit 25. It is determined that the setting set in the image data that is set to be valid. In this way, the priority determination unit 27 can determine whether or not the input person who is the subject of authentication knows the setting information included in the image data in advance and changed the setting, and as a result Even if an incorrect setting is designated by the user, it is possible to more reliably avoid execution of an image forming process unintended by the user.

  As a third determination process, the priority determination unit 27 is configured to display an image storage unit when the image data stored in the image storage unit 25 specified by the execution request is image data generated by the image reading unit 23. It is determined that the setting set in the image data stored in the image data 25 is enabled.

  Specifically, the image forming process according to such a determination process is performed according to a flowchart as shown in FIG. 5, for example.

  In step ST1, the control unit 21 causes the operation display unit 24 to display a screen that allows the user to select a storage location for image data to be printed. Specifically, the operation display unit 24 displays a box box indicating each storage area of the image storage unit 25 and an image file in the box box. Then, the process proceeds to step ST2.

  In step ST <b> 2, the priority determination unit 27 determines whether the image data designated by the user through the operation display unit 24 is image data generated by the image reading unit 23. When it is determined that the image data is generated by the image reading unit 23, the process proceeds to step ST3. When it is determined that the image data is not generated by the image reading unit 23, the process proceeds to step ST4.

  In step ST3, the control unit 21 displays information notifying the user that the setting cannot be changed on the operation display unit 24. Then, the process proceeds to step ST5.

  In step ST <b> 4, the control unit 21 executes the printing process depending on the setting change designated by the user through the operation display unit 24. That is, the control unit 21 receives the setting specified by the execution request, executes an image forming process such as a printing process in accordance with the received setting, and ends this processing step.

  In step ST5, the control unit 21 causes the operation display unit 24 to display information for allowing the user to select whether or not to execute the printing process. The control unit 21 proceeds to step ST6 when information indicating that the printing process is to be executed from the user by the operation display unit 24, and information indicating that the printing process is not to be executed from the user by the operation display unit 24. If so, the process proceeds to step ST7.

  In step ST6, the control unit 21 does not accept the setting specified by the execution request, performs the printing process according to the setting information set in the image data specified by the execution request, and ends this processing step. .

  In step ST7, the control unit 21 does not perform the execution request input by the user through the operation display unit 24, and controls the operation display unit 24 to return to the original screen display displayed in step ST1. The process ends.

  In this way, in the image forming apparatus 20, when the image data to be subjected to image formation processing is image data read by the document reading unit 23, it is stored in the image storage unit 25 rather than the setting designated by the user. The priority determination unit 27 and the control unit 21 operate so as to give priority to the setting information included in the image data being displayed. In this way, the priority determination unit 27 sets the settings related to the image data read by the document reading unit 23 in advance by setting information included in the image data so that the printing process is optimally executed. If the setting information included in the image data stored in the image storage unit 25 is given priority over the setting specified by the user, even if an incorrect setting is specified by the user, However, it is possible to more reliably avoid an unintended image forming process.

  As the fourth determination process, the priority determination unit 27 validates the setting specified by the execution request according to the storage area of the image storage unit 25 to which the image data specified by the execution request is assigned. Or whether to enable the settings set in the image data stored in the image storage unit 25 is determined. For example, when the image storage unit 25 includes three storage areas A, B, and C, priorities can be set stepwise as follows. That is, when the image data specified by the execution request is assigned to the storage area A of the image storage unit 25, the priority determination unit 27 determines to enable all the settings specified by the execution request. . In addition, when the image data specified by the execution request is assigned to the storage area B of the image storage unit 25, the priority determination unit 27 sets the image storage unit for the settings related to the conversion processing from the image data to the print data. It is determined that the setting set in the image data stored in the image data 25 is enabled. Furthermore, when the image data specified by the execution request is assigned to the storage area C of the image storage unit 25, the priority determination unit 27 sets the image data stored in the image storage unit 25. Determine to enable. For example, when it is desired to prioritize the setting of the image data stored in the image storage unit 25, the storage destination may be the storage area C.

  As described above, the image forming apparatus 20 determines whether to enable the setting specified by the execution request or to enable the setting of the image data stored in the image storage unit 25. Based on the first to fourth determination processes, a determination process for prioritizing any one of the settings can be performed, so even if an incorrect setting is specified by the user, an image forming process unintended by the user is executed. This can be avoided more reliably.

1 is a diagram showing a system configuration of an image forming system to which the present invention is applied. It is a block diagram which shows the hardware constitutions of the said host apparatus. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of the image forming apparatus. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a main configuration of a control unit of the image forming apparatus. It is a flowchart for demonstrating a 3rd determination process.

Explanation of symbols

  1 image forming system, 1a network line, 10 host device, 10A application program, 10B operating system, 10C printer driver, 11 control unit, 12 ROM, 13 RAM, 14 hard disk, 15 display unit, 16 input unit, 17 communication unit, 18 bus, 20 image forming apparatus, 21 control unit, 22 printing unit, 23 document reading unit, 24 operation display unit, 25 image storage unit, 26 communication unit, 27 priority determination unit, 211 ROM, 212 RAM, 213 EEPROM, 214 CPU

Claims (3)

An image formation processing unit for executing image formation processing;
An image storage unit for storing image data on which image formation processing is executed by the image formation processing unit;
An execution request input unit for specifying an image data stored in the image storage unit and specifying a setting related to the image formation processing and causing the image formation processing unit to execute the image formation processing. When,
It is determined whether to enable the setting specified by the execution request input to the execution request input unit or to enable the setting set to the image data stored in the image storage unit. A determination unit;
According to the determination result by the determination unit, the image forming process is performed by selectively switching between a mode for accepting the setting specified by the execution request input to the execution request input unit and a mode for not accepting the setting. A control unit that causes the image forming process to be performed in the unit,
The image forming process executed by the image forming processing unit is a printing process in which image data stored in the image storing unit is converted into print data and printed.
Among the settings specified by the execution request input to the execution request input unit, the determination unit stores settings related to the conversion process from the image data to the print data in the image storage unit. An image forming apparatus that determines to enable a setting set in image data and determines to enable a setting specified in the execution request for a setting that is not related to the conversion process . The image forming process executed by the image forming processing unit includes a printing process in which image data stored in the image storing unit is converted into print data and printing, and a document to be printed is read by the printing process, and the document And image reading processing for generating image data corresponding to
The image storage unit stores the image data generated by the image reading process,
The determination unit is configured to store the image when the image data stored in the image storage unit specified by the execution request input to the execution request input unit is image data generated by the image reading process. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus determines to validate the setting set in the image data stored in the copy unit. The image storage unit includes a plurality of storage areas, stores image data to be subjected to image formation processing by the image formation processing unit, assigned to each storage area,
The determination unit determines the setting specified by the execution request according to the storage area to which the image data stored in the image storage unit specified by the execution request input to the execution request input unit is assigned. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus determines whether to enable the setting or to enable the setting set in the image data stored in the image storage unit.

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