JP2004322570A - Image forming apparatus and image forming system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming apparatus that can attach a non-contact tag IC to a paper by each image forming job and can perform reprinting by reading the information of the IC at that time and retrieving image data from a server connected to a network, and an image forming system. <P>SOLUTION: This image forming system consists of the image forming apparatus 7 that attaches memory storing identification information of a print job on a paper P at the printing and outputs the identification information and the correlated information obtained by correlating the identification information to image data to the network together with the image data, and a server that receives the identification information, the correlated information and the image data input via the network to store it to a memory means. The image forming apparatus 7 comprises a tag IC reader 23 for reading the identification information stored in the memory on the paper P, a controller 24 for acquiring the image data correlated to the read identification information from the server, and an image forming section 18 for printing the image on the paper P according to the image data acquired from the server. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus and an image forming system, and more particularly to an image forming apparatus and an image forming system having a function of adding a non-contact type tag IC to a sheet and reading the content.
[0002]
[Prior art]
The image forming apparatus includes a black-and-white or color copying machine, a printer, a plotter, a facsimile, and a multifunction machine or a multifunction machine in which a plurality of these functions are combined. In recent years, most of such image forming apparatuses are of a digital type, and various functions can be used.
[0003]
Also, with the spread of information processing apparatuses such as personal computers and networks, such image forming apparatuses can be connected to the network, and some can perform printing from information processing apparatuses connected via a LAN, WAN, intranet or the Internet. Widespread.
[0004]
In addition, since such an image forming apparatus has a built-in large-capacity storage device such as a hard disk, image data of a document printed or output via a copying or information processing apparatus, or image data when a fax is transmitted. A function is provided for storing image data read by a scanner of the forming apparatus or image data received by facsimile in the storage device.
[0005]
When it is necessary to reprint a document once printed, a method of reading the original document or a copy of the document by a scanner of the image forming apparatus and reprinting the document is generally used. However, if the original document is used many times, the document may be bent, torn, or damaged. Further, when reprinting is performed from a copy document, there is a problem that the image quality deteriorates. In addition, if separately printed documents are kept in a single file and stored, reprinting a specific document or the entire contents of a file will remove it from the file each time. When returning a document to a file, the document may be lost or the file order may be incorrect.
[0006]
Therefore, in an image forming apparatus having a large-capacity storage device, reprinting may be performed using image data that has been printed out once and stored in the storage device. In that case, the corresponding image data is searched for via the operation unit of the image forming apparatus, and called out from the storage device to perform printing. However, since the image data is stored after being converted into image data, it is not easy to search for desired image data through the operation unit, and there is a possibility that reprinting is started from another image data by mistake.
[0007]
To solve these problems, when printing a document for the first time, an ID number is printed in the form of a barcode on the printed material, and the image data corresponding to the printed material and the ID number are stored in a storage device. And store them in association with each other. Then, when the same document needs to be printed again, the ID number of the barcode printed on the printed matter is read by a barcode reader attached to the image forming apparatus, and searched in the storage device. There is also an image forming apparatus that calls up corresponding image data and enables reprinting.
[0008]
As an example of using such a barcode, according to the disclosure of Patent Document 1, information on the print job and page is printed in a barcode pattern on paper printed by an image forming apparatus, and the pattern is read. A technique has been reported in which sorting is performed by a collating machine having functions to increase productivity.
[0009]
[Patent Document 1]
JP 2002-157102 A
[0010]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the related art, image data is stored in a storage device of an image forming apparatus, and even if the corresponding image data can be automatically searched for by using a barcode, a plurality of image forming apparatuses can be searched. When used by connecting to a network, there is a problem that reprinting can be performed only by a specific image forming apparatus storing the corresponding image data.
[0011]
Further, it is necessary to remove all pages on which the barcode is printed from the file so that the barcode reader can read the data. May be missed, and pages to be reprinted may be missing.
[0012]
Although the technique according to Patent Document 1 proposes printing a barcode-like pattern on paper, the pattern is mainly used for efficiently collating pages, and is stored in a storage device. It is not used for retrieving and recalling image data that has been saved.
[0013]
Further, according to the conventional technique, when image data is not stored in the storage device, it is impossible to reprint even a search using a barcode. That is, the condition is that printing is performed at least once and the image data is stored.
[0014]
The present invention has been made for such a situation. In an image forming apparatus connected to a network, a non-contact type tag IC is added to a sheet for each image forming job, and the information is read when reprinting. It is another object of the present invention to provide an image forming apparatus and an image forming system capable of retrieving by retrieving relevant image data from a server connected to a network.
[0015]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, in an image forming apparatus which is connected to a network and prints an image based on image data on a recording medium, identification information of the print job is stored at the time of printing. A memory is added to the recording medium, and the identification information and the association information that associates the identification information with the image data are output to the network together with the image data.
[0016]
The network includes a network connected to an intranet capable of performing communication using the Internet protocol. A URL indicating a predetermined address on the intranet accessible via the network is stored in the memory in advance. It is remembered.
[0017]
The network includes a network connected to the Internet, and a URL that indicates a predetermined address on the Internet accessible via the network is stored in the memory in advance.
[0018]
The position on the recording medium to which the memory is added can be set to be changeable.
[0019]
Before printing is performed, it is possible to select whether or not to add a memory.
[0020]
The memory is an RFID (Radio Frequency IDentification) memory.
[0021]
It is connected to a network and prints an image based on the image data on a recording medium.At the time of printing, a memory storing identification information of the print job is added to the recording medium, and the identification information and An image forming apparatus that outputs association information in which the identification information is associated with the image data to a network together with the image data, and a server that receives the identification information, the association information, and the image data input via the network and stores them in a storage unit In the image forming system comprising: the image forming apparatus, the identification information reading means for reading the identification information stored in the memory added to the recording medium, based on the identification information read by the identification information reading means, A control unit that obtains image data associated with the identification information from the server; The Hazuki image composed of the image forming means for printing on a recording medium.
[0022]
The identification information reading means simultaneously reads a plurality of pieces of identification information stored in memories attached to the plurality of recording media.
[0023]
The image forming apparatus displays the identification information read by the identification information reading means and the file name of the image data associated with the identification information and obtained from the server on the display means of the image forming apparatus. .
[0024]
When there are a plurality of image data obtained from the server displayed by the display means, one or more arbitrary image data can be selected, and the image forming means displays the image on the recording medium based on the selected image data. Print on
[0025]
The network includes a network connected to an intranet that can communicate using an Internet protocol.
[0026]
The network includes a network connected to the Internet.
[0027]
In the memory, a URL indicating a predetermined address on the intranet or the Internet can be stored in advance, and when the identification information reading means reads the URL, a predetermined document at the address indicated by the read URL is downloaded. The image forming means prints on the recording medium.
[0028]
The position on the recording medium to which the memory is added can be set to be changeable.
[0029]
Before printing is performed, it is possible to select whether or not to add a memory.
[0030]
The memory is an RFID (Radio Frequency IDentification) memory.
[0031]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an example of a non-contact type tag IC used in the present embodiment. In this example, a label-type tag using an RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) memory is shown as a type of the non-contact type tag IC. Therefore, the non-contact type tag IC described in the present embodiment is based on the label type RFID tag, but is not limited to this.
[0032]
In FIG. 1, a tag IC1 includes a label 2 having an adhesive surface, a loop antenna 3, and an IC 4 to which the antenna 3 is connected. The IC 4 is a nonvolatile ROM, an EEPROM, or the like. A non-volatile writable memory, a tuning circuit for supplying power by tuning an electromagnetic wave or a radio wave emitted by a read / write device (not shown) via an antenna 3 and exchanging data, and a detection rectifier circuit And a control circuit. There are tag ICs having various dimensions such as several mm to several tens of mm on one side, but may be selected according to the situation in which they are used as long as they can be attached to the edge of the paper. In addition, the effective distance of reading / writing may be several mm to several meters, but it is preferable to use an effective distance suitable for a reading method described later.
[0033]
FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an image forming apparatus connected to a network. An image forming apparatus 7 described in the present embodiment and a server 8 having a large-capacity storage device such as a hard disk for storing image data are connected to a network 6 such as a LAN. 8 is capable of bidirectional communication. In addition, the network 6 is connected to a premises, a company intranet, or the Internet 9 which is not shown. Of course, both may be connected. Although only the image forming apparatus 7 and the server 8 are connected to the network 6 in FIG. 1, even if other image forming apparatuses having the functions described in the present embodiment or information processing apparatuses are connected. Good.
[0034]
Next, the image forming apparatus 7 according to the present embodiment will be specifically described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 3 is a schematic front view showing the configuration of the image forming apparatus 7 to which the present invention is applied. The image forming apparatus 7 includes an automatic document feeder 11 that feeds a bundle of documents set on a document feed table 12 one by one, a document reading unit 13 that reads the fed document, and converts the document into image data. An operation unit 16 including a display unit 14 and an operation input unit 15, a sheet feeding unit 17 that stores sheets P serving as a recording medium and feeds the sheets P one by one, and an image forming unit 18 that forms an image. The image forming apparatus generally includes a fixing unit 19 for fixing an image on a sheet, a post-processing unit 20 for performing post-processing such as collation of discharged sheets, and a control unit 24 for controlling all of these.
[0035]
The post-processing unit 20 includes a plurality of output bins 21 from which the collated paper groups are discharged, a tag IC adding unit 22 for adding the tag IC1 to predetermined paper at the time of printing, and a tag IC1. When a sheet group or a file including one or more sheets is located in the vicinity, a tag IC reading unit 23 that reads information in the one or more tag ICs 1 at a time without contact is provided. In the case of an image forming apparatus that does not include the post-processing unit 20, the tag IC adding unit 22 is arranged on the paper P transport path of the image forming apparatus 7 body, and the tag IC reading unit 23 reads the tag IC1. It is good to arrange it in an arbitrary place of the image forming apparatus 7 main body which can perform the above. Reference numeral 25 indicates a transport path of the sheet P.
[0036]
When operating the image forming apparatus 7 as a printer, print data is sent to the image forming apparatus 7 from an information processing apparatus (not shown) connected to the network 6. FIG. 4 is an example of a print setting screen provided by a printer driver (program) installed in the information processing apparatus when the information processing apparatus uses the image forming apparatus 7 as a printer in order to operate the image forming apparatus 7. Is shown.
[0037]
The print setting screen 30 includes a printer selection box 31 for selecting a printer to be used, a print range setting box 32 for inputting a page range of a document to be printed, a print number setting box 33 for inputting the number of copies to be printed, A tag setting box 34 for setting when the related tag IC 1 is added to paper. When the tag IC1 is added, the tag addition button 35 is selected as shown in the figure, and the position on the sheet to which the tag IC1 is added is set on another screen (not shown) that appears when the property button 36 is pressed. If printing is to be performed under the setting conditions selected and input in this manner, the OK button 37 is pressed. To cancel all printing, the cancel button 38 is pressed.
[0038]
When the tag addition button 35 is selected and the position to be added is designated, the IC tag 1 is added to the designated position on the sheet which is the first page in the print job. Although not illustrated and described, when the image forming apparatus 7 is used as a copying machine or a facsimile apparatus, whether or not to add the tag IC 1 is determined via the operation unit 16. The position and the like can be set in advance as initial settings. When operating as a copying machine, a display similar to the above-described tag setting box 34, and selection and input can be performed on the operation unit 16 for each copy job.
[0039]
Next, before describing the details of the present invention, an outline of an image forming job will be described. An image forming job (hereinafter, “job”) is a series of related image forming operations. For example, in the case of a copying operation, a bundle of documents is set in the automatic document feeder 11, the number of copies (the number of copies) and other settings relating to copying are set, and then the copying is started. It is a job. The same applies to the case where the user sets the originals one by one on an original table (not shown) without using the automatic original feeder 11, but in the case where a plurality of originals are copied in multiple copies, whether or not the next original exists. Since the input is prompted by the image forming apparatus 7, one job is separated from the input of the next original document to the end of the copying operation. When the image forming apparatus 7 functions as a printer, print data is input to the image forming apparatus 7 from an information processing apparatus (not shown), and a break until the print data is processed and the printed paper is discharged. One job. When the image forming apparatus 7 functions as a facsimile, one job is performed until one received document is printed out.
[0040]
Based on such a concept, the image forming apparatus 7 sends the image data to the server 8 (FIG. 2) when the job ends for each job, and the server 8 stores the image data in the storage device. Of course, even when a plurality of image forming apparatuses 7 are connected in FIG. 2, the server 8 stores the image data for each job sent from each image forming apparatus 7 and stores the image data in the database. It is built in the storage device.
[0041]
Next, the details of the addition of the tag IC1 at the time of printing and the reading and addition of the tag IC1 at the time of reprinting will be described with reference to FIGS. Note that, for ease of understanding, the following description will be made on the case where the image forming apparatus 7 is used as a printer. However, when copying a document as a copying machine, predetermined settings are made from the operation unit 16. It is the same except that. FIG. 5 shows an example of a document including four pages printed in three sets by one job, in which a tag IC1 is added to the first page of each set.
[0042]
When a print job including four pages as shown in FIG. 5 is performed by the image forming apparatus 7, first, print conditions are set on the information processing apparatus (not shown) using the print setting screen 30 shown in FIG. At this time, the image forming apparatus 7 is selected as a printer to be used in the printer selection box 31. Thereafter, when "all" is selected in the print range setting box 32, all four pages are printed. In the print copy number setting box, for example, three sets of prints are set. Next, in the tag setting box 34, the tag addition button 35 is selected as shown in the figure, and after pressing the property button 36, the position on the paper to which the tag IC1 is added is set. Finally, the OK button 37 is pressed.
[0043]
Then, print data including image data of four pages is transmitted from the information processing apparatus to the image forming apparatus 7 in FIG. In response to the print data, the image forming apparatus 7 feeds one sheet of paper P from the sheet feeding unit 17, forms an image of the fourth page in the image forming unit 18, transfers the image to the sheet P, and fixes the image. The sheet P is fixed on the sheet P by the section 19 and is discharged to one of the discharge bins 21 of the post-processing section 20. The same operation is performed twice on the fourth page, and all the fourth pages are discharged onto three different discharge bins 21, respectively. Further, this operation is also repeated at the time of printing the third page, the second page, and the first page, and the printed matter composed of four pages is placed on three different discharge bins 21, respectively, from the first to fourth pages from the top. They are deposited in order. That is, three sets of four-page documents are printed. Thus, the job relating to this printing is completed.
[0044]
However, in the case of this job, since the tag addition button 35 (FIG. 4) of the tag IC1 is selected, the printing order is such that the sheet P of the first page printed at the end of each set is the tag IC1. When passing through the adding unit 22, the tag IC1 in which a unique ID code is stored in advance is attached to a set position on the paper P as shown in FIG. At this time, the tag IC reading unit 23 disposed near the tag IC adding unit 22, that is, in the communication range, stores the ID code stored in all the tag ICs 1 stored in the tag IC adding unit 22. Since reading has been performed, it is detected that the ID codes attached to the above three sets of documents, for example, 100, 101 and 102, are no longer present. Therefore, the information of the used ID codes 100 to 102 is transmitted to the control unit 24 at the same time when the job is completed. The control unit 24 transmits the ID code, the image data composed of pages 1 to 4 used for the print job, and the association information between the image data and the ID code via the network to the server 8 (FIG. 2). ).
[0045]
The server 8 receives the data and the association information, converts the image data into a file, assigns a file name or a file code managed by the server 8, for example, A001, and gives a date, time, processing apparatus name (in this case, image forming apparatus). The device 7) saves it in the storage device together with the associated ID code 100-102.
[0046]
Next, an example of reprinting a printed document will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4 and 6. FIGS. 6A and 6B show an example in which documents printed by a plurality of jobs are stored in one file. FIG. 6A shows a configuration in the file, and FIG. 6B shows a plurality of tags IC1 included in the file. FIG. 7C is a diagram illustrating information related to the tag IC1 included in the file, and FIG. 7C illustrates a case where some image data related to the tag IC1 is not stored in the server 8. In FIG. 6A, a file cover, a punch hole for filing, and the like are not shown, but only the contents thereof. However, in the description related to FIG.
[0047]
The file 40 contains documents 1 to 3 printed by different jobs. The document 1 is a one-page document to which a tag IC1 storing an ID code 090 is added. The ID code 090 is stored in a storage device of the server 8 and is printed by the image forming apparatus 7. It is assumed that the image data file AB01 is associated with the image data file AB01. The document 2 is one of three sets printed by the job described with reference to FIG. 5, and is a document including four pages to which the tag IC1 storing the ID code 101 is added. It is assumed that the image data is processed by the image forming apparatus 7 and is associated with the image data file A001 stored in the storage device of the server 8. The document 3 is a document including a plurality of pages to which the tag IC1 storing the ID code 114 is added. The ID code 114 is the image data when printed by another image forming apparatus, for example, a printer ABC (not shown). It is assumed that it is stored in the server 8 in association with the file B009.
[0048]
When reprinting the file 40, the operator leaves the file 40 as it is, that is, without removing the document 1 to the document 3 and sorting the pages, the image forming apparatus 7 with the file cover attached, or It is positioned near the tag IC reading unit 23 of another image forming apparatus, and presses a predetermined key on the operation unit 16 to start reading the tag IC1 of the documents 1 to 3.
[0049]
Then, the tag IC reading unit 23 of FIG. 3 reads the ID codes stored in the plurality of tag ICs 1 within the reading range, and notifies the control unit 24 of the ID code. The control unit 24 separates only the ID code of the tag IC1 included in the file 40 except for the other tag IC1 stored in the tag IC adding unit 22 that is read at the same time, and inquires the server 8. The server 8 receives the ID code included in the file 40, searches the image data file associated with the ID code, and returns the result to the image forming apparatus 7. In response to this, the control unit 24 of the image forming apparatus 7 performs a list display shown in FIG.
[0050]
In the list display, from the left of the figure, “selection box”, “block number”, “ID code”, “image data file name”, “page number”, “processing device name”, “processing date / time” are displayed. Displays the title of the item. The block number is a serial number automatically displayed for each ID code. From the second line in the figure, information of the server 8 corresponding to each read ID code is displayed. In this example, the information is displayed in ascending order of the ID code. Accordingly, the information corresponding to the ID code 090 is displayed on the second line, the information corresponding to the ID code 101 is displayed on the third line, and the information corresponding to the ID code 114 is displayed on the fourth line.
[0051]
As described above, the information of each block number displayed in ascending order of the ID code can be rearranged to rearrange the information in a desired printing order. In this example, since no rearrangement is performed, the sheets are deposited on the discharge bin 21 as displayed on the display unit 14. That is, the document of the block number 2 is deposited below the discharge bin 21 and the document of the block number 1 is deposited above the discharge bin 21. In addition, for example, a check mark is put in the item of the “selection box” so that whether or not to print the document corresponding to the block number can be selected. In this example, an example is shown in which the document 3 is printed without the document 3. Therefore, a check mark is put on the lines with block numbers 1 and 2, but not on the line with block number 3. Thereafter, a setting screen (not shown) similar to the tag setting box 34 of FIG. On the setting screen, the setting for adding the tag IC1 and the position thereof are set, the number of copies to be reprinted is set, and a start button (not shown) is pressed. Have AB01 and A001 sent out.
[0052]
Assuming that the number of copies to be reprinted is set to one, upon receiving the image data files AB01 and A001, the image forming apparatus 7 first prints the block number 2 and deposits it on the discharge bin 21. The block number 1 is printed and deposited on the printed document of the block number 2, but is set on the last discharged page (the first page of the document 1) during the printing of the block number 1. A new tag IC1 is added to the position and then ejected. Although not shown, the ID code of the new tag IC1 is 120. Therefore, when the reprinting is completed, the ID code 120, the image data files AB01 and A001, and the association information between them are output to the server 8 and stored. However, since the image data files AB01 and A001 already exist in the server 8, they need not be overwritten.
[0053]
For example, a display example in a case where the image data file corresponding to the ID code 114 shown in FIG. 6B is not stored in the server 8 is as shown in FIG. 6C. Indicates that reprinting cannot be performed. In that case, the selection box for that row is not displayed.
[0054]
The case of further reprinting the reprinted file shown in FIG. 6B will be schematically described with reference to FIGS. 7A and 7B show an example in which reprinting is further performed based on the file reprinted based on the display and settings shown in FIG. 6B, and FIG. FIG. 4B is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a printed file, and FIG. 4B illustrates information related to a tag IC1 included in the file.
[0055]
The file 41 in FIG. 7A includes a new document 11 and a new document 12 printed based on the settings in FIG. Further, as described above, the ID code of the tag IC1 added to the first page of the document 11 is 120, and is stored in the storage device of the server 8 in association with the image data files AB01 and A001. I have.
[0056]
When reprinting this file 41, the operator places the file 41 as it is, in the vicinity of the tag IC reading unit 23 of the image forming apparatus 7 or another image forming apparatus, and When a predetermined key is pressed, reading of the tag IC1 is started.
[0057]
Then, the tag IC reading unit 23 reads the ID codes stored in the plurality of tag ICs 1 within the reading range, and notifies the control unit 24 of the ID code. The control unit 24 selects only the ID code of the tag IC <b> 1 included in the file 41, excluding the other tag IC <b> 1 stored in the tag IC adding unit 22 read at the same time, and inquires the server 8. The server 8 receives the ID code 120, searches the image data files AB01 and A001 associated with the ID code 120, and returns the result to the image forming apparatus 7. In response to this, the control unit 24 of the image forming apparatus 7 displays a list as shown in FIG.
[0058]
The second and third lines in the figure are information held by the server 8 corresponding to the ID code 120. Since the association has already been completed at the time of printing described in FIG. 6, the ID code 120 is used in this example. The corresponding image data file names are AB01 and A001.
[0059]
As described above, the displayed information can be rearranged to perform a desired printing order. In this example, since no rearrangement is performed, it is assumed that the sheets are deposited on the discharge bin 21 of the image forming apparatus 7 so as to be displayed on the display unit 14 during printing. The description regarding the use of the “selection box” is as described with reference to FIG. In this example, an example in which everything is printed is shown. After that, the setting for adding the tag IC1 and the setting of the adding position are performed, the number of copies to be reprinted is set, and when a start button (not shown) is pressed, the image forming apparatus 7 issues a request to the server 8 and the image data files AB01 and A001. And send them.
[0060]
Assuming that the number of copies to be reprinted is set to one, upon receiving the image data files AB01 and A001, the image forming apparatus 7 prints the block number 2 first, then prints the block number 1, and prints the block number 1 A new tag IC1 is added to a set position on the last page (the first page of the block number 1) to be discharged onto the discharge bin 21 of, and then discharged. Although not shown, the ID code of the new tag IC1 is 130. Therefore, when the reprinting is completed, the ID code 130, the image data files AB01 and A001, and the association information between the two are output to the server 8 and stored. However, since the image data files AB01 and A001 already exist in the server 8, they need not be overwritten.
[0061]
Next, the image forming apparatus 7 in the case where the tag IC 1 stores a web page on the intranet or the Internet or an address on the intranet or the Internet where a downloadable instruction exists, that is, a URL (Uniform Resource Locator) is stored. A printing example will be described with reference to FIG.
[0062]
When sending information that can be obtained from an intranet or the Internet to a customer, another department in the company, a head office, or the like, if all the information is printed and then sent, shipping and printing costs cannot be ignored. In such a case, for example, another tag IC writing device (not shown) is prepared, or the tag IC reading unit 23 in FIG. 3 is replaced with a tag IC reading / writing unit 23a that can perform both writing and reading. It is changed so that the URL to be written can be input from the operation unit 16. Then, for example, when printing the cover sheet, the tag IC1 in which the URL is written may be added to the cover sheet. Thereafter, the customer who has received the cover letter can print necessary information using an image forming apparatus equivalent to the image forming apparatus 7. The outline will be described below.
[0063]
FIGS. 8A and 8B are diagrams for explaining a cover page to which URL information is added. FIG. 8A shows a cover page to which a tag IC1 storing URL information is added, and FIG. 4 is a display example displayed on the display unit 14 of the image forming apparatus 7 shown in FIG.
[0064]
The customer who has received the cover page in FIG. 8A causes the tag IC reading section 23 or the tag IC reading / writing section 23a of the image forming apparatus 7 in FIG. 3 to read the cover page. Then, the URL information stored in the tag IC1 is decoded by the control unit 24. Since this is different from the normal ID code, a request is issued to the server 8. Then, the server 8 accesses the URL of the intranet (not shown) or the URL of the Internet network 9 and informs the image forming apparatus 7 of the situation, so that the display unit 14 of the image forming apparatus 7 displays in FIG. Is displayed sequentially.
[0065]
When the server 8 finishes downloading the web page or file specified by the URL, the content is converted into image data by the server 8 and sent to the image forming apparatus 7, where it is printed. At this time, if the image forming apparatus 7 is set to add the tag IC1, a new ID code, for example, the tag IC1 storing 140 is added to the last ejected page. The ID code 140 is transmitted to the server 8 and stored in association with the image data file of the downloaded page or file, for example, C020. If the image forming apparatus 7 itself has a function of accessing an intranet or the Internet, the image forming apparatus 7 performs steps from accessing to downloading, converting to image data, and printing, and using the ID code 140 used. The image data file C020 and the association between the two may be sent to the server 8 and stored in the server 8.
[0066]
In the description of the present embodiment, the description has been given on the assumption that the plurality of tag ICs 1 accommodated in the tag IC adding unit 22 in FIG. 3 have different ID codes stored in advance. However, as described above, by changing the tag IC reading unit 23 to the tag IC reading / writing unit 23a, when the tag IC 1 is added to the paper P, the ID code managed by the image forming apparatus 7 or the server 8 is changed. After writing, it can be added to the paper P.
[0067]
Further, in the above-described embodiments, the description has been given by taking the specific number of pages and the number of sets (the number of copies) of the document to be printed as an example in order to facilitate the explanation. The invention is not limited.
[0068]
【The invention's effect】
As is apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, when reprinting a document, even if a large number of documents created by various print jobs are filed collectively, the file cover is maintained. Alternatively, the information necessary for reprinting is read by the image forming apparatus as a bundle of documents, the corresponding image data is automatically searched, and reprinting is performed based on the image data. It is possible to significantly reduce the time and improve the work efficiency.
[0069]
In addition, since the reprinting mode is used to perform reprinting from the stored image data, the possibility that the document is damaged or lost is extremely low. At the same time, no matter how many times the document is reprinted, the image quality does not deteriorate, so that a high-quality reprinted document can always be provided.
[0070]
Further, in order to use a server connected to a network, reprinting from image data can be performed on another image forming apparatus that does not store the image data.
[0071]
Also, there is no need to print and hand over information, materials, manuals, and the like that are published on the intranet or the Internet, and a tag IC that stores a URL can be added to one cover sheet and handed over, so that materials can be sent. And printing costs can be reduced. In addition, when carrying out a meeting or the like while moving to a different place, if only the paper with the tag IC on which the URL is added is brought without bringing such bulky materials, the necessary materials will be based on the paper. Printing on the spot.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an example of a non-contact type tag IC used in the present embodiment.
FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an image forming apparatus connected to a network.
FIG. 3 is a schematic front view showing a configuration of an image forming apparatus 7 to which the present invention is applied.
FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a print setting screen provided by a printer driver installed in the information processing apparatus in order to operate the image forming apparatus when the information processing apparatus uses the image forming apparatus as a printer. It is.
FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a document including four pages printed in three sets by one job, in which a tag IC1 is added to a first page of each set.
6A and 6B show an example in which documents printed by a plurality of jobs are stored in one file. FIG. 6A shows a configuration in the file, and FIG. 6B shows a structure in a plurality of tags IC1 included in the file. FIG. 4C is a diagram illustrating related information, and FIG. 4C illustrates a case where some image data related to the tag IC <b> 1 included in the file is not stored in the server 8.
FIGS. 7A and 7B show an example in which reprinting is further performed based on a file reprinted based on the display and settings shown in FIG. 6B, and FIG. FIG. 4B is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a printed file, and FIG. 4B illustrates information related to a tag IC1 included in the file.
8A and 8B are diagrams for explaining a cover page to which URL information is added. FIG. 8A shows a cover page to which a tag IC1 storing URL information is added, and FIG. 7 is a display example displayed on the display unit 14 when the image forming apparatus 7 reads the image.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 Tag IC
2 labels
3 Antenna
4 IC
6 Network
7 Image forming apparatus
8 Server
9 Internet network
11 Automatic Document Feeder
12 Document feeder
13 Document reading unit
14 Display
15 Operation input section
16 Operation unit
17 Paper feed unit
18 Image forming unit
19 Fixing unit
20 Post-processing unit
21 Discharge bin
22 Tag IC addition section
23 Tag IC reading unit
23a Tag IC reading / writing unit
24 control unit
25 Transport route
30 Print setting screen
31 Printer selection box
32 Print range setting box
33 Copies setting box
34 Tag setting box
35 Tag addition button
36 Property button
37 OK button
38 Cancel button
40, 41 files
P paper

Claims (16)

In an image forming apparatus connected to a network and printing an image based on image data on a recording medium,
At the time of printing, a memory storing the identification information of the print job is added to the recording medium, and the identification information and the association information that associates the identification information with the image data are transmitted to the network together with the image data. An image forming apparatus for outputting to an image forming apparatus. The network includes a network connected to an intranet capable of performing communication using an Internet protocol, and the memory stores a URL (URL) indicating a predetermined address on the intranet accessible via the network. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a Uniform Resource Locator is stored in advance. The network includes a network connected to the Internet, and a URL (Uniform Resource Locator) indicating a predetermined address on the Internet accessible via the network is stored in the memory in advance. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: 4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a position on the recording medium to which the memory is added can be set to be changeable. 5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein it is possible to select whether to add the memory before the printing is performed. 6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the memory is an RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) memory. Connected to a network to print an image based on the image data on a recording medium, and at the time of printing, add a memory storing identification information of the print job to the recording medium; And an image forming apparatus that outputs the association information that associates the identification information with the image data to the network together with the image data, and receives the identification information, the association information, and the image data that are input via the network. In an image forming system including a server for storing in a storage unit,
The image forming apparatus includes: an identification information reading unit that reads identification information stored in a memory added on the recording medium; and an identification information unit that is associated with the identification information based on the identification information read by the identification information reading unit. An image forming system comprising: a control unit that obtains image data obtained from the server; and an image forming unit that prints an image on a recording medium based on the image data obtained from the server. The image forming system according to claim 7, wherein the identification information reading unit simultaneously reads a plurality of pieces of identification information stored in memories added to the plurality of recording media. The image forming apparatus displays, on a display unit included in the image forming apparatus, the identification information read by the identification information reading unit and a file name of the image data associated with the identification information and acquired from the server. 9. The image forming system according to claim 7, wherein: When there are a plurality of image data acquired from the server displayed on the display unit, one or more arbitrary image data can be selected, and the image forming unit receives an image based on the selected image data. The image forming system according to claim 9, wherein printing is performed on a recording medium. The image forming system according to any one of claims 7 to 10, wherein the network includes a network connected to an intranet capable of performing communication using an Internet protocol. The image forming system according to claim 7, wherein the network includes a network connected to the Internet. In the memory, a URL (Uniform Resource Locator) indicating a predetermined address on the intranet or the Internet can be stored in advance. 13. The image forming system according to claim 11, wherein a predetermined document is downloaded, and the image forming unit prints the document on a recording medium. 14. The image forming system according to claim 7, wherein a position on the recording medium to which the memory is added can be set to be changeable. The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 7 to 14, wherein it is possible to select whether or not to add the memory before the printing is performed. 16. The image forming system according to claim 7, wherein the memory is an RFID (Radio Frequency IDentification) memory.

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