JP2010074526A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

Even when printing is performed based on print data sent from a computer after printing in a copying process, the printing contents of the copying process can be reprinted without using a large amount of storage area. .
An image reading function and a printing function are provided, and a plurality of processes including a printing process for performing printing based on print data input from an external device and a copying process for performing printing based on read image data can be executed. An image forming apparatus, a latest copy content storage means that specially stores the print contents in the latest copy processing, an additional copy instruction reception means that receives a reprint instruction for the latest copy processing, and a copy processing when the copy processing is executed And the additional copy processing means for reading and printing the print content stored in the latest copy content storage means when the additional copy instruction receiving means receives the reprint instruction. Prepare.
[Selection] Figure 2

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, and more particularly to an image forming apparatus having an image reading function and a printing function and capable of executing a plurality of processes including a printing process and a copying process.

2. Description of the Related Art An image forming apparatus having a function of storing the last printed contents and performing reprinting without retransmitting print data from a computer is known. For example, Patent Document 1 describes that reprinting can be performed by calling up the latest print content by a button operation.
JP 2007-25864 A

  By the way, in recent years, image forming apparatuses have become more multifunctional, and image forming apparatuses having an image reading function in addition to a printing function and capable of performing a plurality of processes including a printing process and a copying process have become widespread. In such an image forming apparatus, if the latest printing contents are stored for each printing process and copying process so that reprinting can be performed, a large amount of storage area is required, resulting in an increase in cost. In addition, when reprinting is performed, it is necessary to instruct whether the print content is the print content of the print process or the print content of the copy process, which makes the operation complicated.

  On the other hand, if only the latest print contents are stored, for example, if printing is performed based on print data sent from a computer after printing in the copying process, the printing contents of the copying process will be erased. In order to reprint the print contents, the document reading process must be performed again.

  The present invention has been made in view of such a situation, and even when printing based on print data sent from a computer after performing printing in the copying process, reprinting the printing contents of the copying process is performed. An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus which can be performed without using a large amount of storage area.

  In order to solve the above problems, an image forming apparatus of the present invention has an image reading function and a printing function, and performs printing processing based on print data input from an external device and printing based on the read image data. An image forming apparatus capable of performing a plurality of processes including a copying process to be performed, the latest copying contents storing means specially storing the printing contents in the latest copying process, and an additional copying instruction for receiving a reprinting instruction of the latest copying process When the copying process is executed, the receiving unit stores the printing content in the copying process in the latest copying content storage unit, and when the additional copying instruction receiving unit receives the reprinting instruction, the printing content is stored in the latest copying content storage unit. And additional copy processing means for reading out and printing the printed contents.

  According to the present invention, the use of the latest copy content storage means that specially stores the print content in the latest copy processing eliminates the need for a large amount of storage area. Further, the additional copy processing means stores the print contents in the copy process in the latest copy content storage means when the copy process is executed, so that the print based on the print data sent from the computer after performing the copy process is performed. Even when it is performed, the print content stored in the latest copy content storage means can be reprinted.

  At this time, the additional copy instruction accepting unit can further accept an instruction of the number of copies to be printed, and the additional copy processing unit can print the designated number of copies. Thereby, a user's convenience can be improved.

  A login authentication unit that performs login authentication using predetermined authentication information; and an apparatus setting management unit that can set whether or not the login authentication is required for the execution of the copying process. When the login authentication is set to be necessary for the execution of the copying process, the additional copy processing means stores the latest copy content storage means when performing logout processing after the login authentication. It is desirable to erase the printed contents. Thereby, it is possible to prevent the copy content from being reprinted by another user.

  On the other hand, the additional copy instruction accepting means, when it is set that the login authentication is not necessary for the execution of the copy process, when a predetermined time has passed since the copy process, or It is desirable to erase the print contents stored in the latest copy content storage means when an erase instruction is received from the user. Thereby, it is possible to prevent the copy content from being reprinted by another user.

  Further, the additional copy processing means can accept selection of a mode in which the print contents in the copy process are not stored in the latest copy content storage means even when the copy process is executed.

  According to the present invention, even when printing is performed based on print data sent from a computer after printing in a copying process, the printing contents of the copying process can be reprinted without using a large amount of storage area. An image forming apparatus is provided.

<System configuration>
Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The present embodiment is an example in which the information processing apparatus according to the present invention is applied to a printing apparatus. FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of a network printing system according to the present embodiment. As shown in the figure, the network printing system is configured by connecting a printing apparatus 10 and a plurality of personal computers (PCs) 20a, 20b, 20c, 20d (hereinafter represented by the PC 20) to a computer network 70. . The computer network 70 can typically be a LAN (Local Area Network). However, the present invention is not limited to the network printing system, but can also be applied to a stand-alone printing system in which the PC 20 and the printing apparatus 10 are locally connected, or a printing system configured by the printing apparatus 10 alone.

  The printing apparatus 10 is a so-called multi-function machine, and in addition to a printer function for performing printing based on print data sent from the PC 20, a copy function and a document table for performing copy printing by reading an image of a document placed on the document table. Is provided with a scanner function for reading an image of a document placed on the PC and transmitting it to the PC 20. Further, a facsimile function for transmitting and receiving image data by connecting to a telephone line may be further provided.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating functional configurations of the printing apparatus 10 and the PC 20 in the network printing system according to the present embodiment. As shown in the figure, the printing apparatus 10 includes a print execution unit 110, an image reading unit 120, an image processing unit 130, a setting management unit 140, a job management unit 150, an operation panel 160, a communication processing unit 170, and an IC card reader 180. I have. The image processing unit 130, the setting management unit 140, and the job management unit 150 that perform control processing in the printing apparatus 10 are functional modules such as a CPU, a memory, an image processing apparatus, and a hard disk device provided in the printing apparatus 10, for example. Can be configured.

  The print execution unit 110 has a printing mechanism that performs a printing operation by forming an image on printing paper using an image forming medium. In this embodiment, it is assumed that an ink jet printing mechanism is used in which ink is used as an image forming medium and ink is ejected line by line from a print head having a width covering a printing paper. However, a serial ink jet printing mechanism may be employed, or an electrophotographic printing mechanism may be employed in which toner is used as an image forming medium and printing is performed by fixing the toner onto a sheet. The print execution unit 110 also includes a printing paper supply / discharge mechanism and a transport mechanism.

  The image reading unit 120 includes a document table, a light receiving element, a light source, a lens, a scanning mechanism, and the like, reads image data of a document placed on the document table, converts it into an electrical signal, and outputs it to the image processing unit 130. The image reading unit 120 may be installed inside the casing of the printing apparatus 10 or may be installed independently outside the casing of the printing apparatus 10.

  The image processing unit 130 performs image processing on print data sent from the PC 20 or image data read by the image reading unit 120. The image processing performed by the image processing unit 130 is, for example, print data expansion processing, image data color conversion processing, binarization processing, halftone processing, and the like.

  The setting management unit 140 is a functional unit that manages various settings related to the printing apparatus 10 and various settings related to the user of the printing apparatus 10. The setting management unit 140 can accept these settings via a setting screen displayed on the operation panel 160. Also, the setting screen can be output as a web page and accepted via the browser unit 230 of the PC 20 described later. Details of the setting management unit 140 will be described later.

  The job management unit 150 manages jobs received from the user by the printing apparatus 10. The job includes a print job using a print function, an image reading job using a scanner function, a copy job using a copy function, and the like. Job management includes, for example, control of job execution order, error handling, log recording, and additional copy management. Details of the job management unit 150 will be described later.

  As the operation panel 160, for example, a touch panel display device can be used. The operation panel 160 displays an operation menu and setting contents of the printing apparatus 10, and receives an instruction from a user via a numeric keypad or an operation menu.

  The communication processing unit 170 performs protocol processing corresponding to the connection form in order to communicate with the PC 20 via the computer network 70. For example, in the case of LAN connection, communication processing by TCP / IP is performed.

  The IC card reader 180 reads information recorded on the IC card 40. In the present embodiment, user identification information registered as a user is recorded on the IC card 40, and the IC card 40 is read by the IC card reader 180, whereby user authentication can be performed. However, the medium for recording user identification information used for user authentication is not limited to the IC card 40. For example, a USB memory, an RF tag, or other recording medium can be used. In this case, the printing apparatus 10 uses a reading device corresponding to the recording medium.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the PC 20 includes a printer driver unit 210, a scanner driver unit 220, a browser unit 230, and a communication processing unit 240. The PC 20 has basic operations such as a user interface, file management, and user management defined by an operating system (not shown). Generally, an operating system has a login function, and a user of the PC 20 can be specified by a login ID or the like.

  The printer driver unit 210 is formed by the CPU of the PC 20 executing a printer driver program developed for the printing apparatus 10. Based on an instruction from the user, the printer driver unit 210 generates print data based on a document to be printed and outputs the print data to the printing apparatus 10.

  The scanner driver unit 220 is formed by the CPU of the PC 20 executing a scanner driver program developed corresponding to the image reading unit 120 of the printing apparatus 10. The scanner driver unit 220 performs processing for controlling image reading processing in the printing apparatus 10 based on an instruction from the user.

  The browser unit 230 has a function of displaying a Web page. In the present exemplary embodiment, the browser unit 230 displays a setting screen provided by the setting management unit 140 and the job management unit 150 of the printing apparatus 10 and a user on the setting screen. Is received and output to the setting management unit 140 and the job management unit 150.

  The communication processing unit 240 performs protocol processing corresponding to the connection form in order to communicate with the printing apparatus 10 via the computer network 70. For example, in the case of LAN connection, communication processing by TCP / IP is performed.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a main functional configuration of the setting management unit 140 of the printing apparatus 10. As shown in the drawing, the setting management unit 140 includes a printing apparatus setting management unit 141, a setting table 142, a user information management unit 143, a user information management table 144, and a usage history management table 145.

  The printing apparatus setting management unit 141 receives various settings regarding the printing apparatus 10 from the administrator user and records them in the setting table 142. The various settings related to the printing apparatus are, for example, network settings such as an IP address, settings related to optional functions, and the like. Each printer function, copy function, and scanner function includes a setting for whether or not login is necessary or not.

  In the printing apparatus 10, users are classified into general users and administrator users, and various settings relating to the printing apparatus 10 can be performed only by the administrator user. However, in the printing apparatus 10, the administrator user can have two login states: login as an administrator and login as a general user. In the login state as an administrator, in addition to various settings relating to the printing apparatus 10, user information registration change processing, job management processing, and the like can be performed, while in the login state as a general user, the printer function, copy function, and scanner function Only normal processing using can be performed.

  The user information management unit 143 receives information about a user who uses the printing apparatus 10 from a logged-in administrator user as an administrator, records the information in the user information management table 144, and uses the printing apparatus 10 for each user. Information on the situation is recorded in the use history management table 145. The user information management unit 143 also functions as a user authentication unit, and performs user authentication by login processing.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 4, the user information management table 144 includes a user name 144a, a password 144b, a PC login ID 144c, a belonging group 144d, an administrator authority 144e, a printer mode permission 144f, a copy mode permission 144g, and a scanner mode permission 144h. For each user.

  Here, the password 144 b is authentication information used when logging in to operate the printing apparatus 10. The PC login ID 144c is authentication information when logging in to the printing apparatus 10 via the PC 20, and user identification information when logging in to the operating system of the PC 20 can be used. The affiliation group 144d is a category for managing users by group. The user information management unit 143 may manage information related to the group with another table (not shown). The administrator authority 144e is information indicating whether or not the user is an administrator user. The administrator user is not limited to one person, and a plurality of administrator users can be set.

  The printer mode permission 144f, the copy mode permission 144g, and the scanner mode permission 144h are information indicating whether the printer function is used, the copy function is used, and the scanner function is used. That is, the printing apparatus 10 can independently set whether or not to permit use of the printer function, use of the copy function, and use of the scanner function for each user. Further, detailed use restrictions such as a restriction on the number of printed sheets and a restriction on a color printing function may be set.

  The usage history management table 145 records the usage history of the printing apparatus 10 for each user. The contents of the usage history can be, for example, the total number of times of printing, the total number of times of copying, the total number of times of document reading, etc. during a predetermined counting period. However, a more detailed usage history may be recorded. For example, the use time, color / monochrome, page number, number of copies, etc. may be recorded for each use.

  FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a main functional configuration of the job management unit 150 of the printing apparatus 10. As shown in the figure, the job management unit 150 includes a job reception unit 151, a job management control unit 152, a log information management unit 154, and an additional copy processing unit 155.

  The job reception unit 151 receives a job from the user. If the job is a new print job, the job is accepted by receiving print data from the PC 20. If the job content is a copy job or an image reading job, the job is accepted via the operation panel 160. As will be described later, the printing apparatus 10 has a function of accumulating / storing image data. If the job content is a print job of image data that has been accumulated / stored, a print job can be stored via the operation panel 160. Accept.

  The job management control unit 152 controls the execution of the accepted job. The job execution control includes, for example, job content analysis, job execution order management, job status management, job setting reception, and the like. Therefore, the job management control unit 152 includes a job setting reception unit 1521.

  The job setting reception unit 1521 receives a job setting for designating processing contents from the user for each job. The processing content received by the job setting receiving unit 1521 can be, for example, image reading settings such as document type, reading magnification, color mode, and reading quality if the job includes image reading processing. , Print settings such as print quality, paper supply / discharge device designation, paper size, double-sided / single-sided can be set.

  The log information management unit 154 functions as a history management unit and records a log relating to a job executed by the printing apparatus 10. The log information management unit 154 includes a log information recording area 1541 for storing a log. The simple setting recording area 1541 can be configured using, for example, a hard disk device.

  The log information recording area 1541 can record a log corresponding to the job content. If the job content is a print job, for example, as shown in FIG. 6, a job name 1541a, a status 1541b, an owner name 1541c, a printing time 1541d, a total page number 1541e, a copy number 1541f, and a reception date 1541g are recorded. When the job content is a copy job or an image reading job, items corresponding to the job are recorded.

  Here, the job name 1541a can be, for example, the name of a file to be printed, and the status 1541b can be, for example, normal termination, abort termination, error termination, etc., depending on the status at the end. The owner name 1541a is the name of the user who instructed the job. The printing apparatus 10 can specify the user name by the login process. The reception date and time 1541g is the date and time when the print job is received.

The additional copy processing unit 155 stores the print contents of the latest copy job, and when receiving an additional copy instruction from the user, performs processing for printing the stored print contents. For this reason, the additional copy processing unit 155 includes a latest copy content recording area 1551. The latest copy content recording area 1551 can be configured using a volatile or non-volatile storage device, and specially stores the print content in the latest copy job. That is, the latest copy content recording area 1551 stores only one print content of the latest copy job, and the content is overwritten and updated each time a copy job is performed. For this reason, a large amount of storage area is unnecessary. In addition, since the print contents in the latest copy job are specially stored, the print contents in the copy job are not overwritten even if the print job is performed.
<Login process>
Next, login processing in the printing apparatus 10 having the above configuration will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. Here, it is assumed that several users have already been registered by the administrator user.

  First, in the standby state, the printing apparatus 10 displays a standby screen 510 as shown in FIG. Note that when the printing apparatus 10 is accessed using the browser unit 230 of the PC 20, the same display is made on the display apparatus of the PC 20.

  On the standby screen 510, a login button 511, a printer button 512, a copy button 513, and a scanner button 514 are arranged. A printer button 512, a copy button 513, and a scanner button 514 are buttons that are selected when using the printer function, the copy function, and the scanner function, respectively.

  In this example, since the administrator user performs the setting that the login is necessary for using the printer function and the scanner function in the printing apparatus setting management unit 141 and the login is not necessary for using the copy function. In the non-logged-in state, buttons 512 and 514 for selecting the printer function and the scanner function are marked with a lock mark, indicating that they cannot be used. The button 513 for selecting the copy function can be used without being marked with a lock mark. The effect is shown.

  When the login button 511 is pressed on this screen (S101), the printing apparatus 10 displays a user selection screen 520 as shown in FIG. 9 on the operation panel 160 (S102). On the user selection screen 520, a list of user names 521 registered in the user information management table 144 is displayed in a selectable state, and a user who has pressed the login button 511 has a button on which his / her user name is written. Can be pressed.

  When receiving the selection of the user name, the printing apparatus 10 displays a password input screen 530 as shown in FIG. 10 on the operation panel 160 (S103). A key button group 531 is displayed on the password input screen 530, and the user who presses the login button 511 can input his / her password.

  Upon receiving the password input, the printing apparatus 10 determines whether or not authentication is possible by collating the password 144b recorded in the user information management table 144 with the input password (S104). Instead of inputting a password, authentication may be performed using an IC card 40 in which user identification information is recorded. In this case, by holding the IC card 40 over the IC card reader 180, information recorded on the IC card 40 can be read and authentication can be performed. Further, when logging in using the browser unit 230 of the PC 20, authentication may be performed by acquiring the login ID of the PC 20 via the operating system. In these cases, it is not necessary to enter a password.

  If the passwords do not match and authentication is not possible (S104: No), the user is prompted to input the password again. On the other hand, if the passwords match and are authenticated (S104: Yes), the administrator authority 144e of the authenticated user is acquired with reference to the user information management table 144, and the authenticated user is the administrator user. Is determined (S105).

  As a result, if the user is not an administrator user (S105: No), login is permitted as a general user (S111). FIG. 11 shows an example of a general user login screen 540 displayed on the operation panel 160 when logging in as a general user. On the general user login screen 540, a logout button 541, an icon 542 indicating a general user, a printer button 543, a copy button 544, and a scanner button 545 are arranged. The general user in this example is permitted to use the printer function and the copy function by the administrator user, and is not permitted to use the scanner function. For this reason, the scanner button 545 is grayed out and cannot be selected. The general user can select a function to be used on the general user login screen 540 and perform processing. After the processing is completed, when the logout button 541 is pressed (S112: Yes), the logout is performed and the printing apparatus 10 returns to the display of the standby screen 510 (S101).

  On the other hand, if the user is an administrator user (S105: Yes), first, the administrator is normally logged in (S106). The administrator normal login state is a state in which operations relating to administrator settings cannot be performed, and is a state in which the printer function, the copy function, and the scanner function can be used in the same manner as a general user. For this reason, it is possible to prevent a complicated menu for administrator setting that is unnecessary in normal operation from being displayed or inadvertently changing the setting of the printing apparatus 10.

  FIG. 12 shows an example of the administrator normal login screen 550 displayed on the operation panel 160 in the administrator normal login state. The administrator normal login screen 550 has a logout button 551, an icon 552 having the same shape as an icon 542 indicating that the user is not logged in as an administrator, a printer button, a copy button, a scanner button, and a management button. An administrator login button 553 and an administrator setting button 554 are arranged. Even an administrator user need only select a function to be used on the administrator normal login screen 550 and perform processing when performing a normal operation of the printer / copy / scanner. After the processing is completed, when the logout button 551 is pressed (S107: Yes), the logout is performed and the printing apparatus 10 returns to the display of the standby screen 510 (S101).

  The administrator login button 553 is a button that is pressed when logging in as an administrator, and the administrator setting button 554 is a button that is pressed when performing an administrator setting operation. Even if an administrator user is logged in as a general user and cannot perform administrator setting operations in the normal administrator login state, the administrator setting button 554 is grayed out so that it cannot be pressed. It has become.

  When the administrator login button 553 is pressed on the administrator normal login screen 550 (S108: Yes), an administrator management login state, which is a login as an administrator, is entered (S109). In order to further increase security, when the administrator log-in button 553 is pressed, a password as an administrator may be further requested and authentication as the administrator may be performed. In this case, a password for the administrator is separately determined and recorded in the user information management table 144.

  FIG. 13 shows an example of an administrator management login screen 560 displayed on the operation panel 160 in the administrator management login state. The administrator management login screen 560 includes a logout button 561, an icon 562 having a different shape from the icon 542 indicating that the user is a general user to indicate login as an administrator, a printer button, a copy button, a scanner button, An administrator login button 563 and an administrator setting button 564 are arranged. The administrator login button 563 is highlighted to indicate that the login is as an administrator. Further, since the login is as an administrator who can perform the administrator setting operation, the administrator setting button 564 can be pressed.

  An administrator user who has logged in as an administrator can perform various administrator setting operations by pressing the administrator setting button 564. Further, it is possible to access the job management unit 100 to display or delete jobs of general users. After the administrator setting operation is completed, when the logout button 561 is pressed (S110: Yes), the logout is performed and the printing apparatus 10 returns to the display of the standby screen 510 (S101). Further, the administrator login button 563 may be pressed again to cancel the login state as the administrator and return to the normal administrator login state (S106).

As described above, in this embodiment, the login state of the administrator user is distinguished into the login state as the administrator and the login state as a general user, and the administrator setting operation is performed in the initial login state. You are logged in as a general user who cannot. For this reason, it is possible to prevent the administrator user from displaying even a menu unnecessary for normal processing, and it is possible to prevent the administrator user from performing an administrator setting operation unnecessarily.
<Administrator setting operation>
Next, an administrator setting operation performed by the administrator user in the administrator management login state will be described. When the administrator setting button 564 is pressed on the administrator management login screen 560 shown in FIG. 13, the printing apparatus 10 displays an administrator setting screen 570 as shown in FIG. 14 on the operation panel 160.

  On the administrator setting screen 570, a user setting button 571, a login setting button 572, a log management button 573, a network setting button 574, and an additional copy function setting button 575 are arranged.

  The user setting button 571 on the administrator setting screen 570 is a button for the administrator user to make settings relating to the user. When the user setting button 571 is pressed, the printing apparatus 10 displays a user setting screen 580 as shown in FIG. On the user setting screen 580, a list 581 of user names registered in the user information management table 144 is displayed in a selectable state, and an add button 582, a change button 583, and an erase button 584 are arranged. . For example, when changing the registration information of a user, the administrator user who is logged in as an administrator may select the target user from the user name list 581 and press the change button 583.

  When the change button 583 is pressed, the printing apparatus 10 displays a change screen 590 as shown in FIG. The change screen 590 displays user information related to the selected user recorded in the user information management table 144. The user information includes, for example, usage permission for each function. An administrator user logged in as an administrator can change arbitrary user information on the change screen 590. The changed user information is reflected in the user information management table 144.

  A login setting button 572 on the administrator setting screen 570 is a button for setting whether login processing is necessary for use for each of the printer function, the copy function, and the scanner function. When the login setting button 572 is pressed, the printing apparatus 10 displays a login setting screen 595 as shown in FIG. On the login setting screen 595, it is possible to arbitrarily set whether or not login is required for each of the printer function, copy function, and scanner function. For example, when an administrator user who is logged in as an administrator allows the unspecified user to use the printer function without logging in, set “unnecessary” and do not pass user authentication. If you do not want to use it, you can set “Necessary”. Ao, for functions that do not require login, users who are prohibited from using each function set for each user can be used. In addition, it is desirable that the use permission setting for each user is automatically made unnecessary for the function that login is unnecessary.

In the present embodiment, when login is required for the printer function, the user performs login processing on the printing apparatus 10 after transmitting print data from the PC 20 in order to further enhance security, and user authentication is performed. When it is done, actual printing is started. At this time, it is possible to select whether printing is started automatically after user authentication by the printing apparatus 10 or whether printing is started by a user's button operation or the like.
<Additional copy processing>
Next, a copy process and an additional copy process in the printing apparatus 10 will be described. FIG. 18 is a flowchart for explaining copy processing and additional copy processing. This process is started when the printing apparatus 10 accepts a copy function selection from the user (S201). The selection of the copy function can be received, for example, on a mode selection screen 510 as shown in FIG.

  When the selection of the copy function is accepted, it is determined whether or not login authentication is required based on the setting of whether or not login processing is necessary to use the copy function (see FIG. 17) (S202). If it is determined that login authentication is necessary (S202: Yes), the user selection screen 520 (see FIG. 9) and the password input screen 530 (see FIG. 10) are displayed to perform login authentication (S203).

  Then, in accordance with the user's operation, the image reading unit 120 reads the image of the document, and the print execution unit 110 performs printing to execute copy processing (S204). Then, the print content is stored in the latest copy content recording area 1551 (S205). When a plurality of originals are copied in one copy job, the print contents of each page are stored. However, when a copy job is performed a plurality of times, the latest copy content recording area 1551 is overwritten with the latest print content.

  The user can reprint the copy processing performed most recently by instructing an additional copy. The additional copy instruction can be made by, for example, displaying a copy function list screen 600 as shown in FIG. 19 and pressing an additional copy button 601. As described above, in the present embodiment, it is possible to instruct additional copying by a simple operation.

  When the additional copy button 601 is pressed (S206), a confirmation screen 610 as shown in FIG. 20 is displayed, and additional copy is executed when the user presses the execute button 612 (S207). At this time, the desired number of copies can be entered in the number of copies input field 611, and the input number of copies is reprinted. Thereby, a user's convenience can be improved.

  When the user who has performed login authentication logs out (S208: Yes), the additional copy processing unit 155 deletes the print content recorded in the latest copy content recording area 1551 (S209). Thereby, it is possible to prevent the content of the latest copy process from being reprinted by another user.

  On the other hand, as a result of determining whether or not login authentication is necessary to use the copy function (S202), when it is determined that login authentication is not necessary (S202: No), the user operation is performed without performing login authentication. Accordingly, the image reading unit 120 reads the image of the original, and the print execution unit 110 performs printing to execute the copy process (S210). Then, the print content is stored in the latest copy content recording area 1551 (S211). When a plurality of originals are copied in one copy job, the print contents of each page are stored. However, when a copy job is performed a plurality of times, the latest copy content recording area 1551 is overwritten with the latest print content.

  The user can reprint the copy processing performed most recently by instructing an additional copy. The additional copy instruction can be made by, for example, displaying a copy function list screen 600 as shown in FIG. 19 and pressing an additional copy button 601. As described above, in the present embodiment, it is possible to instruct additional copying by a simple operation.

  When the additional copy button 601 is pressed (S212), a confirmation screen 610 as shown in FIG. 20 is displayed, and when the user presses the execute button 612, additional copy is executed (S213). At this time, the desired number of copies can be entered in the number of copies input field 611, and the input number of copies is reprinted. Thereby, a user's convenience can be improved.

  If login authentication is not required to use the copy function, the additional copy processing unit 155 deletes the print content recorded in the latest copy content recording area 1551 when the deletion condition is satisfied (S214: Yes). (S209). Here, the erasing condition can be, for example, that a predetermined time has elapsed after the execution of copying or a reset instruction received from the user. The reset instruction can be performed by, for example, pressing a reset button displayed on the operation panel 160. Thereby, it is possible to prevent the content of the latest copy process from being reprinted by another user.

  Note that the administrator can disable the additional copy function described above. Effective / invalid setting of the additional copy function is performed, for example, on the additional copy function screen 620 as shown in FIG. 21 displayed by pressing the additional copy function setting button 575 on the administrator setting screen 570 shown in FIG. be able to. The additional copy function screen 620 includes a valid button 622 and an invalid button 621. When the invalid button 621 is set, the additional copy processing unit 155 does not perform the copy process even if the copy process is performed. The print content is not recorded in the latest copy content recording area 1551. In this case, it is desirable to perform gray-out display so that the additional copy button 601 cannot be pressed on the copy function list screen 600 shown in FIG.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, even when printing is performed based on print data sent from a computer after printing in the copying process, reprinting of the printing contents of the copying process is performed in a large amount of memory. There is provided a printing apparatus capable of performing without using an area.

It is a figure which shows an example of a structure of the network printing system which concerns on this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the function structure of the printing apparatus and PC in a network printing system. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a main functional configuration of a setting management unit of the printing apparatus. FIG. It is a figure which shows an example of a structure of a user information management table. FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a main functional configuration of a job management unit of the printing apparatus. It is a figure which shows the structure of the log which a log information recording area memorize | stores. 6 is a flowchart for describing login processing in the printing apparatus. It is a figure which shows an example of the standby screen displayed on an operation panel. It is a figure which shows an example of the user selection screen displayed on an operation panel. It is a figure which shows an example of the password input screen displayed on an operation panel. It is a figure which shows an example of the general user login screen displayed on an operation panel when logging in as a general user. It is a figure which shows an example of the administrator normal login screen displayed on an operation panel in an administrator normal login state. It is a figure which shows an example of the administrator management login displayed on an operation panel in an administrator management login state. It is a figure which shows an example of the administrator setting screen displayed on an operation panel. It is a figure which shows an example of the user setting screen displayed on an operation panel. It is a figure which shows an example of the change screen displayed on an operation panel. It is a figure which shows an example of the login setting screen displayed on an operation panel. It is a flowchart explaining a copy process and an additional copy process. It is a figure which shows an example of a copy function list screen. It is a figure which shows an example of a confirmation screen. It is a figure which shows an example of an additional copy function screen.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Printing apparatus, 20 ... PC, 40 ... IC card, 70 ... Computer network, 100 ... Job management part, 110 ... Print execution part, 120 ... Image reading part, 130 ... Image processing part, 140 ... Setting management part, 141 ... Printing device setting management unit, 142 ... Setting table, 143 ... User information management unit, 144 ... User information management table, 145 ... Use history management table, 150 ... Job management unit, 151 ... Job reception unit, 152 ... Job management control 154 ... Log information management unit 155 ... Additional copy processing unit 160 ... Operation panel 170 ... Communication processing unit 180 ... IC card reader 210 ... Printer driver unit 220 ... Scanner driver unit 230 ... Browser unit 240: Communication processing unit, 1551 ... Latest copy content recording area

Claims (5)

An image forming apparatus having an image reading function and a printing function and capable of executing a plurality of processes including a printing process for performing printing based on print data input from an external apparatus and a copying process for performing printing based on read image data There,
Latest copy content storage means specially storing print contents in the latest copy processing;
An additional copy instruction receiving means for receiving a reprint instruction for the latest copy processing;
When the copy process is executed, the print content in the copy process is stored in the latest copy content storage unit, and when the additional copy instruction receiving unit receives the reprint instruction, the print stored in the latest copy content storage unit is stored. Additional copy processing means for reading and printing the contents;
An image forming apparatus comprising: The image forming apparatus according to claim 1,
The additional copy instruction receiving means can further receive an instruction for the number of copies to be printed,
The additional copy processing means prints the designated number of copies. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1,
Login authentication means for performing login authentication using predetermined authentication information;
Device setting management means capable of setting whether or not the login authentication is required for the execution of the copying process,
When the login authentication is set to be necessary for the execution of the copying process, the additional copy processing means stores the latest copy content storage means when performing logout processing after the login authentication. An image forming apparatus for erasing print contents. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3, wherein
If the login authentication is not necessary for the execution of the copying process, the additional copying instruction receiving unit is configured to execute a predetermined time after the copying process or from a user. An image forming apparatus for erasing a print content stored in the latest copy content storage means when an erase instruction is received. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the additional copy processing unit is capable of accepting selection of a mode in which print contents in the copy process are not stored in the latest copy content storage unit even when the copy process is executed.