Image forming apparatus

Abstract

In order to achieve the purpose of the present invention, an image forming apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention includes a reading unit and a setting unit. The reading section reads the sheet on which the bar code is printed as image data. The setting unit sets a setting relating to the storage of the image data as first job setting information, which is information relating to the storage of the image data to which the barcode is assigned. Therefore, the time can be shortened by reducing complex operations of the user.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to an image forming apparatus applicable to reading original documents and other paper.

[0002] This application claims priority to Japanese Application No. 2024-197667, filed on November 12, 2024, and incorporates all the contents of that Japanese application. Background Technology

[0003] Previously, image forming devices such as inkjet printers were equipped with sensors that read barcodes, which implicitly contained various settings such as paper type. In this case, when reading multiple stacks of originals as a single stack, changes to job settings could not be made if multiple barcodes were present in the stack.

[0004] For example, Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2006-315340 describes using a sensor to read barcodes printed on paper and setting prescribed settings for a printer based on the barcode data. This aims to simplify the factory shipping process. Furthermore, Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2006-56197 describes setting settings based on the read barcode data. This aims to simplify the setting of various settings by sequentially reading the setting values ​​and instructions for various setting items represented by the barcode.

[0005] The problem the invention aims to solve

[0006] However, while Japanese Patent Application Publication Nos. 2006-315340 and 2006-56197 allow for changing work settings by reading barcodes, this is not possible when multiple barcodes are present in a stack of originals. In such cases, users must switch work settings while operating on multiple stacks of originals. Summary of the Invention

[0007] In view of the above, the object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus that can shorten the time by reducing the complexity of user operations.

[0008] Solution for solving the problem

[0009] To achieve the above objectives, one aspect of the image forming apparatus of the present invention includes a reading unit and a setting unit.

[0010] The reading unit reads the paper with the barcode printed on it as image data.

[0011] The setting unit sets the settings related to the saving of the image data as first operation setting information, which is the information related to the saving of the image data assigned to the barcode.

[0012] Invention Effects

[0013] According to the present invention, an image forming apparatus can be provided that can shorten the time by reducing the complexity of user operations.

[0014] Furthermore, the effects are not limited to those described herein, but can also be any of the effects described in this invention. Attached Figure Description

[0015] Figure 1 This is a block diagram illustrating an example of the structure of an image forming apparatus.

[0016] Figure 2 This is a flowchart illustrating an example of a method for setting job configuration information. Detailed Implementation

[0017] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0018] Figure 1 This is a block diagram illustrating a structural example of the image forming apparatus 10 of the present invention.

[0019] like Figure 1 As shown, the image forming apparatus 10 includes: a control unit 11, a storage unit 12, an operation unit 13, a display unit 14, a reading unit 15, a setting unit 16, an image processing unit 17, and a printing unit 18.

[0020] In this embodiment, the image forming apparatus 10 is a multifunction printer or a printer that is capable of installing a platform application (HyPas application manufactured by Kyocera Office Information Systems Co., Ltd.) for the image forming apparatus.

[0021] The control unit 11 controls the entire image forming apparatus 10. For example, the control unit 11 may use a CPU (Central Processing Unit), MPU (Micro Processing Unit), ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit), etc. In addition, the control unit 11 performs the operation of each block by reading and executing the control program stored in the storage unit 12, which will be described later.

[0022] The storage unit 12 stores settings for various data, such as control programs for controlling the image forming apparatus 10 and font data related to printing. For example, the storage unit 12 may use ROM (Read Only Memory), HDD (Hard Disk Drive), RAM (Random Access Memory), etc.

[0023] By performing prescribed operations by the user, the operation unit 13 can issue commands to cause the image forming apparatus 10 to perform various actions. For example, the operation unit 13 can also use buttons, touch panels, etc., to input commands for performing various functions of the image forming apparatus, such as scanning, copying, and fax transmission.

[0024] Display unit 14 displays various information related to image forming apparatus 10. For example, a preview of the scanned original can also be displayed on display unit 14. Furthermore, display unit 14 can also be a liquid crystal display or an organic EL display, for example.

[0025] In addition, the display unit 14 may also display an operation screen for operating the image forming apparatus 10. For example, the operation screen may be a main screen for selecting any one of a plurality of functions that can be performed by the image forming apparatus 10, and a setting screen for setting the settings of each function.

[0026] The reading unit 15 reads the barcode printed on the paper. For example, the reading unit 15 may include: a light-emitting unit that emits a predetermined light; and a light-receiving unit that receives reflected light from the light emitted by the light-emitting unit after it has been reflected by a predetermined printing paper. For example, the reading unit 15 reads job setting information such as whether there is a barcode or whether it is implicit in the barcode based on the amount of light received from the light-receiving unit.

[0027] That is, the reading unit 15 can also be described as a judgment unit that determines whether a barcode is printed in the original document and whether the barcode is work setting information. In addition, the reading unit 15 can also use a media sensor, a line sensor or a two-dimensional barcode sensor.

[0028] Furthermore, the reading unit 15 generates image data by reading the original document. The generated image data can be stored in the storage unit 12 or uploaded to the cloud for storage.

[0029] The setting unit 16 sets job setting information based on the job setting information of the (scanned) barcode read by the reading unit 15. For example, the reading unit 15 scans the Nth original document that has a barcode containing job setting information N. In this case, if no barcode is printed in the (N+1)th original document, the setting unit 16 scans the (N+1)th original document according to the job setting information N. Similarly, if a barcode containing job setting information (N+2) is printed in the (N+2)th original document, but no barcode is printed in the (N+3)th original document, the (N+3)th original document is output according to the job setting information (N+2).

[0030] That is, if the original document does not have a barcode, or if the original document does not have a barcode containing print job setting information, the setting unit 16 continues to scan the original document according to the previously read job setting information (first job setting information). Furthermore, if new job setting information (second job setting information) is available, the setting unit 16 scans according to that job setting information. By repeating the above process, each original document can be scanned according to the appropriate job setting information.

[0031] Here, job setting information refers to settings related to various jobs such as scanning, saving, and transmission. For example, scanning includes ADF (Automatic Document Feeder), duplex reading methods, automatic scanning, original document size (e.g., A3 paper), and resolution (e.g., 300 dpi). Furthermore, saving includes, for example, filenames containing the date and consecutive numbers, save format (e.g., PDF), specified folders, and cloud storage destinations. Transmission includes, for example, setting the transmission destination (which file to send the read data to). In addition, various settings such as color selection and transmission resolution may also be included. Furthermore, job setting information is not limited and may include various settings such as indexing. For example, image processing may be performed by a multifunction printer (MFP) according to requirements from a HyPAS application. Moreover, the image processing settings implemented by the multifunction printer can also be achieved by decoding information embedded in barcodes.

[0032] Furthermore, the barcode records operational information from the Kyocera office information system using a prescribed format, including barcode-implicit operational information as information that has been barcode-encoded. In this embodiment, the barcode-implicit operational information is used as the primary reason (signal) for switching operational settings information. Here, barcode-implicit operational information refers to the operational settings information that has been barcode-encoded, i.e., the operational settings information implicit in the barcode.

[0033] The image processing unit 17 performs image processing on the image data scanned from the reading unit 15. For example, image processing may include zooming in / out, density adjustment, grayscale adjustment, image improvement, etc.

[0034] The printing unit 18 performs printing-related operations with the image forming apparatus. For example, the printing unit 18 uses a conveyor roller to transport recording paper contained in a paper tray, and controls the inkjet head and the like to form scanned image data on the recording paper.

[0035] Furthermore, the structure of the image forming apparatus 10 is not limited. For example, the image forming apparatus 10 may be a device that performs image processing including at least scanning, or it may be a printer, copier, scanner, fax machine, or multifunction printer with these functions. In addition, for example, the image forming apparatus 10 may also have a communication unit for uploading image data to the cloud.

[0036] Figure 2 This is a flowchart illustrating an example of a method for setting job configuration information.

[0037] like Figure 2 As shown, the original document is read by the reading unit 15 (step 101). When reading by the reading unit 15, it is determined whether the original document contains a barcode (step 102).

[0038] If the original document contains a barcode ("Yes" in step 102), the reading unit 15 determines whether the barcode is job setting information (step 103).

[0039] If the barcode is job setting information ("Yes" in step 103), the setting unit 16 detects the job setting information of the barcode in step 103 and outputs the job setting information for scanning the original document (step 104).

[0040] Furthermore, if there is no barcode in the original document (No in step 102), or if the barcode is not job setting information (No in step 103), the setting unit 16 outputs the job setting information for scanning the original document using the job setting information of the previous barcode (step 105).

[0041] Furthermore, if there is no previous barcode job setting information (e.g., when reading the first original), output will be performed according to the job setting information preset in the device. In addition, there is no limitation on the type of barcode printed on the original, and it can also be a form that conforms to the specified format (supported barcodes) during decoding.

[0042] The image forming apparatus 10 of this embodiment includes: a reading unit that reads a piece of paper with a barcode printed on it as image data; and a setting unit that sets settings related to saving the image data as first operation setting information, wherein the first operation setting information is information related to saving the image data that is assigned to the barcode. Therefore, by reducing the complexity of user operations, the time can be shortened.

[0043] Previously, while job settings could be changed by reading barcodes printed on paper, this was not possible when multiple originals with barcodes were present in a stack of originals. In such cases, the user had to manually switch job settings for each new barcode, which was very complex and time-consuming.

[0044] In this technology, after scanning an original document containing job setting information hidden in a barcode, scanning continues from the next original document onwards according to the image processing settings after decoding the job setting information hidden in the barcode and setting it in the system. Furthermore, when an original document with a barcode is scanned again, the barcode is decoded to obtain another job setting, and the job is executed from the next original document onwards according to the new image processing settings. Therefore, even with multiple stacks of original documents, by changing the job setting each time a barcode containing the job setting is read, the user can perform operations while switching job settings in a single operation. This helps to reduce the user's time.

Claims

1. An image forming apparatus comprising: The reading unit reads the paper with the barcode printed on it as image data; The setting unit sets the settings related to the saving of the image data as first operation setting information, which is the information related to the saving of the image data assigned to the barcode.

2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, When the reading unit reads a piece of paper with a barcode containing second job setting information that is different from the first job setting information, the setting unit changes the setting related to saving the image data from the first job setting information to the second job setting information.

3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, If the reading unit reads a barcode that has not been assigned the first job setting information, the setting unit will maintain the settings related to saving the image data as the first job setting information.

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