Image formation apparatus

Abstract

To allow the number of printed copies to be changed for specific pages when copying a multi-page document collectively.SOLUTION: An image formation apparatus 1 includes: a document reading unit 5 that sequentially reads a multi-page document to obtain a document image of each document; an image formation unit 12 that forms images on recording media to perform printing; an operation unit 47 that receives the input of instructions from a user; and a setting unit 101 that sets the number of printed copies for each page or each page range of the document image according to the instructions from the user received by the operation unit 47. The image formation unit 12 forms the document images obtained by reading by the document reading unit 5 onto recording sheets by the number of copies set by the setting unit 101 for each page or each page range.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 7

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus having a copy function. [Background technology]

[0002] Some image forming apparatuses, such as copiers and multifunction machines, are equipped with a document reading unit that reads an image of a document and has a copy function. The following Patent Document 1 describes a technology that makes it unnecessary to read the document again by the document reading unit when an additional copy is required. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] China Patent Publication No. 1842118 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In copiers and the like, the user can set the number of copies (number of copies to be printed) as desired, but when copying a document containing multiple pages at once, it is not possible to increase the number of copies to be printed for a specific page alone. Therefore, in order to increase the number of copies to be printed for a specific page alone, it was necessary to make an additional copy of that specific page. The invention described in the above-mentioned Patent Document 1 proposes a technology that makes it easy to make additional copies, but it is not possible to change the setting for the number of copies to be printed for a specific page alone.

[0005] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above circumstances, and has as its object to change the setting of the number of copies to be printed only for a specific page when copying a document containing multiple pages at once. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] An image forming apparatus according to one aspect of the present invention includes an original reading unit that sequentially reads multiple pages of an original to obtain an original image of each original, an image forming unit that forms the image on a recording medium and prints it, an operation unit that accepts input instructions from a user, a setting unit that sets the number of copies to be printed for each page or page range of the original image in accordance with the user instructions accepted by the operation unit, and a control unit that causes the image forming unit to form the original image obtained by reading with the original reading unit onto the recording medium in the number of copies set for each page or page range by the setting unit. Effect of the Invention

[0007] According to the present invention, it is possible to change the number of copies to be printed for each of a plurality of original images for each page or for each page range, in response to a user's instruction. Therefore, when copying a plurality of original pages at once, it is possible to change the setting of the number of copies to be printed only for a specific page. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view showing an external appearance of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Diagram 2] 1 is a functional block diagram illustrating a schematic internal configuration of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment; [Diagram 3] 13A and 13B are diagrams showing an example of an operation screen displayed on a display unit. [Figure 4] 13A and 13B are diagrams showing an example of an operation screen displayed on a display unit. [Diagram 5] 11 is a diagram showing an example of a relationship between page numbers of document images and the number of copies to be printed. FIG. [Figure 6] 10 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a process for setting the number of copies to be printed for each document image in the image forming apparatus. [Figure 7] FIG. 11 illustrates an example of a print result. [Figure 8] FIG. 11 is a functional block diagram illustrating a schematic internal configuration of an image forming apparatus according to another embodiment. [Figure 9]13 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a further embodiment of a process for setting the number of copies to be printed for each document image in the image forming apparatus. [Figure 10] 13A and 13B are diagrams illustrating an example of a print result. [Figure 11] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of an operation screen displayed on a display unit. [Figure 12] FIG. 11 is a functional block diagram illustrating a schematic main internal configuration of an image forming apparatus according to yet another embodiment. [Figure 13] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a document on which a table of contents is written. [Figure 14] 13A and 13B are diagrams showing an example of an operation screen displayed on a display unit. [Figure 15] 13A and 13B are diagrams showing an example of an operation screen displayed on a display unit. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0009] An image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing the appearance of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. The image forming apparatus 1 is a multifunction machine having multiple functions such as a copy function, a printer function, a scanner function, and a facsimile function, and includes an original feeding unit 6, an original reading unit 5, an image forming unit 12, a paper feeding unit 14, and an operation unit 47.

[0010] The document feeder 6 is configured to be openable and closable by a hinge or the like (not shown) on the upper surface of the document reading unit 5, and functions as a document pressing cover when reading a document placed on a platen glass (not shown). The document feeder 6 is also called an ADF (Auto Document Feeder), and includes a document placement tray 61 on which documents are placed, and a document discharge tray 62 provided below the document placement tray 61. The document feeder 6 supplies documents placed on the document placement tray 61 to the document reading unit 5 one by one, and discharges the documents to the document discharge tray 62.

[0011] A description will now be given of a case where a document reading operation is performed by the image forming apparatus 1. The document reading unit 5 optically reads the image of a document supplied to the document reading unit 5 by the document feeding unit 6 or a document placed on the platen glass, and generates image data. The image data generated by the document reading unit 5 is stored in an image memory or the like (not shown). The document reading unit 5 is also capable of sequentially reading images of multiple pages of documents sent from the document feeding unit 6.

[0012] A description will be given of an image forming operation performed by the image forming apparatus 1. Based on image data generated by a document reading operation or image data received from a computer serving as an external device (e.g., a personal computer) connected via a network, the image forming unit 12 forms a toner image on a recording paper serving as a recording medium fed from a paper feed unit 14.

[0013] The image forming unit 12 includes a mechanism for forming a color image. For example, the image forming unit 12 includes an image forming unit for magenta, an image forming unit for cyan, an image forming unit for yellow, and an image forming unit for black. In each of the image forming units for each color, the surface of the photosensitive drum is uniformly charged, the surface of the photosensitive drum is exposed to light, an electrostatic latent image is formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum, the electrostatic latent image on the surface of the photosensitive drum is developed into a toner image, and the toner image on the surface of the photosensitive drum is primarily transferred to the intermediate transfer belt. As a result, a color toner image is formed on the intermediate transfer belt. This color toner image is secondarily transferred to the recording paper conveyed from the paper feed unit 14 in the nip area between the intermediate transfer belt and the secondary transfer roller.

[0014] The recording paper on which the toner image has been formed by the image forming unit 12 is subjected to a fixing process in a fixing unit 13 (FIG. 2) described later, and the recording paper after the fixing process is discharged onto a discharge tray 151. The paper supply unit 14 includes a plurality of paper supply cassettes 141.

[0015] The operation unit 47 includes hard keys for receiving instructions, and receives instructions such as an instruction to execute an image forming operation from an operator for various operations and processes that can be executed by the image forming apparatus 1 in response to operation of the hard keys. The operation unit 47 includes a display unit 473 that displays operation guides and the like for the operator. The operation unit 47 also receives input of instructions from the user via a touch panel included in the display unit 473, based on the user's operation (touch operation) on an operation screen displayed on the display unit 473 or the user's operation on physical keys.

[0016] The display unit 473 is composed of an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) or the like. The display unit 473 is equipped with a touch panel. When the operator touches a button or key displayed on the screen, the touch panel receives an instruction associated with the touched position.

[0017] 2 is a functional block diagram showing a schematic internal configuration of the image forming apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment. The image forming apparatus 1 includes a control unit 10, a document feeder 6, a document reader 5, an image forming unit 12, a fixing unit 13, a paper feeder 14, an operation unit 47, and a storage unit 8.

[0018] The fixing unit 13 heats and pressurizes the recording paper on which the toner image has been formed by the image forming unit 12, thereby fixing the toner image to the recording paper. The recording paper that has undergone the fixing process is discharged onto the discharge tray 151 (Figure 1).

[0019] The storage unit 8 is a large-capacity storage device such as a hard disk drive (HDD) or a solid state drive (SSD), and stores various control programs and the like.

[0020] The control unit 10 includes a processor, a RAM (Random Access Memory), a ROM (Read Only Memory), and a dedicated hardware circuit. The processor is, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit), an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit), or an MPU (Micro Processing Unit). The control unit 10 includes a control unit 100 and a setting unit 101.

[0021] The control unit 10 functions as a control unit 100 and a setting unit 101 by the operation of the processor in accordance with a control program stored in the storage unit 8. However, the control unit 100 and the like can also be configured by hardware circuits, without relying on the operation of the control unit 10 in accordance with a control program. The same applies to each embodiment below unless otherwise stated.

[0022] The control unit 100 is responsible for controlling the overall operation of the image forming apparatus 1. The control unit 100 is connected to the document feed unit 6, the document reading unit 5, the image forming unit 12, the fixing unit 13, the paper feed unit 14, the operation unit 47, and the storage unit 8, and performs drive control of each of these units and executes various processes required for image formation by the image forming apparatus 1. For example, the control unit 100 controls the image forming unit 12 to execute a copy process in which a document image obtained by document reading by the document reading unit 5 is formed on a recording medium.

[0023] The setting unit 101 sets the number of copies to be printed in accordance with an instruction from the user received by the operation unit 47. The control unit 100 controls the image forming unit 12 based on the setting by the setting unit 101 to execute the above-mentioned copy process.

[0024] Furthermore, the setting unit 101 sets the number of copies to be printed designated by the user for each page or page range of the original image. The control unit 100 causes the image forming unit 12 to form images of each original image with the number of copies to be printed for each original image set by the setting unit 101. For example, the setting unit 101 assigns page numbers to the original images corresponding to each original in the order in which the originals are read by the original reading unit 5, and sets the number of copies for each original image based on the assigned page numbers.

[0025] 3(A) and (B) are diagrams showing examples of operation screens that the control unit 100 causes the display unit 473 to display. The operation screen G1 shown in Fig. 3(A) and (B) is an operation screen for receiving from the user a designation of the number of copies to be printed for each page number or for each page range. The operation screen G1 shown in Fig. 3(A) and (B) is provided with text boxes BX1 and BX2 for displaying text (character strings) entered by the user.

[0026] Text box BX1 displays the page number of the original image for which the number of copies to be printed is to be set, input by the user. Text box BX2 displays the number of copies to be printed specified by the user for the original image of the page number displayed in text box BX1. The user inputs, for example, by operating operation unit 47, the page number of the original image for which the number of copies to be printed is to be set, and the number of copies to be printed for the original image of that page number. Setting unit 101 accepts the page number and the number of copies to be printed input to operation unit 47.

[0027] Fig. 3(B) shows a state in which "1-2" is displayed in the text box BX1 and "5" is input and displayed in the text box BX2. The operation screen G1 shown in Fig. 3(B) shows a state in which the number of print copies for the first and second page original images is specified as 5 copies.

[0028] In addition, the operation screen G1 is formed with an operation button B1 for instructing addition, indicated by a plus mark, and an operation button B2 marked "OK." When the user taps the operation button B1 and the operation unit 47 accepts the instruction associated with the operation button B1, the control unit 100 adds and displays text boxes BX1 and BX2, which display the page number of the document image for which the number of copies is to be set and the input contents of the number of copies, to the operation screen G1, as shown in Fig. 4(A). The operation screen G1 shown in Fig. 4(B) further shows a state in which the number of copies to be printed for the document image of the fifth page is specified as 2 copies and this is displayed.

[0029] When the user taps the operation button B2 and the operation unit 47 accepts the instruction associated with the operation button B2, the setting unit 101 sets the number of copies to be printed for each page number of the original image or for each page range using the content displayed on the operation screen G1, i.e., the page number of the original image for which the number of copies to be printed is to be set and the content of the number of copies to be printed that are accepted at this point in time. For the original image of a page for which the number of copies to be printed was not specified via the operation screen G1, the setting unit 101 sets it to a default value (1 copy in this embodiment).

[0030] For example, as shown in FIG. 4(B), when the number of copies of the original image to be printed is specified by the user, the setting unit 101 sets the number of copies to be printed of the first and second pages to 5 copies, and when the number of copies to be printed of the fifth page is set to 2 copies, as shown in FIG. 5, it sets the number of copies to be printed of other pages for which no specification by the user has been accepted to 1 copy (default value).

[0031] Next, an example of a process for setting the number of copies to be printed for each document image in the image forming apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

[0032] When the operation unit 47 receives an instruction to execute document reading from a user, the control unit 100 controls the document feed unit 6 and the document reading unit 5 to read images of multiple documents placed on the document placement tray 61 (S1). The setting unit 101 assigns page numbers to each document image in the order of the documents read by the document reading unit 5 (S2).

[0033] Next, the control unit 100 causes the display unit 473 to display an operation screen G1 such as the example shown in Fig. 3(A) (S3). During this display, the setting unit 101 sets the number of copies to be printed for each page number of the original image accepted by the operation unit 47 based on a user operation performed via the operation screen G1 (S4). Fig. 5 shows an example of the page numbers assigned to each original image and the number of copies to be printed for each page number. The control unit 100 performs a copy process to form images of each original image for the number of copies to be printed set by the setting unit 101 (S5).

[0034] For example, when the number of copies to be printed for each page number is set as shown in Fig. 5, and five pages of the original are sequentially read by the original reading unit 5, a print result such as that shown in Fig. 7 is obtained. For example, the first original image read is assigned the page number of the first page as shown in Fig. 7, and five copies are printed. For the original images of the third and fourth pages, for which the number of copies to be printed was not specified, the setting unit 101 sets the number of copies to be printed to one.

[0035] According to the first embodiment, the number of copies to be printed can be changed for each of a plurality of document images for each page or for each page range, depending on the user's specification. Therefore, when copying a document of a plurality of pages at once, the number of copies to be printed can be changed only for a specific page.

[0036] 8 is a functional block diagram showing an outline of the main internal configuration of an image forming apparatus 1 according to a further embodiment. Description of the same configuration as that of the image forming apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment will be omitted. In this embodiment, the control unit 10 functions as a character recognition unit 102 and a page number detection unit 103 in addition to the control unit 100 and setting unit 101, due to the operation of the above-mentioned processor in accordance with the control program stored in the storage unit 8.

[0037] The character recognition unit 102 recognizes characters included in an original image obtained by reading an original by the original reading unit 5. For example, the character recognition unit 102 executes character recognition processing on the original image using an existing OCR (Optical Character Recognition) technology.

[0038] The page number detection unit 103 detects a page number present in a predetermined header area or footer area of ​​the document image. For example, the page number detection unit 103 detects a page number present in the header area or footer area of ​​the document image based on characters recognized by the character recognition unit 102. The page number is a predetermined character string such as "page n" or "-n-".

[0039] The control unit 100 sets the value indicated by the number included in the page number detected by the page number detection unit 103 (the value indicated by "n" in the above example) as the page number for the document image.

[0040] Next, an example of a process for setting the number of copies to be printed for each document image in the image forming apparatus 1 according to the further embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

[0041] When the operation unit 47 receives an instruction to execute document reading from a user, the control unit 100 controls the document feed unit 6 and the document reading unit 5 to read images of the multiple documents placed on the document placement tray 61 (S11).

[0042] Then, the page number detection unit 103 detects the page number present in the header area or the footer area of ​​each document image obtained by document reading by the document reading unit 5 (S12). The control unit 100 determines whether the page number detection unit 103 has detected the page number (S13).

[0043] If the control unit 100 determines that the page number detection unit 103 has detected the page numbers for all the document images (YES in S13), the setting unit 101 assigns and sets the page numbers detected by the page number detection unit 103 to each document image (S14).

[0044] If the control unit 100 determines that the page number detection unit 103 has not been able to detect page numbers for all of the document images (NO in S13), the setting unit 101 assigns page numbers to each document image in the order in which the documents were read by the document reading unit 5 (S15).

[0045] After S14 or S15, the control unit 100 then causes the display unit 473 to display an operation screen G1 such as the example shown in FIG. 3A (S16). During this display, the setting unit 101 sets the number of copies to be printed for each page number of the original image accepted by the operation unit 47 based on a user operation performed via the operation screen G1 (S17). The control unit 100 then performs a copy process to form images of each original image for the number of copies to be printed set by the setting unit 101 (S18). After this, the process ends.

[0046] For example, when five pages of a document are read in sequence by the document reading unit 5, the number of copies to be printed for each page number is set as shown in Fig. 5, and the page number detection unit 103 detects the page numbers for all document images, the print result will be as shown in Fig. 10(A) as an example. As shown in Fig. 10(A), two copies are printed for the document image for which "page 5" is detected as the page number.

[0047] When the page number detection unit 103 detects page numbers for some of the document images but does not detect page numbers for the remaining document images, the setting unit 101 may set the detected page numbers for each document image for which the page number detection unit 103 has detected the page numbers, and may not set page numbers for each document image for which the page number detection unit 103 has not detected the page numbers. In this case, the setting unit 101 sets the default value as the number of copies to be printed for each document image for which the page number has not been set (an example is shown in FIG. 10(B)).

[0048] Alternatively, when the control unit 100 is causing the display unit 473 to display the operation screen G1, if a predetermined symbol indicating an “unknown page number”, such as “x”, is accepted as a page number by the operation unit 47 as a result of a user operation performed via the operation screen G1, the setting unit 101 sets the value inputted into the operation unit 47 as the number of copies to be printed for the original image with the page number of “x” as the page number for each original image for which a page number is not set.

[0049] According to the process for setting the number of copies to be printed for each original image in the image forming apparatus 1 of the second embodiment, the page numbers shown in the original image are used, so that the page numbers of each original image are set in the order in which the originals are read. This makes it possible to set the number of copies to be printed for each page according to the original page numbers, without the need to arrange the originals in page number order and place them on the original tray 61 as in the above case. This simplifies the operation of setting the number of copies to be printed for each page.

[0050] As a further embodiment of the process for setting the number of copies to be printed for each original image, the control unit 100 may display an operation screen G2 as shown in FIG. 11 on the display unit 473, and determine whether or not to use the page number detected by the page number detection unit 103 when setting the number of copies to be printed for each original image, in accordance with instructions from the user.

[0051] Radio buttons RB1 and RB2 are displayed on the operation screen G2 shown in Fig. 11. The radio button RB1 is for receiving a use instruction to select the use of page numbers. The radio button RB2 is for receiving a non-use instruction to select the non-use of page numbers.

[0052] When the user operates radio button RB1 and a use instruction is received by operation unit 47 via the touch panel, control unit 100 executes the number of copies to be printed setting process for each original image shown in FIG. 6, and when the user operates radio button RB2 and a non-use instruction is received by operation unit 47 via the touch panel, control unit 100 executes the number of copies to be printed setting process shown in FIG. 9.

[0053] As yet another embodiment of the process for setting the number of copies to be printed for each original image, control unit 100 causes display unit 473 to display a preview of each original image obtained by reading the original, and also causes display unit 473 to display a message requesting the user to assign a page number to each displayed original image. After this display, setting unit 101 may set the number of copies to be printed for each original image using the number of copies to be printed for each page input to operation unit 47 by the user's operation, in accordance with the page number for each original image input to operation unit 47 by the user's operation.

[0054] 12 is a functional block diagram showing an outline of the main internal configuration of an image forming apparatus 1 according to still another embodiment. Description of the same configuration as that of the image forming apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment and the other embodiments described above will be omitted.

[0055] In the image forming apparatus 1 according to this further embodiment, the control unit 10 functions as a table of contents detection unit 104 and an extraction unit 105 in addition to a control unit 100, a setting unit 101, a character recognition unit 102 and a page number detection unit 103, through operation of the processor in accordance with the control program stored in the memory unit 8.

[0056] The table of contents detection unit 104 detects an original image in which a table of contents is written. For example, the table of contents detection unit 104 detects an original image in which a table of contents is written based on characters recognized by the character recognition unit 102. Examples of predetermined character strings indicating a table of contents include "table of contents" or "Table of Contents".

[0057] Fig. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a document D1 on which a table of contents is written. When the document D1 shown in Fig. 13 is read by the document reading unit 5, the document image of the document D1 contains "Table of Contents" as a predetermined character string, and therefore the table of contents detection unit 104 detects the document image as a document image on which a table of contents is written.

[0058] The extraction unit 105 extracts headings constituting the table of contents and page numbers linked to the headings from the document image in which the table of contents detected by the table of contents detection unit 104 is written. The headings are, for example, composed of predetermined character symbols, such as "1.", "2.", ..., and character strings that follow the headings in succession on the same line. In the example shown in FIG. 13, the extraction unit 105 extracts "1. Introduction", "2. OSS management Policy", etc. as headings. The page number linked to the heading is, for example, a number that exists at a predetermined position on the same line as the heading. The predetermined position is, for example, the end end of the same line as the heading, where a space is placed between the number and the character strings that follow the heading in succession. In the example shown in FIG. 13, the extraction unit 105 extracts "1" that is placed at the end end of the line following "1. Introduction" as one of the page numbers linked to the heading.

[0059] Also, for example, a heading is composed of predetermined character symbols such as "1.1", "1.2" ... and a character string that follows consecutively on the same line. In this case, the page number linked to the heading is, for example, a number that exists at a predetermined position on the same line as the heading. In the example shown in Fig. 13, the extraction unit 105 extracts the "1" that is placed at the end of the line following "1.1 Purpose" as one of the page numbers linked to the heading.

[0060] For each document image obtained by document reading by document reading section 5, setting section 101 sets a page number as described in each of the above embodiments.

[0061] 14(A), the control unit 100 causes the display unit 473 to display an operation screen G3 showing a list L1 created using all the headings extracted by the extraction unit 105 and the page numbers linked to the headings. The headings and the page numbers linked to the headings constituting the list L1 are displayed as text icons.

[0062] In addition, the control unit 100 displays a message on the operation screen G3 requesting the user to select a heading. After displaying the operation screen G3, the setting unit 101 accepts the page associated with the heading selected by the user, which is accepted by the operation unit 47, as the page for which the number of copies to be printed is to be set.

[0063] In the example shown in FIG. 14(A), a message M1 stating "Please select the heading for which the number of copies is to be set" is displayed on the operation screen G3. FIG. 14(B) shows a state in which three text icons, including a text icon marked "3.2 System Configuration 12," have been selected by the user. "3.2 System Configuration" is the heading, and "12" is the page number associated with the heading. The selection of a text icon is performed by the user touching a portion of the operation screen G3 where a desired text icon is displayed, and a selection instruction for selecting the text icon displayed at the touched position is input to the operation unit 47 via the touch panel, and the setting unit 101 accepts the input selection instruction.

[0064] Furthermore, an operation button B3 marked "Next" is formed on the operation screen G3. When the user touches the operation button B3 and the operation unit 47 accepts the input of a selection confirmation instruction associated with the operation button B3, the control unit 100 causes the display unit 473 to display an operation screen G4 such as the example shown in FIG. 15(A). The operation screen G4 is a screen for accepting from the user a setting of the number of copies to be printed for the page (original image) corresponding to the heading selected by the user. The operation screen G4 is provided with a text box BX3 for displaying text (character string) input by the user.

[0065] Text box BX3 displays a number that is the value of the number of copies to be printed of the manuscript image corresponding to the page of the heading selected by the user. The heading selected by the user and the page number (page range) of the manuscript image corresponding to that heading are displayed to the left of text box BX3. For example, the page numbers "Page 12" and "Page 16" are displayed for the pages of the manuscript image corresponding to headings "3.2 ..." and "4.2 ...", and the page range "Page 14-15" is displayed for the pages of the manuscript image corresponding to heading "4.1 ...".

[0066] A method of determining the page range of a document image corresponding to a heading will be described. The setting unit 101 determines the page range of a document image corresponding to a heading to be a range from the page number linked to the heading to the page number one page before the page number linked to the next heading. From the document D1 (table of contents) shown in FIG. 13, the page corresponding to the heading "4.1 ..." is "14" and the page corresponding to the heading "4.2 ..." is "16", so the setting unit 101 sets the page range "Page 14-15" as the document image corresponding to "4.1 ...". In other words, since the page number linked to the heading "4.1 ..." is "14" and the page number linked to the next heading "4.2 ..." is "16", the setting unit 101 determines the page range of the document image corresponding to the heading "4.1 ..." to be a range up to "15", one page before "16".

[0067] Fig. 15(B) shows a state in which "5", "2", and "2" are displayed in the text boxes BX3, respectively. Operation screen G4 shown in Fig. 15(B) shows a state in which the number of copies to be printed for the document image of page 12 is specified as 5 copies, the number of copies to be printed for the document images of pages 14 and 15 is specified as 2 copies, and the number of copies to be printed for the document image of page 16 is specified as 2 copies, by the user operating operation unit 47.

[0068] Furthermore, an operation button B2 marked "OK" is displayed on the operation screen G4. When the user touches the operation button B2 and the operation unit 47 accepts an instruction to set the number of copies to be printed corresponding to the operation button B2, the setting unit 101 sets the number of copies to be printed for each original image for each page number or page range of the original image in accordance with the content displayed on the operation screen G4 (content accepted by the operation unit 47). For original images of pages for which the number of copies to be printed was not specified via the operation screen G4, the setting unit 101 sets the default value (usually 1 copy).

[0069] Further, radio buttons RB1 and RB2 are formed on the operation screen G4. The radio button RB1 is for accepting a selection of whether or not to use page numbers when executing the customization process, and the radio button RB2 is for accepting a selection of whether or not to use page numbers when executing the customization process.

[0070] When radio button RB1 is selected by the user, the control unit 100 executes the process for setting the number of copies to be printed for each original image shown in FIG. 6, and when radio button RB2 is operated by the user and an instruction to not use is received by the operation unit 47 via the touch panel, the control unit 100 executes the process for setting the number of copies to be printed shown in FIG. 9.

[0071] According to this embodiment, the number of copies to be printed for each document image can be set based on the document's heading, allowing the user to determine the number of copies to be printed based on the contents of the document, thereby improving convenience when determining the number of copies to be printed.

[0072] The present invention is not limited to the configuration of the above embodiment, and various modifications are possible. In addition, in the above embodiment, the configuration and processing shown in the above embodiment using Figures 1 to 15 are merely one embodiment of the present invention, and the present invention is not limited to the configuration and processing. [Explanation of symbols]

[0073] 1. Image forming device 5 Document reading section 12 Image forming section 47 Control section 100 Control section 101 Setting section 103 Page Number Detection Unit 104 Table of Contents Detector 105 Extraction part 473 Display section

Claims

1. a document reading unit for sequentially reading a document having a plurality of pages and obtaining a document image of each document; an image forming unit that forms and prints an image on a recording medium; an operation unit for receiving input of instructions from a user; a setting unit that sets the number of copies to be printed for each page or for each page range of the document image in accordance with an instruction from a user received by the operation unit; and a control unit that causes the image forming unit to form, on the recording medium, the document image obtained by reading by the document reading unit in the number of copies set by the setting unit for each page or for each page range.

2. 2 . The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the setting section assigns page numbers to the document images in the order of the documents read by the document reading section, and sets the number of copies to be printed based on the assigned page numbers.

3. a page number detection unit that detects a page number present in a predetermined header area or footer area in the document image, The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the setting section sets the number of copies to be printed based on the page number detected by the page number detection section.

4. Further comprising a display unit, the control unit causes the display unit to display a preview of the document image and a message requesting a user to assign a page number to the document image; 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the number of copies to be printed is set based on a page number assigned by a user and accepted by the operation unit.

5. A display unit; a table of contents detection unit for detecting the document image on which a table of contents is written; an extraction unit that extracts headings constituting a table of contents and page numbers linked to the headings from the document image detected by the table of contents detection unit, The control unit is displaying on the display unit a list showing the headlines extracted by the extraction unit and a memory for requesting a user to select the headline corresponding to the document image for which customization of the number of copies to be printed is required; After the display, a message is further displayed on the display unit, the message being received by the operation unit and requesting the user to specify the number of copies to be printed of the document image corresponding to the heading selected by the user; The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the setting section sets the number of copies of the document image to be printed in accordance with the specification for each page of the document image corresponding to the heading.

6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein the setting unit sets the page range of the document image corresponding to the heading to a range from the page number linked to the heading to one page before the page number linked to the next heading.

Images