Image forming device

Abstract

To prevent a recording paper and tonner from being wasted when printing important information.SOLUTION: An image forming device 1 is provided with: an image forming part 12; a plurality of paper feeding cassettes 141 and 142; a conveying part 17; a memorizing part 18 that memorizes type-information showing types of papers stored in the paper feeding cassettes 141 and 142; an operating part 16; and a control part 100 that when the operating part 16 receives an instruction to print important information and a designation instruction, determines paper types of recording papers stored in the paper feeding cassette shown by the designation instruction, on the basis of the type-information, and when the determined paper type is a recording paper whose one surface has been printed, does not make the image forming part 12 form an image, and when the determined paper type is an unused paper, makes the image forming part 12 form an image.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, and more particularly to control of image formation according to the type of paper feed unit. [Background technology]

[0002] In recent years, in order to reduce the amount of recording paper used, etc., it has become common to use the reverse side of a single-sided printed recording paper (backing paper) for printing. However, it is not desirable to use single-sided printed recording paper as recording paper on which important information such as contract documents, salary documents, or personnel documents is printed.

[0003] When double-sided printing or saddle-stitched double-sided bookbinding is performed on recording paper that has been printed on the back side, the printing can be done physically, but the output result is not what the user wants and the printing fails, so there is a demand for a method to prevent printing failures before printing.For example, the following Patent Document 1 discloses a technology in which a conventional method for creating print settings using an image forming device inquires whether the created print settings are an unrealizable combination, and if so, changes them to a feasible print setting. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] JP 2002-215353 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] Here, it is preferable to control the use of single-sided printed recording paper to reduce the amount of recording paper used, and not to use single-sided printed recording paper as recording paper on which important information such as contract documents, salary documents, or personnel documents is printed, and to allow the use of single-sided printed recording paper when such important information is not being printed. If important information is printed on single-sided printed recording paper, it will be necessary to reprint later, resulting in waste of recording paper and toner. However, the technology described in Patent Document 1 does not realize the above control, as it simply prevents printing if it is determined to be printed paper.

[0006] The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and has an object to prevent recording paper and toner from being wasted when important information is printed. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] An image forming apparatus according to one aspect of the present invention includes an image forming unit that forms an image on recording paper, a plurality of paper feeding units that store recording paper used for image formation by the image forming unit, a transport unit that transports recording paper from the paper feeding units to the image forming unit, a type memory unit that stores type information indicating the type of paper stored in the paper feeding units, an operation unit that accepts a print instruction for either important printing, which prints important information, or normal printing, which prints general information that is not important information, and a designation instruction that designates the paper feeding unit to be used for image formation, and a control unit that, when the operation unit accepts the print instruction for important printing and the designation instruction, determines the paper type of the recording paper stored in the paper feeding unit indicated by the designation instruction based on the type information, and if the determined paper type is recording paper that has been printed on one side, does not cause the image forming unit to form an image, and if the determined paper type is unused paper, causes the image forming unit to form an image. Effect of the Invention

[0008] According to the present invention, depending on the importance of the print content, the use of single-sided printed recording paper is prohibited for printing important information, and the use of single-sided printed recording paper is permitted for printing ordinary information that is not important, thereby preventing waste of recording paper and toner when printing important information. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of an image forming apparatus. [Diagram 2] 1 is a functional block diagram showing a main internal configuration of an image forming apparatus. [Diagram 3] 6 is a flowchart showing important information printing processing by the image forming apparatus. [Figure 4] FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of an important print setting screen displayed on a display unit. [Diagram 5] FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of an important print setting screen displayed on a display unit. [Figure 6] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a setting screen displayed on a display unit. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0010] Hereinafter, an embodiment of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Fig. 1 is a front view showing the internal structure of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 2 is a block diagram showing the internal configuration of the image forming apparatus 1. The image forming apparatus 1 is a multifunction machine having multiple functions such as a copy function, a transmission function, a printing function, and a facsimile function.

[0011] The housing of the image forming apparatus 1 contains a plurality of devices for realizing various functions of the image forming apparatus 1. The image forming apparatus 1 includes an image reading unit 11, an image forming unit 12, a fixing unit 13, a paper feeder 14, and a conveying unit 17. A display unit 15 and an operation unit 16 are provided on the front side of the housing of the image forming apparatus 1.

[0012] The image reading unit 11 is composed of an original transport unit 6 that transports the original placed on the original placement table 6A on which the original is set, a roller that takes in the original transported by the original transport unit 6, and an ADF (Auto Document Feeder) that includes a scanner for optical reading.

[0013] The image reading unit 11 reads the document by illuminating the document with a light emitting unit and receiving the reflected light with a CCD (Charge-Couple device) sensor to generate image data showing the document image. The image reading unit 11 and the control unit 100 (described later) acquire data to be processed (document information in claims), including a process for controlling the reading of the document.

[0014] The image forming unit 12 includes a photoconductor drum, a charging device, an exposure device, a developing device, and a transfer device. The image forming unit 12 forms an image composed of a toner image on the recording paper P conveyed along the conveying path 280 by the conveying unit 17 based on image data generated by the image reading unit 11 or image data received from an information processing device (not shown) or the like via the communication unit 22.

[0015] The fixing unit 13 applies heat and pressure to the recording paper P on which the toner image has been formed by the image forming unit 12, thereby fixing the toner image to the recording paper P. The recording paper P on which the toner image has been fixed by the fixing unit 13 is discharged to the discharge tray 8. The paper feed device 14 includes a manual feed tray 32 and multiple paper feed cassettes 141, 142. The paper feed cassettes 141, 142 pull out the recording paper P stored in one of the multiple paper feed cassettes or the recording paper placed on the manual feed tray one by one by a pickup roller, and feed the recording paper to the conveying path 280.

[0016] The display unit 15 is a display device configured with a liquid crystal display, an organic EL (Organic Light-Emitting Diode) display, etc. The display unit 15 displays various screens for each job that can be executed by the image forming apparatus 1 according to the control of the control unit 100.

[0017] The operation unit 16 includes hard keys for receiving input of various instructions, and a display unit 15. The display unit 15 includes a touch panel 16C for receiving instructions from the user.

[0018] The conveying section 17 includes a conveying roller pair 17A, a discharge roller pair 17B, etc., and a conveying motor connected to the conveying roller pair 17A and the discharge roller pair 17B, etc. The control section 100 drives the conveying motor to rotate the conveying roller pair 17A and the discharge roller pair 17B, etc., to convey the recording paper P fed by the paper feed device 14 including paper feed cassettes 141 and 142 (an example of a paper feed section in the claims) along the conveying path 280 toward the image forming section 12 and the discharge tray 8. The control section 100 also drives the conveying motor to rotate the conveying roller pair 17A, etc., to convey the recording paper P on the manual feed tray 32 toward the image forming section 12 and the discharge tray 8. The manual feed tray 32 is an example of a paper feed section in the claims.

[0019] The control unit 100 is responsible for the overall control of the image forming apparatus 1. More specifically, the control unit 100 controls the operation of each unit of the image forming apparatus 1 and communication with an external device such as a PC (Personal Computer) connected via a network.

[0020] The control unit 100 includes a processor, a RAM (Random Access Memory), and a ROM (Read Only Memory). The processor is, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit), an MPU (Micro Processing Unit, also referred to as the control unit), or an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit). The control unit 100 executes various operational controls by the operation of the processor in accordance with a control program stored in the storage unit 18 or the like.

[0021] In addition, the control unit 100 is electrically connected to the document transport unit 6, the image reading unit 11, the image forming unit 12, the fixing unit 13, the paper feeding unit 14, the display unit 15, the operation unit 16, the transport unit 17, the memory unit 18, the image processing unit 19, the image memory 20, the facsimile communication unit 21, and the communication unit 22, etc.

[0022] The storage unit 18 is composed of a HDD (hard disk drive) or the like, and is a large-capacity storage device for storing various data such as image data generated by the image reading unit 11. The storage unit 18 stores the above-mentioned control program for realizing general operations of the image forming apparatus 1 under the control of the control unit 100.

[0023] The image processing unit 19 is a circuit for image processing, and performs image processing as necessary on the image data generated by the image reading unit 11. The image memory 20 includes an area for temporarily storing the image data generated by the image reading unit 11. The facsimile communication unit 21 connects to a public line and transmits and receives image data via the public line.

[0024] The communication unit 22 includes a communication module such as a LAN (Local Area Network) board, etc. The image forming apparatus 1 performs data communication via the communication unit 22 with an external device such as a PC connected via a network.

[0025] The control unit 100 has a built-in non-volatile memory. The non-volatile memory or storage unit 18 stores type information indicating the type of paper contained in the paper feed unit 14 for each paper feed cassette. Paper types include plain paper, thick paper, and recording paper printed on one side. The non-volatile memory or storage unit 18 that stores the type information is an example of a type storage unit in the claims.

[0026] Furthermore, predetermined important information is stored in the non-volatile memory or storage unit 18. When the paper type associated with the paper feed cassette used for the image formation is single-sided printed recording paper, the control unit 100 controls whether or not to cause the image forming unit 12 to form an image, depending on whether or not the important information is included in the print target data that is the target of image formation by the image forming unit 12.

[0027] Next, the important information printing process by the image forming apparatus 1 according to this embodiment will be described. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the important information printing process by the image forming apparatus 1. A user transmits a print job including data to be printed and a designation instruction for designating a paper feed cassette to be used for printing to the image forming apparatus 1 from a personal computer or the like connected to the image forming apparatus 1 via a network. In the image forming apparatus 1, the control unit 100 receives the print job via the communication unit 22 (S1). Upon receiving the print job, the control unit 100 causes the display unit 15 to display an important print setting screen G1 as shown in FIG. 4 (S2).

[0028] When the user operates the Important Print button H1 and the Start button H2, the control unit 100 accepts a print instruction for the Important Print corresponding to the Important Print button H1 via the touch panel 16C (YES in S3). The control unit 100 switches the display of the Important Print button H1 in the Important Print setting screen G1 from "Off" to "On", as shown in the example of FIG.

[0029] On the other hand, when the user operates the start button H2 without operating the important print button H1, the control unit 100 accepts a print instruction for normal printing to print general information that is not important information via the touch panel 16C (NO in S3). In this case, the control unit 100 keeps the display of the important print button H1 in the important print setting screen G1 at "Off" as it was before.

[0030] When the control unit 100 receives a print instruction for important printing (YES in S3), it determines the paper type associated with the paper feed cassette indicated by the designated instruction included in the received print job based on the type information described above (S4). When the control unit 100 determines that the paper type is one-sided printed recording paper (YES in S4), it does not cause the image forming unit 12 to perform image formation (printing) of the print target data included in the print job on the one-sided printed recording paper. In this case, the control unit 100 causes the display unit 15 to display a setting screen G3 including a message to the effect that the paper feed cassette to be used for printing will be changed to a paper feed cassette whose paper type is plain paper, and a description indicating the determined paper feed cassette based on the type information described above (S5), as shown in the example of FIG. 6. The setting screen G3 further displays a change button H11 for accepting an instruction to change the paper feed cassette to be used for printing to a paper feed cassette whose paper type is plain paper (any paper type that is not recording paper that has been printed on one side. In this case, plain paper will be used), and a cancel button H12 for accepting an instruction not to change the paper feed cassette.

[0031] When the user operates the change button H11 while the setting screen G3 is displayed, and the control unit 100 receives a change instruction via the touch panel 16C to change the paper feed cassette used for printing to a paper feed cassette whose paper type is plain paper (paper feed cassette 141 in this case) (YES in S6), the control unit 100 conveys recording paper P from the paper feed cassette 141 (whose paper type is plain paper) indicated by the change instruction, and causes the image forming unit 12 to perform image formation for the job to be printed included in the print job (S7). Note that when the control unit 100 determines in S4 that the paper type is recording paper that has been printed on one side (YES in S4), it may end the process without performing the processes in S5 to S7 and without performing image formation for the job to be printed.

[0032] Furthermore, in S3, when the control unit 100 receives a print instruction for the above-mentioned normal printing (NO in S3), or in S4, when it determines that the paper type is plain paper or the like that is not recording paper that has been printed on one side (NO in S4), it transports recording paper P from the paper feed cassette indicated in the specified instruction included in the received print job, and causes the image forming unit 12 to form an image of the data to be printed (S10).

[0033] Also, in S6, when the user operates the cancel button H12 and the control unit 100 receives an instruction via the touch panel 16C not to change the paper feed cassette, that is, when the control unit 100 does not receive an instruction to change the paper feed cassette used for printing to a paper feed cassette whose paper type is plain paper (NO in S6), the processing ends without forming an image of the job to be printed.

[0034] In this way, according to the above embodiment, depending on the importance of the print content, the use of single-sided printed recording paper is prohibited for printing important information, and the use of single-sided printed recording paper is permitted for printing ordinary information that is not important. This makes it possible to prevent a situation in which a user mistakenly prints an important document such as a contract or invoice on single-sided printed recording paper and has to reprint the document using ordinary paper, thereby preventing the waste of recording paper and toner when printing important information.

[0035] The present invention is not limited to the configuration of the above embodiment, and various modifications are possible. For example, in the above embodiment, when the control unit 100 receives a print instruction for important printing (YES in S3), and when it determines that the paper type associated with the paper feed cassette indicated by the above designation instruction is one-sided printed recording paper (YES in S4), it does not allow the image forming unit 12 to perform image formation (printing) of the print target data included in the above print job on the one-sided printed recording paper. However, as a modified embodiment 1, when the manual feed tray 32 is designated as the paper feed cassette to be used for image formation by the above designation instruction, the control unit 100 may (i) end the process without causing the image forming unit 12 to perform image formation based on the print instruction for important printing, or (ii) perform the above-mentioned processes of S5 to S7.

[0036] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, when the control unit 100 receives a print instruction for the normal printing (NO in S3), it transports recording paper P from the paper feed cassette indicated in the specified instruction included in the received print job and causes the image forming unit 12 to form an image of the data to be printed (S10). However, as a second variant, the control unit 100 may determine whether the data to be printed included in the print job contains a keyword indicating predetermined important information, and when it determines that the data to be printed contains the keyword, even if a print instruction for normal printing has been received, if it determines that the paper type associated with the paper feed cassette indicated in the specified instruction is recording paper that has been printed on one side, the control unit 100 may (i) terminate processing without causing the image forming unit 12 to form an image of the data to be printed, or (ii) perform the processing of S5 to S7 described above.

[0037] When the data to be printed received from an external personal computer or the like via the communication unit 22 is in a printer language, the control unit 100 determines whether the above keyword is included in the character group indicated by the printer language. The above keyword indicating predetermined important information is, for example, character information consisting of character strings such as "contract," "invoice," and "receipt." The keyword is input, for example, by a user operating the operation unit 16, and the control unit 100 stores the input keyword as important information in the non-volatile memory or storage unit 18 described above, and reads it out and uses it when determining whether the keyword is included in the data to be printed.

[0038] Also, in variant 2, when the control unit 100 determines that the keyword is included in the data to be printed included in the print job, and further, if the manual feed tray 32 is specified as the paper feed cassette to be used for image formation by the above-mentioned specification instruction, even if a print instruction for normal printing has been accepted, (i) the control unit 100 may terminate processing without causing the image forming unit 12 to form an image based on the print instruction for important printing, or (ii) the control unit 100 may perform the processing of S5 to S7 described above.

[0039] In the above embodiment, the important information printing process by the image forming apparatus 1 has been described by taking as an example a case where an image is formed (printed) based on print target data received from an external personal computer or the like via the communication unit 22, but the important information printing also includes image formation using image data obtained by reading an original by the image reading unit 11 as the print target data. In this case, for example, when a user inputs an instruction to execute a copy operation to the operation unit 16, the control unit 100 causes the image reading unit 11 to read an original in accordance with the instruction, waits for a moment, and executes the process from S2 onward shown in the above figure after the original has been read.

[0040] Furthermore, even when forming an image using image data obtained by reading a document by the image reading unit 11 as data to be printed, the above-mentioned modified forms 1 and 2 can be adopted. In the case of modified form 2, the control unit 100 performs OCR (Optical Character Recognition / Reader) processing on the image data obtained by reading a document by the image reading unit 11 to convert images showing characters contained in the image data into characters, and determines whether the group of characters includes the keyword.

[0041] Moreover, the configuration and processing shown in the above embodiment with reference to FIGS. 1 to 6 are merely one embodiment of the present invention, and the present invention is not limited to these configurations and processing. [Explanation of symbols]

[0042] 1. Image forming device 100 Control section 12 Image forming section 14 Paper feeder 141,142 Paper feed cassette 16 Control section 17 Conveyor section 32 Manual feed tray P Recording paper

Claims

1. an image forming unit that forms an image on a recording paper; a plurality of paper feed units for storing recording paper to be used for image formation by the image forming unit; a conveying section that conveys recording paper from the paper feeding section to the image forming section; a type storage unit that stores type information indicating the type of paper accommodated in the paper feed unit; an operation unit that receives a print instruction for either important printing for printing important information or normal printing for printing general matters that are not important information, and a designation instruction for designating the paper feed unit to be used for image formation; an image forming device comprising: a control unit that, when the operation unit receives a print instruction for the important printing and the designation instruction, determines the paper type of the recording paper stored in the paper feed unit indicated by the designation instruction based on the type information, and if the determined paper type is recording paper that has been printed on one side, does not cause the image forming unit to form an image, and if the determined paper type is unused paper, causes the image forming unit to form an image.

2. a manual feed tray is provided as one of the plurality of paper feed units; 2 . The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the control unit is configured to, when the manual feed tray is specified by the specification instruction, not cause the image forming unit to perform image formation based on the print instruction for the important print.

3. The control unit is determining whether or not predetermined important information is included in print target data that is to be image-formed by the image forming unit; 2. An image forming device as described in claim 1, wherein when it is determined that the data to be printed contains the important information, even if a print instruction for normal printing is accepted, if the determined paper type is recording paper that has been printed on one side, image formation is not performed by the image forming unit.

4. a manual feed tray is provided as one of the plurality of paper feed units; 4. The image forming apparatus of claim 3, wherein when the control unit determines that the manual feed tray is specified by the specification instruction and that the important information is included in the data to be printed, the control unit does not allow the image forming unit to form an image even if a print instruction for normal printing is accepted.

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