JP2017001358A - Image formation device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image formation device that, when a printing job is received from outside, temporarily accumulates it in an image formation device, and prints the accumulated print jobs by operation of a user.SOLUTION: An image formation device includes a reception means which receives a print job from outside, a storing means which accumulates the print jobs, an operation panel for operation of a user and display, and a print part for printing on a recording medium. Storing is made in the storing means according to an attribute of a print job, the print job is displayed according to its attribute, and a print job that is printed is selected according to inputting from the operation panel.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus that records an image on a recording medium.

  Image forming apparatuses such as electrophotographic copying machines and printers are widely used. Some of these image forming apparatuses input various settings from an operation panel and function in accordance with the purpose. In addition, such an image forming apparatus is connected to a network such as the Internet, and can receive image data from a remote computer and print the image data.

  Some printers can store print data corresponding to the user. For example, the print control apparatus described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-334150 can identify a user who owns print data by inputting and authenticating a user ID and password. Can operate on print data. If the authentication is successful, a list of print data corresponding to the user is displayed and can be selected. The selected print data can be printed and canceled.

JP 2002-334150 A

  In a conventional apparatus, information for specifying a user is added to print data and stored. Only when the authentication by the user ID and password is successful, the print data corresponding to the user is displayed and can be executed. However, when the user cannot operate the printer, it is necessary to request printing from another person. In that case, it is necessary to inform others of their ID and password. When a list of print data is displayed on another person and printing is performed, there is a possibility that even print data that the other person does not want to see may be seen. There was such a security problem.

  The present invention provides an image forming apparatus for storing print data to which user information received from the outside is added, selecting the stored print data based on information input by a user operation, and printing the selected print data. To do.

  An image forming apparatus of the present invention stores a print unit that prints input image data on a recording medium, an image data storage unit that stores the image data and attribute information of the image data, and an image data storage unit that stores the image data. Display means for displaying a list of the image data, selection means for selecting the image data from the list displayed on the display means, and at least a printing process for the image data selected by the selection means Instructing means for instructing any one of a plurality of processes including a plurality of processes, and storing authentication basic information including a user name for authenticating a user and a password corresponding to the user name Authentication information storage means, input means for allowing the user to input authentication information including a password, and authentication input by the input means And verification means for verifying the authentication basic information stored in the authentication information storage means, and the attribute information includes a user name and first determination information indicating whether it is secret, When authentication information is inputted from the input means, the inputted authentication information is collated with the basic authentication information stored in the authentication information storage means by the collating means, and the input is inputted by the collating means. If the authentication information input from the means can be verified, the image data having the user name of the authentication basic information corresponding to the authentication information input by the input means in the attribute information of the image data Is extracted, and a list of the image data is displayed on the display means. When the collation means cannot collate, the attribute information is not secret. Extracting the image data including disconnection information, displaying a list of the image data on the display means, selecting the image data from the list displayed on the display unit by the selection means, The selected image data is printed by the printing unit.

  According to the present invention, printing can be performed while checking the state of the image forming apparatus.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the image forming apparatus. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of print job information. FIG. 3 is a diagram of a first example of display on the operation panel. FIG. 4 is a diagram of a second example of display on the operation panel. FIG. 5 is a diagram of a third example of display on the operation panel. FIG. 6 is a first flowchart for explaining the operation. FIG. 7 is a second flowchart for explaining the operation. FIG. 8 is a third flowchart for explaining the operation. FIG. 9 is a diagram of a fourth example of display on the operation panel. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an outline of the image forming apparatus.

Embodiments will be described below with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an embodiment of the present invention. The image forming apparatus 1 is connected to a host computer 2 connected to a network. The image forming apparatus 1 includes a printing unit 9 that records an image on a recording medium. For example, recording on a recording medium is possible by a method such as an electrophotographic method or an ink jet method. The image forming apparatus 1 prints the image data sent from the host computer 2, that is, the print job, on paper or a plastic film.

  The image forming apparatus 1 includes an I / F 3 that is an interface with an external device, and is connected to a host computer 2 via a network such as the Internet. The control unit 4 controls the entire apparatus. The control unit 4 operates according to programs and set values stored in the ROM 6, RAM 7 or HDD 8. The ROM 6 is a non-volatile storage unit that stores programs, various setting values, and the like. The RAM 7 is a storage unit that temporarily stores data for operations of the control unit 4 and temporarily stores work areas and various setting values. The HDD 8 is a hard disk device. The HDD 8 is a storage means for storing image data sent from the host computer 2, bitmap data obtained by converting the image data to be printed by the printing unit 9, a program, various setting values, temporary data storage, and the like. used. The operation panel 5 is input / output means including an LCD for display and keys for input. The operation panel 5 may be a touch panel that can be input by touching a predetermined position on the screen. The scanner 10 is a reading device that reads a document and converts it into electronic data. The read electronic data is stored in the HDD 8 and can be printed by the printing unit 9 based on the electronic data. In addition, the read electronic data itself or converted into a format such as PDF or TIFF can be stored in the HDD 8 or transmitted to the host computer 2.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of print job information. FIG. 2 shows an example of five jobs. Image data to be printed, that is, job data is stored in the HDD 8. The job data can be acquired by reception from an external host computer 2 or input from the scanner 10. The job data includes at least a user name to be printed and image data to be printed. A list of job data is displayed on the operation panel 5. There are two modes for displaying job data: a secret display that is displayed only when the user performs a specific operation determined in advance, and a normal display that can be displayed without a specific operation by the user or another person.

  User authentication is required for confidential display. The user ID and password are input and compared with user information stored in advance. If they match, it is authenticated, and a print job of the authenticated user is displayed. In the case of normal display, if there is no match, or if the operator authentication process itself is not performed, anyone can display a list of jobs other than those to be kept secret. That is, the ROM 6 or the HDD 8 stores a user name and a password that are basic information for user authentication. From the operation panel 5, authentication information such as a password and a user ID is input. Furthermore, the control part 4 collates basic information and authentication information. The control unit 4 serves as a collating unit for performing collation. If the results match, the job corresponding to the matched user ID can be displayed as a secret job. Alternatively, only a password may be input, a password in basic information that matches the password may be searched, and a job having a secret attribute corresponding to the user ID corresponding to the password may be displayed. In this way, authentication processing can be performed by inputting only the password. That is, if the collation result matches by the collation means, it is assumed that the authentication has succeeded, and if they do not coincide, the authentication has failed.

  Whether to use the secret display mode or the normal display mode can be determined from the attribute information of the file added to the job data. The determination is made based on the attribute information corresponding to the column of the BOX type 70 in FIG. If the information corresponds to normal, it indicates that the job data can be operated and displayed by anyone. If the information corresponds to secret, the job data can be operated and displayed only by an authenticated user. Indicates.

  As another attribute information, there is a column of a user name 71, which is information for specifying the owner of the file. When the user name in the attribute information matches the authenticated user, it is possible to operate and display job data whose BOX type is secret.

  The column of image data 72 is the contents of image data for printing the job. In addition, there are columns for the number of pages 73, the number of copies 74, and the file name 75. The number of pages indicates the number of pages of the job to be printed. The number of copies indicates the number of copies to be printed. For example, it may be difficult if the number of jobs increases, but if the number of jobs is small enough to enter the list display screen, such as 10 or less, the file name is displayed for the user who has instructed printing. Even without this, it is considered that job data to be printed can be identified and recognized from the time, order, user name, number of pages, and the like when the user issues a print instruction. If the job data in the list is specified, the file name is displayed. Both file name and data are provided as attribute information.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram of a first example of display on the operation panel. The operation panel has two tabs, a normal BOX 12 and a secret BOX 13, in the display screen 5 in accordance with the BOX type that is attribute information of job data. When selected, the display of the display content area 14 is switched accordingly. In the display content area 14, a list, a file name, operation buttons, and the like are displayed.

  When the normal BOX 12 is selected, the BOX type that is one of the attribute information of the job data is extracted as information indicating normal, and the list is displayed. In the list display area 11, the user name, the number of pages, and the number of copies are displayed. The normal mark 25 is a mark indicating that the BOX type of the job data is normal. A rectangular mark is used. A mark indicating such a BOX type is displayed corresponding to the job.

  The user can select a job to be printed from the displayed list. A selection frame 15 is displayed for the selected job, indicating that it is the selected job. The file name of the selected job is displayed in the file name area 16. You can check the file name of what you want to print. Further, when the number of copies button 18 is touched, a copy number change area 21 for increasing / decreasing the number of copies of the selected job is popped up and displayed. An increase button 23 and a decrease button 24 are displayed. When the increase button 23 is touched once, the number of copies on the number display 22 is increased by 1, and the number of copies in the list display area 11 is also increased by 1. When the decrease button 24 is touched once, the number of copies on the copy display 22 is decreased by 1, and the number of copies in the list display area 11 is also decreased by 1. In this way, the number of copies of the selected job can be easily increased or decreased. Here, the case of changing the number of copies has been described, but for example, the print properties such as changing the enlargement / reduction to be printed, changing the color and black and white, or rotating and printing may be changed.

  When the print button 17 is touched, a list in which the selection frame 15 is displayed, that is, printing of the selected job is executed. The return button 19 is a button for returning the process to the previous state. The delete button 20 deletes the job indicated by the selection frame 15. Further, when the print button 17 is continuously touched a plurality of times, printing may be performed as many times as the number of touches. For example, when it is desired to make two copies, even if the number of copies button 18 is not used to change the number of copies, two copies can be printed by simply touching the print button 17 twice, which saves a considerable amount of labor. Further, it is preferable that the printed job is not deleted until a predetermined time elapses, for example, 10 minutes such as deletion by the delete button 20 or 10 minutes. This is because it may be desired to print again after printing.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram of a second example of display on the operation panel. This is a display when the secret BOX 13 tab is selected. Here, user authentication is required before displaying the contents. A list of jobs having the same user name as the user who has been successfully authenticated is displayed.

  Here, user B has succeeded in authentication, and user B's job is displayed. The displayed content is almost the same as the display on the tab of the normal BOX 12. The secret mark 30 is displayed as a mark indicating that it is secret. Here, it is a star-shaped mark. The file name of the job selected in the selection frame 15 is displayed in the file name area 31. If the print button is touched with respect to the selected job, printing is executed. The number of copies button can change the number of copies. The back button returns to the previous processing state. The delete button can delete the selected job. These buttons are the same as those of the normal BOX 12 described above.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram of a third example of display on the operation panel. This is a display when the secret BOX 13 tab is selected. In this display, in addition to the secret display, a list when the normal BOX 12 tab is designated is further displayed. The normal BOX 12 can be operated without specifying an operator. On the other hand, the secret BOX 13 can be operated only by the user specified by the authentication. There is no problem even if a specific authenticated user sees or operates the contents of what is normally displayed on the BOX 12. Therefore, the secret BOX 13 displays not only a secret BOX type of attribute information but also a normal one.

  FIG. 5 shows a list when user B is authenticated. It is the mark in the list that determines whether the job is secret or not secret. The job on which the secret mark 32 is displayed indicates the secret job of the user B. User A's secret job is not displayed.

  A normal mark 33 and a normal mark 34 indicate jobs when the BOX type is normal. In this case, the authenticated user is the user B, but not only the job of the user B but also the jobs of other users are displayed. The job with the normal mark 33 is a job of the user A by the user. The job with the normal mark 35 is the job of user B. In the file name area 35, the file name of the job indicated by the selection frame 15 is displayed. The job designated by the selection frame 15 can be printed by touching the print button. The other buttons are the same as described above.

  Also, for example, when the print button is touched and the file name selected in the drawing is printed as ddd, not only this file but also the job of page number 5 for user B can be performed continuously. . This is because jobs having the same user name can be printed by a single operation, so that duplication of similar operations is eliminated and labor saving is possible. When the print button is touched, other jobs having the same user name as the selected job are extracted, and these jobs are sequentially printed.

  FIG. 6 is a first flowchart for explaining the operation. Operations relating to the operation of the operation panel 5 will be described with reference to flowcharts. This is the operation when the job list is displayed.

  First, when the operator touches the touch panel 5 and performs some operation, in step S1, it is determined whether or not the operation is selection of a job displayed in the list, that is, selection of a file to be printed. If the operation is to select a job, the process proceeds to step S2, and if not, the process proceeds to step S3.

In step S2, a job is selected from the list, a selection frame 15 is displayed for the selected job, and a file name of the selected job is displayed.
In step S3, it is determined whether or not the operation is to touch the print button 17 to execute printing. If the operation is for printing, the process proceeds to step S4, and if not, the process proceeds to step S5. To do.

In step S4, the image data of the selected job is transmitted to the printing unit 9, and printing is executed.
In step S5, it is determined whether or not the operation is to change the number of copies by touching the number of copies button 18. If the operation is for changing the number of copies, the process proceeds to step S6. If not, the process proceeds to step SS7. Transition.

In step S6, a pop-up screen for changing the number of copies is displayed.
In step S7, it is determined whether or not the operation is to delete the specified job, that is, a file in the list, by touching the delete button 20, and if the operation is to delete, the process goes to step S8. In this case, the process proceeds to step S9.

In step S8, the selected job is deleted. That is, it is deleted from the memory.
In step S9, it is determined whether or not the operation is for touching the return button 19 to shift the processing state to the previous state. If not, the process proceeds to step S11.

In step S10, the state is changed to the previous state.
In step S11, if the operation is to increase the number of copies by touching the increase button 23 for increasing the number of copies and determining whether or not to increase the number of copies of the selected job, step S11 is performed. If not, the process proceeds to step S13.

In step S12, the number of print copies of the selected job is increased by one.
In step S13, it is determined whether or not the operation is to reduce the number of copies of the selected job by touching the decrease button 24 for DOWN the number of copies. If the operation is to reduce the number of copies, step S14 is performed. If not, the process proceeds to step S15.

In step S14, the number of print copies of the selected job is reduced by one.
In step S15, a process for dividing an operation not described above and a process corresponding to the divided process are performed. For example, processing for switching between normal and secret BOX.
In this way, according to each operation on the touch panel 5, it is determined what operation has been performed, and after dividing by the determination, the corresponding processing is executed.

FIG. 7 is a second flowchart for explaining the operation. An operation when the print button 17 is touched will be described with reference to a flowchart.
In step S20, it is determined whether or not the print button 17 has been touched. If it is touched, the process proceeds to step S21. In step S21, the number of times the print button 17 has been pressed is counted, and the process proceeds to the next step.

In step S22, the number of copies corresponding to the number of times the print button 17 has been pressed is added to the number of copies of the selected job, and the process proceeds to the next step.
In step S <b> 23, the selected job is printed by the printing unit 9 for the designated number of printing copies.

FIG. 8 is a third flowchart for explaining the operation. A process when another job is input to the image forming apparatus 1 while a certain job is being printed will be described.
First, in step S30, it is determined whether printing is in progress. If printing is in progress, the process proceeds to step S31; otherwise, the process proceeds to step S32.

In step S31, it is determined whether the BOX type information in the input job attribute information is secret or normal. If it is secret, the process proceeds to step S35, and if not, the process proceeds to step S33.
In step S35, the input new job is accumulated.

In step S33, it is determined whether or not the user name of the input new job is the same as the user name of the job currently being printed. If they are the same, the process proceeds to step S34, and if they are different, the process proceeds to step S32.
In step S34, a newly input job is continuously printed after the currently printed job. Printing is performed continuously without any operation.

In step S32, the input new job is accumulated.
Here, the newly input job is stored if it is a secret, but if it belongs to the same user, it is also possible to perform a process to continue printing. Either may be selected.

  FIG. 9 is a diagram of a fourth example of display on the operation panel. An example of displaying for each user is shown. There is a mode for displaying for each user when the tab of the normal BOX 12 is selected. At this time, the stored jobs are displayed for each user. For example, the number of jobs stored by user A, that is, the number of jobs that can be printed is two. User B has 3 stored jobs. A direct print icon 36 is displayed at the end of each user's column. If the direct print icon 36 is pressed without selecting a job to be printed, two jobs of the user A are printed. If the user B's three jobs are to be printed, the direct print icon 37 in the user B row may be touched. You can save time by printing at once without having to make a selection. When it is desired to check the job being printed, the name of the file being printed is displayed in the file name area 16. When the touch panel is used in this way, processing can be executed by an input touching an icon.

  In this mode, when the user name display part is touched, the display mode is switched. Even if a secret job is displayed on the tab of the secret BOX 13, there is one user, but printing may be performed collectively, but preferably, secret and normal may be mixed. It is better to select a job and print it.

  Further, the direct print icon has been described for the case of printing in batches for each user. However, the direct print icon is displayed for each job, and the job can be printed by touching the direct print icon. .

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an outline of the image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus 1 is an apparatus that records an image on a recording medium by attaching and fixing toner on the recording medium based on job data, that is, image data. As the recording medium, paper, a thin sheet-like resin, or the like is used.
A reading unit for reading a document is provided in the upper part of the apparatus, a recording part for recording an image on a recording medium in the middle part of the apparatus, and a paper feeding part in the lower part of the apparatus.

  The paper feed unit can store roll paper 40 in which paper is wound around a paper tube. A flange 41 is fixed to both ends of the roll paper 40, and the flange 41 is rotatably mounted on the rollers 42 and 43. The roll paper 40 is pulled out by the first roller 44. The drawn paper 45 is supplied to the recording unit of the image forming apparatus 1 by the first roller 44. The first roller 44 includes a drive roller and a pinch roller. The pinch roller is rotatably pressed by the driving roller and rotates with the rotation of the driving roller. The roll paper 40 is sandwiched between the two rollers and conveyed along with the rotation of the driving roller.

  The sheet 45 is transported along the transport path 46. A cutter device 47 is provided at the destination of conveyance along the conveyance path 46. The conveyed paper is cut by the cutter device 47. A second roller 48 for conveying the paper is provided at the tip of the cutter device 47. Further, the sheet is transported along the transport path 49, and a third roller 50 is provided at the end of the transport path 49. Similar to the first roller 44, the second roller 48 and the third roller 50 include a driving roller and a pinch roller, and convey the paper while pinching it.

  In the recording unit of the image forming apparatus 1, the surface potential of the photosensitive drum 52 is refreshed by the static eliminator 51, the charge is charged by the charger 53, and then data sent from a host computer such as a personal computer is received. It is rasterized by a RIP controller board (not shown), and is drawn in the form of an electrostatic latent image in which the image is inverted on the surface of the photosensitive drum 52 by the LED head 54. The electrostatic latent image is developed with toner supplied from the developing sleeve 56 of the developing device 55, and a toner image is formed on the electrostatic latent image portion on the surface of the photosensitive drum 52.

  The paper 45 sent out from the paper supply unit and reaches the recording unit sticks to the photosensitive drum 52 by electrostatic force, receives the transfer bias and pressure of the transfer roller 57 from the back surface, and the toner on the photosensitive drum 52 is transferred to the paper. Is done. The sheet 45 on which the toner has been transferred is peeled off from the photosensitive drum 52 by receiving the separation bias of the separation unit 58. A small amount of untransferred toner remains on the surface of the photosensitive drum 52 after the toner is transferred to the paper 45. Therefore, the toner remaining on the photosensitive drum 52 is scraped off by the cleaner blade provided in the cleaner 59 and is stored in the cleaner 12. The cleaner blade is a rubber blade that contacts the photosensitive drum 52 with an appropriate pressure.

  The sheet 45 on which the toner is transferred from the photosensitive drum 52 is conveyed by the conveyance belt 60. A paper suction fan is provided inside the transport belt 60, and the paper 45 is transported while being sucked by the suction holes on the surface. The sheet 45 is conveyed to a fixing device 61 after passing through a conveyance belt 60 having a role of assisting conveyance. The toner image transferred to the paper 45 passes between the high-temperature fixing roller 62 and the pressure roller 63 of the fixing device 61 and is fixed to the paper by receiving heat and pressure. It is discharged out of the apparatus through the roller and the driven roller.

  The reading unit is transported in the direction of the arrow by a document transport roller 65 that transports the document. The conveyed document is converted into electronic data, that is, image data is generated by the reading sensor 66. The document converted into electronic data is stored in the HDD 8. Further, the document converted into electronic data can be recorded on the paper 45 by the printing unit 9.

  The present invention can be applied to an ink jet printer, an electrophotographic printer, a copying machine, and the like.

1 Image forming apparatus 2 Host computer 3 I / F
4 Control unit 5 Operation panel 6 ROM
7 RAM
8 HDD
9 Printing section 10 Scanner 11 List display area 12 Normal BOX
13 Secret BOX
14 Display content area 15 Selection frame 16 File name area 17 Print button

Claims (6)

A printing unit for printing input image data on a recording medium;
Image data storage means for storing the image data and attribute information of the image data;
Display means for displaying a list of the image data stored in the image data storage means;
Selecting means for selecting the image data from the list displayed on the display means;
Instruction means for instructing any one of a plurality of processes including at least a printing process for the image data selected by the selection means;
In an image forming apparatus having
Authentication information storage means for storing authentication basic information including a user name for authenticating a user and a password corresponding to the user name;
An input means for allowing the user to enter authentication information including a password;
Collation means for collating the authentication information input by the input means and the authentication basic information stored in the authentication information storage means,
The attribute information includes a user name and first determination information indicating whether the attribute information is secret,
When authentication information is inputted from the input means, the inputted authentication information is collated with the basic authentication information stored in the authentication information storage means by the collating means, and the input is inputted by the collating means. If the authentication information input from the means can be verified, the image data having the user name of the authentication basic information corresponding to the authentication information input by the input means in the attribute information of the image data And displaying a list of the image data on the display means,
If the collation cannot be performed by the collation unit, the image data including the first determination information indicating that the attribute information is not secret is extracted, and a list of the image data is displayed on the display unit.
An image forming apparatus comprising: selecting the image data from the list displayed on the display unit by the selection unit; and printing the selected image data by the printing unit.   The instruction unit includes a print instruction unit that causes the printing unit to print the image data selected by the selection unit, and the print instruction unit operates according to an input interlocked with a predetermined area of the display unit. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:   The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the predetermined area is an icon displayed corresponding to each image data in a list of the image data displayed on the display unit.   4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the image data is printed by the printing unit in accordance with the number of inputs linked to the predetermined area of the print instruction unit. 5.   When the selection unit selects the image data having the same user name in the attribute information, the printing unit sequentially prints the image data having the same user name selected by the print instruction unit. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2.   The instruction unit includes a copy number changing unit that changes the number of copies of the image data selected by the selection unit, and the copy number changing unit is linked to an icon indicating the copy number changing unit displayed on the display unit. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus operates according to an input.

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