JP2012136002A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

An object of the present invention is to easily change the contents of print setting information when printing a plurality of pieces of print data each holding different print setting information at a time so that the print result can be easily understood.
When there are a plurality of selected print data and a user selects a key 622, a print control unit discards all print setting information held by the selected print data. Therefore, at this time, the print setting information is in a default state (initial state). The display control unit displays a print setting screen on the display panel. The user changes print settings such as paper selection, duplex printing, and stapling via this print setting screen. When the user presses the start key, the print control unit outputs the print data and the set print setting information to the image forming unit to execute printing.

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus having a document box for accumulating and storing image data.

  As described in Patent Documents 1 and 2, recent digital multi-function peripherals have a document box for storing and storing image data read by a scanner and document data transmitted from an external device such as a personal computer. Is popular. In this type of image forming apparatus, data stored in a document box can be printed, transmitted by facsimile, or transmitted to a personal computer.

JP 2004-021390 A JP 2004-227476 A

  Generally, document data transmitted from a personal computer is stored in a document box with print setting information such as double-sided printing or stapling added. When multiple document data saved in this document box are selected and printed at once, there is no problem with printing using the print setting information held by each document data as it is, but you want to print with common print settings. In some cases, if the contents of each print setting information are different, it is necessary to reset all the print setting information.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problem, and it is possible to easily change the contents of the print setting information when printing a plurality of pieces of print data each having different print setting information at once, and the print result is An object of the present invention is to provide an easy-to-understand image forming apparatus.

  According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus for storing and storing print data, a print receiving means for receiving selection input of print data stored in the storage means, and printing an image on paper. When the image forming unit and the print accepting unit accept selection input of a plurality of print data holding print setting information, whether to print each print data using the print setting information held by the print data as it is Or change selection receiving means for receiving selection input as to whether or not to change all print setting information held by each print data, and the change selection receiving means changes all print setting information held by each print data. When a selection input is received, a display control unit that displays a print setting screen on the display unit, and a print setting that receives a print setting setting input via the print setting screen. When the accepting unit and the change selection accepting unit accept the selection input for printing the print data by using the print setting information held by the print data as it is, the print forming information is used for the image forming unit. In contrast, when control is performed to print each of the print data, and the change selection accepting unit accepts a selection input for changing all the print setting information held by each of the print data, all the print setting information is invalidated. And a print control unit that controls the image forming unit to print the print data using the print setting received by the print setting reception unit.

  According to the present invention, when a plurality of print data having different print setting information is to be printed with a common print setting, the print control unit invalidates all the print setting information held by each print data, and newly Since the print setting to be performed is executed by the image forming unit as the print setting common to a plurality of print data, it is not necessary for the user to reset each print setting information, and printing can be executed with a simple operation. it can.

  In addition, when trying to set common print settings using the print setting information held by the print data as they are, a complicated prohibition relationship occurs between the data, and it was difficult for the user to understand what kind of printed matter is output. . However, as described above, the print control unit invalidates all the print setting information held by the print data, and prints the print setting information newly set via the print setting screen as the print setting information common to all the print data. By executing it, the prohibition relation disappears and the print result becomes easy to understand.

  According to the present invention, when a plurality of print data having different print setting information is to be printed with a common print setting, the print control unit invalidates all the print setting information held by each print data, and newly Since the print setting to be performed is executed by the image forming unit as the print setting common to a plurality of print data, it is not necessary for the user to reset each print setting information, and printing can be executed with a simple operation. it can.

  In addition, when trying to set common print settings using the print setting information held by the print data as they are, a complicated prohibition relationship occurs between the data, and it was difficult for the user to understand what kind of printed matter is output. . However, as described above, the print control unit invalidates all the print setting information held by the print data, and prints the print setting information newly set via the print setting screen as the print setting information common to all the print data. By executing it, the prohibition relation disappears and the print result becomes easy to understand.

1 is a diagram illustrating an outline of an internal structure of an image forming apparatus. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an electrical configuration of an image forming apparatus. The figure for demonstrating the data structure in a box. The figure which showed an example of the operation display part. The flowchart which showed the flow of the printing process of the data memorize | stored in the box. The flowchart which showed the flow of the printing process of the data memorize | stored in the box following FIG. The figure which showed the list screen of the box name of a box. The figure which showed the list screen of the data preserve | saved at the box. The figure which showed the screen which receives the selection input of whether to use the print setting information which print data hold | maintain. The figure which showed the print setting screen.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an outline of the internal structure of an image forming apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The image forming apparatus 1 can be applied to, for example, a digital multifunction machine having a copy, printer, and facsimile function. The image forming apparatus 1 is a tandem system, and includes an apparatus main body 100 and an image reading unit 200 disposed on the apparatus main body 100.

  The image reading unit 200 reads an image (character, figure, photograph, etc.) with a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) or the like and outputs it as image data. The image reading unit 200 has a function of reading a color image. As a result, copying and facsimile transmission can be performed.

  The apparatus main body 100 includes a sheet storage unit 110, an image forming unit 130, and a fixing unit 160.

  The paper storage unit 110 is disposed at the lowermost part of the apparatus main body 100 and includes a paper tray 111 that can store a bundle of paper P. The paper tray 111 is inserted into the apparatus main body 100 and attached. When the paper P is replenished, the paper tray 111 is pulled out from the apparatus main body 100. In the bundle of sheets P stored in the sheet tray 111, the uppermost sheet P is fed out toward the sheet conveyance path 115 by driving the pickup roller 113. The paper P is transported to the image forming unit 130 through the paper transport path 115.

  The image forming unit 130 forms a toner image on the conveyed paper P. The image forming unit 130 includes a magenta unit 133M, a cyan unit 133C, a yellow unit 133Y, and a black unit 133K, which are arranged in the order in which the toner images are transferred to the transfer belt 131. These units have the same configuration, and a magenta unit 133M will be described as an example.

  The magenta unit 133M includes a photosensitive drum 135 and an exposure device 137. Around the photosensitive drum 135, a charger 139, a developing device 141, and a cleaner 143 are arranged. The charger 139 uniformly charges the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 135. The exposure device 137 generates light corresponding to magenta data among image data (image data output from the image reading unit 200, image data transmitted from a personal computer, image data received by facsimile, etc.), and uniformly. Irradiate the circumferential surface of the charged photosensitive drum 135. As a result, an electrostatic latent image having a magenta pattern is formed on the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 135. In this state, by supplying magenta toner from the developing device 141 to the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 135, a toner image having a magenta pattern is formed on the peripheral surface.

  The transfer belt 131 can move clockwise while being sandwiched between the photosensitive drum 135 and the primary transfer roller 145. A toner image having a magenta pattern is transferred from the photosensitive drum 135 to the transfer belt 131. The magenta toner remaining on the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 135 is removed by the cleaner 143. The above is the description of the magenta unit 133M.

  Above the magenta unit 133M, the cyan unit 133C, the yellow unit 133Y, and the black unit 133K, containers that store toner of corresponding colors, that is, a magenta toner container 147M, a cyan toner container 147C, and a yellow toner. A container for toner 147Y and a container for black toner 147K are arranged. Each color developing device 141 is supplied with toner from a corresponding container.

  As described above, a magenta pattern toner image is transferred to the transfer belt 131, and a cyan pattern toner image is transferred onto the toner image. Similarly, a yellow pattern toner image and a black pattern toner are transferred. The image is transferred in layers. As a result, a color toner image is formed on the transfer belt 131. In this way, a color toner image is formed on the transfer belt 131 by transferring the toner image of each color pattern superimposed on the transfer belt 131. The color toner image is transferred by the secondary transfer roller 149 onto the paper P conveyed from the paper storage unit 110 described above.

  The sheet P on which the color toner image is transferred is sent to the fixing unit 160. The fixing unit 160 has a structure in which a fixing belt 165 is hung on a heating roller 161 and a fixing roller 163. The fixing belt 165 is sandwiched between the fixing roller 163 and the pressure roller 167. The paper P onto which the color toner image is transferred is sandwiched between these rollers. Thus, heat and pressure are applied to the color toner image and the paper P, and the color toner image is fixed to the paper P. The paper P is discharged to a paper discharge tray 169.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of the image forming apparatus 1 shown in FIG. The image forming apparatus 1 has a configuration in which a storage unit 100, an image reading unit 200, an image forming unit 130, a control unit 300, an operation display unit 400, and a communication unit 500 are connected to each other via a bus. The image forming unit 130 and the image reading unit 200 have been described with reference to FIG.

  The storage unit 100 is formed of a storage medium such as a hard disk or a flash memory, for example. The storage unit 100 accumulates and stores image data read by the image reading unit 200, document data received by the communication unit 500 from a personal computer, and the like as print data. Is stored in the document box group 110. The data stored in the box 111 can be printed at any time, and can correspond to various functions such as batch printing for printing a plurality of data at once, management of a print job, and a preview function. Further, the boxes 111 can be properly used for each user, each group, each department, or the like.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining the data configuration of the box 111. The print data stored in the box 111 may include data that holds print setting information and data that does not. In general, document data sent from a personal computer or the like is sent together with print setting information such as paper size, double-sided printing, and stapling specification set by the user on the personal computer, so this print setting information is added to the document data. This is because the image data read by the image reading unit 200 is saved without adding print setting information. In the case of FIG. 3, the file aaa and the file bbb hold print setting information, but the file ccc and the file ddd do not hold print setting information.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of the operation display unit 400. The operation display unit 400 is provided with operation keys including hard keys. Specifically, a start key 401, a numeric keypad 402, a stop key 403, a reset key 404, a function switching key 405 for switching between copy, printer, scanner, and facsimile are provided. A document box key 407 is a key used when an operation related to a document box described later is performed.

  The operation display unit 400 is provided with a display panel 406 having a touch panel function. The display panel 406 is configured by an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display), an ELD (Electronic Luminescent Display), or the like, and displays various operations and operation contents, as well as operation keys including soft keys. The display panel 406 detects the touch position and outputs a detection signal to the control unit 300 when the user performs a touch operation.

  The communication unit 500 includes a facsimile communication unit 501 and a network I / F unit 503. The facsimile communication unit 501 includes an NCU (Network Control Unit) for controlling connection of a telephone line with a destination facsimile and a modulation / demodulation circuit for modulating / demodulating a signal for facsimile communication, and is connected to the telephone line 505. A network I / F unit 503 is a communication interface circuit for executing communication with a terminal device such as a personal computer connected to the LAN 507, and is connected to a LAN (Local Area Network) 507.

  The control unit 300 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory), an image memory, and the like. The CPU executes control necessary for operating the image forming apparatus 1 on the hardware constituting the image forming apparatus 1. The ROM stores software necessary for controlling the operation of the image forming apparatus 1. The RAM is used for temporary storage of data generated during execution of software, storage of application software, and the like. The image memory temporarily stores image data (image data output from the image reading unit 200, document data received by the communication unit 500, and the like).

  The control unit 300 includes a display control unit 301 and a print control unit 302. The display control unit 301 controls the display panel 406 to display messages such as various operations and operation contents, and operation keys.

  The print control unit 302 performs print control on the image forming unit 130 when printing the print data stored in the box 111. More specifically, the document data transmitted from the personal computer is stored as print data in the box 111 with print setting information such as double-sided printing and stapling added as shown in the file aaa in FIG. Then, when the user wants to print a plurality of print data holding the print setting information among the print data stored in the box 111 at a time, for example, when the user wants to print the file aaa and the file bbb at once. There is no problem when printing using the print setting information held in each file as it is, but if you want to print with the common print settings, you need to change the contents of the print setting information held in each file, The operation was troublesome.

  Therefore, when printing a plurality of pieces of print data each having different print setting information with common print settings, the print control unit 302 invalidates all the print setting information and uses the newly set print settings to generate an image. Control is performed to cause the forming unit 130 to execute printing.

  Hereinafter, a method for printing a plurality of print data each holding different print setting information will be described in detail. 5 and 6 are flowcharts showing the flow of print processing of print data stored in the box 111 in the present embodiment. When the user presses the document box key 407 of the operation display unit 400 (step S11; YES), the display control unit 301 displays the screen 600 on the display panel 406 (step S12). FIG. 7 shows a box list screen 600 stored in the document box group 110. The user selects a desired box from the boxes displayed on the screen 600 using the touch panel function.

  Thereafter, when the “open” key 602 is selected by the user (step S13; YES), the display control unit 301 displays a screen 610 shown in FIG. 8 (step S14). FIG. 8 shows a list screen 610 of print data stored in the box selected on the screen 600. The user can select data to be printed from the print data displayed on the screen 610. The number of print data that can be selected may be one, or a plurality of data can be selected. Further, in response to the touch operation by the user, the display control unit 301 displays a check mark in the check box 611 of the selected print data.

  When the selection of the print data is completed and the “print” key 612 is selected by the user (step S15; YES), the print control unit 302 reads the selected print data from the box 111 and stores it in the RAM or the like included in the control unit 300. Temporary storage. When all the selected print data does not hold the print setting information (step S16; NO), the control unit 300 ends the print process to perform another process. An example of this separate processing will be briefly described. If the selected print data does not have print setting information, the display control unit 301 displays a print setting screen, and the print control unit 302 displays the set print setting. To execute printing. In addition, when print data that holds / does not hold print setting information coexists, the print control unit 302 invalidates the print setting information, and executes printing using the newly set print setting information.

  When all the selected print data holds the print setting information (step S16; YES), and the number of the selected print data is one (step S17; one), the control unit 300 The process proceeds to step S20. When the start key 401 is pressed (step S20; YES), the print control unit 302 outputs the print data temporarily stored in the RAM to the image forming unit 130 to execute printing. As a result, the image forming unit 130 executes printing using the print setting information held by the print data (step S21).

  On the other hand, when the number of selected print data is plural (step S17; plural), the display control unit 301 causes the display panel 401 to display a screen 620 as shown in FIG. FIG. 9 shows a screen 620 for accepting a selection input as to whether or not to use print setting information held by print data. A key 621 is a key that is selected when printing is performed using the print setting information held in the print data as it is. A key 622 is a key selected when printing is performed by changing the contents of the print setting information held in the print data. When the user selects the key 621 (step S18; NO) and the start key 401 is pressed (step S20; YES), the print control unit 302 outputs the print data temporarily stored in the RAM to the image forming unit 130. To print. As a result, the image forming unit 130 executes printing using the print setting information held by the print data (step S21).

  When the user selects the key 622 (step S18; YES), the print control unit 302 discards all print setting information included in the print data temporarily stored in the RAM. Therefore, at this time, the print setting information is in a default state (initial state). Then, the display control unit 301 causes the display panel 401 to display a print setting screen 630 as shown in FIG. The user performs desired print settings such as paper selection, double-sided printing, and staple copying via the print setting screen 630. The display panel 406 having a touch panel function detects a touch position and outputs a detection signal to the control unit 300 when the user performs a touch operation. The print control unit 302 temporarily stores the detection signal in the RAM based on the detection signal. The print setting information of the print data being changed is changed (step S19).

  Here, “change the print setting information” means that the print control unit 302 changes the print setting information of the print data temporarily stored in the RAM to the print setting information set in step S19. In this way, the plurality of selected print data (that is, the print data temporarily stored in the RAM) all hold the same print setting information.

  When the user presses the start key 401 (step S20; YES), the print control unit 302 outputs the print data temporarily stored in the RAM to the image forming unit 130 to execute printing. As a result, the image forming unit 130 prints the print data using the print setting information held by the print data. That is, all print data is printed with the common print settings (step S21).

  On the other hand, when the user selects the key 621 (step S18; NO), the print control unit 302 does not change the print setting information of the print data temporarily stored in the RAM, and then the start key 401 is pressed. (Step S20; YES), the print control unit 302 outputs the print data temporarily stored in the RAM to the image forming unit 130 to execute printing. As a result, the image forming unit 130 prints the print data using the print setting information held by the print data. That is, printing is performed using the print setting information held in the print data as it is (step S21).

  As described above, when a plurality of pieces of print data having different print setting information are to be printed with a common print setting, all the print setting information held by each print data is invalidated and newly set. By causing the image forming unit 130 to perform printing using the print settings, it is not necessary for the user to reset each print setting information, and printing can be performed with a simple operation.

1 Image Forming Apparatus 100 Storage Unit 110 Document Box Group 111 Box (Storage Unit)
130 Image forming unit (image forming means)
200 Image Reading Unit 300 Control Unit 301 Display Control Unit (Display Control Unit)
302 Print control unit (print control means)
400 Operation display unit (print accepting means, change selection accepting means, print setting accepting means)
401 Display panel (display unit)
500 Communication unit

Claims (1)

Storage means for accumulating and storing print data;
Print accepting means for accepting a selection input of print data stored in the storage means;
Image forming means for printing an image on paper;
When the print accepting unit accepts a selection input of a plurality of print data holding print setting information, the print data is printed using the print setting information held by the print data as it is, or each print data Change selection accepting means for accepting selection input as to whether or not to change all the print setting information held by the data;
Display control means for displaying a print setting screen on the display unit when the change selection accepting means accepts a selection input for changing all the print setting information held by each print data;
Print setting receiving means for receiving a print setting setting input via the print setting screen;
When the change selection accepting unit accepts a selection input for printing the print data using the print setting information held in the print data as it is, the print forming information is used for the image forming unit. When control is performed to print the print data and the change selection accepting unit accepts a selection input for changing all the print setting information held by each of the print data, the print setting information is invalidated as the print setting information. Print control means for controlling the image forming means to print the print data using the print settings received by the means;
An image forming apparatus.

Images